Kevin Durant fires back after criticism from fan
Kevin Durant is back to beefing with fans on social media.
The star forward responded Tuesday after a fan questioned Durant’s legacy in light of his likely Phoenix Suns departure. The X user felt that Durant should not be considered a top-15 player of all time after playing for five franchises, arguing that “winners build dynasties.”
Durant was not buying the narrative, and was clearly not too bothered that he did not rank within this particular fan’s top 15.
“Like I always say! Make your own rules up and curate this NBA fantasy world the way u want,” Durant wrote. “Enjoy that top 15 list.”
Like I always say! Make your own rules up and curate this nba fantasy world the way u want. Enjoy that top 15 list
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) May 27, 2025
Interestingly, the fan was responding to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania linking Durant to the San Antonio Spurs. Durant certainly did not seem to be trying too hard to deny that he is likely on the move this summer.
It has been reported for months that the Suns are likely to move on from Durant this summer, and will work with his camp on a trade. If Durant is traded to a new team that he has not played for before, as is likely, it would be his fifth NBA team. That is a lot by superstar standards, and the criticism has a hint of Charles Barkley’s famous “bus rider” comment about Durant.
Arguably, the bigger issue for Durant is that he did not win with Phoenix, and he was not able to get over the hump in Brooklyn, either. His only NBA titles are still the ones he won with Golden State, and his critics will keep using that against him as long as he does not win another.
Tyreek Hill has 4-word prediction about Travis Hunter
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill raised some eyebrows with his blunt prediction about two-way rookie Travis Hunter.
In an appearance on Adin Ross’ stream, Hill was asked what he thinks about Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Hill did not hold back with his four-word response.
“He gonna be a–,” Hill replied to laughter.
No Way: Tyreek Hill says Travis Hunter will be "ASS" in the NFL this upcoming season…😳😂
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 27, 2025
Hill later clarified on stream that he was joking and thinks Hunter is gonna be a “dawg” and a great player. pic.twitter.com/hiDJh4x2n9
Hill later claimed he was joking, and that he thinks Hunter is a “dawg” and an excellent player. However, his original comment made most of the headlines.
Hill would certainly be in the minority with this take. Hunter just won the Heisman Trophy as a two-way player at Colorado, and some viewed him as the best player in the draft. The Jaguars have openly said they view him as a franchise-changing piece, and intend to play him on both sides of the ball to some degree.
We know that Hill is not one to take a joke too seriously. His comments about Hunter are probably keeping with that principle, and he is just having some fun.
Mary Lou Retton busted for DUI, refused blood test
Former Olympics hero Mary Lou Retton was arrested for DUI recently and refused to have a blood test.
WDTV in Bridgeport, West Virginia, reported on Monday that Retton was arrested on May 17 on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the report, Retton was driving in a Porsche with Texas license plates and was “all over the roadway” while driving on the Gateway Connector heading towards downtown Fairmont, W.V.
Officers found Retton pulled over in a parking lot with a bottle of wine in the passenger seat. Police say she smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words — both signs of impairment. Retton refused to have her blood tested. She showed impairment while taking three different field sobriety tests.
Retton, 57, is from Fairmont. She was cited for one count of misdemeanor DUI and given a $1,500 personal recognizance bond.
Retton became famous after starring in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif. She won five medals in gymnastics, including a gold medal in the all-around. She was the first American to win a gold medal at the Olympics in the all-around.
Retton was part of headlines in 2023 when her daughter disclosed the former gymnast was in intensive care dealing with a rare form of pneumonia. Her daughter had launched a crowd-funding effort to help pay for Retton’s medical bills. Many wondered how Retton could be uninsured, which resulted in some backlash regarding how they were using the funds. Many are also wondering how Retton could be driving a Porsche if she was struggling with money.
Lakers take notable step to help Luka Doncic
The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be keeping a watchful eye on Luka Doncic during his first offseason with the team. That will involve keeping tabs on him during EuroBasket 2025 as well.
Matej Erjavec, president of the Slovenian basketball federation, said in a recent interview that the Lakers plan to send a coach to EuroBasket with Doncic. That is part of the agreement with the Lakers to allow Doncic to participate in the tournament.
“Within two minutes in a meeting with Rob Pelinka, he stressed, ‘Well, you will get Luka and one coach, and that’s it.’ And with that, we were done,” Erjavec said, via Eurohoops.net. “There was no debate at all.”
The two sides have yet to decide which coach will accompany Doncic and the Slovenian team. The Dallas Mavericks had previously had a similar agreement, and Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney accompanied Doncic on international duty in the past.
It may not be the primary reason for the move, but the Lakers will presumably want to keep one eye on Doncic’s fitness. The early returns on that front appear to be very promising, especially after the Lakers seemingly made that a point of emphasis heading into the offseason.
There are some other reasons to believe Doncic is on track to be healthier next season. That would be great news for the Lakers if it is the case.
Boomer Esiason has strange theory for Knicks’ home struggles
The New York Knicks have been better on the road than they have been at home during the NBA Playoffs, and Boomer Esiason has an unusual theory to explain that.
The former NFL quarterback said on Tuesday’s “Boomer and Gio” show that the Knicks are “sick and tired” of the celebrity presence at Madison Square Garden during their playoff games. Getting on the road, he reasoned, allows the team to focus more on basketball.
“I think they’re sick and tired of all the damn celebrities at home,” Esiason said. “They’d rather get away from all that.”
Boomer says the Knicks are better away from MSG because they can focus more on the basketball.
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) May 27, 2025
Listen: https://t.co/WbGQJ0xzco pic.twitter.com/DI3xcZD9f9
The Knicks are 6-1 on the road during the playoffs, but just 3-5 at home. That includes consecutive home losses to open the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. There is no denying the huge split, but the reason for it is anyone’s guess.
One simpler explanation may be that there is simply more pressure on the Knicks at home, and not just because of a celebrity presence. The team has not reached the NBA Finals since 1999, and Knicks fans desperately want to see this team break through and advance. There is a reason so many people at Madison Square Garden looked utterly distraught when they lost Game 2 to fall behind 2-0 to the Pacers.
The Knicks’ celebrity presence has arguably helped them at times during the playoffs. Plus, we have seen the likes of actor Timothee Chalamet travel to road games to cheer them on, too. The reasoning just doesn’t add up.
Jalen Ramsey gets fans buzzing with cryptic social media post amid trade rumors
The Miami Dolphins have said they will explore the possibility of trading Jalen Ramsey, and it looks like the All-Pro cornerback might be pulling for a fresh start.
It was reported last month that Ramsey and the Dolphins have mutually agreed to look into potential trades for the 30-year-old defensive back. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier later told the media that Ramsey did not ask for a trade, but the two sides agreed that it would be best to part ways.
Initially, it looked like Miami wanted to trade Ramsey before or during the NFL Draft. That did not happen, and waiting until June 1 is probably the smartest move now.
If the Dolphins trade Ramsey on or after June 1, they will save nearly $10 million against their salary cap in 2025. Completing a deal prior to that date would mean they have to absorb a nearly $9 million cap hit for Ramsey this season.
That brings us to a cryptic post Ramsey had on social media Tuesday. The seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback simply wrote “5…”
5…
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) May 27, 2025
Ramsey’s post happened to come with exactly five days to go until June 1. Many fans speculated that he is counting down the days until he can join another team.
The Dolphins also have the option of reaching a handshake agreement with a team and not finalizing the deal until June 1. It is possible something like that is already in the works. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on “Get Up” Tuesday morning that there has been widespread interest in Ramsey.
Ramsey is still at the top of his game
Ramsey signed an extension with the Dolphins prior to last season that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at the time. He played in all 17 games in 2024, finishing with 60 total tackles, 2 interceptions and 11 passes defended.
The Dolphins acquired Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the 2023 season. The three-time All-Pro suffered a knee injury in training camp and missed the first half of the season, but he immediately resumed playing at a high level when he returned. He appears to be fully healthy heading into 2025.
While Ramsey is now on the wrong side of 30, he is still viewed as one of the best cover corners in the NFL. He has been linked to at least one notable NFC team in recent weeks.
Shams Charania thinks NBA offseason could be ‘craziest ever’
The 2024-25 NBA season featured one of the busiest trade deadlines in league history, and Shams Charania believes that trend could continue this summer.
Charania discussed the upcoming offseason during a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” The ESPN reporter touched on several star players he believes could be traded in the coming weeks. Charania also said there is a feeling around the NBA that this offseason could be the “craziest ever.”
“This is the most, I think, anticipation team executives have had over an offseason. I think this is gonna be the craziest offseason of … I don’t want to say of all time,” Charania said. “We just came off a trade deadline that was the craziest of all time. I think this offseason might be the most craziest ever.
“I think what you have right now is the parody in the league is so thin right now, as far as the thin line of you could win a championship or you might be falling into the lottery. I think the ability to go out there and improve your team and get there to championship level, I think that’s on the minds of everyone around the league.”
The most craziest ever @ShamsCharania 😂😂#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/YDw7kfo4dz
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 27, 2025
The biggest rumors in recent weeks have been about Giannis Antetokounmpo. Charania reported earlier this month that the Milwaukee Bucks star is at least “open-minded” about the idea of playing elsewhere. Giannis is under contract through the 2026-27 season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, but contracts rarely stand in the way if players decide they want a fresh start elsewhere.
The Boston Celtics are also expected to make some significant moves in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles. The Celtics need to free up some money with the massive luxury tax bill they are facing next season. Players like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday will likely be discussed, though one recent report claimed three key players are not leaving Boston.
Fans realized when Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers at the deadline this year that any move is possible. It would hardly be a shock if another megastar is traded this summer.
Pacers fan accused of stabbing 2 Knicks fans
An Indiana Pacers fan is facing charges after allegedly stabbing two New York Knicks fans during an altercation at a brewery.
24-year-old Jarrett Funke of Carmel, Ind., has been charged with three felonies, including battery with a deadly weapon, for allegedly stabbing a pair of Knicks fans during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, according to David Gay of FOX 59.
The incident started at the bar, where the victims were seated. The victims claim that Funke approached them and smacked a Knicks hat off one of their heads, but was escorted away while cursing at them. Five minutes later, the Knicks fans had moved to a patio, where Funke returned by breaking through a fence and began attacking the two individuals.
One of the Knicks fans brandished a pocket knife in a bid to deter Funke, but the incident escalated, and Funke allegedly stabbed the pair. Court documents said one victim had a stab wound to the back, while the other had a wound on their lower leg.
Funke told police the Knicks fans were the aggressors and punched him in the face, prompting him to defend himself, but multiple witnesses disagreed and called Funke the primary aggressor.
The Eastern Conference Finals have become quite heated off the court, as one Pacers fan was pushed around in New York while attending Game 2. Fortunately, that incident did not arise to the level that this one seemingly did.
The Pacers have a 2-1 lead in the series after the Knicks made a furious comeback in Game 3 to avoid a 3-0 deficit.
6-time NBA All-Star reaches plea deal in parking lot shooting case
Former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp was arrested two years ago after he fired a gun in a parking lot, and the case is now a step closer to being resolved.
Kemp was hit with a felony charge of assault in the first degree following a March 2023 incident in a shopping mall parking lot in Tacoma, Wash. Authorities had claimed Kemp was involved in a drive-by shooting, though Kemp said he acted in self-defense.
According to TMZ, Kemp reached a plea deal on Tuesday with the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in which he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault in the second degree.
The 55-year-old Kemp is due back in court for sentencing on Aug. 22.
Kemp initially pleaded not guilty to the felony assault charge, with his attorneys saying his actions were “reasonable and legally justified.”
Kemp’s attorney said the former first-round pick had tracked down a person who stole items from him and was shot at. The lawyer claimed Kemp returned fire in self-defense.
It is unclear if Kemp will face any jail time after pleading guilty to the lesser charge.
Kemp was a six-time NBA All-Star. He played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989-1997 and teamed with Gary Payton to help the team reach the NBA Finals in 1996.
The “Reign Man” averaged a double-double for six straight seasons in Seattle. He was known for being a strong and athletic player who delivered powerful dunks. In October 2020, he opened a cannabis dispensary in Seattle.
Jakub Mensik taunts French Open crowd with Novak Djokovic-inspired celebration
Czech tennis player Jakub Mensik went to battle with the Roland Garros crowd on Tuesday and came out on top.
Mensik faced French player Alexandre Muller during the first round of the French Open on Tuesday, so the crowd was heavily against him to begin with. The hostility toward Mensik only grew worse when he took the third set after repeated disputes with the umpire.
Mensik received loud boos upon winning the set, and responded by taunting the crowd with Novak Djokovic’s orchestra conductor celebration.
Jakub Mensik fights back against the French Crowd on court 14
— 🦖 (@RamoFootball) May 27, 2025
my goat 😭😭
pic.twitter.com/2wcR038576
Mensik went on to win in four sets, and openly admitted after the match that he was inspired by Djokovic’s celebration. Djokovic made a very similar move in November 2023 during an ATP match in Turin against Jannik Sinner.
Mensik on this moment.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 27, 2025
“It was similar to what Djokovic did vs. Sinner in Turin”.
Jakub is indeed a big Nole-fan. https://t.co/XR83TXyqRc
Mensik can take solace in the fact that Djokovic has also had an adversarial relationship with French Open crowds at times. He did not seem to mind the reception on Tuesday, and if anything, he was motivated by it.
Entering the French Open, Mensik was ranked 19th in the world. He will face Portugal’s Henrique Rocha in the second round.
Colts unveil patch they will wear to honor Jim Irsay
The Indianapolis Colts will honor their late owner Jim Irsay in a variety of ways throughout the 2025 season, and the team has unveiled a jersey patch that is part of the plan.
The Colts announced on Tuesday that players will wear a black jersey patch this season that features Irsay’s initials and signature. Irsay had a well-known signature that had a smiley face inside a horseshoe.
Here is what the patch will look like:
I love this patch pic.twitter.com/DZqOOUlrjB
— Colts Coverage (@Colts_Coverage) May 27, 2025
The Colts also shared a tribute video to Irsay on Tuesday:
The boss..👍🏈💙 pic.twitter.com/7rlhsI0tb0
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 27, 2025
Irsay died on Wednesday at the age of 65. His death came as a shock, as he had been active on social media hours prior.
Irsay inherited the Colts from his father Robert, who had acquired the franchise in 1972. Robert moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis, and put son Jim in charge as general manager in 1984. Jim became the team’s owner in 1997 following the death of his father.
Some of the most important figures in Colts franchise history have issued statements expressing their love for Irsay, and that will likely continue throughout the upcoming season. The jersey patches are a nice touch from the team.
Kirby Smart reveals what he thinks is biggest issue in college football
Of all the issues that currently exist with college football, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart feels one stands out above the rest.
While meeting with the media on Tuesday, Smart gave a lengthy explanation for why he believes the timing of the transfer portal windows has been the biggest problem in college football. There are currently two windows during which players can transfer — one in December and one April. Smart wants there to be only one transfer window, and he says other coaches “unanimously” agree with him.
“The biggest decision that has to be made in college football right now, by far to me, is when is the portal window and is there one or two. … There is a strong contingent, we had an (American Football Coaches Association) meeting. We unanimously decided that there needs to be one portal window — whatever that is it is. It needs to happen sometime in January,” Smart said.
Smart pointed to the fact that teams in the College Football Playoff have to play games while also navigating the December portal window. He said he brought that up and was told there is “no crying from a yacht,” which means teams that are good enough to still be playing in the College Football Playoff should not complain.
“There is an outcry, there is schools, there is different conferences that feel like it should not fall during the playing season,” Smart added. “I would love that. I would love to be able to play the season without it.”
Smart is pushing for there to be one transfer portal window in January. The reason it is currently held in December is because that aligns with schools’ academic calendars. Smart noted how there are instances where high school players enroll early in college, so he believes the NCAA should be able to find a way around that.
You can hear more from the two-time national champion:
Kirby Smart laid out most important thing in the sport right now.
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) May 27, 2025
"The biggest decision that has to be made in CFB right now, by far to me, is when is the transfer portal window. And is there 1 or 2."
When he brought it up, he was told “There’s no crying from the yacht” pic.twitter.com/3brMreiIoc
You can understand why Smart and others are frustrated over the timing of the portal window. Some players have had to make the difficult decision to leave their school in the middle of a championship run. You can argue that they are under no obligation to do so, but there is only so much NIL money to go around. Those who wait might miss out.
It would not be a surprise if the transfer portal window is moved at some point, but there are no immediate plans in place for that to happen.
Cover release for ‘College Football 26’ shows one big change coming to game
EA Sports released the covers for the latest installment of its college football franchise on Tuesday, and one of the graphics confirmed that a significant change is coming to the game.
The cover for the standard version of “College Football 26” features a pair of young star wide receivers — Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. There is also a deluxe version which features the two wideouts along with several other current players, past players, coaches and fans.
Coaches were not featured in “College Football 25,” which was the first installment of the EA Sports game in over a decade. It had been rumored that some coaches would be part of the newest game, and the cover release gives a glimpse into which ones.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart, Penn State coach James Franklin, Ohio State coach Ryan Day, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman are among the coaches that will be in “College Football 26,” as indicated on the deluxe version cover.
Powerhouse Programs. Real World Coaches. Electric Traditions. Experience it all in #CFB26.
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 27, 2025
Coming July 10. Pre-Order Now
🔗: https://t.co/PswZmDtrOF pic.twitter.com/FyQjPSTCj8
That is a welcome change for fans, who want the game to be as realistic as possible.
Not all of college football’s biggest names will be in “College Football 26,” however. One prominent quarterback has opted out for the second consecutive year.
EA Sports’ college football franchise disappeared for a while due to licensing issues, but the NIL era has helped bring it back.
Tom Brady trolls Colts fans with ruthless joke after Indy 500 boos
Tom Brady did not receive a warm welcome from the fans in attendance at the Indianapolis 500 over the weekend, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion had the perfect response after being booed.
Prior to the Indy 500, Brady took a lap around Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a two-seater IndyCar with legendary driver Jimmie Johnson. When Brady was introduced, he received boos from many of the hundreds of thousands of fans in attendance.
Brady seemed to enjoy the reception and gave a little shrug while waving to the crowd. You can see the video here.
In the end, Brady found a way to get the last laugh once again. He wrote on social media that “it was nice to get in one more successful drive in front of a bunch of Colts fans.”
The fans at @IMS booed Tom Brady so he drops this on Instagram and I have never been more deceased. pic.twitter.com/FUNLbzkGvM
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) May 26, 2025
Many fans hate Brady simply because of the success he had against their teams during his legendary career. Colts fans in particular had many a season ruined by Brady, who was 8-4 in his career against Peyton Manning. There was also all of the Deflategate drama between the Colts and Patriots.
That was not the first time Brady has been booed during a public appearance, and it won’t be the last. When you dominate just about every opponent you play over a two-decade span, the negative feelings tend to linger.
South Carolina baseball player ‘humiliated’ by comments father made ripping coaches
The South Carolina baseball team struggled this year in their first season under new head coach Paul Mainieri, and the parent of a player who is transferring decided to unload on the program in a social media post.
Jeff Kimball, who is the father of South Carolina relief pitcher Roman Kimball, took to social media on Monday to reveal that his son is leaving the Gamecocks. In doing so, Jeff blasted Mainieri and South Carolina’s coaching staff over the 28-29 season.
“I only wish this year was as successful as the previous two but that’s what happens when coaches who don’t know HOW to coach and just yell at and berate players all season are put in charge,” Jeff wrote on Facebook. “While I hope the team eventually turns it around, unfortunately it won’t be soon with those two morons in charge.”
The “morons” referenced by Jeff are likely Mainieri and associate head coach Monte Lee.
— RK (@arekinard) May 21, 2025
In a social media post of his own, Roman confirmed that he has entered the transfer portal but said his father’s comments are in no way a representation of how Roman feels about South Carolina and its coaching staff.
“I would also like to comment on the social media post my father made that has been circulated across a variety of platforms. First off, I am totally embarrassed and humiliated by the comments my father made regarding the program and the coaching staff, and I want to apologize to anyone affected by those comments,” Roman wrote. “I was totally unaware of the post until it was sent to me by someone. I also want to say that I have nothing but respect for the entire coaching staff at South Carolina, and I pride myself in always being respectful to every coach that I play for. The post my father made was not a reflection of my character and my views of the coaching staff and program at South Carolina.”
— Roman Kimball (@rkimball02) May 26, 2025
South Carolina went 6-24 in SEC play, which was the worst mark in school history. Kimball made eight relief appearances and finished with an ERA of 16.50.
Another parent takes a shot at Mainieri
There were obviously plenty of issues in Columbia this season under Mainieri, who previously coached at LSU from 2007-2021 and won a national championship in 2009. A few weeks ago, senior pitcher Matthew Becker’s mother also appeared to take a shot at Mainieri and company while praising Mississippi State head coach Justin Parker, who was previously the pitching coach at South Carolina.
“Amazing what a team can do when they respect their coach and are playing for their survival,” Laurie Becker wrote on X.
Amazing what a team can do when they respect their coach and are playing for their survival. Congrats to Coach Parker – incredible coach that did great things at SC!
— Laurie A Becker (@LaurieBecker3k) May 4, 2025
Mainieri has a proven track record of winning, so it is highly unlikely that South Carolina will fire him after just one season. The 67-year-old has 1,533 wins in his career and took LSU to the College World Series five times. Mainieri also had a successful 12-year run with Notre Dame prior to that that included one trip to the College World Series and eight NCAA Regional appearances.
If South Carolina has another disastrous season in 2026, however, they probably will be forced to make another change.
H/T Bro Bible
Danica Patrick makes tough revelations about her relationship with Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers has said he has fond memories of the time he spent dating Danica Patrick, but it does not sound like the former NASCAR driver shares those emotions.
Rodgers and Patrick dated for roughly two years before splitting up in 2020. During a recent appearance on “The Sage Steele Show,” Patrick was asked about the most pain she has ever experienced. The 43-year-old said it was her breakup with Rodgers.
Patrick called the split “sudden” and accused Rodgers of being “emotionally abusive.”
“It felt like it was my life,” Patrick said, as transcribed by Drew Lerner of Awful Announcing. “So like, you know, when you live with somebody and, you know, like, it’s your whole life. It’s your dentist appointment, it’s your hairdo, it’s your clothes, it’s your mailing address. It’s like, everything. And because the nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing.”
Patrick said her confidence eroded during her relationship with Rodgers. She also admitted that she ignored the warning signs and tried to work through the issues by convincing herself she is “built for hard things.”
“Everything was torn to bits. And yeah, he leaves a trail of blood,” Patrick added. “I don’t think, uh, I don’t think, um, I don’t think I’m saying too much earth-shattering stuff. There’s been enough out there. … It gave me the greatest gift of how much I needed to show up for myself and take care of myself.”
Rodgers said a few years ago that he feels dating Patrick was “great for me” and explained how the two connected on a spiritual level.
Rodgers got engaged to actress Shailene Woodley just months after his split from Patrick, which probably did not sit well with Danica. Patrick has been open since the breakup about how her mentality with dating has changed.
Report: Spurs plan to part ways with surprising player
The San Antonio Spurs are reportedly going all-in on their youth movement next season.
The Spurs signed Chris Paul to a one-year contract last offseason to provide a veteran presence at point guard next to Victor Wembanyama. With the French phenom looking well ahead of schedule, the team appears ready to become a playoff contender in the near future.
That future may not have Paul in it. According to NBA reporter Mark Stein, there is “anticipation” that Paul would be “on the move again” this offseason to find a new team.
Stein also noted that the Spurs have conveyed their intention to keep the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to select Rutgers guard Dylan Harper rather than use it to trade for an established star.
San Antonio acquired De’Aaron Fox before the trade deadline, got a Rookie of the Year campaign from Stephon Castle, and won the right to take Harper. That leaves little room for Paul in the Spurs’ backcourt.
Paul’s last three seasons, each with three different teams, painted a picture of his steep decline heading into his age-40 season. While Paul’s assist numbers remained high through that span, his scoring average hit career lows in three straight years.
CP3 averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 assists for the Spurs last season. To his credit, he did stay healthy enough to play all 82 games with nearly 30 minutes of playing time per game.
Paul memorably had a one-and-done year with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019-20, which left a positive impact on a then-budding talent in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Spurs fans can only hope the CP3’s brief stint in San Antonio has a similar effect on Victor Wembanyama and the rest of the team.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addresses being called a ‘free throw merchant’
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has heard the noise about his penchant for drawing free throws.
Minnesota Timberwolves fans jeered the Oklahoma City Thunder star with “free throw merchant” chants in Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Even Doris Burke got in on the action during Monday’s Game 4.
SGA shot 14 free throws in the contest, en route to a 40-point night to lead the Thunder to a 128-126 victory. Nobody else had more than 7 attempts from the charity stripe.
After the game, reigning MVP was asked about his distasteful moniker. Instead of taking the nickname as a slight, Shai claims to see it as a “compliment.”
“In terms of the label, I don’t care,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “Never cared. I’ve said this before. I’ve shot more free throws in [past seasons] than I did this season. Because we’re on the top of people’s radar, it’s a little more noticeable… kind of see it as a compliment.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addresses the “Free-Throw Merchant” moniker:
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) May 27, 2025
“In terms of the label, I don’t care. Never cared. I’ve shot more free throws than I did this season. Because we’re on the top of people’s radar it’s a little more noticeable… kind of see it as a compliment” pic.twitter.com/0oCnjwcube
Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 14.3 free throw attempts in the Thunder’s three wins in the series. He had just four in OKC’s blowout Game 3 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.
The Thunder star was second in the NBA in free throw attempts per game (8.8) during the regular season and first in makes (7.9). While Gilgeous-Alexander has been criticized for getting a favorable whistle and embellishing contact at times, he also leads the NBA in drives per game by a wide margin.
Shai averaged a whopping 10.9 free throws during the 2022-23 season, which was his first All-NBA campaign. But the Thunder finished 40-42 that year and missed the playoffs.
With Oklahoma City just a few wins away from winning a championship, SGA understands why his play is under scrutiny now more than ever.
Mason Rudolph addresses Aaron Rodgers potentially joining Steelers
Mason Rudolph is QB1 for the Pittsburgh Steelers — at least until Aaron Rodgers signs with the team. For now, Rudolph isn’t sweating the Rodgers situation.
The Steelers on Tuesday held their first day of organized team activities (OTAs). Rudolph was asked by reporters about the rumors linking Rodgers to the Steelers and how it might affect his position on the quarterback depth chart.
“That’s nothing new to me,” Rudolph said. “There’s been constant noise. That is the nature of the NFL, so I’ve been used to that for a long time. Do nothing but be the best I can be and help our team get better this spring.”
In other words, Rudolph is just trying to mind his own business and control what he can control. As he said, he is used to this sort of situation.
The 29-year-old Rudolph was a third-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2018 and has been in and out of starting lineups, and has been up and down on depth charts throughout his career. Rudolph has appeared in 29 career NFL games and has made 18 starts. His teams have gone 9-8-1 in his starts. Though he went 1-4 as a starter with the Tennessee Titans last season, the Steelers have gone 8-4-1 with Rudolph as the starter.
Rudolph has passed for 4,615 yards, 28 touchdowns and 20 interceptions during his NFL career. He is nowhere near as accomplished as the 10-time Pro Bowl QB Rodgers, but at least the Steelers have him signed to a contract. That’s more than they can say for Rodgers at the moment.
Mason Rudolph & Pat Freiermuth on the uncertainty surrounding the Steelers QB position.@WTAE pic.twitter.com/m7S9oWktkP
— Ashley Liotus (@AshleyLiotus) May 27, 2025
Timberwolves fan involved in crucial last-second moment of Game 4
A Minnesota Timberwolves fan sitting courtside on Monday got a little too close to the action.
The Timberwolves trailed the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-125 with 3.5 seconds left in Western Conference Finals Game 4 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. The Thunder intentionally fouled Anthony Edwards to send him to the free throw line.
With no timeouts remaining and minimal time left on the clock, Edwards was forced to make the first but intentionally miss the second. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chased down the rebound and threw the ball toward the other side of the court. The ball went out of bounds along the sideline, right into the hands of a courtside fan.
FAN JUST CAUGHT THE BALL AND HELPED THE TIMBERWOLVES HAVE A CHANCE 😭
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) May 27, 2025
THIS IS INSANE. pic.twitter.com/mZ1NKSRwqJ
The incident was interesting, to say the least. The clock would have likely hit zero had the fan not been there to stop the ball a split second early. The fan appeared to catch the ball with about 0.6 left on the game clock. After initially having the clock set at 0.1, referees eventually gave Minnesota 0.3 seconds for a chance at a tip-in off the inbound.
The Thunder were able to prevent a lob to seal a 128-126 win in Game 4. But had the Timberwolves pulled off a miraculous shot to force overtime, the fan could have been a part of a critical moment in NBA conference finals history. He would have been Minnesota’s reverse Steve Bartman.
