Mavericks owners respond to Mark Cuban’s efforts to buy back the team
Mark Cuban will not be able to wrestle back control of the Dallas Mavericks any time soon.
The Dumont and Adelson families, current majority owners of the Mavericks, gave a statement on Wednesday night to veteran NBA writer Marc Stein. In the statement, they emphasized that the team was not for sale.
“The team is not for sale and the [Dumont and Adelson] families look forward to expanding their ownership stake over time,” the statement read. “The Dumont and Adelson families remain fully committed to the Dallas Mavericks’ franchise and to the Dallas community. They remain focused on building a championship organization for the long term.”
This comes after news broke earlier this week that Cuban, the former controlling owner of the Mavericks, is looking to partner with an unidenitified investor group in order to purchase the team. Cuban sold off his majority share in the franchise to the Dumont and Adelson families back in 2023 at a $3.5 billion valuation but is now apparently hoping to buy back the majority ownership of the Mavericks.
Now 67 years old, Cuban initially bought the team in 2000 for a sum of $285 million. But after four conference finals berths, two NBA Finals appearances, and a championship in 2011, Cuban decided to sell his controlling stake in the Mavericks (later explaining exactly why he chose to do so). Now Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law Patrick Dumont (who now serves as the governor of the Mavericks) are the team’s controlling owners.
But under Adelson and Dumont, the Mavericks have dramatically changed course, most notably by shockingly trading away superstar cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in Feb. 2025. Cuban, who remains a minority owner of the franchise, was not consulted in the decision to trade Doncic as he had seemingly been pushed to the fringes by the new leadership group.
The billionaire businessman Cuban did manage to score a recent victory by reportedly helping to get ex-Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison fired. But as for Cuban’s efforts to buy back majority control of the franchise, those look like nothing more than a pipe dream right now.
Steph Curry responds to the unflattering Jonathan Kuminga report
Steph Curry is making sure to stand up for his former teammate.
New Atlanta Hawks big man Jonathan Kuminga was the subject of an unflattering report this week by The Athletic. The report claimed that Kuminga, who had spent the last four-and-a-half-seasons in Golden State, had seemingly engaged in unprofessional behavior amid his unhappiness with the Warriors.
Kuminga is alleged to have at one point skipped a team-requested meeting with Golden State head coach Steve Kerr. Additionally, the Warriors were reportedly unhappy about a member of Kuminga’s inner circle taking too much food from the team’s family room (read the full details here).
In an Instagram comment, Kuminga reacted to the report. He posted several laughing-face emojis along with the message “What else.”
Kuminga’s longtime teammate Curry also seemed to reject the claims laid forth in the report. “I’m sorry bro. This is ridiculous Go be Great!” Curry wrote in a subsequent Instagram comment tagging Kuminga.
Steph Curry showing support to Jonathan Kuminga on IG
— CeeJay (@ceejaytalksball) February 12, 2026
“I’m sorry bro. This is ridiculous Go be Great!” pic.twitter.com/xq44cO47nG
The former lottery pick Kuminga and the Warriors clearly had a very rocky relationship with one another over the years. Frustrations over his playing time as well as with his ugly contract saga over the summer led to the inevitable divorce between the two sides.
But through it all, Kuminga won a championship with Curry and the Warriors in 2022 and still has a lot more room to grow at just 23 years old. Now the former NBA MVP Curry is making a point of defending his ex-teammate Kuminga as Kuminga embarks on a fresh start in Atlanta.
Report: Nick Castellanos has been banished by the Phillies
Nick Castellanos is getting the George Costanza treatment from the Philadelphia Phillies.
The former All-Star outfielder Castellanos has been told not to report to the team’s complex this week ahead of spring training, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported Wednesday. Gelb adds that there is no locker in the clubhouse for Castellanos and that the Phillies even went so far as to remove a photo of Castellanos that had lined the hallway from the lobby to the team clubhouse (in between the likes of Trea Turner and Alec Bohm).
Castellanos, who is owed $20 million in 2026, is now reportedly expected to be either traded or released by the Phillies within the next two days. You can read Gelb’s full report on the situation here.
The 33-year-old Castellanos had spent the last four seasons with Philadelphia. He was an impactful player on the Phillies’ 2022 NL Pennant-winning team and later went on to make an All-Star team for Philadelphia in 2023.
But Castellanos has clearly worn out his welcome with the Phillies. Last season, Castellanos hit just .250 with 17 home runs and 72 RBIs and was also a negative WAR player overall. On top of that, Castellanos was benched at one point during the year after a dispute with Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson.
We already heard several months ago that the Phillies were expected to part ways with Castellanos this offseason. But telling Castellanos to stay away and removing every trace of him from the facility is certainly an extra level of severing ties.
Bill Simmons hits back at Suns owner Mat Ishbia with a ruthless swipe
Bill Simmons has still got his fastball.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia decided to call out The Ringer CEO Simmons in a post to X on Wednesday. Ishbia noted that the Suns had just won their 32nd game, putting them over Simmons’ preseason prediction of 31.5 wins for Phoenix this season.
32 wins for the Suns and all before the All-Star break… think that puts us above your season prediction/bet of under 31.5 wins @BillSimmons! You guys usually have great content and good stuff… thanks for all you do. But also keep your eye on the Suns, like I told you… we…
— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) February 11, 2026
Simmons fired back at Ishbia shortly thereafter. He gave credit to Ishbia and the Suns for their impressive season but also got in a cold shot at the billionaire owner.
“For the record — I picked the Suns to win 50+ games last season and never heard a peep from you when you went 36-46,” said Simmons. “So I was wrong twice.”
Congratulations on a very good season so far. I’ve enjoyed watching you guys and think you picked a terrific coach. Fun league pass team,
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 11, 2026
For the record — I picked the Suns to win 50+ games last season and never heard a peep from you when you went 36-46. So I was wrong twice.
Phoenix was a very disappointing team last season, failing to even make the NBA play-in tournament despite having a star-studded Big Three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. This season however, the Suns have surrounded Booker with defenders, shooters, and other quality depth pieces instead, which has resulted in their 32-22 record (seventh in the Western Conference).
Meanwhile, Ishbia and Simmons already have plenty of history. Even before the 2025-26 season began, Ishbia publicly ripped Simmons over The Ringer’s predictions about the Suns.
Chris Bassitt leaves the Blue Jays to sign with a rival team
Another member of the Toronto Blue Jays’ AL Pennant team is moving on.
Veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt is signing with the division rival Baltimore Orioles in free agency, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported on Wednesday. Bassitt has agreed to a one-year, $18.5 million contract with the team.
The 36-year-old Bassitt is also getting a $3 million signing bonus from the Orioles, Passan adds. On top of that, Bassitt’s contract comes with another $500,000 in incentives for if he makes 27 total starts.
Bassitt, an All-Star in 2021 with the then-Oakland Athletics, had spent the last three seasons with the Blue Jays. He led the AL with 16 wins during the 2023 campaign and posted an 11-9 record with a 3.96 ERA and 166 strikeouts over 31 total starts in 2025.
The 11-year MLB veteran Bassitt also played a key role in relief during Toronto’s run to the World Series last season. He even went viral during Game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the Bible verse written on his hat.
With the Orioles in 2026, Bassitt figures to have another meaningful role in a strengthened Baltimore rotation. Earlier this offseason, they traded for Shane Baz and then re-signed Zach Eflin in free agency. The Orioles have also had a very impressive winter on the offensive side of the ball, trading for Taylor Ward and of course adding a former MLB home runs leader as well.
Ex-Eagles OC Kevin Patullo lands a new job after his firing
Kevin Patullo is going from the NFC East to the AFC East.
The former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Patullo has been hired by the Miami Dolphins as their new pass-game coordinator, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported on Wednesday. Patullo is now set to serve under new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley and alongside new Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
Patullo, 44, spent the 2025 season as the OC of the Eagles (after previously serving as their pass game coordinator and associate head coach). But Philadelphia finished the year with the NFL’s 24th-ranked offense by yards per game and the NFL’s 19th-ranked offense by points per game.
All throughout the season, Patullo came under fire for his seemingly stagnant and predictable offensive gameplan. It even got to the point that angry Eagles fans ended up egging Patullo’s home.
After the team’s defeat in the NFC Wild Card round to the San Francisco 49ers, another young Philadelphia fan went viral for his cruel roast of Patullo. In the end, those fans would get their wish as Patullo was finally fired as offensive coordinator of the Eagles last month.
While Philadelphia had given Patullo a chance to stay on in a lesser role, the veteran coach is now leaving the team to join the Dolphins. Miami just had a notable former NFL head coach flake on them, so Patullo should be able to help fill that void on the offensive side of the ball.
Spurs release former top-10 draft pick
The San Antonio Spurs are moving on from a fairly recent former top-10 pick.
The Spurs have agreed to release forward Jeremy Sochan after failing to find a trade for him at the deadline, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Charania added that Sochan will likely have interest from several teams.
The San Antonio Spurs and forward Jeremy Sochan have agreed on his release to allow the 2023 All-Rookie team member to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. Sochan is expected to decide among multiple interested teams. pic.twitter.com/ilLIWLz7gb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 11, 2026
Not long ago, Sochan appeared to have a key role in San Antonio’s future after they selected him 9th overall in 2022. He made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2023, and averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in his second season. Last season, he was largely shifted to the bench, and injuries have limited him to 28 games this season.
The decision to release Sochan comes as something of a surprise, as the Spurs shopped him around at the trade deadline to no avail. While well-regarded as a defender, he never quite developed as a shooter, and did not necessarily complement Victor Wembanyama’s skillset.
Teams will undoubtedly have some use for Sochan, both for his free throw ability and his highly unorthodox free throw stylings.
Ex-Titans coach Brian Callahan lands a new job
Former Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan has landed a new job.
Callahan will be the new pass game coordinator of the New York Giants, according to multiple reports. He will also serve as quarterbacks coach under new head coach John Harbaugh.
The Giants likely have Callahan’s experience working with Joe Burrow in mind here. Callahan was Burrow’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2023 and helped oversee the quarterback’s maturation into a star. The hope is that he can have a similar impact on Jaxson Dart. Dart’s development will be a huge key for the Giants, as Harbaugh has committed to him and in many ways has built the coaching staff to try to make the most of his talent.
Though his time with Tennessee did not work out, Callahan remains a respected offensive mind with a decade and a half of experience coaching in the NFL. He went just 4-19 as head coach of the Titans, and was fired on Oct. 13 following a 1-5 start to the 2025 season.
The Giants actually have the Titans on their schedule for next season, so Callahan will presumably get the chance to show his former team that he can still coach.
Phillies’ Zack Wheeler kept his removed rib after surgery
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler underwent major surgery, but decided to keep a bizarre souvenir from it.
Wheeler admitted to reporters on Wednesday that he kept the rib he had removed as part of thoracic outlet surgery he underwent last September. Wheeler credited his doctor with taking the necessary steps to preserve the rib, and said he is keeping it in his closet for the time being.
“I just have it sitting in the house. It’s in my closet,” Wheeler said.
Zack Wheeler kept his rib that he had removed during thoracic outlet decompression surgery. It’s in his closet at his house.
— OnPattison (@OnPattison) February 11, 2026
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/VWJCMmNoaQ
Wheeler is hardly the first athlete to keep something from a major surgery. He isn’t quite taking it to the same level as Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman once did, though.
Wheeler underwent the surgery last September after a blood clot was discovered near his right shoulder. He will miss at least the start of the season, though he is hoping to be able to pitch at some point in 2026.
A key part of the Phillies’ rotation, Wheeler has a 2.91 ERA since joining the team in 2020. He had a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts last year, and was a legitimate Cy Young contender before being shut down in mid-August.
Fans pay tribute to late ‘Varsity Blues’ star James Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek has died at the age of 48, his wife disclosed on Wednesday. The late actor had been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer, he revealed in 2024.
Van Der Beek gained fame for starring as Dawson Leery in the popular “Dawson’s Creek” show from 1998-2003. He later had recurring roles in TV shows “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” “Mercy,” and “Friends with Better Lives.”
Though he was mostly a TV star, Van Der Beek also starred in several movies. Many sports fans fondly remembered Van Der Beek for his portrayal of “Mox” in the high school football movie “Varsity Blues.”
I’d tell you that you don’t understand what Varsity Blues meant to me, and still does. But we were all there. We all lived. An absolute icon, rest well James
— Shawntez (@smfen) February 11, 2026
#RIP James Van Der Beek. Varsity Blues is one of the greatest football movies of all time. pic.twitter.com/0nVwwAUqNt
— Ron Swanson (@JoeGilbert1992) February 11, 2026
James Van Der Beek was an icon in the 90s. Varsity Blues is not the legendary movie it became without his performance. He fought a courageous battle with cancer and he will be missed. Rest easy James
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin) February 11, 2026
pic.twitter.com/k0bic4pMCY
This one is a bummer… never watch Dawson's Creek but Varsity Blues was an absolute instant classic for every middle school and high school football player growing up. https://t.co/JzGvqFly9h
— LD (@sportsbyLD) February 11, 2026
Van Der Beek was so well known for his role as the quarterback for West Canaan that he cracked a great NFL joke several years ago.
The 48-year-old Van Der Beek leaves behind his wife and six children. He is the third prominent actor from the football team portrayed in the movie to have died. Paul Walker, who played Lance Harbor, died in 2013 car crash, while Ron Lester, who played Billy Bob, died in 2016.
Barry Bonds is being pursued for a new job
Barry Bonds may be controversial around Major League Baseball, but he might have a new job lined up.
Netflix is pursuing Bonds to be part of its Opening Day coverage, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The March 25 game is between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, making Bonds a logical addition. He would likely be on-site in San Francisco for pregame and postgame coverage.
The job would likely be a one-off for Bonds, particularly because Netflix’s MLB package is very limited. They also have the Home Run Derby and Field of Dreams game, but those are also singular events that will not require a full-time on-air group.
No agreement has been made, and the network is also pursuing CC Sabathia to provide a Yankees perspective.
Bonds has 762 career home runs, but has fallen from grace due to alleged PED use during his career. One might imagine the league would not want him on television, but there is precedent for this sort of thing, as MLB permitted FOX to hire Pete Rose as an analyst in 2015 even though he was banned from baseball.
Bonds has largely kept a low profile since he last played in 2007. He spent a year as the Miami Marlins’ hitting coach, but that was his only real high-profile gig since his playing career ended. Other than that, he has popped up in the news for his likely exclusion from the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Seahawks player wore the perfect Sam Darnold T-shirt to Seahawks parade
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones has cemented his status as Sam Darnold’s biggest defender with his choice of apparel at the team’s Super Bowl victory parade.
Jones wore a T-shirt depicting Darnold smoking a cigarette and giving the middle finger during Wednesday’s parade. He eagerly showed it off during an interview before the parade, too.
Ernest Jones is one of the funniest dudes in the league 😂 pic.twitter.com/HHp4Pejv6i
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) February 11, 2026
Jones very much doubled down during his speech at the parade, with a rather coarse message for Darnold’s critics.
“If you got anything to say about my quarterback, you got anything to say about my defense, you got anything to say about my O-line, and you got anything to say about the city of Seattle, I got two words for you: “F— you,” Jones said.
Video: pic.twitter.com/rxjOvIhwwc
— Aaron Bean (@_beanaar) February 11, 2026
Jones very much took on the role of Darnold’s public defender during the season, and even publicly stuck up for his quarterback after a four-interception performance. He has very much been vindicated as Darnold was able to quarterback the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title.
Darnold threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on the season. He silenced the haters, at least temporarily, by throwing five touchdown passes without an interception during the Seahawks’ three playoff games.
Mike Breen had strong criticism for Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns certainly seems to be rubbing a lot of people around the New York Knicks the wrong way.
Knicks play-by-play announcer Mike Breen briefly called out Towns during the team’s loss to the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Early in the fourth quarter, Towns was called for an offensive foul, and he was not happy with the call.
Breen, however, felt that Towns was gaining a negative reputation as a complainer.
“Towns has to stop complaining,” Breen said. “I agree, sometimes, he doesn’t get the benefit of the calls, but it’s non-stop.”
Mike Breen is FED UP with KAT complaining after every call.
— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) February 11, 2026
“Towns HAS to stop complaining….I agree sometimes he doesn’t get the benefit of the call, but it’s non stop.” pic.twitter.com/61qBnK2a1n
Towns may be acting on instinct, but his habits appear to be wearing thin on people who should be in his corner. Clyde Frazier, Breen’s broadcast partner, also went off on Towns after the center fouled out in overtime on a reckless play.
As good as Towns is, there does seem to be some lingering discontent with his play in New York this year. He is averaging 19.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, but his name has popped up in trade rumors. That has led to friction between himself and the organization, and he does not appear to be doing himself any favors with his on-court behavior.
Francisco Lindor set to undergo surgery for hamate bone
The New York Mets’ 2026 season is not getting off to the healthiest of starts.
The Mets announced on Wednesday that Francisco Lindor will undergo surgery on his hamate bone. That is a bone in the hand that is susceptible to breaking. Lindor had been bothered by the injury for a couple of years, according to Mets executive David Stearns. The shortstop reported further issues with his hand this week, which led the Mets to send him to see a specialist.
The decision was made that Lindor would undergo surgery. His return is pegged at six weeks, although some people have cautioned that a player’s full power as a hitter does not return until several months later.
For those unfamiliar, the hamate bone — which could cause Corbin Carroll, Francisco Lindor and Jackson Holliday to miss Opening Day — is a small, hook-shaped bone on the palm, just underneath the pinky, that is particularly susceptible to breaking. While the recovery is typically…
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2026
Oddly, Lindor is not the only star baseball player to be dealing with this issue. Both Corbin Carroll and Jackson Holliday have suffered the same injury, putting their availabilities for Opening Day in question.
Stearns has said that the Mets expect Lindor to be ready for the team’s first regular-season game.
“If we get to the point where we get closer to Opening Day and there are questions about Francisco, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Stearns said Tuesday. “But, at this point, we’re optimistic that regardless of what Francisco needs, he’s going to be ready for Opening Day.”
Lindor, 32, is entering his sixth season with the Mets. He has been a standout player with them, posting three straight seasons with at least 30 home runs and an .800 OPS.
NBA announces suspensions from Hornets-Pistons brawl
The NBA has handed down discipline stemming from the fight between the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons on Monday.
Pistons center Isaiah Stewart got the longest suspension, as he will have to sit for seven games. Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate each received four-game suspensions for fighting and escalating the situation, while Jalen Duren got a two-game suspension for initiating the altercation.
The league said in its announcement that Stewart got the longest suspension partly because of “his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” His reputation is well-known, as he infamously went after LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a 2021 game. The fact that he left the bench to join the fray likely did not help his cause either.
The severity of the suspensions is not a huge surprise in light of how bad the fight got. Multiple punches were thrown during the brawl, with Bridges and Diabate both trying to get at Duren. Stewart came in to protect his teammate by going after Bridges.
All four players will begin serving their suspensions Thursday night, when both teams are scheduled to play again for the first time since the incident.
Warriors singled out Jonathan Kuminga for ‘petty’ reasons
A new story about the deterioration of Jonathan Kuminga’s relationship with the Golden State Warriors revealed just how toxic things became between the two sides.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater wrote a story about the breakdown in the relationship between the two sides, which hit a low point not long before Kuminga was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. On Dec. 10, during a break in the schedule, the Warriors summoned Kuminga for a meeting with Steve Kerr.
The Warriors wanted to confront Kuminga about skipping a team-requested event, and more ridiculously, that someone in his inner circle was taking too much food from the family room.
In other words, the Warriors and Kuminga had soured on each other to the extent that even the slightest grievances became a problem. Kuminga felt Kerr had not given him a fair chance to show what he could do, while Kerr felt Kuminga did not have a team-first mentality and failed to fit into the team’s system.
It served as a sign of how far gone things were between the two sides when Kuminga requested a trade the moment he became eligible to be moved. He eventually got his wish in a relationship that was clearly unsalvageable.
U.S. hockey star makes Winter Olympics history in win against Canada
Laila Edwards and the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team has been a juggernaut so far at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. They improved to 4-0 and remained undefeated in Group A of the competition after crushing Canada on Tuesday to the tune of a 5-0 score.
The cherry on top of that win was a historic one. It came on a goal by Edwards, who scored off an assist by Britta Curl in the third period.
You can watch Edwards’ nasty snipe here.
A moment that goes beyond scoring. 🔥
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) February 11, 2026
Laila Edwards makes history as the first Black woman to score a goal for Team USA in the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/9G58MSYAKy
With that goal, Edwards became the first Black woman to light the lamp for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey squad.
Laila Edwards is the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team AND score a goal at the Olympics 👏 pic.twitter.com/gSV5mqn0ZV
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 10, 2026
Team USA sent a strong statement with that victory. After all, the team took down the reigning Olympic champion, Canada, in dominant fashion.
Edwards and company won the possession battle, taking 33 shots on goal to just 20 by the Canadians, who struggled to weather the United States’ relentless attacks.
Given the heated rivalry between the U.S. and Canada on the ice, Edwards did not have to dig deep to find motivation.
“I mean, you can’t deny it, there’s extra, there’s more intensity” to facing Canada, Edwards said after the game, via Andrew Greif of NBC. “And I think we rise to the occasion.”
Having secured the top spot in Group A, the United States now prepares for the knockout stages, where it will face host country Italy in the quarterfinal round.
CJ McCollum has the perfect admission about his old take on Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards’ offense has come a long way in the NBA. He’s more than just an explosive athlete who regularly puts defenders on posters, as he’s also improved his game out on the perimeter.
Atlanta Hawks veteran NBA shooting guard CJ McCollum is among those who can attest to the Minnesota Timberwolves star’s impressive evolution in terms of his scoring abilities in the pros.
On Tuesday, McCollum responded to a take he made about Edwards back in 2020, when he said that the former Georgia Bulldogs star needs to work on his jumper.
He def worked on his jumper 🫡 😂😂 https://t.co/esNeLgAeOy
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) February 10, 2026
Five years after McCollum made that initial comment, Edwards has become a three-time NBA All-Star with a pull-up game that needs to be respected. Opponents now have to stretch further away from the basket when defending against the former No. 1 pick overall.
During his 2020-21 NBA rookie season, Edwards shot just 27.6% on pull-ups from inside the arc and 32.9% on pull-ups from the 3-point area. Fast forward to the 2025-26 campaign, and he is draining 47.3% of his 2-point pull-ups and 34.5% of the same shot type from behind the arc.
What is even scarier for the rest of the league is that Edwards is still only 24 years old, so his most dangerous form as a scorer is yet to come.
Cooper Flagg had a great message for ex-Duke teammate
Cooper Flagg’s bond with his former Duke Blue Devils teammates remains as strong as ever.
On Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks rookie forward got reunited with his ex-Duke teammate, Khaman Maluach, during a game against the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Although the Suns rookie didn’t see the floor, he was spotted chatting with Flagg before tipoff.
The 19-year-old Maluach seldom sees action with the Suns, and when he does, it’s always for a few minutes. Still, Flagg believes the best is yet to come for the South Sudanese.
“He’s one of my brothers,” Flagg said of Maluach after the game, via Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.
“We had an incredible year last year, and we spent a lot of time together away from the court…I have no doubt that he’s going to be a great pro for a long time.”
Flagg knows a great deal about what Maluach is capable of, as he played with him for a season with the Blue Devils during the 2024-25 college basketball campaign. With the two in the fold, Duke was widely viewed as a favorite to win the NCAA title, but the Blue Devils ended up losing in the Final Four to the Houston Cougars.
Still, both Flagg and Maluach managed to be high picks in the NBA draft. Flagg was selected first overall by the Mavs, while Maluach was taken 10th by the Houston Rockets, who later sent him to the Suns via a complex trade involving seven teams.
As for the game on Tuesday, Maluach’s Suns topped the Mavericks, who got 27 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists from the 19-year-old Flagg in a 120-111 loss.
Nebraska gets doomed by slippery floor in loss to Purdue
The No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers let one slip away on Tuesday — literally and figuratively.
Seemingly on the verge of pulling off an astounding come-from-behind win against the No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., Nebraska inbounded the ball from its baseline with 4.1 seconds left in overtime and with the visiting team ahead by just a point.
However, the Cornhuskers didn’t even manage to hoist up a shot, as senior guard Jamarques Lawrence slipped and turned the ball over.
Purdue sophomore guard Gicarri Harris picked up the loose ball before drawing a foul.
Harris then sank both free-throw attempts to give Purdue a bigger breathing room, as the Cornhuskers ended up losing to the Boilermakers, 80-77.
You can watch Lawrence’s crucial slip here.
With four seconds left in OT, Jamarques Lawrence slips bringing the ball up the court. pic.twitter.com/7jLcVjwABc
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 11, 2026
Two other Cornhuskers slipped on the same spot while trying to help Lawrence up, though they may have lost their footing because of his sweat on the floor.
In any case, it was an anticlimactic ending to what was an intense action between the Big Ten rivals.
Nebraska battled back from a 22-point deficit early in the second half to force overtime, but it ultimately fell short of completing a comeback win.
After winning 20 straight games to start the 2025-26 college basketball season, the Cornhuskers now find themselves on a 1-3 stretch heading into a matchup on Saturday against the Northwestern Wildcats in Lincoln.
