Former NBA No. 1 overall pick may be traded this summer
One former No. 1 overall pick may be speedrunning his Anthony Bennett arc.
The Atlanta Hawks could potentially trade away young forward Zaccharie Risacher this offseason, John Hollinger of The Athletic reported on Friday. Hollinger notes that Risacher “stalled out” for Atlanta this year and that “a trade can’t be ruled out” at this point.
Risacher, still only 21, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft (which was universally regarded as a weak draft class). He was an All-Rookie First Teamer for the Hawks last season but virtually became a ghost for the team this season.
The 6-foot-8 Risacher only averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in his sophomore year. He then fell out of the rotation entirely during the playoffs, making just three inconsequential appearances as the Hawks lost in six games to the New York Knicks in the first round.
As for the longer-term picture in Atlanta, it does not look much better for Risacher. With the emergences of fellow young wings like 2026 All-Star Jalen Johnson, reigning NBA Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and trade deadline arrival Jonathan Kuminga, there is no longer a clear path to minutes for Risacher in Atlanta.
With two years left on his rookie contract, Risacher cannot even become a restricted free agent until 2028. But with fans already labeling Risacher as a bust with some ruthless online posts, the Hawks themselves may be starting to believe as much as well.
Victor Wembanyama has disrespectful comment about Blazers
Victor Wembanyama is not exactly tipping his cap to the Portland Trail Blazers after seeing them off in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The San Antonio Spurs center spoke Friday about his excitement to play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals after the Wolves beat Denver in six games. In doing so, Wembanyama said beating Portland had been “pretty straightforward,” and that he was eager to be tested by teams that “will challenge more of the tactical, technical basketball aspect.”
After facing "pretty straightforward" Portland, Wemby said he's "excited to play against teams that will challenge more of the tactical, technical basketball aspect.”
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) May 1, 2026
The Spurs did beat Portland in five games, though it was not quite as straightforward a series as that would imply. The Blazers split the first two games in San Antonio and led by 17 and 19 points in Games 3 and 4. The Spurs were able to come back in both instances, including without Wembanyama in Game 3.
Still, Wembanyama clearly doesn’t see that first round series as a particularly challenging one. Perhaps he has a point, since the Spurs were able to rally back twice and won by double digits in all four of their victories. He even suggested that the series would have been a sweep had he not missed a game and a half, and he may well be right about that.
The Timberwolves won the season series against the Spurs 2-1, with two of the three contests being one-possession games. Clearly, they will provide Wembanyama with more of a challenge than Portland did.
Prosecutors decide whether DK Metcalf will be charged for incident with Lions fan
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will not face criminal charges over an incident with a fan during a game in Detroit last December.
The Wayne County Prosecutors Office announced May 1 that Metcalf will not be charged for his altercation with Lions fan Ryan Kennedy during a Week 16 game last December. According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, prosecutors determined that there would be no charges and cited the fact that Kennedy did not appear injured or seek medical treatment at the time of the incident.
Metcalf was caught on camera throwing a punch at the fan during the Dec. 21 game. The wide receiver’s camp alleged that Kennedy used racial slurs to refer to Metcalf, while the fan claimed Metcalf was agitated by being called DeKaylin, his full name.
The fan maintains he did not use inappropriate language and is even suing Metcalf for alleging as much. That lawsuit will continue despite the lack of charges.
Metcalf wound up being suspended two games for the incident. That will ultimately be the only discipline he faces either from the league or legally.
Chris Paul makes a laughable claim about his post after Clippers’ elimination
Chris Paul is trying to stretch plausible deniability to its absolute limits.
The retired former LA Clippers guard Paul appeared Friday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.” During the appearance, Paul addressed the viral post that he made after the Clippers were eliminated from playoff contention this year with a play-in tournament loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Paul took to Instagram after the Clippers’ defeat to post a famous Internet meme used to celebrate someone else’s downfall. You can see the screenshot of Paul’s post here.
On Friday though, Paul tried to claim that the post was just a coincidence. The 12-time NBA All-Star said that he was actually playing a card game with his family that night and posted the meme simply to celebrate his win.
Chris Paul says he posted the meme because he won a card game, not because of the Clippers’ elimination
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 1, 2026
(@PatMcAfeeShow / h/t @ohnohedidnt24 ) pic.twitter.com/xfRkU84tSR
Of course, that is a rather laughable claim from Paul, especially considering that he shared the meme just minutes after the Clippers were eliminated. That said, he can still get an “A” for effort with his attempted excuse there.
The 40-year-old Paul beefed with the Clippers this season in his second career stint with the team, feuding with multiple coaches before finally being sent home by the team in December. Given that even Paul’s wife was taking petty shots at the Clippers afterwards, it seems very likely that Paul’s meme post had some extra meaning to it … beyond just a family game of cards.
Chris Finch reveals why Timberwolves felt disrespected by Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch revealed that his team had a little extra motivation going against the Denver Nuggets during the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Finch argued that the Nuggets had targeted the Timberwolves in the playoffs by how they played out the end of the regular season.
“Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch and they chose us,” Finch said. “We used that as motivation all the way through preparation and through the series. They didn’t have to choose us. They chose us.”
Chris Finch:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 1, 2026
"Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch and they chose us. We used that as motivation. They didn't have to choose us. They chose us" pic.twitter.com/ZQbDaHAv4q
Whether or not this is true is irrelevant to Finch’s message, though one can certainly question it. The Nuggets rested most of their players for the season finale and only played Nikola Jokic to allow him awards eligibility. They won anyway, but would have dropped to the No. 4 seed had they lost. In other words, if the Nuggets were trying to get the Timberwolves, they weren’t trying that hard.
The Timberwolves won’t care. They spent the entire series antagonizing Denver, and they kept at it even after the series was over. This is just them digging in a little bit harder and throwing more salt in the wound.
Report: Nuggets could trade 1 All-Star player this offseason
The Denver Nuggets may be looking at every possibility on the table after their first-round exit this year.
Denver could potentially look to trade veteran guard Jamal Murray this offseason, Jason Quick and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Friday. The report notes that Murray, the second-highest-paid player on the Nuggets roster, might be a trade candidate if franchise superstar Nikola Jokic signs a new extension with the team this summer.
Murray, 29, was a first-time All-Star this season for Denver, averaging 25.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game (all career-best marks). Having been drafted by the team in 2016, Murray is the second-longest-tenured Nuggets player after Jokic and was a fundamental part of their NBA championship team in 2023.
But Murray did see a slight regression during this year’s playoffs. He averaged 23.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per contest as Denver just lost in the first round to an injury-depleted Minnesota Timberwolves team in six games.
Murray was rewarded by the Nuggets with a max contract extension in 2024 and is thus still owed roughly $161 million over the next three seasons. But if Jokic gets a rich new extension of his own from the team, it will likely be untenable for Denver to keep paying Murray along with the likes of Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun while also trying to retain restricted free agents Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones.
The former lottery pick Murray also made headlines during the series against the Timberwolves with some of his mental lapses down the stretch. Now after spending a decade in Denver, it appears that Murray could possibly find himself on the trade block this summer.
Mets publicly address Carlos Mendoza’s job status
The New York Mets have been one of the biggest stories in baseball for all the wrong reasons, but at least for now, it will not cost manager Carlos Mendoza his job.
Mets president David Stearns said Friday that the team has no plans to make a change at the manager position despite their 10-21 start. Stearns acknowledged that the Mets must improve, but did not blame Mendoza for the team’s problems.
“We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.”
DiComo added that Stearns and owner Steve Cohen have not had any serious conversations about making a managerial change. This tracks with other reports indicating that the organization simply does not view Mendoza as the root cause of their problems.
The Mets entered the season expecting to be in the playoffs, at the very least. Their 10-21 start is already endangering that goal. The team has lost five of its last six to the likes of Colorado and Washington, and is already 11.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
The Red Sox and Phillies have already made managerial changes this year, which led many to wonder if the Mets might be next. The speculation certainly seemed reasonable since Mendoza also oversaw a 7-14 collapse to end last season that cost the team a playoff spot.
Mendoza, 46, is an underwhelming 182-173 since becoming Mets manager prior to the 2024 season.
Jaden McDaniels takes another shot at Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels is taking one last parting shot at the Denver Nuggets.
McDaniels appeared on “NBA Today” Friday, one day after the Timberwolves knocked Denver out of the playoffs with a 110-98 win in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Host Malika Andrews asked him about the budding rivalry between the two teams, but McDaniels said the Nuggets have to start beating them in order for it to be a rivalry.
“You can say it’s a rivalry. It’s up there now,” McDaniels said. “I don’t know if we can anymore after we beat them two, three times, but it’s cool.”
Jaden McDaniels on calling Nuggets-Wolves a rivalry 😅
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 1, 2026
Jaden: “I don’t know if we can anymore after we beat them 2-3 times.”
Malika: “You’re saying they can’t be in your class anymore because you guys have won the last 2 series?”
JM: “Basically.” pic.twitter.com/UnHvUYgpQ2
The Nuggets and Timberwolves have met in three of the last four playoffs. Denver won the first bout in 2023 en route to an NBA title, but the Timberwolves have won each of the last two series.
McDaniels appears to delight in taunting the Nuggets, as he caused a stir with some comments he made during the series as well. He might as well lean into it while he has reason, especially since his team was quite shorthanded and overcame Denver anyway.
McDaniels can also say he backed up his talk. He poured in 32 points and collected 10 rebounds in Thursday’s series clincher.
Mikal Bridges had the best response after Knicks’ Game 6 blowout
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges knew what the Atlanta Hawks were going through when his team was blowing them out Thursday night.
The Knicks obliterated the Hawks 140-89 to close out their Eastern Conference first-round series, at one point running up a 61-point lead. Bridges was asked after the game if he had ever been part of such a one-sided contest.
Calmly, Bridges reminded the reporter that he had once been on the other side of an infamous playoff blowout.
“Yeah, when I was in Phoenix and I lost,” Bridges said.
Q: Do you remember the last time you were part of such a one sided game like this?
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 1, 2026
Mikal: "Yeah when I was in Phoenix and I lost"
That you laughing @joshhart? lol pic.twitter.com/cwXTvGF7vO
Bridges is alluding to Game 7 of the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals, in which his Suns lost 123-90 to the Dallas Mavericks. That game spawned the infamous “Chris Paul hits a huge three to cut the lead down to 42” meme. Ironically, the Hawks used that to troll the Suns in 2023, which they might be regretting now.
Bridges took a lot of heat for his performance early in the series when the Knicks fell behind 2-1. No wonder he would have felt a great deal of relief by the turnaround, especially after he wound up contributing 24 points in the series clincher.
Chase Claypool is attempting an NFL comeback
Chase Claypool is attempting an NFL comeback after two years out of the league.
Claypool was among those trying out at Green Bay Packers camp on Friday, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today. The former Notre Dame wide receiver last played in the NFL in 2023.
#Packers hosting former Notre Dame receiver Chase Claypool for a tryout. A 2020 second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Claypool has not played in the league since 2023 in Miami. pic.twitter.com/doUJjWOe6o
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) May 1, 2026
At one point, Claypool was regarded as one of the more promising young wide receivers in the NFL. He caught nine touchdowns as a rookie in 2020 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and started his career with back-to-back 800-yard receiving years. He quickly fell out of favor there, however, and quickly wore out his welcome elsewhere due to questions about his effort and attitude.
Claypool’s last NFL season came in 2023, when he caught just eight passes for 77 yards between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. It was a long fall for someone who once called himself a top-3 NFL receiver.
Now 27, Claypool is just hoping to catch on in Green Bay. He would likely be little more than depth behind the likes of Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden.
Russell Wilson considering major decision regarding his future
Russell Wilson’s NFL career might be about to come to an end.
Wilson is “in deep discussions” to begin a television career, likely ending his time as a player, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. CBS is considered the favorite to land Wilson if he goes this route.
Interestingly, this news emerged just days after Wilson visited with the New York Jets, who are considering him as a backup option for Geno Smith. Perhaps that visit did not go well, or Wilson simply is not enthusiastic about that possibility.
Wilson has history with CBS. He has appeared on “The NFL Today” before, including last season, which many people saw as a prelude to a full-time media career. The network also has a vacancy after Matt Ryan left to run the Atlanta Falcons.
Wilson has been adamant that he wants to continue playing, but the opportunities may simply not be what he is looking for. The 37-year-old has largely been unimpressive since he left the Seattle Seahawks, with unsuccessful stints with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants. The Giants gave him a shot last year, but benched him for Jaxson Dart after just three starts.
Despite the unmemorable ending to his career, Wilson will likely find himself in the Hall of Fame someday. He was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, having thrown for 46,966 career yards and 353 touchdowns.
Mitchell Robinson trolled Dyson Daniels with Instagram post after ejection
Mitchell Robinson had a pointed question for Dyson Daniels after Thursday night’s double ejection in Game 6 of the first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks.
The tense moment unfolded in the second quarter at State Farm Arena, where the Hawks were already trailing by 49 points in what became a historic dismantling as the Knicks ultimately closed out the series 4-2 to advance.
As players boxed out during a free throw by Knicks forward OG Anunoby, Daniels appeared to elbow Robinson before pulling his shoulder, triggering an immediate confrontation. Shoves quickly spread across both benches, sending a referee to the floor in the chaos.
Officials stepped in and ejected both players.
After the game, Robinson kept the exchange alive on social media. He posted a meme from the AI sensation Kiki Energy on his Instagram story, set to the song “Do you ever get tired” by King Willonius.
The deliberate choice used the track’s taunting message to suggest Daniels had grown weary of the blowout and acted out of frustration. The pointed troll added a sharp edge of rivalry to the physical series, even as the Knicks moved forward in the postseason.
Caitlin Clark injured after flagrant foul in Indiana return
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark suffered an apparent ankle injury on Thursday night after a flagrant foul in her second preseason game against the Dallas Wings.
Clark was returning from a groin injury that sidelined her for the final 22 regular-season games and the team’s entire playoff run last year. She had opened the contest strongly, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and 19 by halftime while adding assists and a steal.
With 7:51 left in the third quarter, Clark rose for a three-point attempt and landed awkwardly when Wings forward Alanna Smith extended her foot into the landing zone. Officials reviewed the contact and assessed Smith a flagrant-1 foul.
Clark immediately began limping but remained on the floor long enough to shoot her free throws before heading to the bench for medical evaluation. She did not return for the rest of the game.
Fever personnel checked her on the sideline, though the team has not yet released an official update on her status. However, Clark has downplayed the injury.
“I feel good. I just landed on my kneecap really hard,” she said, via ESPN. “I know there’s a committee of people that really wanted them [the refs] to start calling things, and I thought they did a great job of that. Honestly, I thought the refs were great, and it’s preseason, so you’re probably going to see more fouls called. I expect that number to drop. But I think overall, it’s going to improve the product.”
Clark has frequently drawn physical defense and hard fouls throughout her professional career.
Nikola Jokic offers harsh Nuggets reality check after playoff exit
Following the Denver Nuggets’ first-round playoff exit to a shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves team, Nikola Jokic delivered a refreshingly candid and brutally honest take on the state of the franchise.
The three-time MVP, who powered Denver to 54 regular-season wins, cut straight to the point.
“We just lost in the first round. I think we are far away,” he said when asked if Denver is close to title contention.
When pressed about potential changes to the roster or coaching staff, Jokic kept the moment light while delivering a sharp dose of accountability.
“That’s not my decision,” he said. “Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all be fired.”
The Serbia quip, a nod to the no-nonsense standards back home, captured the weight of expectations around the defending 2023 champions without assigning blame. Jokic even shouldered much of the responsibility himself, noting he needed to play better after an uncharacteristically slow start to the series.
Yet amid the disappointment and speculation about his future, Jokic made his intentions clear. He still wants to remain a Nugget “forever” and is open to a long-term extension this summer.
For a franchise that built an organic title around its superstar, the coming months will test whether Denver can close that gap Jokic so honestly described.
Adley Rutschman grand slam leads to Jim Palmer first
Adley Rutschman’s grand slam not only powered the Baltimore Orioles to a 10-3 victory over the Houston Astros but also delivered a long-awaited first for broadcaster Jim Palmer.
The 80-year-old Hall of Famer had never eaten a chicken wing until Thursday afternoon.
The playful bet originated more than a year earlier during a MASN telecast with play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown. Palmer casually revealed his culinary omission, leaving Brown stunned. The pair agreed that Palmer would sample one live on air the next time the Orioles hit a grand slam in a game he called.
That moment arrived in the opener of a doubleheader at Camden Yards. Rutschman’s fifth-inning drive popped out of Astros center fielder Brice Matthews’ glove after a wall collision and cleared the fence. Jeremiah Jackson added a seventh-inning grand slam, marking Baltimore’s first two-slam game since 2015.
In the eighth inning, MASN host Rob Long delivered a tray of wings to the booth. Palmer took his first bite and quipped about the play, “Brice Matthews should have caught that ball.”
“It’s a lot of skin, that’s all I can tell you,” he continued with a chuckle. “They’re greasy, by the way. Can’t eat them with a microphone. Actually, these are pretty good. Look what I’ve missed all these years.”
The lighthearted exchange, complete with Brown’s playful Dr. Seuss nod, brought smiles across Baltimore, proving even legends can discover new joys at the ballpark.
Jalen Brunson makes shocking acknowledgement after Knicks win
After the New York Knicks demolished the Atlanta Hawks, 140-89, in Game 6 to clinch their first-round playoff series, Jalen Brunson stepped to the podium expecting the usual basketball questions.
Instead, a reporter tossed Brunson a legitimate curveball: How did he feel about Roman Reigns reclaiming the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42 by defeating CM Punk and reuniting The Bloodline?
Brunson’s eyes lit up like a Madison Square Garden crowd at Monday Night Raw.
“See, these are the questions I want asked,” he said with a laugh. “Very excited. I have a handshake with one of our trainers, and we acknowledge (Reigns) before every game.”
The Knicks point guard, a lifelong WWE devotee who once stormed the SmackDown ring with a steel chair to chase off rival Tyrese Haliburton, was clearly in his element.
The pregame ritual—complete with the Bloodline’s signature finger-to-the-sky gesture—has apparently been part of Brunson’s routine all season.
In a lighthearted moment that had fans buzzing, the Knicks star proved he can dominate on the court and still pay proper respects to the Tribal Chief.
As New York prepares for the Eastern Conference semifinals, maybe a little extra acknowledgment is exactly what the Knicks need to keep rolling.
Everyone said the same thing after Timberwolves stunned Nuggets in Game 6
One player was clearly the biggest winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ win on Thursday over the Denver Nuggets.
The T-Wolves were down three of their top-scoring guards in Game 6 of their first-round series at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. But as Anthony Edwards famously touted, the home team had Jaden McDaniels.
McDaniels talked a lot of smack after Game 2, ridiculing Denver for supposedly having a team full of poor defenders. He let his play do the talking in Game 6.
The 25-year-old swingman was arguably the best player on the floor on Thursday, and that’s in a contest that included Nikola Jokic. McDaniels finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds on 13/25 shooting, while also clamping up Murray like he was prime Kawhi Leonard.
Fans and media members alike were quick to praise McDaniels for backing up every word that he said throughout the series.
Jaden McDaniels talked it and walked it and the only time he smiled was when Jokic grabbed him at the end of game 4.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) May 1, 2026
Jaden McDaniels is having a top 3 aura moment in basketball history
— RB (Ringless Bitch) (@RyB_311) May 1, 2026
Unfathomable levels of backing it up by Jaden McDaniels
— Adam Nayman (@brofromanother) May 1, 2026
McDaniels was draped on Murray all night, holding the Nuggets star to just 12 points on 4/17 shooting. That’s a championship-caliber guard known for playoff heroics that McDaniels took out of the game.
Murray was helpless to stop McDaniels on the other end, as the lanky forward just shot over the top of him every time down the floor.
For as loud as Nuggets fans booed McDaniels in Game 5, the cheers he heard in Minnesota were even louder.
Makai Lemon gets blessing to use Eagles number not worn in nearly a decade
Philadelphia Eagles rookie Makai Lemon has gotten the green light to bring back a jersey number that means a lot to the city he’s moving to.
Lemon shared on Thursday that he would be wearing the No. 9 when he takes the field for the Eagles this season. The number has not been used since the 2018 season, when a certain backup quarterback by the name of Nick Foles was still slinging passes in Philly.
“I appreciate the Eagles so much. Nick Foles, especially, to pass that number down,” Lemon told reporters.
“He could have easily kept that number to himself. Such a great player when he was here, wearing that number 9. Led them to the Super Bowl. … I’ll represent the 9 well.”
The USC product said that he was well aware that the number had not been used for several years. Lemon added that he had a phone call with Foles, who wanted to “pass that number over” to him. Foles was the first to tell Lemon that he was getting the go-ahead to rock the No. 9.
Fortunately for Lemon, there were no take-backs (so far) from his call with Foles. That wasn’t the case during the NFL draft, when Lemon was on the phone with the wrong team before hearing his name called.
Lemon wore No. 6 in his final season with the Trojans. That number is already taken by fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who also used No. 6 during his four years at Alabama.
Knicks fans already taunting next opponent with 3-word chant
New York Knicks fans were puffing their chests for good reason Thursday after the team manhandled the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the second round.
The Knicks laid the smackdown on the Hawks in a 140-89 beatdown in Game 6 that broke all kinds of NBA postseason records. New York led by as many as 61 points in front of a silent crowd at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
Knicks fans did not let hundreds of miles of separation stop them from celebrating. Thousands gathered around Madison Square Garden for the contest and celebrated the win as if it had just taken place at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”
The chant that broke out after the Knicks’ Game 6 win directly taunted one team while indirectly dismissing the other.
“We want Boston! We want Boston!” fans chanted outside MSG.
Knicks fans chant “WE WANT BOSTON” after a Game 5 win at MSG
— Alex Monaco (@Alex__Monaco) April 29, 2026
7th Avenue is rockin’#Knicks #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/O1GiCi6ZsF
A week ago, the Celtics looked more likely to advance to the second round than the Knicks did. Boston led its series against the Philadelphia 76ers 3-1, while New York was deadlocked at 2-2 against Atlanta.
The Knicks took care of business on Thursday night. The Celtics failed to do the same, as the Sixers beat them 106-93 to force a Game 7 in Boston.
The fans along 7th Avenue should probably be hoping for Philly to advance so that New York would get homecourt advantage in the second round. But the prospect of eliminating the Celtics in back-to-back seasons may be what has fans so focused on the boys from Beantown.
Grant Hill dropped the craziest line about Joel Embiid in Game 6
Grant Hill was dropping bars during Thursday night’s game.
The retired Basketball Hall of Famer Hill was on the call for NBC during Game 6 between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. In the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. Hill busted out the craziest line about 76ers star Joel Embiid.
Reacting to a behind-the-back pass that Embiid made to 76ers teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. for an easy dunk, Hill started waxing poetic. “No appendix, no problem!” exclaimed Hill.
“Joel Embiid: No appendix, no problem!!!”
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) May 1, 2026
New tier of color commentary achieved. pic.twitter.com/YDx3lWE9gZ
That is, of course, a reference to Embiid’s recent health situation. The former NBA MVP Embiid recently returned to the lineup after missing roughly two-and-a-half weeks while recovering from an emergency appendectomy.
Embiid’s impact since returning has been immense as well. He put up 19 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists on Thursday as the 76ers won 106-93 to force a Game 7 against the Celtics on Saturday.
The seven-footer Embiid, who also powered through a separate injury scare in Game 5 of the series, generally has a reputation as a playoff choker. But if he can lead the No. 7 seed 76ers to a comeback upset of the No. 2 seed Celtics, it could definitely do wonders for Embiid’s overall legacy.
