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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivers great quote after taking over Game 4

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has not taken a single moment of the NBA Finals for granted.

The 2025 NBA Finals have been a roller coaster affair with both the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder trading punches at the highest level. On Friday, it was SGA and the Thunder who delivered a decisive blow to take Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

Gilgeous-Alexander took over down the stretch, scoring 15 points over the game’s final five minutes to help power OKC to a 111-104 victory. He scored the most clutch points in an NBA Finals game in the 21st century.

During his postgame press conference, Gilgeous-Alexander was asked if he had “sensed the moment” before deciding to take control of the game.

“Absolutely. That’s what it’s all about,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “Winning, especially this time of the season, comes down to the moments. It comes down to the late game. Every team is good … It comes down to the moments, who makes winning plays on both ends of the floor.

“I relish those moments, I love those moments, good or bad. When I was a kid shooting on my driveway, I’d count down the clock for those moments, and now I get to live it. It’s a blessing.”

SGA finished with 35 points on 12/24 shooting to go along with 3 assists, 3 steals, and a perfect 10/10 from the free throw line.

Much has been made about Gilgeous-Alexander being labeled a “free throw merchant” for his polarizing ability to draw fouls.

However, even Shai’s most vocal critics must admit that he came up big down the stretch during the most critical fourth quarter of his career. The opposite could be said for one Pacers player who completely botched the final minute of Game 4 for Indiana.

Stephen A. Smith responds after getting caught playing Solitaire during NBA Finals Game 4

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Stephen A. Smith did not sound the least bit embarrassed after being caught playing on his phone during Friday’s NBA Finals game.

Smith was in attendance for Game 4 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The ESPN analyst had a lower box seat with an incredible vantage point of the contest.

The NBA Finals action on the court was not enough to fully entertain Smith. A photo of Smith playing Solitaire on his phone during the game generated some negative attention online. Smith confirmed that the photo was indeed real, claiming that he was “multi-tasking” during timeouts.

“Yep! That’s me. Who would’ve thought….I can multi-task. Especially during TIMEOUTS! Hope y’all are enjoying the NBA Finals. This is going 7 games now, peeps!”

Smith has one of the loudest voices, literally and figuratively, on ESPN, particularly when it comes to the NBA. His opinions on “First Take” generate millions of views on a weekly basis.

Seeing him completely check out of a Finals game does not help his credibility in the slightest. Kevin Durant, who has constantly feuded with Smith over the years, even spread the photo to his own social media following.

Smith’s claim that he played Solitaire only during breaks was also proven false. One fan’s video showed Smith on his phone as NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a breakaway layup.

Pacers fans were already mocking Smith for believing that Indiana had no chance of winning the series. After Game 4’s Solitaire fiasco, the clowning may get even more creative in Game 6.

Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin had one of the worst 30-second stretches in NBA Finals history

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Indiana Pacers swingman Bennedict Mathurin had a final minute to forget Friday in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle swapped out Aaron Nesmith for Mathurin as Indiana trailed 107-103 with 44 seconds left inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The move was meant to be an offense-for-defense substitution, as Mathurin is a much more dynamic offensive weapon compared to Nesmith.

Mathurin ended up being an utter disaster on both ends of the floor. He was awarded two free throws after getting fouled while fighting for a loose ball. Instead of cutting the lead down to a single possession, the Pacers reserve bricked both attempts.

Following a Thunder timeout, Mathurin fouled Thunder star Jalen Williams before the inbound, awarding OKC a free throw to extend the lead to 108-103. Indiana then got the steal off the inbound, which led to two more Mathurin free throws. He missed a third straight foul shot before finally converting on his second attempt.

After making the free throw, Mathurin inexplicably tackled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander before the inbound to give the Thunder yet another bonus free throw.

Given the painful free throw penalty that comes with away-from-play fouls, NBA players rarely commit the infraction before an inbound. Mathurin tallied two such fouls in the last 30 seconds of a close NBA Finals game. Mathurin’s boneheaded fouls and three missed free throws cost the Pacers five points in a game they lost 111-104.

Mathurin was the Pacers’ hero in Game 3, scoring 27 points on 9/12 shooting off the bench to lead Indiana to a 116-107 victory. It took all of one game for him to start looking like a villain.

Red Sox player gets sweet revenge months after getting traded by Yankees

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Boston Red Sox slugger Carlos Narvaez on Friday got some sweet revenge on his former team.

The New York Yankees traded Narvaez to the Red Sox in December in exchange for a prospect and some international bonus pool space. The 26-year-old has since become Boston’s starting catcher this season.

On Friday, the Red Sox catcher did his best to make the Yankees regret shipping him away during their AL East clash at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. The Venezuelan came up to the plate in a 1-1 game in the bottom of the 10th inning.

With runners in scoring position and two outs, Narvaez smashed a 1-2 fastball off the Green Monster to walk off the Yankees 2-1.

The Yankees used Narvaez sparingly last season. He went 3-for-13 (.231) in just six games during the 2024 campaign.

The Red Sox took a chance on Narvaez, and their trust in him has paid off in a big way. Through 54 games with Boston, he has hit .280 with 6 home runs, 23 RBIs, and an OPS of .817.

Narvaez also bookended the latest chapter of one of sports’ most historic rivalries.

Pacers fans mock ‘Dumb and Dumber’ Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins

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A couple of Indiana Pacers fans stood out during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday for the outfits they were wearing at the game.

Two Pacers fans came dressed for the game between the Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., wearing colorful tuxedos like the ones worn by Harry and Lloyd in “Dumb and Dumber.” One had on an orange tuxedo with Stephen A. Smith’s face on it. The other was wearing a light blue tuxedo with Kendrick Perkins’ face on it.

Perkins, who is an analyst for ESPN, has underestimated the Pacers all season. He predicted before the season that the Pacers would miss the playoffs entirely.

Both Perkins and Smith picked the Thunder to win Game 3, which Indiana ended up winning.

Mostly everyone in the national media has slept on the Pacers all season. Indiana has been proving fans and pundits wrong all season.

Caitlin Clark has interesting quote about Tyrese Haliburton

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Caitlin Clark gave Indiana hoops fans exactly what they wanted with her recent quote about her relationship with Tyrese Haliburton.

Clark has arguably been the biggest pro basketball star, regardless of gender, since she first put on an Indiana Fever uniform last May. Haliburton has led the Indiana Pacers to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances, with his star continuing to rise throughout this year’s run to the NBA Finals.

The combined efforts of Clark and Haliburton have helped make Indiana the center of the basketball universe over the past two seasons.

Caitlin recently spoke to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne about wanting to become a permanent fixture in Indiana’s basketball history alongside Haliburton.

“Ty and I would both tell you this is where we both hope to stay the rest of our careers,” Clark said. “People are like, ‘It’s a small market.’ But no, that’s what makes it fun. These people, this is what means the world to them. We haven’t hosted a Finals game in 25 years, and I’ve never seen this type of excitement. People are lining up three hours before the game. I literally just got the chills thinking about it.

“And they’re the same for the Fever. I think it’s just like [Pacers coach] Rick [Carlisle] said, ‘In 49 other states it’s basketball, but here it’s just really different.’ I’m really fortunate to be able to play here and he’s the same.”

Clark has been nursing a quad injury over the past few weeks. The Fever star’s time away from the WNBA court allowed her to become a common fixture during the Pacers’ home playoff games. Clark even trolled Jalen Brunson during the Pacers’ decisive Game 6 win over his New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Basketball fans often make a big deal out of stars supposedly wanting to go to big-market franchises in marquee cities like New York or Los Angeles. But Clark and Haliburton have been vocal that they’re more than happy staying put in Indianapolis.

Another head coach ‘fully ruled out’ for Knicks job

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The New York Knicks have struck out swinging once again.

Over the past two weeks, the Knicks have tried to chase several currently employed candidates for their head coaching vacancy. New York has been tied to multiple high-profile names, such as the Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd and the Houston Rockets’ Ime Udoka. However, the Knicks’ requests to interview both candidates have since been denied.

Add the Knicks’ pursuit of Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan to the team’s growing list of rejections. Several reporters have linked Donovan to New York throughout the week.

On Friday, Chicago Sports Network’s KC Johnson and SNY’s Ian Begley confirmed that Donovan has been completely ruled out for as a candidate.

Donovan has been the Bulls’ head coach since the 2020-21 campaign. In his five seasons at the helm, Donovan has led Chicago to a 195-205 record with just one playoff appearance, a first-round exit against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022.

After multiple denied interview requests, the Knicks have reportedly set their sights on an untethered candidate.

Between looking for a head coach and the team’s rumored pursuit of Kevin Durant, this offseason is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in Knicks history.

Brock Lesnar in attendance as daughter Mya wins shot put national championship

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Brock Lesnar’s daughter Mya had a big week this week, and the wrestling icon was in attendance for it.

Mya Lesnar on Thursday won the NCAA outdoor shot put championship. She threw the shot put 19.01 meters on her first attempt, which won her the title. You can take a look at the Colorado State senior’s throw that won her the championship.

Mya also won the indoor shot put championship in 2024 with a throw of 18.53 meters. May has also competed in the hammer, discus and weight throw during her track and field career.

Brock Lesnar was in attendance at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., to watch his daughter win the shot put championship on Thursday.

In addition to being a WWE Superstar and MMA champion, Brock was an NCAA national champion. He won the Division I heavyweight wrestling championship in 2000 while with the University of Minnesota.

Cam Akers signs with new team in free agency

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Cam Akers’ tour of the NFC continues.

The New Orleans Saints announced on Friday that they have signed the veteran running back Akers in free agency. Akers has agreed to terms with the Saints on a one-year deal.

A former second-round pick in 2020 (No. 52 overall), Akers spent the first three-and-a-half seasons of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams (including as a member of their Super Bowl-winning team in the 2021 season).

But Akers had his pro development stunted by an Achilles tear suffered in July 2021. The Rams would later draft Kyren Williams in 2022, and Williams’ eventual progression into an All-Pro running back ended up pushing Akers out of Los Angeles.

Akers was causing problems with the Rams towards the end of his time there, and he was ultimately traded to the Minnesota Vikings midway through the 2023 season. Unfortunately though, Akers still has yet to really find his footing ever since then, leaving Minnesota before the 2024 season to sign with the Houston Texans and then eventually getting traded back to the Vikings last October.

Overall last season, Akers managed 444 rushing yards and two touchdowns over 17 combined appearances between his two teams. Meanwhile, the Saints are looking for help on their depth chart behind five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara. Akers will be one of New Orleans’ backup RB options along with Kendre Miller, rookie sixth-round pick Devin Neal, and the former NFL draft bust whom the Saints also took a shot on earlier this offseason.

Shams Charania responds to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s apparent shade at him

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Shams Charania is taking note of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s apparent issues with his reporting.

The ESPN reporter Charania made a notable claim last month about the Milwaukee Bucks star Antetokounmpo. Charania reported that Antetokounmpo was “open-minded” for the first time in his NBA career about a potential departure from the Bucks.

Then earlier this week, Charania made another claim about Antetokounmpo. Charania reported that Antetokounmpo could potentially keep Milwaukee in limbo while deciding what to do with his future.

The second claim by Charania seemingly drew a response from Antetokounmpo himself. In a post to his X page that same day, Antetokounmpo wrote the notable message, “Does anyone else miss Woj [Adrian Wojnarowski]?!”

Charania appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday and was asked about Antetokounmpo’s post. He said that he believes he is “all good” with Antetokounmpo and noted his own positive relationship with his one-time mentor Wojnarowski, who retired from sports journalism in 2024. Charania also doubled down saying that he was “1000% stand[ing] by that reporting” about Antetokounmpo being open to a potential Bucks exit.

In recent weeks, the Antetokounmpo trade buzz has seemingly died down. In fact, another well-known NBA reporter recently said that neither Antetokounmpo nor the Bucks are looking to pursue a trade.

Charania could very well be right that Antetokounmpo, while stopping short of actually asking out, is mulling over the feasibility of a possible move elsewhere. But this would not be the first time in recent months that Charania’s reporting has drawn the ire of some prominent NBA figures.

Cavs work out NCAA scoring leader

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The Cleveland Cavaliers worked out a top scorer ahead of the upcoming NBA Draft.

Spencer Davies reported on Thursday that the Cavs worked out Eric Dixon, who spent his career at Villanova.

Dixon, 24, played at Villanova from 2020-2025. He averaged 23.3 points per game last season, which led Division I college basketball.

Dixon shot 45.1 percent from the field and made 40.7 percent of his three-pointers. He averaged 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

The Cavaliers hold picks Nos. 49 and 58 in the draft, which is scheduled to take place on June 25-26.

Dixon received an invitation to the NBA Scouting Combine, which was held last month. He measured in at 6-foot-7.5 and 258.6 pounds.

Some people have given a generous comparison of him to Julius Randle.

The Cavs are coming off a 64-18 season, which helped them land the top seed in the East. They lost to the Indiana Pacers in five games in the conference semifinals. That result was disappointing but is starting to not look as bad now that the Pacers are leading the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.

H/T HoopsWire

Shaq agrees to notable settlement in FTX cryptocurrency lawsuit

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Shaquille O’Neal is officially putting the FTX saga behind him.

The retired basketball icon O’Neal has agreed to pay a large sum to settle a class-action lawsuit related to the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Michelle Chapman of the Associated Press reported on Friday. O’Neal will be paying $1.8 million in order to settle the lawsuit.

Chapman adds that O’Neal agreed back in April to the proposed settlement, which will pertain only to him and in which he is not acknowledging any wrongdoing. However, the payment amount and other proposed terms were just disclosed earlier this week in a filing with a U.S. District Court in Miami, Fla.

A court still needs to sign off on the agreement, under which O’Neal would be making payment within 30 days of finalization in exchange for a broad release from future claims. A provision in the settlement also holds that O’Neal cannot seek reimbursement from the FTX estate. You can read Chapman’s full report on the situation here.

The Basketball Hall of Famer O’Neal was one of several big-name celebrities who endorsed FTX prior to its demise. But FTX, once the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume in the world, went bankrupt in 2022 amid an alleged mishandling of an estimated $8 billion in customer deposits. Its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, has since been sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud, money laundering, and other related charges.

As for O’Neal, who was among the likes of Tom Brady, Steph Curry, and other A-list sports figures named in the class-action lawsuit, he had some prior drama related to the FTX suit after allegedly evading legal service of the complaint for several months. Eventually, O’Neal was successfully served with the papers while on assignment with TNT at a 2023 NBA playoff game, resulting in a big scene. But now once a court signs off on the proposed settlement, O’Neal will be able to pay up and move past the entire mess.

Report: Spurs out on Kevin Durant due to notable concern

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The possibility of Kevin Durant in a San Antonio Spurs uniform appears to be fading like the Marty McFly photograph.

San Antonio is out on the sweepstakes for the former MVP forward Durant due to a notable concern, basketball writer Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported on Friday.

“San Antonio’s not in on KD,” Robinson quoted an anonymous source as saying. “They have concerns about how many years he has left in the tank, and the focus is on building something sustainable around Wemby [Victor Wembanyama].”

Robinson’s report matches with what other NBA writers have recently said about the Spurs-Durant links. For one, Grant Afseth of RG also reported on Friday that there is “increasing doubt” about Durant landing in San Antonio as the Spurs are concerned about “Durant’s age not aligning with Wembanyama’s timeline.”

Just a few days ago, it looked like the Spurs were in pole position to swing a trade with the Phoenix Suns for Durant. A report had even suggested that San Antonio had emerged as Durant’s clear trade preference.

But now it seems like the interest may not be mutual as Durant will indeed be turning 37 years old in September, putting him at a completely different stage in his career than the 21-year-old Spurs star Wembanyama. San Antonio was not even particularly close to contention this season at 34-48, so the addition of Durant (which would also cost them parts of their current roster) might not actually be enough for them right now.

While Durant still has yet to show signs of a real decline (averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season), he is entering the final year of his contract at $54.7 million, creating the risk of him being an expensive one-year rental. As such, it looks like the Spurs are out on him and that there are three other reported finalists for a Durant trade instead.

6-time All-Star could be joining Amazon’s NBA coverage

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Amazon may be adding further to their ensemble cast.

Six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry could be set for a role on Amazon’s coverage of the NBA beginning with next season. Retired ex-NBA star Blake Griffin, who will himself be a part of the Amazon team, appeared Friday on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast and appeared to let the news about Lowry slip.

“Kyle Lowry is going to be our — actually, I don’t know if that one got announced,” Griffin said, per Awful Announcing. “Damn. He’s [gonna be] a player correspondent, maybe. Maybe in some capacity. I don’t know. We’ve been talking about it.”

Lowry is 39 years old now and is facing an uncertain NBA future. He was mostly a non-factor for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 assists in 18.8 minutes per game over 35 total appearances.

With Lowry now set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, it is possible that he could be retiring and transitioning into his media era. That said though, Griffin did also note the possibility of Lowry being a “player correspondent” for Amazon, so the door may still be open for Lowry to continue his NBA career.

Also a former champion with the Toronto Raptors, Lowry appears to be the latest notable name joining Amazon for their maiden voyage into NBA coverage. In addition to Griffin, Amazon has already successfully reeled in some legendary Hall of Fame players and will be featuring some iconic play-by-play voices as well.

Scottie Scheffler got off Venmo for great reason

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You won’t find Scottie Scheffler on Venmo these days, but that’s for a good reason.

Scheffler spoke with the media leading up to the US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Penn., this week. Scheffler was asked whether he ever hears from fans who have wagered money on him in events.

“I think everyone hears from fans, whether they have a financial benefit or anything in their outcome,” Scheffler said. “That’s why I had to get rid of my Venmo, because I was either getting paid by people or people were requesting me a bunch of money when I didn’t win. It wasn’t a good feeling.”

Scheffler said that when fans did want to leave him a tip for helping them cash a bet, it was only for a couple of bucks. However, when he didn’t win, he was receiving requests for reimbursement, which happened with greater frequency.

Athletes being harassed by fans over wagers has become a popular topic recently, thanks largely due to the access people have to players with the proliferation of social media. A tennis player recently responded to fans targeting him over him losing a match.

The only way to handle it is to get off Venmo as Scheffler did, or to win every event. One is more doable than the other.

Fans all trolled ex-Brewers pitcher for the same reason after trade

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Aaron Civale requested a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers this week, and the team moved quickly to grant the veteran pitcher’s request. Fans are now left wondering if Civale has any regrets.

Civale’s agent said Thursday that the right-hander asked for a trade after being informed the Brewers were moving him to the bullpen.

Less than 24 hours later, Milwaukee traded Civale to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

The Brewers were 37-33 and squarely in the postseason hunt entering Friday. The White Sox were 23-46 and have been one of the worst teams in baseball for years.

Many fans joked that the Brewers sent Civale to the White Sox as punishment after the pitcher asked to be dealt:

Civale has been a starter throughout his entire MLB career. He made one appearance out of the bullpen in the playoffs last year, but all 122 of his regular-season appearances have been starts. Civale’s agent said the 30-year-old wanted to continue to start, especially since he is headed for free agency after the season.

Civale, whom the Brewers acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays last July, is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA in five starts this year. He missed time with a hamstring injury earlier this year.

In reality, Civale is probably fine with being sent to the White Sox. He will now have a spot in a starting rotation rather than become a reliever.

Between the trade to Chicago and the awkward happy birthday post, it has been quite an eventful week for Civale.

Russell Westbrook makes notable decision on his future

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Russell Westbrook is officially betting on himself.

The former MVP guard Westbrook has decided to decline his player option for next season, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported Friday. The move paves the way for Westbrook to test unrestricted free agency this summer.

Westbrook, now 36, had an option worth $3.5 million to return to the Denver Nuggets next season. That would have represented a very modest increase over the $3.3 million that Westbrook made with Denver this season.

The nine-time All-Star Westbrook is indeed likely to command more on the open market this offseason though. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game this season and also shot 32.3 percent from deep (which was tied for the third-best mark of his NBA career).

Previous reports had suggested that Westbrook was set to command a record-setting contract from a successful team overseas. Westbrook quickly shot down those rumors though with an interestingly-timed post to social media.

About to head into his 18th NBA season, Westbrook has some very well-documented pros and cons at this point. He is an excellent floor-raiser who, at this point in his career, is at least good for facilitating and energy play. However, Westbrook can also submarine a team with his turnovers and poor shot selection and is notoriously temperamental as well.

A report broke last month claiming that Westbrook was confronted by one of his Denver teammates in the playoffs. While chaos, both good and bad, is simply a part of the Westbrook experience, he might still be worth up to a taxpayer’s midlevel exception (which is set at a hair under $5.7 million this summer) for a playoff team.

Antonio Brown shares video claiming to be in Middle East after attempted murder warrant

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Antonio Brown is facing an attempted murder charge after a warrant was issued for his arrest, but the former NFL star shared a video on Friday suggesting he is not currently in the United States.

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Brown is wanted by police in Florida’s Miami-Dade County on a charge of attempted murder with a firearm. The charge stems from a shooting at a celebrity boxing event in May.

Though he may not run his own accounts, Brown was still active on social media Friday. One post on Brown’s official X account showed the seven-time Pro Bowl selection riding a bicycle in an unknown location. The post was captioned “#lovefromthemiddleeast.”

It is unclear if the video was current or actually recorded in the Middle East.

Brown’s account had a couple of other posts at around the time the video of him riding a bike was shared. One of the posts said “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” Another featured a photo of an unknown person and said “This cracker did it wasn’t me.”

Brown allegedly shot a gun during a fight

The warrant issued for Brown’s arrest, which was signed by a judge on Wednesday, calls for Brown to post a $10,000 bond and remain under house arrest pending trial.

A video that emerged last month claimed to show Brown getting involved in a large fight after a Miami celebrity kickboxing event put on by the popular Internet streamer Adin Ross. The video, which can you can see here, showed Brown getting tackled to the ground by multiple unidentified individuals and responding by kicking one of those individuals. Reports claimed that Brown fired gunshots during the incident.

Brown was briefly handcuffed and detained by responding police officers amid the melee but was not ultimately placed under arrest. The 36-year-old later posted on X that he was “jumped by multiple individuals” who were attempting to steal his jewelry. Brown added that he would be pursuing legal action against his assailants.

Police claim to have troubling evidence against Brown

According to the warrant that was reviewed by the Washington Post, detectives in Miami have obtained cell phone video footage apparently showing Brown punching a man, which allegedly sparked the fight.

Further footage appeared to show Brown taking the gun of a security officer and running towards the man he had punched. Per the warrant, the footage also captured two gunshots as Brown approached the man as well as the man ducking.

Brown has had legal trouble on numerous occasions, especially since his last NFL appearance in 2021. He was also recently revealed to be in some major financial trouble.

Brown is now facing a serious charge, but it is possible he is not in the United States.

Kevin Durant trade talks could reportedly be down to 3 finalists

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The Phoenix Suns have seemingly ramped up their efforts in recent days to trade Kevin Durant, and a trio of finalists has reportedly emerged for the 15-time All-Star.

ESPN’s Shams Charania said during a Friday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” that the Suns have had trade talks centered around Durant with as many as eight teams. The reporter said a deal could come together in the next few days, with three teams viewed as the most likely suitors.

“There is some serious traction on conversations, on trade scenarios with the Suns. They’ve had about six to eight teams reach out. There’s been interest. There’s been some offers. There’s been some negotiations,” Charania said. “Really, in the last 24-48 hours, I’m told the focus of the Suns’ conversations has been on a few of the teams, and here they are: the Houston Rockets, the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves. I’m told those are the three teams right now where a lot of the focus for Durant lies.”

Charania noted that Durant’s contract could also become a factor in the trade discussions. Durant is set to make $54.7 million in the final year of his deal next season. He will be eligible for a two-year extension worth up to $112 million if he signs a new deal this summer. If Durant were to wait six months after being traded, he would become eligible for a two-year deal worth up to $124 million.

Given that he will turn 37 in September, Durant may prefer to sign an extension sooner rather than later.

A recent report claimed Durant has a preferred destination in mind. The Suns are expected to work with Durant to send him to a team that he wants to play for, assuming the deal makes sense for Phoenix.

Durant has been linked to both the Rockets and Heat in the past. One big question is whether Houston will want to risk breaking up its young core to acquire Durant.

A new team could also reportedly enter the Durant sweepstakes, so it sounds like the Suns have plenty of options. They may want to strike while the market for their two-time NBA Finals MVP is hot.

Authorities have not ruled out homicide in death of Brett Gardner’s son

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It has been nearly three months since former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner’s son tragically died while on a family vacation in Costa Rica, and authorities in the country say they have not ruled out a homicide.

Gardner’s son Miller died in his sleep on March 21 while the Gardner family was vacationing in Costa Rica. Gardner and his wife Jessica said in an initial statement that they had “so many questions and so few answers” after Miller and several other family members became ill.

Officials in Costa Rica revealed roughly two weeks later that Miller died from carbon monoxide poisoning. High levels of carbon monoxide were reportedly detected inside the hotel room at the luxury resort where the Gardner family was staying.

The investigation remains open, however. Sharon Hernandez Coto, a press officer from the Prosecutor’s Office of Costa Rica, told ESPN on Thursday that authorities are still working “to determine whether the cause of death was a homicide or not, and, if so, to establish responsibility.”

The spokesperson was then asked whether investigating a death for homicide is standard procedure or if foul play was suspected.

“The purpose of the investigation is precisely to determine whether or not we are dealing with a possible homicide,” Hernandez Coto said. “For this reason, it is not possible at this time to confirm or rule out that a crime has been committed.”

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department said in March that the Miller family had “gone to eat at a restaurant and that the food had made them sick.” The OIJ originally said Miller appeared to die from asphyxiation as a result of food poisoning. That was later ruled out, as the 14-year-old’s air passages were not obstructed at the time of his death.

Miller was the younger of two sons that Brett and his wife Jessica Gardner share together.

Gardner spent all 14 years of his MLB career with the Yankees. He was named an All-Star in 2015 and won a Gold Glove Award in 2016. Gardner was the starting center fielder for the last Yankees team to win a World Series in 2009.

A fan-favorite during his tenure in the Bronx, Gardner batted .256 for his career with 139 home runs and 578 RBI. He stole 274 bases and led the American League with 49 steals in 2011.

Gardner retired after the 2021 season.

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