Rudy Gobert has spent years dealing with mixed reviews about his defense. That debate looks different when one of the NBA's best offensive players gives him credit for making the game harder.
Nikola Jokic has faced Gobert plenty of times and knows where the Timberwolves center can cause problems. His latest comments give Gobert a notable endorsement from someone who has spent years trying to attack him.
Jokic discussed the defenders who make his job difficult during an appearance on the Jao Mile podcast. When the conversation reached Gobert, the Denver star dismissed the idea that the Timberwolves center is overrated on defense.
Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) position themselves for a rebound in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
"Rudy Gobert, I know people have all kinds of opinions about him, but Rudy is a good defender. He showed it in the last playoffs," Jokic said.

#gobert #jokic #nikola #credit

Nuggets news: Nikola Jokic gets brutally honest about frustration with popularity appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is widely considered one of the best basketball players in the world, but he doesn't like his popularity. The three-time MVP recently spoke about how people treat him in public because of his fame as an NBA star, in comments on the Jao Mile Podcast.
While he understands his popularity, he admits it can sometimes be annoying.
"I miss it so much. I'm getting more and more bothered by popularity. This is going to sound corny, but, I'm getting ruder to people who approach me. Honestly, it's tiring…Some people around me know, I don't take pictures because it's my time. I'll sound rude again, but what can I do? If people can't understand me, I understand everything, but it's been 11-12 years and enough is enough. I feel better when someone tells me something, like you come to the zoo and take a picture of something."
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#jokic #clutchpoints #star #like

Nuggets news: Nikola Jokic's opinion of Rudy Gobert's defense will turn heads appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Nikola Jokic will carry a heavy load once again in the upcoming season, as the Denver Nuggets lost key players in Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, and Bruce Brown.
The Nuggets are seeking redemption after suffering a first-round exit in last season's playoffs at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. After their elimination, Jokic lamented that they were far from being a championship team.
Jokic remains the premier center in the NBA, and opponents will plan for him every game. When asked who defends him the best, the three-time MVP was typically modest.
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#jokic

A longtime NBA journeyman recently named Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry as one of the league's top five players. In an interview with HoopsHype, 14-year NBA veteran Danilo Gallinari spoke about his career and the current state of the NBA. When asked to give a top-five list of current players, Curry was the first name he said. "Current Top 5, I always, I guess I always go with the old heads first: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James. And then I put Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic."
Gallinari, a former No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, played for eight different franchises, with his longest stop coming in Denver. Despite suffering two ACL tears during his career, the Italian forward put together an impressive resume, playing in 777 career games, averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 ***** ists and 0.7 steals while shooting 42.8% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc. His strongest campaign came with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2018-19 season, where he averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 ***** ists and 0.7 steals. Gallinari's final season came during the 2023-24 campaign, where he played for three different teams, the Wizards, Pistons and Bucks.
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#current #first

Billie Eilish had a special role in her brother Finneas O'Connell's wedding to Claudia Sulewski. The newlyweds both wanted Eilish to stand beside them during the wedding ceremony. Instead, they found another important way to include her in their big day. Eilish officiated the couple's wedding ceremony in Montecito, California.
Sulewski shared details about the wedding in a YouTube video released Wednesday, Sept. 9. The first person they called when they began planning was Finneas' sister Billie, she said. Finneas wanted Eilish as his best man, while Sulewski wanted her as her maid of honor. "So we thought, 'Okay, sounds like she needs to marry us,' " Sulewski said.
Sulewski became emotional while talking about Eilish's role in the ceremony. "And truly, officiating our wedding was, like, the greatest gift she could ever give us," she said. Sulewski, 30, married O'Connell, 29, during an outdoor ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 29. The couple chose not to have bridesmaids or groomsmen because they wanted to "keep the experience intimate," according to Vogue.
Several well-known guests came to Montecito for the celebration. Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Jason Sudeikis, Nina Dobrev, Emma Chamberlain, Rachel Sennott, and Stassie Karanikolaou attended. Eilish's boyfriend, Nat Wolff, was also invited. Eilish performed "Birds of a Feather" during the reception.
Eilish also supported Sulewski before the wedding during her final dress fitting at Oscar de la Renta's Beverly Hills boutique. She joined Sulewski through FaceTime and reacted to the dress with excitement.

#montecito

The Miami Heat were among the teams Ben Simmons was interested in joining before agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings. But the Heat reportedly passed on signing him despite their current priority of adding point guard depth.
According to Ira Winderman, the veteran senior writer with the Sun Sentinel, the Miami Heat turned down Ben Simmons because he is no longer a proven win-now player.
"At a certain point, a team in win-now mode has to draw a valuation line between players who can be developed/reclaimed and those needed to be able to contribute in the moment, without questions of whether they are healthy enough or still skilled enough."
"In the development bucket, the Heat have Ryan Conwell, Myron Gardner, Tre Donaldson and even, still, Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson. So adding an unknown quantity would have meant going without, say, a Nick Richards or Klay Thompson or Tim Hardaway Jr," Winderman explained in his latest report.
"The Kings make all the sense for Ben Simmons, and he makes all the sense for them. There is no pressure to produce in Sacramento, but rather to begin a potential climb back to relevance."

#sacramento #kings #winderman

Victor Wembanyama gets a big shout-out from French UFC fighter Ciryl Gane originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Over the past decade, it has become clear that basketball is one of the biggest sports in the world. The rise of international players is a testament to this because there has not been an American regular-season MVP since James Harden's MVP in 2018.
Players like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been dominant as non-American players. However, it seems San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is ready to carry the torch moving forward as the best player to come out of France, a country that's well-known for producing some elite athletes.
As the current UFC interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane knows what it's like to succeed. He is, in fact, a two-time holder of that **** le, so he is quite successful in his mixed martial arts career. The orthodox heavyweight striker stands out in the UFC with his natural talent and light feet despite being a 6'4" fighter.
Just like Gane, Wembanyama shares some traits with his fellow Frenchman. Being a giant who can move light on their feet is certainly a good trait to have, but it matters the most in a sport like basketball.

#ciryl #fighter

Nikola Jokić does not do empty optimism. So when the three-time MVP was asked about the Denver Nuggets' decision to trade Peyton Watson and offered a calm ****** sment of the team's future, it carried more weight than the usual offseason platitudes.
After leading Serbia past Victor Wembanyama and France in a FIBA World Cup qualifier, Jokić addressed the multi-team sign-and-trade that sent Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"I'm happy for Peyton," he said. "He deserved it. We will miss his energy and skill. I don't think about the season yet; we have to play this, but it's gonna be okay."

#joki #peyton #serbia

Amanda Anisimova, runner-up at the 2025 US Open, fell Saturday in the third round to Anastasia Potapova, who capitalized on a flood of unforced errors from the American.
Potapova, seeded 24th, topped the 10th-seeded Anisimova 6-2, 7-5.
Anisimova enjoyed a sterling 2025, also reaching the final of Wimbledon and winning two prestigious tour events, but she has struggled to approach her level from last year.
Potapova took full advantage of 46 unforced errors from Anisimova, who had already been pushed hard in her second-round win over another Austrian, Lilli Tagger.
Potapova, who was born in Russia but now plays for Austria, will next face either fifth-seeded reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) winner over Czech Nikola Bartunkova.

#potapova #amanda

Nuggets predicted to trade for $198M Lakers' generational 6x All-Star to pair with Nikola Jokic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the Luka Doncic era, as LeBron James will no longer be playing for the organization for the first time in a decade. Doncic has done everything possible to improve his conditioning and arrive at the upcoming season in the best shape possible.
It was noticeable last season that Doncic had already made improvements, but he still had some work to do to become fully conditioned. This year, Dirk Nowitzki has raved about Doncic's physique.
"The comments came as Doncic and his Lakers teammates traveled to his native Slovenia for a bonding trip and training camp in Ljubljana, giving fans an early look at the guard's conditioning ahead of a pivotal year. Doncic has drawn buzz as a potential MVP candidate, and Nowitzki clearly believes his protege is positioned for a big season," ClutchPoints' Miguel La Torre wrote.
The only concerning aspect of Doncic's situation for the Lakers is that he is not locked up for the long term. There is always a possibility that he could eventually want out if things do not go according to plan in Los Angeles.

#angeles #conditioning #year

Ryan Reynolds, best known for playing the wisecracking superhero Deadpool in the Deadpool franchise, is about to hit a major milestone. During a recent interview, the Mayday star turned the conversation about ageing into a joke, leaving Kenneth Branagh to play along with his unexpected claims about cosmetic work.
Reynolds, who turns 50 in October, appeared with his Mayday costar Kenneth Branagh during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. When Ryan Renynold was asked, "You have a big milestone birthday coming up this October," he answered, "I do. I can say it: 50!" Then, while talking about his face, he pointed at it and joked, "This is scaffolding."
He then took the joke further, saying, "I had my lips done this morning and at lunch."
Branagh, 65, quickly joined in, suggesting that the alleged work had gone well only after a second attempt. He joked that "they got it right" on the "second" try.
The two actors are currently promoting Mayday, an action-comedy set in 1980s Russia. Reynolds plays Troy, a U.S. Navy pilot who becomes stranded in the Soviet Union after his plane is shot down. When he wakes up, he finds himself tied to a bed and under the control of Nikolai, a former Soviet spy played by Branagh.

#deadpool #milestone

Peyton Watson admits that the Nuggets rushed him back after his hamstring injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
During the 2026 Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets had to sit Peyton Watson due to a lingering hamstring injury. Earlier in the 2025-26 season, Watson sat out six weeks because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain he suffered in February. Unfortunately for him, he did not get to play in the postseason because he re-aggravated it in early April.
Watson's agent, Rich Paul, of Klutch Sports, revealed on his Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman that he discouraged his client from rushing back. It was noted as a "business decision" ahead of his free agency. Now, Watson is enjoying his move to the Cleveland Cavaliers with a four-year $88 million contract.
Watson was one of the Nuggets' best players in the 2025-26 season, as he showcased that he plays impressive defense at the perimeter and in the paint. At the same time, he took an offensive leap, as he went from scoring 8.1 points a night in the 2024-25 season to a 14.6 points per game average in the following year.
His three-point shooting also took a massive leap, as he went from a 35.3% shooting split to shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc in the 2025-26 season. It is clear why he is such a massive loss for the Nuggets because he is a good fit alongside their core trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.

#shooting #back #injury

The early round action at WTA Monterrey, the Abierto GNP Seguros has lead to a pair of compelling semifinals on Friday. Diane Parry from France will take on #5 seed Ann Li, while the rising Nikola Bartunkova takes on the tournament favorite, Elise Mertens.
The late-night quarterfinal at WTA Monterrey saw Mertens power past Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-1 6-4, as she dominated on her service games and didn't face a single break point. Mertens needed three sets to get past Panna Udvardy in the previous round, similarly performing better on serve.
Mertens, 30, is nearing her second consecutive season of 30+ match wins and has put together her best result this week since the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. With the US Open draw already made, Mertens is set to face Kaitlin Quevedo in the first round, and could face Naomi Osaka in round 3.
Embed from Getty Images
The semifinal field at WTA Monterrey was completed on Thursday. Diane Parry scored a slight upset over Clara Tauson 6-3 7-5, converting all of her break point chances in the match. Parry has a chance to reach a career high ranking this week inside the top 50. Her semifinal opponent is Ann Li from the United States, Li, 26, finally advanced her record above 500 this season by dispatching her fellow American Alycia Parks 6-2 6-3. Li only needed two wins to reach the semis this week as she was granted a walkover in the round of 16. It's her best result since Strasbourg on clay in May, which also happened a week before a Grand Slam. Both sets of semifinals are matchups where there is h2h history.

#round #parry #semifinals #break

Kylie Jenner is no stranger to pregnancy rumors, and she's opening up about how she feels about the constant speculation about what may or may not be inside her uterus.
Anastasia Karanikolaou and Kylie Jenner addressed the rumors (@ Getty)
During a Wednesday appearance on her best friend Anastasia "Stassie" Karanikolaou'sBetter Half podcast, Jenner opened up about how she handles all the rumors about her personal life, including the latest mill that she is expecting another baby.
The conversation came up while Jenner and Karanikolaou were discussing the internet's tendency to create its own narratives about their relationships. Karanikolaou pointed out that people often ******* ume something is wrong whenever the two aren't seen together, prompting Jenner to explain that she's gotten used to people making ******* umptions about her life.
Kylie and Timothee spark pregnancy rumors every few months (@ Backgrid/The Grosby Group)

#karanikolaou #people #getty

Victor Wembanyama made a sensational return to the FIBA world stage Thursday, scoring 22 points in 21 minutes as Team France trounced Slovenia 92-67 in World Cup qualifying action.
For the 22-year-old Spurs superstar, recently minted as the French captain, it marked his first international game that counted since the Les Bleus took a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Wembanyama was a mixed bag in a pair of friendly contests against Nikola Jokic and the Serbian team last week. On Thursday, playing before a partisan home crowd at Bercy Arena in Paris, Wembanyama looked more like his All-World self.
In addition to several highlight reel plays, Wembanyama added nine rebounds as the French squad cruised to victory over a Slovenia team missing its top player in Luka Doncic. The Los Angeles Lakers' All-Star has opted to sit out this round of qualifying games due to family reasons.
With the win, the French continued their march toward next year's World Cup in Qatar. Les Bleus are 6-1 and in first place of Group L, with their next game coming Sunday against Sweden in Stockholm.

#Paris #qualifying

What a dominant showing from start to finish: our Red Bulls celebrated a thoroughly deserved 3–0 win over Mjällby on home turf to secure their spot in the UEFA Europa League's league phase. After a dominant but goalless first half, our lads were rewarded after the break with a brace from Konate and an additional strike from Haris Tabakovic.
After a cautious start, our lads steadily upped the tempo and created their first big chance in the twelfth minute. Tabakovic intercepted a misplaced pass from the Swedes, kept his composure, and played a sharp, low ball across the box—Eddi Baidoo missed connecting with it in the centre by just an inch or two. With possession hovering around 70 percent at times and clear dominance in terms of shots on goal, our Red Bulls took control of the match early on.
Mjällby tried to disrupt our flow of play with aggressive tackling, picking up their first two yellow cards after just twenty minutes. Following a heavy challenge by Granath on Nikolas Veratschnig, our right-back - clearly in pain - even called for a VAR check, though none was forthcoming. While the visitors offered absolutely nothing in attack, they made life difficult for our lads through sheer physicality.
In the final fifteen minutes of the first half, we carved out further opportunities to take the lead against the Swedes' deep defensive block. First, Abubakr Barry unleashed a well-placed long-range shot following a counter-attack (32'). Shortly after, Mjällby's tight man-marking prevented a goal when Baidoo played a ball across to Tabakovic. Just before the half-time whistle, Veratschnig curled a dangerous free-kick towards the corner of the target, but Mjällby goalkeeper Wallinder was equal to it with a strong save. The first half ended goalless.
After the restart, Haris Tabakovic and Konate initially missed chances from promising positions in the center of the box (57') before the breakthrough finally came. Following a long-range shot from Redzic, Wallinder could only parry the ball forward, and Konate reacted quickest to tap in a deserved opening goal (61').

#llby

For Kylie Jenner, bigger is better.
On the Wednesday, August 26, episode of the Better Half with Stas & Vic podcast, the Kardashians star, 29, talked about the plastic surgery she's had, specifically when it comes to her chest.
Hosts Anastasia Karanikolaou and Victoria Villarroel brought up the time that the Kylie Cosmetics founder revealed the exact augmentation order she asked for when a social media fan requested she disclose what she had done to achieve her look.
"I really didn't think much of it," Jenner said of answering the TikToker. "I know that sounds crazy to some people, but I really didn't think it was going to be like a moment, you know?"
While Jenner revealed what exactly she had done — as well as the cosmetic surgeon who did the job — the reality TV star admitted, "I do want them bigger."

#jenner #really #didn 't

Kylie Jenner may have been perpetuating the internet rumors that she and her longtime best friend, Stassie Karanikolaou, were feuding.
The Kylie Cosmetics founder appeared on Karanikolaou and Victoria Villarroel's podcast, Better Half, which aired on Wednesday, August 26, and the trio addressed what Villarroel, 34, called the "elephant in the room."
Villarroel, Jenner's former ***** istant turned best friend, admitted "things got awkward" when the internet began speculating Jenner and Karanikolaou, 29, were at odds. The rumors intensified after Karanikolaou was seen on her European getaway with influencer Alix Earle while Jenner celebrated her 29th birthday in California.
"Well, I just think you were being such a [expletive]," Karanikolaou said to Jenner while laughing."Is that crazy?"
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA

#kylie #internet #best

Kylie Jenner opened up about undergoing a breast augmentation – but revealed that she wants to go even "bigger" in size. The beauty mogul discussed the surgery during an appearance on the Better Half with Stas & Vic podcast.
"I do want them bigger," Kylie admitted. "I say it every day. I'm like, 'They need to be bigger and more out there'. I want my [expletive] to walk in before I do."
Anastasia 'Stassie' Karanikolaou then revealed that her friend has "an obsession with big [expletive]" and that they've been hearing about her wanting to go up in size "for the past year".
Kylie opened up about her surgery
However, when asked whether she would have surgery before she turns 30, Kylie responded: "Probably not." Instead, Kylie admitted that she would want to get her belly ***** on pierced before her milestone birthday.

#size

Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau may be facing criminal charges after their now-infamous Empire State Building stunt, but in the court of public opinion, they are slaying. The couple appeared at Manhattan Criminal Court on August 24, nearly two months after they climbed to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna, and they looked like characters in a romantic superhero movie.
They left in good spirits after attending a court hearing to face charges Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on August 24, 2026 (@ CHARLY TRIBALLEAU)
Beerkus, 32, and Nikolau, 33, arrived wearing matching black leather jackets and jeans, with one incredible accessory - handcuffs.
They are facing multiple felonies (@ Getty)
They each wore one half of the decorative cuffs, leaving the building hand-in-hand. Then they stopped for a full-on makeout session.

#court #manhattan

Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau appeared for a court hearing on Aug. 24
The couple face a series of criminal charges stemming from a high-profile stunt on July 1 in which they scaled the top of the Empire State Building's antenna and got engaged
Beerkus and Nikolau wore faux handcuffs to court
The daredevil couple who got engaged atop New York City's Empire State Building last month appeared in court again on Monday, Aug. 24.
Ivan Beerkus, 32, and Angela Nikolau, 33, arrived for their first hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City to face multiple felony charges, following their sky-high stunt and marriage proposal in July. Nikolau flashed her diamond engagement ring publicly for the first time and made a fashion statement with Beerkus by accessorizing with faux handcuffs.

#beerkus #july #empire #york

Even with their offseason changes, most expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to remain in the thick of the ***** le race. They enter the 2026-27 season as co-title favorites — alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Now, add ESPN's projections as the latest fan of that theory.
In a poll of NBA insiders, ESPN's Summer Forecast has the Thunder in second place in the 2026-27 Western Conference standings with a 60-22 record. The Spurs are ahead in first place with a 62-20 record. Both also serve as the league's best overall records.
"Just when you thought Oklahoma City might strengthen its hold on the West, Wembanyama and the upstart Spurs embarked on a surprising run to the NBA Finals and knocked off the defending champions along the way," ESPN wrote. "This rivalry has been brewing for years, but it ramped up last season. Including the NBA Cup, the regular season and the playoffs, the Spurs and the Thunder met 12 times last season, with the former seizing eight victories."
I think that's a fair prediction to make. The Thunder lost some of their depth this summer. They sent out Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins in cost-cutting trades. Meanwhile, the back of their bench is filled with question marks. Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz are virtually unknown.
Even if they're not as deep as years before, if the Thunder enjoy better health luck, they'll be in the running for the first seed for a fourth consecutive year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are one of the top trios in the league — with one championship ring already in hand.

#oklahoma #place

While some Los Angeles Lakers fans are dreaming of Nikola Jokic coming to the franchise in the near future, there remains the reality that Luka Doncic won't necessarily be a Laker for life.
Doncic can opt out of the three-year contract extension he signed last summer in 2028. Right now, the general expectation seems to be that if he does opt out at that time, he will do so merely to sign a supermax extension with Los Angeles. However, L.A. isn't a championship contender right now, and if the team isn't progressing enough toward becoming one, there is always the chance that he might at least test free agency.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN said on "The Hoop Collective" podcast that other NBA teams may be keeping an eye on how Doncic feels about the Lakers' overall situation, in case he starts to feel any type of discontent.
"Just like Joker can profess his loyalty to the Denver Nuggets, there's still going to be teams that are positioning themselves and monitoring that and all that kind of thing. It's the same thing with Luka. He's done nothing but express optimism and excitement about the Lakers since he signed that extension.
But it's not that long-term of an extension. And you better believe there's teams around the league that are looking at that situation saying, 'Hey, if this thing goes sideways, we'd sure like to get Luka in midway through his prime.'"

#extension #signed

The 2025-26 NBA season proved to be quite disappointing for the Denver Nuggets in a tight Western Conference, and the franchise is aiming to battle back with the addition of DeMar DeRozan.
The six-time NBA All-Star reportedly is signing with the Nuggets before the 2026-27 campaign, per ESPN insider Shams Charania. DeRozan joins Nikola Jokic and Denver after spending last year with the Sacramento Kings.
Meanwhile, DeRozan now has an opportunity to join a talented roster looking to restore success in the West. This marks the NBA veteran's fifth stop in the league starting his career with the Toronto Raptors in 2009.
DeRozan, a former college basketball star at USC, is entering his 18th NBA season. However, he's still shown an elite ability to contribute and that's a major win for the Nuggets heading into next year.
MORE: Projecting the 2026 Miami Heat starting lineup after Klay Thompson signing

#denver #western #conference

The Los Angeles Lakers have what appears to be a good and competitive roster set for the upcoming NBA season. However, they aren't championship contenders, and they're likely one or two pieces away from getting to that level.
There have been some fans who have been dreaming about the possibility, faint as it is, of Nikola Jokić coming to the Lakers. He has yet to sign a long-term extension with the Denver Nuggets, and although the three-time MVP has stated that he will wait until next summer to do so, nothing is official until it is official.
Anthony Irwin, a reporter who covers the Lakers, implied in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that once the team's ownership situation gets sorted out, it will keep its eyes on Jokić's situation in Denver.
Obviously, one has to take this with a huge grain of salt. The Nuggets are a talented team that features quality complementary players such as Jamal Murray, who is coming off a career season, Cam Johnson and Aaron Gordon. However, they just traded rising stud Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers, so they could be a bit weaker this coming season.
Last season, despite finishing third in the Western Conference with a 54-28 record, the Nuggets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. With Jokić doing his thing at the center position, they should still be very competitive this season.

#nuggets #coming

When the Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028, the USA taking home a gold medal in men's basketball is far from a sure thing — the world is catching up fast with the five-time reigning gold medal winners.
The two biggest threats to take that gold away from the USA are France, led by Victor Wembanyama, and Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic. Those two countries met Thursday in a friendly prep game for upcoming World Cup qualifying, and Jokic put on a show with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight ****** ists to lead Serbia to the 90-87 win.
Wembanyama had a tougher time, scoring 10 points, shooting 1-of-6 from 3-point range, but he had his moments as well.
After the game, Jokic had the highest of praise for Wembanyama.
"He is a special opponent because he is unique as a player and as a person. I don't see him as a rival, and I don't take this personally," Jokic said to the media, via Eurohoops.net. "He has the opportunity to be the most unique basketball player we've ever seen – to be the best ever."

#serbia #World #time #take

George Karl: Some franchises aren't capable of supporting their legends the right way. Nikola Jokic was on a path to becoming one of the Top 10 players to ever play basketball. That wasn't realistic in Denver.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: George Karl: Some franchises aren't capable of …

#karl #jokic #hype

The Philadelphia 76ers will have a lot of expectations placed upon them in the 2026-27 season after they swung a huge deal to acquire Jaylen Brown and then landed LeBron James in free agency. That star duo will join established stars such as Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
Embiid seems like the forgotten man at times when considering the talent around him now. Of course, that's what happens when injuries take a toll, but the big fella is still as dominant as they come when he is on the floor. The 2023 MVP winner was a huge part of the Sixers rallying from 3-1 to eliminate the Boston Celtics in Round 1 and will be a big part of any success they have in the coming season.
Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal has high expectations for the new-look Sixers, but for Embiid, specifically, he wants to see him wrestle the best big man ***** le away from Nikola Jokic:
Championship or bust. You got the great LeBron. You got great Embiid, who was, like three or four years ago, Charles (Barkley) and I would always say how he's the best big man. Joker has surpassed him. I will be honest, making a name for himself. My question to Joel: does he want it back? And if he does, please show me. I know LeBron wants to get one last one. Jaylen is feeling slighted. Maxey is making a name for himself, definitely the team to watch. I don't wanna hear next year--this team was put together to win a championship now. I think if they don't win a championship, as players, I think all those players will be very, very disappointed. They have all the pieces they need.
To O'Neal's point, this team still belongs to Embiid and Maxey. While Brown and James are obviously the more decorated players, it still comes down to that duo as Philadelphia pushes forward. If Embiid is really healthy, then it changes everything for the Sixers on the floor. He is still such a dominant big man who can do nearly everything on offense and be a force on the defensive end. Philadelphia's hopes hinge on Embiid's health.

#embiid #championship #team #philadelphia

Liam Lawson was alerted about his Red Bull F1 chance as he arrived backed to United Kingdom from holidays, as he heads into the weekend with pressure but as much.
After his unceremonious departure from Red Bull in F1 2026 after completing just the two races, Lawson returns to the seat he vacated alongside Max Verstappen for this weekend in Dutch GP at Circuit Zandvoort. This is a second time he has been called-up in this way at this venue.
Few years back, he drafted in from Saturday at Racing Bulls for Danile Ricciardo, who injured his hand in practice. Co-incidently, he is replacing Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, who has injured his wrist in summer break. At least this time, Lawson has more days to prepare for the F1 weekend.
He got to know on Monday about the Red Bull F1 chance when he arrived back in the UK after his holidays. He managed one simulator session at Milton Keynes after all the seat fitting. But his preparation hasn't been any different, just that the eye to the details has been more.
The power unit is the same but it will be getting used to the chassis and car, especially in a F1 sprint weekend with just the one practice. There is pressure but not as much, with his future also on the line, considering the rumours around the promotion of Nikola Tsolov.

#pressure

Lakers receive positive update for landing Nuggets' Nikola Jokic after Peyton Watson trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to build their future around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after moving on from LeBron James. It has been an eventful summer, with significant turnover throughout the roster as Los Angeles looks to create a team capable of competing for championships.
Doncic is excited about what is ahead for the Lakers, but he also wants to win now.
"Dončić being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn't mean they can slow down and take their time. Dončić told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he's not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender," CBS Sports' Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.
On Wednesday, the Denver Nuggets traded Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-team deal. The move left Denver without one of its most promising young players and raised questions about the team's long-term direction alongside Nikola Jokic.

#Lakers #watson #doncic