9 days ago
Klay Thompson was ice cold in his first preseason with the Miami Heat, but the four-time NBA champion isn't fazed by his shooting struggles heading into the 2026-27 regular season.
Speaking after Sunday's practice at Kaseya Center, Thompson maintained that he expects to shoot at his usual level once the games "count," brushing aside concerns about being too far over the hill entering his age-36 campaign.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra also voiced his confidence in the veteran shooting guard as anticipation builds for Wednesday's season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Brought in over the offseason to help create ***** e around Heat stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo on Miami's revamped roster, Thompson looked out of sorts throughout the preseason, shooting 7-for-26 overall (26.9%) and 3-for-20 from 3-point range (15.0%).
It was a small sample size, as Thompson appeared in four of Miami's five exhibition contests and never played into the second half of any of them as the Heat went 3-2. Still, his shooting blunders went viral on social media, fueling ridicule.
#four #klay
Speaking after Sunday's practice at Kaseya Center, Thompson maintained that he expects to shoot at his usual level once the games "count," brushing aside concerns about being too far over the hill entering his age-36 campaign.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra also voiced his confidence in the veteran shooting guard as anticipation builds for Wednesday's season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Brought in over the offseason to help create ***** e around Heat stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo on Miami's revamped roster, Thompson looked out of sorts throughout the preseason, shooting 7-for-26 overall (26.9%) and 3-for-20 from 3-point range (15.0%).
It was a small sample size, as Thompson appeared in four of Miami's five exhibition contests and never played into the second half of any of them as the Heat went 3-2. Still, his shooting blunders went viral on social media, fueling ridicule.
#four #klay
2 months ago
How Sabah coach Valdas Dambrauskas went from Lithuanian game show to Champions League history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One of the most fascinating stories to come out of the early phases of this year's UEFA Champions League competition involves newly-formed Azerbaijani club Sabah FK and their mercurial coach.
Valdas Dambrauskas has led the young club to not only its first-ever top flight ***** le, but now their first-ever trip to the league phase of any European competition, let alone the Champions League.
Sabah became one of the final league phase qualifiers in the 2026/27 competition as they reversed a 2-1 aggregate deficit to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the final qualifying round, winning the second leg 5-2 in a stunning comeback. Trailing 4-3 on aggregate heading into stoppage time of the second leg, Tellur Mutallimov scored in the 94th minute to send the match to extra-time, where they would win the game with a pair of goals in the added period.
That sent Sabah to the lucrative league phase, which has changed the trajectory of the club forever.
#coach
One of the most fascinating stories to come out of the early phases of this year's UEFA Champions League competition involves newly-formed Azerbaijani club Sabah FK and their mercurial coach.
Valdas Dambrauskas has led the young club to not only its first-ever top flight ***** le, but now their first-ever trip to the league phase of any European competition, let alone the Champions League.
Sabah became one of the final league phase qualifiers in the 2026/27 competition as they reversed a 2-1 aggregate deficit to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the final qualifying round, winning the second leg 5-2 in a stunning comeback. Trailing 4-3 on aggregate heading into stoppage time of the second leg, Tellur Mutallimov scored in the 94th minute to send the match to extra-time, where they would win the game with a pair of goals in the added period.
That sent Sabah to the lucrative league phase, which has changed the trajectory of the club forever.
#coach
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2 months ago
The Sacramento Kings' interest in Jalen Duren isn't going away, even if the Pistons have basically shut the door on a sign-and-trade for now. On the latest episode of ESPN's The Hoop Collective, Anthony Slater said GM Scott Perry has Duren's name "with highlighter pen" as a possible target, while also noting that Sacramento could create max cap ***** e next summer if Duren takes his $9.6 million qualifying offer and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027. The Kings already met with Duren earlier in free agency, so this isn't just random trade-machine talk.
The problem is Detroit. The Kings would like to sign-and-trade for Duren with Domantas Sabonis going the other way, per Tim MacMahon, but "that's not happening," because the Pistons have made it clear they aren't interested in moving their 22-year-old All-NBA center. Detroit reportedly wants Duren closer to $35.0 million per season, while his camp is looking for more than $40.0 million, and the Pistons still "absolutely, positively, 100%" intend to keep him despite that gap in "nasty" negotiations.
So if the Kings really want Duren now instead of waiting another year, Sabonis alone clearly isn't getting it done. They would need to make the return much bigger, probably bring in more teams to solve the salary issues, and give Detroit enough immediate talent and draft capital to at least reconsider its current position. This four-team framework with the Bucks and Raptors does exactly that, while landing Sacramento the young center they clearly want to build around.
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jakob Poeltl, Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland, 2027 second-round pick via Pistons, 2029 first-round pick via Raptors
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jalen Duren
#sacramento #pistons
The problem is Detroit. The Kings would like to sign-and-trade for Duren with Domantas Sabonis going the other way, per Tim MacMahon, but "that's not happening," because the Pistons have made it clear they aren't interested in moving their 22-year-old All-NBA center. Detroit reportedly wants Duren closer to $35.0 million per season, while his camp is looking for more than $40.0 million, and the Pistons still "absolutely, positively, 100%" intend to keep him despite that gap in "nasty" negotiations.
So if the Kings really want Duren now instead of waiting another year, Sabonis alone clearly isn't getting it done. They would need to make the return much bigger, probably bring in more teams to solve the salary issues, and give Detroit enough immediate talent and draft capital to at least reconsider its current position. This four-team framework with the Bucks and Raptors does exactly that, while landing Sacramento the young center they clearly want to build around.
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jakob Poeltl, Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland, 2027 second-round pick via Pistons, 2029 first-round pick via Raptors
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jalen Duren
#sacramento #pistons
2 months ago
Mychal Thompson thinks his son, Klay Thompson, is the exact veteran that the Miami Heat should value. But he still gave one very important warning before he starts life under Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra.
Speaking on 104.3 WQAM, Mychal explained Klay's maturity, professionalism, and focus on winning, and that should make him a natural fit in the Heat's very demanding environment.
"Klay is Pat Riley's type of player. Very mature, very adult, only cares about winning. But I did warn him. I said, 'Listen, son. I don't know how other teams handle it, but you cannot be late. If you're a Pat Riley player, you got to be on time. And being early—I should say, being on time is being late. You got to be early."
"That's the way Magic Johnson was, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was when I was with the Lakers. If practice was at 10 o'clock, they were there by 9:15, 9 o'clock, getting ready."
"So that's the main thing I told him, is I don't know what kind of practices you had in Dallas or Golden State in terms of time. When you're talking about Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, you got to be an adult. You got to be a pro, and you got to be on time and work hard."
#time #thompson
Speaking on 104.3 WQAM, Mychal explained Klay's maturity, professionalism, and focus on winning, and that should make him a natural fit in the Heat's very demanding environment.
"Klay is Pat Riley's type of player. Very mature, very adult, only cares about winning. But I did warn him. I said, 'Listen, son. I don't know how other teams handle it, but you cannot be late. If you're a Pat Riley player, you got to be on time. And being early—I should say, being on time is being late. You got to be early."
"That's the way Magic Johnson was, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was when I was with the Lakers. If practice was at 10 o'clock, they were there by 9:15, 9 o'clock, getting ready."
"So that's the main thing I told him, is I don't know what kind of practices you had in Dallas or Golden State in terms of time. When you're talking about Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, you got to be an adult. You got to be a pro, and you got to be on time and work hard."
#time #thompson
2 months ago
As we inch closer and closer to fall (you already took a sip of a Pumpkin Spice something, I know it), we can feel the optimism spreading within the basketball world.
The offseason is full of transactions, moves to improve, and swings to make things … fit. That's the key word. Context, opportunity and how a new acquisition works within what a team does will end up defining how well a transaction ends up being.
It's easy to view moves in a vacuum. Teams need to acquire talent to fit a need, talent needs an opportunity to work, etc. But my curiosity always forces me to dig a little deeper: Maybe adding this player did not address every weakness a team has, but how did it make them stronger? What can teams do with these additions that they could not do last year?
So with that in mind, I present to you my six pack of underrated fits with NBA training camps opening later this month.
This is less about Klay Thompson returning to All-Star form, less about Klay being Ray Allen to Miami 2.0, and more about the fit between the human, the player and the franchise. It's clear Thompson wants to compete at a high level, and the Heat are always going to work to compete at a high level, especially after cashing in their chips to get Giannis Antetokounmpo. Erik Spoelstra has a knack for understanding his roster, knowing where his team needs to go and getting the most out of his roster. It feels like a natural meeting of the minds.
#klay #teams #Opportunity
The offseason is full of transactions, moves to improve, and swings to make things … fit. That's the key word. Context, opportunity and how a new acquisition works within what a team does will end up defining how well a transaction ends up being.
It's easy to view moves in a vacuum. Teams need to acquire talent to fit a need, talent needs an opportunity to work, etc. But my curiosity always forces me to dig a little deeper: Maybe adding this player did not address every weakness a team has, but how did it make them stronger? What can teams do with these additions that they could not do last year?
So with that in mind, I present to you my six pack of underrated fits with NBA training camps opening later this month.
This is less about Klay Thompson returning to All-Star form, less about Klay being Ray Allen to Miami 2.0, and more about the fit between the human, the player and the franchise. It's clear Thompson wants to compete at a high level, and the Heat are always going to work to compete at a high level, especially after cashing in their chips to get Giannis Antetokounmpo. Erik Spoelstra has a knack for understanding his roster, knowing where his team needs to go and getting the most out of his roster. It feels like a natural meeting of the minds.
#klay #teams #Opportunity
2 months ago
The Miami Heat are known as a storied franchise in the NBA. Under Pat Riley's influence in the '90s, the "Heat Culture" became the team's foundation and philosophy. Although Riley transitioned to a front-office role later in his career, Miami's philosophy remained as Erik Spoelstra took over as head coach in 2008.
Although the Miami Heat were competitive under Pat Riley, the Heat became a different monster under Erik Spoelstra. From managing superstars like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to nurturing the newer generation of stars like Bam Adebayo, Spoelstra has been one of the most impactful coaches in NBA history.
Currently, Erik Spoelstra also serves as head coach for the USA men's national team ahead of the 2028 Olympics, which will mark the end of his three-year cycle in the role. Coincidentally, 2028 will also mark 20 years since Spoelstra took over the Heat head coaching role, and according to Heat insider Ira Winderman, it may be the ideal opportunity for him to make a move. Winderman shared:
"When you talk about the Heat turnaround, after the 2028 Los Angeles games, to me, it would be the natural time for Spo to maybe move to the front office to step back."
"Right now, I know he loves it. It would make sense. But who knows? Maybe he's one of those coaching lifers. Maybe he's Hubie, and he's going to come back, you know, in a different way and keep doing that, just like I think Pat Riley will never fade away."
#heat #head
Although the Miami Heat were competitive under Pat Riley, the Heat became a different monster under Erik Spoelstra. From managing superstars like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to nurturing the newer generation of stars like Bam Adebayo, Spoelstra has been one of the most impactful coaches in NBA history.
Currently, Erik Spoelstra also serves as head coach for the USA men's national team ahead of the 2028 Olympics, which will mark the end of his three-year cycle in the role. Coincidentally, 2028 will also mark 20 years since Spoelstra took over the Heat head coaching role, and according to Heat insider Ira Winderman, it may be the ideal opportunity for him to make a move. Winderman shared:
"When you talk about the Heat turnaround, after the 2028 Los Angeles games, to me, it would be the natural time for Spo to maybe move to the front office to step back."
"Right now, I know he loves it. It would make sense. But who knows? Maybe he's one of those coaching lifers. Maybe he's Hubie, and he's going to come back, you know, in a different way and keep doing that, just like I think Pat Riley will never fade away."
#heat #head
2 months ago
The Europa League draw has also been completed and has given us some highlights for this season. You can find out which matches you can look forward to in our overview.
Bayer Leverkusen: Olympique Marseille (H), Olympique Lyon (A), RB Salzburg (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), NK Celje (H), Lech Poznan (A), Besiktas (H), OF Iraklion (A).
Benfica Lisbon: AZ Alkmaar (H), AC Milan (A), Celtic Glasgow (H), Viktoria Plzen (A), Lech Poznan (H), Omonia Nicosia (A), OF Iraklion (H), NEC Nijmegen (A).
Juventus Turin: Real Sociedad (H), Alkmaar (A), Stade Rennes (H), Ferencvaros (A), Omonia (H), Celta Vigo (A), NEC Nijmegen (H), Hapoel Beer Sheva (A).
Olympique Lyon: Bayer Leverkusen (H), Real Sociedad (A), Union Saint-Gilloise (H), Anderlecht (A), Crystal Palace (H), Jagiellonia (A), Lillestrøm (H), TSG Hoffenheim (A).
#olympique #lech
Bayer Leverkusen: Olympique Marseille (H), Olympique Lyon (A), RB Salzburg (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), NK Celje (H), Lech Poznan (A), Besiktas (H), OF Iraklion (A).
Benfica Lisbon: AZ Alkmaar (H), AC Milan (A), Celtic Glasgow (H), Viktoria Plzen (A), Lech Poznan (H), Omonia Nicosia (A), OF Iraklion (H), NEC Nijmegen (A).
Juventus Turin: Real Sociedad (H), Alkmaar (A), Stade Rennes (H), Ferencvaros (A), Omonia (H), Celta Vigo (A), NEC Nijmegen (H), Hapoel Beer Sheva (A).
Olympique Lyon: Bayer Leverkusen (H), Real Sociedad (A), Union Saint-Gilloise (H), Anderlecht (A), Crystal Palace (H), Jagiellonia (A), Lillestrøm (H), TSG Hoffenheim (A).
#olympique #lech
2 months ago
The Miami Heat welcomed Giannis Antetokounmpo's newest teammate, Klay Thompson, on Tuesday. Thompson signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract to join the Heat ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. His addition gives Miami a better shot at contending for a championship.
On Tuesday, he was officially introduced to the media, and he spoke about how being in Miami was a dream come true. Before Thompson joined the Heat, he was already linked as a potential buyout candidate. The team viewed him as a key acquisition because of his elite outside shooting, which they needed after landing Antetokounmpo.
During his introductory presser, Thompson was asked about his thoughts on being Antetokounmpo's teammate.
Jul 16, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) is introduced as a new member of the team by Miami Heat president Pat Riley (left) and head coach Erik Spoelstra (right) during a press conference at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
"Giannis is one of the best players of all time," Thompson said.
#klay
On Tuesday, he was officially introduced to the media, and he spoke about how being in Miami was a dream come true. Before Thompson joined the Heat, he was already linked as a potential buyout candidate. The team viewed him as a key acquisition because of his elite outside shooting, which they needed after landing Antetokounmpo.
During his introductory presser, Thompson was asked about his thoughts on being Antetokounmpo's teammate.
Jul 16, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) is introduced as a new member of the team by Miami Heat president Pat Riley (left) and head coach Erik Spoelstra (right) during a press conference at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
"Giannis is one of the best players of all time," Thompson said.
#klay
2 months ago
Why Klay Thompson is signing with Heat instead of Lakers, Warriors after Mavericks buyout originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After being bought out by the Mavericks on Friday afternoon, Klay Thompson swiftly found a new home for the 2026-27 season.
The sharpshooting guard agreed terms to a deal with the Heat, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 36-year-old is the latest addition to a new-look Miami side spearheaded by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Thompson reportedly commanded serious interest from the Heat's front office, emerging as a top target for the franchise after Antetokounmpo's arrival. He should fold nicely into Erik Spoelstra's side, which looked desperate for shooting help last season.
With that, here's what you need to know about Thompson's signing.
#thompson #klay #heat #signing
After being bought out by the Mavericks on Friday afternoon, Klay Thompson swiftly found a new home for the 2026-27 season.
The sharpshooting guard agreed terms to a deal with the Heat, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 36-year-old is the latest addition to a new-look Miami side spearheaded by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Thompson reportedly commanded serious interest from the Heat's front office, emerging as a top target for the franchise after Antetokounmpo's arrival. He should fold nicely into Erik Spoelstra's side, which looked desperate for shooting help last season.
With that, here's what you need to know about Thompson's signing.
#thompson #klay #heat #signing
3 months ago
Journalist Marc Jacobs posted on X that discussions between the parties "continue to advance," and if the deal is completed, it will be the former MVP's first club outside the US.
Is one of the biggest deals in European basketball history, and Israeli basketball in particular, drawing near?
About two weeks after reports of interest from Hapoel Tel Aviv were denied, reports in the US on Monday night indicated that contacts between the Reds and Russell Westbrook are continuing and even progressing.
Journalist Marc Jacobs posted on X (formerly Twitter) that discussions between the parties "continue to advance," and if the deal is completed, it will be the former MVP's first club outside the US. As recalled, according to The Athletic, the star is seriously considering a first career move outside the NBA.
The 37-year-old Westbrook is still a free agent after completing the previous NBA season. Over his career, he won the league's MVP award, was selected to nine All-Star games, and is considered one of the greatest point guards of his generation. He also holds the all-time NBA record for triple-doubles and was included in the league's 75th Anniversary Team.
#first #westbrook #posted #parties
Is one of the biggest deals in European basketball history, and Israeli basketball in particular, drawing near?
About two weeks after reports of interest from Hapoel Tel Aviv were denied, reports in the US on Monday night indicated that contacts between the Reds and Russell Westbrook are continuing and even progressing.
Journalist Marc Jacobs posted on X (formerly Twitter) that discussions between the parties "continue to advance," and if the deal is completed, it will be the former MVP's first club outside the US. As recalled, according to The Athletic, the star is seriously considering a first career move outside the NBA.
The 37-year-old Westbrook is still a free agent after completing the previous NBA season. Over his career, he won the league's MVP award, was selected to nine All-Star games, and is considered one of the greatest point guards of his generation. He also holds the all-time NBA record for triple-doubles and was included in the league's 75th Anniversary Team.
#first #westbrook #posted #parties
3 months ago
Erik Spoelstra celebrates Giannis Antetokounmpo's fit within the Heat's system originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After a few seasons of struggles, the Miami Heat finally have a megastar to lead the charge for them. While Bam Adebayo is a star for the Heat, he is not the typical one who can carry a team with his offensive play. That is where Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in, who is one of the league's best players.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra is clearly excited to have Antetokounmpo on his team because he has a star for his system. Adebayo will continue to feature in a prominent role, but he will be the second option behind the two-time league MVP.
The Heat have had championship aspirations even before Giannis joined the team. Unfortunately, they lacked the talent to fully compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Pair that with constant injuries, and you have the Heat's inconsistency throughout the past few seasons.
Now that they have Antetokounmpo, they have a superstar who can carry his team to victories almost every night. Defensively, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the league because teams will be terrified of playing against a frontcourt duo of Adebayo and Antetokounmpo.
#erik #system
After a few seasons of struggles, the Miami Heat finally have a megastar to lead the charge for them. While Bam Adebayo is a star for the Heat, he is not the typical one who can carry a team with his offensive play. That is where Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in, who is one of the league's best players.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra is clearly excited to have Antetokounmpo on his team because he has a star for his system. Adebayo will continue to feature in a prominent role, but he will be the second option behind the two-time league MVP.
The Heat have had championship aspirations even before Giannis joined the team. Unfortunately, they lacked the talent to fully compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Pair that with constant injuries, and you have the Heat's inconsistency throughout the past few seasons.
Now that they have Antetokounmpo, they have a superstar who can carry his team to victories almost every night. Defensively, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the league because teams will be terrified of playing against a frontcourt duo of Adebayo and Antetokounmpo.
#erik #system
3 months ago
Raptors attempted to trade $107M youngster for $186M center originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Raptors have been rather active throughout the NBA offseason, hoping to eventually complete a trade for Kawhi Leonard with the Los Angeles Clippers.
For the time being, that seems to be on standby, and it remains uncertain if it will be figured out in the near future.
Regardless, the Raptors have looked for other ways to improve on both sides of the basketball, and per the latest report, that even resulted in them floating RJ Barrett in a potential deal at last year's trade deadline with the Sacramento Kings for Domantas Sabonis.
"The Kings nearly traded Sabonis to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline in February -- a move he would've welcomed, a source with knowledge of the situation said -- for a package that included RJ Barrett, but the Raptors were unable to get off the three-year, $84 million remaining on Jakob Poeltl's contract, which doomed the deal," Anthony Slater wrote.
#deadline
The Toronto Raptors have been rather active throughout the NBA offseason, hoping to eventually complete a trade for Kawhi Leonard with the Los Angeles Clippers.
For the time being, that seems to be on standby, and it remains uncertain if it will be figured out in the near future.
Regardless, the Raptors have looked for other ways to improve on both sides of the basketball, and per the latest report, that even resulted in them floating RJ Barrett in a potential deal at last year's trade deadline with the Sacramento Kings for Domantas Sabonis.
"The Kings nearly traded Sabonis to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline in February -- a move he would've welcomed, a source with knowledge of the situation said -- for a package that included RJ Barrett, but the Raptors were unable to get off the three-year, $84 million remaining on Jakob Poeltl's contract, which doomed the deal," Anthony Slater wrote.
#deadline
3 months ago
The Kings nearly traded Domantas Sabonis to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline in February -- a move he would've welcomed, a source with knowledge of the situation said -- for a package that included RJ Barrett, but the Raptors were unable to get off the three-year, $84 million remaining on Jakob Poeltl's contract, which doomed the deal.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kings nearly traded Domantas Sabonis to Raptors for package that included RJ Barrett
#package
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kings nearly traded Domantas Sabonis to Raptors for package that included RJ Barrett
#package
3 months ago
The Kings nearly traded Domantas Sabonis to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline in February -- a move he would've welcomed, a source with knowledge of the situation said -- for a package that included RJ Barrett, but the Raptors were unable to get off the three-year, $84 million remaining on Jakob Poeltl's contract, which doomed the deal.
ESPN
Sean Cunningham: Domantas Sabonis will be courtside in Vegas for today's Kings summer league game against the Wizards. — 7/12/2026 Twitter SeanCunningham
Meanwhile, Perry also is expecting Sabonis to play a big role in Sacramento's rebuild following a disappointing 22-60 record during the 2025-26 season, despite previous reports that the Kings were in trade talks with the Charlotte Hornets involving the three-time NBA All-Star center. "Come in and compete just like everybody else," Perry told reporters. "Obviously, he's an excellent player. He's done it for a while in this league. I've been in constant contact with him as well in the offseason. Just expect him to come in here healthy, first and foremost, and he's trending in that direction. "Obviously, he missed a lot of last year because he was not. He's always played hard, and so I expect him to do that. Provide some veteran presence for this team and really have a tremendous rebound year and help us build some winning habits here and start heading in the right direction." — 7/9/2026 NBC Sports Bay Area
#kings #sabonis #come #league
ESPN
Sean Cunningham: Domantas Sabonis will be courtside in Vegas for today's Kings summer league game against the Wizards. — 7/12/2026 Twitter SeanCunningham
Meanwhile, Perry also is expecting Sabonis to play a big role in Sacramento's rebuild following a disappointing 22-60 record during the 2025-26 season, despite previous reports that the Kings were in trade talks with the Charlotte Hornets involving the three-time NBA All-Star center. "Come in and compete just like everybody else," Perry told reporters. "Obviously, he's an excellent player. He's done it for a while in this league. I've been in constant contact with him as well in the offseason. Just expect him to come in here healthy, first and foremost, and he's trending in that direction. "Obviously, he missed a lot of last year because he was not. He's always played hard, and so I expect him to do that. Provide some veteran presence for this team and really have a tremendous rebound year and help us build some winning habits here and start heading in the right direction." — 7/9/2026 NBC Sports Bay Area
#kings #sabonis #come #league
3 months ago
Bam Adebayo gets honest about why he's not too worried about the Heat's lack of shooting originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo was a major move for the Miami Heat. With that move, he and Bam Adebayo form a fearsome partnership that could be the best in the league. However, it does pose a problem because they might not be as dynamic on offense as many duos.
Defensively, there should not be any problem with Adebayo and Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately, that is only half the game, so offensively, they might have some limits because they do not have the best perimeter shooting.
It is fair to have high expectations for the Heat now because they have an elite duo in the frontcourt. Pat Riley and the Heat's front office did have to send a significant package to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis, so the team is lacking depth.
Trading away the likes of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis was a big investment for Miami. It was an understandable decision, but it does hamper their offense because those players were big-time contributors for head coach Erik Spoelstra.
#antetokounmpo
Trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo was a major move for the Miami Heat. With that move, he and Bam Adebayo form a fearsome partnership that could be the best in the league. However, it does pose a problem because they might not be as dynamic on offense as many duos.
Defensively, there should not be any problem with Adebayo and Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately, that is only half the game, so offensively, they might have some limits because they do not have the best perimeter shooting.
It is fair to have high expectations for the Heat now because they have an elite duo in the frontcourt. Pat Riley and the Heat's front office did have to send a significant package to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis, so the team is lacking depth.
Trading away the likes of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis was a big investment for Miami. It was an understandable decision, but it does hamper their offense because those players were big-time contributors for head coach Erik Spoelstra.
#antetokounmpo
3 months ago
Bobby Portis boldly claims the Miami Heat now have the best frontcourt in the NBA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After six years of playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks, Bobby Portis will now be playing for the Miami Heat alongside his longtime teammate. This is a huge change for both players, but it seems they could massively improve a team that has needed a frontcourt boost.
Now, the Heat have one of the most promising teams ahead of the 2026-27 season. Giannis steps in as the #1 guy for Erik Spoelstra, but he is not alone because he will be starting alongside Bam Adebayo.
Combining Giannis and Bam in the same frontcourt is already dangerous for most opponents. They will struggle scoring against them because these two are arguably the best defenders in the league.
Offensively, they are also elite, with Giannis standing as the #1 option. Adebayo may not be as explosive as him, but he does have an 83-point game under his belt from the 2025-26 season.
#sporting #best
After six years of playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks, Bobby Portis will now be playing for the Miami Heat alongside his longtime teammate. This is a huge change for both players, but it seems they could massively improve a team that has needed a frontcourt boost.
Now, the Heat have one of the most promising teams ahead of the 2026-27 season. Giannis steps in as the #1 guy for Erik Spoelstra, but he is not alone because he will be starting alongside Bam Adebayo.
Combining Giannis and Bam in the same frontcourt is already dangerous for most opponents. They will struggle scoring against them because these two are arguably the best defenders in the league.
Offensively, they are also elite, with Giannis standing as the #1 option. Adebayo may not be as explosive as him, but he does have an 83-point game under his belt from the 2025-26 season.
#sporting #best
3 months ago
The Miami Heat made a huge move trading multiple valued players for Giannis Antetokounmpo to improve their chances of **** le contention. Antetokounmpo is already feeling confident and excited about his future with a new franchise. A video was filmed of respected Heat coach Erik Spoelstra showing Giannis a locker room set up that features a photo of every player to win a championship in Miami.
Antetokounmpo showed a desire to get his photo up there and vowed to Spoelstra that he'll win an NBA Championship for the Heat:
Giannis: Man, every single player huh? Hopefully coach. Not hopefully. It will happen. I'll leave my mark here.
Spoelstra: You will.
The honest back and forth showed both men's desires to win another NBA Championship. Spoelstra is considered one of the best NBA coaches thanks to his two NBA Championships and six NBA Finals appearances.
#championship
Antetokounmpo showed a desire to get his photo up there and vowed to Spoelstra that he'll win an NBA Championship for the Heat:
Giannis: Man, every single player huh? Hopefully coach. Not hopefully. It will happen. I'll leave my mark here.
Spoelstra: You will.
The honest back and forth showed both men's desires to win another NBA Championship. Spoelstra is considered one of the best NBA coaches thanks to his two NBA Championships and six NBA Finals appearances.
#championship
3 months ago
Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals Goran Dragic's importance to his NBA career originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is happy to now be playing for the Miami Heat. It is a team that he has become familiar with during his time in the NBA, as he has had plenty of duels against the Erik Spoelstra-led team since making his NBA debut in 2013 for the Milwaukee Bucks.
For a long time, Giannis remained loyal to the Bucks, but their recent struggles were the tipping point for the Greek superstar. Now, he will be playing for the Heat with a new jersey number, the #7 that was previously worn by former Heat All-Star Goran Dragic.
As one of the most physically imposing players in the league, Antetokounmpo has worked hard to become one of the strongest players. Despite that, he does have some trouble with injuries from time to time. This has led to him making adjustments to his gear, including wearing his now-iconic shooting sleeve.
Apparently, that decision to wear a sleeve stems from a showdown with the Heat back in the day. The reason he is wearing a shooting sleeve now is because of Dragic, which is a bit poetic, considering Antetokounmpo is the player wearing his old #7 jersey number.
#heat #wearing #sleeve #sporting
Giannis Antetokounmpo is happy to now be playing for the Miami Heat. It is a team that he has become familiar with during his time in the NBA, as he has had plenty of duels against the Erik Spoelstra-led team since making his NBA debut in 2013 for the Milwaukee Bucks.
For a long time, Giannis remained loyal to the Bucks, but their recent struggles were the tipping point for the Greek superstar. Now, he will be playing for the Heat with a new jersey number, the #7 that was previously worn by former Heat All-Star Goran Dragic.
As one of the most physically imposing players in the league, Antetokounmpo has worked hard to become one of the strongest players. Despite that, he does have some trouble with injuries from time to time. This has led to him making adjustments to his gear, including wearing his now-iconic shooting sleeve.
Apparently, that decision to wear a sleeve stems from a showdown with the Heat back in the day. The reason he is wearing a shooting sleeve now is because of Dragic, which is a bit poetic, considering Antetokounmpo is the player wearing his old #7 jersey number.
#heat #wearing #sleeve #sporting
3 months ago
Jasper Philipsen admitted he had been feeling the pressure before sprinting to a dominant victory from a reduced bunch at the end of the Tour de France's Alpine 17th stage on Wednesday, to end a "horrible" run of near misses.
Set up by a strong lead-out from team-mate Mathieu van der Poel, Philipsen surged several bike lengths clear of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij, who had each already won a stage at the Tour.
This was an 11th Tour stage victory overall for the 28-year-old Belgian, who won the sprinters' green points jersey in 2023.
It meant that he has won at least one stage in each of the last five editions of the Tour.
He had come close on several other sprint stages this year, finishing five times in the top five.
#jasper #alpine
Set up by a strong lead-out from team-mate Mathieu van der Poel, Philipsen surged several bike lengths clear of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij, who had each already won a stage at the Tour.
This was an 11th Tour stage victory overall for the 28-year-old Belgian, who won the sprinters' green points jersey in 2023.
It meant that he has won at least one stage in each of the last five editions of the Tour.
He had come close on several other sprint stages this year, finishing five times in the top five.
#jasper #alpine
3 months ago
Belgium's Jasper Philipsen won stage 17 of the Tour de France following a bunch sprint.
The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider powered over the line with a good gap over his rivals to win his first stage in what had been a frustrating three-week race.
The 28-year-old won the prestigious green points jersey in 2023, but had struggled in this race to catch compatriot Tim Merlier in the final phases of sprints.
After stage seven, he was seen on social media tossing his bike in frustration after his illustrious team-mate, the powerhouse classics legend Mathieu van der Poel had mis-timed his lead-out and Philipsen became blocked in.
But after a hilly start on a warm day on the 174.7km stage from Chambery to Voiron near the Alps, Philipsen enjoyed a powerful lead-out from Van der Poel and was able to sustain his power all the way to the line.
#stage #poel #lead #france
The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider powered over the line with a good gap over his rivals to win his first stage in what had been a frustrating three-week race.
The 28-year-old won the prestigious green points jersey in 2023, but had struggled in this race to catch compatriot Tim Merlier in the final phases of sprints.
After stage seven, he was seen on social media tossing his bike in frustration after his illustrious team-mate, the powerhouse classics legend Mathieu van der Poel had mis-timed his lead-out and Philipsen became blocked in.
But after a hilly start on a warm day on the 174.7km stage from Chambery to Voiron near the Alps, Philipsen enjoyed a powerful lead-out from Van der Poel and was able to sustain his power all the way to the line.
#stage #poel #lead #france
3 months ago
Jasper Philipsen ended his frustration at this year's Tour de France with victory from a reduced sprint on stage 17 as Tadej Pogacar stayed safe in the yellow jersey.
Philipsen repeatedly fell short in bunch sprints over the first two weeks of this Tour but made it look easy in Voiron after a 35-strong breakaway arrived first into town.
With Alpecin-Premier Tech team-mate Mathieu van der Poel providing the lead-out, Philipsen finished several bike lengths ahead of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij to take his 11th career Tour stage win, having won one in each edition since 2022.
"Definitely (it's special) after such a roller coaster of emotions in this Tour de France," Philipsen said.
"I had to wait until stage 17. I was prepared very, very well, I was in the shape of my life and the first 12 days were just horrible. I couldn't find myself, I couldn't find the feeling I was hoping for.
#tour
Philipsen repeatedly fell short in bunch sprints over the first two weeks of this Tour but made it look easy in Voiron after a 35-strong breakaway arrived first into town.
With Alpecin-Premier Tech team-mate Mathieu van der Poel providing the lead-out, Philipsen finished several bike lengths ahead of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij to take his 11th career Tour stage win, having won one in each edition since 2022.
"Definitely (it's special) after such a roller coaster of emotions in this Tour de France," Philipsen said.
"I had to wait until stage 17. I was prepared very, very well, I was in the shape of my life and the first 12 days were just horrible. I couldn't find myself, I couldn't find the feeling I was hoping for.
#tour
3 months ago
Raptors trade idea keeps Kawhi Leonard in mind, but lands All-Star who is coming off career years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Raptors are in one of the stranger situations in the NBA at the moment because of the whole Kawhi Leonard saga.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, until the Leonard situation gets resolved, there will be questions about whether they can realistically trade for him, or whether the deal will even go down as reported.
One way to fix some of these problems would be to go out and land other players. At the very least, the Raptors would know they have some other talent coming in. One trade idea was recently floated to bring back Norman Powell and Nic Claxton, two above-average players from the Chicago Bulls.
"Immanuel Quickley ($32.5 million) and Jakob Poeltl ($19.5 million) are both drawing above-value contracts for 2026-27," Alex Kirschenbaum wrote. "To get off Poeltl's money and return Powell to the Raptors, Quickley and Poeltl could be shipped out to Chicago in exchange for Powell and Claxton."
#claxton
The Toronto Raptors are in one of the stranger situations in the NBA at the moment because of the whole Kawhi Leonard saga.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, until the Leonard situation gets resolved, there will be questions about whether they can realistically trade for him, or whether the deal will even go down as reported.
One way to fix some of these problems would be to go out and land other players. At the very least, the Raptors would know they have some other talent coming in. One trade idea was recently floated to bring back Norman Powell and Nic Claxton, two above-average players from the Chicago Bulls.
"Immanuel Quickley ($32.5 million) and Jakob Poeltl ($19.5 million) are both drawing above-value contracts for 2026-27," Alex Kirschenbaum wrote. "To get off Poeltl's money and return Powell to the Raptors, Quickley and Poeltl could be shipped out to Chicago in exchange for Powell and Claxton."
#claxton
3 months ago
Top German rider Florian Lipowitz broke his collarbone in a crash on the 16th stage of the Tour de France and his season could now be compromised.
Last year's third-place finisher was fifth overall heading into Tuesday's time trial but a heavy crash at speed meant he had to withdraw from the race given his injury, which was confirmed by his Red Bull team.
He will miss at least six weeks, which makes the Vuelta (August 22 to September 13) impossible and the World Championships in Montreal (September 20 to 27) unlikely. The one-day races in Italy at the end of the season such as the Tour of Lombardy (October 10) are still doable.
It was a bitter-sweet day for the team given other leading rider Remco Evenepoel won the stage to trim Tadej Pogačar's overall lead to 4 minutes 32 seconds. The Tour concludes on Sunday.
Team boss Ralph Denk said: "We will not only miss Florian in the fight for the podium, we will also miss him here as a person. We won but it is not as if it is super great for us. I also feel sorry for Remco that not everything here is peace, joy and pancakes."
#team #september #crash
Last year's third-place finisher was fifth overall heading into Tuesday's time trial but a heavy crash at speed meant he had to withdraw from the race given his injury, which was confirmed by his Red Bull team.
He will miss at least six weeks, which makes the Vuelta (August 22 to September 13) impossible and the World Championships in Montreal (September 20 to 27) unlikely. The one-day races in Italy at the end of the season such as the Tour of Lombardy (October 10) are still doable.
It was a bitter-sweet day for the team given other leading rider Remco Evenepoel won the stage to trim Tadej Pogačar's overall lead to 4 minutes 32 seconds. The Tour concludes on Sunday.
Team boss Ralph Denk said: "We will not only miss Florian in the fight for the podium, we will also miss him here as a person. We won but it is not as if it is super great for us. I also feel sorry for Remco that not everything here is peace, joy and pancakes."
#team #september #crash
3 months ago
Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel stormed to victory in Tuesday's 26.1km individual time-trial at the Tour de France to shave valuable seconds off Tadej Pogacar's overall lead.
Belgian Evenepoel, 26, blasted over the stage 16 course along the shores of Lake Geneva 28 seconds quicker than reigning champion Pogacar in second.
Everyone else finished more than a minute back, with Dane Mattias Skjelmose taking third at 1min 04sec.
That performance by the world and Olympic time-trial champion -- on Belgium's national holiday -- cut four-time Tour winner Pogacar's overall lead to 4min 32sec.
"It's amazing, it was a very nice TT (time-trial), a lot of people on the side of the road," said Evenepoel.
#time #tour #lead
Belgian Evenepoel, 26, blasted over the stage 16 course along the shores of Lake Geneva 28 seconds quicker than reigning champion Pogacar in second.
Everyone else finished more than a minute back, with Dane Mattias Skjelmose taking third at 1min 04sec.
That performance by the world and Olympic time-trial champion -- on Belgium's national holiday -- cut four-time Tour winner Pogacar's overall lead to 4min 32sec.
"It's amazing, it was a very nice TT (time-trial), a lot of people on the side of the road," said Evenepoel.
#time #tour #lead
3 months ago
Remco Evenepoel made it back-to-back stage wins at the Tour de France as he marked Belgian national day with victory in a time trial on the banks of Lake Geneva on Tuesday.
Resplendent in the rainbow bands, the world time trial champion completed the 26 kilometre course in a time of 32 minutes 19 seconds, beating Tadej Pogačar by 28 seconds.
He took a small bite out of the Slovenian's commanding advantage in yellow, now 4 minutes 32 seconds, but more importantly opened up a significant gap over Isaac del Toro in the fight for second.
But it was a bittersweet day for Evenepoel's Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team as Florian Lipowitz, third overall last year and fifth in this Tour at the start of the day, crashed 6 kilometres from the finish and abandoned with an apparent broken collarbone.
When Evenepoel won Sunday's stage 15 atop Plateau de Solaison, it was his first career Tour road stage win, but this was his third time trial success in the world's biggest race. What was a 58-second advantage over Del Toro is now 2 minutes and 19 seconds.
#time #stage #toro
Resplendent in the rainbow bands, the world time trial champion completed the 26 kilometre course in a time of 32 minutes 19 seconds, beating Tadej Pogačar by 28 seconds.
He took a small bite out of the Slovenian's commanding advantage in yellow, now 4 minutes 32 seconds, but more importantly opened up a significant gap over Isaac del Toro in the fight for second.
But it was a bittersweet day for Evenepoel's Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team as Florian Lipowitz, third overall last year and fifth in this Tour at the start of the day, crashed 6 kilometres from the finish and abandoned with an apparent broken collarbone.
When Evenepoel won Sunday's stage 15 atop Plateau de Solaison, it was his first career Tour road stage win, but this was his third time trial success in the world's biggest race. What was a 58-second advantage over Del Toro is now 2 minutes and 19 seconds.
#time #stage #toro
4 months ago
Gonzaga Bulldogs coach Mark Few will be one of the three ******* istants on Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s Team USA staff ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, per a report for ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The other two are Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff. Spoelstra and Few won the gold medal as ******* istants together under Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
The first step to qualifying for the upcoming Olympics comes at the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Few will head off to Doha, Qatar, from August 27 to September 12, 2027.
This could also potentially mean that the member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is locked in for at least the next two seasons as the leader of the Zags.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X a_cravalho
The other two are Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff. Spoelstra and Few won the gold medal as ******* istants together under Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
The first step to qualifying for the upcoming Olympics comes at the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Few will head off to Doha, Qatar, from August 27 to September 12, 2027.
This could also potentially mean that the member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is locked in for at least the next two seasons as the leader of the Zags.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X a_cravalho
4 months ago
Jul. 14—There could be another Olympic medal in Mark Few's future after the Gonzaga coach was selected as one of three coaches who will work on Erik Spoelstra's staff as the United States men's national team prepares for the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Few was selected as one of the three ***** istants that will serve under Spoelstra, the longtime Miami Heat coach who's replacing Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr ahead of the forthcoming FIBA World Cup and Olympics cycle.
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff will round out Spoelstra's USA staff.
Few spent more than a decade working with USA Basketball in different capacities before Gonzaga's coach was hired as an ***** istant on Kerr's men's national team staff ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.
A USA roster headlined by future NBA Hall of Famers LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant captured the gold medal in Paris, overcoming a 17-point deficit to bet former Gonzaga forward Filip Petrusev and Serbia in the semifinals before topping host France in the gold medal game.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Few was selected as one of the three ***** istants that will serve under Spoelstra, the longtime Miami Heat coach who's replacing Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr ahead of the forthcoming FIBA World Cup and Olympics cycle.
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff will round out Spoelstra's USA staff.
Few spent more than a decade working with USA Basketball in different capacities before Gonzaga's coach was hired as an ***** istant on Kerr's men's national team staff ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.
A USA roster headlined by future NBA Hall of Famers LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant captured the gold medal in Paris, overcoming a 17-point deficit to bet former Gonzaga forward Filip Petrusev and Serbia in the semifinals before topping host France in the gold medal game.
4 months ago
Coach Erik Spoelstra’s staff for Team USA is starting to take shape.
USA Basketball is expected to appoint Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff and Gonzaga coach Mark Few as ******* istant coaches for the men’s national team, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
Formalities are being finalized and an official announcement is expected to come Thursday, July 16.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on the decisions until they became official.
ESPN was first to report the news of the additions to the staff.
USA Basketball is expected to appoint Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff and Gonzaga coach Mark Few as ******* istant coaches for the men’s national team, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
Formalities are being finalized and an official announcement is expected to come Thursday, July 16.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on the decisions until they became official.
ESPN was first to report the news of the additions to the staff.
4 months ago
The day before the Tour's first rest stage proved to be a highly charged rollercoaster. As overall leader, Tadej Pogacar chose who would be allowed in the breakaway and who would not, the worn out peloton was ready for the day to be over.
The unbearable heat matched with the speed of both the breakaway and peloton proved every rider was ready to wrap this day up early. From Malemort to Ussel, the hills were calm compared to the intensity of the riders.
At one thrilling point, Tom Pidcock's gears broke on him in the breakaway. After a few swift kicks, the gears were fixed, and he was back with the leaders.
The final breakaway included the likes of Mathieu Van Der Poel, Tobias Johannessen, Tom Pidcock, and Alex Baudin. The peloton nipped at their heels the entire day. So much so, the peloton filled with the leaders, finished 6 seconds behind today's stage winner.
As they approached the final turn, no one would dare challenge MVDP. Sure enough, he held off not only his breakaway group, but the entire peloton as Fillipo Ganna hauled the rest of the cyclists behind him.
The unbearable heat matched with the speed of both the breakaway and peloton proved every rider was ready to wrap this day up early. From Malemort to Ussel, the hills were calm compared to the intensity of the riders.
At one thrilling point, Tom Pidcock's gears broke on him in the breakaway. After a few swift kicks, the gears were fixed, and he was back with the leaders.
The final breakaway included the likes of Mathieu Van Der Poel, Tobias Johannessen, Tom Pidcock, and Alex Baudin. The peloton nipped at their heels the entire day. So much so, the peloton filled with the leaders, finished 6 seconds behind today's stage winner.
As they approached the final turn, no one would dare challenge MVDP. Sure enough, he held off not only his breakaway group, but the entire peloton as Fillipo Ganna hauled the rest of the cyclists behind him.
4 months ago
USSEL, France (AP) — Mathieu van der Poel timed his attack perfectly to win the hilly ninth stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish, while defending champion Tadej Pogacar kept the race leader's yellow jersey on Sunday.
Van der Poel was in a group of four contesting the victory. He accelerated with about 200 meters to go, then held off Norwegian rider Tobias Johannessen and Britain's Tom Pidcock before spreading his arms as he crossed the line. All three were timed at 3 hours, 27 minutes, 51 seconds.
It was a third career Tour stage win for the 31-year-old Dutchman, whose vast pedigree includes multiple victories in one day classics and Cyclo-cross world championship ****** les. He is also a former world road race champion, and cycling runs through his veins.
His maternal grandfather was French cyclist Raymond Poulidor, who raced in the 1960s and '70s, finishing second on the Tour three times and third five times. Nicknamed "Poupou" and "The Eternal Runner-up" he was adored by French fans.
Four-time Tour champion Pogacar finished six seconds behind Van der Poel in a group including two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard.
Van der Poel was in a group of four contesting the victory. He accelerated with about 200 meters to go, then held off Norwegian rider Tobias Johannessen and Britain's Tom Pidcock before spreading his arms as he crossed the line. All three were timed at 3 hours, 27 minutes, 51 seconds.
It was a third career Tour stage win for the 31-year-old Dutchman, whose vast pedigree includes multiple victories in one day classics and Cyclo-cross world championship ****** les. He is also a former world road race champion, and cycling runs through his veins.
His maternal grandfather was French cyclist Raymond Poulidor, who raced in the 1960s and '70s, finishing second on the Tour three times and third five times. Nicknamed "Poupou" and "The Eternal Runner-up" he was adored by French fans.
Four-time Tour champion Pogacar finished six seconds behind Van der Poel in a group including two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard.
