Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, HoopsHype is releasing rankings at every position. While Fred VanVleet was rated rather low as a point guard, Rockets star Kevin Durant was recently ranked as one of the best in his position. In a list of the top 27 small forwards in the NBA, Durant placed fifth after averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 ***** ists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 78 appearances last season.
The Duke duo of Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg were ranked first and second, respectively, before the newest member of the Philadelphia 76ers (Jaylen Brown) came in at No. 3. No. 4 is a much more controversial choice, as Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was given the nod over Durant despite playing in just 33 contests last year. Kawhi Leonard (Raptors), Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Brandon Ingram (Clippers) and Brandon Miller (Hornets) rounded out the top-10.
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#season #ranked

Valkyries news: Gabby Williams' game leads France over Germany in World Cup semis appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams put together a spectacular performance for the French national team, taking down hosts Germany in the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup on Saturday.
The 2026 WNBA season is on hold while the global tournament goes through the knockout stage. It is in the semifinal phase with France, Germany, USA, and Spain highlighting the final four.
In 31 minutes of action, Williams balled out for her nation. She finished with a stat line of 22 points, five rebounds, five ****** ists, and four steals. She shot 8-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. This was a remarkable outing as France makes it way to the gold medal game.
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#gabby #clutchpoints #game

For the second straight week, Aday Mara was in-person at Oklahoma's college football game. But for reasons that the football-crazy fanbase wants to know. The 7-foot-3 center made the trip to Michigan to cheer for his Wolverines and celebrate his collegiate year there.
Mara attended No. 11 Oklahoma's shocking 17-10 loss to Michigan on Saturday. At halftime, the Wolverines' men's basketball team was honored. They had a dominant 37-3 record and brought home the 2026 national championship. Alongside Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., Mara was part of a monstrous three-headed frontcourt.
Mara's decision to transfer to Michigan was life-altering. He became a household name and eventually the No. 12 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. He averaged 12.1 points on 66.8% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 ***** ists and 2.6 blocks in his sole collegiate season there.
The Oklahoma City Thunder hope Mara can have a similar type of impact at the NBA level. The 21-year-old is one of the tallest players in the league already. Because of that, he should be a constant paint-scoring threat and be one of the best shot-blockers.
Now, the conditioning and shooting are the main areas of concern. The Thunder hope he can improve both aspects in his rookie season. In an ideal world, he won't be relied upon to help from the jump. Rather, spend the year working on his craft in low-leverage situations.

#year #collegiate #season

The Houston Rockets recently teamed up with Toyota for an annual day of service, where they honored both first responders and military personnel. Some of Houston's attendees included Reed Sheppard, Jae'Sean Tate, head coach Ime Udoka and general manager Rafael Stone. While there, Stone spoke to the media about his relationship with star center Alperen Sengun, revealing that he went to visit him in Turkey this summer.
"We had some good conversations at the end of last year. Part of it was Alpi putting pressure on me [to communicate better]." Stone went on to say that he spent nearly two weeks with Sengun in Turkey, spending time with one another each day. This is, of course, a great sign for Rockets fans, as Sengun and the front office appear to be on the same page.
Last season, Sengun made his second consecutive all-star appearance, averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 ******* ists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks.
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#stone #basketbaltes #last

It's the middle of September and Pat Kelsey and company are still active in the transfer portal.
LJ Wells, a 6'8 power forward who played the last four seasons at Northern Kentucky, has committed to play for Louisville in 2026-27. Wells is the namesake plaintiff in the ongoing Wells vs. NCAA case in Jefferson County Circuit Court that earned a fifth-year of eligibility for players like Wells, D'Angelo Hutchinson, Jabari Mack, and Missouri hooper Mark Mitchell.
Wells started all 33 games for the Norse last season, posting career-best averages of 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He also earned All-Horizon Tournament Team honors after averaging 22.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 ***** ists while helping NKU to the Horizon League semis, where they fell to eventual champion Wright State.
It feels weird to be adding players like this, especially when you can't be 100 percent sure if they're even going to be able to play this winter, but this is a nice depth add at a position where U of L could definitely use some additional depth.
Welcome aboard, LJ.

#last

Backup center Ryan Hollins was the fourth player in Charlotte Hornets franchise history to wear the No. 1, doing so for a brief stretch as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats. A former No. 50 overall pick out of UCLA, Hollins played two and a half seasons in Charlotte before being traded along with Matt Carroll to the Dallas Mavericks for DeSagana Diop.
In 105 games for the Bobcats, Hollins averaged 2.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.2 **** ists, 0.2 steals and 0.5 blocks. Following his time in Charlotte, Hollins would go on to play seven more seasons, giving himself an impressive 10-year NBA career. In 518 career appearances, Hollins averaged 3.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.3 **** ists, 0.2 steals and 0.5 blocks. Since his playing days, Hollins has served as a basketball **** yst and pundit for a variety of different outlets.
Throughout the season, Rookie Wire is documenting the jersey number history of the Charlotte Hornets
Previous: Tony Delk, Robert Parish, Spencer Hawes, Theron Smith, Jeff McInnis, Larry Hughes, Bismack Biyombo, Briante Weber, Miles Bridges, Muggsy Bogues, Baron Davis, Jason Hart
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#hollins #seasons

Sophie Cunningham has become one of the most talked-about figures in women's basketball. Whether on or off the court, Cunningham's outspoken personality has built a large following for herself and has recently added a new platform to that reach.
The Indiana Fever guard launched a podcast called "No Hesitation" alongside trainer Drew Hanlen. Her debut episode was released on Thursday. During that episode, she addresses the storytelling path she believes the WNBA media should tread. Also, she highlights things she could do differently if she held certain governmental powers over the game.
Jul 15, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
So far in the season, Cunningham has averaged 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 ***** ists per game, demonstrating her central role to her team's success all-year-long. During the show, Cunningham touched on players' remuneration, the WNBA media coverage, and even the outgoing commissioner's office. An NFL-themed X page, Franco Vision, shares snippets from the conversation.
"We're always as players going to want more money, and as owners they're always not going to want to give it to you…"When it comes to media coverage, I think that we have good coverage now. Yes, it can always be better. Yes, it can be bigger."

#fever

Katie Lou Samuelson missed all of last season in the WNBA due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Now she'll miss the end of the 2026 season, also because of a knee issue.
The Seattle Storm announced Friday that the former UConn women's basketball star will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on her left knee on Thursday. The team did not state the reason why Samuelson had the procedure or when she's expected back on the court.
Seattle has four more games remaining this season and resumes game action (the WNBA remains on its World Cup break) on Thursday, Sept. 17 against Las Vegas. The Storm are one of seven teams not to make the WNBA Playoffs this season.
Samuelson signed with the Storm ahead of the 2025 season but tore the ACL in her right knee during training camp that spring. She missed all of last season recovering before making her return to the court on May 30 (Seattle's ninth game of the 2026 season). The former Husky saw action in 32 games this season and averaged 4.4 points on 40.5% shooting from the field, along with 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 ***** ists, and 0.8 steals in 15.3 minutes per game. Samuelson started one game for the Storm this year and scored a season-best 11 points against Chicago on July 15.

#samuelson #WNBA

As the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, young swingman Jonathan ******* inga couldn't be more excited about his basketball future. After a difficult parting with the Warriors, ******* inga had some tough decisions to make this summer, but he would say it worked out for the best with a two-year, $12.4 million deal to join Anthony Edwards and his rising young team.
Thursday evening marked ******* inga's introductory press conference with the organization, where he answered all sorts of questions relating to his free-agent process and expectations for the future. Notably, he also spoke about teaming up with LaMelo Ball, someone he called his best passing teammate ever (yes, even over Curry).
"I think his ability to pass the ball, I was watching him work out yesterday and I was watching him and the way he can pass the ball, it's incredible," said ******* inga. "I've played with so many point guards in my career, but I've never played with anybody that can pass as good as LaMelo. I'm looking forward to it; I'm excited."
In ******* inga's defense, Ball is famously skilled offensively with career averages of 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.3 ******* ists, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 41.8% shooting. While he often likes to get flashy with the ball, he's undeniably elite as a playmaker and passer, opening up the floor for teammates and adding a layer of flexibility to the rotation.
To claim that Ball is a better passer than Curry might sound like blasphemy, but the stats back it up. Curry averages 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 ******* ists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for his career, falling short of even Ball's passing numbers. More so than LaMelo, Curry is much more of a scorer, and he's always had teammates to help him run the offense.

#lamelo #pass

Draymond Green recently recorded an episode of his podcast, 'The Draymond Green Show,' in which he discussed several league topics, including Ben Simmons' NBA return with the Sacramento Kings.
Simmons signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Kings to make his comeback to basketball after taking a year away from the league. When he last played in the 2024-25 season, he averaged 5.6 ******* ists, 5.0 points, and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games while shooting 52.0% from the floor.
Green recognizes that while Ben Simmons is no longer the same All-Star-caliber player people saw in his prime, his arrival mainly benefits Darius Acuff Jr., the 19-year-old point guard the Kings picked seventh overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
"Number one, I'm happy to see Ben Simmons back in the NBA. Ben Simmons is a talent that, you know, doesn't grow on trees, and we don't get the opportunity to see in the NBA every day. Ben Simmons got off to a very promising start in his career, and then a lot of people try to blame his game and not his injuries."
"It sucks that when guys get injuries, ultimately people start blaming them as a player, you know, as if you have control over the injuries that happened. And I know Ben Simmons was dealing with a back issue. And I know most people don't understand what that means, but let me tell you, as someone who dealt with a back issue, it's debilitating," Draymond Green said.

#kings #know

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

UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley has landed his first big recruit of the 2027 class.
Five-star prospect NaVarro Bowman Jr. has committed to UConn, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter reported on Thursday. Bowman is the son of former San Francisco 49ers all-pro linebacker NaVarro Bowman Sr. and is UConn's first commit in this class.
Bowman is the top ranked player in California, per 247 Sports. He chose UConn over the likes of Texas and Arizona.
A Southern California native, Bowman has been a standout at Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks high school. Last season, he averaged 22.5 points, five **** ists and 4.9 rebounds per game.
In 2024, he led the Knights to the CIF SoCal Open Division finals where they eventually fell to a Brayden Burries-led Roosevelt High.

#high #class #hurley #espn

As the 2026-27 Iowa women's basketball season approaches, the Hawkeyes will host 2027 four-star combo guard commit Jada Seubert and 2027 four-star center recruit Khalia Hartwell on official visits this upcoming Cy-Hawk weekend on Sept. 11-12.
Hartwell, a 6-foot-5 prospect, is the nation's No. 16 overall player, the No. 2 center and the top player in South Carolina, per 247Sports. Rivals rates Hartwell as the country's No. 26 player, as the No. 3 center and as the top player in South Carolina.
A product of Westside High School in Anderson, S.C., the 6-foot-5 center was named South Carolina's Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
With Iowa sandwiched between official visits to Georgia (Sept. 4) and Virginia Tech (Sept. 18), the Hawkeyes hope that their recruitment pitch and potentially the influence of Seubert can help advance the program to the top of Hartwell's mind.
Seubert, a 5-foot-11 combo guard from Stevens Point, Wis., has been committed to Iowa since Jan. 17. She is ranked as the No. 42 overall prospect, the No. 4 combo guard, and the No. 1 recruit in Wisconsin, per 247Sports.

#player #seubert #center #guard

The FIBA World Cup is underway, and the United States women are once again the heavy favorite to walk away with the gold medal. The US hasn't lost in the World Cup since 2006, and this year's roster is stacked with both veteran and up-and-coming talent.
Their biggest threat has long appeared to be France, who have dominated all three games of Group Play action and finished with the silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But, there's another, more under-the-radar team that has impressed in the early days of the World Cup: Belgium.
Belgium beat Australia 80-68 on Monday behind a monster performance from Emma Meesseman, who exploded for 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting, along with 10 rebounds, 8 ******* ists, and 2 steals. Julie Vanloo (12 points, 5 ******* ists) and Julie Allemand (11 points, 7 ******* ists) were also both highly impactful.
Australia is a powerhouse of its own. Its roster includes 8 WNBA players: Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm), Chloe Bibby (Minnesota Lynx), Isobel Borlase (Atlanta Dream), Milea Sowah (Golden State Valkyries), Rebecca Allen (New York Liberty), Jade Melbourne (Storm), Alanna Smith (Dallas Wings), and Steph Talbot (Las Vegas Aces).

#assists #storm

Stillman Valley High School has announced the Athletic/Activities Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing a coach, former student-athletes, community supporters and championship teams for their achievements and contributions to Cardinal programs.
The inductees will be honored as part of Homecoming festivities Sept. 25, according to a community announcement. The class includes girls basketball coach Bobby Mellon, former student-athletes Michelle ******* er Rogers and Dan Godfread, Friends of Athletics honorees James and Russ Elliot, the 2002-03 Scholastic Bowl Team and the 1989-90 Chess Team.
Mellon has led the Stillman Valley girls basketball program since 2010 and has compiled a 252-105 varsity record. During his tenure, the Cardinals won five regional ******* les, two sectional championships and a Big Northern Conference championship. Mellon also has earned Illinois Basketball Coaches ******* ociation District Coach of the Year honors five times.
Fager Rogers, a member of the Class of 1996, competed in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She helped two girls basketball teams qualify for the state tournament and qualified for the IHSA State Track Meet in the hurdles. Her honors included Girls Track MVP and SVHS Female Athlete of the Year.
Godfread, a graduate from the Class of 1985, became one of the school's most accomplished basketball players before continuing his career at the University of Evansville. He finished his collegiate career with 1,386 points, 737 rebounds and 226 blocked shots while earning first-team all-conference recognition.

#Basketball #mellon #team #stillman

It's been a long time since former Arizona star Aari McDonald played in a WNBA game. That has come to an end with the first-place Minnesota Lynx announcing her signing on Monday afternoon.
McDonald was injured last August while playing for the Indiana Fever. She tried to come back by playing in the Unrivaled 3×3 league during the WNBA offseason, but she was again sidelined by injury. As WNBA training camp approached this year, she said she would not be in camp but she would return this season. It took a while, but now she's not only returning, but she's doing it with the best team in the league.
The Lynx lead the WNBA standings with a 31-9 record and four games left in the regular season. The league returns to play on Sept. 18 after a break for the FIBA Women's World Cup where many top players are representing their countries. That event runs from Sept. 4-13, but the league shut down on Aug. 31.
McDonald sat out a large chunk of last season after being waived by the LA Sparks in training camp. She eventually landed with the Indiana Fever, where she quickly became a fan favorite of the passionate fan base and a fixture in the local community.
She averaged 9.8 points on 42.9 percent shooting, 4.7 **** ists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 26.3 minutes per game for Indiana last season. She appeared in 20 games with 13 starts. It was a career high in games started, minutes per game, field goal percentage, **** ists per game, and rebounds per game.

#games

Charles Barkley has often made bold NBA predictions and comparisons, but his most recent one is especially noteworthy. During an interview with Bill Simmons, the NBA legend claimed he has found a duo that could be the NBA's next Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
"First of all, those two guards, I don't want to see them for the next 10 years if I'm a guard in the NBA," Barkley said on The Bill Simmons Podcast about the Spurs' young backcourt in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
"If I'm a guard in the NBA, I do not want to see them, boys, for the next 10 years. They're going to be the best. They're going to be the new Steph and Klay."
Stephon Castle ended 2025-26 averaging 17.0 points, 7.1 ******* ists, and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 46.8% from the field and 33.7% from behind the three-point line in 91 games (including the playoffs).
Meanwhile, Dylan Harper averaged 12.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 ******* ists in 2025-26 while shooting 50.7% from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc, including the playoffs, in 92 games, mostly coming off the bench.

#castle

Draymond Green wrapped up a rocky 2025-26 season that saw the Golden State Warriors fall in the play-in tournament, with the veteran forward starting all 68 games while averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 ******* ists.
This offseason, Green has used his podcast to speak freely, and this week he turned his attention to one of the NBA's biggest storylines. However his take has already caught plenty of attention around the league, there is more to why Green feels this way.
Green's comments on his podcast reflect a recent pattern of him weighing in publicly on league matters, from a warning he sent the NBA over Damian Lillard's shooting display to issues touching his own Golden State Warriors locker room. This time, the target was the structure of the salary cap itself, not just the punishment handed down.
Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) gestures toward the Sacramento Kings bench during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
"Why is there a salary cap? Why are guys being prevented from making money from team sponsors or league sponsors, or whoever else?" Green said.

#draymond

Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves was in Slovenia in August for a minicamp hosted by teammate Luka Doncic, and he has now made another trip abroad in September. Reaves' longtime girlfriend, Jenna Barber, posted pictures on Instagram on Sunday of the couple vacationing in Mexico with their friends.
Barber and Reaves can be seen relaxing on a yacht in a couple of the pictures, and they also spent time at a Señor Frog's restaurant with the group.
This could be Reaves' last vacation this summer, as the Lakers commence their training camp on Sept. 29. It will be time to get back to work pretty soon. That Slovenia minicamp was a bit more of a bonding trip, and it was needed with all the new faces on the Lakers' roster. They'll have close to 10 new players in the rotation.
Bronny James isn't one of the new faces, but he enjoyed the experience and made it clear the trip helped the team. Speaking of Bronny, his father LeBron James left the Lakers this summer for the Philadelphia 76ers.
LeBron's departure puts more pressure on Reaves, who is now the unquestioned second option behind Doncic. Now, the 28-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, having averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 **** ists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in 2025-26.

#Lakers #barber #bronny #made

As the calendar flips to September, we're officially in the quiet zone of the NBA year. Not much will go on until the final days of the month. All of the major offseason moves have already happened. Teams across the league enjoy some serenity before the marathon starts back up again.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2026-27 season as co-title favorites — alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Even with their offseason departures, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren should keep them in the middle of the ***** le hunt.
With nothing else happening, Thunder Wire will regularly conduct Thunder Mailbags over the remainder of the offseason. In this edition, a social media user asked in the DMs — could Alex Caruso's regular-season role change with so many departures?
The Thunder added Caruso in a rare one-for-one player trade with the Chicago Bulls in June 2024. It was one of two offseason moves made that summer that signaled their readiness to take the next step as a serious ***** le contender. Safe to say the win-now move paid off. OKC won the 2025 NBA championship in his first year there and almost won another this past year.
In those two playoff runs, Caruso has been one of OKC's five most important players. Especially when you compare his pedestrian regular-season numbers. He's averaged 6.6 points on 43.3% shooting, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 ***** ists in the regular season. He's shot 32.2% from 3. And in the playoffs, those numbers jump up to 9.9 points on 46.2% shooting, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 ***** ists. He's shot 42.7% from 3.

#regular

As the stock market rebounds, it's important to watch the stocks that are holding up and are most loved by equity ****** ysts. They may end up becoming the next big opportunities.
Amazon.com (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL) and Dell Technologies (DELL) are three of the seven best stocks where investors can find magnificent profit growth prospects. Investors should be seeking new buy opportunities after the S&P 500 climbed to new highs.
Amphenol (APH) is forming a cup-with-handle base with an 88.17 buy point, according to IBD MarketSurge pattern recognition. The stock is trying to climb back above its 50-day moving average. A 2-for-1 stock split went into effect Sept. 2.
Shares gapped up July 29 after Q2 sales and earnings breezed past expectations on solid growth in the IT datacom market.
The company is one of the world's largest providers of fiber-optic and high-speed connectors, including cables and connectors for data centers. Data centers have become an important market for Amphenol as hyperscalers continue the aggressive expansion of AI infrastructure.

#market #amphenol #data #Growth

As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Cameron Boozer joins the Memphis Grizzlies after a historic freshman campaign at Duke.
Boozer was the consensus National Player of the Year, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 ****** ists while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range. He is the only freshman in history to tally at least 700 points, 300 rebounds and 100 ****** ists in a single season.
The 6-foot-8 Boozer ranked second in the country in points (855), second in field goals (290), third in rebounds (389) and fifth in free throws (221). He was also tied for the most double-doubles with 22, becoming just the second Duke freshman to reach that total in a season.
Boozer is the second player drafted with the No. 3 pick in franchise history. He is one of seven Blue Devils to be selected third, joining Christian Laettner (1992), Grant Hill (1994), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (2002), Jahlil Okafor (2015), Jayson Tatum (2017) and RJ Barrett (2019).
The son of former 13-year veteran Carlos Boozer debuted with the Grizzlies in summer league, averaging 18.5 points, eight rebounds, 3.7 ****** ists and 1.8 steals. He was named to the All-Summer League first team, ranking second in points (111) among all players in Las Vegas.

#boozer #rebounds #assists

Australian Ben Simmons, who missed last season with nagging back injuries, has agreed on a one-year NBA comeback deal with the Sacramento Kings, according to multiple reports on Friday.
The 30-year-old point guard was the top pick in the 2016 draft by Philadelphia but missed the 2016-17 campaign with a broken right foot only to earn the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Simmons last played in the NBA in early 2025 as a reserve with the Los Angeles Clippers but ESPN and The Athletic reported he has come to terms on a deal worth $3.5 million with the Kings, who were reportedly impressed with his performance at a workout this week.
He will likely serve as a backup for rookie guard Darius Acuff, the seventh pick in last June's draft, as well as a possible fill-in at other roster positions.
Simmons averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 ******* ists a game over eight NBA seasons, producing his best numbers with the 76ers before sitting out the 2021-22 campaign then being traded to Brooklyn, where he struggled and was waived in 2025 before finishing the season with the Clippers.

#year

Caitlin Clark made her FIBA Women's World Cup debut on Friday, Sept. 4.
The point guard held her own, scoring a team-high 14 points in a 94-61 victory over China in the first game of the group stage in Berlin, Germany. Clark added three rebounds and 11 **** ists with no turnovers. Paige Bueckers also scored 14 points.
"Like, how lucky am I? This is pretty special and pretty cool, and there's so many people that would kill to be in this spot and have this type of opportunity," Clark told FIBA before the tournament began.
"Especially to play for the USA team, let alone play in the WNBA and live out your dream every single day. So I try to look at, look at it the other way and think about how lucky I am and how grateful I am."
Clark is averaging 22.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 8.4 **** ists for the Fever. She is having a breakout season after missing all but 13 games last season after a series of soft tissue injuries. Clark is a generational playmaker, often seeing passing windows before they open. And don't forget about the 3-pointer, which she can hit from 30 feet with ease.

#fiba #pretty

Former Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons has not played in the NBA since the 2024-25 season when he finished with the Los Angeles Clippers. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft took a year off after a tumultuous couple of seasons in the league, but is now set to make his return.
Simmons will reportedly sign a 1-year deal with the Sacramento Kings and look to continue his career after such a strong start. Simmons was a 3-time All-Star with the Sixers, won Rookie of the Year in 2018, and made the All-NBA Third Team in 2020. Then injuries took over and the ugly break up in Philadelphia sent him to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden deal.
Just in: Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has agreed on a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, his agents Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe and Ryan Arney tell me and MarcJSpears. The one-time All-NBA star is back in the NBA for a 10th season after sitting out 2025-26. pic.twitter.com/xj5X7lr3op
Simmons will look to unleash his elite playmaking and defensive ability in Sacramento and get his game back on the right track. When he was right with the Sixers, he was a fantastic player as he averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 ******* ists. The Kings offer him an environment where he can find his game again and come along slowly in order to get back at it.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Former Sixers star Ben Simmons to return to NBA, signs deal with Kings

#sacramento #time #back

BERLIN (AP) — Opponents will be looking up to China during the women's FIBA World Cup, starting with the the United States.
The Americans and everyone else will have to navigate around and over some of the tallest women on the planet: China's 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu stands 7-foot-3. The U.S. team is already familiar with 6-10 Han Xu from her WNBA games with the New York Liberty.
If not for a passport mishap, Zhang and Han would be joined by another center — 6-7 Li Yueru, who plays with the WNBA's Dallas Wings. Li posted on social media Wednesday that her passport was lost in the mail and she won't be able to compete.
China opens its campaign against the four-time defending champion in Berlin on Friday.
Zhang wasn't playing when the U.S. beat China 83-61 in the 2022 World Cup final in Sydney for a fourth consecutive gold medal. She made her senior debut at the Women's Asia Cup last year and helped China capture the bronze, averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in the tournament.

#China #World #united

The Los Angeles Lakers experienced a major roster overhaul this summer, replacing LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart (among others) with Walker Kessler, Collin **** ton, Quentin Grimes, Kevon Looney, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Among the losses, however, backup forward Jarred Vanderbilt was not included, setting the stage for his fourth straight full season with the Purple and Gold. As much as the Lakers have tried to trade Vanderbilt, no teams have answered the call, forcing head coach JJ Redick to begrudgingly accept Vando's return for at least some of the 2026-27 campaign.
"The Lakers have been trying to find a taker for Vanderbilt, but no one has been eager to take on his contract," wrote Heavy's Sean Deveney. "It's possible the Lakers will use him in their rotation, much to JJ Redick's chagrin, and attempt to trade him during the season."
Vanderbilt, 27, was on three different teams before being sent to the Lakers in 2023. Known primarily as a wing defender, he seems like the ideal fit on paper for a Lakers team that has struggled to contain perimeter shooters. With a modest career stat line of 5.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 **** ists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 54.6% shooting from the field, Vanderbilt has never played a huge role on his teams, but he provides a spark off the bench as a 6'8″ athlete with natural defensive instincts.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt's flaws as a shooter and scorer have kept him on the fringe of JJ Redick's rotation. With an average of 1.5 three-point attempts on 29.3% shooting per game, he failed to fulfill his role as a three-and-d wing, which made him virtually unplayable in the postseason. Without the confidence or ability to stretch the floor, Vanderbilt becomes more of a liability than anything else. If not for injuries, he might have played significantly less throughout the season, revealing just how much the Lakers value his impact.

#Lakers #wing

From well down the hall, Dennis Robertson saw me coming.
Whether he recognized me or not, I'll never be sure. But once I stopped and identified myself, he looked me up and down, then broke into a huge grin.
"So nowww the San Antonio Express-News wants to talk," Robertson said.
The truth was, the San Antonio Express-News always did. But if Kawhi Leonard's uncle and adviser was gloating in that Oracle Arena hallway in Oakland, California, seven years ago, it was because he'd earned his right to do so.
At that moment, his nephew was the best all-around basketball player in the world, a designation he'd just proven beyond any reasonable doubt. In Game 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Leonard scored 36 points to go with 12 rebounds and four steals, and his Toronto Raptors were heading back to Canada one victory away from their first championship.

#kawhi

The ACC/SEC Challenge matchups have quickly become some of the most anticipated games on the college basketball calendar. This year's slate once again features several high-profile programs going head-to-head in important early-season tests. With intriguing storylines, talented rosters, and plenty of national implications, a few games stand above the rest. Here are the three must-watch matchups in the 2026 ACC/SEC Challenge.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats reacts in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Despite losing their top scorer, Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama head coach Nate Oats has reloaded his roster by retaining key pieces and targeting the transfer portal. After testing NBA waters, Amari Allen felt it was best to return to Alabama. This is massive for the Crimson Tide as they return one of the nation's better defenders. Allen was tasked with the toughest ****** ignments game after game. The expectations will be high for him. This is similar to Philon Jr., who, in his first year, was great and turned into a phenomenal scorer. Philon led the Crimson Tide in scoring last season.
Alongside Allen's return, Oats has also brought in a talented freshman class that could make an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide. The first of the group is five-star McDonald's All-American Jaxon Richardson. The six-foot-six wing is known to be one of the most athletic and bouncy freshmen in the class. Richardson does a great job of running the floor, creating easy transition points for himself. This is a perfect match for Oats, who likes to play fast on offense.
Richardson moves exceptionally without the ball, showing that he does not need the ball in his hands to make an immediate impact. Richardson can make a major impact on the glass, consistently creating second-chance opportunities by securing offensive rebounds and finishing putbacks. Defensively, his long wingspan and high motor allow him to contest shots, protect the rim, and bring consistent energy.

#oats #richardson #philon

Former LSU women's basketball forward Kate Koval posted a statement to her social media account on Wednesday about why she left the team. She confirmed suspicions that her departure was due to the Tigers signing Russian forward Anna Minaeva.
According to Koval's statement, she learned in April that Minaeva would be signing with LSU. The news came after the transfer portal closed, meaning Koval couldn't go in search of another program. Koval hails from Ukraine and her father serves in the Ukrainian military.
"The timing of this situation and the deeply personal effect it has had on me, my family and those we care about who continue to live through and fight this war ultimately made me question whether LSU remained the right place for me," Koval said. "This decision has not been easy. While I understand and respect that roster decisions are a part of college basketball, I have to remain true to myself, my values and my country."
Koval said she felt like she "found a home at LSU" after transferring there ahead of her sophomore year. She played in every game with 17 starts, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. As a junior, she was in line to start at the five and play a major role for LSU inside.
Instead, Koval issued a call to action for the NCAA. In her statement, she made a plea to play for another school for the upcoming season.

#minaeva #signing