The Milwaukee Brewers — fresh off a solid 5-2 homestand to push them to 74-44 on the season — are headed back to the West Coast after visiting the Giants and Angels last week. This time, they'll face two slightly more formidable opponents in the Padres and Dodgers. First up is San Diego, currently in a fight for an NL Wild Card spot alongside the Phillies and D-backs (among several others). At 62-57, the Padres have turned things on in recent weeks to put themselves firmly into the playoff race.
The Brewers have lost several position players in recent days, as shortstop Cooper Pratt hit the IL on Sunday with a hamstring strain and Joey Ortiz is considered day-to-day with neck tightness. The team also lost prospect Jett Williams, who, in his first at-bat back from injury, re-injured his hand while swinging. Outfielder Sal Frelick is also out, though he's on his way back as he began a rehab ***** ignment over the weekend. Pitchers Joel Kuhnel (on rehab), JoJo Romero (mid- to late August), Rob Zastryzny (TBD), Brandon Woodruff (out for season), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season) are all on the IL.
San Diego's injured list currently includes pitchers Joe Musgrove (on rehab), Nick Pivetta (exited rehab outing last week), David Morgan (on rehab), Jason Adam (late August or early September), Lucas Giolito (late August), Bryan Hoeing (out for season), and Yu Darvish (considering retirement). Outfielders Ramón Laureano (likely out for season) and Samad Taylor (close to a rehab ***** ignment) are also out, as well as utility man Miguel Andujar (late August).
Jake Bauers leads Milwaukee with 21 homers, though Jackson Chourio's four-homer week has him closing in with 21 on the season. Brice Turang, William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, Andrew Vaughn, Christian Yelich, Ortiz, Luis Lara, and David Hamilton round out the regulars, with Brandon Lockridge, Gary Sánchez, and new addition Jihwan Bae serving as depth. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .253/.337/.398 (.735 OPS ranks seventh), with 109 homers (last), 585 runs (fifth), and 117 steals (fourth).
Despite an ice-cold start offensively, the Padres have turned it around a bit offensively in recent weeks. Manny Machado, who's hitting just .212 for the year, leads the team with 23 homers, good for a .420 slugging percentage. He's followed by Jackson Merrill (18 homers), Ty France (16 homers), Gavin Sheets (15 homers), and Fernando Tatis Jr. (11 homers). Xander Bogaerts, Luis Campusano, Freddy Fermin, Jake Cronenworth, recent former Brewer Luis Rengifo round out the regulars, with Austin Hays, Jase Bowen, and Sung-Mun Song, providing depth. As a team, the Padres are hitting .236/.313/.382 (.695 OPS ranks 25th), with 124 homers (20th), 497 runs (22nd), and 119 steals (third).

#homers #august #brewers #late

Jabari Smith Jr. is known as the Houston Rockets' "Swiss Army Knife" for his versatility. He is an elite defender and can guard any position. Whether he is guarding the perimeter or protecting the paint, he consistently disrupts the opposing team's offense.
Last season, he totaled a career-high 71 total blocks. He also had 56 total steals, earning himself a 114.2 defensive rating. These impressive numbers represent how crucial a role he played for Houston's defense, which had the third-best-ranked defense in the entire NBA.
On the offensive end, he is a solid spot-up shooter. Last season, he averaged 15.8 points per game, while shooting 45% from the field and 36.3% from deep. However, his ball handling skills were one of his weak spots.
An important metric to represent this weakness is by looking at his field goal percentage after x amount of dribbles. He shoots at 44.8% when he is in a catch-and-shoot motion (0 dribbles). There is a major dip when he has two dribbles before shooting, as his field goal percentage then drops to 36.5%. His field goal percentage drops even further to 28.9% when he takes three or more dribbles before shooting.Improving in this area would surely elevate his game, and he is committed to doing so.
He recently stated: "I definitely want to get better and more comfortable at handling the ball this year. Being able to handle and relieve that pressure from Fred (VanVleet) and the other guards who have to handle the ball the whole game. I'm trying to improve every aspect (of my game), but I feel like ball-handling is the area where I can take the biggest jump. I'm trying to just get stronger with the ball. Not necessarily doing a million moves, but being strong with it and being able to get to my spots. I think that'll open my game up a lot."

#dribbles #last

Former three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is the latest free agent looking to make an NBA comeback, as former first-round picks Mario Hezonja and Lonnie Walker IV have returned to the United States and secured NBA contracts.
Simmons, an LSU product, experienced plenty of success on the biggest stages with the Philadelphia 76ers, making an All-NBA Third Team and two All-Defensive Teams. At his peak, the Australian guard, once compared to NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, averaged 16.4 points, eight **** ists, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks.
According to Andscape, Simmons is feeling the "best he's felt in years" and has already received an invite to training-camp from one team. Simmons, who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season, is open to signing for the minimum. Having just turned 30, Simmons offers an intriguing low-risk, high-reward option as teams put the finishing touches on their roster before the season tips off in late October.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Report: Several teams interested in three-time All-Star eyeing NBA comeback

#time #mario

Warriors center Al Horford is entering his 20th NBA season this fall, and although he is far from his prime, the Dominican big man has put together quite the career.
In a recent list made by HoopsHype, Horford was listed as the 14th-best foreign-born player in NBA history. In 1,183 games to this point, Horford has career averages of 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.2 ******* ists, 1.1 blocks and 0.8 steals. He's made five All-Star appearances, one All-NBA selection and one All-Defensive Team. His best season was likely during the 2012-13 season, when the former Florida Gator averaged 17.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 ******* ists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks. While scoring was never Horford's strongest skill, the former Atlanta Hawk and Boston Celtic is known as a winning player and has a championship to show for it.
Not to mention, Horford's ability to add an effective 3-point shot to his game has increased his impact and longevity. Another current player, Rudy Gobert, ranked just ahead of Horford at No. 13, and Spanish-born center Marc Gasol came in just behind him at No. 15.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors center recognized among the greatest international players ever

#horford #Warriors #made

The Minnesota Lynx won a battle of the WNBA's top teams on Saturday, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 98-87 at the Target Center.
Olivia Miles continued her outstanding rookie season, tallying a game-high 26 points with 7 ***** ists and 4 rebounds. She has scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games and four of her past five contests.
Naphessa Collier followed with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks matched up against reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson. Natasha Howard added 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 ***** ists and 2 steals. Kayla McBride scored 15 points, while Courtney Williams contributed 13 points, 7 rebounds, 7 ***** ists and 2 steals.
The Lynx's win boosted their record to 26-7, giving them a three-game margin over the Aces for the WNBA's top spot. The Golden State Valkyries could overtake Las Vegas for second place with a win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.
Jackie Young led the Aces with 23 points, with Wilson adding 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. NaLyssa Smith notched 14 points, 11 boards and 4 ***** ists. Las Vegas is now 22-10 for the season.

#vegas

After four more seasons with the Boston Celtics, veteran center and former NBA champion Al Horford joined the Golden State Warriors for his 19th NBA season. Although the 39-year-old wasn't the most durable (45 appearances), he increased his steals and blocks per game totals despite averaging the fewest minutes of his career.
During the year, Horford averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 ***** ists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks. Horford's shooting numbers were quite similar from a season prior, shooting 42.6% from the field and 36.1% from 3-point range. Ahead of his 20th NBA season, Horford signed a new two-year deal with Golden State.
Check out Horford's highlights from his first season with the Warriors.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Al Horford Golden State Warriors 2025-26 season highlights

#steals

One newcomer to the Los Angeles Lakers who hasn't been talked about as much as some of the others is Ziaire Williams. The 6-foot-9 forward is very athletic, reportedly has a vertical leap of nearly 40 inches, runs the floor well and finishes strong in transition and is a versatile, effective defender. He will have a chance to make a significant impact on a Lakers team that has badly needed versatile, athletic perimeter defenders for the last few years.
Williams was born in Lancaster, Calif., which is about an hour northeast of downtown Los Angeles, and he went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, first at Notre Dame High School and then at Sierra Canyon School. He's now back in the Southland, and in a video on the Lakers' YouTube channel, he said that getting to play for the team is "super surreal."
"Seeing my name on the Lakers jersey was super surreal, a blessing," Williams said. "I can't even explain it into words I'm just so excited to be back home, playing in front of the fans, my family and I never would've imagined this day would come true. Eight-year old me is doing backflips right now. It's crazy, I just can't wait to play a real game. I'm ready to play right now."
The 24-year-old's main weakness is his 3-point shooting, which has improved somewhat during his five years in the NBA, but he was at a mediocre 34.3% from that distance last season. He's very good at hitting wide-open 3s (defined as the closest defender being at least six feet away), but he tends to struggle when a defender is closer than six feet away from him.
Last season, Williams averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 ******* ists, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks in 22.9 minutes a game as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. He signed a one-year, $2.45 million veteran minimum contract with the Lakers in mid-July.

#play

Iowa women's basketball added another name to its 2027 targets as the Hawkeyes offered point guard prospect Santana Sabus.
The 5-foot-9 native of Arvada, Colo., stars for Ralston Valley High School and the Hardwood Elite Adidas 3-Stripes Select AAU program, where she is rated as the No. 4 prospect and No. 1 point guard in the state, according to Prep Girls Hoops' 2027 Colorado rankings.
During her junior season, Sabus averaged 23.7 points on 51% shooting and 35% from 3-point range, along with 10.1 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 3.8 ******* ists, and 1.0 blocks in 24 games, per MaxPreps.
Along with Iowa, Sabus has garnered scholarship invitations from Colorado, Kansas, and Washington State.
Four-star combo guard Jada Seubert is Iowa's only 2027 commit so far, but Sabus joins a group of four other prospects who are still considering the Hawkeyes, including forwards Sienna Williams, Nation Williams, and Destiny Manyawu, and center Khalia Hartwell.

#sabus #point

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Sparks (11-18) will end their three-game road trip against the best team in the league.
The Minnesota Lynx (25-6) have dominated the league all season long. Before the season started, many pundits thought that the Lynx would struggle with Napheesa Collier sidelined for an extended period.
Rookie Olivia Miles had other plans.
Miles would dazzle the league with her drives, playmaking, poise, and even shooting. The Lynx didn't skip a beat with Miles being the engine. The Rookie of the Year award is hers to lose and she's playing like an MVP (let's be honest here; A'ja Wilson is winning that award again but that's neither here nor there).
And Collier has returned. In the four games that she's played, Phee has averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 ****** ists. Let's also throw in 1.5 steals and a block per game.

#lynx #miles #game #award

NEW YORK — Just like they did on Monday night, the young core of the Seattle Storm fought hard.
But they came up short yet again — this time falling 92-86 to the Liberty at Barclays Center Wednesday. The Liberty victory pushed the team's win streak to three games.
Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 28 points, eight rebounds, two ****** ists and one block.
And the team's overall effort was enough despite Dominique Malonga's impressive stat line: 31 points, 10 rebounds, three ****** ists, two steals and a block.
Malonga, the second-year star primed to lead Seattle's rebuild, showed why the Storm organization are trusting in her to propel the franchise back to winning basketball.

#rebounds

Former St. John's forward Dillon Mitchell, the 40th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, the team announced.
Mitchell was a Big East All-Defensive team selection, averaging 8.3 points, seven rebounds, three **** ists and 1.3 steals while shooting 55.9% from the field. He was also voted to the All-Big East third team and the Big East All-Tournament team.
The 6-foot-8 Mitchell established himself as a second-round pick this year because of his rebounding, defensive instincts and length, boasting a 6-foot, 10 1/2-inch wingspan. He also dazzled in the open court with his athleticism and activity.
Mitchell debuted with the Celtics in summer league, averaging 13 points, five rebounds, 2.7 steals, 1.3 **** ists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 37.5% from 3-point range. He produced his best game on July 12, tallying 24 points, eight rebounds, six steals, two blocks and two **** ists.
The 22-year-old will split his time next season between the NBA and the Maine Celtics in the G League. He is eligible to play up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn $678,882, which is 50% of the minimum salary for a player with zero years of service.

#team #rebounds #defensive

Phoenix Suns rookie Koa Peat had a productive debut in the NBA Summer League, and the team is eager to see him take the court when training camp begins next month.
Peat logged four appearances with the Suns in Las Vegas, averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 ****** ists and 1.5 steals while shooting 51% from the field. He scored 12 or more points in each game, highlighted by a 19-point effort on July 19.
The 30th overall pick faces an uphill battle to carve out consistent playing time on a team that qualified for the playoffs last season. But Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein, speaking on the "Burns & Gambo Show" on Tuesday, said Peat will have the chance to prove himself.
I think we'll have an incredibly competitive training camp. We are deep. When you look at our depth, I think that is one of our strong suits. At the wing, you have Rasheer (Fleming), who is young, and Ryan Dunn, who is young, and Koa, who is young, on top of Miles (Bridges) and (Jordan Goodwin) and Dillon (Brooks), so Koa's job is to come compete every day and earn rotation minutes. I think we are deep there.
You saw the success of Khaman (Maluach) and Rasheer playing in the G League a little bit and ultimately really contributing the last half of the year, but Koa's mindset after a really good summer league is to come in and earn minutes right away. ... I want Koa to go out and say, 'I want to earn 20 minutes a game from the start.' Luckily, we've really built some depth at that position where there won't be pressure on him to do just that.

#peat #really

Coy James may have been a 5th rounder in the 2025 draft, but he is not your average fifth round pick. The Nats gave James a $2.5 million signing bonus, paying him approximately the slot value of the 39th overall pick in that draft. With that in mind, big things were expected from the high school shortstop, and so far he has lived up to expectations.
It has not been a perfect first season for James by any means. He is only hitting .222 and is striking out 25.4% of the time in Low-A. However, he is showing flashes of immense upside with 16 homers and 27 steals. His .755 OPS is also above league average. James remains a work in progress, but his upside remains tantalizing.
We got reminded of how loud those tools are last night. While the Nats were lifelessly meandering to a 7th straight loss, James hit a 456 foot bomb. That is some crazy raw power for a 19 year old. When James is firing on all cylinders, he is one of the most impressive of the Nats many infield prospects.
James' season has been interesting because going into the draft scouts were split on if he were a power first guy or a hit first profile. Baseball America gave him a 55 hit tool with 50 power, while MLB Pipeline gave him a 45 hit tool with 55 power. So far the Pipeline projection has been more accurate, though his raw power might be closer to a 60.
Interestingly, it also seems like James' athleticism got undersold coming out of the draft as well. Both BA and Pipeline graded him as an average runner. However, he has looked more explosive in pro ball. He has 27 steals, but Fangraphs also gave him a 60 run tool in their early season update.

#james #gave #first #season

Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams reached a career milestone in a 92-81 win against the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Williams scored her 2,000th career point late in the fourth quarter, when she found a sliver through the defense and drove to the basket for a layup, ***** isted by Tiffany Hayes.
Williams made the field goal with 1:34 left in the game as she put the Valkyries ahead 89-78. She finished the game with 10 points, seven rebounds and a steal. She shot 44% from the field, shooting 4-for-9.
The Valkyries nabbed back-to-back wins, completing a season sweep against the Toronto Tempo, and improves to 21-9 on the season. They've been led in scoring by Williams all season long, who is averaging a team-high 14.9 points per game. She also leads the team in steals per game with a 1.6 average per contest.
Golden State had to lodge a comeback in their matchup with the Tempo after going down by double digits in the first half. The Valkyries faced a 13-point deficit having went down 38-25 with 6:22 in the second quarter after Tempo forward Laura Juskaite made a 25-foot three-point jumper, ***** isted by Maria Conde.

#valkyries #tempo #game #state

CLEVELAND — The Guardians are planning to call up switch-hitting shortstop Angel Genao from the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on Wednesday, Aug. 5, according to multiple reports.
Genao is ranked 39th on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. He is the No. 2-ranked prospect in Cleveland's farm system, according to MLB Pipeline, trailing only Ralphy Velazquez.
The 22-year-old Genao's expected promotion was first reported by Yancen Pujols.
Genao has played 72 games with Triple-A Columbus this season, batting .309 with 42 RBIs, 10 home runs, 17 doubles, a triple, nine steals and an .889 OPS.
Genao also spent 24 games with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks this season, hitting .271 with 11 RBIs, three home runs, three doubles, two steals and an .830 OPS.

#triple #games #season #home

B.J. Edwards, a former Tennessee basketball guard from Knoxville Catholic, plans on returning to college basketball despite playing for an NBA team this summer. He told On3 that he plans to enter the transfer portal with a "Do Not Contact" tag.
Edwards, who played for SMU last season, was one of 17 college basketball players who had exhausted their four years of eligibility but filed suit against the NCAA in Tennessee state court in an attempt to land an fifth year of eligibility. On July 31, he was granted a temporary injunction that, at least for now, puts him on the path to playing one final season at the college level.
The order handed down by Tennessee state court requires the NCAA to open a new transfer window for this group of athletes from the class of 2022. The window is open from Aug. 3-10. The order does not exempt schools from the roster limit of 15 players, so Edwards can only join a team that has kept a spot in reserve.
While awaiting a ruling in state court, Edwards was not picked in the 2026 NBA Draft but did sign a contract with the Sacramento Kings and played in the NBA Summer League. He averaged 2.4 points across five appearances.
But the 6-foot-3 Edwards was a star for the Mustangs as they reached the NCAA Tournament's First Four last season, should have his fair share of suitors once he enters the transfer portal. As a senior, he averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 ***** ists and an ACC-leading 2.3 steals per game while shooting 37.2% from 3-point range.

#state #court

Allen Iverson is a legendary player not only for the Philadelphia 76ers, but for the NBA as a whole. Standing at just 6-feet tall, the No. 1 pick in the 1996 draft made his presence known right away as he averaged 23.5 points as a rookie on his way to Rookie of the Year honors.
Iverson won MVP in 2001 as he led Philadelphia to its last finals appearance and led the league in scoring four times. He was an 11-time All-Star, a 3-time steals champion, and a member of both the NBA's 75th anniversary team and the Hall of Fame. He averaged 26.7 points and 6.2 ******* ists across his 14 years in the league for the Sixers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies.
HoopsHype ranked Iverson the 31st-best player on their list of the top 80 players in NBA history:
A cultural icon as well as one of the best lead guards of his era, Allen Iverson has to be one of the most ridiculously explosive athletes the sport has ever seen, especially out of a player generously listed at 6-feet tall. Iverson's crossover was devastating (just ask Jordan), and his bombastic style as a scorer made for thrilling viewing throughout his prime. Iverson was one of the most influential players ever, both on and off the court was one of the most exciting players to watch and in his prime. He could really score with the best of them in such an unorthodox package.
Iverson and the Sixers will always be synonymous with each other. His No. 3 jersey hangs from the rafters at the Xfinity Mobile Arena and he has given Philadelphia a boatload of memories they can look back on. His impact on both the Sixers and the NBA cannot be understated.

#best #tall

Florida State University's men's basketball team isn't quite the nationally recognized powerhouse that the school's football program is, but it has had success in its own right. It has reached the NCAA Tournament 18 times, and while it has never officially won the national championship, it was declared the men's NCAA champions in 2020 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Legislature when the tournament was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 53 members of the Seminoles have been drafted into the NBA, including Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors, Terance Mann of the Brooklyn Nets and the San Antonio Spurs' Devin Vassell. It is the college team Dave Cowens, the Hall of Fame center, once played for before helping the Boston Celtics win two world championships in the mid-1970s.
The Los Angeles Lakers have taken two Florida State University products in the NBA draft. Here is a look at each of them.
Jackson played a nondescript four seasons with the Seminoles before the Lakers took him in the fourth round of the 1980 draft. He played one season in the NBA with the Lakers, and in two games, he totaled two points, two rebounds, two ****** ists and two steals.
Rolle transferred to Florida State University after spending two years at Oral Roberts University, and he averaged 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds a game with the Seminoles. He was a second-round draft pick in 1981, and while he never played in the NBA, he had a lengthy 13-year basketball career in Europe, mostly in Italy.

#tournament #Basketball

Last week's bombshell federal order granting high school class of 2022 athletes a fifth season of eligibility is already producing widespread ripple effects through college basketball. Hundreds of graduating seniors are doing an about-face and returning to the college level for one more year, including former St. John's guard Oziyah Sellers, who entered the transfer portal on Saturday. Another Red Storm senior could join him soon.
Dillon Mitchell, the former St. John's forward and Boston Celtics rookie, could return to the program this upcoming season, according to Adam Zagoria. The Red Storm are also reportedly interested in Auburn forward and All-SEC selection Keyshawn Hall, another senior eyeing a fifth season in college basketball.
Mitchell was selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics and stood out in the NBA Summer League, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds on solid shooting efficiency in three games. Yet, he remains unsigned by the team, meaning he is still eligible to return to college basketball if he can't agree to terms with the Celtics.
His pathway to a possible comeback is clear after forward Gildas Gimenez was reportedly deemed academically ineligible, opening up a spot on the 15-man roster if Mitchell opts to go back to college.
The ultra-athletic 6-foot-8 forward transferred to St. John's following stops at Texas and Cincinnati, quickly forming a three-headed monster with fellow All-Big East honorees Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins. Last season, Mitchell averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 ***** ists on 55.9% shooting for the Red Storm and also earned a spot on the Big East All-Defense team after posting 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game for a KenPom top-15 defensive unit.

#college #storm

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Cameron Carr was known as a high-flyer at Baylor, and the 24th overall pick will see that ability carry over in at least one category in NBA 2K27.
Carr was named to the All-Big 12 third team last season, averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 ***** ists and 1.3 steals while shooting 37.4% from 3-point range in 34 games. He finished with 642 points, the fifth-most in a season in program history.
The 6-foot-5 Carr utilized his athleticism and leaping ability at the draft combine in May, recording the second-highest max vertical jump (42 inches). As a result, Carr will have an initial vertical rating of 98, the fourth-best mark among all players in the popular video game.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was named the cover athlete of the standard edition of NBA 2K27, which releases worldwide on Sept. 4. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (Deluxe Edition) and former MVP Derrick Rose (Ultra Edition) will also grace covers of the game.
2K Games on Monday began unveiling attribute ratings for various categories in NBA 2K27, after also announcing the top 10 shooters. It is expected to announce the top 100 overall ratings on Aug. 10, with the rookie class to follow shortly after.

#games #ability #named

Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski showcased a new look last week, as a recent photo revealed a new haircut for the former Illinois guard with a short hairstyle. The photo comes not long after his teammate, Jimmy Butler III, revealed a new hairdo as well.
In an injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign for the Warriors last season, Podziemski was the most durable player in Steve Kerr's rotation, playing in all 82 games, averaging 28.5 minutes per contest. In those minutes, Podziemski averaged a career-high 13.8 points to go along with 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 ***** ists and 1.1 steals while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range and 45.5% from the field.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors guard reveals shocking new haircut

#podziemski #revealed #minutes #brandin

Today in Boston Celtics history, in 2005, the team signed Brian Scalabrine during free agency. The native of Enumclaw, Washington, entered into a five-year contract with the Celtics valued at $15 million.
An alum of the University of Southern California, Scalabrine, often called the "White Mamba," was selected 34th overall in the NBA Draft by the then New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets). He played four seasons with the Nets before joining the Celtics as an unrestricted free agent. Scalabrine spent an additional five seasons with the Celtics, contributing to the team's championship victory in 2008. He later transitioned to the Chicago Bulls, where he concluded his playing career.
He then tried his hand at **** istant coaching and broadcasting, where he still works today with NBC Boston Sports.
It was also on this date that former Celtics center Greg Stiemsma left the team in free agency to join the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played his college ball at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and spent time overseas and in developmental league play before joining Boston late in 2011. Stiemsma would play just one season with the Celtics, averaging 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. It was enough to get him on Minnesota's radar, where he would play one more season of his four years in the NBA.
Today is also the day that the team sent forward Antoine Walker to the Miami Heat for Curtis Borchardt, Qyntel Woods, Albert Miralles, and two future second-round picks in 2005. Miralles would subsequently be dealt for Keyon Dooling and additional draft **** ets as Walker's second stint with the Celtics would draw to an end. He logged 16.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.7 **** ists, and 1.2 steals per game that past season.

#Nets #free #play

Zakai Zeigler turns 24 on Aug. 2. He'll spend the day flying to Germany. On his last day in Knoxville, he spent it giving back to a place he calls home.
Zeigler was back in town to host his second annual I AM G.I.A.N.T. Basketball Camp on Aug. 1 at Webb School of Knoxville.
"It makes me feel really good, seeing all the campers, everybody here," he said of the E3 Camps event. "It's my last day before I go back overseas, so it's a great way to spend it."
He played four seasons for Tennessee basketball, and left as the program's all-time leader in **** ists (747) and steals (251), averaging 11.3 points, 5.4 **** ists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 138 games from 2021 to 2025. He earned two SEC Defensive Player of the Year awards and three All-SEC selections, and became the first player in conference history with four SEC All-Defensive Team honors.
G.I.A.N.T. stands for "Gettin' To It And Not Talking," a fitting motto for a player with a résumé like his, despite being listed at 5-foot-9.

#player #back #last #assists

Zakai Zeigler turns 24 on Aug. 2. He'll spend the day flying to Germany. On his last day in Knoxville, he spent it giving back to a place he calls home.
Zeigler was back in town to host his second annual I AM G.I.A.N.T. Basketball Camp on Aug. 1 at Webb School of Knoxville.
"It makes me feel really good, seeing all the campers, everybody here," he said of the E3 Camps event. "It's my last day before I go back overseas, so it's a great way to spend it."
He played four seasons for Tennessee basketball, and left as the program's all-time leader in **** ists (747) and steals (251), averaging 11.3 points, 5.4 **** ists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 138 games from 2021 to 2025. He earned two SEC Defensive Player of the Year awards and three All-SEC selections, and became the first player in conference history with four SEC All-Defensive Team honors.
G.I.A.N.T. stands for "Gettin' To It And Not Talking," a fitting motto for a player with a résumé like his, despite being listed at 5-foot-9.

#zeigler #knoxville #defensive

Collin **** ton has the opportunity to make a sizable impact on the Los Angeles Lakers this season. The 6-foot-3 guard, who signed a two-year, $19 million contract with them this summer, is a scoring threat who can handle the ball, facilitate and speed up the pace of the game.
Sexton is also a very energetic, high-motor player who always gives 100% on both ends of the floor. During his first media availability as a member of the Lakers, he was asked about the vision that coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka have for the team and how he can fit into that vision.
"Just toughness," **** ton said. "I would say the toughness. They wanna be able to compete in all aspects on the defensive side, but also the offensive side and just being able to change the pace of the game whenever it's needed. I feel like sometimes walking the ball up and letting the other team set up their defense is tough, sometimes you gotta be able to change the flow. We talked and it was a really good conversation and they believe in me. I just feel like at the end of the day, whenever a coach believes in you, and like you said, he's gonna be hard on me and yell at scream at me, so I like that. I think that's what gets the best from me."
Last season, Los Angeles was 20th in defensive rating, 16th in fast-break points and 22nd in pace. One would expect the team's pace and transition opportunities to increase at least somewhat thanks to the addition of players such as **** ton who can attack off the dribble in the open court. The acquisition of men such as **** ton and forwards Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle, all of whom are adept at coming up with steals, should also help L.A.'s transition game.
Sexton averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 **** ists in 23.7 minutes a game while shooting 48.5% overall and 40.1% from 3-point range last season. The Lakers would occasionally get blown out in games and seem to almost mail it in this past season, but with a better bench, more youth and more athleticism, they may not happen as much this coming season.

#Lakers

It's always good to have a backup plan, but having a backup outfit can truly prepare you for anything.
When Princess Diana walked down the aisle on July 29, 1981, the world saw one of the most iconic wedding gowns in history. What no one knew was that another dress was waiting behind the scenes just in case disaster struck.
Designed by husband-and-wife duo David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the secret gown was created as an insurance policy while the now-famous wedding dress was being finished. "I was a bit neurotic," Elizabeth Emanuel previously told PEOPLE. "I thought, 'What happens if somebody breaks in and steals the dress or something spills or there's a fire?' So I thought, 'I'm going to make a backup dress.'"
Unlike Diana's legendary ivory silk taffeta dress with its record-breaking 25-foot train, the spare design was noticeably different. It featured slimmer sleeves, white silk instead of ivory, and a much shorter train. It also was never fully completed because, fortunately, it was never needed.
Perhaps the biggest surprise? Diana had no idea it even existed. According to Emanuel, she and David intentionally kept the project a secret so they wouldn't add unnecessary stress to the bride ahead of one of the most watched weddings in history.

#emanuel #elizabeth #history #secret

Draymond Green had a special guest on "The Draymond Green Show" this week, as he was joined by Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, a one-time NBA champion as a player with the Boston Celtics (1985-86) and a one-time championship as a coach with the Dallas Mavericks (2010-11).
During the appearance, Carlisle spoke about how all-time NBA players would dominate regardless of the era that they played in. In doing so, Carlisle gave Green a lofty comparison, saying, "Greatness is going to be great regardless of the era. You are going to try to tell me that (Bill) Russell wouldn't be great in this era? Russell, the guy who threw up before every game because he couldn't stomach the idea of losing? And he had such an impact on winning; can you imagine having that guy leading your team? That was the early version of Draymond Green."
Although Green is known as a four-time NBA champion and one of the stronger defensive players of his generation, the comparison from Carlisle seemed to wreak a false equivalence.
While it was a different era, Russell won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons to go along with 11 All-NBA selections, five MVP awards and five rebounding ******* les. Throughout his career, Russell averaged 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds and 4.9 ******* ists. Blocks and steals weren't recorded while Russell played in the NBA.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Pacers coach compares Draymond Green to former five-time NBA MVP

#russell #time #five #champion

Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen has been activated off of the physically unable to perform (PUP) list by the Indianapolis Colts. Allen was the Colts' second-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft in April, and the linebacker appears to be fully healthy and is practicing following the announcement.
Allen was a superstar throughout his three-year tenure at Georgia. The linebacker is regarded as one of the top steals of the draft, and Allen is expected to emerge with an essential role on the Colts' defense in 2026. Allen was originally placed on the PUP list earlier this week due to a minor calf strain suffered prior to training camp, but the rookie now appears to be fully healthy.
Allen was credited with 205 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and one interception at Georgia from 2023-2025. The linebacker was projected to be a first-round selection in the draft by many ****** ysts and the Colts were able to land Allen late in the second round following his draft day slide. The former Bulldog has now seen his illustrious career in Athens come to an end, and Allen should compete for a starting linebacker role in Indianapolis following his activation from the PUP list.
A handful of former Bulldogs are set to make their NFL debuts this season in addition to Allen. Former Georgia big man Christen Miller may emerge with a significant role on the New Orleans Saints' defensive line, while star wide receiver Zachariah Branch will look to earn a starting role on the Atlanta Falcons' offense to begin the year.
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#role #following

Although he struggled a bit in the second half, Warriors rookie Will Richard had an impressive 2025-26 season, especially considering he was selected No. 56 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Richard was praised throughout the year by coaches and teammates for his basketball IQ and ability to move without the ball.
In 69 games, Richard averaged 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 ***** ists and 1.2 steals in 20 minutes per game. The former Florida Gator was an efficient shooter from within the arc, converting on 67.9% of his 2-point attempts and a serviceable 33.5% of his 3-pointers. With zero new free agent additions to this point, Richard will have an opportunity to earn more minutes in Golden State's rotation as a sophomore.
Here are some of Richard's strongest plays for the Warriors during his rookie campaign.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Will Richard Golden State Warriors 2025-26 regular season highlights

#Warriors #rookie #season #Florida

The Indiana Fever picked up their fifth straight win on Friday night, taking down the Portland Fire, 112-98 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Caitlin Clark had the fourth triple double of her career, notching 26 points, 10 ***** ist, and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. Kelsey Mitchell also had 26 points, while Monique Billings added on 15.
The Fever have moved up to fourth in the WNBA and will finish out their road trip on Sunday against the Minnesota Lynx. Here's what I liked and disliked about the game:
Caitlin Clark's clutch shot: There isn't anything that Clark can't do. The Fever star, with less than five seconds left in the first quarter, sprinted down the court and three up a 3-pointer through contact. It was a shot, frankly, that looked like a desperate attempt to beat the buzzer. But it swished into the basket to give the Fever a two-point lead at the end of the quarter. Clark thought she was fouled too, but there wasn't one called.
Second-quarter takeaways: After what seemed like a lackluster first quarter, the Fever turned up their game in the second. Indiana picked up five steals in those 10 minutes, including a Sophie Cunningham steal that turned into a dime from Clark to Kelsey Mitchell, then an Aliyah Boston steal that turned into a knockdown 3-pointer from Cunningham. That helped the Fever to go on a 14-2 run throughout the quarter and extend their lead into halftime.

#clark #kelsey