Another member of the Dallas Mavericks’ 2024 NBA Finals team could soon be leaving town.

The Dallas Mavericks are actively fielding trade offers on center Daniel Gafford, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported this week during a podcast appearance. This news comes with roughly three months still to go before the start of the new NBA season.

Gafford, 27, has been with the Mavericks since 2024. He immediately became a fan favorite that year due to his energy, hustle, and passion that helped the team make it to the NBA Finals for their first time since 2011.

But Gafford did have a slight regression for Dallas last season, averaging 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He largely failed to impress at the center spot despite his fellow 5 man Dereck Lively II missing almost the entire year due to a foot injury.

Gafford signed a three-year, $54.4 million contract extension with the Mavericks in 2025, keeping him tied to the franchise through 2029. But with Dallas now embarking on a committed rebuild, Gafford is no longer a piece that makes as much sense for them.

It remains to be seen exactly how the Mavericks will continue to build around new franchise player Cooper Flagg, rookie Morez Johnson Jr., and the rest of their new young core. But Gafford could be among multiple veteran players on the Mavericks who are playing elsewhere before long.

The post Report: Mavericks are shopping 1 notable fan favorite appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Cristian “Cuti” Romero does not appear to be a fan of Donald Trump.

Argentina lost a 1-0 extra-time heartbreaker to Spain in Sunday’s final of the 2026 World Cup. After the match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., President Trump took center stage to help hand out medals to both Argentina (second place) and Spain (first place).

As Trump was alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino and others, the Argentina centre-back Romero came up to receive his second-place medal. Upon getting the medal from Infantino, Romero appeared to completely snub Trump (despite circling back to shake hands with multiple others who were on the stage beyond Trump).

Here is the video, which featured other Argentina players acknowledging and greeting Trump as they walked by.

Cristian Romero (Argentinian football player) shaking the hands with everyone but ignoring trump pic.twitter.com/dkqky7WxLy

— ゛ (@saficnation) July 19, 2026

The 28-year-old Romero is a bedrock player for Argentina who serves one of their undisputed starting CBs and also started on the Argentina team that won the World Cup in 2022. But Romero had a forgettable showing on Sunday against Spain, largely due to the fact that he had to sub off in the 70th minute due to injury.

Romero, who plays at the club level for Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League, is already known as a controversial, dirty player who openly taunts opponents and is never afraid to deliver an eye-poke or a studs-up tackle if he feels it can give his team an advantage. That classlessness continued further Sunday with Romero’s apparent snub of President Trump (adding to the other disrespectful moves that Argentina pulled after losing).

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Argentina appeared to be sore losers after their listless effort against Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

La Furia Roja outclassed La Albiceleste in a 1-0 Spanish victory that was not as close as the final score suggested. Spain held possession for 68 percent of the match and took 20 shots, with 11 on target. In contrast, Argentina failed to record a single shot on goal across the first 90 minutes of play.

Lionel Messi took Argentina’s first shot on goal in the 116th minute of extra time, with his side already in desperation mode down 1-0.

As United States President Donald Trump presented Spain with their World Cup trophy, nearly the entire Argentinian squad had their backs turned on the team that beat them.

Argentina players with their backs to the Spain trophy presentation pic.twitter.com/NlQH9oNH1U

— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) July 19, 2026

Argentina showed little class in defeat from the moment the match referee blew the final whistle. Once the Spanish celebration began, a few Argentinian players caused a ruckus that led to a physical altercation.

Terrible, embarassing behaviour by the Argentinians after losing to a much better team. pic.twitter.com/VX1gtIGobF

— Rasmus Jarlov (@RasmusJarlov) July 19, 2026

Argentina appeared to be the team of destiny entering Sunday’s World Cup final. Messi led La Albiceleste to comeback after comeback to reach soccer’s grandest stage. But Argentina’s magic ran out right at the end, and so did the team’s sportsmanship.

Spain had one of the most dominant World Cup runs in history. La Rojo allowed just a single goal all tournament to secure Spain’s second World Cup trophy.

The post Argentina pulled a disrespectful move on Spain after losing World Cup final appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Yaxel Lendeborg is already proving to be an elite interview without having set foot on an NBA court just yet.

The Golden State Warriors rookie led his team to an NBA Summer League championship on Sunday in a win over a stacked Memphis Grizzlies team. Lendeborg tallied 21 points, including several big shots down the stretch, to help the Dubs secure a victory at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Lendeborg outperformed his rival Cameron Boozer, who beat him in each of the last two times their teams faced off — one in college and another just five days prior in summer league play.

“I think about [revenge] every time I play him,” Lendeborg said of Boozer, via Ben Golliver. “Every game we play, them refs be saving him. … It is a competitive nature [with] everybody that gets drafted ahead of me.”

Lendeborg took things a step further when he claimed his Warriors were ready for the moment and Boozer’s Grizzlies weren’t.

“Man, their butts got tight,” Lendeborg continued. “They puckered up, you know what I mean? Some of us are built for the moment and some aren’t.”

Yaxel Lendeborg on how the Warriors pulled off a double-digit comeback against the Grizzlies in the Las Vegas Summer League championship game: “Man, their butts got tight. They puckered up, you know what I mean? Some of us are built for the moment and some aren’t.” pic.twitter.com/7OiRkczcYS

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 20, 2026

Lendeborg was named MVP of the tournament for his heroics down the stretch, while Boozer had a fourth quarter to forget. The Grizzlies stud went 1/5 from the field in the final 10 minutes and missed a potential game-winning triple with about 10 seconds left n the contest.

Yaxel also benefited from a controversial call late, preventing Boozer from stripping him clean for a go-ahead layup.

The post Yaxel Lendeborg throws major shade at Cameron Boozer after beating him for Summer League title appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Lionel Messi was in tears after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. The 39-year-old was playing in his sixth World Cup, which is the most ever for a male player. He had scored eight goals during the World Cup for Argentina, but he was held scoreless, as Spain controlled the pitch for most of the game, and took advantage of a red card to score in extra time.

Messi had led Argentina to its second straight final, and was no doubt crushed by the defeat. He got teary eyed and cried after receiving his silver medal.

Messi is visibly emotional after playing in what could be his final FIFA World Cup match.

If this is it, thank you Leo 🩵 pic.twitter.com/CZfteurfH1

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 19, 2026

Messi likely cried in part because of the disappointment over his team’s loss in the final. He also likely cried because of the uncertainty over his future; he knew that may have been his last World Cup. He’s played in six of them and has set many World Cup records thanks to his excellent play and longevity.

If Messi decides to return for another World Cup, he’ll have to wait until 2030, when he will be turning 43 years old. He may retire by then, which likely explains his emotions.

The post Lionel Messi was crying after losing in World Cup final appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

An overly eager whistle may have been the difference in Sunday’s NBA Summer League championship game.

Cameron Boozer’s Memphis Grizzlies trailed the Golden State Warriors 91-90 with just over 30 seconds left at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The No. 3 overall pick spun past rival Yaxel Lendeborg to get to the rim, but botched what should have been the go-ahead layup.

Lendeborg secured the rebound but got trapped along the baseline. Boozer stripped him of the ball and went up for the easy layup. But referees ruled that the Warriors had called a timeout before the turnover.

Cameron Boozer drives on Yaxel Lendeborg, takes the shot, the ball goes in and out, and Yaxel Lendeborg holds the ball under his own rim, Boozer strips him and scores, but the Warriors called a timeout just beforehand (with a replay) pic.twitter.com/283Cb0edPt

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 20, 2026

However, a closer inspection of the play shows Boozer having already taken the ball away when the sideline referee granted Golden State a timeout. The official appeared to only look at Warriors head coach Khalid Robinson well after Lendeborg had lost possession.

incredible angle of boozer laying the ball in while the ref grants the warriors a timeout pic.twitter.com/GC4vlYIDdS

— Fastbreak Breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) July 20, 2026

Boozer got one more chance at a go-ahead basket a possession later. He confidently stepped into a top-of-the-key three but hit the side of the rim.

CAM BOOZER FOR THE SUMMER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cN8W5igvxf

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) July 20, 2026

The Warriors held on for a 94-90 victory to become just the second franchise ever to win two NBA Summer League championships. Lendeborg was named MVP of the tournament. He finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and a pair of steals on 9/18 shooting.

Boozer tallied 19 points and 8 rebounds, but went 1/5 from the field in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s title game.

The post Cameron Boozer got hosed by controversial call in final minute of Summer League title game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson had a run-in with police on Saturday while trying to keep the peace in a New York City nightclub.

Clarkson was among the sea of celebrities spotted at Zero Bond nightclub for a party hosted by Raising Cane’s co-founder Todd Graves. So was rapper Travis Scott.

According to a report from TMZ, Scott took offense at a man filming him without his consent while interacting with another attendee at the event. The Houston-born artist confronted the man, which eventually led to Scott’s entourage allegedly throwing bottles around as tempers flared.

Per the report, Clarkson jumped in to de-escalate the situation. The Knicks star and the rowdy members of Scott’s entourage were both eventually “removed from the venue.”

According to @TMZ Jordan Clarkson was removed from a club after trying to de-escalate a situation involving Travis Scott who was also removed: https://t.co/1HLxYqrkvl pic.twitter.com/Z5nm1wolYs

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 20, 2026

Clarkson is just a month removed from helping the Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship. He scored 4.9 points per game across 18 postseason contests.

While Clarkson probably would have been treated like royalty in any other public nightclub, his star was dimmed next to dozens of A-list celebrities who attended Saturday’s Raising Cane’s event.

Those NYPD officers probably wouldn’t have gotten physical with Jalen Brunson had he been the one supposedly playing the role of peacemaker.

The post Knicks champion tied to nightclub scuffle involving Travis Scott appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Draymond Green is willing to take a huge step back in the Golden State Warriors’ offense if it means appeasing LeBron James.

The Warriors are among a handful of teams considered to be serious contenders for James’ services next season. Green himself has been publicly advocating that James move to the Bay Area and form an aging superteam alongside him and Steph Curry.

Green has been willing to accommodate LeBron in whatever way he can, including giving up his No. 23 jersey to make way for King James. He even told one fan on social media that he would give up his on-ball duties if that were what James wanted.

One fan on Threads asked Draymond who would “run the offense around Steph” if James donned a Warriors jersey.

“Bron,” Green replied. “I’d become PJ Tucker. Greatest corner 3pt shooter ever.”

Draymond Green on his role if LeBron joins the Warriors:

“The offense would be ran around Bron, I’d become PJ Tucker. Greatest corner 3pt shooter ever.”

(h/t @TheWarriorsTalk) pic.twitter.com/3PhNc6TYVF

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 19, 2026

If James does head to Golden State, he probably wouldn’t want Draymond reducing his role to a corner specialist like Tucker was late in his career. The 41-year-old James is no longer at the stage of his career where he has the energy to orchestrate an offense for 40+ minutes.

Los Angeles Lakers fans saw James often yield offensive playmaking duties to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to conserve energy over the past couple of seasons.

Green and Curry also have a connection on the court forged by playing nearly a thousand games together. If Draymond isn’t finding Steph coming off a pindown, he isn’t providing as much value on the court. But in all fairness to Green, he shot 42/108 on corner threes last season for a respectable 38.9 percent clip.

It’s also possible that Green just did not feel like giving the fan a serious answer. He probably wasn’t in the mood to explain to a random fan how they’d stagger the two All-Star forwards to split playmaking duties in Steve Kerr’s rotation.

The post Draymond Green had interesting take on his role if LeBron James joined the Warriors appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

George Kittle pleaded his grass-related case one last time before the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on U.S. soil.

The San Francisco 49ers tight end attended Sunday’s championship match between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Kittle posted a selfie showing the action on the pitch and posted it after the game with a message directed at the NFL.

“Grass still looks great!” Kittle captioned his post. “Let’s use grass instead of turf @NFL !! Please? Thanks guys!”

Grass still looks great! Let’s use grass instead of turf @NFL !! Please? Thanks guys! pic.twitter.com/1iS8Jf2zPX

— George Kittle (@gkittle46) July 19, 2026

MetLife Stadium, one of 15 NFL stadiums that use artificial turf, is one of the most infamous venues when it comes to player injuries. Fans all remember when Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles there just four plays into his New York Jets career. The Rodgers injury was the most notable in recent memory, but MetLife Stadium’s turf has been demonized by several players over the years for allegedly causing injuries to them or their teammates.

Kittle himself suffered a torn Achilles last playoffs while playing on the Philadelphia Eagles’ hybrid turf field at Lincoln Financial Field. The 49ers star has been throwing shade at the NFL since the beginning of the World Cup, which required all 104 of the tournament’s games to be played on real grass.

NFL teams have argued that turf doesn’t actually cause more injuries than regular grass. But clearly, the players who actually make the tackles, throws, and catches on the field don’t agree.

The post George Kittle sends another message to NFL while attending World Cup final appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras unleashed what may be the bat flip of the season on Sunday when he walked off the Milwaukee Brewers.

Contreras stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two men on and the Brewers trailing 1-0. He proceeded to smash a no-doubt home run to dead center to cap off a Milwaukee sweep.

The only thing more epic than the swing was the bat flip, which Contreras didn’t even execute until after the ball had left the ballpark.

WILLIAM CONTRERAS WALK-OFF BLAST! pic.twitter.com/iDNu7OS5OU

— MLB (@MLB) July 19, 2026

Contreras tossed the bat so high that no camera even caught it coming back down.

William Contreras launched his bat into the air after his walk-off bomb and it probably hasn't landed yet pic.twitter.com/UawqMpfJxV

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 19, 2026

That is not so much a bat flip as it is a bat launch. Contreras even needs to take a moment to watch it just to make sure it does not come back down and hit him as he goes into his home run trot.

This is not the first time Contreras has garnered attention for his enthusiasm. Last time it had an opponent ready to fight him. This time, nobody actually tried to object to his celebration.

The post William Contreras celebrated his walk-off home run with an epic bat flip appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

NBA players typically use the offseason to try to get into peak shape ahead of the upcoming season. Based on a new video, NBA fans are convinced James Harden is doing the opposite.

Harden was in attendance at Fanatics Fest in New York this week, and was seen on video meeting streamer Neon. The video quickly went viral as many fans suggested that Harden was looking a bit on the thick side.

Neon just linked up with his favorite NBA player of all time, James Harden, at Fanatics Fest. pic.twitter.com/1Z36NmQPd2

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) July 17, 2026

Depending on the perception of Harden, he was either mocked for his weight or had fans impressed over how buff he looks.

James Harden Regular Season vs Offseason pic.twitter.com/o54n3Y6FIx

— Underdog (@Underdog) July 17, 2026

Prime James Harden is back? 😳 pic.twitter.com/wrD1lvSiw6

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) July 17, 2026

I don’t think people realize how difficult it is to have arms that are built like that

If you think James Harden, who plays some of the heaviest minutes in the league, is somehow out of shape — then you’re just lost https://t.co/ipiARhRXtW

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) July 18, 2026

Harden’s weight has long been a topic of conversation, as he has been the subject of a lot of jokes about how out of shape he is perceived to be. One single angle of him backstage at a fan convention probably is not the best way to assess his actual level of fitness.

For the moment, Harden is technically without a team, though he is seen as virtually certain to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of next season, with contract negotiations simply a formality.

The post NBA fans all said the same thing about James Harden’s weight appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Soccer legend Wayne Rooney was not in the mood to pull punches when discussing the FIFA World Cup Final’s halftime show on Sunday.

For the first time, FIFA staged a halftime show during the Spain-Argentina final, clearly inspired by the annual Super Bowl halftime event. Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber were among those who performed as part of the show.

Rooney, doing analysis of the game for the BBC, offered his instant reaction.

“I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap,” Rooney said.

"What did you think of the World Cup final half-time show?"

Wayne Rooney: pic.twitter.com/1j6OQap9Yi

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 19, 2026

Needless to say, soccer is not used to halftime spectacles. To many fans around the world, the whole thing was strange and out of place. American audiences who are much more used to this sort of thing probably didn’t even bat an eye, though.

Rooney is presumably used to some American traditions based on his time as an MLS coach. Safe to say he will not be advocating for the English to import the halftime show, though.

The post Wayne Rooney had a brutally honest reaction to the World Cup halftime show appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bo Bichette has started to surface in trade rumors as the New York Mets assess their future. On Sunday, he did not necessarily deny that he would be interested in such a thing.

Bichette has a no-trade clause as part of the contract he signed with the Mets in the offseason. When asked Sunday if he would invoke that clause to prevent a trade, he essentially indicated that he would deal with it when the subject came up.

“That hasn’t been brought to my attention right now, so I don’t have an answer,” Bichette said, via Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Bichette’s situation is made more complicated by the fact that he can opt out of his three-year, $126 million contract at the end of the season. That seemed an unlikely scenario after he struggled to start the season, but he is now hitting .251 with 10 home runs, and that might be a plausible outcome again.

Previous reports indicated that the Mets were willing to consider a Bichette trade, though his contract and the associated no-trade clause makes any deal unlikely.

The post Bo Bichette has interesting answer about a potential trade from Mets appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Kimi Antonelli once again claimed victory, winning the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday.

Despite losing position to Charles Leclerc due to a virtual safety car, Antonelli was able to overtake Leclerc on lap 33 and cruise to victory. The win was a nice turnaround after Antonelli failed to finish in the points in two consecutive races.

George Russell made contact with Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap and crashed out of the race Sunday. That helped Antonelli widen his lead to 50 points over Russell. Additionally, Hamilton’s fourth-place finish helped him leapfrog Russell for second place in the drivers’ standings.

Rounding out the podium was Leclerc, who used the advantage of the virtual safety car to finish second ahead of Max Verstappen, who finished third.

In addition to Verstappen’s third-place finish, Red Bull saw Isack Hadjar storm back from last place on the grid to a sixth-place finish, rounding out a successful weekend by Red Bull.

Outside of Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes, McLaren had mixed results in Belgium. Lando Norris, who originally qualified 3rd, was assessed a 10-spot grid penalty for exceeding three replacements of an electronic control unit and finished seventh, while teammate Oscar Piastri finished fifth.

Next up is the Hungarian Grand Prix, which is the last race before the mandatory summer break.

The post Kimi Antonelli extends lead with Belgian GP win appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

WBC women’s featherweight challenger Hannah Rapp was killed in an accident in Texas on Saturday.

Rapp, 26, died when she was struck by a car while riding her bicycle Saturday in Brazos County, Texas, via Andreas Hale of ESPN. The driver of the car was arrested and charged with manslaughter. According to TMZ, the driver was responsible for a road rage incident, and intentionally backed his car over Rapp.

Rapp had just challenged for the women’s featherweight championship in June. After an 8-0-1 start to her career, she received the right to face defending champion Tiara Brown, who defeated her in a unanimous decision.

In a comment on Instagram, Brown called Rapp “the best opponent I have faced so far in my pro career” and a “wonderful soul.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@mostvaluablepromotions)

An Indiana native, Rapp had embarked on her professional career in 2024. She was a track athlete in college before eventually relocating to College Station, Tex., where she worked as a fire and life safety inspector alongside her boxing career.

The post WBC boxer Hannah Rapp killed in road rage crash appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is trying to reassure fans who are worried for his health after his failed backflip on stage at Fanatics Fest.

Skattebo on Sunday addressed his viral backflip attempt while speaking on stage at the event in New York. He acknowledged the mixed reactions to his stunt, and explained why he had looked so awkward doing it.

“I’m gonna address the elephant… I will not hurt myself before the season,” Skattebo said to applause. “Those floors are bouncy. When I took off, I was midair like, holy cow, I’m not going to land this, I’m way too high. Landed, but it had too much cushion. It wasn’t a stiff, firm ground. That’s why I went back, safely landed, got back up, good to go. I’m perfectly fine. Nothing happened.”

“I’m gonna address the elephant… I will NOT hurt myself before the season.”

– Cam Skattebo responds to his viral backflip stumble. #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/tiS4HWKuPM

— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) July 19, 2026

Skattebo terrified Giants fans everywhere when video emerged of him not quite sticking the backflip on Saturday. He missed most of last season due to a serious ankle injury, which only added to the concern.

This is not exactly new, as Skattebo was able to land his signature backflip a couple months ago. He appears to be healthy and ready to go for the new season as long as he does not do anything silly to hurt himself again.

In the eight games he played in 2025, Skattebo racked up 410 rushing yards to go with 5 touchdowns on 101 carries, adding 207 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 receptions and 32 targets.

The post Cam Skattebo addresses concerns about his backflip appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Ryan Fox won the British Open on Sunday, and he did it as if he was in a hurry to get somewhere.

Fox staged a remarkable comeback to win at Royal Birkdale, birdieing four of the last six holes to post a 10-under 68. That included No. 18, where he dropped his second shot on the green perfectly to set himself up for the tournament-winning putt.

Ryan Fox. Nerves of steel.

That is how you win The 154th Open. pic.twitter.com/M6YxCYEuXA

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2026

Fox did not just win, but he won quickly. He struck his winning putt just 22 seconds after Sam Burns had removed his ball from the hole, barely even giving himself time to think about it.

Ryan Fox struck the winning putt 22 seconds after Burns got his ball out of the hole.

TWENTY TWO SECONDS!

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) July 19, 2026

Most of us have spent more time over a bogey putt to lose $5 than Ryan Fox spent over that birdie putt to win The Open.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) July 19, 2026

That is one way to make sure the pressure doesn’t get to you. He essentially did not give the pressure any time to settle in.

That sort of summed up how Fox won the tournament as a whole. The 39-year-old had been tied for 52nd through the first 36 holes. Coming all the way back from there is, by position, the biggest comeback in any men’s major tournament in history.

Fox had never even placed in the top ten of a major tournament before, and did not even make the cut at last year’s Open Championship.

The post Ryan Fox stunned fans by wasting no time on his Open-winning putt appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading Lu Dort in a blockbuster three-team trade that also includes a former No. 1 overall pick.

Dort is being traded to the Atlanta Hawks, with the Thunder receiving three second-round picks in return. As part of the trade, the Hawks are sending former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks.

BREAKING: The Oklahoma City Thunder trading All-Defensive wing Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that sends three second-round picks to OKC, former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4ewUxhRQA5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2026

Dort is a victim of Oklahoma City’s success and the ensuing roster crunch. The 27-year-old is due to make $17.2 million next season, and while he is probably worth that, the need to pay the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams is forcing the Thunder to make some difficult cuts around the edges.

For the Hawks, Dort immediately becomes a key player and top perimeter defender. He will be a free agent at the end of the upcoming season, though the Hawks may look to keep him long-term.

The Hawks are also admitting defeat on Risacher, who stagnated in his second NBA season. While he flashed potential at times, other players passed him in the rotation and he saw his role reduced significantly. The trade is not a surprise, and the Mavericks will look to be beneficiaries of it by giving him a fresh start.

The post Lu Dort traded in blockbuster deal involving former No. 1 pick appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday revealed some concerning news about the health of Shohei Ohtani.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani will not make his scheduled start as a pitcher on Wednesday. Ohtani’s knee is still bothering him, and the Dodgers are being particularly cautious with it.

Roberts said Ohtani will likely be shut down “for some time” from pitching, though he is expected to take the mound again at some point this season.

Dodgers don’t know when Shohei Ohtani will pitch again, but Dave Roberts said it’s likely “going to be some time”

Knee still bothered him in catch play this week, so team hopes more rest (from pitching) helps it calm down

Roberts still expects Ohtani to pitch again this year https://t.co/IfK6Gies8S

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) July 19, 2026

On one hand, the Dodgers are not signaling that there is any long-term concern about Ohtani’s health. That said, it has to be a bit concerning that he will be shut down even after taking the entire All-Star break off to help heal his knee.

Ohtani has said the injury is a bigger problem when pitching than it is when hitting. He was able to hit Friday night, going 0-for-4 against the New York Yankees in the first game after the break. He did not play Saturday as the scheduled game in New York was rained out.

The post Dodgers share concerning injury update on Shohei Ohtani appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bryson DeChambeau is still annoyed over the two-stroke penalty he got at the British Open, judging by how he handled one moment on Saturday.

DeChambeau hit his tee shot into the rough on No. 18 at Royal Birkdale during Saturday’s third round. As he went over to assess the situation, he very dramatically tiptoed around the ball, just so tournament officials could not accuse him of doing anything to try and improve his lie.

Cannot help himself pic.twitter.com/UNkYeI43UD

— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) July 18, 2026

On one hand, DeChambeau seemingly wanted to have a bit of fun with the situation. On the other, he still seems annoyed with what happened on Friday. At that point, he threatened to quit the tournament over the ruling officials made against him, though that obviously did not come to pass.

While DeChambeau would likely say he was just having some fun with the situation, others will see this as a tired act. One of his fellow golfers might even describe it as performative, at least based on previous comments he made.

DeChambeau went on to bogey the hole, but still shot a one-under 69 to stay within four shots of leader Sam Burns heading into play Sunday.

The post Bryson DeChambeau had jokes about his British Open penalty appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s home in Pennsylvania was targeted in a home invasion early Saturday morning, authorities say.

The burglary occurred around 5:00 a.m. at Barkley’s residence in the Malvern section of Tredyffrin Township in Chester County. Tredyffrin Township police responded to a report of a burglary in progress, but the suspects had already fled by the time officers arrived on scene.

One suspect entered the home, according to investigators. However, no one was injured and nothing was reported stolen. Barkley and his family were inside the residence at the time but were left physically unharmed, though shaken by the incident.

“We are incredibly grateful that the Barkley family was not injured during this incident. We are asking the public to help us identify those responsible by checking any home security cameras for suspicious activity in the area around 5:00 a.m. If you saw anything unusual or have video that may assist investigators, please contact the Tredyffrin Township Police Department immediately,” the D.A.’s office said, via NBC Philadelphia.

Police are looking for information on a large white SUV believed to be connected to the break-in. Authorities have released images of the vehicle and noted that additional vehicles may have been involved. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office is assisting with the investigation.

The Tredyffrin Township Police Department has asked the public to check home security cameras for suspicious activity around 5:00 a.m. and to contact them with any relevant information. Detectives are also exploring whether the incident could be linked to other burglaries targeting professional athletes’ homes in recent years.

Barkley, who spent his first several NFL seasons with the New York Giants before signing with the Eagles, is preparing for the upcoming season as training camp nears. The former All-Pro rusher remains a key part of Philadelphia’s backfield.

The investigation remains active.

The post Saquon Barkley, family victims of early morning home invasion appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Count AJ Brown among the growing list of Drake Maye believers.

The New England Patriots wide receiver gave a glowing review of Maye in episode 2 of the team’s “Forged in Foxborough” series. Brown shared how impressed he’s been with Maye, not just on the field but also in the locker room.

“He’s a true leader, and he leads the room,” the Patriots wideout said of Maye. “It says a lot that a young guy grabs everybody’s attention. This is a leader of men I’m speaking about, and that right there is not a trait that is easily found in men.

“So, for him to have it so young and him to recognize what he has in front of him, it speaks volumes. Like I said, the fun thing is that he can make any throw. That’s what you wanna see, and he does it very easily.”

When Brown spoke about Maye in early June, the 3-time Pro Bowler focused more on Maye’s skills as a passer. Clearly, the month of training together since then has shown Brown that the Patriots’ young signal caller is much more than just a strong arm.

Hearing Brown praise his new quarterback comes in stark contrast with how his tenure ended with the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown did not hide his frustrations with the team over the past couple of seasons and, at times, threw Eagles QB Jalen Hurts under the bus when those frustrations boiled over.

Brown gets a clean slate with the Patriots. But while Brown sounds more than happy with his new situation, Philly fans know firsthand how quickly that could change if the losses start piling up in New England.

The post AJ Brown has telling comments about Drake Maye appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

A Los Angeles Lakers fan favorite is taking a new coaching gig not far from the friendly confines of Crypto.com Arena.

Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest, has accepted a job to become the associate head coach of Cal State L.A.’s women’s basketball team. Artest and the school announced the news in a joint Instagram post.

“We’re delighted to announce Metta World Peace as our Associate Head Coach,” the post read. “His experience and knowledge goes beyond the basketball court. A champion of mental health, and a champion of our program.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cal State LA Women’s Basketball (@calstatelawbb)

Artest has campaigned for NBA head coaching jobs in the past, but has hardly had any experience coaching organized basketball. He served as a player development coach for the South Bay Lakers during the 2017-18 season — and that’s about it. Landing the Cal State job is a step in the right direction toward the NBA coaching job he’s looking for.

The Cal State women’s basketball team is coming off a banner year, emerging as champions of the California Collegiate Athletic Association for the first time in program history. The Golden Eagles went 24-7 overall.

Artest will have his work cut out for him to replicate that success in his first season on the team’s staff. Cal State star player Nevaeh Asiasi, the reigning CCAA Player of the Year, graduated last May. The Golden Eagles will need to fill the scoring void left by Asiasi, who led the CCAA in scoring with her 19.4 points per game.

The post Former Lakers star Ron Artest lands new coaching gig appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Philadelphia 76ers have sent all hands on deck to try to reel in big fish LeBron James in free agency.

James was at Fanatics Fest in New York City earlier this week, which provided some players and teams an opportunity to put on their recruiter hats. The Sixers did not waste that chance.

According to NBC reporter John Clark, 76ers owner Josh Harris had a “brief, friendly conversation” with James during Saturday’s event. Clark added that Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid have all shown LeBron some brotherly love to get him into a Sixers jersey.

Harris got the opportunity that most team owners and executives would have begged for, as James’ camp refused to hear pitches from any of his free agency suitors. It probably helped that former Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin owns Fanatics. Even local politicians have gotten on the recruiting trail to help Philly’s chances at landing James.

76ers fans have started to daydream about James catching lobs from Maxey more and more this week. The 4-time MVP dropped an interesting comment on Friday that had some thinking it was a hint that a move to Philadelphia was coming.

A starting lineup of Maxey, Brown, Embiid, James, and second-year stud VJ Edgecombe would arguably be the best unit in the Eastern Conference next season. With James looking for his last chance to get another Larry O’Brien Trophy in hand, moving conferences to create an All-Star lineup in Philly does not sound like a bad way to end his career.

The post 76ers putting on full-court press to recruit LeBron James appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Tarik Skubal’s starts in a Detroit Tigers uniform may very well be numbered.

The reigning AL Cy Young winner has been the subject of trade rumors over the past couple of seasons — whispers that only grew louder with the Tigers’ slow start to the 2026 campaign. But with Detroit winning 10 of its last 13 games entering Saturday, Skubal reportedly looks destined to stay put for the time being.

According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, Skubal “seems much more likely to stay” with the Tigers for at least the rest of the season. But Heyman also adds that Detroit has “almost no chance” to keep him for much longer than that.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Saturday that the Tigers would need to get an overwhelming offer to even consider moving Skubal this season. Skubal himself reportedly has “zero appetite” to get traded before the year ends, believing that Detroit has a serious shot at winning the World Series.

Tigers fans may soon have to accept the reality that the 2026 season could represent their last with Skubal atop their rotation.

Skubal turned in another excellent start on Saturday, pitching seven scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. The outing dropped his ERA to 2.83 with a 0.93 WHIP across 14 starts.

Despite the Tigers’ recent run of success, Detroit still sits 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and 5.5 games out of first in the AL Central.

The post Report reveals Tigers’ chances of keeping Tarik Skubal appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Los Angeles Lakers youngster Adou Thiero did not let a bloody gash stop him from making his mark on the 2026 NBA Summer League.

Thiero sustained a huge cut on his left brow that forced a late stoppage during Saturday’s Lakers-Golden State Warriors semifinals matchup at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The Lakers trailed 85-81 with just over three minutes left in the contest when Thiero pointed out the blood dripping from the side of his head.

The Lakers’ second-year player raised his arms in confusion, as if to show up the referees for not calling a foul on whatever contact led to the cut.

Adou Thiero got the 'boxer cut', as he bleeds and being treated for it pic.twitter.com/MvpQeBIQRS

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 19, 2026

Thiero didn’t even need to leave the game. After a Lakers’ trainer cleaned up the cut, he was right back on the floor, likely much to the dismay of his opponents. Thiero bullied the Warriors all game long with his physicality. He was not going to let a cut stop him from battling in a game that would decide which team was headed to the NBA Summer League championship game.

The Arkansas alum threw down multiple vicious dunks in the contest and did not miss a single shot, going a perfect 6/6 for 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

ADOU THIERO TAKES FLIGHT YET AGAIN ✈️

He's got 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals for the Lakers! pic.twitter.com/4IhrPwN2XV

— NBA (@NBA) July 19, 2026

Unfortunately for Lakers fans, Thiero’s standout performance did not lead to a win. The Warriors held on late in a 92-88 contest to send Golden State to the finals against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The post Lakers’ Adou Thiero plays through bloody cut in Summer League semifinals appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Klay Thompson may still be thinking about wearing a Golden State Warriors uniform again before calling it a career.

The Dallas Mavericks sniper was spotted signing autographs at Fanatics Fest in New York when a fan told him, “We miss you on the Warriors, buddy.” 

The 36-year-old Thompson then responded, “Thank you, I know,” before saying, “Never say never.”

You can watch the fan’s exchange with Thompson here.

Thompson has a year left on his current contract, so he can still be expected to see action with the Mavericks in the coming 2026-27 season. But Dallas can also trade him and his expiring deal, perhaps as soon as before the start of the upcoming season.

The Warriors don’t sound like a bad landing spot for the five-time NBA All-Star, at least for nostalgic reasons, as that would also reunite him with his “Splash Brother,” Stephen Curry.

Thompson was a major piece of the Warriors’ golden era, helping the team win four NBA titles while teaming up with Curry to usher in the league’s shooting revolution.

Thompson’s basketball powers have greatly faded after injuries and due to age, but he can still stretch the floor after averaging 11.7 points and shooting 38.3 percent from deep with the Mavs last season.

The post Klay Thompson may have dropped a hint about a potential Warriors reunion appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

A Caitlin Clark blunder during Saturday’s game between the Indiana Fever and New York Liberty somehow resulted in LeBron James catching a wild broadcast stray.

During a first-half possession, Clark tried to attack the Liberty’s interior defense off the dribble, but she took an extra step and was called for traveling.

It looked as though Clark didn’t feel she was close enough to the basket after her latest legal step, and that forced her to make another one.

Meanwhile, one of the game’s broadcasters made a hilarious quip about James following Clark’s travel.

Here is the video of the play and the audio of the said comment.

"That was a LeBron layup there." 😅

The broadcast had jokes after Caitlin Clark was called for the travel on this play. pic.twitter.com/Yw9LqrqmDM

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 19, 2026

James has long been a target of fans over the many alleged traveling violations that referees have failed to call on the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player.

Like James, Clark often finds herself in the crosshairs of trolls and naysayers, but they did not have much to say after her incredible and historic performance in Indiana’s win over the Seattle Storm on Friday, when she went off for 45 points, while adding 10 assists and making six shots from behind the arc.

Lebron James shouts out Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking performance https://t.co/RKBfsrH9Qc pic.twitter.com/wDD7IIG8RO

— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) July 18, 2026

Just don’t expect “The King” to share anything about Clark’s traveling violation.

The post WNBA broadcaster takes a jab at LeBron James after a blatant Caitlin Clark blunder appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

England’s spirited win on Saturday over France evoked more questions than answers for fans of the Three Lions.

England outscored France in a high-octane affair that saw 10 goals scored between the two sides, much to the delight of fans in attendance at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Frenchman Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in the contest to zoom past Lionel Messi on the top scorers list of this year’s tournament thus far. Mbappe leads his Argentinian rival 10-8 heading into Sunday’s World Cup Final.

But the star of Saturday’s show was England’s Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal winger scored a hat-trick to account for half of his team’s goals in the victory. The performance pushed several fans to wonder why England manager Thomas Tuchel kept Saka on the bench for the team’s semifinal match against Argentina.

Why didn’t Saka play against Argentina?

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) July 18, 2026

Very easy to see why Tuchel didn't bring in Saka against Argentina.

— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) July 18, 2026

So if Saka is fit enough to play 97 minutes, score a hattrick and play like this… why didn’t he play at all vs Argentina?

— Joe Thomlinson (@joethomlinson) July 18, 2026

Wow. This Bukayo Saka fella is good. Such a shame he mysteriously disappeared for the semi-final and couldn’t play.

— Megan Cantle (@megancantle99) July 18, 2026

Many fans obviously felt that England could have used Saka’s offensive creativity against Argentina. However, Tuchel opted to play extremely defensive once his side went ahead 1-0. The plan backfired as Argentina scratched out two late goals to stun England.

Saka did get some help from Jude Bellingham to secure his hat-trick in the third-place match. Bellingham gave the ball to Saka instead of keeping it himself for a late penalty kick, which Saka scored to push England ahead 5-3 in the 87th minute.

Jude Bellingham hands the ball to Bukayo Saka for the pen and he scores his hat trick 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pz61YMf93N

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 18, 2026

Saka played just 359 total minutes throughout the World Cup, but made a significant impact whenever he got the chance. He scored 3 goals and generated 3 assists during his time on the pitch.

The post Everyone asked the same question after England beat France in 3rd-place World Cup match appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Cam Skattebo just gave the New York Giants a scare after trying to pull off a stunt.

The New York star running back was among the several personalities who made an appearance at the Fanatics Fest in New York, and he decided to draw even more attention when he attempted to do a backflip.

It is, of course, worth mentioning that Skattebo’s rookie season in 2025 was abruptly ended by a dislocated ankle injury that later needed surgery. Several months after going under the knife, the former Arizona State Sun Devils star is clearly confident enough in his athletic abilities to try backflipping in front of people again.

However, Skattebo’s latest attempt at the maneuver did not go as smoothly as he had intended, as he failed to stick the landing.

Although Skattebo lost his balance, his confidence did not seem to drop one bit. He clapped aggressively and shouted as if the botched landing had never happened.

Here is the video of Skattebo’s backflip fail.

I can’t even imagine John Harbaughs reaction to seeing this LOL pic.twitter.com/hCfiCvwCxV

— WyattzWorld (@WyattzWorId) July 18, 2026

This is not the first time Skattebo has been seen doing a backflip since his surgery. He did the same stunt in May after hitting a home run during a charity softball game, but that had a much better result.

All the Giants can do after seeing Skattebo’s latest stunt is to hope that he won’t suffer another injury before the start of the 2026 NFL season.

The post Video: Cam Skattebo had a scary moment botching his backflip landing appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Anthony Edwards seems to have accepted the Minnesota Timberwolves’ fate amid the ongoing NBA free agency saga involving LeBron James.

The Timberwolves star was recently at Fanatics Fest in New York, where ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi asked him about Minnesota being among the top teams linked to four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James.

Edwards, however, did not sound too optimistic in his response to Negandhi.

“I have nothing to say about it because I’ve seen his top three teams,” Edwards simply responded, “We’re not in it.”

Anthony Edwards was asked about his thoughts on Minnesota being on that short list of teams that LeBron is interested in:

“I have nothing to say about it because I’ve seen his top 3 teams, we’re not in it so…” 😏 pic.twitter.com/cCq5eVzuHP

— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) July 18, 2026

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are widely viewed as the three leading candidates to land James at the moment. The Golden State Warriors were initially considered a favorite to earn the King’s nod, but that no longer appears to be the case.

The Timberwolves are not exactly a historically appealing destination for superstar free agents, but that should not stop them from at least kicking the tires on James, who will turn 42 years old in December.

Could Edwards also just be playing possum on the topic? That is nothing more than a wild speculation at the moment, but at the very least, Minnesota has already made a big acquisition in the summer after successfully trading for Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball.

The post Anthony Edwards appears resigned to the Timberwolves’ fate in LeBron James pursuit appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Connor Bedard has finally secured the bag with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Just a day after he turned 21 years old, Bedard agreed to a 5-year extension contract with the Blackhawks, one that carries an average annual value of $15 million. The Blackhawks announced the news via their official website.

One of the most hyped NHL prospects in recent memory, Bedard was selected by the Blackhawks first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, and this new contract further shows the franchise’s trust that he will be able to help get Chicago back on top.

Only Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks and Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild have contracts with a higher average annual value than Bedard’s. Carlsson carries an $18 million AAV, while Kaprizov is at $17 million.

The Blackhawks have yet to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Bedard, but he is clearly Chicago’s most important piece, as the team continues its rebuild. He is coming off the best season of his NHL career, scoring 30 goals and recording 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games during the 2025-26 campaign as the Blackhawks finished 29-39-14 with 72 points, matching their highest total since the 2019-20 season.

With his new deal, Bedard will remain with the Blackhawks through at least the 2030-31 season, when he will still be just 25 years old.

The post Blackhawks lock up Connor Bedard with staggering extension appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James has proven difficult to recruit in free agency, but those who cross paths with him are not missing their chance to try to sell him on joining their preferred team. That even includes at least one notable politician.

James was having dinner Wednesday night at the same New York restaurant as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Shapiro used the chance meeting to try to sell James on joining the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Peter Hamby of Puck News.

New @PuckNews

Josh Shapiro was dining with the Clintons in NYC this week at ZZ’s. They ran into LeBron — and Shapiro tried to lobby him on coming to the Sixers

More in tonight’s In The Room (and thanks to @DylanByers for the guest spot) https://t.co/fY03jtjr4G pic.twitter.com/E0OcDe5yDr

— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) July 17, 2026

The Sixers are unquestionably making a concerted effort to sign James. Sixers owner Josh Harris also had a “brief, friendly conversation” with James when the two crossed paths at Fanatics Fest on Friday, per John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

A source says Sixers owner Josh Harris was able to have a brief, friendly conversation with LeBron James yesterday at a VIP event at Fanatics Fest in New York

I’m told Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and owner Josh Harris have let LeBron know they would love to have him… pic.twitter.com/tvJJDXc478

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) July 18, 2026

While James has largely secluded himself and is not taking any meetings with teams, there are certainly some who have a way to contact him and have made use of that connection. For the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey is said to be leading the charge, though the team’s entire core has been in on the recruiting job.

The 76ers are thought to be one of the teams James is most focused on as he nears his decision. Some even thought he had dropped a few hints that they would be his choice, though that is not actually the case.

The post LeBron James was recruited in free agency by a prominent politician appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Aaron Judge apparently has some beef with the son of a former Major League Baseball superstar.

Gary Sheffield Jr., the son of longtime MLB outfielder Gary Sheffield, revealed Friday that Judge had blocked him on X. What’s more Sheffield Jr. was not even certain why.

🤣 pic.twitter.com/RJB8Oo6bqW

— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) July 17, 2026

Sheffield Jr. assumed the block had something to do with a recent post of his about how Judge needed to be a more vocal leader. He also suggested that Judge “should spend more time getting this team over the hump than he is on Twitter blocking Yankees fans.”

I did nothing, actually.

Aaron Judge should spend more time getting this team over the hump than he is on Twitter blocking Yankees fans.

— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) July 17, 2026

The younger Sheffield is a Yankee fan, and his father did play for the franchise from 2004 to 2006. He has previously opined about moves the organization should make, though there are plenty of social media users way more disrespectful than he has been. It’s not clear how much Judge even manages his own account or whether he made the decision to block Sheffield.

For now, Judge is not doing much of anything as he tries to rehab a rib injury. There is no timetable for his return, though he and the Yankees remain adamant that the star outfielder will return before the end of the season.

The post Aaron Judge blocked the son of an MLB legend on social media appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James appears to be down to five finalists in free agency, but most of the league checked in on him. That includes one team that would have been very intriguing.

James was contacted by 27 teams once he became a free agent, leading the panelists of “The Hoop Collective” to wonder which teams did not even try to check in with James. The San Antonio Spurs were mentioned as a possibility, but according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, even they at least reached out.

“My understanding is there was some sort of Spurs dialogue,” McMenamin said. “I don’t know if it was pitching, but there was some sort of dialogue.”

Dave McMenamin on LeBron’s free agency decision:

“My understanding there was some sort of Spurs dialogue. I don’t know whether it was pitching but it was some sort of dialogue.”

👀👀👀#GoSpursGo #PorVida pic.twitter.com/LH9E8CbpZ6

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) July 17, 2026

This, of course, does not mean the Spurs were ever seriously pursuing James. It is an interesting idea, though, and it’s quite fun to think of the prospect of LeBron and Victor Wembanyama playing together in pursuit of an NBA title.

The Spurs probably would have had a way to make this happen had James shown more interest in playing for them. However, by all accounts, the former Los Angeles Laker is looking to head east.

The post Intriguing team showed interest in LeBron James appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Ruben Rivera is somewhere smiling at the Minnesota Twins right now.

The Twins played on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. In the ninth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., the Twins were down 6-2 but were threatening to make a comeback with runners on first and second base and nobody out.

It all went south though when Minnesota shortstop Brooks Lee smashed a ball into center field that fell right out of the reach of Chicago outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Both lead runner Josh Bell and trailing runner Victor Caratini were completely confused on what to do and got caught in no man’s land between bases as the throw came back into the infield.

Caratini appeared to be running too fast when the ball was dropped, forcing Bell to try to come to home plate to open a base. Bell was then tagged out trying to retreat back to third … and then the batter Lee (who was initially trying to take second base) was thrown out attempting to return to first.

Here is the absurd video.

The Twins looked like they might have a ninth-inning rally going, but then…TOOTBLANS. TOOTBLANS everywhere. pic.twitter.com/yKaQCPe328

— Casey Drottar (@CDrottar19) July 18, 2026

That was like a chain reaction of incompetence as every single Twins player appeared to have some degree of fault there. Caratini got that entire circus started by not waiting for the ball to be either caught or dropped, Bell failed to protect himself as the lead runner, and Lee was out there lollygagging during Bell’s rundown and let himself get thrown out as well.

The Twins went on to lose by that same score of 6-2 after Kody Clemens struck out in the very next at-bat. Baserunning blunders seem to be a trend for their team too as one Minnesota player actually got demoted for a similar such instance last season.

The post Twins blow a late comeback attempt with most pathetic baserunning mistakes appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Mookie Betts had one suggestion for Major League Baseball to make blowouts a little less painful for all involved.

In an interview with Tom Dierberger of SI, Betts suggested that games should simply end whenever a team wants to bring in a position player to pitch. That tactic is typically used by teams that are getting blown out and do not want to use any other pitchers to get outs in a game they have already lost.

“Once position players come in (to pitch), just call the game,” Betts said. “That’s pretty much it. Once you’re down 10 [runs] and the position player comes in, just call it a day.”

Betts added that facing a position player is awkward as a hitter, as not getting a hit is seen as embarrassing but successfully getting one is simply par for the course.

“It’s a lose-lose,” Betts added. “You get a hit, you’re supposed to. But it’s so hard to get a hit. It’s so hard to get that hit. And then if you get out, ah, you got out by a position player. I’d rather just go home at that point.”

MLB teams are only allowed to use a position player on the mount if they are ahead by 10 or more or trailing by 8 or more. There was once a certain novelty to it, but it has largely worn off and tends to be fairly ugly more often than not.

It’s fair to question whether any team would actually make such a move of it meant they were forfeiting the rest of the game. A few probably would to preserve their bullpens, but it would be a weird look, and this rule change probably will not be on the agenda anytime soon.

The post Mookie Betts thinks MLB should shorten games with 1 rule change appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

DeMar DeRozan might be getting the call from the Motor City.

The Detroit Pistons are evaluating the possibility of signing the veteran scorer DeRozan in free agency, longtime NBA writer Marc Stein reported to Substack this week. Stein adds DeRozan’s market will become clearer once LeBron James makes his own decision in free agency.

DeRozan, 36, is an unrestricted free agent after being released earlier this month by the Sacramento Kings. With averages of 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per game on a deeply-flawed team last season, there is still something to be had there with DeRozan.

The six-time NBA All-Star DeRozan has seemingly up to this point had two main frontrunners for his services. We also learned a few days ago that DeRozan could potentially reunite with one of his former NBA teams.

As for the Pistons, they are a bit of a less likely suitor for DeRozan given their young core led by 24-year-old Cade Cunningham, 23-year-old Ausar Thompson, and (if he returns in restricted free agency) 22-year-old Jalen Duren. Detroit was also already the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year, finishing at 60-22 before losing in the second round to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But the Pistons did lose scorers Tobias Harris (free agency) and Caris LeVert (trade) earlier this offseason. While the addition of John Collins in free agency should help, DeRozan might be a surprise option as a super 6th man for Detroit next season.

The post DeMar DeRozan is being linked to 1 surprising new team appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Baker Mayfield may be line to become one of the dozen or so highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mayfield continues to negotiate a new contract extension with the team. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports this week that an extension in the range of $50 million per year would be the expected “benchmark” for Mayfield’s new deal.

Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick, recently turned 31 years old. He has been the QB in Tampa Bay for the last three seasons now, making two Pro Bowl teams and emerging as one of the best leaders at his position at the NFL.

As it stands right now, Mayfield can become a free agent after the 2026 season as he is entering the final year of his three-year, $100 million contract with the team. It does not appear that Mayfield will be negotiating any further with Tampa Bay this year either if they cannot get a deal done before July 28 (when training camp opens for Buccaneers veteran players).

Patrick Mahomes ($64 million per year) and Dak Prescott ($60 million) are currently the highest-paid QBs in the NFL by average annual value. Meanwhile, 10 other signal-callers (Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts) are also making in excess of $50 million per year.

Mayfield, coming off a down-ish 2026 season in which he threw for 3,693 yards with 26 TDs to 11 interceptions, expressed some doubts about his long-term future with the Buccaneers just last month. If a deal does get done though in the coming days, it will likely be hitting that $50 million per year mark for Mayfield.

The post Details emerge on Baker Mayfield’s expected new contract appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James’ free agent decision even has the NBA schedule stuck in a holding pattern.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver admitted Thursday that the league has to wait for James’ decision before making some key decisions regarding the regular season schedule. The league wants James and his team spotlighted for key dates, but things cannot be scheduled that way without knowing where he will actually be playing.

“Where LeBron plays will affect the schedule,” Silver admitted as part of the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit on Thursday. “So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc. So I need him to make a decision. And, but the direct answer is, I have no inside information.”

The teams James seems to be considering are all contenders, so they might be playing anyway on dates like Christmas. Matchups will matter, though, as the league will want the best storylines.

The 76ers, Heat, and Cavaliers are thought to be among the main suitors to sign James. He has yet to tip anyone off publicly about his decision, no matter how many hints he at least seems to be giving.

The post Adam Silver admits LeBron James is impacting the NBA’s scheduling appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Sandy Brondello is apologizing this week over her controversial in-game remark about Angel Reese.

The Toronto Tempo played Friday night against the Atlanta Dream. During the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ont., Tempo forward Nyara Sabally was called for a foul on the Dream star Reese, and Sabally fell over injured in the process.

The Tempo head coach Brondello did not agree with the call. The television broadcast caught Brondello yelling at the referees by saying of Reese, “She’s a protected species!” Here is the video.

Toronto Tempo HC Sandy Brondello just called Angel Reese a “protected species.”

Completely unacceptable and out of line

(via @TimeoutSPORTS3) @Reese10Angel @SBrondello pic.twitter.com/k5hUx3vm2S

— HOOPS NATION (@_HoopsNation) July 18, 2026

After the game, which the Dream won by a final score of 111-92, Reese called out Brondello over social media for the comment.

“ARE WE SURPRISED?! @SBrondello,” Reese wrote along with a clown emoji while replying to another user’s post that read, “Calling a Black woman a species…”

ARE WE SURPRISED?! @SBrondello https://t.co/moNbYdDYo3

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 18, 2026

In a post to her X page on Saturday, Brondello issued a lengthy apology to Reese and the Dream.

“Angel, I’m sorry,” Brondello wrote. “Last night, in the emotion of the moment after Nyara’s injury, I used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used, and I take full responsibility for that. My frustration was with the officiating, but my words unfairly put the focus on you.”

Brondello also added that “I also understand that my words carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league.” You can read Brondello’s full apology at the link here.

A former WNBA All-Star player and a two-time WNBA champion head coach with the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty, Brondello, 57, is in her first season as head coach of the Tempo. As for the three-time WNBA All-Star Reese, 24, she is known for publicly calling out perceived slights and put the league as a whole in her crosshairs earlier this month.

The post WNBA coach apologizes for ‘protected species’ remark about Angel Reese appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Trae Young is still trying to play the role of villain in front of New York Knicks fans, but he doesn’t seem to be doing it quite as effectively as he used to.

Young made an appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York on Saturday and tried to rile up the crowd by ripping a Jalen Brunson jersey. He ran into one problem, however: it would not cooperate with him, and he wound up just looking silly.

Trae Young tried to rip Jalen Brunson’s jersey and he failed 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/cUEUSKeuO2

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) July 18, 2026

Young wound up throwing the jersey into the crowd in defeat. Needless to say, that was not his plan.

Five years ago, Young famously made himself the heel in the Atlanta Hawks’ playoff series against the Knicks. He roasted them throughout the series, then relished in the hate afterward.

A lot has changed since then, though. Young plays for a different team, while the Knicks have won a championship. Knicks fans have not forgotten him, to be clear, but they also have moved on to other things in light of their recent success.

The post Trae Young’s attempt at trolling Knicks fans failed miserably appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Cincinnati Reds may be a parody of themselves at this point.

The big news broke earlier this week that the Reds had agreed to a sizable new contract extension with ace pitcher Chase Burns. The righty Burns is getting a seven-figure deal to remain in Cincinnati through the 2033 season.

But the Reds apparently had a humiliating mishap with Burns’ physical contract. C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports that Burns’ contract signing was held up a bit on Saturday morning after Reds GM Brad Meador spilled coffee on the document. As a result, the team reportedly had to print out a new contract for Burns to sign.

The 23-year-old Burns was Cincinnati’s No. 2 overall draft pick in 2024 and just made the first All-Star team of his MLB career this season. Though Burns has only made 26 big-league starts up to this point, there is little doubt that he is worth the investment given his sparkling 11-1 record and 2.54 ERA this season.

Burns’ new contract represents one of the biggest deals by total value in Reds’ franchise history. But apparently Meador, who took over the GM job in 2023, could not have been bothered to put a lid on his cup of joe before handling the precious document.

That seems to be par for the course though for Cincinnati, a team that is an NL Central-worst 44-52 this season, has not won a playoff game since 2012, and has not won a playoff series since 1995. Now in addition to the seven figures they are committing to Burns, the Reds will have to eat the cost of extra paper and printer ink as well.

The post Reds had an embarrassing mishap with Chase Burns’ new contract appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Anthony Davis is calling his shots early this year.

The Washington Wizards star Davis was interviewed by content creator More Myles at Fanatics Fest in New York, N.Y. During the interview, Davis was asked about next season and made a couple of very bold predictions.

When asked about how the Wizards would do in 2026-27, Davis predicted that they would have “40-plus wins.” Davis was then asked how many games he himself would play next season and quickly replied, “82.”

You can see the video at the link here.

That would mark quite the turnaround for both Davis and the Wizards. For one, Washington won a league-worst 17 games last season, so Davis is predicting that they will win more than double that next season.

Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Davis is highly injury-prone and did not appear in even a single game for the Wizards last season due to a hand issue (appearing in only 20 games prior to that last season for the Dallas Mavericks). Davis has never played 82 games in his NBA career (topping out at 76 in 2023-24), but that may be what he has to shoot for given his recently-reported demands of the Wizards on a new contract extension.

The post Anthony Davis makes 2 very bold predictions for his 2026-27 season appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Anthony Rizzo appears to be a magnet for home run balls when he attends games as a fan at Wrigley Field.

Rizzo managed to catch Cubs first baseman Michael Busch’s first inning home run against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. Rizzo, who was in attendance to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series win, first made the grab before lifting his son onto his shoulders triumphantly.

If we had a nickel for every time Anthony Rizzo's caught a Cubs home run in the bleachers, we'd have two nickels.

Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice! pic.twitter.com/XOAK3B1kFo

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 18, 2026

Rizzo actually nearly caught a home run ball last September, though it narrowly slipped out of his hands. The fact that he would even get a shot at two in the span of a year is pretty remarkable in light of who he is and how rarely he actually sits in the outfield at Wrigley.

In a later interview, Rizzo divulged that he was even wearing the jersey he wore during Game 7 of that World Series.

Anthony Rizzo is wearing his Game 7 jersey from 2016

He originally gave it to his dad who got a mustard stain on the back of it when he wore it on Opening Day in 2017 https://t.co/jwNfLtsSOW pic.twitter.com/U3p9Ws9Q8I

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 18, 2026

At this point, if the Cubs keep hitting home runs at Rizzo, they’re going to have to plant him out there permanently. That might be one way to address their frustrating lack of consistency so far this season.

The post Anthony Rizzo caught a home run ball in the Wrigley Field bleachers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk now appears to be burning bridges with the NFL Players Association.

Aiyuk on Saturday posted criticism of the NFLPA to his Instagram story as he remains in contract limbo with the 49ers. The wide receiver suggested that the union was conducting a “smear campaign” to try and tarnish him, seemingly because he did not seek to recoup money the 49ers withheld from him.

Brandon Aiyuk is now attacking the NFLPA

This really is the end of BA’s NFL career, isn’t it… pic.twitter.com/JpTbNPtbLO

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) July 18, 2026

The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guaranteed salary last season, alleging that he failed to take part in team events and rehab. He has already played his last game for the team, with the Niners essentially holding onto him to see if a trade could be facilitated.

Previously, Aiyuk had been eager to join the Washington Commanders, but he may have blown that as well with his social media activity. At this point, his career may legitimately be in doubt.

Aiyuk has not played since 2024 due to a torn ACL and MCL. His best season came in 2023, when he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns and earned second-team All-Pro honors.

The post Brandon Aiyuk calls out NFLPA in his new social media post appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Rory McIlroy did not hold back in his assessment of Bryson DeChambeau’s behavior at the British Open on Friday.

McIlroy was asked Saturday about DeChambeau’s two-stroke penalty for improving his lie on the par-4 fifth hole at Royal Birkdale. Not only did McIlroy think the penalty was justified, but he thought DeChambeau’s reaction was “performative” and disrespectful to everyone else.

“I think there’s no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing. Whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don’t think it matters. Hopefully it was careless. But I think the two-shot penalty was justified,” McIlroy said. “I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention. To hold the tournament hostage like that and have all of us, volunteers, players, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”

Here's Rory on the Bryson ruling — said there's no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing and penalty was justified.

Then added: "I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it's performative. I think a lot of… pic.twitter.com/knSptf5Opo

— Patrick McDonald (@pmcdonaldCBS) July 18, 2026

DeChambeau had a lengthy argument with rules officials on the course after the penalty was assessed that wound up looking like a bit of a temper tantrum. At one point, he seemingly threatened not to play on Saturday, though he walked back that threat.

As McIlroy indicated, DeChambeau’s antics actually delayed the release of Saturday’s tee times, much to the frustration of other members of the field.

While McIlroy and DeChambeau have largely maintained a respectful relationship, there has been tension between the two of them in the past. McIlroy has also been a staunch loyalist to the PGA Tour, while DeChambeau defected to join LIV Golf, adding a further element to their rivalry.

The post Rory McIlroy rips Bryson DeChambeau over British Open meltdown appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte made a rather inexplicable mistake to end Friday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Marte was at bat at Chase Field in Phoenix, Az. with the tying run at second and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The All-Star infielder took a 2-2 pitch that appeared to be clearly above the strike zone, but umpire Bill Miller punched him out for strike three.

Despite the Diamondbacks having both of their ABS challenges remaining, Marte opted not to use one. He would have won the challenge and still had a chance to drive in the tying run on a 3-2 pitch.

What is Ketel Marte thinking????? pic.twitter.com/J6qHyOZsNS

— Austin Oravec (@AustinOravec) July 18, 2026

Marte does not even seem to consider challenging, which is remarkable. There would be no downside to doing so. If he’s right, the game continues and he stays alive. If not, it is not as if he gets to save the challenge for later.

Normally when we see players err on a challenge, it’s because they were overzealous. While players are often conservative about using them early in the game, the ninth inning tends to be a time when just about anything borderline gets challenged. Marte did not do that, and it genuinely may have cost his team a win, or at least an opportunity to do so.

The post Ketel Marte made a baffling mistake that cost Diamondbacks appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

In a tightly contested 2-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone shouldered responsibility for a pivotal decision that proved costly.

With his team clinging to a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning, Gerrit Cole issued a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts. Boone visited the mound with left-hander Brent Headrick warming in the bullpen, but ultimately left his ace in to face Max Muncy after Cole assured the manager he had one more out in him.

Cole, who had dominated through six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on 90 pitches in his 10th start since returning from Tommy John surgery, jumped ahead 0-2. However, he hung a slider that Muncy crushed for a go-ahead two-run homer. Boone later admitted the choice fell squarely on him.

“I probably should’ve grabbed him there,” Boone said, via The Athletic. “Sometimes you’ve got to take it out of their hands. … That falls on me.”

Cole expressed disappointment with the pitch location but noted the competitive opportunity against a strong lineup. The Yankees had chances to tie the game later, including a strong double from Ben Rice, but a baserunning play at the plate ended their threat.

The loss prevented New York from gaining more ground in the AL East.

The post Yankees’ Aaron Boone regrets trusting Gerrit Cole in loss appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Major League Baseball has implemented new restrictions on the use of iPads in dugouts to prevent teams from leveraging artificial intelligence for real-time strategic decisions.

The policy, which took effect at the start of the second half of the 2026 season, limits access to custom tabs on the devices that had allowed expanded functionality beyond viewing video and league-provided data.

According to a June 11 memo from MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword, some clubs had installed custom apps enabling recommendations on substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game choices traditionally handled by players and coaches. An estimated third of teams utilized these enhancements to varying degrees.

“In many cases, the custom tab had expanded the use of the dugout iPads beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches,” Sword wrote.

MLB acted after determining the practice exceeded the original intent of the iPad pilot program, which began in 2015 and expanded in 2016.

Former New York Mets reliever Adam Ottavino, now a broadcaster, highlighted the Mets’ involvement on his Baseball & Coffee livestream. He claimed the team invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in an expensive AI program for pitch prediction and related assistance, with some within the organization reportedly bragging about the technology early in the season.

Ottavino noted that while other clubs employed similar tools, the Mets drew particular attention, prompting MLB to intervene swiftly. The Mets declined to comment on the matter.

The decision has sparked varied reactions across the league. New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge expressed surprise at the extent of AI reliance, while managers like Toronto’s John Schneider and Arizona’s Torey Lovullo acknowledged the evolving role of technology in baseball.

“I read the article and I was like, I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” Judge said, via ESPN. “Teams are making decisions off of AI? Man, that’s just crazy.”

Sword emphasized that the change provides teams time to adjust without penalties, as a review confirmed prior compliance.

This move underscores MLB’s ongoing effort to balance innovation with the human elements of strategy following past controversies like the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. As AI continues to influence sports, the league aims to preserve traditional decision-making while maintaining competitive integrity.

The post Adam Ottavino’s Mets reveal prompts MLB to restrict dugout AI use appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Charles Barkley did not hold back when addressing his brief exchange with Draymond Green, even after the Golden State Warriors forward issued an apology for an earlier jab. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast on Friday, Barkley reflected on the May incident that unfolded during an Inside the NBA segment.

The original tension arose when Barkley commented on the Warriors’ aging roster and their diminished title hopes. Green responded by taking a personal shot at Barkley, referencing his time with the Houston Rockets in a way that implied a diminished legacy.

The remark drew widespread criticism from fans and media, who highlighted Barkley’s strong individual production during his Rockets stint compared to Green’s career averages.

Green later apologized on his podcast, expressing that he meant no disrespect. Barkley, however, indicated he had not paid much attention to the online fallout at the time, as he and Green even went out for drinks afterward.

Barkley acknowledged the strong public defense of his legacy but emphasized his own stature in the game.

“Listen, man, Draymond is a good player, I was a great player,” Barkley said. “We’re not on the same level.”

Barkley’s comments reflect his willingness to speak candidly about players while drawing a clear distinction in career accomplishments. Green, who averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in his 14th season, faced comparisons to Barkley’s Year 14 numbers with Houston of 15.2 points and 11.7 rebounds.

The exchange highlights the ongoing dynamics between NBA legends and active players, with Barkley showing he remains unafraid to address perceived slights on his own terms.

It remains to be seen if Green will respond to the latest remarks.

The post Charles Barkley takes shot at Draymond Green despite apology appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bryson DeChambeau erupted in frustration during the second round of the 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale after officials hit him with a two-stroke penalty for improving his lie on the par-4 fifth hole.

DeChambeau’s drive sailed into thick fescue rough. While preparing his next shot, he took several steps and appeared to flatten the grass behind the ball with his feet. The R&A reviewed the situation post-round and assessed the penalty under Rule 8.1, changing his bogey into a triple bogey. That adjusted his solid 66 to a 68, leaving him at 5-under and three shots back of leader Lucas Herbert.

Video showed a heated exchange with rules officials on the course, and DeChambeau seemed to threaten walking away from the tournament.

His agent told reporters they would “see” if he teed it up Saturday.

DeChambeau quickly walked it back on social media. He admitted he was disappointed with the ruling and didn’t agree with it, but said the whole thing fired him up. He declared himself ready for the weekend and looking to make a move.

The two-time major winner remains in the mix despite the controversy.

This is hardly the first time DeChambeau has lost his cool on the course. Earlier this year at LIV Golf Mexico City, he threw a notable tantrum over poor course conditions after blading a bunker shot into patchy grass and mud. He sarcastically pointed out the “destroyed grass” to his caddie and called for a rules official, complaining that the situation was “unbelievable.”

DeChambeau has a well-documented history of such outbursts when things don’t go his way.

The post After flip-out, Bryson DeChambeau walks back threat to quit The Open appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

New York Knicks superstar and freshly minted NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson found himself in quite the pickle at Fanatics Fest on Thursday — and no, it wasn’t a midrange jumper he couldn’t knock down.

A hopeful Giants fan thrust a Big Blue helmet his way for an autograph, only for Brunson, a die-hard Eagles disciple, to hit the brakes harder than a Vic Fangio defense.

“Wait, wait, I am not signing that,” the point guard declared, via the New York Post. “That’s against my religion. Are you gonna make me sign a Giants helmet? Can I write ‘Go Birds’ on it? I’m gonna write ‘Go Birds’ on it.”

After some playful back-and-forth — including a fan’s desperate plea to “convert” him — Brunson eventually put pen to plastic, but only on his own terms. The New Jersey native, who bleeds South Jersey green and once rocked a Jalen Hurts jersey courtside, stayed true to his Philly roots despite thriving in Knicks blue and orange.

Born in New Brunswick but forever tied to Villanova and the Eagles, Brunson proved once again that some rivalries run deeper than basketball allegiances. Giants fans might be licking their wounds, but at least they got a signature — even if it came with an unwanted Birds endorsement.

In the end, Brunson delivered the perfect mix of clutch performance and comedic relief, reminding everyone why he’s a fan favorite on and off the court.

The post Jalen Brunson hilariously shuts down Giants helmet autograph request appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Houston Astros could be getting real experimental for the stretch run of the season.

Houston could potentially move their star slugger Yordan Alvarez into left field, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported this week on “Foul Territory.” Rome adds that the thinking for the Astros would be to target another bat at the trade deadline, adding that “nothing is off the table.”

Could the Astros move Yordan Alvarez to left field to help fix their offense at the trade deadline?@Chandler_Rome says "nothing is off the table," especially with a playoff push on the line. pic.twitter.com/p9jrDbBCfl

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 17, 2026

The lefty-hitting Alvarez, 29, has been Houston’s best player this season and arguably the best player in the entire American League. He leads the AL in hits (113), homers (31), RBIs (71), batting average (.321), and OPS (1.067).

Perhaps almost as impressive has been Alvarez’s availability this year. He has remarkably appeared in 97 of 99 games thus far for the Astros and has shed the injury-prone reputation that he gained last season after appearing in just 48 games due to hand and ankle issues.

That said, Houston needs a further jolt at the plate as their 19th-ranked offense (both by runs scored and by batting average) is a big reason why they sit at just 47-52 overall. Moving Alvarez permanently to left field, where he has already made 15 starts this season and 227 starts over his entire MLB career, would open up the designated hitter spot for another outside power bat.

Of course, playing left field is a much more taxing physical commitment and would drastically increase the risk of injury for Alvarez if done on a full-time basis. But the Astros obviously need some kind of shake-up ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, especially after all of the notable selling that they have been doing recently.

The post Astros could make a major Yordan Alvarez move appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Justin Jefferson might be getting the itch to reunite with his former offensive coordinator.

The Minnesota Vikings star receiver Jefferson could potentially want to move on from the team and join the Las Vegas Raiders, according to a recent report by Raiders beat writer Hondo Carpenter. Additionally, Carpenter says that Jefferson may possibly be amicable to move to the Raiders due to the potential for a reunion with Klint Kubiak.

Jefferson, 27, just completed his sixth career season with Minnesota. He cannot become a free agent until after the 2028 season either as he signed a big $140 million contract extension with the team in 2024.

But concern is quickly building for the Vikings as a whole. Amid a nightmare quarterback situation last year, the team went 9-8 and missed the playoffs as Jefferson produced career-low marks with 1,048 receiving yards and a mere two touchdowns. Now Minnesota will be having a wide-open QB competition for next season between underwhelming incumbent JJ McCarthy and the newly-signed Kyler Murray.

As for the Raiders, they recently hired Kubiak as their head coach to replace the fired Pete Carroll. Kubiak coached Jefferson in Minnesota, including as the offensive coordinator during the 2021 season.

The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jefferson has been facing trade speculation for the last several months now, and some public signs of his frustration with the Vikings have already emerged. With Las Vegas still lacking a true WR1 for No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza to throw to, the fit there may make sense if both teams are willing to explore it.

The post Justin Jefferson is being linked to 1 team in trade rumors appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Fans had a lot to say about Dwight Howard’s surprise encounter with old pal Andrew Bynum.

The 6’10” Howard was documenting himself roaming the streets of New York City this week when he spotted a man approaching who looked even taller than him. Turns out it was the 7’0″ Bynum, seemingly cooling down after a workout.

The former Los Angeles Lakers All-Star, who was wearing a sweaty tank top with a towel draped over his back, momentarily took off one of his earphones to dap up Howard. The two shared a quick exchange before Bynum continued walking down the block.

Dwight: “That bi*ch tall right there.”

“That looks like Andrew Bynum.”

Dwight: “That is Andrew Bynum!!!”

— Dwight Howard randomly runs into Andrew Bynum in NYC. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)

pic.twitter.com/y5zPvcCR0S

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 17, 2026

While Bynum acknowledged Howard and smiled as the two crossed paths, several fans pointed out how Bynum did not stop at all to share a chat with his former on-court rival. Bynum just kept walking while Howard still seemed to have things to say.

Lmao he ain’t stop or nothing 😂

— Nick Thompson (@Aktivated_) July 17, 2026

What the hell was wrong with AB? Why was he so cold? And why was he wrapped in a towel or blanket or whatever that was?

— Al Lee (@sepelesht) July 18, 2026

Some theorized that perhaps it was because Bynum was still upset at Howard, who eventually replaced him as the Lakers’ starting center during the latter’s short-lived stint in L.A.

Same vibes pic.twitter.com/NSnVj8BQBj

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 17, 2026

This is hilarious 😂

Bynum was still mad dwight got traded for him after he was supposed to be the lakers next franchise center. Sucks he got injured bowling, and wasn’t great for the sixers. He still a legend and a big what if though full respect to him!

He walked right by.

— MT (@MikeTx47) July 18, 2026

Others speculated that perhaps Bynum did not even recognize Howard at all and instead mistook him for a rather large and enthusiastic fan.

Bynum had no idea that was Dwight. Thought he was just a fan. 😂

— 𝟭𝟬𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣 | 𝟯𝘅 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀 (@TenDeep_) July 17, 2026

It’s also possible that Bynum just felt the usual social anxiety of running into an old friend or acquaintance when one isn’t in the mood to catch up. That’s on top of the fact that the ever-boisterous Howard was also filming the encounter.

Whatever the case may be, Bynum appeared to still be in great physical shape. He’d probably still eat folks alive if he decided to (or still does) lace them up at a local park or gym for the occasional pick-up game.

Howard and Bynum were arguably the two best centers in the NBA during an era when superstar centers were in short supply. Bynum made an All-Star team and won a couple of championships alongside Kobe Bryant, but had his career derailed by injuries just as he was entering his prime.

Despite several attempts at an NBA comeback, Bynum never played beyond the 2013-14 season, essentially being forced into retirement at just 26 years old.

The post Fans all noticed the same thing about Dwight Howard’s chance encounter with Andrew Bynum appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Veteran MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz is not buying what Conor McGregor has been trying to sell.

McGregor suffered a serious knee injury seconds into his fight last Saturday against Max Holloway. McGregor bowed out of the fight just over a minute after the first bell rang for UFC 329’s main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Abdelaziz, who is the longtime manager of former McGregor rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, believes the Irishman fought through a preexisting injury. During a recent episode of the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast hosted by his clients Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Abdelaziz peddled the idea that a hurt McGregor still got in the octagon in order to get closer to fulfilling his contractual obligations with the UFC.

“Maybe he thought, ‘You know what? I’ve already got all my guaranteed money, and everybody’s going to say Conor just got injured. He didn’t get beat up,’” Abdelaziz said of McGregor during the podcast episode, via Bloody Elbow’s Harvey Leonard.

“… I think Conor took the easy way out. You just have to really, really fight all the way, especially with the amount of money he’s making and the people flying in.

“There are also two scenarios. Maybe he got injured a little bit in there, or maybe he’s like, ‘You know what? I owe you two fights. Here you go. One fight, and the second one I’ll give you in six or seven months, and then I’m out.’ That’s what I think.”

Abdelaziz also stated that he believed Holloway was going to “tune him up” because McGregor “isn’t the guy he used to be.” In Abdelaziz’s eyes, the injury gave McGregor an easy out from getting beaten up by the former “BMF” title holder.

Abdelaziz wasn’t alone in theorizing that the “Notorious” one may have been hurt before the match began. While McGregor immediately denied having any preexisting injuries, some pointed out that McGregor appeared to be favoring one side just moments before the fight.

Even former UFC champion Israel Adesanya stated earlier this week that he believed McGregor was lying.

The post Khabib’s manager floats conspiracy theory about Conor McGregor’s latest fight appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Cross the Indiana Pacers off the list of potential landing spots for LeBron James.

James was a guest panelist alongside Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton this week during this year’s Fanatics Fest event at the Javits Center in Manhattan, N.Y. Haliburton used the opportunity to tease James repeatedly about his free agency process.

Haliburton also revealed to the crowd that even he had pitched LeBron via text on the merits of joining the Pacers, even before news broke that he was leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. Rather than respectfully declining Tyrese’s recruiting pitch, James just replied to him with a pair of laughing emojis.

The Pacers guard claimed that response marked the official end of his efforts to bring James to Indiana.

Tyrese Haliburton said he made a recruiting attempt to bring LeBron to Indiana, even before he let the Lakers know he would be leaving.

LeBron’s text back: 🤣🤣

Haliburton said that was the end of his recruiting efforts.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2026

Considering the Pacers were a game away from winning the NBA Finals two seasons ago, adding a talent like James for cheap could push the team to legitimate contender status.

But LeBron’s fit in Indiana would be questionable to say the least, beyond just the fact that Indianapolis isn’t among the country’s bigger media markets.

The Pacers’ offense revolves completely around Haliburton’s playmaking ability, which may push James off the ball more than he would like.

The Pacers also play at a breakneck speed to take advantage of the team’s ability to finish in transition. That may not be the most appealing style of play for a 41-year-old LeBron to close out his career. Based on some of James’ other comments during Fanatics Fest, another Eastern Conference team may have a better shot at his services.

Kudos to Haliburton for still shooting his shot, though.

The post LeBron James laughed off 1 All-Star’s ill-fated recruiting pitch appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Caitlin Clark put on a performance for the ages on Friday in front of a capacity crowd inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Indiana Fever star willed her team to victory in a 110-107 contest against the Seattle Storm. Clark erupted for 45 points to go along with 10 assists, 4 steals, and a pair of blocks. Clark became the first player in WNBA history to post 40+ points and 10+ assists in a single game.

Clark’s 45 also marked a career high and set a new franchise single-game scoring record.

A HISTORIC PERFORMANCE BY CAITLIN CLARK 🔥

She recorded 45 PTS (career-high), 10 AST, 6 3PM, 4 STL & 2 BLKS to log the first 40+ points and 10+ assists stat line in a game in WNBA History! She also became the fastest player to reach 200 career three pointers and the first in… pic.twitter.com/QlJinDIIf7

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 18, 2026

The 2-time All-Star saved her best for last. Her final field goal was a go-ahead step-back triple to push her team ahead 105-102 with under a minute left to play.

CAITLIN. CLARK. FOR. 41. POINTS. 🔥🔥

She drains this step back triple to not only bring her to her NEW career high in PTS, but also bring the @IndianaFever to the lead (105-102)! https://t.co/tMM9GBzEAv pic.twitter.com/rwQjyWRkAl

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 18, 2026

When asked to weigh in on her record-setting night, Clark shrugged it off like it was no big deal.

“I mean, it’s cool. I don’t really care,” Clark said during her postgame interview. “And I know what I’m capable of, and I know what this team is capable of. It’s my job to help us win and be the best team in the WNBA, and I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Arguably even more impressive was the fact that Clark recorded her 45 points on just 18 shots. She went 11/18 from the field with 6 three-pointers, and also shot 17/19 from the free throw line.

Clark has turned into the most polarizing figure in the WNBA, often for matters that have nothing to do with basketball. She reminded the basketball world Friday of what she’s capable of on the court.

The post Caitlin Clark posts wild stat line never seen in WNBA history appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New England Patriots sound ready to weather the current storm surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel.

As every Patriots fan under the sun knows by now, Vrabel has been a lightning rod of controversy for his alleged improper relationship with veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

The scandal immediately sent speculation swirling regarding Vrabel’s future in New England. But Patriots owner Robert Kraft made it clear Friday that his 50-year-old head coach isn’t going anywhere.

During an appearance on “First Take,” Kraft was asked about “navigating” what has been a “tumultuous offseason” for Vrabel.

“We’re privileged to have Mike as our head coach,” Kraft said of Vrabel.

“You know, no one is infallible. And what’s great about Mike is he has great intellectual knowledge about football, all the technical skills. He relates to the players beautifully. And he’s someone I have a strong belief and faith in. And I hope he’s going to be our head coach for many years to come.”

If only someone could ask Bill Belichick about Kraft’s take on the fallibility of head coaches.

Russini did not get the same grace when it came to her own employment. The 43-year-old journalist felt compelled to resign from The Athletic due to the media firestorm caused by the controversial photos of her with Vrabel.

Should Vrabel eventually regain his post without any further repercussions, the worst he may have to go through might very well be couples therapy.

H/T Pro Football Talk

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Trae Young seems to believe Anthony Davis’ mind has already been made up about his place with the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards traded for Young and Davis in back-to-back months during the 2025-26 season. The moves were meant to expedite Washington’s rebuild process to go from perennial cellar dwellers to potential playoff contenders.

But while Young has already committed to a massive contract extension, questions have remained about what the future holds for Davis. The 10-time All-Star big man has been the subject of trade talks, with more established contenders reportedly looking to acquire him.

Based on Young’s latest comments, Davis may very well stick to the status quo. Young had a cheeky response when asked by ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk about whether he’s been “in Davis’ ear about wanting to stay in Washington.”

“I ain’t on it too much,” Young told Youngmisuk with a smile. “I think he knows where he wants to be right now.”

It probably helped the Wizards’ cause that the team landed the No. 1 overall pick and selected potential franchise changer AJ Dybantsa during last month’s draft. Davis and Young were among several Wizards watching courtside last week when Dybantsa dropped 27 points in a win over No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz in summer league play.

With Davis and Young spearheading Washington’s promising young core of Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson, basketball may be back on the map in our nation’s capital.

While Davis may very well stick around in D.C., it’s unclear whether the team is amenable to Davis’ unibrow-raising contract extension demands. Davis is currently slated to make 58.5 million next season and also holds a $62.8 million player option for the following year.

The post Trae Young drops hint about Wizards’ chances to keep Anthony Davis appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

A top Arizona Cardinals executive has been suspended by the NFL for allegedly leaking information about draft picks.

Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of the league’s gambling policy, according to a statement. The NFL alleges that Gold “provided confidential, non-public inside information regarding 2026 Draft selections by the Cardinals before they were announced, and that Mr. Gold participated in parlay bets on NFL and college games.”

NFL now has confirmed the indefinite suspension of Cardinals personnel executive Ryan Gold for violating the league’s gambling policy.

NFL statement: "The NFL confirmed today that Ryan Gold, Director of College Scouting for the Arizona Cardinals, has been suspended indefinitely…

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2026

The statement does not specifically say who Gold provided information about draft picks to. Considering it is mentioned in a statement about a gambling policy violation, however, it is certainly implied that those who received the information used it for their benefit.

Gold has worked for the Cardinals since 2014, first as a scouting assistant and then as a full-time scout. He was promoted to college scouting director in 2025, a role in which he oversaw the organization’s evaluation of prospects prior to the draft.

While the NFL does not accuse Gold of impacting any games, the allegations do bear some similarities to others that have gotten certain NBA figures in a lot of trouble. For now, though, his issues lie with the NFL, not the legal system.

The post Arizona Cardinals executive allegedly leaked draft picks to gamblers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The San Diego Padres are trying to decide what their trade deadline strategy should be, and that could involve trading star reliever Mason Miller after all.

The Padres are at least considering whether they would trade Miller as part of a package that also gets them out from under Xander Bogaerts’ contract, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Padres still owe Bogaerts roughly $175 million over the next seven years, and it is considered a “foregone conclusion” that they will find a way to get at least some of that salary off the books.

The Padres are not necessarily eager to move Miller, and have made public statements regarding their commitment to him. However, another team’s willingness to take on a large portion of the Bogaerts may “tip the scales” and compel the Padres to move Miller.

The Bogaerts contract has become an expensive mistake for the Padres with no clear escape route. The 33-year-old has seen his numbers decline over the last few seasons, and he is hitting just .224 with nine home runs on the season so far. The team has been willing to trade him for over a year, but nobody else wants that contract unless they are given some sort of incentive to take it on.

Miller could be that incentive. The 27-year-old has allowed just four earned runs in 39.2 innings of work this season while striking out 72. He is as close as it gets to automatic for a closer and could fortify any contender’s bullpen. Interested teams would just have to swallow a bad contract to perhaps make it happen.

The post Padres may consider trading Mason Miller on 1 condition appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s latest defense of his program has sent Paul Finebaum off the deep end.

Swinney defiantly said at ACC Media Days on Thursday that he had nothing to prove to anyone having already won a national title, and pointed to the success Clemson has had over the last 15 years. That did not fly with Finebaum, who accused Swinney of spending too much time harping on past glories without adding any more success.

“I am getting so exasperated listening to Dabo tell us how great he used to be. They’re not great anymore,” Finebaum said on ESPN’s “Get Up!” “You don’t hear Brady talking about his Super Bowls. Dabo is just stuck on stupid right now trying to convince us that his program is still legitimate. It’s not. It’s slipping and sliding away. It’s good. Maybe they’ll win nine games this year, maybe they won’t, but they lost six games last year with the Heisman favorite. That is downright embarrassing.”

"Dabo is just stuck on stupid right now trying to convince us that his program is still legitimate. It's not."@Finebaum is TIRED of hearing Dabo Swinney talk about the past 🏈 pic.twitter.com/fzux2ubj2x

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 17, 2026

This is far from the first time Swinney has put forward a defiant message like this one. While no one disputes his accomplishments at Clemson, his team has only made the College Football Playoff once since 2019, and lost in the first round on that occasion. The Tigers went 7-6 last season and finished the year unranked for the first time since 2010.

Swinney has often been criticized for failing to adapt to college football’s modern landscape. Even his mentor has suggested as much. Finebaum is essentially putting it much more bluntly.

The post Paul Finebaum goes off on ‘stupid’ Dabo Swinney appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Aaron Donald may be set to decide very soon whether to pursue a comeback with the Los Angeles Rams.

James Palmer of Bleacher Report revealed recently that Donald will likely make a decision on a return by the start of training camp. The former All-Pro defensive tackle does not want to “parachute in” later in the season and be a partial contributor.

“We would probably know a handful of days — just a guess — before the start of training camp,” Palmer said. “Aaron Donald, to my understanding, does not want to just parachute in, play half a role and try to collect a ring and just be there. If he’s going to go and do this, he wants to do it full tilt, be a part of it from the start of training camp through the whole thing, and do it the Aaron Donald way, which is with an unbelievable work ethic. I don’t think he wants to come in and be a shell of himself.”

This is my report from earlier in the week on my Bleacher Report show on everything I've gathered on Aaron Donald and his possible return to the NFL. pic.twitter.com/cpVZdCNvLz

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 17, 2026

There had been some speculation that Donald might wait until midseason to come back and play. This would cast some serious doubt on that, and indicates that the 35-year-old would want to be a major contributor if he did play.

Rams veterans are due to report to camp on July 25. That means we could be looking at a decision from Donald within the next week.

Donald has fueled plenty of comeback rumors in the past few weeks, especially by recently working out at the team’s facilities. As Palmer notes, the defensive tackle might be testing his physical capabilities to see if he can return before he actually commits to doing so.

The post Aaron Donald may have a deadline to decide on a comeback appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Tom Brady at WrestleMania appears to be a possibility, at least based on some comments he made this week.

Brady took part in Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast at Fanatics Fest this week, and he fairly strongly hinted that he would like to show off his athleticism by getting into the ring.

“I feel like since I’m retired from football, I have an opportunity to go out there and still showcase that I’m a little bit of an athlete,” Brady said, via Manny Soloway of Awful Announcing. “You know, my boy Gronk has done it. I’ve seen Logan Paul do it. I think I could get in there for at least one match, right? Come on Nick (Khan). Make it happen.”

Brady certainly has a hook if he wants to get involved. In February, Brady dismissed WWE as “cute” compared to the level of athleticism required of NFL players. That did not go over well with a number of WWE stars, who quickly called him out on those comments.

As Brady alluded to, he knows plenty of people that have been involved in WWE in their own way. Rob Gronkowski even hosted WrestleMania once. They would probably jump at the chance to have Brady appear.

The post Tom Brady drops hint about a future WWE appearance appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bill Belichick is sounding confident as he prepares for his second season as North Carolina’s head coach.

Belichick spoke Friday at ACC Media Day and was asked about the biggest things he learned during his first year at the helm of a college program. The answer, in his words, is essentially that there is a lot more to keep track of and more people to deal with than in the NFL.

“The biggest thing is relationships and the building of the people involved in school, the academics, compliance and training things, the hourly schedule, you have to be in compliance with,” Belichick said, via Brett McMurphy of On3.

UNC's Bill Belichick on what he learned from last season: "The biggest thing is relationships & the building of the people involved in school, the academics, compliance & training things, the hourly schedule, you have to be in compliance with."

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 17, 2026

One could argue that Belichick probably should have been aware of all that going in, but experiencing it is not the same thing as simply preparing for it.

Based on the results of his first season in charge, Belichick had a good bit to learn. His team went 4-8 overall and only won twice in ACC play. Things got so bad in the middle of the season that he and the school had to deny exit rumors.

Expectations should be lower for the Tar Heels this year now that it is accepted that Belichick is not simply a quick fix for success. Perhaps that will benefit him as much as the experience did.

The post Bill Belichick reveals what he learned in his first year at North Carolina appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James keeps leaving fans trying to decode his public statements and see if they offer any hints to his free agent destination.

James made a second appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York on Friday, once again hosting a live episode of one of his shows, “The Shop.” Naturally, his free agency was front and center, though he made it clear that he had not reached a decision on his next team and had nothing new to announce.

That did not stop fans from seizing on a moment when he mentioned he was looking to join a franchise that “trusts the process.” The fan reaction was so loud that James had to make it clear that this was not a hint that he would be heading to the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I want to join a franchise that shares the same byword as myself. Practicing championship habits every day and trusting the process more than anything,” James said.

When the crowd audibly reacted, James couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I’ve been saying ‘trust the process’ since I was drafted in 2003,” he pointed out.

LeBron James said he wants to go to a franchise that “trusts the process.”👀

The crowd absolutely lit up and LeBron responded that he’s been saying “trust the process” since he was drafted in 2003. 😂

He clarified it was NOT a hint that he’s going to the Philadelphia 76ers. pic.twitter.com/My7GKAbpGR

— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) July 17, 2026

The 76ers are one of the teams James has been most strongly linked to. At this point, however, it’s unlikely that he is actually going to drop subtle hints about a decision into a setting like this, no matter how badly fans want to seize on it.

There remains no timetable for James’ decision. He has suggested it is coming soon, but probably not on Friday.

The post Fans thought LeBron James dropped another huge hint about his free agency destination appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New York Mets are finally ready to blow up their roster, and that includes one somewhat surprising name.

The Mets have begun to inform other teams that they are essentially making their entire roster available for trade with the exception of Juan Soto and their top young stars. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, that includes Bo Bichette, a player the Mets just signed in the offseason.

Lindor and Bichette trades aren’t thought especially likely but they’re in discussions, as is any desirable player not among the 5 Mets considered off-limits @JimDuquetteGM and @chelsea_janes also noted Lindor in talks https://t.co/u2pNIcDpb6

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 17, 2026

Bichette is signed through 2028, though he can opt out of his deal after this season or next. However, he carries with him a $42 million annual salary, and the Mets might have to cover some of that in order to get a worthwhile return. That is one reason why, as Heyman notes, a Bichette trade is not necessarily seen as likely.

Further complicating the situation is the fact that Bichette is having a poor first season in New York. Entering play Friday, he is hitting just .253 with 10 home runs and posting some of the worst offensive numbers of his career. The Mets may get more use out of him by simply hanging onto him and hoping that both he and the team rebound in 2027.

The Mets have very few untouchables on their roster. Expect them to be a hub of trade activity leading up to the August 3 trade deadline.

The post Mets are open to trading 1 surprising player appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Buster Posey, the San Francisco Giants’ president of baseball operations, recently appeared on KNBR’s Murph & Markus show for a roughly 25-minute interview that covered the recent MLB Draft, the team’s selections, trade deadline plans, and first-year manager Tony Vitello’s performance.

The conversation appeared routine despite the Giants’ challenging 41-55 record coming out of the All-Star break.

However, the segment that followed took an unexpected turn. As hosts Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher discussed Posey’s responses, an unnamed KNBR producer conducted a microphone test, repeating “talk” before slamming Posey in an embarrassing hot mic moment.

“Yeah, I hear ya, I gotcha. I gotcha 100 percent,” The producer said, via SFGate. “Posey sucks, man.”

Neither host visibly reacted at the moment, but a subsequent caller referenced the comment. Murphy stated the station would investigate internally, while Boucher joked about a possible hack or AI interference.

The YouTube broadcast of the show was later removed.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Giants’ front office and their flagship radio partner amid the team’s disappointing 2026 season. Posey has faced significant scrutiny as the public face of the organization’s struggles.

The post Radio producer slams Giants’ Buster Posey in embarrassing hot mic moment appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

In the latest season of Netflix’s sports docuseries Quarterback, viewers get an intimate glimpse into Joe Flacco’s life, including a tour of his garage that reveals the unassuming fate of his prized Super Bowl MVP reward.

After leading the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XLVII, Flacco was gifted a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray as the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The sleek red sports car, once a symbol of his triumph, now sits idle, locked away and covered in dust amid random household items and Christmas decorations. Flacco admitted he has not driven it in years, has misplaced the keys, and doubts it would even start.

“As you can see, it’s been in this garage,” Flacco said. “I think it’s been in here for probably five years. It’s kind of like a little trophy. I mean, you keep your trophies stuffed in the attic somewhere and this is just a bigger version of that.”

With a busy household that includes five children, practical vehicles take priority over flashy sports cars.

“I’m a functional person, so the car doesn’t function for us,” Flacco’s wife, Dana, said. “But it’s just such a trophy; just such an amazing feat that you can’t get rid of it.”

The Corvette serves not as a daily driver but as a dusty monument to one of the defining achievements in his long NFL career.

The post Joe Flacco’s Super Bowl MVP Corvette has seen better days appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James turned heads on Thursday evening with a striking new appearance at the Time 100 Sports Gala in New York City.

The 41-year-old NBA superstar arrived at Pier 60 in Chelsea Piers sporting a completely shaved, skin-bald head, marking a notable evolution from previous instances where he had trimmed or shaved his hair but not embraced the fully bald style.

Dressed sharply in a suit alongside his wife, Savannah, James drew immediate attention and positive reactions online. Fans praised the fresh look, with comments highlighting how it suited him and represented a confident embrace of change.

While James has faced longstanding jokes and speculation about his hairline over the years, this polished bald appearance appeared deliberate and fitting for the high-profile event.

The timing aligns with James navigating a pivotal offseason as a free agent after his latest season with the Los Angeles Lakers. As he weighs future options, the new look underscores his enduring ability to command the spotlight both on and off the court.

Many observers noted the resemblance to icons like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, who also adopted bald styles later in their careers.

The post LeBron James debuts brand new look appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed concern that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been thrust into unnecessary political debates, describing her situation as unfair amid ongoing discussions about WNBA officiating and physical play.

Speaking at the Game Plan Summit presented by CNBC and Boardroom on Thursday, Silver emphasized that the core issues surrounding Clark extend beyond a single on-court incident. He referred to a June 24 play in which Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat, an action later upgraded to a flagrant foul, resulting in a one-game suspension for Thomas.

“I have come to know Caitlin really well,” Silver said, via the New York Post. “She’s an incredible player and also an incredible person. And she wants to focus on being the best player she can. She has become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it’s incredibly unfair to her. It’s become political ping-pong with her.”

Silver acknowledged the need to improve WNBA officiating but stressed that turning individual plays into broader storylines distracts from efforts to support Clark’s development as a young athlete.

Clark and Fever coach Stephanie White have condemned threats directed at Thomas following the incident, while Silver declined to address reports of his involvement in the suspension decision.

As Clark continues to drive significant growth in WNBA popularity through elevated attendance and viewership, Silver urged a return to focusing on her basketball contributions rather than external controversies.

The post Adam Silver feels Caitlin Clark has unfairly become a ‘political football’ appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice confronted a spectator who heckled him during the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada. While teeing off, Rice delivered his shot and immediately heard a fan mockingly yell “Fore!” in response to the play.

The 63-year-old legend turned toward the gallery and shouted “Hey!” before asking “Which one? Which one?” as he ducked under the ropes, club in hand, and charged into the crowd with speed reminiscent of his playing days. A fan appeared to identify the culprit, and Rice closed the distance to address the group directly.

Video captured from a distance shows the brief confrontation, after which Rice returned to the tee box smiling amid applause from spectators.

Rice finished 42nd in the 90-player celebrity field.

The incident marks another notable moment for Rice at the tournament. In 2024, he had a heated confrontation with Kansas City-based reporters who asked about the Chiefs’ wide receivers being good enough to win a Super Bowl. Rice interpreted the question as a slight toward the San Francisco 49ers and responded intensely, telling one reporter he would “f— you up” and challenging him further before being escorted away.

Fans online reacted to the latest viral clip by noting Rice’s enduring athleticism and competitive spirit, with some advising against provoking the NFL great.

The event featured numerous NFL stars, past and present, highlighting the tournament’s appeal as a mix of competition and entertainment.

The post Video: Jerry Rice chases down heckler at golf tournament appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Caleb Wilson definitely has some nasty in him.

The Chicago Bulls star rookie Wilson went viral during Thursday’s Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers. As the two teams went into halftime at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., tensions boiled over a little.

After a first half full of trash talk and hard fouls, the Bulls and the Lakers had to be separated as they were walking off the floor down to their respective locker rooms. Take a look.

LAKERS BULLS GETTING NEGATIVE AFTER THE HALF pic.twitter.com/sKlKXFKAHC

— … (@MindOfBron) July 16, 2026

At one point, Lakers forward Arthur Kaluma started jawing at the Bulls. That led to a savage response from Wilson who simply yelled back, “Who are you?” at Kaluma.

Caleb Wilson to Arthur Kaluma after the Lakers and Bulls had to be separated:

“WHO ARE YOU?”

(h/t @chisportsross)



pic.twitter.com/eYkoTpBBgI

— HOOPS NATION (@_HoopsNation) July 17, 2026

Indeed, Kaluma is a little-known forward who went undrafted in 2025 before signing with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. Meanwhile, Wilson was an All-American and First Team All-ACC selection last season at North Carolina who went with the No. 4 overall pick to the Bulls in this year’s NBA Draft.

Wilson has also earned the right to talk some smack after averaging a stout 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in Summer League play. While the Lakers did go on to earn the 105-82 victory over the Bulls on Thursday, Wilson is quickly winning over fans with both his impressive play (including one massive poster dunk earlier this week) and his mean streak to boot.

The post Caleb Wilson had ruthless trash talk for a Lakers player in Summer League appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bryce Harper thinks that something was fishy about this year’s Home Run Derby.

The Philadelphia Phillies All-Star first baseman Harper spoke this week to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. During the interview, Harper made a major accusation about the Home Run Derby — he believes that the balls used in the competition were juiced.

“They’re juiced,” Harper was quoted as saying. “Everybody knows it. They do it every year.”

Heyman adds however that Major League Baseball has already denied that the baseballs in the Home Run Derby were juiced, claiming that they were no different and treated no differently than the ones used in the regular season. You can read Heyman’s full feature at the link here.

Harper, the former NL MVP, competed in this year’s Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. (after previously participating in 2013 and then later winning the event in 2018). While Harper was eliminated in the first round this year, he notably produced a 482-foot bomb (trailing only Willson Contreras’ 490 and Junior Caminero’s 487 and 491 for the longest homer of the night).

This year’s Home Run Derby had an exciting finish in which Jordan Walker upset Kyle Schwarber in a dramatic final round to win the competition. But Harper seems a bit salty with the way the event played out, which might explain why he recently proposed that MLB should lean into a full-on gimmicky HR Derby for the future.

The post Bryce Harper makes a big accusation about the Home Run Derby appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Zaire Wade is facing more than just domestic violence allegations.

Prosecutors said this week that Zaire, the eldest son of Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, was found with an unregistered firearm in his Burbank, Calif. home after being arrested on a felony domestic violence charge last month. TMZ Sports reports that police found and confiscated the gun after the alleged incident.

Zaire was formally arraigned in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday on the felony charge and has pleaded not guilty. TMZ adds that an emergency protective order was also issued on Thursday, requiring Zaire to stay away from the alleged victim and to surrender all of his weapons.

You can read their full report on the situation at the link here.

Zaire, 24, was arrested on June 21 after police responded to an early-morning 911 call about a woman screaming. Upon arrival at Zaire’s residence, police allegedly found the female victim with lacerations on her face and body (read the full details here).

A 6-foot-3 combo guard, Zaire played at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, Calif. (where he was briefly teammates with Bronny James) before transferring to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. Zaire eventually skipped college and was selected by the Salt Lake City Stars in the 2021 NBA G League Draft. That sparked backlash given that Zaire’s father Dwyane is a part-owner of the Utah Jazz (the NBA affiliate of the Stars). Ultimately, the criticism evoked a strong public defense of Zaire from LeBron James.

The post Troubling new details emerge about the arrest of Dwyane Wade’s son Zaire appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The San Francisco Giants may be ready to move on from La Regadera.

Giants infielder Luis Arraez is a “near-certainty” to be traded ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, according to a report this week by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. Miller adds that Arraez could be the most coveted position player this year who actually gets moved.

Arraez, the 29-year-old lefty batter, is known as one of the very best contact hitters in baseball. He is a three-time batting champion and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner who also just made the fourth All-Star team of his MLB career.

Indeed, Arraez has kept his foot on the gas pedal for the Giants this season. He is batting a smoking .330 with an .829 OPS, producing four home runs and 35 RBIs through 91 total games.

But Arraez will also become a free agent after the 2026 campaign. With San Francisco going nowhere for the foreseeable future (sitting at 41-55 on the year), the time is now for them to potentially get a return for Arraez.

Earlier this month, we heard that one particular team appeared to be the frontrunner to trade for Arraez. But there is a good chance that Arraez’s market expands (or has expanded) beyond that over the next few weeks before Aug. 3.

The post Giants are expected to trade away 1 All-Star appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Draymond Green would be ready to lay out the red carpet for his longtime buddy LeBron James.

The Golden State Warriors star Green revealed in a post to his Threads page this week that he could make a major accommodation for James if James ultimately decides to sign with the Warriors. Green indicated that he would be willing to change his jersey number so that James can have his trademark No. 23.

Responding to a fan’s question about potentially switching numbers for James, Green said that he would take the No. 5 jersey in that event. Green’s reasoning is that 5 is the sum of 2 and 3.

Draymond Green says he’d switch his number to 5 if LeBron were to join Warriors and want No. 23 pic.twitter.com/JN2oiXNyJR

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) July 16, 2026

The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Green has worn No. 23 all throughout his career with the Warriors and even dating back to at least his time in college at Michigan State. But No. 23 is James’ iconic longtime number as well, and he has worn it for the vast majority of his own NBA career too (save for brief stints with the Miami Heat from 2010-14 and with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2021-23 in which he wore No. 6).

Meanwhile, the Warriors are hot on James’ trail as James continues to be pursued as an unrestricted free agent this summer. The presence of Green, who shares a very close friendship with James, is undoubtedly one of the selling points for Golden State.

It remains unclear if James will choose the Warriors over a team in the Eastern Conference such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, or the Philadelphia 76ers. But Green himself has recently expressed confidence that James will ultimately end up in the Bay Area.

The post Draymond Green could make 1 big accommodation for LeBron James on Warriors appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New York Mets are ready to wheel and deal.

New York has recently informed rival teams that they intend to sell at the trade deadline, Chelsea Janes of SportsNet New York reported on Thursday. Janes adds that everybody on the Mets roster is available for trade except for five specific players — outfielders Juan Soto, Carson Benge, and AJ Ewing and pitchers Nolan McLean and Christian Scott.

This news comes with just over three weeks to go before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. The Mets had high hopes at the start of the season but have since ended up in the sewer at 40-57 after the first half of the season.

With only five untouchables on their 40-man roster, the Mets could be doing a lot of business ahead of the deadline. That stance makes perfect sense too since New York is a full 12 games out of a Wild Card spot with just 65 games left to play.

As for the Mets players who are off-limits, Benge, Ewing, and McLean are all high-upside players who are 24 or younger. Scott, who is a bit older at 27, has quickly become a rotation lock for the Mets as well, and Soto, who is also 27, is an obvious pick as a five-time All-Star who is on a record-breaking $765 million contract.

We heard just a few days ago that one particular Mets All-Star was essentially a lock to be traded away ahead of Aug. 3. But now it sounds like several other Mets players may be sent packing over the coming weeks as well.

The post Report: Mets only have 5 untouchables on their roster appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Travis Kelce will play at least one more NFL season, but he should have no shortage of suitors if he wants to go into broadcasting afterward. One NFL media personality is already thinking it through, in fact.

Nate Burleson of CBS’ “The NFL Today” said Thursday that he is already volunteering to take a pay cut if it would help bring Kelce to the network. He added, however, that he is not sure if either Kelce or CBS are thinking about that yet.

“What I do know is whoever is going after Travis, they’re going to have to back that Brinks truck up, because one, he’s made a ton of money in the league. His lady [Taylor Swift] got paper, I’ll be honest. So, he’s not gonna show up for cheap change,” Burleston said on the Front Office Sports HQ podcast. “And I just don’t know if CBS got the budget, but I’d gladly take a pay cut. My agent didn’t hear that, by the way.”

Burleson is not wrong based on what media insiders think about Kelce’s potential salary. He would likely make close to what he has annually made in the NFL, and the number could go even higher if he is the subject of a bidding war.

CBS has proven to be willing to hand out huge salaries to its NFL broadcasters. They would almost certainly at least check in on Kelce if he expressed interest in a media career.

The post Travis Kelce is already being recruited for a TV career appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be wearing No. 7 with the Miami Heat, and on Thursday he offered an explanation as to why.

Antetokounmpo said part of his decision was down to his old No. 34 carrying “so much weight” with the Milwaukee Bucks. He wanted to leave that number behind “out of respect for the organization that drafted me” and pick something new in Miami.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, on part of the reason he changed from #34 to #7: "I feel like 34 holds so much weight and has so much history and out of respect for the organization that drafted me…I decided to leave that number there."

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) July 16, 2026

Antetokounmpo explained that he originally wore No. 34 because 3 and 4 were the final digits of his parents’ birth years. He simply added them together to get 7 with Miami.

"I wore 34 because my mom was born in 1963 and my dad was born in 1964 so I took the three and four… if you add three and four it equals seven… I feel like 34 holds so much weight and it has so much history. Out of respect to the organization that drafted me… I decided to… pic.twitter.com/oR7HcoH8fy

— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2026

The Heat have not issued No. 34 since Ray Allen wore it in 2013-14. It is not retired, however, and undoubtedly would have been Antetokounmpo’s had he wanted it. Instead, he will take a number that has previously been associated with Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry during their stints in Miami. It was also a number he hinted at wearing even before Thursday, so this had been in the works for a while.

The Bucks have already said they will retire No. 34 for Antetokounmpo. In turn, he is essentially retiring it for the duration of his career, or at least the immediate future.

The post Giannis Antetokounmpo explains why he changed his number appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James still is not telling anyone where he will land in free agency, but he may have tipped fans off to how much longer he intends to play in the NBA.

James appeared at Fanatics Fest in New York on Thursday and took part in a live recording of his “Mind the Game” podcast. One fan asked James what his free agency decision process was like, and the future Hall-of-Famer was oddly specific when discussing the remainder of his career.

“It’s a big decision for not only myself, but for my family as well, for the last part of my career, where I want to spend the last few years, or the last year, or the last two years of my NBA career,” James said.

LeBron gives his most elaborate answer about his free agency decision making process to a young fan. pic.twitter.com/PHxmBaGi9W

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2026

James may simply be keeping his options open, and we know he likes to keep people guessing. On the other hand, it certainly signals that 2026-27 will not necessarily be James’ final NBA season. He has never really indicated interest in a farewell tour, but there had been plenty of speculation that his free agency decision might be a one-and-done proposition.

Those who pay close attention to James’ words think he might have dropped another hint about his upcoming decision on Thursday. In terms of concrete information, though, we are still in the dark, which seems to be just how James prefers it.

The post LeBron James may have revealed how much longer he intends to play appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Miami Heat president Pat Riley got a parting shot in at Tyler Herro on Thursday during Giannis Antetokounmpo’s introductory press conference.

At the start of Thursday’s press conference, Riley made sure to credit all those involved in making the deal bringing Antetokounmpo to the Heat possible. One of those individuals was Heat center Bam Adebayo, who Riley acknowledged by taking a crack at Herro.

“Mentioning one guy, and I don’t want to get knocked out. Bam is one of those guys who came in here too,” Riley said to laughter and applause.

PAT RILEY JOKES ABOUT BAM HITTING TYLER HERRO 💀

“Mentioning one guy, and I don’t want to get knocked out, Bam is one of those guys who came in here too” pic.twitter.com/kbiKAaNv1I

— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 16, 2026

Riley is referencing the recent altercation between Adebayo and Herro, with Herro supposedly feeling that he did not get enough credit for Miami’s success. Riley obviously isn’t too upset with how Adebayo handled himself if he’s willing to joke about it.

Riley has been willing to take shots at ex-Heat players in the past. Herro might have gone unscathed if this whole incident had not happened, but once it did, the good feelings are probably gone, or muted at best.

The post Pat Riley takes parting shot at Tyler Herro appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The NBA is launching an investigation into the circumstances behind one of the most controversial free agent signings of the summer so far.

The league is trying to determine whether the Milwaukee Bucks’ contract with Gary Trent Jr. is designed to circumvent the salary cap, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Bucks gave Trent a 4-year, $64 million deal even though he is coming off a poor statistical season.

The NBA is probing the signed $64 million free-agent deal for Gary Trent Jr. with the Milwaukee Bucks, per a league spokesperson. https://t.co/EIkahRn6Tq

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2026

There has been suspicion that the Bucks’ contract with Trent is compensation for two low-value contracts he had accepted previously. Trent signed for the league minimum in 2024, then re-signed a year later for $3.7 million annually. That second contract seemed below market value, but it established Trent’s Bird rights, meaning the Bucks could go over the cap to re-sign him this offseason. Essentially, the NBA is looking into whether Trent agreed to two below-market contracts with a promise from the Bucks that he would be taken care of once league rules allowed it.

Trent shot 41.6 percent from three in his first season with Milwaukee, but averaged just 8.1 points per game while shooting 36 percent from three last season. Those are not the kind of numbers that usually get players a significant raise.

This would be very similar to what the Minnesota Timberwolves did with Joe Smith in 1999. In that instance, the league came down hard on Minnesota by voiding Smith’s contract and docking the Timberwolves multiple first-round draft picks.

The post NBA launches investigation into controversial free agent signing appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James made a public appearance on Thursday as free agency speculation continues to swirl around him, and while he did not offer a decision, he did offer some potential hints.

James hosted a live episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast at Fanatics Fest alongside Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton on Thursday. Naturally, his free agency plans came up multiple times, though James offered no answers. At one point, he even jokingly asked the fans in attendance which team he should sign with.

While James was not giving any real answers about free agency, he did make at least one statement that some saw as a clue. He was full of praise for the Eastern Conference and said it might be more intriguing than the West for the first time in a long time.

“I think the excitement that has come into the Eastern Conference this offseason has definitely been talked about a lot more,” James said. “Obviously, you have some things happening in the Western Conference, but Jaylen Brown going to Philly, Giannis going down to Miami, Boston retooled, Cleveland is going to be back trying to compete, (the Knicks) will be back competing, can’t forget Orlando, can’t forget Detroit.

“I think the East right now is going to be very exciting, and for the first time in a long time coming into preseason, the Eastern Conference will probably be talked about a little more than the Western Conference.”

LeBron on the strength of the Eastern Conference pic.twitter.com/m7tu7EOaKj

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 16, 2026

James talking about the Eastern Conference so excitedly certainly makes it sound like he would like to play there. He has been most strongly linked to the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency. All three of those teams are in the East, and James mentioned all three of them in his comments.

One Western Conference team that has been pursuing James also seems to think the former Los Angeles Laker is headed east.

There remains no word on when James might make his final decision. He may already know, but he certainly isn’t telling anyone yet.

The post Fans think LeBron James dropped a hint about his free agency plans appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Cincinnati Reds are locking down a breakout star with a new $100 million contract.

The Reds are signing pitcher Chase Burns to a 7-year, $105 million deal. The agreement ties Burns to the club through 2033.

Right-hander Chase Burns and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a seven-year, $105 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Burns, 23, was an All-Star this season and one of the best young pitchers in baseball. No club options. A straight deal that will run through 2033.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 16, 2026

The Reds reward a talented young pitcher with one of the largest contracts they have given out in franchise history. It also represents a significant leap of faith, as Burns only has 31 career starts to his name. That is enough, however, for the Reds to commit to the 23-year-old.

Burns has had a breakout season for Cincinnati in 2026. Through 18 starts, the former No. 2 overall pick has posted a 2.54 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 102.2 innings of work. He has an 11-1 record on a team that is 43-52 overall, which is no small feat.

Overall, Cincinnati’s pitching has left a lot to be desired this season. Burns has stood out because he has not fallen into that trap, and he has quickly become a $100 million pitcher for that reason.

The post Reds sign star pitcher to $105 million contract extension appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The NBA has weighed in on the recent altercation between former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro in Las Vegas.

In a statement, the league said it has had discussions with Adebayo and Herro, as well as representatives from the NBPA. The NBA determined that “everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance,” and no action would be taken against either player.

NBA spokesperson on Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro incident: "After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league." https://t.co/S1xcPRvKWB

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2026

The lack of a punishment is not a huge surprise. The altercation did not take place on the court or during a game. While the league could theoretically issue a punishment over this, the incident does not appear to have risen to the point of real violence, and has mostly just been embarrassing for all involved.

Herro and Adebayo clashed last week, with reports indicating that Herro felt that Adebayo had done nothing to stand up for him when the guard’s name was coming up in trade talks. There were also claims that Herro felt underappreciated by Adebayo in Miami.

Ultimately, the league won’t follow through on even the silliest suggestions about how to settle things between the two ex-teammates. This appears to be behind both of them, at least for now.

The post NBA issues statement about Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro altercation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Fans did not exactly go bananas over the appearance of the Savannah Bananas during Wednesday’s 2026 edition of the ESPYs.

With no action from the four major pro leagues happening, the ESPYs at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, N.Y., attracted plenty of eyeballs, though many seemed ready to rip those out of their eye sockets based on their reception to the song-and-dance performance by the barnstorming exhibition baseball squad.

Not even the cameo appearance of DJ Khaled on the stage made it easier for many fans to stomach what they were seeing unfold.

pic.twitter.com/nAdSNozrrv

— Tictacmagic (@tictacmagic_) July 16, 2026

They turned the ESPYS into a halftime show 💀😭 pic.twitter.com/L76jJGlQ6V

— pierre (@pierrepierrezxc) July 16, 2026

Now I know a great last place punishment for fantasy football this year! Have to watch this on repeat for 24 straight hours pic.twitter.com/Cf4MkoXt2I

— The GG (@THEGAMBLINGGAWD) July 16, 2026

What on gods green earth is this

— Myk (@mauleani) July 16, 2026

My imaginary 5 year old kid just stood up and turned off the TV

— RUDEGOUNDER (@RUDEGOUNDER) July 16, 2026

In the age of social media, it’s rare for an act to be universally loved online, and the reactions to the Savannah Bananas’ number exemplify the notion. ESPYs aside, the Bananas have always been received well, as evidenced by the packed stadiums whenever and wherever they play.

In any case, there is no stopping the popularity of the Savannah Bananas. In fact, they have sold out all of their remaining schedules in 2026, based on the information on their official website.

Their next appearance will be in a matchup against the Firefighters on July 24 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill.

The post Fans had the harshest reactions to the Savannah Bananas’ appearance at the ESPYs appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Until LeBron James officially announces where he will take his talents next in NBA free agency, no one can say for sure what lies ahead for the four-time NBA MVP.

But even one of the teams most closely linked to James is said to be having doubts now about where it truly stands in the LeBron sweepstakes.

“Yeah, I was kind of hearing today that the [Golden State] Warriors internally kind of feel like they’re a dark horse at this point, that LeBron James is probably going out East,” Marc Spears of Andscape said on ESPN.

“I’m hearing today that the Warriors internally feel like they’re a dark horse at this point. That LeBron James is probably going out East.”

— @MarcJSpears on LeBron to Golden State rumors https://t.co/mN7iTQhgPn pic.twitter.com/XxQXgHXhwA

— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 15, 2026

James has been essentially radio silent when it comes to his immediate future, which is fueling even more speculation to fill the void. Even at 41 years old, James has teams on their toes looking for ways to improve their chances of landing the future Basketball Hall of Famer. 

After all, apart from his star power and marketability, he is still a better player than most in the league after averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves are some of the other teams reportedly in the mix for James’ services.

H/T Heat Central

The post Warriors reportedly bracing for bad news amid their LeBron James pursuit appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Marcello Hernández was no Norm Macdonald on Wednesday, but he still delivered some audacious lines while hosting the 2026 ESPYs at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, N.Y. Among those targeted by Hernandez during his monologue was none other than golf star Tiger Woods, who was not in attendance at the event.

“I want to congratulate Caleb Williams, the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, who will be on the cover of the new Madden video game. Congratulations to Caleb,” Hernández said, before turning his attention to the 15-time major champion. “And Tiger Woods will be on the cover of Grand Theft Auto.”

Marcello Hernández: "I want to congratulate Caleb Williams, the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, who will be on the cover of the new 'Madden' video game… And Tiger Woods will be on the cover of 'Grand Theft Auto.'" #ESPYs pic.twitter.com/GJfVU7Q6dd

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 16, 2026

Of course, Hernandez was referring to the golf great’s rollover two-vehicle crash in Jupiter, Fla., in March that led to Woods getting charged with a DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful urinalysis test.

After drawing laughs with that joke, Hernandez dialed it back a little.

“I love you Tiger. I’m a big fan, man,” Hernández said. “It’s just it was written so well.”

Woods has stepped away from competitive golf to focus on his health following his latest car accident, but as Wednesday once again proved, he can never really escape the spotlight, for better or for worse.

The post Tiger Woods becomes punchline of a bold joke at the ESPYs appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Fans are not feeling what former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Sean Sweeney said about the team’s loss in the NBA Finals to Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks.

In a recent appearance on “The Ryen Russillo Show,” Sweeney admitted that he’s lost plenty of sleep over the Spurs falling short in their mission to win the NBA title despite being the series favorites against the Knicks.

But what really riled up many Knicks fans was Sweeney seemingly not giving full credit to the Knicks for simply being the better team. Instead, Sweeney primarily attributed San Antonio’s NBA Finals defeat to “attrition” after battling the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals and to “bad luck.”

“I’ve lost a lot of sleep over that series” -Sean Sweeney on The Finals pic.twitter.com/luloyOskD2

— The Ryen Russillo Show (@TheRyenRussillo) July 15, 2026

pic.twitter.com/GSs6ay3ZHO

— Knick With The Knack (@KnickWitDaKnack) July 15, 2026

Give as little credit to the opponent as possible. Big time Kenny Atkinson vibes, good luck Magic fans.

— GM (@Knicksinitup) July 15, 2026

All I hear are excuses! Attrition, bad luck, Media, youth and the most laughable point was him mentioning that IF THE GAMES WERE 46 MINUTES THEY WOULD HAVE WON 4-1? Like WTF 😳 Why not just tell the truth, is it that hard? The Knicks played better when it counted the most!

— TO (@TO2602) July 16, 2026

What an absolutely moronic response, your feelings don’t matter, the duration of the game don’t matter, the final score is the only thing that matters.

— Nico (@FranklyMrNick) July 16, 2026

Maybe they lost because of this guy? If the game was only 10 minutes long then we would have won …..? The game is 48 minutes not 46. We were the better team but still lost mentality. Participation medal mentality.

— Kahnin (@KahninMusic) July 16, 2026

San Antonio held leads in each of the five games in the Knicks series, but it was not the Knicks’ fault that the Spurs failed to take advantage of those cushions. 

At the end of the day, it is not how San Antonio squandered its leads in the series that fans remember, but how the Knicks overcame the odds and took down Victor Wembanyama and company in what turned out to be one of the most memorable NBA Finals in recent years.

As for Sweeney, he will see more of the Knicks, as he is now in the Eastern Conference after getting hired by the Orlando Magic to be their next head coach.

The post Fans flame former Spurs coach over his claim about losing NBA Finals to the Knicks appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Perhaps words can’t really capture the pain England players and supporters felt after the side’s 2-1 loss to Argentina in a FIFA World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. But England star Harry Kane might have summed up the heartbreak best.

“I’m gutted for the team, the staff, the fans,” the Bayern Munich striker said after the match, via James Robson of the Associated Press. “

“We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every bit of blood, sweat and tears. To fall short like we did is just gutting.”

England was already smelling the final when Anthony Gordon found the back of the net in the 55th minute to open the scoring.

The Three Lions have been to the final round of the World Cup just once, and it stays that way after Argentina scored the final two goals of the match, courtesy of Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez in extra time.

Instead, Kane and England are left picking up the pieces, but they will have to get it together right away, as they have a third-place match still to play against France on Saturday in the same venue.

England will now have to wait another four years for a chance to end its World Cup title drought, dating back to 1966.

The post Harry Kane had a heartbreaking quote after England’s loss to Argentina appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Karl-Anthony Towns produced some good banter at this week’s ESPY Awards.

The New York Knicks star Towns was in attendance during Wednesday’s ESPYs at David H. Koch Theater in New York, N.Y. Towns was interviewed by ESPN before the ceremony and was asked about the Knicks being nominated for the 2026 Best Team Award.

At one point during his response, Towns took a funny swipe at Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson.

“Analytically, we should win this one,” said Towns. “We should win this one analytically.”

Karl Anthony Towns makes a joke towards Kenny Atkinson

"Analytically, we should win this one. We should win this one analytically." https://t.co/7p0D0JWM6h pic.twitter.com/PYn9dC6M78

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 15, 2026

For reference, the Knicks defeated the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep during this year’s Eastern Conference Finals. After losing Game 3 to go down 0-3, Atkinson made some absurd comments about how Cleveland had actually won two out of the three games “analytically” (and got very deservedly roasted online for it).

Eventually, the Knicks went on to beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games during the NBA Finals to win the championship. They indeed went on to win Wednesday night’s Best Team Award at the ESPYs as well, continuing on what has already been quite the victory tour for both Towns and the Knicks.

The post Karl-Anthony Towns takes a swipe at Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson during ESPYs appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Mike Tyson appeared to be on a completely different planet while at this year’s ESPY Awards.

The boxing legend Tyson was one of three presenters for the Best Single Game Performance Award at Wednesday’s ESPYs at David H. Koch Theater in New York, N.Y. While up on the stage with Jake Paul and DJ Khaled, Tyson had the honor of announcing the winner of the award — Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Tyson’s co-presenter Paul then announced to the crowd that Ohtani could not be in attendance that night but noted that “he sends his gratitude and appreciation to ESPN and everyone who voted for him.”

That then led to an extremely strange comment from Tyson away from the microphone but still within earshot. “Shohei’s a guy?” Tyson appeared to ask Paul. Here is the bizarre video.

"Shohei's a guy?"

Mike Tyson awarded Shohei Ohtani the ESPY for best single-game performance, but had one very important question afterwards pic.twitter.com/sdDZFW0dwS

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 16, 2026

The four-time MVP Ohtani is one of the most popular and well-known athletes on the entire planet right now. As such, it is pretty hard to believe that the 60-year-old Tyson is so far out of touch that he does not even know what gender Ohtani is (especially since Ohtani’s image was being prominently displayed in the theater both during and immediately before that moment as well).

It is possible that Tyson was actually making a complimentary “that guy” comment about Ohtani there instead. But given that Tyson has produced some other truly zany moments in recent years, the likelier explanation here is that the former heavyweight champion legitimately did not even have the remotest clue who Ohtani was.

The post Mike Tyson makes a bizarre comment about Shohei Ohtani at the ESPYs appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Little Prince is officially headed to a new MLB team.

Jadyn Fielder, the son of former NL home runs leader Prince Fielder, has been acquired by the Houston Astros in a trade, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported on Wednesday. Jadyn is headed to the Astros after spending the last couple of seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

Houston’s acquisition of Jadyn is part of their return package for former All-Star pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. The Astros traded McCullers to the Brewers on Wednesday in what was originally reported as a one-for-one swap. However, Jadyn has since been revealed to be part of the McCullers trade as well.

Jadyn, 21, is the oldest son of the six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner Prince, 42. He is also the grandson of former AL home runs leader Cecil Fielder, 62.

After attending high school at TNXL Academy in Altamonte Springs, Fla., Jadyn was not selected in the 2024 MLB Draft. He then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Brewers, his father’s beloved former team from 2005-11.

A lefty batter, Jadyn was hitting .233 with an .813 OPS in Single-A ball this season. Now Jadyn will be getting a fresh start as the newest member of the Astros organization.

The post Prince Fielder’s son lands with a prominent new team in trade appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Caitlin Clark was at it again during Wednesday’s game.

The Indiana Fever superstar Clark had a viral moment as her team faced off against the Golden State Valkyries. In the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Clark cursed out referee Gerda Gatling (No. 24) during a stoppage in play.

Apparently incensed about a no-call from when she had the ball on the other end of the floor, Clark waited for the next whistle and then absolutely let Gatling have it. She walked right up into Gatling’s face and screamed multiple expletives directly at her.

Clark appeared to say, “Give me a f–king call! F–k! I got fouled five times!” Here is the video.

Caitlin Clark was FURIOUS

Screaming in the referee’s face. pic.twitter.com/fqVhtlMmaJ

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 16, 2026

Interestingly enough, Gatling let the entire tirade slide and did not give Clark a technical foul. Still, the Fever went into halftime trailing the Valkyries by a 40-30 score.

For as immensely talented as Clark is, constant complaining to the referees is a major part of her reputation as well. The third-year pro Clark has already had countless instances during games of getting heated with the officials, and Wednesday’s incident with Gatling might have been Clark’s ugliest one yet.

The post Caitlin Clark completely curses out referee over no-call appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

One powerhouse team is apparently hoping that the San Diego Padres’ slide continues.

The New York Yankees would “love” to trade for Padres star reliever Mason Miller, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported this week. Heyman adds though that the Yankees would likely keep top infield prospect George Lombard Jr. off the table in any such negotiations for Miller.

Miller, the 27-year-old righty, is the best reliever in baseball right now. With an elite combination of velocity and movement, Miller just made his second career All-Star team this year on the strength of a 0.91 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, an MLB-leading 25 saves, and an absurd 16.3 K/9.

But the Padres have not been having the season that they were hoping for. At 48-48, they have virtually no chance of winning the division and are 3.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the NL.

Miller, who is under contract through 2029, is by far the single most valuable asset on the San Diego roster right now. Though the Padres recently cast doubt on the chances of moving Miller ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, they will have to consider every possibility if they continue to struggle in the standings.

As for the Yankees, they occupy the first AL Wild Card spot at 54-42 and are currently relying on 2027 free agent David Bednar (who has a passable 2.70 ERA and 18 saves this season) as their closer. Thus, Miller figures to be a top target for New York at the deadline along with this other All-Star on the opposite side of the ball.

The post Mason Miller is being linked to 1 team in trade rumors appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James appears to have his plan in motion.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star James may be waiting for one particular date before making his decision, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said in a livestream on Wednesday. There is reportedly a sense that James will announce his decision after NBA Summer League is over, Fischer says.

NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nev. began on July 9. It is set to run through July 19, after which James might finally reveal which NBA team he is signing with for the 2026-27 campaign.

Additionally, July 19 marks the final of the 2026 World Cup between Spain and Argentina. Once those major events are complete, the sports news cycle could potentially be wide open again for James.

Now 41 years old, James has not given much other than the fact that he will not be returning to the Lakers next season. Some insiders believe though that there are three particular teams that James is focused on.

One recent report gave a more optimistic timeline for James to announce his decision. In any case though, we may only be about 4-to-5 days away from an end to this entire saga with The King.

The post LeBron James may be waiting for 1 date to make his decision appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

After Lionel Messi and Argentina knocked off England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinals, New York Knicks star Josh Hart took to X with a neat comparison.

Hart had a simple reaction, and in turn, essentially compared Argentina to the Knicks.

Argentina = Knicks

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 15, 2026

Argentina defeated Cape Verde in the first match of the knockout stage. Then, in the Round of 16, Egypt was up 2-0 before Argentina scored three times in a matter of 15 minutes to stun the Egyptians with a 3-2 win.

On Wednesday against England, Argentina trailed 1-0 before Messi assisted on both of the goals. Enzo Fernández scored the equalizer in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez played hero with the game-winner in stoppage time to send Argentina back to the World Cup final.

The Knicks pulled off four double-digit comebacks in this past postseason en route to an NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Perhaps the most remarkable was the fact that New York came back from a 29-point deficit in Game 4 to defeat the Spurs, 107-106.

In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the Spurs had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before the Knicks came from behind to win, 94-90, and capture their first NBA title since 1973.

Now, Argentina will look to keep the magic going with a showdown against Spain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The post Josh Hart had a perfect comparison after Argentina’s latest World Cup comeback appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is now set after Argentina defeated England in a 2-1 comeback victory on Wednesday in Atlanta, Ga.

Lionel Messi and Argentina will face off against Lamine Yamal and Spain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Right after the Argentina-England match went final, ticket prices for the title game had already gone through the roof. TickPick announced that the current get-in price is $7,451, and the average price is $11,327, making it the most expensive event in TickPick’s existence.

RECORD: The World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina is the MOST expensive sporting event on record at TickPick.

Current get-in price: $7,451

Average Purchase Price: $11,327 pic.twitter.com/xymK1BvOm8

— TickPick (@TickPick) July 15, 2026

For perspective, Super Bowl LVIII between the 49ers and Chiefs had an average purchase price of $9,411.

It’s quite the jump in price from the get-in price for either of the semifinal games. For Argentina-England, it was just over $2,600, while France-Spain was just over $1,300.

The World Cup semifinals start today highlighted by the top two teams (France v. Spain) in the "final before the final."

Interestingly, the get-in price for France-Spain is half the price of Argentina-England on @TickPick.

France vs. Spain: $1,301

Argentina vs. England: $2,602

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 14, 2026

Argentina won the World Cup final in 2022 with a victory over France, and Lionel Messi and company are hoping for a repeat on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

The post World Cup final sets staggering ticket price record appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Lionel Messi and Argentina are headed back to the World Cup final after a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over England on Wednesday in Atlanta, Ga.

England took a 1-0 lead, but Argentina scored two goals in a span of 10 minutes, with Messi recording an assist on both goals.

As a result, Messi joins Pele and Antoine Griezmann, with each star recording four assists in the knockout stage.

He just keeps doing it …

No other player in the last 60 years has more than Messi's four World Cup KO stage assists (tied with Pele and Antoine Griezmann). https://t.co/y45eHHVCs7

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) July 15, 2026

The first assist of the semifinal game came in the 85th minute with Enzo Fernández tying the game.

GOOOOAAL! ENZO FERNÁNDEZ DRAWS ARGENTINA LEVEL WITH ENGLAND IN THE SEMIFINALS 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/A84NfiCmWH

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026

Messi had one assist against Egypt and one against Switzerland, and he also scored a goal in the win over Egypt.

In total, Messi has eight goals and four assists so far in this World Cup as Argentina looks to repeat as champions.

Argentina has defeated Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and now England to punch the ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title game.

Lionel Messi and Argentina will face Spain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

If Argentina wins, it will be the third team to win back-to-back World Cups, with Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) as the others.

The post Lionel Messi tied Pele with remarkable feat in Argentina’s comeback over England appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New Orleans Saints faced questions all offseason about running back Alvin Kamara.

On Wednesday, the Saints got clarity, and Kamara agreed to a restructured deal to stay in New Orleans for his 10th season in the NFL.

Saints reporter Nick Underhill and former Saints star Terron Armstead revealed the news on Wednesday.

BREAKING NEWS‼️‼️
New Orleans Saints … 👀
I’m going live in less than 30 mins, me and @nick_underhill has HUGE news for the @NFL
BE THERE!! https://t.co/NuJy9cmxSt

— Terron Armstead (@T_Armstead72) July 15, 2026

Kamara was entering the final season of a two-year, $24.5 million contract. Questions swirled more when the Saints signed Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract.

Kamara made a special appearance at a Savannah Bananas game and grabbed his leg after jumping, scaring fans. Ultimately, it seems that it was an act by Kamara, and the video can be seen here.

Kamara has spent his entire career with the Saints since they selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has made the Pro Bowl team five times, but he rushed for just 471 yards with one touchdown in 11 games last season.

The Saints are entering their second year with Kellen Moore as the head coach, but the questions about the future of Alvin Kamara can be put to bed, at least for this season.

The post Saints make decision on RB Alvin Kamara appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Carolina Panthers’ depth chart has an opening in the quarterback room now.

On Wednesday, veteran Will Grier decided to retire from the NFL, and the team put him on the reserve/retired list. The Panthers selected Grier in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft after he played college football at West Virginia and put up massive numbers.

Panthers QB Will Grier is retiring, the team announced. The Charlotte native put up big passing numbers in HS and college. But his only two NFL starts came in 2019 with his hometown team.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) July 15, 2026

Grier played one season with the Florida Gators before transferring to West Virginia, and he threw for 7,354 yards with 71 scores in two seasons with the Mountaineers.

Unfortunately, Grier didn’t have much success in the NFL and he was mainly a practice squad player.

Grier spent time in the NFL with each of the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles. He had two stints with each of the Cowboys and Panthers.

Grier’s lone starts came in 2019, and he threw for 228 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions.

Grier’s chances of making the 53-man roster were very unlikely with Bryce Young as QB1 and Kenny Pickett being acquired in a trade. Georgia Tech QB Haynes King is also in training camp.

The post Panthers QB retires from the NFL after 7 seasons appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Team USA’s FIFA World Cup run came to a crushing end with a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16.

Team USA was trailing 2-1 before goalie Matt Freese committed a blunder that will stick with him for a long time.

Belgium finds a third pic.twitter.com/0m1Hu4qzwR

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026

Days after the crushing loss, Freese opened up about the play and the loss.

“It hurt. It was devastating,” Freese said, via Tom Bogert of The Athletic. “In that moment. In the hours and days after that.”

However, Freese says he will use that moment, as well as team USA manager Mauricio Pochettino’s postgame speech, as motivation going forward.

“In two years when you’re gearing up for the summer of 2028. You look to the memory of that when it’s 6 a.m. and your alarm clock goes off on a Tuesday when you try to be the first one in the facility,” Freese added.

Team USA began the World Cup with wins over Paraguay and Australia, and Freese allowed just one goal in those two matches. The Americans then lost to Turkey in the final group stage game before defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2-0 win in the knockout stage.

The Americans are still trying to find a way to get to the quarterfinals, and the next chance to do so will be in the 2030 World Cup.

The post Matt Freese makes emotional admission about World Cup blunder appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming out of the All-Star break with an MLB-best 61-36 record and hoping for a World Series three-peat.

The Dodgers have an 11.5-game lead in the National League West, and they are two games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the No. 1 record. And, the Dodgers have accomplished a feat only one other team has done.

Seasons leading MLB in winning percentage, on-base percentage and opponent OBP at the All-Star break:@Dodgers – 3 (1955, 1974, 2026)
Rest of MLB – 1 (Orioles in 1969) pic.twitter.com/qCEVmTxsDL

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 15, 2026

The Dodgers have done this three times now, and the only other team to do so in the history of baseball was the Baltimore Orioles in 1969.

The Dodgers have a winning percentage of .629 and an on-base percentage of .343.

LA is also second in the MLB in batting average (.262) and slugging percentage (.434), as well as third in runs and fifth in home runs.

The pitching has also been excellent as LA is 1st in batting average against (.216) and walks plus hits per innings pitched (1.14) and third in ERA (3.55).

Superstar Shohei Ohtani is in the Cy Young conversation with an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA through 14 starts, and there is a very realistic scenario that the Dodgers become the first team with three straight World Series wins since the New York Yankees at the start of the century.

The post Dodgers reach remarkable milestone not seen in over 50 years appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James’ free agency decision should come any day, and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry is still making an effort to lure James to the Bay Area.

On Wednesday, Curry appeared on “Good Morning America” and made a public recruiting pitch to James.

“The Bay, we know how to win, beautiful weather, great golf…We just know how to play basketball, and I think that he would enjoy just the idea of what it means to finish your career the right way,” Curry said.

Steph Curry has one last pitch for LeBron James: Come to the Golden State Warriors, chase another title and let's hit the golf course together. ⛳️🏀 pic.twitter.com/qG3Xex3vLh

— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 15, 2026

Curry had similar comments earlier in July, but with James’ decision expected to come soon, the Warriors superstar is making an all-out push to bring the ex-Lakers star to town.

When it was revealed that James would not return to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers immediately surfaced as favorites to land the future Hall of Famer.

As time went on, the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves also entered the mix. However, ESPN’s Shams Charania stated that the 76ers, Heat, and Cavaliers were the teams James is reportedly “focused” on, although he did say the others were still in the running.

The idea of Steph Curry, LeBron James and Draymond Green together in Golden State is quite the thought. Only time will tell if it ends up happening.

The post Steph Curry has 1 final recruiting pitch for LeBron James appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Los Angeles Sparks have been playing without star center Cameron Brink for the past month.

However, that is set to change. On Wednesday, Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said Brink will return but will be on a minutes restriction against the Minnesota Lynx.

“I’m thrilled that Cam is available today. She’ll be on a minutes restriction. Her ankle sprain was really bad. She’s worked her ass off to get where she’s at right now. She’s thrilled and obviously so are we,” Roberts said, via Justin Russo.

Brink was the second overall pick in 2024, taken right after Caitlin Clark. Brink was a superstar with the Stanford Cardinal.

Unfortunately, Brink has played a total of 48 games in three seasons in the WNBA as she has constantly battled injuries.

Earlier this season, Brink took a hard hit to the nose and had to wear an unusual brace, but she didn’t have to miss much time.

In 2026, Brink is averaging 9.2 points with 4.4 rebounds per game, and she last played on June 15 against the Golden State Valkyrie in the Commissioner’s Cup before suffering a left ankle injury.

Brink made her presence felt immediately at the start of the game on Wednesday.

Cameron Brink spins and scores in her first game back from injury 🙌pic.twitter.com/ppI5EXgaVr

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 15, 2026

Not even two weeks later, the Sparks also lost superstar Kelsey Plum, the team’s top scorer, and it was reported that she would be re-evaluated in four weeks.

So, Brink’s return is good news for LA, and there is a scenario where Plum returns soon as well.

The post Sparks get major Cameron Brink injury update appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Florida State Seminoles football team has gone 38-34 in six years with Mike Norvell as the head coach.

However, the Seminoles have gone just 7-17 since finisheing 13-1 in 2023 and making the Orange Bowl. That has led Norvell’s name to be in hot seat rumors entering 2026, althogh the Florida State coach insists he isn’t worried about his job security.

“I don’t fear failure. I never have. I do fear regret,” Norvell said, via Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic. “And the only thing that I could be in control of is me, the team, the guys that I get to lead on a daily basis. And so, you know, I just want to make sure that I don’t regret any of the work or the investment into these guys to help put them in the best position for what I believe we can accomplish.”

Florida State started off 3-4 in 2025, but AD Michael Alford insisted Norvell’s job was safe. It was also complicated due to Norvell having a $54 million buyout at the time.

After the 13-0 regular season, which ended with a snub in the College Football Playoff, Florida State gave Norvell a contract extension, and bumped his annual salary to $10 milion per year.

With all of that being said, Florida State would be on the hook for a large chunk of cash if it decides to move on from Mike Norvell.

Nonetheless, the Florida State coach isn’t worried about that and is only going to control what he can control.

Brad Crawford of CBS Sports predicted Florida State to finish 6-6, and if that is the case, it could very well be the end of Norvell’s time in Tallahassee.

The post Florida State HC Mike Norvell has telling response about his job security appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas received a one-game suspension at the end of June after she struck Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark in the throat (video here).

However, it seems that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert wasn’t going to discipline Thomas until NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stepped in, according to a report from Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal. Silver “implored her” to issue the suspension.

A WNBA spokesperson said it was “absolutely false” that Engelbert didn’t plan to suspend Thomas, but the report from Sports Business Journal states otherwise.

Since no foul was called at the time of the play, Engelbert reportedly believed a suspension was “too steep.”

Silver, on the other hand, thought it was worthy of a flagrant.

“Meanwhile, those same sources said Adam Silver believed there was clear evidence of a flagrant foul, that he felt badly for Clark and told Engelbert she had to act,” Friend wrote.

The fallout from the incident has been a big one in the WNBA. Thomas admitted she received death threats and has even been called racial slurs on social media.

Clark then said it was “not acceptable” to see the conversation of that play being talked about weeks later instead of people focusing on the play on the court.

Engelbert’s time as WNBA Commissioner has been up and down, and this incident certainly hasn’t helped.

The post New report reveals Adam Silver’s role in Alyssa Thomas suspension appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The MLB trade deadline isn’t until August 3, but the Milwaukee Brewers are getting a head start.

The morning after the MLB All-Star Game, the Brewers are finalizing a deal with the Houston Astros that would send veteran starting pitcher Lance McCullers to Milwaukee, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

Source: The Astros are finalizing a trade to send veteran RHP Lance McCullers Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 15, 2026

McTaggart added that McCullers has a no-trade clause, meaning the pitcher had to approve this deal in order for it to be done. The Brewers are also acquiring pitcher Colton Gordon, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

McCullers has spent his entire MLB career with the Astros. He was an All-Star in 2017 and was part of both World Series-winning teams.

McCullers’ biggest moments came in 2017. He threw four scoreless innings in Game 7 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees. He then started Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, throwing 2.1 innings of shutout baseball en route to a 4-1 victory.

The Astros veteran dealt with injuries in 2023 and 2024, causing him not to pitch in either season. This year, he has started eight games, going just 2-3 with a 6.86 ERA, but the Brewers are hoping he can be an extra piece as they try and make a deep run in the postseason.

Brandon Woodruff just landed back on the IL for Milwaukee, so adding McCullers is a decent piece of insurance for the pitching staff.

The post Brewers finalizing trade for two-time World Series winner appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Tim MacMahon of ESPN jokingly shared a wild idea about settling beefs in the NBA in the aftermath of the altercation between former Miami Heat teammates Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

“If players got beef, they all go to Vegas during the summer, let’s incorporate it into the halftime shows,” MacMahon said. “If Bam has beef with Tyler Herro, you challenge him to a boxing match. Jaylen Brown, you feel some sort of way about the way things ended in Boston, call Jayson Tatum out. Three-minute rounds. Let them get their aggression out. We’ll televise it on ESPN. It’ll boost ticket sales and boost ratings!”

Tim MacMahon proposes a idea for NBA players who have beef, during the halftime shows in Vegas, settle it in a boxing ring to help boost ticket sales and TV ratings 💀

“If players got beef, they all go to Vegas during the summer, let’s incorporate it into the halftime shows. If… https://t.co/LepZFBI6QD pic.twitter.com/Ga2Tpwzrco

— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 13, 2026

First of all, this is not going to happen, and McMahon surely knows it. At the same time, seeing NBA players get into it like hockey players would grab the attention of fans, especially those from older generations who never miss a chance to lament how soft the league has become. 

The NBA doesn’t need to turn players into prizefighters, but it will be interesting to see how Herro and Adebayo interact the first time the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat share the court during the 2026-27 NBA season, given how fast their relationship soured after Herro’s trade to the Bucks.

H/T Heat Central

The post NBA insider proposes outrageous way to settle NBA beefs after Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo altercation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

No 41-year-old player has ever been more wanted than LeBron James as the sweepstakes for the four-time NBA MVP continue.

The Philadelphia 76ers are just one of the teams reportedly hoping to lure the future Basketball Hall of Famer amid the looming NBA free agency.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Philadelphia’s two-time All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey is spearheading the team’s efforts to recruit LeBron James to the City of Brotherly Love.

“Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have all been in communication with James, sources told ESPN on Tuesday, with Maxey leading the charge,” wrote McMenamin in his ESPN article published on Tuesday.

Maxey and James are both represented by Klutch Sports, which already establishes a clear connection between the two players.  But it is perhaps just one of the many factors in James’ equation as he weighs his much-awaited decision.

Philadelphia already scored a big acquisition in the offseason when it pulled off a shocking trade for Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown in early July, and it would be an even more notable summer for the Sixers if they end up getting James’ signature.

James will be 42 in December, but he could be the player who ties it all together for the 76ers, who have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Joel Embiid era.

The post Tyrese Maxey detail emerges amid the 76ers’ LeBron James pursuit appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Chicago White Sox fans must be loving what slugger Munetaka Murakami said during the MLB All-Star break.

The hard-hitting Japanese first baseman voiced his desire to stay with the White Sox for years to come when the topic of an extension contract was brought up, according to James Fegan of Sox Machine.

“All-Star first baseman Munetaka Murakami said he’s not thinking or talking specifics about contract extensions right now, but affirmed that he would like to stay with the White Sox long-term,” Fegan wrote in a post on X.

The White Sox landed Murakami during the winter on a 2-year, $34 million contract. He appears to be playing above that value so far in his time with Chicago. Through the first half of his first season in the big leagues, Murakami has hit .232/.371/.540 with 20 home runs and 42 RBIs across 60 games.

The  26-year-old Murakami power has been his biggest asset, and if the White Sox could keep his bat for years beyond his current contract, that would be a boost for the club’s outlook. 

But until he puts pen to paper for an extension, there will always be speculations about a potential departure after his deal expires in 2027.

The post Munetaka Murakami addresses his future with the White Sox appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Mike Trout may have to look over his shoulder one day when it comes to being the greatest baseball player in the family.

Before Tuesday’s 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., Trout’s son, Beckham, appeared alongside the Los Angeles Angels star on the red carpet and was asked whether he thinks he’ll be better at baseball than his dad.

“Yes,” Beckham responded with all the confidence in the world.

“Are you going to be better than your dad?”

“YES!”

Mike Trout's son, Beckham, is going to take the league by storm 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ftw4ewQ9YP

— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2026

That is a pretty high bar for Beckham to clear, considering Trout’s incredible baseball achievements. Trout’s appearance in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday was the 12th time of his career, and it’s just one on the long list of his individual accomplishments in the big leagues by the three-time National League Most Valuable Player.

But there is a glaring absence on Trout’s baseball resume, and that’s a win in the MLB playoffs, let alone a World Series ring.

For all his accomplishments, Trout has played in just three playoff games, and all that took place when the Angels got swept by the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 AL Division Series.

Trout’s career is not over yet, but maybe it’s Beckham who’ll get the family a World Series ring.

The post Mike Trout’s son had a bold answer about his baseball future appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The NBA Summer League game on Tuesday between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers got a little too intense.

With a little over four minutes remaining in the first half of the contest at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.,  Lakers forward Adou Thiero tried to finish at the rim, but Clippers big man Norchad Omier got under Thiero, causing the latter to crash into the floor. 

That led to a skirmish, as players from both sides gathered near the basket. It escalated a bit more when Lakers guard Chris Manon tried to get in between to pacify the moment, only to get shoved in the back by Omier. The shove on Manon enraged Lakers forward Arthur Kaluma, who had to be held back by a member of the Lakers staff.

Here is a video of that entire sequence.

Lakers and Clippers with a little Summer League skirmishpic.twitter.com/q6YfYNp7TT

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) July 15, 2026

The situation eventually cooled down, as technical fouls were handed to Omier, Kaluma and Clippers forward Riley Kugal. Omier was also slapped with a flagrant foul type 1.

As for the game, the last laugh belonged to the Lakers, who emerged victorious, 99-85. Cameron Carr led the Lakers with 23 points, while Manon and Kaluma had 17 and 15 points, respectively.

If anything, this Summer League confrontation added some spice to the crosstown rivalry of the two Los Angeles NBA franchises.

The post Video: Fight breaks out in Lakers-Clippers game after a dangerous foul appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Cody Bellinger’s first MLB All-Star Game appearance in seven years was worth the wait. 

The New York Yankees star outfielder played a pivotal role in the American League’s 4-0 victory over the National League in the 2026 edition of the Midsummer Classic Tuesday night at the Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.

With the bases loaded in the first inning, the former National League Most Valuable Player got the better of Philadelphia Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, ripping a two-run RBI single to put the AL ahead, 2-0. 

The American Leaguers ultimately topped the NL, 4-0, with Bellinger getting named as the game’s Most Valuable Player when it was all said and done.

The 31-year-old Bellinger cherished the night and the opportunity to play alongside the best players in the game today.

“You never know when it’s gonna be your last,” the three-time MLB All-Star said during a postgame interview with SportsCenter. “I just try to enjoy it as much as possible.”

“You never know when it's gonna be your last. … I just try to enjoy it as much as possible.”

Cody Bellinger on his MLB All-Star Game experience and being named MVP ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/IEOyi7C1rH

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 15, 2026

Bellinger won the NL MVP in just his third season in the MLB in 2019, while still with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made the All-Star that year, but it was not until 2026 that he got the nod to participate in the event again, thanks to a decent season so far with the Yankees, who inked him to a 5-year, $162.5 million contract in January.

So far in 2026, Bellinger is hitting .254/.345/.421 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs across 94 games.

The post Cody Bellinger had an incredible quote after winning MLB All-Star MVP appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The National League’s collection of All-Star bats got clowned Tuesday for their no-show at this year’s Midsummer Classic.

The National League All-Stars got shut out by their American League counterparts Tuesday in a 4-0 loss at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. Despite sending 21 of their best sluggers to the plate, the National League only managed to generate 3 total hits with a couple of walks drawn.

The 2026 National League All-Stars became the first All-Star squad to get shut out since 2013, and fans made sure to roast them for it.

The National League lineup tonight pic.twitter.com/pdREbsYKe3

— AT (@BaseballWRLD_) July 15, 2026

The National League tonight pic.twitter.com/J6oooWJlsd

— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) July 15, 2026

National League pic.twitter.com/6F8ODLmiJJ

— bag (@mookiebag) July 15, 2026

National League in the All star game pic.twitter.com/VhBVC5C5LI

— Novig (@Novig) July 15, 2026

The National League All-Stars also struck out 15 times, setting a new record for most strikeouts from a single team in the history of the Midsummer Classic. One National League pitcher also injured Junior Caminero with a pitch that hit the Tampa Bay Rays star in the hand.

Phillies fans hoping their hometown players would show up were sorely disappointed. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh combined to go 0-for-5 at the plate. Phillies ace Christopher Sanchez, who started the game for the N.L., gave up three runs on three hits to open the contest.

Fans from the night before also had to endure watching Schwarber lose the Home Run Derby to Jordan Walker in the most dramatic fashion possible. That’s on top of arguably the Phillies’ best pitcher getting snubbed from the All-Star game entirely.

The post National League gets the meme treatment for getting embarrassed at MLB All-Star Game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

One of LeBron James’ most trusted former teammates has weighed in on his ongoing free agency.

Retired NBA veteran Iman Shumpert broke down James’ best free agency options this week on an episode of his “Shump Street” podcast. The outspoken shooting guard chose three ideal teams for James, depending on what he ultimately prioritizes the most about his likely final landing spot.

“If this is about a ring, Philly,” Shumpert said. “If this is about selling tickets, Miami. If this is about ending your career the way it should go, go to Cleveland.”

Shumpert did not stop there. He claimed that the Cavaliers, despite offering James the most compelling narrative to finish his career, would not offer him any chance at riding off into the sunset as an NBA champion.

“Just don’t go to Cleveland trying to be happy about a win, because you not going to win there,” Shumpert continued. “You’re not going to be happy. This is about the return tour; this is not about winning. Don’t you dare go over there, think it’s rolling with the winners.

“I don’t know what’s up with them during the playoffs, don’t do it. I’ve been on a team when LeBron was frustrated, and he felt like he got too much going on. He’s going to start shipping s–t out of there, man. LeBron works for UPS, I’m telling y’all.”

Shumpert ironically developed his relationship with James in Cleveland during their four seasons together from 2014 to 2018. Shumpert came off the bench for the Cavaliers during their memorable 2016 NBA Finals run. Several members of that Cavaliers team even recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their title run.

But Shumpert clearly does not think the present-day Cavaliers are legitimate contenders, despite having former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and an All-Star backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.

Harden currently remains a free agent but is expected to re-sign with Cleveland. He is reportedly one of several free agents waiting on James’ decision, as teams keep their cap table flexible enough to fit LeBron’s salary.

The post LeBron James’ former teammate has interesting take on where he should sign appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has addressed concerns surrounding the Kawhi Leonard trade that has suddenly been put on ice.

The Los Angeles Clippers issued a statement last week indicating that the trade that was supposed to send Leonard to the Toronto Raptors will not be completed until the NBA wraps up its investigation into LAC’s alleged salary cap circumvention.

Many assumed the NBA forced the Raptors and Clippers to press pause on the deal. Silver clarified Tuesday that the decision was purely made by Toronto, without league intervention.

“I just want to clarify, so that everyone understands, the league did not pause the trade,” Silver said during his press conference. “The parties to the trade made a decision not to go forward, given that the investigation remained open. Any possible impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known, and so they chose not to live with that uncertainty. … The investigation needs to run its course”

Silver added that there was no reason to believe trading Leonard would have altered the NBA’s final decision once the investigation finally concluded. He asserted that the Raptors and Clippers must have known that, but still opted to engage in a deal centered around Leonard.

Silver remained noncommittal about a final date to expect a resolution, only indicating that he’s “hopeful” that the league will decide before the end of summer.

According to reports, the NBA has since expanded its investigation to include a different Leonard endorsement deal apart from the one with Aspiration.

The post NBA addresses Kawhi Leonard trade drama amid ongoing investigation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Several Los Angeles Clippers fans were not exactly encouraged by what they’ve seen so far from Keaton Wagler in NBA Summer League.

Wagler had a middling performance Tuesday in a 99-85 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The Clippers’ No. 5 overall pick struggled with his shot, going 3/12 from the field before a late flurry improved his final clip with the game already out of reach.

The Illinois product still finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, but had a team-worst -17 during his time on the floor. A handful of fans also gave him failing marks when it came to the eye test, with some expressing serious concern about his athleticism at the next level.

Wagler literally cannot get by a single defender. Those spin moves are too slow to work in the NBA. He needs a massive overhaul to his handle like SGA made.

— Clipper Revival (@Clipper_Revival) July 15, 2026

I can't believe I bought into the Keaton Wagler hype. I'm watching him right now and he doesn't even feel close to a lottery draft type player atm. Hoping I'm wrong…

— Primewire (@Primewire4) July 15, 2026

I’m sorry I’m a die hard clippers fan and will ride for every single one of our players but if you don’t see major concerns with Keaton Wagler you’re in denial

— AMB🫀 (@AMBGotAura) July 15, 2026

Guys I genuinely don’t know if I’m being overly negative or just real but Wagler has been extremely disappointing man

— HoodieBev  (@HoodieBev) July 15, 2026

It didn’t help that Wagler got outplayed by Lakers rookie Cameron Carr, who was taken 19 spots below him in last month’s draft. Carr poured in a game-high 23 points on 8/18 shooting, including several flashes of brilliance in the second half when matched up with Wagler.

Of course, all the criticism of Wagler comes with the caveat that it’s based on a few Summer League outings. The Clippers youngster just scored 39 points across his last two games, and fans are already calling him a bust.

At 19 years old, Wagler is far from a finished product. But he’ll already have his fair share of doubters coming into his first NBA season.

The post Clippers fans are already starting to turn on Keaton Wagler appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Kyle Schwarber slid one past the sensors at the Midsummer Classic.

The Philadelphia Phillies star slugger Schwarber was mic’d up during Tuesday’s 2026 MLB All-Star Game. In the bottom of the third inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., Schwarber stepped up to the plate for the NL against AL pitcher Michael Wacha of the Kansas City Royals and produced an unfortunate moment (for all of the suits at FOX).

Schwarber was speaking to the FOX broadcasters in the middle of his at-bat but encountered some trouble with his earpiece. A frustrated Schwarber eventually said, “Whatever, f–k it,” … for all the viewers on television to hear.

Eventually, Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, who was behind the plate at the time, helped Schwarber get his dangling earpiece back where it belonged. You can see the funny video at the link here.

Schwarber would go on to ground out in the at-bat and finished 0/2 on the night overall. The NL did not exactly fare too well as a team either as the AL rode a three-run first inning off Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez to an eventual 4-0 victory.

In fairness to the two-time NL home runs leader Schwarber, that may not have been the best decision by FOX to conduct an interview with him right in the middle of an at-bat. Ultimately though, that was reminiscent of the time that Clayton Kershaw also got caught on a hot mic during last year’s MLB All-Star Game.

The post Kyle Schwarber caught cursing on a hot mic during MLB All-Star Game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Kawhi Leonard might not be the only player having a reunion up north this summer.

Free agent forward DeMar DeRozan would “welcome” a return to the Toronto Raptors under the right circumstances, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reported on Tuesday. Smith adds that the Raptors front office has also been thinking about the possibility of reuniting with DeRozan “for some time.”

DeRozan, who turns 37 next month, is a free agent after being released by the Sacramento Kings earlier this month. Meanwhile, DeRozan’s history with the Raptors speaks for itself.

The veteran DeRozan was originally a Toronto draft pick back in 2009 (No. 9 overall). He spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Raptors and also earned four All-Star selections and two All-NBA nods while with Toronto.

But DeRozan’s time with the Raptors did end unceremoniously after he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for Leonard in 2018. Toronto then went on to win their first and only championship in franchise history in 2019, much to the chagrin of DeRozan, who said publicly that he was unhappy about the way he was treated by the Raptors.

That said, former Raptors president Masai Ujiri (the man responsible for trading DeRozan) is no longer with the team and now holds the same position with the Dallas Mavericks. Though DeRozan has interest from a couple of other interesting landing spots, the allure of a return to the 905 has to be pretty significant (provided that he is willing to accept a reduced role and/or a veteran’s minimum salary).

The post DeMar DeRozan has mutual interest with 1 notable team appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Tampa Bay Rays fans can breathe a sigh of relief following the latest update on Junior Caminero.

The Rays’ standout third baseman’s hand got hit by a pitch during his second at-bat of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. The 1-0 pitch was a 98-mph sinker that St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O’Brien threw well inside, instantly hushing the crowd at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.

Caminero was writhing in pain for several seconds before eventually jogging toward the dugout and taking himself out of the game.

Junior Caminero left the game after being hit by a pitch in the hand pic.twitter.com/gVuzV9XCbH

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 15, 2026

The Rays got positive news an inning later as Caminero’s X-rays came back negative.

“It looked bad. But the results, at least from the X-rays, are good,” said Tom Verducci on the broadcast.

Caminero himself eased Rays fans’ worries with a message via USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

“I’m fine. Thank God nothing is broken. Will play Friday,” Caminero said.

That’s welcome news for the Rays, who have leaned heavily on Caminero’s production this season.

The 23-year-old Dominican has batted .279 with 28 home runs, 59 RBIs, and an OPS of .927 across 94 games this season. He’s arguably been the biggest reason why the 56-38 Rays have the best record in the American League through the All-Star break.

The post Rays get update on Junior Caminero following All-Star Game injury scare appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

A fan is facing the consequences after allegedly directing racial abuse towards Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray.

Hilton Grand Vacations announced in a post to X on Tuesday that they have fired an employee accused of sending a racist DM to Gray over Instagram. In their post, Hilton Grand Vacations said that the person responsible violated multiple company policies with his alleged behavior.

“The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company,” the post by Hilton read. “His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company’s values in any way.”

Gray, a six-time WNBA All-Star and four-time WNBA champion, was involved in an incident with Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark during their game on Sunday. As Clark was defending her in the post, Gray gave Clark an elbow to the midsection in what many deemed to be a normal basketball play but that left Clark on the ground in pain (see the video here).

After the Fever went on to defeat the Aces by a final score of 109-75, Gray said on her Instagram Story on Monday that she had received a racist message from a fan. “You suck a– ugly a– n—-r,” the alleged DM read (profanity edited by LBS).

Gray did not blur out the name of the user who had sent her the message, and social media sleuths were then able to identify the man and contact his employer. Now Hilton Grand Vacations has terminated the employment of the man, only about some 24 hours after he was exposed publicly by Gray.

The post Fan gets fired over alleged racist DM to WNBA’s Chelsea Gray appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The statute of limitations has apparently expired on Aroldis Chapman’s apology request addressed to the New York Yankees.

Chapman spoke candidly last month about the possibility of being traded to the Yankees before the August 3 trade deadline. He stated that “someone from the organization” should issue him an apology before any reunion. He was referring specifically to longtime Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

The 38-year-old retracted his demand when he spoke to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman ahead of his 9th All-Star Game appearance Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.

“I turned the page a long time ago. They asked me a question and I answered,” Chapman told Heyman.

The Yankees left Chapman off the team’s playoff roster after he allegedly missed a mandatory team workout ahead of their divisional round series against the Cleveland Guardians. Cashman would later call out Chapman and question the pitcher’s motivation throughout the season.

After a couple of middling seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, and Pittsburgh Pirates, Chapman has found a home on the Yankees’ biggest rival.

Through 97 games with the Red Sox, Chapman has posted a stellar 1.50 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across two seasons. With the Red Sox surging heading into the All-Star break, Boston may be more enticed to keep the veteran closer for the rest of the season.

The post Aroldis Chapman clears air on his demand for an apology from Yankees appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New Orleans Pelicans appear to be in damage control mode right now.

New Orleans felt like they had to outbid other teams in order to re-sign center DeAndre Jordan this offseason, veteran basketball writers Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported to Substack on Tuesday. The report notes that the Pelicans believed Jordan had interest elsewhere on a one-year deal and thus signed him to a two-year deal so that they would not lose Jordan’s valued locker room presence.

Jordan, the former NBA All-Star, already spent last season in New Orleans. Then earlier this offseason, Jordan signed a two-year, $7.9 million deal to return to the Pelicans as a free agent.

But New Orleans appeared to make a notable blunder with Jordan’s new contract. Namely, they were eligible to get a subsidy from the NBA for Jordan through a one-year veteran’s minimum deal for players with 10 or more years of experience. But because the Pelicans inked Jordan to a two-year deal instead, they are now on the hook for Jordan’s full salary and Jordan’s full cap hit (read the complete details here).

With the report breaking earlier this week about the Pelicans’ apparent blunder, now this latest report is explaining the team’s supposed reasoning. That timing is probably not a coincidence as New Orleans (with their Joe Dumars-led front office) looks to defend themselves from fan backlash over the Jordan contract.

Jordan is about to turn 38 years old, has not averaged double digits in points or rebounding since 2019-20, and has only appeared in 68 total games over the last two seasons (including a mere 12 for the Pelicans last season). While Jordan did win the NBA’s Teammate of the Year Award with New Orleans last year, it is hard to imagine that teams were tripping over themselves to sign him, regardless of the Pelicans’ stated reasoning here.

The post Pelicans defend themselves over apparent DeAndre Jordan contract blunder appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bronny James may be getting a chance to (hypothetically) carve out his own path.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny will not necessarily be following his father LeBron James to a new team, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported on Tuesday. Woike notes that Bronny is currently with the Lakers at their veteran minicamp that officially kicked off this week and adds that Bronny is, for the moment, expected to compete for minutes in the team’s backcourt next season.

Still only 21 years old, Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in 2024 back when his father LeBron was still on the team. Bronny has (understandably) had a hard time beating the nepotism allegations ever since then but may be getting his opportunity to prove himself now that LeBron officially will not be returning to the Lakers next season.

Last season for the Lakers, Bronny appeared in 42 total games for the Lakers, averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 assists per game on 41/39/86 shooting splits. He also made 14 regular season appearances for the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League, averaging 15.6 points and 3.7 assists per game on stellar 56/46/79 shooting splits.

Bronny’s defense is above average, his three-point shot has come around, and he even got a notable promotion from the Lakers at one point last season. But the jury is still out on whether or not Bronny (who is on a fully guaranteed $2.3 million contract with the Lakers for next season) belongs in the NBA on his own accord.

There was some talk earlier this month that one potential LeBron suitor was saving up a roster spot for Bronny just in case. But the best outcome for Bronny’s development at this point might indeed be if he stays on the Lakers away from the (admittedly enormous) shadow of his father.

The post Surprising report emerges about Bronny James’ future appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.