標籤: attention

tottenham’s The pursuit of Savinho seems to be gaining momentum, and this time the feeling is mutual.

Just days after it was reported that Spurs have opened talks with Manchester City, espn brazil Now the report is that Savinho has taken his decision. The Brazilian wants to remain in English football and, specifically, join Tottenham.

Considering where this story was a year ago, that’s quite a change.

Tottenham pushed hard for Savinho last summer. Manchester City closed the door. Pep Guardiola still believed the winger could develop into an important player at the Etihad and had no interest in letting him go.

Savinho himself did not completely agree with this idea. But this time the matter is different.

Spurs prepare for the next step

According to ESPN, the Brazilian is fully convinced by the move to north London and is now waiting for Tottenham to present their first official offer.

The report said Tottenham have already started talks And are now working on their first formal bid.

This seems like the logical next step in the transfer that has been gathering momentum over the past few weeks.

Manchester City have gradually changed their position on players after a disappointing season. Savinho arrived from Verona with huge expectations, but things never really clicked into place.

The Brazilian finished the campaign with four goals and two assists in 35 matches. Injuries didn’t help either, with a thigh problem in particular disrupting his season.

As a result, Cities have become increasingly open for sales As they prepare for a summer rebuild. According to ESPN, the current valuation sits around £50m (€60m).

It’s still a hefty fee, but it’s also well below the figure that Tottenham were willing to discuss when the call first came.

Suddenly, everyone wants the same thing

For some time, this transfer seemed complicated because the interests did not exactly match.

Tottenham wanted Savinho. Manchester City wanted to keep him. But now the situation has changed… the city is ready to listen. Tottenham are back in the conversation. And, according to ESPN, the player wants the move.

Of course, a deal worth around £50m (€60m) is still a big commitment for a club that spent much of last season nervous. The conversation can easily come down to structure, installments and bonuses rather than headline numbers.

Still, Tottenham have something they didn’t have last summer. This time he will only need to convince Manchester City.

After performing well in the Premier League last season, Jens Cageste returned to Ipswich Town last summer. Napoli are now keeping a close eye on how the Championship season will end.

The Swede played 30 times in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign, and became a key player for Kieran McKenna. In the current season, he has played 29 times in the Championship and contributed five goals.

Earlier in the campaign, sports witness Critical praise was included for the midfielder. This came just after impressing in the league game against West Brom.

Although he has been on the bench a few times in recent weeks, Ipswich Town cannot find a role in his long-term situation. This will become the case if they earn promotion to the English top-flight.

arianapoli Take a look at Napoli’s stance as they become desperate for his permanent exit.

napoli wants money

The outlet noted how Napoli are keeping a close eye on the Championship. They are hoping to see Ipswich Town gain promotion, with Coventry City having already confirmed their return to the Premier League.

They make it clear that if McKenna’s side moves forward, their obligation to purchase Cajete will be fulfilled. a loan fee of €2m had already been paid in the summer, with an obligation to buy at €7.5m.

Desperation for that money is growing, as it will provide little help to Napoleonicites. He saw Caste struggle in Italy during the 2023/24 season, forcing him to part ways with them just one season after his arrival.

Ipswich Town may not be too keen

Against Middlesbrough, Cajste was not even in the team and the same was true against Norwich, against whom Ipswich Town had no problems.

The 26-year-old’s prominence is waning. Napoli apparently wouldn’t mind if McKenna leads his club back to the Premier League.

This allows them to avoid losing other key players and gain some leverage to sign important targets. As for Ipswich Town, they may already be scouting potential suitors for Cajste ahead of the summer window.

of southampton The offensive rebuild over the past year has quietly given rise to one of the Championship’s most effective wide threats, and now he is starting to attract serious Premier League attention.

When Leo Scienza joined from Heidenheim he was not the main arrival. Nevertheless, he soon became one of the players shaping up southampton’s pressure In this weather.

with the club Balancing promotion ambitions And the stability of the squad, their performances are starting to generate a different kind of conversation behind the scenes.

The 27-year-old has contributed six goals and eight assists in 35 matches so far. Those numbers reflect a reliable player in key moments, often working between the lines or driving transitions.

His output has also come in high-pressure fixtures, increasing the interest of top-flight clubs. This process appears to be ongoing.

Premier League clubs circle after excellent performance

Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Fulham, Everton and Leeds United are all keeping a close eye on Leo Scienza ahead of the summer window, as reported espn brazil. Representatives from those clubs have attended recent Southampton matches at St Mary’s to assess them personally.

Timing is not accidental. His recent performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup has further increased the existing interest. Leo Scienza was named man of the match in the win over Southampton, following a performance full of direct running and attacking intent.

According to ESPN, that performance reinforced the idea among Premier League sides that he could make a move soon. This is not the first time that we are covering That level of interest in him.

Career path shaping present value

Leo Scienza’s trajectory is unusual by Premier League standards. Due to neglect he had to leave Brazil early and began his European journey in the lower leagues of Sweden in 2019.

2020 saw a move to Germany and their growth accelerated. At Heidenheim, he reached Bundesliga level and showed enough consistency to earn a transfer to Southampton at the start of this season.

That background plays in his favor now. Clubs are looking at a player who has already adapted to different leagues and systems rather than one facing his first big step forward.

Importantly, there are no plans to return to Brazil despite recent efforts. The focus is on progress in European football.

What’s next for Southampton?

Leo Scienza’s situation will be closely linked to Southampton’s season result.

If promotion is secured, the club will have a stronger position to retain him and increase his influence. However, failure to move up could open the door to a bid from clubs already eyeing him.

For Southampton, it is a balancing act. They have developed a player whose value is increasing rapidly. Now they must decide whether he will be part of their Premier League comeback or the next lucrative departure.

For interested clubs, the appeal is obvious. Leo Scienza offers instant output, tactical flexibility and a career path that suggests he is still on an upward trend even at the age of 27.

The Charlotte Hornets finally seem to be turning a turn this season as they try to secure a playoff spot heading into the final few weeks of the regular season. The teams recent success can be attributed to All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball.

Ball is by no means career high, but he has adopted a more team-oriented style of basketball under head coach Charles Lee. However, that’s not the only reason, as players across the board have bought in on both ends of the floor, leading to positive results across the board.

During Tuesday night’s contest against the Sacramento Kings, LaMelo Ball made Charlotte Hornets history in one of the biggest wins of the season for the franchise. Ball only made four three-pointers on the night, falling behind Hornets legend Dell Curry for second place on the Hornets’ all-time three-pointers list.

Ball finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while shooting 7 of 16 from the field and 6 of 13 from three. His sixth three-pointer gave him 931 threes for his career – all with the Hornets – surpassing Dell Curry, who recently held his jersey retirement ceremony with the franchise, with his sons Stephen Curry and Seth Curry in attendance.

The Hornets’ franchise leader in three-pointers is Kemba Walker, who has made 1,283 three-pointers in his Charlotte career. Should he remain with the franchise, Ball has a very legitimate chance to finish as the Hornets’ leader in three-pointers. LaMelo Ball’s personal record for three-pointers in a season is 318, which he accomplished in his second season in the league as an All-Star.

With a 38-34 record, the Hornets are now just 2.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference.

In 61 appearances so far this season, LaMelo Ball has averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the winning streak of 12 straight games after Monday night’s comfortable road win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City officials are preparing for when the Thunder move to a new arena a few seasons from now.

On Tuesday, the Thunder released a video of what the new arena, to be called the Continental Coliseum, will look like.

The OKC Thunder’s new arena, ‘Continental Coliseum’ looks amazing 🔥

The arena will open in the 2028–29 season.

(via @OKSeaThunder)pic.twitter.com/ENS0Aa90gT

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

The Thunder have been playing at the Paycom Center since its inception nearly two decades ago, through its various name changes, and it was the site of their first NBA championship, capping their historic 2025–26 season.

Thankfully for Thunder fans, the team will have two more years to make more memories at that historic venue before the new arena opens for the 2028-29 campaign. It remains to be seen what the inside of the Continental Coliseum will look like, and how it compares to its current home in Oklahoma City.

Meanwhile, the Thunder are giving fans plenty to cheer on the court this season, as the team is still firmly holding on to the number one seed in the Western Conference despite dreadful play from the San Antonio Spurs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks set to take home his second consecutive league MVP award, and Oklahoma City is viewed by most pundits as the favorite to win another NBA championship this season, although they will have some stiff competition in the form of San Antonio.

As mentioned earlier, the Thunder are currently on a 12-game winning streak, four wins away from a 16-game winning streak they had earlier this season.

Oklahoma City will look to make it 13 consecutive wins when they take the field for a tough road game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening.

There are plenty of stories heading into the final few weeks of the 2025-26 NBA season, but none bigger than the Los Angeles Lakers’ lead in the Western Conference. More importantly, all the talk in Hollywood has focused on Luka Doncic and his MVP campaign that has skyrocketed over the past few weeks.

Can Luka really overtake Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the favorite for MVP heading into the final three weeks of the season?

It seems like the Oklahoma City Thunder star has already been labeled as the MVP favorite since before the All-Star break, and Nikola Jokic was the obvious second choice. But then Jokic suffered a knee injury and the Denver Nuggets took a step back.

Sure, Victor Wembanyama and his success with the San Antonio Spurs have solidified his place in the MVP rankings, but no other player is doing what Doncic is doing right now.

Since the beginning of March, Doncic has averaged 36.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 12 games, while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Over that span, Luka ranks first in points (442), shots made (150), shots attempted (350), 3-pointers attempted (62), 3-pointers attempted (157), and 30-point games (9).

In addition to all of these individual stats, Luka’s video-game-like numbers have directly led to success for the Lakers, who are 11-1 since the beginning of March and have won nine straight games. The last time the Lakers went on a nine-game winning streak, they captured their 17th championship.

Could history repeat itself with Doncic leading this version of the franchise?

Only time will tell on the championship front, but as far as MVP is concerned, Doncic has put himself firmly back in the mix. The only question is whether it’s too late in the season for the Lakers’ superstar to sway voters.

Well, I’m not voting for MVP this year, but as we approach the final week of ClutchPoints’ MVP rankings, Doncic has firmly put himself back in the top 3 and is being talked about in this year’s race.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 21 | Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 50 games, 31.6 points, 6.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 55.3 FG%, 39.0 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

Since breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games with 20-plus points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has twice had a scare of scoring exactly 20 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets. In between those games are two 40-point games.

The Thunder have won 11 consecutive games, the longest active winning streak in the league, and they now lead the Spurs by three games for the top spot in the NBA. Gilgeous-Alexander has left his mark on the Thunder’s success this season, especially given all of his injury concerns.

Despite missing some time before and after the All-Star break, Shai led the Thunder to another remarkable season in the absence of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren on the court consistently. This is another major reason why he will win MVP awards consecutively.

2. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 blocks, 50.4 FG%, 35.6 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 3 more games to remain eligible.

Victor Vembanyama is on a mission right now. If you don’t believe me, just listen to the guy:

“Right now, I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well,” Wembley recently said about the remainder of the season. “So, I’m just trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine and perform for my team.”

Well, there you have it. Vembanayama wants to win the MVP award, and he’s putting together a compelling case right now, just like Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic.

In addition to recording at least 20 points and eight rebounds in four of his last five games, Wembanyama has also recorded at least four blocks in three of his last five games. The Spurs star looks like the best two-way player in the league right now, and San Antonio is still just behind Oklahoma City in the West standings, which is enough for Wembley to be No. 2 in the MVP rankings.

3. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 55 games, 32.8 points, 8.5 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

There are no other words to describe what Luka Doncic is doing right now sensory.

He hasn’t scored below 30 points in nine straight games, and over that span, Doncic has four games with at least 40 points, two games with at least 50 points, and one 60-point performance.

At this point, we can see Doncic getting closer to Bam Adebayo when he scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. Funnily enough, Luka and the Lakers will see the Wizards on March 30, so who knows?

The Lakers are winning games, Doncic is putting up Wilt-like scoring numbers, and perhaps the most unrecognized area of ​​development for him over the past few weeks what the stats won’t tell you is that Luka has really increased his intensity and physicality on defense.

Doncic has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for several consecutive weeks, and he leads the league with four Player of the Week awards this year. It wouldn’t take long for Luka to win the Western Conference Player of the Month award once March ended.

4. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 28.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 57.3 FG%, 38.5 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

Nikola Jokic has put together a great season. No matter which statistic you look at, he’s tops in the league, and averaging a triple-double for the year is no small feat.

Unfortunately, amid the Denver Nuggets’ struggles as a result of his untimely knee injury and injuries across the board, his MVP stock took a big hit entering the All-Star break and coming out of it for the final stretch run of the season.

While MVP is an individual award and we’ve seen Jokic be a one-man team player at certain times during his career, his turnover rate and overall efficiency have declined over the past month compared to SGA, Wembley and Doncic. Jokic committed 10 turnovers on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, and he is averaging 4.8 turnovers per game in March.

This is not the perfect recipe for winning MVP, and neither is your team significantly below the teams of all three players above you in the MVP rankings.

Previous ranking: #6

2025-26 season stats: 64 games, 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 47.7 FG%, 34.3 3P%

Jayson Tatum may be getting all the attention now that he’s back on the court for the Boston Celtics, but Jaylen Brown is having his best season in the NBA. In all honesty, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the best two-way wing in basketball right now.

Brown has led the Celtics to a top team in the Eastern Conference in what many thought would be a gap year, and he has averaged career highs in nearly every major statistical category. Lately, Brown has been the main reason for Boston’s success.

Over his last four games, where the Celtics have gone 3-1, Brown has averaged 33.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 35.0 percent from 3-point range. He scored 41 points on March 16 against the Phoenix Suns, his sixth 40-point game of the season.

Brown has moved ahead of Cade Cunningham in the MVP rankings after finishing sixth last week as the Detroit Pistons star suffered a collapsed lung and is expected to miss a significant amount of time, making him ineligible for the award.

just missing the cut

6. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons [Ranked No. 4 last week]*

7. Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks [Ranked No. 10 last week]

8. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 8 last week]

9. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers [Ranked No. 9 last week]

10. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 7 last week]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

LeBron James played one of his best games this season, scoring 30 points on 13-14 shooting from the field in a 124-116 win for the Los Angeles Lakers over the Houston Rockets. James has really shifted to an off-ball role, and he is thriving as a result. In fact, a lot of the little things James is doing that contribute to winning are just putting even more wear and tear on a body that’s already gotten a ton of mileage.

Notably, James suffered an elbow injury late in the Lakers’ victory when he faced a hard foul from Jabari Smith Jr. He was supposed to go straight to the locker room after the final buzzer, but he noticed that Lisa Salters was the sideline reporter for ESPN the night before and she was staying briefly to give an interview. out of love And he has admiration for one of the sport’s most experienced journalists.

“As soon as I get to the locker room, Imma throw some ice on it. That’s why I ran away. But, you know, I love you, you’re amazing, so I had to come back and do this interview for you. We got back-to-backs. I’m 41. I need to prepare but I take care of myself and hopefully I’ll be ready for tomorrow night,” James told Salters.

“I love you, you’re amazing, so I had to come back and do this interview for you.”

LeBron was going back to the locker room, but came back to do an interview with Lisa Salters 🙌

(via @ESPN)
pic.twitter.com/hTx8VwSisV

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

Lakers’ LeBron James shows love for fellow sports legend

Salters has been working on the sidelines for nearly 20 years, joining NBA on ABC coverage in 2006 as the lead sideline reporter. She has been a part of ESPN since 2000. James has watched Salters on the sidelines throughout his career, and it seems as if the Lakers star has formed a relationship with one of the game’s most respected reporters.

In fact, the Lakers have to play a game tomorrow night as they face the Miami Heat.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s recovery from injury is nothing short of a medical miracle. Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during the Celtics’ second-round matchup against the New York Knicks in the 2025 playoffs. Injuries typically keep players from recovering from a full season, but Tatum is determined.

Videos have surfaced of the six-time All-Star doing vigorous workouts, and NBC even produced a miniseries highlighting his recovery journey. It appears he is ready to take the court again this week, as he is set to make his highly anticipated return on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum’s return adds to the unprecedented season the Celtics spent without their star. The Celtics are currently second in the East at 41–20, as many NBA fans and forecasters believe that they will not be true contenders without Tatum being active on the roster. Jaylen Brown has emerged as a potential MVP contender and has added potential to the team.

While it’s certainly a plus that Tatum is returning to the lineup, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix believes Tatum will have to make a big adjustment to the team and emerge as Jaylen Brown’s first option.

“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. Brown is a top five, top six MVP candidate this year. He has put this team on his back aggressively. And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics’ success as he has kept himself in the competitive conversation. But if Tatum returns to full strength, he’s still one of the best players in the NBA.

Playing 72 regular-season games last season, his averages were unimpressive: 26.8 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds per game, and shot 34% from three. Tatum has emerged as a star-level playmaker who can score and get buckets for his team.

While Jaylen Brown has stepped into his role, the addition of Jayson Tatum could be a scary proposition for the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Decades after his retirement from the NBA, Michael Jordan still has reason to celebrate, as 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick triumphed at Circuit of the Americas, winning the Duramax Texas Grand Prix. Along the way, Reddick became the first driver in Cup Series history to win the opening three races of a season.

Since the NASCAR Cup Series organization is co-owned by none other than MJ, it came with a congratulatory message from none other than Magic Johnson.

“I want to congratulate my friend Michael Jordan once again! His 23XI Racing team made NASCAR history by winning their third consecutive NASCAR race to start the 2026 season! 👏🏾” he wrote on X.

It was Reddick’s 11th career Cup win and second overall at COTA. He led a race-high 58 of the 95 laps, controlled the final restart on Lap 79, and defeated one of the field’s best road-course racers, Shane van Gisbergen, who was chasing his sixth consecutive road-course victory. The margin, 3.944 seconds, looked comfortable only on paper. For the first part of the final 16-lap green-flag run, Van Gisbergen was in striking distance of Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota Camry before slowly pulling up the hill into Turn 1.

The win gave Reddick a solid 70-point lead over teammate Bubba Wallace. This means MJ’s 23XI Racing now has three full-time entries and is a legitimate championship contender.

Additionally, Redick’s post-game celebration, during which he raised three fingers, was a direct allusion to Jordan’s iconic NBA three-peat with the Chicago Bulls. Defending race winner Christopher Bell finished third.

Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five while Hendrick Motorsports fielded Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott in sixth and seventh. Regardless, this win shows the intent of 23XI Racing, which includes players like Bubba Wallace (No. 23), Riley Herbst (No. 35), and Reddick (No. 45).

It’s fair to say that Derrick Rose became the biggest name in Chicago Bulls history since the days of Michael Jordan. Until an ACL injury and subsequent injuries derailed his career, Rose was viewed and played as a true generational star, becoming the first player since MJ to win the MVP award as a Bulls player.

However, that doesn’t come close to clarifying exactly what D-Rose means to Chicago, which the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crowe-Armstrong might have a fair idea about. The 37-year-old recently spoke about his meeting with Rose, claiming the Bulls legend was everything he wanted.

“That was one of the best days of my life”

Pete Crowe-Armstrong talks about the time he met Chicago legend Derrick Rose 🌹🏀 pic.twitter.com/yuTlDj0rSn

– MLB (@MLB) 25 February 2026

“That was one of the best days of my life. Yeah, D-Rose was big in my house growing up. I’m learning what he really means to the city. He gave me a ton of his time one day, and he reminded me that, like, I have to be there. He really took the time to get to know me and listen to my story,” he said, per a post by MLB on X, before explaining that Rose had the answer to everything he was unsure about.

“It almost felt like he had the answer to everything, either I was unsure about it or, but he made it seem like, he was Chicago, and really is Chicago. But that guy is everything and more that I wanted him to be. He was the best thing ever,” Crowe-Armstrong said.

Rose was drafted first overall by the Bulls in 2008, immediately breathing life into a struggling franchise by earning Rookie of the Year honors and leading the team to a 41–41 record. However, his best season came during 2010–11.

On his way to becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history, Rose led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals, establishing Chicago as a legitimate championship threat for the first time since the Michael Jordan era. Of course, the fairytale was derailed when he suffered an ACL injury during the opening game of the 2012 playoffs, the first of several injuries that ultimately limited his potential.

Yet, as the Cubs star claimed, Rose is and was a Chicagoan, and remains a major source of inspiration for young stars throughout the game.

The Detroit Pistons have had a strong season so far, thanks to the stellar play of Cade Cunningham. But the two-time NBA All-Star guard may soon get some more help in the form of Carmelo Anthony.

During Pistons media day, Cunningham revealed that he had talked with the Hall-of-Famer about potentially working together.

“Me and Melo, we talked a few times,” Cunningham said in September 2025.

Carmelo Anthony, who has since joined NBC Sports as their analyst, recently talked about Cunningham’s rise on a call with the media for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

“I like it,” Anthony said. “I’ve been a fan and watching Cade since high school. I’ve watched his growth, development and maturity over the last four or five years. We’ve kept in touch. He reached out to the gym and wanted to work on certain aspects of his game. I saw it as a sign of maturity, he wanted to slow the game down and pick his spots. He wants to get to his spots where he can be aggressive and efficient and take advantage of mismatches. We’re talking, watching film. And talking about the film, I am his guide and provide insight.

This isn’t the first time Carmelo Anthony has spoken highly of the Detroit Pistons star. In March 2025, the former Nuggets and Knicks star highlighted Cade Cunningham on his podcast, “7 PM in Brooklyn”.

“I think we’re seeing the development of Cade Cunningham,” Anthony said. “The grit is like going through the process. He’s starting to find his groove, find his flow, find his speed, his confidence, he’s shooting the ball. He’s like ‘I’m here’, and as a result, they’re winning.”

Cade Cunningham has had another strong season for the Pistons, averaging 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. In 47 appearances this season, Cunningham is averaging career highs in assists, steals, blocks and two-point field goal percentage.

Cunningham has led the Pistons to the best record in the Eastern Conference and second-best record in the NBA at 40–13.

The Pistons began their post-All-Star break schedule with a two-game road trip against the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls. Given that Carmelo Anthony lives in New York and has previously scheduled a workout with Cunningham in the Big Apple, it will be interesting to see if the two get a chance to get together before Thursday night’s game.

The Boston Celtics are currently preparing for the unofficial second half of the NBA season following the conclusion of the All-Star break. The Celtics are playing some excellent basketball, especially considering they have been without star Jayson Tatum this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles.

There has been much speculation in recent weeks that Tatum could return as soon as this season following one of the quickest Achilles recoveries the league has ever seen, which was further fueled when the league moved the upcoming Celtics home game against the Philadelphia 76ers to national TV without explanation.

Now, Tatum has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to mark a new milestone in his recovery process.

“40 weeks,” Tatum wrote on the social media platform along with a prayer emoji. “I have really grown to appreciate this journey and have found time to pat myself on the back for doing well every day!”

Tatum suffered an Achilles injury last year during Game 4 of the semifinal series against the New York Knicks, which Boston lost in six games, already down 3–1 by the time Tatum was sidelined.

This year, Jaylen Brown is playing at a borderline MVP level for the Celtics, and Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard have overcome a bad start to the year to help provide some explosive scoring for the team.

Meanwhile, Boston executives recently made a winning move by sending Anfernee Simmons to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic at the NBA trade deadline, eliminating the team’s biggest weakness in the process.

If Tatum is indeed able to come back this year, many will view the Celtics as the favorite to come out of the East in the spring.

Boston’s season is scheduled to resume on Thursday with a road game against the Golden State Warriors.

Houston Rockets veteran Kevin Durant does not agree with the notion that the NBA’s All-Star Game was more intense than it is in today’s era. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green criticized the new format of the All-Star Game, as the association attempts to make its signature event more competitive after weak reactions in recent years.

As for Durant, he does not agree with the story of how competitive the All-Star Game was for the NBA during the 1990s and 2000s, and He explained the reason Saturday during All-Star media day.

“I’m watching the All-Star Game and the older generation is talking about the intensity of it,” Durant said. “I don’t know if I saw it or not, you know?”

“I’m watching the All-Star Game and the intensity the older generation is talking about. I don’t know if I’ve seen it before.”

– Kevin Durant 🗣️pic.twitter.com/d4Y66J7yfw

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

The NBA’s new USA vs. World format will feature three teams – Team World, USA Stars and USA Stripes – each with eight players, competing in a round-robin tournament.

Kevin Durant will play for the USA Stripes team alongside LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James and New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson, as well as Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Cleveland Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell. Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors and De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs are replacing injured All-Stars Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.

Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic, Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and first-time All-Star Jamal Murray will play for Team World. Alperen Sengun of the Rockets, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks and Victor Vembanyama of the Spurs are also on the team, as well as first-time All-Star forwards Danny Avdija of the Portland Blazers and Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers.

Kawhi Leonard hopes players ‘compete’ in All-Star Games

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard thinks the All-Star Game will be competitive this season. However, for Leonard, how game starts “It’s important,” he said, according to NBA on Prime Insider Chris Haynes.

“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we need to get back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it will be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is like. But hopefully, guys are competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star Game.”

Met up with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in LA ahead of the All-Star Game on Sunday. Many topics were discussed, including whether people would work hard. pic.twitter.com/ppgZi4L5uU

– Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) 14 February 2026

Leonard will play for the USA Stripes team.

Hicham Boudaoui’s stellar performances for Algeria at AFCON have earned him attention from Brighton and Hove Albion.

That’s according to Foot Mercato. They report that Brighton are interested in the Nice midfielder as he shines in Morocco.

They report that the midfielder’s ‘stellar performances’ for Algeria have the suitors lining up. The belief is that the 26-year-old has ‘reached his peak’ and the tournament is proving it.

The statistics and visual impressions prove as much. The ‘Prince of Béchar’ as he is titled ‘has been everywhere’. He provided a decisive backheel against Sudan for Riyad Mahrez to score and was solid against Burkina Faso. The came a ‘virtuoso performance’ in the last 16 against Democratic Republic of Congo.

He has become an indispensable link in the team. According to Foot Mercato, ‘he is the boss’ at this moment in time. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Galatasaray and Brighton are very aware of his ‘outpouring of energy and talent’.

Several suitors have already made inquiries in the last few days. It’s not clear if Brighton are one of them but they ‘greatly appreciate’ the midfielder and his modern box-to-box profile.

His situation at Nice is delicate too. His current deal runs until 2027, and he had already been linked with a move in the summer. Losing him this month would be a major blow but financially, a smart move. If an offer that satisfies everyone arrives, the door could be opened.

The French side will be attentive to what happens. It’s up to Brighton to make a bid and potentially get the transfer ball rolling.