brentfordAttempts to sign Cologne star Said El Mala have hit a wall, with his mother now ruling out a move.

image report The 19-year-old has now rejected Brentford’s offer, despite the Bees meeting his demands.

Brentford deal agreed

According to the newspaper, Brentford had offered €45m plus €5m in bonuses for the forward. This was enough to match FC Köln’s demands, which they have been sticking to vigorously for the past few weeks.

Final transfer details were being sorted out by the clubs.Saeed relaxing on holiday in Mykonos with El Mala. However, now there has been a surprising twist.

Bild has learned that his mother, who is acting as his agent, dropped a ‘transfer bomb’ on Thursday afternoon. According to the newspaper, he has informed Brentford that his son will not be joining him this summer. He believes this is not the right move for him at this time.

This is despite everything being prepared for the move. El Mala would have received €4m per year with Brentford. Cologne’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler, was ready to approve the deal. He was preparing to take it to the German club’s supervisory board for further approval.

wait and see

Instead, he will now have to sit in the back seat and wait and see what happens. Brentford have been rejected and that’s that.

The cancellation does not mean that Saeed El Mala will remain. While the club believes it is possible, the chances are low.

Instead, he and his mother will wait until the summer for better offers to come along. There is also interest elsewhere in the Premier League, with Newcastle United notably named.

There is also a belief that the English market ‘really takes off’ in August, so it is worth waiting on that front too. Anyhow, his mother ruled that he would not be allowed to Brentford despite his attempts to broker a deal.

newcastle united He appears to have missed out on a contract with Mio Backhaus as he looks to beat Europa League finalists Freiburg.

BILD reports that Freiburg have dropped a ‘transfer bomb’ with the imminent signing of the 22-year-old.

Backhaus deal resolved

The newspaper reports that when current Noah Atubolu was in Istanbul for the Europa League final against Aston Villa in what was likely to be his last match for the club, they were busy signing his successor.

According to BILD, the deal for Mio Backhaus has been ‘virtually finalized’. Freiburg should make an announcement in the coming days. The German side will pay €15m for the U21 international.

This will include €3m in performance-related add-ons. This would represent a transfer record for both him and Werder Bremen.

Freiburg beat out the competition to secure the deal. Newcastle United and Brighton are pursuing Backhaus. There was also interest from Serie A sides.

Sport Witness covered a report this week Saying that the future of Backhaus would be resolved within 14 days. At the time, Newcastle seemed a likely destination.

Instead, the deal has gone to Freiburg. The fact that they could still offer European football despite the defeat to Aston Villa was probably a major contributing factor.

goalkeeper carousel

He will be part of an exciting era of goalkeepers in the Bundesliga. His move to Freiburg opens the door for Werder Bremen to sign Karl Heyn on a permanent basis from Arsenal. Current Freiburg number one Noah Atubolu will also move on.

Reports have linked him to Tottenham in recent months. BILD report that he is expected to fetch just over €20m for the German club. Presumably, that money will be used to pay for the €15m transfer of Mio Backhaus.

Either way, it appears Newcastle have missed out on this opportunity as they look to improve their goalkeeper options this summer.

CM Punk revealed some unfiltered thoughts about WWE’s parent company on Monday Night Raw. But have those comments landed the world heavyweight champion in trouble?

The second to last WWE Raw before WrestleMania 42 got off to a hot start last night when Punk opened the show to express his thoughts on a few topics. Much of his promo was directed at his opponent on Night 2 of the two-night extravaganza the following weekend.

However, in the end, he surprisingly backed out and went after one-time announcer Pat McAfee. The popular podcaster and ESPN analyst went viral after returning to the company on last week’s SmackDown to criticize the company regarding alleged issues with the product and slow ticket sales for WrestleMania.

Well, this didn’t sit well with one face of the company as Punk attacked McAfee. He then suggested she call her “agent” and ask him to lower the ticket prices. The person he was referring to is the CEO of WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, who has pushed for McAfee to be added to WWE title storylines and is trying to make him a star in Hollywood.

The comments surprised many and led to speculation that Punk went off script and could be punished by TKO. Well, according to PW Insider Elite, it doesn’t seem possible at the moment, but Punk was speaking for several of his colleagues backstage.

The outlet reported, “We haven’t heard about any fallout from the promo, but we’re also told that what Punk said reflects the frustration backstage among the talent over the past several weeks.” “We have heard from many talents who have expressed frustration over the fact that ticket prices are so high, that there are so many tickets left for the top show of the year, and while there are so many seats available, talents are only being given two comp tickets for the night they are performing.”

Let us tell you that this year’s WrestleMania is being held in the same city Las Vegas like last year. This may affect interest in the arena as well as ticket prices which are as high as ever for the company.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their third consecutive loss, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 153–128. It was a bad night for the Wolves defense, as they allowed Kawhi Leonard to torture them for 45 points. After the game, Anthony Edwards spoke honestly about Leonard and his position in the NBA.

“With all sincerity, Kavi [Leonard] When healthy, he could be one of the best players to ever play the game. I think many of his teammates feel the same way about him. If he’s healthy (100%) Kawhi is unstoppable.”

-Anthony Edwards

(via @timberwolves)
pic.twitter.com/XEeP4kUbCH

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 12 March 2026

Edwards was amazed at Leonard and his ability to do anything to help the Clippers win. That was more than evident in this game, as the superstar helped the Clippers take a 38-27 lead after the first quarter. It was still a 12-point game in the third quarter. Still, the Clippers blew everything out of the water in the fourth and Leonard helped them get there. The situation got so bad that a fight broke out on the court between the Clippers and Timberwolves.

Edwards bounced back from a poor game against the Lakers, leading the Wolves with 36 points on 11 of 17 shooting, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. However, no other starter scored above 11. Naz Reed had 18 points off the bench.

The Wolves shot 59.7% from the field, including 44% from the three-point line. However, they allowed the Clippers to shoot 63.4% from the floor, including 51.4% from beyond the arc. The Wolves turned the ball over 21 times, giving the Clippers many opportunities to take advantage.

Leonard’s 45 points came on 15 of 20 shooting, including 6 of 9 from the triple. Darius Garland helped with 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting. Benedict Mathurin had 22 points off the bench on 5 of 10 shooting.

The Wolves fell in the standings for the second consecutive day, falling to sixth place in the Western Conference. They are 40-26 as they prepare for their next game, which will be against the Golden State Warriors on Friday in San Francisco.

While much of the conversation surrounding the Boston Celtics-San Antonio Spurs contest focused on Jaylen Brown’s ejection, Jayson Tatum turned some of his attention to another call. Or in this case a non-call. And that included Victor Vembanyama.

At one point during the game, the Celtics star went into the lane to get a bucket. As the ball passed through the hoop, Wemby gave Tatum a slight push. There was no foul play.

Tatum minced no words in describing the incident.

Jayson Tatum scores a basket and then Victor Wembanyama pushes it in, it’s interesting.

🤔 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gRQb7SzU5P

– SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) 11 March 2026

“I mean, there was definitely a talk about it between me and the ref. I was like, how did you not see it!”

Tatum’s comments came just minutes later and in the same locker room spot where teammate Derrick White called two technical fouls on Brown “bullsh*t.”

“I said so on the way back.” Tatum continued his comments. “Yeah, I stopped talking and just went back into the crowd.”

“I said so, didn’t you really see him?”⬇️

The Jaylen Brown ejection wasn’t the only call (or lack of one) that got the Celtics heated after last night’s loss #spurs

-Jason Tatum answers question about Wembley initiating contact, but not being whistled on Tatum lay-up pic.twitter.com/Ghk5cjbZNv

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 11 March 2026

In his third game of the year, due to an Achilles injury suffered during the playoffs, Tatum scored a season-high 24 at the Alamo City. Vembanyama scored the highest score of 39 points in the game.

Jayson Tatum reacts to Jaylen Brown’s firing

Tatum’s thoughts on the drama involving Wembley come after he shared his thoughts on Brown’s firing.

“I disagreed with that. They made a big deal about prime-time games and the stars playing and being available. You definitely got a push, and it probably wasn’t very good at first. The emotions are here, so I can tell you, you have to understand a nationally televised game between the best teams in the league. When you make a big deal about the stars playing and being available, you make everybody want to finish the game. So, I disagree with that.”

Tatum, who has held the position for the past six seasons, was the Celtics’ leading scorer last year, admitting he felt the need to do more. However, in reality, he could do very little with half the competition watching on the bench.

When the four-time All-NBA First Team selection was asked if he was ready for 35 minutes per night, down from about 27 minutes per outing, “I can play more.”

“But, I understand the bigger picture,” Tatum continued. “Right now, I’m not thinking about my soreness. I mean, I’m trying to compete, I’m trying to be out there, but it’s part of the plan, so I have to stick with it.”

The third overall pick in 2017 saw the court for 24 minutes in a 125–116 loss to the Spurs.

“I feel good,” Tatum said after helping Boston keep it close against a team that has won 16 of 17 contests, including this one.

“You have to give them credit,” the former Duke star said of the Spurs. “They made some plays, they hit some big shots. I felt like we missed some shots that we normally make. We competed to the end. Guys stepped up in a big way.”

“They’re a fun team to watch,” Tatum continued about San Antonio, “They’re very competitive, and you can see why they’ve had such a good season.”

Although he left the Alamo City on strained terms, Kawhi Leonard has largely been a supporter of the San Antonio Spurs since the 2018 trade that sent him to the Toronto Raptors. After a 116–112 loss, in which his Los Angeles Clippers blew a 25-point lead, Clough didn’t hesitate in praising the organization he helped win an NBA title in 2014.

After their first meeting of the season, ClutchPoints asked Leonard if he thought the young Spurs were ahead of schedule.

“Obviously, probably no one thought they’d be this good so quickly. But, they have great individual players, a great coaching staff. The organization has always known how to win basketball here. So, they’re putting everything together,” the seven-time NBA All-Star responded.

Los Angeles’ leading scorer then fouled out his Spurs counterpart.

“This team; the league is young. So it’s all about speed and run and if you have a shooter at the five, like Wembey or anybody who can shoot threes and block shots, your chances of winning are even greater.”

“…Probably no one thought they’d become so good so quickly… They have great individual players, great coaching staff. The organization always knows how to win…
They’re just putting it all together…”⬇️

-Talked to the poet about what he thinks #spurs are ahead of schedule#porvida pic.twitter.com/IYX2uDbPBa

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 7 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 in just 22 minutes, but the 2023 first overall draft pick wasn’t the only standout spurt to earn praise from the 34-year-old star.

“[Stephon] Cassel is playing very well, had a great rookie year and has taken a step forward this year and gotten better. I like what he’s doing on the court. He is getting better. “It’s fun to go out there and compete against younger guys, giving us some advantages here and there,” Leonard said of San Antonio’s star guard.

“When you’re trying to win a game, you’ve got to play on both ends of the floor,” the two-time NBA champion said.

Leonard finished with a game-high 30 points for a Clippers team that advanced from play-in contention in the Silver and Black.

“You never know. Nobody can say if they are ahead of schedule or not, you just have to see how it all plays out,” the former Spur concluded from ClutchPoints about the team finishing second in the Western Conference.

“We’ve been steady, but you’ve got to give the Spurs credit,” Leonard added. “They’re a great defensive team, they have some great individual defenders. Wembey is unbelievable and he made us miss shots.”

Kawhi Leonard downplays constant ridicule from Spurs fans

Leonard, once considered the next face of a proud franchise, was essentially forced out of San Antonio when he requested a trade following a lengthy controversy centered on an injury that led to a strained relationship. Since then, the 2011 first-round pick has often been criticized when he won Finals MVP in 2014.

Leonard said the boo birds don’t bother him.

“As soon as the game starts, you hear that. But after a while, you hear the cheers and I get a lot of love whenever I walk around town. So, like I said before, it’s a competitive fan base, so they’re not going to be on the court cheering for you to score. But after the game, it’s all love.”

Some, perhaps many, fans in San Antonio would not agree. However one thing is certain. Leonard doesn’t mind showing these Spurs love.

The Sacramento Kings’ season has tested everyone in the locker room, and veteran guard Malik Monk is now speaking openly about the frustrations surrounding the team. After another tough loss, Monk offered a brutally honest reflection on where things stand. Sacramento continues to search for answers under head coach Doug Christie, but the reality of this season has become impossible to ignore. With the Kings sitting at 14-50, the worst record in the league, emotions are running high inside the locker room.

The latest loss came against the New Orleans Pelicans, another painful chapter in a year full of failures. That loss gave Sacramento eight losses in its last ten games. Earlier this season, the Kings suffered a 16-game losing streak that began on January 18. The slump finally ended with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on February 23, but the momentum never came.

After the game, KCRA reporter Sean Cunningham asked Monk if the brutal stretch prepared the Kings for whatever lies ahead. Months of frustration were reflected in his answer.

After the Sacramento Kings suffered an NBA-worst 50th season loss, Malik Monk told me it’s been the “craziest” season of his career and he still feels like his voice still has an impact on his team.

“Nothing can be worse than this.” pic.twitter.com/UZhNNYf7KD

– Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) 6 March 2026

The monk said, “Yes, nothing can be worse than this.” “Nothing can be worse than this. It can’t happen. So yeah, it prepares you for anything.”

Malik Monk talks honestly about Kings’ season

Monk also reflected on the locker room dynamics as the Kings head into the final weeks of the season. Despite the defeat, he believes the young players are still learning valuable lessons.

“I think the young guys are learning a lot,” Monk said. “The vets are trying to teach them. Yes, they want to learn.”

When the Kings legend was asked about his goals for the remaining games, he kept his answer simple and extremely honest.

“Get well and move forward,” he said. Then he said, “Just deal with this shit, man.”

It was not polished. It was not filtered. But it was real.

Under Doug Christie, the Kings are going through a painful rebuilding year. For Monk and the rest of the roster, the focus now turns to growth, survival and the hope that better days will eventually return.

Because after a season like this, where else can the Kings go but up?

The Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 129-101 win against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. The Lakers showed from start to finish the type of complete effort that head coach JJ Redick has been asking for all season.

Some of the Lakers’ issues this season may be due to inconsistency in the lineup and rotation due to injuries, and JJ Redick acknowledged this after the team’s win against the Warriors. But part of it also has to do with the energy and intensity, or lack thereof, that the Lakers have shown at times.

But after a full 48-minute effort against the Warriors, Redick admitted he believes the team will eventually get to the level he wants them to be before the season is over.

“As I said before the game, these guys want to make it right. They’re trying. I know our staff, I know myself, we’re always looking for answers and solutions. That’s it, we’re trying to find solutions,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “I am confident that we will reach the level we want to reach.”

Redick further said, “It’s partially due to the disruption of the lineup and different factors. We haven’t had the consistency I thought we were going to have coming into this year.” “It’s taken longer than I thought, but I’m confident we’ll get there.”

After the win against the Warriors, the Lakers improved to 35–24 on the season. They are just two games behind the No. 3 seed Houston Rockets in what is shaping up to be a competitive race for position in the Western Conference during the regular season.

There are only three and a half games that separate the No. 3 seed and the No. 7 seed. The Phoenix Suns are currently in seventh place. The No. 7 seed will be directly out of the playoffs and will have to go through the play-ins.

Last season, the Lakers finished with the third seed in the West playoff picture, but were eliminated in the opening round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.

Redick is in his second year as head coach of the Lakers, and the team is currently in sixth place in the West standings. They are only a game and a half up on the Suns and potentially falling into the play-ins. They have 22 games left in the regular season to continue showing the level of competitiveness Redick is confident they can reach.

Spurs rookie Dylan Harper is not enjoying the best statistical season by an NBA rookie. not by a long shot. But, thanks in part to Stephen Cassel and De’Aaron Fox – as well as Victor Wembanyama – he is enjoying one of the most successful seasons by any standout rookie. By a long shot.

Harper shared, “With three dynamic guards, we’re hard to figure out. I think when Fox and Steph start playing, we’ve got the two best guards in the NBA.” “And I think when I come off the bench, I think it’s another weapon that we have. So, I think it opens up the door for everybody, including Vick. And I think when Vick has that much pressure and two guys go at him, it opens up the world for us.”

Harper is seventh on the team in scoring with 11 points per game. Playing 22 minutes per night, the second overall pick of last summer’s draft is seeing the floor significantly less than Cassel and Fox. The reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 16.6 points in 29.7 minutes, while Fox, a two-time NBA All-Star, is scoring 19 points per night in a team-leading 31.6 minutes of action.

Harper praised his other teammates, saying, “I think we can all score from everywhere. That’s the beauty of this team. We can all dribble the ball.”

Harper added, “We have a group of ball handlers and a group of scorers. So, every night is going to be a big night.” “As a collective group, just coming forward and helping as much as we can, it’s great for us.”

Victor Wembanyama praises Stephen Cassel

Although all are dynamic offensively, Harper, Castle and Fox each have an aspect of their game that they do better than the other two. Fox is the best scorer of the three. Harper may be the best at getting to the rim. And Castle is easily the best defender of the group.

“He has understood his role very well,” Wembanyama said. “The level he’s playing at is really unseen for a second-year player and how it fits into our game plan.”

Nicknamed “Area 51” as an allusion to their jersey numbers and Wembanyama’s ‘alien’ nickname, Wembanyama and Cassel are one of the most lethal defensive combinations in the NBA.

“I know we make it difficult, we make it uncomfortable for people to play against us,” Wembanyama said. “That’s the goal because a guy has to dribble around one of the best on-ball defenders and then make a shot against some of the best rim protectors; it’s very tough.”

Dylan Harper overwhelmed by Spurs success

While Cooper Flagg and Kohn Knueppel lead the Rookie of the Year discussion, Harper will likely be playing even if he doesn’t play this spring.

“It feels great,” Harper said of the Spurs’ success. “I think this is the most wins I’ve had in a long time. So, to have this win streak and keep it going and not take teams for granted, I think, is huge for us.”

Thanks to former Rutgers stars, Fox and Cassel, the Spurs are currently seeded second in the West. Their position at the top is much closer to the Oklahoma City Thunder than the teams behind them.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a slump. They have not been in good form of late, losing their last three games and five of their last seven.

The latest was another painful incident that went down to the wire, as Los Angeles suffered a clutch 3-pointer from Royce O’Neal in a 113-110 road loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The losses are really piling up for JJ Redick’s team, making the Lakers ever-more intense spotlight.

Redick also raised the same issue after the failure in Phoenix.

“Our losses stand out more than other teams. Because we’re the Lakers — and that’s how we lose,” Redick said, via Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register.

To refresh, the Lakers were shut out by the Boston Celtics in a 111-109 loss on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, before losing 110-109 at home to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

That magical game ending made it difficult for Lakers fans to accept the loss. Then, against the Suns, Los Angeles was defeated by a perfectly executed game by Phoenix, which also featured Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.

Luka Doncic had 41 points in the loss to the Suns, while LeBron James and Austin Reaves combined for 29 points.

However, the Lakers were repeatedly hurt by Phoenix’s outside shooting, with the Suns making 22 3-pointers at an absurd success rate of 44 percent. It’s always tough to beat teams that shoot so well, but the Lakers could have gotten an even better performance from Doncic’s supporting cast, including Deandre Ayton, who scored just two points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

The battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena has a tendency to go straight down to the wire, and their contest on Tuesday night was no different. However, the Magic prevailed in the end – Wendell Carter Jr.’s putback layup proved to be the difference in a 110–109 defeat.

It looked like the Lakers had the momentum in the fourth, but their defense failed to stop them when they needed to. They took a 109–108 lead after a lazy defensive possession by the Magic that gave LeBron James room for the go-ahead wide-open dunk, but they could not complete the defensive stop as Orlando regained possession after a midrange miss from Paolo Banchero, leading to Carter’s game-winner.

The Lakers still had a chance to win, but Luka Doncic missed open three-point attempts twice to win the game, causing James to take a difficult turnaround shot for the game-winning attempt, which he missed.

After the game, head coach JJ Redick summed up The Lakers fell to 34–23 on the season.

“We’re a work in progress,” Redick said in his postgame presser via @ohnohedidnt24 on X (formerly Twitter).

JJ Redick: “We’re a work in progress” pic.twitter.com/Vjd9KZoIIq

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 25 February 2026

The Lakers’ defense needs a lot of work

The Lakers’ defense was very good in the final few months of the 2024-25 season, but it hasn’t quite clicked in this current campaign. DeAndre Ayton suffers from letdowns, Doncic and Austin Reaves have their shortcomings on that end of the field, James is aging, and the team doesn’t yet have the personnel to build a strong defensive infrastructure.

They currently rank 24th in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 116.6 points per 100 possessions. It may take the Lakers another year or two before they can maximize the roster around Doncic.

The San Antonio Spurs began the All-Star break leg with the second-best record in the NBA’s Western Conference standings. As one of the few veterans in the team’s rotation, De’Aaron Fox doesn’t worry about the road to the playoffs for the Silver and Black.

“Every game matters a little more, especially when you’re talking about seeding and how close West is. It’s going to be fun.”

“Every game matters a little more, especially when you’re talking about seeding and how close West is. It’s going to be fun”⬇️

-De’Aaron Fox w/#spurs Scheduled for the post-All-Star break portion of the year

Coverage offered by Superior Tax Service: https://t.co/nfxcO81b4O#porvida pic.twitter.com/JjDzsuq1ty

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 18 February 2026

Following his second career All-Star Game appearance, Fox is one of the few Spurs to have previously qualified for the NBA Playoffs.

“It’s definitely going to be an adjustment. And, even with that, they say they don’t do it, but the games are operated a little differently, especially as you get closer to the playoffs,” Fox said. “It’s going to be an adjustment. I think our coaching staff has put us in a good position to not let that mess up the way we play because we want to be able to be a physical team and continue to play fast and continue to blow the whistle.”

De’Aaron Fox likes the way the Spurs approach All-Star Weekend

The Spurs returned to play after the break on their longest actual winning streak of the season. Although they are credited with winning eight consecutive games in December, this includes a loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup Finals, which does not count towards the records of the participating teams. That blowout came to New York between three and five game wins.

Spurs won their last six matches ahead of the league’s mid-February tradition.

Fox said, “It was a stretch that we felt was really important, to be able to go into the All-Star break with some momentum and we did a good job of that.”

“We played eight games,” the ninth-year veteran said. “We talked about an eight-game season. Over the last eight games, we were 7-1, so going into the break with that type of momentum, it’s the first time a lot of our guys are playing meaningful basketball after the break. So, all of these games mean a little more.”

Former Fox and Sacramento Kings teammate Harrison Barnes, who won a championship with the Golden State Warriors and is now in his 14th NBA season, is the team’s only rotation player with more than six seasons in the league.

Fox said, “There’s got to be a mental part of the game because everyone is going through it physically. But if you can keep your mind in the game and stay focused over such a long season, it helps you more than just being physically prepared for it.”

At 38–16 for the year, the Spurs are closer to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder at the top of the standings than they are to the Denver Nuggets, who are in third place in the West. This is the stark reality of the opportunity facing the Foxes and Spurs.

“For us, I think people are ready and I think people are definitely excited for it.”

Lonzo Ball’s first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers was cut short as the team traded him to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team deal. The Jazz eventually waived him, allowing him to become a free agent.

Ball said he understood the Cavaliers’ decision to fire him, but he responded to the statement by saying he was playing terribly.

“I don’t think I’m playing as bad as people are saying. I know I’m the scapegoat right now. But look, it comes with the name and it comes with what they brought me in for,” Ball said on the “Ball in the Family Podcast.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m playing great. But for me, I’m really just missing shots. People always say, ‘25% shooting.’ Okay, let’s actually take the percentage and talk about what it is. It is a four shot game. Sh***y, but I promise we’re not winning or losing games in four shots.”

How’s Zoe been playing lately… real breakdown 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/uKl8G56lvH

– Ball in the Family Podcast (@ballinthefampod) 17 February 2026

The 28-year-old Ball seemed like a perfect fit for the Cavaliers when they signed him in the offseason. His unselfishness, playmaking and defense were qualities that coach Kenny Atkinson praised. But alas, it was not to be.

In 35 games for the Cavaliers, Ball averaged 4.6 points on 30.1% shooting, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes off the bench.

Ball continued, “Can I play better? Yes. Am I playing too bad? I don’t think I played well.”

Ball, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, has struggled to find his rhythm after missing two seasons due to a knee injury.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly interested in signing Ball.

LOS ANGELES – For the first time since 2019-20, the Los Angeles Lakers have a participant for the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in the form of big man Jackson Hayes. Dwight Howard competed in the championship for the last time in his lone season with the Lakers. Howard did not advance to the final round that season, with Derrick Jones Jr. taking home the hardware.

Jackson Hayes is the sixth Lakers player to be selected for the Slam Dunk Contest, but only Kobe Bryant has won the marquee event of NBA All-Star Saturday Night. Hayes is now attempting to become the second player in franchise history to bring home the trophy.

Over the past few seasons, the Slam Dunk Contest has come under increased scrutiny from fans, media, and players alike, and the contest has lost some of its luster compared to previous years. But for Hayes, he’s just trying to go out there and have fun, and try to bring excitement back to the competition.

“I want to bring as much fun and life back to this competition,” Hayes said during his media availability session. “Me and the guys were talking about it, we just want to make it a show. Just try to bring the dunk contest back in the best way possible, just go all out and have fun, and make it entertaining for people to watch.”

Hayes has wowed fans with some impressive dunks in games this season. He is good for Luka Doncic in almost every game. But the one that stood out so far this season was his Eastbay dunk, which he threw down during the Lakers’ win against the Chicago Bulls on January 26.

The inspiration for that dunk came when Hayes’ Lakers teammates made fun of him for throwing an ambiguous dunk on a fastbreak.

Hayes said, “At the beginning of the game my teammates were making fun of me. I had a fastbreak and I just did a simple two-handed dunk. Not hanging on the rim or anything, just dropping it in.” “Everyone was teasing me, they were all messing with me. I got a steal late in the game and I was just remembering the guys who were teasing me earlier and making fun of me, so I was like, ‘Okay I’ll do something.’

As far as Hayes’ production for the Lakers, he has been one of the team’s most consistent players this season with his energy and effort. He has appeared in 45 games, including seven starts, at a pace of just over 17 minutes per game. He is averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 77.2 percent from the field.