標籤: claim

Manchester City Star Rodri has insisted that winning with Spain is a more special experience than winning with his club.

AS reports on an interview with the midfielder today after appearing on DAZN’s Revelado program. In this, the 29-year-old player was seen focusing on his career.

spain success

The Spanish midfielder has enjoyed a trophy-filled career so far, winning 19 major club and international trophies so far.

His honors include one UEFA Champions League title, four Premier League titles and one UEFA European Championship title with Spain. He has also won the UEFA Nations League with his country and was the UEFA Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament.

He now has his sights set on winning the World Cup with Spain this summer and says winning with Luis de la Fuente’s team is more special than winning with Manchester City.

Regarding a photo of himself with the European Championship trophy, he said, “The most beautiful moment of my career. It is more special to achieve my dreams with my country than with my club.”

“It’s amazing how the tournament started, how the team won it. We weren’t the favorites, and what we did… it ended up being a special, unique year. Maybe we weren’t considered contenders, and that made us stronger.

“That confidence is something you keep within yourself. We knew we were the best, but we had to prove it. And that’s what we did. That European Championship speaks volumes about the ambition of the national team. The rivals we beat. We prevailed strongly; we won every match in the tournament. It speaks volumes about what was in store for us.”

manchester city trophy win

That doesn’t mean Rodri is completely disregarding his success at the Etihad. That will be difficult after winning 11 major trophies with Manchester City, including four Premier League titles.

The last of those, was won through his own strike and he admits it was a special moment in a big year for him.

He added, “It was probably the most fulfilling year I’ve ever had.”

“In terms of goals, I was in incredible physical condition. I helped the team win its fourth title in a row. It was an extremely difficult, complicated year. Like every year when you’re aiming for everything. To finish it with that goal was special.”

The club’s first Champions League success in 2023 is also hard to ignore, but that success has different memories for everyone else.

“A very special day because of what the Champions League means to the club, what that iconic goal means to me personally, but what I remember most is the team,” he concluded.

“Our ability to recover from the last years, I think, to not win the title that we deserved, but which was taken away from us. I remember that moment I spoke to Pep about how difficult it was. Moments of pure joy.”

Manchester United And armory Recent weeks have been spent being presented as the leading contenders for Morten Hjulmand. However, the Sporting captain’s transfer saga has developed a habit of changing directions every few days.

Recent Portuguese reports have pointed towards Manchester United and Arsenal. Both clubs were said to be frontrunners For Danish international.

This week there was one real madrid twist Following reports it was suggested that Jose Mourinho had identified Hjulmand as a target for a move to the Spanish giants.

Now another contender is back in the picture. And this time Atletico Madrid is said to be in its strongest position ever.

Atletico’s claim changes the story

According to the news coming out spain And portugalAtletico Madrid has already reached an agreement with Hjulmand. Now they just need to convince Sporting.

sports worldCiting information from the Portuguese broadcaster antenna 1claims that Diego Simeone’s team have practically agreed personal terms with the midfielder. Now they are preparing afresh for sporting.

If true, this would represent the most advanced development ever associated with any club associated with Hjulmand.

Atletico’s previous attempt came during the January transfer window. The Spanish side were willing to offer around €25m (£21m) at the time. However, Sporting were never interested in discussing a deal at that stage.

The expectation now is that any serious offer would have to get very close to the figure already established between player and club.

Sports agreement remains central

Sporting are understood to have reached an informal agreement with Hjulmand, allowing him to leave this summer for around €40m-€50m (£34m-£43m), while the midfielder’s official release clause is €80m (£69m).

That understanding has been mentioned repeatedly in Portuguese reports. And according to the latest claims, Atletico are fully aware of those conditions. They are preparing their next move accordingly.

Reports also state that the Madrid club are willing to triple Hjulmand’s current salary at Sporting. This offer will meet the financial expectations of the player.

And if Atletico’s latest move is as advanced as it is being reported, then Manchester United and Arsenal could suddenly find themselves chasing rather than leading.

Jake Paul has once again thrust himself into the center of the boxing spotlight after claiming he was ready to make $200 million for a fight against Canelo Alvarez. The statement comes just days after the YouTuber-turned-boxer openly questioned whether he would ever return to the ring after suffering a serious injury during his loss to Anthony Joshua.

Paul suffered a knockout loss in December and was later diagnosed with a double jaw fracture, a broken tooth and required multiple surgeries. Despite those concerns, Paul now says negotiations with Alvarez are moving forward.

The sudden change has brought renewed attention to the long-rumored Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight, one of the biggest crossover matchups in boxing. Questions still remain about Paul’s recovery and whether this fight can realistically happen in the near future.

Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight talks return after injury update

Jake Paul recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show to talk about the damage he suffered after losing to Anthony Joshua. Paul admitted that he had thought about retirement while recovering from the knockout loss.

Paul discussed his future in boxing, saying, “We’ll see what my doctors say.”

Due to the injury there is uncertainty as to whether Paul will continue to fight.

Despite this, Paul later posted a video on the Better Instagram account directly calling out Canelo Alvarez.

Paul said, “Canelo, I have $200 million for you, easy money. Jake vs. Canelo, let’s make it happen.”

He also described the potential fight as the biggest potential fight in boxing.

He said, “This is what the fans have been waiting for. This is probably the biggest fight to happen in boxing.”

The renewed talk of a Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight gained immediate attention because of the timing. Paul recently spoke about the physical and mental impact of recovering from his injury.

Canelo Alvarez focuses on major boxing bouts

The idea of ​​a Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight is not new. Earlier in 2025, reports claimed that discussions between the two parties had advanced towards a possible Cinco de Mayo event. Some outlets also suggested that a deal was close to completion before negotiations ultimately failed.

Scheduling issues, disagreements on the broadcast stage, and Alvarez’s commitments to other opponents reportedly prevented the fight from happening.

Alvarez remains one of boxing’s biggest stars and continues to focus on championship level opponents. The Mexican champion has recently been linked to a possible fight against Christian Mbili later this year.

A move towards a Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight would attract significant global attention due to the financial value of the event. Paul claimed that private discussions had already taken place.

“Canelo said his phone was off. So, we’re going to make it happen,” Paul said.

He continued to push the proposed purse amount, saying, “I have $200 million. I think that will be the next fight. Sign the contract, Canelo.”

Jake Paul’s injury concerns still cloud Canelo Alvarez’s fight plans

Despite the latest claims, there is still uncertainty about Paul’s health. Medical experts have noted that recovery from a double jaw fracture can take a long time, especially after surgery. Some reports suggest that the return to full competition may not occur until 2027.

Paul has built a reputation for organizing major boxing events and generating large paydays through crossover bouts. That history has helped draw attention to the claims for the latest Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight.

Nevertheless, there has been no official confirmation that a contract exists or that funding has been formally secured for the fight. Álvarez also focuses on title defenses and legacy fights within professional boxing.

For now, the Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight remains only a possibility. But Paul’s latest comments have put the matchup back at the center of the boxing conversation, despite serious injury concerns about his future.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza is back Manchester CityTransfer agenda for the summer.

The Premier League side’s interest in the 20-year-old is not new and they had already kept an eye on him last year.

In April 2025, Sport Witness Covered claims from Germany There was interest from Manchester City, but the move never took shape last summer.

At the time, he was at Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen were able to beat the Citizens and others to his signature.

The attacking midfielder has scored five goals and provided six assists in 38 games so far this season.

His Bundesliga statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 23
• Start: 15
• Total minutes: 1,443
• Minutes per game: 61
• Target: 3
• Assist: 3
• Expected target: 3.34
• Expected Support: 3.68
• Big chances created: 8
• Big chances missed: 4

return of manchester city player

Pep Guardiola’s side are now rekindling their interest in the Germany-born Algeria international ahead of the next window.

is according to Desire Sport Plus In Algeria, who took to Instagram to cover a short report on Manchester City’s desire to bring him to the Etihad.

They say it’s a ‘shock for City’ as Ibrahim Maza is on the Premier League team’s radar for the summer.

Without mentioning details of Manchester City’s offer, the Bundesliga side ‘rejected the offer’. However, they have made it clear that the player is ‘not for sale at any price’ and demand €70m.

That’s all the report says, without mentioning or indicating whether Guardiola’s side intend to return with an improved bid of €70m.

4-4-2 Riley claimed elsewhere that Bayer Leverkusen rejected Manchester City’s initial interest, not the young player’s offer, and demanded €70m.

The German club have already rejected a €35m bid from Atletico Madrid, presumably in the winter market.

Our opinion: Manchester City unlikely to pay €70 million

The Premier League side may have contacted Bayer Leverkusen to register their interest.

It is not possible for them to submit any proposal and if that were the case, the UK and German media would have many reports on it.

Even if Manchester City are keen, they are not allowed to spend €70 million on a player who has not played a full season at the top level.

Ibrahim Maza’s contract is till 2030 and his value, as per transfer marketIs €40m.

The Milwaukee Bucks have had a rough season and will likely miss the playoffs. Recently, the NBPA attacked the Bucks and their decision to shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury and bone spur. According to Bucks beat writer Eric Nehm, coach Doc Rivers fired back at his criticism.

“Bucs coach Doc Rivers dismissed the NBPA’s claim that Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and is being held out. He also responded to Adam Silver’s comments about looking into the injury. ‘He’s making progress, he’s just not healthy,’ -Rivers,” Nehm wrote on X.

Antetokounmpo suffered an injury against the Indiana Pacers and has been out the past two weeks. Because of this, discussion has started on how serious his injury is. There has been trade speculation regarding Antetokounmpo throughout the season and the NBA world has been waiting for a decision. There has been no discussion yet about whether he will stay in Milwaukee or go to another team.

Antetokounmpo has suffered recurring injuries throughout the season, and is a major reason why the Bucks are 29-43 and nearly out of playoff contention. His struggles have led to speculations about his departure.

The Greek superstar has spent his entire 13-year career with the Bucks. He led them to the 2021 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Phoenix Suns. Since that win, the team has struggled to regain the position it achieved that season. With the team’s competitive future in flux, there may be more pressure to send Antetokounmpo off. If Antetokounmpo misses the remainder of the season without incident, there will be even more doubt about his future in Milwaukee.

Bill Simmons has watched every superstar in the league this year, but one name stands out above the rest in his mind. While Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is gunning for the MVP trophy, Simmons is planting his flag for Victor Wembanyama as the true best player on the planet right now. On a recent episode of his podcast, the veteran analyst expressed his amazement at the sheer defensive intensity the San Antonio Spurs center provides every night.

“I can’t believe how good Wemby is. How hard he plays, and what an impact he makes on both ends of the floor, especially on defense.” Simmons said, “We were just counting all the shots he changes, changes, or changes the guy’s mind, and it was about 30. He never gives up, he keeps playing hard the whole time. And he has an impact on the game. I thought it was the most impressive thing I’ve seen.”

That defensive motor is a primary reason why the San Antonio Spurs currently sit at 51-18, reaching the 50-win mark for the first time since the 2016-17 season. They currently trail only the Thunder in the high-stakes Western Conference race as the playoffs approach.

The seven-foot-four phenom’s efficiency was on full display during Tuesday night’s emphatic 132-104 win over the Sacramento Kings. Wembanyama didn’t need to break a sweat, finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists in just 22 minutes of action. He hit 7 of 14 shots from the floor and knocked down two triples before being quickly benched.

Simmons acknowledged Gilgeous-Alexander is hovering in the rarefied air of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. However, he still stressed that the impact Vembanyama has had on both ends of the floor represents the most impressive thing he has seen all season. The big man’s ability to control the game without the need for high-volume scoring is what really sets him apart. As the postseason approaches, the debate over best player vs. most valuable player will only intensify.

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 142-130 win against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday amid a 51-point explosion from Luka Doncic, the Lakers find themselves climbing up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there is still about a month of the regular season left with some key games coming up, and it would be fair for the Lakers to hold on to the third seed in the West standings for the NBA Playoffs.

“I’m looking for a way for the Lakers to get to the playoffs. It’s going to take three,” Windhorst said. “No. 1, you have home court in the first round. Last year they had home court in the first round and they lost. You’ve still got to play good basketball … and you’re probably on the same side of the bracket as the Spurs.

“If you’re choosing to root for the Spurs or the Thunder, you’re probably going to pick the Spurs because of their inexperience overall. They’re not as deep as the Thunder… The next three games are huge for the Lakers. Home against the Nuggets… And then they go off on a six-game road trip. The first two games of that trip, in Houston. With teams all around them wanting to beat them, we’re going to be a lot more about the Lakers after the next 10 days.” Will get to know.”

Currently, the West’s standings from No. 3 to No. 7 are separated by just two games. The Spurs are obviously a better matchup for the Lakers than the Thunder in the NBA playoffs. But last season, JJ Redick cautioned against trying to manipulate seeding for favorable playoff series.

The Lakers have 16 games left in the regular season, four of which are against teams they are battling for playoff position with in the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns. Windhorst is right in that the upcoming stretch will say a lot about the Lakers moving forward in the West playoff picture.

Newcastle United have no intention of selling Nick Voltemed cheaply this summer, and have no interest in a move.

This is according to journalist Christian Falk, Via FCB Inside. The BILD journalist speaks about the Newcastle striker on his ‘Bayern Insider’ podcast.

FCB Inside report that reports are linking Voltemed with a return to Germany this summer thanks to a report from England.

In mid-February it was reported that Newcastle were ready to release Woltemaid after only one season. The website then claimed the Magpies would be sold for €35-40m.

€70m current value

This is a far cry from the €75 million paid for the 24-year-old last summer, and the issue immediately attracted attention in Germany, where Bayern’s level of interest became a topic of discussion.

The German giants were determined to sign Woltemade last summer, but ultimately lost out because Newcastle were willing to spend such a huge sum on him. However, Voltameda remains a player on their radar.

However, Falk wants to pour cold water on the latest reports. According to his knowledge, Newcastle have no intention of selling.

“Newcastle do not wish to put the player up for sale at the moment,” he said.

He also revealed that Voltamede is determined to establish itself in Newcastle. He is looking to earn a starting spot at the World Cup between now and the end of the season.

There is a possibility of a transfer in the future, but this is a long-term goal. He remains open to Bayern, as he was last year, but a transfer is unlikely in the near future.

“The next step after that would be a move to a Premier League club that plays a little higher in the table – or perhaps a return to the Bundesliga at some point,” he said.

Newcastle exit claim strange

At first glance the claim that Newcastle will be sold cheaply also seems ridiculous. Apart from the fact that they will lose around €30 million on the striker, this sale figure makes no sense.

Transfermarkt still values ​​the striker at €70 million. And this comes after some disappointing months.

It seems odd to consider a sale anyway, as Voltemed has 10 goals and four assists in 42 games this season.

Although he has only managed one goal in his last 19 games, Newcastle’s own struggles have contributed to that decline. In fact, it seems that Eddie Howe is still unsure how to utilize the summer signing effectively.

It is far more likely to focus on resolving him rather than selling him cheaply for Bayern’s benefit.

The 2026 NBA Draft class is expected to be one of the deepest in recent history, with most outlets unanimous in predicting Darin Peterson (Kansas), AJ DiBantsa (BYU) and Carlos Boozer (Duke) as top-3 picks. However, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ Darius Acuff Jr., who recently had a 28-point performance against the Texas Longhorns, is also part of a draft class widely viewed as a lottery pick.

Speaking after his match-winning performance, Texas head coach Sean Miller effectively claimed that Acuff Jr. was the best point-guard he had ever seen in college basketball.

Shawn Miller on Darius Acuff:

“In my 34 years, I’ve never seen a better point guard… He’s a generational player. This No. 1 pick thing, I don’t know why people aren’t talking about him more. I can’t imagine anyone better than him” 👀

(🎥: @pigtrailnation) pic.twitter.com/PdMhWXVyks

– The Field Of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) 5 March 2026

“Normally a guy like Acuff gets a lot of credit or a lot of respect as a young player in college basketball. It can happen sometimes when a guy is overhyped, he certainly has as bright a future beyond college as he does. But in my time, and I’ll go 34 years now, I’ve never seen a better point guard. When people talk about who’s going to be the number one pick in the NBA draft, or the best player in the conference Who. I mean just for perspective, and I think ours is great, he’s averaging 25 points per game,” Miller said, according to a post by The Field of 68.

Miller claimed that he could not imagine a better player, and he did not understand why Acuff Jr. was not talked about more.

“Guys like him, they don’t come around very often in college basketball. He’s a generational player. He’s really, really, really good. It’s the number one choice thing, I don’t know why people aren’t talking about him more. I can’t imagine anyone better than him.”

Acuff’s statistical production this season already places him in elite historical territory. The Arkansas star is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, which ranks ninth nationally in scoring, while maintaining 49.3% shooting from the field and nearly 40-43% shooting from three-point range. He also posts a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while averaging only two turnovers per game.

The performance against Texas also added a notable scoring streak. Acuff has scored 17 or more points in 24 consecutive games since a win over the Duke Blue Devils in November.
Despite this, Acuff is only viewed as a top-10 lottery pick, not even close to being viewed as the best player of the draft. In addition to the unanimous top-3 prediction, Caleb Wilson is also viewed as a close No. 4 pick.

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.

The Charlotte Hornets have made great strides towards becoming a playoff team, and a big reason for that is Hornets rookie Kon Nueppel. Under the leadership of their Rookie of the Year candidate, the Hornets have climbed up the Eastern Conference standings.

Knuppel was one of the league’s best rookies this season, and came into Thursday night’s game with a chance to make NBA history. Knueppel entered the game against the Indiana Pacers with 201 three-pointers in his rookie season, just five three-pointers away from tying Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray for most three-pointers in a rookie season.

In the 2022–23 regular season, Murray recorded 206 three-pointers in 80 games as a rookie for the Kings. This season, Kon Knueppel made a total of 201 three-pointers in only 58 regular season games with the Hornets.

With his fifth three-pointer of the game, all of which came in the first half, Knueppel tied Keegan Murray’s rookie record for three-pointers in a season.

Con Knueppel made his sixth three-pointer of the night with 1:05 remaining in the third quarter, giving him 207 three-pointers on the season.

Charlotte led Indiana 107–82 after three quarters of play. Knuppel had 20 points and three rebounds in three quarters of play. Brandon Miller led all scorers with 33 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Most 3-pointers made by a rookie in a single season in NBA history:

🔹207 — Kon Knueppel (59 GP)
🔸206 – Keegan Murray (80 GP)

Congratulations to the Hornets newbie 👏pic.twitter.com/7DaOXTapaP

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

Hornets guard Kon Knueppel has passed Keegan Murray for most 3-pointers in a rookie season.

1. Kon Knuppel – 207 (59 games)
2. Keegan Murray – 206 (80 games)
3. Donovan Mitchell 187 (79 games) pic.twitter.com/lg7AeKs66A

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 27 February 2026

In his first season in the NBA, Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, while shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three and 89.3 percent from the free throw line. This is the most efficient season by any player scoring more than 15 points per night in NBA history.

The Hornets were 12 games under .500 at 11–23 on January 2, 2026. Since that loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte has gone 17-8, one of the better records in the league. Now sitting at 28-31 after winning seven of their last 10 games, the Hornets have a very good chance to be one of the four play-in teams and an outside chance to climb into the top six in the Eastern Conference.

The Hornets are currently just one game ahead of the 10th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the West and just 4.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Russell Westbrook is known as one of the most attractive point guards the league has ever seen, and he’s still putting on a show late in his career. Every night, his speed is on full display, and his ability to get to the rim and make plays is unmatched. The fans know it, the league knows it, and he knows it.

That’s why he was surprised when Sacramento Kings administrators recently asked him if he wished he were more athletic.

Westbrook responded with confidence, which is no surprise.

Westbrook said, “This is the most athletic I’ve ever been. Don’t even question it. You better check the numbers.”

Russell Westbrook believes he is the most athletic player “of all time”:

“Don’t even question it. Better check the numbers.”

Agree with Russ? 🤔

(via @SacramientoKings)pic.twitter.com/jPlxu2YkPq

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 February 2026

Westbrook noted that he has the most dunks in a career by a point guard, which already shows his athleticism and what he can do in open space. Not only that, but Westbrook is considered one of the best rebounding guards in the league and he has the stats to prove it.

There was a time in Westbrook’s career when he was easily recording a triple-double every night, and it led him to the MVP award. If anyone ever wants to argue that he isn’t the most athletic player of all time, they may be in some trouble, because there is certainly an argument to be made.

Although Westbrook is no longer the same player he was at his peak, he is still impacting the game in the same way he used to. Unfortunately, this hasn’t led to much success for the Kings, as they are currently 13-46 and in last place in the Western Conference.

They recently shut down Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine for the rest of the season due to injuries, and at this point, they would be looking to get the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

To say that the Philadelphia 76ers have high expectations for VJ Edgecombe as a rookie would be an understatement.

Joining the red, white and blue as a 20-year-old rookie from Baylor, Edgecombe has started all 50 games in 2025-26 with Tyrese Maxey and company tasked with spacing the floor, driving to the basket and playing good defense on the other side of the court.

Discussing his rookie season in the NBA midway through his rookie season on the Club 520 podcast, Edgecombe broke down a particularly difficult stretch of games where he was tasked with guarding some of the best players in the NBA.

“Man, it was a stretch. I even went to guard Luka, Curry was sitting out. I’m not going to lie, I was low-key happy,” Edgecombe said. “Even if you want to compete, I was like, this isn’t too bad. I had to guard Luka, I had to guard Shai, D-Bucs, Brunson, I had to guard all of them, brother. So it was like my welcome to the NBA.”

So, who was the toughest player Edgecombe faced during his “Welcome to the NBA” challenge? That would be Ja Morant, who dropped 40 on the 76ers despite Edgecombe’s best efforts.

“Toughest? I’m not going to lie to you, Ja Morant brother,” Edgecombe said. “I’m not going to lie, he had 40.”

Widely touted as one of the better athletes in the 2025 NBA Draft class, Edgecombe made it clear that he wanted to be a force on both ends of the court, with defense being as important to his individual play as it was to his offensive production. Despite often being the youngest player on the court whenever Nick Nurse checks in on him in a game, Edgecombe’s desire to play both ways has largely been fulfilled, with “The Generator” only getting better as his ability is tested night in and day out.

The Baltimore Ravens’ decision to fire John Harbaugh shook the NFL world by storm. While the decision wasn’t completely a surprise, it was still surreal to see the long-time Baltimore coach get the axe. Immediately, there were rumors as to why the Ravens canned Harbaugh.

One of the prevailing rumors immediately after Harbaugh was fired was that the former head coach “lost the locker room”. In other words, the Ravens’ players lost trust in Harbaugh. Insider Adam Schefter dismissed these reports a few days ago. The latest report from Jamison Henley and Jeremy Fowler corroborated this claim, with one team source citing the Ravens’ performance in Week 17.

“There is plenty of speculation about what led to the firing of Harbaugh, but team sources pushed back on the narrative that losing the (Ravens’) locker room was one of the reasons for the move,” Henley and Fowler wrote for ESPN. “Multiple team sources noted how Harbaugh had the team ready to play in Week 17 in Green Bay, pouring 41 points on the Packers.”

One of the sources went so far as to say, “Saying John lost the locker room is bulls—.”

The Week 17 game against the Packers was a critical moment for the Ravens. Their playoff lives hinged on them winning that game. Against one of the better teams in the league, Harbaugh’s team put in arguably their best performance, dominating their NFC North opponents. That, coupled with a Pittsburgh Steelers loss that week, set up a win-or-go-home game between the two in Week 18.

Sadly, the Ravens ended up losing to the Steelers in the most heartbreaking fashion. After a missed extra point by Chris Boswell, Baltimore drove down the field with less than a minute remaining to get into field-goal range. However, kicker Tyler Loop’s 44-yard attempt went wide right, leading to the loss.

The Ravens are now searching for their new head coach. They have already started the interview process, with former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski as the latest name they’ve interviewed.