標籤: criticism

An MLB prospect expert believes New York Yankees Triple-A star Spencer Jones has a lot of potential. But he also believes that this young player could easily flop in the Bronx.

This week, Jason Dominguez endeared himself to Yankees fans when he went all out to make a catch during a game against the Texas Rangers. In the process of making possibly the best catch of his career, he sprained a low-grade left AC joint in his knee and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Yankees are pulling the trigger on something New York fans have wanted to see for a few years: top star Aaron Judge in the same outfield with stud prospect Spencer Jones. The pair of 6-foot-7 sluggers will now bookend the Yanks’ outfield for the foreseeable future.

Yankees fans have heard about Jones and his big power over the years. He has been a top prospect in their system and has been close to untouchable as a minor leaguer for the franchise. So, expectations are high as he joins a 26-12 team.

Could Spencer Jones be the next Race Hinds?

Baseball America editor-in-chief JJ Cooper spoke after news of his promotion on Friday foul territory show Regarding Jones, prospect experts admitted that Jones “scares” them because, in their time in this role, they have never seen a player with such a wide range of possible career outcomes.

He made it clear that he would never come close to being as good as Judge, but he believed he could become a player who hits 25 to 30 homers in the big leagues. But he also said his performance could be similar to that of Cincinnati Reds prospect Race Hinds. A player who was a beast in the minors but has a .172 average in 51 games played over the last three seasons.

The big reason he’s so unsure about Jones is not just his high strikeout rate that could lead to 0-4 with 4 Ks days, but it’s his miss rate in the zone. Jones is one of the top picks in the minor leagues. Cooper concluded by saying that Spencer Jones’ promotion to the Yankees’ big league roster this week carries “massive potential but also massive risk.”

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

Raider Nation is angry again as an unnamed ACC coach told ESPN this week that Fernando Mendoza doesn’t have “NFL qualities.” His receivers made him look much better than that. The back-shoulder thing won’t work in the league. Those throws get picked up in the NFL.

Before you get all upset and take it to the “national media” and take aim at the Raiders again, step back and think a little differently. This time, the media is doing the Raiders, Fernando Mendoza, and their fan base a favor.

Mendoza Criticizes 2025 Nothing Like Shedure Sanders Takedown

Read the anonymous quote a few times. Now ask yourself if this sounds familiar.

Necessary. Almost a year ago, anonymous sources spent the better part of three weeks publicly dismantling Shedure Sanders. Both situations are being framed as parallel cases of pre-draft and post-draft doubt. They are not the same. They’re not even close.

Watching the coverage of Shedure Sanders last season, it was a completely different animal. That effort, fairly or unfairly, was a constant drain on Sanders’ draft stock. Tom Pelissero reported that a longtime NFL assistant coach gave Sanders the worst formal interview of his career, said he behaved appropriately, and said he took unnecessary sacks, among other things. An AFC executive said that Sanders wanted to command the room. An NFC scouting director warned of culture shock upon hitting the real locker room. One scout told Athlon Sports he mailed it every step of the process. A former NFL evaluator went on record with a 26-game film study and an unattainable grade.

Sanders then fell to take 144. Which retroactively validated every anonymous shot taken at him.

This is what a real eviction looks like. multiple sources. Multiple angles. The football, the character, the preparation, the medicals, the whole circus. The criticism was of the story.

Criticism of Fernando Mendoza is an outlier

During the draft process, some people were skeptical of Fernando Mendoza and his ability to translate what he did at Indiana in 2025 to the next level. Don Orlowski’s criticism and critique was perhaps the most publicized example of this type.

This time, ESPN reports, only one coach took aim at Mendoza. a coach. A coach who last saw Mendoza at Cal in 2024, before his signature year and his incredible run to the College Football National Championship. This coach saw him First 41 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2025. They saw him before he became the runaway Heisman Trophy winner. Before he became that guy, four other coaches told the same ESPN reporter that he was either “one of the more complete quarterback prospects” they had seen or someone who “grows up” in those moments that you can’t teach.

Please read the coverage of the ACC coach’s quote and see how it is handled. Bleacher Report ran it ahead of the Big Ten coaches’ praise. Clutch Points called the criticism “a bit unfair”. Hoosier State of Mind kept the word “somehow” in the title. Just Blog Baby went with “completely ridiculous and not supported by its peers”. Comeback speculated that Kirk Cousins ​​might have “some credibility” before heading to the safety net.

No one is treating this as a Sanders moment. Outlets are running the quote so they can include it in the same article.

RELATED: Raiders rookie minicamp 2026: Fernando Mendoza already looks like a boy

Mendoza consensus is much more positive

That’s why the national media, coaches, former players and evaluators talk more positively than negatively about the Raiders’ new franchise quarterback. The wealth of evidence is there. If Fernando Mendoza had serious question marks like Sanders, you’d be hearing it everywhere, but he doesn’t. Mendoza was first in FBS in EPA per dropback last season, second in EPA per dropback on third and fourth downs. Ranked fourth in EPA when tied or trailing in the fourth quarter. He is just a clutch player and the visual evidence is overwhelming.

Mendoza played hurt against Ohio State, came back and won the Big Ten title. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the national championship game. ESPN’s draft scouting report, written by a former college quarterback, identified pocket movement as his real weakness. No back-shoulder throw.

This coward of an ACC coach, who last saw Mendoza at Cal, has some kind of ax to grind. This is clear. He is criticizing a player who no longer exists. 2025 Mendoza completed passes at a different clip, threw to a different level of receivers, ran a different offense, and was asked to do different things. Treating those two players as the same prospect is the analytical equivalent of evaluating a stock based on last year’s performance.

On the bus: #attacker First-round quarterback Fernando Mendoza is training and throwing to Ohio State superstar WR Jeremiah Smith.

They are both Miami natives and potentially top-2 #nfl Draft picks back-to-back.

Future teammates in Las Vegas.

👀 pic.twitter.com/KDQ1a0Am2t

– mlfootball (@mlfootball) 7 May 2026

That doesn’t mean Mendoza is bulletproof or has proven himself in the NFL yet. In fact, he said as much at last week’s rookie minicamp. He knows he has to earn respect and admiration in the NFL by being the best quarterback he can be. Given his conduct, intelligence and track record, how can you doubt him?

As I’ve said before in this area, the Raiders need to develop a young quarterback. It remains to be seen whether this season’s impressive offseason moves and draft performance mean the organization is finally on the right track. The Raiders have unfortunately underperformed with talented players in the past. Inheriting the league’s worst offense by 2025 has a rookie quarterback to do the job, no matter what the consensus board said in April. But framing matters here. An opponent’s old decision is not a referendum.

Sanders had institutional doubts. Mendoza is a man with a chip on his shoulder.

If anything, this ACC coach trying to start a fire proved just how little fuel is needed.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the growing criticism of the league’s 65-game rule following Cade Cunningham’s recent injury, as the debate rages about postseason award eligibility.

Speaking Wednesday, Silver responded to concerns raised by the National Basketball Players Association after Cunningham’s situation sparked a renewed investigation into the policy. This rule, implemented to ensure that players meet minimum participation thresholds for major awards, has faced backlash for potentially disqualifying standout seasons marred by injury.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel shared Silver’s comments on X, formerly known as Twitter:

“I’m not willing to say it’s not working. It’s working… I’m not willing to say because there’s a sense of injustice to a player, that the rule doesn’t work.”

The NBPA issued a statement Tuesday criticizing the rule in light of Cunningham’s case:

“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and is another example of why it should be eliminated or reformed to make exceptions for significant injuries. Since its implementation, many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from season-ending honors by this arbitrary and overly harsh quota.”

Cade Cunningham’s award eligibility in jeopardy after injury

Cunningham, 24, has been in the midst of a breakout fifth season with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 24.5 points, a career-high 9.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds and a career-best 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 46.1% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range in 61 games, logging 34.4 minutes per contest.

His production has played a central role in leading Detroit to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons have a record of 52–19 and currently sit as the No. 1 seed as the regular season enters its final stretch.

However, Cunningham’s award eligibility is now in question after he suffered a collapsed lung last Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, he is expected to miss an “extended amount of time”, leaving it uncertain whether he will reach the 65-game limit.

The situation has intensified league-wide discussion about balancing player health with awards criteria, as the NBA and NBPA continue to evaluate the long-term effects of the rule.

Luke Doncic is arguably the best offensive player in the NBA today. Despite his undeniable skills, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar still receives some criticism from basketball analysts from time to time. However, the criticism Doncic received from Chris Broussard on Tuesday is exactly the same as it was almost a year ago.

During a segment on “First Things First” on Fox Sports 1, Broussard called the 27-year-old guard a ball hog. Popular sports analysts agree that Doncic is one of the league’s greatest players of all-time, but he clarified that he believes the eight-year veteran doesn’t pass the ball well enough.

“[Doncic is] “Hall of Fame ball hog,” Broussard said. “He’s an all-time great ball hog, but he’s a ball hog!”

“He’s a Hall of Fame ball hog. He’s the greatest ball hog of all time, but he’s a ball hog!”

– Chris Broussard on Luka Doncic 🗣️

(via @FTFonFS1)pic.twitter.com/hkHF9bgCRn

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

Broussard said the exact same words on March 25, 2025, almost a year before his statement on Tuesday. Although it’s a new year, the 57-year-old analyst still feels the same way about Doncic.

“Luka Doncic is a ball hog,” Broussard said in March 2025.

“Luka Doncic is a ball hog. A great ball hog. A Hall of Fame ball hog – a future Hall of Famer. An all-time elite ball hog. He’s a ball hog.”

Chris Broussard doesn’t hold back after Lakers’ loss to Magic

(via @FTFonFS1)
pic.twitter.com/ypd91M0I4D

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 March 2025

Although Broussard thinks Doncic is a ball hog, the stats tell a different story. In 60 games played so far this season, the six-time All-Star is averaging 8.4 assists per contest. That’s good for third-best in the league behind Nikola Jokic (10.6) and Cade Cunningham (9.9).

Luka Doncic, who tops the league in average assists per game, is also averaging 33.4 points (league leader), 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. His field goal percentage is 47.4% while shooting 36.4% from beyond the three-point line.

Max Verstappen has called Formula 1’s 2026 rules “like playing Mario Kart”, declared them “fundamentally flawed”, and told anyone who actually enjoys yo-yo racing that they “don’t really know what racing is” – and the disturbing thing is, he’s not wrong.

The 2026 tech overhaul produced something really strange. The new power units run on an almost 50-50 split between internal combustion engine and electric power, meaning battery management now drives the race as much as driving talent. The Overtake Mode button gives the driver a surge of power to propel ahead – but doing so burns the charge, leaving them sitting on the next straightaway. Exchange of posts. The fight continues. The lap counter has stopped and no one has really gone anywhere.

Verstappen illustrated it clearly this week.

“You boost past, then on the next straight your battery drains, and they boost you again,” Verstappen said. This is not a hot take. This is a mechanical description of what the spectators saw happen in Melbourne and Shanghai. The Australian opener made 75 more overtakes than in last year’s race on the same circuit. Impressive numbers. Almost meaningless in context.

An overtake which reverses after two corners is not an overtake. It is a position exchange, operated by a button. And presenting it as close racing is exactly the kind of thing F1’s marketing department loves and race engineers quietly despise.

So yes – there is merit in the criticism. The problem is that Max Verstappen is the least reliable man in the paddock making it.

Verstappen’s complaints are selective

Max Verstappen is eighth in the championship with eight points after two rounds. Red Bull is nowhere to be found. The car he is driving hits the front window. Verstappen retired from sixth in Shanghai while trying to keep pace with Oliver Bearman in the Haas. This is the context of this crusade. And context matters.

Toto Wolff said candidly: “Obviously, for a guy like Max to lift and coast for a qualifying lap, who is completely aggressive, it is difficult to cope and digest. But I would say it is a car-specific issue that exacerbates the problem.”

Wolfe is also not wrong. Verstappen has a habit of linking his complaints to his results. This is the same driver who had nothing but contempt for him until he won the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The same driver who, during four years of Red Bull dominance, told fans struggling to connect with procession racing that they were not properly appreciating greatness. He was still enjoying the gatekeeper, from the other direction.

When pressed on his selective outrage, Verstappen was, well, Verstappen.

“If I was winning the race I would say the same, because I care about the racing product.”

Perhaps. But the line would be even more difficult to draw if he had not spent the last several years with absolute ease, with critics calling his era boring.

Charles Leclerc, who is actually in dispute, offered a different reading.

After China he said, “I enjoy it and from inside the car it doesn’t seem so artificial.” He finished second in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, watched Lewis Hamilton climb to the podium in the race, and walked away with a car that looked like a genuine championship contender. His stance on regulations doesn’t detract from his results, but at least he’s taking an honest look at what the new formula actually produces instead of trying to demonize the whole thing.

F1’s real issue isn’t Max Verstappen

The real problem facing Formula 1 here is not Max Verstappen’s state of mind. It’s their underlying argument – ​​that manufactured position swaps are not the same as earned overtakes – is a conversation the game needs to have seriously, and can’t have seriously because the loudest voice making the case is the one with the obvious ax to grind.

When the person who has the most to gain from a change in a rule is the one shouting the loudest for that change, it spreads poison. Valid criticisms get filed under sour grapes. Fans who might otherwise engage with the nuance dismiss the entire argument. And F1’s leadership, already financially comfortable with the current direction, gets to do exactly what Verstappen accused them of doing – count the engagement numbers and move on.

He is not wrong about what the rules produce. He is just a wrong messenger. And in Formula 1, those two things are equally important.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

LOS ANGELES – One of the prevailing stories around the Los Angeles Lakers this season has been the need for more consistent play from Deandre Ayton. With the regular season approaching, the Ayton experiment has had mixed results for the Lakers.

There have been games when Ayton looked like one of the NBA’s best centers and a consistent 20-point, 10+ rebound player. And then there are games where he’s somewhat invisible on the court. Now some of this has to do with matchups and opponents against whom Ayton is better suited. But the fact is that the Lakers are a better and stronger team when he is active and making an impact on both ends of the court.

Before the Lakers’ game against the New York Knicks on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick talked about the consistent message he has given the team throughout the season regarding getting the most out of Deandre Ayton.

“Our staff and his teammates, we definitely emphasize getting him the ball in pick and rolls when he has opportunities to duck in versus switching, or even if he gets a seal early in transition. It’s something we talk about a lot,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “I think the way we’ve coached him has been very consistent. So ultimately, the player has to be consistent. And that’s no knock on DA, that’s just the NBA.

“We’ve been very consistent in the way we’ve trained him. We recognized early on that, maybe it’s not a change, but something we’ve had to adapt to. I think we’re hopeful and optimistic that we’re going to get a consistent version of him over the course of the season.”

To this point, Ayton has appeared in 54 games at a rate of just over 27 minutes per game. He is averaging 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds with a split of 66.7 percent shooting from the field and 66 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Last week, Ayton drew attention to himself by suggesting that the Lakers were trying to turn him into Clint Capela, and that’s not his game.

This season, Ayton’s points per game and shot attempts (8.6 per game) are both career lows. But some of this was to be expected when playing with on-ball threats like Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

But by the numbers, Ayton has been one of the most dominant defensive players on the Lakers roster. In terms of regular rotation players, he is third in defensive rating at 115.0, behind Jared Vanderbilt and Luka Doncic, respectively. He has provided the Lakers with an interior anchor on that end.

This upcoming offseason, Ayton will have a decision to make as he has a player option for the 2026-27 season. His play later in the year and in the playoffs could go a long way toward his future on this Lakers team.

Stephen A. Smith has never been one to shy away from confrontation, and he recently got into a fight with the New Orleans Pelicans. Following a segment where he was critical of Zion Williamson’s weight, the Pelicans social media team retaliated by reposting a video in which Stephen A. Smith was missing jump shots that he was attempting on the basketball court, as well as being a poor athlete in boxing.

The audio of the video was also an earlier example of him giving his assessment of Kwame Brown’s involvement in the Pau Gasol trade in February 2008, where he called Brown a “true man”. Smith fired back on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN take firstEven touting his HBCU credentials.

“You left something out and you know what? You left out the fact that I was in the fourth grade and I was left back out because I had a first-grade readership. And here I am on national television after graduating from an HBCU, going up against Hall of Famers who have played professional sports all the time… the elite journalist in this business, and I’m coming from an HBCU and still doing what I’m doing.”

Smith is a graduate of Winston-Salem State University and has done significant HBCU philanthropy work throughout her career. He has also used the platform of take first to highlight HBCUs and HBCU athletics, but Smith has been involved in numerous feuds and wars of words, often citing his HBCU connections.

Still, the Pelicans are undaunted, as they posted a response tweet to Smith’s criticism with the caption, “A five-minute monologue from a former NBA player on how to shoot.” The feud will eventually settle down, but Stephen A. is determined to show that he is not to be messed with.

As the San Antonio Spurs (43-17) prepare to conclude their five-game Eastern Conference road trip with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers (33-27) on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, center Luke Cornette reiterated his criticism of the Atlanta Hawks’ association with the Magic City.

Cornette addressed the controversy while speaking with Jason Dumas of Action News on 6abc following Tuesday’s shooting. His comments come a day after he publicly objected to the Hawks’ planned “Magic City Night” promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic.

“I actually saw the statement just last week, the Hawks’ announcement and as far as the point that you have the public voice, I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of others in the NBA. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that that part of the discussion is expressed and that it includes criticizing people and things like that – that’s part of the process that white people may be hesitant to do but I think really trying to start a conversation and be able to do that.

He continued:

“It’s important to help make sure everyone in the league is ready to be represented and has an environment like you want.”

Cornette’s renewed comments follow backlash after he first expressed concerns about the Hawks’ partnership. On Monday, he elaborated in a post on Medium, where he directly called on the organization to cancel the event.

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night collaboration celebrating the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. “In their press release, Hawks failed to acknowledge that this location is, as the business itself claims, ‘Atlanta’s premiere strip club.’ Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Luke Kornet says NBA, Hawks haven’t contacted him amid Magic City controversy

Asked whether the league moved forward after his initial statement, Cornette said:

“Not really after that. I talked to a few people in the league first, just to see what the status of it was, to make sure it was up to date on the situation.”

He said the Hawks have not contacted him.

“No, I didn’t.”

The Hawks’ collaboration has attracted widespread attention, including public support from former guard Lou Williams. While Atlanta has not indicated any changes to its plans, Cornette’s comments add another layer to the broader conversation surrounding the event.

San Antonio will now turn their attention back to the court as they prepare to face Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and look to bounce back from a 114-89 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

John Heitinga is being questioned in the Netherlands following his early departure from Tottenham Hotspur.

ajax1 Comments from cover journalist Tom Knipping at Voetbal International today. He is less impressed by the dramatic year since Heitinga’s dismissal.

Heitinga left Tottenham in the middle of the month after spending more than 30 days as assistant manager to Thomas Frank at the club. His exit followed Frank’s dismissal, despite Igor Tudor reportedly asking him to stay.

Instead the Dutchman decided to leave his post. He reportedly came after her There was belief that Spurs would offer him the interim position. Instead he decided to sign for Tudor until the end of the season.

Agent’s comments on Tottenham

Sport Witness has covered the results since then. This includes his agent, Rob Jensen. Providing all the details on Tottenham and Heitinga’s future plans.

It’s now up to the 42-year-old to take the next step. Heitinga looked to be on his way to victory after serving as assistant manager to Arne Slot at Liverpool last year.

Indeed, it was clear from his report at the time of his departure that Liverpool were sad to lose him. Observers have also attributed some of his struggles this season to his exit.

That work landed him the manager’s job at Ajax, who appointed him as head coach the previous summer. Unfortunately, it lasted only 128 days after a disastrous start to both their domestic and European campaigns.

back in the market

After a short, unsuccessful and questionable spell at Tottenham he has now returned as a free agent. However, Knipping has no sympathy for the Dutch coach.

“Losing your job in both the Eredivisie and the Premier League in one season. Not many managers can do that,” He said.

“After being fired in Amsterdam, Heitinga left his position as assistant manager at Tottenham, where he had started just a few weeks earlier.

“His bank account has undoubtedly seen a nice bounce in recent months, but his coaching career is certainly not taking the turn he might have imagined when he took over as head coach at Ajax earlier this season.

Recently, Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle made headlines by hitting back at the NBA for the franchise’s fine that revolved around the team allegedly sitting healthy players in an effort to tank. Carlisle claimed that the league had insisted that the injured Aaron Nesmith play, even after being prescribed medication for his ankle injury.

Now, the NBA has hit back at Carlisle’s harsh words with its own description of the events.

“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process involved in the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate. An independent physician led the medical review,” a league spokesperson said, per Brett Siegel, formerly of Twitter, via The Athletic. “…The Pacers confirmed that he provided all information requested by the league and the team stated that an interview with Coach Carlisle or the team physician was not necessary.”

Apparently, Carlisle and the league front office are not on the same page about what happened regarding Nesmith.

The NBA has been trying to crack down on tanking in recent weeks, as well as fining the Utah Jazz a hefty amount for sitting healthy players as teams try to secure the best draft picks.

The 2026 NBA Draft class is widely considered loaded, and the process of teaming a blue-chip prospect with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton next year is certainly an attractive one for the Pacers.

However, all things considered, it seems there are even more questionable tanking practices going on around the league than what is happening in Indiana.

The Golden State Warriors got back into the win column with an impressive win over the Denver Nuggets at home on Sunday afternoon. Despite trailing for much of the second half, the Warriors were able to turn up the heat late and ultimately win 128–117 despite Stephen Curry being out of the lineup.

Recently, ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins raised eyebrows during his appearance on the Road Trippin’ Podcast when he said the Warriors should give up in 2025-26 and shut down Curry for the remainder of the season due to Draymond Green’s lack of production in the recent game against the Boston Celtics.

Now, Green himself has responded to those comments on The Draymond Green Show, produced by Audacy.

“We played great players, and we got clips of them. So you know, bad plays are going to happen every once in a while,” Green said. “…Be careful listening to the little kids out there who are trying to make it, because it’s garbage a lot of the time… You know how to have a bad game. I can promise you, Big Perk. I don’t care where you were at the end of your game.”

In fact, Perkins had several bad games toward the end of his playing career. Meanwhile, Green has seen a steady decline in production over the past few seasons, but he is still one of the smartest players in the game today, and remains a staple of the Warriors’ defense.

At this point, it’s hard to envision the Warriors competing for anything meaningful this season, even if Curry returns fully healthy, as Jimmy Butler is already out for the remainder of the season, and trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis is already dealing with an illness.

However, at this point, it doesn’t seem like the Warriors are seriously considering following Perkins’ advice and locking up their franchise leader.

inside the nba Host Charles Barkley was not impressed with the Los Angeles Lakers after their 125–122 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. On Saturday morning’s edition of Inside the NBA after the game, Barkley reiterated his old view that the Lakers are not championship contenders and that they will not beat the Thunder and other top teams in the West.

“It depends on the seeding because if they’re six, seven or eight and they have to play Denver, Houston or OKC, they’re not going to be able to beat those teams. I’m not even sure they can beat San Antonio,” Barkley said.

Even before Doncic was traded to the Lakers, the Pro Basketball Hall of Famer turned studio analyst remained consistent in his sentiments regarding the Lakers. He never saw the Lakers as a true contender and his doubts continued throughout the season.

But yesterday the moment was different. As Lakers guard, Austin Reaves, waited to be interviewed by the Inside the NBA crew, he had the headset on as Barkley talked about his team’s prospects. Ernie Johnson asked if Reeves had heard the conversation.

Reeves replied, “Yeah, I heard a little bit. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.”

Currently, the Lakers are the fifth seed in the Western Conference after the All-Star break. They are one game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and three games ahead of the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns in the loss column.

This season, the Lakers have wins over Minnesota and San Antonio as well as a Denver team without Nikola Jokic. So far, they have not been able to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Spurs have beaten them three times since their November 5 win.

But the Lakers are on a two-game winning streak and will host the Boston Celtics on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

Every year, the NBA’s All-Star Game is heavily criticized by fans. Over the past few decades, the All-Star Game has transformed from a semi-competitive game between two conferences to a glorified shootaround between two teams. There have been some good All-Star Games, but they have been few and far between. Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant blamed Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic for their lackadaisical approach to the All-Star Game.

“You have to ask the European and world teams if they’re going to compete,” Durant said earlier. “If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic right now, let’s go back and see what they do in the All-Star Game. Is that competition? So we haven’t questioned what they’re doing. But we’re going to question the old heads and the Americans.”

This quote has generated considerable discussion: it is rare for a player to publicly call out his teammates, and Durant conceded defeat against two of the league’s best players. Now, Doncic has responded to Durant’s comments. In a recent interview with Slovenian sports website Sportsklub, the Lakers star revealed that the All-Star Game was treated loosely before he and Jokic arrived in the league.

“It was the same way when I first came to the All-Star Game, so I don’t know why they picked us,” Doncic said. “But I think it would be better because it’s the world against the United States.”

In fact, the Lakers star was right: The World vs. USA format lit a fire inside the players. Many fans praised the efforts of Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama during the game. Team USA ultimately won thanks to Edwards, but most spectators were happy to have an entertaining and competitive game for once.

Doncic earned his sixth All-Star selection this season and his fifth as a starter. The Lakers star is averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game this season. LA is in fifth place in the West with a 33-21 record before the All-Star Game.