標籤: Davis

The Philadelphia 76ers need to move on from Joel Embiid, and this summer is one possible way to do it. But that would mean acquiring another expensive, injury-plagued big man, and it could cost them their first-round pick in June.

There were high expectations for the Sixers’ postseason chances in Philadelphia a week ago. They made a stunning comeback from 3-1 down to eliminate the Boston Celtics in the first round. Many analysts around the game suggested that they were the new favorites from the East to reach the NBA Finals. Then they ran into a buzz saw called the New York Knicks.

The organization has a lot of decisions to make after the 76ers’ dominance and loss to New York. Is Daryl Morey’s run as team president over? Should coach Nick Nurse be fired? Still, for whoever is running the team next month, one era that needs to end is Embiid’s time in the City of Brotherly Love.

Why the Philadelphia 76ers should trade Joel Embiid this summer

The seven-time All-Star and 2022-23 NBA MVP will go down as one of the greatest players in 76ers history. That would be one of the greatest “what if” stories in league history. Despite once being an impressive athlete for a man of his size, the 32-year-old’s body is now in disrepair. In his 10 years in the league, he has played 60 or more games only four times due to numerous injuries, mostly to his legs.

In 2025-26, the 76ers placed him in bubble wrap and allowed him to play in only 38 games this season after appearing in 19 last year. Although he can perform at an All-Star level when healthy – he has posted 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this season – his body cannot be trusted at all. This was proven during these playoffs, and with $186 million left on his contract, he is a bigger problem than a benefit for the organization.

What makes it even worse is that he has become a toxic personality at a time when Tyrese Maxey should be the new face of the franchise. He once again could not accept his team’s failures against the Knicks and blamed the referees. Then the season in which he played 38 games was called a “breakthrough”. In a blue-collar city like Philadelphia, Embiid has worn out his welcome. The 76ers will have to turn the pages to progress.

Yet, because he is so composed and has shown that he will never be able to recapture his previous form – plus he is owed so much money – he is perhaps the most unattainable player in the NBA. Unless he was traded for a similar player, and a sweetener was added to the deal.

Should the 76ers try to replace Anthony Davis with Joel Embiid?

In many ways, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis has had a similar career to Embiid. He also topped superstar projections. And while he could be a dominant force on the court like Embiid, injury problems followed him throughout his career. Besides, he still has a lot of money coming in. If Davis opts out of the final year of his contract in 2027-28, he could make up to $121 million over the next two years.

The Washington Wizards traded for him earlier this year and hope he – and Trae Young – can be part of a big resurgence next season. Still, reports have revealed that he is not thrilled about playing in DC, and may be open to another trade. But would the Wizards be willing to take Embiid back in a trade? Probably not.

However, if the 76ers were bold enough to add draft picks, they could do so. While Washington is expected to make big changes next season, they are still a rebuilding team that has the No. 1 pick in next month’s NBA Draft. What if they could also get the 22nd overall pick in one of the deepest drafts ever? Plus another first-rounder in a few years?

This would be a high cost for the 76ers. But they have the pieces to be very good again next season and they aren’t as eager to keep that pick at 22. Moving Embiid would be an addition by subtraction move. Plus, having Davis around even for one season is still a very good replacement option.

Although a trade is unlikely, if the 76ers can convince anyone to take Joel Embiid, his play and his contract, the Wizards would be the best trade partner.

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

Ryan Garcia has reignited the Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis rivalry exactly three years after their knockout loss. On April 22, 2026, Garcia called for a rematch with Gervonta Davis, saying he wanted the fight again under different circumstances.

The original Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis bout took place on April 22, 2023 at T-Mobile Arena. It ended with Davis stopping Garcia with a body shot in the seventh round. Garcia’s latest message immediately gained attention online, receiving thousands of views and replies. The renewed call has brought the Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis matchup back into the spotlight.

Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis fight conditions revisited

The first Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis fight was held at a catchweight of 136 pounds with a strict rehydration regimen. On the morning of the fight both fighters were not allowed to lift more than 146 pounds. These conditions were agreed upon before the bout and were implemented during fight week.

Garcia has not fought at 135 pounds since 2021 and usually weighs higher between fights. After the defeat, he alluded to the impact of the ban, saying he was feeling “a little weak”. His father, Henry Garcia, later said that the conditions left him “really dehydrated”.

Davis entered the fight with a 28–0 record and used his experience to his advantage. He applied pressure early and finished the fight with a body shot in the seventh round. The result moved Davis to 29–0, while Garcia lost to 23–1.

Garcia says, “I pray that one day I get a rematch with Tank. I want that match back on a level playing field. I need it!!!” His message focused on the same issue, suggesting that the original Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis fight did not take place under balanced circumstances.

Questions facing Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis rematch

Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis rematch call draws strong reactions online. Many users pointed to Garcia’s failed drug test for Ostarine after his 2024 fight with Devin Haney. That result led to a one-year suspension, a $10,000 fine and the fight being declared a no-contest. Garcia was reinstated in April 2025.

Some replies also mentioned his 2024 loss to Rolando Romero, with fans urging him to focus on other opponents. Garcia did not respond publicly to the criticism following his post.

Davis has not made any statements regarding a potential Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis rematch. Since 2023, he has participated in limited fights as well as dealing with legal matters outside the ring.

A second fight would require new negotiations, including weight terms and financial details. The original Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis bout was one of the most-watched boxing events of 2023, and a rematch would likely draw similar attention.

Garcia now competes at 140 pounds and has stated his intention to take bigger fights in the division. His latest message has renewed focus on the rivalry, but no official talks have been confirmed.

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

Terence Crawford has named the fights he wants to see before the end of 2026, and his comments have attracted widespread attention in boxing. Retired five-division world champion and former pound-for-pound No. 1, Terence Crawford, shared his thoughts in a recent interview.

He retired after defeating Canelo Alvarez to become undisputed at super-middleweight. His record and achievements continue to add weight to his opinion. Fans and analysts reacted after listing three matchups involving fighters active in different divisions. Each pairing consists of athletes who are currently competing at a high level and have been in the headline discussion in the sport.

“It’s hard to say because there are so many big fights still to come. I would love to see Keyshawn Davis vs. Devin Haney. I would love to see ‘Bam [Jesse Rodriguez] versus [Naoya] Inoue, and I would love to see Shakur [Stevenson] versus [Gervonta] ‘Tank’ Davis.”

Keyshawn Davis vs. Devin Haney

Keyshawn Davis and Devin Haney are both active in the welterweight division. Haney is a former undisputed lightweight champion and now holds the 147-pound world title. He continues to wrestle dominant fights in the division and remains a part of ongoing title conversations.

Davis is a rising contender who has called up great opponents while building his professional record. He is scheduled to face Nahir Albright in a rematch on May 16 in Norfolk. A potential bout between Davis and Haney would pit an up-and-coming fighter against an established champion. Both fighters are active and continue to compete against ranked opponents within their division. Their names remain present in discussions regarding future title fights.

jessie rodriguez vs naoya inoue

Jessie Rodriguez and Naoya Inoue are among the leading fighters in their weight classes. Rodriguez currently holds super-flyweight titles and has gained recognition through recent performances. Inoue has won world titles in multiple divisions and continues to compete at a high level.

In his next fight, he will face Junto Nakatani. The matchup between Rodriguez and Inoue would involve two active champions from different divisions. Both fighters remain part of ongoing title discussions and continue to face top level competition. Their achievements have made them among the most recognized names in their respective weight categories.

Shakur Stevenson vs. Gervonta Davis

Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis are established fighters competing in the lightweight and light-welterweight divisions. Stevenson currently holds the 140-pound world title and remains active in scheduled fights. Davis is a multi-division champion and remains a major talking point regarding the bouts.

There have been talks about a possible bout between Stevenson and Davis, but no official fight has been confirmed.

Crawford’s comments identify three matchups involving fighters active in different divisions. Each pairing consists of athletes who are currently competing, holding titles, or pursuing title opportunities. These fights remain part of the ongoing discussions within boxing as the 2026 schedule is developed.

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

Whenever something happens with Raiders ownership, the Internet loses its focus. Last week was no different.

When ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. broke the news that NFL owners were about to vote on a succession plan that would give Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban the option to buy a majority stake in the team from Mark Davis ESPN, the Hot Take practically wrote itself. He is withdrawing money. The Davis era is over. Here comes private equity.

Pump the brakes.

Sources close to Davis were clear to ESPN: “Mark has no intention of selling his majority stake in the team. This sets up a seamless succession plan.”

Now, yes – the fact that the sentiment came from an unknown source rather than Davis is a little strange. But the underlying message is not complicated, even if the structure of the deal is complex.

Why is Mark Davis succession planning with the Raiders?

What’s really happening here is that Mark Davis, who will turn 71 in May and has no children, is doing something responsible. He is making sure there is a clear, pre-approved path for the franchise if control ever needs to change hands. That’s not a red flag. This is the estate plan with the NFL rule book attached.

There are no outside intruders in Durban. He purchased a 7.5% stake in the Raiders in December 2024, the same window that brought Tom Brady into minority ownership. Those partners will help the organization on the business side, Davis said at the time. Giving Durban a pre-approved route to majority ownership – contingent on Davis actually deciding to sell – is a logical extension of that existing relationship, not a fire sale in disguise.

Other details worth noting: Davis recently inherited shares in the franchise after his late mother, Carol Davis, passed away in October 2025. He has more of this team now than he did six months ago. It doesn’t seem as if a man is preparing to go out.

Attackers controlling ownership won’t change anytime soon

Look, reasonable people can question Mark Davis’s decisions over the years. Stadium moves, the coaching carousel, front office churn — there’s a long list. But mixing succession planning with the intention to sell is a fundamental misreading of what we have in front of us. Every major owner with no direct heir will eventually have to answer the question of what happens next. Davis is answering it on his own terms, in advance, with a partner he’s already vetted.

The vote at the league’s annual spring meeting, which begins March 29 in Phoenix, does not indicate any imminent changes. It signals the opposite: stability. A guarantee that if the worst happens, the league will not have to struggle and the franchise will not get into any messy legal disputes.

The Davis family has been associated with this franchise for more than 60 years. Whatever happened last week didn’t change that. Mark Davis is still the owner, still making the decisions, and still overseeing the rebuild under GMs Jon Spytek and Tom Brady, in whom he clearly has confidence. That’s not the end of succession planning. It’s more than just Mark Davis’ preparation that he is usually given credit for.

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

When Hubert Davis took over the head coaching job with North Carolina in 2021-22 and led them to the NCAA Tournament final, it seemed like the school had found the man to oversee the program for the next decade. However, the Tar Heels failed to make the tournament the following season and were eliminated in the opening round the previous two years.

That’s why ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that the coach’s future is currently “in change.” The basketball insider claims no decision will be made until next week, but at least the entire staff under Davis will be out. If North Carolina were to make a complete turnaround and move on from Davis, let’s look at six replacement options for possibly the best job in college basketball.

Brad Underwood, Illinois

Although it took some time, Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a legitimate force in the Big Ten. They have posted 20 or more wins in each of the last seven seasons, went 25-8 in 2025-26, and the coach has a pair of conference tournament championships on his resume. Underwood has done a lot with the second-tier school in the conference. With UNC’s resources and brand recognition, he can achieve the consistent results expected by the program.

Todd Golden, Florida

North Carolina’s dream target would be Florida head coach Todd Golden. After a remarkable performance that legitimized San Francisco, the coach has made an immediate impact on the Gators. In his third season, he led the program to a national title, and they are in position to repeat this month after a rocky start to the 2025-26 season.

What makes him extremely attractive is that he is only 40 years old. The big question is will he feel that UNC offers a better job than the one he currently has in Gainesville? Many people across the country think this will happen.

Michael Malone, former Nuggets head coach

A few years ago, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was viewed as one of the best in the NBA. He developed Denver into a consistent title contender, helped elevate Nikola Jokic to superstar status and led the Nuggets to their first championship in 2023. However, disagreements with the front office led to his surprise exit at the end of last season.

After the way he was fired in 2024, Malone could be angry at the NBA experience and big personalities involved on and off the court. Bringing in a coach who recently won an NBA title would be a coup for UNC. The only issue is, does his lack of college experience make the situation as messy as it was in football with Bill Belichick in school?

TJ Otzelbarger, Iowa State

Since arriving at Iowa State five years ago, TJ Otzelbarger has done nothing but win and bring the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament every year. Furthermore, his team is positioned as a hidden horse to reach the championship game this month.

Similar to Brad Underwood at Illinois, if given the resources North Carolina has, Otzelburger could get the program back to becoming a consistent contender to reach the Elite 8 every year.

Mark Few, Gonzaga

Mark Few is the greatest coach in Gonzaga history and transformed the program into a recognized name in college basketball during his 26-year tenure. He is the king of the mid-majors, and there has always been talk of a move to a top program. But he is good friends with the Bulldogs and has nothing to leave behind.

However, North Carolina is one of the few programs that would seriously consider him leaving Spokane. Furthermore, it would give him the best chance to achieve the one thing he has yet to achieve: winning a national championship.

Tom Thibodeau, former Knicks head coach

Although he has never won an NBA title or reached the Finals, Tom Thibodeau has consistently been one of the better coaches in the NBA for the past 15 years. He proved this by bringing the New York Knicks back to relevance during this decade and making it to the Conference Finals last season. Unfortunately, the high standards he set and the franchise’s decades-long title drought led to him being unfairly fired last spring.

Like Malone, he could be coached in the NBA and be ready to make the jump to the college ranks to take full control of a program. The 68-year-old is always busy working and diving head first into the roster-building process while building a serious culture for the program.

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

The Washington Wizards have acquired two stars this season, but only one has played for them. Four-time All-Star guard Trae Young (quad) has played five games, while five-time All-NBA big man Anthony Davis (hand) has been out since the Wizards met the Dallas Mavericks in February.

Washington released an update on Davis via social media on Friday.

“Davis, who is out with ligament damage in his left hand, was re-evaluated on Thursday by Dr. Steven Shinn of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles,” the organization said. “It was determined that Davis’ recovery is progressing positively, but the volar plate tissue in his left hand has not completely healed. Davis will continue conservative treatment and will continue to pursue his basketball activity as tolerated, he will be reevaluated at the end of the month, and an update will be provided at that time.”

According to ESPN, Davis has not played since January 8, when he injured his hand guarding Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen in the Mavericks’ 116–114 loss. This occurred the day after the Wizards agreed to acquire Young from the Atlanta Hawks and they agreed to terms with Dallas for Davis on February 4.

Washington sent the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round pick, the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected 2030 first-rounder, and three second-rounders along with forward Khris Middleton, guard AJ Johnson, guard Malachi Branham and big man Marvin Bagley III. The Mavericks also traded guards Jaden Hardee, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum along with Davis. Via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Wizards waived Exum and Russell will not report to the team.

This story is being updated.

Washington Wizards star guard Trae Young has been busy this past year. The four-time All-Star announced that he has taken on the role of assistant general manager for Oklahoma men’s basketball in March 2025, the program for which he played as a freshman in the 2017–18 season. He pledged to donate $1 million to the program and help with both high school and transfer portal prospect evaluations, fundraising and player contract negotiations.

Since then, Young has rehabilitated his quad and knee injuries, as well as uprooted his life. The Atlanta Hawks traded the 27-year-old to the Wizards in January, marking the first time he has changed teams since the Hawks drafted him at No. 5 overall in 2018. He has only played five games since then due to injury, but he is still effective for his new team.

Young is averaging 15.2 points on 59.5% shooting (42.9% 3-point) with 6.2 assists against 2.6 turnovers in 20.8 minutes. The former All-NBA honoree most recently sat out Monday’s 125-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors with a quad contusion and will not play Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.

Additionally, Young has signed a new partnership with Sling TV for March Madness once the 2026 NCAA Tournament begins. The promotion, titled “When Underdogs Win, You Win”, offers fans a 1-day Sling Pass for $1 if any player from the 12 to 16 seed advances to the Sweet Sixteen in the men’s or women’s tournament. To qualify, fans must purchase a 1, 3 or 7-day pass between Thursday and Sunday. No. 12 High Point’s 83-82 win over No. 5 Wisconsin in the first round is its first major upset of the year.

Young is a suitable promotional partner, as he played for No. 10 Oklahoma against No. 7 Rhode Island in the first round of the 2018 tournament. The Sooners lost 83–78 despite the 2018 NCAA scoring champion and assist leader having 28 points (9-18 FG, 3-9 3-point) and seven assists, ending his collegiate playing career.

Oklahoma was the first team eliminated from the tournament field this season, the first with Young as assistant general manager. The Sooners went 8–3 in their final 11 games in the SEC, which sent 10 teams to March Madness, but it was not enough. The program qualifies as an “underdog” as it has never won a national title and has won only two tournament games since 2018.

Young spoke with ClutchPoints about this, his advice for NCAA Tournament players, fellow Wizards and 2012 NCAA champion Anthony Davis, and more on Wednesday.

Trae Young Q&A

Joshua Valdez: So first of all, who have your eyes set on this year’s March Madness? Can a Dalit run?

Trae Young: Oh, I just don’t have a team. There are some guys and some teams that I look at. I mean, that’s a lot of underdogs. But a lot of the good teams are really good, and certainly even the weaker teams have to come along to pull off some upsets.

Comment: Young singled out High Point, No. 14 North Dakota State and No. 13 Miami (OH) women’s team as underdogs who could make the Sweet Sixteen on his Instagram.

Joshua Valdez: Speaking of underdogs, how did your partnership with Sling TV come about?

Trae Young: Yeah, I mean, I think that was a part of it. We talked, and I feel like growing up being an underdog and just partnering with Sling and doing this, and especially during March Madness, giving people a chance to get more involved, I think it was a no-brainer. So that’s really great.

Joshua Valdez: What do you think is special about the tournament?

Trae Young: I just think it feels like a one-game tournament. This is what makes the anticipation for each game so exciting, as the underdogs can win the game on any given night, so you always have to be prepared as you want to see upsets.

Joshua Valdez: Obviously, you played at OU for a year. How have you grown as a player and a person since being there?

Trae Young: Just understanding that you have to take every moment seriously and you never know when you will get that next moment again. Going into college, I thought I would get a few chances at tournaments, but unfortunately I only had one. Being able to only play one game in the tournament sucked, but experiencing the spirit of March Madness was crazy.

Joshua Valdez: Based on your experience, what advice do you have for players heading into March Madness this year?

Trae Young: Never take the moment for granted, be as prepared as you can be, and just go out there and enjoy. Lead by doing your best, don’t look ahead and think about what’s going to happen in the future, but just be present in the present. ‘Cause you never know when your last game will be in the tournament.

Joshua Valdez: Going back to OU for a second, I know you’ve been helping them as an assistant GM. How’s it going so far?

Trae Young: Really good, really good. It is sad that we were the first team that could not make it to the tournament. And I really felt like we should have done that, especially the way we finished the season and the number of games we won on this tough schedule. But it was good. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to make it this year, but that’s okay. We will be back.

Joshua Valdez: Anything behind the scenes of college basketball or anything new you’ve learned about the game since you took on this role?

Trae Young: I mean, these players are getting paid. These players are getting paid these days. I think it’s a different thing and you have to find kids that are willing to work. I mean, you want to find kids who are here for the love of the game more than the money. This is one of my main things. That’s the difference between when I was in school and now.

Joshua Valdez: Finally, you’re now on the Wizards with Anthony Davis. Obviously, he was a collegiate star who went on to achieve great things in the NBA, just like you. He hasn’t played with you guys yet, but what’s it like being around him?

Trae Young: Yeah, I mean, obviously, he’s really good. Eddie has been great so far. He has a lot of knowledge of basketball and has seen a lot of the game, especially winning a championship as a freshman at the college level. [at Kentucky]And all the accolades she has earned over the years. It’s definitely nice to have a guy in the locker room that you can look at and understand what he brings every night, because you’ve seen what he’s done on TV and over the years.

The Washington Wizards made two blockbuster trades at this offseason’s deadline, acquiring two stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis. But while Trae Young is set to make his Wizards debut this week, a debut for Anthony Davis is a little less clear as he continues to work on his injury recovery.

On Thursday, the Wizards released a new update on Anthony Davis, saying that the big man’s hand injury was re-evaluated this week, and he is now able to make progress on limited individual on-court basketball activities. The team also said that Davis will be re-evaluated in two weeks and that’s when the next update will come.

Davis was acquired by the Wizards in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks a day before the deadline. Davis suffered injuries during his tenure with the Mavericks, and was already sidelined at the time of the deal.

An All-Star caliber and Defensive Player of the Year candidate when healthy, Davis has been limited to just 20 games this season, a little over 31 minutes per game. He averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocked shots while splitting 50.6 percent shooting from the field, 27 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 72.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Wizards’ addition of Young and Davis signals a shift from rebuilding the franchise to now being able to compete in the Eastern Conference. The team has fielded a solid young group of players, some of whom were on display during the Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend. Davis and Young give the team capable, proven stars to help lead the group.

The Houston Rockets earned a hard-earned 123-118 win against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Center on Monday, with Kevin Durant and Alpern Sengun doing most of the damage.

What was supposed to be a one-sided affair for the Rockets turned out to be a tight contest as the Wizards played hard with a scrappy group of role players.

However, Washington will finally get a star when Trae Young makes his debut on Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Young missed most of the season due to an MCL injury.

Durant, who cheered the Wizards as a child, expressed his excitement over Young’s return. He said that the pairing of Young and Anthony Davis should do wonders As for Washington, who has long been a cellar-dweller.

“He (Young) is dynamic. A guy that can create for everybody, score for himself. He’ll make the game easier for everybody else on the floor. He’s a true point guard. Right now, they’re doing it by committee, so with him being there, it will make everybody’s mind and their game easier, and they can just settle into their roles,” Durant said in a video on the Space City Home Network.

“I’m excited for the hometown team. I’m also excited for Eddie to wear the jersey and represent the city. I see bright things in his future.”

Kevin Durant on Wizards:

“(Trey will make the game easier for everyone else on the field. I’m excited for the hometown team, excited for Eddie to also wear the jersey and represent the city. I see bright things in his future.” pic.twitter.com/Ae58p7yClt

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 3 March 2026

The Wizards acquired Young and Davis at the trade deadline. When both are healthy, they can provide true two-way production and make the Wizards competitive immediately.

The starting unit of Young, Davies, Bilal Koulibaly, Kishawn George and Alex Sarr has the right mix of experience, youth, strength and agility. They can also be skilled on both ends.

The fresh start could also be good for Young and Davis, who have a combined 14 All-Star Game appearances.

The Los Angeles Lakers were certainly lucky to get Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade that continues to be talked about around the association. However, the Lakers have already built their roster with Anthony Davis in mind that L.A. hasn’t yet been able to surround Doncic with the pieces he needs to make a championship charge.

Currently, the Lakers sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, and they have glaring roster deficiencies that they were not able to address before the trade deadline. Their defense is missing a lot of pieces to help cover for Doncic and Austin Reaves’ shortcomings on that side of the ball.

Of course, it’s impossible to count out any team with Doncic and LeBron James either way. Still, James acknowledged that the Lakers are dealing with the same issues as they have in years past, even though Doncic is now his co-star instead of Davis.

“We’re playing good ball sometimes, but the number one important thing for us is health. We finally got healthy with AR coming back and then Luka went down with the hamstring. So that’s going to be most important for our team. And it’s been that way for our team the last couple of years,” James said on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast.

The Lakers’ injury problems keep them from getting into a more consistent rhythm

Every game seems like a dogfight for the Lakers, as their defensive limitations force them to constantly outshoot their opponents. Against lockdown defensive teams, the Purple and Gold have struggled, especially with Doncic, Reeves and James in and out of the lineup.

“We’re not set up to the point where we have a lot of room for error or, like, when Eddie was on the team. When Eddie goes down it’s like, crap. We don’t have enough to pick him up. When Luka goes down you know it’s crap, it’s Luka. AR was down, but it was tough for us,” James said.

當你提到洛杉磯籃球文化時，就不能不提到巴倫戴維斯。這位前 NBA 全明星在他的家鄉舉辦了一場聯盟盛大的季中賽事，處於最前沿和中心位置。

戴維斯是十字路口高中和加州大學洛杉磯分校的明星球員，也是洛杉磯地區有史以來最好的球員之一。也是全明星週末的完美大使。上週末，隨著 NBA 世界降臨到南部地區，沒有人比戴維斯更能代表洛杉磯在籃球方面的表現了。

「洛杉磯帶來了生活方式、活力，籃球是這裡的首要任務，」戴維斯在接受 ClutchPoints 獨家採訪時說道。 “我們有歷史悠久的加州大學洛杉磯分校，這裡還有其他籃球學院。很棒的高中，所以我們的許多 NBA 天才都來自洛杉磯。洛杉磯的生活方式和活力，以及對來自洛杉磯的球員的慶祝，他們曾經是全明星，後來又取得了令人難以置信的職業生涯，現在是向他們致敬的好時機。”

戴維斯在高中四年級時，被評為佳得樂年度最佳球員，並入選麥當勞全美最佳陣容。經過多所院校的激烈招生爭奪戰，戴維斯最終選擇了家鄉學校加州大學洛杉磯分校(UCLA)。他贏得了 Pac-10 年度最佳新生獎，儘管在那個賽季的 NCAA 錦標賽中受傷，但他恢復了活力，並有望成為 NBA 選秀中的樂透新秀。

果然，戴維斯在1999年NBA選秀會上以第3順位被夏洛特黃蜂隊選中。在聯盟的第三個賽季，他成為全明星球員和黃蜂隊的特許球員。當他在五個半賽季後離開黃蜂隊時，他再次入選全明星，並被廣泛認為是 NBA 最好的控球後衛之一。

戴維斯確保在比賽中始終展現出洛杉磯的影響力。

「我想為聯盟帶來一種風格，讓人們認識到洛杉磯有一種不同的籃球風格。更有趣，更有創意，但實際上是一種硬核、骯髒、防守的籃球風格，」戴維斯說。 「所以我認為，當我在聯盟時，為了成為一名控球後衛，與 NBA 偉大的控球後衛對抗，我必須培養自己的認同感。”

巴倫戴維斯指導 NBA 下一代

作為參加 NBA 全明星週末的一部分，巴倫戴維斯 (Baron Davis) 參加了 AT&T 在威尼斯海灘籃球場的佈置。該快閃店與前 NBA 球員、現任猶他爵士隊助理教練傑森·特里 (Jason Terry) 一起，舉辦了 2 對 2 籃球錦標賽以及供球迷參加 NBA 2K 比賽的遊戲站。

但除了球迷活動和露面之外，全明星週末還讓戴維斯有機會與 NBA 兄弟會的其他成員交流，並為下一代 NBA 球星提供機會。

「和我一起長大的一些英雄，看著他們，我模仿我的比賽的人，他們照顧我。這是一個看到他們、向他們以及下一代致敬的機會，」戴維斯說。 「與籃球保持聯繫讓我真正成為這項運動的粉絲和學生。我認為一旦你有了這種心態和方法，你就可以欣賞每個人特定的藝術形式。”

戴維斯無疑是一個在球員時期因其表現而受到讚賞的人。作為一名充滿創意的控球後衛，他的傳球或投籃都能讓球迷眼花繚亂，2007 年帶領金州勇士隊在季後賽首輪歷史性地擊敗頭號種子達拉斯小牛隊後，他真正進入了聚光燈下。

剛剛想起巴倫戴維斯有多棒。享受。
（🎥@ThrowbackHoops ）。pic.twitter.com/3taua1HmE2

— 影子聯盟 (@ShadowLeague) 2019 年 1 月 11 日

在那場季後賽中，戴維斯場均得到季後賽生涯新高的25.3分、4.5個籃板、6.5次助攻和2.9次搶斷，投籃命中率為51.3%，三分球命中率為37.3%。儘管勇士隊的魔術將在西部半決賽對陣猶他爵士隊的五場比賽中終結，但戴維斯在該系列賽中以一記雷霆萬鈞的海報扣籃超越了安德烈·基里連科，成為了該系列賽季後賽的最大亮點之一。

戴維斯是一位獨特的控球後衛，很少有人能擁有他的速度、力量和技巧。他在三分線外投出令人難以置信的傳球的能力在當時是無與倫比的。至於當今他最認同的球員，那就是他以前效力的黃蜂隊和拉梅洛·鮑爾。

「他玩得很開心，他的創造能力是超乎尋常的。他的傳球能力也是超乎想像的，」戴維斯說。 「現在他開始弄清楚如何領導，如何成為一名偉大的領導者，但更重要的是，如何成為一個終結者。我想這就是我今年最喜歡他的進步的地方。他肩上有壓力，而且他打球的樣子就像他真的有東西要證明一樣。”

自從巴倫戴維斯 (Baron Davis) 的 NBA 時代以來，比賽發生了怎樣的變化

在某些方面，巴倫戴維斯在 NBA 球場上奔跑時走在了時代的前面。隨著比賽變得更加快節奏和每晚都展現出爆炸性的進攻，他將完全適應這一點。

在他 13 年的 NBA 職業生涯中，除了兩個賽季外，戴維斯的場均得分均達到兩位數。 1999-2000 年是他的新秀年，2011-12 年是他的最後一年。在那兩年裡，他場均助攻數也只有不到五次。從娛樂的角度來看，他是必看的電視節目，這也是他看到當今遊戲規則轉變的地方。

「我認為這項運動已經變得更加娛樂化了。當你看到爆炸性的得分和動態得分時，這就是當今比賽的模式。得分，得分，得分，很多出色的投籃，很多偉大的運動員。它的建立是因為在季後賽形成之前你並不真正知道誰是最具統治力的，」戴維斯說。 “我認為我們在聯盟中得到的是更多的平等。我認為這只會為球隊帶來變得更好並真正挑戰冠軍的機會。”

就娛樂性而言，戴維斯在即將成為全明星的時候參加了NBA灌籃大賽。儘管他沒有贏得比賽，但他最為人所銘記的是他蒙眼嘗試風車扣籃，但他沒有接住。

戴維斯在他的職業生涯中是一位令人印象深刻的扣籃手，就他的身材而言，他贏得了 1997 年麥當勞全美扣籃大賽。 2001 年是戴維斯在 NBA 期間參加這項賽事的唯一一年，他對如何讓這項比賽對球迷來說更具娛樂性有一些想法。在這一點上，更多的是關於演示，而不是實際的扣籃。

「這很難……它必須很有趣。我認為製作越多、越戲劇化，它就會變得更好，」戴維斯說。 “但是在跑動、扣籃和接受評判的日子裡，必須有更多的戲劇性。預製作和諸如此類的事情。”

After the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, it was Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards who walked away with the MVP trophy. Edwards helped lead Team Stars to a 47–21 win against Team Stripes in the final game of the new round-robin tournament format. The Timberwolves star finished with eight points, four rebounds and two assists in the final game.

After the All-Star Game, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst talked about why Anthony Edwards should get more praise as one of the rising faces of the NBA.

“This guy does everything you want from a superstar,” Windhorst said. “He plays on both ends of the court, he has great dunks, he’s a great 3-point shooter, he has a great personality, he’s been a winner. He hasn’t won any championships, but he’s led the Wolves to their best two years in franchise history, and he has incredible competitive juice that he’s shown in this game.”

“I think Ant Edwards is a guy who is going to be a focal point for Team USA going forward,” Windhorst continued. “A centerpiece of All-Star games moving forward, and it’s not something he’s always wanted… but he’s so magnetic. This is a guy the NBA needs to invest heavily in moving forward. They don’t have a choice, they have to.”

The two seasons Windhorst was referring to were the last two seasons when the Wolves reached consecutive Western Conference Finals. Previously, the franchise had made only one conference final appearance in its entire history, in 2004, when Kevin Garnett was at his peak.

This season, Edwards has played just over 35 minutes per game in 46 games. His career averages have been 29.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. Averaged 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals, shooting 49.3 percent from the field, 40.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 79.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

週三，華盛頓奇才隊從達拉斯小牛隊收購了安東尼·戴維斯，以及德安吉洛·拉塞爾、賈登·哈迪和丹特·埃克薩姆，作為回報，華盛頓奇才隊送出了四名球員和五個選秀權。不出所料，討論很快就轉向了他的感受和不情願的交易這一熟悉的比喻。

《體育畫報》的資深 NBA 記者克里斯·曼尼克斯報導稱，戴維斯“可能對加盟奇才隊並不熱心”，他在周四的播客中重申了這一點。然而，這位十次入選全明星的球員否認有任何這樣的感覺，並在周五接受《The Athletic》採訪時闡述了最終決定他在首都的未來的因素。

“他們說我在另一個城市也說了很多我沒有說的話，”戴維斯說。 “這次訪問非常棒。他們張開雙臂歡迎我，並與特德一起度過了一些時間 [Leonsis] 和扎克 [Leonsis]。這與他們看起來的完全不同。我知道這就像，哦，他們有一個恥辱，那就是他們不是一支優秀的球隊。我還沒有看到訓練設施，但競技場絕對是一流的，世界一流的。看到廚師以及他們如何照顧家人。太棒了。 ”

戴維斯表示，任何承諾都將取決於他對華盛頓長期戰略的理解。

“我需要和威爾談談 [Dawkins]戴維斯說：“我和威爾進行了簡短的交談。”顯然，每年的這個時候，你都想爭奪冠軍之類的東西。這顯然是主要焦點，到達那個地方。將舉行對話以了解如何進入該領域。過去兩年我到處都是。我想看到這個計劃，聽到這個計劃，看到這個願景。把特雷（楊）帶到這里以及其他事情，他們正在考慮做什麼，我想與他們進行這些對話，看看會發生什麼。這座城市顯然是非凡的。 ”

這位32歲的大個子在談到奇才隊的潛在發展軌跡時發表了最引人注目的言論。華盛頓在過去兩個賽季只贏了33場比賽，目前以14勝36負的戰績排在東部第13位。他們還連續四年無緣季后賽，並且在此期間任何一個賽季的勝場數都沒有超過35場。

“顯然，球隊現在處境艱難，”戴維斯說。 “這從他們的戰績中可以看出，但添加某些部分，情況可能會發生變化。年復一年。他們明年可能會成為東部第一支球隊。”

這種樂觀情緒取決於建立一個圍繞年輕核心的陣容，其中包括亞歷克斯·薩爾、比拉爾·庫利巴利、凱肖恩·喬治、特雷·約翰遜和新收購的特雷·楊。奇才隊於1月7日從亞特蘭大老鷹隊引進了楊，據報導，加入戴維斯是為了向楊表明球隊對於下賽季的競爭是認真的。

根據合同，戴維斯仍然不置可否。他與2026-27賽季的合同約為5850萬美元，並擁有2027-28賽季價值約6280萬美元的球員選項。他的經紀人里奇·保羅證實，續約談判不會迫在眉睫，特別是考慮到戴維斯的年齡和最近的傷病史。自從去年二月加盟達拉斯以來，戴維斯在可能的 83 場比賽中只出場了 29 場，而且在一月中旬接受左手手術後，他目前處於閒置狀態。

庫珀·庫普和卡爾頓·戴維斯成為周日超級碗比賽中值得關注的一場主要位置對決。但這不僅僅是西雅圖海鷹隊和新英格蘭愛國者隊典型的外接手與角衛之戰。

兩者都在聖克拉拉的大型比賽之前呈現了罕見的歷史。

庫普對陣戴維斯帶來了這個罕見的時刻：之前奪冠的WR和CB面對面。戴維斯與坦帕灣海盜隊奪得超級碗冠軍，一年後庫普帶領洛杉磯公羊隊奪得超級碗冠軍。

他們的單打獨鬥將引起人們的關注。由於這些原因，Plus 可以決定李維斯體育場內的獲勝者。

庫珀·庫普在第三次摔倒時將受到認真對待

庫普在公羊隊 2021 年奪冠期間從 WR1 明星變成了一個秘密安全毯選擇。

如果賈克森·史密斯-恩吉巴不開放，他就成為薩姆·達諾德的“救助”選擇。庫普發現了公羊隊二線的軟肋，尤其是在 NFC 冠軍賽中最後的達陣。

山姆·達諾德 (Sam Darnold) 向庫珀·庫普 (Cooper Kupp) 的 13 碼達陣傳球是達諾德在壓力下第三次達陣，創職業生涯新高。

在第 11 周和第 16 週對陣公羊隊的比賽中，達諾德在壓力下實現了 0 次達陣和 3 次攔截。#LARvsSEA | #海鷹隊pic.twitter.com/kK1FTTuAae

— 下一代統計 (@NextGenStats) 2026 年 1 月 26 日

達諾德可以選擇擊中 JSN，後者單人防守並將自己定位在第一個下標處。除了庫普發現了軟區並為六人提供了動力。

戴維斯在亞冠冠軍隊的比賽中派上了用場。這位 29 歲的球員曾在 2024 年的第三次進攻中讓出 40.6% 的完成率。他在東北部交出了 394 碼的職業生涯新低，這意味著對方外接手在面對他時平均每次接球只有 9.2 碼。

愛國者隊將信任卡爾頓·戴維斯的人員報導

戴維斯確立了自己作為一名強壯的防守防守球員的地位——他以高強度的身體素質而聞名。

但也歸功於他一雙強大的眼睛，正如我們在對陣 CJ 斯特勞德和休斯頓德州人隊時所看到的那樣。

卡爾頓·戴維斯三世今天第二次被罰分！

這 @愛國者隊 上半場的第四個😮

ESPN/ABC 上的 HOUvsNE
直播 @NFLPlus 和 ESPN 應用程序 pic.twitter.com/ZERwCkddEj

— NFL (@NFL) 2026 年 1 月 18 日

戴維斯在愛國者隊的分場防守中表現出色。他的出現緩解了新英格蘭隊需要以一毛錢的方式進行進攻的想法（六名防守後衛）。

儘管球隊取得了四次達陣，戴維斯還是打出了迄今為止最好的防守賽季：每場比賽投降距離低於 62 碼，並且在有目標時允許接球不超過 5 次。

這位老將將更多地通過他的眼神、防守耐心以及身體素質來對抗海鷹的進攻。

這場對決誰會獲勝呢？

出於多種原因，這裡更傾向於庫普。

首先，他之前曾在坦帕灣舉行的 2021 賽季分區輪比賽這樣的大舞台上攻擊過戴維斯領銜的二線球隊。戴維斯在 44 碼接球時碰巧在場，這粒進球為公羊隊贏得了勝利。

成疑的邁克·麥克唐納在比賽岌岌可危並面臨加時賽的情況下宣布零閃電戰。但庫普在聯盟打拼的時間足夠長，他知道 DB 單位的弱點。

這就引出了庫普佔據優勢的下一個原因：他可能無法整晚一對一逼平戴維斯。

西雅圖進攻協調員（加上即將上任的拉斯維加斯突襲者隊主教練）克林特·庫比亞克用動作打擊防守。 32 歲的庫普仍然大量使用預扣動作來製造不匹配的情況。庫比亞克的目標是迷惑新英格蘭的二線並點亮記分牌。

這場單獨的戰鬥值得為爆米花加熱。但庫普的頭腦和過去利用報導的歷史讓西雅圖佔據了優勢。

丹佛野馬隊在周日的亞冠錦標賽中以 10-7 失利。四分衛博尼克斯缺席，下半場又刮起了暴風雪，丹佛隊的進攻陷入困境。喬·隆巴迪被解僱仍然令人驚訝，但戴維斯·韋伯對主教練的興趣 發揮了作用 在教練的變動中。

從內部人士開始 @NFL網絡：戴維斯·韋伯採訪對手時 #攻略， 這 #野馬隊 解雇了 OC Joe Lombardi。 pic.twitter.com/hb0X0pjxV1

— 伊恩·拉波波特 (@RapSheet) 2026 年 1 月 27 日

NFL Network 的伊恩·拉波波特 (Ian Rapoport) 報導稱：“不僅僅是隆巴迪，我相信至少還有一位教練，甚至可能還有另一位教練。” “野馬隊將聘請另一名進攻協調員，他們需要運行一個流程。因此，根據 NFL 規則，他們不能只是說戴維斯·韋伯，這是你的工作。他們能做的就是激勵他留下來，然後可能最終給他這份工作。事實上，他現在正在大樓裡接受競爭對手面試主教練機會和一位強有力的候選人，這些事情都是相關的。”

肖恩·佩頓負責野馬隊的進攻戰術，因此新的進攻協調員不會承擔這個責任。但韋伯現在和未來都被視為備受矚目的候選人。突襲者隊正在面試這位前替補四分衛，但如果韋伯想繼續與博尼克斯合作，他現在有這個機會。

隆巴迪擔任野馬隊進攻協調員三年，幫助博尼克斯成長為分區冠軍。作為四分衛教練，韋伯也因此獲得了讚譽，並將其運用到了整個聯盟的採訪中。他是布法羅比爾隊主教練空缺的重要候選人，但喬·布雷迪在周二獲得了這一職位。

野馬隊有肖恩·佩頓，他暫時不會去任何地方。但當他決定退休時，他們會希望制定一個繼任計劃。這一舉動表明他們將韋伯視為未來幾年該組織的一部分。但這能讓韋伯留在科羅拉多州嗎？