Kawhi Leonard gave a strong message after the win against the Bucks.

The LA Clippers have been climbing up the Western Conference standings throughout the season after starting the year with a 6-21 record. Under the leadership of Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have been able to reach .500 once again at 36–36 entering their final 10 games of the season.

The 2025–26 season has perhaps been the most impressive of Leonard’s career when taking into account the highest scoring of his career in addition to injuries and franchise-altering moves made by the team at the NBA trade deadline. Leonard has already been a leader for the Clippers due to his work ethic and incredible in-game performances, but everything that has happened so far has only heightened that.

“This group loves to play basketball,” Kawhi Leonard said when asked about his leadership style with this new-look Clippers team. “They love to be out there having fun and competing. And we’re not afraid of anybody. Even if they’re more talented or have a better record, we still want to go out and compete and try to take pride in being out there playing and being competitive.”

This season of the Clippers has seen allegations of salary cap manipulation, a season-ending injury to Bradley Beal, Chris Paul being sent home at midnight during a road trip, the trade of the Clippers’ longest-tenured teammates in James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the arrivals of Darius Garland, Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, as well as a season-ending injury to Yannick Konan Niederhauser.

Through it all, the Clippers have been a bright spot, especially in their young players like Niederhauser, Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller.

“There’s a lot of young guys or guys that are getting a lot of minutes in different roles this year that are moving forward. So we just have to tell them to enjoy the moment, but a lot of times when we’re frustrated or if the call isn’t going our way, at the end of the day it’s just basketball and it never goes your way. So just put one foot in front of the other and just play and enjoy.”

After some initial doubts about the Clippers’ ability to compete following the Harden and Zubac trades, Darius Garland quickly shut it down with his stellar play.

“It’s always good to have help,” Leonard said. “Darius is getting back in the lineup and being the star he has been in years past and coming in and still great for us, with 40 the other night, he’s getting the crowd going with his threes and passing and just his overall energy and, yes, looking forward to Ben coming back. But I think it’s a new challenge for everybody. Every year is different. And, yes, just try to come in and be competitive and just positive energy for everybody. Release.”

In 56 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three and 90.1 percent from the free throw line.

Leonard has missed 16 of the Clippers’ 72 games this season, so he is only allowed to miss one more game before he will be ineligible for season-end NBA awards such as All-NBA teams and All-Defense teams.


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“Wolves gave me that” – player very kind despite Wanderers’ early exit

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been credited by John Arias himself as the club that opened the door to Europe, with the winger reflecting on his Premier League spell during an interview. Win the game.

Arias joined Wolves as part of his ambition to reach European football. Although the move did not allow him to stay in England long-term, the Colombian insists that the experience shaped him both personally and professionally.

Wolves Magic is designed as a learning period

Speaking about his time at Wolves, Arias described the move as a milestone in his career.

“Wolves is the club that opened the doors for me in Europe. I think all players, when we start our professional careers, have the ambition and dream of getting to Europe and reaching the top of football.”

The winger also highlighted the challenge of the Premier League environment.

“I had the opportunity to get to the Premier League, which I consider to be the best league in the world, the most competitive league in the world. Wolverhampton was the place that gave me the opportunity to get to Europe.”

Still, Arias made it clear that the experience wasn’t just about the matches and minutes.

“It was a very important time to learn, mature and grow as a person and a professional. It forces you to focus on the little things that sometimes you overlook in daily life.”

The tone of his comments is interesting. Arias speaks about Wolves almost as if he had spent several years at Molineux rather than coming to Molineux, spending about six months there and then moving on.

Whether this reflects genuine affection for the club or simply a slightly liberal perspective is open to interpretation.

The move to Palmeiras brings new ambitions

After leaving Wolves, Arias moved to Brazilian side Palmeiras, Transfers of approximately £21.5m (€25m). The Brazilian club convinced him of a clear sporting project and strong ambitions.

“I’m now at Palmeiras, which is a huge club in South America and a huge club in Brazil. It’s a club that opened doors for me, that made me go to England, that made me feel important and valued.”

Arias believes that the club’s mentality matches his own very well.

“This is a club that always fights for great things. This matches my ambition to always win, always improve and fight for titles. I come with the hope of achieving great things, winning many titles and making the history of Palmeiras even greater.”

What does it say about the Wolves chapter

For Wolves supporters, Arias’ words paint a balanced picture of their Premier League chapter.

colombian Doesn’t define magic as failure. Instead, he describes it as a phase that accelerated his development and helped redefine his career path.

If his time at Molineux was the gateway to Europe, now his move to Palmeiras represents his next attempt to convert that experience into silverware and stability.

In his own words, the Wolves chapter was more about learning. But Wolves fans may disagree.

#Wolves #gave #player #kind #Wanderers #early #exit

Scary new report on former Michigan HC reveals he gave pay hike to staff after rape claims

A new report about fired Michigan head coach Sharon Moore claims she actually gave an employee a raise after being alerted to a serious sexual harassment allegation.

In December, Michigan football was rocked when the university revealed it was unexpectedly firing head coach Sharon Moore. Following this news, reports revealed that not only was the man who replaced Jim Harbaugh after a series of scandals fired as coach, but he was also in a local jail.

The coach was ousted due to an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and arrested after he stormed the woman’s home and threatened to kill himself after his actions took a toll on her life.

Drama has followed the Wolverines football program over the years because of the questionable individuals Harbaugh hired, including Moore. Well, the Michigan football staff’s history of having obnoxious people got another ugly chapter on Friday.

According to Justin Spiro, an unnamed woman went to the then-head coach and accused current Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis of rape while he was a member of Moore’s staff. Unfortunately, Moore rejected the claim.

michigan
Ryan Garza/USA TODAY Network via Imagine Images

“Lewis is also accused of attacking the same woman in a separate incident so violently and viciously that neighbors called the police to report disturbing noises coming from his apartment,” Spiro reports.

Yet, not only did he deny the disgusting allegations, but he reportedly would eventually give Lewis a raise and actually sexually harass the same woman. Following the sexual assault claim, Moore allegedly texted her, “Get up, I have to suck it now.”

“The alleged victim, we’ll call her ‘Jane,’ Moore said she refused to report the assault because she confided in him, which is a violation of her status as a mandated reporter under Title IX, and a violation of University of Michigan policy,” Spiro’s report said. “Over the following weeks, Moore sent Jane a series of sexually graphic messages, ordering her to perform various sexual acts on him.”

The report shows photos of injuries, screenshots of messages and a police report from the situation that began in July 2024 and lasted until December last year.

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

#Scary #report #Michigan #reveals #gave #pay #hike #staff #rape #claims

Donovan Mitchell reveals the true message he gave to rising star

Participating in his first NBA All-Star Weekend, Jaylon Tyson was at the free-throw line during the Rising Stars game when his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Donovan Mitchell literally announced his presence, and yelled at him as he walked to the front row of Crypto.com Arena. While trying to concentrate on making the shot, the 23-year-old lost focus after laughing and dropped it.

“I was trying to win MVP. I’m not going to lie. I was trying to get it,” Tyson recalled during practice last week. “And he’s yelling something in there. But I made it.”

Unfortunately, Tyson’s Tracy McGrady-led Team T-Mac did not have a chance to reach the title match; That doesn’t mean Tyson couldn’t bring out his true self. He led his team with 10 points and five rebounds in 11 minutes.

Tyson said, “The game, I wasn’t that happy because it was only five minutes, and then we had to go off the court.” “So I wanted to keep playing the whole game.”

Tyson dished out two assists, one of which was a highlight reel hook-up with Miami Heat big man Kel’El Ware on an alley-oop while turning the corner. Having missed the opportunity as a rookie, he took this as a chance to show what he was capable of with all eyes on the league’s biggest weekend.

“He plays hard,” Mitchell said. “He plays hard. He’s picking up the whole court. He’s doing all the things. I wish he’d get some help out there. He’s rebounding. He’s passing. He’s doing everything.”

“It’s been nice sharing the court with those guys. In my mind, I know I’m better than a lot, if not all, of those guys,” Tyson said. “I just want to go out there and prove it every day, and then, hopefully, be an All-Star one day.”

Unlike many talents who stay the weekend in Los Angeles, Tyson flew home after Friday to recuperate and prepare himself for the second half of the season. Mitchell was impressed with his professionalism in handling his first All-Star Weekend. He also made sure the talented young forward’s presence was felt when it came to 3-point contests.

Mitchell wore Tyson’s number 20 with his name on the back, as he had done with Sam Merrill’s uniform a few years earlier.

“It was great,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They have a great relationship. Donovan has embraced Jaylon from day one. The first thing he looked at him, he said, ‘This kid has this crazy work ethic.’ It reminds me a lot of Donovan. So I think he’s a big part of Jaylon’s development. It really helps when your best player contributes to the development of a young player. I thought it was a good move to do so.”

Although Tyson joked that his jersey was “a little big” for Mitchell, he felt his teammate’s love, and that’s nothing new.

Tyson said, “He’s one of those guys that I’ll have a relationship with throughout my career and beyond.” “I’m so grateful to have her. Honestly, I feel like I give her a lot of credit for that year. I go back to that text message; I don’t think people understand how much that text message meant to me and how much confidence it gave me. So I give her a lot of credit for all my success.”

Tyson is referring to when Mitchell approached him in the offseason about “his need” and his confidence in stepping into a bigger role. Mitchell admitted he hasn’t had the kind of year he’s had this year, with the second-year swingman averaging 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.4 minutes per game with the league’s third-best three-point shooting percentage (45.6%) and top-20 effective field goal percentage (60.0%).

It helps to have a shoulder to lean on when things go in different directions, and it was the subject of a heart-to-heart conversation as the two flew to LA together before the festivities began in mid-February.

“I was like, ‘Hey, this can’t be a 40-point night for you. This can’t be a 30-point night. This can’t be a start, this can’t be this,'” Mitchell said. “I told him, ‘Man, you’ve already shown that you’re capable.’ You’ve already shown a lot.” [than] More people have done this in their careers, and you have done it in a little more than half a year.

“So for him to adjust to his role and be OK with it is definitely impressive for a second-year guy. We’ll be on him, and he’s got to continue to earn everything he’s been doing. Nothing is a given, but he’s doing a good job. We’ve got to keep that going.”

Jaylon Tyson, the Cavs’ direction and the reality of the NBA

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) reacts after a score against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Bill Streicher-Images

Since Cleveland shifted its roster with the acquisitions of James Harden, Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, the young players have seen a change in their responsibilities and a decrease in playing time. The veterans brought him in because of his experience and the need to adjust to a new group. As a result, players who were praised for their readiness throughout the season have been taken down a peg.

For example, Craig Porter Jr. and Naquan Tomlin have been left out of the current rotation. Tyson is still in the everyday lineup, but not in the same order.

“Defend, rebound, limit mistakes, make shots. That’s what it’s about,” Atkinson said. “In situations like this your package gets reduced, and he understands that, and he’s been great. I think he had a pretty good stretch; that’s how he got in the rotation, right? But now, living forward and looking at the playoffs, we’re seeing a similar role.”

“Once everyone comes back, once we’re fully healthy, it’s going to be a huge sacrifice,” Tyson said. “Whatever that looks like, obviously, the roles will change. But just buying into that role and doing something bigger than any one of us.”

Before Cleveland hosted the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Atkinson was surprisingly tough on Tyson, who played back-to-back games with less than 17 minutes left. This was his lowest total of playing time since late October.

When asked how he can get back to his normal amount of burn, Atkinson explained that Tyson and the guys playing the role have to earn it because of the short window for Cleveland to put the pieces in place before the postseason.

“It’ll come out on its own. It’s definitely a change for him,” Atkinson said. “I understand that, as a young player, it’s not easy. You go from scoring 39 points a couple weeks ago to, ‘My minutes are down a little bit.’ And I think he probably had some games where he wasn’t playing at that elite level. We’ve obviously added three new guys, three new rotation guys. So, it’s been cut a little differently.”

Tyson answers the call

Cavs guard Jaylon Tyson (20) celebrates Donovan Mitchell
© Ken Blaze-Imagen Images

Later that night, Atkinson praised Tyson for excelling in everything that was asked of him, especially guarding Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“That was kind of the blueprint right there,” Atkinson said. “Offensively, played in the short role, hit catch-and-shoot threes, limited his mistakes, and then played very good defense. We put him out there on the KAT, and he’s big and strong enough to defend him and put pressure on him and bother him.

“Behind Dean, can he be a perimeter stopper? He’s shown he can do that. He’s played really well all year. As young players, [they] Will probably make a few more mistakes than a vet like Dean, but if he wants big playoff minutes, this will have to be it. Can you become our job keeper? It’s a really positive trend: defensive numbers are good, size, obviously, a good rebounder. But there is development. It’s really, ‘Make fewer mistakes and be more solid.’ [with] Game plan stuff.”

Tyson finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, recording one steal and one block each, turning it over only once. Mitchell was encouraged by Tyson’s performance during the game.

“You saw him tonight as a 5-man, his formation and playing the pick and roll,” Mitchell said. “Pass to him, he’s got a layup, he’s got a floater, he’s making decisions. That’s what we’re going to need from him. That’s his bread and butter.”

While empathizing with how he may be feeling, Atkinson believes Tyson is handling the transition well.

“I don’t think it’s easy for anyone, but he’s an extremely mature person,” Atkinson said. “He gets it. He’s got great veteran support, not just coaches, but vets who explain to him what it looks like, and we have these discussions as a team. And it’s not just Jaylon, right? It’s other role players. It’s Keon. It’s Dennis. It’s just part of the situation when you have a lot of good players on your roster.”

Who knows how Harden’s broken right thumb will affect his role? For example, he probably won’t suit up for 35 minutes per night as he did in Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, as Mitchell and Evan Mobley also missed that game. It appears that Max Strus is on track to make a comeback at some point.

With Mitchell suffering a groin problem, Ellis suffering a fractured left index finger, Schroder suffering a sprained left ankle and Dean Wade suffering a right ankle injury, Tyson will need to return to his pre-trade duties. It’s a constant push and pull.

But whatever is required of him, Tyson will keep his head down and do whatever is asked of him to help the Cavs win.

“I feel like it’s just part of the NBA,” Tyson said. “Unless you’re a superstar, your role is going to change, and I think the best role players adapt to that. It’s something I’ve had to learn to do. I don’t mind that, OK, because obviously, I just want to win. James is here, he wants to win.

“I want to be a member to help him win and get that ring; the city of Cleveland, Donovan, everybody. I want to be a member to help them.”


#Donovan #Mitchell #reveals #true #message #gave #rising #star

Ace Bailey reveals Devin Booker gave ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment

Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey may be bursting with gravity-defying highlights in his first professional season, but even the league’s brightest young stars have to be humble eventually.

During the Rising Stars media availability at the Intuit Dome on Friday night, the 19-year-old forward finally opened up about his official “Welcome to the NBA” moment. Unsurprisingly, it featured one of the league’s most lethal scoring machines: Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.

That moment was a simple, cold-blooded masterclass in mid-range. Bailey explained that trying to guard the four-time All-Star is a nightmare for any defender, let alone a rookie.

He said when it comes to Devin Booker, you’re dealing with a signature fadeaway shot that is almost impossible to stop without fouling. Bailey jokingly recalled thinking, “Bro, come on,” as he realized the level of difficulty he now faced every night.

Bailey, who stepped in as an injury replacement for Cooper Flagg on Team Melo in the Rising Stars game, is certainly playing the way he plays. Over his last 15 games, the fifth overall pick has averaged 11.7 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.0 percent from the floor. He brought that momentum to the Rising Stars Tournament, leading the Carmelo Anthony-led team to a 65-60 victory over Team Austin in the semifinals.

While Dylan Harper stole the spotlight with the game-winning bucket, Bailey’s defensive versatility was on full display throughout the evening. Team Melo ultimately fell short in the championship game and lost to Team Vince 25–24 after VJ Edgecombe iced the game at the free-throw line.


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