標籤: guard

A new report shows that in-state rivals Kentucky and Louisville are the top contenders for, arguably, the best point guard in this month’s college basketball transfer portal.

For Kentucky and Louisville, the 2025–26 seasons fell below the programs’ standards. The Cardinals regressed a bit last season, after winning 27 games – 18 in conference – last season. Posting a disappointing 11–7 record in the ACC and being bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. While disappointing, it was better than the Wildcats.

Despite what many felt was a strong roster to start the season, Kentucky finished 22–14 and posted a miserable 10–8 record in the SEC this season. To make matters worse, after reaching the regional semifinals a year ago, they barely got past Santa Clara in the tournament’s opening round. They were then defeated by Iowa State in the round of 32.

Coaches Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope are beginning to feel the pressure of high expectations for their programs, and they will both look to the transfer portal for an improved season in 2026-27. What’s strange is that both schools are targeting the same player.

Robert Wright III is a top target for Louisville and Kentucky

According to 24/7 Sports basketball analyst Travis Branham, Louisville has been one of the most offensive teams in the portal and is expected to be in the pursuit of BYU guard Robert Wright III as they look to replace Mikel Brown after he declares for June’s NBA draft.

However, he is expected to get competition from Kentucky, which does not have a traditional point guard on the roster after this week’s graduation and Portal departure. With a shortage of impact point guards on the market and high demand, Branham suggests Wright III could become one of the highest-paid players in college basketball from a portal bidding war.

After transferring from Baylor last year, Wright III had a successful season for BYU. Posting 18.1 points (second on the team), 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals – both tops for the Cougars.

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

Chicago Bulls Guard Jaden Ivey was pardoned Monday after allegedly making anti-LGBTQ comments on social media. Ivey had already been ruled out for the rest of the season with a left knee injury.

Following the incident, the shooting guard received considerable support, including from New England Patriots running back Treveon Henderson.

In a post on his X page, Henderson expressed sympathy for Ivey by sharing what the player said that led to his release. He then used a Bible verse, Matthew 5:10, to show support for the 24-year-old guard.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Henderson tweeted.

Jaden Ivey was having the best year of his career last season before suffering a foot injury. As a result, Ivey missed out on a rookie max extension, as he moved down the Detroit Pistons’ pecking order this season.

Thus, he played limited minutes and was traded to the Chicago Bulls at the deadline as part of a three-way deal. minnesota timberwolves.

It’s going to be an interesting summer for the Ivies, full of potential. However, his recent comments could prove problematic for him for other teams.

Former NBA player also supported Jaden Ivey

Apart from Trevion Henderson, Jaden Ivey also received support from former NBA star Royce White. The player-turned-politician hopes to run for senator in Minnesota this summer, so he used the current issue as part of his campaign.

“Boom…freedom of speech? You now have to support sucking dick to play in the NBA? What a blow this is to American culture! Get it, massive blow? Seriously, can we reel this in? What’s even that?” White tweeted.

Although Ivy had the right to say whatever he wanted, he was presumably not free from the terms of being employed by a private franchise like the Chicago Bulls.

However, it will be interesting to see how the 24-year-old player weathers this storm and which team he eventually lands up in.

Since his first foray into online journalism in 2019, Peter Okereke has written widely on entertainment, politics and pop… More about Peter Okereke

The Premier League may have come to a halt due to the international break, but Aston Villa certainly haven’t.

Unai Emery’s squad have flown to Spain for a brief but carefully planned training camp designed to sharpen them for a big end to the season.

The Villans are currently fourth, just one point off third, and with a Europa League quarterfinal against Bologna looming, this trip is no holiday. This is very strategic for Emery and his team.

Why did Villa choose Murcia?

Marca gave details of the training camp in a report todayAfter being allowed to see behind the curtain. And they were impressed by what they saw.

According to the Spanish newspaper, the day starts early. The players travel from their rooms to the training pitch for a session led by Paco Eyestaran. Unai Emery later took over proceedings.

Although there is an open-air gym, music and a relaxed atmosphere, all this disappears once the practice begins. Emery spends the season constantly improving, adjusting and pushing.

The brakes aren’t really brakes. The work continues, with young players given ‘ghost jobs’, detailed, individual improvements designed to make them the best they can be.

Marca say ‘the first thing that catches your attention’ is the physique of the Premier League outfit. They are like rocks, built for the demands of Europe’s toughest league.

Life at Hilton La Torre

At the hotel, Hilton La Torre, the routine is absolutely structured. Three traveling chefs oversee nutrition, making sure everyone is properly fueled.

The team has a total of 60 people, including players, coaches, trainers, staff, security personnel, cooks and press.

Between sessions there is time for golf, time to relax in the sun and time for recovery work in specific facilities.

The atmosphere is quiet, but the objective is clear; Keep Aston Villa sharp, ready and competitive between now and the end of the season.

elite plan

It may be a trip to Spain, but it’s no fun trip for Aston Villa. It’s not about relaxation. It’s about preparation.

Emery and his side know what is about to happen and ‘no one lets their guard down.’ Marca emphasizes that there is no magic formula, just hard work, planning and skill.

This will be crucial in a race that includes striving for the Champions League and European knockout ties. Whether this works as expected will be determined at the end of the season.

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed Malachi Smith to a second 10-day contract, the team announced Wednesday. Smith appeared in six games during his first 10-day contract after spending most of the season with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.

The former Gonzaga guard averaged 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 19.5 minutes per game during the stretch. He shot 15 of 30 from the field and 5 of 10 from three.

Smith scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field with four assists and 3-of-3 from three during Brooklyn’s 126-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Malachi Smith returns to Nets on second 10-day contract after breakout performance

Smith spent the last two seasons with the G League affiliates of the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists on .510/.416/.772 shooting splits in 29 appearances with the Long Island Nets this year before an NBA call-up.

Smith’s new 10-day contract will last through the Nets’ next five games, at which point the rebuilding team will have five games remaining on its schedule. The 26-year-old should get ample opportunities to prove his worth during his new deal.

Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Deron Sharp are out with injuries. Brooklyn has been offering Smith and its two-way players extended minutes in recent games as the team vie for the top draft selection.

The Nets will conclude a four-game road trip with games against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

On Tuesday evening, the New York Knicks continued their winning ways with an easy home win over the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks played this game without star point guard Jalen Brunson, who was nursing a neck injury, which meant other players had to take on larger roles.

One of those players was wing Josh Hart, who stepped up to the challenge and scored 33 points with seven rebounds and five assists in the win. After the game, the newest member of the Knicks, Jose Alvarado, jokingly made fun of Hart’s point guard abilities.

“Oh no, he can’t handle any basketball. He just takes the ball and keeps his shoulder down but he’s no point guard. He just did good today, man,” said Alvarado, according to the former Knicks video on Twitter.

Hart and some of his other teammates, including Brunson, have long been known for poking fun at each other in the media, so the fact that Alvarado is already into this tradition shows how quickly he’s fitting in to his new home in New York.

Alvarado had a solid game in his own right in Brunson’s absence on Tuesday, scoring 16 points along with 10 assists in the win.

Meanwhile, Knicks fans will certainly be hoping that Brunson’s injury isn’t something that will keep him out of the lineup for a long time as the playoffs approach. New York is currently third in the Eastern Conference, but they could realistically move up or down one spot by the end of the season depending on how things go.

The Knicks next take the field on Friday evening for a bridge-across road game against the Brooklyn Nets.

There have been many stories told about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ unforgettable title run in 2016. But Iman Shumpert’s revelation about Tony Allen’s role in helping them shut down the Golden State Warriors is a new one.

The Warriors were juggernauts that year, winning a record 73 games. They took a 3–1 lead against the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals and appeared poised to capture their second consecutive title. However, Cleveland came back strongly and pulled off a most improbable comeback for the team’s first title.

On “Out in the Mud”, Shumpert admitted that he and JR Smith were having “a nice little battle” with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson defensively in the series. Shumpert said Allen called him to give him some suggestions.

“M********* called me right away. ‘Hey, brother, you got Klay right? Who do you have, Klay or Steph? I know you got one of them.'” Shumpert recalled.

“I said, ‘Don’t help. Wherever you are, I don’t care, going to help, there’s no help,'” said Allen, who was with the Memphis Grizzlies at the time.

When a three-time All-NBA Defensive First Team member tells you how to play defense, you listen. So that’s exactly what Shumpert and Smith did. Ultimately, they survived the Warriors, winning a classic battle in Game 7.

“He (Allen) said, ‘There’s no help, and get used to it, you’re going to have about three rebounds.’ He said, ‘Why?’ Who do you want to get a rebound for? If they get a rebound, where is it going? And what if you’re not there?’ But it seemed to make sense,” Shumpert said.

While Curry and Thompson still got their numbers, Shumpert said he and Smith performed poorly against them even on Allen’s advice. Matthew Dellavedova also played a huge role in protecting the Splash Brothers.

Allen had his fair share of intense feuds with Curry and Thompson, with the Grizzlies and Warriors meeting several times in the regular season. Golden State defeated Memphis 4–2 in the conference semifinals en route to the title in 2015.

The Boston Celtics have made a contract decision involving one of their two-way players. Luckily for rookie Max Shulga, he was the player who got his first standard contract.

According to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, Shulga signed a two-year contract with the Celtics on Saturday. Boston got the young guard in the second round of the 2025 draft, acquiring him from the Orlando Magic.

“The Boston Celtics are signing two-way forward Max Shulga to a standard two-year contract. The Ukrainian guard went to Boston with the No. 57 pick in last June’s NBA draft and has spent the season with Maine in the G League,” Charania wrote, sources told ESPN.

Shulga has made cameos in his rookie season, appearing in three games in which he played 1.7 minutes per contest. He attempted only one shot in that limited time and committed two fouls.

The Boston Celtics are signing two-way forward Max Shulga to a standard two-year contract, sources tell ESPN. The Ukrainian guard went to Boston with the No. 57 pick in last June’s NBA draft and has spent the season with Maine in the G League. pic.twitter.com/5eMzxLS8VO

– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 15 March 2026

What’s next for the Celtics after the latest signing?

This is great news for Max Shulga signing his first non-two-way contract as he now earns a higher salary with the Celtics. This allows him to gain a roster spot because it now paves the way for another player to take the open two-way spot.

Shulga played five seasons throughout his collegiate career, representing Utah State and VCU. He enjoyed his best years in his later years, transforming into an elite sharpshooter as he helped the Rams reach the NCAA Tournament in his final season. He averaged 15 points, 5.9 rebounds and four assists on 38.7% shooting from deep in the 2024–25 NCAA season.

Boston compiled a 44–23 record on the season and finished second in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers while trailing the Detroit Pistons.

After Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards, the Celtics will look forward to their next matchup. They will be at home when they host the Phoenix Suns on March 16 at 7:30 pm ET.

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced Wednesday that they have signed guard Jules Bernard to a two-way contract. As per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed. Bernard will remain with Minnesota’s NBA G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, where he has been one of the league’s most productive guards this season.

In 37 G League appearances (33 starts), Bernard is averaging 22.5 points while playing 34.5 minutes per game. He’s shooting 42.5% to 42.9% from the field, 34.9% to 35.3% from three-point range, and 80.1% to 80.6% from the free-throw line. His all-around production included 6.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The 26-year-old has scored 30 points six times, including a season-high 38 points against the Long Island Nets on January 18. On February 7, he recorded 30 points with eight three-pointers, along with season highs of 13 rebounds and 13 assists in a 123–120 win over the Maine Celtics.

Bernard previously signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards through the 2023–24 season, in which he appeared in 19 games for a total of 149 minutes. He averaged 3.9 points on 45.3% shooting, including 37.9% from three, and 1.4 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game. He made his NBA debut on December 8, 2023 in a 124–97 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

Undrafted out of the UCLA Bruins in 2022, the Los Angeles native played four collegiate seasons, appearing in 130 games (65 starts) and posting career averages of 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.4 minutes per game, while shooting 43.0% from the field and 35.4% from three. As a senior in 2021–22, he averaged 12.8 points and 4.7 rebounds and earned Pac-12 All-Tournament Team honors.

The Timberwolves had a two-way slot open after waiving Johnny Juzang. Bernard is eligible to remain active for up to 14 NBA games for the remainder of the regular season and will need promotion to the standard 15-man roster to qualify for postseason play.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Without three of their top four scorers, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cleveland Cavs – 121-113 – at Paycom Center on Sunday. The defending champions took a 28-5 lead in the opening frame. Without the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the starters took advantage of defensive stops and elite shooting as Oklahoma City drained eight of its 21 threes in the first quarter.

In regards to who would guard Mitchell and Harden, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault revealed that the defensive assignment of Lou Dort over Mitchell won a 6–5 vote among his coaching staff. Cason Wallace spent most of the game facing Harden. Mitchell scored 20 points, but it took him nearly 20 attempts (9 of 19) to get there, as he was 0 of 6 from deep.

Harden scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, nine assists and five rebounds. Wallace finished with 20 points with a career-high 10 assists and recorded his first double-double and three steals. Isaiah Joe’s 22 points led seven Thunder players into double figures, including Dort (12 points, two steals) and Oklahoma City’s entire starting lineup.

The defending champions’ strong defense forced 17 Cavs turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 31 points en route to an eight-point victory.

Cason Wallace shows off his signature performance in Thunder’s win

Thunder guard Cason Wallace understands the assignment ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cavs. Before facing one of the league’s highest scoring backcourts in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. And while the Thunder’s newest guards in Jared McCann and Nicola Topic have gotten acclimated to their new surroundings, Wallace has helped fill the void left after losing All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.

After the game, Wallace spoke to the media On his outlook ahead of the Thunder’s matinee matchup against the Cavs.

“I come into the game knowing that I have a high-level opponent that I have to guard against, you know, compete for minutes with him,” Wallace said. “First I had to slow him down. Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys that are good at making plays. So, I can make some plays myself on offense, but those guys help me a lot on that end.”

Cason Wallace on the Thunder’s offense and OKC’s defense against the Cavs’ Mitchell and Harden: “Felt like we came in warmed up, had a little bit of momentum at the beginning of the game… I’ve got to slow it down first.

Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys who are good at making plays.” pic.twitter.com/U65bg0x2bR

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026

The Thunder will travel to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

The 2025-26 NBA season is not going well for the Memphis Grizzlies, and it didn’t get any better for them on Saturday, when they lost to the Miami Heat by a score of 136-120.

A big reason for the Grizzlies’ struggles in the campaign are the injuries they have been dealing with.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Memphis reportedly made a move to add a healthy body to the roster on Monday, as they added a former Portland Trail Blazers player to the team.

From Charania on

The 21-year-old Rupert entered the league in 2023 when the Trail Blazers used their No. 43 pick in that year’s NBA draft on him. In 139 games played over two seasons for Portland, Rupert averaged 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting only 36.7 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from behind the arc.

The 6-foot-7 Rupert played his final game in a Portland uniform last Thursday on the road against the Utah Jazz, scoring two points, grabbing four rebounds and recording a steal with two turnovers in 16 minutes of action in the 135-119 win. The next day, the Trail Blazers decided to waive him after promoting Sidi Sissoko to make room on the 15-man roster.

The move to the Grizzlies presents an opportunity for Rupert, who has a fully guaranteed $2.2 million contract through the 2025-26 season, to see a larger role on the court.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was amazed by rookie Nikola Topic, who he says helped his team earn a 105-86 win against the Brooklyn Nets. Topic finished with nine points and two assists, shutting the door on the Nets in the final frame.

To Daigneault, Topic is one of the NBA’s rare pure point guards, he explained during his postgame media availability, as the Thunder head coach really impressed By playing in Topic’s only second game.

“There aren’t a lot of real pure point guards in basketball anymore. Incredible skill, but traditional team runners, not a ton of them, and that’s what he is: He can run your team. He’ll organize you on the floor. He understands what we’re trying to accomplish, even at this extremely early infant stage of his career, and he has the passing to go with it.

“He’s still got a long way to go. Offensively he’s got a lot to learn in terms of getting the edge, reading different coverages that he’s going to see as the league gets to know him a little bit; it’ll be a new challenge for him. But he’s off to a great start.”

Mark Daigneault says Nikola Topic is one of the few “pure point guards” left in the NBA: “There aren’t a lot of true pure point guards in basketball anymore…

And that’s what he is: He can run your team. He will settle you to the top. He understands what we’re trying to do… pic.twitter.com/tHcweGPdys

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 21 February 2026

Daigneault put Friday’s performance into perspective, reminding reporters that Topic is still in the early stages of his NBA career, despite the rookie’s impressive debut following an ACL injury and testicular cancer diagnosis.

Daigneault said, “This is his second NBA game. So, it would be unfair to really evaluate him in this context.” “But, he’s obviously a really good player. He has a really good feel for the game. He goes out there and treats it like it belongs to him. He shoots threes. He’s not afraid to drive.”

Subject went 4-for-6 from the floor, including 1-for-2 from deep. He also grabbed three rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench.

Nicola Topic reflects on ‘amazing’ Thunder win

In only his second game, Thunder rookie Nikola Topic helped his team clinch the win by outscoring the Nets in the final frame of a 19-point win at the Paycom Center. Jared McCain’s season-high 21 points off the bench led the Thunder in scoring. However, in his second game, Topic addressed the media in his first postgame press conference of the season.

Topic took time out to thank Thunder fans for their warm embrace during his NBA debut last week.

Topic said, “Amazing moment. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life – thanks to the fans.” “Definitely, I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Still getting back into the swing of things Topic, who hadn’t played a basketball game in nearly two years, said it took him a while to get used to playing again.

Topic continued, “It was weird at first. I’m just getting back to the game experience again.” “I was out for a while. It was very weird coming back. I was finding myself doing things I had never done before. It was pretty hard to adjust to, but every game was better. The first game in the G League. The second game was better. The first game here was OK. The second was better. But I think it will only get better.”

The Thunder will host the Cavs on Sunday.

The Philadelphia 76ers officially signed guard Tyrese Martin to a two-way contract on Thursday, the team announced in a press release. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey confirmed the move as the Sixers continue to restructure their roster following the All-Star break.

The 26-year-old Martin began the season with the Brooklyn Nets and appeared in 37 games with six starts. He averaged 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 18.8 minutes per game while shooting 39.2% from the field. He scored in double figures 12 times, including a season-high 26 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 5-of-9 from three-point range against the Toronto Raptors on November 23. After meeting the guarantee deadline of his January contract and securing his entire $2.2 million salary, Martin was waived on February 5 to make roster space for Brooklyn’s trade for Hunter Tyson.

Over the past two seasons with the Nets, Martin played in 97 games, making 17 starts, and averaged 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20.7 minutes per game, while shooting 34.6% from beyond the arc. For his three-year NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn, he has appeared in 113 games, averaging 7.2 points on 40.1% shooting as well as 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He has six 20-point performances in his career, including a 30-point outing with eight three-pointers against the Phoenix Suns on November 27, 2024.

Originally selected 51st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, the Allentown, Pennsylvania native has also performed in the G League. In 72 games with the Atlanta Skyhawks, Iowa Wolves and Long Island Nets, Martin averaged 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 32.8 minutes, recording 25 double-doubles and 21 games of at least 20 points, including five 30-point attempts and one 40-point game.

Martin filled Philadelphia’s open two-way spot with Marjon Beauchamp and Delon Terry after Jabari Walker was promoted to the 15-man roster.

The 76ers entered the stretch run with a score of 30–25, sixth in the Eastern Conference, avoiding the play-in tournament. With Paul George serving a 25-game suspension, Martin has added depth to the backcourt as the Sixers head toward the postseason.

The Denver Nuggets continue to make adjustments to their rotation in the midst of another postseason push. The latest move comes in the form of former Charlotte Hornets guard KJ Simpson, who has joined on a two-way contract.

According to Shams Charania, Simpson’s two-way contract replaces Spencer Jones, who was previously converted to a standard contract and will become a restricted free agent in the summer.

The Nuggets are planning to sign former Charlotte Hornets guard KJ Simpson to a two-way NBA deal, sources tell ESPN. Simpson averaged 7.3 points and 21.3 minutes in 50 games over a season and a half in Charlotte. He replaces Spencer Jones after Jones was converted to a standard deal. https://t.co/X4ZUkcGzzA

– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 19 February 2026

Jones’ promotion was largely procedural but also performance-earned. The 24-year-old has emerged as a reliable rotation wing while battling injuries, starting 34 of 46 games while averaging 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 23.6 minutes per game.

His 41.4% 3-point shooting and 50.5% overall field goal percentage have made him an underutilized but highly functional spacer in Denver’s offense. More importantly, Jones’ defensive impact means he ranks 24th in defensive rating (118.1).

Nuggets ready to sign former Hornets guard KJ Simpson to two-way NBA contract @shamscharania. pic.twitter.com/IMZHp1SlZk

– ClutchPoints NBA (@ClutchPointsNBA) 19 February 2026

Contract conversion also solves the roster compliance issue. Denver had dropped to 13 standard contracts following the Hunter Tyson trade, making Jones’ promotion the simplest way to meet the league’s 14-player minimum.

The Nuggets still retain an open roster spot, with Jones’ current deal also allowing the franchise to make some significant financial changes. Denver is already projected to have over $200 million in salary commitments next season and looks to add some much-needed depth.

Jones began the year on a two-way contract, which typically leads to a lower qualifying offer after conversion to a standard deal. However, since he has already started 34 games, the 24-year-old is close to reaching the league’s starting cap.

Simpson averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 21.3 minutes in 50 NBA games with Charlotte before being waived. His G-League production has been remarkably strong, posting 18.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists with Greensboro, indicating considerable offensive potential.

Selected 42nd overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Simpson has not appeared in a single game for the Hornets since the start of the campaign and will be eager to get his first taste of NBA action in the current campaign.