標籤: honest

Sammy Zayn isn’t revealing how much time he has left, but the 41-year-old is under no illusions about where he is in his career.

Speaking with Witty Whittier this week, Zayn expressed his gratitude for still being in the position he is in, while admitting that the end of his in-ring run is closer than the beginning.

“I remember being on a European tour several years ago and thinking, ‘I don’t know how many more of these there really are.’ When you’re in it, you feel like it’s going to go on forever,” Zain said. “It’s like when you’re in high school, you feel like those years are going to last forever. But then, when you’re an adult, and you’re 10-15 years out of high school, you’re like, ‘Man, high school was nothing.’ This is a shock in your life.

“So I’ve been fortunate that my time in WWE and this business has been more than a blip. But I realize this time will probably end in the next — I don’t want to put too many years on it, but definitely closer to the end than the beginning. So I’m still very, very grateful to be a part of it. It’s not meaningless to me. It’s not meaningless to me. It’s great.”

Sami Zayn calls WrestleMania 42 ‘weird’

Zayn also reflected on WrestleMania 42, describing the event as a “weird” atmosphere for several reasons. His character was in an unusual place on the show, with fan reactions beginning to turn negative, making his position less defined than it usually was at the time of WrestleMania. He lost the United States Championship to Trick Williams at the event.

Zayn said, “At the time of WrestleMania my character was a little more undefined than it had been in years.” “Normally, I go into Mania, and I know exactly where I am and what I’m doing. This year, it’s like this character shift and this big change going on at the same time with the tricks kind of increasing and I’m getting these – I would say polarizing reactions, but now it’s started to veer in the other direction where I don’t like.

“And I’m like a character saying, ‘What did I do here? Why is this happening?’ And all that kind of stuff. Week-to-week, audience-to-audience are all different, so it felt a little less reassuring,” he said. “Then the atmosphere around WrestleMania this year was a little strange, like the last minute addition of Pat McAfee. There were a lot of things that felt a little strange about this year’s WrestleMania.”

The resentment toward Bronny James appears to be subsiding in his second year with the Los Angeles Lakers. But that doesn’t mean he won’t continue to prove himself.

Many felt that James did not deserve to be in the NBA when the Lakers drafted him in the second round in 2024, saying that he was given the position due to being the son of LeBron James.

The criticism was wrong. The noise became louder. But little James put his head down and got to work. He has shown improvement in his second year, especially in his confidence, and he has not gone unnoticed by the Lakers.

Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell reports that Los Angeles coach JJ Redick praised the 21-year-old guard after Wednesday’s win over the Indiana Pacers.

Redick said, “He’s gotten a lot better. Our staff has a lot of confidence in him. It felt like this was a game where we really needed him.”

Trudell said Redick cited James’ “defense, athleticism and increased confidence in his shot.”

The Lakers improved to 47–26 by defeating the Pacers 137–130 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games.

The young James contributed four points, including a thunderous dunk, one rebound, one assist, two steals and a block in 13 minutes off the bench.

Although he has yet to earn consistent playing time, the former McDonald’s All-American has shown that he can perform, especially on the defensive end, when given adequate opportunities.

It will be difficult for him to step away from his great father’s shadow, but as long as the Lakers continue to be successful, he will happily play his part and leave the haters crying.

On Monday evening, the San Antonio Spurs continued their winning ways with a blowout win over the Miami Heat. It was another strong game for superstar Victor Vembanyama, who scored 26 points with 15 rebounds and five blocks on an efficient shooting night from the field.

Many have predicted that Wembanyama will be the front-runner to win this year’s NBA MVP award, and most recently, ESPN NBA insider Stephen A. Smith explains why he now sees the Spurs star as the favourite.

“He changed my mind. I’d put him in the lead… He’s right when he says (defense) doesn’t get mentioned enough when we talk about league MVPs. It’s a very smart thing on his part. But it doesn’t do it for me either… The second-place team, which hasn’t been relegated in years, has a star in Victor Wambayama before the playoffs even started… And he looked into the microphone and said, ‘We dominate. They’ve been defending champions since we’ve seen them this year,” Smith said, according to First Take on X, formerly Twitter.

In fact, the Spurs have dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder in their encounters this season, winning four out of the five matches played between the two teams. Many speculate that this could be the Western Conference Finals matchup in a few months, as the two teams are one and two in the conference, and it is highly likely to end as the season ends.

Meanwhile, Wembanyama remains the best defensive player in the NBA by a wide margin while continuing to expand his offensive game, which could earn him some votes in the MVP discussion.

The Spurs next take the field on Wednesday evening for a road game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Boston Celtics have been up and down lately, losing at home to the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening. It’s been some tough games for star Jayson Tatum, who recently suffered a brutal shooting night during a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and was ineffective once again in the loss to Minnesota.

However, one person who isn’t concerned with Tatum’s declining shooting numbers is former NBA wing Iman Shumpert, who took to ESPN to urge calm.

“I don’t think the Celtics should resort to feeling like this is a ‘make sure he fits in’ type of situation. … When May 1 comes, he’ll be ready,” Shumpert said, according to First Take on X, formerly of Twitter.

To reach May 1, the Celtics will have to get through the first round of the playoffs, which may not be an easy task considering the way some of the teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings are playing at the moment.

However, it is certainly unreasonable for fans to assume that Tatum will be able to regain his prime form immediately upon stepping onto the court following ten months of rehabilitation from his Achilles injury. Most importantly, Tatum has shown the ability to move relatively well laterally, and although he is still scratching the rust off his outside jumper, he seems to be fitting in well with his Celtics teammates so far.

Boston is currently the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, but they will have some work to do to stop the New York Knicks, who are playing their best basketball at the right time.

The Celtics take the field for a tough home game next Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson has been on a roll, and his early impressions say a lot about the team and the atmosphere in Dallas. The relationship between Thompson and the Mavericks is already taking shape, driven by energy, momentum and fan support that never fades.

In an interview with AB Jones of DLLS Sports, Thompson gave candid and real feedback on what he has experienced so far. “Dallas is the best,” he said. “They’re very loyal. Not just to the Mavericks, but to every team.” That kind of praise carries weight. This coming from a player who has seen packed arenas and championship runs. Yet Dallas is still different.

Klay Thompson at fan support in Dallas, Texas.

“Dallas is the best. They’re very loyal. Not just to the Mavericks, but to every team.” pic.twitter.com/uaWLWmPrJ6

– Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) 19 March 2026

That loyalty shows up in real time. Mavericks fans are on everything. Noise is generated with every swing pass, every drive, every shot. When Thompson gets up for three runs, the field tilts. Then there is an explosion. This is the Mavericks’ best fan support, and it’s already becoming part of their rhythm.

The feeling of connectedness is also increasing. Not forcefully. There was no haste. Absolutely natural.

Mavericks find a perfect fit with Klay Thompson

It seems like this is more than a simple adjustment period. This feels like alignment. Thompson brings blankness, experience and the ability to make cool decisions. The Mavericks bring confidence, identity and a crowd that fuels the momentum.

The numbers support that role. In 60 games this season, Thompson is averaging 11.9 points in 21.9 minutes while shooting 38.0 percent from three. Efficiency still matters. Gravity still exists. Even when the box score looks paltry, the defense remains connected, allowing the Mavericks offense to continue to gain an advantage.

This is where its value is seen. Complex. steady. Game-shifting.

Undoubtedly, expectations will come. They always do this. But right now the foundation looks strong. The energy feels real. The Mavericks partnership is being formed with purpose, not coercion.

So as the season unfolds, a question arises. If this bond between Klay Thompson and Mavericks fans continues to grow, how much can Dallas hold on when it matters most?

There are still a few weeks left in the NBA regular season. But it’s safe to assume that the Chicago Bulls are still rebuilding. A series of trades that shook up the franchise during the trade deadline speaks to this.

As a result, the Bulls are stuck with a young roster and uncertainty about who will stay or go. This especially applies to Collin Sexton, Nick Richards, Anfernee Simmons, Jaden Ivey, Leonard Miller and Rob Dillingham.

Additionally, head coach Billy Donovan is as forthright as ever when talking about Chicago’s future. According to Sports Illustrated’s Elias Schuster, this also includes questions about his future with the franchise.

Before the Bulls took on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Donovan talked about the future.

“I think we’ll do what we’ve always done – sit out the end of the year,” he said. “We talk about the team every day and obviously the biggest challenge for us has been injuries and things we’ve gone through since the trade deadline. But just trying to get these new people together – playing together – [is] Where all our focus has been. The decisions you’re talking about are decisions that are probably going to be made during the draft, during free agency, those things. So, I think you should look at the team. Certainly, there are people whose contracts are expiring – there are people whose contracts are restricted – so there’s probably a lot of decisions that have to be made, but we haven’t really talked about those decisions at all at this point.

Currently, the Bulls are 28-41 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Memphis Grizzlies delivered one of their most remarkable performances of the season on Wednesday night, defeating the Denver Nuggets by a score of 125-118 at FedExForum. The win broke an eight-match losing streak and offered a glimpse of the team’s long-term potential.

The Grizzlies entered the matchup as the Western Conference’s 11th seed and clear underdogs at 23–44, while the Nuggets came in as the sixth seed at 42–27, and held a three-game lead over the seventh-place Phoenix Suns. However, Memphis turned the result around with its energy, timely shot-making and better execution in the final minutes. The result stood as one of the team’s most important wins of the season.

Cedric Coward played an important role in the performance. The rookie contributed to the stat sheet while continuing to develop within Memphis’ young core. His versatility helped the Grizzlies compete defensively while maintaining offensive differentials, allowing his impact to extend beyond traditional numbers.

Grind City Media shared the clip to X, formerly of Twitter, crediting Michael Wallace with capturing Coward’s postgame reaction, as the guard reflected on the importance of the win after a tough stretch.

“It’s really good to get back in the win column, especially against a playoff team.”

“It’s really good to get back in the win column, especially against a playoff team.”

Cowardly on what lessons a young and developing team can learn from a win over a proven team like the Nuggets.

🎥: @mymikecheck pic.twitter.com/NKDPuQGdFE

– Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) 19 March 2026

The post emphasized that the moment represented more than one outcome. Instead, it reflects the continued progress of a developing roster that is still learning to consistently compete at the NBA level.

Coward expanded on that theme when discussing the team’s development after the win.

“It also proves that we are growing and moving upward, understanding what we need to do on both ends of the floor, especially with so many young guys still adjusting to the league.”

Those comments reinforce the direction of the Memphis Youth Center. Even during difficult seasons, the Grizzlies continue to build identity through experiences such as these.

Ultimately, the result may not dramatically affect the situation. However, it does provide a meaningful benchmark for a young roster seeking consistency and confidence moving forward.

BOSTON – “MVP, MVP, MVP.” That’s what Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown heard as he approached the free throw line in the fourth quarter of the Green team’s 120-112 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Brown delighted the home crowd at TD Garden with a game-high 41 points – on 50% shooting – along with five assists and four rebounds.

The five-time All-Star played tirelessly against the Suns, constantly attacking the rim and forcing the referees to make call after call. This offensive aggression resulted in a career-high 21 free throws and allowed Brown to take all the MVP cheers while standing alone at the charity stripe.

“It’s pretty cool, not gonna lie,” Brown said of the MVP chants he received. “It’s just amazing to be at this point in my career and be able to get that love from the fans.”

Loud MVP chant for Jaylen Brown: pic.twitter.com/2PVsLxBjcH

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 17 March 2026

Brown deserved every scream from the Boston faithful, as he recorded a game-high 18 points in the final frame alone. He was also responsible for the biggest momentum shift of the contest, which came when he cleanly stole the ball from Suns star Devin Booker, giving an easy lead to Celtics star Jayson Tatum on the other end with 3:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. This limited the Suns’ lead to just one and forced a timeout – they never recovered and the Celtics went on a 10–1 run to close out the win.

“I think even now over the last few games, I’ve adjusted my game, and I’m still getting better at my ability to make plays, seeing the floor, taking my time, all those things, still continuing to improve,” Brown said at the podium.

While Brown thoroughly enjoyed the love he earned from Celtics fans on Monday, he may have enjoyed even more the support he received on a cold Sunday morning on the streets of South Boston.

The longtime Celtics participated in Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the first time and were surrounded by fans that exceeded the capacity of the TD Garden.

“I was at Southee’s yesterday and I got some MVP chants,” Brown recalled. “I think it might have been a little nicer.”

Jaylen Brown joins Southee St. Patrick’s Day Parade ☘️ pic.twitter.com/p3vBPLwn4u

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 15 March 2026

Although Brown is being serenaded with MVP chants throughout Beantown, that doesn’t mean he’ll be taking home the Michael Jordan Trophy. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite and his Oklahoma City Thunder have the advantage of having the best record in the NBA.

This will likely keep Brown from becoming the first Celtics MVP in four decades, yet he still has some history to chase. After lighting up the sun, the Georgia native is just 23 points away from entering the top-10 of the Celtics’ all-time scoring list. With a 23-point outing, he would be right behind his partner in offense Tatum on the historical leaderboard.

Tatum said of his on-court partnership with Brown, “We can count on each other in the biggest moments, the biggest games, the biggest situations, we’ve been through them all together.”

Following the 45-23 Celtics are the injury-hit Golden State Warriors, whom they host on Wednesday night during a primetime showdown. And while this contest likely won’t provide Brown with a big enough stage to further his MVP case, it will give him a chance to continue his stellar season and keep the Celtics in contention for the playoffs.

“I’m proud of my team, I’m proud of myself,” he said. “I always felt that if given the chance, I could become one of the top players in the world and I think I have to demonstrate that this season. Now my focus is on preparing for the playoffs.”

Crystal Palace defender JD Canavut has insisted he does not think about his €23m price tag, or the expectations it brings.

19 year old talking to ft mercato About life with Crystal Palace Joining them in September.

He is slowly establishing himself in Oliver Glasner’s team and has started their last three Premier League matches. The defender is seen at the club as a long-term replacement for Marc Guhi, who ultimately left in January and joined Manchester City.

This opened the door for Canavot to gain playing time and eventually begin his career with Crystal Palace. Considering his transfer fee, expectations are high. But the youth are refusing to focus on that.

“No, honestly, I don’t care. I haven’t thought about it,” He said.

“I do my job on the pitch; the financial and administrative side is not my responsibility. Yes, this transfer represents a lot of money, but it’s just football today, everything moves fast. But I don’t think about it when I sleep.”

What surprises Canavot about the Premier League?

Canavot had to wait for his chance after Guhi’s unsuccessful move to Liverpool in the summer transfer window.

This led to him suffering a slow start to the season and spending the first six Premier League matches on the bench. He has been on and off the bench since then, with 13 of his 25 call-ups to the Crystal Palace squad this season.

However, the young player did not take it as an insult. Instead, they used the time to observe and learn about their new surroundings.

“I studied players who played in my position as centre-back,” he explained

“I also watched the opposition players, I analyzed their movements, and I also saw how focused you had to be from the first minute to the last minute. Then there’s the intensity of a Premier League match. I think that’s what impressed me the most.”

Why is Crystal Palace taking Europe seriously?

The focus now is on continuing his solid start to life in the first team. With Guhi’s departure the door has opened and Canvot has passed through it.

He has started and finished Crystal Palace’s last three matches, including an impressive performance in a 3–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

He also played 90 minutes in a 2–0 win over Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League last month. The focus now turns to this week’s clash with AEK Larnaca. And Canvote says they’re in the running to win it.

“Definitely, I think we have everything we need to win it,” He concluded.

“Everyone in the group feels like we have what it takes. We’re playing in the conference to win it, and we’ve made it our competition. We’re going out there to win a title.

“I wasn’t here last season, but they had the best year in the club’s history, won two trophies, so I would like to win my first one too. And why not this season?”

Trust, Adaptation and Growing Conviction

There is no point in relaxing or waiting for the future for Canvote. Crystal Palace’s recent success has raised expectations inside the dressing room as well as outside it and he has accepted that responsibility.

With growing confidence and the trophy firmly in mind, he is clear about the mentality that is driving him: This is a team that expects to compete, and he intends to move forward with it.

On Sunday afternoon, the New York Knicks returned to the loss column with a tough loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. It was a tough day for Jalen Brunson, who shot just 8-19 from the field and scored 24 points in the loss.

On Monday, ESPN sports media personality Stephen A. Smith took to “First Take” to express his thoughts on the difficult performance.

“I’m not happy at all… I’m very concerned about the Knicks,” said Smith, formerly of First Take on X, on Twitter.

“This is not a Tom Thibodeau-led team,” he said. “It’s not the same team. They’re soft.”

In fact, many believe the Knicks have lost some of the patience and toughness under Mike Brown that they once had under Thibodeau, who was fired after New York lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

However, some expected this to pay off in the playoffs, as New York’s stars would theoretically be refreshed at the end of the year, as Brown does not run his stars into the ground from a minutes perspective the way Thibodeau did.

What’s interesting is that the Knicks beat the Denver Nuggets by nearly 40 points earlier in the week, just a day after that same Nuggets team beat the Lakers in comfortable fashion.

However, it just goes to show how much NBA results are matchup and context-dependent, with the Lakers headed to a win over New York on Sunday despite not having LeBron James in the lineup due to injury.

Overall, the Knicks are still in good shape in the Eastern Conference, sitting at 41-24 on the year, and are essentially locked into homecourt advantage at least in the first round of the playoffs.

They will next take the court on Monday evening against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Denver Nuggets currently have the best player in the NBA in Nikola Jokic.

He has incredible talent and has been a triple-double machine in the NBA. He’s not the most athletic, but he’s shown that he’s extremely efficient on offense, and that’s been a big difference maker, which is why he’s won three MVP awards.

However, another big man may overshadow him in the near future: Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama is in his third season in the NBA and has been dominant, which shows how much he has grown as a player. He’s only going to get better, and Jokic said he’s relieved he won’t be there to experience his peak. Jokic is the best player in basketball today, but he said that Wembanyama basketball is changing and he clearly stated that he is glad he will not be there to experience the best of his career.

“He’s changing basketball. He’s a rim protector, he’s shooting threes. He’s unique. I’m glad I’ll probably retire before Wembley takes over the entire league,” Jokic said in his appearance on X&O Chat, a Serbian basketball podcast hosted by Edin Avdik.

Wembanyama has made a significant leap with the San Antonio Spurs this 2025-26 season. Despite injury problems early in the year, he is now averaging 23.9 points on over 50 percent shooting with 11.1 boards, 2.9 assists and a league-leading 3.0 blocks per game.

Wembanyama’s combination of defensive mastery, scoring ability, and overall unicorn talent has propelled the Spurs to the NBA championship. They are currently one of the top favorites to win it all as the No. 2 seed in the West, with a 47-17 record.

It’s also worth noting that Wembanyama has broken the mold of how NBA players are viewed by giving his all to play every night during the regular season. He was emotional after the big comeback against the Clippers a few nights ago, which was refreshing for many fans after so much talk about how NBA players don’t care about the regular season anymore.

The Indiana Pacers have all the incentive in the world to lose every game through the end of the 2025-26 season, as if their 2026 first-round selection ends up within picks five to nine, they will be dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers courtesy of the Ivica Zubac trade.

Since all critical teams are trying to lose games with the aim of maintaining their preference in protected grounds, the Pacers don’t need to do much to try and prevent defeat. Injury problems have plagued the team throughout the season, and after Sunday night’s 131-111 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, they lost two more key contributors, with TJ McConnell suffering a hamstring injury and Jarres Walker twisting his ankle.

That’s all Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle could do give vague feedback When asked about the respective positions of McConnell and Walker.

“Concerned. We’ll see.” [Walker] Ended up spraining my ankle. Look, we are a little worried right now. We’ll circle the wagons with the medical staff tomorrow and see what’s what,” Carlisle told reporters, via Tony East of Forbes.

Rick Carlisle on TJ McConnell’s hamstring and Jarace Walker’s late-game injury: https://t.co/y4ULLNOLc8 pic.twitter.com/hBk5V80NeF

– Tony East (@TonyREast) 9 March 2026

Fast bowlers could not take a break on the injury front

Before the 2025-26 season begins, no one would be surprised to see the Pacers remain semi-competitive amid the absence of Tyrese Haliburton. In this regard they would have been similar to the Boston Celtics. Fast forward to March, the Pacers have a record of 15-49 – the second worst record in the NBA at the moment.

Injuries have been very disappointing for the pacers. Guys like Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin and McConnell have missed significant time. They are slowly bringing Ivica Zubac on board. And this season has simply been a nightmare of a gap season that could ultimately lead to gold medal in draft season.

The primary storyline heading into Friday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks is the return of superstar Jayson Tatum after tearing his Achilles 10 months ago. The Celtics are hoping to have Tatum back in the lineup for the final 20 games of the season so that they are in a position to compete for an NBA title with their entire team when the playoffs begin. The other story is that Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will get a chance to play on the same court as Tatum for the first time in his career.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd on Cooper Flagg’s excitement for today’s game:

“He mentioned Tatum as one of the guys he looks up to.”

“It is not easy to play against this team, because they understand big games and big situations, and so it is a big challenge.” pic.twitter.com/taU0G38zwk

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 6 March 2026

Flagg grew up in nearby Maine, and he regularly followed Tatum in his formative years because he admired the way the Celtics superstar played the game.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Flagg is excited to play in Boston against a player he has followed for several years. “He mentioned Tatum as one of the guys he looks up to,” Kidd said during his media availability before Friday’s game. “It is not easy to play against this team, because they understand big games and big situations, and so it is a big challenge.”

Flagg and the Mavericks come into the game as 14.5-point underdogs against the Celtics. The rookie is averaging 20.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and is recovering from a recent foot injury. The No. 1 pick in last year’s draft has shown that he will likely be a superstar in the coming seasons.

Tatum is scheduled to play his first game since suffering an injury in last year’s second-round playoff game with the New York Knicks. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and partnered with Jaylen Brown to lead the Celtics to the 2024 NBA Championship. Tatum is averaging 23.6 ppg over his eight-year career.

The Dallas Mavericks welcomed rookie star Cooper Flagg to the lineup Thursday against the Orlando Magic, a game that came down to execution in the clutch. It was the Magic who secured a 115–114 victory after a late-game dunk by Wendell Carter Jr.

But Cooper Flagg had spectacular moments of his own, helping the Mavericks score four points in the final 37 seconds of the game. Flagg scored on an and-one to give the Mavericks control of the game. But they couldn’t maintain the lead and surrendered a 3-point shot to Jalen Suggs just before Carter’s dunk.

According to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News, after the game, Flagg talked about his comfort level playing in tough time situations.

“I would say I’m pretty comfortable. Obviously we’ve been in a lot of these situations this season,” Flagg said. “We haven’t won one of those, but it’s all a learning experience for us right now. That’s what we have to take away from this. We’ve got to learn, we’ve got to get better. We’ll be in a ton of these situations moving forward next year. Just taking it in and learning. I’m pretty comfortable at this point.”

Flagg finished the game with a well-rounded stat line of 18 points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal and four blocked shots in his return from injury. He played 26 minutes and shot 7 of 22 from the field, 1 of 4 from the 3-point line, and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line.

One of the frontrunners for the Rookie of the Year award along with Con Knueppel, Flagg was sidelined before the All-Star break with a foot injury.

He has played just over 33 minutes per game in 50 games this season. He is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from the 3-point line and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Led by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors remain competitive in the beleaguered Western Conference. All three feel that if their health remains favorable, they can compete with the NBA’s best like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets.

But one thing is becoming more real with each passing day: This era of Warriors basketball is nearing its end.

Stephen Curry, 37, has one year remaining on his deal after the 2025-26 season. Draymond Green, who turned 36 on Wednesday, has a player option for the 2026-27 season worth $27.7 million. And head coach Steve Kerr is coaching in the final year of his contract.

While Curry and Green are expected to be back with the Warriors next season, what does the future look like for head coach Steve Kerr?

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently spoke in an extensive interview with Tim Kawakami, Bay Area writer for the San Francisco Standard and host of “The TK Show” on 95.7 The Game, which also touched on Kerr’s future as Warriors head coach.

That’s where Dunleavy Jr. says he envisions Kerr returning next season and beyond.

“Yeah, I don’t see why not,” Dunleavy Jr. responded. “I mean, I guess Steve [Kerr] Mentioned a desire to get to the end of the season and find out. I think things are going well for him. We’ll figure it out when it comes, but I think it’s interesting that for us internally the focus has been on Joe, among me. [Lacob]The players and Steve are really working on getting this thing right for the rest of the season. So, we haven’t given it too much thought.”

“But obviously, on a personal level, I love having Steve here. Yes, I would guess he’s our coach next year. But again, we’re going into absolute certainty, and a lot of it is in his court, so we’ll have to see.”

In his 12 seasons coaching the Warriors, Steve Kerr has compiled a 598–338 record (.639) in 936 regular season games and a 104–48 record (.684) in 152 playoff games.

In February 2024, Steve Kerr and the Warriors agreed to a record two-year, $35 million extension to retain him as head coach of the franchise.

Entering this season on an expiring deal, Kerr said he was not particularly concerned about signing a new deal before the end of the season.

“I’m very comfortable going into the season with a year remaining,” Kerr said. “I very much agree with this [general manager] mike [Dunleavy] And [owner] Who [Lacob]. We talked about this – there is no reason for discussion or concern. This is kind of the point in our relationship where we’ll see how it goes at the end of the year.

“I don’t expect any conversations during the season. Who knows — maybe it all comes up at some point, and they come up to me. But I’m not worried about it in the slightest. I don’t think about it. I just think it’s perfect for all of us.” [to wait]”

Through 61 games, the Warriors have a 31-30 record and are currently four games behind the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns and just 1.5 games ahead of the eighth-seeded LA Clippers. According to Positive Residual, the Warriors have the fourth-toughest strength of schedule, behind the Pelicans, Blazers and Suns.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to action for the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at Fiserv Forum after missing their last 15 games with a calf injury.

However, his return was not enough to help the Bucks against the Boston Celtics, as they suffered a lopsided 108–81 loss. They suffered a straight defeat and fell 26-34.

In 25 minutes, Antetokounmpo finished with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting. He also had 11 rebounds, two assists and a block, with coach Doc Rivers being extra careful with the two-time MVP’s playing time.

The 31-year-old forward admitted that he is trying remove rust From his long layoff.

“I’m just trying to get back into rhythm,” Antetokounmpo said in a video posted by ESPN. “It’s been six weeks of not playing, and it’s the second time I’ve actually played against contact. I think the more I stay in shape, the more I’ll be able to help my team, the more I’ll be able to help my team.”

“I think right now, I’m in a place where I’m trying to figure myself out. I’m figuring out how I can fit in with the team.”

“I’m just trying to get back into rhythm.”

Giannis reveals what he wants to do to get it #box back on track #scared deer pic.twitter.com/uQSglDf0LL

– ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) 3 March 2026

It was a curious comment from the former Finals MVP, as the Bucks have clearly built the roster around him. However, Antetokounmpo admitted he hasn’t spent a lot of time on the floor with Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins and midseason additions Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng.

Antetokounmpo, who was at the center of trade rumors, has missed a career-high 29 games this season because of a calf injury.

At the time of writing, it is unclear whether he will be fit for their next game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

Head coach Mark Daigneault and the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder saw their 25-point lead disappear in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors, but still held on for a 116-107 victory on Tuesday. In another Thunder matchup without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City responded with a 15–6 run to earn its third consecutive win without its two leading scorers.

With the game tied at 101, the Thunder’s defense forced back-to-back turnovers, while Cason Wallace (27 points), who tied his career high, and Isaiah Joe (22 points) made key shots to keep the Raptors at bay. Daigneault addressed his team’s poise after a hard-fought win.

“It’s very hard to win games when you get a lead like that and they come back and tie the game,” Daigneault said. “Even the Cleveland game over the weekend was like that; we got out to an early lead. They came completely back in the game. They took the lead. It takes a lot of mental toughness to get yourself going on the next possession.

“Cason was great all night, but he was huge in that period. He had four points in a row. And then, Isaiah got it. So, he scored seven points right after the tie that got the game going again. But the team showed great mental toughness.”

Wallace (11 for 16) and Joe (six threes) combined to make 18 of 30 shots, including 10 for 16 from deep. Alex Caruso led the way with 16 points.

Mark Daigneault impressed with Thunder’s patience amid injuries

Head coach Mark Daigneault praised the Thunder for adapting to playing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell for such a long period of time, lasting until January. Similar to Sunday’s matchup, where the Thunder faced a 20+ point deficit against the Cavs, the defending champions stayed the course.

For Daigneault, it’s a testament to the Thunder’s ability to quickly adapt and make changes against the Raptors, which, in many ways, has been the story of the defending champions’ regular season.

Daigneault said, “You can’t control your circumstances. We always want to be completely healthy and get along with everyone. But when you get help, you have to make the best of it and we try to be optimistic.” “And we try to be a team that takes the circumstances in our favor, and try to take advantage of every situation, even if it’s a challenge to create some momentum. The guys have done an incredible job.

Daigneault concluded, “They see these types of things as a challenge. And that’s one of the special things about this group of guys. And they’ve done a great job since the break, sure, but also in the break.”

Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Mitchell (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain) will be reevaluated this week, while Williams (right hamstring) will have to wait a week. The Thunder will face the Pistons on Wednesday night on the second night of a back-to-back.

After starting the season in historic fashion, the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder have been hit with injuries. After starting the year without All-Star forward Jalen Williams, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has missed the last few games.

Although the team has been able to “maintain service” in the Western Conference playoff race – maintaining its top spot in the conference – Stephen A. Smith believes the team is in trouble if SGA doesn’t bounce back soon. On the latest edition of ESPN’s First Take, the panel discussed the resurgence of the San Antonio Spurs under Victor Wembanyama after a 114-103 win over the Pistons. While praising the Spurs, Smith expressed doubt about the Thunder without Alexander.

“Without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, I wouldn’t have Oklahoma City [Thunder] As a top 8 team,” Smith said boldly.

Currently, the Thunder have a 6-3 record without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season, which includes wins over playoff contenders in the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Cleveland Cavaliers. But before the All-Star break, they suffered two consecutive losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Alexander has another season worthy of an MVP finish. He is averaging 31.8 points per game and 6.4 assists per game, shooting 55% from the field and 39% from three. He has emerged as a steady hand for the Thunder offense when it needs the basket. With Alexander out of the rotation, the Thunder have had to rely on their trademark effective defense, team basketball and three-point shooting to maintain their edge over their recent opponents.

The Thunder are in for an interesting run of games as they face the playoff contenders Toronto Raptors on the first night of a back-to-back, before they play a nationally televised game against the Detroit Pistons, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Tyrese Maxey had a stellar performance as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 135-108 at Target Center on Sunday, giving Anthony Edwards a frontcourt seat — unfortunately for him.

Maxey had a game-high 39 points on 16-of-28 shooting with three rebounds, eight assists and two steals. The 76ers ended their four-game losing streak and improved to 31–26.

They also snapped the Timberwolves’ three-game winning streak, which came to 35–23. Minnesota played without Rudy Gobert and Nazi Reed due to a one-game suspension and shoulder injury, respectively.

In the third quarter, Maxey gave the 76ers even more momentum after making strong dunks over Anthony Edwards and Jon Beringer.

After the game, Edwards acknowledged Maxi’s huge slam and gave his teammate the All-Star high praise.

“He’s unbelievable. He already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even attacked me today. I really don’t like it. He played very well,” Edwards said in a video posted by Timberwolves reporter Andrew Dukowitz.

“I didn’t know he was going down. I just turned my head. I was thinking he was going to lay it up, then he went and punched it. It was like a little early dunk, too. I didn’t even get a chance to stop it. But yeah, that’s why we play the game. I’m not mad at it.”

Tyrese Maxi on Anthony Edwards and getting dunked on

“He’s an incredible guy, he already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even dunked on me today, I don’t really like it (laughs)… I didn’t know he was going down, I just took my turn… pic.twitter.com/GbOlgtciHA

-Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) 23 February 2026

Ant-Man has always kept it real during interviews, and it’s nice to hear him give Maxi props. While Edwards, 24, is known for talking a lot on the floor, he is equally generous with compliments.

He finished with 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. He also had a game-high seven turnovers.

The Timberwolves will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers has battled knee injuries for several seasons, playing just 50 games overall since the start of last campaign. After undergoing left meniscus surgery in January 2024, the 2023 MVP has navigated some tough times, including the 2024 Olympics, during which he played a key role for Team USA and returned with a gold medal.

And well, Drew Hanlen, widely considered the best skills coach in the NBA, recently detailed the determination shown by Embiid despite his recent absences due to injury.

“People don’t realize, that’s why the Olympics happen. Obviously, people know he was, you know, dragging himself through the Olympics, but this was his chance to actually win. You know, he won a gold medal. Of course, they were a loaded team, but they couldn’t have won the gold medal without him in the Serbia game, you know?” Hanlen said, referencing the Olympic semifinals, which Team USA won 95-91, according to a post on X by ClutchPoints.

“We came back to the lab. And she said, ‘I feel like me again.’ And in the next game his score was 39, and since then he has averaged 30. That’s so good.”

NBA trainer Drew Hanlen looks like his old self again on Joel Embiid 🗣

(via @KevinO’Connor)pic.twitter.com/HkuvvOYFl1

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 18 February 2026

Hanlen revealed that Embiid decided not to do skill workouts after returning, instead prioritizing his health.

“After that, until this season, mid-season, I think it was like December 10th, we didn’t work out once. This is a guy I’ve worked out with more times than anyone else because he’s obsessed with basketball, but he couldn’t work out because he was like: “You know what? I have to get my health back,” Hanlen said.

Embiid, who is still on a minutes restriction, is effectively struggling due to the lack of basketball workouts after being forced to take care of his knee. Hanlen cited this behind-the-scenes work as one of the reasons he struggled in the first half of the current campaign.

Drew Hanlen claims Embiid “feels like himself again.”

Hanlen claimed Embiid was forced to use NBA games as a means of getting back into shape, ultimately deciding to grind it out like “old school Joel”.

“And I remember at one point he was like: “Hey, I know I really shouldn’t do this,” but, like, he was like: “Come on, we’ve got to figure out my jump shot. My mid-range is closed, which never closes. Mine is three closed, which never closes. And so we did a workout, a workout, and we did, like old school Joel, for an hour and a half, probably shouldn’t have done it, but it was like we were back in the lab, and he’s like, “I feel like me again.” He said.

This returned him to his previous level, which apparently convinced Hanlein as well.

“And the next game, he had forty-nine, and since then, his average is, like, thirty. That’s how good he is,” he revealed.

With the 76ers returning following Paul George’s 25-game suspension, Embiid becomes even more important as they attempt to build on their current 30-24 record. The season isn’t over yet, and despite Embiid’s latest absence, Hanlen’s claims certainly give fans plenty of reason for optimism.

LOS ANGELES — As he explained Saturday, it was a short stint for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic during the NBA All-Star Game. Doncic took the court for the first time since suffering a minor hamstring injury during the Lakers’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5.

During his media availability session as part of All-Star Weekend, Doncic admitted that he was only going to play a little bit in the actual game, and that his hamstring injury was looking good. Sure enough, Doncic only played five minutes in the first game of Team World’s new All-Star format, sitting out the second game. He finished with two points and two assists while shooting 1-3 from the field.

After Team World’s exit from the new All-Star Game tournament, Doncic explains how his injury felt after getting back on the court

“It was cool. Obviously I wanted to be there, the fans voted for me to be in this game so I wanted to be there and be a part of it a little bit,” Doncic said. “But [my hamstring] I liked it.”

Doncic missed four consecutive games after the injury. The Lakers went 3–2 in those games. They came into the All-Star break with a 33–21 record and fifth place in the Western Conference standings. They are only one and a half games behind the current No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets, but only one and a half games behind the No. 7 seed Phoenix Suns and the play-in spot.

As the Lakers try to build some stability during the final stretch of the season, one thing they are counting on is staying healthy. Injuries have forced the Lakers to shuffle their lineup, and while they have a full roster available, they have yet to find a consistent extension.

Doncic thinks that’s the main thing for the team to finish strong over the next few months.

“Just health,” Doncic said. “We are struggling with injuries a lot, so this will help.

In his first full season with the Lakers since the trade, Doncic appeared in 42 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals while splitting 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 78.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Lakers will resume play after the All-Star break on Friday, February 20 at home against the LA Clippers.

Kawhi Leonard has a lot going on in his life right now, but he is still expected to lead the Los Angeles Clippers (26-28) through this period of transition. James Harden and Ivica Zubac were moved at the trade deadline, leading the franchise into a new era. However, the two-time NBA Finals MVP is still the center of this team. He has been tasked with anchoring the Clipse, as Chris Paul did several years ago.

Although the two future Hall of Famers haven’t shared a locker room for long, they both understand what it’s like to be the top guy on the Los Angeles Lakers’ “little brother.” Bringing pride and prestige to a historically troubled franchise may be a difficult task. The Clippers are still looking for their first Finals appearance, but both of these guys have done their best to keep the team respectable. There is a certain bond that is created by sharing equal responsibilities.

Amid significant roster changes, Leonard is trying to be the stabilizing force that Paul was in a previous era of Clippers basketball. Now he has even more appreciation for the newly retired point guard. The three-time All-NBA first-team selection and two-time Defensive Player of the Year spoke about the impact Paul had on him and the entire game.

“He’s always been great,” Leonard told veteran NBA insider Chris Haynes before All-Star Weekend. “A leader, a guy who also cares about his family, gives you advice on and off the field. He used to be one of my favorite players, I watched him a lot growing up. Observed his leadership and how dedicated he was to trying to win basketball games, his handle, his IQ. So, hats off to him. He did that for many years, especially at a guard position – you don’t see that too much.

“I think you’ll see the things he’s done. Congratulations to him on his career.”

Met up with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in LA ahead of the All-Star Game on Sunday. Many topics were discussed, including whether people would work hard. pic.twitter.com/ppgZi4L5uU

– Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) 14 February 2026

Chris Paul didn’t get the farewell Clippers fans wanted

Paul planned to end his illustrious NBA run with a second stint in L.A., but it became clear early in the 2025-26 campaign that he wasn’t fitting in with this iteration of the Clippers. The two sides parted ways in December, and then the organization began an official split when it traded the four-time All-NBA first-teamer to the Toronto Raptors last week. He was waived on Friday and immediately announced his retirement, closing the book on a 21-year NBA career.

Although Paul’s final chapter was very frustrating and full of tension, Leonard is happy to call him a teammate, even if briefly. The 34-year-old forward Chris Paul will try to finish what he started in Los Angeles and lead the Clippers back into title contention.

Despite being ranked 10th in the West, LA has performed at a high level over the past two months. Fans hope that No. 2 can keep the team relevant, just as No. 3 did before him.