標籤: influence

As the NBA season comes to a close, the Dallas Mavericks are looking for a win. Mavericks rookie phenom Cooper Flagg gives flowers to a teammate. Flag forward Khris Middleton says have made their mark On the Dallas squad.

“He’s great. I’ve learned a lot from Khris. He’s a professional scorer. He’s been in this league a long time, and like I said, just a professional scorer, so I’m trying to pick up some parts of that side of the game from him and what I can learn in those aspects of the game, and he has a lot to teach me. So, I’m excited to be able to learn from him,” Flagg said, according to FanSided.

Cooper Flagg on considering Khris Middleton as one of his legends:

“He’s great. I’ve learned a lot from Khris. He’s a professional scorer. He’s been in this league a long time, and like I said, just a professional scorer, so just trying to pick up some of that side of the game… pic.twitter.com/GmCcbcg29D

– Noah Weber (@noahweber00) 24 March 2026

This season, Middleton is averaging just over 11 points per game for Dallas. After coming over in a trade from the Washington Wizards, he appeared in 20 games for the Mavericks.

On March 12, Middleton played one of the best games of his career. He scored 35 points for Dallas in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Mavericks fans hope he can continue that production.

Meanwhile, Flagg is averaging 20 points per game as a rookie for the Mavericks. He was number one. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite battling injuries, the rookie has quickly become the face of the Mavericks.

Dallas is 23-49 this season. Overall it has been a tough campaign for this rebuilding Mavericks team, which is still getting acclimated to life without Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks have lost four consecutive games. They hope to snap their losing streak when they next face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Arsenal are seeing the best of Piero Hincapie at the right time, and the defender himself is acutely aware of this as the 2026 World Cup approaches.

The Ecuador international has become a key option for Mikel Arteta since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in September 2025.

Hincapie is no longer being talked about as a player who has adapted to English football. He is now part of an Arsenal team that is still fighting on many fronts, and his versatility has helped. He has been used as both a centre-back and on the left, providing Arteta with tactical flexibility.

In recent weeks, he has produced strong performances, including a standout performance against his former club Bayer Leverkusen. He also scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–2 draw against Wolves last month.

So when he talks about confidence, adaptation and responsibility, it fits into the wider picture at Arsenal.

Emotional return and Arteta’s demand

in an interview with dsportsHincapie considered moving to Bayer Leverkusen after leaving the German side for Arsenal. The defender admitted it was an emotional experience.

“Going back to where I was happy is very emotional, and also sad because I had to face the club where I won everything. They opened the doors for me, so there were a lot of mixed emotions.”

Arsenal signed a player with elite levels of experience despite his age, and Leverkusen clearly remains a major part of his story. Nevertheless, their focus is now on retaining their place in North London and ahead of the World Cup.

He also offered a revealing line on life under Arteta.

“With Mikel, he has a very strong character. He likes intense training sessions. You have to be at the maximum level because of the demands of the league. I have adapted very well to what he asks of me in every moment of the game. I’m very happy to have him.”

This seems absolutely true. The physical and tactical demands under Arteta are well known, and Hincapie’s comments suggest he has adapted to them rather than survived them.

Heinz’s influence and larger role

Another notable part of the interview was Hincapie’s praise for Gabriel Heinze, who joined Arsenal’s coaching staff in 2025.

“Heinz helps us a lot on the defensive side as well. He gives advice to everyone. He’s a great reference point for us too, having him in training.”

It should attract attention. Heinze arrived with a reputation for intensity and defensive aggressiveness, and Hincapie is one of the players to benefit from that influence.

He is already comfortable defending wide spaces, stepping into duels and covering on the left. The additional work on the defensive side could make him even more important to Arsenal next season.

However, for now, timing is the point. Arsenal have a defender in form, the player looks settled, and Ecuador will be pleased to hear that.

Hincapie is speaking like someone who knows this extension of the season could define both his club year and his World Cup summer.

The Washington Wizards watched Julian Reese have a breakout game on Thursday night, and afterward, the rookie opened up about the influence of his sister Angel Reese. While many fans arrived at Capital One Arena expecting the spotlight on Trae Young’s debut, the night quietly turned into a showcase for the young Wizards big man.

In his third NBA game, Julian Reese produced a surprising stat line. He scored 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He grabbed 20 rebounds. Ten came to the rescue. Ten became aggressive. He recorded two assists and one steal in 38 minutes. The Wizards ultimately lost to the Jazz 122-112, but the performance still attracted attention on the field.

Reese’s energy never waned. He chased every loose ball. He fought inside the paint. Under the bright lights of the arena, the Wizards played with rookie urgency and confidence. For a young player still finding his feet in the league, the moment felt significant.

After the game, Julian revealed that his sister Angel Reese played a major role in keeping him focused in the early stages of his career.

Wizards rookie Julian Reese reflects on sister Angel’s constant pressure

Speaking to reporters after the game, Reese talked about how closely Angel Reese monitors his progress. Even during the busy days of her career, she remains connected to every performance.

Julianne on her sister Angel:

“She hits me up before and after every game, just tells me what I need to do. Watches the games, tries to text me at halftime… Sometimes I let her get over me a little bit, just trying to tell her to let me do what I want. It’s great to have a sister… https://t.co/l4oro1zGed pic.twitter.com/KsxAfJbfAy

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 6 March 2026

The Wizards youngster said, “She hits me up before and after every game and tells me what I need to do. Watches the games, tries to text me at halftime… Sometimes I let her go over me a little bit, just trying to tell her to let me do what I do.”

“It’s great to have a sister who is always there for me and tries to see the best for her brother, especially when he’s busy with what he’s doing. Love him to death.”

The quote revealed the bond behind the breakout. One brother or sister is pushing the other forward. A newbie proving he belongs.

And if Thursday night was any indication, the Wizards may have discovered something special. The question now seems simple: Was this just a breakout game, or the beginning of Julian Reese’s rise?

Mexico legend Hugo Sanchez insists he invented the technique that Fulham striker Raul Jimenez has adopted to take penalties.

ESPN covered the veteran striker’s comments today. It seems he wants some recognition for the Fulham striker’s current success.

The Mexican striker currently holds the record for taking the most penalties in Premier League history with a 100% conversion rate. He has scored in all 13 of his attempts so far.

This makes the 34-year-old the only player in the history of the league to pick and replace so many players. The previous record was held by Yaya Toure, who managed 11.

fulham penalty statistics

Jimenez’s career record is even more impressive. He has missed only two penalties from approximately 45 attempts in his entire professional career. This is a conversion rate of over 95.5%. Those misses occurred for Wolves vs. Mexico in 2018 and Sevilla in 2020.

Six of his penalties have come for Fulham, the latest coming in a 3-1 win over Sunderland last weekend.

His success from chances comes from his ‘goalkeeper dependent’ technique. The technique forces the goalkeeper to make the first move, often allowing the goalkeeper to put the ball into an empty net.

Although this technique has no English name, Portuguese-speaking regions call it paradinha. It translates as “little halt”.

Why is this seen as a smart trick?

This cleverly circumvents FIFA rules that prevent full stops at the end of the run-up. This style is a legal variation because his faints and stutters occur during the run-up rather than at the point of contact.

However, it seems that Mexico legend Hugo Sanchez wants some recognition for this technology. Many consider him one of the greatest penalty takers in football history, with a career conversion rate of 94%.

“I invented the ‘Paradinha’ penalty kick technique,” He said on Futbol Picante.

“I’m glad that it is being used in many parts of the world, and that Raul is becoming an expert.

“Raul is making headlines; he has scored 13 penalties in a row without missing, but be careful of Raul, because if he keeps this streak of penalties going he will score.”

At this point in the season pregame routine logistics such as shooting groups, meals and training table times are largely set. The NBA trade deadline has passed, rosters are largely set, and young players from lottery-winning teams have found their way to each zone. For example, Cody Williams is starting to establish himself as one of the Utah Jazz’s favorites in 2026. It’s easy to see why Will Hardy is leaning into everything going into year two.

It all starts with the soundtrack. About an hour before tipoff against the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams sat in the visiting locker room with headphones on and props to match the gospel night theme. This felt right for the night. It turns out that part of the ritual is never the same twice.

“I can’t do the same thing before every game,” Williams told ClutchPoints. “I have to change it.”

However, unlike his new teammate Jaren Jackson Jr., who once served as the designated locker room DJ on Beale Street, Williams isn’t going to be commanding the team’s aux cord. Even joking suggestions are being kept to a minimum until Jackson Jr. returns from knee surgery.

“I don’t have nothing for (Jarren Jackson Jr.) right now,” Williams admitted. “I don’t have the power to play music, so I just sit here and listen to it. In fact, most people have their headphones on before the game.”

What plays through those headphones depends entirely on the moment.

“It depends on the mood,” Williams shrugged. “Before some games, I’ll put on some R&B and calm, some old school Anthony Hamilton, some gospel like Kirk Franklin. It really depends on the mood and what type of day it is. Like, how I’m feeling before that game is what I’ll play. Sometimes I’m putting on Nirvana, Green Day and a bunch of those bands.”

An eclectic mix that defies categorization traces his earliest exposure to music.

“I’ve got good taste in music,” Williams said defensively as a few teammates listened in. “My music is very diverse, shout out to my mom. She listened to a lot of old soul stuff.”

Music truly is a window into the soul; This shows how Williams carries herself. Loose, humble, down to earth, yet confident enough to be curious and make mistakes. It’s also the only way to get better at the game. However, the headphones come in for the shootaround, as Williams wants to absorb everything. It’s more important to be able to interact with coaches and cheer on teammates. Everyone knows Williams is there for them, even if his playlist is everywhere.

Those traits can’t be denied after just a few minutes with the former first-round pick, so a year three jump wouldn’t be surprising to anyone in the front office. Still, in a league known for its rap and hip-hop connections, Williams is also learning some new tunes.

“Lucki is definitely my favorite new artist,” Williams shared. “Whenever I need a new rap, I go into his catalog and listen to it.”

The 21-year-old’s support system extends far beyond her mom’s CD binders. At center stands his brother Jalen, the Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star who recently captured an NBA championship.

“Thank you so much to my brother (Jalen). He’s been my best wingman and biggest inspiration through this whole thing,” Cody said. “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do a trip like this without him. He’s a good punching bag. I beat him up a lot, but he gives me survival tips.”

Jalen’s rise from unheralded Santa Clara product to lottery pick to champion has provided a blueprint. Now Cody has started to find his feet. Since dropping 18 points on New Year’s Day, Williams has averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.7 steals/blocks while shooting 52.5% from the field.

This recent increase in production is just part of getting comfortable at work.

“I think I’m getting a really good idea of ​​how I can impact the team as a whole,” Williams explained. And how can I be effective on the court. It’s just playing to his strengths and weaknesses, especially on the defensive end. Then it’s putting a lot of pressure on the rim offensively. This way I can play in my position and help the team. I feel like I can understand my game more as the season has gone on, which is why I’ve been able to play better.

Despite increasing comfort levels, some things haven’t changed since we dreamed of this moment in childhood.

“I still get butterflies before games,” Williams admitted. “I’m so excited to go out there, to have this opportunity to live a dream. I don’t know if this feeling will ever go away, just because I really love what I do. I don’t even call it a job because it still feels like a dream. I still feel like a little kid every time I jump the ball. Everything about it is so exciting.”

For a Jazz franchise in the midst of a deliberate rebuild, that kind of enthusiasm from a young cornerstone is exactly what the organization is counting on. If the past several weeks are any indication, Chance, armed with headphones and an extensive playlist, is beginning to figure out how to turn that enthusiasm into production.