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FC Twente defender Bart van Rooij has indicated he is open to joining wolverhampton wanderers This summer, even after falling behind in the championship.

Twente Insight Report Comments Today from full-back. He is talking to Voetbal International journalist Geert-Jan Jacobs.

ready for the next step

The 24-year-old right-back has enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Dutch side, establishing himself as one of the key players to achieve European football. He was even captain in the absence of Robin Propper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel at various periods.

Now, he is ready to take a step forward. He almost arrived in the January transfer window, with Wolves keen on his signature.

They were willing to pay €10 million for his signature, but Twente rejected the offer. Technical director Jan Streuer did not want a winter departure of one of his key players.

Van Rooij made it clear at the time that he was keen on the move. This raised eyebrows, given that Wolves were bottom of the Premier League and destined for the Championship.

Wolves’ offer is still interesting

With their demotion long since confirmed, Rob Edwards’ side are now focused on rebuilding for life in the Championship and, hopefully, a return to the Premier League.

However, Van Rooij is not worried. In fact, he was keen on a move to Molineux even with the Championship imminent.

He said, “I believe I’ve proven that I can handle this level, that I can excel here. Now I’m eager to see if I can take it a step higher.”

You can find out by experiencing it. Who knows, maybe I’ll get that chance this summer. If not, I’m sure it will happen in a year.

“If you look at Wolves’ position in the standings, it wasn’t really ideal. But I found the whole picture interesting.

“They wanted to build a team that could compete at the top of the Championship next season, which is also a fantastic league. I could gain experience in the Premier League during the first few months.”

Could the San Antonio Spurs have a next-generation version of the “Twin Towers” next season? ESPN’s new NBA mock draft opens the door to that possibility.

On Monday night, the Spurs took a big step closer to reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 when they won Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. With Victor Wembanyama, arguably the best player in the NBA today, San Antonio has a very real chance to win the franchise’s sixth championship next month.

Still, while almost all of the organization’s attention is on the West Finals, they must also look forward to June’s NBA Draft. Well, when it comes to their selection at 20th overall, ESPN’s Jeremy Wu predicts the Spurs will select Kentucky big man Jaden Quaintance.

Quaintance is a risky selection as he played only four games in his first season with the Wildcats after suffering a serious knee injury, including a torn ACL. Wu reported, “Although he looked explosive and in good shape at his Pro Day, many NBA observers in the stands noticed he was favoring his right foot.”

Could Wembanyama and Quantance be ‘Twin Towers’ 2.0 for Spurs?

If he gets a clean bill of health, Wu notes that the 6-foot-10 tall man could help form a very nasty defensive combo with Vembanyama (7 feet 5 inches).

If Quaintance can live up to his potential, which will take some time as he is still only a teenager, he and the French phenom could form one of the greatest duos in Spurs history, a new version of the “Twin Towers”. That duo paired Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and David Robinson for three seasons from 2000–2003, making the playoffs each season and winning the championship the third year running.

Robinson, 7-foot-1, and Duncan, 6-foot-11, were a dominant front-court duo due to their blend of skill, athleticism and toughness. Vembanyama and Quaintance are a little different, but they can stick together for a long time and develop into an effective duo on defense.

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

Now that the rosters are mostly set, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of the differences between Super Bowl contenders and contenders. Claiming the NFL’s reigning MVP, the Los Angeles Rams clearly fall into the former category of teams reaching the postseason again in 2026.

The question is, do the Rams have what it takes to bounce back from falling short in the NFC Conference Championship?

One area that some predicted the Rams would address early in the 2026 NFL Draft was the wide receiver position behind Puka Nakua and Davante Adams. After using the 13th overall pick on quarterback Ty Simpson, the Rams waited until the sixth round to select a wide receiver.

Although the Rams haven’t done much to find an immediate impact pass-catcher, that could change. There are still several potentially game-changing receivers available in free agency.

recently, Sports IllustratedAlbert Breer suggested the Rams could also be a suit for Stefon Diggs, who has yet to find a home for 2026.

Diggs is now 32 years old, but the former All-Pro still recorded 1,017 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 17 starts with the New England Patriots last season. It was the seventh time Diggs recorded 1,000 receiving yards in his 11-year career.

With Nacua and Adams both entering the final year of their contracts, Diggs would be the perfect one-year solution to complement both playmakers. But would he want to be the third wheel on a team that has leaned more toward sets that use three tight ends instead of three receivers?

RELATED: 4 Best Stefon Diggs Landing Spots After the NFL Draft

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

Mariano Troilo’s rise at Parma did not go unnoticed Sunderland Laying the foundation for a summer deal.

last week, sports witness Covered Brentford’s interest in the defender. The claims come from Tuttomercatoweb, who have promoted the centre-back and his performances in the current campaign.

Troilo started slowly but has become an important player for Carlos Cuesta’s team. He scored a big goal against Milan in March, having now started 15 games in 2026 alone.

The Argentine has started well in each of his last four Serie A games against both Inter and Napoli.

His performances are now impressing Sunderland, who are also emerging as suitors.

The Black Cats have spoken to their teammates

ParmaToday have published a detailed report on the 22-year-old and are highly complimentary of Troilo’s attitude and work-ethic. He was involved in a scuffle with Nicolo Barella at the weekend, and his tendency to not back down from a challenge is winning over fans.

Sunderland are believed to have taken note of his attributes on the pitch as well. At an early stage, he has started to inquire with his squad about a summer deal.

Parma are sitting quietly and are very happy with how Troilo has turned their season around. Many did not expect him to perform so well in his first season in Serie A but he has left his mark. Troilo has really taken over for Giovanni Leoni and is performing well at the back as well.

Parma see him as an important part of the project and only an ‘important offer’ would trigger his transfer.

Our Opinion: Troilo could be a good opportunity

Now the centre-back is impressing in Italy, and spent two years impressing for Club Atlético Belgrano before joining Parma.

Generally, South American players consider Serie A to be a suitable league for development. Troilo’s career is headed down the same path, with the transfer clearly helping him.

There is every possibility that the major teams of Serie A will call him soon. That’s why Sunderland would be wise to at least lay the groundwork for a deal. This could prove beneficial if the defender continues to perform well over the next few months.

UConn will have a number of holes to fill in the college basketball transfer portal over the next two weeks, and an intriguing option who could help replace Braylon Mullins is now available.

2025-26 was another big year for Dan Hurley’s Huskies team. While they faltered over the last two months of the season and had their doors blown by St. John’s in the Big East Tournament, the program once again proved why it is built to win championships during the NCAA Tournament.

In the tournament, his talent-rich roster recorded big wins over powerhouses Michigan State, Duke and Illinois en route to the national championship game. Although they fell short of winning Michigan’s third championship in five years, the Huskies were again an elite group last season.

Unfortunately, they are set to lose some key players this offseason. Big men Alex Karban and Tyrese Reed Jr. are both departing seniors. And the star of their Elite 8 win over Duke, Braylon Mullins, is likely to declare for the NBA Draft, where he will likely be selected in the top 20. This gives UConn a lot of work to do in the transfer portal and a lot of numbers to make up.

Should UConn target CJ Anthony in the transfer portal?

However, an interesting alternative is not available and is already in play in stores, closer to CT. “Iona senior G CJ Anthony is in the portal, and the school is working to help him get a waiver for a 5th year,” a source told college basketball insider Adam Zagoria.

After three disappointing seasons in Cincinnati, Anthony redshirted in 2024-25 and then took his talents to Iona in the transfer portal a year early. With the Gaels, he had a successful season as he averaged 14.3 points, 5.4 assists and an impressive 1.6 steals a night.

If Anthony wants to raise his profile with NBA Draft evaluators for next year, it would make sense to bring his talents from New York to Connecticut. It would also be nice for UConn to bring in an experienced guard who can make an impact but doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

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

The Miami Dolphins don’t have much left on their roster after eliminating a large portion of the roster. This season will be viewed as an opportunity for the new-look Dolphins to rebound after shedding several major salaries. Nevertheless, the Dolphins are still excited about the upcoming season.

After all, they have a new general manager, a first-year head coach and a new franchise quarterback. Naturally, Dolphins fans are eager to see what Malik Willis is capable of after having some of his greatest moments on the Packers.

Yet, soon enough, the focus will turn to the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Dolphins have a prime opportunity to seriously upgrade their roster. With 11 draft selections in three days, he has the second-most selections in the NFL. That group includes the 11th and 30th picks in the first round.

recently, athleticNick Baumgardner weighed in on some draft predictions as the three-day selection event approaches. When it came to the Dolphins, they led Miami to select offensive tackle Spencer Fano of Utah, who many consider the best or second-best offensive lineman in the draft class.

Baumgardner thinks Fanno, who practiced at all five positions in front of NFL evaluators at the scouting combine, could play left or right tackle in the pros.

Pauline wrote, “It feels like the destination for what’s left of the Fano-Mauigoa duo.” “Fano’s blend of athleticism and strength makes him a very interesting run blocker, and despite some length concerns, he could probably play right or left tackle in the NFL.”

Fano is viewed as a surefire first-round pick, but his actual draft slot is everywhere, from a top-10 pick to somewhere in the teens. That means he could definitely be in the game with the Dolphins’ first pick. Unless, of course, another team falls in love with him first.

RELATED: Former NFL defensive lineman thinks Reuben Benn Jr. will be fired as GM

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

As the Los Angeles Lakers continue their lead late in the season, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has outlined a compelling case for Luka Doncic as a legitimate MVP contender.

The Stephen A. Speaking on The Smith Show, Smith pointed to Doncic’s historic production during the Lakers’ current eight-game winning streak, highlighting both his scoring consistency and overall impact.

“Do you know that Luka Doncic is averaging 40.9 points and 7.4 assists? Do you know what he has done in this eight-game span, which no Lakers player in history has ever done? Not Shaquille O’Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one… Luka has 100 points in his last two games. In each game of this eight-game winning streak, he has scored at least 30. Not so Whether he scores 50 one day and 20 the next day, no, he is consistently scoring 30-plus in every single game.”

Doncic’s recent performances include one of his most impressive performances of the season. In the win over the Miami Heat, he scored 60 points while adding seven rebounds, five steals and three assists while shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc. The outing underlined his ability to take over games while maintaining efficiency.

On the Lakers’ eight-game winning streak, Doncic is averaging 40.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from three-point range and 78 percent from the free-throw line in 37.5 minutes per contest.

Smith also emphasized Doncic’s season-long production and where he ranks among the league’s top performers.

“Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are hitting 38.5% of their three-pointers since the trade deadline. Luka leads the league in scoring with 33.4, he’s third in assists. Ladies and gentlemen, he’s a league MVP candidate. I’ll say it again, Luka Doncic is a league MVP candidate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembayama and Luka “Doncic tops four candidates for league MVP.”

“Luka Doncic averaged 40.9 points and 7.4 assists… What he’s done in this 8-game span is something no Laker in history has ever done. Not Shaquille O’Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one… He’s a league MVP candidate.”

-Stephen A. Smith 🙌pic.twitter.com/CH6gldgfBJ

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 21 March 2026

Stephen A. Smith pushes Luka Doncic’s MVP case despite Lakers’ early inconsistency

Through 58 games this season, the 27-year-old has averaged 33.4 points, 8.4 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 77.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Smith acknowledged that Doncic’s MVP chances may be affected by the Lakers’ past inconsistency, but said his current level of play is difficult to ignore.

“The possibility that he won’t win it because the Lakers have played .500 basketball for 40 games this year, I get that. But what we’re seeing from them is unheard of. And the guy looks slow as a snail out there. That’s the thing that bothers me. Nikola Jokic can’t jump over a curb for Denver and no one can stop him. Luka Doncic looks like he’s moving in slow motion most of the time and No one can stop him. And when all three of them were clicking… he was insecure in front of all three of them, what are all three of them making of him?

He concluded by outlining the widespread impact of Doncic’s play on the Western Conference’s outlook.

“It’s some special things we’re looking at. And as a result, we have to look at the Western Conference a little differently and ask ourselves, can the Lakers be written off as a real threat in the Western Conference? Oklahoma City would probably say yes. San Antonio with Victor Vembanayama would probably say yes. I don’t know if we can do that … not with Luka on a roll like this.”

The Lakers (45-25) will try to extend their winning streak to nine games when they visit the Orlando Magic (38-31) on Saturday at 4:00 pm PT on NBA TV.

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic had a golden opportunity to test themselves against the toughest imaginable opponent in today’s NBA – the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Paolo Banchero played his heart out, scoring 32 points on 12-21 shooting from the field, and the rest of the Magic’s starters did their part – Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a game-high plus-19 on the night.

However, Carter did not play 48 minutes. Unfortunately, the Magic had to play their bench that night, which did not perform well at all against the Thunder. Somehow, in just 13 minutes of play, Carter’s backup Mo Wagner was minus 28 in a five-point loss to the Thunder, 113-108.

To put it mildly, the Magic bench did not play well at all and a large portion of the blame for his team losing the game during his minutes should fall on his shoulders. And after the game, head coach Jamahl Mosley was not at all happy with his bench team, as evidenced by his answer when asked how tough their night was.

“You see it,” Mosley said, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

The advantage is that come playoff time, the bench doesn’t have to play as much. But Mosley losing confidence in some of his bench players is not promising for the team’s progress for the remainder of the season.

Magical confidence in Franz Wagner’s eventual return from injury

Young Wagner’s eventual return from an ankle injury will help the Magic. Additionally, the team is missing Anthony Black, forcing Tristan da Silva to start – further thinning the team’s bench core.

There is only less than a month until the playoffs start, so the Magic should have time to better configure their rotation after their bench hampered them in their loss to the Thunder.

Former US President Barack Obama is currently promoting the upcoming inauguration of the Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center, which is scheduled to be inaugurated on June 19. To promote this, the 44th US President posted an extremely hilarious video on X featuring none other than Anthony Edwards, which ended in a challenge to ANT.

Obama said that he would like the second head-to-head game between the two to be played on their home court after the Presidential Center opens. The Minnesota Timberwolves talisman, in turn, posted an indifferent response to the challenge on Twitter.

More in a minute https://t.co/3M4jU0LeRM

– Anthony Edwards (@anthonyedwards) 17 March 2026

“In a minute OG,” he wrote, apparently promising to make an appearance at the Obama Presidential Center as well, as was also suggested in the original clip.

In it, Obama can initially be seen trying to shoot a clip before running out of the house to find Edwards.

“I can’t believe I’m still dealing with this. Oh, you want some of this,” he says, and the two proceed to play a game of basketball.

“I see what’s happening with your jumpshot,” ANT claimed, before Obama referenced an old clip in which ANT promised to be ‘the truth’.

“I remember you told me you’re true. I’m not sure you’ve got the range. It’s the money, oh come on,” he says when his shot bounces off the rim. Obama then promised to ‘fix things’.

When Obama asks Edwards a direct question, the two proceed to share a hilarious moment.

“What do you call a person who doesn’t mind losing?”

“A sore loser,” he replies before promising that the next game will be at the Obama Presidential Center.

“The next one will be on my home court, the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago. We’re going to open the Obama Presidential Center to all visitors this summer, even Anthony Edwards,” he said.

Needless to say, with Edwards, who is currently out due to injury, also promising to attend the event, fans can expect another showdown between the two icons.

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the second consecutive game, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault inserted Ajay Mitchell into his starting lineup. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of 20+ point games to 128 in a 116–103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Daigneault discussed Mitchell’s impact as part of his starting 5.

For Daigneault, Mitchell has proven himself enough to earn a starting spot amid the Thunder’s marquee matchups, he said, during his postgame media availability.

“We’re going to need him and despite being a high-impact player, he hasn’t played a lot of games,” Daigneault said. “So, the opportunity to get him out early in the game in some of these high-level games is an opportunity we want to take advantage of right now.”

Mitchell finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27 minutes for the Thunder. Mitchell emerged as one of Oklahoma City’s major impact players off the bench. In only his second season, Ajayi made significant progress which led to him being included in various of Daigneault’s lineups.

Mitchell’s playmaking and scoring abilities, as well as his defensive ability, have made him one of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s favorite players this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Ajay Mitchell’s impact for Thunder

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found out he scored 20 points after a 3-point play, causing a stampede in the crowd at Paycom Center. He extended his streak of scoring 20+ points to 128 consecutive games.

Then, after the win, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about how important Ajay Mitchell is to the Thunder.

“A guy who can make plays at any time,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “A guy who can pass, dribble, shoot at a high level on the basketball court, and also defend. And having guys like that on the court is a luxury. You don’t have any holes when he’s out on the court from his positioning standpoint. So, having him out there is a luxury. I don’t think we’ve lost since he came back, and it’s no surprise.

“He’s a really good basketball player. Makes us a better team. Makes us tough to guard and score on both ends.”

The Thunder extended their four-game home stand winning streak to eight straight after a 13-point win against the Timberwolves on Sunday.

Juventus may ultimately be forced to choose between Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva as they look to revamp their midfield this summer.

is according to transfer marketWhich covers both the players today. The Italian outlet reports that ‘an interesting duel begins’ between the Newcastle and Manchester City stars.

According to their information, Silva and Tonali are ‘two transfer dreams’ for Juventus this summer. Sport Witness has covered various reports regarding their interest in both.

Yesterday, a report from Italy said the Manchester City star would be signing Could ‘change’ Juventus next season. That report stated that he was placed on the roster for the summer due to his free agent status.

free agent silva

Calciomercato supported this, saying Silva’s path was ‘less steep’ than others. Manchester City are not negotiating a renewal with him and the Portuguese midfielder is set to become a free agent.

Securing Champions League football would be a bonus to their efforts. But that is not a prerequisite for signing the 31-year-old.

Tonali is seen as ‘too complex’ a signature to attempt. It looks like there will be plenty of competition if Newcastle launch a sale this summer.

This matches other reports covered by Sport Witness. For example, a report this week said Arsenal and Manchester United were also making moves for the 25-year-old.

€100 million for Tonali

The interesting caveat in all this is that Newcastle host Manchester City in the FA Cup today. This potentially provides Juventus with the opportunity to do some scouting.

Perhaps whoever comes out on top in the fight can help their own transfer cause. At this time, it appears that Silva is the leading contender. However, it largely has to do with money.

While he is a free agent, Tonali is likely to cost close to €100 million. Multiple reports indicate that this is the price Newcastle want for him and even Transfermarkt value him at €75m.

That is his highest value, but with Newcastle spending €60 million on him in 2023, and tying him to a deal through 2028, they will surely demand much more than that valuation.

What’s going on in Milwaukee? Over the past few games, Kyle Kuzma has been a solid role player for the Milwaukee Bucks. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, Kuzma played nice complementary basketball in place of the star. With Antetokounmpo returning against the shorthanded Boston Celtics, the former NBA champion was expected to go to the bench.

In fact, Kuzma went to the bench to start the Bucks’ game against the Celtics. However, Kuzma never left the bench during the game, not logging a single minute of action in their loss to a Boston team without Jaylen Brown. When asked why he was benched, head coach Doc Rivers said that he had decided not to play forward according to Eric Nehm.

Although Kuzma has not had a good game this season, the forward has been playing better in the last four games. He was averaging 16 points per game over the last four games, along with nearly four rebounds and only three assists. With the Bucks shut out for most of the game, it’s curious why Rivers decided not to give the forward a chance to perhaps contribute.

Over the last three games, the Bucks have lost a total of 78 points. This is a worrying trend, especially as they have been on a comeback trail and have won eight of their last ten matches. Rivers said this when asked about the sequence of defeats.

“I don’t care about the points. I just care about how we’re playing. We’ve been playing great, and we’ve kind of lost our way and I think that’s on both sides. I think offensively, we had a great rhythm and we’ve done that in spurts the last three games, but we haven’t been able to sustain it.”

The Bucks next face the Atlanta Hawks on March 4.

A new rumor about a rival AFC team’s offseason plans gives the New York Jets a trio of QB trade options they could get for very cheap.

A year ago, the NY Jets thought they had reason to be optimistic about the 2025 NFL season. They completely cleaned out their management structure, hiring Darren Maugi as their new general manager, and bringing in one-time franchise star Aaron Glenn as their new head coach.

They then made one of the first major successes of the offseason when they signed former first-round pick Justin Fields after a productive season in limited action with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, his six starts in 2024 proved foolish, and he was a disaster for the NY Jets last season. Throwed for less than 100 yards in four of his nine starts.

This means the NY Jets should look at the QB market again this offseason. However, this year’s quarterback class in the draft is not good, so if they select one in April, he will likely be a late-round project. That leaves the free agent and trade market.

Browns may put QB on trade block soon

Unfortunately for New York, the free agent market is about as thin as the options in the NFL Draft. That means if the team adds a signal caller of note, it will likely be via a trade. And a new rumor has opened up three options.

According to cleveland.com Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, the team will “explore outside options, including Green Bay Packers backups Malik Willis and [Ty] Simpson” in the draft. If they add another player to their crowded QB room, that means the Browns will trade for one of Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, or Shadure Sanders.

The option to bring in any of the three probably won’t excite NY Jets fans, but the options for acquisitions this offseason are not bad. There are many reasons to believe that all three could be better in different situations. But, most importantly, with all of their low prices, Gang Green can get them in a trade for pretty cheap.

Making a case for the NY Jets to trade for Watson, Sanders, or Gabriel

Watson was once one of the most unappreciated in sports. However, he is in the final year of a massive $230 million deal through 2022. While he has been a disaster in Cleveland and is coming off double surgery on his Achilles, he is still a three-time Pro Bowler. If New York can pick up the 30-year-old on Day 3 and the Browns pick up half of his remaining contract, the Jets should consider it.

Watson will certainly be motivated to prove himself, to show that he is still a starting QB in the league and earn his next contract. The biggest issue in a deal may be the public relations fallout after the QB misses the 2021 season due to sexual assault allegations.

There were rumors prior to the 2025 NFL Draft that Sanders wanted to play in New York. The 24-year-old would be a perfect fit for Gotham and, at the very least, will get fans a little more excited about the 2026 season. As far as Gabriel is concerned, he still has a lot of potential. The Browns used a third-rounder on him, and he was a finalist for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.

Both could potentially be available for fifth-round picks and this is another low-cost option the NY Jets should consider this offseason.

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

Fans are speculating whether Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will see action this season as he recovers from his Achilles injury.

Multiple reports say Tatum is on track and ahead of schedule. He has accomplished several feats, including participating in controlled 5‑on‑5 scrimmages and working out with teammates.

The 27-year-old Tatum has touted his progress, but recently backtracked on his previous view that he could suit up this season, saying he needed to reevaluate his situation.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed that Tatum was practicing ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. But when asked if the six-time All-Star participated, Mazzulla had the all-time response, as shown in a video posted by CLNS.

Did Jayson Tatum practice yesterday?

“He was at practice?”

Did he participate?

*stares*@CLNSMedia | Why: @RealBobManning pic.twitter.com/SOLMYuzu4J

-Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) 22 February 2026

Silence usually means yes. But Mazzulla is as difficult to read in Latin as Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, so it’s hard to say whether he actually alluded to anything.

Why waste energy on words when you can always look deep into someone’s soul and make them question their existence?

If anything, Majulla is tired of answering questions about Tatum, who suffered a debilitating injury against the New York Knicks in last season’s playoffs.

Whatever his wordless response actually meant, it’s clear the Celtics are doing just fine without Tatum. They defeated the Lakers 111–89 to improve to 37–19, including 8–2 in their last 10 games.

Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP level, earning his keep from even LeBron James. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta have been consistent contributors, while the addition of Nikola Vucevic has made them even stronger.

The Celtics will take a look at the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers resume the regular season this Friday against the LA Clippers, they will get good news on the injury front. Lakers head coach JJ Redick noted during team practice on Thursday that Austin Reaves, who has returned this month from a calf injury, is no longer on minutes restriction. Reaves’ return to the lineup has been a big boost for the Lakers, and not just for his on-court play, but for his leadership as well.

Going back to last season, Redick has challenged Austin Reaves to take on a more leadership role with the Lakers. After Thursday’s practice, Reeves talked about that ongoing development, and how interesting it has made becoming a leader.

“He [JJ] “Before last year and before this year, we had some meetings over the summer and he challenged me to get better in that aspect,” Reeves said. “I think it’s an opportunity to really connect with everyone on the team. And learn not only about his basketball game, but as a person.”

“We’ve got a great group. Everyone loves being with each other. We’ve got some interesting people, Luca [Doncic] Being one of them,” Reeves joked. “But it’s fun getting to know these people and building real relationships. So when it comes to the court, they really trust what I do and what we do as a team.”

Reeves returned to the Lakers’ lineup at the end of the Grammys road trip during their win against the Brooklyn Nets on February 2. After such a good game by his standards, he looked like the player who was in All-Star contention earlier this season when he scored 35 points in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Since his return he had been on a minutes restriction, meanwhile coming off the bench. But now that the ban has been lifted after the All-Star break, it is possible that he returns to the starting lineup against the Clippers.

Reeves has appeared in a total of 28 games so far this season, averaging a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals while splitting 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

In his most recent game, in a win against the Dallas Mavericks just before the break, he finished with 18 points, four rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes.

Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown gave an encouraging update on Jayson Tatum’s injury at All-Star Media Day. For many, the Celtics’ trade for Nikola Vucevic signaled Tatum’s return, or at least, signaled the organization’s desire to do so, while the All-Star forward has not made a final decision on whether or not he should return this season.

As for the Browns, Tatum is looking better as he reaches the final stages of recovery from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last year in the Celtics’ second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Brown addressed Tatum’s rehabilitation during his media availability on Saturday.

“In terms of what I’ve seen, he looks great,” Brown said, adding that Tatum’s potential return for this season is close.

While Tatum’s recent practice with the Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, was an encouraging update, Jayson says it is not a guarantee he is returning this season, which is a decision that will likely be made in the coming weeks.

Celtics return Nikola Vucevic trade sign for Jayson Tatum

The Celtics added to their frontcourt at the deadline by trading Anfernee Simmons with the Bulls for Nikola Vucevic. Despite the guard leading the NBA in points off the bench, the Celtics added a big move to complement their All-Star tandem in Jaylen Brown and, hopefully, Jayson Tatum, amid his impending return.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Celtics trading for Vucevic increases the front office’s confidence that Tatum will return before the end of the regular season.

Stein reported, “The Celtics’ decision to acquire Nikola Vucevic from Chicago before the trade deadline, in exchange for Anfernee Simmons’ expiring contract, was a clear indicator that Boston believes Tatum will indeed return for the postseason.”

The Celtics entered the All-Star break with the second-best record – 35–19 – in the Eastern Conference.