標籤: Johnson

The Las Vegas Raiders made a quiet but important move before free agency opens this spring. They traded Taron Johnson, one of the best slot cornerbacks in football, to plug the hole that has plagued this defense for three years.

And now, no one can find him.

Not in the team’s offseason photo dump, nor in the background of any workout shots at the Intermountain Health Performance Center. Johnson was not included in the welcome graphics released by the Raiders for every other offseason addition. Not on his own social media, where his X bio still claims he plays for the Buffalo Bills. The Raiders have entered deep into the second phase of the offseason program and the Silver and Black’s most experienced defensive back acquisition has become a ghost.

This is a problem worth talking about.

Terron Johnson’s absence has been noticed

Just Blog Baby was the first to flag it, detailing the evidence and noting what the Raiders did and didn’t do publicly. Every other player received a warm welcome from the team on social media this offseason. Tyler Linderbaum. Quay Walker. Nakobe Dean. Drink candy. Jalen Naylor. Even linebacker Cameron McGrone, who just signed this week, got the standard graphic.

Johnson got nothing. From the team or yourself.

Here’s some context on what’s at stake. Johnson is a six-year veteran with 79 starts in Buffalo. He is a former second-team All-Pro who anchored a Bills secondary that played in three AFC Championships. The Raiders gave up real draft capital to get him. And the way Rob Leonard’s defense is structured, the slot corner is one of the most important pieces on the field, as the AFC West throws receivers to that area on every other snap. Kansas City does it. Chargers do this. Denver does it.

If Johnson isn’t here, the entire back end of this defense becomes tough.

Connected: ‘No excuses’: Clint Kubiak issues clear warning to Raiders coaches and front office

Is it really time to panic over Johnson’s no-show?

Now the proper counterargument.

Voluntary means voluntary. Too many veterans skip the steps of offseason programs. Johnson is not yet under contractual obligation to remain in the building. He follows the Raiders’ running backs Max Crosby and Jeremy Chinn on Instagram, which at least suggests he hasn’t checked out mentally. He hasn’t posted on X since 2021, so the thing in the bio is probably just an omission, not a statement.

But the math still doesn’t add up.

Clint Kubiak said this week that with OTA reps becoming more limited than ever before, you have to be intentional about your timing. Translation from coach-speak into plain English: Every rep counts and players who aren’t there are falling behind. The Raiders don’t have the luxury of having a starting-caliber slot corner show up late and play catch-up against Patrick Mahomes in Week 1.

Johnson is completely new to this scheme. He has never played a snap in a Rob Leonard defense. He has never played with Jeremy Chinn, rookie Traydon Stukes or Jarmod McCoy. The entire secondary needs to learn how to play together and the most experienced part of it has been invisible since April.

Phase two is underway. The rest of the team members are working in the building. If Johnson comes out before mandatory minicamp, the story dies a quiet death and no one outside Raider Nation ever thinks about it again.

If he doesn’t do this, the attackers will be in a real problem.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

The Chicago Bears made a huge jump in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach, going from a five-game winning team in 2024 to an 11-winning team in 2025. Still, it looks like there’s another level of development available to unlock in the Windy City.

While Bears general manager Ryan Poles has done a good job of upgrading the team in every way, as well as addressing key weaknesses, there is still one area of ​​concern. Is the offensive line ready to compete for another playoff spot?

However, Sports IllustratedEva Geitheim believes the Bears can still address their offensive line by turning to one of Coach Johnson’s old friends, Taylor Decker. The Detroit Lions’ longtime left tackle requested and received his release from Johnson’s former team earlier this offseason, and he is still unsigned in free agency.

Decker, who turns 33 in August, earned his only Pro Bowl nomination in 2024 after starting 14 games for the Lions. Still, after a 10-year career with the Lions, Decker was ready to move on, and Chicago has a soft landing spot available with a coach he’s already very familiar with.

Additionally, with Trapillo set to miss a significant amount of time, Decker can ensure that the left side of Chicago’s offensive line remains in good shape. Having started all 140 of his appearances since arriving as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Decker still has a lot left in the tank.

RELATED: Chicago Bears coach addresses rumors of adding All-Pro talent

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

We’re just days away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and there’s a lot of excitement surrounding how the New York Giants will run the draft under head coach John Harbaugh.

The 63-year-old head coach would like to acquire players who fit his ideology and who can eventually become leaders of the team. Giants have seven draft picks, but only two in the top 100 (5)^th and 37^th Overall), making it even more important that they stick with their first two choices.

For months, there has been widespread speculation as to what the team would do with the fifth overall selection, but we’ll take a look at five options for them with Big Blue’s selection in Round 2.

Kaden McDonald DT, Ohio State

whether or not team trade Dexter Lawrence, at some point, they will have to address the interior defensive line. One player who would be ideal to replace or play alongside Lawrence is Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.

The 6’2, 326-pound defensive lineman had a stellar junior season in 2025, where he started all 14 games and made 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and was named a unanimous All-American.

He uses his strength and leverage to create obstacles between opposing offensive lines, allowing him or one of his teammates to make a play. He shows speed and a good change of direction, which allows him to play behind the line of scrimmage.

Chris JohnsonCB, San Diego State

After losing starting corner Kor’Dale Flote in free agency, the team will look to add a corner at some point in the draft, and if Chris Johnson is still on the board at pick 37, he could be the newest addition to the team.

After recording only two interceptions in his first three seasons at San Diego State, Johnson had a breakout year as a senior, coming up with four interceptions and returning two of them for touchdowns. He also had 49 tackles, was credited with nine pass defenses, had one sack and one forced fumble.

The six-foot, 193-pound versatile corner has the footwork and ability to play outside and in the slot. He is also a vicious tackler and will be a great addition to defensive coordinator Denard Wilson’s unit.

Chase Bisontis G, Texas A&M

One area of ​​concern on the Giants roster is the interior offensive line. That’s why Texas A&M guard Chase Bissontis is a viable option in the second round. The versatile offensive lineman played both the guard position as well as right tackle during his three years at Texas A&M.

The 6’5 315 pound lineman has a ton of experience, having appeared in 36 games, which is a quality New York always looks for. He showed his athletic ability when he ran a 5.02 40 time. He is equipped with all the tools to provide immediate protection, such as strength, tenacity and solid footwork.

He is one of the best interior offensive linemen in this draft, and if New York can get him at age 37, he could be one of the best players in the draft.

CJ Allen LB, Georgia

Some believe that CJ Allen is the second-best off-the-ball linebacker in this draft behind Sonny Styles, and with good reason, as he was named a First-Team All-American in 2025 after recording 88 tackles.

In his three years at Georgia, he had 205 tackles, 13½ tackles for loss, four½ sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. Not only can he make tackles all over the field, but he hides his attacks well and should be able to produce a handful of sacks a season.

If Big Blue takes Styles in the first round, Allen should be at the top of their board in the second round.

Keelan Rutledge, Georgia Tech

Another offensive guard who may be on New York’s radar is Georgia Tech’s Kylan Rutledge. Rutledge spent his first two seasons with Middle Tennessee State before coming to Georgia Tech in 2024.

He appeared in a total of 48 games and started 43 of them, allowing only two sacks, and was named a Third-Team All-American in 2025. In his final season, he had 440 pass blocking snaps and did not allow a sack.

The 6’3, 316 pound guard has built a reputation as a mauler, but is also athletic and runs a 5.05, and is capable of reaching the second level in run blocking in the combo block concept. If New York takes him with 37^th Overall, he will be one of the starting guards in Week 1.

維克多·文班亞馬 (Victor Wembanyama) 在周一聖安東尼奧馬刺隊以 115-102 戰勝費城 76 人隊的比賽中受傷，目前正在處理肋骨挫傷。由於溫班亞馬已經無法參加週三對陣波特蘭拓荒者隊的比賽，主教練米奇·約翰遜透露了一些關於傷病的好消息。

據 The Athletic 的賈里德·韋斯 (Jared Weiss) 報道，在對陣開拓者隊的比賽前幾個小時，約翰遜在與媒體成員交談時聲稱馬刺隊 22 歲中鋒的肋骨傷勢正在恢復。約翰遜沒有透露文班亞馬週五對達拉斯小牛隊的比賽的狀態。

“[Wembanyama] 正在改善，」約翰遜說。「我們將日復一日地對待它，看看進展如何。 」

米奇·約翰遜表示溫比正在進步，他的肋骨挫傷沒有大問題，但他沒有透露維克多是否會參加週五的比賽。 pic.twitter.com/vUba1pLgrd

— 賈里德‧韋斯 (@JaredWeissNBA) 2026 年 4 月 8 日

由於賽程還剩三場比賽，包括對波特蘭的比賽，馬刺隊可能會選擇讓維克多溫巴尼亞馬休息到季後賽開始。馬刺至少將成為西部第二種子。季後賽要到4月18日才正式開始。

肋骨挫傷，本質上是肋骨瘀傷，可能需要三到六週才能完全康復。最初的一到兩週往往是最痛苦的。第一個半星期後，疼痛通常會明顯減輕。如果是這樣的話，那麼維克托溫巴尼亞馬應該很適合進入 NBA 季後賽首輪。

馬刺隊是本賽季聯盟中最好的球隊之一，溫巴尼亞馬是俱樂部成功的關鍵因素之一。在 2025-26 賽季出戰的 63 場比賽中，這位三年老將場均貢獻 24.8 分、11.5 個籃板、3.1 次助攻、1.0 次抄截和 3.1 次蓋帽。他的投籃命中率為 51.0%，三分球命中率為 35.0%。

2025-26 賽季常規賽僅剩三場比賽，聖安東尼奧馬刺隊正在經歷瘋狂的劇情轉折。在戰勝費城 76 人隊的比賽中，明星中鋒兼 MVP 候選人維克多·溫巴尼亞馬 (Victor Wembanyama) 因上半身受傷倒地。溫班亞馬完成了上半場比賽，但下半場因左肋骨挫傷缺席。

賽後，馬刺隊總教練米奇·約翰遜通報了受傷中鋒的最新情況。約翰遜表示，自從他退出比賽以來，他還沒有聽到任何消息，但溫班亞馬能夠完成上半場的事實在他的書中是一個積極的因素。

據 ESPN 的邁克爾·C·賴特 (Michael C. Wright) 報道，約翰遜說：“我知道他回來了，但他只是沒有完成比賽。” “中場休息時，我被告知他不會回來了。到目前為止我還沒有聽到任何其他消息。我認為他感覺自己可以回來，這將是一個積極的事情，而且他打了半場的最後四五分鐘。

溫班亞馬在與76人隊前鋒保羅喬治相撞後受傷。喬治在半場試圖搶球時與馬刺中鋒相撞。溫班亞馬痛苦地倒在地上，摀著左肩。在醫護人員的照顧下，溫班亞馬回到了更衣室。

幾分鐘後，溫班亞馬回到場上，幾乎打滿了本節最後六分鐘的所有比賽。然而，在比賽還剩不到一分鐘時，他再次要求換人。這位馬刺球星不會重返球場。全場他11投7中得到17分、5籃板和3阻攻。

馬刺隊幾乎已經鎖定了二號種子的位置。溫班亞馬更關心的是他獲得賽季末個人獎項的資格。他還需要一場比賽才能達到個人和最佳陣容獎項的 65 場比賽門檻。

The San Antonio Spurs have been on a roll lately and continued their winning ways with an impressive win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday evening. It was another solid game for Victor Vembanyama, who scored 19 points with 15 rebounds in the win.

One of the Spurs’ unsung heroes this year is Keldon Johnson, who is one of the leading candidates for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Recently, Spurs commentator and former player Sean Elliott joked about Johnson’s listed weight of 215 pounds after a win over the Grizzlies.

“I wanted to ask you what you have listed here, because we’ve had a lot of fun with it over the last few months. According to the official game notes, you weigh exactly the same as Julian Champagne at 215, Stephen Castle weighs 220, which is more than you… Keldon Johnson, 6’6″, 215. What you’re doing there at 215 pounds is amazing… I want to know how in the world you’re getting away from that. Are,” X, Elliott previously said on Twitter, per FanSided’s Josh Paradee.

Johnson responded with a smile, “I’m not 215 years old.” “Maybe a year ago. I’m a little over 215.”

Regardless of his weight, Johnson has been a key piece for the Spurs this year, providing solid defense, showing an improved three-point touch, and continuing to be a force as a driver to the basket, putting consistent pressure on opposing defenses around the rim.

He is one of several Spurs players who have stepped up to give Wembanyama an elite supporting cast this year, and San Antonio is looking like a legitimate championship contender as a result.

The Spurs next play on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

The San Antonio Spurs barely broke a sweat in their game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at the FedExForum as they ran away with a lopsided 123-98 victory.

The Spurs demonstrated their strength from the beginning, defeating the Grizzlies 38-19. From there it was just a formality. San Antonio won its seventh consecutive game and improved to 55–18.

The Spurs also secured homecourt advantage in the first round, returning to the playoffs after a six-year absence.

San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged this significant gainBut as Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News reported, he also remained quiet about it.

Johnson said, “I would expect it to be loud with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. But it’s still a little bit away, so hopefully we can keep getting better and make some improvements in a lot of areas.”

mitch johnson on #spurs Gaining home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs:

“I would expect it to be louder, with a lot more excitement, enthusiasm. But it’s still a little bit away, so hopefully we can keep getting better and make some improvements in a lot of areas.”

– Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) 26 March 2026

The 39-year-old Johnson is in his first full season with the Spurs after taking over from Gregg Popovich. He has big shoes to fill, but clearly, he’s up for the challenge.

He has molded the team into a two-way force. They have guys like Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Cassel, De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell playing comfortably, while finding the right role for Keldon Johnson and utilizing Dylan Harper off the bench.

The last time the Spurs were in the playoffs in 2020, Johnson was still an unknown deputy to Popovich. But the seeds were being sown, and because of his deep knowledge of the game and inherent leadership, it was only a matter of time until he was tapped to have a shot.

Now, Johnson and the Spurs are on their way to success.

On Wednesday evening, the Atlanta Hawks will take to the road for a big game against the Detroit Pistons. This injury report includes Jalen Johnson, who is currently listed as questionable due to left shoulder inflammation. Here’s everything we know about Johnson’s injury and his playing status against the Pistons on Wednesday.

Jalen Johnson’s game status against the Pistons

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is currently some doubt as to whether Jalen Johnson will be able to appear in Detroit on Wednesday night. Johnson has missed the last two games for the Hawks due to illness and was seen wearing a sleeve over his left shoulder when he was on the court against the Houston Rockets last week.

Meanwhile, the Pistons have an injury report ahead of this matchup, with Cade Cunningham sidelined due to his collapsed lung, while Isaiah Stewart is also out with a calf strain. Marcus Sasser is questionable with a right hip strain, while Javonte Green is questionable with an ankle sprain.

Overall, the Hawks have been playing some better basketball over the past month, recently going on an 11-game winning streak, and then winning two in a row since that streak was snapped. Many of the wins have come against lesser competition, and even without Cunningham, the Pistons will present a very strong opponent for Atlanta, so they would certainly love to have Johnson back on the field and ready to go.

The Hawks are 0-3 against the Pistons so far this year.

In any case, tipoff between Atlanta and Detroit is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET from the Motor City. This game will be broadcast by ESPN.

The Atlanta Hawks are on an 11-game winning streak, and that’s due to contributions from several players on the team. One of those players is Jonathan Kuminga, who was surprisingly traded to the Hawks at the deadline. Before Kuminga even took the field for the Hawks, many of his teammates were excited about what he could bring to the team, and once he went out and had a strong three-game stretch, those teammates were validated.

Jalen Johnson has spoken highly of Kuminga since joining the team and in an interview with NBA’s Jake Fisher he compared him to a dog ready to attack.

“His mentality…JK is like a puppy ready to be free,” Johnson said. “You can tell by how he’s working, how he’s going about his days. He’s ready to go. He’s ready to do whatever it takes to win. And show that to the rest of the world.”

When Kuminga was with the Golden State Warriors, it felt like he was on a leash and couldn’t do much, which is why many believe Steve Kerr barely played him.

With the Hawks, it feels like Kuminga has more latitude to make mistakes without getting stretched, and that’s only going to boost his confidence.

When he comes in he gives a boost to the second unit, moves the ball and creates contact in the paint for easy points. Quin Snyder has also given him minutes alongside Johnson, and it will be interesting to see how the pair continues to work as the season winds down.

If Kuminga proves to be an important part of the Hawks and fits in with the team for the remainder of the season, there is a chance they could decline his team option and sign him to a longer contract.

The San Antonio Spurs followed up with a rodeo road trip that matched the best edition of their annual jaunt since their inception in 2003, with a home stand that was almost as impressive. Clutchpoints were discussed in detail with head coach Mitch Johnson.

“You feel the intensity and the competitiveness. The teams that you’re talking about and the urgency that a lot of them have, I think it’s been really good for us to go through these games and find out about other teams and find out about ourselves.”

Whichever team Johnson’s group plays during its six games at the Frost Bank Center is a postseason contender that will likely at least make the play-ins. Three of those teams are widely considered to be among the best in the NBA.

Spurs role as postseason contender

San Antonio began their home games with a win against the Detroit Pistons, entering the night tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the fewest losses in the league. The very next night, the Spurs overcame a 25-point deficit to defeat a Portland Trail Blazers unit that is in eighth place in the Western Conference.

The Silver and Black then defeated the Houston Rockets by 25 points, who were in third place in the West at the time. Next came the Boston Celtics. Like Houston, Boston is in third place in its conference, and like the Celtics, the Rockets fell. Two nights later, without Victor Wembanyama, the Alamo City welcomed a Denver Nuggets team that was in fourth place in the West. This would prove to be the only game of six that the Spurs would lose as after Wembley recovered from an ankle injury, they defeated a Charlotte Hornets team that is in 10th place in the East. Loss-wise, Charlotte is five losses ahead of that last spot in the conference play-in spot.

“We’ve had to participate in a lot of different types of games, whether it’s getting a little open and covering a lot of distance defensively, matching some physicality in a lot of different ways, execution late in the game, seeing different ways for guys to defend us,” Johnson said of ClutchPoints’ tenure.

“You feel the intensity, competitiveness and urgency of (opponents on the home stand)… hopefully those lessons will translate into wisdom and knowledge as we move forward.”
-Mitch Johnson

“I’m obviously ready for it”
Luke Cornet on playing with Wembley

⬇️https://t.co/bl5F6Ru2mO Report#spurs pic.twitter.com/kiuJASMp5n

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 15 March 2026

San Antonio held Charlotte without a field goal for more than five minutes in the fourth quarter, defeating the Hornets 115–102 to close the home stand.

“I thought we settled in. Had a little ups and downs in the third quarter, got open a little bit, and it’s hard to save them when the game is like that.” Johnson said.

The Spurs’ first-year head coach added, “I thought we did a really good job of fixing our defense, even if it wasn’t weak.” “It’s always easy to get organized by moving away from artificial things, but I thought we did a good job of getting set up, staying connected and getting them ready to play through their counters; or just the beginning shooters trying to get a look because they’re very good at seeing those guys and progressing from that to the next guys.”

Going 5-1 after an 8-1 record during the Rodeo Road Trip to include two ‘home’ games in Austin gives the Spurs a 49-18 mark for the season. Johnson hopes it will serve his championship contender well.

“Hopefully all of these experiences are lessons that we will turn into knowledge and wisdom as we move forward.”

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the league as they are riding a nine-game losing streak, their longest since the 2014-2015 season. It seems like everyone on the team is clicking at the right time, and Jalen Johnson has been the head of the snake, doing almost everything on the court.

At the beginning of the season, there were rumors about the Hawks whether they would consider Johnson for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they were quickly shut down. Rich Paul also weighed in on the rumors and suggested that the Milwaukee Bucks should trade for Johnson.

“If I’m the Bucks, I’m looking at a young player, high character, high talent, high IQ,” Paul said on his show with Max Kellerman. “I’m calling Atlanta. I want Jalen Johnson. He’s from Milwaukee.”

Johnson claims he heard the rumors, but according to NBA insider Jake Fisher, the Hawks’ front office immediately reminded him that they were not going to trade him.

“It was probably the first time in my career [hearing] Rumors and things like that,” Johnson said. “But I got assurances from everyone here that that’s not the plan. Obviously, it means a lot… his trust in me and his belief in me.”

It seems like the Hawks did the right thing by retaining Johnson, and he’s set to be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. This season, Johnson averaged 23.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists, and was an All-Star for the first time. It would not be a surprise if at the end of the season, he is on the All-NBA team, which would be a huge accomplishment for him.

Johnson and the Hawks still have a lot of work to accomplish as they continue to try to top the Eastern Conference during the season.

在观看圣安东尼奥马刺队全明星维克托·温巴尼亚马以 115-102 战胜夏洛特黄蜂队的比赛中再次展现统治力后，凯尔登·约翰逊对他的队友做出了评价。尽管迈阿密热火队的巴姆·阿德巴约 (Bam Adebayo) 历史性地拿下 83 分，但 Metta World Peace 相信温班亚马可以拿下 101 分。这位传奇后卫可能会同意温比队友的看法。

约翰逊被标记为温班亚马 最好、最有价值的球员 在 NBA，根据 Prime 上的 NBA 内容。

“世界上最好的球员。MVP。如果还有其他人有什么话要说，请来找我。”

“世界上最好的球员。MVP。如果还有其他人有什么话要说，请来找我。” 😂

凯尔登·约翰逊破坏了温比的采访就是一切😆 pic.twitter.com/bKL4NamFnY

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 2026 年 3 月 14 日

文巴尼亚马24投13中，10投5中，拿下全队最高的32分、12个篮板、8次助攻、4次盖帽和2次抢断。凯尔登·约翰逊（Keldon Johnson）拿下 13 分，领先马刺队替补席，达伦·福克斯（D’Aaron Fox）拿下 17 分、6 个篮板、4 次助攻和 2 次抢断。

虽然温班亚马以压倒性的优势赢得今年的年度最佳防守球员，但他在 MVP 上落后于俄克拉荷马城雷霆队全明星谢伊·吉尔杰斯·亚历山大和丹佛掘金队全明星尼古拉·约基奇。

热刺获胜后，维克多·温巴尼亚马的 MVP、DPOY 梦想

马刺队全明星维克托·温巴尼亚马在周六战胜黄蜂队后讨论了 MVP 和 DPOY 奖项。明确目标，Wembanyama 希望赢得两项荣誉 他在接受 NBA Prime 赛后采访时说道，2025-26 赛季。

“现在我的想法是好好照顾我的身体，因为我也想赢得 MVP 和 DPOY。所以我从现在开始一直努力到赛季结束。”

温布利：

“现在我的心思就是好好照顾自己的身体，因为我也想赢得 MVP 和 DPOY。所以从现在到赛季结束我都会努力加油” pic.twitter.com/0otDre8gp1

– 哦不，他没有（@ohnohedidnt24） 2026 年 3 月 14 日

马刺队将于周一迎战快船队。

After watching San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama turn in another impressive performance in a 115-102 win against the Charlotte Hornets, Keldon Johnson had an announcement about his teammate. With all the hype about Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game, Metta World Peace believes Wembanyama can score 101. The veteran defender would probably agree with one of Wembley’s teammates.

Johnson labeled Vembanyama best and most valuable player In the NBA, per NBA Prime.

“The best player in the world. The MVP. If anyone else has anything to say, come to me.”

“The best player in the world. The MVP. If anyone else has anything to say, come to me.” ???

Keldon Johnson botching the Wembley interview is everything 😆 pic.twitter.com/bKL4NamFnY

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 14 March 2026

Vembanayama led the Spurs with 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including 5-10 from deep, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals. Keldon Johnson’s 13 points led the Spurs’ bench, and De’Aaron Fox added 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

While Wembanyama is a favorite to win this year’s Defensive Player of the Year, he is behind Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic for MVP.

Victor Wembanyama’s MVP, DPOY dreams after Spurs win

Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama discusses the MVP and DPOY awards after Saturday’s win against the Hornets. Making his goals clear, Vembanyama Expected to win both awards for the 2025-26 season, he said during his postgame interview with NBA on Prime.

“Right now I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well. So I’m just trying to stay in good spirits from now until the end of the season.”

Wembley:

“Right now I’m taking a lot of care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well. So I’m just trying to keep my spirits up from now until the end of the season.” pic.twitter.com/0otDre8gp1

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 14 March 2026

The Spurs will face the Clippers on Monday.

The Atlanta Hawks have seen many versions of this team throughout the season. Through injuries and trades, it’s safe to say there have been about three or four different iterations of this roster. Despite the changes, the Hawks have managed to stay in things and are in contention for a playoff spot with just over a month remaining in the regular season.

This current version of the team is playing some good basketball, as they are currently on a seven-game winning streak. Jalen Johnson, a player who has been a constant on the team this season, recently shared what he likes about this version of the roster.

“Communication has been huge for us,” Johnson told reporters. “From the locker room to practice to halftime, the way we’re communicating with each other and everyone just speaking their mind. I think that’s really huge for us. At the end of the day, we’re the guys on the court, so for us to be communicating at that point and on a string, I think it’s been really good.”

Communication goes a long way in any profession, but strictly speaking basketball, it can have a big impact on sports. It helps that the Hawks have a good mix of young players and experienced guys on the team, so they can get different perspectives from different sides.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker said the Hawks have matured throughout the season, which is one reason why they are playing the way they have at this point in the season.

“The focus, how hard we’re playing, even down to the technical foul, something so small, I don’t think we would have done that in the first half of the season,” Alexander-Walker said. “Now we’re really starting to do that, and it’s a credit to everyone. I think this group is really starting to come together.”

The Hawks are getting hot at the right time, as they try to climb up the standings in the Eastern Conference. The thing is, the teams above them are also like Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. The Philadelphia 76ers have started battling injuries at the wrong time, so there’s a good chance the Hawks will pass them in the standings.

At the end of the day, they can only worry about what they can control and keep winning the game.

Washington, DC – The Washington Wizards began the last full calendar month of their season with a 123-118 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday night, and they are close to retaining their top-eight protected draft pick this summer. Furthermore, their young core has taken a step forward.

For example, rookie forward Will Riley talked about partner Rookie Trey Johnson’s rise after Saturday night’s 134-125 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Will Riley on Trey Johnson’s development this season:

“Obviously he’s an amazing player. He’s also a really good teammate, he wants to see guys succeed. He’ll always encourage guys, and he’ll also tell you what you’re doing wrong, which I appreciate as a teammate. He’s a… pic.twitter.com/YKxiFLD2Yc

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 1 March 2026

“Obviously he’s an amazing player. He’s also a really good teammate, he wants to see guys succeed,” the 20-year-old said. “He’ll always encourage guys, and he’ll also tell you what you’re doing wrong, which I appreciate as a teammate. He’s a great kid, has amazing work ethic. He’s always in the gym, always one of the last guys in there with me. Always competing…”

Riley may not have intended to compliment himself when he complimented Johnson, but he did when he noted that his partner was “one of the last guys.” [the gym] With me.” The “with me” part is the highlight of the statement, as it indicates equality between the two novices.

While the cliché about professional athletes working around the clock to get better is as old as time, the work ethic is yielding results for both players. Johnson ranks third among 2025 draftees with a 37.4 percent 3-point clip (minimum of five attempts per game), and Riley averaged 14.6 points on 47 percent shooting (37.5 percent 3-point) with 4.3 rebounds in 27.1 minutes in February, the first month in which he averaged more than 20 minutes.

Washington is on a losing streak this season, but these statistical achievements are long-term wins. They represent growth, as Riley shot 38.2 percent (31.8 percent 3-pointers) in January, and Johnson his playmaking improved From the beginning of the campaign.

Trey Johnson playmaking. pic.twitter.com/dO3qrXzjNM

– Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) 13 January 2026

Johnson was the Wizards’ reward for tanking last season, when they were led by veteran guard Jordan Poole and a rookie Alex Sarr. They received the No. 6 overall selection in the draft lottery, the lowest selection they would receive after finishing with the NBA’s second-worst record (18–64). They missed out on star prospects Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, but Johnson’s deadeye shooting and promising playmaking could make him a potential upper-tier player in his own right once he reaches his peak.

Meanwhile, acquiring Riley was the result of last season’s Marcus Smart trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis traded a 2025 lottery-protected first-round pick to Washington to absorb the unwanted salary of Smart, who moved up to the No. 18 overall selection after clinching a playoff berth by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 120–106 in their second play-in tournament game. The Wizards then moved up to No. 21 on draft night and selected Riley.

To increase their floor in the lottery and take advantage of cap space in trades, Washington added two building blocks to a young core that includes Sarr, second-year wing Keyshawn George, second-year guard Bub Carrington and third-year guard Bilal Coulibaly. In addition to developing those players this season, it acquired stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Young will make his Wizards debut on Thursday at home against the Utah Jazz.

Additionally, Washington is on track to retain their 2026 lottery pick as they have the NBA’s fourth-worst record (16-44) with 22 games remaining. It would have to finish with a bottom-four record to guarantee a selection in a class featuring superstar prospects like BYU’s AJ DiBuntsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas’ Darin Peterson.

It’s been a tough road for long-suffering Wizards fans. The team has not had a winning season since 2017–18, and has finished bottom every year since general manager Will Dawkins and president Michael Winger took over in the 2023 offseason. But Washington will finally be ready to win next season, and it’s partly due to the development of Johnson and Riley.

Danny Wolf makes hilarious confession to Will Riley

Riley had a career day in Washington’s 127–113 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on February 7, scoring 27 points (10-19 FG, 4-6 3-point) with three rebounds, three steals and two assists in 45 minutes. The Wizards used an eight-man rotation full of backups, as it was in their best interests to lose against fellow bottom-feeders like the Nets, but the native Canadian’s performance was another step forward.

Brooklyn rookie Danny Wolf talked to ClutchPoints about the relay postgame.

I asked Nets rookie Danny Wolf for his thoughts on fellow rookie Will Riley, who scored a career-high 27 points for the Wizards today (thread):

“Obviously he’s a talented player. To his credit, he played 45 minutes tonight, which is not easy to do in the NBA…He has a lot of things to offer…” pic.twitter.com/f9kVJ2jwgB

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 7 February 2026

“Obviously he’s a talented player,” the former Michigan Wolverine said. “To his credit, he played 45 minutes tonight, which is not easy to do in the NBA… He has a lot of tools. He frustrated us when he was at Illinois. He’s a good player.”

Wolf was not lying, as Riley and the Fighting Illini defeated the Wolverines 93–73 on March 2, 2025. The latter averaged 13 points (6-12 FG, 0-4 3-point) with four rebounds and five assists and later won Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Riley has shown his proficiency as a jumbo shot creator this season, and his improvement as a spot-up from long range bodes well for his future. The 6-foot-9, 180-pounder could stand to add some muscle, which would help him dominate inside defenders. But the Nets game and his general ascent in February showed what he can already do with extended playing time.

The Wizards have a road date with the Orlando Magic next Tuesday.

On Sunday evening, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in search of their fourth consecutive win. Jalen Johnson is on the injury report, currently listed as questionable due to left hip flexor irritation. Here’s everything we know about Johnson’s injury and his playing status against the Blazers.

*Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (free Trial)*

Jalen Johnson’s playing status against the Blazers on Sunday

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is some doubt at the moment as to whether Jalen Johnson will be able to suit up for the Hawks on Sunday evening. Johnson suffered a hip flexor injury during a recent game against the Washington Wizards, causing him to leave in the first half and not return, then was ruled out of Atlanta’s next game, also against the Wizards.

The injury report joins Johnson at shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is questionable with a left foot sprain and missed Atlanta’s last game against Washington. Rookie Asa Newell is questionable, as he is on assignment in the G League.

The Trail Blazers have not yet released their injury report, as they are on the road for the second straight night after losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon.

As mentioned earlier, the Hawks will be looking to pick up their fourth consecutive win in this matchup, although that streak has not come against the best competition, with Atlanta beating the Wizards twice and the Brooklyn Nets twice.

However, for a team that is desperate to get back to the .500 mark, the Hawks will win out no matter what.

If Johnson is unable to go, expect another big game from Jonathan Kuminga, who has impressed in his first two games in a Hawks uniform so far.

The Hawks and Blazers are set to tip off at 6:00 PM ET.

毫无疑问，维克多·温班亚马在他的第三个赛季中已经成长为 NBA 的顶级球员之一。这位 23 岁球员的惊人表现将圣安东尼奥马刺队提升到了合法的竞争者地位。这足以让他成为联盟历史上最年轻的 MVP 吗？

马刺队主教练米奇·约翰逊也这么认为。

“他是球队获胜的重要推动者 [as anybody]”，约翰逊在周四与布鲁克林篮网队的比赛前说道。“被认为是最好或最有价值的个人因素是进攻、防守、篮板以及介于两者之间的一切。他走在最前线 [each of] 那些。联盟中还有其他人这样做。我还没有深入探讨这一点，但我绝对认为他在谈话中。有人很难就他为什么没有参与那次谈话做出合乎逻辑的论证。”

温巴尼亚马在攻防两端的贡献帮助马刺队取得了 NBA 第三好的战绩（42 胜 16 负）。

维克托·温班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 带领热刺登上 MVP 榜首

这位法国天才场均贡献 24.0 分、11.2 个篮板和 2.9 次助攻，投篮命中率为 0.503/0.353/0.812。在进攻方面，他是六名场均得分超过 24 分、命中率超过 50% 的球员之一，其他球员还有谢伊·吉尔吉斯-亚历山大、尼古拉·约基奇、扬尼斯·阿德托昆博、凯文·杜兰特和奥斯汀·里维斯。

与此同时，温班亚马在防守上继续产生历史性的影响。他以场均 3.9 次抢断（抢断+盖帽）领先全联盟，比第二高的球员（斯科蒂·巴恩斯：3.0）领先 0.8 次。根据 CleaningTheGlass 的数据，当他在场时，马刺队每 100 回合丢分减少 10.6 分，这是 NBA 防守效率第二高的球队，仅次于鲁迪·戈贝尔（-12.7）。

根据 FanDuel Sportsbook 的数据，Wembanyama 目前的 MVP 赔率排名第五，为 +3300，落后于吉尔吉斯-亚历山大（-190）、约基奇（+300）、凯德·坎宁安（+1400）和卢卡·东契奇（+2000）。这位马刺球星只能再缺席三场比赛才能保持自己的参赛资格。

There is little debate that Victor Wembanyama has become one of the NBA’s top players in his third season. The 23-year-old’s stellar performances have earned the San Antonio Spurs the status of legitimate contenders. Is that enough to make him the league’s youngest-ever MVP?

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson thinks so.

“He is a great facilitator to help his team win [as anybody]” Johnson said before Thursday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. “The individual stuff that is recognized as the best or most valuable is offense, defense, boards and everything that comes in between. He is at the forefront for [each of] They. And there are other guys in the league who do that, too. I haven’t delved into it, but I definitely think it’s in the conversation. It would be difficult for anyone to make a logical argument as to why he is not in that conversation.”

Wembanyama’s two-way contributions have led the Spurs to the NBA’s third-best record (42–16).

Victor Wembanyama enters MVP conversation as he leads Spurs ascension

The French phenom is averaging 24.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .503/.353/.812 shooting splits. Offensively, he is one of six players averaging more than 24 points on 50 percent or better shooting, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and Austin Reaves.

Meanwhile, Vembanyama continues to wield historic influence defensively. He leads the NBA with 3.9 steals (steals + blocks) per game, and 0.8 ahead of the next highest player (Scotty Barnes: 3.0). According to CleaningTheGlass, the Spurs allow 10.6 fewer points per 100 possessions on the court versus off, which is the NBA’s second-largest defensive rating swing, behind only Rudy Gobert (-12.7).

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Wembanyama currently has the fifth-best MVP odds at +3300, behind Gilgeous-Alexander (-190), Jokic (+300), Cade Cunningham (+1400) and Luka Doncic (+2000). The Spurs star can only miss three more games to maintain his eligibility.

San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Ingram has spent much of this season honing his skills behind the scenes. The quiet development of the 2024 second-round pick has been a source of satisfaction within the Spurs organization.

Ingram was named G League Player of the Week after averaging 22.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists in his last five appearances with the Austin Spurs. He recorded four double-doubles and one triple-double, while Austin posted a 4–1 record.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said of Ingram’s development, “The Player of the Week is definitely trending in the right direction.” “I think it’s always somewhat gratifying for him, somewhat beneficial as an organization and a staff, and somewhat fun when you have a young player in your program for a year and they’re grinding, especially when you’re in the G League and it can be a little out of sight, out of mind to the outside world. You’re selling them on slowly getting better and keeping up with the process.

“It can be hard for young guys when, sometimes, they don’t get the attention or direct feedback that they’re looking for or that they’re used to, especially because a lot of them end up being really good college players. So it’s great for him to continue to be that way and see the improvement and development that he’s had and to be recognized in a very deserving way.”

Ingram, the No. 48 pick in the 2024 draft out of North Carolina, has spent most of this season in the G League, appearing in just five NBA games.

Harrison Ingram showing improvement in G League after signing two-way contract

The 6-foot-5 forward’s two-way development with Austin has been encouraging for San Antonio. Ingram is averaging 16.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 48.2 percent shooting in 21 G League appearances.

“He’s really accepted his role and embraced it,” Johnson said. “It can be hard to do that in terms of your role as a defender, a physical role player, playing off the ball to a certain extent. But always trying to extend or create more possessions with offensive rebounds, hitting open shots, getting out and running in transition, and obviously we want him to be a dominant defender and be able to rebound. I think that’s something he’s really embraced and you’ve seen it. And sometimes when you do that If you do it, you get a monster production with it, you can tell he has put his energy in the right places.”

The Spurs signed Ingram to a one-year, two-way contract before this season.

Atlanta Hawks star Jalen Johnson has drawn immense praise for his game this season. Johnson was named an All-Star for the first time in his career and has picked up a lot of fanfare around the league. His above-the-rim play, penchant for triple-doubles, and all-around skill have often drawn comparisons to Bulls legend Scottie Pippen.

On the Mind the Game podcast in January, LeBron James spoke about Johnson. LeBron James set Johnson’s ceiling as the six-time champion.

“I’ve mentioned Scottie Pippen, man. Obviously, he has a long way to go, but as far as the talent. You look at a guy with long arms, 6-(foot)-9 (or) 6-10, runs like a deer, super athletic. He’s improved his outside touch.

James added, “Putting pressure on the rim. His ability to rebound. He can guard (positions) one through five for the majority of (opposing) ones and fives … And his playmaking. I see that he is going to continue to improve.”

Now, Hawks legend and broadcaster Dominique Wilkins is the latest to compare Johnson to Pippen. In an interview with Casino.org, Wilkins competed against the Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen-led Bulls during his time with the Hawks in the mid-’80s and sees the resemblance.

“Well, I must say he’s a little bit of Scottie Pippen as far as being a point forward. Pippen was a point forward, and was very effective at the position. This guy Jalen, he brings even another element, because the way he rebounds, the way he passes, and he flirts with a triple-double every single night.

Johnson is currently averaging 23.4 points per game, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. He is now seen as the number one option on the team following the Hawks’ decision to trade Trae Young to the Wizards.

The Atlanta Hawks face the Washington Wizards on Tuesday hoping to pick up their 29th win of the season. Unfortunately, star forward Jalen Johnson is said to have suffered a hip injury during the contest.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, reports indicate that Johnson, who is 24, suffered a left hip strain during the game. The Hawks listed him as questionable to return.

“Hawks say Jalen Johnson has a left hip flexor injury and is questionable to return against the Wizards.”

The injury occurred during the first six minutes of the game against the Wizards. Jalen Johnson left the court after recording five points, three rebounds and two steals on 50.0% shooting from the floor. According to Siegel, after a quick trip to the locker room, Atlanta ruled Johnson out for the remainder of the game.

“Jalen Johnson will not return to tonight’s game due to his hip injury.”

Hopefully, it’s not a serious injury and Johnson can return soon. He has emerged as one of the go-to stars for the Hawks, as he entered Tuesday’s contest averaging 23.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 49.4% from the floor and 34.3% from beyond the three-point line. He earned an All-Star award this season for the first time in his career.

Newly hired forward Jonahn Kuminga may get some additional playing time alongside Jalen Johnson against the Wizards. Zachary Rishachar may also see an expanded role. Either way, these are the two players most likely to step up for the Hawks if Johnson misses time with a hip injury.

The Atlanta Hawks are still figuring out what exactly they are after reshaping their roster, but the early returns since acquiring CJ McCollum show that Quin Snyder’s developed offensive hierarchy is starting to yield results. The Jalen Johnson-led team has won two of its first three games following the NBA All-Star break and is on a relatively improving schedule. From February 23 to March 30, the Hawks play only five road games. Of the 14 domestic contests during that span, seven rivals are already focused on improving their NBA Draft Lottery odds.

Winning the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed and avoiding the NBA Play-In Tournament altogether after trading Trae Young is still a long shot. Still, a new starting lineup of Dyson Daniels, Nickell Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu has provided offensive balance without sacrificing too much defense. McCollum is the only real goal-pointer, but the other four are doing a good job of protecting the rim and keeping opponents out of the paint. For example, the ninth-ranked Hawks (28-31) have shown improvement in points allowed in the paint over their last five games.

This shows that this team is still playing with pride and commitment to improvement. Given the schedule, the win is a must. Snyder really believes they can pull off some postseason upsets, especially if McCollum performs well in some key games.

“We’re in a little bit of a battle. We’ve played without a point guard this season, and we’ve played without a pure center this season. So the influx of a guy like C.J. who gives us another ball handler, another pick and roll player can be really valuable to everybody,” Snyder explained. “We’re going through the process of integrating those guys, and we’ll keep grinding.”

Although the offensive hierarchy is still a work in progress, Snyder is measuring success beyond the win column.

“I’m really more focused on how we’re playing, how we’re growing and how we’re coming together,” Snyder said. “We want to win every game, but to a certain extent. Whenever your team changes you have to face some difficult situations. Hopefully, we will play in such a way that we can repeat it and be successful.”

The Hawks, no longer employing Young, are operating without a single traditional floor general. Instead, Snyder has distributed playmaking duties throughout the roster, a change he described as born out of circumstance. What has emerged is a multi-lead approach to playmaking that distributes creation across the roster rather than routing everything through a single lead guard.

CJ McCollum helps Hawks

A 22-year-old Australian has been the most visible example of that development. Originally acquired for his defense, Dyson Daniels has become the primary ball handler due to circumstance and according to Snyder, he has embraced the challenge.

Snyder said, “Necessity can be the mother of invention.” “Dyson has really grown into that (point guard) role, which has been great to see him progress. He’s making plays for other guys, handling the ball and guarding that position. (Daniels) has really taken on that role for us and grown as a player.”

Johnson has been allowed to stick to what’s comfortable, with great success. Thankfully, the Hawks already have their own young face of the franchise, share a clear development plan, and now know how to best utilize future MVP-caliber talent.

“Jalen, again, is unique in his ability to pass and handle the ball, especially in the open court. (Johnson) isn’t in a position where we’re asking him to run the team, but there’s a lot of things we do where he’s the starter with the ball,” Snyder admitted. “We’ve put him in pick-and-rolls like any other player. That’s a big key for us. That versatility with multiple players and multiple playmakers is something we really value for us and we try to take advantage of that. Jalen is at the top of that list.”

The result is a crime without rigid hierarchy. Daniels organizes the attack, Johnson initiates the action from the frontcourt, and McCallum provides the scoring punch. Nichelle Alexander-Walker paints a picture of playmaking as an unconventional but effective contributor. Snyder has encouraged the 26-year-old guard to be more aggressive over the next few months.

“As far as playmaking, you know (Alexander-Walker) can get into the lane,” Snyder said. “He’s not your typical playmaker, but I think he’s unselfish and he’s willing to get off the ball when he’s blocked… We’ve tried to encourage him to be really aggressive in shooting. Even some contested shots from three.”

With McCollum adding another reliable pick-and-roll operator and an experienced scoring option from the wing, Snyder’s rotation is generating enough offense to remain competitive, even as the roster is holding its own. With a softer schedule ahead and a newly formed offensive identity, the Hawks are betting that need-driven invention leads to the NBA Playoffs. That test will show the front office what it takes to chase a top-four seed next season.

It seems like just a few years ago San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson was a wide-eyed rookie out of Kentucky. Now, he is Spurs’ longest-tenured player, providing toughness and leadership.

They proved it again when they visited the Detroit Pistons on Monday at Little Caesars Arena.

Things turned sour in the second quarter when Pistons guard Cade Cunningham knocked Spurs guard Stephen Cassel to the floor. Johnson came forward and nudged Cunningham, saying a few words to him.

Pistons center Jalen Duren entered the field and pointed the finger at Johnson. Luckily, before it escalated further, cooler heads prevailed. full dispute. Johnson and Duren were both whistled for technical fouls.

Keldon Johnson and Jalen Duren received technique after this conversation

Cade Cunningham was called for an offensive foul for the initial push on Stephen Castle.

pic.twitter.com/ClIliygbSP

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

As expected, tensions were high between the two top NBA teams, especially since it was their first meeting.

While Spurs have other players older than him, the 26-year-old Johnson has taken on a big brother role on the team. He has taken Victor Wembanyama under his wing, even shaving his head, to help his young teammate develop and transition to the NBA.

Johnson has progressed in coach Mitch Johnson’s first full year, averaging 13.4 points, 54.5% shooting and 5.7 rebounds off the bench. He is a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

At the time of writing, there is still a close battle between the Spurs and Pistons in the third quarter.

Cassel had 12 points, two rebounds and seven assists, while Johnson had six points and two rebounds.

The second half of the season is upon us, and the Atlanta Hawks got off to a good start with a 117-107 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. From now until the end of the season, every game will become more important for the Hawks as they try to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

The Hawks, currently seeded ninth, have a chance to make some headway given the teams ranked above them, but they could fall short in no time with the Charlotte Hornets behind them.

Following their win against the 76ers, Johnson shared what the Hawks will need to do to move up in the standings as the season continues.

Johnson said, “If we continue to play a full 48 minutes, we’ll put ourselves in a position to win every night. I know the guys in that locker room, the coaching staff and everybody, we believe in each other.” “So if we continue to believe in each other, I think we’ll have a good effort.”

The Hawks apparently had a team meeting the night before the game, and Johnson said a message was clear throughout the group.

“We’re ready for the second half of the season. We have the same mentality and I think we understand what needs to be done and what needs to be done,” Johnson said.

It’s been an interesting season for the Hawks, as they’ve had several iterations of this team throughout the year. Six new players have been added to the team via trades, and it’s clear this is not the same group the Hawks started with this season. With that, they have to build chemistry with new people, while also trying to figure out where they fit in.

In the end, the Hawks still have a solid group that can win games, and they are still in position to get a better seed before the end of the season. After playing the most road games in the league in the first half of the season, the Hawks get a break in the second half, and they have one of the easier schedules in terms of opponent winning percentage.

As Johnson said, if they can continue to play the full 48 minutes, they may give themselves the best chance to keep winning games.

The NBA is getting ready for the homestretch of the season, restarting the season following the end of NBA All-Star Weekend. Thursday night was the restart of the season, and the night’s game was an Eastern Conference showdown between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. The Pistons won 126–111, thanks to Cade Cunningham, but it strengthened the argument that these were the two best teams in the East.

NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson has been known to make some big moves on social media during the NBA season since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. He spoke after watching the game on Thursday Pistons and Knicks picked to reach Eastern Conference Finals, but worth keeping an eye on The Cavaliers, 76ers, and even the Celtics.

After the game, Johnson praised the Pistons’ performance, especially that of point guard Cade Cunningham after he took over and led Detroit to a big win.

Johnson said, “NBA fans around the world, I hope you didn’t see Detroit Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham’s performance last night against the New York Knicks. He had a spectacular performance, scoring 42 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds! Cade scored from everywhere on the court – the three-pointer, the midrange jumper, and he was taking it to the basket. When he dunked on the three he may have had the best game of the year. Hits with the left hand!”

New York had some moments, with Jalen Brunson scoring 30 and Karl-Anthony Towns adding 21 points and 11 boards, but the Knicks struggled from three-point range and couldn’t get enough stops on defense to really swing momentum. Detroit consistently created separation, extended the advantage into the high teens late in the game and never allowed it to get into danger.

Johnson’s confidence in the Knicks and Pistons stems from the fact that both teams have been the most consistent in the Eastern Conference. There’s a lot to like about teams like the Cavaliers, 76ers and Celtics, but the consistency of those top two is what sets them apart and is a significant difference.

Former San Antonio Spurs power forward Jeremy Sochan has yet to make his debut for the New York Knicks. However, he has a lot to say about his former home, recently revealing that he would not have seen eye to eye with Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson over some issues.

The 22-year-old revealed that he wanted a bigger role in the team, something that might be due to the Spurs’ deep roster.

Reflecting on what happened in San Antonio: “There’s no real opportunity in my opinion. It is what it is. It’s a deep team. Maybe I didn’t get one-on-one with the coach. I’m just fortunate to have somewhere to grow.”

– James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) 18 February 2026

“There’s no real opportunity in my opinion. It is what it is. It’s a deep team. Maybe I didn’t get one-on-one with the coach. I’m just fortunate to have somewhere to grow,” he said, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.

While his desire for more minutes was acknowledged even by Johnson himself, this move appears to be the best solution for all parties involved.

“We were all well aware of his desire to be in the rotation and given more opportunities, especially recently. We wanted to do the right thing for him and make sure he has that opportunity before the year is out,” Johnson said, per Yahoo Sports.

The Spurs’ rotation tightened amid roster changes and internal development priorities, causing Sochan’s minutes to drop to just 12.8 per game during the 2025–26 campaign. His exit also depletes San Antonio’s 2022 first-round class, as none of the three selections from that draft remain with the franchise (Blake Wesley and Malachi Branham).

While Sochan averaged only 4.1 points and 2.6 assists during the 12.8 minutes per game he spent on the court, his defensive versatility and effort were never questioned. Sochan was simply on a team that needed more from him in terms of floor spacing and offensive ability, and last season he didn’t get the minutes he needed to prove his worth alongside Victor Wembanyama.

He, the 22-year-old, will be hoping to change the Knicks for the better.

There are 31 franchise owners in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers are owned by a publicly held non-profit organization. Meanwhile, other teams like the New York Jets are owned by a man like Woody Johnson.

Of course, not all NFL team owners are the same. Johnson is known for interfering in his team’s football decisions, and has been highly criticized for this over the years.

Now, according to ESPN’s Jets insider Rich Cimini, Johnson is back at it again. The Jets were close to hiring Don “Wink” Martindale as Glenn’s new defensive coordinator, but plans apparently changed after the job description also changed.

The Jets came close to hiring a highly respected and experienced defensive coordinator who had never called plays before. It’s a fairly significant change, but we can see why candidates like Martindale, who has been an NFL defensive coordinator for seven seasons, were no longer interested in the job, leaving the Jets to go to Brian Duker.

The Jets interviewed eight candidates for the position, but Duker got the job just one day after meeting with the team. Either way, it doesn’t matter, as Glenn plans to call the team’s defensive plays in 2026 anyway, but now he won’t have an experienced right hander to handle the duties if things go awry again in New York.

RELATED: Potential NFL rule change makes blockbuster trades more likely

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

On Sunday evening, the NBA All-Star Game took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was part of the festivities. Edwards’ team won the game, and Starr won the All-Star Game MVP award for his efforts, outscoring opponents throughout the game.

One of Edwards’ teammates for the game was Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, who caught hold of Edwards in a moment after the game. Went viral on social media.

In a leaked video, Edwards can be heard telling Johnson he “can’t wait to get home,” according to former playoff running back Jalen Jalen on Twitter, via Basket News.

🚨 BREAKING: A new video has surfaced on NBA Twitter of Anthony Edwards telling Jalen Johnson he “can’t wait to get home”

Could we potentially see ANT to ATL??!

👀 pic.twitter.com/c7CT7Zvqh7

– (@PlayoffJohnson) 16 February 2026

Edwards is from the Atlanta area and could be seen pointing to his Atlanta-themed hat when his name was announced before the start of the All-Star Game.

Meanwhile, Johnson has established himself as the guy in Atlanta after the team transferred point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards earlier this year. He has used his combination of playmaking and athleticism to turn himself into one of the best young forwards in the game today.

While Edwards has seen some great success with the Timberwolves so far, there’s no doubt that things could become volatile if they have a playoff disappointment in 2026. Minnesota has made the Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons, but was uncompetitive in both of those series, first against the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 and then against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025.

If Edwards ever requests a trade or threatens to leave in free agency, the Hawks would be a landing spot that would likely be touted by fans and pundits alike due to his connection to the area, as well as his recent exchange with Johnson.

In any case, the Timberwolves next face off on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

E-40 幫助邁阿密熱火隊成為 NBA 全明星賽週末的一個意想不到的時刻。但凱沙德·約翰遜 (Keshad Johnson) 在贏得 2026 年 NBA 扣籃大賽冠軍之前，通過在英格爾伍德 (Inglewood) 的一記充滿電感的單手扣籃，向我們展示了其中的原因。

這位著名的灣區嘻哈傳奇人物陪同參賽者來到球場。 E-40 後來成為約翰遜甜蜜大滿貫的道具，點燃了 Intuit Dome 觀眾的熱情。

約翰遜沒有運球，就衝向 E-40 的背部…並越過了障礙：

Keshad Johnson 輕鬆突破 E-40，完成他的第一次灌籃 😤

pic.twitter.com/9kWfgsS3as

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 2 月 15 日

燈光閃爍，球迷們為約翰遜的投籃而瘋狂。那次扣籃幫助約翰遜贏得了 26 年扣籃大賽冠軍。

KESHAD JOHNSON 是您的 2026 年扣籃冠軍 🏆 pic.twitter.com/l31lfSi79p

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 2 月 15 日

但粉絲們看到說唱歌手厄爾史蒂文斯在場上時也失去了理智。然而，兩者有著顯著的關聯。

熱火隊球員凱沙德約翰遜與 E-40 的關係揭曉

這位新秀贏得了埃里克·斯波爾斯特拉和南海灘熱火隊球迷的支持。但約翰遜的出現被認為是加州的返鄉。

他與史蒂文斯有著顯著的灣區聯繫——因為他來自加州奧克蘭。約翰遜在聖萊安德羅高中茁壯成長，之後為聖地亞哥州立大學和亞利桑那大學效力。

史蒂文斯在“小鎮”以北的瓦列霍附近聲名鵲起。 1986 年，當紐約和洛杉磯的嘻哈音樂進入最前線時，他成為灣區說唱界的重要人物。

史蒂文斯作為藝術家的輝煌職業生涯現已走過 40 年，其中包括在 2000 年代中期主導嘻哈廣播電台的著名“Hyphy”運動的最前沿。

現年 58 歲的他之前仍然沒有與熱火隊有任何聯繫。 NBA 球迷在金州勇士隊比賽期間將他稱為“前排 40”，他聲稱金州勇士隊是他最喜歡的聯盟球隊。他還曾與勇士隊球星史蒂芬·庫裡、德雷蒙德·格林一起出去玩，之前也曾在勇士隊的總冠軍獎盃前合影。

然而，約翰遜和史蒂文斯將奧克蘭推上了周六慶祝活動的頂峰。同一天，另一位“小鎮”傳奇人物達米安·利拉德贏得了他的第三個三分球比賽。

托尼·斯圖爾特 (Tony Stewart) 和吉米·約翰遜 (Jimmie Johnson) 是他們那個時代最優秀的兩位 NASCAR 車手，他們都體驗過在代托納國際賽道獲勝的感覺。雖然現在不太可能到達勝利車道，但這兩位賽車傳奇人物似乎確實對下賽季在代托納再次比賽產生了真正的興趣。

週五晚上，斯圖爾特在卡車系列賽中駕駛，這是他自 2016 年以來的第一次 NASCAR 比賽。雖然他在二十年來第一次參加卡車比賽時遭遇了一場車禍，但他從事故中走出來，有興趣在未來再次駕駛。

相關：代托納國際賽道的 NASCAR 卡車成績

“我想說這是一個很好的鏡頭。”

東尼史都華談 2027 年在代托納再次參加 NASCAR 比賽的可能性 (H/T Jordan Bianchi)

雖然球迷們可能不會再在杯賽系列賽中看到這位 54 歲的車手了，但約翰遜的情況並非如此。他將於週日參加代托納 500 大賽，並於今年晚些時候參加在科羅納多海軍基地舉行的聖地亞哥街頭比賽。

至於 2027 年 NASCAR 賽季，約翰遜表示，明年他將第四次代表力獅汽車俱樂部 (Legacy Motor Club) 參加代托納 500 大賽。他還透露，這將是他最後一次參加杯賽系列賽。

約翰遜今年 9 月就年滿 51 歲了，他曾七次獲得 NASCAR 杯系列賽冠軍，並兩次獲得代托納 500 大賽冠軍。他週日的亮相是在他首次贏得代托納 500 英里勝利二十年後，也是在他在賽季揭幕戰杯系列賽中獲得第三名僅一年後，僅次於威廉·拜倫 (William Byron) 和泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick)。

了解更多：Daytona 500 預測

2027 年 Daytona 500 可能會非常特別，因為這似乎很有可能是未來的名人堂成員丹尼·哈姆林最後一次駕駛 11 號賽車參加這一標誌性賽事。如果事實果真如此，明年代托納國際賽道的大型比賽門票的需求可能會比近年來更大。

馬特·約翰遜 (Matt Johnson) 是《Sportsnaut》雜誌《NFL》和《大學橄欖球》的高級編輯。他的工作包括每週 NFL 和大學……有關馬特·約翰遜的更多信息

丹佛掘金隊前鋒卡姆·約翰遜在湯米·阿爾特的“老人與三人”播客中為許多人傳播了讚譽，他的最新評論讓兩位超級巨星成為了人們關注的焦點。當約翰遜在掘金隊處理膝傷時，他會在播客上談論 NBA 中兩名必看的球員。

阿爾特會問他：“如果你沒有在NBA打球，你會花錢看哪位NBA球員的比賽？”因為他毫不猶豫地給出了一個簡單的答案。那就是金州勇士隊的控衛斯蒂芬·庫裡，他已經37歲了，仍然打出精英級別的比賽，憑藉著令人印象深刻的投籃能力，場均得到27.2分。

約翰遜提到的“另一個明顯的例子”是聖安東尼奧馬刺隊的超級巨星維克托·溫班亞馬(Victor Wembanyama)，他在第三個賽季中取得了進步，利用自己不可思議的身材場均貢獻24.2分、11.1個籃板和2.7個蓋帽。正如約翰遜解釋的那樣，庫里和溫班亞馬都以不同的方式展示了“非凡”的壯舉。

“另一個明顯的例子是溫迪，因為你可能從未見過這樣的人，就好像你從未見過一個人以那樣的體型移動和表演。這非常不自然。斯蒂芬很正常，做出了非凡的事情，”約翰遜說。

卡姆·約翰遜談到如果他不在 NBA 的話他會花錢看誰的比賽💵

🔹斯蒂芬·庫裡
🔹維克多·文班亞馬

“斯蒂芬很平常，卻做出了非凡的事。 [Wemby] 他能做正常身材的人能做的事情，但他身高 7 英尺 5 英寸。 ”

（通過 @OldManAndThree）
pic.twitter.com/QENgsRpyqq

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 2 月 7 日

卡姆·約翰遜更多地談論了斯蒂芬·庫裡、維克多·溫班亞馬

阿爾特還會就庫裡的能力如何激勵人們像他一樣打球提出自己的想法，而他的框架對大多數人來說並不完全不常見。然而，正如 Alter 和 Johnson 所說，Wembanyama 擁有等式的另一面。

“斯蒂芬是一個東西，尤其是當觀眾在場的時候，當他接管一場比賽時，這幾乎就像你正在看著有史以來最偉大的網球運動員接管一場比賽和觀眾……就你的觀點而言，他看起來對休閒的人來說是可以實現的，”阿爾特說。

“溫比，恰恰相反。他做正常身材的人會做的事情，但他只有七歲、五歲，”約翰遜說。

不可否認，有些球員可能會被冷落，但庫里和溫班亞馬仍然是令人興奮的選擇。

芝加哥熊隊的教練隊伍​​面臨著潛在的重組，費城老鷹隊瞄準了進攻協調員德克蘭·多伊爾來填補他們空缺的領導角色。在令人失望的季后賽出局後，老鷹隊尋求採訪這位冉冉升起的助教，他幫助芝加哥隊在 2025 年成為聯盟進攻進步最快的球隊之一。

多伊爾的迅速崛起使他從丹佛的近端鋒教練一躍成為 NFL 最年輕的協調員，負責監督球隊的進攻，總碼數排名第三，得分排名第六。

他與主教練本·約翰遜的合作，為四分衛凱萊布·威廉姆斯和老將德安德烈·斯威夫特打出了職業生涯最佳賽季發揮了重要作用，使他成為迫切希望重振明星陣容的老鷹隊的主要候選人。

據消息人士透露，熊隊 OC 德克蘭·多伊爾 (Declan Doyle) 已不再考慮考慮老鷹隊的進攻協調員空缺，根據戴安娜·魯西尼 (Dianna Russini) 在 X 上的報導，多伊爾選擇留在芝加哥，與本·約翰遜 (Ben Johnson) 和凱萊布·威廉姆斯 (Caleb Williams) 一起工作。

這一決定讓熊隊鬆了一口氣，因為它保持了教練組的穩定性，最近帶領球隊取得了自 2010 年以來的首場季后賽勝利。

通過選擇留下來，多伊爾確保了威廉姆斯周圍的圖式連續性在年輕四分衛發展的關鍵階段保持完整。

雖然留住多伊爾對於教練組來說是一場胜利，但本·約翰遜明確表示球隊最近的成功已經成為過去。儘管贏得了 11 場比賽和分區冠軍，約翰遜告訴 ESPN，這已經沒有任何進展，球隊必須回到原點。

他強調，分區賽被淘汰意味著上一年的成績根本達不到冠軍標準。總經理瑞安·波爾斯（Ryan Poles）也表達了這種不自滿的態度，他指出，熊隊的目標仍然是成為一支真正的強隊。

隨著芝加哥進入 2026 年休賽期，重點將是從底層開始，以確保球隊不會一直處於弱勢，而是發展成為穩定的超級碗競爭者。

芝加哥熊隊 2025 年賽季以分區賽小幅失利告終，但主教練本·約翰遜和四分衛凱萊布·威廉姆斯之間的聯繫從未如此緊密。約翰遜正式宣稱自己是威廉姆斯的“頭號信徒”，並表示這位年輕的信號呼叫者將成為 NFL 的“特殊球員”。

整個賽季，威廉姆斯逐漸成為一名在高風險環境中茁壯成長的領袖，成功地融入了約翰遜的進攻計劃，並創造了幾次奇蹟般的終結，使芝加哥在整個季后賽中保持競爭優勢。

這種公眾的支持確保了教練和前狀元之間的關係仍然是該組織進入春季最強大的資產。

雖然這位四分衛贏得了教練的充分信任，但約翰遜也讓球隊的傳球接球手注意到了他們的執行力。據 X 的凱文·菲什貝恩 (Kevin Fishbain) 報導，約翰遜強調球隊“必須更好地接球”，並將其指定為春季開始的“重點”。

儘管教練對球隊的“身體素質”和“冷靜”感到自豪，但統計數據卻令人失望。芝加哥是聯盟中跌幅最差的球隊之一，這一趨勢阻礙了原本爆炸性的進攻。改善這一基本方面被視為釋放威廉姆斯在系統第二年的全部潛力的關鍵。

總經理瑞安·波爾斯（Ryan Poles）在談到球隊“心臟熊”的聲譽時也表達了同樣的觀點。在讚揚球隊的韌性的同時，波蘭人明確表示他希望取得更多的統治性勝利。 “我認為你不會滿意。我聽說了心熊隊的事情。我不想成為心熊隊，”波蘭斯說道。

該組織堅信，一支紀律更加嚴明、始終如一的接球團隊，再加上威廉姆斯的天賦，將使球隊從一支堅韌不拔的弱者轉變為國聯內真正的強隊。

芝加哥熊隊在分區季后賽中將洛杉磯公羊隊帶入加時賽。然而，四分衛凱萊布·威廉姆斯的一次不幸攔截結束了熊隊的賽季。

在這場比賽中，威廉姆斯的目標是外接手 DJ Moore。然而，四分衛和外接手並沒有達成一致，摩爾的路線與威廉姆斯預期的不同。儘管如此，約翰遜還是通過《芝加哥論壇報》的肖恩·哈蒙德為芝加哥加時賽的事故承擔了所有責任。

“如果有任何溝通不暢，那就是我的問題，”約翰遜說。

整個休賽期，這次攔截將在熊隊球迷的腦海中揮之不去。但目前球隊對此無能為力。約翰遜致力於向前推進並解決 2026 年的任何溝通問題。

到那時摩爾很可能已經不在球隊中了，因為他一直受到大量交易傳聞的影響。但對於他或任何熊隊的外接手來說，他們與威廉姆斯發展的化學反應仍然是關鍵。約翰遜擔任主教練第一年的最大目標是幫助這位四分衛實現他的狀元秀潛力。

他在整個競選過程中展現出了才華，並清楚地證明了他是未來的四分衛。約翰遜和熊隊將繼續圍繞他前進。

但對於威廉姆斯必須改進的所有事情，他的外接手也必須效仿。熊隊將尋求在 2026 年在球兩側變得更加穩定。具體來說，在進攻方面，每個傳球接球手都必須知道當威廉姆斯回傳球時他們應該在哪裡。

約翰遜將確保這一點。

儘管在季后賽加時賽中令人心碎地輸給了洛杉磯公羊隊，但凱萊布·威廉姆斯仍全力支持本·約翰遜的經歷。

威廉姆斯在一支戰績為5勝12負的球隊中度過了他的新秀賽季，該隊在賽季中解雇了主教練和進攻協調員，在約翰遜帶領熊隊的第一個賽季後，他對約翰遜給予了高度評價。

據 ESPN 的考特尼·克羅寧 (Courtney Cronin) 報導，威廉姆斯在談到約翰遜對他的意義時說道：“他是我們的催化劑……能夠領導我們，能夠堅強地站起來……他滿足了芝加哥作為一名教練所需要的一切。”

作為 2024 年的狀元秀，威廉姆斯對被熊隊選中的擔憂是可以理解的，因為熊隊從未擁有過 4,000 碼的傳球手，並且在過去十年中只取得過一次勝利。當球隊在 4-2 開局後連續輸掉 10 場比賽時，他的擔憂才得到證實，主教練馬特·埃伯弗斯 (Matt Eberflus) 和進攻協調員肖恩·沃爾​​德倫 (Shane Waldron) 在 11 月份丟了工作。

對於前海斯曼獎杯獲得者威廉姆斯來說，幸運的是，芝加哥聘請了備受推崇的底特律雄獅隊進攻協調員約翰遜作為下一任主教練，他成功地輔導了兩極分化的四分衛賈里德戈夫。結果是熊隊徹底扭轉局面，取得 11 勝 6 負的戰績，自 2018 年以來首次贏得 NFC 北區冠軍。此外，威廉姆斯以 3,942 碼創造了球隊單賽季傳球碼數記錄，同時將他的達陣總數提高到 30 次（27 次傳球和 3 次沖球），在新秀賽季 20 次達陣、6 次攔截後，僅傳出 7 次攔截。

在約翰遜的帶領下，威廉姆斯不僅進步了，整個熊隊的進攻也進步了。 2025年，球隊場均得分為25.9分，足以排在NFL第九位，與2024年相比有很大飛躍，當時他們場均得分為18.2分，排名聯盟倒數第五。

不幸的是，在昨晚的加時賽中，公羊隊在加時賽中以 20-17 輸給了排名前十的防守隊，但進攻卻做得不夠。威廉姆斯的傳球完成了一半多一點，並進行了三次攔截，其中最後一次是在加時賽中，並為哈里森·梅維斯投進了製勝一球。最重要的是，熊隊在周日的三場比賽中第四次被攔下，其中包括在常規時間還剩 3 分 06 秒時在兩碼線處被攔住。

儘管結局悲慘，但熊隊的 2025 賽季仍被認為是成功的。這標誌著球隊自2010年以來首次贏得季后賽勝利，約翰遜也成為熊隊第一位在第一個賽季就贏得季后賽比賽的主教練。 1943 年，漢克·安德森 (Hunk Anderson) 和盧克·約翰索斯 (Luke Johnsos) 搭檔在他們執教的第一個完整賽季中贏得了 NFL 冠軍，這是唯一一場季后賽比賽，但在二戰期間喬治·哈拉斯 (George Halas) 辭職加入美國海軍後，他們執教芝加哥隊參加了 1942 年的最後六場比賽。

整個賽季，芝加哥熊隊依靠凱萊布·威廉姆斯來策劃第四節的反彈。儘管週日晚上熊隊未能在國聯分區賽加時賽中以 20-17 輸給洛杉磯公羊隊，從而再次奇蹟般地獲勝，但他仍然成功完成了一個令所有人驚訝的達陣時刻。

常規時間還剩 27 秒時，芝加哥隊以 17-10 落後，在洛杉磯 14 碼線處遭遇第四號和第四號。隨著口袋的塌陷，威廉姆斯退到了爭球線後面近30碼處，當多名公羊隊防守隊員逼近時，他一路向40碼線漂移。就在被擊中之前，這位前狀元秀向達陣區後角發起了一次高弧線傳球。近端鋒科爾·克梅特 (Cole Kmet) 突破防守並接到傳球，迫使加時賽結束，並讓士兵球場 (Soldier Field) 的 60,253 名觀眾陷入瘋狂。

傳球在空中傳播了 51.2 碼，這是自 2016 年開始追踪以來紅區中最長的空中傳球距離。根據 NFL Next Gen Stats 的數據，這位 24 歲的球員在開球線後 26.5 碼處將球傳出，比至少 2016 年以來的任何深度傳球都要遠，完成概率僅為 17.8%。

第一年主教練本·約翰遜用一個詞總結了威廉姆斯扳平比分的投球：“荒謬”。

“有些事情是你無法指導的，但他就是這樣，”他補充道。 “他有訣竅，他很關鍵，他是一個消除者。我每週都會接到很多糟糕的判罰，他幫助我糾正了錯誤。他將繼續上升。”

約翰遜還承認，在達陣後曾短暫考慮過嘗試兩分，但由於整個賽季球門線執行不一致，他選擇踢加分。

即使在經歷瞭如此難忘的時刻之後，芝加哥隊仍未能逆轉。熊隊在加時賽中贏得了擲硬幣的勝利，但在第一次控球時就以三分出局。在逼迫公羊隊棄踢後，芝加哥隊突破中場，然後威廉姆斯在比賽中第三次攔截，安全衛卡姆·科爾 (Kam Curl) 在一次為外接手 DJ Moore 進行的深度嘗試中將其接住。四分衛馬修·斯塔福德隨後精心策劃了一次進攻，將公羊隊置於射門範圍內。踢球手哈里森·梅維斯 (Harrison Mevis) 完成 42 碼射門，結束了比賽。

威廉姆斯全場比賽42投23中，推進257碼，2次達陣，3次攔截，傳球評分為59.3。整個常規賽，他共推進 3,942 碼、27 次達陣和 7 次攔截，評分高達 90.1。在兩場季后賽中，他傳球得分為 65.9，推進 618 碼，達陣 4 次，攔截 5 次。

在約翰遜的帶領下，熊隊在常規賽中取得了 11 勝 6 負的戰績，並自 2018 年以來首次贏得了 NFC 北區冠軍。

芝加哥熊隊主教練本·約翰遜在 NFL 季后賽外卡賽中以 31-27 擊敗綠灣包裝工隊後不久就成為了爭議話題。許多人稱他沒有階級，因為他公開厭惡綠灣球隊。然而，分析師凱爾·布蘭特似乎很喜歡他從約翰遜身上看到的東西，並將他與《絕命毒師》中的史詩人物進行了比較。

在 NFL 網絡的一個節目中，布蘭特聲稱熊隊已經有幾位“沃爾特·懷特”進入該組織擔任主教練。但他認為約翰遜是俱樂部的“海森堡”，將這位 39 歲的主教練與沃爾特·懷特的另一個自我進行比較，後者使他成為《絕命毒師》系列中令人畏懼的毒梟。

“我看到一條關於本·約翰遜的推文，上面寫著‘無階級的失敗者’。”你說對了一半。他不是一個失敗者。今晚他將在自己的主場舉辦一場季后賽，這是他的第一個賽季。 ”布蘭特說道。 “熊隊有很多沃爾特·懷特的帽子。現在他們有了海森堡。他戴上了那頂帽子，你不喜歡它。

“你知道他到底對馬特·拉弗勒爾說了什麼嗎？他對所有包裝工隊球迷說了什麼？他說，‘說出我的名字。’”他們看著他，說，‘你是本·約翰遜。你是熊隊主教練。你說得對！現在滾出我的地盤！我喜歡它。我不在乎。我不會要求本·約翰遜撫養我的孩子。我要求他擊敗包裝工隊。他已經變得非常非常擅長了。 ”

熊隊有很多沃爾特懷特。

現在他們有了海森堡。 pic.twitter.com/cICURFQg7L

— 凱爾·勃蘭特 (@KyleBrandt) 2026 年 1 月 18 日

自從擔任主教練以來，約翰遜似乎已經接受了熊隊球迷對包裝工隊的厭惡。這重新點燃了過去20年來綠灣隊一邊倒的競爭。

經過多年的心碎和失望之後，芝加哥似乎終於成為超級碗的真正競爭者。大部分功勞應該歸功於本·約翰遜和四分衛凱萊布·威廉姆斯。我們將在美國東部時間週日下午 6:30 觀看熊隊在芝加哥迎戰洛杉磯公羊隊的比賽。

週末，芝加哥熊隊在主場驚心動魄地逆轉擊敗綠灣包裝工隊，從而獲得了 NFC 季后賽分區賽的入場券。賽后，主教練本·約翰遜的更衣室評論被瘋傳，其中包括一段充滿咒罵的長篇大論，稱他有多麼討厭綠灣。

熊隊的下一場比賽是周日對陣洛杉磯公羊隊的比賽，最近，彼得·施拉格分析了約翰遜的言論以及賽后他與馬特·拉弗勒爾的冰冷握手可能會影響這場比賽。

“……誰是馬特·勒弗勒爾 (Matt LeFleur) 在教練方面最好的朋友？公羊隊主教練肖恩·麥克維 (Sean McVay)。馬特·勒弗勒爾 (Matt LeFleur) 的弟弟是誰？邁克·勒弗勒爾 (Mike LeFleur)，洛杉磯公羊隊的進攻協調員。這不僅僅是 WWE 的東西。這不僅僅是娛樂和遊戲。你不尊重我的朋友，你不尊重我的兄弟。這是家庭，伙計。事情就是這樣。這就是我的看法，我迫不及待地想看到麥克維-本·約翰遜的作品。”施拉格通過“施拉格時刻”說道。

施拉格還澄清說，如果麥克維被公開問及約翰遜的滑稽行為，他可能會採取強硬態度。

“現在麥克維永遠不會公開表示他不喜歡這樣，但我知道很多教練喜歡馬特·勒弗勒爾，但不喜歡本·約翰遜在賽后的處理方式，”他說。

總的來說，約翰遜在擔任熊隊主教練期間並沒有隱藏他火熱的個性，這使得球隊進入了季后賽分區輪，在此過程中吸引了風城的想像力。

無論如何，熊隊和公羊隊定於美國東部時間週日下午 6:30 在士兵球場 (Soldier Field) 開賽，獲勝者將進入 NFC 冠軍賽。

上賽季，芝加哥熊隊以 5 勝 12 負的戰績在國聯北部墊底。一個賽季後，他們聘請本·約翰遜擔任主教練，並成為國聯北部冠軍。

此外，上週六，熊隊在 NFC 外卡賽中以 31-27 擊敗了對手綠灣包裝工隊。據 ESPN 報導，週一，ESPN 的 NFL 內部人士馬庫斯·斯皮爾斯盛讚約翰遜在芝加哥戲劇性地扭轉了局面。

“自從我來到這個網絡以來，這是最好的工作之一，我看到教練與一支球隊一起做並改變了球隊的心理，”他說。

“自從我加入這個網絡以來，這是最好的工作之一，我見過教練與團隊一起做並改變團隊的心理。”

——馬庫斯·斯皮爾斯 (Marcus Spears) 談 HC 本·約翰遜 (HC Ben Johnson) 讓熊隊提前 📈 pic.twitter.com/OhMXVFM3sV

— ESPN (@espn) 2026 年 1 月 12 日

在加盟熊隊之前，約翰遜是底特律雄獅隊的進攻協調員。從2019年到2024年，他身兼數職，包括進攻質量控制教練、近端鋒教練和傳球協調員。

2012年至2018年，他還擔任邁阿密海豚隊的助理教練。約翰遜在擔任研究生助理期間開始了自己的教練生涯，後來於2009年至2011年在波士頓學院擔任近端鋒教練。

芝加哥前任主教練是馬特·埃伯弗斯 (Matt Eberflus)，他在 2024 年感恩節那週被解僱。

擊敗包裝工隊後，熊隊目前戰績為12勝6負。週日，他們將在國聯分區賽中迎戰洛杉磯公羊隊。

本·約翰遜的勞動成果很可愛

自從擔任主教練以來，約翰遜發揮出了球隊最好的一面。卡萊布·威廉姆斯尤其如此。他傳球推進 3,942 碼，達陣 27 次，傳球完成率為 58.1%，四分衛評分為 90.1。

從一開始，約翰遜就致力於將威廉姆斯培養成一名頂級四分衛。德安德烈·斯威夫特也是如此。

他現在衝球碼數創職業生涯新高，達到 1,087 碼並達陣 9 次。此外，約翰遜也成為了球迷們心目中的偶像。

他赤裸上身的慶祝活動讓韋納圈子免費贈送了一份熱狗，這讓他深受喜愛。然而，他的“F**包裝工隊”言論卻讓他受到了崇拜。

芝加哥熊隊在外卡賽中擊敗綠灣包裝工隊後，主教練本·約翰遜和馬特·拉弗勒爾在中場握手引起了爭議。約翰遜現在已經澄清了目前的任何混亂。

但他並沒有因仇恨而退縮。約翰遜正試圖通過第 33 隊的阿里·梅洛夫 (Ari Meirov) 重建熊隊與包裝工隊的競爭。

“這是一場競爭，”約翰遜說。 “芝加哥市、綠灣市，這需要一場競爭。”

#熊 HC Ben Johnson 談到他和 Matt LaFleur 之間是否存在私人問題：

“這是一場競爭。芝加哥市、綠灣——這需要是一場競爭。” 🔥 https://t.co/R5z3HmENnV pic.twitter.com/9GK6PTyZxa

— 阿里·梅洛夫 (@MySportsUpdate) 2026 年 1 月 12 日

在約翰遜到來之前，包裝工隊在比賽中佔據主導地位。如此之多以至於很難稱其為公平之戰。綠灣隊從 2019 年到 2024 年連續 11 場比賽獲勝。此外，包裝工隊在此期間五次進入季后賽，而熊隊僅晉級一次。

約翰遜希望將熊隊帶出國聯北部的地窖。他希望他們被視為有力的競爭者。同樣，約翰遜不希望芝加哥最著名的競爭再被視為笑話。

在擔任主教練的第一年以 2-1 戰勝包裝工隊無疑為這一計劃奠定了基礎。第二場胜利將綠灣徹底淘汰出季后賽。約翰遜和四分衛卡萊布·威廉姆斯在第四節精心策劃了25分，完成了逆轉並以31-27獲勝。

約翰遜在熊隊的首秀開啟了芝加哥的全新時代。隨著包裝工隊被擊敗，熊隊正專注於即將到來的季后賽對陣洛杉磯公羊隊的比賽。但當綠灣隊和芝加哥隊接下來交鋒時，人們的情緒肯定會高漲。

費城老鷹隊在 2026 年 NFL 季后賽第一輪對陣舊金山 49 人隊時，將失去他們最好的進攻球員之一。儘管最近的樂觀情緒，球隊還是排除了明星右截鋒萊恩·約翰遜（Lane Johnson），他仍在應對長期的腳傷。

約翰遜自第11週以來就沒有參加過比賽，整週都被列為可疑球員。據 ESPN 的 Adam Schefter 報導，他在球隊外卡準備週期間重返訓練，但在官方外卡不活躍名單中名列前茅。

在缺席常規賽最後七場比賽后，球隊一直希望約翰遜能夠回歸。他從周三到週五連續進行了三場有限訓練，讓球迷有理由相信他的回歸。

然而，據 NBC 體育頻道的約翰·克拉克報導，當他在熱身期間沒有出現在李維斯體育場的球場上時，他的狀態受到正式質疑。

老鷹隊的所有進攻線都在這裡，沒有萊恩·約翰遜的跡象 pic.twitter.com/F8ors2tmP6

— 約翰·克拉克 (@JClarkNBCS) 2026 年 1 月 11 日

失去了長期鏟球後，老鷹隊將迎來弗雷德·約翰遜職業生涯的首次季后賽首發。這位擁有七年經驗的老將在常規賽中首發了八場比賽，其中包括最後七場右截鋒。

弗雷德·約翰遜將與蘭登·迪克森、卡姆·尤爾根斯、喬丹·麥拉塔和泰勒·斯蒂恩一起首發。費城還排除了替補中鋒布雷特·托特（Brett Toth），他一直在處理腦震盪。

萊恩·約翰遜的失利對老鷹隊的傳球保護造成了最大的傷害，而他在傳球保護方面是全隊最好的。然而，他們可能會在對陣 49 人隊的比賽中幸運，49 人隊在常規賽中只有 20 次擒殺，排名聯盟墊底。

芝加哥熊隊在外卡賽中與綠灣包裝工隊進行了一場驚心動魄的比賽，最終以 31-27 獲勝。比賽中，熊隊一度以21-6落後，但他們在下半場起死回生，凱萊布·威廉姆斯帶領進攻取得了多分。

第四節末段，他向 DJ Moore 投了一分球，幫助球隊以 31-27 領先，熊隊鎖定防守，確保包裝工隊不再得分。這對熊隊來說是一場巨大的勝利，賽后，主教練本·約翰遜開始向所有關鍵球員分發比賽用球。

他找到了威廉姆斯，這位二年級四分衛發表了一場久遠的演講。

“我昨晚說過，你在常規賽中賺錢，但在季后賽中，這是你的遺產，你的名字，一切，”威廉姆斯說。 “那是我們。不是我。我想讓這一切繼續下去。我們必須變得更好。我們必須開始，我們必須注重細節，我們必須執行才能到達我們想去的地方。我想在這裡，我想和你們一起做這件事。明天開始，後天開始。”

本·約翰遜擊敗包裝工隊後的更衣室演講令人激動……

凱萊布·威廉姆斯 (Caleb Williams) 在這中間的演講——以及他如何變得有點情緒化——甚至更好。

我強烈建議等待，因為它太好了。

pic.twitter.com/NppxvIgxnx https://t.co/Cq7NUasNXz

— 阿里·梅洛夫 (@MySportsUpdate) 2026 年 1 月 11 日

就在每個人都認為他已經完成的時候，他回到了中心，對約翰遜微笑。

“他們說我們已經有 15 年沒有擊敗綠灣了，”約翰遜說道。 “看看這裡的這個人。他作為教練為我們所做的一切，其他教練為我們所做的一切，都是從他引進所有人開始的。就我個人而言，到目前為止，他在我的生活中具有里程碑意義。”

威廉姆斯隨後將球傳回給約翰遜，兩人擁抱在一起。毫無疑問，對於約翰遜擔任主教練的第一年來說，這是美好的一年，他還有很多事情要做。