In a moment of surprising honesty, Milwaukee Bucks star Myles Turner revealed the chaos delivered by former head coach Doc Rivers during the 2025-26 season. That includes preferential treatment for franchise legend Giannis Antetokounmpo.

To the disappointment of Bucks fans, their favorite NBA team was a mess last season. Despite Damian Lillard rupturing his Achilles tendon last spring and spending a ton of money to cut ties with Turner after signing him in free agency, Milwaukee won just 32 games in 2025-26. It was their first sub-40 win in a decade.

Currently, Rivers is on the receiving end of his poor performance and was fired last month. Some NBA pundits have suggested that Antetokounmpo’s injury problems and the front office are largely to blame. However, new comments from Turner after his first season in Milwaukee suggest that taking Rivers out would make a big difference as he allowed extremely unprofessional conditions last season.

Myles Turner says Bucks teammates were late or missed practices and meetings all the time

During a new edition of their game recognize game Podcast with New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, Turner’s co-host asked her about the penalty for the Bucks, as she often includes them on her current team.

In response, the 11-year veteran acknowledged that it varies between coaches, but “Doc Rivers never fined anybody.” He then revealed that teammates were late to practice and film sessions all the time and sometimes missed team meetings altogether.

“It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever personally experienced,” Turner said.

Turner also noted how bad his teammates were when it came to showing up for team flights. If the plane was supposed to depart at 2:00 pm, by the time everyone had arrived, it would have departed at least a few hours later. “I’m being very serious, brother. It was crazy,” Turner said.

This became so frequent that Turner deliberately did not appear until an hour after the flight’s departure. When Stewart asked who was the biggest culprit in terms of delays, Turner admitted it was 10-time All-Star Antetokounmpo.

He said, “Giannis will really play whenever he wants. I think it just comes with the territory.”

Obviously, this is a terrible look for the players, their professionalism and respect for their teammates’ time. But if Rivers isn’t holding them accountable, that’s not surprising. It is now up to new head coach Taylor Jenkins to set a new standard of professionalism and lead the Bucks back to competitive play next season.

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

A new report reveals a surprising reason why this will likely be TJ Watt’s final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Watt is going to go down as one of the greatest players ever in a franchise that has had a lot of players. In his nine seasons in the Steel City, Watt has been to the Pro Bowl every season except his rookie year, is a four-time All-Pro, and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors when he posted a ridiculous 22.5 sacks in 2021.

He already leads the franchise in sacks and QB hits, and could take the No. 1 spot in forced fumbles and tackles for loss this season. He’s a Steelers legend. However, as great as his performances have been, including playing a key role in six trips to the playoffs, all good things come to an end. And this could be Watt’s last year in Pittsburgh, even though he has two more years on his contract after 2026.

Teams think TJ Watt could hit the trade block next spring

On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the team wants to retain linebacker Nick Herbig after he made more progress in 2025 and posted 7.5 sacks in a part-time role. He’s only 24 years old, and another good season will make him a top free agent target for many teams next spring. However, the Steelers have already invested a lot of money in Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Something will have to give if the Steelers want to sign Herbig to a new long-term deal, and an NFL insider claims teams around the league believe Watt will be the odd man out and could hit the trade block next year.

Trading Watt would upset many Steelers fans. However, Fowler has a point, and it would be smart to move on from the future Hall of Famer while his value is still high and before he suffers age-related decline. Still, if Herbig doesn’t show much growth this season, it will certainly change opinions on a potential Watt trade.

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

Kirk Herbstreit has seen Fernando Mendoza play football on a national microphone more than any other player, and he has been watched a lot.

On the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, the ESPN college football analyst compared the new Raiders quarterback’s learning curve to that of two Hall of Famers and teased one that Raider Nation is going to be chewing on all summer long.

“You know why you trust him? Because he’ll beat you out of his mind,” Herbstreit said. “There aren’t a lot of guys who know the game and understand the game well enough to see the pre-snap movement in the NFL, the complexities of half the defense playing this coverage and the other half playing something else.”

He then dropped a comp that would remain on sports radio for the next month.

“He may need some time. I mean, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, everybody needs time to adjust to the speed of the game,” Herbstreit told McAfee. “But he’s going to be a game manager. He’s going to be a distributor. And his X factor is that he moves better than I think a lot of people want to give him credit for.”

Pump the brakes if you want. Herbstreit did not say Mendoza was Manning. He said the adjustment timeline for the typical quarterback isn’t immediate. There is a difference. But the names themselves tell you where the ceiling resides in Herbstreit’s mind.

Herbstreit is not alone in his praise of Fernando Mendoza

Pat McAfee, who had covered many of Indiana’s games the past two seasons, was right there with him. And he wasn’t subtle about it.

“Each ball is a tight spiral,” McAfee said. “Yeah, we saw him make throws during TV timeouts. We saw him make throws during games; we saw him make throws on the sideline with his brother. We saw him almost take Curt Cignetti’s head off when he was warming up. Every ball is a dart, every single ball.”

This too was no different.

Mel Kiper Jr. has been playing this drum for a month. An ESPN draft analyst called Mendoza “a mix between Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan” earlier this spring and made the point that this kid’s Indiana season wasn’t created out of thin air. Mendoza was getting first-round buzz from his Cal tape in August, before he even threw a pass for the Hoosiers.

Then, Bleacher Report’s analytics team this week took a look at what the most useful framing might be for Raider Nation. The range of his results for Mendoza spans from Ryan Tannehill on the floor to Peyton Manning on the ceiling.

Tannehill won 22 games in two seasons at Tennessee and pulled the Titans to within a quarter of the Super Bowl. This worst situation is coming to light. Worst case.

Read it again.

Clint Kubiak is managing Fernando Mendoza’s expectations like a pro

Clint Kubiak has been smart about all this. He has publicly stated that he wants Mendoza to sit behind Kirk Cousins ​​for a year and learn the offense before being thrown to the wolves. Owner Mark Davis opened the door earlier this week by calling Mendoza “potentially the starting QB,” but the soft consensus is still that Cousins ​​gets Week 1.

None of this changes what Herbstreit, McAfee, Kipper and Bleacher Report presented over the course of a news cycle.

Children are wired differently. The arm is real. Processing speed is the one trait scouts can’t teach. And the comparisons coming from national voices, which don’t do the Raiders any favors, keep landing in the same neighborhood.

Manning. Aikman. Matt Ryan.

Raider Nation has spent more than two decades waiting for a quarterback worthy of pinning the franchise. National media told him he might finally have one.

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

The Montreal Canadiens are clearly one of the most exciting teams in the NHL, due to the fact that they are the youngest organization in the league.

And while they currently hold a 2-1 lead in their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres, there is one particular number that has remained consistent.

Canadiens Star Players at 5v5

10 playoff games in, some of their most electric point producers have yet to find the back of the net at 5v5.

Juraj Slafkowski, who set a new career high with 73 points in 82 games in the regular season, has no points.

Cole Caufield, who finished second in goal scoring with 51 goals in the regular season, did not have any points.

Calder Trophy finalist Ivan Demidov has no points.

This is the type of situation that will sink most teams, especially teams like the Habs who rely on the first line.

However, thanks to key contributions from Zachary Bolduc, Alex Texier and Kirby Dach, among others, the Canadiens are not only moving forward, but they have offered back-to-back dominant performances against the Sabres.

Of course, sticking to 5v5 ignores their powerplay production, with both Caufield and Slafkowski scoring significant powerplay goals in Game 3, which is an indicator that they can eventually take turns at equal strength.

As head coach Martin Saint-Louis explained on Tuesday, powerplay touches can go a long way in restoring a player’s confidence once the man advantage is gone. He was talking about Dach in this particular case, but the logic also applies to Slafkovsky, Demidov, and Caufield.

Hear the team’s pregame comments ahead of tonight’s Game 4 against Buffalo

Tune in now for live pregame media ops ahead of tonight’s Game 4 against the Sabers #GoHabsGo https://t.co/GnwYezrnbJ

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 12 May 2026

depth value

Here’s how 5v5 production breaks down across the lineup. Zachary Bolduc leads the way with two goals and four assists, including Newhook, Dach and Texier.

If I had told you heading into the playoffs that the three players in question would go scoreless for 10 games at 5v5, you probably would have asked me how they could possibly avoid being eliminated in the first round.

And the answer is that the Habs have somehow managed to produce a hero every night, one who is not among the highest-paid players in the lineup, and one who does not enjoy playing on the first line.

In other words, the depth players have responded well beyond expectations given the circumstances.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5 via Natural Stat Trick.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

When the Baltimore Orioles traded for Taylor Ward earlier this offseason, it was the first major trade since the conclusion of the 2025 season. The O’s sent top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for a slugging outfielder. The move immediately ramped up Baltimore’s offense.

It hasn’t worked out too well for the O’s so far. They are in fourth place in the American League East with an 18–23 record. That being said, the club has scored 181 runs entering the game on Monday. This is second best in the division behind only the New York Yankees (215). Baltimore’s problem has been their pitching, where the staff has allowed a division-high 222 runs for a run differential of -41.

Ward showing unique plate discipline

Still, with all that in mind, Ward has been a stalwart player for the O’s. He has led the team offensively and led qualified hitters in every major offensive category except slugging percentage. Ward has a .262/.426/.376 slash line and .802 OPS.

But the important number to look at here is his on-base percentage. At .426, Ward leads all MLB qualified hitters in that category due to an MLB-leading 40 walks. And, despite hitting only one home run on the year, he has an above average OPS mark. Since 2020, Ward has had a solid OBP, posting numbers above .300 every year.

But this is something different. His strikeout percentage (10.7 percent) and walk percentage (21.9) are in the 100th percentile in MLB. And Ward’s whiff percentage (16.3) is in the 88th percentile. All three marks are career highs for the veteran outfielder. All of this has contributed to an above average 138 wRC+ (where 100 is average).

power outage in baltimore

When Ward was traded to Baltimore, it was in hopes of adding some power to an offense that was in desperate need. The O’s also signed Pete Alonso to join him, but the duo have hit only nine home runs through 41 games. Ward has contributed only one long ball to that combination.

This is due to deficiencies in almost every underlying metric that grades power contacts. In 2025, Ward hit a career-high 36 homers. That season, his barrel percentage (13.7), hard-hit percentage (42.7) and bat speed (69.5 mph) were higher than his current 2026 numbers. So far this year, those numbers have dropped to 5.5 percent, 36.7 percent and 67.8 mph, respectively. These are some of the steepest declines in MLB.

Nevertheless, Ward has still managed to provide value for Baltimore. According to Statcast his batting run value is +7. This is above average across MLB, with Ward ranking in the 86th percentile. This is better than the 80th percentile ranking he achieved in 2025 with his high home run total. If Ward can rediscover that power, he could become one of the most dangerous all-around hitters in the entire American League.

The Seattle Seahawks were put up for sale at just the right time, leading to a dominant victory in the Super Bowl and turning the franchise into a perennial contender. It is expected that this will be a record breaking deal.

ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reported that the Seahawks are expected to be sold for a little more than $9 billion, breaking the NFL’s record for the highest sale price ever.

READ MORE: 2026 NFL Power Rankings, see where the Seahawks rank

In 2022, the Denver Broncos were sold for $4.65 billion to a group that also included Walmart heir Rob Walton. A year later, Josh Harris led the group that purchased the Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion.

It’s notable that the estimated $9 billion price tag is considered weaker than many owners around the NFL were expecting. When the Eagles were originally put up for sale, the league reportedly expected the franchise to be sold for more than $10 billion in 2025, to match how much the Los Angeles Lakers were sold for.

READ MORE: 2026 NFL defense rankings, including Seahawks

Complicating factors in the Seahawks’ sale process

While the Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions and are located in a great media market with a strong fan base, there are a few factors complicating a potential deal.

Mainly, there are plenty of billionaires who have both the liquidity to purchase an NFL franchise and the interest in doing so. According to league rules, at least 30 percent of the bid must be cash as advance payment. With an estimated cost of $9 billion, this means a majority owner would need to put up $3 billion to gain the league’s approval.

Partnerships with private equity firms could help in that regard, but those funds can only have a 10 percent stake in an NFL franchise. The league won’t approve private equity funds to buy a stake in a franchise until 2024, but they’re still capped at that 10 percent mark.

Additionally, there is a high chance that the NBA will add an expansion franchise in Seattle in the coming years. It would cost between $7 billion and $10 billion, making it a potentially comparable or even more expensive option for billionaires looking to acquire major equity in a pro sports team in Seattle.

Once the Seahawks were sold, the proceeds would go to Paul G. Will be given to the Allen Family Foundation and then distributed among the many charities and organizations that the late Allen supported.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for SportsKnow. His work including weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

In a surprising development, the 8th-seeded Orlando Magic continued their stellar performance to take a 2-1 series lead against the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons. The Magic got an excellent performance from Paolo Banchero with a near triple-double. The Pistons—who had never really been challenged in the Eastern Conference all year—were now firmly on their heels.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 of their first-round series on Tuesday night. And even more surprising is the fact that they did it without Joel Embiid.

Even better news for the Sixers is that Embiid actually participated in practice on Thursday, indicating that the big man’s return could be in time to help Philly make life uncomfortable for Boston.

Head coach Nick Nurse told the media that Embiid wants to play and they definitely want him to play. But the coach did not give us any specific deadline to return.

“I think we’ll probably know a lot by the end of today as to where he’s at. … He wants to play, and we want him to play. I don’t know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there’s some progress being made.”

He said the seven-time All-Star participated in “parts” of practice Thursday, the day before Game 3.

Embiid participates in practice for the first time since emergency appendectomy

Embiid is recovering from an emergency appendectomy on April 9. This is his first return to the court with his teammates in two weeks since then.

Of course, keeping the Big Fella healthy and on the court throughout his career has always been a challenge. This season, he only managed to play 38 games in the regular season, after playing only 19 games last year and 39 games two seasons ago. But when he’s on the court, he can still dominate. This year, in those limited games, he averaged 26.9 points, although his rebounding dropped to just 7.7 per game, the lowest of his career.

The Sixers are now back in Philly and will look to hold serve at home to put the heavily favored Celtics on their heels. Having a near-healthy Embiid in the lineup (the best they can hope for), to go along with a red-hot backcourt of VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey (30 and 29 points, respectively, in Game 2), will really do wonders for the team’s chances of being a real threat to the Celtics.

Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night, with Game 4 on Sunday.

The MLB season always starts with a few teams coming out of nowhere to be incredibly hot. Some of them end long before the summer days. Others manage to continue production and force their way into contention.

There have been a lot of standouts so far. Here are some from each division that really shined:

American League East

1. Tampa Bay Rays, first in division (9-7)

The Rays were in an incredibly difficult position at the beginning of the season. In an AL East that looked completely cut-throat (and brimming with trades and free agency pickups), the Rays didn’t do all that much this offseason. This led to a disappointing feeling regarding the club’s return to Tropicana Field.

But Tampa Bay has largely overcome those concerns. They are 7-3 in their last ten games, and Chandler Simpson is playing like an MVP level candidate with a .407 batting average and seven stolen bases. This is all without Junior Caminero, who is hitting .233 with only two homers.

The pitching staff, anchored by Drew Rasmussen (1.13 ERA, 16.0 IP) and a resurgent Nick Martinez (2.16 ERA, 16.2 IP), has gone crazy.

Will Tampa Bay finish in first place in a division dominated by the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays? maybe no. But it’s been wonderful for Rays fans to look forward to the rest of this season with some hope.

American League Central

2. Minnesota Twins, first in division (11-7)

Minnesota had a fire sale at last year’s trade deadline and was deemed uncompetitive in the AL Central, which is largely dominated by the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Tigers. But it is the Twins club, led by Josh Bell and Byron Buxton, that has retained first place.

The offense isn’t putting up particularly incredible numbers (.235/.336/.401 team slash line), but they are third in MLB in home runs (24) and fourth in runs (98). But the real story has been his pitching.

The emergence of Taj Bradley (1.25 ERA) as a co-star with Joe Ryan has been the best thing to watch this year. There’s a lot to suggest that success can’t continue (along with the Twins’ overall success), but Minnesota is off to a great start.

American League West

3. Athletics, first in division (9-8)

Even before Jeffery Springs almost beat the Yankees, the A’s were putting up some wild numbers.

Shea Langeliers at one point led the league in home runs with five. He has a .297/.348/.563 slash line through 16 games this season. There is speculation whether MLB could see another monster season from a catcher after Cal Raleigh’s ridiculous 2025. If anyone can do it, it’s Langeliers.

Returning to the Springs, he posted a 1.46 ERA through 24 2/3 innings. His 0.77 WHIP and .134 opponent batting average are incredible numbers for a starter. That number is likely to increase over the next few weeks as the A’s face the Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies.

4. Los Angeles Angels, 3rd in division (9-9)

I know, I know, I know. The Texas Rangers rank first in athletics. And that’s great for Texas fans. but angels are doing something crazy Recent stuff.

Mike Trout looks vintage with five home runs and 13 RBI on the year. Joe Adell had the best defensive performance of the year (maybe in MLB history?) with three home steals. The Halos hit consecutive homers against the Yankees on Tuesday. Life was very good.

The only problem has been rotation. Aside from Jose Soriano’s emergence as an absolute ace (leads MLB with a 0.33 ERA in 27.0 innings), the rest of the starting group has been weak. Yusei Kikuchi has a 7.50 ERA and has yet to pitch a winless game. Reed Detmers has been better (3.57 ERA, 22.2 IP), but has struggled to miss at bats with a .212 opponent batting average.

It’s great to see Los Angeles competitive again. Whether or not that sticks depends mostly on health (as it does with every team), but they could potentially be a sneaky wild card team.

National League East

5. Atlanta Braves, first in division (11-7)

Drake Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, is dispelling any concerns about a sophomore slump by hitting five home runs for the surging Braves club. Baldwin has a .311/.378/.554 slash line through the first few weeks of the season.

Atlanta has been an offensive powerhouse so far this year. He is second in MLB in runs (100) and batting average (.274), and fourth in home runs (21). their stars are beginning to shine At the end Putting it together after years of confusion since the 2021 World Series.

The best sign has been rotation. He has provided support for the team while half of their pitching staff is returning from injury. Reynaldo López, in particular, has been fantastic (2.18 ERA, 20.2 IP).

This means Atlanta remains in the top spot in the mostly struggling NL East. As the Phillies and New York Mets perform poorly, can the Braves stop them as they begin their comeback?

6. Miami Marlins, second in division (9-9)

If you had told me on MLB Opening Day that Miami would finish second in the NL East this season, I probably would have laughed in your face. But this Marlins club has been must-see baseball.

is rotating Chief. Sandy Alcantara is looking like his Cy Young self every day, making up for Yuri Pérez’s early struggles. But the pitching is compensated for by a stellar offense.

Xavier Edwards leads the team in batting average (.343), and Owen Casey has two home runs with a .245/.309/.449 slash line. They got off to a hot start by defeating the Colorado Rockies in walk-off fashion on the opening weekend. This has given them some relief recently, they have gone 4-6 in their last ten games.

National League Central

7. Pittsburgh Pirates, first in division (10-7)

Pittsburgh has secretly been one of the best teams in baseball this season. His offseason moves sparked new hope that the Pirates could improve, and they have. Newcomer Brandon Lowe is playing sluggish (seven home runs), Oneil Cruz is hitting .328 with his five bombs and Ryan O’Hearn is hitting .305 with a .902 OPS.

The Pirates have seriously outdone themselves so far this year and their pitching has been even better. The combination of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft has been one of the best in MLB.

except cruise interesting Defense in center field, this Pittsburgh club looks healthier than it has in a long time. They’re still my pick to take the NL Central by storm.

8. Cincinnati Reds, first in division (10-7)

For years it has been speculated that there was a demonic spirit locked inside Eli de la Cruz. It looks like the Reds’ shortstop is finally starting to take advantage of it. In 17 games, he has hit .284 with five home runs for a .912 OPS.

But the real offensive force has been rookie Sal Stewart. Stewart made his debut last season and was mostly solid. This time he has changed it. He has posted a .310/.431/.638 slash line so far this year. It adds up to one. 1.069 OPS mark which is the highest for Cincinnati.

The biggest question is about the health of this rotation. If they are able to tread water until top Hunter Greene returns later this year, expect the offense to please them.

National League West

9. San Diego Padres, second in division (11-6)

the padres are on one tears recently. They have won nine of their last 11 games, and are on an MLB-leading six-game winning streak. If they can keep this up, expect them to overtake the Dodgers for first place in the NL West.

It’s been an all-around effort for San Diego. After struggling to start the year, the offense has slowed down, going deep nine times in a four-game sweep of the Rockies. Despite the loss of Nick Pivetta to the recent 15-day IL, the rotation has been sterling. And closer Mason Miller is on a historic slump with 29 2/3 scoreless innings.

If the Friars can maintain a good atmosphere throughout April, it will go a long way to assuaging concerns about their postseason hopes.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks, third in division (10-8)

The Dubs got off to a bad start and were swept by the Dodgers early in the year. Since then they have gone 7-3 in their last ten games.

Corbin Carroll has looked like his star self again with a .311 batting average and 11 RBI. There were concerns about his ability to return from hamstring surgery on his non-throwing arm, but he had no problems. The upset so far has been Ketel Marte, who has started the year hitting .211. He has cracked four moonshots, but the average is a bit worrying.

But Eduardo Rodriguez looks every bit as impressive an ace as we saw when he took the mound for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic finals. He has posted a 1.96 ERA to start the year. The WHIP is certainly high (1.22) and so is the opponent’s batting average (.218), but he has gotten out of jams well.

If Arizona’s bullpen can close this out (they haven’t lately), this team will go from good to great. They could also return to the postseason for the first time since reaching the Fall Classic in 2023.

Dustin Poirier had high praise for Josh Hockitt after his performance at UFC 327 in Miami on Saturday.

Hockit spent fight week taunting top-ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes and even went after headliners Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka, drawing mixed reactions from UFC fans.

However, when it came time to perform, Hockit bested Blaydes in an all-out battle on the main card at the Kasia Center and took home the $200,000 prize money along with two performance bonuses.

Lightweight legend addresses performance about the last battleDrawing a direct line between Hokit’s willingness to back up his words and the rise of some of the game’s biggest stars.

“When the stars start to align, you’ve seen it in Conor McGregor, you talk the talk, and you walk the walk,” Poirier said. “You’ve seen it in ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley. You’ve seen it in Chael Sonnen. We’ve seen it time and time again where guys talk the talk and walk away, and Hokit has done that this week.

“He talked about a big game, and he went out there and had one of the best heavyweight bouts we’ve ever seen and raised his hand. Good things happen, you become a star.”

Hockit, now 9-0 in MMA and 3-0 in the UFC, was immediately rewarded with a high-profile next assignment. He is booked to face Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House, a booking that shows how seriously the promotion is taking his early momentum inside the Octagon.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza is back Manchester CityTransfer agenda for the summer.

The Premier League side’s interest in the 20-year-old is not new and they had already kept an eye on him last year.

In April 2025, Sport Witness Covered claims from Germany There was interest from Manchester City, but the move never took shape last summer.

At the time, he was at Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen were able to beat the Citizens and others to his signature.

The attacking midfielder has scored five goals and provided six assists in 38 games so far this season.

His Bundesliga statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 23
• Start: 15
• Total minutes: 1,443
• Minutes per game: 61
• Target: 3
• Assist: 3
• Expected target: 3.34
• Expected Support: 3.68
• Big chances created: 8
• Big chances missed: 4

return of manchester city player

Pep Guardiola’s side are now rekindling their interest in the Germany-born Algeria international ahead of the next window.

is according to Desire Sport Plus In Algeria, who took to Instagram to cover a short report on Manchester City’s desire to bring him to the Etihad.

They say it’s a ‘shock for City’ as Ibrahim Maza is on the Premier League team’s radar for the summer.

Without mentioning details of Manchester City’s offer, the Bundesliga side ‘rejected the offer’. However, they have made it clear that the player is ‘not for sale at any price’ and demand €70m.

That’s all the report says, without mentioning or indicating whether Guardiola’s side intend to return with an improved bid of €70m.

4-4-2 Riley claimed elsewhere that Bayer Leverkusen rejected Manchester City’s initial interest, not the young player’s offer, and demanded €70m.

The German club have already rejected a €35m bid from Atletico Madrid, presumably in the winter market.

Our opinion: Manchester City unlikely to pay €70 million

The Premier League side may have contacted Bayer Leverkusen to register their interest.

It is not possible for them to submit any proposal and if that were the case, the UK and German media would have many reports on it.

Even if Manchester City are keen, they are not allowed to spend €70 million on a player who has not played a full season at the top level.

Ibrahim Maza’s contract is till 2030 and his value, as per transfer marketIs €40m.

The Montreal Canadiens were expected to sign top prospect Michael Hayes over the weekend, now that their team is out of the NCAA Frozen Four.

The University of Michigan was upset by the University of Denver in the semifinals, losing a 4–3 decision in double overtime. Hayes was sparingly used, as he was dealing with an injury that caused him to miss the previous elimination game.

However, according to reports, Hayes will return to the NCAA to play his junior season, which means he will not join the Montreal Canadiens until the end of the 2026–27 season. This development is quite surprising, given that most insiders assumed a deal was imminent, and yet, beyond the disappointment of failing to add a high-end prospect to the mix, the decision makes sense when evaluating all angles.

seeing the forest for the trees

While Hayes represents the team’s best hopes to ultimately fill the No. 2 center spot internally, it is questionable whether he will be able to provide an immediate impact when making the jump from amateur to professional hockey, which is one of the biggest challenges any young player will face early in his career.

By staying in the NCAA for an additional season, not only would Hayes have another chance to win a national championship, thus erasing the bad taste left in his mouth by his recent elimination, it would also allow him to fine-tune some aspects of his skill set that are not considered ready for the NHL, including his defensive positioning.

He will still be considered Montreal’s top prospect after the season ends, and it is highly unlikely he will want to waive his rights, and sign with another NHL club. More likely, once he signs his entry-level contract, the Canadiens will get a polished player who is fresh off a dominant season as one of the best athletes in the NCAA.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

A new report points to a “developmental” QB prospect the New York Jets are keeping a close eye on as a potential late-round pick in the NFL Draft.

The Jets QB situation has been a mess for over a decade. Since 2012, they have had countless different players under center, and the organization has used a lot of premium draft picks in an attempt to find a long-term fix for the position. The situation will remain the same in 2026 also.

A year ago, the Jets made a splash in free agency by signing former Chicago Bears starting QB Justin Fields. He was an unmitigated disaster that was finally dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs last month. This offseason, the team brought back former second-round pick Geno Smith in hopes of recapturing the form that made him a two-time Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks.

This step is yet another solution to a problem that needs a permanent solution. Jets fans would like them to use a pick on a quarterback from this year’s draft class later this month. However, the signal-caller class is weak. So if they used the pick on a QB this month, it would be in their best interest to take a Day 3 project that they can develop from.

Are the NY Jets taking a hard stance on drafting Drew Allar?

Well, according to ESPN Jets insider Rich Cimini, it looks like the team has an interesting option in mind. “Fourth [round],” Cimini wrote when asked when the team might select a QB. “Keep an eye on Drew Allar (Penn State), who recently had a private workout at the Jets’ facility. He is a developmental prospect with big size (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) and arm strength.

Allard bypassed entry into last year’s NFL Draft to try to lead Penn State to a national championship last season. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions were, arguably, the biggest disappointment in college football last year. They started the season 3–3, and head coach James Franklin was fired in October.

To make matters worse, the Ohio native suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 6. So he didn’t get a chance to improve his draft stock or give evaluators more tape to evaluate. However, entering the 2025 season, many football experts thought Allar had Round 1 potential due to his size and arm strength.

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

Drew McIntyre’s third WWE Championship reign lasted just 56 days, ending with interference from Jacob Fatu on the March 6 edition of SmackDown which allowed Cody Rhodes to regain the title. It was a brief run with a single successful defense – a victory over Sami Zayn at the Royal Rumble – but McIntyre has no complaints about how it played out.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on a new episode of Insight, he explained why he believed the shakeup was exactly what was needed heading into WrestleMania 42. McIntyre said, “Awesome. Nobody saw this coming.” “I think everyone assumed that Kodi Express would continue to grow.”

McIntyre made it clear that his assessment of Rhodes was positive. He acknowledged that Rhodes is a great performer and WWE Champion and his momentum cannot be denied. But McIntyre felt that Rhodes’ run to the top was beginning to seem predictable, and suddenly losing the title was a blow that could reshape both the championship picture and Rhodes herself.

“My hearing isn’t great these days, but I can hear the crowd,” McIntyre said. “I could hear the reaction. When I won in Berlin I could see the reaction. And it put Cody in a position where he had to chase. Gave Cody a little bit of an edge back, which, in my opinion, he desperately needed.

“For me, it gave me some degree of validation. ‘Oh yes, Drew can win big.'”

McIntyre is heading into WrestleMania 42 not as WWE Champion but with a undrafted feud against Jacob Fatu on the card. This will be his eighth consecutive year competing at WrestleMania, showing his consistency as one of WWE’s most reliable performers over the past several years. Rhodes, meanwhile, is entering his fifth WrestleMania main event in four years, defending the title against Randy Orton.

A new rumor offers a surprising but exciting potential suitor to LeBron James on the free agent market this summer.

At 41 years old, it is not guaranteed that James will return for a 24th NBA season this fall. It’s also possible he’ll retire if the Los Angeles Lakers surprisingly win the NBA championship this spring. Yet despite his recent strong play, most people don’t expect that to happen, so the 22-time All-Star has some big decisions to make this summer.

After this season, James will become a free agent. It’s very possible he returns to LA next season for his retirement tour. And in a new report from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Tim Bontemps, the Lakers are the favorites to retain his services for several reasons. However, NBA insiders also revealed a secret horse team to watch in the potential free agent sweepstakes.

Insiders claimed, “An interesting option brought up to ESPN by multiple sources was Denver, where a combination of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic could make for something extremely intriguing.” “‘Who is the only guy at his level in the league from a basketball IQ standpoint?’ a Western executive asked. ‘Go out there and team up with that guy.’

The Denver Nuggets would have a legitimate chance to sign LeBron James this summer

McMenamin and Bontemps said James’ move to the Denver Nuggets might appeal to the Lakers because it would open the door to a sign-and-trade opportunity that could bring LA players such as Peyton Watson or veteran forward Cameron Johnson. Plus, he explains why visiting the Mile High City might appeal to LeBron James.

“Denver pursued James in 2018 after he left Cleveland as a free agent, led by Nuggets president Josh Kroenke, who is his friend. The Nuggets have since added Jared Dudley, one of James’ friends, to the coaching staff,” he wrote. “After teaming up on the Lakers from 2019 to 2021, their relationship remains so strong that Dudley went to the visitors’ locker room at Ball Arena to see James after L.A. beat Denver on Jan. 20.”

The idea of ​​James and Jokic teaming up, even for one season, could lead to a very entertaining season in Denver. Joining the Nuggets would show that he really wants to win another championship. However, it would certainly be doubtful that he would take a retirement tour of Hollywood to play in Denver.

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

When the Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a multi-year extension, it was seen as a foregone conclusion that former first-round pick Anthony Richardson would be traded this offseason. Now it appears another option is on the table.

Speaking to reporters at the NFL’s annual league meetings this week, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said there is a “scenario” where the team keeps Richardson through the 2026 season.

RELATED: Indianapolis Colts urged to trade for Pro Bowl edge rusher

“There’s definitely a scenario there. He’s a good guy and he’s talented. I mean, I still want good for Anthony, man. I still think he’s got a lot of potential in him. He’s had a lot of bad luck, but I still think Anthony has a lot of potential and he’s maturing and growing.”

Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard if the team can keep Anthony Richardson

Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, appeared in only two games with 14 combined offensive snaps last season. In October, he fractured his orbital bone during pregame warmups when a resistance band he was using broke and hit him in the face.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the Colts gave Richardson’s agent permission to make a trade. Various reports have linked the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers to the dual-threat quarterback.

However, Kansas City has acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Packers are among the teams interested in signing free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to serve as a backup next season.

The trade market for Richardson may not be as strong as his representation expected, or the Indianapolis club may not be satisfied with the draft-pick compensation the club is offering for him. With Jones recovering from his Achilles tendon, it’s obviously possible that the Colts keep Richardson through training camp and see if he can be the starting option until Jones is ready.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

For only the third time in his illustrious NBA career, LeBron James was held scoreless in the first half of a basketball game. The Los Angeles Lakers star missed all five of his attempts from the field and struggled overall, with the Detroit Pistons outscoring his team by 14 points during his 18 minutes of playing time.

Considering how high a scorer James is (he is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, after all), seeing him go scoreless can be a disturbing sight. But the Lakers star has saw his role changing Largely relative to his heyday, as Luka Doncic is now the undisputed number one scoring option for the purple and gold.

“This is the role I’m playing for the ball club. To win ball games, this is the role I’m playing. And that’s the way the game was going,” James told reporters after the Lakers’ 113–110 loss to the Pistons, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

“This is the role I’m playing for the ball club. To win ball games, this is the role I’m playing. And that’s the way the game was going” – LeBron James on going scoreless in the first half for only the third time in his career and the first time since 2010 pic.twitter.com/W5HK2ThdPH

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 24 March 2026

James is actually playing more of a supporting role, which suits him better than ever, considering he’s already 41 years old. And it’s safe to say that this change is working for the Lakers, as they entered the night having won nine consecutive games. What this simply means is that James is fully on board with what the team is doing, although he needs to be better than he was on Monday to recover from this situation.

The Lakers have hit their stride

The Lakers have now managed to get the most out of Doncic after he faced some difficulties sharing ballhandling and playmaking duties to start his life in LA after the blowout trade last year.

Doncic being so impressive (he shot 32-6-7 in the loss to the Pistons) bodes well for their chances of making some noise in the playoffs, but James getting up and running will be key to their title hopes.

After being away from WWE television for several weeks following his debut at the Royal Rumble, a major update has emerged on the return of Royce Keys.

Prior to January’s Royal Rumble, the event was expected to feature the usual surprise participants. What many hardcore wrestling fans were waiting for was the rumored WWE debut of former AEW star Powerhouse Hobbs.

The former AEW player had been linked to the company for several weeks prior to the card and the rumors became reality in January. However, despite impressing in his first event with his new company, the man now known as Royce Keys has not been seen on WWE TV. However, this may change soon.

Will Royce Keys tag with Jelly Roll at WrestleMania 42?

According to BodySlam+, there have been internal discussions for a tag match featuring country music star Jelly Roll at next month’s WrestleMania 42 mega-event. This week’s SmackDown opened the door for this when Singer clashed with Miz and Kit Wilson. Well, the outlet claims that Keys is being considered to be Rolle’s tag partner in a potential match.

While Royce Keys hasn’t been on WWE TV since the Royal Rumble, the company is keeping her relevant in its content by showing parts of her recent appearance. what’s your Story? With Stephanie McMahon. The idea is that Keys and Rolle will have a relationship based on both their difficult upbringings and pasts.

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

We’re just into the first week of free agency and the league has already spent $1 billion. There’s never been a better time to hit the open market in the NFL. The second week of March marks the start of a new league year, and with it comes the annual free-agency frenzy – when front offices wheel and deal, and players cash in.

For years, the league believed that extravagance in free agency rarely resulted in Super Bowl contention. But this offseason? That script has been flipped. With multiple star players hitting the market and massive deals being struck in a matter of days, the spending spree has been unlike anything the NFL typically sees.

Now, an analyst has revealed just how staggering the league’s free-agency spending has been this early in the offseason.

NFL free agency begins a billion-dollar spending spree

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, money is flying through the league at a historic pace. Since Monday, NFL teams have paid out a record $5.83 billion in total player compensation, including $2.59 billion guaranteed at signing.

That’s a big jump from last year’s opening week numbers, when teams spent a combined $4.88 billion with $2.19 billion guaranteed during the same period.

A big reason for the spending spree? The league’s ever-expanding salary cap, which increased by $22 million this year, goes from $279.2 million in 2025 to $301.2 million in 2026. This growth is largely fueled by the NFL’s massive 11-year, $110 billion media rights deal with Amazon, CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC.

The cap has been rising steadily in recent seasons, but the 2026 increase opens up a new level of pay for players across the league. So far this offseason, eight players have either reset the market at their position or received the richest free-agent deal ever for their role in terms of average annual value.

Among the deals that made headlines:

• CB Trent McDuffie – Traded to and signed by the Chiefs rams For 4 years, $124 million
• Of trey hendrickson – Signed by crows For 4 years, $112 million
• LT Laremy Tunsil – Re-signed by commanders on one 2-year, $60.2 million extension
• edge jalen phillips – Signed by panthers For 4 years, $120 million
• WR Alec Pierce – Re-signed by colts For 4 years, $114 million
• C Tyler Linderbaum – Signed by raiders For 3 years, $81 million
• RB Kenneth Walker III – Signed by Chiefs For 3 years, $43.05 million
• Te Isaiah possibly – Signed by veteran For 3 years, $40 million
• P Jordan Stout – Signed by veteran For 3 years, $12.3 million

McDuffie, Tunsil, Linderbaum and Stout all became the highest-paid players at their respective positions, while Phillips, Pierce, Walker and Likely set new records for free-agent contracts at their positions.

And the spending started rapidly. According to NFL Research, between the opening of the legal tampering window and Monday night at 8 p.m. ET, teams had already given away contracts worth $2.3 billion.

For years, the league’s conventional wisdom has suggested that players are better off signing extensions with the teams that drafted them, as franchises were historically cautious about spending more in free agency. But with the salary cap continuing to skyrocket, being patient may be the better play now on the open market.

Just look at the Tennessee Titans, who led the league by giving away $293.2 million in free agency to draft No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward in 2025. The Las Vegas Raiders were not far behind, spending $281.57 million as they prepared to draft Indiana Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in April.

One phrase agents have been throwing around this offseason is “biggest average per year by a free agent.” It’s a clever way of marketing — adding “by a free agent” helps differentiate those deals from the bigger contracts players often get via extensions, giving new signings a little extra sparkle.

Despite a messy situation and a failed attempt to trade him this month, a new rumor suggests Max Crosby will be a Las Vegas Raider in 2026.

Over the past few months, the once strong relationship between the Raiders and top star Max Crosby has deteriorated rapidly. It all started at the end of last season when the organization asked the fiery pass rusher to sit out the final two games of the schedule so they could unofficially try to get the No. 1 pick in next month’s NFL Draft.

The plan worked, but her relationship with the five-time Pro Bowler ended up being collateral damage. That’s why rumors swirled for weeks that he would be traded, and it became a reality last week when it was announced that Las Vegas was sending Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in a deal that will give them a pair of first-round picks.

Then, like the relationship between the Raiders and Crosby, the deal surprisingly fell apart this week when Las Vegas announced that the Ravens “withdrew” from the trade. Yet, despite returning to the silver-and-black, ESPN’s Dan Graziano claimed on Thursday morning’s edition sports center There is still a strong upside potential for trade in the coming days and weeks.

Max Crosby and the Raiders back on good terms after failed trade?

Still, on Wednesday night, a social media post from Max Crosby suggested he’s OK with staying with the Raiders in 2026. “Everything happens for a reason. Believe everything you hear and half of what you see. I’m a raider. I’m back. Run that s***,” he wrote in a post on X.

Some people believe this is his public face on the messy situation that has been the past few weeks and that he still wants to get out of Las Vegas. However, a new report indicates that the organization is in favor of the star pass rusher remaining with the same team he has played for for at least one more season.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports, “According to a league source, the Raiders are currently telling teams that defensive end Max Crosby will not be traded, after a failed attempt to send him to the Ravens for a pair of first-round picks.”

A week ago, a new report surfaced on various defensive end issues with the team, including one involving an associate of minority owner Tom Brady that has rubbed many in the organization the wrong way.

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

The trajectory of the Dallas Mavericks franchise changed on February 1, 2025, when the franchise inexplicably traded superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were gifted a 25-year-old megastar after their first NBA Finals appearance, while the Lakers traded away 31-year-old Anthony Davis, 21-year-old Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Dallas has been unable to recover from the brutal trade, and fans said they would not be satisfied until Nico Harrison was fired, which came less than a year after the trade was pulled off.

The Mavs selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft last year, and hope to add another piece to their puzzle this summer.

In a recent interview with Adam Friedland on The Adam Friedland Show, former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban talked about the franchise’s decision to trade Luka Doncic without consulting him.

“Do you regret hiring Nico Harrison? Cuban was asked.

“Yeah, sometimes, I do,” Cuban replied. “When we do stupid things like the Luka trade. I miss it because I think the fans have been let down, and I think because I’ve let them down. That’s what bothers me the most.

“As much as I loved it, and I still love the Mavs. I’ll always be a Mavs fan, sometimes there’s bigger things to do. I love the Mavs.”

To this day, Mark Cuban says he still remembers exactly where he was and how the famous Luka Doncic deal happened.

“I remember exactly where I was,” Cuban said. “I was talking to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, literally I was at a health care event and there were six or seven politicians there. We were having beers and I got a message from our general manager and he said, ‘Hey can you talk?’

“I hired him. Yeah, looking back now, it was a mistake. He was like, ‘Mark call me,’ and I did and when he told me about it, I thought he was asking me instead of telling me and he said, ‘No, it’s done.’ And I was like fuck?!

Mark Cuban has retained a small ownership stake after once seeing the majority prior to the Doncic trade. At 23-41 on the season, the Dallas Mavericks are the third-worst team in the Western Conference and will hopefully be able to acquire pieces that will best complement each other.

Trey Hendrickson is surprisingly still available in NFL free agency. Hendrickson, who previously played with the Cincinnati Bengals, was arguably the top EDGE rusher in free agency, but he has not signed during the second day of the legal tampering window. However, an NFL insider has revealed a surprising update that explains why he is still unsigned.

As CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports, the price difference between what Hendrickson wants and what teams are willing to pay is about $10 million per year. This is a surprising development, as the market for 31-year-old EDGE is not what they expected. It appears Hendrickson is looking for more than $30 million per year.

For context, Odafe Owe agreed to a deal with the Washington Commanders that will pay him $25 million per year, while Boye Mafe’s new contract with the Bengals pays him $20 million per year. Most notably, Jaylen Phillips agreed to a deal with the Carolina Panthers worth $30 million per season.

Hendrickson was ranked as the top EDGE rusher free agent during the 2026 NFL offseason, so these numbers are likely serving as a baseline for his contract desires. However, the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year runner-up underwent core muscle surgery during the 2025–26 NFL season at the age of 31.

Hendrickson only had four sacks in 2025; However, over the last two years he averaged 17.5 sacks per season. There are several teams that want to sign Hendrickson, but there must be a bridge in contract negotiations to get a deal done. Right now, the difference of about $10 million is too big.

There will be an NFL team that wants to sign a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player, but Hendrickson may have to lower his asking price to get the deal done.

READ MORE: New England Patriots interested in Trey Hendrickson

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The Dallas Mavericks and veteran point guard Tyus Jones have decided to part ways by mutual consent and will be waived, league sources tell ClutchPoints.

Jones, 29, was acquired by the Mavericks at the trade deadline in a short deal with the Charlotte Hornets, who were looking to trade the 11-year-old guard for cap reasons. Last offseason, the Mavs showed strong interest in acquiring Jones via free agency, but other teams such as the Orlando Magic, with whom Jones began this season, could offer him more than Dallas.

Although it seemed likely he would finish the 2025–26 season with the Mavericks before entering unrestricted free agency in the summer, sources said Jones first contacted the Mavs to express his interest in a potential buyout to join the playoff-contending organization.

The Mavericks, who are looking for a way to replace two-way guard Ryan Nembhard, now have an obvious reason to do so.

Jones’ decision to enter the NBA buyout market was first reported by Marc Stein.

After waiving Jones and potentially trading Nembhard to a two-way contract in a matter of days, the Mavericks are also awaiting a concrete answer from veteran wing Khris Middleton on what he wants to do regarding a potential buyout.

Middleton was traded to the Mavs in a nine-player deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. Initially, Middleton was viewed by many around the league as a potential buyout candidate, but he reported to the team and Dallas showed no interest in immediately waiving him.

Over the past week, Middleton has been wondering about his future, and the possibility of leaving the Mavericks to join the playoff threat remains. He has until Sunday to decide whether he will approach the team for a buyout or not, as they will not forgive him unless he wants a change of scenario.

The Mavericks are 21-38 this season, the seventh-worst record in the NBA.

Khamzat Chimaev has long targeted a showdown with Alex Pereira, but the undefeated middleweight champion’s grappling coach believes the Brazilian striker should take a completely different route.

A key figure in Chimaev’s corner, Alan “Finfou” do Nascimento, recently spoke with MMA Fighting and offered surprisingly candid advice for the current light heavyweight king. Rather than risk his aura in a stylistic nightmare against “Borz”, Nascimento suggests that Pereira should pursue a third divisional title in the heavyweight ranks.

Nascimento acknowledges that a bout between the two superstars would generate significant revenue, but he feels the historical implications of the heavyweight move are far more important. The grappling expert pointed out that Pereira is already the financial A-side in almost any matchup.

Therefore, accepting the fight against Chimaev, even if a second title is at stake for the Chechen-born fighter, does not offer the same historical reward as capturing a third championship belt. Nascimento said achieving champion-champ-champ status is something the organization has never seen, making it the ultimate foundation for a combat sports career.

Despite advising against the matchup from his perspective, Nascimento is confident in his protégé’s ability to reach the 205-pound limit. He said that moving up to light heavyweight requires a fair amount of time to safely gain weight and cannot be done overnight. However, if UFC officials provide the opportunity and Chimaev is interested, the team will comply and move forward with the necessary preparations.

The coach praised both athletes for their mentality in rising from difficult beginnings to the top of the sport. When breaking down the hypothetical clash of styles, Nascimento predicted a classic striker-versus-grappler dynamic, where the athlete who successfully dictates the fight location would be victorious.

He noted that if Chimaev failed to secure a takedown, he would be in serious danger of being knocked unconscious by Pereira’s signature left hook. Conversely, if Chimaev manages to pin the kickboxer to the ground, the chances of a submission victory will increase.

While acknowledging the unpredictability of combat sports – such as the hypothetical scenario of Pereira knocking out Chimaev – Nascimento firmly believes that the outcome depends entirely on which man can apply his tactics first.

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 21 February 2026

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

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

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

Nicola Topic reflects on ‘amazing’ Thunder win

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

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

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

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

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

The Thunder will host the Cavs on Sunday.