標籤: trash

We’ve known the names for a while: Mats Sundin and John Chayka. But some people around the game still refuse to believe that a former player (a great guy, admittedly) and a young executive, whose last act in the NHL five years ago was getting suspended by the league, would be the new Toronto Maple Leafs front office duo.

But we are here.

The Leafs are officially announcing Sunday that Sundin and Chayka have been hired to run their front office. Sundin’s role will come with the title of Senior Executive Advisor, Hockey Operations. Chaika will be the general manager.

Friedman said it is a full-time commitment for Sundin. He would move his family from Sweden to Toronto.

As far as the composition of the pair is concerned, he says the goal would be to have the two unite publicly. But he adds that “there needs to be someone who has the final say and reports directly to MSLE President and CEO Keith Pelley. That’s Chayka. The position the organization advertised in its interview process was ‘Chief of Hockey Operations,’ and Chayka will be that.”

The move is already being ridiculed in some circles of the game. Sundin has zero front office experience in the NHL, while Chayka was the youngest GM in league history in 2016 when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes. He left the team after four years under controversial circumstances. He was ultimately suspended for one year by the NHL for “engaging in conduct detrimental to the league and breaching his fiduciary duty to the club”. That conduct included illegal scouting practices, including watching prospects separately from the NHL Combine.

Athletic beat writer Jonas Siegel said he found it “hard to understand what they’re doing.”

It doesn’t take much to get Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic excited. Even the smallest pinch can increase his competitiveness. Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzzelis will testify to this.

With no prompt or not, Doncic went off again on Wednesday. He dropped 40 points on 12 of 25 shooting, including seven three-pointers, to lead the Lakers past the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The six-time All-Star cheered the crowd throughout the game, especially after one long bomb after another In the fourth quarter, that killed the Rockets.

Luca is unreal!

Luka Doncic dances with his defender and practices a crazy step three 🎯

pic.twitter.com/jiWPexAKs3

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

He continued interacting with fans after the final buzzer. In the post-game conference, Doncic revealed what was said to him-Like.

“Some guy was talking crazy. Showing me his, uh, no problem,” said Doncic, who also had nine rebounds and 10 assists.

“(My answer) was in English. I made sure he understood it.”

At the end of the game Luka was talking trash with the fans:

“Some guy was talking crazy. Was showing me his thing…uh, never mind. It was in English, I made sure he understood” ??? pic.twitter.com/sZ2Isx5Lmr

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 19 March 2026

Doncic, 27, is known for running his mouth on the hardwood, so it wasn’t a surprise that he exchanged sweet nothings with fans.

The Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win, with Doncic averaging close to 39.0 points.

Los Angeles shot 61% from the field, including 47% from long range. The team also held Rockets forward Kevin Durant to just 18 points on 11 attempts.

Doncic received plenty of support from running mate LeBron James, who finished with 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, five rebounds and two assists. Meanwhile, DeAndre Ayton and Austin Reeves combined for 30 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks.

Doncic will look to continue his hot streak when they visit the Miami Heat on Thursday. Fans can only hope that the Purple and Gold will not suffer fatigue amid their heavy schedule.

Draymond Green is often viewed as one of the dirtiest players in the NBA, and his actions came to light again recently during the Golden State Warriors’ 115-113 win over the Houston Rockets. During the third quarter, Green caught Jabari Smith Jr.’s ankle during a dead-ball sequence, resulting in a technical foul.

The incident occurred with 9:49 minutes remaining in the third quarter when Smith was called for an offensive foul on a moving screen that sent Green to the floor. Now, the Warriors veteran has addressed the incident, claiming it was Smith Jr.’s trash talk that prompted him to commit the foul.

“So Jabari fouled, he just stood there going, ‘Oh yeah, get more physical. Yeah, I pushed him down.’ Well being who I am, I don’t think anyone should let that happen, but I’m definitely not letting that happen. At that moment I can only do what I did. I think one thing that people don’t understand about this game is that you can’t give people an edge in the NBA. You give somebody the lead and lose, and I wasn’t going to give him the lead and we won,” Green told the Draymond Green Show.

Although Green did not reveal what the Rockets player said, the Warriors veteran could be seen pulling his ankle while walking back to the court.

“In a situation where Jabari was struggling strongly, you would not be able to find your edge in that game, and I would not be the guy that you would foul, and I would fall down and you would stand over me and walk over me and talk,” he concluded.

Smith had missed the past two games with a right ankle sprain and entered the matchup listed as questionable before ultimately being cleared following pregame warmups. Since the incident, many have called for the NBA to impose harsher punishment, especially given Green’s problematic history.

However, the player himself appeared to have no regrets and played his part in a surprise win with 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds on the night.

Jose Alvarado has quietly had a masterful start to life at the New York Knicks, but his comeback against the Houston Rockets thrust him firmly into the spotlight. In just 20 fourth-quarter minutes, the former New Orleans Pelicans man produced eight points, five steals, four assists and a game-best +18 plus-minus, along with a steal on Kevin Durant that resulted in Madison Square Garden booing loudly.

After the game, Alvarado revealed that he and KD were ‘totally in love’ despite the trash talk that happened between them during the game.

Jose Alvarado says there is “total love” between him and Kevin Durant:

“It’s a big brother. He showed a lot of love when I first came into the league. He loves me competing and obviously, he’s a KD. There’s just love, love.” pic.twitter.com/EXOCpZZ4kh

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

“It’s the big brother. He showed a lot of love when I first came into the league. He loves how I compete and obviously, he’s KD. There’s just love,” he said, according to a clip by Knicks Videos on X.

The Knicks trailed by nearly 16 points when Alvarado entered the game, and his defensive intensity and IQ were immediately on full display. The Knicks outscored Houston 33-15 in the fourth quarter, and much of that swing came from direct ball pressure from Alvarado.

In his five appearances so far, Alvarado has averaged approximately 13.3 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 steals, while shooting over 55% overall and 37.5% from deep. Alvarado’s obvious impact was also praised by Karl-Anthony Towns, who himself had a big night against Houston.

“They made him feel loved and feel welcomed. I think he reciprocated that energy with his tenacity on the court. Hats off to our fans who welcomed him and gave him the confidence, belief and love to do what he does best,” Catt said, also crediting Knicks supporters for welcoming the point guard.

Karl-Anthony Towns talks about the spark Jose Alvarado gave the Knicks and credits Knicks fans for welcoming him:

“They made him feel loved and welcomed. I think he repaid that energy with his tenacity on the court. Hats off to our fans who welcomed him… pic.twitter.com/biafemEB0E

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

Regardless, the Knicks as a unit responded with one of their most resilient performances in recent memory, and fans will hope they continue in the same manner as they attempt to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference.