Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is reportedly passing on a surgery to repair a stress fracture in his ankle. Carter is widely projected to be selected early in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, but this injury casts a shadow over that future.

Carter already announced that he would not do drills at the NFL Combine, and it’s unclear if that decision was made with his injury in mind. After the injury was revealed, he had two options: get the surgery and miss several months on the field, or prove to teams that he doesn’t need it. 

Both moves could have hurt his draft stock. The surgery would have required inserting a screw in order to properly correct the fracture. Trying to play through it could dramatically increase the risk of aggravating the issue at a later point. Either way, injury concerns will be at the forefront of every team’s scouting report before they select him now. It’s another question for the star edge rusher to answer.

Avoiding surgery gives Carter the chance to be selected first overall, which he has repeatedly stated as his goal going into rookie season. Regardless of his choice, he likely would have been selected in the first 10 picks, but avoiding a procedure keeps his lofty ambitions intact.

“You can’t stop GREATNESS!” Carter posted on social media after the announcement. “Y’all thought I was going that easy? This just gonna make the movie more interesting!”

In his third season at Penn State, Carter earned 12 sacks and 68 combined tackles in 16 games. He was a core member of a Penn State team that advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs and is widely considered the best defensive player in this year’s draft.

The New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers are going their separate ways, with New York bringing in a new staff to find another path forward. Rodgers reportedly still wants to play in the NFL, and his list of suitors seems to be narrowing by the day.

After a lot of supposed discussion about quarterback shuffling, the Los Angeles Rams have emerged as a surprising front runner to sign Rodgers. This seems like a puzzling move for the team on paper, but the rumors have persisted. The Rams have long been reported to be seeking offers for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Shifting gears from Stafford to Rodgers seems counterintuitive, as Stafford led Los Angeles to the playoffs last year while Rodgers wallowed in New York. The Rams seem intent on avoiding a long-term deal for Stafford, however. Instead of seeking a younger talent, Los Angeles could instead be looking for ways to maximize results for the current roster with someone more experienced like Rodgers.

Beyond the Rams, the Steelers and Raiders remain logical contenders to consider Rodgers. Both teams have very uncertain quarterback situations entering the 2025 season. Pittsburgh is stuck between veteran Russell Wilson and struggling upstart Justin Fields. Las Vegas has no clear path whatsoever. That being said, it would be just as logical for either team to pursue Stafford, a marginally younger passer coming off a better season with less baggage off the field. He would also cost more to sign, which could be a determining factor in Rodgers’ favor.

The Colts and Titans also stand out as struggling teams that would assume the risk of signing Rodgers. The Vikings are the most entertaining on the list of teams in quarterback limbo. If Rodgers went to Minnesota, many have pointed out that his career would closely mirror that of Brett Favre, his mentor on the Green Bay Packers at the start of his career.

From a statistical standpoint, Rodgers did not perform as poorly as the Jets’ record last season suggests. They did lose multiple games as a direct result of his inability to deliver in crunch-time. These struggles, combined with his boisterous persona off the field, make him an extremely volatile option for any team in the league, regardless of their current situation.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo rejected claims that he would ever request a trade, citing his loyalty to the team and his family’s ties to the city. Trade rumors involving Antetokounmpo were rampant earlier this season after a poor start to the Bucks’ season.

When Milwaukee began the season with a 1-6, Antetokounmpo seemed so indifferent to the idea of a trade that people began to claim that he was on the verge of requesting one himself. Speaking about the idea at All-Star Weekend, the Greek Freak painted a vastly different picture, saying that the team would have to kick him out of the building in the event of a trade.

The Bucks have bounced back from their rocky start, winning the NBA Cup and improving to a 29-24 record. They are now fifth in the Eastern Conference and well on their way to a playoff berth, which naturally makes it easier for Antetokounmpo to speak well of the situation and shoot down previous trade rumors.

On the other hand, the Antetokounmpo’s attitude toward trades has always been consistent. The big man has repeatedly described the NBA as a business, and has always said he would honor a trade and do his best to win on another team. He has also accepted that repeated failure in Milwaukee may force the front office to reevaluate its core group of players.

In the rush to cover a rough stretch for the Bucks, however, many conflated Antetokounmpo’s pragmatism and disappointment. Antetokounmpo and the team are in a much better place now, and he is free to discuss the idea of a trade without the immediate danger of it occurring. In doing so, he has revealed that he was frustrated about losing games but never considered leaving on his own terms.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had to be held back after getting into an argument with referees during a game against the Mavericks on Wednesday. Draymond Green was among the team members holding Kerr back, providing an ironic twinge to the incident.

Kerr’s frustrations with officiating during the game boiled over early in the third quarter, when he called a timeout following a 5-0 Dallas run. Going all the way to center court, Kerr then engaged in a tirade. Green, known as a highly confrontational player, joined several assistants in trying to get the head coach back into the huddle. Their efforts failed, as Kerr was given a technical foul.

Golden State got back into contention in the fourth quarter but eventually lost 111-107, sending the team back to .500 with a 27-27 record. Steph Curry scored 25 points with eight assists and newly acquired forward Jimmy Butler scored 21 with nine rebounds. 

It was not enough to take down the Mavs, who have been unexpectedly effective since parting ways with Luka Doncic and immediately losing Anthony Davis to an injury. Leaning heavily on Kyrie Irving is working for now, as the new leader scored 42 points in a demanding 40-minute showing. Dallas is 29-26, desperately clinging to a playoff berth in eighth place in the Western Conference. 

As Golden State looks to rediscover its identity, most recently adding Butler to better support Curry, it’s clear that the process is affecting many team members accustomed to dynastic success. Kerr has spent the majority of his coaching career guiding overwhelmingly talented Golden State teams to championship contention. It’s a distinct possibility that the effort to build something new, regardless of its success, is taking a toll and showing itself in the form of increasing tensions. At least Green was there to provide a calming presence to proceedings.

In the aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade, LeBron James could reportedly consider signing another extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. Once thought to be winding down at age 40, the prospect of teaming with Doncic is said to be reigniting his interest in another championship pursuit. 

James’ current deal includes a player option next season, with many suspecting that he will retire when his current contract expires. But with the Lakers seriously pursuing more championships with Doncic on the roster, some reports now claim that the acquisition has the power to “extend James’ career.”

Jokes have been made for years about James’ longevity, which has allowed him to consistently perform at an elite level for more than two decades. Imagining this run extending much further, however, borders on irrational. Yet, James remains a pivotal part of a Lakers team that is suddenly in the hunt for another championship. 

Currently in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 29-19 record, the Lakers are already in a solid position for a playoff berth. But while Anthony Davis managed to get them into contention, adding Doncic could potentially put them over the top. Partially replacing Davis with young big man Mark Williams helps with size issues the team might have had in the wake of the Mavericks deal.

All of these changes in the middle of the season make Los Angeles a contender now, but they also make the team a contender for the foreseeable future. That’s what will likely make the decision to leave difficult for James. He and Davis were both winding down as a unit. Doncic is just getting started.

If James can run from Father Time for a few more seasons, fighting both body and mind, it suddenly feels like a real possibility for him to add a ring or two to his immense resume. It may be too tempting for the multigenerational superstar to pass up.

The New York Jets named Steve Wilks as their new defensive coordinator Wednesday, replacing Jeff Ulbrich. Wilks was most recently the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2023 and has previously served as head coach for the Cardinals and Panthers.

Wilks will join new head coach Aaron Glenn, another defensive-minded staff member, on a Jets team looking to rebuild from a dreadful 2024 season. The team’s offensive coordinator position is still up in the air, though it is almost impossible to imagine Nathaniel Hackett returning without quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Despite never spending more than three years with one team, Wilks has consistently found work in the NFL for the better part of two decades. He was named the Cardinals’ head coach in 2018, earning a 3-13 record before getting fired. 

In 2022, he had a far more successful stint as the Panthers’ interim head coach. Replacing Matt Rhule during the season, he guided a poor Carolina team to a 6-6 finish. He was considered for the permanent position, but Carolina passed and he headed to San Francisco.

In his sole season as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Wilks successfully maintained a talented San Francisco defense on the way to a Super Bowl appearance. He also reportedly had disagreements with head coach Kyle Shanahan, however. 

After the 49ers’ Super Bowl defeat, Shanahan publicly announced that he made the decision to cut Wilks loose. San Francisco missed the playoffs in 2024 and allowed the fourth most points in the NFL.

Glenn and Wilks will inherit a young and talented Jets defense, one of the few functional assets in recent New York seasons. Cornerback Sauce Gardner leads an elite unit that also includes Quinnen Williams, Quincy Williams and Jermaine Johnson. Pieces could come and go in the off-season, but the defense will be the least of the team’s problems in the midst of another quarterback shuffle.

Devastating wildfires in southern California may impact the NFL Playoffs this weekend, as the league is closely monitoring developments in the area ahead of a Wild Card matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings. If the natural disaster proves to be a credible threat to public safety, the league could move the game from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. 

“The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community. We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the first responders. Our hearts are with Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires,” the league said in a statement Wednesday. “We continue to prepare to play the Vikings-Rams game as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium.”

The league did not specify what would be necessary for the playoff game to be relocated, but the contingency plan to move it to Glendale will be set in motion “in the event a change in location is needed.”

The first wildfire began in the Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and is still raging, covering more than 17,000 acres of land and destroying thousands of structures to this point. Authorities have not yet been able to contain the fire in any capacity. At least four smaller wildfires have spread to surrounding areas, forcing more than 125,000 people to evacuate throughout the city.

Based in Inglewood, SoFi Stadium is located about 10 miles south of the current impacted areas, but powerful winds could spread the fires further. This is not the only obstacle the league must overcome to host its playoff game as planned. Air quality is also a serious issue to consider, as players and fans alike may have to face adverse conditions regardless of damage in the area if the fires are not contained by Monday. 

Several Rams players have issued statements to support Los Angeles residents and vow to assist in the recovery effort. Anna Kupp, wife of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, said that the family’s home was still safe and offered prayers for those impacted.

“Our hearts are so heavy,” Anna Kupp said. “Cooper and I are currently looking into ways we can help those who have been affected by this tragedy. Until then, we continue to pray for peace and safekeeping over the families who have suffered so much already, prayer for our heroes actively fighting these fires, and prayer for the winds to subside and the land to heal. We love you LA.”

In 2003, the NFL had to relocate a playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins to Tempe, Arizona, because of wildfires. Competing in a neutral location, the Chargers lost 26-10. They have since relocated to Los Angeles, and reportedly altered their practice schedule this week due to air quality concerns as they prepare for their own playoff game in Houston on Saturday.

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Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is reportedly planning to come out of retirement and will sign with the Detroit Lions. Bridgewater retired from the NFL in 2023 and most recently led Miami Northwestern High School, his alma mater, to a state championship as head coach.

The motivation behind Bridgewater’s desire to return to the NFL is still unclear, but joining the Lions places him in a potentially important position for a Super Bowl contender. Bridgewater would likely serve as one of two backup quarterbacks for Jared Goff on the team’s playoff roster, joining second-year passer Hendon Hooker.

Bridgewater reportedly has a good relationship with Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who worked as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020. The journeyman passer played there in 2018 and 2019. Bridgewater’s last stint before retiring was with Campbell and the Lions in 2023.

Based on his reputation, Bridgewater figures as a shrewd addition for the Lions. The veteran passer is known as an excellent locker room presence and teammate, especially for his fellow quarterbacks. As of 2022, he also proved capable of starting and holding his own at the professional level. In five appearances and two starts for the Miami Dolphins that year, he threw for 683 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, earning an 85.6 quarterback rating. His last extended stint as a starter came in 2021, when he threw for 3,000 yards as a member of the Denver Broncos.

Based on Campbell’s eagerness to work with Bridgewater at the tail end of his career, it doesn’t feel preposterous to suspect that the quarterback could soon land a coaching role for the Lions after his second retirement. Bridgewater’s interest in coaching at a local level, combined with his locker room behavior and the Lions’ persistent interest, could make him a viable candidate in some capacity in the near future.

In the meantime, Bridgewater must do what he can to assist a white-hot Lions offense looking to overcome a slew of injuries on defense. The team’s prospects as a Super Bowl favorite have dwindled somewhat in recent weeks, but with Goff piloting an explosive passing game and rushing attack, the team still has a strong puncher’s chance. If Goff goes down, however, it may come down to Bridgewater or Hooker to pick up the pieces and keep the team’s championship hopes alive. It would be a big step up from high school ball.  

The New York Mets signed righthanded pitcher Griffin Canning to a one-year, $4.25 million deal on Wednesday. Canning made 31 starts with the Los Angeles Angels last season, earning a 6-13 record and 5.19 ERA.

Beyond the obviously titanic $765 million contract the Mets gave slugging outfielder Juan Soto, most of the team’s moves this off-season have been nuanced depth moves. Canning is expected to serve as a spot-starter in New York. He is the typical sort of project favored by Mets General Manager David Stearns, who signed struggling starters Sean Manaea and Luis Severino to short-term deals and reaped significant benefits last season.

Canning is coming off a rough year with the Los Angeles Angels, but it was also his first full season in an injury-riddled career. In his previous four years with Los Angeles, he had only surpassed 100 innings in a season once, and has gradually become more durable as he has advanced in the league. 

If Canning can improve and develop with coaching in New York, he may have a prime opportunity to earn starts in the rotation. The team is still expected to sign a premier starter, but the names currently ahead of Canning do not form an awe-inspiring unit on paper. 

Kodai Senga, David Peterson and new righthander Frankie Montas form a solid trio, but the picture from there is unclear. Longtime Yankees closer Clay Holmes is reportedly slotted as the fourth starter for now. Beyond him, Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Jose Butto will likely vie for time on the mound in spring training. Canning could easily join that race if he can take a step forward on his West Coast form.

With several months remaining in the off-season, the Mets still have a lot of moving pieces to either secure or replace. The team is reportedly in contact with Manaea, the resurgent ace last season, and Pete Alonso, the slugger who could blaze a devastating trail in a lineup with Soto. Signing Soto was a massive win for the front office, but there are still big moves that need to be made before the team can gain any direction in 2025.

Seattle Seahawks running back Ken Walker III missed practice again on Thursday with a calf injury. He is considered “day-to-day” and could miss his second straight week of action.

Head coach Mike MacDonald provided an update on Walker’s condition on Wednesday, saying that tests did not reveal a serious injury. 

“It got more kind of complicated as the week went on, so that’s why we had to do some more tests and stuff, but right now there’s positive signs,” MacDonald said. “So we’ll just say day-to-day … but it’s not long term.”

MacDonald also said that Walker would not necessarily require practice to participate in the team’s game on Sunday. In reality, it would likely be encouraging for the team to see him log some sort of work before giving him his usual workload this week.

An encouraging situation behind Walker may also allow the Seahawks to give their starter an extra week to recover. In Walker’s absence last week, backup running back Zach Charbonnet torched the Arizona Cardinals for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 59 yards in Seattle’s 30-18 victory. 

If Walker can’t go again in Week 15 against the Packers, Charbonnet will again assume the role of a workhorse rusher. There’s still a chance that Walker can handle limited snaps, however, which could lead to a shared backfield. In this situation, it is also unclear if Walker would reassume his usual role at the goal line or if the team would rely on the healthier backup in short-yardage situations.

In three games this year without Walker, Charbonnet has rushed for 263 yards and five touchdowns. With one of the best backups in the league, it may become easier to let Walker sit out, even in the midst of a playoff push.

Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren in the 14th and final game of the World Chess Championship in Singapore Thursday to become the youngest champion in the history of classical chess. The 18-year-old is also the first champion from India, a massive triumph for a nation that has gained significant notoriety in the game in recent years. 

“I’ve been dreaming about this and living this moment since I was 6 or 7,” Gukesh said after the game. “I have been living this moment for more than 10 years. Every chess player wants to live this moment and to be one of them is … the only way to express is: I’m living my dream.”

After nearly three weeks of intense competition, Gukesh and Ding were tied 6.5-6.5 entering the final game, and a draw would have forced a series of tiebreaker games Friday in a shorter time control known as rapid. This would have greatly favored Ding, the reigning champion who defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi in rapid tiebreakers to win the vacant title in 2023. Gukesh, known as an elite calculator, has far more experience in classical formats and isn’t known to succeed with less time on the clock.

Entering the match, Gukesh’s vulnerability in shorter time controls was so notorious that it seemed to play a part in Ding’s long-term strategy. The Chinese champion spent most of his 14 games trying to force Gukesh into drawn positions, prolonging the match and keeping the overall score even. When Gukesh took his first lead of the match by winning the 11th game, Ding struck right back to win the 12th and salvaged a draw in the 13th to keep the match tied.

As the final game winded down to a handful of pieces for each player Thursday, Gukesh had a one-pawn advantage that seemed unlikely to give him a winning chance. The game was well on its way to another draw until Ding made a shocking blunder with his rook on the 55th move, forcing Gukesh into a trade that put the Indian challenger in a winning endgame. The expression on the 18-year-old’s face was one of surprise, then joy, as he realized that he was about to become world champion. After realizing his mistake, Ding held his head in his hands, fatigued and distraught, before eventually resigning.

“I was totally in shock when I realized I made a blunder,” Ding said after the game. “His facial expression showed that he was very happy and excited and I realized I made a blunder. It took some time to realize it.”

In the wake of Magnus Carlsen’s stunning decision to vacate the championship several years ago, the state of classical chess has been in flux. The last two championship matches have been strange, inconsistent and weakened by the fact that the best chess player in the world did not appear in them.

But for one brief moment Thursday, any argument about the current state of chess melted away at the sight of Gukesh, the 18-year-old phenom, coming to terms with his outstanding accomplishment in real time. Even in a notoriously stoic game, his excitement was palpable as he made his championship-winning move and walked away from the table, failing to conceal a broad smile. 

“I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win from that position,” Gukesh said. “But then suddenly after Rf2, I saw [the game] was actually done. I was already preparing myself to go through that huge tiebreak fight and suddenly, it was all over, and I had achieved my dream. I’m not someone who shows a lot of emotions, but I think this one can be forgiven.”

Gukesh is the leader of an elite Indian movement in chess, a massive group of talented young players many consider to be the future. For several years, he was one of many Indian players, alongside Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and others, touted as the next great challenger to the most powerful figures in the game. The future just arrived.

Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick was candid in describing the team’s collective shame after a 41-point defeat to the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Lakers’ offense performed poorly, but they were especially exposed on defense in a low-effort, systematic shutdown.

“There has to be some ownership,” Redick said after the game, a 134-93 Lakers loss. “When a group is not performing well… you can splinter and it’s easy to not want the ownership, particularly when it’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed, we’re all embarrassed. It’s not a game that I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism.”

In many ways, Redick was as powerless as viewers at home. Los Angeles’ defense was so egregiously bad late in the game that several moments quickly went viral. With 9:20 remaining in the third quarter, Heat guard Duncan Robinson was so wide open under the basket that he paused and decided against taking the layup. Instead, he kicked the ball back out to Bam Adebayo, who swung it to Tyler Herro for a completely uncontested three-pointer. Lakers star Anthony Davis was dumbfounded looking around at his teammates after the play.

Later on in the quarter, the entire Lakers team walked back on defense after a missed jumper, allowing Terry Rozier to get behind them and put the Heat ahead 100-72 on an uncontested layup. It was an unmistakable sign of a team quitting.

The technical side of this blowout loss is largely irrelevant, as the Lakers demonstrated Wednesday night that their issues are basic. This isn’t the first time. The team is not competing as a unit and is consistently prone to collapsing after losing early initiatives. 

LeBron James finished the night with 29 points, but this team is supposed to be more than a stat-padding venture for the aging superstar. Despite having two future Hall-of-Famers on the roster, the Lakers are in ninth place in the Western Conference with a 12-10 record.

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly firmly in the running for 26-year-old free agent Juan Soto, leaning heavily on their history and the city of Boston to lure the slugger away from larger markets. If the pitch gains traction, it would be a massive blow to the Yankees, who would have to play against him as a rival after failing to re-sign him. 

The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that the Red Sox have elected to lead their pitch with a focus on the team’s historical success, specifically with Dominican-born players. Soto would have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Red Sox legends like Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz. 

As an organization, Boston has plenty to boast about in recent years. It won’t take much to convince Soto that the team is a serious contender looking to build a new core around him. Boston is also a large city, one that would allowed Soto to receive nationwide attention for the rest of his career.

For all the trophies and history going into Boston’s pitch for the generational star, however, there will always be an inescapable bottom line to negotiations. Represented by agent Scott Boras and coming off a spectacular season with the Yankees, Soto is almost certain to demand the second-largest contract in the history of baseball, right behind the record-breaking $700 million contract Shohei Ohtani signed last season.

Though the Red Sox have been one of the league’s heaviest spenders in the past, the team has taken a step back in recent years. Boston’s front office infamously declined to extend Mookie Betts, allowing the All-Star outfielder to sign with the Dodgers in 2020. It will be a minor surprise if that same team is the one who goes on to sign Soto to a deal that could exceed $600 million.

While Boston does its best to make Soto feel at home, suitors remain lined up around the block. The Yankees are still looking to re-sign their right fielder, while the Mets and Dodgers both figure as interested buyers that will spare no expense. It will almost certainly take several rounds of negotiations before the picture begins to clear.

UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma made history Wednesday, earning his 1,217th career victory in an 85-41 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. It is the most victories by any coach in the history of college basketball, passing longtime Stanford women’s coach Tara VanDerveer.

Since taking over the Huskies’ women’s basketball program in 1985, Auriemma has been responsible for creating and overseeing one of the greatest dynasties in American sports. UConn women’s basketball transcends sports itself in many ways, and has become synonymous with a much broader ideas of triumph and dominance.

“You’re surrounded by it every single day,” UConn star Paige Bueckers said earlier this week. “You walk through this gym, you walk through these hallways, the greatness that’s on the walls, the greatness that’s in the practice facility, in Gampel as well, there’s obviously a legacy that you want to live up to and uphold what they’ve built and the coaching staff has built.”

There are countless ways to frame Auriemma’s awe-inspiring success at UConn. The team has appeared in every single NCAA Tournament since the 1988-89 season. The Huskies won three straight titles between 2001 and 2004 and another four straight between 2012 and 2016. In back-to-back championship campaigns between 2008 and 2010, they went undefeated with a 78-0 combined record. Since the 2013-14 season, they have a 184-3 record in conference games. 

As a coach, Auriemma has won 11 championships and made 22 Final Four appearances. Now in his 40th season, he has won more than 88% of his games, earning a 1,217-162 record. It is has been an overwhelmingly successful run, one in which Auriemma turned an obscure program in a largely unappreciated sport into a national powerhouse and household name.

An army of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time have ended up in Auriemma’s gym over the years, often at the same time. Kerry Bascom put the team on the map in the late 1980s, becoming UConn’s first All-American. Nykesha Sales, Rebecca Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters combined to form the program’s first super-team, which won Auriemma’s first championship in 1995. 

Before they became WNBA icons, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi were UConn teammates in the early 2000s. Tina Charles and Maya Moore picked up where they left off later in the decade. Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck became the first basketball players, male or female, to win four NCAA championships when the program went on another tear in the 2010s. All were recruited by Auriemma.

“We never sat down and said, ‘Hey let’s make a 40-year plan and see if we can make this happen,'” Auriemma said after his record-breaking win Wednesday. “It’s about coming here every day and trying to be better than we were yesterday.”

Alongside names like VanDerveer, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey and Dawn Staley, Auriemma is an undeniable pioneer in women’s basketball. A man in a leadership position typically reserved for women, he received several offers to coach in men’s basketball over the years but never made the switch. By staying with the Huskies, many have credited him with elevating the status of women’s basketball by respecting his role in it.

Despite earning a historic achievement Wednesday night, Auriemma will only have so much time to look back on his legendary career. There’s plenty on the horizon. His 40th season will also be the last collegiate season for Bueckers, the presumptive first-overall pick in next year’s WNBA Draft. The team has been reloading for several years in search of yet another NCAA Championship. With Auriemma at the helm and a star like Bueckers on the floor, the Huskies remain one of the safest bets in the game.

With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback when Paul George exited early with a hyperextended left knee. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were still helped along by rookie sensation Jared McCain, but the Sixers still fell to 2-12 on the season in the 117-111 loss to the Grizzlies.

George is not expected to miss significant time, with coach Nick Nurse likening the injury to the bruise he worked through on the same knee several weeks ago. Tests will still be conducted to establish his potential return date.

Embiid, who has been heavily criticized for Philadelphia’s plan to frequently rest him this season, was easily the team’s standout player Wednesday. The big man scored 35 points with 11 rebounds, and McCain chipped in with his sixth straight 20-point game. But with Maxey shooting 3-for-13 on limited reps and George out again, the Sixers still appeared painfully hamstrung in the loss.

“Listen, it’s certainly not easy,” Nurse told reporters after the game. “Tyrese just getting back and didn’t really have a feel tonight, and Paul going out. … We didn’t put enough together again for 48.”

If Embiid had been available at the start of the season, it’s easy to argue that the Sixers would have more than two wins. It’s hard to take the argument much further than that, however. His absence is not the only issue for this team.

Based on the play deeper down the bench, excluding McCain, it’s clear that the supporting cast in Philly can’t carry a franchise at the NBA level. Maxey tried to carry the team and failed while also playing himself into an injury earlier this season. 

Much like his star teammate, Embiid has consistent injury concerns and can only do so much. George is a veteran at this point, far removed from his one-man-show days in Indiana. If the Sixers can’t consistently start their three best players together, this team will likely continue down this treacherous path to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. 

Fourteen games in, most teams have used the early part of the season to settle in and develop a system. Seemingly at least one man down at all times, Philadelphia is already well behind the curve.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic spoke to reporters on Wednesday after a 119-99 win over the Bulls to address the team’s early miscues with new shooting guard Klay Thompson. Dallas added the veteran shooter in the hopes of forming a new big three, but he has struggled to contribute to the team’s existing scheme.

“I think we’re still trying to figure it out,” Doncic told reporters. “It’s not easy to connect with a guy right away. Me and [Kyrie Irving], we needed some time to connect. Now we have all three on the squad. Obviously, we’re gonna need some more time, but it’s getting easier and easier.”

After a hot start to the season, scoring at least 18 points in his first three games, Thompson has cooled off precipitously, scoring just 11.4 points per game in his last five. Even in his nightmarish final season with the Warriors last year, he still managed 17.5 points per game for the season. Doncic’s acknowledgment confirmed what the stats were already suggesting: Thompson isn’t meshing well in Dallas just yet.

These are still early days, and with Doncic and Irving both producing, Thompson hasn’t had to be at his sharpest for the team to earn a solid 5-3 record. Still, coming off such a subpar year in Golden State, it’s sensible to question if the 34-year-old can recapture any of his old magic on a new team. 

The results at face value tell a concerning tale, but there’s evidence to suggest that Thompson still has the chance to take a step forward. In a small sample size, he’s shooting slightly better than he did over the course of last season. The main obstacle has been a lack of opportunities, as his attempts from the field have dropped considerably since the first three games. If the team can find more ways to get him the ball, there’s a chance he can produce in a high-end supporting role behind Doncic and Irving.

“That’s a big reason why I came here, those two guys,” Thompson said in October, per a team release. “(I have) big dreams and aspirations with this team. They were so close last year, and I really feel we have everything we need. I’m more motivated than ever.”

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made sure to get his money’s worth as his team blew out the Carolina Panthers. Leading 28-7 in the fourth quarter, the former Super Bowl-winning coach dialed up two trick plays as he toyed with the lowly Panthers.

After the game, Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn shouted in his direction as Payton shook hands with Carolina coach Dave Canales, accusing him of trying to run up the score. Payton, emotional after Denver’s second straight win to put them over .500, defended his play-calling with the game out of reach.

“Listen, I said it [Sunday] night; we’re trying to finish the game the right way. We’re not trying to run up the score on anyone. It’s the National Football League,” he said. “I’ve been in games with a 28-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost, so we’re trying to finish. Play better.”

What makes the interaction more entertaining is that Payton coached Horn’s father, Joe, during his time with the New Orleans Saints and addressed his feelings about Jaycee.

“I don’t know what the exchange was, but his father I enjoyed coaching,” he said. “He was frustrated, I think he was yelling at one of our other players. I like him. I think he’s a good player.”

Horn was unavailable after the game and did not comment on his interaction during his media availability yesterday.

Whether the former first-round pick felt Payton ran up the score or not, it is clear that the frustration of a dismal season in Carolina boiled over. The Panthers hold the worst record in the NFL, sitting at 1-7, and have lost five games in a row, all by double digits. Former #1 overall pick Bryce Young started on Sunday, struggling again with two interceptions and 224 yards passing.

The Panthers take on the Saints this weekend at home, trying to make amends for their 40-7 loss to their division rival earlier in the season.

Well on the way to a blowout defeat Wednesday night, Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick acquiesced to Cleveland Cavaliers fans and put Bronny James in the game late in the fourth quarter. James responded by scoring his first NBA basket on a midrange jumper, earning a roaring ovation on the road in his home city.

The Cavs went on to win 134-110 and are now 5-0 to start the season, but Wednesday’s game will go down in history for James’ feat. The 20-year-old Cleveland native finished his second NBA appearance with two points, two assists and a steal in five minutes. Though he did not react to the crowd’s support in the moment, he admitted afterwards that he was touched.

“It was insane,” Bronny said. “Much more than I anticipated for sure. But it’s all love. It was insane. It was a nice moment. The chants really got me. I was straight-faced, but I felt it and it felt really good, especially coming from here.”

James’ early reputation in the NBA has been closely tied to claims of nepotism, with many arguing that Lakers star LeBron James influenced Los Angeles’ decision to draft him. In limited appearances since the summer, Bronny has struggled to adjust to NBA-caliber play but demonstrated Wednesday night that he has a shot of finding his way. His father, who began his career in Cleveland and won a championship in the city in 2016, commended him for handling the crowd’s expectations.

“He’s better than I would have been in that situation … 20,000 fans screaming my name to get in the game and wanting me to be in the game, and if the role’s reversed, I don’t know if I would have been able to handle it,” LeBron said. “To see him get his first NBA basket in this arena where he grew up not too far away from here, it’s an unbelievable moment.”

The Lakers’ loss to Cleveland was more on LeBron than Bronny, as the 39-year-old star scored 26 points but also committed six turnovers. Anthony Davis scored 22 points and rookie Dalton Knecht impressed with 18 points off the bench, but the team’s role players simply didn’t do enough to back up the two stars.

Former New York Knicks shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo and Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of Jalen Brunson, came to blows after a pre-season game, and players needed to intervene.

The game marked DiVincenzo’s first appearance in Madison Square Garden since being traded from the Knicks to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Julius Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns. The trade came as a blindside to the Villanova graduate, and the hostilities started early in the game. When DiVincenzo went to the free throw line in the first quarter, he exchanged words with a member of the Knick bench, although it is not clear who it was. After the game, DiVincenzo and Brunson pointed fingers at each other and could be seen raising their voices.

DiVincenzo served as a groomsman at Jalen’s wedding, and the two remain close.

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“My relationship with Jalen, that’s my brother and my best friend,” he said. “That’s a separate relationship. I’ll talk about that privately, and figure everything out. But it is what it is.”

After the game, Brunson gave his side of the story, as he had his arm around DiVincenzo during the dust-up.
“I was right there,” he said. “It was words of affirmation.”

While the war of words distracted the two sides briefly, they both are set on deep playoff runs in the 2024-25 season after a strong campaign last year. New York lost in game seven of the second round to the Indiana Pacers at home, leaving them with a bad taste in the off-season. The Knicks traded for Miles Bridges along with Towns, putting together a strong, athletic, lengthy team that they hope can compete with the Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves made it to the Western Conference Finals last season before losing to the Dallas Mavericks. They believe the addition of Randle and DiVincenzo can sure up their bench while giving more minutes to Naz Reid.

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb is in line to make his return to NFL action this week after more than a year out of action. The four-time Pro-Bowler wrote about his injury and recovery in an article for the Players’ Tribune Wednesday.

“When you get hurt like I got hurt, the weird thing is that you don’t even really feel anything,” Chubb wrote. “But you hear everything. You hear that weird silence in the crowd. You can sense your teammates kind of gathering around you.”

In Week 2 of the 2023 season, Chubb suffered a torn MCL and damaged ACL in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a devastating injury to the same knee he had surgically repaired in 2015 as a Georgia Bulldog. It could have ended his career. 

In his Players’ Tribune piece, the running back claimed that he thought he would never play in the NFL again. He talked about support from his family, as well as excruciating bouts of physical therapy and training. He admitted to having dark days, though he didn’t go into detail. At the end, he said that the city of Cleveland and his team were the last sources of motivation he needed.

“I’ve tried to work my ass off every day to get us where we need to go, and even though we have gotten close, I feel like I have serious unfinished business,” Chubb wrote. “I can’t stop until I prove to everybody that I’m the undisputed best running back in this league, and I definitely can’t stop until we get the Browns back to the top of the AFC. It’s been too damn long.”

After more than a year, Chubb is expected to return for the Browns in Week 7 against the Bengals. The 28-year-old back may or may not deal with a full workload, if he plays at all, but that’s not the point. In front of a home crowd Sunday, Chubb will finally be able to compete again in front of Cleveland fans, who have loved him since his earliest days with the franchise. If it comes to fruition, it could be one of the most meaningful moments of the season, an opportunity for a fanbase to welcome a beloved player home.