Jackson State DE Signs Historic Midnight Endorsement Deal as NIL Floodgates Open

JSU's Antwan Owens is one of the country's first athletes to take advantage of the NCAA's newly enacted name, image and likeness policy.

Antwan Owens’s hair isn’t necessarily anything special.

He used to grow it out, a miniature afro standing atop his head. He’s older now, a fifth-year senior in college whose hair style matches the stage of his career.It’s trimmed somewhat short, edged around the front, back and sides. There’s no party in the back with Owens—he’s all business..

And now it quite literally is his business.

Owens, a defensive end at Jackson State, made history on Thursday, becoming what is believed to be the first college athlete to sign an endorsement deal on a seismic day in college athletics. In a midnight ceremony from a New York City hotel, Owens inked with 3 Kings Grooming, a black-owned hair product business that made the first splash of what is expected to be a historic, tide-turning date for athletes across the country.

“Somebody pinch me!” Owens told Sports Illustrated. “This is something that’s going to be life changing, generationally life changing.”

ICON Source, a digital marketplace connecting brands with athletes, facilitated the deal with the two parties. Financial terms were not released. The company also struck similar deals with four other players at Jackson State, a historically Black college in Mississippi whose head coach’s fame makes its players a target for such deals. Deion Sanders enters his second year leading the JSU Tigers.

On the first day college athletes can profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL), ICON Source is holding a day-long celebration in Manhattan, with live pairings of college athletes and brands. In fact, while Owens is the first to sign, he’ll hardly be the last.

ICON also helped arrange deals with women’s basketball twin sisters Hanna and Haley Cavinder of Fresno State. The sisters are some of the most marketable college athletes, having hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram. They are scheduled to hold several media appearances on Thursday, even with a live outing on Times Square.

These specific contracts are built around Owens and the Cavinders using social media to endorse products—a video on Instagram, a post on Twitter, a story on TikTok. Industry experts expect most college athletes to earn the majority of their money from social media ventures. Though rates are impossible to calculate in such a new space, one advertising standard puts the annual income rate at 80 cents per follower.

Owens isn’t a social media maven like the Cavinder sisters. But he is one of the new spokesmen for a company, something just minutes before was illegal under NCAA rules.

“We’re making history,” says Michael Nwankwo, one of three brothers who runs the Cincinnati-based company that sells luxury hair products and equipment. “We’ve gone through the roster on JSU’s team. We saw Antwan. He fit the mold of what our brand is. We have an image of our brand.”

The deals with JSU players bring a spotlight to the HBCU and black community, says Eric Nwankwo.

“For us, HBCUs are very important,” he says. “The main colleges get the credit and no one really pays attention to the HBCUs. What Deion is trying to do to get these athletes paid and recognized, that’s why this was our first choice.”

It’s only the beginning, both for 3 Kings Grooming and hundreds of brands ready to enter this new space. Some believe thousands of athletes will enter NIL deals on Thursday. Many will enter into small, single bookings through digital marketplaces. But some—star athletes and those with large social media followings—will make big bucks.

The Cavinder twins are proof and so is LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, who is expected to earn more compensation than, maybe, any other college athlete. She has more than 1 million followers on Instagram.

“Social media has really taken over,” Michael Nwankwo says. “Women have these big followings. These athletes can bring people to the game.”

Brands and businesses swarmed into the marketplace at the 11th hour on Thursday, a rush of activity that had schools scrambling to finalize their NIL rules.

“We knew NIL was going to be a big deal, but I don’t think we truly realized the magnitude until today,” says Peter Schoenthal, the CEO of Athliance, an NIL management and compliance software that works with several college athletic programs. “All over social media student-athletes are ‘hinting’ at deals and posting they are ready to capitalize off of their name, image, and likeness. However, many schools are not prepared. Many did not think we would be starting July 1 and they certainly thought there would be more guidance from the national level. That is why the first couple of months could get hectic.”

Hectic or not, here comes NIL.

And Owens can say he was the first—or at least one of the firsts. The Tallahassee native transferred to Jackson State this year after graduating from Georgia Tech, where he was a part-time starter for the Yellow Jackets. As a senior, his days of profiting from NIL in college are nearly over just as they started. But have no fear, he says—there’s another Owens behind him. His 17-year-old brother is getting interest from Division I schools.

“This is a gigantic and historical moment, not just for NIL but the landscape of college football.

It’s something bigger than ourselves,” he says. “It’s eye opening for me that my brother will be able to properly reap the benefits of it.”

More NIL Coverage:

• As July 1 Nears, Congress Making Critical Progress on NIL
• States Jockey to One-Up Each Other in Chaotic Race for NIL Laws
• In Stunning Change, Florida Pushes to Delay Its State NIL Law Until 2022
• NCAA Leaders Still Divided on NIL Legislation as Solution Set to Pass Wednesday

July 01, 2021 at 09:28AM

Mississippi State Rallies to Win School's First Team National Championship

After losing Game 1 of the College World Series final, Mississippi State completed its comeback over Vanderbilt to win the school's first varsity team title in any sport.

Starkville, the wait is over: Your Bulldogs are national champions.

Mississippi State bulldozed Vanderbilt in Game 3 of the College World Series Final on Wednesday, winning 9-0 behind a lights-out pitching performance and top-to-bottom contributions from the lineup.

Facing Vanderbilt's Kumar Rocker, widely considered to be among the top picks in next month's MLB draft, the Bulldogs struck for three runs through two innings thanks to some Vanderbilt miscues. Rocker walked two batters and made an error in the first two frames.

The Bulldogs blew the game open in the fifth, as four of the first five hitters singled to make the score 5-0 and knock Rocker out of the game. Mississippi State scored four more times in the seventh inning on a solo home run by Logan Tanner and a three-run blast by Kellum Clark to increase the lead to 9-0.

All the while, sophomore Will Bednar kept cruising on the mound. He threw six hitless innings with three walks and four strikeouts, retiring the last 15 batters he faced. He then handed the baton off to Landon Sims, who kept the no-hit bid going through seven innings before giving up a single in the eighth.

Wednesday's blowout followed a 13-2 Mississippi State win on Tuesday. In the two games, the Bulldogs scored a combined 22 runs with 26 hits and 15 walks.

The title is Mississippi State's first in any team varsity sport. The Bulldogs had made the College World Series 11 times before this season, finishing as runners-up in 2013.

More College Sports Coverage:

• NCAA Approves Interim NIL Policy, Changes Will Take Effect Thursday
• How Omaha Became the Home of the College World Series
• Q&A: Prominent Sports Attorney Breaks Down NIL, More NCAA Topics

July 01, 2021 at 07:54AM

Report: Woman Details Assault by Trevor Bauer in Restraining Order

In a 67-page domestic violence restraining order, the 27-year-old woman details being choked unconscious and repeatedly punched by the Dodgers pitcher.

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Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer is under investigation for assaulting a woman earlier this year. Details of the alleged abuse have come to light in a report by Brittany Ghiroli and Katie Strang of The Athletic that describe two incidents in which Bauer assaulted the survivor.

The woman reportedly has filed a domestic violence restraining order against Bauer. The 67-page document was executed on June 28 and reportedly contains graphic images of the assaults.

According to the report, Bauer and the 27-year-old woman met on Instagram and, after exchanging messages, met in person on April 21 in Los Angeles. The two had sex that the woman says began as consensual. Bauer then asked whether the woman had ever been choked. When she said yes, he put his fingers down her throat "in an aggressive manner."

Bauer eventually stopped, but she said he then began choking her again with her own hair without her consent, which caused her to lose consciousness.

After an unknown period of time, the woman woke up to find Bauer penetrating her anally, which she said she did not consent to at any time.

The woman went to the bathroom and was bleeding from her anus while having difficulty walking. In the report, she describes her decision to stay at Bauer's house overnight, saying, "In my state at that time, I did not think Trevor was a threat to do anything against my will for the remainder of the night.”

In the morning, she told Bauer she did not enjoy the incident from the previous night, which Bauer "seemed to understand."

The report also states that the woman returned to Bauer's house May 15 and, at Bauer's request, the two agreed to use a "safe word." About five minutes into sex, Bauer began to choke her again, causing her to lose consciousness. When she regained consciousness, Bauer was punching her in the head, she said.

“This was the first punch I felt but it is very possible that Trevor had already been punching and scratching the right side of my face while I was unconscious," the report states. "Trevor then punched me hard with a closed fist to the left side of my jaw, the left side of my head, and both cheekbones. I remember this vividly and it was extremely startling and painful. I was absolutely frozen and terrified. I could not speak or move. After punching me several times, he then flipped me back onto my stomach and began choking me with hair. I lost consciousness again.”

The woman provided pictures of herself after the assault to the court, according to The Athletic, which show her face "visibly bruised and swollen, including under both of her eyes. She also has a swollen jaw, bloodied lip and scratches to the side of her face."

The woman underwent two medical examinations—one at the Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in San Diego on May 16, and another at Palomar Health in Escondido. At the first hospital trip, she spoke to San Diego Police Department detectives and reportedly downplayed the what happened, saying in her declaration, "I was afraid what Trevor would do if he found out. I remain afraid that Trevor will find me and hurt me for going to the hospital.”

At Palomar Health, she underwent a sexual assault response team (SART) exam that included medical professionals photographing her entire body.

Later, at the instruction of the Pasadena Police Department, she had a recorded phone conversation with Bauer in which she asked him, "What did you do to me when I was unconscious?”

Bauer reportedly said he punched her in the buttocks but did not address any subsequent comments on the subject.

The Pasadena Police Department is actively pursuing this case, per The Athletic: "We were notified on or about May 16 and that’s when we began looking into the accusations,” Lt. Bill Grisafe said. “It’s an active investigation.”

The woman said she waited to file the domestic violence restraining order while monitoring how the criminal investigation would unfold, adding, "I am deeply concerned that no arrest has been made or charges filed."

“We anticipate there will be criminal action against Mr. Bauer and it is our hope law enforcement will take our client’s allegations and case seriously,” the woman’s lawyer, Marc Garelick, said in a statement.

July 01, 2021 at 04:43AM

Trea Turner Hits for The Cycle on Birthday, Ties Record in Modern Era

Trea Turner is only the fourth player in the last 100 years to hit for the cycle three times.

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner hit for the cycle for the third time in his career on Wednesday to tie the record for the most during the modern era. The only other players to hit for the cycle three times in the last 100 years are Adrián Beltré, Babe Herman and Bob Meusel.

Turner, who turned 28 Wednesday, sealed the monumental milestone in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Rays. He sent an 88 mph cutter to right field on a 1–1 count and had no intention for settling for second, racing onto third and sliding in headfirst to clinch the cycle in the minimum four at-bats.

The former first-round pick has never been selected to compete in the All-Star Game, but this could be the sort of signature achievement that gets him there.

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July 01, 2021 at 04:42AM

15-Year-Old Olivia Moultrie Signs Three-Year Contract with Portland Thorns

Moultrie, who trained and played in preseason games for the past three seasons with the Thorns, was not allowed to play in official NWSL matches.

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The Portland Thorns signed 15-year-old Olivia Moultrie to a three-year contract with an option, the team announced on Wednesday. 

Portland acquired the rights to the midfielder in a trade from OL Reign, who acquired her rights as the first team on the NWSL Discovery Priority List, in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. 

Moultrie has trained and played in preseason games for the past three seasons with the Thorns, but was not allowed to play in official NWSL matches. 

"After the development of a comprehensive minor player protection plan and execution of a SPA, special addendum, and parent guaranty, the NWSL welcomed Olivia Moultrie into the league today," the NWSL said in a statement.

"The NWSL continues to believe that age requirements for the league should be collectively bargained (as they are in other leagues) and those negotiations are ongoing.”

Moultrie's signing with the Thorns comes after challenging the league's rule of prohibiting players under 18 in a lawsuit in May. 

Last month, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order allowing Moultrie to sign with an NWSL team on the grounds that the league's age rule violated antitrust laws and hampered Moultrie’s career development, saying the NWSL lawyers "have offered no legitimate pro-competitive justification for treating young women who want an opportunity to play professional soccer differently than young men.”

Moultrie played with the Thorns FC Academy U-16s team, scoring nine goals in 15 matches in the 2018-19 season. In February 2020, she participated in a camp with the U-17 Women’s National Team as part of a 24-player roster for training camp.

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July 01, 2021 at 04:23AM

Georges St-Pierre on UFC 264, Kamaru Usman's Dominance and More

The former UFC welterweight champ on Conor McGregor's rematch against Dustin Poirier, plus why Kamaru Usman is the best pound-for-pound fighter right now.

Georges St-Pierre is eager to see how Conor McGregor responds to his recent loss against Dustin Poirier when they square off again next week at UFC 264.

One of the greatest to ever compete inside the octagon, St-Pierre is a former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion. Winner of all but two of his 28 pro fights, he is also an astute mind when it comes to breaking down the fights.

“If you look at Conor’s history, he’s very good in rematches,” says St-Pierre. “He knows how to adjust himself. He did that when he fought Nate Diaz [at UFC 202].

“Conor made a mistake against Poirier [at UFC 257]. Conor is used to finishing a lot of his fights early on. He had Poirier hurt and in trouble early on, but he spent too much energy trying to finish him. He got emotional. Normally that works for him, but Poirier was able to weather the storm and later knocked him out. Conor is a great martial artist, and he won’t make the same mistake twice.”

​St-Pierre set a gold standard in the UFC as welterweight champion, defending the belt nine consecutive times. Now 40, he has not competed for the UFC since 2017. But he is enamored with the work of reigning welterweight champ Kamaru Usman, who has looked dominant in his four title defenses.

“Usman is the best pound-for-pound active fighter right now,” says St-Pierre. “He is the complete package. He can strike, he can wrestle, he can do it all.”

“The fights are built on emotion,” says St-Pierre. “Those are the fights he will be remembered for, which is why he should have the rematch against Colby Covington. They had a close fight last time until Usman knocked him out.

“I had a lot of those fights in my career—I had to fight B.J. Penn twice. Matt Hughes, three times. Josh Koscheck, two times. It builds up all that emotion. That’s what Usman needs to grow his legacy.”

​A new opportunity for St-Pierre to share his analysis is the upcoming third season of Karate Combat, which premieres July 1 on the CBS Sports Network. The 12-episode season of Karate Combat is a captivating and authentic homage to the history of karate.

“I’m very happy to be part of Karate Combat,” says St-Pierre. “I first started martial arts by practicing karate. That was a passion, which turned into my love for mixed martial arts. This is a very dynamic sport, and the show is going to be spectacular. People are going to be really entertained.”

St-Pierre is transitioning into acting, most recently playing a role on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier television miniseries. He was also ready to make a splash in the boxing world with a bout against former world champion Oscar De La Hoya before it was blocked by the UFC, where St-Pierre remains under contract. Though it would have been an unfortunate look for the MMA world had St-Pierre lost to a 48-year-old De La Hoya, he is confident that he would have looked like he belonged in the ring.

“Trust me, if this fight would have happened, I would have moved to Los Angeles to [famed boxing trainer] Freddie Roach’s gym and made a full training camp, leaving no stone unturned,” says St-Pierre. “Unfortunately, Dana White didn’t want it. It is what it is. I can’t be mad at him. People have said to take him to court, but that makes me look like the bad guy, and I don’t want to spend money on lawyers and all that.

“My contract with UFC will finish in almost two years, and I will be free—and I will still be in shape.”

“I’m still a fighter and an entertainer,” says St-Pierre. “If there is an exhibition fight or a novelty fight for charity, then never say never.”

​Until he returns to some form of active competition, St-Pierre will still be highly visible this summer as a prominent part of Karate Combat.

“This is a show I believe in,” says St-Pierre. “The fights are very exciting and the level of athleticism showcased is amazing, and the whole story is great. It’s just an overall great show, and the fans of combat sports will be blown away.”

More MMA Coverage:

• Why Kamaru Usman Is the Top Fighter in the World
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Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

July 01, 2021 at 02:38AM

MJF Ready to Outclass Sammy Guevara on ‘Dynamite’

MJF has his eyes on the AEW world title, but he has business to take care of first.

SI.com’s Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath-the-surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.

MJF: “Chris Jericho is incredible, there’s no arguing that, but he has also never had to be in the ring with someone as talented with a mic in their hand as me”

MJF added another moment to his highlight reel when he shoved Chris Jericho off the top of a steel cage in AEW’s Blood & Guts match in May. As Jericho plummeted, MJF collected himself, perched atop the cage all by himself. With his face covered in blood, the 25-year-old phenom felt the sensation of knowing that he is one step closer to becoming the face of All Elite Wrestling.

“I have had a crippling fear of heights my whole life, but that night, I knew I had to take higher ground,” says MJF, whose name is Maxwell Friedman. “I genuinely think a lot of people go to this fish-out-of-water mode when they’re in front of thousands of people. They panic and just want it to be over, and they get backstage and exhale. Not me. I am soaking up every moment. I know I’m supposed to be doing this.

“At that moment, I was at the pinnacle of my profession. That showed, again, I am The Guy in All Elite Wrestling.”

A feud with Jericho is a magnificent spotlight, but it is the sort of place that leaves a talent liable to be exposed if they are unable to keep up with the quick-talking, sharp-witted wrestling legend. To his credit, MJF has excelled in the program, showing he has every tool necessary to be the top heel of a major company.

“I wasn’t going to allow myself to be swallowed up in any of my moments with Chris Jericho,” MJF says. “Chris Jericho is incredible, there’s no arguing that, but he has also never had to be in the ring with someone as talented with a mike in their hand as me.”

Even with his heightened post-Blood & Guts perspective, MJF knows he still has more terrain to climb. In order to reach the top of the industry, he will need to craft a career-defining run as AEW’s world champion.

“I’m going to get to that world title,” MJF says. “I should be world champion right now. Jon Moxley hit an illegal maneuver on me [at last summer’s All Out]. And the reason I can’t focus on that is because of Chris Jericho. He’s the reason I’m not challenging for the world title.”

A world title run is certainly not out of the question in the near future, but before that occurs, MJF needs to continue to showcase his value in the Pinnacle–Inner Circle feud.

“I can’t get to that world title if Chris Jericho still exists in my company,” MJF says. “That’s my goal once I’m done proving to the world that Sammy Guevara isn’t on my level.”

MJF meets Guevara in a pay-per-view–caliber matchup Wednesday night on Dynamite, an encounter he believes is necessary to dispel any beliefs that Guevara is on his level. Considering that these are two of AEW’s top emerging stars, the way the match will be presented is an important indicator of their potential as main-eventers.

“I’ve had opportunities for years to wrestle Sammy, both in the indies and in AEW, but I chose not to,” MJF says. “It’s got to the point where I have to wrestle him simply to show the world that this guy isn’t a professional, and he isn’t on my level.

“Comparing me to Sammy Guevara is like comparing Ric Flair to one of the Mulkey brothers. It’s a dog s--- comparison. You want to call Sammy the future? Fine, but I care about what’s happening now, and I’m going to show him I am the present on Dynamite in the main event on TNT.”

Wednesday nights once again belong to AEW, and MJF plans to use Dynamite as his launchpad to the top of the industry.

“I dislike Chris Jericho because he’s getting in my way, but I genuinely dislike Sammy Guevara as a human being,” MJF says. “I don’t respect him, I don’t think he’s talented, and I don’t understand the hype around him. He’s a gymnast, not a pro wrestler. He’s self-centered, he thinks he’s better than he is, and he has an attitude that wouldn’t have been allowed in the wrestling business 10 or 15 years ago.

“I’m going to slow him down and out-wrestle him, and I’m really looking forward to seeing if the crowd still chants his name when they find out he’s a hack. The idea of that really excites me.”

The (online) week in wrestling

• Edge came back to SmackDown on Friday, and he will challenge Roman Reigns for the universal title at Money in the Bank. Although Edge returned from a nearly nine-year hiatus in front of a hot crowd at the Royal Rumble in 2020, the majority of his return has taken place in fan-less environments inside the WWE Performance Center and ThunderDome. It will be especially fun to see him reconnect with a live audience. 

• The world title should always mean something. That is exactly how it feels—extremely meaningful—in the Bobby Lashley–Kofi Kingston program. 

• The triple-threat tag match that opened Tuesday night’s edition of NXT was outstanding. 

• Bronson Reed, who would be a tremendous addition to Raw, dropped the NXT North American title last night to the wildly talented—and extremely deserving following his years on the indies—Isaiah “Sweve” Scott. 

• Piper Niven is a top candidate to become a breakout star in WWE. Immensely talented and charismatic, she is a rare talent. But, every week, I still can’t believe that the creative team named her Doudrop. 

• John Cena didn’t mince words with Jimmy Kimmel, stating he will be back in WWE. 

• Eddie Kingston cut a phenomenal go-home speech for the live crowd after last week’s Dynamite. There is absolutely no one with a more compelling past 12 months than Kingston, who went from cutting promos at indie shows last summer to now being an integral and beloved piece of AEW. 

• Kenny Omega–Jungle Boy was an outstanding match with the right finish. Omega again elevates an opponent, Jungle Boy takes another step to stardom, and Christian Cage emerges as Omega’s next opponent. Will this lead to a Christian heel turn on Jungle Boy? Or is it too soon for him to turn? 

• On the subject of outstanding promos, the work on the mic from Konnan on Dynamite was a reminder of his brilliance. 

• WWE’s recent round of releases is another cold reminder of the nature of the business. I am looking forward to seeing what that collection of talent creates outside of WWE.

• Deonna Purrazzo’s outstanding work in her Knockouts title reign continues. She now needs the right opponent for a great match and moment at Slammiversary. 

• Miro and Andrade are building their feud in AEW, but they will need to be careful how Andrade is presented with Triplemanía (where Andrade challenges Kenny Omega for AAA’s mega championship) right around the corner in August. 

• Looking back on Steve Austin’s comments on the CM Punk pipe bomb—which just turned 10 years old—is a reminder of how much edge and excitement Punk brought to Raw.

WWE planning to hold Survivor Series in New York

WWE is returning to live shows in July, with SummerSlam in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium serving as the centerpiece of its return to the road. That will only be magnified in the months to come if the company finalizes a deal to hold Survivor Series in New York.

The agreement has yet to be signed, Sports Illustrated has learned, but the working plan within the walls of WWE is to hold Survivor Series at the Barclays Center. The news of Survivor Series at Barclays was first reported by The Mat Men Podcast. Though it would make sense to hold one of the company’s signature events at the famed Madison Square Garden, the two sides have yet to meet on a price that satisfies both parties for a pay-per-view. Even with WWE’s long history at MSG, the company’s new home in New York is Barclays, which has been a valued partner for WWE. (The Brooklyn venue hosted SummerSlam for four consecutive years and was the site of WWE’s ancillary events around WrestleMania 35 in 2019.)

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon hinted at upcoming surprises and the company’s desire to over-deliver on expectations. They are primed to do just that with the energy injected into a show with a hot crowd, and there are plenty of returning stars—like John Cena and Sasha Banks, in addition to Edge, who already came back last week on SmackDown—who innately know how to seize people’s attention.

Currently, there are no plans for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to return—but it is worth noting that the upcoming Survivor Series will mark the 25th anniversary of his debut, which took place at MSG. Any specific information on the potential return of Brock Lesnar is harder to acquire, as those negotiations run directly through Lesnar and Vince McMahon.

Internally, there is an abundance of optimism regarding the return to the road. As innovative a setting as the ThunderDome is, it has run its course. Stars like Banks, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, The Usos, Drew McIntyre, Bayley, Kofi Kingston, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Bobby Lashley and Big E deserve an immense amount of credit for keeping people interested in the product over the past year. This is an extremely competitive industry, and the upcoming stretch is an opportunity for the talent to showcase their worth as draws.

Tweet of the Week

Kenny Omega added a nice spin on the Jungle Boy photo with Anna Jay.

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

July 01, 2021 at 02:36AM

Report: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Avoids Structural Damage In Left Knee

An MRI Wednesday revealed Antetokounmpo has no structural damage to his left knee.

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Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has no structural damage in his left knee injured in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski. There is no timetable for his return.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo is doubtful for Game 5 against the Hawks on Thursday.

Antetokounmpo left Tuesday night's game after he hyperextended his left knee and landed awkwardly on his leg when jumping to contest an alley-oop against Atlanta's Clint Capela early in the third quarter. He was helped off the court and went to the locker room with the team trainer and his brother and teammate, Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

He did not return to the game.

"We'll see what happens with Giannis," star guard Khris Middleton said after Milwaukee's Game 4 loss. "It would be great if he plays, but if not, we still have a capable team of going out there and winning."

Antetokounmpo finished Tuesday's game with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes. His absence for Thursday's game would be a blow for the Bucks, who are eyeing their first NBA Finals appearance since 1973-74, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the team's leading scorer. 

The two-time league MVP had another stellar regular season, averaging 28.1 points, 11 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. In 15 playoff games, Antetokounmpo is averaging a postseason career-high 28.2 points to go along with 12.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest. 

Antetokounmpo is also one of three players (Larry Bird and LeBron James) to average 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists while shooting 50 percent in a single playoff run.

Tipoff for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.

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July 01, 2021 at 01:56AM

Report: Man United Signs Jadon Sancho From Dortmund in $100 Million Transfer

When the £73 million ($100.87 million) move is confirmed, Jadon Sancho will become the second-most expensive English signing of all time.

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Manchester United has reportedly agreed to a £73 million ($100.87 million) move for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, according to the BBC. 

The long-expected move, which is still subject to a physical, is expected to be finalized after the Euros, and comes after Manchester United reportedly refused to pay Dortmund's asking price for the 21-year-old last summer. 

The former Watford and Manchester City academy product recorded 50 goals and 57 assists in 137 appearances for Dortmund since arriving in the summer of 2017 from Man City, who will receive a sell-on fee as part of the transfer. Sancho was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.  

Last season, along with winning the DFB Pokal, Sancho recorded eight goals and 11 assists in 26 Bundesliga games despite missing six weeks due to a muscle injury. 

Upon the transfer's completion, Sancho will become the second-most expensive English signing of all time behind defender Harry Maguire, who joined Manchester United from Leicester City for £80 million in 2019.

England manager Gareth Southgate has come under criticism for Sancho's lack of playing time at the Euros this summer. The winger has only registered seven minutes of playing time as a late substitute in England's 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in the group stage finale. 

England plays Ukraine in the quarterfinals on Saturday after eliminating Germany in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

More Soccer Coverage:

• Euro 2020 Quarterfinal Rankings: With France Out, Who Are the New Favorites?
• Everton Signs Rafa Benítez as Its Next Manager
• Remaining Bracket, Matchups at Euro 2020
• De Boer Out as Netherlands Coach After Euro Exit

July 01, 2021 at 01:51AM

Report: IOC Approves Expansion of Olympic Soccer Rosters to 22 Players

The four alternates who were traveling to Japan with the qualified men's and women's teams will now be part of their respective full rosters.

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Olympic soccer teams have reportedly been given dose of good news in the run-up to the Tokyo Games.

According to the Associated Press, the International Olympic Committee has granted approval for participating teams to include their four alternates on their active rosters, expanding the full squads for the men's and women's tournaments to 22 players. Only 18 will be eligible to be selected on matchday.

That stipulation could go a long way for teams playing in a compressed competition after a year of compressed scheduling. For the U.S. women's national team, specifically, it means the addition of goalkeeper Jane Campbell, defender Casey Krueger, midfielder Catarina Macario and forward Lynn Williams to the original 18-player squad. The four players were already going to be traveling to Japan anyway and would have been on standby to join the active squad in the event of an injury either before or during the tournament, but now their involvement is guaranteed. Given that the average age on the U.S.'s 18-player roster was set to be over 30 upon opening kick vs. Sweden on July 21, this gives manager Vlatko Andonovski ample flexibility that he wasn't originally going to have.

The Netherlands' women's national team had been a proponent of the roster expansion, with manager Sarina Wiegman appealing to FIFA and the IOC. When asked about his feelings on the topic upon the U.S.'s initial roster release, Andonovski indicated that he was aware of the discussions and requests being made and that he was all for it. 

"I would welcome the four alternates to become fully rostered players," he said.

He followed that up Wednesday with a further indication that things were moving in the preferred direction.

“We’re getting word from the IOC that we will have a little flexibility on the roster. We’re very happy about it, and as of right now we’re just waiting to see a little more details on what all the rules and regulations are going to look like,” Andonovski said.

“Obviously we thought about about it, we were preparing in some ways for it if it happened, so we’re hoping to be ready if the changes are in place.” 

More Olympic Soccer Coverage:

• Spain Taking Six From Euro Squad to Olympics
• Brazil Legend Formiga, 43, Will Play in Seventh Olympics
• Tigres's Gignac, Thauvin Make France's Olympic Squad

July 01, 2021 at 01:35AM

Jared Porter Placed on MLB Ineligible List, Investigation Now Over

MLB announced that Porter will be placed on the ineligible list until at least the end of the 2022 season at which time he can apply for reinstatement.

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MLB has announced that former Mets general manager Jared Porter has been placed on the ineligible list until at least the end of the 2022 season.  The investigation into Porter is officially complete.

Porter was fired from the Mets in January after an ESPN investigation revealed he had sent explicit and unsolicited texts to a female reporter in 2016 while with the Cubs. He eventually admitted he had sent the pictures but claimed the photos were "not of me" and were "joke-stock images."

"My office has completed its investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct by Jared Porter," MLB commissioner Robert Manfred said in a statement. "Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Porter violated MLB's policies, and the placement on the ineligible list is warranted."

Porter can apply for reinstatement as early as the end of the 2022 season. 

More MLB Coverage:

• Márquez Loses No-Hitter Bid, But Achieves Something Better
• Santiago Suspended 10 Games After Foreign Substances Check
• Angels' Ohtani Homers Twice vs. Yankees, Leads MLB 
• Report: Trevor Bauer Accused of Assaulting a Woman 

July 01, 2021 at 01:18AM

Candace Parker, Jonquel Jones Highlight WNBA All-Star Team

The 2021 WNBA All-Star Game will feature a clash between the U.S. Olympic team and Team WNBA, comprised of other top players.

Sky forward Candace Parker and Sun forward Jonquel Jones headline the 12-person Team WNBA squad set to face off against USA Basketball's final roster in the league's All-Star Game on July 14. 

This year's All-Star Game will not feature a traditional East-West format, as a result of it taking place in an Olympic year, but will instead pit Team WNBA against Team USA, in what will likely be the U.S. Olympic team's toughest test prior to the Tokyo games.

Parker, the reigning 2020 Defensive Player of the Year, will make her sixth-career All-Star Game appearance, but just her first since 2018. While she's played in just nine games with the Sky, Chicago has posted an 8-1 record in games in which she has played.

Jones, who will be making her third All-Star Game appearance this summer, has been among the league's most dominant players this season, averaging 21.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. She currently also currently leads the WNBA in win- shares per 40 minutes.

Team USA Unveils Loaded Women’s Basketball Team

Team WNBA features seven first-time All-Stars, including two-time Sixth Woman of the Year and Aces forward Dearica Hamby; last year's WNBA leading scorer, Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale; and last year's Most Improved Player of the Year, Liberty wing Betnijah Laney. Wings forward Satou Sabally, Dream guard Courtney Williams, Sun forward Brionna Jones and Sky guard Kahleah Copper also made the squad.

Sun forward DeWanna Bonner, Aces center Liz Cambage and Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot will all be adding to their resumes by making a return trip to the All-Star Game as part of the talented Team WNBA roster. WNBA legends Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson will co-coach the team.

The 12-person Team WNBA roster was determined after the top 36 vote-getters from that voting process who were not members of the USA Basketball five-on-five roster were provided to WNBA head coaches, who then voted for five frontcourt players, three guards and four additional players at any position.

Team USA is equipped with steady veterans, such as Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, as well as talented first-timers like reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson and rising star Jewell Loyd. Ariel Atkins, Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Chelsea Gray are other newcomers on the U.S. roster, while two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, 2012 MVP Tina Charles, 2017 MVP Sylvia Fowles and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner also anchor the group.

The 2021 All-Star Game will take place in Las Vegas and will be broadcast on ESPN.  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on July 14.

More WNBA:

• How Sylvia Fowles Has Remained the Lynx' Stabilizing Force

• Kahleah Copper Is the Sky’s Elite Player-Coach

• The Wings Have Arrived Sooner Than Expected
• Jonquel Jones and the Sun Are Rising

July 01, 2021 at 12:55AM

Euro 2020 Quarterfinal Rankings: With France Out, Who Are the New Favorites?

The overwhelming favorite has been eliminated, so which remaining sides are best-suited to win it all?

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After an opening knockout round like that, with four extra-time thrillers and a thrilling Monday that many are calling the best night in international soccer history, it's hard to imagine how Euro 2020 can get any better. 

But a powerhouse matchup in Belgium vs. Italy, nations like Denmark and Ukraine looking to their national teams for hope and the evergreen "Is this the year for England?" narrative look set to drive us forward into the quarterfinals.

With the elimination of Euro 2016 champion Portugal and 2018 World Cup champion France in the quarterfinals, a new power is set to emerge, either as a return to glory or as an announcement to the world. Five of the eight quarterfinalists are seeking a first European trophy, and if it's anything like the previous round, the final eight promises to deliver.

Here's how the final eight contenders for the European Championship stack up:

1. BELGIUM

Previous rankings: 5, 2

Group finish: 1st in Group B (beat Russia, Denmark, Finland)

Last-16 match: 1-0 win vs. Portugal 

Quarterfinal opponent: Italy (Friday, 3 p.m. ET)

Belgium enters the top spot in the power rankings after France's ignominious exit. But Belgium's hopes for its first major trophy may lie in the fitness of PFA Player of the Year Kevin De Bruyne (ankle) and Real Madrid's Eden Hazard (hamstring) after the stars left the round of 16 due to injury. Manager Roberto Martinez said the two players avoided structural damage and are "50-50" for the quarterfinal, but it remains the big question mark for Belgium. 

The Red Devils showed grit in surviving their toughest test since the 2018 World Cup semifinals to reach the final eight here. Now they will face an upstart Italian side intent on a return to glory, where the winner will surely be considered the favorite to lift the trophy. With its golden generation beginning to fade, it's now or never for Belgium, and there's never been a more opportune chance to win it all.

2. ITALY

Previous ranking: 4, 3

Group finish: 1st in Group A (beat Turkey, Switzerland, Wales)

Last-16 match: 2-1 extra-time win vs. Austria 

Quarterfinal opponent: Belgium (Friday, 3 p.m. ET)

Italy bulldozed its way through the group stage with three shutout wins but struggled against arguably its weakest opponent yet in the round of 16. Austria gave the Azzurri all it could handle, forcing extra time after a scoreless draw before Italy's depth won out. Second-half substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina ended up proving the difference in extra time, but Italy looked wasteful in front of goal after taking 27 shots. 

Still, Italy's defensive record and the expected return of Giorgio Chiellini from injury should give Roberto Mancini's side plenty of confidence after extending its unbeaten streak to 31 games, an Italian record. The quarterfinal meeting with Belgium in Munich appears to be the de-facto final and a real test that will show whether Italy has regained its status as a European giant or still has a ways to go. 

3. ENGLAND

Previous ranking: 6, 4

Group finish: 1st in Group D (beat Croatia, Czech Republic; tied Scotland)

Last-16 match: 2-0 win vs. Germany 

Quarterfinal opponent: Ukraine (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET)

On the other side of the bracket, England looks to be the clear favorite to reach the final after a formidable performance against Germany. Raheem Sterling, who has scored three of England's four goals at the Euros, continued his stellar form with the opening goal against Germany, while Harry Kane broke his scoring drought to send Wembley Stadium into hysterics. Moreover, England added to its impressive defensive showing at the Euros with its fourth straight clean sheet as Gareth Southgate's 3-4-3 continued to lock opponents out. 

It'll be easy to overlook a major underdog like Ukraine, but the Three Lions will know that this is a clear shot at their first trophy since the 1966 World Cup with a potential semifinal looming against Denmark or the Czech Republic. England fans have never needed much of an excuse to sing "It's Coming Home," but now they might actually be onto something. A win in Rome would see England head back to London for the semifinal and, potentially, the final in front of its home support. 

4. SPAIN

Previous ranking: 3, 9

Group finish: 2nd in Group E (beat Slovakia; tied Sweden, Poland)

Last-16 match: 5-3 extra-time win vs. Croatia 

Quarterfinal opponent: Switzerland (Friday, 12 p.m. ET)

Other than Switzerland, of course, no one was happier to see France drop out of the tournament than Spain, which now faces the Swiss in the quarterfinals instead of the reigning world champion. La Furia Roja opened that memorable Monday with a hectic win of their own in a roller-coaster of a match vs. Croatia. What started out miserably with that shocking Pedri-to-Unai Simón own goal followed with Spain overcoming a deficit to take a two-goal lead, blowing it in the final 10 minutes and then taking another two-goal lead to advance in electrifying fashion.

The good news for Luis Enrique's side is that it has finally figured out its attack. After scoring only once in the first two games of the tournament, Spain has a combined 10 in the last two matches with six goalscorers—tied for Denmark for the most in the tournament. With that stunning win, Spain is back in the quarterfinals after failing to reach the stage in its last three tournaments. If its recent form continues, a trip to the semifinals and a return to European relevance is certain.

5. DENMARK

Previous ranking: 8, 10

Group finish: 2nd in Group B (beat Russia; lost to Finland, Belgium)

Last-16 match: 4-0 win vs. Wales 

Quarterfinal opponent: Czech Republic (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET)

Denmark certainly didn't expect to face the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, but that's just how fortune falls for a tournament Cinderella. But after that 4-0 thrashing of Wales, maybe we should stop thinking of the Danes as a fairytale story and start recognizing them as the contender they are. Much like Spain, Denmark has found a spark in the last two games when it's mattered most, with eight total goals, including that emotional 4-1 win over Russia to close out the group stage. 

The Czech Republic will still provide a challenge after its strong showing against the Netherlands, but Denmark hasn't been one to overlook any obstacle. We are all too familiar with what befell Christian Erisken in the opening match, but Denmark has turned that story from one of tragic circumstances into one of resilience and inspiration. With a win in Baku, a semifinal never thought possible awaits where the Red and White will like its chances, having already experienced the worst and being made better for it. 

6. SWITZERLAND

Previous ranking: 10, 13

Group finish: 3rd in Group A (beat Turkey; tied Wales; lost to Italy)

Last-16 match: 3-3 (5-4 penalties) win vs. France 

Quarterfinal opponent: Spain (Friday, 12 p.m. ET)

Switzerland was the darling of the round of 16 with its upset of France, and now nothing looks too daunting for the side. After coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the final nine minutes, the Swiss will be motivated to play in their first quarterfinal in a major tournament since the 1954 World Cup that it hosted.

However, they must carry on without their captain, Granit Xhaka, at least for the quarterfinal, after he picked up his second yellow card of the tournament during his dominant, man-of-the-match performance against France. Benfica forward Haris Seferović has had himself quite the week with three goals in his last two games, including two against France, and will surely be counted upon if Switzerland hopes to crack Spain's defense—and crack the semifinals for the first time in the nation's soccer history. 

7. CZECH REPUBLIC

Previous ranking: 16, 14

Group finish: 3rd in Group D (beat Scotland; tied Croatia; lost to England)

Last-16 match: 2-0 win vs. Netherlands 

Quarterfinal opponent: Denmark (Saturday, 12 p.m. ET)

For all of the complaints over the third-place qualification confusion, three of the four third-place teams (sorry, Portugal) have advanced to the quarterfinals, including the Czech Republic. The Czechs held strong against the Netherlands until Matthijs de Ligt's 55th-minute red card gave them the full advantage. Twenty-five minutes later, the Czechs had a two-goal lead and a ticket booked to Baku.

Bayer Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick enters the round as the top active goalscorer in the tournament with four goals—just one shy of Cristiano Ronaldo's lead for the golden boot—and is sill the clear favorite to win goal-of-the-tournament for his strike from just over the halfway line against Scotland. There are plenty of worse matchups to have in a quarterfinal than Denmark, and after dispatching the Netherlands, the Czech Republic will feel that the team's fifth Euro semifinal (three as Czechoslovakia) is within its reach. 

8. UKRAINE

Previous ranking: 9, 16

Group finish: 3rd in Group C (beat North Macedonia; lost to Netherlands, Austria)

Last-16 match: 2-1 extra-time win vs. Sweden 

Quarterfinal opponent: England (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET)

The fact that Ukraine is in the quarterfinals is quite remarkable given that it squeaked into the knockouts as the last team in. But in a gutsy extra-time triumph, which ended with Artem Dovbyk's thrilling 121st-minute winner, Andriy Shevchenko's side showed that it was ready to make the most of its chance in the knockout rounds.

Against Sweden, Ukraine proved that it wouldn't back down just because it was the underdog, but it will now enter the quarterfinal against England as an even bigger one. All of the pressure will be on England to reach the final now that it has gotten past Germany, meaning Ukraine truly has nothing to lose, having already outdone all expectations. 

More Euro 2020 Coverage:

• Wilson: Where it Went All Wrong for France
• Wilson: England's Approach vs. Germany Winds Up Being Perfect
• Wilson: The Most Stunning Finish to the Most Stunning Day at the Euros
• Wilson: Spain Puts Its Pitfalls, Potential on Display in Thriller vs. Croatia

July 01, 2021 at 12:44AM

USA Basketball Director: LeBron James' Olympic Career Likely 'Over'

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo: "[James] made a contribution that is appreciated, but I think his time is over."

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USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said he does not expect LeBron James to play for Team USA at the Olympics in future years.

"Father Time takes its toll," Colangelo told ESPN Radio. "If you're a human being, your body is built to go so long depending on what your sport is, and then it's a downhill situation. LeBron made choices these last couple of Olympics not to participate because he's got a lot of things going on in his life."

"So he put in his time, he made a contribution that is appreciated, but I think his time is over."

James logged 68 international games for Team USA dating back to 2004, including a trio of Olympic appearances. He was on Team USA's 2004 squad that finished with the bronze medal in Athens, and he helped lead the Americans to gold medals in 2008 and 2012. But after opting out of the 2016 Rio Olympics and the upcoming Games in Tokyo, Colangelo said he assumes James's Olympic career is "over."

Kevin Durant and Draymond Green are the lone members of Team USA from 2016 that will play in Tokyo. USA Basketball finalized its Olympic roster on June 28 with Gregg Popovich serving as the team's head coach. 

“We are excited about the 12 players who have been selected to represent the United States in the Tokyo Olympics,” Colangelo said upon the roster's announcement. “This was an unusually challenging selection process for many reasons, including the year postponement of the Olympics and the issues related to the timing of the NBA regular season and playoffs."

“Our roster features players who are experienced in the international game, and this team has outstanding athleticism, versatility and balance. We also believe we have excellent leadership which is a necessity in order to develop the needed chemistry. We still have a lot of challenges in front of us, but I believe these players will become a team that all Americans will be proud of.” 

Durant will play in his third Olympics in Tokyo. James and David Robinson both appeared in three Olympics. Carmelo Anthony holds the record with four Olympic appearances. 

More NBA Coverage: 

• Durant Leads Team USA Roster Full of First-Time Olympians
• What Path Will the Rockets Take With the No. 2 Pick?
• Is This As Good As It Gets for Deandre Ayton? Not Likely

July 01, 2021 at 12:08AM

How Will the Rockets Approach the No. 2 Pick in the 2021 NBA Draft?

With Houston slated to select second in July's NBA Draft, Rafael Stone's team has plenty of options to jump start a rebuild.

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Rafael Stone is a man of process. The Rockets general manager is no Sam Hinkie disciple, and an extended tankathon is unlikely in Houston. But as the Rockets mull their options with the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, Stone is quick to emphasize a key tenet of his philosophy as an executive. He plans to leave no stone unturned in his search for the next franchise anchor. Less than a year after James Harden’s departure, Stone can kickstart Houston’s rebuild in a hurry with the right decision.

“You shouldn’t foreclose anything,” Stone said following the NBA draft lottery on June 22. “You have to do the work and use the allotted time and have all of the discussions. I think the process is worthwhile to avoid predetermining things. That’s something we try hard to avoid.”

Houston dropped to No. 2 in the 2021 draft after putting up the league’s worst record in 2020-21, though sitting second in an impressive top-of-the-draft class is a welcomed outcome compared to the alternative. The Rockets risked losing their pick to the Thunder entering the lottery, with any pick outside the top four conveying to Oklahoma City as a result of the ill-fated Russell Westbrook trade. Forfeiting the pick would have been a disaster for Stone and Co. The Rockets are likely only a fringe playoff contender in 2021–22 even if they hit on the No. 2 pick. If there was no lottery talent on the way, another last-place finish in the West was certainly plausible. No rookie is a guaranteed success, especially right away. But there is legitimate star power in the top three of this draft. Daryl Morey’s biggest blunder hasn’t hurt his successor just yet.

So what exactly will the Rockets do with the No. 2 pick? Perhaps Stone knows whom he’s going to select, though if he does, he’s sporting an impressive poker face. Stone didn’t mention any of Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley or Jalen Green during his post-lottery press conference. He even floated the idea of trading the pick, though largely to illustrate his open mind entering the draft process. Houston could very well fall in love with either Mobley or Green in the coming weeks. Stone could pull a Morey and make a trade. As the Rockets chart a path forward in the post-Harden era, let’s assess their wealth of potential options:

Door A: Detroit Shocks the World

Cade Cunningham may be sitting atop nearly every mock draft imaginable, but the Oklahoma State point guard’s arrival in Detroit isn’t exactly a fait accompli at this point. Detroit’s interest in Green at No. 1 is legitimate per SI's Jeremy Woo, and there could be consideration of pairing a skilled center like Mobley with Jerami Grant in the frontcourt. The smart money is still on the Pistons taking the expected route and selecting Cunningham. But if they don’t, the Rockets are in prime position to land an NBA-ready star.

Expect Houston to pounce on Cunningham if he falls, and if Detroit shops the No. 1 pick, the Rockets could still be in position to move up. Houston has picks No. 23 and 24 in the 2021 draft, and perhaps a veteran wing like Eric Gordon could be of interest as the Pistons look to avoid another year in the lottery. Still, consider this more an unlikely hypothetical than anything at the moment.

Door B: Move Back From No. 2

We’ll be brief here with this option as well. If Cunningham is available at No. 2, he’ll be in the Toyota Center on opening night. If the Pistons stick with the presumed top pick, the debate between Mobley and Green will come to a head. I’d be skeptical of any rumor moving Houston out of the top three, though perhaps there’s a world where the Rockets slide down one spot in a deal with the Cavaliers. Cleveland could choose who it perceives to be the right fit alongside Darius Garland, Colin Sexton and Jarrett Allen, while the Rockets can add a couple of assets and select either Mobley or Green at No. 3. This is a bit of a hyper-specific scenario, though it is a plausible one considering the stage of each team’s rebuild.

Door C: Stick and Pick

The most likely scenario here is the simplest. Cunningham goes No. 1, the Rockets pass on making a trade, and a battle for the No. 2 pick emerges. Both Green and Mobley have star potential, and it’s easy to envision either youngster fitting in well on Stephen Silas’s squad. Let’s briefly put on our GM hat and assess each option.

The Case for Mobley:

The NBA remains a league of guards, but a truly special big can change a team’s ceiling in a major way. And all signs point to USC’s Mobley being such a player. The 7-footer could very well contend for All-Defense honors with a 7’4” wingspan and quick feet, able to both battle behemoths down low and slide along with guards and wings on the perimeter. Mobley’s jump shot is a work in progress, though he’s an impressive athlete with a surprisingly solid handle, and his passing ability is quite advanced for a player of his age. Mobley could theoretically grow as a fulcrum in Houston’s offense, serving as an oversized version of Bam Adebayo. There’s legitimate upside here and a bankable floor, giving Kevin Porter Jr. a big man running mate of the future. Mobley is a special enough player to dismiss any positional value concerns.

The rangy Mobley was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in his only season at USC.

Regardless of fit concerns, I’m not so sure Wood’s presence should impact Houston’s decision with its pick. Wood only has two years left on his deal, and his relatively cheap contract could make for an easy trade. The Rockets could use Wood in a package that would bring back a guard or wing (perhaps Buddy Hield in Sacramento, Malik Beasley in Minnesota or Marcus Smart in Boston), allowing Mobley to flourish without any crowding in the frontcourt. Drafting Mobley doesn’t necessitate a Wood trade—though it’s not out of the question for Stone to be proactive and swap Wood for more natural fit.

The Case for Green:

I’d be quick to assume Green is the Rockets’ choice if Morey was still running the show. Houston’s former architect prioritized dynamic ball handlers above all else, and by all indications, Green is just that. He has elite burst to the rim and a dynamic first step, and he creates space on his jump shot with relative ease. Add in an impressive showing against G League competition, and it’s not hard to see why Green is now in the conversation for the No. 1 pick.

Landing Green would create an interesting experiment in Houston. Green and Kevin Porter Jr. make for an intriguing backcourt combination, pairing two dynamic young scorers who have some real questions as playmakers. Houston may quickly lead the league in step-back threes, and on the right night, this could look like the Rockets’ duo for a decade. It won’t always be so easy. Porter is raw as a leading man in his own right, and John Wall’s presence only complicates matters. Garland and Sexton can combine for 60 points in a given evening, though their scoring ability doesn’t exactly equate to winning basketball. There are no guarantees in this league, but if Stone believes Green is the better prospect, he’ll worry about Porter’s development at a later date.

More NBA Draft Coverage:

• Who Helped, Hurt Their Case at the Combine?
• Inside the Experiment That Produced Two Likely Top-Five Picks
• NBA Draft Decisions That Will Shape the 2021–22 College Hoops Season
• NBA Combine Notebook: Cade Cunningham at No. 1 Not a Foregone Conclusion

June 30, 2021 at 11:13PM

NBA Playoff Injuries Don't Equal Asterisks: Unchecked

There is no asterisk or any one thing to blame for the injuries to stars this NBA playoffs.

Injuries have absolutely marred the NBA playoffs, there’s no getting around that. But that doesn’t mean this season should have an asterisk, nor is there any one thing to blame. It just sucks. 

A title is supposed to crown the best team, not the last one standing. And with Giannis Antetokounmpo going down, he joins the likes of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Chris Paul, Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell on the list of players who have been limited or taken out by injuries this postseason. That’s an Olympic team (and doesn’t even include guys who didn’t play at all because they were hurt before the playoffs started). 

When it comes to asterisk talk, I simply don’t believe in those, as circumstances help determine every champion. This isn't the first season where an injury has altered a playoff series.

As for as the number of injuries? Well, it’s common sense that a shortened offseason and condensed schedule could have contributed. And I personally wonder whether today’s style of play being so explosive with all the switching, closing out, and getting up and down the floor, is likely to result in more players getting hurt. Especially given how many games are played, which I do think needs to be addressed going forward. 

But when it comes to the turnaround for this year, the league, like everyone else, was dealing with something unprecedented and of course rushed the start for monetary reasons. However, that was not a unilateral decision as the NBA Player’s Association signed off on it. And some of these injuries—including what happened to LeBron, Kyrie, Trae and now Giannis seem much more like freak collisions to me. 

There’s a definition of blame that says it is a way to discharge pain and discomfort, but in this case, I don’t know if there’s any one thing to be blamed, even if seeing all these NBA stars getting injured hurts to watch.

June 30, 2021 at 09:37PM

Fantasy Fans Buck NFL Trends By Waiting on Receivers & Stockpiling Running Backs Early

The NFL is as pass-happy as ever, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the first round of a fantasy football draft

The value of running backs is constantly being mitigated in the NFL, and it's steadily falling.

Teams electing to reward their rookie running backs with extensions often have to pay just to get them off their books. And the teams that spend high-end draft capital on running backs are criticized for doing so in an increasingly pass-dominant league. Front offices would often be better off searching for replacement-level running backs at a fraction of the cost. The 2020 season showed the blueprint to do so.

Wide receivers’ value, though, is rising.

Teams are quick to throw money at wide receivers and use high draft picks in search of the team's next great pass catcher. This offseason showed that several free-agent receivers signed huge deals, and three receivers were selected in the top 10 of April's draft. It's even spilling over to the tight end position--two have been drafted in the top 10 over the last three years

A recent trend shows fantasy football managers are waiting longer to draft wide receivers, instead loading up on running backs earlier than in recent years and breaking with prevailing logic at the NFL level. The days of the zero RB strategy seem to be fading into ancient history. We're knee-deep in a robust RB strategy boom.

The wide receiver with the highest average draft position (ADP) early on this offseason is the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill. He’s certainly worthy of the distinction, finishing the 2020 season as the WR2. Having breakneck speed and the NFL’s best passer in Patrick Mahomes throwing to him doesn’t hurt, either.

But Hill’s current ADP is 10, four spots lower than the highest-drafted wide receiver in 2020, Michael Thomas. The Saints’ star receiver, who set an NFL record in 2019 with 149 catches, was also drafted lower than the top receiver from the year before. DeAndre Hopkins, then with the Texans, had an ADP of 5 in 2019.

Antonio Brown was fantasy football's top-drafted receiver from 2015-2018. His ADP fell for three consecutive years, starting in 2016.

Brown, the former Steelers receiver who’s now with the Buccaneers, peaked in 2016 as the consensus No. 1 pick, a rare honor for a receiver.

After that peak came a wide receiver ADP valley that we're still experiencing.

Packers star Davante Adams might have broken the trend this season if it weren't for the uncertainty around the future of his quarterback and league MVP Aaron Rodgers. Adams caught a league-leading 18 touchdowns and was the No. 1 fantasy wide receiver despite playing just 14 games. His ADP is 11.

If Hill’s ADP holds, he would be the lowest-drafted first receiver off the board in at least the last 10 years.

Running backs make up the bulk of first-round picks in any year, but the top eight ADPs belong to running backs this season. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce interrupts that streak at No 9. If his position holds, it would be the highest ADP for a tight end since Jimmy Graham in 2014.

Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey's ADP is 1 for the second year in a row. He's followed, in order, by the Vikings' Dalvin Cook, the Saints' Alvin Kamara, the Giants' Saquon Barkley, the Titans' Derrick Henry, the Colts' Jonathan Taylor, the Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliot, and the Browns' Nick Chubb.

The number of running backs selected in the first round of 12-team drafts has stayed relatively stable in the last few years. There were lows of just six first-round ADPs for running backs in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017. But in the last four years, the number of running backs with first-round ADPs has been nine or more.

What’s changed is when and how often receivers are being selected in the first round. As the ADP of the first wide receiver drafted fell from 2017 on, so did the number of receivers with top-12 ADPs.

In each of the last three drafts, only two receivers have first-round ADPs in each draft. In 2019, it was Hopkins and Adams. In 2020, it was Thomas and Adams. And in 2021, so far, it’s Hill and Adams representing receivers in the top 12 picks. Elite running backs are simply more scarce and you've got to get them early!

With that in mind, running backs are increasingly dominating the top of drafts, and fantasy owners are opting to wait longer before selecting receivers. They're employing the NFL's running back logic to the wide receiver position by spending later in a draft for similar production—and it's working.

In the NFL draft and a fantasy draft, the goal is to extract the most value from each draft selection. The difference is, in fantasy football, running backs still reign supreme, now more than ever.

More Fantasy Football:

• 2021 Fantasy Football Team Outlooks
• The Fantasy Case Against Saquon Barkley
• New Orleans Saints Fantasy Team Outlook

June 30, 2021 at 09:34PM

Lucas Giolito Obliterates Josh Donaldson in Excellent MLB ‘Sticky Stuff’ Feud: TRAINA THOUGHTS

White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito calls Josh Donaldson a 'f---ing pest'

1. At the end of last week’s SI Media Podcast, during the "Traina Thoughts" segment, I said this entire “sticky stuff” controversy is good for Major League Baseball because it has provided entertainment and gotten the sport a ton of coverage it never gets.

Is this the kind of attention Major League Baseball wants? Probably not. But for a fan who loves anarchy and controversy, “sticky stuff” is the gift that keeps on giving.

Case in point: Last night, Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson, who has had a lot to say about Yankees pitcher Gerritt Cole doctoring the baseball, homered off White Sox starter Lucas Giolito.

As Donaldson crossed home and headed to the dugout, he said, “Hand’s not sticky anymore.”

Following Chicago’s 7–6 win, Giolito laid into Donaldson during his postgame press conference.

“He’s a f---ing pest. That’s kind of a classless move. If you’re gonna talk sh--, talk sh-- to my face. You’re gonna go cross home plate and do all that? Just come to me. It’s just annoying. We won. The W’s next to my name. They’re in last place.”

DAYYYYYUM!!! Now that’s how you respond to a troll. Well done, Lucas.

And thank you, Spider Tack, for adding some spice to Major League Baseball.

2. Charles Barkley tore into Paul George last night after the Clippers forward complained about getting criticized throughout his career.

3. Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard didn't waste any time taunting Trevor Bauer over the sexual assault accusations that came to light yesterday.

4. Here's is your Daily Ohtani. Last night, he belted two homers against the Yankees (who he'll face tonight as a starting pitcher).

5. This year's NHL playoffs are struggling when it comes to ratings.

6. The latest SI Media Podcast features two guests and a new segment.

First up is AEW play-by-play man and senior advisor Jim Ross. The man known as "Good Ole J.R." reveals that he thinks Vince McMahon would sell WWE and explains why McMahon would sell. Ross also discusses the biggest challenge facing AEW, why he loves working for Tony Khan, whether there's anything we don't know about the night The Undertaker threw Mick Foley off the top of the Hell in the Cell, his reaction to the WWE hiring and firing Adnan Virk and much more.

Following Ross, John Ourand from Sports Business Journal joins the podcast. Ourand shares insight into the NBA playoff ratings, the difficulties in trying to watch the U.S. Open, whether Vince McMahon would sell WWE and more.

The show finishes with our new Traina Thoughts segment.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Stitcher.

You can also watch the SI Media Podcast on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Ended up in a Sopranos YouTube rabbit hole yesterday after watching the newly released trailer for the prequel. I'll never understand how James Gandolfini and Edie Falco did this as well as they did.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Stitcher. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter and Instagram.

June 30, 2021 at 09:29PM