Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high fives Dennis Schroder #8 against the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Jason Miller/Getty Images/AFP
CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell has lacked his customary explosiveness and not looked like himself through three games of the Eastern Conference finals. Something seems off with the All-Star guard.
The Cavs couldn’t match New York’s force, firepower or balance despite being on their home floor and lost Game 3 to the Knicks 121-108 on Saturday night to fall into a perilous postseason hole in the best-of-seven series.
No team in NBA history has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit, and the Cavs aren’t showing signs of becoming the first in 164 tries.
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Mitchell did what he could, scoring 23 points. But he didn’t have his burst and committed five of his team’s 18 turnovers as the Cavs couldn’t contain the Knicks, who were cheered on a by a raucous group of New York fans that invaded Rocket Arena.
Following the game, Mitchell sat in a chair behind the table before his media interview and stared blankly at a box score underscoring New York’s dominance.
Asked what it’s going to take to avoid a sweep and win Game 4 on Monday night, Mitchell was succinct.
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“Let’s start with making some shots,” he said. “Let’s start with getting some stops and making some free throws.”
Mitchell’s first trip to a conference final after so many second-round exits hasn’t gone as hoped. The Cavs, who were pushed to seven games by Toronto and Detroit earlier in the playoffs, blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.
They battled for much of Game 2 before fading and are now dragging physically after weeks of playing every other day. The Knicks, who had time to rest after sweeping Philadelphia in the second round, are taking advantage of Cleveland’s heavy legs.
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“We did it to ourselves,” Mitchell said. “We can’t be mad now.”
Just as in the first two games, New York was the more aggressive team in the early going, jumping to a 9-1 lead in the opening two minutes and forcing Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson to call a timeout. The Cavs regrouped, but their sloppiness combined with New York’s ability to get out in transition and score proved too much.
“Their physicality and energy level was higher than ours,” Atkinson said. “They were the more physical team and we couldn’t get to that level. Whatever the stats say, they were the better team. They’re playing great basketball. They’re on a hell of a run and we haven’t been able to stop the momentum.”
The Cavs had seized it in the series opener before a stunning collapse that has already provided Mitchell with a lasting lesson.
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“Don’t lose Game 1 after being up 22,” he said when asked about what’s soured his conference final debut. “But hey, it happened and now we have to find a way to get back from 3-0. We just have to find a way. We were up 22. It’s on us.”
In the closing minutes, thousands of blue-and-orange-clad New York fans were hollering “Knicks in 4!” and serenading Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 points and added six assists, with chants of “M-V-P” at the foul line.
Those moments normally belong only to Mitchell in Cleveland. But the Knicks are taking everything away from the Cavs. Mitchell said the noise wasn’t unexpected.
“I’m from New York, this doesn’t shock me,” he said. “They do it in every arena. It’s like (Dallas) Cowboys fans. It’s just who they are. It wasn’t just a Cleveland thing. That’s how Knicks fans are. I was one back in the day. That had nothing to do with what’s going on in Cleveland. We didn’t get it done for our home crowd tonight.”
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Before the game, Atkinson described Mitchell’s physical issues as merely “bumps and bruises.” The All-Star, who left the floor for treatment in the first quarter, is now dealing with the mental strain of a deficit that’s probably too large to overtake.
Mitchell, though, isn’t giving up.
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“We have an opportunity to get one (win) on Monday,” he said. “Then go back to New York and get one there and come back here.”
Jul 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Nicky Lopez (33) bunts against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images
Alejandro Osuna lined a three-run homer to highlight a five-run eighth inning and Justin Foscue added a pinch-hit homer and an RBI single as the host Texas Rangers rallied for a 8-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night.
Elias Diaz also had two hits and Nicky Lopez drove in two runs for Texas, which won for the first time in four meetings against the Angels this season. Peyton Gray (4-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief.
Jo Adell had two hits for Los Angeles, which matched its season-high with its seventh straight loss. Reliever Sam Bachman (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in 2/3 of an inning.
Los Angeles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Texas starter Jacob deGrom. Nolan Schanuel walked and scored on Jorge Soler’s line-drive double off the fence in left-center. Josh Lowe then drove in Soler with a bloop single to center.
Texas tied it, 2-2, in the second inning. Evan Carter and Osuna garnered back-to-back one-out walks and advanced to second and third on a groundout by Diaz. Lopez then bounced an opposite-field single past the glove of third baseman Denzer Guzman to drive in both runners.
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The Angels regained the lead, 3-2, in the seventh when Oswald Peraza led off with a single, stole second and scored on a single by Wade Meckler.
The Rangers came right back to tie it in the bottom half of the inning when Foscue led off with his sixth home run, a 387-foot line drive to left off reliever Tayler Saucedo.
Texas then broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the eighth. Josh Smith and Jake Burger each singled to open the inning and advanced to second and third on a Brandon Nimmo groundout. Ezequiel Duran then drove in Smith with a single to give the Rangers their first lead, and Foscue made it 5-3 with an RBI single. Osuna then drilled his first home run, a three-run line drive just over the wall in right.
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deGrom allowed two runs on five hits, walked a pair and fanned seven over five innings.
Angels starter Jose Soriano posted a quality start, permitting two runs on two hits, with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings.
Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Marc Guehi will go head-to-head in the World Cup quarter-final this weekend when England take on Norway
Manchester City had just completed a comeback for the ages to stun Liverpool at Anfield with two goals in the final throes of an all-action contest that will live long in the memory of every Blues fan who watched it.
Bernardo Silva had hauled City level late on and Erling Haaland hit the winner from the penalty spot after the comical scenes of the Norwegian and Dominik Szoboszlai fouling each other as the ball rolled into an empty net before VAR intervened and awarded a spot kick.
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As the players were walking off the Anfield pitch, the cameras focussed in on Haaland. The striker felt they were looking at the wrong man. “Go film him, come on he’s there,” said the striker, gesturing to Guehi before wrapping his arms around his team-mate and thrusting him into shot. Guehi wasn’t too interested in the attention but he had just delivered a masterclass on what was only his third City appearance in a cauldron of an atmosphere.
His showing was not lost on Haaland and both players know exactly what they will be facing this weekend on the biggest stage of all as they do battle in a World Cup quarter-final.
England and Guehi meet Norway and Haaland in Miami on Saturday night in what promises to be an electric tie.
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Guehi, who arrived at the Etihad in January, has seen up close just how good Haaland is and how difficult he is to stop. The striker has seven goals in the World Cup already and he sat out the final group game against France.
His double in the last-16 saw off Brazil and if England are going to reach the semi-finals then stopping him will be imperative.
Guehi’s pace, quality and tenacity will be key and the City man is relishing the battle that lies ahead. “I know he’ll be up for it,” he said of Haaland.
“It’ll be a challenge, but it’s good to see some familiar faces and try and do our best and try and get a win. It’s going to be fun, it will be fun.”
Novak Djokovic defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime in the longest Wimbledon quarter-final in history at five hours and 15 minutes, to set up a meeting with Jannik Sinner in the final four at SW19.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Tuesday that it would lift restrictions on Russian athletes to allow them to compete in team events and in qualifying competitions.
It all comes ahead of qualifying events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and just two months after the IOC lifted restrictions for Russia’s ally Belarus, whose athletes would be allowed to compete again without any restrictions and with their national symbols.
The IOC suspended Russia’s Olympic Committee in 2023, after Russia unilaterally recognized regional sports organizations in the four Ukrainian territories that Russia illegally annexed in 2022.
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Russian athletes were still able to compete as neutral athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics and at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, but only if they are proven to not support the war and have no affiliation with Russia’s military or security forces.
IOC chief: Athletes ‘should not pay the price’ of war
In a statement, the IOC said that a thorough analysis by its Legal Affairs Commission had found that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) no longer included any regional sports organizations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine as its members.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry told reporters that the IOC opposes “any kind of violence and war and will continue to support Ukraine,” but she also said that it wasn’t right that athletes “should pay the price for this.”
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Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed the IOC’s decision, saying it should clear the way for Russian athletes to make a full return to the international sporting stage.
“Our country’s return to the Olympic family is a green light for international federations to reinstate all our athletes,” Degtyarev said.
The IOC also said it would not organize IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to its events.
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The ban on the Russian national anthem being played and the flag being displayed has also been kept in place for now.
“We made it clear that all athletes had the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games. This is what this decision speaks to. It allows Russian athletes to take part in sports competitions. We thought it was really important for athletes to have that possibility,” Coventry told a press conference.
“It was very clear when we strengthened our neutrality bylaw that selection would not be based only on sports performance, but also ability to serve as role models,” she added.
NEW YORK — Tyler Tolbert tied a major league record with hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances, finishing 5-for-6 on Tuesday night and powering the Kansas City Royals to a wild, 16-12 comeback win over the New York Mets.
Batting ninth, the right fielder hit a two-run homer in the second inning and singled in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. Tolbert’s last three hits were infield hits. He flied out in the ninth.
Tolbert matched the record set by Chicago’s Johnny Kling in 1902 and equaled by Walt Dropo of the Detroit Tigers in 1952.
The second-year player grinned as he walked back to first base following the record-tying hit. The Citi Field scoreboard flashed a graphic noting his accomplishment.
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A.J. Minter retired Tolbert in the ninth. The remnants of the announced crowd of 32,734 gave Tolbert an ovation, and his teammates applauded while gathering on the top step of their dugout.
Tolbert went 2 for 2 on Saturday night against Philadelphia before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. He then started at shortstop on Monday and went 5 for 5 with a homer, his first of the season.
Every starter except Jac Caglianone had at least one RBI for the Royals, who trailed 9-4 before tying it with five runs in the fifth and pushing ahead with a seven-run seventh against Matt Seelinger (0-1), who made his major league debut.
Lane Thomas went 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Tolbert scored four runs and drove in two.
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The Mets had been 200-1 when scoring 12 or more runs, losing 13-12 at San Francisco on May 24, 2022, despite Joc Pederson’s three-homer, eight-RBI game.
Beck Way (1-0), the Royals’ fourth pitcher, got the final two outs of the seventh. Seth Lugo was tagged for a career-high nine runs, six earned, in 4 1/3 innings.
Rookie A.J. Ewing homered and reached base in all five plate appearances for the Mets, going 4 for 4 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Juan Soto hit his 20th homer, a three-run shot.
The Royals have yet to announce a starter for Wednesday night, when RHP Christian Scott (2-1, 3.49 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines waves to the crowd after losing the women’s singles fourth round match against Jasmine Paolini of Italy at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Alex Eala left Wimbledon disappointed with her fourth-round exit. But she bowed out knowing that playing against the world’s best in one of the toughest tournaments had a positive impact on her game.
The 21-year-old Filipino superstar admitted there were moments she wished she could take back in her 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Jasmine Paolini, but she viewed the match as another lesson in the small margins that separate the game’s top players.
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“Yes, of course there are things that I would have liked to do differently,” Eala told journalists after the match. “But in the end, I think that’s just tennis. That’s also what’s beautiful about tennis. Every match, it’s different. You’re always finding solutions; the opponent is always finding ways to make you uncomfortable.”
Experince helped
Paolini milked her experience to blunt Eala’s craftiness and controlled the match during the crucial stretches, foiling several break points the Filipino collected.
“I think Jasmine did that pretty well today,” Eala said. “She really went for her shots. She definitely made me feel uncomfortable in certain moments of the match.”
Eala acknowledged her serve was below the level she managed earlier in the tournament but refused to dwell on it.
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“My serve was not as good today as maybe other matches,” she said. “But I have days like that. Everyone has days where they don’t play their best tennis. I understand that’s part of the job. I don’t think I’m going to be playing the best tennis of my life every single day.”
Winning record
Instead, Eala took satisfaction in how she managed the match despite not playing at her best.
“With that being said, I’m really proud of how I handled things,” she said. “I think I just have to move forward and continue with my progress.”
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Her Wimbledon campaign reinforced what has become one of the defining themes of her breakout season—that she can consistently challenge the sport’s elite. In an 11-game stretch against opponents ranked in the top 10 in the world, Eala has gone 7-4, highlighted by victories over some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour.
Against Paolini, Eala said the difference came down to execution in critical moments rather than any glaring gap in ability.
“It’s very fine details,” she said. “With tennis and matches that are tight, it sometimes can depend on one point or two. I think it’s how you manage yourself during those moments.”
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Rather than focusing on individual mistakes, Eala said her evaluation centered on whether she remained committed to the tactics she and her team prepared.
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“Looking back, did I stick with my game? Did I stick with the game plan? Did I do everything I could at that moment?” she said. “I think that’s all you can really do is do your best.” —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER SPORTS DESK INQ
Minnesota Vikings players gathered in a pregame huddle during warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium before facing the Philadelphia Eagles at home. On October 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, the group prepared together as Minnesota finished its early routine and readied for another NFC matchup in front of the home crowd before kickoff that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings did virtually nothing to enhance their interior offensive line this offseason, rolling with last year’s pair of guards, Donovan Jackson and Will Fries, while promoting Blake Brandel to center after Ryan Kelly’s retirement. Now, according to ESPN, that unit is the club’s “x-factor” in 2026.
ESPN determined every NFL squad’s x-factor this week, and for Minnesota, that’s the iOL.
The Vikings’ Interior Offensive Line Has to Pay Off
Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson worked through positional drills at Lucas Oil Stadium while teams evaluated interior blockers during the NFL Scouting Combine. On March 2, 2025, in Indianapolis, Jackson took part in testing and field work as draft prospects tried to strengthen their profiles before pro days and private team visits. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
ESPN: Vikings X-Factor: Interior Trenches
In an article that claimed the Vikings have the sport’s 22nd-best roster heading into 2026, Seth Walder noted the iOL as the x-factor: “X factor for 2026: Interior offensive line. Will Fries struggled last season at guard after signing a big free agent contract, with a sixth percentile pass block win rate.”
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“But he boasts upside, as does fellow guard Donovan Jackson, Minnesota’s first-round draft pick in 2025. Blake Brandel played 347 snaps at center last season in his first time playing the position in the NFL. He is expected to start there again in 2026.”
The interior offensive line was a problem for the Vikings about half a decade ago but has largely stabilized since Kevin O’Connell took over in 2022.
Walder added, “How those three players improve could play a big role in how much offensive success the Vikings have this season.”
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Donovan Jackson
Jackson produced a commendable rookie campaign, finishing just under 60.0 per Pro Football Focus. He also navigated a broken wrist right away in his career, playing 14 of an eligible 17 games.
From the Walder observation, it’s all about Jackson taking the next step. He played steady enough to give fans hope for a promising career; no one will be too surprised if he shows up in 2026 and balls out.
Jackson also said last month that he’s more prepared as a sophomore: “I feel like last year I was a headless chicken trying to learn a foreign language with this playbook. Another year under my belt, I come out here, and I’m trying to get better with certain details.”
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Will Fries
Fries is in a different boat. He must elevate his game in 2026. While that may sound blunt, it’s accurate. The Vikings invested heavily in him, not for an adequate starter, but for a cornerstone player. After his initial season in Minnesota, he still has much to prove.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons worked past Minnesota Vikings guard Will Fries during first-half action at Lambeau Field, testing Minnesota’s protection in a divisional matchup. On November 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Parsons got by Fries as the Vikings offensive line dealt with pressure from one of football’s premier edge defenders. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Fries’ stellar performance with the Indianapolis Colts in 2024 is the caliber of player Minnesota believed they were acquiring. His 2025 season wasn’t a complete failure, but it certainly didn’t justify his substantial contract. PFF assigned him an overall grade of 61.8, which is merely passable.
However, passable is insufficient for an annual salary of $18 million. That grade should be closer to 71.8, not 61.8. This is the stark reality of his contract. If Fries makes strides in 2026, the investment will begin to look justified, bringing collective relief. But if his performance remains the same or similar, the situation will quickly become uncomfortable next offseason.
The Vikings require the dominant Fries from his Colts tenure; they paid a premium for that level of play.
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Blake Brandel
Brandel has unexpectedly emerged as one of the most intriguing players on the roster.
Just a few years ago, such a statement would have seemed odd. Since joining the Vikings in 2020, Brandel has primarily served as Minnesota’s versatile offensive line backup — a reliable utility player capable of stepping in at guard, tackle, and even center when needed.
Now, though, the Vikings are giving him a genuine audition at center, a decision that speaks volumes. Minnesota notably passed on signing a veteran center in free agency or drafting one early. The move follows Brandel’s performance last season when he filled in for Ryan Kelly, who missed nine games due to concussions. Brandel showed improvement as the weeks progressed, apparently convincing Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips to continue this experiment.
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Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill and guard Blake Brandel worked through side-by-side reps during minicamp as the offensive line sharpened its timing. On June 10, 2025, in Minneapolis, the pair focused on footwork and communication while Minnesota continued building cohesion up front during offseason preparation at the team’s training facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Should Brandel perform as a Top 15 center, the Vikings’ trust will be validated. They might even consider a preemptive contract extension. A two-year extension at approximately $6 million per season could prove to be a shrewd move if he solidifies his position as a starter by September.
While Brandel typically begins a season as the flexible backup, this time, the Vikings are treating him as their primary plan at center. He logged a 61.4 PFF mark, not far off the aforementioned Fries. In fact, Jackson, Fries, and Brandel logged similar grades in 2025. Decent, not great.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
He’s grown up watching matches on Centre Court and his game is inspired by the legendary Andre Agassi – learn all about British wildcard Arthur Fery ahead of his quarter-final match against Flavio Cobolli at Wimbledon 2026.
Milwaukee has won four straight games and seven in a row against St. Louis. The Cardinals lost their fourth straight.
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Gasser (2-3) allowed just a two-run homer to Nelson Velázquez. He struck out four, walked one and scattered four hits.
Cooper Pratt gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead with a leadoff triple in the third inning and scored on a Christian Yelich groundout.
Luis Lara, in his major league debut, got his first hit and RBI with a two-run single that gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead in the fifth.
Milwaukee broke it open with seven runs against Cardinals reliever Jared Shuster in the seventh. Ortiz started the outburst with a solo homer and Brice Turang, Gary Sánchez, Jackson Chourio and Pratt followed with RBI hits.
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Cardinals starter Hunter Dobbins (1-1), who was appointed the team’s 27th man for the doubleheader, allowed three runs on four hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked three.
With St. Louis trailing by eight, infielder Bryan Torres pitched two scoreless innings of relief.
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Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (3-7, 3.12 ERA) will make his final start before the All-Star break after having turn in the rotation pushed back a day. The Brewers counter with LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.82 ERA) in the fourth game of their five-game series on Wednesday night.
LeBron James is one of the latest people who stood up for Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown. There has been some noise about how Brown was treated by the Boston Celtics, trading him to an Eastern Conference rival for Paul George and future draft picks.
After the deal, there have been reports from anonymous sources about how the league had “mixed” opinions about the NBA star. According to the reports, not everyone likes Brown, especially his off-season activities.
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Former NBA player Austin Rivers posted a video on Instagram and addressed the “schmear campaign” from “anonymous campaigns.”
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“He’s done nothing wrong,” Rivers said. “My man just works hard. Yeah, he has a stream and he does all these other stuff, and he is very outspoken and that can ruffle feathers and ‘scare teams’ from what I’m hearing, for whatever reason. But the only thing that really matters is the guy just shows up and plays.
“Now we got a schmear campaign by a bunch of anonymous sources, nobody puts their name out, of course. It’s a bunch of twerps and the NBA is filled with them. A lot of them who have no background in basketball, never really put any weight or any work or sweat in the game. They’re just people who got a part in an organization and have just lasted.”
LeBron James responded on Instagram by reposting the video and sharing it on his stories.
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“PUT A FKN NAME ON IT!” James posted.
James defended Jaylen Brown amid the criticism from anonymous sources after the Celtics-76ers trade.
Since many believed Boston didn’t receive enough in return, the Celtics-76ers transaction also generated a lot of buzz. Brown had just finished the best season of his career, averaging 28.7 points, leading the team to a 56-26 record and finishing sixth in the MVP voting.
George, meanwhile, appeared in 37 games, averaging 17.3 points in his second season in Philly. He also served a 25-game suspension without pay for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.
LeBron James And Jaylen Brown Could Team-Up in Philly
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the teams that are rumored to pursue LeBron James this summer. The conversations about James potentially landing in Philly started after the franchise traded for Jaylen Brown, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
“When the Sixers got Jaylen Brown, I did some research, and I found out within 24 hours, he (LeBron) is taking their pitch very seriously,” Charania said. “When I talk to teams now, I have a hierarchy of Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia, and then some teams on the peripheral.”
Having LeBron James team up with Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe could give the 76ers enough push to dominate the East.
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