AMES, Iowa — Nate Heise hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Tamin Lipsey came up with an offensive rebound in the final seconds to cap No. 6 Iowa State’s rally in a 70-67 victory over Big 12 leader and second-ranked Houston on Monday night.
Heise was 3 for 3 from 3-point range hours after sister Taylor Heise scored to help the U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey team beat Sweden 5-0 to reach the gold-medal game in Milan.
The Cyclones (23-3, 10-3) closed with a 17-4 run to take down a second top-10 team in three days. Iowa State topped No. 8 Kansas 74-56 on Saturday.
The Cougars (23-3, 11-2) had their six-game winning streak snapped and their conference lead was cut to a half-game over No. 4 Arizona heading into their matchup Saturday in Houston. Iowa State is third, a game behind Houston.
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Heise hit the 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:17 to play to give the Cyclones a 69-67 lead. Houston had two chances to tie or take the lead, but was called for a shot-clock violation with 43 seconds to play, then Chris Cenac Jr., missed a shot with four seconds left.
Blake Buchanan was fouled after rebounding Cenac’s miss, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. Lipsey, though, got the offensive rebound, tapping the ball back to Joshua Jefferson, who was fouled with asecond left. Jefferson made his first free throw for the final margin.
Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points. Heise had 11 and Buchanan had 10.
Kingston Flemings led Houston with 22 points. Emanuel Sharp had 16 points, all in the first half. Milos Uzan had 11 points.
Sep 27, 2025; Dubliln, Ireland; Minnesota Vikings former defensive tackle John Randle during NFL Live at Whelan’s Pub. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.l
The Minnesota Vikings are not far from revealing their quarterback plan, either to sign a veteran as insurance for 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy or to bring in a competitor who could take his job. And in the last few days, we learned Hall of Famer John Randle’s stance — add a competent veteran, but not one like Derek Carr or Kirk Cousins, as the end-all solution.
The Vikings can’t treat the QB2 spot like an afterthought, and John Randle opined on that situation.
Randle sounded wildly unimpressed with the idea of landing Carr or Cousins. He wants a game manager for support, not an old retread QB1 with limited upside.
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Randle Wants a Veteran Safety Net Behind McCarthy
Everyone has a Vikings quarterback opinion, as free agency looms three weeks away.
John Randle patrols the line on December 20, 2010, at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis during second-quarter action against the Chicago Bears, wearing No. 93 as the former Vikings defensive lineman battles in the trenches on a cold night that ended in a 40-14 Chicago victory. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
Randle on the Vikings’ QB Strategy
Foremost, Randle said on SKOR North airwaves about Carr and Cousins: “I mean, like, Derek Carr? I’m like — I’m not a big fan of Derek Carr. I’m sorry. He retired. He said he wanted to come back, and then retired on the guys. Talking about Kirk Cousins coming. We’ve been down that road before. No.”
“We want to move on from you. You have what, maybe one playoff game? I want more. It’s finding a quarterback — maybe he’s not that great of a quarterback — but a guy who can manage on the offense.”
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Randle also said about McCarthy’s stakes: “If I was the GM, I would definitely give him competition. I’m bringing in competition for him. I would tell him, ‘Last year, you had your chance. We gave it to you. But you didn’t prove that you could really handle it, so we’re gonna bring somebody in who’s definitely gonna give you competition.’”
It’s worth noting that Randle’s opinion isn’t far off from the collective fan sentiment. Most hope McCarthy succeeds, and to do that, he’ll need another audition.
The Comments Translating to This List?
If Randle prefers a quarterback who will merely manage the game and not truly threaten McCarthy’s QB1 post, his list would have to look like this:
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Carson Wentz
Case Keenum
Davis Mills (trade)
Drew Lock (trade)
Gardner Minshew
Jake Browning
Jameis Winston (trade)
Jimmy Garoppolo
Joe Flacco
Kenny Pickett
Marcus Mariota
Mitchell Trubisky
Russell Wilson
Teddy Bridgewater
Tyrod Taylor
Otherwise, with more popular targets like Kyler Murray and Mac Jones via trade, those men would assuredly push McCarthy to the edge and take his job.
Probably a Step up from Carson Wentz
After McCarthy’s high ankle sprain last September, Carson Wentz took over as quarterback. Minnesota managed only two wins in his five starts, and their season quickly declined. By mid-December, their playoff aspirations were dashed, effectively rendering Weeks 15 through 18 meaningless. The 2025 season later ended with a 9–8 record.
The disappointing result stemmed from a series of questionable choices: the Vikings hesitated during free agency, bypassed more dependable backup quarterback options, traded for Sam Howell late in the process, and ultimately, when Howell didn’t pan out, signed Wentz as a last resort. This sequence of events drew considerable criticism, which their final record did little to quell.
Carson Wentz goes through pregame warmups on October 19, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis before the Vikings host the Eagles, loosening his arm and moving through throwing drills under the lights as fans file in for the matchup between his current team and former franchise. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Therefore, the question heading into 2026 is: if Wentz or somebody similar remains the backup, what will realistically change? The same team structure, the same backup plan, the same potential limitations. To expect a different outcome with the same approach would require a significant leap of faith.
Therefore, according to Randle, the Vikings must find a better quarterback than Wentz, but not an old-ish option like Carr or Cousins.
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That’s probably code for someone like Garoppolo or Minshew.
Win-Now Mode?
Of course, the Vikings face this quarterback conundrum at an awkward time for head coach and de facto team CEO Kevin O’Connell. The skipper has been in charge of the enterprise for four seasons, reaching the postseason twice, notching zero playoff wins, and boasting the NFL’s fifth-best regular season win percentage since the start of 2022.
O’Connell may not have the luxury of rolling with McCarthy and a Wentz type. Very few coaches enter Year No. 5 with a team that has no playoff wins to show for it. So, while no member of the Vikings’ ownership has expressly said it, O’Connell is probably on the hot seat to win a playoff game in 2026.
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Kyler Murray surveys the field on August 8, 2019, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale before a preseason contest against the Chargers, the Cardinals rookie quarterback taking in the scene and preparing for his early professional action during Arizona’s exhibition opener. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
That outlook would suggest he needs a solid quarterback addition — not just Brett Rypien or Sam Howell.
That’s why the offseason is so fascinating — what caliber quarterback will O’Connell seek? A sure-fire starter via trade like Kyler Murray? Or a game manager like Garoppolo?
Randle says a wily game manager behind McCarthy is the special sauce.
The 2026 Genesis Invitational goes down this week at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the PGA Tour tournament, including a full Genesis Invitational TV schedule, streaming information and complete tee times for the first and second rounds once they are released.
Host Tiger Woods will be there to welcome the event home, though he won’t be teeing it up as he recovers from surgery. But the best Tour pros —including all of the Top 10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking — will be in the field.
That includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has looked strong to start the season. He was three top-4 finishes and one win in three starts. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is making his second start of the season at Riviera following a T14 finish in his 2026 debut at Pebble Beach.
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This week’s tournament is another PGA Tour Signature Event, featuring a limited field and a $20 million purse, with $4 million going to the winner.
CBS and Golf Channel will provide TV coverage of the 2026 Genesis Invitational, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer streaming coverage and featured group coverage all week long. Paramount+ will air simulcasts of CBS’s coverage.
You can find complete information about streaming or watching the tournament on TV below.
What: 2026 Genesis Invitational Where: Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif. When: Thursday-Sunday, February 19-22 Purse: $20 million ($4 million winner’s share)
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With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
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How to watch on TV
CBS and Golf Channel will air TV coverage of the 2026 Genesis Invitational this week. Check out the full TV schedule below.
Thursday, February 19: 4-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Friday, February 20: 4-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Saturday, February 21: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-7 p.m. ET (CBS) Sunday, February 22: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
How to watch online, streaming
You can watch the 2026 Genesis Invitational online via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, including exclusive early coverage beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET Thursday-Saturday and 9:45 a.m. ET on Sunday. ESPN+ will also provide featured hole and featured group coverage all four days of the tournament. You can stream CBS’s coverage on Paramount+.
After closing with a 67, in which he picked up more than 1.6 Strokes Gained: Putting, Morikawa got his first victory since October 2023 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this weekend. He revealed the putter was actually made for Kitayama on Saturday night, after he lost strokes on the greens, but still managed a 62 to climb into contention.
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Then he said he’d probably be “unsettled” with his putter for the rest of his career.
“It’s a comfort thing for me. I think I play a lot with my feel and I play a lot with my gut, and unfortunately, that changes a lot,” he said Saturday night.
That was after his debut at the Sony Open and before his next start at the Phoenix Open and when he said he played a match with Kitayama, his brother Daniel and Min Woo Lee at home in Las Vegas. The wide blade and he weren’t getting along, before he spotted the flow neck Spider Daniel was using.
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“I was putting with it, didn’t make anything. I looked at Daniel, his brother, his caddie. I said, ‘Oh, let me try it.’ I tried it on maybe the 13th hole,” Morikawa said Sunday. “Felt great. I was like, I jokingly said I might have to take this. Then the rest of the round I only putted with that putter.”
Collin Morikawa’s new Spider Tour X.
TaylorMade
Morikawa said he was drawn to that particular putter because of the back “T” alignment aid and the unique flow neck as he wanted to feel more of a release through impact.
“It’s kind of settling nice to where it allows it to flow a little bit but it doesn’t have as much toe hang as the neck assumes just because of the mallet look,” Morikawa said Saturday.
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That weekend before the WM, Morikawa said all he did was roll putts with that Spider and he put it in the bag that week and it stayed in the bag at Pebble.
He nailed a go-ahead 30-foot birdie putt on 15 and then another 8-footer on 16, before using the putter from off the green on the 72nd to 2-putt for the clinching birdie to hold on for a one-shot win over Lee.
He joked he’s not sure if the putter has any staying power right now — he lost .05 strokes putting for the week — but it seems like it’s his to keep.
“I don’t know if he’s going to want it back,” Morikawa said of Kitayama. “He looked at it again this week. I think he’s trying to replicate it with maybe a different club or whatever.
Fans packed U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Minnesota Vikings hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in a high-energy NFC matchup. The home crowd reacted to a tense first half defined by missed opportunities and questionable calls that shaped the game’s momentum. Excitement and frustration blended across the stands as fans anticipated a second-half turnaround. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Sometimes, different doctors offer different medical opinions. So, too, do national NFL analysts, but most would agree with the prescribed medicine.
Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Vikings aren’t looking too shabby. In fact, Fowler drops the 9-8 Vikings down into his “Few Moves Away” category for teams that missed the playoffs. Is that an accurate assessment of where Minnesota finds itself? Or, perhaps, is a more robust roster remodel needed?
NFL Analyst on Vikings’ Top Weakness
Currently, the Seahawks are the envy of the NFL. The reigning Super Bowl champions have the league’s best defense, a 28-year-old passer on a bargain of a deal, and more than $60 million in cap space.
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In the words of Shrek, that’ll do, donkey.
The Vikings aren’t in a world of hurt but they’re not travelling without any wounds. Coming off a 9-8 season, Minnesota fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah before then hiring Matt Thomas to help bridge the gap to a full-time GM replacement (formerly of the Seahawks). Best case involves one major free agent signing, some savvy, punch-above-their-weight-class deals for other veterans, and then a 2015-level draft haul. Maybe there will even be a slobberknocker of a trade that helps Minnesota.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up before the game against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Fowler sees things in a glass-half-full manner.
Consider the initial assessment: “The hope for a quick turnaround: Kevin O’Connell’s 43-27 record through four seasons suggests the Vikings will be in the thick of the NFC North race yet again. The defense is among the league’s most physical and opportunistic. The offense is still full of playmakers, and the offensive line should be healthier.”
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Some further thoughts: “Why it might take longer than hoped: The quarterback position remaining a huge question entering the fifth season of this regime is concerning. It looks like Minnesota will add a veteran to compete with J.J. McCarthy. Several benched starters have resurrected their careers recently — including Sam Darnold with this franchise — and Minnesota offers a stable environment. But this is the one area holding the team back from major progress. That and an offensive line that couldn’t stay healthy.”
Fowler, to his credit, gives voice to both sides of the argument. What stands out, though, is a belief that Minnesota’s talented roster alongside Minnesota’s coaching staff will get things figured out. The key is competent play at quarterback.
Maybe that’s true.
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) slaps hands with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after a made field goal against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
DC Brian Flores has proven to be an exemplary strategist. Sp/T Coordinator Matt Daniels doesn’t get the credit he deserves, but he has coaxed excellence out of LS Andrew DePaola, PR/KR Myles Price, P Ryan Wright, and first-team All Pro K Will Reichard.
Coach O’Connell, meanwhile, is better than most. A good coach. Very good, even. He won’t remain in that category for much longer unless he begins winning in the playoffs. Nobody will be impressed by going 12-5 to claim the No. 5 spot in the NFC before getting eviscerated in the playoffs. The Vikings need to do far more.
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The Vikings, like every NFL team, would benefit from improved QB play. Banking on competition for J.J. McCarthy is essentially a foregone conclusion. All that remains is who will get added, why that person gets added, what it costs to add that person, and how that person will play in the Twin Cities.
Seeing the OL get (and stay) healthy will be massive, as Fowler notes. Likewise, the defensive line needs a bounce back. Last year, the Vikings had top corners Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers stay healthy all year; can that occur yet again?
Seeing the run game become respectable, Justin Jefferson return to elite, and Blake Cashman play a complete season would be similarly huge.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell showed visible emotion Sep 8, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, during second-half action at Soldier Field against the Bears. O’Connell’s reaction on the sideline reflected the intensity of the divisional contest as Minnesota worked to maintain composure and adjust strategy on the road in the NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.
The Vikings are sitting on more than $40 million in cap debt. A path exists to clear out a huge amount of open cap space. After the frenzy that is free agency, the Vikings will look to use their nine draft picks wisely, especially the No. 18 selection.
Paris Saint-Germain travel to Monaco for the first leg of the Champions League playoffs. They will be favorites, but are wary of a Monaco side that is back on form.
Former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis will be looking to rebound from losing the title to Khamzat Chimaev when he steps inside the octagon next. “Stillknocks” recently revealed when he’d like to fight again and the opponent he’d like to face.
“For me, we needed to fix some things, obviously and I spent some time now doing that,” du Plessis told Fight Forecast. “I’ll be ready for April. I would love to be on that April card, the Miami card (UFC 327). There’s no opponent yet. There’s no contract yet. We don’t have any of that. Whoever. Let’s go. I’m ready to go again and get back to my belt as soon as possible. Don’t really matter who it is.”
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Du Plessis won the 185-pound championship at UFC 297 in January 2024 by defeating then-titleholder Sean Strickland via split decision. He successfully defended the belt twice before losing to Chimaev at UFC 319.
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Dricus du Plessis wants rematch with Khamzat Chimaev
While du Plessis is willing to face anyone at UFC 327, he knows who he’d like to fight. The South African wants a rematch with the champion despite their UFC 319 title bout being a one-sided dominating grappling performance by Chimaev.
“I would of course love for it to be Khamzat and redeem that loss,” he said. “For me, right now the next fight is the most important fight of my life. And I will win that fight and I will get my belt back.”
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“Fighting Khamzat again is of course what I’m after. Expecting any surprises (in a rematch)? No. There’s not going to be any surprises. I mean, that is the way that he’s going to fight. And if he tries anything different, it will be a terrible night (for him). We all know that, but he did what he had to do to win that belt. We can’t hate on him for that. He did what he needed to do. It’s the rules of the game and he did it. So, saying it’s not fair, it is fair. He did what he had to do. It’s not how I would win my belt, or would like to, but that’s what he did. Now it’s my responsibility to go and fix that to stop him from doing that again and get him to fight my fight,” du Plessis continued.
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“It’s always great when you have a guy that comes and fights because that’s my style and it’s what I love to do to entertain, to hear the crowd go crazy. But he knows that and that’s why he went for that style because, and once again I understand that it wasn’t the best fight to watch. In fact, it was a terrible fight to watch. But he did what he had to do to win that title. And good for him. My responsibility is to stop him from doing that, and that’s what I will do … I’ll have my belt back by the end of this year.”
Playing with other golfers can be a lot of fun — but it can also be a little intimidating at times. Any time you tee it up with golfers you don’t know, you might be the best player in the group … or you might be the worst.
Being the best is certainly more comfortable, but how do you handle it when you’re actually the worst?
This happened to me recently. My son was scheduling a practice round for a tournament and asked if I’d like to join. Any opportunity to play with him, I’ll take.
As it turned out, the “regular” golfers we were scheduled to play with didn’t show. So I found myself playing with three of the top juniors in the country. It was a bit intimidating, but still a lot of fun.
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Here are a few suggestions if you ever find yourself in a similar situations
1. Don’t play slow
This is rule number one. If you can do this, you’ll be just fine.
You may be hitting more shots than they are, so efficiency is key. Move quickly to your ball. Choose your club promptly. Keep your setup and routine simple and consistent.
You can also anticipate what club (or clubs) you might need and grab them as you return to the cart. You won’t always know exactly what you’ll need, but when you do, this small habit can save valuable time.
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2. Know when to pick up
If you’re not in a tournament, keep pace with the group. That might mean occasionally picking up your ball and moving forward to stay in position. There’s no need to hit several extra shots while others are waiting.
The same goes for putting. After your first putt, you might choose to pick up to keep things moving. You may not post a “true” score, but you can still enjoy the experience of playing alongside better golfers.
3. Choose the right times to socialize
One of the best parts of golf is the people you meet. A fun round often comes down to good conversation. Just be mindful of timing. Waiting on the group ahead or walking off the green toward the next tee are great opportunities to connect without slowing play.
4. Keep trying
Throughout the round, simply do the best you can with your own game. Ideally, you have a basic understanding of your tendencies and how to make small adjustments. Use the on-course experience as a chance to improve and self-correct. With the right mindset, you might even finish the round playing better than you started.
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5. Use it as motivation
Playing with great golfers can be incredibly inspiring. They often make the difficult look simple.
In my years of teaching, I’ve noticed that the best players are usually the ones who work the hardest. It looks effortless because they’ve earned it.
Man Utd consider swoop for Liverpool‘sAlexis Mac Allister, Man City not keen on James Trafford sale, Nicolas Jackson to return to Chelsea from Bayern Munich.
Manchester Unitedare considering a move to sign Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 27, from Liverpool with the World Cup winner potentially set to leave Anfield this summer. (Star), external
Nicolas Jackson, 24, is expected to return toChelsea this summer because his lack of game time at Bayern Munich means the Bundesliga club are unlikely to trigger an obligation-to-buy clause in the Senegal forward’s loan agreement. (Times – subscription required), external
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Arsenal have been told by intermediaries that Spain winger Nico Williams, 23, is ready to consider a summer exit from Athletic Bilbao. (Teamtalk), external
Brightonhave made Said El Mala, 19, a dream summer target and have submitted a written offer to Cologne for the Germany Under-21 winger. (Sky Germany), external
Napoli have made it their top priority to keep Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 29, out of the clutches of several Premier League clubs this summer by offering him a lucrative new deal. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Manchester Unitedhave denied making contact with Jurgen Klopp’s agent after he said the club made an enquiry about the 58-year-old former Liverpool manager taking over at Old Trafford. (Sky Sports), external
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Real Madrid are thought to be in pole position to sign Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck, 26, from Borussia Dortmund this summer with Barcelona also vying for his signature in a 50m euros (£43.4m) deal. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick wants to reinforce his defence with the signing of Borussia Dortmund and Norway full-back Julian Ryerson, 28. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
It’s safe to assume that the LA Lakers fanbase, or at least some parts of it, hasn’t fully embraced LeBron James. Carmelo Anthony called out the Lakers fans who continue to disrespect James, who has played eight seasons for the purple and gold franchise.
On the latest episode of the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Anthony and guest DeMarcus Cousins discussed plenty of topics around the NBA, including James’ future. The Hall of Famer described what “The King” is experiencing in what could be his final year with the Lakers.
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“He’s living long enough to be a villain,” Anthony said. “You get what I’m saying? That’s what he’s doing. He’s doing everything at the top, still holding this league down. This league don’t move without ‘Bron. I don’t give a f**k what nobody say. That’s a fact.”
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Carmelo Anthony then called out the Lakers fanbase for not fully accepting LeBron James despite bringing a championship in 2020. Anthony added that Lakers fans have no right to be angry at James if he signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.
“If you going to be mad at him leaving LA, f**k is you mad about?” Anthony said. “You see it written on the wall, right? Because of the influence that’s out there. Y’all pushing him out in a sense. Y’all never accepted him in LA anyway from the beginning.”
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The LA Lakers are reportedly ready to move on from LeBron James after the season. Luka Doncic signed his extension, and the franchise is one of the teams getting ready to create cap space for the summer of 2027, when some of the best players could become free agents.
LeBron James comments on the possibility of retiring
Speaking to reporters before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, LeBron James addressed the speculation about his future. James remains undecided if this will be his final season or if he moves forward this summer and joins a new team in free agency.
“When I know, you guys will know,” James said. “I don’t know. I have no idea.”
At 41 years old, James is still among the best players in the NBA. There are signs of slowing down, but it’s mainly due to dealing with sciatica at the start of the season.
Nevertheless, it’s going to be an interesting second half of the season for the LA Lakers. They did fix the shooting problem by adding Luke Kennard, but the defense and staying healthy are persistent issues.