Hill ended up making the catch, but both players stayed on the ground for several minutes in visible pain. Both exited the games with clear injuries.

Manager A.J. Finch provided updates on Finch and Baddoo in his postgame press conference. Both are undergoing further testing to see the severity of the injuries.

“Akil is getting checked out for a concussion and shoulder,” Hinch said. “I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t need at least a few days, if not an (injured list) stint. Derek’s getting his ribs checked out. It looked like Akil’s head went right into his ribcage. I think Derek’s elbow smoked Akil.

“When I got out there, both guys were pretty beat up and in a lot of pain. Very scary incident, and hopefully it’s just minimal at best. I just talked to Akil in the clubhouse, so he’s alert and doing OK, just a little beat up. I haven’t seen Derek yet.”

The two young players have been impressive throughout the season. Badoo, 22, currently has a .266 batting average with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. Hill, 25, is batting .260 with one home run, eight RBIs, and 13 runs scored in 27 games.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

Norway’s Karsten Warholm and the United States’ Rai Benjamin ran arguably one of the most memorable races in Olympics history in the men’s 400m hurdles. Warholm ran a 45.94, which broke his previous world record of 46.70. Benjamin, the silver medal winner, also smashed that record by running a 46.17. Even Bronze medal winner Alison dos Santos from Brazil nearly surpassed it, finishing with a 46.72.

After the race, Warholm was euphoric. In celebration, the Norwegian let out a celebratory scream while ripping his uniform in half. He then dropped to his knees in disbelief.

“Sometimes in training, my coaches keep telling me this could be possible with the perfect race,” Warholm said. “But it was hard to imagine it because it’s a big barrier, and it’s something you don’t even dream about.”

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The original record was held by American Kevin Young at the Barcelona Olympics, he ran a 46.78 and the record stood for nearly 30 years. Until, June 30, when Warholm broke the record at a Diamond League meet.

Benjamin declared the race as the “best race in Olympic history” and called his loss “the nature of the beast.” He was happy with the final outcome, even if it wasn’t exactly what he envisioned.

“If you would’ve told me that I was going to run 46.1 and lose, I would probably beat you up and tell you to get out of my room,” Benjamin said after the race. “I’m happy to be part of history.”

For Warholm, this is his first Olympics medal. The 25-year-old does have six gold medals combined from the World Championships, European Championships, and European Indoor Championships.

And now, a world record on the biggest stage in sports.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

The star point guard and the Suns agreed on a four-year contract worth up to $120 million, according to ESPN. The new deal will expire after Paul turns 40.

Paul is fresh off his first NBA Finals appearance in his career, with his Suns falling to the Bucks in six games. The 36-year-old still has plenty left in the tank and was adamant about that.

“I ain’t retiring, if that’s what you’re asking. That’s out. So, back to work,” Paul said after the Finals.

This season he averaged 16.4 points and 8.9 assists per game for Phoenix while making his 11th All-Star appearance. He was the floor general that was needed for the Suns to make their run.

Not only does Paul, entering his 17^th season, offer veteran leadership and poised ball-handling, but he also adds playmaking and intense defending. Paul has shot 37.1 percent from 3-point range throughout his career.

Paul has had stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Paul was a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns could have matched any deal. However, that does not matter now. The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers — LeBron James and Paul are good friends — were among the teams that were interested in the point guard.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

The 2020 NBA champions are near a deal to acquire point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. In exchange for the 2017 MVP, the Wizards would receive Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the Lakers’ No. 22 pick in Thursday night’s draft, according to The Athletic.

The Lakers have been on the prowl for another superstar to lift the pressure off of James and Davis. They are trying to make Westbrook that guy. However, the Lakers haven’t closed the book on another potential move. Before news of the Westbrook trade broke, ESPN reported Los Angeles was moving toward a similar deal that would’ve landed them Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings. With the swap for Westbrook still not finalized, ESPN reported that the Lakers are still talking with Sacramento about the sharpshooting Hield.

As a member of the Wizards, the 32-year-old Westbrook averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and a career-high 11.7 assists per game last season. He will be the key playmaker any time James isn’t on the court, which was a problem the Lakers had in 2021.

In the 27 games James missed due to injury, the Lakers went 12-15 and saw their points per game drop from 109.5 to 105.7.

The trade was dependent on the status of Harrell’s contract. The 27-year-old had a decision to make regarding his player option for next season. If he declined, then the Lakers would not have enough assets to complete the trade. However, if Harrell opted-in he would receive $9.7 million this season. He averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his lone year as a Laker.

For the Wizards, the trade may set up a rebuild in Washington. Star Bradley Beal has been growing frustrated with Washington’s lack of success and has been the center of many trade rumors.

Kuzma, 26, was seen as the centerpiece of the trade. His numbers have declined since James arrived in 2018, but he still has loads of potential. During his rookie year, Kuzma averaged 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and shot 36.6 percent from 3-point range — the best in his career.

The Wizards would also receive a draft pick, which they can use to potentially develop a young player, and a veteran swingman in Caldwell-Pope. Last season, Caldwell-Pope shot a career-high 41 percent from downtown.

The Lakers are trying to return to the Finals after being knocked out in the first round by the Phoenix Suns this season. James, 36, is hunting for his fifth championship.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

The Giants are expected to release the receiver-turned-tight end, The Post’s Paul Schwartz reported Wednesday.

Benjamin was seen speaking with GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge before exiting the field following the first day of practice.

The 30-year-old signed a one-year, $990,000 contract with the Giants in May and was trying to resurrect his career as a tight end.

Gettleman took Benjamin in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft while with Carolina.

He last appeared in a game in 2018.

Benjamin has 209 receptions for 3,021 yards and 20 touchdowns in 61 career games.

The Giants have plenty of other options at tight end, including Pro Bowler Evan Engram, Kayden Smith, Levine Toilolo, and Kyle Rudolph — who the Giants signed this offseason, but is currently on the PUP list due to foot surgery.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

Jade Carey, the 21-year-old from Phoenix, Ariz., will replace Simone Biles in the competition, USA gymnastics said.

Carey finished ninth in the qualifiers and did not qualify because she was the third-ranking American behind the 24-year-old Biles and 18-year-old Sunisa Lee.

The International Gymnastics Federation only allows two gymnasts per country for the finals.

“We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being,’ USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”

Carey scored a 56.265 in the all-around competition qualifiers, behind Biles (57.731) and Lee scored (57.166).

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Carey spent two years competing in World Cup events, earning enough points to earn an individual nominative spot. She ended up winning gold in the vault and floor competitions in the 2020 Melbourne World Cup and the 2019 Doha World Cup and Baku World Cup, securing her a spot in the Olympics.

In qualifiers, the Oregon State senior also scored a 15.166 in the vault, 14.133 in the uneven bars, 12.866 in the balance beam and 14.100 on the floor. Her vault score was good enough for second place, and her floor score placed her in third.

Now, Carey will replace Biles and attempt to bring home gold in the all-around events.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

Japanese boxer Arisa Tsubata started the ceremony off by running on a treadmill for the opening fifteen minutes. Alongside her were other athletes who were exercising on other pieces of equipment that were socially distanced.

Tsubata served as a nurse during Japan’s frontline fight against COVID-19. She was also training to qualify as an Olympic boxer. However, due to the pandemic the qualifiers were canceled and changed to have the top 53 fighters in the world at the Olympics.

“I had been working so hard for a year after the postponement of the Olympics, and it’s so frustrating that I don’t even have the right to compete.” Tsubata said, via Reuters.

The 27-year-old won the national Japanese boxing championship in the middleweight division in 2019. However, she could not qualify because she started boxing three years ago which missed the cut-off. Tsubata focused on the Olympics after quitting her job at a hospital in January.

The new and unusual first act of the ceremony prompted plenty of jokes on Twitter.

Now, that the opening ceremony is underway, it is time for the games to begin. It will be a wild, adventurous couple of weeks from here on out.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

Kriske became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw four or more wild pitches in a single inning when he blew the Yankees lead in a 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. After the game, he was sent back down to Triple-A with no corresponding move announced.

“Just pure execution,’’ Kriske told reporters. “It’s part of the game. Obviously, I’ve got to do a better job. I want to be someone the team can rely on in big spots. It’s something I’m gonna have to do better… It sucks to be the one to blow it for the team.”

To start the tenth inning, the 27-year-old had Rafael Devers on second. Devers moved to third after the first wild pitch. The next wild pitch sent Devers home to tie up the game at 4.

Kriske then walked Xander Bogaerts before moving him all the way to third on his third and fourth wild pitches. The nail in the coffin was a walk-off sac fly to right field from Hunter Renfroe.

The final stat line for Kriske was one hit, one run, and one strikeout with his four wild pitches in just one inning. His ERA ballooned to 10.80 after the blown save.

“It was just one of those nights I wasn’t executing,” Kriske, who earned his first career win Wednesday night against the Phillies, said.

“It’s not fun. There’s a lot of guys battling their butts off and it sucks to be the one to blow it for the team.”

The bullpen issues go far beyond Kriske.

Chad Green allowed two runs on five hits in the ninth inning for his second blown save. Jonathan Loaisiga and Nector Cortes are currently on the COVID-19 injured list, and Zack Britton just returned from injury.

Aroldis Chapman has seemingly returned to his usual form, but the lefty had pitched the previous two nights in wins over the Phillies.

“In this stretch of baseball where we’ve won a lot of games, we’ve had some incredibly tough losses like tonight,’’ manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees’ four-game winning streak was snapped. “Time and time again, guys have bounced back. That’s what we expect to do [Friday].”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

Giannis Antetokounmpo would not let that be his legacy.

Instead of leaving when times were tough, Antetokounmpo persevered, and it paid off. The “Greek Freak” secured the Larry O’Brien Trophy for his Milwaukee Bucks after a 105-98 Game 6 win over the Suns.

“I couldn’t leave. There was a job that had to be finished,” Antetokounmpo said. “I feel like the bubble did not pay us justice. Give credit to the Miami Heat. They played great, but it did not pay us justice. Everybody was feeling homesick. We are a family-oriented team, wanted to see our families. But coming back, I was like, ‘This is my city. They trust me. They believe in me. They believe in us.’ Even when we lost … obviously I wanted to get the job done.

“But that’s my stubborn side. It’s easy to go somewhere and go win a championship with somebody else. It’s easy. I could go — I don’t want to put anybody on the spot — but I could go to a super team and just do my part and win a championship. But this is the hard way to do it, and this is the way to do it and we did it.”

Last season, the Bucks fell to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs. The loss ignited trade rumors and a blurry future for the two-time MVP. At the time, the star only had one year on his contract, and many teams were gearing up for the summer sweepstakes.

Eventually, Antetokounmpo met with the Bucks’ brass and signed a five-year, $228M supermax extension. Now, he is an NBA champion.

Back in 2014, Antetokounmpo tweeted that he would never leave the Bucks until they win a championship. That dream came to fruition, and he can leave Milwaukee peacefully if he so chooses.

“I’m out now. Can I leave now?” Antetokounmopo said jokingly after winning his first championship. “I want a trade. Who do I have to talk to about a trade?”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

According to ESPN, Rodgers declined a contract extension from the Green Bay Packers that would have made him the highest-paid quarterback, and player, in football. The deal would have kept Rodgers in Green Bay for an additional five years.

The 37-year-old’s frustration with the Packers’ front office, especially general manager Brian Gutekunst, has been well-documented throughout the past year and change. Gutekunst famously traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft – which irked Rodgers.

“I think the general reaction at first was surprise, like many people,” Rodgers previously said after the selection. “Obviously I’m not going to say that I was, you know, thrilled by the pick necessarily, but the organization is thinking not only about the present but about the future. And I respect that.”

The Packers made a number of other moves since that upset Rodgers even more, including releasing wide receiver Jake Kumerow, which ended up being a “death knell” in their relationship. Word leaked out that Rodgers compared Gutekunst to former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause, who is credited with both the growth and demise of the ’90s Chicago Bulls dynasty, in group texts with teammates.

Rodgers’ status for training camp remains very much up in the air. Packers players are scheduled to report on July 28.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

“I am deeply remorseful for my action on Tuesday night. I behaved in a manner I am not proud of. I have been dealing with some personal challenges over the last several months, but that is not an excuse for how I acted,” Sherman said in a statement that he posted on social media.

“The importance of mental and emotional health is extremely real and I vow to get the help I need. I appreciate all of the people who have reached out in support of me and my family, including our community here in Seattle. I am grateful to have such an amazing wife, family and support system to lean on during this time.”

The statement comes after the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed five criminal charges against Sherman, according to KOMO News.

The charges include driving under the influence, reckless endangerment of roadway workers, second-degree criminal trespass, resisting arrest and third-degree malicious mischief.

The 33-year-old is also being investigated for a possible hit-and-run and DUI. According to TMZ Sports, he crashed into a barrier in a construction zone on a highway. He then drove away from the scene of the crime and abandoned his car in a parking lot.

The Super Bowl XLVIII champ was released from jail on Thursday following the incident. King County District Court Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai called Sherman a “pillar of the community,” and released him due to it being his first arrest.

“His contributions to the community are innumerable,” Cooper Offenbecher, Sherman’s lawyer, said of the cornerback. “Richard Sherman is among the best in our community. We are proud to have him here, and he is a good person and a good soul.”

Sherman spent the previous three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Before that, he was with the Seattle Seahawks for seven. He has been on three First Team All-Pro teams in his 10-year career.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

To this day, he is “still trying to figure out exactly what it all means.”

“I still think about to this day when I was in the doctor’s office, and I got the news from the surgeon that I would need Tommy John surgery, and it was absolutely devastating,” Syndergaard said on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” Monday night.

“But it’s all about perception and how you tackle things in the future. And so, I just saw it as a challenge, and I’m still getting challenged to this day.”

Syndergaard, whose last big-league appearance was on Sept. 29, 2019, started the long, strenuous journey in March 2020. Typically, the recovery time from such an injury is 12-to-15 months. His rehab assignment was paused in May when he experienced elbow soreness. After initially hoping he’d be back by now, the Mets could get the right-hander back by September.

“I don’t like putting timelines on things, but hopefully I’m reaching all those benchmarks,” Syndergaard said.

The Mets (47-40) went into the All-Star break in first place in the NL East. The Mets may still be active in trying to add pitching before the July 30 trade deadline despite Syndergaard and Carlos Carrasco making progress. Acting general manager Zack Scott said he isn’t making “assumptions” about those two and would view their returns as a “bonus.”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

The weapon was reportedly found in an open duffel bag when cops pulled the 28-year-old Clark’s Lamborghini SUV over for a routine traffic stop. Clark claimed the gun was not his, and belonged to a member of his security team. He has a hearing set for next week, according to TMZ.

Clark, who won Super Bowl LIV in 2020 with the Chiefs, was acquired in 2019 from the Seattle Seahawks for a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, a 2020 second-round pick, and a swap of third-round picks in 2019. The Chiefs then gave Clark a five-year, $104 million contract.

The two-time Pro Bowler has become one of the more important pieces to the Chiefs defense during their back-to-back Super Bowl runs. He was second on the team last year in sacks with six and led the team in tackles for losses with eight. Clark has 14 total sacks since joining the Chiefs.

Because Clark has been charged with a felony, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could place him on the commissioner’s exempt list, which is paid leave. The Chiefs would have to pay Clark his $18.5 million base salary, for as long as he’s on the list.

Clark had 35 sacks over his first four seasons with the Seahawks. He has eight sacks in six playoff games for Kansas City.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

With the Clippers already trailing the Phoenix Suns 118-92 midway through the fourth quarter of an elimination game, Patrick Beverley – who has a reputation as one of the dirtier players in the league – decided to close the season out on his own terms.

During a stoppage in play, Suns’ point guard Chris Paul was making his way back to his team’s bench when he brushed past Beverley, appearing to say something that upset him. Beverley then shoved Paul in the back, sending him falling to the ground.

The Clippers point guard was ejected from the game after the cheap shot, effectively ending his season as Los Angeles lost the game, 130-103.

“Book (Devin Booker) plays with an edge, and I’m the same way. Over the years, people talk junk to me, a lot of the times I usually say something back. But, I changed a little, a little,” Paul said, referring to the Beverley incident. “And I kept thinking if we do what we are supposed to do, I get the last laugh. So, you stay the course long enough, you break them. And that’s what we did.”

After the shove, Paul’s teammates got in Beverley’s face in retaliation – with a notable exception. Suns center Frank Kaminsky, who did not play in the game, had a front-row seat to the chaos, yet didn’t exactly react too strongly.

Kaminsky seemed shocked, possibly unsure of what to do. The Wisconsin product stood still, watching the event play out for a couple of seconds before dishing out a weak shove on Beverley.

This isn’t the first dustup between the two point guards have had in this series. In Game 5, while Paul was in the act of shooting, Beverley swept his legs out from under him. He was called for a flagrant foul.

The tenacious defender then skipped around, flailing his arms to imply that Paul was flopping. He then went over to Paul and told him: “Way to sell it.”

Like CP3 predicted, the Suns would get the last laugh, sending the Clippers home in Game 6. Phoenix will now play either the Bucks or Hawks in the NBA Finals. For Paul, it will be his first finals appearance in his 16-year career.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

The performance caused his teammate, the outspoken DeMarcus Cousins, to tell fans to cut the memes and put some respect on George’s name.

“I don’t know where this trolling bulls—t has come from,” Cousins said of George in a postgame press conference. “The internet controls the narrative about these players. It’s become foolish man. That’s one of the most special players to ever lace his shoes up. Give this dude his flowers, man.”⁣

With the Clippers’ backs against the wall, George scored 41 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out six assists to lead the Clippers to a 116-102 win over the Phoenix Suns to extend the series. George became the fourth player in Clippers’ history with a 40-point playoff game.

The playoff criticism is nothing new to George. Last season, he was gifted the nickname “Pandemic P,” as opposed to the usual “Playoff P,” due to his poor performance in the bubble.

George struggled to find his shooting touch in the first round against the Mavericks last year, shooting 28-for-106 (26.4 percent) from the field. The struggles continued when the Clippers had an epic 3-1 collapse against the Denver Nuggets in the second round.

This year, “Playoff P” has returned. Without the help of Kawhi Leonard, who is out with a knee injury, George has been the go-to superstar the Clippers needed. George has been averaging about 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists since Leonard went down with the injury.

“I don’t understand the slander. This is becoming quite silly now. Respect these players. Respect these greats.” Cousins added.

The Clippers still have their work cut out for them. They still trail 3-2 to the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. If George can lead his squad to a comeback and reverse the 3-1 collapse from a year ago, then he could permanently cement himself as “Playoff P.”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

The Australian-born Simmons told his country’s national team that he will forego the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. Instead, Simmons is expected to work out the kinks in his game.

It is a tough blow for the Aussies, as they were expected to compete for a medal. However, head coach Brian Goorjian said he supports the former No. 1 overall pick’s decision.

“The best thing for everybody right now is for him to go on and develop that skill package and improve in a couple of areas for his next season in the NBA, but the Boomers are always here for him. We wanted him to know that in his time of need, the culture and the guys here are behind him and support him,” Goorjian said in a statement.

Simmons needs the extra work after losing his mojo in the playoffs. The 24-year-old broke an infamous free-throw record by shooting 34.2% from the line over throughout the playoffs, marking the lowest percentage ever in the postseason. The previous leader was Shaq, who shot 37.4% from the line in 2006.

On top of Simmons’ free-throw woes, he has also struggled to look in the direction of the basket. In the series against the Hawks, Simmons went on a four-game stretch of failing to attempt a shot in the fourth quarter. He also scored just 19 points total in the last three games of the series, and only five points in a crucial Game 7.

After the disastrous series, Simmons, along with head coach Doc Rivers, were the subject of serious criticism. This caused a fed-up Rivers to create a game plan for Simmons to focus on improving his game this summer.

“I think some of the stuff is obvious,” Rivers said. “We’re not hiding that Ben has to become a better free-throw shooter, and a more confident free-throw shooter. If that happens, I really believe a lot of the other parts of his game will follow. I said that before the season started. The first thing I said was, ‘We got to get him to the line 10 times a night.’ So, we’ve got to put in work so he can get there. But if we can get him there, man, his game goes to a different level.”

The 2018 Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star could potentially be working on his game for a new team as well. Last week, there were reports that Simmons’ agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul met with the Sixers’ brass at the NBA combine in Chicago to discuss Simmons’ future on the team.

Philadelphia is hesitant to break up “the process,” and trade Simmons, but there are multiple teams who have been interested in the 6-foot-11 point guard. One team in particular, the Minnesota Timberwolves, reportedly wants Simmons ‘badly.’

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

That’s according to Pro Football Talk, which reported Monday that multiple sources believe Brady was talking about the Raiders when he quipped on HBO’s “The Shop” last week, “One of the teams, they weren’t interested at the very end. I was thinking, ‘You’re sticking with that motherf–ker?'”

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Raiders expressed interest in Brady last offseason when the future Hall of Famer was a free agent for the first time.

The Raiders have only made the postseason once in Carr’s seven-year tenure, falling in the Wild Card round in 2017.

Carr’s job has seemed unstable for some time, leading to several trade rumors over the years — including this offseason, when Las Vegas reportedly inquired about Seahawks star Russell Wilson. Raiders GM Mike Mayock publicly refuted those rumors.

A three-time Pro Bowler, the 30-year-old Carr threw for 4,103 yards, 27 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while completing 67.3 percent of his throws last season when Las Vegas went 8-8.

Brady, 43, meanwhile threw 40 touchdowns against 12 interceptions while leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship.

“When I look back I’m like, there’s no f–king way I would’ve went to that team,” Brady said on HBO. “But they said they didn’t want me. I know what that means, I know what that feels like. And I’m gonna go f–k you up because of that.”

Brady may already have done just that — he threw four touchdowns against the Raiders in a 45-20 rout in Week 7.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

Mavs star Luka Doncic, who has already had uncertainty surrounding his future in Dallas, reportedly does not like his sidekick Kristaps Porzingis, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported on “The Lowe Post” podcast.

The two have been known to have “dustups” since Porzingis’ arrival in Dallas, according to Mavs owner Mark Cuban. One of them occurred after Porzingis visited a strip club after a playoff game against the Los Angeles Clippers. While the Mavericks decided to laugh off the event, it reportedly angered Doncic, per Mike Fischer of 105.3 The FAN.

Doncic may have a problem with Porzingis, but Porzingis denies ever having a problem with Luka and countered Cuban’s claim.

“I’ve never had any problems with my teammates off the court, I’ve always gotten along very well with them,” Porzingis said on Radio Marca, a Spanish radio station. “I don’t know what Cuban was talking about. I try to be as professional as possible, do what I have to do and be a soldier for the team.”

Dallas acquired Porzingis from the New York Knicks in 2019. Dallas traded Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and two future first-round draft picks for Porzingis, Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke.

The former Knick has not met expectations since the trade. He averaged 20.1 points per game and 8.9 rebounds during the 2020-21 regular season, but faltered in the postseason. In Dallas’ first-round series against the Clippers, Porzingis averaged just 13.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He was also a liability on defense.

The Mavs managed to blow a 2-0 lead in that series, and lost Game 7 in Los Angeles.

Dallas will want to please Doncic and keep him around for as long as possible, but it could be hard to move Porzingis and the $100 million he has left on his contract. The two may have to make up and get over their differences.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

The Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson have begun to discuss a contract extension — but there won’t any agents involved. Instead, Jackson will be represented by his mother, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

“Agents, a lot of times, sort of act as a buffer for teams to players,” Rapoport said on “The Pat McAfee Show” this week. “It is a little different with Lamar Jackson because it’s his mom sort of acting as his business partner, business manager.”

This is not the first negotiation that Felicia Jones, the 2019 MVP’s mom, has been involved in. She led contract discussions for Jackson’s rookie deal, securing a four-year, $9.5 million deal for her son.

NFL players can’t begin renegotiating contracts until after their third regular season concludes. The Ravens exercised Jackson’s fifth-year option that will pay him over $23 million in 2022.

When Jackson made his mom his business partner, it “raised eyebrows,” in the agent community, according to Rapoport. Many players reps — and McAfee, the former NFL punter — fear that having his mom represent him could come back to haunt the 24-year-old superstar.

“It is a lot of pressure, unbelievably difficult,” McAfee said of NFL contract negotiations. “The stakes are incredibly high because if you lock yourself into a bad deal you could cost yourself tens of millions of dollars.”

The franchise QB has certainly earned a large payday. In his MVP season, Jackson threw for 3,127 yards, 36 touchdowns, only six interceptions, and completed 66.1% of his throws. The dual-threat star also added 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Jackson was drafted by the Ravens with the last pick in the first round in 2017. He has led them to the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. But, he still has unfinished business left in Baltimore.

“I would love to be here forever,” Jackson told reporters in May. “I love Baltimore. I love the whole organization. I love everybody in the building. But hopefully we’ll be making something happen pretty soon—or whenever.”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris

During a timeout in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup semifinals, the Golden Knights threw up a picture of singer Celine Dion in Knights gear. This did not sit well with the Canadian-born singer and her fans – and Dion denied being a traitor.

“By the way, I have nothing to do with this photo…. And you know what photo I’m talking about!” Dion wrote in a tweet.

Dion, who was born in Charlemagne, Canada, has been seen sporting a Knights jersey before. She has a residency in Las Vegas and has worn a jersey on stage during many performances. But, her ultimate allegiance is to Canada.

After the prank, the Canadiens made sure to tweet about the “My Heart Will Go On” singer, posting a photo of Dion in a Canadiens jersey with Youppi, the team mascot.

The Canadiens also took a return shot at the Knights. During a stoppage in play in Thursday’s Game 6, the Canadiens posted a picture of actor Ken Jeong on their jumbotron. The actor is widely known for his role as Leslie Chow in the movie “The Hangover,” a movie about four friends having a night out in Las Vegas.

The Canadiens ended up with the last laugh both on the ice and off it, defeating the Knights 3-2 in a Game 6 overtime thriller. Artturi Lehkonen was the hero for Montreal, scoring the game-winning goal to send the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1993.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris