There's another layer to the Los Angeles Clippers' unusual relationship with Aspiration.  Clipper...

<p>There's another layer to the Los Angeles Clippers' unusual relationship with Aspiration.</p><p>Clippers co-owner Dennis Wong wired the now-bankrupt company just under $2 million on Dec. 6, 2022 - nine days before it sent an overdue payment of $1.75 million to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/4200" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/4200">Kawhi Leonard</a> as part of Aspiration's contract with the forward, Pablo Torre reported Thursday on the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast, citing bank statements.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mKJyKFdT8rQ?si=0lgniFUXDRmCuTcf&amp;start=1570" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>The $1.75-million payment to Leonard on Dec. 15 was reportedly months late as Aspiration began running out of funds. That same day, the company laid off approximately 20% of its staff, a former finance department employee told Torre.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Wong's nearly $2-million investment, sent from his limited partnership DEA 88 Investments, reportedly marked the first time he had ever sent Aspiration money.</p><p>He owns 1% of the Clippers in contrast to Ballmer's 99%. Wong is also the vice-chairman and alternate governor of the franchise. He and Ballmer were roommates at Harvard during the 1970s and occasionally sit together courtside at Clippers games.</p><p>Wong's daughter was also previously employed by Aspiration, sources told Torre.</p><p>The NBA is investigating the Clippers for allegedly circumventing the salary cap by paying Leonard outside the terms of his player contract through Aspiration. Ballmer has denied the claims.</p><p>Commissioner Adam Silver <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342537" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342537">said</a> Wednesday that the league would look at the "totality of evidence" in its inquiry and the burden of proof would fall on the NBA.</p><p>The Clippers have been disciplined for attempted cap circumvention before. In August 2015, a year after Ballmer officially took over the franchise, the NBA fined the Clippers $250,000 for reportedly trying to entice their own free agent <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/200" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/200">DeAndre Jordan</a> with a Lexus endorsement deal worth $200,000 per year. Jordan agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks that summer but reneged on that agreement to return to Los Angeles.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Steve Ballmer and Dennis Wong (R) attend a basketball game between the LA Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on November 02, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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Report: Clippers co-owner wired Aspiration $2M before late Kawhi payment

Commissioner Adam Silver won't rush the NBA's investigation into allegations that Los Angeles Cli...

<p>Commissioner Adam Silver won't rush the NBA's investigation into allegations that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap by paying star forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/4200" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/4200">Kawhi Leonard</a> through a third party.</p><p>"Number one, the burden (of proof) is on the league if we're going to discipline a team, an owner, a player, or any of the constituent members of the league," Silver <a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/1965845599762137371">told reporters</a> at a press conference Wednesday. "I think, as with any process that requires a fundamental sense of fairness, the burden should be on the party that is, in essence, bringing those charges. ... I'd say in the case of the league, we and our investigators look at the totality of the evidence."</p><p>Journalist Pablo Torre showed troves of documents on the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast indicating that Ballmer made a personal $50-million investment in eco-friendly startup Aspiration in September 2021. In April 2022, Leonard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3337464" href="https://thescore.com/news/3337464">signed a marketing deal with the company</a> that would pay him $28 million over four years. A former Aspiration employee told Torre that Leonard's contract was worth more than any of the company's other celebrity endorsement deals.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Aspiration, however, never publicly announced it had signed Leonard, and the deal contained unusual terms for a marketing agreement, according to Torre. The two-time Finals MVP was permitted to opt out of any and all obligations to the company without breaking the contract, and the agreement was only valid as long as the six-time All-Star was still with the Clippers.</p><p>The company also reportedly agreed to a secondary deal with the forward that would have paid Leonard another $20 million in company stock, taking his total projected earnings with the organization to $48 million.</p><p>Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March after co-founder Joseph Sanberg was arrested and later charged with multiple counts of fraud. In August, he pleaded guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of more than $248 million.</p><p>The Clippers have adamantly denied trying to skirt the NBA's rules to illicitly pay Leonard through Aspiration, which also entered into a multi-year partnership with the franchise in September 2021. Ballmer, 69, told ESPN that Sanberg <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3338519" href="https://thescore.com/news/3338519">scammed</a> him. He also said he had no knowledge of any deals Leonard individually signed with Aspiration or any other company.</p><p>Silver said he would refrain from passing judgment on Ballmer or Leonard until the investigation - led by an outside law firm - is completed. However, he noted that the NBA has broad discretion in evaluating the evidence and potentially disciplining Ballmer and his franchise.</p><p>"As a matter of fundamental fairness," Silver said, "I would be reluctant to act if there was only a mere appearance of impropriety. ... Also, in a public-facing sport, the public at times reaches conclusions that later turn out to be completely false. I do want anybody else in the situation Mr. Ballmer is in now, or Kawhi Leonard for that matter, to be treated the same way I would want to be treated if people were making allegations against me. ...</p><p>"We're not a court of law at the end of the day either; we have broad authority to look at all information and to weigh it accordingly."</p>

INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 16: Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, left, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver have announced that the 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be held at the team's new Inglewood arena, the Intuit Dome. Press conference held at Intuit Dome on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 in Inglewood, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Silver: NBA will assess 'totality of evidence' in Clippers investigation

The NBA has launched its own investigation into gambling allegations surrounding Malik Beasley af...

<p>The NBA has launched its own investigation into gambling allegations surrounding Malik Beasley after suspicious activity around his prop bets, the league told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46215307/nba-investigating-free-agent-malik-beasley-gambling">ESPN's David Purdum</a> on Wednesday.</p><p>Beasley, 28, already came under scrutiny in a federal investigation looking into the same issue. In late August, his lawyers announced he was no longer a "target" of that probe but admitted to the <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2025/08/22/malik-beasley-no-longer-target-of-fbi-gambling-probe-lawyer-says/85775202007/">Detroit News</a> that they have "no idea" if Beasley will ultimately be charged.</p><p>The NBA is apparently close to concluding its own inquest, a source told Purdum. The league revealed in June that it was cooperating with the federal probe.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The investigations into Beasley stem from his one season with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24. Sportsbooks reportedly flagged unusual activity on the veteran guard's prop bets ahead of a Jan. 31 contest against the Portland Trail Blazers; his over/under on rebounds was at 2.5 for that contest, but the odds for that number shortened from approximately +120 to -250 after a significant number of bettors picked the under. Beasley finished with six rebounds that game, resulting in a loss for those who the picked the under.</p><p>The 2016 first-rounder was on course to sign a $42-million, three-year contract to return to Detroit before news of the federal investigation surfaced. The Pistons withdrew that offer and he remained an unrestricted free agent. However, Beasley <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOV-0DuiN2r/">suggested</a> Monday that his "decision is near," hinting he intends to sign with a club soon ahead of what would be his 10th NBA season.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 27: Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks and Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Beasley facing separate NBA probe amid feds' gambling investigation

Welcome to our recurring look at the various individual awards in the WNBA. This time, we're tapp...

<p><em>Welcome to our recurring look at the various individual awards in the WNBA. This time, we're tapping in on the eve of the conclusion of the 2025 regular season with our picks to win each of the six accolades.</em></p><h3>Rookie of the Year </h3><p><strong>3. Sonia Citron (Mystics):</strong> Washington's decision to trade Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky for the opportunity to select Citron at No. 3 overall was a stroke of genius by the Mystics' front office. Citron's excellence on both ends of the floor earned her an All-Star nod. She's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;Period=4&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=-1&amp;PerMode=Totals">second</a> league-wide in fourth-quarter scoring (209 points) and second in 3-point percentage (44.5%).<strong> </strong>Citron's effective off the ball as a cutter, too, and she routinely guards the opposition's top perimeter threats.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Kiki Iriafen (Mystics): </strong> Iriafen is the second half of the Mystics' All-Star rookie tandem. The USC product supplanted Aaliyah Edwards as the starting power forward, quickly establishing herself as an elite rebounder with her relentless motor. Iriafen set a new franchise single-season record for double-doubles and a rookie team record for free-throw attempts.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>1. Paige Bueckers (Wings): </strong>This year's No. 1 overall pick has lived up to the billing. Bueckers became the 10th rookie to start a WNBA All-Star Game and went off for a career-high 44 points against the Sparks in August to tie the single-game scoring mark by any first-year player. She's a mid-range assassin and an impact defender who's demonstrated great leadership amid a trying season. Bueckers has all the makings of one of the league's premier players for years to come.</p><h3>Defensive Player of the Year</h3><p><strong>3. Gabby Williams (Storm): </strong>Seattle would not have been able to lock up the final playoff seed this late in the campaign without Williams' pesky defense. Even after setting a franchise record with eight steals June 17 against the Los Angeles Sparks, she averaged 2.1 swipes in the 32 games that followed, which still kept her neck and neck with Sun guard Leila Lacan for the league lead.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Napheesa Collier (Lynx):</strong> As the Lynx put the finishing touches on a nearly wire-to-wire season in first place, Collier keeps proving herself as one of the WNBA's few elite two-way stars. With a combined 3.2 stocks (steals plus blocks), Collier's defensive value to Minnesota is as indisputable as her career-high and team-leading 23 points per contest. Specifically, perimeter defense has been her calling card; opponents are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/opponent-shooting/?Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=8ft%20Range&amp;sort=16-24%20ft.%20FG%20PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;CF=16-24%20ft.%20FGA*GE*5">shooting</a> just 31.7% on 6.5 attempts per game between 16-24 feet when Collier's on the floor. The Lynx star isn't defending all of those attempts herself, but it's still the worst clip by opponents within that range against any currently rostered player in the league.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800567/cropped_GettyImages-2233075404.jpg?ts=1757354254" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800567/w220xh124_GettyImages-2233075404.jpg?ts=1757354254 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800567/w320xh180_GettyImages-2233075404.jpg?ts=1757354254 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800567/w640xh360_GettyImages-2233075404.jpg?ts=1757354254 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800567/w768xh432_GettyImages-2233075404.jpg?ts=1757354254 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800567/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2233075404.jpg?ts=1757354254 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Becker / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>1. A'ja Wilson (Aces):</strong> Wilson's stellar individual prowess will likely be enough to earn her DPOY over Collier, who benefits from a better defensive supporting cast. Wilson tops the WNBA in blocks per game (2.3)<strong> </strong>while registering<strong> </strong>55.7%<strong> </strong>of Las Vegas' rejections during her minutes. She's tied for fifth<strong> </strong>in the league in steals<strong> </strong>(matching Collier's 1.6).<strong> </strong>And, among players with at least 500 minutes,<strong> </strong>she boasts the best defensive rating (99.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) on the Aces while their defense is at its worst (105.2) when she isn't playing.</p><h3>Most Improved Player</h3><p><strong>3.</strong> <strong>Allisha Gray (Dream):</strong> Gray's small but noticeable jump in efficiency - she went from 40.3/34.2/76.9 shooting splits in 2024 to 44.9/38/79.9<strong> </strong>this season - is just one of the many factors that make this Atlanta squad much more dangerous than last year's iteration. However, the fact that she's become more efficient on <em>career-high </em>volume across the board - while simultaneously becoming a better facilitator for her teammates - is what legitimizes the case for a back-to-back-to-back All-Star winning Most Improved Player at age 30.</p><p><strong>2. Azura Stevens (Sparks):</strong> Stevens has never shot better from deep over a full season than she has in 2025, which is why the Sparks vet is putting up a career-high 12.9 points per game in Year 8. But while she's converting a personal-best 38.6% of shots from beyond the arc, the percentage of her points that come from threes is actually down year over year (43.8% to 39.4%); instead, the rate of her fast-break points has climbed (9.4% to 13.3%), showing she's simply been more effective in transition opportunities.</p><p><strong>1. Veronica Burton (Valkyries):</strong> It was difficult to be optimistic about Burton's career trajectory at this time last year. Her minutes had dipped for a third straight season and she'd failed to cement a rotation spot with the Connecticut Sun after two years in Dallas with the same outcome. All that only boosts her case to win Most Improved Player in Year 4 after nearly quadrupling her scoring to 12<strong> </strong>points per game while adding six assists and 4.4 rebounds - all of which represent career bests - and helping guarantee a playoff berth in the Valkyries' inaugural season.</p><h3>Sixth Player of the Year</h3><p><strong>3.</strong> <strong>Natisha Hiedeman (Lynx):</strong> Hiedeman was on a heater down the stretch, scoring 20 or more in three straight September games before a quieter 6-point night Tuesday.<strong> </strong>She displayed some of her best shooting of the year during those three contests, going 12-of-18 (66.7%) on threes amid a significant minutes bump this month. Her increased playing time is at least partially due to the Lynx already locking up the top seed, but Hiedeman's electric (if streaky) touch off the bench has been a critical component of Minnesota's success all year.</p><p><strong>2. DeWanna Bonner (Mercury):</strong> Bonner's contributions off the bench have gotten much better since she joined the Mercury in early July after an unsuccessful nine-game run with the Fever. At 10.9 points per game, the 37-year-old is the <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=PTS&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;StarterBench=Bench&amp;CF=GP*GE*20:PLAYER_NAME*E*">only</a> player in the league predominantly deployed as a reserve with a double-digit scoring average (minimum 20 games this season), keeping her firmly in the mix for a fourth Sixth Player of the Year honor and what would be her first in 14 years.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800558/cropped_GettyImages-2233244003.jpg?ts=1757352650" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800558/w220xh124_GettyImages-2233244003.jpg?ts=1757352650 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800558/w320xh180_GettyImages-2233244003.jpg?ts=1757352650 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800558/w640xh360_GettyImages-2233244003.jpg?ts=1757352650 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800558/w768xh432_GettyImages-2233244003.jpg?ts=1757352650 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800558/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2233244003.jpg?ts=1757352650 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Adam Hagy / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>1. Naz Hillmon (Dream):</strong> In terms of overall impact, Hillmon has arguably been Atlanta's most important player all season. The fourth-year forward doesn't light up opponents like top-scoring teammates Allisha Gray or Rhyne Howard, but the metrics show Hillmon is also indispensable to the offense, as she <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661330/lineups-advanced/?sort=OFF_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;CF=MIN*GE*100">features</a> in the Dream's six best three-person lineups by offensive rating and eight of the top 10 (minimum 100 minutes). She also owns the best on-court net rating (14.2) of any Atlanta player who's played at least 50 minutes all season.</p><h3>Coach of the Year</h3><p><strong>3. Cheryl Reeve (Lynx):</strong> Reeve is seeking a record-extending fifth Coach of the Year award. The Lynx have been on a mission since losing last year's Finals in heartbreaking fashion. They own the league's top record by a fair margin as well as the No. 1 offense and defense. Minnesota is also one victory away from tying the WNBA's single-season record of 34 wins set by the Aces in 2023.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Karl Smesko (Dream):</strong> Smesko made the jump to the pros following a 22-year run with Florida Gulf Coast, where his teams were known for their heavy 3-point volume. The third-seeded Dream have enjoyed great success using the same formula, ranking second<strong> </strong>in offensive efficiency after averaging the fewest points last season.</p><p><strong>1. Natalie Nakase (Valkyries):</strong> The rookie head coach virtually wrapped up the award when Golden State became the first WNBA team to clinch a playoff berth in its inaugural season. The Valkyries' 23-20 record is just three games behind the defending champion Liberty and shatters the previous expansion-wins mark of 17 set by the Detroit Shock in 1998. Nakase's squad also boasts the league's fourth-best defense.</p><h3>Most Valuable Player</h3><p><strong>3. Alyssa Thomas (Mercury): </strong>Phoenix's point forward deserves more consideration for the WNBA's top individual honor. Thomas broke her own single-season WNBA record for triple-doubles and surpassed Caitlin Clark's league mark for assists in one campaign. She's also the first player in WNBA history to drop at least 300 dimes in three consecutive seasons.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>A'ja Wilson (Aces):</strong> The 6-foot-4 center is making a compelling case for a fourth MVP award. Las Vegas' surge up the standings has coincided with Wilson's best stretch of play, as the seven-time All-Star is averaging 26.3 points, 11.5 boards, 2.1 blocks, and 1.6 steals during the Aces' 15-game win streak. Her rim-protection has been paramount with Las Vegas taking a step back defensively. Wilson's on pace to lead her peers in blocks (2.3) for the fourth straight campaign.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800145/cropped_GettyImages-2233270332.jpg?ts=1757103131" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800145/w220xh124_GettyImages-2233270332.jpg?ts=1757103131 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800145/w320xh180_GettyImages-2233270332.jpg?ts=1757103131 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800145/w640xh360_GettyImages-2233270332.jpg?ts=1757103131 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800145/w768xh432_GettyImages-2233270332.jpg?ts=1757103131 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800145/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2233270332.jpg?ts=1757103131 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>1. Napheesa Collier (Lynx):</strong> Collier might've been the runaway winner for MVP if she hadn't been sidelined for seven contests. The All-Star forward is the undisputed top player on the league's best team, providing three-level scoring as well as elite defense. Collier ranks in the WNBA's top five in scoring (23), steals (1.6), and blocks (1.6). The Lynx have a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661324/onoffcourt-summary/?sort=DIFF_NET_RATING&amp;dir=1">plus-11</a> net rating when the UConn product is on the floor.</p>

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WNBA Awards Watch: Phee, Paige lead at end of season

Class of 2026 forward and five-star recruit Toni Bryant is committing to Missouri and head coach ...

<p>Class of 2026 forward and five-star recruit Toni Bryant is committing to Missouri and head coach Dennis Gates, he told <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46197107/five-star-power-forward-toni-bryant-commits-missouri">ESPN's Paul Biancardi</a>.</p><p>Bryant, ranked 14th overall in the <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/rankings/scnext300boys/_/class/2026">ESPN 100</a>, is the second five-star prospect of the Tigers' 2026 recruitment class following Jason Crowe Jr.'s pledge in July. Crowe is the nation's top-ranked point guard and the No. 5 recruit overall.</p><p>A 6-foot-9 forward out of Zephyrhills Christian Academy, Bryant boasts impressive mobility for his size. While he excels at running the open floor, he can also slip behind defenders in the paint, where he combines a soft touch with strong inside positioning to open up plenty of above-the-rim opportunities. On the other end, his combination of size and quick reaction time allows him to alter opponent's shots even when recovering from out of position.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tWNdlMugKBo?si=hwssj4vXSvLtdBWG" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>Bryant had offers from Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Illinois, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/255115/toni-bryant">ESPN</a>. He cited Gates' influence throughout his recruitment as a key reason for selecting Missouri, whose last five-star recruit was Michael Porter Jr. in 2017.</p><p>"Loyalty and long-term relationships mattered most to me," Bryant said. "No head coach has recruited me longer than Coach Gates. Coach Gates sees me as a person, not just a player, and that relationship was built on genuine belief, not just transactions.</p><p>"Coach Gates isn't just a recruiter; he's a teacher and a developer. He's building professionals, and that's why I trust him with my future. Mizzou has a culture that's all about development and accountability, and that really stood out to me."</p><p>Gates, 45, took over the Tigers program in 2022 following three seasons at Cleveland State. In three years at Missouri, he's gone a combined 55-46 and taken the school to two NCAA Tournaments, matching the Tigers' number of March Madness appearances in the nine seasons prior to his arrival.</p>

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 05: A detailed photo of the Missouri Tigers logo during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 05, 2025 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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Missouri lands commitment from 5-star forward Toni Bryant

San Antonio Spurs rookie and second overall pick Dylan Harper underwent surgery Friday to repair ...

<p>San Antonio Spurs rookie and second overall pick Dylan Harper underwent surgery Friday to repair a partial ligament tear in his left thumb, sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1964099982203429355">ESPN's Shams Charania</a>.</p><p>Harper reportedly tore the ligament during a workout Wednesday.</p><p>The Spurs are hopeful the former Rutgers star will recover in time for San Antonio's season opener Oct. 22 against the Dallas Mavericks, Charania adds. However, Harper is unlikely to feature during the team's preseason schedule, a source told <a href="https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/spurs-dylan-harper-suffers-thumb-injury-miss-21033409.php">Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News</a>. The Spurs play four exhibition contests before the regular season, beginning Oct. 8 against the Miami Heat and concluding with an Oct. 17 matchup against the Indiana Pacers.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Harper averaged 19.4 points as a freshman for the Scarlet Knights last season, adding 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game across 29 contests (28 starts). The 2024 McDonald's All-American was the highest-ranked recruit in Rutgers' program history.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 14, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Report: Spurs' Harper undergoes surgery to repair thumb ligament tear

The Chicago Sky are suspending Angel Reese for the first half of their matchup Sunday against the...

<p>The Chicago Sky are suspending <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/121629" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/121629">Angel Reese</a> for the first half of their matchup Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces, the team announced Friday.</p><p>Chicago said it's punishing Reese for "statements detrimental to the team made ... during league-mandated media." The organization added that the "matter has been handled and resolved internally, and we are moving forward as a team."</p><p>Reese, who's already serving a league-issued suspension for surpassing the regular-season technical-foul limit during Friday's contest against the Indiana Fever, recently criticized the state of the Sky's roster in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. Following Wednesday's win over the Connecticut Sun, Reese revealed that she <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3337898" href="https://thescore.com/news/3337898">apologized</a> to her teammates for her comments but suggested that some of her statements had been taken out of context.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I just have to be better with my language because I know it's not the message, it's the messenger, and understanding what I say can be taken any kind of way, so I just have to really be better and grow from this," Reese said.</p><p>Despite missing three weeks in August while recovering from a back issue, Reese leads the Sky in scoring (14.7 points per game) and rebounds (12.6). She's also tied for second in assists (3.7). However, Chicago was mathematically eliminated from the playoff race shortly after Reese returned from injury and now sits one win clear of the last-place Dallas Wings.</p>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 3: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky looks on before a game against the Connecticut Sun at Wintrust Arena on September 3, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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The Los Angeles Clippers adamantly denied a report Wednesday that suggested they circumvented the...

<p>The Los Angeles Clippers adamantly denied a report Wednesday that suggested they circumvented the league's salary cap to discreetly pay star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/4200" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/4200">Kawhi Leonard</a> through a third company.</p><p>In a <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1963394108241973748">statement</a>, the Clippers addressed the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3337464" href="https://thescore.com/news/3337464">findings</a> by journalist Pablo Torre as "absurd" and said they had no knowledge of any individual deals Leonard would have signed with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt sustainability startup.</p><blockquote>
<p>The notion that (owner) Steve (Ballmer) invested in Aspiration in order to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd. Steve invested because Aspiration's co-founders presented themselves as committed to doing right by their customers while protecting the environment.</p>
<p>After a long campaign of market manipulation, which defrauded not only Steve but numerous southern investors in sports teams, Aspiration filed for bankruptcy. Its co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, recently pleaded guilty to a $243-million fraud. Neither Steve nor the Clippers had knowledge of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government initiated its investigation. Aspiration was a team sponsor for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons before defaulting on its contract.</p>
<p>There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team. Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi's independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong.</p>
<p>The Clippers take NBA compliance extremely seriously, fully respect the league's rules, and welcome its investigation related to Aspiration. The Clippers will also continue to cooperate with law enforcement in its in investigation into Aspiration's blatantly fraudulent activity.</p>
</blockquote><p>Torre unveiled documents Wednesday on his podcast, "Pablo Torre Finds Out," that listed a company named "KL2 Aspire LLC" as Aspiration's fourth-most significant creditor, to which it still owed $7 million as part of a $28-million marketing contract. The forms list a "Kawhi Leonard" as the only manager of KL2 Aspire LLC. Other documents reveal a personal $50-million investment by Ballmer in Aspiration before it signed Leonard to a deal.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Torre cites an interview with a former Aspiration employee who said he or she was told not to ask questions of Leonard's agreement because "it was to circumvent the salary cap."</p><p>That employee also claimed that the value of Leonard's contract was significantly larger than all of its other celebrity endorsement agreements. However, the terms of Leonard's deal allowed him to easily opt out of any and all obligations without terminating the contract, according to documents unearthed by Torre.</p><p>Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March after Sanberg was arrested on felony fraud charges. He pleaded guilty in August.</p><p>Leonard is entering his seventh season with the Clippers, though he's only played six after sitting out 2021-22 with a torn ACL. He signed a three-year, $153-million extension in January 2024 that ties him to the team through the 2026-27 season.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer hands Kawhi Leonard his jersey as he and Paul George are introduced at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

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Clippers deny 'absurd' allegations of illicit Kawhi payments

The NBA may transform the 2026 All-Star Game into a three-team competition that would pit its bes...

<p>The NBA may transform the 2026 All-Star Game into a three-team competition that would pit its best Americans against its top global stars.</p><p>The league is reportedly considering converting the exhibition to a round-robin tournament featuring two teams comprised of American players and one World squad, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46150134/sources-nba-all-star-game-2-usa-teams-1-world-team">Shams Charania of ESPN</a>. The teams would consist of eight players each, maintaining the total 24 players selected annually to the All-Star Game.</p><p>The teams would reportedly face off in games lasting a single 12-minute quarter.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The NBA and the players' union both pitched the new format to the league's competition committee, which reportedly responded positively to the proposed change.</p><p>Commissioner Adam Silver said in June that the 2026 All-Star Game would likely have some sort of USA-versus-World format in order to capitalize on the 2026 Winter Olympics occurring at the same time. NBC, which owns the broadcast rights for the Winter Games in the United States, will air the All-Star Game next season for the first time since 2002.</p><p> </p>

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 18: Luka Doncic #77 and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Western Conference look on during the NBA All-Star Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 18, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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Report: NBA considering World squad as part of 3-team All-Star tourney

Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin, whose never-before-seen rise to stardom in 2012 was dubbed "Linsanit...

<p>Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin, whose never-before-seen rise to stardom in 2012 was dubbed "Linsanity," announced Saturday he is retiring from professional basketball.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN_5wpSEkxE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN_5wpSEkxE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN_5wpSEkxE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Jeremy Lin 林書豪 (@jlin7)</a></p>
</div></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></figure><p>The 37-year-old's NBA career is best remembered for his time with the New York Knicks - specifically, a span of about three weeks in February 2012 during which he went from an unknown face at the end of the bench to the hottest name in the league.</p><p>With head coach Mike D'Antoni searching for a spark amid a 2-11 stretch, he resorted to Lin - the fourth point guard in the rotation at the time - during a Feb. 4 matchup against the New Jersey Nets. The Harvard product made an immediate impact in his extended minutes; Lin, who had averaged just 3.6 points and 6.1 minutes in nine games before then, finished with 25 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, leading New York to a 99-92 victory.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>That spurred a seven-game Knicks winning streak during which Lin averaged 24.4 points, 9.1 assists, four rebounds, and 1.6 steals while shooting 51.2% from the floor. He scored a career-high 38 points in win No. 4 - a 92-85 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers in which he outdueled the late Kobe Bryant.</p><p>However, Linsanity's hallmark moment was yet to come. The phenomenon reached a fever pitch on Valentine's Day when the Knicks guard hit a game-winning 3-pointer against the Toronto Raptors while receiving cheers from the opposing crowd.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zkkgsvfDgfM?si=yJC6MG5EO2s_cldI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>His last NBA appearance came in 2019, when he played sparingly for the Raptors in the postseason as the franchise captured its first championship. The following year, Lin signed with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association, his first of three straight campaigns in the CBA. He played his last two seasons in Taiwan's P. League+.</p><p>Lin averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 480 games over nine NBA seasons. He made his most career appearances for the Houston Rockets (153) in the two years following his lone, lockout-shortened season in New York and also played for the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Lakers, and Atlanta Hawks.</p>

SHENYANG, CHINA - JULY 05: Former NBA star Jeremy Lin joins in a game at Northeastern University Liu Changchun Gymnasium on July 5, 2025 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China.

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Jeremy Lin retires from professional basketball

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley confirmed she interviewed with the New York Knicks this sum...

<p>South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley confirmed she interviewed with the New York Knicks this summer when the NBA franchise was still searching for a replacement for Tom Thibodeau.</p><p>Though the Knicks eventually decided on Mike Brown as their next head coach, Staley, who felt she did "pretty well" in her interview, said she would've accepted the position.</p><p>"If the Knicks would've offered me the job, I would have had to do it," Staley told Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston on an episode of the "<a href="https://youtu.be/AJqXztzi7nE?t=2899">Post Moves</a>" podcast Wednesday. "Not just for me. It's for women. Just to break open that (door).</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I would have had to. It's the New York Knicks. And I'm from Philly. But it's the freaking New York Knicks. And I said that in the interview."</p><p>Staley said she questioned the organization during her interview on whether it was fully prepared for the possible fallout of hiring a woman for the role. However, she believes those queries may have caused the Knicks to second-guess potentially appointing the Hall of Famer.</p><p>"You're going to be asked questions that you don't have to be asked if you hire a male coach," the 55-year-old added. "There's going to be the media, there's going to be all this stuff that you're going to have to deal with that you didn't have to deal with and don't have to deal with when you hire a male. And then that really got them to thinking, 'Shit, maybe she's right.' And then I felt the energy change after that.</p><p>"So I shot myself in the foot by being a leader, being inquisitive, and asking all those darn questions."</p><p>Staley first joined the Gamecocks in 2008 and has led South Carolina to three national titles since 2017. The two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year has taken the program to five straight Final Fours in March Madness and has also won nine SEC Tournaments at the helm.</p><p>Becky Hammon is the only woman to serve as acting head coach during an NBA game. Hammon was elevated from San Antonio Spurs assistant during a Dec. 30, 2020 game in which Gregg Popovich was ejected.</p><p>A year later, Hammon left the Spurs to take charge of the Las Vegas Aces - her first full-time head coaching job in any league. She won back-to-back WNBA titles in her first two seasons.</p>

College Basketball: NCAA Final Four: South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley in action, claps her hands vs Texas at Amalie Arena.. Tampa, FL 4/4/2025 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Set Number: X164707 TK1)

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Staley confirms she met with Knicks, would've accepted head coach job

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 gets underway Wednesday, as 24 nations kick off group play across host citie...

<p><em>FIBA EuroBasket 2025 gets underway Wednesday, as 24 nations kick off group play across host cities in Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia. Click <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/games">here</a> to view the schedule and results.</em></p><p>The NBA season won't tip off for another two months, but if you're itching to watch some of the league's top stars play competitive hoops, you're in luck.</p><p>The 2025 men's FIBA EuroBasket tournament starts Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. ET when Lithuania takes on Great Britain. The first day will feature a host of familiar NBA names across six games, including the last matchup when powerhouse Serbia faces Estonia.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here's everything you need to know about this year's European competition.</p><h3>What is EuroBasket?</h3><p>EuroBasket is Europe's premier international basketball tournament. Like its soccer equivalent, the UEFA European Championships, EuroBasket is held every four years, although the 2021 event was pushed to 2022 because of the pandemic. It's traditionally played between August and September, when the NBA and most European domestic leagues are still in their offseasons.</p><p>The tournament's been made up of 24 teams since 2011, when it increased from 16. The Soviet Union/Russia has won the tournament a record 15 times, thanks to a run of eight straight gold medals during the '50s and '60s; however, FIBA indefinitely banned Russia from all competitions in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. Defending champion Spain has won four of the last six tournaments, giving La Roja the most gold medals of any current nation.</p><h3>How to watch</h3><p>EuroBasket will be streamed exclusively on <a href="https://www.courtside1891.basketball/">Courtside 1891</a> in the United States and Canada.</p><h3>Where and when</h3><p>This year's EuroBasket runs from Aug. 27 through the final on Sept. 14. For the fourth straight edition, four countries will share hosting duties for the opening group stage:</p><ul>
<li>Limassol, Cyprus</li>
<li>Tampere, Finland</li>
<li>Katowice, Poland</li>
<li>Riga, Latvia</li>
</ul><p>Latvia will take over as the tournament's sole host from the knockout stage through the final.</p><h3>Format</h3><p>Four groups of six teams each will compete in the opening round, with the top four in each group moving on to the round of 16. In the group stage, teams receive two points for a win, one for a loss, and zero for a forfeit (there are no ties).</p><p>If multiple countries finish with the same number of points, head-to-head results are used as the first tiebreaker. If they're still deadlocked, point differential and points scored are the next deciding factors.</p><p><strong>Group A</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>FIBA rank</th>
<th>Apps.</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Serbia 🇷🇸</td>
<td>No. 2</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Latvia 🇱🇻</td>
<td>No. 9</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Czechia 🇨🇿</td>
<td>No. 19</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turkiye 🇹🇷</td>
<td>No. 27</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Estonia 🇪🇪</td>
<td>No. 43</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Portugal 🇵🇹</td>
<td>No. 56</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Group B</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>FIBA rank</th>
<th>Apps.</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Germany 🇩🇪</td>
<td>No. 3</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lithuania 🇱🇹</td>
<td>No. 10</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Montenegro 🇲🇪</td>
<td>No. 16</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Finland 🇫🇮</td>
<td>No. 20</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Great Britain 🇬🇧</td>
<td>No. 48</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sweden 🇸🇪</td>
<td>No. 49</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Group C</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>FIBA rank</th>
<th>Apps.</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Spain 🇪🇸</td>
<td>No. 5</td>
<td>33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greece 🇬🇷</td>
<td>No. 13</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Italy 🇮🇹</td>
<td>No. 14</td>
<td>39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Georgia 🇬🇪</td>
<td>No. 24</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦</td>
<td>No. 41</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cyprus 🇨🇾</td>
<td>No. 84</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Group D</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>FIBA rank</th>
<th>Apps.</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>France 🇫🇷</td>
<td>No. 4</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Slovenia 🇸🇮</td>
<td>No. 11</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Poland 🇵🇱</td>
<td>No. 17</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Israel 🇮🇱</td>
<td>No. 39</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Belgium 🇧🇪</td>
<td>No. 40</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Iceland 🇮🇸</td>
<td>No. 50</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The 16 teams that advance compete in a standard single-game elimination bracket. Countries that come out of Group A are matched up against Group B based on seeding (No. 1 vs. No. 4, No. 2 vs. No. 3) in the round of 16; the same applies for Groups C and D. The bracket's structure prevents teams from the same group from meeting again until the semifinals (Sept. 12) at the earliest.</p><h3>Features</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798173/cropped_Top_players_at_EuroBasket_2025.jpg?ts=1755697050" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798173/w220xh124_Top_players_at_EuroBasket_2025.jpg?ts=1755697050 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798173/w320xh180_Top_players_at_EuroBasket_2025.jpg?ts=1755697050 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798173/w640xh360_Top_players_at_EuroBasket_2025.jpg?ts=1755697050 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798173/w768xh432_Top_players_at_EuroBasket_2025.jpg?ts=1755697050 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/798173/w1080xh607_Top_players_at_EuroBasket_2025.jpg?ts=1755697050 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Julian Catalfo / theScore</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3320290" href="https://thescore.com/news/3320290">Top 20 players at FIBA EuroBasket 2025</a></strong></p><p>Dozens of talented NBA players will represent their countries at EuroBasket 2025. The list is headlined by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who will attempt to follow up Serbia's Olympic bronze medal in 2024 with more international success. But many others will attract significant attention at the tournament, including Slovenia and Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3320290" href="https://thescore.com/news/3320290">Read more ...</a></p><p><strong><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3322378" href="https://thescore.com/news/3322378">FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tiers: Can anyone match Serbia?</a></strong></p><p>Jokic and Serbia are the favorites, but that won't mean much to Spain, which aims to win the tournament for the fifth time in the last seven editions. Meanwhile, Latvia, which won the inaugural 1935 tourney and claimed silver in 1939 but hasn't medaled since, is a wild card. However, if the Latvians can simply survive their group, playing the entire knockout stage at home could be a huge boon for Kristaps Porzingis and Co. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3322378" href="https://thescore.com/news/3322378">Read more ...</a></p><h3>Who's missing out</h3><p>While the NBA will be well-represented, not every star will make the journey across the Atlantic.</p><p>For instance, France will be without arguably its top duo of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/110276" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/110276">Victor Wembanyama</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30615" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30615">Rudy Gobert</a>. Veteran swingman Evan Fournier, whose most recent NBA stint was just over a year ago with the Detroit Pistons, also won't attend. However, Les Bleus will still have a talented, younger look in the frontcourt with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121714" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121714">Zaccharie Risacher</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121720" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121720">Alex Sarr</a> - the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively, in the 2024 NBA Draft.</p><p>Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs teammate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102789" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102789">Jeremy Sochan</a>, who represents Poland internationally, will also sit out. Germany will be missing three key vets in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60051" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60051">Isaiah Hartenstein</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60967" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60967">Maxi Kleber</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45014" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45014">Moritz Wagner</a>, though the latter's brother and Orlando Magic teammate, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/96086" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/96086">Franz</a>, will play.</p><p>Sacramento Kings big <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/38429" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/38429">Domantas Sabonis</a> withdrew from consideration for Lithuania, as did Chicago Bulls guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121704" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121704">Matas Buzelis</a>. Belgium won't have youngsters <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/110264" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/110264">Toumani Camara</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121739" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121739">Ajay Mitchell</a> of the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively. Italy will operate without <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45225" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45225">Donte DiVincenzo</a> despite including the Minnesota Timberwolves guard on its preliminary roster.</p>

A view of a Molten basketball with the FIBA logo is seen during an international friendly match between Poland and Sweden in Katowice, Poland, on August 10, 2025. This game is part of the preparations ahead of the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2025, European Basketball Championship.

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<p>Defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1934" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1934">Tyson Barrie</a> retired from the NHL on Monday, ending a 14-year career, the league confirmed.</p><p>The 34-year-old suited up for five franchises but is likely best remembered for his eight-year stint with the Colorado Avalanche, who selected him in the third round (64th overall) in the 2009 draft. Of his 822 career regular-season games, he played 484 with Colorado, registering 307 points for the Avs.</p><p>One of the league's top offensive-minded blue-liners in his prime, he led Avalanche defensemen in scoring in six separate seasons, including back-to-back 14-goal campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Barrie also made stops with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and, most recently, the Calgary Flames. He played 13 games with the latter last season while also splitting time with their AHL affiliate.</p><p>The Victoria, British Columbia, native appeared in 47 career playoff contests, the bulk of them with the Avalanche (21) and Oilers (20).</p>

CALGARY, AB - JANUARY 28: Tyson Barrie #8 of the Calgary Flames skates during warmup prior to the game against the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Saddledome on January 28, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

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<p>New York Liberty star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/27502" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/27502">Breanna Stewart</a> was in the starting lineup for Monday's contest against the Connecticut Sun after missing the last month due to a bone bruise in her right knee.</p><p>Stewart, 30, was out for 13 games, a stretch in which New York posted just five wins.</p><p>Her co-star, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/55066" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/55066">Sabrina Ionescu</a>, also returned against Connecticut. Ionescu did not play in New York's 78-62 loss Saturday to the Atlanta Dream with an ankle issue.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Stewart averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 24 starts this season before she was injured in the opening minutes of a July 26 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. The two-time MVP was running back on defense when she suddenly pulled up in pain and signaled toward the bench for a sub.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breanna Stewart has been ruled out for the remainder of today’s game with a lower leg injury<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasKaplan_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LucasKaplan_</a>) <a href="https://t.co/elXxJVpzj0">pic.twitter.com/elXxJVpzj0</a></p>— New York Liberty Videos (@SNYLiberty) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNYLiberty/status/1949254959058588087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Before losing Stewart for most of August, the Liberty were 17-6 and second in the WNBA behind the Minnesota Lynx. The Liberty now sit fifth with three games separating them from the Indiana Fever, who occupy the league's eighth and final playoff seed.</p>

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 25: New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) reacts to a play during a WNBA game against the Golden State Valkyries on June 25, 2025 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA.

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<p>Free-agent wing Malik Beasley is no longer a target in a federal investigation into suspicious betting activity related to his prop bets, his lawyers told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46047941/attorneys-malik-beasley-no-longer-target-gambling-probe">ESPN's Shams Charania</a> Friday.</p><p>"Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation," attorney Steve Haney said. "An allegation with no charge, indictment, or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence."</p><p>The investigation by the Eastern District of New York centered on the 2023-24 season when Beasley was with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Charania.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>At least one major U.S. sportsbook reportedly flagged unusual betting activity on Beasley's prop at the start of January.</p><p>A gambling industry source pointed ESPN to a Jan. 31 game between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers, when the odds on Beasley posting fewer than 2.5 rebounds shortened from approximately +120 to -250 ahead of the contest due to a surge in wagers on the under. Beasley finished with six rebounds.</p><p>Beasley was reportedly on the verge of signing a three-year, $42-million contract to return to the Detroit Pistons at the start of free agency, but the deal fell apart after news of the federal investigation surfaced. The Pistons have since added <a href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/24860">Caris LeVert</a>, <a href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45013">Duncan Robinson</a>, and <a href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/12759">Javonte Green</a>, and the club can now only sign Beasley to a maximum $7.2-million deal for next season. However, as an unrestricted free agent, Beasley can negotiate with all 30 NBA teams.</p><p>The 28-year-old averaged 16.3 points for the Pistons while playing in all 82 games last campaign, making 18 starts. Beasley shot a career-best 41.6% from deep on 9.3 attempts per game and finished runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award behind Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard.</p>

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 27: Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons reacts in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena on April 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

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<p>Indiana Fever guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/47708" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/47708">Sophie Cunningham</a> will miss the remainder of the 2025 season due to a right knee injury, the team announced Tuesday.</p><p>Cunningham got hurt in Sunday's win over the Connecticut Sun. She shifted over to help defend a drive by Connecticut guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/18431" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/18431">Bria Hartley</a>, who crashed into Cunningham's right leg.</p><p>It's Indiana's third significant injury blow in August alone: The team is already without <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/95185" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/95185">Aari McDonald</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/19443" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/19443">Sydney Colson</a> for the year due to a foot fracture and torn ACL, respectively.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Fever star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/121626" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/121626">Caitlin Clark</a> has also been sidelined since the All-Star break with a groin issue and doesn't have a return timeline.</p><p>Cunningham, 28, averaged 8.6 points in 30 appearances for Indiana this season, making 13 starts. She also averaged 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, one steal, and shot a team-best 43.2% from distance.</p><p>In a corresponding move, the Fever signed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/15574" href="https://thescore.com/wnba/players/15574">Shey Peddy</a> to a seven-day hardship contract. The 36-year-old appeared in six games for the Los Angeles Sparks in June, averaging five points, three rebounds, and 2.7 assists while making five starts.</p>

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 3 : Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever handles the ball during the game against the Seattle Storm on August 3, 2025 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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<p>The Toronto Raptors are naming general manager Bobby Webster their new head of basketball operations, the team announced Monday.</p><p>Webster will succeed former team president Masai Ujiri, though the Raptors are not officially appointing someone in that role. Webster was Ujiri's first hire after the latter was named Toronto's GM in May 2013 and will lead the franchise from his post as GM.</p><p>"To me, the title isn't as important as the responsibilities," he told reporters Monday, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelgrange/status/1957484119191171547">Sportsnet's Michael Grange</a>. "You guys know me, I'm going to lead with a smile and positivity."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Raptors signed Webster to an extension shortly before parting ways with Ujiri in June. Webster's contract was further extended as part of Monday's agreement.</p><p>"Going through this comprehensive process this summer and meeting with external candidates played a critical role in arriving at this decision as it made clear that we already have the right person leading the Raptors in-house," Keith Pelley, CEO of the Raptors' parent company Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeMurphyODC/status/1957478160666440190">statement</a>.</p><p>"When we weighed the many considerations, including roster construction, team, culture, and competitive landscape, it made perfect sense to officially hand the team to Bobby and give him the time and support to allow his plan to develop."</p><p>Webster first joined the Raptors as vice president of basketball management and strategy before eventually becoming assistant GM, and he then became the NBA's youngest full-time GM when he replaced Jeff Weltman in June 2017. The 40-year-old was instrumental in building the Raptors' 2019 championship roster and was at the helm for the blockbuster deal that sent <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/4200" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/4200">Kawhi Leonard</a> to Toronto and shipped the face of the franchise, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/470" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/470">DeMar DeRozan</a>, to the San Antonio Spurs.</p><p>Toronto is attempting to return to the playoffs this season for the first time since the franchise's 2022 first-round exit against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Raptors' only other playoff appearance since that 2019 victory was in the 2020 Orlando bubble, when they lost to the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals.</p>

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 22: Bobby Webster General Manager of the Toronto Raptors looks on before his team plays the New York Knicks at the Scotiabank Arena on January 22, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

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<p>The NBA dropped its <a href="https://pr.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2025/08/2025-26-NBA-Regular-Season-Schedule-By-Date-8-14-25.pdf">complete</a> schedule Thursday for the 2025-26 regular season, which tips off Oct. 21 and runs through April 12.</p><p>A doubleheader on NBC, airing its first NBA games since the 2002 Finals, will serve as the curtain-raiser. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Houston Rockets, now featuring former Thunder star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/345" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/345">Kevin Durant</a>, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers will then host <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/148" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/148">Stephen Curry</a> and the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET.</p><p>After beginning in mid-November last season, this year's NBA Cup action starts on Halloween. The final is scheduled for Dec. 16 in Las Vegas, only one day earlier than the 2024 event.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="2025-26 NBA calendar" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-5QE2w" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/5QE2w/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="340" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}();
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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<p>Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has reached a tentative agreement to purchase the Portland Trail Blazers from the estate of Paul Allen, Dundon confirmed Wednesday to <a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/08/13/report-tom-dundon-to-buy-trail-blazers/">Alex Silverman of Sports Business Journal</a>.</p><p>The agreement values the franchise at over $4 billion, sources told <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1955665022904078535">ESPN's Shams Charania</a>.</p><p>Dundon, 53, reportedly intends to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland after the sale is finalized.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Dundon bought a controlling stake of the Hurricanes for $420 million in January 2018. Three years later, he became the team's sole owner after purchasing all outstanding shares. Carolina has made the postseason in all seven full seasons since his initial purchase, including three trips to the Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes' 2019 appearance snapped a 10-year playoff drought.</p><p>Allen co-founded tech giant Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975 and purchased the NBA franchise in 1988 for $70 million. Led by his sister, Jody Allen, his estate assumed control of the franchise following his death in October 2018.</p><p>The Blazers announced in May that proceeds from the team's eventual sale would go toward philanthropy as per a directive from Paul Allen.</p>

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 21: The Portland Trail Blazers logo is pictured during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 21, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan.

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<p>Longtime Boston Celtics principal owner Wyc Grousbeck will no longer remain team governor following the franchise's $6.1 billion sale to a group of investors led by William Chisholm, sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1955290121613242423">ESPN's Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne</a>.</p><p>In a March statement confirming the record-breaking sale, Grousbeck said he agreed to continue as CEO and team governor for the first three years of the new ownership at Chisholm's request. However, Chisholm is now reportedly expected to take on the governor role, cementing him as the Celtics' representative on the NBA's board of governors and giving him final say on all basketball-related decisions.</p><p>Grousbeck, 64, purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002. During his 23-year run as owner, Boston won two titles in 2008 and 2024, giving the franchise 18 all time. The club's latest conquest broke a tie with its rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, for the most NBA championships ever won by any team.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The league's board of governors has yet to officially approve the ownership change, although it's reportedly expected to be finalized soon. The Celtics' $6.1 billion valuation surpassed the record for the largest sale of any North American sports franchise.</p>

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 10: Owner Wyc Grousbeck of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second half of a game against the Sacramento Kings at TD Garden on January 10, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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