NBA

Pistons, Ausar Thompson Agree to $155M Extension

Pistons and Ausar Thompson agree to a fully guaranteed five-year, $155 million extension, ending an offseason standstill; he led the NBA in steals last season.

Jazz, Keyonte George Agree to Five-Year, $157.5M Extension

Keyonte George and the Utah Jazz agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million extension finalized September 18, 2026, with no options, running through 2031.

Churchill Spill: Horse Euthanized, Three Jockeys Hospitalized

Lutkenhaus euthanized after catastrophic leg injury in six-horse Churchill Downs spill; three jockeys hospitalized, race declared no contest.

Charlotte to Host WTA Finals from 2027 as Tour Moves Headquarters

WTA Finals move to Charlotte’s Spectrum Center for 2027-2029 as the tour relocates its headquarters from Florida, faces 2026 losses of $21-23 million, and shortens the event to five days.

Knicks Pause Sales for Opener After Mistake Sends Prices Over $1,000

MSG paused Knicks ticket sales for the Oct. 20, 2026 opener after Section 418 seats listed at $1,039.50, citing a pricing mistake and promising refunds and a 12% rollback.

Cavaliers land Peyton Watson on $88 million deal after late push

Cavaliers landed Peyton Watson on a four-year, $88 million deal after a late push; Harden recruited him by call and text during free agency.

Jalen Brunson Set for SVU Guest Role

Knicks star Jalen Brunson will guest star on Law & Order: SVU Season 28 in the Nov. 5 episode, with the role under wraps and reuniting with Mariska Hargitay. He will also host Saturday Night Live on Sept. 26 as the Knicks prepare for the fall season.

Silver Calls Potential Blazers Move ‘Failure’

Adam Silver said Sept. 15 he would see it as a "failure" if the Trail Blazers did not stay in Portland and called Moda Center among the league's least modern arenas.

Kobe Bryant’s Obsession Fueled Five NBA Championships

Kobe Bryant, coming straight from Lower Merion High School after a standout senior year, was drafted 13th in 1996 and initially had a modest rookie season before proving his scoring potential in Summer League and early NBA play. In Los Angeles, his fearless mindset and drive for leadership clashed with Tex Winter’s triangle offense alongside Shaquille O’Neal, a dynamic teammates like Nick Van Exel described as unafraid and willing to challenge even Michael Jordan.

Luol Deng Regrets $72 Million Lakers Deal

The 2016 Lakers free-agent splashes for Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng are now viewed as misfires after both players struggled for rotation roles and Deng was benched in favor of a younger core. Deng says he took the big offer largely to seize a premier opportunity, but the team’s shifting plans and conflicting messages left him feeling he couldn't play the game he loved.

Taj Gibson Retires, Joins Bulls Coaching Staff

At 41, after a trade to New Orleans, Taj Gibson retired rather than play an 18th season—he was the 35th NBA player to appear in his 40s—and joins the Bulls as an assistant under Splitter.

Clippers Accept NBA Penalties, End Legal Challenge

Clippers accept a $30M fine, five forfeited first-round picks (2029–2033) and owner suspensions after a $66M Kawhi deal probe; Ballmer ends the legal challenge.

Clark Pushes Back On Reporter's Question About Reese Friendship

After Team USA's 97-79 World Cup gold over France, Caitlin Clark told a reporter "We've always been friends. Don't try to do that," then returned to say "what the hell is wrong with you?"

Kawhi Leonard Returns to Raptors in Trade

The proposed Kawhi Leonard trade between the Clippers and Raptors remains in flux as the Clippers’ front office lacks an interim governor after the NBA imposed a $30 million fine and suspensions on owner Steve Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, and Lawrence Frank for a salary-cap circumvention investigation, complicating league approval of the deal. Despite assurances there is no league-level holdup, internal governance issues and ongoing investigations continue to delay finalizing Leonard’s return to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple draft assets.

Suns Center Mark Williams Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery to repair a torn left shoulder labrum and will miss an extended period, with no return timeline announced as training camp approaches, potentially reshaping the Suns’ rotation in his absence. The injury comes amid past trade drama with the Los Angeles Lakers over Williams and underscores asset considerations in that deal’s history.

Federal Prosecutors Reportedly Probe Clippers Over Leonard Deals

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation in Brooklyn into whether the Los Angeles Clippers secretly arranged endorsement deals to circumvent the NBA salary cap, a probe that follows the league’s $30 million penalty, loss of five first-round picks, and ballpark suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer. While at least one subpoena has been issued and details remain unclear, the case is unfolding alongside ongoing NBA sanctions and prior independent findings, with the team denying wrongdoing and weighing legal challenges, and related SEC inquiries into involved contractors such as Daktronics.

First U.S. Horse Screwworm Case Confirmed in Texas

The United States has confirmed its first equine case of New World screwworm in Presidio County, Texas near the Mexican border, triggering movement restrictions for warm-blooded animals and rapid containment measures including sterile fly release to curb a 2026 outbreak that has also affected cattle and dogs. Officials emphasize vigilant wound care and biosecurity for horse and dog owners and call for prompt veterinary reporting to prevent spread and potential economic damage to Texas agriculture and wildlife.

Observed Wins Del Mar Juvenile Turf

Observ ed, a Mandaloun colt trained by Jonathan Thomas, won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (GIII) as a short-priced favorite, giving Thomas another Del Mar stakes victory after shipping in from Indiana. The win marked Observed as Mandaloun’s first graded winner and underscored Thomas’s growing West Coast success with multiple graded wins from his shuttle operation.

Miss Monica looks 'special' to Baffert after Del Mar Debutante win

Miss Monica, the $850,000 Early Voting filly owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, dominated the Grade I Del Mar Debutante by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:23.54 under Juan Hernandez for Bob Baffert, signaling a potential North American championship contender for 2-year-old fillies and marking Baffert’s 13th Debutante victory. The win follows her impressive debut and underlines Baffert’s hot streak at Del Mar, with Holmby as a top stablemate and Panda Listen among the challengers, as the trainer and owners eye continued success later in the meet.

Barkley Questions LeBron’s Effectiveness Despite Numbers

Charles Barkley reiterated that LeBron James’s impressive statistics don’t necessarily prove he is beating Father Time, noting multiple recent playoff sweeps and questioning the lasting impact of his high-scoring numbers. As LeBron enters Season 2026-27 with the 76ers after a move from the Lakers, Barkley even floated theories about how other teammates’ situations and LeBron’s free-agent choices—such as a hypothetical Cavaliers reunion or Harden’s presence—could have shaped his path, underscoring ongoing debate about his true impact.

Ben Simmons ends NBA absence with one-year deal to Kings

Ben Simmons signs a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, marking his return to the NBA after sitting out the 2025-26 season due to injuries. He is expected to serve as a backup point guard behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr and provide versatility as Sacramento seeks to rebuild after a 22-60 season.

Kawhi Leonard in Clippers scandal

EuroLeague CEO says league is ready to rival NBA in Europe

European basketball is at a pivotal juncture as the NBA pursues NBA Europe expansion while EuroLeague leaders insist any partnership must be mutually beneficial; if no deal is reached, EuroLeague says it will press ahead and compete, highlighting a risk of value fragmentation across media rights and fan engagement. With the NBA eyeing consolidation and expansion into major European markets and club iterations like ASVEL under Tony Parker signaling continued focus on long-term stability, both sides see potential benefits from collaboration but remain prepared to advance separately if needed.

Luka Doncic in Slovenia

Kevon Looney, the Lakers’ new backup center, lauded Luka Doncic after the team’s Slovenia minicamp funded by Doncic, saying the trip revealed his background and leadership and that the group is ready to run through a wall for him. The event drew commentary from ABA League figures, including Luka’s father, who noted the league’s rising quality and investment and highlighted Ilirija’s focus on developing young players while supporting the Lakers’ Slovenia trip.