LeBron James officially announced his return for his 21st NBA season Wednesday night at the ESPYs in hopes of winning a fifth NBA championship. But on ESPN’s First Take on Thursday, Kendrick Perkins argued that at 39 years old by midway through next season, James is too old to lead the Lakers to to a title in 2023–24.
“When it comes down to putting expectations on a guy that’s going to be 39 years old in December, I just can’t do that,” Perkins said.
That doesn’t mean Perkins thinks the Lakers’ title hopes are dead already.
Author: Michael
One of the great things about soccer is that a beautiful goal can be scored by a player at any level. And the great thing about social media is that even goals in the most obscure leagues can be circulated widely.
Jeremy Rafanello plays for the Philadelphia Union’s developmental team, Union II, in MLS Next Pro. In Wednesday night’s game against Toronto FC II, he scored one of the best goals you’ll ever see.
Early in the second half, Philadelphia had a corner kick. The ball was curled into the box and subsequently cleared by the Toronto defense.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Hint: It does not involve Ryan Reynolds, at least directly
Things are never dull in Formula 1.
This was supposed to be a quiet week off, following a back-to-back in Austria and Britain, and ahead of another back-to-back in Hungary and the Netherlands. But a thunderbolt from the clouds came down on Monday, with the shocking news that Daniel Ricciardo was coming back to the grid.
After just ten races, AlphaTauri and Red Bull had seen enough from Nyck de Vries.
If there was ever a comment that points to an NBA coach going all-in with a big prediction, Lakers coach Darvin Ham just made it. During an appearance on Marc Stein and Chris Haynes’s podcast #thisleague UNCUT, Ham spoke about Austin Reaves and dropped the hammer by putting his bold prediction for both the guard and his team “on record.”
The second-year coach began by talking about Reaves and his potential, stating Reaves will be an All-Star, via SBNation’s Harrison Faigen.
Here’s the latest from the world of boxing:
10. This week’s announcement that Tyson Fury would face ex-UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia stirred a lot of strong feelings on social media, mostly from boxing fans irritated that Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion, was going to devote his one fight this year to what will be a one-sided event with a mixed marital artist.
I get that. Fury is boxing’s top heavyweight. Ngannou, a heavy-handed MMA star, has no chance of beating him. I repeat: No chance.
Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
Coming off a strong performance at Silverstone, what can we make of Williams?
Things are never dull in Formula 1.
This was supposed to be a quiet week off, following a back-to-back in Austria and Britain, and ahead of another back-to-back in Hungary and the Netherlands. But a thunderbolt from the clouds came down on Monday, with the shocking news that Daniel Ricciardo was coming back to the grid.
After just ten races, AlphaTauri and Red Bull had seen enough from Nyck de Vries.
UCF, the University of Central Florida, does not want to be called Central Florida. The Big 12 doesn’t seem to care.
Over the past decade or so, as the Knights (formerly the Golden Knights) have gained national relevance in athletics, they have made a strong push to solidify its name. The school was often referred to as Central Florida.
Take the 2014 Fiesta Bowl for example.
2014 Fiesta Bowl on ESPN
That didn’t fly. The school wants to be UCF, not Central Florida.
It was super passive aggressive about it ahead of the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl in 2012.
Cleaning out the notebook after a few days at the NBA’s annual end-of-season—or is it beginning?—event …
Damian Lillard’s future was a hot topic among team officials. While Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin claimed to be in no rush to make a deal—a position we covered earlier this week—most league-types believe it’s inevitable Lillard winds up in Miami. What’s worth watching is if someone will emerge as a competitor to force the Heat to sweeten their offer.
America fell in love with Markquis Nowell during this year’s NCAA tournament. The diminutive point guard (generously listed at 5’8″) willed Kansas State to an Elite Eight appearance by not being afraid to take any shot. He hoisted up audacious three-pointers without a moment’s hesitation.
Nowell was not selected in this year’s NBA draft but he did catch on with the Raptors, signing a two-way contract. He’s playing for Toronto’s Summer League team out in Las Vegas and is averaging 10.3 points per game in three appearances.
During a 2018 interview, Kobe Bryant was asked who the toughest guy in the NBA to defend was, and without hesitation he named Kevin Durant. While engaging with fans on Wednesday, the Suns forward was asked how he felt that Bryant said he “couldn’t figure out” Durant when it came to trying to defend him.
“I felt like I was doing something right,” Durant wrote on Twitter.
During the interview, Bryant explained that when Durant first came into the NBA, he was “easy to defend.