Our NBA insiders had Wemby’s debut covered from all angles, and shared their observations.
Author: Michael
Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker was nowhere to be seen during the Phillies’ 2023 postseason run, which ended one win short of the World Series.
The veteran right-hander compiled a 15-6 record with a 4.38 ERA in 31 starts during the regular season. Yet with Philadelphia driving toward a return to the Fall Classic, manager Rob Thomson opted not to use Walker.
That led the pitcher to drop a curious post on X (formerly Twitter), writing “Disrespect is at an all-time high.” That left fans pondering Walker’s status with the team.
After a string of preseason performances that did nothing to temper expectations of top overall pick Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs rookie made his NBA debut on Wednesday, finishing with 15 points in 23 minutes in San Antonio’s 126–119 loss to Dallas.
Three takeaways from Wembanyama’s debut:
A solid start ends with a strong finish
For three quarters, Wembanyama looked like a typical 19-year old prospect. There were a handful of wow moments, from swatting away a Kyrie Irving 17-footer in the opening minutes to a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter.
It’s that time of year when NFL teams need to decide whether they want to push for the playoffs or start prioritizing next year’s draft and roster. In other words: Are you a buyer or seller?
The Eagles, 49ers, Lions, Cowboys and Seahawks have already decided they’re in the race for the NFC. The same can probably be said about the Dolphins, Ravens Chiefs and Jaguars in the AFC, each of which leads its respective division with at least five wins.
McLaren’s Zak Brown talked exclusively with SB Nation about their dramatic turnaround and more
As the Formula 1 season draws to a close, there is perhaps one name on everyone’s lips.
McLaren.
Early in the 2023 season, Aston Martin was the darling of the F1 world. They were the surprise package during pre-season testing and stormed out of the gates to second in the Constructors’ Championship early in the year. They held that position following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the fourth race of the season, with 87 points on the campaign.
Travis Kelce lit up the Chargers in Week 7 with 12 catches, 179 yards, and a touchdown in the Chiefs‘ big win at home.
After the game, he could be heard giving some really good advice to a Chargers rookie, and NFL fans rightfully loved it.
Los Angeles defensive end Scott Matlock approached Kelce moments after the final whistle and asked the Chiefs’ star tight end if he had any advice for a first-year player in the NFL. Kelce gave it some thought before sharing a really good message that Matlock seemed to take to heart.
By trading for Deshaun Watson, the Browns thought they became a Super Bowl contender.
It turns out they may have slammed it shut for years to come.
On March 11, 2022, a Texas grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against Watson in connection with complaints by more than two dozen massage therapists alleging various forms of sexual harassment and assault. On March 18, the Browns outbid the Falcons, Saints and Panthers.
The price? A fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut drew the most attention Wednesday night in San Antonio. But the Mavericks beat the Spurs, 126–119, with Luka Doncic notching a triple-double.
Doncic scored 33 points with 13 rebounds and 10 assists and put the game away with a stepback three-pointer in Dallas’s 2023-24 season opener. But after the game, the star guard wanted to talk about his rookie teammate, Dereck Lively.
Lively compiled 16 points with 10 rebounds, arguably overshadowing Wembanyama (who was restricted by foul trouble).
It’s Week 8! Two weeks of big upsets have hurt our season records a bit, but we are back for another try. News broke Wednesday that Brock Purdy is in concussion protocol, which means Sam Darnold is likely to start one of the biggest games of the week, as the 49ers take on the Bengals. Other intriguing matchups include a battle of high 2023 draft picks, as Bryce Young and Panthers host C.J. Stroud and the Texans.
It should be an interesting week, with games impacting not just the playoff picture but the trade deadline.
Nobody was more impressive last weekend than Lamar Jackson.
Over the NFL season’s first six weeks, the Ravens had been trying to acclimate themselves to new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s system.
It all came together Sunday against the Lions.
What was supposed to be a showdown turned into a slaying, with Baltimore winning 38–6. Jackson was sublime, throwing for 357 yards on 13.2 yards per attempt with three touchdowns, while adding 36 yards and a score on the ground.