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David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Sometimes a rebuild seems eerily similar and that’s the case with a couple of this season’s fun, young teams
There isn’t a set path to become a contender in the NBA. Some teams believe in the draft-and-develop model, while others prefer to build through free agency. Others believe in savvy trades being the way to build your roster. In reality most teams are cobbled together in a combination of drafting players, trading for others, and signing a key free agent or two.

Cairns Taipans, a professional basketball team of the NBL in Australia, refused to wear gay pride-themed jerseys during their game against East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday.
Multiple players reportedly voiced concerns about wearing the rainbow logo due to their religious beliefs, so the team as a whole elected not to wear the logo on their jerseys.
The NBL is hosting its first-ever pride round where teams could opt to wear a rainbow logo on their regular jerseys.

Target these three player props for Sunday’s AFC championship game between the Bengals and Chiefs, including two elite pass catchers.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals have flipped to become road betting favorites over the Chiefs in the AFC championship as sportsbooks continue to be flooded with bettors fading an injured Patrick Mahomes.
Faced with the impossible task of deciphering the health of Mahomes’s injured ankle, bettors should instead focus on player proposition investments.

If the star big man can stay healthy, L.A. has at least the potential to be formidable.
Anthony Davis is back.
Are the Lakers?
Davis, the oft-injured, All-NBA forward made his anticipated return to the lineup on Wednesday after missing the last 20 games with a foot injury. He scored 21 points. He pulled down 12 rebounds. He blocked four shots. He played 26 minutes, coming off the bench for the first time since the ‘13-14 season, helping the Lakers pick up a win over the Spurs.
“A-plus,” said Darvin Ham. “I thought he was phenomenal.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Here’s the best and worst of Thursday in the NBA.
I’ll be fully transparent. I was looking forward to spending most of my time here talking about how the new pieces for the Wizards and Lakers looked in their respective debuts for their new teams.
I should’ve known better than to think a full slate of NBA games with two thirds of the league in action wouldn’t provide me with even more content to get all wide-eyed at and just marvel at the talent on display each night.

The Jacksonville Jaguars believe the franchise struck gold with Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence.
Lawrence and the Jaguars gave fans a valiant effort in a playoff loss to the Chiefs, and while the season didn’t end on a high note, Pederson proved the team could be very competitive. In just one season, the Jaguars went from a joke to being a legit squad that won a playoff game.
General manager Trent Baalke believes the relationship shared by Pederson and Lawrence plays a major role in the team’s success.
Trevor Lawrence and Doug Pederson have a great relationship.

The offensive guru would be a fantasy blessing for the players who might get him as a coach.
After a year away from the sidelines, Sean Payton is at least willing to consider returning to the NFL in 2023. He’s spoken to a few teams that currently have an opening. Whether or not a team is willing to shell out the kind of money Payton commands (and compensate the Saints) remains to be seen.
A Super Bowl-winning coach, Payton’s hiring would be exciting for any fan base.

Greg Olsen has done a very solid job as the color analyst alongside Kevin Burkhardt for Fox this NFL season, but he knows he’s working on limited time. The moment Tom Brady decides to retire, the former NFL tight end knows he’ll be getting the boot from the booth.
It’s a unique spot Olsen finds himself in. He’s been entertaining, in rhythm, and not too over-the-top like other color analysts in sports can be. Reality is, Olsen could be regarded as the best color analyst in sports, but would still face demotion when Brady decides to call it quits.

The starting quarterbacks in Sunday’s NFC title game once faced off in a thrilling college football game with CFP implications.

Klay Thompson received motivation from Kobe Bryant that helped him through the toughest moment of his career. Three years after Bryant’s death, it’s still driving him.