35 h. ago The King reigns on: LeBron James opts into $52.6m Lakers contract for 23rd NBA season

40-year-old wants to compete for championshipFuture beyond upcoming season remains unclearLeBron James will become the first player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons when he returns to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025-26.James, the NBA’s career leading scorer, is exercising his $52.6m player option for the upcoming season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN on Sunday. It is unclear if James, who turns 41 in December, intends to play past the upcoming season. Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago LeBron James formally opts in for a 23rd season, will make $52.6M in 2025

LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million option with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2025-26, further confirming that he will become the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday

Politics

55 h. ago Richard Carapaz ruled out of Tour de France with stomach bug

Reigning king of the mountains out of 2025 raceEcuadorian will turn attention to Vuelta a EspañaRichard Carapaz, the reigning Tour de France king of the mountains, will miss this year’s race after developing a gastrointestinal infection training at home in Ecuador.“Last week, he began experiencing abdominal pain and a high fever,” his EF team said on their website. “[Doctors] have advised against long-haul travel and competition at this time. As a result, Richard will not take part in this year’s Tour de France.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Cooper Flagg is the prize player as the Mavericks hold the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft

Cooper Flagg lived up to every expectation during one season at Duke and has the potential for NBA superstardom

Sport

6 d. ago NBA hits 5 billion social views during Finals. OKC's Game 7 win draws top finals audience in 6 years

The NBA generated more than 5 billion views across social media platforms during this season’s NBA Finals, up 215% from last season’s title series

Sport

7 d. ago Brutal moment LeBron James is abused by angry fans while out in New York City

In a video shared by TMZ , several basketball supporters can be seen swarming the NBA legend while he makes his way to an event in the Big Apple on Saturday night.

Events

7 d. ago Thunder’s thrilling nerd juggernaut ushers in NBA’s nice guy era

Polite, considerate, and brilliant to watch, Oklahoma City’s team of champions helped produce one of the most absorbing postseasons in yearsThese were supposed to be the boring finals, a contest between two small-city teams with none of the media pull of Boston or New York or even Denver for that matter, featuring the (allegedly) most overrated guard in the NBA, no personalities, relentless fouling, and a Canadian MVP whose ascendancy seemed to indicate nothing more than the terminal decline of America as a stable of elite basketballing talent. Instead we were treated to the most thrilling and unpredictable finals since LeBron James came through with his famous rejection in 2016 – a bustling, punishing, seven-game exhibition of physical basketball whose outcome was genuinely unclear until the final quarter of the season. Denigrated and dismissed by a basketballing commentariat who’ve spent much of this season ruing the modern NBA’s dearth of charisma, Oklahoma City and Indiana playe...

Politics

8 d. ago Thunder beat Pacers in Game 7 to win franchise’s first NBA title in Oklahoma City

As it happened: Pacers 91–103 ThunderFranchise claim first title since move from SeattlePacers lose star Tyrese Haliburton to injury in first-halfShai Gilgeous-Alexander named finals MVPThe Thunder became NBA champions on Sunday evening, topping the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to capture Oklahoma City’s first major pro sports title.Oklahoma City’s Game 7 answer, as during their dominant regular season, was youth. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and dished 12 assists to lead his team, supported by strong efforts from forward Jalen Williams (20 points) and Chet Holmgren (18 points, eight rebounds). The game was won amid decibel counts above 100, with thousands of Thunder fans stamping in unison as the team’s trio of young stars pushed the club toward the franchise’s first title since moving from Seattle in 2008. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago LeBron stars in Amazon ad, credits family for historic 23rd season return while nursing knee injury

LeBron James may be daydreaming about Prime Day deals in his new Amazon commercial, but there’s no fantasy when it comes to his real-life focus: getting his knee healthy in time for training camp

Events

2 w. ago Caitlin Clark spectacular in return from injury as Fever hand Liberty first loss

Clark drops 32 as Fever end Liberty’s 9–0 startIndiana hit 17 threes, shoot 48.1% from fieldPerformance draws praise from LeBron James Caitlin Clark totaled 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a spectacular return from a left quad injury on Saturday leading the Indiana Fever to a 102-88 victory over the New York Liberty, snapping their season-opening nine-game winning streak.After missing five games, Clark scored 25 points in the first half to help Indiana (5-5) rally from an early 11-point deficit. Clark made 11-of-20 shots and tied a career high by hitting seven threees, including several from well beyond the arc. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Long to reign over us! Crowds cheer King Charles and Queen Camilla on balcony as Kate, William and their children join them to see Trooping the Colour flypast

Members of the royal family have appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour parade to celebrate King Charles III's official birthday.

Politics

2 w. ago Game 3: Pacers aren't 100% but are set to play host to Thunder in pivotal NBA Finals matchup

There are somewhere between three and five games left in the NBA season

Sport

3 w. ago Palace insiders reveal King Frederik and Queen Mary's shrewd political move to avoid a Prince Harry

More than a year into their reign, a move by King Frederik and Queen Mary - perhaps inspired by the British royals' PR crisis - has been interpreted as an wry olive branch within the Danish royal house.

Politics

3 w. ago Indiana Pacers v Oklahoma City Thunder: NBA finals Game 1 – live buildup

Oklahoma City host Indiana in NBA finals openerNBA finals 2025 predictions: can Indiana shock OKC?Send David an email at david.lengel@theguardian.comDavid will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at our predictions for the NBA finals:Thunder in five. They’ve been utterly dominant all season. That’s mostly been the case for the playoffs too, allowing for some Jokić magic in the second round. The Pacers have been a ton of fun to watch, have impressive depth and a rising star in Haliburton. But the Thunder are deeper, more talented and have the best player in the series – that’s a recipe for a gentleman’s sweep. Ryan Baldi Continue reading...

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