Mikal Bridges, Knicks reportedly agree to four-year, $150 million extension

Mikal Bridges' first season reunited with his Villanova crew in New York didn't live up to the steep five first-round picks price paid for him, although Bridges started to find his footing and had some critical defensive moments in the playoffs.

That, along with his potential fit in new coach Mike Brown's system, had the Knicks and Bridges agreeing to a four-year, $150 million contract extension, something first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and since confirmed by multiple other reports.

That is slightly less than the $156 million max he could have gotten this summer, Charania notes. While it may not seem like much, the giveback should give the Knicks more financial flexibility and help them avoid the dreaded second luxury tax apron in future seasons. Bridges also could have waited a year, become a free agent and gotten a larger five-year contract but took this deal instead.

This deal locks up the Knicks' core — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Bridges — for two more seasons, which becomes three years if KAT and Hart pick up their player options. Bridges' $37.5 million average salary on this contract is the fourth highest on the team (behind Towns, Anunoby and Brunson). That the Knicks were willing to pay Bridges that much now suggests they think Giannis Antetokounmpo is not going to be available this coming season.

Bridges had an up-and-down first season in New York, averaging 17.6 points a game and shooting 35.4% from 3, his lowest percentage since his rookie season. However, he seemed more comfortable in Tom Thibodeau's system as the season went on and had some critical defensive plays in the playoffs, helping the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. Bridges is considered one of the players most likely to benefit from the up-tempo, more ball movement system new coach Mike Brown is expected to bring to Madison Square Garden next season.

Knicks sign Mikal Bridges to four-year, $150 million contract extension

Mikal Bridges' future with the Knicks is no longer in question, as the team has signed the veteran guard to a four-year, $150 million contract extension, sources confirmed to SNY.

Bridges was eligible for a four-year extension worth as much as $156 million. By agreeing to a deal at $6 million less than the max, Bridges gives the Knicks some financial flexibility in an era where every dollar counts for contending teams.

That future financial flexibility was an important part of the deal for the Knicks and Bridges, per sources familiar with the matter.

“He wants to be here and wants to win here,” a league source told SNY.

Bridges, who joined the Knicks last summer in an offseason trade with the Nets, averaged 17.6 points with 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds across 82 regular season games in 2024-25. The 28-year-old then scored 15.6 points on average in the playoffs, helping the Knicks make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. He had an up-and-down regular season but made several clutch plays for New York in the postseason.

The Knicks like how Bridges (who turns 29 next month) fits the timeline of their other top players. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson are all 30 or under. Brunson, Towns, Bridges, Hart and Anunoby are all under contract through 2026-27.

The Bridges extension, which was first reported by ESPN, kicks in next season. If he’d waited to become an unrestricted free agent, Bridges would have been eligible for a deal as long as five years and for much more total money.

Brunson took a significant discount by signing an extension last summer. His decision to sign the extension instead of waiting until free agency will help the Knicks avoid onerous penalties in the second apron. Bridges’ discount will also, to a much lesser degree. But every dollar counts for teams like the Knicks, who want to contend. By having a team salary under the second apron, the Knicks will have more tools to acquire free agents and the flexibility to make trades that they wouldn’t have if they are over the second apron, which is $222 million in 2026-27.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Knicks currently have $18 million in space under the second apron heading into the summer of 2027.

The Knicks sent five first-round picks to the Nets last summer to acquire Bridges. So they needed to either extend him or put him in a trade that netted a significant return. Now that Bridges is signed to the extension, he is ineligible to be traded for six months.

LeBron James, Nikola Jokić reportedly meet over $5bn upstart to rival NBA

LeBron James, right, and Nikola Jokić look on during the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah.Photograph: Jesse D Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

A high-profile meeting last week in France between LeBron James, his business partner Maverick Carter and Nikola Jokić’s agent Miško Ražnatović was about plans for a new $5bn international basketball league, according to a report by Front Office Sports, which cited multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The proposed league, spearheaded by Carter, would feature six men’s and six women’s teams that travel together to eight global cities in a touring format. Inspired by LIV Golf and Formula One, the league aims to offer players equity stakes, something NBA rules currently prohibit for active athletes.

Ražnatović, a powerful figure in European basketball, posted a photo of the meeting on Instagram over the weekend. The caption, tagged in Saint-Tropez, teased: “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026.” That photo fueled speculation about a potential team-up between James and Jokić, but sources confirmed to Front Office Sports the meeting was unrelated to the NBA.

Carter began pitching the league earlier this year, with Bloomberg reporting in January that he is seeking to raise $5bn in funding. Backers already include the Singapore government, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, SC Holdings, UBS and investors such as Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett.

Unlike the WNBA-adjacent Unrivaled league, which allows dual participation, Carter’s venture is expected to require full-time commitments, effectively ruling out NBA participation unless league rules change.

The NBA, meanwhile, is pursuing its own expansion into Europe. Commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum met with UK prime minister Keir Starmer in London last week to discuss plans for a Europe-based NBA league in partnership with Fiba. As part of that effort, the NBA announced that the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies will play regular-season games in Berlin and London in January 2026.

EuroLeague officials have pushed back against the NBA’s expansion talks. “We said to them, like we said publicly, we don’t believe that the new league is something that would help the market,” EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejūnas told the Athletic on Tuesday.

Knicks closing in on adding Brendan O’Connor to top position on Mike Brown’s staff

The Knicks are closing in on a deal to add Clippers assistant Brendan O’Connor to a top position on Mike Brown’s staff, league sources tell SNY.

O’Connor, a longtime assistant coach, has a strong defensive acumen. He’s worked for the Clippers under both Ty Lue and Doc Rivers. He will be Brown’s top assistant on defense. The Knicks have been looking to add two coaches to Brown’s staff, and their next hire will presumably be Brown’s associate head coach.

Brown will keep some coaches from Tom Thibodeau’s staff, including Darren Erman, Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks, Rick Brunson and Jordan Brink.

New York has been denied permission to speak to several assistant coaches the club had interest in. The Knicks were in touch with Pablo Prigioni for a top assistant spot, but Prigioni decided to stay in Minnesota.

Sirius XM’s Frank Isola first reported that the Knicks and O’Connor were close to a deal. The New York Post first reported that O’Connor will be the top defensive assistant in New York.

Remaining restricted free agents and their fantasy basketball value heading into next season

This portion of the calendar is usually the quietest from an NBA transaction standpoint. Summer leagues have already been played, introducing the league's newest talents, and free agency has largely run its course. However, this summer brings about an interesting situation, with four prominent restricted free agents still on the market.

Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes, Jonathan Kuminga and Cam Thomas have yet to agree to deals with their current teams, and there aren't many squads out there with the cap space required to produce an offer sheet that would be challenging to match. These situations impact roster construction, which impacts fantasy basketball. Let's look at each player's situation and how it will impact fantasy basketball for the 2025-26 season.

PG/SG Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

After struggling down the stretch for the Thunder in 2023-24, Giddey was traded to the Bulls ahead of his contract year. While he did boast a higher scoring average in 2022-23, this past season was the guard's best regarding overall production. In 70 games, Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 78.1 percent from the foul line. He finished with career-highs in rebounds, assists, steals, three-pointers and three-point percentage, meshing well with fellow guard Cboy White.

However, Giddey's 2024-25 season wasn't enough to get Chicago to commit to an extension on par with the deal Orlando gave Jalen Suggs (AAV: $30.1 million). A top-50 player in eight-cat formats, the Bulls guard was ranked just inside the top-60 in nine-cat, according to Basketball Monster. Remaining with the Bulls would ensure Giddey's fantasy value holds, if not improves slightly, since this will also be the team's first full season since trading Zach LaVine at the February trade deadline. Giddey entered last season with a Yahoo! ADP of 69, and that would likely represent his draft floor this fall.

SG/SF Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers

Grimes is an interesting case, as the 76ers acquired him and a second-round pick (which would become Johni Broome) from the Mavericks at the February deadline for Caleb Martin. As the 76ers were playing out the string, Grimes went off, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game in 28 appearances. It must be mentioned that Philadelphia would finish the season without Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, which freed up additional offensive opportunities for Grimes and others. Few expect Grimes to be the top-50 player (eight-cat formats) he was from February 7 onward, but he'll be a fantasy-relevant player in Philadelphia next season.

While Maxey will be ready for training camp, the same can't be guaranteed for Embiid or George. George's status is more impactful to Grimes, depending on the starting lineup. They both can start, but it would require one of them (or Kelly Oubre Jr.) to defend power forwards. Grimes was not on many fantasy radars before last season began, but that won't be the case this fall. Should he be selected with a top-100 pick? George's availability to start the season will undoubtedly impact where Grimes lands in fantasy drafts if he returns to Philadelphia.

SF/PF Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are the one team that has not made a signing in free agency this summer, and Kuminga's status has been a factor. Until this situation is resolved, Golden State really can't do much, even with the reports of Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton potentially joining the ranks. Does Kuminga receive a new deal that is on par with his expectations? Or would it be a team-friendly deal that he's reportedly turned down? Or, does Kuminga sign the qualifying offer and play on that before heading into unrestricted free agency next summer? Phoenix and Sacramento have reportedly expressed interest in adding Kuminga, but both would need a willing partner in the Warriors to execute a sign-and-trade.

Injuries limited Kuminga to 47 games last season, and already-poor fantasy value dipped even more after the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler. From February 7 onward, JK averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.6 steals in 20.8 minutes, making 15 appearances. That production placed Kuminga outside the top-350 in nine-cat formats. Given how his career has gone thus far, his Yahoo! ADP will likely be far below where it was entering last season (91) if he were to remain with the Warriors. At best, Kuminga would be a player worth taking a late-round flier.

SG Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

Thomas may have finished last season with a gaudy point average, but injuries limited him to 25 games. In those appearances, he averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 three-pointers in 31.2 minutes, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 88.1 percent from the foul line. A top-100 player in eight-cat formats, Thomas was ranked just outside that threshold in nine-cat formats. However, the lackluster availability meant fantasy managers missed out on the full benefits, especially with Thomas playing two games from November 27 to February 26, and his final appearance of the season coming on March 13.

The Nets are clearly in rebuilding mode, as evidenced by the team using all five of its first-round picks and trading Cam Johnson to the Nuggets in a deal that sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn. Thomas can certainly provide scoring in this lineup, as there's a clear need for a secondary option next to Porter. However, would he be given free rein, or would MPJ and the young guard added via the draft be the team's priority? Thomas' Yahoo! ADP is unlikely to approach what it was last fall (69), but returning to Brooklyn would make him worthy of a top-100 pick, at worst.

Celtics' Jaylen Brown discusses dealing with anxiety, depression: 'I’ve been to some very dark places'

Jaylen Brown will be in a different kind of spotlight heading into a new season — but when given the chance this week he turned that spotlight on an issue a lot of people are dealing with, mental health struggles.

In an honest and candid interview with the School of Hard Knocks and posted on Instagram, Brown opened up about his struggles with mental health.

"I've dealt with anxiety, even depression. I've been to some very dark places. But I feel like those dark places have allowed my light to shine."

Brown joins a growing list of current and former players who have talked about their struggles with mental health as players. That includes DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love, who have been at the forefront of the discussion. Brown was asked for his advice for people who feel like they are at rock bottom.

"I would say it's okay. Never let anyone break your spirit. Everybody is going to deal with adversity at some point... Even plants struggle to get sunlight."

Brown also credited his faith in helping him deal with issues.

Brown's role with the Celtics will change this year. He is a four-time All-Star and NBA Finals MVP who was critical in helping the Celtics hang banner No. 18. However, with Jayson Tatum out for most or all of next season with a torn Achilles, Brown becomes the No. 1 option and the guy at the top of the scouting report, and that will be different. The Celtics, as currently constructed, will not be a contender next season, as management prioritizes saving money against the luxury tax with plans to retool and come back strong when Tatum returns at full strength in the 2026-27 season.

Donte DiVincenzo will not play for Italy at EuroBasket as turf toe issue flares up

Donte DiVincenzo missed 18 games in the middle of last season due to a turf toe condition, but returned to play in February, and he came off the bench for 25 critical minutes a game during the Timberwolves' run to the Western Conference Finals last postseason.

This summer, DiVincenzo was granted Italian citizenship, just in time for him to lace them up for the Italian national team at EuroBasket. However, when he began practicing for the tournament, the toe issue flared up again, forcing him to announce he would be unable to play for the team in this summer's event.

"Unfortunately, I'm sorry I will not be able to join the national team this summer due to a physical issue that over the last few days forced me to make this difficult, difficult decision. But my goal remains the same. It remains with the journey of Italian basketball going forward, you know, World Cup and the Olympics, and for a very long time. So I just wanted to show my commitment, send my best of luck to the team, and see you all soon."

The Timberwolves see this as more precautionary and expect DiVincenzo to be ready for the next NBA season, reports Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic.

DiVincenzo averaged 11.7 points in almost 26 minutes a game off the bench for the Timberwolves last season. He shot 39.7% on 3-pointers and was a plus defender for the team, his versatility fitting into a variety of lineups.

EuroBasket will feature a number of NBA players, including stars such as Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece). EuroBasket will run from Aug. 27 through Sept. 14, and will be co-hosted by Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia.

LeBron James and Maverick Carter meet with Nikola Jokic's agent about starting a new league

Nikola Jokic (L) of Serbia and LeBron James of United States compete during the Paris 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, France.
Nikola Jokic, left, of Serbia and LeBron James of the United States compete during the Paris 2024 Olympics Games at Bercy Arena on Aug. 8, 2024. (Manu Reino / Getty Images)

A proposed international league described as the F1 of basketball gained attention over the weekend when Misko Raznatovic, the agent for Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, posted a photo on Instagram of him meeting in shorts and bare feet with LeBron James and the Lakers star's business partner Maverick Carter on a yacht off the coast of the French Riviera.

Raznatovic accompanied the photo with an intriguing comment: "The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026! @kingjames@mavcarter

The post triggered speculation that perhaps James and Jokic could team up on either the Lakers or Nuggets, but more likely it suggests James has more than a peripheral interest in the new league.

Front Office Sports reported in January that Carter was advising a group of investors trying to raise $5 billion to jump-start the league but that James wasn't involved. That may have changed.

Read more:Luka Doncic takes a jab at Mavericks while showing off his revenge body

So what's the league about?

Early discussions are of a touring model with six men’s and six women’s teams playing in eight cities, none of which is likely to be in the United States. Investors include the Singapore government, SC Holdings, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, a Macau casino operator, UBS, Skype founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, according to the Financial Times. Reports have linked VC firm Quiet Capital, tech investor Byron Deeter and Hong Kong-based Galaxy Entertainment to the effort.

Investors are leaning toward not allowing players in the league unless they cut ties with the NBA, making the model somewhat like LIV Golf — the professional circuit funded by (PIF). A better comparison in terms of format and scale might be Formula 1 Racing, which holds 24 races a year across five continents.

Raznatovic's involvement would be key. His Belgrade, Serbia, agency BeoBasket has a partnership with Excel Sports Management and represents dozens of top European players, including Clippers center Ivica Zubac.

Read more:NBA's Marcus Morris Sr. out of jail after 2 days without bail. 'Money paid back and lesson learned'

The EuroLeague is currently recognized as the world's second-best basketball circuit, but can't come close to paying players NBA-level salaries.

If Raznatovic's social media post is an indication, the new league could launch as soon as the fall of 2026. Until then, fans wanting an alternative to the NBA can check out Ice Cube's tour-based Big3 basketball league, which makes its single stop in Los Angeles on Aug. 9.

The LA Riot, coached by Nick Young and starring Dwight Howard and Jordan Crawford, will play the Boston Ball Hogs at the Intuit Dome at 1 p.m. PDT.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Knicks Mailbag: How many games will NY win this season under Mike Brown?

It's another edition of Knicks' Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the Knicks. Let's get started.


Is Ben Simmons a realistic option for the final Veteran spot? — @2lowtech

Ben Simmons is certainly a candidate for the Knicks’ final roster spot. As of earlier this week, New York continued to show strong interest in signing Simmons as teams in on Simmons await his decision.

He’s garnered interest from several teams around the league. The Knicks also have maintained interest in Landry Shamet for that final roster spot.

New York’s team salary cannot exceed the second apron ($207.8 million). They have enough money to sign a rookie free agent (it seems to me that Kevin McCullar is the best candidate for that spot) and a veteran to a minimum deal.

They would need to make a trade in order to add a third player on a traditional NBA deal. All of New York’s two-way spots are open as well. 

Hey Ian, my questions are why is there a delay on the Knicks filling the remaining vet min contract spot? Is the team holding out in case other players may be released? Are they waiting for a player to except an offer, if one was indeed made? — @Btruetolife

Hey, what’s up, Brutus? I’m not sure of the reasons behind the timing here. I know people in the organization have interest in Simmons and other people in the organization have interest in Shamet. I can only assume that they are weighing their options internally with respect to positional need.

Hey Ian Begley, just wanted to know if new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have somewhat of a say on who should get the final vet minimum roster spot. — @CarlSanddude32

Yes, new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have a say in the final veteran signing here. The Knicks and Brown emphasized that there will be collaboration between the head coach and the front office. That means Brown will certainly have a voice when it comes to personnel matters. Tom Thibodeau also had influence on personnel moves during his tenure in New York. Thibodeau didn’t get every player he wanted, but his opinion was definitely taken into account ahead of personnel moves.

Have you heard any rumblings about Malcolm Brogdon? — @KnicksRants

This comes down to positional preference. Do the Knicks want a wing for that final spot or do they want a ball-handler? Unless they make a trade, they have to choose between one of those positions. Any team that is in the market for a ball-handler would have to at least be considering Malcolm Brodgon. A few years ago, the Knicks did not have strong interest in trading for Brodgon in the middle of the season. But this is a different team with different circumstances. I’m sure Brogdon will at least be under consideration until they figure things out with the final roster spot.

Has Diawara shown enough to earn a 2 way contact? — @2lowtech

I think he has. He had some really strong stretches in Summer League. A two-way deal would give Diawara a great opportunity to spend some time with the big club while getting game reps in Westchester.

Who are some assistant coaches that the Knicks could hire, now that James Borrego is staying in NOLA? — @JayKnicky

Hey Jay, the name that I know of at the moment is Brendan O’Connor from the Clippers. Sorry I don’t have anything new there. As noted last week, Pablo Prigioni decided to stay in Minnesota after talking to the Knicks. O’Connor has a strong defensive acumen and has worked for the Clippers  under both Ty Lue and Doc Rivers. The Knicks will presumably continue to look for an assistant to help on offense even if they add O’Connor to help guide the defense.

In your own person opinion, do you think this front office has made any missteps either this offseason or over the past few years? — @wieder_jason

In my opinion? Absolutely. This front office has done really well. But even the best front offices make mistakes. The one I look at is Obi Toppin. Toppin never had a clear path to significant minutes because he was behind an All-NBA player in Julius Randle. The Knicks then traded Toppin for a minimal return and he developed into an important rotation player for the Eastern Conference champion Pacers. Again, all front offices make mistakes. But this Knicks front office, along with former head coach Thibodeau, has helped the team win consistently for the first time since the turn of the century. They have done very well in a big picture sense. The next big decision for the group is on Mikal Bridges’ extension. The Bridges trade was a big swing by the front office. Obviously, it’s too early to know if it was the right move. 

Can you ball park a win total for Mike Brown’s first year as head coach? — @Knickanator_

Hmmm I’ll go with 49, Knickinator. I’ll go with that number based on the assumption that Brown plays his starters fewer minutes than they played last season. I’ll also go with that number based on the assumption that the Knicks and Brown endure some growing pains over the course of the regular season.

Daryl Morey says LeBron's, Lakers' bubble title 'will forever be marked by an asterisk'

It's been five years since the NBA went into a bubble on the Disney campus in Orlando to keep COVID out while crowning an NBA champion.

In a look back at the bubble at The Athletic, NBA executive Daryl Morey — at the time with Houston, now the head of basketball operations with Philadelphia — said that the title LeBron James and the Lakers won in the bubble should come with an asterisk.

"Had the Rockets won the title, I absolutely would have celebrated it as legitimate, knowing the immense effort and resilience required. Yet, everyone I speak to around the league privately agrees that it doesn't truly hold up as a genuine championship. Perhaps the lasting legacy of the NBA bubble is that the NBA should be proud of its leadership at both the beginning and end of the pandemic, even though the champion will forever be marked by an asterisk."

That feels like some revisionist history by Morey. Then Lakers' assistant Phil Handy felt that way and fired back at Morey.

One big takeaway at the time — and discussed at the time — was that this was the highest level of playoff basketball anyone could remember. That was due to a few reasons: the COVID-forced mid-season time off to rest players' bodies, the lack of travel to wear people down, and the lack of distractions and focus on basketball. The challenge was more mental, as players were stuck in the bubble and away from their families, missing the feeling of "normal" life. LeBron's Lakers and Jimmy Butler's Heat handled that mental part best, which is why they played for a ring.

The bubble was its own thing, certainly different from every other NBA title — but that doesn't make it lesser. Everyone was playing by the same rules, the challenges were simply unique to that season and the bubble. That hasn't stopped LeBron's critics (or at least those trying to knock down his GOAT argument) from jumping at the chance to say this title wasn't legit. They miss the point, they miss how much LeBron's mental toughness carried the Lakers to a title. That matters.

While it is different, the bubble should not have an asterisk.

Gilbert Arenas arrested for allegedly running high-stakes illegal poker games out of his home

Three-time All-NBA player Gilbert Arenas has been arrested, along with five other defendants – "including a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group" – for allegedly running illegal high-stakes poker games out of a Los Angeles home owned by Arenas.

Arenas is set to be arraigned on Wednesday, charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California.

Arenas could serve up to five years in prison for each count for which he is convicted.

From the U.S. Attorney's Office:

"According to the indictment returned on July 15 and unsealed today, from September 2021 to July 2022, [suspected organized crime figure from Israel Yevgeni] Gershman, Arenas, and the other defendants operated an illegal gambling business. Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games. At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games, found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf."

The crew allegedly ran illegal "Pot Limit Omaha" poker games, among other illegal games, according to the indictment. Young women were hired and "served drinks, provided massages, and offered companionship to the poker players" in exchange for tips (the women were charged a "tax" on their earnings paid to the organizers. There also were armed security guards, chefs, valets parking cars for the games and more, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The ongoing investigation was a coordinated effort of the Homeland Security Investigations' Northridge Office, the Los Angeles Police Department's Major Crimes Division — Transnational Organized Crime Section, and the IRS Criminal Investigation.

FC Barcelona honors Kobe Bryant with 'Mamba Mentality'-inspired road uniforms

Kobe Bryant will always be remembered as a Lakers legend and one of basketball's all-time greats.

But in February 2009 — in the middle of his 13th NBA season — Bryant appeared on the cover of ESPN the Magazine wearing another team's uniform and playing an entirely different sport.

The cover shot showed Bryant in full FC Barcelona gear and performing some pretty fancy footwork with a soccer ball.

Kobe Bryant and FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho wearing shorts and shirts chart in front of a group of men dressed like Ronaldhino
Lakers' Kobe Bryant and FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho take part in an event Aug. 5, 2006, in Hollywood. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

In a video for ESPN the Magazine, Bryant explained that he was a longtime soccer fan who had become "captivated" by superstar Ronaldinho, who played for Barca from 2003-2008.

"That’s how I started following the team," Bryant said, "and from that point forward I just stuck with them.”

Now, more than 16 years later, Barcelona players will be wearing Bryant-inspired uniforms. Revealed Tuesday by Nike and Barca, the team's 2025-26 away kits will feature a number of nods toward the late NBA legend and his famous Mamba Mentality.

The colors are variations of the Lakers' purple and gold. A snakeskin pattern is featured on the shorts and portions of the jersey. Bryant's "Kobe Sheath" logo appears prominently, including on the upper right section of the jersey where the Nike Swoosh would normally be placed.

"Born from a shared obsession with relentless self-improvement, the partnership brings the Kobe Sheath to professional football for the first time through a collection that captures the dedication and values central to Kobe’s legacy and Barça’s DNA," Nike said in a press release.

Read more:Dodgers unveil Kobe Bryant bobblehead to be given away Aug. 8 at Chavez Ravine

"The collaboration celebrates Kobe’s lifelong love for football and admiration for FC Barcelona’s joyful style of play and philosophy. In return, Barça recognizes Kobe as a driving force in global sport who lived by the discipline and drive for greatness that defines the club."

Barcelona wasn't shy in promoting the new look on Instagram.

"Two icons, one shared story," the team wrote in one post. "A collaboration born from mutual admiration and the values that unite us: talent, commitment, and passion."

Barca added in another post: "The Mamba Mentality is in us."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

What Kings' latest reported Jonathan Kuminga trade offer to Warriors included

What Kings' latest reported Jonathan Kuminga trade offer to Warriors included originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears the Kings have enhanced their initial sign-and-trade offer to the Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga.

Sacramento has offered a first-round draft pick and a potential rotation player to Golden State, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday on “NBA Today.” However, the Warriors are being particular with the type of first-round pick.

The Kings have offered a conditional first-round pick, but the Warriors are asking for a fully unprotected first-round pick, Charania reported, citing sources.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns, who in addition to Sacramento have been the most aggressive in their pursuit of Kuminga, don’t have a first-round pick to trade, so their offer likely would include one or two rotation players and second-round compensation.

Golden State also doesn’t want to take on a bad salary in return, Charania added, and the Warriors don’t want a player they don’t feel has the value moving forward that Kuminga could have.

Sacramento previously offered second-year guard Devin Carter, big man Dario Šarić and two second-round picks to the Warriors, sources told NBC Sports California. But even after the Kings revised their offer, it appears the Warriors still aren’t moved by Sacramento’s offer or any other proposed to them thus far.

“Clearly their asking price has not been met in these potential offers,” Charania said, “and there’s still about a month in a half to two months left before Jonathan Kuminga has a real decision to make with that Oct. 1 qualifying offer.”

The waiting game continues.

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Jonathan Kuminga reportedly turned down two-year, $45 million offer from Warriors

The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga have picked up the pace around talks, but that doesn't mean a deal is done — or even that close.

Kuminga has rejected the Warriors' two-year, $45 million contract offer in large part because Golden State insists on a team option for the second season that he waive the built-in no-trade clause, reports Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN. Both of those requests would make Kuminga easier to trade, but giving up those things — particularly the no-trade clause, which he would get automatically because he could lose his Bird rights in the deal — would mean Kuminga would have no control over what would happen to him. He could be traded to a team just looking to waive him and clear cap space.

Kuminga's agent, BJ Armstrong, reportedly offered a three-year, $82 million contract to the Warriors instead. That seems more than the market appears willing to pay for him.

While the sides have looked for a sign-and-trade deal, there does not appear to be one available. For example, Kuminga spoke with the Kings and Armstrong had longer talks with them as well. The problem is this: The Kings will not put Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis in a trade offer, but the Warriors are not interested in taking back DeMar DeRozan, Dario Saric or Devin Carter, reports Jason Alexander at the Sacramento Bee. So things are stuck.

The Warriors are thinking of ending the sign-and-trade talks, and their current position is that Kuminga can take their two-year offer or sign the $7.5 million qualifying offer, ESPN reports. The qualifying offer would mean Kuminga is a member of the Warriors this season with a no-trade clause, then he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. However, for Kuminga, that's a lot of money to leave on the table to buy his freedom.

Kuminga, 22, averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 47 games last season (he missed time with an ankle injury). The concern is that he shot 30.5% on 3-pointers and is not a threat from deep, which makes it hard for Steve Kerr to play him and Draymond Green together (both are best at the fours), especially with Jimmy Butler. However, if the Warriors are going to bring back Kuminga with the hopes of trading him at the deadline, Kerr will need to showcase him.

Luca Doncic takes a jab at Mavericks while showing off his revenge body

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 28: Luka Doni greets Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, July 28, 2025 in New York, New York.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, greets slugger Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees before a game at Yankee Stadium on July 28. (Kyrease Desseau / Getty Images)

Guy spends his summer transforming his body from flab to fighting trim. He wants to share the results with the world. Where is his first stop?

New York, New York, would suffice.

So there Luka Doncic stood, newly toned and beaming, posing for a photo opp at Yankee Stadium with none other than 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger Aaron Judge, as legit a symbol of freakish physique gifts as exists on today's sports landscape.

Both men have been featured in Men's Health magazine, including a cover story on Doncic published Monday that detailed his commitment to redistributing weight through intense workouts and a better diet.

The 6-6, 230-pound Doncic didn't wither in Judge's presence, exhibiting muscle tone unseen during his 28-game Lakers debut after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a truly shocking Feb. 1 trade for center Anthony Davis.

Doncic also chatted with the Yankees' broadcast team, and play-by-play announcer Michael Kay suggested Doncic do what any self-respecting New Yorker would in this situation: Make sure the Mavericks are aware of his physical transformation.

"After that deal was made, the Mavericks got a lot of criticism regarding it," Kay said. "Then they start to leak out stuff — 'Oh, we don't know if he's ever going to be in shape.' You should mail them a copy of that Men's Health magazine."

Behind a sly grin, Doncic replied, "They probably saw it. I don't have to worry about that."

New York is one of three destinations on Doncic's summer sojourn, a one-day stop in Chicago next followed by an intriguingly timed visit to Los Angeles on Saturday. That happens to be the first day Doncic, 26, can sign a contract extension with the Lakers.

The five-time All-NBA guard can sign a four-year deal for $224 million or a three-year deal for $161 million with a player option in 2028, which would allow Doncic to sign a max contract in 2028 that would give him 35% of the salary cap for that season.

Read more:Luka Doncic says 'whole body looks better' after summer of change: 'This is just the start'

Any lingering doubts that the Lakers might have had before dropping that kind of money in Doncic's lap likely were assuaged by his apparent commitment to superior physical conditioning.

Even with a bit of a belly and rounded jowls, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists a game last season — a mere tick lower than his career totals. Now he could be poised to assume the mantle of best player in the world, handed off from Kobe Bryant to LeBron James, Lakers both.

Doncic's summer at his Croatia home includes two 90-minute workouts a day, according to Men's Health. He also has adopted a gluten-free, low-sugar and high-protein diet that includes intermittent fasting.

The unveiling of his new physique included Judge giving him a game-used bat and a pair of his Air Jordan 1 Low cleats. In the interview with Kay, Doncic was asked if he could put the gifts to use. Has he played baseball?

“A lot, on the Wii console," he replied with the same wry humor he displayed shading the Mavericks. "Yeah, on Wii, I was great. Here? Probably not.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.