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Why Kansas State fired Jerome Tang: 'What he said about the student-athletes really concerned me'

Jerome Tang is out as Kansas State basketball coach.

The school announced the firing Sunday night, Feb. 15.

“This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program," K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said. “Recent public comments and conduct, in addition to the program’s overall direction, have not aligned with K-State’s standards for supporting student-athletes and representing the university. We wish Coach Tang and his family all the best moving forward.”

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At a Sunday night news conference, Taylor said Tang "has been terminated for cause."

The Wildcats are 10-15 this season with a 1-11 record in Big 12 play, which comes a season after final records of 16-17 in 2024-25 and 19-15 in 2023-24.

The decision comes days after Tang's scorched-earth news conference following Kansas State's 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 11, where Wildcats fans were wearing paper bags over their heads. Tang said his players didn't deserve to wear the school's uniforms after the performance.

Jerome Tang rips K-State players: 'These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform.'

Kansas State is coming off a 78-64 loss to Houston on Feb. 14, in which its players had their names removed from their jerseys for the game.

What did Jerome Tang say to get fired?

"This was embarrassing," Tang said after the Cincinnati loss. "These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform, and there will be very few of them in it next year. I'm embarrassed for the university, I'm embarrassed for our fans, and our student section. It's just ridiculous.

"We have practice at 6 a.m. tomorrow. I have no answers or no words. Y'all got two questions, so whoever wants to ask two questions, I'll answer 'em to the best of my ability right now. But right now, I'm pissed.

"These dudes have to have some pride, man. It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple, man. Our university's all about that, and it's why I love this place, man. They don't love this place, so they don't deserve to be here."

What Kansas State AD Gene Taylor said about firing Jerome Tang

At Sunday's news conference announcing the firing, Taylor said, "What he said about the student-athletes really concerned me."

"There's language in his contract that addresses certain things that could potentially bring embarrassment," Taylor added. "Basically, his comments about the student-athletes and the negative reaction to those comments from a lot of sources, both nationally and locally is where I kind of thought we needed to make the decision."

As of Sunday night, the school still has Tang's postgame news conference from the Cincinnati game live on its YouTube page.

Jerome Tang buyout, contract

Tang's buyout is set at $18.675 million, according to the USA TODAY Sports head coaches salaries database.

K-State's athletic director said Tang was fired "for cause", which would affect the conditions of the buyout.

Tang had five years remaining on his contract.

What did Jerome Tang say about being fired by Kansas State?

In a statement to ESPN, the former Kansas State coach said:

“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination. I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.

"I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity to serve as Head Coach at Kansas State. It has been one of the great honors of my life.

"I am grateful to the players, staff, and fans who make this program so special. I remain proud of what we built together and confident that I have always acted in the best interests of the university and our student-athletes."

How can Kansas State fire Jerome Tang for cause?

Kansas State can fire Tang for cause for the following reasons:

  • ***Material breach of his agreement, intentional negligence, or other failure or refusal to perform his duties and responsibilities as head coach.
  • Insubordination; objectionable behavior
  • Failure to report any and all violations of NCAA rules
  • Fraud or dishonesty related to submitting documents to the NCAA
  • Serious or multiple rules violations involving himself, an assistant or staff member
  • Failure to reasonably respond accurately and fully within a reasonable time relating to the coach's duties to the athletic director
  • Instruct a coach, student or other person to respond inaccurately, inappropriately or incompetently or destroy or conceal evidence concerning a matter to a student or athletic program
  • Fail to obtain required approval for outside activities

*** — Among the notable duties listed in Tang's contract is to conduct himself in a manner consistent with being the head coach. It says that Tang is not to engage in any behavior, actions, or activities that subject himself, Kansas State athletics, or the university to public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule, or scandal, with such conduct reflecting unfavorably on K-State athletics.

What's next at Kansas State?

Tang, a former longtime Baylor assistant, led Kansas State to the Elite Eight in his first year with the program in 2022-23 before eventually falling to national runner-up Florida Atlantic. The fall from grace was fast after reaching impressive heights as a first-year head coach.

Kansas State has three Elite Eight appearances since 2010 under three different coaches — Tang (2023) Bruce Weber (2018) and Frank Martin (2010). The school has produced numerous high-level coaches throughout the years, including Lon Kruger, Dana Altman and Bob Huggins, to name a few.

Associate head coach Matthew Driscoll will serve as interim head coach, Taylor said, as K-State begins its search for Tang's replacement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas State fires Jerome Tang for cause after rant, will fight buyout

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A recap of Jalen Johnson’s first All-Star Weekend

Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stars forward Jalen Johnson (1) of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball in game one against Team World during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Becoming an All-Star is probably every player’s dream, and some are able to make it a reality as they climb the ranks in the league. This year, Jalen Johnson put himself in that position, averaging 23.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game midway through the season. Not only was he selected to the All-Star Game, but he was right in his hometown, taking in the moment.

The league made sure to keep Johnson busy throughout the week, and the content was flowing from Friday morning to Sunday night.

Day 1: Touching down in LA, Dunk Contest manifestation?

Starting off when he landed in Los Angeles, and he got the first look at his All-Star jersey.

He already had a pair of shoes in mind, and they matched his jersey.

“This is fire. This is dope,” Johnson said.

Johnson seemed to be getting a scope of everything on Day 1, and he happened to run into another Hawks’ faithful, Dominique Wilkins.

Later on in the day, Johnson met up with some young fans to take some pictures and sign autographs. One of the young kids spoke highly of the Hawks’ star, saying he believed in him since he was drafted.

That night is when the festivities began, and Johnson pulled up to the celebrity game to catch some of the world’s stars go up against each other.

Johnson was interviewed by Monica McNutt during the game, and during the segment, Richard Jefferson called him out by saying he doesn’t think he has enough bounce to participate in the dunk contest. In that same breath, Johnson said that he would be in the dunk contest one day.

That was definitely the highlight of the Day 1 for Johnson, and people will remember those words of him putting in a bid for a future dunk contest appearance.

Day 2: Media Day/ Shooting Stars with Team Cameron

Johnson got Day 2 started with pictures, and meeting up with the other All-Stars on the court.

Here was a sneak peak of Johnson’s team.

After pictures, Johnson sat down for Media Day and answered a few questions, talking about his journey into becoming an All-Star, and how the G-League helped him to get where he is today.

The next event on Day 2 for Johnson was the Shooting Stars challenge, where he was a part of Team Cameron that included Kon Knueppel and Corey Maggette.

The team was able to advance to the final round, where they faced off against Team Knicks.

Unfortunately, their score in the final round was not enough to defeat Team Knicks. After the competition, Johnson spoke with the media. He didn’t seem to be happy with his performance.

Day 3: All-Star Game

Day 3 was All-Star Game time, and Johnson came through clean.

Johnson got another feel for his All-Star jersey, but he would be playing in it this time instead of taking pictures.

It was time to put the jerseys on, and Johnson was introduced for his first All-Star Game.

Johnson’s team was first up, and they faced off against Team World. Johnson was the first player to come off the bench for Team Stars.

Johnson was able to do what he does best to get his first points as an All-Star, and that’s filling the lane and getting a dunk.

Johnson created his own opportunity on this one, getting a two-handed flush over Karl-Anthony Towns.

Johnson made plays on the other end as well, getting a big block.

Both teams ended up tying at the end of regulation, and overtime was the first to five points. Team Stars advanced after a Scottie Barnes three-pointer, and their next challenge was against Team Stripes. Johnson finished Game 1 with four points, one assist, and one block.

In Game 2, Johnson knocked a three-pointer, played some defense, and got a dunk.

Anthony Edwards threw up a lob for Johnson.

It was another game that came down to the final possession, and a buzzer-beater three-pointer from Team Stripes led them to victory. Johnson finished Game 2 with five points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal.

Team Stars was still able to advance to the championship, and they were up against Team Stripes once again.

Johnson only got this dunk with a minute remaining, but his team was already up big.

Team Stars walked away with bragging rights, and it was a great way to end the weekend for Johnson in his first time as an All-Star.

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Must Cs: Jayson Tatum teases return with “The Quiet Work”

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics passes his teammates during team introductions before the game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on October 27, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Schroeder/Getty Images) | Getty Images

During Sunday’s All-Star Game festivities, Jayson Tatum and the NBA on NBC dropped this trailer:

Per the YouTube summary, the five-part documentary:

For the first time in his life, the game that defined Jayson Tatum was taken away by an Achilles injury. The five-part docuseries THE QUIET WORK follows Jayson through the most challenging stretch of his career as he fights to return to the NBA. From the locker room to the hospital room, through rehab and recovery, and ultimately back to the court, this is the unseen side of his journey and the work no one ever witnesses.

Until now.

Paired with the news this weekend that the Celtics’ March 1st home game against visiting Philadelphia 76ers was rescheduled from 6 pm to primetime at 8 pm and air on NBC, the speculation that Tatum is set return soon seems more and more like a reality. He had previously said that his first game back would be at TD Garden.

Earlier in the week, President of Basketball Operations threw some cold water on the rising expectations that JT was just around the corner from stepping back on the floor, saying, “(It’s) best for Jayson Tatum to come back when he’s 110% healthy, he’s fully clear by everybody that matters in that decision and he’s got great peace of mind and ready to do it. That’s it. That’s the objective and that’s what we’re gonna stick with,” Stevens said.

“When we feel 100%, it’ll be his, it’ll be a group getting together and talking, but I think our medical people are really good, I think his doctors are really good, so we’re gonna listen to them, he’s listening to them. I think he and Nick have had an amazing work ethic through this recovery, and when it’s right, then we’ll all sit down and talk about it, but there’s still no force from us, there’s no pressure from us, but there’s also not going to be any of us saying, well, why don’t you take another week? When he’s ready, he’s ready.”

Then, Tatum’s rehab moved to controlled 5-on-5 including a practice with the Maine squad with Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams in tow.

After the workout, Tatum said, “It doesn’t mean I’m coming back or not.” There may still not be a definitive decision made, but all signs — the tea leaves, the media push, the physical ramp up — point to Tatum return on the horizon.

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Devin Booker, Team Stars win NBA All-Star 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEB 14: Devin Booker of USA Stars Team of 2026 NBA All Star Game is seen during the Media Day event at Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, United States on February 14, 2026. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images

Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker made another All-Star appearance this afternoon for Team USA’s “Stars” squad. He played a three-game roundrobin against Team World and Team Stripes, and finished 2-1 overall to win the event.

The first game against Team World went to overtime, where Booker and company were able to secure a 5-3 victory after a Scottie Barnes three. They lost at the buzzer to Team Stripes, who they would end up facing in the third and final “Championship” game.

Game 1 Line: 5 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 2-5 FG in 9 minutes, +12
Game 2 Line: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1-3 FG in 9 minutes, -1
Game 3 Line: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2-5 FG in 9 minutes, +22

FINAL LINE: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 5-13 FG in 27 minutes, +33

Devin Booker strarted for Team USA, alongside Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, Anthony Edwards, and Jalen Duren.

He connected on his first three point attempt, then missed his next two. Booker had a nice dime to Ant, picking up their chemistry for the Olympic run as teammates.

Devin Booker got high praise from NBC’s broadcast, crediting him for Team USA’s Olympic Gold Medal as an “unsung hero” for the defense and smaller role he took on offensively.

He was one of the first ones subbed out as Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson made their debuts.

In his second stint, he got another bucket, a board and dropped three more dimes as the game was winding down. He closed the overtime game out with a win to secure game one for Team Stars.

Team Stars advanced to the All-Star Game finals after Team Stripes defeated Team World with a game-winner from Kawhi Leonard.

In the Finals’ opening moments, Devin Booker drilled a three early to open the scoring.

Book had a nice dime on the move to Maxey for a score, then followed that up with this work in the paint. In typical Book fashion, he didn’t rush or force anything and played steady throughout.

Booker and Team Stars secured the championship in a blowout, winning 47-21. A stark difference from the first three games, which all came down to the final possession(s). A solid showing for Devin Booker. He didn’t win MVP (Anthony Edwards took the honors) but he took on that “Olympic Book” role again to help his team take the win(s).

It’s been quite an eventful weekend for Book, as he finished second in the three-point contest yesterday.

Get ready for the 2027 NBA All-Star Game, Suns fans. We’ll be hosting it in our backyard here in DT PHX.

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Donovan Mitchell’s Stripes team falls short in NBA All-Star game final

Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes guard Donovan Mitchell (45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in game two during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images

The new All-Star format was a win for the NBA, even though the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lone representative, Donovan Mitchell, didn’t end up on the victorious team.

This year’s showcase was broken up into four mini-games. Mitchell’s veteran USA team, the Stripes, played against a younger USA team, the Stars, and a third team comprised of international players, the World.

Each team played each other in a 12-minute game. The teams with the two best records faced off in a final contest. The Stripes won their first two games, but ran out of gas in the final game against the younger Stars.

Mitchell played a pivotal role in the Stripes’ win over the Stars in their first game for both good and bad reasons.

With the Stripes up two with 23 seconds left, Mitchell was stripped by Anthony Edwards while attempting a spin move around him. Edwards then hit a transition three to give the Stars a one-point lead with 20 seconds to play.

Mitchell atoned on the final possession. Down one, with under 10-seconds left, Mitchell darted inside, got a pass from LeBron James, and promptly hit an open De’Aaron Fox in the corner for the buzzer-beating game winner.

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Mitchell finished that game with six points on 2-3 shooting with three assists and two turnovers in his team’s 42-40 victory over the Stars.

The Stripes followed that up with a narrow 48-45 win over the World in their second outing.

Kawhi Leonard took control of that game, going 11-13 from the field for 31 points and two steals in the 12-minute game. This included hitting the game-winning triple with three seconds left.

Mitchell didn’t play as large a role in the second game. He didn’t attempt a shot, but was able to provide a block on Alperen Sengun.

The veteran-laden Stripes came undone in the final game against the younger USA team. James, Kevin Durant, and Leonard were all a step slow after playing three-straight games, and their two younger starters, Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown, did little to help.

The Stripes were down 26-9 halfway through the 12-minute game by the time Mitchell checked in. They went on to lose 47-21 with Mitchell providing six points in the contest.

Overall, Mitchell combined for 12 points on 4-7 shooting with three assists in 17 minutes across the three games.

Anthony Edwards received the Kobe Bryant Trophy for All-Star Game MVP.

This new All-Star format was fun. It was a definite win over some of the previous iterations with this resembling a basketball game for most of the night. The first three games were entertaining, before the event ran out of steam at the end.

Still, this was a clear step up from how unwatchable the All-Star Game has been in recent years.

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LeBron’s Team Stripes falls in final of entertaining 2026 NBA All-Star Game

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Team USA Stripes and De’Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs and Team USA Stripes celebrate after Fox's game winning 3-pointer against Team USA Stars the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome on February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA found some (unexpected?) success with its new All-Star format on Sunday, even if it ended in a bit of a dud.

Luka Dončić and LeBron James took part in the three-team, USA vs. World format for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game which saw a trio of really exciting games before an underwhelming championship game.

LeBron’s Team Stripes won back-to-back games to earn a spot in the title game, but ran out of steam in the final, losing to the much younger Team Stars. Team World lost to each USA team in close contests. Luka did play in the first game, but only played a short stint before sitting out the remainder of the night.

Luka had a layup early in the first game between Team World and Team Stars after leaking out on a fastbreak. He played just past the five-minute mark of the first game before checking out.

The game had a little more intensity to it than previous versions, largely thanks to Victor Wembanyama setting the tone. Cade Cunningham, Devin Booker and Anthony Edwards matched that for Team Stars and the result a close contest in the final minutes.

Ant knocked down a three with 13 seconds left to tie the game, forcing overtime. In a race to five points, a jumper from Ant and a 3-pointer from Scottie Barnes sandwiched a Wemby 3-pointer to give Team Stars the win.

Jamal Murray, in his first All-Star appearance, finished 0-6 and was a -14 in a game his team lost by two.

Team Stars stayed on the court as a result of the win to play Team Stripes and LeBron in the second game.

Kevin Durant opened the game with a three off a LeBron assist before LeBron added one of his own minutes later. The surest sign of an increased effort level was LeBron being fouled on an attempted offensive rebound putback.

Led by Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown, Team Stripes built up a lead. While Team Stars closed it to two points in the final minutes, a 3-pointer from Donovan Mitchell added some more space between the sides and a LeBron logo three made it a six-point lead.

However, a couple of quick baskets preceded a steal and a pull-up 3-pointer in transition from Ant, giving Team Stars the lead with under 20 seconds left. With the game on the line, Team Stripes moved the ball around with De’Aaron Fox splashing home an open three at the buzzer.

Team Stripes stayed on the floor for the final game of the round robin format to take on Team World. Luka did not start or play in the game.

Kawhi raced out of the gate with eight of the first 10 points in a back-and-forth game. Wemby took matters into his own hands to give Team World a lead. Jalen Brunson scored eight points in a hurry to try to answer Wemby’s surge.

With a Laker on the team across from him, Murray actually played like an All-Star this game, scoring eight points early as Team World opened up a 27-20 lead.

Out of a timeout, Kawhi was unconscious, hitting three straight threes to tie the game before a baseline jumper for 11 straight points to give Team Stripes the lead.

Team World came back into the game to tie it on a free throw. Kawhi threw down a dunk on one end before Wemby hit a three in response. Norman Powell made it a three-point lead before an and-one by Kawhi tied it again.

A LeBron putback dunk with 30 seconds remaining put Team Stripes up, but two Wemby freebies tied it again. Kawhi put his final stamp on the game with a stepback three over Wemby to put Team Stripes up three with 3.5 seconds left.

Wemby had an open look to tie the game at the buzzer but missed, eliminating Team World from the competition and setting up a Team Stripes and Team Stars final.

Playing in their third straight game, Team Stripes fell behind 12-1 in the opening minutes, forcing a timeout. After missing their first 10 shots, LeBron finally converted on a fastbreak dunk for Team Stripes’ first field goal.

LeBron and Brunson then hit 3-pointers, but Jalen Duren was punishing Team Stripes and their lack of centers while Ant took over with eight-straight points, making it 26-9 and forcing another timeout.

Team Stars’ run eventually reached 15-0 as the game was never close, as they won going away, 47-21. Anthony Edwards was named the MVP.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo pledges commitment to Bucks — ‘as of today’

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looking for direction from the bench during a game against the Denver Nuggets.
Giannis Antetokounmp is pictured during the Bucks' Jan. 11 game.

The NBA trade deadline came and went, with Giannis Antetokounmpo still a member of the Bucks.

The two-time league MVP is in Los Angeles for All-Star weekend, albeit not playing in the first-time “USA vs. the World” format on Sunday due to the right calf injury that has sidelined him since Jan. 23.

In an interview with ESPN ahead of the All-Star showcase, the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo restated his commitment to Milwaukee for the rest of this season with an eye on adding another championship to the one he won in 2021.

Giannis Antetokounmp is pictured during the Bucks’ Jan. 11 game. AP

“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo said in a sitdown with ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I’m committed to the people that I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, coach Doc [Rivers] and [GM] Jon [Horst] in the front office.

“What I’ve said from the beginning of this year is that, out of my mouth and the way I’ve carried myself, you will never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck.”

Of course, multiple reports suggested otherwise before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, with ESPN insider Shams Charania reporting that the nine-time All-Star has been preparing to leave Milwaukee “for months,” either before the deadline or in the offseason.

“Legends don’t chase. They attract,” Antetokounmpo wrote in a social media post following the trade deadline.

Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to pass the ball during the Bucks’ Jan. 11 game. AP

The Bucks entered the break with a disappointing record of 23-30 and in 12th place in the East — but just 1.5 games behind the Hawks for the final spot in the 7-10 play-in tournament.

“Growing up, you dream, ‘Oh, what if I played for the Knicks, Madison Square Garden? What if I get drafted by the Lakers and I’m teammates with Kobe [Bryant]? What if I go play for the Cavs and LeBron [James] passes me the ball?'” Antetokounmpo said during the ESPN interview. “But this is my team, and I love it.”

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Lakers legend LeBron James puts NBA future on hold … for now

It was the perfect setting for LeBron James to make the big announcement. 

While every other NBA All-Star spoke to the media Saturday, James spoke Sunday, something he has done four straight years. But this time, the league’s signature event was in Los Angeles, where he has played the last eight seasons for the Lakers. 

James loves a good narrative. All eyes were on him. Social media was abuzz. 

James, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has 28 regular-season games left to figure out his future.  NBAE via Getty Images

Would this be the moment we found out if one of the greatest athletes of all time was retiring or returning for a historic 24th season?

No such luck.

When James was asked if he knew what he’s going to do, he kicked the can. 

“I want to live,” James said. “When I know, you guys will know. I don’t know. I have no idea. I just want to live. That’s all.”

James, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has 28 regular-season games left to figure out his future. 

Will he return to the Lakers? Will he tie a bow on his career by joining the Cavaliers, the team that drafted him as an 18-year-old in 2003? Will he team up with Steph Curry, whom he has singled out as the one player he’d most love to play alongside? 

Or will he hang up his jersey for good?

As the Lakers make a playoff push, there’s a shadow hanging over them in the form of a question mark. If James retires, it would be the end of an era. It would mean we’d no longer get to watch arguably the greatest player of all time.

LeBron James and basketball have been synonymous for 23 years. 

He’s still the biggest of stars. He was the Olympics MVP in 2024. He was sixth in NBA MVP voting last season. He became the oldest player in league history to record a triple-double Thursday against the Mavs at age 41. 

Sure, James’ stats are down a bit this season after he missed the first 14 games because of sciatica. But we’re not seeing the fading of a star. If James retired, it would be the disappearance of a star.   

James is steeling himself for things to come to an end.  

He teared up while watching a tribute video in Cleveland. He regularly talks about how special it is to share a locker room with his son, Bronny. He’s taking everything in as though it were the last time. 

Sometimes he’s in the mood to talk about where his head is at. Sometimes he’s not. On Sunday, it was the latter. 

If James retires, it would be the end of an era. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

When asked if he’s still interested in owning an NBA team with the league on the verge of a possible expansion, he was noncommittal. 

“There’s a lot of things that I have on the table that I could tap into if I want to, that being one of them,” he said. 

When asked if he has thought about what he wants the rest of his life to look like after he stops playing, he didn’t talk about work. 

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“No, I think what I want to do at 45, 50 and 55 will be a lot of creating great vibes and fun with my family and my friends,” he said. 

Three years ago during his All-Star media availability, he called the stretch run “the 23 most important regular-season games of my career.” When asked if he felt a similar urgency now considering his future is unknown, he denied that his impending decision colors anything. 

“No. We’re gearing up toward the postseason,” he said. “It has nothing to do with that. Same motivation. Same mind factor. We’ve gotten past the marathon, and the sprint is about to start. I think everybody understands that.”

As for this season, James said everything is going to come down to the Lakers’ health. He, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have only played 10 games together. Meanwhile, the team added new pieces in Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia over the summer, while trading for Luke Kennard earlier this month. 

When asked about the Lakers’ potential to contend, he acknowledged he didn’t know their ceiling. 

“It’s too hard to really say what we’re capable of,” he said. “I know that when we’ve played some of our best basketball of the season, we’ve looked very good. On the other side, when we’ve been terrible, we’ve looked disgusting.”

On Sunday, it was clear James wanted to focus on the present. 

He wanted to enjoy sharing the court with Curry and Kevin Durant. He wanted to take in what could possibly be his final All-Star Game. 

He didn’t want to talk. 

As he said, he wanted to live. 

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Barack and Michelle Obama attend 2026 NBA All-Star Game

The NBA All-Star Game is known for bringing together the most talented and notable players from around the league.

The game also attracts celebrities and public figures from across the country to gather and enjoy basketball.

Former United States President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were among those in attendance for the event, sitting next to basketball legend Julius Erving.

The game features two American teams and a World team at the Intuit Dome on Sunday, Feb. 15.

Obama is a known basketball fan who embraced the game and his fandom while he was in office. He would share his predictions for the NBA Finals or fill out a bracket for the NCAA college basketball tournament.

Team USA Stars guard Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns embraces former President Barack Obama in Game 1 during the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Feb. 15, 2026. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

More: Why is there a new NBA All-Star game format? Rules, rosters explained

“There’s a lot of concern about the All-Star Game and not seeing effort (from the players),” Obama said during an interview with analyst Reggie Miller on the NBC broadcast. “Today we are seeing (that effort). Anytime you get Americans vs. International (teams), they want to bring it.”

The NBA has experimented with different formats for the All-Star Game in recent years. All three teams will play each other in a small tournament before the two teams meet in the championship game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Barack, Michelle Obama attend NBA All-Star Game 2026

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Big East suspends Providence's Powell 2 games, giving him a 3-game penalty from fight-filled game

NEW YORK (AP) — Providence forward Duncan Powell was suspended two additional games by the Big East on Sunday, meaning he will miss three games for his flagrant foul that sparked a fight in a game against St. John's.

Powell already faced an automatic one-game ban for fighting by NCAA rules, but the conference tacked on an additional penalty stemming from the 17th-ranked Red Storm's 79-69 victory Saturday that featured seven ejections.

It started when Powell flagrantly fouled Bryce Hopkins — who played three seasons in Providence — from behind as he went up for a fast-break layup. Powell was automatically ejected for the flagrant 2 foul.

“Providence College holds its student-athletes and coaches to the highest standards,” athletic director Steve Napolillo said. “We fully support the suspension that the Big East has issued to Duncan Powell. His actions were unacceptable and do not reflect the values, discipline, or sportsmanship expected of anyone representing Providence College.”

The Big East said in its ruling that officials determined that Powell “engaged in additional combative actions that constituted a fighting act subsequent to the flagrant foul.”

He will sit out next Saturday at DePaul, followed by a Feb. 24 home game against Xavier and a game at Creighton on Feb. 28.

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No. 10 Oklahoma holds off No. 23 Alabama 79-71 after late fourth-quarter surge

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Raegan Beers scored 21 points and Payton Verhulst added 17 to help No. 10 Oklahoma beat 23rd-ranked Alabama 79-71 on Sunday.

Oklahoma led by double digits on three separate occasions, but each time Alabama cut the deficit down to four points or less.

The Sooners (19-6, 7-5 SEC) rallied behind freshman Aaliyah Chavez’s nine points in the fourth quarter to win the game, she finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Oklahoma had its struggles offensively- — missing five of its first six shots from the field and only shooting 23% from 3-point range and 58% from the free throw line for the game. Turnovers were also an issue with 19 which resulted in 15 Alabama points.

Alabama (20-6, 6-6) was led by Ta’Mia Scott’s 17 points and 11 apiece by Jessica Timmons and Ace Austin.

The Crimson Tide featured a more balanced scoring attack with six players with at least eight points, but couldn’t hold off the Sooners down the stretch to secure a second win over a top 10 team this season.

Alabama rallied to take a 57-54 lead in the third quarter by using an 18-4 run — its first advantage since early in the opening quarter. However the Crimson Tide only made three of 15 shots the rest of the way and were outscored 21-11 in the final quarter.

Oklahoma had 14 offensive rebounds which led to 19 second chance points and was plus-20 on the boards for the game.

Up next

Oklahoma travels to Georgia on Thursday.

Alabama hosts No. 3 South Carolina on Thursday.

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No. 2 UCLA women beat Indiana 92-48 and extend win streak to 19 games

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kiki Rice had 17 points and nine rebounds, Lauren Betts added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 2 UCLA beat Indiana 92-48 on Sunday to extend its win streak to 19 games.

UCLA (25-1, 15-0 Big Ten), which is unbeaten since a 76-65 loss to No. 4 Texas on Nov. 26 at the Players Era Championship, has the third-longest active win streak in the nation behind North Dakota State (21 straight) and UConn (43).

Betts had her 10th double-double this season and the 43rd in her career. Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens had 12 points apiece for the Bruins and Gabriela Jaquez scored 11. Sienna Betts and Lena Bilic each had 10 points.

Maya Makalusky led Indiana (14-13, 3-12) with 13 points. Lenee Beaumont added 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting and Nevaeh Caffey scored 10. Shay Ciezki, the Big Ten’s leading scorer who went into the game averaging 24.0 points (No. 5 nationally), left the game due to an apparent ankle injury late in the first quarter and did not return.

The Hoosiers shot a season-low 31% (15 of 48) from the field, 4 of 20 (20%) from 3-point range, and tied their season low for points in a game. Indiana went into the game shooting 47.9% this season, which ranked 14th nationally.

UCLA grabbed a season-high 23 offensive boards, outrebounded the Hoosiers 51-24 overall, and outscored them 28-2 in second-chance points. The Bruins committed just four turnovers and forced 13 by Indiana, which they converted into 25 points.

Up next

UCLA: Hosts No. 25 Washington on Thursday.

Indiana: Hosts Oregon next Sunday.

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2026 All-Star Game Thread

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Jalen Duran #0, Cade Cunningham #2, Chet Holmgren #7, Devin Booker #1, Scottie Barnes #4, Tyrese Maxey #0 and Jalen Johnson #1 of Team USA Stars pose for a portrait during the NBA All-Star Game Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The 75th NBA All-Star Game will get underway on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. Returning to NBC for the first time in decades and also streaming on Peacock, this year’s All-Star Game will feature a round-robin tournament with four 12-minute games between three teams: two with United States players and one made up of players from across the globe.

Of particular note for Sixers fans, Tyrese Maxey will be suiting up for the “USA Stars” squad. Maxey, along with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Devin Booker and others, will play in the first game of the day against the World team.

The NBA has caught some flak for how its All-Star Saturday events went about, myself included, given its early start time, a lukewarm at best Slam Dunk Contest and just a general sense of “eh” about it all. The game’s biggest and brightest stars, however, have the opportunity to change the narrative of the weekend overall with a strong showing during this little All-Star tourney. I hope they do! It would be great for both the fans and the league.

As the basketball action unfolds, come chat in our open thread and talk about Maxey, the Sixers and anything hoops related (or unrelated, I guess). Soak it up given that the Sixers as a whole won’t return to the court until this upcoming Thursday when they host the Atlanta Hawks.

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NBA All-Star Sunday Night

Feb 15, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Spike Lee on the red carpet before the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

NBA All-Star Sunday Night

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Time: 4pm CST

Location: Intuit Dome – Inglewood, California

TV: NBA – Peacock

Discuss the new All-Star format here!