MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Stephen Curry and Draymond Green won't play for Golden State on Monday night at Minnesota due to injuries. Anthony Edwards will rest for the Wolves.
Both Golden State players suited up Sunday afternoon as the Warriors won in Minneapolis. But coach Steve Kerr said Curry's balky right knee was causing him enough trouble on Monday morning to rule him out.
Green is sidelined with a back injury.
Kerr expressed hope that both players would be back in the lineup for Wednesday's game at Utah.
The Warriors were already short-handed after losing forward Jimmy Butler for the season with a torn ACL. Forward Jonathan Kuminga also will sit out with a bone bruise and a hyperextended left knee.
For Kentucky, Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, and Kam Williams remain out. Lowe is having season-ending shoulder surgery, while Williams recently underwent foot surgery and could return later this season if all goes well, though no definitive timetable has been given yet.
As for Quaintance, he remains sidelined with swelling in his surgically-repaired knee. This will be his sixth game missed since initially being ruled out ahead of the Mississippi State game on January 10.
For the Commodores, the big absence is point guard Frankie Collins, who is recovering from surgery on a torn meniscus in December and is listed as out. The fifth-year senior is averaging 7.8 points (38.2% from the field and 25% from deep), 4.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per contest. Vandy was 9-0 with him in the lineup and has gone 6-3 in his absence.
The Commodores have a surprise addition to the injury report in starting guard Duke Miles, who is listed as questionable to play. Miles logged 28 minutes in Saturday’s win at Mississippi State while going for 17 points, seven steals, four assists, and three rebounds.
For the season, Miles is averaging 16.6 points (45.1% from the field and 34.1% from deep), 3.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Injury Report
Duke Miles will be a tough matchup for Kentucky tomorrow.
He leads the SEC in steals/game (2.8), and has had 5 games of 5+ steals. In his last game, he had 7 vs. MSU.
Kentucky will be without a true point guard. Going to have to take care of the ball. pic.twitter.com/7r8U9oNtfC
Rui Hachimura is making it clear – through his words off of the court and his actions on the court – that he’s willing to do what’s needed to help the Lakers win.
And that’s a welcomed sight for a Lakers coaching staff, led by JJ Redick, that’s on the precipice of making an important decision when it comes to Hachimura.
Rui Hachimura leaps to keep the ball in bounds as Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington looks on. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With star guard Austin Reaves set to make his return to the court as soon as this week after missing the last month because of left calf strain, the Lakers will have to make a decision about their starting lineup.
Even if it’s not in his first game back, which could be as soon as Wednesday night against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, Reaves will rejoin the first unit permanently. Reaves will likely replace either Marcus Smart or Jake LaRavia, who’ve started alongside Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton when available since late December after Hachimura started to miss time with a right calf strain.
But will Hachimura also rejoin the first unit after starting the first 30 games he played in before missing time with the calf injury? He’s been a full-time starter for the Lakers since February 2024.
Or will he continue to be used as a reserve, like he has in the seven games he’s played since returning from injury?
“We’ll assess things as they go,” Redick responded when asked about the plans for the starting lineup. “The reality is that until Austin’s back, we’re going to go with [the Doncic-Smart-LaRavia-James-Ayton starting] lineup, and then we’ll figure out the best path forward.”
The reality, for the Lakers, is that their best path forward is for Hachimura to embrace a role as a reserve if and when the team is fully healthy.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: as All-NBA-/All-Star-caliber players, Doncic, Reaves and James are starting when they’re available. And even with Ayton’s struggles as of late, the Lakers need to start a traditionally-sized center.
Hachimura reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2026. Getty Images
That leaves one starting spot left.
Even though Hachimura brings important skills and attributes to the floor — spacing (42% on 3s over the last three seasons), cutting and knowing how to play without the ball, which is especially important next to star players — the Lakers need a more defensive-oriented fifth starter.
Smart and LaRavia would be good candidates for the spot.
It’s not just that the Lakers’ initial first unit of Doncic, Reaves, Hachimura, James and Ayton struggled to start the season (a minus-19.9 net rating in a small sample of 85 minutes). But lineups with James and Hachimura on the floor together have struggled, especially defensively.
There’s been a sentiment surrounding the Lakers that having Hachimura come off the bench could potentially risk losing his buy-in.
And those feelings weren’t without merit.
LeBron James and Rui Hachimura high-fiving during a game. Getty Images
Outside of just raw statistical production, Hachimura was significantly more effective and efficient the previous two seasons as a starter compared to as a reserve. And the Lakers performed better while he was on the floor when he started vs. came off the bench.
But Hachimura made it clear to The Athletic that he’s open to a bench role, with his main focus on winning ahead of his pending unrestricted free agency as the three-year, $51 million contract he signed with the Lakers in July 2023 expires after this season.
And his actions have backed up those words so far.
There was the viral clip of him having one of his better individual defensive sequences during the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ comeback attempt that fell short against the Clippers on Thursday.
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Hachimura had a season-high eight rebounds in Saturday’s road win over the Mavericks, and also knocked down a pair of clutch 3s to help get the Lakers over the hump.
And he didn’t start in either game, showing that he’s willing to be engaged regardless of whether he’s a starter or reserve.
Hachimura, and the Lakers, have emphasized being about winning. It’s time for both sides to fully embrace the change that could lead to more success.
“At the end of the day…I’m trying to help this team win,” Hachimura said earlier in the season. “That’s the whole purpose of being here. I’ve been here for four seasons now. I think I’m one of the guys that has been here the longest too, so I’m happy to be here playing with these guys, the coaches and everybody. I love these guys. Of course the contract and stuff is coming up. But at the end of the day I’m just trying to focus on every day, just in the moment.”
BOSTON — Boston Celtics two-way player Ron Harper Jr. has been selected to participate in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars challenge as one of 7 G League players, the NBA announced on Monday. Harper Jr., who spent the last two training camps with the Celtics before signing a two-way contract with Boston, has been one of the G League’s most consistent players this season.
The Rising Stars game, which will take place at All-Star Weekend next month, is comprised of 21 standout NBA rookies and sophomores, plus seven players who have played in G League games.
Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady will serve as honorary coaches for the Castrol Rising Stars mini tourney, while former NBA player Austin Rivers will coach the G League Rising Stars team.
In addition to Harper Jr, the G League will be represented by Sean East II, Yang Hansen, Ron Harper Jr., David Jones Garcia, Yanic Konan Niederhouser, Alijah Martin, and Tristen Newton.
Harper Jr has had a standout season in the G League, averaging 26.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, while shooting 49.7% from the field and 40.2% from three.
He’s appeared in 7 games for the Boston Celtics this season, most recently playing rotation minutes in a double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
Previously, Harper Jr spent two years with the Toronto Raptors and one year with the Detroit Pistons. He was on two-way contracts with both teams.
While Harper Jr. got good news regarding the Rising Stars challenge, fellow Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez did not. Gonzalez was not selected as one of 10 NBA rookies to participate in Rising Stars; those rookies are Cedric Coward, Egor Demin, VJ Edgecombe, Jeremiah Fears, Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Derik Queen.
Victor Wembanyama is not the only Spur who has secured an invitation to All-Star Weekend. Guards Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and David Jones-Garcia have been selected to participate in the Rising Star game, the league announced.
Castle is not only the reigning Rookie of the Year but was also the 2025 Rising Stars game MVP, leading his team to a spot at the All-Star game in the last edition. The sophomore has made a leap in his second season, posting averages of 16.6 points, five rebounds and seven assists per game while starting and logging 31 minutes per game for a team with a 31-15 record. He was a lock to be selected for the event and received heavy consideration by fans, players, and media for the All-Star game.
Harper’s participation also seemed likely despite his role. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2025 draft has spent his rookie year coming off the bench behind De’Aaron Fox and only playing 21.1 minutes a game. As a result, he’s averaging a respectable but not eye-popping 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists a game. Despite not getting the starring role others in his class have enjoyed, he’s among eight first-year players with 300+ points, 100+ rebounds and 100+ assists, while being the only player to do it in fewer than 800 minutes, according to the Spurs news release.
Jones-Garcia, who earned a two-way contract thanks to a fantastic showing in Summer League, has been named to the G League squad that will participate in the event. Jones-Garcia is averaging 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 14 games for the Austin affiliate, per the team’s release. The Dominican scorer has also appeared in 11 games with the San Antonio Spurs this season.
Here are all the players who will be a part of the event:
The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Player Pool!
NBA Rookies and Sophomores will be drafted onto three teams on Tuesday (1/27) at 7:00pm/et on Peacock, with NBA G League players to comprise the fourth team.
The format of the event is an interesting one. The rookies and sophomores who will represent the NBA will be drafted into three teams on Tuesday, January 27, at 6 p.m. on Peacock. The fourth team that will participate in a mini tournament on Saturday, February 13, will be comprised of G League players. Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony, and Austin Rivers will be the honorary coaches.
As the Head Coach, he takes his leadership seriously, stands up for his players, and is always open and forthcoming. As an Offensive Coordinator, his system which encourages multiple passes and cuts has resulted the Raptors finishing in the top 7 in assists in each of his first two seasons (and currently 2nd this year). As a Defensive Coordinator, Darko’s schemes and rotations have boosted the Raptors from the 17th-ranked defense last season to 4th, as of this writing.
after holding the thunder to 7 points over the final 5 minutes of last night's game, the raptors now own the best crunch-time defensive rating in the league at 96.4. they're doing this without a single player taller than 6'9. pretty incredible
One hat I did not think Darko would wear was that of a psychic. Back in October 2023, before his first game as Head Coach, Rajakovic proclaimed, “I think one day he’s going to be Defensive Player of the Year. That’s something he wants to be, that he wants to develop into, and I’m going to do everything in my power to help him on that path.” (You can disregard the heaps of praise he bestows on Dennis Schroder. That definitely does not fall into the ‘psychic’ category, but the ‘head coach’ category of Darko’s hats)
Rajaković backed Scottie Barnes as a future Defensive Player of the Year while also reminding reporters not to forget about Dennis Schröder’s defensive skillset: pic.twitter.com/rRNrmcBVAx
Barnes has been a revelation this year. Not the kind of revelation where a player comes out of nowhere to shock everyone, but a revelation to the rest of the NBA. Scottie has been a defensive menace throughout his five seasons in the league. However, playing for lottery teams in each of the last two seasons, preceded by two seasons under Nick Nurse where he wasn’t fully unleashed has kept Barnes’ defensive reputation at bay. Locally, Raptors fans are well aware of what Scottie brings to the table defensively, night in and night out.
This season has been an endless stream of defensive highlights. From blocking LeBron James in the final minute of a tie game, to blocking Collin Sexton to secure a victory over Charlotte, to blocking a potential game-tying mid-range attempt by Chet Holmgren, Barnes’ defense has become a regular fixture in Toronto’s game recaps. Not only is he saving the Raptors, but also looking out for people’s health! What a saint!
Scottie Barnes is a man of the people.
When the Blazers score 100, fans get free McDonald's. So not only did Scottie Barnes stop Yang and Love from getting the Blazers their 100th point, he also stopped 17,438 at the Moda Center from developing heart disease. GG Scottie. pic.twitter.com/qjKlftH9tb
The stats match what the eyes see. Scottie Barnes’ name is all over the defensive stats pages. Barnes is (big inhale):
#1 in total stocks
#1 in blocks in the 4th quarter
#1 in blocks in the clutch (under 5 minutes, margin within 5 points)
#3 in defensive win shares
the only player in the NBA with at least 60 steals AND 60 blocks
The individual numbers only paint part of the picture of Barnes’ impact. Check the last sentence of the first paragraph again. Your eyes do not deceive you. The Toronto Raptors have the 4th-best defense in the league! The team’s other above-average defenders have either been injured (Jakob Poeltl), inconsistent (Ja’Kobe Walter), or have only started to play more minutes (Collin Murray-Boyles). Jamal Shead has been solid, but nowhere near the impact of Barnes.
Scottie’s DPOY case only becomes stronger when considering Poeltl’s been out since mid-December. The Raptors have played 18 games without a true Center…..and its defensive rating has increased!
The current buzz around Barnes is nice to see, but Raptors fans know it will take a lot more than stats and highlights to win over the voters. Let’s take a look at the 3 players with better DPOY odds — Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, and Rudy Gobert.
I think this is the highest Scottie has been on the DPOY odds ladder.
Chet getting too much credit for OKC’s defense? Will Wemby qualify for the 65 game threshold? Rudy is Rudy.
The case for Chet is clear as day: he’s the anchor behind the league’s best defense. Holmgren ranks #1 in defensive win shares, #2 in defensive rating, and #3 in blocks per game. The individual numbers, combined with the potentially record-breaking defensive numbers — the gap between OKC’s 105.4 defensive rating and 2nd-place San Antonio’s 108.6 defensive rating would be the largest margin in NBA history — justifies Holmgren’s place at the top of the betting odds.
However, take a closer look at the rankings and their may be a kink in his armor. Just behind Chet in the defensive win shares standings is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2nd), Cason Wallace (4th), and Ajay Mitchell (8th). In the defensive rating list, Holmgren is followed by Wallace (3rd), Mitchell (7th), SGA (10th), and Lu Dort (13th). Is it a stretch to think that Wallace, who ranks 1st in total steals and 3rd in steals per game, might steal some votes from Chet? Is the Thunder’s defense more of a collective effort rather than an individual? If Chet misses a game, there are still 3-4 other premium defenders ready to pick up the slack! (That group doesn’t even include Alex Caruso, 2-time All-Defense, or Jalen Williams, who was on last season’s All-Defense team)
Also, if the voting came down to Scottie vs. Chet, Barnes might have a leg up.
Victor Wembanyama: Out of this world and out of the running?
The case for and against Wemby is set for the next decade (assuming the league keeps the ridiculous 65-game rule): if Victor is healthy enough to play the minimum number of required games, he should be the favourite to win DPOY. Every. Single. Year.
As it stands right now, Wemby has missed 14 games already this season. If he misses 4 games or more the rest of the way, he will be ineligible for the award.
Rudy Gobert: Sure but why?
Outside of citizens from Minnesota and France, who can tell me why Gobert is in the ‘favourites’ tier with Holmgren and Wembanyama?
Minnesota’s 10th-ranked defense is lower than Toronto. Gobert ranks lower than Barnes in defensive rating, defensive win shares, and defensive box plus/minus. Rudy doesn’t have the same defensive demands since he plays alongside 2 wings, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels (Did I double-check I had the right McDaniels? You’ll never know.), who are better defenders than any Raptor other than Barnes. So, Gobert is more deserving than Barnes because he averages 2.9 more rebounds and 0.2 more blocks? Is this a legacy thing? Make it make sense, oddsmakers!
Is Barnes ready to buck the trend?
The obvious theme between Holmgren, Wembanyama, and Gobert is that they’re all paint-devouring, rim-protecting Centers. From Bill Russell to Hakeem Olajuwon to David Robinson to Shaquille O’Neal, the Defensive Player of the Year award has defaulted to big men for as long as the honour has existed. But in the current NBA, when switching and rotating and scrambling are the name of the defensive game, there’s nothing more valuable than a player who can defend all 5 positions a perfectly as Scottie Barnes.
He already has a better case than Gobert. He outperformed Holmgren — both statistically and visually — in a matchup that will stick in voters’ minds. He is 4 more missed games from not having to worry about an alien. Scottie Barnes has the statistical profile, the eye-popping highlights, and is gaining traction as this year’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Darko the Psychic has a good ring to it, don’t you think?
The Washington Wizards play the Portland Trail Blazers. Let’s get right to it.
Game info
When: Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly (back), Tristan Vukcevic (hamstring), Marvin Bagley (back), Trae Young (knee, quad) and Cam Whitmore (shoulder) are out. Khris Middleton is day-to-day.
For the Blazers, Matisse Thybulle, Kris Murray, Scott Henderson, Duop Reath, Blke Wesley an Damian Lillard are out. Robert Williams III and Deni Avdija are day-to-day. Avdija is ruled out for tonight’s Blazers game at the Boston Celtics, so perhaps the front office wants to save him for tomorrow.
What to watch for
First, I hope you are all safe from the major winter storm we had last weekend. I feel like we should have had two feet of snow, but we only had a few inches of snow and several inches of sleet. Because of the sleet, it is taking a lot more time to clean the roads, sidewalks and everything in between. I’m feeling it in my bones after clearing out snow four times in the last two days.
The game tomorrow night will not be postponed because the weather will be clear tomorrow. The Blazers are coming off a loss to the Toronto Raptors last Friday and are 23-23 this season. They are led by none other than… DENI AVDIJA! He is averaging 26 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists this season and should be a lock as an All-Star reserve when they are announced next week. Since the Blazers are playing the Celtics tonight and with Avdija not suiting up tonight for what should be a highlight matchup due to a back strain. But Avdija is expected to play tomorrow for a … revenge game. Let’s see if Washington can spoil that tomorrow, one way or another.
The NBA announced its pool of participants for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game on Peacock on Monday, Jan. 26. Twenty-one players – 10 rookies and 11 sophomores – along with seven G Leaguers were chosen to represent the future of the NBA to tip-off All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles on Feb. 13.
The rookies are headlined by 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who has looked every bit the franchise centerpiece the Dallas Mavericks were in desperate need of after shipping out Luka Doncic a year ago. Memphis Grizzlies emerging wing Cedric Coward is also in the pool, along with the New Orleans' Pelicans' duo of breakout stars Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
The players will be drafted into three teams on Tuesday, Jan. 27 with a fourth comprised entirely of G League players. Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Austin Rivers will serve as the coaches for each team.
Here is the full list of players they will be picking from:
2026 NBA Rising Stars roster
Here is every player named to the Rising Stars game:
Four teams of seven players each will face off in a mini tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on Friday, Feb. 13 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The Nets will officially be represented at 2026 NBA All-Star weekend.
Brooklyn youngster Egor Demin has been selected to participate in the Rising Stars Game.
Demin is the 17th Net to be named to the event, and the first since Jarrett Allen and Rodions Kurucs in 2019.
He’s also the first BYU player to participate since Shawn Bradley in 1994.
The 19-year-old certainly has done enough to earn his spot during his outstanding first NBA campaign, and he's solidified himself as a key piece of Brooklyn’s backcourt moving forward.
Demin has started 31 of his 39 games, and he's topped double digits in points in 19 of those.
He currently ranks second among rookies in threes made per game (2.4) and threes made on the season (95).
The sharpshooter also set the franchise record for triples in a game with seven back on Dec. 29 against the Warriors.
The Rising Stars event will take place on Friday, Feb. 13, at 9 p.m. ET at Intuit Dome.
In less than 24 hours, three of the game's legends — Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady (NBC's NBA Showtime crew) — will select their favorite players of the next generation. Live on NBC and Peacock, those icons will draft their teams for the Rising Stars Game on All-Star Friday Night next month in Los Angeles, teams they will coach in that game.
Who will those superstars be drafting? On Peacock NBA Monday, the NBA announced the pool of players invited to the Rising Stars game. Those players are:
NBA Rookies
Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies) Egor Dëmin (Brooklyn Nets) VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers) Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans) Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards) Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies) Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors) Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
NBA Sophomores
Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls) Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs) Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers) Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards) Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder) Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards) Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets) Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers) Kel'el Ware (Miami Heat) Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
Those players were selected by a vote of assistant coaches around the league. The players will be drafted into three seven-man teams coached by one of Anthony, Carter or McGrady (more on the format below).
The fourth team in this tournament mix — coached by NBC broadcaster and former NBA player Austin Rivers — is made up of G-League players. They are:
Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars) Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics) David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs) Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers) Alijah Martin (Raptors 905) Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)
Rising Stars Game format
The Rising Stars Game will follow last year's format that led to some entertaining basketball: Those 21 rookies and sophomores listed above will be drafted by the Hall of Famers into three teams of seven players each, with G League players forming the fourth team.
Those four teams will play in a mini-tournament with two semi-final games to 40 — no time limit, it's just first to score 40. The winners of those first two matchups will face off in a championship game to 25.
How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
Every moment of NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles — Friday's Rising Stars game on Feb. 13, All-Star Saturday Night, including the 3-point Contest and Dunk Contest on Feb. 14, and the All-Star Game itself on Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
Charles Bediako’s much-discussed return to college basketball will continue for nearly another two weeks – not solely because of a court order or a judge’s ruling, but with a little help from Mother Nature.
The Alabama center’s temporary restraining order against the NCAA was extended by another 10 days due to counsel’s unavailability for the scheduled injunction hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
In an order on Monday, Jan. 26, Judge James Roberts Jr. of the Tuscaloosa (Alabama) County Circuit Court wrote that Taylor Askew, an attorney for the NCAA, was unable to attend the hearing because of “weather issues” where he lives in Tennessee. Roberts added that the next hearing will be "reset later by a separate order."
BREAKING: Temporary restraining order allowing Charles Bediako to play for Alabama has been extended pic.twitter.com/NIhN1lALRq
After three years of playing professionally in the NBA G League, Bediako returned to Alabama, where he played from 2021-23, after Roberts granted him a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
In his first game back with the Crimson Tide, the seven-footer had 13 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals while making five of his six field-goal attempts in 25 minutes in a 79-73 loss at home against Tennessee on Jan. 24.
With Roberts’ decision, Bediako will be eligible to compete in at least the next three games for Alabama: Jan. 27 against Missouri, Feb. 1 at No. 21 Florida and Feb. 4 against Texas A&M.
Bediako was not selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, and while he has never played an NBA game, he suited up in 82 G League games over three seasons, including, most recently, for the Motor City Cruise on Jan. 17, one week before his first game back with Alabama.
He’s one of several former G League players who has joined a college roster this season, a trend that has raised the public ire of notable figures across the sport, as well as the NCAA itself, which said such moves are “taking away opportunities from high school students.” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo described it as “utterly ridiculous.” Even Alabama coach Nate Oats, a former high school coach in Michigan, spoke up last month after Baylor brought in former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji, saying the increased prevalence of such players was “taking opportunities away” from high schoolers.
Tyson is averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He’s gone from a fringe rotational player to a bona fide starting-caliber talent in the first half of the season. His leap as a three-point shooter (46% this season) is only one of many reasons for his success.
“He’s just built up the equity, and that’s confidence in himself,” Atkinson said. “It started in Summer League, then he just built it with his work.”
The Cavs have fully embraced Tyson’s breakout. He’s started in 27 games this season and is playing close to 30 minutes per game. No one would have predicted this in the summer, but even Cleveland’s veterans have recognized his importance. Donovan Mitchell, especially, has taken Tyson under his wing.
“Donovan has believed in him since day one,” said Aktinson. “He’s anointed him, like, ‘okay, I need you, we’re going to get you better.‘ So I think that when your superstar believes in you, that’s even more important than when the coach believes in you.”
Tyson is joined by other rising stars such as Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and Alex Sarr. He’s the first Cavalier on a standard contract to play in the game since Evan Mobley in his rookie and sophomore seasons. Emoni Bates was selected to the G-League Rising Stars in 2024.
The Cavaliers, who have the most expensive roster in the NBA, are hamstrung by their financial situation. That limits them from adding talent at the trade deadline or in the offseason — and makes young talent like Tyson all the more important. This is their easiest, if not only, option for improving the roster without making any major changes. That means Tyson’s development is more than an inspiring story; it’s pivotal to the future of the franchise.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday backed a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States because of the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration at home and abroad.
Blatter was the latest international soccer figure to call into question the suitability of the United States as a host country. He called for the boycott in a post on X that supported Mark Pieth's comments in an interview last week with the Swiss newspaper Der Bund.
Pieth, a Swiss attorney specializing in white-collar crime and an anti-corruption expert, chaired the Independent Governance Committee's oversight of FIFA reform a decade ago. Blatter was president of the world's governing body for soccer from 1998-2015; he resigned amid an investigation into corruption.
In his interview with Der Bund, Pieth said, “If we consider everything we’ve discussed, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from the USA! You’ll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t please the officials, they’ll be put straight on the next flight home. If they’re lucky.”
In his X post, Blatter quoted Pietha and added, “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
The United States is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.
The international soccer community's concerns about the United States stem from Trump's expansionist posture on Greenland, travel bans and aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants and immigration enforcement protestors in American cities, particularly Minneapolis.
Two weeks ago, travel plans for fans from two of the top soccer countries in Africa were thrown into disarray when the Trump administration announced a ban that would effectively bar people from Senegal and Ivory Coast from following their teams unless they already have visas. Trump cited “screening and vetting deficiencies” as the main reason for the suspensions.
Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will be barred from entering the United States as well; they were included in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
Tyrese Maxey – 18 VJ Edgecombe – 6 Joel Embiid – 6 Paul George – 5 Andre Drummond – 2 Dominick Barlow – 1 Adem Bona – 1 Justin Edwards – 1 Quentin Grimes – 1 Jared McCain – 1 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers traveled to Charlotte for a Monday afternoon tilt against Eastern Conference foe the Charlotte Hornets. The Sixers were without the services of Joel Embiid and Paul George in this one as part of their respective knee injury management plans.
The Sixers struggled from the opening tip in this one. The Hornets’ ball movement, pace and balanced scoring attack jumped them out to an early 28-22 advantage at the conclusion of the first period. It would only get worse from there.
The Hornets really blew this game open in the second quarter. Charlotte shot a blistering 57% from the floor in the first half. The Sixers struggled on the glass and even when the Hornets missed it seemed that they would get an extra possession on the glass. Charlotte outrebounded the Sixers by 10 in the first half. The Hornets’ ball movement and player movement had the Sixers defense in a bind. Charlotte finished the half with 19 assists on their 25 made field goals. The Sixers’ backcourt of Maxey and Edgecombe combined to go 3-for-17 from the field in the first half. The Hornets held a 69-44 lead at the halftime break.
The Hornets’ barrage continued in the third as they outscored the Sixers by a resounding 40-15 score in the third period. The Sixers seemingly waved the white flag as they emptied the bench less than halfway through the quarter, facing a 40-point deficit. The Hornets led 109-59 after three quarters of play.
The Sixers won their lone quarter of the game in the fourth, by a 13-point margin, courtesy of strong play from Quentin Grimes and Jared McCain to close out the game that was well out of hand.
Time for the Bell Ringer.
Kelly Oubre Jr: 17 points, 7-for-12 from the field
Oubre was the lone Sixers starter to crack double figures in this game. Regardless of the situation, you can always count on Oubre for effort and energy. Kelly got to the rim for a few nice drives and scores early in this one to keep the Sixers attached in the first quarter. There was a lot of blame to go around for this game playing out in the manner that it did — Oubre shouldn’t get any.
Jared McCain: 16 points, 6-for-13 from the field, 4-for-8 from three, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Jared McCain poured in 16 points in 23 minutes in this one — a lot of those coming late in the game when the outcome was already decided. It was nice to see McCain knock down some shots as he has struggled this year in his return from injury. Let’s hope this can be a confidence builder for McCain that springboards him into a bounce back second half of the season.
