MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 29: Haywood Highsmith #24 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 29, 2024 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns are signing forward Haywood Highsmith to a multi-year deal, ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania reports. With Jamaree Bouyea’s contract expected to be converted from a two-way to a standard deal, Highsmith’s signing signals that Cole Anthony, who was acquired last week from the Milwaukee Bucks, is not expected to stay on the team.
Free agent forward Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UbkwghKYRL
Highsmith, 29, spent the last four seasons with the Miami Heat before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets this past offseason, but never played for them as he was recovering from a torn meniscus. According to reports, he’s healthy and was slated to make his season debut before being waived last week. Charania reported that he “considered multiple playoff teams,” before he signed with Phoenix, who sit seventh in the West, and 2 games out of the fourth seed.
During his time with Miami, Highsmith played in 35 playoff games and was a consistent contributor during their miraculous run to the NBA Finals in the 2022-23 season. Having shot 38% or better the last two seasons, looks to be a solid fit in Head Coach Jordan Ott’s three-point reliant system.
After acquiring Amir Coffey last week and now adding Highsmith, the Suns have made a concerted effort to beef up their forward spots as they look to make a playoff run.
The Dodgers' Edwin Díaz speaks during a news conference at Camelback Ranch on Saturday. (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)
Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz has been settling in with his new team at Camelback Ranch, but in his first comments to the media since camp opened, he faced questions about his old team.
In an interview with team broadcaster Howie Rose on Friday, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen called Díaz’s decision to a sign a three-year, $69-million contract with the Dodgers “perplexing.” Though Díaz was caught off guard by the comments, he said Saturday he has no bad feelings toward the Mets or their fans.
“It’s a market and I was a free agent, so I got the chance to talk with everyone,” Díaz said. “I think the Dodgers did a great job of recruiting me, so at the end of the day, I chose to be here. I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization — players, staff, ownership — they treated me pretty good. I don’t have anything bad to say about them. But at the end of the day, I’m here, so this is a new journey for me. I’m happy to be with the Dodgers, so let’s see how it goes.”
Díaz participated in the Dodgers’ first day of official workouts Friday, throwing a clean bullpen session without any hiccups. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts likes what he has seen from the three-time MLB reliever of the year.
“I’m very excited to get to know him more,” Roberts said. “Just a great teammate, really good person, loves baseball, a good heartbeat. You can tell he knows what he needs to do to get ready. [He’s] likable, and at the end of the day, he chose to be here, so that’s something that is of a lot of value for us. High character. I’m really looking forward to getting to know him.”
One thing that attracted Díaz to the Dodgers was the team’s culture.
“That’s how they’ve been so good,” Díaz said. “They have a really good clubhouse… They’ve got different personalities in the clubhouse. They’ve got different players from different countries, and they all get together and have fun, so that’s something good.”
Part of having a melting pot of a clubhouse means missing some key ingredients for an extended period of spring training. The Dodgers will have several players participating in the World Baseball Classic, including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Will Smith and Díaz.
Each major leaguer competing in the WBC runs the risk of an injury that could curtail their season, something Díaz knows all too well. Moments after striking out the side to send Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals in 2023, he sustained a season-ending knee injury.
Despite that bad experience, Díaz told reporters it was a no-brainer when he was asked to compete for his country again.
“It wasn’t in my mind,” Díaz said of the injury. “I have the chance to play in front of my family in Puerto Rico. It was an easy decision.”
Díaz’s fearlessness is one trait Roberts admires in his new closer. Díaz faced Roberts’ squad in the 2024 National League Championship Series, in which the Dodgers managed only two hits off him across 51/3 innings, scoring no runs.
“He’s not scared,” Roberts said. “When he’s in the game, it’s an uncomfortable at-bat for lefties and righties, and when we did see him in the postseason, [we were] really trying to keep him out of the game, knowing that he can go one, two, even three innings. That he’s done against us in the postseason; [he’s] just a great competitor.”
Díaz should stabilize the back end of the bullpen. Since bidding farewell to Kenley Jansen after the 2021 season, the Dodgers haven’t had a closer tally more than 25 saves in a season. Over his nine-year career, Díaz has 253 saves.
With Díaz expected to be the regular ninth-inning guy, Roberts looks forward to having more flexibility when managing his bullpen.
“It’s huge,” Roberts said. “I don’t think that there’s one way to manage a ’pen, but when you have a guy like Edwin Díaz as your closer, I do think it frees up other guys, myself included. Not having to worry about matchups for the ninth, I think that’s freeing for me and allows for getting the matchups we need in the prior innings.”
Dodgers staying cautious with Graterol
One key relief weapon Roberts hopes to have in his armory is Brusdar Graterol. The hard-throwing right-hander underwent surgery on the labrum in his right shoulder shortly after the 2024 World Series and hasn’t pitched in a game since.
Roberts provided an update on Graterol’s recovery Saturday.
“He’s in the picture, but I do think that coming back from the shoulder, it’s going to take some time,” Roberts said. “He’s in the bucket of, we’re going to slow-play him. I think yesterday he threw off the mound, and the velocity is not near where it’s going to be, so I think that it’s a slow progression. I just don’t know where that puts us, but it’s a slow process.”
Staff writer Anthony Solorzano contributed to this report.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Germán Márquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the first inning of a gameagainst the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 14, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres, who have been relatively quiet throughout the offseason, made a lot of noise Saturday with signings of Nick Castellanos, Griffin Canning and now, German Marquez. According to reports, the right-hander joins the Padres on a one-year deal.
Source: SP Germán Márquez and the Padres are in agreement on a 1-year deal.
Márquez, 30, looks to bounce back from a rough first year back from Tommy John surgery and will do it in a far more favorable environment. Not long ago, he was one of game’s most durable starters.
Marquez has spent his entire 10-year major league career with the Colorado Rockies pitching his home games at Coors Field under former manager Bud Black, who is now a member of the front office in San Diego. Marquez has a career 4.67 ERA and has thrown more than 1,100 innings. His best season came in 2018 when he made 33 starts and finished with a 3.77 ERA over 196.0 innings.
Marquez had a difficult 2025 season, returning from a stress reaction in his elbow that he suffered in 2024. He posted a 3-16 record with a 6.70 ERA over 126.1 innings with 83 strikeouts last season. Marquez was diagnosed with biceps tendonitis in July of the 2025 season, which caused him to miss additional time. He missed much of the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of that year. Durability and health are questions for Marquez heading into 2026, making him a buy-low candidate who could add depth to the San Diego rotation if he can remain on the field.
The Sacramento Kings will lose one of their star players for the rest of the regular season, adding to the list of misfortunes this year.
The Kings will be without their leading scorer Zach LaVine, who will miss the rest of the season to undergo surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday evening.
LaVine, 30, averaged 19.2 points per game on 47.9% shooting in 31.4 minutes for Sacramento this season, appearing in39 games.
He was acquired from the Chicago Bulls just over a year ago in Feb. 2025 via a three-team trade that sent De'Aaron Fox to the Spurs and Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Tre Jones and draft picks to the Bulls.
LaVine will be a free agent after next season, but could opt for free agency this summer. He signed a five-year, $215.16 million contract with the Chicago Bulls on July 7, 2022.
The deal includes a 2026-27 player option that would pay LaVine nearly $49 million.
The 12-year-veteran was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Donnie Freeman scored 18 points, Nate Kingz had 13 and the game‑winning layup with two seconds remaining, and Syracuse edged SMU 79–78 on Saturday.
Tyler Betsey’s 3-pointer with 3:50 remaining pulled Syracuse within 76-75, and Naithan George added a layup on the next possession. SMU (17–8, 6–6) missed two free throws and four straight field goals in the final 90 seconds, leaving the door open for Syracuse’s final possession.
Freeman blocked four shots for the Orange, while George added 16 points and six assists. Betsey and Kiyan Anthony each finished with 13 off the bench, with Anthony hitting three second‑half 3-pointers. Syracuse shot 45% from the field and made 11 3s.
Jaden Toombs led SMU with 19 points and five rebounds off the bench, and Corey Washington added 13 points and nine boards. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 12, and Boopie Miller had 11, as the two combined for five made 3-pointers. The Mustangs went 13 of 17 at the line but had two crucial misses in the closing minute.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Carter Bryant #11 of Team Vince smiles during the Castrol NBA Rising Stars as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Intuit Dome 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 Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
All Star weekend is here. Tonight’s schedule:
Starting at 4:00 PM CT—NBA All Star Saturday: Three point shooting contest, Shooting Stars, Slam Dunk contest
Friday night’s festivities had three Spurs participating, and tonight there are two, Carter Bryant in the Slam Dunk Contest, and Dylan Harper competing in the Shooting Stars with his brother and dad. I don’t know how they’re going to make that interesting for (… checking) three hours of air time, but I guess we’ll find out.
Game Prediction:
The dunk contest is disrupted when Mac McClung shows up and demands to drive a car onto the court. He compromises and does a dunk with a ventriloquist’s dummy, which he makes talk while he’s doing a dunk.
All Star Saturday Night February 14, 2026, 4:00 PM CT-7:00 PM TV: NBC, Peacock Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 22: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers guards LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game on January 22, 2026 at Intuit Dome 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Ivica Zubac’s departure from the Lakers is still quite a sore spot.
Not only was he traded for a journeyman center who had a fairly specific niche role, but the future franchise cornerstone was dealt across the hallway to the Clippers, forcing fans into a front row view of how badly the Lakers failed.
It was one of the more spectacular failures of Magic Johnson’s tenure as President of Basketball Operations and was also emblematic of how poorly he ran the franchise. While examples are aplenty, Zubac himself provided even more recently.
In an extensive interview on a Croatian YouTube channel, Zubac shared many anecdotes about his time with the Lakers, with a strong focus on Magic, who was unreasonably harsh on the young center at the time.
Zu opened up a lot about his Lakers tenure (translated from Croatian so not 100% accurate):
-Worked out a couple times with Kareem. Kareem wanted a full time position with the Lakers to work with him (and other bigs) but management never agreed.
There are plenty of qualifiers here to get out of the way first. For one, this is a translation of a Croatian interview in which the translator admits to possible errors. On top of that, this is Zubac’s side of the story, which is worth keeping in mind.
That being said, very little of this feels out of character for Magic either. The signings of Andrew Bogut, Michael Beasley and Tyson Chandler throughout the years did block playing time for Zubac, who fans were often clamoring to get more minutes.
And the team very clearly undervalued Zubac all the way to the moment they traded him. He consistently improved early in his career and only really got to show it once he landed in a Clippers jersey. Once the team did trade him, the offered some half-baked excuse of not thinking they could afford to keep him with rumors of JaVale McGee feeling his job was in jeopardy, none of which felt like the truth.
All of this just further underlines how bad Magic was at his job. If the belief is that LeBron was coming to LA no matter what — something which gained validity with each passing year he stayed with the Lakers as they struggled — then even Magic’s biggest win comes with a major asterisk.
Magic has the argument for the best Lakers player of all time for what he did with the Showtime Lakers. But he also has an argument for the worst basketball decision-maker in franchise history, too. A truly rare accomplishment.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Martin Somerville scored an efficient 23 points along with six assists as Florida State rolled past Virginia Tech 92-69 on Saturday.
Chauncey Wiggins added 19 points for the Seminoles (12-13, 5-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won four of their last five contests. Somerville was 9 for 11 from the field (4 for 6 from deep) and Wiggins hit 7 of 8 shots, 3 of 4 from distance. FSU shot 62% overall and 52% from beyond the arc.
A back-and-forth first half saw Virginia Tech ahead 42-39 at halftime, but FSU erupted for a 13-0 run early in the second to take control. They tacked on runs of 10-0 and 11-0 to lead by as many as 26 points down the stretch, outscoring Virginia Tech 53-27 in the second half.
Robert McCray V and Lajae Jones chipped in with 17 points each. Jones grabbed a team-high seven rebounds as the 'Noles won the battle on the glass, 28-26.
For the Hokies (17-9, 6-7), Tobi Lawal and Ben Hammond each tallied 16 points, Jailen Bedford added 13, and Neoklis Avdalas and Amari Hansberry both scored 10. Virginia Tech was held to 44% shooting as it dropped its third game in its last four.
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn's latest surgery on her left leg that she broke in the Olympic downhill “went well” and now she “will be able to finally go back to the U.S.,” the American skiing standout said Saturday.
The 41-year-old Vonn is being treated at a hospital in Treviso.
She said on Wednesday that she had a “successful” third surgery.
Nine days before Sunday’s crash, Vonn ruptured the ACL in her left knee in another crash. Even before then, all eyes had been on her as the feel-good story heading into the Olympics for her comeback after nearly six years of retirement.
“I have been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what has happened to me makes them sad,” Vonn said on Instagram. “Please, don’t be sad. Empathy, love and support I welcome with an open heart, but please not sadness or sympathy. I hope instead it gives you strength to keep fighting, because that is what I am doing and that is what I will continue to do. Always.
“When I think back on my crash, I didn’t stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk.”
But Vonn concluded her latest message by saying she is “still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.”
San Diego Padres SP Griffin Canning (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Griffin Canning has found a new baseball home, as the veteran right-handed starting pitcher has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres, per Robert Murray of FanSided.
Free-agent pitcher Griffin Canning and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal.
The 2026 campaign will mark his seventh season in the majors, as Canning is coming off an outstanding year on the hill for the New York Mets. The 29-year-old posted a 7-3 record with a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts. Unfortunately, his season was cut short after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a late June start.
Despite the disappointment, Canning put up terrific statistical numbers. He struck out 70 batters in 76.1 innings pitched and posted a 21.3% strikeout rate, which was his best mark since the 2023 season (25.9%) with the Los Angeles Angels.
He was once regarded as the Angels’ top starting pitching prospect. His best season with the ball club came in 2020, as Canning authored a 2-3 mark with a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts.
The Angels traded the right-hander to the Atlanta Braves for Jorge Soler. He signed with the Mets as a free agent before the start of the 2025 season.
Canning will compete for the fifth starter’s role with the Friars this spring.
But on Saturday, in his first media session of spring training, Díaz made the decision sound simple when asked about Cohen’s comments.
“I was a free agent, so I got the chance to talk with everyone, and I think the Dodgers did a great job recruiting me,” said the 31-year-old right-hander, who signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers that includes the highest annual salary for a reliever in MLB history.
02/13/26: Former New York Mets relief pitcher and now Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz throws during day one of spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Friday, February 13, 2026. Photo By: JASON SZENES/ NY POST JASON SZENES FOR THE CALIFORNIA POST
“At the end of the day, I chose to be here. I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization, players, staff, ownership. They treated me really good. I don’t have anything bad to say about them. But at the end of the day, I’m here.”
And, based on his early comments this spring, happy to be so.
After the Dodgers’ second workout of camp Saturday, the three-time All-Star praised his new surroundings, speaking highly of not only the Dodgers’ talented roster but also a clubhouse culture that has immediately embraced him.
“Everyone welcomed me really good,” said Díaz, who cited “clubhouse chemistry” when asked what has stood out to him so far during his time at Camelback Ranch.
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“I think that’s how they’ve been so good. They have a really good clubhouse,” he said, later adding: “Every player has a different personality in the clubhouse. They have different players from different countries, and they all get together and have fun.”
11/3/25 – Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden – New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and his son Joshua Cohen sit court side during the first quarter.
Photo by Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Cohen, the deep-pocketed Mets owner, made news this week when he told Howie Rose he was surprised to see Díaz leave this winter.
Though the Mets reportedly offered Díaz, a longtime fan favorite in Queens, $3 million less in guaranteed money than the Dodgers did, they were also believed to have wiggle room to go higher.
“I’m not sure exactly how Edwin arrived at that decision (to leave the Mets),” Cohen said. “Obviously, it’s a personal decision on his part. and I thought we made a pretty respectable bid.”
When Díaz signed with the Dodgers, he said the opportunity to compete for a World Series — something he has never won before — was one of his main draws in coming to Los Angeles.
And on Saturday, he reiterated that goal multiple times, looking perfectly at peace with his free-agent decision.
“This is a new journey for me, and I’m happy to be with the Dodgers,” he said, “so let’s see how it goes.”
Dodgers’ Brusdar Graterol might miss start of season
Though Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol said at last month’s Fanfest event he was hopeful of being ready for Opening Day this season, after missing all of 2025 recovering from shoulder surgery, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that the right-hander will be slow-played in his ramp-up this spring –– leaving his chances of starting the season on-time in doubt.
“Coming back from the shoulder, it’s gonna take some time,” Roberts said. “We’re gonna slow-play him. Yesterday, he threw off the mound and still the velocity is not near where it’s gonna be. So I think it’s a slow progression. I just don’t know where that puts us. It’s a slow process for Brusdar.”
ST LOUIS, MO - CIRCA 1984: Manager Whitey Herzog #24 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on walking back to the dugout during a Major League Baseball game circa 1984 at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri. Herzog Managed the Cardinals from 1980-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have been rightly accused of being over optimistic about the St. Louis Cardinals and I want to be clear this is not something I share with the intention of inferring that the upcoming 2026 season will turn out this way. However, if you’re looking for just a tiny glimmer of hope that the upcoming season may not be the catastrophe that it’s projected to be, take a look back 41 years to the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals team.
I know what nearly all of the projections say about the upcoming St. Louis Cardinals 2026 season and I’m not debating their potential accuracy. What I think is worth a look, though, is what the “experts” thought would happen to the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals team that one of my friends reminded me of. Spoiler Alert: they nearly won the World Series if not for a missed call at first base.
Many have forgotten that the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals were predicted to finish in last place in their division. The reasons for those low projections were based on reasonable questions. Future Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter left the Cardinals for the Atlanta Braves which meant the St. Louis bullpen had a hole in it. Many pundits didn’t see a clear dominant starter on the roster. On February 1, 1985, the St. Louis Cardinals traded for Jack Clark from the San Francisco Giants which was viewed as risky due to his past injury issues. There was also a bombshell report from The Washington Post that 11 St. Louis Cardinals in the early 1980’s that were heavy users of cocaine. To say the 1985 Cardinals had challenges was an understatement. Oh, and Whitey Herzog was in the middle of a rebuild after the Cardinals missed the playoffs in 1983 and 1984 after winning the 1982 World Series. Sound somewhat familiar?
There are some big differences between that 1985 St. Louis Cardinals team and the state of the 2026 squad. First, the St. Louis Cardinals were carrying momentum from the previous season. The team closed out the 1984 campaign on a 37-25 run. Whitey Herzog was also actively adding pieces to the roster with the intention of building a winner meant to contend as soon as possible. The “rebuild” of 1985 was of the major league roster and not prospects in the farm system. Also, the 1985 team were only 3 years out from winning the World Series while the current Cardinals squad has not seen a World Series banner since 2011.
The projections of last place in 1985 were based on valid questions and uncertainties, but what the “experts” could not predict were some pleasant surprises. 1985 was the rookie season for Vince Coleman who was not expected to be an immediate star, but he proceeded to steal 110 bases. The prognosticators also didn’t foresee Willie McGee having an MVP year leading the league with a scorching .353 batting average. John Tudor became the St. Louis Cardinals ace notching 21 wins. The team that was projected to finish last instead ended the 1985 season with the best record in baseball. What followed during the playoffs were some of the most iconic St. Louis Cardinals moments including Ozzie Smith’s “go crazy” walk-off home run and Jack Clark slamming the door on the Dodgers.
To reiterate, I’m not projecting a best record in baseball kind of season for the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals. My point is that a good or even great season isn’t impossible. The roster does have young players who could surprise and have breakout years. I fully admit that the roster as it looks at the start of Spring Training has a LOT more questions than answers, but I’m not surrendering the upcoming season until we play the games. Yes, the odds say we’ll struggle, but there is precedent for the St. Louis Cardinals shocking the world. It’s happened before and it’s not impossible that it could happen again.
Jan 2, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chris Paul in attendance during the HoopHall West Tournament at Skyline High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
As All-Star Weekend was preparing to kick off in Los Angeles, inside the Clippers’ building of all places, some unfortunate news slipped out ahead of the festivities. And when the notification hit my phone, my first thought was simple and immediate: the NBA did him dirty. I am talking about Chris Paul, who had been traded by the Clippers to Toronto last week, only for the Raptors to waive him yesterday, which ultimately led to Paul deciding it was time to retire.
Chris Paul announces he is officially retiring from basketball after 21 seasons, ending a Hall of Fame career. https://t.co/BJW94AI6EY
The timing was brutal, the setting felt ironic, and the whole thing landed with a strange finality, one of the most influential point guards of his era exiting the league quietly while the circus of All-Star Weekend warmed up around a place he called home for 7 of his 21 years.
It is hard to come up with a more unceremonious exit for a player of this magnitude, especially when you stack it against the career Chris Paul put together and the imprint he left on the league. The way this ended feels heavy, awkward, and deeply unsatisfying, like the lights got shut off in the middle of a sentence.
21 years. 7 teams. 23,058 points (41st all-time). 12,552 assists (2nd all-time). 2,728 steals (2nd all-time). 1 NBA Finals appearance.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 30: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns holds the Western Conference Finals trophy after Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 30, 2021 at STAPLES Center 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What the Clippers did here feels dirty, and it deserves to be called that. This was not some forgettable stop late in a career, not a jersey he barely wore. This was the franchise that had no pulse, no credibility, and no real identity for decades until Chris Paul arrived in 2011 and dragged them into relevance. He changed how they were viewed, how they were covered, and how they carried themselves.
Yes, there were playoff disappointments, and yes, there were moments that still sting, but the idea that his final chapter with that organization would end in a quiet transaction and a shrug is something they should be embarrassed by.
Paul came back this past offseason after a year in San Antonio with the understanding, spoken or not, that this was a farewell lap. A chance for fans in Los Angeles and around the league to acknowledge what they were watching for the last time. Instead, he gets rerouted, waived, and left to make a retirement decision in the shadow of All-Star Weekend. That is not closure. That is avoidance.
And sure, plenty of people never loved Chris Paul. He annoyed opponents. He pushed buttons. He lived in the margins of the rulebook and made a career out of being smarter than the moment. But he also left something real everywhere he went. New Orleans. Los Angeles. Houston. Oklahoma City. Phoenix. Golden State. San Antonio. He built a trail of fans who appreciated the way he saw the game and the way he competed.
In a league that has drifted almost entirely toward scoring guards and highlight hunting, Chris Paul was a reminder of something older and more deliberate. A distributor. A tactician. A point guard who controlled tempo, space, and emotion. Watching him work felt like watching a craft that fewer and fewer players bother to learn anymore.
He and head coach Ty Lue reportedly did not see eye to eye, and at some point, the lines of communication went quiet. So the organization made the decision to send him home, one of those situations where the room suddenly felt too small for two strong personalities who both believed in their vision of the game.
Chris Paul and his leadership style clashed with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Paul has been vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable, which the team felt became disruptive. Specifically: Ty Lue was not on speaking terms with Paul for several weeks.
The team moved forward without him, found some success along the way, even though Paul’s role had already been reduced to 14.3 minutes per game across 16 appearances, and eventually chose a different direction entirely at the trade deadline. James Harden was sent to Cleveland. Ivica Zubac went to Indiana. The message was clear. Eyes forward. Build toward what comes next.
What makes it linger is that there was also a chance to look backward, to acknowledge what had been given, to honor a career that shaped not only franchises but eras of basketball. I understand the business side of it. I understand the constant push to balance short-term decisions with long-term planning. I understand that Chris Paul is a big personality, one shaped by experience, conviction, and having seen nearly every version of the league over two decades.
The Clippers have been a public relations mess all season, and this only adds another layer to it. Allegations of salary cap circumvention tied to dealings with Aspiration and back-channel payments to Kawhi Leonard have been hanging over the organization like a low cloud. Everyone is waiting with bated breath to see whether there is any real accountability attached to it. Because if there is not, then what exactly are we doing here? At that point, Mat Ishbia might as well start handing out United Wholesale Mortgage stock to free agents and call it innovation.
This organization had a chance to look like the good guy in this moment. A chance to handle a legend with care, respect, and a little self-awareness. Instead, in classic Clippers fashion, they managed to walk away looking like the clown, fumbling optics, legacy, and basic decency all in one motion.
After 21 years in the NBA, one of the defining point guards of his generation fades into the sunset without ceremony, without a moment that fits the weight of the career, and that part sits heavy. Not because it ended, but because of how quietly it was allowed to slip away.
So, from a Phoenix Suns fan, I say thank you, Chris Paul. Thank you for what you gave this league over so many years.
When you arrived in Phoenix in 2020, something shifted immediately. The culture changed. The expectations changed. You showed this fan base that the franchise was not destined to live in the basketball wilderness forever. That Devin Booker was not empty calories or wasted talent. That his gravity meant something, and that winning could exist here again. You gave the Suns credibility, structure, and belief, all at once.
Yes, there were injuries. There always were. But there was also an NBA Finals run, a moment etched into the history of this organization, one that many great point guards who wore this uniform never reached. That matters. It always will. And it’s why you’re in my Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid.
So thank you, Chris Paul, for what you meant to the game, for what you meant to Phoenix, and for the standard you brought with you every night. And when the time comes, we will be watching, proud and appreciative, as you take your place in the Hall of Fame.
1 min: Tammy Abraham gets the ball rolling, playing it a few yards backwards to Amadou Onana. Within seconds it finds its way to the feet of Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
Not long now: Kieran Trippier and Lucas Digne skipper the sides, which are led out on to the Villa Park pitch by referee Chris Kavanagh and his team of match officials soundtracked by Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train. Kick-off is just a couple of minutes away.
St. John's vs. Providence turned chippy early in the second half of their men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 14,.
The two teams got into a scuffle after St. John's forward Bryce Hopkins — a former Providence standout — received a pass during a fast-break opportunity with 14:26 remaining in the second half. When he went to the rim, he was met with a hard foul by Providence's Duncan Powell, who rammed into Hopkins while attempting the transition block.
Hopkins quickly hopped off the floor and got in Powell's face before multiple players started a scuffle, delaying play.
Six players were ejected, including Powell, who was called for a Flagrant 2 foul and later threw a punch at Dillon Mitchell. Two Providence players — Powell and Jaylin Sellers — and four St. John's players — Mitchell, Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey and Lefteris Liotopoulos — were removed from the game.
The game marked Hopkins' first game against the Friars since transferring away from the program after last season. Hopkins is averaging 13.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season and was the subject of multiple chants from Providence's student section.
Powell is in his first season with Providence after transferring from Georgia Tech. He started his career at North Carolina A&T and also spent a season at Sacramento State.
St. John's (19-5, 12-1 Big East) hasn't lost in over a month, last losing a game to Providence on Jan. 3. The Red Storm have won 10 straight games and are looking for their 11th in a row — and revenge against the Friars.
Providence (11-14, 4-10) is essentially eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention, barring an unlikely bid-stealing run with a Big East Conference Championship. Losing Sellers certainly won't help the cause, though, as he's averaging a team-high 17.4 points per game this season.
