Sports News – Page 192 – Worldwide Sports News

The prospect of a Winter Olympics stretching from the Adirondacks to New York City has taken its first formal step toward reality as state leaders launched a year-long review into whether the two destinations could jointly host a future Games.

New York governor Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the formation of the Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee, a statewide group tasked with evaluating whether a future Winter Games built around existing venues and shared between the two locations could be delivered sustainably and responsibly.

June 23, 2026

Brewers release third baseman Luis Rengifo after designating him for assignment

MILWAUKEE — Luis Rengifo has been released by the Milwaukee Brewers after opening the season as their primary third baseman.

The Brewers announced the release Tuesday, a week after designating him for assignment. The Brewers designated Rengifo for assignment when they called up shortstop Cooper Pratt from Triple-A Nashville.

Rengifo started 45 games at third base for the Brewers while sharing time at that spot with David Hamilton, who has made 28 starts at third. Rengifo was hitting .205 with a .280 on-base percentage, .254 slugging percentage, no homers, 19 RBIs and three steals in 57 games.

The Brewers signed Rengifo to a one-year, $3.5 million contract in February after he spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

Also on Tuesday, the Brewers announced that outfielder Brandon Lockridge is undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on Thursday after developing increased discomfort with the right knee laceration/bone bruise that landed him on the injured list. Lockridge, who last played May 8, is expected to return in late July.

June 23, 2026

Becky Hammon stops short of apologizing for Jalen Brunson comments, says Knicks star 'proved history wrong'

By leading the Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973, Jalen Brunsonsolidified himself as one of the league's top players and proved his long list of critics wrong -- many of whom have since tried to backtrack their opinions and apologize for not believing in the point guard.

Well, nearly all of them.

Talking with reporters ahead of their game against the New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon stood her ground on her criticism of the 2026 NBA Finals MVP.

As a reminder: Back in 2023, Hammon emphatically said on ESPN that Brunson is not a "1A dude" because "he too small," and later said in 2024 that Brunson is New York's "1A" but isn't good enough to lead them to a championship.

"Jalen, all he did was prove history wrong, he proves he's an outlier, so you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isaiah Thomas, and I thought he played brilliantly, especially down the stretch," Hammon told reporters Tuesday.

"I mean, he was that 1A dude, but like, apologize, I'm never gonna apologize for having an opinion. That's what ESPN pays me for."

After hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy following their Game 5 NBA Finals win over the Spurs, Brunson responded to the criticism in his own way, while head coach Mike Brown praised him as "a freaking 1A."

"I didn’t respond to them then, I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now," Brunson said.

Then during the Knicks championship parade on June 18, the captain silenced any remaining critics by saying "when you prove them wrong you don’t have to say s--t."

"Lastly, there’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say, there’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions," he said. "But when you prove them wrong you don’t have to say s--t to them. Nah, they don’t deserve it, they don’t deserve it. Appreciate you all, thank you."

While Brunson let his play on the court do the talking, teammate and close friend Josh Hart happily responded to Hammon during their Roommates Show live podcast. Hart accepted Stephen A. Smith's apology for his criticism toward Brunson, as the ESPN host admitted to the point guard that he "never dreamed" he would be "who the hell" he's become.

"Now, I will give you credit for coming up here and admitting fault because, I'm not naming names, I'm still waiting on somebody to say they were wrong about someone who's led our team to a Finals championship for the first time in 53 years," Hart said. "I'm still waiting for something... We'll be waiting for that apology."

Karl-Anthony Towns added: "He's not going to say it, so I'm glad you did."

While it's unlikely Hammon appears on the podcast to squash the beef, she tried to stir up Knicks fans again by calling Brunson the franchise's best player of all time.

"Let me just piss off Knicks fans again and say, I think he’s the greatest Knick ever," Hammon said. "Give them something else to talk about… I’ve always been a Jalen Brunson fan. I was a fan of his at Villanova, in Dallas and why this comment went off the rails, I have no idea because it was clearly a historical and analytical take."

Too small, too late for the backhanded praise.

June 23, 2026

2026 Texas Rangers Recap: Week 13

ARLINGTON, TX - JUNE 21: Members of the Texas Rangers celebrate after defeating the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field on Sunday, June 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tenley Wright/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Season Record: 37-40

Week Record: 2-4

Series Record: 12–12, 1 split

GAME 72: 2-4 Loss vs Minnesota Twins
GAME 73: 2-12 Loss vs Minnesota Twins
GAME 74: 3-9 Loss vs Minnesota Twins

GAME 75: 9-7 Win vs San Diego Padres
GAME 76: 4-5 Loss vs San Diego Padres
GAME 77: 4-3 Win vs San Diego Padres

The Rangers had nothing on Minnesota last week. Couldn’t do anything against them, and the random off day in the middle of the series didn’t do anything to turn it around either.

They faired much better against San Diego over the weekend, winning yet another series.

Alas, their series record remains at .500.

While Ezequiel Duran has been in a bit of a funk, Wyatt Langford seems to have hit a stride, now having hit five homeruns since coming off the injured list.

Texas had an incredible win on Friday with Jacob deGrom but it sure didn’t seem like they would. Before the Rangers even game to bat for the first time in the game, they were down five runs. However, they did something stunning, and scores six runs in the bottom of the first.

It feels rare when Rangers answer back so quickly and so hard.

Hopefully something that can continue doing to win series.

June 23, 2026

Preston has ‘all the tools,' but will his tough draft year dissuade Flyers?

Preston has ‘all the tools,' but will his tough draft year dissuade Flyers? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the first time in a while, the Flyers are coming off a playoff run.

That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.

But that was when the Flyers drafted a foundation piece, grabbing Tyson Foerster at 23rd overall.

So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.

“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”

After the recent trade with the Maple Leafs, the Flyers have only four picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.

“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said June 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.

“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”

Last summer, the Flyers made nine selections, with six coming over the first two rounds. Porter Martone was their headliner at sixth overall. Now the Flyers will try to hit on a pick in the 20s.

“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).

“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Mathis Preston

Position: Winger
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 172
Shoots: Right
Team: Vancouver

Scouting report

Preston is an ultra-talented prospect who had a difficult draft year. But his upside is abundantly clear.

He can do damage with an advanced shot and high-end speed.

“Really good skill,” Daily Faceoff associate editor and prospect analyst Steven Ellis said June 9 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “One of the better skaters.”

The 17-year-old put up 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) through just 46 games this season in the WHL. He finished with Vancouver after being traded from Spokane in January. Not long after joining the Giants, he had to miss significant time because of a knee injury, according to The Province’s Steve Ewen.

“We didn’t get to see him really feel super comfortable for a guy that was kind of projected to be more of an offensive leader, like a 90-point guy heading into the season,” Ellis said. “And he wasn’t remotely close. Some of that was out of his control.”

Despite the injury and his season being split between two teams, Preston still recorded 4.3 shots per game.

“There are points where he pulls off these great moves and then they fall apart all of a sudden,” Ellis said. … “It feels like he has got all the tools to be a really good player, but then there are just points where it’s just not working. Is it a point of he’s snakebitten or is it a point of he’s just making some of the wrong plays in the end?”

Preston is the 22nd-ranked player on Ellis’ final top-120 draft board. His status possibly saw a boost at the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship, a tournament that ended last month. He had six points (two goals, four assists) and 21 shots in five games for Team Canada.

“It almost feels like he’s a guy that will play better when he has got smarter guys around him to get the puck to,” Ellis said. “When you watch him at the under-18s, he was one of the better players on Canada in that tournament. It felt like he was the one that anytime Canada needed a goal, he was making something happen.”

NHL Central Scouting has Preston slotted at No. 32 among North American skaters, dropping him eight spots from his midterm mark of No. 24. He’s the No. 33 overall player on EliteProspects.com and No. 39 on Button’s June 17 list.

Fit with Flyers

Preston’s shot and speed should intrigue the Flyers. Those strengths are needs for the Flyers and they give Preston a ceiling of a top-six winger.

It’s not ideal, though, that he plays on the wing. The Flyers a pretty well-stocked with young wingers. Preston also hasn’t quite met the hype around his game, which may cause some reservation.

But the Flyers have shown a willingness to take swings on talent. Preston could be appealing talent at No. 21.

More targets

• Could Lawrence’s early jump to college have him fall to Flyers in draft?

• Will Flyers eye 6-foot-4 forward with ‘goal-scoring hands’ at No. 21?

• Palmieri ‘type of player’ may be available for Flyers at No. 21 in draft

• Russian center with pro build has interesting case for Flyers at No. 21

• Lin has ‘Brandon Montour profile,’ but will he be there for Flyers at No. 21?

• D-man with ‘unbelievable maturity to his game’ could be option for Flyers at No. 21

• ‘Second-line center all day long’ should intrigue Flyers in draft

• ‘This kid is a hell of a player’ — Flyers could draft 45-goal, 104-point winger

• Is Novotny, a winger that’s ‘so dangerous around the net,’ a fit for Flyers?

• A Drysdale type of defenseman for the Flyers at No. 21 in the draft?

• Another OHL first-rounder for Flyers? Klepov, with 97 points, has tons of appeal

• A center with ‘fantastic’ hockey sense could give Flyers option to trade down

• Should a 6-foot-7 center have the Flyers’ attention in first round of draft?

• Is Hermansson too ‘offense or bust’ for Flyers at No. 21 in draft?

June 23, 2026

NHL reportedly exploring Texas expansion opportunities in Houston and Austin

The NHL is exploring potential expansion to Texas with Houston and Austin among the possibilities, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The league’s Board of Governors had their annual post-Stanley Cup Final and pre-draft meeting on Tuesday in New York. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the expansion consideration had not been announced. ESPN and Sportsnet were first to report the move.

While there is no guarantee the NHL adds a 33rd team, it is a first step toward becoming the largest professional sports league in North America, surpassing the NFL. Commissioner Gary Bettman in recent years has been careful to say officials were listening to expressions of interest from prospective owners in places like Houston and Atlanta but not yet engaged in a formal path toward expansion.

The league last expanded to 32 with the Seattle Kraken beginning play in 2021 after the Vegas Golden Knights started in the 2017-18 season. Before that, there had been 30 teams since 2000, when Columbus and Minnesota entered.

The recent success stories, combined with booming franchise values across sports, spurred talk of expansion in hockey circles, especially because expansion fees could exceed $1 billion. Seattle paid $650 million and Las Vegas $500 million.

From Florida to Texas to California and places in between, the NHL has enjoyed strong popularity across the Sun Belt and non-traditional hockey markets over the past four decades. Teams were added in South Florida and Tampa in Florida, San Jose and Anaheim in California, Nashville, Tennessee, and Las Vegas while relocations put teams in Dallas and Raleigh, North Carolina, Denver and elsewhere.

Teams in those places have won the Stanley Cup the past seven years in a row and 13 times dating to Colorado’s championship run in 1995-96.

June 23, 2026

NHL reportedly exploring Texas expansion opportunities in Houston and Austin

The NHL is exploring potential expansion to Texas with Houston and Austin among the possibilities, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Teams in those places have won the Stanley Cup the past seven years in a row and 13 times dating to Colorado’s championship run in 1995-96.

June 23, 2026

Jaylen Brown bidding war? Haslem drove this? All the fallout from Antetokounmpo trade to Miami

It was the blockbuster deal of the NBA offseason: After years of will-he/won't-he, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to Miami.

It also feels like the first domino of what will be some other big moves — including possibly a Jaylen Brown bidding war and trade. At NBC, we’ve explained the Antetokounmpo trade, named its winners and losers, and broken down how it will impact fantasy teams. Still, the fallout from this trade just keeps coming. Here are some other notes and analysis surrounding Antetokounmpo's move to Miami.

Jaylen Brown bidding war?

Boston tried to say, "We weren't shopping Brown, it was only because this was Giannis Antetokounmpo." Except a few years back, they said the same thing when Brown was rumored to be part of a trade offer for Kevin Durant. From Brown's perspective, you don't want to be the person in the relationship where your partner is always looking around for an upgrade.

Other teams are expecting Boston to make Brown available, and there could be a bidding war, something articulated well by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on the network’s “Get Up.”

"What I expect to happenis a bidding war for Jaylen Brown. In the most recent days, teams have been preparing for this eventuality, that it wouldn't be the Boston Celtics who won the Giannis sweepstakes and that there would be a Jaylen Brown market. And now we're going to watch that. I think it'll take time to play out."

If Brown becomes available, look for Houston and Atlanta to be at the front of the line for him, with a number of other teams — Portland has said it's interested — in the mix. The challenge will be matching his salary, which is $57.1 million next season and totals about $183 million over the next three years. Brown is coming off his best season as a pro, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

Boston kept young players out

Why did Milwaukee ultimately choose the Miami offer over Boston? In part because, while Brown would have been the best individual player the Bucks could have gotten in return, they wanted more — specifically a young player like Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez, and Boston would not put them in the offer, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

Boston's final offer was Brown and two unprotected first-round picks. Milwaukee preferred Miami's offer... or at least one key person did.

Bucks co-owner Haslam pushed for Miami trade

Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam also owns the NFL's Cleveland Browns — a team that dealt with a trade demand from future Hall of Famer Myles Garrett. Then came the Antetokounmpo saga with the Bucks.

That led Haslam to push for the "certainty" of the Miami offer because he didn't want to see Brown come to Milwaukee and force his way out in a couple of years, something Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports reported right after the trade went down.
That was a concern of others in the Milwaukee front office, reports Sam Amick and Eric Nehm at The Athletic, who add there had been signs in recent weeks that Brown didn't really want to land in Milwaukee.

Herro happy

Brown may not have wanted to go to Milwaukee, but Tyler Herro — who is a Milwaukee native — is excited to go home in the trade, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Sources: Tyler Herro is thrilled about a fresh start and playing for his hometown team the Milwaukee Bucks. Herro always envisioned returning home at some point during his NBA career.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 23, 2026

Except Herro may not be staying in Milwaukee—there are multiple reports that the Bucks are listening to offers to trade him again. At the front of that line may be Detroit, which is looking for shooting and secondary ball-handling to pair with Cade Cunningham, and Herro fits that bill.

Is Anthony Edwards next?

Once one superstar is traded, the insatiable NBA trade rumor machine starts looking for the next star who might be on the move.

Is it about to be Anthony Edwards' turn in the spotlight? ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on the latest Hoop Collective Podcast, "The NBA vultures are swirling around Ant in anticipation of him potentially becoming the next superstar who's available in the trade market." Multiple reports in recent years have said Edwards has been frustrated with the team building in Minnesota, dating back to when it traded away Karl-Anthony Towns to save money.

This is not happening fast. Minnesota has no intention of trading Edwards right now, and he still has three fully guaranteed years at $156.9 million left on this contract. There is no pressure to move him, and Edwards would deny he is even thinking about leaving.

That said, teams file these kinds of things away and just wait.

June 23, 2026

BetMGM, MLB Expand Sports Betting Partnership

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BetMGM’s branding presence with MLB will continue for the foreseeable future.

Key Takeaways

BetMGM and MGM Resorts International renewed their partnership with MLB, extending a relationship that began in 2018.
The online operator will continue to be featured on multiple league platforms.
BetMGM operates in nearly a dozen jurisdictions that have an MLB team.

The online sportsbook and casino announced a multi-year extension Tuesday with the pro baseball league that began when MGM became the first operator to be MLB’s official sports betting partner in 2018, enhancing the operator’s visibility on multiple platforms.

“Major League Baseball offers one of the most engaging, data–rich experiences in sports, and this renewal underscores our shared commitment to innovation, integrity, and responsibility,” BetMGM chief revenue officer Matt Prevost said in a statement. “Together, we're enhancing how fans experience the game, from defining moments on the field to legendary experiences at marquee events like MLB All-Star Week."

Under the extension, BetMGM will continue to receive exposure across MLB's media platforms, including MLB Network, Apple TV broadcasts, and the league's website in the U.S. and Canada. The responsible gaming partnership feature, GameSense, will also remain.

BetMGM will also keep developing online casino games featuring pro baseball, and MGM Resorts, which owns 50% of BetMGM with Entain, will continue to be MLB’s exclusive resort and casino partner.

Visibility increasing

BetMGM also expects its marketing presence with MLB events, including MLB Awards Week in Las Vegas, to grow.

“MGM Resorts and BetMGM have been great partners to baseball for nearly a decade,” said Uzma Rawn Dowler, MLB chief marketing officer and senior vice president of global corporate partnerships. “We're excited to continue our relationship and together help create more unique experiences for our fans.”

Not only is BetMGM a league sponsor, but the online operator also has partnerships with nine MLB teams, including big-market teams in the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Yankees.

BetMGM operates online sports betting in 22 U.S. states, including nearly a dozen jurisdictions where at least one MLB team resides. BetMGM also has partnerships with the NBA, WNBA, NHL, and NASCAR.

MLB's broader gambling strategy

MLB also has an integrated partnership with FanDuel, the No. 1 market-share online sportsbook and iGaming operator in the U.S. It wasn't the first league to partner with sportsbooks after PASPA was overturned in 2018, but it was among the earliest major leagues to embrace gambling sponsorship revenue.

MLB signed an unprecedented memorandum with the federal regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in March and partnered with prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket to build new contract trading standards. MLB wants input on what markets are offered, something other leagues are seeking as well, and a seat at the regulatory framework table to help protect the integrity of the sport.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

June 23, 2026

Devils trade defenseman Simon Nemec to the Flames for three high draft picks

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils traded Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, getting draft picks for the 22-year-old defenseman.

In new general manager Sunny Mehta’s first major roster transaction, the Devils received two future conditional first-round picks, as well as No. 35 overall this year and prospect Etienne Morin for Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov.

There had been buzz in recent weeks that Nemec was interested in a change of scenery. The right-handed shooting Slovak is just 22 years old and 159 games into his NHL career since New Jersey selected him with the second pick in the draft in 2022.

The first-rounders are top-10 protected, with Calgary potentially parting ways with one in each in some combination of 2027, ‘28 and ’29.

Morin, 21, is a left shot defenseman who spent last season in the minors.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

June 23, 2026

Devils trade defenseman Simon Nemec to the Flames for three high draft picks

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils traded Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, getting draft picks for the 22-year-old defenseman.

The first-rounders are top-10 protected, with Calgary potentially parting ways with one in each in some combination of 2027, ‘28 and ’29.

Morin, 21, is a left shot defenseman who spent last season in the minors.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

June 23, 2026

JR Ritchie, Braves’ skidding offense look to get right against Padres

The final West Coast trip of the season for the Braves started in brutal fashion Monday night in San Diego.

The hot-and-cold offense which has been a lot more cold of late was at its coldest in the opener, stranding eight runners in a 1-0 loss to the Padres.

The Braves will put JR Ritchie (1-2,4.54 ERA) on the mound Tuesday night hoping to level the series.

The rookie’s first two appearances back have been a real mixed bag. His relief appearance after Spencer Strider’s early exit at the Mets (2 H, 0 R over 5 IP) was very good. His first start back last Wednesday against the Giants (5 R, 5 H, 3 HR in 5 IP) was not.

Walks continue to be an issue for Ritchie, who has issued 21 free passes in 35 2/3 innings this season. He’s issued three or more walks in four of his seven appearances.

Maybe a Padres lineup which ranks last in the majors in batting average (.219), slugging percentage (.363) and scoring (3.86 runs per game) will be what Ritchie needs to rediscover his form, having not thrown more than five innings since he did so in each of his first two career starts.

While the Padres haven’t officially announced a starter, it sounds like it will be right-hander Griffin Canning (1-5, 6.64) getting the nod. He had a delayed start to his season as he finished up recovery from a torn left Achilles.

It didn’t start well for him, with an 0-4 record and 7.16 ERA in six May starts. But two of his three June starts have been at least solid and he’s coming off his first win of the season, allowing one run on four hits over 4 1/3 innings last Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

As with Ritchie, walks have been an issue. He’s walked 25 batters against 41 strikeouts in 42 innings. He’s also allowed eight home runs — as many as he had given up in 16 starts and 76 1/3 innings this season.

Canning, who was with the Mets last season, made his first two career appearances against the Braves the last two seasons. He lasted a combined seven innings across the two starts, giving up seven runs for a 9.00 ERA with nine hits allowed, six strikeouts and one walk.

Could this be what awakens the dormant Braves’ offense, most notably from Drake Baldwin’s extended slump since his return from the injured list?

Now 1-for-25 with 15 strikeouts https://t.co/zpilc3xKMq
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 23, 2026

Let’s find out in another edition of Braves After Dark.

Game Info

Game Time: Tuesday, June 23rd,9:40 pm EDT

Location: Petco Park, San Diego, Calif.

Watch: BravesVision, Gray TV

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

June 23, 2026

Mavs' coaching move makes Dusty May and Cooper Flagg the faces of the post-Luka Doncic remake

Dusty May wears a bright yellow quarter zip and stands on a ladder while holding a net from a basketball rim in front of him — Michigan coach Dusty May cuts down the net after the Wolverines defeated UConn for the 2026 NCAA title in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

Questions surely will follow Dusty May as he leaps to the Dallas Mavericks after coaching Michigan to the NCAA national championship.

Can he provide blessed amnesia to the Mavericks faithful? Can he help them forget Luka Doncic and Nico Harrison and Anthony Davis and Jason Kidd? Can he allow them to peer into a future anchored by budding superstar Cooper Flagg without constantly checking the rearview mirror?

May, 49, was hired Tuesday as the Mavericks’ head coach,. He led Michigan to the pinnacle of March Madness last season and posted a 64-13 record in two years. He also coached Florida Atlantic to the 2023 Final Four and a 60-13 record in the last two of his six seasons there.

“We set out to find a leader who embodies the values we want to define our organization,” Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. “Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build. He develops players, creates accountability, and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values.”

The list of high-profile college coaches who struggled to replicate their success in the NBA is daunting: Rick Pitino, John Calipari, John Beilein, Lon Kruger, Tim Floyd and Mike Montgomery immediately leap to mind.

Not only did May not coach or play in the NBA, he barely played in college. He was a 5-foot-10 point guard at NAIA Oakland City for one season before transferring to Indiana and serving as team manager under coach Bobby Knight.

But his arrival will divert attention from the past, from the hugely unpopular and disastrous trade of Doncic to the Lakers for Davis and spare parts on Feb. 1, 2025.

Mavericks fans staged a faux funeral complete with a casket a day later in front of the Dirk Nowitzki statue outside the American Airlines Center. They booed Harrison — the general manager who engineered the deal — at every home game and chanted “Fire Nico.”

When Doncic returned as an opponent, Mavericks fans chanted “MVP” when the Lakers player shot free throws.

Harrison admitted to underestimating the backlash from fans but defended the trade, initially saying he had “no regrets.” By November, he was fired and updated his social media profile to “unemployed.”

Next to go was Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard who helped the Mavericks to their only NBA title as a player and to the NBA Finals as a coach. At the time, it wasn’t clear whether Kidd was an advocate of the Doncic deal or a victim of a front-office blunder. But Mark Cuban, the Mavericks’ former majority owner who currently owns 27% of the team, indicated March 31 during a podcast that Kidd was complicit.

“I think there was animosity between [Harrison] and some people on Luka’s team — his agent and some of the people around them,” Cuban said. “I don’t think they got along. I think there were issues.

“J-Kidd had coached Anthony Davis and was close to him, and Nico was close to AD since he was like 13 years old. So I think there was some confirmation bias as well. But that doesn’t justify our coach and our general manager to stand up and trade our best player.”

Doncic, 26, flourished in his first season in Los Angeles despite a late-season injury that kept him out of the playoffs. The shooting guard led the NBA with 33.5 points per game and he will be a franchise cornerstone. Davis played only 20 games with Dallas because of injuries and in February was traded to the Washington Wizards.

The makeover began when the Mavericks secured the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft despite having only a 1.8% chance of obtaining it through the lottery. They took Flagg, a forward from Duke who went on to lead Dallas with 21 points per game and was named Rookie of the Year.

Next, they hired respected former Raptors executive Ujiri as team president. And now they have added May as coach. This week they will add two more promising players via the first round of the NBA Draft.

“I am honored to join the Dallas Mavericks organization,” May said in a statement. “This is one of the most respected franchises in professional sports, with passionate fans, a talented roster, and a clear commitment to building a championship organization.”

The franchise is trying to eliminate reminders while attempting to instill hope for the future.

“When you study [May’s] journey, you see someone who has earned every opportunity through preparation, discipline, humility, and an unwavering commitment to improvement,” Ujiri said. “We believe those qualities make him the right leader for the Dallas Mavericks.”

Meanwhile at Michigan, a loaded roster will report to interim coach Mike Boynton Jr., May’s top assistant and the head coach at Oklahoma State from 2019-2024. Players are allowed to enter the transfer portal for 15 days following a coaching change, so job one for Boynton will be to keep them from fleeing.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

June 23, 2026

NBA Draft: Live Updates from the Barclays Center

BRISTOL, CT - NOVEMBER 18: A wide angle view of the draft stage with the Phoenix Suns hat during the 2020 NBA Draft on November 18, 2020 in Bristol, Connecticut at ESPN Headquarters. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It’s finally time for the NBA Draft. Follow along this thread and on @BrightSideSun on X/Twitter for the latest updates and insights on all things Phoenix Suns and the NBA Draft with staff writer Holden Sherman at the Barclays Center covering the event.

5:50 If the Suns move into the first round…

According to Arizona Sports Insider John Gambadoro, the Suns would look to select Arizona’s big man Koa Peat, who was born in Arizona 30 minutes outside of Phoenix. Peat is a potential lottery pick after helping lead the Wildcats to their first Final Four appearance since 2001.

They like Koa but would most likely have to move into the first round to get him – right now at 2:34 pm that seems unlikely.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 23, 2026

5:43 Red Carpet Festivities

The NBA prospects are out. Caleb Wilson, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer at the red carpet for more media.

The red carpet has begun… pic.twitter.com/ae9eoXyJlf
— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) June 23, 2026

4:30 PM EST: The Draft Floor

Where 30 people’s lives will be changes tonight and where NBA Commissioner will announce all 30 picks,

3:50 PM EST: Bright Side is at the Barclays Center

Almost four hours until draft time. The Suns have no picks tonight but there’s plenty of time for that to change.

Bright Side is present pic.twitter.com/0CHiF6pgYf
— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) June 23, 2026