Worldwide Sports News

Heading into the 2026 NBA Draft, there was growing buzz that Wisconsin Badgers point guard Nick Boyd would be among the 60 players selected. However, on a night where every pick exchanged hands except for one, Boyd ended up not hearing his name called, which meant the Badgers would not have a draft pick in back-to-back years, a feat they last achieved in 1986 and 1987.

A supersenior this season, Boyd averaged 20.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 48 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three.

With how roster spots have been used nowadays with two-way contracts, the second round of the NBA Draft has become more volatile. We’ve seen agents steer players to specific destinations, while others, such as UNC’s Henri Veesar, fall due to the desire for a specific contract.

Boyd went through Wednesday night without signing a contract, but his agency announced on Thursday afternoon that the point guard would be signing with the Golden State Warriors as an undrafted free agent.

Ranked No. 53 on The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie’s Big Board, Boyd will get his first professional chance on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Warriors. Those deals are non-guaranteed and are mainly structured as a pathway for players to join the G-League team following the offseason.

Boyd will now have the chance to showcase his talents during summer league, where he’ll make his case to earn a two-way contract.

Companies that build data centers don’t just pollute the environment, waste water, drive up electric rates, and dodge taxes. Sometimes they also sponsor NBA jersey patches.

An “AI cloud firm” called Iren has agreed to replace Rakuten as the jersey patch sponsor for the Golden State Warriors in a deal that’s reportedly worth $50M per season. For context, that’s enough to pay for 7 1/4 Al Horfords, 10.8 Gui Santoses, or over 58 Pat Spencers!

IREN Ltd. is an Australian company that actually seems less evil than the usual data center operator. They’re still primarily used for artificial intelligence cloud services and Bitcoin mining, both obviously cool pursuits for both individuals and the entire United States economy to focus on. However, Iren claims that their centers use only renewable energy, purchased from “clean or renewable sources” like solar or wind. Of course, they provide a disclaimer that sometimes they use “renewable energy certificates” which are like carbon offsets. It’s basically a certificate that says, yes we used fossil fuels, but we’re going to pay someone who did create renewable energy because we feel bad about it.

It’s still better than a non-renewable energy data center company.

This deal isn’t just for the Warriors jersey patch. The deal extends to Iren branding on the warmup gear of the Valkyries and the jerseys of the G League Santa Cruz Warriors, along with signage throughout the Chase Center.

But according to the Warriors’ chief commercial officer, Mike Kitts, this deal isn’t about the money, silly! The Warriors made the deal in order to “push the boundaries of innovation on a global scale and create a lasting legacy across the Bay Area and beyond.” Which is exactly what every fan wanted the team to do this offseason: Push the boundaries of innovation — on a global scale. That’ll impress LeBron, right?

The Warriors will also partner with this Australian company to do educational programs promoting “STEAM” — that’s the normal STEM, plus arts, because children still need to be educated in the discipline that artificial intelligence is actively destroying. They’ll also donate 10,000 Warriors jerseys each year to underserved communities and refurbish basketball courts.

It’s a very lucrative arrangement for the Warriors, especially since they still have a partnership with former jersey sponsor Rakuten. Unfortunately, their previous lucrative deal with FTX is probably not coming back, no matter how much Steph Curry and Shaquille O’Neal might want it to.

He put on all that mime makeup for nothing!

How does this affect the casual fan? Not really at all, aside from one annoying jersey patch being replaced by another annoying jersey patch. However, the Warriors may need to brace themselves for a late-night barrage of Truth Social posts from the president because he mistakenly thinks the team has signed a sponsorship deal with Iran.

“Mouthy Steve Kerr of the FAILING Golden State Warriors, who was very unfair to Jonathan Kuminga, need to tell IRAN to OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ and start running more big beautiful pick and rolls for Steph Curry. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

This big-money partnership with an Australian company does explain some other previously-inexplicable Warriors decisions. Namely, drafting Australian Alex Toohey with the No. 52 pick and signing Tasmanian Taran Armstrong to a two-way contract. Did they truly believe in these prospects from Down Under who never played a minute in the NBA or was this just a clever ruse to get on the good side of a company that was going to give them enough money to pay for 23 1/4 Will Richards?

Regardless, it’s time to say “G’Day” to Iren! Please don’t steal/pollute all our water!

When Larry Bird entered the NBA, he had plenty of doubters. He didn’t pass the eye test: he was slow, couldn’t jump, and was ghostly white.

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan figured it out quickly. Writing in Basketball Weekly, early in Bird’s rookie season, he explained what people didn’t get about Bird.

To be clear, Cameron Boozer is not Larry Bird, but like a lot of guys who are perceived as slow and not as athletic as they might be, he’s getting that particular tag.

Skip Bayless, not always the sharpest knife in the drawer, is beating that drum, tweeting this out on X: “Love his dad but don’t love-love Cameron Boozer in the NBA. Just not that explosively athletic. But he is a very good, extremely well-taught basketball player who will give you all he has every night and provide solid leadership.” 

First, good to know he loves Carlos, but maybe he forgot that the elder Boozer had a similar rap coming out of college and was actually a second-round pick, going to Cleveland with the 35th pick.

At the time, people questioned his athleticism, his lack of verticality, and worried that he was a ‘tweener, too small for center and not quick enough for power forward. They worried about his shot, too, and questioned his foot speed.

Any of this ringing a bell?

Well, things worked out okay for Carlos, and Cameron enters the league as a vastly more skilled young player than was his father.

Whatever you can say about Cameron, his fundamentals, his grasp of the game, and his sheer intelligence have been major factors in his success.

Red Auerbach, patriarch of the Boston Celtics, liked to simplify the game. About Boozer, he might have said, look, he can shoot, he can rebound, he can pass, he plays defense, and he doesn’t screw up very often. What’s not to like?

• ‘Not that explosively athletic’: Skip Bayless Doubts Cameron Boozer’s Talent after 2026 NBA Draft Pick
• Cam Boozer is already winning over Grizzlies fans after intro press conference
• Utah Jazz Owner Talks Cameron Boozer After Selecting Darryn Peterson
• Utah Jazz Owner Talks Cameron Boozer After Selecting Darryn Peterson

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Good morning.

Yes, it was not all some dream or nightmare. LaMelo Ball will be suiting up for the Minnesota Timberwolves next season.

I was able to have a quick question and answer session with The Athletic‘s Mike Vorkunov, a national NBA and basketball business reporter for that outlet. He has covered the Charlotte Hornets, among the rest of the association, in his time with The Athletic.

Here was our conversation:

Leo Sun: Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I would love to get your perspective on the blockbuster LaMelo Ball trade. My first question for you is that many Wolves fans, myself included, are concerned about LaMelo’s character off-court issues. Would you say there’s a general misconception about him, or is some of it warranted?

Mike Vorkunov: Ball has definitely had a number of off-court incidents. Those were public and documented. There’s no escaping it. The perception was that he matured last year, even as he continued to run into some problems. Hornets people claimed he also got better on the court and in regards to basketball too. He seemed to find a good relationship with head coach Charles Lee. We’ll see if that sticks in a new place and under a new coach and in a new role. Ball will have to be more refined and more consistent playing for a team trying to win at the level the Wolves are.

Sun: Interesting. Finch is certainly a no-nonsense coach who’s tough even on his star players, so that relationship will be fascinating to watch. Moving to on to basketball, how concerned would you be about the long-term health of LaMelo?

Vorkunov: It’s definitely an important question. Last season, he played in 70-plus games for just the second time in his six year career. The Hornets metered his minutes at times and did their best to get him through the season. It’s hard to say if he can repeat that. Injuries can he hard to predict and we don’t have all the information when it comes to that. The Wolves are certainly counting on him being a reliable partner to Anthony Edwards, and unlike in the East, every game will matter not just for seeding but to get into the playoffs.

Sun: I agree that health is always an unpredictable variable. I would hope Wolves President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, and his medical staff did their homework on LaMelo’s ankles. He is coming from the same organization that dealt with the whole “Mark Williams failed physical” saga after all. Well, if there’s something Wolves fans should know about LaMelo, what would it be?

Vorkunov: LaMelo is supremely talented. That gets lost sometimes. He had a hugely positive on-court impact for the Hornets last season with one of the biggest on and off court point differentials. He can change a lot of things for Minnesota if everything is right.

Sun: I think that’s sometimes forgotten between all the memes and wild antics or quotes. Talent does win in this league. There certainly isn’t a more tantalizing and talented backcourt duo than LaMelo and Anthony Edwards now. How do you think their pairing will go?

Vorkunov: It’ll definitely be interesting. Edwards has never played with someone like Ball. Even Karl-Anthony Towns was not the same kind of high usage player. But he should help and I think the pairing could work. It’ll be a lot harder for teams to key in on Edwards now and they should be able to have a very good playmaker on the court when he sits. But there’s a chance this lifts the ceiling for the team in a way they couldn’t reach with Randle and Reid. It could also go very wrong. That’s the beauty of a fun trade like this.

Sun: The Wolves will either win the championship or not! It’s a 50-50 chance. This will definitely make next season something Minnesota fans will be following. Thank you for your time!

I appreciated the time that Mike took to answer some quick questions. If you want to check out more of his work, make sure to read this free article that both he and our very own Jon Krawczynski teamed up on yesterday.

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In our previous Reacts survey, we asked fans the obvious question when a franchise trades its most decorated player of all time: do you approve of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade return? Well, the results were clear, with nearly three-quarters of respondents voting in the affirmative.

Of course, a key component of this trade package was the 13th pick, which the Bucks used (in principle) to select Nate Ament, a polarising prospect out of Tennessee with a low floor but a high ceiling. Still, the overwhelming majority of fans were optimistic about the selection.

And finally, the Bucks also had pick 10, which was their own selection. They selected Brayden Burries, an exciting do-it-all combo guard out of Arizona. Needless to say, fans viewed this pick as something of a home run.

In summary, these results indicate that the fanbase is largely optimistic about the package the Bucks received to kickstart what will be a multiyear rebuild; the Heat’s offer of draft picks, young players, and assets satisfied fans and gave them optimism about the Bucks moving forward. Additionally, fans approved of the Bucks’ first moves after the trade, with both Burries and Ament projected to be key pillars in the franchise’s long-term vision.

Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.

The offseason drama continues.

Sam Amick released an article today on The Athletic surrounding Jalen Duren and his contract negotiations with the Detroit Pistons.

Amick said:

All-NBA forward Jalen Duren was underwhelmed by the Detroit Pistons’ initial offer in restricted free agency and is planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios when they are permitted on Tuesday, league sources told The Athletic.

Based on what we’ve heard back to last year about negotiations with Duren, the two parties have never gotten close to finding a middle ground on JD’s next contract. I’m not surprised that they feel underwhelmed by Detroit’s offer.

Amick also reported:

According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiation is ongoing, the gap between the sides is large enough that Duren is considering ways to land elsewhere, with the sign-and-trade route deemed preferable to signing an offer sheet with another team that the Pistons could, and likely would, match. And with some of the game’s best players potentially available this summer, including the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and the LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, the question now becomes whether the Pistons might be willing to engage in those sorts of scenarios when that time comes.

We’ve heard Detroit wants to go big-game hunting and that sure makes it a lot easier to do when you have a 22-year-old All-NBA center to use as bait.

Trajan Langdon doesn’t seem like a guy who’s willing to lose on the margins. He seems to set his price and he sticks to it, whether that’s for a new Jalen Duren contract or a trade for a player like Tyler Herro or Trey Murphy III. After JD’s playoff performance, it’s fair that Detroit is hesitant. However, he’s also an All-NBA player who’s younger than some of the rookies that got drafted on Tuesday night.

This offseason has already been fascinating and that seems like it’s only going to continue over the next week or two. We knew that the Isaiah Stewart trade of getting money off their books was Step One for a bigger move and this could be it – though, those are two big holes in the center position that they’ll need to fill.

Here are a couple quick thoughts on potential Jalen Duren sign-and-trades:

• Boston – Jaylen Brown
• Brooklyn – Michael Porter Jr
• Charlotte – LaMelo Ball TPE + picks
• LA Lakers – Austin Reaves
• Milwaukee – Ryan Rollins + Myles Turner
• New Orleans – Trey Murphy III

Get your popcorn ready.

Go Stones.

A couple of pieces of news happened on Thursday as it pertains to the roster for next season.

First, Buddy Hield was acquired by the Hawks last trade deadline as part of a move that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State for the real centerpiece of the trade: Jonathan Kuminga. While Hield’s main contribution was as a veteran presence cheering from the bench or leading in the locker room, it’s still possible the Hawks or another team could have interest in bringing him back for 2026-27.

Hield has just $3 million of his $9.66 million salary guaranteed for next season, and the deadline for the team to decide on guaranteeing that larger figure or waiving him was tomorrow. But both sides have mutually agreed to push back that date according to Chris Haynes of Prime:

Mouhamed Gueye’s situation is a lot less murky. Next season will be his fourth year in the NBA after three years of ascent into a monster defender and overall NBA rotation player. Gueye signed a four-year second-round pick exception deal with a fourth-year option worth around $2.41 million.

Now, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype first reports that the Hawks will pick that option up so as to not lose the wiry Senegalese frontcourt player for no return:

In Tuesday’s NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted the highly-touted Brayden Burries with the 10th overall pick. It was a strong selection, with Burries generally regarded as the best player available. But it was Milwaukee’s other pick—Tennessee’s Nate Ament, taken with the 13th overall selection courtesy of the Miami Heat—that generated the most talk. Just look at your comments. It’s understandable too—Ament entered the draft as the most polarising prospect, with critics widely labelling him as the first round pick most likely to “bust.” 

They’re wrong. 

Ament might not be the Bucks’ hero right now, but he’s one of the few who can walk that path—and he’s already on it. 

The Hero’s Journey 

The son of parents who took part in relief efforts in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, Ament knows a thing or two about the hero’s journey. And while his path might be less humanitarian—certainly infinitely less consequential—it can still have a profound impact. 

Popularised by Joseph Campbell, the literary hero’s journey traditionally has more steps. Still, it’s a useful framework for understanding Ament’s path: a rise to prominence, a fall into uncertainty, and the chance to emerge stronger.

1. Comfort 

Ament’s story starts in silk. A consensus five-star recruit, he dominated the high school scene, earning selection in both the 2024 USA Men’s U18 National Team, which won gold at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, and the 2025 USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit Team. In fact, he was so good in high school that ESPN’s Jonathon Givony described him as “a top-five recruit and the best available high school boys’ basketball prospect in the 2025 class.” This was his comfort. But comfort never lasts long—not when the call to adventure arrives. 

2. Challenge

Following the triumph of high school, Ament committed to the University of Tennessee in part because of Coach Rick Barnes, who coached Ament’s idol, Kevin Durant, 19 years earlier at the University of Texas. But despite his immense talent—and similar size and style to Durant—Ament’s lone season with the Volunteers was filled with turbulence. Inconsistencies, struggles at the rim and with physicality, injury. Challenge.

As a result, the criticism grew; his stock lowered. Ament went from being a consensus top five player to being projected in the teens—and even as late as the 20s. Draft night then became visibly painful, every lingering close-up on Ament’s face another critique, another interrogation into his worth. As such, Jon Horst and the Bucks were able to nab him with their 13th pick instead of their 10th.

3. Transformation  

While Ament’s selection was met with mixed reviews, especially by Bucks fans, it comes at a perfect time. Like Ament, the Bucks are accustomed to external criticism. And, like Ament, they are at a point of transformation; down which path do they venture?

Regardless of the answer, one thing’s for sure: the Bucks have a new head coach and a whole lot of youth. Luckily, then, they also have Joe Boylan, CLA guru, whose mentorship will provide Ament the knowledge, opportunity, and perspective to flourish. Even better, he’s done it before.

An archetype

Like Ament, Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels was a highly-touted high school prospect, a five-star recruit who was ranked among the top 10 in his class—and even projected by Givony as a potential number one overall pick in a draft that included his eventual teammates Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. But he too underwhelmed in college, slipping in big boards and mock drafts until he finally fell into the Timberwolves’ lap with the 28th pick—and was put to work with none other than Boylan.

The similarities don’t stop there. Both stand a slender ~6’10”, though Ament is already listed some 20 pounds heavier (211 lbs vs. 185 lbs, according to Basketball Reference). Heck, both even garnered the same pre-draft player comparison on NBADraft.net, Jonathon Isaac. And while Ament has often been profiled for his offensive potential, especially as a shooter, he’s also been projected by Givony as someone who has the “the ability to defend all over the court.” Considering the lessons we learned from this year’s playoffs, and how valuable forwards are, there’s even more reason for optimism. Of course, as with any journey, there’s work to be done.

First steps 

First, Ament must deal with the vitriol. Mute the haters, keep the receipts. Whatever the strategy, the drop must fuel not fester. Second, embrace the grind. Find comfort in discomfort. Embrace Boylan and Jenkins and whatever veteran leaders this squad finds (this needs to be a point of emphasis for Horst—just look at how the San Antonio Spurs prioritised Bismack Biyombo, Kelly Olynyk, and Harrison Barnes to guide their prized youth).

Third, Ament must find his niche, his ticket to court time. While there’s no clear hierarchy on this Bucks team, there’s plenty of guys to feed. But there aren’t many forwards, especially of the defensive variety. So, Ament must focus on this, using his size and fluidity to contend and contain and contest. To wreak havoc. On the other end, he should focus on, as Jack Trehearne pointed out to me, getting his shooting to the dangerous level it was leading up to his freshman year at Tennessee. In other words, save the “big stuff”—the isolation scoring, the creation for others—for an encore.

Then he can really shock the world; complete the arc. 

From foe to locker mate: Yaxel Lendeborg embraces full-circle Steph Curry moment originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg uttered six words that almost shunned him from Dub Nation before even putting on a Golden State jersey.

“I used to hate Steph Curry.”

Lendeborg, after being taken by the Warriors with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, shared that Kyrie Irving was his favorite player, so by default with three consecutive NBA Finals clashes between Golden State and the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was rooting against Curry and the Warriors.

Ten years later, not only is Lendeborg a Warrior, but his locker is directly next to his former nemesis-turned teammate.

Was that intentional? Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy pointed the finger at team equipment manager Eric Housen. Lendeborg, however, believes so.

“Ironically, they put my locker right next to Steph, so I know we got a lot of work to do to become best friends,” Lendeborg said Friday morning at his introductory press conference at Chase Center. “But definitely excited that I’m going to be able to learn as much as I can through him. Hopefully, some of his shooting can roll off on me, and we can go a long way.”

Lendeborg will replace former Warriors guard Buddy Hield’s locker.

Hield joined the team during the 2024-25 season and quickly became integrated into the family-like culture in Golden State. That is the hope for Lendeborg, who’s known for his bubbly and goofy personality.

Outside the locker room, too, Lendeborg feels he’s the perfect fit for the Warriors on the court.

“As far as personality-wise, it seemed like they really loved me as a person, and that always goes a long way to making a good first impression,” Lendeborg said. “Just speaking with them as much as I could, we spoke about how I can envision myself playing on the court this year, and it was all good things, all things that I enjoy doing, all things that I feel like are the right thing and simple thing to do on a basketball court. So I feel like I just fit this game perfectly.

“So I mean, I was very excited to be here working out with these guys, and just showcase that I can be able to stretch the floor out and be able to help, be a secondary ball handler whenever it’s needed. So I feel like it just went a long way. It just showed the character of these guys and the kind of players they’re looking for, not just basketball-wise, but players person-wise.”

Lendeborg also shared that Curry added both him and Warriors second-round draft pick LaJae Jones to the team group chat immediately after the draft.

He also texted both Curry and Draymond Green individually on Thursday, adding that Curry responded but Green hadn’t yet. Green, of course, will respond eventually, and likely have plenty more to say since the two exchanged barbs about their college teams.

Green, a Michigan State alum, already took shots at Lendeborg on Instagram, who played one season at the University of Michigan.

The other Warriors star veteran, Jimmy Butler, shared his stamp of approval of Lendeborg, telling reporters Thursday that he likes that the 23-year-old speaks his mind and that “he’s going to be very good.”

Coming in as a rookie on a team full of future Hall of Fame veterans, who have nothing short of big personalities themselves, can be quite intimidating. Lendeborg, however, doesn’t want to hide his outgoing nature.

“I don’t want to change myself, no matter where I go,” he said. “Being myself got me here, so I’m just trying to be as happy-go-lucky as I’ve always been, keep a smile on my face, try to enlighten the room, and make everybody happy around me.”

It hasn’t even been a full week yet and, as expected, Lendeborg’s phone has been blowing up. Childhood friends, former teammates, former coaches. But the “craziest” message he received was from someone, 10 years ago, he would have never expected.

Steph Curry.

“Definitely, Steph, that was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Lendeborg said. “I called all my friends and we all went crazy about it.”

From Steph Curry hater to Steph Curry teammate to Steph Curry lockermate: a full-circle moment truly like no other. But it’s the first step of a rookie-vet relationship that hopes to be pivotal for the Warriors as they continue to build a “win-now” roster.

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The Toronto Raptors’ first round draft pick was shocking because of just how predictable it was.

Allen Graves is not only viewed extremely favourably from an analytics standpoint, but is the archetypical Toronto Raptors player: a defensively minded forward who plays well on both sides of the ball. A one and done college player, the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year is a decorated forward who when stacked with Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, could be a part of a group that – while too short to be a Trio of Towers – could have serious lockdown impact.

But, it seems that the fans might need some time to come around to the rookie.

In this FanDuel sponsored survey, a whopping 50% of Raptors HQ readers polled looked upon the pick as a bad move for the Raptors, with less than a quarter of people answering that they saw it as an above-average pick.

This likely reflects less on an assessment of Graves’ skills, but rather, subverted expectations that led to short-term disappointment. Creator @5starsportz on TikTokn exemplifies this, with his video about the Raptors passing on guard Labaron Philon Jr. reaching more than 30,000 views and nearly 7000 likes at the time of writing.

Philon Jr. was mocked at falling to 19, but was ultimately passed on by the Raptors in favour of Graves. This came as a shock to many fans, who identified guard play and a new centre as major priorities for the team to address with the draft. Still, the Raptors are betting on what’s worked for them in the past. Collin Murray-Boyles is in some respects a variant of the Scottie Barnes archetype, and was seen a superfluous pick at a position the Raptors already had a guy at. I think what has been underdiscussed is how cool it would be to have 3 guys who can play even half as well as Scottie Barnes.

Ultimately, I believe that the Raptors’ front office should be trusted with their decision. The draft is far from the only way to build up a team, and many of Toronto’s most important pieces have joined the team as trades. There are other ways to address the deficiencies of this team, and while taking a great centre or guard in the draft could have worked, searching for an upgrade or backup at either of the positions could be done just as easily in another way.

Graves will be the one who has to cash the cheque with his play that the Raptors wrote with their pick, however. But, if the forward remains tenacious on both ends of the ball and plays his role well, I see no reason why the Louisianian couldn’t flourish here in Toronto.