Worldwide Sports News

Stephen A. Smith has entered the Lakers group chat — and, as usual, he did not come quietly.

After a busy offseason Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler are looking like the Lakers’ top core trio, Smith called out the obvious visual shift in typical Stephen A. fashion.

“I’m saying it,” Smith said. “Your three best players are white dudes. This ain’t golf. And we got a whole bunch of brothers on Team USA. This is basketball, what y’all think this is?”

Subtle? It was not.

Smith was not alone, either. Bomani Jones joked that the Lakers “ain’t been this white since they left Minneapolis,” referencing the franchise’s George Mikan days and continued with, “if lakers-celtics became a nationwide thing again, me and the homies wouldn’t know who to root for.”

Online, fans quickly joined in with nicknames like “Snowtime Lakers,” “Tres Leches” and “Snowtown.”

The Lakers’ new core is an outlier in today’s NBA. In a league where roughly 70% to 78% of players are Black and only about 17% to 19% are white, a Lakers trio built around Dončić, Reaves and Kessler naturally stands out.

To Smith’s “this ain’t golf” point, the PGA Tour remains overwhelmingly white, with estimates around 80% of professional players identifying as Caucasian.

For a franchise long defined by icons like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and LeBron James, the Lakers’ new-look core is easy to notice.

But beneath the jokes is a real basketball question.

Former Laker Markieff Morris questioned not the race of the players but their toughness. While saying he liked the Lakers’ pickups, he warned that the team is “gonna be soft as hell” and said Dončić needs “a few dogs in that West.”

That may be the actual issue.

Dončić gives the Lakers an elite offensive engine. Reaves brings shot-making and secondary creation. Kessler adds size, rebounding and rim protection. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton give Los Angeles more options.

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There is talent.

The question is whether there is enough toughness, athletic defense and edge to survive a Western Conference filled with teams that can punish weak links.

In many ways, the Lakers do look very different.

Now they have to prove they are just lighter in color, not lighter in the fight.

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Sacramento Kings were one of the biggest winners of the 2026 NBA Draft after drafting a Grade A group featuring Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban.

Kings general manager Scott Perry introduced the 2026 draft class to Sacramento for the first time Monday as they got a taste of what it'll be like inside the Golden 1 Center.

It was a warm welcome for the players who were accompanied by family and supported by team members in attendance, including head coach Doug Christie and teammates Keegan Murray and Dylan Cardwell. It was all fun, but there was one point to drive home from the introduction: a new era is coming.

"As we approached this year's draft we had a clear vision of what we wanted to add to this organization," Perry said during his opening statement at the Kings' rookie introduction. "We prioritized talent, basketball IQ, competitiveness, character and the potential to make a long-term impact. Those are the traits that we believe are essential to building a long-term sustainable, winning organization. Equally important, we wanted to get players who we knew and believed fit our culture that we're establishing here in Sacramento. Darius, Alex and Emanuel all represent those values, and we're excited to welcome them to the Kings."

And each of those guys are excited to be in Sacramento. Of course, they get to see their NBA dreams fulfilled. But they understand and are bought into Perry's vision for winning basketball in Sacramento.

That's the focus going into the summer.

"Number one, winning. For sure, just trying to win every game. I think that's all of our goals," Acuff told USA TODAY Sports. "Just building that connection with them during this that we have in the summer."

It starts with the California Classic beginning July 4 through 6. Acuff told USA TODAY Sports that Kings fans deserve a winning culture and that's his goal.

"More than anything, I'm looking forward to playing in front of them," Acuff said. "It's a great atmosphere. The arena is amazing. Just like I said, playing in front of them, that's going to be the best part. You know, just winning for them. They deserve winning. These are great fans. They support. You can feel that energy and I'm looking to bring the same, for sure."

Acuff, 19, was a freshman standout at Arkansas under Hall of Fame head coach John Calipari. He averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists on 48.4% field goal shooting, including 44% on 3-point shots. He got buckets in styles, too. Inside, mid-range, from deep.

There's a shift in Kings basketball on the horizon.

Acuff, a Detroit native, told USA TODAY Sports that he planned to bring three attributes to Sacramento with him: swagger, winning and a new culture.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Darius Acuff Jr. brings swagger, winning, culture to Sacramento Kings

The Denver Nuggets have entered the LeBron James sweepstakes, and while they may not be the obvious favorite, they might be one of the most fascinating fits on the board.

According to The Denver Post, the Nuggets have reached out to James to express interest in bringing the 21-time All-NBA forward to Denver as he moves on from the Los Angeles Lakers. James is leaving Los Angeles after eight seasons, one championship, the NBA scoring record and another strong individual year at age 41.

Now, the question is where he wants to finish.

Golden State, Cleveland, Miami and Minnesota have all been linked to James.

Rich Paul has made it clear this will not be a normal free agency decision, either. On a recent appearance, Paul said he has spoken with “about 12-14 teams,” which means nearly half the league has at least checked in on the idea of adding LeBron.

Paul also explained that James is not simply chasing the biggest contract.

“I think it’s more so having the ability to compete for the possibility to compete for winning a championship,” Paul said. “I think you can say being competitive. I think you can say having guys who understand how to play at a high level.”

That is where Denver becomes interesting.

The Nuggets cannot offer James the kind of money some other teams might without major roster gymnastics. Luckily, Paul also said maximizing money won’t be the deciding factor. If James is truly open to taking less for the right basketball situation, Denver has a real pitch: Nikola Jokic.

The basketball case is pretty easy to understand.

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James and Jokic would give Denver two elite passers who know how to make the game easier for everyone around them. Jokic would still be the center of the offense, but James could take pressure off him as another creator, especially in late-clock situations, transition chances and playoff matchups where Denver needs a different look.

The fit would not be seamless automatically. Denver’s offense runs through Jokic, and changing that would present many dubious realities. James would have to be comfortable picking his spots, playing off the ball more often and acting as a secondary playmaker instead of controlling every possession.

At this stage, that might be a reasonable role and would in a sense mimic his role with the Lakers last season. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season. But on a Nuggets team with Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon already in place, the appeal would be less about LeBron carrying the offense and more about giving Denver another high-level option in high leverage situations.

There is also history here. Nuggets president Josh Kroenke tried to recruit James in 2018 by sending him a throwback Denver jersey. James later called Kroenke a “very dear friend” and said the two had spent time together away from basketball.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has also called Denver a possible “outlier team” for James, especially if he is willing to take some kind of exception to play with Jokic.

Then there is, perhaps, the most important free agency factor of all: golf.

Paul joked that James would be fine as long as there is “indoor and outdoor golf.” Denver, somehow, checks that box.

Winter golf in Colorado is strange, weather-dependent and occasionally interrupted by snow, frost delays and frozen fairways that play like concrete. But between sunny winter days, year-round courses and indoor simulator spots around the city, LeBron’s golf requirement can technically survive the Rockies.

The Nuggets are still a long shot.

But they are not a joke.

If James wants a comfortable landing spot, title contenstion, and a chance to play beside Jokic, the Nuggets have a pitch worth listening to.

And apparently, they already have the communication lines open.

LeBron James won’t return to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026-27 season, but the cameras will still be on him.

On Tuesday, James notified the Lakers he is leaving the franchise after eight seasons under the bright lights of Hollywood. As he enters the next (and perhaps final) chapter of his career, James is reportedly in talks to document the entire upcoming NBA season through a documentary or episodic series.

NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor was first to report the news.

LeBron James is in talks to document the entire upcoming season through a documentary or episodic series, per @KevinOConnorpic.twitter.com/OFFNZBrWLE

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 1, 2026

James is in the midst of searching for what could be the final team of his storied NBA career. Rich Paul, his agent, revealed the 41-year-old is searching for happiness — not money — at this stage. James is reportedly willing to join a contender on a league minimum contract.

The Lakers have also moved on from their recent divorce from James as the team’s free agent signings were headlined by Jazz center Walker Kessler. While general manager Rob Pelinka has been aggressive this offseason, it’s unclear whether the Lakers have done enough to emerge as legitimate contenders during the 2026-27 season.

James could have ended his career with the Lakers but ultimately chose to leave the organization in a league-altering move. Now, the two parties will make do without the other.

The Lakers have kicked off a new era in Tinseltown with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Kessler at the helm.

As for James, he’s clearly searching for a farewell title and the team that can give him his best chance at leaving the league as a champion.

Regardless of where James lands, NBA fans will surely be interested in watching a documented version of what could be the superstar’s final season.

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It's not hard to rattle off good reasons for Sixers' staggering Jaylen Brown trade  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

No typos here: The Sixers have traded for Jaylen Brown.

There’s a boatload of details to sift through, but the simple fact is staggering. Almost exactly two months after the Sixers stormed back for a seven-game first-round playoff series win over the Celtics, Brown’s on the other side of the rivalry. The Sixers are shipping Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-rounders up to Boston.

Beyond the allure of adding another star, is the move backed by sound logic?

It’s not hard to rattle off good reasons. Availability is a solid place to start. The Sixers’ peculiar brand of horrendous injury luck could always strike, but Brown appears to have a high chance of playing many games. He’ll turn 30 years old in October, logged 71 games last season, and averaged 67.4 over the past five years. The 36-year-old George had a variety of physical issues pop up over his two years as a Sixer and made candid comments about lingering injuries and lost explosiveness.

It’s so easy to picture how Brown could thrive for a Sixers team that vaults up to true contention status. He’s full of deep postseason experience and has an NBA Finals MVP on his résumé. Brown is comfortable taking the sort of self-created, tightly guarded jumpers that often decide playoff games. Defensively, Brown’s presence should expand Sixers head coach Nick Nurse’s options. Look at the list of players he’s defended and you’ll see guards, forwards and the occasional center. 

As far as on-court fit, it’s fair to note Brown’s flaws and raise questions. Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are unique co-stars and everything won’t click from the jump.

Brown was fifth in the NBA last year in isolation possessions per game and averaged a career-high 28.7 points largely because the Celtics needed him to be their offensive hub with Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of the season by a ruptured Achilles tendon. He hasn’t historically been a great three-point shooter (34.7 percent last season, 35.8 percent for his career) or a brilliant passer. The Sixers will have to be smart about how they structure their offense and rotations. For instance, Brown and Joel Embiid both enjoy operating in the mid-range. Embiid ranked first in the NBA in shot attempts per game between 15 and 19 feet and Brown was right behind him.

Zooming out, the sheer boldness of Mike Gansey’s very first trade with the Sixers is worth highlighting. He was honest a mere three weeks ago about still wrapping his head around the tricky matters ahead as the organization’s president of basketball operations. With 20-year-old VJ Edgecombe, 25-year-old Maxey, 32-year-old Embiid and post-prime George on the roster, Gansey was asked about the Sixers’ timeline. 

“My world’s spinning right now,” he said at his introductory press conference. “I just want to get to (the players) and see what they’re feeling, too. Get Coach’s input, get their input, and see if we can get this thing together. But I don’t just look at it as two timelines. They’re our four guys. They’re under contract. We’ve got to do our best to get them to their best selves. Every night at 7 o’clock, we’ve got to get them to their best to help us win.”

Gansey landed on an emphatic answer.

The Sixers see special two-way potential in Edgecombe and don’t view Maxey as a finished product. Rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. is in the mix now, too.

By parting with picks and taking on Brown’s hefty salary, Gansey chucked his chips into the present. The Sixers have even “expressed interest in acquiring” LeBron James, The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported Wednesday night. 

We’ll see how that plays out. Regardless, the Sixers will bank on a bright future via internal growth and try to win the Eastern Conference next season. If Embiid’s injury troubles subside — an enormous if — the idea doesn’t sound foolish at all. 

“I’m as confident as I’ve ever been,” Embiid said at his exit interview in May. “Obviously, (the knee) was the biggest concern and I’m not thinking about it. As long as we keep doing what we’ve been doing, I won’t have to think about it anymore. I’m looking at next year, obviously being more available, and being more available might mean being a high seed as a team. The personal goals don’t matter. 

“I know that if I’m available and I play as much as possible, everything else is going to follow. … I’ve accomplished everything else. I’m in a good mental place. It sucks losing, but I just know that moving forward, I’ll be better for my team.”

Jaylen Brown’s now on that team.

It will sink in for everyone eventually.