Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Former Bruin Teammates Shine in Head-to-Head Showdown
Jan 20, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) reacts after a basket during the 2nd quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

It's always a treat for the UCLA faithful to see former Bruins face off at the next level, almost like a proud parent seeing that their children have made it.

On Monday, former Bruin stars Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball and Norman Powell shared the court in the Chicago Bulls-Los Angeles Clippers Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup.

LaVine and Powell, who were teammates for the former's lone collegiate season, each led their respective teams in scoring on Monday.

LaVine finished with a game-high 35 points, 25 of which came from beyond the arc as he made five triples. He shot 52.4% from the field in the Bulls' 112-99 victory.

Meanwhile, Powell, who has been having the best season of his career, recorded 27 points in 38 minutes. He made three 3-pointers.

Ball and LaVine had dealt with their fair share of injuries throughout their careers. But on Monday, all three Bruins got to take the floor together. Ball had missed the last two seasons due to injury.

"It's a brotherhood," Powell said after the game. "We're all rooting for one another, we're all tapped in with what each other's doing. If somebody's out with an injury, somebody's reaching out, making sure they're straight, and if we run into them, we're checking on each other, families and things like that. That's brotherhood.

"I didn't play with Zo [Ball] at UCLA, but he was a Bruin. So, we've been talking to him during this time and rooting for him to come back and be able to play the game that he loves, it's amazing to see. I know he went through a lot, so I'm just happy to see him back on the floor. Hopefully [with] more time, he'll get back to the player he was. It's tough coming back with an injury like that. But it was good to see both of them, sharing that brotherhood and being able to share this moment on the court with them, it's always good. Especially Zach; he was my freshman coming in, hosted him on his recruiting trip. So, super successful, super close, they're my brothers."

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @tcav30 and never miss another breaking news story again.

Please let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.


This article first appeared on UCLA Bruins on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Tyrese Haliburton gets hostile reception from fans at WWE SummerSlam
NBA

Tyrese Haliburton gets hostile reception from fans at WWE SummerSlam

Tyrese Haliburton attended WWE SummerSlam on Sunday night, and the Indiana Pacers superstar was given a villain's welcome. Haliburton was invited to sit in the front row at SummerSlam, which was held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. He was showered in boos when he was introduced to the fans in attendance prior to start of the event. There were clearly a lot of New York Knicks fans in the house. Haliburton and the Pacers defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals this season. Haliburton averaged 21.0 points per game and had a historic performance in a Game 4 Indiana win that all but decided the series. Haliburton was also quick to roast Knicks superfan Ben Stiller after the Pacers punched their ticket to the NBA Finals. The Pacers went on to lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, and Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7. Knicks fans obviously have not forgotten how Haliburton torched them, and they felt no sympathy for him as he hobbled around on crutches at MetLife Stadium. Haliburton did not seem all that offended.

Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message to Retiring CBS Broadcaster on Sunday
Golf

Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message to Retiring CBS Broadcaster on Sunday

At Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, Sunday’s final round of the 2025 Wyndham Championship closed out the PGA Tour’s regular season. It also marked the end of an era for one of golf’s most revered broadcasters. For the last time, Ian Baker-Finch manned the hole-announcing microphone for CBS Sports, capping 30 years in the booth following a playing career that peaked with his victory at the 1991 Open Championship. Before the day was over, Tiger Woods took to X to salute "Finchy." "Congrats Finchy for 30 incredible years behind the microphone. You brought insight into things that the viewing audience could understand and relate to. From all of us—thanks for the memories." The message joined tributes from Jack Nicklaus, Jason Day, Adam Scott and others, underscoring Baker-Finch’s standing among champions past and present. Ian Baker-Finch: From Major Champion to Broadcast Mainstay Baker-Finch turned pro in 1979, winning 17 professional tournaments worldwide. His lone major title came at Royal Birkdale in 1991, where he secured the Open Championship by five strokes. After retiring in the mid-1990s, Baker-Finch transitioned smoothly into broadcasting. He cut his teeth as an analyst on Australian television before joining ESPN and ABC in 1998. In 2007, he became CBS Sports’ dedicated hole announcer, a role he held through 2025, calling golf’s defining moments with a blend of technical acumen and warm delivery. Over 19 seasons with CBS, he covered five Masters and contributed to countless PGA Tour telecasts. Throughout Woods’ five green-jacket haul (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), Baker-Finch was a trusted on-course voice that helped demystify championship golf for television audiences. As a player, Baker-Finch remains one of only seven Australian men to win a major championship and is one of a select few to dominate links golf on British soil. As a broadcaster, Baker-Finch’s voice guided generations of fans through golf’s signature moments, shaping how millions understand the game’s subtleties. When the G.O.A.T. of professional golf uses his platform to honor your contribution to the sport, it signals a broadcast career worth remembering.

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s ‘Fiery’ Response to Wife’s Take on Franchise’s Timeless Tradition
NFL

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s ‘Fiery’ Response to Wife’s Take on Franchise’s Timeless Tradition

Green Bay Packers star quarterback Jordan Love and his wife, Ronika Stone Love, are truly in, well, love. The couple just got married in June, and with the Packers deep into their preparation for the upcoming 2025 NFL season, Ronika shows full support for her husband. In a social media post on Instagram, Ronika shared a series of photos from last Saturday’s Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field. The first photo on the post shows a happy Ronika in the arms of the former Utah State Aggies star signal-caller. “My version of a Lambeau Leap,” Ronika wrote as a caption. Last season, Love played in 15 games, throwing for a total of 3,389 passing yards to go along with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That year was considered a down one for Love, but many expect him to come up with a bigger performance in 2025, as Green Bay looks to surpass its 11-win total in 2024. Fans react to Jordan Love’s wife’s Green Bay Packers Lambeau Leap Apart from Love, many others reacted to Ronika’s heartwarming post. Here are some of them: “Two Green Bay 10’s right there,” said a fan. Another one said: “Hair looks amazing” From a commenter: “Awhhhh y’all are so cute!! And I’m obsessed with the hair it’s giving SZA!! ” “Love the Loves!,” a social media user posted. Via a different commenter: “your outfit is adorable” Said another: “I love the fit! Both of yall ”

Reporter predicts how Commanders will handle Terry McLaurin trade request
NFL

Reporter predicts how Commanders will handle Terry McLaurin trade request

The Washington Commanders are dealing with some unwanted drama as they look to build on last season's trip to the NFC Championship Game after star wide receiver Terry McLaurin requested a trade. ESPN's Bill Barnwell said that he felt the "most likely scenario" regarding the trade request is that the Commanders will have McLaurin in the lineup for their Week 1 game against the New York Giants on Sept. 7. On Monday morning, Commanders reporter Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic predicted that "the Commanders will keep McLaurin" despite the drama. "They can’t take away their star quarterback’s go-to receiver in a year when they’ve clearly gone all in to try to compete with the Eagles," Jhabvala wrote. "They don’t have much depth at receiver; Deebo Samuel isn’t a true No. 2 in workload, let alone a No. 1, and the only other proven receiver on the roster is Noah Brown, who is quite good but has a lengthy injury history." McLaurin emerged as the favorite target for quarterback Jayden Daniels as Daniels became the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year amid the run to the NFC title game, where Washington fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles. According to ESPN stats, McLaurin ended the 2024 regular season with team highs of 117 targets, 82 receptions and 1,096 receiving yards. He was also second in the entire NFL with 13 touchdown catches. It remains to be seen if McLaurin will accept less money than DK Metcalf, who received a five-year, $150M deal after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for him in March. Metcalf will turn 28 years old in December. "The Commanders also know they have much more leverage than McLaurin in his contract dispute," Jhabvala added. "He’ll be 30 in September, which means he’ll be 31 in the first season of an extension. It also means that holding out regular-season games could be career-ending. So, a deal will get done. There’s still time." As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Washington sixth among the betting favorites at +1800 odds to win Super Bowl LX. The fact that those odds haven't shifted would seem to indicate that insiders believe the Commanders will make McLaurin happy before they face the Giants on the opening Sunday of September.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!