The Los Angeles Lakers have added another jersey to the rafters as they officially retired Michael Cooper's No. 21 in a halftime ceremony during their game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Cooper was teary-eyed as the Lakers faithful and important people from his tenure with the franchise celebrated his achievements with the team.
NO. 21 RAISED TO THE RAFTERS
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2025
Congrats @ShowtimeCooper! pic.twitter.com/pkgE0t7Jcn
Multiple members of the 'Showtime' Lakers, including Magic Johnson and current Miami Heat President Pat Riley showed up to felicitate Cooper for his incredible career.
What an incredible moment for Michael Cooper with his Showtime Lakers teammates pic.twitter.com/4IQvPRps2B
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2025
Cooper commented on how his jersey being retired for the Lakers was a bigger accomplishment than making it into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
"This event here is about the people that played with, worked with, fought with, prepared for, and you have love for. I have love for all the people in the Hall of Fame, but this is a certain kind of love. This one came out of nowhere. The Hall of Fame I heard about it for a bit, if I had got on the ballot, eventually, and then on. I knew there was a good possibility down the road that I would make that."
"This one here, for the criteria that's set as far as being an All-Star once or twice and other things. For this to happen with me never accomplishing being an All-Star or being a top 10 or 15 scorer, this one is really really special. It's about the people who loved us, enjoyed us, and cheered for us."
Michael Cooper on why he considers his Lakers’ jersey retirement ceremony a bigger deal than his Hall of Fame induction pic.twitter.com/QITDZibYLY
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 14, 2025
Cooper averaged 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over a 12-season career with the Lakers. He never played for any other franchise, winning five championships over his career and the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year award. He was an eight-time All-Defense selection, still considered among the greatest wing defenders in the NBA's history.
He might be the best player ever to never make an All-Star game, serving as an early example of a gritty role-player being crucial for enduring team success. He wasn't a star scorer but he was a star in his role and is being rewarded for his selfless play in one of the greatest eras of Laker basketball with a jersey retirement.
This is the 14th number retired by the Lakers.
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RJ Luis Jr. played his college basketball at Massachusetts and St John's. He finished last year with averages of 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 43.9% from the field and 33.6% from the three-point range in 35 games. On Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics officially announced that they had traded for Luis Jr. Via The Boston Celtics: "We have traded Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for RJ Luis Jr" Luis Jr. had signed a two-way deal with the Utah Jazz after going unselected in the 2025 NBA Draft. Via Jake Fischer of The Stein Line: "The two second-round picks Boston is sending Utah as part of the Georges Niang-for-RJ Luis Jr. trade are the 2027 most favorable between the Celtics/Magic, and the 2031 most favorable between the Celtics/Cavaliers, per source." While Luis Jr. is an intriguing prospect, the Celtics made the move to get off of Niang's contract. Via Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron Podcast: "The Boston Celtics reduce their payroll and luxury tax by a total of $50 million by trading Georges Niang. They’re now just $1.7 million above the first apron and $9.4 million above the luxury tax line. They also create a $8.2 million trade exception." The Celtics won the 2024 NBA Championship over the Dallas Mavericks. They then lost to Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs (in six games).
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel likely won the respect of his team Wednesday. However, he may have needed a few stitches afterward. The Patriots hosted a joint practice with the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson took a Commanders pass-rusher to the ground in pass protection, resulting in a scuffle. Vrabel then jumped in to help stop the fight. His face was bloodied after both teams calmed down. Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye loved that his coach was willing to step in. In a news conference after practice, the 22-year-old passer said that's the mentality the team needs. "That's what we're trying to build," he said. "The intensity, bringing it every day, taking no cr-p when we're out on the field. But also, it comes a time where, with our guys offensively, and getting over there and getting some tussles and kind of having some penalties, and extra after the whistle, can get us in trouble. But for mentality, I like it. I mean, I almost got in there, but I think maybe another day, maybe." His new coach doesn't want the QB to get in any brawls. The Patriots are banking on the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft being the franchise's future. Plus, he doesn't need to worry about the Patriots' intensity with Vrabel in the building. New England wide receiver DeMario Douglas noted the former linebacker didn't seem rattled after breaking up the scrap. "I said, 'Coach, what's wrong with you?' And he said, 'You should have seen the other guy,'" Douglas told the media while smiling. "I just saw the scar on his face but didn't know what was happening." Vrabel likely sent two messages at Wednesday's practice. He won't tolerate an undisciplined team but also has his players' backs. That could go a long way for a Patriots squad aiming to improve after a 4-13 season.
The Dallas Cowboys have a big problem on their hands right now. Micah Parsons has formally requested to be traded, and he took to social media to vent his concerns and frustration with his contract extension situation. However, team owner Jerry Jones isn't ready to budge. If anything, the controversial business mogul doesn't sound too worried about that. Talking to the media, he implied that he had already shaken hands on an extension with Parsons, so he just has to wait now: "I bought the Dallas Cowboys with a handshake," Jones said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. "It took about 30 seconds. I gave the number, shook hands, the details we worked out later." Jones, one of the most successful businessmen of his generation, pretty much stated that he wouldn't change the way he does business. "Just so you understand the way that I communicate with people that I negotiate with. Let's leave it at that," Jones continued. "There's is no question that in the case of a player contract, you have to have it in writing. All parties do. We have a contract in writing, yet we're still talking about renegotiating, so so much for that." Parsons has every right to feel frustrated. He's one of the best pass-rushers in the game, and he's the youngest in the short list of superstars at the position. The Cowboys have a long history of dragging out negotiations for as long as they can, and that's usually rubbed their players the wrong way. Parsons is still under contract, and the Cowboys can technically wait to give him an extension because the market isn't likely to go any higher after T.J. Watt already got a deal done. But sometimes, it's not just about money, and these power struggles are terrible for team morale.
A delicate balancing act is required for the four quarterbacks on the New York Giants' preseason roster. Veteran Russell Wilson will be the Giants' Week 1 starter against the Washington Commanders. Per the depth chart released this week, Jameis Winston is QB2 and rookie Jaxson Dart is QB3. Tommy DeVito is QB4. Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the Giants have to juggle Dart's development with the ego of Winston during the preseason. Because New York prefers not to have Winston or Dart behind the third-team offensive line, DeVito is taking extra snaps from Dart at training camp so he can play mop-up duty during the preseason. "It stands to reason the Giants will want to get Dart as much playing time as possible in the preseason since they’re committed to riding Wilson as the starter once the season starts," Duggan wrote. "But the Giants also won’t want to expose Dart to getting pulverized behind the third-team offensive line, so there will be a fine line to walk with his playing time. "That has to be the only reason No. 4 quarterback Tommy DeVito remains on the roster. If the Giants are reluctant to expose Dart behind third-string linemen, and it could be viewed as insulting to make Winston play the fourth quarter of preseason games, someone needs to take those snaps." Per Duggan, Dart has taken 149 reps in training camp to Wilson's 110. The disparity in reps was why it was a surprise to see the first-round pick behind Winston on the initial depth chart. DeVito has taken 64 reps in camp that could have otherwise gone to Dart or Winston. Keeping DeVito around for the preseason serves another purpose. Keeping him on the field more during games keeps Winston healthy, something the Giants might need if their 36-year-old quarterback has an issue in the regular season.
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