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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was playing his best basketball of the season, being named Western Conference Player of the Month for February, before he went down with an unfortunate groin strain.
The injury came at an inopportune time as the Lakers were hoping to build chemistry and continuity after their blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic. Instead, they were without James and others during the most difficult stretch of their schedule.
But after a six-game absence, James returning to the lineup on Saturday night, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals on 7-of-16 shooting in 31 minutes in the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls.
LeBron looked like someone who hadn’t played a game in a couple of weeks and he admitted as much after the loss.
“A little rusty, a little rusty, but I was happy to get back out there,” James said.
The most important thing though is that LeBron is healthy and ready to go for the final stretch of the regular season and going into the playoffs. The Lakers still have championship aspirations, but they will need all of their key players healthy, especially James, to have a chance at making a run.
But when asked if this groin issue is behind him, James would not go that far.
“I just take day by day. I can’t worry about what’s gonna happen in the future,” he said. “But I got through today. I’m obviously gonna get some work on it tomorrow. Hopefully, a little bit on the plane. It’s a long flight to Orlando. And then, once we get to Orlando and get ready for Monday. So I hope it’s behind, but I don’t wanna look too far in the future.”
If there’s any silver lining to James’ injury it’s that he missed a rough part of the schedule and now should have fresh legs heading into the home stretch. At 40 years of age though, it’s hard to imagine him every being 100% healthy at this stage of the season. LeBron takes care of his body better than anyone though so will surely do whatever is necessary to make sure he is available for his team.
What did Lakers show LeBron James when he was out?
When LeBron James was out for six games, he got to be a coach and spectator from the sidelines, rooting on his Lakers teammates. He was asked what he learned about the team during that time and he was pleased with how the team fared.
“I mean, I don’t know if it was something they showed me or didn’t show me. I already know what this team is capable of,” James said. “No matter who’s been in the lineup, who’s been out of the lineup, we’ve been able to sustain our effort and try to continue to play the right way, both offensively and defensively.
“So it was great to stay even through the adversity, even through some of the injuries and the schedule, how it represented itself, we were still able to win ball games.”
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Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
The Milwaukee Bucks' decision to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard sparked even more Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors on social media. There were already reports that Antetokounmpo was considering his options and potentially forcing his way out of Milwaukee, and the Lillard move did little to alleviate the situation. Nevertheless, the weeks have gone by, and Antetokounmpo is still a Buck. More importantly, the team believes that's not going to change any time soon. "We have no indication that anything is really changing as far as our relationship with the player we think is the best in the world," a Bucks front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith. "We rebuilt on the fly, in a really challenging situation, but we think we did it as well as it could be done." Antetokounmpo trade rumors have cooled off around the league, and while anything can happen in the NBA, that doesn't seem likely at this point. "Do I think the star guys like Giannis (Antetokounmpo) or LeBron (James) are going to go anywhere? Nope. Is it possible? Sure is," said a Western Conference executive. Giannis chose to stay in Milwaukee with one of the most lucrative contract extensions in NBA history. He was overly critical of the team's effort last season, and another early playoff exit may have driven him to the edge. Even so, he's talked about how he wants to win "the right way," as opposed to chasing rings. That said, with head coach Doc Rivers' long list of questionable postseason performances and a championship window that could be closing right before their eyes, Giannis trade rumors will flood social media again if the Bucks get off to a slow start during the 2026-26 campaign.
Phillies Predicted to Strike Three-Team Trade with Yankees for Outfield Upgrade
The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be active ahead of the trade deadline, and one glaring need stands out above the rest: find a new center fielder. Philadelphia’s current outfield mix of Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler, and Johan Rojas has underwhelmed, sending the president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, to the trade market to find an upgrade. While a long-term solution like Boston’s Jarren Duran or even a rental like Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins would be ideal, the Phillies may pivot toward a cheaper option. One name gaining traction is New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, who CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa predicts the Phillies to acquire in a three-team trade at the deadline. "The Phillies badly need an outfielder. A center fielder, preferably," wrote Axisa. "The Yankees are rumored to be open to moving one of their three non-Aaron Judge outfielders (Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Jasson Domínguez) for a badly needed third baseman.” Axisa continues by explaining how a trade between the Phillies, Yankees, and Minnesota Twins could fulfill each team’s deadline needs. “The Phillies and Yankees don't match up well for an outfielder-for-third baseman trade, which is where the Twins come in. Rental Grisham for rental (Willi) Castro makes no sense for Minnesota. If they're selling, they won't want a rental. They'll want controllable young players, so a three-team trade in which Grisham goes to Philadelphia, Phillies prospects go to Minnesota, and Castro goes to the Yankees could be in the cards." Grisham is in the middle of a career year, already tying a personal best in home runs (17) and posting a career-high .833 OPS. For Philadelphia, acquiring the left-handed hitter would almost be perfect, outside of a blockbuster deal for the aforementioned Jarren Duran. The Phillies would replace Kepler in the lineup with Grisham and shift Marsh from center to left field, adding depth to the outfield in the process. Moreover, Grisham, an impending free agent, wouldn’t disrupt the club’s long-term plan for top prospect Justin Crawford to take over center field in 2026. He wouldn’t crowd an already packed outfield full of players vying for roles, either. While the move could further agitate Kepler—who’s already criticized manager Rob Thomson over limited playing time—the Phillies must act now. With their World Series window closing, they must capitalize on every opportunity to strengthen the roster.
The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
After much was made over where (or if) Rafael Devers would ever pick up a glove again in the Major Leagues while he was with the Boston Red Sox, Devers finally made his debut at first base for the San Francisco Giants. Devers has been used exclusively as a designated hitter in his first 102 appearances in 2025, but had a clean and error-free night in his return to the field. After the Giants 9-0 win in which Devers also had two hits and an RBI, the nine-year veteran’s words about playing first won’t make many Red Sox fans happy given his reluctance to play first base in Boston. “It keeps me active and keeps my head out of just thinking of the next at-bat,” he said. “I’m the kind of player that likes to be active and likes to be out in the field.” Which brings us to today’s quiz. Devers has struggled at the plate since being traded to the Giants, but maybe a return to regular days in the field will help him return to his 100-RBI season form as well. With that being said, can you name every active MLB player with to knock in 100 runs in multiple seasons? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Browns' Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett open up about competing for starting job
According to numerous reporters, veteran Joe Flacco is truly competing only with 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job this summer. In April, Pickett fired somewhat of a warning shot when he made it known his "plan" is to start for the 2025 Browns. On Thursday, Flacco addressed battling with Pickett for the QB1 gig. "I think we’re all aware of that and it’s not necessarily talked about between the two of us," Flacco said, as shared by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "...In general, it’s kind of the wrong mindset to be in to be at your best. It’s natural for those things to come into your head, but you try to do your best to get ‘em out and just go out there and be with the guys and be in the moment." Flacco sparked some controversy in the spring when the 40-year-old suggested that he cared more about playing than about serving as a mentor for Pickett, 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. More recently, conflicting stories have emerged regarding whether Flacco or Pickett would start if Cleveland's Week 1 game were scheduled for July 27 rather than for Sept. 7. The Browns seem to want Gabriel and Sanders to open the campaign developing as backups. "But I really, second day at camp, I think the best thing for me is to just stay in the moment and come out here and have fun and compete and just do what I love to do," Flacco added. "I think that’s going to be the best way for me to show what I can do and all that stuff. So I think there’s a lot of self-motivation in order to be good in this league, and that’s always there. So I’m just going to continue to approach it like I always do." Flacco won four of five starts to guide the 2023 Browns to the playoffs and is the only active Cleveland quarterback who has ever taken an in-game snap while playing under head coach Kevin Stefanski. That said, some think people within the Browns "want" Pickett" to enter September as Cleveland's starter since he's only 27 years old. "I think that's what coaches are looking for; a guy that's consistent, that's the same guy every day that they can count on," Pickett said, per Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated. "They can call any play; they know we'll get them out of a bad play. If the shot's called and it's not there, we'll check it down. Just good quarterback play that can help this team win games. Because that's what it's all about. We're all here to win." Also on Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted that the Browns likely won't try to stash Gabriel or Sanders on the practice squad because "any team then would have the chance to add a quarterback on a rookie deal at no additional cost via the waiver wire." Thus, Cleveland may try to trade whoever loses the Flacco-versus-Pickett battle to a quarterback-needy team following the Browns' preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23.
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