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Los Angeles Lakers: Bronny James Receives Brutal Rating From NBA 2K25
Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA 2K25 ratings for the 2024-25 rookie class were revealed by Ronnie 2K on Friday, which includes Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James.

It was confirmed that the eldest son of LeBron James received a 68 overall rating , tied with 16 other players for the lowest overall rating among his class. Bronny James is rated just two points behind Los Angeles Lakers teammate Dalton Knecht, the No. 17 pick this summer.

Atlanta Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher and Washington Wizards’ Alex Sarr, the top two picks of this summer’s NBA Draft, are the two highest-rated rookies at 75 overall.

They were followed by Houston Rockets’ Reed Sheppard, San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle, and Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan, who share a 73 overall rating, good for second-highest among the class. 

NBA fans were split over Bronny James’ rookie rating, as some believe that he deserves an 80 while some ridiculed the Los Angeles Lakers rookie for getting a 68. Either way, the former USC guard will have his work cut out to improve his rating this upcoming season.

Bronny James to feature in the Los Angeles Lakers roster

Bronny James entered the NBA as the No. 55 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft via the Los Angeles Lakers. Last month, he signed a four-year deal worth $7.9 million to join forces with his dad, LeBron.

The 19-year-old averaged 7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 32.7 percent from the field and 13.0 percent from the three-point range in six NBA Summer League matches.

Because he is far from a finished article, Bronny James will spend some time with the G League South Bay Lakers in his rookie campaign. But, regardless, he’ll likely stay on the Los Angeles Lakers’ active roster throughout the year.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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TODAY'S BEST

NBA

The 5 Best Basketball Shoes Dropping This Weekend

Basketball fans are in the dog days of the NBA offseason. While there are no more summer league games or roster moves remaining, players are giving sneakerheads plenty to follow. The footwear industry has exciting drops every week, but the stars have aligned for this upcoming weekend. Below are the five best basketball shoes hitting shelves from August 21-23. Nike Ja 3 "Price of Admission" Release Information: Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant's third signature sneaker has been one of the most hyped basketball shoes of the summer. The "Price of Admission" colorway is the second general-release style to drop after the "Light Show" launch colorway. How to Buy: Online shoppers can buy the Nike Ja 3 "Price of Admission" in adult ($125), big kid ($100), and little kid ($85) sizes on the Nike website on Thursday, August 21. Nike Giannis Freak 7 "Hot Pink" Release Information: Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's seventh signature sneaker launched last month and has already hit shelves in multiple styles. The "Live Wire" colorway continues Nike's theme of "Hot Pink" for the summer. How to Buy: The Nike Giannis Freak 7 "Live Wire" colorway is slated to drop for $125 in adult sizes on Thursday, August 21. However, the shoes are already available at Dick's Sporting Goods. Curry Fox 2 "Curry World Tour" Release Information: San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox was unable to attend the Curry World Tour due to an injury. However, Fox's second signature sneaker officially launches in the "Curry World Tour" colorway this week. How to Buy: Online shoppers can buy the Curry Fox 2 "Curry World Tour" in adult sizes ($120) and grade school ($90) sizes at UA.com and select retailers. Curry Series 7 "World Tour" Release Information: The term "super shoe" is used a lot in the running world, but Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry helped design a "basketball super shoe" with the Curry Series 7. How to Buy: Online shoppers can buy the Curry Series 7 "World Tour" in adult sizes ($160) at UA.com and select retailers. Nike Kobe 3 Protro "Halo" Release Information: Last but not least, Kobe Bryant's third signature Nike basketball shoe makes its long-awaited return. The Nike Kobe 3 Protro "Halo" returns to celebrate Bryant's birthday. How to Buy: Online shoppers can try to buy the Nike Kobe 3 Protro "Halo" colorway for $210 in adult sizes on the Nike SNKRS app and at select retailers. More NBA Sneakers News LeBron James teased an all-gold colorway of the Nike LeBron 23 Jalen Brunson and Natalia Bryant star in a new ad for the Nike Kobe 3 Protro. The Nike Kobe 3 Protro "Halo" drops this Saturday. Curry Brand launches De'Aaron Fox's second signature sneaker. Interview: Stephen Curry built a basketball "super shoe" and is taking it on a world tour.

Browns HC, Shedeur Sanders clear air on controversial benching during two-minute drill
NFL

Browns HC, Shedeur Sanders clear air on controversial benching during two-minute drill

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared to be frustrated with Kevin Stefanski when the head coach took him out for the final offensive drive of Saturday's preseason game. The Browns made a curious decision to put in Tyler Huntley to lead the offense in the final two minutes of their final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field. Huntley, who has almost no chance of making the 53-man roster, engineered a six-play, 46-yard drive that ended in a game-winning field goal to give the Browns a 19-17 win. Following the game, Stefanski was asked about why Sanders approached him before Huntley went in. Stefanski claimed the rookie quarterback was just being a competitor, and there was nothing more to it than that, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Sanders told reporters he didn't know the Browns were benching him for the two-minute drill. "I didn't know I was out, Sanders said via video from ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "I was on a bike that was powering up... I was powering up for that two-minute drive. Because that's just a situation every quarterback dreams for... I thought I was in. So then (Stefanski) told me I wasn't in. I was like, 'Ok.'" Sanders left the game after leading the offense to five straight punts. He struggled in his second preseason appearance, going 3-of-6 passing for 14 yards. The fifth-round pick took six sacks for -50 yards. Sanders didn't want to leave on that low note. The Browns shouldn't have let him. Stefanski should have given Sanders the chance to run the two-minute offense and gain valuable experience instead of giving reps to a player who won't be on the roster by Tuesday afternoon.

CFB Week 0 winners, losers: Fourth-down decisions loom large in ranked Big 12 showdown
College Football

CFB Week 0 winners, losers: Fourth-down decisions loom large in ranked Big 12 showdown

The 2025 college football regular season kicked off on Saturday, headlined by a ranked Big 12 matchup across the pond in Ireland. With Week 0 in the books, here are our winners and losers from the first weekend of the college football season. Winner: Going for it on fourth down with a chance to win the game Arguably, two fourth-down decisions were the most consequential in Associated Press No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones' 24-21 win over Big 12 rival No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats. Let's start with the good. With 2:26 remaining in the fourth and facing a fourth-and-3 from Kansas State's 16-yard line, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell elected to keep his offense on the field instead of kicking a field goal and taking a six-point lead. The decision was correct on multiple fronts. By settling for a field-goal attempt, Campbell would have given Kansas State, which had no timeouts, over two minutes to score a possible winning touchdown. The risk of failing to convert was offset by allowing Kansas State the ability to extend the game with a field goal as opposed to needing a touchdown to win. And again, if the Wildcats got in the end zone, would it really have mattered if Iowa State lost by one instead of four points? The Cyclones didn't have to worry about that. Instead, quarterback Rocco Becht found running back Carson Hansen, who picked up the first down, allowing Iowa State to run out the clock. Loser: Going for it on fourth from your own 30-yard line in a three-point game Conversely, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman's fourth-down call from his own 30-yard line with 8:19 remaining was much less excusable. While his defense had just allowed two long scoring drives, putting them on the field with only 30 yards to defend was setting the unit up to fail. As much of a rhythm as Iowa State's offense may have found, it also had three three-and-outs and two fumbles to that point, so we're not exactly talking about 2019 LSU here. Rather than forcing the Cyclones to drive the field, Klieman handed them a golden scoring opportunity. Winner: Kansas State defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi It wasn't all bad for the Wildcats. Osunsanmi, a junior edge-rusher, established himself as a name to watch in the Big 12 with two first-quarter sacks. The class of 2022 recruit had 3.5 sacks all of last season and could eclipse that early in 2025. Loser: Dan Mullen trading the studio for the sideline The former Mississippi State and Florida head coach returned to the sideline on Saturday for his first game leading the UNLV Rebels. While he notched a win against FCS Idaho State, it didn't come easily. UNLV trailed, 31-24, in the fourth, before scoring 14 unanswered points in a 38-31 win. For someone who most recently spent his Saturdays in the fall watching games as an ESPN analyst, his new job is already exceptionally more pressure-inducing. Just wait until the Rebels play FBS competition. Winner: Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels This is the Daniels that was promised. After breaking through in 2022 when Kansas snapped a 13-year bowl drought, Daniels was limited to three games in 2023 due to injury. Last season, he was healthy for the Jayhawks' disappointing 5-7 campaign and threw a Big 12-high 12 interceptions. He was outstanding in a 31-7 win over Fresno State, going 18-of-20 for 176 yards and three touchdowns while adding 47 yards rushing. If this is the Daniels that Kansas gets all season, it could make serious noise. Loser: Refs' judging of Clay Patterson's dance moves Stanford defensive lineman Clay Patterson celebrated a 12-yard sack late in the first half against Hawai'i by breaking out a TikTok dance, which officials apparently weren't fond of, hitting him with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, resulting in an automatic first down. It's another reminder that no one despises fun more than college football referees. But until they discover a sense of humor, it would be best for Patterson to save his moves for TikTok.

Ryan Blaney wins wild Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in photo finish
NASCAR

Ryan Blaney wins wild Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in photo finish

In a race that saw lead change after lead change in the closing laps, Ryan Blaney edged ahead of the pack and scored the win in Saturday's Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. A push on the exit of Turn 4 on the final lap was enough to lead Blaney to victory over a host of drivers who needed a win to make the Cup Series playoffs. The win is Blaney's second at Daytona and his second of the 2025 season. Daniel Suarez finished runner-up, with Justin Haley, Cole Custer and Erik Jones rounding out the top five. Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry and Chase Elliott completed the top-10. An aggressive block from Haley on Custer on the final lap allowed Blaney to get the necessary momentum to make a run at the win. Suarez, Haley and Custer were three-wide for second at the checkered flag. Other notable finishers include Christopher Bell in 13th, Brad Keselowski in 18th, two-time Daytona 500 champion William Byron in 19th, Denny Hamlin in 25th and Kyle Busch in 33rd. Tyler Reddick clinched a playoff spot on points after Alex Bowman crashed early, but Bowman also earned a playoff bid by virtue of Blaney's victory. The Cup Series playoff field is now set, with the playoffs set to begin on Aug. 31 with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

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