On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Mavericks to host Lakers on Christmas Day
Luka Doncic and LeBron James on Christmas should be fun! NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Friday that the first draft of next season’s schedule has Doncic and the Mavericks hosting James and the Lakers on Christmas Day.
The Lakers went just 33-49 last season, and they missed the playoffs. Now they hope that new head coach Darvin Ham, a healthy Anthony Davis and younger role players will help James make them contenders in the West. Davis only played in 40 games due to different injuries last season, and James missed 26 games.
The Mavericks had a 52-30 record in the regular season, and they reached the Western Conference Finals, winning their first playoff series since 2011 in the process. The Lakers and Mavericks met three times last year. The season series ended 2-1 in favor of Dallas, but Davis missed the two contests the Mavs won.
Luka Doncic made some tough plays down the stretch in the Mavericks' win over the Lakers. Some of these came with LeBron as the on-ball defender.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 2, 2022
The short-range jumpers & floater were particularly intriguing since those will be important come playoff time. pic.twitter.com/ZD6q2W8ImA
Doncic is James’ favorite NBA player right now
James recently confirmed his status as a fan of Doncic. In the fourth episode of the fifth season of “The Shop: Uninterrupted” on June 10, James explained why Doncic is his favorite player in the league:
“His size. I mean he’s gigantic. A 6-8 point guard. He’s 225 pounds. He has the ball on a string. And more importantly, his vision. That’s why I love him. He can control a game. He doesn’t even have to shoot. Literally, he’ll walk the ball up 10 straight times and get to his spot every single time, just because of his pace.
"He knows when he comes off a pick and roll if they’re hard showing or if they hedging or if they dropping the pick and roll. He knows I can turn the corner because I got this shoulder, and I know the third line of defense, when I get there, if I just slow down and use my pivots, not even jump, just the Euro one-two, this guy’s flying by every time. It’s the mind.”
The Lakers still have question marks with some roster spots for next season and with Russell Westbrook’s future. The Mavericks, on the other hand, added Christian Wood and JaVale McGee to their frontcourt, but Jalen Brunson signed with the Knicks.
Doncic will have a chance to continue impressing James next season, and the Mavericks beating the Lakers on Christmas Day would be a step in the right direction for a franchise with championship hopes.
More must-reads:
- The top 25 NBA duos of all time
- Former NBA champion shares shocking opinion on Luka Doncic
- The '2021-22 NBA triple-doubles' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
Kings’ Guard Remains Trade Candidate With More Deals Potentially on Horizon: Report
The Sacramento Kings entered the offseason with some uncertainty surrounding their franchise’s future as many believed that they would begin a rebuild after trading De’Aaron Fox last season. Instead, the Kings have made multiple additions to their roster and kept their core of DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine together to chase a playoff spot in the Western Conference next season. Of course, the big move the Kings have made this summer was landing Dennis Schroder in free agency via a sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons as they addressed their massive hole at the starting point guard position. The Kings have also been linked to many other players in free agency and they could also look to make some trades as well this summer as more moves could potentially be coming for them. If more moves do end up happening for the Kings this offseason, one player who could be on the move is Malik Monk. According to ClutchPoints’ Monk continues to be on the trade block for the Kings this offseason as they are looking to move him after posting the best season of his career last year. This is not a major surprise as Monk has been in trade rumors for most of the offseason and it appears as though his time in Sacramento may be close to coming to an end. Of course, the 27-year-old guard is coming off the best season of his NBA career where he averaged a career-high 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 32.5% from three. Monk is a great scorer who has turned himself into one of the best sixth men in the NBA, though he also proved he could be effective as a starter last season. Either way, there should be multiple teams interested in Monk this offseason as the Kings try to take advantage of his increased trade value after his incredible season last year.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg dies after battle with cancer
Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg lost his battle with cancer on Monday. He was 65. A 20th-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 MLB Draft, Sandberg quickly moved through the Phillies system despite his humble beginnings. He made his major league debut at the end of the 1981 season, getting six plate appearances in 13 games, his only hit coming off of a bat he borrowed from shortstop Larry Bowa. Drafted as a shortstop, the Phillies hoped that Sandberg would be the heir apparent for Bowa. However, that 13-game stint convinced the Phillies that he was not the answer. Although Sandberg had played at second and third as well in the minors, he was blocked at those positions by Manny Trillo and Mike Schmidt respectively. Bowa and Sandberg were traded to the Cubs during the 1981-82 offseason, with shortstop Ivan DeJesus heading to Philadelphia. Sandberg, now a second baseman, had a solid first two seasons in Chicago before exploding into stardom in 1984. He posted a .314/.367/.520 batting line in his 700 plate appearances, hitting 19 homers and 36 doubles while stealing 32 bases as he led the Cubs to their first postseason berth since 1945. Sandberg made his first All-Star Game, was named the NL MVP, won a Silver Slugger and his second Gold Glove award. A perennial All-Star, Sandberg possessed a combination of power and speed at second base that was rare for his era. He was a 10-time All-Star, winning nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. Sandberg posted a lifetime .285/.344/.452 batting line in his 9282 plate appearances, hitting 282 homers and 403 doubles while stealing 344 bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame 2005 in his third year on the ballot. After a decade away from the game, Sandberg returned as a minor league manager in the Cubs system in 2007, moving up the ladder to Triple-A in 2009. After Cubs manager Mike Quade was fired, and Sandberg was passed over for the opening, he joined the Phillies organization in 2011. After three years in the Phillies organization, he became the interim manager in 2013, and was eventually hired full-time at the end of the season. Sandberg lasted just over two years in total as the Phillies manager, resigning after 74 games in 2015 as the losses piled up. He remained in the game as a goodwill ambassador for the Cubs before announcing that he had prostate cancer in 2024. Although his cancer had gone into remission, it returned in December, spreading to other organs before Sandberg ultimately lost his battle. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Sandberg during this difficult time.
Green Bay Packers: Nate Hobbs Makes Blunt Admission After Scary Moment
Green Bay Packers defensive back Nate Hobbs seems to be having trouble managing his energy and aggressiveness in training camp. He was previously given a reminder by head coach Matt LaFleur about taking things easy on the field after a hit on wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. Hobbs acknowledged that, but he appeared to have done it again on Monday, when running back MarShawn Lloyd exited practice and did not return following a low hit from the veteran cornerback. It’s a concerning development for the Packers, considering that Lloyd is viewed as a potential breakout candidate in 2024 after getting limited to just a game in 2024 because of health issues. Hobbs owns up to mistake in Monday’s Green Bay Packers training camp The 26-year-old Hobbs owned up to his actions that left Lloyd hurt. Via Packers website senior editor Mike Spofford: “Had good intentions and just a mistake,” said Hobbs, who did have an interception Monday on a pass that deflected off of rookie receiver Matthew Golden’s hands. “Just me trying to play the game how it’s played but I need to be better. “I just got too low.” There will be plenty of practices to be had for Hobbs and the Packers before the 2025 season, so it’s best that he shows he’s truly learned his lesson sooner rather than later. In any case, he is still seen as a key part of Green Bay’s defense that surrendered only 20.0 points per game in 2024. Before signing with the Packers, Hobbs played four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, and while he’s yet to come up with an interception in the NFL, he has 19 passes defended and three forced fumbles so far in his pro career that started in 2021.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
