San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama arrived to his team's game on Tuesday night in Phoenix in one of the best and most perfect Halloween costumes in the league.
The 7-foot-4 inch rookie showed up as Slender Man, donning a white body suit underneath a tuxedo.
Have a look.
Guess who https://t.co/gSji5d5fG1 pic.twitter.com/AX75clmWe0
— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2023
If you are not familiar, Slender Man is a fictional supernatural character that started as an internet meme in the 2000s. He is depicted as an unnaturally tall and slender character who wears a black suit with a blank face that can lengthen and shorten his arms at will.
That is probably how NBA players feel going against Wembanyama and his overall frame.
Wembanyama absolutely nailed the costume and the look.
Wembanyama was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and is one of the most hyped prospects to enter the league since LeBron James. He possesses a nearly unmatched combination of length, athleticism, speed and shooting ability.
He figures to be the Spurs' next great franchise cornerstone.
He entered play on Tuesday averaging 15.7 points per game this season and is the leading candidate for the league's rookie of the year.
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Miles Norris is coming off his rookie season in the NBA where he appeared in three games for the Boston Celtics. The 25-year-old had averages of 2.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 22.2% from the field and 28.6% from the three-point range. On Sunday, the Celtics announced that they had waived Norris. Via Bobby Manning of Celtics on CLNS: "Surprised to see Miles Norris go after a strong finish to last season with Maine. Could really shoot the ball. #Celtics betting on a more rounded game in RJ Luis, whose upside flashed at St. John's before a rough combine left him undrafted. Luis is 23 this season." Norris had a very strong year in the G League where he averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 45.7% from the field and 39.5% from the three-point range in 30 games (27 starts).
It's the Browns. When the Cleveland Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders this April, they had a total of five quarterbacks on their roster between their incoming rookies, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and the injured Deshaun Watson. And despite the kind of confusing nature of their stockpiling so many QBs, it sounds like the team could double-down on the the decision by the time the regular season kicks off. According to The Athletic's Zac Jackson, "the Browns absolutely might keep all four quarterbacks" heading into Cleveland's season opener. While also adding, "No, Shedeur Sanders is not going to start Week 1 for the Browns. But he's put a lot of pressure on his coaches and fellow QBs headed into this week — the biggest week of training camp as the Browns head to Philly." Fans reacted to the reporter's update on X: "At this point it's not even a QB room anymore. It's a pitching rotation now," a user said. "One as a starter, One as a backup, One to hold on field goals, And one listed as a wide receiver for tax purposes," another commented. "[Shedeur Sanders] should be developed and shouldn't be thrown out there week 1 but he should be considered to be put over Gabriel and Pickett," a fan pointed out. "While also finally getting meaningful reps with the 1's." "I'm a Shedeur fan who wants Flacco to start with Shedeur at QB2," another person replied. "Sitting behind a veteran QB can be very valuable, and you know he'd be ready if he had to come off the bench. Just my .02." "This isn't unprecedented," another user posted. "The Patriots kept 4 QBs in the 2000 season. Worked out ok for them. Not saying there's a Brady in their QB room. But if they have 4 guys who they think are NFL worthy (even if none are QB1 right now), they can make it work." The Browns have been bitten by the injury bug thus far in camp with Pickett and Gabriel both dealing with ailments this preseason — opening up a window for Shedeur Sanders to earn his way up the depth chart. Sanders played well in Friday night's debut with a 14-of-23 performance for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the way to a 30-10 win over Carolina. But head coach Kevin Stefanski says the team in "evaluation mode" when it comes to their QBs.
20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will return to the tennis court to play one more match at this year’s Shanghai Masters. Federer, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Friday, played his final match on the professional scene in September 2022 at the Laver Cup. It was an emotionally intoxicating doubles match in which Federer reunited with his great rival, Rafael Nadal. Roger Federer Announces Tennis Return Three years on from his retirement, Federer plans to grace the courts in Shanghai to play a celebrity doubles match. The tournament confirmed on X that the legendary Swiss will return to China at the start of October, when this year’s edition will be up and running. “Roger Federer is coming back to Shanghai. Join us on October 10th for the @rogerfederer and Friends Celebrity Doubles Match!” The tournament relayed the news. While the full schedule of who Federer will partner or play with is unknown for now, that match will take place two days before the singles final of the 2025 Shanghai Masters. In a short video announcing his return for one more doubles match, the two-time Shanghai champion said, “Hello, this is Roger. I’m really happy to be returning to the Qizhong Stadium in Shanghai for the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Shanghai has always been a special place for me, with great fans and unforgettable memories, and a real love for the game. I look forward to seeing you there on October 10th. Shanghai, let’s meet.” Why Shanghai? Shanghai is the penultimate Masters 1000 on the calendar and has previously been voted as the best ATP tournament of the year by players. The tournament represents some of the world’s best brands, including Rolex, which is its title sponsor. The Swiss watchmaker company is one of Federer’s most valuable sponsors. Federer has endorsed Rolex since 2001, and that partnership continues to grow stronger post-retirement. Federer has visited Shanghai in each of the last two years and has toured the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, which serves as the main court in the tournament. In 2023, he was presented with the Icon Athlete Award by the tournament in honor of his illustrious career in front of a packed stadium. And last year, Federer watched on from the stands as Jannik Sinner defeated one of his former rivals, Novak Djokovic, in the final.
There is no denying who the alpha is in the Green Bay Packers running back room. After burning rubber for 1,329 rushing yards to go with 15 rushing touchdowns on 301 carries in the 2024 NFL season, Jacobs is expected to carry most of the load again in the Packers’ ground attack in 2025. Besides being a reliable and effective weapon on offense for the Packers, Jacobs was also durable in his first season with the team, having appeared in all of Green Bay’s 17 games in the regular season and in the lone contest in the NFL playoffs. Look for the 27-year-old former Alabama Crimson Tide star running back to be there starting in the backfield along with quarterback Jordan Love in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. But as for his availability and usage in this coming Saturday’s preseason opener at home versus the New York Jets, it won’t be surprising if he gets zero snaps at all, considering that there’s really nothing important on the line. Jacobs is ready whenever he’s called upon by the Green Bay Packers Jacobs said on Thursday that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has yet to convey a concrete plan for the Jets game. Nevertheless, he’ll be ready. Via Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers’ official website: Jacobs is on board with whatever direction LaFleur and the coaches decide to go but said wouldn’t mind getting “a couple series” to reacclimate to tackling. “We’ll see how it’ll play out,” Jacobs said. “(LaFleur) hasn’t really told us what we’re gonna do. But I think I’ll get a couple hits, get a little feel of it and be cool.” The Packers will also play the Indianapolis Colts on the road in Week 2 of the preseason before meeting the Seattle Seahawks for their final assignment before the regular season starts.
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