Latest news with #ESPN
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
76ers Predicted to Land Award-Winning Playmaker
76ers Predicted to Land Award-Winning Playmaker originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia 76ers hold the No. 3 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. Since acquiring the pick at the draft lottery, they've explored their options on which prospect they'll potentially draft. Initially, the 76ers were rumored to draft Ace Bailey, but that has since changed. Advertisement Bailey's talent is something that teams have enjoyed seeing since his days at Rutgers. This is why he's touted to be the No.3 pick. However, his refusal to meet and work out with teams has affected his draft stock. The 6-foot-10 forward has not done a pre-draft workout with any team, including the 76ers. This is why Philly is leaning on drafting Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe. Baylor Bears guard VJ Edgecombe has the ball against the Mississippi State Taft-Imagn Images On Sunday, ESPN's draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their latest mock draft. Due to Bailey's unwillingness to do a workout with any team, the experts believe that Philly will draft Edgecombe. "Edgecombe appears in pole position to hear his name called at No. 3 because of his unique talent, but also because Ace Bailey's clear determination to avoid teams in this range puts the 76ers in a difficult position, potentially selecting someone who clearly does not want to play for them," the ESPN experts wrote. Advertisement Edgecombe reportedly had a private workout with the organization over the weekend. Although he appeared nervous during the session, he's the clear favorite after leaving a strong impression. "While sources say Edgecombe appeared nervous during his private workout in Philadelphia and did not shoot the ball particularly well in an unnatural one-on-one setting, he made a strong impression in interviews and meetings, something the front office values more highly." While in college, the combo guard averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals. Edgecombe was part of the All-Big 12 Second Team, Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Big 12 All-Freshman Team. According to Givony, Edgecombe possesses high-level explosiveness and has the potential to be a good passer, shooter and defender. Related: 76ers Make Likely Call on Blockbuster Paul George Trade: Report This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Ace Bailey plans to report to the Jazz for the first time on Saturday
Ace Bailey is expected to report to the Utah Jazz on Saturday after the organization selected him with the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Bailey and his representation orchestrated a precarious predraft process after canceling a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers and turning down other invitations, including one from the Jazz. He was the only U.S.-based prospect who didn't work out with any team. The 18-year-old hasn't met with team officials since joining the organization on Wednesday. However, the plan for Bailey, along with the Jazz's two other draft picks, was to arrive on Saturday in preparation for an introductory press conference on Sunday. "We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives," a Jazz representative told ESPN. "We feel good about everything. Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow. We'll have a press conference Sunday and a practice Monday. This has always been the plan, including for our other rookies, Walter Clayton and John Tonje -- to let them go home and collect their belongings, and then fly right to summer league from Salt Lake City." Bailey was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season at Rutgers, averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and one steal on 34.6% shooting from 3-point range. He ranked ninth among all freshmen in points (527) and 10th in rebounds (215). The 6-foot-8 standout was consistently projected to be the third pick throughout the predraft process before dropping to the Jazz. He was said to be interested in going to Washington or New Orleans, but he confirmed that he had no idea that the Jazz were interested in selecting him. Bailey said after the draft that he was blessed to be selected with the fifth pick and was eager to get to work with the Jazz. He believes he fits well within the existing roster. "I feel like once I come in, it is going to be a lot of work," Bailey said. "I feel like I'm a person who likes to work out a lot. I'm going to push my teammates to be the best that they can be. I want to come in and be a leader as a young cat." Bailey was a highly-touted prospect entering the draft because of his size, scoring and instincts on both ends of the court. He has an incredible feel for the game and can score from each level, having registered three 30-point performances with the Scarlet Knights. The former five-star prospect measured a bit smaller than expected at the combine last month after Rutgers listed him at 6 feet, 10 inches. However, Bailey still boasts a 7-foot wingspan and registered a 2.78-second time in the shuttle run, the fifth-fastest mark among all participants. Bailey won't have to wait long to get started with the Jazz. The team will play three games in the Salt Lake City Summer League, starting on July 5, before embarking on a five-game stint in the NBA Summer League July 10-20 in Las Vegas, Nevada. "I'm glad (the predraft process) is over," Bailey said. "I'm ready to play basketball. It has just been a great journey: Working hard (and) pushing myself physically and mentally. Just getting prepared for the next level."
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sells for $2.5 million
Associated Press A autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sold for $2.5 million in an auction that closed on Thursday. The 1986-87 Fleer card sold through Joopiter — the auction platform founded by Grammy-winning artist and producer Pharrell Williams three years ago — shows Jordan soaring toward the rim with his right arm extended and tongue dangling. It was one of nine trading cards signed in a blue sharpie at his private golf course in Florida last year. According to ESPN, the $2.5 million is the most paid for a Jordan rookie card — signed or unsigned — and the third-highest price in a public sale for any Jordan card. That record is $2.928 million. In March, an autographed Bulls jersey that Jordan wore in a preseason game during his rookie year sold for $4.215 million at an auction through Sotheby's. ___ AP NBA: recommended in this topic
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Max Holloway: UFC 317 headliner up in the air, Charles Oliveira 'thrives' in underdog role
Max Holloway warns everyone not to count out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Former UFC champions Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) and Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) square off for the vacant lightweight title in Saturday's main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) has competed against both fighters. He scored a first-round TKO of Oliveira due to injury in a UFC Fight Night main event in August 2015, and was knocked out for the first time in his career against Topuria at UFC 308. The BMF champion knows first hand how much power Topuria possesses, but is having a hard time picking a winner. "If Ilia gets a finish or a knockout, it wouldn't surprise me," Holloway said on his YouTube channel. "But if Charles wins with a submission or even a knockout finish of his own, it doesn't surprise me. This fight is super up in the air. A lot of people are counting Charles Oliveira out, but that's when he just thrives on being the underdog. How many times have we counted this man out, and he somehow found a way to win? From my perspective, this fight is going to be decided probably in the first three or four minutes of the first round. "Oliveira is going to get touched. Is Ilia going to touch him with something that puts him out cold or is going to hurt him, and then he somehow finds a way to fight back? That's the main thing with this fight. If I was a betting man on this fight, and Charles Oliveira is the underdog, I mean, Charles Oliveira is one of the best fighters in the world to put money on as an underdog. That's all I'm saying. I'm not really picking a winner here. I'm not going to be surprised if Ilia wins by knockout, and I'm not going to be surprised if Charles somehow pulls it off and wins by a finish or a knockout, too. This fight should be super fun." According to DraftKings, Oliveira is a big +330 underdog against former UFC featherweight champion Topuria, who's a -425 favorite.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sells for $2.5 million
A autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sold for $2.5 million in an auction that closed on Thursday. The 1986-87 Fleer card sold through Joopiter — the auction platform founded by Grammy-winning artist and producer Pharrell Williams three years ago — shows Jordan soaring toward the rim with his right arm extended and tongue dangling. It was one of nine trading cards signed in a blue sharpie at his private golf course in Florida last year. According to ESPN, the $2.5 million is the most paid for a Jordan rookie card — signed or unsigned — and the third-highest price in a public sale for any Jordan card. That record is $2.928 million. In March, an autographed Bulls jersey that Jordan wore in a preseason game during his rookie year sold for $4.215 million at an auction through Sotheby's. ___ AP NBA:
