Latest news with #MVP-worthy
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Dallas Cowboys Send Message to NBA Star Cooper Flagg
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The city of Dallas is getting another superstar. As expected, the Dallas Mavericks are bringing in the Duke forward, Cooper Flagg, as their top selection at the 2025 NBA Draft. Shortly after the pick was made, the Dallas Cowboys took to social media to welcome the young phenom. "Welcome to Dallas, Cooper Flagg!" the team wrote. The Mavericks were in an odd spot earlier this year. In a shocking move ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the Mavericks traded away their most prominent player of the decade in Luka Doncic. Despite Doncic being in his prime, putting up MVP-worthy numbers, the Mavericks' front office made a shocking decision to move on. Doncic was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers. To say that Dallas fans were displeased would be an understatement. While fans are still having a hard time getting over the departure of Luka, the Mavs were at least fortunate to win the NBA Draft Lottery back in May. Despite having shockingly low odds, the Mavericks managed to land the top pick. Once it was clear they owned the pick, it was apparent that Flagg was headed to Dallas. Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles up court during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 4, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles up court during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 4, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. Photo byHeading into Duke, Flagg was recognized as the No. 1 player in the nation for his high school class. It seemed it was only a matter of time before he would declare for the NBA Draft and take his talent to the pros. First, Flagg had to live up to the hype at Duke, which he certainly did. In 37 games, Flagg made 48 percent of his shots from the field and knocked down 39 percent of his threes. The freshman forward posted averages of 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Flagg earned many accolades, including ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, ACC All-Defensive, ACC All-Freshman, First-Team All-ACC, and more. There's a lot of excitement for Dallas sports this fall. Although the Cowboys are coming off of a tough season, where they finished 7-10, they expect to get their franchise quarterback in the mix, as Dak Prescott is healthy once again. The Cowboys made some notable moves this offseason, adding another pass-catching weapon for Prescott to utilize in George Pickens. In a tough NFC East Division, which features the two NFC Championship competitors, the Cowboys hope to be right back in contention. As for the Mavs, they still have a lot of work to do in terms of development and getting healthy again. After going 39-43, the Mavericks will look forward to seeing how far the rookie can go in 2024-2025. For more Dallas Cowboys and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mussatto: Thunder's 17th chapter is best one yet as OKC beats Pacers for first NBA title
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Sam Presti sees every season as a chapter in the Thunder's history book. 'What we have this year,' the Thunder general manager said days before the 2024-25 season, 'is the opportunity to write the 17th chapter, and we're really excited about doing that.' Advertisement Chapter 17 — spoiler alert — ended with a championship. The Oklahoma City Thunder claimed the 2025 NBA title, beating the Indiana Pacers in a spectacular series, capped by a 103-91 win in Game 7 Sunday night at Paycom Center. The Thunder was going to be an outlier one way or another depending on how the NBA Finals played out. On one hand, OKC was too good to lose. A 68-win regular season team that seemed destined to raise the Larry O'Brien Trophy. A team that routinely trounced opponents, finishing with the highest average margin of victory in NBA history. A squad defined by its swarming brand of defense. Advertisement More: For international media, 2025 NBA Finals has been new experience in OKC, Indiana Buy our commemorative page prints, books, keepsakes On the other hand, the Thunder was too young to win. Teams are supposed to fail over and over before they finally break through. The playoff scars that adorn eventual champions? The Thunder got here with nary a scratch. That's not to say it wasn't earned. Quite the opposite. It speaks to the Thunder's 'uncommon' nature, as coach Mark Daigneault likes to say. The championship is the first in Thunder history. It came 17 years after the franchise relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Thirteen years after its first NBA Finals berth. Nine years after Kevin Durant left Bricktown for The Bay. Six years after the seismic summer of 2019, when the trades of Paul George and franchise icon Russell Westbrook spawned a new era of Thunder basketball. Advertisement Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the prize of the George trade, has supplanted Westbrook as the greatest Thunder of them all. SGA, the league's regular-season MVP, capped his remarkable season and playoff run with an NBA Finals MVP-worthy performance. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren rose to the moment, forming a vaunted Big Three alongside Gilgeous-Alexander. Daigneault, an anonymous name five years ago when he was hired, shepherded the Thunder through it all. After two 20-something-win seasons, the Thunder made the play-in. Then the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. Then, as the No. 1 seed yet again, Daigneault coached the Thunder to the title. And Presti? Only one line was missing from his resume: NBA champion. Advertisement No longer. Hired at 29 as the franchise's general manager, this championship was a culmination of Presti's vision. A vision that became vivid reality The first 16 chapters of the Thunder built up to an unforgettable 17th: The Championship. More: For international media, 2025 NBA Finals has been new experience in OKC, Indiana Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@ . Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at . This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder's 17th chapter is best one yet as OKC beats Pacers for first NBA title
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge's cold stretch raises concern among Yankees fans
Aaron Judge's cold stretch raises concern among Yankees fans originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Aaron Judge reached base twice in Sunday's win over the Orioles, drawing a walk and singling in four trips. That alone would be a productive afternoon for most major leaguers. But when the standard is Aaron Judge in 2024, fans are used to more than just singles and a free pass. Advertisement The Yankees captain is now 6-for-30 over his last nine games with 16 strikeouts and just two extra-base hits in that span. His OPS has dropped to 1.195—still the best in baseball by a wide margin, but the lowest it's been since April 21 as he heads into Cincinnati with the Yankees to take on the Reds. © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images This recent mini-slump is more about timing than panic. Before the slide, Judge was on a historic tear, slugging over .800 for nearly two months. At one point in early June, his OPS peaked above 1.200, a feat rarely seen in the modern era. Regression was inevitable. Still, the dip coincides with the Yankees' broader offensive struggles and searching for answers, Judge's bat carries even more weight. Advertisement That's where the concern creeps in—not with Judge's overall production, which remains MVP-worthy, but with how much the Yankees lean on it. Even the best hitters go cold. The question is whether the rest of the order can help pick up the slack while their superstar regains his rhythm. Judge has struck out at least once in eight of his last nine games, but he's still seeing pitches, drawing walks, and contributing in quieter ways. If this is what a cold streak looks like, most teams would gladly take it. He's due for another heater. The Yankees just need to keep it afloat until he finds it again. Related: Former Yankees Slugger Signs Overseas for Remainder of 2025 Season Related: Latest Injuries to Yankees' Pitching Staff Could Force Action Before Deadline This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Peyton Manning Goes Viral After Revealing Jalen Hurts Story
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jalen Hurts has never been one to shy away from admitting he's aware of the narratives that include his name. It's unclear how much the opinions of analysts, hosts, and writers hold weight with the veteran quarterback, but NFL legend Peyton Manning recently revealed that Hurts felt a type of way when he was snubbed from a top-five list put together by the NFL Hall of Famer. During his segment at Fanatics Fest, Manning made it clear he wouldn't reveal his top five quarterbacks currently, due to Hurts' reaction to the last time he did. "I named five guys, and Jalen Hurts texted me like 20 minutes later, 'I didn't make your list?' Now, Jalen's mad at me. So, no list today," Manning said to a room full of laughter. "I'm a quarterback fan. I know how hard it is to play. So, I pull hard for quarterbacks. No list this year." Peyton Manning refused to give his Top 5 QB list after Jalen Hurts texted him last year. 👏🤣 — New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 20, 2025 While that could mean Manning might not view Hurts as a top-five quarterback in the NFL once again, the veteran could also just be looking to save himself from another angry listener. The former scenario wouldn't be anything new to Hurts, who continues to battle negative narratives even after winning the game at the highest level back in February. Statistically, Hurts had a down year during the 2024 NFL season. He threw for just 2,903 yards, marking the first time he had under 3,000 yards since his rookie season in 2020. He also tossed fewer than 20 touchdowns for the first time in two seasons. While Hurts was far from perfect, the Eagles also relied heavily on their run game after acquiring the MVP-caliber running back, Saquon Barkley. It turned out to be the right move throughout the year, as Barkley put together an MVP-worthy season and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by) Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by) When it came to playoff time, Hurts was challenged to put his arm to the test, and he delivered better than ever. In four playoff games, including the Super Bowl, Hurts completed 71 percent of his passes for a playoff career-high 726 yards. He threw for five touchdowns and just one interception. Hurts also rushed for 194 yards and scored five times on the ground. The outside opinions about Hurts' game might just turn out to be bulletin board material the quarterback can stash and put away as something he can reference back to when he needs added motivation during the regular season. No need to bring it up to anybody. When it comes to Manning, maybe that opinion holds a little more weight. After all, Manning is one of the most notable quarterbacks to get under center. The former first-overall pick in 1998 won the NFL MVP award five times. He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion and has a Super Bowl MVP victory on his resume, like Hurts. Whether Manning believes Hurts is a top QB this time around or not, the Eagles' veteran can still enter the 2025 NFL season with plenty of confidence as he's got a title to defend. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Fever's Sophie Cunningham Gains New Fan in Eagles Running Back
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and the Indiana Fever had WNBA fans buzzing this week as they got into multiple heated incidents in a matchup against the Connecticut Sun. As Cunningham defended the Fever's star sharpshooter, it convinced Philadelphia Eagles running back AJ Dillon to make a purchase. On Wednesday, Dillon took to social media to post a screenshot that proved he added a Sophie Cunningham jersey to a digital shopping cart. There was no context beyond that, but it's clear that Cunningham's recent chain of events made the veteran running back a big fan, if he wasn't already. Similar to Cunningham, Dillon is linking up with a new pro team for the first time this season. As he hit the free agency market, Dillon signed a short-term deal with the Eagles to become one of Saquon Barkley's backups. According to reports, Dillon joined the Eagles on a one-year deal. Sophie Cunningham #8 and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever cheer from the bench against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on June 07, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Sophie Cunningham #8 and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever cheer from the bench against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on June 07, 2025 in Chicago, 27-year-old running back entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2020. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers out of Boston College. When he left the NCAA, Dillon had 4,382 yards and 38 touchdowns in 35 games. He also caught 21 passes for 236 yards and two scores. Dillon appeared in 11 games with the Packers as a rookie. While he had a limited role in 2020, taking on just 46 carries, his workload increased a ton during year two. Despite not starting more than two games, Dillon picked up 187 carries. He rushed for 803 yards and reached the end zone five times. Read More: Ex-Eagles Linebacker Blasts Jalen Hurts' Massive Snub on List During the 2022 season, Dillon rushed for 770 yards and scored a career-high seven touchdowns. Last year, Dillon's production in Green Bay reduced once again, as he averaged a career-low 3.4 yards per carry. He finished the season with 613 yards and two touchdowns. Read More: Eagles Star Reflects on Drastic Change in His Offseason Approach The Eagles' backfield saw a key change behind Saquon Barkley this offseason. As Kenneth Gainwell hit the open market, he signed a contract to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Eagles have the second-year rusher Will Shipley in the mix, more depth, competition, and experience at the position couldn't hurt. Howie Roseman brought on the former Packer to potentially take up the carries behind Barkley, who had an MVP-worthy season in the Eagles' backfield last year. Dillon could see some major benefits getting behind a dominant Philly line. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
