Latest news with #MostValuablePlayer
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WNBA MVP odds for 2025: Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier tops list
As the WNBA season progresses, the WNBA MVP race is intensifying, with Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier currently leading in odds. The competition has seen some surprising developments, as three-time MVP A'ja Wilson, of the Las Vegas Aces, has fallen from the top perch. Wilson was the early favorite to secure her fourth MVP trophy, which would make her the only player in WNBA history to achieve this. However, since the regular season has continued, Wilson has dropped significantly in the current MVP odds. Collier now leads the updated odds with -275, while Indiana Fever's star Caitlin Clark is in clear second place with +200 odds. New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart sits at a distance in third place, with odds at +4000. Here are the top odds to win the 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player award: CAITLIN CLARK: Injury complicates shooting slump; experts weigh in WNBA MVP Odds 2025 Odds according to BetMGM as of afternoon June 24:
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder news: OKC mayor crowns Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook
The post Thunder news: OKC mayor crowns Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook appeared first on ClutchPoints. Fresh off their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle, the Oklahoma City Thunder held a championship parade on Tuesday to celebrate their Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Amid the celebrations, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt made headlines with a bold proclamation regarding the franchise's all-time greats. Advertisement Introducing Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the stage, Holt referred to him as 'the greatest player to ever put on the uniform,' effectively placing him above former Thunder superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Gilgeous-Alexander took the microphone following Holt's introduction and thanked the city and fans for their support throughout the season and championship run. 'Thank you guys so much,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'Don't ever forget this — moments in life like this, they don't come and go often. Make sure you guys enjoy this moment with your family, your friends, your loved ones… everyone that helped you and us get here and don't forget who they are. Don't ever turn your back on them – just like us as a team, just like us as a community, just like the city of Oklahoma. Thank you guys.' The moment marked the culmination of a remarkable season for the 26-year-old, who led the Thunder to a franchise-record 68 wins during the regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander was named the 2024–25 NBA Most Valuable Player after averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per game on 51.9% shooting from the field and 37.5% from three across 76 appearances. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP run and Finals heroics spark debate over his place atop Thunder history Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images He carried that success into the postseason, guiding Oklahoma City past the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves before defeating the Pacers in a seven-game NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander earned Finals MVP honors, averaging 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field in the series. Advertisement In Game 7, he delivered a signature performance — finishing with 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in 40 minutes. The Thunder pulled away late to secure a 103–91 victory and claim the first NBA championship in franchise history since relocating to Oklahoma City. The Thunder's title run not only delivered a long-awaited championship to the city but also reshaped the conversation around the team's historical hierarchy. Durant, who won an MVP with the Thunder and led them to the 2012 NBA Finals, left in 2016 for the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook, the 2017 MVP, became synonymous with the franchise's identity after Durant's departure but never secured a championship during his tenure. With a title, an MVP award, and a Finals MVP now on his resume, Gilgeous-Alexander has positioned himself at the forefront of Oklahoma City's basketball legacy. Holt's comments at the parade reflect a growing sentiment that the current face of the franchise may already stand above the stars who came before him. Related: Thunder's Jalen Williams 'feeling loose' at parade after viral 'Shirley Temples' comment Related: Isaiah Hartenstein reveals hilarious story of Thunder's free agency recruitment
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Why Dylan Harper's workout with Giannis Antetokounmpo could change his NBA future
Why Dylan Harper's workout with Giannis could change his NBA future (Image Source: Getty Images) The pre-draft workout of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo with San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper has become one of the most iconic moments in the career of the latter that can become a staple of how he is going to view professional basketball in the future. On the Carmelo Anthony podcast, 7 PM in Brooklyn, the no. 2 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft recently explained how he was able to be switched on after a single workout session and was able to be exposed to championship-level discipline. Giannis Antetokounmpo's masterclass in precision and patience The training session showed that Giannis Antetokounmpo has an amazing dedication to perfection, especially his mantra of remaining at particular shooting positions to twenty minutes of trying to perfect the shot. Harper had assumed that he would just be playing informally one-on-one; however, what he found was an NBA-level training session. The Milwaukee Bucks forward discussed the principle of the so-called kill spots on the court - places in which a special player can gain control even against the player of the Defensive Player of the Year level. The teaching style of Antetokounmpo was based on the idea that a person cannot be perfect, but he can be close to being perfect, and this is how championship mentality values the process, rather than the final outcome. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo This systematic training, compared with Harper's previous experiences of Harper, and the young guard had to re-examine his ideas of professional preparation quality. The meeting of Harper and the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player went down prior to his freshman year at Rutgers University, and his teammate, Ace Bailey, was later drafted fifth overall by the Utah Jazz. This early exposure made Harper privy to the process of preparation and the intensity of details, which has made Antetokounmpo one of the toughest forces in the league. San Antonio Spurs' development culture aligns perfectly with Harper's new mindset The development of Harper fits perfectly with the player development system in San Antonio Spurs, which has always brought out the best in rookies since the birth of the franchise. The history of the organisation is marked by turning high draft picks such as Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, and Victor Wembanyama into championship-level players by adhering to the principles of disciplined and goal-oriented approaches to training. Already having secured back-to-back Rookie of the Year awards with other Spurs draft picks, Harper wants to add to this record while drawing on the experience of what he learned watching Antetokounmpo. The franchise's focus of fundamentals and step-by-step development reflects the Harper work ethic he experienced during his workout with the Greek Freak. The next time the San Antonio Spurs take the field will be in October of 2025, as the team starts its 2025-26 season, and fans will be able to see the progression of the rookie season of Dylan Harper as the complete schedule will be announced later this summer. Also Read: NBA draft news: Oklahoma City Thunder take Brooks Barnhizer at No. 44 despite season-ending foot injury Harper enters his professional career equipped not only with natural talent but also with championship-level wisdom gained from one of basketball's most respected competitors, positioning him for potential stardom in San Antonio. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hans India
a day ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Assist to Valverde was one of the best of my career, says Vinicius Jr
New Delhi: Vinicius Junior believes his assist for Real Madrid's second goal, which was buried into the back of the net by Federico Valverde, was one of the best he has given in his career. The Brazilian winger was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match for his goal and assist which lead Real Madrid to a comfortable 3-0 win over RB Salzburg in their final Group H match of the FIFA Club World Cup and sealed a Round of 16 clash against Juventus. 'I haven't seen the replay. But it has been a good assistance, I think one of the best I have given. Especially that it is for Valverde, who always gives me a lot of confidence. He is one of our captains and it is always good that he scores,' said Vinicius. The game was locked in a stalemate until Vinicius opened the scoring with a precise left-footed finish in the 40th minute. Madrid began their Club World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal. They began to stamp their authority with a 3-1 win over Pahuca, despite being down to ten men after defender Raul Asencio was sent off in the seventh minute of the game. Their win over Salzburg kept the hopes alive for ending the season with a trophy. Vinicius is now ready for the 'most important part' of the tournament. "I am very happy for the goal, the assist and everything we are doing in this competition. Now comes the most important moment, what we like the most, and where we can win an important title for this club." "We have good feelings, we have played very well in the first half. The second one was a little looser, but it's normal. We have to rest for the next game, which is very important in the round of 16 and we can't miss,' he added.
Iraqi News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Trail Blazers pick China's Yang in NBA draft first-round surprise
New York – Birthday boy Yang Hansen is headed to the Portland Trail Blazers as the 16th overall selection in the NBA draft, just the third Chinese player ever chosen in the first round. The 7ft 2in (2.18m) center, who made his Chinese Basketball Association debut in 2023 and was an All-Star in each of his first two seasons with the Qingdao Eagles, had been tipped as a second-round pick. That was even after his stock had risen after a promising performance at the NBA draft combine, where some of his passes had earned comparisons to the Denver Nuggets' Serbian star Nikola Jokic — a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player. He had individual workouts with 11 teams, including the Trail Blazers who, after swapping the 11th and 16th draft selections with the Memphis Grizzlies, grabbed Yang on Wednesday. 'The Blazers had scouts scouting me in China the last couple years,' Yang said. 'I also had a pre-workout with them last month. Everything went very well and I got along with all the front-office people. 'But at the end of the day, this is sort of beyond my wildest imagination.' Icon Yao Ming, who was the number one selection in 2002, and Yi Jianlian — who was sixth overall in 2007 — are the only other Chinese players chosen in the first round of the draft. It made for a sensational birthday for Yang, who turned 20 on Thursday. Not included among the likely first-round prospects and given a place in the near-stage waiting room, he clambered down from the stands dressed in a white suit to shake NBA commissioner Adam Silver's hand. Yang said that after the 15th selection had been announced he noticed more cameras on him. 'I just thought something was off or thought something was about to happen. So that's when I found out,' Yang said. But it wasn't a coincidence that he was in the stands to see the league's 30 teams make their first-round selections. Despite the pundits' predictions, he was confident he could be among them. 'I was expecting to be selected at the end of the first round,' he said. 'So this is definitely a big surprise for me to be selected in the middle of the first round.'
