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What happened the Team USA's under-19 2021 FIBA World Cup star who outplayed Victor Wembanyama?
What happened the Team USA's under-19 2021 FIBA World Cup star who outplayed Victor Wembanyama?

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

What happened the Team USA's under-19 2021 FIBA World Cup star who outplayed Victor Wembanyama?

The post What happened the Team USA's under-19 2021 FIBA World Cup star who outplayed Victor Wembanyama? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Kenneth Lofton Jr's NBA career ended before it could even get started. As an undersized forward who usually weighed over 260 lbs., Lofton often found himself looking for non-guaranteed contracts left and right to try and prove to GMs that his lack of size and speed wouldn't be an issue. Advertisement Rather surprising considering that, in a game that featured the top prospect in the world taking on the top prospect in the country, it was Lofton Jr. who took headlines and led Team USA to a comeback win and secure a gold medal finish in the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Kenneth Lofton Jr. first found fame by bullying Victor Wembanyama in the post. Team USA entered the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup as the overwhelming favorite. The team featured several future NBA players, but none were more notable than the mythical five members, Jaden Ivey and Chet Holmgren. As expected, the team cruised through most of the tournament, setting the stage for one of the most intriguing finals matchups in recent memory between Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. At the end of the first half of the championship game, the U.S. had problems. Advertisement They had no answers for Wembanyama. The team faced its biggest deficit of the tournament and was in danger of losing for the first time since 2007. Instead of sticking with their game plan in the first half of matching size on Wembanyama with Holmgren, coach Jamie Dixon decided to run their offense through Lofton Jr. The result? Lofton Jr. scored 15 of his 16 points in the 2nd half, Wembanyama fouled out in the 4th quarter, and the USA won the game by two. How many teams has Lofton Jr. played for in his professional career? Lofton Jr. made the jump from Louisiana Tech to the pros in 2022, going undrafted. He'd sign a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. However, as a team that had good frontcourt depth, Lofton Jr. spent most of his rookie season in the G-League, where he'd win G-League Rookie of the Year. Advertisement Despite his efforts, the Grizzlies waived Lofton Jr. by December 2023. He'd sign with the Sixers on a two-way deal five days later but was once again waived later that season. Lofton Jr. would sign two more contracts before heading overseas. A two-way contract with the Utah Jazz in March 2024, and a training camp contract with the Chicago Bulls in August 2024. After both teams waived him, Lofton Jr. decided to spend his 2024-2025 season playing for the Shanghai Sharks of the China Basketball League. Once he was finally given the opportunity to show what he could do, Lofton went off. In 34 games, he averaged 25.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. He also scored at least 40 points in 4 games, scored 30 in 14 games, recorded 28 double-doubles, achieved 3 triple-doubles, and ended his first season as the CBA MVP. Advertisement Teams absurdly continue overlooking Lofton, despite his extensive accomplishments, all because of his weight or his game's supposed 'fit' for today's NBA. Luckily, he is still 22 years old. So, Lofton still has a lot of time to prove that he deserves a spot on an NBA roster. Related: NBA rumors: Rockets, Hawks fighting to make multiple wing splashes Related: NBA rumors: Suns center linked to Knicks, Lakers in trade talks

Knicks Land Victor Wembanyama's French Teammate During Free Agency
Knicks Land Victor Wembanyama's French Teammate During Free Agency

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Knicks Land Victor Wembanyama's French Teammate During Free Agency

Knicks Land Victor Wembanyama's French Teammate During Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It has been a busy offseason thus far for the New York Knicks as thy try to upgrade their roster around their core led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns to take advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference next season. Advertisement Of course, the Knicks started their offseason by firing head coach Tom Thibodeau after he helped lead the franchise to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. New York is still searching for their next head coach but they have narrowed down their options as former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown has emerged as the frontrunner for the position. New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns with Jalen Brunson in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Thomas-Imagn Images While the Knicks are still searching for a new head coach, they began free agency on Monday by signing Jordan Clarkson who was recently bought out by the Utah Jazz. New York continued to make moves on Tuesday as they signed one of Victor Wembanyama's French teammates to upgrade their roster depth. Advertisement According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Knicks have agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with Guerschon Yabusele. Of course, Yabusele was expected to be on the move this offseason with the Philadelphia 76ers not having enough cap space to bring him back and outbid other teams. That is exactly what happened as the 29-year-old big man is now heading to New York where he should have a large role off the bench. Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele reacts against the Minnesota Ross-Imagn Images Yabusele made his return to the NBA last season after impressing with France during their run in the Paris Olympics last summer after last playing in the league during the 2018-19 season with the Boston Celtics. Advertisement Last season, Yabusele averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range. With this addition, the Knicks add a great scorer and rebounder off the bench next to Mitchell Robinson to bolster their frontcourt depth as they try to make a run at a championship next season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.

NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among early movers
NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among early movers

The Guardian

timea day ago

  • Sport
  • The Guardian

NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among early movers

Victor Wembanyama has another big man to help him out in San Antonio. The Houston Rockets continued their offseason overhaul. And Orlando and Atlanta made moves with eyes on contending this coming season as the NBA's free agency period got underway Monday. The Spurs lured center Luke Kornet away from Boston with a four-year, $41m deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team cannot announce the deal until the league's signing moratorium for most contracts is lifted on Sunday. Kornet was part of Boston's 2024 NBA title team and has shot 68% from the field in 205 games, mostly off the bench, over the last three regular seasons. He figures to add frontcourt depth to the Spurs, who are hoping to have Wembanyama – the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year and an All-Star this past season – back and ready to go after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in a shoulder back in February. The Rockets, meanwhile, added veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith on a four-year, $53m deal shortly after free agency opened. ESPN first reported the deal, and a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed the terms to AP. Houston becomes Finney-Smith's fourth team after stints with Dallas, Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers. He'll be added to a Rockets club that earlier this summer landed Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with Phoenix, though that deal cannot receive formal approval from the NBA until next week. Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points and was a 41% shooter from three-point range this past season. ESPN also reported that the Rockets' run on free agents continued with the addition of center Clint Capela, who spent the first six years of his career in Houston before playing for the last five seasons in Atlanta. Capela agreed to a three-year deal with the Rockets, ESPN said. Dallas, which needed some point guard help especially because the newly re-signed Kyrie Irving – rehabbing from an ACL tear – may not be ready to play until about midseason, agreed with D'Angelo Russell on a two-year contract worth nearly $13m. Russell would be part of the backcourt depth on a club with an imposing front line that, if healthy, would include No 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and promising young center Dereck Lively II. Atlanta added Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Minnesota on what will be a four-year, $62m deal following a completion of a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves. Minnesota will get a draft pick, cash considerations and will create a trade exception once the deal is finalized, a person with knowledge of the move told AP. The Magic, meanwhile, added Tyus Jones on a one-year deal. He joins an Orlando roster that already landed Desmond Bane from Memphis in a trade, and the Magic — who played long stretches last season without Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs because of injuries – should be a legit East contender this season if healthy. It was a big night for the Jones family: Tyus Jones' brother, Tre Jones, agreed Monday on a three-year deal to return to the Chicago Bulls. The free agency period officially opened at 6pm ET on Monday, but in actuality, was rolling long before that. LeBron James has already opted in to a $52.6m deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for this coming season, the Rockets traded for Durant – not a free agency move, obviously – and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise. There was even a surprise addition to free agency, with Portland announcing it has bought out the contract of former No 1 pick Deandre Ayton, allowing him to sign with any team he chooses. And on Monday, even before the shopping window officially started, more deals: Nicolas Batum will come back to the Clippers, his agency said, on a two-year deal, while Joe Ingles agreed to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Deals like those could get done before the official start time because teams are allowed to negotiate with their own free agents once the NBA finals are finished. In other deals confirmed by AP on Monday night: The Los Angeles Clippers added Brook Lopez – most recently of Milwaukee – on a two-year deal worth about $18m. Veteran guard Bruce Brown returned to the Denver Nuggets, a team he helped win the 2023 NBA title. Center Kevon Looney agreed to a two-year deal with New Orleans, after he spent his first 10 seasons with Golden State. Guard Caris LeVert will sign a two-year deal worth nearly $15m annually with the Detroit Pistons, a team that won 14 games in 2023-24 and then won 44 games to earn the No 6 seed in the Eastern Conference this past season. Luka Garza joined Boston, after the Celtics lost Kornet, on a two-year, $5.5m deal, agent Mark Bartelstein said. The NBA announced Monday that it has set the salary cap for the coming season at $154.647m, the maximum allowed 10% increase over the level for this past season. The tax level for the 2025-26 season is $187.895m, the league said. Julius Randle returns to the Timberwolves with a potential $100m deal. Bobby Portis stays with the Bucks, keeping the popular sixth man in Milwaukee. Duncan Robinson terminates his contract with the Heat, though he may return. In very specific situations, teams can announce signings when completed. But in most situations, and this even applies to some draft-related trades (such as the one involving Durant going to Houston), teams won't be able to announce those until at least 6 July.

NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among early movers
NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among early movers

The Guardian

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • The Guardian

NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among early movers

Victor Wembanyama has another big man to help him out in San Antonio. The Houston Rockets continued their offseason overhaul. And Orlando and Atlanta made moves with eyes on contending this coming season as the NBA's free agency period got underway Monday. The Spurs lured center Luke Kornet away from Boston with a four-year, $41m deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team cannot announce the deal until the league's signing moratorium for most contracts is lifted on Sunday. Kornet was part of Boston's 2024 NBA title team and has shot 68% from the field in 205 games, mostly off the bench, over the last three regular seasons. He figures to add frontcourt depth to the Spurs, who are hoping to have Wembanyama – the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year and an All-Star this past season – back and ready to go after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in a shoulder back in February. The Rockets, meanwhile, added veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith on a four-year, $53m deal shortly after free agency opened. ESPN first reported the deal, and a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed the terms to AP. Houston becomes Finney-Smith's fourth team after stints with Dallas, Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers. He'll be added to a Rockets club that earlier this summer landed Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with Phoenix, though that deal cannot receive formal approval from the NBA until next week. Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points and was a 41% shooter from three-point range this past season. ESPN also reported that the Rockets' run on free agents continued with the addition of center Clint Capela, who spent the first six years of his career in Houston before playing for the last five seasons in Atlanta. Capela agreed to a three-year deal with the Rockets, ESPN said. Dallas, which needed some point guard help especially because the newly re-signed Kyrie Irving – rehabbing from an ACL tear – may not be ready to play until about midseason, agreed with D'Angelo Russell on a two-year contract worth nearly $13m. Russell would be part of the backcourt depth on a club with an imposing front line that, if healthy, would include No 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and promising young center Dereck Lively II. Atlanta added Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Minnesota on what will be a four-year, $62m deal following a completion of a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves. Minnesota will get a draft pick, cash considerations and will create a trade exception once the deal is finalized, a person with knowledge of the move told AP. The Magic, meanwhile, added Tyus Jones on a one-year deal. He joins an Orlando roster that already landed Desmond Bane from Memphis in a trade, and the Magic — who played long stretches last season without Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs because of injuries – should be a legit East contender this season if healthy. It was a big night for the Jones family: Tyus Jones' brother, Tre Jones, agreed Monday on a three-year deal to return to the Chicago Bulls. The free agency period officially opened at 6pm ET on Monday, but in actuality, was rolling long before that. LeBron James has already opted in to a $52.6m deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for this coming season, the Rockets traded for Durant – not a free agency move, obviously – and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise. There was even a surprise addition to free agency, with Portland announcing it has bought out the contract of former No 1 pick Deandre Ayton, allowing him to sign with any team he chooses. And on Monday, even before the shopping window officially started, more deals: Nicolas Batum will come back to the Clippers, his agency said, on a two-year deal, while Joe Ingles agreed to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Deals like those could get done before the official start time because teams are allowed to negotiate with their own free agents once the NBA finals are finished. In other deals confirmed by AP on Monday night: The Los Angeles Clippers added Brook Lopez – most recently of Milwaukee – on a two-year deal worth about $18m. Veteran guard Bruce Brown returned to the Denver Nuggets, a team he helped win the 2023 NBA title. Center Kevon Looney agreed to a two-year deal with New Orleans, after he spent his first 10 seasons with Golden State. Guard Caris LeVert will sign a two-year deal worth nearly $15m annually with the Detroit Pistons, a team that won 14 games in 2023-24 and then won 44 games to earn the No 6 seed in the Eastern Conference this past season. Luka Garza joined Boston, after the Celtics lost Kornet, on a two-year, $5.5m deal, agent Mark Bartelstein said. The NBA announced Monday that it has set the salary cap for the coming season at $154.647m, the maximum allowed 10% increase over the level for this past season. The tax level for the 2025-26 season is $187.895m, the league said. Julius Randle returns to the Timberwolves with a potential $100m deal. Bobby Portis stays with the Bucks, keeping the popular sixth man in Milwaukee. Duncan Robinson terminates his contract with the Heat, though he may return. In very specific situations, teams can announce signings when completed. But in most situations, and this even applies to some draft-related trades (such as the one involving Durant going to Houston), teams won't be able to announce those until at least 6 July.

NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among those making early moves
NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among those making early moves

Arab News

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • Arab News

NBA free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs among those making early moves

NBA NEW YORK: Victor Wembanyama has another big man to help him out in San Antonio. The Houston Rockets continued their offseason overhaul. And Orlando and Atlanta made moves with eyes on contending this coming season as the NBA's free agency period got underway Monday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The Spurs lured center Luke Kornet away from Boston with a four-year, $41 million deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team cannot announce the deal until the league's signing moratorium for most contracts is lifted on Sunday. Kornet was part of Boston's 2024 NBA title team and has shot 68 percent from the field in 205 games, mostly off the bench, over the last three regular seasons. He figures to add frontcourt depth to the Spurs, who are hoping to have Wembanyama — the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year and an All-Star this past season — back and ready to go after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in a shoulder back in February. The Rockets, meanwhile, added veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith on a four-year, $53 million deal shortly after free agency opened. ESPN first reported the deal, and a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed the terms to AP. Houston becomes Finney-Smith's fourth team after stints with Dallas, Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers. He'll be added to a Rockets club that earlier this summer landed Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with Phoenix, though that deal cannot receive formal approval from the NBA until next week. Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points and was a 41 percent shooter from 3-point range this past season. ESPN also reported that the Rockets' run on free agents continued with the addition of center Clint Capela, who spent the first six years of his career in Houston before playing for the last five seasons in Atlanta. Capela agreed to a three-year deal with the Rockets, ESPN said. Dallas, which needed some point guard help especially because the newly re-signed Kyrie Irving — rehabbing from an ACL tear — may not be ready to play until about midseason, agreed with D'Angelo Russell on a two-year contract worth nearly $13 million. Russell would be part of the backcourt depth on a club with an imposing front line that, if healthy, would include No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and promising young center Dereck Lively II. Hawks, Magic eyeing moves in East Atlanta added Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Minnesota on what will be a four-year, $62 million deal following a completion of a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves. Minnesota will get a draft pick, cash considerations and will create a trade exception once the deal is finalized, a person with knowledge of the move told AP. The Magic, meanwhile, added Tyus Jones on a one-year deal. He joins an Orlando roster that already landed Desmond Bane from Memphis in a trade, and the Magic — who played long stretches last season without Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs because of injuries — should be a legit East contender this season if healthy. It was a big night for the Jones family: Tyus Jones' brother, Tre Jones, agreed Monday on a three-year deal to return to the Chicago Bulls. Free agency 'officially' starts The free agency period officially opened at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, but in actuality, was rolling long before that. LeBron James has already opted in to a $52.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for this coming season, the Rockets traded for Durant — not a free agency move, obviously — and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise. There was even a surprise addition to free agency, with Portland announcing it has bought out the contract of former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, allowing him to sign with any team he chooses. And on Monday, even before the shopping window officially started, more deals: Nicolas Batum will come back to the Clippers, his agency said, on a two-year deal, while Joe Ingles agreed to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Deals like those could get done before the official start time because teams are allowed to negotiate with their own free agents once the NBA Finals are finished. Other deals In other deals confirmed by AP on Monday night: — The Los Angeles Clippers added Brook Lopez — most recently of Milwaukee — on a two-year deal worth about $18 million. — Veteran guard Bruce Brown returned to the Denver Nuggets, a team he helped win the 2023 NBA title. — Center Kevon Looney agreed to a two-year deal with New Orleans, after he spent his first 10 seasons with Golden State. — Guard Caris LeVert will sign a two-year deal worth nearly $15 million annually with the Detroit Pistons, a team that won 14 games in 2023-24 and then won 44 games to earn the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference this past season. — Luka Garza joined Boston, after the Celtics lost Kornet, on a two-year, $5.5 million deal, agent Mark Bartelstein said. Salary cap set The NBA announced Monday that it has set the salary cap for the coming season at $154.647 million, the maximum allowed 10 percent increase over the level for this past season. The tax level for the 2025-26 season is $187.895 million, the league said. What's already happened — Julius Randle returns to the Timberwolves with a potential $100 million deal. — Bobby Portis stays with the Bucks, keeping the popular sixth man in Milwaukee. — Duncan Robinson terminates his contract with the Heat, though he may return. What's next In very specific situations, teams can announce signings when completed. But in most situations, and this even applies to some draft-related trades (such as the one involving Durant going to Houston), teams won't be able to announce those until at least July 6.

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