Tag: Olympics

NBA analyst floats San Antonio Spurs signing Team France star Guerschon Yabusele

The biggest obstacle may be playing time for Yabu.

The San Antonio Spurs were blessed to have the best player on the French National Team on their roster to root for in the 2024 Paris Olympics in star forward Victor Wembanyama. And if they elected to do so, they very likely could have the two best players from Team France on their roster, too.

Such a proposal came from the fingers of Hoops Habit’s Cal Durrett, who thinks that it would be a solid plan to sign French forward Guerschon Yabusele to the Spurs roster for the 2024-25 NBA season. The Dancing Bear — as Yabusele is called — was drafted 16th overall in the 2016 NBA draft, but was not ready for the Association when he came over.

He has since refined and expanded his game, to the point that he shone against one of the greatest collection of NBA talent ever assembled in Team USA. The biggest obstacle may be playing time for Yabu, but Durrett sees this as a superable challenge.

“The Spurs don’t have much depth at power forward, with Harrison Barnes likely to start at the four next season and Jeremy Sochan essentially playing small forward,” he suggests. “That could lead to a need at the backup four that Yabusele can fill.”

Still, the H/H analyst notes that there may be other clubs with more playing time that might interest Yabusele more. Is the French connection (no pun intended, but a heck of a potential nickname) enough?

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Former Boston point guard Jeff Teague thinks Celtics fans should thank Steve Kerr for benching Jayson Tatum

If it provides the sort of motivation Teague seems to think it will, we probably ought to.

For some fans of the Boston Celtics, the dual benching of star forward Jayson Tatum was nearly a personal affront. For others — including Celtics alumni — such a snub is only going to be fuel for future Boston greatness. And among the latter category, we can count former Celtics floor general Jeff Teague.

Teague opened up about how he saw Tatum’s benching on a recent episode of his “Club 520” podcast, even going so far as to suggest the St. Louis native’s participation with Team USA for the 2028 Olympics might be in jeopardy. “Tatum, bro, he’s done with the Olympics,” said the former Boston point guard via Basketball Network’s Yakshpat Bhargava.

“They just ruined everything for the NBA now, the USA team did,” he added. “Now you tell Jayson Tatum that he is the worst player out of all the elites.”

“The only player to make the All-NBA First team, the rest others were all Europeans, and you all (are) telling me I can’t compete against Serbia?” asked Teague. ” … He couldn’t get him five minutes? I’m never going to be okay with that. But if you’re Boston Celtics fans, you all should be thanking USA basketball.”

If it provides the sort of motivation Teague seems to think it will, we probably ought to.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]

Celtics Lab 277: Team USA’s future and the Celtics season ahead with Max Lederman

From Steve Kerr’s coaching to what we’re looking forward to in the 2024-25 regular season, we’ve got your Celtics offseason covered.

Team USA won gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but plenty of drama (especially that involving star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum) coupled with an improving field came a bit close for comfort. What will the US National Team need to do to stay on top in the 2028 Olympics — and which Celtics (if any) might be part of that push?

To take a closer look at the future of the Olympics through a Boston-tinted lens, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with NBC Sports Boston’s Max Lederman. We talk all things international basketball, Boston’s looming 2024-25 season, and more.

From Steve Kerr’s coaching to Team USA’s structure up to what we’re looking forward to in the 2024-25 regular season, we’ve got everything you need to stay on top of the Celtics, the offseason, and the Celtics in the offseason.


The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Prize Picks and Gametime.


If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]

Jonathan Owens teased a Simone Biles-inspired celebration this season on Hard Knocks

Jonathan Owens wants to use the Bears to honor Simone Biles.

At the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles further cemented herself as the greatest American gymnast of all time, taking home three gold medals and another silver. Biles’ success understandably brought about a lot of pride from her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, who traveled to Paris to support Biles during the early portions of the 2024 Olympics.

With the Olympics over, Owens is firmly focused on the upcoming Bears’ season. As a new teaser from Hard Knocks shows, he’s already thinking about creative ways he can celebrate his incredibly talented wife after he gets an interception during the season.

As the partner of an all-time great athlete, these are the things you absolutely have to have a plan for in advance:

Honestly? A little backflip and salute from Owens if he gets a pick is perfect. No notes. Everyone will know he’s referencing Biles’ greatness right away. And given the nature of unfortunate injuries in the NFL, don’t be surprised if he gets the opportunity.

Lloyd: USWNT has embraced Albert after anti-LGBTQ+ controversy

Alexi Lalas said Albert’s Olympic performance said “a lot about her mentality, as a person and as a player”

Carli Lloyd believes that the U.S. women’s national team has embraced Korbin Albert after the controversial midfielder was a vital part of the team’s Olympic gold medal victory.

Albert has been under fire for months after fans discovered homophobic and transphobic social media posts on TikTok, with the 20-year-old called out by USWNT players past and present.

Amid the controversy, the midfielder continued to be an important midfield cog for the USWNT, with head coach Emma Hayes offering her backing after naming Albert to the Olympic roster.

Albert repaid Hayes’ faith at the tournament in France, playing in five of the team’s six games and starting two of its three knockout-round matches — including Saturday’s gold medal game.

Playing at her club Paris Saint-Germain’s home stadium Parc des Princes, Albert delivered the game-winning assist to Mallory Swanson as the USWNT defeated Brazil 1-0 to take home its first gold medal since 2012.

In an appearance on the State of the Union podcast with Alexi Lalas, USWNT legend Lloyd said that from the outside, it appeared that the team had moved on from the controversy.

“She was one of the best players on the field that day (against Brazil) and she played a huge role,” Lloyd said of Albert.

“The midfield looked a little bit more cohesive, and then she played that perfectly weighted pass on for Mallory Swanson to score.

“Ultimately, you silence haters by doing something well on the field and performing. I can’t comment on what’s been going on within the team, but it certainly looks like the team has embraced her.

“When she scored her goal (against Australia), everybody was hugging her and seemed really excited. So hopefully everybody can just move on. And I would imagine that the group has talked about the issue and talked about what happened, and I’m sure they’re wanting to move past it as well.”

Lalas added: “Let’s hope so. Ultimately, she did the job on the field, and she did the job on the field even with all the other stuff that was going on, and the crap that she has been getting off the field. And so it says a lot about her mentality, as a person and as a player.”

In addition to her assist against Brazil, Albert also scored her first USWNT goal in a 2-1 win over Australia to close out the group stage.

[lawrence-related id=79184,78594,78489]

Will San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama be the best player in the world at the 2028 Olympics?

Or will it be someone yet to emerge as such?

The 2028 Olympics are nearly as far away as a future Olympics can be, with the 2024 Paris iteration having literally ended just a few days ago. But that has not slowed analysts of the sport of basketball from doing their best at trying to project the field of athletes who will be there representing their home countries.

To that end, the question of the pecking order for the Men’s 5 × 5 basketball tournament remains unanswered as of yet. Will San Antonio Spurs star forward Victor Wembanyama be the best player in the world at the 2028 Olympics, or will it be someone yet to emerge as such?

The hosts of ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Malika Andrews, Kendrick Perkins and Tim Legler got together to talk over the future of the sport at the Olympic level and where we can expect Wemby to be by the time the next Olympics arrive.

Check it out above to hear their thoughts on this for yourself!

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Leroux hails significance of USWNT’s nine Black gold medalists

Nine of the 22 players on the USWNT Olympic roster were Black, triple the number from 2012

Angel City forward Sydney Leroux has hailed the “importance” of the U.S. women’s national team having nine Black players on its gold medal-winning roster, saying that their presence will inspire the next generation.

Leroux was one of just three Black players on the 22-player roster (including alternates) when the USWNT last won an Olympic gold medal in 2012.

This time around, the number of Black USWNT players tripled to include nine of the team’s full 22-player squad for the Paris Olympics.

That included the all-Black front line that came to be known as “Triple Espresso” — Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson. The other six players were Crystal Dunn, Jaedyn Shaw, Casey Krueger, Croix Bethune, Lynn Williams and Naomi Girma.

Those nine players posed for a photo after Saturday’s gold medal game, which the USWNT won 1-0 over Brazil thanks to a goal from Swanson.

Leroux noted the significance of the moment with a post on X, saying: “The importance of this photo. This makes every little girl who looks like them get to say, ‘I can be her because I am her.’”

[lawrence-related id=79775,79614,79745]

Dwyane Wade sees big things in San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s future

‘You have to watch him play the game to really appreciate it,’ said Wade.

Former Miami Heat champion wing Dwyane Wade has seen the future — and the future is San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama.  After the US National Team won gold against a competitive French National Team, Wade shared some thoughts about Wemby’s Team France and the future of Olympic basketball via Sports Illustrated’s Scott Salomon.

“The game is growing around the world, they (France) will be back in four years,” said Wade. “It is the U.S.’s game, but this is not 1992 anymore. It’s a different day,” Wembanyama in particular caught the former Heatle’s eye in international play in Paris. “The way he shoots. The way he throws down the lob, we are going to see him on this stage for a long time,” said Wade of Wemby’s play for Team France.

“He is the future of the NBA, and he is the future of international basketball,” added the three-time champion boldly. “What your eyes see, your eyes shall believe … You have to watch him play the game to really appreciate it.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Will San Antonio Spurs star forward Victor Wembanyama take the biggest leap forward in the NBA after the Olympics?

Who will take the biggest leap forward in the NBA after the Olympics?

The 2024 Paris Olympics are now firmly behind us after the US National Team defeated the French National Team and San Antonio Spurs star forward Victor Wembanyama. But Wemby warned the world he plans on coming back better and more seasoned, hinting at a major leap forward on the court with the Spurs in the Association for the 2024-25 season ahead.

Who will take the biggest leap forward in the NBA after the Olympics? Could the benching of star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum with Team USA be the catalyst to make Tatum take that mantle next season? Or is 2028 Olympic basketball the future domain of Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards?

The hosts of the ESPN “First Take” show, Harry Douglas, Joe Fortenbaugh and Kendrick Perkins, debated who will grow the most next season in the NBA. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Saints could play a regular season game in Paris as soon as 2025

The Saints could play a regular season game in Paris as soon as 2025. The black and gold have held exclusive marketing rights in France since 2023:

New Orleans Saints fans supporting their team from overseas may have another opportunity to see the black and gold in person coming up soon. The Saints have held exclusive marketing rights in France since 2023, and plans are beginning to take shape that could have them kicking off a regular season from Paris in the near future.

Per WDSU sports director Fletcher Mackel, it could be in the works for as soon as 2025, though Mackel says “probably 2026” is more likely. NFL rules won’t force the Saints to give up a home game until 2030, but it’s possible the team could volunteer for this unique opportunity. Still, you’d like to see them keep all of their home games in New Orleans to show off the extensively remodeled Caesars Superdome.

So where could they be playing that game in France? Mackel points to the 81,000-seat Stade de France as an obvious fit, having recently hosted the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics, but there are a number of venues the NFL could choose.

The league office is scheduling more and more games to be played abroad as the NFL seeks to expand its international influence with several matchups this year kicking off from London, Munich, and SĂŁo Paulo in Brazil. Another European game is planned for 2025 from Madrid’s Santiago BernabĂ©u Stadium, so it could make sense to schedule a Saints game across the board in France to go along with it. Stay tuned.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]