Wizards: Rookie Bilal Coulibaly to miss rest of season due to injury

Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a right wrist fracture.

Washington Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a right wrist fracture, the team announced on Monday.

Coulibaly sustained the injury on Saturday after taking a fall on the road in a loss to the Chicago Bulls. The team initially deemed the injury a contusion, but testing revealed a fracture in the wrist, which isn’t expected to require surgery, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

He recorded 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes.

Coulibaly didn’t play on Sunday in a loss to the Boston Celtics and was seen wearing a brace on the bench. He will now be sidelined for the final 14 games of the season.

Coulibaly will finish the season averaging 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 34.6% shooting from 3-point range in 63 games. He became the third-youngest player to appear in a game in franchise history on Oct. 25, 2023 (19 years, 91 days).

The seventh pick is one of eight rookies to average at least eight points, four rebounds and 1.5 assists per game this season. He is also one of four first-year players with at least 40 steals and 40 blocked shots, joining Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson and Victor Wembanyama.

Coulibaly was among 11 rookies selected to compete in the NBA Rising Stars game. He has drawn high praise for his maturity and professionalism since joining the Wizards and appears to be a franchise cornerstone moving forward.

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Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama: ‘I don’t see my progression stopping any time soon’

Victor Wembanyama is putting up historic numbers this season with the Spurs and once again had another impressive outing on Sunday.

Victor Wembanyama is putting up historic numbers this season with the San Antonio Spurs, and the No. 1 pick once again had another impressive outing on Sunday.

Wembanyama produced a game-high 33 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocked shots in a 122-115 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets in Austin. He went 14-of-26 from the field, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, in 36 minutes.

The 20-year-old became the first player in history to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five blocks on 50% shooting from the field. He is the youngest player to reach those numbers in a game, surpassing Shaquille O’Neal (21 years, 321 days).

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is impressed with his performance.

He is a multitalented young man and is going to show us things that none of us have never seen before. He is getting more and more solid, more and more disciplined, and more and more used to the contact that he gets and the attention that he gets. It is a tough position for him to be in but he handles it with class and pretty good smarts.

Wembanyama is averaging 20.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 blocks and 1.3 steals on 46.7% shooting from the field in 60 games. He leads the NBA in blocks and also tops the rookie class in points, rebounds and steals this season.

The 7-footer is also the only rookie to register a triple-double (2) this season and leads all first-year players in 30-point games (6); the next closest players are Chet Holmgren and Keyonte George, who each have three such performances.

Wembanyama feels like his best is yet to come.

“It is a day-by-day thing, but what is for sure is I’m not even close from being at my best,” Wembanyama said. “I don’t see my progression stopping any time soon, so it is good for my confidence. There is a lot to correct and adjust.”

Wembanyama is the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year after achieving numerous accomplishments, including becoming the youngest player in history to register a 5×5 game and recording a triple-double with blocks. He has also won Rookie of the Month twice.

He has surpassed expectations this season and has turned in an impressive rookie campaign. He appears to be the future of the NBA and wants to continue building on his successful year.

“Looking back on the season, I can see our progression, but also my progression,” Wembanyama said. “Even though it feels like it is little by little every game, when you do it every day after a whole season, it adds up to something big.”

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Check out these highlights of new Broncos LB Cody Barton

Here some highlights of new Broncos linebacker Cody Barton from his time with the Seahawks and Commanders.

The Denver Broncos agreed to terms on a one-year contract with linebacker Cody Barton on Friday night.

Before landing in Denver, Barton previously started 16 games with the Seattle Seahawks (2019-2022) and 13 games with the Washington Commanders (2023). Here are some clips from his time with the Commanders last season:

And here are some highlights from his time with the Seahawks:

And here’s footage from both Seattle and DC:

Barton, 27, has totaled 352 tackles (including eight behind the line of scrimmage), nine pass breakups, seven quarterback hits, three interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 78 career games (29 starts). He has started 24 games over the last two seasons.

After losing Josey Jewell to the Carolina Panthers during NFL free agency, the Broncos signed Barton, presumably as a replacement. The sixth-year linebacker will be the favorite to start next to Alex Singleton in 2024, but Jonas Griffith will also get an opportunity to compete for a spot this summer. Denver’s depth at the position gets a big boost with Barton’s arrival.

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Chiefs celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with video of top-10 Mahomes plays from 2024

The #Chiefs celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by sharing videos of Patrick Mahomes’ top highlights from Kansas City’s 2023 Super Bowl campaign.

The Kansas City Chiefs had no shortage of highlight plays during their 2023 Super Bowl LVIII campaign. Players like Trent McDuffie, L’Jarius Sneed, Isiah Pacheco, and Travis Kelce made their mark in the team’s latest championship season.

But Super Bowl LVIII MVP Patrick Mahomes was undeniably Kansas City’s most impactful contributor, and on St. Patrick’s Day, the Chiefs took to Twitter to celebrate his efforts with this video of his top-10 plays from 2023:

While Mahomes might not be the namesake of the Irish-themed holiday, there is never a bad time to re-live the magical moments that he created on the gridiron last season en route to winning his third Super Bowl ring.

Without him, Kansas City may have faltered in the playoffs or even fallen victim to a late-season skid and missed the postseason altogether.

One thing is certain: There is never a bad time to watch Mahomes’ top plays, especially on a holiday that bears his first name.

Photos: UFC, Bellator and more MMA ring card girls through the years

Check out these photos of UFC Octagon Girls, Bellator ring card girls and more MMA personalities who remind us what round it is.

Check out these photos of UFC Octagon Girls, Bellator ring card girls and more MMA personalities who remind us what round it is.

Damian Lillard names the biggest surprise about Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama has dazzled throughout his rookie campaign and recently earned high praise from Damian Lillard.

Victor Wembanyama has dazzled throughout his rookie campaign with the San Antonio Spurs, and the top pick has earned high praise from the top players in the NBA.

Damian Lillard was the latest to chime in.

Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks faced Wembanyama twice this season, winning both. Though Wembanyama missed the first meeting, Lillard had the opportunity to see the 7-footer up close in the second game on Jan. 4 and walked away impressed.

The eight-time All-Star spoke Friday on the “Dan Patrick Show” about Wembanyama and gave a detailed scouting report on what he has seen from the 20-year-old this season.

I think he is special. The first thing you think is height. I could see that he was clearly a good basketball player, but there was just so much hype around him that you were like, ‘Man, he is so tall and long. The game is so fast, how is he going to do in the NBA?’ Then you see he has a little twitch with him. Even though he is tall and lanky, he moves quick. He is fluid and is doing things you just haven’t seen somebody at that size do before.

I think we’ve always been extremely impressed with Kevin Durant doing it at 6-foot-11, now you have a dude who is 7-foot-5 doing the same thing. It is just getting crazy. I think Wemby is special. I think how competitive he is is what surprised me the most and that’s what makes me think that very soon I can see him being the best player in the league.

Wembanyama is averaging 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.3 steals on 46.7% shooting from the field in 58 games. He leads the league in blocks and is also first in points, rebounds and steals among the rookie class.

The Frenchman is the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year after achieving numerous accomplishments, including becoming the youngest player in history to register a 5×5 game and recording a triple-double with blocks. He has also won Rookie of the Month twice.

Wembanyama surpassed expectations this season and has turned in an impressive rookie campaign. With 16 games left to play, Wembanyama has established himself as the franchise cornerstone and looks to be in store for a long career.

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Report: Wizards to sign second-round pick Tristan Vukcevic to 2-year contract

Vukcevic averaged 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds on 43.2% shooting from 3-point range in 30 games with Partizan this season.

Tristan Vukcevic, a 7-foot center with Partizan in Serbia, will reportedly sign a two-year contract with the Washington Wizards, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Vukcevic was drafted with the 42nd pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Wizards. He played with the team in the NBA Summer League, averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, one steal and one block in four appearances.

The 21-year-old returned to play with Partizan as a draft-and-stash prospect this year. The Wizards and Partizan agreed to a seven-figure contract buyout this week, clearing the way for Vukcevic to make the jump to the NBA for the remainder of the season.

Vukcevic averaged 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds on 43.2% shooting from 3-point range in 30 games with Partizan. He has spent the past two-plus seasons with the team and helped it claim the ABA League championship last year.

He is viewed as a highly skilled big man and is touted for his ability as a scorer and shooter, with his smooth stroke and ability to work in the post. He impressed at the combine last year and drew interest from several teams drafting in the second round.

Vukcevic will now have the opportunity to get a head start on next year by joining the Wizards for the last month of the season. He will likely once again play with the team in summer league and should have the chance to compete for a rotation spot next year.

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Taylor Jenkins praises Trey Jemison after career night: ‘I’m really impressed’

Trey Jemison had a career performance to lead the Grizzlies to a win and earned praise from coach Taylor Jenkins afterward.

Trey Jemison produced a career performance to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a win on Tuesday, and the undrafted center from UAB earned praise from coach Taylor Jenkins afterward.

Jemison produced a team-high 24 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in the Grizzlies’ 109-97 victory over the Washington Wizards. He recorded 16 points in the first half and shot 11-of-13 from the field in 31 minutes in his sixth start.

The 24-year-old finished with the second-most points by an undrafted rookie this season (Duop Reath, 26). His 24 points were the most scored by a UAB player in the NBA.

Jenkins explained what stood out about the performance.

Him attacking the boards, I know he only ended up with (six), but the pressure he was putting on the paint. I thought he did a really good job of screening and rolling, something we’re continuing to work with him on — the chemistry with the guards out there. I thought he did a good job of really getting hits because they were staying with their own, and that freed up our guards quite a bit. … Overall, just steps in the right direction with the things we’re asking of him. I’m really impressed. Overall, I’m proud of him — career high and all of that stuff — but he is doing the little things that impact winning.

Jemison started the year in the G League with the Birmingham Squadron and emerged as one of the top players. He signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards on Jan. 20 and joined the Grizzlies on a 10-day contract on Jan. 30. He signed a two-way contract on Feb. 9.

The 6-foot-10 center is averaging 7.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 59.4% shooting from the field in 12 appearances with the Grizzlies. He has scored in double figures four times and is third in scoring average among undrafted rookies.

Jemison impressed throughout the year in the G League and is proving himself at the highest level. He will likely stay with the Grizzlies over the remainder of the season and will be ready for that opportunity.

“I work my butt off, man,” Jemison told Rob Fischer of Bally Sports Southeast. “I go to sleep every night knowing, ‘Hey, I might be ready.’ Whenever Coach calls my name, I’m ready to go, man.”

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Rockets’ Ime Udoka: Cam Whitmore expected to miss 3 weeks with injury

Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore will likely miss three weeks due to a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

Houston Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore will likely miss three weeks due to a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, head coach Ime Udoka said on Tuesday.

Whitmore began to experience stiffness in his knee on Sunday in a win over the Sacramento Kings. He finished by recording 10 points and four rebounds in nearly 20 minutes of work before seeking evaluation by the team medical staff after the game.

The 20th pick will begin rehabilitation for the injury immediately. Udoka said there is a chance Whitmore could return before the three-week timetable, depending on how his knee responds to the treatment.

Whitmore is averaging 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 36.1% shooting from 3-point range in 38 games this season with the Rockets. He has recorded four 20-point games, including a career-high 25 points and six rebounds on Feb. 2.

The 20th pick started the year in the G League, logging 13 appearances with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He entered the rotation with the Rockets at the start of January and has played in every game, with the exception of three last month due to an ankle injury.

Whitmore has emerged as a key rotation player over the second half of the season. The team is also dealing with injuries to Tari Eason (leg) and Alperen Sengun (ankle) and will be further short-handed with its latest setback with Whitmore.

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Check out these highlights of new Broncos safety Brandon Jones

Brandon Jones is fun to watch blitzing from the slot. The Broncos are adding an exciting safety to the defense.

The Denver Broncos reached an agreement on a three-year, $20 million contract with safety Brandon Jones on Monday.

The deal will not become official until the NFL’s new league year begins on Wednesday, but Jones has already confirmed he’s joining the Broncos.

Jones (6-1, 191 pounds) is a play-making safety who excels as a pass rusher. Yes, that’s right, he’s a safety who can get after the quarterback. Often lining up in the box, Jones has been utilized as a blitzer, recording eight sacks through his first three seasons in the NFL.

Here are some of Jones’ highlights from his time with the Miami Dolphins, including a strip-sack in the first clip:

And some more highlights:

(If the above video is blocked on your device, you can watch it on YouTube.)

Jones (25) will join a safety room that already includes Caden Sterns (24) and P.J. Locke (27). After releasing Justin Simmons (30) to save salary cap space earlier this week, the Broncos are now younger in the secondary going into the 2024 season.

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