ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic haven’t won a playoff series in 16 years.

Sean Sweeney knew exactly what he was signing up for when he accepted the job.

He knew this wasn’t a rebuilding project. He knew this wasn’t the kind of opportunity most first-time NBA head coaches inherit. And after watching his introductory news conference Thursday, I got the sense he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

What stood out wasn’t necessarily anything Sweeney said specifically. It was how he said it. You could feel the intensity emanating from every pore of his body. Not arrogance. Not bravado. Intensity. The kind of intensity that has followed him throughout a career spent coaching alongside some of the most demanding personalities in the business and sitting in the office next to Gregg Popovich this season in San Antonio.

Frankly, a little bit of Pop is exactly what the Magic need right now.

Because while everybody wants to discuss offensive schemes, defensive adjustments and lineup combinations, let’s be honest about what happened to Orlando last season. Somewhere along the way, the Magic lost their edge. They lost some of the nastiness and competitive bite that had become their identity. When adversity arrived in the playoffs, they didn’t respond like a team that expected to win.

Nobody seemed more aware of that than Paolo Banchero. After Orlando’s devastating collapse against Detroit, Banchero didn’t talk about injuries, bad luck or officiating. Instead, he challenged the entire organization.

“We have to create an environment where losing isn’t acceptable,” Banchero said after the season ended.

That statement felt less like a postgame quote and more like a mandate. The Magic responded by hiring Sean Sweeney, and based on his introductory news conference, it’s hard not to believe that ownership, management and the players themselves were looking for somebody willing to raise the temperature inside the building.

One of the most revealing moments of the news conference came when Sweeney was asked what he hoped Magic players would say about him after his first season as head coach. Most coaches would probably answer with some cliche about creating culture, but Sweeney went in a different direction. He recalled a comment from one of his former players in Detroit, who told him, “You’re the first a-hole I’ve ever loved.”

Sweeney laughed before adding: “If these players say that about me, I’d be happy about that.”

There was humor in the answer, but there was also honesty. What Sweeney was really talking about was accountability. He wasn’t describing a coach interested in winning popularity contests. He was describing somebody willing to challenge players, push them and occasionally make them uncomfortable if that’s what it takes to win.

And that’s where this conversation becomes interesting.

Because I think Sean Sweeney is an excellent hire. I also think he may already be under as much pressure as any coach in the NBA.

That sounds ridiculous at first glance. Most first-time head coaches are granted something NBA coaches rarely receive: Patience. They’re hired to oversee rebuilding teams, develop young talent and gradually establish a culture. Success is measured by progress rather than playoff victories.

Jamahl Mosley arrived in Orlando under exactly those circumstances. The roster was young, incomplete and years away from meaningful expectations. Nobody was demanding a second-round appearance. Nobody was talking about championship contention.

Sweeney is inheriting the exact opposite situation.

He’s not being hired to build something. He’s being hired to finish something.

The Magic already have their foundation. Banchero is a star. Franz Wagner has developed into an All-Star-caliber player. Jalen Suggs remains one of the league’s best perimeter defenders when healthy. Desmond Bane was acquired specifically to solve Orlando’s offensive shortcomings. Wendell Carter Jr. is a proven starting center. The rebuilding phase is over. The waiting phase is over. The expectation now is advancement.

That’s what makes this job so unique. If the Magic fail to reach the second round next season, there will be people who consider Sweeney’s first year a disappointment regardless of context. Fair or not, that’s the reality he inherited.

The organization has already demonstrated that simply making the playoffs is no longer enough. Orlando fired Mosley despite three consecutive playoff appearances because the franchise remains stuck in the same place it has been for years: the first round. The message was unmistakable. Progress without advancement eventually stops being progress.

The fan base has reached that same conclusion. Think about what 16 years really means. Some Magic fans weren’t alive the last time Orlando won a playoff series. Others grew up hearing stories about Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy and the 2009 Finals team without ever experiencing meaningful postseason success themselves. Patience tends to disappear after 16 years.

What’s particularly fascinating is that Orlando’s starting lineup simultaneously feels accomplished and unaccomplished. On paper, a group featuring Banchero, Wagner, Bane, Suggs and Carter should be one of the most exciting young starting fives in basketball. Yet that entire lineup has a combined one playoff-series victory.

One — Bane, when he was with the Grizzlies. In the 2022 playoffs.

Despite that reality, expectations have never been higher.

The challenge becomes even more difficult because the usual excuses aren’t available. The injury explanation has already been used. Fairly or unfairly, the Magic have dealt with significant injuries in consecutive seasons, and those circumstances didn’t save Mosley’s job. If Wagner misses time again, if Suggs battles injuries again or if the roster isn’t completely healthy in April, expectations aren’t going anywhere.

Neither is the pressure.

The roster isn’t likely to change much either. Orlando doesn’t possess premium draft capital, and the organization isn’t positioned to make a major splash in free agency. Barring an unexpected move, this is largely the group Sweeney will be coaching.

And the math isn’t particularly friendly.

Only four Eastern Conference teams advance to the second round. Most observers would agree that New York, Boston and Detroit appear likely to claim three of those spots. That leaves one opening for everybody else. Orlando will be competing with Atlanta, Toronto and Charlotte, all improving young teams, while also battling Cleveland, Philadelphia, Miami and an Indiana team that should have a healthy Tyrese Haliburton back in the mix.

Every one of those teams believes it belongs in the second round.

Most of them won’t get there.

That’s why the Magic didn’t just hire a coach this summer. They hired a mentality. They hired an attitude. They hired somebody who they believe will raise the standard in the building and make losing uncomfortable again.

The question now is whether that edge translates into the one thing Orlando fans have been waiting nearly two decades to see.

Sweeney is walking into one of the few first-time coaching jobs in professional sports where anything short of a playoff-series victory may be viewed as failure.

No pressure, Coach.

All you have to do is end a 16-year franchise drought, restore a team’s lost identity and prove an entire organization made the right decision by hiring a rookie head coach.

Welcome to Orlando — a place where the honeymoon ends at the introductory news conference.

____

Why Jackson State is hiring ESPN pundit Kendrick Perkins as men's basketball general manager originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Along with a 14-year career in the NBA, many basketball fans are most familiar with Kendrick Perkins for frequently appearing on the "First Take" and "NBA Today" shows on ESPN. Now, the basketball veteran will imminently start as the Jackson State general manager for the men's basketball program.

Perkins was likely hired since he has a recognizable name that many fans and recruits would know, so he will likely grow the recruiting power for the Tigers.

While he will have a new career as general manager, he will reportedly still be able to hold his position on ESPN.

Here's why the ESPN basketball analyst was hired as a general manager for Jackson State.

MORE: SN's 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Who goes first?

Why Jackson State is hiring Kendrick Perkins as general manager

On Friday, Shams Charania reported that Perkins would be moving to Jackson State to become the men's basketball program's general manager. After a long career in the NBA and working on ESPN as a TV personality, Perkins will add another aspect of the basketball world to his resume.

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins – 14-year NBA veteran and 2008 champion – has agreed to become the men's basketball General Manager of HBCU Jackson State, as well as a connection to its broadcast and journalism program, per Perkins: "I'm thankful for this opportunity to impact… pic.twitter.com/lTHV4tSn3a

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 19, 2026

The new front office position with the Tigers is not expected to affect his current role at ESPN, so expect a continuation of Perkins' personality on the screen. The notability of Perkins' name may also be utilized for recruiting to the school, which is another reason why the former center may have been hired.

SN NBA AWARDS:POY (Victor Wembanyama)| ROY (Kon Knueppel) | COY (Joe Mazzulla)

What does a college basketball GM do?

In college basketball, general managers are usually in charge of recruiting and building a roster ahead of each season. In recent years, the position has often been given to a school's notable basketball alumni to try and grow recruiting numbers (Stephen Curry at Davidson, Damian Lillard at Weber State).

When Lillard was hired at Weber State, it was expected that the Portland Trail Blazer would "work closely with the coaching staff and athletic department leadership to provide insight, mentorship and guidance, using his experience at the collegiate and professional levels to elevate the program," per Deseret News.

Is Kendrick Perkins leaving ESPN?

No, at the moment, it does not appear that Perkins will be leaving his post as a basketball analyst for ESPN. According to Charania, Perkins will keep his current position at ESPN, along with working as the general manager for the general manager of the men's basketball program.

Perkins adds the new GM role to his ESPN position and becomes the latest retired or active NBA player to take an administrative position in college basketball, joining most recently John Wall (HBCU Howard), Stephen Curry (Davidson), Trae Young (Oklahoma) and others.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 19, 2026

Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young also work in administrative positions but still maintain their roles in the NBA.

MORE: Comparing 2026 NBA mock drafts from experts around the basketball world

Jackson State 2025-26 record

Jackson State finished with a 12-21 record after the 2025-26 season, according to ESPN. Four of the Tigers' opening six losses in a row came from ranked opponents (No. 17 Illinois, No. 11 Louisville, No. 22 Auburn, and No. 21 Arkansas).

Jackson State also had the misfortune of sharing the court with No. 7 Houston, a game that resulted in an 80-38 blowout.

MORE: Who were the biggest winners and losers at the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?

STORRS — Blanca Quinonez knows only one way to play, with full- bore, hit-the-floor intensity. UConn women’s basketball watchers saw plenty of that during her freshman season, few aware of the toll it was taking.

Quinonez was playing with a torn labrum in her left shoulder almost the entire season, something she should not have to deal with once she recovers from her May 18 surgery.

“I feel like it was limiting,” Quinonez said, in a catch-up chat with state reporters this week. “I’d have to stay out, be back, stay out, back twice. It was just a little harder to get a rhythm and start again. Basketball is a rhythm, I feel like this season is going to be better.”

Quinonez missed nine games in two separate stints, to try to get in the best possible position for March Madness, yet she averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists in 20 minutes per game, shot 53.6 percent from the field, 39.5 from 3-point range and was the Big East’s Sixth Player of the Year –– all with it in back of her mind that hitting the floor, or getting hit under the boards could be excruciating.

Dom Amore: One UConn women’s player reacted to her coaches’ yelling with a secret smile

“Everything was more mentally difficult,” she said. “You know there’s an injury, you’ve got to be careful, but I didn’t really care. I just went on the court and was trying to do my best, but the injury was there and somehow I was trying to take care of it.”

Like most of the Huskies, Quinonez was not at her best when it came to the Final Four, and UConn’s 62-48  loss to South Carolina in the semifinals. She was 2 for 6 in the game, foul trouble limiting her to 20 minutes. As her shoulder heals — she is out of her sling, at least — that game is the more prevalent pain she is feeling now.

“We definitely are motivated by it. … It hurts,” Quinonez said. “At the moment, it’s still hurting, knowing we could do better. But it’s a moment we can start from for next season, knowing what we did last couple of games to get ready for next season. We just have to take that as another motivation to get better every day.”

The lesson, she said, was for UConn to focus on its own game, playing as a unit the way they did in winning the first 38 games of the season, and less about who they were playing. The Huskies were obviously taken out of their game by the aggressive Gamecocks.

“We just have to be ready for everything,” Quinonez said. “I know we got surprised about the last game, we were ready but didn’t expect (what happened). We had a really good connection and played together (during the year), we just have build from that, learn from what happened at the end of the season and get better from that.”

Part of turning the page from that dissapointing finish is to get players healthy. Sarah Strong is not playing any international tournaments this summer, and limiting her on-court wear and tear to try to get her calf and Achilles issues behind her. Morgan Cheli is back fully participating after missing a year and a half with a stress fracture in her right ankle. And Quinonez figures to be 100 percent. Coach Geno Auriemma and his staff did not get any players out of the transfer portal, in part, because of the potential this roster has if players get healthy and continue to improve.

The newcomers include Jovana Popovic from Serbia, Marine Dursus from France, who has not yet arrived, and Olivia Vukosa, from Croatia by way of Long Island Lutheran. Quinonez, from Ecuador, who played with a club in Italy before coming to UConn, is anxious to share what she learned with her new teammates from overseas.

“Knowing I was in their position last year, I  feel I can help them a little bit,” she said. “I’m excited for them and I can’t wait. Last year was a lot to learn for me, I know more about this program, I know more about how this works.”

In the meantime, Quinonez is limited in her activities. She cannot even do much running, because of the jarring on her shoulder. As a former youth soccer player, and the daughter of a soccer player, she is checking in on the World Cup, disappointed her native Ecuador lost its first game to Ivory Coast.

Jamelle Elliott walks away from UConn women’s basketball program ‘on fire’ about new enterprise

Her freshman-to-sophomore jump will have to come from watching film and talking to coaches about how to file the rough edges off her game when she gets back on the court, projected for September or October.

“When you see your teammates practicing you just want to be there,” Quinonez said. “I’m the kind of person, I want to do everything 100 percent and I can’t do that now. I’m just going to try to do my 100 percent when I am ready. … More than pain, it was more being uncomfortable with it, knowing there was something that is limiting me. I would fall or someone would hit my shoulder it would hurt a little bit.”

As good as she was despite playing as a freshman with her shoulder barking and in a brace, how could can Quinonez be as a healthy sophomore?

“We’ll find out next season,” she said, flashing a wide smile.

Former Iona player Adam Njie Jr. ruled ineligible over point shaving scandal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Former Iona player Adam Njie Jr. has officially been ruled ineligible by the NCAA for his alleged point shaving in 2024.

According to the NCAA, Njie shared critical information with bettors regarding two games he was playing in December 2024, during his freshman year at Iona. One of those games resulted in a bettor amassed $15,500 in bets against Rice that was ultimately lost, causing serious problems for Njie.

One bettor threatened Njie as he felt he was cheated out of his winnings. There were plans to fix the next game against Sacred Heart, but Njie denies going through with either one. The NCAA says Njie cooperated with the investigation and "maintained that he did not manipulate his performance."

Njie transferred from Iona to Dayton in 2025 but was held out of games last season.

This comes after numerous players in the NBA, as well as college basketball, were under fire for possible betting inaccuracies that led to legal action. Over 39 players from 17 Division I basketball teams were implicated. Players such as Simeon Cottle, Carlos Hart and Camiaian Shell were either suspended or removed from team activities while the investigation ensued. In 2025, former NBA players like Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones were caught in their own gambling scandal that included sports betting and fixed poker games.

MORE:College basketball point shaving scandal: List of players, bribe amounts, money wagered and more to know

The outcome for these players is unfortunate, but organizations are cracking down on this behavior that could leave a stain on the entire world of basketball. It is yet to be seen what the next move will be for Njie as he faces uncharted waters.

The bettors involved in the Njie case were among six men who were described as "fixers" by the Department of Justice in a sweeping indictment released Jan. 15, according to the NCAA. 

More College Basketball news:

• NBA won't beat rigging allegations if AJ Dybantsa goes to Utah Jazz
• 2026 NBA Draft announcements: Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and other top prospects headed to the league
• Former UNC basketball coach to Michael Malone: 'Embrace history, but don’t be paralyzed by it'
• NBA legend won't contact Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and others after draft
• Former NBA ref calls Dan Hurley’s viral sideline exchange 'weird'

The New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years and the city is celebrating.

Fans came out in droves on June 18 as the newly-minted champs celebrated with a packed parade that went from Battery Park City, to Broadway then to City Hall. The city was overflowing with orange and blue as fans donned their best Knicks merch, from classic jerseys to unique accessories. Celebrity fans such as Mariska Hargitay, Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee and Ben Stiller were also present and accounted for, cheering with onlookers, recording footage for an upcoming documentary and mingling with team members.

Below, check out some of the best photos from the New York Knicks parade.

Related: Martha Stewart! Timothée Chalamet! Mariska Hargitay! See All the Celebs Celebrating at the Knicks Championship Parade

01 of 20

Winner, Winner

It was a family affair for Jalen Brunson who attended the parade with wife Ali Marks Brunson and their daughter Jordyn James (wearing a bejeweled Knicks headband from Super Smalls!).

02 of 20

A Spike Lee Joint

Lifetime fan Spike Lee was jubilant as he interacted with fans from the parade float. The famed director's dedication to the team is so unwavering, he rocked a Pope-anointed jersey for game 3.

03 of 20

On the Mic

An amped Timothée Chalamet went back to his Lil Timmy Tim roots and hyped up the city from the float.

04 of 20

Fist Pump

Another dedicated fan, Ben Stiller, continued shoot footage of all the fanfare surrounding the team. The Along Came Polly actor is currently making a documentary about the Knicks and he's noticeably been shooting footage at each game he's attended this season.

"Obviously I've been shooting some stuff on my phone, but it's kind of going to be about all eras of the Knicks and this team. Obviously there's a culmination here of something that's been going on for a long time, so it's super exciting," Stiller told Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on their podcast, Roommates.

"It's great to have had all this access to your team, and we're probably going to be shooting a little bit more during the next season. I'm going to hit you guys up for some interviews."

05 of 20

Power to the People

In this aerial shot, fans make a sea of orange and blue as they swarm the streets to celebrate the big win.

06 of 20

From the Windowpane

Young fans decked out in Knicks gear got a birds' eye view from a nearby building.

07 of 20

Confetti Crowd

Onlookers in a building along the parade's path wave pom poms and cheer from their windows.

08 of 20

Hometown Hero

Hell's Kitchen native Alicia Keys sung her heart out in front of New York's City Hall, which was also decked out in nothing but Knicks gear.

09 of 20

Proud Parents

Die-hard fan Mariska Hargitay cheered as she walked alongside Knicks assistant coach, Rick Brunson, who toted the trophy. Brunson, the father of MVP winner, Jalen Brunson, was also a Knick from 1998 to 2000. (Mariska's son August, behind her, is wearing a "Marknickska Hargitay" shirt.)

10 of 20

View from the Top

These fans climbed on traffic lights, bus stop shelters and ambulances to get a good look at the action.

11 of 20

Special Present

It was a great birthday for one Knicks fan who got to celebrate her special day at the parade as well.

12 of 20

Start Them Young

For many, being a Knicks loyalist is a life-long commitment, and it appears these parents are starting their little girl early!

13 of 20

Special Regalia

A Knicks cap is cool. Even cooler? A basketball hat.

14 of 20

Brooklyn to the World

Brooklyn-bred Knicks point guard Jose Alvarado had the crowd going as he danced on top of a float.

15 of 20

Big Smiles

Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown was smiling from ear-to-ear as he looked on at fans while his float made its way through the parade.

16 of 20

Paint the Town

Another young fan gets inducted into the fandom as his mom paints an orange and blue "1" on his cheek.

17 of 20

Yes, Champ!

An ecstatic Karl-Anthony Towns leads the charge while celebrating with fiancée Jordyn Woods.

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Brunson Squad

A young boy gets a good view from his father's shoulders while donning a cool 'fit — Brunson jersey, a coordinating hat and mirrored shades to boot.

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Daddy-Daughter Time

Mitchell Robinson's daughter proudly looks on as the power forward greets supporters in front of City Hall.

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Mayoral Duties

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani can barely contain his excitement as he cheers with the crowd while on a float with OG Anunoby.

Read the original article on People

NEW YORK – The city-wide celebrations since the Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years culminated on Thursday with a ticker-tape parade that saw massive crowds pay tribute to their newest basketball heroes. 

On Saturday, the Knicks defeated the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch their first championship since 1973, ending a 53-year title drought.

NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said on Wednesday that 10,000 police officers would be assigned to the parade’s one-mile trek from Battery Park to City Hall. It’s the biggest police presence at a planned event in the city’s history. Tisch encouraged New Yorkers to arrive early with the expectation of attendance reaching the millions. 

She wasn’t wrong. 

By 6 a.m., the NYPD was turning away fans from the barriers to the parade as thousands of New Yorkers arrived early—some in the middle of the night—for a prime spot along the route. A Starbucks across from City Hall was so busy at 6 a.m. that an employee called to turn off mobile ordering because of the overflow of customers. 

In the morning, subways were so jammed that some parade-goers were forced to wait 30 minutes to exit, according to some reports. Members of the media had to go through layers of police to get to their assigned area with some cops not knowing where to properly direct them. 

Up against impossible crowds, NYPD officers helped fans and did their best to bring some measure of calm amid the chaos. 

The start of the parade was delayed half an hour as the Knicks, their celebrity fans, and other performers such as marching bands and the police prepared to deploy along the route and didn’t arrive at City Hall until around noon. 

While the parade winded through downtown Manhattan relatively peacefully, it wasn’t all smooth. The NYPD said a man was slashed with broken glass near the parade route, while 10 people were arrested, according to reports.

one glaring error that got a lot of attention online was a Knicks No. 33 jersey hanging on City Hall’s facade along with the rest of the roster for two-way player Dillion Jones. The 24-year-old former first-round pick played seven games for the Knicks this season while wearing No. 1, but was mistakenly listed as No. 33 on the team’s online roster. No. 33 is retired, and synonymous with Knicks legend Patrick Ewing, who played 15 seasons for the team and is regarded among the greatest players in franchise history. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the crowd as did Knicks owner James Dolan, president of basketball operations Leon Rose, and Finals MVP Jalen Brunson. Longtime play-by-play announcer Mike Breen served as the master of ceremonies. 

New York politicians such as Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were also in attendance. Alicia Keys closed out the ceremony with a rendition of “Empire State of Mind”—her 2009 hit song with Jay-Z. 

In his speech, Mamdani described how the Knicks run resonated with New Yorkers and the city’s work ethic, while showing off his fandom of the team. He thanked former coach Tom Thibodeau for helping create a championship caliber team and mentioned notable former Knicks such as Larry Johnson and Charles Oakley, who is in a years-long lawsuit with Dolan, in addition to players from the team’s leaner years such as Langston Galloway. 

He talked about the Knicks being down 20 points with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter of Game 4 and how the Spurs had a 99.6% chance to win and even the series 2–2. 

“It is in that .4% that we go to work,” Mamdani said. 

Brunson noted him being counted out as an undersized player at 6-foot-2 and how he was able to ignore it and help lead the team to a championship. 

“There’s a lot of people who have a lot of negative stuff to say,” Brunson said. “There’s a lot of people who have their own opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you don’t have to say shit to them. They don’t deserve it.”

The post Knicks Fans Swarm Lower Manhattan in One of Largest NYC Parades Ever appeared first on Front Office Sports.

By the time Mikal Bridges leaned toward his phone Monday morning, a navy fitted with a yellow brim sitting high on his head like he was 21 again somewhere deep in a draft-night after-party, eyes heavy and a glass of brown liquor raised during the stream, the Knicks’ first NBA title celebration in 53 years had stumbled from Flyfish Club on the Lower East Side onto Instagram Live.

Bridges had slept little, if at all. Championship weekend was still going strong, clearly, and the live feed became a venting session for everything attached to his first ring, from the jokes and laughs to the rambling bits, the relief and the pressure finally leaving his shoulders.

The Atlanta Hawks got a shoutout for helping light the fuse under his playoff surge. Sonny, Bridges’ 10-year-old Labrador retriever, got a floor-level serenade, then trotted away. Ariel Hukporti’s birth certificate caught a stray. Bridges proclaimed Jalen Brunson the GOAT, big head and all, and pushed for a statue outside Madison Square Garden, something no Knick has ever had.

Knicks president Leon Rose got his flowers for changing the franchise’s culture. Owner James Dolan got a request for a new practice facility in Manhattan, one easier for players to reach. And somewhere mixed in his rant, there was also a warning: The Knicks, Bridges said, were primed for another title run.

Letting it all spill in front of his 610,000 followers, Bridges said every word with his chest. Brunson, watching from wherever he was roughly 36 hours after being named NBA Finals MVP, had seen enough.

His old college teammate had to be stopped.

“Somebody take Mikal’s phone,” Brunson wrote on X as clips from Bridges’ chaotic stream spread across social media. It was Brunson’s first post in months.

There was also a story about Chris Paul. Bridges said his former Phoenix Suns teammate sent him a Nets football helmet after the Kevin Durant mega deal sent him to Brooklyn, telling him, “People play football in the East” and turning Bridges’ first New York stop into a troll job.

Nobody’s laughing harder than Bridges now.

Paul had the prank. Bridges has the ring.

Who won the championship after-party is still up for debate.

“I’m still here,” Bridges said after Game 5 of the Finals.

Seconds after the final buzzer sounded Saturday night in San Antonio, Bridges lingered on the floor, swallowed by the celebration, his face giving way before words could reach the moment.

Five years ago, he stood two wins from a title with Phoenix before the Milwaukee Bucks won four straight. Afterward came the Nets, where he was asked to front a reset after the Big 3 era collapsed. Then came the Knicks, who paid a massive price to bring him across the river and asked him to fit beside Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart.

Now Bridges is a champion. The NBA’s ironman still hasn’t missed a game. And the price the Knicks paid no longer feels like his burden to carry. So, if Bridges wants to get a little unfiltered, a little sentimental and perhaps a little cheesy on Instagram Live two days after winning his first title, he’s earned that right.

“All-time great IG Live,” Towns co-signed Monday afternoon on X.

Which, objectively, it was.

The ring didn’t explain the behavior. It validated it. In Brooklyn, that kind of ending always felt theoretical.

The Nets weren’t foolish for moving him. They got an unprecedented haul in return, and for a team still searching for its next franchise anchor, the package was worth taking. The Knicks paid anyway because Bridges made more sense with a contender than atop a rebuild. His job in Brooklyn became too large for his game. Not because Bridges lacked talent or work ethic, but because his best basketball has always come next to stars, not in place of them.

Bridges was respected in Brooklyn. What he found with the Knicks was something more complete: the right role, the right stakes and the power of friendship, a Captain Planet kind of synergy that sounded ridiculous until it started winning at the highest level. Phoenix was the last place where, to borrow Brunson’s phrase, the vibes had felt this immaculate.

The Villanova connection obviously helped. So did a locker room that never seemed to ask Bridges to be more than himself. Hart rounded out the trio with Brunson and Bridges, and it would have been a quartet if Donte DiVincenzo hadn’t been included in the Towns trade. But Towns became beloved there, too. Bridges fit into that room without needing to own it. You could see it in the way the Knicks moved, covered for each other and celebrated each other.

Bridges had some rough nights this season. He went through a post-All-Star slump that brought the old questions back, bottomed out with a scoreless night against the Los Angeles Lakers, then opened the Atlanta series giving skeptics exactly the kind of silence they were waiting for.

Whenever his shot went cold from deep, fans and so-called experts suddenly became shooting coaches, picking apart a form that had already carried him to a 41-point Christmas at the Garden and a 35-point night in Boston this season.

But if the rough nights fed the doubt, the better ones explained the belief. There was the Atlanta clincher, when he finally punched back with 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting. There were the efficient nights against Philadelphia, the steady start to the Eastern Conference finals, the 20-point Finals response in San Antonio.

The Knicks never abandoned him when the shot came and went, in part because Bridges’ value never lived only in the jumper. His defense, the thing that made him matter long before the trade price followed him to New York, still traveled. More often than not, he showed up. In the end, they brought out the best of him.

Even the friendship came with a running count. Bridges and Brunson had already won two national championships together, one more than Hart. Now Bridges and Brunson had won three championships together, one more than Hart again, unless you want to start counting the NBA Cup and ruin the bit.

So, when Bridges was asked after Game 5 what it meant to win it all with Brunson, his old Wildcats running mate, he went straight to the bond.

“J.B., I don’t know. I’ve known him for so long. I know how much he works, how good of a person he is, how good of a basketball player he is. I’m just grateful to be on his side again,” Bridges said. “That’s really how I put it. I know how much he works and how much he wants to win. Just grateful to be in this position, to be with him and try to go out there and win.”

That sums up Bridges’ place in all of this. Dominating the room was never the assignment. Knowing where to stand in it was. He embraced that role about as well as anyone could, averaging 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists across 19 appearances during the Knicks’ postseason run while shooting 55.9% from the field, 36.5% from 3-point range and 92% at the free-throw line.

Bridges followed, filled the gaps and lived with the scrutiny. Knicks fans spent parts of the season measuring every miss against the cost of the trade. Bridges heard it all and never ran from it.

“They keep pushing me and if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and if they strongly believe I have a chance to be better, I’m already thinking about that,” Bridges said. “I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, and want me to be better, don’t stop now. Just keep pushing me.

“I know sometimes I’ll struggle, this and that, but just know I’m going to keep working. If they keep egging me on and talking a little s–t I’m pretty tough, I’ll be all right.”

The last question Bridges fielded on Saturday brought him back to the picks. Even in the early hours of his now-legendary championship bender, he tried to answer with grace. Hukporti, sitting next to him, seemed to think Bridges was being far too modest.

With a bottle of Armand de Brignac Champagne in his hands, Hukporti turned the conversation away from what the Knicks gave up and toward the player they got. He said the part Rose and Dolan had already spent five first-rounders to prove.

“Man, we got him out of Brooklyn!” Hukporti said. “Look at him now… F-k them picks!”

The season started with a Finals-or-bust mandate.

It hadn’t been vocalized yet, but the expectation was crystal clear the moment the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after an Eastern Conference Finals berth, conducted an exhaustive five-week head-coaching search, and replaced him with the more collaborative Mike Brown.

The Knicks ultimately accomplished their mission with a historic playoff run, culminating in the franchise’s first championship since 1973, but the road to get there wasn’t always so straightforward.

Let’s relive how the Knicks ended their 53-year championship drought, starting from the beginning.

EARLY ROAD WOES

The Knicks’ first brush with adversity occurred on their first road trip, as they went 0-3, illuminating the learning curve they were undergoing under Brown.

In all three losses, the Knicks failed to put together a complete performance, struggling for prolonged stretches within each game.

The Knicks started the season 7-0 at home but 1-5 on the road.

NBA CUP

Once the Knicks corrected their road woes, they looked the part of a steady, albeit inconsistent, contender.

But the Knicks offered the first reason to believe something special was brewing during the NBA’s in-season tournament, where they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in a hard-fought NBA Cup final on Dec. 16.

Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby keyed a fourth-quarter comeback, resulting in a 124-113 victory over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, in what proved to be incredible foreshadowing.

The Knicks opted against raising a banner for their NBA Cup championship, choosing to keep the Madison Square Garden rafters sacred as they pursued a larger goal.

DOLAN INTERVIEW

The aforementioned Finals-or-bust decree went from understood to unmistakable on Jan. 5, when Knicks owner James Dolan conducted a rare interview on WFAN.

“Getting to the Finals, we absolutely have to do,” Dolan said. “Winning the Finals, we should do.”

At that point, the Knicks were 23-12. But they would lose that night, 121-90, to the East-leading Detroit Pistons.

And things got worse before they got better.

SLUMP AND RESURGENCE

That loss in Detroit was the Knicks’ fourth in a row.

It came toward the beginning of a season-worst slide in which the Knicks went 2-9, raising concerns about a post-NBA Cup letdown and about their trajectory moving forward.

The slump bottomed out with a 114-97 loss at home to the rebuilding Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 19.

After that humbling defeat, Brunson called a players-only meeting to clear the air.

In a testament to their mettle, the Knicks responded with a season-long eight-game winning streak, including a double-overtime thriller over the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 4.

TRADE DEADLINE

Hanging over the Knicks for much of the season’s first half were the seemingly never-ending Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors.

Dolan had thrown some cold water on those rumors during his Jan. 5 interview, but as speculation increased that the Milwaukee Bucks were shopping their superstar, the Knicks were repeatedly linked as a potential destination.

Trading for Antetokounmpo would have been a long-term play for the Knicks, costing them depth and chemistry in the middle of a season with championship aspirations.

Ultimately, Antetokounmpo was not traded, and the Knicks stayed the course with the roster they had methodically assembled.

The Knicks did make one notable pre-deadline addition, however, by acquiring Brooklyn-born Jose Alvarado to fill their backup point guard void.

SECOND-HALF ROLLER COASTER

The final two-plus months of the season were filled with ups and downs for the Knicks, who were blown out two more times by the Pistons, completing a sobering three-game season series sweep.

The Knicks won seven games in a row between March 11-24, but every opponent in that stretch was below .500. They then lost three games in a row to teams with winning records.

All told, the Knicks went a full month — from March 6 and April 6 — between wins over teams with winning records.

The Knicks would finish strong, winning their final five games, not including an inconsequential April 12 finale in which their starters sat.

Three of those games, beginning with the April 6 win in Atlanta, were against teams above .500.

ADJUSTMENT IN ATLANTA

The Knicks finished with a 53-29 record, good for the No. 3 seed in the East, setting up a first-round playoff matchup with the sixth-seeded Atlanta Hawks.

Despite their seeding being unsettled at the time, the Hawks sat their starters in the season finale, too, indicating they were OK with — or even wanted — the matchup with the Knicks.

Atlanta had transformed during the season, trading away Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis while embracing a youth movement.

The Hawks won 19 of their final 24 regular-season games, and some believed they posed a real threat to the Knicks.

Atlanta backed that up by taking a 2-1 series lead with one-point wins in Games 2 and 3, with trash-talking veteran CJ McCollum drilling the game-winner in both.

That proved to be the turning point of the Knicks’ postseason. With their backs against the wall, the Knicks made a key adjustment by featuring center Karl-Anthony Towns as more of a facilitator.

That unlocked the Knicks’ offense, with Towns delivering triple-doubles in Games 4 and 6 as the Knicks won three in a row.

That last of those wins — a 140-89 demolition in Atlanta on April 30 — marked the largest margin of victory in Knicks playoff history.

76ERS SWEEP

The Knicks caught a break when the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers upset the second-seeded Boston Celtics in seven games.

Not only did the Sixers unseat a higher seed, but they expended tremendous energy to do so.

The Knicks swept the 76ers relatively easily in the second round, with star Philly center Joel Embiid — a notorious Knicks villain — struggling in Game 1, then missing Game 2 due to ankle and hip injuries.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway of the series was the Knicks fans’ robust takeovers of Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena in Games 3 and 4, the latter of which being a 144-114 drubbing on May 10 (Mother’s Day).

Anunoby tweaked his hamstring at the end of Game 2, then missed Games 3 and 4.

But because the Knicks got nine days between series, Anunoby was able to rest up and return for the start of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Meanwhile, their next opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers, needed seven games to knock off the top-seeded Pistons.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

The long lay-off did work against the Knicks a bit, as they came out rusty in Game 1 of the conference finals.

The Cavs led 93-71 with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter that night at the Garden, but that was merely the stage-setter for one of the prevailing moments in the Knicks’ championship run.

Behind 15 fourth-quarter points by Brunson — who repeatedly hunted Cleveland’s James Harden — the Knicks furiously erased that 22-point deficit and won, 114-105, in overtime.

Cleveland never really rebounded from there.

The Cavs prioritized stopping Brunson in Game 2, so he dished out 14 assists against their double teams. Josh Hart, whom they left open, shot 5-of-11 on 3-pointers in a 109-93 victory.

The Knicks faced little resistance in Games 3 and 4, winning the latter 130-93 in Cleveland to clinch a sweep and book their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999.

That set up a meeting with the young, 62-win Spurs, who were favored in the Finals despite needing seven games to eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder in an emotional, draining Western Conference Finals.

NBA FINALS GAME 1: CAPTAIN CLUTCH

Game 1 of the NBA Finals didn’t look like it would become a signature Brunson performance.

A first-quarter collision into his right knee briefly sent Brunson to the locker room, while a second-quarter turn of his left ankle left the Knicks star in more pain.

He started 5-of-18 from the field and finished 12-of-31.

But Brunson stepped up when the Knicks needed him most, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 105-95 win in San Antonio.

With the Knicks down by a point late in the fourth, a leaping Brunson extended a possession by directing a long offensive rebound to Mikal Bridges. Bridges then found Brunson in the corner for the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:50 to go.

Then, with 37.8 seconds left, Brunson made a tough, off-balance jumper with Devin Vassell all over him that served as the dagger.

“He did what MVP candidates are supposed to do,” Brown said. “He carried us home.”

Towns’ defense against the 7-4 Wembanyama also stood out, as the 22-year-old phenom finished 6-of-21 from the field.

GAME 2: WEMBY WILTS

Game 2 was similarly dramatic, as the Knicks led by 14 points with under six minutes remaining, only for the Spurs to come roaring back.

A three-point play by Wembanyama gave the Spurs a two-point lead with 57.3 seconds left. Less than 20 seconds later, Brunson tied the game, 104-104, with a fadeaway jumper off of one foot over the towering Wembanyama.

That remained the score in the game’s waning seconds when Wembanyama corralled a defensive rebound. But Wembanyama passed the ball when Stephon Castle wasn’t looking, and the ball bounded off of Castle’s back and into Brunson’s hands.

Wembanyama inadvertently fouled Brunson amid the chaos, setting up the Knicks’ go-ahead free throw. On the other end, Wembanyama’s miss at the buzzer clinched a 105-104 Knicks win.

“I’m still very blurry, and that’s the whole problem,” Wembanyama said afterward. “I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”

GAME 3: REALITY CHECK

At the Garden for the first Finals home game since 1999, the Knicks had little answer for Wembanyama, who bounced back with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks in his series-best performance.

Criticized for his passiveness and shot selection through two games, Wembanyama was much more aggressive in attacking the rim in Game 3. Eight of his 11 baskets were lay-ups or dunks. Six of them were set up by a lob.

Just as notably, Wembanyama got away with a first-quarter shove of Brunson that drove the Knicks star to the ground — a non-call that would hang over the rest of the series.

Brown complained of the free-throw disparity after the Knicks’ 115-111 loss, during which San Antonio out-shot them from the line, 24-8, in the second half.

GAME 4: HAND OF OG

For most of Game 4, the Knicks appeared to be at serious risk of relinquishing home-court advantage and falling into a 2-2 series tie

Towns picked up two fouls in the first 62 seconds of the game, sending him to the bench and throwing off the Knicks’ rotations.

Players seemed preoccupied with sending a message to Wembanyama, as Mitchell Robinson and Alvarado both delivered hard, unnecessary fouls against the center within the game’s first 14 minutes.

The Knicks trailed, 81-52, with 9:27 left in the third quarter when the tide began to turn.

Wembanyama caught Towns’ chin with an elbow, resulting in a flagrant foul — and leaving him one flagrant away from an automatic one-game suspension.

That kicked off an immediate 13-0 run by the Knicks, who would outscore the Spurs, 55-25, over the final 21:33. Wembanyama missed two free throws with 1:47 left while the Spurs clung to a one-point lead.

The drama reached its pinnacle when, with the Knicks trailing by a point on their final possession, Brunson missed a long 3-pointer over Wembanyama. Anunoby then came flying in for a go-ahead putback with 1.2 second left.

That gave the Knicks a 107-106 lead — which held up as the final score after Towns tipped the inbound pass on the Spurs’ last possession.

“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said of Anunoby’s game-winner.

The 29-point comeback was the biggest in NBA Finals history.

GAME 5: CHAMPIONS AGAIN

Back in San Antonio, Game 5 followed the same formula yet again.

The Spurs jumped out to another early lead, going up by as many as 16 points in the second quarter.

They led, 72-65, through three quarters.

But Brunson took over from there, scoring 15 points in the fourth to fuel the Knick’s title-clinching 94-90 win.

Brunson scored 29 of his game-high 45 points in the second half en route to unanimous Finals MVP honors.

He joined Michael Jordan, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bob Pettit as the only players to score at least 45 in a Finals closeout game.

“We played like we wanted to go home champions,” Brunson said.

And for the first time in 53 years, they did.

The Commissioner’s Cup final is headed back to New York, where the Liberty will face the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, June 30, for a $500,000 purse. It is a rematch of the 2023 Cup championship, when New York upset Las Vegas in a preview of their eventual WNBA Finals matchup later that season.

The Liberty are the hosts this time around, after winning their previous Cup in Las Vegas. They hosted the 2024 championship game — a loss to the Minnesota Lynx — but had to relocate to Long Island because of the NBA Draft. This is the first Cup title game to be contested at Barclays Center.

New York clinched its berth in the final two games ago, but the Liberty earned the right to host by eking out a 96-95 win over the Chicago Sky on Wednesday. That gave New York a clean sweep (6-0) of its Eastern Conference games and the tiebreaker over Las Vegas.

The Aces were in control of their destiny Wednesday due to their head-to-head win over Minnesota, needing only a win over the Phoenix Mercury to secure their berth. Las Vegas pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 86-76 in its first trip to Phoenix since clinching the 2025 league title on the Mercury’s home floor. Aces star center A’ja Wilson led the way with a game-high 33 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

The Liberty and Aces have not played each other yet this season. Their first regular-season matchup is on Saturday, June 23, in Las Vegas, an appetizer for the main event to follow in New York. But the teams are no strangers to one another; in addition to the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup, the Liberty and the Aces met in the 2023 and 2024 postseasons, splitting the two series as they split the two WNBA titles.

The star power is off the charts, as the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones and the Aces’ Wilson have won six of the last seven MVP awards and five of the last seven Finals MVPs.

The Liberty finally have their full roster together, after welcoming back Sabrina Ionescu on Sunday against the Washington Mystics following a three-week absence due to injury. Ionescu had 5 points in her return and doubled that to 10 against the Sky, including the game-winning bucket with 10.3 seconds to play. New York is riding an eight-game winning streak.

The Aces have won seven of their last eight games behind the dominance of Wilson, who is the favorite to capture yet another MVP trophy. She leads the league in points and blocks per game.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA

2026 The Athletic Media Company

West Reading David Smith Memorial League

June 17

Green Valley Dental 55 (Mike Riley 19), Overhead Door 45 (John Lachina 18).

Tompkins Bank 60 (Drew Miller 15), Admixtures 41 (Corey Attivo 18).

Gage Personnel 50 (Keba Mitchell 21), Athletes Edge 45 (AJ Colon 11).

The men’s and women’s swim teams from Southwestern Oregon Community College each placed second in the NJCAA championships earlier this year and the Lakers had one national champion.

Host Indian River State of Florida dominated the meet, just as the school has for several decades.

In the men’s team race, Indian River State had 1,255 points and SWOCC had 802. Iowa Western Community College, which was third, had 593. In all, 11 teams competed in the event.

SWOCC’s women scored 675 points, trailing Indian River State’s 1,291. The Lakers were almost 160 points ahead of third-place Iowa Western Community College.

SWOCC’s champion was Yuta Kosaka, who won the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 3:53.84.

Kosalka also was second in the 200 butterfly and the 200 breaststroke.

Other Lakers finishing second were Bradley McKenzie in the 50 breaststroke and 100 breaststroke and Victor Dryhauge in the 100 butterfly and 100 individual medley. Gustaf Stokholm was third in the 100 IM and Luis de Vita was third in the 100 breaststroke.

For the women, Andy Garca Jimenez was second in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke and Cami Tovar was second in the 200 freestyle. Allison Wright was third in the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly and Tovar was third in the 500 freestyle.

The Lakers were second behind Indian River State in all the relays. Members of the men’s team on relay squads included Kosaka, McKenzie, Dryhauge, Stokholm, de Vita, Vasco Asparria, Kody Mathill, Juan Garca Flores and Jack Roberts.

The various women’s relays included Wright, Jimenez, Tovar, Isabella Ludvigsen, Nicole Angelova and CC Baurer.

Top-eight national placers for the Lakers during the four-day meet are listed below.

WOMEN

50 Breaststroke — 4. Andy Garca Jimenez, 31.50; 6. Iga Sobek, 32.22.

1000 Freestyle — 4. Cami Tovar, 10:48.72; 7. Izzy McCabe, 11:36.67.

200 Individual Medley — 6. Iga Sobek, 2:24.61.

50 Freestyle — 5. CC Baurer, 24.33.

800 Freestyle Relay — 2. SWOCC (Allison Wright, Isabella Ludvigsen, Andy Garca Jimenez, Cami Tovar), 8:08.79).

200 Freestyle Relay — 2. SWOCC (Cami Tovar, Nicole Angelova, Allison Wright, CC Baurer), 1:40.31.

50 Backstroke — 4. Allison Wright, 28.25.

400 Individual Medley — 8. Mycah Nichols, 5:33.58.

100 Butterfly — 3. Allison Wright, 59.33; 4. CC Baurer, 59.86; 5. Nicole Angelova, 1:00.61.

200 Freestyle — 2. Cami Tovar, 1:56.58; 5. Andy Garca Jimenez, 2:04.94; 6. Isabella Ludvigsen, 2:05.27.

400 Medley Relay — 2. SWOCC (Allison Wright, Andy Garca Jimenez, Nicole Angelova, CC Baurer), 4:03.60.

100 Individual Medley — 4. Nicole Angelova, 1:05.01; 5. Isabella Ludvigsen, 1:05.67.

500 Freestyle — 3. Cami Tovar, 5:09.79; 8. Izzy McCabe, 5:36.31.

100 Breaststroke — 2. Andy Garca Jimenez, 1:08.21; 4. Iga Sobek, 1:10.48.

200 Butterfly — 3. Allison Wright, 2:10.75; 8. Mycah Nichols, 2:50.84.

200 Medley Relay — 2. SWOCC (Cami Tovar, Andy Garca Jimenez, Nicole Angelova, CC Baurer), 1:50.46.

50 Butterfly — 4. CC Baurer, 26.83; 5. Nicole Angelova, 26.92.

1500 Freestyle — 4. Cami Tovar, 18:28.72; 5. Izzy McCabe, 19:15.35.

100 Freestyle — 5. CC Baurer, 53.38; 7. Allison Wright, 54.67.

200 Breaststroke — 2. Andy Garca Jimenez, 2:28.49; 5. Iga Sobek, 2:34.42; 8. Kayla Quesenberry, 2:49.30.

400 Freestyle Relay — 2. SWOCC (Cami Tovar, Nicole Angelova, Allison Wright, CC Buarer), 3:39.23.

MEN

50 Breaststroke — 2. Bradley McKenzie, 25.07; 4. Luis de Vita, 35.45; 5. Jack Roberts, 26.02.

1000 Freestyle — 4. Vasco Asparria, 9:36.68; 5. Kody Mathill, 9:45.81.

200 Individual Medley — 4. Yuta Kosaka, 1:50.16; 7. Luis de Vita, 1:52.51; 8. Victor Dyrhauge, 1:53.81.

50 Freestyle — 5. Juan Garca Flores, 20.85.

800 Freestyle Relay — 2. SWOCC (Vasco Asparria, Kody Mathill, Victor Dyrhauge, Juan Garca Flores), 6:45.86.

200 Freestyle Relay — 2. SWOCC (Victor Dryhauge, Jack Roberts, Gustaf Stokholm, Bradley McKenzie), 1:22.38.

50 Backstroke — 4. Gustaf Stokholm, 23.00; 5. Juan Garca Flroes, 23.58; 6. Austin Galdamez, 24.24.

400 Individual Medley — 1. Yuta Kosaka, 3:53.84.

100 Butterfly — 2. Victor Dryhauge, 48.78; 5. Jack Roberts, 49.60.

200 Freestyle — 6. Vasco Asparria, 1:39.90; 7. Juan Garcia Flores, 1:39.91.

400 Medley Relay — 2. SWOCC (Gustaf Stokholm, Yuta Kosaka, Victor Dryhauge, Juan Garca Flores), 3:18.57.

100 Individual Medley — 2. Victor Dryhauge, 50.20; 3. Gustaf Stokholm, 50.57; 7. Bradley McKenzie, 52.60.

500 Freestyle — 4. Kody Mathill, 4:32.47; 6. Vasco Asparria, 4:37.65.

100 Backstroke — 4. Gustaf Stokholm, 49.58.

100 Breaststroke — 2. Bradley McKenzie, 55.25; 3. Luis de Vita, 55.61; 5. Jack Roberts, 56.36.

200 Butterfly — 2. Yuta Kosaka, 1:50.56; 6. Vasco Asparria, 1:55.66; 7. Lars Knudsen, 1:59.35.

200 Medley Relay — 2. SWOCC (Gustaf Stokholm, Bradley McKenzie, Victor Dyrhauge, Juan Garca Flores), 1:29.57.

50 Butterfly — 3. Victor Dryhauge, 21.62; 7. Jack Roberts, 22.57.

100 Freestyle — 4. Juan Garca Flores, 45.45.

200 Backstroke — 4. Gustaf Stokholm, 1:51.14.

200 Breaststroke — 2. Yuta Kosaka, 1:57.86; 5. Luis de Vita, 2:02.81; 6. Bradley McKenzie, 2:03.31.

400 Freestyle Relay — 2. SWOCC (Vasco Asparria, Jack Roberts, Gustaf Stokholm, Juan Garca Flores), 3:02.62.

Jun. 17—Tyon Grant-Foster overcame a series of setbacks to play at Gonzaga last season and recently cleared the final hurdle needed to pursue a professional career in the NBA.

Grant-Foster, who suffered multiple life-threatening heart incidents during the early stages of his college career, was cleared to play in the NBA by the league's fitness-to-play panel, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.

The 26-year-old isn't widely considered to be an NBA Draft prospect by analysts and pundits, but also wasn't eligible to compete in key scouting events such as the NBA Draft Combine or G League Elite Camp. Up until now, Grant-Foster also couldn't participate in individual NBA workouts due to complications from a heart condition that was discovered during his first season at DePaul in 2021-22.

Grant-Foster made 35 appearances in his lone season at Gonzaga, starting six times while averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. The team's second-leading scorer after forward Braden Huff went down with a season-ending injury, Grant-Foster shot 47.5% from the field, 26.2% from the 3-point line and 61.1% from the free throw line.

The well-traveled wing played two seasons at Indian Hills Community College from 2018-20 before transferring to Kansas for one season in 2020-21 and then DePaul in 2021-22. Grant-Foster collapsed during halftime of DePaul's season opener, suffering from a heart condition known as arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. He was sidelined the remainder of the season before collapsing again during an offseason pickup game.

After undergoing cardiac arrest on two occasions, Grant-Foster had a defibrillator implanted and was cleared to return to the court for the 2023-24 season, when he transferred to Grand Canyon. Although he was cleared to play college basketball, Grant-Foster was deemed "medically unfit" by the NBA's fitness-to-play panel after his defibrillator was inadvertently activated on Dec. 4, 2023, and then again on Feb. 20, 2025.

Coming off two productive seasons at Grand Canyon, Grant-Foster committed to Gonzaga last spring but required an NCAA waiver to earn a final year of eligibility. The sport's governing body denied Grant-Foster's initial waiver and multiple appeal attempts, but he was eventually cleared by Spokane County Judge Marla Polin, who granted the wing's preliminary injunction one week before Gonzaga's season opener against Texas Southern.

Jun. 17—Gonzaga may not be finished adding young talent or international flavor to its 2026-27 roster.

Nikola Kusturica, a 17-year-old wing who split time playing for FC Barcelona's senior team and U-22 squad this season, has been linked to a few of the top programs in college basketball, including Gonzaga, Kentucky, Michigan and UCLA.

Given that he won't be eligible for the NBA Draft next season, the native of Serbia is reportedly mulling a two-year college commitment before making a jump to the NBA in 2028.

According to the Field of 68's Jeff Goodman, Kentucky is considered to be the current frontrunner to land Kusturica, with Gonzaga and Michigan also making a push for the young FC Barcelona prospect.

"He's down to three schools it sounds like, it sounds like it's Kentucky, Gonzaga and Michigan probably," Goodman said Wednesday on the Field of 68's YouTube channel. "But Kentucky is the clear favorite at this point and I had somebody tell me involved in his recruitment ... they think the money is huge here, huge for Kentucky."

Other outlets, including 247Sports.com, have indicated Kusturica's recruitment is still wide open. Travis Branham, a recruiting analyst for 247Sports, initially gave a "crystal ball" to Kentucky, suggesting the Wildcats had emerged as the favorite, but later pulled it down writing "other teams are more legitimate threats to land the international star than sources indicated."

Those may not be the only options for Kusturica, who's also considering UCLA, a return to FC Barcelona or one season at Ohio-based prep school Spire Academy, according to college basketball reporter and content producer Ant Wright.

Kusturica had a breakthrough performance last summer at 2025 FIBA U-16 EuroBasket, where he earned Most Valuable Player honors while leading Serbia to a gold medal. He finished fourth in the tournament averaging 20.0 points per game to go along with 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Playing alongside Duke commit Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje on Barcelona's U-22 team, Kusturica averaged 13.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.9 apg and 1.5 spg over 19 games last season. He also made nine appearances for Barcelona's senior team in Liga Endesa play, averaging 2.3 ppg in 6.0 mpg.

The Zags already have four international players signed or committed to the 2026-27 roster. The group includes two projected starters in sophomore point guard Mario Saint-Supery, a native of Spain, and Senegalese center Massamba Diop, who transferred from Arizona State.

Real Madrid forward and Spanish native Izan Almansa committed to the Zags last month, but is expected to require an NCAA eligibility waiver after previously playing in the G League and going through the NBA Draft process last month.

Most recently, Gonzaga picked up a commitment from French guard Juwan Ekanga Ehawa, who will arrive this fall with four years of eligibility after playing for the youth and senior team at LNB Pro A club JL Bourg.

New Magic coach Sean Sweeney is beginning to piece together his first coaching staff in Orlando.

Sweeney will be adding DJ Bakker, Mfon Udofia and Riley Crean as assistant coaches for the Magic, a league source confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday night.

There are more additions to be made as Sweeney starts the process of filling out his staff that will help him as a first-time NBA head coach. Most coaching staffs around the league feature anywhere from 6-11 assistant coaches.

HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto first reported the three initial assistant hires made by Sweeney.

Bakker, 43, is an assistant coach for the Hornets and serves as the head coach of Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. He and Sweeney crossed paths when they both worked for the Pistons from 2018-21 under past coach Dwane Casey.

Among other stops made throughout his NBA career that he began in 2009-10 as a video coordinator for the Bulls, Bakker was once an advance regional scout for the Magic for the 2013-14 season under past coach Jacque Vaughn.

Similar to Bakker, Udofia is also a G League head coach for an Eastern Conference organization. Udofia, 35, has spent the last three years as head coach of the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate.

He previously served as an assistant coach for G League clubs: the Ontario Clippers (2022-23), the Capital City Go-Go (2021-22), the College Park Skyhawks (2019-21) and the Erie BayHawks (2018-19). Udofia began his coaching career with the Delaware 87ers, spending one season (2016-17) as a player development/video associate before being promoted to an assistant coach for the 2017-18 season.

He also brings some international coaching experience with him to Sweeney’s staff after serving as the head coach of the Nigerian National Team during FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers and an assistant coach for Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

The youngest of the bunch is Crean, who’s the son of long-time college coach Tom Crean.

Riley Crean, 27, served as the head video coordinator for the Mavericks this past season and spent three out of four years working in Dallas alongside Sweeney under former coach Jason Kidd (2022-25). Sweeney departed for San Antonio ahead of the 2025-26 campaign that saw the Spurs reach the NBA Finals.

Crean attended the University of Georgia and worked as a student manager for his father who coached the men’s basketball team from 2018-22 in the SEC.

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

The turn of each school year means the potential for athletic departments to bring in new faces to their coaching staffs to help lead programs into the future.

Greenville ISD took a step toward the future with the hiring of new basketball coaches Cindee Wright for the Lady Lions and Anthony Portley for the Lions.

According to Wright’s LinkedIn page, the coach received her Master of Education in teaching from Ashford University and has held several different coaching positions throughout the years.

A report from the Webster Parish Journal says that Wright previously coached as an assistant in five different collegiate settings ranging from community colleges to universities.

She has also previously served as a head coach for Vermilion Community College, Cavalry Baptist Academy, Southwood High School and Minden High School.

On the flip side, Portley is a familiar face to the Greenville community. The coach is a Greenville High School alum who played for the Lions during his high school career and has had various coaching stints, including one of his latest stops being as an assistant coach at East Texas A&M University.

Portley comes back to his hometown and will look to lead the basketball program, alongside Wright, into the future.