Caitlyn Holroyd

Lillard happy to be back in playoffs: 'Last year, I went to Coachella'

Former French Olympian Frederic Weis isn't happy about Joel Embiid choosing to play for Team USA over France at the 2024 Games in Paris.Embiid was born in Cameroon but holds citizenship in both the United States and France. He stated last year that although it was a "tough" decision, he chose to represent the U.S. at the 2024 Olympics because it's the country he lives in and where his son was born.Weis, who's best known for getting posterized by Vince Carter at the 2000 Olympics, recently ripped Embiid's decision on his radio show at the French station RMC."I consider this boy a great player as much as he is a dirty guy," Weis said, according to Eurohoops. "I hate him for the things that he did. I think he doesn't have any respect for France and also for all the people who are asking for a French passport and don't get it. And under the pretext that he is a great athlete, he got it. I find it scandalous, I find it embarrassing. I don't care about his excuses, cause they are his words, and his words mean nothing."If it were up to Weis, the Philadelphia 76ers center wouldn't be allowed to enter France or participate in the Olympics. "I would take away from him the French nationality and I would ban him from entering France. You will not play in the Olympics," Weis said. "You will come to the airport with Team USA and we will say: You don't have the right to enter the territory, go to your home. You are Cameroonian, you are American, you are not French, go away."Embiid was officially named to Team USA's roster for the 2024 Olympics on Wednesday. He'll be joined on the squad by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and several other superstars.

Former French Olympian Frederic Weis isn't happy about Joel Embiid choosing to play for Team USA over France at the 2024 Games in Paris.

Michael Jordan felt like he was competing for another NBA title while watching Tyler Reddick's victory at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. Speaking to Fox NASCAR's Jamie Little after the race, the 23XI Racing co-owner and basketball Hall of Famer likened his team's win to an NBA playoff game and said watching them helps satisfy his competitive itch."As you know, this is the NBA playoffs right now, so this is to me like an NBA playoff game," Jordan said. "I am so ecstatic, obviously, for the fans who support the sport itself. We've been working hard trying to get ourselves up to the point where we can compete against all the top guys in this sport, but we've done a heck of a job just to be where we are. For us to win a big race like this, it means so much to me and for the effort that the team has done."Look, I'm all-in. I'm all-in. I love it, it replaces a lot of the competitiveness that I had in basketball, but this is even worse because I have no control. If I was playing basketball, I have total control, but I have no control so I live vicariously through the drivers, and all the crew chiefs, and everybody."While leaving Talladega, Jordan could be heard telling his crew they would be getting "wasted" on the plane ride home. Michael Jordan: "Curtis! We gonna be wasted on the plane, just so you know."Curtis: "What's that?"MJ: "We're gonna be wasted on the plane."Curtis: "Alright, sounds like a plan."MJ: "Absolutely wasted. Thank you, gentlemen. See you guys later. OHHH YES!" pic.twitter/oqYWfjk4xO— Simon Williams (@SimonHFWilliams) April 21, 2024 Jordan co-founded 23XI Racing in 2020 with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.

The jersey Kobe Bryant wore when he tore his Achilles in a game against the Golden State Warriors in 2013 has hit the auction block.The No. 24 Los Angeles Lakers jersey, which was signed by Bryant and photo-matched to the game on April 12, 2013, is being auctioned off by Goldin as part of its Goldin 100 sale. Bidding opened Friday and has already reached $360,000 with 39 days remaining in the auction.The current record for a Bryant jersey sold at auction is $5.8 million, which someone paid in February 2023 for a jersey worn by the late Lakers great during his MVP season in 2007-08.Bryant notably made two free throws after tearing his Achilles tendon, which he ranked among the best shots of his career. He finished the game with a team-high 34 points as the Lakers defeated the Warriors 118-116. Free throws on a torn Achilles. #BestOfLakersWarriors pic.twitter/f16cSDwYOd— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 8, 2020 "This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I've done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable," Bryant wrote on Facebook after the game. "The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that?? I have NO CLUE. "Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me...Then again maybe not!"Bryant went on to play another three seasons before retiring from the NBA in 2016.

X map shows U.S. divided on who to root for in NBA playoffs

Brenden Rice believes he and former USC teammate Caleb Williams have what it takes to become the NFL's next great duo. Rice, the son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, told TMZ Sports that he and Williams could become the next Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski if they're drafted by the same NFL team."I just know him. I built that chemistry with him our last year, so just to be able to link up with him again, I think it would just be USC times two," the former Trojans receiver said. He added: "I'm telling you, we could be that next duo, just like the Gronk and the Tom Brady."Rice caught 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season at USC, while Williams threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Williams is widely projected to be selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft, which gets underway Thursday night in Detroit. Rice is projected to be a Day 2 or 3 selection.

KD: Suns fans 'can't give up on us'

X map shows fans split on who to root for in NHL playoffs

Ex-Nike exec: Clark deserved Jordan-type sneaker deal