Jannik Sinner made a winning start to his quest for Wimbledon glory, seeing off Yannick Hanfmann 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-3 on No.1 Court.
The new world number one is the first Italian to be the top seed in the men's singles event at SW19, and is fresh from landing his maiden ATP title on grass in Halle last time out.
Two break points were enough to put Sinner two sets to the good against Hanfmann, who was seeking his first victory in three main-draw appearances at Wimbledon.
The German responded in the third set to halve the deficit, but his opponent was not to be denied as he sealed the win in just under three hours.
Up next for Sinner is a mouth-watering all-Italian second-round clash against former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, who won 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 3-6 6-1 against Marton Fucsovics to progress.
Earlier in the day on the same court as Sinner, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev moved safely into the second round.
Despite some difficult preparation for the tournament, Medvedev defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3 6-4 6-2 in just one hour and 47 minutes, firing down 16 aces and not being broken throughout the contest.
Data Debrief: Sinner picks up the baton
Sinner hit 16 aces and 47 winners to 30 unforced errors, while converting four out of five break points as he saw off world number 110 Hanfmann.
In his first major outing since officially becoming world number one, he extended the Wimbledon winning streak of players atop of the ATP rankings to 22 matches.
The last such defeat came exactly 2,178 days ago, when Rafael Nadal was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the 2018 semi-finals.
Earlier on, Medvedev overcame Kovacevic to claim his 230th ATP match win since the start of the 2020 season - the most of any player during this decade, and six clear of nearest challenger Andrey Rublev (224).
Klay Thompson was instrumental to the Golden State Warriors' dynasty.
The Dallas Mavericks are hoping he can help their franchise capture a second NBA title.
Thompson agreed to a three-year, $50million deal with the Mavericks on Monday, according to multiple sources.
The deal, which includes a player option, is part of a multi-team sign-and-trade that sends Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets.
Thompson, a core member of the Warriors' four NBA championship teams over an eight-year span from 2014-22, now joins a Mavericks team that recently fell to the Boston Celtics in five games in the NBA Finals.
He'll team with All-NBA first-team selection Luka Doncic and eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, as the Mavericks will look to secure the franchise's first title since winning its only championship in 2011.
With Thompson moving to another Western Conference power, it marks an end of an era in Golden State, where the 34-year-old developed into one of the best players in franchise history.
The 11th overall pick of the 2011 draft by Golden State, Thompson's 2,481 made 3-pointers trail only long-time teammate Stephen Curry for the most by a Warriors player. He also ranks fourth in team history in games played (793) and sixth in points (15,531).
One of the most feared long-range shooters of his generation, he averaged a league-leading 4.4 made 3-pointers a game just one season ago in 2022-23.
He wasn't as effective this past season, however, as that average dropped to 3.5 3-pointers a game, and he shot 38.7 per cent from beyond the arc - just the second time in his career he failed to shoot 40 per cent or better from long range.
During his prime, though, he was among the best scorers in the NBA.
A five-time All-Star, Thompson averaged at least 20 points per game for five consecutive seasons from 2014-19 as a vital part of three NBA championship teams (2015, 2017, 2018) during that period.
He missed the entire 2019-20 and 2020–21 campaigns due to a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles tendon, but returned to average 20.4 points in 32 games the following season and help Golden State to another NBA title.
His run of seven straight seasons averaging 20 or more points per game came to an end in 2023-24, when he averaged 17.9 points in 77 games. Midway through the season, he was moved out of the starting lineup for the first time since he was a rookie in 2012, coming off the bench in 14 games.
Derrick White was instrumental to the Boston Celtics securing this season's NBA championship and is being rewarded.
White agreed to a four-year, $125.9million contract extension with the Celtics on Monday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal includes a player option and marks a significant raise for White, whose last contract was a four-year, $70million extension signed back in 2020 with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Celtics acquired White, who turns 30 years old on Tuesday, from the Spurs at the 2022 trade deadline, and he was named to the NBA's All-Defensive second team in each of his first full two seasons in Boston.
The fearless defender came up with a clutch hustle play late in the first half of the Celtics' series-clinching Game 5 win over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, diving on the floor to secure a loose ball and chipping a tooth in the process. He had 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals in that victory as Boston captured its 18th NBA title.
White started all 19 games for the Celtics during their play-off run, averaging 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He led Boston with 65 made 3-pointers in the play-offs, shooting 40.4 per cent from beyond the arc.
This came after he shot 39.6 per cent on 3-pointers during the regular season, with averages of 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 boards in 73 games.
Armed with three-time All-NBA first-team selection Jayson Tatum, fellow All-Star and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and White, the defending champion Celtics enter the 2024-25 season as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, but the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to knock them off their perch after acquiring Paul George on Monday, and teaming him with 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Emma Raducanu delighted the home crowd at Wimbledon by defeating Renata Zarazua in straight sets on Monday.
The Briton had been scheduled to face 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in round one until the Russian withdrew from the tournament through injury.
Raducanu was still given a stern examination by Alexandrova's replacement, lucky loser Zarazua, on Centre Court, but she prevailed 7-6 (7-0) 6-3.
The home favourite led 4-2 in the opening set but was promptly broken back and had to deliver when it mattered to win a tie-break that ultimately proved to be one-sided.
Raducanu saved two break points early in the second set and then got the crucial break in game six before closing out the victory with relative comfort.
Up next for Raducanu is a clash with Elise Mertens, who won a three-set battle against Nao Hibino.
Data Debrief: Raducanu ups her game
It was a mixed performance from Raducanu in the opening set, but the 21-year-old upped her game in the second to make sure of victory.
Raducanu won 17 of her 20 points on first serve in the second set and, after saving those break points in the third game, did not offer up a single break opportunity to Zarazua from that stage onwards.
The Nashville Predators came out aggressively on the first day of NHL free agency Monday with the additions of forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault along with defenseman Brady Skjei.
Stamkos spent his entire 16-year career with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft.
The 34-year-old Stamkos won two Stanley Cup titles with Tampa Bay and is the franchise leader in games (1,082), goals (555) and points (1,137).
Marchessault, 33, played the last seven seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights after being an original member of the expansion franchise in 2017-18.
He was the Conn Smyth Trophy winner as play-off MVP in 2023 after leading Vegas to its first Stanley Cup championship.
Marchessault set a career high this past season with 42 goals and leaves the Golden Knights as the club’s all-time leader in games (514), goals (192) and assists (225).
Marchessault and Stamkos were teammates for parts of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
Skjei, 30, is also coming off a career season with a personal-best 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) with the Carolina Hurricanes.
He began his career with the New York Rangers in 2015 and was traded to Carolina in February 2020.
Nashville was eliminated in the first round of the post-season in 2023-24 and has not won a play-off series since advancing to the Western Conference semi-finals in 2018.
Bryana Johnson and David Treasure were the big winners at the 2024 Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) Novice, Junior and Elite Bodybuilding Championships held at the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston on June 29.
Johnson claimed the top prize in both the Junior Bikini Wellness and Novice Bikini Wellness categories while Treasure took top spot in both the Junior Men’s Physique and Novice Men’s Physique Tall sections.
Johnson, who beat out strong challenges from Rashida Bignall and Laycola Newman in Novice Bikini Wellness, put her success down hours upon hours of hard work and dedication in the gym.
“I felt like the work that I have put in, sleepless and tireless nights, paid off. My coaches have been phenomenal, both my posing coach Sherea Clarke and my coach Richardo Daniels. With these two by my side and the help of my gym family, they have been a massive source of support for me,” she told Sportsmax.tv after the competition.
“Winning here is honestly an indicator to keep going because I felt like there were points where I was a bit demotivated when I was on stage but I remember the few that showed up and I remember the work that I put in. This is just the beginning of my journey,” she added.
When questioned about the most difficult part of her preparation process for the championships, Johnson referenced dieting.
“The hardest part is the dieting. Training for me easy. I love working out. Dieting was the hardest part for me starting my fitness journey,” she said.
Treasure turned back the challenge of Marquis Wright in the Junior Men’s Physique category while, in Novice Men’s Physique Tall, he defeated last year’s champion Andre McDonald and Romel Gordon.
He was obviously thrilled with victory but described being on stage initially as “nerve-wracking” when he spoke to Sportsmax.tv at the end of the championships.
“It feels really good and the reason I feel that way is because of the uncertainty that led into the competition. Body dysmorphia is a thing. You start asking yourself questions like if you look good enough or what position am I going to be placed in?” he said.
“You can’t see yourself so you think everybody looks better than you. The original shake you get in your spine when you make that first step; going in front of judges and going in front of a crowd; what will I do that will make them choose me? That was nerve-wracking,” he added.
As time went on, Treasure said he felt more comfortable.
“Every step that I took, the energy, the atmosphere, the essence of the crowd, I just started to absorb it. I don’t know what happened when I went up there but I just transformed and it felt great,” he said.
He also added that competing gave him a new level of respect for every athlete that partakes in the sport of Bodybuilding.
“Since I competed, I respect every single athlete that performs here because it takes dedication and it takes drive to actually do this with the dieting,” he said.
In other results on Saturday, Hughgene Osbourne took top spot ahead of Marquis Wright and Daniel Grant in the Junior Bodybuilding category.
Laycola Newman won in the Novice Women’s Body Fitness Category ahead of Nicole Lewis and Saidah Delisser.
The Novice Bodybuilding category was won by Shaun Smith ahead of Steve Rogers and Hughgene Osbourne.
Shanika Campbell defeated Kesonya Gopie to take the Novice Women’s Physique crown.
Matthew Donville took top spot in the Novice Classic Bodybuilding category ahead of Shaun Smith and Steve Rogers.
The Novice Men’s Physique Short category was won by Malik Griffiths, who also took the overall Men’s Physique title, ahead of Abraham Evans and Matthew Donville.
The Novice Bikini Fitness Short title was taken by Jordan Barron ahead of Nicole Lewis and Saidah Delisser while the Tall category was won by Tara Francis ahead of Yanique Davis.
The Elite Bodybuilding title was won by Cecil Deacon ahead of Marcus White and Rupert Johnson.
Naomi Osaka made a winning return to Wimbledon after holding off Diane Parry to win a tense deciding set.
Osaka had not played at Wimbledon since 2019 until Monday's contest and last won a match at the All England Club in 2018.
But the Japanese star, playing in the tournament as a wild card, battled to a round-one victory over Parry, winning 6-1 1-6 6-4 in a topsy-turvy encounter on No.2 Court.
Osaka looked in trouble after following up an emphatic first set with a poor second that saw Parry seize control.
Four-time major winner Osaka then lost her first two service games of the decider and trailed 3-1, but battled back to win five of the last six games and claim victory.
Data Debrief: Opportunity knocks for Osaka
On a dramatic day in the women’s singles which saw seeds Aryna Sabalenka, Victoria Azarenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova all withdraw from the tournament, Osaka is a big name who will be in round two.
While a meeting with either Wang Qiang or Emma Navarro is unlikely to be straightforward, Osaka will have her sights on not only reaching the second week, which she has never done before, but also making an impact if she gets there.
There was plenty to like about her aggressive approach against Parry, and she racked up 34 winners, but Osaka also has plenty to work on. She lacked fluency with her serving, as only 35 of 75 first serves (47%) landed in, often leaving her on the back foot.
Still, winning a deciding set in her first grand slam match since the painful defeat to Iga Swiatek at the French Open will have come as a huge relief, with that Paris disappointment still fresh in the memory.
In a groundbreaking move for Jamaican volleyball, Aiko Jones has signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Vibe, becoming the first Jamaican-born player to join the Volleyball Pro League in the United States. Jones, a 6-foot-2 opposite hitter, has had an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and is set to make her mark in the professional arena.
The Atlanta Vibe, a professional indoor volleyball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, competes in the Pro Volleyball Federation. They began their journey in the league's inaugural 2024 season and play their home games at Gas South Arena in nearby Duluth. Jones’ addition to the team is expected to bolster their roster, bringing her extensive experience and dynamic playing style to the professional level.
Jones, born on August 12, 1999, in Kingston, Jamaica, attended Wolmers Girls' School where she excelled not only in volleyball but also in athletics, particularly in field events. Her volleyball journey is a continuation of a family legacy, as her parents, broadcaster Paula-Anne Porter-Jones and Dr Thaon Jon Jones, also excelled in the sport.
"Playing professional volleyball had been a goal of mine since I stepped foot on that court at Marescaux Road. Signing this contract is just another step towards that goal. The work continues and I am ready to continue to give my all," she told Sportsmax.TV.
She first hinted at the development on social media.
“What are the odds I signed my first professional contract in the same stadium I stood in front of #CardNation for the first time?” Jones posted on X on Sunday.
During her tenure with the Louisville Cardinals, Jones developed into a formidable force on the court. In 2023, she earned AVCA All-East Region honors and was named to the All-ACC Second Team. Playing in 112 sets, she recorded 249 kills with a hitting percentage of .260, along with 15 assists, 27 aces, 147 digs, and 86 blocks. Her season-high performance included 13 kills against Florida State.
The previous year, Jones was a key player for the Cardinals, being named to the Final Four All-Tournament team, the All-Louisville Regional team, the AVCA First-Team All-East Region team, and the All-ACC First Team. She played in all 119 sets, amassing 300 kills with a .268 hitting percentage. She led the team with 44 aces and contributed significantly on defense with 108 total blocks, scoring a total of 401 points for the season.
Jones is currently pursuing her master's degree in communications, continuing to balance her academic pursuits with her athletic career. Her signing with the Atlanta Vibe marks a significant milestone for Jamaican athletes, opening doors for future talents from the island to explore opportunities in professional volleyball.
As Aiko Jones embarks on this new chapter with the Atlanta Vibe, the volleyball community in Jamaica and her supporters worldwide will be eagerly watching her progress, cheering for her continued success in the sport.
Carlos Alcaraz has made a winning start to his Wimbledon title defence, defeating qualifier Mark Lajal in a competitive contest.
Opening the 2024 tournament on Centre Court, the Spaniard was broken early in each of the first two sets, but ultimately progressed 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 6-2.
Alcaraz was more dominant in the third set, not offering up a single break-point opportunity to Estonian qualifier Lajal, who can nonetheless reflect on a decent showing on the big stage.
French Open champion Alcaraz, looking to become the youngest player in the Open Era to win Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the same year, will play Aleksandar Vukic or Sebastian Ofner in round two.
Elsewhere on Monday, eighth seed Casper Ruud and 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov both made comfortable starts to the tournament with straight-sets wins over Alex Bolt and Dusan Lajovic respectively.
Denis Shapovalov is also through, with the Canadian knocking out 19th seed Nicolas Jarry in a 6-1 7-5 6-4 triumph.
Frances Tiafoe almost joined Jarry as a seed to crash out on day one, but the American fought back from two sets down to defeat Matteo Arnaldi in five. That dramatic win saw him tee up a round-two clash with Borna Coric.
There was more American success when Brandon Nakashima earned a straight-sets victory over 18th seed Sebastian Baez. He won 6-2 6-3 6-4 and will face Australian Jordan Thompson next.
Data Debrief: Alcaraz up and running
Alcaraz did not have ideal preparation for Wimbledon after losing to Jack Draper in the last 16 at Queen's.
He will therefore be pleased to have got two hours and 23 minutes of competitive court time under his belt against Lajal without his progress ever really looking like it was in jeopardy.
Alcaraz fired 44 winners and lost just nine of the 56 points played on his first serve. He was also adept at the net, winning 26 of his 33 points to make it a smooth start.
He is now just the seventh player in the Open Era, and the first since compatriot Rafael Nadal, to win all of his first 14 first-round matches in grand slam tournaments.
The Philadelphia 76ers have locked up one of the NBA's top young stars - and in the process have created their own version of a Big Three.
All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey agreed to a five-year, $204million maximum contract extension with the 76ers on Monday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal was reported hours after Philadelphia and nine-time All-Star Paul George agreed to a reported four-year, $212million maximum contract.
With 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, Maxey and George teaming up together, the 76ers will be looking to overtake the Eastern Conference from the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Maxey, 23, is coming off a breakout year in his fourth pro season, averaging career highs of 25.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds while being named to his first All-Star team. He ranked 10th in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game with an average of 3.0 and was named the league's Most Improved Player.
He stepped up his game in this year's play-offs, averaging 29.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 40.0 per cent from 3-point range, but the 76ers were eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks in six games.
The Sixers have been one of the NBA's top teams during the regular season over the last several years, but have been unable to get over the hump in the play-offs.
The team has reached the play-offs in seven straight years but has failed to advance beyond the second round during that period.
Over the last seven seasons, Philadelphia has the NBA's fourth-highest winning percentage during the regular season (.625), but unlike the three teams that have achieved better records in that span - the Milwaukee Bucks (.656), Celtics (.650) and Denver Nuggets (.632) - the 76ers are without an NBA title.
While the Celtics are still the team to beat in the East, the 76ers' chances of dethroning them have seemingly improved with their recent signings.
Paul George has agreed to a four-year, $212million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The deal, which was reported Monday by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, can't officially be signed until the NBA's moratorium on signings is lifted on Saturday.
The move to Philadelphia was reported by multiple sources Sunday after George informed the Los Angeles Clippers his plans to leave the team after five seasons. The nine-time All-Star declined a $48.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season on Saturday.
The addition of George to a 76ers team which already includes 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and fellow All-Star Tyrese Maxey, now makes Philadelphia a serious contender to compete with the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy. The 76ers also reached a deal with Maxey on Monday, giving the sharpshooter a five-year, $204million maxim contract extension.
Philadelphia has found post-season success to be elusive in recent seasons, as the 76ers have reached the play-offs in seven straight years but have failed to advance beyond the second round during that period.
Los Angeles, which had a Big Three of its own in George, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, also has a history of setbacks in the play-offs, losing in the first round each of the past two years while missing the post-season entirely in 2021-22.
The Clippers acquired George from Oklahoma City in July 2019 by orchestrating a blockbuster trade in which they gave the Thunder five first-round picks as well as future All-Star Shai GIlgeous-Alexander. Leonard signed with Los Angeles that same summer to help turn the Clippers into one of the Western Conference's more consistently successful teams, though their winning ways often did not extend to the post-season.
George often battled injuries - his 74 games played this past season were his most in any of his five seasons in Los Angeles - but maintained an elite level of play when healthy. The 34-year-old averaged 23 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists per game during his tenure with the Clippers while shooting just under 40 per cent from 3-point range.
Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury ahead of the first round.
The world number three was due to play Emina Bektas on Monday, but left the practice court early, with the All England Club organisers confirming she would not be participating.
She will now be replaced by Erika Andreeva, who lost to Sonay Kartal in the final round of qualifying.
Sabalenka retired from her Berlin quarter-final in June with the same issue, the first time she has ever done so in a professional match in her career, and later stated she was not "100% fit" or able to serve without pain.
The Belarusian is a two-time Grand Slam winner but has never won at Wimbledon, falling at the semi-final hurdle in both 2021 and 2023.
Sabalenka was looking to put a disappointing clay swing behind her, after suffering final defeats in Madrid and Rome before being knocked out in the quarter-final at the French Open.
Emma Raducanu has been handed an early boost ahead of her first match at Wimbledon after the withdrawal of Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021 but is now ranked outside of the top 100, had been due to face world number 22 Alexandrova on Centre Court on Monday.
However, Alexandrova has withdrawn due to illness, meaning Raducanu will face lucky loser Renata Zarazua instead.
Mexico's Zarazua lost to Mccartney Kessler in qualifying last week, but now has another shot.
But Raducanu will be the big favourite as she aims to build on a solid grass-court swing.
The 21-year-old reached the semi-finals at the Nottingham Open, going down to eventual champion Katie Boulter, before claiming her first top-10 win when she beat Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne.
Raducanu will face Zarazua in the second match of the day on the All England Club's main court, after reigning men's champion Carlos Alcaraz takes on Mark Lajal.
Should Raducanu win, she will face either Elise Mertens or Nao Hibino in round two.
Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 31st home run to back Gerrit Cole’s first victory of the season, and the New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 on Sunday to salvage a split in the four-game series.
Judge’s two-run shot in the first inning gave Cole an early lead, and the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and struck out six over five innings.
It was Cole’s third start after missing nearly the first three months of the season with right elbow inflammation.
Judge, meanwhile, ended another strong month after getting off to a slow start to 2024.
The 32-year-old slugger was hitting .207 with six home runs and 18 RBIs at the end of April before batting .361 with 14 homers and 27 RBIs in May to earn AL Player of the Month honours.
Judge remained red-hot in June, hitting .409 with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs.
Rangers rookie Langford hits for cycle against Orioles
Texas Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford hit for the cycle in an 11-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
The 22-year-old Langford, selected by the Rangers with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, hit a triple in the fourth inning, doubled in the fifth, singled in the sixth and blasted a three-run homer in the eighth to complete the first cycle in the majors this season.
Langford became the 12th player in franchise history to hit for the cycle and joined Oddibe McDowell in 1985 as the only Rangers rookies to accomplish the feat.
The defending World Series champion Rangers ended a six-game losing streak and prevented the first-place Orioles from winning a fifth straight contest.
Royals right-hander Lugo beats Guardians to become first in MLB to 11 wins
Seth Lugo pitched six scoreless innings and struck out 10 to become the first 11-game winner in the major leagues as the Kansas City Royals beat the AL-leading Cleveland Guardians 6-2.
Lugo improved to 11-2 with a 2.17 ERA in 18 starts in his first season with the Royals.
The 34-year-old right-hander has already set a career high in wins after entering 2024 with a 23-17 record and 4.01 ERA in 64 lifetime starts.
Lugo spent the majority of his first seven MLB seasons as a reliever with the New York Mets before solely being a starter with the San Diego Padres last year.
Kansas City moved to 47-39 after posting the second-worst record in the majors last season at 56-106.
The Royals have not finished over .500 since winning the World Series in 2015.
Paul George has informed the Los Angeles Clippers he will be joining another team, with the Philadelphia 76ers reportedly the leading candidate to land the coveted free agent.
The Clippers released a statement Sunday saying they were informed by George and his representatives of his plans to leave the team after five seasons. The nine-time All-Star declined a $48.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season on Saturday.
According to The Athletic, George will meet with the 76ers on Sunday night and is expected to make a decision shortly thereafter, with no other teams believed to be involved in the bidding for the veteran forward.
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the Clippers announced. "Paul is a tremendous talent and an elite two-way player. We feel fortunate for the five years we spent with him.
We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract. We explored an opt-in and trade scenario, but it would have left us in a similar position under the new CBA, with very little asset value to justify the restrictions.
“We will miss Paul. At the same time, we’re excited by the opportunities we’ve now been afforded, including greater flexibility under the new CBA.
ESPN reports George was seeking a four-year extension and the Clippers were unwilling to budge beyond a contract similar to the three-year, $152 million deal the team awarded to fellow star Kawhi Leonard in January.
The Clippers acquired George from Oklahoma City in July 2019 by orchestrating a blockbuster trade in which they gave the Thunder five first-round picks as well as future All-Star Shai GIlgeous-Alexander. Leonard signed with Los Angeles that same summer to help turn the Clippers into one of the Western Conference's more consistently successful teams, though their winning ways often did not extend to the post-season.
Los Angeles reached the West finals during the 2021 play-offs but was ousted in six games by the Phoenix Suns, and the Clippers have not advanced past the first round in any of the last three seasons.
George often battled injuries - his 74 games played this past season were his most in any of his five seasons in Los Angeles - but maintained an elite level of play when healthy. The 34-year-old averaged 23 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists per game during his tenure with the Clippers while shooting just under 40 per cent from 3-point range.
Armed with ample cap space, the 76ers are well positioned to make a big splash this off-season and potentially pair George with two other All-Stars, 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and sharpshooter Tyrese Maxey, in an effort to challenge reigning NBA champion Boston in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia has also found post-season success to be elusive in recent seasons, as the 76ers have reached the play-offs in seven straight years but have failed to advance beyond the second round during that period.
Klay Thompson's long and successful tenure with the Golden State Warriors appears to be nearing an end, as ESPN reported Sunday that the five-time All-Star guard will test free agency and is unlikely to re-sign with the team he's spent his entire NBA career with.
Thompson, a core member of the Warriors' four NBA championship teams over an eight-year span from 2014-22, is expected to hold meetings with the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers in the coming days, according to ESPN.
The Athletic adds that the Warriors have begun discussions on sign-and-trade agreements involving the star sharpshooter.
Golden State has also parted ways with another esteemed veteran, as the Warriors officially placed guard Chris Paul on waivers in a move that will save the team $30 million towards next season's salary cap.
The Warriors had until Sunday to decide whether to guarantee Paul's $30 million salary for 2024-25.
Paul turned 39 in May and spent just one injury-plagued season with the Warriors after being acquired from Washington last summer in a trade that sent high-scoring guard Jordan Poole to the Wizards. The 12-time All-Star averaged 9.2 points, the lowest of his 19-year NBA career, and 6.8 assists over 58 games while missing nearly two months with a fractured hand.
Thompson, on the other hand, developed into one of the best players in franchise history after being selected by the Warriors with the 11th overall pick of the 2011 draft.
The 34-year-old's 2,481 made 3-pointers trail only long-time teammate Stephen Curry for the most by a Warriors player, and Thompson also ranks fourth in team history in games played (793) and sixth in points (15,531).
One of the best perimeter shooters of this era, Thompson averaged at least 20 points per game for five consecutive seasons from 2014-19 as a vital part of three NBA championship teams (2015, 2017, 2018) during that period.
Thompson missed the entire 2019-20 and 2020–21 campaigns due to a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles tendon, but returned to average 20.4 points in 32 games the following season and help Golden State to another NBA title.
His run of seven straight seasons averaging 20 or more points per game came to an end in 2023-24, when he averaged 17.9 points in 77 games and shot under 40 per cent from 3-point range for just the second time in his career.
Paul reportedly intends to play a 20th season as he continues his search for the first NBA title of his illustrious career, and the veteran is expected to draw interest as a role player for contending teams.
While the Los Angeles Clippers wait for a decision from one of their star players, another will be returning.
Multiple outlets reported Sunday that the Clippers and James Harden agreed to a two-year, $70 million contract just prior to the start of the NBA's free agency period.
The second year of the deal will be a player option, according to Yahoo Sports.
Harden returns for his first full season in Los Angeles after being acquired by the Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 1. Playing alongside the also-accomplished duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the 10-time All-Star averaged 16.6 points and 8.5 assists while shooting 38.1 per cent from 3-point range over 72 regular-season games.
The 2017-18 NBA MVP helped the Clippers to a 51-31 record and the fourth seed in the Western Conference play-offs, though Los Angeles was ousted in six games by the eventual NBA Finals participant Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
Harden's re-signing brings some stability to what could be an uncertain offseason for the Clippers, as ESPN reported Saturday that George has declined his $48.7 million player option for next season to test free agency.
George is planning to meet with the 76ers and Orlando Magic in addition to the Clippers in the coming days, according to ESPN.
Harden is coming off a turbulent offseason of his own following a very public falling out with the 76ers and general manager Daryl Morey last summer, which prompted the 34-year-old to request a trade. After sitting out the early part of last season, Harden eventually had his request granted when Morey dealt the disgruntled point guard to the Clippers, his preferred destination, in a seven-player trade.
Though the three-time NBA scoring champion posted his lowest points-per-game output since 2010-11 last season, he averaged 21.2 points per game during the Dallas play-off series and the Clippers went 46-26 with him on the court during the regular season.
Andy Murray says he wants "a bit of closure" at Wimbledon as he continues a fight to be fit in time for his opening match.
The Brit is due to retire later this year but has previously said either Wimbledon or the Olympics would be a fitting stage to end his career.
However, Murray was forced to retire injured during the Queen's Club Championships in the second round due to a back injury earlier this month, for which he later underwent surgery.
Murray's Wimbledon campaign is due to start on Tuesday against Tomas Machac, but he is still yet to decide whether he will actually be competing in the men's singles event at the All England Club.
"I don't think there's one thing that I'm hoping for. When it comes to the end, I don't know, maybe a bit of closure," the two-time Wimbledon winner, Murray, said.
"I just want the opportunity to play one more time out there, hopefully on Centre Court, and feel that buzz.
"Last year, I wasn't planning on it being my last year on the tour. I wanted to come back and play again, whereas this year I have no plans to do that."
Murray is also due to play in the doubles alongside older brother Jamie, though his chances of competing in both are slim.
He managed to get on the Wimbledon practice courts for the first time on Saturday and, after more training on Sunday, Murray admitted he would wait until the last possible moment to decide on his participation.
"It went pretty well," Murray said after training on Sunday, "but I still don’t have 100% feeling and sensation in my leg.
"It's getting better every single day. I want to give it every single chance that I can to get there.
"I'm going to play another set again [on Monday]. I'm doing some physical testing in the morning to see how far off I am from a physical perspective. Then I will probably make a decision after that."
Carlos Alcaraz will be the Centre Court star at Wimbledon when the Spaniard opens his title defence on Monday.
Alcaraz will be hoping to add to this year's French Open glory when he opens his All England Club campaign against world number 269 Mark Lajal.
The 21-year-old will play in the Centre Court opener as the grass-court major starts, with Alcaraz aiming to become the youngest player in the Open Era to win at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in a calendar year.
World number one Jannik Sinner meets Yannick Hanfmann in his first-round clash on the same day.
Sinner won his maiden grand slam title at the Australian Open in January, and heads to SW19 having won a further three Tour-level titles this year.
Daniil Medvedev reached the semi-final last year for his personal-best performance at Wimbledon before losing to Alcaraz, and the fifth seed faces American Aleksandar Kovacevic in his opener.
As for the women's draw, Emma Raducanu will follow Alcaraz onto Centre Court as one of the home favourites at Wimbledon.
Raducanu reached the last four at the Nottingham Open before claiming her first top-10 victory against Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne, with Ekaterina Alexandrova awaiting in the first round for the Briton.
Aryna Sabalenka has won the opening round in her last 15 grand slam appearances and the third seed will be seeking to extend that impressive record when she clashes with world number 107 Emina Bektas.
Coco Gauff will be another to keep an eye on when she wraps up Monday's Centre Court action with an all-American showdown against Caroline Dolehide.
Reigning US Open champion Gauff will be the youngest player to feature in the women's singles at Wimbledon seeded in the top two since Maria Sharapova in 2007.
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