Author: Shekari Philemon

The NBA has instructed referees to penalise offensive players who push off defenders with their free arm, one of four areas of emphasis announced Tuesday for the coming season. What is a push off? An offensive player using the arm that is not handling the ball to make contact with a defender and create space, most commonly before a perimeter shot. Some jockeying between the two has always been legal and expected, which is why the league has issued a framework rather than a prohibition. How will referees judge it? Through four terms. A ball handler may use the off…

The NBA is expected to select a winning bid for its Las Vegas expansion franchise soon, with reporting placing the price at a minimum of $12 billion to $13 billion covering the team and a new arena. How large is that number? Unprecedented, by a wide margin. The most recent comparison points in the source are a $6.05 billion sale of an NFL franchise and a Milwaukee valuation of $3.5 billion in 2023. A figure roughly double the highest American sports sale on record, for a team that does not yet exist, indicates what the league believes a new franchise…

Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer took public responsibility on Tuesday for the closing sequence of Sunday’s loss to Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro, saying he hurt his team’s chance to win in the final 28 seconds. What actually happened? A chain of decisions. Dallas had first and goal from the 2. On third down, Dak Prescott threw the ball away rather than attempting a throw to George Pickens, leading to a 23 yard field goal that tied the game. Dallas then kicked off through the end zone for a touchback, giving Baltimore the ball at its own 35 with seven seconds…

The New York Giants released Odell Beckham Jr on Tuesday, ending a return to the franchise that drafted him after three games in which he did not record a catch. What were the numbers? Nineteen snaps across three games and one target. That target came Sunday against Tennessee, a throw from Jameis Winston that was nearly intercepted. He played six snaps in that game. He had not appeared in the league since 2024, when he caught nine passes for 54 yards with Miami. Why now? Roster arithmetic as much as performance. The team needed a decision on Braxton Berrios, its…

Alex Eala has secured at least a bronze medal at the Asian Games after beating Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei 7 to 5, 6 to 0 in the women’s singles quarterfinals on Wednesday in Nagoya. How did the match go? Tight, then not. Both players broke serve in the opening two games and the first set stayed level through 5 to 5, with the lead changing hands repeatedly. Eala then took three straight games, breaking in the eleventh, to close it at 7 to 5. The second set was a shutout. She broke in the second, fourth and fifth games…

Fernando Alonso will contest a 24th season in Formula 1 after signing a new contract with Aston Martin, announced Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s race. What changed his mind? Not stated, which is the notable part. Fernando Alonso had been signalling that retirement was plausible, citing dissatisfaction with the technical regulations introduced for 2026. Those rules have not changed. Something else did, whether the car’s competitiveness, the team’s plans or his own assessment of how much he is enjoying it, and none of that has been made public. How unusual is this longevity? Close to without precedent. At 45 he…

Bronny James said there was little conversation with his father before LeBron James signed with Philadelphia, leaving the two on separate rosters after two seasons as teammates. What did he say about the decision? That the two are not given to long discussions about business. Bronny James described a relationship in which little is said about professional matters or about how they feel toward each other, and said his father understands that he wants to build his own career. He framed the outcome as both of them following separate paths rather than as anything requiring explanation. Was he consulted? Apparently…

LeBron James said his free agency decision came down to five teams and revealed that a sixth had been his intention until it won a championship in June. Which teams were finalists? Philadelphia, Cleveland, Golden State, Miami and Minnesota. He confirmed the list at the 76ers’ media day on Monday, his first extended comments since signing in Philadelphia. What happened with the Knicks? He had planned to go there. LeBron James described having visions of playing at Madison Square Garden and finishing his career there, calling it among the best places he has played and the top arena in the…

Jalen Hurts was removed for a concussion evaluation after a hard sideline hit in the second quarter of Philadelphia’s 27 to 7 loss in Chicago on Monday, missing a possession before being cleared to return. What happened on the play? Facing second and four deep in Chicago territory, Hurts scrambled right and was stepping out of bounds near the first down marker when a Bears linebacker hit him in the shoulder area, sending him to the turf. The defender was penalised for unnecessary roughness. Jalen Hurts got up and rejoined his teammates, but officials directed him off the field for…

Case Keenum made his first start in 1,009 days on Monday and led Chicago to a 27 to 7 win over Philadelphia at Soldier Field, then was handed the game ball in the locker room. How did he play? Like a starter rather than a fill in. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers, and added a third score on a 1 yard sneak. The opening drive ran 11 plays for 66 yards and ended with an 8 yard touchdown to Luther Burden III. A 41 yard throw to Kalif Raymond came…