Latest news with #All-Defensive
3 days ago
- Sport
Lynx getting along just fine while Collier recovers, with Carrington making seamless arrival
MINNEAPOLIS -- After coming so close to the WNBA championship last year, the Minnesota Lynx have picked right up where they left off. They sure weren't satisfied with the status quo, though, as evidenced by their recent acquisition of DiJonai Carrington. The Most Improved Player award winner and All-Defensive First Team selection in 2024 has bolstered the league leader's depth, injected a dose of two-way energy into an already determined club and made a seamless transition after the midseason switch. 'She's been a great addition,' starting forward Bridget Carleton said. 'Playing against her has always been a challenge. She's just feisty, competitive, always wants to win, plays hard every single possession.' Even with superstar Napheesa Collier sidelined by a sprained right ankle, the Lynx haven't missed a beat. They're in first place by six games at 27-5, surging toward the No. 1 overall seed for the playoffs. 'You just want to feel like you're a better team when she comes back into the team, that you've figured some things out, that people are playing with confidence,' associate head coach Eric Thibault said. 'Our group's attitude is right about it. Nobody feels sorry for ourselves or anything like that. We just go out and battle.' Carrington was acquired from the Dallas Wings on Aug. 3 for backup forward Diamond Miller, injured guard Karlie Samuelson and Minnesota's 2027 second-round draft pick.e Miller was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, so Carrington came at a price. But president of basketball operations and head coach Cheryl Reeve, who's chasing a fifth title with Minnesota, has this team fully in win-now mode with Collier in her prime and an experienced lineup around her led by five-time All-Star shooting guard Kayla McBride, two-time All-Star point guard Courtney Williams and shot-blocking specialist Alanna Smith patrolling the post. 'I'm a winner, and this is a winning organization,' Carrington said. The 5-foot-11 native of San Diego, who played her first four WNBA seasons with the Connecticut Sun, was dealt to Dallas earlier this year. She averaged a career-best 5.1 rebounds in 20 games with the Wings. In three games since the trade, and coincidentally since Collier was injured, Carrington has 40 points, 12 rebounds and six steals. The Lynx take a five-game winning streak into their game on Saturday against the defending champion New York Liberty, whom they've already beaten twice this month in a measure of revenge for their overtime loss in New York last year in the decisive game of the WNBA Finals. In the previous round, when the Lynx beat the Sun in a five-game series, Reeve became enamored by Carrington, who had 17 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and one block in defeat in the decisive game of those semifinals. The chance this summer to acquire a defensive ace on the perimeter who could alleviate some of the burden on McBride as well as provide more scoring off the bench was one the Lynx couldn't miss. 'We felt like we could use a little bit more help as we made this run,' Reeve said. 'If you stay exactly the same, it's really hard to accomplish and get back and get over the hump, so we wanted to keep the group together — but we also thought we needed a little bit more.' Williams and Natisha Hiedeman played with Carrington with the Sun, so there was pre-existing chemistry. Smith was a teammate of Carrington's at Stanford, as well, so they were already close. 'It was like a friend coming home,' Smith said. 'That's kind of how it felt. I was excited. I think she's a piece that's really good for us and only going to help us get to the point we want to get to, which is a championship.'
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Lynx getting along just fine while Collier recovers, with Carrington making seamless arrival
MINNEAPOLIS — After coming so close to the WNBA championship last year, the Minnesota Lynx have picked right up where they left off. They sure weren't satisfied with the status quo, though, as evidenced by their recent acquisition of DiJonai Carrington. The Most Improved Player award winner and All-Defensive First Team selection in 2024 has bolstered the league leader's depth, injected a dose of two-way energy into an already determined club and made a seamless transition after the midseason switch. 'She's been a great addition,' starting forward Bridget Carleton said. 'Playing against her has always been a challenge. She's just feisty, competitive, always wants to win, plays hard every single possession.' Even with superstar Napheesa Collier sidelined by a sprained right ankle, the Lynx haven't missed a beat. They're in first place by six games at 27-5, surging toward the No. 1 overall seed for the playoffs. 'You just want to feel like you're a better team when she comes back into the team, that you've figured some things out, that people are playing with confidence,' associate head coach Eric Thibault said. 'Our group's attitude is right about it. Nobody feels sorry for ourselves or anything like that. We just go out and battle.' Carrington was acquired from the Dallas Wings on Aug. 3 for backup forward Diamond Miller, injured guard Karlie Samuelson and Minnesota's 2027 second-round draft pick. Miller was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, so Carrington came at a price. But president of basketball operations and head coach Cheryl Reeve, who's chasing a fifth title with Minnesota, has this team fully in win-now mode with Collier in her prime and an experienced lineup around her led by five-time All-Star shooting guard Kayla McBride, two-time All-Star point guard Courtney Williams and shot-blocking specialist Alanna Smith patrolling the post. 'I'm a winner, and this is a winning organization,' Carrington said. The 5-foot-11 native of San Diego, who played her first four WNBA seasons with the Connecticut Sun, was dealt to Dallas earlier this year. She averaged a career-best 5.1 rebounds in 20 games with the Wings. In three games since the trade, and coincidentally since Collier was injured, Carrington has 40 points, 12 rebounds and six steals. The Lynx take a five-game winning streak into their game on Saturday against the defending champion New York Liberty, whom they've already beaten twice this month in a measure of revenge for their overtime loss in New York last year in the decisive game of the WNBA Finals. In the previous round, when the Lynx beat the Sun in a five-game series, Reeve became enamored by Carrington, who had 17 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and one block in defeat in the decisive game of those semifinals. The chance this summer to acquire a defensive ace on the perimeter who could alleviate some of the burden on McBride as well as provide more scoring off the bench was one the Lynx couldn't miss. 'We felt like we could use a little bit more help as we made this run,' Reeve said. 'If you stay exactly the same, it's really hard to accomplish and get back and get over the hump, so we wanted to keep the group together — but we also thought we needed a little bit more.' Williams and Natisha Hiedeman played with Carrington with the Sun, so there was pre-existing chemistry. Smith was a teammate of Carrington's at Stanford, as well, so they were already close. 'It was like a friend coming home,' Smith said. 'That's kind of how it felt. I was excited. I think she's a piece that's really good for us and only going to help us get to the point we want to get to, which is a championship.'
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Insider claims Lakers have had trade talks about three new targets
While mid-July usually marks the start of the quiet part of the NBA's offseason in terms of player movement, teams aren't necessarily done making moves. The Los Angeles Lakers are one team that could still make a move or two if there is an opportunity available for them that they deem appropriate. They can free up most of their bi-annual exception — $3.9 million, to be exact — to spend on at least one more free agent if they waive guard Shake Milton by July 20. There is also the remaining possibility of a trade, especially since they have the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Gabe Vincent to offer a team looking for some salary cap relief. According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, L.A. has talked to teams about wing Matisse Thybulle, guard Marcus Smart and backcourt player Ayo Dosunmu. "Sources say Matisse Thybulle, Marcus Smart (though most teams are watching to see if he's going to be bought out), Ayo Dosunmu and others are names the Lakers have had preliminary conversations with teams about availability and price, though no offers have been made," Irwin wrote. Right now, the NBA's main summer league is taking place in Las Vegas. There are plenty of team executives there to watch their young players in action, which presents Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka with an opportunity to talk to other executives about potential deals. 'Rob (Pelinka) likes Vegas because he can just pull so-and-so aside and have a conversation that would otherwise take a little planning,' an Eastern Conference executive said. 'Summer league has become a real opportunity for all of us in that way.' Thybulle is a 3-and-D player who is 28 years of age and could fill a big need for Los Angeles. This past season, as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 20.8 minutes a game and shot 47.7% from the field and a career-high 43.8% from 3-point range. He made the All-Defensive second team for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Smart isn't a 3-point sniper — he has a career mark of 32.4% from that distance and made 34.8% of his 3-point attempts this past season — but he is a defensive pest. He has made the All-Defensive first team three times and was named the Defensive Player of the Year three years ago. The 31-year-old 6-foot-3 guard can also serve as a facilitator and has averaged 4.6 assists a game over his 10 NBA seasons. Dosunmu, 25, is 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, and his 3-point shooting is a work in progress — he made 40.3% of his attempts from downtown during the 2023-24 season but fell to 32.8% this past season. But he's a solid defender and has shot 50.2% from the field in his four pro seasons.
Fox Sports
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Dodgers Having Kobe Bryant Bobblehead Giveaway For Lakers Legend
Arguably the most popular athlete to play in Los Angeles, the Dodgers are commemorating Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant with a bobblehead giveaway on Friday, Aug. 8, when they host the Toronto Blue Jays. The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive the Bryant bobblehead, according to the Los Angeles Times. A distinct giveaway, the bobblehead features Bryant in home Lakers attire (yellow jerseys and shorts with a purple stripe) in the batter's box at Dodger Stadium wearing blue cleats. The color theme is a combination of both traditional Lakers and Dodgers colors. Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers (1996-97 season to 2015-16 season), helped the franchise win five NBA championships. He was the 2007-08 NBA MVP, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time scoring champion, a 12-time All-Defensive honoree and 15-time All-NBA honoree. Bryant is first in Lakers history with 33,643 points — which ranks fourth in NBA/ABA history —1,827 3-pointers, 1,944 steals and 1,346 games played and second with 6,306 assists. As for the two L.A. teams, the Dodgers own the best record in the National League this season at 56-38, while the Lakers are coming off a first-round playoff exit at the hands of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Dodgers recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Jalen Williams gets $287 million contract as Thunder completely lock in young core
The Thunder have locked down their young core for the foreseeable future. Jalen Williams has signed a five-year, $287 million supermax contract, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday It is no wonder that the Thunder have prioritized re-signing their talent, as they are coming off their first NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City. Advertisement 3 Thunder Star forward Jalen Williams. AP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren make up the three-headed monster that terrorized the league this season, going 68-14 in the regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander, the 26-year-old NBA MVP, was recently signed to a four-year, $285 million contract, and Holmgren, 23, was signed to a five-year, $250 million contract. The total value of the three signed contracts amounts to $822 million. Advertisement During his third NBA season this year, Williams earned third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defensive honors. 3 Thunder stars Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. NBAE via Getty Images The 24-year-old averaged career-highs of 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Advertisement Williams, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was also a key contributor to the Thunder's long playoff run. He kept stuffing the stat sheet with nearly identical numbers to the ones he put up in the regular season, averaging 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He had a standout performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, scoring 40 points on 14-for-25 shooting in a Thunder win that put them up 3-2 in the series before they won in Game 7. 3 Jalen Williams during his dominant Game 5. AP The Thunder have made minimal changes to the rest of their roster. This means that the championship window will remain wide open — much to the chagrin of the rest of the NBA.
