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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nikola Jokic's Offseason Video Turns Heads
Nikola Jokic's Offseason Video Turns Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Nikola Jokic had a phenomenal 2024-25 season, becoming just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire campaign, joining Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson. Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game for the Denver Nuggets and finished second in MVP voting. Advertisement Unfortunately for Jokic, this season ended the same way 2023-24 did. The Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated the Nuggets in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals, a year after the Minnesota Timberwolves did the same. Jokic averaged 28.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game against the Thunder, but it wasn't enough. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) smiles after a play against the Oklahoma City Adams-Imagn Images So, the offseason started early for Jokic once again. The seven-time All-Star was asked about his offseason plans after losing Game 7 to the Thunder, and he hilariously stated he was going to drink a lot of beer in the coming days. Jokic appears to have now headed back to Serbia, and a clip of his has gone viral on social media. The 30-year-old is playing a sport in it, but it appears to be kick volleyball, not basketball. Fans had some interesting reactions to Jokic's offseason activity. Advertisement "How can anyone not like this guy?" one fan asked. "How does he have feel for the game ever here?" another fan wondered. "Just your 3x MVP and NBA Champ out there chillin', playing with neighborhood kids at the local public pool," said one fan. "These guys would have helped him more than Jamal (Murray) did," stated a fan. "That's the greatest basketball mind of all time," a fan said. "He gives zero (expletive) what others think! Proud to be a Serb," claimed one fan. Jokic is going to have plenty of time on his hands to do whatever he wants. The one thing that is certain, though, is that when the 2025-26 season starts, he's going to be dominating on the basketball court once again. Advertisement Related: Nuggets Can Offer Nikola Jokic Support He Needs With New NBA Trade Idea This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Player grades: Tyrese Haliburton stuns Thunder in 111-110 Game 1 loss to Pacers
Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) makes the game winning shot over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images OKLAHOMA CITY — Bringing the ball up, Tyrese Haliburton returned to his comfort spot. As the final seconds ticked away, Indiana's franchise player had the chance to deliver more late-game heroics on the road. He bumped Cason Wallace off him and drained a deep jumper. Just like that, the home crowd was stunned. Only 0.3 seconds remained. The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a shocking 111-110 Game 1 loss to the Indiana Pacers. They're now at a disadvantage with an early 0-1 series deficit in the 2025 NBA Finals. Advertisement Talk about deja vu. But in the worst ways for the Thunder. To truly digest what happened, let's rewind to the start. You need to do that when you hold for the entire game, sans the final couple of seconds. To start, everything went the Thunder's way. They scored the first seven points. The OKC crowd provided them with a jolt of energy. It looked eerily similar to what they usually do to run up the scoreboard on their opponent. Then the Pacers fought through it. The Thunder held a 29-20 lead after the first quarter. They scored 28 points in the second frame to push their halftime advantage to 57-45. Not bad, but it felt like they left meat on the bone. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points at the break, but the rest of his squad struggled to show up. Perhaps from a case of the jitters. The Thunder flirted with a near plus-20 shot-attempt advantage over the Pacers. That alone should've been enough to get them up by a larger amount. But Indiana hung around. That's what it's done all playoffs. After the break, it was much of the same. Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander sliced through Indiana's defense, but the Pacers hit timely outside buckets to keep it within striking distance. Indiana scored 31 points in the third quarter as the Thunder's lead was trimmed to 85-76 to enter the fourth frame. Uneasiness settled into Paycom Center. Everybody's anxiety grew with each missed shot. Jalen Williams had a bit of a burst to start the fourth quarter. After TJ McConnell's bad inbound pass resulted in a Williams' breakaway dunk, the Thunder had a 94-79 lead with a little over nine minutes left. OK. Deep breath out. The Thunder finally had some space on the scoreboard. Alas, like The Terminator, the Pacers wouldn't give up. It didn't take long for them to cut it within a single-digit deficit. Big-time outside buckets by Myles Turner and Obi Toppin made things interesting. After Gilgeous-Alexander made it a 108-99 lead with a little under three minutes left, an uneventful final moments should've been enough to secure a Game 1 win. Instead, the Pacers chipped away. Aaron Nesmith made a clutch 3-pointer. Andrew Nembhard soon followed with a nasty step-back 3-pointer after he shook Gilgeous-Alexander. Advertisement Suddenly, the Thunder only had a 108-105 lead with two minutes left. Uh oh. Gulp. You could hear everybody mutter under their breath about what they witnessed. After all, it wasn't even a month ago when the Denver Nuggets committed highway robbery with a Game 1 stunner. After Nembhard missed an outside attempt, Pascal Siakam's second-chance layup cut the Thunder's lead to 110-109 with 48 seconds left. The Thunder had a few cracks to seal the deal, but a couple of misses left the door wide open for Haliburton to have another signature Game 1 moment. The All-Star took advantage with the drilled game-winner. In the end, Indiana finished the final two minutes on a 12-2 run. It scored 35 points in the final frame. The Thunder shot 40% from the field and went 11-of-30 (36.7%) from 3. They shot 21-of-24 on free throws. They had 13 assists on 39 baskets. Four Thunder players scored double-digit points. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting. Williams had 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Lu Dort scored 15 points on five outside makes. Alex Caruso had 11 points and six rebounds. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Pacers shot 48% from the field and went 18-of-39 (46.2%) from 3. They shot 15-of-21 on free throws. They had 24 assists on 39 baskets. Six Pacers players scored double-digit points. Haliburton finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Siakam had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Toppin scored 17 points. Turner finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Nembhard tallied 14 points and six assists. Nesmith had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Fans filed out of the arena in shock. Nobody said a word. The only chants you could hear came from the Pacers' traveling party that the franchise brought along. After being considered the heavy favorite, the Thunder have dug themselves into quite a hole. Let's look at Thunder player grades: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-minus Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the third quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Doubled by Nembhard and Nesmith, Gilgeous-Alexander could only muster up a turnaround jumper that clanked off the rim in the final seconds. What could've been a signature moment in his NBA Finals debut instead served as a sparkplug for Haliburton's moment. Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting, five rebounds and three assists. He shot 3-of-6 from 3 and went 7-of-8 on free throws. He also had three steals. Too many moments in the final minutes when the Thunder couldn't shut the door on the Pacers. Gilgeous-Alexander had his miscues despite being the best player on the floor. He had a handful of chances to seal the result but missed on bunnies. Credit Gilgeous-Alexander for emptying the tank. He left it all on the floor as soon as he realized nobody else besides Dort would join him. But the usually efficient scorer didn't have the butterfly finishes through traffic or go to the free-throw line at the clip we've grown accustomed to. The mid-range jumper wasn't automatic. Despite that, Gilgeous-Alexander did enough to get a Game 1 win. He dragged his team to a double-digit lead for most of the game, but couldn't put on his Superman cape in the final moments and deliver an important win. The Thunder have been at this spot before and usually respond well. Let's see how they look in Game 2. Jalen Williams: C Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Being the first to the ball after a bad inbound pass, Williams ran down the court and had the easy jam. After a forgettable three quarters, a loud start to the fourth frame looked like the All-Star was going to be on the verge of a classic late-game takeover. Advertisement Instead, Williams' mistakes couldn't be erased. He finished with 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting, six assists and four rebounds. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 4-of-4 on free throws. He also had a steal. The Thunder need more from Williams. We know this by now. Gilgeous-Alexander will get his numbers, but how the rest of the roster does will decide a lot about this series. When the 24-year-old gets in a groove, it's basketball poetry. When his jumper is off, like it was tonight, annoyance boils over into frustration. You like the shot process by Williams. He took jumpers that he usually makes. He barreled to the rim on drives he usually finishes. But Indiana did enough to disrupt his rhythm and force close misses. He almost got away with it with a strong start to the fourth quarter, but OKC's collapse brought his inconsistency issues to the forefront. Chet Holmgren: D Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the second quarter in game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Everything said about Williams can be copied and pasted here for Holmgren. Except you could do that for a couple more times to drive home the point in a theatrical way. The Thunder went with a single center to start. Isaiah Hartenstein was benched in favor of Cason Wallace. By the end, they abandoned that, too. Hard to blame them, either. Advertisement Holmgren finished with six points on 2-of-9 shooting and six rebounds. He shot 0-of-1 from 3 and went 2-of-2 on free throws. He also had a block. As the game progresses, you see less of Holmgren. He only logged 24 minutes and played just four minutes of a close fourth quarter. The Pacers' outside shooting pulled the seven-footer outside of the paint. The Thunder had to concede and play mostly small-ball in the final moments. Questions arose about Hartenstein's playability against the Pacers. Very different circumstances, but he struggled against mostly the same roster on the New York Knicks. Funny how sports can turn out, as he was more effective than Holmgren in Game 1. The Thunder will need Holmgren to play better. They were killed on the boards by a 56-39 disadvantage. That allowed the Pacers to overcome the shot-attempt difference slowly. The 23-year-old has to play better on both ends or risk being unplayable. Lu Dort: A Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) blocks a shot by Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Besides Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort was the other positive for the Thunder. His Game 1 will go in vain. The same way Caruso's Game 1 against the Nuggets did with 20 points. A day after he penned a heartfelt Player Tribune letter to the OKC fanbase, he did enough to lock a win. Advertisement Dort finished with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, four rebounds and an assist. He shot 5-of-9 from 3. He also had four steals and two blocks. As the Thunder's offense dried up, Dort's outside shot gave them much-needed buckets. The defense was special as well. He faded Haliburton into the background for most of the night. Dives for loose balls energized the crowd as they sang his first name. If the final result reversed, a lot of the postgame talk would be about how he added to his Big Game Lu mythos. Instead, it'll get forever lost as Haliburton's clutch gene was the headliner. Alex Caruso: B Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) drives to the basket past Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Thunder heavily relied on their three-headed defensive POA monster. Dort, Caruso and Cason Wallace usurped Holmgren and Hartenstein in the hierarchy. It wasn't the preferred result, but the plan worked. Nobody from Indiana exploded for a monster night. Instead, everybody chipped in. Advertisement Caruso finished with 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, six rebounds and two assists. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 4-of-5 on free throws. He had three steals and two blocks. The Thunder's league-best defense showed up through three quarters. They caused havoc. The Pacers were so deep in their own minds because of their ability to create turnovers that they always checked over the shoulder before an elementary entry pass. Then the fourth frame happened. The Thunder have to shake off the shock. They'll have three days to marinate on this stunner before Game 2. This is what the NBA Finals are about. As the only NBA champion on the roster, Caruso offered some much-needed perspective that his teammates need to hear, which simultaneously probably angered OKC fans. Highlights: This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Thunder stunned in 111-110 Game 1 loss to Pacers
New York Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Latest on Gordon
Denver and Oklahoma City face off with the winner advancing to the Western Conference finals Getty Images Team sources tell me that Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is expected to warm up with about an hour left before tip-off and make his decision from there. It seems improbable, if not impossible, that he could compete in a high-level playoff game with such a serious injury, but team sources say the Nuggets went through a walk-through as a team yesterday with Gordon part of the game plan. Gordon, meanwhile, has been telling people within the team since yesterday that he plans on giving it a go. We shall see. Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has a Grade 2 hamstring strain, a team source confirmed to The Athletic , which is going to put his status for Sunday afternoon even more in doubt. Gordon was injured in Game 6, and although there is still a feeling within the Nuggets that Gordon will try and give it a go against Oklahoma City, it is looking increasingly doubtful that it can happen. Without Gordon, Peyton Watson is in line for a big load of minutes and responsibility. He is a 6-foot-8 forward who brings a real shot of athleticism, defense, energy and rim protection to Denver's lineup. But he has never been in this big a moment with this big of a spotlight on him. He will have to come up big if the Nuggets are going to have a chance to win. The Thunder are 6-5 in NBA playoff Game 7s all-time dating back to their days as the Seattle SuperSonics. Their last Game 7 came in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs, which were played in the Disney World "Bubble" in Orlando due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Thunder lost that game to the Houston Rockets. Russell Westbrook also played in that game, and also did so against the Thunder franchise that drafted him and that he won an MVP with in 2017. Westbrook had 20 points in the Rockets victory. Getty Images Denver could become one just the 19th team in NBA history to win multiple Game 7s in the same playoffs. Of course, the Nuggets did that in the 2020 playoffs in the bubble. Only the 1988 Lakers won three Game 7s in the same postseason. Getty Images The Denver Nuggets could be without starting power forward Aaron Gordon for Game 7. An MRI revealed that Gordon has sustained a strained hamstring, putting his availability for the second-round series finale against the Oklahoma City Thunder in doubt, team sources confirmed to The Athletic. Gordon will officially be listed as questionable for Sunday afternoon's contest at Paycom Center, team sources told The Athletic . Gordon will continue receiving treatment in the days and hours leading up to the game, in the hope to try and play, according to those sources. Read more below. Getty Images "I'm just glad we won," Jamal Murray told ESPN after his 25-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist performance while battling the flu. He shook his head dismissively when asked if there was any chance of his missing Game 6 after waking up sick early this morning. Getty Images In Game 6, with a golden opportunity to advance to their first conference finals in a decade, the Thunder were flat. There were a myriad of lead changes on Thursday evening, but instead of Oklahoma City flexing its 68-win muscles, it was Denver who played with necessary desperation to extend its season and keep the series dream alive. Jalen Williams, who struggled yet again to be a consistent second option, finished with just six points on 3-for-16 shooting, despite leading all players in assists. At the other end, Murray was in constant attack mode. Williams can't afford another game like that if the Thunder have any realistic hopes of getting to a conference final. Through six games, it's clear that the Nuggets have more offensive weapons. If Oklahoma City can't match Denver's firepower on Sunday, it'll need to be tactically sound in all phases of gameplay to advance. Getty Images For the first time in over two weeks, Denver will have more than one day of rest between games. The Nuggets have been running on fumes for much of this series because they went seven games against the LA Clippers, and then boarded a plane that Sunday and started the series against the Thunder that Monday. 'Guys looked more happy to have two days off than to be going to a Game 7,' Denver interim head coach David Adelman said. That's going to be important. Aaron Gordon grabbed at his hamstring late in the fourth quarter of Game 6. The Nuggets can ill-afford to be without him on Sunday, or to even have a hobbled version of him. Adelman said the concern level is 'high.' The Nuggets also get some rest for Murray and Jokić. Denver knew it had to come up with one win on Thursday night, and the Nuggets were able to come up with that win and give themselves some much-needed rest. Getty Images DENVER — The celebrations began before the final buzzer had even sounded, Denver Nuggets players hugging and congratulating each other on a job well done, a series extended and a season saved. At the opposite end of the court, a thick layer of melancholy was present. Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault ducked under the tunnel, fidgeting with his fingers as if he was attempting to draw up a play that would alleviate his team's collective pain. One by one, the players headed for the locker room, their heads looking at the ground — all while the boos from Ball Arena rained down upon them. And for as much optimism as the locker room portrayed after the fact, there was no escaping the reality that Oklahoma City had let a golden opportunity slip. On Thursday night, the Thunder had a chance — several chances, to be honest — to put the Nuggets away. To avoid the tension and nervousness that can come with a Game 7. To advance to their first Western Conference finals in nearly a decade. They didn't. Read more on the Thunder's Game 6 loss below. GO FURTHER Thunder fall flat against the Nuggets and now face the pressure of Game 7 Imagn Images Matthew C.: That was an amazing performance last night by him. Donald M.: Regardless of how this series finishes, I'm cautiously optimistic about the Nuggets solving their depth issue next season. If Braun, Strawther, Pickett, and Watson all just take a reasonable step forward-- a likely scenario for players that are in their early 20s-- it'll be a big deal. Patrick M.: This feels like a tangible difference from how Malone would've approached this. I can't envision him calling on Strawther in an elimination game and giving him this opportunity. Good on Adelman for taking the risk, knowing we needed the shooting badly. John R.: Makes me wonder if Malone was coaching if Strawther would have played. That was an issue with Watson last year. Getty Images DENVER — Julian Strawther heads to Ball Arena and goes through the same mundane and tedious routine, often wondering if or when it will lead to substantial playing time for the Denver Nuggets. But he goes through the routine, regardless. It's part of his job as a professional ballplayer, and he knows that's what will keep him in the NBA beyond his current rookie-scale contract. He gets taped and changes into his practice gear. He goes through film with his player development coach, Nuggets assistant John Beckett. And then he gets on the floor and shoots. And shoots. And then shoots some more. 'It's my job to get these shots up,' Strawther said. On Thursday night, Strawther played the role of hero for Denver, which forced a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 119-107 home win. The Nuggets won while playing for a ninth time in 17 days. They survived a pulled left hamstring from Aaron Gordon, a sickness from Jamal Murray that forced IV treatment earlier in the day and a first-half run by the Thunder that left them staring down the barrel of the end of their season. Read more on the Nuggets below. GO FURTHER Julian Strawther answers Nuggets' desperate call for depth in Game 6 vs. Thunder Getty Images Who deserves to win NBA MVP this year? Will the winner of this series go on to win the NBA Finals? And who will be the X-factor in this massive Game 7? We want to hear your thoughts on all of the above and anything else you have to say about this game! Just send us an email: live@ We'll feature some of our favorite submissions throughout today's coverage! And if you already subscribe to The Athletic , you can also get involved by heading over to the "Discuss" tab at the top of this page on our website and app. Getty Images Game 7 of the NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals series between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET. That's 2:30 p.m. CT local time in Oklahoma City and 1:30 p.m. MT in Denver. Getty Images Game 7 of the NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals series between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will be broadcast on ABC. You can also stream the game on Fubo. Getty Images No, the postseason doesn't factor into the NBA MVP race. It's a regular season award for which the votes were submitted weeks ago. But, we're about to get a winner-take-all Game 7 between the two frontrunners, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and ascending superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And whatever happens today will go a long way towards how each of their MVP-worthy 2024-25 seasons is remembered. Getty Images Hello basketball fans and welcome to The Athletic's live coverage of something defined by two of the greatest words in sports: Game 7. That's right, it's win or go home for the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder in their NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals series. The winner will secure a spot in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The loser will see their season end after what has already become an instant classic of a playoff series. So stick with us as our team of NBA experts on the ground in Oklahoma City will have you covered until opening tip and through the final buzzer! Getty Images Jordan H.: As a Bulls fan with no horse in the race, I'm just enjoying the series. I figured Denver would make this interesting, but not to go 7. OKCs youth vs Denver's experience. Hope the game is good, Adam O.: Gordon was grabbing his hamstring in the final 2 minutes and that is something to keep an eye on. Denver is in trouble if he's playing on one leg or if he can't play at all. Anonymous: Man. I love both of these teams. I'm mystified by the change in Jokic's performance, he's so good, I assume he's trying to force other players to stay involved. After watching last night's game and those two young guys, I did think maybe they should rehire Calvin Booth, the kids were getting it done but also seemed a bit under seasoned. Paul B.: Lots of guys struggle in the playoffs early in their careers, and it's easy to forget how young OKC is. But Williams and other guys will shoot better down the road.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL teams are no longer shying away from older prospects in the draft
FILE - Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy (5) warms up before the start of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File) FILE - Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy (5) warms up before the start of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File) Bo Nix has already turned 25. Michael Penix Jr. will get there in May. Both quarterbacks were first-round picks last year. They were among 56 players age 24 or older drafted in 2024. That number was up from 54 in 2023, 44 in 2022, 16 in 2021 and 19 in 2020. Advertisement There have been more older prospects drafted in recent years because the COVID-19 pandemic gave players an option to stay in school an extra year. Even though the window is ending, the transfer portal and NIL deals might continue to keep some players in school longer. Teams used to shy away from older prospects. Scouts and general managers once considered the age of 24 a red flag in some cases. But the success of guys like Nix and Jayden Daniels, who turned 24 during an outstanding rookie season, shows that experience can help players make an immediate impact in the pros. 'I came from BYU, where kids go on missions for a couple years, and so people go: 'Well, they're too old,'' Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. 'Well, then they come in and they do a pretty good job. So, and really, if you start taking averages of careers, career length, there's maybe a cutoff somewhere, but the careers aren't very long as it is. But we do look at (age), though." Advertisement A majority of the older players selected in the draft last year were Day 3 picks, going in the sixth or seventh round. That indicates teams are more likely to overlook age later in the draft. 'It's just unique to where we're at right now in kind of the football world,' Raiders general manager John Spytek said. 'You got guys with sixth and seventh years really, and so you've got to talk about a value of are we going to have a problem with the 25- or 26-year-old? Some people have more problems with that. I'm just looking for good football players, and I'm trying to impress that upon our scouts, too. Let's just find good football players. We'll figure it out. So I will say it's been really hard on the area scouts. 'You go into these schools like Georgia and Michigan, Ohio State, and they've got a list of 30 guys that can potentially come out. ... I mean it used to just be like here's these 10 juniors, maybe half of them come out. Now it's like, you got a fourth-year, fifth-year senior, and he might take another year. So it adds a lot more names to it and uncertainty and a lot more work that has to get done in a finite amount of time. And that's why the scouts' jobs are so critical to go through all that in an efficient way and present the players the right way. We're relying on it. It's critical to every organization.' The number of older players drafted will decrease this season. There are 46 players age 23 or older who are draft eligible, including 17 who are 24 or older. Advertisement Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, who turns 26 in September, was the oldest player at the scouting combine. He spent seven years at three colleges, including Oregon, where he backed up Justin Herbert in 2019, and Texas Tech. Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy, San Jose State wideout Nick Nash and Arkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong were among the 24-year-old draft prospects at the combine. Teams that stick to the old philosophy of avoiding older players limit their talent pool. 'I think sometimes you have to ask yourself, are you trying to get this guy for 12 years? If you're looking for that, it's a small percentage,' 49ers general manager John Lynch said. 'Or are you looking for one contract and then hopefully more? It's an interesting topic. It's one we constantly discuss. There are pluses and minuses to both sides. Having a young guy that you think you can develop and is already a good player, and then a guy who's a little more battle-tested ... bent through a little more. It's an interesting conversation.' Advertisement College experience is most valuable for quarterbacks. Nix and Daniels proved it last year when they led their teams to the playoffs. Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson threw just 393 passes in college before the Colts drafted him No. 4 overall in 2023. He has struggled to adjust at the NFL level. The oldest player ever selected in the draft was quarterback Chris Weinke. He was 28 years and 264 days old when the Panthers selected him in the fourth round of the 2000 draft. Weinke started just 20 games in the NFL, going 2-18. Quarterback Brandon Weeden was the oldest player ever drafted in the first round. He was 28 years and 195 days old when the Browns chose him 22nd overall in 2012. Weeden made 25 starts, going 6-19. Both Weinke and Weeden played minor-league baseball before college football. Depending on the position of a player and the round, age can be a determining factor when a team is choosing between two guys. Advertisement 'When two players are level, even, same grade, you start weighing what they have,' Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said about age. 'OK, he's a three-year starter and he's a four-year starter. Great leader, team captain, those little things give them a bump. It's not intentional but you talk through it and it shakes out that way.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
10 tornado facts, including one that hit with 300-mph winds
Tornadoes are among the most destructive forces of nature, with the power to wipe out entire neighborhoods in minutes. The first tornado forecast was issued on March 25, 1948, a time when they were considered "not forecastable." Fast-forward more than 70 years, and people receive alerts on their phones when there is a tornado threat for their precise location. Here are 10 facts about some of the biggest, strongest and deadliest tornadoes in history: On March 18, 1925, a tornado began its path of destruction in southeastern Missouri through the south of Illinois and Indiana. It covered 219 miles in three hours, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). It killed nearly 700 people and is considered the longest-lasting tornado on record. Ruins of the De Soto, Illinois, public school where 33 children were killed during the 1925 Tri-State Tornado. (NOAA) The biggest tornado ever recorded touched down near El Reno, Oklahoma, on May 31, 2013, reaching a width of 2.6 miles and packing winds of 302 mph. Previously, the record was held by a tornado that hit Hallam, Nebraska, in 2004, which was 2.5 miles wide. In this May 31, 2013 file photo a tornado forms near Banner Road and Praire Circle in El Reno, Okla. The weather service says the twister's 2.6-mile width is the widest ever recorded. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File) Amid a severe tornado outbreak across the South from April 25-28, 2011, a reported 207 tornadoes touched down on April 27 alone. The tornadoes on April 27 swept through states including Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia, killing 319 people and injuring 2,839 others, the NWS said, making it the fourth-worst tornado event in a single day in terms of fatalities. Four of the more than 200 tornadoes that wreaked havoc on that date were rated as powerful EF5s on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. A tornado's duration can be anywhere from a brief moment or two, to over an hour, depending on its strength and the atmospheric conditions fueling the storm. However, the average tornado remains on the ground for about five minutes, according to NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory. Although tornadoes aren't limited to any specific part of the world, there's no record thus far of tornadoes happening on Earth's southernmost continent. A tornado occurrence in Antarctica isn't impossible; however, they need warm, moisture-rich air to develop, making them very unlikely to spin up over the continent. While extremely rare, Alaska has had several tornadoes, although they have all been weak, short-lived and caused little damage. Tornado Alley is infamous for massive tornadoes, but destructive twisters can happen anywhere in the country. On May 31, 1985, a tornado outbreak in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York killed 89 people and injured over 1,000 others. The strongest and deadliest was an F5 that was on the ground for over an hour, starting in Portage County, Ohio, and tearing a 47-mile path eastward before lifting near Mercer, Pennsylvania. Tornado's war-like path is obvious as the sun slowly sets in Atlantic, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1985, after twister all but leveled the small town, leaving five dead and dozens injured. About a dozen homes were flattened, and most of those remaining were severely damaged. At least 22 were killed in eight western Pennsylvania counties. (AP Photo/Meadville Tribune/Ed Maillard) An F4 tornado also roared through central Pennsylvania, destroying countless trees across several counties and leaving a scar on the landscape that was still evident decades later. While most people are familiar with Tornado Alley, the wide stretch of tornado-prone areas in states including Texas and Oklahoma, a secondary tornado alley is also known for deadly tornadoes across the Southeast. Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama and South and North Carolina are some of the states that lie within this active tornado zone. This area is closer to the Gulf, which provides ample fuel for tornado-producing storms in the form of moisture-rich air. Additionally, there are more trees across the Southeast than the central U.S., making it more difficult to see approaching tornadoes. Researchers have determined the frequency of tornadoes has been increasing east of classic Tornado Alley in recent years, with tornado-producing storms becoming more common across the Gulf Coast states and Mississippi Valley. Tornado and severe thunderstorm outbreaks are most common in March, April and May, the time of year known to meteorologists as severe weather season. An alaysis by AccuWeather found that May 25 is the peak day of tornado season, having more tornado reports than any other day of the year between 1950 and 2020. Tornadoes can occur at any time, but they're most likely to happen between 4 and 9 p.m., according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Nighttime tornadoes are among the most dangerous, as they happen under the cover of darkness making them impossible to see as they approach. Additionally, people who are sleeping may not be aware of tornado warnings issued ahead of dangerous storms. John Bernhardt searches for his belongings outside his stormed damaged home Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing several people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) The U.S. leads the world for the most tornadoes with a historical average of more than 1,200 annually. Most of these whirlwinds occur between March and June, but they can happen on any day of the year when the weather conditions are right. The geography of the U.S. is what makes it prone to so many twisters, as cold air diving southward across the Great Plains clashing with warm, moist air from the Gulf provides many of the ingredients necessary for tornado formation.
