Latest news with #DefensivePlayeroftheYear
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunder Could Get Even Scarier Next Season By Adding Young Serbian Star
The Oklahoma City Thunder are already one of the most terrifying young teams in the NBA, but next season, they might become downright unstoppable. That's because Serbian phenom Nikola Topic, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is set to make his long-awaited debut next season after recovering from a torn ACL. For the rest of the league, the scariest part is this: OKC got him with a pick from the 2019 Russell Westbrook trade. Sam Presti is still winning that deal six years later. Advertisement Topic, a 6-foot-6 playmaking guard, was once projected to go as high as No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft. CBS Sports and ESPN both had him ranked in the top five before the knee injury caused his draft stock to slide. While several teams got cold feet, the Thunder saw value and snatched him at No. 12, a classic Presti move. He wasn't needed to contribute immediately, but he now enters the 2025-26 season joining a fully formed contender. What makes the addition of Topic so intriguing is that he's not joining a rebuilding team, but one that could already be in the NBA Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just won MVP. Jalen Williams is blossoming into an All-Star. Chet Holmgren is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Lu Dort is arguably the best perimeter defender in the league. Advertisement And the Thunder have a war chest of draft capital and depth, and now, another blue-chip prospect. Topic brings a different dynamic to OKC. In his best season in the Adriatic League (ABA) with Mega Basket during the 2023-24 campaign, he averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game, shooting 51.5% from the field and 33.8% from three. He was the youngest player in league history to lead the ABA in assists, all while displaying advanced pick-and-roll vision, deceptive speed, and outstanding composure for a teenager. He also played briefly for Crvena Zvezda in the EuroLeague before his injury, where he showed flashes against top-tier competition, including a 17-point, 5-assist performance against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Even in limited minutes, scouts raved about his control of the pace and ability to make advanced reads. Advertisement His combination of size, IQ, and passing ability has drawn comparisons to a young Goran Dragic with a better frame. Assuming he returns healthy, Topic will give OKC the luxury of another oversized guard who can create for others and take pressure off SGA in ball-handling duties. He may come off the bench early, but his long-term potential suggests he'll be a major contributor as he adjusts to the NBA speed. Sam Presti's gamble may become a masterstroke. With Topic waiting in the wings, the Thunder could be adding a top-5-level talent without giving up a single asset. That's how dynasties are built by stockpiling talent before the league realizes what's coming. Next year, when the Thunder unleash Nikola Topic alongside their MVP and a loaded roster, don't say you weren't warned. The West should be very afraid. Related: Oklahoma City Thunder Currently Hold 32 NBA Draft Picks Until 2031
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
T.J. Watt skips Steelers OTAs amid contract extension drama that could shake up Pittsburgh's 2025 season
T.J. Watt skips Steelers OTAs amid contract extension drama that could shake up Pittsburgh's 2025 season (Getty Images) Pittsburgh Steelers superstar T.J. Watt may not have said much about his contract situation, but his absence from the team's recent organized team activities (OTAs) is making headlines for all the right reasons. Watt, who is entering the final year of his current deal, is reminding the league—and especially the Steelers front office—that it's time to talk business. Steelers face uncertainty as T.J. Watt's OTA absence hints at deeper contract standoff with the franchise Back in 2021, T.J. Watt inked a four-year, $112 million extension that, at the time, made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history with a $28 million average per year. Fast forward to 2025, and that record has been shattered by Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, whose annual value now crosses the $40 million mark. Watt, a former Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most feared pass-rushers in the game, has every reason to expect a contract that reflects the current market. Although he hasn't publicly addressed the situation, Watt hinted at his dissatisfaction when he posted a cryptic peace sign on social media last month—a gesture often interpreted as a sign-off or farewell. It was a subtle but telling move. T.J.'s older brother, J.J. Watt, recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and, while choosing not to speak directly on the situation, dropped some insightful commentary that mirrors the complexities players face in contract negotiations. 'Ownership and front offices obviously treat this like a business,' J.J. said, 'but they do not like it when the players flip the script on them and treat it like a business back. ' That statement couldn't be more relevant to T.J.'s case. NFL teams often justify tough contract calls as strategic decisions, but when players push back or demand what they've earned, they're labeled as selfish or disloyal. It's a double standard that many top-tier players—Watt included—are no longer willing to tolerate. J.J. went on to emphasize the importance of handling extensions early. 'If you take care of things early... do that,' he explained, warning that delays lead to resentment. Using the example of Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson, who has already voiced his displeasure over his contract situation, J.J. stressed how unresolved negotiations can sour relationships inside locker rooms. 'You kick the can down the road, the can gets a whole lot bigger,' he added. 'Now we got ourselves a garbage pail.' The Steelers are facing a pivotal decision. Last year, Watt showed up for camp while still negotiating, opting for a 'hold-in' strategy to avoid fines while making his stance known. But the market wasn't as inflated then as it is now. With the going rate for elite pass rushers climbing rapidly, delaying an extension for Watt will only increase the eventual price tag. Complicating matters is the team's recent decision to give a market-level deal to a player who hasn't even suited up for Pittsburgh yet. If an outsider can command that level of commitment, there's no justifiable reason to shortchange Watt, a homegrown talent and cornerstone of the defense. T.J. Watt has let his play—and now his silence—do the talking. The Steelers have a golden opportunity to set the tone and take care of their most valuable defender before this can of worms turns into a dumpster fire. Also Read: Despite being a free agent, Von Miller commits to 2025 season but admits Broncos reunion likely off the table Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sky to retire jersey of Candace Parker, who helped lead Chicago to title in 1 of her 2 seasons with the team
Candace Parker's tenure with the Chicago Sky wasn't long. But it was impactful enough that the Sky have decided to retire her No. 3 jersey. The Sky announced on Wednesday that they'll raise Parker's jersey to the rafters on August 25 during a game against the Las Vegas Aces. It will hang next to Chicago's 2021 WNBA championship banner. Advertisement Parker played two seasons for the Sky from 2021-22. An All-Star in both seasons, Parker helped lead the Sky to the franchise's only WNBA championship. In her two seasons in Chicago, Parker averaged 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 31.7% from 3-point distance. 'Candace has left an indelible mark on women's basketball at every level and has inspired countless players and fans through her outstanding leadership and basketball talent on and off the court," Sky CEO Adam Fox said, via a team statement. "We are honored to retire her jersey and celebrate her incredible legacy as a Chicago Sky player.' Candace Parker's tenure with the Chicago Sky wasn't long. But it was impactful. () (Michael Reaves via Getty Images) A graduate of Naperville Central High School in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, Parker left Illinois to play three seasons at the University of Tennessee, where she led the Lady Vols to two NCAA titles. She then joined the Los Angeles Sparks as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and embarked on a career that solidified her almost certain selection to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Advertisement Parker won league MVP and Rookie of the Year in her first season in Los Angeles. When she'd wrapped her 13-season tenure with the Sparks, Parker had tallied two MVPs, five All-Star appearances, a Defensive Player of the Year award and a Finals MVP trophy after leading the Sparks to the 2016 championship. The Sparks will retire Parker's jersey on June 29. Parker left the Sparks in 2021 to play for her hometown Sky. After her two seasons in Chicago, Parker capped her career with her third WNBA championship as a starter for the Aces in 2023.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Steelers star T.J. Watt skips OTAs while waiting for new contract extension in Pittsburgh
T.J. Watt has been away from the Pittsburgh Steelers this week while he waits for his new deal. While his decision to skip the team's voluntary workouts could be due to a number of reasons, it could also be a sign of what's to come amid negotiations for a deal that may very well make him the highest-paid defender in football. Watt is currently set to enter the final year of his four-year, $112 million extension with the Steelers this fall. That will pay him just more than $21 million, which is roughly half of what the market is now set at for a pass rusher. Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett makes $40 million per season on his contract, which is the largest defensive deal in the league. It's unclear if Watt will surpass that deal, but he's clearly proven himself as an elite defender throughout his eight seasons in the league. Watt has led the NFL in sacks three times, including in 2021 when he matched the league record with 22.5 sacks. Watt was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year that season. He's led the league in forced fumbles twice, too, and he has 108 sacks in his career. Though last season was a bit of a down year for him — he had 61 total tackles and 11.5 sacks, which were his worst numbers in a complete season since his rookie campaign — Watt is still one of the best defenders in the league even as he is set to turn 31 this fall. Again, Watt's reasoning for skipping OTAs this week are not known. It's very possible that it's not contract-related whatsoever. But with a contract issue ongoing, it could absolutely become an issue in the weeks and months to come if it's not solved soon. Thankfully, though, it doesn't sound like either side wants to move on here. 'I'm confident he's not going anywhere,' Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith said on the NFL Network earlier this month. 'I know that he loves being here. He loves being in Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh loves him. So I know that they're going to do whatever they can to get a deal done, hopefully sooner than later because everyone knows he's a generational talent, generational player. So we all know that he wants to be in this building.'
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jalen Williams contract: How All-NBA team affects OKC Thunder star's extension
Jalen Williams landed on the All-NBA third team. It's the first All-NBA selection for the OKC Thunder forward. He also made his first All-Star appearance this season and earned a spot on the All-Defensive second team. Advertisement Williams is still on his rookie contract. But his recent All-NBA selection brings him one step closer to securing a bigger payday on his next deal. Here's what you need to know: More: OKC Thunder lands two on All-NBA teams with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams Rookie contract breakdown for Jalen Williams Williams was selected by OKC with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He's on the third season of a four-year, $20.3 million rookie contract, which concludes with a team option for the 2025-26 campaign. Williams would become a restricted free agent the following offseason if he isn't signed to a new deal by that time. Advertisement 2022-23: $4.3 million 2023-24: $4.6 million 2024-25: $4.8 million 2025-26 (Team option): $6.6 million 2026-27: Restricted free agent More: NBA All-Defensive team: Lu Dort makes first team, Jalen Williams selected to second squad When can OKC Thunder sign Jalen Williams to rookie extension? Williams is eligible for a five-year, $246 million rookie extension this offseason. It could increase to $296 million if All-NBA, Most Valuable Player or Defensive Player of the Year honors are negotiated into the contract, according to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks. More: How Jalen Williams went from little known OKC Thunder draft pick to NBA All-Star Are there financial implications for Jalen Williams making an All-NBA team? There are no immediate financial implications for Williams being named to an All-NBA team. Advertisement A player who is rookie extension eligible can sign for 30 percent of the salary cap if he is named to an All-NBA team in two out of the three previous seasons. This is Williams' first selection. Williams will become eligible to do so if he's named to an All-NBA team in either of the next two seasons. He would also become eligible if he was named the league's MVP or Defensive Player of the Year during that time. More: Who owns OKC Thunder? What to know about team's NBA journey, leadership in Oklahoma This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Jalen Williams contract: How All-NBA affects Thunder star's extension
