Latest news with #EuroBasket
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA Team Escapes Another Loss After Releasing Player
WNBA Team Escapes Another Loss After Releasing Player originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the WNBA season heats up, the looming EuroBasket tournament could force several teams to lose players for 11 or more days midseason. Advertisement One team hoping to avoid any roster shake-ups is the Phoenix Mercury. After an 85-80 road win over Los Angeles on Sunday, Phoenix sits at 5-2 and is off to a strong start in 2025. Thankfully for the Mercury, it looks like they'll keep their current roster intact. According to Desert Wave Media, forward Natasha Mack will not compete for Montenegro at EuroBasket, which is from June 18-29. Instead, she'll remain with the Mercury. "Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack will not play for Montenegro at EuroBasket (June 18-29) and will remain with the Mercury," Desert Wave Media's X post read. Mack was selected with the 16th pick in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. She starred at Oklahoma State, where she was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. Advertisement Her early WNBA career included just three appearances with the Sky before she was released. Mack signed a 7-day contract with Minnesota in 2021 and played in one game. After spending time overseas, she returned to the league in 2024 and signed with Phoenix. Last season, Mack played in all 40 games and started 11 of them. She averaged 3.8 points and 1.1 assists per game. In 2025, she has yet to suit up for the Mercury due to a back injury. The same report noted one more player-related update: "After waiving Sevgi Uzun, the Mercury will not lose any players for EuroBasket." Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Uzun was cut early Monday night in a somewhat surprising move. She had played in all seven games and was averaging 14.6 minutes per contest. Advertisement Phoenix returns to action on Tuesday night on the road against Minnesota. After that, they'll host three straight games against Golden State, Seattle and Dallas. Related: Atlanta Dream Coach Had Strong Words After Brittney Griner's Return Related: Fans React After New Report Emerges on Caitlin Clark's Injury Timeline This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Los Angeles Lakers allow Luka Doncic to play for Slovenia during offseason but on one condition
Image credit: Getty Images The Los Angeles Lakers made an early exit from the NBA playoffs after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but their new player Luka Doncic isn't in the mood to sit idle and gain weight. Doncic is already looking slimmer in his latest appearances, and it has now been revealed that he will be playing for his home team Slovenia in the EuroBasket tournament during the offseason. Luka Doncic allowed to play for home team in Slovenia Matej Erjavec, president of the Slovenian Basketball Federation, has confirmed that the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to send Luka Doncic to play for Slovenia during the offseason, but on the condition that he will be accompanied by a coach from the Lakers. Which coach will accompany Doncic to Slovenia has not been revealed. The matches will begin in August, with Slovenia facing Poland in their first game. 'Within two minutes in a meeting with Rob Pelinka, he stressed, 'Well, you will get Luka and one coach, and that's it.' And with that, we were done. There was no debate at all,' Erjavec said via This is not the first time Doncic will be playing for his home team during the offseason. Even when he was a part of the Dallas Mavericks, there was a similar setup in place for him, and Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney had accompanied Doncic to the tournament. Slovenia had won the 2017 EuroBasket tournament when Doncic played for them for the first time. Former Los Angeles Lakers player Markieff Morris recently shared his views on what he thinks is behind Doncic's better fitness. He said on First Take chat show, "When you're eating hotel food, you're getting in at 3 o'clock in the morning in different cities, you have to eat at 4 o'clock in the morning with a back-to-back. All that stuff takes a toll on your body. The stress of being in a long season, the stress of being traded midseason, it's just the things he went through last year. ' Also Read: Luka Doncic steps out to watch a game in Spain; fans comment on his slimmer look: 'He loses weight in off-season then gains it back' Doncic was recently spotted at the Real Madrid basketball game, and fans couldn't stop talking about how he was looking much fitter. He moved from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in February this year in a shocking trade. 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
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrei Kirilenko was ready to sacrifice millions to escape the Jazz in 2007: "I don't want to enjoy something that I don't deserve"
In professional sports, walking away from a big paycheck is rare — so when it happens, it highlights a player's dedication. A strong example came in 2007 when Andrei Kirilenko made headlines for what he was ready to give up. Frustrated with his NBA role, the 6'9" forward reportedly considered walking away from the final $63 million on his Utah Jazz contract to rediscover his love for the game elsewhere. He confirmed this in a later translated interview with the Russian outlet Sport Express. Advertisement "I have never been unfair and I don't want to enjoy something that I don't deserve. Big money is obviously good, but I am prepared to make less. The size of my salary doesn't mean that much for me. The main thing is to play with a spark," said Kirilenko, per ESPN. "AK-47" felt unhappy and restricted By late 2004, Kirilenko's future with the Jazz seemed secure. The versatile player, a key figure since 2001, had just signed a six-year, $86 million extension. However, fast-forward to 2007, the partnership was falling apart. Despite "AK-47" hitting his prime, shown by his outstanding MVP performance leading Russia to the EuroBasket title, he was increasingly sidelined in Utah's offense. The focus had shifted to teammates Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur. Advertisement Kirilenko also grew frustrated with head coach Jerry Sloan. In a blog post later translated by "The Salt Lake Tribune," the 2004 All-Star was blunt. "[Sloan's] main method to motivate players is to create a feeling of guilt. Our wages, our errors in games and whatever we do beyond playing for the Jazz is also an excuse to criticize us. I want to play basketball. I want to be happy playing basketball, but I don't want to be a robot in Sloan's system," wrote Andrei. Around the same time, the then 25-year-old shared similar feelings in an interview with Russian media. He said that for two years he had played like a robot. He had expected to enjoy winning and playing when signing his contract, but now even success didn't bring him pleasure, calling it the "worst feeling." Related: Ivica Zubac reflects on breakout year, Jokic battles, and more in Basketball Network exclusive From near exit to a bounce back From Kirilenko's perspective, the situation couldn't continue as it was. However, the Jazz disagreed. Knowing his value and being bound by a contract through the 2010–11 season — which the FIBA teams had to honor — they refused to him leave easily. Advertisement Kirilenko said coach Sloan even suggested the only option was for him to "break the contract" if he wanted out. "AK-47" intended to do just that and possibly return to play in Europe, either in Russia or elsewhere. "I would like to be where I am needed," he explained, "and right now I feel that my country needs me. But I cannot exclude some European clubs. Trust me, I really am prepared to leave NBA. It certainly does not mean that I'm dying to go to Europe. I'm just ready." Though this suggested a split was near, interestingly, it didn't happen. Kirilenko returned to the Jazz roster for the 2007-08 season with renewed focus and determination. That year, he improved most of his key stats — averaging 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per contest — demonstrating his ability to bounce back despite the outside noise. Related: Andrei Kirilenko describes Karl Malone and John Stockton on the court: "They had two different personalities"
NBC Sports
25-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Could Mario Hezonja return to NBA? Multiple teams reportedly interested.
The last time we saw Mario Hezonja on an NBA court was in the bubble, when the former No. 5 pick was coming off the bench for the Trail Blazers. Since then, he has been in Europe playing in Greece and Russia before spending the past few seasons with Real Madrid. Just last summer he inked a five-year contract with the Spanish powerhouse, but the contract has an NBA out clause. And there is interest from several NBA teams, reports Donatas Urbonas of Hezonja, 30, spent five seasons in the NBA after being drafted by the Magic, but the 6'8" forward's game never rounded out as hoped. He didn't space the floor well from 3, and his offense was more straight-line drives than anything else. That growth in his game may have come in Europe. He shot 39.2% from 3 last season for Real Madrid, averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 assists a game this past season. Hezonja also averaged 30.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a couple of steals a game for Croatia in the 2025 EuroBasket qualifiers (Croatia did not make the cut). It's something to watch. Hezonja's NBA buyout clause is for around $850,000, Urbonas reports, which is about the going rate for an NBA buyout in Europe.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Real Madrid's iconic Santiago Bernabeu stadium to break attendance record in different sport as it hosts major event
REAL MADRID'S Santiago Bernabeu stadium is set to host the EuroBasket opener in 2029. EuroBasket is Europe 's largest international basketball competition. 3 3 Spain are among the continent's most successful basketball nations and are the reigning EuroBasket champions. World basketball governing body Fiba has announced that Spain are among four countries to host the 2029 edition. Madrid 's 80,000-seater Bernabeu is set to host the opening game of the tournament, likely to be Spain against a leading contender. The curtain-raiser could set a new Fiba attendance record, with the largest attendance currently standing at 38,115, set at Philippine Arena two years ago. Real Madrid's iconic home has undergone substantial renovations in recent years - now featuring a retractable roof and huge LED screens. In addition to the curtain raiser, final phase games are also set to take place in Spain. Other games in Madrid are to be held at the 16,000-seater Movistar Arena. In addition to the Spanish capital - Athens, Tallinn and Ljubljana will also host games. Fiba Europe president Jorge Garbajosa said: "We are excited to bring FIBA EuroBasket 2029 to some of Europe's prime basketball destinations, each with a strong basketball culture and a clear commitment to delivering an outstanding event. "We look forward to working closely with the host countries to ensure a successful and memorable tournament for teams, fans, and partners alike." Fiba chief Kamil Novak added: "The interest our National Federations have shown in organising this event speaks to the growing profile and prestige of Fiba EuroBasket. "We thank all the bidders for their outstanding proposals and extend our best wishes to the four hosts as they begin their journey toward delivering a fantastic tournament." This summer's EuroBasket is set to take place in Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, and Poland. The tournament will run between August 27 and September 14 - and could feature the likes of Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. 3
