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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dwyane Wade supports Myles Turner's decision to leave the Pacers to go play with Giannis: "Perfect time to make the shift"
Dwyane Wade supports Myles Turner's decision to leave the Pacers to go play with Giannis: "Perfect time to make the shift" originally appeared on Basketball Network. For the last five seasons, Myles Turner has been constantly thrown into trade talks at every deadline. Whenever a team needed a center, his name always came first, as he can work well with another star player or two. Despite the constant noise, he remained loyal to the Indiana Pacers, and this season it proved to be the right call. The Pacers made their first NBA Finals in 25 years, since the Reggie Miller era and Turner played brilliantly. However, when Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7, it became instantly clear he'd be sidelined for the entire following season. A minor rebuild seemed likely, but hardly anyone anticipated the versatile center being dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks. "He just went to the Finals," Dwyane Wade said on "The Why" podcast, commenting on Myles' situation. "After 10 years of building, he finally got to the Finals. Hali got hurt and now they're kind of rebuilding. Not fully, but enough. I mean, let me go here next to Giannis. Let me go and give myself another chance in the Eastern Conference and win a championship. So I want more." "I think it was the right time for him and he ain't gonna do nothing more. After 10 years getting to the Finals and being there — everything will go downhill. I think it was a good move. My legacy was good there and let me go try to do something else for the end of my career. Perfect time to make the shift," The Flash concluded. Pacers will be in a tough spot all season From Wade's perspective, this trade makes perfect sense for Turner's career because playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo will give him a new chance to fight for a title, especially since the Pacers, without Haliburton, will be in a tough spot all season long. However, from the Pacers' perspective, Turner was one of the key pieces of that championship run: a great rim protector and a guy who could stretch the floor and knock down timely shots. Considering all of this, the renowned insider and analyst Brian Windhorst reckoned that Indiana players were furious with the trade. "They are going to have some explaining to do to their star players. The Pacers have been weakened both this season and into the future. They don't have another player on their roster who can fill in here," he as the younger version of Lopez Indiana suddenly went from pushing Game 7 and chasing their first-ever title to losing two starters for the upcoming season. A similar situation unfolded in Boston, where the Celtics' repeat hopes were derailed. After Jayson Tatum went down, they quickly moved on from Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, with Al Horford also approaching retirement. As for the Bucks, Turner's playstyle looks an awful lot like a younger version of Brook Lopez, who was also (and still is to a degree) a great rim protector with a reliable three-point shot from a big man, though not a dominant rebounder. It remains to be seen how Turner and Giannis mesh on the court, but their combined experience and skill sets should complement one another story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Milwaukee valued me a bit more" - Myles Turner explains why he left the Pacers to sign with the Bucks
"Milwaukee valued me a bit more" - Myles Turner explains why he left the Pacers to sign with the Bucks originally appeared on Basketball Network. Many were shocked that Myles Turner left the Indiana Pacers this summer. The 29-year-old was a key player in the team's run to the 2025 NBA Finals, and despite being an unrestricted free agent, everyone expected the Pacers would keep him. But in the surprising turn of events, he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. During a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA radio, Turner explained his decision to leave the team with which he played his first 10 years in the NBA. "For me, personally, I want a chance to stay competitive, you know, heading to my 30s right now, and I looked at the way this roster with Milwaukee is constructed and how I can come in and use my talents to try to get back to that fold. So, I won't say that it played a part in my ultimate decision. It may have played a factor in the front office's decisions. But that's not for me to discuss," said Turner. The Bucks made a better offer After Tyrese Haliburton suffered an Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, fans feared the Pacers could hit a speed bump next season. Those worries were confirmed when team president Kevin Pritchard announced they would take a cautious approach with their star point guard and let him sit out the entire 2025-26 campaign. With their best player out, it will be hard for the Pacers to get back to the Finals. Turner himself feels that way, which is why he decided to leave. Turner also talked about his former team not valuing him as a free agent. There were reports that the Pacers' final offer to him was less than $23 million per year. The Bucks, meanwhile, signed him to a four-year $108 million deal. "I feel that Milwaukee valued me a bit more. And I think that they tried a little harder. But at the end of the day, it's not for me to discuss right now. I just know out of respect for that organization, out of respect for my incoming organization right now. It was an interesting process," he president was shocked by Turner leaving Pritchard also recently spoke about what happened with the Turner situation. He said the organization tried its best to negotiate with its center, and the owners were even willing to pay the tax to keep him. "Herb Simon and Steven Rales and the Simon family were fully prepared to go deep into the tax to keep him, and we really wanted to do that. We were negotiating in good faith. But what happens in this league is sometimes you are in negotiations, but because a guy is unrestricted, he has the right to say, 'That's the offer I want, and I'm going to take it, and that's the best for my family.'" We were in good faith in negotiations," the Pacers president said. The Bucks waived Damian Lillard, who might miss the entire 2025-26 season after suffering an Achilles tear in the 2025 playoffs against the Pacers, to sign Turner, hoping that would be enough for Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign a new contract with the team. And while The Greek Freak still hasn't extended his loyalty to the Bucks, the Turner acquisition makes them a bigger threat in the East. Big enough to at least make the NBA Finals? Only time will story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sabrina Ionescu is having a down year, but she's making it work
Editor's Note: This story is part of a series from SB Nation profiling the 2025 WNBA All-Star teams. Today, let's get to know Sabrina Ionescu. Sabrina Ionescu hit one of the biggest shots in basketball history last October, a Game 3 game-winner in the WNBA Finals, en route to her first WNBA championship. 'It's a shot that I take often,' she said. 'I take it in practice, I take it before the games. It's not like a Hail Mary, hope-this-goes-in. Once I got it off, I was like, 'Yeah, this is it.'' She followed that massive moment up with another All-Star season, this time averaging a career-best points per game. Ionescu is an All-Star for the fourth time in her career, adding another accolade to an accolade-filled resume. The 5'11 guard is the NCAA's all-time leader in triple-doubles, was the Naismith College Player of the Year her senior year at Oregon, and has been a three-time member of the All-WNBA Second Team. And, she famously holds the record for most threes made at an All-Star three-point contest at either the NBA or WNBA level — that record was set when she hit 25 of 27 attempts en route to 37 points in 2023. This season, Sabrina Ionescu has struggled offensively The Liberty's title defense season hasn't been all smooth sailing. While the team was dominant at full strength, things haven't been the same since last year's Finals MVP, Jonquel Jones, went down with injury. They've dropped five of their last ten games, and Ionescu has been in a bit of a slump herself. On Saturday, in a narrow win over the Dream, Ionescu scored 9 points on just 3 of 20 shooting. On Wednesday, she followed that up with a 15-point, 5-14 shooting performance (albeit alongside 9 assists). This season, the former Oregon star has averaged 18.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. She's shooting 38% from the field and 30.9% from three, both career lows. Still, she'll partake in the WNBA All-Star three-point contest on Friday, where she'll instantly be one of the headliners, alongside Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and several others, including Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, and Washington Mystics rookie Sonia Citron. And, almost inevitably, she'll soon find her rhythm. The Liberty guard holds the record for most threes made in a single WNBA season (128 in 2023). That season, she shot a ridiculous 44.8% from three. Since then, she's hit plenty of big ones. Amid the shooting struggles, Ionescu is getting to the line more than ever before, attempting 4.9 free throws per night on a ridiculous 93.4% shooting. Her defense is better than ever, and she's averaging a career-best 1.6 steals. Ionescu, despite some uncharacteristic shooting struggles, remains critical for the Liberty's repeat hopes.
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Saudi Arabia set for Iraq, Indonesia clashes as Qatar gear up for UAE, Oman in Asian qualifiers for 2026 FIFA WC
Kuala Lumpur: Saudi Arabia have been drawn in Group B to face Iraq and Indonesia in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while reigning Asian Cup champions Qatar will take on the United Arab Emirates and Oman in Group A in a single round-robin format scheduled for October 8 to 14. The six teams were divided into two groups, with only the top side from each to join the six Asian nations already through at next year's global showpiece. The second-placed teams from both groups will square off in a two-legged showdown across November 13 and 18. This knockout stage will determine the continent's representative at the FIFA Playoff Tournament, which offers one final qualifying opportunity. A draw was also held to determine the host team of the knockout stage, with the Group A runners-up to host the first leg. Australia, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran and Uzbekistan have already confirmed their spots at the Finals. Qatar, aiming to qualify for the FIFA World Cup on merit after having made their debut as hosts in 2022, advanced to the playoffs after finishing fourth in Group A of the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers. UAE, seeking a second appearance at the Finals following their debut in the 1990 edition, finished third in Group A while Oman - hoping for a debut appearance at the global showpiece - finished fourth in Group B. Saudi Arabia, bidding for a third consecutive and seventh overall appearance at the Finals, have to navigate the playoffs after finishing third in Group C of the third round. Iraq, whose only previous appearance at the FIFA World Cup was in 1986, advanced to the playoffs after finishing third in Group B while Indonesia, whose previous appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals was in the 1938 edition, finished fourth in Group C. Draw Result Group A: Qatar (H), UAE, Oman Group B: Saudi Arabia (H), Iraq, Indonesia Knockout Stage 13 November 1st leg: Runners-up Group A v Runners-up Group B 18 November 2nd leg: Runners-up Group B v Runners-up Group A
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GMA Network
10 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
San Miguel's bounce back win vs TNT 'all about playing together,' says Mo
PBA Philippine Cup. July 16, 2025. Mo Tautuaa of the San Miguel Beermen against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 2 of the Finals. (Photo: PBA Media) Mo Tautuaa and the San Miguel Beermen easily moved forward after their frustrating loss in the PBA Philippine Cup finals opener against TNT last Sunday. In Game 2 on Wednesday, the Beermen took down the Tropang 5G, 98-92, and for Tautuaa, who in Game 1 made the dunk that was deemed as an offensive interference violation afterwards, it was all about playing together. "I think that's the first time anyone has lost a game like that where points get taken away. That's definitely something that I've never seen that ever in my life. It's cool in that sense, I guess, such that we had to lose that way," Tautuaa said about the Game 1 loss. "But I mean, today it was all about us playing together. I feel like we played together well today and we weren't down in the hole early. We weren't down in the hole early and we just caught and started to throw it to the end." Mo Tautuaa talks about bouncing back after what happened in Game 1 of the Finals @gmasportsph — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 16, 2025 Tautuaa said the team just put aside what happened in Game 1 and just made sure to bounce back to even the series. "We kind of tried to put that to the side because there's nothing we can do about that anymore at this point. All we're doing now is just making sure we go out and play our game. When we play our brand of basketball, we do well. It feels good," said Tautuaa. San Miguel head coach Leo Austria also said this about the frustrating loss. "We'd been in this adversity (Game 1 loss) and we know what to do," Austria said. "Plus the support of management, especially Coach Al [Chua], he was there during practice to motivate us and it's a good support from the management. Alam nila na kaya pa namin manalo and pinatunayan namin ngayon." —JKC, GMA Integrated News
