Latest news with #SGA
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's rise draws unexpected comparison to Magic legend Penny Hardaway
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image credit: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/Instagram) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , the Oklahoma City Thunder guard, has completed his transformation from promising rookie to NBA superstar. After winning the 2024–25 MVP award, leading the league in scoring (32.7 PPG), and taking the Thunder to their first NBA Finals since 2012, an early career comparison to Orlando Magic legend Penny Hardaway now seems prophetic. Was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander predicted to be the 'next Penny Hardway'? During Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 's rookie season with the LA Clippers, a team staffer made a surprising claim—that the young guard could become "the next Penny Hardaway." At the time, the comparison was met with skepticism. Hardaway was a generational talent who led the Magic to the Finals at 23, earned multiple All-NBA First Team selections, and was on a Hall of Fame trajectory before injuries derailed his prime. Now, the parallels are undeniable. Why the Hardaway comparison holds up Both players share a rare combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ. Here's how their careers align: Key similarities between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Penny Hardaway - Size and position: Both stand around 6'6' with the ability to play point guard - All-around impact: Elite scorers who also facilitate for teammates - Winning influence: Transformed their teams into contenders early in their careers Statistical comparison between Shai and Penny Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Image via: Nate Billings/ AP Player PPG RPG APG All-NBA Selections Finals Appearances Penny Hardaway 19.0 4.7 6.3 3 (2 First Team) 1 (1995) SGA (2024–25) 32.7 5.5 6.8 3 (1 First Team) 1 (2025) Beyond stats, both players changed the trajectory of their franchises. Hardaway led the Magic to their first Finals in just his second season. Similarly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken the Thunder from rebuilders to title contenders. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like It might kill off the whole industry': What's at stake as US-China tariff war hits SE Asia CNA Read More Undo The evolution of SGA's game that made him live up to the expectations Early in his career, Gilgeous-Alexander was seen as a solid but unspectacular prospect. His gradual improvement—from efficient scorer to MVP-caliber superstar—mirrors Hardaway's ascent. Key developments in his game include: - Elite scoring: Improved from 23.7 PPG in 2022–23 to 32.7 PPG in 2024–25 - Clutch performance: Ranked among the league's best in fourth-quarter scoring - Defensive growth: Became a lockdown perimeter defender A full-circle moment for the Thunder star What once seemed like an exaggerated comparison now looks like foresight. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has not only matched Hardaway's early-career success but surpassed it in some areas. As the Thunder compete for a championship, SGA's legacy continues to grow—validating that bold prediction from his rookie year. Also read: NBA Free Agency Rumors: Dallas Mavericks Target $10.46 million San Antonio Spurs star as Kyrie Irving's Injury Shakes Up Backcourt Plans After ACL Setback The NBA Finals will be another opportunity for him to cement his place among the game's greats, just as Hardaway did nearly 30 years ago.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'He's still extremely relevant' - Fans divided over Colin Cowherd's name-dropping Jason Tatum while praising Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Fans divided over Colin Cowherd's name-dropping Jason Tatum while praising Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Images via Getty Images) Colin Cowherd made a weird comparison between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jason Tatum while praising the former as a true alpha. Cowherd's dragging Jason Tatum's name in a demeaning manner in his comment stirred fans. A majority of fans took Tatum's side and considered Cowherd's comparison completely unwarranted. Jason Tatum Fans give mixed reactions to Colin Cowherd's comparison of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Jason Tatum Colin Cowherd talked about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's rising glory on his podcast, The Herd. During his review, he commented on Shai's work and said: 'He is delivering and fulfilling everything I've been told Jayson Tatum does.' — TheDunkCentral (@TheDunkCentral) The comment sparked mixed reactions from fans. Most of them did not like Jayson Tatum's name being mentioned in a demeaning manner. They supported Jayson Tatum and found it unnecessary to pull him down just to praise another player. One fan commented, 'Bashing tatum for no reason to prove a point ts so unnecessary.' Another fan wrote, 'The obsession with jt is wild,man is recovering from his injury and he keeps talking about him' 'Mentioning Tatum for literally 0 reason and especially after the injury is so weird,' was another comment. 'the fact you gotta bring up tatum tells you he's still extremely relevant,' wrote a fan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Plymouth: People Born 1945-1975 Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo Even an OKC fan couldn't digest the comparison and wrote, 'I'm an okc fan but this tatum hate is so forced it's getting ridiculous.' However, a few fans had their views similar to Colin Cowherd. One of them said that Cowherd was not lying. SGA fans were happy about his praise and shared their views, such as: 'SGA leads by example, was one of the reactions. Another fan supported Shai, and commented, 'YUP that's what i've been saying! He's a true Alpha male. 6 pack tall handsome and just gets shit done!!!' Jason Tatum's season was shortened by Achilles' tendon tear Jason Tatum's performance in the 2024-25 regular season was exceptional. On December 21, 2024, he became the first Celtics player with a 40-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist game to his credit. Tatum during the regular season averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists with an FGP of 45.2%. However, his season was cut short by an Achilles' tendon tear he suffered during Game 4 of the playoffs against the New York Knicks. Before the injury, he had scored 42 points in that game, delivering an exemplary display of athleticism and IQ. JAYSON TATUM GRUESOME LEG INJURY (WHEELCHAIRED OFF COURT) He underwent the surgery the following day. Legendary players like Dominique Wilkins advised him not to come back sooner and take the recovery period seriously, sharing experience from his past when he too suffered from the same injury. Also Read: Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson issues an apology to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company after Oklahoma City Thunder's 30-point Game 5 win Jason Tatum is expected to make a faster recovery owing to his young age, experts suggest. While he is away, his fans are holding the front for him and won't stand for any comment made against him. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves all the praise. He is named the Western Conference Finals MVP unanimously after his team's win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2025 WCF MVP after sending Timberwolves home
The post Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2025 WCF MVP after sending Timberwolves home appeared first on ClutchPoints. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the MVP of the Western Conference Finals after dominating the entire series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. SGA finished with 34 points in Game 5 as the Thunder finished off the series with a 124-94 win. SGA was on fire for the entire series and willed his team to numerous victories. Now, the Thunder are moving on to the NBA Finals as they are just four wins away from winning an NBA championship. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to play at this elite level, OKC will be tough to beat. The Thunder will play either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers. Advertisement When the Thunder needed him most in this series, SGA was at his best. He played well in the first two games of the series as OKC cruised to a 2-0 lead, but things got interesting in Game 3. The Timberwolves got right back in the series with a 42-point win at home, and with Game 4 in Minnesota as well, they had a chance to make this a brand new series. SGA had a response, however. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came to play in Game 4 as his 40-point performance willed the Thunder to victory. It was a close game throughout and it came down to the final possessions, but OKC got the win thanks to a monster performance from the MVP. The Thunder didn't want to have to go back to Minnesota for Game 6, so Wednesday night's game was crucial. SGA once again put on a masterful show to lead his team to an easy victory, and now, the Thunder are going to the NBA Finals. SGA just won his first NBA MVP, and now he is the Western Conference Finals MVP as well. No matter who the Thunder play in the NBA Finals, he will be the favorite to win Finals MVP. This has been a special season for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and he is close to capping it off in perfect fashion.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Thunder and Panthers reach the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning. The Thunder finished the dismantling of the Western Conference on Wednesday by blowing out the Timberwolves, 124-94, to secure a spot in the NBA Finals. From Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill: 40 minutes of hell was supposed to be a college basketball mantra, and long gone — but the Thunder have remixed it. Sometimes it's five minutes, maybe 10. Just a stretch in which they turn the opponents into stumbling, bumbling, inept strangers. They can barely get a shot up, let alone an entry pass. With the franchise smelling opportunity, a chance at clinching a berth in the NBA Finals, dribbling became an obstacle course. And that five- or 10-minute stretch lasted for an entire half. Postgame reading: SGA's dad steals the show, hams it up Timberwolves offseason outlook Looking ahead: The Thunder are overwhelming favorites (-625 at BetMGM) to beat either the Pacers or Knicks. A $10 bet on OKC to win the Finals would net a measly $1.60 in profit if they were to win the title. The defending champion Panthers beat the Hurricanes, 5-3, on Wednesday to clinch their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Rare feat: Florida is the ninth franchise to make the Cup Final in three consecutive years, joining Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Edmonton, New York (Islanders), Philadelphia, St. Louis and Tampa Bay. What they're saying: "I remember a few years ago it felt like such an accomplishment," said forward Matthew Tkachuk after he and his teammates bypassed a postgame celebration. "This year, it's all business." Are we headed for a rematch? Since the NHL expanded beyond the "Original Six" in 1967, the same two teams have met in back-to-back Cup Finals on four occasions. The Oilers (up 3-1) are one win away from making it five. 1968: Canadiens over Blues 1969: Canadiens over Blues 1977: Canadiens over Bruins 1978: Canadiens over Bruins 1983: Islanders over Oilers 1984: Oilers over Islanders 2008: Red Wings over Penguins 2009: Penguins over Red Wings 2024: Panthers over Oilers 2025: Panthers vs. ??? Go deeper: Why the Panthers didn't touch the Prince of Wales Trophy MLB teams used to routinely make it through the season using only 20 or so pitchers. Now, they're lucky if they make it to June before crossing that threshold. By the numbers: In 2010, 635 pitchers made an MLB appearance. This year, that number is already 638 and we're only a third of the way through the season. The league has been trending this way for years, first eclipsing 700 in 2015, 800 in 2019 and reaching a high-water mark of 909* in 2021 when players were still missing time due to COVID. MLB implemented a three-batter minimum rule in 2020, which has moderately decreased the number of pitchers used per game but has had a negligible impact on the season-long total. What's driving this? The sport has changed. Pitchers used to pride themselves on going deep into games, but the type of pitcher that teams value today — flamethrowers with high strikeout rates — can't eat as many innings. More arms are required to make the math add up. Consider this: In 2005, 50 pitchers threw at least 200 innings. In 2019, just 15 guys crossed that threshold. Last year? Four. This "death of the innings eater" isn't just about endurance, either. Analytics-minded managers tend to pull their starters before their third or fourth time through the order, turning instead to a long string of relievers. Between the lines: Health also plays a major (and related) role, because while increasing velocity leads to more strikeouts, it has also fueled a worrying rise in pitcher injuries. The more arms on the IL, the more are needed to fill those spots. What they're saying: "If you miss more bats, you get more outs. If you get more outs, you accumulate more wins. If you accumulate more wins, you get paid more," Cubs GM Carter Hawkins told The Athletic ($). "So the incentive structure is geared towards that, but it's more taxing on pitchers and therefore (you need) more rest for pitchers at different times." Bottom line: MLB's "stuff over stamina" era has yielded a new status quo: It's no longer about how many innings your starter can give you, but how many quality arms are waiting in the wings. *These numbers include position players pitching, which tends to average about 60 per season in recent years. Carlsbad, California — Oklahoma State beat Virginia to win its 12th men's golf national title, tying Princeton for third most. Only Houston (16) and Yale (21) have more. Bormio, Italy — Isaac Del Toro, the first Mexican cyclist to lead the Giro d'Italia, won Stage 17 to add precious seconds to his advantage. He leads by 41 seconds with four stages left. Wrocław, Poland — Chelsea beat Real Betis, 4-1, in the Conference League final to complete the full set of European trophies (Champions League, Europa League). Paris — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka rolled at the French Open, where the second round concludes today. If the Knicks are going to keep their season alive, they'll need to snap Indiana's strange but true streak: the Pacers have only lost Game 3's this postseason (0-3), going 11-0 in all other games. The good news for the Stars, as they face elimination, is that they're 7-2 at home in these playoffs. The bad news is that the Oilers have won three straight games by a score of 13-2. The season's second major tees off at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, the 16th course to host both the men's and women's U.S. Open. Defending champion Yuka Saso, 23, became the youngest two-time U.S. Open winner last year, but has missed her last three cuts. The double-elimination bracket begins today in Oklahoma City, with No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas (12pm, ESPN), No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee (2:30pm, ESPN), No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss (7pm, ESPN2) and No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 16 Oregon (9:30pm, ESPN2). Plus: 🎾 French Open: Second Round (5am, TNT/truTV/Max) … No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 6 Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Coco Gauff headline today's action. ⛳️ PGA: Memorial Tournament (8am, ESPN+; 2pm, Golf) … A stacked field tees off at Muirfield Village for a $20 million purse. ⚾️ MLB: Nationals at Mariners (9:40pm, FS1) … Washington's MacKenzie Gore leads MLB with 13.4 strikeouts-per-nine innings. 🚴 Cycling: Giro d'Italia (7:50am, Max) … Stage 18 of 21. Today's full slate. The Raiders just made AJ Cole the NFL's highest-paid punter, signing the three-time Pro Bowler to a historic four-year extension. Take a guess: How much will Cole earn per year? $1.65 million $3.95 million $5.25 million $8.05 million Answer at the bottom. It's been a year to remember for these six athletic departments. Trivia answer: $3.95 million (four-year, $15.8 million contract) We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Thunder and Panthers reach the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning. The Thunder finished the dismantling of the Western Conference on Wednesday by blowing out the Timberwolves, 124-94, to secure a spot in the NBA Finals. From Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill: 40 minutes of hell was supposed to be a college basketball mantra, and long gone — but the Thunder have remixed it. Sometimes it's five minutes, maybe 10. Just a stretch in which they turn the opponents into stumbling, bumbling, inept strangers. They can barely get a shot up, let alone an entry pass. With the franchise smelling opportunity, a chance at clinching a berth in the NBA Finals, dribbling became an obstacle course. And that five- or 10-minute stretch lasted for an entire half. Postgame reading: SGA's dad steals the show, hams it up Timberwolves offseason outlook Looking ahead: The Thunder are overwhelming favorites (-625 at BetMGM) to beat either the Pacers or Knicks. A $10 bet on OKC to win the Finals would net a measly $1.60 in profit if they were to win the title. The defending champion Panthers beat the Hurricanes, 5-3, on Wednesday to clinch their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Rare feat: Florida is the ninth franchise to make the Cup Final in three consecutive years, joining Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Edmonton, New York (Islanders), Philadelphia, St. Louis and Tampa Bay. What they're saying: "I remember a few years ago it felt like such an accomplishment," said forward Matthew Tkachuk after he and his teammates bypassed a postgame celebration. "This year, it's all business." Are we headed for a rematch? Since the NHL expanded beyond the "Original Six" in 1967, the same two teams have met in back-to-back Cup Finals on four occasions. The Oilers (up 3-1) are one win away from making it five. 1968: Canadiens over Blues 1969: Canadiens over Blues 1977: Canadiens over Bruins 1978: Canadiens over Bruins 1983: Islanders over Oilers 1984: Oilers over Islanders 2008: Red Wings over Penguins 2009: Penguins over Red Wings 2024: Panthers over Oilers 2025: Panthers vs. ??? Go deeper: Why the Panthers didn't touch the Prince of Wales Trophy MLB teams used to routinely make it through the season using only 20 or so pitchers. Now, they're lucky if they make it to June before crossing that threshold. By the numbers: In 2010, 635 pitchers made an MLB appearance. This year, that number is already 638 and we're only a third of the way through the season. The league has been trending this way for years, first eclipsing 700 in 2015, 800 in 2019 and reaching a high-water mark of 909* in 2021 when players were still missing time due to COVID. MLB implemented a three-batter minimum rule in 2020, which has moderately decreased the number of pitchers used per game but has had a negligible impact on the season-long total. What's driving this? The sport has changed. Pitchers used to pride themselves on going deep into games, but the type of pitcher that teams value today — flamethrowers with high strikeout rates — can't eat as many innings. More arms are required to make the math add up. Consider this: In 2005, 50 pitchers threw at least 200 innings. In 2019, just 15 guys crossed that threshold. Last year? Four. This "death of the innings eater" isn't just about endurance, either. Analytics-minded managers tend to pull their starters before their third or fourth time through the order, turning instead to a long string of relievers. Between the lines: Health also plays a major (and related) role, because while increasing velocity leads to more strikeouts, it has also fueled a worrying rise in pitcher injuries. The more arms on the IL, the more are needed to fill those spots. What they're saying: "If you miss more bats, you get more outs. If you get more outs, you accumulate more wins. If you accumulate more wins, you get paid more," Cubs GM Carter Hawkins told The Athletic ($). "So the incentive structure is geared towards that, but it's more taxing on pitchers and therefore (you need) more rest for pitchers at different times." Bottom line: MLB's "stuff over stamina" era has yielded a new status quo: It's no longer about how many innings your starter can give you, but how many quality arms are waiting in the wings. *These numbers include position players pitching, which tends to average about 60 per season in recent years. Carlsbad, California — Oklahoma State beat Virginia to win its 12th men's golf national title, tying Princeton for third most. Only Houston (16) and Yale (21) have more. Bormio, Italy — Isaac Del Toro, the first Mexican cyclist to lead the Giro d'Italia, won Stage 17 to add precious seconds to his advantage. He leads by 41 seconds with four stages left. Wrocław, Poland — Chelsea beat Real Betis, 4-1, in the Conference League final to complete the full set of European trophies (Champions League, Europa League). Paris — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka rolled at the French Open, where the second round concludes today. If the Knicks are going to keep their season alive, they'll need to snap Indiana's strange but true streak: the Pacers have only lost Game 3's this postseason (0-3), going 11-0 in all other games. The good news for the Stars, as they face elimination, is that they're 7-2 at home in these playoffs. The bad news is that the Oilers have won three straight games by a score of 13-2. The season's second major tees off at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, the 16th course to host both the men's and women's U.S. Open. Defending champion Yuka Saso, 23, became the youngest two-time U.S. Open winner last year, but has missed her last three cuts. The double-elimination bracket begins today in Oklahoma City, with No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas (12pm, ESPN), No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee (2:30pm, ESPN), No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss (7pm, ESPN2) and No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 16 Oregon (9:30pm, ESPN2). Plus: 🎾 French Open: Second Round (5am, TNT/truTV/Max) … No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 6 Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Coco Gauff headline today's action. ⛳️ PGA: Memorial Tournament (8am, ESPN+; 2pm, Golf) … A stacked field tees off at Muirfield Village for a $20 million purse. ⚾️ MLB: Nationals at Mariners (9:40pm, FS1) … Washington's MacKenzie Gore leads MLB with 13.4 strikeouts-per-nine innings. 🚴 Cycling: Giro d'Italia (7:50am, Max) … Stage 18 of 21. Today's full slate. The Raiders just made AJ Cole the NFL's highest-paid punter, signing the three-time Pro Bowler to a historic four-year extension. Take a guess: How much will Cole earn per year? $1.65 million $3.95 million $5.25 million $8.05 million Answer at the bottom. It's been a year to remember for these six athletic departments. Trivia answer: $3.95 million (four-year, $15.8 million contract) We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
