Latest news with #assists
BBC News
07-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
What Maddison injury might mean for Tottenham
One of Thomas Frank's most reliable performers last season at Brentford was his elegant playmaker Mikkel Damsgaard. The 25-year-old contributed 10 assists in 34 top-flight starts and won possession 35 times in the final third last term, more than any other top-flight Maddison and Dejan Kulusevki, used centrally by Ange Postecoglou, were the obvious contenders to replicate Damsgaard's role but their respective injuries leaves only Mohammed Kudus as a realistic option in the current Ghanaian mostly featured on the right at West Ham but has repeatedly said his preferred position is through the middle. He is a superb dribbler but created an average of just one chance per game from open play in 2024-25 and has sometimes faced criticism for losing possession too easily in central the number 10 quandary lead to a loan move for Manchester City's Jack Grealish, who has been linked with Everton? Other possible targets could be Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze, potentially gazumping rivals Arsenal, or Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, whose head could be turned from a move to RB Leipzig. There have also been tentative links this summer to Leicester playmaker Bilal El Khannouss.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aces star Chelsea Gray surpasses Kelsey Plum on all-time franchise list in win vs. Sparks
The post Aces star Chelsea Gray surpasses Kelsey Plum on all-time franchise list in win vs. Sparks appeared first on ClutchPoints. There was no flashy ceremony, nor any ticker‑tape parade, but in Tuesday's 89-74 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, Chelsea Gray quietly etched her name into Las Vegas Aces history. Her performance lifted her past former teammate and all‑star guard Kelsey Plum for second place on the franchise's all‑time assists list. Gray's milestone was confirmed on the team's official X (formerly Twitter) account. 'THA #POINTGAWDDDDD is now 2nd for most assists in franchise history!,' the team tweeted. Gray is leading the franchise with a career average of 5.9 assists per game, five spots ahead of Plum's 4.0 assists mark and other past leaders like Danielle Robinson and Becky Hammon. According to WNBA team records, Gray's 947 assists surpass Plum's 945 and now rank second in total assists in franchise history, only trailing Becky Hammon, who has 1,133. In the same game, headlined by A'ja Wilson's 34-point explosion, Gray dished out eight assists to go with her steady floor game. The win over the Sparks added one more accolade to a legacy that champions pace, precision passing, and leadership. Gray joined the Aces in 2021 after a successful run with the Sparks. Since then, she has earned multiple All‑Star nods, a Finals MVP award, and helped lead the team to two WNBA championships. In 2023, Gray averaged a career-high of 7.3 assists per game, ranking third in the WNBA and finishing just shy of the franchise single‑season assist record posted by Hammon in 2011. The assist total is more than just a number; it reflects the 32-year-old guard's evolution from a role player into the unchallenged floor general for a title contender. Her veteran vision, anchored by elite decision‑making and pace, has made her a stabilizing force in high‑pressure moments. Earlier this month, Gray became one of only seven players in WNBA history to reach 1,710 career assists, moving past Hammon into sixth place on the league's all‑time list. That milestone foreshadowed her inner‑franchise climb, but fans and teammates alike knew it was only a matter of time before she broke franchise records. In last season's playoff run, Gray's assists and leadership were vital. She added balance to an offense centered around Wilson and emerging star Jackie Young. Aces coach Becky Hammon often credited Gray as the extension of the coaching staff on the floor, the player who could see angles and execute under pressure. Her moniker—'Point Gawd'—is no accident. She handles the ball, sets the pace, and marries urgency with control. Tonight's win over the Sparks was more than just a regular‑season victory; it marked a landmark moment in franchise history. Gray's masterclass didn't just move her past Plum; it reinforced her place as one of the greatest playmakers the Aces have ever seen. With several games still left in the regular season, Gray may yet overtake Hammon and become the franchise's all‑time leader. But for now, she remains firmly entrenched in second place, guiding her teammates night after night and helping the Aces chase yet another championship run. Related: Aces star A'ja Wilson's 1st quarter eruption vs. Sparks has fans going bonkers Related: A'ja Wilson pays homage to Alpha Kappa Alpha with new shoe colorway
France 24
04-08-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Brazil's Paixao promises 'big things' at Marseille unveiling
The 25-year-old scored 18 goals and provided 19 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions last season, before his 35 million euros ($40 million) switch to Marseille on a five-year deal. After finishing runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain last year, Marseille will play in the Champions League in the upcoming campaign where Paixao can link up with former Manchester United star Mason Greenwood. Paixao said he owed it to Marseille to give everything, and that this matched his ambition to make the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup. "Marseille is a club with values. That's very important for me, for everyone. I want to give my all... It's a major responsibility and I think we're going to do big things," he said. Paixao added he was inspired by former Marseille player Franck Ribery. "With his dribbling, his goals, Ribery was an exceptional player, I will try to be like him, to be able to make history with this club," he said. Paixao earned one Brazil under-23 cap in 2023.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tyrese Maxey gives praise to James Harden for time with Sixers
James Harden's time with the Philadelphia 76ers was productive on the court. He led the league in assists in the 2022-23 season as he helped Joel Embiid win the MVP award while helping Tyrese Maxey take the next step forward in his career. Across 1.5 seasons with the Sixers, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 10.6 assists, and 6.4 rebounds. He was certainly up and down in the 7-game semifinal series loss to the Boston Celtics in 2023, but he did win Game 1 on the road while Embiid was out with an injury. The Beard was fantastic on the floor. Maxey hopped on "The Deep 3 Podcast" and gave his thoughts on Harden's time with the Sixers (h/t HoopsHype): The biggest thing I learned is—I know (James Harden), and I know people aren't going to say he sacrificed, but he sacrificed. He gave up some of himself for the team, for the betterment of the team. He was able to get Joel a lot of easy shots. He got me a lot of easy shots. But it was all about trust. From day one when he came in, the first thing he said to me was, 'Listen, don't think you're not going to get the ball. Don't think you're not about to still be aggressive and keep building your game.' His first instinct was always, whether we scored or didn't, he was going to pitch it ahead to me—let me score in transition, play that one-on-one game, shoot—whatever the case may be. Then I'd get it back, and it would just flow from there. Harden was very complimentary of Maxey after his Los Angeles Clippers beat the Sixers early in the 2024-25 season. It's obvious that the two of them are still friends and they have kept a good relationship even after Harden requested a trade in the 2023 offseason. This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey gives praise to James Harden for time with Sixers
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"The greatest assists man ever to play in the game" - Eddie Johnson explains how John Stockton never overcomplicated his role
"The greatest assists man ever to play in the game" - Eddie Johnson explains how John Stockton never overcomplicated his role originally appeared on Basketball Network. In most cases, when a player begins leading the league in a statistical category or receives widespread praise for their style of play, they often tend to adopt more flair and charisma on the court. This can sometimes detract the players from their efficiency and overall impact. However, Eddie Johnson witnessed firsthand how John Stockton never strayed from his grounded, no-nonsense approach. Despite leading the NBA in assists for nearly a decade, 'Stock' remained composed, quiet, and, most importantly, consistent, ensuring that he transformed the Utah Jazz into a winning organization in the 1990s. Eddie Johnson held high praise for Jazz legend John Stockton Johnson had a legitimate chance of competing for a championship when he landed on the Houston Rockets midway through the 1996-97 regular season. The team even reached the Western Conference Finals, wherein they saw Hakeem Olajuwon register a series-high 27.2 points, Charles Barkley log a double-double average of 16.2 points and 11 rebounds, and Clyde Drexler register 17.8 points per game. Despite those herculean efforts, the Jazz prevailed in the championship round. The Jazz closed out the series in six games, courtesy of Stockton bringing out the best in himself and his teammates. Interestingly, it was not Karl Malone's 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds that proved to be the difference maker in that series. But the fact that Stockton averaged 20.5 points and 10.3 assists and even brought the likes of Byron Russell and Jeff Hornacek better into the series gave. Put simply, for Eddie - the former Sixth Man of the Year - Stockton's ability to play his role to perfection and not prioritize showboating made him one of the most impactful players of that era. "The greatest assist man ever to play in the game. John was just - Boom! Boom! Right here, when you needed to catch it and knock it in, he was very simple. He simplified," Johnson said. "That's why Jerry Sloan grabbed Stockton out of Gonzaga. Nobody knew who Stockton was. They had a guy on that team - Rickey Green, who was a very good point guard at the time, and John Stockton eventually moved him out, and nobody saw that happen." John Stockton's legacy remains underappreciated Unlike Magic Johnson, whose flashy playmaking added showmanship to his game, Stockton prioritized consistency. His nine consecutive seasons leading the league in assists are a testament to his discipline and dedication. Moreover, for players from that era like Eddie, witnessing Stockton's impact up close only deepened his respect for the value the latter added to the Jazz organization. It's safe to say that had Stockton done more than leading Utah to five Conference Finals in seven years or to two back-to-back NBA Finals, perhaps leading them to a title, it would have changed his legacy forever. Unfortunately for him, as he couldn't attain that success, most in the modern era tend to forget the true level of dominance John Houston Stockton held in his story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
