Latest news with #post-NBA
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
You won't believe how high Florida basketball climbed in ESPN's latest preseason rankings
You won't believe how high Florida basketball climbed in ESPN's latest preseason rankings The final major deadline of college basketball's offseason — the date that players must withdraw their names from the NBA draft if they want to return to college — passed on Wednesday, May 28. With that milestone now in the rearview mirror, the rosters for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign are clearer than ever. The decisions leading up to the deadline resulted in both winners and losers, depending on who departed and who came back to school. Among those in the former category are the Florida Gators, who have already been anointed as overwhelming winners according to a trio of major publications. A little under a week after the big day passed, ESPN's basketball recruiting insider Jeff Borzello updated his men's college basketball preseason top 25 rankings, sending the Orange and Blue on a meteoric rise from No. 18 to No. 2 overall, just behind the Purdue Boilermakers, who held onto their top spot. "The debate over preseason No. 1 intensified with Milos Uzan returning to Houston and Florida adding Boogie Fland while also getting back Alex Condon," Borzello notes. "Both programs are squarely in the conversation alongside Purdue, with UConn and St. John's not far behind." Take a look below at Florida's projected starting lineup as well as ESPN's full updated rankings. Florida's 2025-26 projected starting lineup Boogie Fland (13.5 PPG at Arkansas) Xaivian Lee (16.9 PPG at Princeton) Thomas Haugh (9.8 PPG) Alex Condon (10.6 PPG) Rueben Chinyelu (6.1 PPG) ESPN's post-NBA draft withdrawal rankings Purdue Boilermakers (—) Florida Gators (+16) Houston Cougars (+1) UConn Huskies (-2) St. John's Red Storm (-2) BYU Cougars (+1) Louisville Cardinals (—) Michigan Wolverines (+1) Kentucky Wildcats (+2) Texas Tech Red Raiders (-2) Arkansas Razorbacks (-1) Duke Blue Devils (-6) Arizona Wildcats (-1) Auburn Tigers (+1) UCLA Bruins (-1) Illinois Fighting Illini (+1) Alabama Crimson Tide (+7) Iowa State Cyclones (-5) Gonzaga Bulldogs (+3) Wisconsin Badgers (-4) Kansas Jayhawks (—) Creighton Bluejays (-3) Tennessee Volunteers (-3) NC State Wolfpack (NR) North Carolina Tar Heels (—) Next in line San Diego State Aztecs Michigan State Spartans Ohio State Buckeyes Texas Longhorns USC Trojans Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama rises significantly in early 2025-26 rankings post-NBA draft withdrawal deadline
Alabama rises significantly in early 2025-26 rankings post-NBA draft withdrawal deadline It is no secret that the Alabama Crimson Tide were among the biggest winners from the 2025 NBA draft withdrawal deadline. As to why, Alabama - who were already considered among college basketball's best looking ahead to the 2025-26 season - saw a shocking turns of events as guard Labaron Philon announced right before the deadline that he was withdrawing from the NBA draft to return to the Crimson Tide. Weeks prior, Philon had previously announced that he would be remaining in the 2025 NBA draft, and would not return to Alabama. With the return of Philon however, the re-addition of the talented guard is certainly a boost to Alabama's 2025-26 roster outlook, and as a result, the Crimson Tide are now beginning to skyrocket up early Top 25 rankings, the latest of which came via ESPN's Jeff Borzello. In his updated Top 25 post-deadline, Borzello jumped Alabama seven spots up to No. 17, making the Crimson Tide one of the biggest risers behind only Florida. Borzello also said of the Crimson Tide: "Alabama was one of the big winners of the withdrawal deadline, with Labaron Philon making a late decision to remove his name from the draft and return to Tuscaloosa. The talented guard told reporters at the combine that he had closed the door on going back to college. But Nate Oats was on the hunt for a playmaker on the perimeter and now has Philon back in the fold." "Philon is part of a talented perimeter group that includes returnees Aden Holloway and a healthy Latrell Wrightsell Jr., while former five-star recruit Jalil Bethea will look to bounce back after transferring from Miami." "The frontcourt will likely have to rely on portal additions, namely Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson, who was named 2024-25 Patriot League Player of the Year, and Florida State transfer Taylor Bol Bowen, a skilled forward and former highly touted recruit. Aiden Sherrell needs to take a step forward, too." In addition to ESPN, USA TODAY Sports also recently labeled Alabama among the biggest withdrawal deadline winners due to the return of Philon. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
CNBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Stephen Curry considers broadcasting, team ownership and PGA Tour Champions as NBA retirement inches closer
Stephen Curry isn't retiring from the National Basketball Association yet, but he's already thinking about new career paths — including broadcasting, team ownership and playing on the PGA Tour Champions. The Golden State Warriors star spoke to CNBC Sport as part of "Curry Inc.: The Business of Stephen Curry," a television production centered on Curry's career and business ambitions. Curry, 37, already has one post-NBA job waiting for him. He's the CEO of Thirty Ink, a mini-conglomerate of businesses including Unanimous Media, the bourbon brand Gentleman's Cut and 7k marketing consultancy. He plans to take a more central role running the business on a day-to-day basis when he retires from professional basketball, he told CNBC Sport. Still, Curry is thinking beyond his company. He's looking to follow in the footsteps of Michael Jordan, who owned the Charlotte Hornets from 2010 to 2023 — the only former NBA player to hold a majority stake in a team. "He might be the only one in our generation who has sat in that seat and done it that way," Curry said. "The idea of being a part of an ownership group and the right opportunity that allows me to have an impact on how a franchise should be operated — how you're going after true winning, like we've done here with the Warriors — that's something I'm excited about pursuing. It's interesting. Obviously, as an active player, you can't participate in that level until you're done. So you'll see me in the seat somewhere down the road." Curry noted that he may not be able to afford majority ownership with rising NBA valuations. The average NBA team is worth $4.66 billion, according to CNBC Sport's official 2025 valuations. "Obviously there are levels to this," Curry said. Curry is an investor in Unrivaled, the women's 3-on-3 basketball league, and has said he also has interest in buying a Women's National Basketball Association team. Sportico named Curry the second-highest paid athlete in the world last year, earning an estimated $153.8 million between salary and endorsements. Forbes estimates Jordan's net worth is around $3.5 billion. Curry agreed to a one-year, $62.6 million extension with the Golden State Warriors last year, keeping him under team control until 2027. He made more than $55 million in salary for the 2024-25 season, and he's the first player in NBA history to make $40 million, $50 million and $60 million in a season. He has had the highest base salary in the league since 2017. Curry has used his venture Unanimous Media to springboard a career in front of the camera. He has appeared in several projects including the Peacock sitcom "Mr. Throwback" and the Apple TV+ documentary "Stephen Curry: Underrated." Still, he could likely make millions by joining an NBA studio show on NBC, ESPN or Amazon Prime Video when he retires. Curry said he would "for sure" consider a broadcasting job, though he won't rush into it. "I would be more patient," said Curry, who noted former National Football League quarterback Tom Brady moved directly into the Fox broadcast booth after retirement and his current teammate Draymond Green has been a TNT Sports NBA analyst for years as an active player. "I think about what would be the right opportunity for me, 'cause anything that I do, I want to be all in on it," Curry said. "Right now, just doing your homework on the different pathways and options that might be available." Curry said he's also already contemplating a career playing on the PGA Tour Champions, the top tour for former PGA players over 50 years old. The concept of Curry competing with pros for championships may seem farcical, but he's taking it seriously. It's a long way off — Curry turns 50 in 13 years — but he is a scratch golfer without dedicating his life to playing. He won the 2023 American Century Championship, an annual celebrity tournament that takes place each summer in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, defeating other current and former professional athletes that are top golfers. Curry shot a final round 72 to win the tournament. "That would be a fun goal to go after for sure," Curry said. "It's an extremely challenging tour to crack if you're not one of the champion ex-PGA guys that are making that jump after you turn 50. So to do all the qualifying journey and all that — I'm pretty sure I'll try it. I've seen guys who are preparing themselves to do the same thing."
CNBC
21-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
CNBC to Premiere 'Curry Inc: The Business of Stephen Curry' on June 4 at 9PM ET/PT
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., May 21, 2025 – Just as the NBA Finals heat up, CNBC Sport is taking fans off the court and into the boardroom with the premiere of "Curry Inc: The Business of Stephen Curry" on Wednesday, June 4 at 9PM ET/PT. This all-new CNBC Sport production pulls back the curtain on how the four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP is building a legacy that goes far beyond basketball. Viewers get an inside look at Thirty Ink, Curry's thriving business empire that spans media, fitness, lifestyle, philanthropy, and spirits. Curry speaks exclusively with CNBC's Alex Sherman about his post-NBA ambitions, the pressure of being a global brand, and how he turns passion into purpose. "I'm getting everything I can out of basketball," Curry tells CNBC, "but I want it to be bigger than that." The CNBC Sport original offers viewers a rare look at the strategy behind Curry's profitable business portfolio, with insights from those who know him best, including Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr, NBA champion and former teammate Andre Iguodala, Thirty Ink Chairman Suresh Singh and COO Tiffany Williams, Unanimous Media CEO Erick Peyton, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank and more. With "Curry Inc," CNBC Sport captures a rare portrait of an athlete redefining what it means to win—on and off the court. "Curry Inc: The Business of Stephen Curry" is the latest project from CNBC Sport, the company's vertical that covers the convergence of sports, business, and investing. From media rights deals and team valuations to private equity moves and key players, CNBC Sport delivers the biggest business stories in sports. Learn more at and sign up here to get Alex Sherman's CNBC Sport newsletter sent directly to your inbox every Thursday morning. About CNBC CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business content consumed by nearly half a billion people per month across all platforms. The network's 14 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 5:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries. CNBC also offers content through its vast portfolio of digital offerings, including and CNBC Make It, as well as subscription products such as CNBC+, CNBC PRO, and the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer. CNBC content is also available via mobile apps for iOS and Android devices and Amazon, Google, and Apple voice interfaces.
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA mock draft: Tahaad Pettiford rises, Johni Broome drops in latest mock from ESPN
NBA mock draft: Tahaad Pettiford rises, Johni Broome drops in latest mock from ESPN The stock of Auburn's freshman guard continues to rise as Auburn forward Johni Broome slips in the latest NBA mock draft from ESPN. The NBA draft stock of Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford continues to rise ahead of his impactful decision. Pettiford produced a stellar output during his stay at the NBA draft combine last week, which caught the eye of several NBA scouts. Now that the dust from the combine has settled, ESPN has released its latest NBA mock draft, which bumps Pettiford to No. 37 overall, up two spots from their last mock released post-NBA lottery. In this mock draft, Pettiford is projected to land with the Detroit Pistons in the second round. Although he continues to climb in the mock drafts, Pettiford is still a few slots away from considering an exit from Auburn. During a fundraising event in Montgomery last week, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl discussed Pettiford's great combine performance and what it would take for him to bolt for the NBA. "If Tahaad has a first-round contract, I think he's going to go — and he should go," Pearl said. "He won't leave unless he's in a really good spot." Pearl went on to say that Pettiford will have an increased role with the team next season should he return. On the flipside, as Pettiford's NBA stock rises, another player's drops. In the latest mock, Auburn forward Johni Broome slipped from No. 37 overall to No. 45. He is now projected to be drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the second round after being projected to be taken by the Detroit Pistons at No. 37 overall last week. According to Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express, Broome posted 6'9 ¼" barefoot, 249.4 lbs with a 7'0 ¼" wingspan and 9'0 ½" standing reach measurements at the combine. Pettiford has until May 28 to stay in the NBA draft mix, or to withdraw and return to Auburn. The NBA draft begins Wednesday, June 25. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
