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New York Times
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
No. 35 pick instant reaction
The 2025 NBA Draft is complete from Brooklyn's Barclays Center, highlighted by Duke's Cooper Flagg going No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks Getty Images Imagn Images 35. Philadelphia – Johni Broome, C, Auburn I love this pick for Philadelphia. I had Broome as one of my top sleepers after an awesome senior season at Auburn, and he joins a team that is in win-now mode that doesn't need to roll the dice on long-term upside. If Andre Drummond doesn't come back, the lefty Broome likely will challenge 2024 second-rounder Adem Bona for backup center minutes behind Joel Embiid. Imagn Images The Philadelphia 76ers have selected 22-year-old Auburn big Johni Broome with the 35th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Broome is coming off an incredible college basketball season and has been good at every stretch of his career. He was a great freshman at Morehead State before developing into arguably the best player in the league. He was awesome in his first year at Auburn and then he turned into a multi-time All-American who was exceeded only by Cooper Flagg this year. Even in his prior combine experience, he proved himself in a big way. But there is some reason for skepticism in regard to his NBA translation. He's tough and physical and does an amazing job on the glass thanks to his strength. Yet there are worries on defense based on what we saw this year with his footspeed and the lack of verticality as a rim protector. As a finisher, everything is below-the-rim, and often involved a left-handed mini-hook over his right shoulder. He will need to diversify his game. Can he improve as a shooter? Is there a way for him to add footspeed that makes him lighter on his feet in space? I don't like betting against him figuring it out in some respect, so I have him as a top-40 player with a chance to be a backup center in the NBA. Imagn Images Ryan Kalkbrenner (January 2002, 7'1", 257, 7'6" wingspan) replaces Mark Williams (December 2001, 7'0", 242, 7'7" wingspan) in Charlotte, a team that still has Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabaté. Imagn Images The Charlotte Hornets have now drafted four Duke players since 2020: Vernon Carey Jr., Mark Williams, Kon Knueppel and Sion James. We know who is winning the Duke-UNC rivalry in that front office and even at the ownership level where Michael Jordan sold the team to an ownership duo headed by someone who was a constant presence at Coach K's fantasy camps. Imagn Images 34. Charlotte – Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton The Hornets desperately need more size in the wake of the Mark Williams trade, with Jusuf Nurkic the only real center remaining on the roster, and Kalkbrenner is a huge shot-blocker and finisher who fits the bill. The interesting part is that he also offers some floor spacing potential too. If he can hold up in pick-and-roll defense he has a chance to be a rotation-caliber performer right away. Imagn Images The Charlotte Hornets have selected 23-year-old Creighton big Ryan Kalkbrenner with the 34th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Will Kalkbrenner's strengths outweigh his limitations? Kalkbrenner has a case as the best rim protector in this draft. He has an elite skill that he has shown over many years at Creighton. In the right scheme, he could slot in and become a key cog off the bench on an awesome defensive team. But with his issues in space defensively, becoming a shooter and maxing out any lateral quickness that he has will be the key. There are some similarities here to Celtics' backup center Luke Kornet. Kornet was another big who had a chance to develop as a shooter but ultimately didn't. Still, Kornet has become one of the most valuable backup centers in the NBA because of how sharp he is on defense. If Kalkbrenner was able to become a shooter, he has a chance to even be a low-level starter in the right scheme. Still, it's hard to predict that given the incredibly low number of three-plus-year college players who go on to become starting centers in the NBA. Regardless, I think that he will stick as an enormous paint protector with a high IQ and can play in a specific scheme, similarly to Kornet. To me, one of the best backup bigs in the NBA is probably worth a late first-round pick, especially given that I think Kalkbrenner should be able to come in and play in the NBA from Day 1. Imagn Images 33. Charlotte – Sion James, SG, Duke This is the first selection since Chicago at pick 12 that wasn't traded at some point. Rumors about the Hornets' interest in James had picked up of late, although I think his limited shooting and lack of real upside as an older player make him a bit of a reach even here. Charlotte now just needs Tyrese Proctor to complete a sweep of Duke's starting perimeter players in this draft. A college head coach whose team played Duke sizes up Sion James, the No. 33 pick now headed to the Charlotte Hornets. One of the things they told me when we played them that I thought was unbelievable was that one of the reasons he wanted to go to Duke when he left Tulane — and they were recruiting him — was that he wanted to show he could play with other really good players. He knew if he was going to make the NBA, it was going to be in a certain role: defensive guy first and things like that. He's built like a linebacker. He has a competitive spirit: tough, can guard any position, because he's built like that. He can guard post guys, he can guard perimeter guys. He scored at Tulane; he didn't have to (at Duke). I think he will become a better shooter. Built like Lu Dort. If you looked at Dort at Arizona State, I don't know how well he shot the ball. I think guys will shoot better once they get to the league, because they'll work. … It shows a maturity that not many young people have. He's able to think about things in a different way. If I'm in a front office, those are all the things I'm looking at. You look at the measurements and the athleticism and all that, which he has at the top level, but (then) you look at the thought process and the mindset, things like that. GO FURTHER 2025 NBA Draft Confidential: Coaches, execs, scouts on Cooper Flagg, top wing prospects Imagn Images Who had Sion James going ahead of Tyrese Proctor in the NBA Draft? Imagn Images The Charlotte Hornets have selected 22-year-old Duke guard Sion James with the 33rd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Between the good decision-making, quick processing ability and sharp defense, the idea here is certainly something in the range of Bruce Brown. The difference between Brown and James is that Brown was an elite athlete and James is not. He gets by because of his strength and timing. Defensively, there are few better guards in the class, and I really like him as a potential matchup player against some of the stronger, more physical guards that in the NBA. Ultimately, though, he might not have enough offensive skill to stick. James is going to have to work to hit shots at a reasonable volume. He also needs to become not just a positive processor of the game, but an elite one who makes reads very quickly. There's a world in which he becomes a useful player, and he should absolutely be on a two-way contract this year. Noah Penda fits the archetype of a Jeff Weltman-led front office. At 6-7 1/2 with a 7-foot wingspan, he has the positional size on wing that the Magic like Imagn Images This trade is only fitting because the No. 57 pick originally belonged to the Celtics. If that doesn't explain the second round, what does? 32. Orlando – Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans The Magic sent four second-rounders to the Celtics for this one, although none of them were particularly valuable: Picks 46 and 57 tonight, and picks in 2026 and 2027 that are likely to be in the late 40s or 50s. I'm a fan of Penda, a high-IQ forward whose shooting will be a swing skill. Although the pressure on him to knock down shots will increase given the limited spacing on the Magic roster. The Celtics are reacquiring the No. 57 pick in their trade, sending out No. 32 to the Orlando Magic, a team source confirmed to The Athletic. Per a team source, in 2026, the Celtics will get the second-most favorable of Detroit, Milwaukee and Orlando. In 2027, the Celtics will have the most favorable of Orlando and Boston. FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images An Eastern Conference executive on Noah Penda, who went No. 32 to the Orlando Magic. Unique player. Almost like a Draymond — not Draymond's attitude, but the mentality. Guards everybody. He's tough. Throws people around. Will get physical with people. Very OK with confrontation. He doesn't talk, but he'll just stand there and stare at you and keep coming. If people get offended by how hard he plays, he enjoys it. He's a defensive playmaker. He's improved offensively. He'll attack the basket off the bounce. He's kind of a tweener. He's shooting a lot better now. He'll fit into that three/four, four/three role that's a Swiss Army knife. Winner. Plays very hard, someone you'd want on your roster. I don't know if the talent justifies a first-round pick, but I could see him being a steal in the early second. He could be like the kid (Toumani) Camara in Portland. He's improved his body. He was chunky, a little round, and now he's come into his man's body. This year, he's figured it out. He has an NBA role. GO FURTHER 2025 NBA Draft Confidential: Coaches, execs, scouts on Cooper Flagg, top wing prospects Getty Images The Orlando Magic have selected 20-year-old Le Mans Sarthe wing Noah Penda with the 32nd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Penda is my kind of player, which is why he'll likely be a bit higher here than he is compared to the consensus. He has enormous positional size, is a tough defender, processes the game well and has the potential to be a wing who can dribble, pass and shoot. I love his game in transition, and he's a sharp passer. Defensively, he can gamble, but he generally knows where he's supposed to be and is disruptive. He holds his line on defense and doesn't allow guards or wings to go through his enormous frame. The swing skill here is the jumper. As long as Penda's frame doesn't get any bigger and thus slow his foot speed, he'll be an impact player in the NBA if the jumper translates. He had good success with it this season, but this is a one-year sample that makes it hard to fully buy into. Still, I'm willing to take the flier on it working out. I have Penda as my highest-ranked international player, just outside the lottery on my board, and would happily take a chance that he's the kind of player who can help you in a playoff series. Imagn Images Rasheer Fleming fills Phoenix's biggest need at the four. He looks the part – 6-foot-9, 232 pounds with a 7-5 wing span. The only similar player on the roster is second-year forward Oso Ighodaro. Second-year forward Ryan Dunn also could play the four in smaller lineups. By now, Phoenix's off-season strategy is obvious. Size. The Suns last season had little rim protection and it killed them. Over the last 24 hours, Phoenix has added 7-1 center Khaman Maluach (with the No. 10 pick), 7-foot center Mark Williams (via trade with Charlotte) and Fleming (No. 31). How this will work is completely unknown, but after moving on from Kevin Durant, it's a start. Fleming, who turns 22 next month, will have a chance to play right away. A late bloomer, he got better every season during his three seasons at St. Joseph's. He's a great athlete and runs the floor well. He also has floor-spacing ability, shooting 39 percent on 159 3-point attempts last season. Perhaps most of all, Fleming plays hard, which is something the Phoenix front office emphasized after last season's disaster. The Suns also have acquired the No. 41 pick, which could be used on a wing defender or lead guard. A college head coach whose team played St. Joseph's sizes up Rasheer Fleming, the No. 31 pick by the Phoenix Suns. Our focus on him was if we could take away the catch-and-shoot, take away the straight line drives, we'd have success. He had games against us when he scored well, but we had success against their team. For me, I think his skill set will translate to the next level. He's big, he's physical, and at his size, he can shoot the ball. I think he'll have to be a better defender, just understanding he's playing against the best players in the world now. He's got the tools to do it; he has to buy into it, though. GO FURTHER 2025 NBA Draft Confidential: Coaches, execs, scouts on Cooper Flagg, top wing prospects
New York Times
21 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Trent Alexander-Arnold on ‘amazing' Real Madrid welcome and Alonso help – ‘Winning trophies is what we do'
Trent Alexander-Arnold has praised the Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso and his new team-mates for 'going out of their way' to make him feel welcome after his summer move from Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold joined up with Real Madrid for the FIFA Club World Cup and enjoyed his most accomplished performance yet for the Spanish side during Thursday evening's 3-0 win over RB Salzburg. The result means Madrid topped their group and they now play Juventus in the round of 16 on Tuesday. Advertisement The England international agreed to join as a free agent, although Madrid paid €10million (£8.4m; $11.4m) to sign him before his contract expired on June 30, meaning he could begin his new career at this summer's tournament. Speaking to reporters after the game, the 26-year-old discussed how Alonso's one-on-one guidance is helping him overcome the language barrier, how the coach could 'still lace up' based on his performances in training and how afternoon matches in the United States have left 'overheating' and struggling to 'think straight'. Alexander-Arnold, who spent his entire career with Liverpool prior to his emotional departure this summer, was asked to describe his first impressions at his new club. He said he had been expecting a more 'intimidating' environment when stepping into the Real Madrid changing room. He said: 'Every player is impressing me. From when I played against Real Madrid, (I knew) all the players are world class. But just the way the lads are; when you come in, you expect it to be very intimidating, you don't know what to expect. But it was very warm, very welcoming, they made me feel at home straight away, which was amazing. It allows me to play as well as I can and today coming into the game, I was confident to go and perform. 'The settlement period now is done and it's about kicking on and being the best player that I can be and giving the best for the team and helping the team win as many games as possible starting with this competition.' Alexander-Arnold spoke in Spanish during his unveiling earlier this month but said learning the language is his biggest challenge when asked to describe the differences between playing for Madrid and Liverpool. 'Of course speaking and being a part of the conversation is harder. You work hard to try and understand what people are saying and be a part of it,' he said. 'But the manager speaks to me a lot individually to make sure I understand everything that gets said. The meetings are in Spanish so he goes out his way and the staff go out the way to make sure I understand the game plan. So there's differences but it's just football.' Advertisement While Alexander-Arnold is adapting to life with Madrid, the challenge of this tournament taking place amid soaring temperatures in the United States is proving more testing. The win over Salzburg benefited from being a 9pm kick local time and a rainstorm which followed a heatwave this week in Philadelphia. For Madrid, it was their first night game of the tournament having played against Al-Hilal and Pachuca in the middle of the afternoon in the humidity and heat of Miami and Charlotte. Tuesday's clash against Juventus will be a 3pm ET kick-off at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The semi-finals and final of the competition are also scheduled for 3pm ET kick-offs. 'Today was cool, obviously we had the rain,' he said. 'It felt a little bit more like home and a bit more normal. Whereas when you play at 3pm it's ridiculously hot and the pitches are dry, you're overheating and you can't really think straight. But today felt a lot more normal. We were able to perform the way that we wanted to for the first time and get a really good win.' Match 49: June 28, 12pm ET Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Match 50: June 28, 4pm ET Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Match 53: June 30, 3pm ET Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Match 54: June 30, 9pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando Match 51: June 29, 12pm ET Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Match 52: June 29, 4pm ET Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Match 55: July 1, 3pm ET Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Match 56: July 1, 9pm ET Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Match 58: July 4, 9pm ET Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Match 57: July 4, 3pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando Match 59: July 5, 12pm ET Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Match 60: July 5, 4pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Match 61: July 8, 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Match 62: July 9, 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Match 63: July 13, 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey As for Madrid's chance in the tournament, Alexander-Arnold says they are confident heading into the knockout stages. 'The history of this club shows that we win trophies and that's what we do. It's part of the DNA of the club. That's our aim and ambition and that's what we want to do as a team,' he said. As for Alonso, the coach trialled a system that operates with three at the back against Salzburg, which mirrored aspects of his set up at previous club Bayer Leverkusen. Alexander-Arnold said: 'Everyone's got to get used to it. It worked, clearly, so that's a good start but obviously we have a lot of work to do. It wasn't a perfect game, but good signs. It was our best game so far as a team. It was the best game I've had. It seemed to click out there. We had a game plan. It was our aim to top the group. We are unbeaten and three goals and a clean sheet is a good confidence boost going into the round of 16. ' Advertisement As for his first impressions of Alonso, who he used to watch from the terraces at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold said: 'Obviously the way he can adapt to different teams (is impressive). We changed the system in a short space of time (for today) and the way he gets his messages across means it's very clear and we can understand perfectly what we need to do as individuals and as a team. 'When he joins in in training, you can see he's still got high, high quality, which is amazing. I grew up watching him, and he's not lost any quality at all. He could still lace them up and get out there with us if he wanted to, he's still that good.'
New York Times
27 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Club World Cup power rankings: How the last 16 contenders shape up
And with that, we're onto the knockout rounds. For all of the uncertainty about the on-field standard of this first expanded Club World Cup, the group stage provided plenty of thrills. From an opening weekend 10-goal win to clubs from Brazil and MLS toppling perennial UEFA Champions League qualifiers, many teams will have built a surprisingly robust highlight reel — even those whose tournaments ended before the round of 16. Advertisement With a gap day to catch our collective breath before the bracket begins playing out, it's time to give a hefty update to our running Club World Cup power rankings. There are bound to be movers and shakers as teams know their matchups and paths to the final at MetLife Stadium. At this stage, we can't dwell much longer on group performances as a series of one-off contests looms. As such, some group runners-up will look a safer bet to challenge for the lucrative prize pot than certain first-place finishers. Unlike our pre-tournament rankings that focused on the historical might of each team, this series is designed to live very much in the present. Simply, we'll use the results of this competition alone to project who has the best chance to win the trophy. Before sizing up the 16 teams still in competition, let's quickly give a final mention for the other half of the tournament field whose runs ended after the group stage. To the rankings! (Teams that played on Thursday are italicized in the rankings. Movement from the previous installment indicated in parentheses.) 32. Pachuca (down 1) 31. Ulsan HD 30. Wydad Casablanca (down 1) 29. Al-Ain (up 3) 28. Urawa Red Diamonds 27. Auckland City 26. Los Angeles FC 25. Seattle Sounders 24. Boca Juniors 23. FC Porto 22. Espérance de Tunis 21. River Plate 20. Al Ahly 19. RB Salzburg (-) 18. Mamelodi Sundowns 17. Atlético Madrid Match 49: June 28, 12pm ET Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Match 50: June 28, 4pm ET Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Match 53: June 30, 3pm ET Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Match 54: June 30, 9pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando Match 51: June 29, 12pm ET Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Match 52: June 29, 4pm ET Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Match 55: July 1, 3pm ET Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Match 56: July 1, 9pm ET Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Match 58: July 4, 9pm ET Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Match 57: July 4, 3pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando Match 59: July 5, 12pm ET Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Match 60: July 5, 4pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Match 61: July 8, 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Match 62: July 9, 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Match 63: July 13, 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 16. Al Hilal (-): Perhaps Group H was deceivingly tricky, and the defense (plus Bounou) can contend with just about anyone. But there's so little inspiration when going forward, coupled with a mere 21.1% shooting accuracy, and it's hard to see Al Hilal having an edge against teams with a broader variety of approaches – such as last-16 opponent Man City. 15. Fluminense (-): Among the group stage's most direct teams (3.7 direct attackers per game, T-2nd), but also creating some of the least viable chances in the field (0.06 xG per shot, T-2nd worst). Will need to generate far better looks to thwart Inter Milan, but their defense has been among the field's stingiest. Can they spring a trap game? Advertisement 14. Borussia Dortmund (-): You'd be forgiven if you didn't notice Dortmund is in this, as they lodged a few mild performances to advance. Still, their 8.7 attacking third possession gains is far and away the field's highest rate, they win more ball recoveries (70.3% of all loose balls) and Jobe Bellingham has swiftly become essential in the final third. Monterrey will be tough, but perhaps there's potential for a quiet rejuvenation. 13. Monterrey (-): Only got more confident as the group progressed thanks to Esteban Andrada's in-goal heroics, and saved its best performance for last with a 4-0 win over Urawa. A tricky test for Dortmund, and an impressive showing to advance ahead of River Plate. 12. Inter Miami (-): Unlike any other team, they have Lionel Messi. Like any MLS team, their squad is incredibly imbalanced given the league's roster constraints. They're already met expectations, which is a relief since they're about to face a confident PSG. 11. Juventus (down 3): Thoroughly overmatched against Man City, but there's undeniable quality across the squad led by Kenan Yildiz's breakout. No team generated a higher 'big' chance rate (30.8%), a sign of the danger they can create when they're whirring — but was that a byproduct of a weak group? For the field's biggest xG overperformers (+1.7 per game), a crash back to earth may be looming. 10. Palmeiras (up 1): The least bigged-up of Brazil's four sides, perhaps a byproduct of advancing from a lean Group A. All the same, their high-pressing defense is a danger against a lax opponent, and a forward line led by José López, Estêvão and Maurício is comfortable shooting with volume and quality alike. Winless in five against Botafogo since July 2024 — but there's no better time to snap that skid. 9. Benfica (up 1): Quietly had the third-highest expected goal differential in the group stage, although only three of 31 teams got to play Auckland City. Ángel Di María's three converted penalties have carried his soon-to-be former team, and a date with Chelsea is hardly a pleasant matchup. A big test for Antonio Silva awaits, but the defense's collective stinginess ensures they won't be a pushover. Advertisement 8. Chelsea (up 1): Fortunate to catch Espérance between their 3-1 defeat against Flamengo and the round of 16, allowing Enzo Maresca's men to regroup after their meltdown against the Brazilian giant. Getting past Benfica won't be a breeze, and they'll face another Brazilian side if they advance (Botafogo or Palmeiras). Enzo Fernández had a strong group stage, an encouraging sign, and Liam Delap is off the mark up top. Can't face PSG, Bayern or Flamengo until a potential final. 7. Inter Milan (-): Another side that grew into the group stage, overcoming a surprising opening draw against Monterrey with wins over Urawa and River Plate. Nicolò Barella and Lautaro Martínez have played key parts, and their 77.8% field tilt shows a confident game model under Cristian Chivu. Can they hold off the demons of last month's final in Munich? Curiously, they're last in shooting accuracy: just 15.8% of their 57 attempts. 6. Real Madrid (-): Still learning how to fit into Xabi Alonso's vision on the fly, but too much quality for many a foe. Now come the sterner tests, beginning with Juventus (for the first time since the 2017/18 Champions League quarterfinal). Will we get a clash of the Bellinghams in the quarters? 5. Paris Saint-Germain (-): Have gone from winning hearts and minds with free-flowing attacks en route to a Champions League triumph to their current form: a possession-dominant, pressing-heavy juggernaut that wants to own all phases of a game. Must not give Messi free kicks from dangerous areas, but deservedly the heavy favorite against MLS's reigning Supporters' Shield winner. 4. Botafogo (-): Gave this tournament a needed jolt by beating PSG, an even bigger statement win than Flamengo's triumph over Chelsea. Renato Paiva's defense moves with ruthless efficiency to shrink the field for opponents, and Igor Jesus can score against anybody with his strength and movement. A strong favorite against Palmeiras given recent dominance head-to-head. 3. Flamengo (-): Regained four points from losing positions (tied with Inter), a balance largely carried by a comeback win over Chelsea. That 3-1 triumph established Flamengo's big-game bona fides, and Filipe Luis' side has played some of this tournament's best football. Beginning the bracket with a may-as-well-be-the-final clash with Bayern Münich; the loser will exit far sooner than their form deserves. 2. Bayern Munich (-): Were so emphatic in victories over Auckland City and Boca Juniors that Vincent Kompany could afford to rotate several starters out against Benfica. Take each team's first match out (including that 10-0 win), and: third-strongest field tilt (82.1%), highest 'big' chance rate (42.1%) and fifth-highest xGD per game (+1.6). Olise, Müller, Coman and Musiala all in good scoring form — still a viable favorite despite losing a match. Advertisement 1. Manchester City (-): Clearly the better side throughout the group finale against Juventus, though Ederson still looks unconvincing in goal. Life is different without Kevin De Bruyne, but newcomers Rayan Aït-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders have made a seamless transition to Pep Guardiola's side, while Erling Haaland is off the mark from the run of play and Rodri keeps doing his thing. Breaking down Al Hilal will take a collective effort, as Madrid learned. (Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Robbie Jay Barratt / Getty, Dylan Buell / Getty, Carl Recine / Getty, Angela Weiss / Getty)
New York Times
27 minutes ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Trump Rallies for His Policy Bill as G.O.P. Works to Save It
Pentagon Memo Gen. Dan Caine at the Pentagon on Thursday morning. This week, General Caine learned that providing candid military advice and staying in President Trump's good graces can be a perilous task. In President Trump's view, generals are chest-thumping, tough-talking cheerleaders for the military and the operations he, as commander in chief, orders them to carry out. It's a view that often puts the senior military officers who serve under him in an impossible position. On Thursday morning, it fell to Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to meet Mr. Trump's expectations without politicizing the institution he serves. He did it by painting an earnest, at times florid, picture of the men and women involved in the attack this weekend on Iran's nuclear site at Fordo, and largely sidestepping the question of how successful the strike had been. General Caine's first big test began with a preliminary report from the Defense Intelligence Agency this week suggesting that the attack at the site and two others in Iran had set back the country's nuclear program by only a few months, according to officials familiar with the findings. News about that report infuriated Mr. Trump, who described the strikes in social media posts as 'legendary' and insisted that Iran's nuclear sites had been 'obliterated.' At the Pentagon on Thursday, Mr. Hegseth spent 10 minutes excoriating reporters as unpatriotic and 'irresponsible.' 'This was a historically successful attack,' he insisted. 'We should celebrate it as Americans.' Then it was General Caine's turn. 'I apologize ahead of time for the length and the detail,' he began. Instead of talking about damage assessment, he praised a dogged pair of Defense Threat Reduction Agency analysts who for 15 years had scrutinized 'every nook, every crater' of the Fordo site. 'They literally dreamed about this target at night when they slept,' he said. He celebrated the young members of the Army's Patriot missile crews who had defended an American air base in Qatar from an Iranian missile barrage earlier this week. In the process, he waxed poetic about the heat in the desert, the sun setting as the Iranian attack commenced and the 120 seconds that the lieutenant overseeing the mission had to 'either succeed or fail.' General Caine was speaking to the American people, but also to an audience of one in the White House. Perhaps sensing the president's affection for superlatives, he described the air defense mission in Qatar in which no one was injured as 'the largest single Patriot engagement in U.S. military history.' One thing that General Caine did not do was comment when questioned by reporters about the extent of the damage at the Fordo site or defend Mr. Trump's insistence that the strike had obliterated the Iranian nuclear program. 'We don't do B.D.A.,' he said curtly using the military acronym for battle damage assessment. 'I'll refer that to the intelligence community.' There's a moment when Mr. Trump sours on almost all of his generals. Usually it comes when they fail to meet his expectations on a public stage. Trump's first defense secretary, retired Gen. James N. Mattis, earned the nickname 'Mad Dog' for his hard-edge aphorisms leading Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. As defense secretary, Mr. Mattis was reluctant to play the role of Mr. Trump's guard dog and take his side publicly in political battles. By 2019, Mr. Trump was describing him as 'the world's most overrated general.' Mr. Trump soured on retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former Joint Chiefs chairman, after he accompanied Mr. Trump as he walked across Lafayette Square near the White House for a photo op celebrating the aggressive clearing of a peaceful demonstration against police violence in 2020. General Milley was widely criticized for allowing Mr. Trump to drag him into politics. Image President Trump with retired Gen. Mark Milley, right, during a walk across Lafayette Square for a photo op in 2020. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times 'I should not have been there,' General Milley said. Mr. Trump never forgave him for apologizing. Mr. Trump has celebrated General Caine as an aggressive commander who, he said, told him during a visit to the Middle East that Islamic State fighters who had taken over portions of Iraq and Syria could be wiped out in just one week. Other officers, Mr. Trump said, told him the mission would take two years. Mr. Trump also said General Caine donned a Make America Great Hat during the briefing, which the general has denied. At his confirmation hearing, General Caine vowed to steer clear of politics and cited the example of former Gen. George Marshall, who did not vote. As a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, General Caine said he could see a statue of General Marshall from his barracks' window. 'If I failed to provide my candid advice to the secretary, the N.S.C. or the president, I think General Marshall would climb out of his grave and hunt me down,' he testified, using a shorthand for the National Security Council. This week, General Caine learned that providing candid military advice, avoiding politics and staying in Mr. Trump's good graces can be a perilous task. 'Bomb damage assessment is not usually political,' said Nora Bensahel, a defense policy expert at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. 'It's usually done to understand the damage that's been done and decide whether it's necessary to restrike.' But Mr. Trump and Mr. Hegseth had made it political by insisting that the news media and Mr. Trump's political opponents were using the initial Defense Intelligence Agency assessment to damage the president and disparage the military, Ms. Bensahel said. In that case, it made sense for Mr. Caine to steer clear of the issue. The general closed his remarks on Sunday's strikes by describing the scene as the B-2 pilots returned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri after their 37-hour mission. 'Their families were there, flags flying and tears flowing,' General Caine said. 'I have chills literally talking about this.' The general's performance in the Pentagon briefing seemed to please the commander in chief. 'One of the greatest, most professional and most 'confirming' News Conferences I have ever seen!' Mr. Trump called it in a social media post.
New York Times
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
After starting every U21 Euros match, will James Beadle seek a future beyond Brighton's bench?
James Beadle has dominated the gloves for England on their path to the final of the European Under-21 Championship, but will he ever get the same chance for Brighton & Hove Albion? Beadle maintained his 100 per cent appearance record in Slovakia during Wednesday's 2-1 semi-final victory against the Netherlands. Although caught out by a shot from 30 yards from Dutch substitute Noah Ohio for their equaliser, Beadle is likely to retain his place for Saturday's final against Germany. Advertisement In the group stage, he helped England secure a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic and a clean-sheet draw with Slovenia, before a 2-1 defeat against Germany. He has kept his spot for the knockout rounds, with the other goalkeepers in Lee Carsley's squad — Stoke City's Tommy Simkin and Chelsea's Teddy Sharman-Lowe — left on the sidelines as Beadle featured in a 3-1 quarter-final win against Spain. Beadle turns 21 in July. He is nine months older than England Under-21 colleague Jack Hinshelwood, who has already made 49 appearances in Brighton's first team, but has not made a similar impact for his club. Beadle is at a distinct disadvantage in aspiring to one spot where Brighton have an abundance of depth. Several players are contending for two spots in Fabian Hurzeler's side in Hinshelwood's preferred role as a central midfielder, but Hinshelwood is versatile. Ten of his 26 Premier League appearances last season were at right-back or left-back. Carsley has capitalised, using Hinshelwood in both full-back positions during the tournament in Slovakia. Beadle, on the other hand, is stuck with trying to shift Bart Verbruggen or Jason Steele. His situation has parallels with Carl Rushworth, who has run out of patience at the Amex Stadium. Rushworth has been on loan for four seasons in succession since signing for Brighton from his home town team Halifax Town — who play in the fifth-tier National League — in 2019. He has played more than 130 games on loan to Walsall in League Two (2021-22), Lincoln City in League One (2022-23), Swansea City in the Championship (2023-24) and Championship side Hull City in the first half of last season. Over the course of that period, Rushworth has been in England Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 squads. Under contract at Brighton until 2027, it has reached crunch point. The 23-year-old wants to leave this summer unless his chances of game time improve. With no immediate prospect of that happening, the likely next step for Rushworth is a permanent move to the Championship. Advertisement Beadle has been on a similar pathway to Rushworth on a series of loans since joining Brighton from then League One side Charlton Athletic in the January 2022 transfer window (Charlton were promoted via the play-offs back into the Championship last season). He spent part of the 2022-23 campaign with Crewe Alexandra in League Two, 2023-24 in League One with Oxford and then Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship following a mid-season switch. Beadle returned to Sheffield Wednesday in the second tier last season, making 38 league appearances out of a possible 46 — it would have been more, but he was left out by Wednesday manager Danny Rohl with eight games remaining due to a dip in form. He has become No 1 for England Under-21s after 19 appearances between under-15 and under-20 level. The 6ft 3in (190cm) 'keeper has a bright future, but whether that future is at Brighton for the long term — he is under contract until 2028 — and whether he will ever make a Premier League appearance for the club is open to doubt. The probable next step for Beadle next season is another loan to a Championship club, but at what point might he get itchy feet at Brighton? Verbruggen became firmly established last season as the No 1 under Hurzeler. At 22, Verbruggen is also the Netherlands' first choice under Ronald Koeman. He will be hard to dislodge, unless a big offer comes in from a bigger club, or he loses form or fitness. In any of those circumstances, Steele will be ready to step in. He shared the goalkeeper duties with Verbruggen under former head coach Robert De Zerbi. Steele, under contract until next summer, is regarded by Hurzeler as an ideal No 2. At 34, Steele is a respected voice in the dressing room, with more than 300 league appearances behind him for clubs including Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough. Rushworth was on the bench for 12 Premier League matches in succession from January as cover for Verbruggen during Steele's recovery from shoulder surgery. Tom McGill also spent time on the bench in the league last season when Verbruggen or Steele were unavailable. The Canada international signed a new two-year contract in May, after spending the first half of last season on loan to Milton Keynes Dons in League Two. The 25-year-old has been at the club since he was 14. Advertisement Congestion in the goalkeeper department at the Amex does not end there. Kjell Scherpen has spent the last two seasons on loan to Sturm Graz in Austria's Bundesliga, after temporary stints with Oostende in Belgium (2022) and Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands (2022-23). The 25-year-old, a former regular in the Dutch under-21s, has not made a competitive appearance for Brighton since signing from Ajax in July 2021. At under-21 level, Irishman Killian Cahill, signed from Shamrock Rovers in his homeland in 2022, has made a permanent move to League One side Leyton Orient on a two-year contract. The 21-year-old has been replaced by 18-year-old fellow countryman Michael Dike on a two-year deal from Treaty United in the Republic of Ireland's second tier. The stockpiling of promising goalkeepers fits Brighton's recruitment model of identifying players at low cost at a young age, then developing them in-house or via loans to a point where they either move into first-team contention or are sold on — often for a healthy profit. There is also the matter of movement in the goalkeeper coaching department this summer. Marco Knoop and Jack Stern left the club in June as part of an overhaul by Hurzeler that included hiring a specialist on set pieces. Jelle ten Rouwelaar has been targeted as the new goalkeeping coach, with the Dutchman's future in doubt at Leicester City. Ten Rouwelaar worked previously at NAC Breda in the Netherlands and Belgian club Anderlecht with Verbruggen. The intended appointment of Ten Rouwelaar appears to strengthen Verbruggen's hold on the No 1 spot at Brighton, so it could be some time before Beadle is in a position to emulate his rise with England at club level.
