An All-American clash between No. 6 Jessica Pegula and No. 4 Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open ended up being pretty one-sided.
Pegula cruised to a 6-2, 7-6 win over her compatriot to reach her first career Australian Open semifinal and third career Grand Slam semifinal in singles. She is now the only American woman remaining in the women’s singles draw and will face No. 5 Elena Rybakina on Thursday for a trip to the final.
In a matchup of talented Americans, Pegula was the steadier hand from start to finish. Especially at the start and finish. Anisimova’s body language wasn’t great as Pegula broke her to open the match, and the 24-year-old was slamming her racket and yelling at her coaches’ box at the end of the decisive tiebreaker, which Pegula won 7-1.
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Overall, Anisimova committed 44 unforced errors to Pegula’s 21, plus seven double faults, and just wasn’t landing the kind of aggressive shots to make up for that discrepancy.
The second set was at least more competitive, with both players exchanging two breaks, but Anisimova came apart quickly as the tiebreaker progressed.
The win is a long-awaited breakthrough for the 31-year-old Pegula, who was bounced before the fourth round in both 2024 and 2025 at Melbourne. She has a formidable path ahead of her, though, as Rybakina hasn’t dropped a set this tournament and dominated No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the hours before Pegula’s match.
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And whoever wins that match seems likely to face No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final. It was Sabalenka who defeated Pegula in the latter’s lone career Grand Slam final at the 2024 U.S. Open.
Things got extremely heated at the final buzzer at the Paycom Center on Tuesday night.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears had to be separated after they got into a shoving match on the final play of the game — which sparked a massive scuffle under the basket that took quite a while for officials and coaches to calm down.
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Dort appeared to foul Fears, who was going up for a layup right at the end of the Thunder’s 104-95 win over the Pelicans. That didn’t sit well with Fears, who immediately got into Dort’s face. Quickly, things escalated.
Fears had to be held back repeatedly, and was even seen being escorted to the tunnel while still trying to get back to Dort. It’s unclear what was said between Dort and Fears, but Pelicans president Joe Dumars even had to get on the court to get involved.
But as the game was over, there were no technical fouls to be dished out. As players were separated and things died down, they simply walked off the floor.
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The issue, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said, was at least partially on the officials — who he said failed to manage a similar, though much smaller, altercation earlier.
“I thought they lost control of the game in the final minutes,” he said, via The Oklahoman’s Justin Martinez. “I thought that altercation at the end started well before that with the [Saddiq Bey and Jaylin Williams] situation. I thought they could have managed that cleaner.
“And then the second thing is I think that’s a foul on Dort. And if it was, they should put a whistle on that play regardless of the score and the time. Because if they do that, everybody stops playing and you can legislate the situation as you normally would.”
Dort finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in the win for the Thunder. All of his points came from behind the 3-point line, too. Shai GIlgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points and six rebounds, and Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Thunder led the entire way in the second half to pick up the nine-point win at home, which snapped a two-game losing skid. They now sit at 38-10.
Fears added seven points and two rebounds off the bench for the Pelicans, who fell to just 12-37 with the loss. Zion Williamson led with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Saddiq Bey finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
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While there were no in-game penalties, the NBA is sure to hand down some sort of punishment in the coming days.
Novak Djokovic won zero sets in the fourth round of the 2026 Australian Open. He won zero sets in the quarterfinal of the 2026 Australian Open.
And now he’s about to play in his 13th Australian Open semifinal.
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The 10-time Australian Open champion survived a two-set deficit in the quarterfinal on Wednesday after opponent Lorenzo Musetti, the tournament’s No. 5 seed, was forced to retire with an injury in the third set while up 6-4, 6-3, 1-3.
It was a brutal scene for the 23-year-old Italian, who held a 1-9 record against Djokovic going into the match.
“I don’t know what to say except for I feel sorry for him. He was the far better player, I was on my way home tonight. Don’t know what to say, these kind of things happen in sport. It happened to me a few times. You know, being in quarters of a Grand Slam up two sets to love up and being in full control. I mean, so unfortunate. I don’t know what else to say. I wish him a speedy recovery and he should’ve been the winner today no doubt.”
Fortune has been kind recently for Djokovic, who advanced past the fourth round in a walkover after No. 16 seed Jakub Menšík pulled out with an abdominal injury. However, he’s about to reach the same stage of the tournament where he’s bowed out in the past two years, having retired in 2025 while facing Alexander Zverev and losing to Jannik Sinner in 2024.
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Sinner will again face Djokovic in the semifinals. Djokovic is in search of an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam men’s singles title, but the recent reign of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have caused his current drought to extend into a third year. Djokovic hasn’t won a Slam since the 2023 US Open and if he doesn’t win this tournament, it will officially be the longest he’s gone without a title since his first one in 2008.
The 6-foot-9 forward, who was picked first in last year’s NBA Draft, entered the league with lofty expectations and has seemingly made a reality of them. That doesn’t happen often.
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Flagg’s production and ability to adapt to the NBA are wildly encouraging, to the point where the Dallas Mavericks can now do something they perhaps didn’t feel comfortable doing immediately after the draft:
Build around the Maine native.
It’s time for Dallas to build around Cooper Flagg. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
No more attention to trio of aging stars
The Mavericks have a cast of older stars, including Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, and have lived with the misplaced idea that an aging team is closer to a championship than a young one.
(The idea of veterans being more championship proven isn’t wrong, but when one is nursing an ACL tear, another is constantly in and out of the lineup due to a myriad of injuries, and the last one is no longer playing like a star on any level, it’s difficult to justify such a position.)
With the emergence of Flagg, there are now no more excuses to hang on to the above trio. In fact, it’d be irresponsible to do so, as that would just waste everyone’s time.
Of course, pivoting off that trio is easier said than done.
While we aren’t sure if Irving will ever return as the star he once was, he at least plays as an on-/off-ball combo to such an extent that teams close to a title will likely bring his name up in internal meetings as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches. But as far as trade value goes, the Mavericks can’t justify a high price given Irving’s ACL tear and the fact he turns 34 in March.
Thompson doesn’t have much trade value, as he’s about to turn 36 and manages just 11.7 points per game while struggling defensively. His best days are clearly behind him, and even if his financial compensation ($16.6 million this season, and $17.4 million next) is fairly modest, you can easily make the case that he’ll get targeted defensively in the postseason, without adding enough juice offensively to justify such an acquisition.
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As for Davis, well, I covered that in detail recently. The TL;DR version is this: Old, expensive and often injured aren’t attractive elements.
Yet, despite all of the above, the Mavs simply shouldn’t care about the return, as long as they don’t take on future money. If, by some miracle, they get offered expiring contracts for Davis, they should take it and run, as to better reset in the summer. If someone offers more, you act cool and don’t call them back to confirm the legitimacy of the offer. (You got away with one there, Atlanta.)
While Irving isn’t as frequently injured as Davis, nor as expensive, you have to wonder if he’s got enough value to ask for pick compensation. That should be the initial ask for Dallas, of course, but if offers come in that are limited to deals that expire, you at least gauge them. Extracting some kind of value for Irving, such as a young player early in his rookie contract, could also help seal the deal.
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As for Thompson, there isn’t a rush. But if you can get something for him that includes a second-round selection, you grab that as well.
What should Dallas be looking for?
If the idea is gathering cap space for Davis, Irving and Thompson — which it should be — it provides the Mavericks with the ability to design their own supporting cast.
Want to lean into shooting? Sign the best spot-up players who can play off Flagg and space the floor for him. Want to build a mean defensive frontline? Acquire a nasty trio of big men who can all board, defend and switch on the perimeter.
Because however the Mavericks slice it, their new focus is Flagg, and every major, as well as minor, roster decision has to be with him in mind.
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They could also put forth an enormous effort in identifying Flagg’s primary co-star, although that’s highly unlikely to be found in free agency, which has become almost dormant of true stars in recent years. More than likely, that player will need to be acquired through trade. But that too grows significantly easier when Dallas has oodles of cap space at their disposal.
Of course, the observed mind will accurately ponder, “What about draft picks?” — which is absolutely a fair question given that Flagg is just 19 and will need players closer to his timeline.
This year’s pick, their 2026 first-rounder, will have to be one of Dallas’ primary building blocks. The Mavericks have full control of it, and the 2026 class is loaded. They have every single reason to be as bad as humanly possible to get a star this summer who is cost controlled and fits the aforementioned timeline.
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As the Mavericks don’t have much control of their future, in terms of draft equity, this year is — by far — their most important in terms of identifying another major piece to their forthcoming puzzle.
This is all to say they can’t waste time. There is no reason to stay with the older core. If members of it are still on the roster as the Mavericks enter 2026-27, that would be a mistake.
Iga Swiatek’s pursuit of a career Grand Slam will have to wait another year. The No. 2-ranked women’s player couldn’t overcome the dominant serve of Elena Rybakina on Tuesday, falling in the quarterfinals at the 2026 Australian Open.
The match truly came down to Rybakina’s serve, as she registered 11 aces during the contest. Despite getting her first serve in only 49% of the time, Rybakina executed when it mattered. She won 79% of the time on her first serves and 63% of the time on her second serves. She had three double faults, but those didn’t stop her from winning the match in straight sets (7-5, 6-1) over Swiatek.
The win marks the second time Rybakina has reached the semifinals at the Australian Open. She made it as far as the final back in 2023, but has never won the event. The win also pushed Rybakina’s head-to-head record vs. Swiatek to 6-6.
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With the loss, Swiatek is still in pursuit of a victory at the Australian Open. She’s won every other major, but has only reached as far as the semifinals at the Australian Open. The 24-year-old will try to complete her career Grand Slam next year.
Following her win early Wednesday, American Jessica Pegula will take on Rybakina in the semifinals Thursday. The two have faced each other six times, and have gone 3-3 in those matches. The other semifinal match, which will also take place Thursday, features women’s No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. women’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina.
Jannik Sinner eliminates Ben Shelton
For the third straight year, Ben Shelton’s run at the Australian Open has ended at the hands of Jannik Sinner. The 24-year-old Italian dispatched Shelton in straight sets (6-3, 6-4, 6-4) Wednesday.
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With the win, Sinner advanced to the semifinals at the Australian Open for the third-straight year. He won the event in both 2024 and 2025, and is looking for his third straight victory at the Australian Open.
With the loss, Shelton now has just one win in 10 matches vs. Sinner. The American has played his best tennis at the Australian Open, where he held a 79% winning percentage entering Wednesday’s match, but Sinner continues to be a huge barrier for Shelton’s success at the event.
If Sinner is hoping for a three-peat, he’ll need to step up his game in the final two matches. The top-four ranked men have all advanced to the semifinals, though one of them got there by unconventional means. That would be Sinner’s next opponent, Novak Djokovic, who was down 0-2 against Lorenzo Musetti before Musetti was forced to retire due to an injury.
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Sinner and Djokovic have squared off 10 times, with Sinner holding a slight 6-4 advantage over Djokovic in those meetings.
Chloe Kim of the United States will be going for an unprecedented third straight gold at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. (AP)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Unlike Summer Olympic endeavors like track, swimming and volleyball, several of the events at the Winter Olympics seem foreign to observers. Even casual athletes who engage in activities such as skiing, sledding and ice skating rarely do so at the levels required in Olympic competition.
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With that heightened level comes added danger that can put competitors at risk for serious injury. That makes the Winter Games a thrilling spectacle, but also creates a dread that seeks relief.
Here are five of the most compelling events to be held in Milan Cortina that bring anticipation, excitement and national spirit to the competition.
Luge and Skeleton
Many of us loved to hop on a sled on a snow day if the conditions were ideal. But did we ever imagine zooming down a hill at 85 to 95 mph? And doing so on a small platform that doesn’t offer much protection? Or going headfirst, as Skeleton racers — or sliders — do?
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However, as thrilling as that speed can be, it also needs to be controlled and that adds a level of suspense to the competition. Athletes can lose grip and fall off of their sled. Some have soared off the track when taking a turn too fast or at the wrong angle.
Sometimes, that has fatal consequences, as happened during the 2010 Vancouver Games when Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control while traveling 88 mph and went over the sidewall. Tragically, he struck an unpadded support pole and later died from his injuries.
Schedule:
Feb. 8: Men’s luge final Feb. 10: Women’s luge final Feb. 11: M+W doubles final Feb. 12: Team relay final Feb. 13: Men’s skeleton final Feb. 14: Women’s skeleton final Feb. 15: Team skeleton final
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Men’s Ice Hockey
Ice hockey might not be among the most popular of the four major professional sports in the United States. But interest surges among players and fans when teams are playing for their respective countries.
Last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off — which featured the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden — drew 9.3 million viewers on ESPN for the championship final between the U.S. and Canada. Including viewers in Canada, 16 million viewers tuned in across North America.
NHL players will participate in the Olympics for the first time since 2014. For the U.S., that includes stars like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk. Canada will feature Sidney Crosby, Mitch Marner and Connor McDavid on its roster.
Women’s schedule:
Feb. 5: USA vs. Czech Republic Feb. 7: USA vs. Finland Feb. 9: USA vs. Switzerland Feb. 10: USA vs. Canada Feb. 13-14: Quarterfinals Feb. 16: Semifinals Feb. 19: Finals
Men’s schedule:
Feb. 12: USA vs. Latvia Feb. 14: USA vs. Denmark Feb. 15: USA vs. Germany Feb. 18: Quarterfinals Feb. 20: Semifinals Feb. 22: Finals
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Alpine skiing (downhill)
For some fans, downhill skiing is a signature event of the Winter Games, part of Olympic competition since 1936. This is another sport in which speed is a major factor, adding to the danger and thrill of the competition is alpine skiing.
Athletes average speeds of 81 mph — and up to 95 mph — as they descend a steep course while making tight turns around gates. That makes technique, tucking to become more aerodynamic, especially important. Attempting to navigate the course at such high speeds has resulted in skiers suffering serious, debilitating injury or death throughout Winter Olympics history.
Additionally, alpine skiing features this Olympics’ most recognizable name in Lindsey Vonn, competing in her fifth Winter Games at 41 years old.
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Schedule:
Feb. 7: Men’s final
Feb. 8: Women’s final
Short track speed skating
Auto racing becomes a contact sport when cars are nudging each other from behind, bumping opponents out of their lane or sending them into the wall. Imagine that, but without the vehicles.
Long-track speed skating provides a spectacle of pace and form. But the short-track event forces the competitors closer together and carries the possibility of collision. If someone falls, it could create a chain reaction among the other skaters.
The sport can also reward unusual strategies. During the 1500m final at the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea, Chinese skater Yang Jingru sprinted through her first lap rather than conserve energy for the final rounds. She then stayed with the pack through the rest of the race, but was already far ahead when the other skaters attempted to catch up for the final lap.
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Schedule:
Feb. 10: Mixed Relay Feb. 12: W 500; M 100 Feb. 14: M 1500 Feb. 16: W 1000 Feb. 18: W 3000; M 500 Feb. 20: M 5000; W 1500
Snowboarding (halfpipe)
Each of the five snowboarding Olympic events is intriguing, but the halfpipe is the headliner. The structure of the u-shaped course is imposing in itself with walls reaching 22 feet high, a 64-foot gap between the edges and 600 feet in length. Naturally, those who compete in halfpipe relish the challenge rather than fear the heights and potential falls that come with them.
With a run on the halfpipe, the same thrill and dread felt while watching a figure skater attempt a triple or quadruple jump often sets in. Is he/she going to fall? The risk for a snowboarder is much greater. Competitors can launch into the air 20 to 30 feet — and sometimes higher.
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While in the air, athletes will also attempt tricks incorporating front and back spins, forward or backward flips and bending to grab their boards. A typical trick is a Double Cork 1440, which involves four spins and two flips. Legendary snowboarder and three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White pursued a Triple Cork 1440 — with four full rotations and three flips or handplants — throughout his career, but never landed it in competition.
Then the competitors have to land on a slope, sometimes without looking at the surface, and maintain balance to stay on the board. Pulling off jumps and landing clean is exhilarating for both athlete and spectator.
There will also be a bit of history on the line as American Chloe Kim will be going for an unprecedented third straight gold medal.
It’s been less than 24 hours since the NFL conference championship games were completed and the Super Bowl LX participants decided, but already the big bets are flowing in. The Seattle Seahawks are currently 4.5-point favorites over the New England Patriots at BetMGM.
The Super Bowl is the biggest betting event in the U.S. annually, and with two notable teams and plenty of storylines, oddsmakers are certainly thankful it was the Patriots that made it through and not the Denver Broncos with a backup QB in Jarrett Stidham.
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One bettor has waited long enough and already placed the first seven-figure wager on the game.
Circa Sports reported on Monday that a bettor wagered $1.1 million on the Patriots money line in Super Bowl LX at +188 odds. If New England wins the game, the bettor will win just under $2.1 million. It’s the first seven-figure wager on the game, and very likely won’t be the last.
Patriots QB Drake Maye has been sacked five times in each of his three postseason games this year New England’s offense has tallied just 54 total points, but the Patriots have advanced to the Super Bowl. The offense has been helped by a tenacious New England defense that has held opponents to under 3.5 yards per play in the playoffs and surrendered 26 total points.
The largest reported futures wager still alive for New England is a $50,000 wager on the Patriots to win Super Bowl LX at 35-1 odds at DraftKings, which would pay out $1.8 million.
This weekend, we get a rematch of Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to headline the card. Volkanovski won the previous fight back in April 2025 by unanimous decision.
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Here are my best bets for UFC 325, which takes place this weekend at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
Alexander Volkanovski (-150) vs. Diego Lopes (+125)
Fightnomics
In their prior title-fight matchup, Lopes scored a second-round knockdown against Volkanovski, only to see the champ get stronger over the remaining rounds. The final fight totals show Volkanovski pushing a high-pressure offense, throwing far more volume and with much better accuracy of strikes than Lopes. He also added 11 takedown attempts, though only landed one. Still, that forward attack nullified any size advantage Lopes might have had. Basically, Volkanovski delivered his usual strategy that plays to his strengths.
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We’re left with Volkanovski being the busier and more accurate striker, while also having tighter defense. He’s also more likely to mix in takedowns, which could sway rounds should he actually land them this time. Offense wins fights, but defense wins championships. The glaring stat is the head strike defense of Lopes, which is an abysmal 55%. That is not championship caliber.
Eventually Volkanovski’s age and cumulative damage will become more of a concern, but given that these two are not far removed from their last fight, there’s no reason to doubt the number just yet. The price is affordable, and I still like Volkanovski to get it done by decision or in the later rounds depending on how aggressive Lopes gets knowing he might not get another shot at this.
Bet: Volkanovski to win (-150)
Benoît Saint Denis (-350) vs. Dan Hooker (+275)
Fighnomics
A striker-versus-grappler matchup all the way, and I almost always favor the grappler.
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Though Hooker owns more knockdowns scored than any fighter on the card, his per-strike knockdown rate is actually lower than that of Saint Denis. So on the feet, it’s not as much of a disadvantage, with similar striking stats for each.
But on the ground is a different story, and BSD wastes no time trying to get fights down to the mat. He’s faced elite strikers before, and survived into the second round in his losses. Maybe those were learning opportunities to get even more aggressive getting to the mat, or perhaps tightening up his striking. Also, while Hooker has more of the striking pedigree, he has only one striking finish win since 2020.
Arguably his best days are behind him now aged 35, but BSD would still be wise to change levels before testing his chin too much.
Bet: Numbers lean Benoit Saint Denis even at the high price. I also think it takes Over 1.5 rounds, however it goes down, which might improve the price.
Mauricio Ruffy (-125) vs. Rafael Fiziev (+105)
Fightnomics
This was the only upset potential I saw in the three available matchups among veterans, and apparently the market agreed with me enough to flip the line.
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This is likely going to play out entirely on the feet, as both these guys attempt very few takedowns. They’ve spent minimal cage time on the ground because they also both have strong takedown defense.
In addition to a size and range advantage, Ruffy is more accurate at range, with a balanced and precise attack. Perhaps more importantly, his defense is excellent compared to the below-average defense of Fiziev. That suggests Fiziev in an uphill battle to close range while eating lots of damage along the way.
While Fiziev has the more diverse kicking game and tends to swing for the fences with few jabs, he has only two knockdowns scored in a fairly large sample size. Ruffy has yet to prove himself against comparable opponents, and his own sample size leaves more room for risk, but I still like his performance stats enough to support the lean here.
Bet: Even after odds flipped, there’s still a lean on Ruffy
Kevin Durant didn’t sugarcoat it. After the Rockets held Victor Wembanyama to a rough 5-for-21 shooting night last week — including 3 for 18 on jumpers — KD offered some veteran wisdom disguised as postgame analysis.
“He’s still working on his jump shot. We made him shoot over us,” Durant said. “He’s more dangerous when he gets layups and dunks. That’s more his game than floating around the perimeter shooting 3s and jump shots. When they go in, it looks amazing. But when you put a hand up, he had a couple bad misses.”
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Translation? Pull up all you want, big fella. We like our chances.
Wembanyama is already one of the best players in the world at age 22, and he’s not yet in his prime. But does KD have a point?
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Wemby’s jumper a work in progress
Wemby is shooting a career-best 39.5% on midrange dribble-jumpers, but that ranks only 22nd of the 25 players to take at least 100 of them so far this season. It’s better than the 33.3% he posted last season and miles ahead of his rookie campaign’s 26.8%. But it’s not efficient yet.
Then you look at his 3-point shooting off the dribble, and the trend reverses: 25% this year, down from 32.8% last season and 37.7% as a rookie.
Combine all his pull-up attempts from both midrange and from 3, and he’s shooting 34.5%, only a tick better than the 33% he posted in both prior seasons. This season, Wemby ranks 41st of the 46 players to take at least 150 of those shots. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is first (48.2%) and Durant is decimal points behind at 47.8%.
Wemby just turned 22. He’s the same age as a college senior. He can’t rent a car without paying extra. He’s not a finished product. The pull-up numbers have plateaued, sure. But he is much more fluid getting into his shots. Three years ago he looked like a baby deer learning to dribble. Now he’s crossing guys over while also turning the ball over less than he ever has. And he’s generating more of his own shots as a result: dribble-jumpers make up 31% of his total shots, up from the 25% in his first two seasons. That number was only 18% during his final year with the Metropolitans 92 before being drafted first overall in 2023.
By the time Wemby is in his prime, maybe all these reps as a shot creator will pay off. After all, he does have touch. Wembanyama has made 81.6% of his free throws in his career, and his catch-and-shoot 3-point success has risen each season. This year, he’s making a blistering 44.7% of those 3s — up from 37% last year and 29% as a rookie. That’s excellent progress, and adds to the belief that someday it’ll translate off the dribble.
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The problem today? Wemby is taking only 3.2 of those 3s off the catch this season — slightly less than half of what he attempted last year. No matter how good you are, you still gotta take the easy ones. That’s true behind the arc. It’s true at the rim too.
Is Wemby ‘floating around the perimeter’ too much?
When Wembanyama gets to the restricted area, he’s automatic. He makes 76% of unassisted at-rim shots, which includes self-created drives from the perimeter, post-ups, isolations, or when he handles in transition. And he makes 87% of at-rim shots when the ball is passed to him, which includes lobs, cuts, rolls and other assist opportunities. Both are elite numbers. Combined, he’s the best in the league: Among 102 players with at least 100 total attempts in the restricted area this season, he leads the whole NBA at 82%. Even better than Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But Wemby takes only 3.5 shots per game in the restricted area, which ranks 51st of the same group of 102 players. Norm Powell takes more (3.7). Marvin Bagley takes more (3.9). Lauri Markkanen — a stretch big who lives beyond the arc — takes 5.1 per game. Giannis leads with 8.1 per game. Should that number be higher for Wemby?
Well, when Giannis was 22 he was taking only 5.5 restricted area shots per game and he didn’t have the jumper that Wemby does. It wasn’t until Antetokounmpo’s first MVP season in 2018-19, at age 24 and entering his physical prime, that he exceeded eight at-rim shots per game. Wemby is still young, adding strength, and already has more layers to his offense than Giannis has ever had.
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When I interviewed Wembanyama following his rookie season, I asked who the players were that he studied most while growing up. KD and Giannis were fittingly the two players mentioned. Turns out, he’s statistically already in the same stratosphere as The Greek Freak at the rim. And the French Freak is putting defenders on posters too. But does Wemby need Durant to sit him down and show him the perimeter math?
Not exactly. Because here’s the thing: Wemby is a shape-shifter. His shot distribution swings wildly depending on who’s next to him. The pattern is clean: When Wemby shares the floor with a backcourt of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — San Antonio’s two young guards — he takes 34.1% of his shots at the rim. With just Castle? 28.5%. Just Harper? 22.7%. Now add De’Aaron Fox. Fox and Castle together: 18.0%. Fox and Harper: 15.8%. Fox alone: 15.6%.
Wemby’s at-rim rate literally cuts in half when Fox is on the floor. Instead, Wemby takes a lot of 3s. Two-thirds of his catch-and-shoot 3s have come when he shares the floor with Fox. Wemby will often stand out on the perimeter to make space for Fox to do what he does best as an All-Star guard with a downhill style. Meanwhile, Castle and Harper get out of Wembanyama’s way by spacing behind the 3-point line, or they look for him on his rolls to the rim with more regularity.
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Wemby’s distribution of dribble jumpers and all self-created chances is constant, regardless of the lineup combo. What changes is how he serves as a finisher. So Durant isn’t necessarily wrong about Wemby’s affinity for creating his own jumpers. But the data suggests his at-rim frequency is less about Wemby’s choice and more the Fox Effect.
And the team is no worse for it. No matter the combination of guards, Wemby’s shooting efficiency stays nearly equivalent and every group dominates offensively.
At least in the regular season. Fox doesn’t feel like he’s stepping on Wemby’s toes now. But will that change come playoff time? Castle and Harper have some of the worst “gravity” numbers in the league — a new metric released by the NBA that measures how much defensive attention a player commands. Defenses don’t respect their ability to score, and why would they? They’re young and inefficient. But in a January game, who cares? Nobody’s game-planning that hard yet. The question is what happens in April or May when Oklahoma City or Denver or even Houston have three days to prep. At that time, will the lack of knockdown shooting around Wembanyama become an issue?
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Wemby, because he’s a genius and an athletic freak and apparently incapable of being bad at anything, will probably find a way. It’s on the Spurs to optimize the groups around him as he continues to “float around” outside and work on his shooting off the bounce.
If Wembanyama becomes anywhere near as dominant in the creation category as he is in every other, Durant’s game plan won’t work anymore. Because right now, Wemby is in his third year and already a game-wrecker on defense who, on offense, leads the league in rim efficiency at 82%, shoots 45% on catch-and-shoot 3s, and contorts his entire offensive game to fit whoever’s standing next to him.
All while “still working on his jump shot.” What happens when he figures it out?
The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly begun listening to offers on two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
According to Charania, multiple teams that have called the Bucks inquiring about an Antetokounmpo trade believe Milwaukee is “more open than ever” to moving the 10-time All-Star. Despite the level of interest, the Bucks are not in a hurry to move on from their franchise face if what they seek in return in such a deal is not met.
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What the Bucks are looking to get back for the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo is a number of draft picks and/or a highly rated young player. Should Milwaukee take this sweepstakes beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline, they will have a better idea of available picks from potential suitors ahead of June’s NBA draft.
The Bucks are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with an 18-27 record. They’ve lost six of their past seven games and, according to Jake Fischer, the team’s decline has reached “a point of no return” for Antetokounmpo with those around the organization noting “the writing is on the wall” and are resigned to a trade happening at some point.
“There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment, that I will come out and say ‘I want a trade,’” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s not … in … my … nature. OK?”
Antetokounmpo can opt out of his current contract in 2027 and he will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension in October.
The “Greek Freak” was drafted 15th overall by the Bucks in 2013 and quickly became one of the league’s biggest stars. Over Antetokounmpo’s 13 NBA season, he’s averaging 24 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Along with his two MVP awards and 10 All-Star Game appearances, he’s also a seven-time All-NBA first team member, the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year, and helped deliver an NBA title to Milwaukee in 2021 while being named Finals MVP.
