NBA 101

Belgian Grand Prix: Who takes pole position at Spa?

Update: Kimi Antonelli has taken pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix.

---

Just two races remain ahead of Formula 1’s August shutdown, this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix next week.

Who will take pole position at historic Spa-Francorchamps?

Max Verstappen topped the timing sheets in the first hour of practice on Friday, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. But Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli struck back in the second hour of practice, leading the way with a lap time of 1:45.944, ahead of Lando Norris and Verstappen. Hamilton and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top five in FP2.

But later today, following the third hour of practice, the lap times will count for real. Follow along with us here at SB Nation as we track qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. The session begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, so check back early and often. And you can also join the conversation at the brand new F1 Feed, here at SB Nation.

Belgian Grand Prix provisional grid

Here is the provisional starting grid for the 2026 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, which will be filled in throughout the session. It is worth noting that Norris will take a ten-place grid penalty as McLaren has fitted his MCL40 with a new power electronics unit, the fourth of the season and one more than the three allowed under the rules. Hadjar is also going to start at the back of the grid as Red Bull installed several new components over the season allowance, adding up to a 30-place penalty and a back-of-the-grid start.

Update: So although Norris qualified 3rd, he will start 13th.

Row	Position	Driver	Team	Position	Driver	Team
Row 1	1	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	2	Max Verstappen	Red Bull
Row 2	3	Lando Norris	McLaren	4	George Russell	Mercedes
Row 3	5	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	6	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari
Row 4	7	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	8	Arvid Lindblad	VCARB
Row 5	9	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	10	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull
Row 6	11	Liam Lawson	VCARB	12	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
Row 7	13	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	14	Nico Hülkenberg	Audi
Row 8	15	Carlos Sainz	Williams	16	Oliver Bearman	Haas
Row 9	17	Alexander Albon	Williams	18	Esteban Ocon	Haas
Row 10	19	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	20	Sergio Pérez	Cadillac
Row 11	21	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	22	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin

What happened in qualifying?

Here is how the qualifying hour unfolded. All updates are in Eastern time.

Q3

11:11: It’s Antonelli, as he nips Verstappen for pole. Norris bailed out of his final effort.

11:04: Red flag at Spa to clear gravel off the track, ahead of the final runs. But Norris tops the timing sheet after the opening efforts.

Look for Hadjar to give Verstappen a tow again, as he did on the first attempt.

10:51: Q3 is underway with 13 minutes on the clock. Pit lane roars to life with Lindblad leading a group of cars out that includes both McLarens and both Red Bulls.

10:44: Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the ten drivers in the hunt for pole position, and advanced to Q3 in that order. Remember, however, that Norris and Hadjar are facing grid penalties, so the best Norris can start is P11. Hadjar’s penalty is sending him to the back of the grid.

Q2

10:42: Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are out in Q2.

10:34: The Ferraris are next, and Leclerc slots in second, with Hamilton fourth.

Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the top ten right now. Lawson, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz, and Bearman are in the drop zone.

10:32: Verstappen jumps to second, with Lindblad third and Piastri fourth, all of which shuffles Russell down to P5.

Russell then drops to P6 when Norris jumps to P2.

10:31: Antonelli sets the early benchmark with a 1:45.142, followed by Russell more than a half-second behind him.

10:26: Q2 is underway, but the track is quiet for now.

10:20: Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Hamilton, Russell, Lindblad, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Lawson, Bortoleto, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are the drivers moving on to Q2, in that order.

Q1

10:19: Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Pérez, Alonso, and Stroll are the six drivers out in Q1.

10:14: Four minutes are left, and the drivers are rolling out for their final push laps.

10:11: Seven minutes remain in Q1. Norris is at the top of the board, followed by Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, and Antonelli.

Colapinto, Ocon, Pérez, Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll are the six in the drop zone. Hülkenberg sits 15th, and Albon in 16th.

10:05: Hamilton is on the track, as the Ferrari mechanics got the job done.

10:04: The clock hits 15 minutes and the rest of the grid roars to life.

10:01: Green light at Spa, and 18 minutes to lose the six slowest drivers. Stroll, Bottas, and Pérez are the three drivers on the grid. Stroll and Alonso each face a ten-place grid penalty, but they were more than a second behind the Cadillacs during practice.

9:57: Qualifying is set to begin in just a few minutes.

What happened in FP3?

The final hour of practice was more of the same at Spa.

Antonelli topped the timing sheets ahead of Norris, finishing more than one-tenth ahead of the McLaren driver. But the biggest story might have been the shunt from Hamilton, as the Ferrari driver found the barrier at Turn 13, in a crash similar to the one Pierre Gasly suffered during FP2:

Hamilton finds the barriers 💥 Here’s what happened 👇#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/FeNgjTo1Js

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 18, 2026

The mechanics at Ferrari now face a race against the clock to get his car ready for qualifying.

Here are the full results from FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix:

FP3 CLASSIFICATION

Antonelli goes quickest with Norris and Verstappen not far behind 👀#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/pN5NfpLnSH

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 18, 2026

Nuggets Confident Of Retaining Peyton Watson Amid Interest From Bucks, Clippers, Hawks

The Denver Nuggets feel confident in its position to retain restricted free agent Peyton Watson despite growing interest from the Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers and Atlanta Hawks. League sources told The Athletic that Denver believes it simply needs to let the restricted free agency process play out.

The Bucks have emerged as a team exploring a potential sign-and-trade for the 23-year-old forward. The Clippers, currently in a holding pattern after their paused Kawhi Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors, and the Hawks, who recently declined a team option on Jonathan Kuminga, have also expressed interest.

Watson broke out this past season, averaging nearly 15 points per game before a recurring hamstring strain sidelined him in February and ended his season in April. His absence exposed Denver’s lack of athleticism during a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Watson has become one of the best recent Nuggets draft picks, giving Denver a young wing archetype that is difficult to find across the league.

Any of the three interested teams would likely need to pursue a sign-and-trade given Watson’s restricted free agent status. Denver faces its own financial constraints in any potential re-signing, sitting above the luxury tax threshold and risking the $222 million second apron with an eight-figure contract for Watson.

The Nuggets have already committed significant money to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, along with a five-year, $125 million extension for Christian Braun last summer that has yet to match expectations. Denver also acquired Cam Johnson last summer in a deal sending Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn, a trade that has similarly underperformed, and lost Tim Hardaway Jr. to Miami in free agency this offseason.

Despite those financial pressures, sources say none of it will prevent Denver from ultimately re-signing Watson to a substantial deal. Watson is represented by Rich Paul, Calvin Andrews and Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports.

LeBron James Declines To Reveal Free Agency Decision At Fanatics Fest

LeBron James gave no indication of where he plans to sign during a live taping of his “Mind the Game” podcast Thursday at Fanatics Fest. James took audience suggestions naming the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers but did not otherwise identify potential destinations.

James emphasized that he expects to remain productive wherever he lands for his 24th NBA season.

“Looking forward to what’s next as I wind down the final stages of my journey,” said James. “Wherever I land in the fall, hopefully, you know, if you’re a ride-or-die LeBron fan, you’ve been down with me since Day 1. Hopefully, you ride with me here. If you’re a ride-or-die LeBron hater, that’s what you do anyway, so looking forward to seeing you as well. But it’s going to be pretty fun. It’s going to be pretty fun wherever I land. I’m going to do what I do best.”

James announced last month that he would not return to the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons with the franchise. James is weighing offers from the 76ers, Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

James thanked the Lakers and team governor Jeanie Buss for his tenure in Los Angeles, calling it an unbelievable ride. He also addressed recent criticism questioning his impact at 41, ahead of turning 42 in December.

“I’m seeing something on social media the other day that, wherever I go, we may be in the Play-In or some stuff like that and I’m not a factor anymore,” said James. “So maybe that as well, too, is a little motivation.”

Asked which team he enjoyed playing for most during his career, James paused before naming several, including his championship-winning Heat and Cavaliers teams, the 2020 Lakers and the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

Tyrese Haliburton, who co-hosted the podcast taping, attempted to get James to reveal more details on stage but was reminded by James that the two had agreed beforehand he would not be making any announcements. Haliburton previously tried to recruit James to Indiana last month and received only a pair of crying-laughing emojis in response.

Teams have received very little information from James or Rich Paul throughout the process and there is no anticipated date of when he will make his decision.

LeBron James’ Free Agency Coincides With World Cup For Fourth Time In Career

Each of LeBron James’ four times changing teams during his NBA career has coincided with a World Cup including this offseason.

In 2010, James announced his decision live on ESPN to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat on July 8th, which was three days before Spain defeated the Netherlands on July 11th in the World Cup Final.

In 2014, James announced his decision to return to the Cavaliers via Sports Illustrated two days before Germany defeated Argentina in the World Cup Final. James attended the match held in Brazil.

But in 2018, James almost immediately announced his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers at the start of free agency on July 1st. France defeated Croatia in the World Cup final 14 days later on July 15th.

Spain will play Argentina in the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19th in New York.

James is reportedly considering the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. James offered no tangible insights into which team he may be leaning towards in free agency during an interview with Tyrese Haliburton on Thursday.

Tim Connelly: LaMelo Ball, Wolves Can ‘Elevate’ Each Other

Tim Connelly and the Minnesota Timberwolves made a high risk, high reward trade for LaMelo Ball, which he explained during an interdictory press conference this week. The Wolves targeted a ball handler in the offseason to alleviate pressure off Anthony Edwards, who was heavily double teamed last season.

“He’s a lead guard, he’s a real point guard, which is hard to find,” Connelly said. “I think you see the impact that he has on his teammates, and I think it’s probably well-timed. He’s been through a lot. But he’s still only 24 years old. He’s a guy that we think is going to help elevate us, and hopefully we can help elevate him as well.”

Ball was Rookie of the Year with the Charlotte Hornets in 2021 and an All-Star in his second season. After a few injury-plagued seasons, Ball helped lead the Hornets back to the play-in.

“I feel like it’s God’s plan,” Ball said on Tuesday. “I just leave it up to Him, and I just feel extremely blessed.”

The Wolves believe Ball will have a compounding effect on their team.

“The way he plays is so much innate feel and connectivity and just … kind of fun to watch in a lot of ways,” Chris Finch said. “And a lot of things he does, you can’t really teach or coach.”

Tyler Herro Focused On Bucks After Bam Adebayo Altercation

Tyler Herro said he wants to move past his physical altercation with former teammate Bam Adebayo, telling ESPN he is focused on moving forward with the Milwaukee Bucks. The incident occurred last week in Las Vegas.

“Honestly, I’m just trying to move past all of it,” said Herro. “I’m focused on Milwaukee and building something special. They obviously just traded the greatest player in their history, so we want to come in and help continue what they’ve been doing.”

Herro added that Milwaukee, his hometown team, represents the one destination he would have welcomed outside of Miami.

“I’m ready to come home and not prove everyone wrong, but just be able to represent the city and the state because I wanted to do that coming out of school as well,” said Herro.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported that Herro and Adebayo were involved in a physical altercation at the Resorts World Hotel in Las Vegas on July 10. The incident began after Adebayo approached Herro around 9 a.m. local time, following a Heat training session held on the same court where Herro had worked out earlier that morning with his AAU team.

Sources with knowledge of the encounter said Adebayo confronted Herro over social media comments he had made critiquing the center following the end of their seven-year run as teammates in Miami. Herro responded in a way that Adebayo took exception to, and the confrontation turned physical.

Sources told ESPN that Adebayo struck Herro near the chin, though the exact nature of the contact remains disputed. Herro was not knocked to the ground and was restrained by others in the gym before any further physical response occurred.

The dispute stemmed partly from comments attributed to a social media account associated with Herro questioning whether Adebayo’s $60 million salary was justified and suggesting Herro himself needed more support from his supporting cast while dealing with injuries. Adebayo had made similar comments earlier this season about needing more help from his own teammates following Miami’s play-in elimination.

Heat sources said the relationship between Adebayo and Herro had grown strained over the past year as Herro appeared in just 33 games due to injury and adjusted to changes in Miami’s offensive system. Adebayo had previously suggested publicly that Herro needed to adapt to the new scheme.

“It’s all love in Miami,” said Herro, when asked about seeing his former team. “I’ve seen a couple of the guys, coaching staff, Chris Quinn, Spo [Erik Spoelstra], the front office guys; we are all good in Miami. Just an opportunity for both sides to reset, get a fresh start, and both are super happy with this.”

Mark Daigneault, JB Bickerstaff, Mark Few To Join USA Basketball As Assistant Coaches

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few will be named assistant coaches by USA Basketball under head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Spoelstra replaced Steve Kerr as head coach last September.

Few has served in various capacities in USA Basketball over the past decade, while Daigneault and Bickerstaff will be new to the program.

Daigneault led the Thunder to the 2025 NBA championship and the No. 1 seed in the regular season in the Western Conference in each of the past three seasons.

Bickerstaff helped lead Detroit’s turnaround back to the playoffs in 2025 and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this past season.

Team USA has World Cup qualifiers in late August ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.

Team USA doesn’t need to go through qualifiers for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as the host county.

LeBron James Getting Closer To Free Agency Decision

LeBron James is nearing a decision as NBA free agency enters its third week. James is deciding between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Every day LeBron James inches closer and closer to a decision,” said ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday’s episode of NBA Today. “It’s decision time for LeBron James. All the information, for the most part is in.

“GMs, presidents, owners have all been heard from. They’re continuing to have conversations with Rich Paul here [in Las Vegas] this week as well. Players have also reached out to LeBron James to recruit him. And, yes, all the voice notes have also been listened to.

“And rosters have been set around the league. The decks have been set. The leading suitors have been Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota.

“What we know definitively is that LeBron James has made it clear privately that he wants to go somewhere he can compete for a championship. Somewhere he feels he finds that happiness from a team environment and culture that he feels he can uplift. The big thing here is this is not going to be a financially driven decision. So that gives LeBron James the ability to hear from teams that have the minimum, have other exceptions, have salary cap space as well. And be allowed to take his time through this decision.”

James spent the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. James has previously changed teams in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

RealGM Radio w/Dubin, Dakhil: Wemby’s Discount, What Are The Warriors, Ranking The Big Trades

Jared and Mo are back to discuss Victor Wembanyama accepting take the smaller max for the San Antonio Spurs. The NBAPA’s statement about the second apron and Billy Donovan joining San Antonio’s coaching staff. Then we hit on what is going on in Golden State especially if they do not get LeBron James. We end with ranking how all the big trades in the offseason affect the championship race.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or via the RSS feed for smart NBA offseason coverage, trade rumors, draft coverage and big-picture basketball conversations.

Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky Live Stream: Watch WNBA Season 2026 on Fubo

The 2026 WNBA regular season delivers a spectacular, high-stakes showdown today, Sunday, July 12, as the surging Dallas Wings (15-8) return home to host the resilient Chicago Sky (7-15). To accommodate an overwhelming demand for tickets, the Wings are shifting the game layout to the high-capacity American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas, setting the stage for an electric atmosphere. Watch all the action live on Fubo.

Dallas steps onto their home floor carrying immense momentum after completing a perfect four-game road sweep over the past week. The Wings’ high-octane offensive framework is powered by generational second-year guard Paige Bueckers, who recently exploded for a spectacular 34-point masterpiece against Toronto in front of a record-breaking crowd in Montreal. Backed by the interior dominance of Jessica Shepard-fresh off a 20-point, 17-rebound display-and premier playmaker Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas boasts one of the league’s most efficient rotations. The visiting Sky counter behind an interior blueprint anchored by rising star center Kamilla Cardoso and perimeter weapon Sydney Taylor as they look to conclude a four-game road trip with a statement win. Witness this premium cross-conference clash live on Fubo.

The core tactical battle today centers on Dallas’ relentless open-floor transition pacing against Chicago’s half-court defensive containment. The Wings will look to leverage Shepard’s exceptional glass tracking to trigger rapid breakout looks for Bueckers and Azzi Fudd before the Sky can arrange their paint protection. For Chicago to dictate velocity and cause the road upset, Cardoso and forward Azurá Stevens must control the defensive boards, limit live-ball turnovers, and force the hosts into deep shot-clock execution sequences. Expect a completely packed, vocal arena layout from the opening tip-off. Catch the game streaming live on Fubo.

Dallas’ multi-star offensive continuity and fast-break speed versus Chicago’s interior size and road urgency will settle the score today. You can catch every ankle-breaking crossover, low-post block, and crunch-time bucket live on Fubo.

How to Watch Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky

Today’s regular-season matchup between the Wings and Sky will be available to watch live on Fubo.

Category	Details
Date	Sunday, July 12, 2026
Tip-Off Time	7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT
TV Network	ESPN / Disney+
Live Stream	Fubo (Free Trial Available)
Venue	American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Wings vs. Sky Game Preview & Odds

Oddsmakers have positioned the hosting Wings as clear home favorites today, heavily respecting their active four-game winning streak and top-tier offensive output. However, with the Sky highly motivated to bounce back and secure a split in the seasonal series, Chicago remains a dangerous team to cover the spread.

Betting Line	Wings -8.5
Over/Under	170.5
Moneyline	DAL -420 | CHI +320

Prediction: Expect a fast-paced track meet dominated by perimeter sequences early on. While Kamilla Cardoso and Gabriela Jaquez will generate highly efficient physical scoring options inside to keep the Sky close through the first half, Dallas’ multi-star firepower will simply be too overwhelming over four quarters. Look for Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to fuel a decisive second-half run to secure the home victory. Final Score: Wings 95, Sky 85.

Players to Watch

The hosting Wings look to dynamic transition ball movement and historic double-double rebounding consistency to control the game pacing.

Wings Standouts (Season Averages)	PTS	AST/REB	Notes
Paige Bueckers (G)	21.4	6.2 AST	Fresh off a dazzling 34-point performance in Montreal
Jessica Shepard (C)	14.8	11.8 REB	Pacing the league in multiple 15+ rebound performances

The visiting Sky lean on physical interior shot-altering and high-efficiency post targets to anchor their sets.

Sky Standouts (Season Averages)	PTS	AST/REB	Notes
Kamilla Cardoso (C)	13.2	8.4 REB	Led Chicago with 15 points and 8 boards on Friday
Sydney Taylor (G)	11.5	3.4 AST	Providing key perimeter spacing and offensive distribution

Stream the WNBA on Fubo

Fubo is your premier layouts choice for watching comprehensive live coverage of the 2026 WNBA regular season schedule. Don’t miss a single highlight today as the Wings and Sky drop a defining showcase in downtown Dallas.

Frequently Asked Questions

This article contains affiliate links. When you purchase through the links provided, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Restrictions may apply.