Warriors, Taevion Kinsey Agree To Camp Deal

The Golden State Warriors and wing Taevion Kinsey have agreed to a training camp deal. Kinsey will sign a non-guaranteed contract to go to camp with the Warriors.

Kinsey signed a 10 Day contract with the Utah Jazz during the 2023-24 season, but did not appear in a game. The 6-foot-5 wing was with the Jazz on a two-way deal for a portion of last offseason. Kinsey spent the last two seasons playing for Utah’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.

In 50 G League games last season, Kinsey averaged 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a steal per game. The Marshall product has shot 54.1% over two G League seasons, including 37.7% on three-pointers.

Jordan & Kobe signed card sells for record $12.9m

An anonymous bidder paid a record £9.56m ($12.9m) at an auction for a basketball card signed by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant making it the most expensive sports collectable card in history.

The card is known as the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card and was sold by Heritage Auctions in the United States.

It had been in the hands of its previous owner for more than a decade and went into auction with a valuation expecting it to achieve £4.4m ($6m) or above. In total 82 bids were then received as the estimate was more than doubled.

The winning bid beat the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which was sold for $12.6m in August 2022, though the exchange rate at the time meant this was equivalent to £10.8m.

The Jordan-Bryant card is the second most expensive sports collectable ever, behind baseball legend Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series “called the shot” jersey which sold for £18.1m ($24.12) in August 2024.

Heritage’s director of sports auctions Chris Ivy told ESPN the Jordan-Bryant card was “the pinnacle” for modern card collectors.

He added that “another one can’t be created” and has always been looked at by modern basketball collectors as a “holy grail”.

“The pre-auction estimate was $6m-plus. So sometimes if a piece is unique like this, it’s really beneficial to let it have its day,” Ivy said.

Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls between 1991 and 1998.

Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020, is also considered an NBA legend and won five championships during a two-decade stint at LA Lakers between 1996 and 2016.

This rugby equivalent of the ‘Kick Six’ is mullet-filled beauty

The ‘Kick Six’ is one of the most memorable plays of all time when Auburn beat No. 1 ranked Alabama by returning a missed field goal for a touchdown. Well, it just happened in the National Rugby League in Australia, and it was absolutely wild.

Let’s set the scene here: The Canberra Raiders are the best team in the league this season, and were on the verge of losing to the Penrith Panthers. A tied game led to GP1, which stands for the first “Golden Point” overtime. The first team to score wins, and Penrith had the best kicker in the sport Nathan Cleary teed up for a field goal. Cleary knocks these through all the time, heck, he’s the go-to kicker for the Australian national team.

DOINK

The ball hit the uprights and the sound echoes through the stadium. Then the ball is caught by a Raiders player, two defenders fail to make the tackle, and we have a legendary footrace that results in one player with an impressive mullet, passing to another player with an ever more impressive mullet to score the try and win the game.

This is one of the most ludicrous, impressive, mullet-filled plays in sports.

Mike Weinar, Pacers Mutually Agree To Part Ways

Assistant coach Mike Weinar and the Indiana Pacers have mutually agreed to part ways. Weinar had been a candidate to join the coaching staff of Mike Brown with the New York Knicks before he pulled his name out of the running earlier this month.

“Mike Weinar has been a trusted friend and loyal colleague for 17+ years. As a coach, he is a proven winner with two National Championship rings with Florida Men’s Basketball in 2006 and 2007, and an NBA Championship ring from our 2011 championship run in Dallas. Mike also played a major role in this year’s historic Finals run with the Pacers,” Rick Carlisle. “Mike’s exemplary character as a father, husband, and man has been evident to me over nearly two decades. Professional success has followed Mike everywhere he has gone, and will no doubt continue to do so in the future.”

Tom Dundon To Bring ‘New Vibe’ To Blazers, Hope To Close By End Of Regular Season

The Portland Trail Blazers hope to close the $4.25 billion sale of the franchise to Tom Dundon by March 31, 2026, shortly before the end of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Dundon, who also owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, is expected to bring a “new vibe” to the Blazers.

“He brings a swagger,” a source close to Dundon told The Athletic. “If Tom was the owner last year, he would have been trying to get Luka (Doncic). He would be like, ‘Why should the Lakers have him?”’

Dundon and the estate of Paul Allen have agreed upon all the major points of the sale and are currently in an exclusivity agreement. The Blazers will remain in Oregon though the future of Mona Center is unclear.

Dundon helped turnaround the Hurricanes, who had missed the playoffs in nine straight seasons when he purchased the team. Carolina has now made the playoffs in all seven seasons since he took over.

“He’s a winner,” the source said. “He’s a straight shooter, and rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. He’s already talking basketball, and he already knows all the salaries of players and employees. He’s really invested in the players – he says you can’t compromise on players.”