The 2–0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina gave the Americans proof that they could win a World Cup match when everything was on the line.

Photo by Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Folarin Balogun scored before halftime. Malik Tillman’s free kick gave the Americans breathing room. After Balogun’s dismissal early in the second half, the United States spent more than 30 minutes protecting its lead with 10 men. It survived.

Belgium is next. For American soccer fans, those two words bring back memories immediately.

The last World Cup meeting between these countries produced one of the most unforgettable performances in United States soccer history. Tim Howard made 15 saves in Salvador in 2014 (which is still tied for the most ever in a World Cup match) and somehow the United States still fell 2–1 after extra time.

For many fans, that was the night they learned what a World Cup knockout match feels like.

Twelve years later, the United States gets another chance. Welcome to the USMNT’s edition of Monday Night Football.

Here are four things to watch.

Photo by Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

1. What does Balogun’s return change?

It seemed like the United States would have to face Belgium without its starting striker. Instead, Balogun was cleared to play and will be available Monday night after FIFA ruled he could participate in the Round of 16. That changes the conversation.

Balogun gives Mauricio Pochettino’s side something few American teams have had at a World Cup: a striker who can stretch defenses and force center backs into uncomfortable decisions.

His movement creates space for Christian Pulisic and Tillman to operate freely underneath him. The Americans need to punish Belgium when opportunities appear because they won’t have much possession.

Balogun is the player most capable of making that happen.

2. Can the United States attack Belgium’s wide spaces?

Belgium advanced to the Round of 16 after one of the wildest matches of the tournament.

The Red Devils trailed Senegal 2–0 late in regulation before goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans forced extra time. Tielemans eventually scored the winning penalty to complete an unlikely comeback.

Senegal repeatedly found success attacking the spaces behind Belgium’s fullbacks and forcing the Belgian defense to turn toward its own goal.

Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest could be two of the most important players on the field Monday night. When the United States is at its best, it plays with speed and pushes its fullbacks high. Against Belgium, those moments could determine the match.

That does not mean recklessly throwing numbers forward against players like De Bruyne and Lukaku. It means being brave enough to attack when the opportunities appear.

The United States cannot spend 90 minutes waiting for Belgium to make mistakes; it has to force them

3. How does the United States handle Belgium’s experience?

Belgium is no longer the young Golden Generation that arrived in Russia with expectations of winning the tournament. However, the experience remains.

De Bruyne is still one of the best creators in world football. Lukaku is one of the most dangerous penalty-box forwards in international soccer. Tielemans just dragged Belgium through a knockout match that looked lost.

And Thibaut Courtois remains one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers.

Photo: Эдгар Брещанов / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making a save during the match against Brazil, 6 July 2018

Belgium does not need many chances. One De Bruyne pass and one Lukaku run across a defender can decide this match. A Courtois save can keep Belgium alive long enough for momentum to shift.

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Belgium wants control. The United States wants energy, pressure and transitions.

Controlled chaos has often brought out the best in this group.

4. Is this finally the breakthrough moment?

Photo by Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

This is where the game becomes bigger than tactical analysis.

There was Mexico in 2002. Ghana in 2010. Belgium in 2014. Netherlands in 2022.

Different teams, different eras and different circumstances, but all part of the same search for a defining knockout moment.

The victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina moved the United States forward. Beating Belgium would move this team into a different category historically. It would give this generation of players the result American soccer has spent decades chasing.

The pieces are there.

Pulisic is in his prime. Balogun is playing. Tillman is coming off the goal that sealed the United States’ first World Cup knockout victory since 2002. Adams gives the midfield balance every successful tournament team needs. Robinson and Dest can turn the wide areas into an advantage.

And Pochettino has this team looking more comfortable in difficult moments than it has in a long time.

The setting feels right. Seattle hosted Belgium’s comeback victory over Senegal earlier in the week and will stage its final World Cup match of the tournament Monday night. The atmosphere should be among the best of the competition this summer.

The United States has spent 12 years waiting for another shot at Belgium. Tonight, it gets one.

Photo: Bryan Berlin/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

1. The red card changed the entire conversation

For most of last night, this looked like it would become the Folarin Balogun game.

The striker scored the opening goal just before halftime, converting the chance the United States had been searching for against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s compact defensive shape.

Then, in the 64th minute, everything changed.

Balogun’s challenge on Tarik Muharemović was upgraded to a straight red card following a VAR review, forcing the United States to play the rest of the match with 10 men.

The decision became one of the biggest talking points of the match. Some believed it was the correct interpretation of the laws of the game. Others felt the replay made the challenge appear worse than it looked in real time.

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The consequences are clear: Balogun will miss the Round of 16 matchup against Belgium, leaving the U.S. without its leading scorer at the exact moment they would most like to have him available.

2. The United States showed something it has not always shown in big tournaments

They never panicked. That may have been the most impressive part of the night.

Previous American teams might have dropped deeper and deeper after losing a player in a knockout match. Instead, the U.S. remained organized, disciplined and surprisingly comfortable.

Bosnia pushed numbers forward and searched for opportunities through crosses and set pieces, but clear chances were difficult to find. The U.S. held Bosnia to just 0.25 expected goals and only seven touches inside the penalty area despite playing the final half hour with 10 men.

There were no frantic clearances or loss of structure. No sense that the game was slipping away. If anything, the United States looked more comfortable playing with 10 men than Bosnia looked trying to break them down with 11.

This program has spent years hearing questions about how it responds to adversity in these moments. This felt significant.

3. Mauricio Pochettino entered the record books

Photo by Bryan Berlin/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Pochettino became the first U.S. men’s national team coach to win three World Cup matches, moving ahead of Bruce Arena’s two victories in 2002.

More importantly, he delivered something American soccer had not experienced in nearly a quarter century. The United States had not won a World Cup knockout match since defeating Mexico in the Round of 16 in 2002. That streak is over.

Maybe this is years of watching U.S. teams enter knockout matches hoping to survive rather than expecting to advance, but there was something different about this one. The Americans were the better team from the opening whistle and looked like a side that believed it belonged here.

The Bosnia match guaranteed that this tournament already has a place in U.S. soccer history. The Belgium match will determine how far this run goes.

4. Malik Tillman and Antonee Robinson continue to drive this team forward

Tillman finished the story. And he did it in style:

His free kick in the 82nd minute was one of the best American goals of the tournament and immediately killed whatever hope Bosnia had left of a comeback.

Every World Cup produces a player who starts as a promising talent and becomes an established star in front of the world’s eyes. Tillman is making a strong case to be that player for this American team.

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At the same time, Antonee Robinson continues to look like one of the best left backs in the world. Bosnia struggled to deal with his runs forward all evening, and defensively he helped limit one of the tournament’s better set-piece teams to very few opportunities.

If Tillman has become the breakout star of the tournament, Robinson has become one of its most consistent performers. The encouraging part for the United States is that new stars keep emerging alongside the established ones.

5. Everything changes against Belgium

Антон Зайцев / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

The question surrounding this generation of American players was whether it could handle the pressure of meaningful World Cup matches. That question has been answered. Now comes a different one.

Can the United States beat one of the world’s elite teams without its leading scorer?

Belgium will enter the match as the favorite. That may actually suit the U.S. For the first time in this tournament, the pressure shifts to the other side.

The United States will fight in Seattle missing Balogun but bringing something it did not have a week ago: evidence that this group can handle knockout pressure, adversity and expectations all at once.

The Santa Clara crowd celebrated a moment American soccer had been waiting 24 years to experience again.

Maybe the team we’ve spent years waiting for has finally arrived.

Photo by Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

The United States men’s national team enters interesting territory Wednesday night. For the first time in a modern World Cup knockout match, the Americans are not the underdog.

That’s unfamiliar for a program that has spent most of its World Cup history trying to ruin someone else’s party. They are the host nation, the group winner and the team expected to advance.

Standing in their way is Bosnia and Herzegovina, making their first appearance in the knockout stage and playing with little media pressure.

Here are four things to watch as the teams meet in Santa Clara with a place in the round of 16 on the line.

1. How the U.S. handles possession

Bosnia has spent much of the tournament defending in a compact shape and looking to create chances through direct, long balls into the box. That could force the U.S. into long periods of possession.

The Americans have looked dangerous throughout the tournament when attacking open space. Today’s challenge will require something different.

The U.S. will rely heavily on outside backs Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest to provide width and stretch Bosnia’s defensive shape. The movement of players such as Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman between the lines could become important if the midfield becomes crowded.

The temptation in knockout matches is to force difficult passes or settle for hopeful crosses. The United States will need to move the ball quickly enough to create openings while staying disciplined defensively if possession is lost.

If the game is played primarily in Bosnia’s half, the U.S. should feel comfortable with the situation rather than rushed by it.

2. Christian Pulisic's impact

Photo by Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Christian Pulisic looks likely to return to the starting lineup after dealing with a calf issue earlier in the tournament. That could change the entire strategy of the American attack.

Pulisic remains the player most capable of creating chances on his own, whether through dribbling in wide areas, drawing defenders out of position or creating shooting opportunities from difficult angles.

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Bosnia will make slowing him down a priority. That attention could create opportunities elsewhere.

The U.S. does not necessarily need Pulisic to dominate the match statistically. It needs him to force Bosnia into decisions it usually wouldn’t have to make. In knockout soccer, a single moment often changes everything. Few American players are better equipped to create one.

3. Bosnia's veteran experience

   

   Photo: Ailura/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 AT)

The United States may have more overall depth, but Bosnia enters the match with a veteran core capable of making life uncomfortable for the Americans.

That begins with striker Edin Džeko. The former Manchester City and Roma remains one of the game’s most intelligent center-forwards. He can hold possession, win aerial duels and create open lanes for others. Making him dangerous even when touches are low.

The United States has dealt with defensive injury concerns throughout the tournament, and Bosnia will test them physically through crosses and set pieces.

Bosnia does not need possession to create chances. One well-delivered free kick or one defensive mistake inside the penalty area could change the game entirely. The U.S. will want to avoid turning the match into a physical contest.

Bosnia would likely welcome a match decided by moments of chaos rather than American possession.

4. Can the U.S. handle being favorites?

For Bosnia and Herzegovina, a victory would represent the biggest result in the country’s history.

The nation’s only previous World Cup appearance came in 2014, when it failed to advance from the group stage. Reaching the knockout rounds in 2026 already meant progress. Eliminating the host nation would bring this squad into national history.

The stakes are different for the United States. The United States has not reached a World Cup quarterfinal since defeating Mexico in the round of 16 in 2002.

Since then, the program has produced talented squads and memorable moments but has struggled to take the next step on the global stage. This generation has openly talked about changing expectations for American soccer.

Winning a knockout match at home would represent meaningful progress. For a team playing in front of home crowds and carrying higher expectations than previous American squads, handling that pressure will be just as important as any tactical change.

The total trade package includes Charlotte sending a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a 2033 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

This is the second 2033 first-round pick the Charlotte Hornets have acquired within the past week, having also received a 2033 first-round pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the LaMelo Ball trade package.

Miles Bridges is represented by Klutch Sports Group, whose CEO Rich Paul has a notable relationship with Suns Governor Mat Ishbia. The two could have possibly worked together to find Miles his new home.

Bridges spent two years at Michigan State playing for Tom Izzo. Ishbia also played for Tom Izzo while he was a member of the 2000 NCAA National Championship team.

With both LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges now gone, the Hornets are officially turning the page on their previous core.

Photo Source: Hayden Schiff / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

The trade will bring Grayson Allen back to the state of North Carolina, where he first gained notoriety at Duke University, when he was a freshman on the 2015 NCAA championship team.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Timberwolves are sending the Hornets Naz Reid and multiple picks.

This comes after Shams reported immediately following the NBA Draft that the Hornets were engaged in trade conversations with teams around the league and expected a deal to happen within the next 24–48 hours. It seems the negotiations were nearly complete at that point.

The total package includes: the Charlotte Hornets sending LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN.

LaMelo Ball has been a staple in the Charlotte community since he was drafted to the Hornets in the 2020 NBA Draft with the 3rd overall pick.

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According to Charania, Ball does want to be in Charlotte, but the Hornets are still listening to calls from multiple teams.

During the 2025-2026 season, the Charlotte Hornets were 3-7 last season without LaMelo Ball.

Okereke, a four-year player, was originally a walk on for Cornell before finishing off his career at Vanderbilt.

During his time at Vanderbilt in Nashville, he averaged 9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

According to insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, many teams around the league believed that the Lakers were expecting Henri Veesaar to fall to them.

The Lakers are still searching for their big man, even after re-signing Austin Reaves . Reaves inked a 4-year, $185M max deal. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Lakers are projected to still have $45- $50M in cap space. This is without LeBron James on the books.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Los Angeles is not expected to sign LeBron to a max deal (~$55M).

Carr’s stock soared during the NBA Combine, where the NBA named him one of the 10 players who made a mark at AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026.

We touched on Cameron Carr in our pre-draft coverage for the Charlotte Hornets, when we called out Carr’s elite arm length and agility. He also recorded the 2nd fastest lane agility time in the combine.

This is an ideal pick up for the Lakers, who have been searching for a young, athletic guard for the past few seasons.

Los Angeles drafted Adou Thiero last year with the 36th overall pick. But Thiero was hampered by injuries during much of his rookie season with the Lakers.

The Lakers still have a need for a big man. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin has reported that, “Luka’s first and foremost desire is an A-list center.” So we will see what other moves the Lakers make as we inch toward free agency.

Anderson racked up the accolades last year.

He was the Big 12 most improved player, 1st Team All-Big 12, as well as a Third Team AP All-America selection last year with Texas Tech Red Raiders.

The guard is most known for his passing and is a part of the German National team.

Both players the Hornets drafted in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach, have German citizenship and even together on the U19 German National Team!

While Hannes Steinbach was a Freshman at The University of Washington he averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds under head coach Danny Sprinkle.

The selection addresses Charlotte’s need at the forward position. He played professionally in Germany before coming to Washington. His father was actually a teammate of NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki.

The Hornets still have the 18th pick in addition to this pick. Continue to check with West Franklin Media for continued coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Check out our pre-draft story where we broke down the Hornets’ needs heading into tonight.

Photo: Augustas Didžgalvis / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sabonis saw some of the best years of his career while he was in Sacramento with De’Aaron Fox and Head Coach Mike Brown. Both of whom are currently competing to be NBA Champions with the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks respectively.

We previously wrote an article about how the Hornets could look for big man help to further bolster the current frontcourt of Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Aday Mara from Michigan could be a candidate but if the Hornets believe they are in more of a ‘win now’ situation, Sabonis could be a more ideal target.

According to Amick the deal is not imminent and appears unlikely before the June 23 draft due to the Hornets unwillingness to depart with one of their first round picks.

Domantas Sabonis is a 3 time all-star, 2 time All-NBA 3rd team, and six-time NBA Player of the Week winner.

Check out Sam’s Article:

We’ll keep an eye on this situation and post any updates that may come about!

New York endured a gritty, grueling Game 2 to prevail 105-104 on Friday night. Superstar guard Jalen Brunson, who scored just 20 points by going 7-of-25 from the field, was buoyed by an incredible performance from teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. The latter big man produced a 21-point double-double, circling beyond the arc to swish three of five three-point attempts. The Knicks’ 11 steals made up for their icy shooting in the second half.

Some of San Antonio’s cagers superficially improved on the scoresheet. Inconsistent guard De’Aaron Fox went 8-of-12 and scored 20 points, but he finished as only a plus-two. Victor Wembanyama’s 29 points led Game 2’s scoring, yet the 7-foot-4 phenom was criticized as shying away from tough contact, and finding himself shell-shocked against the veteran Towns. Wembanyama missed two potential go-ahead buckets with time running out.

Betting Trends: New York’s Odds are Still Tentative

At long last, the Knicks are drawing favorites’ betting odds in the NBA Finals. New York’s double-digit win streak has helped the Knicks become (-500) DraftKings favorites to win the 2026 NBA crown. New York also boasts minus-odds to win Monday’s Game 3.

Look at Game 3’s point spread, however, and it’s clear that Las Vegas is as stubborn as ever when it comes to its prior analysis of two opponents. The Knicks are spotting (-2.5) points to the Spurs, a small, standard margin inspired by New York’s advantages at MSG. In other words, bookmakers still view the clubs as evenly matched at a hypothetical neutral site.

Why do NBA playoff odds defy the evidence of final scores? Early in the postseason, having a 2-0 series lead causes certain teams to take their feet off the gas. In the final round, it’s another story. The Knicks intend to win Game 3 by more than a handful of points, even if Wemby has a better night for the Spurs. If New York clinches the championship in four games, Vegas may still offer an (Ev) spread on “Game 5” as an act of sheer rebellion.

Game 3 Injury Reports

• Spurs forward David Jones remains out with an ankle injury.

Prediction: Knicks Live Bets are Halftime Winners

Monday’s meeting may become yet another Knicks-Spurs game in which San Antonio takes a midgame lead, and cannot hold onto it through the fourth quarter. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is likely to devise a fresh game plan to take pressure off Wembanyama and San Antonio’s other young ballers. Whatever the Spurs attempt will have a small margin for error.

Will the Spurs eschew offensive boards in a bid to set their defense consistently? While that would restrict Towns and the Knicks offense, it would put the Spurs in peril as soon as the Knicks’ superior guards happened to heat up from downtown. If San Antonio’s new plan goes in a different direction, giving the tentative Wemby even more freedom on the offensive end, it would only take a couple of turnovers to get MSG roaring.

Anticipate a halftime live-bet on the Knicks spread winning if the 24:00 score is tight, or especially if the Spurs hold another impressive lead after two quarters. If the Knicks are lucky enough to lead by 10-plus points at the half, a live spread pick could still pay off.

The Knicks gutted out their Game 1 triumph on a night of mediocre shooting by both clubs. Jalen Brunson led all performers with 30 points, although he turned the ball over four times and dished only two dimes. Veteran forward Josh Hart’s 15 rebounds and four steals led a defensive effort which restricted the Spurs to just 40 points in the second half. Victor Wembanyama’s 26-point performance wasn’t helped much by his Spurs’ supporting cast.

San Antonio’s starting guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox combined for just 24 points and a 1-for-9 mark from downtown. Will it be the Knicks’ defense, not the fearsome shot-blocking of the Spurs, that writes the story of the 2026 finals?

Betting Trends: Las Vegas Doubles Down on Spurs at Home

Remember how oddsmakers treated last year’s NBA postseason? Each time the underdogs won, Las Vegas would double down with more exaggerated favorite’s odds on the next game. The teams have changed in 2026, but the habits of Sin City stay the same.

San Antonio is a wider point-spread favorite for Game 2 than the Spurs were prior to Game 1. DraftKings is offering spread picks of Spurs (-6.5) alongside moneylines that favor the hosts by more than a 1-to-2 price. Gambling action on a finals winner is nearly even.

The bookmakers’ only nod to Wednesday’s outcome is a shrunken Over/Under line of (214.5) total points in Game 2. Pregame bettors appear to be favoring the over-total-points wager.

Game 2 Injury Reports

• Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is probable with an ankle injury.

• Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is probable with a finger injury.

• Spurs forward David Jones remains out with an ankle injury.

Prediction: Knicks’ Experience Edge, Leads to Game 2 Win

Friday’s odds underrate the playoff experience of New York’s roster, compared to the young core of San Antonio. While neither squad is familiar with playing in the NBA Finals, the Knicks have the seasoning to know that now’s the time to step on a fatigued opponent.

Game 2’s speculators shouldn’t worry about Brunson’s twisted ankle. They should instead reckon with the wear-and-tear on the Spurs, whose frigid offense in Game 1’s second half could have been an early sign of a club that was mentally and physically drained by its encounter with OKC. Wembanyama is not supposed to outscore his team’s backcourt.

New York coach Mike Brown is not as cautious or conservative as most NBA tacticians when holding a series lead on the road. He proved that by helping the Knicks beat the Cavs by 37 points, in a clinching Game 4. While Brunson’s injury scare from the series opener could keep the Knicks’ guards in rotation on Friday, Brown’s squad is playing the kind of fierce open-court defense that creates easy buckets, limiting the Spurs’ ability to dominate defensively. Look for the Knicks to win or cover ATS in another low-scoring tilt.

San Antonio defeated New York in five games in the 1999 NBA Finals. Since then, the Spurs have won four more NBA championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. The Knicks, meanwhile, are making their first NBA Finals appearance of the century. The Spurs have lost only one NBA Finals series, falling to the Miami Heat in 2013. The Knicks are a troubling 2-6 in NBA Finals series, looking for their first NBA crown since 1973.

The Knicks have the WWE wrestler Danhausen’s curses to aid their cause, but the Spurs’ spectacular big man Victor Wembanyama is cursing his opponents’ shooters. The Spurs, not unlike the Michigan Wolverines of 2025-26, are blocking so many shots that rival squads can’t maintain a lead, even if their shooting guards are hitting from downtown. The Knicks’ center Karl-Anthony Towns is about to take on his tallest task… (in more ways than one.)

Betting Trends: Spurs Open as Solid Favorites at Home

San Antonio is the consensus moneyline and point-spread pick in Wednesday night’s series opener, favored over New York by (-4.5) points at DraftKings. The Spurs covered ATS in each of their four victories in last round’s seven-game clash with the OKC Thunder.

The Knickerbockers’ rest advantage, earned by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, doesn’t seem to have led to a Knicks trend at the betting board. The Spurs boast a (-185) series price to conquer the Knicks. However, proposition betting sharks are calling a Game 7 scenario the most likely eventuality in 2026’s NBA Finals.

New York’s defense has impressed Las Vegas on its own accord, forcing 22 turnovers from Cleveland in Monday’s 130-93 blowout that clinched the conference finals in four games. That hasn’t stopped sportsbooks from handicapping a healthy O/U (218.5) point total for Wednesday’s tilt, based on the angle that New York may need to utilize a desperate fouling-game if the Knicks trail by the expected margin in Quarter 4.

Game 1 Injury Reports

• Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is probable with a finger injury.

• Spurs forward David Jones remains out with an ankle injury.

Prediction: Knicks Will Struggle to Find a Formula Right Away

The Knicks could prove to be a steal at 1.5-to-1 series odds. New York’s offense is capable of the high tempo and quick decision-making needed to catch San Antonio unprepared on its defensive turns. Jalen Brunson’s backcourt is shooting lights-out on rapid possessions. The Spurs aren’t a cinch to outplay the Knicks on the glass. The Knicks’ deep frontcourt of Towns, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby gives New York numbers to throw at Wemby.

New York coach Mike Brown can choose to mimic the tactics of OKC’s Mark Daigneault by encouraging rough play in the paint, hoping to hurl bodies at Wembanyama and get the 7-foot-4 phenomenon in foul trouble such as he experienced in Game 7 against OKC.

Consider, though, that San Antonio’s long trek in the Western Conference Finals could be more of a blessing than a burden on Wednesday. The Spurs’ adrenaline at home won’t allow them to feel the fatigue of the OKC series just yet. If the Knicks’ rust makes them icy from the field in the first half, that gives the Spurs their chance to take a lead, and swish shots from the free-throw line if the Knicks try to make it a grudge match. The Spurs’ temporary home-court edge gives the NBA’s third-ranked foul-shooting team betting value in Game 1.

Photo: Daiei Onoguchi / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

The running joke around NBA content is that everything somehow leads to the question of, “How will this affect LeBron’s legacy?” On the surface, the upcoming NBA finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks has nothing to do with LeBron James, but under a microscope you just might be able to see a “passing of the torch” so to speak.

With the Spurs and Knicks set to begin the NBA Finals on Wednesday, NBA fans are getting a breath of fresh air by getting to see two teams in unfamiliar territory, fighting to bring home a championship to their city. A competitive series should be in store as both squads have many weapons that know how to play as a unit but it’s safe to say all eyes will remain on third year youngster Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama has put the Spurs on his back throughout this postseason run when they needed him the most and at times he looked like the most dominating player in the entire league. Wemby scored at least 20 points in every game of the Western Conference Finals against the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, including Game 1 where he put on a super-human performance (41 pts, 24 rebounds) in a double overtime victory. It is not like these types of outings are uncommon for Wembanyama either. Over his first three seasons, he has averaged 23.4 ppg to go along with 11 rebounds. It is unheard of for someone to put up these types of numbers in the NBA from the beginning of their career.

When Wembanyama came into the league in 2023-2024, the Spurs were one of the worst teams in the NBA. Fast forward to the present and now he has led San Antonio to a Finals appearance. It has been over two decades since we have witnessed this young of a player make this big of an impact on his franchise rather immediately. The most recent comparable situation goes all the way back to 2003 when LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

No doubt, LeBron’s longevity is something to admire but it is inevitable that retirement is on the horizon for “The King.” Now let’s be clear. It is unfair for everyone involved to expect Wembanyama to play 20+ years at his current pace. However, if he can lead the Spurs to a title this season, forget becoming the face of the franchise, Wemby will be on his way to become the face of the league.

Photo: Pierre.berendes / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Luka Doncic is taking his next step in European basketball, this time away from the court.

The Los Angeles Lakers star is part of an ownership group investing in Vanoli Cremona, an Italian basketball club expected to relocate to Rome as part of a larger push toward NBA Europe.

The group is led by former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson, the man who helped bring Doncic to Dallas in 2018. It also includes Italian coaching figure Valerio Bianchini and former European professional Rimantas Kaukenas.

The plan is bigger than buying a club.

The group wants to bring top-level basketball back to Rome and position the team for the NBA’s planned European competition.

Rome has been without a major top-flight men’s basketball club since Virtus Roma stopped operations in 2020. For a city with its size, history and commercial pull, that gap has always felt strange. If the NBA wants NBA Europe to include major markets, Rome is one of the obvious names.

Doncic gives the project instant attention.

He is one of the biggest global stars in basketball and one of the clearest links between the European game and the NBA. Before he became an NBA superstar, he developed at Real Madrid, won at the highest level in Europe and entered the league as one of the most polished international prospects ever.

Now he is putting money back into the basketball world that helped build him.

“I have dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time,” Doncic said in a statement to ESPN. “To finally have this happen is amazing.”

For Vanoli Cremona, this could change everything.

A move to Rome would bring a new market, a larger fan base and a different level of expectation. It would also put the club in the middle of one of the biggest basketball conversations in Europe right now.

The NBA and FIBA have been working on plans for a new pan-European men’s league. The final format has not been announced, but the idea is clear enough. The NBA wants a stronger presence in Europe, and FIBA wants a structure that fits inside the existing European basketball system.

The biggest question is what happens with EuroLeague.

Right now, NBA Europe and EuroLeague could become direct competitors. That would create a messy basketball map. One league would have the NBA brand, major investors and new money. The other would have Europe’s strongest clubs, history, rivalries and an established fan base.

That kind of split would not help the sport.

The cleaner option would be some type of collaboration. NBA Europe and EuroLeague could work toward one shared competition, or at least a connected system where Europe’s biggest clubs are not forced into a fight for power.

That possibility is still alive.

Representatives from the NBA, FIBA and Euroleague Basketball have already held talks about the future of European basketball. No deal has been reached, but the fact that all sides are still talking matters. It shows there is at least room for a model where NBA Europe does not simply arrive as a rival product.

A combined competition would make sense in theory.

The NBA brings global media power, sponsorship value and commercial reach. EuroLeague brings the clubs people already care about. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Crvena Zvezda, Partizan and others already have built-in fan bases and basketball culture the NBA cannot create overnight.

You can buy a market. You can build an arena plan. You can put a famous name behind a club. But you cannot fake decades of rivalry, emotion and local identity.

That is why Doncic’s Rome project is worth watching.

It is not only about one Italian club moving cities. It is a sign of where European basketball may be going. New ownership groups are trying to get in early before the structure becomes official. Rome wants a seat at the table. Doncic and Nelson clearly believe there is a real opportunity there.

Still, nothing is guaranteed.

Vanoli Cremona has to make the move work. The club has to build support in Rome, find stability and prove it can become more than a headline. NBA Europe is still developing. EuroLeague’s role is still uncertain. A full collaboration between the NBA, FIBA and EuroLeague would be complicated, especially with money, licenses, schedules and club control involved.

But the direction is clear.

European basketball is entering a new phase, and Doncic is not waiting for everything to be settled before getting involved.

For years, Europe sent its best players to the NBA. Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Victor Wembanyama helped change the league’s identity.

Now the NBA is looking back toward Europe.

And Doncic is already in the room.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Arsenal 1-1 (4-3 on penalties). PSG’s goal was scored by 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé in the 64th minute on a penalty kick.

Dembélé was actually subbed off with injury during the match, so we’ll have to keep an eye on his status for the beginning of the World Cup.

The match began at an uptempo pace, as PSG matches typically do, but slowed after Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal in the fifth minute.

At the 17 minute mark, PSG had possession for 80% of the match.

We knew Arsenal would be good defensively. At points throughout the match it almost looked like Arsenal just built a wall on the pitch and PSG could not get their up-tempo offense going.

Fan are accustomed to seeing uptempo PSG matches with many goals and chances, but this was quite the opposite. Which is a testament to what fans have described as Arsenal’s ‘Anti-football’ defensive approach.

From here, we fast forward to the World Cup. Where many of the players from today’s match will be flying across the Atlantic to come here to America and represent their respective countries.

On Tuesday, the Panthers were taking part in red zone drills (an area they have struggled with since Young has been under center) when the sky opened up. The quick shower passed and Young wanted to make sure that weather was not going to be to blame for any mistakes. He vocally (with some French incorporated) instructed his receivers and tight ends to make plays and to remain focused on the task at hand.

This type of encouragement and leadership from Young is refreshing to see for Panthers fans. In years past, it has felt like Young sort of identified himself as a “lead by example” type player but now that a few seasons are under his belt, it feels like he is ready to take a major leap in his career as a leader which very well could lead to more success for the Carolina franchise.

Another takeaway to note from the Panthers’ early OTAs is the return of running back Jonathan Brooks. Brooks has been cleared for football activities following his second ACL tear in a span of three years.

Chuba Hubbard remains Dave Canales’ primary back but we have seen how beneficial a dual threat in the backfield can be. With Rico Dowdle now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brooks has the opportunity to insert himself into a key role right away. Early indications show that Brooks looks healthy enough to do just that, displaying explosive speed and agility.

Expectations for Panthers are as high as they have been in nearly a decade. Offseason preparation will continue with OTAs through June 4th and mandatory minicamp June 9th-11th as Carolina looks to defend the top spot in the NFC South.

As we inch closer to the NBA Finals, it is only right that we start thinking about the NBA Draft. Here at West Franklin Media we are excited to give you our 2026 NBA Draft Big Board and give you who we think the Hornets should target.

What pick do the Hornets have?

The Hornets own the 14th and the 18th pick in the first round of the 2026 draft.

No second-round picks.

What are their holes?

The Hornets could use potentially an off-guard or combo guard to play off of LaMelo Ball (and Coby White if he is re-signed, more on that later). The Hornets could also take the best big man available, or potentially a point guard/combo guard that can defend and come off the bench.

My Choices

• Yaxel Lendeborg — Motor, defend, hit open threes, winner.

• Cam Car — Arm length, agility (2nd fastest lane agility time in the combine). Can play off of LaMelo as well as Coby if he is re-signed.

Best player available if both are gone.

I love Moussa Diabaté. I think he had a strong showing in the first play-in game in Charlotte against Miami. I think he could get better at defense, but the potential is definitely there. I also like Ryan Kalkbrenner. You definitely want these big men to develop, but would not be opposed to drafting another big if the Front Office wants options. Not sure what the Front Office’s thoughts on Aday Mara out of Michigan are.

Free Agency Opportunities

What does cap space look like?

The first priority should be re-signing Coby White. After re-signing Coby, the team should still have room for the Non-Tax Payer MLE.

I would look into Rui Hachimura in Los Angeles. If Rob Pelinka and new Laker front office addition Rohan Ramadas do not re-sign Rui, which I expect to happen.

University of North Carolina great Harrison Barnes could also be an option if the Iowa native is looking to return to the Carolinas. Bruce Brown could also fit the mold.

Photo: All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

West Franklin Media · NBA Draft 2026 · Charlotte Hornets

Top Player Quotes/News to Note:

• Luka Doncic said he was excited to play for the Lakers. This will be his first full season playing with the Lakers since getting traded in the City of Angels in the middle of last season.

• LeBron said he is not waiting for his son Bryce to reach the NBA before deciding to retire. He made it abundantly clear that Bryce has his timeline and LeBron has his own timeline. Surprisingly, (or maybe un-surprisingly), according to Austin Reaves, this was the first time he has seen LeBron James since their not so close 5 game series with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Austin Reaves after mentioning that he thought, “Team USA was going to the pull off the greatest comeback and sports history,” Reaves also told us one of the reasons he wanted to play with the Lakers is so that he could play with LeBron James. Also called out that LeBron told him that he got his first career birdie on the golf course!

• Deandre Ayton called out that he thinks that “This is the biggest opportunity of [his] career.” Austin Reaves said having someone that with the addition of Deandre Ayton he could potentially he can potentially help them out with some things they needed in spurts last season. First a pick and roll presence, a lob threat. Reaves also mentioned having someone that knows how to communicate on defense and be in the right spots would be big for them.

• Marcus Smart said that Head Coach JJ Redick mentioned to him that, “[they] want Boston, Marcus Smart.” Smart won the 2021-22 DPOY when he was playing for the Celtics.

• Rui Hachimura mentioned that it is not really about who starts this year, it is moreso about minutes. Also a key note to mention, Rui said he spent time over the summer working out with LeBron James again.

• Jarred Vanderbilt stated that, “For me personally, my number one goal is [to] finish the season healthy.” He also thinks that the Lakers will need to, “buy in” in order to have a “healthy and successful season”.

• Maxi Kleber says that he feels “fully recovered and fully healthy,” going into the new season. One thing Kleber called out was working on his overall strength over the summer. Kleber was injured at the time he was traded to the Lakers last season and was thrown into Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves (the Lakers were eliminated Game 5). Mentioned that he likes to do the dirty work and stuff that doesn’t pop up on the box score.

• Dalton Knecht was a key topic during the Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick media availability on Thursday. JJ told reporters that he thought Knecht could have potentially been burnt out over the summer. (Knecht received criticism for his play during Summer League.)

• During player availability on Monday, Knecht agreed with the Roanoke native head coach that he could have been burnt out this summer. According to Knecht, being burnt out could have been a result of putting in so much work with his trainer following the season. The Tennessee sharpe shooter said he wanted more minutes on the court

• Bronny James (LeBron James Jr.), is looking to contribute more this season. He mentioned he has all the trust in Redick, who suggested he get time in the G-League last year. Bronny said that this turned out to be great for him and this help

• Jake LaRavia grew up in the Los Angeles area and mentioned his dad was a Magic Johnson fan, so he is well aware of the expectations of being a Laker. One goal of LaRavia’s is to get better each season. Austin Reaves mentioned he thinks LaRavia would have a, “really, really big season”. With size, speed and athleticism being great qualities LaRavia brings to the team.

• Adou Thiero said he has not yet been fully cleared, but he has been working out and training. He is still dealing with some swelling in his knee injury. The Arkansas/Kentucky product mentioned he watched a lot of different players growing up so he really does not model his game after one certain player.

Looking Forward to the season:

• The Los Angeles Lakers have their first preseason game of the season this Friday at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT.

• The Lakers kick off their regular season stint on October 21st against Golden State Warriors