NBA power rankings: How every team stacks up after draft and free agencyNew Foto - NBA power rankings: How every team stacks up after draft and free agency

The pace ofNBAfree agency has eased, with teams mostly settled headed into their summer vacations. Yet, there are still a few pieces out there, namely some intriguing restricted free agents who could sill move the needle. Bulls point guard Josh Giddey and Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga are the players who would most impact new teams, though Chicago and Golden State each have the chance to match any offer sheets prospective teams can offer those players. Damian Lillard (Achilles) is another name to watch, though any team that signs him wouldn't stand to benefit until next season. The biggest issue facing each of these players is that it's a depressed market, with few teams having adequate cap space to make additional moves. Here areUSA TODAY Sports' post-playoffs, post-draft, post-free agency NBA power rankings: The champs return the heart of their roster, andreached a long-term extensionwith2024-25 MVPand2025 Finals MVPShai Gilgeous-Alexander. Plus, the Thunder will get a chance to see how 2024 first-round pick Nikola Topic and 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber fit into the rotation. The Rockets shoved all their chips to the center of the table. Theyadded Kevin Durant, Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith, reached deals to bring back Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green and Jae'Sean Tate. Yes, they have to give up players (Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore) to make it happen. But it's obvious the organization thinks a title is doable. Trading Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, bringing back Bruce Brown and getting Tim Hardaway Jr. elevates the Nuggets. The offseason will look even better if Jonas Valanciunas doesn't leave for Europe and stays with Denver. The Knicks reached a deal withMike Brown to be their new coach, and reached deals with Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, giving Brown and the Knicks much-needed depth for a team that is desperately trying to win its first championship in more than 50 years. Lonzo Ball adds backcourt depth, Larry Nance is a solid vet and reserve Sam Merrill comes back to Cleveland on a four-year deal. Losing Norman Powell's scoring hurts, but John Collins and Brook Lopez will help offset that, while helping defensively. James Harden and Nic Batum also signed new deal and with Kawhi Leonard the Clippers should again be a quality (though aging) team capable of another 50-win season. The Timberwolves made sure they retained Julius Randle and Naz Reid, but they did not keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker. It's a solid team led by Anthony Edwards, but enough to keep pace in the West? It's LeBron James and Luka Doncic — or Luke Doncic and LeBron James if you like reading NBA tea leaves — so that gives the Lakers a chance. They're hoping to get a motivated Deandre Ayton for a full season. The Celtics made financial decisions bytrading Kristaps PorzingisandJrue Holiday, but let's see how free agency unfolds and what the Celtics add beyond Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang in trades with Portland and Atlanta. The addition of Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson plus the return of Paul Reed mitigates the departures of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schorder. Detroit is still in the mix for other players, too, including Malik Monk. They're also hoping to return value on Chaz Lanier, the No. 37 pick in the June draft. It's a slow start to free agency as Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency lingers. Al Horford, another veteran, might be an addition who provides front-court help and extensive playoff experience. Losing Myles Turner hurts — especially to a conference and division rival in Milwaukee —Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injurysustained in the NBA Finals leaves the Pacers down starters. Orlando acquired scoring and defense in the trade for Desmond Bane, signed Tyus Jones for backcourt depth, re-signed Moe Wagner and drafted Jase Richardson at No. 25 and Noah Penda at No. 32. The Magic are trying to return to the playoffs — and win a first-round series for the first time since 2010 behind Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The Spurs were quiet in free agency — adding Luke Kornet to bolster front court depth — but they didn't need to be loud. They have a young and dynamic core, particularly at guard, with plenty of players who can feed Victor Wembanyama. The Grizzlies changed their roster, adding Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope via trade, and signing Ty Jerome and Jock Landale while giving Jaren Jackson Jr. a long-term extension. They're hoping 2025 first-round pick Cedric Coward can make an immediate contribution. The Bucks waived Damian Lillard and traded Pat Connaughton, but added Myles Turner, Gary Harris and Vasilije Micic and resigned Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, Ryan Rollins, Jericho Sims and Gary Trent Jr. Will that produce enough to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy with the Bucks? The Hawks made solid moves:traded for Kristaps Porzingis, drafted Asa Newell and reached deals to get Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Is it enough to make a serious push for one of the top seeds in the East? Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg will be fun to watch, and the Mavs signed D'Angelo Russell to help while Kyrie Irving recovers from a knee injury. A bland start to free agency indicated the Heat were trying to cook up something and improve the roster. And they did,trading for Norman Powelland his scoring punch. The Bulls traded Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro, re-signed Tre Jones and draft Noa Essengue at No. 12 in June draft. But where does that leave them in the East? Can they get a long-term deal done with restricted free agent Josh Giddey? The 76ers built around the edges, re-signing Eric Gordon and Justin Edwards and signing Trendon Watford.Selecting VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 pickin the draft should be beneficial now and in the future. The Raptors' biggest loss in the offseason was losing longtime front office executive Masai Ujiri. But the Raptors should a roster that is more competitive with RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl and 2025 first-round lottery pick Collin Murray-Boyles. Based on their moves so far (bringing in Dennis Schroder), the Kings aren't ready to start a rebuild. The Suns lost Kevin Durantand Tyus Jones, and acquired Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Mark Williams. They are aiming to reach a deal with Devin Booker on a two-year, $150 million extension. Now, will they buy out Bradley Beal's contract, making him a free agent? The Wizards were active as they try to assemble a roster of young players who will be part of the future, and veterans who can help and create financial flexibility that will allow them to go after free agents in the summer of 2026. Washington traded for Cam Whitmore from Houston and drafted Tre Johnson No. 6 and also added C.J. McCollum and Kelly Olynyk. The Blazers certainly are big with three 7-footers (Donovan Clingan, Deandre Ayton, Yang Hansen), andthey traded for Jrue Holiday. The Pelicans are reshaping their roster under executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. Through the draft, they landed Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, and via trades they landed Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole, and via free agency they signed Kevon Looney. TheNetstraded for Michael Porter Jr. and Terance Mann, re-signed Day'Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams, and drafted five players inthe first round, including Egor Demin at No. 8. The Jazz are focused on a youth movement, so this free agency was just as much about shedding certain players than adding. The Hornets acquired Collin Sexton in a trade with Utah and Pat Connaughton in a trade with Milwaukee, and added Mason Plumlee, Tre Mann and Spencer Dinwiddie. Charlotte also had a solid draft (Kon Knueppel at No. 4, Liam McNeeley at No. 29 and Ryan Kalkbrenner at No. 34) in an attempt to boost its rebuild. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA power rankings: Post-free agency and draft team ratings

byMario Satorik
in
July 08, 2025

NBA power rankings: How every team stacks up after draft and free agency

NBA power rankings: How every team stacks up after draft and free agency The pace ofNBAfree agency has eased, with teams mostly settled head...
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EA Sports College Football 26 early impressions: Top five features in new video gameNew Foto - EA Sports College Football 26 early impressions: Top five features in new video game

Monday, July 7 marked a national holiday for college football video game enthusiasts as they finally were able to grab the controller and playEA Sports College Football 26. Since April, fans of the iconic video game franchise have been clamoring for the next installment following the rousing return in 2024. EA Sports has spent much of the buildupadvertising the new features to the gamethat should make it feel like an upgrade from the previous edition, giving hope the series can remain one of the top sports video games. Even though early access just started — the standard release date in July 10 — there's already noticeable changes that give optimism of this year's game. Players have noticed several things they like, but here are the top ones so far for EA Sports College Football 26. College football is electric, and it must be translated in order for the game to feel authentic. Of course, not all matchups are the same, but when there are high stakes involved, players know it. Night, rivalry, highly ranked, conference title and College Football Playoff games have a different feel with louder crowds and star players in the spotlight, providing the best the sport has to offer. Mix that in with traditions like Virginia Tech's "Enter Sandman," Michigan's "Mr. Brightside" or Alabama's red LED lights and it either hypes up the home team, or could have the road squad feeling nervous. The game presentation itself also got a big boost, with transition screens of the teams, player stats, rankings and rivalry history. Plus, the score bug is an upgrade,something that's clearly hard to do in the real world. You don't need to be a true X's-and-O's savant to play this game, but football nerds will enjoy being rewarded for knowing ball. There's plenty of coaching adjustments players can — and should — make in the game. Notice you keep getting beat on slant routes? You can adjust your coverage to stop that. Going against an inexperienced offensive line? Turn up the defensive pressure with blitz packages and stunts to get to the quarterback. In return, the computer has gotten smarter. If you keep running the same plays, it will pick up on it and stop it, forcing players to get creative and be more balanced to win. Substitutions is also easily accessible in the pre-snap menu, making it easier to manage hurt players and guys that are hot while saving so much time from having to pause the game to make any roster changes. High school is now in road to glory, and while people are upset you can't play a full high school season, it's still an upgrade from last year. The moments users have to play to secure scholarships and interest from schools make it a real challenge to get the career off to a good start, rather than just tearing up the high school ranks. The experience is extremely unique to each career. A school could have interest in a dual-threat quarterback, but it might not again if it already got a commitment from the same type of player in another road to glory mode. Last year, it wasn't much fun to just pick what type of recruit a user was and then start college with that. In the high school moments, it's possible to go from a two-star to five-star, or even go down and schools lose interest. While deflating, it shows how tough football can be when a team decides to pull a scholarship offer. The commitment ceremony with the hats is also a genius touch. So long generic names and faces, as actual coaches in the game not only makes the game feel more real, but also makes it fun in certain modes. Not all of the real-life coaches are in the game, but players will notice coach tendencies, like a play caller that loves to gamble on fourth down or is pass heavy. In road the glory, it feels legit when Ryan Day reaches out to you about wanting to see if you got what it takes to be a Buckeye. The best part about it is in dynasty mode. Trying to recruit against big-name coaches makes it more personal and satisfying when getting that commitment. Then there's the coaching carousel, which goes absolutely insane in the offseason with changes you wouldn't expect to actually happen. Example: after the 2025 season, Lane Kiffin became the head coach at LSU after Brian Kelly was fired, Dave Aranda is at Florida State and Kyle Wittingham didn't retire — he took the job at Southern California. Talk about video game madness. TWO NOTABLE OMISSIONS:Why Bill Belichick, Deion Sanders are not in College Football 26 Building off the wild coaching carousel, the transfer portal turns out to be just as chaotic. It's extremely unpredictable, as there's no telling who will be wanting to leave your school, and who will be looking for a fresh start. In one offseason, DJ Lagway decided to leave Florida after he was a Heisman Trophy finalist, and star defensive end Colin Simmons decided to leave Texas — after leading the Longhorns to the national championship. It makes it that much more important to figure out player desires and who to prioritize to make sure a key contributor doesn't jump ship, while making every offseason as exciting time period to stack or rebuild a roster. How crazy the transfer portal gets can be adjusted before a dynasty begins, but even leaving it as is could lead to some pretty ludicrous results. This one is so good, it had to be included. The repetitive, rage inducing generic drumline music is gone from the main screen menu, and now there's a fresh selection of music to change it up and keep people from losing their minds while recruiting or upgrading their road to glory players. Some fight songs are in, and some marching band covers of songs like "Runaway Baby" and "Industry Baby" will play, alongside a wide variety of generic songs. Now, it won't be as bad after suffering a heart-breaking loss. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments bysubscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Top five features in new EA Sports College Football 26 video game

byMario Satorik
in
July 08, 2025

EA Sports College Football 26 early impressions: Top five features in new video game

EA Sports College Football 26 early impressions: Top five features in new video game Monday, July 7 marked a national holiday for college fo...
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Space industry urges US Congress not to axe system that prevents satellite collisionsNew Foto - Space industry urges US Congress not to axe system that prevents satellite collisions

By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Hundreds of U.S. companies on Tuesday urged Congress to back off a plan to kill a small federal office tasked with managing satellite traffic in space, a badly needed civilian effort initiated by President Donald Trump's first administration but now imperiled by cuts. The White House's 2026 budget proposal seeks $10 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Space Commerce, an 84% cut from the office's 2025 funding that would terminate Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), a civilian system to help prevent satellite collisions and alert operators of potential crashes. Four-hundred and fifty companies from seven different industry groups, including Elon Musk's SpaceX and Amazon's Kuiper satellite unit, wrote in a joint letter on Tuesday to the Senate committee overseeing NOAA that without funding TraCSS, "U.S. commercial and government satellite operators would face greater risks – putting critical missions in harm's way, raising the cost of doing business, and potentially driving U.S. industry to relocate overseas." The rise of vast satellite constellations like SpaceX's Starlink and heightened military and commercial activities in Earth's orbit have driven up risks of collisions between the roughly 12,000 active satellites in space and thousands more pieces of uncontrollable junk, prompting efforts to create what is essentially a civil air traffic control system for space. Audrey Schaffer, vice president of strategy and policy at space-tracking firm Slingshot Aerospace, said the cuts would forfeit an opportunity to shape global space traffic control as the U.S. did decades ago for international air traffic control standards, while Europe and China develop their own satellite traffic systems. "It's really important that there be coordination amongst these different systems, so we don't have this fragmented system," Schaffer said. "If the U.S. doesn't have a system that it brings to the table, I'm not really sure how the U.S. exercises any leadership in the establishment of international space traffic management." The Pentagon has long managed a space traffic database called Space-Track, but defense and industry officials argue that responsibility detracts from its national security mission and risks conflating an essential safety service with military interests as other countries seek improvements to global satellite coordination. The space industry in 2020 praised Trump's first administration for directing the NOAA office to absorb the Pentagon's space-tracking function and improve efforts to fuse satellite position data from countries and companies. The office has since released a trial version of TraCSS currently in use by some companies ahead of a full release planned for early next year. But the Trump administration in a budget document last month explained it wants to terminate TraCSS because it did not complete the system during the prior administration and that private companies "have the capability and the business model" to do space traffic coordination on their own. The two largest space industry organizations - the Commercial Space Federation and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics - wrote in another letter protesting the termination of TraCSS to senators on Monday that "industry believes that maintaining a basic SSA service at no cost to the end user is inherently a government function." (Reporting by Joey Roulette in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

byMario Satorik
in
July 08, 2025

Space industry urges US Congress not to axe system that prevents satellite collisions

Space industry urges US Congress not to axe system that prevents satellite collisions By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Hundreds of U.S...
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Japan, South Korea seek to soften tariff blow before August deadlineNew Foto - Japan, South Korea seek to soften tariff blow before August deadline

By Jeff Mason and Leika Kihara WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) -Powerhouse Asian economies Japan and South Korea said on Tuesday they would try to negotiate with the U.S. to soften the impact of sharply higher tariffs that President Donald Trump now plans to impose from the start of August. Trump ramped up his trade war again on Monday, telling 14 nations that they would face tariffs ranging from 25% for countries including Japan and South Korea, to 40% for Laos and Myanmar. However, with the start date pushed back to August 1, those countries were focusing on the new three-week window to press for an easier ride. Japan wants concessions for its large automobile industry, top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Tuesday. Akazawa said he held a 40-minute phone call with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in which the two agreed to actively continue negotiations. However, he said he would not sacrifice Japan's agriculture sector - a powerful political lobby domestically - for the sake of an early deal. South Korea said it planned to intensify trade talks over the coming weeks "to reach a mutually beneficial result." Asked if the latest deadline was firm, Trump replied on Monday: "I would say firm but not 100% firm. If they call up and they say we'd like to do something a different way, we're going to be open to that." Market reaction was muted as investors assessed the latest twist in the long-running trade saga. EUROPEAN UNION EYES DEAL The European Union, which is the largest bilateral trade partner of the U.S., aims to strike a deal before August 1 with negotiations focused on "rebalancing" and concessions for certain key export industries, a European source familiar with the negotiations said. Some EU sources had said late on Monday that the bloc was close to an agreement with the Trump administration. This could involve limited concessions to U.S. baseline tariffs of 10% for aircraft and parts, some medical equipment and spirits. Only two deals have been struck so far, with Britain and Vietnam. Washington and Beijing agreed to a trade framework in June, but with many details still unclear, traders and investors are watching to see if it unravels or leads to a lasting detente. Trump's trade tactics are making it hard for nations and businesses to plan with any certainty, the executive director of the United Nations trade agency said on Tuesday. "This move actually extends the period of uncertainty, undermining long-term investment and business contracts, and creating further uncertainty and instability," Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director of the International Trade Centre, told reporters in Geneva. SPREADING THE PAIN Trump said the United States would impose tariffs of 25% on goods from Tunisia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan, with levies of 30% on South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, climbing to 32% on Indonesia, 35% on Serbia and Bangladesh, 36% on Cambodia and Thailand and 40% on Laos and Myanmar. A Bangladesh team in Washington was scheduled to have further trade talks on Wednesday, an official said. The U.S. is the main export market for Bangladesh's ready-made garments industry, which accounts for more than 80% of its export earnings and employs 4 million people. "This is absolutely shocking news for us," Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, told Reuters on Tuesday. "We were really hoping the tariffs would be somewhere between 10-20%. This will hurt our industry badly." (Reporting by Jack Kim, Ju-min Park, Jihoon Lee, Joyce Lee, Philip Blenkinsop, Julia Payne, Olivia Le Poidevin and Emma Farge Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

byMario Satorik
in
July 08, 2025

Japan, South Korea seek to soften tariff blow before August deadline

Japan, South Korea seek to soften tariff blow before August deadline By Jeff Mason and Leika Kihara WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) -Powerhouse A...
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Chávez Jr. misses court for case unrelated to ICE arrest, lawyer says status unknownNew Foto - Chávez Jr. misses court for case unrelated to ICE arrest, lawyer says status unknown

VAN NUYS, Calif. — An attorney for boxer Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. said Monday he does not know whether his client is still in the United States afterhe was arrested by ICE last week. Chávez Jr. was scheduled to appear in court Monday to seek early release from a pretrial diversion program stemming from gun charges in January 2024. But Chávez Jr. did not appear at the Los Angeles Superior Court Northwest Division and his attorney, Michael Goldstein, said he did not know his client's location. Goldstein said that two days ago he learned Chávez Jr. was in Hidalgo, Texas in the custody of DHS. When asked Monday if Chávez Jr. is still in the United States, Goldstein told USA TODAY Sports: "We have no idea. We have no information. Unfortunately." Chávez Jr., 39, was arrested July 2 outside of his home in Studio City, a neighborhood in Los Angeles,according to DHS. ICE then detained the former world champion boxer and began the process for expedited removal to Mexico, DHS said in its initial statement. USA TODAY Sports reached out to DHS for an update to Chávez Jr.'s status and was directed to itsJuly 3 press release. The arrest took place just days after Chávez Jr., a former world champion, fought celebrity boxer Jake Paul in Anaheim, California. Chávez Jr., the son of legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chávez Sr.,lost a 10-round bout to Paul by unanimous decision. DHS said Chávez Jr. faces an arrest warrant in Mexico for hisalleged ties to Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel. In August 2023, Chávez Jr. entered the country legally with a B2 tourist visa that was valid until February 2024. In its press release, DHS stated former PresidentJoe Biden's administration allowed Chávez Jr. to reenter the country in January and paroled him into the country at the San Ysidro port of entry in California. The Trump administration has launched a far-reaching crackdown on immigration in an effort to fulfill the president's campaign promise to deport millions of people in the country illegally. Mexico's top prosecutor on July 6 said U.S. authorities have known since at least 2023 that Chávez Jr. was wanted in Mexico on charges related to his alleged ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel, according to anEFE news service report. Chávez Jr. "entered the United States with the knowledge of American authorities, with a tourist visa that they accepted," Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero told EFE. "They knew perfectly well that there was an arrest warrant." Attorneys for Chávez Jr. in Mexico have asked for an "amparo," or an injunction, preventing his arrest in Mexico once he is deported, Manero said. It wasn't immediately clear whether Chávez Jr. would face deportation or formal extradition to Mexican authorities. Days after his arrest by ICE agents, Chávez Jr. still couldn't be found in the agency'sonline detainee locatoron July 7. It can take days or more than a week for ICE detainees to turn up in the locator as they await processing. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said she wants Chávez Jr. to face justice in Mexico, where he has been under investigation since 2019 and where he faces charges related to weapons and drug trafficking. "The hope is that he will be deported and serve the sentence in Mexico," Sheinbaum said duringher daily news conferenceon Friday, July 4. After Chávez Jr.'s January 2024 arrest in Los Angeles on gun charges, the court granted Chávez pretrial diversion, which allows people charged with a crime to enter rehabilitative programs rather than face prosecution. Goldstein said Chávez Jr. had begun the program five months earlier on his own accord. But with Chavez not in court Monday, assistant supervising judge Neetu S. Badhan-Smith set a new hearing for Aug. 21. "Please make your hearings," Badhan-Smith said, although she also referred to the active arrest Chávez Jr. faces in Mexico. Goldstein, when asked what his plan is, replied, "Come back on the 21st and we deal with it then. We get more information." Mark Giannotto contributed to this story. This story has been updated with new information after contacting DHS for an update on Chávez's current status. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. lawyer: 'No information' after ICE arrest

byMario Satorik
in
July 08, 2025

Chávez Jr. misses court for case unrelated to ICE arrest, lawyer says status unknown

Chávez Jr. misses court for case unrelated to ICE arrest, lawyer says status unknown VAN NUYS, Calif. — An attorney for boxer Julio Cesar Ch...
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New York Knicks hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the YearNew Foto - New York Knicks hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks liked Mike Brown's experience with championship teams, after he worked for four of them. That sounds good to a franchise that's been stuck on two titles for more than 50 years but believes its time to win another is now. The Knicks hired Brown on Monday, turning to the two-time NBA Coach of the Year after firing Tom Thibodeau. The Knicksoffered the job to Brownlast week and announced Monday that he would be taking over the team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in 25 years. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Theydecided to fire Thibodeaudespite that playoff success and eventually picked Brown, who wasn't out of work long after getting fired by the Sacramento Kings during last season. "Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization," Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. "His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans." Brown led the Kings to a 48-34 record and the postseason in 2022-23 — their first appearance since 2006 — and was voted the Coach of the Year. He also won the award in Cleveland, where he led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals. He was on San Antonio's bench when the Spurs won the 2003 NBA title and was with the Golden State Warriors for their 2017, '18 and '22 championships, including going 12-0 as the acting head coach during the 2017 postseason when Steve Kerr was sidelined with a back injury. Brown is 454-304 in 11 seasons, winning at least 45 games in seven of them. He will take over a Knicks team with championship potential. The Knicks won at least 50 games in each of the last two seasons and knocked off 2024 champion Boston before falling to Indiana in six games in the East finals. With the Pacers playing without star point guardTyrese Haliburtonnext season after he tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and the Celtics in transition with Jayson Tatum hurt and Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday traded, the Knicks will be one of the East favorites. Their starting lineup is set with All-NBA selections Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and they strengthened the bench Monday by signing former Utah guard Jordan Clarkson, one of the league's highest-scoring reserves, and Guerschon Yabusele, who played last season with Philadelphia. Thibodeau's reluctance to use some of his bench players may have been a reason the Knicks decided to fire him after he led them to the postseason in four of his five seasons. They reached at least the second round in the last three seasons after not winning a single playoff series since 2013. But they haven't won a championship since 1973. Their first title was in 1970, about two months after the 55-year-old Brown was born. ___ AP NBA:https://apnews.com/nba

byMario Satorik
in
July 08, 2025

New York Knicks hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year

New York Knicks hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks liked Mike Brown's experience with...
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11 dead and hundreds arrested in Kenya's anti-government protestsNew Foto - 11 dead and hundreds arrested in Kenya's anti-government protests

At least 11 people died and more than 500 were arrested in anti-government protests across Kenya on Monday, according to the country's National Police Service. Kenyan police used tear gas and water cannon on protesters marking the 35th anniversary of a pro-democracy rally that has stirred anti-government resentment among Kenyan youths, who were already enraged over allegations of corruption, police brutality and abductions of government critics. Some 11 civilians were injured, police said in a Monday night statement, though the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) reported that 29 people were injured. A total of 567 people were arrested, the police added. The East African country has been hit by a wave of bloody protests that began last year over an unpopular finance bill that raised taxes amid a cost-of-living crisis. Kenya's government withdrew the tax bill in June last year in the wake of the demonstrations, but outrage has intensified over the recentdeath of a teacher in police custodyand the shooting of an unarmed street vendor by police. At least16 people were killedand hundreds injured during anti-government protests last month. Dozens more died duringthe anti-tax demonstrationsin 2024. On Monday, several parts of Kenya saw gatherings as people marked the anniversary of the July 7, 1990, pro-democracy march known as Saba Saba. In the capital Nairobi, Kenyan security forces repelled protesters with tear gas and water cannon hours after blocking major roads leading into the city. Roads leading to the Kenyan Parliament building, as well as the president's office and residence, were also barricaded ahead of the demonstrations. There were reports on Monday afternoon of police opening fire on protesters. CNN has not confirmed the reports, but has reached out to Kenya's National Police Service for comment. In its Monday night statement outlining fatalities, injuries and arrests, Kenya's police service said that "each reported incident will be subject to further investigation, in accordance with the law." CNN affiliate Citizen TVreportedthat at least five people were shot dead in protests across the country, including two people who were shot dead in the Kangemi neighborhood of Nairobi. Another man was shot in the area and was "seen lying on the road" unconscious, it added. Video circulating on social media and geolocated by CNN shows a civilian in Kenya's Kiambu County stepping out of a car surrounded by armed officers, and then being whipped repeatedly by one of them. The civilian covers their head to protect themself, but does not appear to be threatening the officer in any way. In other parts of the country, some protesters have remained defiant despite the chaotic scenes. "We are not ready to go back (home) because who will fight for our rights then? We will be here till evening," protester Francis Waswa told Reuters. The clampdown comes after individuals described by the Kenyan Human Rights Commission as "hired goons" who were "sent by the state to silence dissent" stormed the NGO's office. In astatementon Sunday night, the human rights body said those who entered the building "violently disrupted a press conference by Kenyan mothers calling for an end to arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings targeting protesters ahead of Saba Saba demonstrations." Kenyan government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura told CNN to "contact the police spokesman" for comment when asked about the allegation. Police spokesman Nyaga said: "The National Police Service is looking into the incident and shall take appropriate steps after reviewing the unacceptable clip," referring to CCTV footage shared by the NGO. Earlier on Sunday, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomensaidsecurity agencies were "on high alert to deal decisively with criminals and other elements of ill intent who may seek to infiltrate peaceful processions to cause havoc, mayhem, or destruction of property." Murkomen previously described last month's demonstrations as"terrorism disguised as dissent,"in a statement that further reignited outrage. This story and headline have been updated with additional developments. CNN's Victoria Rubadiri, Annoa Abekah-Mensah and Billy Stockwell contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byMario Satorik
in
July 08, 2025

11 dead and hundreds arrested in Kenya’s anti-government protests

11 dead and hundreds arrested in Kenya's anti-government protests At least 11 people died and more than 500 were arrested in anti-govern...
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