The Spanish tennis player jokingly provoked his young rival
The 21-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, in a training session, made fun of his friend and rival Jannik Sinner, also to try to defuse the heated atmosphere that surrounded the young Italian after the news about the doping issue came out last August 20th.
Alcaraz, engaged in some exchanges with his 24-year-old brother Alvaro, turned to Sinner, who was training at the same time on the next court, exclaiming: “Watch out Jannik, this one serves better than you!”
The Italian responded with a smile, exchanging a few words and resuming his training session.
But, anyway – as I said above – it is a rather difficult moment in Sinner’s career, certainly the most difficult since he joined the ATP Tour. The case of his positive Clostebol and the failure of the Itia to disqualify him has received mixed comments from commentators, insiders and colleagues on the Tour.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have also expressed some doubts about the ATP’s handling of the case, but without going too far. The Italian tennis player, in a recent interview, given the storm that has broken out on the issue, had declared:
“Clearly this news can change something but anyone who knows me well knows that I would never do something against the rules. It remains a very difficult time for me and my team. Here I also understand who my friends are and who is not,” taking a swipe at those who had questioned his integrity regarding the case.
Many tennis players, like Nole, have not cast too many doubts on Jnanik’s innocence, but have rather underlined the evident disparity of treatment that has emerged compared to other similar cases, also due to the fact that many lower-ranked tennis players cannot afford the law firms used by Jannik for the issue.
Federer has been the icon of Swiss sport for more than 20 years
Roger Federer has been the icon of Swiss sport for more than 20 years, succeeding in his feat of transcending tennis to become a world star. The former world number 1 retired in 2022 due to a serious knee injury, which did not allow him to play as much as he would have wished for in the final years of his legendary career.
The former Swiss champion greeted the crowd at the 2022 Laver Cup, which took place in a magical setting at the O2 Arena in London. The 20-time Grand Slam champion played his last match alongside his former rival and friend Rafael Nadal, who did everything he could to be present at the celebration of King Roger.
The Swiss Maestro recently recounted his last days in a documentary released on Amazon Prime, in which he revealed all of his feelings and thoughts about retirement. Federer accepted the retirement with serenity, knowing that he could not be more competitive at the top level due to injuries. The King’s troubles began after the 2020 Australian Open, in which he reached the semi-finals losing to Novak Djokovic. Roger had several knee surgeries to try and get back on the tour, but after several attempts he had to accept the reality. Despite losing most of his records, Federer is still the idol of many young tennis players and a source of inspiration for others in other sports.
In a recent interview, Heinz Gunthardt opened up on the current state of Swiss tennis: ”Patience is needed for both men and women. I am also confident that Bencic will return to his former form after his planned return. And we must realize that the image we have of Swiss tennis is distorted. Federer and company made us believe that it was easy to reach the Top 100. It’s not even close!”
Federer and Wawrinka have long masked the difficulties of Swiss tennis. The two Swiss champions achieved outstanding results, which have kept their country’s name high up in the world. King Roger won 20 Grand Slam titles and was number 1 in the world, while ‘Stanimal’ won 3 Majors and the gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics right along with Federer. Roger and Stan also led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup triumph.
I was always striving to get better and get even closer to the best players in the world. I consider myself lucky to be in that timeline with the Big Three and all the other great players. I came up into the top 100 way later than most. They came up when they were, like, 18, whereas I was 20 and a half. I didn’t think it would be possible that I’d be a Grand Slam champion and No 3 in the world. I already felt before the match (the 2020 US Open final against Zverev) that something was not right. I wasn’t getting into the zone or the flow. And that’s how the first two sets went — they were way too tense, too nervous. Sascha Zverev was playing really well.
The pressure was so high. I was thinking back to my previous finals. Maybe it’s less pressure to face the greatest players of all time. Because the US Open, I had to win [in those circumstances], and that was really tough. Every Grand Slam final felt like it could be the last one, because the journey is really tough. You have to beat great players, you have to stay healthy. Many, many little things have to come together. When I played Sascha, it was like now or never.” The Big 3 have prevented many great players from winning as they should.
Botic Van de Zandschulp shocks Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open
Carlos Alcaraz experienced his earliest Major loss since Wimbledon 2021
Carlos Alcaraz will not seek his third consecutive Major title at the US Open. World no. 3 suffered a shocking 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 loss to Botic Van de Zandschulp in the second round at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ending his run of 15 consecutive Major wins.
Carlos experienced his earliest Major loss since Wimbledon three years ago, unable to challenge an inspired rival and despite raising his level after the opener. Botic played better behind the first serve and struggled on the second, still sealing the deal in straight sets.
The Dutchman played well at the net and grabbed 43% of the return points, turning them into six breaks from nine opportunities. The Spaniard generated five break points and seized two, insufficiently to keep him in contention.
Van de Zandschulp took charge in the opening set, outplaying Alcaraz on serve and return and gathering an initial boost. Carlos sprayed a backhand error in the second game of the encounter, experiencing a break and sending Botic in front.
Botic Van de Zandschulp stunned Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.
The Dutchman served well in games three and five, forging a 4-1 advantage after 23 minutes. Alcaraz played another poor service game, losing serve at 15 following Van de Zandschulp’s smash winner and falling 5-1 behind.
Botic served for the opener in game seven and held at love with a service winner, wrapping up the set in half an hour and gaining a boost. The Dutchman saved a break point in the second game of the second set and clinched a break in the next one after a loose forehand from the Spaniard.
Carlos made a push on the return in the next one, pulling the break back and locking the result at 2-2. They served well in the next six games, locking the result at 5-5 and increasing the drama. Alcaraz lost his focus at the worst moment, spraying forehand errors in game 11 and offering Van de Zandschulp break chances.
The Dutchman seized the first after, you guessed, the Spaniard’s wayward forehand, opening two sets to love advantage after an hour and 28 minutes and moving closer to a stunner.
They kicked off the third set with four fine holds before Botic grabbed a break at 15 at 2-2, welcoming another forehand error from his opponent and forging the advantage. Carlos stepped in on the return in the next one, converting the second break point after the opponent’s double fault and locking the result at 3-3.
Van de Zandschulp held after a deuce in the eighth game and made a push on the return at 4-4. Botic created three break chances after an extended rally and converted the second after a wild forehand from Carlos, opening a 5-4 gap and serving for the win.
The Dutchman passed the Spaniard at the net for three match points and fired a service winner on the first, sealing the deal in style and sending the 2022 champion packing.
US Open: Naomi Osaka out in 2R after collapse, Elena Rybakina’s bad luck continues
Osaka loses to Karolina Muchova while Rybakina wasn’t even able to play her second-round match.
Naomi Osaka crashed out of the US Open in the second round to Karolina Muchova although she had an outstanding chance to take the match to distance, while Elena Rybakina’s rough season continued as the No. 4 seed had to withdraw from her match versus Jessika Ponchet due to “injuries.”
After demolishing 10th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko in her opening match at Flushing Meadows, Osaka was hoping to make a deep run but it all ended on Thursday evening after Muchova handed her a 6-3 7-6 (5) loss.
For Osaka, it definitely wasn’t the best day at the office as Muchova was better in the key areas and stepped up when it mattered the most – the Czech won 77 percent of her first serve points and fired 24 winners and had 13 unforced errors, while the Japanese made 15 winners but also blasted 21 unforced errors.
On the other side, 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina – who has battled injuries and illnesses throughout the year – wasn’t even able to get to the court for her second-round match.
“Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries. I did not want to finish the last Grand Slam of the year this way but I have to listen to my body, and I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong. Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to support me, and I wish the remaining players good luck,” Rybakina said in a statement.
Osaka missed out on three consecutive set points on her serve in the second set
Early in the match, Muchova saved a break point in the fourth game before claiming back-to-back breaks in the seventh and ninth games to take the opener.
Down by a set, Osaka finally earned her first break of the match in the ninth game of the second set for a 5-4 lead and a chance to serve out for a decider.
In the following game, the four-time Grand Slam champion had 40/0 on her serve but stunningly lost the next five games as Muchova saved three consecutive set points to ultimately force a tie-break.
In the tie-break, Osaka also had a solid lead since she was 4-2 up before Muchova won the next four points to go 6-4 up before realizing her second match point to complete her win.
Djokovic reached the third round at the 2024 US Open
Novak Djokovic reached the third round at the 2024 US Open, but it was not an easy match against his compatriot Laslo Djere. After last year’s battle – in which Nole had prevailed in five sets by coming back two sets behind him – Djere put the 24-time Grand Slam champion through much of the match but was less able in the decisive moments. After losing the first two sets, Laslo had to retire due to an injury.
The former world number 1 has been able to celebrate a very valuable victory, as he became the first tennis player in history to have won at least 90 matches in every Grand Slam tournament. The 37-year-old from Belgrade is not yet at the top of his form, being his first tournament on the hard court in many months, but he feels competitive at high levels.
His next opponent will be the Australian Alexei Popryin, who is perhaps playing the best tennis of all his career. The Australian has some very dangerous weapons on this surface and recently won his first Masters 1000 in Montreal. Djokovic and Popryin have already faced each other twice this year, at the Australian Open and the Wimbledon Championships respectively. Novak prevailed on both occasions, but Alexei always managed to put him in trouble.
Djokovic will face Popryin
Novak Djokovic is aware that he must raise his level if he wants to win the 25th Major of his legendary career.
The World number 2 will now have a precious day of rest to recharge for the next round in New York. As at Wimbledon, Djokovic will face the Australian Alexei Popyrin in a match not to be taken lightly. The road is still long for the Serbian, who wants to reconfirm his title at Flushing Meadows after last year’s triumph.
Nole reflected on his next opponent (Popyrin): “He is a great player, has improved a lot, coming off his first Masters win in Canada. He has always had a great serve and forehand, but his backhand and movement have improved significantly. He is much better at defending, more consistent, doesn’t make as many errors as before. I know what to expect. We have played a couple of times, so I’ll do my homework, analyze those matches to see what I need to do.”
Nole must serve better
The Serbian legend has admitted that it is not serving well for now: “I haven’t served too well in my first two matches here; I’m still trying to find the rhythm and timing with my serve. If you don’t have a good first-serve percentage, you have to work for points, especially against someone like Djere, who handles baseline play well from both his forehand and backhand. He is a very solid player, likes to attack, but is also comfortable defending.”
The former world number 1 is still motivated to compete for the most prestigious titles, despite his puzzle being completed after the extraordinary triumph at the Paris Olympics earlier this month. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has fulfilled all his dreams and has reaffirmed that he is one of the greatest athletes of the modern era.
During the latest edition of her podcast, tennis legend Rennae Stubbs paid tribute to Nole: “Do I think he’s going to be up to win the US Open? Absolutely. Because that’s the one record that he still doesn’t have. I tend to think that’s dumb — I don’t think he needs to win another Grand Slam to say, I’m truly the greatest male or female player. He has one thing left and that is the ultimate Grand Slam major record at 25. Because we’ve got the old, you know, move the goalpost Margaret Court at 24, who won like 10 Australian Opens when nobody played. But he wants that record.”
Djokovic admitted to Kyrgios in a funny way that he wasn’t pleased with his serving against Djere.
Novak Djokovic wasn’t happy with two things after progressing into the US Open third round as the Serb told Nick Kyrgios on the court that he didn’t want the match to end via a Laslo Djere retirement before adding that he also wasn’t pleased with his serve.
On Wednesday evening in New York, Djokovic was 6-4 6-4 2-0 up against fellow Serb Djere when the world No. 109 was forced to retire the match.
When the match started, Djokovic missed out on two break points in the second game and two more in the fourth game. But also, the defending champion saved two break points in the third game and saved another four games later. In the seventh game – with Djere serving to stay in the match – Djokovic stepped up and got the first break of the match to seal the opener.
Early in the second set, Djere saved a break point before earning his first break of the match and ultimately opening a 4-2 lead. But then, Djere started to deal with something and he required a medical timeout – during which he received treatment in the abdominal area.
Unfortunately, Djere’s movement appeared to be impacted – and after Djokovic won six games in a row – the 29-year-old walked up to the net and retired.
“Obviously not how you want to win. He had elbow surgery 6 months ago. To see him back on court playing amazing… How heartbreaking is it to see him having to retire tonight?” Kyrgios asked Djokovic during an on-court interview.
Djokovic responded: “It’s not what we want or what the crowd wants… To see a walkover. He had an injury that took him off the tour for some time and he is struggling to come back physically to his level. He’s such a good player. It should’ve been his 2nd set honestly. He was 4-2 up… I don’t know whether me winning the 2nd set put more burden on him mentally. Overall it was a big fight.”
Djokovic drops a joke while slamming his serve
Against Djere, Djokovic just made 47 percent of his first serve. However, he was at least able to win 79 percent of his first-serve points. Still, the record 24-time Grand Slam champion wasn’t happy that just 42 of 89 first serves he had landed in.
And when making that clear, Djokovic joked that not everyone can have a great serve as Kyrgios does.
“Over 2 hours for 2 sets. I served awful. Playing without a serve, you have to grind and run. Not everyone serves like you. I guess I have to rely on my baseline game,” Djokovic said.
Over the last few years, Djokovic and Kyrgios completely changed their relationship so banters like this between them are nothing new.
Djokovic wary of the Alexei Popyrin challenge
For a place in the second week at the US Open, Djokovic will play against 28th-ranked Popyrin. Heading into the match, Djokovic owns a perfect 3-0 head-to-head.
On paper, it may look like Djokovic dominates Popyrin. But this year, Popyrin twice made Djokovic work hard before the former world No. 1 sealed four-set wins against the 25-year-old at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
And ahead of their upcoming clash, Djokovic was the first to highlight that Popyrin wasn’t an easy opponent in the past and he also praised the Australian for becoming a Masters champion in Montreal this month.
“Yeah, I’m happy to win four-set another time. Don’t get me wrong. But, you know, he keeps on getting closer and closer, knocking on that door. He’s a really good player. He has improved a lot. He’s won his first Masters in Canada. We always knew he has a big serve and forehand, but I think his backhand and his movement improved a lot,” Djokovic explained.
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“So he’s much better defending, and he’s more consistent. He doesn’t make as many errors as he used to. Just overall great improvement from his side. He’s pumped. He’s confident, and he shows that. He’s been playing some great tennis, so no reason for him not to believe that he can put up a great performance, and he’s going to go for the win. I know that.
“But I know what to expect as well. We played, as you said, a couple of times. I’m going to, of course, do my homework, analyze those matches, and see what needs to be done.”
Don’t worry Caitlin Clark, Michael Jordan went through the same thing as a rookie in the NBA
Clark continues to receive widespread support
Doug McSchoolerAP
Many basketball observers believe Caitlin Clark is facing significant challenges in the WNBA.
The rookie’s Commissioner Cup game against Chicago Sky has caught the attention of fans and analysts, not for the Indiana Fever‘s win, but for the game’s intense physicality. This situation has sparked comparisons to the early career struggles of NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Caitlin Clark’s teammates called out for not protecting her from hard foulsParker Johnson
In 1985, during the NBA All-Star Weekend, players such as Isiah Thomas reportedly conspired to limit Jordan‘s impact on the game to remind him of his rookie status.
Although the WNBA does not have an All-Star game during an Olympic year, Clark, currently the league’s most popular player, is experiencing similar adversity.
Broussard compares Clark’s rookie season to Jordan’s first NBA campaign
Chris Broussard recently discussed this topic, referencing Matt Barnes‘ comments about the need for Clark‘s teammates to support her more. Broussard agreed, stating that the team should have rallied around Clark during these challenging times.
“Michael Jordan, it happened to him,” Broussard told the Fox Sports Radio.
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“How physical they were with him. Isaiah Thomas iced him out at the All-Star game. I get that.”
Despite the obstacles, Clark continues to receive widespread support from the basketball community.
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“We gotta stop the cap and all the hate some of y’all Woman are putting on Caitlin,” Austin Rivers noted.
“Lbh on why people have such high interest all of sudden in woman’s basketball. The Caitlin Clark effect!!! It’s not only because of her, but it is mainly because of her! Cut the jealousy please….”
Playing in the NBA has bigger benefits than just the lucrative contracts. While brands chase the top stars with rewarding endorsement deals, basketball players also get the opportunity to feature in Hollywood films. Keep reading to learn about the greatest NBA players who have appeared on the big screen.
Michael Jordan and LeBron James (Image Credit: Space Jam movies)
One of the greatest players ever to play the game, Michael Jordan, has appeared in a few movies, while Lakers star forward LeBron James co-owns a production house, SpringHill Company. Both superstars played lead roles in the action/animated movie series “Space Jam.”
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan (Image Credit: Space Jam Movie)
Michael Jordan, the six-time NBA champion and the all-time richest athlete globally, is strongly linked with the American entertainment industry. From being featured in Michael Jackson’s 1992 song “Jam” to appearing on TV shows, Jordan has done it all off the court. The Bulls legend starred in films like the 1996 Space Jam and 1998 sports drama “He Got Game.”
LeBron James
LeBron James (Image Credit: YouTube) LeBron James, the first active NBA player with over a billion dollars in net worth, has been producing movies under his SpringHill Company banner. The four-time NBA champion has played a lead role in “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and appeared in 2015 rom-com Trainwreck. In 2009, he also made a cameo in the TV series, “Entourage.”
Kyrie Irving
Lisa Leslie, Reggie Miller, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Nate Robinson, Kyrie Irving (Photo Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert)
The Dallas Mavericks star guard, Kyrie Irving, donned an old man’s disguise in an anti-ageist comedy, “Uncle Drew.” The 2016 NBA champion, who played Uncle Drew, began his pursuit of rounding up his former team, which had former NBA players disguised as elderly players. The 2018 movie also features Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson, and Lisa Leslie.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal in Scary Movie 4 (Image Credit: IMDB)
Apart from appearing in Kyrie Irving’s Uncle Drew, Shaquille O’Neal, who recently bumped into viral “Hawk Tuah” Girl, played a 5,000-year-old genie in the 1996 comedy Kazaam, 1997 sci-fi Steel, and Scary Movie 4 in 2006. The four-time NBA champion is also popular for playing music at festivals and shows under his alter ego, DJ Diesel.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Image Credit: Game Of Death)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time leading NBA scorer before LeBron James broke his 34-year-old record in 2023, appeared in many Hollywood films during his career. The 7’2” former Milwaukee and Los Angeles center made headlines with his role in the 1978 film Game of Death, starring Bruce Lee. In the 1980s, he was featured in three films, including Airplane! (1980), Ask Max (1986), and Troop Beverly Hills (1989). He also appeared in the second season of the TV series Dave.
In addition to these superstars, Spanish forward Juancho Hernangomez, who played in the NBA from 2016 to 2023, appeared in Hollywood actor Adam Sandler’s Hustle. The 2022 sports drama, co-produced by LeBron James, features NBA stars like Anthony Edwards and Boban Marjanovic. The list doesn’t end here, as many NBA stars have acted in TV shows and films.
Deep down, we are all still children, and Caitlin Clark proved that on Wednesday night.
Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull (Photo via Twitter)
For the first time since the 2021 regular season, the Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun, 84-80, snapping the franchise’s 11-game losing streak.
After the game, Clark, Lexie Hull, and Kelsey Mitchell met with the media for the post-game press conference, at which point things really got crazy.
Indiana Fever star Lexie Hull was speaking on the tremendous game she had — 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists — when she made an off-handed comment.
“I was just trying to get my hands on as many balls as I could and take advantage of…” Lexie Hull stated as she began to laugh.
Caitlin Clark, as well as Kelsey Mitchell, also burst into laughter as well.
Clark put her hands on her face, “Oh, Lex,” she said.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 points, Caitlin Clark had 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and the Indiana Fever continued on their torrid pace to stay in the playoff race.
Caitlin Clark Sets WNBA Rookie Record As Fever Beat Sun
We are running out of ways to describe just how great Caitlin Clark has been in her rookie season.
Clark set the record for most made 3-pointers by a WNBA record, surpassing the mark initially set by the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard in 2022.
She had a rough shooting night, going 3-of-12 from downtown, but she finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and Indiana picked up win no. 15.
She is also the first WNBA player to have at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists in six consecutive WNBA games, according to ESPN.
Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas trucked Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game, but if she thought she hurt her, she was wrong.
Caitlin Clark (Photo via WNBA/Twitter)
The Indiana Fever rookie phenom has had her fair share of bumps and bruises throughout her first WNBA campaign, but the WNBA break at the Olympics certainly helped her get a bit stronger as the season progressed.
Clark was trying to chase a Sun player in the third quarter when Connecticut center Alyssa Thomas came up and laid her out with a vicious pick.
Caitlin Clark hit the court hard after making contact with Thomas’ right shoulder.
Despite the hard shot, Clark did not have to leave the game at all. In fact, she could be seen with a scary reaction as she stuck her tongue out to the crowd to let them know she was a warrior.
After the game, Caitlin Clark was asked about the concerning hit she took during the contest.
The Indiana Fever rookie phenom admitted that it “hurt” but wasn’t shocked by it since basketball can be quite the physical sport.
Caitlin Clark Previously Spoke On Hitting The Weight Room And Getting Stronger
Not for the first time this season, Caitlin Clark found herself on the end of some brutal shots in her rookie year.
Indiana Fever hosted the Connecticut Sun when the rookie was caught by a hefty bodycheck and sent crashing to the court during the game.
The violent move came from Connecticut center Alyssa Thomas and was called a common foul.
Caitlin Cark wasn’t hurt and wouldn’t leave the game.
Things have changed since she first started her WNBA career.
Taking hits and being pushed around was the reason why she decided to hit the weights and get bigger.
“I’m small, but I try to hold my own the best I can,” Clark told reporters earlier this month, per Andrew Crane from the New York Post.
“… I don’t know, I think I’m discreetly strong. I’m never gonna be the strongest person. I know that. I try to put on some weight, and I’ve been working hard in the weight room. Obviously, there’s some limits to that and what I can do, obviously being in the season, but over the course of the last three weeks or so, we’ve all been going pretty hard in the weight room.”
Key Matchup: Caitlin Clark vs. D’Asia Carrington – What to Expect
Tonight’s game features a high-stakes matchup between Caitlin Clark and D’Asia Carrington, with the spotlight on their intense rivalry. Carrington has emerged as one of Clark’s most challenging adversaries, contrasting sharply with the media-fueled rivalry with Diana Taurasi, which was largely overblown. Carrington’s vocal stance against Clark has made this game particularly significant.
Carrington, the girlfriend of Clark’s teammate Nelissa Smith, has had a notable impact on Clark’s performance. One of Clark’s toughest games came against the Atlanta Dream, where Carrington’s social media demands for Clark to denounce negativity surrounding her caused notable distractions. This external pressure appeared to affect Clark’s game, though the Dream’s defense also played a crucial role. The Sun’s defense was another factor, showcasing their ability to neutralize Clark effectively, which highlights Carrington’s defensive prowess.
Carrington’s performance against Indiana has been impressive, consistently scoring high and playing exceptional defense. In contrast, Clark’s games against teams like the Connecticut Sun and the Liberty have seen mixed results, often impacted by Carrington’s defense. Carrington’s ability to pressure Clark defensively has contributed to Clark’s more challenging outings.
Tonight’s game is critical for Clark as she looks to assert herself in this particular matchup. Historically, Clark has struggled against teams like the Sun and the Aces, with her only real success coming against teams such as the Sparks and the Mercury. Her performance against the Dream remains one of the few blemishes on her otherwise stellar season.
To overcome Carrington’s defense, Clark must leverage strategic gameplay. This involves attacking Carrington, who is prone to fouling, and utilizing pick-and-roll strategies effectively. The key will be to navigate around Carrington’s physical defense and exploit matchups where Clark can gain an advantage. It will be essential for Clark to capitalize on screens set by teammates like Aliyah Boston, particularly in situations where Carrington’s defensive intensity could lead to foul trouble.
Chris Sides, the coach, should focus on running effective screens and pick-and-rolls to create opportunities for Clark. Guard-to-guard screens could be crucial to getting Clark matched up against less formidable defenders, and exploiting those matchups could be the key to overcoming Carrington’s defense.
My prediction for Clark’s performance tonight is a modest output of 14 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, but with 7 turnovers. Her challenge will be to navigate Carrington’s defense and contribute effectively despite the high-pressure environment. The game promises to be a test of Clark’s ability to adapt and respond to one of the most formidable defenders she’s faced this season.
If Shaquille O’Neal had his own Hall of Fame, Stephen Curry would certainly occupy the top position. That’s how much the man is in awe of the Bay Area icon. He often humorously calls himself the ‘Black Steph Curry,’ dubbed him his ‘favorite player,’ and even said that he’s “never seen anything like Steph Curry.” But that wasn’t apparently always the case.
For one, any old-school player isn’t particularly pleased with how basketball has evolved. They aren’t too big on how the big man’s league has changed to a guard-dominant phase with three-point shooting becoming a necessary skill in every basketball player’s arsenal. While Shaq wasn’t too bitter about it, he wasn’t in Steph’s fan club initially.
“I used to hate on him early on in his career; that he ain’t gonna make that. But he kept proving me wrong. That’s why he’s my best player. I like being proven wrong,” O’Neal said during an appearance on the All Smokes Podcast in 2021. Well, he certainly isn’t a hater now.
However, Shaq’s son, Shareef O’Neal, had recognized Curry’s greatness before his Dad would accept it. “Dad, Stephen Curry isn’t just a great shooter. He’s redefined what it means to be a game-changer in basketball. He’s inspiring a whole new generation,” he had said once.
Although it took the Warriors superstar proving him wrong for the Lakers legend to accept him, Shaq certainly agrees with his son’s wisdom now.
Shaquille O’Neal: Stephen Curry has opened a world of possibilities for youth
We are all familiar with how a young Steph was overlooked and passed on in favor of prospects that fit the traditional NBA mold. The slim, short stature of Curry had practically all colleges and coaches give nothing more than a once-over. In fact, the one college he really wanted to play for because of his father’s storied career, Virginia Tech, offered him just a walk-on spot because of his 160-pound frame.
No doubt they are beating themselves about it considering a humble Davidson simply accepted the future Hall of Famer for who he is. And what had his mom said to coach McKillop then? “The last thing she said was “don’t worry coach, we’ll fatten him up for you”. The Coach turned around and looked at us and said – don’t worry about that, we’ll take him just as he is,” Curry recounted in his documentary, Stephen Curry: Underrated.
While the 10x All-Star was lucky enough to have an incredible support system, the same cannot be said of many aspiring young hoopers now. And that’s why the ‘Big Diesel’ was in awe of the Stephen Curry effect. “Steph Curry is messing the game up. I’m on the internet now, see a bunch of little kids dribbling, shooting 100-footers to start the game. But he’s doing something for them, he’s giving them a chance … They’re doing stuff even I can’t do!”
It truly is something else to see just how vital Stephen Curry was in the evolution of basketball. Not just evolution, but a beacon of hope that not everyone has to be a David Robinson or Tim Duncan to have a successful NBA career.
Michael Jordan (Image Credit: Space Jam Movie)
LeBron James (Image Credit: YouTube)
Lisa Leslie, Reggie Miller, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Nate Robinson, Kyrie Irving (Photo Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert)
Shaquille O’Neal in Scary Movie 4 (Image Credit: IMDB)
Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Image Credit: Game Of Death)
