It’s a brave new world – again – for the NBA All-Star Game.

In December, the league announced the format for the game would change – insert Kevin Durant eyeroll – and feature a three-game format with four teams, each selected by a general manager. There will be two semifinals and a final, all played on Feb. 16.

Three of the general managers – Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith – made their draft picks Thursday night during TNT’s pregame telecast. Candace Parker will make her selections from the Rising Stars final game, scheduled for Feb. 14. Each team is made up of eight players, but no team could have more than five All-Stars who had been named starters.

O’Neal got the first pick to kick off the snake draft, with Ernie Johnson leading the festivities and inserting barbs when appropriate – which was often.

The NBA All-Star Game teams, with players in order of selection:

(* denotes starter)

Team Chuck

Nikola Jokic*
Giannis Antetokounmpo*
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander*
Victor Wembanyama
Pascal Siakam
Alperen Sengun
Karl-Anthony Towns*
Donovan Mitchell*

Team Kenny

Anthony Edwards
Jalen Brunson*
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jalen Williams
Darius Garland
Evan Mobley
Cade Cunningham
Tyler Herro

Team Shaq

LeBron James*
Stephen Curry*
Anthony Davis
Jayson Tatum*
Kevin Durant*
Damian Lillard
James Harden
Jaylen Brown

Team Candace

The Rising Stars final game will provide the players for Team Candace. Parker will draft after the final, scheduled for Feb. 14.

All-Star Game format

To generate a more competitive game, this season’s All-Star Game will feature a mini-tournament with four teams in a three-game event.

Two teams will play in one semifinal and the other two teams will play in the other semifinal with the winners meeting in the final. The first team to reach 40 points in each game is the winner.

Each team will have eight players – three teams will be made up of the 24 NBA All-Stars and the other team will be players from the championship game of the Rising Stars game.

The coaches for each team at the All-Star Game will come from the coaching staffs with the best record in each conference in games played through Feb. 2. The head coach from the East (Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson) and the head coach from the West (Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault) will each lead one of the NBA All-Star teams, an assistant coach from one team will coach the other NBA All-Star team and another assistant will coach the Rising Stars team.

NBA All-Star Game prize money

Each player on winning team: $125,000
Each player on second-place team: $50,000
Each player on third- and fourth-place teams: $25,000

When is the All-Star Game?

The NBA All-Star Game is Feb. 16.

Where is the NBA All-Star Game?

The NBA All-Star Game will be played at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

What time is the NBA All-Star Game?

The first semifinal is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on Feb. 16 and will be shown on TNT. The second semifinal will follow, with the winners meeting in the final.

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Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is surging with a four-game goal streak as he pursues Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal record.

Ovechkin, 39, who scored 15 times in his first 18 games before suffering a fractured left fibula during a Nov. 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club, has scored 11 times since he returned on Dec. 28.

Ovechkin entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Washington captain has 26 goals this season, with 28 games left.

This season, he moved into second place with 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons and set a record for the number of goalies he has scored against in his career.

If he doesn’t reach the record this season, he has one more season left on his contract.

Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record:

How many career goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin has 879 career goals.

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin need to pass Wayne Gretzky?

Ovechkin needs 16 goals to break Gretzky’s record.

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have this season?

Ovechkin has 26 goals and 14 assists in 38 games. Factoring in the 16 games he missed, that is a 45-goal pace, giving him a chance to break the record this season.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?

Ovechkin had a goal on two shots in a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. He started the play with a breakout pass, then finished it with a shot from the right faceoff circle. It was his first goal against Ivan Fedotov, adding to his record for most goalies scored against in his career.

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?

The Capitals play Sunday, Feb. 9, against Utah, the team against which he broke his leg. He scored two goals in that game before the injury.

Alex Ovechkin goals in 2024-25

Oct. 19: 1 vs. New Jersey
Oct. 23: 1 vs. Philadelphia
Oct. 29: 2 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Oct. 31: 1 vs. Montreal
Nov. 2: 1 vs. Columbus
Nov. 3: 1 vs. Carolina
Nov. 6: 1 vs. Nashville
Nov. 9: 2 vs. St. Louis
Nov. 17: 3 vs. Vegas
Nov. 18: 2 vs. Utah
Dec. 28: 1 vs. Toronto
Dec. 29: 1 vs. Detroit
Jan. 2: 1 vs. Minnesota
Jan. 4: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Jan. 11: 1 vs. Nashville
Jan. 16: 1 vs. Ottawa
Jan. 23: 1 vs. Seattle
Jan. 30: 1 vs. Ottawa
Feb 1: 1 vs. Winnipeg
Feb. 4: 1 vs. Florida
Feb. 6: 1 vs. Philadelphia

Alex Ovechkin career goal breakdown

Even strength: 556, third overall

Power play: 318, a record

Short-handed: 5

Empty net: 63, a record

Game winners: 134, second overall, one behind Jaromir Jagr’s record

Overtime goals: 27, a record

Multi-goal games: 177, second overall

Goalies scored against: 180, a record

Hat tricks: 31, sixth overall

20-goal seasons: 20, tied for second

30-goal seasons: 18, a record

40-goal seasons: 13, a record

Alex Ovechkin empty-net goals

Ovechkin has a record 63 empty-net goals, but Gretzky is up there, too, with 56. Ovechkin passed Gretzky in that category last season.

Alex Ovechkin goals per season

Season: Goals, career total

2005-06: 52, 52
2006-07: 46, 98
2007-08: 65*, 163
2008-09: 56*, 219
2009-10: 50, 269
2010-11: 32, 301
2011-12: 38, 339
2012-13: 32*, 371
2013-14: 51*, 422
2014-15: 53*, 475
2015-16: 50*, 525
2016-17: 33, 558
2017-18: 49*, 607
2018-19: 51*, 658
2019-20: 48*, 706
2020-21: 24, 730
2021-22: 50, 780
2022-23: 42, 822
2023-24: 31, 853
2024-25: 26, 879

*-led league in goals that season

NHL’s top goal scorers all-time

The top 21 NHL all-time goal scorers all have 600 or more goals. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Jagr, who are still playing.

1. Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games

2. Alex Ovechkin, 879 goals in 1,464 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

18. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

19. Sidney Crosby, 609 goals in 1,327 games

20. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

21. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games

NEW ORLEANS — Kendrick Lamar is in his prime. Four days after winning five Grammy Awards for his diss track ‘Not Like Us,” including record and song of the year, Lamar is preparing for the pinnacle of sports, the Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show, where he’s set to become the first solo rap artist to headline the big show.

What can you expect? “Storytelling,” Lamar teased on Thursday in New Orleans. 

“I’ve always been very open about storytelling throughout my catalog and my history of music,” he said during a rare live interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis. “I’ve always had passion about bringing that on whatever stage I am, whether it’s a world tour or whether it’s 500 people at Key Club (in Hollywood).”

Lamar is set to bring that passion and culture to arguably the biggest stage in the world on Super Bowl Sunday at Caesars Superdome, where hundreds of millions of viewers are expected to tune in. 

“For me, it means everything because it puts the culture on the forefront where it needs to be and not minimized to just a catchy song or verse,’ he said. ‘It’s a true art form. To represent it on this type of stage is everything that I’ve worked for and everything that I believe in.”

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

SUPER BOWL 59 HALFTIME SHOW: What to know about Kendrick Lamar

Lamar, a 22-time Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize winner, has released six studio albums, including his latest “GNX,” which was released in November. He’s topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts five times, three of which came in the last year alone: ‘Like That’ featuring Future and Metro Boomin; ‘Not Like Us’; and ‘Squabble Up.”

“Not Like Us” came from Lamar’s highly-publicized beef with fellow rapper Drake. Lamar said the competitive spirit of their back-and-forth battle highlights the essence of hip-hop music.

“My intent from Day 1 was to always to keep the nature of it as a sport. … This has always been the core definition of who I am and it’s been that way since Day 1.”

The catchy summer anthem took home Grammys for record and song of the year, in addition to best music video, best rap song and best rap performance, recognition Lamar said he “loved to see.”

KENDRICK LAMAR, DRAKE FEUD EXPLAINED: What to know ahead of Super Bowl halftime show

“When people talk about rap… They kind of belittle it,” Lamar said. “I love to see that it gets that kind of recognition for just straight raps, from the awards to the billboards, because this is truly just as big as an art form and genre as any other genre. And I feel so accomplished to be able to do that.”

He will likely perform ‘Not Like Us” during his Super Bowl halftime set, which typically lasts about 13 minutes. Lamar said narrowing down his extensive catalog will be both “wild and interesting.” One thing for sure — He will be joined by SZA, the co-headliner on his upcoming Grand National Tour.

“I’m just honored to be next to her talent,” he said. 

CHARGERS LB DAIYAN HENLEY: LA proud of Kendrick Lamar’s highly-anticipated halftime show

Kendrick Lamar: ‘I’ve arrived now’

Lamar has documented in his music his humble beginnings from Compton, California, a city he loves and vows to always showcase to the world. Never did he think his journey from slinging mixtapes and performing at house parties would lead to the Super Bowl. 

“I wasn’t thinking about no Super Bowl,” Lamar said of his early days, laughing, “I was thinking about the best verse and how we were going to split this five dollars at Church’s Chicken … going to the studio and getting a meal. All I know is the passion I have now is the same passion I had then. That carried on to the Super Bowl.” 

Lamar said he feels like he’s “coming out of (his) cocoon.”

“That’s something I want to carry on to New Orleans and for the world to see,’ he said. ‘This is me … 37-years-old and I still feel like I’m elevating and still on a journey. I want that energy to ooze out onto the television.”

He added, “I can spread my wings and show every state of who I am as far as Kendrick Lamar.”

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Competition in collegiate women’s sports will be limited only to student-athletes assigned female at birth, according to an updated NCAA participation policy announced on Thursday by the association’s Board of Governors.

The new policy does not prohibit participation based on birth or gender identity in men’s sports, “assuming they meet all other NCAA eligibility requirements,” according to an NCAA statement.

Student-athletes assigned male at birth may practice with women’s teams and have access to benefits such as medical care, the NCAA said. The policy is “effective immediately and applies to all student-athletes regardless of previous eligibility reviews under the NCAA’s prior transgender participation policy.”

The announcement comes one day after the Trump administration issued an executive order barring transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports and directing agencies to withdraw federal funding from any academic institution that refuses to comply.

“The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement. “We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.”

According to the policy, a student-athlete assigned female at birth “who has begun hormone therapy” may not compete on a women’s team, and if they do participate in any NCAA competition, “the team will no longer be eligible for NCAA women’s championships.”

“Individual schools have the autonomy to determine athletics participation on their campuses,” the NCAA said, adding that all schools are subject to local, state and federal legislation that overtakes any NCAA rules.

Sports with mixed men’s and women’s teams, such as rifle, are exempt from the updated policy.

The Board of Governors “directed staff to help all member schools foster respectful and inclusive collegiate athletic cultures,” according to the NCAA statement.

“The updated policy combined with these resources follows through on the NCAA’s constitutional commitment to deliver intercollegiate athletics competition and to protect, support and enhance the mental and physical health of student-athletes,” Baker said in his statement. “This national standard brings much needed clarity as we modernize college sports for today’s student-athletes.”

It appears the Mike Woodson era at Indiana will soon come to an end.

Woodson, in his fourth season as the Hoosiers’ head coach is reportedly in discussions with the program about stepping down and retiring after the season, according to multiple reports on Thursday. ESPN’s Pete Thamel also reported Woodson is unlikely to coach at Indiana next season, regardless.

Thamel reported Woodson is expected to finish out the season.

Woodson’s buyout if he was to be fired is set at $8.4 million, although it can be paid in lump sums to lessen the financial burden for the program.

The report comes amid a struggling season for Indiana’s standards, as the Hoosiers have a 14-9 record with a 5-7 mark in Big Ten play. Indiana most recently found itself trailing 19-2 after the first four-and-a-half minutes against Wisconsin on Tuesday.

‘We’re just not a tough team right now,’ Woodson said after the loss. ‘We’re not. Mentally we’re not tough.’

The former first-round pick out of Indiana is in his fourth season with the Hoosiers, where he has compiled a 77-49 record after Tuesday’s loss. He helped Indiana to the NCAA tournament in both of his first two seasons, but didn’t advance past the first weekend in either year.

‘It’s not rocket science,’ Woodson said after Indiana’s loss to Wisconsin. ‘Right now, our backs are against the wall. We’re not playing great basketball. We’re playing in spurts. I thought the last three games prior to tonight we played pretty good ball, and we came up short.

‘We just win maybe one or two of those, you’re feeling good about yourself. I’ve got to figure out a game where we can get these guys back feeling good about themselves and see where it goes from there.’

Prior to joining Indiana, Woodson was an assistant coach for the NBA’s New York Knicks. He has also served as the head coach of the Knicks (2012-14) and Atlanta Hawks (2004-10) in his career after averaging 14 points per game in his 11 years as a player.

Woodson’s first college job of his coaching career certainly hasn’t gone to plan, given Indiana’s struggles in recent years.

All signs point to the Hoosiers conducting another coaching search this offseason, unless Indiana and Woodson make a huge turnaround this season.

Super Bowl 59 has the sporting landscape focused on the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, but plenty of people will be tuning in to see Kendrick Lamar and the halftime show.

So far, the enormously famous rapper — fresh off a huge night at the Grammys — has largely kept his plans for Sunday under wraps. Lamar has talked about a focus on ‘storytelling’ during his performance, but as far as a guest list, the only performer confirmed to be joining him is SZA, another Grammy winner who has worked with the Los Angeles native on multiple occasions.

That has opened the door to plenty of speculation. Lamar has a history of incorporating surprise guests, most notoriously bringing scores of big names on stage at last year’s ‘The Pop Out’ concert. With a long list of hits involving verses from other hip-hop superstars and a creativity that opens the door to include artists from other genres, the possibilities for the halftime show at Caesars Superdome feel endless.

Who could take the stage with Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl 59? Here’s some predictions:

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

SZA

This one’s not a prediction but something we already know. In January, Apple Music confirmed that SZA, who has since won her fifth Grammy, will join Lamar as part of the halftime show at Super Bowl 59.

The duo have made multiple songs together, including the Grammy-nominated ‘All the Stars’ in 2018, and are going on tour together beginning in April. Given the frequency of their collaborations, it would have been a shock if SZA wasn’t involved in the halftime show.

Black Hippy

Super Bowl performances often see artists combine with like-minded performers, balancing the desire to surprise fans with the need to make sure the performance goes off without a hitch.

For Kendrick Lamar, that probably means turning to Black Hippy, the supergroup he was a part of for years alongside ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul. The four Los Angeles rappers teamed up for 14 years starting in 2008, though they never put out an album. Instead, they dropped numerous hits on one another’s solo projects.

The group broke up in 2022, but reunited for Kendrick’s ‘The Pop Out’ mega-concert at the Kia Forum last summer. Given the cultural impact of that concert, Black Hippy banding together once again feels like a solid bet at Super Bowl 59.

Doechii

Super Bowl halftime shows don’t all have to feature longtime collaborators. We could see a new breakout star like Doechii take the stage, especially in the aftermath of her Best Rap Album win at the Grammys.

However, just because there’s not a Kendrick/Doechii song tearing up the charts yet, it doesn’t mean the Florida native should be ruled out of Sunday’s halftime show. Last year, Kendrick called her ‘the hardest out’ in a post on Instagram, offering significant praise for Doechii’s ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’ mixtape.

Part of the art of assembling a Super Bowl halftime show is mixing the old with the new, playing some long-standing hits while incorporating newer songs in an unexpected way. If Doechii emerges from some part of the stage during a medley on Sunday, it will be a surprise … but not a total stunner.

Dr. Dre

It’s no stretch to think that West Coast legend Dr. Dre could perform with Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl 59. The latter considers the former a mentor, and Dr. Dre had Kendrick as one of his guests on stage at Super Bowl 56.

Earlier this month, Dr. Dre was obviously delighted to see Kendrick win five Grammy Awards, and the aforementioned halftime performance three years ago in Los Angeles was well-regarded. It stands to reason that Kendrick will return the favor, possibly with a rendition of ‘The Recipe’ off his 2012 breakthrough ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city.’

What about Taylor Swift?

Taylor Swift is by now a well-established regular figure at Kansas City Chiefs games, so of course it will come as no surprise that she is expected to attend Super Bowl 59. The pop icon is famous enough that NFL broadcasts regularly cut to shots of her, generally enjoying the game like anyone else (albeit from slightly nicer seats) and rooting for boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Here’s the thing, though: she and Kendrick Lamar have a song together, a remix of her 2014 hit ‘Bad Blood.’ Over the years, the two have remained friendly, with Swift raising a glass at the Grammys to yet another Kendrick award. On top of that, Kendrick worked extensively with Jack Antonoff — a prolific collaborator of Swift’s over the years — on his most recent album, ‘GNX.’

Super Bowl halftime shows are supposed to feature great music, but they’ve also relied on surprises in recent years. Could we see a Kendrick/Swift collab? It might boil down to whether Swift views the game as a work occasion, or if she just wants to enjoy some chicken tenders and watch Kelce push for his fourth Super Bowl ring.

Who won’t be performing with Kendrick Lamar?

Other than the obvious answer — that’d be Drake — we know of at least one rumored guest at Super Bowl 59 who won’t be performing with Kendrick Lamar.

New Orleans native Lil Wayne has confirmed he won’t even be in the city for the Super Bowl. Despite one of Kendrick’s early mixtapes, ‘C4,’ featuring numerous freestyles over beats from Lil Wayne’s highly successful album ‘Tha Carter III.’

However, both rappers have publicly discussed how they won’t be working together at Super Bowl 59, much to Lil Wayne’s apparent chagrin.

How to watch Super Bowl 59: Time, TV channel, streaming

Super Bowl 59 will be broadcast nationwide on Fox. Streaming options include Fubo, which is offering a free trial for new subscribers, or Tubi.

Date: Sunday, Feb. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming: Fubo, Tubi
Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)

Watch Super Bowl 59 on Fubo

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UConn basketball’s Paige Bueckers had an off night against No. 17 Tennessee in a battle of blue bloods on Thursday night, although she still scored 14 points with eight assists in the loss.

Bueckers shot 5 of 16 from the field and 2 of 6 from 3-point range in the 80-76 loss on the road against the Vols. She also finished with eight assists and three rebounds in the loss, which was the No. 5 Huskies’ first since Dec. 21.

Bueckers, one of the top contenders for player of the year and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, fell short of her season average of 19 points per game this season, although she was finding success as a distributor, as she entered the game averaging 4.2 assists per game.

Tennessee did a valiant job of keeping Bueckers under control defensively, as the 6-foot guard entered the game shooting 54.4% from the field but shot 31.2% on Thursday.

Here’s a look at Bueckers’ full stat line against the Vols on Thursday night:

How many points did Paige Bueckers score tonight?

Bueckers poured in 14 points on 5 of 16 shooting in a loss to Tennessee on Thursday night. She missed a 3-pointer with four seconds left as the Huskies were down 80-76. Bueckers also hit a game-tying 3-pointer with under two minutes remaining, but Tennessee immediately answered with a three of its own to pull back ahead.

Bueckers scored the second-most points for UConn in the game, as forward Sarah Strong led the way with a game-high 18 points on 8 of 13 shooting.

Paige Bueckers stats

Here’s Bueckers’ full stat line from Thursday’s loss to Tennessee:

Points: 14
Rebounds: 4
Assists: 8
Steals: 1
Shooting: 5 of 16 (2 of 6 from 3-point range)
Fouls: 3

Here were Bueckers’ season averages before the game:

Points: 19.0 per game
Rebounds: 4.2 per game
Assists: 4.2 per game
Shooting: 54.4%

The professor reserves the right to change final grades. Think of NBA trade deadline assessments as midterm grades.

Teams are judged on what they have done so far – with the caveat that the grade can change with improvement or decline.

So, the Los Angeles Lakers definitely get high marks for acquiring Luka Doncic from Dallas and Mark Williams from Charlotte, and Golden State reinvigorates its season by trading for Jimmy Butler. Dallas has been universally skewered for trading Doncic, but there also has been quiet agreement that the Mavericks made the right move. Will the Mavs end up with a 4.0 GPA or 0.0?

San Antonio can turn that A into an A+ if the acquisition of De’Aaron Fox from Sacramento helps turn Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs into title contenders.

USA TODAY Sports’ NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt grades all the big trades:

Luka Doncic to Lakers; Anthony Davis to Mavericks

Mavericks trade grade: B-

Let’s start with this: trading a 25-year-old star, not yet in his prime, who is already a five-time All-NBA selection and led the franchise to the Finals in 2023-24 is bold and risky. The Mavs parted ways with one of the NBA’s most gifted offensive players who finished third in MVP voting last season and is close to being a 30-point per game triple-double player.

There’s a lot riding on this trade for the Mavs. Comments from GM Nico Harrison about defense winning championships suggested the Mavericks didn’t think they could win a title with Doncic’s defense. Is Doncic’s defense that bad? Was it worth giving up his offense? Or was there another compelling reason to trade Doncic now? Was it his possible free agency in the summer of 2026 and the idea of losing him without getting much in return?

The Mavericks certainly got a star in return. Davis, who is out for about another week with an abdominal strain, is one of the game’s best two-way big men who can score, rebound, block shots, protect the paint and defend on the perimeter.

Does this move elevate the 26-23 Mavs from eighth place in the Western Conference to title contender? It certainly makes them better defensively and gives them a premier low-post scoring option, and Christie developed into a starter with an improving 3-point game.

Lakers trade grade: A-

The Lakers traded LeBron James’ close friend without James knowing until news of the deal broke. James is no stranger to the business of basketball so whatever sting he feels will disappear with time.

Doncic’s physical conditioning will be scrutinized even more, as will Doncic’s commitment to defense. The Lakers are No. 21 defensively and just got worse with Davis’ departure.

Doncic, who has been out since Christmas with a calf injury and is expected to return this month, gives the Lakers help at the guard position they’ve sought. His offensive skillset is phenomenal, and James and Doncic will create offensive fireworks.

Will that offensive production be enough to compensate for defensive shortcomings, especially in the playoffs? The Lakers are 28-19 and in fifth place in the West, just a half-game behind the Denver Nuggets. They are a hot streak away from challenging Houston and Memphis for second and third place.

Certainly, this was a move made for the present but also the future. The chance to acquire a player of Doncic’s caliber doesn’t come along often. James won’t be around forever. The Lakers are now expecting to have one of the league’s best players for the next decade.

Jazz trade grade: B

The Jazz were mostly innocent bystanders, taking a player and draft picks to help facilitate the surprising portion of the trade. Getting two second-round picks could help facilitate another deal at the trade deadline or in the offseason for the Jazz.

De’Aaron Fox to Spurs; Zach LaVine to Kings

San Antonio Spurs: A

The Spurs are intent on maximizing the 21-year-old Wembanyama, who is one of the league’s best young players and could soon be a top-five player and annual MVP candidate. He is already one of the league’s best defenders and could win the first of many Defensive Player of the Year awards this season.Getting Fox helps that process. He is an All-Star caliber point guard who averages 25 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game this season. He is a two-way player and made the All-Star team in 2023.

San Antonio is 21-25 and in 12th place in the Western Conference — but it is just two games out of the final play-in spot. While the Spurs want to reach the postseason in 2025, this move is about the future, and all indications point to Fox re-signing with the Spurs. This is the beginning of a Wembanyama-Fox partnership.

The Spurs haven’t reached the playoffs since 2019 and haven’t been beyond the first round since 2017. They last won a title in 2014. They believe this move, with Wembanyama’s growth and other additions, can make them a contender for the next decade.

Sacramento Kings: B+

Losing Fox stings, and the Kings were looking at replacements at point guard if they moved Fox in a deal. However, LaVine has been an efficient scorer this season and the Kings accumulated three beneficial first-round picks that they can use themselves or trade to make roster improvements. LaVine is having one of his best seasons, averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game with career-highs in field goal percentage (.511) and 3-point percentage (.446).

Chicago Bulls: B

The Bulls need to start making decisions about their future. At 21-29, they are in 10th place in the East and in the final play-in spot. But it is not a team that is doing much beyond that. Unloading LaVine might just be the start of a rebuild and the correct decision for the franchise.

Could Nik Vucevic be moved next ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline? If the Bulls can get first-round picks, that’s another step on the long and sometimes painful path to competing for a deep run in the playoffs.

Jimmy Butler to Warriors; Andrew Wiggins to Heat

Golden State: B+

The Warriors get an engaged Butler, and an engaged 35-year-old Butler can still produce offensively and defensively. While getting Butler to Phoenix was a hot topic and perhaps his main objective, Butler never ruled out going to Golden State, which is trying to make another title run with Steph Curry. Plus, the Warriors didn’t give up Jonathan Kuminga in a trade, and are locked into Butler long-term.

This season, Butler had a reduced role with the Heat as Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro become the focal points offensively. Butler still produced solid statistics, averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 54% from the field, 36.1% on 3-pointers and 80.1% on free throws. He will have a larger offensive role with Golden State. And its 19th-ranked offense needs improvement.

Butler will help the Warriors’ No. 9 defense, as well. The 10th-place Warriors are 25-24 and battling for a postseason spot in the West. After a promising 12-3 start, the Warriors are 13-21.

Miami: B+

At the very least, the Heat’s Butler saga is over – they needed it to be over – and now they can focus on the rest of the season, a season in which fourth place in the East is not out of the question for a 25-24 team that is in seventh place. Wiggins is having a solid season at 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

The Heat, which didn’t have a ton of leverage given Butler’s preferred destinations, also got a first-round pick out of it. It’s protected 1-10 in 2025 which means the Heat likely will get to use it in the June draft and depending on how Golden State finishes, it could be a lottery pick.

Miami had a brief chat with Phoenix about trading for Suns star Kevin Durant, but Phoenix still wants to win with Durant on the roster. Short of that kind of deal, the Heat managed to get another wing scorer and defender who can help now and what looks like a top-20 first-round pick in less than ideal circumstances.

Wiggins has two years and $58.3 million remaining on his contract. However, he has a player option on 2026-27 and can become a free agent in the summer of 2026.

Utah and Detroit

There are no grades for Utah and Detroit; both teams helped Miami and Golden State get a deal done. Richardson and Waters are on expiring contracts so the Pistons don’t take on any long-term money, and the Jazz could end up trading Schroder for second-round picks.

Matt Williams to Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers grade: B

Williams is a talented, athletic big man, no question about it. But the 23-year-old in his third NBA season has had injuries, playing in just 43 games his rookie season, 19 last season and he has appeared in 22 games this season, missing time with left knee and foot injuries.

This season, he averages 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks and shoots 58.6% from the field and 78% on free throws. He scored a career-high 38 points (with nine rebounds and five assists) against Memphis on Jan. 22 and delivered a 19-point, 19-rebound performance against Chicago on Jan. 17.

It’s easy to envision him in pick-and-roll situations with James and Doncic. But because of his injury history, it’s a risky trade. The Lakers are now without first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031.

Charlotte Hornets grade: B+

It’s tough to trade a player with Williams’ potential. But also a little easier with that injury history. The Hornets are trying to rebuild on the fly under first-year general manager Jeff Peterson and first-year coach Charles Lee.

The Hornets are in possession of their own first-round pick in the next seven drafts, are owed a first-rounder from Miami in either 2027 or 2028, a likely first-round pick from Dallas in 2027 and a first-round pick from the Lakers in 2031.

With draft capital compiled, the Hornets are in position to start adding young talent and/or trade picks to obtain proven players.

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A sports reporter died Wednesday while in New Orleans to cover Super Bowl 59, according to the Kansas City TV station he worked for.

‘We are saddened to share that Adan Manzano passed away yesterday in New Orleans,’ KGKC said in a news release. ‘We are cooperating with law enforcement as they investigate this tragic event.’

KGKC described Manzano as a ‘true professional and rising star who exemplified excellence in his work.’ This was Manzano’s third-straight season covering the Super Bowl for the TV station.

‘We will deeply miss Adan and his passion for sports, and the contributions he made to the local community,’ the TV station said. ‘Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.’

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New Orleans police told USA TODAY it does not have any additional information to provide on the incident.

Tico Sports: ‘Adan was a devoted father to his young daughter’

Tico Sports released a statement to USA TODAY saying, ‘Adan was a talented and professional broadcaster, providing sideline coverage for the Kansas City Chiefs Spanish broadcast and play by play caller for the KC Current. He was an enthusiastic and energetic team player who was well liked and respected.’

‘Adan was a devoted father to his young daughter, a helpful colleague, and loyal friend. He will be greatly missed by our TICO Family and will live on in our hearts and memories,’ the statement continued.

Manzano’s wife died last year in a car accident

Mazano’s wife, Ashleigh LeeAnn Boyd Manzano, died in a car crash in Topeka, Kansas on April 11, 2024. The accident not only killed the second-grade teacher, but it also seriously injured her infant passenger and the adult driver of another vehicle.

Topeka USD 501 Superintendent Tiffany Anderson called Boyd a ‘bright light’ whose ‘second-grade students loved,’ according to an email to parents obtained by Topeka Capital-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

‘Ashleigh was the most kindest, caring, beautiful person. Her sparkling personality was contagious and would light up any room she walked into,’ her obituary reads. ‘She was a ray of sunshine and always had a smile on her face. Ashleigh touched so many lives and had a positive influence on everyone she met!’