Archive

2025

Browsing

Hamas has agreed to release 10 living hostages and return the bodies of 18 more, but the terms of the proposed deal have been deemed unacceptable by the U.S. and Israel.

The group, which has been on the State Department’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations since 1997, made the announcement in a statement Saturday and said it was being done on the condition that a number of Palestinian prisoners be returned in exchange as part of a means to achieve a permanent ceasefire.

Israeli media reported that Hamas added new demands to the proposal from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, including a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian aid flow into the strip.

Witkoff’s proposal did not include a full withdrawal or a ceasefire, the Jerusalem Post reported, and that Hamas added terms of its own.

In a statement posted to X on Saturday, Witkoff called Hamas’ response to the American proposal ‘totally unacceptable’ and warned it ‘only takes us backward.’ He urged the group to accept the original framework in order to begin proximity talks as early as next week, which could pave the way for a 60-day ceasefire and the return of both living and deceased hostages.

In a statement before Witkoff’s response, Hamas wrote: ‘After conducting a round of national consultations, and based on our immense sense of responsibility towards our people and their suffering, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) today submitted its response to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s latest proposal to the mediating parties. 

‘This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip.’

Reacting to the announcement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that while Israel had agreed to the updated Witkoff framework, ‘Hamas continues to cling to its refusal.’ The office emphasized that Israel remains committed to bringing its hostages home and defeating Hamas, citing Witkoff’s remarks as confirmation that Hamas’ latest stance undermines progress.

Hamas is holding 58 hostages in Gaza. Of these, Israeli intelligence assesses that at least 34 are deceased, leaving approximately 24 believed to be alive. More than 250 people were captured during the Hamas terror attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. 

The latest proposal being negotiated involves the release of 10 living hostages and a number of bodies during a 60-day pause in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including 100 serving long sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks, The Associated Press reported Friday, citing a Hamas official and an Egyptian official speaking on condition of anonymity.

U.S. negotiators had not publicized the terms of the proposal.

Witkoff’s office reiterated on social media that the proposed deal could allow ‘half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased’ to return to their families if Hamas agrees to enter talks under the current terms. 

The statement stressed that the window to finalize the deal is narrowing, and that major negotiations could begin ‘in good faith’ within days if Hamas accepts.

‘As stated by the U.S. President’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff: Hamas’ response is unacceptable and sets the situation back,’ the Prime Minister’s Office said.

President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiators were nearing a deal.

‘They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow,’ Trump told reporters in Washington. Late in the evening, asked if he was confident Hamas would approve the deal, he told reporters: ‘They’re in a big mess. I think they want to get out of it.’

Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March.

Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all hostages still held in Gaza before it agrees to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The headline-making quarterback possesses the remarkable talent of making news, whether he speaks or not. In fact, Rodgers is generating more interest this offseason because of his silence rather than anything else.

That remains a constant theme for the four-time NFL MVP, who hasn’t been known for his play on the field in recent years, but rather everything that comes with the experience off it. It was believed Rodgers would sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the New York Jets released the future Hall of Fame signal caller.

As the clock continues to tick, it’s anyone’s guess whether he plays for Pittsburgh or announces his retirement.

During an appearance on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’ on Friday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero spoke about Rodgers’ immediate NFL future and why there is still a good bit of uncertainty.

‘I have been told that he has not affirmatively told the Steelers that he’s coming,’ Pelissero said. ‘There’s all these signs that he’s coming, but he’s not affirmatively said, ‘Hey, June 9, book me the ticket, I’m coming in and I’m gonna join this team.’ That has not happened as of this point.’

Pelissero added that the Steelers are operating under the assumption that Rodgers will eventually sign, but he pondered the idea that the quarterback could change his mind given his unique nature.

Options have dried up on the open market for Pittsburgh, who put all their eggs in the Rodgers basket this offseason. Russell Wilson left to sign with the New York Giants and Justin Fields inked a deal with the Jets, essentially emptying their quarterback room from last season.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on Saturday that the Steelers are just hanging around right now.

‘When I talk to people with the team they say the same thing, that they have had contact with Aaron Rodgers,’ Fowler said. ‘They’ve remained optimistic that he will be a Steeler, but there is just nothing fast and firm yet on him signing with the team. So they continue to develop Mason Rudolph and Will Howard in OTAs.’

Fowler noted that the situation has been unpredictable.

Steelers’ mandatory minicamp is slated for June 10-12, leaving little margin for any bumps in the road going forward.

Rodgers previously visited the Steelers’ facility, but has offered little certainty surrounding the situation in his few public appearances.

He said on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ in April that retirement was still a possibility and that he was dealing with some personal things behind the scenes. Rodgers also made an appearance on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ but didn’t discuss anything football related.

More recently, he offered up some information on the “You Know What I Mean” podcast, saying he wouldn’t play for the Chicago Bears, but there is a team that makes a trip to the Windy City next season.

As the season quickly approaches and the offseason begins to fade, the Steelers are stuck in a holding pattern.

After all, only Rodgers knows what will happen and what his future holds.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Everyone has an opinion on the 35-year-old, who is coming off, statistically, the worst season of his career since becoming the starter for the Kansas City Chiefs. As he authors the final pages for the story of his football career, Kelce’s retirement continues to be a topic.

In an interview with USA TODAY’s Mackenzie Salmon, former NFL tight end and current Fox Sports broadcaster Greg Olsen spoke about Kelce’s future.

‘He’s got the world at his fingertips,’ Olsen said. ‘I think he’s one of the unique guys that’s gonna be able to control how he leaves the game and when. And that’s not the reality for most guys.’

Kelce, who will turn 36 in October, is coming off a bad season by his standards. He totaled 97 receptions, 823 yards and only three touchdowns. While that may be a career-year for some, it continued a downward trend that began following the 2023 season.

Despite that reality, Olsen highlighted how he was also 36 in his last season, noting that he wasn’t as productive as Kelce has been at this stage.

‘He was highly productive last year,’ Olsen said. ‘I think we’ve kind of gotten spoiled that we think every year he’s gonna have twelve-hundred yards and 10 touchdowns. And I don’t think people realize just how hard that is. I wouldn’t put a limit on anything he does.’

He added that he could call it quits after this upcoming season or play a few more years.

Olsen maintained that Kelce has done enough throughout his career to be afforded the opportunity to leave when he wants to. Retirement talk has been a common theme throughout the Chiefs’ run of success, especially in the lead-up to Super Bowl 59 before they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Now with training camp around the corner, even quarterback Patrick Mahomes is being asked about Kelce’s future.

‘If it’s the last ride, you would never know,’ Mahomes said in a press conference Thursday. ‘The way he’s talking about football, the way he’s talking about working and trying to be even better this year than he was last year. He doesn’t seem like a guy that, it’s his last ride or he’s tired of the job. He’s in here, he’s working. I know his body feels good. I think it feels better than even last year before going into last season. I think he’s motivated to go out there and have an even better year.’

Kelce appeared to truly debate walking away from the game this offseason but elected to return for another season. He spoke about that decision during the March 5 episode of his ‘New Heights’ podcast with his brother, Jason.

‘I think the biggest thing is that I (expletive) love playing the game of football,’ Kelce said. ‘I love playing. I still feel like I can play it at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year. I don’t think it was my best outing. I think I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them, especially if you look at my track record and how I’ve been in years past. I want to give it a good run. I got a bad taste in my mouth in how I ended the year and how well I was playing and how accountable I was to the people around me.’

Of course, the Chiefs have played a lot of football over the years and the miles can begin to add up.

It’s not out of the question that Kelce’s drop in production could be attributed in part to fatigue, especially given the attention he receives from defenses every week.

All eyes will be on Kelce as he enters his 13th season NFL season and 12th as the starter, which will be the final year of his current contract. It carries a $19.8 million cap hit for 2025, according to Spotrac. Having already accomplished so much, these final years can be about chasing more rings and putting a bow on a great career.

He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion, a four-time All-Pro and has been selected to the Pro Bowl 10 times. He’s a lock for the Hall of Fame and statistically ranks amongst the best tight ends in NFL history – No. 3 in receptions (1,004) and yards (12,151), despite playing just 11 seasons as the Chiefs primary starter at the position.

Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten, the two who rank above Kelce in those categories, each finished their careers with 16 seasons as a starter.

Off the field, Kelce is one-half of arguably the biggest celebrity couples going right now given his relationship with Taylor Swift. He has a successful podcast with his brother, helping him maintain his media presence.

Retirement will continue to be a storyline on the field. Off of it, however, Kelce appears to just be getting started.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is expected to miss at least the next two games after being placed in concussion protocol, the team said Friday.

She suffered a concussion during a 97-92 loss to the Chicago Sky on Thursday.

Bueckers was making a move with the basketball when she appeared to bump heads with Courtney Vandersloot of the Sky during the final minute of the second quarter.

Bueckers, the WNBA No. 1 overall pick, has averaged 14.7 points, 6.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game during the first six games of her rookie season.

Tyasha Harris could start in place of Bueckers. Harris was listed as questionable with a knee injury for Saturday’s game after not playing in Thursday’s game.

When do the Dallas Wings play next?

The Wings will host the Sky on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on KFAA (Dallas) and WCIU (Chicago). The game will also be streamed on WNBA League Pass.

Dallas’ road game against the Seattle Storm will be played on Tuesday, June 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

It was just over 55 years ago that a hobbled New York Knicks warrior provided an emotional jolt that propelled his team to victory in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.

That big man was Willis Reed, and despite finishing with just four points, his mere presence is credited for elevating New York to that championship – one that remains on the Knicks’ Mount Rushmore of triumphs.

On Thursday, another Knicks star, Karl-Anthony Towns, fought through an injury and willed New York to a 111-94 win – dominating the Pacers with a 24-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

While the scenarios may be different, their “win-at-all-costs” mentality and toughness under less-than-ideal circumstances are similar.

For Towns, the desire to win was forged by his parents, Karl Towns and the late Jackie Cruz-Towns. When he was a junior at St. Joe’s Metuchen during the 2012-13 basketball season, I produced ‘Center of Attention,’ a documentary about Karl-Anthony. During my reporting, I spent time with his family and soon learned that the dining room in their Piscataway, New Jersey, home was where many of life’s lessons were imparted.

That season, I observed Karl-Anthony’s intense focus on winning and no-excuses attitude begin to crystalize after a loss to East Brunswick High School.

I was working on the documentary at the family’s home when his mother suggested that the loss, the second to East Brunswick that season, should be a learning experience.

Her son wasn’t having it.

“We lost to East Brunswick the first day, we lost to East Brunswick today. It’s always, ‘You got to learn from this.’ Well, sooner or later, you got to stop learning,” the then-17-year-old calmly explained to his mom. “It’s just like you being in college. OK, you go to college – you learn a lot. If you don’t go and use it in the real world, your college education was useless…

‘And until we learn – actually learn, and decide to go on the street and use what we learn, and actually beat an elite team, for one time, this season, then we will not be what we need to be for the year.”

Jackie appeared pleased with Karl-Anthony’s reasoning.

After 19 practices and 12 subsequent games, Towns’ St. Joe’s Metuchen and East Brunswick faced each other for a third time – this one for the conference championship. St. Joe’s Metuchen won, 66-63, in double-overtime.

Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the site of Saturday night’s Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, will no doubt be a hostile environment for Towns. Will he use what he’s learned and lift the Knicks once again?

We’ll see soon enough.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Iran angrily lashed out at Austria’s government Friday after Fox News Digital reported on a document asserting that Tehran has developed an advanced nuclear weapons program that can launch long-range missiles. 

The explosive report from Austria’s version of the FBI—the Directorate State Protection and Intelligence Service—provides a specialized window into the Iranian regime’s illicit atomic weapons program and its espionage activities in the central European country.

Fox News Digital was the first news organization to report on the Iran sections of the report on Wednesday, sparking a major diplomatic row between the Islamic Republic and Austria.

‘The Iranian nuclear weapons development program is well advanced, and Iran possesses a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long distances,’ the Austrian domestic intelligence agency report stated.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baqaei, denounced the Austrian intelligence agency ‘for spreading lies,’ and called on the Austrian government to ‘provide an official explanation regarding the irresponsible, provocative, and destructive act by one of its official institutions,’ according to the Ministry’s website.

Tehran-based Austrian diplomat Michaela Pacher was summoned to the Iranian foreign ministry, according to the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.

‘[Pacher] took this opportunity to reiterate Austria’s and the EU’s position on the Iranian nuclear program,’ Austrian officials said in a statement. ‘This position was most recently expressed to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.’

Austria expressed support for an EU statement along with other countries in March.

‘Iran already accumulated more than six significant quantities of 60% enriched material [which the Agency defines as the approximate amount of nuclear material for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded] and is currently producing one significant quantity of highly enriched uranium every month,’ noted the EU statement.

The EU statement added that ‘All these actions carry very significant proliferation-related risks and raise grave concerns about Iran’s intentions, since they have no credible civilian justification. In this context, the EU remains concerned by statements made by Iranian officials about Iran’s capacity to assemble a nuclear weapon.’

The shocking Austrian intelligence findings contradict the assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has ‘undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.’ There have long been conflicting views (between U.S. intelligence agencies and European intelligence services) over Iran’s illegal nuclear weapons program.

The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the Austrian report.

‘President Trump is committed to Iran never obtaining a nuclear weapon or the capacity to build one,’ a White House official said.

The Austrian report coincides with a new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report. The AP reported on Saturday that Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog said Saturday and called on Tehran to urgently change course and comply with the agency’s probe.

The report comes at a sensitive time as Tehran and Washington have been holding several rounds of talks in the past weeks over a possible nuclear deal that U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to reach.

The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency says that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%.

That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. A report in February put the stockpile at 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds).

The IAEA report raised a stern warning, saying that Iran is now ‘the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material’ — something the agency said was of ‘serious concern.’

In February, Fox News Digital reported that the IAEA said Iran has sufficient enriched uranium to manufacture six nuclear weapons.

‘The Islamic Republic is the standard-bearer of deception and stonewalling. Today’s damning IAEA reports confirm how Iran has been in violation of the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] for years, even when the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] was in effect. It shows the regime cannot be trusted with any diplomatic agreement,’ said Jason Brodsky, the policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).

The JCPOA is the formal name for the Iran nuclear deal that was concluded between the Obama administration and Iran. President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 because, his administration said at the time, the deal did not prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons.

‘I think Iran’s regime’s response to Austria’s findings shows its sensitivity over these matters,’ Brodsky said. ‘It also wants to bully Austria. Austria should force the Iranian regime to decrease the size of its embassy in Vienna which it has long used as a hub for malign intelligence collection and operations throughout Europe.’

The clerical regime’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, posted on his X account a statement in response to the Fox News Digital report.

‘Media is speculating about an imminent Iran-U.S. deal. Not sure if we are there yet,’ he wrote. ‘Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides.

‘But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran’s nuclear rights—including enrichment. Path to a deal goes through the negotiating table and not the media.’

The U.S. talks to dismantle Iran’s illicit atomic weapons program coincides with a nationwide truckers’ strike in Iran. The widespread labor unrest could severely weaken the regime, according to Iran experts.

The exiled crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, who lives in the U.S, called on U.S. labor unions to stand with Iranian truckers.

 ‘Truck drivers and workers across Iran are on strike and are putting their lives on the line to fight for their rights and for a better future for their families,’ Pahlavi, who lives in the U.S, wrote on X. ‘Now, they are being jailed and threatened for posting photos and videos of their strike. Only in a free Iran will all workers have the right to freely and openly organize. I invite you, labor unions and leaders, to stand with your fellow workers in Iran and show your solidarity.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders.

The 23-year-old Italian, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, won the first 11 games in a row, and has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16.

He has yet to drop a set in his second tournament back, after reaching the final in Rome earlier in the month.

‘Today I was playing really, really well,’ Sinner said. ‘He was serving very well and brave. But I am very happy.

‘My coach had (his) birthday yesterday and usually when he has birthday I don’t play good. Luckily I was not playing yesterday.’

‘This morning I said to my team I feel well,’ he added. ‘I warmed up feeling really well, trying to go on court with a good focus. My team gave me the right tactics. It is a combination also being happy on court.’

Sinner exploded into action, racing through the first set with a bagel in 25 minutes.

The Czech was left stunned, wondering how to counter such power and precision, but before he came up with any answer he was already trailing 3-0 in the second set.

Pinned to the back, Lehecka could only watch how Sinner’s shots flew past him, including a sensational baseline forehand winner that earned the Italian a 4-0 advantage.

The 23-year-old world number 34 earned a big cheer when he finally got onto the scoreboard at 5-1 but his ordeal was far from over.

Sinner served out the second set before proceeding to break shell-shocked Lehecka at the very start of the third.

Running his panting opponent ragged, Sinner earned another break and put him out of his misery with his first match point.

The top seed has now stretched his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 17 matches, after winning the titles at the 2024 U.S. Open and the Australian Open in January prior to his doping ban.

He will next face 17th-seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced after his opponent Arthur Fils of France withdrew with a back injury.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Indiana Pacers have the opportunity to close out the New York Knicks, again — this time at home in Indianapolis.

The Pacers went up 3-1 over the Knicks on Tuesday which is usually the kiss of death for opposing teams in the postseason, as teams with a 3-1 advantage in the NBA playoffs have a 284-13 record but the Knicks forced a Game 6 after defeating the Pacers 111-94 in Game 5 in New York.

Can the Knicks do it again and force a decisive Game 7 at Madison Square Garden? New York will need another strong performance from its star-studded duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who are the first teammates to both score 20+ points in each of the first five games of the conference finals since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal did so in 2002 for the Los Angeles Lakers.  

Meanwhile, Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton is looking to bounce back from scoring only eight-points (2-for-7 FG, 0-for-2 3PT) in their Game 5 loss.

The Oklahoma City Thunder await the winner after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in the Western Conference finals.

Here’s everything you need to know about Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Pacers and Knicks:

What time is Pacers vs. Knicks game today?

The Indiana Pacers will host the New York Knicks Saturday in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks

Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Sling TV, Max

Watch the Knicks vs. Pacers in Game 6 on Sling

Pacers vs. Knicks remaining schedule: Eastern Conference finals

*-if necessary

Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135 
Game 2: Pacers 114, Knicks 109 
Game 3: Knicks 106, Pacers 100 
Game 4: Pacers 130, Knicks 121
Game 5: Knicks 111, Pacers 94
Game 6, May 31: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m. 
Game 7, June 2: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.*

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 post appeared first on USA TODAY

Only two ballparks built prior to 1961 remain in Fenway Park (1912) and Wrigley Field (1914), with both stadiums having undergone substantial modernization efforts over more than a century of use. Dodger Stadium (1962) is the third-oldest MLB stadium, with Angel Stadium (1966) and the Kansas City Royals’ Kauffman Stadium (1973) rounding out the five oldest.

MLB’s newest stadium is the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field (2020), opening three years after the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park, the only other ballpark built since 2012. Temporarily playing in Sacramento, the Athletics expect to open their new Las Vegas ballpark in 2028.

Here’s a look at when every MLB stadium opened:

Oldest stadiums in MLB

Fenway Park – 1912 (Red Sox)
Wrigley Field – 1914 (Cubs)
Dodger Stadium – 1962 (Dodgers)
Angel Stadium – 1966 (Angels)
Kauffman Stadium – 1973 (Royals)
Rogers Centre – 1989 (Blue Jays)
Rate Field – 1991 (White Sox)
Orioles Park at Camden Yards – 1992 (Orioles)
Progressive Field – 1994 (Guardians)
Coors Field – 1995 (Rockies)
George M. Steinbrenner Field – 1996 (Rays’ home ballpark for 2025)
Chase Field – 1998 (Diamondbacks)
T-Mobile Park – 1999 (Mariners)
Daikin Park – 2000 (Astros)
Comerica Park – 2000 (Tigers)
Oracle Park – 2000 (Giants)
Sutter Health Park – 2000 (Athletics’ home ballpark until team moves to Las Vegas)
American Family Field – 2001 (Brewers)
PNC Park – 2001 (Pirates)
Great American Ball Park – 2003 (Reds)
Citizens Bank Park – 2004 (Phillies)
Petco Park – 2004 (Pirates)
Busch Stadium – 2006 (Cardinals)
Nationals Park – 2008 (Nationals)
Citi Field – 2009 (Mets)
Yankee Stadium – 2009 (Yankees)
Target Field – 2010 (Twins)
LoanDepot Park – 2012 (Marlins)
Truist Park – 2017 (Braves)
Globe Life Field – 2020 (Rangers)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

In a recent interview on ‘The Ariel Helwani Show,’ Carter-Williams said stepping in the boxing ring helps him ‘scratch that itch’ for competition since retiring from professional basketball in October 2024. He last played for the Orlando Magic in the 2022-23 NBA season, when he averaged 4.3 points in only four appearances.

‘I’ve been competing my whole life, and that’s something I want to do. I want to continue to compete,’ Carter-Williams said. ‘I respect the sport (of boxing). I’m a big fan. I watch a lot. I’ve got a lot of friends that fight.’

Carter-Williams was drafted out of Syracuse by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 11th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He was named the 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds in 70 games (all starts) with the 76ers. He went on to play nine years in the NBA for six different teams, including the 76ers (2013–2015), Milwaukee Bucks (2015–2016), Chicago Bulls (2016–2017), Charlotte Hornets (2017–2018), Houston Rockets (2018–2019) and the Magic (2019–2023).

The 6-foot-5 athlete said he’s taking his new boxing career ‘one step at a time.’

‘I don’t know where it’s going to take me or where it’s going to lead me,’ Carter-Williams said on May 12 ahead of his Thursday debut. ‘I know that there’s an avenue for people who played professional sports, who enter the boxing ring. There’s a lane there. I don’t know, I’m kind of taking it one step at a time. It’s one of those things I definitely want to keep getting better at.’

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 post appeared first on USA TODAY