A Bahamas native, Larry Demeritte moved to the United States in 1976 to chase his dream of reaching the Kentucky Derby. He finally realized it in 2024 when West Saratoga reached the Run for the Roses.
West Saratoga, who finished 12th in Kentucky Derby 150, was an $11,000 purchase, leading Demeritte to famously quip, “I have champagne tastes with a beer budget.”
Demeritte became the first Black trainer in the Kentucky Derby since 1989, when Hank Allen finished sixth with Northern Wolf.
In 1996, Demeritte was diagnosed with bone cancer and told by doctors he had five years to live. In 2018, doctors told Demeritte he had six months remaining.

Thoroughbred trainer Larry Demeritte, whose underdog story inspired horse racing fans across the world prior to the 2024 Kentucky Derby, died Monday evening in Louisville. He was 75.

Inga Demeritte, Larry’s wife, said her husband suffered cardiac arrest after a long battle with cancer.

“He had chest pains, and they rushed him to the ER,” Inga Demeritte said. “Cardiac arrest, and that was it. He never came to.”

A Bahamas native, Larry Demeritte moved to the United States in 1976 to chase his dream of reaching the Kentucky Derby.

He finally realized it in 2024 when West Saratoga reached the Run for the Roses and finished 12th.

“That was his ultimate goal to get to the Kentucky Derby,” Inga Demeritte said. “It meant so much to him. He just wanted to get there. … He’d always ask people in the industry, ‘Are you coming to the Kentucky Derby?’ They’d be like, ‘Oh, no, I’m not going to the Derby.’ He’d be like, ‘Why are you in the sport then?’”

West Saratoga, a gray son of Exaggerator, won the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old and then was the runner-up in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks to earn his way into the Kentucky Derby.

West Saratoga was an $11,000 purchase, leading Demeritte to famously quip, “I have champagne tastes with a beer budget.”

Demeritte became the first Black trainer in the Kentucky Derby since 1989, when Hank Allen finished sixth with Northern Wolf.

In 1996, Demeritte was diagnosed with bone cancer and told by doctors he had five years to live. In 2018, doctors told Demeritte he had six months remaining.

“I’m still here,” Demeritte said before the 2024 Kentucky Derby. “God had a better plan for me than what man has. … I never felt defeated. I always say, ‘I’ll do the chemo, but I think the doctor’s wrong.’”

Demeritte went out on his own as a trainer in 1981 and won 184 races in 2,138 career starts with purse earnings of more than $5.3 million.

According to Equibase.com, Demeritte’s last race came on May 13 when Mendello finished fourth in a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

A statement from Kentucky’s Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association said Demeritte ‘epitomized the best in horse racing with his horsemanship and love and passion for the game and its equine athletes.’

‘We’re all so glad and proud that Larry achieved his dream of being in the Kentucky Derby with West Saratoga. It showed yet again that the little guy, with some luck and a lot of skill, can compete with stables with far greater numbers and bankroll. Larry, with his backstory, engaging personality and wide smile, was a terrific ambassador for horse racing, and the industry lost one of its bright lights with his passing. Our heart goes out to Inga. We hope she takes comfort knowing how many people loved Larry and will continue to get inspiration from him.”

Inga Demeritte said her husband was looking forward to getting back to the Kentucky Derby at some point.

“He was like, ‘Once you get your foot in, you always want to back,’” she said. “Everyone wanted to take pictures with him. He was like a celebrity. He inspired so many people.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue their journey in the NBA playoffs with the 2025 NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the shoe brand Converse celebrated the star in a unique style.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named MVP on Wednesday, has left his mark not just on the court but also on the streets of downtown Oklahoma City and at his former high school, Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario. Several murals, a collaborative effort between SGA and Converse, have been updated to celebrate his MVP win, adding a unique touch to the city’s landscape and connecting the fans to the celebration.

Converse was not the only one celebrating Gilgeous-Alexander; the SGA logo was featured on the Devon Tower in downtown Oklahoma City. The tallest building in the city displayed ‘SGA’ followed by ‘MVP’ throughout the day after the announcement.

In his first game as the MVP in the Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to debut his latest shoe color, named ‘Hail Clay.’ This unique color, inspired by his wife Hailey Summers’ eye color, is a heartfelt tribute to her as his ‘Most Valuable Person,’ adding a personal touch to the celebration.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoe

Here is a look at how Converse celebrated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP:

Approaching Memorial Day, it’s becoming increasingly less ‘early’ in the 2025 Major League Baseball season.

Three managers have already been fired, the Colorado Rockies are on pace for the worst in record in history and the kind of discourse normally reserved for New York sports talk radio broke containment, making Juan Soto’s daily stats a topic of national conversation.

Here’s a look at two of the biggest disappointing storylines from the first two months of the season:

Baltimore Orioles

Manager Brandon Hyde was fired, paying the price for the 2023 AL East champions’ inexplicable winter inactivity, falling further out of the division race just about every single day, bottoming out at 15-32. The team’s 5.45 ERA is the worst mark in the AL and the offense hasn’t been much better, ranking near the bottom of baseball in OPS.

Everybody is still (relatively) young, but after tailing off down the stretch in 2024, does this group need a shakeup?

‘You go back to last June, we were on top of the sport in almost every facet of the sport, including majors and minors,’ GM Mike Elias told reporters three days after Hyde was fired, his first time facing the media after the move. ‘Now we find ourselves where we find ourselves. This has been hitting us all very hard, but it’s unusual for that to be so sudden.’

Charlie Morton, 41, is 0-7 with a 7.68 ERA in 41 innings and was demoted to the bullpen. Kyle Gibson was released after giving up 23 earned runs in four starts, good for a 16.78 ERA.

‘I think I’ve been pretty clear that our pitching staff, our starting pitching staff, has been a huge problem,’ Elias said. ‘I put that on myself and the front office in terms of roster construction.’

There’s also concern over catcher Adley Rutschman, the All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick who is hitting .221 with a .646 OPS over his last 150 games dating back to last year.

‘The position player group, again, we haven’t had perfect health, but this is a universally lauded group and (has) had a lot of success,’ Elias said. ‘There’s underperformance happening there, and that’s something we need to address via player development, via coaching.’

Juan Soto

To be clear, Soto has played well. The $765 million man has an adjusted OPS that’s 34% better than the league average and the Mets are battling for first place.

‘He’s human,’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. ‘He’s gonna be fine. He’s Juan Soto.’

But Soto is yet to really get going, currently with career-low marks in OBP (.374) and slugging (.429) through his first 49 games with the Mets. And his hustle – or lack thereof – has already been called into question after a pair of perceived lapses in recent days.

Even with about 14 ⅔ seasons left on Soto’s deal, there’s no reason for anybody to panic. The 26-year-old will find his footing in Queens and be every bit the hitter that earned himself the largest deal in sports history. And Soto’s early-season struggles have personal precedent, with March/April historically the worst months of his career (.258 average, .848 OPS in 156 games).

‘When you sign that type of contract, there’s going to be more eyes on you and he knows that and he embraces that,’ Mendoza said.

Introducing … the NFL on the Olympic stage.

That is so inviting if you’re Roger Goodell, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill and among many others, organizers bent on making the L.A. Summer Games in 2028 even more of an event to remember. Sponsors also can undoubtedly envision a field day. Nothing sells like the flag. Wrap that around the USA’s most popular sports league and it is, well, solid gold.

Listen to Jefferson, the Minnesota Vikings’ star receiver, endorse the idea of repping the USA in the world of flag football: “Just to think about the chance of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal is a dream.”

So, here comes an NFL version of the “Dream Team” to not only prove to the world that football, American football, is ours to dominate … but to also sell to the rest of Earth.

And hey, maybe nothing will boost the NFL’s fine product to the international market like the flag, as in flag football. The NFL has been all-in on flag football for quite a while, as it provides an entry point for growing fans. Yet aligning with the Olympics is like a Magic-to-MJ slam dunk (can’t help the flashback to the original ‘Dream Team”) for Roger & Co.

As team owners unanimously passed the resolution this week to allow NFL players to compete in the Olympics, it was no coincidence that Goodell, the revenue-driving NFL commissioner, voiced the expectation that within five years the NFL will play 17 games abroad.

This season, the league will stage a record seven international games, three shy of the number in a season already covered in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players. To get to 17 abroad, the NFL will have it on its checklist, along with the 18-game season, when it negotiates the next CBA with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

As it stands now, the NFLPA whole-heartedly endorses the league’s flag football vision, pending some details, such as the mesh with the NFL calendar, standards for playing surfaces and equipment, and insuring the contracts for the real jobs. And why not? NFL growth flowing from flag football – the dots connect to expanding the consumer base with greater appeal to women and the younger generation, at home and abroad – translates to fatter wallets for players.

In my opinion, Team USA probably could still dominate if it filled its roster with 10 recently retired players. Yet apparently there is no shortage of active NFL players – and definitely a robust number of wide receivers, I’m told – who want this. After all, on top of the gold, it would be so cool to represent the country.

Hill, the electric Miami Dolphins receiver, has made no secret of his desire to be a part of Team USA. Shoot, he might even be prone to celebrate with a backflip on the medal stand. Just what you’d expect from a home-run threat who carries the moniker, “The Cheetah.”

Then there’s Travis Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner seeking to go both ways as a receiver and cornerback with the Jacksonville Jaguars like he did for Coach Prime at Colorado. I’m not sure if Hunter wants in, but I’m guessing that any guy who is wired to play more than 100 snaps every game would be, well, golden for another layer of multi-tasking.

Still, is chasing the gold worth the risk?

You know the risk. Blowing out a knee on a cutback move. Tearing up an ankle on a spin move. Snapping a hamstring on a sprint to pay dirt. Think of the non-contact injuries that occasionally pop up on a football field. There are no guarantees they can’t happen on an Olympic stage.

USA! USA! US Ouch!

“I’d love it if we kept the NFL players out of it,” Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, alluding to the injury risk, told team beat writers during the league meetings in March.

If you’re aiming to win a Super Bowl, it might be a bit nerve-wracking to consider your hopes could be derailed by some freak injury. Typically, NFL players are contractually prevented from engaging in ventures that involve extra risk (think skydiving, for example), but for flag football there’s a pass.

“I’m afraid I have a quarterback that’d probably be pretty good at it,” Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters during the league meetings in March. “So, no, I’m not excited about that in all honesty. I believe in America. I want gold medals, but…”

Maybe Harbaugh can rest easy on this matter. While Lamar Jackson would be at the top of the list for Team USA attractions – and growing up, he played flag football at the Boys and Girls Club – he seemingly has no interest.

Asked about the prospect last summer on “The Lounge” podcast, Jackson said: “I doubt it. I’m a professional NFL player. So, I’m just going to stay over here and let those guys have fun.”

When reached by USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, Harbaugh was not exactly sweating in hypotheticals. Asked what his comfort level would be if Jackson wanted to play in the ’28 Olympics, Harbaugh replied in a text, “Hmmm. The reality is that’s a football lifetime from now.”

You might expect that NFL teams, interested in protecting their most valuable assets, would be hesitant. But no, this is bigger than that in another context, considering the chance for the league to put down a major international footprint.

Remember, the resolution passed with a 32-0 vote.

“I absolutely think it’s a great opportunity for the league and it’ll be a great opportunity for some of the players who participate,” Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II told USA TODAY Sports.

I asked Rooney if he would have any hesitation if one of Pittsburgh’s key players, say, star receiver DK Metcalf, wound up on Team USA. He pointed out that the resolution limited teams from losing more than one player to any single Olympic squad, although theoretically a team could lose up to three players if one played for Team USA and one or two played for other countries.

“That’s part of what the proposal is all about,” Rooney said. “To kind of limit the exposure that one team might have, having more than one of their star players get injured in something like this.

“Look, I think the risk of injury in flag football is low. I’m overall comfortable with it. But I think this proposal is just an effort to manage, to make sure that no one team bears too heavy of a burden of having more than one or two players participate.”

In the eyes of the NFL, the reward is far greater than the risk.

Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell

The first decade of what’s become the Cup Series saw lots of parity with multiple drivers competing for championships. Lee Petty had the most with three (1954, 1958-59). His son Richard became the first NASCAR driver to win seven championships, the first in 1964. He also won titles in 1967, 1971-72, 1974-75 and 1979.

That was one of the most dominant stretches in NASCAR history. Richard Petty still holds the record for most Cup Series wins with 200.

One year after Richard’s final title, a new champion was crowned: Dale Earnhardt.

The North Carolina native took the mantle from Petty as the dominant force in NASCAR. Earnhardt took his first Cup Series title in 1980 and equaled Petty’s total of seven championships with titles in 1986-87, 1990-91 and 1993-94. His driving style earned him many nicknames, including ‘The Intimidator,’ ‘Ironhead’ and ‘The Man in Black,’ a nod to his black No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

But for many younger NASCAR fans, Earnhardt is only the stuff of legend. The seven-time champion died in a last-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500.

Now his kids, Kelley Earnhardt Miller and longtime NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., have partnered with Amazon Prime on a new documentary series titled ‘Earnhardt,’ covering their father’s career and the Earnhardt family.

Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt Miller both spoke with USA TODAY about the documentary.

‘Earnhardt’ documentary origins

NASCAR’s gone through multiple era changes since Earnhardt’s death. Another driver has equaled his championship total — Jimmie Johnson — and a new generation of drivers are in their primes, including the likes of Kyle Larson, William Byron, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott.

‘For me, I just wanted to introduce Dad and his greatness to a generation of fans that hadn’t seen him race or didn’t understand why he was so loved or appreciated,’ Earnhardt Jr. said.

This documentary also gives viewers a chance to understand Earnhardt’s story prior to his NASCAR career.

‘There’s been a few different documentaries and pieces done but I don’t think anything this comprehensive,’ Earnhardt Miller said. ‘A kind of human side of our dad, not the racer, not always the racer that people know. The father and the person and the friend and all that he was to people.’

What makes ‘Earnhardt’ different?

There’s no shortage of media about Earnhardt. The 2004 ESPN film ‘3: The Dale Earnhardt Story’ and 2007’s ‘Dale – The Movie’ narrated by Paul Newman are some of the other films about the NASCAR icon.

This new series takes a wider view, including touching on less positive sides of the seven-time champion. It includes a lot of candid interviews that discuss private conversations Earnhardt had with friends and other drivers.

Both of Earnhardt’s children felt it was important to be honest about how he was with them.

‘We’ve grown to understand to tell this story, Dad’s story, which has been told many, many times, to truly tell it was to be honest,’ Earnhardt Jr. said. ‘Had we not, we would be just regurgitating the same ‘seven-time champion,’ ‘won this many races,’ ‘what a great guy,’ ‘he’s amazing,’ ‘The Intimidator,’ that everybody knows and loves. But to do this project justice, we had to be honest about what it was like being around him.’

Through this documentary, the two learned more about their father. Earnhardt’s longtime friend Hank Parker Sr. recounted a conversation in which Earnhardt said he couldn’t tell his children he loved them.

‘(Parker) hangs up the phone with his son and says, ‘I love you, son,” Earnhardt Miller said. ‘And when he hangs up, my dad says ‘that’s not something I can say to my kids.”

‘For me and Kelley to hear that was incredible,’ Earnhardt Jr. said. ‘There’s a couple little nuggets of that in there with (Parker) and other people who contributed to the project that … I would’ve never believed that was what Dad said or how that went down.’

For Earnhardt Jr., it was an emotional watch to see the final two episodes of the documentary with his interviews included.

‘Reliving one of the more difficult parts of your life … having to go through that was difficult,’ Earnhardt Jr. said. ‘But I wanted at the end for there to be this really, really amazing project. For (people who) will never meet this man, this here might help you get as close as you possibly can.’

How to watch ‘Earnhardt’

‘Earnhardt’ premieres on Prime Video on Thursday, May 22. The first two episodes are included in the premiere with the final two set for release on May 29.

This coincides with NASCAR’s broadcast on the streaming service. Earnhardt Jr. will be part of Prime Video’s broadcast team calling the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

‘They’re going to come at it with a fresh lens,’ Earnhardt Jr. said. ‘If you look at their broadcast of (Thursday Night Football), they have new ideas, new ways of presenting the game and experience to the fan and I think this will be very similar.’

NEW YORK — It was fitting that overtime would be wild, too.

To cap what was a thrilling game, the Indiana Pacers stole Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night, scraping past the New York Knicks in an overtime that saw eight lead changes, 138-135.

The Knicks would get a pair of 3-point looks inside the final seconds of overtime — one from Jalen Brunson and one from Karl-Anthony Towns — but both clanked wide.

The fact that we got here in the first place was improbable. The Pacers erased a 15-point Knicks lead with fewer than five minutes to play on a run marked by seven consecutive made 3s.

All-Star Tyrese Haliburton led all Pacers with 31 points, none bigger than his stepback two at the top of the key that tied the score, sending it into overtime. At first, Haliburton thought it was a 3 and he had won the game, turning toward the Madison Square Garden crowd and making the choke sign.

“Basketball is fun. Winning is fun. I’m so proud of the resilience of this group. … We kept going. Kept fighting,” Haliburton said during a TV interview after the game. “… I thought it was a 3. I tried to hit the celly and it didn’t work. But we finished it in overtime.

“… That’s a hell of a win. But I really do think there’s a lot for us to improve on.” 

Shooting guard Aaron Nesmith poured in 30, after scoring 20 in the fourth quarter.

Brunson led New York with 43, while Towns added 35 and 12 rebounds.

Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for all the highlights of Pacers vs. Knicks Game 1 from Madison Square Garden:

Game 1 highlights: Pacers 138, Knicks 135 (OT)

OT: Pacers 138, Knicks 135

End of regulation: Knicks 125, Pacers 125

NEW YORK — The Indiana Pacers, somehow, are still alive in Game 1.

Indiana erased a 15-point Knicks lead late in the fourth quarter and tied the score at 125 on point guard Tyrese Haliburton’s deep stepback to send the game into overtime. The shot initially appeared to be a game-winning 3-pointer, but a quick review revealed that Haliburton stepped on the line.

Pacers shooting guard Aaron Nesmith, who scored 20 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, drained six consecutive 3s late in the fourth quarter to spark a run that kept Indiana close.

Knicks’ Jalen Brunson in foul trouble

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks and their most important player are facing foul trouble.

Early in the fourth quarter, All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, picked up his fifth foul when he swiped down on a layup attempt from Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell, catching all forearm. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau pulled Brunson, who leads New York with 31 points, out of the game quickly to preserve him for later in the game.

The Knicks, at least initially, did not miss him.

Forward OG Anunoby laced a step-back 3 and then put home a tough layup to score five quick points, prompting a Pacers timeout.

The Knicks are up, 99-92.

Pacers pay tribute to Jim Irsay, Indianapolis Colts owner who died at 65

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died earlier Wednesday. He was 65. The Pacers were among several to pay tribute to Irsay.

3Q: Knicks 90, Pacers 87

NEW YORK — Things are tightening up in the Garden.

The Pacers outscored the Knicks by four in the third quarter to close their deficit to three heading into the fourth quarter of what has been an entertaining, back-and-forth affair.

The Pacers amped up their defensive physicality and bodied Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, often doubling him in the paint once he got past the first defender. And though there were times when Indiana did appear to frustrate Brunson, he nonetheless remained productive and scored nine points in the quarter to bring his total to a game-high 27.

The Pacers opened the quarter on a 10-6 run, and point guard Tyrese Haliburton continued his stretch of aggressive play, seeking his shot. Through three quarters, he has 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting. The Pacers also did a better job in the third quarter of cleaning up the glass, collecting several offensive rebounds that led to second-chance opportunities.

The Knicks are up, 90-87.

Halftime: Knicks 69, Pacers 62

NEW YORK — The Indiana Pacers could barely miss in the first quarter. The second was a different story — at least initially.

One frame after they shot 73.7% from the floor, the Pacers cooled down considerably. There were airballed 3s, smoked layups and even a wide open dunk attempt by Obi Toppin — a player known to rattle home dunks with power — that he flubbed off the back of the rim. Indiana, which started the game making its first nine shot attempts, followed that up by making just nine of its following 24.

That allowed the Knicks to go on a 13-1 run in the middle of the quarter and build a seven-point lead headed into halftime, 69-62.

New York has not shied from the quick tempo of the game, something that is more of a Pacers’ strength. The Knicks also looked to race out in transition to put up quick shot attempts. Another area where the Knicks are outperforming the Pacers is on the glass, where New York holds a 35-29 advantage.

The Pacers would course correct late in the period to stop the bleeding, as All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton scored the team’s final 10 points.

Jalen Brunson (18 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (15) and Mikal Bridges (12) lead the way for the Knicks. 

Celebrities, former Knicks dot MSG crowd

Stars are just like us — They get starstruck too.

TNT commentator Kenny Smith offered fans an inside look into how players feel competing in front of a star-studded crowd, especially in New York’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.

‘You cannot glance to the left. You cannot glance to the right. You have to stay focused in, because there’s Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, all the famous rappers that you’ve ever wanted to talk to. They are here tonight,’ Smith said on the ‘Inside the NBA’ pre-game show. ‘When you’re in the Eastern Conference Finals, you have to knock that out and not pay attention to any of that.’ — Cydney Henderson

Q1: Knicks 36, Pacers 34

NEW YORK — The Eastern Conference finals started with a flurry.

The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks flushed shots at a blistering rate in the first quarter, with both teams combining to go 29-of-42 — or 69.0% — from the field. But, with a 13-5 run to close the quarter, the Knicks are taking a two-point lead into the second quarter, 36-34.

Indiana made each of its first nine field goal attempts, and, by the time it had connected on its first seven, all five starters had scored.

The Pacers shot a ridiculous 73.7% from the field in the first, with center Myles Turner, who hit all five of his attempts, leading the way with 11 points.

The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson (nine points) and Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, both of whom chipped in eight.

What time is Pacers vs. Knicks?

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers tips off Wednesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET.

How to watch Pacers vs. Knicks: TV, stream

Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York
TV: TNT
Stream: Max, Sling

Knicks starting lineup for Game 1

Pacers starting lineup for Game 1

Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved the NBA MVP award

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got off to a great start. He kept playing like an MVP, and Oklahoma City kept winning.

The Thunder finished 68-14 and earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and Gilgeous-Alexander is one of three finalists for MVP after averaging a league-best and career-high 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks and shooting 51.9% from the field, 37.5% on 3-pointers and 89.8% on free throws. No guard attempted more free throws per game (8.8) and he led the league in free throws made per game (7.9).

An All-Star and first-team All-NBA guard who is the best player on the best team deserves the MVP.

That’s Gilgeous-Alexander. Read why Jeff Zillgitt thinks SGA deserved the award here.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins first NBA MVP award

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard who led his team to the NBA’s best record, was named the league’s most valuable player during Wednesday’s ‘NBA on TNT Pregame Show.’

Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, is the third Thunder player to win the MVP. Kevin Durant took home the honors in 2014 and Russell Westbrook won it in 2017.

It’s the seventh consecutive season a foreign-born player has won the award, as Gilgeous-Alexander is a native of Canada.

ESPN first reported the news.

Led by Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder won 68 regular-season games, including going 29-1 against the Eastern Conference, winning games by an average of 12.9 points per game and outscoring their opponents by 1,055 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander received 71 first-place votes (worth 10 points) and 29 second-place votes (worth seven points) to win the award with 913 points. Three-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic received the other 29 first-place votes and 71 second-place votes to finish with 787 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished in third (470 points), marking the seventh consecutive year he’s finished in the top four. Jayson Tatum placed fourth (311 points) and Donovan Mitchell rounded out the top five (74 points). ‒ Scooby Axson and Jace Evans

Eight infamous moments from Pacers vs. Knicks rivalry

They didn’t face one another in the NBA playoffs until 1993, but the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers got acquainted really quickly after that.

The two franchises wound up playing six memorable playoff series against one another over an eight-season span, including two-consecutive matchups in the Eastern Conference finals in 1999 and 2000.

A quarter-century later, it’s Knicks vs. Pacers for a spot in the NBA Finals once again. The two teams begin their best-of-seven series with Game 1 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, and it’ll rekindle one of the league’s great rivalries of the 1990s that’s suddenly been given new life with the rise of the Knicks under Jalen Brunson and the Pacers with Tyrese Haliburton the past two seasons. Read Mark Giannotto’s story here.

Keys to Knicks, Pacers winning Eastern Conference finals

In many ways, the Eastern Conference finals is a battle of contrasting styles.

The Indiana Pacers love to speed up the game, while the New York Knicks tend to play deliberately. The series will be determined by the team that dictates its style.

The stakes are high. If the Pacers win the series, they would be making their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000 and would have a chance to win their first Larry O’Brien trophy. New York, meanwhile, would be making its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, with the chance to win its first title since 1973. Read Lorenzo Reyes’ analysis here.

Players to watch, X-factors in Eastern Conference finals

The marquee matchup is at point guard, where Jalen Brunson of the Knicks and Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers will be counted on to carry their respective teams. Yet, each squad will need so much more to advance, from role players stepping up to coaches making the necessary adjustments. Read Lorenzo Reyes’ five storylines to watch here.

Pacers vs. Knicks predictions: Expert picks for Game 1

USA TODAY Sports experts make predictions ahead of the Eastern Conference finals Game 1:

Pacers vs. Knicks series winner

Jeff Zillgitt: Pacers in six
Lorenzo Reyes: Knicks in seven
Heather Tucker: Knicks in seven
James Williams: Knicks in six
Jordan Mendoza: Knicks in seven
Scooby Axson: Knicks in seven
Cydney Henderson: Knicks in six

Pacers vs. Knicks Game 1 winner

Jeff Zillgitt: Indiana Pacers
Lorenzo Reyes: New York Knicks
Heather Tucker: Indiana Pacers
James Williams: Indiana Pacers
Jordan Mendoza: New York Knicks
Scooby Axson: New York Knicks
Cydney Henderson: New York Knicks

Pacers vs. Knicks odds

Odds via BetMGM as of Monday, May 19

Game 1 odds

Spread: Knicks (-4.5)
Moneyline: Knicks (-185); Pacers (+150)
Over/under: 223.5

Odds to win Eastern Conference final

New York Knicks: -155
Indiana Pacers: +130

Watch Pacers vs. Knicks Game 1

Pacers vs. Knicks Eastern Conference finals schedule

(all times Eastern; * – if necessary)

Indiana leads series 1-0

Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135 (OT)
Game 2: Pacers at Knicks | Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. | TNT
Game 3: Knicks at Pacers | Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. | TNT
Game 4: Knicks at Pacers | Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. | TNT
Game 5: Pacers at Knicks | Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. | TNT *
Game 6: Knicks at Pacers | Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. | TNT*
Game 7: Pacers at Knicks | Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. | TNT*

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The SEC cares so deeply for its rivalries. Enough to keep secondary rivalries on the long-term schedule? We’ll see.
If SEC persists long term with eight-game schedule, that puts secondary rivalries like Auburn-Georgia and Alabama-Tennessee in jeopardy. A nine-game schedule format allows room to keep more key games.
The ‘Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry’ is long on history, but other rivalries have been much better for the past decade.

The SEC cares so deeply for its rivalries that it once built its interdivisional schedule model around preserving the Auburn-Georgia and Alabama-Tennessee games. And those matchups don’t even rank as the No. 1 rivalry for those schools.

Then, the SEC built an eight-game conference schedule model for the 2024 and 2025 seasons that retained primary and prominent secondary rivalries after the conference expanded to 16 teams.

The two-year schedule format to accommodate Oklahoma and Texas joining the league served as a stop gap while conference brass continued to mull a long-term schedule plan.

SEC officials have, for years, debated increasing from an eight- to a nine-game conference schedule. The league membership consistently decided to stay at eight.

The SEC must soon consider that age-old question again, with a scheduling solution needed for 2026 and beyond.

The SEC spring meetings, which begin May 27, offer a stage for the schedule debate to revive. Oklahoma and Texas could help tip the vote to approve expansion.

The rivalry tentacle attaches to the debate. A nine-game conference schedule offers avenues to annually retain not only primary rivalries, but also secondary rivalry games. Continuing with an eight-game schedule probably would mean dialing back secondary rivalries that the SEC steadfastly protected for so long.

Some matchups like the Iron Bowl, Egg Bowl and Red River are non-negotiable. They’re going nowhere, no matter the format. The importance of other rivalries varies based on factors such as your age, where you’re from, and the extent to which history matters to you.

Here’s how I rate the conference’s 10 best rivalries, some of which likely would go on the chopping block if the eight-game schedule persists in perpetuity.

1. Alabama-Auburn (Iron Bowl)

Instate rivalries hit differently, especially when that state is football-crazed Alabama. As an Auburn fan once said, the Iron Bowl isn’t life or death. It’s much bigger than that. There been national title implications and memorable moments that serve to add to the lore.

2. Oklahoma-Texas (Red River)

When the SEC added Oklahoma and Texas, the conference didn’t just gain two iconic brands, it acquired one of college football’s best rivalries. Most games are better when played on college campuses, but this one at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas stands as an exception to that rule.

3. Mississippi-Mississippi State (Egg Bowl)

Mississippians’ chosen side in this rivalry points not just to their allegiance, but to their identity. Opposing sides don’t just dislike each other. They despise each other. This rivalry often features a dash of zaniness. When Ole Miss won the game in 1926, fans of both teams stormed the field. Rebels fans went for the goal posts, and Mississippi State (then Mississippi A&M) fans rushed to fight Ole Miss fans.

4. Florida-Georgia

This rivalry touts its own hall of fame dedicated to the series. The longtime designation of this rivalry as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” sums up the vibe for this game played in Jacksonville, Florida.

5. Texas-Texas A&M

Thanksgiving week felt incomplete during the 12 seasons this rivalry went dormant after the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC. The SEC’s addition of Texas rekindled the series. This game packs its stiffest punch when scheduled for Black Friday, like it is this year. The Texas fight song and the Aggie War Hymn each includes a line needling their in-state rival.

6. Alabama-LSU

LSU counts as many rivals as any SEC team, but none is more collectively hated than Alabama. You can thank Nick Saban (and copious amounts of liquor in Louisiana) for that. LSU fans even burned Saban in effigy in 2008. Vitriol for Saban aside, this game became one of the nation’s most influential clashes throughout the 2010s.

7. Auburn-Georgia

As the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry,” no SEC series touts more history. Georgia’s stretch of 11 victories in the past 12 matchups dulled the luster of a series that once delivered such thrills as the “Prayer at Jordan-Hare.” Throughout its history, this ranks as one of the SEC’s most evenly matched rivalries.

8. Alabama-Tennessee

Saban’s dominance took some shine off this series, but the Vols renewed vigor to “The Third Saturday in October” after they upset Alabama in 2022, then tore down the goal posts and baptized them in the river. This rivalry features a distinct smell. When cigar smoke wafts through the stadium, you know the outcome has been decided.

9. LSU-Mississippi (Magnolia Bowl)

The rivalry that supplied Billy Cannon’s Halloween run and “The Night the Clock Stopped” found its peak stride the past few seasons. Fans from the winning side stormed the field in each of the past three years. This rivalry is not as heated as some others, but its games usually supply rich entertainment value.

10. Florida-Tennessee

This rivalry lacks the tradition of others, but at its crescendo in the 1990s and early 2000s, this September clash charted the course for SEC supremacy. The game peaked when it pitted Steve Spurrier against Phillip Fulmer, but, even now, animosity lingers between these fan bases.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com. Follow him on X @btoppmeyer.