Hawks’ Trae Young has on the nose reaction to Jayson Tatum max contract rumor

Earlier reports state that the Boston Celtics will be offering Jayson Tatum a max deal in order to retain the services of the 22-year-old for the long haul. For his part, Atlanta Hawks stud Trae Young seems to be in complete agreement of this notion.

Young took to Twitter to send out his support for the C’s All-Star forward.

Young has no doubt in his mind that Boston should offer Tatum the max deal, and honestly, we could not agree more. This should be a no-brainer for the Celtics, and here is why we believe this to be true.

（iSports basketball data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Accoding to basketball data provider, Tatum is currently still on his rookie-scale deal, which he signed back in 2017. Last October, the Celtics exercised their team option on the final year of Tatum’s deal, which will see him with the club for at least until the end of next season. Obviously, Boston has no intention of letting their prized youngster walk away anytime soon, and they will need to dig deep into their pockets to ensure the same.

As for Atlanta’s Trae Young, he too should be in for a pretty hefty extension in the not so distant future. The sophomore entered the league in 2018, and his current rookie deal runs out by the end of the 2021-22 campaign, as per iSports NBA API. This means that the Hawks are expected to offer the All-Star point guard a new deal as early as next summer. Being that he is widely considered as the the team’s cornerstone superstar of the future, it would not be surprising if Young will likewise be putting pen to paper on a max deal.

All stats from isportsapi.com

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Leicester City set to extend Wes Morgan's contract

Leicester City fans rejoice! Captain Morgan appears to be sticking around for at least another year.

According to a report from The Athletic, Brendan Rodgers sees Wes Morgan as an essential member of the squad and is set to hand the 36-year-old an extension.

The Foxes captain, who has been at Leicester since 2012, has only featured for a total of 602 minutes this season (159 minutes in the Premier League) according to iSports football live data, but still has a role to play as a reserve centre-back and a leader in the dressing room.

（iSports football  live data covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）


Morgan is one of five Leicester City players who are out of contract on 30 June. Eldin Jakupović, Andy King, Christian Fuchs, and Nampalys Mendy could also see their time come to an end, according to iSports football data.

However, it’s been reported that Rodgers also wants to hold onto Fuchs, who was also a part of Leicester City’s Premier League-winning campaign.

The 30-time Jamaica international has been named to the PFA Team of the Year on four occasions – three times in the Championship and once during their historic 2015-16 season.

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Luka Doncic’s injured hand fully healed thanks to long hiatus

Perhaps the good thing about the long hiatus brought about by the coronavirus pandemic is that Luka Doncic’s injured hand has fully healed according to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Perhaps the good thing about the long hiatus brought about by the coronavirus pandemic is that Luka Doncic’s injured hand has fully healed according to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

（iSports basketball data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

To recall, Luka Doncic injured his left thumb in the Mavs’ 109-103 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in late February, as per iSports basketball data provider. He left in the first quarter of the game to have it taped up then came back right away. The Slovenian revealed that his thumb got slapped twice but the referees thought that the defenders hit all ball.

Though he finished their game against the Spurs, the injury bothered Doncic in the next games. After their 126-118 loss to the Miami Heat, Doncic admitted how difficult it was to play with an injured thumb, according to iSports basketball API.

The Mavs wisely let Doncic sit out several games for the thumb to heal. But fast forward to March 11, the NBA had to suspend the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mavs were one of the last teams to play.

For the past few weeks, the NBA has been in constant discussion on the possible resumption of the season. Disney World in Orlando is the highly-favored bubble location which will hold closed-door games as well as house players and their family.

All stats from iSportsapi.com

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Jason Terry leaves Mavs G-League team for Arizona Wildcats

19-year NBA veteran and former Wildcat Jason Terry has accepted assistant coaching job at Arizona. Terry departs Mavs, where he's been assistant GM of Texas Legends. Announcement expected Thursday.

One-time NBA champ and former Sixth Man of the Year winner Jason Terry is taking the next step in his post-playing career. NBA insider Shams Charania reports that Terry has accepted a role as an assistant coach in his alma matter of Arizona.

According to iSports NBA API, Jason Terry is parting ways with the Dallas Mavericks — the team he played for eight seasons during his time in the league — after being the assistant general manager of the Mavs’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, since September of 2019. 

（iSports basketball data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

It was a short-lived stint for Terry as a league executive, and it appears that at this point, he considers coaching to be a better fit for him as opposed to taking the front office route.

As per basketball data provider iSports API, Terry spent four years with Arizona as a player between 1995 and 1999. In his sophomore year, he helped the Wildcats to a historic NCAA title. In his final playing year for the squad, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 21.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals, while also knocking down 2.6 triples per game on a 39.8-percent clip. This earned him the Pac-10 Player of the Year award for that season, as well as an inclusion to the All-Pac-12 squad.

He is now making a triumphant return to his old stomping ground. Terry seems to be determined to pursue a career in coaching, and is willing to earn his stripes, so to speak, as he accepts a role as an assistant under tenured head coach Sean Miller, who has been at the helm since 2009.

All stats from isportsapi.com

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Man City ‘target’ Bundesliga winger as replacement for Leroy Sané

Manchester City have identified Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey as a ‘target’ to replace Leroy Sané, report the Daily Mail.

Any move for Bailey would be contingent upon Sané completing his transfer to Bayern Munich this summer. 

According to iSports football API, after staring his professional career in Belgium with Genk, Bailey has 24 goals in 107 appearances for Leverkusen since signing for the Bundesliga side in January 2017.

（iSports football data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Bailey has been identified by City, because he is left-footed but also capable of operating on the right wing. The Jamaica international has been scouted by City for several years now, and Sané’s exit would ‘cement’ City’s interest.

As per football data provider iSports API, the price tag presently placed on Bailey’s head is said to be £40m, which is a relatively modest amount for a 22-year-old who has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards. 

Fellow Premier League side Arsenal are alleged to be targeting the Leverkusen player too, but they will be unable to match City’s financial power. 

All stats from iSportsapi.com

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A comprehensive and cost-effective data API to realize your Esports dream

EVERYONE plays video games now. The gaming industry (PC, console, mobile, etc) has become a global behemoth and it’s breaking records right now.

While Esports are played virtually they are real competitions, with real storylines, and games sports fans can relate to because they already play them.

Esports does have some advantages over sports right now, and the biggest being that games can be played online. While the esports experience is even greater in-person at a major event, our competitions can be played and watched online.

Up until recently, esports hasn’t been taken as seriously as it should be by the industry. With the development of sports, fans will turn to professional esports competitions especially for the games they already know. Sports media will increase their coverage of esports because there’s nothing else to cover and esports competitions have the same competitive spirit that you’d expect out of traditional sports.

Using artificial intelligence and editors APIs, we collect and normalize data from the safest sources to make it available into one single API.

Get insights from the widest esports database.

Normalized API: Clean and standardized API about players or teams, matches and tournaments for every supported game.

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The esports data API, stop worrying about collecting data and start building your esports project. A quality esports product is similar to a good sports offering. We are providing data on the most active esports scenes.

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Get live data from CS:GO tournaments, and access to the match planning, past games details, static data, esports teams, players, matches.

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Get a real time, high accuracy data streams from The International, Major and Minor leagues, matches, and access to a huge pool of historic data, static data (items, heroes...), esports teams, players, matches.

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At iSports API we recognize there’s a window of opportunity for esports. Now is the right time to start taking esports seriously.

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Patrick Ewing says his two Olympic gold medals were stolen

Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing revealed Tuesday that his two Olympic gold medals and NCAA championship ring were stolen.

Ewing discussed the loss of his 1984 and 1992 medals on "The Dan Patrick Show."

He had played 17 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the New York Knicks, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, according to basketball data provider iSports API.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

The 11-time All-Star said Tuesday was the first time he's talked about the theft.

"My house got broken into in New York, and at one point they stole my medals," Ewing said. "So I called Jerry Colangelo [former USA Basketball chairman], and he was great to be able to get me two replacement medals."

Ewing won the 1992 medal as part of the Dream Team, the United States' first roster of primarily professional players, as per iSports baksetball API.

"He took care of me," Ewing said of Colangelo. "He's a great guy."

Ewing, 57, said the 1984 national championship ring he won with Georgetown was also taken.

"They did take my college championship ring, but someone tried to sell it on eBay and I was able to get that back," said Ewing, who is now the head coach at his alma mater.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable basketball data provider, click iSports API)

Juventus offer five swap options for Paul Pogba

Manchester United are reported to be considering five different Juventus players who have been offered in exchange for Paul Pogba.

According to Italian media, the names put forward are Douglas Costa, Miralem Pjanic, Alex Sandro, Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot.

At first glance it would appear to be more of a list of players Juventus are willing to trade rather than players to whom United would give serious consideration.

Costa is a 29-year-old right winger and it is almost certain the Red Devils will be looking at younger options in that position, such as Jadon Sancho. Sandro is also 29 and a world class left back, according to iSports football API – but this is not an area in which United need to strengthen.

（iSports football data API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Pjanic is now the wrong side of 30, Rabiot has done little recently to demonstrate his worth and Ramsey’s woeful injury record would make him a very unlikely candidate for a switch to Old Trafford.

The fact is that Juve are coming across like that desperate kid at school who wants to swap your cool item but just keep offering stuff in exchange that you really don’t want.

The only player the Turin side have who at this stage might tempt the Red Devils is defender Matthijs de Ligt, but again, centre back is not a position that is a priority at Old Trafford at the moment, as per iSports football data API.

The story follows a similar one this week which claimed that PSG were offering Julian Draxler and Angel di Maria in exchange for the Frenchman.

Last summer, Real Madrid offered flop James Rodriguez in part exchange for Pogba.

Whilst it is probably true that a player exchange is the most likely way for the 27-year-old to leave United in the next transfer window, his suitors will have to put something a lot better on the table if they want the Red Devils to be tempted.

As per football data provider iSports API, PSG’s best offering would perhaps be 27-year-old midfielder Marco Verrati. Inter Milan’s striker Lautaro Martinez could be a tempting prospect and Real Madrid would need to put forward someone like Federico Valverde, Casemiro or Isco to make things interesting. At 30 and 34 respectively, even Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are too old now to consider seriously.

Football’s financial crisis has certainly moved us into uncharted waters and whatever the future holds for Pogba, it is likely that some creativity will be necessary to put together a deal that feels safe enough – and tempting enough – for all parties to consider.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football livescore data provider, click iSports API)

Texas Tech's Jahmi'us Ramsey declares for NBA draft

Texas Tech freshman Jahmi'us Ramsey declared for the 2020 NBA draft on Saturday.

Ramsey emerged as one of the top freshman guards in this year's class with a strong season in the Big 12. Acording to basketball data provider iSports API, he averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Red Raiders, shooting 43% from 3-point range. He was named Big 12 freshman of the year and awarded a spot on the All-Big 12 second team.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Ramsey has not hired an agent and said in his statement on Twitter that he will maintain his college eligibility.Ramsey took a circuitous route to Texas Tech, starting his high school career at Duncanville in Dallas before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, then transferring again to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before finishing up back at Duncanville. 

He was managed to exceed those lofty expectations with a strong freshman season that entered him into the one-and-done conversation.The appeal around Ramsey is readily apparent on first glance, as he stands 6-foot-4, as per iSports basketball API, with a strong frame, solid athletic ability and terrific scoring instincts. He's a gifted isolation scorer who can bully weaker guards and shows terrific shot-making prowess from all over the floor thanks to his unlimited confidence and excellent mechanics pulling up off the dribble from long vantage points.

Not turning 19 until June, he is one of the youngest players currently projected to be drafted, according to basketball stats API.

The NBA draft is scheduled for June 25, but following worldwide suspension of basketball activities, NBA teams are lobbying the league office to push it to August in order to salvage the pre-draft process.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable basketball data provider, click iSports API)

World-Class Defender to Reject PSG in Favor of Premier League

After Paris Saint-Germain was named as one of the clubs that could realistically sign Kalidou Koulibaly, the Napoli defender reportedly prefers to play in England or remain in Italy, as per iSports football livescore API.

According to French media, Koulibaly is reluctant to join PSG this summer even if the club submits a significant offer for his services.

（iSports football data API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Koulibaly instead prefers a move to the Premier League with Manchester City and Manchester United the two clubs thought to have the best chance of landing the Senegal international. Also ahead of PSG is the chance of Napoli retaining the 28-year-old.

Accoding to football data provider iSports API, with Thiago Silva expected to leave PSG at the end of the season when his contract expires, PSG could use an upgrade at the center-back position but not signing Koulibaly isn’t the end of the world.

Against Borussia Dortmund, Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos proved they can combine to silence one of the most potent attacks and I feel most supporters are comfortable with that duo at center-back moving forward.

As I outline in my preview of the 2020-21 squad, the money that would be spent on Koulibaly could be instead used to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football livescore data provider, click iSports API)

Chinese Basketball Association postpones restart until at least July

The Chinese Basketball Association is facing another setback in its efforts to resume play in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is reported that league officials met overnight to discuss the fate of its season, which has been on hold since Jan. 24 according to basketball data provider iSports APPI, and elected to postpone its schedule again, this time until at least July.

The CBA had been scheduled to resume play on April 15, and teams had taken steps to call back American players. But on March 30, the General Administration of Sports -- an arm of the Chinese government -- issued a wide-ranging ban on large-scale sporting gatherings due to concerns with containment of the virus, as pei iSport basketball API.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Further complicating matters is the entry ban that was implemented by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in late March on all non-citizens, including residents and foreigners with previously issued visas. Several players were unable to enter China, leaving many CBA rosters without one or both of the allotted import players.

No final decision on the CBA's season can be made without government clearance, which won't happen until mid-May at the earliest. The possibility of canceling the remainder of the season is still in play.

The CBA's ability to return to normalcy will be closely monitored by sporting leagues across the globe, including the NBA and EuroLeague, which are both postponed indefinitely.

According to Chinese media outlet Xinhua, CBA CEO Wang Dawei will take a 35% pay cut, and other executives will also reduce salary to help ease financial pressure.

Caught in limbo are more than a dozen Americans who returned to China and have finished their 14-day quarantine period. CBA teams have been conducting basketball activities in varying formats, some with full-contact practices and others through social distancing methods. Several player representatives told they've been informed that teams will look to extend contracts and put players on retainer in hopes of resuming play in July, while others may send foreign players home while waiting to see if reopening is likely.

CBA contracts are considered some of the most lucrative in professional basketball, which can make for a difficult decision for Americans. Considering the Foreign Ministry's ban on incoming travel from non-citizens, returning to China in June may prove impossible for those now leaving the country. Some of the top players in the CBA told they intend to stay in China as long as they are receiving salaries, rather than conducting two additional 14-day quarantines.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable basketball data provider, click iSports API)

Man United exploring Ighalo options amid coronavirus shutdown

Manchester United are exploring their options as they look to resolve Odion Ighalo's future at the club. United have a loan agreement with Shanghai Shenhua to keep the Nigeria striker at Old Trafford until May 30 but that is unlikely to cover the end of the campaign after the coronavirus pandemic caused football to shut down.

Ighalo has already impressed during his short time at the club, scoring four goals in eight appearances, according to football live data provider iSports API.

FIFA have suggested contracts ending this summer should be extended until the season can be completed, but there is concern at Old Trafford that the proposals will be difficult to implement, particularly given Shanghai Shenhua are likely to want Ighalo to return for the delayed start of the Chinese Super League.

（iSports API covers a wide range of football games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

"It is now obvious that the current season will not end when people thought it would," FIFA said in a statement.

"Therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end. A similar principle applies to contracts due to begin when the new season starts, meaning the entry into force of such contracts is delayed until the next season actually does start."

Despite FIFA's guidance, United are considering options that include trying to renegotiate Ighalo's loan, making an offer to Shanghai to buy him permanently or allow the 30-year-old to return to China and risk leaving manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer short of forwards for the rest of the season.

United are keen to have Ighalo available for remaining games in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League and have not ruled out signing the former Watford man permanently, but there is an acceptance Shanghai hold the cards in any negotiations.

Meanwhile, United have triggered the one-year extension in Timothy Fosu-Mensah's contract. The Dutchman has not played for the first team since May 2017 and has had loans spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham, as per iSports football API.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football live data provider, click iSports API)

Man United renew interest in Juventus defender De Ligt

Manchester United are prepared to make a renewed bid to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt this summer if the Italian club are ready to listen to offers for the Netherlands international.

De Ligt rejected interest from United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain last summer before completing a €75 million move from Ajax to Juventus as per iSports API, after he captained the Dutch champions during their run to the Champions League semifinals last season.

（iSports API covers a wide range of football games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

But, after signing a five-year deal at Juventus, the 20-year-old has been in and out of the team under coach Maurizio Sarri. According to football data provider iSports API, the defender has started 17 of the club's 26 games in Serie A prior to the shutdown due to the coronavirus crisis in Italy earlier this month.

It's said that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to recruit a centre-back this summer, and the club have already drawn up a list of potential targets, including Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly.

De Ligt, who earns a £210,000-a-week at Juventus as per iSports football API, is regarded as having the perfect profile for Solskjkaer's United in terms of his age, versatility and character.

There is an acceptance, however, that Juventus are unlikely to sanction the sale of De Ligt after just one year in Turin unless the player seeks a move after a frustrating campaign at the club.

But, should the Italian outfit be prepared to sell the defender, United are ready to make a second attempt to sign the player.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football live data provider, click iSports API)

Lance Stephenson among Americans returning to Chinese basketball

With the Chinese Basketball Association preparing to end a nearly three-month hiatus, the league is welcoming back some of its foreign players, with perhaps the biggest splash of all coming from Jeremy Lin.

"Safely landed back in Beijing to finish out the CBA season!" Lin said on social media Thursday after spending 40 hours traveling from his Bay Area home to China.

"It's been an awesome 2 months camped out in the gym ... basketball has never been more meaningful," he added. "The world needs basketball now more than ever."

Before he can reunite with his team, Lin -- like all foreign players returning to China -- will spend two weeks in quarantine.

"I am fully ready to work out in my room in the next 14 days, after which I will get back to the court with my teammates and finish this season with our best performance," he said.

Lin, the former NBA guard who enjoys great fanfare throughout China, is averaging 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game for the Beijing Ducks, who are 19-11 and positioned to make a playoff push, according to professional basketball API provider iSports API.

（iSports API covers a wide ranges of sports games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds and players' statistics）

The CBA, which suspended play in late January, is expected to restart in mid-April. Once the league restarts, competition is expected to resume in limited capacity, as per iSports basketball API, including all 20 teams in one or two cities, a truncated regular-season and playoff schedule, and no fans.

Since the coronavirus outbreak hit China in January, sports have become a source of inspiration and power for the country's people. The recent victory of MMA fighter Zhang Weili at UFC 248 is a prime example of how sports can send an uplifting message to the nation's 1.4 billion people.

Lin, who has been sending well wishes to the Chinese people since the early stage of the outbreak, saw a generous welcome from Chinese fans, who have appreciated his voice and support as an American. On Chinese social media Weibo, where he has more than six million followers, Lin posted a photo of him autographing a Chinese medical worker's uniform at the airport. Soon after, it became one of the most popular posts on Chinese social platforms.

Joining him in this category is Stephon Marbury, the former NBA star who won three titles for Beijing and is now living there. Marbury, the coach of Lin's rival team, Beikong, has been advocating for the public to follow medical guidelines, practice care and learn from China's lessons in fighting the virus.

Teams have been urging their foreign players to return so they can practice with full rosters. However, due to various complications, many are still waiting. As of now, among those who have returned to China are Lin, Ty Lawson, Donatas Motiejunas, Sonny Weems, Kyle Fogg, Pooh Jeter, Marko Todorovic, Antonio Blakeney and Ekpe Udoh. More are expected to return in coming days.

Hamed Haddadi -- a former NBA center and a veteran of the CBA -- is held up in his home country of Iran, where the pandemic has also hit hard. His team, Nanjing, is working with the Chinese embassy in Iran to aid in his return.

Lance Stephenson, who is in his first CBA stint with Liaoning, has indicated he will return.

"Ready," he posted on Weibo with a video highlight of himself from earlier in the season.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable professional sports data provider, click iSports API)

These college players are likely headed to the NBA in the following year

So here we are, no NCAA Final Four and a postponed NBA season. But to avid basketball fans, there’s the possibility to lose so much more. The college basketball season typically ends at a time when the NBA season is three-fourths completed and unveiling which teams need the next generation of stars, according to  professional basketball data provider iSports API.

（iSports API covers a wide ranges of sports games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds and players' statistics）

Fans would start debating which upcoming stars their team might draft. March Madness has been a springboard for young hoopers to showcase their talents, improve their draft status and finish their college basketball careers with unbelievable memories. Unfortunately, this year’s prospects and teams with momentum have been stymied by the coronavirus pandemic.

I’ve seen many of these players play, going back to AAU ball and their high school careers. Their draft prospects might have shifted because of their NCAA tournament performances, but we’ll never know. However, the 2020 NBA draft will eventually happen with the inevitable questions: who’s your top five and who are the best players you might not have heard of.

The consensus top-five picks are in no order because the actual selection will depend on the needs of the organization. That said, the top five are generally considered franchise players. The 2020 draft doesn’t appear to possess a generational/franchise talent similar to last year’s Zion Williamson, the 2019 No. 1 pick, or Ja Morant, the No. 2 selection, but it does appear to feature a talented group that can improve an organization or strengthen a marginal playoff franchise. 

LaMelo Ball, a 6-foot-7 point guard, played in Australia this season. He can create for others, pass with either hand and keep defenses honest by hitting 3-pointers. Size and length are coveted in the NBA, but sometimes overstated, which is why the guys with grit, grind and authentic commitment make a roster and defy that logic. Ball has flair and ability, but does he have that star swag to carry a franchise to the next level? I’m not sure. He’s a poor man’s Penny Hardaway or a little better version of his brother, Lonzo Ball.

James Wiseman, the 7-foot center, played three games for Memphis. But as a result of a 12-game NCAA suspension after the season began, the young fella decided to withdraw and prepare for the NBA draft instead. He runs the floor, has great anticipation, rebounds and shoots the ball. He has great size and length and is a definitive rim runner. 

He knows his strength and will post in the paint consistently while offering a variety of offensive moves, and he also has the ability to pass out of the post to make plays. He has great hands and is very active going to the glass or protecting the rim. Similar to Brooklyn Nets center DeAndre Jordan, with a better jump shot.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable basketball  data provider, click iSports API)

Anthony Edwards is a 6-foot-5 guard from Georgia with an NBA body. He can score at three levels, from 3-point range, drives to the basket and from mid-range, and also has the ability to get to the free throw line. He’s a great athlete with the skill level to match, and he’s also unselfish and makes good decisions. His respect comes from being named a preseason SEC first-teamer as a freshman. 

It’s a good movie so far, but not in the Oscars conversation yet. He didn’t consistently dominate or lead his team with the unwavering confidence that next-level franchise players wear. He’s supertalented and could be a franchise player if he demands opponents to put some more “respeck” on his name. He’s compared to former NBA star Mitch Richmond of the Dirty Dirty.

Obi Toppin, the 6-foot-9 forward for Dayton, is a top candidate for Naismith College Player of the Year. He’s a high-energy forward who really runs the floor well, high-level rebounder who rebounds out of his position (doesn’t have to be under the ball or the ball doesn’t have to drop in his hands for him to be an effective rebounder), can score around the basket and can shoot the 3. He’s grown four inches since high school. 

He’s a little more mature than the average junior in college, having attended prep school after high school and sitting out his first year at Dayton. He’s carried this mid-major program like he was on a mission, though because of the cancellation of the NCAA tournament, that didn’t happen. He’s a slightly smaller Amar’e Stoudemire.

Daniel Oturu is a 6-foot-10 big man from Minnesota. He’s long with a very high skill level, a great passer, shoots the 3 well and not a great athlete, but athletic enough. He’s got an NBA-ready body that will be a splash during an 82-game season. He shot 56.3% from inside the 3-point line and 36.5% from distance this season,as per iSports basketball API, but he has to improve his free throw shooting.

Cole Anthony is a 6-foot-3 point guard from North Carolina. He has a tough NBA body and can run a team, get to the basket and shoot the 3. He’s a superathlete with a killer instinct and a ridiculous work ethic, which is key for high-level success. I like the way he runs the team. He has leadership qualities like his father, former NBA player Greg Anthony, who captained the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels to the 1990 NCAA championship. But he’s a bigger, better athlete with a better shot. Some question his quickness, but the DNA is there. He seems to have recovered from an early-season injury. A player he reminds me of is Derrick Rose … maybe.

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Now this list could change a little, but as of this date, these young fellas are at the top of the list consistently. The next group of 10 are the guys who folks in the NBA are aware of but the national audiences are not necessarily as familiar with. Let me introduce them to you. They ball so hard it’s only right that we be fair.
THEY AREN’T HOUSEHOLD NAMES, YET

Jalen “Sticks” Smith is a 6-foot-10 forward from Maryland. He’s long and athletic, with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the court; he can rebound, run the floor and block shots. He’s gotten stronger and really protects the rim. Smith is an active forward who hasn’t really shown his full array of skills yet, but he’ll get that chance. He’s playing center but really is a forward. Stretch 4 will be his gig, as he will be a good pick-and-pop forward at the next level. Maybe Rasheed Wallace with better handles. I saw this after seeing him play in high school.

Vernon Carey is a 6-foot-10 forward/center from Duke. He’s a big body with a high IQ and skill set. He scores in the paint and can shoot from 15 feet, run the floor and compete on the backboard at a consistent level. He can play with his back to the basket but can also shoot the elbow or short corner shot, a floater and/or a jump hook. The big fella can deliver. He’s comparable to former Blue Devils Carlos Boozer and maybe Elton Brand.

Onyeka Okongwu is a 6-foot-9 multidimensional forward from the University of Southern California. He can do everything. He was teammates with LaMelo Ball in high school and came into his own after the Ball brothers left Chino Hills High School. He’s a superathlete who can score.

Daron “Fatts” Russell is a 5-feet-10 (OK, 5-feet-9) point guard from Rhode Island. This speedster always finds a way to get a bucket. He’s one of those players where you can see that he is trying to win everygame. He’s athletic enough to turn it up (dunk) going to the rim. He was the best guard in the Atlantic 10 this season, according to basketball livescore iSports API. There will be questions whether he can defend at the next level. Throwback comparison: Former NBA player Michael Adams – the no hops version.

Markus Howard is a 5-foot-11 (really closer to 5-foot-9) shooting guard from Marquette. He has deep range with a scoring ability similar to former Brigham Young University guard Jimmer Fredette, but Howard is faster and can get into the lane. Howard is an elite shooter with a career shooting percentage of at least 45% from the field and 3-point line, as per baksetball data provider iSports API. He is small, though, for the next level.

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Myles Powell is a 6-foot-2 “bucket” from Seton Hall. Bucket accurately suggests Powell’s position. He can score in every way. He’s a stronger, bigger version of former Purdue guard Carsen Edwards, who currently plays with the Boston Celtics. He’s another player who can score at all levels and in transition: half-court set drives, mid-range jumpers, from 3 and the free throw line.

Trayce Jackson-Davis is a 6-foot-9 rebounding forward from Indiana. He’s an unbelievable athlete with quickness. He rebounds out of position, even when he doesn’t have the inside position, nor does he have to be under the ball to be an effective rebounder. He’s also a good rim protector. His father is former NBA great rebounding forward Dale Davis, which makes you really believe that rebounding is in his DNA. When this multitalented freshman learns how to play, the sky’s the limit. Reminds you of his dad.

Cletrell Pope is a 6-foot-9 forward from Bethune-Cookman. He’s a long, athletic pogo stick player with one of the traits that make NBA folks stop to take notice. Pope has a serious motor, and led the nation in offensive rebounds per game, shot 60% from the field in conference play and was voted the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason player of the year this season. 

Pope plays hard, rebounds out of his position and runs the floor with the best of them. He defends multiple positions and had 21 double-doubles last season, breaking the record of former Norfolk State University and present Philadelphia 76ers forward Kyle O’Quinn, who was the last MEAC player drafted into the NBA (2012). Pope is the No. 1 prospect from a historically black university, according to iSports basketball API. He reminds me of former NBA great Dennis Rodman, without the hair color, dress or personality.

Now, this list could have included a couple of more guys, but most of them played at Power 5 schools and were on TV like a weekly series, so they’ve received their fair share of publicity. Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State), Sam Merrill (Utah State), Saddiq Bey (Villanova), Isaac Okoro (Auburn), Landers Nolley II (Virginia Tech), Payton Pritchard (Oregon), Jaden McDaniels (Washington), Patrick Williams (Florida State), Nico Mannion (Arizona) and Cassius Winston (Michigan State) are certainly not the only ones, but are a few really good players not discussed in detail. I just wanted to get the jump on the next group of NBA stars.

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Kevin Durant playing in summer 'not very realistic'

The possibility of a summer return for the NBA season has led to speculation that injured superstar Kevin Durant could rejoin the Brooklyn Nets in time for their postseason push.

But Durant's longtime business partner Rich Kleiman tamped down expectations for the former MVP on Monday morning, telling Golic & Wingo that hopes of Durant playing in June or July are "not very realistic."

"Honestly, not very realistic from my standpoint, and not even spoken about," Kleiman said.

Durant ruptured his Achilles tendon during the NBA Finals last June and signed with the Nets in July, according to sports data provider iSports livescore API.

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Nets GM Sean Marks has repeatedly stated that the team expects Durant to miss the entire 2019-20 season, given the traditional recovery timeline for Achilles injuries.

Sources given the widespread uncertainty about the coronavirus pandemic, NBA owners and executives are bracing for the possibility of mid-to-late June as a best-case scenario for the league's return.

Regular-season basketball in June would align with the expected 12-month recovery for Durant, but Kleiman was conservative when asked about that scenario.

"It feels like (Durant playing in the 2019-20 season) clearly was not something that was in the cards prior to all this," Kleiman said. "And now, I think just like the rest of the world, it's hard to take anything more than day by day.

"I think that Kevin is going to figure out the space that he needs to be in to continue to rehab during this time. But even that is hard to answer at this point, with the new kind of rules that were put in place last night."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation Sunday night that no events or gatherings should include more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, as per iSports API.

Sources told Wojnarowski that fears exist of a season completely lost, especially based on what some experts see as the slow response of the United States to flatten the curve of the coronavirus and make testing available on a widespread basis.

The Nets are 30-34 and currently are seventh in the Eastern Conference standings ,as per basketball data provider iSports API, despite Durant's season-long absence and multiple injuries to Kyrie Irving, who has been limited to just 20 games.

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Garay first positive La Liga player, Valencia confirm five Coronavirus cases

Valencia's Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay is the first La Liga player to test positive for the coronavirus, as the Spanish club confirmed they have five positive cases.

Garay, 33, who underwent surgery to repair an ACL injury last month, according to football data provider iSports API, announced on Sunday on social media he is in isolation. 

He posted a photograph on Instagram, smiling and giving a thumbs-up with the message: "It's clear that I started 2020 on the wrong foot.

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"I've tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and it's now a case of following what the health authorities recommend, for the time being to be isolated."

Valencia later wrote a statement, which explained the club had five confirmed cases of club members having tested positive for COVID-19.

La Liga declared last week that Spain's first and second divisions had been suspended for at least the next two rounds because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Real Madrid players have been in quarantine since Thursday after one of the club's basketball players tested positive.

Spain, the European country with the second-highest number of cases after Italy, called a state of emergency on Saturday.

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Hawks' Chandler Parsons diagnosed with concussion

Atlanta Hawks forward Chandler Parsons was involved in an automobile accident after practice Wednesday.

The 31-year-old Parsons is making more than $25 million in the final year of his contract. He has played just five games for the rebuilding Hawks, averaging 2.8 points, according to iSports basketball API data.

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The team said Parsons sustained a concussion and whiplash.

Parsons will enter the NBA's concussion protocol and won't travel with the Hawks for their game Friday at San Antonio.

The Hawks provided no additional details on the accident.

Parsons is in his first and likely only season with Atlanta, which acquired him from Memphis last summer in a trade of overpriced players.

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Thomas Müller makes Bundesliga history in first half of season

In a turbulent opening half of the season for Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller has been a big positive.

Despite the German champions having to change coach, the 30-year-old has been a key and constant presence.

So much so that he has set a Bundesliga record for the opening half of a season.

No player before had ever managed to register 11 assists in the first 17 games until Müller this year, as per iSports API football data.

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His latest assist came on Saturday in the 2-0 win over Wolfsburg as he provided for Joshua Zirkzee to open the scoring.

In addition to his double-digit assists, the forward has also scored twice in the Bundesliga.

He is followed closely in the league assist charts by Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, who has 10.

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Barcelona's Ansu Fati, 17, youngest Champions League goal scorer ever

Ansu Fati's record-breaking season continued, as he became the youngest player to score in the Champions League when he netted Barcelona's winner against Inter Milan on Tuesday.

The teenage forward came off the bench at the San Siro to score in the 87th minute to seal a 2-1 victory that saw Inter Milan drop into the Europa League.

Aged 17 years, 40 days, the goal sees Fati take the record from Peter Ofori-Quaye, who was 17 years, 194 days old when he scored his first Champions League goal for Olympiacos in 1997, according to iSports football API.

"I've just been told [I have broken the record]. I am super happy with the goal and with the win," Fati said after the match. "It's a dream. Everything seems to be happening so quickly. It's just about enjoying myself and learning from the best. Every time I get a chance, I will try to take it, either by scoring goals or by working hard."

Describing the goal, Fati said: "I gave the ball to Suarez, and he gave it back to me. And when I scored, I was surprised because the whole stadium was silent. I was thinking: 'What have I just done?' But I am really happy."

Ansu had already become the youngest La Liga scorer for Barcelona earlier this season. He was 16 years, 304 days old when he netted against Osasuna in August.

That record had been held by Bojan Krkic, whose first league goal for Barca came when he was 17 years, 53 days old. Lionel Messi's first arrived at 17 years, 331 days old, according to iSports API.

A week after his goal against Osasuna, Ansu became the youngest player to score and assist a goal in the same game in La Liga when he made his first start for Barcelona against Valencia.

His form this season was rewarded with an improved contract last week.

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