Anthony Davis won't be getting LeBron James' No. 23 jersey number after all

The Los Angeles Lakers’ jersey number drama will not have a sequel. Many NBA fans will remember that when the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis last offseason, the move came with an enthusiastic promise from LeBron James to cede his No. 23 to his new teammate. James had worn the No. 23 for his entire non-Miami Heat career, while Davis had the same number on the New Orleans Pelicans. The two even held some kind of poorly lit parking lot ceremony to commemorate the transfer on Instagram. The agreement signaled James’ enthusiasm to center the team around Davis, but there was just one problem. Nike had already made a few too many James No. 23 jerseys, and the Lakers had missed the deadline for jersey number swaps by months. Due to the financial hit the apparel maker would take with so many out-of-date James jerseys, Davis eventually had to settle on No. 3, with the plan reportedly being to take No. 23 in a year. However, that plan — which feels like ancient history these days — is reportedly now off. According to Silver Screen & Roll, a team spokesperson confirmed that Davis has warmed to his No. 3 and will not be swapping numbers this offseason. It’s not hard to figure out why that might be; winning a championship will give you some pretty great memories with a new number. So if you bought a James No. 23 jersey or a Davis No. 3 jersey or were just eyeing one, rest easy. Like those players, the numbers are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Unless a third star also wants No. 23 next offseason. Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Lionel Messi asked by Diego Maradona’s son to retire No 10 shirt in tribute to Argentine legend

Lionel Messi has been urged by Diego Maradona’s son to give up his No 10 shirt at Barcelona as a tribute to the Argentine legend. The 1986 World Cup winner died last week after a cardiac arrest, with the football world mourning the loss of one of the greatest players of all time. A host of tributes have followed since Maradona’s passing, including former club Napoli naming their stadium the Diego Armanda Maradona San Paolo. While Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas urged Fifa to retire the No 10 jersey throughout the game, and now Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra has echoed those views by publicly calling on Messi and Barcelona to retire the number in honour of his father. “In the teams where he played, I think so, including Barça. I have no doubt,” Maradona’s son told Mundo Deportivo when it was suggested to him that the No 10 jersey could be retired at all of his father’s former clubs and by the Albiceleste. The No 10 shirt has become synonymous throughout not only Argentine football but the world due to the style of play Maradona displayed. Messi has inherited the number and is now routinely discussed in the same breath as Maradona following his own legendary career. Messi displayed Maradona’s old Newell’s Old Boys jersey when he celebrated scoring against Getafe last weekend. A tribute Maradona Jr admits “moved” him a lot following several emotional days. “It moved me a lot," added Maradona’s son. “They have been very emotional days. Leo’s [tribute] was special, very nice. "It got to me a lot, it made me cry. Also that of Napoli; the celebration of Gimnasia; what happened in Boca, where [Maradona’s daughter] Dalma was... They were strong emotions.” Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Anthony Davis and Rich Paul to meet with Lakers on Tuesday

Anthony Davis and his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, are scheduled to meet with the Lakers and general manager Rob Pelinka on Tuesday, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Davis opted out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent. The sort of contract Davis seeks remains a mystery. The 6-foot-10 forward has plenty of options before joining the club for training camp, which officially opens Tuesday around the NBA. Teams, though, can't practice in full because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols, which allow for only four players and four coaches to be in the training facility at one time. Davis can sign a two-year contract with a player option for the 2021-22 season worth about $68 million. That would set him up to become a free agent at the same time as LeBron James. Davis can sign a three-year contract with a player option for the 2022-23 season for about $106 million. He can sign a four-year extension for about $146.7 million or a five-year deal for about $189 million. Davis was a force for the Lakers during the 2019-20 regular season. He was first in scoring (26.1), rebounding (9.3), blocks (2.3) and steals (1.5) and third in assists (3.2). He was first in the playoffs in scoring (27.7) and second in rebounds (9.7). The Lakers have fortified their roster this offseason through trades for point guard Dennis Schroder and center Marc Gasol as well as the free-agent signings of center Montrezl Harrell and guard Wesley Matthews. The club also re-signed guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forwards Markieff Morris and Jared Dudley, who agreed to terms Monday on a one-year, $2.6-million contract. Gone from the core of last season’s championship team are Avery Bradley, Danny Green, Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo and Quinn Cook as well as late-season additions J.R. Smith and Dion Waters. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

WATCH: Messi scores stunner, honors Maradona with emotional celebration

Argentine hero Lionel Messi paid tribute to his country’s icon, the late Diego Maradona, with an emotional goal celebration on Sunday. Messi scored a beautiful goal to give Barcelona a 4-0 lead over Osasuna on Sunday morning, taking off his shirt to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys No. 10 jersey. Nicholas Mendola Sun, November 29, 2020, 4:08 PM GMT+1 Argentine hero Lionel Messi paid tribute to his country’s icon, the late Diego Maradona, with an emotional goal celebration on Sunday. Messi scored a beautiful goal to give Barcelona a 4-0 lead over Osasuna on Sunday morning, taking off his shirt to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys No. 10 jersey. [ MORE: Remembering Diego Maradona ] - ADVERTISEMENT - Maradona passed away Wednesday at the age of 60 and tributes have come in from around the world, with many top leagues around the world honoring the Argentine legend before kickoff this weekend. Barcelona had an oversized No. 10 shirt at midfield before the game, and Messi clearly had Maradona in and over his heart on Sunday. Maradona played for Newell’s, Messi’s childhood club, between 1993-94 after playing for Barca a decade earlier. Maradona also managed Messi with Argentina between 2008-10. All football stat collect from isports API, for more details, please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Report: Pacers offered Celtics Myles Turner and first-rounder in Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade

Gordon Hayward reportedly wanted to join the Pacers. Why isn’t he heading to Indiana? Maybe because the Hornets offered a four-year, $120 million contract. Or maybe because the Celtics didn’t agree to a sign-and-trade, which was necessary for the capped-out Pacers to add Hayward. J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star: The Indiana Pacers offered the Boston Celtics Myles Turner, a first-round pick and a rotation player for Gordon Hayward last week, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told IndyStar. Rejecting this offer looks like a mistake by the Celtics. A center who defends well (especially in the paint) and shoots 3-pointers, Turner is good. The 24-year-old is under contract at a reasonable $18 million the next three years. A first-round pick hold obvious value. Hayward is leaving for no return (or so). But always question unreported details in leaked trade talks. What were the protections on the first-round pick? Those could have significantly altered the pick’s value. Which rotation player? Doug McDermott (one year, $7,333,333 remaining) is highly paid for someone so one-dimensional (though at least that dimension is 3-point shooting). Jeremy Lamb (two years, $21 millions remaining) probably holds negative value after serious injury. Boston also wanted to keep Hayward. The Celtics are trying to win now, and losing Hayward didn’t open cap space to adequately replace him. It might have been reasonable to set a hardline with the Pacers, either getting a better trade return or – theoretically – pushing Hayward to re-sign. Charlotte foiled that plan with its big offer. And maybe Hayward would’ve taken that, anyway. We can’t know what he would’ve done if Boston and Indiana agreed on sign-and-trade terms. But we have at least some circumstantial evidence Hayward, an Indiana native, preferred joining the Pacers for a high salary (not quite as high as he’ll get with the Hornets, but still high). So, it looks like the Celtics misplayed their hand based on the outcome. Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Haaland hits 2 as Dortmund beats Brugge in Champions League

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) -- Erling Haaland scored twice to continue his prolific Champions League scoring form as Borussia Dortmund swept aside Club Brugge 3-0 to all but assure the German team of a place in the knockout stage. Haaland scored his goals either side of a curled free-kick from Jadon Sancho, who also set up Haaland's opener. The 20-year-old Norwegian's two goals took him to 16 from 12 games in his brief Champions League career. Dortmund took the lead in the 18th minute when Jadon Sancho picked up a loose ball in midfield and played a through ball to Haaland, who hit a powerful low shot past former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for the 200th Champions League goal in Dortmund's history. Sancho has had an indifferent start to the Bundesliga season and was dropped for Dortmund's last game. The England winger showed his value to the club by setting up Haaland's opener against Brugge and then making it 2-0 with the last kick of the first half, curling a free kick over the Brugge wall and into the top-left corner. ''It's a fantastic goal. I've been practicing my free kicks recently so I'm happy that it came off today,'' Sancho told broadcaster DAZN. ''I'm just happy that I'm playing and I have coaches and teammates that believe in me. Recently it's been a hard situation for me, recent times have been hard, but it's all about how I come back.'' Haaland's second was a gift from Brugge. He was in a clear offside position when captain Ruud Vormer fumbled an attempted clearance and sent it straight to Haaland to finish with ease. Belgian clubs are easy pickings for Haaland. The Norwegian became the youngest player to score a Champions League hat-trick with three goals for Salzburg against Genk last year in a game which made him one of the most sought-after young players in the world. In four games against Belgian teams, Haaland has scored eight goals. Dortmund will be assured of a place in the last 16 with just a single draw from its last two group games against Lazio and Zenit St. Petersburg. Lazio beat the Russian club 3-1 in Tuesday's other game in Group F. Brugge still has a faint chance of qualifying but is also battling Zenit for third place and a spot in the Europa League. Dortmund had 16-year-old forward Youssoufa Moukoko on the bench and he would have become the youngest player in Champions League history if he played. However, coach Lucien Favre opted against bringing him on. Moukoko, who broke the German league record for youngest player Saturday, could yet break the Champions League record later. He was 16 years and 4 days old for the game against Brugge, 83 days younger than Celestine Babayaro was when he made his debut for Anderlecht in 1994. All football stat collect from isports API, for more details, please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Barcelona rests Messi, De Jong in Champions League match

MADRID (AP) -- The Champions League has been Barcelona's safe haven this season, so much so that the club will leave Lionel Messi at home for Tuesday's match in Ukraine. Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman is resting Messi and midfielder Frenkie de Jong for the game against Dynamo Kyiv, when the Catalan club can secure a spot in the knockout stage for the 17th straight season. ''Neither Leo nor Frenkie are traveling,'' Koeman said Monday. ''They need some rest. With nine points in our group, we are in a comfortable situation and we have to keep them fresh.'' Messi has played in every match so far this season after having his request to leave the club denied in the offseason. De Jong had also played in every match, and both also spent time with their national teams. ''In Leo's case you also have trips to South America (to play with Argentina),'' Koeman said. ''We have to protect our players. It's impossible for them to play every match and always be at their best. Everyone knows that, but we have to keep playing several matches. FIFA and UEFA should take action because it's impossible to be playing all these matches.'' Barcelona's perfect campaign in the Champions League has been the only good thing for the club recently. It doesn't have a president in charge, it is dealing with financial difficulties, several of its players are injured and it has struggled in the Spanish league. Barcelona is coming off a loss to Atletico Madrid that left the team in 13th place in the Spanish league after eight matches. ''We can't be happy with our results, but we need to stay motivated,'' Koeman said. ''We have another match tomorrow (Tuesday) and we are one step away from advancing, so we have to take advantage of this opportunity.'' The club is being led by a managing committee since former president Josep Bartomeu and his board of directors resigned after the fallout from the Messi crisis. The club also has been in the middle of difficult negotiations with players to adjust their salaries amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the match against Atletico, Barcelona also lost two players because of injuries - Sergi Roberto with a muscle injury and Gerard Pique with a serious knee injury. ''(Pique) represents a significant absence,'' Koeman said. ''He has been here for several years and has great personality. It's sad for the team and for the club. It's tough, but we have to accept it and try to solve the problem.'' Koeman said he may use a player from the ''B'' team to make up for the shortage in central defenders. He could use 21-year-old Oscar Mingueza to play alongside Clement Lenglet, as Ronald Araujo is returning from an injury. De Jong has played as a central defender and is an option for Koeman in future matches. ''We can't take any risks because we have very few central defenders,'' he said. Lenglet said he would be willing to play on the right side if needed. ''It's not my usual position, it's a bit different, but I can do it to try to help the club,'' he said. Barcelona has won its Champions League group every time since 2007-08, and it hasn't lost a group match since the 2016-17 season. Dynamo Kyiv is making its first group appearance since that 2016-17 season. With three victories from three matches, Barcelona leads Group G ahead of Juventus and has an eight-point advantage over both Dynamo Kyiv and Hungarian club Ferencvaros. Juventus has six points. All football stat collect from isports API, for more details, please visit www.isportsapi.com .