Anthony Gharib

ESPN.com • 22nd April 2026

How OKC Thunder's Jared McCain balances TikTok fame, NBA play

The scene at the airport in Oklahoma City has become a tradition: Thunder fans standing behind a tall, gated fence await the chance to high-five players returning from a road trip. Sometimes this happens in the middle of the night.Early the morning of April 11, a group of fans held signs and predictably cheered for their favorites -- reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Luguentz Dort. But the noise seemed to peak for Jared McCain, who jumped up and down bef...

ESPN.com • 22nd April 2026

Twins troll Mets after handing N.Y. 12th straight loss

If the New York Mets dropping their 12th straight game on Tuesday wasn't enough, the Minnesota Twins also poked fun at them after a 5-3 defeat.The Mets used a three-run third inning to take an early lead, but the Twins tied it up in the seventh. Minnesota went ahead for good in the top of the ninth when second baseman Luke Keaschall hit an RBI single. Mets closer Devin Williams then walked the next batter, scoring a run as the bases were loaded.The defeat marked New York's 12th in a row, its lon...

ESPN.com • 22nd April 2026

LeBron James and Kevin Durant playoff meetings through the years

As the Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday, it might mark the final postseason matchup between LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Even this late in their careers, James and Durant still produced at a high level during the regular season.

At 41 years old, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games. Durant, 37, put up 26 points per game, his 19th straight season averaging at least 25 points. He also tied James...

ESPN.com • 22nd April 2026

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney offers Coventry a Vegas trip before key match

Phil Parkinson reflects on Wrexham's rise since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the club five years ago. (1:42)With the Premier League promotion race heating up, Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney already is plotting for an advantage against Coventry City on Sunday. He offered his opponent a trip to Las Vegas.After defeating Oxford United 1-0 on Tuesday, Wrexham now sits in sixth in the EFL Championship standings with 70 points. They are just ahead of Hull City on goal difference for the...

ESPN.com • 21st April 2026

Drake rocks Packers jacket during 'Iceman' rollout, seemingly trolling Caleb Williams

Courtney Cronin reports on Chicago weighing pass rush help or a left tackle upgrade with their first-round pick. (0:50)In the midst of the rollout for his new album, "Iceman," Canadian rapper Drake seemingly poked fun at an NFL star who claims the same nickname: Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.On Monday, Drake posted a photo of himself wearing a Green Bay Packers jacket in front of blocks of ice. The blocks were placed in downtown Toronto with the release date of his new album hidden in...

ESPN.com • 20th April 2026

San Antonio Spurs rock matching all-black suits before Game 1

The San Antonio Spurs are hosting their first home playoff game in seven years Sunday and arrived dressed for the occasion.

From Victor Wembanyama to rookie Carter Bryant, each member of the roster wore an all-black suit as they walked into Frost Bank Center. Rookie Dylan Harper said that the last time he wore a suit was on draft night in June.

Some added a dark tie while others wore shades -- but the nonconformity stopped there, giving off the look of a united team ahead of Game 1 against the...

ESPN.com • 18th April 2026

Breaking down the masks of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff goalies

Sidney Crosby joins "The Pat McAfee Show" to preview the Penguins' playoff matchup against the Flyers. (2:19)It's Stanley Cup playoff time, when game-saving stops -- and stylish ones at that -- can turn goaltenders into household names. It also helps when they save the game in style -- and the same continues this year.Goalies around the league are once again showing up to the postseason with lids that steal the show.Colorado Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood featured his teammate, Mackenzie Black...

ESPN.com • 16th April 2026

Chris Paul trolls Clippers after LA loses in play-in tournament

Steph Curry drops 35 points with seven 3-pointers to help the Warriors defeat the Clippers. (1:55)At least one ex-Clipper relished the Golden State Warriors ending the LA Clippers' season in the play-in tournament Wednesday night.After the Clippers' 126-121 loss to the Warriors, Chris Paul reacted to LA's season-ending defeat in petty fashion on his Instagram story. He shared a viral meme of someone who posted they attended their "biggest haters" funeral to make sure they were dead.In this case,...

ESPN.com • 13th April 2026

Raptors nod to Drake's rumored 'Iceman' album with icy seat display

Drake's courtside seats at the Toronto Raptors' home game Sunday night underwent a unique alteration before the game.The Raptors shared an image of the chairs that included faux icicles dangling from them with the caption: "Drake's seats froze." It's presumably a nod to Drake's upcoming studio album, "Iceman," which was initially rumored to be set for release last year. It will be his first solo album since fall 2023.Drake liked the post and shared an image of the iced-out look on his Instagram...

ESPN.com • 13th April 2026

Ten years after 'Mamba out,' Kobe Bryant's final game still echoes

Relive Kobe Bryant's final performance as a Laker in which he recorded an astonishing 60 points on April 13, 2016. (0:55)The first five shots Kobe Bryant took in the final game of his 20-year NBA career ended in the same way: a miss.A 3-pointer on the left wing fell short. A midrange jumper went long. His third and fourth looks inside the paint didn't drop. The fifth, an 18-footer, bounced out.With each miss, the crowd in Los Angeles on April 13, 2016, let out audible displeasure. But when his f...

ESPN.com • 11th April 2026

Checkmates and closeouts: Inside the NBA's quiet chess boom

Ten seconds left. Ball in LeBron James' hands.With the Milwaukee Bucks clinging to a two-point lead against the Los Angeles Lakers, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo read the play. Defending James, he slipped past a screen and poked the ball loose from behind James, securing a 105-101 win on Jan. 9.Later that night, in the bowels of Crypto.com Arena, Antetokounmpo explained his strategy on the move."I knew down the stretch that LeBron gets the ball. I knew that he wanted to get downhill and ma...

ESPN.com • 9th April 2026

Inside MLB's 2026 City Connect uniforms -- and what's next

WHEN RONALD ACUÑA JR. first saw the Atlanta Braves' new City Connect uniform -- baby blue, with an old-school "Atlanta" script across the chest -- he fell in love."We're going to win a lot of games in these," Acuña said.Acuña is a three-time All-Star who loves making fashion part of his game. Last year, he modeled for a Nike underwear campaign. He was among a select group of players who got a sneak peek at the 2026 uniforms in early February. For Acuña, on-field fashion is all about staying loos...

ESPN.com • 8th April 2026

Inside the Clippers' Wall: How 4,500 fans turn the Intuit Dome into chaos

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle approached the free throw line at Intuit Dome. He received the ball, took a deep breath, dribbled three times, then bent his knees to shoot.In front of Castle stood a 10-foot regulation-size NBA basket. An easy enough situation for the second-year player -- then a 73.6% free throw shooter -- to sink a shot. That number, however, didn't take into account what Castle faced behind the basket.The LA Clippers' Swell: A 44-foot-tall section f...

ESPN.com • 7th April 2026

Rangers' 'Rally Sombrero,' Yankees' 'Chicken Bucket' top 2026 new ballpark grub

America's pastime doesn't just include the action on the diamond -- it extends to the food at the ballpark, too.Teams across Major League Baseball continue to raise their game when it comes to concession items. Hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jack are merely the tip of the iceberg. This season is no different with new creations making headlines of their own.The Texas Rangers are serving up a 9th inning rally sombrero where fans can eat their head off -- sort of. With a large tortilla as the base,...

ESPN.com • 6th April 2026

Bucks reference LeBron James' Milwaukee, Memphis comments after win

LeBron James attempted to clear up recent remarks about Memphis and Milwaukee, but the Bucks made it clear they're not ready to move on just yet. (0:32)The Milwaukee Bucks followed up their 131-115 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday with a petty post referencing comments from LeBron James.The Los Angeles Lakers star made headlines last Thursday during an appearance in a "Bob Does Sports" YouTube video. When asked if travel gets worse for James, he said "yeah" before expanding on his co...

ESPN.com • 23rd March 2026

Tyrese Haliburton trolls Kentucky NBA alums after Iowa State win

Kentucky's second-round men's NCAA tournament defeat Sunday to Iowa State prompted a petty post from a Cyclones alum: Tyrese Haliburton.Iowa State routed Kentucky 82-63 behind 26 points from Tamin Lipsey and 20 from Milan Momcilovic. Lipsey had 10 assists and five steals, becoming just the third player with 25 points, 10 assists and five steals in a March Madness game since 1986, according to ESPN Research. Kentucky's 19-point loss marked its largest in an NCAA tournament game since an Elite Eig...

ESPN.com • 17th March 2026

Barack Obama, Anthony Edwards team up to tease Presidential Center opening

President Barack Obama and Anthony Edwards reconnect for a video about the opening of the Obama Presidential Center this summer. (4:39)Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has his fair share of rivals on the court. But one of his most notable competitors might exist outside of the hardwood -- former President Barack Obama.Edwards and Obama have added a new chapter to their relationship in a video teasing the June 19 opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's Jackson Park.The v...

ESPN.com • 17th March 2026

Remember NBA St. Patrick's Day uniforms? Knicks, Bulls, Celtics, Raptors went green for the holiday

Shams Charania gives the details of the NBA's upcoming vote to explore adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. (1:39)St. Patrick's Day is here, with eight games being played around the NBA, and one noticeable difference continues for yet another year -- no holiday-themed uniforms.During the league's uniform partnership with Adidas, a select group of teams each year would wear special green uniforms on St. Patrick's Day. The Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics were frequent participa...

ESPN.com • 17th March 2026

Matt Leinart declines requests to unretire No. 11 USC jersey

Former USC Heisman-winning quarterback Matt Leinart's No. 11 jersey has been retired for over two decades, but requests to wear it on the field remain.Leinart shared on an episode of his "Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara" podcast last Thursday that there have been "multiple times" people at USC have asked him to unretire his jersey for a prospect."I said, 'absolutely f---ing not.' I am never going to unretire for some random dude, who by the way, now could wear No. 11 and transfer af...

ESPN.com • 13th March 2026

Heat troll Bucks after Milwaukee references Bam Adebayo's 83-point night

Bam Adebayo erupts for 83 points for the Heat, passing Kobe Bryant's iconic 81-point performance for the second-highest-scoring game in league history. (2:33)The good news for the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday? They kept Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo under 83 points. The bad news? Miami defeated visiting Milwaukee 112-105 and made sure to clap back afterward.Coming off an 83-point performance on Tuesday, the second highest in NBA history, Adebayo had 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting. The Heat were able...

ESPN.com • 10th March 2026

Livvy Dunne pokes fun at Paul Skenes' reaction to Bobby Witt Jr. play

After Bobby Witt Jr. turned around an impressive putout during Team USA's WBC game against Mexico on Monday night, all pitcher Paul Skenes could do was turn around and give Witt a smirk. Skenes' reaction quickly caught the attention of social media -- and his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne.

Witt made the play in the top of the fourth inning as the U.S. led Mexico 5-0. Alejandro Kirk grounded to the shortstop, who dove to catch the ball, then delivered a strike to Bryce Harper at first base while on hi...

ESPN.com • 5th March 2026

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turns heads with pregame look vs. Knicks

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is never shy about his pregame fashion, and he might have taken it to another level Wednesday.Prior to facing the New York Knicks, Gilgeous-Alexander pulled up to Madison Square Garden in a fur jacket large enough to cover his neck and part of his face. It included silver elements on the front of the hood. He also donned glasses with black pants and black Timberland shoes to complete the fit.Fur coats are a staple of Gilgeous-Alexander's wardrobe. He wore...

ESPN.com • 2nd March 2026

Leap year baby Tyrese Haliburton says he celebrates birthday for two days

With the 2026 calendar on to March, leap year babies are halfway to properly celebrating a birthday again -- Tyrese Haliburton included.The Indiana Pacers star received a birthday post from the NBA and others, including his fiancée, Jade Jones, on Saturday (Feb. 28). However, Haliburton was actually born on Feb. 29, making him a leap year baby.On Sunday, Haliburton shared appreciation for all of the birthday wishes while also clarifying that he indeed celebrates on March 1, too (at least in betw...

ESPN.com • 26th February 2026

Chris Bosh says he's 'lucky to be alive' after health scare

Chris Bosh shares the details of a recent health scare that resulted in him waking up covered in his own blood. (2:13)Chris Bosh said that he's "lucky to be alive" after a recent health scare that resulted in him waking up "covered in my own blood."The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer shared details of the event in a social media video over two minutes long on Wednesday."It was crazy. It was fast. It was instant. There was no warning. I didn't have any time to prepare for it," he said. "I was g...