Over the past 24 hours, several notable events have unfolded in the basketball world:
NBA News:
- James Harden’s Contract Extension: Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden has agreed to a three-year, $97 million fully guaranteed contract to remain with the team. The deal includes a third-year player option and a 15% trade kicker. Harden, who averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 three-pointers in 26 regular-season games last season, continues to be a pivotal figure for the Cavaliers. (rotoballer.com)
WNBA Highlights:
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Atlanta Dream’s Record-Breaking Victory: Angel Reese delivered an exceptional performance, shooting a perfect 9-for-9 from the field, including two three-pointers, to score 20 points. She also contributed 10 rebounds and eight assists, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 124-88 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. This win marked the Dream’s eighth consecutive triumph over the Sparks. (ksl.com)
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Dallas Wings End Fever’s Streak: Arike Ogunbowale scored a season-high 32 points, and Jessica Shepard added a career-best 26 points, leading the Dallas Wings to a 91-85 victory over the Indiana Fever. This win snapped the Fever’s five-game winning streak. (cbsnews.com)
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Las Vegas Aces’ Dominant Performance: Jackie Young scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds in three quarters, and A’ja Wilson added 20 points, as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun 101-78. This victory marked the Aces’ 11th consecutive win over the Sun. (ingest.abcnews.com)
International Basketball News:
- Victor Wembanyama Returns as French National Team Captain: After a two-year hiatus following the 2024 Paris Olympics, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has been named the captain of the French national basketball team. At 22, he becomes the youngest player to hold this position since Tony Parker in 2003. Wembanyama will lead France in upcoming warm-up games against Serbia and in qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar. (lemonde.fr)
European Basketball Developments:
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Olympiacos and Thomas Walkup Dispute: Thomas Walkup, the point guard for Olympiacos and a key contributor to their recent EuroLeague championship, has attempted to unilaterally terminate his contract with the Greek club. Walkup received a lucrative offer from Dubai Basketball but is under contract with Olympiacos until the summer of 2027. The club has rejected a $600,000 compensation offer from Dubai, valuing the release clause at $3 million, and has demanded that Walkup undergo medical examinations on August 20. Failure to comply may result in legal action. (as.com)
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Simonas Lukosius Joins Unicaja: Lithuanian-German forward Simonas Lukosius has been announced as a new signing for Unicaja Baloncesto for the 2026-27 season. On loan from Dubai Basketball, Lukosius is known for his three-point shooting and versatility. He was named MVP of the Basketball Champions League Final Four after scoring 23 points and hitting seven decisive three-pointers in the final against AEK Athens. (cadenaser.com)
Highlights:
- Two years after Paris Olympics, Wembanyama returns as French national team captain, Published on Thursday, August 20
- Lío en el Olympiacos con Walkup, Published on Wednesday, August 19
- El alero Simonas Lukosius nuevo fichaje del Unicaja para la próxima temporada, Published on Monday, August 17
