STEPH CURRY'S "TRUE HOOPER" VERDICT ON COOPER FLAGG. IS HE THE NEXT GOAT?
Steph Curry hails Cooper Flagg as a "true hooper" after the rookie's historic 27-point Christmas debut. See the full NBA reaction.
After the Warriors beat the Mavericks 126-116 on Christmas, Steph Curry had some good things to say about Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg. It was Curry's fifth Christmas Day win and his 12th game playing on the holiday.
Curry said Flagg is a real player and a competitor, and it's easy to forget how young he is. He also said Flagg has a bright future. “I’m glad he got this experience his first year and understands what the bright lights feel like. The league is in good hands.”
Flagg topped all scorers with 27 points in his Christmas Day debut, hitting 13 of 21 shots. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists. He really stepped up on a big stage and is already getting props from other NBA superstars.
Curry didn't hold anything back, calling Flagg a true hooper”. Flagg started slow, with just two points in the first quarter, but then took off. He joined LeBron James as the only teens ever to score at least 25 points on Christmas.
The 19-year-old also made some history, becoming the first rookie since Pete Maravich in 1970 to put up at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on Christmas Day. So far this season, Flagg is averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 31 games. He's the team's second-leading scorer and third-best rebounder, proving why he was the top pick in the 2025 draft.
In a game against the Denver Nuggets a couple of days before Christmas, Flagg almost had a triple-double with 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. He also nailed a season-high four three-pointers, which helped Dallas win 131-130.
Flagg plays with a lot of poise, is comfortable handling the ball, and makes good decisions on offense. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd talked about Flagg after the Warriors game.
Kidd stated Flagg was doing everything off the pick and roll; he was playing at a very high level for the team, and they needed that.
Curry knew about Flagg way back when he was in high school, where he was the number one recruit in the class of 2024. He was named Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Flagg attended Curry’s elite camp in 2023 and impressed many. The camp had other top high schoolers, and even Curry joined in on some scrimmages.
Flagg has been in the spotlight for a while now, and he keeps showing why he's so good.
DEXTER LAWRENCE TRADE REQUEST LOOMS OVER GIANTS' PREPARATIONS FOR PITTSBURGH NFL DRAFT
Dexter Lawrence wants out! Discover why the Giants are considering a trade before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The New York Giants might have no choice but to trade Dexter Lawrence before the NFL Draft. Negotiations on a new contract with the star defender have hit a wall, and Lawrence already asked for a trade earlier this month. He's skipped the team’s first offseason practices under new head coach John Harbaugh, which hasn’t helped matters.
At this point, the Giants have been talking with several teams about a possible deal for Lawrence. With the draft coming up in Pittsburgh next week, the pressure is on. They need picks, and right now they only hold two selections in the top 100. Harbaugh’s trying to breathe new life into the roster, but he needs more draft capital to do it.
News of the stalled negotiations came just hours after GM Joe Schoen sounded pretty upbeat, saying talks had been "productive". He explained that he, Harbaugh, and senior VP Dawn Aponte were all in regular contact with Lawrence’s reps, looking for some kind of resolution. Schoen insisted they want Dexter to stay, but he admitted it’s out of their hands now. They’ll just have to see what happens.
Lawrence, 28, signed a four-year, $90 million extension last year. Since then, defensive contracts have exploded, so his deal has dropped to just 11th among league defenders. On top of that, the team’s shaken up its roster, letting go of many Lawrence’s close teammates like Saquon Barkley.
Lawrence has been with the Giants since they drafted him 17th overall in 2019. He’s played his whole seven-year career in New York, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl and two second-team All-Pro honours. His career stats include 30.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception. But last year wasn’t great; he only managed half a sack, eight QB hits, and a pass rush win rate of 8.3 per cent for a team that finished 4-13. It’s hard to tell if he’ll stay with the Giants much longer.
RORY MCILROY TARGETS SEVENTH MAJOR AT ARONIMINK FOLLOWING EMOTIONAL MASTERS DEFENSE
No long break for Rory McIlroy! After his 6th major win, McIlroy eyes the PGA Championship at Aronimink this May.
Rory McIlroy isn’t following the same script after this Masters win. When reporters asked if he’d take another long break, as he did in 2025, Rory had a different plan in mind.
He’s not disappearing for months this time. Instead, he’s taking a couple of weeks off before jumping back into PGA Tour action. The next big event on the calendar is the PGA Championship, starting May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, but it sounds like Rory wants to get some tournament play before then.
He talked about his mindset shift after winning again at Augusta. “My schedule’s going to be different this year,” he said on April 13. “Last year, I thought winning the Grand Slam would be the destination. But actually, it’s just part of the ride. Now that I’ve won my sixth major, I feel great about my game and my body.
“I waited ages to win the Masters, and then I won two in a row. I definitely want to enjoy this. I’ll take a couple weeks off, but I don’t think I’ll hit that motivation lull I felt last year after the win.”
So, what comes next for Rory? He’s skipping the RBC Heritage this week, and his appearance at the Zurich Classic isn’t confirmed either.
Then, there’s Donald Trump, who might’ve let the cat out of the bag. After congratulating Rory on social media, Trump said he was looking forward to watching him at Doral during the Cadillac Championship on April 30. That’s not an official confirmation, but it’s a pretty solid clue that Rory’s next start could be there.
Now that he’s up to six majors and finally has back-to-back Masters titles, Rory’s thinking ahead. The next big stop? The PGA Championship, where he’ll chase number seven. But he’s not feeling satisfied just yet.
“I don’t want to put a hard number on it, but this is just part of the journey,” he said. “I’ve still got things I want to accomplish even as I make sure I enjoy the moment, too.”