UNLIKELY PRAISE: LUKA DONCIC SHOCKS FANS BY NAMING DILLON BROOKS HIS FAVORITE OPPONENT
Luka Doncic calls Dillon Brooks the NBA's best trash-talker as the Lakers prepare for the Spurs without their big three.
Lakers star Luka Dončić isn’t shy about who he likes competing against. When asked who talks the most trash in the NBA, he didn’t hesitate: “Dillon Brooks.” Not only that, but he said he actually enjoys playing against the Suns guard. “He’s been playing well this year,” Doncic added. That’s a bit of a twist, considering Brooks and LeBron James have been at each other’s throats all season.
Right now, the Lakers could use any bit of good news. Injuries have hit hard. Doncic, LeBron, and Austin Reaves are all out for their game against the Spurs. They’re still sitting fifth in the West, but this season hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing.
Drama follows the Lakers like a shadow, and most of it seems to swirl around LeBron. Brooks has made a habit of going after James every time the Lakers face the Suns, jawing at him from the opening tip. LeBron’s not a fan, and his teammates have always backed him up well, until Doncic decided to give Brooks a little credit. It’s not a shot at LeBron, but in L.A., even a compliment can turn into a headline.
As for Doncic, he’s doing pretty much everything for the Lakers this year. He leads the league in scoring, 32.8 points a night, while handing out 8.6 assists and grabbing nearly eight rebounds. He’s shooting better, too, up to 47.3% from the field. With him running the show, LeBron has had to adjust. The 41-year-old is still putting up solid numbers, but he’s not the main guy anymore. That’s new territory for him.
The Lakers just want to get healthy and make a push after the All-Star break. They’ll regroup, try to climb the standings, and hope the drama stays on the sidelines for once. But when the season wraps up, everyone’s going to be talking about LeBron’s future in L.A. For now, though, Doncic is just enjoying the battles, even if it means giving a little love to the league’s loudest trash-talker.
TY SIMPSON OFFICIALLY ENTERS QB1 CONVERSATION FOR 2026 NFL DRAFT AFTER BAMA RUN
Ty Simpson challenges Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza for QB1 status in the 2026 NFL Draft after a breakout Bama season.
After waiting behind Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson’s only season as Alabama’s starter has propelled him into serious first-round talk for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s even being discussed as the top quarterback prospect over Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
But not everyone agrees. Former LSU standout Breiden Fehoko tweeted his scepticism: 'Ty Simpson wasn’t even going to start at Bama in 2026, and here y’all go calling him QB1 this draft.' This is how GMs get fired. Watch.
Orlovsky, however, stands by his view that Simpson holds the edge over Mendoza. He pointed out that when comparing their bodies of work, Simpson carried more of the load for his team. The gap, he says, is clear when you consider who had to do more and who won more games during the season: that’s Simpson, no contest.
Mendoza enters the draft after an extraordinary season. He led Indiana to an undefeated national championship and took home the Heisman Trophy. Scouts see him as the most pro-ready passer but have concerns over his pressure-to-sack rate, which hovers around 18.9%, potentially an issue for teams with weak offensive lines.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s draft stock rose sharply during a strong four-game run facing Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. His upcoming performance at Alabama’s Pro Day could be crucial, especially for teams looking at quarterbacks who bring mobility and playmaking alongside pocket passing.
Simpson’s experience is limited to just 15 college games, thanks to the stacked quarterback depth at Alabama. Still, once he became the starter, he delivered solid numbers: 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions in the 2025 season.
Former NFL safety Louis Riddick has been vocal about Simpson’s potential. Speaking on ESPN, Riddick said that seeing him throw in person reveals the kind of physical talent Simpson has. He’s confident in Simpson’s mental game but notes the physical attributes will really stand out when seen up close. Riddick expects Simpson to continue improving his draft stock.
Simpson will get another chance to impress scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, which could be pivotal in shaping his position ahead of the draft.
MASTERS UPDATE: TIGER WOODS CONFIRMS HE WILL ATTEND AUGUSTA NATIONAL "EITHER WAY" FOR 2026
Tiger Woods admits to a "rough road" after a frustrated TGL return, leaving his 2026 Masters status in serious doubt.
Tiger Woods says he’s still trying to get fit for The Masters next month, but he knows the clock’s not exactly on his side.
He made his golf comeback with Jupiter Links GC in Tomorrow’s Golf League, teaming up with Tom Kim and Max Homa. It’s been a while since Woods last played TGL in February 2025, when he tore his Achilles and had disc replacement surgery in his back. So, yeah, it’s been a rough road.
After his return on Tuesday, Woods didn’t sugarcoat things. He gave a pretty honest update about his chances at Augusta this year. You can tell he’s been keeping the door open for the 2026 Masters, but honestly, his appearance for Jupiter Links might’ve shaken up those plans.
Things actually started off looking good. Woods smashed a 279-yard drive on the second hole; it felt like a flash from the old Tiger. But that faded fast. His game unravelled, and by the seventh hole, he missed a three-yard putt, slammed his club into the ground, and his frustration was obvious.
Woods and his teammates just couldn’t keep up, and Jupiter Links ended up losing 9-2 to the Los Angeles Golf Club trio of Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Afterwards, Tiger didn’t hold back: “We got our arse kicked. Three eagles in a row… I missed a short one to give them momentum, and we never got it back.”
Reporters quickly shifted the focus to The Masters. Even after a disappointing night, Woods still wants to play at Augusta National. “I want to play. I love the tournament. I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the champions dinner. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be practising and playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress.”
Honestly, it’s obvious why Woods wants to tee it up at Augusta. He’s won The Masters five times (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019) and made the cut a record 24 times. Looking at how things went in his latest outing, though, it’s hard to picture him adding to those numbers in a few weeks. But if anyone can surprise people, it’s probably Tiger.
