NEW YORK: Philadelphia and Boston have agreed in principle on a trade where the 76ers would acquire the chance to take Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The Celtics will get the No. 3 pick, plus an additional first-rounder in either 2018 or 2019, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday night because the trade has not been formally approved by the league. The agreement between the Celtics and 76ers was struck not long after Fultz worked out for Philadelphia.
Once the trade goes through, Philadelphia will own the NBA’s No. 1 selection for the second straight season.
Fultz — donning a Philadelphia cap as he arrived at the team’s practice facility — visited the 76ers in a hastily arranged get-to-know-you session, with the workout and meeting with team officials on his itinerary. That visit was essentially the final hurdle to clear before Boston and Philadelphia could decide to actually consummate the trade.
“I don’t really pay attention to everything that’s going on,” Fultz said. “I’m truly blessed to be in this position. Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to taking my talents to wherever I go.”
Barring any other changes before Thursday, the first four spots in this year’s draft order would mirror the first-four from last year: Philadelphia at No. 1, the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 2, Boston at No. 3 and Phoenix at No. 4.
Fultz’s rise to stardom has been rapid. In 2014, he was playing junior varsity basketball in high school. Barely three years later, he is almost certainly going to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft — and if he gets to start his pro career by calling Philadelphia his new home, he will be living roughly a 2 1/2-hour drive from his hometown of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
“It would be pretty cool. Just being with a young team,” Fultz said. “The upside of it would be crazy. I’m close to home, so a lot of my family can come out and just show love. This city has great fans.”
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 25 games during his lone college season at Washington, excelling on a team that finished 9-22 and lost its final 13 games. Fultz led the Pac-12 in scoring and finished No. 6 among all Division I players, and was the top freshman scorer in the country.
Over the past 10 seasons, only two other freshmen had a better scoring average in college: Kevin Durant for Texas in 2006-07, and Michael Beasley for Kansas State in 2007-08.
Durant and Beasley were both No. 2 draft picks.
Fultz is apparently going to get taken one spot better.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to help any team I go to win,” Fultz said.
Philadelphia had the No. 1 draft spot three previous times, taking Doug Collins in 1973, Allen Iverson in 1996 and Ben Simmons a year ago.
The 76ers have a top-three pick for the fourth straight year: No. 3 Joel Embiid in 2014, No. 3 Jahlil Okafor in 2015 and Simmons in 2016. But with Fultz, Philadelphia — which has asked its fans to endure some very dismal stretches and “Trust The Process” for the past few years — would likely expect to turn a real corner toward respectability again.
Philadelphia went 28-54 this past season, after winning 19, 18 and 10 games respectively in the previous three seasons.
Last season’s improved win total came with Okafor (50), Embiid (31) and Simmons (0) combining for 81 appearances, as Philadelphia’s trend of being snakebitten by injuries continued. Embiid and Dario Saric will finish in the top three when rookie of the year results get announced on June 26, and Simmons is expected to be ready for next season after recovering from foot surgery.
Embiid posted a photo on Saturday of he and Saric standing in front of a locker — already bearing Fultz’s name.
“Embiid, he and I have been talking before when I was in college,” Fultz said. “He’s a cool guy. He’s giving me tips and pointers and he’s pretty funny, so when I saw that it was pretty cool and pretty funny. I’m pretty happy that the players here want me to come here.”
Report: 76ers, Celtics agree on trade for No. 1 pick
Report: 76ers, Celtics agree on trade for No. 1 pick
New Zealand crush England by 423 runs in third Test
HAMILTON, New Zealand: New Zealand tore through England’s batting Tuesday to post a crushing 423-run third Test win and send seamer Tim Southee into retirement on a winning note.
The hosts completed a dominant performance in Hamilton by claiming seven wickets in 41.2 overs on day four as England crumbled for 234 to complete their fourth biggest Test defeat in terms of runs.
It was New Zealand’s equal-highest victory by runs, representing a complete reversal from the first two Tests, which England won easily to clinch the three-match series.
Southee finished with 2-34 in his 107th and final Test, ending the career of one of New Zealand’s finest players.
He finishes with 391 Test wickets, second only to Sir Richard Hadlee among New Zealanders.
New Zealand only needed to take nine second-innings wickets for victory as Ben Stokes did not bat.
The England captain suffered a hamstring injury on Monday and a team spokesperson said he would only bat “if required.”
After resuming at 18-2, England never threatened their enormous target of 658, their hopes dwindling further when losing Jacob Bethell for 76, Joe Root for 54 and Harry Brook for just one before lunch.
They looked comfortable for the first hour before Root departed, having put on 104 for the third wicket with Bethell.
England’s greatest run-scorer was trapped lbw, attempting to sweep left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.
Having been given not out, New Zealand successfully reviewed, with ball-tracking showing the ball would have hit the middle stump.
It left 33-year-old Root 28 runs short of becoming the fifth player to score 13,000 Test runs.
Brook, who scored match-winning centuries in each of the first two Tests, was out cheaply for the second time at Seddon Park, caught behind off a sharply rising Will O’Rourke delivery.
Left-hander Bethell batted fluently, striking 13 fours and a six, until he swung at a wide Southee delivery to be caught at deep point
Ollie Pope (17) was bowled attempting to reverse scoop pace bowler Matt Henry before Gus Atkinson’s hard-hit 43 ended when caught in the deep off Santner.
Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse fell cheaply, also trying to hit Santner out of the ground.
All-rounder Santner justified his recall by taking 4-85 to finish with seven wickets in the match, alongside scores of 76 and 49 with the bat.
Inter stun Lazio 6-0 to remind rivals of their title aspirations in Serie A
- Lazio started the game without regular defender Alessio Romagnoli and Samuel Gigot replaced center half Matias Gila midway through the first half
- The result meant Inter were alone in third place, three points behind leaders Atalanta and one behind Napoli with a game in hand
ROME: Inter Milan scored four times in a 12-minute spell either side of halftime and added another couple late on to rout Lazio 6-0 in a lopsided contest of Serie A title contenders on Monday.
Lazio were unbeaten at home in Serie A and they matched Inter for most of the first half in front of their own fans at the Stadio Olimpico.
However, four minutes from halftime Hakan Çalhanoglu put Inter ahead from the penalty spot and Federico Dimarco doubled the lead seconds before the break when he volleyed home a cross from Denzel Dumfries.
Lazio started the game without regular defender Alessio Romagnoli and Samuel Gigot replaced center half Matias Gila midway through the first half.
When Gigot was forced off at halftime coach Marco Baroni was forced to reshuffle his back four again but the lack of experienced heads in the center of defense was evident from the restart.
Nicolo Barella made it 3-0 six minutes into the second half with a sumptuous 30-meter volley and Dumfries rose above everyone to head home the fourth two minutes later.
Carlos Augusto showed some nice footwork in the box to make it 5-0 in the 77th minute and Marcus Thuram got his 11th goal of the season in the final minute to heap on the misery for the home side.
The result meant Inter were alone in third place, three points behind leaders Atalanta and one behind Napoli with a game in hand.
Lazio remained fifth.
Best of the best: Lookman and Banda crowned African players of the year
- Lookman: This is something incredible. To the youth of Africa I say — never give up. Turn pain to power
- Zambia forward Banda won the women’s player of the year award in recognition of her many goals for American club Orlando Pride and her country
MARRAKESH, Morocco: Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman was named 2024 African men’s player of the year at a ceremony in Marrakech on Monday, while Zambia’s Barbra Banda picked up the women’s award.
Lookman succeeds compatriot Victor Osimhen, who last year became the first Nigerian winner since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
The 27-year-old owes his achievement to consistently excellent performances both for Nigeria and current Serie A leaders Atalanta.
His three goals helped Nigeria reach the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they led hosts the Ivory Coast before losing 2-1 in Abidjan.
Lookman struck both goals in a last-16 victory over Cameroon and the winner in a 1-0 quarter-finals win over Angola.
A few months after the AFCON, the London-born attacker scored a hat trick as Atalanta overcame Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final in Dublin.
“This is something incredible. To the youth of Africa I say — never give up. Turn pain to power,” Lookman said after receiving the award.
The runners-up included South African Ronwen Williams, who won the best goalkeeper and best club player awards.
Instead of the traditional three nominees for the best player award, there were five given the closeness of the voting among the coaches and captains of African national teams.
The other runners-up were Morocco full-back Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coast winger Simon Adingra and Guinea forward Serhou Guirassy.
Zambia forward Banda won the women’s player of the year award in recognition of her many goals for American club Orlando Pride and her country.
Banda scored four goals for Zambia at the 2024 Paris Olympics, including a hat-trick in a group-stage loss to Australia.
Her 13 regular season goals and four in play-offs helped Orlando Pride win the National Women’s Soccer League for the first time.
The runners-up were Morocco forward Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who were both winners in other categories.
Award winners
Men
Player of the Year
Ademola Lookman (NGR)
Club Player of the Year
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/RSA)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Ronwen Williams (RSA)
Young Player of the Year
Lamine Camara (SEN)
Coach of the Year
Emerse Fae (CIV)
National Team of the Year
Ivory Coast
Club of the Year
Al Ahly (EGY)
Best X1
Andre Onana (CMR); Achraf Hakimi (MAR), Kalidou Koulibaly (SEN), Chancel Mbemba (COD); Mohammed Kudus (GHA), Sofyan Amrabat (MAR), Franck Kessie (CIV), Yves Bissouma (MLI); Mohamed Salah (EGY), Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman (both NGR)
Women
Player of the Year
Barbra Banda (ZAM)
Club Player of the Year
Sanaa Mssoudy (FAR Rabat/MAR)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Chiamaka Nnadozie (NGR)
Young Player of the Year
Doha El Madani (MAR)
Coach of the Year
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe/COD)
National Team of the Year
Nigeria
Club of the Year
TP Mazembe
Best XI
Andile Dlamini (RSA); Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale (both NGR), Lebohang Ramalepe, Karabo Dlamini; Linda Motlhalo (all RSA), Rasheedat Ajibade (NGR), Ghizlane Chebbak (MAR); Barbra Banda (ZAM), Asizat Oshoala (NGR), Tabitha Chawinga (MAW)
Naif Al-Jaweini appointed Riyadh Season Snooker general manager
RIYADH: Naif Al-Jaweini has been appointed as the general manager of Riyadh Season Snooker, organizers announced on Tuesday, as the sport’s elite prepare to face off in the Saudi capital this week.
The tournament will be held between Wednesday and Friday at Boulevard City, where the top ten ranked players will be in action.
Saudi snooker stars Ahmed Asiri and Abdulraouf Al-Sayegh will be among them after earning wildcard invitations after winning recent qualifiers.
The championship is renowned for introducing the unique Golden Ball. Worth 20 points, it can only be played after achieving the maximum break of 147 points, offering players the chance to reach an unprecedented 167 points — the highest possible score in snooker history.
The prize pool has been doubled this year, with $1 million awarded to the player who scores the Golden Ball.
Steve Dawson, Chairman of the World Snooker Tour, said:“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Riyadh Season for a second time in 2024. This year, we’ve seen remarkable progress in developing snooker in Saudi Arabia, and it’s exciting to witness the sport’s rapid growth and its appeal to a new audience.”
In the first round, scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, December 18, the Saudi players will face the 9th and 10th seeds, Ding Junhui and Zhang Anda. Later that evening, the winners will meet the 7th and 8th seeds, Luca Brecel and Shaun Murphy.
The quarterfinals, set for Thursday, December 19, will feature Mark Selby against Mark Allen in the opening match, followed by Kyren Wilson against the winner of Zhang, Brecel, or the wildcard. Judd Trump will then face Mark Williams in a rematch of the Saudi Masters Snooker final, while defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will take on one of Ding, Murphy, or a wildcard winner.
The semifinals and final will take place on Friday, December 20. All matches will follow a best-of-seven frames format, except for the final, which will be played in a best-of-nine format.
In the first edition of the tournament, snooker great Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed victory after defeating John Higgins and Judd Trump en route to the final, where he overcame Luca Brecel with a score of 5–2.
Arakji debuts in Dubai Basketball’s dominant win over Mornar of Montenegro
- New Lebanese signing impresses in first outing at the Coca-Cola Arena
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball put on dominant display in front of their fans at Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday night to defeat Montenegro’s KK Mornar 104-66, surpassing the century mark for the second time this season and taking their ABA League record to 9-3.
Dubai Basketball made a strong start with center Ahmet Duverioglu and point guard Nate Mason setting the tone early, scoring seven points each in the opening quarter. The home team kept up the pace all night long, scoring 56 points in the first half alone. Going into the last quarter with a 78-57 advantage, the local support grew louder as Mason delivered an off-the-backboard alley-oop that was slammed home by JaCorey Williams.
Williams ended the game as the night’s leading scorer, delivering an outstanding double-double performance with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Mason also recorded his first double-double of the season, racking up 15 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.
Before the game, fans waited eagerly to see the debut of new signing Wael Arakji, and they got their wish three minutes into the second quarter when he stepped on to the court to thunderous applause. The Lebanese star wasted no time, scoring within 30 seconds with fans shouting: “We want Wael” and “Yalla Wael.”
To the delight of the crowd, in the final quarter Arakji knocked in a long three-pointer. KK Mornar fought valiantly, with standout performances from Chico Mellichamp Carter Jr., who contributed 15 points, five assists, and three rebounds, and Lovro Buljevic, who matched him with 15 points, three assists, and three rebounds.
However, the team’s efforts fell short against Dubai Basketball’s relentless offense and home-court advantage.
Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac was thrilled with the team’s performance. “The fans were again loud and gave us a lot of energy,” he said. “We had a good week of practice with everyone. From the beginning, we set the tone and were aggressive, disciplined, smart and played good basketball, and had an easy win. But Mornar were better than the result showed. The players were very focused and gave everything in the game.”
He also praised Arakji’s debut: “Wael is a very experienced player, and we have known him before. He is very adjustable, and he only joined this week, but he got on well with the teammates, understands the system and ideas and we’re very lucky to have him. He’s going to help us a lot in the future for sure.”
Arakji, who ended the night with seven points, said he was delighted to make his debut.
“Everywhere I go, Lebanese fans are always with me,” he said. “I’ve been here for four days, and I have been working out from 9:30 to 2:30 every day. I haven’t seen this highest level of training before. The level is very high. I’m excited for what’s to come.”
The win solidifies Dubai Basketball Club’s fourth place standing in the ABA League.
