Sports
Suns owner Mat Ishbia blasts teams for 'ridiculous' tanking 'done by losers'
Jan 29, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia against the Detroit Pistons in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is sickened by teams tanking games to try to improve their draft position, calling it “ridiculous,” “losing behavior done by losers” and “much worse than any prop bet scandal” in a social media post on Thursday.
Ishbia linked his tweet to a Yahoo Sports story posted on X about tanking in the league. While not new, the so-called strategy came back to the forefront when commissioner Adam Silver spoke last weekend about its prevalence after the Utah Jazz were fined $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers were docked $100,000 last week.
“This is ridiculous! Tanking is losing behavior done by losers,” Ishbia wrote on his X account. “Purposely losing is something nobody should want to be associated with. Embarrassing for the league and for the organizations.
“And the talk about this as a “strategy” is ridiculous,” he continued. “If you are a bad team, you get a good pick. That makes sense. But purposely shutting down players and purposely losing games is a disgrace and impacts the integrity of whole league. This is much worse than any prop bet scandal. This is throwing games strategically.”
This is ridiculous! Tanking is losing behavior done by losers. Purposely losing is something nobody should want to be associated with. Embarrassing for the league and for the organizations. And the talk about this as a “strategy” is ridiculous.
If you are a bad team, you get a… https://t.co/VoUx3YEdB5
— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) February 19, 2026
Ishbia completed his purchase of the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury from Robert Sarver in February 2023 for $4 billion.
Phoenix does not control its own first-round draft pick until 2032 because of trades made since 2023, meaning the Suns cannot benefit from losing games intentionally.
“Horrible for fans that pay to watch and cheer on their team. And horrible for all the real teams that are competing for playoff spots,” wrote Ishbia, who played guard at Michigan State, appearing in 48 games (one start) from 1999-2002, including the 2000 national championship season
Silver said on Saturday during the All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, Calif., that teams’ blatant approach to tanking is worse than he’s seen in recent memory.
“Which was what led to those fines, and not just those fines but to my statement that we’re going to be looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances this season in terms of teams’ behavior, and very intentionally wanted teams to be on notice,” Silver said.
The Jazz were fined for limiting the court time of two of their best players, while the Pacers were penalized for roster manipulation that kept three starters from a recent game.
Silver says the league could impose additional penalties, up to and including the forfeiture of the teams’ draft picks.
“I think we’re coming at it in two ways,” Silver said. “One is, again, focusing on the here and now, the behavior we’re seeing from our teams and doing whatever we can to remind them of what their obligation is to the fans and to their partner teams. But No. 2 … the competition committee started earlier this year re-examining the whole approach to how the draft lottery works.”
Ishbia, in his post, said he is confident that Silver will fix the problem with massive changes.
“Those of us in a position of influence need to speak out,” Ishbia wrote. “… the only “strategy” is doing right by fans, players, and the NBA community.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Two Georgia football players arrested on reckless driving charges
Nov 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Chris Cole (9) tackles Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets tight end Brett Seither (80) in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Georgia linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon were arrested Wednesday on driving-related charges.
Cole was booked at 9:59 p.m. ET at the Athens-Clarke County jail on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and speeding-maximum limits. He was released at 10:39 p.m. on bonds totaling $26.
Cole had a team-high 4.5 sacks last season and is a projected starter in 2026.
Ikinnagbon, a rising sophomore who played five games as a true freshman in 2025, was booked less than 30 minutes later at 10:27 p.m. on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, following too closely and speeding-maximum limits. He was released at 11:08 p.m. on bonds totaling $39.
“We are aware of the charges and are actively gathering additional information. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not be providing further comment at this time,” a Georgia sports information representative said in a statement.
This continues what has been a years-long issue of reckless driving troubles within the Georgia football program.
Georgia football player Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed in a high-speed crash in January 2023, and three members of the team were arrested on driving charges in 2025.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Drew Rasmussen named Opening Day starter by Rays
Sep 13, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Rays will hand the ball to right-hander Drew Rasmussen on Opening Day.
Manager Kevin Cash told reporters Thursday at spring training in Port Charlotte, Fla., that it was “a pretty easy call” to start Rasmussen against the Cardinals in St. Louis on March 26.
Rasmussen finished the 2025 season with a 10-5 record and a 2.76 ERA in 31 starts. He was selected to the American League All-Star team.
The 30-year-old is a story of perseverance.
He was put on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury in May 2023 and returned to the Rays in August 2024 after undergoing his third major elbow surgery.
Rasmussen has a career record of 30-17 in 130 appearances (81 starts) and two saves with the Brewers (2020-21) and Rays, who acquired him in the May 2021 trade that sent Willy Adames to Milwaukee.
Other likely members of the starting rotation are Shane McClanahan, Steven Matz, Ryan Pepiot and Nick Martinez.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cooper Flagg's jersey from NBA debut sells for $1M
Oct 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) and San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) chase during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Cooper Flagg’s game-worn jersey from the first half of his Dallas Mavericks debut sold privately for $1 million earlier this month through Sotheby’s, the company announced Thursday.
The amount broke the record for the most expensive NBA debut jersey solid in the same season. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s jersey from his debut game in 2023 sold for $762,000.
Ironically, Flagg’s NBA debut came against Wembanyana and the Spurs on Oct. 22. He collected 10 points and 10 rebounds in Dallas’ 125-92 loss to San Antonio.
“I think people see Flagg with the potential for an American icon,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s. “I’m not quite sure that, at least in my time handling sort of young rookie memorabilia, that I’ve seen anything quite like this demand since LeBron (James).”
Flagg, 19, leads all rookies with an average of 20.4 points per game. He also is producing 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 49 games (all starts) this season since being selected by the Mavericks with the top overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke.
Flagg’s 49-point performance in a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 29 broke the NBA record for the highest-scoring outing by a teen.
The most expensive jersey sold from an NBA rookie season belongs to Michael Jordan. An autographed 1984 Chicago Bulls jersey worn during Jordan’s rookie year sold through Sotheby’s for $4.2 million in March 2025.
–Field Level Media
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