Sports
Report: Patrick Ewing, Steve Clifford joining Wizards staff
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Former New York Knicks player Patrick Ewing is seen prior to game five of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Patrick Ewing is returning to the coaching ranks, joining the Washington Wizards as an assistant to head coach Brian Keefe, ESPN reported on Saturday.
Ewing, 63, had been serving as an ambassador for the New York Knicks, with whom he starred from 1985-2000. His first coaching position came as an assistant with the Wizards in 2002-03 before holding the same role with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.
Ewing will likely be called upon to share his expertise with veteran stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis while helping 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa adjust to NBA life. Ewing was also a No. 1 overall pick, in 1985 by the Knicks.
Per the report, former NBA head coach Steve Clifford is also joining the Wizards as a coaching advisor, a role he had held with the Phoenix Suns since August 2025.
For Ewing and Clifford, 64, it’s a reunion as the former Knicks legend was on head coach Clifford’s staff with the Bobcats/Hornets from 2013-17.
Along with the Bobcats/Hornets (2013-18, 2022-24), Clifford coached the Orlando Magic (2018-21). He was an assistant with the Knicks, Magic, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers before being hired by the Bobcats.
An NCAA champion in 1984 at Georgetown, Ewing returned to his alma mater as its head coach in 2017 and guided the Hoyas to the Big East tournament title at Madison Square Garden in 2021. He was relieved of his duties in 2023.
Ewing, who had his No. 33 jersey retired by the Knicks in 2003, leads the franchise in points, rebounds, blocks, steals and games played, and helped lead New York to the postseason in his final 13 seasons.
–Field Level Media
Sports
No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson scores 28 in Summer League debut
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets the second pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson after he was selected by the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images No. 2 overall draft pick Darryn Peterson shined in his Summer League debut, scoring 28 points in 27 minutes to help the Utah Jazz notch a 103-102 overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday at Salt Lake City.
Peterson has the microscope on him after a much-maligned one college season in which he dealt with repeated cramping issues and other injuries. The Jazz picked him after the Washington Wizards took BYU’s AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 in the draft,
Peterson made 11 of 21 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and also contributed five rebounds and two blocked shots. On the downside, he committed eight turnovers.
Peterson pointed out the game was his first since Kansas lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against St. John’s. He averaged 20.2 points last season but missed 11 of the Jayhawks’ 35 games.
“It felt great,” Peterson said. “I hadn’t played since my last game in March. Playing another basketball game, this is what I love to do.”
Utah’s next game is Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies, also on the University of Utah campus.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers, Phillies, Braves land five players for All-Star Game in Philadelphia
Jul 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates with two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and teammates in the dugout after scoring against the San Diego Padres in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will have four hitters in the National League’s starting lineup when the world’s best players gather July 14 in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game.
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who received the most votes among National League players to guarantee his sixth consecutive All-Star spot last week, learned Saturday he will be joined in the lineup by first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy and center fielder Andy Pages.
Fans and players also elected Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto as starters. Baldwin, Marsh and Pages are first-time all-stars.
The American League starting lineup features a mix of perpetual All-Stars and new faces. The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout and Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton comprise the AL’s outfield, though Judge (rib stress fracture) likely won’t be available and Trout (hamstring) might not be activated in time to play.
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement make their All-Star Game debuts alongside Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.
Alvarez cracked his league-high 28th home run Saturday night while Caminero delivered his 11th blast in the Rays’ last 11 games to move his home run total to 26 for the year.
Clement, who owns a .293 batting average and .746 OPS for the 42-47 Blue Jays, received the most fan votes to become the first AL player to secure his spot in the lineup. Langeliers is the first A’s catcher selected to start since Terry Steinbach made consecutive starts in 1988 and 1989.
The American League pitching staff features 11 hurlers making either their first or second All-Star Game appearance. Only Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman (ninth selection) knows the ropes extensively.
Toronto’s Dylan Cease, Cleveland’s Parker Messick, Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan, New York’s Cam Schlitter, Boston’s Ranger Suarez and Kansas City’s Michael Wacha are the starters selected while Chapman is joined in the bullpen by Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker, Texas’ Jacob Latz, Cleveland’s Cade Smith and Toronto’s Louis Varland.
The NL staff features slightly more experience as Atlanta ace Chris Sale (10th selection) is the only pitcher with more than three All-Star Games on his resume. Cincinnati’s Chase Burns, Miami’s Max Meyer, Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez, Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto join Sale on the starting staff.
San Diego closer Mason Miller leads a bullpen that includes Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran and Atlanta’s Raisel Iglesias.
In addition to Marsh, Sanchez and Duran, Phillies fans will get to cheer for first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber as reserves. Harper (ninth All-Star appearance) was deemed a “legend pick” while Schwarber leads the majors with 30 homers.
The National League bench consists of catchers William Contreras (Milwaukee) and Hunter Goodman (Colorado), first baseman Matt Olson (Atlanta), shortstop Otto Lopez (Miami), utility infielders Luis Arraez (San Francisco) and Sal Stewart (Cincinnati) and outfielders Corbin Carroll (Arizona), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Jordan Walker (St. Louis) and James Wood (Washington).
The American League reserves are catchers Dillon Dingler (Detroit) and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore), designated hitter Yandy Diaz (Tampa Bay), first basemen Nick Kurtz (Athletics) and Ben Rice (Yankees), rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana (Cleveland), rookie shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle (Detroit), third baseman Miguel Vargas (White Sox) and outfielders Randy Arozarena (Seattle), Cody Bellinger (Yankees) and Riley Greene (Detroit).
The Phillies, Dodgers and Braves boast the most All-Stars with five apiece. Twenty-six players — including 15 of the 32 players on the American League roster — are making their first All-Star appearance.
–Field Level Media
Sports
France manager Didier Deschamps addresses yellows
July 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.; France coach Didier Deschamps and Brice Samba celebrate after the match. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images PHILADELPHIA — After France survived a contentious round of 16 clash with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay, French manager Didier Deschamps tried to take the high road.
France somehow ended the match with all three bookings from Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev despite Paraguay being the team who sat deep and defended.
But that state of affairs was mostly understood and expected from Deschamps and his French charges on a sweltering afternoon that was the hottest match of this World Cup.
“I’ve seen a lot of things,” Deschamps said through an interpreter. “I have prepared the players. The players were expecting this game.
“I do not want to criticize Paraguay. Each team plays the way they want. But there were some insults from the other bench which I could have done without.”
Deschamps counted his charges lucky to escape the match without a red.
“The most important is by the end of the game that there were no disagreements and that we (did not) get another card. We got three yellow cards with a lot of fouls.
“I’m not saying that we did not make any fouls, but there were a lot from both teams.”
Manu Kone, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were the booked players. Admirably, France goal-scorer Kylian Mbappe avoided joining them despite persistent Paraguayan provocation.
Asked whether it showed growth for France’s 27-year-old captain, Deschamps replied that Mbappe has always behaved maturely with his national team.
“There was a lot of media saying that he has evolved,” Deschamps said. “I don’t want to contradict myself, but Kylian has an image for you that is far from reality.
“I don’t want to lie. I’ve said from the first day that he had this spirit. He gave all the athletic efforts. He’s a great top-notch player on the pitch. But when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group.”
Until Mbappe’s 70th-minute penalty, earned by the excellent dribbling of substitute Desire Doue to incite Diego Gomez’s clumsy challenge, there remained a chance France would follow Germany out of the tournament at the hands of Paraguay, in the process ending Deschamps’ 14-year managerial tenure.
Deschamps, once again, insisted he never dwelled on it.
“I’m going to be clear. I will never think of that,” he said. “The only feeling that I have is to do everything for (the team) to work in the best way. The last game could have been four years ago or eight years ago. They could have told me, ‘You’ll go home.’ It’s like that.
“I have a positive philosophy. With my staff, we’re going to do everything to win. But we know this is football. Sometimes you lose. But you give it your all, then your head will be all right.”
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
