Columbus, OH

It's time to talk NBA swing pieces—the players who may not be stars in the conventional sense, but who'll still have an outsized impact on their teams in 2024-25. The best X-factors have a wide range of possible outcomes in the season ahead. Ideally, they've offered mixed-bag results in the past that make it difficult to be sure what they'll do going forward. Depending on whether they hit the high or low end of their potential, these guys could determine playoff fates, team identities and even overall franchise trajectories.

Every NBA Team's Biggest X-Factor for 2024-25 Season

After winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics with Team USA, Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant received another item to add to his mantle. During Fanatics Fest in New York City, Durant got a surprise from WWE chief content officer Paul "Triple H" Leveque, who gifted him a championship belt decorated in the colors of his alma mater Texas:

Video: Triple H Gifts Suns' Kevin Durant Texas-Themed WWE Belt After 2024 Olympic Win

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Lakers legend Michael Cooper does not believe "nepotism" influenced his former team to select LeBron James' son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 pick of the 2024 NBA draft. "When you're that good, people try to find little knicks and knacks about you, but this is not about...

Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Defends LeBron, Bronny James from 'Nepotism' Backlash

Dallas, TX

Dallas Mavericks On SI

The NBA wants the Mavs front and center after their run to the NBA Finals

Dallas Mavericks Among Leaders in National TV Games for 2024-25 Season

The tank race is already on for what could be an incredible 2025 NBA draft class. While Duke freshman Cooper Flagg sits atop all the 2025 mock draft boards you'll find, he is far from the only potential difference-maker in this class. Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe are among the other tantalizing prospects who could convince teams that there's never been a better time to tank.

5 NBA Teams That Should Tank If They Start Slow in 2024-25

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman's cleats honoring his three-year-old son, Maximus, were officially revealed by the team in a post on X. Players' Weekend with Freddie. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaxStrong?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaxStrong</a> <a href="https://t.co/aVFsgM7mzZ">pic.twitter.com/aVFsgM7mzZ</a>. Freeman will wear them as part of MLB Players' Weekend, which begins on Friday. The 34-year-old stepped away...

Photo: Dodgers' Freddie Freeman Honors Son Maximus with Players' Weekend Bat, Cleats

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Herbie J Pilato

In the mid-1970s, Good Timesmade a star of actor/comedian Jimmy 'JJ'/'Dynomite' Walker. However, behind the scenes, the tension between the stars was relatively challenging. According to what Jimmie Walker once relayed, most of the show's cast rarely had any interaction behind the camera. Walker didn't recall having any conversations with actress Esther Rolle, who played his TV mother, Florida Evans, or actor John Amos, who played James Evans, his TV mother.

Actor/Comedian Jimmie "JJ" Walker Behind the Scenes of TV's 'Good Times' in the 1970s

Charlotte, NC

Bryce Young struggled during his rookie season, hampered in part by poor offensive line play and a lack of quality weapons. But the Carolina Panthers didn't exactly have a consistent plan in place for his rookie season either. "We changed the offense three times in the offseason,'' a source close...

NFL Rumors: Panthers Changed Offense '3 Times' Before Bryce Young's Rookie Season

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will rock some unique cleats this weekend. With Players' Weekend giving MLB stars a chance to display their personalities and styles with custom-made bats and cleats, Ohtani made sure he displayed someone near and dear to him. As the Dodgers face the St. Louis...

Photo: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Unveils Cleats Honoring Dog for MLB Players' Weekend

Cincinnati, OH

The Cincinnati Bengals will be wearing head-to-toe orange for their Sept. 8 season opener against the New England Patriots. The Bengals debuted the all-orange uniforms on Friday with a video on X. Cincinnati Bengals @Bengals. This isn't a drill.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpenInOrange?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpenInOrange</a> <a href="https://t.co/MwmSZMIajT">pic.twitter.com/MwmSZMIajT</a>. The uniforms feature orange pants, an orange top...

Bengals Reveal All-Orange Uniforms for 2024 NFL Opener vs. Patriots in Video, Photos

As the clock keeps ticking toward the start of the regular season, the San Francisco 49ers are still working to find a resolution with both Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams. Appearing on KNBR's Colbert and Topes show on Thursday (h/t David Bonilla of 49ersWebZone.com), 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan explained "nothing has changed" with Aiyuk at this point.

49ers HC Shanahan Addresses Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams amid Trade, Contract Rumors

Bronx, NY

New York Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo has dealt with irritation in his hands for several years now, and he's finally found the potential cause of the pain. Per NJ.com's Randy Miller, Verdugo recently found out that the pain in his hands could be caused by an allergic reaction to his batting gloves. He said he's been dealing with the reaction since 2021.

Yankees' Alex Verdugo Discusses Having Allergic Reaction to His Batting Gloves

Mike Tyson is itching for his chance to get back in the ring. The boxing icon gave a press conference during Fanatics Fest NYC to discuss his upcoming fight with Jake Paul. When asked about the chances of the fight finally happening, Tyson expressed confidence in his readiness and said he is "very prepared" to knock Paul out.

Video: Mike Tyson Says He's 'Very Prepared' to Knock Jake Paul Out in Boxing Fight

New York City, NY

After getting into a light shoving match during their faceoff at a press conference at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Sunday, heavyweight legend Mike Tyson took to social media to poke fun at his opponent Jake Paul. Tyson posted photos of his faceoff with Paul and declared, "I...

Mike Tyson Trolls Jake Paul Over Fight Presser Faceoff Photos: 'Love Meeting My Fans'

The 2024 Little League World Series is in full swing, and Friday brought the final games of the opening round. Every team is guaranteed to play at least two games, and under the 20-team format, that means four teams—two from the U.S. bracket and two from the international bracket—are randomly assigned byes.

Little League World Series 2024: Saturday Schedule, TV Info and Bracket Predictions

Seattle, WA

During the Indiana Fever's Sunday game against the Seattle Storm, rookie phenom Caitlin Clark broke the WNBA rookie assist record in style. A look at Caitlin Clark's assist that made history 👏 <a href="https://t.co/Ecs7gFpJVM">pic.twitter.com/Ecs7gFpJVM</a>. WNBA @WNBA. Special 🌟<br><br>With her 2nd assist of the contest, Caitlin Clark passes Ticha Penicheiro...

Video: Fever's Caitlin Clark Breaks WNBA Rookie Assist Record vs. Storm

Tampa, FL

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Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

Three men and a woman have been arrested on murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Charles Jones , a Jacksonville rapper known as Julio Foolio,” outside a hotel in Tampa.

4 arrested in slaying of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio

The Toronto Blue Jays face the possibility of losing star slugger Vlad Guerrero Jr. when he becomes a free agent after the 2025 season, but the team reportedly doesn't plan on letting him hit the open market. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Blue Jays "want to try...

MLB Rumors: Vlad Guerrero Jr. Contract Targeted by Blue Jays Amid Bichette Trade Buzz

The biggest NBA contracts aren't always attached to basketball's brightest stars. That's the hope, of course, but things don't always go as planned. Sometimes players don't pan out the way projections pegged them to go; other times, teams feel compelled to overpay someone at risk of losing them for nothing.

Realistic Trade Packages to Move Zach LaVine and the NBA's Worst Contracts

Flag football is set to be added to the Olympic program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, and while some NFL players have expressed interest in participating, one of USA Flag Football's top players attempted to pump the brakes on that idea on Saturday. Team USA quarterback Darrell...

USA Flag Football QB: 'Disrespectful' to Assume NFL Players Will Make Olympic Team

NewsBreak

Predicting the NBA's Highest-Scoring Offenses In 2024-25

We're in a new era of scoring prowess in the NBA. In the history of the league, six of the seven highest offensive ratings were recorded...

Predicting the NBA's Highest-Scoring Offenses In 2024-25

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