The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the “New Jersey Americans”.

Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA, with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.

To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise’s jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.

And for today’s article, we will continue with the third of eight people to wear the No. 55 jersey, Hall of Fame big man alum Dikembe Mutombo. After ending his college career at Georgetown, Mutombo was picked up with the fourth overall selection of the 1990 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.

The Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo native played the first five seasons of his pro career with Denver. He also played for the Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers before he was dealt to the (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets in 2002. His stay with the team lasted until he was cut in 2003.

During his time suiting up for the Nets, Mutombo wore only jersey No. 55 and put up 5.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 55 – Dikembe Mutombo (2002-03)

The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.

To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.

With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.

And for today’s article, we will continue with the sixth of 16 who wore the No. 12, guard alum Martyn Norris. After ending his college career at West Florida, Norris was picked up with the 33rd overall selection of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Washington, District of Columbia native played the first season of his pro career with the (then) Vancouver (now, Memphis) Grizzlies after being cut by the Bucks. He also played in other leagues, and for the Seattle SuperSonics before he signed with the Houston Rockets in 2000. His first stay with the team lasted until he was dealt to the New York Knicks in 2003, ending when he returned to Houston in 2005 for parts of his last two seasons in the league.

During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Norris wore only jersey No. 12 and put up 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets jersey history No. 12 – Martyn Norris (2000-04)

Giants rumor reveals who New York could take with No. 10 pick acquired in Dexter Lawrence trade originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New York Giants traded away one of their most valuable players on Saturday, sending defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-draft blockbuster.

Cincinnati is trading the No. 10 overall pick in Thursday’s draft to New York for Lawrence, according to multiple reports.

“Giants star Dexter Lawrence is being traded to the #Bengals in a pre-Draft blockbuster that includes the No. 10 pick heading to the Giants, per me and Mike Garafolo,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X.

New York now has two picks in the top ten of the draft, and we now know who general manager Joe Schoen could be targeting at pick 10.

Giants could have their eyes on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Schoen attended Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson’s workout on Friday, and also had dinner with the projected first-round pick the night before, on Thursday.

Garafolo adds that the Giants having two first-round picks, both in the top 10, makes it more likely that Tyson will be one of the first 10 players off the board.

“#Giants GM Joe Schoen flew to Arizona to attend Jordan Tyson’s workout yesterday. Schoen also had dinner with Tyson the night before, sources told me and Rap Sheet,” Garafolo said on X. “With NYG at 10 after the Dexter Lawrence, Tyson’s odds of being a top 10 pick have now increased significantly.”

Garafolo also isn’t ruling out the possibility of New York taking Tyson with the fifth overall pick.

“Which is not to say Tyson can’t go earlier than 10. He could go 5, even. In 2022, Joe Schoen and the #Giants took Kayvon Thibodeaux at 5 because they knew they’d get Evan Neal at 7. Weren’t positive it would’ve played out the other way. A few ways for Schoen to play it now,” Garafolo added.

It’s clear the Giants are high on Tyson and view him as one of the top playmakers in the draft. The 21-year-old tallied 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns at Arizona State in 2025, and had 1,101 and ten touchdowns the year prior in 2024.

Selecting Tyson and pairing him with Malik Nabers would give quarterback Jaxson Dart a young and explosive wide receiver duo for the future. With Tyson also having the ability to flourish from the slot, he would be a nice replacement for Wan’Dale Robinson, who left New York for the Tennessee Titans in free agency this offseason.

Overall, Tyson is on the Giants’ radar as the draft nears on Thursday. We’ll see if he ends up in New York within the next week.

More NFL News

• Why Giants and Bengals pulled off blockbuster trade involving Dexter Lawrence
• Cowboys $4 million trade candidate could receive interest from Packers, Steelers, Rams and Jets
• Packers, Rams, Bucs and Ravens could show interest in Colts $33 million trade candidate
• Latest Trent Williams update should interest Packers, Chiefs, Bears and Steelers
• Seahawks, Packers, Vikings and Giants named top landing spots for Chargers 779-yard trade candidate

Trading Donovan Mitchell would be the end of the current Cleveland Cavaliers playoff run originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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If the Cleveland Cavaliers bow out early in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, there’s every chance the franchise will blow up the roster for next season. Donovan Mitchell is about to enter the final two years of his contract after this postseason. If the Cavs continue to disappoint in the playoffs, he may not want to extend his deal with the Cavaliers. He appears to love Cleveland, but at the end of the day, he wants to win an NBA title and may want to look elsewhere to achieve that career goal. The Cavs seem to appreciate that, and according to Fred Katz of The Athletic, the Cavs are willing to trade Mitchell if he doesn’t re-up his contract with Cleveland. 

Mitchell is the key to not only the on-court schemes but also the off-court roster construction. With Mitchell, you know how to build the team out. In fact, this whole team is built and structured around Mitchell and his playstyle. Without him, this club can’t win. Not just because of his talent, but because of the ripple effects that his departure would cause. 

If the Cavs do move on from Mitchell (or vice versa), then it’s likely the club will all but be forced to blow up the roster. James Harden will opt not to re-sign with the Cavs in the 2026 offseason without Mitchell here, and if both star guards leave, then guys like Dean Wade, Keon Ellis, Thomas Bryant, and Larry Nance Jr. are likely gone in free agency. At which point you’ll need to shed salary, so guys like Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, and Dennis Schroder will likely be traded. Some of them, like Strus and Allen, could likely net you draft picks, which you’ll need if you’re doing a full teardown.

More: Cleveland Cavaliers’ offense shines, but the defense has work to do as the Toronto Raptors series moves to Game 2

If Mitchell doesn’t want to re-sign with the Cavaliers, this is exactly what should happen. It’s not something the fandom wants, as Mitchell has been incredible for the Cavaliers. He’s been an MVP-caliber performer and one of the best guards in the NBA since arriving. Yet, if he’s not willing to commit to the club long-term, which is his choice, then the Cavs have to try to recoup whatever they can for him. 

The Cavs gave up talent like Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton, as well as five draft picks (three unprotected and two swaps) to acquire Mitchell. They won’t land that in return, but they can maybe get one or two first-round picks and a young, solid building block for the future. Not an obvious top prospect, but someone with real upside. 

And it’s what they should do. If the Cavs get bounced early in the playoffs, Cleveland should pivot and build around Evan Mobley. Maybe you keep a Sam Merrill, Tyrese Proctor, Craig Porter, and Jaylon Tyson, but for the most part, this starting five would likely look radically different in the fall of 2026. 

More NBA news: 

• Lakers predicted to build around Luka Doncic, trade $53.8 million 23.3 PPG breakout star
• Warriors predicted to land $101 million Lakers superstar to help Stephen Curry win fifth title
• Celtics sign 26-year-old ex-Raptors history-making guard to help Jaylen Brown in playoffs

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray shot and made 16 free throws. The entire Minnesota Timberwolves team went to the line 19 times.

It was a discrepancy not lost on Minnesota coach Chris Finch.

“Well, the 16 free throws from Murray was a head scratcher,” Finch said after a 116-105 loss to the Nuggets in Game 1 of their first-round series Saturday. “I thought we played really good defense on him.”

Murray, though, begs to differ.

“I thought I got fouled on every single one of them,” Murray said after finishing with 30 points. “I don’t know what everybody’s talking about. Real fouls.”

By going 16 of 16, Murray earned a spot in the Nuggets’ record book. It’s the most free throws without a miss in a playoff game in team history, breaking the mark of 14 by Bryant Stith at Utah on May 17, 1994. It’s the most free throws Murray has attempted in a game in his NBA career.

When his long-range jumper wasn’t falling — he was 0 for 8 from the 3-point line — Murray simply took it closer to the hoop. He shot eight free throws in the second quarter alone.

“A lot of those ones in the second quarter, we were there,” Finch said. “We were physical. We were vertical. He initiates the contact, he spills away and then he gets rewarded for it.

“Sixteen free throws is a lot. It’s almost as many as we shot all game.”

Murray and Nikola Jokic were quite a 1-2 combo. Jokic finished with his 22nd playoff triple-double. He had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Denver improved to 15-7 when Jokic has a triple-double in a postseason game.

It was Murray’s show for much of the game. He also had seven assists and five rebounds in more than 39 minutes.

“He’s been so good all year,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman, whose team gears up for Game 2 on Monday night. “Jamal has been Jamal all year, tough-minded.”

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is finding his stride, too, as he rounds back from a right knee injury. He had 22 points and seven assists in just over 38 minutes.

“It wasn’t the Ant we’re used to seeing, but is pretty much as expected in where he is in trying to find his rhythm,” Finch explained.

Edwards felt the same way.

“A little fatigued,” Edwards said. “Other than that I felt good.”

Edwards was 6 of 7 from the foul line.

“Jamal helped them. He shot, what 19 — how many free throws did he shoot?” Edwards said, looking down at the stat sheet. “Sixteen for sixteen from the free-throw line. So that helped them a lot.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

San Diego Padres (13-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-10), April 18, 2026, 6:38 p.m. PST

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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer doesn’t like pitching behind an opener. Blue Jays manager John Schneider doesn’t appear to be losing sleep over it.

A minor drama hit the Blue Jays clubhouse Friday when Lauer, a veteran southpaw who has mostly started in his MLB career, openly complained about being asked to serve as the bulk guy behind an opener.

His words, via Mitch Bannon of The Athletic:

“It’s definitely different. To be really blunt, I hate it. I can’t stand it. You work with what you got. Part of it, too, we’re trying to mix some things up. We’re trying to find ways to win. It’s a gameplan we had, and I think we went out there and tried to execute it the best we could. That’s really all you can do.

“You can make it work the best you can. It’s just, hopefully it’s not something that we will continue doing. But you know, that’s above my pay grade.”

One day later, Schneider confirmed he agreed with Lauer on one thing, that the matter is above his pay grade. He also didn’t seem to appreciate Lauer airing his grievances with the media rather than behind closed doors:

“I respect everyone’s opinion. I know the end of his quote was ‘it’s above my pay grade,’ and it definitely is above his pay grade as to how we use him. We’re trying to win; you know what I mean? My job is to put him in spots to try to have success. That’s what I try to do. He’s aware of that. He gets that. I think that anyone who’s been bounced around a little bit, he wants to start. I get it. He’s on board with us, just trying to win and go out and execute until we take the ball from the big fella and do it again the next time.

“It’s just reminding guys, if you don’t like your role, come talk to me. Come talk to Pete. That goes for everybody. It’s you don’t like when I take you out as a starter. All right, come talk to me. Don’t tell you guys [reporters]. Come tell me. So that was it, basically it was quick. I think the message was, like, you pitch, I decide.”

Lauer made three starts before Friday, in which he allowed 11 earned runs while striking out 12 and walking nine in 12 2/3 innings of work. With the opener, he allowed three earned runs in five innings in a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

There are levels to this as well, as The Athletic notes Lauer feels pitching out of the bullpen last year cost him his arbitration case, in which the Jays successfully argued for a $4.4 million salary instead of his $5.75 million number.

Lauer is also due to hit free agency next offseason.

Openers have become commonplace in MLB in recent years, though some pitchers clearly still have issues with the idea. The Blue Jays are doing it as a matter of desperation, as they entered the season with an overstocked rotation but are now dealing with a significant number of injuries.

Starters Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, Shane Bieber and Cody Ponce are all currently on the injured list, with Ponce likely out for the season with an ACL injury after signing a $30 million deal over the winter. Those inuries are how Lauer made the rotation out of spring training.

Toronto has also signed Patrick Corbin to fill a gap in the rotation, and using an opener in front of Lauer may well be them trying to mitigate issues with a starter they can’t afford to replace right now.