Category: 6. Sports

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Much of the dust has settled in the 2025 NBA offseason and some key names have changed locales via reported free agency deals or trades. Here’s a look at the potential free agents that could be available next summer (listed in alphabetical order).

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F Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic

Contract status after 2025-26: Restricted free agent, extension eligible

It’s hard to see the former Kia Rookie of the Year playing anywhere outside of Orlando in 2026-27. If the Magic are unable to secure an extension, they will have the right to match any offer next summer.

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G Bradley Beal | Phoenix Suns

Contract status after 2025-26: Player option, extension eligible

The three-time All-Star can still fill up the bucket from all three levels, which will always garner attention at free agency. But first, Beal would need to opt out of the final year of his deal and thus give up his no-trade clause.

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F Mikal Bridges | New York Knicks

Contract status after 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent, extension eligible

Any team looking for a versatile wing defender, a capable scorer and 3-point shooter and a player who never misses games would love to add Bridges to the mix. But with New York trading so much future Draft capital to acquire Bridges, an extension may be coming and avoid free agency.

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G Dyson Daniels | Atlanta Hawks

Contract status after 2025-26: Restricted free agent, extension eligible

In an era of high-octane offense, “The Great Barrier Thief” excels on getting stops, becoming the first player in four decades to average more than three steals per game in a season. His defensive instincts and improving offense will have offer sheets flying at Daniels unless he’s locked into a contract extension by next summer.

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F/G Luka Dončić | Los Angeles Lakers

Contract status after 2025-26: Player option & is extension eligible

The five-time All-NBA star will play his first full season with the Lakers in 2025-26, but has a player option if he chooses to test the free agent market next summer.

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F Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets (Reported trade)

Contract status after 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent, extension eligible

One of the game’s greatest scorers has shown no signs of slowing down as he enters season No. 18 (with 2025-26 serving as his first in Houston). He has a 16-year streak of scoring 25 or more points per game and if an extension is not reached, Durant could become an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2019.

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G De’Aaron Fox | San Antonio Spurs

Contract status after 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent, extension eligible

The world will get a true vision of the Fox and Victor Wembanyama pairing after the two played only five games last season before Wembanyama was lost for 2024-25 due to injury. The Spurs will also see how Fox and 2025 No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and reigning Kia Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle mesh together in the backcourt before Fox potentially hits free agency.

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F Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors

Contract status after 2025-26: Player option, extension eligible

The 2016-17 Kia Defensive Player of the Year finished third for the same award in 2025 and continues to be a defensive force into his mid-30s. Aside from that, he brings a wealth of basketball IQ and championship experience.

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G James Harden | LA Clippers

Contract status after 2025-26: Player option (reported)

This summer, Harden opted out of the final year of his contract, entered free agency and re-signed for two more years in L.A., where he has thrived as a playmaker. He’ll be in the same position next summer (with another player option).

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C/F Chet Holmgren & G/F Jalen Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder

Contract status for both after 2025-26: Restricted free agents, extension eligible

Like Banchero, this duo from the 2022 Draft will likely secure contract extensions and never hit free agency. As OKC looks to build a dynasty, having a versatile wing in Williams and a multi-faceted big man alongside the reigning Kia MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will be foundational.

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F LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers

Contract status after 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer picked up his player option to return to L.A. for his record-setting 23rd NBA season. It will be James’ eighth season with the Lakers, marking his longest single run with any team, but where he lands for season No. 24 remains to be seen.

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G Zach LaVine | Sacramento Kings

Contract status for 2025-26: Player option, extension eligible

LaVine returned to All-Star form last season, hitting a career-best 44.6% of his 3-pointers while also attacking the rim with elite athleticism. If an extension is not reached, LaVine has a player option to determine if he hits free agency 1 1/2 years after his Sacramento arrival from Chicago.

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F/C Kristaps Porziņģis | Atlanta Hawks (Reported trade)

Contract status after 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent, extension eligible

The prototype stretch five that can protect the rim on defense and knock down 3-pointers on offense, Porziņģis is set to play his first season in Atlanta this fall after reportedly being traded by Boston. Come the summer of 2026, he’ll have his choice of destination as an unrestricted free agent.

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G Norman Powell | LA Clippers

Contract status for 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent, extension eligible

Powell made a huge leap in his 10th season, posting career-best numbers in scoring (21.8 ppg) and 3-point shooting (three 3-pointers per game on 41.8% shooting). Powell is closing in on being a career 40% 3-point shooter (39.8% in his career).

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G Anfernee Simons | Boston Celtics (Reported trade)

Contract status after 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent, extension eligible

A 6-foot-3 combo guard who can score from all over the court, Simons is reportedly headed East to join Boston after spending his first seven seasons in Portland. He will be an unrestricted free agent next summer (barring him receiving an extension).

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G Austin Reaves | Los Angeles Lakers

Contract status after 2025-26: Player option, extension eligible

After signing with L.A. after going undrafted in 2021, Reaves has improved his scoring (20.2 ppg in 2024-25) and playmaking (5.8 apg) every season. He gives the Lakers a third shot-creator alongside Dončić and James.

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G Coby White | Chicago Bulls

Contract status after 2025-26: Unrestricted free agent, extension eligible

He emerged as a scorer following Chicago’s trade of Zach LaVine, averaging 24.5 ppg on 49.4% shooting and 4.3 apg after the All-Star break. Can he carry that level of play in 2025-26 before entering unrestricted free agency?

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F Andrew Wiggins | Miami Heat

Contract status after 2025-26: Player option, extension eligible

The No. 1 overall pick in 2014 will look to build on his close to last season, when he posted 19.9 ppg, shot 47.6% overall and 37.9% on 3-pointers after the All-Star break. Should he do that, come the end of 2025-26 he’ll be able to decide whether to not to stay in South Beach … or move on in 2026.

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G Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks

Contract status after 2025-26: Player option, extension eligible

What do Young and Harden have in common? They join Dončić, James and Oscar Robertson in the 24/7 club: players to average 24 or more points and seven or more assists per game in their career. As he enters his eighth season in Atlanta, Young can choose to opt out and test the market next summer.

However, Bhambri and Xinyu bounced back in style as they held on to their serves for the remainder of the set and broke the American team’s service games three times in a row to take the first set.

The second set began on a similar note with Bhambri-Xinyu dropping their serve in the second game to trail 3-0 again.

The Indo-Chinese duo narrowly saved themselves from going 4-0 up by saving a break point in the fourth game but it proved to be their only high point in the set as they lost it by a 6-1 margin.

Faced with a deciding set, both teams brought their A game and didn’t drop a single serve throughout, forcing a tiebreaker, which the Indo-Chinese pair won 10-6.

Bhambri is the only Indian tennis player in the mixed doubles draw at the penultimate Grand Slam of the year.

Yuki Bhambri and his American partner Robert Galloway also made the second round of the men’s doubles competition on Wednesday and are due to play Portugal’s Nuno Borges and the USA’s Marcos Giron on Saturday.

India’s N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli will also be in action in the second round of the men’s doubles competition, albeit with different partners.

Rohan Bopanna and his Belgian partner Sander Gillé, however, bowed out in the opening round itself after going down to the third-seeded German duo of Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz.

Meanwhile, Neeraj Phogat (65kg) and Anamika (51kg) saw their campaigns come to an end in the quarter-finals. Neeraj fought a close and spirited bout but went down 3-2 in a split decision.

A total of 10 Indian boxers are in the semis and one in the final at the Kazakhstan boxing meet.

The tournament in Astana is the second and last of two scheduled World Boxing Cup meets for the year.

Back in April, India had won six medals at the previous World Boxing Cup leg in Brazil. The Indian women did not compete in Brazil on account of the national championships.

Boxers accumulate ranking points through their performances at these two meets with the top pugilists qualifying for the World Boxing Cup Finals scheduled in New Delhi, India, in November.

The Kazakhstan leg will run until July 7, with over 400 boxers from 31 countries, including Olympians, competing across 10 weight categories in both men’s and women’s divisions. India have sent a 20-member team.

On a brisk autumnal day in late October, the French women’s national football team kicked off the new Olympic cycle against Jamaica.

The result was a resounding success.

A 3-0 convincing win over the Reggae Girlz showed a fierce intent, and for the newly appointed Laurent Bonadei, it was the perfect start.

Clara Mateo, selected in the number 10 shirt for Bonadei’s first XI, notably looked at ease in the role, running the front line with authority.

When the opportunity came, she opened the scoring with a low drive in the 22nd minute, clenching her fist in conquest before turning to celebrate with teammate Delphine Cascarino.

It was a moment of great pride for the striker. Just a few weeks after not being selected for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, she found herself cheered by a standing ovation. The goal proved to be an apt reward, not only for the occasion, but also for the hungry Mateo, who didn’t stop working on her international dream even after the disappointment.

“It’s true that I had a very good start to the season,” she told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview.

“I was very happy to be back with the French team. When you’re a top-level athlete, you always want to represent your country. To be able to play and score right from the start of the match, I was obviously very happy. And it also showed the work I’d done to bounce back.”

As the rest of the season unfurled, the 27-year-old was similarly productive.

She finished as the top scorer in the French league with 18 goals to her name and was voted the best player by her peers.

“It’s been a successful season. It’s also a season that rewards the work I’ve put in over the last few years,” she continued. “On an individual level, I was there in terms of statistics, and I was consistent and efficient throughout the season. And then to win a trophy with my club was a real source of pride and emotion.”

But how did she rebuild into the form of her life after missing out on the Games?

Olympics.com caught up with the Nantes native at Clairefontaine, just a few days before Les Bleues take on defending champions England at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, to find out.

WIMBLEDON — Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova showed up to her Wimbledon press conference in an oversized Metallica T-shirt and strawberry-themed nails, still a bit surprised, she admitted, at how well she’s playing after her third-round win over Naomi Osaka.

Not because she’s unseeded and ranked No. 50, or because she’d just celebrated her 34th birthday the day before. Pavlyuchenkova knows the level of tennis she can still produce — she opened the year by reaching her ninth Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open and expected a strong season to follow. But just before Indian Wells, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection.

Wimbledon: Scores | Order of play | Draws

“It was horrible,” Pavlyuchenkova said after defeating Naomi Osaka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon third round. “I was fatigued, I was very neurotic and irritated. I constantly had headaches — especially in my right temple, it was pressing on my head all the time.

“I had a brain fog. I would start practicing and couldn’t even see clear sometimes — whenever the heart rate was going up, it was hitting me. I never thought it would be such a nasty disease.”

Pavlyuchenkova thinks she contracted the disease last year — but Lyme disease can have an incubation period of several months, and she did not realize straight away,

“My boyfriend had it,” she said. “I literally took the tick off him. It stayed four days under the hair on his neck, I thought it was a brown spot or something, because it’s very little. Then on my hand I had a red spot, but [thought] it could be a mosquito. I felt really bad during preseason, but I thought preseason is usually hard. I was falling asleep at 9 p.m. I thought, probably my age and hard training combination.”

Pavlyuchenkova underwent a six-week course of antibiotics, but continued to struggle in her recovery. Partly, she admits she was “stupid” because she wanted to play so much. She kept coming back too soon, only to suffer setbacks. But with Lyme disease, her doctors’ advice to “listen to her body” was easier said than done.

“I would feel OK, so I would go practice,” she said. “Then I’d almost pass out. Before Eastbourne, I had to take a week off because I started again too early and recovery was very bad. But I didn’t have any crazy symptoms. I was just tired. That’s why it was so difficult, because is it ‘tired’ where it’s still OK to push, or is it ‘tired’ where you need to be in bed?”

Here at SW19, Pavlyuchenkova thinks she’s finally starting to get a handle on the recovery process. More importantly, she’s gained some perspective.

“It feels almost yesterday I was the youngest on tour,” she said. “I was taking everything for granted. Every match I was winning I was like, pffft, just another match I won. Third round of a Slam, pffft. I was not appreciating anything because it was coming too easy. But I started to appreciate every match and every moment. A few months ago I couldn’t even practise. Then you think, maybe you will never have this moment again.

“I also don’t know how much is left in my career because I am very old now. It’s something I want to take to the fullest, so I don’t have regrets afterwards.”