Sports
'I never fear confrontation': Why D'Angelo Russell shined in Lakers' win over Bucks
D’Angelo Russell walked back onto the court where, an hour earlier, he’d just wrapped up his best basketball game as a Laker.
He grinned as he looked at the mostly empty Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers had just beaten the Milwaukee Bucks 123-122 without LeBron James. Russell made the go-ahead basket to give him 44 points. He’d scored 21 of the Lakers’ 27 points in the fourth quarter, tied for the third most by a Lakers player in the final quarter.
It was his moment.
In his mind, it always is.
He darted his eyes around the empty stands late Friday night and said that with no James, a full building and a national TV audience — he was ready.
“It’s like all these people are here for me,” he said. “That’s my mind-set.”
Russell’s supreme confidence hasn’t always been viewed as an asset. The circumstances of his season in Los Angeles should’ve punctured that perception months ago, but it never did.
Discussed in virtually every trade scenario of impact, in and out of the starting lineup and losing rhythm, Russell saved his season — and probably that of the Lakers.
“When I talk to my people, they know what I’m capable of. I just talk to my circle. I brag to them,” Russell told The Times on the court late Friday. “All the s— people tweet about me, we talk about it. And it’s just motivation. It just fuels me.”
Friday, Russell was gasoline.
As Anthony Davis’ left arm dangled after a collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks took a late lead, Russell sank a big three to keep the game within reach. And when he had a chance to make the game’s biggest shot, he did so confidently.
Russell attacked Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez in a pick-and-roll, and as he moved quickly in, and then out, he floated a 13-footer through the rim with his left hand for the game’s final points.
“That’s DLo, man,” coach Darvin Ham said.
Since returning to the starting lineup on Jan. 13, Russell has been sensational, averaging 22.8 points and 6.4 assists while making 45.8% of his shots from three on more than eight attempts per game.
The Lakers have won 16 of those 25 games.
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, slips a pass around Bucks center Brook Lopez during the first half Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
The heater itself isn’t crazy when you consider Russell’s talent — his unorthodox style masking a widely respected set of skills like a silky shot and elite court vision and passing.
It is, though, kind of crazy when you consider Russel’s trade value — or lack thereof — was one of the big stories around the Lakers through the trade deadline.
“He and I had a conversation. I won’t go into detail, but he and I had conversations about that very thing,” Ham said after the game Friday. “And you know, it’s a, I don’t call it unfortunate, but it’s just a reality of our business. His name’s being thrown around because he has value and he’s worth something; other teams see that.”
Yet people with knowledge of trade talks not authorized to speak publicly paint a different picture of Russell’s value at the deadline. His $18.7-million player option for next season was viewed negatively leaguewide, as teams asked the same questions evaluators have asked about Russell for years.
Yeah, he’s talented, but does he affect winning?
The nonexistent trade market left little doubt the answer teams had.
“With my craft and my talent on the floor, I’ve always felt like I was capable of doing things. Getting hot makes it a little more exciting throughout a game,” Russell said in his postgame news conference. “Off the floor, obviously, you know what I’ve been through. Public humiliation has done nothing but molded me into the killer that y’all see today. And, um, I never lack confidence. I never fear confrontation. I want all the smoke.”
Russell credited a three-game absence around New Year’s with opening his eyes to ways he could better be himself.
“Just recognizing the pockets I could be more aggressive in and be efficient in,” Russell said. “And I saw it and attacked it as soon as I came back.”
He also vowed to stop being deferential, to trust that he would do the right thing when the moment demanded.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, center, talks with guards D’Angelo Russell, left, and Max Christie during the first half Friday night.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
“I don’t want to say he stopped caring, but in some sense, he stopped caring about something,” Austin Reaves told The Times. “I don’t know exactly what that something was.”
It has not been perfect and it wasn’t Friday.
One of Russell’s three misses from three-point range on Friday was a rushed shot from the top of the key in the third quarter, an airball. Davis immediately told him he thought it was a bad shot. Russell’s high points this week were also surrounded by tough nights in losses against Denver and Sacramento.
But as Russell has become more comfortable asserting himself, the Lakers have become more comfortable relying on him to do it.
“DLo was being DLo,” Davis said. “Took over the game for us.”
Fittingly, Russell wasn’t the only player rewriting his own value on Friday. Spencer Dinwiddie, a player who saw his role change in Brooklyn this season before being traded and waived, made his biggest play in his first start for his hometown Lakers.
After Russell’s go-ahead floater, Dinwiddie blocked Lillard’s potential game-winning shot thanks to a wonderful defensive play.
“It’s everything. I mean, I’m not gonna lie to you, having been a high-usage offensive guy my entire career, I mean, even when I was a kid, stuff like that, I kind of dreamed of those moments in terms of hitting the shot, not necessarily getting the block,” Dinwiddie said. “But it feels pretty much just as sweet. So it’s fun to step into a new role with my childhood team and be productive in the sense of helping us get wins. So that isn’t lost on me, and it’s something that I’m definitely gonna cherish the rest of my life.”
Lakers teammates Jaxson Hayes, right, Spencer Dinwiddie, center, and D’Angelo Russell celebrate their win over the Bucks after Dinwidde blocked the potential winning shot on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Over the last two months, Russell has had a handful of these kinds of moments, his return to the Lakers, the franchise that drafted him, trending up after plenty of moments when it seemed destined to end.
“I just feel confident in what I bring to the basketball game,” Russell said. “If it’s film, watching it, helping young players, I just know what I bring to the table. So whatever room I walk in, I’m confident.”
Trade rumors couldn’t dent it. Criticism of his game couldn’t alter it. It’s a core trait.
“There’s like a handful of people on this earth that have the confidence that he has on the court,” Reaves told The Times. “…I wish I could have it. I really do.”
Sports
2026 World Cup Golden Glove: Martínez, Simon Tied Atop Oddsboard
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It’s not only the boot that’s prone to turning gold.
The Golden Glove is the award given to the best goalkeeper at the World Cup. The winner often comes down to impact, with clutch saves in knockout stage matches and standout performances in the tournament’s crunch-time moments.
In four of the last five World Cups, the winner of this award has come from the champion nation.
Emiliano Martínez of Argentina is +450 to become a repeat Golden Glove winner (Getty Images).
Let’s dive into the odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 22.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
Golden Glove Winner 2026
Emiliano Martínez: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)
Unai Simón: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)
Mike Maignan: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Alisson Becker: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Jordan Pickford: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Manuel Neuer: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Ederson: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Diogo Costa: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
David Raya: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
In Argentina’s first match against Algeria, Martinez exited with a clean sheet, but the Algerians did not register a shot on goal. He had no saves.
Going back in time, Martínez played a pivotal role in Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup title, starting all seven matches and playing every single minute. He conceded only eight total goals and kept three clean sheets.
Martínez also took home the Golden Glove at Copa América in 2024 as he had five clean sheets and only allowed one goal in the entire tournament.
Simon was an influential piece in Spain’s 2024 European Championship run, allowing only three goals and putting together two clean sheets in six matches.
This is Simón’s second career World Cup appearance after playing every minute of the team’s four matches during the 2022 tournament. Through two games, he has two saves.
Sports
Rams QB Ty Simpson embracing an unusual bedtime routine to spur his development
Ty Simpson listens to himself in the evening before he falls asleep. And also when he gets up in the morning and heads to work at the Rams’ practice facility.
The rookie quarterback hears his own voice on audio recordings as he recites the team’s play calls.
“I want to make sure it’s the last thing I think about when I go to bed,” he said recently, “and the first thing that I wake up to.”
The Rams ended their offseason program last week. But Simpson, a Tennessee native, said he would remain in Southern California and continue to study in preparation for training camp at Loyola Marymount in late July.
Simpson began the practice of recording himself at Alabama, where he was the starter in the last of his four seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Now he is the heir apparent to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL most valuable player.
The Rams surprised many when they used the 13th pick in the draft to select Simpson, who started only 15 games. But Simpson is doing everything he can to fit into a position group that includes Stafford, 38, fourth-year signal-caller Stetson Bennett and undrafted free agent Matthew Caldwell.
“Feel like I’m a freshman again — drinking from a fire hydrant,” he said, adding that he knows and is comfortable with high expectations. “The quarterback runs the show here, just how I like it.”
Stafford, entering his 18th season, has said that Simpson has not been shy about asking questions.
“I hope I’m not annoying him,” Simpson said, “but I really appreciate the big brother kind of role he’s playing in my development.”
Stafford is “the MVP for a reason,” Simpson said. “Everything he does, he’s so just aware of everything, aware of how everything works. … I really appreciate him and Stetson taking me in and answering all the questions I have.”
Bennett got limited reps during the offseason program. But his opportunities are expected to increase during training camp as the Rams manage Stafford’s workload.
When asked about Bennett, coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase seemingly have gone out of their way to speak generally about rookies.
“They’re way behind in terms of just the overall teaching progression but they’re learning,” McVay said. “Ty, like the rest of the rookies, are doing a really nice job.”
Scheelhaase, who went through several head coach interviews during the offseason, is in his first season as the Rams’ coordinator.
“I’ve been encouraged with all of our rookies, including Ty,” Scheelhaase said. “First things first, you want to see, do they come in? Are they coachable? Are they willing to work? And you’ve seen that from Ty from Day 1.”
Simpson said that, so far, the jump from college to the NFL has not been daunting. Quarterback coach Dave Ragone and teammates have helped ease the transition.
“The biggest thing is just how detail-oriented everybody is,” Simpson said, adding, “It’s really, really cool because, coming from Alabama in the SEC, that’s how pro-ready I felt.”
With Stafford under contract through the 2027 season, Simpson might not play for a few years. But if Stafford were to suffer an injury, his time could come sooner.
Simpson is expected to play extensively during preseason games later this summer.
To make sure he’s prepared, Simpson recites and listens to his play calls.
“So when I get in the game and hear a play call, I can just imagine it and see it,” he said. “That’s a big thing, just knowing the terminology and being detail-oriented just like Matthew and Stetson.”
Sports
Where In The World Cup Is Jameis Winston?
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Jameis Winston traded the gridiron for the world’s game this summer, living it up with a different kind of football (and football fans) as a FOX Sports World Cup correspondent for the 2026 tournament.
Winston — the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner and current quarterback for the New York Giants — will take the hype around the largest World Cup yet, as a 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Here’s a look at some of the best moments from Winston’s World Cup journey:
Jameis “Man of the People” Winston
Not only is Winston making a massive impact on fans at the World Cup, but he’s also carving out a brand-new reputation. Thanks to his larger-than-life personality, he is quickly becoming the ultimate “man of the people.”
He’s been connecting with fans at every turn, even handing over his No. 4 United States jersey to a local fan in the crowd.
“He just gifted me his jersey,” one fan said. “This is unbelievable. My grandma will hate me for that. I’m speechless. This is amazing. Whoever said the U.S. can’t do soccer? Go USA. Go America.”
If there’s one thing Winston has accomplished throughout this World Cup, it’s proving that he truly is a man of the people.
Inside Look at Winston’s Epic Week-Long Celebration with U.S. and Australian Fans
Winston’s World Cup journey continues as he sets out to assemble the loudest possible “USA” chants. The momentum started earlier in the week at a Seattle Mariners game, where he successfully rallied an entire section into full-voice chants.
He took that to the pre-game show, along with a countdown to the USA vs. Australia matchup. His goal was simple and that was to bring both fanbases together while highlighting what makes American and Australian soccer cultures special.
“My mission today is to allow Aussies to hear the USA chants from sea to shining sea,” Winston said.
The United States defeated Australia 2-0 on Friday night, and Winston matched the crowd’s energy throughout. As tensions rose following several hard challenges on the pitch, he kept the atmosphere lively by engaging in plenty of friendly trash talk with opposing fans.
“The Australian team…they just don’t know what to do with us,” Winston said. “They’re turning to violence. That’s what little cousins do when they can’t fight.”
Despite the result not going Australia’s way, Winston embraced the opportunity to connect with the Australian fans throughout the week. While Americans have their own traditions, few experiences topped Winston’s firsthand look at Australia’s famous shoey celebration.
Winston witnessed one of Australia’s most famous traditions firsthand as fans drank beer from a shoe.
“They showed us an amazing tradition in Australian culture,” Winston said. “I’m talking about drinking a brew from a shoe. You gotta love traditions.”
Ready For USA-Australia in Seattle
Emerald City is ready! Seattle has a legit claim at being one of the most soccer-crazed cities in the country. Winston joined the American Outlaws – the official supporters’ group of the U.S. teams – before Friday’s huge match.
Seattle is awash in red, white, and blue and this city knows how to get behind a winner, having just recently celebrated the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks.
Convinced Mariners Fans To Start “USA” Chants
Winston has now found himself at a Seattle Mariners game, where he was honored with the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Next, he’ll turn his attention to soccer as the United States men’s national team prepares to face Australia at Seattle Stadium on Friday night.
During his appearance at T-Mobile Park, Winston rallied the crowd into a loud chorus of “USA” chants. His mission was to create the biggest chant possible in Seattle, and by all accounts, he succeeded.
As Winston’s World Cup journey continues across the country, he is bringing fans together through a shared love of the game. The roaring “USA” chant at the Mariners game was another example of his ability to connect with sports fans wherever he goes.
That’s ‘Sir’ Jameis Winston To You
Now, it doesn’t seem likely that these England supporters actually have the royal authority to knight Jameis Winston, but listen: it’s the World Cup, everyone is having a good time, so, Sir Jameis Winston it is, even if just for a day.
Even if being knighted is an ephemeral act, that kit is not: Winston now has himself an England jersey with his name on it. A knight’s cuirass? Brigandine? Hauberk? His chain mail? Whichever it’s standing in for, it’s custom just for Jameis.
Catching The Perfect Angle of Lionel Messi’s Golazo
Lionel Messi has completely taken over Argentina’s opening FIFA World Cup match against Algeria, scoring not one, not two but three goals, completing the hat trick. He would have even had a fourth if he hadn’t been ruled offside earlier in the first half.
Jameis Winston had the best angle on Messi’s golazo and was seen celebrating with fans in Argentina’s section. He was also wearing a customized “Winston Argentina” jersey.
A Goat Dressed As Messi The GOAT
Tuesday ahead of Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria in Kansas City, Winston was getting pumped for the match. But he wasn’t alone.
Winston had a pal with him, a literal real-life goat named Wesley, who was perfectly dressed for the occasion in a Lionel Messi jersey. This World Cup is expected to be Messi’s last, and because of that, it’s worth celebrating and savoring every moment the GOAT is on the pitch.
It’s not often to see a goat, much less one adorned in the trademark colors of a living legend, being at the center of attention ahead of one of the most anticipated games at the tournament. But Wesley-dressed-as-Messi deserves all the love he was shown in KC.
Winning Over Fans By Helping Clean Dallas Stadium at the World Cup
Winston continues to be a national treasure when it comes to his involvement in the World Cup this year. He was spotted helping Japanese fans clean up the stands (a tradition that was spotlighted after the team’s first World Cup in 1998) following Japan’s thrilling 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Sunday afternoon.
The FOX Sports broadcast team, featuring Rob Stone, couldn’t contain their excitement for Winston as the feed shifted over to him in the crowd.
“Jameis Winston is working with the Japanese national team to clean up Dallas Stadium,” Stone said. “He’s a man of the people. Show me a number one draft pick in NFL history who takes out his own garbage bag and cleans up inside the stadium.
One of the Japanese fans later described how he was surprised to see an NFL quarterback joining the clean-up effort, but was appreciative on Winston joining the cherished tradition.
Riding The Dutch ‘Oranje Army’ Bus
Jameis got up close and personal with one of the best fan bases in the world in Dallas, where the Netherlands and the always raucous “Oranje Army” know how to make an entrance.
Winston rode along with the Dutch fans in their “Oranje Army Bus” and admitted that “there’s nothing bigger than the Dutch Army.”
Witnessing USA’s Win With IShowSpeed
USA! USA!
Jameis took in the sights and sounds at Los Angeles Stadium for the United States’ opening match Friday, which included meeting up with influencer IShowSpeed. Not a bad way to see one of the USA’s biggest wins ever at a World Cup.
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