The Oklahoma City Thunder captured their first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma, and now Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and crew are the favorites to do it again in 2026. The Thunder open as championship favorites, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets next in line.

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The Rockets moved from 18-1 to +850 after trading for 15-time all star Kevin Durant. The Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers fell from 10-1 to 14-1 after leading scorer Tyrese Haliburton went down with a right leg injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics, missing Jayson Tatum, also open at 14-1 as do the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Dallas Mavericks, who hold the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, are sixth in the Western Conference, with 22-1 championship odds.

Note: Odds as of publication. For the most up to date odds, visit ESPN BET.

2025-26 NBA championship odds

Francis Ngannou has sent a message to Dana White following Jon Jones’ shock retirement from the UFC.

For several months now, Jon Jones has been front and center of one of the biggest sagas in UFC heavyweight history as he continued to refuse to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall.

Things seemed as though they had come to an end earlier this month when Jones appeared to announce his retirement during a storm on X (formerly Twitter).

However, this past Saturday following the UFC’s first ever event in Baku, UFC boss Dana White finally announced that Jones has officially retired from the sport, upgrading Aspinall to the undisputed champion.

Dana White slams Francis Ngannou following Jones’ retirement

Immediately after the news, Aspinall broke his silence with a post on social media, guaranteeing fans that he will be an active champion and get the heavyweight division moving again.

Despite that, there aren’t many current contenders that fans are chomping at the bit to see the British heavyweight fight.

However, one fighter that would be welcomed back to the UFC with open arms by the fanbase, is Francis Ngannou. ‘The Predator’ recently teased that he would be interested in a comeback but it was briefly shut down by Dana White at the time.

Following UFC Baku, White once again spoke about the likelihood of Ngannou returning, saying: “One thing I’ve learned over the years about Francis, Francis doesn’t always mean what he says publicly behind the scenes are different than what he says publicly.

“I’m not a big fan, I would be shocked if Francis ever came back here, on lots of different levels, I’m not a fan and he doesn’t always mean what he says publicly.”

Francis Ngannou sends a message to Dana White following comments

Although the former UFC heavyweight champion may have been open to a return to the promotion despite leaving on bad terms with the boss, following Dana White‘s words on Saturday, that is highly unlikely.

Responding to White, Ngannou took to social media, saying: “Did I say I’m ever coming back?”

A fan then told Ngannou to come back to get his UFC heavyweight title back, to which he responded: “I don’t remember losing it, mate. It’s still in my closet.”

A fight between Aspinall and Ngannou may have been the next best thing after a fight between Jones and Aspinall, however, it remains to be seen who the Brit will defend his title against in his first official defense.

Collins Onyejiaka
C, 6’10” (270)
ESPN 100 (94), 4-Star No. 19 C

Nate Oats has taken a shine to Northern big men of late. And, that’s fair — the Big 10 and Big East consistently produce the nation’s best front courts: Physical, skilled, bruising. When you play a team from the North, pack a lunch and some ice packs. It’s going to be tough sledding inside the lane.

Meet the next one, as the Tide hauled in 4-star Collins Onyejiaka last night out of the Massachusetts Newman School. Originally on-track for NSD ‘26, Collins will be reclassifying and entering this year, bolstering what is suddenly a very deep ‘Bama post presence.

If you’re looking for a fluid smooth offense, Onyejiaka isn’t your guy. If you want a step-out big who can shoot a respectable bit from the perimeter, look elsewhere. If you need a long athlete who can play 15-feet away from the basket, then Collins isn’t him.

If you want a massive post presence who is a punishing rebounder, finishes plays around the rim, and generally makes life hell on the blocks, then congratulations: You found your man. And that’s what Collins brings to the floor.

After years of getting pushed around in the paint, and perhaps looking ahead to the SEC’s existential threat in Gainesville, the Tide have gone shopping for the Florida Solution. In Onyejiaka ‘Bama has perhaps finally found a true specialist who can give the Tide steady interior minutes, clean up misses for easy baskets, and absolutely hammer the glass…and opposing players.

Coming in at 6’10 and a mammoth 270 pounds, he does all the things you’d expect at that size. He’s a great rebounder with tremendously strong hands. He swats balls. He’s great on the boards on both ends. But, he does have some athleticism too — Onyejiaka has a sweet hook from either hand within six feet of the rim, and he uses surprising body control to go after rebounds in traffic and finish at the hoop. That body control is especially evident in that he is able to be an adroit defender without drawing many fouls — he’s a position player with size.

Collins isn’t the sort of player that is ever going to be a star. He won’t light up the scoreboard or flirt with triple-doubles. He’s not destined for the NBA Lottery. He is a specialist, but it is a specialty Alabama has been lacking. And with his intimidating presence, thunder dunks, and the ability to make short work of penetrating defenders, you can see how he will become a fan favorite. He will almost certainly be an analytical darling despite the box scores — just as Cliff was. What he can do to make everyone better around him is the point, not mere numbers at the scorers table.

Welcome to Tuscaloosa, Collins

Roll Tide

Netflix has had a slew of successes translating the world of sports into compelling series with emotional storylines. Check out the very best titles across a wide range of professional leagues and competitions below.

This 40-minute documentary is a high-stakes snackable dose of sports drama that picks up in the wake of Lewis Hamilton’s shocking departure from the Mercedes F1 team after twelve years and six world champions, and follows 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s promotion to the most prestigious racing league in the world.

It’s a great supplement to Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive series which exploded the league’s popularity, and proved that the elite racing community could deliver as much drama as the Real Housewives. An excuse to see Mercedes Team Principal and F1 zaddy Toto Wolff in his crisp white button down is reason enough to queue this title up.

The riveting story of one woman’s journey to overcome gender stereotypes in rural Nepal and follow her dreams of becoming a professional mountaineer, achieving historic success summiting Mount Everest ten times, the current record for female climbers.

Spanning Sherpa’s life from childhood to motherhood, an abusive marriage, and her immigration to the United States, we see her perseverance and determination impact her life on and off the mountain. Thoughtful attention is paid to her Nepalese roots and the Sherpa culture, and her effort to impart both to two daughters as they grow up in Connecticut.

Following the massive success of Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Netflix took a stab at humanizing the world of professional golf. By following major names like Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler and others on and off the course, the series was able to generate compelling suspenseful storylines around a sport without the fights, fouls, or impact of the NHL, NBA, or NFL.

The series explores player friendships and rivalries, the expanding diversity of the league, and the growing tension between the PGA-Tour and Saudi-funded LIV Golf league to provide a modern, nuanced, and evocative view on one of the world’s oldest modern sports.

A household name that simultaneous represents an international soccer career, a high-profile marriage, fashion icons, and pop culture sensations, this documentary literally has something for everyone familiar with the family whether you’re a sports fan or not.

The journey through Beckham’s career from childhood to present day was especially riveting for an American viewer like me who grew up in during his rise to fame and didn’t have previous knowledge of highs and lows, wins and losses. The game clips and interviews with Victoria Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson felt like experiencing 30 years of sports and pop culture suspense at once.

The Drive To Survive team strikes once again with another behind the scenes series, this time focused on the world of international tennis. Featuring participation from ATP and WTA pros like Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Zverev, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, and Coco Gauff, the series not only exhibited balanced coverage of men’s and women’s sports, but the physical and mental tolls of training.

Like it’s sister F1 and PGA series, Break Point focuses on the interpersonal relationships between pros, career highs and lows, as well as the immense pressure fame and media attention bring to competing at such an elite level.

The epic 10-part series covering the Chicago Bull’s 1997-98 NBA season as they pursued their sixth championship during Michael Jordan’s final season with the team, brought together over 500 hours of unseen footage, along with in-depth interviews with players, coaches, and other commentators.

The film also covers Jordan’s journey to super-stardom, along with his first retirement after his father’s murder, and pivot to pursue a career in baseball. As with the Beckham documentary, it provided an incredible opportunity for younger sports fans to relive the magic of not just an epic career, but an entire era of basketball.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

And now it’s time for sports.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: NBA Finals go to Game 7, the biggest brand in basketball is sold and Cowboys Cheerleaders win a huge raise. Michele Steele of ESPN joins us. Michele, thanks so much for being with us.

MICHELE STEELE: Good morning, Scott.

SIMON: I’ve been rehearsing. Ohhh-klahoma (ph) City Thunder…

STEELE: (Laughter)

SIMON: …Host (singing) the Indiana Pacers – oh, I’m exhausted – tomorrow night. It’s Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Haven’t had a Game 7 decide a championship since 2016. Now, these are two what are called small-market teams – have not been drawing huge ratings. But this has been a great series. What do you think the deciding factor is going to be tomorrow night?

STEELE: Well, you know what? I think it’s going to be – you’re not going to be shocked to hear this – but which team is going to step up and deliver when the pressure’s on, right?

SIMON: Oh, wow.

STEELE: You said it yourself.

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: Yeah, I know. I know. That’s analysis for you. But you’re right – we’re in the first Game 7 final since 2016. And the Thunder, actually, Scott, have been favored. We shouldn’t be here, because they’ve…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Been favored against the underdog Pacers in every game of this series. And each and every time, this Pacers team has really demonstrated their resilience, and now they’ve forced a Game 7. We’ve got a great matchup. It’s elite defense in OKC versus the elite offense of the Pacers. But when it comes to delivering under pressure, I actually think the Pacers have the edge. Either way, OKC’s going to be rocking Sunday night.

SIMON: Listen, ESPN broke the story on Wednesday – the Buss family is going to sell the LA Lakers for $10 billion…

STEELE: That’s it?

SIMON: …To Mark – yeah, that’s all – who – Mark Walter, who also owns the LA Dodgers in baseball. This is the end of an era, isn’t it?

STEELE: Yeah, end of an era is right, Scott. Jerry Buss bought the team 1979, $67.5 million. That was still a lot of money back then.

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: But basketball was completely different. You know, Sports Illustrated wrote about the NBA’s attendance and ratings problems in 1979 and called it the winter of despair. And in comes Dr. Buss, and in comes Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers and the Lakers Girls, and Kobe and Shaq and championships. And now the Lakers – I’d say they’re the most recognized basketball team – right? – in the whole world. And his daughter, apparently, wasn’t really looking to sell. Jeanie Buss was…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Just blown away by this $10 billion offer.

SIMON: Little hard to say no to that, yeah.

STEELE: Absolutely. And there you go. And here’s an example of, you know, the big business of sports becoming bigger.

SIMON: Have to ask – Boston Red Sox traded their All-Star third baseman, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants. Why? He was the…

STEELE: Yeah.

SIMON: He was the last guy who was on that – their 2018 championship team.

STEELE: Yeah, and you know what? He was also their best player.

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: This almost never happens. You know, you sign a guy to a 10-year deal, $313 million contract, in 2023. Usually, that means your front office actually likes the guy – you know, thinks that he could be around for a while. And then they cut bait less than two years later, midseason…

SIMON: Right.

STEELE: …Before the trade deadline.

SIMON: Make him the face of the franchise, then…

STEELE: Absolutely. I mean, this doesn’t happen unless there’s huge problems behind the scenes. There’s documented reports suggesting tension between Devers and the management of the team. You know, he didn’t really want to play first base. Like, OK, but figure that out, right? I mean, he…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Is your best player. He’s a proven offensive threat. And now that big bat goes over to the San Francisco Giants, and the Red Sox are looking for an identity here.

SIMON: Yeah. Dallas Cowboys announced this week that their world-famous cheerleaders are going to get a 400% raise. I didn’t know they were so grievously underpaid.

STEELE: Yeah. A lot of people really don’t know. And I kind of only know because I’ve covered so many NFL games over my career. And I see these cheerleaders in the background, and they appear to be practicing kind of all the time. There’s a ton of obligations, not just…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Not just for the game, but around the game, as well. And this is really long overdue. I mean, the Cowboys call them America’s Sweethearts. And it’s always – I’ve always thought of that with a little bit of irony because they make around $15 an hour, according to a report from The New York Times. And guess what? I’ve been down to Dallas, and these cheerleaders are as much a part of the team…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …As any player and any coach, and I’m glad they’re getting a raise.

SIMON: Michele Steele of ESPN, thanks for being with us.

STEELE: You bet.

(SOUNDBITE OF SIESTA BEATS’ “TWO TRACK”) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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