Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander headline All-NBA First Team
Just two weeks after being named MVP for the third time in five years, Denver Nuggets star big man Nikola Jokic added to his resume on Wednesday night by landing on the All-NBA First Team for the fourth time in his career.
Jokic was one of two unanimous selections to garner first-team votes on all 99 ballots from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, joining Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum joined Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander on the All-NBA First Team.
Also named MVP following the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, Jokic stuffed the stat sheet again in 2023-24, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.4 steals across 79 games for Denver.
However, Jokic couldn’t save the Nuggets from the Timberwolves in the postseason, as Minnesota eliminated Denver in seven games in a Western Conference semifinal series. ing so on Tuesday. The Big Ten joined in on Wednesday, and now the Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 just need to submit their approval.
Both the SEC and Pac-12 are expected to approve the terms later this week, per ESPN’s report.
Toronto awarded WNBA expansion franchise
TORONTO – The Canadian city of Toronto was awarded on Thursday a WNBA expansion franchise that will begin play in the 2026 season, making it the league’s first outside the United States. The WNBA’s 14th franchise will play home games in downtown Toronto and additional games may be played at the home of the NBA’s Raptors and across Canada.
“Bringing a WNBA team to Toronto represents an important milestone for our league as we continue to expand both domestically and outside the United States,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a news release.
The team will be owned by Kilmer Sports Ventures, which is headed by Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum, who is also chairman of the NBA Board of Governors and of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the city’s NBA, NHL and MLS teams.
Mariners obtain RHP Mike Baumann from Orioles
The Seattle Mariners acquired righthander Mike Baumann and minor league catcher Michael Perez from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league backstop Blake Hunt on Wednesday night.
Baltimore designated Baumann for assignment on Saturday. He was 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 relief appearances this season after going 10-1 out of the bullpen last season.
Overall, Baumann, 28, is 13-5 with a 4.45 ERA in 94 appearances (four starts) with the Orioles over the past four seasons.
The Orioles optioned Hunt to Triple-A Norfolk. He was batting .293 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 23 games for Triple-A Tacoma.
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