Comment on Names and faces, Jan. 29

On a day when Kris Bryant took a small step toward returning to the lineup, the veteran first baseman/outfielder talked in-depth for the first time Wednesday about the nature of the back injury that has haunted him since signing with the Rockies before the 2022 season. “I know I have a bad back, and that’s no secret, and there are some things in there you aren’t going to heal.

5. Perfect Triple-Doubles Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets works against Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) When/where: Dec. 28, 2023 and Feb. 22, 2024; Ball Arena The only proper way to begin a contained list of Jokic moments is by cheating.

In another season of unpredictably dazzling passes and post moves, the most spontaneous scene of all involved Nikola Jokic simply walking off a basketball court. It was January in Washington after a 42-point masterclass against an unimpressive opponent. A throng of Wizards fans flocked to the corner of their arena where Jokic would disappear down the tunnel toward the locker room.

Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray took responsibility Wednesday for throwing objects in the direction of an official during a playoff game, attempting to deflect follow-up questions about the incident and emphasizing that he has moved on. “It is what it is,” he said when asked about his punishment from the NBA, a $100,000 fine but no accompanying suspension.

Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders was specific last month when asked what he and his staff would target in the transfer portal. Depth was the main key, but he mentioned particular spots the Buffaloes wanted to fill, including in the middle of the defense. “A couple linebackers are gonna come in,” he said on April 18, putting a heavy emphasis on making that plural. CU has now added two linebackers since Coach Prime’s comment that day. On Tuesday, former Florida A&M standout Johnny Chaney Jr.

There wasn’t some unexpectedly robust growth spurt, as was the case with Derrick White after he left Parker’s Legend High School for Division II UCCS. And while Elijah Malone may have played at a small high school, college recruiters don’t tend to overlook northern Indiana. Malone has no good explanation as to why his best collegiate hoops option was Grace College, an NAIA program roughly an hour from his home in LaGrange, Ind.