There was not much Chargers Fans to cheer in Los Angeles’ 2023 game Denver bronchos In the week 14.

One season after another The most embarrassing playoff loss In NFL history, the Chargers came to the campaign, which was motivated to defeat and arrive at his ability to struggle for a championship. Instead, on this Sunday, they were 5-7, and the possibility of their playoffs was just gone. The Sophie Stadium, his home stadium, was covered by Bronchos fans at Denver Orange.

Then quarterback Justin Herbert The first quarter faced the season-ending right index fracture, and as it came out, the Chargers season also occurred.

But between a day and a season of despair, the organization gave fans a reason to smile. In Haftime, the team held a ceremony to include the tight end Antonio Gates In Chargers Hall of Fame.

“For the city of San Diego,” Gates said, stopping as chargers, roar loudly as that afternoon. “You supported me. You embraced a 22 -year -old child from Detroit, and you will always be my second home.”

Gates played 16 seasons in NFL, 14 in San Diego and two in Los Angeles after transferring the team. The move is still an neck for some fans, who were mummy when Gates thanked Los Angeles and smelled loudly when Gates thanked the team owner Dean Spanos and Spanos family.

While Gates never won the championship, he was partially responsible for coming into an exciting era of Chargers Football, including some of the most successful sessions in the history of the franchise. The roar of the day for Gates was reminding how much Gates was meant for a city that had embraced him in his form.

As Gates is included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with Saturday’s essay, many people will cheer loudly in San Diego.

“He was a person who used to fits in the city,” said David Drojeer, a native of San Diego. “A man who realizes that he has gone from here, even if he was not. He was ours.”

From the beginning, Gates’s NFL’s visit looked far -reaching.

On leaving the Detroit Central High School, Gates accepted a football scholarship from Michigan state, which was then led by coach Nick Saban. But Saban Gates will not allow both football and basketball play. Gates left Michigan state and never played football in college.

After staying at East Michigan and College of the Sequisus of Eastern Michigan and a Community College in California, Gates ended as a junior in Kent State and became one of the best basketball players in the history of the program. As a junior, Gates led the Kent State, 10-C, 10-Cd in Elite Eight in 2002, the school has scored the deepest run ever in the NCAA tournament. His jersey – number 44 – retired in 2010, as Gates became the fourth male basketball player in school history to receive such honor.

Despite the dominance of Gates in the Kent State, he was not expected to be an NBA player primarily due to his size; He was a 6 -foot -4 power forward, a situation where NBA players are about 5 inches long on average. Therefore, Gates returned to football, working for NFL teams, which were surrounded by their physical symptoms. Chargers decided to sign him as an unpublished free agent in 2003, but was a long shot to form the team.

Linebacker Stephen CooperLike Gates, an unpublished free agent, during that 2003 training camp, Holiday Inn had Gates Roommate. Since the Chargers started making final cuts, Cooper left two spots to the team, but he and Gates assured themselves that only one of them would form one team.

When they came to know that both of them did, there was a silent celebration in their hotel room; This is a moment that Cooper will never forget, especially given how far the gates will move forward to complete as a tight end.

Cooper said, “We tried not to be very loud and excited around the room, because we did not want to be derogatory to our other colleagues who did not make it.” “Among all the moments with Antonio, this is the one I remember the most.”

The success of Gates changed the tight end position. The background of his basketball was clear how he boxed the defenders and highlight the football as if he was getting a reversal on hard wood.

Jim Harbow, the coach of the current chargers, stated that Gates stands out as the first tight end as the focal point of a team’s crime: “The first man I can remember to catch 10, 12, 13, 14 balls in a game … the greatest ever.”

The achievements of Gates gave teams a chance at former basketball players at every level. The most notable is tight end Jimmy GrahamWho played a year of football after four years in the basketball team of Miami University. Graham was drafts in the third round New Orleans Saints And became one of the best tight loops of the league. He played 13 seasons and made five Pro Bowls.

Graham told reporters in 2012, “Without (Gates), I was not given this opportunity or he was given an opportunity to play in college.”

While the size of the gates was not a fit for the NBA power forward, he created an ideal NFL tight end. He was mostly covered by linebackers and was very strong to be covered by the protective back, putting de-monks in a bind each week.

“You knew that if a team wanted to go with him one-to-one, he is going to kill them,” former charger safety Eric wedding Said. “He was a matchup nightmare.”

It did not take a long time for Gates to become one of the best tight ends of the league. He was a first-team all-flow in his second season, the first of three consecutive choices. Gates’s breakout came in his second campaign in 2004, when he ended with 964 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the first game in that season, the chargers faced Houston TexasWith whom the current Chargers were the quarterback coach of the aggressive coordinator Greg Roman team. Gates caught each target, finishing with eight receptions for 123 yards in victory.

“This doesn’t happen much often where you go, ‘Who is this boy?” “Roman said with a smile.” But everyone was leaving on the sideline, “Who is this boy?” “

Gates is the all-time leader of Gates NFL who receives the all-time leaders and yards (11,841) of the chargers in a tight end (116) and reception (955). There are many injuries behind the data that their former comrades remember that they are playing through Gates.

Beyond the 2007 AFC Championship Game, Gates’s position was uncertain. He had disorganized his big toe in the winners’ victory in the wild-card round. Tenasi TitansThe injury was quite serious that he left the game on a medical cart. Nevertheless, Gates played through it on Chargers Divisional-Round Win Indianapolis colts And their AFC championship game damage new England Patriots,

Former Chargers Line Backer Shaveen meriman Prior to the conference championship game at the training table, Gates’s image said, where they remember that doctors have numbered the feet of Gates, cling to them and one of the many reasons which means gates means a lot for the organization.

“Below the ankle, he could not feel anything,” said Meriman. “And you think, man, (that) someone from his caliber who has already done so much in his career, will just take that risk, at that point my honor level for him just went through the roof.”

While the chargers are mainly associated with not living on expectations and never winning super bowls, they have some of the best players of the league, including quarterback Philip River, including Ladenian Tomalinson, Lineback Junior CU, Wide Receiver Lance Alvethe, Cabby Dan Fouts and Tight End.

Nevertheless, many of those stars went to finish their careers elsewhere. Gates, Fout and Vinslo are three in the group to play for the chargers for their entire career, in which Vinslo plays nine seasons and Fout 15. Gates’ 16 years of Gates as a charger as a charger probably during the most transformative years of the history of the franchise, when the organization separated many of its fans with La, Gates will always form relationships with San Digo.

“I think it’s really special that someone is a person who started his career in San Diego and stayed with the team all the time,” said Drogmier. “But with Antonio, he was a person who always did things properly, and he was also such a playmaker. It is really easy to echo with those types of players.”

Entering this past season, the 2024 NBA draft was regarded around the league as one of the weaker classes in recent memory. While that largely held true during the season, there have still been intriguing developments, with many of those prospects stepping into roles and showcasing appealing long-term talent.

Some, like Rookie of the Year and No. 4 pick Stephon Castle, made a significant impact in their debut season. Others, including No. 11 pick Matas Buzelis, showed signs of breaking out in-season. And several prospects are set for expanded roles, including No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard.

As you read through, remember that this is not an evaluation of who are the best or most valuable rising sophomores — it’s simply the players I’m most curious about headed into training camp.

Here’s a breakdown of the 10 most interesting sophomores heading into the 2025-26 season, what they accomplished as rookies and what to watch for in Year 2.

10. Nikola Topic, Oklahoma City Thunder

Rookie season superlative: The most we can say here is that Topic won a championship with the Thunder without ever stepping onto the court. He missed the entire season with a torn ACL — but Oklahoma City’s depth allowed them to effectively stash Topic for a year. Technically, Topic will be a rookie next season, but he warranted inclusion on this list with his potential to make an impact for the defending champs.

Why he’s ranked here: Sheer curiosity. It’s a valid question how much of a role Topic will even have to start the season, considering Oklahoma City’s overwhelming backcourt depth. But he flashed moments of his potential at summer league, showcasing his playmaking skills (averaging 7.3 assists over three games) and basketball IQ, and that skill set could help him carve out some backup minutes behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Whether he’s a long-term rotation piece or ultimately winds up as more of a trade asset for the Thunder will play out over the next season or two, but he has had positive flashes and will be worth monitoring as the defending champs continue to evolve.

9. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

Rookie season superlative: McCain delivered a promising but small 23-game sample before tearing his meniscus in his left knee in December, averaging 15.3 points on 46% shooting in 25.7 minutes. While it came in a losing context, as the Sixers were dealing with injuries and a 24-58 regular season record, it was a solid start after Philly selected him with the 16th pick. His scoring instincts and perimeter shooting translated to the NBA rather quickly.

Why he’s ranked here: How McCain builds off his debut coming off this injury — and how the 76ers put together their backcourt minutes with McCain, Tyrese Maxey and 2025 No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe — will be worth watching. It’s in Philadelphia’s best interest to make sense of the fit between those three, with McCain potentially well-suited for more of a combo role in the long run. Whether the Sixers can win with that trio, who will be giving up a lot of size defensively on the perimeter, will be a key big-picture question to address, particularly with Joel Embiid and Paul George in their 30s and often struggling with availability. This is a big year for McCain to further establish himself as a key piece of the 76ers’ future.

8. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Rookie season superlative: Wells was arguably the best value pick in the 2024 draft, making the All-Rookie first team, averaging 10.4 points and starting 74 games after Memphis snagged him at No. 39. Viewed primarily as a spot-up shooter coming out of Washington State, Wells not only made 35% of his 3s, but showed surprising defensive capabilities as well, embracing tough matchups and carving out a viable role to begin his career.

Why he’s ranked here: The Grizzlies’ decision to trade Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic was softened to some extent by the emergence of Wells. He should be in line to stretch himself as a scorer next season, with Bane vacating plenty of touches both as a shooter and secondary playmaker. A late-blooming former Division II player who turns 22 in August, Wells may have some additional untapped upside, and the Grizzlies will presumably want to see whether he can expand his contributions. While his limitations as an on-ball creator probably inhibit high-end outcomes, based on what Wells has already shown, it’s possible he will continue to surprise if he can manage a leap forward in both efficiency and volume.

7. Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat

Rookie season superlative: Ware made the All-Rookie second team after breaking through midseason, putting together some productive stretches and eventually moving into the starting lineup. He’s a gifted, modern center who can protect the paint, move his feet and knock down spot 3s. He surpassed early expectations with his readiness to contribute after the Heat picked him at No. 15.

Why he’s ranked here: How quickly Ware can tap into his considerable potential is a major variable in Miami’s current retool. Although his rookie season was a success, it was interesting to see Heat coach Erik Spoelstra publicly urge Ware to “improve his professionalism” earlier this month, comments that largely fell in line with how Ware was perceived before entering the league. NBA execs and scouts had long questioned his motor and desire to play at a high level, a dynamic that made it a touch surprising that the Heat — whose front office harps on intangibles — viewed him as a fit. Clearly, Miami thinks it can get the most out of Ware, and we’ll see whether he can build on those early returns and further legitimize himself as a starting-level center.

6. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards

Rookie season superlative: The second pick, Sarr made the All-Rookie first team despite still being very much a project. He played the whole season at age 19, averaging 13 points and 6.5 rebounds, and showcasing his significant defensive potential (1.5 blocks per game). Washington is fully committed to playing its young talent, and Sarr largely looked the part as a long-term fixture despite his game still being rough around the edges.

Why he’s ranked here: Washington now employs a sixth of 2024’s first-round selections following trades for AJ Johnson and Dillon Jones, but Sarr still possesses the most intriguing upside of the group. His ability to read the floor around him hasn’t caught up to his excellent physical skills yet, but his tools are likely to translate defensively as a mobile shot-blocker and paint protector, and with a year under his belt, expect improvement.

There were some predictable ups and downs for Sarr on the offensive end — he shot just 39.4% from the field — but he did manage 2.4 assists per game as a rookie center. The Wizards have given him more than just a simple rim-running role, and he has gotten a chance to stretch himself as a playmaker. His numbers aren’t great overall, and he’s also a subpar rebounder for a player his size, but there’s a real chance Sarr produces all-around improvement in year two, particularly if Washington’s other young players can take a step forward as a group. He’ll be part of France’s setup at EuroBasket in August, with a big opportunity to play since Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert are sitting out of the tournament.

5. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

Rookie season superlative: Clingan led the rookie class in blocks per game (1.6) and made the All-Rookie second team, averaging 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in just 19.8 minutes and shooting 53%. His per-minute production and defensive impact were significant, pointing to a bright future as a rim-protecting anchor on the Blazers’ backline.

Why he’s ranked here: The Trail Blazers seemingly cleared the way for Clingan and draftee Yang Hansen to share time at center next season — Robert Williams III is still around, but could make sense as an eventual trade candidate on his expiring contract. It will be interesting to see how those minutes ultimately get divided based on performance. Clingan is deserving of the lion’s share but also needs to improve his conditioning to handle bulk minutes. The fact that he started the final 27 games of the season is probably a fair indicator that he’s up next.

As an aside, whether the Blazers experiment with Clingan and Yang together in double-big lineups will be something to watch. On paper, that fit is clunky, but considering Portland’s apparent long-term investment in both players, there’s at least some argument for finding out what it looks like. All things considered, Clingan is due for an expanded role and could solidify himself as one of the NBA’s better interior defenders in short order.

4. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls

Rookie season superlative: Buzelis broke through midseason for the Bulls and looked like a strong value pick at No. 11, starting the final 31 games of the season and averaging 31 points on 47% shooting in those games. That stretch of play earned him a spot on the All-Rookie second team and has positioned him as a critical piece of Chicago’s future.

Why he’s ranked here: Buzelis was once viewed as a contender for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft class, pointing to his significant potential as a tall, skilled perimeter scorer. As he continues to add strength and hone his shooting, Buzelis has a huge runway both from a development and role perspective. With the Bulls perennially in play-in limbo, their best path forward likely involves a prospective Buzelis star turn.

While that may not happen in one summer, the Bulls’ commitment to playing up-tempo should favor Buzelis. He should see more of the ball in his hands operating in space and get a chance to expand his shot-creating skills both for himself and for teammates. Chicago remains in a contract standoff with Josh Giddey, but the presumptive return of his playmaking to the lineup should further help Buzelis get comfortable. Still only 20 years old, what type of sophomore leap he can manage is arguably the most important big-picture storyline for the Bulls going into the season.

3. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

Rookie season superlative: Risacher validated Atlanta’s conviction in selecting him first in a draft class that lacked a true consensus No. 1 among NBA decision-makers. While he didn’t win Rookie of the Year, he was one of just a few rookies to make significant contributions on a playoff-caliber team, shooting 45.8% from the floor and 35% from 3 and starting 73 of 75 games. He added immediate value entering the league at age 19, the question being how much he’ll add to his game as his career unfolds.

Why he’s ranked here: The Hawks strengthened their position this offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — they also nabbed a potentially high-value 2026 draft pick from New Orleans by trading out of the 13th pick. With Trae Young and Dyson Daniels due for contract extensions, there’s impetus to win now as well as a big-picture evaluation process for Atlanta’s front office moving forward. Part of why Risacher is so valuable is that his shooting, perimeter defense and positional size at small forward fit neatly in just about any lineup framework.

With that in mind, Risacher’s continued evolution as a scorer should be paramount for the Hawks. Atlanta has enough playmaking on the roster, and Risacher should be solid enough off the ball that they don’t need to accelerate his growth as an on-ball scorer, but directing some diet of creation reps his way is likely in their best interest long-term. How much more comfortable he can become playing off the dribble, getting to his pull-up and making plays for teammates is worth finding out. Some degree of development in those areas may be the difference between him being an excellent role player or tapping into higher-end outcomes for his growth.

How much Atlanta pushes Risacher in that respect will be worth watching to start next season: He might not necessarily wind up as a typical No. 1 pick-level franchise player without significant growth, but it’s possible he far surpasses what were relatively modest expectations by top-pick standards. He’s set to play with the French national team at EuroBasket in August, which might offer a window into his offseason growth.

2. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Rookie season superlative: A solid debut season earned Castle Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 14.7 points and 4.1 assists in 26.7 minutes and making 47 starts for the Spurs. Predictably, he struggled with efficiency (42.8% FG and 28.5% from 3), but was solid defensively and played better after the All-Star break, benefiting from the freedom San Antonio gave him.

Why he’s ranked here: As the Spurs continue their journey to build a contender around Victor Wembanyama, who appears all set to return from a blood clot, the most important factor other than his health is how well San Antonio’s guards can mesh around him. Trading for De’Aaron Fox naturally reduced some of Castle’s ball-handling duties. The unexpected lottery jump that landed the Spurs the No. 2 pick in Dylan Harper gives them a third wheel in the backcourt. It’s an exciting development for the roster, but it will also require all three players to make adjustments.

Castle is far from his potential, but also the most natural candidate of the three to step into a more versatile two-way role, thanks to his size, instincts on the defensive end and unselfish tendencies on offense. He’s still going to have to make a lot more shots from long range to truly excel away from the ball, particularly in the context of what San Antonio’s lineups will presumably look like. The Spurs will have to stagger their guards creatively, not only to win games but to give Harper and Castle the best opportunities to get comfortable.

Considering the change in context — and the added impetus to make the playoffs the further along the Spurs move with Wembanyama — how malleable Castle can be and in what ways he can sharpen his game may be highly consequential to how things unfold in San Antonio, and how central he becomes to this next iteration of the team.

1. Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

Rookie season superlative: Following considerable hype around Sheppard a year ago, there wasn’t all that much to say about his rookie season, as he appeared in only 51 games and averaged 12 minutes on a talented Rockets team. He did score 49 points in a G League game, and Houston remains excited about him as he steps into more minutes on a team with high aspirations.

Why he’s ranked here: One subtext of Houston dealing away Jalen Green in the Kevin Durant trade is that the Rockets cleared significant backcourt minutes for Sheppard, who currently pencils in for a real role behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson. The Rockets’ ability to contend in the truest sense may hang more on the growth of their young players than whatever Durant gives them: Sheppard, Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. are all going to play major roles.

While he wasn’t especially noteworthy at summer league, Sheppard is worthy of optimism — he should be walking into an ideal role as a secondary handler, playmaker and spacer who can both operate off of and make life easier for Houston’s stars. His shooting will be pivotal next to Thompson and Alperen Sengun, but he’ll also need to remain effective defensively, as the Rockets will be giving up a good deal of perimeter size when VanVleet and Sheppard share the floor. Sheppard’s instincts for winning possessions help him on that end, but he’s not exactly a deterrent for opposing shooters, either.

Sheppard has the chance to be a huge swing factor in Houston’s title chase — in theory, he’s stepping into the perfect situation. The question is whether next season is the right time and how the Rockets might have to adjust their depth accordingly. The simple fact is that we haven’t really seen him yet, and what it means for Houston’s place in the arc of this season earns him the top spot on this list.

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Lameine yamal And options Ferran torres Hit twice as each Barcelona In Thursday’s game, FC continued his Presiden Asian tour with a 7-3 win over Seoul South Korea,

Barka coach swan flicks Make some changes For the initial XI that helped him win Laliga in the last season, with Yamal, Rafinha And Robert Lewandowski Start in the attack.

After the initial attacks from Levandowski and Yamal 2–0, the hosts hit the young-wook with balls and Yazan al-ArabTo go to the level in the 47th minute.

Yamal gave Barka 3-2 Half time lead when he controlled a pass Franki de Jong A left leg shot in the box and behind the net found a place to set fire.

This was the first goal of 18 -year -old when it was The prestigious Barcelona was handed over to number 10 jersey.

“I am very happy to score with this jersey,” said Yamal.

“It was a childhood dream to play with this shirt and score with number 10 jersey which is very special. I am very happy with the team’s victory.”

He also thanked Baraka fans for his support.

“Thanks for being there. Our fans support us a lot in every country. Let’s hope that this season is very successful and we win many titles.”

Barca made 11 changes in the brake, along with Marcus rashford Coming out of the bench.

Rashford, Who recently joined Catalan Club on loan Manchester UnitedThere was a possibility of scoring its first goal for Barca, but was denied twice by the domestic keeper.

Substitute player Andreas CrustensonFerran torres and Gavi, acting as captain, found behind the net with clinical finish.

Seoul has performed again in the 86th minute, taking advantage of the poor rescue by Barca with alternative Han-Min Jung only to add his second second to the final CT with the final CT for the Torres.

Barca, Who won 3–1 in Visel Cobe In his initial Presiden Game on 27 July, on Dagu FC in South Korea, to complete his visit to Asia on 4 August.