The Sportsletter - Together At Last

BY JEFF YODER

JUNE 28, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

It happened. One by one, the picks came in. At No. 55, he was still available. The father-son NBA duo is coming to an arena near you. Whether or not you’re a fan of LeBron, Bronny, or the Lakers, how can you not love a basketball family story? The James gang, together at last.

🗓️ Holiday Schedule: The Sportsletter Team will be taking a break next week (July 1-5). You’ll still receive two abbreviated editions before the July 4 holiday. Today’s edition is our last normal newsletter until we return on Monday, July 8. Enjoy.

Letter Rip!

  NBA DRAFT  

Together At Last

Photo: Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images

Lakers Select Bronny James With No. 55 Pick — First-Ever Father-Son Teammates in NBA History

Together at last. I still remember the photo of LeBron James holding three-year-old Bronny after the Cavaliers clinched an NBA Finals berth in 2007. I never expected to write this story 17 years later. The first father-son teammate pairing in NBA history is coming to an arena near you...

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the No. 55 pick at the end of Round 2 in the NBA Draft last night. It’s the first time a father and son will play in the NBA simultaneously, let alone on the same team. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum announced the selection with a larger-than-normal grin. The whole basketball world knew it was coming after none of the first 24 picks in Round 2 called Bronny's name. No cameras were aimed at the James family during the pick, but we can imagine the hugs and tears in the moment.

Father-Son Sports Duos

We know them well, and they resonate with the family-first heart space in all of us. The Mannings (Archie, Peyton & Eli), the Currys (Dell, Steph & Seth), and the Griffeys (Ken Sr. & Ken Jr.) are just a few of the special father-son storylines from the most recent generation of sports. Only the Griffeys played on the field together at the same time (1991 Mariners). Believe it or not, it’s actually happened three other times — Ted and Charlie Nesser (NFL, 1921); Gordie, Mark and Marty Howe (NHL, 1979-80); Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. (MLB, 2001). Of that list, there’s no doubt LeBron and Bronny — the first NBA duo — are the most high-profile. This certainly won't be the last time we'll cover this story, but we will spare you from daily features on the soon-to-be historic moments in Los Angeles.

Beyond the Bronny pick, another full round of NBA selections were made yesterday. Here are some of the most notable:

NBA Draft Round 2 (Notable Picks)

Pick 32. Jazz: Kyle Filipowski (F, Duke)

Pick 34. Knicks: Tyler Kolek (G, Marquette)

Pick 45: Raptors: Jamal Shead (G, Houston)

Pick 49: Pacers: Tristen Newton (G, UConn)

Pick 53. Grizzlies: Cam Spencer (G, UConn)

Pick 55. Lakers: Bronny James (G, USC)

Pick 56. Knicks: Kevin McCullar Jr. (F, Kansas)

Full NBA Draft Recap (Rounds 1 & 2)

Read More

ESPN: Bronny James’ Fit, Future With the Lakers & LeBron

CBS Sports: Bronny & LeBron Make History as NBA’s First Father-Son Duo, But They’re Not Alone in Sports History

  MLB  

MLB All-Star Leaders

Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

First Phase of 2024 MLB All-Star Vote: Yankees’ Aaron Judge (AL) & Phillies’ Bryce Harper (NL) Lead Totals

Since it’s our last full edition until Monday, July 8, we won’t be able to update you on the MLB All-Star results until the week of the event. The Phase 1 results for the AL and NL were revealed yesterday. Aaron Judge (AL) and Bryce Harper (NL) lead the votes as the two stars of two top teams. They’ll both be starters in next month’s event. Their teammates, Alec Bohm (PHI) and Juan Soto (NYY), were the only other players to crack 3 million votes at this phase in the process as Yankees and Phillies fans clearly flooded the ballots.

Top Overall Vote-Getters

AL: Aaron Judge (NYY) — 3.4 Million

NL: Bryce Harper (PHI) — 3.2 Million

All-Star Voting (Phase 1 Leaders)

American League

C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)

1B: Ryan Mountcastle (BAL)

2B: Jose Altuve (HOU)

SS: Gunnar Henderson (BAL)

3B: Jose Ramirez (CLE)

OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)

OF: Juan Soto (NYY)

OF: Steven Kwan (CLE)
DH: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)

National League

C: William Contreras (MIL)

1B: Bryce Harper (PHI)

2B: Ketel Marte (ARI)

SS: Mookie Betts (LAD)

3B: Alec Bohm (PHI)

OF: Jurickson Profar (SD)

OF: Christian Yelich (MIL)

OF: Teoscar Hernandez (LAD)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)

Read More

MLB: MLB Tonight Crew Discusses Phase 2 of All-Star Voting

Yahoo! Sports: Aaron Judge & Bryce Harper Top 1st Round of MLB All-Star Voting

  SOCCER  

No Weah, No How 🟥 

Photo: Hector Vivas / Getty Images

Tim Weah’s Red Card Hands Panama Advantage in USMNT’s Copa America Collapse (2-1)

The U.S. Men’s National Team crashed and burned in a stunning Copa America match last night in Atlanta that featured more questions than answers. Tim Weah’s early red card (18’) put the USMNT in a difficult spot after he blatantly swung at a Panama player. Youngster Folarin Balogun put the U.S. on the board less than five minutes later (22’) for a 1-0 lead, but that was the end of the positive moments. Panama found the equalizer shortly after (26’) and continued to blitz the 10-man U.S. team before securing the game-winning goal late in the second half. They outplayed the U.S. in every measurable aspect of the match — possession (73-27), shots (13-6) and passes completed (467-116). The loss puts Uruguay in complete control of Group C with the U.S. in danger of spinning out before the knockout round next week.

Watch: Panama Upsets USMNT in Ugly Copa America Stumble (2-1)

Copa America (Group C)

🇺🇾 Uruguay (6 pts)

🇺🇸 United States (3 pts)

🇵🇦 Panama (3 pts)

🇧🇴 Bolivia (0 pts)

USMNT’s Next Match

🇺🇸 United States vs. 🇺🇾 Uruguay (Mon. 9:00 pm, FS1)

Read More

ESPN: Berhalter: Tim Weah’s ‘Silly’ Red Card Costs U.S. in Panama Loss

Yahoo! Sports: USMNT’s Tim Weah Apologizes for Striking Panama Player in Disastrous Copa America Loss

  OTHER HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

⚾️ MLB

O’s Slugfest Rattles Rangers (11-2)

Baltimore’s 4 HRs Win 1st Meeting Since ALDS

Springer (2 HRs) Fuels Jays Past Yanks (9-2)

Yankees Lose 4th Straight, 7 of Last 8

Cubs Top Giants in Extras (5-3, 10 Innings)

Shota Imanaga (6IP, 3Ks 3 ER), Ian Happ Hits GW Blast

🏀 WNBA

Wings def. Lynx (94-88)

Dallas Snaps Minnesota’s 7-Game Win Streak

Aces def. Sky (95-83)

A’ja Wilson (31 pts) Overwhelms Chicago

Storm def. Fever (89-77)

Jewell Loyd (34 pts) Outduels Caitlin Clark (15-7-6)

Sun def. Mystics (94-91, OT)

DeWanna Bonner Notches Double-Double (24 pts, 10 rebs)

⛳️ PGA Tour

Akshay Bhatia (-8) Leads Rocket Mortgage Classic

  STORYLINES   

🏒 The NHL Mock Draft

The 2024 NHL Draft will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas tonight, and the No. 1 pick is almost a certainty. The San Jose Sharks are expected to select center Macklin Celebrini and launch a new era. How will the rest of Round 1 fall? (Bleacher Report)

🎾 The Wimbledon Storylines

Wimbledon 2024 promises to be a cracker. Is Novak Djokovic’s right knee okay? Is Iga Swiatek going to make a move on grass? Is geopolitics going to take over the tournament again? (The Athletic)

🏈 The NFL Sunday Ticket Settlement

The NFL took a massive hit in the courts on Thursday, and it’s one that could affect you if you’ve purchased the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” package. A federal judge ordered the league to pay $4.7 billion in the class-action lawsuit. (CBS Sports)

  NEWS   📰 

🏀 Jimmy Butler Won’t Sign Extension With Heat Before Hitting Free Agency (SI)

🏀 Nuggets & Jamal Murray Near 4-Year, $209 Million Max Contract Extension (B/R)

🏁 Max Verstappen Confirms Red Bull Stay Amid Links to Mercedes (ESPN)

🏈 NFL WR Randall Cobb & Family ‘Lucky to be Alive’ After House Fire (CBS Sports)

🏀 Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis to Miss Olympics for Latvia After Ankle Surgery (Yahoo! Sports)

🏁 Aric Almirola Suspended by Joe Gibbs Racing for Altercation With Bubba Wallace (FOX Sports)

🏛️ NCAA Paid Former President Mark Emmert $4.3 Million in Severance for 2023 Departure (USA Today)

🏈 Michigan & Notre Dame to Resurrect Longstanding Football Rivalry in 2026 (SI)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

It’s the final full edition before our team’s holiday break! Here are some of the events we’re watching over the next three days (through Monday). We’ll have more must-watch sports in our shortened mid-week edition next week. Enjoy!

🏒 NHL Draft

Round 1 (Fri. 7:00 pm, ESPN)

Rounds 2-7 (Sat. Noon, NHLN)

🎾 Wimbledon

Round 1 (Monday-Tuesday)

⚽️ UEFA Euros (Round of 16)

🇨🇭Switzerland vs. 🇮🇹 Italy (Sat. Noon, FS1)

🇩🇪 Germany vs. 🇩🇰 Denmark (Sat. 3:00 pm, FOX)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England vs. 🇸🇰 Slovakia (Sun. Noon, FOX)

🇪🇸 Spain vs. 🇬🇪 Georgia (Sun. 3:00 pm, FOX)

🇫🇷 France vs. 🇧🇪 Belgium (Mon. Noon, FS1)

🇵🇹 Portugal vs. 🇸🇮 Slovenia (Mon. 3:00 pm, FOX)

⚽️ Copa America

🇦🇷 Argentina vs. 🇵🇪 Peru (Sat. 8:00 pm, FS1)

🇺🇸 United States vs. 🇺🇾 Uruguay (Mon. 9:00 pm, FS1)

Full Copa America Schedule

⚾️ MLB

Cubs-Brewers Series

Twins-Mariners Series

Dodgers-Giants Series

Full MLB Schedule

🏀 WNBA

Dream at Liberty (Sun. 1:00 pm, ESPN)
Fever at Mercury (Sun. 3:00 pm, ESPN)

Full WNBA Schedule

*All Times ET

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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