Devin Booker has agreed to terms on an extension with the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The deal is said to be a 2-year, $145 million max extension that ties Booker to the Suns through the 2029-30 season.

Averaging $72.5 million per year, it’s the highest annual extension salary in NBA history, per ESPN. He’s now set to make $316 million from the Suns over the next five seasons.

Booker averaged 25.6 points, a career-high 7.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 75 games last season.

He’s spent all 10 years of his NBA career with the Suns and was named to the All-Rookie team in 2015-16. He’s a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection.

The Suns will look to continue constructing the roster around Booker for the foreseeable future. The franchise traded Kevin Durant, who led the team with 26.6 points per game last season, to the Houston Rockets this offseason.

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In a move that figured to eventually arrive the moment the New York Yankees signed a 32-year-old infielder to a six-year contract, the club designated DJ LeMahieu for assignment, cutting him loose on July 9 with nearly two years remaining on that deal.

LeMahieu, who turns 37 on July 13, re-signed with the club on a six-year, $90 million deal in January 2021. He was coming off a two-year run with the Yankees during which he batted .336 – including a majors-best .364 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season – with a .922 OPS and amassed 8.6 WAR.

Given their druthers, the Yankees probably didn’t want to grant a six-year contract at that point, but spreading the $90 million over six years greatly lessened their luxury tax commitment, to just $15 million per year.

But the end came quickly. LeMahieu struggled greatly with injuries during the course of the deal, playing in 150 games just once and seeing his availability shrivel with each passing year, from 136 games played in 2023 to 67 last season and just 45 this year before the Yankees cut bait.

They certainly saw a large enough sample last season, when LeMahieu produced a .204/.269/.259 line and a -1.6 WAR. He found a window for playing time this year when Jazz Chisholm missed time with an oblique injury, but manager Aaron Boone indicated on July 8 that LeMahieu likely would be the odd man out for playing time going forward – and that he didn’t handle it particularly well.

The Yankees will owe LeMahieu roughly $21.6 million – his $15 million salary next season and what’s owed him this year. Despite his struggles, it’s likely LeMahieu will find a new club once he passes through waivers and can be paid the pro-rated league minimum by the acquiring team.

LeMahieu became the first player in the modern era to win batting titles in both leagues, with a .348 average for Colorado in 2016 and .364 for the Yankees in 2020.

Joey Chestnut vs. Usain Bolt.

At least one of them is ready for a showdown.

“Of course I’d do it,’’ Chestnut told USA TODAY Sports.

The PGA Tour recently revived the idea when they asked golfers who would win a head-to-head competition with this format: Chestnut, the 17-time champion at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, and Bolt, the eight-time gold medal-winning sprinter, each would have to eat a hot dog before starting the race.

Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala predicted the winner would be Chestnut. Jordan Spieth and Maverick McNealy predicted Bolt would win.

And what does Chestnut think?

“It could be really close,’’ he said.

Chestnut said he’d be less concerned with how fast the 38-year-old Jamaican can run than how fast Bolt can eat a hot dog.

Chestnut, who recently won the Nathan’s contest on July 4 by eating 70.5 hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute competition, said he can eat a hot dog in about 2.5 seconds and likely would need it to take Bolt about 12 seconds.

“It’s possible,’’ Chestnut said. “I forget that some people aren’t the fastest eaters. So if there was a judge that didn’t let him start until he swallowed the hot dog…’’

One problem: Chestnut said he has plates and screws in his right leg after breaking it two years and his left leg is a half inch longer than his right leg. “It’s not ideal,’’ he said, adding, “Every once in a while, I jog a little bit with the dog.’’

Another hitch: Chestnut said the idea was broached a year or two ago and “it didn’t seem like he was interested.’’

Nevertheless, Chestnut said he might start training for the hot-dog-and-100-meters race.

“I’m going to try it,’’ he said. “We have a long straightaway not too far from my house. I’m only going to get faster unless I hurt myself.’’

Lionel Messi is approaching a hat trick with Inter Miami on the road against the New England Revolution on Wednesday, July 9.

Messi has already scored two goals (27′ and 38′) to fuel a 2-0 lead for Inter Miami, as play resumes in the second game.

Messi has already made MLS history during this match: He became the first player to score multiple goals in four consecutive league matches. He scored two goals in each of his last four matches, including this New England match.

Stay tuned here for live updates from the New England vs. Inter Miami match:

Inter Miami 2, New England 0: Messi scores second goal (38’)

Two goals in 11 minutes for Lionel Messi, who finished a stellar pass from Sergio Busquets with a stellar goal.

Messi has four braces (scored twice) in each of his last four MLS games.

Inter Miami 1, New England 0: Lionel Messi scores goal (27′)

Lionel Messi pounced on a poor clearance by New England, finding the back of the net with a goal in the 27th minute.

How to watch New England Revolution vs. Inter Miami match live stream?

The match will be available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

When is the New England Revolution vs. Inter Miami match?

The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina).

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is in the Inter Miami announces its starting lineup.

“In Leo’s case, if Leo is fine and doesn’t have any problems, obviously my idea is always to let him play, because we know that if there’s anyone who knows how to manage himself on the pitch and knows his body, it’s him,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said a day before the New England match.

New England Revolution vs. Inter Miami betting odds

Here are the betting odds, according to BETMGM.

• New England Revolution: +185
• Draw: +280
• Inter Miami: +115
• Over/under: 3.5 goals

Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule in July

• July 9: New England vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
• July 12: Inter Miami vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m. ET
• July 16: FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
• July 19: New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
• July 26: Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati, 7 p.m. ET
• July 30: Inter Miami vs. Atlas, 7:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)

Will Messi leave MLS? Breaking down rumors surrounding soccer’s GOAT

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are in continued negotiations to keep the Argentine World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in Miami, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing nature of contract negotiations.

Livvy Dunne is going through the same pain so many New York City apartment hunters have experienced, as the social media sensation says her bid to buy an apartment that was once owned by Babe Ruth was rejected by the building’s co-op board.

The former LSU gymnast took to TikTok to discuss how she fell for a three-bedroom Upper West Side apartment that the New York Yankees legend lived in for several years. Per Fox Business, the apartment sold for $1.58 million in 2016 and went back on the market in March.

However, as she explained in a post on Tuesday, her best-laid plans didn’t quite work out.

‘Guys, I’m so upset,’ started Dunne, setting up how she had decided to make her first foray into property ownership after finding an apartment in Manhattan.

‘The gag was, it was Babe Ruth’s apartment,’ said Dunne. ‘I was going to buy it, and I was going to pay with cash. Like, I wanted this apartment bad… It was just iconic. Like, it was so cool that it was Babe Ruth’s apartment!’

Dunne began preparing for the move, hiring an interior designer and showing the place to her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. However, while Dunne’s confidence that she was going to be living it up in Ruth’s former residence, the building’s co-op board had other ideas.

‘The week that I’m supposed to get my keys to my brand new apartment, I get a call: the co-op board denied me,’ explained Dunne. ‘So pretty much, the people in the building voted to not have me live there.’

Dunne shrugged off the rejection, joking that perhaps the board was comprised entirely of Alabama fans before speculating that ‘maybe they didn’t want a public figure living there.’

For Dunne, the apartment hunt continues, but the 22-year-old says she’s taking one lesson from the incident.

‘Long story short, don’t try to live in a co-op. You might get denied, and you won’t get Babe Ruth’s apartment.’

Livvy Dunne: Babe Ruth apartment purchase denied by co-op board

Former U.S. Olympic wrestler and UFC fighter Ben Askren shared an emotional update Wednesday, for the first time since undergoing double lung transplant surgery.

Askren developed pneumonia, followed by a staph infection, and has been hospitalized in Wisconsin.

He said in an Instagram video that he remembers very little of what happened between May 28 and July 2. Askren said he was brought up to speed on everything the family had experienced after reading a journal kept by his wife, Amy.

“No recollection, zero idea, no idea what happened,’ Askren said in the video. “We’ll kind of go through it all. I just read through my wife’s journal. It’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous. I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds.”

Askren said he had also lost 50 pounds in 45 days. He currently weighs 147 and has started to regain his strength. He also thanked everyone for all the support.

‘The thing that was most impeccable to me was all the love I felt from everybody,’ Askren said. ‘It was almost like I got to have my own funeral. … The outpouring of love from the wrestling community was just amazing. It felt so good.”

Who is Ben Askren?

Askren started his MMA career in 2009 and had his last fight in 2019. His MMA record is 19-2 with six wins coming by knockout and six by submission. The other seven victories were by decision.

He’s won welterweight titles in the Bellator and ONE Championship promotions during his career.

Before he began his MMA career, Askren won two NCAA Division I national championships and three Big 12 Conference championships while attending the University of Missouri.

Askren won back-to-back Dan Hodge Trophies in 2006 and 2007. The honor is the wrestling equivalent of college football’s Heisman Trophy. He became the second wrestler to win the trophy twice.

He competed as a member of the United States’ wrestling team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He defeated István Veréb of Hungary in the first round by pinfall before losing to Cuba’s Iván Fundora on points in the tournament’s quarterfinals.

In April 2021, Askren was knocked out during a boxing match with Jake Paul. The event was held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

What’s next for Ben Askren?

Askren plans on being involved in the fight community again.

“I’m more motivated than ever to get back and do what I can to help out the best I can,” Askren said. “I love you guys. I appreciate you guys. This has been tough, not only for me, but for my whole family and close community as well. 

“… Hope you guys appreciate the update. Like I said, somewhere down the road, maybe Amy and I can detail everything a little more.’

NBA teams now know which opponents they will face in the 2025 NBA Cup.

The league announced the results of the group stage draw on Wednesday, July 9, setting three groups per conference, with five teams in each group. The drawing was made at random, based on win-loss record.

Formerly known as the in-season tournament, the NBA Cup will begin Friday, Oct. 31, 10 days after the start of the 2025-26 regular season.

The NBA made the announcement in a video with former NBA player and Amazon analyst Blake Griffin and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren; Amazon Prime will air 66 games next season, including all from the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know about the NBA Cup’s group stage.

NBA Cup groups

East A

• Atlanta Hawks
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Indiana Pacers
• Toronto Raptors
• Washington Wizards

East B

• Boston Celtics
• Brooklyn Nets
• Detroit Pistons
• Orlando Magic
• Philadelphia 76ers

East C

• Charlotte Hornets
• Chicago Bulls
• Miami Heat
• New York Knicks
• Milwaukee Bucks (defending NBA Cup champions)

West A

• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Phoenix Suns
• Sacramento Kings
• Utah Jazz

West B

• Dallas Mavericks
• Los Angeles Clippers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• New Orleans Pelicans

West C

• Denver Nuggets
• Golden State Warriors
• Houston Rockets
• Portland Trail Blazers
• San Antonio Spurs

How does the group stage in the NBA Cup work?

Group stage games will take place on designated NBA Cup nights from Oct. 31 through Nov. 28.

Each squad will play one game against each of the opponents in its group. The six group stage winners will advance, as will a wild card team from each conference; wild card teams are set based on winning percentage and certain tiebreakers.

From there, the teams will play in single-elimination knockout rounds.

The semifinals and finals will take place Saturday, Dec. 13 and Tuesday, Dec. 16, in Las Vegas.

Easiest group in the NBA Cup

It’s between West A and East A, but because West A has both teams that made conference final appearances, the nod goes to East A.

The Cavaliers are a formidable threat for an NBA title after winning 64 games last season, best in the conference. The Hawks are much improved after a stellar offseason, though they are still largely unproven.

The Wizards are in a full rebuild. The Raptors could surprise with full health, but are still likely a few pieces away from contention. The Pacers will be without star guard Tyrese Haliburton and former center Myles Turner, who signed with the Bucks.

Hardest group in the NBA Cup

West C is stacked.

The Nuggets, Warriors and Rockets were each playoff teams, but Houston retooled and added Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade as it gears up for championship contention. Denver also improved with its trade for Cameron Johnson, while the Warriors are going to try to make another run at a title with a full season of Jimmy Butler in the Bay Area.

The San Antonio Spurs won just 34 games last season, but they faced injury issues and are a potential breakout team, with Victor Wembanyama entering his third season. The Trail Blazers are the weakest team in the group, though they improved as the 2024-25 regular season progressed.

Past NBA Cup champions

2024: Milwaukee Bucks2023: Los Angeles Lakers

Former NBA player Ben McLemore has been sentenced to 100 months (eight years, four months) in Oregon state prison after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman at a house party in Lake Oswego on Oct. 3, 2021.

The ruling from the jury came on Thursday, July 3 after an 11-day trial. Sentencing was Wednesday, July 9.

McLemore, 32, was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and second-degree sexual abuse. McLemore had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

What brought the charges?

Prosecutors say the assault occurred at Robert Covington’s Lake Oswego house in October 2021. Covington and McLemore were teammates on the Portland Trail Blazers at the time.

Did Ben McLemore make a statement after the sentencing?

He did not.

McLemore’s attorney told ESPN: ‘We hope the Oregon Legislature will adopt a ‘second look’ process that would evaluate whether he should serve the entire 100 month sentence or whether, beyond the short alcohol-influenced encounter that led to this conviction, he is a considerate and humble person who has lived an honorable, community-focused life.’

What did the victim say?

“This has been the longest almost four years of my life. I never imagined that reporting this back in 2021 would lead to such an incredibly difficult and long journey,” she said in a press release. “These last few years have often felt like a weight that I’ve had to drag behind me, a constant reminder of the trauma that I haven’t been able to fully work through because there was no ending in sight.

“At the time of the assault, I had no idea who Mr. McLemore was. When I found out … I questioned whether I should really move forward and report what had happened, especially given his status.

“I came forward to hold him accountable for the harm he caused, to ensure that what happened to me never happens to anyone else.

“No one is above the law, no matter who they are or what position they hold.’

Who is Ben McLemore?

McLemore last played in the NBA in 2022. He was drafted seventh overall in 2013 and played for five teams over nine seasons. Most recently, he played professional basketball internationally in China and Europe.

This story has been updated with new information.

If you have a spare $223 lying around, you might be able get in the building for Cooper Flagg’s summer league debut against Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers — but you’ll have to move quickly.

According to ticket marketplace Vivid Seats, that’s the average price for the Thursday night’s Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Lakers summer league game in Las Vegas, as of Wednesday afternoon. It’s a hefty price for an exhibition and the most expensive summer league ticket in two years.

It trails the average cost ($297) of the summer league debut of Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama which took place Friday, July 7, 2023.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the cheapest get-in ticket, including fees, is listed at $66.89 for general admission. The most expensive ticket is $3,072.30 for a courtside deck seat below one of the baskets. There’s another ticket in the same section for $2,373.72.

According to Vivid Seats, there are fewer than 1% of tickets left.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall selection in the NBA draft, will be making his NBA debut, while James is expected to play in his third summer league game, after he played a pair of California Classic contests over the past week.

Summer league tickets are sold by the day, as opposed to an individual game, meaning that a ticket provides access to other games taking place.

Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. ET at the Thomas & Mack Center.

If the price is a little too steep, and if you don’t happen to be in Vegas, you could always catch it for much cheaper on your couch: ESPN will broadcast the game.