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SPORTS Thursday 20 July 2023

LaMelo Ball says he signed 5-year extension with Hornets

By STEVE REED in the free agent market.
AP Sports Writer That’s largely by design,
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — as Kupchak wants to give
LaMelo Ball could’ve tried younger players a chance
to force his way out of to develop. He said big-
Charlotte in hopes of land- name free agents will want
ing with an established NBA to come to Charlotte once
playoff contender in the the organization begins
next few years. winning more games.
Instead, the 2022 All-Star “I’m not thinking we nec-
point guard decided to essarily have to add more
embrace his current situ- talent,” Kupchak said. “I
ation with the struggling think the talent we need
Hornets by signing a five- to get where we want to
year deal earlier this month go is already in the system.
that will pay him up to $260 Now it’s just going to take a
million. In so doing, he be- little time to get everybody
came first Hornets player to up to speed and get to
sign a rookie max contract where we want to get to. I
extension, giving Charlotte don’t think there’s a major
a cornerstone piece to area that needs to be ad-
build around. dressed.”
Ball said he chose to re- The big contract certainly
main in Charlotte because adds pressure on Ball, the
he’s comfortable living Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball brings the ball upcourt during the first half of an NBA basketball No. 3 overall pick in the
there and believes in what game against the Detroit Pistons in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. Associated Press 2021 draft. But the laid-
the Hornets are trying to back 21-year-old said that
create. “All my years here I’ve had Kupchak said keeping a is something that will is something he’s never
“Where we at, I feel like we a good time,” Ball said. player like Ball is a big step change,” Kupchak said. worried about on the court
are all growing together,” “Life wasn’t bad. The bas- for the Hornets. “To have a player like him and he isn’t about to start
Ball said Wednesday in ketball aspect, if that’s not He thinks Charlotte is on the back with us, just to come now.
his first news conference really going well, then you verge of snapping a streak back to us, it’s exciting.” “Growing up, my pops al-
since signing the contract. want to just live your life of seven straight seasons Kupchak said the team’s ways said pressure was
“I think it’s just a great po- and have fun. You want to without making the play- goal has been to build finding your next meal,
sition and I think we are all be living well, and in Char- offs, the longest active through the draft. finding where to sleep, stuff
going the right way now.” lotte I’m doing that. It all streak in the league. Aside from re-signing Ball like that,” Ball said of his fa-
Ball said the decision to just felt like a great choice.” “We have not had great and Miles Bridges, the Hor- ther, LaVar Ball. “I’m pretty
stay wasn’t tough. General manager Mitch success as a team, which nets weren’t very active much blessed.q

Kentucky Derby winner Mage returns for $1M Haskell at Monmouth Park

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) — owners have been plan- Travers,” he said after the made sense to run in both freshened him up. He’s do-
Kentucky Derby winner ning to race the colt in the draw. “We thought the Grade 1s.” ing really well. I think he’s
Mage is expected to race Travers at Saratoga next Haskell, with its prestige The winner of this race will ready for the mile-and-an-
for the first time since finish- month. and tradition, being Grade earn a spot in the Breed- eighth. I feel good about
ing third in the Preakness “We’re just trying to plot 1 and the five weeks out to ers’ Cup Classic in Novem- the way he’s going into the
when the 3-year-old colt the best course of action the Travers landed perfect- ber at Santa Anita Park in race. I think conditioning-
takes on seven rivals in the through the summer to the ly on the calendar. It just California, where Baffert wise, he’s ready for it.”
$1 million Haskell Invitation- is based. He also seems to Geaux Rocket Ride drew
al at Monmouth Park on like it in New Jersey. He has the No. 1 post position and
Saturday. won this race a record nine was made the 9-2 fourth
Mage drew the No. 4 post times, the last one with Au- choice. Mike Smith is listed
position on Wednesday thentic in 2020. to ride in the race that is
and was made the co- “The Haskell has always scheduled to start at 5:47
second choice behind 5-2 meant a lot to us. It’s a very p.m. ET and be televised by
morning-line favorite Ara- important race,” he said. NBC Sports.
bian Knight, who will be “A lot of tradition. A lot of The rest of the field in post
looking to give trainer Bob great horses have won position order with colt,
Baffert his 10th win in the that race. I love Monmouth jockey and odds is: Awe-
1 1/8-mile race that is the Park.” Arabian Knight, who some Strong, Jose Batista,
highlight of the meet at this is undefeated in two career 30-1; Salute the Stars, Joel
New Jersey shore track. starts, has not raced since Rosario, 8-1; Mage, Javier
Tapit Trice, the Todd Pletch- winning a Grade 3 stakes in Castellano, 3-1; Tapit Trice,
er-trainer colt who finished Arkansas in late January. Luis Saez, 3-1; Howgreatis-
third in the Belmont Stakes Mage (8), with Javier Castellano aboard, wins the 149th running “He’s doing well. He’s pret- nate, Paco Lopez, 20-1; Ex-
and seventh in the Derby, of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, ty fit. I don’t particularly like tra Anejo, Tyler Gaffalione,
also is 3-1 along with Mage. May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. the 8 (post),” Baffert said. 5-1 and Arabian Knight,
Ramiro Restrepo, the co- Associated Press “I was hoping to be in the John Velazquez, 5-2.q
owner of Mage, said the middle somewhere. We