TALKING POINTS
Kings sign captain Anze Kopitar to a 2-year extension worth $14 million
LOS ANGELES — One of the last remaining links to the Kings’ Stanley Cup championship teams and one of the best players in franchise history is extending his stay in Los Angeles.
Captain Anze Kopitar signed a two-year extension worth $14 million with L.A. on Thursday. He’s now under contract through the 2025-26 NHL season at an annual salary cap hit of $7 million.
“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that will keep Anze in Los Angeles as our group takes the next step in competing for a Stanley Cup,” general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. “He is the heart and soul of this team as our captain, and he will continue to play a major role on our club.”
The center from Slovenia was nearly a pointa-game player and the Kings’ leading scorer this past year at age 35 with 28 goals and 46 assists. His eight-year, $80 million contract is up after next season.
Kopitar is one of two players remaining from 2012 and 2014 when the Kings won the Cup for the first and second times, along with defenseman Drew Doughty.
“Los Angeles has become home for me and my family, and I’m excited to extend my career here,” Kopitar said. “I’ve been with this organization through it all, and I know our group is close to achieving something special. I look forward to helping us reach that next level and achieving the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup again.”
Kopitar has played all 17 of his NHL seasons with L.A. He has twice won the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward and recently won his second Lady Byng for gentlemanly conduct.
In 1,384 regular-season and playoff games, he has 1,218 points. He ranks second in Kings history in games, assists and winning goals, third in points and fourth in goals.
Cameraman injured at Yankee Stadium by wild throw has an orbital fracture
NEW YORK — Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson and New York manager Aaron Boone spoke Thursday with Pete Stendel, the YES Network cameraman who sustained an orbital fracture when he was hit by Henderson’s errant throw Wednesday night.
“I got a chance to reach out to his wife and then also made contact with Pete,” Henderson said before the finale of a four-game series between the Orioles and Yankees. “He was in good spirits, just swollen up pretty bad right now. Everything was fine.”
Positioned right next to the New York Yankees’ dugout on the first-base side, Stendel was struck by a hurried
throw by Henderson, who fired high to first as he tried to complete a double play in the fifth inning.
“Every time that a ball goes over the first baseman or even a foul ball from the hitter, you don’t want to see it going towards a fan. It just happened to be in the wrong spot, and I hope he’s doing all right,” Henderson said Wednesday night following his team’s 6-3 victory. “My prayers go out to him. I’m just thankful for the guys that rushed over there to him to help him.”
The game was delayed about 17 minutes as the Yankees’ training staff and medical personnel tended to Stendel in the camera well. Baltimore players came off the field and waited in their dugout as Yankees and Orioles, including Henderson, watched in obvious concern at a hushed ballpark.
“Obviously, he’s got the orbital fracture and swelling and that pressure and I’m sure there’s some pain around that, but I will say he sounded really good, in good spirits and hopefully he’s on the road to recovery now,” Boone said. “I’m glad he’s able to be at home resting. Obviously, a very scary situation. I know I saw it in real time and it kind of freaked me out a little bit.
Stendel was strapped onto a stretcher and carted off the field, raising and wagging two fingers to loud applause from the crowd of 36,022 as he was driven along the warning track behind home plate.
Warriors acquire point guard Chris Paul, add guard Cory Joseph
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors finalized their trade with the Wizards for guard Chris Paul on Thursday, sending forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. and guards Jordan Poole and Ryan Rollins to Washington along with a pair of draft picks.
The Wizards will receive a 2027 second-round selection and a 2030 first-round choice, the team said in announcing the swap.
Golden State also signed veteran free agent guard Cory Joseph.
A 12-time All-Star, the 38-year-old Paul is set to complement and take pressure off the Splash Brother tandem of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as the Warriors strive to chase another championship. After winning the 2022 title, Golden State lost in the Western Conference semifinals to LeBron James and the Lakers.
Draymond Green last week reached agreement on a new $100 million, fouryear contract.
Washington acquired Paul from the Phoenix Suns on June 24. The point guard averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.54 steals in 32.0 minutes while starting all 59 games he played for Phoenix last season.
The 31-year-old Joseph averaged 6.9 points, 3.5 assists and 1.7 rebounds playing 19.8 minutes over 62 games with two starts for the Pistons last season.
Drafted by the Spurs 29th overall in 2011, Joseph has also played stints with the Spurs, Toronto, Indiana and Sacramento over 12 seasons.
Long flight to the Women’s World Cup? US players have a plan for that
Midfielder Andi Sullivan plans on nap
ping. Defender Emily Fox intends to keep with a soccer theme and finally watch “Ted Lasso.”
The U.S. national team — like most of the rest of the field — faces a long flight to the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Already seasoned travelers, the Americans have strategies for wiling away the time. And they’ll certainly need those tactics: The flight to New Zealand, where they’ll spend the group stage of the tournament, is 12 hours.
“I need suggestions!” midfielder Kristie Mewis exclaimed about the shows she plans to download for the flight. “Honestly, I’m rewatching ‘Suits’ right now. I love ‘Suits.’”
Once they get there, the players will retreat into a self-imposed bubble where they shut out the noise and the distractions for some seven weeks. Most stay off of social media platforms for the duration.
Forward Trinity Rodman, making her World Cup debut, is taking the advice of the veterans. Rodman’s dad is former NBA star Dennis Rodman, so she gets a lot of attention just because of her name.
Pacers welcome Brown to town, formally announce 5-year max deal to keep Haliburton
The Indiana Pacers officially locked up their future Thursday, announcing they had agreed with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton on a five-year max contract that could pay a franchise record $260 million.
Haliburton’s new deal keeps him with Indiana through 2028-29. He’s been considered the centerpiece of Indiana’s rebuild after he was acquired in a trade with Sacramento before the 2021-22 trade deadline.