Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been honored with the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2024–25 NBA Coach of the Year. In his first year leading the Cavaliers and his fifth overall as an NBA head coach, Atkinson guided the team to a 64–18 record. The Cavaliers also secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Atkinson becomes just the third coach in Cavaliers history to earn the prestigious award. He has joined Bill Fitch (1975–76) and Mike Brown (2008–09). His 64 wins tie him for the fourth-most victories by a head coach in his first season with a team. Throughout the season, Atkinson was twice named the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. He received the honor for October/November and again for December. His success also earned him the opportunity to coach in the NBA All-Star Game for the first time.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis sat out the second half of Monday night’s 108-105 overtime loss to the New York Knicks. This incident came after being sidelined with a non-COVID illness. Porzingis was absent from the floor as the Celtics warmed up for the second half. He briefly appeared on the bench before returning to the locker room. Al Horford opened the third quarter in his place. The team later listed him as questionable to return. Porzingis struggled in the first half, going 0-for-4 in 13 minutes while collecting four rebounds and an assist. The Celtics also lost reserve forward Sam Hauser. ho exited early in the fourth quarter with a sprained right ankle after missing both of his shot attempts in four minutes of action.

Jac Caglianone is heating up in Double-A, and pitchers in the Texas League are paying the price. The Royals’ No. 1 prospect (MLB No. 18) blasted two more home runs on Tuesday for Northwest Arkansas. This has given him four long balls over his last three games. In a breakout performance against Wichita, Caglianone recorded the first multi-homer game of his career. He started with a solo shot to left in the third inning off right-hander Darren Bowen, then added a three-run blast to the opposite field in the seventh. He also singled to cap off a three-hit, four-RBI day at Arvest Ballpark. The slugging first baseman has now collected multiple hits in five of his last seven games, signaling he’s quickly adapting to Double-A pitching.

Matthew Stafford has finalized a new contract with the LA Rams for the 2025 season. He secured $44 million for the year. The deal was initially negotiated during the NFL Scouting Combine but only recently completed. It also guarantees Stafford an additional $40 million if he remains on the Rams’ roster at the start of free agency in 2026, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Stafford has already received $4 million this season, with the remaining $40 million fully guaranteed. The new contract increases Stafford’s earnings over two years to $84 million, from the $58 million. While Los Angeles explored trade options for Stafford this offseason, with the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders showing interest, they ultimately agreed to keep the veteran quarterback for at least one more year. The Rams have repeatedly emphasized that Stafford’s contract is essentially a year-to-year renewal at this stage of his career. Entering his 17th season, Stafford’s future remains uncertain, with retirement always a possibility. However, Rams head coach Sean McVay expressed hope that Stafford will give the team “a couple more years” in a recent interview.