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And-Ones: Westhead, NBA Finals, Mitrou-Long, BAL
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Paul Westhead is the 2026 recipient of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Basketball Coaches Associated announced in a press release.
Westhead’s coaching career spanned five decades and a total of 38 seasons. He spent 12 years as a head and assistant coach in the NBA and also coached in the WNBA, NCAA and internationally. He’s the only head coach in basketball history to win both an NBA (with the Lakers in 1980) and WNBA championship (with the Phoenix Mercury in 2007), per the statement.
Known as a progenitor of the run-and-gun offense, Westhead also spent time as head coach of the Bulls and Nuggets and had an extensive college career with La Salle, Loyola Marymount (Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble era), George Mason and Oregon.
“We are honored to recognize Paul Westhead as the recipient of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Pistons head coach and NBCA president J.B. Bickerstaff. “Coach Westhead’s impact on the game extends far beyond wins and championships.
“He challenged conventional thinking, introduced ideas that were ahead of their time, and influenced generations of coaches across every level of men’s and women’s basketball. His commitment to innovation, teaching, and the growth of our game has left a lasting mark on our profession, making him truly deserving of this recognition.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Wednesday’s contest between the Spurs and Knicks was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2018, when the Warriors and Cavaliers faced off for the fourth straight year, according to ESPN PR (story via Ronce Rajan). Viewership was up 90% compared to last year, when a couple of small market teams (Oklahoma City and Indiana) squared off. Wednesday’s game was also the most-viewed Finals game overall since Game 6 in 2019 (Warriors-Raptors).
Canadian guard Naz Mitrou-Long has signed a three-year contract with PAOK BC, the Greek team confirmed in a press statement. The 32-year-old spent parts of three NBA seasons with the Jazz and Pacers and has spent the past several seasons in Europe, playing in Italy, Greece and Lithuania.
Deputy NBA commissioner Mark Tatum recently spoke to Marc J. Spears of Andscape about the next steps for the Basketball Africa League (BAL). “We are in the process now of transitioning the BAL from a completely open league and model where every year, 12 different teams could participate in the league,” Tatum told Andscape in a phone interview. “In order to qualify now, you have to win your national championship. So, we basically take 12 national champions. And of course, those national champions can change every single year. So, after the first six seasons, we’ve decided that now is the right time to transition the BAL from an open model to more of a franchise model and a semi-closed model.”



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Everton Eye Championship Player Of The Year
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Hackney Preference Gives Everton Encouragement
Everton’s summer rebuild may yet find its most intriguing early shape in midfield. As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, the club are in talks with Middlesbrough over a potential deal for Hayden Hackney, a player whose next move has quietly become one of the more interesting Premier League subplots of the window.
Hackney has 12 months left on his Middlesbrough contract, which gives Everton opportunity, but not control. Middlesbrough are prepared to let him enter the final year of his deal unless a suitable offer lands, and that matters. This is not a distressed sale. This is a club protecting the value of one of its academy graduates.
The encouraging detail for Everton is that Hackney’s preference is understood to be a move to Goodison Park. Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Crystal Palace have all been linked, yet Everton appear to have emotional and sporting traction. For a club seeking to look forward after years of firefighting, that is no small thing.
Moyes Wants More Technical Control
David Moyes’ interest makes sense. Everton have too often been a team built around resistance rather than rhythm, energy rather than craft. Hackney offers something different. He is a progressive passer, comfortable carrying the ball, and capable of arriving in advanced areas with intent.
That is reflected in the numbers. Hackney made 41 appearances in all competitions for Middlesbrough last season, scoring six goals and providing eight assists. Across his Boro career, he has recorded 16 goals and 17 assists in 154 appearances.
Midfield Balance Remains Everton Concern
Still, Hackney would not solve everything. He is not a direct Idrissa Gueye replacement. If Gueye leaves when his contract expires this month, Everton will still need a more defensive, physical midfield presence.
The likely partnership with James Garner is appealing in possession, but it raises questions without the ball. Hackney is willing and combative, yet he is at his best when allowed to roam. Garner, or another partner, would need to provide balance, protection and deeper control.
Photo IMAGO
There is also uncertainty around Tim Iroegbunam, who has attracted interest from elsewhere. Everton have also considered Southampton’s Shea Charles, which suggests this is part of a wider midfield reshaping rather than a single isolated pursuit.
Everton Move Could Suit Hackney’s Growth
Hackney’s development has been steady rather than sudden. A Middlesbrough academy graduate, he made his senior debut in January 2021, spent time on loan at Scunthorpe United, then became a fixture after Michael Carrick’s appointment in October 2022.
At 23, he is neither a punt nor a finished article. He is a player ready for a platform. Everton, under Moyes, could offer exactly that, responsibility without the impossible glare of a Champions League club.
For Everton supporters, this is the kind of deal that feels sensible, ambitious and grounded. Hackney would bring technical courage to a midfield that needs it. The next step is whether Everton can turn preference into agreement.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From an Everton supporter’s perspective, this report feels genuinely encouraging. Not because Hayden Hackney is a superstar, and not because one signing changes the direction of a club overnight, but because it suggests Everton are thinking properly about profile, age and purpose.
For too long, the midfield has felt like a place where Everton have patched problems rather than built solutions. Hackney would be different. He is young enough to improve, experienced enough to contribute, and technically interesting enough to alter the way Everton move the ball through the pitch.
The attacking third touches statistic is particularly eye catching. Everton have lacked midfielders who naturally break lines and occupy advanced spaces. Hackney appears to enjoy that responsibility. That could matter hugely for a team that has often asked its forwards to survive on scraps.
There is caution, of course. If Gueye goes, Hackney alone will not replace his defensive intelligence or physical coverage. Everton would still need steel, pace and protection in that zone. But as part of a broader midfield plan, this makes sense.
The biggest positive is his reported preference. Everton need players who want the challenge, not players treating the club as a fallback. Hackney choosing Everton would feel like a small but meaningful sign that the club’s direction is starting to look credible again.



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Leeds United star signs four year contract
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Leeds United have taken a significant step in their long term squad planning by tying captain Ethan Ampadu to a new four year contract at Elland Road.
The Wales international, who had been approaching the final year of his previous deal, has now committed his future to Leeds United until 2030. For a club seeking stability, leadership and continued Premier League progress, the agreement represents a major piece of business before the transfer window gathers pace.
Ampadu joined Leeds United from Chelsea in 2023 and has since become one of the most important figures at the club. Now 25, he has made 126 appearances and scored three goals, but his value extends well beyond the basic numbers. His consistency, tactical intelligence and leadership have made him central to Leeds’ development over the past three seasons.

🫡 Our captain. Our leader.👊 The journey continues. pic.twitter.com/sMnKxiDBny
— Leeds United (@LUFC) June 4, 2026

Ampadu Delighted by Leeds United Progress
Speaking to the club’s website after signing his new deal, Ampadu said: “It is very exciting times and very pleased to have it sorted and out of the way. And now we can concentrate on hopefully building on what has been, especially the last two years, something very positive.
“We obviously knew that starting from the Championship the aim was to get promoted. We always had the ambition that we were going to achieve that. So, to have the second year and become champions and enjoy that with the whole city was amazing. And then especially last year, to be one of the teams to stay up for the first couple of seasons was massive. That was the target.”
Those comments underline the importance of continuity at Leeds United. Ampadu has been part of the club’s rise from the Championship, the title winning promotion campaign and the subsequent effort to establish themselves again at the highest level.
Leadership Signal Before Transfer Window
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe also made clear how significant the agreement is for the club’s wider direction.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds about the new deal for the club captain, Marathe said: “It is great to have our captain locked up and here.
“He represents everything we want on and off the pitch and I think it’s a great signal to the market, in advance to the transfer window as well, about what we’re about as a club.”
That message is particularly relevant as Leeds prepare for another important summer. Keeping Ethan Ampadu sends a clear signal to current players, potential signings and supporters that the club want to build around reliable, proven performers.
Stability Matters for Leeds United
For Leeds United, this deal is about more than protecting a valuable asset. Ampadu has grown into a leader at Elland Road and embodies the kind of disciplined, committed profile the club want to retain.
His new contract gives Leeds certainty in a key position and removes one potential distraction before the new season. As Leeds look to strengthen and consolidate further, securing Ethan Ampadu until 2030 may prove to be one of their most important moves of the summer.




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