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Español'Thank you, Golden State Warriors': Hawks legend echoes fans after huge trade
'Thank you, Golden State Warriors': Hawks legend echoes fans after huge trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dominique Wilkins couldn't hold back.
Jonathan Kuminga had just thrown down a left-handed hammer slam dunk that surely made 'Nique proud, and he just had to let the whole basketball world, especially the Golden State Warriors, know about it.
Wilkins is the color commentator for Hawks broadcasts, and when Kuminga threw down his post, Wilkins went for it.
"Thank you, Golden State Warriors," Wilkins said.
It's the same thing Hawks fans were saying, and even have been chanting, lately.
Kuminga has played just three games with Atlanta. He already looks like a star after his trade from the Warriors.
Golden State never figured out how to use Kuminga.
Atlanta has simply let Kuminga be himself, and it's working wonderfully.
Dominique Wilkins qui trolle les Warriors pour le trade de Kuminga en play-by-play, c'est si doux ! pic.twitter.com/OR77TkdNbm
— Hawks Fans France 🇫🇷 (@ATLHawksFR) March 2, 2026
MORE: Rip Hamilton's son is committed to play D-I college basketball
Kuminga dropped 20 points on Sunday night, including that poster slam.
In his first game with Atlanta, he scored 27 points in just 24 minutes (9-12 FG, 3-4 3FG, 6-7 FT) while grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out four assists and snatching two steals.
In the second, Kuminga had 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Kuminga isn't just scoring. He's been empowered to play his game, which actually is more well-rounded than he displayed with Golden State.
The Warriors may end up regretting this one.
More NBA news:
War disrupts sports with doubt over Messi's 'Finalissima,' Ronaldo games and F1 races
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are among the sports stars whose schedules are in doubt because of the spreading war in the Middle East.
Cancelations and travel shutdowns are already affecting events since the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran on Saturday. Organizers of Formula 1 and major soccer games face deciding within weeks whether they can go ahead as scheduled.
Middle Eastern nations have become crucial to the world sports landscape over the last decade as event hosts, financial backers and employers for some of the world's top athletes.
Key upcoming events
The clock is ticking for a decision on whether to cancel or move the “Finalissima” soccer game on March 27 between Spain and Argentina, the champions of Europe and South America. That match would offer Messi a chance to win yet another trophy in a glittering career.
Qatar suspended all soccer games until further notice Sunday. Argentina was also scheduled to play Qatar in a friendly March 31.
“UEFA is monitoring and carefully assessing all developments of the situation in cooperation with (South American soccer body) CONMEBOL and the (local organizing committee),” European soccer body UEFA told The Associated Press on Monday.
Ronaldo's soccer team, Saudi club Al Nassr, has already been affected by a wave of cancelations of Asian Champions League games. His team was scheduled to play Wednesday in Dubai.
Formula 1 has races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month. F1 and its teams typically start to fly in staff and freight weeks in advance, limiting the time to make a decision on whether to go ahead. Governing body FIA says its priority is “safety and wellbeing.”
The men's and women's tennis tours and golf's European tour have just finished their Middle East tournament swings and aren't due back for months.
Iran is set to play in US at the World Cup
Iran is due to send its men's soccer team to the U.S. for the World Cup in just over three months, with a first game June 16 against New Zealand in Inglewood, California.
There's doubt over whether Iran can or will take part in the tournament. Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj has said “we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”
The U.S. government has promised exemptions from its travel bans for athletes and coaches at events like the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Airspace closures leave athletes stranded
Even if some events go ahead, a major concern for athletes and teams will be how they can travel in and out of the region safely.
Former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev is among a group of tennis players waiting in Dubai for a chance to fly out after a tournament there concluded last week. If they can't travel soon, it will affect the BNP Paribas Open starting Wednesday in Indian Wells, California.
Cricket and basketball players are facing challenges, too, along with thousands of foreign tourists, while F1 personnel are seeking alternative travel to avoid the region on their way to this week's Australian Grand Prix.
A key region for world sports
The Middle East's influence on world sports has surged in recent years as countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have hosted major events and become crucial financial backers.
Besides soccer and auto racing, Qatar has a World Endurance Championship sportscar race this month, a MotoGP motorcycle race, a gymnastics World Cup next month and hosts the first Diamond League track meet of the year in May. Qatar also owns Champions League-winning soccer team Paris Saint-Germain.
Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 World Cup in men's soccer, has funded the LIV Golf breakaway league and become a major player in world boxing.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid | Copa del Rey SF Leg 2
The day has finally arrived – one that will decide Barcelona’s fate in the Copa del Reyif it has not already been decided.
Hansi Flick’s side faced hell at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano not too long ago, and the result on the night saw them eat four goals in a game that was marred by controversy.
Regardless of the refereeing situation and everything made of it in that game, the fact remains that Barcelona were outclassed and that the 4-0 loss was a kind result for them.
Tomorrow, they take to the field at the Spotify Camp Nou, striving to do the unthinkable – overturn that deficit. It will not be easy, nor is it widely considered possible. Making the impossible possible and the improbable probable, however, is what makes sport great.
Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.
1% chance, 99% faith
At 4-0 down, not many will back Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to come back against Atletico Madrid, irrespective of the attacking firepower they have in their ranks, simply because it is a task too difficult to accomplish.
Heading into 90 minutes, four goals down and needing at least five to take a clean win is easier said than done, especially when the opposition knows that all they have to do is sit tight and defend deep.
Barcelona are no strangers to scoring four goals in a game, and their average number of goals per game last season was close to that number. However, doing so on demand is very different from pulling it off organically.
Despite knowing well how there is a very low chance of a comeback, however, the team have made it clear that they retain complete faith in their abilities. Remontada’s cannot be forced, but if any team can do it, it is Barcelona.
The clash against Atletico Madrid tomorrow is perhaps the single-most demanding game that Barcelona have played under Flick, and the team are capable of creating more than enough chances to win.
Everything that it will boil down to, however, is their efficiency in front of goal and their defensive solidity at the back. Improbable, but not impossible.
Need for a surprise element
Aiming to mastermind a historic comeback. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Having a clear-cut lead ahead of the second leg, it is likely that Atletico Madrid will not come to attack but to defend their advantage and get through the storm at the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow.
Los Rojiblancos, thus, may well line up in a hyper-defensive setup to block Barcelona’s passing channels, crowd the area, and lower the chances of the Catalans getting shots away at goal.
Considering the situation, it is essential that Hansi Flick comes up with a novelty up his sleeve to force open channels in attack and catch the visitors off guard. After all, they will arrive having studied the team’s dynamics in recent games.
There are several variations Flick can opt for to catch Simeone by surprise, especially in attack, and how well that dynamic works out will account for the result massively.
Shifting Lamine Yamal to a central role and deploying Roony Bardgji for width on the right flank is one approach that could yield positive results. Raphinha and Ferran Torres will continue to start in attack alongside them in such an approach.
Another manoeuvre is starting Marcus Rashford on the left and shifting Raphinha to a central role – an idea that has worked on occasion this season but has also failed equally on other days.
A third interesting idea would be to start Dani Olmo as a false nine in place of Ferran Torres with Lamine and Raphinha flanking him. Fermin Lopez would start as the attacking midfielder in such a setup, with Pedri and Marc Bernal taking the reins in midfield.
No room for defensive lapses
As important as it is for Barcelona to score goals at the Spotify Camp Nou, keeping a clean sheet at the other end counts for as much. And while scoring four goals may not be impossible, not conceding seems to be a far bigger challenge.
If Barcelona are to complete the dreamy Remontada, the defence will have to play the game of their lives, and Flick will have to line up a setup that does not hand Atletico Madrid as much space as they did in the first leg.
The defence will have to play deeper, likely with an aerially dominating presence in Ronald Araujo. With Eric Garcia ruled out of the game through suspension, the captain has good chances of starting alongside Cubarsi and will be critical on the night.
Jules Kounde will have to replicate the good showing from the weekend and must be defensively solid down the right.
Given how Atletico Madrid capitalised on the left flank in the first leg, it will be interesting to see if Flick opts for Joao Cancelo or Alejandro Balde at left-back.
Every goal that Diego Simeone’s side scores will demand an additional goal from the hosts, and chasing four goals already, there is no scope to be chasing any more. All eyes, needless to say, will be on Flick’s defensive plan.