The buzz in Washington grew stronger each week as a talented young quarterback revitalized a team that had been stagnant. He led the team’s unlikely rise to the top of the NFC East standings and, in the process, inspired something that many Washington supporters had lost: hope.

Of course, the starting quarterback of the Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels is a rising star. But long before Daniels took the nation’s capital by storm along with his signature moves and late game heroismRobert Griffin III was the talk of the town.

Like Daniels, Griffin was a Heisman Trophy winner who was chosen second overall in the NFL draft by the Washington franchise. In some ways, Griffin’s rookie season was much more magical than Daniels’ current thrill ride. With Griffin at the helm, Washington won the NFC East title in 2012-13 – the franchise’s first title in 13 seasons. He had a strong passing arm, a sprinter’s speed and a megawatt smile that endeared him to fans. In Washington, the next big thing was RG3.

However, after suffering a severe knee injury in his debut season, Griffin never repeated the success he achieved in his first yr in Washington. Today, Griffin, 34, enjoys watching Daniels from afar while reveling in Washington’s exciting recent path.

During a lengthy phone interview with Andscape on Wednesday, Griffin looked back and forward, expressing his happiness for the club and its fans.

“As far as Washington heading into the season, there is just not an analyst in the world that thinks (the Commanders) will be 6-2 without delay. Not one, right? Not based on the schedule, not based on the lineup or anything. I’ve heard some people say that one guy modified the whole lot. And whenever you say that… you have got no idea what you are talking about. In DC it is often about multiple guy. In 2012, there have been 3-6 of us at the end of the week. Then we began a seven-game streak (winning streak). We finished 10-6, won the league and made the playoffs. Everyone else knows the remainder of this story.

“But it isn’t nearly Jayden Daniels in Washington without delay. He is the one who revived the city and took it over. I’ll say this and I even have said this before: “When you win in DC, there isn’t any higher city to be in. And whenever you win in DC, the quarterback is more essential than the president of the United States.’ That’s what Jayden Daniels achieved. … But it isn’t nearly Jayden Daniels. This is Josh Harris, the recent owner. This is Adam Peters, the recent CEO. This is the recent head coach, Dan Quinn. This is the recent offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury. It’s about bringing in a vet like (tight end) Zach Ertz. It’s about bringing in a vet like (running back) Austin Ekeler.

“It’s about (running back) Brian Robinson. It’s about (wide receiver) Terry McLaurin. They have done so many things to get the fresh smell of Febreze from the top of the organization down. Peters has done an incredible job of putting his team along with guys who understand how to win. … Daniels was the most explosive passer and most explosive runner in all of school football last yr. The statistics back it up and that is why he won the Heisman Trophy. He was absolutely amazing. But whenever you take a look at his stats (NFL), he ranks (tied) twenty second in the league in passing touchdowns with seven. He is in the top five in yards per attempt (fifth, 8.4 yards per attempt). In terms of meters, he ranks twelfth in the league.

“But the way you’re feeling when he’s on the field, you’d think he led the league in touchdown passes, he led the league in passing yards and all that. That’s because Washington wins and doesn’t ask the world about Jayden Daniels. So after they need the world from Him, like during the Hail Mary, He delivers. This is an attractive recipe for success. As he grows and develops, he doesn’t try to do an excessive amount of. He doesn’t try to put the team on his back. It’s just natural for him. And that is what makes it so exciting. I’m very joyful for him.

I have already got an old head, which is sort of crazy. I do not think it’s right for old heads to take a look at the younger generation and never want them to succeed. Today you hear analysts all the time taking the approach: “Well, I was this and that.” I used to be an expert bowler. I used to be an expert. I used to be a Hall of Famer. Let me inform you why these guys stink. I do not think that is the right approach. I believe the approach is that you just take a look at the younger generation and speak about what makes them great. You tell them a story about who they’re so people can really get to know them. And in the event that they screw up, you tell them why they made a mistake and the way they’ll improve. For me, that is how you progress things forward.

“With Jayden, I approached it this way. I am honored to have the opportunity to connect with him and his family and be a mentor when he needs it. Jayden Daniels is top notch in terms of how he thinks and how intellectual and smart he is. You can see it in his game. It doesn’t force many things. He has a natural ability to carry out important actions at the right moment. So yes, I’m really happy for him. And I’m even more happy for the city.”

The NBA is investigating whether Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid allegedly pushed Marcus Hayes, a columnist for ” “, into the locker room after a game on November 2. Embiid reportedly felt offended that his son and late brother were used against him within the column Hayes wrote.

According to , Keith Pompney with a report that Embiid attacked a reporter within the locker room. After initial confusion over whether Embiid punched the reporter, ESPN insider Shams Charania confirmed it was a shove, not a punch.

Kyle Neubeck, who later wrote his own column on Embiid’s humanity, evident in his response to the reporter Embiid shoved, said on the postgame show that the reporter was Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“The moment Joel realized he (Hayes) was there, a verbal exchange occurred. Of course, we cannot repeat lots of the words that were said on this program. The basic rule was: “You can say I suck, you can say whatever you want about me as a player.” Never put my dead brother’s name in your mouth. Don’t speak about my family. Leave them out of this. “You want to talk to me like a man and talk to me about basketball, that’s one thing, but if you ever talk about my family again, we’re going to have serious problems,” Neubeck said.

Hayes’ article was partly a response to the 76ers being fined $100,000 for making misleading public statements about Embiid’s health after he claimed he was struggling with a left knee injury.

The starting of Hayes’ column sounds quite harsh, and plenty of people expressed solidarity with Embiid on social media.

“Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son Arthur as a major turning point in his basketball profession. He often says he desires to be great, leaving a legacy for a boy named after his younger brother, who tragically died in a automobile accident when Embiid was in the primary 12 months of his 76er profession,” Hayes began his column.

Hayes continued, “Well, to be good at your job, you first have to point out up for it. Embiid was great at the exact opposite. Now in its eleventh season, it commonly finds itself in poor condition. Apparently, this poor condition delayed his debut this season.

Hayes later had that first paragraph removed, admitting he understood why people objected to it in a post on his Twitter account.

Embiid clearly didn’t accept the apology from Hayes, who continued to publish columns critical of Embiid after he mentioned Embiid’s son, who was named after Embiid’s brother, Arthur, who died in a automobile accident in Cameroon in 2014.

In his comments to reporters on Nov. 1, Embiid mentioned that he had played through injury or injury several times, and was particularly vocal in attacking Hayes.

“If your body doesn’t respond well and if it tells you one thing – I did it. As far as I do know, I broke my face twice, I got here back earlier with the danger of losing my sight, my fingers were broken, but I got here back anyway. So I’m not going to take a seat here and think that folks are saying, “He doesn’t want to play.” I’ve done way an excessive amount of for this city at the danger of individuals saying so. I believe it’s bullshit,” Embiid said.

Embiid continued: “Like this guy, he is not here, Marcus, whatever his name is, I’ve done way an excessive amount of for this f***ing city to be treated like this. Far an excessive amount of has been done. I wish I might be as lucky as others, but that doesn’t suggest I’m not trying and doing every part in my power to be there soon.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope showed leadership amongst his young and rising Orlando Magic teammates for the first time, offering words of wisdom about the importance of competition in training camp. The two-time NBA champion believed his advice would make everyone higher.

With ambitions to do what Caldwell-Pope, nicknamed KCP, had already done, Magic players gave him their undivided attention.

“He made himself known early on with his vocals,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero told Andscape. “And then he’s physically in the right places and he’s a link for us on each ends of the floor. It’s something we’re obviously pleased with as a team and he matches in perfectly. I’m just really enthusiastic about what he’ll bring to our team, the leadership he’ll bring and his perspective.

According to NBA.com, the Magic are the fifth youngest team in the NBA in the 2024 season (average age 24.7 years). Caldwell-Pope, 32, is the second-oldest player to veteran defenseman Cory Joseph, 33. Caldwell-Pope can be the most decorated veteran on the team, having won two NBA titles with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers and 62 playoff appearances in 11 seasons. Additionally, according to ESPN Stats & Information, the 5-foot-7, 204-pounder has played a league-high 835 games since arriving in the NBA in 2013.

With Banchero, a 2024 NBA All-Star, at the helm, the Magic qualified for the postseason last season for the first time since 2020. Caldwell-Pope and Magic will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a playoff rematch on Friday night (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET). ).

Orlando believes the addition of Caldwell-Pope has added essential perimeter defense, three-point shooting and leadership. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Caldwell-Pope is already providing advice on “the small details,” including talking to defenseman Jalen Suggs about making more of an impact defensively and with Banchero about maintaining distance on offense when he has the ball.

“He means so much to this team,” Mosley told Andscape about Caldwell-Pope. “He brings leadership, experience and a winning mentality, playing defense and doing all the little things that often go unnoticed.”

“He has a really extraordinary perspective on how he may help us as a team and has a championship pedigree. That’s what we’re striving for and he’s a good guy who may help us get there,” Banchero said of Caldwell-Pope.

Caldwell-Pope said he teaches a lot on the Magic every single day, showing his young teammates simpler ways of doing things while also offering insight from what he’s seen on film and in practice. Caldwell-Pope said he received the same support from former teammates LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo and Jamal Murray.

“I’m pretty vocal, but I learned it on the last two teams I played for: Denver and then a little bit in DC (Washington Wizards). But mostly from my two championship teams and just being around guys who were leaders, a lot of guys in the locker room who were loud enough. Just learning from these guys and knowing what I’m talking about makes it easier,” Caldwell-Pope said.

It wasn’t easy for Caldwell-Pope to leave the Nuggets.

Caldwell-Pope was the starting scorer as the Nuggets won their first NBA Championship in 2023. He continued to be a key player for the Nuggets last season, averaging 10.1 points and 1.2 steals and shooting 40.6% on three-pointers. However, the Nuggets decided to turn to junior shooting guard Christian Braun for the future. So as a substitute of returning to the Mile High City, Caldwell-Pope signed a three-year, $66 million contract with the Magic.

“It was difficult. We gave them a chance, but things happen,” Caldwell-Pope said. “I let my agent, Rich Paul, handle all of it. But my agent at all times told me, “At the end of the day, it’s a business.” I want to discover what is going to make me glad, what will probably be best for me and my family…

“I used to be a a part of the first (Nuggets title) in almost 40-something years. Of course, everyone who was on that team that yr will probably be a part of this championship that can go down in history. It’s at all times a blessing and I’m grateful to be a a part of things like this and play a major role in it.

They’re not talking about the first NBA championship in Orlando, but expectations of being an Eastern Conference powerhouse are growing. Last season, Magic led the Cleveland Cavaliers to Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs and commenced the regular season well (3-2). Banchero’s rising star, who’s sidelined indefinitely with a torn diagonalalso stepped into the highlight after scoring a career-high 50 points in Monday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Caldwell-Pope believes he made a solid long-term decision in coming to Orlando.

“What made it a good fit was the young corps they have and the returning players they brought in,” Caldwell-Pope said. “The core group continues to be together. The way they played last season (season), the growth of the organization that I saw, and them reaching the playoffs showed me that they were in fine condition. I just sat down and thought of it with my family and what could be best for them. Orlando seems pretty good to me.

Orlando is about an hour and 45 minutes by plane from Atlanta, Caldwell-Pope’s off-season home. Another plus is Greenville, Georgia, a Florida resident doesn’t have to worry about snow.

“All the snow jackets are gone. We left them at home in Atlanta,” Caldwell-Pope said with a smile. “The weather here is sort of good. We’re on this golf course.