📰🏟️ Puka enters rehab
Plus: J. Cole to play pro hoops in China…
Good afternoon. The top-five sports stories of the day are at your fingertips. Just keep scrolling.
—Kyle
1) Rams star WR Puka Nacua enters rehab
Nacua, a first-team All-Pro WR last season, entered a “holistic care facility” last month, according to a statement from his lawyer.
- The news comes weeks after Nacua was sued by an LA woman who accused him of making an "unprovoked antisemitic statement" on New Year's Eve, and later biting her on the shoulder.
- Nacua, who’s in the market for a record-setting contract extension with the Rams, is expected to complete rehab in time to begin practicing this offseason.
2) Rapper J. Cole to play pro hoops in China
The 2x Grammy-winning rapper has signed a contract to play with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to ESPN.
- It’s the third time Cole has played in a pro league, after joining in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022.
- It’s unclear how many games Cole has committed to play, as he plans to kick off a 73-show tour beginning July 11.
Cole hopes his game won’t Fall-Off
3) Top overall prospect to make MLB debut
Pirates SS Konnor Griffin, the MLB’s #1-ranked prospect, will join Pittsburgh on Friday for their home opener against the Orioles.
- Griffin, 19, was the ninth overall pick in the 2024 draft, and earned Minor League Player of the Year honors last season from several news orgs.
- It comes as the Pirates are reportedly “deep into negotiations” with Griffin on an extension similar to the 8-yr, $130M deal signed by Red Sox breakout prospect Roman Anthony.
Griffin looks to konquer the MLB
4) Furniture store risks $50M for March Madness promotion
This CBB season, Jordan’s Furniture launched a new promotion: if the UConn men’s and women’s teams both reach the national championship game, the store would refund all purchases between January 20 and March 1.
- Now, both teams are just one win away—and the Massachusetts-based furniture store is facing the possibility of paying out a combined $50M in refunds.
- But despite the risk, store owners say they’re actually rooting for both Huskies teams this coming weekend. (“We buy insurance!”)
There’s a little extra at stake for UConn
5) Veteran QB Kirk Cousins signs with Raiders
Cousins, who was released last month by the Atlanta Falcons, signed a free-agent deal to join Las Vegas this morning for undisclosed terms.
- The move reunites Cousins with Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who was his QB coach and OC for three seasons with the Vikings (2019-21).
- Cousins joins a Raiders team that’s all-but-guaranteed to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft later this month.
Is Cousins embracing a mentor role?
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