On this episode of Yesterday in Sports, Chris Horwedel recaps a huge day across the NBA, World Cup, NHL, MLB, Wimbledon, and Olympic news. The show opens with a franchise-altering NBA trade, as the Boston Celtics send Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and four draft picks. Chris breaks down what Brown brings to a Sixers core with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe, while also questioning whether Boston got enough value by moving a Finals MVP to a division rival.
The Lakers also reshape their roster around Luka Dončić in one afternoon, acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade and adding Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton. Chris explains why Kessler’s rim protection, rebounding, and lob-threat ability make him a natural fit next to Luka, while Grimes, Mamukelashvili, and Sexton add shooting, depth, and scoring.
At the World Cup, the United States earns its first knockout-stage win since 2002 by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman scoring. Balogun’s red card means he’ll miss the next match against Belgium, which survived a wild comeback against Senegal on a historic late goal. England also advances after Harry Kane’s late brace against DR Congo, setting up a massive England-Mexico matchup at the Azteca.
The episode also covers the Canadiens signing Ivan Demidov to an eight-year extension, Tarik Skubal becoming the biggest MLB trade-deadline name to watch, Coco Gauff surviving a second-round Wimbledon scare, and the IOC denying separate Olympic team status to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.