Tonight marks the start of the 81st season of the American top flight. The Celtics’ line-up will also feature the former Sixers player, but all eyes are on The King’s first regular-season match with Philadelphia. It’s also a fresh start for the Greek former Milwaukee player, now wearing the Heat’s colours. 

Football in recent years can be paradoxical: it fields big, physical strikers with a fierce tackling style and an exuberant competitive spirit, whilst leaving behind those who can do marvellous things with the ball. The Atalanta midfielder is a prime example of this

It looked as though he was enjoying a renaissance with Sacramento. Instead, a new, serious injury has once again derailed the career of the former Australian star, which has been in limbo for years amid dashed expectations, psychological fragility and physical problems

 The arrival of the Dolphins’ former offensive guru was supposed to cement Justin Herbert’s status and revive Los Angeles. Instead, the franchise remains winless and the coach’s future is already the subject of debate

The Danish winger at Juventus Stadium took a photograph of a photograph, allowing Lazio to continue enjoying a day at the very top of the table

“The standard has risen enormously – both technically and physically – amongst both the men’s and women’s teams. And there’s been a shift in attitude too. Even now, in Italy, 99 per cent of people think rugby is exclusively a men’s sport. All we can do is explain, patiently, that women’s rugby is also a contact sport, a game of skill.” Says the centre for the national team

Italian women’s teams in Europe lack self-confidence; they get nervous even before the match begins. And if they start strongly – as Roma did when they literally dominated Real Madrid – at a certain point they almost feel guilty, and they slip back into the depths of despair.