Put Up Your Dukes

The 2024-25 Duke Blue Devils starting five joined an elite group at this year's NBA draft when all five players were selected within the first two rounds.

June 26, 2025

Duke Joins Elite NBA Draft History With Entire Starting 5 Selected
SI’s Madison Williams writes, “The 2024-25 Duke Blue Devils starting five joined an elite group at this year's NBA draft when all five players were selected within the first two rounds, via college basketball analyst Seth Davis.

“Three of the five starters from last season were taken in the top 10. Notably, Cooper Flagg was picked No. 1 by the Dallas Mavericks. Kon Knueppel was drafted No. 4 by the Charlotte Hornets, so he won't be straying far from Durham. The Phoenix Suns received Khaman Maluach at No. 10 through a trade with the Houston Rockets. In the second round on Thursday night, Sion James was selected by the Hornets and will join his former Blue Devils teammate Knueppel. Then, Tyrese Proctor was picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 49.

“It's rare for all the starting five from a single year to even be in the draft together, let alone have all of them be drafted. The last time this happened was in 2012 when Kentucky's starting five was drafted, most notably including Anthony Davis.”
^{Sports Illustrated}

Funding of Olympic Sports a Bargaining Chip as NCAA Seeks Antitrust Help, AP Sources Say
AP News’ Eddie Pells writes, “College sports leaders seeking antitrust and other protections from Congress have a potential bargaining chip: School assurances that they will provide funding for their increasingly imperiled Olympic programs, by far the biggest pipeline of talent for Team USA.

“One of the clearest tradeoffs would be for an idea that enjoys bipartisan support: helping collegiate Olympic sports programs.”
^{AP News}

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Owner Retains Bank to Sell Stake in NBA Franchise
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has reportedly retained Allen & Company to explore selling up to 15% of the team, according to three anonymous sources. The transaction could be in one parcel or to several individuals. Gilbert would retain his majority stake in the team he bought in 2005 for $375 million, which was a record at the time for a standalone NBA franchise. In December, Sportico valued the Cavs at $3.95 billion in its NBA team valuations, which ranks 18th in the league.
^Sportico

NHL Expansion Team Fees Will Reach at Least $2B, League Says
Sportico’s Scott Soshnick and Kurt Badenhausen write, “The NHL is not actively seeking to add any teams right now, but owners received a relevant update on potential expansion at Wednesday’s board of governors meeting in Los Angeles.

“Expansion fees for a new NHL franchise would be at least $2 billion, and the new owners would need to additionally commit at least $1 billion toward an arena if the potential city requires one, according to two sources familiar with the process who were granted anonymity because the details are private. Six potential groups for expansion were discussed at the meeting.”
^Sportico

NHL and NHLPA Close to Agreeing on 4-Year CBA Extension Including an 84-Game Season, AP Sources Say
The league and union have been in talks since April and are closing in on a memorandum of understanding addressing a number of high-profile topics long before the current agreement runs out in September 2026. The four-year extension that could be announced as soon as Friday at the draft in Los Angeles would provide extended labor peace in a sport that has had multiple work stoppages, including the 2004-05 lockout that wiped out an entire season.
^{AP News}

USOPC Hits Record Revenue in 2024 Games Year
The USOPC tallied a record $496.2M in revenue last year, according to the organization’s IRS 990 form.

The benchmark came as Team USA had record success in Paris, including 126 Olympic and 105 Paralympic medals and more than $85M in donations for its best year ever on that front. The 990 showed net assets of $385.6M. The USOPC released the forms along with its impact report for the year.
^{AP News}

NBA Draft Ratings Fall 14.5% Despite Early Cooper Flagg Lift
This year’s NBA Draft viewership declined 14.5% in the first round compared to last year, but Cooper Flagg helped lift the first half-hour. ESPN and ABC combined to average 3.77 million viewers for the first round on Wednesday night. 
^{Front Office Sports}

Bengals’ Paycor Stadium Lease: 5 Things to Know From Thursday’s Vote
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. reports: “The Hamilton County commissioners voted 2-0, with one abstention, on Thursday to approve the framework of a new lease keeping the Bengals downtown in Cincinnati through at least 2036. The new agreement calls for a $470 million renovation of Paycor Stadium, of which the county will contribute $350 million and the Bengals/NFL will contribute $120 million, as well as agreeing to begin paying rent for the first time.”
^{The Athletic}

Flagg’s Selection Brings Arena, Business Opportunities for Mavericks
Mavericks No. 1 pick F Cooper Flagg will “effectively serve as the closer on the Mavs’ campaign pitch to Dallas voters to build a new arena in the city, by 2031‚” if he is “as good as advertised/expected/hoped,” according to Mac Engel of the FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. The “plans are drawn” and there are a “few potential sites close to downtown the team is currently surveying.” Mavericks President Rick Welts’ “main homework assignment is a new arena.”
^{Fort Worth Star-Telegram via Sports Business Journal}

Feasel Leaving Rockies, Walker Monfort Named EVP
Longtime Rockies President & COO Greg Feasel will step down at the end of the 2025 season. Feasel has been in the front office since 1995. Rockies VP/Corporate Partnerships Walker Monfort, 36, one of owner Dick Monfort’s sons, will become executive vice president, effective immediately.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Looking to fill an open position with top talent in the sports media industry? Advertise in the Sport & Story Daily to reach over 25,000 senior-level executives and professionals—and connect your job opportunity with the right audience.

Power Four Put Finishing Touches on How Revenue Sharing Era Will Work
FOS’ Amanda Christovich writes, “After the landmark House v. NCAA settlement allowing schools to pay players was finalized June 6, the power conferences have begun finalizing key details about how the complex settlement will actually be implemented. That includes finalizing an enforcement agreement for all schools to sign, and providing schools with a mechanism to pay players.

“The Big 12 expects to finalize and have all schools sign an agreement binding them to the terms of the House settlement within the next couple weeks, commissioner Brett Yormark told Front Office Sports Thursday.”
^{Front Office Sports}

PayPal Partnering With Big Ten, Big 12 for Revenue Sharing Platform
PayPal is getting into the college sports business, announcing multiyear partnerships with the Big Ten and Big 12 on Monday that will see PayPal process member institutions’ revenue share payments to athletes. A source with knowledge of the deal told Sports Business Journal the Big 12 agreement is for five years and worth around $100 million over its life. Terms of the Big Ten deal were not disclosed at press time.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Thanks for reading!

Sport & Story Daily is the sports industry’s daily resource for business news. In addition to serving up exclusive trends, Q&As, and columns, the newsletter connects readers to top platforms and stories from across the sports landscape.

Place your brand in front of the Sport & Story Daily audience and connect with the most influential people in sports.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here!

Feel free to read our Privacy Policy