Luka evaluates shoulder, doesn’t mind ‘tough’ Game 1 scar originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

Luka Dončić was roughed up in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. And not just in the box score.

In the opening minutes of the Warriors’ 112-87 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center, Andrew Wiggins unintentionally made contact with Dončić’s face and left quite the scrape.

“It’s good,” Dončić said of his face scar after the game. “Makes me look tough.”

Dončić also was seen grabbing the back of his shoulder in apparent pain throughout Wednesday’s contest. But following the game, he didn’t seem too concerned.

“I felt a little pain when I shot [the basketball],” he said. “But it’s OK. It’s fine. We’ll get some treatment, and it’ll be fine.”

Dončić was locked down by Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors’ defensive effort, contributing just 20 points and shooting 3 of 10 from deep. He logged a team-worst minus-30 rating in 35 minutes and had more turnovers (7) than field-goal makes (6) for the first time in his playoff career.

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Dončić and the Warriors will go at it again in Game 2 on Friday night at Chase Center.

BIRMINGHAM — Alabama football coach Nick Saban said Wednesday that Texas A&M “bought every player on their team,” referring to name, image and likeness deals for the top-ranked 2022 recruiting class.

Saban and Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats spoke at an event promoting the World Games 2022 Birmingham at The Fennec. The World Games begin July 7 at venues in and around the city.

Saban said Alabama didn’t offer NIL deals to its recruits.

“We were second in recruiting last year,” he said. “A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team. Made a deal for name, image and likeness. We didn’t buy one player. But I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sustain that in the future because more and more people are doing it.”

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Saban, who has been vocal about NIL in college athletics, also said 25 players on Alabama’s roster last season earned NIL revenue totaling $3 million and did it “the right way.”

“Our guys earned it and no one in our locker room had a problem with that,” said Saban.

Saban went on to talk about how NIL is a great concept to allow players to profit, but emphasized concerns about deals being brokered by coaches or boosters.

“Players have always been allowed to work. It’s just a different opportunity for them to make money by working,” said Saban. “There is nothing wrong with that, and I told my players to get agents, get representation and create opportunities for yourself.”

Saban also talked about collectives – entities created to offer or coordinate NIL deals with athletes for specific schools to support those programs.High Tide Traditions, which has no official affiliation with the University of Alabama, was created last month to “create championship level partnerships between business and student-athletes.”

Saban said collectives open up the doors for NIL to be a recruiting tool.

“That’s not what name, image and likeness was supposed to be – that’s what is has become and that is the problem with college athletics right now,” Saban said. “My job is to create a platform for our players to create value for themselves and their future by becoming better people, by graduating from school and developing a career on or off the field.”

Saban also said former Alabama players have made $1.7 billion in the NFL since 2010.

ALABAMA FOOTBALL: What production, experience has Alabama football actually gained and lost in transfer portal?

Reach Brett Greenberg at bgreenberg@gannett.com or follow @74talk on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football coach Nick Saban says Texas A&M bought 2022 recruits

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE to see today’s piping-hot, fresh-outta-the-oven episode of THE RUSH with Jared Quay! We’ll let you know everything you didn’t know you needed to know about sports. Other stuff too. But mostly sports.

It’s Thursday May 19, 2022, and here’s what Jared is cookin’ up:

• In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Golden State Warriors roasted the Mavericks 112-87 in a total team effort

• The U.S. Women’s National Team has finally achieved compensation equal to the men’s team, thanks to new collective bargaining agreements in soccer

• A historic moment in sports takes a painful turn with the pop of a cork in Italy

THE RUSH will be back tomorrow. Until then, stay safe and don’t forget to check out our previous episodes here.