Sports

Bahamians Tip Off NBA Season This Week

U.S.A. – Two national team standouts will be on opposite sides tonight of one of the NBA’s most anticipated matchups – Deandre Ayton and the Los Angeles Lakers face Buddy Hield and the Golden State Warriors.

Published

2 months ago

October 21, 2025

10th Year Seniors

U.S.A. – The NBA season tips off tonight and it’s a big week for Bahamian basketball.

We get started at 10:30pm when two national team standouts will be on opposite sides of one of the league’s most anticipated matchups – Deandre Ayton and the Los Angeles Lakers face Buddy Hield and the Golden State Warriors.

Ayton makes his regular season debut in purple and gold after an offseason trade that sent him to Los Angeles, where he’s expected to be the perfect compliment to future hall of famers Lebron James, and Luka Doncic.

Hield enters his second year with the Warriors, following their run in the playoffs last season.

He averaged 11.5 points per game and shot 37 percent from three last season.

Then on Wednesday night, it’s the NBA debut of rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe and the constantly evolving roster of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Edgecombe had an impressive preseason showing concluding with a 26 point outing.

They open their season against the Boston Celtics at 7:30pm.

The former McDonald’s All-American and third overall pick is expected to be a major contributor on both ends of the floor.

Powerlifting

Everybody loves powerlifters nowadays, you see them everywhere on social media.

Last weekend marked a major moment for the JKS Fitness powerlifting team as two of its athletes stepped onto the platform at the USA Powerlifting Southeast Regionals, chasing qualifying totals for the 2026 Nationals in Philadelphia.

Indera Gibson, recorded a total of 437 kg, hitting personal bests across the board and qualifying To compete at the 2026 regionals.

She had a 157.5 kg squat, 90 kg bench and 190 kg deadlift.

Shane Moncur, also set new personal records with a total 740 kg.

His breakdown, a squat of 280 kg, bench press of 185 kg, and a deadlift of 275 kg.

While impressive, he fell just short of the 755 kg total required to qualify for regionals, but he’ll be back at it over the course of the next few months, chasing 755.

Tennis

A pair of Bahamians were on the circuit playing on the ITF Women’s World Tennis tour at the w15 Santa Tecla event in el Salvador.

Simone Pratt advanced to the main draw.

In qualifying, she defeated Colombian Isabella Collazos 6-4, 6-2 in round one and then Priyanka Rodricks of India 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the main draw.

Pratt’s momentum continued in the main draw with 6-2, 6-2 win over American Kaya Baker, but her run ended in the second round against Brazil’s Carolina Martins, losing in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.

In the first round of singles qualifying she defeated Adaugo Ukaegbu for the second consecutive week 6-2, 6-3 win.

In the second round she fell short to Britain’s Freya Peet. 6-4, 5-7, 4-10, exiting the singles draw.

In doubles, Pratt teamed with American Gabriela Tevez and lost in the first round.