While Ricky Ponting is mightily impressed by Rishabh Pant's skills as a white-ball player, the Delhi Capitals coach believes his impatience can lead to his downfall.

Speaking ahead of Capitals' return fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Ponting was in praise of his three young top-order batsmen - Pant, Prithvi Shaw and the captain Shreyas Iyer - but said each of them had areas to work on, Pant in particular. Even so, he said he wouldn't try to curb his natural style too much.

"With Rishabh in white-ball cricket, the issue is that he's such a competitor that sometimes that gets the better of him," Ponting said. "He wants to get things done quickly in the white-ball game. In the Tests he doesn't so much because there's not as much scoring pressure in Tests.

"But I'm not going to curb the way he plays, I'm not gonna tell him to slow down because if he plays his best he will win games for us. I want him to go out with pure freedom and with no other thought other than hitting the ball for a six. We saw in Mumbai. - when it comes off, we're going to win. He made 77 facing just 28 balls. But he needs to understand we need him to bat in the last four overs. We need our best batsmen to stay till the last four overs, and we expect that from him."

Ponting also expected Shaw to end up as one of the top run-getters in the tournament if he continued his current form. Shaw's most notable performance this season so far is his 99 against Knight Riders in Delhi, but Ponting also highlighted his 22-ball 28 in what eventually proved a tricky chase against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"Prithvi Shaw, I've seen him develop as a player," Ponting said. "We took a punt on him as a young guy who hadn't played any T20 cricket. And from the moment I saw him, I knew he was ready to play.

"He showed that last year and has shown glimpses this season too. I was absolutely heartbroken for him when he was out for 99, he deserved to get a hundred. He's got us off to some good starts. He single-handedly helped us win against Bangalore, with some aggressive batting in the Powerplay, although Shreyas played well. He'll be one of the leading run-scorers if he plays like this by the end of the season."

This time last year, Iyer was shoved into the limelight when he took over the captaincy following Gautam Gambhir's resignation. Ponting said he had big expectations from him as both batsman and captain. Despite the Capitals dugout including strong personalities such as himself and the advisor Sourav Ganguly, Ponting said Iyer was the team's primary leader.

"It's 100 per cent Shreyas Iyer's team," Ponting said. "It's not my team, it's not the coach's team, it's Shreyas Iyer's team. He's the captain, and with captains of any team, once the game starts the captain is the coach. He's a terrific young man, determined, very good player. He's developing his leadership well. Halfway through last year, then he's captained for Mumbai [in domestic cricket], and finally India A. It's a high-pressure environment, the IPL, and I love working with him."

Capitals have tended to suffer collapses late in their chases this season. They slid to a scarcely believable defeat against Kings XI Punjab and nearly did the same against Royal Challengers too, but Ponting wasn't too worried.

"We can look at it in two ways," Ponting said. "I was worried about the Kings XI run chase. We should've won that with an over to spare, but what didn't worry me about the RCB game was that the boys were taking the opposition on. They were being ultra-aggressive, maybe recklessly.

"But I don't mind that, we need that mindset to win big games, but you must ensure you get across the line. We had the game won when the collapse happened in Bangalore. Collapses will happen if your best batsmen aren't there at the end, which our batting group is now aware of."

Floyd Reifer has been unveiled as West Indies' new interim head coach, replacing Richard Pybus with immediate effect, with Robert Haynes taking over from Courtney Browne as the new chairman of selectors.

The changes were announced at a press conference by Ricky Skerritt, the new president of CWI, who recently defeated the previous incumbent, Dave Cameron, in the board elections.

The appointments came as part of Skerritt's commitment to what he described as a "Cricket First" mantra, his bid to draw a line under a controversial period for West Indies cricket and pave the way for the return of a number of former West Indies star players who, he said, had been "secretly, but actively, victimised" by the previous regime, and "banished … from selection consideration".

"We have found it necessary to immediately adjust our selection policy to become more open, inclusive and player-centric," Skerritt said. "The changes we have triggered this week are more than a change in personnel or a shake-up in the ranks. This is a calculated strategic move designed to reignite the passion for a culture, where our cricket is being put back where it belongs - at the very centre."

Reifer, who comes from Barbados, played six Tests, eight ODIs and one T20I for West Indies between 1997 and 2009, when he returned to the side after more than a decade's absence to lead a depleted team against Bangladesh, following a strike by several of the region's senior players.

"[Reifer] has lived the same principles of West Indian excellence that we now insist must prevail in our cricket," said Skerritt, who also cited the importance of local coaches in bringing out the best in the region's diverse but talented pool of cricketers. A new directive states that "not less than 4 out of every 5 members" of the coaching and support staff should be of West Indian origin.

"Up to the end of 2018 Floyd Reifer had been identified as the outstanding emerging local coach. He displayed this by leading the West Indies A team successfully, including victories against the England Lions, and ended the past year by coaching the Senior men's team to a T20 series win in Bangladesh.

"Mr Reifer's key coaching role in helping to set up the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners impressive win in the 2018 Regional Super 50 tournament is well documented."

The appointments come after an uplifting home campaign against England in February and March, in which they pulled off a famous series win in the Tests, thanks in no small part to an inspirational run of form from their captain, Jason Holder, before securing a highly creditable 2-2 draw against England's No.1-ranked ODI team.

"With a focused team that will be led by the new No.1 allrounder in the world, Jason Holder, and filled with a collection of our best possible available cricketers, I have no doubt that Coach Reifer is the right man at the right time."

"Our landmark decision to immediately introduce a well-suited young West Indian professional as our men's team coach … represents our commitment to celebrate the best of what it means to be West Indian. This decision also underscores the need for fresh thinking, and an even more urgent need to embrace the new inclusive selection policy.

"And in the midst of change, we have no doubt that our West Indian players, led expertly by Jason Holder, will be well prepared going to the World Cup. What we are now enforcing ahead of the upcoming World Cup is a new approach to strategic thinking while reviving authentic West Indian team spirit."

Haynes, 54, played eight ODIs between 1989 and 1991, was described by Skerritt as the "most experienced and best suited" candidate for the interim selection role.

"We have found an interim Chairman who shares the philosophy of inclusiveness and therefore believes in our new selection policy," Skerritt said. "Because of his impressive track record of good relations with players and past players, we have no doubt that Mr Haynes will engage with players everywhere, strictly in the interest of what is best for West Indian cricket."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette was arrested Thursday afternoon after a traffic stop and charged with knowingly driving with a suspended or revoked license, according to Jacksonville jail records.

Fournette paid a $1,508 bond and was released after spending less than 30 minutes at the Duval County Jail.

The Jaguars released a statement in which they said they were aware of Fournette's "situation," are gathering more information and would not have any further comment at this time.

Fournette's arrest is related to a speeding ticket he received in Jacksonville Beach on Nov. 17, 2018. Fournette was cited for driving 12 mph over the posted 25-mph speed limit, which carried a $204 fine. Court records show he did not pay the fine, and the case was sent to a collection agency on March 18.

In Florida, failure to pay a speeding ticket results in a suspended license.

This is the latest trouble for Fournette, who already was facing questions about his maturity, commitment to football, conditioning, on-field behavior and production after a disappointing 2018 season.

Fournette, the fourth overall pick in 2017, missed six full games and half of two others with a right hamstring injury in the first eight weeks of the 2018 season, and there was mounting frustration inside the organization about the length of his absence. The Jaguars built their offense around a power-run game that had a hard time functioning consistently without him on the field.

Fournette was also suspended without pay for one game for leaving the bench and fighting with Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Shaq Lawson during the Jaguars' 24-21 loss at Buffalo on Nov. 25. Fournette said he ran across the field because he saw Lawson shove Carlos Hyde and wanted to defend his teammate.

Shortly after that, the Jaguars told Fournette they were voiding the guaranteed money remaining in his contract as punishment, a move that Fournette has appealed with the NFL.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Tiger Woods grabbed an early share of the first-round lead Thursday at the Masters before a late bogey dropped him to 2-under-par 70 and a rare opening round under par at Augusta National.

Making his 22nd Masters start, Woods -- a four-time winner of the event -- started slowly before picking up birdies at the 13th and 14th holes to tie for the lead.

The birdie at the par-4 14th was somewhat miraculous, as he hooked a drive into the trees, hoisted a second shot over those trees and onto the green, then got a 25-foot curling putt to drop.

That got him to 3 under par, the lowest he has been through 14 holes in the first round of the Masters in his career.

The 14-time major champion has shot in the 60s on the opening day of the Masters just once, in 2010.

Woods started nicely with a big drive at the first hole and a birdie at the second. He bogeyed the fifth when he missed a 5-footer and failed to convert a 4-foot birdie putt at the sixth. He also missed from 9 feet for birdie at the eighth, but finished off a front-side 35 with a 5-footer for birdie at the ninth.

Solid pars at the 10th, 11th and 12th holes preceded a two-putt birdie at the 13th from 50 feet.

At the par-5 15th, Woods had just 230 yards to the green for his second shot, but it hit over the green and had to scramble to save par. He added pars at the 16th before tree trouble led to a bogey at the 17th.

When he walked off the 18th green, Woods was 1 shot off the lead.

Woods, 43, is playing in his sixth tournament of 2019. Last year he finished in a tie for 32nd at the Masters.

At this point, it's the only question worth asking: Who will win Friday night's lightweight title bout between Vasiliy Lomachenko and Anthony Crolla at Staples Center in Los Angeles? Our experts make their picks.

Dan Rafael
ESPN.com

Lomachenko by decision
Crolla is a solid pro and former world titlist who has faced good opposition and always gives a good effort. But Lomachenko is on an entirely different level. No knock on Crolla, but this looks like a one-sided Lomachenko victory, as are most Lomachenko fights. Lomachenko in dominating decision.

Timothy Bradley Jr.
ESPN boxing analyst/former champion

Lomachenko by KO6
It's been a while since Lomachenko has been 100 percent, and we know what he can do when he is. I go with a sixth-round KO. The man is back walking on his hands.

Juan Manuel Marquez
ESPN Deportes boxing analyst/former champion
Lomachenko by KO
Lomachenko will show his speed, punching combinations and accuracy. He is so much better than Crolla at everything. That's why Lomachenko is clearly the favorite to get his hand raised on Friday.

Nick Parkinson
ESPN UK

Lomachenko by KO6
Crolla is dreaming of pulling off one of the biggest shocks in British boxing history, but the reality is Lomachenko will be too slick, quick and accurate for him to last beyond the halfway mark. You won't be able to fault Crolla's spirit and courage. The trouble for Crolla is he won't be able to find any fault in Lomachenko.

Teddy Atlas
ESPN boxing analyst

Lomachenko by TKO
I believe Crolla's style is made to order for Lomachenko. Then again, you could probably say that about many fighters out there when they have to go against the top fighter in the world. I do think that when Crolla puts the ear muffs on (and covers up defensively), Lomachenko will find his body an inviting target, and then when Crolla begins to lean forward, look for Lomachenko's uppercuts to score. Six or seven rounds of that should be enough for Lomachenko to get the TKO win.

Nigel Collins
ESPN.com

Lomachenko by TKO
Crolla's high point was most likely his first bout with Jorge Linares, in which he lost a decision in a very competitive fight. Linares won the rematch in a much more convincing manner. Lomachenko, on the other hand, stopped Linares, and he'll probably do the same to Crolla. The Englishman is a good fighter, but Lomachenko is a great one.

Steve Kim
ESPN.com

Lomachenko by KO
While Crolla is a solid professional fighter, Lomachenko is on a different level. Crolla is sound enough and experienced enough to not get blown out early -- and he certainly won't fold up his tent like others have in the past. Crolla will eventually get worn down by the skills of Lomachenko, who I think stops him between Rounds 8 and 10.

Eric Raskin
Showtime Boxing

Lomachenko KO8
No disrespect to Crolla, who has proven himself a solid contender over the years, but it's hard to see him winning a round, never mind winning the fight. Lomachenko is on a whole different level, and he figures to pile up points and punishment until the ref or Crolla's corner takes mercy on him and stops the fight.

Charles Moynihan
ESPN bureau producer

Lomachenko by TKO8
Lomachenko, with the most diversified set of tools in his boxing toolbox, thoroughly outclasses Crolla and wins via eighth-round TKO.

Salvador Rodriguez
ESPNdeportes.com

Lomachenko by KO
I recognize Crolla as one of the most intense fighters of recent times in British boxing, but I think he has very little chance against a man with the quality of Lomachenko. I think it will be another Loma concert, and we will see a technical knockout within eight or nine rounds. Be prepared to watch the excellence of "Hi-Tech."

Claudia Trejos
ESPNdeportes.com

Lomachenko by KO7
Crolla lost twice to Jorge Linares. Linares lost to Loma in the 10th round by TKO. Let's do the math, shall we? Lomachenko will beat Crolla by KO. I don't think it will get past Round 7.

Bernardo Pilatti
ESPNdeportes.com

Lomachenko by decision
Lomachenko has the speed, throws a lot of punches and has technical advantage. Crolla is strong, takes punches well and has height and reach advantages. That won't be enough, though. Lomachenko's IQ will lead him to an easy unanimous-decision victory.

Jorge Eduardo Sánchez
ESPN Deportes boxing host

Lomachenko by KO
Crolla has good technique, but he's pretty far from elite. He is aggressive, but that will not be enough against a fighter with Lomachenko's skills.

Your take:

Pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko has always been vocal about the kinds of fights he wants: big ones. He wants to win as many belts in as many divisions as he can, and he wants title unification fights.

In just 13 professional bouts, Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine and viewed by many as the greatest amateur boxer in history thanks to a 396-1 record, has already won world titles in three weight classes: featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight.

In his most recent fight, he got a chance to unify two belts, doing so at lightweight with a one-sided decision over Jose Pedraza in a December fight in which he dropped Pedraza twice in the 11th round to punctuate the victory.

Now Lomachenko is set for his third lightweight bout and ready to make his second title defense against former titlist and mandatory challenger Anthony Crolla, whom he will meet in the main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card on Friday (ESPN+, 11 p.m. ET main card, 8 p.m. ET for preliminaries) at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fight was scheduled to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the debut of ESPN+.

Lomachenko is a huge favorite to defeat Crolla, but that is certainly no knock on Crolla. Lomachenko would be heavily favored to beat anyone in the world at lightweight and below not named fellow lightweight titleholder Mikey Garcia. But a fight with Garcia or another unification bout was not available to Lomachenko for this date, and without a unification fight being possible he was ordered to make the mandatory against Crolla.

"I want to fight the best, but now Crolla is the best choice," Lomachenko said. "He is the mandatory challenger and wanted to fight me. That is why I accepted this fight. I prepare like always and will put on a great performance for my fans in Los Angeles and on ESPN+. I will show everyone my best style and hope everyone enjoys it."

Crolla (34-6-3, 13 KOs), 32, had become one of Lomachenko's mandatory challengers when he won a unanimous decision over Daud Yordan in a title eliminator on Nov. 10 in Manchester, England, Crolla's hometown.

Had Lomachenko not taken the fight, he would have been stripped of one of his belts. Given his tunnel vision of wanting to win all the belts in his division, there was no way he would have allowed that to happen.

So Crolla, who is experienced, hungry and has a dogged determination and belief in himself, gets another title shot.

"It's been a long camp and the hardest of my career, physically and mentally, but I am in a great place and I'm raring to go," Crolla said. "He's seen by many as the best fighter on the planet and I know that I have a huge challenge ahead of me. But these are the kinds of fights that I got into the sport for at the age of 10. I've dreamt about nights like this and it's almost time."

This is your Ringside Seat for the fight:

Crolla, not Commey

Lomachenko (12-1, 9 KOs), a 31-year-old southpaw, had hoped to quench his desire to unify titles by facing fellow 135-pound belt-holder Richard Commey (28-2, 25 KOs).

In fact, Top Rank had in place a deal for the winner of the vacant world title fight between Commey and Isa Chaniev on Feb. 2 to face Lomachenko next. However, when Commey won the title by drilling Chaniev in the second round, he injured his right hand, putting him on the shelf for several weeks and making him unavailable to face Lomachenko on Friday.

That turn of events dropped the bout in Crolla's lap, although if Lomachenko wins he probably will face Commey, who was cleared to return to training last week, later in the year.

Crolla, who will be boxing in the United States for the first time and outside of the United Kingdom for the second time, was happy to get the fight. He has big respect for Lomachenko but is unmoved by the underdog status.

"He's a very unique fighter, his movement is exceptional and he creates great angles," Crolla said about Lomachenko. "You can see what all the praise is about. He's one of the greatest amateurs ever and he's taken that into the pro ranks. It's unbelievable what he's done in a short space of time in the pros, but I am here not just to test myself against the very best but to give it everything I have to shock the world.

"People aren't giving me a chance but that doesn't matter to me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The motivation to me is attaching my name to one of the biggest upsets in British boxing history without a doubt, and I don't think I'm speaking out of turn there. As a boxing fan and someone that lives and breathes the sport, that's all the motivation I need. I've been the underdog all throughout my career and I know that this is by far the biggest challenge I've faced, but it's one I can't wait to get stuck into."

Underdog or not, Joe Gallagher, Crolla's trainer, said whatever happens, his man will give it everything he has like other fighters he has trained have done when taking on pound-for-pound stars.

"It helps that I've been in this position before," Gallagher told the U.K.'s Sky Sports. "Do I think that [Paul Smith] was disgraced against Andre Ward? No. Was Liam Smith disgraced when he fought [Canelo] Alvarez? Not a chance.

"This is just part of the business when you're going in against guys at the absolute highest level of the sport and I know for an absolute fact that whatever the result when Crolla takes on Lomachenko, he'll give it his all and he won't disgrace himself either."

Common opponent: Linares

The most obvious way to compare Lomachenko and Crolla is based on how each performed against a common opponent in Jorge Linares, the well-respected former three-division world titleholder.

Lomachenko said he is familiar with Crolla only because he fought Linares.

"I don't know too much about him," Lomachenko said. "I know him from his two fights with Jorge Linares. I do know he is an aggressive fighter, and I like to fight guys who come forward."

Crolla won a lightweight title in 2015 and made one defense before squaring off with Linares in Manchester in September 2016. It was a fantastic fight and highly competitive, but Linares' speed, skills and outstanding body attack gave Crolla problems and he lost the belt by unanimous decision.

They met six months later in an immediate rematch, also in Manchester, and Linares had a much easier time, knocking Crolla down in the seventh round and winning a more decisive decision, after which Crolla won three fights in a row to set up the Lomachenko fight.

Linares would go on to retain the title twice more before defending against Lomachenko, who was moving up from junior lightweight, last May at a raucous Madison Square Garden in New York.

Linares dropped Lomachenko in the sixth round of a very competitive fight in which Lomachenko, despite suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder in the second round, rallied for a dramatic body-shot knockout victory in the 10th round to take the title in a fight that was even on the scorecards entering the round.

Although comparing results against a common opponent is not necessarily a predictor of what is to come -- after all, Muhammad Ali lost to Joe Frazier, who lost to George Foreman, who lost to Ali -- it is worth noting that Crolla lost twice to Linares, who was knocked out by an injured Lomachenko.

Face to face

• Lomachenko: Making the second defense of the WBA lightweight title, first of WBO lightweight title

• Lomachenko: 11-fight win streak dating to June 2014

• Lomachenko: 6-1 vs. world titleholders -- only loss came to Orlando Salido in 2014 (split decision in his second fight as a professional). Two-time Olympic gold medalist for Ukraine (2008, 2012)

• Lomachenko: Lands 47.7 percent of power punches, according to CompuBox (lightweight average is 36.1 percent). Opponents land 17.2 percent of punches, second lowest, according to CompuBox

• Crolla: Has won three straight fights after losing back-to-back fights to Jorge Linares (Linares lost to Lomachenko in 2018)

• Crolla: Held WBA lightweight title from 2015-17

• Crolla: 2-2-1 in world title fights (2 KO)

• Crolla: 49.1 percent of landed punches land on the body, CompuBox average is 28 percent. Lands 38.9 percent of power punches, lightweight average is 35.7 percent, according to CompuBox

Lomachenko's future?

Certainly, if Lomachenko wins, the Commey fight remains on the drawing board for later this year. But what else is there for Lomachenko, especially given that a fight with Garcia is so unlikely for several reasons, including questions about whether Garcia will ever even fight at lightweight again?

"I still want that fight, 100 percent, but it is up to Mikey," Lomachenko said. "Can he cut the weight? I don't know. But if he can make 135, I want to fight."

Last month, Garcia lost a shutout decision to Errol Spence Jr. in a welterweight title fight, but Garcia has not decided whether he'll return to lightweight. If he doesn't, that would leave his belt vacant and it's not out of the question that Lomachenko could fight for it or perhaps the winner of that belt.

Lomachenko is not a big lightweight by any means, so he has also said there is a chance that for the right fight he would return to junior lightweight.

"Right now, I am a lightweight, but lightweight is not my ideal weight category," he said. "My goal now is to unify all four titles, and then, we'll see. Maybe I'll move back down to 130 pounds and win world titles there for a second time."

Although this possible fight doesn't fall into the unification category, it would be somewhat of a significant bout: Miguel Berchelt. He holds a junior lightweight belt, and should he defeat former titlist Francisco Vargas in their May 11 rematch, Berchelt and Top Rank have talked about a possible fight with Lomachenko. Of course, maybe Lomachenko would want to return to junior lightweight and challenge him for the belt in that division.

Then there is also one other fight that would surely create huge buzz against 2018 ESPN prospect of the year Teofimo Lopez Jr. (12-0, 10 KOs), an electrifying 21-year-old and 2016 Olympian who has dazzled on Lomachenko undercards and called out for a fight with Lomachenko, something few fighters do.

Lomachenko would have little to gain from the fight unless Lopez could find his way to a title first, but it would be a big promotion, create huge fan interest and is certainly makeable since they are both with Top Rank.

Asked about his interest in that fight, Lomachenko said, "I'm ready for everyone. I need the belts. If you have a belt, you can come in the ring and I'll fight with you. My goal is to unify all the titles. If it's Commey later this year, that would be a great fight. Any champion, I would want to fight. I want to go down in history as a great champion."

Crolla is hoping to render that discussion moot.

"I've boxed at elite level before, I've been boxing at world title level for years and I've earned this shot; it's not been given to me," Crolla said. "I know that I have to pull off something massive, but I do belong at this level and I'll prove it. I won't be in awe. I've worked far too hard to let that happen and I am confident.

"It's just me and him in the ring. Like any sport, you need that little bit of luck, but I have worked immensely hard to get as lucky as I can, but we're going in with a good game plan and I cannot be better prepared."

Rafael's prediction: Lomachenko by wide decision.

Your take:

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The scorecard read 70, a 2-under start for Tiger Woods at this Masters. It might not sound overly impressive, especially given what he has done around this place in his career. But at the moment he walked off the 18th green, shook hands with playing partners Jon Rahm and Haotong Li, Woods stood just one shot off the lead at a tournament he has not won since 2005. There was a buzz around Augusta National on Thursday, because for a brief period, Woods' name crawled to the very top of those famous white scoreboards as he stood tied for the lead.

How did he do it? We go through all 18 holes to show exactly how he put himself in position to make a serious run at his fifth green jacket.

Going into the round

No. 1: Par 4, 445 Yards

Score: Par
Total: Even

No. 2 : Par 5, 575 Yards

Score: Birdie
Total: 1 under

No. 3: Par 4, 350 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 1 under

No. 4: Par 3, 240 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 1 under

No. 5: Par 4, 495 Yards

Score: Bogey
Total: Even

No. 6: Par 3, 180 Yards

Score: Par
Total: Even

No. 7: Par 4, 450 Yards

Score: Par
Total: Even

No. 8: Par 5, 570 Yards

Score: Par
Total: Even

No. 9: Par 4, 460 Yards

Score: Birdie
Total: 1 under

No. 10: Par 4, 495 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 1 under

No. 11: Par 4, 505 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 1 under

No. 12: Par 3, 155 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 1 under

No. 13: Par 5, 510 Yards

Score: Birdie
Total: 2 under

No. 14: Par 4, 440 Yards

Score: Birdie
Total: 3 under

No. 15: Par 5, 530 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 3 under

No. 16: Par 3, 170 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 3 under

No. 17: Par 4, 440 Yards

Score: Bogey
Total: 2 under

No. 18: Par 4, 465 Yards

Score: Par
Total: 2 under

The Phoenix Suns on Thursday announced James Jones as their new general manager after he filled the role on an interim basis this season.

Along with the Jones move, the Suns also announced the hiring of Jeff Bower as senior vice president of basketball operations.

Jones will oversee basketball operations, with Bower and assistant general manager Trevor Bukstein reporting to him. Jones and Bukstein had shared oversight of basketball operations following Ryan McDonough's firing as GM in October.

"[Jones] is instilling the same championship culture and standard that he experienced on multiple occasions as a player," Suns owner Robert Sarver said in a statement. "I have the utmost confidence in James as the leader of our basketball operations moving forward, and we are aligned in the ultimate goal of one day bringing an NBA championship to Phoenix."

Jones has worked in the Suns' front office since retiring as a player after 14 years in the NBA, which included two seasons in Phoenix.

Bower formerly served as general manager in Charlotte, New Orleans and Detroit. He worked for the Pistons under president of basketball operations and coach Stan Van Gundy for four seasons until a change was made a year ago.

The Suns had a 19-63 record this season, but they have a promising nucleus of young players that includes Devin Booker and rookie center Deandre Ayton. Coach Igor Kokoskov completed his first season on the job.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There's a part of Kemba Walker that wants to play his entire career with the Charlotte Hornets. There's another part that wants to compete for an NBA championship before he's too old.

With the Hornets not ready to compete with teams such as the Golden State Warriors, the 28-year-old Walker enters this offseason having to make a choice between loyalty and chasing a ring.

And he's not ready to do that just yet.

"I have no feeling right now, I don't know," Walker said of his impending decision in free agency this summer. "Honestly, I don't know what to expect. I guess it's a lot of different emotions bottled up into one. I'm not sure. I don't know."

The three-time All-Star point guard is expected to be a hot commodity when free agency opens July 1.

He's coming off his most productive season statistically, averaging a career-high 25.6 points per game to go along with 5.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds. He was selected as an All-Star Game starter for the first time and has put himself in the running for the All-NBA team.

Walker's predicament is that if the Hornets re-sign him to a max contract, they won't have many pieces to put around him -- which means the team could continue to muddle in mediocrity as it has done for the first eight seasons in Charlotte. The Hornets have been to the postseason only twice during that time and have never gotten out of the first round.

Signing with another team could give him the opportunity to compete for the championship he so desperately craves.

"I mean, obviously I do want to be competitive because I want to be able to play in the playoffs," Walker said. "So I want to think that would have some influence" on my decision.

At media day last September, an excited Walker sounded committed to re-signing with the Hornets, saying he "wanted to create something" in Charlotte. Walker said Thursday that "nothing has changed" in that regard, but his enthusiasm has clearly waned over the past seven months.

"I want to win," Walker said. "I want to win."

PARKER'S FUTURE

Tony Parker said he's "50-50" on whether he will return for a 19th NBA season after his streak of 17 straight playoff appearances was snapped.

"I don't want to play on a rebuilding team," said Parker, who is under contract for $5.25 million next season. "I want to play for a team that's fighting to make the playoffs at least."

Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac has fired coach Dave Joerger after the team's best season since 2005-06, it was announced Thursday.

"After evaluating the season, I determined that we need to move in a different direction in order to take us to the next level," Divac said in a statement. "On behalf of the entire Kings organization, I want to thank Dave for his contributions to our team and I wish him all the best."

Despite Joerger engineering an improbable 39-win season, Divac is using the muscle of his new contract extension through the 2022-23 season to consolidate power around him, league sources said.

Divac fired assistant general manager Brandon Williams earlier Thursday morning, sources said, and planned to meet with players after firing Joerger.

What makes Joerger's dismissal confusing to many inside and outside the Kings' world is simply this: He transformed Sacramento's style of play into one of the league's fastest, most exciting brands of basketball, and point guard De'Aaron Fox has developed into one of the NBA's bright young stars.

Sacramento averaged 114.2 points per game this season, which ranked ninth in the league. It was an increase of 15.4 points after the Kings finished last in the NBA at 98.8 points per game during the 2017-18 season.

Tension between management and Joerger regarding playing time for certain young players and relationship strains impacted Divac's decision, sources said. Still, most around the NBA believed the team's rapid improvement under Joerger and significant overperformance based on preseason expectations would have forced the organization to consider a contract extension.

Joerger, who has a 98-148 record without a playoff appearance in his three seasons with the Kings, had one year remaining on his contract. Prior to joining the Kings, he coached the Memphis Grizzlies for three seasons. He has an overall NBA coaching record of 245-247.

The Kings, in announcing Divac's new four-year deal, praised the GM for helping in the team's rebuild.

"Vlade has been vital to what we are building here," owner Vivek Ranadive said in a statement. "Throughout his entire career, Vlade is someone who has always made those around him better, both on and off the court."