Thapelo Phaks Mapkay

Sports + Global affairs analyst. NBA,NHL, Soccer, Rugby, Cricket coverage with stats + game breakdowns. Tracking world news through a data lens.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

To all Orlando pirates fans
The mighty Buccaneers family

You've waited long enough, and now the ship is sailing ⛵️ straight into glory! 2 games left, Betway Premiership title is right there for the taking. The boys have been relentless, dominant defense, clinical attacks, and that never say die Pirates spirit that's making the whole country that notice. Stay loud, stay proud 👏 and pack Orlando Arena stadium 🏟 with black ⚫️ and white passion. One big win 🏆 at the time,trophy is coming home to the Sea 🌊 Robbers! Once a Pirate, always a Pirate

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@BNightengale Spurs dynasty vs Knicks curse, 6th ring for SA, first since '73 for NY. Storylines don't get bigger then this.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@WadexFlash @TheDunkCentral CHet unlocked fr, that 7'1 frame moving like a guard, blocking everything. Different breed watching him live

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@jemelehill 34 wins to finals In 1 year is movie script stuff, Wemby really flipped the whole franchise. If this is year 2... the next decade is gonna be unfair.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@Rachel__Nichols MSG vs Wemby ?.... that's rating gold story writes itself. New York chaos vs Alien 2.0 NBA would eat that up.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

Bold take but I feel you, nobody punishes defenders in that 15ft range like Shai. Yal will be ready for that convo after a few more playoff runs.

[Robert Griffin III @RGIII]

Shai Gilgeous Alexander mid-range game is the closest thing we have to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but yal not ready for that conversation.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@RGIII The footwork, pull up is nasty fr. SHA lives in that midrange like it's 1998. Not MJ/Kobe level yet but he's best at it right now

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@paulpierce34 That's Thunder math right there.SGAon his rookie max, J-Dub, Chet still on rookie deals....and they're in the Finals? Presti playing 4D chess

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@UnderdogNBA That's leadership right there. Focus on ball let Presti handle the chess. Thunderstorm got cal flexibility, young core locked. OKC reload loading...

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

SGA keeping it classy " Greatest GM ever, Zero input, Ultimate trust. Presti cooking with $, 3 picks while J-Dub/Chet extensions hit ? Dangerous

[Underdog NBA @UnderdogNBA]

Shai-Gilgeous Alexander on if he will weigh in on Thunder offseason decisions:

"I will give zero input. I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job."

- Holmgren, J-Dub max extensions kick in next year
- Team options on Hartenstein ($28.5M), Dort ($18.2M), Wallace ($7.4M), Kenrich ($7.2M), McCain ($4.4M)
- Thunder have Nos. 12, 17, 37 picks in 2026 NBA Draft

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

Didn’t come this far to come this far" that's the Wemby mentality. Job ain't finished til confetti falls in San Antonio

[Dave Portnoy @stoolpresidente]

Wemby get yourself under control. Job not done. Long way to go. Long way to go. Didn’t come this far just to come this far.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

@stoolpresidente Facts ,finals run is dope but Wemby ain't built for moral wins. He wants the chip. Hunger's scary

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

Fix,Wemby pick &roll gonna be nasty
SGA without Dub is just carrying the whole load. Different paths , same conference war

[Skip Bayless @RealSkipBayless]

Wemby has Fox. SGA has ... no Dub.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

Jay really dropped the Afro, the confession in one era, Timing crazy but 30 years later he's still owning it. Hov stay a step ahead

[DJ Akademiks @Akademiks]

I liked the Afro … bro finally owned up to stabbing Un Rivera 30 years ago. Na jigga on timing … who he mad at tho… seems like be spiraling… nobody been mad at him 😭😭. Calm down hov don’t catch a body!!!!!!

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

1994 flashbacks, Ewing era odds hitting again. 30 years later NY fi ally cooking with gas. Brunson effect is real.

[nick wright @getnickwright]

The New York Knicks have not had better championship odds than they do at this very moment since June 18th, 1994.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

1999 vibes all over again. Spurs vs Knicks fir the chip. Texas grit vs NYK lights. I'm already clearing my schedule June 3

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

2026 NBA Finals: San Antonio-New York.

Game 1, June 3 at 8:30 pm ET on ABC.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

INSANE: 🇺🇸 U.S. billionaire and Walmart owner Stan Kroenke has reportedly promised a Rolls-Royce Phantom to every Arsenal player if they win the Champions League tonight!

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

Breaking news
General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been officially recognized as the 2025 Newsmaker of the Year by the National Press Club.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

Arsenal are just 45 minutes away from lifting the Champions League trophy as it stands.

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

💰 Drake is backing Arsenal to go all the way!
The Canadian superstar has reportedly placed a staggering $1 million bet on the Gunners to defeat PSG in tonight's UEFA Champions League Final. 🏆🔴
If Arsenal get the job done, Drake stands to collect a massive payout.
Will Mikel Arteta's men deliver European glory and make Drake's prediction a winning one, or will PSG have the final say?

[Thapelo Phaks Mapkay @JMapkay]

Lineup

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️

Your Champions League final line-up.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!