Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – January 30, 2025) – Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (TSXV: SUN) (“Stardust Solar” or the “Company“), a leader in renewable energy franchise opportunities, is pleased to announce the closing of the second and final tranche (the “Second Tranche“) of its upsized non-brokered private placement offering (the “Offering“), as previously disclosed in the Company’s news releases dated December 4, 2024, January 14, 2025 and January 24, 2025. In connection with the Second Tranche, the Company issued 5,246,104 units (the “Units“) at a price of $0.10 per Unit, generating aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $524,610.40.
Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (the “Warrant“). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.20 for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance.
The Company paid finder’s fees in the amount of $30,905 and issued 309,050 finder’s warrants in connection with the Second Tranche. Each finder’s warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at $0.20 for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance, under the same terms as the Warrants issued in the Offering.
The proceeds from the Offering will be used to accelerate Stardust Solar’s expansion in the U.S. market, particularly following the Company’s acquisition of Solar Grids Development LLC. The funds will also support working capital, marketing initiatives, and administrative operations, ensuring the continued scalability of Stardust Solar’s franchise network.
All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day in accordance with Canadian securities legislation. The Offering remains subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.
About Stardust Solar
Stardust is a North American franchisor of renewable energy installation services, including solar panels (PV), energy storage systems, and electric vehicle supply equipment. Stardust lends its brand and business management services to entrepreneurs looking to enter the renewable energy industry. Stardust franchisees install and maintain clean energy systems for residential and commercial purposes. As a franchisor, Stardust supplies its franchisees with the following products: solar PV equipment, energy storage equipment, and electric vehicle supply equipment. In addition, Stardust supports its franchisees with many services from corporate headquarters, including marketing, sales, engineering, plan sets, customer service, and project management.
Media and Investor Contacts:
Mark Tadros Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management’s view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements, including statements relating to the Company’s business plans and expected future growth, the Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward‐looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention. It assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.
Stardust Solar Energy Inc. Announces Successful Closing of Second and Final Tranche of Upsized Non-Brokered Private Placement
We are thrilled to announce that Stardust Solar Energy Inc. has successfully closed the second and final tranche of our upsized non-brokered private placement. This additional funding will allow us to accelerate our growth and continue our mission to provide clean, renewable energy solutions to communities around the world.
The private placement was oversubscribed, demonstrating strong investor interest in our company and confidence in our vision for a sustainable future. We are grateful for the support of our investors and look forward to delivering on our promises to them.
With this new funding, we will be able to expand our solar energy projects, invest in research and development, and further strengthen our position in the market. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and are committed to making a positive impact on the environment and society.
We want to thank our investors, employees, and partners for their continued support and dedication. Together, we will continue to lead the way in the transition to clean energy and create a brighter, more sustainable future for all.
For more information about Stardust Solar Energy Inc. and our projects, please visit our website at www.stardustsolarenergy.com. Thank you for your support.
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Stardust Solar Energy Inc., private placement, non-brokered, closing, Tranche 2, final, solar energy, upsized, investment, renewable energy, clean energy, sustainability, funding, announcement
On day three of my visit to Capcom in Osaka, Japan, I once again sat in a dimly lit conference room. I was playing Monster Hunter Wilds, empty cans of coffee and tea strewn around my station. “You must be tired of being stuck in here playing,” said a friendly employee. All I could think was: “I wish I could play more.”
This is after I played the first five hours of Monster Hunter Wild’s story and hunted four monsters in the Oilwell Basin in a different play state. I just couldn’t get enough; there are so many nuances to master with the new weapon and gameplay features and I’m the type of person who wants to scrutinize everything and figure out exactly how everything works through repetition and experimentation. I’m a guides writer – it comes with the territory – but because of my limited time, I needed to focus on the main story. That’s fine. After this hands-on, I know I’ll enthusiastically spend hundreds more hours in the game once it’s out.
Is Monster Hunter Getting Easier, or Are You Just Better?
I beelined it through the story to make sure I could see every monster there was to see, and in doing so, I didn’t make optimized equipment; instead, I crafted and upgraded what I could as I went. That’s the basic loop of Monster Hunter: Hunt monster, make better equipment, hunt stronger monster, and sometimes, hunt something multiple times to get what you need. With my minimal preparation, I hunted the first seven monsters without much trouble and never once carted* (aka, knocked out): Chatacabra, Quematrice, Congalala, Lala Barina, Balahara, Doshaguma, and finally, a repel quest for the Leviathan Uth Duna. When I played Monster Hunter: World for the very first time, even Tobi-Kadachi gave me trouble, so I was surprised to encounter such little friction while playing Wilds.
I was actually so surprised that I went back and replayed the story in Monster Hunter: World through Anjanath, the seventh large monster. Well, the answer is that I’ve just gotten a whole lot better since I first played World, even though by that point, I had been playing Monster Hunter since the very first one on PlayStation 2. I easily ripped through everything up to Anjanath, who then made me sweat a bit before I defeated it on my first try.
It’s funny, because I felt the same as when I played Monster Hunter Rise. I thought to myself, “This feels so much easier,” and in some ways, this could be because of the fun, zippy Wirebug mechanic and other factors, but that feeling was largely due to my increased skill as a player after 600 hours in World and Iceborne. That’s not to say I’m now some pro-level Monster Hunter–I’m certainly no speedrunner–but I’ve improved enough to notice. I’m bringing this up because I often see this lamentation in the community, questioning, “Perhaps, is Monster Hunter simply getting easier?” I would suggest that we may just be growing into better hunters.
The developers’ goals don’t suggest they intend to make Monster Hunter easier.
Things are certainly becoming more streamlined and accessible (see: Optimal Health and Status Recovery that removes the need to choose exactly how to heal, and the Focus Mode that makes it easier to aim) but the developers’ goals don’t suggest they intend to make Monster Hunter easier. Art director and executive director of Wilds, Kaname Fujioka, said the difficulty in Wilds generally follows suit from World. Series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto added: “We’ve been incredibly careful in Wilds to guide players to the fun of Monster Hunter without changing the core of the series,” and I very much feel that.
Wilds immediately directs players into the meat of what Monster Hunter really is: hunting large monsters that could be set-piece bosses in other games. he main missions smoothly integrate mini small monster hunts and gathering as part of the story, which is a wonderful way to teach players about these necessary activities without them feeling like a roadblock. I’m conflicted about all of these…upgrades. I find myself always wanting to pull a “Back in my day…” and describe some archaic, ludicrous thing we used to have to do just to get by to be able to enjoy the game…like delivering explosive Powderstones from the top of a volcano while avoiding Gravios and Ioprey…and then doing it three more times because the quest didn’t count as cleared unless you were the one who posted it, and your whole party of four needed to clear it to join the next quest.
I suppose I’m trying to say Monster Hunter has come a long way, and making it less convoluted and stripping away its “nonessential” bits and pieces has made it more palatable to a much larger crowd. Now, it’s largely just delectable meat with the occasional bone and dessert: there are no bitter vegetables to power through to be able to enjoy everyone’s favorite parts (except, maybe, grinding for a specific material.) And while on one hand I’m overjoyed that so many people have grown to truly enjoy something I love, there was something about being one of the few who prided themselves on eating their vegetables with a smile on their face.
Even so, the evolution of Monster Hunter has continued to impress me. The nostalgia I have for how things used to be doesn’t cloud my judgment enough to make me misremember how I actually felt about needing to gather dozens of mushrooms and herbs and Wyvern eggs before I could finally hunt: “This is boring and tedious and my god please just let me kill a monster.”
Wilds delivers the thrill of hunting a monster extroadinarily fast. The main story immediately spits you into the thick of things, and you’ll have hunted your first large monster in the first twenty minutes after customizing your character and Palico. There are no Kestodon Kerfuffles to contend with–you are one of the chosen hunters to protect your fleet from the big bads, and so that’s what you do.
The action of these monster-hunting quests is seamlessly woven together with narrative tasks that drive the story and exciting cutscenes that drop you right into the fray. Travel is often accompanied by NPCs who progress the story with dialogue, so little time is wasted. The entire experience feels full and is structured like a more traditional RPG, as you aren’t posting quests from a board and loading into a map like in previous Monster Hunters. At the same time, you still have robust freedom to explore and discover things on your own without having your hand held too tightly. I’ll need to play more to discover exactly how the new decoration system and ingredient farming work, but it does appear you’ll still need to keep up on eating and inventory management yourself to be the best hunter you can be. I do hope there are challenges ahead that will require adequate preparation to succeed, as that’s where I think Monster Hunter shines brightest, but I do believe I may have encountered at least one of those in the Oilwell Basin.
The change in climate sometimes made me feel like I was in entirely different places, and this was even more pronounced in the Oilwell Basin. The changes in these three-mode cycles, plus the drastic visual changes between day and night, add even more variety to these vast, large, diverse maps— meant to be two to two-and-a-half times the size of the maps in World. And we’ve only seen three, but I’m sure there must be more. I feel like I barely got a handle on the layout of the Oilwell Basin while hunting, and will likely need to make a concerted effort to learn its flow and remember where things are, like the very helpful environmental traps, including a perfectly placed Sleeptoad beneath precariously placed stalactites in the ceiling of a cave.
When I beat it down enough, it deflated–a hilariously sad sight I was delighted to experience.
As for the monsters I faced there, they were a unique and impressive bunch. Rompopolo is absolutely grotesque, using its needle-like mouth to spew poison and the sharp appendage on its tail to inject gas into the ground, making use of the flammable oilsilt to cause large AOE explosions. It made great, unique use of its environment. When I beat it down enough, it deflated–a hilariously sad sight I was delighted to experience.
I can see Ajarakan giving some players a bit of trouble. It’s an ape-like fanged beast that’s aggressive, fast, and strong. It also just looks cool–how its body glows when it gets ramped up is magnificent, as is one of its strongest attacks, where it spins in the air and crashes down, like a fiery Sonic the Hedgehog homing attack. If you let it grab you, it will roar in your face before brutally dragging you across the ground and tossing you like a rag-doll.
Though Gravios, a returning monster, has been a pain in the ass to fight in previous games, with its hardy HP pool and super tough defenses, I found fighting it in Wilds much more enjoyable. Its hitboxes are more finely tuned, and the developers were able to gradate the toughness of its body more specifically, so it was easier to land hits on the points I actually wanted to get at. I also didn’t get hit by seemingly unfair hip-checks, which was a welcome change. Gravios has a new attack the developers were happy to be able to implement, too: a beam focused on the ground that turns the immediate surroundings into molten rock that persists for a few seconds with a fiery effect.
An Impressive, Fiery New Foe
When it comes to the apex, Nu Udra: wow. That thing is awesome, and it also really threatened to kick my ass. It’s the only monster that carted me during my playtime with Wilds, and I had the hardest time getting a read on its movements and intentions. Nu Udra is an octopus-like cephalopod that uses a skeleton (in game-design terms) entirely new to the Monster Hunter series, so of course I wouldn’t have any familiarity to rely on. Its tentacles can all move independently of each other, it moves with a graceful slickness, and it hits hard with its body and flame attacks. Its unpredictable, multi-directional attack patterns seem to encourage teaming up with friends, or at least NPC Support Hunters, too.
Nu Udra is also uniquely beautiful–the sensory organs on the tips of its tentacles glow when it intends to use them in an attack, and occasionally covers itself in oilsilt and engulfs itself in flames–another cool use of the environment by an Oilwell Basin inhabitant. One of its attacks even resembles a dangerous fireworks display. Truly, Nu Udra is an impressive sight to behold: a slithering, octopus-like, menacing creature engulfed in flame, hellbent on your destruction. How exciting! I’m really looking forward to how this creature is incorporated into Monster Hunter Wilds’ story, too.
I had no real context around the monster hunts in my time in the Oilwell Basin, as I could only really experience the hunts themselves after the Quest Start and before the Quest Complete screen, so all I can really tell you is that the monsters I fought in this build were in high rank, as was my equipment.
The builds I played (in graphics mode on the PS5) also performed significantly better than the Open Beta Test. The monsters and environments acted as they were meant to, for the most part, and I didn’t experience any jarring graphical issues or bugs. This comes with the caveats that I was offline playing in single-player and that I, personally, probably wouldn’t notice if there was a small graphical stutter while fighting for my life. But if you’re in it for the gameplay, I can confidently say that Monster Hunter Wilds works well and looks good–in my opinion. I’m especially impressed by the fire and lava effects I saw in the Oilwell Basin– for example, the compressed fire beams from Gravios and Nu Udra engulfing itself in fire in real time.
All Monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds
One of my biggest curiosities is how Wilds’ story progression will work in multiplayer, as it’s one of the best parts about Monster Hunter, and something I haven’t been able to experience in Wilds outside of the Open Beta Test. But, I’m told you’ll be able to play through the story with friends without the roadblocks encountered in World, which is the most important factor for me.
Monster Hunter Wilds: The Final Preview – IGN First
Exciting news for all Monster Hunter fans! IGN has been given exclusive access to the highly anticipated game, Monster Hunter Wilds, for one final preview before its official release.
In this final preview, IGN dives deep into the vast and lush world of Monster Hunter Wilds, showcasing new gameplay footage, stunning visuals, and thrilling monster encounters. From towering beasts to intricate ecosystems, players can expect to be fully immersed in a world teeming with life and danger.
The preview also highlights the game’s dynamic combat system, where players can utilize a variety of weapons and strategies to take down fearsome monsters. Additionally, IGN provides insight into the game’s multiplayer features, allowing players to team up with friends and take on even greater challenges together.
With its visually stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and challenging monster hunts, Monster Hunter Wilds is shaping up to be a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike. Stay tuned for IGN’s final preview of Monster Hunter Wilds, coming soon!
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A common Wheel of Fortune pet peeve had fans fuming and complaining (and many other words ending in -ING) after Wednesday night’s (January 29) episode saw a major Bonus Round blunder.
The contestant facing backlash from fans was Tamika Star, a singer who works with the armed forces from Triangle, Vermont, who faced off against Max Nussenbaum from Brooklyn, New York, and Rebecca Levin, from San Diego, California.
Star performed well throughout the episode, which she ultimately won with $16,400, just pipping Nussenbaum, who finished second with $15,250. This sent her through to the Bonus Round for a chance to add even more money to her overall winnings.
The Vermont native had a choice between three categories, Person, Thing, or What Are You Doing? She decided on the latter and was shown a two-word puzzle that read: “_ _ _ _ N _ / _ R _ _ N _.”
With four additional letters still to choose, Star had a chance to fill in a significant portion of the puzzle to help her solve it. As long-time Wheel viewers know, the majority of the time, the What Are You Doing? puzzle starts with a word ending in -ING; therefore, it makes no sense for a contestant to waste their picks on those letters.
Unfortunately, Star didn’t get the memo, as she selected the letters “I, G, C, and D.” This gave her a puzzle that then read: “_ _ _ I N G / _ R _ _ N _.”
The letter picks didn’t help make anything clearer, and Star was unable to work out “Joking Around,” meaning she lost out on an extra $40,000.
Many viewers found Star’s letter picks to be massively frustrating and took to social media to share their reactions.
“Nothing makes me more angry on this show than… Someone saying I & G on a “What Are You Doing” final puzzle,” wrote one fan on the Wheel of Fortune Reddit forum.
“I SCREAMED at the TV tonight. When they pick I and G and lose, I scream, “Serves you right!!!”” said another.
“I’m so glad I’m not the only one,” another added.
Another explained, “Called a gerund phrase: Washing the dog, Making breakfast, Running errands … this has bugged me too! Of course, in What Are You Doing, the first word will end in I N G.”
“Ha! Last night I said I and G are such a waste of letters!” said another.
“Any other letters except THE ONES YOU ALREADY KNOW ARE GUARANTEED TO BE THERE!! That’s why it’s a total waste to call I and G,” wrote one commenter.
However, there were a few who defended Star’s decision, with one user pointing out, “It is possible these letters appear more than once.”
Another agreed, writing, “I think sometimes WoF chooses a final puzzle with multiple Gs because they aren’t expecting people to pick G. Wasn’t there a final What Are You Doing puzzle that had the word “giggling” in it? I think it’s fine to pick G just in case.”
One user claimed that there are occasions where the What Are You Doing? puzzle doesn’t end with an -ING. “Including today, WAYD? has been chosen in syndication 232 times. 73 of them had no additional I or G, which is about 31%,” they shared.
What do you think about the -ING drama? What letters would you select for the What Are You Doing? category? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Wheel of Fortune, Weeknights, Check local listings
The final puzzle on “Wheel of Fortune” last night had fans in an uproar as the letter choices seemed to be purposely misleading. Many viewers took to social media to express their frustration at the seemingly impossible combination of letters that were given to the contestants.
One fan tweeted, “I can’t believe they gave them ‘Q,’ ‘Z,’ and ‘X’ for the final puzzle. What kind of nonsense is this? #WheelofFortune.”
Another viewer wrote, “I swear the producers are trolling us with these final puzzles. ‘QZXF’ are you kidding me? #WheelofFortune.”
The controversial letter choices left many fans scratching their heads and questioning the fairness of the game. Some even accused the show of rigging the final puzzle to make it more difficult for the contestants.
Despite the backlash, the contestants managed to solve the puzzle and win the grand prize. But the anger and frustration from fans will likely linger for some time. Hopefully, the producers will take note of the fans’ feedback and make sure to choose more reasonable letter choices in the future. #WheelofFortuneFansReact
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Finally back home for the first time in 12 days, the Spurs were hoping to get back on the right foot after a rough few weeks. Unfortunately, they ran into a buzzsaw Clippers squad that is fully healthy and has Kawhi Leonard’s minutes restrictions loosened, allowing him to play in the fourth quarter. After a tight first half, it looked like there was a turd quarter in the making as the Spurs got down by 16. They fought back, even taking the lead a few times, but they just couldn’t keep the Clippers off the free throw or the offensive glass in the fourth quarter, eventually falling 128-116.
Victor Wembanyama led four Spurs in double figures with 23 points, 12 rebounds 4 assists and 3 blocks. Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell scored 27 apiece for the Clippers, and Ivica Zubac had a 20-20 game with 21 points and 22 rebounds.
Observations
First and foremost, the question on everyone’s mind heading into this game: would Spurs fans heed Gregg Popovich’s pleas from last season to stop booing Kawhi? The answer is no, they did not. He first touched the ball on their second offensive possession, and the boos began immediately and continued throughout. They weren’t the loudest they’ve ever been, but they were there.
Mitch Johnson continued the approach of rolling with Jeremy Sochan as backup center, and that may remain the case for the foreseeable future with Johnson stating before the game that Stephon Castle would continue starting for the foreseeable future for developmental purposes. Then, when Sochan sits, Sandro Mamukelashvili briefly comes in alongside Wemby. Both players were everywhere and created a spark when they came in, with Sochan getting back-to-back steals on James Harden and Mamu getting a bucket and flying in for rebounds.
Julian Champagnie’s biggest weakness may be his handles. Many of his turnovers lately seem to be unforced, and he had two such turnovers on consecutive possessions in the first quarter, first where he lost the ball out of bounds on the dribble, followed by failing to scoop up an (admittedly low pass) in transition, losing the ball off his leg despite having an open basket in front of him.
Victor Wembanyama did not attempt a three-pointer in the first half, and the result was four shot attempts — the least of all five starters — plus four free throws for 9 points. People wonder why he takes so many threes, sometimes out of rhythm, and this is why: a lack of touches. He finally got going in the third quarter with a middy and three-pointer, as well as a series of blocks against Zubac, who shoved him to the floor out of frustration (with somehow no call). Let’s just say he briefly poked the bear (as in the Spurs as a whole) as it came amidst a 25-11 run to close the quarter that got them back into the game after they trailed by as much as 16, avoiding a “turd quarter”.
The Clippers, namely Zubac, absolutely crushed the Spurs on boards with a 57-30 advantage in total rebounds, 17 of which were offensive rebounds, 13 of which belonged to Zubac. He had a field day down low, either taking advantage when the Clippers forced a switch and Wemby had to go out to defend a jumper or just straight up owning the boards when Wemby sat. The one area that kept the Spurs in the game was points off turnovers, getting 25 off the Clippers’ 17 while only coughing it up 10 times themselves. Unfortunately, the Clippers were too hot everywhere else to fully take advantage.
Another classic Wemby stat to close out:
Victor Wembanyama now has 35 straight games with a block and a three – the longest streak in NBA history (previously 21 by Kristaps Porzingis).
The Spurs will return to the Frost Bank Center on Friday as the first part of a back-to-back ahead of the Rodeo Road Trip, beginning with the Milwaukee Bucks. Tip-off will be at 7:00 PM on FanDuel Sports Network.
The highly anticipated matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers did not disappoint as both teams battled it out until the final buzzer. The Spurs fought back from an early deficit to make it a close game, but in the end, the Clippers pulled away late to secure a 128-116 victory.
The game started off with the Clippers dominating on both ends of the court, taking an early lead behind the stellar play of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. However, the Spurs refused to back down and mounted a comeback in the second half, thanks to the strong performances from DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Despite the Spurs’ best efforts, the Clippers proved to be too much to handle as they continued to hit shots and play stifling defense. Leonard and George continued to lead the charge for the Clippers, finishing with impressive stat lines and making key plays down the stretch to seal the win.
Overall, it was a hard-fought battle between two talented teams, but in the end, the Clippers came out on top with a 128-116 victory. Both teams showed why they are considered contenders in the Western Conference, and fans were treated to an exciting and competitive game from start to finish.
Generally speaking, the starters are easy enough to predict. Fan voting results are publicly available ahead of time, and the media tends to be pretty open about who it plans to vote for. But All-Star reserves can get a bit funkier in large part because of how opaque the process is. They are selected by the NBA’s head coaches, who do not share their ballots publicly. Their preferences, unlike those of fans or media members, are a bit harder to predict.
But we are still going to try before the reserves are announced Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Below are our predictions for the seven reserves in each conference who will be chosen to fill out this year’s All-Star rosters. As a reminder, this year’s All-Star Weekend will not conclude with a single game, but rather, a four-team tournament. The 24 All-Stars will be split into three teams, drafted by the cast of Inside the NBA (Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith), and they will hold a tournament that also includes the winning team from the Rising Stars Challenge. So, with that in mind, here are our predictions for the last 14 All-Star spots.
For the reserves, each conference has seven players split into two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild-card spots. Let’s get to it.
Eastern Conference
The Eastern Conference front court is relatively easy because so many candidates have dropped out of the running. Jimmy Butler’s trade request and the drama that has followed has killed his candidacy. Jalen Johnson had a real shot, and was probably the best overall candidate from the Hawks a month ago, but his season-ending shoulder injury knocked him out. Bam Adebayo might have a case if he hadn’t forgotten how to shoot this season. A similar story has played out for Scottie Barnes, who made his first All-Star team a season ago but is down to around 27% on 3s this season. Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Joel Embiid have all played at an All-Star level, but just haven’t been available enough.
So this is relatively straightforward. Evan Mobley might be the Defensive Player of the Year, non-Wemby division. Cleveland recently had to play four games without him and gave up a staggering 115.4 points per 100 possessions in that stretch, which included two rare losses. His growth as a ball-handler and shooter on offense have made him an All-Star lock. Coaches value winning, so the second-best player on a No. 1 seed is usually going to make it.
How about the second-best player on a defending champion? It’s been an odd season for Jaylen Brown. His 3-point shot has regressed and he hasn’t been quite as good on defense following his run to Finals MVP a year ago. He’s made up for it by taking on a much bigger playmaking burden, putting up nearly five assists per game, and by taking advantage of his new bulk to get to the line more than ever. Is it a typical Jaylen Brown season? No, but it’s certainly been an effective one. He’s an All-Star.
The last spot drops off a bit, and on merit, a fifth guard arguably deserves a reserve slot, but the rules dictate at least three frontcourt players are chosen, so Pascal Siakam takes the last spot. He’s been by far the most reliable Pacer this season as Tyrese Haliburton has played his way back into All-Star form, and the fact that he’s making 3s this season has been a pretty pleasant surprise. He’s not quite the defender he was at his Toronto peak, but he’s been a catalyst behind Indiana’s improvement on that end of the floor. In the end, he’s an easy pick over the otherwise underwhelming frontcourt crop.
Three of our guard slots are easy. Order them however you’d like, but Darius Garland, Damian Lillard and Cade Cunningham are locks. Lillard could get in on track record alone, but fortunately for the Bucks, he’s outplaying his 2023-24 self in just about every way. The Bucks are winning at a contender’s rate since their 2-8 start, and while Lillard and Antetokounmpo haven’t fit together quite as seamlessly as we hoped upon the trade that brought them together, they have at least figured out how to work together well enough to drag the Bucks back into comfortable playoff position.
Just about every catch-all metric this season suggests that Garland, not Mitchell, has been Cleveland’s best player. Is that fair? It depends on your perspective. Defenses plan for Mitchell much more than Garland, and even in Cleveland’s relatively egalitarian offense, Mitchell is the higher-usage player of the two. But Garland is flirting with a 50-40-90 shooting season while carrying a greater playmaking burden. Any debate between the two only would have mattered on the starter front. Both are clear and obvious All-Stars for the best team in the East.
Cade Cunningham has the Pistons at .500. They went 93-289 over the five previous seasons, and while they’ve added a bit of shooting, the roster really hasn’t grown that much. Cunningham is the only player on the roster that ranks in the top 125 in the NBA in terms of VORP, for instance, or if you prefer box score stats, he leads his team in total points and assists while ranking second in rebounds and steals. He’s doing everything for a Detroit team that would still be tanking if not for him.
The last spot is where this gets hard. In truth, the “great stats, bad teams” crowd cancels each other out. LaMelo Ball’s counting stats aren’t quite as gaudy as they were earlier in the season, so guaranteeing him a slot on the basis of averaging 28 points and seven assists seems a bit unfair when Tyrese Maxey is right on his heels in terms of volume, but shoots and defends better. Zach LaVine’s efficiency laps both of theirs, though he’s far less of a playmaker. Ultimately, it’s important to remember who our selectors are here. Coaches tend not to be as enthused about stats when they don’t lead to winning. There’s an “empty calories” feel to the seasons Ball, Maxey and LaVine have had this season, and that’s probably going to cost them spots.
The real race here is between two players: Trae Young and Tyler Herro. Young is the NBA’s assists leader, but his shooting numbers across the board are down. Both are miserable defenders, but Herro has proven more capable of at least functioning within a healthy ecosystem. Herro isn’t responsible for nearly as much offensively as Young is, but the job he’s done keeping the Heat offense afloat this season has been downright inspiring. That unit dies when he goes to the bench. Nobody else on that roster is creating advantages this season. It’s been a career-best season for Herro in nearly every respect. He’s never shot better from 3. He’s never generated more shots for teammates. He’s never gotten to the line this much. He’s come much closer to matching Young’s volume than Young has to matching Herro’s efficiency on similarly limited offenses. That gives him the slimmest edge. Miami’s reputation probably doesn’t hurt where the coaches are concerned, either. The Heat are among the most-respected organizations in the NBA. The tie tends to go to the reputation.
Western Conference
The East is loaded with guards. The West has two pretty clear picks with the rest of the roster going to the frontcourt. Frankly, Anthony Edwards should probably be starting. He’s outscoring Stephen Curry significantly, and, amazingly, shooting better from 3-point range. He’s a far better defender, and he’s remained much healthier. The starting choices are, to an extent, a popularity contest. Nobody is beating Curry on that front. Edwards will have to settle for a reserve slot.
On paper, Kyrie Irving looks like he’s having a slightly worse season for Dallas than he did a year ago. He isn’t. He’s done an admirable job leading Dallas without Luka Doncic for much of the season, and his efficiency is more or less where it was a year ago despite the extra defensive attention that has come with Doncic sidelined. Just as importantly: we now have a two-year sample of Irving defending fairly well for the Mavericks. That was a problem for him earlier in his career, and it’s one that tends to exacerbate for older, small guards. It’s gone the other way for Irving. He plays his role reliably and knows when to dial up the effort in high-leverage moments. He’s been everything the Mavericks need him to be and more.
Victor Wembanyama is set to become the first player in NBA history to average three 3-pointers and three blocks per game in a single NBA season. Dig deep enough and you can find something historic about just about every game he’s played this season. The NBA has never seen anything like him. He’s going to win Defensive Player of the Year this season. He’s going to win it another dozen or so times before it’s all said and done. He’s a stone-cold lock.
So is Anthony Davis, even if his bitterness over Wembanyama surpassing him defensively is a bit ridiculous. Davis still has the offensive edge even if his jumper has never come close to matching its bubble accuracy. He’s still obliterating opponents at the basket, but he’s quietly taken on more of an offensive hub role this season with LeBron James picking his spot at age 40. JJ Redick has made a point of entrusting him with more of the offense, and he’s delivered.
Jaren Jackson Jr., not Ja Morant, has been the best Grizzly this season. He’s not quite blocking shots at the rate he was back when he won Defensive Player of the Year, but his evolution on offense has changed everything for the Grizzlies. He’s averaging more points per minute than Durant, Davis and Tatum! These aren’t free points generated by teammates, either. Over 45% of Jackson’s field goals are unassisted. For reference, only around 24% of Wembanyama’s field goals are unassisted. Jackson is creating his own points, dominating in the paint and still making 3s while anchoring one of the league’s better defenses. He absolutely has to make the team.
In the end, three players are left to fight for the last two spots: Domantas Sabonis, Jalen Williams and James Harden. Remember, we’re not picking All-Stars here, but rather, predicting who we think the coaches select. Remember when Harden led the NBA in assists in 2023, but still missed the All-Star Game? That looms large here. Harden does not seem especially popular among this particular group of selectors. His sub-40% field goal percentage isn’t helping him here either. Harden has a strong case. He and Norman Powell are really the only shot-creators the Clippers have had during this surprise season. But the Clippers are ultimately a defensive-minded team, and Harden’s numbers aren’t gaudy enough to guarantee him a selection. In a tie, well, history suggests he’s not in great shape.
Domantas Sabonis is a victim of his era. At any other point in NBA history, a center averaging 6.5 assists while shooting nearly 50% on 3-pointers would be treated as witchcraft. But today? Nobody seems to notice because Nikola Jokic is, well, Nikola Jokic. Sabonis is just quietly leading the NBA in rebounding while scoring a remarkably efficient 21 points every night and setting up his teammates as Sacramento’s offensive hub. The fans may not notice, but the coaches hopefully do.
Once again, we defer to winning for our final pick. Jalen Williams isn’t shooting as well as he did a season ago, but he is a quintessential winner for the NBA’s best team. When all three Thunder centers were hurt, he casually slid over to a position he’d never played in the NBA and held down the fort. It’s easy for any single defender to get lost in Oklahoma City’s historic unit, but Williams is the biggest of the Thunder stoppers and quietly among the best of them. Lu Dort gets all of the press, but Williams has a real shot at an All-Defense selection while serving as the No. 2 scorer on a team that’s going to win 65 games. Good luck keeping that résumé off an All-Star roster.
With the NBA All-Star game just around the corner, the anticipation is building as fans eagerly await the announcement of the final roster spots. While some players are already considered locks for the All-Star game, such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant, there are still a few spots up for grabs.
One player who is surely a lock for the All-Star game is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar has been putting up MVP-caliber numbers all season and is a guaranteed selection for the All-Star game.
Another player who is a lock for the All-Star game is Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers point guard has been on fire this season, leading his team to a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.
As for the final spots on the roster, there are a few players who are on the bubble. Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat has been playing at an elite level this season, averaging over 20 points per game and shooting lights out from beyond the arc. On the other hand, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks has been putting up impressive numbers as well, leading his team in points and assists.
It will be a tough decision for the coaches to choose between Herro and Young for the final spot on the roster, but either player would be a deserving All-Star selection.
As we await the official announcement of the NBA All-Star roster, it’s clear that there are some locks for the game, such as Giannis and Dame, and some close calls between players like Herro and Trae. Stay tuned for more updates on the final roster spots and get ready for an exciting All-Star game!
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Every battle has led to this. Netflix drops a sneak peek at the final episodes of Cobra Kai season 6, which will premiere next month.
Netflix’s Cobra Kai will end in two weeks after six seasons, and the streaming service has released a new sneak peek clip from the final five episodes. They also dropped a few new photos, which you can check out below!
The synopsis for the final episodes reads: “After a shocking result in the Sekai Taikai, Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai must reckon with their pasts while facing an uncertain future both on and off the mat. Almost 40 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, it’s all been leading to this.“
I’ll admit to turning up my nose at the series’ concept when it was first announced. A Karate Kid spinoff series on YouTube? Nah. Imagine my surprise when the series not only turned out to be great but kept raising the bar season after season.
Although Cobra Kai is coming to an end, it won’t be the last we see of Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso. He’s set to reprise the role in Karate Kid: Legends, where he will star alongside the one and only Jackie Chan. “After a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother,” reads the official synopsis. “Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn’t want to fight, trouble seems to find him everywhere. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren’t enough. Li’s kung fu teacher Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) enlists original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.” Karate Kid: Legends will hit theaters on May 30, 2025.
Cobra Kai creators Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, and Jon Hurwitz have also been considering more spinoffs, including a prequel series centered on Mr. Miyagi. However, nothing is official.
The final five episodes of Cobra Kai season 6 will debut on Netflix on February 13th.
Attention all Cobra Kai fans! A sneak peek at the upcoming final episodes of season 6 has been released, giving us a glimpse at what’s to come in the epic conclusion of this hit series.
The sneak peek reveals intense showdowns, dramatic twists, and emotional moments that will leave fans on the edge of their seats. From the return of familiar faces to the resolution of long-standing rivalries, season 6 promises to be a rollercoaster ride of action and emotion.
Don’t miss out on the thrilling conclusion of Cobra Kai, as the final episodes are sure to deliver a satisfying and unforgettable ending to this beloved series. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to witness the ultimate showdown in season 6 of Cobra Kai! #CobraKaiSeason6 #FinalEpisodes #SneakPeek
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Fans of Cobra Kai were dreading this moment, and Netflix even spread out Season 6 in three parts in order for us to stick to Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and his pupils for a while longer. But there’s no escaping it. In just a couple of weeks, the final episodes of the show will drop on the streamer, and today the streaming giant unveiled some first-look images and a sneak peek, so we can start preparing our hearts to say “strike first, strike hard” one last time.
The images make it clear that Cobra Kai won’t shy away from emotional moments in its final episodes. One of them features LaRusso face to face with his daughter Sam (Mary Mouser) getting ready to practice a little in the Miyagi-Do. The images also bring the cast back to All Valley after an intense competition in the Sekai Taikai, which is appropriate for the series’ end. In order to put together an emotional wrap-up, we will have to go back to the series’ roots and maybe even travel back in time to when LaRusso himself was a student.
To fans’ excitement — or disappointment, depending on how you look at it — Cobra Kai‘s co-creator Hayden Schlossberg already revealed to TV Insider that “there is no big cliffhanger at the end of the last five episodes.” So, if you were waiting for a hint at possible spin-offs or a surprise reveal, it’s time to let go. Schlossberg also guaranteed that all questions will get answered, all mysteries will get solved and all the characters will reach their full arcs, and that the final episodes are designed to be a celebration of the show’s “thrilling” and “fulfilling” six-season run.
Okay, But What About ‘Karate Kid: Legends’?
As you probably know by now, Ralph Macchio is in the main cast of Karate Kid: Legends along with Jackie Chan (Rush Hour). Even though the upcoming movie is not a direct sequel to Cobra Kai, the series will be acknowledged. LaRusso has been through a big transformation in Cobra Kai, so knowing that will help viewers understand his characters’ motivations and state of mind. However, so far, there has been no evidence of more Cobra Kai characters popping up in Karate Kid: Legends or that the story of the series will influence the blockbuster movie in any way.
Despite the farewell atmosphere, there is still a lot to be unpacked in Cobra Kai. We still have to find out the aftermath of Kwon’s (Brandon H. Lee) death at Sekai Taikai and what it will mean for karate fighters across the world, as well as what will happen with Sam, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and Axel (Patrick Luwis). Last but certainly not least, will Kreese finally get a redemption arc — this time for real?
Netflix debuts the final five episodes of Cobra Kai on February 13. You can check out the sneak peek below and the images above:
Get ready, Cobra Kai fans! The hit Netflix series is returning home for its final episodes, and we’ve got some exciting new images and a sneak peek to share with you.
In the new images released by Netflix, we see our favorite characters back in action, including Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka). The intensity and drama of the upcoming episodes are palpable, as tensions between the two dojos continue to rise.
But that’s not all – we also have a sneak peek at what’s to come in the final episodes of Cobra Kai. In the teaser, we see the stakes are higher than ever as the rivalry between the dojos reaches a boiling point. Will Daniel and Johnny be able to put aside their differences and come together to defeat their common enemy? Or will their feud ultimately tear them apart?
One thing is for sure: Cobra Kai is gearing up for an epic conclusion, and we can’t wait to see how it all plays out. So mark your calendars and get ready to binge-watch the final episodes of Cobra Kai, streaming soon on Netflix. Karate fans, this is one showdown you won’t want to miss! #CobraKai #Netflix #FinalEpisodes
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Cobra Kai, Cobra Kai final episodes, Cobra Kai new images, Cobra Kai sneak peek, Cobra Kai season finale, Cobra Kai Netflix, Cobra Kai series finale, Karate Kid, martial arts, Johnny Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso, Cobra Kai dojo
Netflix is sharing a closer look at the last episodes of Cobra Kai. The show, which premiered in 2018, is a continuation of the Karate Kid franchise and follows the ongoing rivalry between legacy characters Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), boasting a vast ensemble cast that includes many newcomers and legacy characters alike. The upcoming Cobra Kai season 6 part 3 will close out both the season and the series as a whole with five final episodes.
Netflixhas now offered several new glimpses of Cobra Kai season 6 part 3. This includes three new first-look images from the final episodes. Two of the images show Daniel and Johnny in different one-on-one training sessions with students, presumably preparing for the continuation of the Sekai Taikai World Tournament. Another shows Tory Nichols (Peyton List) exercising on her own, out of uniform. See the images below:
The streaming service has also released a new sneak peek at season 6 part 3. It includes footage of the training scenes depicted in the new images, with voiceover narration teasing that the characters are preparing for the tournament, which has “an audience far greater than before.” The voiceover also teases that “the stakes have never been higher,” before the teaser reveals that the speaker is head of the Sekai Taikai, who says that he has arrived in the Valley in an attempt to prevent further drama with the tournament. Check out the video below:
What This Means For Cobra Kai
Season 6 Part 3 Raises The Stakes
This new teaser offers some vital context for the final episodes of the show. While there was some doubt as to whether the tournament would continue at all in the wake of the death of Kwon Jae-Sung (Brandon H. Lee), who was killed during a skirmish that broke out in the final episode of Cobra Kai season 6 part 2. The sneak peek has conclusively revealed that the tournament will continue, though there is an implication that some time has passed between the ending of part 2 and the premiere of part 3.
Another fight could stain the tournament’s reputation forever…
With the tournament back on track, it is true that the stakes have never been higher. The tournament in and of itself will prove to be a huge source of anxiety for the remaining Cobra Kai characters, as its outcome could determine their futures. However, the continued tensions between the participants have already turned deadly, meaning that another fight could stain the tournament’s reputation forever and that, at worst, more lives could very well be at risk.
Our Take On The Cobra Kai Sneak Peek
The Series Finale Seems Promising
What seems certain is that, in spite of the wishes expressed in the Cobra Kai sneak peek, the final rounds of the tournament will be chock-full of drama. The show’s tournament storylines tend to amplify the preexisting interpersonal tensions among the cast considerably, but with the series drawing to a close, they will likely ratchet up higher than ever before.
Cobra Kai season 6, part 3 premieres on Netflix on February 13.
After weeks of intense training and preparation, the members of Miyagi-Do are gearing up for the final round of the Sekai Takai competition. With the decision finally reached, the stakes have never been higher as they face off against their toughest opponents yet.
Sensei Daniel LaRusso has been pushing his students to their limits, focusing on honing their skills and perfecting their techniques. From intense sparring sessions to rigorous physical conditioning, the members of Miyagi-Do are more determined than ever to come out victorious in the final round.
As they gather in the dojo, the air is filled with a mix of anticipation and excitement. Each member knows that they must give it their all in order to succeed, and they are ready to put everything they’ve learned to the test.
With the support of their fellow teammates and the wisdom of their sensei guiding them, the members of Miyagi-Do are confident that they have what it takes to emerge victorious in the final round of the Sekai Takai competition. As they step onto the mats, they are ready to show the world the true strength and spirit of Miyagi-Do karate.
Lazio have cemented their place in the knockouts as the Italians have 19 points from seven games, six more points than Galatasaray in ninth with just one game remaining.
As well as the three British teams, Anderlecht, Athletic Bilbao, AZ Alkmaar, Bodo/Glimt, Eintracht Frankfurt, FCSB, Galatasaray, Lyon, Olympiakos, Union SG and Viktoria Plzen are guaranteed at least a place in the play-off round.
Dynamo Kyiv, Nice, Qarabag, Ludogorets, Malmo, Slavia Prague and RFS are all mathematically unable to finish in the top 24.
There will be just one game with nothing to play for on the final day – Slavia Prague versus Malmo.
The Europa League final day is fast approaching, with only a few teams left in the competition vying for the coveted trophy. With the semi-finals now complete, the final match is set to take place, and the stakes have never been higher.
In the semi-finals, Villarreal secured their spot in the final by defeating Arsenal, while Manchester United also advanced by overcoming Roma. As the two teams prepare to face off in the final, fans are eagerly anticipating the showdown between these European powerhouses.
For Villarreal, a win in the final would not only mark their first Europa League title but also secure them a spot in next season’s Champions League. On the other hand, Manchester United will be looking to add another trophy to their collection and solidify their status as one of the top clubs in Europe.
Both teams will be giving it their all in the final, with everything on the line. The Europa League final day promises to be an exciting and intense match, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome. Who will come out on top and lift the trophy? Stay tuned to find out.
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