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Former five-division champion Floyd Mayweather was left in awe of former Phoenix Suns shooting guard Archie Goodwin after the 30-year-old’s recent game in China. You see, Goodwin seems to be having somewhat of a resurgence with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), having been released by the Phoenix Suns back in October 2016.

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He played for the Chinese team Jiangsu Dragons on December 27, 2024, where he scored 53 points for the team, showcasing his talents that went unrecognized in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Not just in this game, Goodwin seems to be delivering knockout performances throughout the league. With the Arkansas native’s newfound success in the Chinese basketball scene, Mayweather quickly took to social media to praise the former Phoenix Suns shooting guard.

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“@nba What’s going on? @allaflare10 Putting on Huge Numbers,” the retired boxing legend wrote on his Instagram story. Goodwin later shared a flood of praise from people, including Mayweather, on Instagram story. Not to mention, a few weeks ago, Mayweather took to Instagram, praising Goodwin while roping in the NBA. “@nba my guy @allaflare10 Out In China putting in Work.. 38 points,” Mayweather wrote. 

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He scored 25 points in a game against Tianjin Ronggang on December 1, 2024, and followed that up with an impressive 38-point performance for the Guangdong Southern Tigers on December 5th. Further making a case for his excellent performance, Goodwin averages 14.2 points per game in the CBA with 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and a shooting efficiency of 46.2 percent from the field. 

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These stats present a stark contrast to what he was able to do in the NBA where he averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. However, whether his string of performances can earn him a path back to the NBA is yet to be seen, with his release from the Suns being a surprising move in 2016. Regardless, Goodwin isn’t the only basketball player Mayweather supports.

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Floyd Mayweather shows love to Pistons star

On Monday, December 24th, ‘Money’ Mayweather was courtside for the Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers game. The 47-year-old showed love to Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham, as he watched Cunningham’s pregame workout routine, and shared a moment with the young All-Star guard before he suited up for the game.

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Fresh off a Player of the Week award, Cunningham was looking to lead the Pistons to a third win in four games, and he did just that. The Pistons stole the game with a score of 114-117. Even though Cunningham didn’t have the best night of shooting, he recorded 20 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds. 

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The win marked the Pistons’ second straight, improving their record to 4-4 for December. With two more games left in the month, Detroit is on track to surpass last season’s 14-win total. 

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That said, it appears Floyd Mayweather is thoroughly enjoying his retirement from boxing with basketball games. Whether his endorsement from Goodwin would bear fruit is yet to be seen, but Archie Goodwin must be ecstatic about Mayweather’s support. What do you think of Goodwin’s resurgence? 

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Written by

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Sudeep Sinha

4,781 Articles

Sudeep Sinha is a Golf Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the storylines around the sport's biggest events and names. He previously spent over two years writing in the Boxing department, where his fight-night coverage was featured on Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, including his reporting on Ryan Garcia's career arc. On the golf beat, Sudeep covers tour news, player form, and the season-long storylines that shape the men's and women's game, from majors to the ongoing shifts in how professional golf is structured. That same appetite for detail that made his boxing coverage stand out now shows up in how he breaks down a swing change or a schedule shakeup for hardcore and casual fans alike. Outside work, he splits his time between reading, cycling, and following combat sports.

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Edited by

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Kshitiz Kumar Singh

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