DENVER — One of the biggest challenges for any NHL coach is figuring out how to get the most out of every player. Some need help finding their confidence, others need to round out their game, and some simply need a coach to show them there's another level they haven't reached yet.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has made a career out of doing exactly that.
As he prepares to coach his 800th game with the Avalanche on Saturday at Ball Arena, Parker Kelly and Martin Necas spoke with The Hockey News about the ways Bednar has helped them grow as players. Their experiences are different, but both point to the same strength: Bednar knows what he wants each player to improve and how to help them get there.
Parker Kelly speaks with The Hockey News following morning skate.
For Kelly, that meant discovering an offensive side to his game he didn't know existed. For Necas, it meant becoming more aggressive as a goal scorer and getting into the tougher areas of the ice.
Kelly joined Colorado from the Ottawa Senators and has steadily earned a bigger role with the team. Last season, he scored a career-high 21 goals, showing just how much his offensive game has developed.
He credits Bednar with playing a significant role in that progress.
"When I came over from Ottawa, I remember thinking how dialed in he is. He's very much a players' coach, his door is always open, and he's a great teacher of the game," Kelly said. "He has no problem showing you clips and helping you understand things so you can grow as a player.
"He's done a really good job of unlocking an offensive style of game in me that I didn't know I had."
Bednar's work with Necas offers another example. Last season, he saw an opportunity to make the forward more of a goal-scoring threat. Necas has an explosive shot, but Bednar wanted him to use it more instead of looking to pass. He also wanted to see more commitment to the defensive side of the game.
Necas responded with the best offensive season of his NHL career, finishing with 38 goals and 62 assists for 100 points. It was his first time reaching the 100-point mark.
Asked where Bednar has helped him improve the most, Necas pointed to his willingness to get into the dirty areas and become a more complete player.
"Going more into the dirty areas (of the ice) and scoring goals there," Necas said. "Just my all-around game, playing D, there's always space for improvement."
Bednar has spent 24 years coaching hockey, including 11 seasons in the NHL. His résumé includes championships at the ECHL, AHL and NHL levels, with titles alongside the South Carolina Stingrays and Lake Erie Monsters before leading Colorado to the Stanley Cup in 2022.
His approach to developing players has certainly evolved over that time, but Bednar doesn't believe the underlying philosophy has changed much.
The Hockey News asked him what, if anything, has changed in the way he works with players to help them reach their full potential.
"I'm sure there's lots of changes. I don't feel like it's that different, though," Bednar said.
He used Kelly as an example of how a player's needs change throughout his career. For someone just breaking into the NHL, the priority is earning the trust of the coaching staff and establishing a role.
"In a case of a guy like Parker Kelly, when you first break into the league, for a lot of guys, it's about survival," Bednar explained. "It's doing the things that your coach is real specific about to help you make sure you're a solid, trustworthy player, so you can stay in the league and then help the team."
Once a player has established himself, the expectations can expand beyond that initial role.
"As you get a little bit of experience, then it becomes a little bit more about, okay, you've established yourself as that type of player, like a defensive player, checker, penalty killer," Bednar said. "Then, as his next coach, it's about trying to help him grow into a more dangerous offensive player and become even more well-rounded."
The same applies to players who already bring plenty of offense. Bednar said those players need to find ways to become more reliable across the ice rather than focusing exclusively on their scoring.
"Some of our guys are really good offensive players, and we have to help shape and mold them into trustworthy 200-foot guys who just help them get more out of their game in any area," Bednar said.
For Bednar, it ultimately comes down to understanding the player and having conversations about where they want to improve.
"Just studying it and communicating with the players to where they think they can grow and finding a mutual ground on that, and just trying to help them out," he said.
That philosophy has helped Kelly uncover a new part of his game and pushed Necas toward becoming an even more dangerous offensive player. With 800 games behind Colorado's bench approaching, Bednar's ability to get players to buy into their own development remains one of his biggest strengths.
🎥 Glasner runs length of pitch to celebrate with players mid-game 😂
Scenes at City Grounds today!
During Nottingham Forest's match against Manchester City, manager Oliver Glasner couldn't contain his excitement when his men turned the game 3-1.
After some chaos in the box where the visitors somehow didn't score, the hosts launched a lightning-quick counterattack.
The ball eventually found Liam Delap, who drifted left thanks to his wicked pace, and eventually hit the far right post, seeing the ball go off it and in for his brace.
Delap hit the 'Siuuu' against his former club and eventually had the manager jump in the celebration huddle as Glasner soared down the pitch.
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 6: P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on November 6, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (5-4) took down the Utah Jazz (1-8), 112-100 on Friday night. The victory gets Dallas back on the right track after two-straight losses and gives the Mavs a 2-0 record in Emirates Cup play. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving struggled a bit in the early going, but locked in down the stretch, while Morez Johnson, Jr. had the best game of his nascent NBA career.
We’re switching it up this time and using a numerical grading system on a 10-point scale to grade the players. Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: 5/10
14 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 3 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN
Irving was not sharp from the outset and had a difficult shooting night (7-of-20 overall; 0-of-3 from downtown). While that pulled down his grade, his all-out effort and hustle can’t be overlooked. All night, Irving was on the floor lunging for steals, going amongst the trees for a couple of boards and hitting a few key shots in the latter part of the game to keep the Jazz at bay. It was not his best shooting night, but Irving made up for it in other ways, particularly on the defensive end.
Cooper Flagg: 8/10
21 PTS / 10 REB / 7 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 33 MIN
Flagg shook off the massive funk he was in during the prior two games, but it took him until the second half to do so. He was 7-of-16 from the floor, with most of the misses coming in the first half and got completely lost on a couple of defensive sets, but he persisted. When it was all said and done, he nearly put up a triple-double. Three turnovers and 1-of-4 shooting from deep didn’t help his grade, but this is the type of game that reminds you how special he is. He can have a rough half, yet end with a box score that looks great while having a true positive effect on the outcome of the game.
Caleb Martin: N/A
0 PTS / 0 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 11 MIN
We try to show courtesy to all starters by featuring them in our Grades coverage, but Martin simply can’t be graded. He missed a three-point attempt, committed two fouls and that’s about it. He gets saved from an apparent 1/10 grade because he played so few minutes. Martin has been fine this year and contributes in ways that don’t necessarily show in the box score, but one has to wonder if and when Zaccharie Risacher or Naji Marshall will start in his place.
P.J. Washington: 10/10
26 PTS / 6 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 32 MIN
Washington is like a new man this season, especially of late. He has played great ball and looks fully engaged over the past few games. It also appears as though he re-worked his shot in the offseason, to positive effect. Against Utah, Washington was 6-of-10 from downtown and led all players in scoring. If he can be a bit more consistent with this type of play, he will add another dimension to the team on both sides of the ball.
Daniel Gafford: 6/10
7 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 18 MIN
Gafford had a quirky game. His stat line doesn’t blow you away and his single rebound is somewhat infuriating, however he only played 18 minutes. In that time, he was effective and did what the team needed him to do. His highlight was blocking a three-point attempt, picking up the rejected ball in stride and going in for a monster break-away slam to get the crowd into it.
Walter Clayton, Jr.: 7/10
12 PTS / 4 REB / 2 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN
If Clayton stays consistent, he is going to make Masai Ujiri, Mike Schmitz and Dusty May look like geniuses. On a team light on well-known guards, the Mavs front office picked up Clayton at the very start of the season and he’s been great for his role. He shot only 1-of-5 from deep Friday night, but has been on fire from range to this part of the season and still managed to hit 50% of his eight shots overall. He’s a capable player that can spell Irving and seeing him play well is no longer a surprise.
Morez Johnson, Jr.: 10/10
13 PTS / 17 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 24 MIN
Johnson was an absolute beast. Compared to his first three games, Johnson looks like a different person. Whether it was shin splints early on or just acclimating to the NBA game, Johnson has experienced a major growth spurt. He is fouling less, playing better within the system and is much more explosive than he was early on. He was all over the boards, led the team in plus/minus with a +20 and was within the flow of the game throughout. This was a coming out party that was great to witness.
Final Thoughts
Dallas needed a win after getting smacked by the Kings and losing a close one to the Spurs. The Mavs couldn’t sleep on the single-win Jazz (who are probably better than their record) like they did with the Kings. It appears they learned from that experience and played through some struggles to pull away. This also gives them their second Emirates Cup win in as many tries, while boosting their point differential as well.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Steve Tandy has admitted there is no hiding from his team’s below-par performance in their 28-21 home Nations Championship victory over Japan on Saturday where they looked flat at times and kept their opponents in the contest.
Wales recorded a bonus-point win as Josh Adams twice, Archie Griffin and Louis Rees-Zammit crossed, but they had to produce a desperate rearguard in the final moments to prevent Japan from an equalising score and a famous draw.
When Sam Hauser is busting out the binoculars celebration, you know the Boston Celtics are rolling.
Hauser did that after delivering a fancy one-handed dime to a cutting Derrick White as the Boston Celtics pushed their lead as high as 46 en route to a 119-80 thrashing of the Charlotte Hornets in an NBA Cup Group C battle on Friday night at Spectrum Center.
You won’t need binoculars for this eye-catching number: Hauser has now played a league-best 186 minutes, 37 seconds without a turnover this season.
Hauser has been credited with a total of 204 total passes this season without a single giveaway. On Friday night, he handed out three second-quarter assists as the Celtics piled up a season-high 33 helpers (on just 38 total makes) and padded their Cup differential against the injury-riddled Hornets.
Hauser’s overall stat line doesn’t jump off the page this year: He’s averaging 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 20.8 minutes per game. He’s shooting 40.8 percent while hoisting 5.4 3-pointers per game (and still holds the NBA record for 3-point rate with 84 percent of his total shot attempts coming beyond the arc).
But his impact is undeniable. The Celtics are outscoring opponents by 19.4 points per 100 possessions in Hauser’s 187 minutes on the court, and that number plummets to a mere +0.8 points per 100 possessions in his 250 minutes on the bench. A +18.6 net differential is the best mark among all Boston players.
In the 111 minutes that Hauser has shared the floor with Jayson Tatum, the Celtics are posting a sizzling 127.8 offensive rating and have outscored opponents by 26.9 points per 100 possessions. A Hauser/Tatum/White trio has posted a +52.8 net rating in 28 total minutes together.
It continues a career-long trend for Hauser of positively impacting winning by simply taking care of the basketball and spacing the floor. Hauser has ranked in the 97th percentile or higher in turnover rate in each of the last three seasons, turning the ball over on just 5.7 percent of possessions last season (35 turnovers in 1,934 minutes).
Hauser is never going to be mistaken for a point guard, but his ability to value the basketball matters when the Celtics want to dominate the possession game. He shoots when he has open looks, is a willing ball-mover when he doesn’t, and good things tend to happen when he’s on the court.
And every now and then he’ll throw a fancy dime worthy of breaking out the binoculars.
With the season being roughly one-tenth of the way through, I figured we could do a check-in on the two of the major offseason acquisitions, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marcus Smart, who were signed to contracts paying them $3,524,115 and $6,064,00 this season, respectively.
Marcus Smart brings a lot more to the table for the Rockets than what appears in the box score. His defensive abilities, constant energy, and ability to make opposing guards miserable earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022. He brings another veteran presence to a young Rockets locker room. He will not be expected to score each night, but his ball-handling, shot creation, and the ability to make timely shots will make him a key piece of the Rockets’ rotation.
So far this season, Marcus is averaging 9.8 points, 2.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while shooting 38.7% from three and 44.2% from the field. The field goal percentage is trending higher than his career average, as it three-point shooting, which is incredibly encouraging. Smart also had a stellar game vs. the Thunder, where he scored 24 points and made 7 three-pointers.
Bogdan Bogdanovic provides the Rockets with a specific set of skills
Houston needs perimeter shooting, and the 38% three-point shooter for his entire NBA career provides that. Bogdanovic can also create off the dribble at the second level of the offense and make shots when the main offensive players are on the bench or under heavy defensive pressure. He can create off the dribble at the second level of the offense and can make shots when the main offensive players are on the bench or under heavy pressure from the defense. This season, Bogdanovic is averaging 5.6 points per game, which does not seem like a lot, but he is shooting a blistering 45.5% from three. Any team can use that.
Bogdanovic is an excellent attacking addition to this year’s sqaud. He can shoot, create off the dribble and space the floor, so he meets many of the Rockets’ needs. However, his health and consistency will determine the effectiveness of this signing.
What is interesting about both of these acquisitions is the varying amounts of impact that each can bring to a game. Smart is brought in for his defense, energy, and leadership. Bogdanovic brings shooting, creation on offense, and floor spacing. Both players bring experience to Houston’s young core and can help ease the transition of some of the young players into more rotation minutes as they continue to grow. They can be of use to players like Reed Sheppard by having veteran players on the team to help support the young players and to allow for more flexibility with lineups.
Ultimately, the value of both of these players will be determined by how they perform in games of consequence. Houston is trying to build a team of players that can help get them past the first round in the postseason, not just a collection of veterans and youngsters. If I had to give a grade for the two signings so far, I would give the Bogdonovic signing an A, and the Marcus Smart signing an A- only because Smart has missed time with an injury already.
Thats all for today! Make sure to let me know what you all think about the signings in the comments, and as always make sure to check back at The Dream Shake for all things Houston Rockets coverage.
Charlie Savage scored against his father’s team as Reading eased into the second round of the FA Cup with a 5-0 rout of Peterborough at the Weston Homes Stadium.
This all-League One tie turned out to be one of the most one-sided of the day, with the Peterborough manager, Robbie Savage, watching on in disbelief as his side were pulled apart.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 28: Casey Mize #32 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on August 28, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve got some more hot stove speculation to talk about and apparently it’s on the pitching front. As you can imagine after how this past season went, the Atlanta Braves are likely going to be on the hunt to add to their rotation in order to fortify it ahead of next season (whenever that may be). There are some intriguing names out there and while there aren’t really any substantial rumors at the moment, there is now some information out there on who the Braves were looking at back in August once the Trade Deadline rolled around.
According to Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves were “prominently linked” to current free agent right-hander Casey Mize and were also reportedly interested in fellow free agent and right-hander Nick Pievetta as well. With that being said, Burns did mention that Atlanta’s “interest was overstated” when it came to Mize and that they also had injury concerns when it came to Pivetta as well.
Mize was certainly coveted by large portions of this fanbase at the deadline, as he’d been a core member of the Tigers’ rotation for a few years and had been having a solid season up until he got traded to the Padres. He then had a very rocky rental stint in San Diego across 10 starts and 44.2 innings pitched where he ended up with a 7.42 ERA (185 ERA-) and a 7.17 FIP (171 FIP-). His production truly fell off of a cliff when compared to how he fared during his time in Detroit in 2026, which is when he was sitting on a 2.70 ERA (65 ERA-) and a 2.58 FIP (62 FIP-) over 16 starts and 86.2 innings pitched.
Who knows how much the change of scenery played a role in Mize going from having an fWAR of 2.9 with the Tigers to cratering down to a -0.7 fWAR during his time with the Padres, but you have to imagine that the Detroit version is more of the true version of Mize than the one we saw in San Diego and that means that he’ll certainly have plenty of interest in him during this free agency cycle. With that being said, that rough stint should play a factor and maybe it’ll play out in Atlanta’s favor since Mize might end up being more amenable to the type of short-term deal that Alex Anthopoulos likes to go for on the free agency market.
Mize also comes with his fair share of injury issues as he did spend a decent amount of time on the IL during the 2026 season. It makes sense that if Atlanta’s interest in Mize was overstated then their interest in Nick Pivetta being muted due to injury concerns is also understandable. Pivetta was only able to make eight starts in 2026 for the Padres as a right flexor strain essentially torpedoed his season and caused him to miss basically everything from late-April until September.
With that being said, Pivetta was effective when he did pitch in 2026 as he finished with an ERA of 2.86 (71 ERA-) and a FIP of 2.21 (53 FIP-), which was largely in line with what he did in 2025 during his first season with the Padres. As such, it makes sense that the Padres themselves are reportedly interested in bringing Pivetta back on a different deal.
That also makes it make sense that Pivetta would be up Atlanta’s alley because, again, Anthopoulos has a M.O. of sticking with short-term deals in free agency. At this point, however, it’s purely speculation on the part of Burns and everybody else since we haven’t really heard anything substantial or that the Braves are close on anybody at the moment. I’m sure that there’s certainly some talking going on with various free agents at the moment but for now, the talk is just that: Talk.
We’ll see if this light puff of smoke eventually turns into a source of fire but for now, all we can do is wait and see what the Braves get up to in this period before the lockout. Let’s see what happens!
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 6: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers boxes out during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on November 6, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
However, an ill-timed injury halted Thiero’s progress and kept him out of the opening weeks of the regular season. After some patience to allow swelling in his knee to go down, Thiero finally made his season debut in Friday’s win over the Blazers and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat from the preseason.
In only six minutes, Thiero’s impact was felt as he tallied four points, four rebounds and two assists. After the game, head coach JJ Redick was asked about his performance and got rave reviews.
“I thought his first two defensive possessions, he made mistakes and then after that he was awesome,” Redick said. “He literally did everything we asked him to do. He was great on the offensive glass. Even sometimes when we didn’t necessarily get the possession, he was tapping the ball and crashing.
“I thought the read he made out of the short roll, I think they blitzed three times in the first half and two of those were against him. He makes the short roll and he gets the lob. I thought he played a great game and, defensively, he was really good in the second half.”
Thiero came in late in the first quarter in the role previously held by Jarred Vanderbilt and immediately made an impact. Given his leaping ability, Thiero being the ball screener and roll man felt like an obvious fit.
The Blazers immediately tested him as they blitzed Luka Dončić, forcing Thiero to not just be in the right spot in the short roll, but then make a decision. He nailed both aspects, setting up Ziaire Williams for a dunk.
Shortly after, the Blazers opted for a more traditional pick-and-roll coverage. This time, Thiero rolled hard to the rim and caught the lob for an athletic finish.
“He did great,” Walker Kessler said of Thiero. “Obviously, we value Adou a lot. He’s a very physical player. Really talented, athletic player. I mean, that lob he caught is very, very impressive. He had a really good debut for the season.”
Thiero’s athleticism is unparalleled on the roster — and among the elites of the elite in the league as a whole — and offers the Lakers a different dynamic. Thiero as a screener and roller won’t always work as it did on Friday, but his athleticism and activity level will continue to jump off the screen.
The Lakers’ hope now is that he can stay healthy and start to stack positive performances in the regular season.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 22: Michael Eyssimont #81 of the Boston Bruins passes th bench after scoring during a preseason game between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers on September 22, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Bruins will be without James Hagens for at least a few games, as the team announced on Saturday morning that the rookie forward has been placed on injured reserve.
The B’s didn’t get into specifics about the injury itself, though we know when it occurred:
James Hagens exited tonight's game after taking this cross-check from Samuel Girard… pic.twitter.com/Bo5w3E5lc8
Given the area in which he was crosschecked, you can speculate on ribs, a bruised kidney, a back injury, etc., but the main takeaway is that Hagens will now be out for at least seven days.
Marco Sturm, however, seems to think Hagens may miss a bit more time, telling the media today that he expects Hagens will be out “a few weeks.”
With Hagens on the shelf, the Bruins recalled forward Mikey Eyssimont, who has been on quite a heater down in the AHL.
Eyssimont leads the AHL in goals with 13 in eight games, including three hat tricks on the season.
His latest hat trick came just last night in Hamilton, as Eyssimont helped the P-Bruins erase a two-goal deficit with a natural hat trick in the last three minutes of the third period.
Eyssimont scored with 2:08, 1:08, and 25 seconds left to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 win.
You can certainly see why the B’s would turn to the hot hand to potentially fill Hagens’s spot.
Based on how he has played at the AHL level this season, Eyssimont certainly deserves some NHL ice time, even if it’s on a short-term basis.
Eyssimont put up 8G-10A-18PTS in 56 games with the NHL Bruins last season.
He appeared in two postseason games as well, recording no points.
With the Bruins off on Saturday and Providence playing relatively nearby in Hamilton, ON, on Friday, Eyssimont should be available for Sunday afternoon’s matinée game against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.
This photo was sent to me by BCB reader Brian Peterson. Thanks, Brian — and a reminder, if you can find photos you’d like me to sleuth, send ‘em along!
Incidentally, I could have taken this one and made it black-and-white, but this is the way it was sent to me and I rather like the old-fashioned sepia tone.
So what do we know about this photo? The Cubs catcher is wearing No. 9. There’s a Padres runner who was just thrown out at the plate, as shown by the emphatic “out!” call by the plate umpire. A Padres batter wearing No. 21 is clearly the on-deck hitter.
At first, this might seem difficult but in fact, it was pretty easy.
The catcher is Steve Swisher. I recognized him right away. That narrows this down to 1974-77.
There were several players who wore No. 21 for the Padres in those four seasons, but this man is also easy to recognize. It’s Cito Gaston, who later was a World Series-winning manager with the Blue Jays in the 1990s.
That narrows it down to one season, as Gaston left the Padres after 1974.
Gaston played in just three games at Wrigley Field in 1974: June 17, Aug. 18 and Aug. 19. So then it was a simple matter of seeing when there was a play at the plate where Gaston was the on-deck hitter.
There was, fortunately, only one such play. It happened in the first inning of the game Monday, June 17, 1974. Padres second baseman Horace Clarke, better known for his 10 years with the Yankees — he played only 42 games with San Diego and had been acquired by them only a couple of weeks earlier — walked with one out in the top of the first inning and advanced to second on a walk drawn by Dave Winfield.
Nate Colbert then singled and Clarke tried to score. Billy Williams, playing left field that day, threw Clarke out at the plate. That’s what we are seeing in this photo.
The Cubs took a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning of this game and blew it, with the Padres scoring the tying run in the top of the ninth. That led to long extra innings and the Padres broke through with a two-run 13th inning off Steve Stone, in his first of three years with the Cubs. The Cubs did get the tying runs on base in the bottom of the 13th on a pair of singles with two out, but Carmen Fanzone flied to center to end the game, which the Cubs lost 7-5.
Just a little slice of Cubs baseball from more than half a century ago.
Welcome back to the Den. The Wolves are ten games in and their record stands at 7-3. Over that time the Wolves sprinted out of the gates, lost Anthony Edwards to dirty knees in need of a cleaning, and have mostly righted the ship. Their losses are on travel back-to-backs and their first game without Edwards where they didn’t even have a chance to practice before tip-off.
This team found something special in their first four games and then had their literal knees cut from them. Through the mire of the early season, as the rest of the league reels from their own injuries, the Wolves are looking for another new identity. An identity that does not include Edwards but prepares for his return.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of questions for this team to answer. Here are some of them.
Note: So much of this is small sample size theater.
1. Can Jonathan Kuminga keep this up?
It’s just flashes. He had similar highs in Golden State before cooling down. There’s no way he can keep this up. Here he goes again driving into traffic to get blocked… huh, nice pass. No no no, don’t shoot tha…SPLASH! Oh my gawd, he got up so high for that rebound.
This short-staged drama has occurred inside my head in nearly every game this year. In good games and bad, Jonathan Kuminga has shown up to do whatever is asked of him.
In every counting stat except points per game, Kuminga is averaging career bests; rebounds (5.7), assists (2.9), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.0). His highest BPM through his first five seasons was 0.1. This season he is at 2.9 and has his career first positive for Offensive Box Plus Minus (0.6).
Head Coach Chris Finch has heaped praise on JK. In Minnesota’s more read and react, flow, style, the Wolves starting power forward is emboldened to make a play when the ball finds him. His cuts aren’t always rewarded but it sends the defense into a panic and opens things up for his teammates. It also puts him in the middle of the floor to grab or poke out offensive rebounds.
I am running out of excuses for why it won’t last. After the first few games, I thought his play would disappear once the initial novelty of the season’s start wore off. It didn’t.
I thought he’d become more shot hungry and ball dominant when Ant went down. He hasn’t.
I thought he’d get worn down having to guard some of the best players in the league night after night. This might happen as the overlong season grinds on, but so far Kuminga seems to get up for the battle.
The hardest question might be coming, “Can the Wolves afford to keep Kuminga?“
2. What is Rudy’s purpose on offense?
The start of the season has seen a dramatic drop in Rudy Gobert’s points per game and his near league-best shooting efficiency. Gobert is averaging his fourth fewest shot attempts, second least points per game, the worst shooting percentage, and worst free throw percentage of his career.
It took one of the smartest basketball minds in Mike Conley over a year to learn how to play with Rudy. LaMelo Ball has had a scant few weeks to build chemistry. Combine that with the geometry of the floor and the defensive attention he is getting due to the sidelined Edwards, and it’s no surprise the lack of consistency.
The Wolves need Rudy to be effective on offense. The book is out on the big man. Good defenses know how to bait Minnesota into thinking Rudy is open and recover quick enough to force a turnover or an errant shot.
Which brings us to the question of how to effectively use Gobert on offense. There is space to use him in the pick n’ roll, but that has rarely been Finch’s play style of choice. He is averaging a career high in offensive rebounds and this is primarily where I want him to find his points.
Finishing those misses just as they bounce off or tipping them out to teammates to try again when defenders are too close to him. Don’t give them a chance to send him to the line.
He is very good at screening his teammates open and should continue to be used as the effective body in the way. This opens up Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, and Bones Hyland to get a screen assist into open triples. But this also pulls Rudy away from the hoop and the offensive boards that are his best offense.
Simple as it sounds his threat to roll is only as effective as his chemistry with his point guard. Until that firms up, he’s on cleanup duty.
3. What is a Ghost Screen?
The Wolves are getting spooky with a lot more ghost screens this season. This gambit, that asks a shooting threat to feint a screen before sprinting to the other side of the point-of-attack (POA) defender, is meant to short circuit a defense. In a fraction of a second, the ghost screener’s defender has to determine if they need to call for a switch if the screen gets set, or to chase after the shooter who has suddenly burst to a preferred place to spot up.
The Wolves are loaded with players who can quickly turn on the jets (I can’t recommend Ayo Dosumnu’s Player’s Tribune piece enough) and make this decision that much harder. Screens are overcome best when a defense is communicating. The threat of a ghost screen shortens that window for effective communication.
If the POA defender thinks a screen is about to be set, they might get ready to hedge for the incoming contact giving the ball handler enough wiggle room to drive. If the chase defender thinks a screen is being set, they might slow up enough to give the ghost screener a chance to find an open look. If a screen is set, the game flows into common pick n’ roll, one of the most tried and true means of creating advantages.
In the clip below, the Wolves use a combination of screens to break Orlando’s zone, a past bugaboo for Minnesota.
Armed with better outside shooting than the past two years, look for the Wolves to continue to haunt perimeter defenders with these scary non-screens.
4. Who else has come back from dirty knees?
Note: Every injury to a player is unique. No timeline to return or level of ability when returning is the same. An Achilles tear for Donte DiVincenzo and his play style is a completely different injury that an Achilles tear for Ariel Hukporti and how he approaches the game, despite hurting the same tendon.
The day after it was announced that Ant would get arthroscopic knee surgery, a friend of mine sent me a grim text. All he could think of was Grant Hill, Brandon Roy, and Penny Hardaway and the possibility that Ant’s career would be sapped from him like it had from those elite athletes.
I immediately texted back “What about DWade, Kobe, CP3?” After a brief internet search here are several NBA players who have undergone arthroscopic knee surgery who had some of their best years after the fact.
Kobe Bryant – Kobe had his first knee surgery in 2003, another in 2006, and another in 2010. In the midst of this string of surgeries he was an All-Star every year (despite the Laker bump, these were earned), won an MVP and was top five in MVP voting in all but one year, and made All-Defensive Teams in every year but one.
Dwyane Wade – DWade (a frequent Ant comp) had his entire left meniscus removed in 2002 while in college and went on to have a Hall of Fame career where he was unwillingly nicknamed Flash for how quick he was despite playing sans knee cartilage.
Chris Paul – Snitch Paul had arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a meniscus tear in 2010 while still with the New Orleans Hornets. As fun as he was on those Hornets teams, the Point God emerged into a force in the years after with the Lob City Clippers, Hardenball Rockets, and even made his first Finals with the Phoenix Suns, 11 years after the surgery.
Jimmy Butler – General Soreness had surgery on his right knee in 2018 while the Wolves were third in the Western Conference. He returned to help break the 14 year playoff drought. Jimmy has since been the driving force to two NBA finalist teams, never winning one. He adds multiple All-Star selection, an All-NBA selection, and an All-Defensive Team honor to his otherwise championship barren trophy case. I’m not bitter.
Jaylen Brown – Mr. Lamb Chops and Gravy had a knee procedure in the summer of 2025 and was back by training camp en route to being an All-Star, All-NBA 2nd Team, and sixth in MVP voting.
This surgery to clean up Ant’s knee will likely diminish Ant’s burst athleticism. He has moved his game to more outside shooting while maintaining a rim presence. If his downhill game is not as quick, it will hurt, but he’s also added a midrange for if the defender goes too far under that leaves him a three level problem for any defense.
Plenty of NBA greats have bounced back, here’s hoping Ant joins this laudable list.
5. What does this rotation look like fully healthy?
Ant is out for roughly two months. Terrance Shannon Jr. has missed two games with a hip contusion. Donte DiVincenzo is recovering from an Achilles tear with every intention of coming back this season.
In their absence the Wolves have slotted Ayo Dosunmu into the starting lineup. Bones Hyland is scoring the ball well. Jaylen Clark is getting into guys jerseys and hitting 41.2% of his threes on 2.1 attempts a game.
All of these players are competing with each other for minutes. While the deeper bench has done yeomen’s work to keep the Wolves head above water, they are not as good as the players whose minutes they are sopping up.
Finch is strict in his rotations. In the last three years, his starting lineups are in the top five for most used lineups in the NBA. If he gets a fully healthy team, Bones and Clark’s minutes will likely disappear all together. Ayo will move back into his sixth man role ready to be whatever his team needs of him.
Donte is the biggest question mark. He started all 82 games last season, but there is not a spot for him in this starting lineup. We also don’t know what he will look like coming back from such a devastating injury.
Sans LaMelo foul trouble giving Bones more minutes in the Raptors game, Finch has only given double digit minutes out to nine players before the injuries started. Joan Beringer’s minutes aren’t going anywhere. Trey Lyles has size, outside shooting, and has shown a predilection for being in the right place at the right time. Unless countering a specific lineup, his minutes stay the same.
Shannon figures to be the first cut in playtime with the Big Ragu’s return unless Finch expands his bench to ten. And yet, there are few players who could elevate TJ’s game better than Donte. An attacking TJ off a Beringer screen with Donte, Ayo, and Trey spreading the floor is tailormade to confound defenses.
On those nights where the injury report is blank, I hope Finch keeps the pedal to the metal with frequent rotations in the vein of Memphis Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo. The Grizz have 13 players averaging double digit minutes and only two players over 30 minutes a game, Cameron Boozer (32.3) and Ty Jerome (30.7).
The NBA season is grueling. We have seen year after year the Wolves struggle as the playoffs wear on. TJ, Bones, and Clark are good players, deserving of minutes that will keep the starters fresh for when they are needed most.
6. How do the Wolves compare to the rest of the league (through 10)?
Look here for the inarguable answers through the first ten games.
The Wolves are presently top five in the league in the following team categories:
Points per Game (5th)
Rebounds Per Game (1st)
Three Pointers Made (2nd)
Net Rating (1st)
Defensive Rating (3rd)
2nd Chance Points (5th)
Pull Up Shooting (5th)
Loose Balls Recovered (2nd)
The Net Rating stat is leaning heavily on Minnesota’s first three blow out wins. That said, they have only lost their games by a combined 17 points thus far. They are hitting plenty of threes. They are defending with energy and diving for loose balls. They don’t treat the game as something that should be handed to them like some legacy Ivy Leaguer applying at his dad’s company. They are battling for the ball and snatching it from less hungry competition.
7. What is the ranking of the Wolves’ ticket package/giveaways this season?
Gone are the days of XL T-Shirts and Howl Towels. The Wolves have overloaded this season with all manner of tchotchke, curio and baseball jersey to lure fans and collectors alike to home games. Most of these do not have an image released but give you just enough information to send your imagination whirring.
There is an entire series of baseball hats with design help from former Wolves vets. For Kevin Garnett’s jersey retirement, Minnesota has five unique pieces of career spanning collectible celebrating the Big Ticket’s accomplishments wearing 21. There are bobbleheads, blankets, and backpacks and way way way too many baseball jerseys. And here they all are, definitively ranked.
8. Why are there so many baseball jersey giveaway nights?
To begin, I know:
There are seven ticket package giveaways featuring a baseball jersey this season. In collaboration with local artists, this is what the Wolves are doing for their Artist’s Series this year. Each jersey, for a sport different than the one it is honoring, celebrates a societal cross-section; Latino Noche, Military Appreciation, Native American Heritage, Pride Night, Asian American and Pacific Islander Night, Black Excellence, and Inspiring Women.
I think the designs are fun. Each one is a variation with pin stripes in a variety of colors. Some of them have designs on the sleeve nodding to the theme of the night. All of them have “Wolves Basketball” on the back. And all of them are baseball jerseys.
I love the Artist’s series. I have purchased at least one shirt each of the last two seasons. I love that a local artist gets to put their stamp on the Wolves design. I love that several of the local artists are BIPOC and women creators. I love that they came in a variety of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats.
I just don’t understand the thought process in making seven different baseball jerseys. I don’t know enough about production costs, or textiles, so forgive my potentially ignorant question, but, wouldn’t a jersey with two less sleeves of material be cheaper while closer to the topic at hand? Can they not do basketball jerseys because of some contractual stuff with Nike? WHY!?
All that said, I think the Native American design is my favorite and I might need to get one.
9. Where are we at in the marathon?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 02: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first quarter at Target Center on November 02, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wolves have played ten games in 17 days. If losing Ant and TJ wasn’t enough, they have not had more than a day between games and twice have played in travel back-to-backs. All marathons are tough. Some like to remind you of that fact in the first few miles.
The giddy win streak to start the season, like those first marathon steps past gathered supporters, can make you feel invincible. Before you know it, you’re running faster than you can sustain and its only mile two.
This is not to say that what we saw in the first three games is unsustainable, but with Ant out, the team is grasping for an identity while still playing fast and loose. LaMelo is trying to play aggressive defense and fouling like crazy.
The race is still young though. The stored ATP that let the Wolves sprint out of the gate may be spent, but they have years of experience and the benefits of youth. In the first full month of the season, they are searching for a pace they can maintain.
The challenge of racing a marathon is knowing the line between speed and overheating. The Wolves need to keep chasing after rebounds and through screens without losing anyone else to injury. If the news of Donte’s return holds true, and Ant and TJ bounce back, they’ll get an injection of energy better than any banana or unsavory gel packet found along the march.
10. Where will the Wolves be at Game 21?
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 04: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on November 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
From now until the day after Thanksgiving (no it is not a holiday and you can’t make me recognize it as one) the Wolves take on a mix of the top and bottom of both conferences. They play nine of them at home. Here’s a snap shot of who they got.
The promise that the Utah Jazz were going to try this year has landed on its face due to injury and their inability to defend the point of attack. The Bulls are finally rebuilding. The Nets have five players in their sophomore season and only two of them get playing time despite their abysmal record.
On the challenging side of the opposition, Cooper Flagg looks incredible alongside the returned Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks are a deep squad and can hang around in any game. The Memphis Grizzlies, on the back of Ty Jerome’s electric start and the connective play of rookie Cam Boozer are near the top of the conference.
Portland Trail Blazer’s head coach Micah Nori returns to Minnesota for a home back-to-back. Nori has his team cooking, bolstered by Blazer legend, the renewed Damian Lillard.
The Knicks have started off shaky but can find their championship form on any given night. Finally, the Thunder are a battered and broken team that still boasts seven players that could earn starter’s minutes on most teams in the league.
With the Wolves only having one back to back in this stretch, and three days of rest between game 11 and 12 to rest and practice, I see the Wolves going into the month of December playing at the same pace, 14-6.
The Florida Panthers will take on the Washington Capitals today, but they'll do so with center Anton Lundell.
The 25-year-old was said to be out by coach Paul Maurice shortly before game time with an undisclosed injury. Lundell has played in every Panthers game up to this point, scoring four goals and six points in 16 games.
Lundell had a tough start offensively to his 2026-27 NHL season, but he has begun to turn things around. On Oct. 30, Lundell recorded a hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
With Lundell out of today's lineup, Cole Reinhardt will rejoin the squad. Reinhardt has been in the press box for quite some time now, most recently playing on Oct. 22. He's played just one NHL game this season, failing to register a point but recorded 10:03 of ice time.
Reinhardt will skate on the third line with Lars Eller and Eetu Luostarinen. Reinhardt will play on the right wing with Eller shifting back to the middle of the ice in Lundell's absence.
Following this afternoon's fixture, the Panthers are back in action on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. Lundell's availability for tomorrow's matchup is undetermined.
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He had recently likened Luka Dončić to a supernova. He said you have to pick your poison against him.
So, when asked if he had any superlatives to offer following Dončić’s 53-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance in the Lakers’ 124-118 win over the Trail Blazers on Friday, Redick stumbled.
“Sure,” Redick said. “Sure.”
When a reporter started asking another question, he interjected.
“I’m going to just sit around, we’ll gather one day and come up with more superlatives,” Redick added. “So I’ll have more words ready. But for now, I don’t have any words.”
The hyper-prepared Lakers coach was finally ill-prepared for an assignment.
Redick isn’t the only person who has been left dumbfounded following Dončić’s blazing start to the season in which he’s averaging a league-leading 40.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists.
In Friday’s game, Dončić passed Michael Jordan (347) for the most points scored in the firstnine games of a season since the NBA-ABA merger with 361 points.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic shoots a free throw during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
It’s the most points anyone has scored in the modern NBA since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962-63.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Dončić said. “Obviously playing basketball, it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s more [fun] when you play like this and when you win games. So, it’s been like this my whole life. Basketball was my dream. Playing in the NBA was my dream. Just living my dream.”
The Lakers are living theirs, too.
The 27-year-old face of their franchise is having an MVP-caliber campaign while leading the Lakers to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with an 8-2 record.
No one expected the Lakers to be this good.
And no one expected Dončić to soar to the top of the MVP conversation after he hadn’t finished in the top two in voting ever in his career.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
But if the first few weeks of the season have made anything clear, it’s that Redick needs to beef up his vocabulary. He needs to get a thesaurus. Dončić is skyrocketing, and he’s carrying the Lakers with him.
There were many incredible moments in the Lakers’ 16-point come-from-behind win over the Trail Blazers in which they stormed back after shooting 4-for-23 from beyond the arc in the first half, including missing all 15 of their initial attempts from that distance.
“Luka can do some things that maybe a handful, if not no one, can do in basketball,” Redick said.
Things only got more fun from there.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
There was a little mixup after Dončić notched his 11th 50-point performance in his career, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 10th-most such games in NBA history.
It all started because Ziaire Williams couldn’t wait to congratulate Dončić.
So much so that Williams decided to interrupt what he thought was Dončić’s walk-off television interview with “NBA on Prime” by approaching him from behind, putting his hands on his shoulders and yelling, “Fifty ball.”
Only, there was a problem.
Austin Reaves was doing the interview. Not Dončić.
