Owner has put in £10m but seven victorious players at Old Trafford were in the Championship two years ago and stayed at Trinity
It may seem quite obvious to suggest there is plenty Super League can learn from its newest champions but as Wakefield Trinity’s dreams came true at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, it was easy to ponder just how transformational a moment this is for not only them, but so many others, too.
This fairytale has captured the national attention and punctured the mainstream unlike few other Super League stories in recent times. A second-tier club just two years ago, Wakefield are now champions of England and have a possible showdown with the NRL champions, Sydney Roosters, to contemplate early next year in the World Club Challenge.
Antonelli and Hamilton led the criticism in Sepang
Race delayed after software problems in wet conditions
Formula One drivers issued a damning condemnation of the sport’s current engine regulations that caused the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia to open with farcical scenes of cars stopping on track and unable to accelerate because of software problems in the electronics that control the engines.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won in Sepang but only after F1 suffered the embarrassment of a host of cars barely able to complete two formation laps in the wet as they were making their way to the grid.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 01: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets looks on during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 01, 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is it officially a hot seat? I’m not sure, but ESPN recently put out their list of NBA coaches with the most pressure to win this season, and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka is listed at number two. Here’s what ESPN had to say about Houston’s leader, and the fact he hasn’t been able to get the Rockets past the first round.
Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
Jamahl Mosley had the most success of the six coaches who were let go this summer, leading the Orlando Magic to 46 wins and a seven-game first-round playoff series loss to the Detroit Pistons. Ultimately, the Magic concluded that Mosley had been given enough chances and it was Sean Sweeney’s turn to try to deliver the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2010.
Udoka’s path with the Rockets mirrors Mosley’s time with the Magic: Udoka has transformed a lottery team into a playoff team, but he has been unable to get out of the first round in multiple tries despite a talented young roster. With Houston committing big dollars to Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, it’s officially time for Udoka to translate his team’s potential into actualized success.
The good news for Udoka is that veteran guard Fred VanVleet will return to the court after missing last season with a knee injury and Houston didn’t lose any crucial rotation players this summer.
The bad news? Serious questions linger about the Rockets’ ability to create enough spacing on offense and execute in close games. Udoka, who made his name as a defensive-minded coach, must prove he can find creative answers to the scoring issues.
Houston’s collapse in last season’s first round against the Luka Doncic-less Lakers was the type of painful defeat that can pull a group closer together or fracture its chemistry. While Udoka has some peace of mind thanks to a lucrative long-term contract extension he signed in 2025, the time has come for the Rockets to turn the corner.
So as we get closer to the season starting and the Rockets are facing expectations again this year, the seat is definitely warming up for Udoka, even if it isn’t quite hot yet. The biggest issue from my standpoint is the lack of accountability. The same accountability that Udoka expects from his players, he has yet to exhibit himself, at least publicly. And while it’s certainly the players that play the game, one of the biggest culprits for the Rockets’ lack of playoff success under Udoka is that he has such a rudimentary offensive system (if you can even call it that). Some may even consider it THE single biggest culprit. So while we can blame Alperen Sengun for not developing a three, Kevin Durant not developing any maturity, and Reed Sheppard for not playing stronger D, the failure of Udoka to maximize the offensive talent he does have on the team stands just as high on the list as any if those. If it continues this season, will it cost Udoka his job?
On the surface, Sunday's game between the Cardinals and the Giants brings little if any sizzle to the NFL menu. But there's a surprising amount of history embedded in the series.
Via NBC Sports research, the two teams first met 100 years ago next month, on November 7, 1926. Today's game will be the 130th time they've squared off.
From 1950 through 2001 (with the exception of 1968 and 1982), they played twice per year. Even after the Cardinals moved to Arizona, they remained in the NFC East for more than a decade.
Since the realignment of the divisions in 2002, they've played 11 times. Most recently, they met in 2023. The Giants won that one, 31-28; the Cardinals had won four in a row before that.
A win for the Giants would give them a 3-0 record at home for the first time since 2008. A win for the Cardinals would end a 16-game losing streak against teams that entered the contest with a losing record.
Of the eight games in the 1:00 p.m. ET window, it still doesn't generate a ton of excitement. But at least we tried.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 03: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Max Muncy #13 after winning Game One of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Traditionally, what might be described as a commanding win comes in a blowout result or with a team overcoming glaring obstacles. For this specific matchup, the Dodgers might have managed to secure one over the Braves without any of that, simply by materializing well-established facts regarding these two clubs.
Through the middle of the sixth inning, the Dodgers led by just one run after Sean Murphy delivered Atlanta’s first and only blow to Tarik Skubal with a solo shot. The Braves generated some action in that inning, but Skubal stranded a pair and helped the Dodgers maintain the lead. With all of their offense in the first half of this game coming from Teoscar Hernández’s two-run shot, punishing a mistake-breaking ball in the fourth, the Dodgers’ hitters were playing down to their competition.
The game had gotten shorter, and it was still close, but the moment it became dangerously close with Murphy’s homer and the subsequent trouble Skubal ran into, the Dodgers turned on the jets—giving themselves the cushion to eventually survive a ninth inning scare. Instead of a shutdown inning, the Braves saw the game slip from their hands, allowing a pair of homers in the bottom of the sixth.
The Braves made it close against Tanner Scott in the ninth with a two-run bomb by Ozzie Albies. Even then, it’s not as if Scott were the recipient of unwavering trust from Dave Roberts, a reflection of this bullpen’s depth. In fact, he didn’t even wait and see if Scott could finish the game without allowing the tying run to get an at-bat, bringing in Evan Phillips for the final out. Under normal circumstances, an elite closer has a little more faith than getting pulled because of a single bad pitch, but then again, it’s not a one-off occurrence.
With the scoreline showing 5-3, the prevailing sentiment is that Atlanta played as well as it could have against a dialed-in Skubal apart from one shaky inning, and it still wasn’t enough. While Mookie Betts reached base a couple of times, it was Hernández and the bottom of the order getting it done for Los Angeles. It’s the bottom of the order, but that’s only because someone has to be there, because we’re talking about the likes of Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy. It feels redundant at this point, but the depth to be able to reasonably hit Muncy — the franchise leader in postseason home runs — in the eighth spot is absolutely unparalleled.
Contrasting the depth of the two clubs, Murphy’s home run was the only hit recorded by a batter in the lower half of the Braves lineup. Scott’s troubles in the ninth will be a sticking point, but Skubal’s sixth-inning woes allowed for other bullpen names to come in and prove themselves in this setting. For this one, it was Brock Stewart and Alex Vesia contributing key outs, but for the next one, it could very well be Edgardo Henríquez and Kris Bubic, both of whom warmed up but didn’t enter this game—evidently trusted in high-leverage spots.
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks speaks to the media during New York Knicks Media Day at the Knicks Training Facility on September 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, New York. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Paying homage to my biggest brain fart…
Would you believe the Knicks play basketball tomorrow!?
Here’s the latest from around Tarrytown and those places.
Mike Brown expects his starters to play in the Knicks' first preseason game on Monday, but "not much" pic.twitter.com/U38NeDx5kI
On Mohamed Diawara’s increased comfort and development entering Year 2:
“Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there, because he didn’t quite know what to do, and he knew when he did it, he just had to go hard. So a lot of times, he would just play at one speed. There’s a comfort level now, so his cadence is better, especially offensively. His ability to communicate on the floor is at a little bit of a higher level, because he has a better feel not just offensively, but defensively — not just what he should do, but what he should be telling his teammates to do, especially if he’s on the backside or bottom side of the defense, because he sees everything in front of him. He’s one of those players that needs to take a step forward.”
On his plans for the preseason opener:
“(Starters will play,) but not much. We’ll try to ease them in. The last game is always a dress rehearsal, but we’ll try to build them up leading to that game.”
On accepting preseason mistakes and emphasizing next-play speed:
“Any time you have new guys, because we have new guys on this team that we’re trying to mix in with guys that have been here, you’re gonna make some mistakes. I’m 100 percent OK with that. Once somebody makes a mistake, I’m looking for how quickly do they try to make up for the same mistake? I’m huge on the next-play speed.
“So there’s gonna be a a lot of mistakes, but are guys gonna drop their head a little or hesitate? It happened anyway. Move on, try to correct it. and then address it during the day also.”
On what he’ll prioritize seeing in preseason:
“Overall effort, the little things like boxing out every single time, competing, offensively, to offensive rebound, and then sprinting corner-to-corner in transition.”
On ending practices with a must-make free throw:
“It puts pressure on guys, you know, and then everybody’s standing there watching. So if you miss it, everybody’s got to run. I got it from Pop. It also, at the end of the day, brings the group together.”
On Tony Bradley making the final free throw on Saturday:
“You see everybody came and gave him love. So you feel good when you do it.”
On being followed home by a family of Knicks fans after the championship:
“I stopped at the red light. The first vehicle was kind of honking at me and I could see the kids waving out. So I go through and they turn into a driveway three or four houses past the red light and the father and kids jump out of the car and start waving and they had their Knicks gear on and I gave them a wave.
“But I had my helmet and my sunglasses, so I didn’t think anybody noticed me. So I ride home and I’ve got my country music blasting, and I pull into my driveway in my garage, and the next thing you know, that car was pulling into my driveway. They followed me home.
“I don’t know how they got back in their car that quickly and followed me home. But they followed me home. And the guy owns a company and he had some food products, so he brings out a box of cereal and all that. And he’s got his three kids and they just start telling me what the championship meant . . .
“This is like August, two months after the championship, but you could still feel that passion. So was it scary? Yes. It was scary. Any time you get followed home, it is very, very scary, but just to see the joy and excitement, especially on kids’ faces.
“The dad was more excited than the kids, by the way, but to see that, you realize this is not just a championship. This is special.”
"I always knew Knicks fans were another kind of fans…I was prepared for it to be a big thing. But I was surprised, it was great to see."
On falling out of the Knicks’ rotation during his rookie season:
“Honestly, It didn’t really need explanation. I think I was a rookie. That was my first year. So you just got to be ready, whatever the team wants you to do. We have a great team with big players, so if I was in the rotation and I’m not in the rotation anymore, I think it’s just part of the game for the whole team. I wasn’t really thinking about that, I was just ready to take any opportunity. I wasn’t thinking about not playing and stuff.”
On better understanding how to prepare his body for the NBA:
“Now that I know a little bit more the physicality that I need in the league, how I need to prepare my body. … I think now that I have a year in the league, it’s a little bit easier to see how I can prepare for the new season.”
On the Knicks’ championship parade and his offseason:
“I always knew Knicks fans were another kind of fans…I was prepared for it to be a big thing. But I was surprised, it was great to see.
“Best summer of my life… went back to Paris, it was nice. Everybody was happy about it.”
OG Anunoby calls Mike Brown a "special coach":
"He deserves all the praise…he's always been a great coach. When you win, you get more recognition. Everything is coming together for him." pic.twitter.com/qa88Qf16hv
“I think he has endless upside. He’s very talented, can do a lot: shoot, defend, pass. He can do everything; a really versatile player. I’m excited to see him grow. I think he’s going to keep getting better and better, so I’m really excited for him.”
On receiving the key to his hometown of Jefferson City:
“Yeah, they just told me they were going to do it. I grew up in Jeff City, went to high school out there, have lifelong friends, and I just — I grew up there.
“So Jeff City, Missouri is special to me. So it’s an honor.”
On believing more recognition will come after the Knicks’ championship run:
“Throughout the season, that’s where more recognition will come. This next season, I think I put it on display every night, the versatility, being able to guard anyone and affect the game offensively and defensively. I’m a two-way player, that’s what I take pride in, helping the team win games. I think I’ve always done it.
“Maybe there’s more of an eye on it right now because we just won the championship. That’s what I pride myself in.”
On Mike Brown’s coaching chops:
“He deserves all the praise… he’s always been a great coach. When you win, you get more recognition. Everything is coming together for him.”
On his work with Pacome Dadiet and Mo:
“I encourage them when they’re doing well… be there for them any way I can.”
On appearing on SNL:
“It was fun, we were there for Jalen. Was really cool that he got to host it. We were there for the intro. It was cool to see him do that, some funny skits. It was a good time.”
Jalen Brunson on getting props from stars around the NBA, including LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo:
"I really do appreciate it, I respect the hell out of them…it shows where I've grown, but still a lot of work to do" pic.twitter.com/yl2uj41XgM
“I really do appreciate it and I respect the hell out of them. It’s honestly really cool and it’s a sign of respect. To hear that from those guys, I really do appreciate it.
“It’s just like a lot of things. When you hear praise, when you hear negativity, it has to go through one ear and out the other. You got to continue to be the best version of yourself or people are going to pass you. I really do appreciate it. It shows where I’ve grown, but still got a lot of work to do.”
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 03: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates after hitting a home run in the fourth inning during Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees’ postseason run had seen them erupt for nine runs in both of their Wild Card Series wins over the Red Sox, but they were completely shut down by Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 of the Division Series. The Rays’ ace tossed eight shutout innings and had a no-hitter going through 7.2 innings before Austin Wells ripped a double down the line to finally break that up… only to get thrown out trying to extend it into a triple. Gerrit Cole took the hard luck loss allowing a solo homer to Jonathan Aranda in his five innings of work, and that was your ballgame.
Elsewhere, the Division Series kicked off across the league, so let’s see what the rest of the field accomplished on Saturday night.
AL Division Series Game 1
Chicago White Sox 3, Cleveland Guardians 0 (Chicago leads, 1-0)
Call it divine intervention, but these White Sox are looking to go on a deep run after sweeping the Astros in the Wild Card Series and they went out and stole Game 1 from Cleveland on the road. Parker Messick enjoyed a fabulous first full season for the Guardians, pitching to a 2.56 ERA in 186.1 innings, but his Postseason debut didn’t go as well. He managed to work around a pair of baserunners in the first inning and then cruised through the second and third, but in the fourth Miguel Vargas led off with a single bringing Munetaka Murakami to the plate. Messick gave him a first-pitch sinker up and in the zone, and Murakami deposited it 440 feet out to right field.
That would be all the run support Chicago’s pitching staff needed as they worked their second bullpen game of the playoffs well enough to shut Cleveland out. Hagen Smith was the opener and provided 2.2 innings, issuing three straight walks in the third to end his outing before Bryan Hudson entered and got him out of that jam. Jordan Hicks took over to start the bottom of the fourth and got two quick outs before issuing a walk of his own, passing the baton over to Anthony Kay. Travis Bazzana greeted him by ripping a double out to right field to put runners in scoring position, and Kay walked Austin Hedges to again load the bases with two outs before Brayan Rocchio bailed him out by flipping a middle-middle sweeper harmlessly into the glove of Braden Montgomery.
Kay would get through the fifth without further incident, turning the ball over to Grant Taylor to start the sixth. Taylor delivered on some postseason magic, pitching four shutout innings to more than earn the save going deeper into a game than he had all season by more than a full inning. Taylor struck out six along the way and allowed just a pair of hits, a double and a single in the sixth and seventh respectively. Along the way, his offense gave him some more breathing room as Kyle Teel walked in the seventh and Colton Montgomery doubled to bring him home and make it 3-0. Taylor had it well in control though, ending his marvelous appearance by striking out the side in the ninth.
Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Atlanta Braves 3 (Los Angeles leads, 1-0)
The two-time defending champs opened up their October with Tarik Skubal on the mound, and their deadline acquisition delivered six strong innings of one-run ball. Sean Murphy was the only one able to do any damage to the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, launching a home run to lead off the sixth, but despite a couple of walks issued after his at-bat the rest of the Braves couldn’t rally to hang a crooked number on Skubal. They needed a bigger spark too, because LA was already up when Skubal closed out his night and the lead was about to grow further.
Atlanta chose to go with a bullpen game after needed to go three games deep to best the Phillies in the Wild Card Series, and Dylan Dodd was their choice for the opener. Dodd was one of their best relievers this year, pitching to a 2.54 ERA in 49.2 innings, and he gave them a shot to go toe-to-toe with the champs by tossing three shutout innings. Unfortunately, the pitchers that followed him couldn’t say the same. Victor Mederos was tasked with the fourth inning once Dodd’s day was done, and after getting Will Smith to fly out he walked Freddie Freeman on four pitches bringing Teoscar Hernández to the plate. Hernández got a cutter over the middle of the plate and punished it, putting the Dodgers up 2-0.
After Atlanta answered with their run, the Dodgers were back at it in the bottom of the sixth. Hernández singled ahead of Kyle Tucker, playing his first postseason game for Los Angeles after a season to forget following his massive four-year, $240 million contract in free agency. Tucker got hot in September though, and he started his October off with a two-run bomb to extend the lead. Max Muncy stepped up two batters later and got involved in the home run parade with a solo shot to make it 5-1 Dodgers.
The game wasn’t over yet, however, as Atlanta gave Dodgers closer Tanner Scott their best shot. Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the finale frame with a single and Ozzie Albies crushed the first pitch he saw for a two-run blast to bring the Braves within two, but Scott calmed down from there. He recorded two consecutive outs before Dave Roberts went back to his bullpen and got Evan Phillips to face Mauricio Dubón. Phillips tossed every pitch he knew down and away to Dubón but he laid off enough to work a lengthy walk and took second base on defensive indifference. Phillips finally closed out the game by getting Austin Riley to ground out, securing the 1-0 series lead for LA.
NL Division Series Game 1
Milwaukee Brewers 3, San Diego Padres 2 (Milwaukee leads, 1-0)
The Brewers were heavy favorites for their opening game of the postseason with Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski on the mound, but The Miz wasn’t his usual sharp self in his first career postseason start. The Padres struck first with three straight singles in the second inning to plate the first run of the game, and brought home another as Jake Cronenworth grounded out to first for a fielder’s choice with the throw home coming late.
Milwaukee had their ace’s back though, getting those runs back in the third inning. Facing Robbie Ray, the Brew Crew got a leadoff single ahead of Jackson Chourio, who launched one for a game-tying two run blast. After a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases, the Padres were forced to pull Ray after just 2.2 innings, but Milwaukee couldn’t convert any more as Bradgley Rodriguez escaped the jam with a groundout.
Misiorowski only lasted four innings in this game, but the Brewers’ bullpen held firm despite needing to get 15 more outs. Milwaukee used five relievers to get it done, and they allowed a fair bit of traffic to exist with three hits and three free passes, but the Padres couldn’t convert going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position overall. Meanwhile, in the seventh inning facing Adrian Morejon with two outs William Contreras brought the crowd to their feet with a long ball to straightaway center.
The two home runs were just barely enough for Milwaukee to take this one, Trevor Megill coming on for the four-out save, but both sides had to draw deep into their bullpen to try and take the opening game.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 03: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the fourth inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The first day of the Division Series is done and recency bias is working on me big time because I am struggling to see how any of the four 0-1 teams can overcome the deficit in these five-game series. I’ve always said the MLB playoffs are the best playoffs because it isn’t necessarily who has the best team, but who has the hot hand. “Momentum” is a vastly overplayed sentiment, but, I’ll be good and gosh darned if I can envision any of the 1-0 teams failing to advance. I do so love being wrong though.
I find myself in my day-to-day life remembering a specific phrase. It was a phrase that I’d certainly heard before I heard it in this specific context, but the way FilmJoy delivered “no one knows what they’re doing” cemented the notion very firmly in my brain. Some things remind me of it more than others. My service industry day job gets me thinking about it almost every day, but that doesn’t have the same meaning as it does when an entire industry of supposedly smart people are collectively wrong about one thing. That one thing was Munetaka Murakami, whose entire market was tanked by everyone whose job it is to see the forest getting Blair Witch level lost in the trees.
What you’re seeing in the video below is footage of the only hit the Yankees had against Drew Rasmussen in yesterday’s game. It doesn’t take a ton of scrolling to find people on the timeline questioning Austin Wells’ decision to go for third, but all I can think about watching him hit second base is how base-rounding is a lost art. A perfect cut of the bag probably still wouldn’t have gotten him to third before the relay, but it certainly would not have hurt his chances. Am I forcing a narrative here? Maybe, but it’s my publication, leave me alone.
Drew Rasmussen's no-hitter is over but the Rays team up to get Austin Wells at third base 😮 pic.twitter.com/WyRUMuvneE
Who could’ve foreseen that the best player traded at the deadline this season would be able to single-handedly swing a playoff game? Oh everyone could? That was the whole thing he was sold on? Got it got it got it.
Unconfirmed reports of Padres fans carrying garden shears trying to attain access to the catwalks at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Stay tuned here for updates on the rumors I’m starting.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 30: Briggs McKenzie #45 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during the 2026 Arizona Fall League media day at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today represents the first minor league recap of the Arizona Fall League, as the league got underway yesterday. The Braves action got underway with Briggs McKenzie returning from injury to make the start.
Salt River Rafters 9, Glendale Desert Dogs 4
Briggs McKenzie, SP: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Logan Samuels, RP: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Owen Hackman, RP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Tyler LaPorte, RP: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Briggs McKenzie made his first appearance since June 25th and got off to a strong start, though his command was a bit scattered the entire time. In the first inning he got two strikeouts swinging with his fastball and changeup, and also a weak infield ground ball. In his second inning he got another strikeout and weak ground out, but allowed a run via two walks and two singles, though was taken out of the game as his pitch count for the inning approached 30. He did return for the start of the third inning, getting a pair of fly outs and a hit by pitch before leaving the game. In total he threw 49 pitches with 31 being for strikes.
Briggs was relieved by Logan Samuels, who allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk with one strikeout. Tanner Bauman came in and allowed five runs (three earned) over a third of an inning. Owen Hackman pitched an inning and two thirds, allowing a hit and a walk. Tyler LaPorte went an inning and a third, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
In today’s NBA, the only thing tougher than winning a championship is defending one. The Knicks' front office worked to nearly wholly return their winning roster from last season, but as age, injury and finances make their impact, they’ll need new blood to step up in the coming campaign.
Here are the three Knicks whose roles are likeliest to grow this season, as New York pursues the first repeat in recent NBA history.
OG Anunoby
The only lynchpin on this list, Anunoby should still see a sizable change in responsibility from last season given how much his game blossomed during the championship run. He was the third leading scorer on the team at 16.7 points a night with modest efficiency during the regular season, but he rose to over 20 points per game, finishing second to only Jalen Brunson during the postseason.
Not only did he score more, but did so with ridiculous accuracy and major confidence in his isolation game. Head coach Mike Brown hassuggested giving him more pick-and-rolls this season in response.
Not only that, but Brown noted he will play more small-ball center as well, a necessity given the Knicks’ newfound dearth at the position. With all this lined up, Anunoby should follow up a career-best playoffs with a career-best regular season.
Mohamed Diawara
New York’s most intriguing prospect, the 6-foot-9 incoming sophomore was a pleasant surprise during his rookie campaign, but wasn’t a rotation option for the big playoff run. Things should change materially this season as the Knicks aren’t entering the season with a veteran at his position, and need more frontcourt contributions in a guard-heavy lineup.
The front office and coaching staff will also want to give Diawara real opportunities given how effective he was last year and New York’s lack of developmental projects. It took giving him spot minutes and seeing some results before he could break the rotation for a decent stretch -- this time he’s at least starting on first base.
While it may be expected for Diawara to have serious regular season contributions, the big question for 2026-27 will be can he prove himself to be reliable come the postseason? He’s shown flashes of guarding elite players and hitting big shots, but he’ll need to have a big year to make his mark in April and May.
Tyler Kolek
One formula the Knicks fell back on often in a pinch last season was playing Brunson next to another ball handler. In their miraculous Game 4 comeback during the NBA Finals, it was Jose Alvarado, but before acquiring him at the trade deadline, Kolek had a similar performance against the very same team in the NBA Cup Championship Game.
With Jordan Clarkson moving to more of a wing role and Alvarado being the only other ball handler, last year’s NBA Cup likely won’t be the last time we see Kolek inserted in a big moment. He had a solid regular season in 2025-26 and has a team option for 2027-28, making this year an inflection point on if he sticks around long-term or not.
Brown will also want to once again maximize experimentation and minimize his starters’ load ahead of another deep postseason run, so it may not even take injury or circumstance for Kolek to find real minutes. Can he make the most of them?
After a wild opener, the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are back in action for Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Milwaukee overcame a 2-0 deficit in Game 1 to win 3-2 after William Contreras’ go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning at American Family Field.
Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47 ERA) starts for the Brewers while right-hander Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA) goes for the Padres.
“It always feels good when Michael's on the mound,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “We felt good when he's on the mound all season. He's definitely been our leader on the pitching staff.”
Where to watch Brewers vs Padres: TV channel, streaming
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres flies out off of the roof during the ninth inning in game one of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the San Diego Padres trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 in the top of the ninth inning, Ty France stepped to the plate with one on and one out facing Brewers closer Trevor McGill. France connected on what looked like a sure two-run home run, which would have put the Padres in the lead, but the ball hit one of the roof trusses and deflected into the field of play where it was caught by Milwaukee left fielder Jackson Chourio. The play was ruled an out, and after a couple of umpire meetings and a replay review, the call was confirmed and San Diego was down to its final out. Jackson Merrill hit a well struck line drive to right field, but the ball was caught by Luis Lara and the Padres suffered a 3-2 loss to the Brewers in the series opener of the National League Division Series.
Milwaukee took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when the San Diego bullpen faltered. Adrian Morejon took the mound in the bottom of the seventh and recorded two outs against the first two batters he faced. William Contreras stepped to the plate and battled Morejon before he eventually won the at-bat when he connected on a solo home run on the sixth pitch of the plate appearance which gave the Brewers the lead. Morejon then allowed back-to-back singles before he got the final out on a strikeout.
The Padres had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the eighth with runners at the corners and two outs. McGill who came in to face Fernando Tatis Jr. was able to get out of the inning with a three-pitch strikeout of one of the hottest hitters in the San Diego lineup. The Padres returned to the plate in the top of the ninth and Dustin Harris led off with a single to right field. Manny Machado followed and like Tatis against McGill, he went down on a three-pitch strikeout to set the stage for the dramatic plate appearance from France.
San Diego had plenty of opportunities to add to its two-run lead that came up empty. The Padres left 12 runners on base and finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the game.
San Diego will try to draw even in the series when Michael King takes the mound against Milwaukee today at 1 p.m.
Padres News:
Xander Bogaerts is trying something new, although he is reluctant to talk about it. His new split-grip approach at the plate has been paying dividends for him and the Padres over the final month of the season.
Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball said the Padres hitters needed to carry the momentum from their Wild Card Series into the NLDS against the Brewers. San Diego did that, outhitting Milwaukee 9-7, but two home runs handed the Padres the loss.
All the talk before the game was how the Padres would handle Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski and truth be told, they acquitted themselves quite well, scoring two runs off the flamethrower and forcing him out of the game after four innings.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers secured their first postseason game of the year on Saturday, powering three home runs to back a strong start from Tarik Skubal in a 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves.
It was the first time that Skubal was able to pitch at home in a postseason starts, as all of his four playoff outings had come on the road during his time with the Detroit Tigers. Skubal’s lone blemish on Saturday came via a Sean Murphy home run in the top of the sixth inning, but he went on to strike out seven hitters over six innings of one-run ball.
He did this while also battling a heat wave that struck Los Angeles, but the weather didn’t play a factor into how he addressed his Game 1 start, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“It’s hot. No denying that,” Skubal said. “Every team’s playing in it, right? They’re playing in the same conditions we are. It doesn’t really matter. It shouldn’t really impact how you are mentally or how it’s going to impact how you pitch. Just go out there and play baseball and try to drink water.”
The 2026 regular season wasn’t too kind to Teoscar Hernández, as a hamstring injury cost him a month’s worth of time while having his power zapped until a torrid September. Now that the real test has begun, Hernández has found his October-self yet again, crushing a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning on Saturday to start the scoring.
“I think the focus is different. In the regular season, you try to have a good game in three at-bats. I think in the playoffs, it’s just pitch-by-pitch. For me, it doesn’t matter what I do in the at-bats before, I will try to focus on the one I’m taking.”
Max Muncy continued to etch his name in the company of Dodgers greats, as he crushed his 17th career postseason home run on Saturday, setting a new franchise record for home runs in the postseason, writes Thomas L. Murray of the California Post.
Kyle Tucker was a disaster when playing at home this season, but he started to rectify his Dodger Stadium struggles with a two-run home run that made the difference in Saturday’s win. Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times notes in his latest column that Tucker has a chance of becoming the unlikely hero of the NLDS.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has rightfully been ranked among the best players in the NHL.
The Hockey News' Adam Proteau ranked Shesterkin as the 51st player in the NHL in his top 80 NHL player rankings list for The Hockey News' main site.
"As a Vezina Trophy winner, the 30-year-old Shesterkin doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone – although he might have something to prove in the playoffs. But if you examine Shesterkin’s career numbers, you’ll see his consistency is outstanding," Proteau wrote.
Seeing Shesterkin be ranked among the best players in the NHL is not difficult to understand in the slightest. He is easily one of the NHL's best goaltenders, after all.
Shesterkin has had a strong start to the 2026-27 season, as he has a .935 save percentage and a 1.51 goals-against average in two games. With this, the 30-year-old is certainly playing well right now.
It will now be interesting to see how Shesterkin performs as the 2026-27 season rolls on. If the Rangers hope to get back into the playoffs this season, they are going to need Shesterkin to be on his A-game. He is their biggest X-factor.
The 2026–27 season only started last week, and already, the Vancouver Canucks are taking part in the second-half of their first back-to-back. After winning 4–1 against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, Vancouver is back with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight. Vegas suffered a 4–3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
Saturday saw Vancouver put together a solid team effort. Not only did they find the back of the net four different times (three times at even-strength), they also stepped-up to defend one-another, from Luke Schenn dropping the gloves to Brendan Gallagher mucking it up with Jacob Middleton. While all of Vancouver’s games have had a lighter air about them so far to start 2026–27, Saturday’s game seemed to show best how tight the team has gotten.
While the vibes have sure been high, Vancouver will face their toughest test of the early season when they face Vegas tonight. Having made it to Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, Vegas is a strong team both offensively and defensively. Adding to this is the fact that Vancouver is coming off a back-to-back, while Vegas has had the extra day of rest. For a team like Vancouver, still on track to re-build despite their strong start to the season, tonight’s game will be about sticking to their game-plan regardless of what happens on the scoreboard.
Players To Watch:
Elias Pettersson
The Elias Pettersson that has taken to the ice for the 2026–27 season has looked very different from the player seen the past couple of seasons. Pettersson has played with an added bite to his game through the first three games, currently standing as the NHL’s hits leader with 16. He’s also recorded two goals and three assists in this span, which is tied for his team’s lead in total points. Scoresheet aside, the level of engagement Pettersson has shown to start the year has been nothing but positive.
Jack Eichel
On top of leading his team with five points through Vegas’ first two games of the 2026–27 season, Eichel also recently hit the 700-point mark through his NHL career. As the Golden Knights’ top-line centre, it’ll be interesting to see who Vancouver matches up against Eichel, as the forward is strong on the puck both offensively and defensively.
Vancouver Canucks (2–1–0):
Points:
Paul Cotter: 3–2–5
Elias Pettersson: 2–3–5
Marco Rossi: 3–1–4
Liam Öhgren: 1–3–4
Filip Hronek: 0–4–4
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 1–1–0
Leevi Meriläinen: 1–0–0
Vegas Golden Knights (1–1–0):
Points:
Jack Eichel: 1–4–5
Shea Theodore: 1–2–3
Brayden McNabb: 0–3–3
Victor Olofsson: 1–1–2
Ivan Barbashev: 0–2–2
Goaltenders:
Carter Hart: 1–1–0
Adin Hill: 0–0–0
Game Information:
Start time: 6:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: KiSS West Coast
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) battles with Vegas Golden Knights forward Cole Smith (22) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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