RENNES, France (AP) — Coachless Rennes stunned Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 at home and snapped a five-game winless run on Friday.
The home side fired coach Habib Beye on Monday after its early season gains looked to be slipping away, and it was a firm underdog against PSG, which came to Brittany after winning all seven of its last league fixtures.
But Rennes hit the post early on and it got a reward for its confident start after 33 minutes. Jordanian midfielder Mousa Al-Tamari charged forward on the counterattack and found enough space between two defenders on the edge of the penalty area to curl in a superb opener.
PSG came into the game but was hesitant in front of goal and Esteban Lepaul doubled Rennes' lead midway through the second half. The prolific center forward rose highest to bullet a header past Matvey Safonov for his 11th goal of the season.
Former Rennes player Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back for PSG two minutes later but Breel Embolo restored Rennes' two-goal cushion in the 81st when he finished off another counterattack.
PSG remained atop the table but second-placed Lens can take over if it beats Paris FC on Saturday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After 21 seasons — which included 11 All-NBA nods, nine All-Defensive Teams and being a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team — Chris Paul announced he is retiring from the NBA.
Paul started the season with the Clippers, but things did not go according to plan. He was traded to Toronto at the deadline, and with the Raptors releasing him on Friday, Paul confirmed he was retiring in an Instagram post.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball...
"While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life. I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It's crazy even saying that! Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility. I embraced it all. The good and the bad."
Paul will go down as one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game and his next stop will be the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
"Chris is a legend, man," said his former teammate and current NBC broadcaster Austin Rivers. "I think people get so caught up in the little things with Chris – and I call them little because they are, they're not in any way even of value compared to what he's done in basketball...
"Chris has cemented his legacy so long ago, he's one of the greatest point guards to ever play. Some of the most meaningful years of my career were playing with Chris. I got to back up Chris. Chris taught me how to be a pro, taught me how to approach the game with such a seriousness. He's one of the most competitive people I've ever seen in my life.
"I'm really happy for him that he's able to be at peace with basketball. He should. He's a top-five point guard to ever touch the ball, and only four other guys can say that."
Paul was a legend for his ability to squeeze out every little advantage he could find. He was the master of two-for-ones at the end of quarters, or calling out opponents whose jerseys were not tucked in, or any other little edge he thought he could gain. While Paul's intensity wore on some teammates, it also made the teams he was on winners. CP3 talked about this in his retirement announcement.
"As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won't. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!). It feels really good knowing that I played and treated this game with the utmost respect since the day my dad introduced me to it."
Paul retires averaging 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 37% from 3-point range. He was a 12-time All-Star, a six-time league leader in steals, a five-time leader in assists, and the 2006 Rookie of the Year.
Paul is an unquestioned first-ballot Hall of Famer. That is the only thing left in his NBA career.
Chris Paul played for seven different teams in a 21-year period in the NBA [Getty Images]
NBA legend Chris Paul has announced his retirement after being released by the Toronto Raptors.
The 40-year-old, widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest point guards, was a 12-time NBA All-Star and 2006 Rookie of the Year.
One of only seven players to enjoy an NBA career spanning 21 seasons, Paul also helped the United States claim Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and then four years later in London.
"This is it! After 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball," he posted on Instagram.
"Mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude! While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life.
"I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It's crazy even saying that."
Paul, who was nicknamed the 'Point of God', averaged 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and two steals a game during a 1,370-game career that started at the New Orleans Hornets in 2005 and effectively ended after a second spell at the Los Angeles Clippers.
He also featured for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors, but never played on an NBA championship-winning team.
He came closest to a gold ring in 2021, when Phoenix reached the NBA finals, only to lose to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Paul, who retires second in NBA history for both assists (12,552) and steals (2,728),
had not played since 1 December, with the Clippers trading him to Toronto earlier this month.
Chris Paul, for years a star with the Clippers, announced his retirement after 21 years in the NBA on Friday after being waived by the Toronto Raptors. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
Chris Paul is stepping away from the NBA for good after more than two decades in the league.
The 12-time All Star who played a key role in the Clippers' "Lob City" era made the announcement Friday soon after being waived by the Toronto Raptors.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball," Paul wrote in a lengthy statement posted to his Instagram account.
"As I write this, it's hard to really know what to feel, but for once — most people would be surprised — I don't have the answer lol! But, mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude! While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life."
Paul was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 draft and was named the NBA's rookie of the year the following season. Playing for the Clippers from 2011 to 2017, Paul and Blake Griffin led the team to six winning seasons, its first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series victories.
He went on to play for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs before signing a $3.6-million deal to return to the Clippers last summer for what was largely expected to be his final season.
The reunion did not work out so well. Paul was abruptly dismissed by the Clippers in early December, traded to the Raptors on Feb. 4 and then not required to report to his new team.
Paul ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals. He was the first player to notch at least 20,000 points and more than 10,000 assists.
While he didn't fully reveal what his "next chapter" will be, Paul indicated that it will involve spending more time with wife Jada, son Chris and daughter Camryn.
"Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility," Paul wrote. "I embraced it all. The good and the bad. As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won't. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!!)"
He added as part of the lengthy note: "The game always gave me a reason to SHOW up!!! And the true leaders and fighters know that that right there — showing up — is half of the battle. So now with all the gratitude that I could possibly have... it's time for me to show up for others and in other ways. ... And I now know wholeheartedly the best teammate I can be is to Jada, Chris II and Cam!!"
The Detroit Pistons have raced out to a 40-13 record, so it is no surprise to see JB Bickerstaff at the top of NBA Coach of the Year odds boards. More NBA odds for COY show the Suns' Jordan Ott (+400) and the Celtics' Joe Mazzulla (+650) among the favorites.
NBA Coach of the Year odds
Here is a look at updated NBA Coach of the Year odds. JB Bickerstaff is the betting favorite to win the award at -140.
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's Coach of the Year race as an example:
As the season progressed, with Mike Brown having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number:
Mike Brown -500
This means that a bettor needs to wager $500 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such:
Nick Nurse +650
Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
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NBA Coach of the Year trends
Mike Brown's 2023 victory was the first time in 10 years (excluding COVID-altered schedules — 2019-20, 2020-21) that the Coach of the Year's team hadn't won 55+ games.
Four coaches (Mike Budenholzer, Gregg Popovich, Tom Thibodeau, Mike Brown) have won COY multiple times since 2009.
No rookie head coach has won Coach of the Year since Doc Rivers (2000).
Dating back to the award's inception in 1963, no coach has ever won COY in back-to-back seasons.
NBA Coach of the Year history
Year
NBA Coach of the Year Winner
Team
2024-25
Kenny Atkinson
Cleveland Cavaliers
2023-24
Mark Daigneault
Oklahoma City Thunder
2022-23
Mike Brown
Sacramento Kings
2021-22
Monty Williams
Phoenix Suns
2020-21
Tom Thibodeau
New York Knicks
2019-20
Nick Nurse
Toronto Raptors
2018-19
Mike Budenholzer
Milwaukee Bucks
2017-18
Dwane Casey
Toronto Raptors
2016-17
Mike D'Antoni
Houston Rockets
2015-16
Steve Kerr
Golden State Warriors
2014-15
Mike Budenholzer
Atlanta Hawks
2013-14
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs
2012-13
George Karl
Denver Nuggets
2011-12
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs
2010-11
Tom Thibodeau
Chicago Bulls
2009-10
Scott Brooks
Oklahoma City Thunder
2008-09
Mike Brown
Cleveland Cavaliers
2007-08
Byron Scott
New Orleans Hornets
2006-07
Sam Mitchell
Toronto Raptors
2005-06
Avery Johnson
Dallas Mavericks
2004-05
Mike D'Antoni
Phoenix Suns
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
All young players in the NBA have room for improvement. So, who will make the proverbial "leap" in the 2025 - 2026 season? NBA Most Improved Player odds have the Blazers' Deni Avdija and the Hawks' Jalen Johnson as the betting favorites.
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
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Understanding NBA Most Improved Player odds
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's MIP race as an example:
As the season progressed, with Lauri Markkanen having been a big favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number:
Lauri Markkanen -200
This means that a bettor needs to wager $200 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +650
Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
Here are some trends you'll want to consider when betting on NBA Most Improved Player futures:
Forwards have won 13 of the past 20 MIP awards.
No true center has won since Jermaine O'Neal in 2002.
MIP has tended to favor players making "the leap" to stardom recently. Nine of the past 10 winners have averaged 20.0 ppg or more.
In a very weird coincidence, an Orlando Magic player has won MIP four times since 1999, and each time, an Indiana Pacer has won the award the following year.
How is NBA Most Improved Player decided?
The NBA Most Improved Player Award is bestowed upon the player who has demonstrated a significant improvement in performance from the previous season. This improvement is evaluated based on the following key criteria:
Statistical improvement
Consideration is given to notable increases in key statistical categories, including traditional box score stats, shooting efficiency, and the various advanced metrics.
Role expansion or redefinition
Consideration will be given to players who have taken on new roles, and significantly expanded their responsibilities, thereby positively impacting their team.
Consistency and sustainability
The improvement should be consistent and sustained throughout the season, rather than a short-term surge in performance. Candidates should demonstrate their enhanced production over a substantial portion of the regular season.
Impact on team success
The player's improvement should directly contribute to the overall success and performance of their team. Factors such as wins, team rankings, and positive influence on team chemistry can be taken into account.
Hello Devils friends and family, I hope you’re all enjoying your reprieve from *gestures at Newark*. It’s no secret that this current version of the Devils has flamed out spectacularly. If it is a secret… umm, surprise! They have 25 games left, and would need to go 20-4-1 to get to 99 points and be in a comfortable playoff spot. Your mileage may vary on what you see as the problem, and the blame game is in full force, from the owners to the 4th line to the medical team and most recently, Jack seems to be the target du jour. And quite frankly it’s all correct – there is blame to go around to everyone in that pile. Some pretty serious changes need to be made top to bottom.
The first step starts at the top. Tom Fitzgerald leads this organization, and leads my list of changes that need to be made and this seems to be a widely shared opinion. However, if Tom is replaced, it cannot be an interim GM from inside the organization. We need fresh eyes to dispassionately examine the roster, scouting, drafting, and operations. Jared wrote a longer blog about this and I agree: Our two AGMs are not people I would have faith in making the necessary changes for the Devils. Dan MacKinnon oversees a bad Utica team and ineffective player development, while Kate Madigan is behind the scenes and more of an operational role and has a large say in contracts. If Tom goes, both of them should as well so there is no connection between regimes. The third internal option scares me more than these two, advisor Chuck Fletcher. He is only an advisor because no one would touch him for a GM role – and guess what? He and Fitz are buddies and that’s why he is here and to advise on contracts, scouting, and operations.
This entire front office tenure can be summed up in the phrase “too little, too late.” Goalie changes, coaching changes, roster additions – all too little too late. The most recent acquisition, Nick Bjugstad, as Chris wrote was three months too late. The only big swing this group took was for Timo Meier, a deadline move that was about as obvious as can be, meanwhile we have gone 3 consecutive years with glaring season-long holes that went unaddressed. Colorado fixed their goalie issues a month into the 24-25 season, Carolina managed to swing a trade for Rantanen and later flip him when they realized he wasn’t going to sign long term. Don’t get me started on Quinn. Meanwhile Fitz builds his roster in the offseason and dabbles at the deadline, and even then he only comes in second, or “owes it to the team” to bring in Andrew Hammond.
One place I think we should probably retain is our amateur scouting mechanism. For as poor as the 1st round drafting has been, the team’s later rounds picking has been fine to good and the verdict is still out on some of the last two years. Daniil Orlov, Roszival, Moe, Cheslock, Yegorov, and Malek all show potential from our most recent crop and I encourage you to check in on James’ prospect updates.
We Know Tim, Get to the Point
Sorry, I get a little carried away talking about Fitz. Anyway, I wanted to look through a variety of GM/Front Office options, and truly hope the ownership group takes a broad sweeping look at different ways to approach the role(s). Whether that is finding a more “traditional” experienced Manager, whether they are going to split the President of Hockey Operations and GM roles, and whether they are going to look outside the box. So I decided to scour the marketplace for options that are very much traditional to options that are very much not – and people in between. We need to find the next Bill Zito, Breisbois, or Jim Nil – all three of which came from different worlds.
Luckily for me, I got some help from people that know more than me. As you probably are aware, Barry Trotz is stepping down as the Predators GM, and Elliott Friedman rattled off a variety of potential options on 32 Thoughts. Frank Seravelli mentioned on his show that there may be expectations that the Devils will be making a GM change this summer while also discussing the Preds job, implying the Devils job may be more desirable. So, let’s take a look at those options for the big chair.
Traditional “Hockey Guys” With GM Experience
Rob Blake: Blake is most notably known for stepping into he Kings GM where he pivoted the team into a significant roster rebuild and away form an aging core, bringing in Fiala, drafting Byfield and Clarke, and taking a swing on Dubois. I do like that he recognized that didn’t work and pivoted to a solution… how refreshing to have a GM realize his mistake and move off it getting value in return. His downfall was the Edmonton Oilers.
Brendan Shanahan: Hired to transform a struggling franchise, Shanahan initiated a comprehensive rebuild that resulted in drafting cornerstone players Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. He oversaw consistent regular-season success, including nine straight playoff appearances, however I think we are all aware of their failure to get past their playoff ghosts. He would probably be more of a POHO role, similar to what he held in Toronto, so if the Devils keep the role the same (POHO/GM) or split them into two separate roles – he could be a consideration.
Marc Bergevin: He is best known for his role as GM of the Montreal Canadiens (2012–2021), leading them to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final during the lockout year. Two of his key acquisitions were Nick Suzuki and Shea Weber (for PK). As GM of the Canadiens, he oversaw six playoff appearances and previously won a Stanley Cup as Director of Player Personnel with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
Peter Chiarelli: No.
Traditional “Hockey Guys” That Are AGMs
Jamie Langenbrunner: You many not know that he is the AGM of the Bruins where he manages player personnel decisions, evaluates pro and amateur talent, and oversees prospect progression. He is well thought of for his work in scouting, identifying player improvements, and assisting with draft preparations and is on the “next” list according to people that know things. Worth an interview.
Jason Spezza: Currently serves as an AGM under Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh. Moved with Dubas from Toronto to continue his work in hockey operations, scouting, and player development, particularly in Wilkes Barre, where he took over the role to manage the organization’s top prospects and minor league operations. He also served under Dubas as a special assistant with the Leafs from 22-23, so since his entry into management he has had a pretty impressive apprenticeship with one of the league’s best young GMs. It’s no coincidence that Toronto is a on dumpster fire watch after both he and Dubas left. Dubas (and by extension Spezza) gets a lot of flak for no real reason, he was really hurt by the Covid-induced flat cap more than anything. Also worth an interview.
“Hockey Guys” you May Not Know (Mostly AGMs)
Ryan Bowness: Ryan Bowness is a prominent NHL executive currently serving as the AGM and Director of Player Personnel of the Islanders. He has moved up the ranks on the player personnel and pro scouting side of the house through Atlanta/Winnipeg, Ottawa and Pittsburgh. I have long felt our pro scouting is severely lacking, and instead of unearthing undervalued assets, we have given known commodities term on the back half of their deals in UFA.
Ryan Johnson: Ryan Johnson is currently the AGM of the Canucks and GM of Abbotsford. You may balk at the Vancouver part of that, but he has overseen a very successful Abbotsford team that won the Calder Cup in 2025. He also comes from the player development side of the house which also needs some work (see comment under Bowness). He is credited with the AHL -> NHL transition of guys like Silovs and Hoglander, while also working on the cap and pro scouting.
Brad Pascal: Brad Pascal is currently the Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames, a role he has held since 2014. He also serves as the General Manager of the Flames’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers. He also serves as co-general manager for international events for Hockey Canada such as the Spengler Cup, working alongside Joe Thornton. One thing the Devils lack is any high end Candians which (in my opinion) may be a contributing factor to the currents Tate of the team and he has been very successful in his tenure with Hockey Canada: 3x Olympic Gold, 5 consecutive World Junior Golds, 2004 World Cup and IIHF gold in 03 and 04. My only issue with all of that? it’s been a while, but he would be worth a conversation.
“Non-Traditional” AGMs From Winning Cultures
Some would point to a roadmap for finding the next great GM: an impressive apprenticeship for well run, winning organizations. If you are of the mind that avoiding the old boys club of recycled options is the best path, the below group of guys is for you.
Sunny Mehta is one of the primary architects of the current Florida regime, comes from an analytics background and was a professional poker player. He is largely considered the godfather of hockey analytics, getting his original start int he Devils organization. I like his skill set and he was a major part in finding hidden gems in a variety of distressed assets in Reinhardt, Forsling, and Verhaege. He also had a front row seat for the cultural impact of the Tkachuk trade and recognized his skill set vs Huberdeau’s, and Zito has said multiple times Mehta was instrumental in that trade. Also, a Jersey boy.
Kevin McDonald is the AGM in Colorado, and would certainly deserve a look considering their current success. He also spent 20 years with Blues where he has a cup ring from 2019 and as an AGM with Colorado, he works closely with General Manager Chris MacFarland on hockey-related matters. His main focus remains overseeing the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate and comes from a pro scouting and professional development background.
Capitals AGM Ross Mahoney interviewed in 2020 when they picked Fitz. Washington found a way to go from being a capped out group of aging veterans with no future to finding several gems in the draft, bought low on Canada’s starting goalie Logan Thompson and managed to set the Caps on a path to a retooled transition. As assistant general manager, Mahoney is responsible for the NHL Entry Draft, the club’s developmental programs, evaluations of opposing teams’ prospects, and oversees the organization’s amateur scouting staff. In Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, 12 players who were drafted during Mahoney’s tenure were in the lineup. (source)
Golden Knights AGM Andrew Lugerner is the guy who has managed their salary cap. Considering the magic tricks they have pulled off (see what I did there) with their cap and the downright ruthless nature of the Vegas front office, he would certainly be worth an interview.
Agents
One would only have to look at the success of Bill Zito in Florida and Kent Hughes in Montreal to consider agents as options and it’s not crazy to suggest that someone moving from one side of the negotiation table to the other would be in the consideration set. Agents have a unique perspective on the nuances behind player choices and motivations, particularly when it comes to contracts. They also scout and recruit players from a young age, and likely have very good eyes for the type of attitude that will translate to success in hockey. And maybe, just maybe, an agent can come in and understand NMC/NTC clauses a little better and how to leave yourself some outs if a contract doesn’t work out.
Agents are very difficult to find information on aside from client lists, and leaving and agency is complicated. However, Can one of them be lured to the other side of the table? Here are some of the biggest (and fun names) in that group with the amount of money they manage and some of their prominent clients (from puckpedia):
Pat Brisson (CAA) – $1.4BN in contracts. MacKinnon, Crosby, Larkin, Jack, Luke, Quinn, Mercer
Dan Millstein (Gold Star) – $643MM in contracts. THE Russian Agent basically:. Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Marchenko
Claude Lemieux (4Sports) – Yes, I snuck Pepe in here. $353MM in contracts. Timo, Seider, Eriksson Ek, Rasmus Anderson, Olofsson
Darren Ferris (Quartexx) – $333MM in contracts. Marner, Bennet, Kadri, Hall, Rodrigues, Byram
My Dream Team
So, after all that, My dream team for the top two chairs are…. Shanahan as POHO and Mehta as GM. I think bringing in someone like Shanny as a POHO to have a broader view of everything as well as a newly minted GM is the ideal scenario. One of the failures in the Fitz regime is having noone overseeing him as a new GM. This set-up allows Mehta to focus on building the team and overall structure, while Shanny can focus on the larger organizational issues. I know Sunny Mehta isn’t a unique thought, but there is a reason why several people think he should be next, his background and experience checks so many boxes for me.
But it doesn’t stop there. As I mentioned we need to clean house, so that would leave two AGM spots open and if we can’t lure someone from one of the above mentioned AGM chairs to make the lateral move, I think it would be wise to go try and lure the Tampa Bay Director of Player Development, JP Cole out of Tampa. The work he has done finding and developing players has been nothing short of astonishing, considering the injury woes Tampa has had the past few year, and the plug and play guys that have stepped into roles and thrived there.
As an AGM, I would also be interested in Judd Brackett, who is the head of Amateur Scouting for the Wild. Prior to the wild he spent 12 years in Vancouver, and his list of draftees is impressive: Rossi, Buium, Ohgren (basically the Quinn trade), and while in Vancouver he was front and center drafting Quinn, Boeser and Petterson. His main focus is prioritizing hockey IQ and skating, which have become two of the most valuable commodities in the current NHL.
Your Thoughts
Who do you like, anyone on this list strike you or anyone I didn’t mention that would be of interest? What’s your level of confidence a change at the top happens?
There is no right or wrong solution here, but this front office needs new eyes on it, and those eyes need to come from the outside since the organizational rot comes from the top.
Paul announced on Friday, Feb. 13, "he's stepping away from basketball," in the wake of reports that the Toronto Raptors had waived him. The 40-year-old point guard was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Raptors as part of a multi-team deal ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline earlier this month.
"It's time for me to show up for others and in other ways," the State Farm pitchman wrote in an Instagram post announcing his retirement decision. "This last season, I knew I couldn't do it unless I was at home with my family."
If Paul does not play in the league again, his last NBA game will have been on Dec. 1, 2025. But this was not his original plan for the season and the way it played out will go down as an unceremonious ending for a future Hall of Famer with his credentials.
Paul signed a one-year, $3.6-million contract to return to the Clippers this past offseason, and be closer to his family in Los Angeles after six seasons playing elsewhere. He later announced this would be his final NBA season.
But the Clippers then shocked the NBA in December when they sent Paul home in the wee hours of the night in the middle of a road trip as the team struggled early on this season. General Manager Lawrence Frank and coach Tyronn Lue made clear the organization intended to part ways with one of the greatest players in franchise history as reports emerged about friction involving Paul's leadership style inside the team's locker room.
Paul averaged a career-low 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14 minutes per game with the Clippers this season.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty after he wins the Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge shoots a three point basket during the Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge as a part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA and WNBA All-Star events have been going through a bit of a revamp in recent years. With increasing sponsorships, NBA salaries, and a decline in fan attention span, the NBA All-Star Game in particular has flopped in viewership and overall cultural resonance. It’s hard to get players to compete at 100% when they are afraid of being injured, and when there is little incentive to do so. Especially when it comes to events like the 3-point shooting contest, skills contest, or whatever other event the NBA tries to think up to change things up. WNBA players can be motivated by $25,000 prizes, of course, given their salaries are lower than those of NBA players, but NBA players are too well-compensated to really care about that kind of stuff anymore.
A few years ago, the NBA made a huge step in re-engaging fans in All-Star events by holding a shooting contest between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu in 2024. While some “battle of the sexes” type events can quickly devolve into questionable territory, ripe for sexist online takes and poor analysis, this event was actually quite well done. Ionescu and Curry are two of the best shooters in the sport’s history, and also great friends, so there was a mutual respect that ran through the lead-up to the event and the event itself.
Since it was a standard 3-point shooting contest, it wasn’t like Ionescu was at a huge disadvantage for being a woman. She was able to shoot from the WNBA three-point line (22 feet, 1.75 inches from the basket) if she wanted, but opted to use the standard NBA three-point line (23 feet, 9 inches from the basket) instead — a distance she is more than comfortable making shots from.
All of the prize money from this contest was being donated to charity, with Ionescu and Curry each pledging donations to their own personal foundations. The event was also in reaction to Sabrina Ionescu breaking the all-time 3-point contest record, NBA or WNBA, at the previous year’s WNBA All-Star Game. At the time, fans wondered how Ionescu would fare against the NBA’s best shooters — this event gave those fans what they wanted.
The event was a massive success, achieving the highest NBA All-Star Saturday viewership numbers in over five years, with over 5 million viewers. It outperformed the main event of the weekend, the actual All-Star Game, and viewership peaked during that event in particular. While Ionescu lost to Curry 29-26, her 26 points matched the actual winner of that year’s NBA 3-point shooting contest, and while she definitely didn’t need to gain any respect from the NBA contingent, she did.
Afterward, many people expressed genuine interest and excitement in repeating the event. At the time, Caitlin Clark was still in college, but fans were frothing at the mouth at the idea of seeing her compete in a 3-point contest. There were ideas of Steph and Sabrina going up against Clark and another NBA shooting star like Damian Lillard. Yet, years later, none of that has come to fruition.
Plus, two seasons into her career, Caitlin Clark has yet to compete in a 3-point contest.
In the summer of 2024, Ionescu bowed out of the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest to focus more on the upcoming Paris Olympics the week after — super fair. That same year, Clark declined an invitation to the contest as well, saying she wanted to rest after playing for over a year of consecutive basketball.
When it came to the following NBA All-Star game, in 2025, Clark declined an invitation from the NBA to participate. According to reporting from The Athletic, Clark wanted her first WNBA All-Star 3-point shooting contest to be in the WNBA.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star game was held in Clark’s WNBA home of Indianapolis, Indiana, where she plays with the Indiana Fever. A perfect spot to make her first appearance in the event, but those hopes were dashed as Clark suffered numerous injuries in the summer of 2025, leading to her missing most of the season and the All-Star game.
Now, as we head into the 2026 NBA All-Star game, the hype of Steph vs Sabrina is two years old, and with nothing to replace it. Fans would surely show up in the same fashion for a Caitlin Clark-led 3-point contest, which would definitely help the NBA’s floundering All-Star Weekend viewership numbers. Yet, nothing of the sort has materialized in the nearly two years since Clark came onto the scene, and this year was likely impossible as the NBA battles with WNBA players over their next CBA.
Still, it’s pretty wild that the NBA found a solid way to drive engagement, bring in the WNBA fanbase, and provide some tangible excitement for the All-Star events… and just hasn’t repeated it since. Add it to the list of self-inflicted L’s in the Adam Silver era.
Vezina Trophy odds for the 2025-26 season have a new leader, with Ilya Sorokin claiming the top spot. This award is still very much up for grabs, though, with Andrei Vasilevskiy still close behind.
Here are the latest NHL odds to win the top netminding honor.
Ilya Sorokin has seen his odds go from +160 to -125 over the past four weeks. Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy has also been on the upswing, going from +790 to +120 during the same span and leapfrogging Logan Thompson and Scott Wedgewood on the odds board in the process.
Vezina Trophy prediction
Ilya Sorokin is the current betting favorite to win the 2026 Vezina Trophy due to his league-leading six shutouts and a dominant 2.44 GAA. Despite the Islanders ranking near the bottom in defensive zone time, Sorokin leads the NHL with over 24.8 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx), effectively stealing games against elite offenses.
Following a historic January where he posted a .935 save percentage, Sorokin has cemented his case by carrying a heavy workload. His ability to maintain a .916 save percentage while facing high shot volumes makes him the undeniable frontrunner heading into the stretch run.
Pick: Ilya Sorokin (-125) Stake: 2 units
Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL. (not available in Ontario)
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When the regular season is nearly finished and a consensus has emerged, you might see a player with a minus sign (-) ahead of his odds, like this:
Connor Hellebuyck -400
The (-) means that Hellebuyck is the odds-on favorite, and a bettor would need to wager $400 to win $100. Other contenders in the Vezina race might have plus (+) odds to win.
Igor Shesterkin +650
Here, a bettor stood to profit $650 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Alexandre Sarr #20, Kyshawn George #18 and Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards pose for a portrait during the NBAE Media Day Circuit Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Hilton Santa Monica 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 Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA’s All-Star Weekend is here! Tonight, we will see various games like the annual celebrity game. But the headline event is the Rising Stars challenge. Here is what’s in store.
Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Time and how to watch: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
What it is: A roster of entertainers and some former basketball players play in an exhibition game. One notable exception this year: there are no WNBA players in the game. This is likely not an accident because of the WNBA’s unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations with the WNBPA players union.
Rising Stars Challenge
Time and how to watch: 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
What it is: This is the tournament-style showcase featuring rookies and second-year players.
Wizards in the Rising Stars Challenge: Washington has two players on Team T-Mac: Tre Johnson, and Bub Carrington. Carrington replaced Alex Sarr. And the Wizards will also have Kyshawn George on Team Vince.
When will the Wizards play in the game? Team Vince will play Team T-Mac in the semifinals at approximately 9:55 p.m. ET. The final will be at about 10:35 p.m. ET for the winner between Team Austin vs. Team Melo and the winner of Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac.
Oct 6, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right) look on during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks, now post trade deadline and resting over the all-star break, are fully in a new era. Yes, parts of the Luka Doncic core remain. But the Anthony Davis deadline deal that sent the big man and the end of the bench to the Washington Wizards made clear that the front office is turning the page and building for Cooper Flagg’s future.
That means a focus on Flagg’s development in game, but it also means a lot of losing the rest of this season to position themselves for the NBA draft lottery. That shift in strategy does mean we’ll be hanging our Power Rankings Watch jersey for the rest of this season, as the Mavericks float around the bottom of these standings the rest of the way. We’ll keep check on some other standings from here on out, and get excited for this summer’s draft.
Marvin Bagley III, who was selected right before Luka Doncic with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, is on his fifth team after arriving in Dallas as part of the Anthony Davis trade. He will have a chance to get minutes the rest of the season in Dallas, and in his debut with the Mavericks, Bagley had 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. — MacMahon
I thought I was done cracking on these dudes for trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers. But no, let me revisit that thing one more time. Luka Dončić played 900 minutes in the 2024 postseason, a run that went through the NBA Finals. They then traded Dončić for Anthony Davis, who wound up playing a total of 892 minutes in the regular season for the Mavericks. Then, to make things funnier, the best players Dallas got back when it traded Davis away are former Jason Kidd disciple Middleton and Marvin Bagley III. That’s the same Bagley who was drafted one spot over Dončić in 2018. At least Dallas got a couple of first-round picks this time. Cooper Flagg has been killing it, but the Mavericks haven’t won a game in more than two weeks.
The Anthony Davis Era in Dallas is over, with the big man having played just 31 (36%) of a possible 86 games with the Mavs. Dallas went 17-14 in those 31 games and took a huge step backward when you combine the two Davis trades (the one that brought him in and the one that sent him out).
Three takeaways
In between the two Davis trades, the Mavs did get Cooper Flagg, who had four straight games of more than 30 points before having a relatively quiet night in San Antonio on Saturday. Now averaging over 20 per game, he’d be just the second rookie in the last 46 years (since Larry Bird in 1979-80) to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. The other, of course, was Luka Dončić.
Despite Flagg’s scoring streak, the Mavs have scored just 109.6 points per 100 possessions over their seven-game losing streak. Their shooters – Max Christie and Klay Thompson – have combined to shoot just 38% (including 32% from 3-point range) over the seven games.
The Mavs got a pair of first-round picks in the Davis trade, but they’ll both be in the 20s. As is usually the case after a team trades a star, its best asset is its own pick. The Mavs are now seventh in the upside-down standings and their 2026 pick is the only one in the next five years that they control.
Coming up: The Mavs’ loss in San Antonio on Saturday was the start of a stretch (spanning the break) of six straight road games. They’re now 5-14 (with five straight losses) against the top eight teams in the West, set to visit the Suns and Lakers this week.
The numbers still favor Kon Knueppel in the Rookie of the Year race, but Cooper Flagg is charging.
And with the Anthony Davis conundrum finally and fully resolved by trading him to the Washington Wizards, Flagg can have a closing kick that makes the award his.
For the entire season, when AD is off the floor, Flagg has put up 23.2 points and 4.0 assists per 75 possessions.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drive to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. He left the game late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Despite entering the All-Star break injured, Luka Dončić seems to be heading towards a good place regarding his hamstring. The Laker superstar has missed the last four games due to the injury, and currently, his availability for the All-Star game is up in the air.
Well, the days have been stacking up, but the internal concern has not. Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave another update prior to the team’s last game before the All-Star break and seems confident that he’ll be back once the Lakers return to the court on Feb. 20 against the Clippers.
“He’s progressed really good,” Redick said. “I think part of him wanted to push to get back prior to the break. But we got to be cautious with the soft tissue injuries. Obviously, we were very cautious with Austin and you just saw what happened with Jalen Williams coming back. We all feel comfortable with the decision to hold him out and should be good to go post All-Star.”
Anytime a team’s superstar misses extended time, it can cause worry, but JJ Redick calmed down most concerns with this update on Luka.
It might be overanalysis, but Redick saying “they feel comfortable with the decision to hold him out” makes it seem like they could’ve pushed him to play now. Which means that if he gets an additional week of rest when he can already play, he should be ready to go when the Clippers come to Crypto.com Arena.
Obviously, given Luka’s importance to the Lakers, the last thing he needs to do is rush back from a hamstring injury. So, if this move is LA being overly cautious, so when Luka comes back, he has no setbacks, then it’s the right decision.
Regarding his status for the All-Star Game, Redick kept things short. “It’s above my pay grade,” Redick said.
With the Lakers about to enter the most important stretch of the year, hopefully, Luka returns and never misses another game this season. LA will be fighting for playoff positioning and will need him healthy to reach their full potential.
Ilya Sorokin
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Logan Thompson
John Gibson
Jesper Wallstedt
Brandon Bussi
Jeremy Swayman
Scott Wedgewood
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