Michigan football is set to hire Utah WR coach Micah Simon, QB coach Koy Detmer Jr. and TE coach Freddie Whittingham (brother of Kyle).
Several Florida Panthers players have experience skating in NHL outdoor games
The NHL spotlight will be shining brightly on the Florida Panthers again this week.
It’s something the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions are probably getting used to.
On Friday, the Panthers will host the New York Rangers for the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami.
It will be the southernmost outdoor game the NHL has hosted yet, featuring the league’s budding dynasty against one of its Original Six franchises celebrating its centennial.
It’s a big deal for the Panthers, who will be playing the first outdoor game in franchise history, while the Rangers will be playing in their sixth outdoor game and third Winter Classic.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering the majority of Florida’s current roster has been acquired over the past several years, there are quite a few Panthers players who have previously participated in an NHL outdoor game.
Let’s go down the list and see how they all did, shall we?
We’ll start with Sergei Bobrovsky, who played in the 2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park with the Philadelphia Flyers. He made 30 saves on 33 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers.
In 2017, Jeff Petry and the Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Ottawa Senators in the NHL100 Classic in 2017. Petry finished with two shots, two blocks, three hits, two giveaways, and a minus-2 on-ice rating in Montreal’s 3-0 loss to Ottawa at Lansdowne Park.
A pair of current Panthers were on the ice at Citi Field for the 2018 Winter Classic with the Buffalo Sabres.
Sam Reinhart scored a power play goal on two shots, adding a block and two hits, while Evan Rodrigues logged a pair of shots in Buffalo’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Rangers.
The following year, a trio of Cats played in the 2019 Heritage Classic between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets at Mosiac Park in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Suiting up for Calgary were Matthew Tkachuk (six shots) and Sam Benentt (one shot, two penalty minutes) while Dmitry Kulikov played for the Jets, finishing with a shot, two blocks five hits and a giveaway in Winnipeg’s 2-1 win.
Brad Marchand played in his first of three outdoor games during the 2019 Winter Classic when the Boston Bruins took down the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 at Notre Dame Stadium. He had a goal on five shots and two hits in the win.
Marchand also played at the 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe, a 7-3 Boston win over the Flyers, and at the 2023 Winter Classic when Boston took down the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 at Fenway Park.
In those two games, Marchand combined for three assists, four shots, two blocks and three hits.
Luke Kunin skated in the 2022 Stadium Series with the Nashville Predators, logging three hits in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nissan Stadium.
Also in 2022, Niko Mikkola picked up a pair of penalty minutes, three blocks and two hits for the St. Louis Blues in their 6-4 Winter Classic victory over the Minnesota Wild at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Skating with Marchand and the Bruins at the 2023 Winter Classic was Tomas Nosek, who recorded a shot and two hits. Nosek also played in the 2024 Stadium Series with the New Jersey Devils, logging a shot and two hits again, this time in a 6-3 win over the Flyers.
A.J Greer took part in the 2023 Heritage Classic between the Flames and Edmonton Oilers, picking up a goal, two blocks and three hits in a 5-2 Calgary defeat at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
The following year, Seth Jones and the Blackhawks hosted St. Louis for the second Winter Classic played at Wrigley Field. Jones logged an assist, four shots, a block and two hits as Chicago lost 6-2 to the Blues.
Current Panthers backup goaltender Daniil Tarasov had a great seat for last year’s Stadium Series matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, serving as the backup for Elvis Merzlikins in the Jackets’ 5-3 win.
As for former Florida first round pick Mackie Samoskevich, while this will be the 23-year-old’s first NHL outdoor game, he did play in the 2024 Queen City Outdoor Classic with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He had a fun time at Truist Field in Charlotte, picking up the game-winning goal on two shots.
Now we can’t forget about Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.
He’s been a part of two Heritage Classic games, both with Winnipeg. He coached the Jets in their 3-0 loss to Edmonton in 2016 and then again when they defeated Calgary 2-1 in 2019.
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Photo caption: Jan 2, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) walks onto the ice before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2023 Winter Classic ice hockey game at Fenway Park. (Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images)
Driven to Dominate: The Story Behind Nathan MacKinnon’s Historic Run
DENVER — It does not seem to matter which milestone he reaches or which summit he climbs—Nathan MacKinnon carries himself with a quiet, almost disarming humility.
He is a player who never assumed he would reach these heights, and on Monday night’s 6–1 win over the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena, he added his name to one of the NHL’s most exclusive lists, becoming just the 114th player in league history to score 400 career goals.
In more than a century of hockey at its highest level, fewer than 9,000 individuals have ever appeared in an NHL game. Of them, only 114 have reached the 400-goal mark—a distinction that places MacKinnon in a group representing just over one percent of all players in league history.
MacKinnon’s Rise to Superstardom
MacKinnon was selected first overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, just weeks after helping lead the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads to their first Memorial Cup championship. Despite missing time during the tournament, he finished as its leading scorer, recording seven goals and six assists in four games.
Despite entering the league amid tremendous fanfare, MacKinnon’s first four NHL seasons were far from earth-shattering. He wasn’t bad—he was solid—but he averaged roughly 52 points per season, a performance that was respectable yet unremarkable for a first overall pick. But MacKinnon grew restless with being average. He didn’t want to be good—he wanted to be super human.
And MacKinnon has done exactly that. Over the past nine seasons, he has risen to the upper echelon of NHL stardom, transforming from a player who struggled to reach a point-per-game pace into one of the league’s most consistent and prolific scorers, averaging over a point per game since the 2017–18 season.
He is a Stanley Cup champion, having hoisted hockey’s ultimate prize with the Avalanche in 2022, and he has been recognized individually as well: the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s most valuable player, and the Ted Lindsay Award, voted on by his fellow players as the NHL’s most outstanding performer.
And yet, even with a championship, league-wide honors, and a resume most players can only dream of, MacKinnon remains insatiable—hungry for more, driven by a desire to push past every milestone, every expectation, and redefine what is possible on the ice.
The Brains Behind the Resurgence
Marcin Goszczynski has been a key force behind MacKinnon’s relentless drive, guiding, challenging, and pushing him to elevate both his game—and his body—to new heights.
The 43-year-old is a performance and rehabilitation specialist who uses a blend of techniques to mobilize soft tissue, accelerate recovery, and help elite athletes perform at their peak.
His roster of clients reads like a who’s who of professional sport. Alongside MacKinnon and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Goszczynski helped a five-time major singles tennis champion overcome chronic shoulder issues in 2019, enabling her to mount one final competitive run before retirement. He has also worked with Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse, who would go on to claim two Olympic gold medals.
By now, it’s clear that MacKinnon is the kind of player who prefers the spotlight to shine anywhere but on him. So when The Hockey News asked him—given that he never expected to reach this level of production early in his career—to name some of the inspirational figures who have helped him get to this point, he seemed momentarily taken aback. After a pause, Goszczynski was the first person to come to mind.
“There’s been a few people who have inspired me. The guy who’s with me every day, Marcin (Goszczynski), who gets my body going,” MacKinnon stated. “We do a lot of different, weird things together. I think he’s been the biggest thing for my career.”
“Obviously, there’s a lot of people—my parents, my sports psychologist, my wife (Charlotte), a lot of people. Like you said, I really didn’t ever expect to be here, but it’s fun, and obviously, I’m just trying to be the best player I can for this team. We got a Cup three years ago, and it’d be nice to get another one.”
Another Stanley Cup Run?!
With the Avalanche became the first NHL team to reach 30 wins this season, marking the third time in the past six campaigns that the Avalanche were the fastest team to hit the milestone (also in 2020–21 and 2021–22).
Historically, the fastest teams to reach 30 wins in NHL history are:
- 35 games — 1929–30 Boston Bruins
- 38 games — 2022–23 Boston Bruins
- 38 games — 1944–45 Montreal Canadiens
- 39 games — 2025–26 Colorado Avalanche
- 39 games — 2012–13 Chicago Blackhawks
- 39 games — 2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning
Statistically speaking, the Avalanche we’ve had the privilege of covering this season are one of the most dominant teams in the last century of the NHL. And considering how much faster the game has become, and how more skilled and versatile players are in every facet of play, their performance is all the more astounding—especially given the caliber of every player who steps onto the ice.
And MacKinnon isn’t just on pace for the best season of his career—he’s on pace for one of the most remarkable seasons in modern NHL history. The 30-year-old center projects to finish with 72 goals and 76 assists for 147 points.
No player has scored 70 or more goals in a season in more than three decades. The last to do it were Hockey Hall of Famers Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selänne, who each scored 76 goals for the Buffalo Sabres and the original Winnipeg Jets, respectively, during the 1992–93 season.
Nathan MacKinnon is delivering once-in-a-generation hockey, and even amid historic dominance, his eyes are fixed on one goal: winning another championship for the Avalanche.
Oregon vs. Texas Tech score, live updates: Follow College Football Playoff action
Texas Tech starts its College Football Playoff campaign in the Orange Bowl while Oregon hopes to avoid a quarterfinal loss for the second straight season.
Canadiens' Nick Suzuki Sets New Franchise Record
The Montreal Canadiens picked up a big 3-2 overtime against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 30. It was a hard-fought victory for the Canadiens, as they were down 2-0 with five minutes left in the third before tying it up and winning the contest in overtime.
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki was undoubtedly a massive reason for the Habs' comeback win. The 26-year-old center tied the game up at the 18:38 mark of the third period to force overtime. Then, Suzuki followed that up by scoring the overtime winner on the power play to get Montreal two points.
Now, due to his huge game, Suzuki has set a new Canadiens franchise record.
Suzuki picked up his 19th career overtime point as a member of the Canadiens with his game-winning goal against the Panthers. Due to this, he has now passed Howie Morenz with the most overtime points in Canadiens franchise history.
Suzuki setting this incredible franchise record shows just how clutch of a player he has been for the Canadiens. There is no question that the Habs are lucky to have him, and he is only continuing to get better as his career carries on.
In 39 games so far this season with the Canadiens, Suzuki has posted 13 goals, 31 assists, 44 points, and a plus-13 rating.
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Gary Anderson returned to the World Championship semi-finals for the first time in four years after ending Justin Hood’s dream debut run.
The 55-year-old is enjoying a renaissance and is now just two wins away from lifting a third world title, 10 years after his last. If he can do so, he would become the oldest player to lift the PDC world title and join Michael van Gerwen in second place in the all-time list of champions.
Continue reading...Ipswich rise into Championship’s top two as rivals Coventry and Boro slip up
Philogene and Akpom goals secure 2-1 win over Oxford
Charlton hold Coventry 1-1; Derby upset Middlesbrough
Ipswich climbed into the automatic promotion places in the Championship following a 2-1 victory over struggling Oxford.
Their success came via first-half goals from leading scorer Jaden Philogene and Chuba Akpom, while Will Lankshear replied for the visitors. Ipswich moved a point above Middlesbrough after they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Derby, while Oxford remain three points from safety.
Continue reading...5 New Year's resolutions for Knicks entering 2026
As the calendar turns to 2026, resolutions are being made across the globe for the next 12 months, hoping to accomplish in the new year what couldn’t be done prior. For the Knicks and their fans, there’s only one resolution that really needs to come true in this high-stakes 2026, but we’ve put together five for the franchise to tackle anyway.
Win Jalen Brunson the MVP award
To be clear, head coach Mike Brown, Brunson and the rest of the team have done all they can here. Brunson’s having a career year, averaging just under 30 points and seven assists on efficient shooting numbers, while the Knicks are streaking towards the top of their conference and one of the best records in basketball.
If not for the generational juggernaut in Oklahoma City, Brunson would already be a serious contender here. Brown’s spent multiple press conferences trying to garner appropriate hype that just hasn’t come.
More needs to be done: Brunson just came in third in the East in All-Star fan voting when he should be a face of the league. This is a call on the Knicks organization and greater New York elite to step up, get the propaganda machine turning and expend whatever political and economic capital they have to get this man the respect he deserves.
Add depth at the trade deadline
It’s all or nothing for the Knicks now, the far-and-away favorites to come out of the East and potentially capture the franchise’s first championship in over a half-century. From top to bottom the franchise has operated with that view in recent years, trading the star player and firing the head coach that set off this very rebuild in pursuit of glory.
That means they shouldn’t be getting conservative around 2026’s trade deadline, the last chance the Knicks will get to upgrade their roster before the postseason hunt. Leon Rose and company haven’t been shy about making midseason moves, and everybody outside of the core rotation should be treated as expendable.
It’s unlikely we see a ground-shaking move like acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo or even an All-Star level player, but the Knicks should be able to package enough assets to bring in another real contributor. In the playoffs, every bit of margin helps.
Get Mikal Bridges attacking the rim
Coming into this season and early on thus far, it looked like we were getting a more aggressive Bridges -- one unafraid of contact or attacking the rim. This was an enticing prospect because when he plays like this he’s able to really utilize his creation and his game goes to another level.
While he’s still driving towards the rim, putting together big scoring nights and showing more tenacity defensively, he’s regressed back to not looking at the cup when he gets into the paint. By way of comparison, he had 33 free throws in the first 17 games and has had seven in the 15 since (entering play on Wednesday).
The resolution for Bridges should be avoiding another clip of him turning down open layups for fading jumpers or a kickout.
Get Karl-Anthony Towns to ignore the officials
One would think Knicks fans would have gotten used to their score-first star second-fiddle big man living and dying with their emotions, but some are seemingly re-learning the Julius Randle lesson with Towns. In their defense, KAT has been too focused on the officials this season and it’s affected his play at times.
In his defense, the worst whistle in basketball appears to only have gotten worse. But he’s talented enough to play through it, and once he’s more focused on the game than the refs, they’ll start sending more calls his way.
Towns’ resolution will be to try and contain some of that fire that’s made him so special since joining the league, the Knicks, and will make him an All-Star once again this season.
Win the NBA Championship
2026 should be a year of lofty, ambitious goals, and there’s no greater bar to clear for this Knicks team. It’s no doubt been the resolution of many of their players long before this New Year’s, but it’ll be the same one atop everybody’s list this time around.
Three Islanders Questions Entering New Year's Day Game vs. Utah Mammoth
To kick off the 2026 portion of the season, the New York Islanders host the Utah Mammoth at 3 PM ET. Here's three questions ahead of the game:
Is Ilya Sorokin ready to return?
After backing up the second leg of a back-to-back in Buffalo, Ilya Sorokin hasn’t been able to play, missing the last four games due to a lower-body injury. He is on Injured Reserve but is eligible to be activated whenever he’s ready to go. Initially, we were told this was a minor issue and that he was expected back after the Christmas break, but that wasn’t the case. Backup David Rittich has been dominant in his absence, going 3-1-0 over these last four games, but it seemed like fatigue was starting to set in over the last two outings — Rittich is a warrior and fought through it. It’s clear that the Islanders don’t trust third-string goaltender Marcus Hogberg, or they would have gone to him last weekend. Sorokin had been playing at a Vezina-caliber pace. The Islanders are clearly being very cautious with their star netminder.
Does Roy keep Barzal with Horvat?
With the Islanders wanting to get Calum Ritchie back at center, head coach Patrick Roy placed Mathew Barzal back with Horvat in their 3-2 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Their line wasn’t great, with just four shots on goal and four shots against in 15:01 minutes. The two looked dynamic at times, but they didn’t provide the spark Roy was probably looking for. After the game, Roy said they were okay and that he was going to have to watch film to determine if he was going to stick with the two. We know how good Barzal and Horvat can be together, and allowing Ritchie back at center paid off, with him scoring the opening goal and looking pretty good the entire night after sitting in the press box against Columbus on Sunday.
Does Marshall Warren remain in?
Rookie defenseman Marshall Warren has won the third-pairing, left-side defense role for now, but he’ll need to start earning Roy’s trust more if he wants to play more. On Tuesday, he sat out the final 14:34 of regulation and didn’t get any shifts in overtime. The lack of minutes at this position in the lineup has forced Adam Pelech and Matthew Schaefer to play heavier minutes — they’ve played them well — but it’s not an ideal situation by any means. Warren seems reliable out there, but if he’s not going to play a ton of minutes, does it make sense to get someone in there who can? He’s played under 10 minutes in two of his last three games. The only other option the Islanders have right now is Adam Boqvist, who has had a hard time playing the left side, his offside.
Blackhawks Exciting Young Forward Is Breaking Out
Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Greene is one of the club's many promising young players. The Blackhawks are hoping that the 22-year-old forward will be a very important part of their roster for many seasons.
After appearing in his first two NHL games at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, Greene is now in his first full season with the Blackhawks. Overall, it is fair to say that the 2022 second-round pick has been doing a solid job in his rookie year, as he has posted four goals, 10 assists, and 14 points in 39 games thus far with the Blackhawks.
Yet, what's encouraging is that Greene is showing clear signs of improvement as the 2025-26 season rolls on.
Greene has been heating up as of late for the Blackhawks, as he has recorded four assists over his last five games alone for Chicago. This included him having two assists in the Blackhawks' Dec. 20 matchup against the Ottawa Senators.
The Blackhawks will now be hoping that Greene can continue to make an impact with his playmaking as the season rolls on. There is no question that the 6-foot-1 forward has the potential to become a very impactful player, and it will be fascinating to see what he can do from here.
Sydney has a history of hosting Ashes comebacks – and launching dynasties | Geoff Lemon
Classic New Years Tests offer clues for how England and Australia can end this series on their terms at the SCG and set up for the next
If you’re an England cricket team, a Test in Sydney doesn’t look so bad. The last few weeks have merited constant updating of England’s horrible streak in Australia since January 1987, which last week’s Melbourne win improved only as far as 51 played, seven won, eight drawn, 36 lost. In Sydney over that time, the calculation is a little friendlier, at 10 played, four drawn, two won, only four lost.
So while the trophy is gone, a strong showing in this match could offer optimism that it might be a springboard for the future. Sydney has a history of involvement in Ashes comebacks, whether within a match, within a series, or in the longer term.
Continue reading...MacKinnon scores 400th goal and Nichushkin nets hat trick as Avalanche rout Blues 6-1
DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, including his 400th career goal, and Valeri Nichushkin netted his second NHL hat trick as the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 6-1 on Wednesday night for their ninth straight win.
MacKinnon became the third player in franchise history to reach 400 goals and first to score them all for the Avalanche. Joe Sakic had 625 goals, the first 233 coming with the Quebec Nordiques before the team moved to Colorado. Michel Goulet is second in club history with 456, all for Quebec.
MacKinnon, who added two assists, leads the NHL with 34 goals. His 70 points were tied with Edmonton star Connor McDavid for most in the league.
Nichushkin scored twice during a four-goal barrage in the first 4:39 of the game and finished with three goals. Brock Nelson scored later on a power play for Colorado, and Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 12 shots.
Colorado has won 15 straight at home, where it is 17-0-2, and has just two regulation losses (30-2-7) this season. The Avalanche’s 69 points tied the 1929-30 Boston Bruins for the most through 39 games.
Jordan Binnington allowed four goals on the first eight shots he faced and finished with 37 saves. Dalibor Dvorsky scored for St. Louis, which has dropped two straight. The Blues’ 13 shots on goal were a season low.
Nichushkin made it 1-0 a minute in, and MacKinnon scored his first of the game at 3:13. Nichushkin got his second of the night 13 seconds later, and MacKinnon’s slap shot 1:13 after that capped the early scoring.
It was the fastest four goals to start a game in franchise history and third in NHL history.
Nelson, who got his 300th career assist on Nichushkin’s first goal, scored midway through the game. Nichushkin scored 1:34 after Dvorsky spoiled Blackwood’s shutout bid with his sixth of the season.
Up next
Blues: Host the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night.
Avalanche: At the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
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*Searle (1) 2-0 (0) Clayton Another break of throw for Searle! Clayton missed a dart at D16, a terrible effort, and Searle took out 116 on tops with the air of a man strolling to the paper shop on a brisk winter morning. His finishing has been outrageous.
Searle (1) 1-0 (0) Clayton*
Continue reading...Tatsuya Imai signs with Astros after being linked to Phils
Tatsuya Imai signs with Astros after being linked to Phils originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai has agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Houston Astros, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
This closes the door on a potential Phillies addition that had gained traction recently.
Imai, 27, spent eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Seibu Lions, compiling a 3.15 ERA across 159 appearances. He was coming off a breakout 2025 season, posting a 1.92 ERA in 24 starts with 178 strikeouts over 163 2/3 innings, while significantly improving his command. His WHIP was a career-best at 0.89.
His contract with Houston includes opt-outs after each season with an average annual value of $18 million, with a number of incentives.
The Phillies were among the teams linked to Imai as his posting window neared its Friday deadline, but Philadelphia ultimately did not land the right-hander.
Missing out on Imai keeps the club’s rotation picture largely unchanged — and places added emphasis on its internal decisions.
The Phillies already have significant money, just over $102 million, committed to starting pitching, with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker and Cristopher Sánchez all on multi-year deals, plus Jesús Luzardo in his final year of arbitration.
This move, though, keeps the door open for a reunion with southpaw Ranger Suárez.
Suárez, who will also carry a hefty price tag in free agency, remains an option for Philadelphia to reinforce its rotation without adding an external arm. The club’s top pitching prospect, Andrew Painter, will have the opportunity to compete for a rotation spot in spring training.
With Wheeler’s availability uncertain early next season and the club already pushing luxury-tax thresholds, a reunion with Suárez may still be unlikely, but it would provide continuity to one of the best rotations in the game.
For now, the Phillies will continue monitoring the starting pitching market. Whether that results in renewed talks with Suárez or they stand pat, Imai’s decision elsewhere narrows the options.
Warriors report card entering 2026 after turbulent start: Slight improvement
Warriors report card entering 2026 after turbulent start: Slight improvement originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Since our initial Warriors Report Card following the first 20 games of the 2025-26 NBA season, Golden State has gone 8-6, a slight improvement from being 10-10 since we last checked in.
The hardest part of the schedule is over. Living life on the road with constant back-to-backs is done. Now that 2026 is here, it’s go-time for the Warriors at 18-16.
Here’s how they grade out so far this session entering the new year.
Offense
How does a team that has Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler rank 21st in points per game (115.6)? Turnovers. The Warriors have turned the ball over the second-most times in the entire NBA. It’s why 11 of their 16 leads have come from blown fourth-quarter leads.
They’re now 5-13 when they have more turnovers than their opponents, 10-2 when they have fewer and 3-1 when they’re tied with their opponent in turnovers. The system still creates open shots. The problem is the Warriors miss too many of them and don’t take care of them well enough.
The Warriors rank 18th overall in offensive rating (114.3), and were 11th for the month of December (116.3).
Grade: C-
Defense
Advanced statistics like the Warriors’ defense a whole lot more than their offense. For the season, the Warriors now are third in defensive rating (111.8) and were fifth in December (111.9).
There still are cracks. Point of attack remains a concern. A lack of stopping ball-handlers, plus being a smaller team, has them ranked 17th in opponent points in the paint per game (51.3). Somehow, the Warriors rank fourth in opponent 3-point percentage (34.3 percent), even though it feels like teams catch fire from deep at the worst times.
Second, third and fourth options still are having career games against the Warriors. Yet the numbers tell a different story.
Grade: B-
Stars
So much has changed around the NBA, and so much has remained the same for Curry and the Warriors. He still is the sun of their solar system, and still needs others to shine brighter around him.
The Warriors are 4-6 in the 10 games Curry has scored 30-plus points. Curry for the third straight season is leading the NBA in 3-point attempts and makes per game while shooting just under 40 percent from deep. After missing five games to injury, he closed 2025 by scoring at least 20 points in eight of his final nine games, including two 39-point games and a 48-point game.
His second true star is Butler, who remains Mr. Efficient and has been everything the Warriors could hope for at 36 years old as of late. In his final seven games of the year, Butler averaged 21.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 90.7 percent at the free-throw line on 7.7 attempts per game while averaging 33 minutes per game.
And then there’s Green. The last two games of December were his only with a positive plus/minus. He was ejected one game and took himself out of another, and the Warriors were better without him in both. Less is becoming more for Green, and the Warriors know they still are at their best when he’s at his best in all facets.
Grade: B+/A-
Additions
From our first iteration of Warriors Report Cards for this season, we established the three players who fit this category are rookie Will Richard, and veterans De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford.
To honor older players and give them a longer leash, Richard was a healthy DNP (Did Not Play) in three straight games during December. The Warriors lost all three. Since then, Richard has played 20 minutes per game and averaged 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game over the last six games, highlighted by his 10 points and two steals in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ win against the Nets in Brooklyn.
Horford finally returned from a seven-game absence on Christmas, and Melton made his season debut. The Warriors’ Christmas win was a display of what Horford brings with four threes and rim protection, and though Melton has struggled to find his shot, he clearly is one of their top defensive players already and has been a plus-57 in the 10 games he has played.
Grade: C+
Youth
For the seventh straight game to close the calendar year, two younger players have accompanied Curry, Butler and Green in the starting lineup. Moody and Post, at least for now, have security as starters. But that always can change, and the Warriors still need those two to find more consistency shooting the ball.
Several youngsters off the bench have come on strong as of late. Brandin Podziemski scored 19 points on New Year’s Eve and averaged 12.7 points on 51.7 percent shooting in December. Trayce Jackson-Davis has re-emerged in the center rotation with strong finishes around the rim, and Richard continues to impress, earning Steve Kerr’s trust to close games with his two-way impact.
Writing about Jonathan Kuminga might as well be with invisible ink. Wednesday was his fifth straight healthy DNP and he already has received eight this season. January 15, the first day Kuminga becomes trade eligible, can’t come soon enough for him and the team.
Grade: C+
Health
A number of bumps and bruises have hampered the Warriors while still avoiding major injury.
Steph Curry missed five straight games due to a quad contusion, and his young brother Seth has been sidelined due to sciatic-nerve issues in his pelvis and lower back. Horford missed three weeks because of sciatica, and Green was out for a few weeks with a right foot sprain. This is about how it goes for a team that has seven players who are at least 33 years old.
As teams around the league have seen their stars miss multiple weeks or worse, the Warriors have played a game of roulette with who will be healthy or have to take a seat. In this case, things could be much more grim for Golden State.
Grade: B-
Overall
The Warriors finished 2025 by winning five of their last six games. Though they failed to earn their first four-game win streak of the season with a bad loss against the Raptors in Toronto, the Warriors are finally are finding consistency in their starting lineup and rotations, as well as the win column.
As 2026 begins, the Warriors are the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. The goal going into the season was to be a top-six seed, and they hoped to get greedy as a top-four seed. Well, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves are three games ahead of them, and the fourth-seeded Houston Rockets are four games ahead.
Starting Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 10 of the Warriors’ next 11 games are at home, and they don’t leave California until Jan. 22. This is their chance to bump their grades much closer to what they expected.
Grade: C+