Freddie Freeman gives compelling, honest answer to young aspiring baseball players.
Making an appearance as a guest on “MLB Central” on Saturday morning, Freddie Freeman was honest and direct when Lauren Shehadi asked him one thing he would tell young baseball players.
Freeman quickly answered, saying to “Swing hard,” then laughed it off and went on to say kids just need to have fun.
Freddie Freeman shares a message to youth baseball players:
“All these kids, they always ask me, ‘What do I need to do to be a big leaguer?’ ” Freeman said. “I’m always like, ‘Not think like that right now.’ Be a kid. Play flag football, play fastball, switch sports. You don’t need to be taking 12 lessons every week.”
Freddie Freeman wants youth baseball players to have fun. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
When his kids are feeling sore or tired, Freeman said he will occasionally tell them to skip practice and just focus on being a kid and having fun.
“For me as a 9-, 10-, 11-year-old, it was have one practice, play one game on the weekend, and you’re playing Heads-Up, Seven Up all day long at the Little League field,” Freeman said. “That’s what it’s about. It’s fun. This game is not supposed to be a job until later on in life.”
“I think kids need to be kids. Have fun. If you go 0-for-3, with three strikeouts in a game, go get an ice cream and not worry about it.”
Typically, Freeman tries to avoid giving advice to kids. But when he does, he tries to wait until they are sophomores or juniors in high school because they’re close to going to the next level and playing college baseball.
Freddie Freeman said baseball should not be a job “until later on in life.” AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
Focusing on having fun and playing baseball as a kid clearly worked out for Freeman during his childhood, as he is a three-time World Series champion, a former National League MVP (2020), a World Series MVP (2024) and a nine-time All-Star.
As a father of three boys and one girl, Freeman said he tells his oldest son, Charlie, three rules when he’s playing baseball. “Be aggressive, hit line drives and cheer on your teammates.”
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs guards Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks during Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, Karl-Anthony Towns now stands one win away from basketball immortality.
Let that sentence breathe for a second.
The largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Madison Square Garden shaking like it was trying to detach itself from Manhattan. The Knicks down 29 points in Game 4, staring at what felt like a guaranteed 2-2 series tie, and somehow turning the entire second half into one of the most surreal, delirious, how-in-the-hell-did-that-just-happen basketball experiences any of us will ever see.
For San Antonio Spurs fans, it must have felt like watching a car crash unfold in slow motion. The chance to even the series and drag the Knicks back into the pressure cooker was sitting right there on the table. Then, possession by possession, miss by miss, turnover by turnover, it all slipped away.
For Knicks fans, it was euphoria.
For Wolves fans watching Karl-Anthony Towns chase the one thing that eluded him throughout his Minnesota tenure, it was something else entirely. It was joyful in that slightly complicated way, where the player you loved for years is doing the thing you always hoped he would do, just not in your uniform.
In the final seconds, fittingly, Towns still found a way to put his fingerprints on the moment.
With the Knicks clinging to the lead and San Antonio desperately searching for one final miracle, Towns managed to get his hand on the inbound pass, denying what may have been a clean layup or dunk for Stephon Castle at the buzzer. It was the sort of play that might get swallowed up in a highlight package dominated by the comeback itself, but one that ultimately helped secure a 3-1 series lead for New York.
And now Towns is one win away. One win from joining Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love as former Timberwolves franchise cornerstones who went on to capture an NBA championship after leaving Minnesota. There is something undeniably strange about that lineage, and maybe a little painful if you stare at it too long. The Wolves have never gotten to hold the Larry O’Brien Trophy themselves, but their former stars keep finding their way to it elsewhere.
Garnett got his in Boston in 2008. Love got his in Cleveland in 2016. Now Towns may get his in New York in 2026. Interestingly, each one of those championship runs featured its own absurd comeback story. Garnett’s Celtics erased a 24-point deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals, a comeback that helped deliver Boston its first championship in more than two decades. Kevin Love’s Cavaliers did something even more ridiculous, climbing out of a 3-1 hole against the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
Now Towns has his own entry. The Knicks coming back from 29 down in Game 4 of the NBA Finals will live forever if New York finishes the job. That is the key. Great comebacks become immortal when they become part of a championship story. Otherwise, they risk becoming a wild footnote, something fans remember fondly but not something carved into league mythology. If the Knicks win one of the next three games and bring New York its first title in 53 years, Game 4 instantly becomes sacred text.
It becomes the game people talk about in bars 30 years from now. It becomes the game dads tell their kids about. It becomes the game Knicks fans will claim they never doubted for a second, even though every single one of them was mentally preparing for the series to be tied 2-2 midway through the third quarter.
For Towns, it becomes the game that helped rewrite the story. KAT’s career has been followed by questions, some fair, some unfair, some exaggerated by the gravitational pull of being the best player on a franchise that too often gave him chaos and asked him to turn it into stability. Could he lead a winner? Could he defend at the highest level? Could he keep his composure? Could he rise in the biggest moments? Could he be more than an elite offensive talent with a beautiful shooting stroke and a frustrating tendency to pick up fouls 35 feet from the basket? Those questions followed him in Minnesota. They followed him out of Minnesota. They were part of the conversation the moment he arrived in New York.
But championships have a funny way of changing conversations. Win a title, and the frustrations become growth. The long road becomes the reason the ending feels earned. If Towns hoists the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a lot of the noise that has followed him for years gets quieter.
He would be a champion. No qualifier needed. That is what makes Saturday night in San Antonio so fascinating.
The Knicks are one win away from finishing the job, but the Spurs are not going to simply roll over and hand them the trophy. Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio have 72 hours to sit with one of the all-time gut punches in NBA Finals history. They had Game 4. They had a chance to make this a brand-new series. Instead, they walked off the floor at Madison Square Garden looking like a team that had just been hit by a truck it never saw coming.
How does a young team respond to that? Do the Spurs pick themselves off the mat, return to Frost Bank Center, and remind everyone why they knocked off Minnesota and Oklahoma City on the way here? Does Wembanyama deliver the kind of monster response that reasserts his place as the terrifying future of the league? Does San Antonio turn Game 5 into a pride game, extend the series, and force the Knicks to feel the pressure of trying to close again? Or did Game 4 break something? That is the cruel beauty of the Finals. Nobody knows until the ball goes up.
For the Knicks, the mission is simple but not easy: do not give San Antonio hope. Do not let the Spurs believe this series has another turn left in it. Do not allow one of the most dramatic comebacks in basketball history to become merely the setup for another momentum swing. The Knicks have three chances to win one game, but the cleanest path is always the first one. End it now.
For Towns, the opportunity is almost too perfect. One game. One win. One chance to silence the doubts and validate every painful step along the way. One chance to stand next to Garnett and Love as another former Timberwolves great who found his championship moment.
If Karl-Anthony Towns is hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy tonight, you can rest assured that Wolves Nation will be watching. The Canis Hoopus faithful will be tuned in, cheering him on, ready to see one of the most important players in franchise history finally get the vindication he has been chasing his entire career.
By all logic, the San Antonio Spurs should be coming home with momentum in the NBA Finals.
Apparently, logic doesn't apply to the New York Knicks, who climbed out of win probability hell (0.6% with 9:45 left in 4Q) to take a 3-1 series lead Wednesday.
Basketball bettors are left to wonder about the mental state of San Antonio after it blew a 29-point lead in Game 4, backing itself in a corner for Saturday’s Game 5.
My Knicks vs. Spurs same-game parlay believes San Antonio will live to fight another day, while also singling out two scorers who had their recent efforts dampened by foul trouble.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13.
Our best Knicks vs Spurs SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Spurs moneyline
The San Antonio Spurs get a two-day break to wash the scent of Game 4 off them before Saturday. That extra rest also helps star center Victor Wembanyama recharge after he looked sluggish in the second half of Wednesday’s loss.
The New York Knicks continue to win the 50/50 balls while also receiving plenty of lucky bounces and fortuitous breaks. Regression could be ripe with New York coming down from a crazy scene at MSG and hitting the road this weekend. San Antonio may not cover but it can stay alive in Game 5.
SGP leg #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns was limited to just 26 minutes in Game 4, due to two fouls in the opening minute of action. Towns came back with solid work in the second half but was unable to get in the offensive rhythm we saw from KAT in the opening two games of the finals.
The Knicks tried to run the offensive through him early in Game 3, but foul trouble botched that scheme. Look for Mike Brown to stick with that plan in Game 5. Towns’ projections sit as high as 21+ points while my number is just shy of 19 points on Saturday.
SGP leg #3: Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle was also limited with foul issues in Game 4. He too struggled to find his flow, shooting just 2 for 7 from the field. However, Castle has been aggressively attacking the rim and knocked down all eight of his FTAs on Wednesday. He scored 13 points in just 26 minutes in Game 4 and his Game 5 forecasts call for closer to 19 points, given his usual floor time.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs. Spurs predictions for Game 5.
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BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: The Milwaukee Bucks round 1 pick 23 during the 2024 NBA Draft - Round One on June 26, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In this week’s Reacts survey, we discussed the possibility of the Bucks moving down from the 10th pick in this month’s 2026 NBA Draft in exchange for multiple selections this year. At last month’s combine, Milwaukee was said to be operating as if they’d be making more than one draft pick, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean an additional first (the rumor didn’t specify), that’s the route we’re looking at today. What was the verdict among voters?
As discussed on Tuesday, the Thunder and Hornets both have two picks in the teens: OKC at 12 and 17, Charlotte at 14 and 18. I wrote yesterday about who I might pick if I were the Bucks in those situations. But a small majority of our readership thinks it would be a good idea to move back from 10 in order to add a second rookie. And it’s possible, if not likely, that whoever the Bucks have eyes for at 10 will still be on the board at 12 anyway, perhaps even 14.
Acquiring a second pick this year could be flipped for the future too. If Milwaukee received 17 or 18, they could trade that pick for a future first, particularly to a team that doesn’t have a pick this year; New Orleans, for example. Last year, the Pelicans famously traded their 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta in order to move up in the 2025 draft and choose Derik Queen. That move was highly criticized at the time, and the Hawks ended up at eighth this year in exchange for moving back 10 spots from 13 to 23.
Maybe New Orleans doesn’t want to make that mistake again, but maybe Houston wants to get in on this highly-regarded class. They have no firsts this year, though they own Phoenix’s next year and have the right to swap theirs with Brooklyn’s. The latter might be too high a price to pay for the 18th pick this year, but if I were the Bucks, I’d gladly give them 18 for the Suns’ pick next year, which could certainly end up in the lottery. And with the new odds, it could end up being quite high.
Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 13: Iván Herrera #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field on June 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals struck early Saturday afternoon, but the Minnesota Twins offense responded. It ended up being a back-and-forth affair in Minneapolis, but the bats of Iván Herrera, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan would be the difference makers.
The St. Louis Cardinals offense would come out of the gate firing in the top of the 1st inning as Masyn Winn walked and Iván Herrera jacked a 417 foot shot into the upper deck of Target Field giving the Cardinals an immediate 2-0 lead. (Spoiler Alert: he would provide a crucial encore later)
St. Louis would add to their lead in the top of the 2nd inning as Blaze Jordan tripled off of the right field wall to lead it off. After Fermin fouled out, Pedro Pagés picked him up by doubling to right scoring Jordan.
After the Pagés double, Nathan Church would reach on an infield ground ball to second advancing Pagés to third. He would then score on a sacrifice fly by Masyn Winn making it 4-0 Cardinals and they would need those additional runs.
Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before, but Matthew Liberatore got off to a strong start for the first few innings before running into trouble in the middle of the game. Saturday, it was the bottom of the 4th inning when Matthew’s day would start to come apart as he gave up solo home runs to both Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis as the Twins cut the Cardinals lead in half ending the inning trailing 4-2.
The bottom of the 5th inning would be problematic for Liberatore, too. After he opened the inning with a walk to Kreidler, he grooved a 94 mph four-seam fastball to Luke Keaschall who turned on it and sent it 371 feet just to the right of the left field foul pole tying the game at 4-4. After Liberatore got Jackson to line out to center, manager Oli Marmol removed him from the game and brought in Matt Svanson. Matthew Liberatore’s final stat line for the game was 4 1/3 innings pitched giving up 4 earned runs on 5 hits striking out 4 and walking 1. The good news is Matt Svanson was sharp as he finished the 5th inning and also took care of the bottom of the 6th inning allowing no hits or runs while striking out 2.
To put this in a video game way, the St. Louis Cardinals powered up in the top of the 7th inning. After Church and Winn struck out to start the inning, Iván Herrera and Jordan Walker would destroy baseballs in consecutive at-bats. Herrera would slam an arching 403 foot shot into the left field stands followed by Jordan Walker absolutely destroying an 80 mph sweeper launching the longest home run at Target Field this season traveling 455 feet off of the third deck and knocking the hat off of a fan. Exit velocity? 117 mph! Cardinals grab the lead back at 6-4.
The Cardinals offense was not even close to done in the top of the 7th inning. After Walker’s cannon launch, Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson singled which brought the new wonderchild Blaze Jordan up and he did not disappoint. He joined the home run party turning a 94 mph four-seam fastball into 3 more runs for St. Louis upping their lead to 9-4! This kid is a keeper!
The good news just keeps coming as Ryne Stanek rebounded from Friday night’s unfortunate circumstances pitching an uneventful bottom of the 7th for St. Louis keeping the Twins at bay with a strikeout and 2 flyouts. No sweat. Chris Roycroft made his first appearance since being called up from Memphis Friday to take care of the Twins in the bottom of the 8th inning. Oli Marmol decided to give us a flashback to the good ole days of Earl Weaver getting tossed out of games when the Minnesota Twins made a ridiculously-late ABS challenge and he went nuclear. Can’t blame him for being bent about the Twins being allowed to walk halfway toward the dugout before tapping the helmet. Absurd. That would accelerate Roycroft being removed from the game after the walk to Martin and then a dribbler single on the third base side of the pitcher’s mound giving the Twins two runners on with just one out. JoJo Romero was brought in by substitute manager Daniel Descalso and he gave up a single which scored one run making it 9-5 Cardinals, but he was able to get Lewis to ground into a double play to limit the damage.
Riley O’Brien opened the bottom of the 9th inning by walking the bases loaded. Are you kidding me? Interesting that the Cardinals brought in JJ Wetherholt who had been given the day off as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 9th. He would come in handy as he was responsible for getting the second out on a ground ball by Josh Bell after Keaschall struck out looking. The Twins did score a run on the play making it 9-6 Cardinals, but the tying run was still coming up to the plate in Caratini. Fortunately, Riley O’Brien was able to get the final out on a fly ball to Nootbaar in left field to lock down a badly-needed Cardinals victory.
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their stay in Minneapolis with a Sunday afternoon game against the Twins. Michael McGreevy will get the start for the Cardinals while the Twins will send Taj Bradley to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm central time and the game TV broadcast will be available at Cardinals.tv.
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The New York Knicks are one win away from becoming NBA champions for the first time in 53 years and tonight’s Game 5 is their first chance to clinch the title.
A historic Game 4 win is what led them here.
The San Antonio Spurs controlled the first half of Wednesday’s matchup, building up a 76–49 lead that seemed insurmountable. The second half was all Knicks, though, as they held the Spurs to just 30 points across both frames and slowly but surely erased the deficit.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
The postmortem on the Colorado Avalanche’s playoff sweep quickly turned to injuries — but that storyline may not be holding up as strongly as first believed, especially around Cale Makar.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman’s status for the start of next season could be uncertain.
“I’ve heard his injury is pretty significant,” Friedman said on his podcast. “And I know some people have been wondering, will he be ready for the start of next year? I guess we’ll find all that out, but I just don’t think that that’s the reason here. I think it’s more of an excuse than anything else.”
After Makar was seen attending a Colorado Eagles playoff game without a sling or any visible signs of a serious injury, speculation naturally followed about whether the severity of the reported issue had been overstated.
There is no definitive way to confirm that either way, but Joe Sakic offered some clarity Thursday at Family Sports, pushing back on any concern about lingering health issues heading into next season. He said the organization expects a fully healthy group when training camp opens.
“Everybody is going to be at training camp and 100%,” Sakic said. “Nobody going to miss any time.”
That doesn’t mean the Avalanche weren’t dealing with real injuries during the series against Vegas. Artturi Lehkonen, Sam Malinski, Brent Burns, Nathan MacKinnon and Makar were all managing something in some capacity, which, at this point in the season, is more standard reality than exception around the league.
Makar, meanwhile, finished the postseason with five points in 11 games after a 79-point regular season — a playoff total that matched the lowest production of his career in any postseason run, including years in which Colorado exited in the opening round.
It’s the part of hockey that rarely gets romanticized — the stretch where everyone is playing through something, and excuses only carry so much weight after the final whistle. Much like a fighter stepping into a world title bout after a punishing camp, there’s rarely such a thing as perfect health in late spring. And once the result is decided, explanations tend to land hollow.
The reality is the Avalanche were beaten — cleanly — by a Vegas team that neutralized their speed, clogged their lanes, and punished mistakes with ruthless efficiency, which is exactly how the Golden Knights are built to operate.
As Sakic noted Thursday, it was four games, and a rough four games at that. But it doesn’t erase what came before. Colorado still finished the regular season with a Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top team, a distinction that matters even if it doesn’t soften playoff disappointment. The last club to win both the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season remains the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.
And in today’s playoff structure — where elite teams often collide early and the path to June feels more like survival than progression — it increasingly becomes a last-man-standing tournament. Right now, that’s exactly where the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes find themselves, preparing for Game 6 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
For Colorado, though, it's time to reset, recharge, and let the sting fade just enough to start the process all over again.
When Ben and Jerry talk ice cream, you listen to an authority.
When Meryl Streep talks acting, you listen to an authority.
When Draymond Green talks NBA suspensions, you listen to an authority.
And Green says that Victor Wembanyama’s actions during the NBA playoffs — including the Finals against the Knicks — warrant a suspension.
Victor Wembanyama was not given a flagrant foul for his Game 3 shove of Knicks star Jalen Brunson. ABC
“Listen, I’m not one that wants to see series decided by suspensions,” Green, the Warriors star, said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “That’s not good for anyone. It leaves a lot of questions, a lot of what-ifs. I don’t enjoy that.
“I will say, he’s been shown a lot of grace. He probably should be suspended at some point – or (should) have been already – but he’s been shown a lot of grace.”
Green has been suspended six times during his Hall of Fame-caliber career, including an indefinite suspension (it became 12 games) in December 2023 for striking an opponent in the face. Earlier that same season, he was suspended five games for putting an opponent in a chokehold.
Green has been suspended for accumulating 16 technical fouls in a regular season and in the playoffs for stomping an opponent’s chest. He also sat out Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals for accumulating too many flagrant foul points in the postseason, which is the line that Wembanyama is toeing.
Victor Wembanyama during NBA Finals Game 4. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Draymond Green believes Wemby should’ve been suspended already this finals but the NBA is showing him ‘grace’:
“I will say he’s been shown a lot of grace. He probably should be suspended at some point or have been already. But I agree with the Grace”
“I agree with the grace,” Green said. “We want to see Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Knicks. Not the Spurs sans Victor Wembanyama versus the Knicks.”
Of course, the controversial Green, who is serving as a studio analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the Finals, wants the NBA to admit that it is bending the rules for stars, which will never happen.
Even if most recognize that NBA stars have been getting favored treatment from officials for decades.
“I wish the NBA would just come out and say, ‘In most cases, this probably should be a suspension, but it’s not because we want our best in the NBA Finals and that’s the way it should be,’” Green said. “And I agree with that.”
Draymond Green calls out Victor Wembanyama and other European basketball players as dirty players.
The Warriors’ Draymond Green didn’t hold back when voicing his opinion on Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.
During Green’s podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” he didn’t hesitate to call out Wembanyama and European players’ play style as “dirty.”
“Victor Wembanyama is a great player. Victor Wembanyama is a European player. And I’ve been on record for saying European players are dirty,” Green said. “… They are a bit dirty. It’s why beating France in France was such a big deal. Europeans want to own our game, and they are a bit dirty.”
Draymond Green says Wemby and European players are ‘a bit’ Dirty
“Victor Wembanyama is a great player. Victor Wembanyama is a European player…. Draymond will f*ck you up. But I’m not dirty. It’s a completely different thing. Victor Wembanyama is a European player, they are a… https://t.co/Uxj0azssQbpic.twitter.com/MxoKskh3Zo
Recently, Wembanyama has caught NBA fans‘ attention after some questionable moves he’s made throughout the NBA Finals against the Knicks.
Wembanyama received a flagrant foul 1 for elbowing Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns in the face during the third quarter of Game 4 on Wednesday. Assuming the foul isn’t overturned, he will be one flagrant foul away from being suspended for a game.
Wembanyama received two flagrant foul points when he elbowed Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the jaw during game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
NBA rules dictate that if a player accumulates four flagrant foul points, they are to be suspended for a game.
The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is close to being suspended if he commits another flagrant foul. NBAE via Getty ImagesDraymond Green was suspended for a game during the 2016 NBA Finals. AP
The Spurs trail the Knicks, 3-1, and if they manage to pull off a comeback Saturday against the Knicks, they will need their star player for the rest of the NBA Finals.
Ironically, Green has been called out in the past as being labeled a dirty player. On his podcast, he acknowledged those accusations but belittled them and said he is someone who will “F— you up.”
“I’m not dirty,” Green said. “It’s a completely different thing. And I don’t think anyone I play against will tell you, ‘Man, he’s dirty.’ I ain’t dirty. That’s a different thing. I will mess you up, though.”
As Wembanyama is looking to avoid another flagrant foul, Green has been in similar situations before, as he was forced to miss Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals after he received a flagrant 1 call for taking a swipe at LeBron James.
As someone who has missed an NBA Finals game due to maxing out on flagrant fouls during the NBA playoffs, Green said he hopes the NBA lets Wembanyama stay in the series if he receives another foul.
“Listen, I’m not one that wants to see series decided by suspensions,” Green said. “That’s not good for anyone. Brings a lot of questions, brings a lot of what-ifs. I don’t enjoy that. I will say he’s been shown a lot of grace.”
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The Buffalo Sabres have some decisions to make when it comes to their roster this off-season. With the Sabres having limited cap space and multiple players with expired contracts, there is a good chance that they will be moving on from some players.
One Sabres pending restricted free agent (RFA) who very well could not be back next season is defenseman Michael Kesselring. The 26-year-old defenseman was notably scratched for all but one game for the Sabres during the playoffs. He was also limited to only 34 regular-season games this season due to injury trouble, where he had zero points, two assists, and 50 penalty minutes.
With the Sabres having more important players to re-sign, it would not be surprising if they listened to trade offers for Kesselring this off-season. He has already been the subject of trade rumors this summer because of it.
While Kesselring had a tough season for the Sabres in 2025-26, he has the potential to generate a lot of interest this off-season. NHL clubs are always on the hunt for big right-shot defenseman, and the 6-foot-5 Kesselring certainly fits that description.
Kesselring's past success also adds to his appeal. During the 2024-25 season with Utah, he posted career highs with seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points in 82 games. This was after he had five goals and 21 points in 65 games for the Arizona Coyotes during the 2023-24 campaign.
When noting that Kesselring has shown in the past that he can work as a second-pairing defenseman and is only 26 years old, the Sabres should not have a hard time finding a trading partner for him. It will be interesting to see if Kesselring gets moved this off-season from here.
No matter what happens tomorrow night InVegas, the major league hockey season will close for sure after the seventh game – of course, IF NEEDED.
The Maven cannot speak for Rangers fans but I sure can guess what will going through their heads as they watch the Canes and Knights slug it out – one hoping for The Cup; the other yearning for a Game Seven.
Questions that just might come to mind:
1. K'ANDRE MILLER: This guy has turned into one of the best NHL defensemen and key to the Canes' Cup aspirations. How come K.A.M. was not that good in a Blue Shirt?
2. BRETT HOWDEN: All I remember is that this guy, who's been one of the playoffs leading scorers, couldn't tell a red light from a chartreuse bulb in New York.
3. ROD BRIND'AMOUR: You tell me; are the Canes this close to the silverware because of the perpetually broken nose coach? Brindy has the knack. Period!
4. JOHN TORTORELLA: I guarantee that not even Brind'Amour could have saved the skating slagheap left by Bruce Cassidy. Torts not only re-seeded the Vegas landfill but energized it to a point where two wins will bring another Cup to Sin City. (Torts could revive the Blueshirt Blunderers but that won't happen. Chris Drury treats Mike Sullivan as if he's his favorite nephew, once-removed. (And he should be removed!)
5. HURRICANES: The one time New England (WHA) Whalers have a savvy owner Tom Dundon and a g.m. Eric Tulsky, who knows, and a coach who has been around the block so often he can tell from across the street, the difference between a Champ from a Chump.
6. GOLDEN KNIGHTS: They don't fool around. If something looks wrong; or a coach loses his team – a la Bruce Cassidy – POOF! he's gone and the next guy will fix it. Which Torts has done.
One of these two admirable teams – Golden Knights or Hurricanes – will be crowned champs. For my dough, both deserve super kudos for a series well-played.
Rangers fans can only wish; who knows maybe wishing will make it so.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 12: Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers runs out a solo homer during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 12, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Tigers 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (29-41) vs. Cleveland Guardians (38-33)
Time/Place: 4:10 p.m., Progressive Field SB Nation Site: Covering the Corner Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.70 ERA) vs. LHP Joey Cantillo (4-3, 4.57 ERA)
Jun 26, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a solo home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Shohei Ohtani is back in the starting lineup as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers take on the White Sox.
Shohei Ohtani is out of street clothes and back in the lineup today. | (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)
No, you’re not dreaming. At least not about what the White Sox have been doing lately.
Last night’s 8-2 bashing of the mighty Dodgers continued a streak of terrific performances against top teams in the tough stretch of schedule — and ran Chicago’s home winning streak to eight. It will be Sean Burke trying to run that streak to nine, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto trying to see that doesn’t happen.
Righthander Yamamato is the ace of the Dodgers staff among pitchers who don’t also DH, with a 2.68 ERA and 0.918 WHIP. He’s been particularly effective of late, allowing just three runs across 27 1/3 innings in his last four starts. He’ll face a lefty-heavy White Sox lineup, with Sam Antonacci starting things off:
Burke, who has a 3.88 ERA and 1.18 WHIP for the season, has been vulnerable of late, giving up 12 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings his last five times out. He had an opener against the Phillies last time, but that doesn’t appear to have helped much, because he proceeded to walk five in 4 1/3, so Will Venable has him with a traditional start this time. Burke will contend with a Dodger lineup that has Shohei Ohtani back in his customary leadoff spot after a one-game break to recover from a knee tweak on Thursday.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Central, with the temps in the mid-80s and a stiff breeze out right to left. Usual broadcast suspects.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 12: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on June 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the historic meltdown in San Francisco, the Nats came out flat and the Mariners made them pay. Now they need to prevent things from spiraling out of control. A win today would be a great way to move on from that Giants loss. The Nats need Cade Cavalli to be a stopper.
The Nats are making a few lineup alterations. James Wood is moving to right field, pushing Dylan Crews to center and Daylen Lile to left. Jose Tena will be the DH and Nasim Nunez will be back at second base. Drew Millas will do the catching in this contest to give Keibert Ruiz a breather. As mentioned, Cade Cavalli is starting, and this is one of the biggest starts of his young career.
With Randy Arozarena’s injury, the Mariners have to make a tweak. Old pal Victor Robles is in right field. Besides that, the only change is behind the plate, with veteran Mitch Garver doing the catching. Despite injuries to Cal Raleigh, Brendan Donovan, JP Crawford and now Arozarena, this lineup still has juice. Luis Castillo has had a tumultuous season, but he has been better lately and will be on the hill today.
It would probably be a little too much to call this a must win game, but it is a contest the Nats could really use. They cannot let that Giants disaster fester much longer, and if they keep losing, that game will become a dark cloud. This has been a resilient bunch, but this is a test. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
