Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, who played with Dončić in Dallas before the current Los Angeles Lakers’ star was traded, commented on an Instagram post featuring Lendeborg’s postgame remarks on Thursday. Marshall wrote, “80 ball next time they play never speak on the DON”
“80 ball next time they play never speak on the DON 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭”
The warning follows a heated NBA debut for the Warriors rookie. Lendeborg and Dončić traded verbal blows throughout Wednesday’s 127-105 Golden State loss at Crypto.com Arena, with Lendeborg picking up a technical foul before halftime. Afterward, he did not soften anything.
“I was telling him he sucks,” Lendeborg said. “He can’t score on me.”
“Being in there firsthand, just watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect, man,” Lendeborg said.
The numbers back up part of his case. Dončić scored 28 points on 7-of-18 shooting, but he shot 1-of-5 with Lendeborg as his primary defender and committed two turnovers in those matchups. Dončić also went 6 of 6 at the free-throw line with Lendeborg on him, which fits Lendeborg’s own complaint about the whistle. Lendeborg said Dončić’s only basket against him was a half-court banker at the end of the first half.
Draymond Green on Yaxel Lendeborg going at Luka Doncic: “Everyone will say the rookie learned his lesson. What he learn? The next time he see him, go at his ass again.”
Marshall’s comment reads as a playful dare, but the rematch is already circled. The Warriors host Dončić and the Lakers in San Francisco in less than two weeks on Oct. 30.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 20: Umpire Stu Scheurwater #85 argues with manager Mark Kotsay #7 of the Athletics after Kotsay was ejected during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 20, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Thursday everyone!
The World Series is nearly upon us. Just one more day before baseball fans are treated to Game 1 of the Fall Classic between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Neither team has won the World Series so one way or another, one organization is going to taste the sweet feeling of hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy within the next two weeks.
And for A’s fans, there aren’t any major former Athletics on these teams (sorry Jorge Mateo and Chad Patrick). Still, there is a sense of comradery among the fanbases. Tampa and Milwaukee have been low-spenders for the majority of their existences, much like the Athletics. Getting to watch one of these low-payroll franchises lift that final trophy will be awesome to watch for A’s fans. A remind that even against the highest-spending teams like the Dodgers and Yankees, any team can win on any day in baseball.
Anyway, now that the A’s have their top voice in the front office, it’s time for Taylor Smith to begin staffing that office. And that’s something that the team is starting on immediately. And based off the comments from yesterday’s presser, it sounds like Smith will be hiring a GM to work under him. That’s not a shock considering that’s how most front offices work in baseball these days. Now we have to see who Smith will tab as his second-in-command.
Furthermore, from that same presser it sounds like manager Mark Kotsay’s job is safe, at least for now:
Taylor Smith and A’s manager Mark Kotsay will have dinner tonight in Vegas. Smith: “From my conversations with Mark so far, he seems like a great guy. Someone who's hungry for all the information we can get [the coaching staff], and I think it'll be a great partnership.”
That doesn’t sound like someone who is getting ready to make a change in the dugout. There wasn’t a huge expectation that Kotsay would be given his walking papers after the hiring of the next POBO but it was still a possibility. Based off those comments we can expect to see Kotsay in the dugout this spring. How long he lasts will depend on how quickly the team can begin turning things around.
No baseball today but the World Series tomorrow! Have a great Friday Junior A’s fans.
The 1st name that came out of Taylor Smith’s mouth when talking about the pitching staff was Jacob Lopez.
He was more deliberate when mentioning the other guys on the staff, but the way he blurted out ‘Lopez’ with that kind of enthusiasm was definitely interesting
Oct 18, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brent Honeywell (40) reacts during the fourth inning of game five of the NLCS against the New York Mets during the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Wednesday was light in Dodgers action in the Arizona Fall League, as the Glendale Desert Dogs were shut out in a game shortened by rain to only six innings. Against the Peoria Javelinas, Glendale managed only four hits, all singles, one of them by second baseman Charles Davalan.
So let’s expand our offseason minor league scope a bit, and turn to the Dominican Winter League (or LIDOM, if you prefer). As far as I can tell, shortstop Emil Morales is the only Dodgers minor leaguer currently active in the league, which started its season last Friday. Morales, who by season’s end was ranked the No. 22 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline and ranked 29th by Baseball America, did not play on Wednesday, but has played in two of five games thus for for Gigantes del Cibao.
Morales, who turned 20 in September, has a single, double, and two walks in his seven plate appearances thus far. He’s the second-youngest player on the Gigantes, with Rockies prospect Ronny Brito, a switch-hitting infielder/outfielder five and a half months younger than Morales.
Honeywell for the Gigantes on Wednesday pitched a scoreless sixth inning in relief. This is the second time in his career the 31-year-old right-hander has played in a winter league, having also pitched in seven games and 28 innings for Escogido in the 2022-23 season.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 points as the Memphis Grizzlies used a third-quarter rally enroute to a 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
The game featured two of the top rookies in the current class: Utah picked Darryn Peterson of Kansas No. 2 overall right before Memphis selected Cam Boozer from Duke.
Peterson had nine points; Boozer finished 11 rebounds, seven points and five assists but was 2-of-15 shooting, 0 for 6 from 3-point range.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome (2) shoots against Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey, center, and guard Svi Mykhailiuk (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. AP Photo/Brandon Dill
Jerome connected on 17 of 25 shots including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. The 45 points were the most by a Memphis player in an season-opener, eclipsing the 44 by Ja Morant in 2020.
Jerami Grant, obtained in an offseason trade with Portland that sent Morant to the Trail Blazers, scored 15, Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson scored 12 each.
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 22 points Lauri Markkanen added 18 points.
Jaren Jackson Jr. made his return to the FedExForum court after eight seasons with the Grizzlies and scored 15 points before fouling out in the fourth.
Jaxson Hayes had a career-high six blocks for Utah.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome (2) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Memphis led by as many as 15 in the first half, carrying a 64-51 advantage into the break.
The Grizzlies used an 18-4 run opening the third to stretch their lead to 82-55.
Memphis led by as many as 27 points and the Jazz trailed by at least 15 points throughout the fourth quarter.
The reigning champions must deal with the absence of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for some time, while fans at Anfield were thrilled by Rio Ngumoha
Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 on Tuesday, but the reigning champions lost the best player in last season’s tournament, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. This autumn has seen much lobbying for the Ballon d’Or, with the Georgian a popular choice, despite his absence from the World Cup. He is expected to be out for six months, although Rodri’s comeback from serious injury – he was rested by Barcelona on Tuesday until coming off the bench in the 60th minute – shows it can take far longer than that for players to rediscover their highest level.
Fans of the Silver and Black will see a lot of those two colors this season. The uniform matchups are set for all of San Antonio’s regular season games except for the two TBDs that are part of the Emirates NBA Cup. You can see the full sartorial schedule at NBA LockerVision.
The Spurs will wear their traditional black uniforms (known as the Icon edition) in a team-high 26 games, with 10 of those at home. The traditional whites (known as the Association Edition) also make 10 home appearances — including the opening night loss to the Thunder — and will show up 22 times overall.
The good guys will wear silver in 19 games; 11 will feature their second-year silver jersey with the “San Antonio” wordmark (Statement Edition) while eight will feature the new Classic Edition throwbacks. Both sets will appear at the Frost Bank Center five times. The Spurs will don their fan-favorite “Fiesta” jerseys (City Edition) for 13 games, with six of those at home.
The most noteworthy jersey quirk on the schedule involves that City Edition set. We won’t see the Fiesta jerseys until after the New Year, but they’ll be featured 13 times in a 39-game stretch. They will make their season debut across the pond in Manchester City when the Spurs play the Pelicans in mid-January. The Spurs will be in white for their Paris game against the Pelicans three days later.
Folks traveling to Austin will see the black Icon Edition in two of those three games, including this Friday’s showdown with the Rockets. The other Austin game will be a Classic Edition clash with an orange-clad Denver Nuggets squad.
San Antonio doesn’t have any “don’t adjust your TV set” matchups like last year’s color explosion in Charlotte. The Spurs’ most colorful game hits on February 7 when the Fiesta jerseys will be paired with the Grizzlies’ baby blues in Memphis. For the Christmas Day rematch in New York, the Spurs will be in black and the Knicks will be in white, a combination we saw three times during the NBA Finals in June.
Which jerseys do you hope they pick for the Spurs’ two yet-to-be-determined NBA Cup games?
San Diego Padres reliever Adrian Morejon (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Offseason media speculation has suggested the San Diego Padres are leaning toward extending Adrian Morejon a qualifying offer. The lefty pitcher earned consideration with a dominant second half. No question, Morejon should be brought back for the 2027 campaign.
It is rare for a setup reliever to receive a qualifying offer, but this news should not come as a big surprise. Morejon is considered the top left-handed reliever in this winter’s free-agent class, and should command plenty of interest on the open market.
What is a qualifying offer?
Every organization has five days after the World Series ends to extend a qualifying offer to an impending free agent. It is a one-year contract offer, and this year’s price tag is $23.15 million.
However, all players must have spent the entire season on the club’s roster and have never received a qualifying offer in their career. If they decline the contract offer and sign elsewhere, their former team receives a compensatory draft pick.
Why extend a qualifying offer
Re-signing Morejon should be the Padres’ top priority this offseason. The club has no internal left-handed bullpen option to replace him. In fact, it is hard to find a reliever who can take on his workload: he averaged over 70 appearances over the last three seasons.
In 2025, Morejon posted a 2.83 ERA over 86.0 innings pitched. Pairing an outstanding 30.4% strikeout rate with a solid 8.0% walk rate, Morejon struck out 107 batters. Perhaps his most impressive underlying metric, Morejon surrendered just four home runs last season.
If he rejects the offer, his suitors will have to consider the cost of pursuing him. Fortunately for the Friars, they receive compensation if their premier setup reliever signs with another team.
If accepted, Morejon would receive a massive salary increase from his $3.9 million mark a year ago. San Diego keeps its late-inning bullpen tandem for another season.
Extending the qualifying offer puts the ball in Morejon’s court.
Morejon has a life-changing decision
At 27, Morejon is in the prime of his career. Most free agents would decline the qualifying offer to seek a multi-year, big-money deal. Morejon’s potential suitors do not need a reminder of his value to the bullpen.
Still, a conflicted decision looms. While accepting the qualifying offer is a foolish business decision, Morejon has openly expressed a desire to remain in San Diego. A deep-seated loyalty to the franchise could play a role in his decision.
To extend a qualifying offer, the Padres have to be confident Morejon is open to a long-term extension. It would not be a surprise to see the Padres and Morejon come together on a new deal.
Time will tell what occurs.
Padres News:
Ramon Laureano was supposed to be the answer in left field for the Padres in 2026. Unfortunately, a pre-existing injury and a corresponding surgery cut his season short and now San Diego has to decide if it wants him back.
Ron Duguay, a 12-year NHL veteran most famous for his paparazzi-and-celebrity-filled time as a Ranger, died on Thursday after a battle with colon cancer, according to his girlfriend Sarah Palin. He was 69.
Drafted 13th overall by the Blueshirts in 1977, Duguay was a speedy and skillful offensive-minded forward whose feathered curls made him easily identifiable on the ice.
His six seasons in New York were highlighted by a run to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, where the Rangers lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Over 499 games with the Rangers, Duguay finished with 164 goals and 176 assists for 340 points.
New York Rangers hockey player Ron Duguay is seen on the ice during a game against the Los Angeles Kings in April 1981. Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images
“The New York Rangers organization mourns the loss of Ron Duguay, one of the most popular players in franchise history,” the team said in a statement on X. “Ron’s signature skating style — with his hair flowing as he moved down the ice — captivated The Garden Faithful, and his skill, tenacity, and charisma earned him the admiration of all New Yorkers. We join the hockey community in sending our condolences to Ron’s friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult time.
To this day, Duguay is still tied for the franchise record for the fastest goal scored from the start of the game, having netted one just nine seconds into a matchup against the Flyers on April, 6, 1980.
Madison Square Garden brought the best out of Duguay, whose widespread appeal made him a New York sensation.
Sarah Palin posted this photo asking for prayers for Ron Duguay. Sarah Palin/Instagram
“As soon as I stepped on the ice, I could feel the energy. You then become more than a hockey player,” he told TVA Sports in 2023. “You become an artist, because you entertain and you have an opportunity to make spectators jump out of their seats every time you make a check.”
Duguay was so much more than a hockey player during his time in the NHL. The boy from Sudbury, Ontario redefined the possibilities for professional hockey players and, in turn, boosted the league’s popularity.
The Sasson jeans commercial – in which Duguay and his Rangers teammates Phil Esposito, Anders Hedberg and Dave Maloney modeled the brand and memorably jingled “ooh la la” – is a notable intersection of sports and pop culture. Now, it’s just a fun piece of Rangers lore.
Duguay receiving cancer treatment in a photo shared by his daughter, Shay Thomas, earlier this year. Shay Thomas / Instagram
Duguay’s Hollywood look, Studio-54 lifestyle and fervor for life opened doors no other NHL player had walked through at the time.
In 1980, Rod Gilbert introduced Duguay to famous artist Andy Warhol, who went on to put No. 10 on the cover of his magazine, “Interview“, and featured his portrait in his “Athletes” series alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali, Mets great Tom Seaver, NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and more.
Ron Duguay, center, of the New York Rangers is in front of the net during a game against the New York Islanders in April 1982. Getty Images
The introduction to Warhol led to a meeting with filmmaking royalty Steven Spielberg, who considered Duguay for the lead role in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” He didn’t get the part, but actress and model Farrah Fawcett reportedly came over to introduce herself at another event some time after.
He got remarried in January 1993 to Kim Alexis, spending two decades with the fashion model before divorcing in 2016.
Duguay, a pillar of the Studio 54 legacy (to the ire of former Rangers coach Herb Brooks), transcended his status as an NHL player.
“Ron is the type of player who hustles a lot out there and turns on the fans,” current Blue Jackets president and general manager Don Waddell said in 1991 when he was at the helm of the San Diego Gulls of the International Hockey League, per the Los Angeles Times.
“Doogie” began his hockey legacy playing for his hometown team, the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, from 1973 to 1977.
Posting 134 points in 61 games during the 1975-76 campaign, Duguay helped the Wolves win the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the best team in the regular season. The club ultimately lost in the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals to the Hamilton Fincups.
The Wolves retired Duguay’s jersey as part of the team’s 35th-anniversary celebration in September 2006.
Duguay represented Canada on the international stage twice. In addition to competing in the 1977 World Junior Championship, Duguay also donned the Maple Leaf at the 1981 Canada Cup.
Making stops in New York, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, Duguay racked up 864 games in the NHL. His final season in the league came with the Kings in 1988-89, which wrapped up his NHL career at 274 goals and 346 assists for 620 points.
Though it wasn’t the end of his hockey career. Duguay bounced around the minor leagues for a bit before retiring at the age of 41 in 1999. But hockey continued to call to Duguay into the early 2000s.
Arriving in Jacksonville to compete in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in 2002, Duguay joined an injured Barracudas team. He appeared in six games as a player before the Barracudas fired their head coach Kurt Wickenheiser, which led to Duguay taking over behind the bench.
For four seasons, until 2006, Duguay served as the team’s head coach. He led the Barracudas to a championship during his first full season as bench boss in 2003-04. It was Jacksonville’s first hockey championship team.
“If it wasn’t for Ron, the Barracudas would not be here today,” Barracudas majority owner Steve Croskrey said when Duguay moved into an advisory role in 2006, per OurSports Central.
Duguay simply couldn’t stay off the ice.
Ron Duguay and his wife, American actress and model Kim Alexis, and their children, at a promotional event for ‘The Gym Source’, with both Alexis and Duguay wearing t-shirts bearing ‘The Gym Source’ logo, circa 1995. Getty Images
In March 2009, nearly six years after playing his final professional game, a 51-year-old Duguay signed a two-day, two-game contract with the Brooklyn Aces and the Jersey Rockhoppers in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. He pledged his earnings to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit organization associated with Madison Square Garden.
That same year, Duguay competed in the inaugural season of CBC’s Battle of the Blades skating competition. He was partnered with Barbara Underhill and skated for World Vision Canada, a Christian relief, development, and advocacy charity organization.
It was his eight years in New York, however, that made Duguay one of the most well-known hockey players of all time. His love of Manhattan was obvious. The lifestyle. The culture. Everything about it.
Sarah Palin aids Ron Duguay in an Instagram video. Shay Thomas / Instagram
He relished playing inside MSG. He relished being a Ranger.
“I’d rather have Duguay the way he plays than [Mike] Bossy the way he plays,” former Rangers head coach Fred Shero once said.
From 2007 to 2018, Duguay was also an analyst for MSG Network’s broadcast coverage of Rangers games.
Duguay is survived by his daughters Shay Thomas and Amber Stavros, and son Noah Duguay, as well as his grandchildren Aiden, Jayden, Cole, Nora and Ranger.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: Justin Champagnie #9 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 21, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Justin Champagnie is no stranger to sporadic minutes.
The 6-foot-7 forward started 19 games last season. He also received several “DNP – coach’s decisions.” But when he played, he produced.
That streak continued Wednesday when his fourth-quarter outburst willed the Wizards to a 128-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Brian Keefe said Champagnie is everything you want in a winning player. He does all the little things — rebounding, hustle plays, physical defense, shotmaking — necessary to win close games.
He did those winning things against the Bucks.
“Justin always produces when his time is called, and that’s really hard to do,” Keefe said. “He has been assigned to our G League team before, and then called up and played and produced. He can play with any lineup because he crashes the boards, he’s a great cutter, he’s a really good defender. And he brings the shooting and an edge of toughness to him … He’s always stepped up when his numbers have been called.”
Some grew concerned about Champagnie’s role after he sat until the fourth quarter in Washington’s preseason win over the Detroit Pistons. Could Keefe really keep such an impactful player on the bench?
The answer was no. Champagnie entered halfway through the opening frame in Wednesday’s opener and made an immediate impact. He grabbed four of his eight rebounds in the opening quarter while playing stout defense.
Washington trailed 96-90 30 seconds into the fourth quarter after another demoralizing Bucks triple. The Wizards had stuck around for two quarters but couldn’t find their breakthrough.
Then came Champagnie’s fourth-quarter barrage.
The 25-year-old forward answered with a top-of-the-key triple to pull his squad within three. After a Young layup, Champagnie rifled a feed to Deandre Ayton, who sank a layup to put the Wizards ahead for the first time since the second quarter.
“That ain’t nothing new. I ain’t been here forever, but I know JC is a winning player, and I know what he brings to our team,” Young said.
Some insane Justin Champagnie numbers from Wednesday’s win:
A few possessions later, Champagnie leaked out in transition and, upon receiving a perfect outlet pass from Kyshawn George, finished through contact for an and-one that ignited the Capital One Arena crowd and forced another Bucks timeout.
Champagnie finished with eight points and eight rebounds. He led the contest in plus-minus (+17), offensive rating (138.6) and net rating (36.3).
“Coming off the bench and playing in spot minutes, I know it can be frustrating for [Champagnie],” Young said. “But his attitude and his positivity when he’s on the bench and when he comes into the game, making the impact he does, not everybody can have that type of mentality to be able to come in and make that type of impact for us. We need him to have it for us to win a lot of games.”
You could use many words to describe the Yankees’ first seven seasons of the 2020s. Consistent is one. The team has made the postseason in six of those seasons, winning the division twice and qualifying four times as a Wild Card. Disappointing is another. The Bombers are still hunting for that elusive championship—their best chance to this point came in 2024, in a World Series where they fell far short of the standard.
One word you could not use to describe these results is “surprising.”
For several years running, Yankee regular seasons have taken on a familiar structure: a strong, sometimes dominant start followed by the so-called ‘June swoon’, a protracted period of ugly losses and unconvincing wins which throws their season off course. The swoon is generally followed by a second-half resurgence in which they flash some of their best team baseball—right up until they face a higher seed in a playoff series, who quickly and soundly trounce them, providing the rest of the baseball world ample time to unite in derision and mockery.
As the Yankees have played at a caliber no greater and no lesser than their roster’s true talent level, the positions of manager and general manager have remained occupied by the same men: Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman. They will remain in their posts for 2027—Boone’s return was announced by the club on Monday, followed by Cashman’s on Wednesday. Once again, no surprises here.
The coming offseason presents a fairly unique challenge for both men, but particularly Cashman. The Yankees’ roster, despite star turns from a few of their youngsters, is one of the most veteran-heavy groups in the league. A huge chunk of the team’s payroll is invested in four long-term contracts for Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodón. All four players missed significant time in 2026, and Judge, of course, did not play in the postseason.
Furthermore, many of the team’s largest holes in the roster have remained liabilities despite Cashman’s various attempts to address them. The free agent market is thin and the farm system is depleted from the various trades the Yankees have generally needed to make to shore up massive roster holes which pop up every season.
Then, of course, there’s the looming specter of the lockout. The very existence of the 2027 season is at the very least not an absolute sure thing.
Then again, there’s virtually nothing in this sport that Cashman hasn’t seen. He’s had the top job running baseball ops since 1998, and has managed to keep the team above the .500 water line every single year—with precious few absences from the postseason. And this is far from the first time has had to navigate an aging core. It’s easy to take this for granted now, but a decade ago he executed a much-lauded soft reset, turning the Yankees from a sputtering group of underachieving veterans to the Baby Bombers: the electrifying young stars-in-the-making who oozed boundless possibilities.
The dream of another homegrown core in the same style of the 1990s dynasty, however, proved more elusive this time around—and pretty soon, Cashman was increasingly looking for outside help to build around Aaron Judge. In so doing, he was steering a sort of middle course. One one hand, he and owner Hal Steinbrenner have shied away from the tippy top of the free agent market. Superstars like Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Corey Seager, and, yes, Juan Soto went to higher bidders once the asking price got too high. On the other hand, the Yankees didn’t cry poor the way so-called “small market” teams do, leaving their homegrown players to flounder without help.
Lesser GMs would not be able to pull off this balancing act: they would have paid the wrong guys, or not had the player development infrastructure in place to turn little-regarded prospects into household names. But Cashman has, to the point that fans have come to expect that he should have a salve for every last ill.
The reality is that nobody can build a perfect roster—given the circumstances in which he operates, Cashman has almost always built a roster that can compete for the ultimate prize. That ability cannot and should not be handwaved by recency bias, no matter how tempting it is. Frankly, nothing in the way he has built these teams suggests that they should be so routinely tossed aside by higher-seeded opponents. In each of the last two years, I sincerely believed that they matched up well against their ALDS opponents, warts and all—until first pitch, at which point it quickly became clear the team wasn’t prepared to win.
We can certainly quibble with individual moves Cashman has made. For instance, I feel like he’s never really gotten third base right since A-Rod retired, and his prospect-hugging tendency with former Top 100 guys like Clint Frazier and Jasson Domínguez has burned him plenty of times. But at the risk of being reductive, I feel the biggest issues facing this team are either Steinbrenner problems or Boone problems. Cashman doesn’t control the purse strings, and he doesn’t step between the foul lines. He’s kept doing his thing, giving Boone a perfectly good group of players to compete with while convincing Steinbrenner to pull the trigger on no small number of large contracts.
Two weeks ago I went to ALDS Game 3 and watched the Yankees’ season end with thousands of others who, probably like me, purchased their seat riding the high of smashing Boston in the Wild Card. They, like me, begrudgingly honored their commitment with the team facing near-certain doom and got what they expected to see: a game of close calls, near misses, and ultimately defeat. In talking with other fans on the long walk out of the stadium, a good number of them called for an all-or-nothing approach to 2027. Push all of the chips to the center, make a ton of moves to make the roster as competitive as possible, and then blow it up if it doesn’t work.
All-or-nothing approaches sound appealing when you haven’t had to consider the “nothing.” Yankee fans have not, in recent memory, experienced a true “nothing” season—because Cashman by and large hasn’t let them. The devil you know has given you some particularly sour postseason memories, it’s true. But they were postseason memories. The devil you don’t know could push them over the top… or it may just bring the whole operation crashing down.
Still, while I don’t agree with these fans’ overall outlook, the facts that led them to feel that way are unavoidable. If your team keeps choking in the big moments and the same guys stay in charge all the while, it signals complacency. It signals that the Yankees don’t really care all too much whether they win a championship: they’re just happy getting a place in the dance. Aaron Boone-managed squads perennially look overmatched and underprepared yet he stays aboard. Brian Cashman hasn’t built a champion in close to two decades, yet he stays aboard. There’s a palpable feeling in the air that the standard has been lowered. Even if nobody in the organization feels the same, it’s not really their place to say. Perception, at a certain point, becomes reality.
So as Brian Cashman prepares for another pivotal winter as general manager, he’ll be battling not just the attrition of his aging roster, a shrinking list of viable reinforcements, and the possibility of a lengthy work stoppage—but also a fanbase that is by and large losing its belief that this group can bring title number 28 back to the Bronx. That’s a hefty mandate, and as the past several years indicate, success is not a guarantee. But you likely won’t find a GM better equipped to handle what comes next. For better or worse, the Yankees are sticking to their guns.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Andre Drummond #0 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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
One game down, 81 to go. How’s everyone feeling?
You don’t feel well? Chin up; here’s something to cheer you up.
There we are. That’s why we don’t get bent out of shape over individual regular-season games anymore.
There truly wasn’t much to really evaluate from the first game of the season, which acted more as a showcase for the league of Philadelphia’s new starting five and the pizzazz around the Knicks’ banner raising than anything meaningful.
I mean, it was the worst offensive execution of any game this team has played in the 2020s, so unless these guys had the basketball ability sucked out of them like the Monstars at the parade, whatever.
Not quite the offensive start the Knicks were hoping for 😅
That was the fewest points per direct pick, and ninth-fewest points per direct iso, that the have gotten in any game (regular season or playoffs) in the 2020s https://t.co/P7Ji9lJNPSpic.twitter.com/43WZFYyUvd
Of all the things that happened on the floor on Opening Night, none intrigued me more than the newest Knick, Andre Drummond. We saw a lot from him due to Karl-Anthony Towns’ early foul trouble.
Early in the game, he looked like the biggest steal of the offseason, posting a double-double with ease and carrying the offense at times.
Late in the game, he was the worst player on the court, throwing away possessions with his poor touch around the rim.
Ladies and gentlemen, from the creators of the “Jameis Winston Experience”, I present to you:
The Andre Drummond Experience.
Andre Drummond with what may be the most incredible offensive possession of all time pic.twitter.com/SUgpw6lDnq
He wows with some of the best traits you can ask for out of a center. He is one of the best rebounders in NBA history on a rate basis; he sets brick-wall screens, he fills up space. While he’s not a good defender, he’s a lane-clogger on defense.
Then, there’s the flip side. His touch around the rim is diabolically bad. His stocky build makes him an extremely limited defender and a non-existent lob threat. While he’s started working on corner threes, he is still almost exclusively an under-the-rim offensive player.
It’s those two things that separate him from a Mitchell Robinson. While he’s historically more durable than Robinson, he doesn’t give the Knicks the game-breaking defensive ability without putting pressure on the rim. That fast break where Mikal Bridges tried to hit him on a lob, not realizing the 33-year-old can’t really get up there anymore, said everything.
Drummond is good in small doses. It’s why he’s forced to sign these minimum contracts to sit behind All-NBA talents like Joel Embiid and Towns. When you over-expose him, the bad starts to show up a lot more than the good.
We got the full Drummond experience on Tuesday. He had 10 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 stocks in 16 first-half minutes, going 4-for-8 from the field with six offensive rebounds. He was a maniac on the boards, punishing a Sixers team with not much size and not many willing rebounders.
Andre Drummond gave the Knicks a strong presence inside against Philadelphia.
Considering how little they had at their disposal, the Knicks couldn’t have done much better than Drummond in free agency. A lot of their offense over the last few years has been predicated on winning the possession battle. When they miss a three, someone is there to give them a reload. When they miss at the rim, there’s a putback waiting to happen.
When Drummond is on the floor, it’s going to be like Mitch never left offensively… most of the time.
The one glaring problem with having Drummond as your backup center behind a guy like Towns who gets in early foul trouble way too often is that his overexposure really starts to hurt you.
He played a grand total of six minutes in the second half and was a minus-13. He went 1-for-5 from the field, including an airball in the final seconds of the third quarter.
His minutes at the end of the third were especially damaging. The Knicks were leading by five when he entered the game with 3:39 left and trailed by seven when the final horn sounded.
What went wrong? His eyes got too wide offensively.
He and Bridges had a two-man game around the two-minute mark. It looked to be working in the sense that it allowed Mikal to hit him on a bounce pass for what should be an easy floater or rim run, but the Sixers rotated two guys underneath the basket. At this point, Drummond could look up and swing to a wide open OG Anunoby or Deuce McBride.
Instead, he takes a nine-footer that isn’t even close.
Drummond is a very willing passer, especially on offensive rebounds, but plays like these still happen for all seldom-used bigs.
The Knicks were starting to be grilled from deep by a collection of Sixers. Trailing by four in the final minute, Drummond gets the ball in the corner. For a brief second, I thought he would shoot it. It’s not a great shot with 14 on the shot clock, but he’s open and was a passable three-point shooter last season.
Instead, he passed back and the Knicks once again stagnated offensively. He was given a pass in the post with seven on the shot clock, but the defense collapsed and it led to him taking… this shot.
I’m not expecting him to have eyes in the back of his head, but unless it’s a grenade, he should never be attempting whatever that is. All it does is give more energy to your opponent.
After Tyrese Maxey airballed, the Knicks got the ball with 1.5 on the game clock. For some reason, McBride, the former high school quarterback, decided to throw a 50-foot pass to his backup center down the court and airmailed it. This isn’t Drummond’s fault (why was he even out there?), but it involves him.
Jaylen Brown nailed a buzzer-beating three there to cap an 11-0 run to end the third. That sprint by the Sixers wound up costing the Knicks the game.
This stretch doesn’t even include his three baffling missed dunks. He was routinely getting stuffed by Joel Embiid on the interior and couldn’t finish all game, going 5-for-13 on the night.
That is the big crux for Drummond: he is an abysmal finisher for a seven-footer, and he’s progressively getting worse.
Andre Drummond FG% in the restricted area by year, and where he ranked among centers (min. 100 FGA): 2025-26: 54.1% (61st/61) 2024-25: 59.2% (59th/60) 2023-24: 60.3% (55th/60) 2022-23: 65.5% (56th/64) 2021-22: 61.2% (54th/61)
Compare that to who he’s replacing in Robinson: the man who has the second-highest field goal percentage in NBA history on a diet of 100% layups and dunks. In 2025-26, Robinson was 25th out of the 61 centers, which doesn’t sound impressive, but his 71.9% is leaps and bounds ahead of Drummond’s dead-last figure.
All told, Knicks fans are going to have a love-hate relationship with Drummond all season long, a man who says the right things and is good natured, but is also the Jameis Winston of the NBA.
An incredibly entertaining, but incredibly inconsistent, ballplayer.
After the game last night, Andre Drummond explained his decision to stay in the locker room during the Knicks' ceremony:
As the Yankees look to retool their roster for the 2027 season, there's a massive hole they will need to fill.
Second base, manned by Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the last two seasons, will explore free agency and it's likely he will not return to the Bronx. While the team had a seamless transition to Chisholm -- who came up as a second baseman -- from Gleyber Torres when the infielder left in free agency following the 2024 season, the same can't be said for the Yankees' second base situation this offseason.
GM Brian Cashman may have to get creative to address the position, as financial restraints and a bloated roster filled with redundant pieces could make it difficult to get a proven second baseman on the team.
But it's not impossible, as internal and external candidates pop up.
Here's a breakdown of the internal and external candidates to be the Yankees' 2027 second baseman.
Anthony Volpe
This is the natural fit.
Volpe has already made the transition to second base from shortstop this season and was effective at the new position. While he did make two errors in 12 games (11 starts) at second base during the regular season, those hiccups are expected for someone who is asked to play multiple positions. But a full offseason practicing second will do Volpe well.
And then there's his bat. The demotion seemingly unlocked something in Volpe as he hit .265 in 14 September games -- after hitting .240 up to that point -- and that carried over into the postseason.
In two postseason starts, Volpe was 3-for-7 with a near-season-saving home run against the Rays in the ALDS.
Jose Caballero
Caballero is another internal option that could easily become the everyday second baseman if he wins it in spring training or if Volpe falters. The super utility man can play a number of positions, which makes him a better fit to come off the bench, but Caballero provided a spark when the Yankees needed it this past season, albeit at shortstop.
While Volpe was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Caballero hit a respectable .267 through April and was hitting .263 by the end of May, even when Volpe returned. However, Caballero began to struggle offensively, the risk of playing a historical utility bench player every day. Nonetheless, Caballero proved to be a valuable piece to the 2026 Yankees and could be the starting second baseman to start next season.
Luis Garcia Jr.
This option would be a project.
Garcia was acquired at the 2026 deadline for his bat and to play first base. Garcia was better than advertised playing first base, but there's currently a logjam between first and DH.
Ben Rice played first base for most of the season before Garcia arrived, but the youngster shifted to a primary DH to give the Yankees more offensive firepower with Aaron Judge on the shelf.
With Judge and Giancarlo Stanton returning, presumably healthy in 2027, the Yankees need Rice to play first base to get his bat in the lineup. The best option is to put Garcia at second base, where he has the most major league experience. In seven MLB seasons, Garcia has 508 games (480 starts) at second base.
Garcia did not play second all of 2026, and for good reason. Garcia was a negative in OAA in four of six seasons playing the position, including a -7 at second base in 2025. To Garcia's credit, he had a 5 OAA in 2024, so perhaps the Yankees can get him to play at that level this offseason.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca (21) reaches on an error during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees in game two of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
CJ Abrams
When we talk about external candidates, Abrams would be the biggest swing Cashman could make to address second base.
Abrams is coming off a career year where he slashed .261/.336/.497 with an OPS of .833, to go along with 33 home runs and 106 RBI. While Abrams has played shortstop his whole career, the Nationals began transitioning him to second base at the end of 2026. He finished playing 14 games (12 starts) at the position and made every play hit to him.
While not a large sample size, Abrams showed he can be at least serviceable at second. That, with what Abrams offers offensively from the left side, is hard to pass up if he's available.
The Yankees reportedly checked in at the deadline for Abrams and they have the pieces to give the Nationals an intriguing package. Washington needs major league ready starters, which the Yankees have in abundance (Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Clarke Schmidt). Jasson Dominguez, a former top prospect, could use a change of scenery, and the Nationals could also want flamethrower Carlos Lagrange.
Cashman has a knack for making trades that no one sees coming (see: the Chisholm and Juan Soto deals), so it's not out of the realm of possibility if the Yankees can convince him to play second full time.
Another downside would be Abrams' struggles against lefties. He batted .240 with eight home runs and 63 strikeouts in 192 ABs facing southpaws. While it's better than Chisholm's .218, five home runs and 56 strikeouts in 147 ABs from this past season, it still makes the Yankees' everyday lineup susceptible to left-handers.
Luis Arraez
Any external option should be a left-handed bat, and Arraez is set to be one of the biggest free agents this offseason.
Arraez took a one-year, $12 million deal to sign with the Giants last offseason and was worth every penny as he finished second in the batting title race in his fourth All-Star year.
While Arraez's 2026 could lead to a multi-year deal, perhaps he'd take another one-year contract as he enters his age-30 season.
Arraez provides the contact-first bat the Yankees need, and his defense has improved leaps and bounds. He had a 12 OAA in 2026 after being a -9 a season ago while playing second and first with the Padres. It's a risk banking on Arraez's defense to remain consistent, but his offense adds another dimension to the team.
The one problem is that the starting lineup would be too left-handed heavy, as it was in previous seasons. But Arraez's numbers against lefties was very good. He hit .314 with a .341 OBP while striking out just 14 times, the same amount he did against righties.
If the money is right, Arraez could fit right in.
***
The Yankees roster regarding second base is tough to pin down.
While you want to make a splash by adding Arraez or Abrams, the smarter move would be to use what's already on the roster. Abrams, while an upgrade from Chisholm, has the same pitfalls the team faced in previous seasons while trying to get the All-Star to acclimate to a new position. For his faults, Chisholm's athleticism allowed him to play outstanding defense at second when he was locked in.
Arraez, while a better hitter, could be too expensive depending on the market and there's no guarantee his defense would hold up.
Letting Volpe win the job outright in spring and then easing Garcia in as a left-handed platoon feels like the best play for this team. It gives Boone flexibility while getting his best hitters in the lineup, especially if the DH spot is open with a potential Stanton departure.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: A detailed shot of the American Express NBA 2026-27 Tip-Off Net Patch before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets on October 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Second-year star Cooper Flagg says it’s an identifiable trend, already, even this early in the season. First-year head coach Dusty May said it came in response to the Rockets landing the first punch on offense.
The second-quarter wobble shot the wheels off of the Mavericks’ wagon, but there were also some bright spots. Flagg had a brilliant second half. Reserve guard Marcus Sasser looked great.
Here’s what May and several Mavericks had to say at the postgame press conference following the season-opening loss.
Dusty May
Opening statement
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 21: Head coach Dusty May of the Dallas Mavericks shakes hands with Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, we were pleased with our first-quarter performance, with the way we played. We felt like we had a couple breaks not go in our favor, and we just didn’t hold our composure, and we let go of the rope as a group. Overall, I felt we played and competed three out of four quarters. Just the second, when we couldn’t figure out a way to right the ship, so obviously some learning experiences from this, but their front line was sensational.
What happened in the second quarter?
A number of things. Obviously, it’s a make-or-miss game. I thought a lot of our looks were guys that we wanted the shots for. Once they went on a run, I thought we started playing a little too quickly and shooting some shots — some semi-open shots instead of getting back, making them work a little bit, finding some connection.
What went wrong with the transition defense, especially in that second quarter?
First and foremost, the communication. Halfcourt and fullcourt — we’ve spent a lot of time — that was one of our priorities in training camp: to fix the transition defense. We thought we had made strides, and tonight, when things weren’t going well, we let go of our principles, we lost our urgency, and that was ultimately when the game got away from us, when they were just — we had three or four guys back, and we were assuming one guy was going to match up with Jabari [Smith Jr.] or whoever. They outworked us, to be honest. They did a better job.
On output from first unit after starting Max Christie instead of Zaccharie Risacher:
I thought the first unit played well. I thought the second quarter is what killed us. Even with that first unit, I thought we were competing. We were playing good basketball. We made some errors, some mistakes. We lost a couple loose basketballs that, you know, we just don’t have the margin for. We’ve got to get all those possessions.
What do you think changed for [Cooper] Flagg at halftime? (23 of 32 points in second half)
I thought he was setting us up. In the first half I thought he was being very intentional with getting his teammates shots, and then, in the second half, we did a better job of getting some off-ball movement. We played a little bit faster, and then obviously if you’re not taking the ball out of the net, you can get it up and attack quickly. I thought that was the biggest difference. We just — our pace got a lot better in the second half.
On Flagg’s ability to get to the free-throw line (11-of-13 FT shooting):
That’s been a point of emphasis, and that’s one thing, when we evaluated ourselves after four [preseason] games, getting to the line wasn’t something we did well. We thought [Flagg] was the best way to capitalize in the paint. I thought he was strong. I thought he made good decisions. When we start knocking down some open shots, his assist numbers will increase.
What was the challenge in trying to slow down [Kevin] Durant and Jabari [Smith Jr.]?
Jabari — every time we gave him an inch, he made us pay. He played very well. [Durant] — he was just able to get to his spots, and he had a size advantage a lot of the night for numerous reasons, but I also thought that just, the way they outran us and stole some easy baskets in transition were the ways they really got in a rhythm and a flow, and they just make you pay.
What do you have to do to bounce back against Indiana on Friday?
Learn from what we did well. I thought we made some strides in areas we’ve struggled in. But just look at the film. The lowest-hanging fruit — what can we fix in a 48-hour period, so we’re not out here chasing every rabbit, but focus on a couple of things so we can just trust it a little bit more. From everybody, we’ll fix that area. … These extra possessions, they steamroll on you, so if we just clean up a few things, I think we’ll make a significant jump.
When is the last time a team of yours was down 30 at half?
Hoo, 30 at half. Yea, I don’t know. I don’t think…
On Kyrie Irving getting nine shots and being blitzed by the Rockets’ defense:
He’s obviously the focal point. They put two on the ball. I thought he made the right plays, the right decisions. There [are] going to be puzzles we’re going to have to figure out. Playing four-on-three with our other guys — we’ve got to do a better job and find some solutions, but I thought there in the second half, he showed a real — his true character — in being a leader when things weren’t going well, I thought he set a great example. Our bench was phenomenal. They were cheering for each other. We’re worried about getting better, especially starting with a couple games on the road like we are. We’re focused on getting better, and I was proud of the way the guys stayed connected and stayed fighting until the end. That showed some character.
Moving forward, how do you balance giving [Flagg] time to develop and allowing [Irving] time to settle in?
Coop — we’re trying to develop by film, by practice tomorrow, by the Pacers game. Obviously, games expedite the development, but we’re trying to play good ball every single possession.
Kyrie Irving
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 21: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On getting outscored 38-12 in second quarter:
Ah, man, it was just the effort. It was horrendous, to be honest with you. I don’t want to use a graphic word to negatively put it on one person, or even just myself; it was a total team effort. We were just horrendous defensively, and when you score 12 points in an NBA game and give up 38, fast-break points, turnovers, it’s going to look like that, so, it was rough to go through, but I think we needed it. It was necessary for us to grow as a group and to develop this chemistry moving forward that we’re going to need to win basketball games.
Is that an easy fix in practice?
In theory, but it really comes down to effort. We can make an excuse, but we’ve jut got to take this one on the chin. They put on their boxing gloves and they beat us up pretty good in that second quarter. We got off to a great start — felt like we were in rhythm, and then starting off that second quarter, I’ve got to do a better job of leading us out and not necessarily playing so timid and getting some shots up and aggressively attacking double-teams. It surprised me a little bit when [Rockets head coach] Ime [Udoka] threw some double-teams at me, coming off those screens. First game, coming back, I knew I was going to see some different looks. I just got to adjust moving forward.
On being at the top of the Rockets’ defensive gameplan, how do you process that?
Go watch some film, work and get better, but also, you know, I take that respect very personal. Just knowing that, although I’ve been out for a while, they’re still scouting me. [Udoka] was on record saying that he saw me in the summertime as well, going against them a few times, so we were very familiar with each other’s game, but I’ve just got to do a better job of being aggressive starting off the game, and obviously my spotty minutes were, and I don’t want to say spotty minutes, but just the minutes that I was going to play, just got to get used to them. I came out very early in that first quarter. I’m used to playing 12 minutes through, or 11 minutes, 10 minutes through. I’ve got to do a better job just adjusting to what our gameplan is and just getting other guys involved.
The minutes — is that gameplan, or is that getting you ramped back up after missing so much time?
It’s a little bit of both, but I think on the latter side of just getting ramped back up, playing more minutes, getting more confident and more comfortable out there, and you know, we’ve got a great medical staff, but we’ve also had a lot of change there, so it’s a lot of pressure on a few guys in that office, and you know, we all want to make each other look good, so I do my preparation. They have their preparation. We talk. Talk to Dusty. Talk to the coaching staff as well. They had my minutes lined up, and I just got to be ver patient, so I’m just champing at the bit a little bit, but at the same time, it’s the big picture.
On in-game communication with such a young group:
It’s progressively getting better. [Having] a lot of new faces will do that. Guys coming from different teams. We have a lot of guys that want to prove themselves as well, want to play extremely well when they get out there, in those minutes — want to make it meaningful, make it impactful. Sometimes, that comes with forcing some things. It comes with some turnovers that happen [unintelligible]. But I think our communication has to be better, and it will be. But, tonight was a good challenge for us, going against a team that’s played together for a year or two, that came out here and hit us in the mouth, like I said, and we responded, but we didn’t respond well enough. When you’re getting down 30 and you start looking at the scoreboard, instead of hitting a lot of little singles and doubles, we settled for a lot of 3-pointers. Coming into halftime, we can’t have more 3-pointers than we have shot attempts at the rim. We’ve got to touch that paint. … Take our bumps and bruises and we walk.
On offering to pay the fine of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who wore a “stop the genocide” message painted in his eye black last year in a playoff game:
[Al-Shaair] is a friend of mine, and this revolution that a lot of this generation is building — it’s a selfless act when you can show up for others that don’t necessarily have a voice for themselves, and I think we, I would assume that most of us who know what’s happening around the world globally — that it’s a lot of innocent people that are losing their lives. Children especially, and anytime there’s a war or conflict, there’s going to be unfortunate deaths and murders going on, and you know, us here in America, we get the luxury of going to bed at night in nice bedrooms and things paid for. But when our tax dollars are going towards things that we don’t necessarily agree with, then you have to stand up. I think small instances of revolutionary acts like wearing people’s names, or wearing a child’s name [unintelligible] on your face and taking the fine and stepping up to the plate — it just shows how much you’re a selfless person, how much you’re willing to sacrifice. This mission is bigger than just me and Azeez, and we know that, but our strength is in our solidarity, and how connected we are, and how united we are in our efforts. So, it’s a bigger conversation, but anytime you bring in political conversations to basketball, it does get muddy, so I try my best to do the work in silence and stand with people that are not afraid to stand with me.
What impressed you the most about Marcus Sasser’s performance (17 points, 4-of-5 3-point shooting)?
He was ultra aggressive, and I think he did an incredible job of coming in and maintaining our possession-by-possession attack in the second half. We won both quarters. Obviously that’s not good enough, but he had a lot to do with us getting back into the game. Being that other lead guard that can create and make decisions and take some pressure off of myself. Really proud of him. He had a great game — very impactful. We just want him to keep it up.
On being blitzed and trapped in the first minutes of his first NBA game back in more than a year:
The human element hit me, man; I was just like, ‘man, I’m back in an NBA game, and I’m getting double-teamed.’ I’m seeing [Alperen] Sengun come up here and trying to get the ball out of my hands. I’m seeing [Udoka] yell different commands that I’m learning. They’re yelling out things, and it’s just an adjustment period, and there were times where mentally, I was out there, and I just had to settle in and ground myself, like ‘I’m really back in an NBA game, back into the flow of things.’ Even when the ball was tipped and I was guarding Fred [Van Vleet], my body, I felt just a little bit looser than normal. I don’t know what you can really attribute it to. Maybe it is nerves or anxiety or anxiousness, but I think it’s just, more or less, like, the mental approach. Going out there, you just want everything to go right, and tonight, a lot of things did go right, but a lot of things did go wrong, and I think you’ve kind of got to laugh at it, but also the seriousness of being a competitor, Like, I want to play perfect every game, even though it’s dang near impossible. You look around the NBA tonight, it’s a few teams getting their butts kicked, so maybe it is just a Tuesday or Wednesday night in the NBA. Another night in the office, but a lot of lessons learned. Hard lessons. You’ve got to give credit to [the Rockets]. They came out, they made adjustments from our preseason games, and they wanted to make a statement here on their home floor, and they did that.
On Flagg’s comments on trying to get Irving involved in the game:
It’s great recognition by the young fellow, and I want him to continue to do that. But I think he has to worry about being able to be a voice for us out there, and also not necessarily worry about veterans like myself. He’s a caring individual, and I want him to continue that, and I think tomorrow, once we watch film, or once we get to Indy, we’ll talk more about how we can attack together, even in some of our actions together. We cause a lot of chaos when we’re in plays and actions together, and I think we can do more of that, so I appreciate him looking out for me, but you know, it is a great thing that I’ve got my 19-year-old copilot looking out for me, making sure I’m getting going. But I looked at him a few times, and you know, just like, ‘It’s on me. I’ve got to push the pace.’ I’ve got to dive more into the game and just lose myself into the instincts of it, and you know, just live with the results instead of just trying to think about little plays, that ‘I’ve got to go score.’ For the past few years, that’s been the pattern. I get a chance to come into the game, ease my way into it, but now, playing on this minutes restriction or whatever the case may be, I’ve got to be in attack mode soon, as soon as I get the ball, and as soon as the ball is tipped.
On giving back to the community through the Uncle Drew Circuit:
I’m very adamant on setting a good example for the youth, for the next generation. The Uncle Drew Circuit was a step in that direction. Kind of challenging the AAU circuit and what it’s been like for the past 20, 30, 40 years. You know, it’s become very much money-driven. Parents are running coaches into the ground. Everybody’s the No. 1 player in the country in their minds, and I feel like there’e more of a pigeonhole for top players. They all play on the same circuit, so they all play around the same camps, and, you know, at the end of the day, it was very much brand-driven. When I was growing up, you had Nike, Adidas, Under Armor camps, and they all try to keep everybody in-house. But nowadays, I think we should all have an open dialogue about how we bring everybody together. It’s a competitive shoe market, obviously, but when it comes to the youth, we should all lower down our guards a little bit, and that’s what I feel like Uncle Drew Circuit represents. Obviously, Anta is representing it, but you never know, we might have championship games against Jordan Brand or Nike or Adidas, and it just brings everybody together to the table, because people want to see the best of the best, and you also want to include those that are playing the game for the love, and also to get an education, to get a scholarship, You know, people are playing basketball for different reasons, and I feel like that Uncle Drew Circuit represents all walks of life when it comes to that. From the beginners, all the way to some of the experts of the game, some of the top players, you know, I’m looking to attract those individuals as well, and just having a balance and a competitive market. So, I look forward to the opportunity this next year. We’ve got girls as well, from 12 to 18 years old, and we’re all about inclusion. I think it’s more or less just been put on my heart for the last few years, just, how can we engage more of the youth into conversations about playing meaningful basketball and learning the nuances of the game, learning the rules, learning who came before you, learning about the ABA, learning about the NBA, learning about the CBA, learning about the EuroLeague. Basketball is a broader sport now. And I think maybe media has included that as well in terms of just that package that everybody can watch basketball. So, the love is there, and Uncle Drew circuit represents that love.
Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg: 32 PTS, 5 REB, 3 STL, 10/17 FG, 11/13 FT, 70 TS% vs Rockets
What happened in the second quarter, getting outscored 38-12?
Got stagnant. They obviously went on a run, and we just didn’t have any answers. We weren’t organized. We weren’t getting back in transition. Just got out of the norm for us, in what we’ve been doing since training camp started, and it showed. People were doing things that they don’t normally do, and it really showed.
How difficult is it to dig out of that hole when it’s so deep, so early?
Cooper Flagg speaks after tonight’s 18-point loss to Houston:
“We got stagnant. They obviously went on a run & we just didn’t have any answers to be more organized. We weren’t getting back in transition…People were doing things that they don’t normally do & it really showed.” pic.twitter.com/9hXqdiftUc
I mean, it’s difficult. Down, what, 32 at halftime? It’s not ideal. It’s not where you want to be, and honestly, that’s been the thing for us, is second quarters. Like, all preseason, it’s been bad second quarters. Going into the half and trying to come out in the third quarter and dig ourselves out of a hole. We’ve got to find ways to combat that, and have better second quarters, and leave off on a god foot going into the second half.
Assess the communication through training camp and tonight:
Yea, I mean, I think up to this point, in practice it’s been good. It’s died down in the games. You know, we’ve got to find guys, myself included, that you know, are going to pick up our level of communication and be leaders out there. I don’t think we really had that tonight. We didn’t really have anyone who was setting a tone defensively, communicating, getting everybody on the same page. It really showed in that second quarter, when we weren’t getting stops; we weren’t scoring on offense, so we’ve got to have somebody step up and be really vocal in those moments.
Does the second-quarter trend you talked about frustrate you — that the same thing keeps happening?
For sure. Yea, it definitely is. We’ve got to find ways to keep our level up through the first half, into the second half, and not, you know, get lackadaisical in the second quarter, and go into halftime and have these conversations every time of, you know, we’ve got to come out with some fire, and pick up our level. So, we’ve got to find ways to have our level high at all times and be able to be fresh at all times. Hold our level to what we hold our standard to. I think that’s a big part of it. It’s definitely frustrating.
On Marcus Sasser’s performance:
Sasser’s been great. Obviously, he’s dealt with an injury through most of the preseason and a lot of training camp, where he wasn’t able to be full practice. Getting him back, getting into game shape, I think he’ll be really good for us. Obviously he’s a really good scorer — a really versatile scorer, and can pass it, play defense, pick up 94 [feet], so just having him bring that energy and be composed and get into game shape is going to be good for us.
What happened for you in the second half?
Just being aggressive. We had talked about, going into the half, we had shot more 3’s than 2’s, and, you know, that’s ok if you’re making them. But, I mean, we weren’t knocking them down, so just getting to the rim, starting the domino effect of creating advantages, getting downhill and [the Rockets] weren’t over-helping too much, so just taking what they were giving us, getting to the rim and making them pay.
Are you still feeling out who needs the ball in the first half before it’s your time to be aggressive?
It’s just the flow of the game. I think I’ve got to do a better job of in the second quarter, I could have done a better job of getting us set up and being vocal, and being that leader, and getting us set up into actions. It didn’t have to be me taking shots, but just getting us into the right actions, and another thing. We missed a lot of easy shots, too, during that stretch. Things weren’t going well, and we were missing a lot of the easy ones that I think could go in on any given night. Yea, I think being aggressive vs. feeling out is a part of it, but you know, I’ve got to be there, and be that leader and be vocal as well.
What can you take from this game individually, and what can you carry over as a team?
I think just holding our level all the way through the first half, and not letting it dip down with different lineups and things like that. I thought we played some 2-3 [zone defense] tonight, and I thought it looked good, and kind of gave us some energy through the second half. Maybe we experiment with that a little earlier. I don’t know what that looks like, but just experimenting with different things, different lineups, but the bottom line is just playing to our standard and playing to our level that we’ve done all training camp and all preseason. Just got to do a better job of that.
Takeaways from Irving’s first game back?
Kai is Kai. We can do a better job of helping him. I think Kai is a one-of-a-kind talent, so obviously he’s going to be really good for us, and we’ve just got to do a better job, me included, of helping him, getting him some easier looks, getting the pressure off of him. They’re going to just try and be really physical, and just pick up 94 [feet] on me and him, so I think as a team a big thing for us is finding ways to combat that and having some guys step up, bring it up and set us up into actions.
What happened in that second quarter, when you were outscored 38-12?
I left like we just let go of the rope a little bit — let our offense come to determine our defense. Missed a good amount of shots, and it led to them getting easy buckets.
How difficult is it to come back when you dig yourself in a hole that quick?
Yea, it’s tough, man, especially when you get down that big, vs. a good offensive team like that. But I feel like we did a good job, for the first game, just fighting back. Not letting up. We’ve got some work to do, but I feel like we did alright.
How does the Rockets’ length affect players like you and [Irving], who are under 6’6”?
They’re a good, long team, so you’ve just got to use your ball fakes and be decisive with what you’re doing. Use your speed, but I feel like we did a good job of doing that, for sure.
How would you rate your play overall?
I feel like I played alright. I feel like I could have played better defensively. Especially impacting the ball more. I feel like they [were] a little comfortable getting into their sets and stuff, so I feel like I could have done better there, for sure.
On Flagg and Irving flipping a switch in the second half:
That’s what they do. They’re great players, and I feel like that’s what we’re going to need going forward, so that just gives us a confidence boost, especially when them two got it going, it kind of makes it easier for everybody else.
Your own mindset switch from second quarter to second half?
Just being ultra-aggressive. I passed up a couple shots in the first half, so just trusting myself, and my teammates kept giving me confidence to shoot the ball, so that was the difference between [the] first and second [halves].
Patrik Laine hit the free agent market almost four months ago. However, at the time of this writing, the former Montreal Canadiens forward remains unsigned.
Now, an update has been provided on Laine.
According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Laine is not interested in signing overseas despite still being a free agent, and his goal is to still play in the NHL.
"As Patrik Laine remains unsigned, I’m told he has zero intention of signing in Europe. The longer this goes on, the more he says he’s motivated to prove people wrong," Kaplan posted on X.
With November almost here, it seemed possible that Laine could head overseas. However, with this update from Kaplan, it is clear that the former Canadiens forward still only wants to play in the NHL.
The possibility of Laine landing a contract from another NHL club this season should not be ruled out. Injuries arise throughout the season, and that very well could help the 28-year-old get signed at some point.
Laine played in just five games last season for the Canadiens, where he posted one assist. This was after he had 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games with the Canadiens during the 2024-25 season.
In 537 career NHL games over 10 seasons split between the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Canadiens, Laine has posted 224 goals, 198 assists, and 422 points.
The Sixers opened their season against the team that eliminated them from last year’s playoffs.
Their home opener brings another familiar opponent, particularly for the newest member of their starting lineup.
LeBron James will play his first regular-season home game as a Sixer at 7 p.m. Thursday against the franchise he led for 11 seasons and to the 2016 NBA championship.
It is an appealing storyline, but the game offers more than a reunion.
Cleveland swept all four meetings with Philadelphia last season and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. The Cavaliers retained their four most important players, added a starting wing and will begin their season against a Sixers team coming off a 106-100 road win over the defending champion Knicks.
Here is how the teams stack up.
WHAT LAST SEASON’S SWEEP SHOWED
In the 2025-2026 campaign, the Cavaliers outscored the Sixers in their meetings by an average of 124.3 to 111.0.
Cleveland won, 132-121, behind 46 points from Donovan Mitchell in the first meeting. Mitchell scored 35 in a 133-107 victory in Philadelphia on Jan. 14.
Two nights later, Jaylon Tyson produced a career-high 39 points as the Cavaliers edged the Sixers, 117-115. Cleveland completed the sweep with a 115-101 win on March 9, when James Harden led the team with 21 points.
The four different leading scorers illustrated Cleveland’s range of options.
Mitchell could take over as a scorer. Tyson capitalized when Philadelphia devoted additional attention to the stars. Harden controlled the final matchup after joining Cleveland in February.
Only the last meeting came after the Cavaliers acquired Harden from the Clippers. Thursday will offer the Sixers their first look at a Cleveland team that had an entire offseason and training camp to build around the Harden-Mitchell backcourt.
The Sixers are also considerably different from the team Cleveland swept.
James and Jaylen Brown have replaced Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. in the starting lineup. VJ Edgecombe has taken on a significant role, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Anfernee Simons give Nick Nurse experienced alternatives off the bench.
WHAT CHANGED IN CLEVELAND?
The Cavaliers went 52-30 last season and reached the Eastern Conference finals, where the Knicks swept them.
Cleveland brought back its core four. Mitchell signed a four-year extension, Harden returned on a three-year contract, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen remain under contract.
Harden’s first complete season with Cleveland is the most important change.
He joined the Cavaliers at the trade deadline last February and had to learn Kenny Atkinson’s offense during the season. Cleveland can now build its system around Harden, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen from the beginning.
The Cavaliers also acquired 24-year-old wing Peyton Watson in a five-team sign-and-trade with Denver.
Watson averaged career highs of 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds last season while shooting 41.1 percent from three-point range. The 6-foot-8 forward is expected to fill Cleveland’s opening at small forward and defend many of the opponent’s best wings.
Cleveland also added Mario Hezonja, who is returning to the NBA after six seasons overseas, and drafted guard Meleek Thomas.
The Cavaliers lost several rotation players, including Dean Wade, Max Strus, Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis and Larry Nance Jr. Their starting lineup remains formidable, but Atkinson will need to establish a new second unit.
LEBRON TALK
Cleveland spent part of the summer pursuing a third stint with James.
After James chose Philadelphia, Atkinson acknowledged that the Cavaliers needed to move quickly to another option.
“There was probably a day of ‘woe is me,’” Atkinson said. “But the day after, we’re just like, ‘How are we pivoting?’”
Watson became the centerpiece of that pivot.
That creates a fascinating possible matchup Thursday. The player Cleveland acquired after James signed with the Sixers could spend stretches defending him.
James has faced the Cavaliers 26 times during his career. His teams have gone 20-6, and he has averaged 26.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Thursday would be his 27th regular-season game against the franchise.
There is also a Philadelphia connection.
James’ final regular-season game in Philadelphia as a Cavalier came on April 6, 2018. He recorded 44 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, but the Sixers survived Cleveland’s comeback from 30 points down and won, 132-130.
The 44 points remain James’ career high against the Sixers.
Thursday, he will enter the same building from the opposite locker room.
WHERE THE MATCHUP COULD TURN
The Sixers’ speed should test Cleveland immediately.
Philadelphia scored 24 fast-break points against New York. Tyrese Maxey accounted for 12, including nine following Knicks turnovers.
Cleveland’s starting lineup features two traditional big men in Mobley and Allen. That gives the Cavaliers considerable rim protection and rebounding, but Maxey will want to push the pace before they can establish their half-court defense.
The Sixers forced 14 turnovers Tuesday and converted them into 22 points. Creating similar opportunities would keep them from having to attack Mobley and Allen on every possession.
Cleveland’s backcourt presents the opposite challenge.
Harden can manipulate a defense through pick-and-rolls and draw extra attention before finding Mobley or Allen. Mitchell scored 81 points across his first two games against Philadelphia last season and remains Cleveland’s most dangerous individual scorer.
Brown, Edgecombe and Caldwell-Pope give the Sixers several possible defenders to place on Mitchell. Maxey’s defensive improvement will also be tested when Cleveland involves him in actions featuring Harden.
The matchup in the middle could depend on Allen’s availability.
Allen was listed as questionable Thursday morning with right patellar tendinopathy. If he plays, Cleveland can keep one of Allen or Mobley on the floor for most of the night.
If Allen is unavailable, Mobley could receive more time at center. That would leave the Cavaliers with fewer conventional options against Joel Embiid, especially with Khalifa Diop and Nae’Qwan Tomlin already ruled out.
A FAMILIAR FACE
Wade spent the first seven seasons of his career with Cleveland before signing a four-year contract with the Sixers in July.
His possible Philadelphia debut would come against the only other NBA team he has known.
Wade missed Tuesday’s opener with a left ankle sprain and remained questionable Thursday morning. If he is cleared, his size and shooting would give Nurse another frontcourt option against Mobley and Allen.
The Sixers played James at center for stretches in New York, while Adem Bona and Jabari Walker received brief opportunities behind Embiid. Wade could give Philadelphia another small-ball option who is familiar with Cleveland’s personnel and Atkinson’s system.
His availability carries added importance with Dominick Barlow, Ariel Hukporti and Tacko Fall ruled out.
WHAT CLEVELAND IS SAYING
The Cavaliers are emphasizing the benefit of beginning the season together after adding Harden in the middle of last year.
“Just us having an opportunity to start off together is already exciting,” Harden told reporters Tuesday.
Harden said Cleveland has spent time developing the different possibilities within his pick-and-roll work with Mobley. The Cavaliers can use Mobley as a screener, roller, passer or shooter depending on how Philadelphia defends Harden.
Atkinson has also indicated that Cleveland’s opening rotation could remain unsettled until game time because of the injuries in its frontcourt.
The Cavaliers enter the season with championship expectations after advancing one round farther in each of the past four postseasons. They lost in the first round in 2023, the second round in 2024 and 2025, and the conference finals last season.
Philadelphia will be their first opportunity to show whether that progression can continue.
INJURY REPORT
According to the NBA’s 6:30 a.m. ET injury report:
Sixers
Dean Wade: Questionable, left ankle sprain
Dominick Barlow: Out, low-back stress reaction
Tacko Fall: Out, left quadriceps strain
Ariel Hukporti: Out, right Achilles tendon rupture
Cavaliers
Jarrett Allen: Questionable, right patellar tendinopathy
Khalifa Diop: Out, left knee injury management
Nae’Qwan Tomlin: Out, low-back stress reaction
WHAT VEGAS THINKS
FanDuel Research listed the Sixers as 2.5-point favorites Thursday morning. The over-under was set at 235.5 points.
The line reflects a competitive matchup while giving Philadelphia a slight edge at home. It could move if Allen or Wade receives a definitive designation.
James’ first return to Cleveland in a Sixers uniform will come Nov. 6.
Thursday is about something else. It is the first look at Philadelphia’s new stars in front of their home crowd and an early comparison with a Cleveland team that had all the answers against the Sixers last season.
