LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 6: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense during the game against Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks on March 6, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks (30*-18), riding a five-game win streak, welcome the Lakers (29-18) to Madison Garden Tonight. A national audience will tune in to see Luka Dončić and LeBron James, leaders of a Los Angeles team that scores brilliant and defends much less so. Expect a tight game, which might be LeBron’s last appearance at MSG.
Tip off is 7 p.m. EST on NBA / Peacock. Tip off is 7 p.m. EST on NBC. This is your game thread. This is Silver Screen and Roll. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Practice kindness. And go Knicks!
* Should be one more, but the stupid NBA Cup doesn’t count.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 27: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second half at Madison Square Garden against Sacramento Kings on January 27, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Karl-Anthony Towns is headed to L.A., folks.
No, he didn’t get traded. The Big Bodega has been named to his sixth All-Star team, as revealed by the NBA on NBC pregame show on Sunday night. He will join Jalen Brunson in the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.
Towns is joined by Donovan Mitchell, Pascal Siakam, and Scottie Barnes, as well as first-timers Jalen Duren, Norman Powell, and Jalen Johnson, as the Eastern Conference’s reserves. There will be an additional one named in the near future due to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury, and potentially one more if the USA/World splits don’t yield enough players.
Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija, and LeBron James were all named West reserves. Personally, I’m bewildered we didn’t see Kawhi Leonard make it, but that’s a story for another day. Good for Jamal Murray getting the recognition.
Towns is, by all measures, having his worst season in a while. The 30-year-old center is averaging 20.0 points (lowest since 2015-16), 11.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 45 games, shooting a career-low 46.1% from the field and just 36.1% from three. The only season that’s been comparable to this one, offensively, was his rookie season. He’s also leading the league in offensive fouls and has had games where he has absolutely no rhythm offensively.
Still, KAT leads the NBA in rebounding and has found other ways to impact the game. He remains a mediocre defender, but has improved in that aspect ever so slightly. He’s still capable of big games and has recently turned into an Andre Drummond-esque rebounder, grabbing 44 in just 64 combined minutes over the last two games.
Towns has been brought up in trade rumors amidst his increasing discomfort in Mike Brown’s system and the Knicks’ struggles in January, but barring an unforeseen demand by one Greek Freak, it seems he’ll be here for the stretch run.
Assuming that’s the case, this will be the third straight year the Knicks have two in the All-Star Game. While the ‘Bockers have had a pair of all-stars sporadically throughout their history, this is historic for them. It’s the first time since the early 1970s that the Knicks have had multiple all-stars in three consecutive seasons. Back then, there were only 18 teams and the likes of Clyde Frazier and Willis Reed were annual mainstays.
The all-star tandem will not play with each other, however. Despite having two all-stars for the third straight year, the Knicks haven’t had two teammates in the All-Star Game since 2013. Julius Randle was injured in 2024 and Adam Silver’s first attempt at experimenting came last year and separated Brunson and Towns.
The All-Star Game is two weeks from today, on February 15. We’ll see who Towns and Brunson team up with when the teams are formally set.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with teammates after a play against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC.
LeBron James is keeping his All-Star streak alive.
James was named to his 22nd consecutive NBA All-Star team Sunday when the league announced this year’s reserve players ahead of NBC’s “Sunday Night Basketball” matchup between the Lakers and Knicks.
There had been a question of whether James would be named to the All-Star team this year after he wasn’t named a starter.
He was the last player revealed during the announcement on Sunday night.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with teammates after a play against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
James has appeared in 30 games for the Lakers this season, missing 14 games at the start of the year while dealing with sciatica.
He has averaged 21.9 points. 5.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game this season.
The Lakers superstar has been named to three more All-Star teams than basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and he is just the second player to earn multiple All-Star nods after the age of 40 — with Abdul-Jabbar being the only other player to do it.
James had his record of consecutive All-Star appearances disrupted at 20 last season when he was a late scratch from the NBA All-Star Game because of ankle and foot soreness.
The Timberwolves Anthony Edwards, Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Rockets’ Kevin Durant, Suns’ Devin Booker and Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija were also selected as reserves this year for the Western Conference.
Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns was named a reserve player for the Eastern Conference, along with the Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell, the Hawks’ Jalen Johnson, the Pacers Pascal Siakam, the Heat’s Norman Powell, the Raptors’ Scottie Barnes and Pistons’ Jalen Duren.
The NBA All-Star Game will be held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., which is the home of the Clippers.
The All-Star Game is going through a format change, with the event now a U.S vs. The World format that includes breaking the players into three eight-man rosters.
Two of the teams will feature just American players, and the third will be made up of international players.
SoxFest Day 2 continued the good vibes. | South Side Sox
Day 2 of SoxFest Live felt very familiar, with many of the same key talking points put out by GM Chris Getz and manager Will Venable the night before. However, the atmosphere did seem a bit different. While Friday night set the tone for a more intimate gathering, Saturday’s sold-out crowd made it feel more like a celebration.
Friday evening was only for season ticket holders, while Saturday opened its doors to everyone, offering general admission and VIP options. GA ticket holders had access to the lower level, but the VIP experience added the upper level for exclusive player photo opportunities and meet-and-greets (ahem, Bo Jackson), along with a nightcap after-party that felt less like a formal event and more like a late-night hangout. White Sox staff, coaches, and players mingled with fans, music pumping, conversations flowing in the kind of setting where walls came down, and personalities came out.
Our own Crystal O’Keefe and her son Hayden opted for the VIP route, and it paid off. The up-close access made a real difference. “My son was able to collect more autographs and was especially excited to chat with Miguel Vargas,” O’Keefe says. Those types of moments, unhurried, unscripted, and personal, are what seemed to set this reimagined SoxFest apart.
O’Keefe also talked with pitcher Davis Martin, who shared how excited he is for the season. The event’s interactive setup let players and fans really connect. They weren’t just answering questions or taking photos; they were laughing, joking, and even dancing with the DJ.
The overall vibes of the weekend were positive, and the optimism was pretty evident. Many of the fans we spoke with were energized by the direction and momentum of Rebuild 2.0. One lifelong South Side fan, someone who’s been a fan of the team for more than 60 years, told us he’s officially bought back in, convinced by the new wave of young talent the Sox have acquired and developed. That kind of hope, from someone who’s seen it all, says a lot.
Young fans are also enjoying the connections they’re making with players they can relate to:
South Side Sox writer Hannah Filippo dove deeper into Friday night’s event in her assessment, taking a closer look at clubhouse culture and the organization’s emphasis on bringing in players with a specific makeup. Skepticism from fans about rebuilding and culture is understandable and earned, given recent history. But having seen firsthand what happens when a clubhouse lacks cohesion (talking to you, 2022), it’s hard not to at least acknowledge the importance of getting that part right.
For a lot of people, the 2005 championship team was special not just because of talent, but because of how close the players all seemed to be. That was evident at the 20th World Series reunion at the ballpark last summer. After interviewing six different players from the current team on Friday, it was obvious they really enjoy being together. Just looking through their social media posts, you can see many of them got together during the offseason. This young core likes to compete and push each other, while understanding that there’s a lot of work to do. They appear ready to put in the effort, and their skipper seems to have their attention, and, more importantly, their trust.
Will “vibes” or clubhouse culture really make that big of a difference? Probably not. But it certainly won’t hurt. And it’s hard to ignore how damaging the previous group’s toxic culture appeared to be in the long run.
Maybe this rebuild flames out, too. We know all too well that it’s a possibility. But for now, I’m willing to take the gamble. This group comes across as humble, likable and focused. That’s a foundation I find worth rooting for.
Even so, it’s totally fair for many Sox fans to be hesitant. No one should feel pressured to “enjoy the ride.” That’s what makes being a sports fan great — everyone gets to experience it their own way. At South Side Sox, we call out the team when it’s needed, and we’ll keep doing that. You can count on it. We’re fans first, always.
But it’s also fair to give credit where it’s due. The White Sox appear to be making a real effort to do things differently by hiring outside the organization, modernizing long-neglected infrastructure and reshaping SoxFest into an event that actually connects players and fans.
For one weekend at Ramova Theatre, at least, it felt like a step in the right direction.
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Kevin Durant of United States (L) handles the ball during the Men's Gold Medal match between France and United States on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team USA vs. the World is coming to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, and the rosters have been finalized after numerous injury replacements were named to the game. American-born players Karl-Anthony Towns and Norman Powell will play for the World Team because they compete for the Dominican Republic and Jamaica internationally. It should be a fun if confusing format with two American teams and one international team playing short games in a round-robin tournament.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game has a new format of USA vs. The World, but the game will still be made up of 12 players each from the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The full NBA All-Star rosters have now been released with the announcement of the All-Star reserves on Sunday evening.
We already knew that Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, and Jaylen Brown were voted as starters out of the East, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokić will start out of the West.
We now know the 14 players who will be All-Star reserves with seven from the East and seven from the West. Here’s the full conference breakdown for the All-Stars, followed by the USA vs. the World teams.
Team USA All-Star player pool
Team USA will be split into two teams of eight among the 16 players. Here’s the pool:
Jalen Brunson
Tyrese Maxey
Cade Cunningham
Jaylen Brown
Stephen Curry (out with injury)
Donovan Mitchell
Jalen Johnson
Scottie Barnes
Jalen Duren
Chet Holmgren
Kevin Durant
Devin Booker
LeBron James
Anthony Edwards
Kawhi Leonard (late addition by Adam Silver)
Brandon Ingram (injury replacement for Steph Curry)
De’Aaron Fox (injury replacement for Giannis)
World team roster
The World team will be one team of eight players. Here’s the roster:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) (out with injury)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) (out with injury)
Luka Dončić (Slovenia)
Victor Wembanyama (France)
Nikola Jokić (Serbia)
Pascal Siakam (Cameroon)
Deni Avdija (Israel)
Jamal Murray (Canada)
Karl-Anthony Towns (American-born but competes for Dominican Republic internationally)
Norman Powell (American-born but competes for Jamaica internationally)
NBA All-Star reserves in Eastern Conference
East starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, and Jaylen Brown
Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers: Mitchell was the biggest snub among the East starters. He’s averaging 29.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 61.8 percent true shooting.
Jalen Johnson, F, Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks selected Johnson with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and now he’s a first-time All-Star. He’s averaging 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game on 59 percent true shooting.
Karl-Anthony Towns, C, New York Knicks: Towns has had a down season by his standards mostly because he’s not shooting as well from deep as he usually does. 20.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game on 59.4 percent true shooting.
Pascal Siakam, F, Indiana Pacers: The Pacers have been one of the very worst teams in the NBA all year, but Siakam has still has an outstanding season in Indiana’s “gap year” without Tyrese Haliburton. He’s averaging 23.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game on 56.4 percent true shooting.
Norman Powell, G, Miami Heat: Powell is a first-time All-Star at age-32 after just missing it last season with the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s averaging 23.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on 61.2 percent true shooting after an offseason trade to the Miami Heat.
Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors: The Raptors have been reborn as an Eastern Conference contender this season, and Barnes’ bounce-back from a down year last season is a big reason why. He’s averaging 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on 57.6 percent true shooting.
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons: Duren has morphed into an All-Star in his fourth season after being selected with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 draft. The 22-year-old is averaging 17.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 66.6 percent true shooting.
NBA All-Star starters in Western Conference
West starters: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokić
Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves: Edwards was the biggest snub among the starters in the West. He’s averaging 29.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on 62.2 percent true shooting.
Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets: Murray was thought of as the best player in the NBA who had never been named an All-Star. Not anymore. The Canadian guard is averaging 25.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game on 62.3 percent true shooting.
Chet Holmgren, F, Oklahoma City Thunder: Holmgren is one of the best young bigs in the NBA after helping the Thunder win a championship last season. The 23-year-old is averaging 17.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 66 percent true shooting.
Kevin Durant, F, Houston Rockets: KD is still one of the best scorers alive at age-37. He’s averaging 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 63 percent true shooting.
Deni Avdija, F, Portland Trail Blazers: Avdija has emerged as the Blazers’ best player as a jumbo ball handler who gets to the free throw line at will. He’s averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 61 percent true shooting.
LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers: Yes, LeBron made it again despite only playing 30 games and posting his worst numbers since his rookie year. The 41-year-old is averaging 21.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game on 58.8 percent true shooting.
Kawhi Leonard has been added by commissioner Adam Silver.
Alperen Sengun has been named an injury replacement for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Brandon Ingram has been named an injury replacement for Stephen Curry.
De’Aaron Fox has been named an injury replacement for Giannis.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith gave No. 12 Purdue a commanding lead with an early 3-point barrage, and the Boilermakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 93-63 victory over Maryland on Sunday.
Loyer scored 21 of his 29 points in the first half, when he Smith went a combined 9 of 12 from beyond the arc. The Boilermakers (18-4, 8-3) led 49-28 at halftime. Smith finished with 19 points. He needs one more to become the first player in Big Ten history to reach 1,000 career points and 500 assists in conference games.
Andre Mills scored 18 points for Maryland (8-13, 1-9), which continues to struggle under new coach Buzz Williams. This was the most lopsided defeat for the Terrapins in this arena, where they started playing in 2002.
Purdue was ranked No. 4 in the country before losing in succession to UCLA, Illinois and rival Indiana. But the schedule eased a bit with this game against Maryland and a matchup next weekend with an Oregon team that’s also near the bottom of the Big Ten.
Purdue raced out to a 10-2 lead against the Terps, with Loyer making two 3-pointers. Then Smith made a couple of 3s during an 11-0 spurt that made it 25-7.
NO. 8 IOWA STATE 95, KANSAS STATE 61
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Joshua Jefferson scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures as Iowa beat Kansas State.
The Cyclones (20-2, 7-2 Big 12 Conference) got 18 points from Milan Momcilovic, 16 from Tamin Lipsey, 13 from Killyan Toure and 11 from Nate Heise en route to their fourth consecutive win.
They handed the Wildcats (10-12, 1-8 Big 12) their worst loss under coach Jerome Tang, who was hired ahead of the 2023 season.
Iowa State used two big runs in the first half to build a 29-point lead at the break. The second was a suffocating 25-4 run that covered nearly five minutes.
The Cyclones held the Wildcats to a season-low 21 points in the first half. The Wildcats shot just 31% from the field and matched their largest halftime deficit of the season. It swelled to 39 points in the second half.
NO. 9 ILLINOIS 78, NO. 5 NEBRASKA 69
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Keaton Wagler scored 28 points and Illinois won its 11th straight game, beating Nebraska in the first matchup of top-10 teams the Cornhuskers have hosted.
The Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten), who haven’t lost since falling 83-80 at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13, held the Huskers to four field goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half.
Nebraska (20-2, 9-2) lost its second straight after a 20-0 start. The Huskers were beaten on the road Tuesday by another top-10 opponent, No. 3 Michigan.
Jake Davis finished with 13 points for Illinois, Tomislav Ivisic scored 12 and David Mirkovic had 10.
NO. 19 FLORIDA 100, NO. 23 ALABAMA 77
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Alex Condon scored 25 points, Thomas Haugh added 22 and Florida handled Alabama and Charles Bediako.
Florida’s fifth consecutive victory in the series came a little more than a week after Gators coach Todd Golden said “we’re gonna beat ’em anyways” in response to a judge’s decision to allow Bediako to return to college.
This one was so one-sided that 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, the world’s tallest teenager, played the final minute and scored Florida’s last basket.
Boogie Fland chipped in 15 points, eight assists and a career-high eight steals for the defending national champion Gators (16-6, 7-2 Southeastern Conference). Fland dominated his matchup against the league’s leading scorer, Labaron Philon. Fland’s eight steals matched the program record set by Clifford Lett in 1989.
Philon, who entered the game averaging 22 points, finished with 14. Aden Holloway led the Crimson Tide (14-7, 4-4) with 19 points.
Any hope that the Utah Jazz could get a player to Los Angeles for NBA All-star weekend now resides in the form of an injury replacement. And even then, it’s a long shot.
On Sunday, the NBA announced its Western Conference all-star rosters, and candidates Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen failed to make the list of the final seven reserves. Ahead of them were Chet Holmgren, Deni Avdija, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray and LeBron James.
The Western Conference players honored as reserves for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kmAtdvGE6N
Markkanen is averaging a career-best 27.4 points per game this season — two more than his lone all-star campaign in 2023 — on 47.9/36.4/88.6 shooting splits. He’s also putting up 7.0 rebounds per game and is dishing out a career-high 2.2 assists per game.
But Markkanen has also only played 35 of the 13-seeded Jazz’s 49 games. That’s not gonna sit well with people who decide his all-star fate.
George is having a breakout year, and has inserted his name into most improved player competition, as well as made himself a real “guy” in the NBA.
This season, George is averaging 24.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.2 apg in 47 appearances. His shooting numbers have improved drastically from his sophomore season, going from 39.1% from the field to 45.9%, and 34.3% from deep to 37.7%.
But even if a player has to miss due to injury, snagging an injured reserve spot is just as hard a task for the Jazz duo. Take a look at some of the names that are in the running for the extra spot:
Julius Randle: 22.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.4 apg
Austin Reaves: 26.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.3 apg
Alpren Sengun: 21.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 6.4 apg
Kawhi Leonard: 27.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.5 apg
James Harden: 25.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 8.1 apg
George and Markkanen were always going to be on the outside looking in when it came to the 2026 all-star game. There’s simply too many good players on good Western teams for the NBA to justify giving a spot to a 15-win team.
Do you think that the coaches got the reserves right? Should the Jazz have gotten a player in?
As part of the centennial season celebration for the Detroit Red Wings, the iconic No. 91 jersey of three-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Fame forward Sergei Fedorov was raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena.
One of the most exciting and dynamic players not only in Red Wings history but in the NHL as a whole, Fedorov electrified fans with his raw speed, elite playmaking ability, and thrilling flair and style.
However, many younger generations of Red Wings fans may not know the full story of his defection from the former Soviet Union, a saga that could have been lifted straight from a spy movie.
The Red Wings had selected Fedorov in the fourth round (74th overall) of the 1989 NHL Draft while he was in the midst of his tenure with CSKA Moscow, where he was teammates with another future Red Wing, Vladimir Konstantinov (selected 229th overall in the same Draft).
One of the principal architects behind the extremely risky defection by both Fedorov and Konstantinov from the Soviet Union was Keith Gave, a longtime Red Wings journalist who was employed at the time by The Detroit Free Press.
"I started covering the Red Wings in 1985, and four years later, they started drafting Russians - they took a few Soviet players, Sergei and Vladdy," Gave explained. "And a week or so after the Draft, I got a call out of the blue in mid-July requesting a lunch meeting from Jim Lites."
Lites, now CEO and alternate governor of the Dallas Stars (where former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill is now general manager), was the Red Wings’ executive vice president at the time. He invited Gave to lunch, where the seeds would be planted of what would eventually become a hockey dynasty.
As Gave put it, Lites began discussing the recent selections of both Fedorov and Konstantinov, and he reacted with understandable skepticism given the political climate of the time.
“We were thinking that because you speak Russian and know the language, and you have NHL credentials, you might be able to slip them a message under the auspices of covering them—to defect and play for the Detroit Red Wings,” Gave said Lites told him.
"The more he talked, the more skeptical I was becoming," Gave continued. "I said, 'Jim, there’s no way I can do this, I work for the Freep, and I’d be putting my job in danger.'"
Gave eventually left the lunch and returned home to discuss the matter with his wife, but began to reconsider. With several years of experience as a Russian linguist for the National Security Agency, he began to see a viable path to pulling off the hazardous assignment.
"I spent six years in the spy business in West Berlin, working a mile from Checkpoint Charlie, the tip of the spear of the Cold War, and I'd never been given a good cloak and dagger assignment, and I was being offered one, I thought there was a way we might be able to do this," he said.
After reconnecting with Lites, they began to formulate a plan. As it happened, the Soviet national team was holding a Training Camp in Finland, and with Gave's press credentials, he would be the ideal figure to get as close as possible to the players.
"I told him that we might be able to make it work on the condition that I won’t take a dime of your money," Gave said. "I’ll cash in miles, I’ll get there and do my best to get access, I’ll write some letters, and explain to them everything you told me about what you want to know."
However, Gave laid out one simple condition: he wanted to be the first one to break the story when both players eventually made their way to North America.
“I want to be your first phone call when these guys come over,” Gave said to Lites. “I want the first story for the Freep."
"And a couple of weeks later, I was on my way to Helsinki, writing letters for Sergei and Vladdy, saying the Red Wings wanted them to come over and play hockey in the NHL for Detroit.”
Gave described how his Russian language training, which was honed during his time in the military, proved just sufficient to get the Red Wings’ message across.
“I was in Russian language school in 1971, 1972, and I left the Army in 1977," he explained. "In 1989, 12 years later, my Russian wasn’t worth shit anymore, but the Army taught me well enough."
Gave began penning a message to Detroit's future Russian stars, which would be clandestinely slipped between the pages of a media guide.
"I remembered enough, and I knew how to use the Russian/English dictionary, and I was able to patch together a letter that he could understand and throw the (contract) numbers in there," he said.
In the note, Gave wrote that the Red Wings were willing to pay both Fedorov and Konstantinov the same figure as Steve Yzerman, who had been named team captain by coach Jacques Demers just three years earlier to begin the 1986-87 campaign.
Another condition that was stipulated was that the families of both players would be paid $25,000 per year.
"At the time, that was a ton," Gave said. "You could live like royalty in the USSR at that time with that money."
After arriving in Helsinki, there were a few obstacles to overcome to even get to the venue where both Fedorov and Konstantinov were.
"I landed at 4:00 in the afternoon, the hockey game was in three hours, and I didn’t know where it was," Gave explained. "I had to find the arena, find the hockey game, and was asking for directions around the airport; people were looking at me like I had three heads. Finally, I got the answer - they were playing at Olympic Stadium."
Gave managed to get his hotel information, hail a taxi, shower at his hotel, and then make his way across the park to the venue, which was nearby. He happened upon the rink just as the Soviet players arrived and were getting off their bus.
Two Lives - And An NHL Franchise - Are Soon Changed Forever
After entering the venue, Gave’s only immediate problem was finding someone who could get him close to the players.
“I flashed my NHL credentials, and I had my Professional Hockey Writers Association card, my Red Wings media pass, and everything," he said. "I had no trouble getting in, but I had trouble finding someone to get me down where the players were. I finally found a guy, a promoter."
After requesting assistance, Gave was told by the promoter that while he'd help him, the Russian players might not be receptive.
"I’ll certainly try," Gave said the promoter said to him. "You came all the way from Detroit, but you know how Russians are—you can ask, but they may not play ball."
"The Russians were notorious for limiting access to guys like us," Gave said.
Eventually, Gave made it down near the dressing rooms, where he noticed an imposing nearby physical presence keeping tabs on him as he waited.
From the start, Gave knew it was someone who, if crossed, could potentially be dangerous.
"About 8-10 feet away to my left was a guy who kept looking at me, kind of giving me the eye," Gave said. I could tell he was their KGB guy, to make sure nobody defected."
Suddenly, he knew his assignment had become that much tougher.
“The promoter went into the room, and a long while later, came out and brought Sergei and Vladdy with him," Gave said. "They had just stepped out of the shower with white towels and wet hair."
"I basically introduced myself and showed them I was from Detroit, and showed them the Red Wings' Draft list from 1989. I said, 'Sergei, here you are, 74th overall.’ He showed no signs of emotion overall, and then I showed Vladdy his own name, and he was bouncing up and down like a kid with a shiny new bike for Christmas."
It was at that moment that Gave realized he had just broken the news to both players for the first time: they had been selected by an NHL team.
"I learned later that this was the moment they realized they’d been drafted by an NHL team," he said. "This was way before the internet, and news traveled slowly then; neither of them had any clue that an NHL team was interested in them."
After giving both players the business cards for both Jim Devellano and Jim Lites, it was at that moment that Gave made his move - albeit carefully.
"I pulled out the media guides with the letters tucked in and gave them to the players," he said. "Sergei had his in front of him, he looked down and thumbed through it, and he saw the KGB guy. He had noticed the guy a bit earlier; he knew who he was, and he had to be careful.”
“He thumbed through and saw the letter,” Gave said of Fedorov when he began looking through the media guide containing the life-changing message. “He nonchalantly put it behind his back, and I knew it was time to get the f--- out. I shook their hands and said, ‘Good luck, thanks, and hope to see you in Detroit one day,’ and left.”
Having literally just set history in motion, Gave made his exit - while also being sure to make sure that the KGB agent wasn't lurking behind.
“Walked out of the building and walked around Helsinki for four hours, looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being followed," he said.
Thankfully, he was safe and eventually made it back to the hotel. While he admitted he felt some apprehension for his own safety, his chief concern was for Fedorov and Konstantinov and what may have happened to them if the note been discovered.
"I was worried mostly for the two kids," Gave said. "Sergei was 19 at the time, and Vladdy, a bit older. But if they get caught with those letters, they were f---ed. They could lose their careers.
I was worried for them, but Russians know how to sneak around and play the game, and obviously didn’t run into any problems."
After what he described as an uneventful walk around Helsinki, Gave eventually returned to his room and contacted Lites to deliver the news.
"I got back to my hotel room and noticed it was 7:30 back in Detroit, and I called Jim Lites to say that I made contact with the guys and passed the note along. He was so excited and said, ‘I can’t wait to tell Mr. Ilitch.’
I said one thing: ‘Remember our deal: I want the news first.’ He said, ‘You got it.’
And that was it. I had no more role. I saw Jim Lites 100 times, and we never talked about it—it never came up.”
Two Red Army Players Become Red Wings
Nearly a year after Gave’s risky mission in Finland, he received the news that would not only secure his place in hockey history but also change the course of the Red Wings.
Fedorov had traveled with the Soviets to North America in 1990 to take part in the Goodwill Games in Portland. Lites picked up Fedorov discreetly outside of his hotel, and it wouldn't be long before they were both on Mike Ilitch's private jet en route to Detroit.
“About 11 months later, I was about to have dinner at my Dearborn home when the phone rang," Gave said. "It was Jim Lites again, giving me another odd call in the middle of July.
He said, ‘Just wanted to let you know that I’m on Mr. I’s airplane flying back to Detroit. Guess who is sitting next to me: Sergei Fedorov.’ I shoved my plate away, grabbed my notebook, talked to Jim for 10 minutes, and hung up the phone.
I called the Freep city desk—they were on deadline—and I said, ‘It’s Keith Gave.’"
He said that initially, they were confused as to why a hockey beat writer would be calling them in the middle of the summer.
"I called and asked what the scheduled story on page one was, and said, 'I’m going to blow it out of the water: A Soviet defector on his way to Detroit on Mike’s plane.'
There was a pause, and then he said, ‘You got 35 minutes.’
I hung up, grabbed my laptop, and started typing my ass off. Thirty-five minutes later, I fired off a story. When the newspaper arrived at 6:15 on my doorstep, there it was: Soviet defector coming to play hockey, page one, above the fold—right where you want to be.”
Fedorov entered the NHL with a bang in the 1990-91 season, scoring 31 goals with 48 assists. It wouldn't be long before he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player for 1993-94 after scoring 56 goals with 64 assists.
Meanwhile, Konstantinov began his NHL career one year after Fedorov and quickly became one of Detroit's most defensively responsible and bruising defensemen.
Both players eventually became 2/5 of the iconic "Russian Five" with Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov, and Slava Fetisov.
With Fedorov, the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998, and 2002. Gave was able to join Kozlov, Larionov, and Fetisov in Russia's famed Red Square with the Cup.
Konstantinov played a key role in Detroit's 1997 win, but his career (and nearly his life) ended just a week later in a limousine accident that also came close to claiming the life of team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov.
Both Fedorov and Konstantinov remain beloved former members of the Red Wings and enduring figures in some of the franchise’s greatest successes. Without Gave’s fateful mission to Helsinki, carrying a clandestine note tucked into a media guide, those moments may never have happened.
A more detailed account of his journey can be read in his book, The Russian Five: A Story of Espionage, Defection, Bribery and Courage.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Keaton Wagler scored 28 points and No. 9 Illinois won its 11th straight game, beating No. 5 Nebraska 78-69 on Sunday in the first matchup of top-10 teams the Cornhuskers have hosted.
The Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten), who haven't lost since falling 83-80 at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13, held the Huskers to four field goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half.
Nebraska (20-2, 9-2) lost its second straight after a 20-0 start. The Huskers were beaten on the road Tuesday by another top-10 opponent, No. 3 Michigan.
Jake Davis finished with 13 points for Illinois, Tomislav Ivisic scored 12 and David Mirkovic had 10.
Braden Frager returned for Nebraska after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury and scored 20 points.
After missing the last 18 games due to a grade two right calf strain, head coach JJ Redick told reporters on Sunday that Reaves would go through his pregame warmup at Madison Square Garden and be a game-time decision for the Lakers' road game against the New York Knicks on Feb. 1.
Reaves' presence has been missed since going down on Christmas Day; the Lakers went on a cold streak in late December and early January. They've started to find their footing since then, winning six of their last 10 games as the trade deadline approaches this week.
Here is everything you need to know about Reaves' status ahead of tip-off vs. the Knicks:
Is Austin Reaves playing tonight vs. Pelicans?
No. Reaves went through pregame warmups and was listed as a game time decision, but was ultimately ruled out, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported. Still, it's the closest Reaves has gotten to playing since Dec. 25, so all signs point to Reaves' return being imminent.
Reaves has been listed as questionable before each of the Lakers' last three games.
Austin Reaves gets up some touch shots pregame at MSG. He’s a gametime decision tonight, per JJ Redick pic.twitter.com/Eqzb3luMPN
Reaves' injury halted his momentum on what could've been his first All-Star season. Through 23 games, the fourth-year guard is posting career-high averages in points (26.6), rebounds (5.2) and assists (6.3) per game. He's also averaging at least one steal per game for the second straight year.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the final seconds of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Kings 113-111. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s still time to fix it, but this kind of sucks.
The NBA announced the reserves for the 2026 All-Star game and, despite his dominant month of January, Joel Embiid did not make the cut in the Eastern Conference. Instead, the backups will be Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson, Indiana’s Pascal Siakam, Miami’s Norman Powell, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes and New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Eastern Conference players honored as reserves for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ieypTER2Nd
The reasoning for this has to be game’s played, since Embiid’s production is now better than most of those guys, though doing so in about 10-15 less appearances. After dropping 40, on the Pelicans he’s up to 26.2 points per game and 7.5 rebounds on 59.9% true shooting. That really speaks to how effective he’s been inside since he’s still shooting 29% from behind the three-point line. Embiid has appeared in 28 games so far this season and 16 of the Sixers’ last 20. He averaged 29 points and eight rebounds a game in the 14 appearances he made in January.
This doesn’t entirely sink Embiid’s chances to earn his eighth All-Star selection, though. If Giannis Antetokounmpo, a starter for the East, is accurate with his own diagnosis, he’ll miss the game and the league will select his replacement.
There’s also a chance that as an international player, Embiid could be selected if the “Team World” needs more players to round out its roster. The fact that I — and many others — are still unsure of how those rosters quite work says a lot about the idea.
Perhaps this ends up being a best-of-both-worlds situation for Embiid. He still makes the game, but has the motivation from being snubbed initially to work with going forward.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of Team Chuck warms up before the game during the 74th NBA All-Star Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Donovan Mitchell has been selected to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. This is Mitchell’s seventh consecutive selection and fourth with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mitchell is the only Cavalier to make the game this season.
Other Eastern Conference reserves include Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Miami’s Norman Powell, Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, and Indiana’s Pascal Siakam. Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cade Cunningham, and Tyrese Maxey were previously named as starters for the Eastern Conference.
This has been a career-year for Mitchell. He’s averaging a personal-best 29.1 points per game in addition to 5.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He’s also just shy of shooting a career-best from the three-point line, currently at 38.6% (just 0.2% below his best).
The Cavs have struggled at times this season. But that’s no fault of Mitchell. He’s carried this team through adversity and given them a fighting chance in almost every game. Cleveland doesn’t want to think about where they would be this season without him.
Mitchell is in the league’s 94th percentile for on/off rating according to Cleaning the Glass. That’s pretty good.
It’s important to recognize when a player is making franchise history. Mitchell has now tied Mark Price and Kyrie Irving for the third most All-Star selections in Cavaliers history. He’s behind only Brad Duagherty (five) and LeBron James (10) for the most in the Land. That’s special.
As for the rest of the roster, it’s disappointing to see the Cavs with only one player in the All-Star Game after having three represent them last season. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley simply haven’t been healthy or good enough to earn the nod this year.
Mobley had hit his stride recently, getting back to his previous All-Star level and looking like a Defensive Player of the Year candidate before his latest calf injury. Garland had also taken steps towards looking like his old self before suffering another toe injury. It’s a bummer, but I can’t argue with the results.
Feb 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball over Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks evened the season series to the Boston Celtics by losing this one, 107-79. Ryan Rollins was the main bright spot for the Bucks; his 25 points were a larger share of the Bucks’ total than anyone would have liked. Kyle Kuzma chipped in with 16 and some defense. Meanwhile, 30 points for Jaylen Brown and 27 for Anfernee Simons in a pretty complete performance form the Celtics. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below:
Rollins came out hunting buckets and got them in spades. He picked up some turnovers early but was clean the rest of the game. His teammates need to find him more and his whistle needs to catch up to his rising star power. Honestly the main reason I watch this team right now.
Following Zac’s question from the preview, it seems like the last few games were a mirage. Four shots inside against this Celtics team? Decent rim protection but stickier hands would be appreciated.
Grade: D+
AJ Green
29 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1/5 3P, -27
Rough day at the office. Bad karma to be the first Buck to miss after a 13-3 start.
At least someone reached double-digits, even if my notes for a couple of his baskets included the word “somehow” and the efficiency leaves a little to be desired (luckily he got to the line). The team-best non-garbage plus-minus might speak to defense but I was busy watching the offense go nowhere.
Tried his best. The fouls showed some inexperience.
Grade: C-
Gary Trent Jr.
25 minutes, 9 points, 2/8 FG, 2/7 3P, -18
Just brutal. The two makes were splashed when the outcome was settled. And the one shot inside the arc was a classic fouled drive. It’s Gary at the rim, It’s Gary at the rim, It’s scary, It’s scary, It’s Gary at the rim!
Just another game of Bucks basketball under Doc Rivers. No screaming errors to me. I was surprised at the space that Milwaukee gave Boston from deep—not that it really hurt them—but maybe that’s just upholding tradition. I don’t have numbers on this, but it doesn’t feel like this was the first time that the Bucks came out hot before they pretty much fell apart. I didn’t see errors, but I didn’t see key in-game adjustments either. Maybe that’s upholding tradition too.
Grade: C-
Limited minutes: Andre Jackson Jr., Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince
Bonus Bucks Bits
It was the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic, honoring the first Black players in the NBA. It turns out that Bobby Portis played one of them in a movie. Fun! It also turns out that a trophy was up for grabs. Not quite.
The five first-quarter turnovers weren’t a harbinger of things to come; only five more the rest of the way.
The Bucks tried to run in transition a bit in the first quarter, but nothing doing; outscored 11-1 in that department.
The net cam during free throws could be improved so that court language doesn’t awkwardly hover over the players. Just to be the squeaky wheel.
Doc Rivers got a shout-out from Bill Russell’s daughter. That’s something, at least!
Wesley Matthews vouched for a “case study” to determine who would find basketball interesting if it only consisted of free throws. I think you’re looking for a different social scientific methodology, friend.
Lisa described a kid who breakdanced at halftime and timeouts as “one of the best parts of the afternoon.” Too true, Lisa.
The Bucks may not have scored the ball, but at least their top three scorers put up 25 (Rollins), 16 (Kuzma), and 9 (GTJ). What’s so special about that, you ask? Pythagorean’s theorem, baby: 3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2.
Up Next
The Bucks return home for a three-game stretch starting Tuesday against the Bulls. Catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.
TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB Rumors: Eugenio Suarez and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a one year, $15 million deal with a $16 million mutual option for 2026, per reports.
I think it is fair to say that this is a much lighter deal than most were expecting. Suarez, 34, split the 2025 season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners, and ended up accumulating 49 homers on the season. Ben Clemsns projected two years, $50 million for Suarez at Fangraphs, while Kiley McDaniel had him at 2 years, $45 million. Just $15 million for one year for a 49 homer guy from last year doesn’t seem to make sense.
There are some concerns, though, which would seem to help explain it. Suarez has become rather one-dimensional — his defense at third base has declined, and Cincinnati will be playing him primarily at a DH, per reports. He doesn’t get on base much, slashing .228/.298/.526, and strikes out a ton. Basically, his value is pretty much wrapped up in his home runs, and teams have long been leery of righthanded power hitters falling off the cliff. Suarez likely didn’t help himself with his .189/.255/.428 slash line for Seattle post-trade, though he did hit three home runs in the playoffs.
A couple of interesting things here, to me, anyway. Suarez has 1814 strikeouts in his career, which places him 26th all time, two behind Dave Kingman. However, given he struck out 196 times last year, and has averaged 190 Ks per season the last five years, if he plays every day, he has a good chance of cracking the 2000 K mark. Only 8 players have struck out at least 2000 times in their major league careers, though Paul Goldschmidt (1979) seems likely to reach 2000 Ks in 2026, assuming he plays, and Andrew McCutchen (1893) could get there as well if he lands somewhere he can play every day. He needs 189 to tie Andres Galarraga, who is currently 8th, and 158 to pass Justin Upton and reach the top 10.
The other interesting thing is that Suarez is seemingly coming full circle in his franchise travels. This is his second stint with the Reds, who traded him to Seattle in the spring of 2022. Seattle traded him to Arizona after the 2023 season, then re-acquired him last summer. To make it complete, after playing for the Reds this year, Suarez will need to join the Detroit Tigers, who signed him originally, and traded him to Cincy for Alfredo Simon in 2014.
One of the most impressive records in NBA history lives on.
The NBA announced this year's All-Star Game reserves before the debut of NBC's "Sunday Night Basketball" and LeBron James – not voted a starter for the first time since his rookie season two weeks ago – kept his record streak going and was named an All-Star for the 22nd consecutive year.)
James, 41, saw his other record of 20 consecutive All-Star appearances end last season when he was a last-minute scratch from the game due to ankle and foot soreness. He's also the All-Star Game's scoring leader with 434 points.
There is a chance for James to be a "starter" in an unofficial sense in this year's game due to the new format – three teams of at least eight players will compete in a "USA vs. the World" round robin-style tournament.
