WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 24: Principal owner Ted Leonsis of the Washington Wizards watches play during the first half of the game between the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors at Capital One Arena on March 24, 2025 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. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Monumental Sports & Entertainment — which owns the Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics — on Tuesday announced a multi-year partnership with bet365, an online sports betting and gaming company.
The partnership comes as bet365 officially launches to customers 18+ across Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. Bet365 will be integrated into “D.C. fan experiences” across Monumental Sports Network, which streams Wizards, Capitals and Mystics games.
Viewers will see virtual “bet365” signage during Capitals games. Similar signage will appear during pregame and in-game commercials across Capitals, Wizards and Mystics broadcasts.
“Our partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment gives us an exciting opportunity to introduce bet365 to Capitals, Wizards and Mystics fans and build lasting connections across Washington, D.C.,” said Trip Stoddard, the head of development at bet365.
Bet365 will serve as the presenting sponsor of Monumental Game Center, which allows users to “integrate real-time sports betting odds and gamification options into live game streams” during Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics games.
MSE partnered with BetMGM, one of the leading sportsbooks in the United States, in a 2025 deal that introduced live BetMGM odds through Monumental Game Center during Wizards and Capitals streams on the Monumental+ app. It appears this new deal replaces BetMGM odds with bet365 odds, although that detail hasn’t been confirmed by bet365.
Bet365 has partnered with several NBA and WNBA teams in recent years, including the Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Sky.
The Nuggets’ deal included “bet365” signage on the baseline of the team’s floor, plus additional signage throughout Ball Arena. It’s unclear whether “bet365” signage will be displayed on the baseline of the Wizards’ court at Capital One Arena or the Mystics’ court at CareFirst Arena.
Sep 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) and pitcher Jesús Luzardo (44) celebrate win against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The first four games of this pivotal stretch for the Phillies against the Atlanta Braves are over. It didn’t go quite the way Philadelphia could’ve hoped, as they were only able to split the series. They are now still four games behind the Braves with three games in Atlanta coming next weekend and 18 games remaining overall.
As the even result may hint towards, it was a competitive series throughout. The Phillies starting pitching, particularly Aaron Nola and Jesús Luzardo, looked prepared for primetime Their offense cooled off from their previous torrid stretch, but were only outscored 12-11. The biggest problem that revealed itself was the bullpen, as the Phillies blew a three-run eighth inning lead on Sunday and allowed a 3-2 game to turn into a 5-2 deficit on Friday. The rotation has rounded into peak form, but the bullpen, especially the set-up men ahead of Jhoan Duran, still do not inspire much confidence.
The division isn’t necessarily out of reach, but it’s quickly becoming a math equation. The Phillies now have to make up four games with 18 to play, a difficult feat considering their September schedule. Luckily for the Phillies, they at least have a somewhat comfortable cushion for a Wild Card spot, even if that is not guaranteed yet. But still, this series with the Braves offered the chance for the Phillies to measure themselves against the likes of competition they will face in October after having a relatively light schedule in the month of August. Some parts of their play were encouraging while some older, familiar problems still rose their ugly head.
So, what did we learn from this Phillies-Braves series?
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 06: Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits a two-run home run during the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves on August 6th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Yeah, I could’ve phrased this as a question and had the same post body anyway, but why bother when I can just make a post? After the Braves split their big series on the road against the Phillies, I have three big picture thoughts, two of which were prompted by their dramatic comeback win in Game Three.
Why is everyone, including Ronald AcuñaJr., obsessed with going the other way?
In this series, the Braves’ most common ball in play was a grounder up the middle, followed by a ball in the air hit the other way. For the Phillies, it was fly balls to center, followed with a tie between pulled and opposite-field fly balls. The Braves managed a .180 wOBA and .167 on their 19 opposite-field fly balls in the series; they managed an .809 wOBA and .665 xwOBA on their 15 pulled fly balls.
This isn’t really surprising because yes, pulling fly balls in the air is great. But, maybe target it a bit better? Here’s the pitch plot of fly balls the other way by lefty batters:
This looks okay-ish at first glance, there’s maybe one pitch that was weirdly inside-outed, and it was Matt Olson against Cristopher Sanchez. There were some elevated balls you’d hope guys would pull, but it is what it is. And then you get the right-handed batter plot:
That’s a fair bit of basically middle-ish pitches hit the other way.
On the season, the Braves are 15th in pulled fly ball rate, but seventh in the rate of hitting fly balls the other way. But this obscures a lot of inconsistency:
Through April: 10th and 14th, respectively
May: 26th and 4th
June: 26th and 15th
July: 4th and 24th
August-onward: 17th and 1st
You get the idea. What’s the obsession with going the other way? By the way, while being first in that last bullet, the Braves have a .302 wOBA and .297 xwOBA on those balls. That’s actually ranked pretty high — their opposite-field fly balls are better than other teams’, but… those are terrible on-contact marks in general.
Acuña is an interesting case here. The first pitch of the series was a sinker a little bit away but squarely in the zone, and he hit a hard double into the right-center gap. Okay, he executed a clear plan there. The next time he got a pitch anywhere on the outer half was two PAs later, and that one turned into a hard groundout to second. He pulled a similar pitch but from a different pitcher (Alex McFarlane, his later victim) and turned it into an infield single.
In Game Two, he started stuff by pulling an outer-edge fastball from Zack Wheeler for a hard single. Then he homered off a Wheeler knee-high splitter also towards the outer half of the plate. The next outer-portion pitch he saw was a non-strike in both dimensions from Aaron Nola, a knuckle curve he dropped into right field for a double. But then, he got a hanging changeup down the middle on 2-2 from Nola and could only hit it weakly to right for a sac fly. Then, it was his homer against McFarlane. In the finale, Jesus Luzardo didn’t really throw him stuff outside he could poke; even his one fly to right came from basically an inside-out effort on a pitch inside. So, Acuña isn’t really the guy to pick on here, he’s at least wrapping his bat around pitches away from him sometimes.
Still, even he has a .320 wOBA / .227 xwOBA on balls in the air the other way since the start of August, compared to an absurd 1.053 wOBA / .877 xwOBA on pulled balls in the air in that span. I’ll keep hoping for some realignment in this regard.
Acuña did something amazing anyway
The pitch Acuña homered on was a four-seamer nearly bisected by the outer edge of the zone at 100.5 mph. Acuña got around it and pulled it into left field for a massive homer, both in terms of distance and effect on the game (and the series). This season, the highest-velocity pitch on an outer edge homered on by a right-handed batter was 98.6 mph (Pete Alonso). Acuña basically skipped two ticks relative to anyone else.
In fact, in the entire Statcast era, only one right-handed batter has homered on a pitch on the outer edge that was harder than what Acuña did on Sunday: Avisail Garcia, who took a 100.7 mph pitch from Ryne Stanek in 2017 and hit it the other way for a longball. So, there you go: Acuña turned around the hardest righty outer-edge pitch to a righty batter for a pulled homer that we know of.
This series had the Braves doing what they do best
The Braves weren’t favored to win any of these games. Two games — and in fact, the two games they lost — had some of the lowest pre-game odds the Braves have faced all season.
The Braves posted a matching .260 wOBA and xwOBA in this series. The Phillies were cut down by some poor fortune and good defense en route to a .284 wOBA and .327 xwOBA. Does that seem like it should be a series split? Okay, fine, that’s a little unfair, because wins aren’t awarded after the entire series finishes.
Game 1 (win): Braves .303 wOBA / .269 xwOBA | Phillies .266 wOBA / .281 xwOBA. Some combination of defense and luck bails out the Braves.
Game 2 (loss): Braves .248 / .266 | Phillies .352 / .355. Yeah, a blatant loss.
Game 3 (win): Braves .350 / .326 | Phillies .278 / .334. A reprise of Game 1, except the Braves actually hit okay.
Game 4 (loss): Braves .107 / .160 | Phillies .224 / .334. It’s miraculous this was a 1-0 game.
It amuses me that the Phillies compiled 0.7 more fWAR than the Braves in these four games, yet both teams won two games. But that’s par for the course. The Braves are now 85-59, and have just 73 WAR-wins based on fWAR. While there is probably some assumption that over time, a team’s record would trend closer to its WAR-wins record just due to adding extra sample that aligns… the Braves are once again defying the odds in this regard, pulling further away. There isn’t really enough time in the season for any of this to be “fixed” unless they hit basically a gigantic September collapse, and I don’t expect it to be “fixed” because the team itself is fine. It’s just… weird. And they used that weirdness to split with the Phillies.
I continue to be amazed that the Braves have avoided the bottom dropping out despite whammying themselves into stupid (stupid-bad, not stupid-good) offense after July, but it is what it is.
If this were a question post, I guess I’d ask what takeaways you had from this series split. Feel free to drop those in the comments, I guess.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 01: Texas Rangers right-fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) makes a diving catch during the game between Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers on May 1, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI (Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kennedi Landry writes that Jack Leiter and Nathan Eovaldi are hoping to pitch again this month, but there probably isn’t time to ramp them back into the rotation.
McFarland notes that Robert Garcia is back as reinforcement for a bullpen that has been shaky in the middle innings over the last few weeks.
The MLB dot com folks predict the eventual Gold Glove winners with a month to go and hand Ezequiel Duran some presumptive hardware as the AL’s top utility fielder.
ELMONT, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins arrives to the arena prior to the game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on December 28, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Timely enough off the heels of the Labor Day holiday yesterday, the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement, the labor rules agreed to by the NHL and the NHLPA, kicks in next week. The new agreement is in place through September 2030, marking the second time in a row the two sides have put a deal in place without missing any time. That’s no small matter, prior to the recent labor peace the NHL owners have locked out the players in 2004 and 2012 for significant periods that cost a total of 116 games.
These days, fortunately for all, there is more cooperation and perhaps about the best working relationship between the owners and players that we have seen in hockey. Those good feelings are no doubt influenced by business as a whole booming – revenue is way up so their is more money to be made by both sides. Further, ownership is absolutely swimming in vastly increased valuation and sale prices lately – look no further than the Penguins selling for $1.75 billion in 2026 after selling for $900 million just five years earlier.
The new CBA had some rules come on board early for last season – like LTIR tweaks and the playoff salary cap. Here are a few more interesting tweaks in place.
Training camps open Sept. 16 to coincide with the start of that new labor deal, and they’ll look much different than they did in the past. Experienced players will be put through only a 13-day camp, down from 20 days, and those with at least 100 NHL games on their resumes are now limited to two exhibition games. Each team will play only four exhibition games.
The preseason shrinks again, at least formally. Most players across the league are already skating informally with their teammates and have been for a week or more by this point. That amount of time in the pre-practice stage will now be longer than the formal, official 13-day training camp. Long gone are the days of multiple on-ice sessions per day. In fact, teams can also no longer implement fitness testing for unpopular tests on the exercise bike or the so-called dreaded bag skate or repetitive timed sprints.
The schedule has also been adjusted to drop two exhibition games and add on two more regular season games, boosting the season to 84-games. What the players earn in less games that don’t count are balanced out by adding more games that are meaningful, surely to the delight of season ticket holders everywhere.
Another new change is each team will employ a full-time emergency backup goalie, no longer being a single goalie per arena that could play for either team that might need it.
the new CBA includes a provision requiring each club to carry an emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) “prepared to enter all of its home and away games.”
The eligible goalies must meet a narrow band of requirements. They can’t have previously played an NHL game on a standard player contract, can’t have more than 80 games of professional experience, can’t have been a professional in the past three seasons, can’t have another contractual obligation that would preclude their ability to be an emergency goalie and can’t be on the reserve list of an NHL club.
The Penguins have designated 40-year old Mike Chiasson as their EBUG. Chiasson is no stranger to the organization, working as a ‘Goaltending Consultant’ and has been involved with the Pittsburgh Penguins elite youth program for the last decade.
We’ve been seeing this more, teams can use this extra goalie to help in practices (also serving to keep their EBUG somewhat sharp) to reduce the workload on their two NHL goalies – particularly if one might have a minor injury or illness. The EBUG will now be a pseudo-member of the team, in the shadows but always hanging around and ready just in case.
There’s a new rule for young players as well.
The new CBA gives teams more flexibility to develop their top prospects because it now allows players drafted in the first round out of the Canadian Hockey League to be assigned to the AHL for their 19-year-old season.
Previously, teenagers had to be sent back to their CHL teams and weren’t eligible for that kind of assignment.
Since the player has to be a first round pick, this wouldn’t have changed Harrison Brunicke’s situation last year. It doesn’t apply for the Penguins this year – Bill Zonnon turns 20 in early October and is eligible for the AHL this season as it is. Technically, it does mean Ben Kindel is now AHL eligible, though his play on ice has shown him to be of NHL quality.
This could be in the cards next year in 2027-28, as Liam Ruck will be eligible to play in the AHL. However, his twin brother Markus will not – since Markus was a second round choice. Marty Walsh, an NHLPA VP, is quoted in the article that the same NHL team can have multiple 19-year olds in the AHL provided they are first round picks (which also might shed some light on why the Pens wanted to trade back into the first round this summer).
The Ruck twins are committed to play at the University of North Dakota for 2027-28, plans are always subject to change so that could be something to monitor in 12 months to see if the team opts to split the paths of the twins or have both stay together at the collegiate level.
Things will be getting a little more informal with the outfits seen on social media for pre-game entrances by players.
The requirement that NHL players wear a suit and tie to games is officially a thing of the past.
In fact, the dress code was actually eliminated during the 2025-26 season as part of early transition dates agreed upon for the new CBA. However, the new standard wasn’t always observed properly last season.
“There was a little hiccup with the dress code,” Walsh said. “Some coaches and GMs and other players wanted players to wear suits and that’s not the rule anymore. Players can wear whatever they want.”
Small change for the outside, but nice for the players. It still seemed like most of the Penguins were dressed up going into the rink last year, that probably won’t change much. Ever the creature of habit, we wouldn’t expect Sidney Crosby to start rolling up in sweats just because he can. But if he wanted to, he could.
That’s about it for the major changes. One other adjustment going into effect is that players can only be signed for a maximum of seven years, starting next week. We already saw the Penguins take (what they hope will be) advantage of the eight year deal by signing Ville Koivunen last month. Unfortunately for them, Pittsburgh can’t extend Kindel until July 1, 2028 – and by that time it will only be for up to seven years if they want to employ the similar strategy to lock up a young player through his prime at what could be a team-friendly figure by the end of the deal.
As mentioned above, the LTIR rules from last year are in place. If an injured player is expected to return during the regular season or playoffs, team cap relief is restricted to the previous season’s league average salary ($3,973,228 for the 2026-27 season). If the player is deemed out for the balance, the team can get the full cap hit on LTIR but that player is ineligible to suit up again.
The Pens won’t have to worry about that any time soon, they have over $10 million in cap space and LTIR is only in place when a team runs out of space. Any injured player for them this season can and will be placed on the regular IR where the team carries their normal cap hit, given that they have plenty of room to call-up a replacement from the AHL that typically comes with a relatively modest cap hit.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 07: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets high fives Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets after scoring during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 07, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets’ bats continued their impressive Labor Day weekend by pounding out 16 hits and scoring nine runs in a 9-4 victory over the Marlins. Jonah Tong, who was called upon for his first start of the 2026 season, earned a win by striking out seven over five innings.
The Mets optioned Justin Hagenman to Triple-A to make room for Jonah Tong on the roster.
Jon Heyman explained that the Mets’ trifecta is giving the team hope that this can be a $365 million learning experience.
Abbey Mastracco wrote about ‘Beat It’ becoming Citi Field’s answer to a lost season.
On the latest This Week In Mets, Tim Britton explored how the team can better prepare for underperformance.
Around the National League East
The Phillies blanked the Braves 1-0 to earn a much-needed split in the Labor Day weekend series. Jesus Luzardo struck out 12 and earned the first complete game shutout of his career, as the game lasted just one hour and 51 minutes. Kyle Schwarber hit a solo homer in the eighth, which was the lone run.
The Nationals fell 3-2 to the Padres, which actually helped the Mets fall into a statistical tie with Washington for fourth place in the NL East.
The MLB.com staff predicted the 2026 Gold Glove Award winners.
ESPN made some September predictions regarding the playoff race and stats leaders.
The Padres and Diamondbacks could end up deciding the final Wild Card round in the National League, and with the two clubs squaring off at Petco Park in the final weekend of the regular season, it could essentially serve as an additional playoff round.
Mike Lupica explained how Aaron Judge’s impending return could turn the tide in the Yankees’ favor. Judge was officially activated from the IL yesterday, which was an offday for the Yankees.
The Brewers placed Grant Anderson on the IL with right biceps inflammation and called Brandon Sproat back up.
The ‘totally different’ Blue Jays feel that they are primed for a late-season playoff push.
The Red Sox topped the Angels 5-2. Brayan Belo made his first start since June 4 for the Red Sox and picked up where he left off.
The Orioles ended their losing skid with a 6-4 win over the Guardians.
In a game that entered extra innings tied at 0-0, the Diamondbacks prevailed 5-4 in 10 innings over the Royals. Arizona’s bullpen shined in the win to help keep the D’Backs in a Wild Card spot.
The Brewers scored three in the eighth to top the Cubs 4-3, as some amazing robberies rescued the Brew Crew from the Cubbies’ late comeback attempt.
The Tigers held off the Twins 5-4. The Twins activated Joe Ryan from the IL to make the start against Detroit, and he was his vintage shelf in his comeback performance.
The Giants outlasted the Cardinals 5-4 in 11 innings.
The Mets scored six runs in the seventh to come back and tie up their game against the Nationals, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ solo homer in the eighth put New York ahead for good on this date in 2015. The win helped New York secure a series victory in Washington DC en route to a sweep and an eventual NL East crown.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 02: Brett Sullivan #26 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with first base coach Doug Bernier #50 after hitting a walk-off two-run single to win the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Three cheers, Yankees fans: Aaron Judge is at last coming off the injured list! The slugging superstar returns to the fold just in time for the stretch run, and not a moment too soon. The Bombers have been struggling to close the distance on the Rays in the AL East race with time running out, and the Red Sox remain hot on their trail in the Wild Card hunt. Now, which unfortunate team will be pulling into the Bronx just in time for the captain’s return?
Why, the Colorado Rockies — owners of the National League’s worst record at 55-88. Colorado has shown a bit more panache than their utterly moribund incarnation from last year, but they remain a franchise stuck deep in the cellar. They lost seven straight games, rallied to take a pair in Washington, then lost five more games consecutively before surprising the Orioles with a few plucky wins at home. They just came off a series loss in St. Louis which featured one of the more odious ump shows in recent memory.
All three games of this series will be televised on YES.
Tuesday:Cam Schlittler vs. Gabriel Hughes (7:05 p.m. EST)
This is one of the more lopsided cards you’ll see. Cam Schlittler comes into the series opener with a 2.04 ERA across 171.2 innings as he chases a Cy Young award in his first full MLB season. Rookie Gabriel Hughes has pitched to a 6.19 ERA with six losing decisions (and no wins) in his first 11 appearances in the show.
While he has been a noticeably better pitcher away from home this season, Schlittler is probably thrilled to not have to contend with the mile-high air as he tries to keep his numbers as pristine as possible. Colorado does have some dangerous bats: Hunter Goodman has socked 36 home runs this season and former Yankee farmhand TJ Rumfield has been the team’s most valuable offensive contributor.
Hughes’ numbers didn’t get truly gaudy until he gave up seven earned runs in two straight starts last month. His last time out was a marked improvement against Baltimore, as he limited the O’s to just one run on four hits in a shade under five innings.
Wednesday: Will Warren vs. Tomoyuki Sugano(7:05 p.m. EST)
Warren made just his second appearance out of the bullpen this season on Friday against the Padres, as the Yankees get him ready to fill that role in the postseason. He did well, providing 2.1 innings of hitless relief. He’ll return to the rotation against the Rockies and try to build on a solid little run he’s been on; his previous start against Boston was one of his best as a big-leaguer.
Tomoyuki Sugano came to Colorado to eat innings for an undernourished rotation. The 36-year old’s unglamorous, throwback-to-the-aughts style has allowed him to be a perfectly competent starter for the Rockies, pitching to a 5.18 ERA. He strikes out practically nobody, and issues few walks either. The Yankees saw him four times last year when he was an Oriole, to mixed results. His final two starts of that season were short losing efforts; the final score was 6-1 both times.
Thursday: Max Fried vs. Ryan Feltner(7:05 p.m. EST)
Will Warren’s aforementioned relief outing came after a strong start from Max Fried. In his second start off the IL, he held the Padres to one run on four hits, throwing 72 pitches. Aaron Boone will continue to be cautious with the lefty as the playoffs approach — don’t expect to see him push Fried deep into this game either, especially against another NL West team. His results, sparser as they are, have been better than last year — his 2.66 FIP would be a top-10 figure in baseball right next to Cam Schlittler’s 2.62 if he had enough innings to qualify.
Ryan Feltner is a tough cookie who has stuck it out through an uneven tenure in Denver. Drafted out of Ohio State in 2018 and debuting in 2021, Feltner became a rotation regular the following season. In 2023, he was struck in the head by a line drive and suffered a skull fracture which sidelined him from May to September. After a full 30-start campaign the following year, back issues knocked out most of his 2025. This year, he’s dealt with nerve inflammation, and had to tough it out through a stomach bug last week to try and prevent a sweep in Atlanta (he could not). Feltner has only managed a 5.36 ERA in 90 MLB games with the Rockies — but that’s good for 4.5 career fWAR! Yup, Colorado is just that brutal of a pitching environment.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 07: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, September 7, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As a result, the Braves earned a series split with the Phillies. While the offense still had plenty of struggles, the kept their division lead the same. Furthermore, they earned the tiebreaker by winning the season series, essentially making the division lead five games. You have to feel that makes the weekend a success, as long as the Braves continue the momentum as the schedule remains tough over the next few weeks.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Miles "Deuce" McBride #2 of the New York Knicks performs on stage at Nick Cannon Presents Wild N Out Live No Filter at Barclays Center on June 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Joy Malone/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While much of the post-championship celebrations, the fanfare of the offseason, the roster moves, and their subsequent reactions have died down, one New York Knicks player and his future remain very much in flux.
Deuce McBride, coming off a humbling Finals that saw him struggle offensively, has been involved in some trade rumors due to the uncertainty of his extension. But while fans and reporters have pondered potential trades and have lamented his postseason performance, some have forgotten just how good and valuable McBride has been.
Gone are the days when every team’s best bench players are just prolific microwave scorers. McBride never has, and likely never will put up the kind of shot volume or record the sort of counting stats that garner traditional Sixth Man of the Year considerations. But the former West Virginia Mountaineer is a true “if you know, you know” ball player. In fact, he’s probably one of the more useful names in gauging an NBA fan’s knowledge of true winning basketball players and the non-star analytical darlings of the league. Yet, he wasn’t always like that.
While McBride has become one of the more constant and stable rocks of this Knicks team, it wasn’t even that long ago that he was an afterthought on the bench. Stuck behind franchise star Jalen Brunson and fan favorite Immanuel Quickley, McBride began his career racking up DNPs and spending many a night putting on a Westchester Knicks jersey. Like so many players in the rotation, he strived to be in, though McBride never quit. He didn’t ask for a trade. He didn’t pout. Instead, he just worked tirelessly on his game. And the biggest example of just how far he’s come can be seen in his jump shot. While it was notably a major weakness of his early on in his career, the high release, high-arcing shot has now become a signature skill of his.
Some of the credit also belongs to the front office. McBride put in the work, but the front office didn’t just stumble into the now backup guard by accident. They drafted him, believed in his development, and his presence was reportedly one of the reasons the Knicks felt comfortable parting ways with the aforementioned Quickley. It’s true that Quickley’s impending free agency and the Knicks’ reluctance to pay him were a big factor. As was the fact that the front office viewed OG Anunoby as the quintessential role player to put next to Brunson. But New York had the utmost confidence that they had a capable bench guard in McBride to fill in after Quickley’s departure.
And that’s exactly what he did. Now, he isn’t the playmaker or scorer Quickley is. There’s a chance that McBride never gets there. But his much improved catch-and-shoot ability combined with his elite point-of-attack defense quickly turned him into an irreplaceable piece of the Knicks’ puzzle. He, much like Anunoby but in a much smaller package, was the kind of defender and shooter that could play with anyone in any system. A kin to the reserve guard he replaced, the fans quickly grew to adore him, resulting in the now-famous Deuuuuce chant that can be heard even in road arenas.
What made McBride an anomaly, though, was the almost unthinkably team-friendly deal he was on. As the rest of the league and its analysts caught on, he became a mainstay on numerous lists. McBride’s name would show up on the most valuable contracts in the league and best bench players in the league list, amongst others, all while continuing to improve. He was starting some games, closing a lot of games, and regardless of where and when he played, the results were often positive. Very positive. So much that it became hard to find a Knicks lineup with a good net rating that didn’t have his name on it.
McBride has had an interesting last couple of years, though. He was rumored to be one of the most vocal supporters of moving on from Tom Thibodeau- a very controversial decision at the time-although that hasn’t been fully confirmed. And he’s been relatively injury-prone during that time. Then there’s the aforementioned Finals performance where his shot had left him and his dribbling, or lack thereof, was put on full display against an incredibly physical and aggressive Spurs perimeter defense. Evaluating McBride on that series alone, and not the multiple seasons of excellent play, is unfair, especially when factoring in the injury he recently revealed he was still dealing with in that series. But all of that has put him and, quite frankly, the Knicks, in an interesting dilemma.
The Knicks are clearly better with McBride on their roster than without him. And as of now, he remains one of the most impactful bench players in the league, who also happens to be on one of the best contracts in the league. Barring an unexpected extension, he’s going to hit free agency where the Knicks will likely lose him for nothing. But if New York’s priorities are to win another championship, they should risk that and ride out the year with him regardless of how flawed his offense can look against the elite defenses. But there’s also a possibility they try to prioritize finding another center mid-season by shipping out the backup guard.
Regardless of what ends up happening though, it’ll be nice to start the season with McBride. And a fully healthy version of him at that. He’s a damn good player, and he’s now the longest-tenured Knick with Mitchell Robinson up north in Boston. It may very well be his last season in New York, so cherish it and celebrate just how far he’s come.
Here’s to Deuce McBride. Happy 26th birthday, champ!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 4: Tyler Glasnow #31, Shohei Ohtani #17 and Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wait for players to leave the field after the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup on Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds after missing four games dealing with lingering issues. He looked much more like himself that he has in a while. He very likely will not return as a pitcher this season, however.
The Dodgers are hoping that being able to just focus on his batting with help him get out of his offensive slump.
“I don’t want to say it’s day to day, but I am very curious to see how he comes out of tonight to then make the decision for tomorrow and ensuing days,” Roberts said. “We’ve put a pin in throwing and just having him focus on the hitting, the running, keeping his legs good and doing whatever it takes to help us win.”
Being that it is September 8th and there are only 18 games left in the regular season, it seems unlikely that Ohtani will pitch in the playoffs. But manager Dave Roberts has not completely ruled it out.
“That’s one part of the thought, to sort of take the pitching off of his plate and really try to let him lock in on being a hitter and get on track,” Roberts said. “Because the last couple of weeks he just hasn’t been himself in the box.”
Maddie Lee of the LA Times has more thoughts on the Dodgers’ superstar here.
Bill Plunkett of the OC Register ponders if Mookie Betts is starting his usual late season surge.
After having another summer that was not so great, just like last summer, Mookie has picked it up, with Plunkett noting in his past 29 games through Sunday, he was 35 for 114 (.307) with an .887 OPS, five home runs and 22 RBIs.
“I’ve been able to put good at-bats together, hit the ball hard consistently, and again, just try to keep on going, keep on going, and stay in the moment,” he said. “That’s the main thing. Don’t let prior at-bats dictate what’s going on right now, and don’t think about the future.”
Plunkett also covers an update on Andy Pages.
After not playing for a little over the two weeks while dealing with a left hand fracture, Pages is back to swinging the bat and is pain free.
“If it were up to him, he’d be playing tonight,” Roberts said.
“I’m actually not (surprised by his quick recovery). I think this guy has got a crazy desire and youth is a good thing. But bones still have to heal.”
That is all the Canucks needed to see before committing $75.04 million to Zeev Buium. The 20-year-old defenceman signed an eight-year, $75.04 million extension on Sept. 4. It begins in 2027–28 and carries a $9.38 million cap hit.
At first, the numbers can be startling. The comparison becomes even more interesting when another young defenceman is added to the picture.
Lane Hutson won the Calder Trophy after producing 66 points as a rookie. In return, the Montréal Canadiens gave him an eight-year extension worth $8.85 million annually. Buium, with 26 points in 76 NHL games, will make $530,000 more per season.
One had already produced at an elite offensive level. The other is still being paid for what Vancouver believes he can become. The salary cap paints a different picture.
The Math Changes
Hutson's extension begins this season, when the salary cap is projected at $104 million. His cap hit represents roughly 8.5%of the ceiling. Buium's begins one year later, when the cap is projected to rise to $113.5 million. His larger cap hit would account for roughly 8.3%. He will make more than Hutson while taking up slightly less of the cap.
That does not erase the difference in what they have accomplished. But it changes what Vancouver's commitment represents. "This contract isn't about Zeev the player today or tomorrow," general manager Ryan Johnson said after the signing. "It's where we see him in three, four and five years."
The Projection Is Still A Projection
Buium produced 98 points in 83 games at the University of Denver. His role also expanded after arriving in Vancouver, with his average ice time rising from 18:27 with the Minnesota Wild to 20:20 with the Canucks.
But his first NHL season showed how much development is still being priced into the deal. According to BenchRates, Buium ranked in the 11th percentile among NHL defencemen in first-assist production.
For a defenceman whose passing was expected to be one of the most translatable parts of his game, that is notable. It does not mean the ability disappeared. Buium was adjusting to NHL pace, teammates and role.
After 76 games, there simply is not enough evidence to know how close Buium will come to Vancouver's projection.
What Waiting Could Have Cost
Another season would have provided more evidence, but it also could have made Buium more expensive.
There is precedent for acting this early. Jake Sanderson played 77 NHL games, all during his rookie season, when the Ottawa Senators committed eight years and $64.4 million to him. As mentioned, Buium has played 76.
Sanderson's $8.05-million cap hit represented roughly 9.1% of the $88-million ceiling when his contract began. Buium's is scheduled to begin at roughly 8.3%. The dollar figure is higher. The relative commitment is smaller.
The comparison does not make Buium's deal a slam-dunk bargain. Sanderson had also produced 32 points in 77 games before signing, compared with Buium's 26 in 76. It does show Vancouver is not alone in betting on a young defenceman before a second NHL season provides more answers.
The timing mattered for another reason. Buium signed on Sept. 4. Sept. 15 is the final day teams can sign players to eight-year extensions before the NHL's new seven-year maximum takes effect on Sept. 16.
Waiting would have provided more information, but it also could have meant a higher price and one fewer year of control. The Canucks chose the certainty within the uncertainty. Buium's ceiling is still unknown. His price is not.
How Good Does Buium Need To Become?
If Buium develops into a legitimate No. 1 defenceman, Vancouver likely has little to worry about. But he may not need to reach that level for the contract to work.
If he settles in as a high-end top-four defenceman who moves the puck, contributes offensively and handles significant minutes, the rising cap gives Vancouver some margin for error. At a hypothetical $125 million ceiling, his $9.38 million cap hit would occupy roughly 7.5% of the cap. At $135 million, it would fall below seven percent. Those are not projections. They show how the relative cost of a fixed contract can decline as the market grows.
If Buium becomes a high-end top-four defenceman, his development may be enough to outpace the relative cost of the contract. That may be enough to justify it. Ultimately, though, the Canucks will be hoping for more. They committed eight years and $75.04 million because they believe Buium can become a true top-pairing defenceman.
Dec 27, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) skates against the San Jose Sharks in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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I hope you enjoyed the holiday weekend. I’m sure the baseball writers did, given the paltry number of articles written that weren’t repetitive ones about PCA’s 40th.
Obviously, Pete Crow-Armstrong joining Billy Williams as the only Chicago Cubs lefthanded hitters to hit 40 home runs in a season was the highlight of the weekend. It should have pumped up the Cubs on the road to a sweep of the Marlins, but while the team held on to win Saturday and the series, the loss Sunday highlighted the moderate success of the offense, and the lukewarm-to-poor showing of the starting pitching this weekend.
PCA became the 10th Cub in history to hit 40 home runs in a season when he hit an 85 mile per hour sweeper down the right-field line in the top of the fifth. He stood at the plate and watched at the ball screamed down the line into the right field corner to tie the game at three.
The rest of weekend wasn’t as explosive. Michael Conforto was 3-for-5 with a walk, two runs scored and a home run, which was the 200th HR of the season for the Cubs. Nico Hoerner was 4-for-8 with an RBI. Seiya Suzuki was 2-for-6 with three walks, a double and a run scored. PCA finished going 2-for-7 with a walk, three RBI and the home run.
On Saturday, Ian Happ was 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI, while Michael Busch was 2-for-5 with a run scored and a double. And Miguel Amaya was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a double. Sunday, Carson Kelly went 1-for-4 with a run scored, and Tyrone Taylor 1-for-3 with a double and a great defensive play.
On the pitching side, there wasn’t a whole lot of very good over the two games. Javier Assad got the recall for the Saturday start. The start wasn’t horrible. He threw 88 pitches and lasted 4.2 innings. He had allowed three hits and struck out three, but he limited the damage of five walks. To start the fifth inning, Assad allowed a single before having chalked up a strikeout and a pop-up and left with game with a 5-2 lead. Caleb Thielbar entered the game and promptly gave up a two-run home run, one of those runs charged to Assad.
A pair of relievers carried the game into the eighth, where with one out, Ryan Jeferzahn entered the game, Cubs still up, 6-5. It took him just 19 pitches to get the last five outs for his first save as a Cub and his fifth for the year.
Clay Holmes just didn’t have it on Sunday, having allowed eight runs in 4.1 innings of work in the 10-3 loss. Chris Rea pitched 2.2 innings and allowed the other two runs. The only plus? Daniel Palencia pitched a scoreless eighth inning, having allowed just a walk while he added a strikeout. However, only six of his 16 pitches were for strikes.
Complimentary Starting Pitcher Solo Home Run*
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Field Level Media (Yardbarker): Michael Conforto, Ian Happ lead Cubs past Marlins. “Ryan Zeferjahn got the final five outs without allowing a run to earn his first save with the Cubs and fifth of the season.”
Based in Lucerne, Switzerland, Biscuit Jack is a driven and charismatic band with a unique approach to their blend of blues, country and rock. The combo has been around since 2005, when some friends got together to play gigs for the love of music. Led by passionate frontman Sascha Koch, the band is all about personal lyricism and unforgettable hooks.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 18: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates during the first period of the Philadelphia Flyers versus Pittsburgh Penguins in Game One of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round on April 18, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fans got a first look this week at what Pittsburgh Penguins players will look like in the upcoming release of EA Sports’ NHL 27.
X user @TestOnAQuest shared screenshots of what are reportedly player face scans from the new game, which will be released worldwide this Friday.
EA Sports has previously released rankings for the Penguins players featured in the game. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson are ranked within the top 100 players in the game.
Here’s a look at the overall rankings for the Penguins players according to EA Sports:
No. 8: Sidney Crosby, OVR 95
No. 73: Evgeni Malkin, OVR 89
No. 89: Erik Karlsson, OVR 88
No. 164: Rickard Rakell, OVR 86
No. 172: Bryan Rust, OVR 86
No. 240: Samuel Girard, OVR 85
No. 261: Kris Letang, OVR 85
No. 295: Benjamin Kindel, OVR 84
Players who pre-ordered the deluxe edition have had access to the game since Sept. 4. The game will officially release Friday, the day before Penguins prospects kick off the 2026 NHL prospect tournament Saturday in Detroit.
The Penguins have yet to announce which players will be featured on that roster, although last year the franchise waited until the day before the event started to confirm which participants would be attending.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank and President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker were the three individuals most responsible for the Clippers’ rule-breaking.
Gillian Zucker, president of business operations for the Los Angeles Clippers, was at the center of the Clippers’ salary cap circumvention scandal. Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP
Ballmer’s punishment: a one-year suspension from all league and team activities, in addition to his franchise being fined $30 million for “knowingly seeking to help” Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, approving a business deal that he knew was a “precondition for Aspiration” to enter an endorsement deal with Leonard and for failing “to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules.”
Frank’s punishment: a six-month suspension for his involvement with the “impermissible endorsement arrangements” and approving Leonard’s and his family’s “impermissible expenses.”
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended for one year by the NBA. AP Photo/Ryan Sun
And Zucker’s punishment: a one-year suspension for being “primarily and directly culpable for the impermissible endorsement arrangements” and for “providing false and misleading statements to investigators.”
The nature of Zucker’s suspension — twice as long as Frank’s — and the frequency in which she was in the report put her at the center of the Clippers’ scandal in which the investigation concluded the Clippers violated the league’s rules by “initiating off-court income opportunities” for Leonard with four different companies that did business with the team.
Zucker’s name was mentioned in the summary report more times (57) than Ballmer’s (32) and Frank’s (22) combined.
The report stated Zucker was the most involved from the Clippers’ side in facilitating the endorsement deals for Leonard with Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance.
“Ms. Zucker was the point person on all four deals between these companies and the Clippers, and directly initiated, facilitated, and induced each of Mr. Leonard’s endorsement agreements with those companies,” the report stated. “Ms. Zucker acted on Mr. [Dennis] Robertson’s demands to help Mr. Leonard achieve lucrative endorsement opportunities, and when interviewed, she made misleading and false statements to investigators about her and the Clippers’ role in doing so.”
Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, posing with his uncle, Dennis Robertson, and his mother, Kim Robertson, is expected to return to Toronto via trade. AP
Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO, and Frank, a former NBA head/assistant coach who’s been a Clippers executive for a decade, have been household names within Clippers fandom.
But who is Zucker?
Before joining the Clippers in 2014, Zucker was a longtime auto racing executive, having previously served as the president of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for nine years (2005-14).
She was previously Daytona International Speedway’s vice president of business and development and a former Triple-A baseball assistant general manager.
Zucker joined the Clippers in November 2014 as Ballmer’s first major hire after he purchased the franchise earlier that year.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president, received a six-month suspension compared to Gillian Zucker’s yearlong suspension. NBAE via Getty Images
“I am extremely happy to add a leader like Gillian to our team,” Ballmer said in a 2014 statement. “Her clear and creative business vision, innovative approach to marketing and experience working in the Los Angeles sports market make her the perfect fit to lead the Clippers during this transcendent time.”
Less than a year later, the Clippers were fined $250,000 for violating the league’s cap circumvention rules when the franchise tried facilitating an endorsement deal between DeAndre Jordan — a top free agent they were hoping to re-sign — and an incoming team sponsor.
The Athletic reported Zucker came up with the idea at the time.
And nearly a decade later, Zucker’s name was in the spotlight for her role in the franchise’s latest scandal, which according to the report, included Zucker writing phony introductory emails to show that the companies requested to meet with Leonard (the report states the Clippers started the deals to increase Leonard’s off-court earnings), suggesting that Daktronics’ “spend back” deal with the Clippers could be satisfied with an endorsement deal with Leonard and lying about her and the franchise’s involvement in Leonard’s endorsement deals.
Some voices become so familiar they feel like family. Camille Davis, co-host of Locked On Bucks and the TECKnical Foul Podcast, has quickly become one of those. A Milwaukee native, Davis covers the Bucks and the NBA (along with the NFL and WWE) in a soft-spoken style that blends insightful analysis with passion and humour. But that’s just the half of it. A hoop-head since childhood—from MJ to NBA Live to winning an “Eat and Greet” with Malcolm Brogdon—Davis knows the game not just as a media member, but as a fan.
Zac: Let’s start early. How did you fall in love with the game of basketball?
Camille: Watching games with my uncles. When I was a kid, if I wanted to hang out with them then I was also watching what they watched. They weren’t putting on cartoons for me (laughs). I liked being around them so I started watching basketball and football with them. Next thing I knew, I was enjoying the game itself and my uncles or big cousin being around was just the cherry on top. Also, playing NBA Live ‘97 helped solidify my love for the game and helped to “teach” me things about the game.
“I have a lot of great memories of the BC because of that time. Shoutout to Carlos Delfino… I had a Delfino T-shirt jersey that I wore out!”
Camille Davis
Zac: What about the Bucks? As a Wisconsinite, you grew up in some pretty dire times as far as Bucks fandom goes, at least around that 2001 run. What formative memories and/or players stand out for you?
Camille: Admittedly, I grew up as a Michael Jordan fan and when he retired the second time, that’s when I started to watch more Bucks games. In particular, it was the 2000-01 team that got me interested. I remember very clearly watching a playoff game against the Hornets during a middle school dance. The DJ had a little TV at his booth with the game on and I was watching that with some other guys instead of dancing (laughs). But the 2009-10 season made me a fanatic. During Brandon Jennings’ rookie year, I was in college with a little disposable income and Bucks games were cheap and fun entertainment. I spent a lot of time in the Bradley Center during that time and really locked in with the team. I have a lot of great memories of the BC because of that time. Shoutout to Carlos Delfino… I had a Delfino T-shirt jersey that I wore out!
Zac: Beyond loving the game as a fan, were you a hooper?
Camille: Only in my mind (laughs). We had a hoop in my backyard for a few years and I’d go outside to shoot around with my uncle Tony and cousins. My middle school was really small, it was one of those schools that went from K-5 to 8th grade. Really small—like my graduating class was like 11 kids. We didn’t have enough girls to field a basketball team so I never played organized ball. When I got to high school, I wanted to be around the game, so instead of playing I was the manager for the boys team from my sophomore year up until I graduated. I loved being in practice, learning from the coaches, and choppin’ it up with the players about what we saw.
Zac: You won a meet and greet—technically anEat and Greet—with none other than “The President” himself, Malcolm Brogdon, in 2017. What was that experience like—and did it influence your path into covering the NBA and the Bucks?
Camille: It was really smooth. I was really nervous but Brogdon was such a nice guy. It was a fun meet and greet and I loved getting a year of Cousins Subs for free (laughs). I was super popular in my family after winning that. It didn’t influence my pathway to talk sports for a living, but was a peak moment in my fandom.
Zac: In the same year, your media career began with the launch of the TECKnical Foul Podcast. Tell us how that came to fruition and how you blend the seriousness of sports coverage with humour (I love your episode titles).
Camille: I was working full time at a local foundation while attending graduate school to get my Master’s in Sports Management. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something in the realm of sports. I couldn’t get an internship because I had a job and responsibilities and thought that maybe a podcast could be a good entry point. It felt like something I could do on the side while still working.
Assembling the cast… I had prior conversations with Ken and Tim, separately, about doing a podcast. I’ve known Ken since middle school and Tim since my junior year in college. I asked those two if they’d want to do a show together with me and they were both in; they met each other maybe once or twice before that.
Thinking about our trio, I felt like a certain dynamic was missing and reached out to another college friend, Eric, about joining and he was game. The idea behind TECK Foul was to be able to bring the type of conversations that would live in a group chat to the masses. We try to have a more relaxed, lighthearted approach while still talking about the nuts and bolts of the games we love. Plus we all grew up wrestling fans and having this outlet to also talk and nerd out about WWE is great.
Zac: I remember hearing you on Locked On Bucks talk about your excitement when you were first followed by Kane Pitman or Frank Madden on social media. Talk us through that experience and how you came to become the show’s co-host.
Camille: I joined Twitter back in 2009 because one of my Communication professors said we had to. Back then, Bucks Twitter wasn’t a huge thing—it was a pretty small but passionate group. I really grew to respect the opinions of Frank and Eric Nehm after listening to Locked On Bucks. I interacted with them and eventually Kane on Twitter pretty consistently and I guess my takes weren’t terrible so they followed me back eventually (laughs). During COVID, Kane reached out to me and asked if I’d like to do a guest spot on LOB after hearing me on TECKnical Foul and following me on Twitter. After that first guest spot, I got invited to do another guest spot, which led to me having a regular weekly guest spot on the podcast. Once Kane was leaving, I interviewed with the Locked On network and got the gig full time. I’m forever thankful to Kane for inviting me on the pod, which helped put me on Locked On’s radar.
Zac: You’ve now spent several years covering the Bucks for Locked On. What’s something about covering the team day in, day out that you think is often overlooked?
Camille: The amount of time that goes into a season. There’s a whole lot of late nights of podcasting and editing to get the show out. I have a crazy note system now and each season covering the team, they get more detailed. I take a lot of time with my prep and thoughts, especially on postgame pods. Also, something that’s different with covering the team for LOB is that I watch games differently, in large part because I’m taking notes and trying to organize the biggest stories from the game in real time. I’m now consuming the game to talk about it rather than just my personal enjoyment.
Zac: You completed your master’s degree in Sports Management at Cardinal Stritch University. How has that helped shape your coverage of the Bucks and, I’ve got to ask, do you have player management aspirations?
Camille: My thesis was around the importance of sports in youth development. My initial thought process was thinking I could use my degree with the job I had at that local foundation—use that knowledge for grant-making if I couldn’t break into the world of sports straight up. I enjoyed having the flexibility of using that knowledge where I was or somewhere new.
Using that framework at my 9-to-5 never quite came into alignment, but that degree helped give me a solid network and some vital information on what I was—and wasn’t—interested in doing with my life going forward. As for the player management aspirations… nah (laughs). Player management isn’t in my future. I like being on this side of things, talking about the game and reacting to what I see.
“I loved the Giannis era and everything that came with it and, in retrospect, the most fun part of it for me was the climb to contention.”
Camille Davis
Zac: We’ve heard your thoughts on the Giannis trade from a Bucks perspective. But what does covering the Bucks mean to you now that the player who defined arguably the best era of Milwaukee basketball is gone?
Camille: It means that I get to be a voice that’s part of this new era, whatever that turns into, which is special. I loved the Giannis era and everything that came with it and, in retrospect, the most fun part of it for me was the climb to contention—waiting for the rest of the world to see what we saw blossoming in Milwaukee, cheering on the first All-Star appearances, and watching a young team find itself.
Like, the 2014-15 Bucks team was one of my favorite seasons of fandom. I loved that team. Having that perspective has me really excited for what’s next because we have the chance to once again get in on the ground floor. It’s once again feeling like “Milwaukee vs. everybody else.” It’s time to earn respect again and I love that chase. It might end up being a lot of losing along the way—there probably will be some frustrations and heartbreak—but I just know there’s going to be a lot of exciting memories and that’ll all start getting built this year. I can’t wait to watch and talk about the growth we see in this team over the season and the coming years.
“No one wants to hear you doing your best impression of someone else. If they wanted to hear that person, they’d watch their show.”
Camille Davis
Zac: The podcasting industry has boomed in recent years. How do you see it continuing to evolve and what advice would you give to all the aspiring sports podcasters out there?
Camille: I think the industry is going to continue to boom. As time goes on, the barriers to entry in the field continue to shrink. So, with so many voices out there, the best advice I have is to make sure you’re genuine. Be yourself. No one wants to hear you doing your best impression of someone else. If they wanted to hear that person, they’d watch their show. Whether it’s a small audience or a large one, stay true to you and be consistent with your show. The community you organically build is super rewarding. And don’t fret if everyone doesn’t like it. Everything isn’t going to be for everybody and that’s okay. Don’t focus on the comments, focus on your work and your prep. As long as you can be true to yourself and feel at peace when your head hits the pillow, you’re on the right path.
Zac: Okay, some quick hitters: favourite current Buck, favourite all-time Buck, and Buck you were just wrong on for whatever reason?
Camille: Current Buck… I honestly don’t know yet. I like what I’ve seen from Ryan Rollins last season and Brayden Burries in Summer League, but I can’t call either a favorite yet. This season will be an audition for the role of my favorite Buck—ever since Middleton left there’s been an opening, so we’ll see who can take it (laughs).
My favorite all-time Buck is Khris Middleton. And if you would’ve told me that would end up being the case 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. Again, this is why getting in on the ground floor is so fun for me.
And the Buck I was wrong on was Nate Wolters. I thought that kid was gonna be part of this team for a long time. He wasn’t, but that’s alright ‘cause Naters always gonna Nate.
Zac: Before we go, we have to touch on the season ahead. First, how do you see the rest of the offseason playing out?
Camille: I think it’ll be relatively uneventful for the Bucks. The roster sits at 17, so we know something has to happen before the season kicks off, but that something might just end up being waiving two players instead of another trade. We’ll see though!
“I truly believe that this Bucks team will be a really fun watch, whether they surprise and win more games than expected or find themselves at the bottom of the East.”
Camille Davis
Zac: What are you most looking forward to about the year ahead?
Camille: I think it’s a tie between watching the development of the young Bucks on the roster and seeing how Taylor Jenkins decides to run things. I truly believe that this Bucks team will be a really fun watch, whether they surprise and win more games than expected or find themselves at the bottom of the East. Why? ‘Cause I expect a lot more consistent effort from this team. I expect them to play hard. Too many times last season it felt like the effort and intentionality wasn’t there for the Bucks. Based on everything we’ve heard this offseason, that shouldn’t be the case this season and that will be a breath of fresh air.
Zac: Taylor Jenkins is sick and you get the call-up to coach on opening night. Who’s in your rotation—starters, bench—and who gets a DNP-CD?
Camille: Ooooh. Okay. It’s been reported that the Bucks will lean on the vets heavily to start the season but that the roster will look different after the trade deadline. So, on opening night, I expect more vets starting and in the rotation. But this is about what I would do and not what I’m projecting the Bucks to do.
So, I’d start Rollins, Burries, Jaquez, Sims, Ware. KPJ and Herro lead the bench mob that also features Dieng, Turner, Jakučionis and Ament. That’s already a 12-man rotation before even getting to Green, Markovic, and Kuzma. I don’t know how Jenkins is going to handle these rotations; there’s a lot of mouths to feed to start. My only for sure DNPs, if I had my way, would be Trent and LeVert. No disrespect, there’s just a lot of guards!
Zac: Let’s finish on one I posed to our readers. Finish the sentence: I will judge the 2026-27 season a success if…
Camille: I can clearly tell you what the identity of this team is. If we walk away with an understanding of what Bucks basketball is under Taylor Jenkins, we’ve already made so much progress after three rudderless seasons.
To hear more from Davis, make sure you check out her work on Locked On Bucks and the TECKnical Foul Podcast. If they aren’t already, they’ll soon become part of your regular Bucks rotation.
