Sep 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Edmundo Sosa (33) looks on before taking the field for the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Did anyone really think that the Dodgers were going to sit Shohei Ohtani?
Seriously, did you really believe that that was going happen?
Oct 13, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker (47) celebrates a win against the Cleveland Guardians in game two of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning Birdland,
Well, we know that at least one of the LCS won’t be a sweep. The Rays evened up the junior circuit matchup at one game apiece with a 3-1 win over the Guardians on Tuesday night. All three of their runs came in a big fourth inning. That proved to be enough for starter Freddy Peralta, who tossed six scoreless innings, followed by the Tampa bullpen, which was punctuated by another Bryan Baker save. Those two teams will have today off as they travel to Cleveland, where the series will continue on Thursday.
That means the NLCS is a solo act this evening. The Brewers have a commanding 2-0 lead, but will now head on the road for the first time in the best-of-seven set. Another win tonight doesn’t guarantee their first World Series appearance since 1982, but it would put them awfully close. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. on FS1.
Shohei Ohtani’s struggles have become a big storyline of that series. The four-time MVP is 3-for-20 this postseason with zero extra-base hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts. That’s a .411 OPS. He hit the IL near the end of the regular season, then struggled in eight September games, and still doesn’t look right. Dave Roberts moved him down the order in Game 2, and there were some rumblings that he could be removed from the order entirely for Game 3. But the Dodgers announced during the off day that this wouldn’t happen. Ohtani will be starting. If the Dodgers hope to complete a three-peat, they will need some magic from their superstar.
On the Orioles front, it’s quiet, as it is for just about all 26 teams that are no longer playing baseball this year. While front offices are surely making preparations for the offseason ahead, there simply isn’t much public-facing work to be done.
Free agency starts five days after the World Series ends. The GM Meetings start November 9. The owners meetings begin November 17. And the non-tender deadline is November 20. Anything beyond that is in doubt as the current CBA expires on December 1, which could mean that many of the most interesting days of baseball’s offseason are pushed or cancelled altogether.
While some minor moves are likely to happen prior to a new CBA, you would assume that any massive contracts will have to wait until teams, players, and agents fully understand the new deal. Salary caps and salary floors have been discussed. There could be changes to draft pick compensation for teams that lose higher-cost free agents. It’s a lot to unpack, and seems destined to drag well into next year at this point.
Links
Looking at Orioles through eyes of some opposing scouts | Roch Kubatko Roch discusses a current Orioles players that could be available in a trade this offseason. Apparently, Ryan Mountcastle is one to consider. He played in eight games this year due to a foot injury, and has a $7.5 million club option for 2027. It would seem like with the log jam at first base he would be an easy decline, making him a free agent. But if the Orioles front office thinks they could get anything for him in a trade, maybe it makes more sense to hold onto to him and deal him sometime in the spring.
Three prospects who could be key contributors for O’s in ’27 | Orioles.com Luis De León, Michael Forret, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. are mentioned, and all make sense. The Orioles, like every team, are going to need pitching, and Bradfield’s speed and defense seem major league ready, even if the bat still needs some work.
Oriole priorities in a likely shorter offseason | Rich Dubroff The Orioles enter this offseason with a desperate need to get better in a few places, which will be more difficult because of the impending lockout. But they aren’t going to overhaul the roster. The core of the team is already in place. They need to get more out of the guys they have in-house, and then supplement them with a few key external signings. There’s a lot to do, but it feels less about making moves and more about setting the players they already have up for success. Hopefully, a lockout doesn’t impact that too much.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Midre Cummings turns 55 today. He played in two games for the Orioles in 2005, which capped off his 11 season in MLB.
Carl Nichols is 64 years old. From 1986-88, he appeared in 36 games for the Orioles, mostly as a backup catching option.
Kiko Garcia turns 73. He was a useful utility infielder for the Orioles for five seasons from 1976-80, and was then traded to the Astros prior to the ‘81 campaign.
Tommy Harper is 85 today. His final major league season was spent with the Orioles in 1976, when he was almost exclusively deployed as a DH and pinch hitter.
This day in O’s history
1969 – The Orioles drop Game 3 of the World Series to the underdog New York Mets 5-0. The Mets now hold a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
1971 – The Orioles get shutout 4-0 in Game 5 of the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That gives the Buccos a 3-2 lead in the set.
2014 – The Royals win yet again in the ALCS, extending their lead in the series to 3-0. Their bullpen pitches four perfect innings close things out the win over the Orioles in Game 3.
Black Cats can reboot season against Torreense in Europa League in break from tough start to the Premier League
There is a pleasing symmetry about Sunderland’s Europa League trip to Portugal to face Torreense on Thursday night. The club’s last competitive venture on European soil, 53 years ago, was the second leg of a European Cup Winners’ Cup second-round tie against Sporting in Lisbon for the FA Cup holders, then in the Second Division.
In a striking parallel, second-tier Torreense prompted widespread surprise by beating Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final last season. The reward was a place in the Europa League’s initial phase and their chances of reaching next spring’s sudden-death rounds were boosted when they beat Lillestrom 2-1 in Norway last month.
DALLAS, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 25: Jett Howard #9 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for portraits at Mavericks Media Day at American Airlines Center on September 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jett Howard probably wasn’t a name you had penciled in as a Maverick before the offseason began, but here we are. The Mavericks signed the former 11th overall pick in the 2023 draft to a two-way contract this summer after three seasons in Orlando. The 6-foot-8 wing never quite found his footing with the Magic, but his role grew last season, when he averaged a career-high 5.5 points in 12.6 minutes per game while shooting 37.2% from three and 94.9% from the free-throw line. Those aren’t numbers that pop off the page, especially for a lottery pick. But Orlando drafted him 11th for a reason, and Dallas brought him in for a pretty obvious one: The guy can shoot. On a Mavericks roster that needs players who can space the floor around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, that skill alone gives Howard a path to minutes. The question is whether he can do other things well enough to stay on the floor.
Big question
Can Jett Howard become more than a shooter? It’s that simple. The Mavericks don’t need him to come in and average 15 points a night. Dallas has plenty of players who will have the ball more than him. What they need is someone who can punish defenses when they decide to load up on Flagg, Irving, or another primary creator. Howard shot 37.2% from three last season on 2.6 attempts per game. Those numbers aren’t spectacular, but they’re respectable enough to force defenses to think about him.
Dallas doesn’t need him to be a star, but be a guy Dusty May can rely on to get a bucket when you need one. It also wouldn’t hurt to do other little things. Run around screens. Make the extra pass. Attack a hard closeout. Move without the ball. Compete defensively. If Howard can do those things consistently, a two-way contract will start looking like a pretty useful piece. If he can’t, he won’t log many minutes.
Best case scenario
Howard shoots the lights out and makes his way into the rotation. The Mavericks have several young, athletic players, but they also desperately need shooting. Dallas’ 2026-27 roster is packed with players 25 or younger, and Howard fits the team’s broader youth movement almost perfectly.
The best version of Howard isn’t a high-volume scorer. It’s a 6-foot-8 wing who can come into a game, immediately provide spacing, and knock down three or four shots without needing the offense designed around him. And there is something intriguing about putting a player like that next to Cooper Flagg. If Flagg develops into the offensive engine Dallas expects, defenses will collapse on him on plenty of possessions.
Howard’s job would be simple: find an open spot and make them pay. If he can also become a competent defender, things get really interesting. That’s the path to Howard playing 10 to 15 minutes a night instead of spending most of the season in the G-League. And considering he was the 11th pick just three years ago, I’m not ready to completely give up on the idea that there’s more here than what Orlando showed.
Worst case scenario
Howard becomes a shooting specialist who doesn’t shoot enough. A 37.2% three-point shooter sounds good until you remember that Howard only attempted 2.6 threes per game last season. His career three-point percentage is just 32.6%, so it’s fair to wonder whether last year’s improvement was a real step forward or simply a small sample.
And if the shot isn’t falling, what else is he giving you? He’s not a creator. He’s also not going to overwhelm opponents physically, even for his size. That leaves very little margin for error. The Mavericks already have plenty of players fighting for wing minutes. Max Christie, Zaccharie Risacher, Naji Marshall, Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson Jr., and others are ahead of Howard on the depth chart in some capacity. If Howard wants real minutes, he’ll have to separate himself from the rest of the pack with his shooting stroke. If he doesn’t, onto the G League he goes.
Season goal
Become too good for the two-way contract. Be the shooter you were last season, but with more volume when you’re in. I don’t expect him to become a regular part of the rotation immediately. But 10-15 games where Howard consistently looks like a rotation NBA player could make him a useful weapon. A simple stretch where he’s knocking down open threes, making smart cuts, and holding his own defensively should keep him on the floor. If he can do that, the Mavericks will have to figure out a way to keep him around. And honestly, that’s a pretty good season for a 23-year-old who is trying to revive his NBA career.
Overall
I like this gamble. Howard is exactly the type of player Dallas should be taking a chance on right now. He was once a lottery pick; he’s still only 23, and he has one skill that will always have value in the NBA: shooting. The Mavericks officially signed him to a two-way contract in July after his best statistical season in Orlando. Now he gets a fresh start. A little new scenery can go a long way.
He appeared in 133 games over three seasons, but only averaged 11 minutes per game for his career and never started a game. Dallas probably won’t hand him a ton of minutes either. But the opportunity is different. The Mavericks are trying to build around Cooper Flagg, and that means finding players who complement him.
Shooting matters. Size matters. And if Howard can put those things together, there’s a role for him. No one expects Howard to suddenly become the second coming of Klay Thompson, but there’s a reasonable chance Dallas gets more out of him than Orlando did. And if he can turn 37% three-point shooting into something closer to 40% while becoming a reliable team defender, the Mavericks may have found a very useful rotation piece hiding on a two-way contract. That’s worth taking a swing on.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Keldon Johnson #3 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A cool collection of photos and stats surrounding Keldon Johnson, the 2026 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. The photos, most from his ranch, were the subject of many articles written after KJ invited some members of the media out to his ranch for an afternoon.
“Keldon Johnson, at home.
Keldon Johnson has been the Spurs’ unofficial DJ since his rookie season, when Patty Mills handed him the aux and told him to play Mariah Carey. He still runs the music before games off a giant speaker with a worn-out Spurs logo, and the playlist makes room for “Party in the U.S.A.” and “A Thousand Miles.”
In 2025–26, he broke Manu Ginóbili’s franchise record for points off the bench. The two are also the only Spurs to win Sixth Man of the Year.
The boots came with the land. “Ever since I got a ranch, it’s the everyday attire,” he told NBC. The pond on the property was recently expanded to fit a small boat and stocked with koi, bass, crappie and catfish.
Originally, I thought it was a magazine layout and when I looked up “Hoopsciety” I found their YouTube channel which featured this video on Gregg Popovich and Victor Wembanyama:
It is incredible to relive Wemby’s timeline in San Antonio since draft night. His time with Pop. His first two season ending with injury. His defensive stats. And then the exposiveness of his third season. The dominance and maturity leading to his unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, Western Conference Finals MVP, and his first Finals appearance.
The Spurs have such high expectations for themselves this season, it will most surely be a year to follow the Silve & Black.
Tewo more preseason games and less than a week until the season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Go Spurs Go!
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 10, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Editor’s note: this is the first piece from new staff writer Joey Walraven. He’ll be contributing to our site’s coverage. Please give him a warm welcome as we’re excited for him to join our team at Peachtree Hoops.
Jalen Johnson was having his best year of his young career in 2024-25 before a torn labrum sidelined him remainder of the season. Many analysts viewed his absence as one of the most consequential in the entire league. Despite only playing 36 games and starting in all of them, Johnson was enjoying career highs in points, rebounds, and assists.
With the increase in both responsibility and production, the former first-round pick was slated for a big 2025-2026 campaign. In the midst of the Trae Young fiasco, which included unfortunate injuries and palpable tension between the Hawks and their star guard, Johnson became the focal point of the offense and saw himself molded into the best player on the Hawks’ roster.
Only missing ten games, averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, which were all career highs. Johnson also increased his three-point percentage, which increased the floor spacing for the Hawks and made them a more dynamic offense. With Young’s absence, who served as the team’s facilitator, Johnson molded himself into a true point forward, which led him to being tied for the second most triple-doubles in the league.
Johnson’s quantum leap was accompanied by a litany of accolades, which included being voted to both the All-Star team and Third Team All-NBA. Both honors were also career firsts.
Despite the improvement, the postseason was not quite as kind to Johnson. In the lone series against the eventual NBA Champion New York Knicks, the first time all-star struggled to establish the same dominance, as all the numbers he set career highs in took a substantial drop, especially his three-point efficiency, as he shot 29% for the series.
Johnson acknowledged his trouble during the team’s media day and vowed to improve his performance, stating, “the first month and a half, two months after the season, [all I watched] was film from that Knicks series. Just [seeing] how I can learn and grow from that. Because at the end of the day, I want to win championships.”
Part of Johnson’s playoff struggles derived from what seemed to be a form of a basketball identity crisis. Though he was the team’s best player and leading scorer, it seemed his deference to his teammates, namely CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, ultimately interfered with his ability to find his rhythm in the game and execute the same effectiveness he did throughout the entire season.
There were several points late in the season where the Hawks were forced to depend on McCollum and ‘NAW’ and were unable to get production from their lone All-Star. Johnson’s peak as a scorer will come when he is depended less upon as a facilitator and is able to focus the bulk of his energy on putting the ball through the net.
Former Houston Cougar Kingston Flemings with the eighth pick in this year’s draft will be an ideal candidate to lower some of the ball handling and facilitating responsibilities from Johnson. The transition to being a scoring dominant weapon will continue to improve the Hawks’ offensive versatility, and ultimately being a more dynamic unit once the playoffs arrive.
While Johnson is certainly a more than capable defender, it’s certainly an area where he can have some improvement. The addition of Luguentz Dort to the Hawks certainly removes the burden from Johnson to be a defensive staple, especially when pairing with defensive stalwarts Dyson Daniels and Alexander-Walker. Johnson admitted the three will be a problem for the league, stating the league could “pick their poison” for which member of their three-headed monster will cause nightmares for opposing teams.
Ultimately, for Jalen Johnson to maximize his potential, he has to play like he knows he is the team’s number one option. While scoring support from his teammates is obviously a requirement, he has to be the guy the Hawks funneling their winning plays through.
With the additions of support in terms of playmaking, perimeter play, and defense, the Hawks have the ingredients to unleash a deadly recipe on the NBA as Johnson continues to mold himself into one of the league’s best young stars. With his proven ability to improve in each year, if Johnson accepts the challenge to being his team’s undisputed alpha dog, not only will the Hawks make noise in the playoffs, but Jalen Johnson will find himself in the midst of MVP talks.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 13: Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after hitting a one-run double in the seventh inning during Game Two of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s that time where I give you a rundown of what happened in baseball yesterday. However, we’ve already got a recap on this site that did that. Chase DeLauter was the only MLB player to drive in an earned run yesterday, yet the Guardians still lost. I don’t want to talk about it.
Around baseball
As I just said, the only run that scored all day was off the bat of Chas—
I guess we could talk about how Slade Cecconi generated 5 swings and misses in 1 inning?
Or the big controversy in LA, where Shohei Ohtani is staying in the lineup even though his billion dollar contract isn’t producing any hits yet?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: An aerial view of Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re through two games in both the ALCS and NLCS, and the games have all been pretty riveting, if you’ve had the stomach to watch them with the Yankees long since eliminated. The Rays capitalized on some uncharacteristic sloppy play from Jose Ramirez to tie the ALCS at a game apiece last night, while the two-time defending champs find themselves with their backs just about up against the wall, needing to win tonight to avoid a 3-0 hole against the Brewers. It’s a matchup of lefties, Los Angeles throwing out Blake Snell, Milwaukee countering with Robert Gasser, one in which there’s a disparity in notoriety; Snell’s got two Cy Youngs, while Gasser’s got two seasons in which he’s been above replacement level to his name. Still, don’t underestimate Gasser or Milwaukee, with Gasser finding a way to make it work to the tune of a 3.87 ERA this year, and the Brewers of course finding a way to make it work night after night this season.
On the site today, get caught up with Madison’s review of last night’s Game 2 in St. Petersburg, and Josh’s writeup of the 2026 Yankees Team MVP, who could be none other than Cam Schlittler. Later, Kevin profiles Joe Girardi on the former catcher and manager’s 62nd birthday, and Jonathan discusses Mike Pinsky, a Yankees front office employee who’s competing in the current season of Survivor!
Today’s Playoff Matchup:
National League Championship Series Game 3 (Milwaukee leads 2-0)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers (LHP Blake Snell vs. LHP Robert Gasser)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: FOX/FS1/FOX ONE
Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Questions/Prompts:
1. Do you think it’s time for the Dodgers to pull Shohei Ohtani from the starting lineup?
2. Who do you favor the rest of the way in the ALCS with the series now tied?
Tucked away on a Peak District hillside is an inn bursting with memorabilia and stories left by touring teams
As the modern cricketer hops from Crowne Plaza to Holiday Inn, well rewarded and with plenty of time for golf, he or she might feel perfectly content. But life has not always been a merry-go-round of air-con and airports.
Hop off the train at Grindleford, where homemade bunting loops along the platform fence, highlighting books about trains in this national year of reading, and you’re in the Peak District. There’s been early morning rain and the trees, damply beautiful, are on the turn. Golden beech, rusty horse chestnut, hues of greens and yellows, disappear up the slopes of Padley Gorge and into the valleys.
Tweaked hamstring to keep Exeter wing out at Toulouse
Genge and Lawes want England restrictions lifted
England’s game-breaking winger Manny Feyi-Waboso should be fit for international duty next month despite tweaking a hamstring playing for Exeter against Newcastle on Sunday. Initial scans have not revealed any major damage and Rob Baxter, the Chiefs’ director of rugby, is hopeful the 23-year-old will be back in action before too long.
Medical staff from Exeter and England have looked at Feyi-Waboso’s scan and the player will be unavailable for his club’s opening Champions Cup pool fixture at Toulouse on Saturday. The early indications are said to be positive, however, and he is on track to feature in England’s opening Nations Championship Test against Australia on 8 November.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 13: Roman Kantserov #80 of the Chicago Blackhawks scores a goal past Sergei Murashov #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at United Center on October 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins fell 5-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday despite two goals from Sidney Crosby, including his first of the season. Pittsburgh’s power play went 0-for-4 and has failed to score in its last 16 opportunities over five games. [Recap]
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is embracing a reduced role on Pittsburgh’s third defensive pairing as the 39-year-old adjusts to fewer minutes on the ice. The Penguins are looking to manage his workload while continuing to rely on his experience and offensive contributions. [Trib Live]
Franchise icon Mario Lemieux was inducted into the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Strip District’s Terminal building. Lemieux was honored alongside nine other Pittsburgh-area figures, including former Steelers running back Franco Harris and broadcaster Myron Cope. [CBS Pittsburgh]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is expected to miss one to two months with a torn calf muscle, head coach Rod Brind’Amour announced Tuesday. The 38-year-old was injured during warmups before Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia Flyers. [ESPN]
The Detroit Red Wings and star winger Alex DeBrincat have agreed on a seven-year, $91 million contract extension, according to TSN insider Chris Johnston. [TSN]
Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness criticized his team after a 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, saying players should be embarrassed by their performance. Columbus led after the first period but surrendered four goals in the second, including a natural hat trick by Brady Tkachuk. [Sportsnet]
BOSTON, MA - 1976: Dave Bing #21 shoots a free throw against the Boston Celtics circa 1976 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dave Bing is sort of a basketball version of Forrest Gump, only smarter.
A native of Washington, D.C., Bing met Marvin Gaye playing basketball. Unable to keep up, Gaye sang on the sidelines. They remained friends for years.
At Syracuse for a time, he roomed with Jim Boeheim and got to know law student Joe Biden.
After his playing career, he founded the NBA Retired Players Association. He started Bing Steel in 1980; in 1984, Ronald Reagan awarded him the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year.
In 2008, he ran for mayor of Detroit and won. Later, he worked on the 2009 bailout of the auto industry with – surprise – President Biden.
In short, the man has a very long list of accomplishments.
Where were you when the Houston Rockets drafted Yao Ming?
It’s a vivid memory for me as a Houston Rockets fan. I distinctly remember a fan in a street interview declaring that Ming would be the “best center ever!” I can’t find easy confirmation of this memory online, but it’s burned into my mind.
If you missed it: Ming is not the best center ever. Depending on whether you value longevity or peak, he’s on the fringes of the top 20. Can you really put Ming ahead of Dikembe Mutombo? Bob Lanier?
Longevity. What a thoroughly dirty word in relation to Ming’s career. The basketball gods were rough with the gentle giant:
What if they’d afforded him more grace?
Ming’s career should have gone differently
The man was 7’6″, 310 pounds, and – this is important – actually good at basketball.
He’s four years older than LeBron James if you needed your heart broken into a million pieces and scattered into the wind like the ashes of your childhood dreams. Ming should have been the Rockets’ Nene of the James Harden era. He should barely be a decade into his retirement. He should have retired when TikTok came out, and instead, he retired when “Tik Tok” by Kesha came out.
Look at his beastly 2006-07 stats. Ming averaged 25.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game with a 60.1 True Shooting % (TS%) and 5.0 Box Plus/Minus (BPM). He made the All-NBA Second Team. Ming was a certified franchise player.
Sure, he only played in 48 games, and sure, players this size have dealt with injury problems almost without fail, but none of that mattered because Ming was going to be the best center ever, and wrestling is real.
The decline didn’t even start there. Ming had a comparable 2007-08. The Rockets decreased his minutes through 2008-09, but on a per-minute basis, his production was comparable.
And then, just like that, it was effectively over. Which gets us back to the central question: What if it hadn’t been?
Let’s be honest. We all know the Houston Rockets win the 2007-08 championship if Ming and Tracy McGrady stay healthy. This group is a testament to roster construction.
Ming, the interior scoring hub, and McGrady, the prolific shot creator, flanked by a who’s-who of mid-00s role players. Shane Battier, perhaps the most archetypal three-and-D in NBA history. Louis Scola, a perfect third option for an era when the midrange counted towards floor spacing. Bobby Jackson, the quintessential sparkplug, and Dikembe Mutombo, the best backup big in the NBA backing up the best big man in the NBA –
Fine, besides Dwight Howard.
Although Ming was certainly more offensively gifted than Howard. For that brief, bright, beautiful moment, you could make the case that Ming was the best center in the NBA. Jokes aside, the Boston Celtics were the most super-y super team since the 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers. They may have stifled even this fantasy Rockets championship run, but the NBA Finals’ Western Conference spot was the Rockets’ to lose.
And, through no fault of their own, they would lose it.
Yao Ming’s Rockets career was cut short
What’s the point of this article?
I almost regret writing it. The Rockets kick off the 2026-27 regular season one week from this moment. Why are we chasing the ghost of Yao Ming’s career?
Short answer? A photo of Ming alongside Alperen Sengun made the rounds and made me sad. Long answer?
Let’s see what we can cobble together.
It is worth remembering that so much of what we consider success in the NBA comes down to luck. Luck is everything. Ming was lucky enough to be born 7’6″, and he was unlucky enough to be born 7’6″. With his mass, that’s a time-tested formula for having a short-but-successful NBA career.
Luck could be on the Rockets’ side in 2026-27, or it could oppose them once again. Maybe the journey matters more than the destination. Ming’s body wouldn’t allow him to make good on his potential:
But I still remember how hopeful I felt before that happened.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays is out at second base as Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees attempts to turn a double play during the first inning in game two of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 05, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. Chisholm was given an error on the throw on this play. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): The Yankees have ten men that will be free agents after the World Series, including one of the starting infielders and the established closer. They also face a winter of deep labor uncertainty, potential changes to compensation as underlined by a new CBA, and a possibility of lower revenue for 2027 if there are lost games. All those factors come together, along with what can reasonably be expected out of those ten guys going forwards, to set out the players the Yankees should try and retain, and who gets to test the market on their own.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: Speaking of free agents, David Bednar represents perhaps the most interesting question for the Yankees. Over the past few years the club has avoided long-term, big money contracts for closers, while routinely churning out excellent bullpen units. Still, Bednar seems extremely comfortable in New York, and though his velo was down a tick this season, sure has the numbers to back up investing in him long term.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: It seems likely Aaron Boone will return for his last year under contract as manager, but there’s no guarantee in continuity across the entire coaching staff. Matt Blake is also a free agent, and the talented pitching coach will likely have several offers from other MLB teams if the Yankees don’t return his services. Austin Wells’ failed triple wasn’t Luis Rojas’ fault, but the Yankee third base coach has drawn ire in his tenure before and could also be on a hot seat.
NJ.com | Adam Zagoria: On his radio program Tuesday, Michael Kay openly asked what Aaron Judge means when the Yankee captain says the team needs to go “all in”. The Yankees consistently lead the AL in payroll, and of the two teams that spend more than them, the Yanks are a much better run organization than the Mets. Still, it does always feel like the club leaves something — runs, talent, whatever — on the table every year since 2009.
Ben Simmons had a simple theory about where he would end up this offseason. Whichever team actually showed up to see him in person, rather than just offering a camp invite, would be the one that signed him for real.
That is exactly how his story with the Kings played out.
Speaking at Media Day with NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan, Simmons explained his thinking when asked why Sacramento made sense as his landing spot.
“It’s not in the cocky way or anything, but for me, I knew the first team that came to see me, to see where I was at physically and on the court, they were going to sign me,” Simmons said. “That’s how I felt from the moment [general manager] Scott [Perry] came down and saw me.”
Several other teams expressed interest, but mostly in the form of training camp invitations rather than a guaranteed roster spot.
“I had a bunch of teams that wanted me to come to camps and play for a spot and things like that, which is fine,” Simmons said. “I think they would have had different decisions if they had seen me. But I think I’m right where I need to be at the right time.”
That confidence comes after Simmons sat out the entire 2025-26 NBA season without appearing in a single game, following years of recurring injury issues dating back to his time in Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Asked about his emotional state heading into training camp, Simmons pointed directly to his health.
“I’m just excited to get going and be able to do it healthy — with nothing in the back of my mind where I can be hesitant with certain things,” Simmons said. “I’m taking a few hits already in practice and it felt great. I’m ready to go.”
For a Kings team that signed Simmons specifically to add size, playmaking and defensive versatility behind rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., a healthy, confident version of Simmons — even in a reduced offensive role — represents exactly the value they bet on when Perry made that trip to Florida.
