CHAPEL HILL, NC - JUNE 01: North Carolina Tar Heels Michael Busch(15) hits the ball during the NCAA Baseball Chapel Hill Regional between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Liberty Flames at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC on June 1, 2019. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tar Heel baseball fans will have a clear favorite Major League Baseball team as the 2026 postseason gets underway today.
According to Baseball-Reference.com, nine former Tar Heels were active on MLB rosters during the 2026 season. However, only one player appears set to see October (or at least very late September) baseball.
His Name is Michael Busch…
…and he is a bad man.
Fans of North Carolina baseball from 2017-2019 will remember Busch well as a standout first baseman for the Tar Heels. For those who do not recall, or those who simply yearn for a walk down memory lane, gaze upon four minutes of Michael Busch UNC highlights:
Over three seasons at UNC, Busch posted a 0.921 OPS with 32 home runs, 169 runs scored, and 142 walks. He is second all-time in walks in Carolina Baseball history.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019, Busch worked his way through the minors and made his major league debut on April 25th, 2023. He was traded to the Cubs in the offseason ahead of the 2024 season and has been a staple at first base ever since.
The 2025 season was his best yet as a pro, hitting 34 home runs with an .866 OPS and 4.5 WAR, all of which was good enough to help him finish 16th in the National League MVP voting. The 2026 season has seen a drop in power as he’s only hit 20 home runs, but his patience at the plate has yielded him a 13.0% walk rate, which is 17th best in the league.
He’s 28 years old, played in 160 games this season, and won’t be a free agent until 2030. There’s a lot for Cubs fans to like about Busch.
Postseason Experience
Last season was Busch’s first experience playing postseason baseball, and in the Wild Card round he absolutely raked.
Facing the San Diego Padres (who Busch is slated to face again in the 2026 Wild Card), Busch posted 4 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 HR, and 1 BB in 12 plate appearances over three games. The NLDS had even more in store for Busch, as he hit three home runs in just 19 plate appearances over five games. Although the Cubs lost the series to the Brewers, it was a fantastic first foray into postseason baseball for Busch. He finished the postseason with a .296 BA and 1.128 OPS.
It’s once again time for postseason baseball for Michael Busch, and he will enter tonight’s matchup against the San Diego Padres as the only former North Carolina Tar Heel on a postseason roster. Tonight, a little after 10:00 pm Chapel Hill time, he’ll climb into the batter’s box at Petco Park, stare down Michael King, and swing with the full weight and momentum of Tar Heel Nation in his bat.
Bonus Note: I should mention that former Tar Heel Trent Thornton is currently on the 15-day Injured List for the Cubs. If Chicago makes it past San Diego, there’s a chance Thornton makes it on the NLDS roster. Did you need another reason to cheer for the Cubs?
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 27: JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the Indiana Pacers on October 27, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
J.R. Smith was arrested for assault in Texas on Tuesday. The former NBA veteran played five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and contributed to their 2016 championship.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Former NBA champion J.R. Smith arrested for assault in Texas.
TMZ reports that Smith was arrested by Hunt County police for family violence. He was booked on a charge of assault involving family bodily injury.
No bond has been set as of reporting on Tuesday.
Smith, 41, played 16 years in the NBA. He won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2013 and officially retired in 2020, following the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship run in the bubble.
After basketball, Smith completed his education at North Caroline A&T University. He graduated in May of 2026.
This story will be updated as more information is reported.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 28: Jayson Tatum #0 and Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics pose for photos during Boston Celtics Media Day at Auerbach Center on September 28, 2026 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. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Laughter reverberated across the Auerbach Center as the Celtics opened training camp on Tuesday morning.
For the first time since May, when the Celtics’ season abruptly ended at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, beat reporters returned to the parquet to film the players’ on-court work and ask a litany of questions.
But though Tuesday marked the first official day of camp, it quickly became clear it was far from the players’ first day working together, as evidenced by Baylor Scheierman playfully shoving Mike Conley as if they were longtime teammates.
Jayson Tatum invited the team to come out to Los Angeles, where he spends a portion of his offseason, for offseason workouts, and a critical mass took up the offer, including Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, Mike Conley, and rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell, among others.
“JT hit the group chat, invited us all out, and most of us were able to make it work with our schedule,” Hauser said. “So it was cool to get a bunch of guys out there earlier and get acclimated and get used to being around each other.”
Jayson Tatum shared a peek into some Celtics offseason workouts.
First one had at least Tatum, Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh and Mike Conley in attendance.
While in LA, players spent time together both on and off the floor.
“We did a lot of work on the court, played some golf, had some dinners,” Hauser said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Walsh, fresh off his fourth summer as a Celtic — and the signing of a 3-year extension — said the intensity of this summer’s workouts stood out.
“It’s been really, really competitive,” Walsh said. “I would say it’s one of our better summers for sure. There’s a lot of guys that came to compete every day.”
Scrimmaging took center stage: “We played 7-game series in a day, or 8-game series, 9, whatever it is, in a day. So every guy [was] showing up for every single game and playing as hard as you can, and really respecting the game in a way, and I think that kind of is a statement to the staff as well.”
Joe Mazzulla takes a backseat during offseason training
Joe Mazzulla prioritized spending time with almost every player on the roster in their hometowns, visiting Mitchell Robinson in Nashville, Luka Garza in Iowa, Hugo Gonzalez in Spain, Neemias Queta in Portugal, Jordan Walsh in Texas, and Baylor Scheierman in Nebraska, among others.
But Mazzulla is not actually responsible for spearheading offseason workouts — that’s his coaching staff’s job. Most of the offseason training is orchestrated by head of player development Craig Luschenat, along with the rest of the Celtics player development staff, which includes DaSean Butler, God Shammgod Jr., Steve Tchiegang, and Nana Foulland, among others.
This year, Amile Jefferson also took on significant responsibilities as the team’s Summer League head coach in Las Vegas. The coaching staff is the same as last season’s.
“We have one of the best staffs in the league, so I’m really as hands-off as possible, allowing them to do everything,” Mazzulla said. “Craig, our head of player development, and our PD guys do a great job. The Summer League head coach does a great job of setting that tone. So, I try to stay out of it as much as I can, and just give the guys the empowerment and the responsibility to grow.”
Players have increasingly spent their offseasons in Boston
The fact that some Celtics have made Boston their year-round home makes it even easier to facilitate offseason workouts. Payton Pritchard, now the team’s second-longest-tenured player, lives in Massachusetts year-round.
“I stay in Boston for the summer,” Pritchard said. “It’s kind of home now, so when the first guys, the young ones, come into the gym in mid-August, I’m in there playing with them… I’ve been in here scrimmaging, working out, trying to set the tone.”
Ron Harper Jr., who signed a 4-year extension this offseason, similarly spent most of the summer in Boston.
“Y’all know I’m from Jersey, so going home is nothing but a car ride to me,” Harper Jr. said. “So I can always just hop in the car and go over there. But I tried to stay around here in the summer, with my PD [player development coach] DaSean Butler, and just keep continuing to work on my game.”
Walsh explained that everything is optional, but that you’d never know: “You don’t gotta be here until Media Day if you don’t want to be. It’s just the standard that everybody set for themselves.”
Luka Garza smiled when asked who participated in offseason workouts.
“Everybody,” Garza said. “Everybody was here at some point.”
As the summer progressed, more and more players arrived in Boston, and consequently, the intensity only increased.
“The last few weeks have been great,” Harper Jr. said. “We’ve been to the gym, playing pickup, working out, lifting together, just getting to know each other; you get to learn somebody best through competition. So the pickup sessions have been great. They’ve been really competitive. They’ve been really fun, and we’re gonna have a great year. And we’re all looking forward to getting on there and sharing the court together, as opposed to playing against each other.”
For Paul George, who has 16 years of NBA experience, the energy has felt different.
“Since I’ve been here, it’s one of those things where, man, I wish I was here a lot sooner,” George said. ”Not to discredit anywhere I’ve been, but since I’ve been here, it’s just been nothing but happiness, greatness. It’s just a great energy in this building, in this facility.“
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves takes batting practice prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn May/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s time to get rocking and rolling around here. Not too long from the time that I’m typing this, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies wil be renewing their Postseason rivalry for another season. While the fans are never going to get on the field and make plays or anything like that (nor would anybody want to see that), it still means a lot that the Braves are getting to have home field advantage for the entirety of this Wild Card Series.
Ozzie Albies was asked during the pregame press conference about what it meant to be able to play this series right here in Truist Park and as you could imagine, he’s pretty excited about it. “Yeah, definitely the home crowd helps us a lot,” stated Ozzie. “I want to say thank you to all the fans that comes and support us every day and out. It makes the game better for sure. I know Braves Country always supports us, and definitely playing at home is going to be much more fun.”
Ozzie has been here for nearly of the ups-and-downs that this team has experienced during this particular era.I asked him about what makes 2026 different from the rest of them and he mentioned the fact that he was pretty jazzed up about facing the Phillies again.
“Every run is different and special. For us to go through and face the Phillies again, we’re definitely going to be hyped,” explained Ozzie. “We’re looking forward to playing as hard as we can to win tonight and the upcoming games against them because it’s super important.”
“At this point, winning is everything,” continued Ozzie. “Definitely it’s different, new year, new players, new everything. But it’s going to be a fun one.”
Perhaps the biggest story of the day was the revelation that guys like DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Rowdy Tellez and Luke Williams were going to be included on the roster. Tellez and Williams were particularly surprising choices and Walt Weiss was asked about those decisions in the pregame press conference.
“Rowdy is a big left-handed hitter over there that maybe puts some fear into some people,” explained Weiss. “We got a glimpse of him during the season and he hit a pinch-hit homer for us. He can do that. Keirsey obviously as a base runner did a great job, Triple-A, stealing bases, running the bases. He’s been impactful in that role in his short time here at the end of the year. I think virtually every time I’ve pinch ran him, he’s scored a big run for us.
“Luke is a really smart base runner,” continued Weiss. “Luke is a guy that can cover you all over the field too. Without the ghost runner at second base, these games could go 15, 16 innings. That kind of versatility helps if you get to that point. But [he’s] primarily [here to be a] base runner, base stealer, Luke.”
Lastly, Weiss’s reaction to Jesús Luzardo getting tabbed as the “opener” drew a laugh from everybody in the room. He was asked about whether or not he was skeptical about Luzardo “simply” being an opener and when he clarified that Don Mattingly was the one who said that, Weiss very dryly stated that he was “very skeptical” of that.
Whether it’s a bit of gamesmanship or the real deal, it sure feels like the Braves are ready for whatever the Phillies may have in store this game and the series as a whole. It really feels like one of those series that will be balanced on a knife’s edge and hopeflly the Braves will be the ones who come out victorious — especially with Chris Sale starting Game 1. We’ll see what happens, folks.
Ferrari have reaffirmed their backing for their team principal, Fred Vasseur, in an effort to end speculation that Christian Horner was being considered as a potential replacement for the Frenchman.
Horner gave an interview in the Times last week in which he stated that leading Ferrari would be his “dream” job and the only one he would consider without having part-ownership of the team. His comments provoked debate that he could replace Vasseur, given the Scuderia’s underperformance this season.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Lance Lynn #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout after being relieved in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Three of the Division Series at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the record, this essay is emphatically not a prediction.
Nor is it an exercise in pointing out the obvious flaws of a team that ultimately went on to win a World Series, forcing me to cook duck and creating the ability to cause generational drama in the Bronx by simply uttering the phrase “Fifth inning.”
There’s bean footage, and then there is bean footage. For the record, you can see the original title I gave that infamous 2024 prediction essay before Eric Stephen threw me under the figurative bus.
There’s a funny side effect from being present at the last game of the 2025 season, which was generally hailed as one of the best baseball games ever played: I find myself blissfully calm at the upcoming proceedings. Having the ability to cue the Rojas homer or the final outs on command from my phone does wonders for both my mental health and self-esteem.
Just one more time for the road, I promise.
That footage is better than some vitamins, I say. Will the Dodgers repeat for a second year over the month? I have no earthly idea. It’d be nice.
To paraphrase one of my favorite ad campaigns from the early 2000s: that’s bliss, baby. Now, I suddenly want bad tea.
I can see how the Dodgers would prevail next month — just do 2025 but better. I’m looking at you, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, and Tommy Edman. If Kyle Tucker is the answer, then my God, what is the question?
Conversely, I can see how the team would fall flat on their face. You did too; it was called the Summer Swoon. What if everyone I just mentioned plus Shohei Ohtani couldn’t hit water from a boat? That failure, especially with runners in scoring position, would likely do it.
But if I give the upcoming tournament much thought, and you were inclined not to join me in my state of relative bliss, there are only two situations that would probably annoy me, much less anger me.
Scenario One: The Padres win it all
That’s it. Any other National League winner elicits no reaction from me apart from “Oh. Neat.” Maybe the Cubs; I did just gag a little.
Don’t get me wrong. I was quite annoyed when I had to live in a universe where the San Francisco Giants won a World Series. Then they did it again…and again…and have been irrelevant ever since, so it got better. My annoyance at a hypothetical Padres title does not rise to the level of agita I just described.
It’s just that the Padres have beclowned themselves at just about every opportunity when they have had actual expectations placed on them.
Expectations that the Padres would make a deep playoff run after finally besting the Dodgers in 2022? Nope, as apparently the job was done and the Dodgers’ failure was made worse when Philadelphia romped to the Fall Classic with modest effort.
Expectations that the Padres were going to win the NL West in 2023? Nope, as the team evacuated its figurative baseball bowels promptly, thoroughly, and repeatedly.
Expectations that the Padres would win the 2024 NLDS, likely costing Dave Roberts his job? Nope, as the Padres’ offense decided to go on holiday, not scoring for 23 innings to conclude the proceedings.
At this point, that team is practically daring me and others to pick it for a deep playoff run, potentially setting up a Dodgers-Padres NLCS.
I’m not falling for this bit again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us. Fool me four times, get a new hobby.
Honestly, it’s not animus towards the city of San Diego or its ballpark. It’s nice, on both counts.
It’s this current group of players who are as unlikeable and obnoxious as any bunch I can recall. The funny thing is that if they had actually done anything to justify the attitude, I would accept it as the winner’s prerogative.
Since they haven’t won anything, it’s just obnoxious.
Yes, they have been playing well in September, and their bullpen is formidable. I wanted the Dodgers to trade for Mason Miller last year. I even went to Sutter Health Park on his bobblehead day to get both the bobblehead and art for the subsequent Guide entry. Oh well.
The Padres have to get past the Cubs, which is an oddly compelling matchup that could easily fill a five-game or even seven-game series. Alas, it’s only three games as an amuse-bouche.
We don’t need extra playoffs; we need to savor what we have.
Seeing the Padres send the Cubs packing would likely be quite satisfying. In some respects, I am honestly rooting for every game to go to extra innings, and if a wayward meteor or an errant probe looking for whales happened by, who is to complain?
The just reward of that hypothetical Padres’ victory is that the Brewers are waiting, looming, if not salivating, for the winner. Most likely, the Padres’ dreams are smashed in Cream City, but not until giving the Brewers all that they can handle.
Scenario Two: Summer Swoon Coda
The Dodgers’ pitching core should be elite. Yes, the bullpen has seen better days, but this time of year is when the usual characters of Blake Treinen are out, and Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki are in.
If we’re being honest, and the Dodgers themselves were being honest, they would probably admit they are either going to win it all again or flop out right quick.
The problem with a best-of-five series is that all the benefits of depth are essentially negated. In a long enough series, the Dodgers should eventually beat just about anyone in the field. In a five-game series, the margin for error shrinks that much quicker.
I’ve been to Atlanta and Philadelphia. Those venues will be rocking if there is any sense of blood in the water, if the veneer of Dodger invincibility is scraped away.
Speaking of someone who has looked quite mortal since mid-August, Shohei Ohtani was eventually put on the injured list this September. Since his return, apart from one game, he hasn’t looked quite like himself.
Ohtani (5 games): .238/.273/.286. 5 for 21, 2B, RBI, 1 BB, 8 K
Now, however unlikely, if the Dodgers reenact either 2022 (flopping after one victory) or 2023 (getting swept meekly), I would be modestly disappointed.
Reenacting 2021 (sputtering out in the LCS) wouldn’t raise my hackles, because sometimes a team either just sputters out or runs into a better team.
The Brewers are better and healthier than they were last year. Maybe it’s finally their year? Who’s to say? I swear that Pat Murphy’s faux-meek act is long past its expiration date, but specific analysis of the Brewers is a topic for a later day.
But it better not be the Padres’ year, unless they flop to the Tampa Bay Rays or, God forbid, some other AL team. I specifically think of a team that backed into the postseason with a non-winning record and somehow has a cakewalk path to the ALCS if Cleveland and Chicago play to expectations.
A Padres/Astros World Series would be 2002 Redux, and sequels and remakes are generally worse than the original. But doomsday scenarios aside, the above is how I learned to love the upcoming tournament.
11 victories from Los Angeles seal immortality. Let the games begin!
For St. Louis Blues fans, the deal they're watching is whether GM Alexander Steen pulls the trigger on a trade for Alexander Nikishin. But now, according to a recent report from Friedman, the Blues' pursuit of Nikishin could have direct implications on the Carolina Hurricanes' ability to acquire Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets.
Friedman believes that a deal between the Hurricanes and Jets would have happened already if Nikishin were willing to sign in Winnipeg. He stated that he is still under the impression that Nikishin is looking for a five-year deal carrying a $9 million AAV.
Nikishin reportedly isn't interested in signing in Winnipeg, which further narrows the trade destinations.
"St. Louis has been a consistent pursuer, and there are some who are surprised it hasn’t happened," said Friedman. "Nashville tried, but wasn’t close enough for what Carolina wants. The Hurricanes were disappointed the Rangers trade didn’t work out and made it clear they would move Nikishin at their own pace. They are motivated now, so we’ll see. Nikishin is a talented player, but has zero leverage under the CBA."
With the New York Rangers out of the mix, the Nashville Predators unwilling to part with the necessary pieces, and the Jets unable to convince Nikishin to sign in Winnipeg, the Blues are the only true contender to land the 24-year-old Russian defenseman.
Friedman mentioned that Nikishin has changed agents and has been granted permission to speak with other teams about a contract. He also mentioned that the Hurricanes could be looking to make a three-team trade.
Nikishin is a left-handed defenseman who took home the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in his rookie season. He posted 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games, finishing seventh in Calder Trophy voting.
While he primarily played on the left side for the Hurricanes, Nikishin can play on the right side of defense, giving him the ability to play with Philip Broberg on the top pair or on the left side of the second pair.
The 2020 third-round pick boasts a 6-foot-3 frame, strong two-way ability, and the offensive skills to run a power-play unit. Nikishin fits the Blues stylistically and in terms of age.
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ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 13: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies doubles in the eighth inning during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn May/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Both the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves have announced their rosters for the Wild Card round.
None of the Phillies trade deadline acquisitions made the roster. Some of that is due to unfortunate injuries. Caleb Kilian strained his oblique and Luis Arraez sprained his ankle. Brooks Raley has no such excuses. The 38-year-old left-hander had a 7.94 ERA in 16 games with the Phillies and became a non-option for the playoffs.
They’re also carrying 3 catchers because they have nothing else. It’s sort of fitting regardless of how the series turns out.
The Braves roster features 11 pitchers and 15 position players. It is surprising to see Ha-Seong Kim make it, let alone starting at shortstop. In 147 plate appearances, Kim hit just .116 with a .359 OPS. He is probably cooked.
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7, Joel Embiid #21, LeBron James #23, Tyrese Maxey #0, and VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for a portrait on NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Media Day is behind us for the Philadelphia 76ers, and it was a more eventful one than usual given the new high-profile names arriving on the roster. Now it’s time to put the work in to get 1 percent better every day, as Tyrese Maxey (and now LeBron James) says.
Training camp begins today for the Sixers, running through this Friday. Philadelphia 76ers Public Relations released an announcement, which is basically a bunch of names we already knew.
“ The Philadelphia 76ers announced today their training camp roster for the 2026-27 season.
Training camp will be held at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey, beginning today, September 29, through Friday, October 2.
Philadelphia’s full training roster is below”:
Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert are the two-way contracts taking the floor this week. Philadelphia still has one two-way slot available to utilize. Tacko Fall, Dillon Jones, Duke Miles, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Saint Thomas are all on Exhibit 10 deals with the clubs, so we’ll likely see them all in Delaware Blue Coats uniforms soon.
Establishing chemistry with so many new faces will be one of the challenges facing this squad. This week is where that process begins in earnest.
I’m sure clips will come out and we’ll all get googly eyes over LeBron throwing an alley-oop to VJ Edgecombe or Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid running a dribble handoff. In reality, this week is vital for the pieces to start to fall into place, as the Sixers open up preseason play less than a week from now, next Monday against the Knicks.
The regular-season opener is exactly three weeks away. Just in time to make us all forget about the Phillies and Eagles.
"Clearly, new team, new players, and that's what we're going to talk about today," was the tone Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' head of basketball operations, tried to set for the franchise in a press conference last week. "We just, as an organization, are so grateful for the run that we had with [LeBron James] here... it was a great era, and we're grateful for it. So I just think it's important to say that at the onset as we turn into a new chapter."
The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to move on from the LeBron James era — an eight-season run that brought them a title and made them a perennial playoff team — to what comes next, a team better built to maximize Luka Doncic. Yet the ghost of LeBron still seemed to haunt Lakers media day despite the fact that he was 2,400 miles away in a different uniform.
"It was kind of sad. Playing with LeBron was amazing. There's a lot of things I learned from him... We all know who LeBron James is."
Doncic, for his part, spent much of the day trying to spin things forward, this was part of his ESPN interviews.
"I'm really excited about this team. I think we have a lot of underrated guys. There are some guys that came in that are not talked about a lot, but I really enjoy them and I really like what I see."
Nobody faced more of that than Bronny James, LeBron James' son, who remains in Los Angeles for his third season and should see more regular minutes this season, potentially even cracking the regular rotation.
"You guys know me as Bronny. My real name is LeBron," Bronny said from the podium. "I've been doing this for however long, so I think it's a motivating factor for me just getting up every day and trying to prove myself as Bronny instead of LeBron...
"That's my dad. I spent 22 years almost with him, so, just another experience that I'm going to be a part of. I'm excited for how it's going to feel during the season, too. Looking forward to it."
One void to fill without LeBron is leadership — he commanded the locker room and was the team's unquestioned leader. Now, Doncic and the newly signed Austin Reaves will fill that role together. Lakers forward Jake LaRavia said from the podium it would be no problem for Doncic and Reaves to share the role.
"They get along so well that it's kind of easy for them to co-lead this team. I think sometimes Luka leads by example and we watch him and we watch how he goes about himself. AR can sometimes be a bit more vocal. But I think they both do a great job at what they are good at it when it comes to being leaders for this team."
As long as Doncic stays healthy, the Lakers are going to be good. How good depends on how Walker Kessler steps up into the role of starting center on the Lakers, plus how well role players like Quentin Grimes, LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams and others can deliver on both ends of the court.
If they do, the questions about LeBron will stop. Or, at least, slow down.
Two-time retired NBA champion J.R. Smith was arrested in Hunt County (Texas) on a family violence charge, according to booking records.
The Hunt County Sherriff’s Office arrested Smith Tuesday, Sept. 29 and brought a charge of assault causing bodily injury, with no bond set. Smith, 41, remains in custody at the Hunt County Detention Center as of early Tuesday afternoon.
No other details were provided.
Hunt County is located just northeast of Dallas.
Smith played 16 seasons in the NBA from 2004-20 for the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. The 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year, Smith averaged 12.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists throughout his career.
After retiring from the NBA, Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T in 2021 to play on the University’s golf team. He graduated in May with a liberal studies degree.
Smith served 24 days in jail in 2007, stemming from a car crash in June of that year that killed his friend and passenger, Andre Bell. Smith pled guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Later, in October 2017, Smith pled not guilty to allegations of reckless driving and excessive speeding in Bay Village, Ohio.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres looks on from the dugout during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park on September 19, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wild Card round begins today, and while the Royals didn’t even sniff the postseason, some former Royals will get a chance at playoff glory.
Here are some old friends you can watch chase a ring this postseason.
Phillies vs. Braves
Jonathan Bowlan, Phillies
Bowlan was the big beefy pitcher the Royals took out of college in the draft class of 2018. He tossed a no-hitter in the minors, and showed some promise in in 34 games last year with the Royals, mostly as a reliever. But they wanted a more reliable veteran arm in the pen, and shipped Bowlan to Philadelphia for All-Star lefty Matt Strahm. Unfortunately, Strahm imploded, possibly due to a knee injury, while Bowlan thrived in Philly. He appeared in 59 games and struck out 73 in 56.1 innings with a solid 3.36 ERA.
Brewer Hicklen, Braves
Hicklen put up some great numbers in the minors as a guy that could hit home runs and steal bases. He kept grinding away, reaching the big leagues in 2022 with the Royals at age 26. They sold him to the Phillies in 2023, and he bounced around the league for a bit. He played in a career-high 20 games with the Braves this year, often as a pinch runner.
Mike Yastrzemski, Braves
Yaz was a big boost to the Royals offense when they acquired him at the trade deadline last year. There was some interest in bringing him back, but he instead signed a two-year, $23 million deal with the Braves. His numbers did decline in his age-35 season, but he still hit .224/.309/.380 with 12 home runs in 139 games. He will start at designated hitter for the Braves this afternoon
White Sox vs. Astros
Andrew Benintendi, White Sox
Benintendi played for the Royals in 2021-22, earning his only All-Star nod in his final year with the Royals, just before they traded him to the Yankees. He signed a five-year, $75 million deal with the White Sox in 2023, the largest contract in club history. But it has not gone well so far, and he is hitting .244/.307/.396, worth just 0.5 rWAR total in four seasons.
Randal Grichuk, White Sox
The Royals picked Grichuk up as a lefty-masher last year, and he appeared in 43 games. He started this year with the Yankees, but was let go in May. The White Sox picked him up and he thrived, hitting .299/.328/.598 with 15 home runs in 101 games.
Tommy Pham, White Sox
Pham played 23 games with the Royals down the stretch in 2024, and was even on their postseason roster that fall, hitting .455 against the Yankees in the ALDS. The White Sox picked up the 38-year-old veteran late in the year, perhaps for veteran presence, since he is just 3-for-30 (.100) in 17 MLB games this year.
David Sandlin, White Sox
Sandlin was a promising Royals pitching prospect sent to the Red Sox in the John Schreiber deal before the 2024 season. The Red Sox sent him to the White Sox before this year, and he made his MLB debut this year. The 25-year-old right-hander had a 5.58 ERA in 40.1 innings, and will pitch out of the White Sox bullpen.
Red Sox vs. Yankees
Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox
The Aroldis Chapman era in Kansas City was fairly forgettable in 2023, but he did net us Cole Ragans in a deal that worked out great for the Royals and the Rangers, who won the World Series that year. The ageless Chapman has been fantastic in Boston, with a 1.51 ERA and 67 saves over the past two seasons, earning All-Star honors each season.
Nate Eaton, Red Sox
Eaton was a late round pick by the Royals in 2018 out of the Virginia Military Institute. He was a jack-of-all-trades who could play everywhere, run, and hit for some power. He looked good in 44 games with the team in 2022, but went 4-for-53 (.075) in limited action the next year. Now 29, he appeared in 24 games for Boston this year, hitting .160 and filling in mostly as a bench player.
John Schreiber, Yankees
Schreieber did not give up a run in five postseason appearances for the Royals in 2024, and he led the team with 74 relief appearances in 2025. In 188 games over the past three seasons, he posted a 3.71 ERA. He was placed on waivers late this year to save money on his salary, and he was fantastic down the stretch for the Yankees with a 1.68 ERA in 11 games.
Ryan Yarbrough, Yankees
The Royals brought Yarbrough in for the 2023 season as a rubber-armed crafty lefty that could fill any role they needed for their pitching-starved roster. He was solid for them with a 4.24 ERA in 51 innings before they traded him to the Dodgers for Derlin Figueroa and Devin Mann. He is in his second year with the Yankees, and has a 3.69 ERA in 63.1 innings this year.
Cubs vs. Padres
The official Cubs and Padres postseason rosters won’t be announced until later today, but here are the former Royals we could see.
Jason Adam, Padres
The Kansas City native was drafted by the Royals, but traded to the Twins to get Royals postseason hero Josh Willingham. He returned to the Royals where he made his MLB debut in 2018, but his career didn’t take off until 2022 when he became an elite reliever with the Rays. He was an All-Star last year with the Padres and had a 2.62 ERA this year, although injuries limited him to 38 games.
Freddy Fermin, Padres
Fermin was a popular backup catcher with the Royals and Gold Glove finalist, but he was traded to the Padres last summer for pitchers Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert. His bat has declined in San Diego – he hit just .203/.274/.315 in 96 games. But he has been very good behind the plate, ranking well in pitch framing, pitch-blocking, and throwing metrics.
Samad Taylor, Padres
Taylor was acquired by the Royals in the Whit Merrifield trade, and he had a memorable MLB debut with a walk-off single in 2023. He joined the Padres this year at age 27, and had a nice year as a bench player, hitting .316/.390/.408 with 13 steals in 47 games, playing mostly in the outfield.
In the next round, we could also see former Royals pitcher Foster Griffin for the Guardians and Kris Bubic with the Dodgers.
Commission finds club guilty over nine-season period
Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, the league has announced.
The league also said an independent commission had found City guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to cooperate with its investigation.
‘I wouldn’t feel comfortable … I don’t think we deserved it’
Manchester United finished second to City in 2011-12
Wayne Rooney does not believe it would be appropriate for Manchester City to be stripped of titles for breaching Premier League financial rules, even if it gave him another Premier League winner’s medal, as that would be unfair of the City players and staff whose endeavours secured success.
City are waiting to find out what sanctions they will face after being found guilty of more than a hundred charges, with an array of potential punishments on the table. Rooney was part of the United squad in 2011-12 that finished second to City on goal difference after Sergio Agüero’s last-minute winner secured the Premier League trophy for Roberto Mancini’s side on the final day.
TORONTO, ON - JULY 18: The Toronto Blue Jays' World Series Commissioner's Trophy is seen before an MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on July 18, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Postseason baseball is back, and unfortunately the Detroit Tigers aren’t part of it. For some, that really kills the interest level, and I get it. On the other hand, sports are amplified by the bright lights of the playoffs and World Series, and there is little better than postseason baseball in my opinion. So, pick a team or just see whose bandwagon you feel like jumping on along the way. Even without the Tigers, it’s going to be a really fun month of baseball, and potentially instructive towards the challenges before the Tigers to get back.
All four Wild Card series will begin on Tuesday, September 29th. Each one is a best-of-three, with the two top teams in each league waiting for their divisional round opponents. The home team stays the home team for the whole series, and there are no off days to try and get to the full rounds without putting the top teams on the shelf for more than a few days.
Here are the times for both Game 1 and Game 2 of each series. If necessary, Game 3 schedules will be announced as required to take advantage of prime time.
2:00 p.m. ET Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
