Team to stick by driver pairing before regulation change
Wolff remains keen on signing Dutch world champion
George Russell will remain with Mercedes for next season after the Formula One team confirmed they would be sticking with their drivers in 2026. However, the length of the contracts signed by the Briton and his teammate Kimi Antonelli has not been specified, potentially leaving the Formula One team open to once more pursue Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for 2027.
The long-expected decision comes after a protracted period of negotiation with Russell, as Mercedes seeks stability going into the new regulations of 2026. The 27-year-old British driver has five wins in eight seasons in F1, including victory in Singapore, helping propel Mercedes into a fight for second in the world championship with Ferrari and Red Bull.
It was a very relaxed and pleased Montreal Canadiens owner who met the Montreal media before his team’s home opener. You could tell by his demeanor that with the Lane Hutson contract and the Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes extensions signed, a weight had been taken off his shoulders.
Although it was not complicated to put pen to paper with the duo of executives who both wanted to continue working on the rebuild they had started together, it was essential to do so. While there was still plenty of time left to get contract extensions done since their current deal took them to the end of the season, it made sense to do it now, especially with the outside interest Gorton was receiving in the last couple of years. His promotion to the rank of president of hockey operations had nothing to do with a fear of seeing him jump ship; he told Molson time and time again that he was happy in Montreal and wanted to stay. It was essentially done to reflect today’s reality in the NHL.
Molson spoke candidly about what the pair has achieved since he hired them late in 2021 for Gorton and early in 2022 for Hughes, when he was asked what their best move had been so far, though he replied:
It starts all the way up. After hiring Jeff, it was a coup to hire Kent, and then Martin St-Louis. We also made some trades to acquire first-round picks, which helped us build for the future. These trades have already borne fruit or will bear fruit in the future. It’s a lot of things; it’s all part of the plan.
- Molson on Hughes and Gorton's best move
It was a coincidence that both the Hutson deal and those two happened in such a short period of time, but these deals had been reached a little bit before Hutson’s, which came together last weekend. Understandably, the player extension was announced first, but once that was done, there was no reason to delay the announcement further.
The owner had a little laugh when he was asked if the team architects had followed the players’ lead and left some money on the table, before adding he was more than happy to pay them. It’s been a while since the general feeling has been so positive after the signature of an executive in Montreal. The last time a hire or contract extension in the front office was so well-received was when the organization appointed Chantal Machabee as the vice president of communications.
Nearly four years after Molson decided to bet on Jeff Gorton, an anglophone, to spearhead his rebuild, a move that was criticized by some, it’s safe to say that he has won his gamble. The Canadiens haven’t won anything yet, but they seem well on their way, and the business is thriving.
On four of the five goals scored with Annunen in the net, the goalie had little to no support from the Predators' defense in limiting the Maple Leafs' scoring chances.
"We probably weren't all that sharp around the front of the net," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "Those stick battles weren't quite to our standard. A little bit slow early."
The first goal was more so on Annunen as a long shot from the point by Jake McCabe zipped through traffic, hit the right post and went in.
The second goal was where the Predators lack of defense started showing.
On a rush into the Predators' zone, the Maple Leafs were able to get two players past the Predators' defense and Ozzy Weisblatt on the right side. That allowed William Nylander to make a cross-ice pass to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who tapped it in for the goal.
Nashville came back to tie the game in the second period, before Toronto took the lead off a goal from John Tavares, who scored from his knees right in front of Annunen. Roman Josi pressured Tavaraes into falling, but he had two Predator defenders on him when he had scored.
Josi also had an opportunity to clear the puck out of the crease before Tavares had scored.
The third goal saw Bobby McMann get in front of the Predators' defense, fire a shot, get his own rebound and put it away to make it 4-3. On the goal, it had looked like Brady Skjei and Cole Smith had given up on the play before McMann fired the second shot.
The fourth goal saw the Predators turn the puck over in the neutral zone and get caught too high, allowing the Maple Leafs to go on a 2-on-1.
Justin Barron missed on the diving poke check, and the Predators had a little bit of a window to possibly break up the goal as Matthew Knies went for the extra pass back to Auston Matthews. Jonathan Marchessault got back, but not in time to prevent the easy tap-in goal from Matthews.
The Maple Leafs scored three of their five goals, with Annunen in the net, from below the face-off circles, meaning that they had no issue getting to the net. They also had 12 high danger chances.
Outside of the goals, the shot totals, face-off battles, hits and even penalty minutes were all pretty even. If Nashville's defense had tightened up around the net, this could've been a different result.
The lapse also exposes just how critical Juuse Saros has been in the first three games of the season. Not only has the Predators' starter made 89 saves on 94 shots, but he has kept the Predators in all three of their games.
In Nashville's first two games, the team struggled in the second period, and it was Saros who allowed the Predators to have a chance to win to the end. Putting Annunen, the backup, in the net shows that the defense can't constantly rely on Saros to bail them out.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.
Los Angeles Dodgers starter Blake Snell has been nearly unhittable throughout the 2025 MLB playoffs.
After another dominant outing against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NLCS, Snell gave credit to Logan Webb and his short but impactful tenure with the Giants.
“Going to San Francisco, that’s where I learned to pitch,” Snell said in a recent interview with TNT Sports (h/t @mimic702 on X). “I was around Logan Webb, and man, he’s going seven innings like every game. And I would just talk to him, like, ‘How are you doing it? What are you thinking of?’ And he’s like, ‘Man, I’m just in the zone. You’re just not in the zone enough. You strike too many people out. You’ve got to get in the zone more. Still get strikeouts, but get in the zone. And by doing that, you’re going to get six, seven, eight, you’ll be able to go deeper in games.’
“That year in San Fran was so big for me, just being around Logan and really learning how to pitch.”
Webb has come a long way in his path toward becoming the Giants ace, leading all of baseball in innings pitched (207.0) in 2025.
Snell allowed just one hit and struck out 10, his playoff career best, in eight shutout innings as he led Los Angeles to a 2-1 victory over Milwaukee on Monday at American Family Field. The two-time Cy Young Award winner faced the minimum on just 103 pitches.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated postgame that it was tough for him to pull Snell and admitted he contemplated keeping the hot hand in to complete the job. Ultimately, the bullpen was called and nearly cost the Dodgers the game. Roberts referred to Snell’s performance as “special.”
Snell has yielded one run in just one of his 21 innings in October.
“The whole postseason, I’ve been pretty locked in, pretty consistent,” Snell told the media after Game 1.
The NBA season tips off in less than a week, and if you haven't finalized your fantasy basketball draft strategy, the clock is ticking! Finding hidden fantasy gems or high-upside late-round sleepers is the key to winning your league. While many managers focus on the top 100 players, true value often lies beyond that.
Fear not, because this in-depth fantasy basketball guide uncovers a number of players with an Average Draft Position (ADP) outside the top 100 who are poised to deliver sustainable fantasy value and become league-winning draft picks this season. Get ready to find your secret weapons and dominate your category leagues with these expert picks for fantasy basketball 2025-2026.
Fantasy Basketball Late-Round Sleepers
Zach Edey, Grizzlies (ADP: 118)
The obvious concern when it comes to Edey is the fact that he underwent offseason surgery, likely costing him at least the first few weeks of the season. While this drags his ADP down, it does not make him someone you need to avoid altogether. After a strong finish to his rookie season, it appears as though he is locked in as the starting center and, perhaps more importantly, will play closer to starter's minutes than he did for much of last season. If he can get to 28 minutes per night, his elite blocks upside, coupled with efficient scoring and strong rebounding numbers, could see him flirt with top-50 value on a per-game basis.
Dereck Lively, Mavericks (ADP: 110.6)
Despite the continued presence of Daniel Gafford, Lively is clearly the center the Mavericks want to prioritize alongside Anthony Davis. While he is coming off surgery himself, Lively has little competition for minutes at the moment, with Gafford sidelined due to an ankle injury. A lack of offensive versatility does limit his overall upside, as does the fact that he will be sharing the floor with multiple rebounding options, namely Davis, Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington. However, if he can stay healthy and continue to develop, playing 26 minutes per night is not out of the question, putting him firmly in the discussion to be a top 80 player when all is said and done.
Tari Eason, Rockets (ADP: 116.2)
It's much easier to make a case for Eason, given his proven per-minute upside. He finished the 2024-25 season as the 65th-ranked player in category leagues, in just 24.9 minutes per game. While the Rockets have increased the top-end talent, bringing in Kevin Durant, Eason should still feature prominently on a nightly basis. Fred VanVleet is likely to miss the entire season due to an ACL injury, meaning everyone on the roster will be doing a little more. Factoring in a slight increase in playing time for Eason, simple math would tell us that he could once again be a solid top-70 asset, typically available in the 10th round of many drafts.
Reed Sheppard, Rockets (ADP: 117)
Another beneficiary of the injury to VanVleet, it appears as though Sheppard will be the starting point guard come Opening Night. It will be a massive step up for the sophomore after averaging just 12.6 minutes per game during his rookie season, suiting up on 52 occasions. With such a small sample size, it's hard to get a good read on what he might be able to do in starter's minutes. With that said, he is a noted defender who has demonstrated the ability to run an offense. At this point in any category league draft, the reward typically outweighs the risk. Conservatively, Sheppard should be viewed as a potential top-80 player this season, with the upside to finish even higher, should his skill set translate better than expected.
Cason Wallace, Thunder (ADP: 124.9)
Wallace ended his second season in the NBA as a top-100 player in category leagues, albeit only just. He closed as the 99th-ranked player, thanks largely to the fact that he averaged 1.8 steals per game. Had it not been for the historic season laid down by Dyson Daniels, Wallace would likely have received more attention for his defensive exploits. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and we have a situation where the lack of media attention could work in the favor of fantasy managers. The Thunder roster remains basically unchanged this season, running it back after a memorable 2024-25 campaign. With that said, Wallace is probably the one player who could see an uptick in playing time, which can only help his overall appeal. Even with just two extra minutes, he could hypothetically flirt with top-70 value, making him a somewhat safe target outside the top 100.
Kyshawn George, Wizards (ADP: 140.1)
There is certainly an element of risk when it comes to considering George, if not only for the fact that he plays for the Wizards. Coming off a solid rookie season, George looks set to be handed a starting role this season, at least until Bilal Coulibaly returns to the court. He followed up his rookie campaign with a strong showing in the recent Summer League, as well as a promising preseason. Offense remains a big question mark, one that could make or break his season. He has the defensive chops to play a key role, but if he can't develop his scoring, his opportunities could remain limited. With that said, at pick 143, there is almost no risk involved, making him one of my favorite late-round targets.
Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz (ADP: 138.5)
Sensabaugh is another player who comes with risk, with Utah running one of the more unpredictable rotations in the league. Now in his third season, Sensabaugh has yet to establish himself as a key piece for the Jazz. In 20.2 minutes per game last season, he averaged 10.9 points and 2.2 three-pointers per game. However, through six preseason games, he has shown far more aggression, averaging 22.0 points, 1.0 steals and 3.7 three-pointers in 24.3 minutes per game. Given the lack of peripheral stats, it's going to be a fine line when it comes to Sensabaugh as a sustainable fantasy asset. But once again, taking someone this late in drafts eliminates all the risk.
Just under two weeks after announcing his retirement from the NHL, a former Philadelphia Flyers fan-favorite, of sorts, has resurfaced with an unsurprising new job in hockey.
On Tuesday, it was announced that former Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson, who retired after 17 NHL seasons on Oct. 1, had taken a position with ESPN, serving as an NHL analyst for the network.
Johnson, 37, will join his former Flyers coach, John Tortorella, as an analyst on the network, appearing alongside other media personalities like Kevin Weekes, Blake Bolden, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Ray Ferraro, Mark Messier, AJ Mleczko, T.J. Oshie, P.K. Subban, and Dave Jackson
The Flyers defenseman of two seasons, of course, played against the likes of Oshie, Weekes, and Subban at the NHL level, and should fit in on television without missing a beat.
"As a kid I idolized Thorne, Clement, Melrose, Levy & Buccigross. To call games with some of them on @espn is going to be surreal," Johnson posted to his X account after the news broke. "Can’t wait, let’s go!"
Johnson played parts of two seasons in Philadelphia with the Flyers, scoring three goals, three assists, and six points in 39 games.
The former Stanley Cup champion endeared himself to fans with his thoughtful praise of the Flyers organization and the city of Philadelphia, goofy antics behind the camera that made it into digital media content, and leadership for the young Flyers - specifically Jett Luchanko, who briefly lived with Johnson last season.
The Montreal Canadiens have a knack for making home openers memorable. No one does ceremonies quite like the Habs, and when you have to combine a home opener with a tribute to one of the best goaltenders in their history together, you’re in for a rollercoaster of emotions. They began with the tribute as Bob Gainey read an excerpt from The Game, one of the best hockey books ever written, penned by Dryden. There were several video highlights from the masked man's short but impressive career before the Jumbotron showed his teammates from the 70s, all standing behind the bench, looking up to the rafters. The emotion was palpable, and the crowd broke into one of the most heartfelt Ole. Ole, Ole ever heard.
The show then entered act two as the personnel was introduced. Martin St-Louis received an ovation that might have been louder than any he had in his playing days, and it was clear it touched him. Asked about it after the game, the coach said:
It was flattering. I appreciate the love I get from the fans, and I love them just as much. I’m proud to be behind the bench, I grew up here, I was a Habs’ fan, I love the fans and I know that when I talk to you, you give me the platform to speak to the fans, whether it’s a good or a bad question, you’re giving me a platform to communicate with our fans and I don’t take it lightly. I try to earn respect every day.
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The players were then all introduced on the ice to the song of their own choosing, but the crowd was so vocal that it was almost impossible to recognize the tunes. Putting the title of each song would have been a nice touch, but that’s my sole criticism. Otherwise, the Canadiens pulled off another grand ceremony and it was the perfect prelude to the game against the Seattle Kraken.
St-Louis The Teacher
The Habs had an optional skate on game day, but the coach was fully dialed in. He spent a few minutes by the board talking to Ivan Demidov and demonstrating a play. Less than 12 hours later, the young Russian put the teachings to use and replicated what his coach had shown him to set up the game's first goal.
He put on the brakes in a hurry and saw acres of space, which made it child’s play for him on his strong side to send a picture-perfect pass to Alex Newhook by the side of the net. It might have been the Newfoundlander’s easiest goal ever; all he had to do was tap the puck in, and he netted a goal on the 300th game of his career.
Asked if he cooked up that goal at the morning skate, the bench boss remained humble:
I didn’t necessarily draw it, but for a lefty, the area below the circles on the right is what I call the playmaking corner. For a righty, it would be on the other side. It’s crucial that when you’re in that spot, as much as possible, when you’re below the dot, that you bring the puck to your forehand quickly. Higher than that, you can keep it on your backhand, but the minute you get below, everything else will open up, if you understand that it’s your playmaking corner. We use him [Demidov] a lot there on the power play, so it’s essential that he has his puck on his forehand as much as possible so that he can send the pucks where the guys are open. If it’s not on the forehand quick enough, you’re going to miss some windows, and those windows are short.
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On Predictability
The coach has spoken at length since the start of camp about the need for his players to be predictable, not for the opponents, of course, but to their linemates. Sometimes, that takes time to happen, chemistry isn’t an instant receipe and in the second frame, twice the Zack Bolduc, Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher line was unable to exit their own zone because they didn’t anticipate what their linemate would do, it could have been minor, but it led to a tripping call on Mike Matheson which resulted in the Kraken’s power play goal.
Predictability is not easy for players who possess a very high hockey IQ and creativity, such as Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, for instance. They are so shifty and deceptive that they can create opportunities out of thin air, and that’s hard to predict. Whenever they are on the ice together, however, they don’t appear to catch each other off guard. There’s some definite chemistry there, which comes easier because both are so talented individually. One day, we may even see them on the same power play…
It Was A Rough Outing For Samuel Montembeault
Being a goaltender is not an easy task, especially not on a rebuilding team that likes to attack a lot, but tonight, Samuel Montembeault had a rough night. He gave up four goals on 22 shots, giving him a save percentage of just .818. In the third frame, he allowed two goals on just six shots, including one on a shot from far out that wasn’t deflected at all.
Later in the frame, when Alex Carrier drew a penalty, the goalie failed to notice and wasn’t coming out of his net for the extra man. It didn’t matter in the end as the Habs were able to equalize, but it was far from ideal.
Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney was in the house tonight, on scouting duty for Team Canada in preparation for the Milano Cortina Olympics. I can’t imagine that Montembeault is pleased with what he showed.
Overall, it was an entertaining night at the Bell Center with Demidov shining bright with two points, including the game-tying goal late in the third frame, and Cole Caufield sending everyone home happy with a beautiful game-winner in overtime. With this 5-4 OT win, the Canadiens are now 3-1-0 and have caught up to the Florida Panthers and the Bruins atop the Atlantic division with six points. Montreal will hold its practice at the Bell Centre this morning as its team picture day, and St-Louis and co. will play their next game on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.
Somewhere behind the puff of Michael Jordan’s cigar smoke, he’s still seething about an NBA MVP from a season he didn’t even play in.
Karl Malone winning the 1997 MVP by 11 more first-place votes and 29 more points won than Jordan was a big enough insult to him that he beat Malone’s Utah Jazz over six games in the NBA Finals, won the award the next season and then famously stole the ball from him with 20 seconds left before hitting the winning shot for his sixth ring in what was Jordan’s final game in a Chicago Bulls jersey. Watching the 1998-99 season while retired for the second but not last time must have irked Michael more.
History says Malone won his second MVP in 1999 – his first with Jordan out of the league. But that also was a lockout year in which the season was condensed to 50 games. Malone played 49, easily the least amount for an MVP.
The shortened season also helped Malone become the oldest MVP in NBA history at 35 years old. Enjoy the stogie, MJ. We’re rewriting history and giving the honor back to Jordan when he won the award at 34 in that ‘Last Dance’ Bulls season the year prior.
That still makes Jordan, as the new oldest MVP ever, three years younger than the age of 37-year-old Warriors superstar Steph Curry entering the 2025-26 season. Curry will be 38 in March and is going into his 17th season. Malone was in his 14th season when he was named MVP in 1999, and Jordan was in his 13th when he won the award in 1998.
Everything Curry does goes against historical norms. So would winning his third MVP. Just like every time the ball comes off his fingertips, there’s always a chance.
And a few league-wide changes to this upcoming season will already help him.
Steve Kerr and others within the Warriors have expressed their anger watching Curry’s shooting hand get smacked on his follow-through without a whistle being blown. The NBA this season, in collaboration with the Coaches Association, is implementing the high-five rule. Curry already was a beneficiary in the Warriors’ second preseason game, converting a four-point play against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Warriors’ first points in their fourth game of the preseason came from three free throws by Curry on a night where he was 12 of 13 at the line in three quarters.
Defenders also won’t be able to attack a shooter’s wrist after the completion of his follow-through. Curry frequently was the recipient of both defensive strategies last season while nursing a sprained thumb.
“I think it’ll help Steph every game because of the relaxed rules on that the last few years, everybody’s out there just trying to hammer him on the arm,” Kerr said on Oct. 2. “It’s a good change for him, it’s a good change for everybody.”
Curry shot below 40 percent on 3-pointers last year for only the second time in a full season, finishing at a paltry (sarcasm) 39.7 percent. That rule alone would have put Curry back above the 40-percent threshold with fewer misses. Another new one could also help.
The honest hooper inside of Curry refuses to let grenades at the end of quarters scare him from taking a shot. Now others will be incentivized to join him.
Starting this season, missed shots taken at least 36 feet with under three seconds left in the first three quarters will now count as a team attempt, no longer hurting an individual player’s field goal percentage. While others such as Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have shied away from the shot, Curry has taken 111 heaves for his career and has made six. This might not have as big of an effect on Curry’s stats as the other rule changes, but every little detail helps in chasing history.
The MVP for Curry and the Warriors as a whole will be H-E-A-L-T-H. Warriors fans ought to chant those six letters before every game.
Curry is the best-conditioned player in the NBA. His season also ended five and a half months ago from a hamstring injury, a soft tissue issue he had never previously dealt with. It also began back in the summer when Curry had to save Team USA at the Paris Summer Olympics to win gold.
Though Curry has averaged 72 games the last two years, ideally he’d play closer to 65 this season, the minimum for awards. The perfect sweet spot in recent history would be somewhere between the 66 games Joel Embiid played in his 2023 MVP season, and the 72 Nikola Jokic played in his 2021 MVP season.
Winning matters, too. The Nuggets won 47 games in Jokic’s first MVP season and were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. When Embiid took it from him, the 76ers won 54 games and were the No. 3 seed in the East. The latter number would be more than enough from the Warriors for Curry to be in the MVP conversation. Not 47.
That many wins would have been the reward of the No. 9 seed in the West last season. The magic number of wins the Warriors should be aiming for is 50, the same amount the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 seeds in the West just were.
Not even a glimpse of the finish line is in Curry’s sights, and yet, the upcoming season is the 10-year anniversary since he won his second straight MVP and became the first unanimous winner. His everyday why a decade later is in 20/20 vision.
“The work you put in, love of the game, being around great people in this organization. Still keeping winning as the priority,” Curry said at Warriors Media Day, talking about his evolution since then. “And blessed to still hopefully be in that situation for a couple more years.”
If Curry plays enough games, the Warriors win enough games and he resembles the player jolted to life by the powers of Jimmy Butler, he’ll be on the ballots. Curry’s stats to end the season with Robin at his side were comparable to or better than his first MVP season. Over his final 28 games, where the Warriors went 22-6, Curry averaged 27.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.3 percent overall, 40.8 percent from three and 92.4 percent on free throws. The bright lights were on and Curry was at center stage, where he thrives most.
Curry knew he had a chance to compete for another title soon after feeling Butler’s fit, and he has the same feeling again. Only on a better, but possibly more brittle, team.
History books are used to making room for Curry etching his name on its pages by now. The odds are more against him than ever, and the road he’s about to turn on has never been traveled. Curry has the keys in his hands and the show’s about to begin.
Milwaukee Brewers fans watch as Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto prepares to deliver in the first inning of Game 2 of the NLCS on Tuesday night at American Family Field. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
First things first: The fans in an outdoor stadium in Philadelphia are louder than the fans in an indoor stadium in Milwaukee. No contest.
They are respectful and truly nice here. They booed Shohei Ohtani, but half-heartedly, almost out of obligation. In Philadelphia, they booed Ohtani relentlessly, and with hostility.
Here’s the thing, though: It didn’t matter, because the Dodgers have silenced the enemy crowd wherever they go this October. The Dodgers are undefeated on the road in this postseason: 2-0 in Philadelphia, and now 2-0 in Milwaukee.
The Dodgers have deployed four silencers. In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow and Ohtani.
“It’s amazing,” Tyler Glasnow said. “It’s like a show every time you’re out there.”
The Dodgers won the World Series last year with home runs and bullpen games and New York Yankees foibles, but not with starting pitching. In 16 games last October, the Dodgers had more bullpen games (four) than quality starts (two), and the starters posted a 5.25 earned-run average.
In eight games this October, the Dodgers have seven quality starts, and not coincidentally they are 7-1. The starters have posted a 1.54 ERA, the lowest of any team in National League history to play at least eight postseason games.
“Our starting pitching this entire postseason has been incredible,” said Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations. “We knew it would be a strength, but this is beyond what we could have reasonably expected.
“There are a lot of different ways to win in the postseason, but this is certainly a better-quality-of-life way to do it.”
The elders of the sport say that momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher. In a sport in which most teams struggle to identify even one ace, the Dodgers boast four.
In the past three games — the clincher against the Phillies and the two here against the Brewers — the Dodgers have not even trailed for a full inning.
In the division series clincher, the Phillies scored one run in the top of an inning, but the Dodgers scored in the bottom of the inning.
On Monday, the Brewers never led. On Tuesday, the Brewers had a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first, but the Dodgers scored twice in the top of the second.
On Monday, as Blake Snell spun eight shutout innings, the Brewers went 0 for 1 with men in scoring position — and that at-bat was the last out of the game. On Tuesday, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a complete game, the Brewers did not get a runner into scoring position.
That is momentum. That is also how you shut up an opposing crowd: limit the momentum for their team.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers against the Brewers in the fifth inning Tuesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“I do think, with what we’ve done in Philly and in coming here, it doesn’t seem like there is much momentum,” Glasnow said.
Of the four aces, Glasnow and Ohtani were not available to pitch last fall as they rehabilitated injuries, and Snell was pitching for the San Francisco Giants.
In the 2021 NLCS, the Dodgers started Walker Buehler twice and Julio Urías, Max Scherzer and openers Joe Kelly and Corey Knebel once each. Scherzer could not make his second scheduled start because of injury.
Said infielder-outfielder Kiké Hernández: “We’ve had some really good starting pitchers in the past, but at some point we’ve hit a roadblock through the postseason. To be this consistent for seven, eight games now, it’s been pretty impressive. In a way, it’s made things a little easier on the lineup.”
In the wild-card round, the Dodgers scored 18 runs in two games against the Cincinnati Reds. Since then, they have 20 runs in six games.
“We said before this postseason started, our starting pitching was going to be what carried us,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “And so far, it’s been exactly that.”
The starters started their roll in the final weeks of the regular season — their ERA is 1.49 over the past 30 games — not that Hernández much cared about that now.
“Regular season doesn’t matter,” he said. “We can win 300 games in the regular season.
“If we don’t win the World Series, it doesn’t matter.”
The Dodgers are two wins from a return trip to the World Series. If they can get those two wins within the next three games, they won’t have to return to Milwaukee, the land of the great sausage race, and of the polka dancers atop the dugout.
There may not be another game here this season. They are kind and spirited fans, even if they are not nearly as loud as the Philly Phanatics.
“That,” Glasnow said, “is the loudest place I’ve ever been.”
The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to make Canada proud, but thus far, they are falling short in the American League Championship Series. They head to Seattle for the next three games of the best-of-seven series down 2-0, after the Mariners dumped them 10-3 at the Rogers Centre in Game 2 on Monday.
The Jays face long odds against the Mariners, the only one of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams to have never qualified for the World Series. The M’s have an 89% chance of erasing that dubious distinction if they can win two of the last five games.
It’s an interesting juncture for pro baseball in Canada, considering there’s a group canvassing the Montreal business community with the intent of bringing the Expos back to Quebec in the form of an expansion franchise. But this time is not yet comparable to 1992 and 1993, when the Jays won both their World Series appearances and the Expos were still thriving before leaving for Washington and becoming the Nationals in 2005.
In 1993, three future National Baseball Hall of Famers were in the Toronto lineup—Rickey Henderson, Roberto Alomar and Paul Molitor. And Joe Carter hit the walk-off homer that won the series and Game 6 at what then was called Toronto’s Skydome against the Philadelphia Phillies, inspiring the legendary “Touch ‘em all, Joe!” call from the late, great Ford C. Frick Award winner Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek.
The previous year, another Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield, smacked the series-winning double in the top of the 11th inning of Game 6 against the Braves at old Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium.
None of the above players were developed by the Blue Jays; they were all procured by then-GM Pat Gillick, who later was also elected to the Hall of Fame.
Are you sensing a pattern here? These players providing some of the top moments in Canadian baseball history were all short-timers in the Blue Jays organization.
It’s been 32 years since the last World Series win, and the Blue Jays have only been as far as the ALCS three times since then, including the current series. But Toronto remains the shining baseball light in Canada.
The Blue Jays are owned by Rogers Communications, which also has an 80% share of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment. Rogers bought 80% of the baseball team in 2000 for $112 million and acquired the other 20% four years later for a total price of $165 million. According to Sportico’s most recent MLB valuations, the Blue Jays are worth $2.39 billion. Which means the valuation trajectory for Canada’s baseball team looks like, yes, a hockey stick.
With revenues of $435 million in 2024, they can afford a player payroll of $280 million for luxury tax purposes, which ranks fifth in MLB. It’s no wonder the record 0f 94-68 was their best during the regular season since 2015. The money was good enough to tie the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. It was good enough to defeat the Yankees in a four-game AL Division Series.
They spent a good chunk of money earlier this year by signing superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million contract extension.
With at least 89 wins four of the last five seasons, the Blue Jays are perennially competitive. But barring a spirited comeback against the Mariners, Canadians will have to be satisfied with that.
A group called Players on Base is trying to raise capital and interest to bring baseball back to Montreal. They point to the Blue Jays financial growth as an example of what could be duplicated in Quebec with its French-speaking population and international ties this time around.
“What we tell the investors is that if you get in now the valuation of the franchise is just going to go up,” Michel Frison, who’s pounding the pavement on behalf of the effort, said in a recent Zoom interview. “Part of starting this group is just to understand the business. Every week we have a new lead.”
The Expos were the first MLB team in Canada, but they had bad luck and equally poor ownership. They lost a National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers after the strike-shortened 1981 season on a Rick Monday homer, and they were frozen in first place in 1994 when another strike wiped out the end of that season. They played in the cavernous Olympic Stadium, which seated 50,000 for baseball, and had an animated chicken flash across the video board when a pitcher tried to pick off a runner at first base.
The stadium had an umbrella roof that finally had to be locked closed for good because of mechanical problems. When then-owner Jeffrey Loria couldn’t get the government to build a new ballpark, he flipped the team for the Florida Marlins in 2002, and the Expos were run by MLB for their final three years in Montreal before moving to Washington, D.C.
In the team’s last season, when it was a fate accompli the Expos were leaving, only 748,550 attended “home” games, with 21 of them played in Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium.
The Big O is undergoing a government-sponsored renovation costing $870 million Canadian dollars ($619 million) that includes a fixed roof with a glass ring to allow in natural light. It’s slated to reopen and be ready for baseball again by 2028. But Frison knows that the Olympic Stadium is only a short-term fix and says a new ballpark has to be part of the mix.
When expansion comes again in MLB, the fee will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 billion, per commissioner Rob Manfred. A new ballpark will be expensive, too; the estimated price of the proposed closed-roof 33,000-seat facility for the A’s in Las Vegas is, likewise, $2 billion.
Frison said he spent 30 years in the aerospace industry and doesn’t personally have that kind of money, and he’s having a hard time finding it. “People are interested, but we’re looking for the lion owner,” he said. “We’re focusing forward and need that majority guy.”
That’s a lot of baseball movement needed north of the border to make every Canadian fan proud.
Sacramento and veteran point guard Russell Westbrook have agreed to a free-agent contract, a source confirmed to NBC Sports California. ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that the contract is one year, worth $3.6 million.
Can confirm the Sacramento Kings have agreed to a deal with former MVP Russell Westbrook, per source. @ShamsCharania first.
As it's been well-reported, the two have been in communication all offseason. Kings players were informed earlier this week about the impending signing.
It was important for Westbrook, a Los Angeles County native, to stay close to home. He played in Los Angeles, with both the Lakers and Clippers, from 2021 to 2024 before spending last season with the Denver Nuggets.
Since Sacramento traded De’Aaron Fox last season, the team has been searching to fill the void at point guard. The Kings signed Dennis Schroder this offseason, but they clearly want to secure as much depth as possible.
Westbrook declined his $3.4 million option with the Nuggets and became a free agent after one season in Denver, where he averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games. The single-season triple-double NBA record holder still has it, too, after recording the ninth-most in the league last season with four.
It remains to be seen what kind of role Westbrook will play with the Kings, especially after the signing of fellow veteran point guard Schroder, but the nine-time NBA All-Star certainly gives them valuable experience as they seek a playoff return.
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