For a second straight offseason, Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will be hoping to pick up a second-line center, and yesterday, Elliotte Friedman reported that Detroit Red Wings talented center and captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade. This story will have to be closely monitored, as Steve Yzerman, Detroit’s GM, doesn’t necessarily like that kind of request. It took Jonathan Drouin some time to get out of Tampa Bay when he demanded a trade. Of course, back then, Drouin was a youngster who didn’t have much clout in the league, but Larkin is anything but that.
The center is a 6-foot-1, 204-pound, left-shot player who has a 52.7% success rate at the faceoff dot and has put up 643 points in 808 career games. This past year, he put up 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points in 74 games while spending 20:12 on the ice. Of course, that kind of player is sure to generate a lot of interest on the market, and one could think the price tag will be very high, but Larkin is in the driver’s seat here. The player has a no-trade clause and can therefore pick his destination.
Would he like to play in Montreal? There’s been no indication one way or another, but there hadn’t been one that Noah Dobson wanted to before last summer’s trade happened either. For a player who has only played five playoffs in 11 seasons in the NHL, a team that just made it to the third round may sound like a very interesting destination.
If Yzerman decides to grant his captain’s request, he will, of course, want a sizeable return, and the Canadiens are one of the best placed teams to provide that. They have prospects, they have roster players and draft picks, and they’ve also got the cap room needed to take on Larkin’s contract.
The 29-year-old pivot will turn 30 at the end of July and is signed for another five seasons at a reasonable $8.7 M cap hit. While he may be a bit older, that would have been ideal; it’s easy to see a scenario in which Hughes is ready to put an attractive package on the table to acquire him.
The Habs could really use a left shot down the middle, and Larkin is the type of player who could help unlock Ivan Demidov’s full potential. He can play on the power play and the penalty kill; he can do it all. His acquisition would take a lot of pressure off Nick Suzuki’s shoulders and give the Canadiens a center line to be reckoned with and a real top-six.
Larkin may just have made it to the top of Hughes’ shopping list, but there are a few sizeable obstacles in the way. Detroit is a divisional rival, and Yzerman would likely prefer to send him elsewhere rather than within his own division, but never say never, as they say.
With a lack of appealing free agent options at left defense, the Philadelphia Flyers ought to seek out a creative deal on the NHL trade market.
To this point, most defensemen the Flyers have been linked to are right-shot veterans: a short-term stopgap like John Carlson or a late bloomer in Darren Raddysh.
On the left, Mario Ferraro is a fine option, but he is on the smaller side, seeks a long-term contract, and plays a brand of hockey that typically doesn't age well over the years, a la Nick Seeler.
A new name that is about to hit the trade market, however, is none other than Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. This one was a long time coming.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Nurse is 31, comes at a significant cost of $9.25 million against the cap, and is error-prone, much to the chagrin of Oilers fans.
That's fine, but he is still objectively an upgrade for the Flyers, wherever he fits on the blue line, and he won't cost all that much.
According to Sportsnet's Mark Spector, "Conversations with several current and former employees all lead to the same place: the Oilers are ready and willing to trade Nurse as soon as they are able.
"When he realizes that a trade is imminent, however, two sources have told Sportsnet that the Oilers’ preference would be to move Nurse before the start of next season."
The Oilers, who are running out of time to squeeze a Stanley Cup out of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl--they've already gone the distance with Nurse on the roster in two straight years--are assuredly eager to move Nurse's cap hit elsewhere to spread the wealth for their two superstars.
Edmonton badly suffers from a so-so defensive group, which plays behind a forward group totally devoid of passable depth.
Nurse, as a second- or third-pair defenseman, still has positive value, to be clear. He's 6-foot-4, is an extremely fluid athlete, and can play some offense despite taking a clear backseat to Evan Bouchard on power play duty.
Finances aren't a concern for the Flyers, either.
While Nurse has four seasons remaining on his contract, his base salary is $2 million in the upcoming season, and $1.2 million for the final three seasons, accompanied by a $6 million signing bonus for each of the four seasons.
That doesn't help the salary cap, but for the Flyers and Comcast, it's actually a fairly minimal financial commitment, especially when we assume that the Flyers continue to make the playoffs... with the help of Nurse.
The Flyers won't have anyone else to spend big money on anytime soon, either.
After Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are re-signed this offseason, the Flyers will need to re-sign Matvei Michkov next summer, Tyson Foerster next summer, and Porter Martone the summer after that.
For what may ultimately cost them a mid-tier draft pick and/or low-tier roster player, the Flyers can get themselves a Stanley Cup-tested veteran with athleticism and puck-moving ability.
Nurse won't struggle with the Canadian media spotlight or being typecast as a No. 1 defenseman with the Flyers, and he'd make for a solid insurance policy in the event something happens to Travis Sanheim.
And, for further appeal to Flyers fans, Nurse's uncle is Eagles Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb.
At the end of the day, Sanheim, Drysdale, Cam York, Nurse, and Rasmus Ristolainen are a solid group of five defensemen with varying skillsets, and after working some magic this past season, assistant coach Todd Reirden could very well do it again with another new face.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 11: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings skates up ice with the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Little Caesars Arena on April 11, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“Arseny Gritsyuk is seeking a multi-year contract extension with the New Jersey Devils, New Jersey Hockey Now has learned. Fresh off a solid rookie NHL campaign in which he recorded 13 goals and 31 points in 66 games, the 25-year-old Russian winger is looking to capitalize on his strong first season in North America.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
“Unless Hischier’s ask reaches extreme heights – I’m talking second or third highest AAV in the league high – there is no world in which the Devils will even consider a trade. Nor should they.” [Infernal Access ($)]
How might the Devils go about rearranging the bottom end of the lineup? [Devils’ Advocates]
Congrats to Patrik:
Druhý nejproduktivnější český hráč v NHL, legenda New Jersey Devils a trojnásobný bronzový medailista s národním týmem. 👑
Patrik Eliáš se stává novým generálním manažerem české reprezentace. 🇨🇿
Jon Cooper is this year's recipient of the Jack Adams Award, which is presented to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. pic.twitter.com/71BF8CSQdk
“Marcus Foligno walked into the Masonic Cancer Center in Minneapolis with his wife and kids expecting to tour the hospital, and walked out with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.” [NHL.com]
An offseason offer sheet primer here. Who might get one? Who could offer one? [Sportsnet]
On playing with teammates who speak a different language: “Chemistry, I don’t think that has anything to do with language. Whoever it is, you have different chemistry in a different way, (same) language or not.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
On Thursday, a project involving the NBA, San Antonio Spurs and Emirates unveiled a newly renovated space at Denver Heights Community Center. Jacob Tobey hosted a panel including NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, R. C. Buford, and Spurs players. Attendees involved NBA’s executive vice president, head of basketball operations James Jones, local politicians, families, and attendees of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA basketball camps.
Renovations included roof and ceiling repairs, fresh paint, new court flooring, a scoreboard, backboards, wall tile improvements, technology, and gaming equipment to the center’s gymnasium and multipurpose room.
Following the ceremony, a clinic took place involving local youth. They and the families visited the library and received an introduction to the technology.
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Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) practices before game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Karl-Anthony Towns has taken full control of the New York Knicks offense this postseason.
NY is essentially playing Towns as a point-center and allowing him to both distribute the basketball but also find his own shot depending on the matchup.
That method has worked incredibly well for the Knicks as they find themselves up 1-0 over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Not only is Towns playing great offense, though, but he was pretty impactful against the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on Wednesday night at the defensive end of the court.
His two-way ability has shined and in the win, the former Kentucky Wildcat felt his late mother’s presence.
“I don’t know what it was, but I just felt a calm and a peace that, I don’t know, had to be coming from the woman above,” Towns said on ESPN.
“I felt really confident about today, I felt good,” Towns said. “I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here. This is something that as a kid you always dream about. You always hope to be an NBA player, let alone to be in the NBA Finals.
“All day, it was just a weird feeling. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to play my Saturday AAU games and my Sunday AAU games. In a way, it felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun, it was really fun, and it was really comforting.”
His mother passed away in 2020 due to complications with COVID-19. The Knicks will suit up for Game Two of the Finals tonight in San Antonio and are 5.5-point underdogs.
Tweet of the Day
NEWS: Matchups for the 2026 ACC/SEC Challenge are set, per sources.
Ark @ UNC AU @ Clem Duke @ UF BC @ UGA Wake @ LSU Pitt @ Mizz SU @ OU OleMiss @ VT SC@NCSt FSU @ Tenn Texas @ Lville Bama @ Miami UK @ UVA GT @ MissSt Stanford @ A&M Vandy @ NDhttps://t.co/CH4tXkiAal
BOSTON - 1980: Andrew Toney #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during an NBA game 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 1980 NBAE (Photo by Ron Koch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Andrew Toney is somewhat overlooked today, which is really a shame.
Drafted out of the University of Lousiana by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1980, Toney quickly established himself as a superb offensive guard.
He was particularly lethal against the Boston Celtics, to the point where Beantown media called him The Boston Strangler.
He was a key part of the 1983 Philadelphia championship team, starting alongside Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving.
Sadly for Toney, his career ran into real problems after about five years. He was having serious pain in his feet, and he and the Sixer disagreed about the cause. Ultimately, he was found to have stress factures in both feet, and the last three years of his career were difficult, personally and professionally. His relationship with the 76ers deteriorated and has never fully recovered.
He retired in 1988, because he never recovered from his feet problems.
His contemporaries knew how good he was. Charles Barkley said he was the best player he ever played with, and since he was teammates with Malone and Erving, that’s really saying something. Larry Bird and Sidney Moncrief thought he was right there with Michael Jordan.
Here are some of his career highlights. Keep in mind that Toney was just 6-3 and most of his scoring was not near the basket. Nonetheless, he shot 50% for his career.
Farrell to remain as Ireland’s head coach until 2031
51-year-old says ‘best is yet to come’ for Ireland
Andy Farrell has signed a new deal to remain as Ireland’s head coach until 2031, removing any chance of England luring him back to Twickenham after next year’s Rugby World Cup. Instead, Farrell has opted to stay put in Dublin and will now preside over Ireland’s next two World Cup campaigns.
Farrell, who led the British & Irish Lions to a series win in Australia last year, has steered Ireland to two Six Nations titles, including a grand slam in 2023, and a historic Test series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand since replacing Joe Schmidt in late 2019. His latest five-year deal ends any speculation about a possible return to English rugby in 18 months’ time.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates in the locker room with the Bob Cousy Trophy after winning Game Four of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 25, 2026 at Rocket 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Karl-Anthony Towns did not arrive in New York needing to prove he could play, but the Knicks surely enhanced his game, and the partnership saw the Big Bodega reach a stage he could never quite grace during his time in Minneapolis.
If we’re talking legacies, Towns couldn’t have had a better start to building his. KAT was drafted with the No. 1 pick coming off one year of college ball at Kentucky. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year award. Would eventually partake in the All-Star game six times while on his way to earning three All-NBA selections.
And career-wide, Towns never took the pedal off the metal, boasting averages nearing 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists per game while shooting above 50% from the floor and nearly 40% from three.
That is a real résumé, to say the least. Winning an NBA championship with the Knicks, however, would make it read differently and put KAT in a completely different stratosphere.
Ask Towns himself, who has always made the loudest shooting case among modern bigs and has not even been a tiny shy about proclaiming himself an all-time great the GOAT at it.
“Honestly man, I ain’t gotta play like nobody. I’m me. I’m the greatest big man shooter of all time. That’s a fact,” Towns said back in December 2021, while still a Timberwolves hooper. “You can see the stats. I ain’t got to play like no one else. Everyone trying to find themselves to be the second version of me when I’m the first version. I don’t got to be the second version of someone else. I’m already an original. I don’t have to be a duplicate of someone else.”
Like it or not, the numbers surely support the argument. Towns became the first center to win the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2022, has cleared 42% from deep two different seasons separated by seven years, has notched more than 40% of his threes in six of his 11 years in the Association, and he’s now giving the Knicks a kind of frontcourt spacing and playmaking ability that both 1) Knicks fans spent years looking for, 2) pretended they could live without and win in the current basketball economy, and 3) was simply unheard of in KAT Land.
His Minnesota years were never empty, even though the franchise’s struggles made them look meager, and started to build a wrong narrative about Towns’ true talent.
Towns spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves, became the first bona fide face of the franchise after Kevin Garnett’s prime, and helped them reach the playoffs in 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The biggest breakthrough came in 2024, when Minnesota beat the defending champion Denver Nuggets in Game 7 and reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since Garnett’s 2004 Wolves did it.
Knicks have acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick via Detroit, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. pic.twitter.com/FafQlY48Y1
Towns grew up in New Jersey, starred at St. Joseph High School and returned to the area with the Knicks via trade before the 2024-25 season. In New York, his numbers carried immediate weight: 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 52.6% from the field, 42.0% from three and 82.9% from the line.
Now he is in the 2026 NBA Finals as a central piece and 1B to Jalen Brunson’s 1A. KAT entered the series averaging 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the playoffs while shooting 57.2% from the field and 48.9% from three, then opened his first-ever finals with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in New York’s Game 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs. That’s all FanDuel needed to turn the Knicks into the new favorites to win the title, listing them at -134 odds.
Speaking of legendary big-man shooters, it’s fair to say that a ring might not place Towns in Dirk Nowitzki’s tier. Dirk still has an MVP award, a Finals MVP, 14 All-Star selections, 12 All-NBA selections, and also won a title in 2011, leading the underdog Mavs team against the mighty Heatless.
But a ring would make Towns a champion in New York, and bulk up an already-packed résumé and help him overtake a few big shooters out there. Outside of Dirk, it’s fair to say that KAT would have done more than enough to consider him a better big-boy shooter than walking-glass Joel Embiid, perhaps the second-best ever only behind Dirk (best shooting PF) and legitimately the No. 1 and undisputed top shooting center in history, breezing past Nikola Jokic.
On top of that, and with a title under his belt, Towns would no longer be just labeled an elite shooting big with a questionable playoff track record and just a few monster regular seasons. He would be the Knicks center who helped end a title drought dating back to 1973 alongside Jalen Brunson and the rest of the Manhattan Mob. He won’t be even remotely close to joining the absolute best centers to ever grace hardwood courts around the L—although he will have a solid case to crack the top-20 easily—but he will once and for all get his name legitimazed and shut all of his naysayers’ mouths in one fell swoop.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins protects the net against the Edmonton Oilers at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Stuart Skinner Born: Nov 1, 1998 Height: 6-feet 4 inches Weight: 215 pounds Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Catches: Left Draft: Third round pick (78th overall) in 2017 by the Edmonton Oilers 2025-26 Statistics: With Edmonton – 23 games (11-8-4 record, 2.83 GAA, .891 save%, 2 shutouts). With Pittsburgh – 27 games (12-9-5 record, 2.99 GAA, .885 save%) Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent on July 1
Story of the Season
For the first time, a joint player review! It’s more like a ‘Penguin veteran goalie’ review day, which was Tristan Jarry when the season started. Jarry played well for the Pens at the beginning of the year (9-3-1 record, 2.66 GAA, .909 save%) only to see a shocking trade made seemingly out of nowhere on December 12th that sent him to Edmonton for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and a 2029 second round pick.
In that moment, the future of the crease in Pittsburgh was changed. Skinner fit into Jarry’s place as part of the goalie rotation with Arturs Silovs, alternating in and out of the lineup almost every other game.
It turned out to be the perfect timing for the Pens to cut ties with Jarry and his onerous contract. The negative patterns of his career – namely injury and second-half decline – ended up repeating once again this season. Within three games of joining the Oilers, Jarry got hurt and was out for nearly a month. Once back, his play steadily regressed and he lost the position of being the Edmonton’s starting goalie by March. Jarry was only called on for one playoff game, where he took an overtime loss in Edmonton’s Game 4 against Anaheim.
On the other side of the equation, Skinner wasn’t tremendous but performed better statistically than Silovs for much of the season. That allowed Skinner to eventually nudge ever-so-slightly to the front of the line to earn being the Pens’ starting goalie at the beginning of the playoffs. Skinner performed fairly well against the Flyers in Games 1 and 2, allowing only five total goals – but his team wasn’t sharp and lost both games. Skinner was shakier in Game 3 where he gave a couple of questionable goals, and four total in another loss. At that point he was benched for the remainder of the series when the team gave Silovs a shot.
Skinner was at his best for the Pens in January, providing some very sturdy play and winning seven of his eight starts. No other month was particularly impressive on paper, but considering the Pens finished three points ahead of ninth placed Washington in the standings an elevated January performance stands out as one of many factors that helped make Pittsburgh into a playoff team. Had Skinner had his fairly usual type of record, say a 4-3-2 January, that would have meant four less points in the standings. There’s no shortage of little variables that all combined to add up to a successful season for the team at large so that period for Skinner could be seen as just as important as anything else an individual contributed along the way (including going back to a 30 save on 31 shot night on 12/30 in a 5-1 win against Carolina that stands out as perhaps Skinner’s finest game as a Penguin).
The tale of the tape regarding GSAA for the two goalies traded for one another was just about the same until the Olympic break. Skinner ended up being pretty strong at +5.35 GSAA overall in 27 games as a Penguin and +9.05 GSAA on his entire season. Jarry, as tends to be his calling card, fell apart over the second half of the season. Jarry ended up with a -3.41 GSAA for his campaign, a tremendous fall from his +10.2 peak in late-January.
In the end, perhaps fittingly, the story ended the same for both goalies – they each watched from the bench as their respective teams lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Skinner’s advanced numbers might give him a little more credit than his reputation suggests. His save percentage wasn’t impressive but was better than the expectation (dashed blue line in the bottom right). Now with the benefit of time passing by, it’s easy to see he was miscast in Edmonton as a 50-60 game No. 1 starter role he filled from 2022-25. Hopefully on his next team he can slot in as a 1B or backup and he will have a chance to shine in the right situation. Some rumors already are out there that Ottawa may or should be interested in him, which might be a good spot. If I were his rep, I’d probably keep an eye out for what teams like Florida, Tampa and Winnipeg might be looking for as clubs that potentially seeking a secondary goalie option this summer.
As for Jarry, well, there’s no nice way to put it, his declining level of play combined with his contract is a massive issue for the Oilers moving forward. He was brought into be the solution and ended up making the situation even worse than it previously was. Whether it was physical, mental or some combination of both, the change of scenery did little to alter what’s become the downward slope of his career.
Skinner was slightly better than Silovs when it came to high danger save percentage (.775% for the Latvian), though neither were particularly good relative to the rest of the NHL goalies at large. All other things fairly equal, that slight advantage is a big reason on what helped to give Skinner the edge in being named the team’s No. 1 goalie at the start of the playoffs. (For his part, Jarry was pretty strong at high danger shots, stopping 82.5% of them. However, his mid-range and long-range numbers were absolutely atrocious and among the worst in the league.)
There’s not a lot to question at this point, GM Kyle Dubas made it clear at the end of the season that his “full expectation” is that Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist will be competing for an NHL roster spot next season. It doesn’t take a lot of reading between the lines to figure out that Skinner isn’t a part of Pittsburgh’s plans moving forward in order to open up that spot for a younger goalie to step into it.
Ideal 2026-27
In this instance, Dubas achieved an ideal outcome as far as juggling the Penguin veteran goalie situation. At the beginning of the season they had Jarry’s inconsistent play and $5.375 million annual cap hit on the books through 2027-28, they were able to drop that with no pain and create a clear runway for the Penguins to elevate Murashov into the NHL next season if he’s ready for it.
By making another move to flip Kulak as part of the Jarry return over to Colorado, Pittsburgh now has mined Sam Girard and two future second round picks for what was once Jarry at the start of the season. It’s difficult to imagine anything better than that coming into the year, considering the Pens had waived Jarry with no takers and had to assign him to the AHL in 2024-25. To turn that impediment into actual assets was an impressive feat.
As for Skinner, he should be alright to receive interest on the free agent makr and get to pick his own spot for next year to continue his career. With Jarry, the buzz seems to be that Edmonton will be bringing him back next year.
Bottom line
Jarry did well enough at the start to make Edmonton want to acquire him, Skinner’s play with the Pens was unremarkable but mostly fine splitting starts for the rest of the season. The Pens turn the page on their goalie situation and are primed for the future with new goalies that could perform better than what Jarry/Skinner have given them over the past couple years.
PensburghGrade: C on player performance, A+ for the managerial maneuvering behind it.
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Blue and orange are pretty popular colors around New York City these days.
For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals, and after a thrilling Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, one thing’s for certain — even if basketball wasn’t your thing before, we’re all Knicks fans now, and we have to dress the part.
Luckily, the world of sports merchandise goes far beyond jerseys and a lot of what’s available looks just as at home on the streets of NYC as it does in the stands at MSG, and naturally, with the Knicks making a run this deep into the playoffs, fashionable merch is in high demand.
Both in store and online, Knicks gear is flying off the metaphorical shelves.
“I feel like we made the best bet ever,” Danielle Snyder, the co-founder of DannijoPro, a premium label that combines fashion and sports fandom, told The Post ahead of Game 2. The brand’s Knicks bestsellers include the Game Day tee, satin bomber jacket and and a letterman half zip with a crocheted collar, but Snyder notes that it’s been difficult to keep things in stock and many of its top products are currently sold out.
Brooke Shields (r) and daughter Rowan Henchy were spotted in DannijoPro Knicks gear during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. courtesy of DannijoPro
She cites “the power of the Knicks brand” as a reason why DannijoPro’s designs have caught on with regular New Yorkers and famous fans alike. Gary Vaynerchuk and Spike Lee have received custom-made pieces from DannijoPro and Brooke Shields and her daughter Rowan Henchy were spotted in DannijoPro at The Garden.
DannijoPro co-founder Danielle Snyder worked on a custom jacket for Knicks superfan Spike Lee. courtesy of DannijoPro
“It’s not just a garment…” Snyder said. “It’s a premium product that’s tied to emotion, experience, a specific roster, historic run.”
Terez, founded by Zara Tisch, is another brand in the premium sportswear space. Its Knicks bomber jackets, baby tees, and crewneck sweaters have been bestsellers throughout the recent postseason run.
“I never knew I wanted to even be in the sports category, but our mission has always been about bringing people together,” Tisch said. “In the male-dominated industries, we need to celebrate the women behind the athletes, the women at home, the women in the field and the women on the team.”
Knicks fans aren’t just searching for new merch; vintage Knicks gear is in-demand, too.
“After last year, which was an incredible run, this year has doubled that,” Michael Spitz, owner/operator at the East Village vintage shop Mr. Throwback, told The Post.
Michael Spitz, the owner of Mr. Throwback in the East Village, says the store has shipped out over 100 online orders in the past week. Emmy Park for NY Post
Mr. Throwback stocks vintage hats, T-shirts and more, in addition to new customs the shop is designing and selling.
“You can’t walk into any other store and find what you want,” Spitz said. “You would need a DeLorean to take it back to 1994 and go to Sports Authority or Champs or Modells and buy it, but you could buy it now.”
DANNIJOPRO
DannijoPro
New York-based label Dannijo, known for statement crystal work, bold silks and powerful storytelling, is taking fandom fashion to a new level with Dannijopro — “a new era for premium fandom.” The officially licensed NBA gear is inspired by the founders’ “love for sport, style, artistry and nostalgia with the power of being on a team.”
While styles are selling out quickly, these are still available in most, if not all, sizes:
The Captains Crewneck ($115.00)
The Letterman Pull-over ($275.00)
SHOP DANNIJOPRO
Terez
terez
Terez is a woman-owned sportswear brand catered toward women “designing clothing the fan wants to wear not only to the stadium, but during their everyday lives,” per founder Zara Terez Tisch. The brand counts Anne Hathaway among its famous fans; Hathaway was spotted at MSG last year in a Terez x Knicks bomber jacket.
While that style is sold out (as are many of the brand’s other Knicks best sellers), these are still available to add to your cart now:
Unisex NY Knicks Sweater in Blue Tie Dye ($298.00)
Knicks Technicolor Crew ($165.00)
New York Knicks Marquee Stripe Crew ($198.00)
NY New York Knicks Embossed Crew in Light Gray ($230.00)
You don’t have to be in NYC to shop vintage from East Village shop Mr. Throwback. The brand’s vintage and custom designs are available to shop online, too. In fact, they’ve been fielding more online orders than normal since the Knicks secured their spot in the NBA Finals.
SHOP MR. THROWBACK
New York or Nowhere
New York or Nowhere
It will always be New York or Nowhere, but right now, it’s NBA Finals or Nowhere. The iconic NY brand dropped some new Knicks-inspired designs especially for the Finals, including “The Finals or Nowhere” tee and a “Knicks 6th Borough (Finals Edition)” design.
The NBA Finals pieces are available to preorder now, but if you’re looking for something in stock, these pieces are available in a range of sizes now:
Knicks Always Crewneck ($145.00)
Knicks Downtown Varisty Jacket ($315.00)
Knicks Trophies Hoodie ($155.00)
SHOP NEW YORK OR NOWHERE
Mitchell and Ness
Mitchell and Ness
Mitchell and Ness is one of the leading brands for licensed athletic apparel, and if you’re looking for a vintage jersey, this is the place to get it. In addition to fun New York-themed T-shirts, you can snag jerseys from every era of Knicks basketball, from the ’50s through the early ’10s.
New York Knicks Cream Concrete Apple T-Shirt ($50.00)
Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks 2010-11 Blue Swingman Jersey ($150.00)
New York Knicks Black Hardwood Classics Coffee T-Shirt ($38.00)
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Faherty x Jalen Brunson
Faherty
Ahead of the NBA Finals, Faherty teamed up with current NY Knicks captain Jalen Brunson on a capsule collection with seven pieces.
Most of the pieces in the collab are only available in one size and have extremely low stock, but this hoodie with Brunson’s personal mantra — “the magic is in the work” — is available in nearly every size offered. If you’re looking for a cozy way to show off your Knicks fandom, this might be it.
Jalen Brunson High Standard Fleece Hoodie ($198.00)
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Off Season
Fanatics
Founded by NFL wife Kristin Juszczyk, inspired by designs she’d create for herself and other NFL WAGs, Off Season is “a new vision for sports-inspired style” that has expanded into the NBA. Off Season’s Knicks designs blend sport and style seamlessly for your new favorite blue and orange pieces perfect for any season.
New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Unisex Track Pants ($185.00)
New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Women’s Halter Top ($105.00)
New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Unisex Standard Puffer Jacket ($375.00 $265.00)
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Guizio
Guizio, Getty Images
Just a few weeks after the brand went viral when Kylie Jenner wore one of its Perfect Classic Tanks on Celebrity Row, Guizio dropped its New York Forever Shrunken Hoodie ($168) — a cozy, cropped zip-up hoodie in Knicks blue with an orange applique.
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Jill Martin
Jill Martin
Temps are rising in NYC, but if you’ll be watching the games from home, a blanket hoodie from Jill Martin is the perfect way to relax and cheer on the Knicks from the comfort of your own couch. The brand calls it “the best hoodie in the world” and notes it’s “the perfect blend of lounge and streetwear.”
Just in time for the NBA Finals, the brand dropped a new hoodie with a New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals embroidered chest design in four different colors.
New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals Unisex Blanket Hoodie ($89.00)
New York Knicks Regulation Size Fanny Pack ($49.00)
New York Knicks Remix Logo Cropped Sherpa Lounger Jacket ($210.00)
New York Knicks Cropped Sherpa Hoodie ($99.00)
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Daphne
Daphne
While “Giggly Squad” host Paige DeSorbo’s fashion line Daphne doesn’t have anything outwardly sporty among its catalogue of “ready to lounge” basics, Knicks fans can get free orange embroidery on white or navy Hannah tees ($68.00) with the code GOSPORTS.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 19: Henri Veesaar #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a dunk during the first half against the VCU Rams in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Barring a trade involving the selection, the Boston Celtics are currently slated to hold the 27th overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
This will mark just the second time in franchise history that the team has selected from this exact draft position. The first instance came in 2018, when Boston accomplished precisely what it hopes to replicate this year. With the pick, the Celtics selected Robert Williams out of Texas A&M, a raw but immensely talented big man who eventually developed into one of the NBA’s premier defensive anchors. Williams not only became a cornerstone of Boston’s defense but also served as a key asset in the trade that brought Jrue Holiday to the organization.
There are a ton of trade rumors circulating around this time every year so in this world (article) where trades are turned off, let’s look at some potential big man options that could be there at pick 27.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 06: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies is introduced before playing against the Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Tarris Reed Jr. may not be one of the flashier prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft class, but he has quietly established himself as one of the most dependable and NBA-ready big men projected to be available in the late first round.
After transferring from Michigan to UConn, Reed put together a breakout campaign that showcased many of the traits NBA teams covet in a modern role-playing center. Reed possesses the size, strength, and physicality necessary to compete against professional frontcourts from day one.
Reed’s greatest strength is his work in the paint, particularly as a rebounder and rim protector. His 24.5 defensive rebound percentage and 14.2 offensive rebound percentage, both ranked in the 82nd percentile illustrating how he can consistently impact games by controlling the glass on both ends of the floor. Reed uses his strength and positioning to carve out space and secure possessions. His motor rarely wavers, and he embraces the physical battles that come with playing center.
Defensively, Reed is an effective shot blocker who relies more on timing and positioning than pure athleticism. Reed does an excellent job protecting the rim, relying on both strong positioning and verticality while also possessing the ability to elevate and make plays as a weak-side help defender. Although drop coverage projects as his ideal defensive scheme at the next level, he has shown impressive fluidity on the perimeter for a player weighing 265 pounds. Several of his steals this season came from jumping passing lanes near the top of the key and turning those opportunities into transition dunks. His average of three stocks per game (two blocks and one steal) highlights the quick hands, instincts, and reaction time that should translate well to the NBA.
Offensively, Reed thrives in the role of a traditional center. He is a powerful screen setter who creates space for ball handlers and excels as a roll man in pick-and-roll situations. He shot 69% at the rim last season and has also shown an array of different finishes around the paint area. One of the more encouraging developments in his game has been his growth as a passer. Reed has shown an improved ability to read defenses from the high post and make quick decisions, a skill that should help him fit seamlessly into NBA offenses that value ball movement and decision-making from every position. He posted a career high 17.8 assist percentage last season which ranked in the 95th percentile for his position. He should be ready to go day one as a handoff passer.
The primary concerns surrounding Reed revolve around his perceived potential as an older prospect and limited offensive game. For a team like Boston, however, Reed’s strengths should outweigh those things. It would be astronomically good for Reed’s career if he was to develop a reliable three ball, but I just don’t think he needs it.
The Celtics have consistently valued intelligent, physical players who understand their role and contribute to winning without requiring touches. Reed checks each of those boxes. If he can do the hustle/dirty work big man things and make smart passes for a playoff team he will be just fine.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 19: Henri Veesaar #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts in the second half against the VCU Rams during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Originally from Tallinn, Estonia, and developed through the prestigious Real Madrid system before coming to the United States, Henri Veesaar emerged as one of the more intriguing international big men in college basketball.
Offensively is where Veesaar will make his mark, and his greatest strength is his versatility. He is a legitimate shot maker at the big spot who can knock down three-pointers, particularly in pick-and-pop situations (1.24ppp), while also possessing touch around the rim and in the mid-range. The accuracy at which Veesaar converted his attempts as a player that shot an array of shots from every distance was really impressive. His 67.7 2-pt percentage, Relative True Shooting percentage (9.9), and Effective field goal percentage (66.7%), all ranked in the 98th percentile or higher last season.
Any way you want Veesaar to score, he has the skills to do so. Unlike many shooting bigs, he is comfortable putting the ball on the floor for a few dribbles, attacking closeouts, and making the extra pass when defenses rotate. He also flashed the potential to be more than just a handoff passing big. He does a good job of connecting the team and getting the ball to guards quickly to keep the action going, but he has some rip and run reads that are super fun.
He isn’t a great athlete, but he was still able to be really effective as a finisher at the rim. He can be a vertical spacer catching lobs and someone who shows touch down there with hooks and floaters. He also plays with extreme fire and an intensity that I see every time I watch him. Defensively, Veesaar isn’t going to be an explosive shot blocker, but he does have the height and wingspan/standing reach to be solid down there. He played drop most of the time at UNC, and I expect that to be his main coverage in the NBA. I thought he moved solidly enough for a player his size but not well enough to switch onto guards of course and even get out to stretch bigs effectively. He can really benefit from a team at the next level honing in on his closeout technique as I think he can be so much more impactful there.
Veesaar cleaned the glass well last season, posting a 21.9 defensive rebounding percentage. Even though he was a monster in this aspect for the majority of the season, there were certain matchups that could negate his size on the boards with seals and very physical play. From an NBA perspective, Veesaar projects as the type of center every team is searching for: a floor-spacing big who can pass, move the ball, and fit into modern offensive systems. His combination of size, shooting touch, and feel gives him a relatively high floor, while continued physical development is essential for him growing his game at the next level. The biggest questions revolve around strength, physicality against NBA-caliber centers, and whether his defensive mobility will hold up against the best of the best.
If Veesaar can show enough of the skill and shot making ability to get him on the floor early on and work through some of the physical and defensive stuff, he can turn into a really good pro.
Chris Cenac Jr. | 6’10’’ – 240 | Houston | 19
9 pts | 8 rebs | 24 minutes | 48/33/62 | 54.6 TS%
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 13: Chris Cenac Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars celebrates against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half during the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center on March 13, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a world of superheroes like Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman, 19-year-old Chris Cenac Jr. is Potential-Man. He arrived at the University of Houston as a five-star recruit after starring at Isidore Newman and Link Academy, where he built a reputation as a high-level finisher, rebounder, and emerging perimeter threat.
His profile blends rare physical tools, developing skill, and a still-evolving sense of consistency, making him one of the more intriguing big men in the 2026 NBA Draft class. Offensively, Cenac is best described as a face-up big with the upside to have real shot making versatility. He is comfortable operating from the elbows and perimeter, where he can attack closeouts, take straight-line drives, or rise into mid-range jumpers after relocating to open space. His shooting mechanics are generally considered clean and projectable, and he has shown enough perimeter confidence, spot-up threes and occasional pull-ups, to suggest real long-term floor-spacing potential if his efficiency stabilizes.
However, he is not yet a consistent self-creator, and much of his scoring comes from transition runs, cuts, putbacks, and finishing plays as a roll man or lob threat which can give a team a reason to play him early while he develops. His athleticism and motor on the glass strike me as the most translatable skills for Cenac off the jump. His 26.1 defensive rebound percentage illustrates his glass cleaning ability.
Defensively, Cenac offers more upside than polish, but I cannot express how special his movement skills look on some possessions.
His length, agility, and vertical pop allow him to protect the rim in spurts, rebound outside his area, and switch onto smaller players. He also has some impressive plays in two on one situations, shutting down multiple options as he moves. At Houston, he was often deployed in a physical, defense-first system that highlighted his activity level and rebounding instincts more than pure shot-blocking dominance. He does not yet anchor a defense consistently, but he shows the tools to develop into a multi-positional defender who can play both drop coverage and switch-heavy schemes depending on matchups. The main concerns are strength and discipline; he can get pushed off his spots by more powerful bigs and can drift into foul trouble or over-aggression on closeouts.
Because of the range of outcomes his potential brings, evaluators generally view him as a first-round talent with real long-term upside, but also a player who will need patience and development before fully translating his tools into reliable NBA impact which may cause him to slide on draft night. Boston is looking for contributors right now, but at some point, the value and intrigue might align.
There was no tournament program with his name, no first name even among the starters at the scorer’s table.
More than a decade later, Tom Crean still blends shock and awe at the first impression of OG Anunoby, then an unknown, lightly recruited three-star prospect, per 247Sports, not inside the nation’s top 200 in the 2015 class.
“We saw him for the first time in Atlanta, at an Under Armour tournament,” Crean told USA TODAY Sports. “We didn’t know his name; wasn’t even in the program.
“We go see the book, it just says ‘Anunoby.’”
Crean remembers thinking, “... we had to find out his name.”
Now, the entire NBA knows the Anunoby name — from rookie-year starter to eventual NBA champion with Toronto to current glue-man for the surging New York Knicks.
He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 12th straight postseason win, and will again be an X-factor Friday in Game 2 in San Antonio.
“He's a product of when the ball is moving at a high level, like New York is doing, he can score, he can finish, he can do all that,” Crean said of Anunoby, one of the 16 NBA pros with contracts totaling more than $1.4 billion to hone their crafts under Crean in college.
“What separates him defensively are these four things: his remarkable intelligence, excellent instincts, he’s a very good anticipator and is always on-balance. He can absorb contact because he’s got great contact-balance.”
Those are all elements Crean remembers lurking near the surface but hardly unlocked during that summer recruitment, featuring Crean’s attendance at every one of Anunoby’s summer-circuit events in an Indiana Hoosiers class to feature three eventual pros: Anunoby, Thomas Bryant and Juwan Morgan.
“He’s from (Jefferson City) Missouri, University of Missouri didn’t even recruit him,” says Crean, a college basketball analyst for ESPN also doing work for NBA Radio. “Once we saw him in Atlanta, and once I saw the film… I was intrigued in person and sold off the film and the phone call we had.
“We went everywhere he was that summer. I personally went to every one of his tournaments.”
Still wistful, Crean knows Anunoby’s Indiana career is a bit paradoxical. There are just 50 career games, injuries robbing 18 from Anunoby’s 2016-17 sophomore campaign, and a mere 10 career starts.
“He has unbelievabe intelligence and basketball intelligence to go with great competitive stamina,” says Crean, remembering his Hoosiers beat out George Mason, Georgia, Iowa and Ole Miss to sign the 6-8, 220-pound Anunoby. “He doesn't wear down.
“He grew into that with us, but we didn't get to see the best sides of it. But his freshman year, he really came on in January and was a huge part of why we won the Big Ten championship and went to the Sweet 16.”
Today, Anunoby and Crean still talk.
In the hours Thursday morning after the Knicks’ near wire-to-wire win in the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance this millennium. They swapped phone calls and texts.
Routine, Crean explained.
“Our conversations aren’t always basketball-driven,” Crean says. “I send those guys a lot of stories or articles I read about life. OG is in the top three of people in my life of who if he sees something interesting, he sends it to me. He's a very introspective, loyal, thoughtful person. Always trying to get better. He does the same for me.
“Then, we might discuss it over text or a call. I always end a call with praying for him, I do that with all these guys (Crean coached and with whom he maintains relationships). Ultimately, that’s what it’s about more about than anything else. Anthony (Edwards) is the same way; we don't see each other as much but when you talk to them, you pick up right where we left off.
"I love OG and love his family and love how much he loves my family.”
The court invader will be banned from all NBA arenas for life [Getty Images]
Major sports events present an "enormous platform to do stupid things", says NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
A spectator ran on to the court during game one of the NBA Finals in San Antonio on Wednesday, with a young man filming himself on his phone as he approached Victor Wembanyama.
He stopped in front of the San Antonio Spurs star, without appearing to make contact with the 22-year-old Frenchman, before two security guards swiftly bundled him away.
He was arrested on charges of intentionally interfering with a lawful gathering, and criminal trespass for entering the court area despite having notice that such entry was prohibited.
An NBA spokesperson confirmed that the court invader and a second individual will receive a lifetime ban from all NBA arenas. The league did not disclose what role the second individual played.
"I've never been in that situation, I didn't know how to act," said Wembanyama, the NBA's defensive player of the year.
"It really surprised me, almost as much as that time where a bat crossed the court," added the France international, referring to an incident during a Spurs game in January 2024.
Commissioner Silver said: "I even hesitate to describe that person as a fan. They seemed to have an ulterior motive for doing so.
"It's unfortunately part of all sports," he added.
"I think the other side of the coin of global attention is that somebody realises that there's this enormous platform to do stupid things. The consequences are dramatic if you do this."
Silver also said extra security will be required at New York's Madison Square Garden if US President Donald Trump attends a game later in the NBA Finals.
Trump said he will take up an invite from New York Knicks owner James Dolan and "maybe do both" game three on Monday and game four on Wednesday.
The NBA incident comes a week before the start of football's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Pitch invaders have been increasingly common in football, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo having been targeted for selfies on multiple occasions.
There have been at least three further incidents during Miami games in the US and Canada this season.
Messi and Portugal rival Ronaldo are set to play in their sixth World Cup, with their group games being played in the US.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said it was "a concern" that five people made it on to the pitch during their win over Turkey at Euro 2024 in Dortmund.
"Today the intentions of the fans were good," said Martinez. "But you [must] understand there's a difficult moment if their intentions are wrong."
A pitch invader also made contact with Ronaldo as he was warming up for a Nations League game against Germany last June.
Babe Ruth’s move from the Red Sox to the Yankees was rumored to have cursed Boston for years. Photograph: AP
It’s a Chicago legend, nurtured like a hot dog with everything except ketchup. During the 1945 World Series, local bar owner William Sianis brought his pet goat, Murphy, to a game between the hometown Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. Murphy was denied entry, because he smelled. Thus began the Curse of the Billy Goat, dooming Chicago’s NL entry to decades of also-ran status. As Sianis reportedly wrote team owner Philip Knight Wrigley after the Tigers won in 1945, “Who smells now?” The Cubs would not win another title until 2016.
Welcome to the world of magic in baseball. On the macro level, a goat can apparently change the fortunes of an entire team; on the micro level, batters engage in elaborate rituals at the plate, and no one dares to say “no-hitter” until the final out. It’s a narrative that goes back to baseball’s 19th-century origins, and it’s all chronicled in a new book out this week – The Magical Game: The Spirit and History of Baseball’s Superstitions, Rituals, and Curses by author, journalist, astrologer and New York Mets fan Addy Baird.
While cheering on the Mets, Baird says, “I found myself becoming a very superstitious baseball fan. It’s part of what made me want to write the book. Probably predictably, I got extra superstitious when the Mets, for once, played great baseball for some stretches.” Trying to influence a win, she says, “I changed the way I acted, things I did, wore, watched, said, ate.”
Baird has plenty of company within the pages of the book. There are turn-of-the-century managers like Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics and John McGraw of the New York Giants who relied on human mascots to bring their teams good luck. In the 1980s and 1990s, Wade Boggs famously ate chicken before every game. In this decade, a Seattle Mariners fan believes that when he held a pair of slippers in his hand, it somehow sunk his team’s fortunes. And when the Tampa Bay Rays struggle in the middle innings, music from Middle Earth soothes a Rays fan who otherwise has no interest in Lord of the Rings.
Those superstitions appear to have bled into softball. This week it was revealed that a top college player eats ladybugs in the dugout for good luck.
Then there’s the larger-than-life narratives surrounding baseball, its mythologies and curses. Baseball hushed up its British connections and created its own made-in-America origin story featuring Civil War general Abner Doubleday and a ballfield in Cooperstown, New York. Multiple Major League teams became associated with curses – not just the Cubs but also the Boston Red Sox, who notoriously sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Champions in 1918, the Sox did not win another World Series until 2004. Over that 86-year drought, they became known for agonizing near-misses, notably in 1986 against Baird’s Mets, losing Game 6 of the World Series on a ball that went through Bill Buckner’s legs.
Asked what it is about baseball that makes it more prone to magic than other sports, Baird had several answers: The presence of luck. The structure of the game. And its repetitive nature.
“Basically, when a sport has fewer instances of scoring, luck is a bigger factor,” she says. Structurally, she notes, “[baseball] is one of the only games we play, and the only major North American sport, where the defense has the ball. The offense has a crazy power imbalance. It creates a really uncertain environment.”
What’s another surefire way to spark superstitious practices, according to researchers? An atmosphere of constant repetition, such as each time a batter comes to the plate over a 162-game regular season.
“A batter maybe sees more than a dozen pitches every game,” Baird says. “There’s a split second from the ball leaving the pitcher’s hand [and going] over the plate for you to try and hit it … it compounds the elements of uncertainty and luck, a perfect environment for magic to thrive.”
Baird is a politics journalist who previously worked in Washington DC, where she covered including the impeachments of Donald Trump to the January 6 riots. Describing herself as burnt-out, she decided to leave her full-time job and write a book. A friend advised her to pick a subject she loved, as she would be spending all her time with it.
“What do I care about? What can I spend four years on?” she recalls thinking. “The answers, for me, were baseball and magic.
“I’ve always loved magic, astrology, tarot cards, spirituality, religion. I’ve been very interested since I was a kid.” Her passion for baseball and the Mets is more recent, dating back to a decade ago and “a magical game with my father.”
There was an unexpected element of magic regarding this article: A copy of the book mysteriously disappeared from a room in this reporter’s home on the morning of the interview. Later in the day, with an hour to spare before the call, the book mysteriously reappeared in a different room.
“No way!” Baird says when informed of this. “No way.” With a laugh, she adds, “This book is a magical object.”
The Magical Game contains nine chapters, reflecting the nine innings of a baseball game. Baird, a former archivist, delved into newspapers on microfilm at the Library of Congress and interviewed experts such as John Thorn, the official historian of Major League Baseball. The book backs up its findings on baseball with insights from seemingly unrelated fields like psychology and anthropology: Baird discusses Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey, and Bronislaw Malinowski’s study of South Pacific island fishermen in the early 20th century.
“In the inner lagoons, [the fishermen] had no magic rituals,” Baird says of Malinowski’s findings. “In the open sea, where it was more dangerous, and the catch was more uncertain, there were a lot of magic rituals involved … What happens in baseball is uncertainty, prediction of failure, a high degree of luck.” When it comes to rituals in such an environment, she says, “the human brain is almost perfectly designed to latch on in this way.”
Meanwhile, MLB’s Thorn noted that “the form of the game itself mirrors that of the Odyssey,” Baird says. “It’s the hero’s journey: You start at home,” where you either “strike out – literally or figuratively,” or “go on a journey where the goal is to come home. It’s the story of the Odyssey. The story of this myth is embedded in the game itself. Magic is in its very structure.”
The book asks whether sabermetrics, and recent rule changes aimed at shortening games, have made the magic disappear in baseball. Baird has shifted her stance on this. In the summer of 2022, she pitched a book chapter on the death of magic in the national pastime. One year later, MLB debuted its pitch clock.
“I pitched the chapter, ‘baseball is dead, the magic is over, the league killed it by implementing new rules,’” Baird says. After doing more research, she had a realization: “I was entering a long tradition of people who had been saying this since the 1860s: ‘They don’t play baseball like they used to, baseball’s dying if not dead.” What she’s come to believe is that “the game should evolve, an unchanging thing is a dead thing.”
As for sabermetrics, Baird says, they “help us to see what makes [baseball] unique, what makes it special, what makes players exceptionally good … Those numbers reveal to us the magic.”
By the end of her book project, not only did she have a completed manuscript, but an additional career path. In addition to continuing with her journalism, now for the Deseret News, she has also become a practicing astrologer.
“It was one of my really interesting side quests,” Baird says, adding that now, “I do readings for people, reading charts.”
Whether you’re an Astros fan or an astrologer, a Cardinals enthusiast or a tarot card reader, the book has something for everyone.
“I always tell people, it’s a book for people who love baseball,” Baird says, “also for those who do not care about baseball at all.” And, she adds, “it’s a book for the people who love magic, looking at it through a lens they may never have considered before.”
Associated Press | Larry Fleisher: The Yankees maintained hope throughout the week that Aaron Judge’s rib injury wouldn’t be too serious, with the captain undergoing a long series of tests and imaging. That hope was dashed last night, as the team announced that Judge has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right rib and will be shut down for four to six weeks before being re-evaluated. Judge at least dodged a bullet in the form of thoracic outlet syndrome, but that’s only so much comfort to the Yankees, who will be without Judge for a significant chunk of the rest of the season.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner: The news of Judge missing months of time quickly conjured bad memories for fans of the 2023 campaign, when the Yankees finished with their just 82 wins, their worst season in 31 years. However, Kirschner argues that the 2026 squad is in a better position to withstand Judge’s absence. No team in baseball is going to improve upon losing their MVP of course, but the only regulars from 2023 who were at or above league average by wRC+ were Gleyber Torres (122) and a still-declining DJ LeMahieu (100). In contrast, this year’s club so far has Ben Rice (184, actually better than Judge’s 150), Cody Bellinger (137), José Caballero (105), Trent Grisham (101), and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (100). Bench bats Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario surpass that mark, and there’s obviously potential from Giancarlo Stanton and Jasson Domínguez’s forthcoming returns as well.
CBS Sports | RotoWire: Stanton, who was cleared to resume running last week, is working his way back from a calf strain that landed him on the injured list on April 28th. Per manager Aaron Boone, he will take live batting practice again this weekend and will continue to ramp up running. He won’t be ready in time to be activated ahead of next week’s road trip that starts in Cleveland on June 8th, though. Activation in mid-June feels plausible, especially because thanks to Trajekt pitching machines, the DH sometimes doesn’t actually need rehab assignments.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees have been without Domínguez since he hurt his left AC joint against the left-field wall on a great defensive play back on May 7th. He appears to be closer than Stanton and will officially start a rehab stint this weekend, playing minor league games on Friday and Sunday. Boone said that the Martian is expected to play more games past that, though, so it’s not as though he will immediately tag in for Judge. He is close, though.
ESPN | Jeff Passan: Passan published an early Trade Deadline preview, and of course the Yankees were mentioned. The MLB insider said that even though New York doesn’t need Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the moment he officially becomes available, “The Yankees will gauge the cost, because even if you don’t need something, that doesn’t mean you don’t want it.”
Passan, however, did say that Isaac Paredes is their best option “in an ideal world,” and that they need power arms for their bullpen, although he speculated the latter might come from within the organization.
