The Vancouver Canucks dropped to 0-2 in the 2026 pre-season as they fell 3-1 to the Calgary Flames. Vancouver's lineup featured plenty of youth, while Calgary dressed a roster that will most likely be the same on opening night. Here are three Canucks standouts from Tuesday night.
Kevin Lankinen
Kevin Lankinen is the reason this game was close. Vancouver was outshot 31-9, with the 31-year-old making 28 saves. Although he allowed all three goals in the second, the middle frame was his best, as he stopped 15 of the 18 shots he faced.
Tuesday was a good bounce-back for Lankinen, who struggled during the scrimmage at training camp on Saturday. He came up with some big saves and was able to bail out his younger teammates throughout the night. Overall, it was a good start to the pre-season for Lankinen.
Aatu Räty
Aatu Räty was arguably the Canucks' best forward in this game. He led Vancouver with two shots on goal and recorded three additional shot attempts. Räty was also virtually unbeatable in the faceoff dot as he won 15 of the 20 draws he took.
After a less-than-ideal game on Saturday, Räty really stepped up against the Flames. He was able to win some board battles and looked engaged in the offensive zone. Ultimately, Räty made the most of his opportunities in what was his final game of the 2026 pre-season.
Adam Novotný
Adam Novotný did not look out of place in his second career pre-season game. The 18-year-old was constantly getting in on the forecheck and finished the night tied for second on the team with four shots. Novotný also blocked a shot on Tuesday and recorded one shot on goal.
Sep 22, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks left wing Adam Novonty (15) and Calgary Flames left wing Joel Farabee (86) battle for the puck during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Based on his performance during training camp and the pre-season, Novotný deserves some additional time with the NHL team. He will most likely head back to the OHL, but he has shown he may be closer to NHL-ready than initially thought. While it is early, it is safe to say that Novotný has a bright future ahead of him.
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers runs the bases after a two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field on September 20, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
Marcus Semien is in town with the Mets for the first time since being traded last offseason and reminisced about his time with the Rangers.
The Rangers have placed Joc Pederson on the IL, retroactive to Saturday, but are hopeful he will be available if they make the playoffs.
Pederson also missed time in 2025 due to a broken hand after being hit by a pitch.
Ezequiel Duran’s time in the Dominican Winter League last year has paid off to the tune of the eighth highest WAR in the American League.
Tim Cowlishaw thinks the Rangers have an advantage over Houston in these final games by having earlier start times than Houston.
Of course, that also depends on the Rangers winning games, and last night that didn’t happen in part because of weak defense.
Not to be outdone by the defense, the Rangers’ offense last night was 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Jake Burger’s assessment of the game and misplays amounted to “it sucks”
After narrowly beating the Ottawa Senators in Trois-Rivières on Monday night, the Montreal Canadiens enjoyed a much-deserved day off on Tuesday. The break was long planned, as it marked the halfway point of training camp, and everyone will be back in Brossard Wednesday morning.
Team B is scheduled to hit the ice first at 10:30 AM, followed by Team A at 11:50 AM and Team C at 1:00 PM. Then, on Thursday, Teams A and B will practice simultaneously at 10:30 AM before facing each other in a scrimmage at 11:30 on ice 2, while Team C will practice on ice 1 at 11:45. If you want to take a day off to visit the Canadiens’ camp, Thursday should be the day, as it’s the only scrimmage planned so far.
Friday, all three groups will practice at the usual times: Team A at 10:30, Team B at 11:50 Am and Team C at 1:00 PM. Then, on Saturday, the Canadiens will once again face the Senators, but this time in a split-squad game. Team A will stay in Montreal to play at the Bell Centre at 7:00 PM and will hold its morning skate at the CN Sports Complex at 10:30. Team B will have its morning skate at 11:30 before heading to Ottawa to face the Sens at 7:00 PM.
That will be the Canadiens’ final preseason game, and after that match we should see some cuts. Will Martin St-Louis be guided by who has an NHL contract, or will he truly award roster spots to the most deserving players? That remains to be seen. It wasn’t that long ago that the organization elected to put Joel Armia on waivers after an underwhelming camp.
Unless Kirby Dach raises his intensity soon, he could be a candidate for the same treatment. The question is, though, would he clear, or would a GM be willing to roll the dice on him? After all, he’s still a former third-overall pick and a big-frame potential center. Then again, there’s a significant injury history there, but it’s less of a factor when picking up someone on waivers than when actually using assets to acquire them.
Happy birthday to Willie Greene, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1908 – Giants P Christy Mathewson and Cubs P Three Finger Brown battle in what is perhaps the most controversial game ever played. The score is 1-1, with two outs in the last of the 9th when Fred Merkle‘s failure to touch second base after an apparent game-winning hit by Al Bridwell scoring Moose McCormick from third costs the Giants a 2-1 win; the umpire calls Merkle out and rules the game a tie. Merkle’s “boner” will eventually cost the Giants the flag, and other stories as well.
1902 – Cy Young eases to his 32nd win as Boston pounds the A’s, 14-1.
1911 – Walter Johnson gives up a two-run homer in the sixth inning to Joe Jackson, the eighth four-bagger the Big Train has allowed this year. Johnson had given up just two in the previous four seasons.
1936 – Pitching in the tenth straight Giants game, Carl Hubbell notches his 16th consecutive victory, his 26th of the year. He will resume the streak next year to reach a record 24 wins in a row.
1962 – LA Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills breaks Ty Cobb’s 1915 MLB steals record, recording his 97th steal on his way to 104.
1967 – The Red Sox are in third place, also a half game out, after dropping a 7-5 decision to Baltimore. Carl Yastrzemski‘s 42nd home run had given the Red Sox a 5-4 lead, but a Brooks Robinson home run in the 8th inning wins it for the O’s.
1905 – In Chicago, Christy Mathewson and Carl Lundgren hook up in a tight pitchers’ duel, decided in Chicago’s favor on a mental error by Giants 2B Bill Dahlen. With two on and two out in the 5th inning, Dahlen bobbles a grounder and touches second base as the runner arrives. Dahlen, thinking that he has the third out, rolls the ball to the mound. But ump Bob Emslie calls the runner safe. Johnny Evers, the runner on third base, alertly scores on the play for the game’s only run. The loss stops Matty’s win streak at 11 games.
1907 – In Chicago, the Cubs clinch the pennant by beating the Phillies, 4-1. Chicago pulls off a triple play in the 5th inning to help seal the win.
1959 – The Cubs continue to dash the Giants’ pennant hopes as Cal Neeman‘s 10th-inning home run gives Chicago a 9-8 win. The Cubs won the day before, 5-4, on George Altman‘s ninth-inning, two-run home run.
1965 – A 20-game winner in 1964, Larry Jackson loses his 20th game of this season, as the Phillies sweep a twin bill from the Cubs, 11-5 and 7-4. Jackson is the first pitcher since Murry Dickson of the 1951–1952Pirates to follow a 20-win season with 20 losses.
1998 – Sammy Sosa breaks an 0 for 21 slump, hitting his 64th and 65th home runs as the Cubs build a 7-0 lead over the Brewers. Milwaukee fights back, however, and scores three in the last of the 9th when Chicago OF Brant Brown drops a routine fly ball with the bases loaded and two out to allow three Brewers to score. Rod Beck is on the mound when the Merkle-like error occurs (Fred Merkle’s boner occurred exactly 90 years ago). With his eight total bases, Sammy has now topped the 400 mark.
2001 – Sammy Sosa becomes the first player in history to hit three home runs in a game three times in a season. Despite his trio of blasts, the Cubs still lose to the Astros, 7-6.
1779 – John Paul Jones aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard defeats the British frigate HMS Serepis and becomes the United States first well-known naval hero.
1780 – British Major John Andre reveals Benedict Arnold‘s plot to betray West Point.
1806 – Lewis and Clark return to St Louis from Pacific Northwest.
1862 – US President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation is published in northern newspapers.
1875 – Billy the Kid is arrested for the first time and jailed after receiving clothing stolen from a Chinese laundry but escapes two days later.
1926 – “Upset of the Decade”: Gene Tunney defeats defending champion Jack Dempsey by 10-round unanimous decision at Sesquicentennial Stadium (later known as JFK Stadium) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the world heavyweight boxing title.
1952 – Undefeated Rocky Marciano knocks out defending champion Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round at Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, for the world heavyweight boxing title.
1957 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower orders US troops to support the integration of nine Black students at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas after a white mob forces them to withdraw.
Today in music history:
1945 – First Cavalcade of Jazz outdoor concert is held at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, featuring Count Basie, Valaida Snow, and others.
1957 – “That’ll Be the Day” single by Buddy Holly and The Crickets reaches No. 1 in the US.
1969 – Northern Star, the student newspaper for Northern Illinois University, starts rumors that Paul McCartney is dead.
1974 – John Lennon‘s single “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” featuring Elton John, is released in the US; it is Lennon’s only solo No. 1 single during his lifetime.
1980 – Reggae legend Bob Marley‘s final concert at Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1982 – Columbia Records releases “The Nylon Curtain,” singer-songwriter Billy Joel‘s eighth studio album.
2016 – Shawn Mendes releases his album “Illuminate”, debuting at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Zack Wheeler has reached a number that only 96 other pitchers in the history of the game have reached by striking out his 2,000th hitter on Tuesday night.
I will go so far as saying that his is the greatest free agent signing in team history.
For a while now, we have been able to lean on the crutch that the Orioles were still “mathematically alive” in the AL playoff race. There is a chance, perhaps even an inevitability, that it will no longer be a matter of math after today. The Orioles elimination number is at one, and they play two games today. The same is true for the Blue Jays. Both teams need to sweep today and hope that the White Sox and Rangers are suddenly sapped of all talent, much like the basketball players in the 1996 hit film Space Jam. Unfortunately, as far as I know, that movie was not based on a true story.
It’s likely to be a bummer of an end to the Orioles home slate in 2026. Double-headers can be cool, but a split admission isn’t ideal for really anyone. The weather is expected to be cloudy and cool, peaking in the mid-60s this afternoon, with 10 mph winds and a low chance of rain. I would guess that attendance to the afternoon start will be rather pitiful.
The Orioles do not have a starting pitcher named for either game today on their website just yet. But it sounds like Chris Bassitt is confirmed for Game 1 to take on Max Scherzer in a rematch of last week’s face-off in Toronto. As for Game 2, both teams are quiet. Craig Albernaz seems to be picking between Trey Gibson and Cade Povich. It might depend on what happens in the opener with both teams possibly treating it like a playoff game, since it pretty much is one.
Also, Pete Alonso will be named the Most Valuable Oriole some time today. That is not confirmed, but the announcement for MVO is slated for this date, and Alonso is really the only choice at the top of the ballot. It will be interesting to see how some other names finish further down the list. I would expect Trevor Rogers, Brandon Young, and Shane Baz to get some love, as will Gunnar Henderson despite his struggles, and you might even see Rico Garcia among the vote-getters.
Mariners Lose Scout Behind George Kirby and Jonny Farmelo to Orioles | Yahoo! Sports Apparently, this is a nice get by the Orioles. Joe Doyle, the reporter credited with most of the information in this story, explains that Ty Holub was courted by multiple organizations and chose to return to the Orioles, where he worked under the prior front office regime from 2013-17 as a baseball operations assistant.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s glasses are a distinctive feature on a distinctive player | The Baltimore Banner CES is one of the positives coming out of this season. It’s nice to read up a little more on him. Unless he is traded this offseason, he would seem like a lock to return to the Orioles in 2027. Jordan Westburg’s rehab is likely to bleed into the start of the season, and it’s possible that Coby Mayo sees time elsewhere on the field to get his bat into the lineup more often.
Candidates to add to Orioles’ 40-man roster | Baltimore Baseball As is explained in the article, there may not be a Rule 5 draft to protect players from this offseason. But you will still probably see the O’s (and other teams) add a handful of interesting youngsers to their 40-man roster sometime this fall.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Willie Greene turns 55 today. He spent part of the 1998 season with the Orioles, acquired from the Reds in a deadline swap for outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds. Greene played in just 24 games for the O’s and had a .608 OPS in that time.
Pete Harnisch is 60 years old. An Orioles’ first-round pick in 1987, the right-handed pitcher debuted with them at the major league level in 1988 and stuck around through ‘90 before he was part of one of the most lop-sided deals in team history. The Orioles sent him, along with Steve Finley and Curt Schilling, to the Astros in exchange for Glenn Davis. Harnsich was an all-star in his first season with Houston and had a few more impressive years after leaving Baltimore.
The late Marcelino López (b. 1943, d. 2001) was born on this day. He played in three seasons for the Orioles between 1967-70. In total he had a 3.23 ERA over 147.2 innings with the O’s.
This day in O’s history
1958 – Orioles pitcher Jack Harshman hits two home runs to help himself to a 3-2 win over the Washington Senators.
1967 – A Brooks Robinson homer in the eighth inning lifts the Orioles to a 7-5 win over the Red Sox.
1997 – The Orioles use three early runs off of Roger Clemens to hold onto a 3-2 win against the Blue Jays.
1999 – A 13-game winning streak comes to an end for the Orioles as they lose 9-6 to the Athletics in the first part of a double-header. They bounce right back in the evening with a 12-4 win led by Albert Belle’s four-double performance.
2002 – The Orioles lose their 26th game in 30 chances as Jay Gibbons’ two-homer showing isn’t enough and the Red Sox prevail 5-4 in 15 innings.
2013 – Not only do the Orioles lose 5-4 to the Rays, but Manny Machado suffers a season-ending injury when he steps awkwardly on first base and twists his knee.
The Detroit Tigers missed a chance to secure a series win over the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, dropping the second of the three-game series, 3-1. Despite tossing a quality start, Drew Anderson was saddled with the loss while the offense barely made a peep at Comerica Park.
Making his final start of the 2026 campaign in Game 3 is left-hander Framber Valdez — the lone survivor from the Tigers’ pitching rotation from the beginning of the season. While his overall numbers fall significantly short of what one would expect for his level of pay, the 32-year-old has been a mostly steady presence on the pitching staff, save for his short suspension in May.
Valdez is finishing the season on a strong note, having put up a 1.50 ERA and 3.71 FIP over his three games in September, allowing 12 hits (one home run) and seven walks while striking out 13 plus a hit-by-pitch across 18 innings to earn a pair of wins along with a loss.
For the Nats, fellow southpaw Richard Lovelady will take the mound looking to give the team a series win in his sixth start of the season. The 31-year-old journeyman was with the New York Mets to begin the season and served primarily as a back-end reliever; he has become something of a Swiss Army arm for Washington since acquiring him in a trade in mid-April.
Lovelady has not thrown more than two innings in an appearance this season, so he ostensibly will be serving in the opener role on Wednesday.
Here is a quick look at the stats for both pitchers in the series finale.
Detroit Tigers (74-84) vs. Washington Nationals (74-84)
Time (ET): 1:10 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Federal Baseball Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 159: LHP Framber Valdez (10-11, 4.06 ERA) vs. LHP Richard Lovelady (3-4, 3.86 ERA)
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Blue Devil Cooper Flagg had a tremendous rookie season last year, winning Rookie of the Year over former roommate and teammate Kon Knueppel.
What will he do for an encore? Well, it’s going to be interesting.
First, many fans think that he’s grown significantly. And at 19, that’s certainly possible. He entered the NBA at 6-9. If he’s now 6-10 or 6-11, with his mobility and skills, he’s that much more of a problem.
But that’s only part of the problem the rest of the NBA faces: according to his trainer, Matt MacKinzie, Flagg has put in the work to be significantly improved this season.
You can be sure he put a lot of time in the weight room as well. If he’s up to, say, 220, that would mean he’s gained 15 pounds. If he’s grown taller as well, he’s going to cause a lot of problems. And if he has improved his outside shooting, he’s going to be a nightmare.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Nae'Qwan Tomlin #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA game forces players into boxes. They’re asked to play specific, and sometimes simple, roles to help the team. The best players can both fit into and transcend that box when they need to.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s unorthodox basketball upbringing has made him a unique player. He didn’t play in the AAU circuits or even in high school. Instead, his skills were developed through high-level pick-up games that reward all-around talent rather than someone who is just an expert at one or two things.
Most players come into the league having already been forced into their mold. Tomlin didn’t, meaning he possesses skills that are uncommon for someone in his position. Those are seen most when he’s running in the open court or when attacking off the dribble if a defender closes out too hard.
That versatility is intriguing. Yet, it means little if you ultimately can’t fit into the box that the NBA puts you in. This is what Tomlin needs to figure out this season.
The simplest offensive role for him would be as a stretch four who operates mostly from the corner since he isn’t a pick-and-roll finisher. The Cavs tried him in that role last season, but he struggled to make a positive offensive impact once opponents stopped closing out to him, aside from being a strong offensive rebounder.
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You can only attack closeouts if you’ve given your defender a reason to actually close out. Tomlin didn’t do that last season, as he went 26-for-107 (24%) on corner threes. That was the worst percentage for a power forward last season from that spot. That’s on pretty high volume as well, since over a third of his field-goal attempts came from the corner. It’s difficult to envision Tomlin as a valuable member of an NBA offense if this doesn’t drastically change.
Developing a corner three-point shot is easier said than done — especially for someone turning 26 this season. Even though Tomlin is younger than most in terms of basketball developmental years, he isn’t a young player waiting to mature physically. At 26, you typically are who you are.
Similar concerns are there defensively. Tomlin can nominally defend the three and the four, but last season he was often too slow to defend more athletic threes and wasn’t sturdy enough to hold his own in the paint against bulkier fours. This is partially why the Cavs were in the 37th percentile for defensive rebounding percentage when he was on the floor. Tomlin would be better served if he could guard at one of those positions well, as opposed to being in between both.
Tomlin is a jack of many trades, but a master of none. He isn’t a defensive specialist or a marksman. Those archetypes can work on their own, depending on how good a player is at their specialty. However, there isn’t often room on the court for someone who is merely passable at a lot of things. That is most useful if you can fit into a role first, and then expand your game from there.
Tomlin’s path to the league is nothing short of remarkable. His career has been an unquestioned success since the moment he signed his first NBA contract last season. Most players with his backstory don’t make it to this point. Yet, if he’s going to sign another contract or be more than the 13th man on a roster, it’ll be because he finds his role. And he’s running out of time to do so, considering this is the final year of his deal.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on December 23, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dylan Harper may have not been crowned the 2026 Rookie of the Year, but he had some of the best stats from his draft class, not to mention making his way to the NBA Finals.
Ata recent auction, his rookie card went for a whopping $320,860.
The All-Time Highest Public Sale for any Dylan Harper Card!
Final Sale Price on this 2025-26 Bowman Chrome Autographs SuperFractor Dylan Harper Signed Rookie Card: $320,860
Email Sell@Goldin.com to consign your Harper Items to one of our upcoming Elite Auctions! pic.twitter.com/1g478xo2Mx
According to Goldin Auction, 2025-26 Bowman Chrome Autographs SuperFractor Dylan Harper autographed rookie card achieved the largest payday for a public auction.
Harpers cars are a hot commodity. He recently also had an autographed 2025 Topps Chrome SuperFractor sell for $280,000. The card was one of a kind and graded a 7 by Professional Sports Authenticator Collectors Club. A 7 has been as assessed as near mint condition.
Collecting Spurs memorabilia is one thing, but the kind of cash it takes to obtain these types of mementos is next level. For now, I’ll stick to my bobblehead nights and t-shirt giveaways.
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DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 24: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 24, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With a new NBA season on the horizon, I decided it was time to run one final NBA 2K27 simulation.
The goals were simple:
Could Cooper Flagg become an MVP?
Could the Mavs win an NBA championship with their current roster as the core?
And, perhaps most importantly:
How far can this version of the Mavericks actually go?
The rules
No trades.
It’s too easy in fandom to start adding Cade Cunningham or both Thompson twins and run amok across depleted rosters. Instead, I wanted to see how far this core could take us.
Whatever the front office has built, Cooper has to make it work.
Whatever young players develop, they develop.
Whatever weaknesses show up, we have to live with them.
And if Dallas eventually needs to make a move?
Too bad. I already took the trade machine away.
This isn’t about building the perfect Mavericks team.
It’s about finding out whether the team they actually have can become the perfect version of themselves.
And, well, we know how Year 1 went.
Year 1
Cooper Flagg wins Rookie of the Year.
The rest of the season?
Basically a horror movie.
Moving on.
Year 2
Things get better.
The Mavs win the NBA Cup, with Cooper Flagg taking home Cup MVP honors.
Dallas then beats the Spurs in the playoffs before eventually losing in the Western Conference Finals.
Progress!
One series away.
Ahead of schedule and The Mavs are building something.
Year 3
OK.
This is getting ridiculous.
Cooper Flagg averages 32.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 6 APG and wins MVP, becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history.
And he’s not alone.
Risacher wins both Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player.
The Mavs make it all the way to the NBA Finals.
Amazing.
And then they lose to the Detroit Pistons in six games. Maybe we should have traded for Cade Cunningham after all.
Was that the Mavs’ chance?
One series short again?
I hope not.
Let’s keep going.
Year 4
Cooper Flagg makes All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Second Team.
And then…
The Mavs draw a tough matchup and lose in the first round to the Spurs.
Of course they do.
Kyrie retires as a Dallas Maverick, which is sad- but bittersweet.
We draft a new point guard with the Lakers’ pick.
And then we move on.
Year 5
Cooper Flagg has really come into his own at this point.
He’s now a 96 overall in NBA 2K and averages 32 PPG, 10 RPG and 5 APG.
He wins his second MVP.
He also wins Clutch Player of the Year, makes All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team.
Wow.
What a year.
And yet…
It still doesn’t translate into playoff success.
The Mavs lose in the second round to the Timberwolves.
At this point, this is all starting to feel a little too much like 2007 Dallas Mavericks, isn’t it?
The power of Dirk compelled me forward.
Year 6
Year 6 feels almost… ho-hum.
Cooper is once again All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team.
The Mavs enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed.
And honestly?
It feels like organizational-pressure time in 2K.
No more excuses.
Round 1: Portland
Win.
Round 2: Minnesota
Win.
Round 3: San Antonio
Win.
And if you’re paying attention, you know what that means.
We’re exercising some demons from these previous fake playoff runs.
Sound familiar?
Maybe a little 2011-esque?
By the time we reached the Finals, I decided I couldn’t just simulate the entire series at once.
I had to do it game by game.
Game 1: Win.
Game 2: Win.
Game 3: Win.
Are you kidding me?
A sweep?
No.
Surely not.
Game 4: Loss.
Game 5: Loss.
Game 6: Loss.
LET THE NBA 2K CONSPIRACY THEORIES FLY.
What in the David Stern is happening? I’m about to return this digital purchase to Xbox. Maybe it’s been recalled.
And then…
Game 7: Win.
THE MAVS WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP.
Cooper and Sergio are stars in the series.
And yes, Naji, PJ, Gafford, Risacher — they all contributed. We better let Kyrie at the podium.
I’ll also note that Cooper shot 46 percent from three in the Finals. So there it is.
Six years.
Two MVPs for Cooper Flagg.
One NBA championship for The Mavs.
Did I buy a Dallas Mavericks-biased copy of NBA 2K27? I don’t care. Roll the credits.
Play We Are the Champions by Queen. Now we can start the season.
In case you have not heard, Steph Curry does not want to go anywhere.
He has stated his desire to end his NBA career with the Warriors countless times in recent years, and especially this summer. He has made it abundantly clear.
So, despite outside speculation and the national media entertaining unrealistic hypothetical scenarios, the Warriors superstar will remain with the only NBA franchise he has ever known.
For how long and for how much? That remains to be seen.
“I don’t want there to be no drama,” Curry told Slater. “No talking points. This team should be competitive and go win.”
“[The contract] is going to happen at the right time, once I have all the information I need to make the decision that is right. The team’s been great having that conversation back and forth. If I don’t sign, it won’t affect me in terms of my play or carrying that weight. But I’ll make the decision when I’m ready.”
The Warriors reportedly have presented Curry with different contract options to choose from, including signing the two-year, $136.7 million max extension he is eligible for off his current $62.6 million expiring deal for the 2026-27 NBA season, or a deal with slightly less money that is structured to give both him and the team more flexibility with future decision-making.
If Curry signs the max extension, it will significantly lower Golden State’s projected salary cap space next summer. With their current expiring contracts, including Curry ($62.5M), Draymond Green ($27.6M) and Jimmy Butler ($58.6M), the Warriors are projected to have more than $100 million in cap space next summer.
“We’re in a very interesting situation,” Curry explained to Slater. “All the different salary cap conditions of whether I sign for a max or less or whatever it is, I want to be on a competitive team. I want to have an opportunity to have some flexibility because we haven’t had that in years past, the recent past.
“… This team should have flexibility to make necessary moves if things happen. Those are always just the considerations. For me, information and patience is key. It’s just a very unique situation all the way around based on where we’ve been the last four years, where I’m at in my career, what our team looks like this year and the absolute desperation to win. Trying to balance all that.”
It is unclear what direction Curry will go in with his next contract, but it’s safe to assume he always has the organization’s best interest in mind when making such big decisions about his future on the court.
It is June 18, 2026. The New York Knicks are finally NBA Champions, parading through the Canyon of Heroes amongst an expansive sea of orange-and-blue faithful. Jalen Brunson takes the microphone, holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy over his head, ready to address a fanbase that has waited for this moment since 1973. When he speaks, he rightfully takes the time to acknowledge his teammates and thank his coaches. But he doesn’t stop there. He also takes time to address the people he’s used as motivation for as long as he can remember—the haters.
Of course, some may view this as holding a grudge. But this isn’t the Michael Jordan Hall of Fame speech 2.0. These words don’t reflect pettiness on Brunson’s part. Instead, it highlights the true foundation of his success. His quiet and relentless edge and determination to silence doubters made him the reigning king of New York and a poster child for underdogs everywhere.
As summer comes to an end and training camp draws near, the traits that led Brunson to an NBA Championship also shine through in a different avenue. His family officially launched a management group. It is a new advisory firm dedicated to supporting athletes, executives, and NIL talent.
What’s the name of this firm? Well, it’s Thirty-Third.
On thirty-two separate occasions during the 2018 NBA Draft, front offices looked at the resume of one of the most decorated amateur basketball players. They said, “no thanks,” and went in a different direction. It took until the 33rd pick for Dallas to call his name and make him a Maverick. When you look at his pre-draft bragging list, it’s hard to fathom how a player with that much success could fall to the second round.
Let’s have a read through his accomplishments. I bet you can’t get through it without your eyes watering up and forcing you to blink (thanks for that one, Russell Richardson).
In 2014, he won gold with FIBA Americas at 18. A year later, he was an Illinois Class 4A Champion, the state’s Mr. Basketball, a McDonald’s All-American, and the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. Then, he went to the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, won gold, made the All-Tournament Team, and took home MVP. That was all before he arrived at Villanova.
As a freshman Wildcat, he won a national championship. By his junior year, he didn’t win another title; he brought home all the glory. He was the consensus National College Player of the Year. He took home both the Wooden and Naismith Awards. He won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard. He earned AP, USBWA, NABC, and Sporting News Player of the Year honors. He was a first-team All-American and the Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Today, his jersey hangs in Villanova’s rafters, providing him a place among collegiate immortality.
Still, NBA talent evaluators scoffed at the idea that Brunson would amount to anything notable after college. Even with all the evidence to the contrary, 32 other names that did not rhyme with “Falen Dunson” came through the speakers. They paid closer attention to his height, or lack thereof, than to his footwork. They focused on his vertical instead of his efficiency. Others’ misfortunes translated into a draft steal for the Mavericks.
Crazily enough, they ended up underestimating him too.
The draft-night disrespect was only the opening scene of a story flooded with underappreciation and nonsensical criticism. The haters followed him to Dallas, where the Mavericks brass showed their incompetent roster-management skills more than once. We’re not even talking about Luka here!
After landing the steal of the century, the Mavs never truly recognized Brunson’s value. Eligible for a contract extension before the 2021-22 season, Brunson’s team put a four-year, $55 million deal on the table. Given the financial climate, this was a huge bargain for Dallas and a no-brainer. Unfortunately, the Mav brass looked the old gift horse in the mouth (or whatever that saying is) and hesitated. They prefer the reliable “wait-and-see approach,” claiming they needed to evaluate a sample size before committing that much green.
Then Luka got hurt, allowing Brunson to step into the primary role, where he brilliantly orchestrated the offense. Even with all the chips on their side of the table, Brunson’s camp went back to the front office and said they were still willing to commit to the prior deal. Unfortunately, it takes two to tango, and Dallas wasn’t in the mood to dance.
By the time the Mavs realized they needed to pay the man, the price went up, and the relationship was rockier than the Shipwreck Coast in Australia. Look it up; it’s real rocky.
Of course, one team’s failure is another one’s success. Dallas’s fumbling of the Brunson situation led to good old Uncle Leon swooping in and bringing him to the Knicks on a four-year, $104 million contract.
Surprisingly (not), the media pooped all over that decision.
The reaction to the signing was incredibly negative. Critics laughed at the Knicks for committing that kind of money to a “role player.” Bleacher Report even went so far as to grade the acquisition a C. To many “experts,” the Knicks overpaid for a secondary piece who made his name by riding Luka’s coattails.
Even as Brunson immediately changed the culture of a cursed franchise, new avenues for doubt emerged. He led New York to the playoffs, earned an All-Star spot, made the All-NBA Second Team, and became the Garden’s go-to guy. Still, the chuckleheads behind desks and cameras would not retreat. Becky Hammon even went on national television and told the world that even though Brunson was a phenomenal talent, a team couldn’t win with a 6-foot-2 guard as their “1A.”
He faced the same skepticism on draft night. This time, the audience was bigger… by a lot. None of it was about his production. Instead, it was about old rules chiseled in stone: “short” dudes can’t lead a team to the promised land.
Of course, Brunson went and smashed that old stone to bits.
He won NBA Clutch Player of the Year. He led the team to the NBA Cup and won the tournament MVP. Then, in a postseason where everybody could find reasons the Sixers, Cavs, and Spurs would beat the Knicks, Brunson went and won a flippin’ championship.
At 30, “Captain Clutch” keeps silencing doubters. He proved Dallas wrong. He proved 32 teams that passed on him wrong. He even forced the media to eat their previous statements and admit that he was indeed a 1A superstar.
A complete masterstroke, starting Thirty-Third is the ultimate “nanny-nanny” to everyone who attached the word “nope” to his name. By focusing on athletes, executives, and underserved markets like women’s professional sports, Brunson and his family are building something to help others avoid the same challenges he was forced to navigate. They are ensuring talent and production drive value, not preconceived notions and archaic scouting philosophies.
Undervalued at every single turn of his basketball life, Brunson never altered his game or mindset. He took on the disrespect and burned the pillars of unjustified criticism to the ground. Once the thirty-third pick, he is now a champion, finally silencing the haters who fueled his flame.
Which member of the Boston Celtics is most likely to elevate the ceiling of the team based on their play during the 2026-27 season?
In the latest installment of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to predict the one player — not named Jayson Tatum — who might emerge as the biggest X-factor in Boston’s overall success this season.
The way we look at it: Tatum sets a high floor for Boston’s season based on his MVP potential, but the complementary pieces around him might ultimately determine Boston’s ceiling.
So who is capable of pushing that ceiling the highest?
Our panel landed on three different choices and we could certainly make an argument for each of them. Derrick White is vital to winning basketball and finding his shot would undeniably aid Boston’s chances of success. If Hugo Gonzalez or any of the team’s stable of young wings have a breakout season it would help fill the obvious void left by Jaylen Brown’s departure. And we are quite bullish on the Neemias Queta/Mitchell Robinson pairing and the energy that duo can bring at a souped-up center position.
But our choice for Boston’s 2026-27 X-factor is Paul George.
It’s been well established throughout this series that it’s unfair to suggest that George, at age 36, is a 1-for-1 replacement for Brown’s production. Brown is coming off a top-6 finish in MVP voting in his age 29 season. They are two different players and Boston is banking, in part, that George’s skillset might better complement Tatum at this stage of their careers.
If the Celtics are able to keep George upright for 50-plus games, and if George’s postseason play resembles anything close to what we saw against the Celtics in Round 1 of the playoffs in April, then Boston will outkick outsider expectations.
If George can’t stay healthy and struggles to maintain his impact at an advanced age, it narrows the margin for error throughout the roster. Tatum has to be Superman, even as he’s still working his way back to full health, all while White and Pritchard have to find even more consistency with their offensive output.
George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 steals over 30.7 minutes per game last season. A Philadelphia team with a negative net rating for the regular season was +3.6 points per 100 possessions with George on the court.
George can play off the ball and punish opponents as a 3-point threat if teams put too much attention on Tatum. His turnover percentage was basically a career low last season, and he averaged 10.2 potential assists per 100 possessions, including 2.7 rim assists per 100 (a mark that ranked in the 88th percentile for his position). He can still cause havoc on the defensive end and generate a bunch of turnovers with his length.
Invariably, the conversation comes back to health. If George is Boston’s X-factor, then they are leaning heavy on a player that has played north of 56 games just once in the past seven seasons. He totaled 78 regular-season games in two seasons with Philadelphia, including 37 a year ago.
But listen to George gush about how he feels entering the 2026-27 season and you can convince yourself quickly that he can still raise this team’s ceiling with his play. There’s nothing left for him to accomplish, individually, at this stage of his career, even if he is playing for maybe one more contract.
We asked George what motivates him now at age 36.
“That I’ve never won a championship,” he said. “And, as you get older, you look back on the years, and obviously two years in Philadelphia — not wasted in terms of the team not having a chance but just physically not being able to give everything I have because of my body. And so to be on the other end of that now, that’s what I’m gunning for.
“And [a title is] the only thing on my mind. I’ve learned how to be the 1 guy, I’ve learned how to play off guys. You learn all of these things in your career and I think now it’s time to put it all on the table and give everything you have to try to be the last team standing.”
If the Celtics want to be the last team standing, George is the X-factor, and they need to keep him standing.
Josh Canu: Editor
Hugo Gonzalez. The hype continues to grow with Gonzalez and understandably so. He plays Celtics basketball the way Joe Mazzulla wants it to be played — with effort, hustle, defense, and passion. If the Celtics overachieve this season it will be because Gonzalez took a massive leap. I expect guys like Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, and Sam Hauser to step up as well, but Gonzalez has the best chance to be the X-factor that could vault the Celtics up the standings.
The obvious answer is Derrick White. The Celtics reach a whole new level of dangerous when his shots are falling. However, I’m going to go in a different direction here and say Mitchell Robinson is the biggest X-factor. Boston’s lack of frontcourt depth was glaring in its first-round playoff loss to Philly. Is Robinson the answer?
Derrick White. His defense has been great, but he cannot shoot 32.7 percent from 3-point range again. He needs to be able to consistently hit outside shots if this team is going to be successful in the playoffs.
I’m going with Hugo Gonzalez. He obviously had some massive swings last year but he was also a teenager. That year of experience will be huge for him as he continues to carve out a do-it-all role under Joe Mazzulla.
Kevin Miller: Vice President, Content Creation & Strategy
Mitchell Robinson/Neemias Queta. If that duo’s offensive rebound percentage is near the top of the league, there will be big success for this team in the regular season.
Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations
It’s gotta be my guy, Hugo. If he can be a 3-and-D guy, at minimum playing 25 minutes per night, that’s a win. But I think we have to wait until Year 3 to see any more than that.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 22: Carlos Rodón #55 of the New York Yankees reacts during game one of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 22, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Leading off yesterday’s doubleheader, Carlos Rodón pitched like a man who had something to prove. In a way, he does. He may be asked to step aside if the club needs a three-man rotation for a potential Wild Card series next week, widely viewed as the fourth guy sitting outside the Yankees’ Big 3 in their rotation, Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, and Gerrit Cole. Rodón’s also had to answer doubts all year as he’s dealt with numerous injuries, starting the season on the IL after offseason elbow surgery and a hamstring injury in spring training, before hitting the IL again with elbow inflammation over the summer. He’s been nails through it all, posting a 2.67 ERA in 16 starts, saving his best for last in the form of an eight-inning masterpiece Tuesday afternoon.
Rodón’s performance forces some interesting questions for the Yankees, particularly when it comes to their strategy should they face the Red Sox in a best-of-three. How should the Yankees deploy Rodón next week?
First off, you can make a compelling argument that they should just start the man. By any measure, he’s been the club’s third-best starter this season, behind Schlittler and Fried and ahead of Cole. Cole has been more durable throughout the season, but Rodón’s been in better form down the stretch, posting a 1.89 ERA in seven starts since coming off the IL a second time. Why not just roll with the hot hand?
The Yankees seem likely to go with Cole, preferring to defer to both Cole’s extensive track record and status over Rodón’s superior recent performance, a decision that’s both debatable and reasonable. Should that be their move, the strategic implications run deeper.
They could use Rodón in something of a piggyback role, letting him eat multiple innings in support of one of their top starters (perhaps Cole, the team’s shakiest starter lately?). They could let him air it out in a one-inning relief role for one series, or even deploy him as a lefty specialist, choosing to bring him in if and when the opposing lineup presents a lane of left-handed hitters.
It’s not at all a simple decision, in no small part because there’s another plausible idea here: keep him in reserve for a potential ALDS. If the Yankees burn all four of their top starters in some fashion in the ALWC, they’d be forced to start Will Warren in Game 1 of the ALDS should they advance. The difference between Rodón and Warren isn’t exactly massive, and Warren has been strong down the stretch as well, but saving Rodón for the ALDS allows the Yankees to ensure that every game is started by one of their top four pitchers.
It’s a complicated calculus; every tactical decision you make in one postseason game or series has major strategic consequences on every future game and series. Rodón could be an extra relief weapon in a Wild Card series, he could be held in reserve for a future series, and you could even argue he should just start against Boston. What do you think? What should the Yankees do with Rodón?
On the site this morning, Matt reviews Tuesday night’s American League action, and John ruminates on Moneyball, the movie, released on this day 15 years ago. Later, Jonathan’s entry in our Yankees Birthday series features a fan favorite from a bygone era, Joba Chamberlain, and Josh discusses Aaron Judge’s calf injury, and the Yankees’ continued reluctance to be forthright whenever Judge gets hurt.
