“The San Antonio Spurs, alongside Friends of the Carver/IDEA and the David Robinson Fellowship Program, joined Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio on Friday, June 12, for a volunteer build day celebrating Habitat’s 50th anniversary. Nearly 250 volunteers participated in the effort, helping advance Habitat’s mission of creating affordable homeownership opportunities across the community. As part of the celebration, Spurs Sports & Entertainment and Friends of the Carver/IDEA announced a combined $100,000 commitment to Habitat’s 50th anniversary initiative, which aims to build more than 50 homes across San Antonio this year.”
Spurs legend David Robinson spent the morning landscaping, painting and beautifying three homes on San Antonio’s East Side.
“Habitat for Humanity has transformed lives in San Antonio for 50 years, and we’re honored to help celebrate that legacy,” said Patricia Mejia, Chief Impact and Inclusion Officer at SS&E. “Habitat’s commitment reflects our shared belief that strong communities are built through opportunity, partnership and people coming together to make a difference.”
Additionally, the Spurs provided 50 tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals to residents of the homes supported through the initiative.
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Feb 16, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) drives past Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images | Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
The back end of the 2026 NBA Draft is going to be quite the adventure for the league, including the Dallas Mavericks. The conglomerate of players who could go between picks 15 and 45 is truly fascinating. One of the players who seems to firmly fit in that range is Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson.
The basics
Joshua Jefferson (born November 21, 2003) was born and raised in Henderson, NV, just outside of Las Vegas. His father, Ben Jefferson, played football for the University of Maryland. As an offensive lineman, he went undrafted in the 1989 NFL Draft. Jefferson spent a few years bouncing around the NFL before eventually retiring in 1995. Joshua’s two brothers also played college football. Noah Jefferson played at USC and Florida Atlantic, while his other brother Cameron played for UNLV and Arkansas.
Choosing basketball was a good decision for Joshua, as he was the Southern Nevada Boys Athlete of the Year in 2022, as well as the MaxPreps Player of the Year. Jefferson helped lead his Liberty Patriots to their first ever state championship in 2022, defeating powerhouse Bishop Gorman 63-62 in overtime. Jefferson scored the last six points of regulation to force overtime. The win ended Gorman’s run of nine consecutive state championships in class 5A.
Joshua Jefferson’s 2025-26 season by the numbers | CBB Analytics
Jefferson spent a full four-year term in college, starting off at Saint Mary’s. Jefferson was a productive player for the Gaels, including averaging 10 points and nearly seven rebounds per game in 2023-24. However, after a season-ending leg injury, Jefferson decided to hit the transfer portal, where he signed with TJ Otzelberger and the Iowa State Cyclones. Jefferson blossomed as a player in Ames, as he averaged 17 points, over 7.5 boards and nearly five assists per contest. With his eligibility exhausted, Jefferson is off to the NBA draft.
The good
When you talk about unique players, Joshua Jefferson truly has a unique offensive game. There are very few forwards in college basketball who have the blend of scoring and passing skill that Jefferson does.
Jefferson was such an integral part of the Cyclones offensive attack, as without him on the floor, the lack of creation was evident. Tamin Lipsey did a nice job of running the show at point, but the real sauce that made Iowa State go was Jefferson’s ability to be a hub from inside the arc. When he was operating at the nail and attacking downhill, Iowa State was at its best.
The unique trait that teams hope they can maximize is the passing. Jefferson is without a doubt the best passer in this class of forwards. The vision is excellent, and the craftiness and creativity to find the correct windows is exceptional. He can use both his right and left hand to get the ball to teammates on time and on target. In an NBA setting, allowing him to play in the short roll in advantage situations will be elite offense.
i can't imagine joshua jefferson facing up and attacking set defenses in the NBA as often as he does in college and the passing chances won't be this challenging
i want my NBA role players overqualified and that's exactly the kind of offensive talent jefferson boasts pic.twitter.com/fXoca9BafQ
Jefferson does not have the athletic gift of speed or agility, but he is able to get to the rim and finish using a combination of size, feel and footwork. He goes to a little hook shot quite a bit, typically over his left shoulder but he is comfortable taking and making them with both hands. He’s not really ever going to be a “dump it down to him on the block” type, but if given the space to operate, he handles it well enough to get to where he wants to go.
Areas of concern
Jefferson shot it fine from three, as he’s been right around 35% from deep for the better part of three years now. However, he doesn’t always look willing to shoot them. For him to reach his potential in the NBA, having the three as a counter he believes in would go a long way.
Against top-of-the-line teams, Jefferson saw a bit of a drop in both efficiency and effectiveness. Some of that is to be expected, as the better teams figure to guard a bit better, but it was something to note. In fairness to him, teams LOADED up on him in conference play, daring anyone not named Milan Momcilovic to beat them from deep. Still, it’s worth noting.
Jefferson, as expected, tested like an average-to-slightly-below-average type of athlete at his position during the NBA Combine. In fairness to him, he’s coming off a tough ankle sprain he suffered in the NCAA Tournament, so perhaps he even tested worse due to that. Jefferson is not a slob or anything, he’s what I would consider passable as an athlete. He leverages his smarts and technique help him on the defensive end to compliment the size and movement skills he does have. But it isn’t a stretch to say that there will be some matchups that are tough for him to cover.
Fit with the Mavericks
There’d have to be some reshuffling of the forward room to make this fit. Namely, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, two guys who figure to be featured heavily in trade discussions, would likely need to be moved to allow for a cheaper, cost controlled Jefferson. That said, if the front office is able to accomplish that, I think Joshua Jefferson would be a fantastic fit around Cooper Flagg and whoever they draft to compliment Kyrie Irving in the guard room. His IQ and playstyle would be a great ying to Cooper’s yang. Even if it requires moving on from a vet and moving up from pick 30, the Mavericks should try and pull it off.
NBA comparison
There’s some Collin Murray-Boyles here with Jefferson, which is ironic since Jefferson is the older player here. There’s a bit of extra seasoning to Jefferson’s game, largely seen in the passing and craft. Another good comparison is Kenrich Williams. Kenny Hustle was able to carve a career out for himself coming out of TCU, and Jefferson should be able to do the same, especially if the shot falls for him like it has for Williams at various times throughout his career. I think there’s real room for him to overachieve those if he hits his peak outcome.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Evgeni Malkin Born: July 31, 1986 (Age 39 season) Height: 6’ 5” Weight: 213 pounds Hometown: Magnitogorsk, Russia Shoots: Left Draft: 2004 first round (2nd overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins 2025-26 Statistics: 56 games played, 19 goals, 42 assists = 61 points ; 6 games played, 2 goals, 1 assist in playoffs. Contract Status: Malkin signed a one-year deal on May 26th to return to the Penguins in 2026-27 for his 21st NHL season after completing a four-year contract that wrapped up with the 2025-26 season.
Story of the Season
At 39 years old, Evgeni Malkin entered the 2025-26 season as the fifth oldest player in the NHL, preparing to play in his 20th NHL campaign in what will be a Hall of Fame career. While he may no longer be the player he was at his peak, Malkin proved to everyone that he still has something left to give, posting over a point per game season as he approaches his 40th birthday.
Malkin wasted no time getting his season rolling with a red hot right out of the gate that helped propel the Penguins up the standings and had people raising their eyebrows after preseason predictions had them as basement dwellers rather than playoff contenders.
Through the first month of play in 2025-26, Malkin paced the Penguins in scoring, producing 17 points in the month of October. There was a short period of time where he was leading the league in points courtesy of his hot start. That pace eventually cooled off, but Malkin made it clear he still had gas in the tank and could produce at a high level for the Penguins.
Coming off a 2024-25 season where he played 68 games, injuries (and a bad decision on his part) limited Malkin to just 56 games this past season. In December, the Penguins played 14 games, but Malkin appears in just two of those games, missing the rest due to injury. Malkin’s absence from the lineup coincided with one of the Penguins worst stretch of the season, surely not a coincidence given the level Malkin was playing at before going down.
In total, Malkin missed 15 games between early December and when he returned on January 8th but he wasted no time getting back on the scoresheet, recording a goal in his return to action and racking up 13 points across 12 games played in the month of January.
Of course not all of Malkin’s time out of the lineup was injury related. In an early March game against the Buffalo Sabres, Malkin slashed Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin across the neck and was handed a five game suspension for his actions.
Much like his return from injury in January, Malkin returned to the lineup on March 16th in Denver and did so with a bang against the Avalanche, recording a pair of goals and an assists in a shock 7-2 Penguins victory over the eventual President’s Trophy winners.
In the playoffs, Malkin found the back of the net twice to tie the team lead for goals scored in the Penguins six game loss to the Flyers in the first round.
October and January are the big months here that really stand out for Malkin this season. It should be noted those two months are when his legs were the most fresh, at the beginning of the season and coming off a long injury layoff that saw him miss 15 games. December and February were low volume in terms of games played because of injury and the Olympic break, but Malkin was still clicking at above a point per game pace even in those small sample sizes.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
Perhaps not the driver of play that he was at his peak, but Malkin’s scoring rates still remain among the highest on the team at 39 years old. His goal total improved slightly from last year, but it’s dishing the assists where he earned his money this season. Maybe Malkin does need to focus on shooting the puck more in 2026-27 with his GF% being that high and his shooting percentage being in the top half of qualified skaters.
2025-26 proved to be a major bounce back season for Malkin following his career-worst worst performance in 2024-25. The offensive impact this year was back in a major way and WAR rankings shine favorably on his game.
Malkin is always going to live in the Sidney Crosby shadow but has some incredible playmaking chops of his own. At this point he is a much more effective player setting up his teammates than taking the shots himself, and a shift to wing has freed him up to be more involved on the forecheck. Malkin also remained incredibly productive on the power play, leading the team in power play points per 60 minutes played and ending up with 26 PPP in his 56 games.
Malkin was able to increase his amount of shots from mid and high danger zones from last season, despite playing in 12 less games. That might say more about 2024-25 than this current year. Overall, through coaching inputs on zone starts and skill he’s still able to spend lots of time in the offensive end and as little as possible in the defensive part.
Age and a few knee surgeries have put a ceiling on what was once the most explosive skater of his generation back in his heyday. These stats show a real ceiling to how fast Malkin can be these days, right around the 20mph area. He still has the burst to remain worthy of playing in a league that gets a little faster each season, even as he slows, it’s just not quite the same as it once was and missing that high gear.
Evgeni Malkin, are you KIDDING @Joe_Brand1?? Another day, another bank shot. Here's how Geno's goal sounded on our airwaves, presented by S&T Bank. pic.twitter.com/MH4r2XTrMQ
One has to wonder in this coming season will be the last for Evgeni Malkin in his Hall of Fame career. There were whispers last offseason that 2025-26 was going to be the end, at least for his time in Pittsburgh, but an impressive age 39 season left little to doubt that Malkin can still play and it led to a one year deal for 2026-27 and a 21st NHL season where he will be 40 years old.
Malkin was already among the oldest players in the league last season and he could climb even higher this season depending on other retirement decisions from those ahead of him on the list. At some point his NHL career will come to and end, but until that time comes, it’s best to just enjoy having Malkin in a Penguins uniform, the only uniform he should ever wear as an NHL player.
Ideal 2026-27
There were two 40 year old forwards in the NHL in 2025-26, Alexander Ovechkin and Corey Perry. Evgeni Malkin will be 40 when next season begins so they can serve as a good comparable for what to expect from Malkin as he laces up the blades for his 21st NHL season.
Ovechkin posted 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points while playing all 82 games. Corey Perry recorded 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 72 games played.
Malkin nearly equaled Ovechkin last season in total points despite playing 26 less games and he far surpassed Perry’s numbers in less games as well. Whether or not either of those guys play in 2026-27 remains to be seen, but we know Malkin will be in the league for another year.
Gone of the days of Malkin being a 30 goal scorer and even the 20 goal mark may be a stretch for him anymore, but what we do know is he can still distribute the puck to rack up assists. Given that he will likely still be in the Penguins top six and getting top power play time, a repeat of the season we just saw from Malkin, minus some injuries perhaps, will do just fine for the Penguins.
Bottom line
Evgeni Malkin entered 2025-26 with doubts about his future with the Penguins as he was entering the final season of his contract. As the season played out and it became apparent that Malkin still had much to give and his future in Pittsburgh was secured for another season with a well earned one-year contract that will see him play his 21st NHL season with the Penguins in 2026-27.
Injuries did force Malkin from the lineup more than in past seasons, playing his fewest amount of games since the 2021-22 campaign when he played in only 4q contests. Still though, when Malkin was on the ice he showed the talent that has made him a future Hall of Famer, scoring at over a point per game pace for the first time in four seasons.
There was some angst among the Penguins fan base about bringing Malkin back for 2026-27, but this season showed he can still produce and he’s not blocking anyone in the system. It was an easy call to give him a new deal and if he can put together a similar season at 40 years old, then it’s a win all around.
Final Grade
A-.
At 39 years old and in his 20th NHL season, Malkin posted a point per game and played a key role in helping the Penguins get back to the playoffs. His red hot start had the Penguins off and running and put them in good position to survive the rough patches that were to come. He did go down with injury that cost him a large chunk of games in the middle of the campaign, but he returned and produced straight away.
All in all, it’s hard to be too critical of a 39 year old who is still playing and contributing at the level of Evgeni Malkin did in 2025-26. He earned his new contract and here’s to hoping we see this version of Malkin again in the new season.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Carolina Hurricanes won 3-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The Hockey Guy provides assessments for where teams stand in their competitive windows, and he saves the Devils for last:
“General manager Sunny Mehta should pursue some of the bigger trade targets available this offseason, such as Jordan Kyrou, but there’s the salary cap to worry about, too. As such, there could be some under-the-radar, though potentially riskier, trade candidates that Mehta could pursue over the coming weeks. Let’s look at who those could be and why some of these trade targets offer buy-low, high-reward potential.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“If there’s one commonality between most of the armchair-GM trade proposals, it’s the repeated inclusion of the same Devils’ pieces: the 12th overall pick, Simon Nemec, and Dawson Mercer. A draft pick is what it is, and I’ve certainly laid out the Nemec of it all before, but I feel as though it would be a worthy endeavor to dive into what Mercer actually brings to the table as a player and determine whether or not he deserves to be in these trade conversations. Half of those I’ve spoken to believe him to be a strong, all-situations asset to the team; a player the Devils cannot afford to lose. The other half believes that he is what he is — a 20-goal, 40-point player — and that he’s best used as a trade chip by virtue of his trade value being higher than his on-ice value.” [Devils’ Advocates]
“Twenty years later, the Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions again. Brandon Bussi stopped all 22 shots he faced, and the Hurricanes set off a Stanley Cup celebration with a heavy presence of their fans who made the trip here, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.” [NHL.com]
Jordan Staal is awarded the Conn Smythe:
#SoundTheSiren captain Jordan Staal is the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for MVP of the #StanleyCup playoffs, as voted by @ThePHWA.
Staal had a Stanley Cup Final for the ages, becoming the first player to score in each of the first five games in 70 years.
Jun 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan (41) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Joe Ryan was famously traded from the Rays to the Twins at the 2021 deadline as part of the deal that brought Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay for its postseason push and veteran leadership in a clubhouse that saw its future in Wander Franco. Fast forward a few years and Ryan looks like an ideal candidate to add to the Rays rotation.
If you’ve been following this series, we can cut to the chase: While Ryan isn’t quite on Tarik Skubal’s level as a frontline starter, the acquisition cost could be comparable because the acquiring team would control him through 2027 rather than just the remainder of this season.
Ryan profiles as a strong number two starter thanks to a deep arsenal, deceptive release traits, and an ability to generate swing-and-miss with multiple shapes, including a sweeper nicknamed The Alien.
He’s coming off a career high in innings last season (171) and is currently on pace to land in a similar range this year. As his fastball usage has declined, Ryan’s overall performance has continued to improve, and he’s arguably having the best season of his career. He’s someone who could help take this rotation to the next level late this summer and into the postseason.
For a Rays club that will carefully manage the workloads of Shane McClanahan, Griffin Jax, Steven Matz, and Drew Rasmussen, adding another durable starter like Ryan would provide both quality and much-needed stability.
Similar to what I wrote about in the Rays trading for Skubal, I think it starts with one of Brody Hopkins or Nathan Flewelling. I don’t think the Rays would entertain moving Theo Gillen for a year and a half of Joe Ryan. Given the trajectory of Gillen’s stock, he may already be too valuable to include in that type of deal.
The market for starting pitching is always competitive, so it would require a mild to moderate overpay to acquire Ryan. A package centered around Hopkins or Flewelling likely wouldn’t be enough on its own. The Rays would probably need to include another prospect from the next tier to make their offer competitive. This next tier of prospects includes:
SS Daniel Pierce
C Caden Bodine
RHP Michael Forret
INF Cooper Flemming
RHP Anderson Brito
RHP Santiago Suarez
RHP TJ Nichols
It would sting to give up one of them in addition to Hopkins or Flewelling, but that’s the cost of a higher end starter at most trade deadlines.
Minnesota has the luxury of patience. With another season of team control remaining after 2026, they don’t have to move Ryan. That leverage is exactly what makes him such a difficult player to acquire, but also what makes him one of the most appealing targets for a team like Tampa Bay that’s trying to maximize both this postseason run and next year’s rotation. Joe Ryan may not be the best pitcher available, but his extra year of team control means he could cost nearly as much to acquire as Tarik Skubal.
The curtain fell on the 2025-26 season on Sunday night when the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 to claim the Stanley Cup in six games. While it’s not much of a consolation, the Montreal Canadiens can at least say that the champions-to-be eliminated them. Carolina was an absolute force in the postseason, going 16-3, and thoroughly deserves the championship.
Jordan Stall was named the Conn Smythe winner even though he only had 12 points in 19 games after scoring six goals in the Cup final alone, including at least one in the first five games of the series against Vegas. As the Canes’ players celebrated and took their lap with Lord Stanley’s Cup, three former Canadiens won their first Cup: Nicolas Deslauriers, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Mike Rielly.
Deslauriers, who spent two seasons in Montreal, is an energy player who has made his name with his fists. The Hurricanes acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline, so he hasn’t been a member of the team for long, but he was clearly very appreciated by his new teammates as he got to raise the Cup quite early last night.
However, it’s worth noting that he may not qualify to have his name engraved on the Cup as he didn’t play at least 41 regular-season games with the Canes and didn’t play a single game in the Cup final, being limited to just one game in the first round, against the Ottawa Senators. However, the team can petition the commissioner for a player’s name to be engraved on the Trophy if extenuating circumstances prevented them from being available to play. Deslauriers wasn’t injured; he was a healthy scratch.
As for Mike Reilly, who played parts of three seasons with the Canadiens, he was signed as a free agent by the Canes this past offseason for just one year to a contract with a $1.1 million cap hit. He skated in 42 games with Carolina during the regular season and will therefore qualify to have his name on the Cup, despite not playing a single game in the playoffs.
Finally, former third-overall pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi, whom the Canes poached from the Habs with an unreasonable offer sheet in the 2021 offseason, also played 42 games in the regular calendar, putting up nine points, meaning he will also have his name on the priceless trophy. It’s probably not how he dreamt of winning Lord Stanley’s mug, as he has fallen out of favour with the Canes’ coach Rod Brind’Amour, but he will still be remembered as a Cup champion.
Back in 2021, he was offered a single-season contract by the Canes with a $6.1 million cap hit in what looked like a retaliatory offer sheet after the Canadiens had tried to poach Sebastian Aho from Carolina with an offer sheet in the 2019 offseason. Well aware that the Finn wasn’t worth $6.1 million per season, the Canes signed him to an eight-year contract extension before the end of the 2022 season, which had a $4.82 cap hit. He even has a 10-team no-trade clause. The centerman never put up more than 43 points in a season, and there have been plenty of rumours about the Canes trying to trade him in the last couple of seasons. Still, they failed to find any takers, which was hardly surprising, given both the term and the money remaining to be paid under his contract.
It wouldn’t be a shock if the Canes elected to buy him out this summer, since it was the first time in his tenure with Carolina that he wasn’t used in the playoffs. Should the Champions elect to do that, he would have a $850,000 cap hit until the end of the 2033-34 season. While no one likes to admit they were wrong, it might be time for Carolina to admit the offer sheet backfired and cut its losses.
All things considered, though, the Canes’ front office hasn’t been wrong often, as last night’s Cup win proves. It was the franchise’s second championship win after raising the Cup in 2006; back then, they had eliminated the Canadiens as well.
Having been coached by Brown for six seasons from 2016 to 2022, Warriors star Steph Curry congratulated the former Golden State assistant coach for leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973.
“Couldn’t happen to a better guy! Congrats Mike B,” Curry posted on his Instagram story.
Stephen Curry congratulates Mike Brown on winning the NBA Finals:
“Couldn’t happen to a better guy! Congrats Mike B”
As a lead Warriors assistant coach under Steve Kerr, Brown won three championships in 2017, 2018 and 2022. Brown also notably stepped in for Kerr, who was sidelined due to a back injury, during Golden State’s 2017 title run and led the team to a perfect 11-0 record.
During his first season as New York’s head coach, Brown led the team to a 53-29 record during the regular season, which gave the team the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2026 NBA playoffs.
After trailing 2-1 in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks won each of their next 13 games, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals and sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers, sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, and winning the first two games of the NBA Finals on the road against the San Antonio Spurs.
Brown’s championship with New York officially is his fifth, with his first title being with the Spurs as an assistant coach in 2003.
During the 2006-07 season as the Cavaliers head coach, Brown led a young LeBron James and Cleveland to the NBA Finals, but only to get swept by a more potent Spurs team led by coach Gregg Popovich and stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Almost two decades later, Brown got his redemption against the same team to earn his first championship as a head coach. The 56-year-old also previously was the head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011 to 2012 and for the Sacramento Kings from 2022 to 2024.
With such a strong team assembled in New York, led by star guard Jalen Brunson, along with the culture that has been set within its organization, Brown and the Knicks should be expected to be a title contender once again next season.
Stokes and Atkinson absent following nightclub furore
Ollie Robinson misses Oval Test due to soreness in knee
Seamer Ollie Robinson, whose performance guided England to victory in the first test against New Zealand, will miss the second match due to a sore right knee, the England and Wales Cricket Board, confirmed on Monday.
Playing his first test in more than two years, Robinson took seven wickets including five in the first innings to be named player of the match as England won by 115 runs on a difficult wicket at Lord’s.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 24: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates on first base after singling in the first inning during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
A strong weekend in Toronto left the Yankees back where they want to be, alone in first place in the AL East, and with the best record in the American League for good measure. Despite falling behind the Rays by as many as five games last month, New York has surged to put themselves back in front by one game as we near the halfway point of the year.
That the Yankees would lead the division at this point is not a huge surprise, but the rest of the AL East is. The Rays being the Bombers’ primary opponent in the race for the division is not something most would have predicted before the season, and it’s downright shocking to see the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Orioles all well below .500 in mid-June.
There’s a lot of baseball left to be played, but it’s also no longer early, and the division has stratified into a two-horse race. Will it stay that way all season?
None of Toronto, Boston, nor Baltimore has at any point in 2026 looked like the clubs they hoped to be entering the year, but we’ve seen several examples in recent seasons of teams that looked out of it in the middle of the year suddenly turning things around and rallying back into contention. Teams like the 2024 Tigers and Mets spring to mind, with both clubs finding themselves underwater halfway through the season before second-half sprints. The 2025 Guardians somehow won the AL Central after falling 15.5 games behind Detroit, while the 2024 Astros faced a 10-game division deficit in mid-June yet wound up winning the AL west comfortably. Hell, even the 2025 Yankees give us a helpful reminder of how teams can claw their way up the standings, having erased a 6.5-game August deficit to tie the Blue Jays in the AL East.
Can any of the Yankees’ non-Rays foes make this more than a two-team contest? Prior to the year, most would have bet on Toronto giving the Yankees the stiffest challenge all year, and indeed the Jays are in third place, albeit ten games back of first. Toronto has not looked like much in 2026, but I think they are the team the Yankees should be most wary of, other than the Rays. Injuries have wreaked havoc on Toronto’s roster, and though the Jays still do have a huge number of players on the IL, it’s plausible the team will ultimately find itself healthier in the second half and in better position to make a run.
The Orioles, in fourth, shouldn’t be fully discounted either. Baltimore’s young lineup has performed closer to expectations than last year, running the third-best wRC+ in the AL, though their pitching has left a lot to be desired. If the O’s can figure out how to prevent runs, they could prove to be a threat, but the smart money is on them not pitching enough to bother the teams at the top of the division this year.
And then there are the Red Sox, in the midst of a tumultuous campaign that’s seen them dismiss their coaching staff and lose a whole lot of games. Boston’s roster is still littered with interesting talent, but a dreadful start and the early loss of Garrett Crochet have probably just left Boston too far back in the standings, 13 games out at 29-39.
What do you think? Do you see the AL East remaining a two-horse race all year? Or will another contender emerge during the summer months?
The Yankees are off today, traveling back home for a three-game set with the White Sox, and we’ll have a fairly light day on the site. In the morning, Kevin recaps Sunday’s American League action, while Andrés writes up a Yankees great as part of our Yankees Birthday series in Andy Pettitte, and Madison puts out the call for this week’s mailbag.
It may look like a football score, but Toledo fell to St. Paul 14-10 on Sunday. The Mud Hens drop the series against the Saints, 5-1, with five straight losses.
The good news is Max Clark had a three-hit game, as did Ben Malgeri, who was a triple shy of the cycle. Jace Jung also went deep, and Eduardo Valencia had a multi-hit game despite striking out three times.
Beau Brieske got the start and gave up three hits, including two doubles, in the first. Matt Seelinger was next and struggled through 1.1 innings, allowing a pair of home runs. Nick Sandlin came out of the bullpen next and delivered a strong four-strikeout performance over the next 1.2 frames.
Ricky Vanasco struggled out of the gate in the fifth, walking the leadoff man and giving up a pair of singles for a run. He picked off a runner for the second out, but a walk and a wild pitch brought in another run. Vanasco walked the leadoff man again in the sixth, but he retired the next three batters in order.
Scott Effross allowed four of the six batters he faced to reach base in the seventh, although one of those came on catcher interference. Still, Effross hit two batters, the second coming with the bases loaded. The second out came on a game-tying sacrifice fly, so that’s not really a net positive either.
Brennan Hanifee entered the game and promptly gave up the lead with a two-run single. Both runs were charged to Effross. Hanifee gave up four runs on five hits in the eighth, making it a 14-8 game.
Toledo got a little two-out rally going in the ninth, starting with a four-pitch walk that needed a challenge to confirm. Gage Workman and Malgeri delivered back-to-back singles, the second scoring a run, and Valencia doubled in another run. Tha wasn’t enough, though. Trei Cruz popped up to the catcher to end the game.
Clark: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
Anderson: 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Malgeri: 3-5, 2B (17), HR (9), 2 R, 4 RBI, K
Coming Up Next: The Mud Hens are on the road next week against the Rochester Red Wings, starting Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. ET.
Canceled: Erie SeaWolves vs. Akron RubberDucks
Erie and Akron got through three innings, but rain canceled this game before it could reach the minimum required to be official. Erie takes the series, 4-1.
The SeaWolves led 4-0 before the rain came. Seth Stephenson led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single, and John Peck singled him in two batters later. Chris Meyers led off the second with a solo home run.
In the second, Andrew Jenkins singled softly into right, and Stephenson bunted safely again — what is the defense thinking? Peyton Graham doubled in both runners off the wall in left.
Kenny Serwa had a 1-2-3 first. He worked around a dropped third strike and a double off the left-field wall in the second. Serwa struck out the next batter and fielded his position to catch the runner in a pickle between third and home for the second out. Another grounder to the right side led to a scoreless frame. Serwa went 1-2-3 again in the third, and that’s where things ended.
Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are on the road next week against the Harrisburg Senators, starting at noon ET on Tuesday. A special shout-out to my guy Devin Fitz-Gerald, the son of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald, who was recently promoted to Double-A Harrisburg.
Canceled: West Michigan Whitecaps vs. Lake County Captains
Another rain-canceled game. West Michigan drops the series, 3-2.
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are back home next week against the Lansing Lugnuts, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.
Jake Miller went three full innings in his third rehab start as the Lakeland Flying Tigers defeated the Clearwater Threshers, 9-3, to end the series tied at three games apiece.
Miller was excellent, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out three batters. His slider and sweeper were on point, drawing eight combined called strikes and whiffs on 12 pitches (66.6%). The velocity hasn’t returned yet, as he’s still sitting 90-91 mph, but it’s pretty early in the rehab process.
The offense gave Miller some early run support, scoring seven runs before he came out of the game. Beau Ankeney was on an absolute tear. He got things going with a solo homer in the first, singled in the third and hit a three-run homer in the fourth.
Beau Ankeney mashes a solo homer 421 feet to right center to give Lakeland an early lead. It’s his 6th homer of the year. pic.twitter.com/4dXGGIKl2L
Zach MacDonald led off the fourth with a single and stole second and third. Jack Goodman doubled him in, and Jordan Yost kept things going with a single before Ankeney’s second homer.
Beau Ankeney with his second monster bomb of the game, this one 440-feet to left. It’s his 7th home run of the year, and Lakeland leads 7-0. pic.twitter.com/NEsrPREvQv
Charlie Christensen took over for Miller in the fourth and struck out nine batters over the next 4.2 innings. He induced 13 whiffs, which is good for the third most of any Single-A pitcher today. Eight came on the slider, three on the sinker and two more on the cutter.
— Lakeland Flying Tigers (@LkdFlyingTigers) June 7, 2026
Clearwater was a little more comfortable with his arm angle the second time through the order and got to Christensen for a pair of runs in the sixth with a string of hits, but Lakeland got those runs back in the top of the seventh. MacDonald drove in Espinal on a sacrifice fly, and Yost walked with the bases loaded.
A leadoff double led to a third Clearwater run in the eighth. Pedro Garcia took over for Christensen and got the final four outs of the game. He allowed just one hit and threw a wild pitch, but everything else was good.
Yost: 1-4, RBI, BB
Ankeney: 3-5, 2 HR (7), 3 R, 3 RBI, K
Miller: 3.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
Christensen (W, 2-0): 4.2 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K
Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers are back at home next week against the Dunedin Blue Jays, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.
It was just a series in early June, and no, the two best pitchers in baseball this year did not square off against each other.
Yet it's hard to minimize the symbolic power of the Milwaukee Brewers and Jacob Misiorowski's ' weekend conquest of Cristopher Sánchez and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Misiorowski pitched the game of his life Friday, June 12, a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts that set all kinds of high-water marks for maximum velocity and utter, bloodless efficiency.
Two days later, after the Phillies squared the series, Jackson Chourio jumped on the great Sánchez for a leadoff home run, jump-starting a series-winning 4-0 victory that dealt Sánchez just his third loss in 15 starts.
By weekend's end, The Miz had a firm lead over Sánchez - who posted a 55-inning scoreless streak, a record for a left-hander earlier this month - in virtually every key pitching category. And the Brewers clawed their way into the No. 2 slot in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
"I’m happy for the guys to be in a battle like this with a team built for the World Series," says Brewers manager Pat Murphy. "That’s what this whole thing’s about – to be in these environments as much as you can, keep your poise."
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Atlanta Braves (-)
A second IL stint for Ronald Acuña Jr. due to barking hamstring.
2. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)
Kyle Harrison overcomes 10-run Vegas debacle to outpitch Cristopher Sánchez.
NHL free agency is rarely a place where teams add franchise players anymore. Superstars no longer get to unrestricted free agency. Those players are so valuable, and teams almost never let them walk for nothing in free agency these days.
Free agency is now a place to add depth at positions of need. This year’s class of unrestricted free agents is pretty underwhelming. There are no first-line caliber players who could hit the market.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has not had a ton of success in free agency during his tenure. Sure, he’s made some nice additions, like getting Morgan Geekie for cheap money in 2023. But there have been plenty of bad deals, including the Elias Lindholm contract (seven years, $54.25 million) signed in 2024. David Backes and Matt Beleskey’s contracts were pretty bad as well.
The best way for the Bruins to make substantial improvements to their roster is the trade market. The B’s have a lot of good trade assets to make deals. But if they strike out on trades, are there any UFAs who the B’s should pursue?
Let’s look at five free agents who would be a good fit for the Bruins.
Alex Tuch
Position: Left wing
2025-26 Stats: 33 G, 33 A in 79 games
Tuch should have plenty of potential suitors because he’s the only legitimate top-six forward in this free agent class. He played a prominent role in helping the Sabres end their 15-year playoff drought by tallying 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) in 79 games this past season.
The 30-year-old veteran has scored 33 or more goals in three of the last four seasons. He’s effective on the power play, and he plays with a physical edge.
The Bruins need goal scorers, and Tuch would certainly be an offensive upgrade over Viktor Arvidsson. And despite playing in Buffalo for several seasons, Tuch does have 79 games of playoff experience, largely from his time with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Viktor Arvidsson
Position: Left wing
2025-26 Stats: 25 G, 29 A in 69 GP
Trading a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers for Arvidsson last July was a tremendous deal for the B’s. Arvidsson enjoyed a bounce-back season with 54 points in 69 games. His 25 goals were 10 more than he scored the previous season.
Bringing back Arvidsson makes a lot of sense for the Bruins. He brought much-needed scoring depth and speed on the wing. But doing so on a long-term deal would be a risk. Arvidsson is 33 years old. He should still be an effective player for a couple more years, but any contract that stretches longer than that could be dicey.
Anthony Mantha
Position: Right wing
2025-26 Stats: 33 G, 31 A in 81 GP
Mantha missed most of the 2024-25 campaign due to an ACL injury, but he had a major bounce-back season with the Penguins in which he set career highs with 33 goals and 64 points. Mantha has scored 20-plus goals four times, including each of his last two healthy seasons.
Mantha has been injury prone for much of his career, but when healthy, he’s a pretty good goal scorer. If the Bruins lose Arvidsson, Mantha would be worth pursuing.
If Andersson hits free agency, he’s worth pursuing because the Bruins badly need a right-shot, top-four defenseman who can play in all situations. Andersson, who’s capable of playing 21 to 24 minutes per game, checks those boxes.
The 29-year-old veteran also would help the Bruins generate more offense from the blue line. He scored a career-high 17 goals this season and has hit the 10-goal mark in three of the past four seasons.
Andersson is the best defenseman who could hit the open market and he won’t be cheap to sign. Overpaying for a defenseman who will soon turn 30 carries some risk. The Bruins paid a lot of money for Elias Lindholm in free agency two years ago at the same age Andersson is now, and that contract has been a disaster so far.
That said, adding Andersson would address a huge roster need for the Bruins and give them more scoring punch on the back end, at least in the short term.
John Carlson
Position: Defenseman
2025-26 Stats: 14 G, 46 A in 71 GP
Carlson is still a very good offensive player at 36 years old. After spending the first 16-plus seasons of his career with the Washington Capitals, Carlson was traded to the Ducks in March. He was a huge help to the Ducks on and off the ice and helped a young Anaheim team get to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Carlson would help the Bruins generate more goals and scoring chances from the blue line. He has scored 10-plus goals in seven of the last nine seasons. He has tallied 44-plus points in eight of the last nine seasons. He’s a very good passer, he’s good in transition, he shoots the puck a lot and he can quarterback a power play at a high level.
Carlson also is a tremendous leader, and he has 149 games of playoff experience, including a Stanley Cup title with the Capitals in 2018.
The Natick, Mass., native would only be a short-term upgrade for the Bruins given his age, but his offensive talent, wealth of experience and his ability to play the right side of the blue line make him a good fit for Boston.
A Knicks fan holds a giant cutout of Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in midtown after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to win the series, in New York, on June 14, 2026. The Knicks won the NBA Championship for the first time since 1973, for the third time in franchise history. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Second day waking up as a fan of the reigning NBA champs.
Truth be told, it feels the same as it did yesterday, if not better.
Here’s the latest, including a brief and unexpected cameo from the man who built the house!
Tom Thibodeau’s full page ad in the New York Times thanks the entire Knicks organization and the fans.
“Watching you support our team, and seeing the Garden ignite with that incomparable Knicks energy, is something I will never forget.”
— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) June 11, 2025
Tom Thibodeau (via Taj Gibson)
On his reaction to the Knicks’ championship:
“Man, that’s how it goes. You may have some good things going for you, may have some things that don’t go right for you, but I’m just proud of the guys.”
Knicks president Leon Rose: "There aren't really words you can put into what these guys have done, the character they have, the fight they have, the grit they have, the never say die…Incredible, incredible the run they've been on
“The buy in. It was a contract that I had everybody sign opening dinner night and I still have it framed. Everybody’s signature from Mr. Dolan to Leon Rose, all the coaches, all the players, all the staff that was there that night signed it and basically it was about committing to sacrifice, having a competitive spirit, being connected, believing in each other in the process while holding everybody accountable — even myself. I’m not above the law, I’ve gotta be held accountable too.
I told everybody that night, if you’re not gonna abide by this, I’d have more respect for you to not sign it than to sign it and BS your way through the night and BS your way through this and everybody bought in from Day 1. And that speaks volumes to all of these guys as individuals and especially the leadership on this team, starting with Jalen Brunson.”
On Jalen Brunson’s contract sacrifice:
“He understands what winning is about. He took a pay cut that I wouldn’t take. Every time they would throw that number in front of me, I would say no, and I feel like I’m a great guy. He set the bar. That set the standard.
“You know, he comes and he probably takes a pay cut that I wouldn’t have taken. Every time they would’ve thrown that number in front of me, I would have said no — and I feel like I’m a good guy! He set the bar before he even stepped on the floor.”
On Jalen Brunson’s place in Knicks history:
“I love Pat[rick Ewing]. Pat’s up there. I hope Pat doesn’t kill me. He’s bigger than me. We’re both old and slow but because he’s got a longer reach, he might be able to kill me. But Brunson … he is him, man. When it comes to New York basketball, he is freaking him.”
On Leon Rose’s leadership:
“He’s been an absolute, no matter what happens going forward, I don’t care what happens going forward, he’s been an absolute joy to work with. His family’s been great. His wife, my wife, they get along fantastic. That synergy between me and him, our two wives, it helped the whole organization align horizontally and vertically. That’s what you have to have in these situations, especially when things get tough. He’s not going to waver.”
On assistant coach Chris Jent:
“There are a lot of jobs open out there. Chris Jent, my associate head coach, I’m surprised has not gotten an interview. He won the Summer League championship this past summer, he’s our offensive coordinator, associate head coach. He’s been around for a long time. Someone needs to give him an interview because he will help your team win at the highest level.”
“Words can’t describe it, but I’ll say I put a lot of time and effort into trying to be the best player I can be to try and help a team win. Just really thankful to have an organization, a coaching staff, my teammates, to have my back every single day. I think that means the most to me. And my family.”
On believing a title was possible after taking a pay cut:
“With a lot of hard work and effort, I knew it was achievable. But that was only a small portion of it. I think everyone bonding, coming together, having the mindset of just believing in each other, never giving up, no matter what the situation was, made this all possible. Yes, it may look like [the contract] had something to do with it, but it’s a credit to my teammates.”
On the challenge posed by the Spurs’ defense:
“I don’t think it took a toll on me mentally. Maybe a little bit physically, obviously, just because of the game and what they are trying to do. Mentally, I feel fresh. I feel like that’s where I thrive.”
On Leon Rose:
“I think he’s a great basketball mind. I also think he surrounds himself with good people. The way he’s been able to do this, especially here with all the scrutiny people do to him and everything — I just think the way he goes about his business is as good as anyone.”
On him not feeling real pressure after having experienced his father’s journey:
“No pressure. No pressure whatsoever. My dad being on eight or nine unguaranteed contracts throughout his career and not knowing when you’re going to get cut, when a team is going to move on from you, while your family is on the East Coast and you are wherever you are in the country. That’s pressure. Working out three times a day in the summertime and watching him push himself just to get a training camp deal, that’s pressure. I’m very fortunate to be in the position I am and I definitely think I worked pretty hard. So when the opportunity presented itself like it did today, I just trusted my work. … I’m just never afraid to fail.”
On his $113 million sacrifice:
“100% worth it. 100% worth it. I would… Even if we didn’t achieve this, I feel like being able to do that, grind, and go on a journey to try and achieve it, it would have been worth it as well. But this is definitely the cherry on top.”
On the Knicks’ identity:
“A team that’s never going to quit. We’re going to find a way. I feel like, over the years, we’ve had that mindset. But I think this year, we proved it. We actually truly believed it.”
On Mike Brown:
“He understands what it is to be a champion. He understands how to build a team, how to build habits that will put you in this position. And we’re so grateful, so thankful to have him at the top. He kept us even so many times. He’s brought the best out of us as people first, and, man, I’m so happy for him. He’s the reason why we’re (champions).”
On metting his father on the court after the final buzzer:
“I walked right to halfcourt, shook Mitch Johnson’s hand, and then turned around and my dad was there, and felt emotional from that point on.”
On becoming NBA champion and Finals MVP:
“It hasn’t sunk in. I honestly don’t know right now.”
On his message to Taylor Swift fans after Monica McNutt’s comments:
“I just want to say something to the Swifties. She’s a really good one, cut her some slack. It’s all good, I promise.”
“We conduct ourselves like family, and [Leon Rose] has always had that family mantra in everything he’s done. Doing that, I think that’s real. The connectivity, the unity this team represents every single night regardless of what the deficit is. … As a family, you never want to let your brothers down, and you never want to disappoint them. So, for us, it’s always about just being the best for each other and understanding that regardless of what happens in the world or what people say, we’re all we got and all we need. As a family, when you truly do believe in your family, you feel anything is possible.”
On Jalen Brunson playing through injury:
“That’s who Cap is — Cap always find a way to get back on the court and produce. That’s a testament to who he is, and just his story — never giving up, always have been the underdog, always been looked down upon. It always takes one person to believe in you. This organization believed in him, and we believed in him. We were going to do whatever it takes to get him to the next level.”
On Jalen Brunson’s journey:
“I see a man that’s grown up and took the challenge of being in the biggest market in the world, being with a team that hasn’t made it to the NBA Finals in 27 years and hasn’t won in [53] years, and knowing that he could do it. Shoutout to everybody who told him he couldn’t do it, because it gave him fuel for the fire. For him to welcome both of us here into this organization and trust that we were here for him, it means a lot. It means a lot to have a person like that who has been handed the keys to the city and was willing to have the door open for both of us to join.”
On Leon Rose:
“When you’re an agent, I think anyone who knows the sports agency business, it’s all about relationships. What Leon is one of the best in the world at is having genuine, loving relationships with people. I think because of that, you see the way our team acts, the way our team conducts itself. We conduct ourselves like family, and he’s always had that family mantra in everything he’s done. Doing that, I think that’s real. The connectivity, the unity this team represents every single night, regardless of what the deficit is.”
On the impossibility of carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy in his duffel bag:
“How am I gonna do this? That s–t heavy. That’s why I workout! That’s why I workout!”
On where he’s putting the trophy:
“I’m putting this s–t next to the bed for when I’m getting it in.”
On his parents’ support:
“Shoutout to him and to my mom, too, because she had a lot of hours where they didn’t see me and trusted in me, and my pops was really putting it in at work and was trusting that we were going to make something special out of this.”
Josh Hart:
"Everybody wants to be the guy that scores the most, that puts the ball in the basket and that's not everybody's path. That wasn't my path and sometimes that's a tough pill to swallow but when you embrace that when you're a star in your role and you take pride in… pic.twitter.com/q8vsyZwZJF
On the five-pick talk after winning the championship:
“It’s an amazing feeling to be here. Forget those picks. Forget those picks, dawg! We’re here!”
On Jalen and Rick Brunson sharing the championship:
“Oh, man, it’s so cool. So cool to see that, because I’ve seen the hard work. I’ve seen their relationship. I’ve seen the work that they both put in to get to this point. … And to be able to do that with your dad, both played on the same team, that’s something they are going to remember for the rest of their lives.”
On sacrificing personal stats for winning:
“Everybody wants to be the guy that scores the most, that puts the ball in the basket, and that’s not everybody’s path. That wasn’t my path, and sometimes that’s a tough pill to swallow, but when you embrace that, when you’re a star in your role, and you take pride in doing the little things, that breeds winning basketball.”
On embracing his role in New York:
“For me, as embraced as I was in this city wearing this jersey, that sacrifice was easy. Some days it was tough, don’t get me wrong, but you sacrifice for moments like this.”
On winning the championship with the Knicks:
“Man, this is the best feeling, man. We worked so hard for this. I give glory to God. Everyone was doubted at some point. This team was doubted at some point. And all we focused on was the next game. All we focused on were those guys in the locker room, man.”
On the pressure of wearing a Knicks jersey:
“People don’t understand, you know, we don’t really talk about it, but the weight of that jersey, the expectations, the pressure of that jersey. And I guess today, right now, it’s the lightest I’ve ever felt. And all glory to God, man.”
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS.
Mikal Bridges was overcome with emotion seconds after winning his first NBA Championship. pic.twitter.com/rmYeE55VyH
“Just grateful, just very grateful… But yeah, like f–k’em. You know all the times I’ve been struggling, and I got the fans on me. The thing about me is that I want to always be better. So you know, no matter how they feel, I always want to be better.”
On fan expectations for him in the future:
“Hope I’m still here, you know, continuing to keep that edge. Keep pushing me because if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and they really strongly believe they need me to be better.”
On tough love from fans:
“I’m already thinking that, so I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care and want me to be better, don’t stop now, just keep pushing me.”
On handling criticism:
“I know sometimes I’ll struggle this and that, but just know I’m gonna keep working, and if they keep you know egging me on and talking a little s–t, that’s alright. I’m pretty tough, I’ll be alright.”
On criticism from Knicks fans:
“The times I’ve been struggling, the fans were on me — the thing is about me, I want to always be better. So whatever, how they feel, I always want to be better. They keep pushing me and if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and if they strongly believe I have a chance to be better, I’m already thinking about that.”
On appreciating the Knicks’ faithful tough love:
“I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, and want me to be better, don’t stop now. Just keep pushing me.”
"Before this photo was taken I jokingly told Mitchell I'll only post it *when* he wins that NBA title. He confidently responded that he'd do it.
“His mindset, his work ethic, his energy that he just brings. You know, he just brings joy, and you know, we need that. You know, when stuff gets rough, we have a little sit-down, talk, and he gets us back on track, like a leader, like a captain. To have him around, especially for the last four or five years, it’s been truly amazing. I mean, there’s really no words I can really put here, but he’s just, you know, he just does his thing.”
On catching another snake before the title-winning game:
“Yesterday, at the hotel, I caught a snake. Again. You know I caught a snake in the beginning of the playoffs when we played Atlanta. We won, and I caught one last night and we won today. I think it’s something about snakes.”
“New York Knicks! New York Knicks! We got the champions!”
Jordan Clarkson pulls up to support Jose Alvarado at the Knickerbocker Puerto Rican Day Parade
“I’m blessed. And a little drunk. Thank you guys so much, it means the world to me. Really. I’m a kid from Brooklyn. And the Knicks party f–kin’ did it.”
On winning an NBA championship:
“I really don’t know what to make of it yet. I can’t believe this really happened.”
On meeting Patrick Ewing:
“The craziest part is that Patrick Ewing knows who I am! I’m just a kid from Brooklyn and Patrick Ewing knows who I am!”
Tyler Kolek celebrates winning an NBA Championship with Deuce McBride, OG Anunoby, Jeremy Sochan, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mike Brown and Landry Shamet via Instagram Live https://t.co/SHjMjFr2Gepic.twitter.com/joOKLE8F9u
On Jalen Brunson’s decision to shake hands with the San Antonio Spurs players and coach before celebrating:
“Because he was raised right. But that’s his mom. That ain’t me.”
On his emotions right after winning the title:
“My heart is just in my sneaker, man. You can’t see it on the outside, but on the inside, I’m steaming inside.”
On Jalen Brunson exceeding expectations:
“I can’t imagine. I never thought he’d get to this level. I’d be lying to you if I said I thought he would be this good. I just wanted someone to come to New York, run a team, and hopefully have a chance to win a championship. And for him to be the guy to help me help the team, this is surreal.”
On his message to Mark Cuban:
“Tell Mark [Cuban], thank you!”
On the importance of being a father first:
“In ’99, it was a great run for us, but I would say now it’s more exciting for me as a father to see your son on the stage and performing.”
On his relationship with Jalen Brunson:
“The most important thing about a father is that you can’t be a fan. You’ve got to be a father. With my son and me, I’m his father. I’m not your friend, I’m not your buddy, I’m not a fan. He doesn’t cross that line, and I don’t cross that line.”
“I remember asking Jalen during his junior year of college if there was one word that he would use to encompass everything he's about,” Sandra Brunson said as she watched her son lead the New York Knicks to their first title in 53 years. “'Belief.'" https://t.co/Z2NXQ1vEwS
“All I can say is it’s about belief. I remember asking Jalen during his junior year of college if there was one word that he would use to encompass everything he’s about. He said, ‘Belief.’ As you get older you realize your natural ability can only take you so far. You need something else. You need belief. Because you can’t control everything.”
On the Knicks believing in Jalen:
“I remember saying to Jalen when they made the offer, ‘You can bet on yourself now. They believe in you.’ It makes such a difference when people really want you and believe in you.”
On New York needing a star and JB filling that gap:
“People in New York were always saying they needed a star. And I used to wonder, ‘How do you become a star?’ You have to give him a chance, right? A chance to actually become a star.”
On helping Jalen focus as a child:
“That was my way of giving him something else to focus on. Dad’s not here, so focus on what we can control. Now that he plays 80-something games a year I don’t know if he does it each game anymore. It probably doesn’t go with his decor in his home.”
The @nyknicks Franchise Dashboard · 1999 Finals → 2026 NBA Finals
“He gets the toughness from his dad. The way he just keeps coming at you. Rick was the same way. Obviously, Jalen was more of an offensive player. But they’re both tough. Just tough.”
On processing the championship:
“It’s really hard right now to put it into words. I’m processing the win, but I haven’t processed the championship yet.”
On the 1999 Finals run:
“Even though we didn’t win it, it was the greatest moment, because it’s the highest stage you can ever play on.”
On the 2026 championship:
“It’s hard to get here. Very hard. Being able to be a part of seeing the journey for these guys who you get to spend time with — to see their journey and process individually and collectively — it’s incredible. It’s incredible to be a part of a championship team in New York. It’s kind of hard to process right now.”
"Tim (Duncan) and David (Robinson) were having a party against us, (now) it's ours… In '99, I had tears of sorrow, today I have tears of joy."
– Patrick Ewing as the Knicks get revenge on the Spurs 27 years later 🗣
“It has been a long time coming. The last time we were here in ’99, I had tears of sorrow. Today I have tears of joy. It’s a dream come true. I’m doing great. I’m feeling so blessed.”
On finally achieving the goal:
“We have had this goal. Myself as a player, myself as part of the organization, we’ve had the dream of getting to this point and winning the championship, and we finally achieved it.”
On beating the Spurs this time:
“The last time we were here, Tim (Duncan) and David (Robinson) were having a party against us, but tonight it’s ours.”
On redemption from the 1999 loss:
“It definitely makes up for what happened in 1999. They got us back then, we got them now.”
On his 1999 Finals injury:
“If I hadn’t gotten hurt, who knows what that future would’ve been. But you know what? In ‘99 I cried because I wasn’t able to go out there and help my team. Tonight it’s tears of joy. So ‘99 we didn’t get it done, but these guys were able to get it done for us.”
“There’s a lot that goes into it. We didn’t deserve to win the games. There’s a lot of levels of execution. There can be rebounding. There can be end-of-game details. There can be starting the game where you get the lead and then you don’t sustain that. We weren’t ready to win an NBA championship. The better team won. We did a lot of good things, and we didn’t finish the job.”
On Victor Wembanyama’s growth:
“I think he’s stepped into every moment with the appropriate amount of fearlessness and also respect for the moment and being exactly who he is. He’s bringing his teammates and everybody else along with him. It’s been pretty fun to observe and be a part of.”
On Victor Wembanyama’s leadership:
“Victor Wembanyama’s leadership style has grown tremendously and has stepped into every moment with the appropriate amount of fearlessness and also respect for the moment.”
On what he wants the Spurs to learn from the loss:
“I hope it leaves them being hungrier than they’ve ever been and I hope it leaves them to be more motivated than we’ve ever been.”
On the Spurs’ season:
“We’ve been blood, sweat, and tears for nine months basically, it’s over. There’ll be plenty of time for reflection but on the surface level I don’t think anyone other than the people in that room expected us to be here.”
On his final words after yet another losing season:
“Appreciate y’all. See you… never.”
On the Spurs’ mistakes in the Finals:
“The margin for error is very thin. Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this so much, you know? The ups are OK. The downs are the reason we lost.”
On waiting to return to the Finals:
“What I’m pissed about is, there’s probably a hundred games before we can be back in the Finals. I don’t know how to say it in English. But I’m going to have to hold that inside of me, slow down, wait and execute for a hundred games. It’s going to be all of it [shaping my mentality in the future]; who we are, what we’re made of, our experiences.”
On the lessons from the Finals loss:
“This has been a hell of a year in terms of experience. I don’t think we could have learned more and gained more experience in one playoff run and in one season, and personally in 18 months. This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment. I can’t tell you exactly what the lesson is. But we’re learning from that. I’m learning more than any other time in my life.”
“There was some good, some bad. There were a lot of possessions I want to take back and do differently. But that’s now how the ball bounced. Just got to keep moving on.”
De’Aaron Fox
On his shooting struggles:
“I got shots I’ve made in the past and sometimes you just don’t make them. Some felt good. Back rim, in and out. It is what it is. Obviously, I wish I made those shots, but that team is physical. They force you into taking jump shots and try to keep you out of the paint. But shots just didn’t go down for me.”
Harrison Barnes
On learning from the Finals loss:
“I think you have to look at it for the season it’s been. The pain of losing in the Finals, and ultimately you have to accept that. There’s no guarantee that this group will ever have the opportunity to achieve that. Some players in this room may be able to get back to the Finals, some players in this room may be able to win a championship. I think accepting what this moment has been, where we come to as a team, and hopefully as guys continue on in their careers — whether it’s five, 10, 15 years — they’ll use this as a reference point.”
“Seeing them storm the court on our home court… it’s tough, it’s tough. We know we’ll do everything we can to scratch, fight to back into this position and have a different outcome but right now it’s tough.”
On the Spurs’ mistakes:
“Obviously, in the finals, with everything being amplified, one mistake can cost you a game. I think we had a couple that cost us multiple.”
On Dylan Harper’s season-long unhappiness with his role:
“Tremendously proud…. I think we all knew he was talented. I don’t know if anybody knew he was this talented besides himself. He was upset with playing time and different roles that he was in, but when we needed him most, he stepped up, and we have a star in the making. I know that he is going to put so much work into the offseason, it’s not just offensively, defensively, he’s made a lot of plays. He’s grown so much, I mean, what, he’s 20-21 years old. The sky is the limit for him.”
Carlos Mendoza opens his pregame press conference by congratulating Mike Brown and the Knicks on winning the 2026 NBA Finals 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/zwwuQ8gjT6
“It’s just special the way they came back, never gave up.”
Francisco Lindor
On the Knicks’ championship:
“It’s a great moment to be a New York sports fan. I’m proud of that group. All they talked about after they won last night is how they played for each other.”
On the Mets finding inspiration in the Knicks:
“Even the owner said it. We know what it’s like. We don’t need more inspiration, but something like that, seeing them win, of course it motivates us as players and is inspiring. Want to win here and when you have history being made in this city like they did, it gives you goose bumps and gets you excited for the ‘what ifs.’”
What does Tom Thibodeau think of this Knicks championship run?
Taj Gibson talks to @TheJaxShow and @DarthAmin about a recent conversation he had with Thibs about his former team
“I talked to Thibs yesterday, and the first thing we talked about was he didn’t have any kind of malice in his heart. He didn’t have any kind of hatred. He was so happy for the guys. He was just really so proud of the guys and what they accomplished.”
On Thibodeau’s humility:
“I was like, ‘Man, that’s just love. To have that humility and just knowing that you trained these players and have put so much into them, and know that they finally made that final leap to really take the top and go to the championship of New York City.’”
Cam'ron practicing his arguments about being a real New York Knicks fan before he lands back in New York pic.twitter.com/t4kBTRqoxI
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 14, 2026
Aaron Boone
On the Knicks’ championship:
“Just to see that team and the way they came together, the amazing run they went on in the postseason, that team will be immortalized. Just excited for them and excited for a lot of people in New York that it’s been a long time coming.”
On lessons from the Knicks’ run:
“It’s just a great example of a team that’s certainly faced more than their share of adversity and questions and all that. I think their mental toughness and championship mettle ended up winning the day and obviously getting them to the top of the mountain this year. Fun to see that. Because each one of those guys, to varying degrees, went through rough moments, getting beat on at different points for different reasons. And they all persevered through it. It’s not an easy thing to do. That’s why they’re champions.”
Baron Davis
On New York after the championship:
“So happy for my real NYC people. People who took care of me when I played and the people who do now. Salute. You deserve to be champions and included! You make NYC what it is! Thank you!”
RING RING: Spike Lee called Michael Jordan to let him know that the Knicks are World Champions 🗽🏆 pic.twitter.com/GIdhdDBH0O
“I can’t make that promise yet. I can’t promise. Thursday parade. That’s how we’re starting. That’s not how we’re ending.”
On the Knicks’ championship:
“For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have waited for this moment. Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience and heart — just like the five boroughs itself. New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it’s time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong.”
Cricket Australia and state heavyweights have agreed in principle to proceed with Big Bash League privatisation discussions, subject to four non-negotiable requirements.
LAS VEGAS, N.V.– There were two vastly different scenes at opposite ends of the ice at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday night.
At one end, the Carolina Hurricanes were the physical embodiments of relief and joy. After Nikolaj Ehler hit the empty net to give them a 3-0 lead, the visiting bench came alive. And after the final horn blared, gloves hit the ice as the players swarmed towards their net to mob their goaltender.
At the other end, the Vegas Golden Knights could only watch as their opponents celebrated the accomplishment of a dream they spent all year chasing. As the final seconds ticked off, the despondent home team made their way towards their own net to console goaltender Carter Hart.
After the final handshake line of the season, the Hurricanes stayed on the ice to lift the Stanley Cup and celebrate with their teammates and families. The Golden Knights saluted their fans before trudging off to their locker room; once inside, the emotional scenes continued.
“It’s not a good feeling right now,” said defenseman Brayden McNabb. “It’s tough to be on this side of it… These chances don’t come around very often. It stings.”
1. Where Did It All Go Wrong?
Looking back, the last time that the Golden Knights were in control of this series was heading into the third period in Game 3. They held a 4-0 lead over the Hurricanes and looked to be firmly in the driver’s seat.
What followed was 12 periods of hockey in which they were outscored 16-6. While they managed to survive blowing that four-goal lead in Game 3 thanks to a flukey game-winner from Shea Theodore in double overtime, they did not manage another win.
There aren’t any statistics to explain why the Golden Knights’ good fortune expired. But for the next three games, everything that went right for them over the course of this Stanley Cup run went wrong. Every ounce of luck disappeared, and every bounce went against them. It was as if the hockey gods stopped smiling down on them.
“We just didn’t capitalize on our chances,” said Mark Stone. “We had a lot.”
2. Goonies Never Say Die
Throughout the trials and tribulations of the season, one thing remained remarkably consistent for the Golden Knights: no matter what the scoreboard read, they were never out of a game.
You can attribute a lot of that ‘Goonies never say die’ attitude to John Tortorella, who preached the importance of having the right mindset and raved about the group’s mental toughness. But Tortorella didn’t take the wheel until March 29th— by that point, the Golden Knights were battle-hardened by the grind of a season where they hadn’t yet lived up to expectations.
“Wild year; crazy year,” said defenseman Brayden McNabb. “[I’ll remember] how we pulled it together and got here. We came together as a group late in the year. Torts came in and did a great job, did a hell of a job. We battled, battled our asses off this whole playoffs, and we came up short. It’s going to sting; it’s going to haunt us. We’re proud of how we got here and how we played; unfortunately, it just wasn’t good enough.”
Tortorella came in and pressed all the right buttons, reinvigorating a tired group and getting them to this point. The fact that they ran out of gas just before reaching the finish line doesn’t take away from the run that they had.
“I don’t think you ever really expect it to be over,” said Mark Stone. “We always believed that we were going to figure things out and get things back in the right direction. And we did that– I’m not so sure many people thought that this team would be here competing at this time of year.”
3. What Comes Next?
There’s no way around it– the Golden Knights players are devastated by tonight’s loss. And, really, after the run they just had, how could they not be?
“This feeling sucks,” agreed Captain Mark Stone. “I never want to have it again. When I look at everything that happened throughout this season, all the ups and the downs, to give ourselves a chance, and to play in the Final is pretty impressive. But it doesn’t make things better right now… It kills me inside that I’m standing here right now.
“I’m thinking about how proud I am of the group with everything we went through this year to get here,” continued Stone. “I’m proud of every single guy who stepped foot in this locker room this season… It’s unfortunate that it came to an end in the wrong way.”
But despite the obvious heartache, this team is far from beaten. They know their window to win is still very much open. Even mere minutes after coming up just short, they’re already thinking about another chance to win the Stanley Cup next season.
“Just getting to this point, you realize what it takes to win and how hard it is,” said defenseman Noah Hanifin. “We’ll regroup, and we’ll get back at it.”
Head coach John Tortorella, whose contract expires this summer, didn’t comment on whether he wanted to return.
“I haven’t even [thought about it],” said Tortorella. “I’ve got to swallow this a little bit.”
