Jan 27, 2026; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Jaxon Kohler (0) reacts with center Carson Cooper (15) after scoring a basket during overtime against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
After going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, as expected, the starting frontcourt of the 2025-26 MSU Basketball Team each were signed by NBA teams.
Carson Cooper earned the more promising of the two offers. The former Spartan center continues the pipeline from East Lansing to Memphis as he signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. A two-way contract means a player can play for both an NBA team as well as its G-League affiliate, in this case the Memphis Hustle. Per NBA rules, players on two-way contracts can play up to 50 NBA games, but are not eligible for the playoffs unless they receive a standard contract.
During the Tom Izzo era, other big men to go straight from MSU to Memphis include Zach Randolph, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Xavier Tillman, though all three of them were drafted. The Grizzlies roster also includes former Purdue star Zach Edey as well as recent Detroit Pistons player Isaiah Stewart (traded during the draft) at the center position.
Jaxon Kohler signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Utah Jazz, his home state team. This type of contract allows a team to have a player on their training camp roster. Basically, this means that Kohler will get to play with Utah on their Las Vegas Summer League team, which runs in July. If Kohler can impress in Vegas, he can earn a two-way or even a regular contract, otherwise he can just be put on the Jazz’s G-League roster, the Salt Lake City Stars. There is also the possibility, ever so small, that Kohler does not do well with this opportunity and doesn’t even get on the G-League team, in which case he will have to find another team to sign with, domestically or abroad.
The Utah Jazz feature former Spartan (and former Memphis Grizzly) Jaren Jackson Jr. as their starting power forward. They also have depth with Kyle Filipowski and Blake Hinson who have two and one years of NBA experience, respectively.
We now are closer to the solutions to the poll questions we ran in the Feed earlier this week.
Most of the votes predicted Cooper would be on a G-League team, though a couple of you said he would be on an NBA roster, and that still has a chance of happening.
Similarly, most thought Kohler would play for a G-League team, though he did not receive any NBA votes.
Wishing both of these Spartan Dawgs loads of success in their next chapter.
Major League Baseball has reached the halfway point of its season – actual, not symbolic, with the All-Star Game not tipping off until July 14 in Philadelphia. But come Thursday, June 24, more teams than not will have played 81 games, and it’s all downhill until this baby wraps up Sept. 27.
Weird year, right? The league is filled with lots of bad teams who really aren’t out of it, leaving observers to ponder if any team is actually any good. Perhaps the hot summer months will bring clarity.
Or perhaps we’ll wonder why MLB will insist on a lockout for competitive balance when everyone is mid.
Either way, now’s a fine time to look at the many eye-opening paces that teams and players alike have set. Perhaps some of them will even hold up.
But for now, the math’s easy, so here’s seven numbers that catch our eye should they hold up come Game 162:
10: American League teams below .500
Yeah, that’s two-thirds of the league under water. #IfTheSeasonEndedToday (and it doesn’t), the Toronto Blue Jays would claim a wild card spot with a losing record.
What gives?
Well, it’s easy enough to look at the interleague records and realize 12 of 15 teams have losing records against the National League. The Angels (9-18) and Twins (9-17) are the worst of the bunch, while only the Mariners (12-11) and Rangers (16-14) are above .500.
Bo Bichette (Blue Jays to Mets) and Alex Bregman (Red Sox to Cubs) hopped leagues, and while they haven’t lit up the scoreboard with their new clubs, their losses are palpable for the teams they left. Tarik Skubal remains in the AL, for now, and while he missed five weeks and his team has floundered, the Tigers are still alive.
Which brings us to our next point: Everyone’s in it.
25: Teams within six games of a playoff berth
Put it this way: It’s a lot easier to list the clubs who aren’t a fortuitous week away from getting into playoff position. That would be the Angels and Red Sox in the AL and Mets, Giants and Rockies in the NL.
Don’t think that automatically means those teams will be sellers, though. The Angels are just 6½ games out of a playoff spot and the Mets 8. Still, though, you wonder how many teams will truly believe, come Aug. 3, that They Are Good.
Will the floating mass of contenders break up a bit by then? That’s typically how it goes, but don’t discount anything in this season of the meager.
0: Teams on pace to lose 100 games
OK, now for some good news: Nobody’s objectively terrible.
The Colorado Rockies lost 119 games a year ago and they’re once again at the bottom of the league, but the new regime has them at 32-49 and on pace to go 64-98. Progress!
218: Strikeouts for Cam Schlittler
That would be the most for a Yankee not named Gerrit Cole since 2018, when Luis Severino punched out 220. In his first full season, Schlittler has pitched like an ace practically every start, more than holding it down while Cole and lefty Carlos Rodón were on the comeback trail.
While Cole has had moments of dominance in his return from Tommy John surgery, it’s hard to imagine anyone unseating Schlittler as the club’s bona fide, Game 1 playoff starter. Presuming Max Fried returns without incident from his elbow malady, the Yankees have a potentially daunting quartet of playoff starters.
9: Hits per nine innings given up by Freddy Peralta
Pardon the esoterica, but it’s hard to pinpoint one number for all that’s befallen the Mets this season. So let’s go with this one, simply because it appeared baseball ops president David Stearns stole Peralta at the end of the winter from the Milwaukee Brewers, a bona fide ace ready to lend stability to a star-studded team that needed pitching.
Yeah, about that.
Peralta has been getting thoroughly peppered, giving up 41% more hits than last season, when he won 17 games, posted a 2.70 ERA and finished fifth in Cy Young voting.
That ERA has swelled to 4.83, his K rate has shriveled from 10.4 to 8.7 per nine innings and Stearns, it seems, is experiencing the business end of Brewers devil magic he was so good at brewing up in Milwaukee.
Now, it’s doubtful Peralta can help the Mets get back into contention, unclear how much trade value he’ll have come August and curious what his market will look like when he finally hits free agency this winter.
220: Home runs for the Chicago White Sox
Yep, guess who’s second to the Bronx Bombers in home runs? These White Sox of Colson Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami, who lead the team with 20 longballs each. Those two are tied fourth in the AL, a remarkable feat for Murakami, since the Japanese rookie hasn’t played since May 29 due to a hamstring injury.
They are, somewhat stunningly, in first place in the AL Central just two seasons after losing a record 121 games. It’s a startling display of resolve for both team and individuals, most notably Miguel Vargas, who has 17 homers and has doggedly continued his rise since getting traded to the sad-sack ’24 Sox.
If they actually reach that 220-homer mark, that’ll tie the 2003 White Sox for fourth-most bombs in franchise history.
Credit where it’s due. The Nationals’ entirely new regime signed virtually no free agents, traded former All-Star MacKenzie Gore to Texas and ran it back with a group that went 71-91 in consecutive seasons.
Yet it’s all working: The 33-year-old manager, a resurgent Aussie, and All-Star talents like James Wood and CJ Abrams stepping to the fore have made what seemed like a bottom-up rebuild look less laborious and much more fun. Should they go out and get a bullpen if they hover in playoff position?
Can't hurt. Consider that they were on pace for 84 wins until lightning struck in the ninth inning on consecutive nights.
WASHINGTON – Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski are on a collision course that leads directly to Philadelphia on July 14.
The Phillies left-hander and the Milwaukee Brewers’ velocity-crazed right-hander are far and away the two best pitchers in the National League this season and could create a quandary for their teams and Major League Baseball, while opening up a year-old wound.
Which one starts the All-Star Game?
In any other season, Sánchez would be an easy choice. After all, the game is returning to Philly for the first time since 1996, and Sánchez posted the lion’s share of his amazing 55 2/3-inning scoreless streak – longest in major league history for a left-hander – at Citizens Bank Park.
Ah, but then there’s Misiorowski, again posing a roadblock that could affect Sánchez.
The Brewers’ 6-foot-7 24-year-old leads major league qualified starters with a 1.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 93 innings. He threw the fastest pitch ever recorded by a starting pitcher – 104.5 mph – and showed the Phillies how dominant he can be.
On June 12, Misiorowski threw a one-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts against the Phillies, just the third pitcher to punch out that many batters while allowing just one baserunner.
And while back in the day, the long ball was the in thing, nowadays it’s velocity that gets more clicks.
But can a case be made that Sánchez has both statistics and sentiment – all of Philly wrapping their arms around him – on his side?
“There’s so many deserving guys. But I think it’s cool if someone can start in their home season,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner tells USA TODAY Sports, noting the atmosphere when Clayton Kershaw started the 2022 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
“I thought that was really cool. Not that MIsiorowski isn’t more than deserving – he is, he’s had an unbelievable season. But I think the home start’s cool. The fans would love it and I think all of baseball would love it.”
Yet several factors will determine which ace gets the ball – or doesn’t pitch at all – in the Midsummer Classic.
A controversial choice, a pro response
The Phillies were aghast. They had a pair of left-handers – Sánchez and Ranger Suárez – having fantastic seasons. Yet when a rash of pitcher replacements were required to substitute pitchers who started games the Saturday or Sunday before the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, neither were chosen.
Instead, MLB opted to showcase Misiorowski, then a rookie with just five starts and a mere 25 innings pitched in his career – 90 fewer than Sánchez’s first-half total, paired with a 2.50 ERA.
“What a joke,” Turner told The Athletic. “I mean, that’s terrible, dude.”
"That's just how MLB does it now," catcher J.T. Realmuto added. “Nothing against the Misiorowski kid. But (Suarez and Sanchez) are deserving of being on the team in the first place. There's no doubt.”
It was an admittedly calculated risk by the league. The Miz could have cracked under his first global pitching assignment. A poor second half or injury might have made the decision foolhardy in retrospect.
But Misiorowski aced the assignment, pitching a scoreless inning, hurling nine pitches harder than 100 mph, handling his media obligations with aplomb and, while his second-half ERA ballooned to 5.36, he helped pitch the Brewers to the National League Championship Series.
This year, both pitchers seem separated by a razor-thin margin, with bulk vs. sizzle possibly entering the picture again.
A little more work to do
Sánchez once again has an innings-pitched edge, 105-93, second in the majors only to Sandy Alcantara’s 110 innings pitched for Miami. That seems a negligible difference, though 12 innings provides nearly two starts worth of coverage to a pitching staff.
Otherwise, it’s hard to deny Misiorowski’s dominance.
What a combination: Misiorowski leads the majors in both strikeouts per nine innings (13.35) and opponents’ batting average (.146, 53 points better than No. 2 Paul Skenes).
The Phillies saw firsthand how deadly his combination of a 103-mph fastball and a 98-mph slider can be. Kyle Schwarber managed their lone hit, and he was erased on a double play, Misiorowski facing the minimum in just 95 pitches.
“I feel like he’ll give you a pitch in the middle of the zone maybe once an at-bat, but if you miss that one pitch, it’s nearly impossible,” says Turner, who struck out twice in three at-bats. “Just so much extension. A lot of guys throw hard. He’s not only throwing harder, but the extension is crazy.
“Last year, we got to him a little bit. This year, he pitched one of the best games I’ve ever seen.”
Sánchez counters with a fastball he runs up into the high 90s with the game’s greatest changeup and, increasingly, a slider that makes the whole package deadly when everything is clicking.
With a PitchCom device in his ear, Turner, at shortstop, can relish just what Sánchez is going to do next to a helpless hitter.
“Watching from this side’s a little more fun,” he says. “As a hitter, you know (the changeup) is coming. It’s just, is it a strike? Can you lay off it if it’s a ball? It tells you how good it is when you know that’s the pitch, you’re going to face him three or four times and he still gets awkward swings.
“I think that just speaks so highly of him when you know it’s coming and you can’t do much with it.”
While both pitchers’ 2026 bodies of work are accumulating, there’s still plenty of work to do before one of them is warming up in the Citizens Bank Park bullpen come July 14.
Both have four starts left, Sanchez June 25 at Washington, home to Pittsburgh and then road assignments at Kansas City and Detroit. Misiorowski faces the Cubs June 26 and will take on Cincinnati, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.
And there’s a chance the calendar won’t align for one or both of them.
Hands up for Hollywood
On paper, Sánchez is in good shape. If the Phillies skip the unsettled fifth spot in their rotation thanks to an off day July 3, Sánchez would start Sunday, July 5 at Kansas City and Friday, July 10 at Detroit.
That’s an ideal three days of rest before a likely one-inning All-Star assignment.
Misiorowski, though, is on turn to make his final first-half start Saturday, July 11 at Pittsburgh. In 2025, six pitchers were scratched from the roster because they started the Saturday before the All-Star Game – including the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd, whose absence opened up Misiorowski’s spot.
The Brewers can certainly fiddle with the rotation before then, and might welcome extra days of rest for Misiorowski, pushing him back a day or two and eliminating that last late-week start. And weather, of course, is a factor when the Brewers are on the road.
Yet logistics are only half the equation, now. Increasingly, narrative plays a role.
When Kershaw made that start in 2022, he was not the best pitcher in the NL’s first half. That distinction belonged to Alcantara, who posted a 1.76 ERA, threw three first-half complete games and six starts with zero earned runs given up.
It’s not like Kershaw was chopped liver: He had a 2.13 ERA and, in his last start before the break, nearly tossed a perfect game at Anaheim.
Yet this was L.A., home of the Dodgers and also Fox Sports. Kershaw was named the starter and the network spun up a goofy pregame bit where Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani, then an Angel, were mic’d up and talked trash to each other moments before the first pitch.
Ohtani complied by hitting a first-pitch single, and then Kershaw picked him off first base. Almost like it was scripted.
Not sure if they can contrive any such theatrics with The Miz or Sánchie. Yet if all things are equal, velocity just might be the tiebreaker.
That may leave the Phillies with a mild beef for a second year in a row. That’s OK – they still get to watch Sánchez pitch every five days.
“It’s pretty amazing to watch him on a start-in, start-out basis,” says manager Don Mattingly. “Ninety-seven, 98 is pretty good, with movement. He’s a guy whose mix all tunnels. He’s tough to pick up.
The Kentucky Basketball team started practicing earlier this month, and one of the biggest surprise performers thus far has been James Madison transfer Justin McBride. One reason for that is the offseason work he has put in before arriving in Lexington.
McBride, who previously played for Oklahoma State, Nevada, and most recently, James Madison, is listed at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds on Kentucky’s roster list. Those listed numbers are bigger than any of his previous stops, but he is currently in the best shape of his career.
According to one source, McBride has lost 10-12 pounds of fat from his top playing weight at James Madison. That has allowed him to be more mobile in practice, a pleasant surprise to what the staff was expecting of him coming in.
Randle was the SEC Rookie of the Year and an All-American in his one season at Kentucky, so high praise for McBride. However, Pope is not comparing McBride to Randle in terms of talent, but in terms of style.
McBride grades excellent as a catch-and-shoot guy in analytics, shooting 40% from deep last season, an ability that Randle has shown in the NBA. Also similar to Randle, he can use his size to get to his spots in the paint and muscle his way for a rebound.
Having a bully-ball kind of player, who is also efficient from 3-point range, is a welcome addition for a Kentucky program that has struggled with physicality in recent seasons.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks celebrates with his daughter during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
From 2002 to 2020, the Knicks were an abysmal franchise. I know that, you know that, the less said about it, the better.
There are a lot of reasons why one of the league’s biggest teams in the biggest market stayed so irrelevant for so long. Terrible free agent signings, trades, and overall incompetence were big parts, but so was the inability to draft.
They burned top-10 picks on the likes of Mike Sweetney, Channing Frye, Danilo Gallinari, and Jordan Hill in the first decade, passing on guys like Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, Brook Lopez, and DeMar DeRozan.
In the latter era of darkness, they burned top-1o picks on Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox, and Obi Toppin, passing up on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, and Tyrese Haliburton.
All throughout these 20 years, they also failed to effectively hit on mid-first-round picks, didn’t get any production out of second-round prospects, and watched as the picks they traded became guys like Joakim Noah and LaMarcus Aldridge. All that young talent could’ve been wearing orange and blue, but incompetent management bungled it all up.
Sure, there were good picks. Kristaps Porzingis was a bold pick that panned out and RJ Barrett was the predictable, but wise pick after the lottery gods spat on Steve Mills and Phil Jackson’s franchise. But through all the busts and guys who weren’t good enough, there was one pick in the early second round in 2018 that shined through all the dysfunction.
After tiptoeing his way through the graveyard of busts and forgettable has-beens, he’s emerged on the other side as an NBA champion.
Our NBA champion.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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
Mitchell Robinson was born on April 1, 1998, in Pensacola, Florida. He lived there for much of his pre-NBA life, attending Pine Forest High School through his sophomore year, but a major growth spurt turned him into a seven-foot behemoth, prompting him to transfer to Chalmette High School in in Louisiana, where his stock exploded as a junior.
He became one of the best high school basketball players in the nation. As a senior, he averaged 25.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and six blocks a game, leading Chalmette to a district title and their deepest state title run in 32 years. His tremendous season saw him named a McDonald’s All-American, where he scored 14 points and blocked two shots in a game headlined by Michael Porter Jr., DeAndre Ayton, and Mo Bamba.
As a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the entire Class of 2017, he had a wild recruitment. He committed to Texas A&M in April 2015 before his stock exploded, but decommitted after his junior year ended. He then became the best recruit (by a country mile) in Western Kentucky history, enrolling in June 2017.
But after two weeks of practicing with the team, he vanished. He cleaned out his dorm and left campus, deserting and being indefinitely suspended. The big man had second thoughts about his decision, and his godfather, Shammond Williams, was fired as an assistant. He just didn’t want to be there.
He was granted his release and entered the transfer portal, but rules at the time dictated that he was now ineligible for the 2017-18 season. Still seeking a waiver, he visited LSU, Kansas, and New Orleans to see if he could salvage things before deciding in September, on his own, to sit out from organized basketball in his pre-draft season.
It was an unprecedented decision, one that had never been replicated by a serious NBA prospect. He didn’t go overseas, he wasn’t eligible to play in the G-League, and he would just train and wait. It definitely damaged his stock ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft, but his drop ended when the Knicks selected him at No. 36 to pair him with fellow 2017 All-American Kevin Knox in their draft class.
Right out the gate, you could tell this guy was a freak athlete. In his first Summer League, Robinson averaged 13 points and 10.2 rebounds a game, breaking all-time Summer League records for blocks per game (4.0) and offensive rebounds per game (6.2). Even before he officially wore the orange and blue, excitement was palpable.
Mitchell Robinson in a 2018 Summer League game against the Pelicans:
As a rookie, he was an extremely raw product. For a dreadful 65-loss team, he played 66 games (starting 19). After starting the season behind Enes Kanter and Noah Vonleh in the rotation, he was put in the starting lineup in November, but couldn’t stay on the court because of dreadful foul woes. His per-36 average for fouls? 5.7. He would foul out in every single game if he played starters minutes.
As a result, he played just 20 minutes a night. He’d show flashes with a double-double in early November, a nine-block game against Orlando nine days later, another 17/14/6 game against the Magic in February, and a tremendous 19-point, 21-rebound game in a blowout loss to Toronto in March. He was named to Second-Team All-Rookie for his troubles and finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting.
Rookie Mitch was a fever dream. A center with god-given athletic traits that made the sky the limit, even if his offensive game was limited. That playstyle was never sustainable for a long career because of the foul troubles, but it was exhilarating while we saw it. We’ll always have his #26 to remember it by, as he switched his number to 23 to honor two late high school teammates.
He spent much of the 2019-20 season backing up Taj Gibson, as even though he was emerging as the team’s most promising player, his foul trouble necessitated restraint. He slightly improved in that regard and upped his averages to 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. By the time the NBA season was suspended in March due to COVID-19, Robinson had stumbled upon an NBA record.
He had broken Wilt Chamberlain’s record for FG% in a single season, shooting a baffling 74.2% from the field. As crazy as it sounds, he’s exceeded that number since then, shooting 76.1% from the field two years later, but fell just short of qualifying with enough shots to re-break the record.
The first chapter of Robinson’s career closed with the pandemic. The second chapter had begun, one where he was the undisputed starter at center for a rejuvenated team under Tom Thibodeau. His minutes jumped to 27.5/night. His fouls dropped, sacrificing a bit of his bonkers block totals to do so. About 25 games into the season, the first major domino of the next phase of his career fell.
Robinson broke the fourth metacarpal in his right hand on February 12, 2021. He missed about five weeks, returning on March 21. His production was up and down in the ensuing four games, but he went down once again just six days after returning against the Bucks.
A fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot ended his season. The Knicks’ dream run to their first playoff berth in eight years would happen without their starting center, which would have dire consequences as Trae Young and Clint Capela made mincemeat out of Gibson and Nerlens Noel. The injury gave him a long offseason, where the thin, lanky big man bulked up considerably to get stronger in the post (on both ends).
The decision to do that made him look slow and ineffective to start 2021-22. It’s possible for a center to put on too much weight and muscle, especially in the situation of Robinson being a player who relied on athleticism to that point. He played considerably better as the season went on, getting in better shape and ultimately producing a quality year when the rest of the team collapsed around him. He was rewarded with a $60 million extension in the offseason, marking an extreme rarity as a Knicks’ draft pick to earn a second contract.
The following season was more of the same, except team success followed. Robinson was down to 7.4 points a game, but had gotten considerably better on the board, leading the NBA in offensive rebounding for the first time. By the time the season ended, he would finally be unleashed in the first-round series against Cleveland, where he had one of the most dominant series by a low-usage big man in recent history.
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were both All-Stars. Mobley would go on to be a Defensive Player of the Year. Both of them would be picked seven days a week and twice on Sundays over Robinson entering that series. But in that five-game shellacking, he brutalized them so much that he put a dent in both of their reputations that hasn’t been fully buffed out to this day.
He was really starting to come into his own to start 2023-24. He was respected as a premier rim protector and rebounder. The Ringer added him to their Top 100 rankings. His rebounding was on another level. In a 16-game span from late October to late November, he averaged 11.5 rebounds a game. This was it. This was where he would take the next step.
We now begin the third stage in Robinson’s career. In a loss to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in early December, his ankle gave out. A stress fracture in his left ankle seemed to have ended his season, with the Knicks applying for a disabled player exception for deadline flexibility. For months, they assumed he was done for the year.
But he did return. After missing 50 games, he popped back in off the bench on March 27, 2024, backing up his good friend and breakout player Isaiah Hartenstein. His role from there would be limited due to the injury’s proximity, but he still made a major impact when he did play.
He had 8 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a Game 1 win against the Sixers. He was a +20, taking on the assignment of Joel Embiid and staring the former MVP straight in the eye. It was a heavyweight battle for the ages.
Until it wasn’t. Embiid yanked down Robinson by his ankles in Game 3, re-aggravating his ankle injury and taking him out for the next game and a half. He’d return to play Games 5 and 6, along with Game 1 against Indiana, but would soon be shut down once again with the injury. Initially, it was believed not to be that bad, but his injury held him out a lot longer than anyone expected.
First, Ian Begley reported the team was targeting a Christmas return. Then January passed. He was still in street clothes. By the time he returned on February 28, 2025, that bum left ankle had cost him a baffling 108 games of his career. The injury had a big domino effect, as it resulted in Hartenstein pricing himself out and the Knicks getting desperate to trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.
At this point, the injury woes were piling up. He was close to something truly special, but the Knicks were now forced to effectively keep him on a leash with his playing time. The team’s defense fell off big time with him injured in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. They needed him.
When he returned, he played 15 minutes a game behind Towns. He had a few strong games, notably a 14/14 game in 20 minutes against a depleted Sixers team, but the real test was playoff intensity.
He certainly had his moments. He grabbed eight offensive rebounds in Game 5 against Detroit. Despite not doing much scoring, his mere presence was a major part of the Knicks’ two comeback wins against Boston. With the starting lineups’ ineffectiveness mounting, Robinson was inserted into the starting lineup in Game 3 against Indiana for his first playoff start since 2023, but was ineffective against their fast-paced playstyle.
Heading into 2025-26, a critical contract year for the longest tenured Knick, the training staff had enough. After his first healthy offseason in a good bit, they enacted strict rules. His minutes would be capped, he would not play back-to-backs, and he would occasionally be held out for multiple games to manage soreness when it arises.
To their credit, despite him missing Opening Night and having some odd absences, he made it through completely healthy. His 60 games played were the most since 2021-22. He still managed to make 16 starts, but he was only playing 19.6 minutes a game.
His impact was present as ever. Whatever role the Knicks needed from him, he provided. He still grabbed back-breaking rebounds, his touch around the rim tremendously improved, and he got lift back in his leaps. His FG% was back up to 72.3 percent. He had re-emerged as a big lob threat. His per-36 averages of 7.7 OREB and 16.1 rebounds a game were jaw-dropping.
In a season more defined by his consistency, he still managed to put up a big 21/16 game off the bench and grab a career-high 22 rebounds against Indiana in mid-March. By playoff time, the secret weapon was intact, and even got a first-place vote for Sixth Man of the Year for his troubles.
How did he do come playoff time? He had some good games, namely Game 2 against Atlanta, but struggled in others. He was somehow a +29 in 8:35 in that Game 6 bludgeoning before getting ejected for a fight with Dyson Daniels.
He sat out of Game 2 against Philly (likely matching Embiid’s injury flare-up), but was otherwise extremely durable (except for the broken pinky, I guess). Oh yeah, he also postered him.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 31: A general view of street art of New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson dunking on Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid on May 31, 2026, in Midtown Manhattan in New York, NY. This art is based on a photo taken during Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The New York Knicks are the 2026 Eastern Conference Champions and are playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Knicks were NBA champions in 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
He was effective throughout the postseason, even if the stats didn’t jump out at you.
…except for the Hack-a-Mitch. We haven’t mentioned this whole time that Robinson is one of the worst free-throw shooters in NBA history. No matter how hard he works on it, he just can’t crack it. He would get repeatedly played off the floor in this postseason due to it, and it impacted his play. Mike Brown was handcuffed at times. I guess the silver lining was that teams who utilized it immediately got the worst karma ever (cough cough, Cavs and Spurs).
Robinson’s postseason was missing the big moment. Then Game 5 of the NBA Finals rolled around.
In a series defined by Towns’ foul trouble and Robinson’s inability to cover all the minutes for a variety of factors, he was the one thrown onto the court in the final minutes as the Knicks looked to finish off the comeback and close out a championship.
With 26.1 seconds left, the Knicks led by three with Josh Hart at the line. A made free throw would give them firm control of this game, but a miss would allow the Spurs to have a glimmer of hope.
The ball was released from Hart’s hands and rolled off the rim. In the moment, Robinson is jostling with 7’5″ Victor Wembanyama.
Time slows down.
Robinson is the only player on this roster who experienced the dark ages. His first career game was coached by David Fizdale. The executive who picked him was Steve Mills. They went 17-65 when he was a rookie.
He came into a franchise that was looking not just for a star, but for foundational pieces. Frank Ntilikina was a bust. Kevin Knox was a bust. RJ Barrett was just okay. Kristaps Porzingis, with whom he was briefly teammates, was traded.
He lived through Fizdale’s dysfunction. He lived through the nightmare of the 2019 draft lottery. He lived through Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving spurning them for Nic Claxton’s Brooklyn Nets.
He was on the court when Vince Carter ended the 2019-20 season with a memorable final basket. He was in the starting lineup when the Knicks returned from COVID-19 in late December 2020.
Throughout every era this team has gone through since, from dysfunction to revival to disappointment to steady ascension. It had brought him here. To this moment.
All of his compatriots are gone. Barrett is a Raptor. Julius Randle is now in Brooklyn. Immanuel Quickley is also in Toronto. Obi Toppin is in Indiana. Knox is… somewhere. Tom Thibodeau is maybe enjoying retirement. Fizdale and Mills are hopefully rueing their tenures here.
Everyone who was around him when he was a young pup is gone. The only player in the organization who was here before Brunson changed everything in July 2022 is Deuce McBride, who’s the only other one to experience a losing season in New York (37-45 isn’t even that bad).
Regardless of how this series goes, regardless of if this is his final game in New York because of his impending free agency and lucrative market, he’ll go down as the bridge between eras. The one bright spot in a depressing post-Melo world that lived to see the Knicks be relevant.
But relevant isn’t good enough. It never was good enough.
He outmuscled the still-maturing Wembanyama and gobbled up the offensive rebound, kicking it out before he could be intentionally fouled. OG Anunoby would make one of his free throws, providing the distance that the Knicks needed. Of course, there’d be more free throws and dramatics to follow, but making it a two-possession game fundamentally changed everything.
The man who’s spent the last four years as the greatest offensive rebounder on the planet did it in the biggest spot of his entire career, broken pinky and all. Maybe he didn’t need to do it to become a champion, but he did nonetheless. And then he got to ride one of his massive monster trucks at the parade.
If this is it, thanks for everything, Big Mitch. You’re an NBA champion.
–
(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
BRONX, NY - JUNE 17: Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees chats with fans before a game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, all. The Yankees finished off what turned out to be a nice three-game set in Detroit last night, as Paul Goldschmidt turned back the clock with a multi-homer game off no less a foe than defending two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Jasson Domínguez had his own key bomb off Skubal as well, just the second time the switch-hitter has gone deep in the bigs against a southpaw.
That’s not too shabby for a series that began with the Yanks’ third loss in a row. They’re back on the ol’ winning series path as they head up to Beantown to see if they can avoid playing down to the mostly-hapless Red Sox. It’s hard to win three of four at Fenway in any circumstance because that ballpark can just make weird games, but that should still, of course, be the goal.
For today’s question, we’re checking out the SB Nation Reacts survey results from the poll that ran earlier in the week. We asked how you would grade Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s 2026 season to date. They have the best record in the American League, but the plurality gave him a C:
Now as they say, C’s get degrees, but this is still a little surprising, even with Boone’s shaky reputation among Yankees fans. (And that’s to say nothing of the 12 percent who failed him.)
I don’t see Boone as any great skipper or anything like that, but they do seem to have played well under him despite some tough circumstances, namely lengthy injuries to the likes of Aaron Judge and Max Fried, their two best players on opposite sides of the ball in 2025. Although no manager is immune to the odd bullpen decision here and there — and boy, Boone does have his moments — the odd calls have been kept to a relative minimum in my opinion. I do also think that we’ve still seen too much of Anthony Volpe at shortstop, so it’s fair to ding for that, even with José Caballero cooling down a bit since coming back off the IL.
Maybe I’m a tough grader, but to me, you have to really stand out as a manager to get an A grade. Still, I’d be happy to give Boone a B for how he’s fared early on. I’m with the 24 percent. If this poll has enough options to allow it, I’d probably grant closer to B+ or A- if we’re being honest.
So if you were a little more cautious about giving Boone a better grade, what would be your rationale? My best guess is that the C is a stand-in for “Fine, but the first half has rarely been an issue under Boone, so it’s hard to get too jazzed just yet.”
Today on the site, Matt will preview this upcoming four-game set at Fenway and he’ll return for the Rivalry Roundup. Nick will then celebrate the 63rd (!) birthday of a hard-hitting catcher who played on both sides of the rivalry, Mike Stanley. Jonathan will take the opportunity of Cam Schlittler vs. Connelly Early to remember some of the more notable and consstent pitching matchups in the rivalry’s history, and Kento will delve into why the Yankees’ bullpen has been fine on the whole, if not a bit underwhelming.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Time: 7:10 p.m. EST
TV: YES, NESN, MLB Network
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
The Reacts survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.
A big game from John Peck and a strong effort from the bullpen carried the Mud Hens over Worcester on Wednesday.
Dylan File got the start for Toledo and he didn’t last long. The Red Sox got to him for three runs in the first and knocked him out of the game. Scott Effross did a nice job on short notice taking over and getting them through the third with only an unearned run allowed. From there, Tyler Mattison fired a pair of scoreless innings, and Cole Waites returned from the IL for a scoreless sixth, while Beau Brieske blanked them in the seventh.
In his second Triple-A game, John Peck got his first homer with a 104 mph solo shot to right center field in the top of the second.
In the fourth, Eduardo Valencia and Gage Workman walked with one out. Peck smoked an RBI double to center, and then a grounder from Brett Callahan was thrown away, scoring both Workman and Peck to tie the game 4-4.
Congrats to John Peck on his first Triple-A home run, 104mph opposite field shot. pic.twitter.com/LinjLRxjYT
In the fifth, Corey Julks cracked a solo shot for the go-ahead run, and the bullpen kept locking it down, with Nick Sandlin handling the final two innings for a six-out save. Unfortunately, Peck tweaked something trying to beat out a hit in the sixth, and had to leave the game with what I will guess is a right hamstring strain. He did walk off under his own power so hopefully it’s fairly minor.
Peck: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
Julks: 1-4, R, RBI, HR, 2 K
Mattison (W, 4-0): 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 3 K
Coming Up Next: The Hens will look to make it four in a row at 6:45 p.m. ET.
LHP Konnor Pilkington has been released.
RHP Cole Waites has been reinstated from the Toledo 7-Day injured list and OF Cal Stevenson has been placed on the Toledo development list.
Hayden Minton’s first Double-A start didn’t go great as he struggled with his control, but the offense flashed some power and drew nine walks in this one, easily outpacing the Rumble Ponies in this one.
Minton allowed a run in the first and another in the third. A couple of walks in the fourth ended his night, with Yosber Sanchez coming on to immediately induce an inning ending double play.
Meanwhile, the offense kept pace in the first when Seth Stephenson led off by reaching on an error. Thayron Liranzo walked with one out, and Chris Meyers singled in Stephenson.
So it was 1-1, and then Minton gave up a run in the third. The SeaWolves answered right back and took control with a three-run bottom of the third.
Stephenson led off with a walk and Peyton Graham doubled him to third. A Liranzo sac fly scored Stephenson, and Meyers drew a walk to put runners at the corners. Garrett Pennington singled in Graham, and an Izaac Pacheco sacrifice fly scored Meyers for a 4-2 lead.
Carlos Peña allowed the Ponies to tie it up in the sixth, but in the bottom of the seventh the SeaWolves took over for good. Graham led off with a solo shot, and Pacheco later doubled off the wall in left center field to drive in Meyers for a 6-4 lead.
Izaac Pacheco with an RBI double off the wall in left center to give the SeaWolves a 6-4 lead. pic.twitter.com/YdazhJ64Kc
In the bottom of the eighth, a leadoff single from Andrew Jenkins was followed by three straight walks, leading to two more runs.
Graham: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR, 2 BB
Meyers: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K
Pacheco: 1-2, 2 RBI, 2B, BB, K
Minton: 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves will try to run their winning streak to six on Thursday at 6:05 p.m. ET.
Dayton Dragons 12, West Michigan Whitecaps 6 (box)
Ben Jacobs was really wild for the first time in this one, and he got absolutely mauled for nine runs by the Dragons on Wednesday.
Jacobs just couldn’t find the handle on anything. He walked five and surrendered a pair of home runs, exiting with two outs in the third with nine runs total allowed. Woof.
It was even worse as he was gifted a three run lead in the top of the first when Ricardo Hurtado and Jackson Strong each homered. Hurtado’s came with Bryce Rainer aboard after one of three walks drawn by him on the night.
Back to back home runs for West Michigan from Ricardo Hurtado and Jackson Strong. pic.twitter.com/uj84ZvlY9w
Strong led off the sixth with his second homer on the day, and the center fielder now has eight on the year and six in the month of June. Juan Hernandez followed later in the inning with a two-run shot of his own.
Jackson Strong with another solo homer. It’s his 2nd home run of the night, his 8th of the season, and his 6th in June. pic.twitter.com/84iIgDyaVq
Despite 11 hits and three walks, the Flying Tigers managed to score just three runs, while starter Cash Kuiper took a beating at the Tortugas hands.
Kuiper gave up six runs in 4.1 innings of work. He gave up a home run, but it was really a clinic in stringing hits together in start contrast to his teammates in this one.
It was already 3-0 Tortugas when the Flying Tigers got on board in the top of the fifth. Nick Dumesnil led off the fifth with a double. Jack Goodman later singled him in. Javier Osorio singled Goodman to third, but was thrown out trying to steal second. Jordan Yost followed with a walk, but Beau Ankeney struck out.
In the sixth, Edian Espinal led off with a double and Carson Rucker singled him to third and then stole second base with one out. Espinal scored on a Dumesnil ground out, and Jesus Pinto doubled in Rucker to make it a 6-3 game.
Days after the Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s been another blockbuster trade. The Charlotte Hornets reportedly will send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and a haul of draft picks and swaps.
The draft picks going back to Charlotte include Minnesota’s 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), Charania said.
Ball, who turns 25 in August, spent his first six seasons with the Hornets after being drafted third overall in 2020. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 303 regular-season games, winning Rookie of the Year in 2021 and being named an All-Star in 2022.
Now, Ball will join the No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 draft — Anthony Edwards — to form an explosive backcourt. The Timberwolves are coming off their fifth straight postseason appearance, which ended with a second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Ball has never played in a playoff game in his career.
For the Hornets, this deal comes after their best season in a decade. They went 44-38 but lost in the Play-In as they still seek their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Reid, who turns 27 in August, will add some much-needed size and experience to Charlotte’s young roster. The seven-year veteran was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2024, with 48 games of playoff experience.
The real haul for the Hornets, though, could be the treasure chest of draft picks they just acquired. While the Timberwolves are projected to be a strong team next season, the picks are spaced out over the next seven years. Charlotte could eventually add some high-end talent, or use these assets in other future trades.
Days after the Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s been another blockbuster trade. The Charlotte Hornets reportedly will send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and a haul of draft picks and swaps.
The draft picks going back to Charlotte include Minnesota’s 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), Charania said.
Ball, who turns 25 in August, spent his first six seasons with the Hornets after being drafted third overall in 2020. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 303 regular-season games, winning Rookie of the Year in 2021 and being named an All-Star in 2022.
Now, Ball will join the No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 draft — Anthony Edwards — to form an explosive backcourt. The Timberwolves are coming off their fifth straight postseason appearance, which ended with a second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Ball has never played in a playoff game in his career.
For the Hornets, this deal comes after their best season in a decade. They went 44-38 but lost in the Play-In as they still seek their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Reid, who turns 27 in August, will add some much-needed size and experience to Charlotte’s young roster. The seven-year veteran was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2024, with 48 games of playoff experience.
The real haul for the Hornets, though, could be the treasure chest of draft picks they just acquired. While the Timberwolves are projected to be a strong team next season, the picks are spaced out over the next seven years. Charlotte could eventually add some high-end talent, or use these assets in other future trades.
Bad news for New Zealand: Matt Henry has a calf injury, so will be out for two to four weeks, while Glenn Phillips has a side strain, the length of his absence to be determined following a scan.
The pitch is flat, but it’s dry so might crumble later in the game. I can’t see any way you win the toss and don’t bat.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has a new job with his old team. But he wasn’t traded away by Boston in any deal related to the NBA Draft this week, contrary to recent rumors.
He instead returned to Colorado, where his old college in Boulder introduced him as its first president of basketball strategy. This is a volunteer job that White, 31, will work on the side as he tries to help the Buffaloes get back to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time since 2024, when they also had three NBA draft picks.
Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo called the hiring “transformational” at a news conference June 24.
White himself said he doesn’t “know too much about college athletics” and its turbulent current landscape but hopes to serve as a resource for the program in several ways, including by giving $2 million to the men’s basketball program.
“The first thing I want to do is learn,” White said. “I know that I’ve learned a lot in the NBA, but this is a whole new position, whole new title, whole new everything that I don’t really know that much about.”
Why Derrick White is latest to join this trend
This is the latest in a recent string of college basketball programs hiring former players who currently are in the NBA. The general goal is to leverage the star power of the player to help attract recruits in the age of unlimited annual player transfers and the constant need to come up with more money to pay players. At Colorado, the football team similarly leveraged the fame of coach Deion Sanders to help generate buzz and rebuild a dormant brand after hiring him in December 2022.
Colorado head men's basketball coach Tad Boyle had a more colorful way to sum up the larger college sports environment Wednesday:
“College athletics is a little messed up right now.”
So he wants White to help navigate it with his background as an NBA champion and Colorado native. Boyle, Colorado’s all-time winningest coach, even was moved to tears at the news conference as he enters his 17th season in Boulder.
Here is a list of NBA players hired at their old colleges
These NBA players are generally volunteering their time and sometimes giving their old colleges money, too.
∎ Steph Curry, Davidson: The Golden State Warriors legend appears to have started this trend when he was named assistant general manager for the men’s and women’s basketball teams at his alma mater in March 2025. He was helping set up an eight-figure fund to help support them.
∎ Trae Young, Oklahoma: The current Washington Wizards star was announced in late March 2025 as the assistant general manager for men’s basketball at his alma mater, Oklahoma. He also made a $1 million donation to the program.
∎ Desmond Bane, TCU: On June 22, TCU announced the Orlando Magic guard and former TCU player would serve as the program’s “chief basketball officer” to help advise the team and serve as a “liaison to the NBA.”
∎ Damian Lillard, Weber State: Last August, Weber State named the Portland Trail Blazers star as the general manager of its men’s basketball program to help serve as an advisor and mentor of his former college team.
∎ Terance Mann, Florida State: The current Brooklyn Nets guard was named as Florida State’s assistant general manager in April 2025. His job is to help support “strategic roster management, optimization of talent acquisition and developing future professional basketball players,” according to the school.
What are the upsides and downsides to these roles?
Any money and publicity can help these programs break through in a crowded college basketball landscape. That’s what these NBA players bring to these colleges at a minimum. It’s just not clear how involved they can be in college recruiting and roster management when their day jobs as NBA players take priority for much of the year.
Being a good pro basketball player also might not always translate into being a good college general manager, but it could. Some cases might seem like marketing gimmicks as a result. For the schools, there’s still almost no downside to it if these players are giving their time, money and names to the effort with no compensation in return.
“Obviously, I’m busy,” White said of his job with the Celtics. “But like if someone got a question and they want to reach out to me, I want to be a resource to the players. I want to be a resource to the coaching staff.”
What is Derrick White getting into here at Colorado?
This is the kind of profile Colorado hopes to leverage after struggling to navigate the wide-open transfer era that started in 2024, just as Colorado was peaking with three NBA draft picks whom Boyle had developed as high school recruits: Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson.
This past season, the Buffs finished 17-16 and lost three of their top four scorers to the transfer portal, including freshman leading scorer Isaiah Johnson, who left for Texas.
Boyle said White’s role would be “fluid” but he would help with recruiting and as a team resource to tap into for learning.
“We have a job title, but I’m not sure we have a job description,” Boyle said.
A parting joke from Tad Boyle
Boyle, 63, said White also could help with a transition plan for a new coach whenever Boyle departs the program.
But what is the first thing he wants White to do in his new role?
“The first thing I would say is I want to get a good lawyer, a local judge and get a temporary restraining order to get an extra year of eligibility for Derrick,” Boyle said. “That’s what I would like to do first.”
Boston, MA - December 19: Former Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas sits next to Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm. The Celtics played the Miami Heat at TD Garden on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
In May, the Boston Celtics reunited with legendary guard Isaiah Thomas by hiring the former two-time All-Star as a professional/collegiate scout.
The plan, as previously reported by The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, was for Thomas to work from his hometown of Seattle and relay intel to Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. But as the organization prepared to make its two selections (No. 27 and No. 40) in this year’s NBA Draft, Thomas went to great lengths to assist Boston in any way possible before, during, and after the Celtics made their selections.
When the draft combine began in Chicago over six weeks ago, Thomas joined Celtics executives in attendance to help the team interview prospects. The 37-year-old, formerly selected with the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, underwent his first combine, watching from the perspective of an organizational representative rather than a player. There, Thomas also helped Boston evaluate talent before it became time on Tuesday night to make their first of two selections.
Boston selected 6-foot-11 forward Chris Cenac Jr., 27th overall, out of the University of Houston. The following day, after the 19-year-old shook commissioner Adam Silver’s hand at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and officially became a professional, Thomas met face-to-face with Cenac at Boston’s practice facility in Brighton, Massachusetts.
“Excited for the young killa!!! Let’s getit,” Thomas posted on X over a photo taken with Cenac at the Auerbach Center.
Thomas stuck around the practice facility for the second night. He joined Stevens in Boston’s draft room, awaiting the organization’s turn to make its pick at No. 40. When the time arrived, and the Celtics went with 22-year-old forward Dillon Mitchell from St. John’s, Thomas made the call to submit Boston’s selection on behalf of the team — a moment the Celtics shared across their social media pages.
The dozens of Celtics scouts, executives, and other team representatives surrounding Thomas opened up a round of applause for their newly-hired scout.
For years before his unofficial retirement following the 2023-24 season, Thomas frequently publicized his desire to rejoin the Celtics — at any capacity. He’s now back with Stevens, his former head coach, and Jaylen Brown (for now), his former teammate, contributing behind the scenes to the organization’s pursuit of its next championship.
Thomas never reached the mountaintop during his illustrious three-year run as Boston’s “King of the Fourth,” but still managed to — against all odds — leave a mark in the team’s storied history as one of the best to sport a Celtics uniform.
Now off the court, Thomas will strive to help the Celtics achieve NBA glory in a different, but still impactful role, as part of his return to Boston.
Ahead of Saturday’s title unification fight in Brooklyn, the unbeaten American talks about family legacy, putting on for North Philly and life as one of boxing’s most feared fighters
For years, boxing’s chattering class has treated Jaron “Boots” Ennis less like a champion than a prophecy. The next great one. The future pound-for-pound king. The fighter who one day would justify the steady hype that has followed him since he emerged as a teenager from Bozy’s Dungeon in North Philadelphia as one of the country’s top amateurs.
Even now, undefeated in 36 professional fights with 31 knockouts and world championships at two different weights, Ennis approaches Saturday night’s title unification bout with Xander Zayas at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in an unusual position: celebrated as one of the world’s most gifted fighters while still being discussed as though his breakthrough lies ahead.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 18: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
MLB.com | Thomas Harrigan: Yesterday afternoon, the Yankees announced that they had placed third baseman Ryan McMahon on the 10-day IL with a throat infection. According to Greg Joyce on Twitter, he was diagnosed with peritonsillar abscess, a rather unpleasant-sounding tonsil infection that has prompted doctors to recommend him not to engage in any physical activity for at least 72 hours. To take his place, the team has recalled fan favorite utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera from Triple-A Scranton, who makes his return to the Majors after fracturing his ankle last May.
The Athletic | Dennis Lin: (subscription required) Ever year, The Athletic polls the players of Major League Baseball in order to get a sense as to what the league thinks about, well, everything that the fans want to know. Rather encouragingly for readers of this blog, the Yankees were the second most common response to the question, “Which organizations have good reputations among players?” (behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers). More specifically, players praised the front office and ownership, saying that they are “willing to do what they need to do to keep their players happy;” they were also praised for their medical staff.
ESPN | Buster Olney: Over the last few years, left-handed hitters have been at an advantage throughout baseball, with yet another jump in relative wRC+ occuring this year. After speaking to some catchers, Buster Olney speculates that the new ABS system may be responsible, as it has eliminated (or at least minimized) lefties’ biggest advantage: the ability of catchers to frame glove-side pitches more easily. While not everyone agrees with the hypothesis, the data clearly shows that left-handed bats are having an easier time at the plate this year than their righty-swinging counterparts.
The Athletic | Tim Britton, Johnny Flores Jr., Chad Jennings and Eno Sarris: (subscription required) With July rapidly approaching, the trade deadline will soon be in our sights. To help prepare fans, The Athletic published their list of 50 players that may be available this deadline. While Tarik Skubal, who started last night for the Tigers, is the biggest name on the list, several players — such as Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña, Giants second baseman Luis Arraez, and Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers — who may be of interest to Yankees fans.
The Athletic | Ken Rosenthal: (subscription required) Generally, I try to avoid putting two paywalled articles here, let alone three, but if you have access to The Athletic, this is definitely worth a read. Ken Rosenthal dives into Major League Baseball’s first CBA proposal, focusing on the league’s plan to shrink the draft — a proposal that Rosenthal describes as “counter to that message,” that message being the league’s alleged commitment to growing the game of baseball. We’ve said similar things here at Pinstripe Alley, but don’t take our word for it; Rosenthal is one of the most connected journalists in the sport.
Lastly, we want to send out our best happy retirement wishes to an old friend. The Trenton Thunder may no longer be the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, but we will have always love their batdog program and Rookie officially retired last night. He followed the footsteps (paw prints?) of Chase and Derby, and Dash will keep the program alive. Rookie rules and we love him.
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball on the Portland Trail Blazers center court logo during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 31, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Portland Trail Blazers entered the offseason searching for stability at head coach, and while they found a new man to put in charge, they have triggered league-wide backlash with how they finalized their hire.
The Blazers signed former Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori on what was initially described as a multiyear agreement, only for details to reveal a true one-year guaranteed deal with team options and incentive-based pay.
Pistons HC J.B. Bickerstaff called out the unconventional structure of Micah Nori's contract with the Trail Blazers 😳
Nori’s deal with Portland includes only one guaranteed year, with team options on the second and third years of the deal. The contract also includes a… pic.twitter.com/trffOkEFBg
That structure, however, should surprise nobody. Enter world-renowned frugal penny-pincher Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon.
Since taking over, Dundon has faced repeated criticism for cost-cutting decisions across the organization. The Athletic reported measures such as limiting travel accommodations—no two-way players allowed in postseason trips—cutting staff expenses—salaries down and team broadcasters fired—and previously offering below-market deals to coaching candidates, including interim coach Tiago Splitter before he left for another job—Dundon reportedly refused to offer Splitter more than $1-$1.5 million.
Against that backdrop, the Nori contract just reinforced the growing perception that Portland Tommy D is only and blatantly prioritizing financial flexibility and keeping his pockets safe over long-term investment and building a professional, competitive, let alone winning, basketball team.
J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach of the Detroit Pistons and president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, publicly blasted the Blazers’ approach and deal signed with Nori on Wednesday.
“I understand his story and his journey to get to the spot where he was able to get this opportunity, and I don’t want to take away from what should be a special moment for him, for his family, and a job that’s well deserved and earned,” Bickerstaff told ESPN. “That’s first and foremost.”
Bickerstaff then emphasized that his criticism was not aimed at Nori, a longtime assistant finally receiving a head-coaching opportunity, but at the conditions attached to it and the precedent set by accepting the deal.
“But I feel like he was put in a situation that he shouldn’t be put in with having to make a choice of this nature because of the structure of what the contract is,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s unfortunate that you have a dream, and from our perspective, it’s like someone’s taking advantage of your dream and devaluing what we feel like coaches have earned over the years.
“You think about the sacrifice, the time, the growth that coaches have helped and done with the NBA, and then for someone to come in and attempt to devalue the work that coaches have in this league is extremely disappointing.”
The concern extends beyond Nori’s salary and term with the Blazers, but more worryingly into how such a short, incentive-laden deal could affect team dynamics.
“It changes the math on where a coach stands, and it creates an environment where how do you hold players accountable when it looks like you are easily replaced and removed if things don’t go the way that players may see it going,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s almost, which is disappointing, a mindset of the substitute teacher being there with no guarantee or support [regarding] what it looks like long term or in the future.
“I’ve talked to a lot of coaches — head coaches, assistant coaches — who are extremely concerned. It’s a very serious matter to us as coaches to make sure that we protect the value of coaching staffs. It’s years and years of work that coaches have put in to put ourselves in this position and to put future coaches in the position where our value remains and isn’t disregarded because of a power flux of ownership.”
On top of that pile of excrement, Nori’s deal also comes after a delightfully turbulent coaching stretch in Portland that might not have an end in sight and could make it hellaciously hard for the Trail Blazers to escape from and rebuild the appeal of the position to future candidates.
Former head coach Chauncey Billups was extended before being removed from the organization following legal issues, leaving Portland paying for his contract while restarting its head coach search. Splitter took over and was willing to say, but Dundon decided against it, and Tiago is now about to lead the Chicago Bulls.
At the end of the day, the reaction from Bickerstaff and others highlights a fear about contracts such as the bizarre one offered by the Blazers and signed by Nori, as they could reshape expectations for coaching security across the league.
Whether the Blazers’ approach becomes a one-off experiment or a model others attempt to replicate is still unknown. For now, if you want to know more, check out fellow SBN blog Blazers’ Edge and Dave Deckard’s extraordinary post about the situation.
