Victor Wembanyama, Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard in action during Sunday’s round-robin tournament. Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP
Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady flashed a look of disdain when recalling last year’s NBA All-Star Game.
“The All-Star Game that we witnessed last year was not an All-Star game,” McGrady told the Guardian. “I don’t know what that was.”
Prior to Sunday night’s contest, the All-Star Game had experienced years of disarray. In an attempt to make the game more competitive, the league replaced the classic East v West matchup and tinkered with multiple formats, including a playground-style selection process with team captains (Team LeBron v Team Stephen); and last year’s four-team tournament that featured a squad of Rising Stars who weren’t yet close to being actual All-Stars.
The results led to glorified shoot-arounds as players gave minimum effort on both sides of the court, eschewing defense while attempting a multitude of uncontested three-point shots and dunks.
In the latest move to increase competition, the NBA sought to entice players with something bigger to play for – global respect. Hence, this year’s “USA v World” format, which featured a three-team tournament between the up-and-coming Team USA Stars, the veterans of Team USA Stripes, and international players of Team World. The round-robin format included four 12-minute games and an overtime with a target score of five.
American-born players once held an imperialistic grip on basketball, particularly during the Dream Team era – Team USA defeated opponents by an average score of 43.8 points at the 1992 Olympics. But the gap between US and international players is closing each year. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA needed herculean efforts by LeBron James and Steph Curry to hold off France in the final minutes of the gold-medal game. And in the NBA, international players have won every MVP award since 2018, with James Harden the last American-born player to capture the league’s most coveted individual prize.
“The conversation that the international players caught up to us, the American players hear that,” McGrady said prior to Sunday’s tip-off. “It’s not the platform. It’s not the format. It’s the players that change that. So I think mixing it up like this, the world’s going to set the tone, and we’re going to see competitive basketball.”
Kevin Durant struck a more conciliatory tone on Saturday. He said that some All-Star games were just as lethargic decades ago.
“I just feel like fans and the media need something to complain about,” Durant said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest … The last couple of weeks, I’ve watched the intro and at least the first quarter of every All-Star Game from, like, the 70s up until the late 90s. I wanted to see what the big deal was and if it was really that much intensity, like an [NBA finals] Game 7. The intensity the older generation has been talking about, I don’t know if I’ve seen it.”
During last year’s game, Victor Wembanyama appeared upset after his teammate Alperen Sengun allowed Jayson Tatum to throw down an uncontested game-winning dunk. Before this year’s game, the Frenchman said that the USA v World format should encourage the All-Stars to play for pride.
“We’ve seen that many of the best players have been increasingly foreign players,” Wembanyama said. “There is some pride on that side. I guess there is pride on the American side, which is normal. So I think anything that gets you closer to representing your country brings up pride.”
On Sunday, Wembanyama set the tone early by scoring the first seven points for Team World and finishing with a combined stat line of 33 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks in two games. His show of effort inspired other players to pick up the intensity, most notably, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP, Anthony Edwards.
“Wemby set the tone, and it woke me up for sure,” Edwards said after Sunday’s games. “It was definitely competitive with all three teams. I feel like the old heads [Team Stripes] played hard too. They were playing really good defense.”
From tip-off of the first game, this year’s All-Star Game (or, technically, games) had a different energy. Players from Team Stars and Team World contested shots on defense, and embraced motion offense instead of a reliance on one-on-one scoring. In the final, the youthful Team Stars dismantled Team Stripes by a score of 41-25, led by Edwards, who finished with 32 points in three games.
Despite the rout, the players competed with purpose, and the league may have finally fixed a long-standing problem.
“I think it was definitely a step up in the competitive department compared to last season,” Durant said after the final game. “Hopefully, we just build upon this, and the weekend becomes more and more competitive. And the fans start to enjoy it more and more.”
Peoria, Ariz. - February 13: Ethan Salas #90 of the San Diego Padres runs the bases during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.. (Photo by Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres have two catchers who need to prove they belong in the organization. Luis Campusano is taking what might be his last chance to make the major league roster and stick at that level as he is out of options. If he does not make the roster he would be cut by San Diego and would have to clear waivers for him to remain in the Padres’ system. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball feels Ethan Salas is in a similar position but is nowhere near a potential cut candidate. If Salas can return to form after returning from a lost season due to a stress reaction in his lower back, his value could increase and he could once again be regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball. If he is unable to do that, he could potentially be traded to acquire another piece to improve the current iteration of the Padres roster.
Padres News:
Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller has still not received a contract extension from San Diego and there is a lot of speculation as to why. If fans find themselves thinking the lack of an extension for Preller is strange, they might be comforted to know that clubhouse leader Manny Machado feels the same way.
Fans who responded to this week’s Padres Reacts Survey were somewhat split about whether they love or hate Padres players competing in the World Baseball Classic. There are arguments to be made on both sides, but no matter where you fall on the topic the reality is the games will be played either way because it is a world stage event and the players are going to play.
With the additions of Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos it was evident the goal for the Padres in the offseason was to improve their offensive power numbers. Adding Andujar and Castellanos to a roster with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merril, Gavin Sheets, Ramon Laureano and Xander Bogaerts it’s easy to dream on drastic improvements in the areas of home runs and slugging percentage.
Machado made it known during his media session on Sunday that he believes A.J. Pre12ller has earned an extension and that the fact he does not already have one is “weird.”
Nick Castellanos reported to Padres camp on the first day of full squad workouts and is already doing and saying the right things in his new organization.
Machado was not just stumping for Preller to receive an extension, he was also talking about the Los Angeles Dodgers offseason spending and about a potential salary cap.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait with the KIA Shooting Stars Trophy during the State Farm All-Star Portraits - 3PT Slam Dunk Shooting as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Two Knicks appeared on the All-Star “Game” on Sunday.
Neither won the thing, and only one made it to the final match.
This is the first time all season someone involved with New York has failed to win a meaningless title.
"I'm not going to say his name, but number 3 on the Knicks… he's the most annoying person ever."
“Yeah, I’m very excited to see him. I think he brings a level of toughness. From what I’ve seen, he’s been a great teammate. So I’m very excited. It’s a great opportunity for us and for him.”
On his “holy grail” outside of winning a championship:
“Honestly, I feel like my journey has been very different from most. I’m very thankful for it. It made me work extremely hard. It made me realize the opportunity that I’ve had. I’m still chasing a lot. I write my goals — long-term and short-term — at the beginning of every year, and I keep that to myself.”
On lessons learned from the Eastern Conference Finals loss last year:
“Never looking ahead. You want to focus on the task in front of you. After last year, you can’t just jump right back into where we were. You’ve got to go through the journey all over again. So it’s taking it one day at a time, step by step, not focusing down the road — just being present.”
On Jose Alvarado’s impact:
“He’s had a great impact so far with his energy — who he is on and off the court, what he brings to the table. He’s a great person to be around. He’s already impacting our team and it’s going to be great for the Garden. Fans are going to love him if they don’t already.”
On who he’d want on his podcast:
“I’m a big SVU fan — Mariska Hargitay.”
On who is his most annoying teammate:
“I’m not going to say his name. I’ll just say No. 3 on the Knicks is the most annoying person ever.”
On game-day mental preparation:
“I’m very routine-based. I try to stick to the same routine. My focus comes from preparing — not just game day, but the days leading up to it, the summertime, the work I’ve put in my entire life. Your confidence comes from your work ethic. That’s how I prepare.”
On podcasting advice:
“It’s talking to one of my best friends. We talk about things we want to talk about. We don’t have to answer every question people want us to answer. You can create your own narrative, say things you need to get off your chest. It’s its own platform. It’s something we didn’t think we’d want to do, and now here we are in year three. It’s fun. It’s unique. It’s a great opportunity, possibly life after basketball if we want to continue it.”
On his first NBA field goal:
“It was a dunk against the Lakers. It came off a Julius Randle turnover — Julius and D’Angelo Russell were fighting over the ball. It ended up in my hands, and I did a two-hand dunk, which I never do.”
On the possibility of Jason Tatum returning this season:
“He’s a very dangerous player in our league. Obviously, seeing him go down last year, it sucks to see. You never want to see that from anyone in any sport. But the fact that he’s worked so hard to get to where he is and is preparing to come back, that just speaks to who he is. Basketball fans around the world are excited to see him come back.”
Malika Andrews: "Y'all have now won at All-Star Weekend, the NBA Cup––is there a 3rd bigger one coming?
On representing the Dominican Republic and inspiring kids:
“I don’t think it’s pressure. I put the time and work into the gym and my craft, and I feel very confident every time I step on the court. I know this is bigger than me. I’m super happy I have the opportunity to show Dominican kids it’s possible — not only to get a scholarship, but to make the NBA. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my mentors who showed me it was possible — Charlie Villanueva, Francisco Garcia, Felipe Lopez, Al Horford. It means a lot that I was able to take their teachings and continue to show the next generation that it’s possible.”
On Dominican culture influencing his game:
“The work ethic, the passion. Dominicans are passionate about family, about food, about having a good time. I translate that passion into my game. Every time I’m on the court or in practice, I’m passionate. I take the work serious. I look for quality over quantity.”
On international basketball and future opportunities:
“I love international basketball. It would be cool to see it grow and operate at a high level. Maybe one day be a part of it. There’s so much talent in the world. Making the NBA as one of 450 players is extremely difficult. Some guys fall through the cracks but have the talent and work ethic. It would be cool to see those guys get a chance to show their talents and live their dream.”
On comparisons between New York and Los Angeles:
“I love both. In New York, I’ve got my family — my father, grandmother, my whole Dominican family, my mom’s side too. In LA, my fiancée’s family is here. Happy mother-in-law solves a lot of problems.”
On the Knicks’ deadline moves:
“It’s unfortunate losing someone like Yabu, who was a big part of our locker room. But I’m glad to see him thriving in Chicago. Jose brings a lot of energy. It’s great to have someone who can jolt the game whenever we need it.”
On playing in the World Cup:
“It was really cool. I think it was the biggest World Cup attendance game of all time. Playing with my mother’s country on my chest, in a different atmosphere, not an NBA game — that’s something I won’t forget. I’m super happy our country got the win.”
On inspiring the next generation:
“It’s special. I’m honored to be in this position to show the next generation that it’s possible — to show them where I’ve been successful and where I’ve made mistakes, so they don’t make the same ones and can take this game and this flag to even greater heights.”
For a league taking L’s left and right this past week, at least the NBA can say they saved the All-Star Game.
A contest that had been mostly a disaster for roughly two decades received a much-needed facelift when it split USA players from the rest of the world into teams, who then played a round-robin of one-quarter games to determine the winner.
Veteran basketball pundits Zach Lowe and Bill Simmons explained on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” that while the NBA has failed to fix tanking, playing-time manipulation and game flow, at least the All-Star Game is watchable again.
Anthony Edwards won NBA All-Star Game MVP. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“It was a great bit of redemption for the NBA,” Lowe said on the podcast. “It was definitely the world’s better than two years ago when it was 211-180-something, and the five All-Star games before it were dunk, dunk, laziness. This was a fun game. There were fouls, blocked shots, buzzer beaters, and drama.”
“Team Stars” was a group of younger players that wound up winning after they defeated “Team Stripes,” which consisted of LeBron James and a group of veteran faces of the league.
“A huge win for a league that needed a win,” Simmons said while adding that he gave the new All-Star Game “two thumbs up” as the game at one point appeared to be heading toward NFL Pro Bowl status.
Where things get really dicey is tanking, injuries, schedule length and much more, as the league deals with questions about the relevance of the regular season.
Adam Silver’s legacy in the NBA will hinge on whether he can fix the league’s scheduling issues and tanking. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“If you’re judging [the job that Adam Silver has done as commissioner] by what the league is like competitively, this is about as bad we’ve been in since the early 80s,” Simmons said.
Simmons then goes on to list the problems with the league, adding that the season is too long and the second half of the regular season is mostly meaningless, with the only reason to maintain 82 games being money.
“This is why I was so hard on Silver,” Simmons said. “This is the most important decision of his entire career. If he can’t do this. If he can’t convince two separate groups of people that are tough to convince anything that the season has to be shorter and here’s all the reasons why… This is a crisis now.”
What hasn’t been fixed about All-Star Weekend is the Slam Dunk Contest, as several star young players have refused to participate in recent years, while the league taps G-League-level players to compete, despite them hardly being NBA-level talent.
Mac McClung, who has played in 10 career NBA games, won three consecutive seasons from 2023 to 2025, while Keshad Johnson won this year despite playing in 21 games as a rookie.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 31: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Cup game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re about two-thirds of the way through the 2025-26 NBA regular season based upon games played, but the league’s All-Star break always serves as the arbitrary halfway point of the season. The vibes were way down for the Philadelphia 76ers, but we received a welcome respite over the weekend, getting to enjoy VJ Edgecombe shine in the Rising Stars Challenge and Tyrese Maxey’s coronation as one of the league’s top stars. Now, before regular season hoops get back underway, let’s zoom out a bit and take stock of where things stand in the Eastern Conference.
Race to the Bottom
Washington (14-39) Indiana (15-40) Brooklyn (15-38)
These teams are going to be jockeying with a handful of teams out West for top lottery odds in what is a stacked 2026 NBA Draft class. The Wizards have positioned themselves to compete next year, trading for Trae Young and Anthony Davis at their low points of their value, and having those former All-Stars sit out the rest of the way. They’ll hope to pair those two with promising youngsters Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson, plus whoever they take in this year’s lottery. The Pacers had always signaled taking a step back this season after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles, even going as far as to let Myles Turner walk in free agency. Indiana did trade for Ivica Zubac at the deadline, but I imagine his sprained ankle is going to take a historically long time to heal. This is another club that will be looking to compete again next season. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is playing more first-year players than a Rising Stars roster. The Nets are on the long rebuild path, and they could be right back in this group a year from now.
Things Went Off the Rails in the Midwest
Milwaukee (23-30) Chicago (24-31)
These two clubs expected to be in the mix (towards the top half of the playoff bracket in Milwaukee’s case, and solidly in the Play-In in respect to the Bulls), but things have gone terribly wrong. In Wisconsin, Doc Rivers is pointing fingers everywhere except the thumbs pointing back at him, and the Giannis Antetokounmpo most passive aggressive trade request ever was comical, followed by his acting like he was taking the harder loyal path by sticking around. They have a roster built to operate around Giannis that doesn’t work one bit with him sidelined with a calf strain. Their current brand of no-defense will have them continue to lose games the rest of the way. If there’s a silver lining in Chicago, the Bulls finally, finally, finally embraced something of a rebuild, sending out Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White. They waited too long in all cases and didn’t get too much valuable in return, but maybe now Chicago will lose enough to get lucky in the lottery.
Frisky Futures
Atlanta (26-30) Charlotte (26-29)
The Hawks actually pulled the trigger on trading away Trae Young, fully embracing building around Jalen Johnson with a longer, more defensive-minded roster. I understood moving on from Kristaps Porzingis given the health concerns, but I’m not sure the Jonathan Kuminga experience would be something I wanted to sign up for. I suppose his value can only go up away from Golden State. Getting Jock Landale for nothing was a good deal, something I wished the Sixers had done. I don’t expect the Hawks to do anything of note this year, but they seem to have a clear vision going forward. Charlotte is one of the most entertaining League Pass teams out there. Rookie Kon Knueppel looks like the real deal, already ranking as one of the best outside shooters in the league. You can really see something with a young core of him, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. I also liked the buy low on Coby White at the deadline. If the Hornets could just excise Miles Bridges, I’d like rooting for this bunch.
Stuck in the middle with us
Miami (29-27) Orlando (28-25) Philadelphia (30-24) Toronto (32-23)
The Heat struck out in having a big star come to South Beach, as shockingly Tyler Herro and Pat Riley throwing his rings on the table wasn’t enough of a trade package for people. Erik Spoelstra is an excellent coach who will keep Miami afloat, but there’s just not enough top-end talent on the roster there to be true contenders. Orlando is one of the more disappointing teams this season. People loved to talk about the Magic prior to the season as a dark horse to come out of the East, but they don’t look anywhere near that level. Paolo Banchero certainly hasn’t taken the next step this season, and Orlando signaled they weren’t making a run by just doing a salary dump at the deadline.
Speaking of salary dumps, the Sixers only subtracted from their rotation earlier this month. Despite pretty good injury health from their injury-prone stars, Philadelphia’s front office didn’t want to push any chips into the middle to improve the current roster. With Paul George now suspended, the Sixers are a major injury or two away from their shallow roster making a real slide down the standings. Toronto is one of the most pleasant surprises this season, with a bunch of pretty good parts coalescing on a solid roster that plays hard every night. The Raptors didn’t do anything major at the deadline; they seem content to let this season play out, and remain in a good position to tweak the roster in future years.
Candidates to emerge
Cleveland (34-21) New York (35-20) Boston (35-19) Detroit (40-13)
The Cavaliers made the splashiest deadline acquisition, bringing in James Harden from Los Angeles. The Beard will certainly be an upgrade over an injured Darius Garland in the present. Was it the right move to trade away a young guard for a 36-year-old to make a push this season? I guess we’ll find out, but Cleveland certainly sensed the East is wide open and decided to go for it.
New York had a slide a little while ago that kicked off a bunch of Karl-Anthony Towns trade rumors. The Knicks have since righted the ship, and they plugged the hole created by Deuce McBride’s injury by acquiring Jose Alvarado. The Jalen Brunson-Towns defensive pairing issues will still present a problem for the Knicks in the postseason, but no one would be shocked if they were the squad to represent the East.
People posited that the Celtics might do a mini-tank this season with Jayson Tatum sidelined with an Achilles tear, but punishingly for Sixers fans, Boston has continued to churn out wins. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White ramped up their usage to good effect, and the front office brought in spare parts to round out the rotation. Management also showed it’s possible to both duck the tax and help the roster, as although the Celtics just made some salary-dumping trades, the swap to acquire Nikola Vucevic might mean their rotation is better than it was a month ago. If Tatum can make an improbable return later on (he recently practiced with the Maine Celtics), Boston would get upgraded to clear favorite.
Finally, Detroit is this year’s Cinderella darling, second best in the NBA in both record and net rating. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren are young and ascending, and the Pistons have solid depth and complimentary pieces on the roster. The major argument against the Pistons would be that most of the roster hasn’t done it before in the playoffs (unless by “it” you mean Tobias Harris missing a million threes), but there always has to be a first time for young cores.
How do you size up the East? Let us know in the comments.
There might not be a player on the New York Knicks that represents the team’s identity more than Mitchell Robinson. The backup center has a modest stat line at All-Star break, averaging just 5.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but Robinson is the secret weapon to New York’s championship hopes this season.
The Knicks are outscoring the opposition by 8.9 points per 100 possessions in Robinson’s 766 minutes on the floor this season according to NBA Stats, which is the second highest net rating on the team, only behind Miles McBride.
If the Knicks are going to reach their goal of making the NBA Finals, Robinson will be instrumental. A solid defender and quality rim protector, the big man has regained his defensive mojo after a slow start.
Even though his defense is effective, Robinson’s super power really is on the offensive glass.
Among players who have played at least 30 games, he is number one in offensive rebound rate. Teams still haven’t found a way to keep Robinson off the offensive boards, and many of his offensive caroms have led directly to open three-pointers for his teammates.
When Robinson’s on the floor, New York is collecting 40.8 percent of its misses, a number that would be first in the NBA. The Knicks have a 29.3 percent offensive rebound rate when Robinson sits, a figure that would rank 22nd in the NBA. That has helped juice the Knicks' offense, which is ranked third in the NBA, recording 118.9 points per 100 possessions.
Injury history
Robinson brings tools that no one else on the roster can provide, but it’s not all roses with him.
The eight-year veteran has a significant injury history.
Robinson has missed 16 games this season -- he sat out the first four games of the season and is not playing back-to-back games due to left ankle injury management. He’s also been out for a total of 139 contests over the previous three seasons.
It’s hard to rely on a player who is unavailable so often.
Robinson is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million deal. He’s eligible for a contract extension but the Knicks and the 27-year old center did not engage in substantive talks before the season, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
Contract negotiations between the two sides seem a bit complicated. The seven-footer’s importance to the Knicks is hard to quantify, but the number one question would be if Robinson is unable to play back-to-back games the rest of his career? If not, that puts a cap on how much he can truly earn on the free agent market.
Also, the big man is limited on the offensive end. Some teams intentionally foul Robinson, who is shooting a career-low 40.8 percent from the free-throw line.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) warms up prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
At 19.6 minutes this season, Robinson has averaged 21.0 minutes over the last three seasons.
The Knicks already have Karl-Anthony Towns as a starter at center. Towns is set to make $57.1 million next year and has a player option for $61 million in 2027-28. It would be a significant amount of money to allocate to one position, and with New York brushing up against the second apron, there’s only much more scrutiny on each move the team makes.
Towns and Robinson have played 213 minutes together this season. The pairing has worked for the most part with a +5.4 net rating, but recently, it hasn’t been as successful.
Some of Robinson’s contributions have driven some of New York’s finest moments over the last few years. Robinson was the X-factor in the Knicks’ second round win against the Boston Celtics. He also proved vital in this year’s NBA Cup championship win, recording 15 rebounds, 10 of them coming on the offensive end.
Robinson is such a unique player that the Knicks are probably the best fit for him. With only a few teams having significant cap space, it’s more than likely that Robinson and the Knicks extend their partnership past this season either through an extension or in free agency -- but the playoffs will truly determine his future with the club.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was created using a halo filter) Jaylen Brown #7 of Team USA Stripes poses for a portrait during the NBA All-Star Game Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Last week, Jaylen Brown shared an Instagram story that highlighted the Celtics’ record this year compared to last year.
The graphic, created by NBC Sports Boston, compared the 2024-2025 Celtics’ and the 2025-2026 Celtics’ record, net, offensive, and defensive ratings at the All-Star break, ultimately demonstrating how, remarkably, both teams’ on-court success were pretty comparable.
Both Celtics teams held the the second seed in the Eastern Conference at the break, as well as the NBA’s third-best net rating. This year’s Celtics have the better offense; last year’s more veteran team had the better defense.
Almost immediately, Brown’s post was widely criticized, with some fans perceiving it as a shot at Jayson Tatum, who has been sidelined all season due to an Achilles injury he suffered last spring.
But, Brown was perplexed about how that happened – how a post touting his team’s unlikely success turned into a negative thing.
“The thing I posted, that was about celebrating our group,” Brown told CelticsBlog in an exclusive conversation. “People make it seem like it was about me, because that’s what people wanted it to be about. But in reality, I’m just so proud of our group. I’m extremely proud.”
Back in July, the last time we extensively spoke 1-on-1, Brown told me that he expected to surprise the world ahead of a season in which few expected the Celtics to be competitive.
But, even he didn’t know that this level of team success was coming so soon.
The Celtics have the third-best record in the league since December 1st, and a litany of improbable victories. Earlier this month, for example, they blew out the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back in a game in which two-way player Ron Harper Jr. got his first career start — and the Celtics got a big-time win with Brown and Sam Hauser both sidelined.
So, it fills him with an immense amount of pride and gratitude to talk about the Celtics’ success so far.
“I believed that we were going to be fine, but even to me, it’s like, ‘Damn, we’re the second seed – one of the five best records in the whole league,” Brown said. “Only a few teams have a better record than us in the entire league. We’re a top-five team in the league, coming from the start of the season, when it was [supposed to be] a gap year.”
Brown can’t stop beaming as he talks about his group.
He appreciates that the Celtics have blown previous expectations out of the water, and enjoys gushing about how this season has been playing out.
But, in our lengthy conversation, he never brings up himself – not his own career-best individual season, nor his first-ever All-Star start, which he celebrated in Los Angeles.
For Jaylen Brown, this season has been about the young guys
What Brown has enjoyed most this season is seeing the Celtics organization at its best — watching unproven players like Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez tremendously impact winning. In his first two years in the NBA, Walsh had yet to break into the Celtics’ rotation, and Brown, a close friend of his, stayed in his ear, encouraging him.
He broke through this season en route to a career-year highlighted by 20 consecutive starts for Boston. Walsh is averaging 5.6 points in 18.5 minutes per game — both career-highs.
And, Gonzalez, drafted late in the first round and at just 19 years old, quickly became an impactful rotation player. As it currently stands, he has the best individual net rating of any player in the NBA. Few predicted that, at 19 years old, the Celtics rookie would be so impactful, so soon. But he’s been a critical part of multiple victories.
“As a leader, to see our guys finding their footing and flourishing, I’m prouder about that,” Brown said. “Just to see certain guys unsure about their roles, or their situation, and to see Jordan playing well, Hugo playing well in stretches. Like, they’ve helped us win games. I take pride in that. I’m proud of that.”
<p>Jaylen Brown and Hugo Gonzalez celebrate after Gonzalez hit a game-tying three-pointer against the Brooklyn Nets last month. </p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
He’s especially in awe of the Celtics’ player development program, which, alongside Gonzalez and Walsh, has propelled players like Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza toward career seasons. He shouted out each of the Celtics’ assistant and player development coaches, people who are integral to the Celtics’ team success, but rarely receive credit in the public eye.
“I’m extremely proud of our group, coaching staff included,” Brown said. “All the guys that put time and effort – Sham [God Shammgod Jr], Da’Sean [Butler], Ross [McCain], DJ [MacLeay] – all our coaching staff have done a really good job of developing guys.”
Brown is also adamant that Derrick White should have been an All-Star, and that starting center Neemias Queta is only beginning to scratch the surface of his ceiling. He’s been thoroughly impressed with how Anfernee Simons carried himself through his 49-game Celtics stint, and with how Payton Pritchard has handled an increased role as one of the Celtics’ primary scoring options.
So, Brown might just keep posting Instagram graphics that highlight just how good this Celtics team has been playing.
He emphasized that, alongside Tatum, they lost four other great players this offseason – Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis.
And, he’s in awe of how the Celtics have adapted in the face of those veteran losses.
Brown also attributes some of the the Celtics’ success this season to a formative offseason conversation between himself and Joe Mazzulla, in which both candidly discussed their preferred approach for the year ahead.
“Before the season started, Joe had an idea of what he wanted, how he wanted to coach the team,” Brown said. “I had an idea of how I wanted to lead the team, and we kind of had to meet in the middle before the season even started. We had an idea of how we were going to both work together. Because if we don’t work together, if it would have been me not buying into Joe, none of this would work. Me being able to be on the same page with Joe has allowed us to be in the position that we’re in now.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 19: Jaylen Brown #7 talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen Brown has found peace
At age 29, Brown understands that words and actions can be taken out of context. That’s part of why he started regularly Twitch streaming — so that he can address things head-on and elaborate on his perspective.
For example, in a recent stream, Brown spoke glowingly about Tatum’s rehab, and shared how much pride he has in his co-star for all the progress he’s made.
“If you hear me talk about anything in my most recent streams, I mentioned how proud I am of my team, I mentioned how proud I am of JT’s progression,” Brown said. “It’s all that type of stuff.”
Brown still finds it perplexing why his Instagram story had become controversial, though it’s far from the first time something like that has happened in his NBA career.
After a screenshot of his Instagram story blew up online, he ended up Tweeting it on his own account, with a simple caption emphasizing why he had highlighted those statistics: “I’m proud of this group and staff / office looking forward to 2nd half go Cs.”
I’m proud of this group and staff/ office looking forward to 2nd half go Cs ☘️ pic.twitter.com/I0cqxQTPYg
But, at this point in his career, he doesn’t worry too much when these kinds of things happen.
Tuning out the outside noise has brought him an inner peace.
“People have always tried to pick apart everything that I said,” Brown said. “And over the course of my career, I’ve tried to be very meticulous about it. I try to say as little as possible, I try to make sure that I’m not saying anything that’s gonna stir the pot. Now, I’m at this point in my career, and I’m like, I could care less.”
“People are going to infer whatever they want. It’s not in my control… I say how I feel. I say what I’m proud of. And, I’m proud that our team is doing great.”
What Brown does want to talk about is how incorrect the pundits and analysts were about how good this Celtics team could be.
“We were supposed to be tanking, that was the talk,” Brown said. “To be in the top five teams in the league? I’m proud of that. I’m extremely proud. Ain’t nobody can tell me nothing.”
It doesn’t matter how outside people might perceive that sentiment.
“I feel like the most peaceful I’ve felt this season is because I just stopped caring about all that stuff,” Brown said. “And that’s why I feel like I’ve been at the most at the most peace I’ve ever been at in my career, because I just stopped giving a fuck about what the media or what people feel about what I gotta say, or, you know, if they feel offended by something I said – whatever. I said it with the right intent. I said it to highlight something that I feel like is important to highlight.”
And, in this case, he won’t let the world forget about how wrong people were about this Celtics team.
“Everybody was calling it a gap year,” Brown said. “How do you go from a gap year to top five in the East? That’s a big jump. That’s not a small jump. People want to skip over that. I’m not gonna let you skip over it. That is a big deal.”
Most importantly, he thinks this Celtics team is only going to get better as the year continues. As it currently stands, they hold a half-game lead for second place in the Eastern Conference, with Tatum’s potential return looming.
And, he wants to keep talking about how they’re doing the improbable.
“I’m proud of our group,” Brown said, beaming. “And I would yell it from the top of this house.”
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 5: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammates after scoring his first career goal during the first period of an NHL against the Buffalo Sabres game at KeyBank Center on February 5, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s a famous story in sports about how in 1925 the first baseman for the New York Yankees, Wally Pipp, showed up to the ballpark with a headache.
Miller Huggins, the Yankees’ manager, noticed this, and said “Wally, take the day off. We’ll try that kid Gehrig at first today and get you back in there tomorrow.” Gehrig played well and became the Yankees’ new starting first baseman. This story first appeared in a 1939 New York World-Telegram on Gehrig’s career, in which Pipp was interviewed. Pipp was later quoted to have said, “I took the two most expensive aspirin in history.”
For the non-baseball fans (or young) out there, Lou Gehrig would go onto play in a then-record 2,130 straight games. And thus, getting “Wally Pipp’d” became a point for the last hundred plus years in sports about a replacement stepping in and never looking back.
Avery Hayes might not go down in history to the same degree as the legendary ‘The Iron Horse”, though after Hayes’s two-goal NHL debut it’s worth thinking about the situation for where he might go from here for the rest of the season. That debut was partially brought on, ironically enough, in a fourth line right wing spot because the typical holder in the lineup of that position, Noel Acciari, was sick for a game. It won’t cost Acciari his spot forever, though it has opened up a door that will be worth further exploring this season.
Hayes was sent back to the AHL for the Olympic break, he still looks on a high, recording a hat trick in his first game back. Last night Hayes picked up an assist and dropped former Penguin Zach Aston-Reese in a fight with a mean short left.
You can bet Penguin management has to be intrigued. The question now becomes just how much they’ll be looking to do to get Hayes a chance to get back into the NHL lineup. It’s a legitimate question since the current forward group figures to leave the break with full health with the normal fourth line featuring Acciari, Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte playing with an abundance of chemistry and success together.
Josh Yohe wrote a good line in The Athletic today, saying: “the second you think pieces of your fourth line are unmovable, you’ve got yourself a problem”. That would apply to moving in or out of the lineup, or even status on the team itself.
One area working in the Pens’ favor is the 23-player roster maximum disappears after the NHL trade deadline. Teams just have to be mindful to stay under the salary cap (no problem at all there for Pittsburgh) and the limitation of four post-deadline call-ups (which is also no problem since emergency recalls if a team needs them due to injury as also allowed), all of which should definitely open up the possibility to get Hayes and his good pal Rutger McGroarty back with the NHL squad after the March 6th deadline. From there it won’t be too difficult to rotate out a player like Acciari or Dewar at times to get some younger blood in the lineup.
That could also be an audition for next season. Both of Acciari and Dewar are impending free agents this summer. Hayes and McGroarty are waiting in the wings as natural, younger replacements for next season, if the management team decides to go in that direction.
Another alternative could be to consider moving one of Dewar or Acciari in a trade. The wisdom of doing that when the team is clicking and remove a piece of their success is questionable at best. Trade value on both players won’t be high either, likely making the reward not worth the potential risk of damage it could do to this team’s morale and unity. Had this season unfolded like the previous few in Pittsburgh, it would be easy to trade veterans as their contracts near expiry (including Lizotte, who has already re-signed) and move onto younger players. This Pens team is fourth in the Eastern Conference with a .625% points percentage, they’ve earned keeping their group together a while longer.
The good news for the Penguins is that it’s a good problem to have right now where they have about 14 forwards that, all things considered, they’d probably like to have dressing for an NHL game on any given night. The problem pops up in that only 12 can actually dress. That offers them a lot of options on what to do next in the course of managing the excess of players they have available now at their disposal, building in some comfort to hedge against future injuries.
One of those angles will certainly be how much they decide to work Hayes back in for NHL opportunities down the stretch. The Pens are starring down a very difficult upcoming March that sees 17 games in 31 days against many of the best teams in the league. They have a real grind coming up, the post-March 6th ability to have fresh bodies like Hayes and McGroarty on hand could be a real blessing to keep players fresh and inject the lineup with new options as they go along.
Based on that timeline a transition wouldn’t be as immediate or impactful as a Hall of Famer like Gehrig entering the picture and never leaving it, but as Wally Pipp knew all too well opening the door to a new option can lead to changes that end up lasting longer than just a single game. Hayes is making a strong case to be in the NHL picture down the stretch in some form, the answer to just how much opportunity he’ll get will be one of the more intriguing little storylines for the Penguins in the final sprint of their 2025-26 season.
The Orioles addressed a lot of needs this offseason. They brought on Pete Alonso, one of the splashiest signings of the offseason, period. They signed a bona fide lockdown closer in Ryan Helsley. They added a corner bat in Taylor Ward. But with spring training games just days away, one question keeps nagging: Is the rotation good enough to win the division?
It’s a question worth asking, because the AL East rotations look nastier than ever. The Blue Jays, fresh off a World Series run, added Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $210 million deal to pair with Kevin Gausman and postseason revelation Trey Yesavage. The Red Sox went on a pitching spending spree, landing Ranger Suárez ($130 million over five years) and trading for Sonny Gray to slot behind Garrett Crochet. Even the Yankees, despite taking something of a “run it back” approach, will get Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón back from injury sometime this spring to join Max Fried and young flamethrower Cam Schlittler.
Meanwhile, the Orioles—well, if you read this blog regularly, you know pretty much exactly where the Orioles rotation stands. Baltimore missed out on Framber Valdez (now in Detroit) and watched Suárez and Cease land with division rivals. Instead, as has become customary, they cobbled together a rotation through trades and one-year deals: Shane Baz from Tampa Bay, veteran Chris Bassitt on a one-year, $18.5 million deal, and Zach Eflin back on a $10 million deal after August back surgery.
These weren’t, like, the splashiest moves ever, but to judge by team quotes to the press, you shouldn’t be worried. Manager Craig Albernaz says he “like[s] his guys.” Trevor Rogers says the rotation is “scary.” New signing Bassitt says he’s ready to win a World Series.
Is there cause for such optimism? It’s true that a 1-2 punch of Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers looks none too shabby: Bradish finished fourth in the 2023 Cy Young race and has a 2.44 ERA over 44 combined starts in the last three seasons. If he’s healthy, he’s deadly. Trevor Rogers was arguably the best pitcher in baseball after returning from injury last May, posting a 1.81 ERA and 0.90 WHIP over 18 starts.
Behind them, the depth behind them is intriguing (which is more than could be said of O’s back-end starters in recent years). Shane Baz has “Cy Young” upside, according to Albernaz himself. Chris Bassitt is a proven innings-eater who just pitched in the World Series. Zach Eflin was a rock after the 2024 trade deadline before his back gave out. And that’s not even counting a sixth man in Dean Kremer, who is a solid backend arm.
So let’s hear it, Camden Chatters: Can this rotation compete with the staffs in Tampa Bay, Toronto, Boston, and New York? Are you buying the upside, or do you wish the front office had landed a true ace? Sound off in the comments.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets looks on during spring training workouts at Clover Park on February 13, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Juve directors condemned Pierre Kalulu’s dismissal but beyond the outrage there were reasons to take heart
At the end of a spectacular, ferocious Derby d’Italia, none of Juventus’s players nor their manager would answer questions from the media. Instead, their chief executive, Damien Comolli, and director of football strategy, Giorgio Chiellini, spoke on the club’s behalf. They were not there to discuss tactical nuance.
“You can’t talk about football today,” said Chiellini. “Something unacceptable happened.” Comolli offered an even more grave verdict: “Juventus lost three points, but Italian football lost much more.” A strong claim. If true, might Comolli have done better to acknowledge his part in it?
Feb 13, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) talks to manager Dave Roberts (30) during spring training camp. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
After digesting that Ben Rortvedt will now join fellow former Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes, a non-roster invitee, in New York Mets spring training camp, here are more baseball stories to begin your week.
Roki Sasaki faced hitters, including Hyeseong Kim, on Sunday at Camelback Ranch, as he begins building toward his second year in the majors.
“Reflecting back on my last year, I felt like I just stumbled with my own responsibility in the sense that it wasn’t really about the level of Major League Baseball or the hitters,” Sasaki said. “It was just really more about things that I could’ve controlled that I didn’t. So this year, coming into the year — my goal is to be able to pitch throughout the entire season. And I think that will allow me to be able to show what I have to work on in the big league level.”
“The sliders that I threw last year weren’t good. Results-wise, it wasn’t good too,” he said. “This year, I want to focus more on the gyro-spin slider. Today I haven’t thrown the two-seamer, but that’s also in the works.”
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After Tommy John surgery last June, Evan Phillips could return in July or August, roughly, and talked to reporters Sunday about his timeline, which could include throwing bullpen sessions at some point during spring training.
“He’s feeling really good, throwing looks great, body looks great,” general manager Brandon Gomes said, per Sonja Chen at MLB.com. “I think it’s just being mindful and viewing him almost as like a Trade Deadline acquisition in some way, shape or form.”
Sunday around spring camps included a few players asked about Dodgers spending, including San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper.
Said Machado, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today: “I (expletive) love it. I think every team should be doing it. They’re figured out a way to do it, and the (stuff) is (expletive) great for the game honestly. I think every team has the ability to do it. So, I hope all 30 teams could learn from it.”
From Harper, per Katie Woo at The Athletic: “I love what the Dodgers do, obviously. They pay the money, they spend the money. I mean, they’re a great team. They understand how to run it. They run their team like a business, and they run it the right way. They understand where they need to put their money into.”
As Kevin Durant was playing in the NBA All-Star Game for the 16th time in his illustrious career on Sunday evening, allegations were circling online that the Houston Rockets star was behind a “burner” account trashing his current and former teammates in group messages on Twitter. It’s important to note that nothing has been confirmed on if it’s really Durant behind the account, but the entire Internet sure seems to think it’s him at the moment.
Do you believe KDF will address the burner of his @gethigher77 weird how all his friends in search engine are the ones who are responding to it and he goes in chats on it trashing teammates pic.twitter.com/ICzj2f912E
These screenshots show the account allegedly operated by Durant saying his All-Star teammate Alperen Sengun doesn’t shoot or defend, that Devin Booker got all the credit when the Suns won but he took all the blame when they lost, that he was questioned for holding Steph Curry accountable in film sessions, and calling Russell Westbrook a “triple-double cocaine bear.”
The header of Durant’s alleged burner account was the same as a photo he tweeted in 2021:
Durant is believed to operate this account because, a) people in his groupchats allegedly knew it was him, b) it sounds like his tweeting voice, and c) we already know he’s addicted to Twitter. It’s certainly possible that at least some of these images are doctored. It’s hard to verify anything on Elon’s internet.
kd was/is going stop to stop hoping a fanbase will finally adopt him LMFAO the common denominator is him arriving somewhere and not understanding why its natural for a fanbase to be more partial towards the existing talent that was there before him
I really hope not, but it seems possible. Durant will likely be asked about this when the season resumes on Thursday, but we may never get confirmation. We’ll keep this story updated as it develops.
BRONX, NY - 1982: The 1982 New York Yankees pose for the team photo (First Row seated L-R) Bucky Dent, Bobby Murcer, coach Yogi Berra, Mike Ferraro, Gene Michael, Jeff Torborg, Joe Altobellie, manager Clyde King, (Second Row L-R) video operator Mike Barnett, trainer Gene Monahan, Butch Wynegar, Graig Nettles, Butch Hobson, Andre Robertson, Rick Cerone, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Roy Smalley, Tommy John, batting practice pitcher Doug Melvin, trainer Mark Letendre, equipment manager Pete Sheehy, (Thrid Row L-R) Dave Collins, bullpen catcher Dom Scalla, Juan Espino, John Mayberry, Shane Rawley, Barry Foote, batting practice pitcher Mickey Scott, Dave LaRoche, Lou Pinella, (Back Row L-R) Doyle Alexander, Roger Erickson, Mike Morgan, Dave Winfield, Rudy May, Rich Gossage, Jerry Mumphrey, George Frazier, Ken Griffey, (Seated on Ground L-R) batboys: Sammy Carey, Lou Cucuzza, Rob Adamenko circa 1982 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
One of the most interesting pipelines in major sports, especially in baseball, is the transition from player to manager. Although the managerial ranks are always changing, there are plenty who used to play for their MLB teams, with the Yankees consistently having them on the top step of the dugout (Aaron Boone and Joe Girardi are the most recent two to fill the position after putting on pinstripes).
Barry Foote isn’t a name that may resonate with many current Yankees fans, simply for the fact that he was not a Yankee for very long, at least as a player. However, he did find an interesting career after retirement — both on and off the field.
Barry Clifton Foote Born: February 16, 1952 (Smithfield, NC) Yankees Tenure: 1981-82
Expectations were high on Foote from the jump in his professional career, as he was quite talented and the son of a minor-league pitcher as well. The Montreal Expos made the Smithfield-Selma High School catcher the third overall pick in the 1970 MLB Draft — just one spot ahead of future Royals/Cardinals standout Darrell Porter. Following a couple of seasons of development in the minors, Foote was raring to go for The Show, and in 1973, he slugged .441 with 22 doubles and 19 homers in 137 games for the Triple-A Peninsula Whips of the International League.
So Foote made his long-awaited debut behind the plate for the Expos against the Phillies on September 14, 1973. At 21 years old, he posted just one at-bat and flew out to center field in his appearance against Steve Carlton. He would go on to play five more games with the ’73 Expos, and in six at-bats, smacked four hits with one triple and an RBI.
The next season, Foote was a regular for the Expos and still an extremely highly-regarded prospect. He was even dubbed “the next Johnny Bench” by general manager Gene Mauch. He played in 125 games and slashed .262/.315/.414 with an OPS+ just slightly below average at 99. Foote was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie team at the end of the season for his work.
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) November 22, 2025
However, the sophomore slump for Foote was real. He went from hitting extremely well and being named the starting catcher for the Expos (after eventual Hall of Fame backstop Gary Carter was moved to the outfield in favor of him) to dropping off hard and fast. He finished his second year in the big leagues, slashing .194/.229/.295 with a paltry OPS+ of 43. And, to add insult to his already brutal season, Foote suffered torn cartilage and underwent knee surgery after the season ended.
In 1976, Foote’s numbers got better but were still supremely below average at the plate, putting the onus back on Carter to reclaim his spot, which he did, and it was soon that Foote’s career with the Expos would come to an end. Hall of Fame skipper Dick Williams took over in Montreal, declared Carter his starter, and that was essentially all she wrote.
On June 15, 1977, Foote was traded to the team he debuted against way back when, being sent to the Phillies along with southpaw Dan Warthen (a future Mets pitching coach) for Wayne Twitchell and Tim Blackwell. But Foote only played in 33 games total in 1977, with 18 of them coming as a Phillies backstop, and in 1978, following a devastating loss for the Phillies in the 1977 NLCS against the Dodgers, Foote played 39 games and was still not even a close-to-average player. There was no reason for him to dislodge incumbent All-Star Bob Boone—yes, Aaron’s dad—as the primary catcher.
Foote was then traded again to the Chicago Cubs, where he seemed to find his spark a little bit more with regular time, albeit more in year one than year two. In 1979 and 1980, he appeared in 195 games, generated 2.9 bWAR, and slashed .249/.305/.418 for an OPS+ of 90, which is still below average but far better than anything he had created the previous few seasons. He played in a career-high 132 games in 1979 after immediately being named the team’s starting catcher, and if it weren’t for a back injury, he would have played far more in 1980.
Tim Blackwell had done a nice job in Foote’s absence in 1980, and with future All-Star Jody Davis now in the mix as well for ’81, Foote was deemed expendable. The Yankees traded for Foote with Rick Cerone out with a broken thumb, and he received some playing time in 1980 when he played 40 games for New York. He even hit a home run in his first at-bat for the team, going deep off the Tigers’ Dan Schatzeder. Foote had a nice little power stretch and actually set an obscure Yankees franchise record for the homers in his first seven games with the team: five. Eric Hinske would tie that mark in 2009.
Foote mustered just one more bomb after that, though. Cerone soon returned as the main catcher, with Foote backing him up. A midseason strike made that year a little weird and the Yankees were declared first-half champions, so Foote knew that he at least would likely witness October ball, even if Cerone started. He didn’t get an at-bat in the Division Series win over Milwaukee, but in the ALCS against Oakland, he got to contribute in a pinch-hitting role. With the Yankees leading by a slim 1-0 margin in Game 3, manager Bob Lemon called on the righty Foote to pinch-hit for Oscar Gamble with Tom Underwood on the mound for the A’s. Foote got the better of his former batterymate with a clean single to right:
Foote was removed for pinch-runner Bobby Brown and the dangerous Graig Nettles cashed in the bases-loaded opportunity with a three-run double. That all but sealed the three-game sweep and an American League pennant for the Yankees. Unfortunately, Foote fanned in his lone World Series at-bat and the Yanks lost a six-game heartbreaker to the Dodgers.
That was effectively the swan song for Foote. Back spasms limited him to just 17 bad games in 1982, and at age-31 in ’83, he was released on the last day of spring training. Offered a chance to take on a new off-field role with the Yankees, Foote accepted the assignment. The former No. 3 overall pick retired with 687 career games across 10 seasons, and he never lost his strong defensive reputation.
Foote was the Yankees’ NL scout at first, but he later moved to the minor-league dugout. Foote skippered three different Baby Bomber outfits from 1984-86, starting with Class-A Fort Lauderdale (where he won a league title) and moving up to Triple-A Columbus. He later managed in the Blue Jays’ system and joined the MLB staff for former Yankees coach Jeff Torborg during his stints with the White Sox and Mets from 1990-93, primarily as a first-base coach.
Once Torborg was fired by the Mets however, Foote was out of a job. Unsure of his next possible step and unwilling to go back to the minor-league coaching grind, Foote left pro baseball behind for business pursuits, running oil and gas companies as well as a water treatment enterprise in California. He remained involved in youth sports as well, still able to connect to baseball in a less formal manner. We wish him the best on this, his 74th birthday!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
