There's an understanding that, to this point in their search for a new head coach, the Toronto Maple Leafs have narrowed down their list of candidates to some degree.
Not long ago, TSN's Pierre LeBrun provided a report saying the Leafs have entered the second phase of their process in landing their next bench boss, and that phase includes in-person interviews with "about five candidates."
On Thursday, during OverDrive, Darren Dreger guested on the show and added a name to the mix that he believes should be included in this next round of interactions.
To add to the discussion of Eakins being in the mix for the Toronto job, he was spotted with former NHL executive Brian Burke, taking in Game 3 of the AHL's Eastern Conference final between the Toronto Marlies and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Eakins has a history with the Maple Leafs organization. According to eliteprospects.com, Eakins' first coaching job was as an assistant coach for the Marlies in 2005-06.
For the next two years, he was an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs, followed by a year as the director of player development. In 2009-10, he rejoined the Marlies in the AHL, but this time as a head coach.
After four years of leading the Marlies behind the bench and taking that team to the final once in that span, he took his talents to the NHL.
In total, Eakins has been a head coach in the NHL for six years and has been behind the bench in that role across 404 regular-season contests.
Eakins last coached in the NHL in 2022-23, his fourth year behind the bench with the Anaheim Ducks. He also coached the Edmonton Oilers for two years in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Since then, the 59-year-old has been coaching in Germany for DEL Mannheim. He's coached Mannheim for the past three seasons, losing in the final of this past campaign.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Feb 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) runs back on defense after scoring a three-point basket during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Currently, a lot of names are being floated as possible Suns picks at 47. Most of the players I initially identified as bargains at 47 back in April have moved so far up the chart that they are now late first or early second round picks, including Tarris Reed, Henri Veesaar, and Zuby Ejiofor.
Only three or four players I have reviewed previously look like they might be available at 47: Jaden Bradley (12% chance of still being available at 47), Trevon Brazile (16%), Izaiyah Nelson (56%), and Bruce Thornton (58%). I’d be happy with any of them.
Unfortunately, there are nightmare scenarios where none of them are available (like the latest mock draft on The Athletic), and the Suns have to dig a bit deeper. I’ve gone and looked at all the mock drafts out there, plus the latest articles from The Arizona Republic and other reporting online to see who the Suns have been working out, or draft experts have flagged as guys who are “aligned” with Brian Gregory’s vision, and some who make no sense whatsoever.
I’ve broken them down into a few guys who make some sort of sense, those who are a definite maybe, and players I’d be VERY unhappy if we drafted them because I cannot envision a role for them on the team, or even in the NBA at all. I also look at a few players that will go undrafted, but have been mentioned as potential UFAs and summer league invites.
Makes Some Sort of Sense
These are players with some upside who fit the team’s vision and fill a team need. They’re guys whom I could see carving out a niche in the NBA with some skill that’s far above average, like rebounding or three-point shooting. They’re not going to be stars, but you could imagine a role for them on the team at some point.
Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia, Senior, C)
Ugonna Onyenso is a 7’0”, 245-pound center who emerged as an elite rim protector and efficient play-finisher during his senior season at Virginia. Possessing an impressive 7’5” wingspan and high-level athleticism, he projects as a low-mistake defensive anchor and rotational big man at the professional level.
Draft Range
Mid-30s to Mid-50s with an average of 44.9 and a median of 40.5.
Why He Makes Sense
Have you heard about second-Maluach? Onyenso, a native of Nigeria, seems like a 21-year-old carbon copy of the Suns’ big man, but with even better shot-blocking instincts. He averaged a ridiculous 5.7 blocks per 36 minutes and managed 57/28/73 shooting splits. That free-throw percentage suggests to me that his three-point shot and mid-range game might improve significantly as he gets older.
There’s only a 41% chance he will still be available when the Suns pick at 47, but if he’s still there, he should be the top target. Imagine Dikembe Mutombo with a three-point shot. The No Ceiling NBA Mock Draft V8 has the Suns picking him at 47.
Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA, Senior, PF)
Bilodeau is a 6’8”, 235-pound small/power forward high-IQ, three-level scorer who projects as an immediate floor-spacer at the professional level. Having started over 100 collegiate games, he brings significant experience, toughness, and a steady veteran presence. During his senior year, he shot 46.4% from three-point range.
Draft Range
Late 40’s to undrafted. Average: 54th; median: 56.5.
Why He Makes Sense
Bilodeau has been compared to Cameron Johnson, and it’s fair. He might be an even better shooter and might even be the best left in the draft. He averaged 17.6 points on 52/46/88 shooting splits, spitting distance from a 50/40/90 in college. He’s a below-average rebounder and defender, but he brings one elite skill to the table, and it’s the one that keeps people in the league. Combine with a better size than Brooks or O’Neale, and he could carve out a spot as an 11th or 12th man.
Pavle Backo (KK Mega Basket, 18.9 YO, C)
Pavle Backo, a skilled 18-year-old Serbian center for Mega Superbet, has officially declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. Standing between 6’10” and 7’0” and weighing 262 pounds, Backo fits the classic mold of a highly fundamental, slow-paced Balkan “offensive hub” center. He built major draft momentum by winning back-to-back U19 Adriatic League MVP honors and dominating the FIBA U18 EuroBasket. He averaged 36.5% from three-point range in Euroleague play.
Draft Range
Anywhere from mid-30s to undrafted. The average is 52.8, but the variance is so high that it is very hard to predict where he’ll land.
Why He Makes Sense
There’s always a spot in the league for centers who are legit 3-point threats, and Backo projects to be one. He’s only 18.94 years old, according to Tankathon, so he has potential to grow. Probably not the net Nikola Jokic, but a big body who could hit threes and has a feel for the game would be an interesting change of pace from the slight Ighodaro and the developing Maluach.
The Suns could do worse than taking a flyer on him and stashing him in the G League to develop, or even leaving him overseas as a draft-and-stash. NBA comparisons might be Pat Burke or Aron Baynes.
Big Red Flags, but Maybe?
Maliq Brown (Duke, Senior, PF/C)
Maliq Brown (6’9.25”, 217 pounds) is an elite, positionless defensive prospect known for his active hands, elite quickness in pick-and-rolls, and the rare ability to defend all five positions. However, his limited offensive repertoire and lack of perimeter shooting have capped his draft stock, leading some to project him as a gritty, defensive-minded specialist.
Draft Range
High-30s to high-50s, with an average of 51 and a median of 53.5. There is an estimated 70% chance he will be available with the 47th pick.
Why He’s a Maybe
Maliq Brown is a defensive specialist with no offensive game to speak of. In the modern NBA, there’s really no place for players like this anymore. He does a lot of things really well on the defensive side of the ball, and he’s a willing passer, but does he have a place in the modern NBA game? He’s basically Ryan Dunn, but a couple of inches taller.
Given how Dunn struggled to stay on the court last year, it’s hard to envision Brown doing much better. NBA comparisons would be Ryan Dunn and maybe Draymond Green. He was mentioned as a possible target by AZCentral and ThePhoenixSuns.com website.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee, Senior, PG)
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (6’1”, 188 pounds) is a highly skilled, veteran combo guard whose prolific scoring, deep shooting range, and competitive point-of-attack defense make him an intriguing prospect for professional levels. Following his senior year, he emerged as a late-round draft prospect, particularly after a strong NBA Combine performance.
Draft Range
Mid-40s to late-50s with an average of 48.2 and a median of 47. There’s an estimated 60% chance he’ll still be on the board when the Suns pick.
Why He’s a Maybe
Gillespie is a solid defender and projects to be a good three-point shooter at the NBA level (38.3%). He doesn’t do anything amazingly well, but there’s nothing horrible either.
It’s hard to see him surprising the league because he lacks an elite skill, but his combine measurements, times, and shooting all looked good enough for the big show. The Suns could do a lot worse if they’re looking for a point guard to develop in the G-League. Draft Room and Bleacher Report have the Suns drafting him at 47, and it wouldn’t be the worst thing. At the same time, he lacks an elite skill, and his ceiling seems low.
Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State, Senior, PG)
Tamin Lipsey (6’1”, 200 pounds) is a tough, defense-first lead guard known for his elite on-ball pressure, high basketball IQ, and excellent assist-to-turnover ratio. The four-year Iowa State standout projects as a prototypical backup point guard and energy spark plug, with physical play that allows him to box out and guard bigger wings.
Draft Range
Late 40s to undrafted, with an average of 58.6 and a median of 54. Due to the small sample size and high variance, it is difficult to say with precision what the odds are that he will be available at 47, but it is likely to be very high (95+%).
Why He’s a Maybe
Lipsey is an able floor general who’s “got that dawg in him” on defense. He fits the Suns’ archetype of defensive-minded high-motor players. Statistically, there are a lot of things he is very good at, and they outnumber the bad. However, his size and so-so shooting (46/32/66 splits) are giant warning flags about his viability as an NBA player.
There are a number of more interesting players available, and there is roughly a 50-50 chance that Lipsey will go undrafted if the Suns want a second chance to try him with the Summer League team. One NBA comparison might be Markelle Fultz, who is, to begin with, something of a cautionary tale. He was mentioned as a possible target by AZCentral and ThePhoenixSuns.com website.
Quadir Copeland (NC State, Senior, PG/SG)
After a collegiate journey with stops at Syracuse and McNeese State, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound jumbo guard breakout season came as a senior under Will Wade at NC State, where he averaged 13.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He established himself as an elite offensive engine and defensive disruptor, earning All-ACC Third Team honors.
Draft Range
Late 40s to undrafted, though most likely undrafted. The average is 53, the median is 51. There is an estimated 73% chance he is available at 47, though in reality, it is likely higher.
Why He’s a Maybe
Quadir Copeland is intriguing as a backup to Booker or as someone who could play alongside him as a second distributor. He has the size and skills to play three positions. He was not known as a three-point shooter until his senior year, and still doesn’t take them at a high rate. He’s not stellar in any one area, but his three-point percentage, size, and ability to run an offense make him at least interesting. He’s only a mediocre defender at best.
Still, there is a strong chance he will go undrafted and will be available as an unrestricted free agent if the Suns are that interested. The Suns also have more shooting guards than they could play, meaning he’d be spending his time in the G-League for a year at least.
Get Out the Pitchforks and Torches
All of these players are a hard “no” from me: they don’t address team needs (i.e., the Suns need another shooting guard or small forward like they need Bradley Beal back), the player has no future in the NBA, or some combination of both. If the Suns spend the 47th pick on any of these players, it will be a waste of a pick.
Dillon Mitchell (St. John’s, Senior, SG/SF)
Dillon Mitchell (6’8”, 202 pounds) is an explosive athlete and defensive specialist whose value lies in his transition scoring, high-motor rebounding, and defensive versatility. However, his lack of perimeter shooting and traditional size for a wing present clear developmental hurdles for his offensive fit at the next level.
Draft Range
Low-40s to high-50s, with an average of 47.9 and a median of 46.
Why He’s a “No”
Mitchell shot 6.7% from three-point range as a senior. There’s really no place in the current NBA meta for wings who cannot shoot. Ryan Dunn is a way better shooter, and he already looks like he’s on his way out. He also plays positions where the Suns already have too many players. He was mentioned as a possible target by AZCentral.
Kylan Boswell (Illinois, Senior, PG)
Measuring roughly 6’1” barefoot and weighing a sturdy 226 pounds at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, Boswell utilizes his unique “bully-ball” frame to disrupt opponents and absorb contact. After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Arizona, he transferred home to play his junior and senior years for the Illinois Fighting Illini, where he anchored a 2026 Final Four run.
Draft Range
50s to undrafted.
Why He’s a “No”
He’s a point guard who doesn’t do the necessary point guard things: namely, generate assists or shoot threes effectively (30.7% from range). The combination of the two means I don’t see a future for him in the NBA. He is likely to go undrafted for a reason: scouts can read a stat sheet, too. He was mentioned as a possible target by AZCentral.
Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech, Senior, PF)
Lawal is a 6’8.5” (in socks), 214 pound forward from London, England, who spent his first two collegiate seasons at VCU before transferring to the Virginia Tech Hokies, where he broke out during the 2025–26 season and wowed onlookers at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine with a 45.5” vertical.
Draft Range
Mid-40s to late-50s, with an average of 52.9 and a median of 53.5.
Why He’s a “No”
Lawal lacks any sort of shooting range (25% from three) and has a poor feel for the game. He’s more “bad at his job” than good, per Tankathon. At his age, I don’t think there’s much chance his basketball IQ and skills ever catch up with his athleticism. I don’t see a future for him in the NBA. Rookiescale.com projects the Suns taking him at 47.
Tyler Nickel (Vanderbilt, Senior, SG)
Tyler Nickel is a 6’6”, 217-pound wing prospect known for his movement shooting and high basketball IQ. After a standout collegiate career, he projects as a late-second-round pick or a priority undrafted free agent, with his ability to space the floor and play within a system making him a valuable offensive asset.
Draft Range
Mid-40s to undrafted. Average of 48.7 and median of 47.5.
Why He’s a “No”
Nickel isn’t a bad player: he’s a 3-point specialist SG when the Suns have too many SGs, and they already have Koby Brea at home who can’t find minutes on the team either. In fact, Koby Brea is probably the better player of the two. Sam Vecenie at The Athletic projects the Suns taking Nickel at 47 for some unfathomable reason.
Milos Uzan (Houston, Senior, PG)
Milos Uzan (6’4”, 185 pounds) high-IQ floor general with a rare combination of modern point guard size, exceptional pick-and-roll patience, and strong defensive capabilities. After a breakout junior year leading the Houston Cougars to the NCAA Championship game, he returned for his senior season, establishing himself as a second-round prospect.
Draft Range
Late-40s to undrafted. Average of 51.3 and median of 51.
Why He’s a “No”
Three major mock drafts (Tankathon, Sports Illustrated, HoopsHype) have the Suns picking Uzan at 47, and I cannot tell you how much I hate this pick. Uzan is bad at just about everything, and the one thing he’s “good” at mostly involves not trying to pass the ball (turnovers). He doesn’t generate assists, and shot a putrid 38% from the field. I look at his stat profile as a senior from Tankathon, and I cannot imagine him having any sort of future in the NBA: he’s bad at a lot of things, and what he’s good at doesn’t really matter.
Felix Okpara (Tennessee, Senior, C)
Felix Okpara is a highly athletic, defensive-minded center prospect with elite physical tools. At 6-foot-11 and roughly 237 pounds, he features a massive 7-foot-4 wingspan and a standing reach of 9-foot-4. Known for his rim protection and lob-catching.
Draft Range
Late-40s to undrafted. Average of 50.1 and median of 51.
Why He’s a “No”
Okpara is another one of those amazing athletes who isn’t a basketball player. He’s not good at much, but he’s bad at a lot of things. He doesn’t do the things you want a center to do (rebound, block shots). I do not see him as having a future in the league. CBS projects the Suns picking Okpara with the 47th pick.
Otega Oweh (Kentucky, Senior, SG)
Otega Oweh is a prototypical two-way wing known for his relentless motor, physical toughness, and high-level perimeter defense. Measuring 6’4” barefoot with a near 6’9” wingspan and a chiseled 216-pound frame, he excels as a downhill slasher and a versatile, disruptive stopper who consistently guards the opposing team’s best scorer.
Draft Range
Late-30s to Undrafted. Average: 46.6; median: 46.
Why He’s a “No”
A lot of people like Oweh far more than I do, but he makes no sense on a Suns team with too many shooting guards already. His three-point shooting is mediocre at best (34.3%), and his defensive rating is not great. There’s nothing he does that’s elite, and there are a lot of things he’s below-average at. It’s hard to envision him having a role in the league, much less the Suns. Despite this, NBADraft.net projects the Suns taking him at 47.
Guys Who Will Go Undrafted
These are players that have been mentioned in connection with the Suns’ workouts, whom I 100% expect to be undrafted free agents. If the Suns bring them on, it’s mostly for the attitude they bring.
Derrian Ford (Temple, Senior, PG/SG)
Derrian Ford is a physical, tough-minded 6-foot-3, 200-pound combo guard who declared for the 2026 NBA Draft following an outstanding breakout senior season as Temple University’s leading scorer. He averaged 18.1 PPG on 42.7/37.9/85.2 shooting splits with 4.3 RPG and 1.9 APG.
Isaac McKneely (Louisville, Senior, SG)
Isaac McKneely is a highly efficient 6’4″, 195 lb shooting guard prospect noted for his elite three-point shooting, high basketball IQ, and steady playmaking. Following a successful three-year stint at Virginia, he finished his final college season at Louisville. He averaged 10.9 PPG on 41.6/39.5/86.0 shooting splits, with 3.0 RPG and 1.4 APG.
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue, Senior, PF)
Trey Kaufman-Renn is a 6’9”, 241 lb, fundamentally sound, physical, and highly efficient inside scorer and rebounder entering the 2026 NBA Draft following a standout redshirt senior season at Purdue University. He is currently projected as a late second-round pick or high-priority undrafted free agent who recently boosted his draft stock with a standout performance at the G League Combine, earning a call-up to the official NBA Draft Combine. He averaged 14.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, with .6 stocks on 57.8/15.4/63.6 shooting splits in his senior year.
Conclusions
At this point, I have reviewed 18 players likely to go in the second round. Many of them were effectively me doing it at gunpoint: mock drafts by people who seem to have no understanding of how the Suns’ roster is constructed or what makes a viable NBA player.
Realistically, the Suns have a shot at 8 players of real interest to me with the 47th pick. My ranking of these, and the likelihood they will be available, are listed below. In effect, this would be my draft board for the Suns with the 47th pick.
Trevon Brazile (15.7%): Freaky tall and athletic 4/5 who shoots the three, but there are questions about his intensity.
Bruce Thornton (58.6%): My pick for the most underrated player in the draft. Does a lot of things very well, fantastic intangibles, but scouts are hung up on his speed and height.
Ugonna Onyenso (41.2%): Elite rim protector with three-point range. Might make Mark Williams expendable. Projects are a dangerous backup center.
Jaden Bradley (12.2%): Arizona product with a lot of nice intangibles, decent stats, and no giant red flags
Izaiyah Nelson (56.4%): Freaky athletic and long PF/C with a high motor, but no 3-point range
Tyler Bilodeau (86.2%): Ultimate low ceiling, low risk player with power forward size and great 3-point range, and not much else. Great fallback option.
Pavle Backo (59.4%): Great draft-and-stash candidate if the Suns don’t know what else they want to do. Young, skilled, 6’11” center with three-point range has some potential future value.
Maliq Brown (70%): Defensive specialist who might be worth a look as a Draymond Green-type player, but whose archetype generally no longer has a place in the NBA.
TOPSHOT - Dirk Nowitzki (C) of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with teammates after winning the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat on June 12, 2011 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Jason Terry scored 27 points and Nowitzki finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Mavericks won 105-95 to take the best-of-seven championship series four-games-to-two to claim their first NBA championship in franchise history. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON (Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Jason Terry’s 26-footer rimmed out, and the clock hit triple zeros. Dwyane Wade caught the rebound and emphatically threw the ball towards the American Airlines Center rafters. The Miami Heat just won their first championship. The 20,000+ in attendance stood in awe as what seemed like a foregone conclusion a week before had turned into a brutal nightmare. Just nine days earlier, the Mavericks had taken a commanding 2-0 lead over the Heat. But then it all fell apart, and Dallas lost the series 4-2, letting their first real chance at a championship slip away.
How did we get here?
A total of 1,818 days passed between that day and when the Mavericks entered American Airlines Arena in Miami for Game Six of the 2011 NBA Finals. Dressed in all black, taking only one outfit to South Beach, Dallas had a chance to flip the script from five years earlier. How fitting it was for the Mavs to have a chance to secure their first ring on the road, in a game six, against this Miami Heat team.
Remember, this Miami Heat team had no shortage of star power. The “Big 3” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh teamed up over the prior summer to win “not six…not seven…not eight…” championships, but also to cripple the league with its trio of stars for the foreseeable future. Miami started the season slowly, but found its rhythm, finishing the season 58-24, earning the East’s second seed. They coasted to the NBA Finals, beating the 76ers, Celtics, and Bulls each in five games. After dismantling the 62-20 Bulls in the Conference Finals, the Heat seemingly had all the momentum heading into the Finals. They looked unstoppable.
While everything felt so new and exciting in Miami, Dallas felt the exact opposite. It was the same old, same old Mavericks. At the beginning of the season, the only people who thought the Mavericks would be on the cusp of their first ring were the 15 players in the Dallas locker room. After a decade of disappointing playoff runs, questions began to swirl about whether Dirk Nowitzki could actually lead a team to a championship. “He’s European. He’s soft. He’s slow.” The criticism was higher than ever entering the finals for Nowitzki. After an early surge of deep playoff runs with co-stars Steve Nash and Michael Finley from 2000 to 2004, Dallas let Nash walk in 2004, and Finley left for the champion San Antonio Spurs in 2005.
Dirk’s new co-star, Jason Terry, was the consolation prize of Nash’s leaving. But that duo just wasn’t enough to get the job done, losing in the 2006 NBA Finals and getting embarrassed by the Golden State Warriors in 2007, losing in the first round as the one seed. Dallas switched gears in 2008, trading for Jason Kidd, hoping he could solve some of the point guard issues. After a second-round exit in 2009 and a first-round exit in 2010, Dallas made big changes coming into the 2010-2011 season. Adding to its core of Nowitzki, Kidd, Marion, and Terry, Dallas signed heavily coveted center Tyson Chandler to bring protection in the middle. The Mavs also had a slew of other veterans to add depth, like DeShawn Stevenson, Peja Stojakovic, Caron Butler, and Brendan Haywood.
The rematch
The season felt different as Dallas secured the third seed with a record of 57-25. But they’ve been there before. Good regular season, then playoff flameout. But this team truly was different. The Mavericks took out the young Portland Trailblazers in six, swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, and bullied the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. They entered the finals also feeling like they could finally get over the hump. But the juggernaut Heat awaited on the other side.
After the Heat opened the series with a convincing win, 92-84 over the Mavs, a miraculous comeback from Nowitzki and company evened the series at 1-1, as Dallas narrowly escaped 95-93. Miami bounced back in game three, taking a 2-1 series lead before the Mavs put them on the brink of elimination, notching two gritty wins, and coming within a game of basketball glory. And of course, all roads led back to Miami, the place where it all fell apart just five years earlier. And while all the noise continued whether Dallas could actually finish it off in Miami, no group seemed more poised to finish the job this time than these Mavericks.
Game 6: first half
Game six started nearly picture-perfect for Miami. LeBron James, who struggled the entire series with his jump shot, started 4-4 from the field, scoring nine quick points. His 20-foot step back jumper from the top of the key prompted a Dallas timeout, as Miami led 14-10 with 7:47 left in the first quarter.
As good as he’d been the entire series, Dirk Nowitzki struggled in the first half, going just 1-13 from the floor, with his only make being in the first quarter, a tough baseline jumper over Joel Anthony to cut the Miami lead to seven, 20-13 with 6:05 remaining. Unlike 2006, it was his partner in crime, Jason Terry, who took the reins for the Mavericks. Terry was 8-10 from the field in the first half, scoring 19 huge points. With Dirk starting ice cold, other Mavericks had to step up, too. DeShawn Stevenson hit a trio of threes spanning from the end of the first quarter to 9:42 left in the second, as Dallas surged to a 40-28 lead. Stevenson, the “3 and D” wing that brought toughness on the perimeter for the Mavs, shot a blistering 56.5% from three in the Finals, going 13 for 23.
The Heat responded. Eddie House was the spark plug for Miami, igniting a 14-0 run with a trio of his own on threes, giving Miami a 42-40 lead. The Mavericks called a timeout with 6:25 remaining in the second quarter, and a mid-court scuffle between the two teams, particularly Mario Chalmers and DeShawn Stevenson, caused a 15-minute delay in action while both teams caught their breath.
Miami pushed the lead to 47-43 before Jason Terry again steadied the ship, scoring the next 10 points for Dallas, as the Mavs held a narrow 53-51 lead at halftime.
Game 6: second half
Twenty-four minutes away from their first ring, the Mavericks came out in the third quarter with something to prove. There was never a plan to play game seven. As the blue shirts read, “The Time is Now.” The first positive sign was Nowitzki hitting an elbow jumper 10 seconds into the 3rd quarter, equaling the number of baskets he had in the first half. But despite an uncharacteristic start from Nowitzki, the Mavs still led 55-51, and the supporting cast continued to rally around their leader.
The third quarter was all about the J’s: J.J. Barea, Jason Kidd, and lots of jumpers. The 5’10 Puerto Rican-born J.J. Barea upended the Heat defense in the third quarter. Barea got the start in the second half and scored six quick points to force the Heat defense to collapse in the middle. This opened free space on jump shots around the perimeter for Dallas. He assisted Nowitzi on another rhythm jumper from the elbow that gave Dallas a 61-56 lead with 9:27 remaining in the third.
Then Jason Kidd found his stroke. Kidd scored his first bucket, a three from the top of the arc, that pushed the Mavs’ lead to 68-62. Kidd did it again with under a minute left in the third quarter, hitting a step-back three to give the Mavs a 79-71 lead. The icing on the cake was when French native Ian Mahimni, who scored a total of nine points in the series, hit a free-throw line jumper at the buzzer, and gave Dallas an 81-72 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
After Miami scored the first five points in the fourth quarter, it was Jose Barea once again who came to life, hitting a three to get the Mavs’ lead back to seven, 84-77. In the game, Barea had 15 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. Then it was time to hand the steering wheel to the man who the franchise starts and ends with – Dirk Nowiztki.
After the third quarter helped him get his shot rhythm back, Nowitzki took over. He hit an 18-foot jumper with 7:24 remaining to give the Mavs a 91-80 lead, and never looked back. He attacked Haslem on the baseline, going left, and finished at the rim, giving the Mavs a 94-84 lead. Another Nowitzki elbow jumper snapped the bottom of the net with 3:41 remaining, and Dallas still holding control 97-87. The biggest shot of the game came for Nowitzki with under 2:30 to play. With nowhere to go along the baseline and the shot clock winding down, Nowitzki hoisted up a heavily contested jumper that hit nothing but nylon. Miami called timeout and Dirk, tongue out at the Miami faithful pumped his fist all the way to the Maverick sideline.
Finishing the job
Fittingly, Jason Terry hit a dagger free throw line jumper with 1:55 remaining that gave the Mavs a 101-89 lead. Terry ended the game with 27 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. As the Mavericks bench celebrated downcourt and fans who made the trek to Miami cheering loud enough for the AAC to hear them back home, Dallas had one last play up its sleeve. With 35 seconds left, Nowitzki met Kidd at the top of the arc for a slip screen that caught LeBron James sleeping. Kidd found Nowitzki on the cut, and he finished with his left hand at the rim, putting the nail in the coffin for good.
After a Miami miss and foul to put Kidd at the free throw line, the camera found each veteran Maverick with a look of awe. Nowitzki and Chandler both with their hands behind their heads, Shawn Marion with his mouth wide open, Jason Terry with a blank stare of amazement. The jewelry was finally theirs.
The clock hit triple zeros. “And the Dallas Mavericks are NBA Champions, their first title in franchise history,” as Mike Breen called the final buzzer. Nowitzki, overcome with emotion, immediately left the court to take a moment for himself before celebrating with his teammates. “The Mavericks have scaled the NBA playoff mountain and planted their flag, they are the NBA Champions for 2010-2011,” Mavs radio voice Chuck Cooperstein sang over the airwaves.
Five years’ worth of waiting
The job was finally complete. After five long years from the brutal heartbreak of 2006, and 31 years since its inception, the Dallas Mavericks were NBA champions.
And finally, the awkward lanky kid from Germany found his way to what he always deserved – to raise a Finals MVP trophy and the long-coveted Larry O’Brien trophy. As he hoisted the championship trophy towards the rafters, Nowitzki yelled, “Yeah!” to a stunned Miami crowd. What felt like a painful ending five years earlier, was a path to something greater, as it was only a chapter to a storybook ending for one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 11: Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) swings at a pitch and misses during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 11, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
There’s no doubt that the Colorado Rockies are improved from 2025.
They’ve got a better record than they had at this point in the season last year, and in some areas, they’ve made clear improvement.
However, the Rockies still rank dead last in runs allowed at 397, which has the basement rankings sealed at 32 more than the No. 29 Nationals. That averages out to 5.75 runs per game.
While it’s not ideal, it might be manageable if Colorado had a powerful offense that could put up the runs in the counterattack. But the Rockies don’t.
The Rockies are tied at No. 15 with 297 runs scored, for an average of 4.30 runs per game. Considering the perennial challenges of pitching at Coors Field and adjusting on the road, the Rockies have a better chance of fielding a hard-hitting lineup than a knockout pitching staff.
There are several reasons for the Rockies lack of offensive prowess and run production, including Ezequiel Tovar’s strikeout problems and injuries. But one of the most peculiar things about Colorado’s struggles is the challenges to take advantage of the thin air and spacious outfield at Coors Field.
In 34 games, the Rockies offense is tied at No. 11 at home with 157 runs. That’s 4.62 per game, just above Colorado’s 140 for an average of four runs per game on the road. Considering that opponents are averaging 6.41 runs per game at 20th and Blake, other teams seem able to hit at Coors Field just fine.
The problems are evident in Colorado’s 14-20 record at home (.412), which is just slightly better than the team’s 12-23 road record (.343). Only the San Francisco Giants (13) and Boston Red Sox (10) have fewer wins at home. Massive crowds of opposing fans in Denver don’t help.
The 14-20 includes a 2-4 performance when the Rockies were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers and took a series 2-1 against the Chicago Cubs in the most recent homestand, which wrapped up Thursday. Colorado was outscored 42-25 over the six-game stretch, including being outscored 28-12 against Milwaukee.
The Rockies were out-homered 11-8 over the homestand, but mostly due to the Brewers, who hit six while the Rockies hit two. The Rockies did out-homer Chicago 6-5. Of course, the Brewers (41-25) are better than the Cubs (35-34), which explains the split, but it also could mean the Rockies are improving.
After Thursday’s 9-3 loss, when the Rockies actually out-hit the Cubs 12-10, Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer was impressed by the Rockies at-bats and contact, which included putting 19 balls in play that were over 90 mph.
“A lot of hard outs. Some days it just goes like that. Some days you hit it right at people,” Schaeffer said.
“We had an opportunity in the sixth inning with the bases loaded to flip the script of the game, and got no runs out of it. We’d like to put better at-bats together right there to push something forward, but then the momentum shifts right there. But overall, I thought we swung the bats pretty well.”
One example of that potential improvement is Hunter Goodman. The 2025 All-Star catcher has hit much better away from Coors Field this season.
Team
G
AB
R
H
2B
HR
RBI
BB
IBB
SO
SB
CS
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Home Games
31
114
20
24
6
7
14
13
1
42
2
0
.211
.300
.447
.747
Away Games
32
124
21
34
5
11
19
10
1
47
3
2
.274
.338
.581
.919
Total
63
238
41
58
11
18
33
23
2
89
5
2
.244
.320
.517
.837
In the first five games against the Brewers and Cubs, Goodman hit three homers, drove in six runs, totaled five hits, stole a base and drew five walks. A 0-for-5 performance with three strikeouts on Thursday didn’t help, but Goodman could be figuring things out at Coors. Considering that Goodman had four homers at Coors Field entering the homestand, his three over the last six games, which moved him to 18 on the season, was a big deal.
Hopefully, Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman will be back from injuries to add power and hits to the lineup the next time the Rockies return to Coors Field June 19-24 to host the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. Combined with the bats of impressive rookies like TJ Rumfield and Cole Carrigg, perhaps the Rockies offense is trending up at Coors Field.
In the meantime, the Rockies are headed to a hitters’ paradise to play The Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark, home to the Triple-A Aviators, this weekend. In a three-game series there Monday-Wednesday, the A’s and Brewers combined to hit 22 homers and score 48 runs. With right field and left field foul poles each at 340 feet, plus highs expected around 106-107 degrees this weekend, the Rockies could use the weekend to turn on the offense — as long as they stay hydrated.
Zac Veen hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Charlie Condon hit a two-run home run in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough for Albuquerque on Thursday night. Condon’s shot put the Istopes up 5-3, but Tacoma put up a five-spot in the sixth to earn a lead it never lost. Veen also added a double and Condon drove in three runs.
Jack Mahoney struck out 10 batters in five scoreless innings, giving up only one run to improve to 3-0 on the season and lead the Yard Goats to a victory on Thursday. The game got off to a good start when Dyan Jorge led off the first inning with a double, then stole third and then stole home to score, despite the Yard Goats striking out three times in the frame. Zach Kokoska hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give Hardford a 3-0 lead. Roc Riggio added an RBI double in the fifth and Cole Messina hit an RBI single in the eighth for an insurance run. Jorge recorded three hits and scored two runs, Bryant Betancourt, Messina and Kokosa each added two hits.
Max Belyeu hit two solo homers, including one in the top of the ninth, to help Spokane overcome a 6-3 deficit for a late win. Tommy Hopfe and Kelvin Hidalgo each added a solo homer. Belyeu finished with three hits and drove in three runs, Hidalgo had two hits and scored two runs and Jack O’Dowd doubled and scored a run. Hunter Mann threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to close out the game and earn the win.
Fresno scored four runs in the sixth inning to go up 7-4 after Yeiker Reyes hit an RBI single, Ashly Andujar followed with a two-run single and Roldy Brito finished out the inning with another run-scoring single. Carlos Renzullo hit an RBI single and drove in another on a sac grounder and Brito hit a run-scoring single to help the Grizzlies score their first three runs by the fifth inning. Along with Brito, Reyes and Andujar both recorded two hits. Manuel Olivares threw two solid innings, giving up one run to earn the win.
Even though he’s on the IL with a left oblique contusion, Brenton Doyle still managed to impress fans at Coors Field on Thursday. Turns out, he’s got talent at serving up chocolate-covered strawberries, in addition to his baseball skills.
Eli Whitney checks in with former All-Star reliever Jordan Romano, whose promising career was derailed by an elbow injury. He’s now playing for Triple-A Albuquerque after the Rockies signed him to a minor league deal on May 6. Romano also talks about why he picked the Rockies for his comeback bid.
I hate the term “Wrigley Field West.” Coors Field is basically a home away from home for almost every MLB team. Patrick Saunders dives into the multiple reasons why opposing fans outnumber Rockies fans, which can be seen and heard in the stands. It’s no surprise that the Rockies staff and players don’t like it.
Apr 17, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Ryan Helsley (21) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Redbirds outhit the Tides 13-3 in a lopsided seven-inning result. Nestor German started Game 1 and failed to complete two innings. German allowed five earned runs on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Despite the result, Baltimore fans should be happy to know that Ryan Helsley looked sharp in his first rehab appearance. The closer struck out three batters and allowed a single in a scoreless inning. The Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer reported that Helsley averaged 97.7 MPH and topped out at 99.7 MPH with his fastball.
The Tides managed to get on the scoreboard in this one, but Memphis completed the Thursday sweep. Former Oriole Bruce Zimmermann allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over 5.2 innings.
Dietrich Enns started a bullpen game for Norfolk and failed to complete the first. Enns allowed five runs after issuing four walks and surrendering a two-run homer.
Tommy Pham went deep in what was likely his last game in a Tides uniform. The Sun’s Josh Tolentino reported yesterday evening that Pham plans to opt out of his minor league deal.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. finished 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. Johnathan Rodríguez tallied Norfolk’s other two hits.
The Baysox took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but the Curve managed a two-out single. Luis De León tossed five hitless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. Alex Pham, Keagan Gillies and Micah Ashman completed the shutout for Chesapeake.
Aron Estrada gave Chesapeake an early lead with a solo shot in the first inning, and Fernando Peguero doubled the advantage with an RBI-single in the second. Estrada manufactured two more runs with a pair of ground outs in the fifth and ninth innings. Six of Chesapeake’s ten hits came from the seven, eight and nine hitters. Carter Young went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and two runs scored.
High-A: Frederick Keys 3, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 2
Frederick scored in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings to squeak out a 3-2 win. Elis Cuevas got the Keys on the board with a solo homer in the fifth inning. Cuevas evened the score at two with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Victor Figueroa drove in the go-ahead run with a sac fly in the eighth.
Leandro Arias finished 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Ike Irish went hitless in four trips, and Wehiwa Aloy managed a hit and a run in four at bats.
Vance Honeycutt left the game with left quad tightness.
The Tides scored the tying run off of former Orioles prospect Justin Armbruester. Armbruester found his way to High-A on a rehab assignment.
Low-A: Columbia Fireflies (Royals) 9, Delmarva Shorebirds 8
Delmarva led this game 8-0 and still found a way to lose. Eat your heart out, San Antonio Spurs.
Brendan Parks and Eccel Correa allowed nine runs (eight earned) in the seventh and eighth innings. Delmarva starter Stephen Still did his part with four scoreless frames. Still limited Columbia to two hits and two walks. He struck out seven.
Edwin Amparo extended the lead to eight with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Amparo, Braylon Whitaker, Stiven Martinez, and Raylin Ramos all recorded multiple hits. Jose Perez doubled and scored a run.
Max Scherzer might be in the last years of his career, but what a career it has been. Without a doubt, he will be headed to the Hall of Fame, but now he’s gunning to make it to the top 10 strikeout leaders of all time, and he doesn’t have far to go. This week, Scherzer notched his 3,500th career strikeout, and he only needs seven more to take the tenth overall spot away from Walter Johnson. There is only one active MLB pitcher on the board ahead of Scherzer, and that is Justin Verlander, who currently sits at 3,554 strikeouts. Verlander has been on the IL this year for the Tigers, but is poised to return to the majors soon, so he and Scherzer can continue to deck it out to see who can get the most Ks before they wrap up their respective Hall of Fame careers.
We’ve got that and more in today’s links roundup, so let’s just dive in and get to the news.
The @SFGiants are the first team in MLB history with a walkoff grand slam to cap off a comeback from 8+ runs down in the 8th inning or later. pic.twitter.com/bm10N5hUKk
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: General view during a game between Bay FC and Washington Spirit square off before a record-setting crowd at Oracle Park on August 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Karen Hickey/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The San Francisco Giants are home this weekend, so let’s take a look at what Oracle Park has on deck for fans who are thinking about taking in a game.
First up, tonight is Pride Night at Oracle Park. The special event tickets are sold out, but if you happened to get your hands on those there’s a pretty great jersey giveaway. Everyone else can look forward to some Pride Night fireworks after the game!
As with all Saturday home games this season, Saturday will feature a Fiesta Gigantes celebration throughout the park. Additionally, soccer fans will want to get there early, because the first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive a Giants themed soccer jersey, just in time for the World Cup!
Sunday is Hello Kitty Day! The special event tickets for this are sold out as well, but fans who got them will be getting a pretty cool jacket. Everyone else can still get their hands on a Giants themed Hello Kitty plush keychain, if they’re one of the first 25,000 fans in attendance that is. So get there early!
If you’re headed to the park this weekend, have fun and make sure to share pictures in the comments!
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants welcome the Chicago Cubs to Oracle Park tonight to begin a three-game series starting at 7:15 p.m. PT.
SEATTLE, WA - MAY 02: Kyle Isbel #28 of the Kansas City Royals looks on prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rod Mar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The big news yesterday was the Kyle Isbel injury. Anne Rogers reported it:
On Thursday, he was diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fascia, which is a severe tear and will take some time to heal before he gets back to baseball activity. The Royals are hoping to have a better understanding of a timeline for his return after Isbel is further evaluated in the coming days.
Isbel began limping as he got aboard with a single. He knelt on the base before walking slowly toward the Royals’ dugout.
“I think it was like my first step past the base,” Isbel said. “Kind of tried to turn it on and get a double and felt it in my foot.”
The Royals placed Isbel on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Now, he will begin the long road to recovery.
It sounds like this recovery is going to be measured in weeks or months, not days.
The team got better news about Seth Lugo and his scary injury. Again, per Anne:
Lugo went through the necessary testing and protocol Wednesday night, and his CT scan came back clear, which is an even better sign. With the welt that has formed on his head, Lugo said he feels the throbbing when he bends over but hasn’t had any headaches. His left elbow is cut up and actually hurts the most from falling on it.
Lugo received a lot of support from his teammates. Multiple players came up to check on him as he got ready for Thursday’s game.
“It’s family in here,” Lugo said. “When something like that happens, it’s scary. You know, it’s one of the dangers of baseball. And as a pitcher, you know, you can’t think of that before it happens. You would never throw a strike. We all feel for each other when something bad happens out there, but you know, it’s part of the game.”
The Royals haven’t determined Lugo’s next steps. It’s still too early to tell how his symptoms will progress in coming days. He had a large bump on his forehead and a few scratches on his arm.
How about three stories from The Athletic ($) about the Royals?
On June 18, Under Armour will drop a player-exclusive cleat and turf shoe for Bobby Witt Jr., a move that, on the surface, reads as a standard brand decision for one of baseball’s best young players. But for Witt, it’s the ultimate “Dream Pull.”
…“Dream Pull” is inspired by the thrill of ripping a pack of baseball cards and chasing a big hit. It’s that collector’s high that has driven recent growth in the hobby and prompted pro players like Witt to collect.
…Collectors and fans have multiple ways to get the new footwear. Starting on June 18, limited quantities of the Dream Pull will be available in both cleat and turf versions on Under Armour’s website and mobile app, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Academy.com. Anyone who purchases through Dick’s Sporting Goods or Under Armour receives an exclusive Panini card in the box. But on June 20, the Under Armour Factory House in Kansas City will stock pairs with some boxes containing randomly placed autographed Witt Jr. cards. (The Dream Pull PE will be playable in MLB The Show 2026’s “Road to the Show” game mode.)
This is my second or third shoe story in the last couple of months. I’m currently working on a shoe-related OT, but it’s not ready yet. Can you do a little better on your timing, guys?
When the Kansas City Royals traded catcher Freddy Fermin to the San Diego Padres at last year’s deadline, they were happy to acquire right-handers Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert. They also knew Carter Jensen was nearly ready for the majors, making them deep enough at catcher to pull off such a move.
The Royals lack the pitching equivalents of what Jensen was, potential candidates for next year’s rotation in the upper minors. So, even if they fall out of contention, they likely will not be as comfortable moving starters such as right-handers Seth Lugo (under club control through 2027) and Michael Wacha (through 2027).
Left-hander Kris Bubic, a potential free agent, would be more likely to go, along with others on expiring contracts — outfielder Lane Thomas, lefty reliever Matt Strahm and righty reliever John Schreiber, among them.
The Royals, like all teams, are open to anything. If they could trade Wacha and/or Lugo for quality pitchers under longer club control, they would need to consider it. Any form of teardown, though, is likely not an option. The Royals want to win with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and third baseman Maikel Garcia, both of whom are under contract through at least 2030.
Keith Law released his Mock Draft 2.0 yesterday and had the Royals taking “Jacob Lombard”.
Over the past few weeks, the manager Matt Quatraro has been shuffling around his lineup. Maikel Garcia has not led off for the Royals since May 27, partially to place him in the heart of the batting order, and partially due to a hamstring injury. Since May 27, Quatraro has favored Carter Jensen to lead off against right-handed pitchers and Lane Thomas against left-handed pitchers. However, Jensen has been slumping lately, and it could be time to shake up the order yet again.
…Massey is far from the perfect leadoff hitter. His current on-base percentage of .283 is less ideal. His baserunning does not stand out in particular. His sprint speed is below average in the 37th percentile. He has only one stolen base attempt this season and has been thrown out more often than he advances when trying to take the extra base on the basepaths. If Massey can‘t improve his baserunning, he could be a frustrating fixture on the bases with stars like Bobby Witt Jr. at the plate.
Also at Royals Keep, Matt Crossland writes about one of my… do I say “favorite” topics(?)… in “The Tragic Tale of Gil Meche”:
In a memorable game against the Diamondbacks, Meche pitched a complete game shutout, only giving up four hits and striking out six. At the time, it was seen as Meche’s masterpiece, but there was only one stat that stuck out like a sore thumb: his pitch count. Meche threw 132 pitches, which is too many pitches to throw for a shutout, and it would eventually take a toll on him. Manager Trey Hillman again gave Meche too long a leash in his next two starts as he threw 121 and 114 pitches in back-to-back starts. He would finish 2009 with a record of 6–10 and an ERA of 5.09 while giving up almost 8 earned runs per game over his last nine starts. He would not be the same pitcher after that.
And this is the perfect time to link to Poz’s article from the time. The “how would you wash a unicorn” analogy has stuck with me to this day:
I don’t know. Maybe at some point, when you’re SO FAR down the wrong road, you just go: “What the hell, might as well keep going and hope we run into something good.” Maybe it would have been more damaging to have Meche throw 117 pitches and then pull him before the inning was done. I don’t know. I really don’t know. We are in such la-la land here, there can be no logical questions … these are like “How would you wash a unicorn?” questions. I do know that Meche threw four more pitches and did get Morneau to fly out to right.
We have a couple of blogs that don’t post very often.
Actually, that’s unfair to Jeff Wayman at The Diamond Chronicles. He posts mostly on Mondays. But I never get to link to his stuff because, well, it wouldn’t be very timely for “Friday Rumblings”. Still, I’ll do it this week to remind you to check him out on Mondays.
Patrick Glancy is mostly posting to his new blog, Powder Blue Pulp. But he did some baseball writing this week, too: “Back to Baseball”. He wrote about what has happened with the team this season so far.
I’m writing this on my birthday, the day before I actually publish it on Substack, and it feels a little strange to be back in baseball mode again. As most of you know, I’ve been hard at work on my debut crime novel, Shivering in Hell, which I announced in my most recent post. I’ve also been publishing short fiction through my other newsletter, Powder Blue Pulp, and I haven’t actually written about baseball since I made my preseason predictions back in March.*
A few weeks ago, over on another blog, we were talking about dinosaurs and the idea of paleontology came up. I was also in Chicago over the past weekend and we were at the Field Museum.
We joke all the time about civilizations from the future that dig up our current time and make bad assumptions. You know, the jokes about how future archeologists will dig up Memphis and assume large swaths of the population worshipped a god-king named Elvis. Better authors than I have come up with great angles on this idea.
But I was having fun noodling around with the (literally) mind-boggling concept of time and had a little fun.
I’m not a great student of history so we’re going to fall down a wiki rabbit hole. I know Wikipedia is imperfect, but it’s good for general knowledge like this.
* * * * *
We’re going to start with this concept: Events from 50 years ago seem old to an individual human. We only get, at best, maybe 100 years on this earth. 300 years ago is another civilization entirely. It seems like a good “block” to measure time in this exercise.
300 years ago (1726), the world was a very different place. Humans hadn’t achieved space flight, automobiles, or flight. But there were crude trains and civilization had sailed the seas for much longer. There was no United States, but there were a lot of other modern countries you could name. How many people could you name that were alive in 1726? Benjamin Franklin? Isaac Newton? Johan Sebastian Bach? Voltaire? Maybe you couldn’t have told me with certainty they were alive then, but you know who they were and that we were in the ballpark. It’s history, but it’s nowhere near ancient history. And this is where our journey starts.
We’re going to use a quick little “o” to represent each 300-year block. A graphic designer, I am not.
Another 300 years before that (1426) is the late Middle Ages and the start of the Renaissance. I could probably give you a few bits off the top of my head. I’d be wrong about some of it, but I’d be right about quite a bit. Joan of Arc, Vlad the Impaler, Johannes Gutenberg? We know those names. Gotta be honest, I only know of Donatello because of TMNT. But anyone with a real appreciation of art would know him. FYI: Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael don’t come along until later in the century.
Suffice to say, I feel like we have a “decent” grasp of these first two sets of “300-year” blocks. There are many major events logged in many parts of the world. There’s just a lot of written history from these times. Modern history is aware of so much happening at these times that Wiki’s editors have to spend a significant amount of energy to limit pages to “important” things.
I think this is our first major jump. Could you even tell me anything about 1126? Maybe a couple of things, but it wouldn’t be many. Dark Ages, Indeed. How much do people even know about that time? I asked Gemini who are the most famous people alive at that time and didn’t recognize any names. Anyone here a big fan of Peter Abelard, Henry I, Imad al-Din Zengi, or Emperor Huizong of Song? I’m not saying they aren’t famous – Gemini assures me that Huizong is one of China’s most famous rulers – I just don’t know who they are. Looking at the map, there’s a few countries that have their modern name, even if they’re in different shapes (England, Scotland, Denmark, Norway, France, Poland, Hungary, Ethiopia, Oman, Yemen, Japan, etc). But there’s no Spain, no Germany, no Turkey, no Greece, no China, no India, no Russia.
Our information is becoming sparse very quickly. Know anything about 826? 526? Each of those years barely has a page worth of stuff on Wikipedia. We just don’t know much. How about that 500 AD map above? I don’t think there’s a single country there that has the same name. Maybe Nepal? Ghana and Albania exist, but not where they are today. 226 has an artifact in modernity: Saint Valentine! He was born in 226 and died in 269.
Now we’ve crossed over into BC. 74 BC and 374 BC have a couple of entries of known events. 674 BC only has one. Just think about that for a second. This is less than 3000 years ago. It’s in a time when there was paper and civilization. Various estimates have the world population between 50M and 150M, so let’s split the difference. There were 100M people wandering around and we know of exactly one thing that happened in the entire world. 100,000,000 people! That’s more than France, the UK, Germany, Turkey, or Iran. That’s Italy plus Canada put together. That’s California, Texas, New York, and Illinois combined (using 2022 estimates).
And we know next to nothing. If you’re curious:
Esarhaddon puts down a revolt in Ascalon supported by Taharqa, king of Kush and Egypt. In response, the Assyrians invade Egypt, but Taharqa is able to hold them off.
Here’s our next big gap. When I search Wikipedia for 974 BC, it redirects me to the page for 970s BC. We can’t even tell you anything that happened in 974. But we know that Egyptian pharaoh Shoshenq I was born and King Zhao of the Chinese Zhou dynasty ascended to the throne during that decade. In Israel, King Solomon may have had his coronation and King David might have been born – but it’s listed as “possible”.
.oooooooooo <- You are here (974 BC)
The 1270s BC were surprisingly busy. While 1274 doesn’t get its own page, there are a number of events on the 1270 page listed as happening in 1274. For instance, the Battle of Kadesh is noted as being “the largest (5,000–6,000) chariot vs. chariot battle in antiquity”. The 1570s BC page is starting to look like the pages for 826 and 526 AD. Only instead of knowing of only a couple of events those years, it’s only a couple of events from that decade.
Did you know that the Bronze Age isn’t a specific set of years for the world? It’s different for different parts of the world? I guess that makes sense, but I didn’t know that until I started looking this up.
.oooooooooooo <- You are here (1574 BC)
* * * * *
So, after 12 hops of 300 years, we get another major jump in Wikipedia chronology. Our 13th jump gets us to 1874 BC. It doesn’t even redirect me to a decade. Now it’s just a century. None of the dates are exact, and there are only about 20 major events. Kansas City gets a mention(!): “1836 BC-1818 BC: Head of Senusret III is made. Twelfth dynasty of Egypt. It is now kept at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri.”
.ooooooooooooo <- You are here (1874 BC)
This is both fascinating and boring at the same time. For each entry I run across, the picture gets fuzzier and fuzzier. I’m not going to keep stretching this out one by one.
We’re going to skip a few to 20 jumps of 300 years. A nice, round 6000 years. This is the last page Wikipedia has for a single century: 40th century BC. There are no entries on the page that can point to a single year. There are things like “approximate time of the construction of the Merheleva Ridge complex”, “the Linear Pottery culture gives way to the Funnelbeaker culture in the north”, and “plough in use”. That’s it. That’s all we’ve got.
Also, here’s a sobering thought for anyone trying to make a name for themselves across history. Population estimates have the world at anywhere between 7M and 50M people. And you know what? There isn’t a single name of a single person known from that century. Or for the next century. Or even a few more. Seriously.
Writing doesn’t come about until about 3300BC and do you know our best bet at who is the oldest name in history? A guy named “Kushim the Accountant” who signed his name to a number of stone tablets counting barley shipments. Eat your heart out, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. The first person in recorded history? Kushim, a late Stone Age Excel guy.
I’m hesitant to add this because of the sensitive nature of the topic. But we’re all adults here, so we can talk about it. Biblically, this is about how old the Earth is. That is, if you add up your begats, take your ages literally, and claim the Earth was created in six literal 24-hour days. It assumes fastidious record-keeping with very limited corroborating evidence, documents people who are hundreds of years old (969-year-old Methuselah, 950-year-old Noah, and 930-year-old Adam come to mind), and even whistles past some minor genealogical conflicts in different books of the Bible. Personally, I could also argue that it misses the main message, claiming it as literal and perfect records rather than trying to point towards the idea of God keeping his covenant.
.oooooooooooooooooooo <- You are here (3974 BC)
* * * * *
After that, Wiki skips to millennia. Not just our individual years, but our whole 300-year blocks aren’t good enough to have their own page – we have to lump them in with a couple of others. But I don’t even see the point anymore. We don’t know years, we don’t know people, we’re making best guesses at places, and we’re often heavily speculating on events. We’re well past “they worshipped Elvis” territory if you’re trying to study history.
As I was writing, I needed a pause here. That’s a lot to take in. We’ve gone back 6000 years and the picture is very fuzzy. This is more-or-less what is considered “recorded history”.
On the one hand, that’s after “only” 20 of these 300-year blocks. Or 60 of 100-year lifespans. If you want to call 20 years a generation, that means 300 generations. That sounds a lot longer. It really depends on how you want to chop this up. In short, for an individual human, it’s a long time. For humanity, it’s the blink of an eye. For the history of the Earth, it’s imperceptible.
* * * * *
Humans, as in homo sapiens, have been around for 300K years, give or take.
We barely know anything after 6K years or 20 blocks.
“Modern” humans have been around for 1000 blocks.
At this point, my simple visualization starts to break down. This probably will look pretty bad, but we’ll see how it goes.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo <- You are here
We were just at 20 blocks and that seemed an almost unfathomable time ago. And this is 50x that. Humans, as we understand them, have been around that long. But we’re really in the “making best guesses” territory now. So little is around from 6000 years ago, much less 300K years ago.
If you want to take the whole “Homo” genus, that’s roughly 3M years. It was probably closer to 4M years that we evolved from Australopithecus. But let’s just roll with the 3M number to keep it an even 10,000 blocks.
Before you start thinking “well, 10K blocks, that’s not very many”. I mean, we just jumped from “we know very little about the world from 20 blocks ago” to “10K is pretty similar”? I mean, it’s just 3 more 0’s 20 -> 10000. Yeah, the logarithmic scale is rough. No, I’m not going to take that block of 1000 o’s above and draw 10 of them here. Use your imagination.
I considered taking that 6K span of time, that time we have gone from knowing nothing about it to modernity and making a block to represent that. But, really, when we’re getting into these numbers, does it even help? I think we’re just too abstracted at this point.
Besides, how different could Australopithecus be?
The brains of most species of Australopithecus were roughly 35% of the size of a modern human brain with an endocranial volume average of 466 cc (28.4 cu in). Although this is more than the average endocranial volume of chimpanzee brains at 360 cc (22 cu in) the earliest australopiths (A. anamensis) appear to have been within the chimpanzee range, whereas some later australopith specimens have a larger endocranial volume than that of some early Homo fossils.
Jokes about your friend who uses only a third of his brain aside, it kind of feels like we’re talking more monkey than man at this point. So in the time it takes to get from monkey to modern man, it’s 3M years.
…
At this point, I think our exercise has broken down and we’re just having funsies.
Want to walk back to the age of dinosaurs? That’s the Mesozoic Era. I think most of us know about the 65M years ago number. So, if we use 3M year blocks to go from monkey to man. You have to jump through 20 of those just to get to the end of dinosaurs. And dinosaurs were around for 60 of those. So, in short: the time after dinosaurs is one giant honking block. Dinosaurs lived for three of those.
Do you know how hard it is to find a timeline to scale using search? I just can’t find a good one to link here. We’re so egocentric that everyone wants to make the Paleozoic (252-539 Ma, Mesozoic (66-252 Ma), and Cenozoic (now-66 Ma) the same sized blocks. Since we lived in that later period, we want to make it as big as other periods that are much longer. Never mind that humans are only a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of the Cenozoic.
How tiny (using round-ish numbers)?
The genus Homo is around 1/20th of the Cenozoic
Homo sapiens only 1/200th
Recorded history is only about 1/10000th
And, your entire life, if you’re lucky and get to 100, are only 1/660,000th
One more? There are about 70 of those periods (from now to 65M years ago) between the start of the Earth and now.
Homo has been around for 1/1500th of that
Homo sapiens for 1/15,0000th
Recorded history for 1/750,000th
And, you, maybe 1/45,000,000th
How’s your little corner of existence feel right now?
* * * * *
This whole conversation came up because of Tyrannosaurus Rex. T-Rex was around 69-66 Ma, though it could have been around as early as maybe 80 Ma. So it was around at least as long as the Homo genus. Want a rough estimate of how many ever existed: “Over the span of the genus’ existence, it is estimated that there were about 127,000 generations and that this added up to a total of roughly 2.5 billion animals until their extinction”. Add this up with “Lastly, the study suggests that in most cases, only one in 80 million Tyrannosaurus would become fossilized, while the chances were likely as high as one in every 16,000 of an individual becoming fossilized in areas that had more dense populations.”
Obviously, there are huge error bars for something like thi- wait, what did that say? Roughly 2.5 billion (with a “B”) T-Rexes existed in history. No kidding? Wow!
Sadly, we’ve only found about 60 specimens. It’s hard for things to survive 100 years, much less millions
FYI: The estimated number of humans who have ever lived is a little over 100 billion. There’s a cool graphic at the top of the wiki page about that.
* * * * *
Finally, as I went back further, I ran across the name Rodinia. Most people have heard of Pangaea, but there are other supercontinents (theoretically) before that. It was from roughly 1130-750 Mya.
How was it?
Unlike later supercontinents, Rodinia was entirely barren. It existed before complex life colonized on dry land. Based on sedimentary rock analysis, Rodinia’s formation happened when the ozone layer was not as extensive as it is now. Ultraviolet light discouraged organisms from inhabiting its interior. Nevertheless, its existence significantly influenced the marine life of its time.
Yikes.
That page also had a link to something called the Snowball Earth hypothesis.
Then again, supercontinent theory gets really theoretical really fast.
Growing up, I loved the book “An Incomplete Education” (which is probably a bit outdated now). An entertaining reference book? Catnip for adolescent me.
In the science chapter, there’s a section on different types of numbers: integers, rationals, reals, etc. Then it starts getting a little out of control, with things like transfinite numbers and ending with quaternions. This is its explanation of them:
The feeling that, once having learned to walk, one can run. Also fly. The lesson here is that when you extend numbers beyond the complex stage, you do so at the expense of something called permanence; one by one, properties you took for granted fall away. For instance, with quaternions, you have to give up either the role 0 plays or multiplicative commutativity (i.e., x times y no longer equals y times x). Say good night, Gracie.
Yup, I think it’s bedtime.
* * * * *
This seems like the perfect opportunity to revisit Chrono Trigger.
Today’s song plays with the idea in the previously linked to Canticle for Leibowitz.
“Corridors of Time” is the overworld theme for the Kingdom of Zeal. The game starts in the present (modern-ish) times. Shortly after, you’re thrown into a dystopian future and the assumption is that civilization had peaked before the Lavos cataclysm. It’s not until late in the game that you come to find out that a much more advanced civilization existed long before, in 12000 BC. However, their hubris set in motion the events that doomed Zeal and would doom the future. But no one in the present even knew, because nothing of their civilization remained.
The Prem’s top points scorer has been rejuvenated this year as the Chiefs look to overturn their fancied hosts Bath in Saturday’s semi-final
It is early afternoon in Exeter and Henry Slade is reflecting on his day so far. As a type 1 diabetic he has already injected himself “four or five times” and a training schedule change has left him playing catchup with his insulin levels. “I had a bit of a stinker today. I had to bang some carbohydrate down me before training but didn’t quite get it right. I was a bit on the low side and didn’t feel very good. I guess it was my fault for not reading the schedule properly.”
Later there will be further injections and more monitoring, none of it stress free for someone who wrestles with obsessive compulsive disorder. Plus, there are the demands of having three daughters under six back at home; the youngest, Delphine, is not yet three months old. After an intensely physical match even changing a nappy can be challenging. “With the last two I’ve spent hours on the floor changing nappies. It’s a nightmare getting up again. We’ve now got nappy-changing tables which are an absolute gamechanger.”
Tobias Myers started this game and went two-and-two-thirds innings before reliever Matt Turner finished the third inning. And then Jack Wenninger pitched the remainder of the game, giving up all three of Buffalo’s runs in his five innings of work. The Syracuse lineup didn’t get much going.
Kodai Senga’s rehab start was his best one thus far during this rehab assignment, as he went six innings, gave up just one run on one hit, struck out five, and walked one. Unfortunately, Binghamton’s bats didn’t do much, and the two runs that the bullpen allowed were all Somerset needed to beat them.
The Cyclones led 1-0 and 2-1 in this one, but a pair of late runs allowed by the bullpen turned the game in Frederick’s favor. Cyclones starter Nicolas Carreno struck out nine and walked two, allowing just one run in six innings of work.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Daniel Espino #66 of the Cleveland Guardians poses for a portrait at Cleveland Guardians Photo Day during 2026 Spring Training at Goodyear Ballpark on February 12, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians have demoted Codi Heuer and promoted Daniel Espino. They also traded Nolan Jones to the White Sox for $250K in international free agency.
It’s quite exciting to think of Espino finally making the big leagues. Zack Meisel has a story out about his arduous journey.
Nolan Jones is not good, but if he is somehow miraculously good with the White Sox, it’ll be time o fire the hitting coaches here.
Meisel has an article on the hitting issues for the Guardians.
The Tigers will start Jack Flaherty vs. Tanner Bibee tonight at 7:10PM, Tarik Skubal vs. Joey Cantillo on Saturday at 4:10PM and probably Casey Mize vs. Gavin Williams on Sunday at 1:40PM. Feels like a very important series right now. The Guardians are on a four-game losing streak.
AROUND MLB:
The Tigers destroyed the Twins and the Royals lost to the Rangers.
The Atlanta Braves were unable to seek a win on Thursday evening, as the series finale against the Chicago White Sox was a washout. The game will be made up on August 20th at 2:10 ET.
The road trip has continued to New York, where the Braves face the Mets in a three-game series. First pitch is set for Friday night at 7:15 ET.
More Braves News:
MLB Pipeline’s latest mock draft has new names connected to the Braves.
Isaiah Drake logged two homers and a double in Rome’s win on Wednesday. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired outfielder Derek Hill and international bonus pool finds from the Chicago White Sox. In exchange, the Sox received two prospects.
Two factions of former Philadelphia Flyers have been pitted against each other in the Stanley Cup Final, but only one end is living up to their end of the bargain so far.
With a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, the Carolina Hurricanes are in the driver's seat to win their first Stanley Cup in 20 years, taking a 3-2 series lead.
They've managed that on the strength of longtime Flyers nemesis Jordan Staal, the Hurricanes' captain who has scored in each of the first five games of the series, making him the first player to do so since Rocket Richard in 1956
Additionally, Staal's five-game scoring streak is tied for the longest such streak in Stanley Cup Final history.
The wily vet has been historically great for the Canes when it matters most, while a former Flyers goalie at the other end of the ice has been historically terrible.
On Tuesday night, after allowing five goals in a 5-3 loss to the Hurricanes, ex-Flyers netminder Carter Hart became the only goalie in NHL history to allow four or more goals in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final.
Things only got worse for the 27-year-old on Thursday night, as another four goals by the Hurricanes put his team down in the series for the very first time, extending his historically bad record by one more game.
Hart was a strong playoff performer dating back to his early days with the Flyers, but he's had a save percentage no higher than .879 in his last five starts for the Golden Knights.
As a result, his once-elite numbers this postseason have plummeted to a more average 2.59 GAA and .909 save percentage. Still respectable, but hardly jaw-dropping as they were previously.
At the other end of the ice, the Hurricanes have turned to Brandon Bussi in place of Freddie Andersen; Bussi has now won two straight with Andersen serving as a scratch and not dressing at all.
Former Flyers head coach John Tortorella has one more chance, with or without Hart, to figure it out for Vegas, before the Stanley Cup goes home with Carolina.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a few areas on their roster that they should be looking to improve during the summer. Among them is their blueline, as their defensive group could simply use more depth.
When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley is an interesting potential option for the Blue Jackets to consider.
The first thing that immediately stands out about Stanley is his size. The 6-foot-7, 231-pound defenseman would provide the Blue Jackets' defensive group with a hulking defenseman, which is never a bad thing for a team with playoff expectations like the Blue Jackets to have around.
Stanley also showed this season that he is capable of providing some offense from the point in addition to his toughness. In 76 games this season split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres, Stanley set new career highs with nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points. If he translated this kind of offense over to next season, he would give the Blue Jackets a bit more offensive production from the point, which is needed.
However, Stanley's biggest impact comes from his gritty style of play. The big blueliner isn't afraid of the physical side of the game, as threw 110 hits and had 128 penalty minutes this season. He would be a good player for the Blue Jackets to have around when the games get tougher and would give them another player to protect their top stars.
Another appealing factor about Stanley is his age. This is because the Sabres defenseman just turned 28 years old in May and has multiple years left in his prime. With this, he could be a nice long-term fit on a Blue Jackets club that is looking to break out and become real threats in the Eastern Conference.
If the Blue Jackets signed Stanley, he could fit well on their bottom pairing. He would also give them another option to work with on their penalty kill because of his shutdown ability.
Overall, if Stanley ends up not re-signing with the Sabres and testing the market, he is one of the defensemen that the Blue Jackets should have on their radar. While he is not a star, he would be a good hard-nosed defenseman for the Blue Jackets to add to their roster.
In 278 career NHL games over six seasons, Stanley has recorded 14 goals, 48 assists, 62 points, 333 penalty minutes, 351 blocks, 467 hits, and a plus-29 rating.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Members of the New York Knicks celebrate their 107-106 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe the impossibility of the Knicks’ 29-point comeback to win Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Or the euphoria that spread like wildfire from Madison Square Garden across the city and the surrounding areas, into the hearts of every Knicks fan on the planet.
It’s still something that, 36 hours later, doesn’t feel real. Even as this team has repeatedly shown that nothing is impossible, they continue to find a way to up the ante over and over again.
Just drilling into Wednesday night’s miracle. A 29-point comeback has only happened 17 times in the history of the sport, regardless of time of year. Of those 17, only nine saw the lead overcome in just one half of basketball. To cherry-pick, it’s the seventh-largest comeback of any kind in the final 21:30 of a game.
Only one of those games, a 2019 thriller between the Clippers and Warriors, happened in the playoffs. These larger comebacks, while more impressive in size, come nowhere close in terms of the leverage of the NBA Finals. It’s pound-for-pound the greatest comeback in NBA history, and likely, basketball history.
There will be time for historical, multi-sport comparisons, but the point of this article is to talk about the team that made said comeback. One-off comebacks happen all the time. Sometimes, a team pulls a rabbit out of the hat twice, or even three times.
This team has somehow done it a half dozen times over the last two postseasons. Since 2024, five of the eight 20-point comebacks in the playoffs belong to the Knicks. There aren’t enough stats I can easily find that encapsulates how ridiculous this is.
Here’s one. Two of the top-five largest comebacks in Finals history belong to the Knicks… this year.
This isn’t their only time this postseason with such an outlier comeback that makes no sense. Remember the 22-point comeback against Cleveland? Well, there’s only one other game in history where a team came back from that deficit with under eight minutes, and it happened 50 years ago, which is honestly extremely impressive given the lack of a three-point line.
I’ve completed my research into the #Knicks’ historic comeback. The only other time an NBA team has made this big a comeback so late in a game was the Bucks’ 117-115 win on November 25, 1977. Milwaukee was down 29 with 8:10 left. What we don’t know is if they were down by more… pic.twitter.com/i51ZCVb2rC
Well, in Game 4, the Knicks trailed by 20 with 9:20 to go. They were eerily close to what they did against Cleveland in terms of a dead sprint, while additionally upping the raw numbers.
But unlikely comebacks have been engrained in this team’s DNA ever since Jalen Brunson became the head of the snake in New York.
The ridiculous narrative of continuous Knicks doubters as this series has progressed is that the Spurs have had firm control of this series, losing three games merely because of failed execution late. It was them blowing it, not the Knicks rallying back!
But these first-half 12-14 point leads are nothing in the modern NBA, and they’re child’s play to the Brunson-era Knicks. Observe.
2024 Game 1 against the Sixers. Philly led 32-19 in the first quarter and 78-72 in the third quarter after rallying back from a valiant Knicks charge. Guess who out-executed whom in the end?
2024 Game 2 against the Sixers. This time, they effectively maintained a 9-10 point lead for the first 22 minutes of the game, and ultimately seemed to be evening up the series with a 101-96 lead with 30 seconds left. We all know what happened next.
2024 Game 4 against the Sixers. Again, a 10-point lead in both the first and third quarters. Again, they blew it. Is this sounding familiar?
2024 Game 6 against the Sixers. The Knicks blew a 22-point lead in an eyeblink, and soon trailed 71-61 in the third quarter. About 12 minutes later, the Sixers lost their final lead of the season and endured a slow death after a fourth consecutive blown double-digit lead.
2024 Game 2 against Indiana. The Pacers led 75-63 in the first minute of the second half. While the series, as we know, didn’t go our way, it was another sign of resiliency.
2025 Game 1 against Detroit. The first 15 minutes of the second half were all Pistons, to the point where they led 98-90 with 9:10 to go. How’s a 21-0 run sound to you? Shoutout Turbo.
2025 Game 4 against Detroit. The Knicks were down 11 in the third, 10 in the fourth, and four with just 90 seconds to go. Karl-Anthony Towns to the rescue.
2025 Game 6 against Detroit. After going up 11 early in the fourth in a closeout game, the Pistons went on a 20-2 run to go up seven with under 2:30 to go. Somehow, the Knicks found a way… again.
Now it’s time for the good stuff.
2025 Game 1 against Boston. The Celtics led 75-55 midway through the third quarter. The Knicks won in overtime.
2025 Game 2 against Boston. The Celtics led 73-53 with 2:20 left in the third quarter. The Knicks won in regulation.
2025 Game 4 against Boston. At the World’s Most Famous Arena, the Knicks responded to a dominant first half by the Celtics and found themselves down 14 with 9 minutes left in the third. They won again.
2025 Game 3 against Indiana. In the only bright spot of a miserable return to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks somehow found their way back down 20 from late in the first half and as many as 15 with 2:15 to go in the third.
2026 Game 3 against Philly. The desperate Sixers sprinted out to a 20-8 lead in the first six minutes. The Knicks took the lead for good just nine minutes later.
2026 Game 1 against Cleveland. The Knicks are down 22 with under eight minutes to go. Cue Harden-flavored BBQ chicken.
Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The Knicks are down 29 early in the third. They’re down 20 with 9:20 to go. They win… again.
In the last three playoff runs, the Knicks have made five 20-point comebacks, 13 double-digit comebacks, and three additional unlikely comebacks given big momentum shifts.
The defining trait of the Brunson era has been to never give up. To never let go of the rope. Sure, they’ve still been blown out a few times over the years, but there’s a reason the team somehow has a winning record when they trail by 20 the last two years.
They don’t point fingers. They don’t sulk. They don’t look at a deficit and say, “We’ll get ‘em next time.” No lead is impossible to overcome for them.
This is what has the Knicks one game from the ultimate dream. A ridiculous level of buy-in and belief in one another that breaks the scale of what should be possible in the NBA.
No matter how discouraged, no matter how depressive, no matter how bad the intrusive thoughts get, they never give up.
They stared down the barrel of being forced into a Game 7 against Philly in 2024 and Detroit in 2025. They stared down a 3-0 deficit against Indiana in 2025. They risked completely bottling the 2-0 road leads against Boston in 2025 and the Spurs this year. They risked losing home-court advantage against Indiana in 2024 and Cleveland this year.
All the times the vibes have been utterly rancid, they refuse to let the noise impact them. When adversity hits, they pick each other up.
After the missed layup…
Hart collapsed to the floor and sat there for a second.
For a brief moment, disbelief, disappointment and dejection overtook him.
He buried his head in his hands. Then his teammates came to pick him up.
So as the Knicks embark on the quest to win the toughest closeout game ever, as they wake up on Saturday to be the first to wear the orange and blue with a chance to win a championship with one more win in 32 years, here’s one more note to leave you with.
The Knicks have never lost three consecutive playoff games in the Brunson era. They’ve played 60 of them. The last three-game playoff skid was in 2021, when not a single player on this roster played (Mitch was hurt!).
The only way this season ends without the euphoria of a championship is a historic aberration. A team that has shown time and time again that their will is unbreakable and that they will never spiral into the despair that has plagued multiple teams this postseason alone will have to be driven to that point by the youngest NBA Finals team in history, who’ve consistently failed to execute late in games, have a star running on fumes, and won’t have a real home-court advantage.
Five Serious Remaining Candidates In Race For Maple Leafs Head Coach PositionAfter another head coach came off the Toronto Maple Leafs' list of candidates, here are five serious remaining contenders in the race to become the 42nd bench boss in franchise history.
