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Does the NBA have a tanking issue? Mark Cuban doesn't think so

With NBA commissioner Adam Silver fining teams for tanking and making statements about repercussions, there has been a lot of talk in league circles about the process and strategy of tanking its effectiveness and fairness.

The Utah Jazz received a $500,000 fine and the Indiana Pacers got a $100,000 fine for recent game management and roster decisions, the league announced on Feb. 12.

Tanking, in a nutshell, is strategically and effectively losing games through playing or not playing players that can help win. In the long run, the hope is to position oneself in the draft and in free agency to improve the team long term.

One of the latest sports figures to partake in the conversation was Dallas Mavericks minority owner and basketball advisor Mark Cuban, who took to social media to express his take.

Cuban posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying that "tanking isn't the issue" and went on to explain "why the NBA should embrace tanking," even providing his own experience as a previous majority owner of the Mavericks for more than two decades.

"The NBA has [quite] been misguided thinking that fans want to see their teams compete every night with a chance to win. It’s never been that way that way," Cuban wrote. "When I got into the NBA, they thought they were in the basketball business. They aren’t."

"They are in the business of creating experiences for fans. Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to. They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special."

Cuban, the Mavericks' majority owner for 23 years and now minority owner, said that fans understand when their team isn't good. What fans prioritize more is hope, he implied.

"Fans know their team can’t win every game. They know only one team can win a ring. What fan that care about their team’s record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring," Cuban wrote. "The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3, when you tank."

MORE: The NBA's tanking crisis — and why Adam Silver can’t ignore it

Did Mark Cuban, Mavericks lose intentionally?

Tanking happens often in the NBA and it has for a better part of the last two decades. At least Cuban said so on X.

He also added that fans "appreciated it" whenever they would willfully lose games.

"We didn’t tank often. Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka [Doncic] and improve our team," Cuban wrote on X.

Cuban and the Mavericks acquired Doncic via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who selected Doncic with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, for Trae Young, who Dallas chose at the fifth pick, and a protected future first-round pick.

Positioning themselves for that pick, they finished the previous season with a 24–58 record, which included a 3-15 start through their first 18 games, and finished the season winning just two of 14 games.

In the 2025 NBA Draft, the Mavericks received the No. 1 pick, selecting Cooper Flagg out of Duke.

During the 2024-25 season, the Mavericks sent Doncic, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial blockbuster trade in return for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick.

Dallas finished the 2024-25 season with a 39-43 record, losing in a postseason play-in qualification game to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Mavericks became the second straight team, after the Hawks, to qualify for postseason play and to receive the first overall pick despite only having a 1.8% chance to win the NBA draft lottery.

The bottom NBA standings in the 2025-26 season

The Sacramento Kings have the worst record in the league at 12-44, just above them are the Washington Wizards at 14-39. Here are the bottom ten teams in the NBA standings through the All-Star break in the 2025-26 season.

Tank-a-thon predicts 2026 NBA Draft through All-Star break

The following order in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Tankathon.com, predicts the Kings with the No. 1 pick and the Wizards at No. 2.

The Pelicans would have the No. 3 pick but it goes to the Hawks after a they acquired an unprotected 2026 first-round pick from New Orleans during the 2025 NBA Draft as part of a deal for the 13th pick, which was Derik Queen. The Hawks secured the right to the most favorable 2026 first-round pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks.

Here's the hypothetical order of the 2026 NBA Draft as of Feb. 17, according to Tankathon.com:

  • No. 1: Sacramento Kings
  • No. 2: Washington Wizards
  • No. 3: New Orleans Pelicans (traded to Hawks)
  • No. 4: Indiana Pacers
  • No. 5: Brooklyn Nets
  • No. 6: Utah Jazz
  • No. 7: Dallas Mavericks
  • No. 8: Memphis Grizzlies
  • No. 9: Milwaukee Bucks
  • No. 10: Chicago Bulls

Cuban: Bigger issue in NBA than tanking

Cuban stands by that tanking is one of least of the NBA's concerns, or should be. Rather he insisted that the NBA should focus on game attendance.

"The NBA should worry more about fan experience than tanking," Cuban wrote on X. "It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking. You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their three kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their [favorite] player. Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are."

The average cost for a family of four to attend an NBA game during the 2025-26 season is $277.65 for the cheapest available tickets, a parking spot, two beers, two sodas and four hot dogs, according to Bookies.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Cuban said tanking for draft position isn't an issue in NBA

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Giancarlo Stanton’s improved health comes with plenty of hope and everything on table for Yankees

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees hitting during live batting practice at spring training, Image 2 shows Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees warms up during team workouts

TAMPA — A year ago at this time, Giancarlo Stanton arrived at spring training with two painful elbows that would delay his season until mid-June.

That double elbow tendinitis, he reiterated Tuesday, is “not going anywhere.” But it appears to be in a much more manageable spot at this point for the Yankees’ 36-year-old slugger, clearing the way for him to at least start camp as a full participant.

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Now the challenge will be trying to stay healthy throughout the year so Stanton can make his presence felt in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup as much as possible.

“There’s always going to be maintenance,” Stanton said Tuesday after the second full-squad workout. “But [the elbows] didn’t hinder me from any work [in the offseason] and that’s the most important.”

Both Stanton and manager Aaron Boone said the designated hitter has been moving around well in the first few days of camp, with Boone saying he looks “real lean.”

Even still, Boone indicated he would likely slow-play Stanton into Grapefruit League games — possibly delaying his spring debut by a week — to be safe, as he often does with veterans.

That proactiveness will extend into the regular season, with Boone planning to give Stanton semi-regular days off, as he did last year, to give him the best chance to stay healthy over the long season.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees warms up during team workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 17, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. Getty Images

“I think we had a good schedule there,” said Stanton, who has a history of soft-tissue injuries in his legs. “There were some times maybe I wanted to be out there, but understand the process and the way we got a good rotation of guys in the offense. So it was good.

“I think it’s a never-ending adjustment of the best way for us to be the best and for me to stay out there.”

At least in Boone’s mind, that also includes keeping the outfield in play for Stanton, who may get some games in the field this spring.

Ideally the Yankees will not have to actually play him there during the season, Boone acknowledged, but they want to have the option, and also believe there is a side benefit to it.

Giancarlo Stanton hitting live batting practice during today’s workout at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ Spring Training home in Tampa, Florida. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“I think when he is doing his outfield work throughout the year — even at times when he’s going weeks where he’s not playing — when he’s out there and moving around, I think it serves him well,” Boone said.

After being delayed by the elbow troubles, Stanton, who made 18 starts in the field last year — all of them to allow Aaron Judge to DH as he came back from a flexor strain — enjoyed his most productive regular season since 2021.

He hit .273 with 24 home runs and a .944 OPS in 77 games, offering hope for what he could still do over the course of a full season if he avoids the injured list.

That will be especially important this season given how much the Yankees need his right-handed bat in the middle of a lineup dominated by lefty bats.

For now, the goal remains simple as Stanton enters the second-to-last year of his contract, still in search of his first ring.

“The point of being a Yankee is being a champion,” he said. “There’s always going to be the sting there without that.”

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Burks, UCF start fast in 82-71 win over TCU to end Knights' three-game losing streak

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Burks scored 16 of his 23 points before halftime and Themus Fulks scored 14 points and UCF ended a pair of streaks on Tuesday night by beating TCU 82-71.

UCF (18-7, 7-6 Big 12) stopped its three-game losing streak while ending TCU's (16-10, 6-7) three-game winning streak.

Reserve George Beale Jr. added 11 points for UCF.

The Knights built a 9-2 lead and never trailed en route to a 58%-shooting effort (15 of 26) before the break. UCF shot 49% (28 of 57) overall.

Micah Robinson scored 20 points, David Punch 14, Xavier Edmonds 12 and Jayden Pierre and reserve Tanner Toolson 10 each for the Horned Frogs.

Toolson's 3-pointer with 14:37 left before halftime brought TCU within 11-10. Burks countered with his own 3 and Punch followed with a shot in the lane and TCU would never get closer.

UCF went on a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 24-14 with 10:27 before halftime and stayed ahead by double digits with the exception of two seconds late in the second half.

TCU went on a 9-0 run cutting the Knights' 19-point lead to 10, but a Fulks floater pushed the lead to 67-55 with 6:04 left. TCU used a 14-3 run to draw within 78-69 with 59 seconds left before Fulks made two free throws with 57 seconds to go.

Up Next

TCU: Hosts West Virginia on Saturday.

UCF: Travels to face Utah on Saturday.

___

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Cotie McMahon scores career-high 39, leads No. 17 Ole Miss women over No. 21 Tennessee 94-81

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Cotie McMahon scored a career-high 39 points to surpass 2,000 for her career and No. 17 Mississippi beat No. 21 Tennessee 94-81 on Tuesday night.

Ole Miss (21-6, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) never trailed and held a double-digit lead for the entire second half. McMahon's jumper gave the Rebels a 25-point lead with 1:51 left in the third quarter.

McMahon shot 12 of 22 from the floor and 14 of 18 from the free-throw line to go with five assists and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season. She surpassed her previous career-best 33 points on a 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining.

McMahon has 2,038 career points, is the fourth player in program history to surpass 2,000 and the first since Angel Baker (2022-23).

Latasha Lattimore recorded her fourth consecutive double-double and sixth this season, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Rebels. Christeen Iwuala chipped in with 16 points and Tianna Thompson scored 12.

Talaysia Cooper scored a season-best 30 points on 12-of-26 shooting to lead Tennessee (16-8, 8-4). Lauren Hurst added 16 points off the bench.

McMahon had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the first half to help Ole Miss build a 44-33 halftime advantage. Iwuala scored 12 first-half points for the Rebels. Cooper scored nine points to pace the Lady Vols.

The matchup was rescheduled from Jan. 26 due to winter weather. The Lady Vols entered having won nine of the last 10 games in the series.

Up next

Tennessee hosts Texas A&M on Thursday.

Ole Miss is home against No. 7 LSU on Thursday.

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Mets playing it cautious with oft-injured Luis Robert Jr. in hopes of unleashing All-Star potential

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. fielding a baseball during Spring Training, Image 2 shows New York Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. (l.) and Juan Soto run during Spring Training at Clover Field

PORT ST. LUCIE — Luis Robert Jr.’s various lower body injuries over the last two seasons have largely prevented him from maintaining the level he reached in his 2023 All-Star season with the White Sox.

A physical specimen, the 28-year-old outfielder has only once in his first six seasons surpassed 110 games played. All the talk of his new team, the Mets, unleashing Robert’s potential begins with keeping him on the field.

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“The more games I play, the more opportunity I have to have success and, yes, for me the ultimate goal is to be able to stay out on the field,” Robert said Tuesday through an interpreter. “And once I am able to stay out on the field, I think things are going to turn out the way that I want.”

The Mets saw enough potential in him to last month trade Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley to the White Sox for Robert.

It was a move that caught Robert, who had already begun shipping equipment to the White Sox spring training complex in Arizona, by surprise.

Robert had a dismal first half last season, but began showing life after the All-Star break. The fun was short-lived: By late August he was on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, and he never returned to action for the White Sox.

He appeared in 110 games and produced a .223/.297/.364 slash line with 14 homers and 53 RBIs with 33 stolen bases.

“Once the offseason started the focus was to strengthen the parts of mostly the injuries I have dealt with up until now,” Robert said. “That has been the same focus, to try to strengthen everything and make sure I am ready for the season.”

Robert has gold and silver on his resume. He won a Gold Glove in 2020 and a Silver Slugger in 2023, a season in which he blasted 38 homers and posted an .857 OPS.

Luis Robert Jr. runs a fielding drill during Spring Training at Clover Field, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Corey Sipkin for tNY Post

“The tools are there — elite power, the defensive speed,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “When he is healthy, we saw it in 2023, a lot of the things he can do.”

The Mets won’t push him too hard too fast. Mendoza said the plan is to exclude Robert from early Grapefruit League action, allowing him to build up his legs. Robert will still participate in daily workouts with the team.

It’s an approach the team is also taking with Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty to ensure their health. Alvarez is returning from thumb ligament surgery and Baty reported to camp with hamstring tightness, according to Mendoza.

“I know that’s the type of process that they have,” Robert said. “I trust in them and whatever they have because they want what’s best for me.”

The Mets have other options for center field, most notably top position player prospect Carson Benge and defensive whiz Tyrone Taylor. Benge could win the starting right field job.

Luis Robert Jr. (l.) runs with Juan Sotod uring Spring Training at Clover Field, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

Robert was asked the difference between his old surroundings and his new ones.

“It’s just the amount of people that are around,” he said. “When you come to a team like this the expectations are to win. When you have these goals and expectations there are obviously going to be more eyes on the team. I think that has been the biggest difference.”

How did he respond to the news that he had been traded?

“Once I got traded I really can’t explain the emotions that I had,” Robert said. “I was excited, nervous. Sometimes you hear a lot about New York and how big it can be and to play with as many stars as I was going to play with them. I knew I was going to be entering a different stage of my career.”

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San Antonio signs Mason Plumlee to a 10-day contract

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 22: Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Mason Plumlee #22 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter at Rocket Arena on December 22, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Antonio Spurs are adding some depth to their front court. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Spurs signed veteran center Mason Plumlee to a 10-day contract.

The 35-year-old center will join the team after the Spurs opened up a roster spot by waiving Jeremy Sochan last week. Plumlee started the season with the Charlotte Hornets, but played in only 14 games, averaging 1.9 points and 2.9 rebounds. He last appeared in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 22. The 13-year veteran has averaged 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds over his career. This will be Plumlee’s eighth NBA team, but he is most known for his time with the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets.

Plumlee adds some needed depth and a veteran presence to San Antonio’s locker room. The move closely mirrors what the Spurs did last season by signing Bismack Biyombo, although with less desperation. A healthy Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet likely leave Plumlee out of the rotation, but he’s another break-in-case-of-emergency option to go alongside Biyombo and Kelly Olynyk.

Plumlee is best known for his passing and IQ from the center position. He’s averaged 2.4 assists for his career, making quick reads off handoffs and in the short roll. He’s a solid pick-and-roll player due to his strength and IQ. In his prime, he was a good athlete who could contest shots and run the rim for dunks. He doesn’t thrive as a shooter or finisher inside and isn’t well-regarded as a rim protector. More than anything, he’s another big body on a cheap deal who can step in and play spot minutes if the Spurs are shorthanded.

It remains to be seen if Plumlee sticks around for the Spurs’ end-of-the-season run for the playoffs. San Antonio can sign him to a full deal once his 10-day contract is up.

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Warriors' Steph Curry on retirement: 'I don't think it's anytime soon'

Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry hears the chatter wondering how long he'll continue his NBA career.

However, the 37-year-old 3-point specialist isn't feeding into that type of talk and says he hasn't given any thought about it in his 17th season.

Curry told People Magazine that he's "not really putting too much pressure on that."

"Thinking about the end robs you of the now,” Curry said. “I’m enjoying the journey of competing and all the work that goes into it. Hopefully that carries me a long way.”

He has shown zero signs of slowing down. Curry has averaged 27.2 points on 46.8/39.1/93.1 shooting splits in 39 games during the 2025-26 regular season.

However, he's faced minor setbacks this season. Curry just recently missed the All-Star Game and the two previous games for the Warriors as he nurses soreness in his right knee.

The Warriors remain eighth in the Western Conference standings at 29-26. If the postseason began today, they would have a play-in game for the No. 7 playoff spot against the Phoenix Suns.

With the Warriors still hanging in contention and Curry as competitive as they come, there is no retirement in the near future.

"I’ll declare itself, whenever the time comes to call it quits, which I don’t think is anytime soon,” Curry told People.

Curry was drafted by the Warriors with the seventh pick of the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. He since has become a 12-time All-star, four-time NBA champion. two-time league MVP, a Finals MVP and an Olympic gold medalist.

He is arguably the greatest NBA 3-point shooter ever and was named to the NBA's 75th anniversary team.

One thing's for sure: He's playing next season.

Curry signed a one-year, $62.59 million veteran contract extension with Golden State through the 2026-27 season.

He already has agreed to participate in the NBA 3-Point Contest during the 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix following a request from this year's 3-point contest winner Damian Lillard.

Curry is the NBA's all-time leader in 3-point shots made with 4,233.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stephen Curry asked about retirement: Here's what he said.

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How high can the Warriors rise in the standings, and how far can they fall?

Steph Curry dribbling around Devin Booker.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 30: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives past Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the game at Footprint Center on November 30, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 113-105. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to February Daily Topics at Golden State of Mind. A question (almost) every day this month to give the community a prompt to talk about!

The Golden State Warriors entered the NBA All-Star break with a record of 29-26, which is good for eighth place in the Western Conference standings. And the advanced stats agree with that assessment: the Warriors’ garbage-time adjusted net rating of +1.9 is seventh in the conference.

That, of course, doesn’t tell the whole story. The seven teams ahead of Golden State — and most of the teams behind them — return from the break with their top pieces intact. The same can’t be said for the Dubs. Jimmy Butler III will not suit up for the Warriors again this season, and the team is just 6-11 when he doesn’t play, compared to 23-15 when he does.

On the brighter side, Steph Curry is expected to return from injury when the Warriors get back in action on Thursday night against the Boston Celtics, and the team is hoping to debut Kristaps Porziņģis as well. But, in returning to the glass-half-empty side, Curry has been dealing with a few lingering ailments this year, while Porziņģis has dealt with injuries every year of his career — counting this season, he’s averaged just 47.1 games played over his 11 seasons in the NBA (which includes missing an entire year due to injury).

The Warriors will spend the rest of the year jockeying for position, though they seem unlikely to move much in the standings. It’s almost guaranteed that they won’t fall out of the playoff race: currently they stand a whopping eight games ahead of the first team out, and that team (the Memphis Grizzlies) just hit the reset and rebuild buttons at the deadline. They could fall down a spot or two to one of the lesser play-in positions — they’re just 2.5 games ahead of both the Portland Trail Blazers and LA Clippers.

Moving up seems less likely, but it’s possible, too, if the Dubs get hot or one of the teams ahead of them craters for one reason or another. The first play-in team, the Phoenix Suns, is three games ahead of Golden State. The final teams in the guaranteed playoff spots, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, are 4.5 games ahead of the Dubs.

So how high can the Warriors rise, and how far can they fall? For me, the answer is boring: I think they’re stuck in the play-in tournament. I could see them rising one spot to have the top seed in the tourney, or falling to the last spot.

What range of outcomes do you see for the Warriors?

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Robert McCray V scores 27 and Florida State rallies in the 2nd half to beat Boston College 80-72

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half, Alex Steen had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Florida State rallied in the second half to beat Boston College 80-72 on Tuesday night.

Florida State trailed by 14 points, 59-45, with 11 minutes remaining before making 11 of its final 14 shots.

Lajae Jones grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in with 2:33 remaining in the second half to give Florida State its first lead, 70-68, since it was 8-5. Then Chauncey Wiggins added a 3-pointer and McCray made a driving layup to make it 75-70 with 50 seconds left.

It was Florida State's largest comeback victory since a 16-point reversal against Wake Forest on Feb. 12, 2025.

Wiggins finished with 11 points and Jones added 10 for Florida State (13-13, 6-7 ACC), which was coming off a 92-point performance against Virginia Tech.

Fred Payne scored 22 points for Boston College (9-17, 2-11) which was looking for its first ACC road win in over two years. Luka Toews and Chase Forte each scored 14 points and Aidan Shaw had 10 points.

Payne and Forte combined to go 6 of 7 from 3-point range, with three makes apiece, in the first half to help Boston College take a 42-32 lead at the break. Toews added two makes from distance as the Eagles went 8 of 12 by halftime.

Boston College finished 11 of 24 from 3-point range.

Up next

Boston College: Continues the road trip at SMU on Saturday.

FSU: Goes on the road to play Clemson on Saturday.

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Javier Baez says failed drug test that led to 2026 WBC ban hurt ‘my family, my reputation’

Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers runs to first base after hitting a single in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on September 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers runs to first base after hitting a single in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on September 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Javier Báez is taking full responsibility for failing a drug test that will force him to miss the World Baseball Classic. 

The Tigers star is suspended from the tournament after testing positive for marijuana during the 2023 WBC.

“I don’t want to point fingers at anybody because this is all my fault,” Báez said Tuesday, according to The Athletic. “I’m the one that failed the test … It’s just really frustrating that I won’t be able to be there. 

“It really hurts my family, my reputation, but it’s part of it. Other than that, I got a long season to go, and I got to prepare for that.”

Javier Báez of the Detroit Tigers runs off the field during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners in game two of the Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images

Marijuana use is allowed under Major League Baseball’s drug policy, but is prohibited by the WBC’s governing body, the World Baseball Softball Confederation.  

“I understand the rules,” Báez said. “It’s not like I was taking steroids or anything to last longer or whatever. They made that decision. I’m fine with it, I mean, I’m not fine with it. I just keep my mouth shut.”

Báez failed the test during the last WBC in March 2023. 

The loss of Báez is the latest blow to Team Puerto Rico, which will host Pool A of the WBC starting March 5.

Javier Báez of the Detroit Tigers runs to first base after hitting a single in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on September 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images

Puerto Rico, which has twice finished runner-up in the tournament, previously lost stars Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor due to insurance issues. 

“One of my dreams is to play in Puerto Rico for Team Puerto Rico with our families, our fans, our island,” Báez said. “Nothing I can do. I’m just happy for all of my teammates that got the chance to represent. I wish them good luck.”

The Tigers star will instead shift his focus to the MLB season, which kicks off in late March.

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The Great Tank Race, Vol. III: Post All-Star Break Blues

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr., #20 of the Utah Jazz talks with assistant coach Scott Morrison during warmups before their game against the Sacramento Kings at the Delta Center on February 11, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A letter written by the hand of General William Culvahouse Hardy, dated Wednesday, February 18, 2026, C.E.

This war is not what it used to be. The times have changed faster than anyone could have predicted, and suddenly, nothing feels familiar. I now hardly remember the taste of defeat. The comfort of pre-emptively waving the white flag. The release of screaming into the face of Private George. I gaze upon a stranger’s face in the reflection of the pools as I bathe and stiffen my lip; none wish to see a grown man cry, and certainly fewer wish to see tears on the face of their leader. The war has changed us all, and I can’t say all has been for the better.

The newest batch of recruits has changed everything. Such potent might may allow us to win battle after battle, but at the cost of the war. In response, our war room has employed many a strategem, some of which may have our nation under investigation for war crimes when this is all said and done. May God have mercy, whatever the end.

A letter written by the hand of Private Walker Ross Kessler, dated Wednesday, February 3, 2026, C.E.

My darling, I fear I may never see the sun rise upon your beautiful face once again. I became horribly injured on the battlefield, yet my commanding officer refuses to approve my leave. I wouldn’t approve your cowardice, even if you had Miss America waiting for you back home, he told me once. The irony is lost on him.

I see my closest friends placed on the front lines of our wars, even as the strongest and savviest fall back prematurely. Such tactics will have our nation under tremendous scrutiny, I have no doubt.

The Great Tank Race of 2026 was one of scandal. One of turmoil. And most importantly, one where the powers of the NBA enacted unthinkable legislation to punish the participants employing unforeseen, and incredibly drastic measures. They say all is fair in love and war, but when the former is lost, what is one to make of the latter?

In the camp of the Utah Jazz, wartime placed a considerable financial burden on the already weak economy of their relatively minuscule nation. A $500,000 fine for war crimes was punishment enough, but losing the respect of one’s neighbors was another. In those days, Utah had become synonymous with an oft-employed, but deeply disagreeable practice known as tanking. Though their execution was extreme, there was no doubt that the nation of Jazz was far from the only guilty party in this national struggle.

Friendless and desperate to find a stable foothold, Utah held its ground in the face of opposition.

NBA Tanking Standings: Post All-Star Weekend

1- (+2) Sacramento Kings (12-44)

Kings.

2- (+2) Washington Wizards (14-39) -3.5 GB

We have an entirely new hierarchy in the Tank Race, and the Washington Wizards have officially returned to their rightful place as equal statistical partners for the number one pick. It’s all about ping pong balls, and in the race for plastic, the Wizards now have a 14.0% chance of picking first overall. Trading for and immediately deactivating Anthony Davis was a brilliant move for a team that feels no pressure to compete for a spot in the Play-In. The same can be said about Trae Young, who is still “being evaluated”. Something tells me the next evaluation won’t be good news for those itching to see Young take the floor for the first time as a Wizard.

It’s worth noting that Washington finished last season in this exact position, just behind the league-worst (but tank-best!) Utah Jazz, and still managed to tumble all the way down to the sixth pick. As good as Tre Johnson is, he is not Cooper Flagg, and the same could be said about the disparity between picks 1-4 and picks 5-10 this season.

3- (-1) New Orleans Pelicans (15-41) -3.0 GB

Nobody is a bigger fan of the New Orleans Pelicans than the Atlanta Hawks this season. Sure, trading to grab Derik Queen in the late lottery was a stroke of genius in the short term, but this team is still 14.0% stakeh0lders in odds for the number one pick, and they don’t have the rights to their own draft pick.

Look, I love me a Baby Jokic (Jokic lite? Diet Joke?) as much as the next guy, but if I’m Atlanta, I am far more excited about the prospects of drafting a player in the top three with a draft class as loaded at the top as this one. There are three legitimate number-one caliber players this season, and for Hawks fans in attendance, I don’t mean another Zaccharie Risacher.

4- (-3) Indiana Pacers (15-40) -3.5 GB

Aaaaaaaaave Mariiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaa

For a while there, it seemed as if Indiana would run away with the tanking crown. They had won just six games at our second check-in and sat comfortably at the head of the tank.

Yet, they stumbled. In slow motion and with an agonizing amount of time to marinate in one’s own demise, the Pacers shunned the perfect strategy for installing complementary talent around the injured Tyrese Haliburton, and have begun to fall down the stairs to the tanking pantheon. They have a record of 9-9 since the previous volume of The Great Tank Race, and that could prove fatal on lottery night. Our tank commanders have been stripped of their valor, and I can hardly look.

Then again, the lottery is probably staged anyway, so who knows if they’ll find their way back to the number one pick in one way or another.

5- (+0) Brooklyn Nets (15-38) -4.5 GB

So, the Brooklyn Nets managed to pick five first-rounders last season, betting on playmaking and positional versatility, and that somehow managed to pan out in a remarkably satisfying way for Nets fans. Egor Demin is freaking awesome, Danny Wolf and Drake Powell are quickly becoming icons, Nolan Traore has been electric since Thomas parted ways with the team, and Ben Saraf is… eh. They drafted five rookies in the first round. They can’t all be winners.

Cam Thomas, the Wicked Witch of the Nets, is officially out of the picture and down the barrel of Giannis’ longing gaze, and the young and free Nets are free to frolic as they please.

6- (+0) Utah Jazz (18-38) -6.0 GB

The acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr has made the Utah Jazz too good to tank, and everybody knows it. They have a winning record with JJJ on their roster, and not even locking him out of the fourth quarter could keep the wave of good vibes from washing up W’s.

Not to be insensitive, but finding a tumor in JJJ’s knee may have been the best-case scenario for the Jazz, who desperately don’t want to win their way lower than the ninth pick, conveying their first-round pick to (you guessed it) Oklahoma City, and striking out on one of the most apparently stacked draft classes ever. The tumor is benign, but Jackson will be on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

This team will be dangerous and competitive in 2026-27, but the top priority is retaining this year’s pick. Now the question becomes, how does Utah keep Lauri Markkanen from wringing more wins out of the surging Jazz?

7- (+2) Dallas Mavericks (19-35) -8.0 GB

Here comes Dallas, barreling down the tanking trail. The Mavs have won zero games in their last nine attempts, and have clearly shifted gears after winning four straight prior to that nine-game skid. Cooper Flagg is everything that Dallas could have hoped he’d become (but then again, so was Luka Doncic), yet the Mavericks are staying on target, determined not to fall out of contention.

And they’re doing a scary good job.

8- (N/A) Memphis Grizzlies (20-33)

The scenes in the Memphis front office must have been very reminiscent of Michael Scott sharing the news that their branch would soon be downsized. It’s over, they declared in unison. We are screwed.

Clearly, having hit their ceiling with Morant, JJJ, and Bane, Memphis had nowhere to go. Burning the remains of a lost civilization was all Memphis could do, so that’s exactly what they’ve done. They’re holding a fire sale, and everything must go.

We’ll wish the departed Jazzmen luck in their professional careers — specifically Clayton and Hendricks, whom we hope pan out into great players. In the meantime, Memphis is going to be very bad before they can become any good.

Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.

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The Spurs dominated All-Star Weekend

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Stephon Castle #5 of Team Melo dribbles the ball during the game against Team Austin during the Rising Stars Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

All-Star Weekend has wrapped up, and the basketball world is still talking about the San Antonio Spurs. Much of the narrative around the All-Star Game was that Victor Wembanyama set the tone from an intensity standpoint, improving the game for the better.

But he wasn’t the only Spur to star at All-Star Weekend. De’Aaron Fox hit a game-winning three-pointer in the All-Star Game, Dylan Harper hit a game-winner over his brother in the Rising Stars Challenge, and Carter Bryant soared to a runner-up finish in the Dunk Contest.

Before the weekend, we polled readers on who would put on the best performance, and unsurprisingly, they nailed it. Wembanyama may have won the ASG MVP if Team World performed better. Mitch Johnson won’t get a lot of flowers for coaching Team Stripes, which lost in the championship game, but who knows if Kawhi Leonard goes on that 31-point tear if Johnson hadn’t been there to keep him in the game. It makes you think! Either way, the most successful event of the weekend had three Spurs involved in big moments.

Harper and Castle had their moments in the Rising Stars challenge, but it felt like Harper came away as a real winner from the weekend. His highlight against Ron Harper Jr. was hilarious. Ron Harper Sr. missing a layup in the Shooting Stars Challenge was funny, too. And all of the behind-the-scenes footage of Harper made it seem like he got to chum it up with some of the league’s best.

San Antonio could have had even more representation at the event, according to readers. 77% of respondents said that Castle was snubbed for the All-Star game. Castle is averaging 16.5 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds while shooting 46.4% from the field and 28.8% from three. Those aren’t quite All-Star stats, but once you figure in his defensive impact and the role he plays on a 38-16 team, it’s hard to deny that he has been one of the most important players in the NBA.

Castle’s time is coming. He’s improved in just about every statistical category since his rookie season. He’s developing into a legitimate two-way force who can make plays for others and get to the basket at will. We’re still waiting on the 2024 NBA Draft class’s first all-star. Castle could reach that height before the rest of the draftees.

The Spurs now head into the stretch run of the season as the playoffs rapidly approach. They not only have a shot at home court advantage in the first two rounds, but could even secure the one-seed if they go on a hot streak to end the season.

You can look at the Spurs odds for the rest of the season here: https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba

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Mark DeRosa reveals how he landed Aaron Judge for WBC — and how Andy Pettitte helped

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge #99, throwing a ball during today’s workout at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees Spring Training home in Tampa, Florida, Image 2 shows A man wearing glasses talking
Aaron Judge derosa

Mark DeRosa knew if Team USA could get Aaron Judge in the fold for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, other American position players would come. 

But for DeRosa’s “Dream Team” to fall into place, Judge would first have to agree to play. 

The American manager tried and failed to lure the Yankees superstar outfielder for the 2023 international event, one in which the U.S. fell in a heartbreaking championship game to Japan. In the middle of his long free agency process that saw him end up back in The Bronx and get named captain, Judge decided not to participate. 

Aaron Judge throwing a ball during a workout at Steinbrenner Field, the team’s spring training home. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

This time, though, the recruitment worked out. And Judge became Captain America to boot. 

Back as skipper for Team USA, DeRosa opened up on “The Show with Joel Sherman & Jon Heyman” on Tuesday about his team-building process last spring. He had received some intel from legendary Yankees lefty Andy Pettitte: Judge wanted in if the manager wanted him. 

So the longtime MLB utility player started his recruiting in earnest — one hour after getting the info from Pettitte. 

“I just said, ‘Hey Aaron, I’m not going to bug you throughout the year. … I talked to Andy Pettitte, I’d love for you to be obviously the captain of Team USA and kind of start with you and filter everything around you as the pillar of this thing,’” DeRosa said was his pitch to Judge. 

“He called me back within 48 hours and was like, ‘I’m in, I want to do it.’ … I started it in April, I just started slow-playing and trying to make pitches. I was building a Dream Team at night in my apartment on paper. Trying to make lineups out and pitching staffs. I was just slowly cold-calling people and seeing where their heads were at” 

Aaron Judge jogs around the bases during practice at Steinbrenner Field. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

That next cold call was to Pirates ace Paul Skenes because, in DeRosa’s mind, Team USA has had trouble getting top-flight pitchers to join the tournament. He barely had to make any effort with the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner, who pitched two years at Air Force and said he wanted to represent his country to honor the troops. 

DeRosa got his two pillars, and the talent followed suit. The U.S. now boasts a roster that includes a combined 65 MLB All-Star selections and six Cy Young Awards. 

“The time is now to do it,” Judge said Monday. “USA came up a little short [in 2023], but it’s an exciting group of guys. [DeRosa’s] got quite a squad he’s put together so far, so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s happened.”

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Wolves finalize cost-cutting move with Mike Conley by signing back veteran after trading him away

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves finalized their cost-cutting move with point guard Mike Conley by signing the 19th-year veteran on Wednesday, two weeks after trading him away.

Conley was first sent in a three-team deal to the Chicago Bulls, who then packaged him with Coby White in a swap with the Charlotte Hornets the following day. The day after that, Conley was waived.

Being traded twice made Conley eligible to rejoin the Timberwolves, who were thus able to sign him to a minimum contract after lowering their luxury tax bill beneath the first apron by jettisoning his original salary. Getting under the first apron and the rules around it allowed the Timberwolves the salary cap flexibility to acquire guard Ayo Dosunmu in a separate deal with the Bulls.

Conley's production and playing time have dwindled this season, but he has long been a revered presence on the team for his leadership, savvy and experience. He's a four-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award and a two-time teammate of the year honoree by the league.

The Timberwolves (34-22) are in sixth place in the Western Conference. They host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday in their first game after the All-Star break

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA