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'The dude's a machine': Three takeaways from LeBron James' return to the Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18, 2025: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket abasing Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on November 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket against Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It was the first time Deandre Ayton played in a game on the same team as LeBron James, but not the first time they had connected on an alley-oop. That first bucket came when the now-27-year-old Ayton was in eighth grade. It was at James’ basketball camp in Las Vegas.

“I finished it,” Ayton said with a bewildered smile. “I couldn’t believe he threw it. Here I am again. I can’t believe he threw the lob.”

James’ return from sciatica spurred the Lakers to a 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer made his impact while in play-making mode, dishing 12 assists — including the lob to Ayton in the second quarter — with 11 points and just one turnover. During the first quarter, James was honored on the big screen for being the first player to start his 23rd NBA season. He waved modestly to the crowd. He doesn’t play like it’s been that long.

Read more:LeBron James returns and hands out 12 assists as Lakers defeat the Jazz

“Running next to him, he’s running as fast as me down the floor,” Ayton said. “You don’t think that it’s his 23rd year. The dude’s a machine.”

Here are three takeaways from James’ first game of the season:

Good vibes always

The Lakers (11-4) accomplished plenty without James during their first 14 games. Luka Doncic jump-started his most valuable player campaign and rose to the top of the NBA scoring leaderboard. Austin Reaves is averaging career highs nearly across the board. Some wondered how much the team would really benefit from James’ return when it started 10-4 already.

Then the Lakers scored a season-high 140 points, shot a season-best 59.5% from the field and locked down on defense to allow just 32 points in the first 21 minutes of the second half before the benches cleared.

“I can fit in with anybody,” James said. “I don’t even understand why that was a question.”

Doncic continued his scoring spree with 37 points and 10 assists, but with eight turnovers. Reaves had 26 points.

The Lakers lauded their early-season chemistry, and coach JJ Redick praised his players for leading themselves through difficult times. He purposely restructured timeouts to give players time to discuss alone before the coaches would join them, hoping that the opportunities for player-to-player communication would prompt stronger team connection. Adding James’ voice to the conversation was an easy transition.

“Us as a young team, I’m glad we got hold of accountability before LeBron got out there,” Ayton said. “I’m glad we went through some tough games and a little of hardships and ups and downs and adversity. And it made us prepare for times like this where he says one thing and we get it done right away.”

The Jazz (5-9) knocked the Lakers back with guard Keyonte George making five threes in the first half and 23 points on nine-for-15 shooting. Utah jumped out to a 11-point lead in the first half, but the Lakers tied it with 18.8 seconds left in the second quarter and went into halftime down by four, prepared to make a push.

“I think the word we were using as a coaching staff was our poise as a group,” Redick said. “Not overreacting, not pulling apart, problem solving, all that stuff, in real time. Just continuing to play. That, at times, was missing last year, and for us to get that on the first night [fully healthy] was really good."

Second-half surge

The Lakers shot a blistering 65.9% from the field in the second half en route to their season-best scoring performance, but they said the catalyst was their defense. The Lakers finished the third quarter on a 21-5 run, capped by a three-pointer from Gabe Vincent when he scooped a low James pass seemingly off his shoelaces and hoisted it at the buzzer. The Lakers forced 11 missed shots during the run and allowed just two offensive rebounds, finishing defensive possessions quickly on the glass and pushing the ball ahead.

“I’m starting to realize this team, what gets us going is our defensive stops,” said Ayton, who finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds. “That’s what keeps our momentum push[ing].”

After giving up 71 points in the first half, Redick challenged his team at halftime to simply guard. George had just 11 points in the second half. Markkanen was held to just nine.

The Lakers have shown stretches of defensive dominance in the last two games. They locked Milwaukee down for 34 points in the first half last Saturday.

Odd men out

The Lakers were whole for the first time this season as Vincent (ankle) also returned alongside James. With the whole roster finally at his disposal, Redick changed up the rotation that left some mainstays on the bench.

Jarred Vanderbilt, who was averaging 18.4 minutes per game and was one of just two players who had appeared in all of the Lakers’ first 14 games, didn’t play Tuesday. Marcus Smart, who had starred in his role as a tenacious defender and tertiary ball-handler without James, played just 17 minutes off the bench, his fewest of the year. He finished with five points, one made three-pointer and three rebounds.

Read more:LeBron James is back. What's next for the Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves-led Lakers?

After signing with the Lakers as a free agent, Smart was a potential candidate to move into the starting lineup this season, but with all 14 standard contract players available for the first time, Redick stuck Rui Hachimura in the starting unit. Hachimura, who finished with six points and four rebounds Tuesday, had been averaging a career-high 15.8 points on sizzling 57.7% shooting. He started along with Ayton, Reaves, Doncic and James, who played 29 minutes and 37 seconds and could have played longer if the team needed him in a close game, Redick said.

“We're going to make decisions based on how the team is playing and how the groups work together,” Redick said. “It's not, like, beholden to one thing throughout the season. But I feel comfortable with that lineup. They've played a ton of minutes together at the end of last season, minus DA, so we'll continue to build on that."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Nick Caserio: Texans have no more clarity on when Joe Mixon will return

Texans running back Joe Mixon hasn't played at all this season because of a foot injury. Six weeks ago, Texans General Manager Nick Caserio said he expected to know more about Mixon's status in a few weeks. It's been more than a few weeks, and the Texans still don't know when Mixon will be able to go.

Caserio said on Sports Radio 610 that the team still doesn't have any update about Mixon's recovery.

“It's not that I'm trying to be evasive, it’s just a very gray situation," Caserio said. "Joe’s worked at it. There were times where he’s made progress and other times when the progress is kind of stalled. Players in his situation are on the reserve list until they're not. Joe's doing everything he can. Obviously we’re getting pretty late in the game here, so I don’t want to establish any sort of expectations. A month ago or whatever it was, I mentioned we'd have a better idea in three or four weeks, or whatever it was. I don’t think we have any more clarity at this point. I think at this point he’s out until he’s not. It's a very gray, a lot of ambiguity, there's not a lot of clarity, it's nobody's fault, it's just the reality of the situation."

Mixon was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp, and the Texans haven't explained how he hurt his foot in the first place. Last year Mixon was the Texans' leading rusher, with 1,016 yards, while this year they've turned to Nick Chubb, who has 419 yards through 10 games.

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NHL Nugget: McDavid's First Hat Trick Ended A Drought This Day In 2016

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind flashes back to Nov. 19, 2016, when Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid stole the spotlight against the Dallas Stars.

McDavid, a sophomore at the time, entered his 19th game of the season with a 10-game goal drought. But not only did he stop the scoring rut there, but the budding superstar went a step further with his first career hat trick. Watch the full video for more.

"Three pretty lucky goals," McDavid told reporters at the time. "It's a funny league that that way. You get Grade-A chances, and they're not going in, then you start putting it there, and they are going in. It's weird that way. Definitely happy to get off that slump."

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.    

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3 big questions Knicks are facing early during 2025-26 NBA season

The Knicks are 8-5 despite working their way through the implementation of a new offense and injuries to their best player and another starter. 

While the early results are solid, there are some weak points that have become apparent and are worth monitoring as the season progresses. 

Here are the three biggest questions facing New York early this season...

Are they too small?

A recurring image in these early games has looked something like this: the Knicks miss a shot and try to get back defensively, but some 6’7” wing already has Landry Shamet pinned underneath the basket for an easy score or foul. Mismatches happen, but New York is generally running smaller lineups than prior years -- arguably a necessity for this offense to work and the team to get enough ball-handling.

The simplest way to portray this trend: Josh Hart and OG Anunoby’s minutes per game have fallen from 74.2 last season to 56.6, with Shamet and Jordan Clarkson taking on much of those minutes. The Knicks are top three in offense, but there is a downside to that trade-off in that you allow more favorable matchups and require more defensive rotations and help. 

To quantify how big this issue is, New York ranks 16th defensively. But the damage is being done from three -- not the paint. How much of that is due to needing to help these smaller guards is the question.

There’s definitely a blow-by problem with the aforementioned names, especially once you throw in Jalen Brunson, on top of the size issue. These three-guard units should look much better if that’s tightened up.

New York could theoretically look to its bench for some added bulk on the wings, but Guerschon Yabusele is struggling to find his spot in the rotation and has largely played center, while their next best options are unproven youngsters Pacome Dadiet or Mohamed Diawara. The idea was for the new head coach to experiment more with these guys, but perhaps the staff and front office have closed the lab for now. 

This likely won’t end up a long-term or debilitating issue with options at the end of the bench and trade deadline, not to mention simply playing bigger lineups when the time comes. Head coach Mike Brown is likely doing his due diligence in leaning on these smaller lineups, in hopes of getting them ready for the big stage. 

Nov 3, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown looks on during a timeout in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.
Nov 3, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown looks on during a timeout in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. / Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

Do they need another depth upgrade?

Do the Knicks actually have enough on their bench? Their headline-grabbing offseason upgrades of Yabusele and Clarkson, healthy management of Mitchell Robinson, and unlocking of Shamet have all resulted in, once again, a championship-level nine-man rotation with a cliff dive in talent beyond that.

Yabusele has amassed 30 points on the season, Robinson is restricted, and none of the young talent that withered on last year’s bench has shown enough to demand alternative treatment this season. Tyler Kolek hasn’t gotten burn with Brunson hurt.

If the deep bench is truly that unplayable, it seems almost imperative that the Knicks add to it. Unfortunately, their options are scant.

The trade market will open up in less than a month, but with how close the Knicks and other teams are playing it to the new apron rules, finding the right deal will be tricky. If they want to truly upgrade they’ll likely have to deal one rotation piece for two, further limiting them.

There are still intriguing free agents out there like Spencer Dinwiddie, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, and Alec Burks, but the Knicks would need to make room to sign any of them. None would likely move the needle much, but that’s not what’s needed.

Ultimately, the Knicks just need a couple of guys to be ready should injuries or other circumstance befall them in their championship hunt. They should exist on the current roster, but until we see it this will be an ongoing concern.

Will the three-point defense improve?

Despite all the changes stemming from a swap in head coach, much of this team remains the same, like their defensive geography. New York is keeping with tradition in bottling up the paint, even throwing out new coverages we’ve yet to see to do so, at risk of giving up threes.

New York's foes are absolutely lacing them right now, as the Knicks are bottom five in opponent three-point accuracy. A good part of this is luck, as they’re making a very high amount of open looks, but they’re also getting too many, which should be a point of focus given New York’s average defensive performance.

This is reminiscent of prior years, as the Knicks historically helped aggressively one pass away and prioritized protecting the paint. The flavor is a bit different as they’ve thrown in different pick coverages and even some zone, but the issue is familiar and should improve over time.

Simply better, more engaged point to attack defense will help cut down on drives that send helpers into the blender. They can also get a little more selective with their switching depending on matchup and game flow.

If opponents slow down the three point barrage, that should also bump their numbers. Many times, we’ve seen seasons start with the Knicks getting rained on only for things to subside.

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Are The Detroit Red Wings For Real?

For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Detroit Red Wings have 12 wins through their first 20 games of the season. They currently sit atop the Atlantic Division roughly a quarter of the way through the season and it begs the question of if this team has what it takes to end Detroit's near decade long playoff drought?

They currently sit fifth in the NHL standings with 25 points, matching the Anaheim Ducks, despite posting only middling numbers across the board. Detroit ranks 18th in both goals for and goals against, averaging 3.00 and 3.10 respectively. Those marks still represent an improvement from last season, when the club finished 22nd in scoring at 2.87 goals per game and 21st defensively with a 3.16 goals-against average.

Rookie Defenseman Shocks NHL as Early Calder Trophy Front-RunnerRookie Defenseman Shocks NHL as Early Calder Trophy Front-RunnerAn 18-year-old defenseman is shattering expectations, logging elite minutes and dominating the early Calder Trophy race against a loaded rookie class.

Special teams have also taken a noticeable step forward with Detroit’s power play climbing to 13th and the penalty kill ranks 14th, a dramatic leap after finishing last in the league on the kill a year ago. While the Red Wings would like their power play to return to last season’s fourth-place form, maintaining a top-13 ranking marks positive progress.

Contributions have started to come from throughout the lineup like in Detroit’s most recent win, rookie center Nate Danielson delivered a sensational performance, scoring the team’s second goal, narrowly adding a highlight-reel second goal that was overturned for offside, and later setting up a crucial power-play goal with a stellar assist. Detroit's ninth overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft has been just one part of a growing youth movement on the team that includes early-season Calder Trophy contender Emmitt Finnie. 

Finnie opened his rookie campaign with eight points in his first nine NHL games while skating on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. A subsequent 10-game scoring drought bumped him to the second line, but he broke through again on Tuesday after being reunited with former AHL linemate Danielson. The pair clicked immediately on the second power-play unit, combining for Finnie’s fifth goal of the season.

Red Wings' stars continue to drive the offense with forwards in Larkin, Raymond and Alex DeBrincat all surpassing 22 points, placing Detroit among only three NHL teams to boast three players at that mark, alongside Colorado and Toronto. On the blue line, Moritz Seider has 12 points in 20 games and is tracking just shy of his career-high 50-point pace.

Depth scoring remains inconsistent as veterans in Mason Appleton and Andrew Copp are on pace for roughly 33 points, below Detroit’s expectations for Copp, who is typically a 40- to 50-point contributor. This also doesn't include J. T. Compher and James van Riemsdyk, who have also struggled with Compher on a 25-point pace and van Riemsdyk managing only two points through 15 games. Former first-round pick Marco Kasper has been quiet with three goals and no assists in 20 games after a promising finish last year. The Red Wings hope Danielson’s emergence may eventually fill its longstanding need for a reliable second-line center that was supposed to be Kasper's role before he lost the job with his poor performance lately. 

Detroit also faces uncertainty in net after trading for former All-Star John Gibson in the offseason, yet the veteran hasn't settled into form. Gibson holds a 3.31 goals-against average and an .875 save percentage in 11 starts this season. While he may still be adjusting to his new environment, patience is beginning to wear thin, especially with Cam Talbot outperforming him with an 8-2-0 record and a 2.64 goals-against average. Head coach Todd McLellan continues to give Gibson opportunities, publicly showing faith that the former Jennings Trophy winner can rebound.

Despite a difficult stretch of road games, the Red Wings have repeatedly found answers and if they can develop more consistent depth scoring, the team could start to resemble other contenders like Vegas or Carolina. But questions remain, and sportsbooks remain skeptical of Detroit’s staying power with the Red Wings currently listed at +135 to make the playoffs, reflecting the expectation that teams like Florida and Toronto will bounce back and rise in the standings as the season continues. Detroit also faces pressure from Boston, Montreal and a perennial challenger in Tampa Bay.

Are The Boston Bruins For Real?Are The Boston Bruins For Real?Boston's impressive win streak ignites debate. Can Pastrnak and Geekie lead this resurgent team past last year's playoff disappointment?

The schedule ahead will offer a clearer picture of whether Detroit’s strong start is sustainable. Upcoming matchups with the surging Islanders, Devils and a two-game set against the Bruins could prove pivotal in shaping the divisional race. As December approaches, fans in the Motor City may begin to feel the stirrings of a genuine playoff push. They can only hope the ending differs from the one experienced by the Detroit Tigers in their divisional race this past season. 

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Warriors' De'Anthony Melton progressing in rehab, to be re-evaluated in 10 days

Warriors' De'Anthony Melton progressing in rehab, to be re-evaluated in 10 days originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

De’Anthony Melton is inching closer and closer to a return.

The Warriors provided an official update on Melton (ACL) before Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center.

“Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton, who underwent surgery to repair a torn left ACL on December 4, 2024, continues to make good progress with his rehabilitation,” the team wrote. “He has intensified his workouts in recent weeks, participating in practice and scrimmages with the Santa Cruz Warriors on multiple occasions. He will continue to be integrated in full practice and various scrimmages with the Warriors. He will be re-evaluated again in 10 days.”

Melton signed a one-year, $12.8 million contract with Golden State last offseason and played in just six games before suffering a sprained left ACL that required season-ending surgery. In those games, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on 40.7-percent shooting from the field and 37.1 percent from 3-point range.

The veteran guard re-signed with Golden State on a two-year, $6.5 million contract this offseason.

The Warriors anticipated Melton missing the early portion of the 2025-26 NBA season, and shared an initial update on Oct. 29 that he would be re-evaluated in three weeks.

Now three weeks later, Melton has continued to progress, but there still doesn’t appear to be a target return date for the 27-year-old.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked Tuesday about Melton’s progress in an appearance on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” and stated Melton was “not very close” to a return.

That seems to be the case.

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Draymond Green believes fan response to NBA's new All-Star format is ‘alarming'

Draymond Green believes fan response to NBA's new All-Star format is ‘alarming' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green didn’t mince words when reacting to the NBA’s newest attempt to revive the NBA All-Star Game.

On Monday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” the Warriors veteran called the league’s recently announced USA vs. World format “alarming” — not because of the structure itself, but because of the public’s muted reaction.

“I must say it was a little underwhelming, the support or the attention that this drew,” Green said. “To me, that was an alarming sign. Like this was announced and nobody cared.”

The NBA announced that the 2026 All-Star Game will feature a three-team, round-robin tournament — two U.S. squads and one international team — with four 12-minute games on Feb. 15, 2026. It is the latest in a series of format changes designed to rekindle interest in a weekend that has struggled to capture fan excitement in recent years.

Green, however, isn’t convinced.

“What this showed to me was very clear,” Green said. “Unless the NBA does something like hockey did last year, where they had the four nations, like even in staging this like ‘Oh man, it’s still the All-Star Game,’ the lackluster response to this news really just showed me, ‘Man, All-Star might really be dead.’ “

Green pointed to the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off as an example of how an All-Star replacement can work. That event, featuring teams from the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden, earned rave reviews and drew global attention as a high-energy alternative to the traditional exhibition.

“That thing was so fun to watch,” Green explained. “When I saw the lackluster response to this news, it was very clear to me that like ‘Man, I just don’t know that it’s ever going to matter again.’ We can try all these different iterations, and I just don’t know that it’ll ever pick up the lust that it once had.”

In the end, Green said the reaction to the new format spoke volumes.

“It made it very evident to me that there may not be any coming back for All-Star Weekend,” he said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I think it’s one you have to take a deep look at.”

Whether the USA vs. World format can change that remains to be seen, but Green’s message was direct: the NBA All-Star Game might have already lost its spark.

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👀 The backstory is intriguing: NBA stars show off the new Germany kit

�� The backstory is intriguing: NBA stars show off the new Germany kit
👀 The backstory is intriguing: NBA stars show off the new Germany kit

The Wagner brothers not only made headlines with their athletic performance during the recent victory of the NBA team Orlando Magic against the Golden State Warriors. The two Berliners also made a real fashion statement!

Mega-talent Franz strolled through the tunnel wearing the freshly released DFB jersey for the 2026 World Cup. Moritz, who is currently still recovering from a cruciate ligament tear, even wore the shirt visibly under his open jacket during the game.

This move is likely a clear hint at an upcoming mega-deal: According to 'Sport Bild', both are apparently on the verge of signing as Adidas brand ambassadors.

Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but the latest images speak for themselves.

The German Basketball Federation (DBB) was particularly pleased and shared the scenes directly via social media. The background: Starting in 2026, Adidas is set to replace Peak as the new supplier for the national team. After ending their partnership with the DFB, Adidas now wants to conquer basketball!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Julio Aguilar - 2024 Getty Images

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LeBron James makes history as he plays 23rd NBA season against players who weren’t alive when he started in the league

LeBron James became the first player to feature in 23 NBA seasons on Tuesday (AP)

LeBron James made history Tuesday, becoming the first player to span 23 NBA seasons, facing seven Utah Jazz players who weren’t even born when he debuted.

“That just made my back hurt,” the 40-year-old Los Angeles Laker joked to reporters when told the stat, surpassing Vince Carter’s 22 seasons.

Five other players have played 21 seasons, including Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, and Chris Paul. James is now 48 games shy of Robert Parish’s record of 1,611 regular-season games.

Despite admitting his lungs were "burning," the Akron, Ohio, native set the NBA’s career-length record, playing 29 minutes and posting 11 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds in the Lakers’ 140-126 win over the Jazz.

Tuesday also marked James’ return to the court after a nearly seven-month absence due to sciatica, which sidelined him at the start of training camp. The four-time NBA champion missed the entire preseason and the Lakers’ first 14 regular-season games.

LeBron James made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday night (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
LeBron James made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday night (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

New Lakers center Deandre Ayton was also impressed with James’ performance, recalling that an alley-oop he received for a dunk was only the second lob from James he’d ever caught.

“I was just telling him a fun fact. I said, ‘That’s my second alley for me from you, the first one was when I was in eighth grade at your camp,’” Ayton told the media.

James, who had previously never missed a season opener in his nearly three-decade career, returned to basketball last week, practicing with the Lakers for the first time Monday.

"The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys," James commented after the game.

"As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind. Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected."

Some observers had questioned whether James’s return might disrupt a Lakers side that had started strongly with a 10-4 record in his absence. James dismissed such notions with a laugh.

"I can fit in with anybody," he asserted. "I don’t even understand why that was even a question. What’s wrong with these people out here? I can fit in right away with anybody.

“Just watching the guys the first 14 games, I was putting myself (mentally) in position while I was watching the games of how I could help the team and how I could be successful to help those guys. I’m still able to gain a lot of eyes when I’m driving the ball or have the ball."

Approximately 30 minutes before tip-off, the team confirmed James would make his 1,561st start in his 1,563rd regular-season game, receiving a loud ovation when announced in the Lakers’ starting line-up.

Though he didn't score in his first 11 minutes, James soon found his stride, hitting two three-pointers in the second quarter and dishing out eight assists in the second half, including six in just over three minutes early in the fourth quarter.

Denadre Ayton was visibly impressed by James’ performance (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Denadre Ayton was visibly impressed by James’ performance (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Lakers coach JJ Redick praised James’s unselfishness: "He played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer. Didn’t force it. Took his drives and his shots when they were there. The defence is going to pay attention to him, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really great to have him back."

James already holds the NBA record for combined regular-season and playoff games (1,855) and most total minutes played.

James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023 and, last March, was the first player to accumulate 50,000 total points in the regular season and playoffs combined.

His illustrious career, which began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in October 2003, includes four NBA Finals MVP awards, four league MVP awards, and 21 All-Star selections.

James has now played in 23 NBA seasons, surpassing the record he previously jointly-held with Vince Carter (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
James has now played in 23 NBA seasons, surpassing the record he previously jointly-held with Vince Carter (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

He led the Lakers to their 17th championship in 2020 and saw them reach the Western Conference finals in 2023, winning the Pacific Division title last spring after acquiring Luka Doncic, whom James describes as his favourite current player.

Despite admitting his body isn’t yet in ideal game shape, James remains eager to continue his career.

He has repeatedly stated he isn’t assuming this will be his last season, though he hasn’t decided on playing another year.

His most recent off-season was plagued by injuries, including two months of recovery after spraining his knee ligament during the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to Minnesota, followed by the painful bout of sciatica.

The Lakers’ next fixture is on Sunday, again against the Jazz in Salt Lake City. With at least two practices scheduled before then, James will have further opportunities to establish his chemistry and role within the team.

"I don’t have to worry about chemistry," James affirmed. "This is a great group. Everyone enjoys being around each another, sacrificing for one another, playing for one another. (Just got to) get my wind, get my rhythm back.

“Missed a couple of chippies tonight that I’m used to making. But that will come around."

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Orioles and Angels swap Taylor Ward for Grayson Rodriguez: Trade reaction and fantasy fallout

There was a flurry of moves across Major League Baseball on Tuesday as teams had to lock in their 40-man rosters before the Rule 5 Draft. However, the biggest move of the day came when many people were sleeping, as the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels pulled off a surprising trade that featured one of baseball's previous top pitching prospects.

On the surface, this seems like a confusing trade since we know the Orioles need top-end pitching and, for a time, that's exactly what we expected Grayson Rodriguez to be. So let's try to make sense of this deal both from a real-life and a fantasy standpoint.

Why would the Orioles make this trade?

I'm not sure. You tell me.

OK, well, any discussion about this trade has to start with Grayson Rodriguez's health. The 26-year-old has yet to pitch over 122 innings in any professional season and has battled myriad arm injuries since the second half of 2024. Since August of 2024, Rodriguez has dealt with right lat discomfort, right tricep soreness, right shoulder soreness, right elbow discomfort, and then right elbow surgery to remove damaged cartilage and bone spurs. That's a CVS receipt of injuries to his pitching arm, and you have to think that the Orioles would not have made this trade if they felt confident in his ability to return to his previous levels of production.

We also know that the Orioles felt they needed a power-hitting right-handed outfielder to complement left-handed hitters like Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson, Samuel Basallo, Jackson Holliday, Dylan Beavers, and switch-hitting Adley Rutschman. The Orioles do have Tyler O'Neill, who is a power-hitting right-handed outfielder, but they are potentially too worried about his health to rely on him as a full-time starter. Acquiring Ward means one of O'Neill and Beavers has to be pushed to the bench, or the two of them will be a platoon in right field.

In a vacuum, Ward is certainly a hitter any team would want to add. He hit 36 home runs and drove in 103 runs last season and has hit at least 23 home runs in all of his fully healthy MLB seasons. Of course, health is a bit of an issue for him as well. Ward only has two seasons with over 135 games played (his last two), but his significant injuries have been less consistent than O'Neill's. In 2023, Ward missed a large chunk of the season after being hit in the face and suffering a facial fracture. The last two seasons, he has battled lat discomfort, elbow inflammation, more lat discomfort, and a facial laceration, but he played through most of that. However, he also had neck, hamstring, and adductor injuries before 2023, so there are some valid durability concerns.

While his batting average has also fallen in every season since 2022, he's a .247/.327/.439 hitting for his career with a .192 ISO and 11.5% barrel rate, and that has value in the middle of a lineup. He has a solid understanding of the strike zone, not chasing much off the plate, and posting a career 9.1% swinging strike rate, so there aren't too many holes in his game from an offensive standpoint, even if the batting average will never be super high.

Defensively, he has been at least league average or better in left field in each of the last three seasons and was an above-average right fielder back in 2022, so the Orioles can use him in either corner outfield spot. With Cowser patrolling centerfield and Beavers/O'Neill in the other corner outfield spot, that's a pretty solid four-outfielder group for Baltimore. However, giving up four more years of Grayson Rodriguez for one season of Ward, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, is super risky, and the Orioles better hope they land one of the top starting pitchers on the market to help lead this rotation.

Why would the Angels make this trade?

In short, Grayson Rodriguez is only 26 years old and was once the top pitching prospect in all of baseball.

I know that all seems like a long time ago, but Rodriguez was MLB Pipeline's 6th overall prospect entering the 2022 season, which ranked him ahead of other pitching prospects like Hunter Greene, George Kirby, Jackson Jobe, Eury Perez, Shane Baz, and Nick Lodolo. That ranking was warranted too. In his 333.1 minor league innings, Rodriguez posted a 2.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and had 475 strikeouts to just 117 walks. He was dominant.

After some inconsistent production in his first 11 MLB starts as a 23-year-old, Rodriguez seemed to figure things out. He posted a 2.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 73/21 K/BB ratio in 76.2 innings to end the season. He then carried that into 2024, where he registered a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 130/36 K/BB ratio in 116.2 innings before a lat strain sidelined him for the season.

While there have been some concerns about the amount of hard contact he gives up and the consistency of his execution of his secondary pitches, Rodriguez's ace upside is unquestioned. If he's healthy. He posted 259 strikeouts in 238.2 MLB innings while showcasing a changeup that eats up both righties and lefties, an upper-90s four-seam fastball, and a slider that registered a 21.7% swinging strike rate against righties in 2024.

Rodriguez is also under contract through the 2029 season, so he could be a big-time addition to this Angels rotation if he remains healthy. As of now, he would slot in as the team's ace alongside Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, and one of Caden Dana, Sam Aldegheri, George Klassen, or Jack Kochanowicz.

While the Angels may have hated to part with Ward, who has been in their organization for his entire career, moving him allows them to shift Jo Adell back to a corner outfield spot where he is more comfortable and then play one of Mike Trout or Jorge Soler at the other corner spot. We should expect them to go out and add a center fielder this offseason as well.

What’s the fantasy baseball impact?

This is a nice boost for Taylor Ward just because of the improved lineup around him. He's now going to be hitting somewhere in the middle of an order that includes Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Adley Rutschman, and Colton Cowser. That should improve his RBI and runs totals; however, he might see a dip in power production. Angel Stadium is the third-best park for right-handed hitters, according to Statcast Park Factors, and is specifically fourth for right-handed power. Meanwhile, Oriole Park at Camden Yards is 22nd overall for right-handed hitters and is 23rd for right-handed power.

Oriole Park ranks better for base hits, due to its more spacious outfield, so we could see a batting average and counting stats boost for Ward with some home run regression. Maybe that puts him closer to the .246/.323/.426 line from 2024 with 25 home runs; however, if you also give him about 80-90 runs scored and 100 RBI, that's a pretty solid overall season and one you're happy to get from your OF3 in fantasy baseball.

Grayson Rodriguez's value is harder to quantify because it's so contingent on his health.

For starters, the Angels have not proven to be an organization that can develop pitching or get the most out of its pitchers, so this is not a great landing spot for him in hopes of unlocking the ace upside and fixing some of the command issues with his secondaries. I wouldn't bank on him taking a major leap here in terms of skills development. He also gets a team context hit since the Angels are likely to produce fewer wins than the Orioles in 2026.

Perhaps that means a season that's closer to Rodriguez's current career averages than a step forward. That would be an ERA around 4.00 with an elevated 1.25 WHIP, and a 25-26% strikeout rate. Getting 130-140 innings out of him would be a major win for the Angels after his last two seasons, so that overall line sounds a lot like what Brady Singer did this year on the Reds. We can give Rodriguez more strikeouts, but Singer also had 14 wins, which Rodriguez isn't likely to duplicate, so it could even out. Singer finished as the SP47 on FanGraph's Player Rater, and given Rodriguez's extensive injury history, it would be hard to rank him much higher than that heading into 2026.

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Islanders’ Likely Call-Up If Alexander Romanov Misses Time

On Tuesday night, defenseman Alexander Romanov appeared to sustain an upper-body injury after Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen pushed him from behind into the endwall behind the New York Islanders' net. 

Romanov seemed to be in tremendous pain, eventually being helped off the ice by the team trainer, Damien Hess, and Kyle Palmieri. 

Here's what head caach Patrick Roy said postgame about the hit and a player he once coached: 

The Islanders, who improved to 5-1-0 on Tuesday night after holding on to beat the Stars 3-2, have one more game to go on this seven-game road trip. They battle the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night at 7 PM ET. 

With Adam Boqvist rostered, the Islanders do not HAVE  to call anyone up from Bridgeport. 

However, whether it's for Detroit or when the Islanders return to Long Island, expect a defenseman to be recalled from Bridgeport, and expect it to be Long Island native Marshall Warren. 

Warren, who was the best defenseman in Bridgeport at the time of his first call-up to the big leagues, has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 10 AHL games this season, with four assists in six games since returning from his NHL stint. 

Fellow defense prospect Isaiah George, who played 33 games for the Islanders last season, has also been playing exceptional hockey, more so defensively, with four points (one goal, three assists) in 14 games. 

Unfortunately for George, he sustained an upper-body injury this past Saturday and isn't expected to currently be available as an option. 

Hopefully, Romanov's injury isn't as bad as it looked, and the Islanders can get him back sooner rather than later. But, if he does have to miss time, expect a combination of Adam Boqvist and a call-up, likely Warren, to help fill the hole.