LSU, Florida or Ole Miss? As it turns out, Lane Kiffin's decision could come sooner than expected and it's playing out publicly in a wholly unprecedented manner.
LeBron James reportedly 'aiming' to make season debut Tuesday vs. Jazz
All signs are pointing toward LeBron James making his season debut on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. He went through a full practice with the team on Monday and said, "Got to see how the body responds over the next 24 hours-plus." He has been officially listed as "questionable," which is standard for a player returning from injury who is very close to a return.
Now comes a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania that LeBron is "aiming" to make his debut on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena against the Jazz.
Add that to the evidence that Tuesday night will be the night — and once he plays, LeBron will become the first player in league history to reach 23 seasons on the court. By tradition, Lakers' coach J.J. Redick will likely not make anything official until he has to turn in the starting lineup card 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
Starting in August, LeBron began experiencing sciatica on his right side, which caused him to miss all of training camp as well as the first 14 games of the season. Everyone was cautious with his return.
Last season, LeBron averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, earning Second Team All-NBA honors and an All-Star selection. There have been questions about how LeBron will fit in a more Luka Doncic-centric offense, but the guess here is very well. LeBron is a high IQ player, he sees defenses blitzing and trapping Doncic more to get the ball out of his hands and dare any other Laker on the floor to beat them. That's a much riskier strategy when it's LeBron and Austin Reaves in the 4-on-3 created by doubling Doncic.
We may bet to see what all this looks like tonight.
Warriors' ‘Strength in Numbers' absent as Buddy Hield, bench struggle vs. Magic
Warriors' ‘Strength in Numbers' absent as Buddy Hield, bench struggle vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Don’t blame the three veterans in the starting lineup. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green each played imperfect games Tuesday night, but they surely did enough to give the Warriors a reasonable chance at a victory that would have pushed their win streak to four games.
Several factors contributed to Golden State’s 121-113 loss to the Orlando Magic, but the most disappointing was the bench production. Or lack of it.
Orlando was without star forward Paolo Banchero, who averages 21.7 points per game. Yet he was not missed, as a 21-year-old wing named Anthony Black came off the Magic bench to torch the Warriors with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. He played 33 minutes and posted a team-best plus-18.
Orlando’s bench piled up 35 points, while Golden State’s reserves totaled 22 points on 8-of-23 shooting, including 2 of 10 from deep.
Folks, a minus-13 bench output is not a winning formula – particularly for a team that starts three men in their mid-30s.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, however, remains optimistic.
“We have good team,” he told reporters at Kia Center. “We’ve got a lot of depth, we’ve got a great approach, our players are connected, chemistry is good.”
The Warriors qualify as a “good” team. Their approach is mostly solid. The players generally seem to be pulling in the same direction.
The depth? It’s a tour of highs and lows. And it hit another low against the Magic.
Al Horford led the bench crew with nine points and six rebounds and two steals, but he finished minus-11 over 27 minutes. Brandin Podziemski contributed five points on 2-of-7 shooting from the field, finishing minus-7 over 27 minutes. Gary Payton II, who scored four points, somehow finished minus-15 in 10 minutes. Quinten Post scored two points and finished with an even plus-minus.
And then there is Buddy Hield, the team’s most explosive bench player. The guy who over the last five seasons has drained more 3-pointers than anybody besides Curry. The guy who scored 33 points, dropping nine triples, to lift the Warriors to a Game 7 win over the Houston Rockets in a first-round NBA playoff series last season.
Hield came off the bench Tuesday, contributing two points and finishing minus-5 over 15 low-impact minutes.
The 32-year-old guard did not find his rhythm during the first four weeks of the 2025-26 NBA season. Since scoring 17 points – and banging five 3-pointers – on opening night, he is shooting 40.8 percent from the field and only 28.3 percent beyond the arc. He has scored in double figures only three times.
This Buddy isn’t helping the Warriors, and he’s trying the patience of his teammates. There is a reason why Butler, peeved committing a first-quarter turnover on a pass to Hield, barked at his teammate and friend.
“I’m never passing you the ball again,” Butler said.
No doubt, Butler will pass to Hield again. He’ll be a lot more comfortable doing so if he knows Buddy’s head is in the game and he’s playing at the level everyone knows he can reach.
Again, inefficiency and low production of the bench was the most disappointing factor. Turnovers, once again, damaged the Warriors. They were outrebounded (43-36) and punished in the paint (Orlando posted a 64-46 edge), as will happen to the smallest team in the league. Players not named Curry shot 6-of-21 from distance.
But to be destroyed by Black is a demerit for Warriors, and most of it lands on their bench.
“Anthony is a really good young player,” Kerr said. “He’s aggressive. I thought his defense was good and he attacked the rim and got some buckets.”
No lies detected, but the Warriors are in trouble if Black is outscoring their entire collection of reserves.
Black was leading an Orlando bench that entered the game ranked 28th in scoring, averaging 30.1 points per game. Golden State’s reserves, by contrast, were ranked 10th, averaging 37.1 points per game.
Insofar as this was Game 5 of a six-game road trip, the trio of heavy-minute veterans – who combined to commit 11 of Golden State’s 18 turnovers, clearly hurting the cause – really needed a boost from the bench. Not a lot, with Curry scoring 34 points, Butler dropping 33 and Green totaling 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
For the Warriors to become the feared offense they aim to be, there will have to be nights when they prevail with neither Curry nor Butler wearing a cape. As prolific as the Curry-Butler combo was, it was not enough.
Golden State’s bench, which has had some terrific games, must find ways to generate offense with more consistency. Even if it requires the support of the entire team to nudge Hield closer to his career shooting metrics.
The Wraparound: Can The Canadiens Overcome Their Injuries?
The Wraparound is back with more NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.
Can The Canadiens Overcome Their Injuries? by The WraparoundHere's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello, and Jack Williams discussed in this episode:
0:00: Can the Montreal Canadiens overcome their injury issues?
4:17: Can the Toronto Maple Leafs save their season?
8:04: Breaking down Brad Marchand’s hot start with the Florida Panthers
11:09: Could Spencer Knight be the Chicago Blackhawks’ long-term answer in net?
15:24: Projecting how the Dallas Stars will handle Jason Robertson’s next contract
19:41: How important is it for Elias Pettersson to have a positive offensive season?
23:10: Could Josh Doan end up being a big part of the Buffalo Sabres’ future?
26:07: Looking at the most likely outcomes for the Nashville Predators this season
See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
Lakers' LeBron James making season debut on Tuesday vs. Jazz
Lakers' LeBron James making season debut on Tuesday vs. Jazz originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
After weeks of whispered optimism and cautious updates, the moment has finally arrived. LeBron James will make his long-awaited season debut tonight at Crypto.com Arena when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz, according to sources.
The 39-year-old superstar, who missed the team’s first 14 games with a right-side sciatica injury, has been cleared to return following a steady rehab process that tested both patience and belief. And with his first steps onto the hardwood tonight, James will cross a threshold no player in NBA history has ever touched — a 23rd NBA season, a landmark that bends the timeline of what longevity in sports was ever thought to be.
Thanks in large part to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have raced out to a 10-4 start, good for fourth place in the Western Conference. But James has always been the franchise’s gravity, the emotional and tactical engine that changes the shape of games just by existing on the floor. His presence stabilizes everything — pace, spacing, confidence — in ways analytics struggle to fully measure.
Tonight’s matchup against the Jazz suddenly becomes more than a mid-November meeting. It becomes a night where history and urgency share the same stage. Fans will see a player who refuses to age quietly, a man carrying the weight of two decades and still choosing to chase the game with the same fire he once brought as a teenage prodigy from Akron.
James said on Monday that he feels like “the new kid at school,” as far as re-entering the lineup on a team that added a few new faces in the offseason. Both James and head coach J.J. Redick said it could take some time for James to acclimate with new teammates DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia among others.
James agreed, but it more concerned with his conditioning after he said his lungs “feel like a newborn baby” following a full practice with the Lakers on Monday morning at the team’s UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.
Tipoff is set for 7:30PM PT tonight in downtown L.A., where the arena lights will feel just a touch brighter. The Lakers get their leader back. The league gets another chapter in a story still refusing to end. And basketball, once again, leans in to watch the King walk out of the tunnel and into history.
Trent Grisham accepts Yankees' qualifying offer, returns on one-year deal
Trent Grisham is returning to the Bronx.
After the Yankees extended the qualifying offer to the outfielder, the 28-year-old accepted the $22.025 million deal for the 2026 season on Tuesday.
It was an interesting decision for Grisham. The veteran outfielder has been a solid player in his MLB career, but broke out in 2025 with the Yankees. His 34 homers this season were twice as many as his previous career high (2022 with the Padres) and his 74 RBI were 12 more than his previous high in 2021. It wasn't just his homers and RBI. Grisham set career marks in slugging (.464), hits (116), walks (82) and OPS (.811).
Many believed that Grisham would parlay that performance into a more lucrative deal, but he's choosing to stay with the Yankees.
Now, how does this affect the Yankees' offseason? GM Brian Cashman said that at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas earlier this month that he was "comfortable" extending the qualifying offer to Grisham and paying him the $22 million for one season, but that doesn't preclude him from trying to bring back Cody Bellinger -- who opted out of his Yankees deal after the 2025 season -- or filling the rest of the team's outfield.
"We’re comfortable [extending the qualifying offer to Grisham]. This is a very thin outfield market. If he turns it down, that means the market is flush with teams that have the need," Cashman said at the time. "He had a hell of a year for us, was one of the big reasons we had the level of success we did, and we’d be happy if he accepted and came back."
Grisham's return takes some of the pressure off Cashman to fill out his roster. Aaron Judge is the only everyday outfielder he can trust, but now he can pair the AL MVP with Grisham for 2026.
As for the other outfielder, Cashman will look to bring back Bellinger, but there are also internal options available (Jasson Dominguez/Spencer Jones).
"Fun To Get In There": Alex DeBrincat Reflects On Wild Finish To Victory Over Rangers
Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat has been a streaky goal scorer throughout his entire NHL career, and he's currently on one of his usual heaters.
DeBrincat has scored five goals in his past three combined games, including back to back contests in which he tallied twice.
For his efforts, he was named one of the NHL's Three Stars of the Week, an honor that he described as "pretty cool".
"It's pretty cool, there are a lot of good players in the League," DeBrincat said following practice on Tuesday. "I got a couple of chintzy goals there, but I'll take them all. But I think for us right now, it's keeping this momentum. Obviously, Buffalo wasn't great, but we had some good parts of the game and we gotta keep this good attitude going."
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DeBrincat also tallied during Sunday evening's 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, which was overshadowed by a postgame confrontation involving nearly all players from both clubs.
It began after Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick, who was on the bench for an extra attacker, took exception to Mason Appleton firing the puck into the empty net a split second after the final horn sounded. Quick charged at Appleton as both teams made their way onto the ice, resulting in a melee.
DeBrincat said that while he understood Quick's beef with Appleton, he didn't think his teammate broke one of the unwritten hockey codes.
Cat Scratch Fever: Red Wings' Alex DeBrincat Recognized By The NHL Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat is being recognized by the NHL after scoring five goals and adding an assist for six total points in his last three games. "It is what it is, I think I see his point, but I thought it was close enough to the buzzer," DeBrincat said of the experience. "Obviously, his (Quick's) view on it was different."
"It's valid, I like the fire, it was kind of fun to get in there and got some cool pictures out of it," the smiling DeBrincat continued. "It is what it is, I think everyone has their own view on the play, and maybe if it was their team, I'd have a different stance."
"But I thought it was close enough to the buzzer."
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Former Blackhawks Executive Al MacIsaac Is Waiting For His Second Chance
The man who was one of several people who helped transform the Chicago Blackhawks from a bottom-feeder into a dynasty is ready to return to the NHL.
Al MacIsaac just needs someone to give him a chance. Or rather, a second chance.
It’s been 16 months since the former Blackhawks executive, along with Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville, was reinstated by the NHL. But while Bowman and Quenneville are back working in the league, MacIsaac remains out of a job.
“I’ve talked to a lot of teams within the league,” MacIsaac said in a phone interview from his home in Virginia Beach, Va. “The teams that are talking to me realize that I’m ready. There’s nothing holding me back, except the right opportunity with the right team.”
Bowman was hired by the Edmonton Oilers a mere three weeks after being reinstated by the league on July 1, 2024. In his first season in Edmonton, Bowman guided the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup final, where they lost to the Florida Panthers. Quenneville waited a full year after being reinstated by the league before getting hired by the Anaheim Ducks. Since then, the Quenneville-coached Ducks have become one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
“I’m not surprised,” MacIsaac said of the successes of his former Blackhawks colleagues. “It’s been great to see. When Stan got his opportunity to go back to Edmonton, he went in with obviously a pretty solid roster, but you’ve got to give credit where credit is due. To go to the Stanley Cup final two years in a row is very difficult. And he was able to play a part in that success.
“Coming into Anaheim, I just think Joel slid right into that role and instantly had the respect of his players. He just has a calm approach, and he does things that players appreciate. It’s a skill to have that.”
In a lot of ways, the successes that Bowman and Quenneville are having these days is a continuation of the success they had alongside MacIsaac in Chicago.
From 2010 to 2015, the Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups and 15 playoff rounds. MacIsaac was there for it all. Initially hired in 2000 as GM of the AHL team, he, along with coach Trent Yawney, oversaw the development of Hall of Fame defenseman Duncan Keith and so many others who were instrumental to those three championships. MacIsaac wore many different hats in his two decades with the organization.
Eventually, he worked his way up to senior vice-president of hockey operations, where he worked side-by-side with Bowman and reported to then-president John McDonough.
“It was pretty unique, actually,” said MacIsaac. “I made sure that all the miscellaneous things that can bog down a GM in his day, that I was going to take off his plate. It was a behind-the-scenes role. It’s not always glamorous, but you’re doing a lot of the heavy lifting. In the roles that I’ve had, you don’t get a lot of credit. I have championship rings that I’m proud of. That’s all the credit that I need.”
In a salary cap era, what those Blackhawks teams were able to accomplish on the ice was pretty special.
“We were the first team to run into a cap crunch in 2010,” said MacIsaac. “In 2013, we rebuilt and added pieces and won again. And in 2015, after losing some players, we won again. It’s hard to do. I like to think it is a dynasty.”
Despite all the success in those years, the 2010 season was marred by allegations that then-player Kyle Beach was sexually assaulted by the team’s video coach. An independent investigation in 2021 found that Bowman, Quenneville and MacIsaac, as well as McDonough, didn’t do enough to prevent the assault from occurring or handle the allegations in a timely and appropriate manner.
In the four years since then, MacIsaac has reflected on what he could have done differently, while also trying to pave a path forward. He spent time at home with his wife and three daughters. And for a couple of years, he volunteered stocking shelves at a local food bank. It’s his way, he said, of trying to make amends for a moment in his career that still carries a weight of regret.
“I had an opportunity to do a lot of things in my community that were really important to me to give back to the community in some ways,” said MacIsaac, who said he and Beach have spoken a number of times. "I know it doesn’t do justice for Kyle, but it does help others. And I was trying to give back to the community to help others in the way that I wish I could have helped Kyle.”
In his career, MacIsaac has been part of seven championship teams in four different leagues. He won a Memorial Cup as a player in 1986, won both as a player (1992) and then as a GM (1998) in the ECHL, a Calder Cup in the AHL (1993) and three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013 and 2015) with Chicago.
“I started at the bottom as a general manager at 25 years old in the ECHL. I’ve ridden the bus for 16 years,” said MacIsaac, who in 2014 was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame. “And I have achieved the ultimate success of winning the Stanley Cup.”
Now, MacIsaac just wants to get back to what he loves. Like Bowman and Quenneville, he is just looking for the right opportunity.
“I’ve talked to a lot of teams in the league,” said MacIsaac. “I know I have the skill sets where I can come into any organization in any number of roles. But I’d love to come back in the same role, obviously, as a senior executive. I want to basically do a similar role, where I’m working alongside the general manager, and the president or ownership to build a Stanley Cup-winning team.
“I’ve been fortunate to be a part of three Cups and anyone who’s been a part of one will tell you they want another. You want to win again.”
Defensive Lineman Aiden Harris Will be Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Defensive lineman Aiden Harris (Mathews, North Carolina/ Weddington High School), will be officially honored Wednesday as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Navy All-American Bowl’s Road to the Dome digital series.
Defensive Back Allen Evans Will be Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Defensive back Allen Evans (Louisville, Kentucky/ Trinity High School), will be officially honored Wednesday as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Navy All-American Bowl’s Road to the Dome digital series.
Five-Star Tristen Keys Will be Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Wide receiver Tristen Keys (Hattiesburg, Mississippi/ Hattiesburg High School), will be officially honored Wednesday as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Navy All-American Bowl’s Road to the Dome digital series.
Nebraska Commit Claude Mpouma Will be Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Offensive lineman Claude Mpouma (Chicago, Illinois/ Mount Carmel High School), will be officially honored Wednesday as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Navy All-American Bowl’s Road to the Dome digital series.
NHL Waivers: Flames Claim Beecher, Tomasino Hits The Wire
The Calgary Flames claimed forward Johnny Beecher off NHL waivers from the Boston Bruins, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
In addition, Friedman reported thatPittsburgh Penguins forward Philip Tomasino and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Maxence Guenette were placed on waivers.
With Beecher being a 2019 first-round pick carrying a cheap $900,000 cap hit, it is not necessarily surprising that he was claimed. It is no secret the Flames need help on offense, sitting last in the NHL with 2.10 goals-for per game.
In six games this season with the Bruins, 24-year-old Beecher scored one goal and had a minus-1 rating. Last season, he had three goals and 11 points in 78 games.
Tomasino could very well generate some interest on waivers, as he is also a 2019 first-round pick and is still just 24 years old.
While he has recorded just one assist in nine games this season with the Penguins, he also had 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games for them last season after being acquired from the Nashville Predators. He also had 20 points in 41 games for Nashville in 2023-24.
Teams looking for help on offense could consider taking a chance on Tomasino with a low-risk waiver claim. This is especially so when noting that he has an affordable $1.75-million cap hit.
As for Guenette, he was just acquired by the Flyers from the Ottawa Senators on Monday in exchange for defenseman Dennis Gilbert. He has yet to play a game this season, as he was an RFA before signing a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Flyers following the trade.
Guenette has recorded zero points and a minus-2 rating in eight career NHL games, with his last NHL appearance being during the 2023-24 season with Ottawa.
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Canadiens Send Defender Back To AHL
The Montreal Canadiens have announced that defenseman Marc Del Gaizo has been reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
Del Gaizo was called up to the Canadiens' NHL roster ahead of their Nov. 17 contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but did not play. Now, he is heading right back to Laval after being scratched for the Canadiens' matchup against the Blue Jackets.
This is not the first time that Del Gaizo has been called up by the Canadiens to serve as an extra defenseman and then sent right back down. The 26-year-old blueliner is also still looking to make his regular-season debut with the Original Six club.
Del Gaizo will now be looking to make an impact after being sent back down to Laval. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey native has played in 11 games this season with Laval, where he has posted four assists, six penalty minutes, and a plus-4 rating.
Les Canadiens ont cédé le défenseur Marc Del Gaizo au Rocket de Laval.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 18, 2025
The Canadiens have loaned defenseman Marc Del Gaizo to the Laval Rocket. pic.twitter.com/YdBiZPRQXY
Del Gaizo signed with the Canadiens this off-season, ending his time with the Nashville Predators. In 55 games with Nashville over two seasons, he posted two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 23 penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating.
Mets releasing right-hander Frankie Montas
The Mets are moving on from right-hander Frankie Montas.
According to SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino, the Mets are releasing Montas after one season with the club.
The move allows them to add outfield prospect Nick Morabito to the 40-man roster, thus protecting him from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Teams have until Tuesday at 6 p.m. to protect players from the Rule 5 draft, which will take place on Dec. 10.
The veteran Montas, who exercised his $17 million option for the 2026 season, is expected to miss the entire season following elbow surgery.
Montas’ one-year tenure in Queens proved to be disastrous. After signing a two-year, $34 million contract early last offseason, Montas’ season got off to a delayed start following a lat strain at the start of spring training. He finally made his debut in late June, but was largely ineffective when he was able to pitch, posting a 6.28 ERA and 1.603 WHIP in nine appearances, including two out of the bullpen.
Morabito, a second-round pick of the Mets in 2022, spent the entire 2025 season with Double-A Binghamton, posting a .733 OPS with six home runs and 59 RBI. He was also excellent in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .362/.450/.464 with 16 stolen bases in 17 games.
The No. 13 overall prospect in the Mets’ system, Morabito profiles as a center fielder at the major league level.