The MLB playoffs begin Tuesday, Sept. 29 with the wild card rounds, two in each league. The winners will advance to the divisional series and face the teams that earned a bye.
Teams with the top-two records in the National and American leagues were awarded first-round byes, where they wait to see who they will face in the best-of-five Divisional Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a title favorite, coming off of back-to-back World Series. They can become the first NL team to three-peat with three consecutive titles. L.A. looks to be a strong opponent and made a clear case to defend its titles, finishing the season 100-62. However, they had the second-best record in the National League.
The Milwaukee Brewers believe it's their year. They believe that every year, but after they topped the National League with 103 wins and 59 losses, there's more indication that this actually might be their year. It was the first time the organization has reached 100 wins. They have Cy Young Award favorite Jacob Misiorowski. There's a lot going in their favor.
The Guardians are itching to have their "Cleveland! This is for you" moment by raising a World Series trophy. They clinched the AL Central title for the seventh time in the last 11 years. Don't expect a lot of home runs. The Guardians rank 27th in the majors in homers – only Milwaukee hits fewer among playoff teams – and 26th in OPS.
The Tampa Bay Rays got used to playing in the wild card round in their last two playoff appearances – 2022 and 2023 – but graduated to a first-round bye this year. After getting bounced in the wild card series those last two appearances, a rest between the regular season and playoffs could bode well for the Rays. One thing's for sure, the need Nick Martinez to play like an All-Star.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 26: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 26, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Duke star Brandon Ingram was recently traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, but he won’t be playing for a while, as he has had surgery for a partial Achilles tear and also a heel spur.
There’s not a ton of information about his status, but our guess, for what it’s worth, is that it’s not as serious as what Jayson Tatum went through with his Achilles injury.
Still, the estimated recovery time is 6-9 months, so it’s no minor injury, and of course, we don’t know what the heel injury requires. And Ingram is now 29. It’s not old by NBA standards, and both training and rehab methods are vastly improved.
On the bright side, the surgery was in May, and the recovery is going well, so hopefully, he’ll be available before too much longer.
Breathe. The regular season is over, we’ve made it to the postseason, and we have a bye week. It’s all positive over here.
Clinching’s So Nice, We Did It Twice
Thanks to a 1-0 win against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, the Guardians clinched a postseason berth for the third year in a row. It was all Angel Martínez as he took a 79 mph changeup from Ranger Suarez into the right field seats. A combined two-hit effort from Daniel Espino, Joey Cantillo, Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sabrowski, and Cade Smith secured the one-run win and postseason spot. While the Kansas City Royals took an early three-run lead on Saturday, the Guards answered with four runs of their own in the second inning. They secured the win with a four-run ninth inning and locked down the American League Central. They’ll have a first round bye and will play the winner of the Wild Card series.
Ingle Earns MVP
The Guardians’ number four prospect, Cooper Ingle, brought home the hardware on Saturday when Minor League Baseball announced that he earned International League MVP honors. On top of hitting 20 home runs this season, he topped the league in OPS with a .952. He was also in the top-five for runs with 85, walks with 86, batting average with .297, and BABIP with .362. In 21 at bats with the Major League club this year, he hit just .095/.208/.095. However, with nearly a full season of Triple-A experience under his belt and a fresh start just six months away, he has the opportunity to blossom in 2027.
ClevelandRox Gives Back
Thanks to two home runs from catcher Hunter Goodman, the Colorado Rockies took down the Chicago White Sox on Saturday which secured the AL Central for the Guardians. Fans took to Twitter to show their gratitude, especially user @GuardsJoey. They quoted the Rockies’ win graphic asking if they could set up a GoFundMe for Goodman’s favorite charity. Goodman selected Kids of Denver which provides school clothing for children in Denver. By Sunday, fans had donated $2,500 to Kids of Denver to show their thanks to the catcher.
The San Diego Padres host the Chicago Cubs in the best-of-three National League wild card series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29, a rematch from a year ago – won by the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
"I'm looking forward to playing a really good ballclub and getting another crack at them and starting this playoffs off on a high note," Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said Monday.
Crow-Armstrong will likely be the National League's MVP after becoming just the seventh player in MLB history with 40 home runs and 40 steals in a season and the 24-year-old finished tied for the MLB lead with 45 home runs.
"This place is super fun to play in in the regular season, and it's rocking and it's a party," Crow-Armstrong said of San Diego's Petco Park. "I'm just looking forward to year two of playoff baseball."
The Padres are one of five Major League Baseball franchises to have never won a World Series, last reaching the Fall Classic in 1998. The Cubs last won it all in 2016, snapping a 108-year championship drought.
Where to watch Cubs vs Padres: TV channel, streaming
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SACRAMENTO — Darius Acuff Jr. approached his first NBA media day like any other day.
To everyone else, Acuff was one of the biggest storylines as eyes followed the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft everywhere he went once he first walked onto the Kings practice facility court. To him, it was just Monday.
Why? Because becoming an NBA player never was some far-fetched dream for the Arkansas product. It never was something that was unspoken in his Detroit household that bled and sweated the game of basketball. It was reality within reach. It was manifested. It always was meant to happen.
But the confidence in himself should not be mistaken for ungratefulness.
“I always felt like [an NBA player]. I always dreamed of it,” Acuff said Monday. “So it’s kind of hard not to feel like you’re not there. But when you actually get here, like doing this is kind of another thought, like, damn, I really made it. But like I said, just soaking it all in, just trying to be that young player willing to learn from anybody. It’s still great, though.”
Acuff is a 19-year-old with the maturity and mindset of a 40-year-old man.
He attributes that to his upbringing in Detroit, a home he always will rep as he embarks on embracing his other new home in Sacramento.
He spent his summer mostly in California’s capital, getting adjusted to his new environment and teammates. He worked out a lot with his fellow rookies, Alex Karaban and Emmanuel Sharpe, as well as with second-year guys such as Max Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell. But his on-court work with veteran big man Domantas Sabonis is what could become a real dual threat for opponents.
“Yeah, it’s been great,” Acuff said. “A couple of the five-on-five sessions we were on the same team, and it was kind of easy to play with him. I’m going to get some layups off him, he can pass, too. It’s great building chemistry with him. It’s very exciting for sure.”
Like Acuff, Ben Simmons is new to the Kings organization.
The rookie is excited to share the floor with someone he grew up watching and never imagined he would be teammates with.
“Nah, I ain’t ever thought that. Watching Ben he got drafted in 2018, right? 2016. See, I was in like third grade. I was in third grade and watching Zach [LaVine], of course, dunk contest, all that. So even Malik [Monk], I watched Malik play. He played for coach [John Calipari]. So just being here is great, man. Learning from them guys is going to be great for me all year.”
He revealed that both Monk and LaVine texted him as soon as he was drafted by Sacramento. And since then, they have been among the many veterans who have guided him along the way and will continue to do so throughout his rookie season.
Acuff will be the starting point guard for the Kings during the 2026-27 season, which presents questions about what Simmons’ exact role will be. Acuff acknowledged that the logistics will be sorted out throughout training camp and preseason, but for now, the team is focused on honing in on one of its identities, which is playing fast.
However, it won’t take long for Acuff to realize words mean very little to the Kings fanbase, who have experienced just one playoff appearance in two decades. He is a competitor; he wants to win, but he also knows the odds are against the Kings.
He doesn’t mind that.
“Yeah, for sure,” Acuff said when asked if the Kings’ low expectations could be used as bulletin board material. “We want something to fuel you. Like I said, my one thing that I said is I’ve been really trying to win. So you know, I’m not too worried about what other people say. I’m focused on what me and the team are trying to do, and that’s win games.”
Despite being a 19-year-old rookie, he believes that starts with him.
He recognizes and accepts that responsibility wholeheartedly. It begins with accountability — one of general manager Scott Perry’s six pillars.
“I say just staying level-headed, just being smart, and just being a leader as the point guard,” Acuff said. “You got to lead the team. That’s how y’all are going to win. So just getting everybody where they need to be. Everybody taking accountability, no matter who you are, and just like I said, being together as a team, being together on and off the court is going to help on the court.”
Acuff, so far, has been a man of few words with the media, but when he speaks, he speaks with conviction.
It is early, and there is a lot that has to fall into place for Acuff to thrive in his new role as the face of the franchise over the next several years. But whether it be his rookie season or Year 10 for him, he only has one thing on his mind.
The hockey world was hit with a massive trade on Monday, as the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz and a 2027 conditional second-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins (18 percent of his salary retained).
The main gist of this trade for Toronto was acquiring Marchenko and giving up Knies in the process. The Leafs lost a 23-year-old power forward who has the potential to grow and become a great player in the NHL.
Last year, Knies put up 23 goals and 66 points in 79 appearances for Toronto. But with this acquisition, here's what the Maple Leafs get in Marchenko.
Marchenko is an NHL star, first off. He registered similar numbers to Knies last year, putting up 27 goals and 67 points. The year before that, the Russian right winger notched a career-high 31 goals and 74 points in 79 games.
This is a player who can score, impose his will on a game, be a difference-maker for his team with the puck, and drive a line to some degree.
Knies could also be a difference-maker in certain situations, but if he played on the third line rather than with superstars like Auston Matthews, he wouldn't stand out nearly as much. He's a good NHL player, but more of a complementary one. Marchenko is more than that.
Another massive difference between the two players is that Marchenko is a much better skater than Knies. In fact, Marchenko is actually one of the better skaters in the wide landscape of the NHL.
According to NHL Edge, in the 2025-26 season, the 26-year-old is in the 93rd percentile in skating speed, reaching a max skating speed of 37.60 kilometers per hour. He had 28 speed bursts at 35-plus kph (98th percentile). Marchenko is also a top-10 skater among NHL forwards in terms of speed bursts between 32 and 35 kph (273) and bursts between 29 and 32 kph (821).
Simply put, Marchenko is one of the quickest forwards in the league and utilizes his speed fairly regularly, rather than clocking a high speed sporadically throughout the year.
He also covers a lot of distance on the ice and doesn't just pick his spots when he wants to be effective.
Marchenko finished last season in the 97th percentile for most kilometers travelled in a game at 6.79 km. Also, the average NHLer skated 198.82 km last year, whereas Marchenko reached 395.50 km with the Blue Jackets.
He'll fit in nicely with Toronto head coach Jim Hiller's playing style, where he can't stress enough the importance of his team being able to skate on both sides of the ice and fast. Marchenko was one of the best forwards in the NHL to do so last year.
As for Knies in that department, the narrative surrounding him throughout training camp and pre-season was that he appeared to be slow. And last season's numbers show Knies to be a fairly average skater for the role he carried on the Leafs.
One factor that might play a role in that is that Marchenko is much lighter than Knies. They both measure 6-foot-3, but Marchenko weighs about 200 pounds in comparison to Knies' 227 pounds.
However, even though Marchenko is significantly lighter than Knies, it doesn't mean he's not a physical or strong player. Toronto's newest addition is very capable of staying on his feet in the corners.
He doesn't throw as many hits as Knies (61 to 152), but that's a trade-off for the skill that Marchenko brings to the ice.
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The first and only big transaction the Philadelphia Flyers made this past offseason was the acquisition of backup goalie Joseph Woll, who arrived via trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs at a fairly low cost.
To bring in the 28-year-old Woll, a starting-caliber goalie with some durability questions, as well as rugged defenseman Simon Benoit, the Flyers only needed to pay up in the form of struggling goalie Sam Ersson, promising but small defenseman Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick, which was used to draft Juuso Alnasto 85th overall.
But, just over three months after the June 16 trade, Woll and Benoit remain with the Flyers, while Ersson and Andrae have already been shipped off to new teams before appearing in a regular season game for the Maple Leafs.
Ersson was traded by the Maple Leafs to the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators for a 2027 fifth-round pick, with the once-promising Flyers goalie signing a two-year, $4.4 million ($2.2 million AAV) contract with the Sens and supplanting Leevi Merilainen as the backup to incumbent starter Linus Ullmark.
As for Andrae, the 24-year-old defenseman signed a two-year, $3.1 million ($1.55 AAV) contract with the Maple Leafs on July 4 and at one point had been practicing alongside top-pair defenseman Morgan Rielly, but Toronto didn't hesitate to flip him in pursuit of a better opportunity for the club.
Andrae included in big Kirill Marchenko trade
Emil Andrae lasted just three months with the Toronto Maple Leafs before getting traded again. (Photo: Dan Hamilton, Imagn Images)
On Monday, the Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets completed a blockbuster trade that oversaw the exchange of wingers Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko, with Andrae heading to Columbus as one of the auxiliary pieces in the deal.
Knies, Andrae, Steven Lorentz, and a 2027 second-round pick were exchanged for Elvis Merzlikins, Miles Wood, and Marchenko, with the latter agreeing to a six-year, $75 million extension ($12.5 million AAV) with the Maple Leafs that will kick in on July 1 of next year.
In the end, Andrae was a fairly inconsequential piece included in the trade, with the former Flyers prospect in line to take on a depth role in Columbus.
He's one of six healthy defensemen on the Blue Jackets' roster, alongside Zach Werenski, Ivan Provorov, Erik Gudbranson, Jake Christiansen, and Denton Mateychuk.
Gudbranson is the only right-shot of the bunch, and Andrae and Christiansen figure to be the first men out of the lineup once Damon Severson (shoulder) and Dante Fabbro (hand) return from their respective injuries.
It's becoming clear already that Flyers GM Danny Briere got maximum value out of the Woll trade, adding an important understudy behind starter Dan Vladar, with the goalie depth tested once already in the 2026 preseason.
Benoit, a capable NHL defenseman, will take over the veteran No. 7 role previously filled by players like Marc Staal, Erik Johnson, and Noah Juulsen, and it helps that he was already once teammates with Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale in Anaheim.
Almost by default, the Woll trade is looking like another win in an increasingly long line of them for Briere, which surely includes the recent additions of Zegras and Vladar.
The big move hasn't come yet, of course, but the foundation is there for the Flyers to add a massive piece and immediately reap the rewards of such a deal in the future.
The 2026 MLB postseason begins on September 29 and as excitement builds for October baseball, the postseason brings a few key rule differences compared to the regular season, especially in how extra innings are handled.
During the regular season, if a game goes to extra innings, the so-called 'ghost runner' rule is in effect: starting in the top of the 10th inning, each team begins its half-inning at bat with a runner automatically placed on second base.
However, in the postseason, the "ghost runner" rule does not apply.
Extra innings in the playoffs are played under traditional baseball rules, with no automatic runner starting on second base.
Extra innings continue until one team leads at the end of a completed inning, or the home team scores the go-ahead run in the bottom half of an extra inning, ending the game immediately.
The MLB postseason kicks off on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with Game 1 of each of the four wild card series. If needed, a decisive Game 3 will be played two days later on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves strikes a pose during the team's media day in El Segundo on Monday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
On the court, Austin Reaves really doesn’t have much left to prove. Well, except whether he can stay on the court.
The Lakers’ star guard is tough, he’s talented, he has the temperament and competitive compass to lead a team. He’s been blessed with a sense of the moment and a sense of humor. It’s been a treat to watch him go from an undrafted curiosity to star guard for the Lakers, recently the recipient of a new four-year, $184-million contract.
Reaves foretold of his future stardom in 2023 after scoring nine consecutive points in a playoff victory over the Memphis Grizzlies: He’s him, he’s him!
Now entering Year 6, we’re long past doubting the ability of this kid from Newark, Ark. — except, of course, for his durability, his availability.
When he played last season, averaging 23.3 points on 49% shooting, the Lakers were 36-15 (.706). That’s better than every Western Conference team besides the Oklahoma City Thunder (.780) and San Antonio Spurs (.756).
But when Reaves was out of uniform and headband, the Lakers were a ho-hum 17-14.
Reaves missed those games — and his shot at his first All-NBA and All-Star selections — because of right groin soreness in November, a left calf strain in December and January, and a left oblique strain in April.
Those were frustrating injuries, but they weren’t random. Unfortunate, but not exactly unlucky. They weren’t freak injuries, they were conditions that cropped up when his usage ticked up.
It seemed a sign that Reaves could be overburdened when he had to carry extra weight more than just part-time.
So the Lakers need the 28-year-old that they’re paying more than anyone but Luka Doncic to steel himself against that wear and tear. They better hope he spent at least as much time training his body to withstand another NBA season of body blows as he did going low on golf courses this offseason.
Monday at media day, where Doncic and Reaves sported matching golf tans, the now-longest-tenured Laker testified that he “had a really good summer and put myself in a really good spot going into this year.”
That’s good, that’s really good.
Because if the new-look Lakers are going to succeed, they need Reaves whipping passes and weaving to the rim for as many of their 82 regular-season games as possible.
They also need him to stretch well and drink lots of water and regularly get good nights’ sleep.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves participates in the team's media day in El Segundo on Monday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
To go ahead and invest in hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy, compression boots and anything else he watched LeBron James do to defy Father Time in the five seasons they played together: “There’s a lot more that goes into it than the casual fan sees,” Reaves said Monday. “You have to do more every single day, especially the older that you get.”
The Lakers have watched Reaves grow up, from a surprising bit player in 2021-22 to a multifaceted menace who last season scored 51 points one game, dished 16 assists in another, and had others with 11 rebounds and four steals.
That’s why he got the big contract. And that’s why, when Reaves said Monday that, in his mind, “nothing really changes with how I approach the game,” it made sense.
He plays winning basketball, and if it ain’t broke, you’re not supposed to fix it.
But the Lakers also need Reaves to realize he’s really rich now. He should let it get to his head a little bit and be smarter out there.
He’s not going to be overdrawn when those moments arrive, asking him to make a bang-bang decision: Cash or charge?
For Reaves, the answer should almost always be cash. Because what’s in the Lakers’ best interests? Reaves drawing an offensive foul or coach JJ Redick drawing up a lineup without Reaves in it?
Protect yourself at all costs, Austin. Luka, too. Let all these defensive-minded role players fighting for playing time take the charges; that’s their job.
New Lakers center Kevon Looney became a three-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors. He knows what wins championships: Defense and health.
“For us to reach our full potential, we’re going to have to be a good defensive team,” Looney said Monday. “And then every team needs health. We got the talent, but being healthy and taking care of our bodies is going to set us apart.”
Reaves has already set himself apart, as an underdog, a dawg, and now, one of the Lakers’ top dogs.
He’s worth every penny that they’re paying him. But he’s still got to earn it.
Lakers center Walker Kessler speaks during the team's media day in El Segundo on Monday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
When he’s at his best, Matisse Thybulle is already regarded as an elite, ball-hawking wing. Now think about what the new Lakers guard can do with Walker Kessler by his side.
“[I] just feel like I can fully live up to my defensive potential,” Thybulle said Monday at Lakers media day, “because of having a rim protector like Walker.”
Just as Kessler is expected to lift the Lakers’ offense by pairing with Luka Doncic, the Lakers are equally excited for the influence Kessler can have on defense. The 7-foot-2 center is the type of rim-protecting force that can unlock a new scheme and elevate his teammates as the Lakers compete in a top-heavy Western Conference.
Coach JJ Redick said the Lakers’ tendency to switch on defense in recent years was “by necessity.” The Lakers, with the inconsistent Deandre Ayton at center, ranked 20th in defensive rating last season with just 4.3 blocks per game. Their 41 rebounds per game ranked 27th.
In 2024-25, his last full season, Kessler was second in the NBA in blocks (2.4). The former Utah Jazz center averaged a double-double (11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds) during his third year, looking primed for a breakthrough. Then, a shoulder injury limited him to just five games last season.
The Lakers believe the 25-year-old Kessler’s talent, age and fit with Doncic and fellow star guard Austin Reaves made him worthy of a high-investment sign-and-trade; the Lakers sent four first-round draft picks to Utah to secure the restricted free agent, who then signed a four-year, $130-million deal with L.A.
“I think the Lakers organization is obviously a historic organization, and there’s maybe added pressure to that,” Kessler said. “But I think for me, with that pressure comes a lot of opportunity to play at a stage like this and to compete for a championship. I think that with the price they gave [for] me, again, speaking to the belief that they showed me, it makes me want to play my best ball for them.”
Lakers center Walker Kessler participates in a video shoot during the team's media day in El Segundo on Monday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Redick said he hopes to use Kessler similarly to how the San Antonio Spurs use reigning defensive player of the year Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs superstar lurks down low near the basket, allowing guards to pressure aggressively on the perimeter.
The plan sounds perfect to Kessler’s new teammates.
“I’m a gambling man,” forward Jake LaRavia said with a smile. “So when it comes to defense, being able to play passing lanes and not have to worry about getting beat so much because you’ve got Walker as the back-line defense, it’s going to make us wings and guards feel a lot more comfortable being a little bit more aggressive defensively, maybe being able to pick up full-court a little bit more.”
The Lakers are chasing Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The last two conference champions were first and third, respectively, in NBA defensive rating last season, anchored by their star centers. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren finished second in defensive player of the year voting and earned his first All-Star appearance.
Hoping to keep pace, the Lakers brought in Kessler as their most high-profile offseason addition. They also revamped their options on the perimeter, adding a stable of three-and-D players to support Doncic and Reaves by spacing the floor on offense and covering for the superstars on defense. Thybulle — a two-time NBA all-defensive team honoree — guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton and forward Ziaire Williams are expected to be among the new faces responsible for taking the Lakers’ defense to the next level.
“OKC, San Antonio, they play really hard defensively,” Grimes said. “You can get away with a lot more. So we’re really trying to set that tone.”
Doncic lauded the roster moves. Many of the signings were “underrated,” Doncic said. The Lakers don’t mind being overlooked for now.
“I think we’re competitors,” Sexton said. “I feel like we added people that are willing to compete, and we added guys that don’t back down to anyone. ... So I think we gotta show people.”
"I think the Lakers organization is obviously a historic organization, and there's maybe added pressure to that," said Walker Kessler, posing during the Lakers' media day Monday. "But I think for me, with that pressure comes a lot of opportunity to play at a stage like this and to compete for a championship. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Doncic, who missed the postseason because of a hamstring injury, is especially eager to get back on the court. The thought of his long-awaited return was one of the few times the maniacal competitor showed a genuine smile during his obligatory news conference Monday.
Kessler said his shoulder is “110%” and “better than it’s ever felt.” The injury lingered since college and started getting worse last season. Shutting it down for the season felt like “it would be the best timing,” Kessler said in July. At the time, Utah was much more focused on draft position than playoff hopes.
With a line of Larry O’Brien trophies lording over the Lakers’ practice court, Kessler knows expectations in L.A. will be the highest he’s ever faced.
“To play for a [historic team] like this, I don’t really feel pressure. I just feel grateful,” Kessler said. “Grateful for this opportunity and grateful to play for this franchise.”
Sep 28, 2026; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) talks to reporters during media day at Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Another year, another Celtics Media Day in the books. This is maybe my favorite part of the offseason. The team is assembled, the stakes are set, and all the new and returning faces are telling me exactly what I want to hear.
Up until the playoffs rolled around, I had very little to complain about last season. The team exceeded all expectations in my eyes, and I wasn’t as low on them going into the season as many others were. That being said, there was still plenty of room for improvement, even during their impressive regular season.
Maybe the best encapsulation of that sentiment in a single player is Derrick White. White put together a pretty great season all things considered. He produced career-highs in points (16.5), assists (5.4), steals (1.1), and blocks per game (1.3). Along with that, he was among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio, ranked sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and made it onto the All-Defensive First Team.
Fans and critics alike have found it pretty easy to overlook all of those achievements, though. Derrick had a pretty poor year in terms of efficiency, and the conversation surrounding that stole the show, especially when the playoffs rolled around and it seemed like he couldn’t buy a bucket while the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead.
White shot an abysmal 39.4% from the field over the course of the season. From behind the arc, just 32.7%. With three-point attempts making up over half of his shot diet, each missed shot felt like it was carrying some extra weight.
Derrick was able to acknowledge the struggles during his media availability on Monday, while giving some encouraging words alongside them: “I think every offseason, you try to just go back and see what went wrong, why it went wrong, and try to correct it for the next season. Obviously, shooting was a big thing, and something I think I’ve corrected, hopefully… I feel good. I feel confident, and I’ll try and go out there and perform.”
Derrick White says he thinks he has corrected his shooting.
When asked about what specifically he worked on, he joked at first, “you guys would look at me crazy if I said I didn’t figure it out at all.” He then continued to say, “there are obviously some things that I think I kinda dropped that I’ve done in the past. So, just kinda going back to some things that I’ve done… Just a bunch of those little things that kinda compound, combine into a bad shooting year, and just trying to be better for next year.”
White has been a core member of the Celtics since Boston decided to trade for him. He’s taken on more responsibility with each passing season. With Jayson Tatum’s absence, Derrick not only had to operate without the one teammate who makes his job the easiest; he also had to shoulder a larger workload than he was used to.
Before Tatum returned to the court, White was taking 15.2 field goal attempts (FGA) per game, up from the 12.6 FGA from the previous season. That bumped him up from the fourth highest FGA rate on the team in 24-25, behind Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis, to the second highest, only behind Jaylen.
At the same time, he saw a similar increase in his usage. In the 24-25 season, Derrick was again fourth on the team behind Tatum (30.1%), Brown (28.2%), and Porzingis (25.3%) at 19.5%. This past season, he was third (22.7%) behind Jaylen (35.6%) and Anfernee Simons (22.8%) prior to Tatum’s return. He had the ball in his hands more, and was tasked with controlling the offense more often, all while a larger chunk of the possessions was concentrated into Brown’s hands, meaning the responsibility wasn’t as spread out.
This upcoming season, Tatum should be back to his usual self, and while Derrick may still be tasked with a lot of offensive responsibility, Paul George should be able to take on a fair bit of the catch-and-shoot looks White had early in his Celtics tenure, while Mitchell Robinson’s screen-setting and rolling should open up a lot more of the floor. Derrick should be back in a much more comfortable position to operate from, and if his offseason efforts pay off, he’ll become a major key to unlocking Boston’s offense between his shooting and playmaking.
The way I see it, White set a high bar for himself last season, but left a wide-open window to reach, and even pass that bar. Just a few more weeks until we get to see him and the team back in action.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during media day at PC&E Atlanta on September 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks are back and ready to start the 2026-27 season, and what better way to know they’re back than Media Day. It always feels like the first day of school, but it’s the time when players all come together and share with the media and fans what’s going through their minds ahead of the season.
For the Hawks, they added some new players to the team who should be major contributors to their success, but they also have returning players who are looking to take another jump in their game.
Here are some of the best sounds and bites from the Hawks during Media Day.
What CJ McCollum is looking forward to in training camp
“I got traded in January. I got here, met the team on a road trip, and kind of jumped right into the season, which was difficult, but I think I’m most excited about being able to go through a full training camp. We went through the season, lost in the postseason, and had the summer where we were all here on and off. Everybody was here pretty early in September. So, we’ve been able to work out together, play some, and kind of hang around each other. I think that’s important for camaraderie, trust, the ability to execute down the stretch, and then also accountability.”
Onyeka Okongwu on the first time entering the season as the starting center
“I love the fact that they have a lot of confidence in me. I’m excited for it. I’m ready for the responsibility and I’m ready to see how far this team can go.”
Jock Landale on returning to the Hawks
“I took it on myself to get here as early as possible. I think I’ve been around since July 5th. A lot of guys have been around and in the gym, I feel like we’ve made some really good leeway in kind of building relationships with each other and just learning what it is to play Atlanta Hawks basketball. We’ve got a long way to go given that it’s still September, but I think we’ve made some really good inroads to our own identity.”
Nickeil Alexander-Walker following up on his MIP season
“My main focus out of that is to continue to grow as a player, to continue to get better, to maximize the opportunity and every single ounce of potential that I have left. Wherever that takes me, it takes me. I think that by doing that, it has proven over time that it just continues to get better. I don’t stress the success more than I stress not continuously working and getting complacent.”
Asa Newell and his playoff experience during Year 1
“Year 1 being in the playoffs just set the standard for this organization, and we’re going to try to make the playoffs every single year. It was cool being in the environment of State Farm, being in the environment of New York, and going against the Knicks. It’s extremely physical. The matchups, switching, the different lineups, it was really good, and I think that for our group it really helped us moving forward.”
Kingston Flemings going against Dyson, Nickeil and Lu
“We’ve been in OTAs already going at each other, so it’s been good. They’re all competitive. Being able to learn and being able to play against these guys, it’s a dream come true. I’m blessed to be on this team playing against guys like that every single day. I’m looking forward to it.”
Aaron Wiggins bringing experience to the Hawks
“There’s championship pedigree and experience that I bring, but with that as a basketball player, there’s competitiveness and just the motivation to win again that exists within me. I think bringing that energy is consistently contagious. I think amongst the team, everybody wants to win, and everybody wants to compete, and with that mindset, we’ll all get better, and over time you’ll see the team develop and get better with that as well.”
Dyson Daniels working on his jump shot
“Obviously, shooting was very bad last year for me, and it’s been a focal point for me in this offseason. For me, it’s been about the sequencing in my shot, getting more rhythm through my shot, and getting more energy through my legs so I can get my arc up. A big thing with me was it was a very flat shot, so trying to get more arc. That’s been a big focus for me this offseason.”
Dorian Finney-Smith on what he can bring to the Hawks
“My voice. I’m very talkative on the court. I know a lot of young guys kind of think it’s cliché, but the loudest team always wins. They’re usually the most connected team. When you have to problem-solve on the court without a coach, that’s what you need. You need your communication, and that’s what I bring. I probably talk too much on the court, but I’m a competitor.”
Jalen Johnson reflecting on playoff loss
“There was the first month and a half, two months after the season; all it was was film from that next series and just how I can learn and grow from that because, at the end of the day, I want to win championships. The playoffs are where you need to be at your best. Understanding that and having the right people around me who help me focus on what I need to focus on. You’ve got to have the mental capacity to be able to want that for yourself and not be complacent. I want that.”
Lu Dort is happy to be in Atlanta
“I already had some familiar faces on the roster, which was good with Nickeil and Wiggins, but just seeing the potential defensively with Dyson and JJ as well, and a lot of guys on the team, there’s a lot of stuff that we can do. After I got the call, I was just really happy for that situation.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: Dylan Harper #2 and Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs look on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup Quarterfinals on December 10, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Yesterday was Media Day for the San Antonio Spurs. The players decked out in their uniforms and met with members of television, magazine, newspapers, and on-line sports broadcasting. The team members were in their home jerseys which underscores their unity but diminishes their individual style.
Fortunately, GQ took some time to engage Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in a photo shoot.
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Sidney Crosby is feeling the effects of the shortened preseason in his adjustment to playing with a new linemate.
Crosby mentioned having a week less to prepare for the season when talking about skating alongside Nick Robertson Monday in his annual appearance on Mark Madden’s radio show on 105.9 The X.
The NHL’s new labor agreement gave teams less than two weeks between the start of training camp and the start of the regular season.
In Crosby’s case, that has impacted his ability to adjust to Robertson taking over what was once Bryan Rust’s place on his wing opposite Rickard Rakell.
“It’s a shortened camp this year, so we have a lot less time to play together… but I think we’ve gotten better as it’s gone along,” Crosby said Monday about Robertson.
“He’s a guy that’s got a lot of speed, a really good shot, so just want to try to find him in good areas to get that shot off. And he works hard on both sides of the puck, so hopefully we can force some turnovers and he can create with his speed.”
Crosby wasn’t the only member of the Penguins mentioning the impact of the shortened preseason Monday. Kyle Dubas said in his season-opening press conference he felt Joel Blomqvist was hurt by the Penguins only having four preseason games to split between him, Artūrs Šilovs and Sergei Murashov.
Crosby also discussed his retirement timeline in his radio appearance. As he’s mentioned repeatedly this offseason, he said he’s hoping to play for multiple years.
The Penguins captain also said he sees the 2030 Olympics as too far ahead to think about, but considers the 2028 World Cup of Hockey a “great target.”
“When I say I don’t know, that’s the truth,” Crosby said about his career timeline. “I think, when you get to my age… it comes down to a lot of things. It’s how you feel physically, how you feel mentally. Just as far as loving it, and having the passion to compete and put what you need to put into it on a daily basis, that’s got to be there.
“Right now, it’s there. I feel great. I still love it just as much as I did coming into the league.”
Crosby is set to kick off his age-39 campaign Wednesday when the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET for a playoff rematch at the Philadelphia Flyers.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 09: General Manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles watches the Orioles Hall of Fame ceremony before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 09, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
There are 176 days remaining until the next scheduled Orioles game. Whether a game happens on that date is not something that is certain at this time, and it will probably not be known until February, due to the coming ownership-induced lockout that will halt baseball until the owners either scale back the scope of their greed or inflict such suffering on the players that the players give up.
For today, the start of the playoffs is around to offer some possible entertainment. Both the AL and NL wild card series get going today. There will probably be continuous (or very close to it) playoff baseball from 2pm until after midnight. That’s fun. It will be more fun if the right teams lose. Game start times are at 2 (Phillies-Braves), 5 (White Sox-Astros), 8 (Yankees-Red Sox), and 10 (Cubs-Padres).
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The day after the season ends is typically the time where loser, non-postseason teams have post-mortem press conferences for local media. For some teams, this involves the owner coming out and saying the GM isn’t coming back, or the GM coming out and saying the manager isn’t coming back. That is not what happened with the Orioles. Mike Elias and Craig Albernaz came out and did the presser. Like it or not, they’re coming back.
I don’t like it! One thing that Elias said yesterday is an acknowledgement that “this is the second year in a row that (the results) haven’t been there” adding, “we’re tired of it.” Among the things that Elias promised is a “full organizational review” regarding areas where the team is deficient. He was vague about it, which is fine. Can’t go giving away trade secrets just because the fans aren’t happy.
The main problem for Elias is that he was saying similar stuff last year about doing a whole organization look at what didn’t work and the product of that was the 2026 Orioles. They were, collectively, an underachieving disappointment. Even with the injury problems they suffered through the year, they should have been better than this and they weren’t.
I have no confidence that Elias is the guy to get all of that figured out. I don’t think it really matters whether he hires a subordinate general manager from outside the organization or not. He hired Albernaz from outside the organization, and look what that was worth. The amount of stupid, not-prepared-for-the-game mistakes was almost unbelievable.
Beyond that, the issues with the offense and the collective fizzling of the players Elias has invested substantial amounts of his early draft capital in have now been going on for about two and a half seasons. What is Elias going to do about it? Is there a person who can steer Gunnar Henderson back in the right direction? Jackson Holliday? Can anybody hypnotize Colton Cowser into chasing changeups out of the zone just a little bit less often? How in the world is he going to go about fixing the defense from the mess that it was this year?
There will be some semblance of a clue as to Elias’s thinking on these things when considering his roster moves over the offseason. Last offseason, one clear priority was to increase the team’s home run potential. The signing of Pete Alonso and the trade of Taylor Ward were clearly made to this end. That initiative resulted in eight more home runs for the 2026 Orioles compared to last year. That was even with Pete Alonso showing up and hitting 43 when last year’s team leader had 17! The Alonso signing was a success. Other things were less successful.
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Some news also came out of the press conference. The Orioles said that Kyle Bradish is getting surgery this week for a sports hernia. Albernaz indicated that Bradish was ailing from that injury during his final three starts. If that’s what it is, then it’s not like this destroyed his season numbers; he had a disappointing 4.03 ERA before those final three starts.
Additionally, Jordan Westburg is starting a hitting progression this week as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. These guys both being cut off from team facilities during the lockout might end up being unfortunate. Hopefully they can each bounce back with their own resources.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
The simple – yet complicated – path forward for Craig Albernaz and the Orioles (The Baltimore Banner) My takeaway from this Jon Meoli article is that Albernaz is going to have to live up to the reputation he brought over with him, something about which I have little confidence after what transpired this season.
Notes and quotes from the Orioles end-of-season presser (Steve on Baseball) Other things discussed in the presser range from meaningful (Luis De León will be stretched out as a starter next season) to meaningless (Elias says he’ll talk to Trevor Rogers’s reps before and during free agency).
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 1996, Brady Anderson hit a solo home run, scoring the only Orioles run in a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays in Toronto. This was his 50th home run of the season. He was just the 14th player with a 50+ homer season at the time; this mark now is tied for 49th place on in the record books. Anderson never hit more than 24 home runs in any other season of his career.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2022 pitcher Jake Reed, 2019-20 pitcher Branden Kline, 1998-99 first baseman Calvin Pickering, 1992 pitcher Craig Lefferts, and 1963-64 pitcher Mike McCormick.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Roman general Pompey (106 BC), British admiral Horatio Nelson (1758 AD), author Elizabeth Gaskell (1810), nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi (1901), musician Jerry Lee Lewis (1935), and Maryland-raised basketballer Kevin Durant (1988).
On this day in history…
In 1364, a civil war between factions in Brittany in modern-day France was settled in the Battle of Auray, in which a French-backed claimant to the dukedom was killed by forces supporting an English-backed claimant. However, the winner of this War of the Breton Succession, John of Montfort, pledged his loyalty to the French king Charles V instead of the English.
In 1829, London’s Metropolitan Police – these days colloquially called “the Met” – was founded.
In 1907, the cornerstone for the Washington National Cathedral was laid. Construction of what is officially known as the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in the City and the Episcopal Diocese of Washington was not completed until 1990 – also on this day. The building was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places 16 years before it was even completed.
In 1918, the Allies launched attacks in the Battle of St. Quentin Canal that proved to be the real, final offensive of World War I. Two American divisions participated in the battle, which ultimately breached the German Hindenburg Line. Also on this day, the German Army told the Kaiser to begin negotiations about an armistice to end the war.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 29. Have a safe Tuesday.
