NBA superstar Jaylen Brown takes boxing match in Nigeria with zero prep

Jaylen Brown when playing with the Boston Celtics. | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

NBA superstar Jaylen Brown took an interesting side quest this NBA off season. The newly signed Philadelphia 76er popped over to Nigeria to throw hands in a boxing match.

Check out some of the ‘action’ from that fight below.

In the comments on Instagram Brown remarked that he “did 0 prep for this”.

In truth this fight was put together in partnership with one of Brown’s charity initiatives, so this appears to be more of a spar than anything else. He’s lucky his partner didn’t go off script, though. Brown, after all, is due to make $58 million this season (and another $126 million in the following two seasons).

It’s easy to see why Brown might have a passion for the sweet science, though. His father is Quenton Marselles Brown, a former WBU heavyweight champion. Quenton Brown, by the way, was charged with attempted murder last year after a stabbing incident that occurred over a parking dispute.

Back to boxing, though…

Jaylen Brown isn’t the first basketball player to try his hand at combat sports. Who can forget the man that launched Jake Paul’s career?

Multiple time NBA slam dunk champ Nate Robinson was Paul’s first ever boxing opponent. The viral KO Robinson suffered can be cited as a big reason why Paul was able to creep into, disrupt and then fully embed himself fully into combat sports.

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has been around the fight game a lot, too. We’ve seen him around UFC events and fighters a bunch (remember when he dwarfed Francis Ngannou?) and, back in 2021, he reportedly invested in BKFC.

Anyone from the basketball world you want to see throw down? I’m shocking Dennis Rodman never popped up on one of those influencer cards yet. There’s money to be made with him versus Jose Canseco!

2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Michael Conforto is the Superhero vs. the Brewers

I feel certain that if I look long and hard, I’ll be able to find some internet source material that says that Philadelphia is a lovely place to visit in October. I mean, it might be propaganda from the city’s tourism board or something, but it’s got to be out there somewhere, right? Right now, the Cubs find themselves on a death march in that direction. To be clear, I’ll go that far with doom and gloom, but no way and no how is it entering my mind that this team doesn’t reach the playoffs. As long as we are getting the record straight, I think the Cubs are going to take this off day and then get back to playing better baseball and winning games. It’s not optimal that they are looking up at Philly with 15 to play. But also, it’s 1.5 games. Tie goes to the Cubs, so that half isn’t scaring me in the slightest. Though I do recognize for Philly, it’s the “good” half. If you had to pick one, you want to be one less win than one more loss. But that’s splitting hairs.

I was relatively prepared to write something to the extent “The Cubs played and lost and none of us want to talk about it, so moving on.” After all, the top of the fourth inning was the first time the Cubs had a better chance to win at the end of the half inning than the start of it. That improvement in their odds? .002! The bottom of the inning kept it rolling. The Cubs progressed .005! The bottom of the fifth was a positive inning at .004. By the end of the sixth, the Brewers were at 99.2 percent to win. It was almost a straight line in the Brewers direction through six innings. For all of the seventh and eighth innings, the game was sliding around in the 99.0 to 99.9 percent chance of the Brewers winning. When the game looks like that, there is no WPA being generated anywhere.

I can imagine inquiring minds wondering, how close did WPA think this ever got? Pete Crow-Armstrong’s inning opening walk put the WPA at 99.8 percent chance. By the time Michael Conforto had a two-out, two-run double they had moved the odds all of the way to… 96.3 percent. So there you have it, nothing at all good happened for the Cubs by way of WPA. They never moved the needle and you’ll see that in the WPA scores as we move on.

I’ll give a few paragraphs on my thoughts and you can dismiss it entirely as cope if you want. I’m not at all bothered by losing five of seven to the Brewers. I saw a lot of these games in part or in whole. What I saw? A blow0ut in favor of the Cubs and a blowout in favor of the Brewers (this game, despite the late rally). The other five games went overwhelmingly to the Brewers, but I saw five games that were neck and neck. A few plays here or there wins those games. I’m not at all surprised the Brewers came out on top. They are the better team. They have been for a few years now. Good teams often find a way to win a close game. Though Jed was always right that in general, if you are really good, you’d rather it wasn’t close. But the Brewers are built especially well for close games. They are built on playing fundamental baseball, taking advantage of every little edge and limiting mistakes wherever possible.

I don’t care that they won these two sets of games. Obviously, it would have been a heck of a lot better to win them. I’m not blowing smoke at anyone. There is no significant contributor on this Cub team that thinks they can’t go toe to toe with the Brewers and win a series. If even one guy in their clubhouse eventually takes the field against the Cubs thinking they are going to roll and it’s all going to be easy, awesome. The Cubs are going to be ready for that fight. Of course it’s going to be an uphill battle. I shouldn’t have to say it, but I’ve said it dozens of times here for months and months. Nothing that matters is ever going to come easy for this team. It’s just too flawed.

Excellent hitting. Excellent fielding. Good baserunning. The National League MVP. A couple of battle tested starters with playoff experience. I’m saying there’s a chance. I lived through Cub baseball in the 80’s and 90’s, a chance is a heck of a lot better than we had most years. And I sure am glad I wasn’t around with Al and so many others for the 70’s. Roll it all out on the field. Hope everything breaks right. Be prepared for exiting with barely a whimper. Then get the offseason right. Take PCA out of your Cub season. Very little went well. Maybe you found some fringy relievers (to be depth and not key performers). You got a whole lot of data for making decisions on Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ and how each might age. But really, this isn’t a team boasting a bunch of career years or anything else.

This team can be better next year. Particularly if it has some actual pitching. But let’s enjoy this ride for a few weeks longer, shall we? Rest up on our day off. We’re gonna have to try to will this team to the finish line and beyond. What else are you doing? Even if you are a rabid football fan, that’s only a couple of days per week. You can put your honey-do’s off another couple of weeks. We’ve got work to do putting some positive mental energy behind this team over these last two plus weeks. Let’s do it.

Three Positives:

  • Pete gets the top spot. He had a single and a walk. He scored twice.
  • Michael Conforto had that two-run double I referenced in the open and was also hit by a pitch.
  • Alex Bregman was the only other Cub to reach twice, with a double and a walk, though neither really impacted the game other than making Brewers pitchers work.
  • Hat tips for Trent Thornton and Caleb Thielbar each working clean innings with no leverage.

Game 147, September 9: Brewers 8, Cubs 6 (81-66)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

  • Superhero: Michael Conforto (.015). 1-3, 2B, HBP, 2 RBI
  • Hero: Carson Kelly (.006). 1-3, DP
  • Sidekick: Trent Thornton (.004). IP, 3 BF, 2 K

THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat: Kevin Gausman (-.355). 4 IP, 23 BF, 8 H, 2 BB, 7 R (6 ER), 6 K (L 4-2)
  • Goat: B.J. Murray, Jr. (-.038). 0-1
  • Kid: Pedro Ramirez (-.035). 1-4, RBI

Note: the Heroes and Goats debut for Murray, the 51st Cub to join the list this year. Will he be the last?

WPA Play of the Game: Christian Yelich’s two-out, three-run homer in the first inning. You pretty much knew it was over already, right? (.250)

Cubs Play of the Game: Kevin Gausman actually struck out Andrew Vaughn just one batter earlier, providing hope of escaping that first inning unscathed. (.043)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 146 Winner: Carson Kelly received 52 of 78 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

  • Alex Bregman +27
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong +26.5
  • Michael Conforto +18
  • Ben Brown +13.5
  • Carson Kelly +13.5
  • Jameson Taillon -13
  • Seiya Suzuki -16
  • Nico Hoerner -16.5
  • Dansby Swanson -17
  • Caleb Thielbar -18.5

Scoreboard Watching: You’ll pardon me if I dropped all of the division leaders. I believe those ships have sailed. Though with the trajectories of the Phillies and Braves, I may review that decision again next week.

Padres win (2.5 back). Phillies win (1.5 up). Diamondbacks lose (3 back).

Up Next: The Cubs are off Thursday. The only consequential game is Thursday afternoon when the Phillies play that “game in hand” that they have. They host the Astros. The teams have split the first two games. The Phillies then fly to Atlanta for a three-game set to kick off a nine-game, three-city road trip. They have nine road games followed by hosting the Brewers and Rays. The remaining Philly schedule is tricky.

The Cubs begin the last “block” of games on the year. 15 games in 17 days with days off bracketing the Reds series September 18-20. So off day, six home games, off day, three road games, off day, three home games, three road games. Two of five series against likely playoff teams. The other three series are against teams mostly fighting to try to limp in with a winning record. Visiting Fangraphs for their model’s projections of those 15 games finds the Cubs winning eight more games, including all three against the Braves but only one each versus the Pirates and Reds. Go figure that out.

Shōta Imanaga (9-10, 3.91) gets the opener for the Cubs. He pitched well in Miami the last time out. He won, allowing a run on three hits over six innings. It was a nice bounce back after a handful of rough starts. Imanaga has two starts against the Pirates, one win and just four hits and no runs yielded in 12 innings of work.

The Pirates are 73-73 heading into play Thursday night in Chicago against the White Sox. They have won the first two against the Sox. They are 6-2 so far this month. They haven’t officially named starters for the series yet. Fangraphs projects Braxton Ashcraft to start. Ashcraft is having a terrific season at 14-6, 3.65. He did lose his last start against the Angels. He allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He’s finishing very strong though with 4-2, 2.51 over his last seven. He went nine and eight innings back to back August 13 and 18, winning both. So he gets deep into some games too. He hasn’t thrown even 90 pitches in a game since August 24 as the Pirates monitor his workload. They talked about loss of command and velocity as that last start went along.

Wednesday’s Pirates win was close and you’d hope Thursday’s will be a close game too, giving the Cub bullpen a huge rest edge. The Pirates used eight pitchers Wednesday. Pirate relievers are middle of the road in ERA (4.03, 15th), two spots behind the Cubs. Pirate relievers have thrown the ninth most innings of any bullpen. They are tied with the Cubs for 22nd in saves and have only four less blown saves (though I’ll keep reminding you that blown saves includes a lot of rather innocuous middle inning runs allowed in close games). Pirate relievers are 19th in WHIP but 7th in opponent batting average (read: a lot of walks). The Cubs might be able to steal a game in the late innings with patient at bats.

We’re likely catching both Ashcraft and Paul Skenes in the series (the answer to the go figure). But I still like the Cubs to come out with a couple of wins. But three sure would be nice.

Lone Star Ball Reacts Survey: Pending Free Agents

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 26: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on August 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Zoe Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rangers fans and fans across the country.

This week’s Lone Star Ball Reacts question looks to the upcoming offseason, and the various Rangers players who are scheduled to hit the free agent market this offseason.

We want to know, of the Rangers who are set to become free agents, who would you most like to see the Rangers bring back?

Cast your vote below…


Red Sox Minor Lines: Franklin Arias reaches base four times

Worcester: W, 8-3 (BOX SCORE)

While Jedixson Paez struggled to go far in Lehigh Valley against the IronPigs (Phillies AAA) some may wonder if him being pulled at exactly 60 pitches may signify some not too distant need to have him come up to toss another few innings soon, or at least give the club the option to do so if needed. Still, Paez threw ten scoreless outs and set the WooSox up well to take the win.

The team grabbed fourteen hits, 11 of those being singles but one being a home run by Vinny Capra in the ninth to combat the IronPigs breaking their scoreless run; Capra’s home run really put the game on ice and gave the team a five run lead. Most notable story from this box score, though, is Franklin Arias reaching base four times, going 2-for-3 with two walks. Chances are, if there’s a game, Arias is getting on.

Portland: L, 5-2 (BOX SCORE)


As the Red Sox fell to an Angels team that featured Vaughn Grissom, his return in Isaiah Jackson had both his first Double-A start in the Sea Dogs’ final series of the season, his first hit (a double) in Double-A, as well as his first stolen base and RBI. Henry Godbout also continued to hit as his Double-A batting average has now topped .300. Sadly, though, the hits came far and few between, and Hayden Mullins kept the ball in the yard in yet another quality start, going six innings with just one run allowed, Aaron Nixon’s promotion went less than stellar as he gave the lead up to the Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) in the 7th and the Sea Dogs would not recover, though they would thwart three opportunities to score with a runner in scoring position. Such is baseball!

NHL Insider Says Zeev Buium's Blockbuster Deal Raises Simon Edvinsson's Price Tag

On Thursday, new reports came out from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on a new episode of his podcast, 32 Thoughts. The NHL insider touched on many topics around the league, including the Detroit Red Wings and their contract situation with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson.

Friedman started off by explaining that the situation is certainly unique, with Detroit currently without a general manager. But he noted that when it comes to new deals shaping the market for defensemen, it isn't just Cale Makar's massive eight-year, $163.2 million extension making waves.

The eight-year, $75.04 million extension recently signed by 20-year-old Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium, carrying a $9.38 million annual cap hit, is also worth watching closely.

Friedman explained that Buium's contract could play a role in shaping negotiations for young defensemen like Edvinsson, and could see the former sixth-overall pick land a bigger deal than expected at the start of the summer. 

Buium has just 76 career NHL games and 26 points on his resume, numbers that stack up closely against Edvinsson's 25 points in 72 games last season, giving Edvinsson's camp a fresh comparison point to lean on in negotiations, even with Detroit still searching for its next GM.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.

Reports have suggested that Edvinsson has remained committed to the Red Wings and has been waiting for the club's GM search to play out, with no interest in creating any drama. He's expected to join the Red Wings at training camp regardless of where those talks stand.

Edvinsson is coming off his second straight 25-plus point season and took on a bigger role a year ago, playing over 22 minutes a night and finishing at plus-12 on the season, matching his rating from his rookie campaign. 

Missing ten games due to injury likely cost him a shot at reaching the 30-point mark for a second straight season, but there's no denying Edvinsson has flashed real upside at a young age, and the Red Wings would love to get a new deal worked out.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Three Biggest Storylines Heading into Anaheim Ducks Rookie Camp

Hockey is back, at long last, and the Anaheim Ducks will be holding their very brief 2026 rookie camp at the end of this week, followed by their participation in the 2026 Rookie Faceoff. The Rookie Faceoff will be hosted by the San Jose Sharks and feature six teams who will play a total of seven games. The Sharks and Ducks will be joined by rookies from the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights organizations.

The Ducks rookies will only be on the ice together on Friday at 10 am (open to the public, free of charge) before they’ll head to Northern California. They’ll play two games against rookies from the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at 1 pm PST and the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday at 3 pm PST.

Report: Ducks to Place Chris Kreider on Waivers for Purposes of Contract Termination

Rookie camp, along with training camp and preseason, will be compressed in 2026-27 and beyond, as the NHL shifts to an 84-game regular season schedule. Still, plenty of storylines remain as one evaluates the 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and two goaltenders invited to the weekend-long rookie event ahead of a crucial 2026 training camp for the Anaheim Ducks.

Here are the three storylines that most stand out:

Top Picks: Ready or Rushing?

With the way the 2026 offseason played out for the Ducks (and will continue to play out), the Ducks will likely have to navigate a top-heavy depth chart and payroll as they attempt to advance into their true contending window. That means they’re going to have to rely on general manager Pat Verbeek signing useful veterans to bargain deals and young players to have significant impacts quickly.

Addressing the latter, the Ducks are going to have to enter the 2026-27 season with top-six forward Troy Terry on LTIR and having moved on from veteran forward Chris Kreider to fit in star forward Cutter Gauthier’s incoming AAV, leaving depth scoring a monumental question mark.

Anaheim’s top two prospects are Roger McQueen (10th overall in 2025) and Nikita Klepov (15th in ’26), and these camps could be an opportunity for either or both to make the Ducks’ opening night roster and begin contributing immediately.

McQueen’s ELC will kick in this season regardless of whether he plays with the San Diego Gulls or in Anaheim. He has an NHL-ready frame as well as NHL-ready skill and has developed pro habits while playing in the NCAA with Providence College in 2025-26. However, he hasn’t played much hockey (63 games between the WHL, NCAA, and AHL) in the last two calendar years, and despite a need at his position, inserting him into the NHL right away may ultimately hinder his offensive development, an area where his true potential lies and where he hasn’t had the freedom to explore of late.

When Klepov was drafted, Verbeek stated he may be on a “fast track” to the NHL. He was set to transition to the NCAA for the 2026-27 season, but the Ducks, instead, signed him to his ELC. He’ll now either play in the NHL or OHL this season. He led the OHL in scoring a year ago, so one may be inclined to believe he doesn’t have much to gain at that level anymore. However skilled, smart, and tenacious he is (and he is those things), he has some work to do to add to his 6-foot, 186-pound frame and learn how to translate what makes him a successful forward to the NHL level.

Swedish Forwards Make the Jump to North America

In the tier below McQueen and Klepov on the Ducks prospect rankings sits a trio of recently drafted Swedish forwards who are making the transition from the Swedish pro/junior hockey circuit to North America. Two are projected to play their first full seasons in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, and one is expected to play in the OHL.

Lucas Pettersson (35th in ’24) and Herman Traff (91st in ’24) will play their D+3 seasons in the AHL after ending their 2025-26 campaigns by getting a taste of the level with the Gulls. They’ve each competed against men for the past two seasons and have developed pro-ready habits. Their next challenge will be to adjust to the size of the North American rinks and the stride-to-stride speed it produces.

As the Ducks transition to the next phase of their build, they’ll soon see the departures of another layer of veterans (Frank Vatrano, Mikael Granlund, Alex Killorn). Players like Pettersson and Traff will be counted on to hit the ground running in the next couple of years to stabilize the depth of the Ducks’ future forward group.

Marcus Nordmark (28th in ’26) is a supremely talented project winger the Ducks selected with their second first-round pick acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Mason McTavish on draft night. His areas of improvement include effort and consistency, both aspects he can address in the OHL while getting acclimated to a new culture and play style.

Nordmark wasn’t able to participate on the ice during Ducks development camp in July due to injury, so it will be the first opportunity for many in the Ducks’ coaching staff, development staff, and front office to see him play in person.

Future in Net

The Ducks rookie camp will feature two of the organization’s six goaltenders currently in North America and the two projected to receive the majority of the starts for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL: Tomas Suchanek and Damian Clara.

Clara (21) has the higher upside of the two and is the goaltender the Ducks have invested the most in since drafting John Gibson in 2011. This will be his first full season in North America since the Ducks drafted him in the second round three years ago (60th in ’23). He spent the three seasons since playing in the SHL, Liiga, and HockeyAllsvenskan.

Clara made a name for himself representing his native Italy at the 2026 Olympic Games, and despite his squad failing to win a game, he kept the team in front of him within striking distance against some of the best hockey countries in the world.

His athleticism is off the charts, but he will need to refine the intricacies of angling and managing a fast game from within the blue paint.

Suchanek (23) had a strong rookie season in the AHL in 2023-24, but missed the entire 2024-25 season with an injury and struggled mightily in 2025-26, splitting the year between the AHL and ECHL.

Both Ville Husso and Laurent Brosssoit will see their contracts expire after the upcoming season, and it seems that thereafter, the backup role behind Lukas Dostal will be up for grabs. A good rookie camp, followed by a good training camp, can give either Clara or Suchanek the early edge in that particular position battle.

2026-27 Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: 1-5

2026-27 Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: 6-10

2026-27 Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: 11-15

2026-27 Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: 16-20

Braves load up on righties against Nick Martinez and the Rays

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 09: Lane Thomas #20 of the Atlanta Braves takes batting practice prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn May/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Braves sure do love “hey, this guy might have reverse splits, let’s do something about it!” Or, maybe they don’t really love it, but this is at least twice in recent memory that they’ve taken someone who might have… neutral splits, and gone with more righty bats. It doesn’t make much sense to me, but there it is. Lane Thomas and Brewer Hicklen are in the lineup this afternoon, as well as Ha-Seong Kim, while Sean Murphy, Ozzie Albies, and Mike Yastrzemski ride the bench.

Let’s take a wide view of Nick Martinez and his stats.

For the 2026 season, Martinez has a .283 wOBA-against by lefties, and a .310 wOBA-against by righties. This persists when you look at inputs by those batters, with a 3.78 xERA from lefty batters and a 4.89 xERA by righty batters.

However, the actual pitching is way less clear cut: Martinez has a 3.96 FIP and 4.50 xFIP against lefties, and a 3.94 FIP and 4.45 xFIP against righties. He seems more platoon-neutral than anything else. Considering that Lane Thomas is himself worse against righties, I’m not a huge fan of this, but whatever.

If you take the arc of Martinez’ career, “platoon-neutral” also seems tempting as a conclusion. His wOBA-against is within .001 against lefties and righties, his xERA is marginally lower against lefties (4.19 to 4.39), and his FIP and xFIP have a marginal split in the expected direction (4.53 / 4.66 against lefties, 4.45 / 4.49 against righties). So, I wouldn’t do this, but the Braves are.

Meanwhile, the Rays are giving Martin Perez a few more righties to contend with, including Ryan Vilade and Nick Madrigal, though Chandler Simpson and Cedric Mullins remain in the lineup despite batting left-handed.

Let’s talk about batter-versus-pitcher, too, just for the sake of having something else to add here, even though it doesn’t really matter. Martin Perez has been around a while, but most of these Rays batters have not. Both Nick Martinez and most guys in the Braves’ lineup are veteran-ish.

Everyone but Hicklen and Drake Baldwin on the Braves side has faced Nick Martinez at least twice; Matt Olson leads the pack with 19 PAs and a pretty hefty .508 wOBA / .384 xwOBA. Austin Riley, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Mauricio Dubon have also done the business against Martinez in limited PAs. The collective line is a .351 wOBA and .336 xwOBA in 53 PAs.

For the Rays and Perez, it’s similar-ish: six of nine in their lineup have faced him. Yandy Diaz (.468 wOBA, .358 xwOBA) has 32 career PAs against Perez; Mullins has struggled with a .210-.220ish wOBA/xwOBA in 14 PAs. Collectively, it’s 64 PAs with a .364 wOBA / .316 xwOBA, so basically there’s a similar level of familiarity and performance in that sample by both of these teams against the scheduled starter.

MLB Expert Picks & Baseball Predictions Sept. 10

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

It's another short Thursday slate for our MLB expert picks.

Two of our analysts are eyeing lines from the Texas Rangers-Seattle Mariners clash at T-Mobile Field this afternoon, while Josh Inglis is backing the Chicago White Sox to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap on Thursday, Sept. 10.

MLB expert picks for today

PickProbability
Josh Inglis Josh Inglis: CHW ML51%
Jon Metler Jon Metler: TEX ML47%
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: TEX/SEA o6.551%

Probabilities courtesy of Polymarket. For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Trade on MLB at Polymarket!

Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $20 trading bonus after you deposit $10 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!

Sign Up Now at img src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/polymarketlogo.png" alt="Polymarket" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

*Eligible locations only

Josh Inglis' expert pick: White Sox moneyline

Price: 51¢ at Polymarket

I got this at 51% and have the fair price closer to 54%.

The Chicago White Sox have already dropped both games of this series, and the threat of a sweep should provide plenty of motivation. There might be some interest in the Pittsburgh Pirates with White Sox rookie Hagen Smith making his first start, but he's been a nasty lefty out of the bullpen this year, with nine scoreless outings in 10 games and 23 Ks over 16 innings.

Jared Jones looks like a pitcher who struggles on visiting mounds, with a 4.0 BB/9 away from home compared to 2.6 at PNC Park. His road WHIP is also half a point higher.

I see this as a 50/50 game on a neutral field, and home-field advantage is worth at least another 2%, or 20 points, to me. The White Sox are fighting to hold onto the AL Central lead, while Pittsburgh has already secured the series and Chicago has one more chance to avoid the brooms.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, CHSN

Jon Metler's expert pick: Rangers moneyline

Price: 47¢ at Polymarket

The Texas Rangers are trading at 47%, and that's a number I'm buying because I price them closer to a 52% favorite. That's a sizable edge compared to what we typically see in this market. 

The middle of the Seattle Mariners' lineup, including hitters like Cal Raleigh and Dominic Canzone, features steep uppercut swings designed to elevate the ball. 

That's exactly what Jacob deGrom's high-velocity fastball with late riding life at the letters can neutralize, turning those uppercut swings into routine popups or complete whiffs. 

The Mariners will try to counter the right-handed deGrom by stacking their lineup with seven left-handed hitters, but that doesn't give them an advantage. DeGrom is equally tough on lefties as he is on righties, thanks to his ability to attack their hands with his fastball and use his back-foot slider to keep them off balance.

Neil Parker breaks this matchup down further in his Rangers vs. Mariners predictions.

  • Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: RSN, Mariners.TV

    Joe Osborne's expert pick: Rangers at Mariners Over 6.5

    Price: 51¢ at Polymarket

    Such a low total isn’t warranted with the 2026 versions of these two starters.

    Logan Gilbert owns a 4.45 home ERA and just surrendered seven earned runs and four homers to the A’s, and deGrom has a brutal 5.86 road ERA across 13 starts.

    Neither lineup is imposing, but each is in respectable form. Seattle ranks fifth in wRC+ against righties over the last two weeks, while Texas sits second overall over the past week.

    Add in two bullpens getting smacked around all September, and getting to seven runs shouldn’t be much of a struggle.

    • Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
    • How to watch: RSN, Mariners.TV

    More MLB best bets for today

    PickOdds
    NYY -1.558%
    Read analysis in our Rockies vs. Yankees predictions
    PHI/HOU u8.550%
    Read analysis in our Astros vs. Phillies predictions
    Rays ML48%
    Read analysis in our Rays vs. Braves predictions

    Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
    Not intended for use in MA.
    Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

    This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

    Rangers vs Mariners Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

    Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

    The Seattle Mariners are a short home favorite over the Texas Rangers ahead of the 4:10 p.m. ET first pitch in their series finale at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, Sept. 10.

    My top Rangers vs. Mariners predictions and MLB picks call for the Rangers to pull off the afternoon win while the total goes Over the number.

    Who will win Rangers vs Mariners today: Rangers moneyline (46.5%)

    For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

    While there have been a handful of hiccups from Texas Rangers veteran Jacob deGrom, he’s still allowed two runs or fewer in 19 of his 27 starts. Perhaps even more encouraging, the 38-year-old righty’s 3.11 xFIP ranks ninth among104 starters with at least 100 innings.

    The Texas offense is also trending in the right direction with a fourth-ranked wOBA, third-ranked ISO and fourth-ranked xwOBA over the past two weeks. For comparison, the Seattle Mariners check in at 24th, 26th, and 23rd, respectively.

    Mariners righty Logan Gilbert has also started to slide late in the season with a ho-hum 4.10 xERA and 3.92 xFIP over his past six starts, and Seattle ranking 30th in bullpen xERA over the past 30 days only bolsters the case to back Texas.

    As a result, I expect the Rangers to outscore the Mariners this afternoon and recommend the Texas moneyline to 50%.

    Covers COVERS INTEL: DeGrom ranking second in swinging-strike percentage, seventh in strikeout-to-walk ratio, and eighth in strikeout percentage reinforces that the two-time Cy Young winner is still among the best in baseball.

    Rangers vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Over 6.5 (51.2%)

    This is an aggressively low total, and I’m still bullish on the Over 6.5 to 53.5%.

    As highlighted, the Rangers are rolling at the dish, and the Mariners have scored eight times through the first two games of the series and have hit the Over in 15 of their last 22 games (+7.35 Units / 30% ROI). Texas has also cashed the Over in 11 of its past 15 games (+7.65 Units / 47% ROI). 

    Seattle isn’t the only team with struggling relievers, with Texas ranking 23rd in bullpen xERA over the past 30 days.

    Rangers vs Mariners home run prediction: Wyatt Langford (16.7%)

    Gilbert has surrendered 11 homers across his past seven starts with an unheard-of .403 ISO allowed to right-handed hitters. Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford has hit 12 of his 16 homers against righties with a .210 ISO. He’s also faced Gilbert 21 times, so there’s a growing familiarity.

    Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
    • ML/RL bets: 56-30, +28.68 units
    • Over/Under bets: 29-28, -0.79 units

    Rangers vs Mariners weather

    The weather forecast calls for clear, sunny skies with warm afternoon temperatures peaking around 75 degrees, and a light 4-6 mph wind blowing out toward right-center field at T-Mobile Park.

    Rangers vs Mariners odds

    • Moneyline: Rangers 47.6% | Mariners 56.5%
    • Run line: Rangers +1.5 (67.7%) | Mariners -1.5 (37%)
    • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (52.4%) | Under 6.5 (52.4%)

    Rangers vs Mariners trend

    The Rangers have hit the Over in 11 of their last 15 games (+7.65 Units / 47% ROI), and the Mariners have gone Over in 15 of 22 (+7.35 Units / 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Mariners.

    How to watch Rangers vs Mariners and game info

    LocationT-Mobile Stadium, Seattle, WA
    DateThursday, September 10, 2026
    First pitch4:10 p.m. ET
    TVRangers Sports Network, Mariners.TV
    Rangers starting pitcherJacob deGrom
    (10-9, 3.96 ERA)
    Mariners starting pitcherLogan Gilbert
    (11-9, 3.71 ERA)

    Rangers vs Mariners latest injuries

    Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
    Not intended for use in MA.
    Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

    This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

    Why massive Sharks contract extension still is ‘weird' to Macklin Celebrini

    Why massive Sharks contract extension still is ‘weird' to Macklin Celebrini  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

    The Sharks will begin preparing for the 2026-27 NHL season shortly, hoping this is the year they return to the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. And when training camp begins, they can go into it knowing they have rising star Macklin Celebrini locked in for the long haul.

    Agreeing to a five-year, $94 million contract extension in July and earning over $18 million per season, Celebrini will become the NHL’s highest-paid player when the new contract kicks in next season. But despite receiving the recognition he deserves, coming off a 100-point campaign last season, the new contract still feels weird for the 20-year-old face of the franchise.

    “I kind of still feels weird because that’s not really why I’m playing or anything like that,” Celebrini told The Hollywood Reporter’s Belmont Cameli. “It was a long negotiation and trying to just figure out what worked best for our young core and how special our group is and making sure everyone gets paid and where the cap is going. So kind of figuring out what makes the most sense and we landed on that.”

    Celebrini was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and immediately became the Sharks’ star player. Scoring 25 goals and 38 assists in 70 games in his debut campaign, finishing with 65 points, Celebrini was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

    Celebrini broke out last season, highlighted by a dominant run for Team Canada at the 2026 Summer Olympics. Guiding Canada to the silver medal, he finished the tournament with five goals and five assists (10 points) through six games and was the leading scorer. For his efforts, he was named to the Olympic All-Star team.

    The Sharks boast one of the NHL’s youngest rosters and to have their core player in Celebrini here for a long time is a major step in the right direction for a franchise that used to be a perennial playoff contender. The playoffs are the main goal for the franchise this season and as long as Celebrini is healthy and playing at a high level, the Sharks should be a team to watch all season long.

    The Sharks open training camp on Sept. 17 before their first preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks on Sept. 20. From then on, it will be all about preparing for their regular season opener against two-time NHL champions Florida Panthers at home on Oct. 1.

    Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

    Arizona Diamondbacks News, 9/10: Gallen and Soroka underwhelm

    KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 09: Michael Soroka #34 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

    Recaps

    [Dbacks.com] Gallen, Soroka return, but D-backs fall out of 3rd NL Wild Card spot – In Arizona’s 5-2 loss to the Royals in the series finale, Gallen worked the opening 3 1/3 innings. He wasn’t able to get through the fourth because a 10-pitch at-bat against Nick Loftin with one out lifted his pitch count to 68. Gallen gave up four hits and two runs (one earned), including a solo homer to Carter Jensen. Soroka took over for the fifth in his first relief appearance of the season. Soroka struck out Kyle Isbel to begin his outing, but then surrendered a single to Isaac Collins and a walk to Jensen before Bobby Witt Jr. snapped a 2-2 tie with a three-run homer that proved to be the game-winner.

    [SI] The Good And Not So Good From Zac Gallen’s Return from Injury – Gallen’s four-seam fastball has been the hinge point of his issues for multiple seasons. It simply has not been an effective pitch since the early stages of 2024. Unfortunately, that was the case again Wednesday. Gallen shied away from his fastball after the third one he threw was hit 106.5 MPH (albeit for an out). He threw only nine out of 68 total pitches, tied with his sinker for the least-used offering on the night. The fastball’s velocity was also significantly down. This is not a major concern after a lengthy IL stint and an elbow injury. But Gallen’s four-seam averaged 91.2 MPH, which is 2.2 MPH down from his 93.4 yearly average.

    Team news

    [Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll to get MRI on Thursday – Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters on Tuesday that Carroll would likely need imaging after he was scratched from the lineup in Kansas City. Lovullo said Carroll would not play in their series finale on Wednesday against the Royals. Carroll said he suffered a back spasm last week during Arizona’s home series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He made 44 start starts before taking a seat on Monday, when he came off the bench late in the D-backs’ 5-4 win. The All-Star has gone through his ups and downs this season both in terms of performance and health. At the plate, Carroll was great through mid-June, suffered a miserable July and started to tick back up in August before a late-month slump.

    [ProPublica] The Dominican Baseball Factory – On an evening in late 2021, in a pristine baseball complex in central Santo Domingo, a baby-faced 14-year-old outfielder in athletic gear named Belfi Rivera huddled in front of a computer screen. Next to him was John Carmona, who had been Belfi’s trainer and de facto caretaker since he was 11 years old. In a nearby office, Belfi’s parents stared anxiously at a separate computer. On the screen, calling into the Dominican Republic, were representatives of the Arizona Diamondbacks, there for a conversation that promised to shift forever the fortunes of Belfi and his parents. The team, they would soon learn, had agreed to pay Belfi $1.8 million after his 16th birthday. It was a deal Carmona had negotiated without consulting Belfi or his parents. It was also a handshake agreement that skirted Major League Baseball’s rules that bar teams from signing players younger than 16.

    [SI] Derek Jeter’s Most Meaningful World Series Was the One He Lost – Twenty-five years later, the 2001 World Series—a series he lost—resonates more deeply with Jeter than most any career highlight. It was bigger than the team. Bigger than the title that slipped away. Bigger than baseball. “But, the interesting thing is even to this day, if I run into people, Yankee fans, New Yorkers, they’ll mention how great that World Series was—and no one mentions the fact that we lost. It’s really fascinating because Yankee fans are like no other. It’s, ‘You win a World Series or it’s a failure,’ which I 100% agree with. But in that particular World Series, no one I run into mentions the fact that we lost.”

    [NBC Sports] Don’t expect Burnes to return to form in 2026 – James Schiano breaks down Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes’ season debut, pointing to his inefficiency and velocity while tempering expectations for a return to form this season.

    And, elsewhere…

    [ESPN] Early MLB free agency intel: Skubal, Chisholm, Arraez, more – It’s anyone’s best guess as to how owners handle the free market. In the days leading up to the last lockout after the 2021 season, there was a flurry of big-money deals, including Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to Texas for $500 million combined; Javier Baez to Detroit for $140 million; Max Scherzer to the New York Mets for $130 million; Robbie Ray to Seattle for $115 million; and Kevin Gausman to Toronto for $110 million. Unlike last time, however, the owners today are seeking a system that would fundamentally change the game and its salaries. And without a sense of how previously signed contracts would work in a capped system, the reticence might be strong.

    [MLB.com] Ohtani placed on injured list to rest left knee, right biceps injuries – “It was more just really huddling up and saying, ‘Hey, how are you going to feel on Friday? How are you going to feel on Saturday?'” Roberts said. “Talking to the doctors and training staff, there was not much certainty that he’d be in a much better place. With that, just taking it off the table seemed like the best course of action.” As a corresponding move, the Dodgers will call up MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 overall prospect, Josue De Paula, from Double-A Tulsa. De Paula will join the team on Friday in Miami. L.A. will need to add him to the 40-man roster ahead of his Major League debut.Roberts previously described placing Ohtani on the IL as a deterrent because the minimum-length IL stint for two-way players is 15 days. But after Ohtani did not show sufficient improvement over the past week, the Dodgers felt that he would be better served by taking a more extended stint to recover.

    [ProPublica] The Rising Baseball Star, a Fatal Car Crash and the Fixer – Six years ago, Pittsburgh Pirates star prospect Oneil Cruz rear-ended a motorcycle, killing all three of its passengers and jeopardizing his career. Cruz’s parents brought in a fixer to pay off the victims’ families so they wouldn’t sue and wouldn’t demand that prosecutors pursue the case. In making the case go away, that fixer, Santo Caraballo, saved Cruz’s career and launched his own as one of the most powerful figures in Dominican baseball.

    Astros Prospect Report: September 9th

    WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Walker Janek #6 of the Houston Astros bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

    Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

    AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (71-68) lost 8-6 (BOX SCORE)

    Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Price 3 run home run. In the 2nd inning, Spence connected on a solo home run. Alexander start for Sugar Land but struggled allowing 6 runs over 3.2 innings. In the third, Dezenzo drove in a run on a groundout. Swanson pitched in relief and allowed 2 runs as the Comets extended their lead. The offense got another run in the 8th on a Delgado groundout but that was it as Sugar Land fell 8-6.

    Note: Santos has a 1.00 ERA in Triple-A.


    AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (61-73) won 5-3 (BOX SCORE)

    Shoemaker started for the Hooks and tossed 4 scoreless innings allowing just one hit. The offense got on the board in the 3rd inning scoring 4 runs on a Janek RBI double, Moss 2 run single and Holy RBI single. The pen allowed a few runs as the RockHounds made it close. The offense got an insurance run in the 9th on a Thomas sac fly and David tossed a scoreless 9th inning to close out the 5-3 win.

    Note: Thomas has a .802 OPS in Double-A.


    A+: Asheville Tourists (43-87) SEASON OVER

    A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-0) OFF

    Today’s minor league starters:

    SL: Brandon McPherson – 6:35 CT

    CC: Joey Mancini – 7:00 CT

    AV: SEASON OVER

    FV: TBD – 5:35 CT

    Rockies vs Yankees Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

    Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

    The New York Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies by multiple runs in the first two games of this series, and my Rockies vs. Yankees predictions expect more of the same in the finale.

    New York's power should be front and center against Ryan Feltner, who bleeds home runs and will get no help from the favorable conditions at Yankee Stadium.

    Let's break it all down with my MLB picks before first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ET.

    Who will win Rockies vs Yankees today: Yankees -1.5 (58%)

    For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

    Ryan Feltner is one of the most hittable pitchers in the majors, ranking in the second percentile in xERA.

    Pitching a healthy chunk of games at Coors Field hasn’t helped his cause but, unfortunately for Feltner, playing in warm weather at Yankee Stadium isn’t much better.

    Feltner has posted a 5.91 ERA and allowed 1.86 HR/9 in hitter-friendly conditions. Things are unlikely to go well for him against a New York Yankees squad sitting third in ISO vs. right-handed pitching.

    Max Fried should get a ton of run support, making the Yankees run line a buy up to 59%.

    Covers COVERS INTEL:Ryan Feltner's 11th percentile barrel rate will get him into trouble against a powerful Yankees attack.

    Rockies vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (53%)

    Feltner has allowed nearly two baserunners per inning over the last 30 days. He's giving up a ton of traffic, and the Yankees certainly have the power to cash in.

    They sit fifth in homers against righties — and third at home — despite playing a ton of games without Aaron Judge. Luis Garcia Jr. is also still relatively new to the scene and adds to their pop.

    The Colorado Rockies quietly rank eighth in road wOBA vs. southpaws the past two months, and could cause headaches for Fried.

    Play to 55%.

    Rockies vs Yankees home run prediction: Aaron Judge (32%)

    Aaron Judge hasn’t left the park since returning from injury, and this is the perfect storm for that to happen. Hot weather and wind blowing out create a great environment for homers, with a 22% boost projected for this game.

    Judge also shines against Feltner’s pitch mix. Isolating the three pitches he uses at least 20% of the time facing righties, Judge owns a .270 ISO and a remarkably high 21.3% barrel rate. All rise!

    Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
    • ML/RL bets: 106-92, -7.4 units
    • Over/Under bets: 101-91-6, -2.61 units

    Rockies vs Yankees weather

    The bats will see a big boost with temperatures in the 80s and winds blowing out in an already hitter-friendly ballpark.

    Rockies vs Yankees odds

    • Moneyline: Rockies 26% | Yankees 75%
    • Run line: Rockies +2.5 (55%) | Yankees -2.5 (45%)
    • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (53%) | Under 8.5 (48%)

    Rockies vs Yankees trend

    The Yankees have covered the run line in 15 of their last 22 games for +11.15 units and a 42% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Yankees.

    How to watch Rockies vs Yankees and game info

    LocationYankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
    DateThursday, September 10, 2026
    First pitch7:05 p.m. ET
    TVRockies.TV, YES
    Rockies starting pitcherRyan Feltner
    (5-9, 5.91 ERA)
    Yankees starting pitcherMax Fried
    (4-4, 2.73 ERA)

    Rockies vs Yankees latest injuries

    Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
    Not intended for use in MA.
    Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

    This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

    Former Avalanche First-Round Pick Lands PTO With Nashville Predators

    Tyson Jost is getting another chance to keep his NHL career going, and it comes with a return to an organization he knows well.

    The former Colorado Avalanche first-round pick has signed a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) with the Nashville Predators, putting himself in position to compete for a contract when Nashville opens training camp.

    The move also reunites Jost with Chris MacFarland, who served as an assistant general manager with the Avalanche during Jost’s time in Colorado and now holds the title of general manager and president of hockey operations in Nashville.

    It is another opportunity for a player whose NHL career has taken him through several organizations since the Avalanche called his name with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

    Jost spent more than five seasons in Colorado and established himself as a regular contributor during a significant period in franchise history. He suited up for 321 games with the Avalanche, collecting 45 goals and 58 assists for 103 points before the organization moved him at the 2021-22 trade deadline.

    That trade created a connection between Jost and the Avalanche’s eventual championship that remains somewhat unusual.

    Colorado dealt Jost to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Nico Sturm, leaving behind a team that was beginning to look like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. A few months later, the Avalanche were lifting the Cup—and Sturm was right there with them.

    Sturm became a useful part of Colorado’s bottom six during the postseason, appearing in 13 playoff games and recording four points. He provided the type of reliable depth that can become invaluable over a long playoff run, making the trade one that ultimately worked out well for the Avalanche.

    Jost, meanwhile, continued his career elsewhere.

    After his stint in Minnesota, he eventually moved on to the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes before landing back with Nashville. The Predators claimed him off waivers in October, giving the veteran forward another opportunity to establish himself in an NHL lineup.

    He made the most of that opportunity last season, appearing in 69 games for Nashville and finishing with eight goals and eight assists.

    Now, the Predators are giving him another shot to earn his way onto the roster.

    Jost enters camp with considerable NHL experience on his résumé. He has played 564 regular-season games, recording 74 goals and 177 points. While his offensive production has never reached the level Colorado hoped for when it drafted him in the first round, he has carved out a career through his versatility, work ethic and willingness to play a supporting role.

    Those qualities are now being put to the test once again.

    A PTO does not guarantee Jost a place on Nashville’s opening-night roster. Instead, it gives him a platform to make an impression during camp and preseason action and potentially earn a contract before the regular season begins.

    For a player who has already experienced the highs and uncertainty that come with an NHL career, it is another opportunity to control what happens next.

    Jost’s connection to Colorado will always be tied to the 2016 draft and the years he spent developing into an NHL player. But his most interesting link to the Avalanche may be the trade that sent him away just months before the franchise won its third Stanley Cup.

    Colorado ultimately got a championship contributor in return.

    Jost got a fresh start.

    Nearly five years later, he’s chasing another one. 

    Image

    Ramp to Camp: What version of Derrick White will Celtics get this season?

    Ramp to Camp: What version of Derrick White will Celtics get this season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

    Let’s state the obvious: Derrick White had a miserable shooting season last year. In fact, pick the meanest adjective you can think of, replace our word miserable, and it probably fairly describes White’s season-long shooting woes.

    But lost in those shooting struggles — with White connecting on a grisly 32.7 percent of 8.3 3-pointers per game, and shooting a meager 39.4 percent from the floor overall — was that White still was an advanced metrics darling, finishing among the league’s elite in net rating despite his misfires. His defense remained top tier and he routinely impacted winning during his court time.

    The shots just would not fall.

    For Day 3 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel: What version of Derrick White will the Celtics get this season?

    We suspect you’ll hear a lot of prognosticators talking about a potential “bounce-back year” for White. The reality is that it’s simply his shot that needs to rebound. White put up All-Star-caliber production in basically every other facet of the game. But, thrust into an elevated offensive role while Jayson Tatum rehabbed, it was hard to ignore the shooting splits.

    White still finished third on the team in net rating with Boston outscoring opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions during his floor time. Among all NBA players that averaged at least 30 minutes per game last season, White ranked fourth in net rating, one spot ahead of Denver MVP candidate Nikola Jokic. The only three players ahead of him were the actual MVP in Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (plus-16.3), Detroit’s Cade Cunningham (plus-11.4), and San Antonio’s Devin Vassell (plus-11.4).

    White, despite his shooting woes, ranked in the 95th percentile at his position while generating 29.6 points per game off scoring and assists. He averaged a career-best 1.3 blocks per game, earned a spot on the All-Defense first team, and was sixth in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.

    Go find your favorite advanced metric acronym (there’s a lot out there nowadays) and it probably loved White’s season. DARKO had him as a +1.5 DPM (full daily plus minus), the same mark Jaylen Brown posted while finishing sixth in MVP voting. Dunks & Threes’ Estimated Plus-Minus had him at +4.4, which was the 14th best mark in the NBA (one spot behind Cunningham).

    Derrick WhiteMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
    Derrick White’s defense remained elite last season despite the shooting struggles.

    The good news for White is that a healthier Jayson Tatum ought to take a bunch of stress off White’s offensive creation and maybe jolt his shot quality this year. The bad news is that, with the departure of Brown, there will be lingering pressure to be a secondary scoring option. Maybe Paul George and Payton Pritchard can help alleviate some of that stress.

    White turned 32 in July. He’ll cross 20,000 total NBA minutes played this season. He has to prove that the shooting funk wasn’t tied to age. If those shooting splits bounce back early in the season, there’s a good chance he could earn the All-Star nod that has somehow evaded him in recent years.

    The Celtics need the confident White who punishes teams when they stray from him at the 3-point line. They need the White who ranked in the 97th percentile among guards while shooting 59.4 percent on all 2-point shots in 2024-25, and not the guy who dipped to the 36th percentile while shooting 48.7 percent on 2s last season.

    If White finds his floater, the entire perception of his season completely changes.

    Our guess is that his numbers perk back up and that a lot of the consternation dissipates. His bond with Tatum is well established. If Tatum can take much of the playmaking duties off White’s plate, it might free him up to thrive in more familiar ways.

    The shot might bounce back, but White’s ability to impact winning has never wavered. That can’t change regardless of how he shoots the ball this season.

    Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations

    We might not get the 2024 D-White but he’ll be better than last season. He was pegged as the No. 2 with Tatum out, and I think that’s asking too much. He needs to think the game like he normally does, and I think his shooting will be what we’re accustomed to with the lower level of pressure on his shoulders.

    Nick Goss: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

    A 37-plus percent shooter from 3-point range and an All-Defensive team selection. The Celtics won’t be a real contender if he shoots as poorly as he did last season.

    Michael Hurley: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

    That’s hard to say. The Celtics would like to get a more comfortable Derrick White this year, because the team probably asked too much from him last year in Tatum’s absence. I simply believe they have a roster that needs him just as badly this year. Paul George is the wild card here. If the newcomer can be effective and available, White can easily slide into a role that suits him better. But those are some big ifs.

    Josh Canu: Editor

    I am unfortunately not as optimistic about Derrick White’s offense returning to its previous form. White is once again thrust into needing to be option No. 2 or 3 in the offense and we saw how that played out last season. Tatum should provide more open looks for shooters than Brown did, but I think White’s best days are behind him. He will still provide elite defense and solid playmaking, but I would feel better if he was more of a complementary piece than a focal point.

    Justin Leger: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

    We should expect White to bounce back offensively after shooting a career-worst 39.4 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from 3-point range. Tatum’s return and George’s presence will allow White to settle back into his catch-and-shoot role. Last season, White felt the need to carry the offense alongside Brown while Tatum was sidelined. In 2026-27, he should return to form as a dependable shooter while earning yet another All-Defensive nod.

    Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy

    Shook up my Magic 8 Ball: Ask again later.