Posts

Posted on

For revamped Sixers, youth and growth should still matter plenty

For revamped Sixers, youth and growth should still matter plenty originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The surface impression of the 2026-27 Sixers is that they’ll lean on experience and star power as they pursue grand ambitions.

LeBron James is the NBA’s eldest player, set to turn 42 years old in December and impossibly accomplished. Joel Embiid is a seven-time All-Star, Jaylen Brown a five-time All-Star. Tyrese Maxey is fresh off his first All-NBA team selection. Veteran role players like Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have made careers largely out of accepting and executing blue-collar work. 

That’s all well and good. The Sixers won’t be naive to the bumps and battles that come with an NBA season. Youth and internal improvement should matter plenty, though.

Time and again, Maxey’s teammates have echoed his mantra of “One percent better every day” in press conferences over the past several weeks. It’s a solid default to any sort of team-building question and words are words. Still, it makes plenty of sense for this Sixers squad to be focused on steady growth. 

While James, Brown and the other pickups from the Sixers’ very eventful summer are far from strangers, so much newness always presents major challenges. The awkward turnovers and miscommunications won’t stop just because the preseason is over. As James highlighted at media day, patience and day-after-day dedication will be required.

Health permitting, 21-year-old VJ Edgecombe should be a crucial piece of the picture. He was game for anything last season and a well-earned finalist for Rookie of the Year.

“Look at the team I have around me,” Edgecombe said with a laugh on Sept. 29. “There’s no pressure on me at all. I’m just going to go out there and be myself. Once I’m out there being myself, playing with joy, I think we’ll be good.”

James certainly does not view Edgecombe as an immature youngster. 

“He’s just not quiet,” the four-time MVP said on Oct. 3 after the Sixers’ Blue-White scrimmage. “And I’m saying that in a good way. If there’s things that happen on the floor, if there’s things that he sees, if there’s things that we see, we just automatically figure it out right there. … He’s a very cerebral player and he’s always looking for ways to get better on the floor, even at his young age. 

“It definitely feels like he’s much older. It definitely feels like he’s not in Year 2. … We have a lot of guys that have been around the block, a lot of guys that have a voice, and a lot of guys that want to get better every day and hold each other accountable. It’s great to see.”

The Sixers will rely on Edgecombe to keep developing defensively, sink open three-pointers, and trust his instincts as the kid in the starting lineup. 

He has an abundance of star ingredients. 

“VJ’s gotten better every single day,” Maxey said Thursday. “He grows as a player every single day. His mind grows, his athleticism grows. He was dunking last year, but he wasn’t dunking like this. You can tell he got a little bit stronger, a little bit more confident. I’m excited to step on the court and compete with him.”

Maxey, meanwhile, is 25 years old and exceptional in the self-improvement department. 

After averaging career highs last year in points (28.3 per game), assists (6.6), rebounds (4.1) and steals (1.9), what’s on his agenda this season? 

“I’m at the point now where I’ve showed what I can do talent-wise, I think,” Maxey said following Day 2 of training camp. “Of course I’m going to get to better, but I want to be judged by winning. If we win, that’s what I want to be judged by. That’s really my main mindset, my whole goal, is finding ways to win. 

“And because I’ve played so many different roles, I’m capable of doing so many different things. I think that’s going to be a positive for myself and for this team. I can play on the ball, I can play off the ball, I can play in transition, I can catch and shoot, I can play off pin-downs, I can play in pick-and-roll. I’m going to play however they need me to play.”

Shifting to the bench, the notable young names include 23-year-old backup center Adem Bona and rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. 

Philon’s role may very well be minor unless another injury or two pops up. The 22nd overall pick won’t turn 21 until next month. The starting backcourt of Maxey and Edgecombe tends to log a massive volume of minutes and Anfernee Simons is an established, bucket-getting guard.

However, a world in which Philon eventually seizes a meaningful rotation spot isn’t outlandish to imagine. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said at training camp that he was “super impressed with his vision and his passing and his offensive creation.” 

Philon played 24.3 minutes per game in his first preseason and averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 assists. He’s been curious about all his veteran teammates have to offer, asking questions on topics ranging from Brown’s secrets to making tightly contested shots to Edgecombe’s process for building a personal routine in the NBA.

Philon has maintained a deep belief in his own game, too. 

“I would say I’ve always been a great passer,” he said on Oct. 2. “Having the right guys, the right plays and the right mindset. First, you have to be unselfish. Second, you’ve got to have guys that want to move on the floor. And then third, it just comes down to making the best decision. For me, the best decision is making the easiest play. 

“Right now I don’t really need any showtime or any flashy plays. The position that I’m in right now, making the right play every time will be great for me. And I’ve been doing it. So just seeing that (in training camp) has been good.” 

The Sixers will happily take right play after right play this season. 

The hunch here is that the youngsters will make many of them. 

Posted on

Ben Simmons’ NBA comeback suffers brutal blow in crushing setback with Kings

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Sacramento Kings player Alex Len on the court during a game against the San Antonio Spurs, Image 2 shows Ben Simmons driving past Victor Wembanyama on the basketball court
Ben Simmons suffers a torn right Achilles injury.

Any chance of Ben Simmons making a comeback this season will have to wait until next season.

The Sacramento Kings announced on Sunday that an MRI confirmed Simmons has suffered a torn right Achilles injury during practice.

“Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons was injured during a live drill in practice on Sunday, Oct. 18. An MRI revealed a torn right Achilles tendon. Simmons will undergo surgery,” the Kings announced in a press release this afternoon.

Ben Simmons to miss the rest of the season due to a right torn Achilles injury. NBAE via Getty Images

Simmons signed a one-year $3.5 million deal with the Kings last month after spending last year as an unsigned free agent. The deal was reportedly a non-guaranteed contract that would’ve paid him $1 million if he made the opening night roster.

Simmons was once a No.1 overall pick in the NBA Draft in 2016 but spent his career hampered by injuries, including a right foot fracture in 2016-2017, as well as constant knee and leg injuries from 2021-2025.

Simmons was once a No.1 overall pick in the NBA Draft in 2016. AP Photo/Eric Gay
Simmons signed a one-year $3.5 million deal with the Kings last month after spending last year as an unsigned free agent. NBAE via Getty Images

This season, he was expected to be a backup point guard, behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who’s played in four of the Kings’ preseason games.

Simmons has appeared in two preseason games this season and recently had 25 minutes of playing time last Friday when he scored 14 points, with eight rebounds, seven assists, and one steal against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Kings are set to open their season this Wednesday when they travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers.

Posted on

Rasmussen shines as Rays beat Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 ALCS lead

Rasmussen shines as Rays beat Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 ALCS lead originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tampa Bay’s Jonny DeLuca figured it was going to be a quiet day for the outfielders with Drew Rasmussen on the mound for Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians

With the way Rasmussen quieted the Guardians offense on Sunday, that made for a perfect evening.

“It gets kind of boring out there because it’s incredible the stuff he has,” DeLuca said. “But you like that because he’s your teammate.”

Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings for his second postseason win in a 3-1 victory that gave the Rays a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out six.

“The way he limited anything was really, really impressive,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He got in rhythm with the fastball. A lot of power to everything. Then the depth on the changeup throughout the outing was a big pitch for him.”

Tampa Bay has won the last two games and will try to capture its third AL pennant and first since 2020 on Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Since the ALCS expanded to best-of-seven games in 1985, road teams winning Game 5 for a 3-2 lead have won the series four of five times.

“It’s a great opportunity. All of us are thinking of it. But it all ends tomorrow. We’re going to win tomorrow,” said designated hitter Yandy Díaz, who had three hits.

Game 7 if needed would be Tuesday. The World Series starts Friday at NL champion Milwaukee.

Rasmussen had given up two runs over six innings in the opener. After Chase DeLauter’s two-out single in the first, the 31-year-old right-hander retired nine straight batters and allowed only one other baserunner through the sixth.

Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three postseason starts, striking out 23 and walking three

He used his changeup only 12 times in the opener but threw it 27 times on Sunday, including 21 for strikes.

“We were able to attack with the changeup a lot more tonight,” he said. “The ability to drive the cutter to the top I thought was also another strength.”

Cleveland finally threatened in the seventh when Steven Kwan and José Ramírez singled to put runners at the corners, and DeLauter grounded an RBI single between first and second.

Cam Booser and Tyler Wells worked the eighth, with Wells striking out Ramírez to strand a runner.

Bryan Baker came in for the ninth and converted his 35th straight save chance, his fifth of this postseason. Jo Adell was on second base when Travis Bazzana hit a game-ending groundout.

Rays take advantage of early opportunities

Tampa Bay scored single runs in each of the first three innings, the first two off Parker Messick and the third against Tim Herrin.

Tampa Bay’s leadoff hitter reached base in the first four innings — scoring in the first three frames — and six times overall. Rays’ leadoff batters have reached in 10 of 14 innings dating to Saturday.

Díaz scored on a bases-loaded walk by Messick to DeLuca in the first inning. Díaz led off with a line-drive double over center fielder Petey Halpin that bounced on the warning track and off the wall.

Jonathan Aranda’s single drove in Ben Williamson for a 2-0 lead in the second, and Liam Hicks looped a curveball from Herrin to center to score Chandler Simpson in the third.

“I think we took advantage of getting ourselves in some favorable counts and getting some big hits,” Cash said. “We probably left some opportunities out there, and then they go to the bullpen, and it’s really challenging to piece together big innings when they’re mixing and matching from the third or fourth inning, whatever it was, on.”

Kwan helps keep Cleveland close

Kwan had two of Cleveland’s five hits and the four-time Gold Glove winner made two fine defensive plays: He threw out Walls trying to score from second base on Aranda’s fourth-inning single to left and made a leaping catch at the center-field wall on Victor Mesa Jr.’s eighth-inning drive, saving a run.

Messick had the shortest outing of his big league career and didn’t make it past the third inning for the second time in four postseason starts. The 25-year-old left-hander went two innings and allowed two runs, five hits and three walks, throwing just 34 of 57 pitches for strikes.

Cleveland has not won an ALCS when trailing 3-2 while the Rays are 58-27 at home this year, including the postseason.

The Guardians are seeking their first World Series title since 1948.

“We know we’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s a really good team and a really good team when they play at home, especially,” manager Stephen Vogt said. ”We know this is going to be tough but if there’s a group I’m betting on to get this done, it’s our guys.”

Up next

Tampa Bay will start right-hander Freddy Peralta (1-0, 0.79 ERA postseason), who will make his third appearance of the series. He threw six scoreless innings in his Game 2 start and pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief on Saturday. Cleveland has not announced a starter, and Vogt ruled out using right-hander Gavin Williams.

Posted on

The Knicks aren’t scared of LeBron James — or a brewing rivalry with superteam 76ers

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Josh Hart speaks to the media at a New York Knicks press conference, Image 2 shows LeBron James signed with the 76ers in July, Image 3 shows Jaylen Brown was traded to the 76ers this off-season after spending 10 years with the Celtics

Josh Hart predicted it. Really, we all did.

It was obvious.

“Wherever LeBron [James] went in the East, I figured that’d probably be our opening night [game],” Hart said after Knicks practice Sunday. “That will be good for headlines and box office and those kinds of things.”

With training camp and the preseason over, all attention now turns to the opener against the 76ers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

With it being banner/ring night and the opener, there is already plenty of intrigue and attention. But it is impossible to escape all the extras involved.

The NBA, with LeBron and Jaylen Brown joining the 76ers to create a supposed “superteam” this offseason, is clearly interested in making this a rivalry and season-long storyline. The two teams play each other twice in the opening six games — both on national television. In fact, all four matchups this season are on national television.

Most have labeled the 76ers — with a core of James, Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — as the biggest threat to the Knicks’ chances of repeating as champions.

Add in the close geographical distance, the recent playoff history between the two teams and the fact LeBron has publicly said he envisioned finishing his career with the Knicks had they not won the title (and is living part-time in New York City), and there are all the ingredients of a renewed rivalry.

LeBron James signed with the 76ers in July. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mike Brown’s first head coaching gig was coaching James with the Cavaliers. He knows that when James is involved, everything is just bigger.

“The reality of it, in coach talk, you want to say every game is the same,” the Knicks coach said Sunday. “That’s what you try to impress upon your guys is, ‘Hey, when we step on the floor, no matter who’s in front of us, you want to give the same focus, energy and effort to the next possession in front of you.’ But because of the talk, because of who he is — he is a large figure not just in life, but in the NBA.

“You also gotta look at the guys they have on the team and the guys they’ve added and the potential of that team and what we accomplished and what we’re trying to accomplish again — all those storylines, with the social media and all that other stuff, it’s pressed upon you, pressed upon you, pressed upon you, so it gets larger than life in general.”

Jaylen Brown was traded to the 76ers this off-season after spending 10 years with the Celtics. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Knicks would like to treat it like any of the other 82 regular-season games. But the reality is that, one way or the other, it will be used as an early statement in what could become a relentless discourse.

“As a coach, you hope it doesn’t, but at times yes, you have to take into account that yes, it can be something that guys think, ‘OK, this is a big game,’” Brown said. “It gives you a little bit more juice, a little bit more energy because of all the stuff around it. Is it gonna be a rivalry at the end of the day? I don’t know. I don’t know where we’re gonna be and where they’re gonna be. … Because of the storylines and all that other stuff with the social media, could it be right now? Yeah, it’s a fun story.”

The two teams also represent opposites of sorts.

The Knicks are a bastion of stability, returning nine of their top 10 players in terms of minutes played last year. It’s a group that knows each other well and has exceptional chemistry.

The 76ers, by contrast, are a newly assembled unit that must come together quickly with immediate championship expectations.

“Obviously, we have the same team, but sometimes individuals’ expectations are different than what they were before,” Hart said. “So it’s different. Especially a team like that, I’m sure they’re gonna have some bumpy times in the beginning of the year because they gotta get used to playing with each other. The media at that point [will say,] ‘They should blow it up and trade everybody’ and those kinds of things. That’s kind of the world we live in.”

The world we live in will have a dramatic reaction to Tuesday’s result.

Buckle up. 

Posted on

Suns Lock Up Oso Ighodaro with 3-Year, $29 Million Extension

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 05: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on April 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Phoenix just bet on one of its own. Per Shams Charania, Oso Ighodaro agreed to a three-year, $29 million extension that runs through the 2030-31 season.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks added the key piece of the structure: “To help the Suns financially for next season, Ighodaro’s $2.4M team option for 2027-28 is picked up. Good deal for both sides.” Translation: Phoenix keeps Oso on his bargain rookie number for one more year, and the new money doesn’t kick in until 2028-29.

That works out to roughly $9.7 million a year for a guy who came into this league as a second-round flyer.

Just on Friday, Ighodaro told reporters: “Yeah, we’re talking about it. We’ll see what happens in the next couple days.”

The timing is the win here. Picking up the $2.4 million option keeps next season’s books clean while the front office works through bigger financial decisions. Oso gets long-term security, Phoenix gets one more year of a rotation big at near-minimum money, then a fair number after that, especially if he continues to progress.

The Suns acquired Ighodaro’s draft rights at No. 40 from the Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to Kevin McCullar Jr., the 56th overall pick, and Boston’s 2028 protected second-round pick. He’s also a hometown kid, a Chandler native who led Desert Vista to a state championship.

He earned it with availability

Ighodaro appeared in all 82 games last season, starting 24, and his role expanded when a foot injury sidelined Mark Williams. In a frontcourt that got banged up, he was the one big the Suns never had to worry about showing up.

This front office keeps telling us what it wants: length, motor, and guys who can switch. Ighodaro checks all three at a backup-big price. Keeping him means the Suns don’t have to overpay in free agency for that profile.

Ighodaro has been in a battle with Khaman Maluach for the Suns’ starting center job with Mark Williams sidelined for the foreseeable future. He will play a major part in their rotation this season.

Posted on

Kings' Ben Simmons suffers torn Achilles at practice Sunday, will miss entire season

Sacramento's Ben Simmons has suffered a torn right Achilles and will soon undergo surgery to repair it, the Kings have announced. While no official timetable was given, he will undoubtedly miss the entire 2026-27 season.

This is a devastating blow for Simmons, who had been out of the league for a year getting his body right and his mind in a good place. For years, Simmons had been dealing with a back issue that limited him physically, caused him to miss a lot of games, and that shook his confidence.

Taking a year off seemed to have worked. All the buzz coming out of Sacramento had been overwhelmingly positive, and Simmons, 30, was expected to be a starter on opening night. While it's just the preseason, Simmons was moving well and playing a more attacking style, averaging 10.5 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 17.4 minutes per preseason game.

Two seasons ago, the former No. 1 pick played 51 games between the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 52%, all from inside the arc. He showed flashes of what he could be as a floor general and leader.

This injury also leaves the Kings and coach Doug Christie scrambling to fill a big hole in his rotation. Don't be surprised if Precious Achiuwa gets a lot of run with the starters, a group expected to include rookie Darius Acuff Jr., Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray.

Posted on

Mike Brown fondly reflects on Bruce Brown following Knicks release

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Bruce Brown (1) is currently a free agent. , Image 2 shows Mike Brown standing on the sidelines during the game between Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks

Knicks coach Mike Brown had tremendous praise for Bruce Brown, whom the team waived on Saturday to bring the roster to 14 players.

“Bruce, he’s a winner,” Brown said after practice Sunday. “He shows a level of toughness and versatility — not just defensively, he can guard one through four, but even offensively, he can initiate the offense. Our point guard’s not one that has to come down every play and break his guy down and make the game easier for everyone else. We have a system where we play out of concepts, and Bruce is good enough to initiate the offense, or he’s good enough to be off the ball. So he fits in with how we want to play on both ends, while giving us versatility on both ends. Having a chance to get to know him, he seems like a good guy. He seems like he knows a lot of our guys because he was in the same [draft] class as a few of them. So it was tough from that standpoint.”

Bruce Brown will not be on the Knicks’ opening night roster. NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks only have room to keep 14 players and stay under the second apron. They wanted to keep both James Wiseman and Bruce Brown, but were unable to make a trade to unload a player — either Pacôme Dadiet or Tyler Kolek — in order to make room for Brown.

And with the Knicks needing a third center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, Wiseman won the roster spot over Brown. It is possible the Knicks eventually find a deal and are able to bring back Brown.

“When you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent as a James Wiseman, because KAT’s not athletic like that and Andre was once that, he still has some of it. But to have that at 25 years old, especially with where we’re at as a group, you look for guys that coulda, shoulda, but at his age maybe he still can be a coulda, shoulda,” Brown said. “That vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism.”

Bruce Brown (1) is currently a free agent. NBAE via Getty Images
Knicks head coach Mike Brown spoke glowingly of Bruce Brown, whom the Knicks waived this week. Jason Szenes for NY Post

Josh Hart, who missed the Knicks preseason finale against the Raptors on Thursday due to a sore right ankle, practiced on Sunday.

He said the ankle is feeling “solid.”

OG Anunoby appreciated a New Jersey fan’s viral Halloween decoration recreating his iconic game-winning tip-in in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

“That was amazing,” Anunoby said. “That was super cool. Very creative. It was really cool.”

Posted on

Ben Simmons sustains Achilles injury during Sacramento Kings practice

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Sacramento Kings were excited to enter the 2026-27 regular-season relatively injury-free but the team received a massive just a few days ahead of the regular-season opener.

Recently signed forward Ben Simmons sustained a torn right Achilles tendon during a live drill in practice on Sunday, Oct. 18, the Kings announced.

"An MRI revealed the torn right Achilles tendon and Simmons will undergo surgery. Further updates will be provided as appropriate," the Kings said.

ESPN reported that the injury is suspected to be a season-ending one for Simmons.

Simmons was making his highly anticipated return to the NBA after signing with the Kings, filling out their final open spot, a person with knowledge of the team told USA TODAY Sports. Simmons signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Kings, according to ESPN.

"I've faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically and emotionally, and I've found a way through every single one of them. This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story," Simmons wrote on his Instagram story.

"It's never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that adversity doesn't define you. How your respond to it does.

"I've been knocked down before, and I've always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different."

Simmons' deal with Sacramento gave him a fresh start in the league as he worked his way back into the feel, and conditioning, of the game.

"Coming to work hard, play the game I know how to play," Simmons told USA TODAY during training camp on what he brings to the Kings. "Communicate, and just lead. Lead how I know how to. So it's been good. We're locked in, focused."

Simmons has missed time throughout his career due to chronic back problems and a series of leg injuries. He took time off last year, missing the entire 2025-26 season to rehabilitate his body from his lingering injuries. He has also battled through mental adversity throughout his career.

Simmons, 30, was entering his eighth NBA season and his first season with the Kings. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2017-18 season and was twice named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team (in 2019-20 and 2020-21) as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. He was also named third team All-NBA in 2019-20.

He has career averages of 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.

Simmons played well in Kings' preseason

Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons during media day at Golden 1 Center.

There were shades of the three-time NBA All-Star during the Kings preseason games. Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game in the preseason.

He was projected to make his way into the starting lineup, playing alongside Darius Acuff, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine. The team felt that his acquisition would add versatility to their roster where Simmons could defend every position on the floor, making Sacramento a bigger team.

However, he won't be back on the court in the immediate future and may miss his second consecutive season.

ESPN just featured Simmons in an E60 documentary titled "Being Ben" that premiered Sunday afternoon. The documentary, hosted by ESPN senior writer Marc Spears, follows Simmons, going behind-the-scenes and discussing in-depth Simmons' thoughts and emotions upon his return to the NBA.

Ben Simmons' injury history

Health has been a major concern for Simmons throughout his NBA tenure.

He came into the NBA as a bonafide star, coming out of LSU where he averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, two steals and nearly a block per game as a freshman in 2015-2016.

He always has been looked at as a guy who can do a little bit of anything and everything on the floor. After the 76ers selected him with the No. 1 overall pick the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons missed the entire 2016-17 season after rolling his ankle in his first practice, fracturing in his right foot and ankle – which did not heal throughout the season.

Simmons then played nearly every game for Philadelphia in his next two seasons earning three consecutive All-Star nods before injuries began to mount again after the 2020-21 season.

First was the fiasco when the Sixers lost a 2021 Eastern Conference semifinal series to Atlanta Hawks in seven games that was infamous for Simmons passing up a wide open layup or a dunk under the basket with 3:30 remaining in the game as Philadelphia trailed 88-86.

During the offseason, Simmons asked for a trade, held out from the team and didn't appear for training camp, stating he was away dealing with his mental health. He ended up missing the entire 2021-22 with a back injury in addition to the mental health hurdles and trade holdout.

Simmons was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022. He returned the next season but was limited playing only 43 games as he dealt with a number of knee injuries and lingering back issues.

His back issues continued into the next season in 2023-24, where he appeared in 15 games with the Nets before being shut down with continued back pain, eventually required surgery.

During the 2024-25 season, Simmons played 33 games with the Nets before he was waived. He signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2025 but appeared in only 18 games as he struggled with his physical health and athletic mobility. He became a free agent after that season and sat out the entire 2025-26 season to rehab his body.

He felt like he was back, signing with Sacramento in the offseason amid optimism his injuries were behind him.

Sacramento Kings' projected starting five

With Simmons' now out indefinitely, the Kings have a decision to make ahead of their season opener regarding their starting lineup. Sacramento begins the 2026-27 regular season with a game against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Here is their projected starting lineup following Simmons' injury:

  • Darius Acuff Jr., guard
  • Zach LaVine, guard
  • Deandre Hunter, forward
  • Keegan Murray, forward
  • Domantas Sabonis, center

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ben Simmons sustains Achilles injury during Sacramento Kings practice

Posted on

Rangers seeing hints of brilliance from 18-year-old Alberts Smits — even if scoring hasn’t followed

New York Rangers defenseman Alberts Smits jumps in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle during an NHL hockey game.
New York Rangers defenseman Alberts Smits, right, jumps in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle during the first period of a NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.

It didn’t take long for Alberts Smits to provide a glimpse of what Mike Sullivan had hinted at. 

Late in the first period Thursday, less than a minute before the Devils goal that began the Rangers’ unraveling at Prudential Center, Smits slammed his stick on the ice four times from the left circle. As play cycled behind the net, Smits knew he had an open shooting lane. Alexis Lafrenière slid the puck over. And Smits, the No. 5 pick in June’s draft, sent a shot toward the net around traffic that Nico Daws turned aside. 

Access the Rangers beat like never before

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.

tRY IT NOW

So much of Smits’ acclimation to the NHL, as a rookie who skated on the third pair from the first day of training camp and never looked back, has revolved around the defensive layers. But the Rangers also think he has “an offensive dimension to his game that might be untapped,” Sullivan said. 

There have been flashes through 10 games, even as Smits has yet to log a point — and, entering Monday’s game against the Ducks, remains the last Blueshirts regular without one. But the Rangers, who remain impressed with how he has performed with inevitable growing pains and mistakes mixed in, think that part of his game will eventually emerge too. 

“I think the offense is gonna come,” Smits said Thursday. “Just gotta take care of the defense first. So that’s what I’m focusing on right now.” 

Smits, who recorded a pair of assists with Latvia across four games at the Winter Olympics while stringing together six goals and 13 points in 38 games with Finland’s Jukurit last year, picked up his first unofficial point in the preseason — sending a nifty pass toward the slot that Taylor Raddysh deflected into the net. Sullivan has continually raved about Smits’ passing and physical poise, about how he doesn’t look like an 18-year-old on the ice, and that served as a tangible example in a game setting. 

New York Rangers defenseman Alberts Smits, right, jumps in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle during the first period of a NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. AP Photo/Paul Vernon

The Rangers have waited for the first instance of that in the regular season. They entered play Sunday with 20 points — two goals and 18 assists — from defensemen this season, tied for the eighth most in the NHL, according to StatMuse, but have gotten 19 of those from their top four and the 20th via an assist from Braden Schneider. There hasn’t necessarily been a drop-off with Smits, though. Smits rank second on the Blueshirts in expected goals per 60 minutes (0.22) behind just Adam Fox this season, per MoneyPuck, and when Smits was on the ice Saturday, the Rangers carried an expected goals for percentage of 82.94, which marked the highest rate on the team, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Blueshirts also had a team-best expected goals against number (0.25) during Smits’ shifts in the team’s 1-0 overtime loss in Columbus too. 

Smits was on the ice for the Blue Jackets’ winning goal at 4-on-4 in overtime — unable to disrupt a pass fully in the neutral zone and unable to get his stick on two others in the Blueshirts end before Kent Johnson’s winner — and only logged five shifts after the second period. 

Part of the ice time issue, Sullivan said, stemmed from the Rangers being on the power play three times in the final frame. He has yet to carve out a role on either special teams unit, limiting his availability, and Smits skated just 14:46 — the lowest number among Rangers defenseman by over four minutes — in Columbus. 

New York Rangers’ Alberts Smits (12) and Columbus Blue Jackets’ Sean Monahan (23) battle for control of the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

“That’s [assistant coach David Quinn’s] call back there,” Sullivan said of Smits’ limited shifts in the third. “He’s running the defense.” 

The sentiment echoed by the Rangers since the start of training camp hasn’t strayed from Smits looking like he belongs. Sullivan reiterated that again Thursday, labeling miscues as “mistakes of enthusiasm.” 

Smits, when asked about evaluating his game so far, said Thursday that he has continued to try and get better each game, to stay on the right development track. The Rangers have given him the runway for that, opting for Smits’ upside over more experienced left-handed defensemen such as Matthew Robertson or Urho Vaakanainen. They embraced the potential for growing pains and learning curves that’d inevitably follow. 

“The biggest challenge [for young defensemen] is the reads,” Sullivan said. “When to be aggressive. When to cut your losses, stay inside the dots, manage the dots, let the play come to you a little bit. That’s the hardest part, I think, of playing defense in this league, and that’s, I think, Smitty’s challenge moving forward. But we love his aggression.” 

The defensive play, for the most part, has transferred to the regular season. The offense, for now at least, remains a work in progress from a production standpoint, with Sullivan believing that the Rangers — over time — could unlock more.

Posted on

Marcus Pettersson sees identity of Mike Sullivan’s Penguins success taking hold with Rangers

New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan looks on during the first period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Elmont, NY.
New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan looks on during the first period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Elmont, NY.

Marcus Pettersson knows Mike Sullivan’s structure and philosophy better than most with the Rangers, since the defenseman spent parts of seven seasons with the Penguins from December 2018 through February 2025 after Sullivan had already arrived and won a pair of Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh.

And in the early portion of this season, Pettersson has noticed this iteration of the Rangers starting to adopt a similar identity to what those Penguins teams had with Sullivan as head coach, he told The Post before a 1-0 loss to the Blue Jackets in overtime where the Blueshirts largely flashed the same principles of checking and forechecking while earning their 13th point of the young season.

Access the Rangers beat like never before

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.

tRY IT NOW

“[Identity is] always the word on people’s mouths, I feel like, early in the year where it’s — some teams find it early, some teams are searching for that identity,” Pettersson, who was acquired in exchange for a top-10 protected first-round pick in the 2030 draft, said Saturday. “I think when you look throughout our lineup, our system and everything, I think everybody’s really bought in so far this season. … We’re a really good checking team. I feel like, and if we can do that well, it’s gonna be tough to beat us every night.”

With five years remaining on his contract, Pettersson, 30, will likely be part of shaping the Rangers blue line into the future, and outside of a pair of giveaways in Saturday’s game, he’s mostly been impressive with Sean Durzi on a revamped second pairing. Pettersson has collected a pair of assists offensively too while settling into a critical role on the Blueshirts penalty-kill unit.

Marcus Pettersson (26) skates during warm up prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils on October 15, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. NHLI via Getty Images

His current group of Rangers teammates, who are now 6-3-1 through their opening 10 games, and his former Penguins teams contained different types of players, he said, but there are still some similarities in how they play. They both had centers who could read the game. They both had speed. They both paired that with checking that in turn has allowed the Blueshirts to create opportunities for their most dynamic players.

They’ve learned how Sullivan wants to play away from the puck, Pettersson said, and have witnessed how that ultimately creates offense. Defensively, he added, both teams understood what puck movement means too.

“It doesn’t mean that you’re highlight reel, doing spin-o-rama, wheeling outside the zone every shift,” Pettersson said. “It’s effective puck moving where you get the pucks to our game-breakers up there.”

New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan looks on during the first period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The power play was supposed to be a definitive strength of the Rangers this season, but instead, through their opening 10 games, their other special teams unit has emerged as one of the league’s best — and that, given their reliance on 24-year-old goaltender Dylan Garand with Igor Shesterkin out for the season, has been crucial.

In their 1-0 loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday, the Rangers killed all three of their penalties, including one by Will Cuylle at the end of regulation that forced them to operate at 4-on-3 for the first 1:27 of overtime.

They entered play Sunday with a unit that has killed all but two of their 31 penalties, hasn’t allowed a goal on the road and sat in a tie for the second-best success rate in the NHL at 93.5 percent — which is even with the Hurricanes and trails just the Maple Leafs’ 96.4 percent.

“They’ve been aggressive,” Sullivan said. “There’s been a lot of collective effort when they are aggressive. It’s cooperative pressure. … They’re doing a lot of the little things, the thankless jobs. They’re winning faceoffs, they’re getting clears, they’re blocking shots, but they’re making good reads.”

Posted on

Former Sabres First-Rounder Quickly Demoted By New Team After Trade

Last week, the Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Ryan Johnson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for blueliners Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch. 

Now, after one week on Pittsburgh's NHL roster, he is heading back to the AHL. This is because the Penguins have announced that they have assigned Johnson to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

While Johnson was on the Penguins' NHL roster before this demotion, he has not made his debut for Pittsburgh. Instead, he was scratched while on Pittsburgh's roster. Now, with him being sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he will get back into game action. 

Johnson appeared in four AHL games with the Rochester Americans this season before being traded to the Penguins. This was after he had five goals and 19 points in 56 games with Rochester this past season. 

Johnson was selected by the Sabres in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, 31st overall. In 47 games over three seasons with Buffalo from 2023-24 to 2025-26, he posted seven assists and a plus-1 rating. 

Posted on

Canadiens Forward Is Showing Big Signs Of Breaking Out

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres in overtime by a 5-4 final score in their most recent game on Saturday. 

Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc contributed in Montreal's win, as he scored a power-play goal at the 11:45 mark of the first period to tie the game up at 1-1. 

With this goal, Bolduc now has four goals to go along with six points in eight games so far this season with the Canadiens. He is also on a hot streak right now, as he has recorded a point in each of his last three games.

With the way Bolduc is playing right now, he is showing clear signs of being ready to break out for the Canadiens. The young forward putting up strong offensive numbers like this at the start of the season is very encouraging. Now, he will be aiming to keep it from here for Montreal.

If Bolduc can continue to chip in offensively while making an impact with his physicality, it would be huge for the Canadiens. At just 23 years old, there is reason to believe that he has not hit his full ceiling yet. Due to this, he will be a very interesting player to keep watching as the season carries on. 

Posted on

The Lakers appear to be really high on Adou Thiero

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 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. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Injuries not only robbed Adou Thiero of his rookie season, but also the Lakers of getting a chance to really integrate him into their team.

As a team that lacked athleticism on the wing last season, Thiero was the ready-made solution already on the roster. However, most of his season was spent either rehabbing and recovering from various injuries or getting up to speed in the G League.

However, that hasn’t dampened the team’s excitement for Thiero entering his sophomore campaign. Evidenced by his playing time this preseason, the team still has a lot of belief in him.

If you read between the lines, they’re also signaling some of that belief as well. On a recent episode of “The Zach Lowe Show,” Dan Woike of The Athletic spoke about the Lakers’ pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga this summer. In doing so, he also expressed how high the team is on Thiero.

“Another ceiling raiser for them is Adou Thiero. Part of the reason, I think, why they weren’t totally bent out of shape about losing out on Jonathan Kuminga, I mean they were interested but it wasn’t a full-press recruitment, I would say…The version of Kuminga they wanted, they didn’t want the ‘I think I can be T-Mac’ version. They wanted, like, ‘Is there a way I can be some sort of discount Aaron Gordon?’ Hyper athlete who can space the floor a little bit and defend and run in transition and be a monster.

Adou Thiero is one of the best athletes in the NBA. Adou Thiero didn’t play a lot last season because of a knee issue. A knee issue that kept him out of the NCAA Tournament in college. A knee issue that pushed him down a lot of draft boards. A lot of teams had him red-flagged. He’s been healthy for most this preseason…He’s a guy that gives them a level of pop and athleticism that, really, no one else does.”

Seeing how much more controlled and impactful Thiero has been this preseason should give the Lakers even more hope that Thiero can be a meaningful piece of the team this season. It certainly seems like he’s going to get the opportunity to do so once the season starts.

On a team with plenty of wings, Thiero’s incredible athleticism sets him apart. If he can add some of the other skills along the way this season, then the Lakers could be looking at a new, young piece of their core.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.