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4 reasons the Sacramento Kings are better than you think despite Simmons loss

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings' training camp and preseason are officially behind us, and the 2026-27 regular season is set to start again.

There's excitement surrounding the team in California's capital for their upcoming season following a tumultuous 2025-26 that saw injuries and losses pile up. In turn, it resulted in one of the worst seasons in Kings history since moving to Sacramento in 1985, finishing 22-60.

But now they have a clean slate. 0-0. It's a new day. There's a newfound energy that fills the Kings' practice facility at Golden 1 Center. And a reason to be hopeful that the Kings won't be as bad as they were in the previous year.

"Everyone's excited," Domantas Sabonis told USA TODAY. "There was a lot of guys who were hurt. A lot of guys that didn't play above like 20 games. So just being out there. Everyone's happy to be out there, you know go out there and do what you love."

Sabonis appeared in just 19 games with a torn left meniscus injury, Keegan Murray only played 23 games mostly due to an ankle injury. Zach LaVine missed half the season with a right pinky injury. All three have reported to camp healthy, ready to compete. Second-year center Maxime Raynaud did have a setback with a right knee injury in a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, but he'll be reevaluated in a week.

They recently lost newly signed former All-Star Ben Simmons after he sustained a torn Achilles injury that is believed to be a season-ending injury for Simmons.

The Kings' offseason wasn't very busy; it did have some moments. It was highlighted by the retirement of Russell Westbrook, a contract buyout for DeMar DeRozan and their 2026 draft class featuring No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr.

With their offseason acquisitions and multiple players returning from last year, there's good reason why the Kings won't be as terrible as they were in the previous year, despite the considerable loss of Ben Simmons. Here's what the Kings need in the 2026-27 season:

Everything needed for the Kings to have success

Here's what the Sacramento Kings need for a considerably successful season.

Darius Acuff Jr. is as advertised, if not better than expected

Darius Acuff Jr. was the Kings' No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has a superstar written all over him and Sacramento is just completely enamored with what the 19-year-old brings to the table.

As a freshman at Arkansas, he averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists on 48.4% field goal shooting. It's not just his skill or his potential. It's his work ethic that will really shine through.

Acuff is regularly one of the last ones to leave the practice facility. Once the session ends, another one begins for the rookie, where he's getting up shots, working on his spots, demonstrating his desire to make a name for himself in the league.

"That's how I got to get better," Acuff told USA TODAY. "I just got here, so I ain't really did nothing. I ain't did nothing to show nobody yet. But like I said, that's kind of been my whole motto my whole life. Just putting work in. If I see something that I didn't do well today, I'm gonna do it after to try to work on it. So that's just how I am."

Kings head coach Doug Christie will at times jaw at him to see if he could throw him off concentration. Acuff isn't phased by it. Christie knows the pedigree Acuff comes with. They're cut from the same cloth. He loves it.

"He is about as hard a worker as you see," Christie said to USA TODAY Sports. "For us to push him, we're going to push him in a lot of different ways. Obviously, defensively, offensively, he is special, man. I mean, he can make the shots, he can make the passes, he sees it all. You can't really speed him up like he plays on the ball, off the ball. So there's a lot of of things to be happy about with Darius."

Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis need to have All-Star caliber seasons

The Kings will be a solid team that surprises opponents if their best players produce All-Star seasons. Even if they get snubbed, playing at an All-Star level is still significant. Both players missed large portions of the 2025-26 season due to injuries.

Both have said their health is intact and they are ready for the campaign. LaVine has been selected to an All-Star team twice, in 2021 and 2022. He put up 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 39 games last season. He shot 47.9% from the field in 2025-26.

Sabonis is a three-time All-Star, appearing in 2020, 2021, and 2023. He only played in 19 games with Sacramento last season. He's played for the Kings for five seasons where he's averaged 19 points, 13.1 rebounds on 59% field goal shooting and 37% 3-point shooting.

Kings are healthy, stay healthy

The Kings were unfortunate in the health department last season. Their projected starting lineup did not log a single minute together. Guys were filling in or playing out of position throughout the 2025-26 campaign.

Sacramento cannot afford to miss guys, especially key players. Last year it happened and it got ugly at times. They enter this season relatively healthy. Their success will depend on how available their players are.

Team depth and bench production

A lot has been made of the Kings starting lineup but they have talent coming off the bench as well, but they will need consistent contribution from that group of guys, led by Malik Monk.

Last season, the Kings were ranked 13th in the NBA for total bench points and bench points per game during the 2025–26 regular season. But they need to be consistent on defense as well.

They will be heavily dependent on Monk, Raynaud, Emmanuel Sharp, Precious Achiuwa, De'Andre Hunter, Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell and Daeqwon Plowden.

And although a starter, not a reserve, Keegan Murray will have a major presence in this team's success. He's not being asked to do too much, nor too little. Just answer the phone when your number is called, because it will be often.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 reasons the Sacramento Kings are better than you think despite Simmons loss

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Starry Sixers show substance, defensive tools in opening win over Knicks

Starry Sixers show substance, defensive tools in opening win over Knicks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The opening weeks of this Sixers season were always destined to be about flashes, hints and promise. 

They loaded up on marquee names over the summer and had no expectations of immediate brilliance. Indeed, the Sixers’ shooters misfired for much of Tuesday night’s season opener at Madison Square Garden. Tyrese Maxey was the only Sixer to hit the 20-point mark, scoring 28. 

His team still snatched a 106-100 win over the defending champion Knicks. And it wasn’t all about the stars shimmering. The Sixers defended hard and well, plowed through rough patches, and displayed the enhanced versatility that had head coach Nick Nurse so excited about the team’s two-way potential at training camp.

“We’re still new to each other,” LeBron James said after posting 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. “We had some turnovers that were kind of unforced. We had some moments with an open look and we didn’t take it. That will happen early in the season. As we continue to build our offensive sets, our defensive sets, we will have some bumps in the road at times. 

“But I think tonight we had those bumps in the road against a good team and we were able to use what happened previously to make those adjustments. Tonight we knew we gave them some pick-sixes in the first half and we gave them offensive rebounds. … We cleaned that up in the second half and that’s the sign of a good team.”

Following a 19-point Sixers debut, Jaylen Brown agreed that the team hasn’t yet advanced past “just figuring it out.”

“We’re not even at the tip of the iceberg in terms of chemistry, understanding ourselves on the floor, understanding our spacing,” Brown said. “We’re still at the very early stages of what we can possibly be. So it’s a good sign that we can win while still being in that early stage.” 

None of the Sixers’ flaws in the opener raised serious alarm bells.

They were a tad thin on the second unit — only Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played double-digit minutes off the bench — but both of those players drilled vital three-pointers in the second half. The Sixers will have useful manpower once Dean Wade (left ankle sprain) and Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction) are available. 

Joel Embiid shot just 4 for 15 from the field and lost a handful of his individual battles with former teammate Andre Drummond in the first half. However, Embiid played far better than a 13-point, 11-rebound outing might indicate. He had three blocks, two steals and nimble, hustling sequences that made it natural to remember his defensive peak.

Embiid doesn’t think those days are behind him. The 32-year-old big man has three All-Defensive team selections on his future Hall of Famer résumé, the last of which came in the 2020-21 season. 

“I think this year is going to be back to All-Defensive team like in the past,” he said. “Felt good. Moving great and felt like I was all over the place. … Defensively, I think a lot of it falls on me. If I want to be All-Defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team. If I can play that way every single night, which I will, it changes everything.”

Embiid’s defensive contributions also included a proposed mid-game matchup adjustment. 

He thought James should defend Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, enabling Embiid to serve in more of a roaming role and worry less about fouls. 

“I suggested it to the guys,” Embiid said. “I had three fouls and I just felt like the way they were calling it … I was just being honest. I wasn’t going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense, having three fouls. I wanted to stay on the floor and I thought we should do that. 

“He was great. That’s another big body that can guard the post. PJ Tucker was the last one we had that could do that, that could switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post. Last year we had (Paul George) and P.G. did a great job, but he’s a little light. Having Bron … we did that in the Olympics. We’ve done that in the past. That’s a good thing to change a little bit.”

On a glitz and glamour type of night at the Garden that featured the Knicks’ pregame championship banner ceremony and celebrities around every corner, the Sixers showed they have some real substance. 

“Lot of fun,” Maxey said. “Very competitive. I’ve been saying it all training camp and you saw it tonight. Extremely competitive on both ends of the floor.”

The home fans will pack Xfinity Mobile Arena to see the show Thursday night. The Sixers will meet the Cavaliers in their home opener.

“Listen, it’s one game,” Nurse said. “I’m really happy to come here and get a win. They’re a hell of a team. When I wake up tomorrow, I’ll probably forget about it and start getting ready for Cleveland.”

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Pens Points: Ben Kindel hospitalized after “medical episode” on team plane

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 3: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in the third period during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel is in stable condition after experiencing a “medical episode” aboard the team’s flight from Salt Lake City to Pittsburgh, the team announced Tuesday afternoon. The plane returned to Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff. Kindel, 19, was taken by ambulance to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation; he was conscious and alert. The team has not disclosed further details about the incident. [PensBurgh]

Prospect Tristan Broz is eager to earn more NHL playing time after making his debut with Pittsburgh last season, appearing in just one game. The 24-year-old forward is coming off a productive season with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording 16 goals and 39 points in 47 games, and is determined to prove he deserves a more consistent opportunity with the NHL club. [Trib Live]

The Penguins named Ted Towne as the team’s new chief financial officer on Tuesday, bringing in an executive who spent nearly two decades with the Washington Nationals. Towne most recently served as the Nationals’ CFO and previously was assistant general manager and vice president of finance. [Penguins]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Florida Panthers goaltender Jacob Markstrom is expected to miss 10 to 14 days with an injury suffered in practice on Monday, head coach Paul Maurice announced Tuesday. [TSN]

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has expanded his list of acceptable trade destinations to 10 teams, according to a new report. [Sportsnet]

Former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is preparing for an emotional return to Ottawa on Wednesday when he faces his former team for the first time since being traded to the Florida Panthers over the summer. [NHL]

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 10/21/26

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Josh Hart of the New York Knicks throws out the ceremonial first pitch before game 2 of a doubleheader between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

At Madison Square Garden last night, the Knicks unveiled their 2025-26 NBA Champions banner, gave out some very fancy rings, and they even threw in an NBA Cup banner as well because hell, why not? It was a season for the ages. Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice were in attendance. Remember when the Yankees had events like these? Granted, the most recent ones phased out a championship flag going up a flagpole and just stuck to the rings, which I thought was unfortunate. That was fun! Oh well. Maybe we’ll see another one someday.

It’s a shorter day for us on the site today, but don’t miss Kevin running through the disappointment of Jazz Chisholm Jr.‘s 2026 season (which was not a 50-50 season) and Kento wishing a happy birthday to a fella named Eddie Ford. Whitey would have turned 98 today, and it feels fitting that he and his pal Mickey Mantle had birthdays within one day of each other, albeit with Mantle three years younger. What a twosome they made for opposing teams to have to deal with in the 1950s.

Today’s Playoff Matchup:

Offday.

Questions/Prompts:

1. Did you watch any of the Knicks’ championship ceremony last night?

2. Here’s an Immaculate Grid-esque question: Who is the first player that comes to mind who played for both the Brewers and Rays?

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YouTube Gold: The Greatness Of Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson #3, Shooting Guard and Point Guard for the Philadelphia 76ers looks up through the net of the basketball hoop during a photoshoot for Reebok Sportswear on 3rd July 1996 at the Chelsea Piers basketball courts in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Duke fans were understandably dazzled by the precocious and highly athletic play of freshman Deron Rippey, as he led Duke to a dominant win over Tennessee. You have to be mindful of the hype this early, but it’s inevitable that he’s going to get a lot of comparisons. We talked about his game having elements of Johnny Dawkins, Jason Williams, and Allen Iverson.

Rippey’s not really built like Dawkins or Williams. Dawkins was, and is, incredibly lean. Williams was explosive and muscular.

He’s somewhat closer to Iverson. Like Iverson, Rippey is deceptively strong. He debuted a much shorter hairstyle against Tennessee, which made his lean, muscular build much more apparent, and you saw an ability to maneuver in very tight spaces like Iverson. AI’s been retired since 2013, so a lot of people have forgotten how great he was in his prime. Here’s a reminder.

We don’t know if Rippey will ever get close to this, much less consistently, but on Tuesday night, we got a pretty good idea of his potential, and it’s considerable.

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Victor Wembanyama leads USA TODAY's top 25 NBA players under 25

Who's next? It's a question that lingers over every NBA season, but perhaps never more so than at the dawn of a new one.

The 2026-27 campaign begins this week after the NBA crowned a ninth different champion in nine years when the New York Knicks captured the 2026 NBA Finals. Despite the spotlight on New York, Victor Wembanyama remains at the forefront of the league conversation entering the season as the San Antonio Spurs star continues his ascent toward becoming the NBA's next dominant force.

Older superstars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry are still among the league's biggest attractions, while established stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Jalen Brunson are squarely in their primes. But the NBA's next generation continues to gain ground, a trend reflected in USA TODAY Sports' Top 100 player rankings entering the season.

Twenty-five players under the age of 25 made the list, led by Wembanyama. The rankings also feature three teenagers, two members of the 2026 draft class and multiple young stars expected to shape the NBA's future for years to come.

Here's a look at the top 25 NBA players under 25, according to USA TODAY Sports.

NBA: We ranked the best player on every NBA team. Sixers among biggest surprises

NBA top 25 players under 25

Each player on this under-25 list is ranked based on where they were voted in USA TODAY's NBA top 100 rankings released ahead of the 2026-27 season. Their overall player ranking is in parentheses.

25. Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns, 24 years old (99)

24. Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz, 19 years old (98)

23. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers, 22 years old (97)

22. Peyton Watson, Cleveland Cavaliers, 24 years old (96)

21. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers, 23 years old (92)

20. Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder, 24 years old (90)

19. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder, 22 years old (87)

18. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks, 23 years old (84)

17. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards, 19 years old (82)

16. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers, 21 years old (79)

15. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz, 22 years old (67)

14. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls, 24 years old (66)

13. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons, 23 years old (64)

12. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets, 23 years old (57)

11. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets, 21 years old (51)

10. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs, 20 years old (47)

9. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets, 24 years old (40)

8. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons, 22 years old (39)

7. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, 23 years old (34)

6. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, 19 years old (31)

5. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets, 23 years old (29)

4. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs, 21 years old (28)

3. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, 24 years old (25)

2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder, 24 years old (23)

1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs, 22 years old (3)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama leads USA TODAY's top 25 NBA players under 25

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How Philadelphia rekindled Don Mattingly's desire to manage again

How Philadelphia rekindled Don Mattingly's desire to manage again originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Don Mattingly is not a meteorologist, but he knows how to read the wind. He knows it was blowing in the direction of Alex Cora, knows that Cora was Dave Dombrowski’s guy, knows that he would not have received a two-year contract to manage the Phillies if Cora had interest in getting back in the game.

Mattingly, in the words of J.T. Realmuto, “turned our season around,” when he took over the 2026 Phillies as interim manager in late April. The team posted a 79-55 record under him, fourth-best in the majors from that point until the end of the season, and tied a franchise record by making the playoffs for a fifth straight year.

And, yet, Mattingly had to wait until Dombrowski felt out Cora and touched base with a couple of other potential candidates, before being named skipper last week.

Some baseball men, especially those of Mattingly’s accomplishment in the game, might not have handled Dombrowski’s tack well. They might have attached an ice pack to their bruised feelings, cued up Johnny Paycheck’s famous song from 1977, and moved on.

But Mattingly didn’t.

“I never felt slighted,” he said as his new deal became official last week. “I want what’s best for the Phillies. If Dave thought that was moving forward (with Cora), then I was going to be good with that. I don’t have an ego that says I have to be whatever. I just don’t need it. So, I’m thrilled to be back and honored that they have faith in me to do the job.”

It’s not difficult to believe Mattingly when he says he wants what’s best for the Phillies. His son, Preston, works under Dombrowski as the team’s general manager. What dad doesn’t want what’s best for his son? Don Mattingly managed the Phillies for just over five months in 2026. In that time, he was never anything but humble and sincere. When the man says he wasn’t slighted, you believe him. He has experience in being underestimated and has handled it well.

“You know, I was a 19th round pick,” he said. “I got passed over by a lot of guys before they drafted me, so there were a lot of players I was behind.”

Mattingly was a standout high school baseball and basketball player back home in Evansville, Indiana. He was ticketed to play both sports at Indiana State before the New York Yankees made him the 493rd selection in the 1979 draft. Pretty good pick, those Yankees made. Mattingly went on to win an American League MVP award and a batting title. He made six All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves. He earned the kind of nickname – Donnie Baseball – that they only give the great ones. He is one of the all-time beloved Yankees, a little like Chase Utley is in the 215 area code. His No. 23 is retired by the club. He’s received strong consideration for the Hall of Fame in recent Contemporary Era elections (he received eight and six votes, respectively, of a necessary 12 in the last two) and still might get there.

All in all, not bad for a 493rd pick.

“You just have to keep going and show them what you can do,” Mattingly said.  “To me, it’s stay humble, keep working and worry about winning games.

“I have a lot of confidence in myself. I don’t talk like that. But inside, I’m confident in the way I go about my business. I’m probably not always perfect, but I’m pretty confident.”

Mattingly, 65, previously managed in Los Angeles with the Dodgers and in Miami. The 2027 season will be his 14th as a big-league skipper.

Prior to joining the Phillies as bench coach last winter, Mattingly was bench coach for three seasons in Toronto. He considered retiring after Toronto, but was talked into joining the Phillies by Dombrowski. At the time he was hired as Phillies bench coach, Mattingly said he was done managing, that he had no desire to do it again. He took over the role on an interim basis at Dombrowski’s request after Rob Thomson was let go in April. In time, his desire to manage again was rekindled.

“I’m excited about being in Philly,” he said. “I think it’s what made me want to manage again. I enjoy the environment. It’s kind of how I grew up playing professionally. I’ve been other places, but this feels more like my personality. What I feel inside, the fans, the fanbase, is more of what I feel about playing and how you should go about it.

“It’s not a cupcake environment. It’s an environment with a lot of expectations and a desire to know what’s going on. Why did you do this? Why did you do that? And I appreciate all of that.”

Though Mattingly experienced regular-season success in 2026, he said it never felt as if the team was fully his.

It will be in 2027, once there’s labor peace between the owners and the players.

He’d like to see the Phillies “play faster,” with players like Trea Turner and Justin Crawford looking to steal more bases. He will emphasize defense. That’s already a big offseason talking point with Dombrowski demanding better defense at shortstop from Turner – or else.

“There are things I want to do differently,” Mattingly said. “It’s hard to score in today’s game. So, defense is a premium. It’s an area I would really like to push.”

With Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter “our starting pitching is as good as anyone in baseball,” Mattingly said. “So, we need to catch the ball, limit extra outs, play a game where we get as much as we possibly can out of our pitching.”

Mattingly will be part of organizational meetings this week as Dombrowski and his top lieutenants put together a plan to get the Phillies back to the postseason for a sixth straight year in 2027. Left unsaid is the team needs to last longer than one round in 2027. The goal remains simple: World Series or bust. Mattingly has never won one – as a player or a manager – and the desire to do so lives deep in his soul.

It is, above all, what drives him.

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Way Too Early 2026-27 NBA Opening Day overreactions: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP. Again.

If there's one thing sports fans are good at, it's overreacting to one game.

We excel at drawing big-picture conclusions from a very small sample size. Well, we've had one game for six NBA teams, that's enough for me. It's time for some overreactions to opening night in the NBA, a triple-header you could see on NBC and Peacock.

Wemby who? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will win MVP

Fans and media have sounded ready to anoint Victor Wembanyama as the best basketball player walking the face of the Earth. He looked like it in stretches during last season's playoffs (even if he faded in the NBA Finals), and at 22, he is poised for another leap (or just a Wemby-sized step) forward.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would like to have a word with us.

SGA looked every bit the best player on the planet, scoring 32 points in the Thunder's statement win over the Spurs to start the season. As a reminder, that's his record-extending 141st straight 20+ point game. And Gilgeous-Alexander is not a one-way player — he had three blocks and three steals against the Spurs. He was doing it on both ends.

That's what MVPs do.

Maybe Wembanyama will ascend to the mountaintop, but on opening night he was 1-of-13 from the floor and finished a -2. If and when he gets to the top of that mountain, Wemby is going to find SGA already standing there.

Philadelphia is going to win the East

Sure, the 76ers have a lot of new talent, but how will it all fit together? Well... just like old times?

Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points, Jaylen Brown had 19 points and was a team-best +17 on the night, Joel Embiid played 33 minutes with 13 points and 11 boards, and LeBron James was the glue guy bringing everything together with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Sure, the 76ers can score, but can they defend? They held the reigning-champion Knicks to less than a point per possession on the night, with a 98 defensive rating.

If the Knicks are going to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Curry/Durant Warriors, that road in the East looks like it goes through Philadelphia after opening night.

Pistons’ Javonte Green will win Sixth Man of the Year

For one half in Detroit, it looked like the best free agent addition of the offseason was Boston landing Paul George — and he scored 38 in his Celtics debut.

Then Javonte Green sparked a comeback — he came off the Pistons bench, gave them the shooting they desperately needed, hitting 5-of-8 from 3, and scoring 19 points. It was Green off the bench who lit the fire for the 22-point comeback and the Pistons' bench-led 23-0 run in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.

It was contagious, and soon Duncan Robinson was following Green's lead, hitting 5-of-9 from deep — who says the Pistons don't have enough shooting?

There's still a lot of the season left, but Green is now your Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner.

Andre Drummond is the Knicks’ best center

NBC's play-by-play icon Mike Tirico said it best: "Drummond, the one guy who did not get a ring, is getting everything else."

And for a half, it looked like Drummond was the Knicks' best center and helped fans forget about Mitchell Robinson.

When asked about his first-half double-double, Drummond said on the broadcast, "I'm just excited to be here."

The second half was a reality check: Drummond went 1-of-5 from the floor, and his only bucket came off a putback. But if the Knicks can get 12 points and 14 boards from Drummond on a nightly basis, they will take it. Even if that Karl-Anthony Towns guy is their best center.

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Pirates have another offseason trade idea with Astros

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 9: General Manager Ben Cherington of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on May 9, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a big trade last offseason with the Houston Astros that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery. All three players made significant contributions for the Pirates in 2026, so it might be in their best interest to make another deal with the team from Space City.

Bleacher Report writer Kerry Miller suggests the trade that would send Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Pirates.

“Brandon Lowe’s one season with Pittsburgh was everything the Pirates could have asked for, playing in 150 games and hitting 35 home runs. Now he’s a free agent, though, and it’s back to the drawing board with several spots in the lineup that could use an infusion of offense. Third base, in particular, is looking bleak, and we’ve previously mentioned that Houston is probably going to be willing to move one of its infielders. And, come on, “Pittsburgh Paredes” is right there as an awesome nickname,“ Miller wrote.

While Paredes has primarily played third base in his first two years with the Astros, he also has experience playing second base. That is where the team might need some reinforcements if Lowe were to walk in free agency.

The Astros have a surplus of infielders, with Carlos Correa re-entering the fold after an original trade brought him back to Houston in 2025, when Paredes went down with a long-term injury.

It’s a trade that could make sense for both sides if there was interest, so Pittsburgh should at least give Houston another call this offseason.

BD community, how do you feel about the possibility of trading for Paredes? Let us know in the comment section below.

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The Spin | Writing a book with Chris Woakes showed the inner steel of the nicest man in cricket

All-rounder and ‘the best teammate you could wish for’ has seen profound change since his first-class debut in 2006

The Spin this week comes from York, where Chris Woakes and I sat down on Monday evening to discuss his new autobiography, The Wizard. There were just shy of 400 international wickets on stage, not a single one mine, and an audience that happened to include one of his old teachers.

It turns out a seemingly clean-cut cricketer was something of a rebel back in the day, with Mr Wager reminding Chris of the time he feigned illness to bunk off school for a long weekend in Newquay with his mates. A bit like Warwickshire’s title win this year that anecdote came too late, frustratingly, for the hardback edition.

Continue reading...
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Yankees news: Should Yanks stick with Anthony Volpe?

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees looks on during Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees have a decision to make regarding second base: stick with Anthony Volpe, or explore other options on the free agent and trade markets. Whatever ends up happening, Aaron Judge seems to have Volpe’s back. Following the Yankees’ ALDS Game 3 loss to the Rays, Judge had this to say about the embattled shortstop: “If we were going to win a World Series, we needed Anthony Volpe on the team.” I don’t know if I share that level of confidence, but Volpe did have a nice bounceback from a down 2025, accumulating 1.4 fWAR in just 70 games thanks to much improved defensive numbers. His bat, though, remains uninspiring, unless you believe his offensive resurgence since being called up from Triple-A in September was genuine. (I don’t.)

NJ.com | Randy Miller: Speaking of decisions, earlier in the week, the Yankees elected to retain Aaron Boone as their manager for the 2027 season — though he will not be getting an extension and will just manage the final year of his contract before the Yankees make any decisions on his future. Miller asked four anonymous baseball insiders about their opinion on whether the Yankees should have opted for change. While their conclusions vary, all sources touch on similar, familiar talking points: Boone being too much of a “player’s manager,” questions about clubhouse culture, shaky fundamentals, and concerns about now-free agent Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s behavior. Is it going to be more of the same from Boone and the Yankees in 2027, or will they opt for a more proactive approach in dealing with these issues? I’m leaning towards the former, but we shall see.

The Athletic | Chris Kirschner: Finally, Kirschner offers a useful, plainly laid out overview of the Yankees’ payroll situation for 2027 and the years beyond. While the team has often stated keeping payroll below $300 million as a goal, they currently have more than $200 million in guaranteed money for next year tied up in just seven players – Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodón, Ryan McMahon, and Max Fried. Of those seven, McMahon and Stanton stand out in terms of the paucity of value they bring to the team. As such, their future with the team is uncertain.

Lastly, the Yankees’ two best players from 2026 were in attendance last night as the Knicks raised their first championship banner in 53 years at Madison Square Garden. Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice are about as popular a pair of Yankees ambassadors as you’re going to find at this moment in time, so good move!

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Kings visit the Islanders after Kempe's 2-goal game

Los Angeles Kings (1-4-2, in the Pacific Division) vs. New York Islanders (5-3-1, in the Metropolitan Division)

Elmont, New York; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings visit the New York Islanders after Adrian Kempe scored two goals in the Kings' 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals.

New York has a 4-1-0 record at home and a 5-3-1 record overall. The Islanders serve 11.3 penalty minutes per game to rank 10th in league play.

Los Angeles has gone 1-1-2 on the road and 1-4-2 overall. The Kings have a -10 scoring differential, with 17 total goals scored and 27 allowed.

Thursday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.

INJURIES: Islanders: Mathew Barzal: out (knee), Matias Maccelli: out (lower body), Calum Ritchie: out (lower body), Alexander Romanov: out (acl).

Kings: Jakub Dvorak: out (upper-body), Quinton Byfield: day to day (upper body), Kevin Fiala: out (leg), Jan Jenik: out (undisclosed), Alex Turcotte: out (undisclosed).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Boston and Nashville face off in non-conference matchup

Nashville Predators (3-2-3, in the Central Division) vs. Boston Bruins (7-2-1, in the Atlantic Division)

Boston; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators will play in a non-conference matchup.

Boston has a 3-1-0 record in home games and a 7-2-1 record overall. The Bruins are third in NHL play with 46 total penalties (averaging 4.6 per game).

Nashville has a 3-2-3 record overall and a 1-0-2 record on the road. The Predators have conceded 22 goals while scoring 23 for a +1 scoring differential.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

INJURIES: Bruins: None listed.

Predators: Mavrik Bourque: day to day (upper body), William Trudeau: out (upper body).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Golden Knights visit the Blues in Western Conference play

Vegas Golden Knights (8-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (4-4-1, in the Central Division)

St. Louis; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues host the Vegas Golden Knights in Western Conference play.

St. Louis is 2-0-1 in home games and 4-4-1 overall. The Blues have an even scoring differential this season, scoring and allowing 29 goals.

Vegas is 3-1-0 on the road and 8-3 overall. The Golden Knights are 7-1-0 when scoring three or more goals.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

INJURIES: Blues: Adam Jecho: out (personal), Torey Krug: out (ankle), Ross Johnston: out (lower body), Alexey Toropchenko: out (upper-body), Tyler Tucker: out (knee), Dillon Dube: out (neck), Logan Mailloux: out (hand).

Golden Knights: Parker Wotherspoon: out (upper body), Lukas Cormier: out (undisclosed), Victor Olofsson: out (undisclosed), Kai Uchacz: out (undisclosed).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Poor first half dooms Spurs in season opening loss to Thunder

SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The arena was amped, the fans were in their seats early, but the San Antonio Spurs laid a dud in the first half and could never recover as they suffered a 116-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday night.

San Antonio shot just 29 percent in the first half, including a dismal 31 percent from three-point range in the opening 12 minutes. The Spurs began the second half on a 14-3 run to cut a 26-point deficit to just seven points, but turnovers and mistakes would halt their momentum as Oklahoma City built up their lead back to 15 points later in the period.

Victor Wembanyama suffered his worst shooting performance of his young career, finishing with 12 points on 1-13 shooting (7%) and 13 rebounds. After the game, Head Coach Mitch Johnson declined to cast blame solely on his star player. 

“I think everybody struggled pretty equally,” Johnson said when asked about Wembanyama’s performance. “I know his field goal [percentage] will stand out, but we all participated in that one.”

Johnson said his team did not come out firing as expected, saying the Spurs may have been a bit excited and could not properly channel that energy when needed.

“It didn’t feel very connected,” he said. “Execution wasn’t very good, and I thought we competed and played hard, just didn’t feel like we put our energy in the right places.

Stephon Castle, who led the Spurs with 24 points on 9-for-20 shooting, agreed with his coach’s assessment of the game.

“I think that we got excited with shots,” Castle said of the offensive struggles. “We were taking the first one instead of making them work on defense and finding a better shot.”

Despite Johnson not wanting it to stick, Wembanyama’s poor night was the highlight of the evening. Last season, he averaged 18.4 points per game during the regular season against the Thunder. After the game, the Spurs’ big man admitted he did not feel like himself for most of the night.

“I need to go back to playing the basketball I like,” Wembanyama said. “This is not the sport I like right here. I’ve got no reason to be hesitant, no reason to not be myself. I’m good when I have fun. I missed a lot of shots I usually don’t miss. But after that, I didn’t go back to these shots, and I wasn’t decisive. I might be overthinking it. I don’t need to do more. I need to think less probably.”

Wemby added that he did not feel like himself, and when asked he said “for many reasons” but did not go into it.

Oklahoma City’s defense was a tough nut to crack for the Spurs, but their offense was led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 32 points on 48 percent shooting from the floor. Jared McCain added 20 points, including going 6-for-8 from deep. Chet Holmgren rebounded from a poor Western Conference Finals to score 14 points and pull down seven boards.

With Wembanyama struggling, the Spurs’ three-guard lineup trio of Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper combined for 56 of San Antonio’s 104 points on the night. Devin Vassell had a poor night with seven points on 25 percent shooting.

“We can’t get away with these type of mistakes against a team like this,” Wembanyama said.

With one game down and 81 left to play, the Spurs will hope that their clunker will be behind them early, and they can learn and move on. Who waits for them next? Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in Austin on Friday night.

“It’s good to get the first one (bad game) out of the way,” Johnson said. “Got a lot of tape to look at and learn from.”

Game Notes

  • Despite the loss, the Spurs fans made the Frost Bank Center feel like Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals all over again. It was loud from the opening tip and when the Spurs made their second half comeback attempt. Nice job, Spurs faithful!
  • Dylan Harper hobbled over to the bench in the second half after grimacing, but was only out for a few moments before returning to finish the game.
  • Carter Bryant had a few moments where he shined and others where he still is showing some growing pains. This will be a big season for the second year player and he’s one I am keeping my eye on as the season goes on.
  • I know fans may overreact to this game, but breathe. Let’s see how the team responds to the loss in Austin on Friday.