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LeBron James of old shows up in Lakers’ win ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend

LeBron James is all smiles during the Lakers' win over the Mavericks in Los Angeles.
LeBron James is all smiles during the Lakers' win over the Mavericks in Los Angeles.

There were signs this was coming for LeBron James. 

As he warmed up Thursday, he danced. He waved his arms as he moved up and down. He stuck out his tongue. He grinned widely. 

He tossed the ball so high into the air that Rui Hachimura could walk under it immediately after it bounced. Then he caught the ball before it hit the ground again, as the entire team bent its knees in unison with his. 

He was loose. He was joyful. He was him. 

Lakers star LeBron James grabs a rebound against the Mavericks. AP

James tapped back into his je ne sais quoi after it was drained from him in an exhausting loss to the league-best Thunder on Monday. 

A few days later, the 41-year-old had reset, transforming back into the version of himself that’s untouchable by Father Time. 

James scored or assisted on the first 23 points in the Lakers’ 124-104 win over the Mavericks, his longest such stretch to begin a game in his career, per ESPN Research. By halftime, he had 18 points and eight rebounds. He finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. 

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“He’s got a 23-year prime, basically,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

James received a standing ovation at Crypto.com Arena after setting the triple-double record by grabbing his 10th rebound with 2:05 left. He surpassed Karl Malone, who had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at 40 years and 127 days old in 2003. (James was 41 years and 44 days old when he set the record.)

“Any given night, if I need to turn it on, I can turn it on,” James said.

LeBron James is all smiles during the Lakers’ win over the Mavericks in Los Angeles. Getty Images

Boy, did the Lakers need this. They had lost two games in a row heading into Thursday’s contest. After Monday’s loss to the Thunder and their swarming defense, James looked as though he had survived a battle. “I’m just tired as f—,” he said. “Sorry if I sound irritated, but I’m 41.”

On Thursday, being 41 had a completely different meaning. It wasn’t old, it was remarkable. It wasn’t a disability, it was a revelation. 

As for where his joy came from, James said it never left.

“That’s always me,” he said. “I’m a goofy-ass 41-year-old kid. I think people should know that by now, right? That’s just me. I get to play basketball. They pay me to play basketball. Why wouldn’t I be happy? I get to be with my son and my teammates and all these unbelievable fans that watched me throughout my career, and they give me all the support and love. I enjoy what I do. Have fun. You see me on the court, see me in the back. I just love what I do. It’s pretty cool.”

James, who’s the first player in NBA history to reach his 23rd season, has long maintained that he’s going to play as long as he’s aligned physically, mentally and emotionally.

He acknowledged that after missing the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica, he questioned whether he could return to the superstar level he has maintained his entire career. He wasn’t able to participate in the preseason. He couldn’t do his typical training over the summer. 

Lakers star LeBron James shoots against the Mavericks. AP

“Doubt creeps into your mind to see if you can get back to form and get back to making an impact,” he said.

But James, who finished sixth in MVP voting last season, clearly is still capable of being the best player in the league on any given night.

James said last season that he could play at this level for another five seasons if he chooses. When asked if he still feels that way now, he didn’t hesitate. “Could I?” James asked. “Yeah, I could. … I just think it has to be here (points to his mind). How long can I stay in love with the process? Because that’s always been my thing. If I can’t continue to stay in love with the process, then if this goes, then my body’s gonna go. And once my body goes, then it’s a wrap. Then the love goes, and then the fun and all that stuff goes.”

“So, that’s what it is. It’s not my game is deteriorating. Obviously, there’s things I could have did when I was 25 compared to 35, and 35 to 41 or 21 to 31 or 41. But I have so much knowledge of the game that I know how to still continue to make an impact even if I’m not a 45, 43, 41 vertical. I can still do so many things on the floor.”

James is very much still James. On Thursday, he made 3s over defenders’ outstretched arms, he threw no-look passes, he overpowered everyone in his path down low. 

He had his fingerprints over every play for the first seven minutes of the game. He’s still incredibly dominant. The best when he wants to be. 

What has changed is he’s now questioning whether he wants to keep doing this. 

When he has to deal with drama surrounding his relationship with Jeanie Buss or the Lakers’ holes are exposed against a much younger and more athletic Thunder team, you have to wonder if he’s leaning toward retiring. 

But then there are nights when he oozes joy, when he has his first triple-double in over a year and he makes NBA history, and you have to wonder how he could ever walk away from this. 

For now, all we really know is what he’s doing is unprecedented. 

And we’d be remiss to take any of it for granted. 

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Rome Flynn repeats as NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP

Rome Flynn repeats as NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rome Flynn earned MVP honors for the second straight year in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night, scoring 17 points to lead a team coached by Giannis Antetokounmpo to a 65-58 victory.

Actor-comedian Anthony Anderson coached the losing team, led by former 7-foot-6 NBA player Tacko Fall with 20 points.

The game brought basketball back to the Forum, home of the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Showtime” era until 1999, when they moved 10 miles away to downtown Los Angeles. Now, it has a different sponsor name under Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and is mostly used as a concert and entertainment venue.

K-pop made its debut at the game with boy group CORTIS performing at halftime.

Victor Wembanyama tossed up the opening tip between Team Giannis’ Jenna Bandy and Team Anthony’s Adrien Nunez, who got control, was fouled and missed his first throw.

Bandy was the only woman in either team’s starting lineup.

Team Giannis had a huge advantage in the paint with Fall grabbing most of the rebounds. His dunk made it a one-point game in the third.

Chinese actor-singer Dylan Wang garnered the loudest screams of the night, especially after he scored back-to-back baskets in the first quarter for Team Giannis.

Two of the oldest guys on the court were Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia (age 46) and Rick Schnall (50-something), who’s part of the Charlotte Hornets ownership group. Schnall fouled Ishbia in the first quarter, and Ishbia hit the free throws in a throwback to his Michigan State playing days.

Los Angeles Chargers star Keenan Allen hit a long shot from the red, white and blue line that was worth 4 points for Team Anthony. It launched a flurry of points for the wide receiver in the second quarter and he finished with 18 points.

Mascots from the Hornets and Mavericks alternated as sixth men restricted to playing in the backcourt for a bit in the third quarter.

Sidelined since Jan. 23 with a calf strain, Antetokounmpo won’t be playing in the All-Star Game on Sunday.

But the two-time MVP was assisted by his brothers Thanasis and Alex on Friday. Another assistant was Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts.

Former NBA player Jeremy Lin credited Betts for an inspiring halftime speech. “He definitely knows a lot about basketball,” Lin said.

The game marked the start of All-Star weekend, followed by the Rising Stars game down the street at Intuit Dome.

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2026 Arizona Diamondbacks Roster Dark Horse: Dylan Ray

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 14, 2025: Dylan Ray #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Kansas City Royals at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 14, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Dylan Ray might be ahead only of Jose Fernandez, in terms of being the least well-known player on the 40-man roster. Ray was a fourth-round pick in 2022, after barely thirty collegiate innings, and it has been an up-and-down struggle since. Of the four “real” levels at which he has played, High-A ball is the only one where his ERA has been below five. To be fair, pitching in Amarillo or Reno is going to play hell with any prospect’s raw numbers, and last year, he did well in Amarillo. He posted a 3.93 ERA across his ten starts at the Double-A level, which is more than an entire run better than the Sod Poodles’ collective figure. It was also an improvement on his 5.22 in sixteen starts there during 2024.

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What’s interesting – and a little odd – is, Ray has managed to reach the cusp of the major leagues without anyone particularly noticing. In terms of written material, for example, I found an interview Michael did with him for the SnakePit in October 2024, when Ray was appearing in the Arizona Fall League. Jack spoke to him last spring, after he was given the ball to start the Spring Breakout game against the Royals, and Ray addressed the perils of high-offense environments: “I’ll look back at it not from a results oriented standpoint, but more process oriented. Did I execute the pitch, throw it where I wanted it to go. The results take care of themselves at the end of the day.”

Since that? A video interview (below) from the Aces on the dreaded Ticky-Tac, just after Dylan had made his first start for Reno, after his promotion from Amarillo. That came on the heels of him being named the organization’s minor-league pitcher of the month for May. He went a perfect 5-0 across five starts with the Sod Poodles, pitching to a 2.03 ERA and holding batters to a .168 average, with a stellar K:BB ratio of 35:3 across 31 innings. Reno proved a rough awakening, as his ERA was a hair above seven across his first ten starts for the Aces. His strikeouts and walks both went in the wrong direction (38:24 in 52.2 IP).

But Dylan was able to put together a good string out outings in August, with a 3.81 ERA and 22:8 K:BB over 26 innings. That included 5.1 shutout innings in Reno against Sacramento, a game where he struck out nine, matching a career high. While he may have run out of gas down the stretch – he faced only four batters in his last start of 2025 – Ray had still done enough to convince the D-backs he needed protecting from the Rule 5 draft. They duly added him to the 40-man roster in December, when other, higher-profile names like Christian Montes De Oca, A.J. Vukovich, and Kristian Robinson were left eligible.

It was something of a surprise, given he wasn’t particularly highly-ranked as a prospect in the Arizona system. A few days after the Rule 5 draft, Ray was only ranked #45 in Fangraphs’ list of our top prospects, though Prospects 1500 had him just inside the top thirty. The former’s write-up suggested he might be better off converted to a reliever. “He’s velocity sensitive — everything plays fine at the very top of his velo band, but he gets hit when he dips — and in my looks his gas has tended to tail off throughout his outing. It’s worth seeing if Ray can add velo and maybe turn his above-average slider into a plus hammer in short stints.”

The manner of that final departure – Ray left the mound with a trainer, his velocity being sharply down – does give some pause for concern. I haven’t found any indications of an injury being involved, but as the case of Andrew Saalfrank showed, we are often the last to hear about these things. Fingers crossed it was simply fatigue rather than anything more meaningful. Ray’s subsequent addition to the roster is a hopeful sign, though the situation with Rule 5 picks and the IL is a murky one. [If they aren’t active for 90 days, the roster restriction carries forward to the next year] Hopefully, we’ll see him in spring, and any concerns about his health can be put to rest.

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2026 NBA Rising Stars Game: start time, TV, streaming, game thread

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during the NBAE Media Day Circuit Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Hilton Santa Monica in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Zaccharie Risacher plays for Team T-Mac in a spotlight for rookies and sophomores as part of a four-team round robin format competition.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen

Location: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, CA

Start Time: 9:00 PM EDT

Streaming: Peacock

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Can Shohei Ohtani win Cy Young Award? He expects to be in conversation

PHOENIX — Fans lined up and raced around the back fields at the Los Angeles Dodgers spring-training complex Friday, shrieking at the sight of him.

Photographers lugged their equipment around the complex, scurrying to see where he was going to go next.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spent his media session talking about him more than anyone.

It was Day 1 of the Dodgers spring training camp, and once again, all the buzz was about Shohei Ohtani.

When will he pitch in spring training? When is he leaving for the World Baseball Classic? Are you sure he won’t pitch in the WBC? How can he prepare to pitch while he’s with Team Japan for three weeks? Will he continue to bat leadoff on the days he starts for the Dodgers? How often will he pitch this season? Is he the opening day starter?

So many questions, so few answers.

Yep, just like ol’ times.

More: Are the Dodgers ruining baseball? Rivals refuse to criticize spending.

The difference this year is that there will be no limitations on Ohtani. He is fully healthy after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries. He had a completely normal offseason where he was able to pitch, as well as hit. And he feels as strong as he ever has in his spectacular career.

“I think it’s fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation,’’ Roberts said, “but we just want him to be healthy, make starts, and all of the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves. But man, this guy is such a disciplined worker and expects the most from himself. …

“Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those.’’

Yes, when you’re the winner of four unanimous MVP awards − including three in a row − win two World Series championships, and are the only player to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in the same season, why not try to check off the final box on the Hall of Fame resume?

Cy Young award, anyone?

“If the end result is getting a Cy Young, that’s great,’’ Ohtani said. “Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season. So, if that’s the end result, that’s a good sign for me. What I’m more focused on is just being healthy the whole year.’’

Ohtani, 31, began pitching in games again last June, for the first time in 22 months. He pitched just 47 innings, yielding a 2.87 ERA, but not only was his 100-mph velocity back, so was his control, striking out 62 batters with nine walks.

And while he was coming back from his second Tommy John surgery in September 2023, and shoulder surgery in November 2024, he still hit 55 homers with 102 RBI, leading the National League with 146 runs with a slash line of .282/.392/.622.

“I think the thing that was most surprising was his command,’’ Roberts said, “and I’ll say that he still feels his command wasn’t up to par. But given the Tommy John (surgery) and what typically command looks like the year after … it was impressive. Just his ability to command the couple of different breaking balls, to change the shape of his breaking balls, was pretty impressive. Everything he does is with a purpose.

“So, I’m really excited to see with the full offseason to just prepare and not rehab, what he can do this year. … When you’re in rehab mode, it’s a little bit of survival going into the season as opposed to just going into a regular offseason preparing for the next season and not in the rebab mode.

“We’ll see what it looks like, but I’m pretty encouraged on both sides of the baseball.’’

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) throws in the bullpen during spring training camp.

Ohtanti concedes he felt fatigue as a two-way player in the playoffs for the first time. He hit eight homers with 14 RBI as the Dodgers’ DH, and pitched 20.1 innings in the postseason, yielding a 7.56 ERA in his two World Series starts.

“It was a really good experience overall, but being able to go deeper into the season as a two-way player,’’ Ohtani said, “I did feel the effect of it.’’

The Dodgers, wanting to keep Ohtani as fresh as possible, along with the rest of their rotation, tentatively are planning on a six-man rotation to at least start the season.

“How beholden we are to that, for how long, I don’t know,’’ Roberts said. “But I think it’s easy to say that because the early part of the season we’re very mindful of giving guys rest to keep guys built up. I think that lends itself to that.’’

Yet, even with the short offseason, even being a two-way player the second half of the season, Ohtani feels as fresh and strong entering spring than at any time in his eight-year career. He has already thrown three bullpen sessions since coming to Arizona two weeks ago, and plans to face batters for the first time next week.

“I was finally able to have a normal offseason,’’ Ohtani said. “Although the offseason was pretty short, I thought it was a good thing actually to have a shorter offseason.’’

Yes indeed, short offseasons mean long postseason runs, and the Dodgers are coming off two World Series titles with dreams of making it a three-peat.

And after watching Ohtani perform in camp, well, the Dodgers know just the man who can lead them back to the promised land.

“He looks strong,’’ Roberts said. “Just watching him throw, watching him run, his body moving well, I think he’s in a sweet spot.’’

Another magical season awaits.

Follow Nightengale on X: @BNightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Shohei Ohtani win Cy Young Award? 2026 expectations high

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Question of the day – Which Mariners starter to extend: Gilbert, Kirby, or Woo?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 14: George Kirby #68, Logan Gilbert #36, Bryce Miller #50 and Bryan Woo #22 of the Seattle Mariners interact with the Seattle Mariners mascot "Moose" before the game against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on June 14, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s Question of the day comes from yesterday’s Moose Tracks via poster Tuojiangoland:

Never has the best answer ever been a more “EVERYONE!!!” answer than right here, but for the sake of conversation, let’s say the Mariners can and will only choose one Mariners starting pitcher to offer a long term contract extension. Who do you most want them to sign of the Big Three? Logan Gilbert offers the longest track record of consistently good results, but perhaps doesn’t have as high a ceiling as the other two. Or maybe we’ve seen his peak/ceiling already? (I don’t think this is true, but some might).

Then there is George Kirby with arguably the best “STUFF,” but with the most ups and downs in consistency. When he’s on, it’s scary as hell for hitters out there, but when something is off, the wheels tend to fall off pretty quickly in an outing for Kirby.

And Bryan Woo entered this convo just this past season after being a large question mark himself in his MLB career prior to 2025 with health concerns hanging over his head. Well, he went ahead and posted career numbers and was the best pitcher on the staff with 4.2 WAR. I recall we had a preseason predictions question about who would have the better season in 2025, Woo or Bryce Miller and I definitely picked wrong. I owe Bryan Woo an apology, I am now familiar with your game.

So, if you can only choose one to extend, who are you choosing?

Give us your reasons in the comments.

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Rising Stars Game: Egor Dëmin takes the floor for Team Vince

Jan 7, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) celebrates his three point shot against the Orlando Magic to send the game to overtime during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Sometimes progress shows up quietly — it isn’t always flashy and it isn’t always immediate. But since assuming a bigger role, Egor Dëmin has given the Nets every reason to feel confident about their ‘bold’ investment in him.

You can make what you want out of the accolades — he’s 19 years old and pundits said he didn’t have a jump shot at the Draft. We believed them, he’s proving us wrong. He’s averaged 10.8 points on 39.6% shooting from deep — 16.7 points in games which he’s played 30+ minutes. Perhaps it’s more than an accolade. It’s a reflection of how far he’s come, and how quickly he’s adapted to the NBA game. As for Friday… he’s in good hands.

DID YOU SEE VC… WITH EGOR?

Egor will represent Team Vince.

ICYMI

We got — not one, not two, not three — but FOUR Nets players on one podcast.

The Teams

(Via NBA.com)

💬 DISCUSSION

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

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Jonah Tong trying to keep same ‘mindset’ in spring training with his Mets spotlight brighter

New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong throws batting practice during Spring Training.
Jonah Tong throws a pitch during a live batting practice for the Mets on Feb. 13.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Jonah Tong spent last spring training far removed from the spotlight as a Mets pitching prospect.

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This spring is different.

Tong, in his first major league camp, is under the scrutiny of team officials any time he picks up a baseball.

And Friday was his first opportunity to face hitters.

Tong threw 36 pitches over two innings of live batting practice, the Mets’ first chance to watch the rookie on the Clover Park mound.

“I really get to appreciate not only the hitters in the box, but also building a relationship with the catchers,” Tong said. “That’s more important this time of the year as we get toward the season.”

Jonah Tong throws a pitch during a live batting practice for the Mets on Feb. 13. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

In five starts late last season, the 22-year-old Tong pitched to a 7.71 ERA as part of a rookie threesome that also included Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat.

Tong will likely begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse to receive further reps at that level.

Last season, he was called up to the Mets after only two starts for Syracuse.

Tong dominated in 20 starts for Double-A Binghamton to emerge as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects.

“The mindset stays the same,” Tong said of his spring training this season compared to last. “I am just going out there to have a lot of fun and enjoy these people, and try to learn as much as I possibly can and everything else will just fall as it may.”

Tong said a focus this spring is the continued refinement of his offspeed pitches, including sequencing.

“I want him to enjoy,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I want him to learn as much as possible from every guy that we have in that room and I want him to go out there and be himself. We know about the fastball and the changeup and he’s working on a cutter. He’s working on his secondary pitches, whether we want to call it a slider, and I want him to go out there and to continue to develop all these pitches, compete and prepare for his year.

“He’s going to pitch for us and we’re going to need him. Learn, have fun and let the rest take care of itself.”

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Who Will be the A’s Closer This Season?

Last July, the A’s made one of the biggest trades of the trade deadline, sending flamethrowing closer Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres in exchange for elite shortstop prospect Leo De Vries and three minor-league pitchers. 

After trading Miller, one of the best closers in the league, many people expected the A’s bullpen to struggle the rest of the season. However, the group of Tyler Ferguson, Justin Sterner, Hogan Harris, Elvis Alvarado, Michael Kelly and Sean Newcomb combined to pitch well in a closer by committee style helping the A’s post a 34-24 record over the season’s final stretch. 

All those players are back with the exception of Newcomb, who signed with the Chicago White Sox in free agency. The A’s strengthened their bullpen this offseason by signing veteran free-agent relievers ScottBarlow and Mark Leiter Jr, two players that have experienced periods of success in their MLB careers. Yet, the club remains without a proven closer entering 2026.

Barlow, who has accumulated 59 saves over his first eight seasons, may be given the first shot as the A’s closer this season, although his tendency to suffer command lapses and walk batters may lead the A’s to consider other options. Last year, he mainly pitched in earlier innings, only tallying one save with the Cincinnati Reds. Likewise for Leiter, who saved two games for the New York Yankees this past season.

As a result, it seems that manager Mark Kotsay may once again go with a closer by committee approach determined by matchups to start the season. For instance, left-hander Harris could pitch the ninth if left-handed hitters are scheduled to hit, while Barlow or Alvarado could enter to deal with dangerous right-handed batters. It also will likely be determined by health and performance, with the A’s likely to stick with a closer if he goes multiple games without blowing leads.

Alternatively, the A’s could hand the closer reins to youngster Jack Perkins, an idea frequently brought up by this community as a way to keep him on the field, increase his effectiveness and manage his workload. Another idea is to employ Luis Medina out of the bullpen late in games once he returns from Tommy John surgery rehab. Medina is out of options and he throws hard, so probably will not clear waivers if the A’s do not have a place for him on the roster.

Who do you think should be the A’s closer this season? Is it someone currently on the team or a free agent that the A’s should sign? Or should they stick with a closer by committee rotation?  Debate and comment below.

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Rising Stars Game: Egor Dëmin takes the floor for the Brooklyn Nets

Jan 7, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) celebrates his three point shot against the Orlando Magic to send the game to overtime during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Sometimes progress shows up quietly — it isn’t always flashy and it isn’t always immediate. But since assuming a bigger role, Egor Dëmin has given the Nets every reason to feel confident about their ‘bold’ investment in him.

You can make what you want out of the accolades — he’s 19 years old and pundits said he didn’t have a jump shot at the Draft. We believed them, he’s proving us wrong. He’s averaged 10.8 points on 39.6% shooting from deep — 16.7 points in games which he’s played 30+ minutes. Perhaps it’s more than an accolade. It’s a reflection of how far he’s come, and how quickly he’s adapted to the NBA game. As for Friday… he’s in good hands.

DID YOU SEE VC… WITH EGOR?

Egor will represent Team Vince.

OH AND BY THE WAY…

We got — not one, not two, not three — but FOUR Nets players on one podcast.

The Teams

(Via NBA.com)

💬 DISCUSSION

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

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It’s time for All Star Weekend: Friday Night Discussion

SAN ANTONIO, TX -FEBRUARY 7: Carter Bryant, Victor Wembanyama , Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs pose for a photograph before the start of their game against the Dallas Mavericks since they will all be competing at the All-Star game at Frost Bank Center on February 7, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

All Star weekend is here. Tonight’s schedule:

  • 6:00 PM CT—All Star celebrity game (ESPN)
  • 8:00 PM CT—Rising Stars G1; Team Austin vs Team Melo (Peacock)
  • 8:55 PM CT—Rising Stars G2; Team Vince vs Team T-Mac (Peacock)
  • 9:35 PM CT—Rising Stars Championship; winner of G1 vs winner of G2 (Peacock)

Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are on Team Melo, and hopefully they’ll have a good game and win a trophy at the end. Carter Bryant was a last minute addition to Team Vince, and he’s also in the dunk contest tomorrow, so not all of the Spurs participants can be Rising Stars champions tonight. It’s going to be a fun night for the players and fans, but I don’t expect to see much quality basketball. Not tonight, not all weekend.

Game Prediction:

Stephon Castle finds is hard to not play defense, gets benched by Melo, who never played defense in his life.

All Star Friday Night
February 13, 2026
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

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Edgecombe wins Rising Stars MVP, shows off clutch skills

Edgecombe wins Rising Stars MVP, shows off clutch skills  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe’s clutch skills traveled to his first NBA All-Star weekend. 

The Sixers’ rookie guard earned the MVP award Friday night in the Rising Stars mini-tournament at Intuit Dome. Edgecombe calmly drained two free throws to give his team a 25-24 win in the final.

Edgecombe made crucial plays in both the semifinals and final for his team, which had Vince Carter as honorary coach. Spurs assistant coach Corliss Williamson (once a Sixers player) served as head coach. 

After drilling his free throws, Edgecombe walked over to All-Star teammate Tyrese Maxey on the sideline and celebrated. Maxey’s set to participate in both the three-point contest Saturday night and the All-Star Game itself on Sunday.

Edgecombe’s late-game heroics were the highlight of his squad’s semifinal win. 

With his team nearing the target score of 40, Edgecombe sunk two long-range shots. He then sealed the deal, nailing a step-back jumper from the right elbow over Cam Spencer to advance to the final. 

The 20-year-old wound up scoring his squad’s last 10 points. He finished with a game-high 17 on 6-for-8 shooting and five rebounds. 

Fifty games into his NBA career, the No. 3 overall pick has already established himself as a player who enjoys crunch time and often thrives at the tail end of tight games.

In clutch situations, Edgecombe has shot 55.8 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from three-point range. He also leads the Sixers in clutch rebounds (27 in 130 minutes) and clutch steals (seven). 

“Everything we have there is that he’s on pace to be someone who’s got a real chance to be a future All-Star,” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said last week. “He’s playing great basketball, especially at the ends of games.”

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Herrera's heroics save point for Osasuna

MADRID (AP) — Sergio Herrera produced a string of superb saves to win a point for Osasuna in a 0-0 draw at Elche in La Liga on Friday.

Home side Elche had the lion’s share of the chances but Herrera used his hands, body, and legs to thwart the forwards over and over, including twice in the final minutes.

“That’s football, these things happen,” Elche coach Eder Sarabia said. “We were vastly superior and produced a brilliant performance, but sometimes you still don’t win. It was a 4-0 or 4-1 kind of game.”

Elche looked a different side from the one that lost its previous three league games and was more incisive than the team six places above it.

However, Herrera’s heroics meant it ended with just one point that lifted it two places, into 13th. Its winless league runs extended to seven matches. It has the same points as the two teams below it, Sevilla and Alaves.

Osasuna remained in ninth place.

Only six points separate Athletic Bilbao in 10th from Rayo Vallecano in the relegation zone.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Posted on

CSR Weekend Warriors: 2/13-2/15

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

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2026 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds: Reid Reclaiming the Throne

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Naz Reid enters the halfway mark of the season as a heavy favorite to re-claim the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, bringing consistent scoring punch and energy off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves that has transformed him into one of the league’s most impactful reserves.

His strong start has propelled him to the top of the odds, and as he looks to build on that momentum, let’s take a look at the other contenders vying for this year’s Sixth Man honors.

2026 Sixth Man of the Year odds

Playerbet365Movement
Timberwolves Naz Reid+185▲
Spurs Keldon Johnson+320▲
HeatJaime Jaquez Jr.+475▼ 
Thunder Ajay Mitchell+1200-- 
RocketsReed Sheppard+1400▼ 
Timberwolves Ayo Dosunmu+1500▲
Magic Anthony Black+1800▼ 
Bulls Anfernee Simons+2000▲
Nuggets Tim Hardaway Jr.+2000▲
Suns Grayson Allen+2800▲

Odds as of 2-13-2026.


NBA Sixth Man of the Year favorites

Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves has already been a past winner of the award, but bettors are seeing him recapture that scoring-and-efficiency combo that helped him earn the honor as his name remains among the more respected and realistic long-shots.

Close behind him in the latest Sixth Man of the Year race is Keldon Johnson, who has been providing the San Antonio Spurs with valuable scoring and athleticism off the bench for his team.

Meanwhile, Ajay Mitchell has drawn attention thanks to his consistent production and efficient play — his early-season form has many calling him a serious 6MOTY candidate.

Reed Sheppard gets in the mix with his breakout role off the bench and elevated minutes in Houston with the Rockets.

Covers NBA betting tools

NBA Sixth Man of the Year opening odds

  • Naz Reid +900
  • Anfernee Simons +1100
  • John Collins +1100
  • Tari Eason +1100
  • De'Andre Hunter +1200
  • Onyeka Okongwu +1800
  • Josh Hart +2000
  • Bobby Portis +2200
  • Jared McCain +2500
  • Jordan Clarkson +2500
  • Malik Monk +2500
  • Donte DiVincenzo +3000
  • Jonathan Kuminga +3000
  • PJ Washington +3000
  • Reed Sheppard +3000

Odds courtesy of Sports Odds History.

Understanding NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's 6MOY race as an example: 

As the season progressed, with Immanuel Quickley having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number: 

  • Immanuel Quickley -300

This means that a bettor needs to wager $300 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such: 

  • Russell Westbrook +650

Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.

Popular NBA futures markets

NBA 6MOY betting trends

Here are some trends you'll want to keep in mind when betting on NBA Sixth Man of the Year: 

  • Guards have absolutely owned this award recently, winning 6MOY in 10 of the past 12 seasons.

  • Naz Reid's 2024 win marked only the fourth 6MOY win by a center in its 41-year history (Montrezl Harrell '20, Roy Tarpley '88, and Bill Walton '86).

  • Both Jamal Crawford ('10, '14, '16) and Lou Williams ('15, '18, '19) are recent three-time winners, so voter fatigue may matter less in this market. 

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How is NBA Sixth Man of the Year decided?

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year is awarded to the league's best bench player each season. A variety of factors go into evaluating who the top reserve is:

Consistent statistical impact

The 6MOY must consistently provide a significant impact on the game whenever entering from the bench. This impact should be palpable and discernible in terms of offensive, defensive, or playmaking contributions.

Scoring prowess

The candidate should display an ability to contribute significantly to the team's scoring efforts. This can be evidenced by an impressive points-per-game average, especially in crucial moments of the game. Scoring tends to be the single most important stat for Sixth Man voting.

Versatility

The awardee should demonstrate the capability to adapt to various game situations. This encompasses two-way play, as well as adaptability to different styles and opposing lineups.

Role-player mentality

The recipient must exhibit a selfless approach to the game, willingly accepting their role as a substitute player and deferring to stars, while able to fill a variety of needs for team success.

Impact on team success

The award recipient should have a discernible impact on the team's overall success during the regular season, especially in terms of on-off metrics that measure a player’s impact on their team’s bottom line, and value relative to potential replacements.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year history

YearNBA 6MOY Winner
2024-25Payton Pritchard
2023-24Naz Reid
2022-23Malcolm Brogdon
2021-22Tyler Herro
2020-21Jordan Clarkson
2019-20Montrezl Harrell
2018-19Lou Williams
2017-18Lou Williams
2016-17Eric Gordon
2015-16Jamal Crawford
2014-15Lou Williams
2013-14Jamal Crawford
2012-13J.R. Smith
2011-12James Harden
2010-11Lamar Odom
2009-10Jamal Crawford
2008-09Jason Terry
2007-08Manu Ginobili
2006-07Leandro Barbosa
2005-06Mike Miller
2004-05Ben Gordon

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