If the expectations and goals for the Warriors in the 2025-26 season weren’t clear before, general manager Mike Dunleavy came to help.
Despite how loaded the Western Conference is, Dunleavy will measure Golden State’s success on one primary thing.
“Success here by the standards that have been set is probably winning your last game. We know what that means,” Dunleavy said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Beyond that, we can have a successful, rewarding season in a bunch of different ways. But you’re judged by banners here.”
“This year, we feel like we have a team that can [win a championship]. We want to be in the mix. And I think we’ve given ourselves a chance in that regard. You need health, you need some good fortune, you need some of those things to go your way for sure.
“But I think with this group, the experience we have, the skill level we have, we’re going to be right there in the mix as soon as we have all those other things we need, like health and good fortune.”
The Warriors already are being judged by their age, but it wouldn’t be the first time they won a title when the odds were against them.
And as the league has come to learn, Golden State prefers to be the underdogs.
We are now one week away from the start of the NBA season, which means many of our pre-season pipe dreams and fantasy scenarios will be doused in cold water from the reality of real NBA games. However, some of our pre-season darlings will emerge through the first few weeks and announce their arrival as players to keep an eye on in this new season.
Below is a breakdown of some of my favorite breakout candidates for the 2025-26 NBA season. Some of them have already flashed star upside, some of them showed it in college, and others are going to demonstrate it to the NBA fanbase for the first time. But let's dig in and find out why I think these players are get to soar to new heights this year. Eric
Breakout Players for 2025 Fantasy Basketball Season
Trey Murphy III (SF/PF, NO) - ADP: 52
I know it's weird to call a player with an ADP nearly inside the top 50 a breakout, but I just believe there's another level for Murphy. Last season, he averaged career highs in points (21.2), rebounds (5.1), and assists (3.5), but he played just 53 games due to injury, so his performance kind of went under the radar. People were also harping on his turnover rate increasing and his three-point shooting efficiency decreasing, but I think that's the nature of a young player stepping into a bigger role; there are some growing pains along the way.
Murphy is a talented player who can do a bit of everything and will start for a Pelicans team that will be without Dejounte Murray (Achilles) for a while. Zion Williamson is not the picture of health himself, so there could be stretches where it's just Murphy and Jordan Poole asked to shoulder the load for the Pelicans. I think Murphy's efficiency will continue to improve, and I'm going to bet on a player with his natural talents to continue to succeed.
Stephon Castle (PG/SG, SAS) - ADP: 109
You could argue that Castle started to breakout at the end of last season, when he averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over 26 games without De'Aaron Fox in the lineup. However, I don't think enough people are accounting for continued growth here. Castle was the fourth overall pick in last year's draft and won NBA Rookie of the Year, but he doesn't really come up in many conversations about ascending young talents.
Yes, Fox should be back a some point early in the season when his hamstring injury heals, and the Spurs drafted Dylan Harper with the second pick, but Castle doesn't really need the ball in his hands to be successful. He's an excellent slasher and understands the spacing of the floor well enough to cut into open lanes. We've also seen him look more comfortable shooting from behind the arc this preseason, which would be a major box ticked in the evolution of his game. I don't expect him to become an elite shooter by any means, but it's just another tool in a pretty loaded toolbox.
Matas Buzelis (SF/PF, CHI) - ADP: 101
Buzelis is everybody’s breakout pick, and his ADP on Yahoo sites alone is now inside the top 80 picks. A lot of that is because of what he has done this preseason, but also because he showed what he can do in a high-usage role last season when he averaged 13.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 27 minutes per game over his final 33 games. There will be some inconsistencies because he's still a young player who just turned 21 years old this week (CHEERS!). Still, Buzelis will assuredly find himself in a high-usage role for a rebuilding Bulls team that lacks many playmakers apart from Josh Giddey and, sometimes, Coby White. Buzelis can do a little bit of everything, and I think he should be able to improve on those numbers we saw in the final 33 games, but do it for an entire season.
Toumani Camara (SF/PF, POR) - ADP: 110
Can I call somebody a breakout just because I like their vibe? I enjoy the way Camara plays basketball, and his nickname is “The Shadow,” which is almost enough of a case for him to appear in this article, but there are legitimate on-court reasons as well. Camara is an excellent defender, which will help you with STOCKS, but also will keep him on the court for major minutes. Last season, he also took a big step forward offensively, improving his usage rate and becoming more efficient as a scorer. However, he scored only 11.3 points per game, so I think another step is coming. With Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton out of town, there is more opportunity to go around, so I think Camara will see his usage rate increase again this year. He's not likely to be an elite scorer off the dribble, but he continues to improve as a shooter, so if we think of him as a 3-and-D wing with the tools to add a little value as a slasher and finisher in transition, there's a chance he pushes for top-50 value.
Reed Sheppard (PG/SG, HOU) - ADP: 111
Yes, Sheppard didn’t do much last year and played only 12.6 minutes per game, and is on a team that just traded for Kevin Durant, so he's clearly not going to emerge as a major offensive force in his second season. Still, Sheppard was the 3rd pick in last year’s draft and was a "high floor" prospect who could shoot, play defense, and see the floor well. Even as a rookie, he posted elite deflection rates that backed up his strong block and steal numbers from college. He's a strong shooter and should push for the starting PG job with Fred VanVleet out. Even if he settles in somewhere around 10-14 points per game, he's going to make some threes every game and initiate offense for a Durant-led team that should give him solid assist numbers to go along with STOCK upside. I think he can help across all nine categories.
Mitchell Robinson (C, NYK) - ADP: 182
Robinson has already “broken out” if you’re a New Yorker who has been waiting for him to start and be healthy forever. When he's on the court, his rebound numbers are insane, and he's an efficient scorer around the rim. However, things could be much better for Robinson this season. With Mike Brown now coaching the team, Robinson looks likely to start in New York with Karl Anthony Towns at power forward. That alone will allow Robinson to post tremendous rebound numbers with solid points/blocks. Yet, another level of breakout could happen because Mike Brown wants the Knicks to play fast and get out and run. Even though Robinson isn't the athlete he was as a rookie before all of his lower-body injuries, he's a great athlete for his size and could thrive in a transition-based offense. This could be a big year for Mitch.
Isaiah Jackson (C, IND) - ADP: 185
The breakout case for Jackson is simple since he will likely start at center with Myles Turner gone on a Pacers team that also needs to replace the scoring and usage of Tyrese Haliburton. Fantasy baseball drafters are aware of this, and Jackson is zooming up boards; however, there is plenty of breakout potential here. He has been great per minute as a reserve, and should have plenty of value for a team that is desperate for people to step up. Even if his offensive game doesn't take a huge step forward, he will have plenty of value in rebounds, blocks, and steals. We also need to note that he is coming off a torn Achilles, so the only question will be how quickly he actually does get back to 100%.
Adem Bona (C, PHI) - ADP: 226
Bona was basically a defense-first, high-efficiency big man off the bench for the vast majority of last season. However, he started 11 games at the end of the season with Joel Embiid hurt and posted 14.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals in those games. That's the kind of upside you're dreaming on here, and we know his breakout potential is fully tied to Embiid's health. However, Embiid is never healthy and is coming off yet another knee injury. Bona was solid for Turkey in EuroBasket, and I think he's ready for a bigger role this season. He won't be a huge scorer, but is a good athlete, with plenty of block/rebound value.
Moussa Diabate (C, CHA) - ADP: 228
The breakout case for Diabate is a little bit less for him to emerge as a star and more for him to emerge as a solid NBA starter. I think he can take over the starting center role in Charlotte, but he will have to beat out Ryan Kalkbrenner. When he was given the chance to start last year, he showed elite rebounding value and also solid STOCK value as well. He has always been a great rebounder and high-motor player, but he's also evolving as a scorer, and we've seen some nice post moves from him in the pre-season. I think he can get more involved in the offense this season, and his defense will keep him on the floor, which means he could be a legitimate double-double threat every night this season.
Focus on unruly fans ‘is obscuring Europe’s performance’
‘I’d like to shift the narrative,’ says Northern Irishman
Rory McIlroy is eager to shift discussion of last month’s Ryder Cup from the dominant theme of unruly spectators to the “incredible” strength of Europe’s display.
Luke Donald and his European team secured back-to-back Ryder Cup wins after reaching what ultimately proved an unassailable position within two of the event’s three days.
Starling Marte's arrival in Queens for the 2022 season wasn't quite a seismic moment for the Mets, but the impact on that year's team was enormous.
In 118 games that season, Marte slashed .292/.347/.468 with 16 homers, 24 doubles, five triples, and 18 stolen bases. In the outfield, while Marte's range wasn't what it once was, he provided serious value with his arm.
For his efforts, Marte earned an All-Star nod and received down-ballot MVP support after the season.
And his absence for the last three-plus weeks of the regular season arguably had as much to do with the Mets surrendering first place to the Braves as anything else.
Before Marte was forced out of the lineup on Sept. 7 after getting hit in the hand by a 96 mph fastball from Mitch Keller the day before, the Mets were 85-51.
And while they didn't totally wilt down the stretch before eventually losing the division on a tiebreaker, the offense wasn't the same without Marte -- something that was most apparent when they suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the Braves in the second-to-last series of the season as New York mustered just seven runs.
Marte returned for the playoffs, but he wasn't himself as the Mets went down to the Padres in three games in the Wild Card Series in front of a Citi Field crowd that spent most of the series shellshocked by how the regular season ended. Just like that, a year where the Mets had legitimate World Series hopes ended before the NLDS.
Marte hasn't come close to replicating his 2022 season over the last three years, with injuries playing a big part. But he had a bounce back of sorts in 2025 and has been a key part of the clubhouse during his tenure.
With Marte set for free agency, should the Mets bring him back?
New York Mets designated hitter Starling Marte (6) hits a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. / Brad Mills-Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET MARTE GO
Since playing 118 games in 2022, Marte has played 86, 94, and 98 games, respectively, over the last three seasons.
A lot of that has to do with the double groin surgery Marte had after the 2023 season -- the groin issues impacted him in 2023 and lingered throughout 2024 while seriously impacting his availability and production.
Over the last year-plus, Marte's ability to play the outfield on a regular basis also went away.
After starting 85 games in right field in 2024 (and serving as the designated hitter nine times), Marte became mainly a DH option in 2025 as he served in that capacity 77 times and started in the outfield just eight times (six in left field, two in right field).
Entering his age-37 season in 2026, it's fair to believe that Marte will be in a DH only role or in a hybrid role where he isn't relied on to play the outfield much.
If he returns to the Mets, the club would in effect be giving up any kind of defensive versatility with that roster spot. And it's hard to make an argument for doing so since Marte isn't a classic DH.
While Marte has some pop, he slugged just .410 while hitting only nine homers in 2025. That's not going to cut it.
In a world where New York's regular DH for 2026 is someone who was on the roster in 2025, the guess here is that it's Mark Vientos -- though his Mets future is also up in the air.
New York Mets designated hitter Starling Marte (6) reacts after an RBI single during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO RE-SIGN MARTE
Despite his limitations, Marte was still an above average offensive performer in 2025 -- posting an OPS+ of .111.
He was also largely healthy, with his only issue being a bone bruise in his knee that kept him out of action for two weeks in July.
It's also likely that Marte will be a relatively inexpensive, one-year option.
That's kind of where the argument ends, though.
While Marte was above average at the plate in 2025, he doesn't mash lefties, which means he isn't really a fit for the short end of a DH platoon.
Marte has been an important Met during his four years in New York, but the writing seems to be on the wall here.
With Marte not a strong fit at DH, no longer able to provide much value in the outfield, and with the Mets looking to become a more defensive-oriented team, it's time for the two sides to part ways.
Team to stick by driver pairing before regulation change
Wolff remains keen on signing Dutch world champion
George Russell will remain with Mercedes for next season after the Formula One team confirmed they would be sticking with their drivers in 2026. However, the length of the contracts signed by the Briton and his teammate Kimi Antonelli has not been specified, potentially leaving the Formula One team open to once more pursue Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for 2027.
The long-expected decision comes after a protracted period of negotiation with Russell, as Mercedes seeks stability going into the new regulations of 2026. The 27-year-old British driver has five wins in eight seasons in F1, including victory in Singapore, helping propel Mercedes into a fight for second in the world championship with Ferrari and Red Bull.
It was a very relaxed and pleased Montreal Canadiens owner who met the Montreal media before his team’s home opener. You could tell by his demeanor that with the Lane Hutson contract and the Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes extensions signed, a weight had been taken off his shoulders.
Although it was not complicated to put pen to paper with the duo of executives who both wanted to continue working on the rebuild they had started together, it was essential to do so. While there was still plenty of time left to get contract extensions done since their current deal took them to the end of the season, it made sense to do it now, especially with the outside interest Gorton was receiving in the last couple of years. His promotion to the rank of president of hockey operations had nothing to do with a fear of seeing him jump ship; he told Molson time and time again that he was happy in Montreal and wanted to stay. It was essentially done to reflect today’s reality in the NHL.
Molson spoke candidly about what the pair has achieved since he hired them late in 2021 for Gorton and early in 2022 for Hughes, when he was asked what their best move had been so far, though he replied:
It starts all the way up. After hiring Jeff, it was a coup to hire Kent, and then Martin St-Louis. We also made some trades to acquire first-round picks, which helped us build for the future. These trades have already borne fruit or will bear fruit in the future. It’s a lot of things; it’s all part of the plan.
- Molson on Hughes and Gorton's best move
It was a coincidence that both the Hutson deal and those two happened in such a short period of time, but these deals had been reached a little bit before Hutson’s, which came together last weekend. Understandably, the player extension was announced first, but once that was done, there was no reason to delay the announcement further.
The owner had a little laugh when he was asked if the team architects had followed the players’ lead and left some money on the table, before adding he was more than happy to pay them. It’s been a while since the general feeling has been so positive after the signature of an executive in Montreal. The last time a hire or contract extension in the front office was so well-received was when the organization appointed Chantal Machabee as the vice president of communications.
Nearly four years after Molson decided to bet on Jeff Gorton, an anglophone, to spearhead his rebuild, a move that was criticized by some, it’s safe to say that he has won his gamble. The Canadiens haven’t won anything yet, but they seem well on their way, and the business is thriving.
On four of the five goals scored with Annunen in the net, the goalie had little to no support from the Predators' defense in limiting the Maple Leafs' scoring chances.
"We probably weren't all that sharp around the front of the net," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "Those stick battles weren't quite to our standard. A little bit slow early."
The first goal was more so on Annunen as a long shot from the point by Jake McCabe zipped through traffic, hit the right post and went in.
The second goal was where the Predators lack of defense started showing.
On a rush into the Predators' zone, the Maple Leafs were able to get two players past the Predators' defense and Ozzy Weisblatt on the right side. That allowed William Nylander to make a cross-ice pass to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who tapped it in for the goal.
Nashville came back to tie the game in the second period, before Toronto took the lead off a goal from John Tavares, who scored from his knees right in front of Annunen. Roman Josi pressured Tavaraes into falling, but he had two Predator defenders on him when he had scored.
Josi also had an opportunity to clear the puck out of the crease before Tavares had scored.
The third goal saw Bobby McMann get in front of the Predators' defense, fire a shot, get his own rebound and put it away to make it 4-3. On the goal, it had looked like Brady Skjei and Cole Smith had given up on the play before McMann fired the second shot.
The fourth goal saw the Predators turn the puck over in the neutral zone and get caught too high, allowing the Maple Leafs to go on a 2-on-1.
Justin Barron missed on the diving poke check, and the Predators had a little bit of a window to possibly break up the goal as Matthew Knies went for the extra pass back to Auston Matthews. Jonathan Marchessault got back, but not in time to prevent the easy tap-in goal from Matthews.
The Maple Leafs scored three of their five goals, with Annunen in the net, from below the face-off circles, meaning that they had no issue getting to the net. They also had 12 high danger chances.
Outside of the goals, the shot totals, face-off battles, hits and even penalty minutes were all pretty even. If Nashville's defense had tightened up around the net, this could've been a different result.
The lapse also exposes just how critical Juuse Saros has been in the first three games of the season. Not only has the Predators' starter made 89 saves on 94 shots, but he has kept the Predators in all three of their games.
In Nashville's first two games, the team struggled in the second period, and it was Saros who allowed the Predators to have a chance to win to the end. Putting Annunen, the backup, in the net shows that the defense can't constantly rely on Saros to bail them out.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.
Los Angeles Dodgers starter Blake Snell has been nearly unhittable throughout the 2025 MLB playoffs.
After another dominant outing against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NLCS, Snell gave credit to Logan Webb and his short but impactful tenure with the Giants.
“Going to San Francisco, that’s where I learned to pitch,” Snell said in a recent interview with TNT Sports (h/t @mimic702 on X). “I was around Logan Webb, and man, he’s going seven innings like every game. And I would just talk to him, like, ‘How are you doing it? What are you thinking of?’ And he’s like, ‘Man, I’m just in the zone. You’re just not in the zone enough. You strike too many people out. You’ve got to get in the zone more. Still get strikeouts, but get in the zone. And by doing that, you’re going to get six, seven, eight, you’ll be able to go deeper in games.’
“That year in San Fran was so big for me, just being around Logan and really learning how to pitch.”
Webb has come a long way in his path toward becoming the Giants ace, leading all of baseball in innings pitched (207.0) in 2025.
Snell allowed just one hit and struck out 10, his playoff career best, in eight shutout innings as he led Los Angeles to a 2-1 victory over Milwaukee on Monday at American Family Field. The two-time Cy Young Award winner faced the minimum on just 103 pitches.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated postgame that it was tough for him to pull Snell and admitted he contemplated keeping the hot hand in to complete the job. Ultimately, the bullpen was called and nearly cost the Dodgers the game. Roberts referred to Snell’s performance as “special.”
Snell has yielded one run in just one of his 21 innings in October.
“The whole postseason, I’ve been pretty locked in, pretty consistent,” Snell told the media after Game 1.
The NBA season tips off in less than a week, and if you haven't finalized your fantasy basketball draft strategy, the clock is ticking! Finding hidden fantasy gems or high-upside late-round sleepers is the key to winning your league. While many managers focus on the top 100 players, true value often lies beyond that.
Fear not, because this in-depth fantasy basketball guide uncovers a number of players with an Average Draft Position (ADP) outside the top 100 who are poised to deliver sustainable fantasy value and become league-winning draft picks this season. Get ready to find your secret weapons and dominate your category leagues with these expert picks for fantasy basketball 2025-2026.
Fantasy Basketball Late-Round Sleepers
Zach Edey, Grizzlies (ADP: 118)
The obvious concern when it comes to Edey is the fact that he underwent offseason surgery, likely costing him at least the first few weeks of the season. While this drags his ADP down, it does not make him someone you need to avoid altogether. After a strong finish to his rookie season, it appears as though he is locked in as the starting center and, perhaps more importantly, will play closer to starter's minutes than he did for much of last season. If he can get to 28 minutes per night, his elite blocks upside, coupled with efficient scoring and strong rebounding numbers, could see him flirt with top-50 value on a per-game basis.
Dereck Lively, Mavericks (ADP: 110.6)
Despite the continued presence of Daniel Gafford, Lively is clearly the center the Mavericks want to prioritize alongside Anthony Davis. While he is coming off surgery himself, Lively has little competition for minutes at the moment, with Gafford sidelined due to an ankle injury. A lack of offensive versatility does limit his overall upside, as does the fact that he will be sharing the floor with multiple rebounding options, namely Davis, Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington. However, if he can stay healthy and continue to develop, playing 26 minutes per night is not out of the question, putting him firmly in the discussion to be a top 80 player when all is said and done.
Tari Eason, Rockets (ADP: 116.2)
It's much easier to make a case for Eason, given his proven per-minute upside. He finished the 2024-25 season as the 65th-ranked player in category leagues, in just 24.9 minutes per game. While the Rockets have increased the top-end talent, bringing in Kevin Durant, Eason should still feature prominently on a nightly basis. Fred VanVleet is likely to miss the entire season due to an ACL injury, meaning everyone on the roster will be doing a little more. Factoring in a slight increase in playing time for Eason, simple math would tell us that he could once again be a solid top-70 asset, typically available in the 10th round of many drafts.
Reed Sheppard, Rockets (ADP: 117)
Another beneficiary of the injury to VanVleet, it appears as though Sheppard will be the starting point guard come Opening Night. It will be a massive step up for the sophomore after averaging just 12.6 minutes per game during his rookie season, suiting up on 52 occasions. With such a small sample size, it's hard to get a good read on what he might be able to do in starter's minutes. With that said, he is a noted defender who has demonstrated the ability to run an offense. At this point in any category league draft, the reward typically outweighs the risk. Conservatively, Sheppard should be viewed as a potential top-80 player this season, with the upside to finish even higher, should his skill set translate better than expected.
Cason Wallace, Thunder (ADP: 124.9)
Wallace ended his second season in the NBA as a top-100 player in category leagues, albeit only just. He closed as the 99th-ranked player, thanks largely to the fact that he averaged 1.8 steals per game. Had it not been for the historic season laid down by Dyson Daniels, Wallace would likely have received more attention for his defensive exploits. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and we have a situation where the lack of media attention could work in the favor of fantasy managers. The Thunder roster remains basically unchanged this season, running it back after a memorable 2024-25 campaign. With that said, Wallace is probably the one player who could see an uptick in playing time, which can only help his overall appeal. Even with just two extra minutes, he could hypothetically flirt with top-70 value, making him a somewhat safe target outside the top 100.
Kyshawn George, Wizards (ADP: 140.1)
There is certainly an element of risk when it comes to considering George, if not only for the fact that he plays for the Wizards. Coming off a solid rookie season, George looks set to be handed a starting role this season, at least until Bilal Coulibaly returns to the court. He followed up his rookie campaign with a strong showing in the recent Summer League, as well as a promising preseason. Offense remains a big question mark, one that could make or break his season. He has the defensive chops to play a key role, but if he can't develop his scoring, his opportunities could remain limited. With that said, at pick 143, there is almost no risk involved, making him one of my favorite late-round targets.
Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz (ADP: 138.5)
Sensabaugh is another player who comes with risk, with Utah running one of the more unpredictable rotations in the league. Now in his third season, Sensabaugh has yet to establish himself as a key piece for the Jazz. In 20.2 minutes per game last season, he averaged 10.9 points and 2.2 three-pointers per game. However, through six preseason games, he has shown far more aggression, averaging 22.0 points, 1.0 steals and 3.7 three-pointers in 24.3 minutes per game. Given the lack of peripheral stats, it's going to be a fine line when it comes to Sensabaugh as a sustainable fantasy asset. But once again, taking someone this late in drafts eliminates all the risk.
Just under two weeks after announcing his retirement from the NHL, a former Philadelphia Flyers fan-favorite, of sorts, has resurfaced with an unsurprising new job in hockey.
On Tuesday, it was announced that former Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson, who retired after 17 NHL seasons on Oct. 1, had taken a position with ESPN, serving as an NHL analyst for the network.
Johnson, 37, will join his former Flyers coach, John Tortorella, as an analyst on the network, appearing alongside other media personalities like Kevin Weekes, Blake Bolden, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Ray Ferraro, Mark Messier, AJ Mleczko, T.J. Oshie, P.K. Subban, and Dave Jackson
The Flyers defenseman of two seasons, of course, played against the likes of Oshie, Weekes, and Subban at the NHL level, and should fit in on television without missing a beat.
"As a kid I idolized Thorne, Clement, Melrose, Levy & Buccigross. To call games with some of them on @espn is going to be surreal," Johnson posted to his X account after the news broke. "Can’t wait, let’s go!"
Johnson played parts of two seasons in Philadelphia with the Flyers, scoring three goals, three assists, and six points in 39 games.
The former Stanley Cup champion endeared himself to fans with his thoughtful praise of the Flyers organization and the city of Philadelphia, goofy antics behind the camera that made it into digital media content, and leadership for the young Flyers - specifically Jett Luchanko, who briefly lived with Johnson last season.
The Montreal Canadiens have a knack for making home openers memorable. No one does ceremonies quite like the Habs, and when you have to combine a home opener with a tribute to one of the best goaltenders in their history together, you’re in for a rollercoaster of emotions. They began with the tribute as Bob Gainey read an excerpt from The Game, one of the best hockey books ever written, penned by Dryden. There were several video highlights from the masked man's short but impressive career before the Jumbotron showed his teammates from the 70s, all standing behind the bench, looking up to the rafters. The emotion was palpable, and the crowd broke into one of the most heartfelt Ole. Ole, Ole ever heard.
The show then entered act two as the personnel was introduced. Martin St-Louis received an ovation that might have been louder than any he had in his playing days, and it was clear it touched him. Asked about it after the game, the coach said:
It was flattering. I appreciate the love I get from the fans, and I love them just as much. I’m proud to be behind the bench, I grew up here, I was a Habs’ fan, I love the fans and I know that when I talk to you, you give me the platform to speak to the fans, whether it’s a good or a bad question, you’re giving me a platform to communicate with our fans and I don’t take it lightly. I try to earn respect every day.
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The players were then all introduced on the ice to the song of their own choosing, but the crowd was so vocal that it was almost impossible to recognize the tunes. Putting the title of each song would have been a nice touch, but that’s my sole criticism. Otherwise, the Canadiens pulled off another grand ceremony and it was the perfect prelude to the game against the Seattle Kraken.
St-Louis The Teacher
The Habs had an optional skate on game day, but the coach was fully dialed in. He spent a few minutes by the board talking to Ivan Demidov and demonstrating a play. Less than 12 hours later, the young Russian put the teachings to use and replicated what his coach had shown him to set up the game's first goal.
He put on the brakes in a hurry and saw acres of space, which made it child’s play for him on his strong side to send a picture-perfect pass to Alex Newhook by the side of the net. It might have been the Newfoundlander’s easiest goal ever; all he had to do was tap the puck in, and he netted a goal on the 300th game of his career.
Asked if he cooked up that goal at the morning skate, the bench boss remained humble:
I didn’t necessarily draw it, but for a lefty, the area below the circles on the right is what I call the playmaking corner. For a righty, it would be on the other side. It’s crucial that when you’re in that spot, as much as possible, when you’re below the dot, that you bring the puck to your forehand quickly. Higher than that, you can keep it on your backhand, but the minute you get below, everything else will open up, if you understand that it’s your playmaking corner. We use him [Demidov] a lot there on the power play, so it’s essential that he has his puck on his forehand as much as possible so that he can send the pucks where the guys are open. If it’s not on the forehand quick enough, you’re going to miss some windows, and those windows are short.
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On Predictability
The coach has spoken at length since the start of camp about the need for his players to be predictable, not for the opponents, of course, but to their linemates. Sometimes, that takes time to happen, chemistry isn’t an instant receipe and in the second frame, twice the Zack Bolduc, Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher line was unable to exit their own zone because they didn’t anticipate what their linemate would do, it could have been minor, but it led to a tripping call on Mike Matheson which resulted in the Kraken’s power play goal.
Predictability is not easy for players who possess a very high hockey IQ and creativity, such as Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, for instance. They are so shifty and deceptive that they can create opportunities out of thin air, and that’s hard to predict. Whenever they are on the ice together, however, they don’t appear to catch each other off guard. There’s some definite chemistry there, which comes easier because both are so talented individually. One day, we may even see them on the same power play…
It Was A Rough Outing For Samuel Montembeault
Being a goaltender is not an easy task, especially not on a rebuilding team that likes to attack a lot, but tonight, Samuel Montembeault had a rough night. He gave up four goals on 22 shots, giving him a save percentage of just .818. In the third frame, he allowed two goals on just six shots, including one on a shot from far out that wasn’t deflected at all.
Later in the frame, when Alex Carrier drew a penalty, the goalie failed to notice and wasn’t coming out of his net for the extra man. It didn’t matter in the end as the Habs were able to equalize, but it was far from ideal.
Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney was in the house tonight, on scouting duty for Team Canada in preparation for the Milano Cortina Olympics. I can’t imagine that Montembeault is pleased with what he showed.
Overall, it was an entertaining night at the Bell Center with Demidov shining bright with two points, including the game-tying goal late in the third frame, and Cole Caufield sending everyone home happy with a beautiful game-winner in overtime. With this 5-4 OT win, the Canadiens are now 3-1-0 and have caught up to the Florida Panthers and the Bruins atop the Atlantic division with six points. Montreal will hold its practice at the Bell Centre this morning as its team picture day, and St-Louis and co. will play their next game on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.
Somewhere behind the puff of Michael Jordan’s cigar smoke, he’s still seething about an NBA MVP from a season he didn’t even play in.
Karl Malone winning the 1997 MVP by 11 more first-place votes and 29 more points won than Jordan was a big enough insult to him that he beat Malone’s Utah Jazz over six games in the NBA Finals, won the award the next season and then famously stole the ball from him with 20 seconds left before hitting the winning shot for his sixth ring in what was Jordan’s final game in a Chicago Bulls jersey. Watching the 1998-99 season while retired for the second but not last time must have irked Michael more.
History says Malone won his second MVP in 1999 – his first with Jordan out of the league. But that also was a lockout year in which the season was condensed to 50 games. Malone played 49, easily the least amount for an MVP.
The shortened season also helped Malone become the oldest MVP in NBA history at 35 years old. Enjoy the stogie, MJ. We’re rewriting history and giving the honor back to Jordan when he won the award at 34 in that ‘Last Dance’ Bulls season the year prior.
That still makes Jordan, as the new oldest MVP ever, three years younger than the age of 37-year-old Warriors superstar Steph Curry entering the 2025-26 season. Curry will be 38 in March and is going into his 17th season. Malone was in his 14th season when he was named MVP in 1999, and Jordan was in his 13th when he won the award in 1998.
Everything Curry does goes against historical norms. So would winning his third MVP. Just like every time the ball comes off his fingertips, there’s always a chance.
And a few league-wide changes to this upcoming season will already help him.
Steve Kerr and others within the Warriors have expressed their anger watching Curry’s shooting hand get smacked on his follow-through without a whistle being blown. The NBA this season, in collaboration with the Coaches Association, is implementing the high-five rule. Curry already was a beneficiary in the Warriors’ second preseason game, converting a four-point play against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Warriors’ first points in their fourth game of the preseason came from three free throws by Curry on a night where he was 12 of 13 at the line in three quarters.
Defenders also won’t be able to attack a shooter’s wrist after the completion of his follow-through. Curry frequently was the recipient of both defensive strategies last season while nursing a sprained thumb.
“I think it’ll help Steph every game because of the relaxed rules on that the last few years, everybody’s out there just trying to hammer him on the arm,” Kerr said on Oct. 2. “It’s a good change for him, it’s a good change for everybody.”
Curry shot below 40 percent on 3-pointers last year for only the second time in a full season, finishing at a paltry (sarcasm) 39.7 percent. That rule alone would have put Curry back above the 40-percent threshold with fewer misses. Another new one could also help.
The honest hooper inside of Curry refuses to let grenades at the end of quarters scare him from taking a shot. Now others will be incentivized to join him.
Starting this season, missed shots taken at least 36 feet with under three seconds left in the first three quarters will now count as a team attempt, no longer hurting an individual player’s field goal percentage. While others such as Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have shied away from the shot, Curry has taken 111 heaves for his career and has made six. This might not have as big of an effect on Curry’s stats as the other rule changes, but every little detail helps in chasing history.
The MVP for Curry and the Warriors as a whole will be H-E-A-L-T-H. Warriors fans ought to chant those six letters before every game.
Curry is the best-conditioned player in the NBA. His season also ended five and a half months ago from a hamstring injury, a soft tissue issue he had never previously dealt with. It also began back in the summer when Curry had to save Team USA at the Paris Summer Olympics to win gold.
Though Curry has averaged 72 games the last two years, ideally he’d play closer to 65 this season, the minimum for awards. The perfect sweet spot in recent history would be somewhere between the 66 games Joel Embiid played in his 2023 MVP season, and the 72 Nikola Jokic played in his 2021 MVP season.
Winning matters, too. The Nuggets won 47 games in Jokic’s first MVP season and were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. When Embiid took it from him, the 76ers won 54 games and were the No. 3 seed in the East. The latter number would be more than enough from the Warriors for Curry to be in the MVP conversation. Not 47.
That many wins would have been the reward of the No. 9 seed in the West last season. The magic number of wins the Warriors should be aiming for is 50, the same amount the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 seeds in the West just were.
Not even a glimpse of the finish line is in Curry’s sights, and yet, the upcoming season is the 10-year anniversary since he won his second straight MVP and became the first unanimous winner. His everyday why a decade later is in 20/20 vision.
“The work you put in, love of the game, being around great people in this organization. Still keeping winning as the priority,” Curry said at Warriors Media Day, talking about his evolution since then. “And blessed to still hopefully be in that situation for a couple more years.”
If Curry plays enough games, the Warriors win enough games and he resembles the player jolted to life by the powers of Jimmy Butler, he’ll be on the ballots. Curry’s stats to end the season with Robin at his side were comparable to or better than his first MVP season. Over his final 28 games, where the Warriors went 22-6, Curry averaged 27.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.3 percent overall, 40.8 percent from three and 92.4 percent on free throws. The bright lights were on and Curry was at center stage, where he thrives most.
Curry knew he had a chance to compete for another title soon after feeling Butler’s fit, and he has the same feeling again. Only on a better, but possibly more brittle, team.
History books are used to making room for Curry etching his name on its pages by now. The odds are more against him than ever, and the road he’s about to turn on has never been traveled. Curry has the keys in his hands and the show’s about to begin.
(ADP: 118)
(ADP: 110.6)
(ADP: 116.2)
(ADP: 124.9)
(ADP: 140.1)
(ADP: 138.5)
