Emma Raducanu again struggled physically in a first-round exit at the Ningbo Open to China’s Zhu Lin, raising questions over the rest of her season.
The British No1 was back on court a week after retiring from her opening match in Wuhan with dizziness in hot and humid conditions. She posted a picture on social media from a doctor’s office and said she felt better but she faded after winning the opening set against Zhu and slumped to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat.
The Yankees surprised the baseball world last offseason when they made a trade with the Chicago Cubs for former MVP Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger was a part of GM Brian Cashman and his front office's Plan B after Juan Soto signed with the Mets in free agency. Did they expect Bellinger, who rehabilitated his career in Chicago, to replace the offensive production Soto gave them in their World Series run a year ago? Of course not, but after a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Dodgers, run prevention and defense were the mantra and Bellinger provided that with his elite defense.
It was a risky move. Bellinger's end in Los Angeles was not great, and after a very good first season on the North Side, he had a down 2024. But once Bellinger donned the pinstripes, he was a revelation, complementing Aaron Judge in the outfield perfectly and providing the defense the team lacked a season ago.
With Bellinger likely to opt out of his player option this offseason -- and no one would blame him -- should the Yankees pursue a reunion with the 30-year-old?
Aug 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) after they score on Bellinger’s two run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field. / Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Why Yankees should re-sign Cody Bellinger
Bellinger had one of the best seasons of his career in 2025.
He batted .272 (third-best in his career), had an OBP of .334 (fourth-best), slugged .480 (third-best) and had an OPS of .813 (fifth-best). His 29 home runs were the third-most of his career and his 98 RBI were the second-most. He was also the Yankees' most clutch hitter, batting .348 with runners in scoring position. Next season, Bellinger will enter his age-31 year, so it's not like he's aging and the production should not be expected to dip. Similar production in 2026 is not far-fetched.
On the defensive end, Bellinger made a number of game-saving plays this season. The catch and throw double play to salvage a game against the Mets this summer and his sliding grabs in the postseason are notable, and the Yankees haven't had an elite defender in left field in years.
According to Baseball Savant, Bellinger was in the 93rd percentile in outs above average (OAA) this season and still has a solid arm -- ranking in the 83rd percentile. Runners were also only 31 percent successful in advancing to the next base against him.
Depending on how Judge recovers from his ailing elbow this offseason -- or if he needs surgery -- and Trent Grisham testing free agency, the Yankees need all the defense they can get.
The argument for letting Bellinger walk is two-fold. The first is tied to money.
Bellinger is walking away from a player option that would have paid him $25 million. With the very good season he had, Bellinger will look to get $30 million a year with a team. And while he's expressed that he's open to returning to the Yankees, the team will have to look long and hard to see if they are willing to give Bellinger the contract he's looking for.
The other side is the young outfielders the Yankees currently have. Jasson Dominguez is still looked at as a potential everyday outfielder. However, the youngster's inconsistent production, and Bellinger and Grisham's play in 2025 prevented Dominguez from seeing a lot of playing time. How the Yankees handle Bellinger and Grisham (who is also a free agent) in the offseason could keep Dominguez out of the loop.
There's also prospect Spencer Jones, who seemingly out of nowhere began to be very productive in Double-A before his promotion to Triple-A. With the young slugger on the cusp of a call-up, the number of outfield spots on the Yankees is limited, especially if you bring back Bellinger.
Bellinger is a solid postseason hitter, but it's nothing to write home about. In his seven trips to the postseason, Bellinger has 10 home runs and driven in 37 RBI. He was the NLCS MVP back in 2018 with the Dodgers and was a powerhouse in Los Angeles' World Series run back in 2020 when he launched four bombs.
But lately, he hasn't gotten the job done. This postseason, Bellinger was 6-for-31 with just one home run and four RBI. At times, it looked like he was incapable of lifting the ball. Whether that had to do with his foot injury is unknown, but he couldn't deliver for the Yankees behind Judge this time around.
Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) speaks to New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) after the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Verdict
With the Yankees' perpetual win-now mentality, they need to bring in at least one veteran outfielder to pair with Judge. Bellinger's production made him a great No. 2 to the captain, especially when Giancarlo Stanton was on the injured list. His defense saved games and if New York is looking to give Dominguez a real shot, they'll need it to cover up the youngster's deficiencies.
Bellinger also gives the Yankees versatility, being able to play first base when needed. If the Yankees want to bring up Jones to get some time in the big leagues, Bellinger could slide over to first base to allow for that to happen in the outfield.
While this postseason's numbers weren't great, given another shot, Bellinger will likely deliver.
“I think that where Boston was as a team, even though I called them my home and everything was there for me, they just weren’t in a position to offer me the opportunity that I wanted,” Horford told The Athletic’s Nick Friedell.
Horford cited two specific areas where the Celtics fell short: financially and competitively. And in his view, Jayson Tatum’s devastating Achilles injury in May changed everything, transforming the C’s from a legitimate contender that may need minor offseason tinkering to a team more focused on getting under the second apron of the luxury tax ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“I think the financial part was a component, but more than that, it was the winning part of it, trying to contend for a championship,” Horford told Friedell. “And I think there was a lot of things up in the air — and it just felt like they weren’t in the same, that same vision, obviously, because JT getting hurt, that takes a big toll.
“So I think at that point I really had to — up until then I was staying in Boston the whole time.”
That’s a fair take from Horford, who admitted the Celtics’ early-offseason trades of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis made it “clear” to him that Boston “had different priorities.” Even if Tatum supercharges his rehab, a C’s team without Holiday, Porzingis and Luke Kornet probably isn’t in the NBA championship conversation.
But here’s where the motivation factor comes in: In his quest to earn one more ring, Horford chose … the Warriors. While any team with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler shouldn’t be written off, Golden State has the NBA’s second-oldest roster (average age: 29) and currently has the 10th-best championship odds (+2200) on ESPN Bet.
The Celtics? They’re 12th, with +3000 odds.
So, if a Boston team that’s already being written off without Tatum needs another reason to overachieve, why not aim for being better than the Warriors?
Golden State is the better team on paper, but any injuries on a veteran-laden roster could send its season south in a hurry. The Celtics, meanwhile, can still roll out a starting five of players who were on the 2024 title team — Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta — and brought in energetic role players with chips on their shoulders such as Josh Minott, Luka Garza and Chris Boucher.
Horford is entitled to his decision, and he’ll always hold a special place in Celtics history for what he contributed over seven total seasons in Boston. But now that he’s in Golden State, the Celtics should do everything in their power to prove the beloved big man wrong.
ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild (2-1-0) defeated the Los Angeles Kings (1-2-1) on Monday by a score of 4-3 in a shootout. Here is the data I tracked from the Wild's win.
If you want to know what each stat means and why I am tracking these, read here.
Above is the power play data from the Wild's win. They scored three power-play goals in the 4-3 win. Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Jared Spurgeon had the goals.
Above is the 5-on-5 data. As you can see, there weren't a lot of shot assists in this game. Only five total after having 12 in the last game.
Monday's game was the second consecutive game where the Wild did not score at 5-on-5. Luckily for them they scored seven power-play goals in that span.
Can they take the power play's shooting mentality and apply it to 5-on-5?
"Yeah, exactly. I think that's what we need," Wild head coach John Hynes said. "The power play, like I said, when you have that much talent on the ice, I think to me, they're so competitive on the puck, and then they do have a shot mentality. They're not overpassing or trying to play a little bit too cute. So that's why the power plays had success. And I think just five-on-five, we got to get a little bit more of that."
Rossi added: "Yeah, it was lacking, maybe. But I think it's important to keep going. We have chances a couple of times, but we just don't grind enough in the down low. Maybe a little more like smarter puck decisions, you know, especially on the wall, when there's a scrum. Don't force plays, maybe, just like a little rim out for a D and just like, try to win the puck battles. That's a huge thing. But overall, I think we can't really focus too much on that. Just keep playing and keep the confidence up."
Above is the data for the Wild's defense pairs and what they allowed and didn't allow off the rush. It is a stat I tracked a bunch of last year but never used. I think it is super important and worth posting. Especially if the Wild keeps switching up the pairs.
Zeev Buium had been with Spurgeon the first two games but played with Zach Bogosian on Monday. That pair allowed four shots off the rush on nine attempts, which was the worst of any pair.
The best pair was Jake Middleton with Spurgeon. They only allowed two shots off the rush on 11 attempts but they did allow a high-danger chance which was one of only two off the rush at 5-on-5 that the Wild allowed.
"I think particularly, I thought we gave up some rush play that we normally don't do; just getting on top of people in the offensive zone when the puck transitions back to our own end," Hynes said before the game on Monday. "We let them skate a little bit too much through the neutral zone without having people above them. I would say that was probably the biggest area that we addressed coming into tonight's game."
Hynes talked about before Monday's game that the goal was to limit chances off the rush. They Wild allowed nine shots off the rush at 5v5 on 31 attempts that I tracked. They were 71% effective when it came to limiting shots off the rush.
It will be interesting to see how things change as the season goes on.
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This is the beginning of an 11-year media rights deal between the NBA and NBCUniversal. The network will have two primetime windows during the week (Tuesdays and a Peacock exclusive doubleheader on Mondays), Sunday Night Basketball after football season ends and playoff games.
Who is playing on NBA opening night on NBC?
NBA opening night will feature four Western Conference teams in a doubleheader.
How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock this season
Both opening night games will air live on NBC, with a streaming option on Peacock.
Every game for the NBA on NBC will air on both NBC and Peacock, aside from the Monday night exclusive doubleheaders on the streaming service. That means there will be basketball on NBC every Tuesday night, plus Sunday nights once the NFL season wraps up in February.
NBC and Peacock will also air the NBA Mexico City Game 2025 (Nov. 1), the first-ever quadrupleheader on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19) and NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 14-15).
Who are the NBA on NBC broadcasters and announcers?
NBC has put together a loaded lineup for its NBA broadcasting team, including a handful of Hall of Famers — and even the GOAT.
Here’s a breakdown of the NBC team for the NBA this season:
Winning your fantasy league starts with finding the best fantasy basketball sleepers—undervalued NBA players with breakout potential. In this guide, we highlight mid-round value picks and late-round steals you need to know heading into your 2025 draft. These NBA fantasy sleepers are flying under the radar based on current ADP, lineup shifts, and injury reports. Whether you're digging through NBA projections, keeping up with the latest NBA news, or targeting upside, these are the best NBA fantasy basketball sleepers to help you win big this season.
Mid-Round Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
These are players that will certainly be drafted but are worth the risk of grabbing a bit sooner than expected to secure their significant potential.
Matas Buzelis, Bulls
The forward is a multi-dimensional player primed to take on a larger and more consistent role from last season. With the Bulls making a shift towards focusing on their younger core, he will have the green light on offense, while he also has the size and quickness to block shots on the defensive end.
Keyonte George, Jazz
George may play off the bench, but his ability to score and distribute at a high level should result in him racking up the stats in what could resemble a sixth-man role. He has also shown a knack for contributing on the glass, which will help round out his overall production.
Dennis Schroder, Kings
The point guard has bounced around the league over the last few seasons but has made impressive statements on the international stage in recent summers, leading Germany to a FIBA World Cup and a EuroBasket championship. He is set for a fresh start with the Kings, where he is surrounded by top-tier offensive talent that should help his own production.
Ace Bailey, Jazz
The rookie is set to take on a starting role with the Jazz and has already turned heads with a couple of notable preseason performances. His six-foot-eight frame stacks up very well against competition at the wing, and he could quickly become a top scoring option for his squad.
Isaiah Jackson, Pacers
Jackson was limited to just five games due to injury last season, but with the departure of Myles Turner, he is in line to take on the starting center job for the Pacers. He should fit in well with their fast-paced style of play and could take a major leap in production in a much more significant role compared to his first four seasons.
Quentin Grimes, 76ers
Grimes stunned the league by pouring in impressive point totals after being traded to the 76ers last season. He is back for his second campaign with the squad and will have the opportunity to pick up where he left off. He would also be right back in position to take on a leading role in the offense should either Paul George or Joel Embiid become unavailable.
Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls
The well-rounded wing may find himself mostly in a bench role after the Bulls' acquisition of Isaac Okoro. However, he is a tough competitor with a proven ability to contribute across the stat sheet and will certainly see significant action. He could also work his way back into a role as a starter, which he earned last season, before injuries took him out of the loop.
Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers
The 2022 No. 6 overall pick is set to take on a starting role following a shift within the Pacers' lineup due to the absence of Tyrese Haliburton. He has proven able to provide an impact across the board through his first three seasons but has not had the chance to break out while mostly limited to a bench role. He could be up for a career season and take his game to new heights as a result of the increased opportunity.
Late-Round Steals: Deep Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
These are players who are likely to slip to the final rounds or not be drafted at all in many leagues but who may become highly sought-after targets off the waiver wire.
Nikola Jovic, Heat
The recently-extended Jovic has all the tools to be a strong contributor across the board but has not been able to achieve much consistency over his first three seasons. However, he showed solid production in relation to his playing time last year, and he remains in position to handle a key part of the Heat's frontcourt rotation.
Chris Boucher, Celtics
A veteran big, Boucher has a new home with the Celtics. Although he is expected to begin the season in a bench role, he could potentially make a case to move up as a starter, especially considering the squad does not have any clear-cut standouts in the frontcourt. His long-range shooting, ability to run the floor and shot-blocking provide many opportunities for him to rack up stats.
Adem Bona, 76ers
Bona elevated his game towards the end of last season, showing that he can score, rebound and block shots at an impressive rate. With Joel Embiid's ability to remain available in question, Bona could find himself thrust into a major role at any time. Nonetheless, he should be able to deliver notable production even from a bench role.
Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz
The wing could find himself in a starting role for the Jazz in his third NBA season. He has shown flashes of potential to be a 20-point-per-game scorer, including knocking down shots with efficiency from long range. While his squad is not beholden to any major expectations, he should have the opportunity to carve a path as a high-volume contributor.
Cam Whitmore, Wizards
The talented scorer was unable to find a consistent role among the Rockets' lineup, but it was less due to his ability and more a result of their many options at the wing. He should have a much better opportunity to take ownership of a place in the rotation with the Wizards and could even break into the starting lineup if there is a time when the veteran Khris Middleton is unavailable.
Jerami Grant, Trail Blazers
Grant could find himself in a bench role for the Trail Blazers, behind Toumani Camara. However, he will likely still see significant playing time and could end up on the floor to close games with regularity. He averaged over 19 points per game for four straight seasons before injuries limited his usage in 2024-25.
Jared Butler, Suns
Butler is set to debut for the Suns, where he is expected to take on a backup role behind Devin Booker at point guard. He has shown flashes of an ability to rack up significant numbers in points and assists, but inconsistent opportunity has limited him. However, with the makeup of the Suns roster, his services should be required on a more steady basis, which could result in a career season.
As Easton Cowan skated onto the ice ahead of his NHL debut, the crowd started cheering. Within all the noise, a song blared inside Scotiabank Arena: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".
"Yeah, that was definitely special," Cowan smiled. "It was very cool, and I saw all my friends and family, so it meant a lot."
It's been a rather short but quick road to the NHL for Cowan. He was in Junior B with the GOJHL's Komoka Kings in 2021, before joining the OHL's London Knights towards the end of the 2022 season.
Four years later, and after a strong training camp, Cowan skated in his first NHL game, alongside two of Toronto's top players, Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
"Yeah, it's pretty crazy," Cowan said following Toronto's 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday afternoon. "About five years ago, I was playing Junior B, so it just shows if you stick with it and work hard, good things will come. So just going to keep doing that. Felt good today, but back at it tomorrow and hopefully get the two points."
Easton Cowan gets a rookie lap inside Scotiabank Arena ahead of his NHL debut.
"I thought he had a great game. He made a lot of good plays with the puck. And he made a good one at six on five, too. So that's why he was out there," said Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.
"I think it means a lot, the trust he has in me, but I felt good today," added Cowan. "I felt like I created a lot, so it was good to get out there and create a couple more chances there, too, at the end. But those got to go in, and unfortunately, they didn't today."
According to NaturalStatTrick, the Knies, Matthews, and Cowan line had a team-leading 80.33 expected goals-for percentage at five-on-five. Right off the hop, though, Cowan looked like he fit in.
If you didn't know it, you wouldn't think it was his NHL debut.
"I thought he was great. I think he just carries himself with such good confidence in himself in the way he can play and compete," Matthews said. "I thought he played really well tonight. Easy guy to play with. He made plays. Made smart plays with the puck.
"When the simple play was there, to just get the puck deeper or whatnot, I thought he made it, so I thought he was really good tonight."
One moment Cowan will remember most was during warmups when he scanned the crowd and found his old Knights teammates during warmups.
"They had all my old jerseys on, switched around backwards so you could see my name, and just big smiles on their face," Cowan grinned. "It meant a lot that they came all the way here."
This is only the beginning of what's likely a long pro career for the young forward from Strathroy, Ontario.
"I felt good. I felt like a good player. I feel like I generated a lot and didn't give up a lot, so I just keep getting better each and every day. Just keep working on finishing my chances."
Rangers' hunt for a new head coach to replace Russell Martin is still ongoing, with more than two candidates on the shortlist after Steven Gerrard withdrew from the process.
But is the solution to their problems "staring them in the face"?
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl appears to be one of the candidates on the list after he reportedly held talks with the the club's hierarchy last week.
Yet Daily Record sports writer Scott McDermott and former Rangers striker Rory Loy both believe the 36-year-old, who has had spells as an assistant with RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and the German national team, is not the answer for Rangers.
Instead McDermott thinks current Hearts boss Derek McInnes would make a better replacement for the departed Russell Martin, who lasted just 17 games after being appointed in June.
"We know Rangers have spoken to Danny Rohl, they spoke to him before they appointed Russell Martin, so he's obviously been on their radar for a while," McDermott told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"Is he the right guy for Rangers? Not for me, not for what Rangers need at the moment.
"He's a very highly rated young coach. Sheffield Wednesday is the only managerial gig so far, but he has worked at a high level with Germany and Bayern Munich.
"In Rangers' situation at the moment, the predicament they find themselves in both in the league but also just historically with lack of success and trophies in the past 10 to 15 years, they need a specific type of manager.
"With all due respect, I'm not sure a 36-year-old coach coming from the English Championship is exactly what they need.
"For me, the answer is staring Rangers in the face. The answer for Rangers is Derek McInnes at the moment."
Loy says there are parallels that can be drawn between Martin and Rohl and feels Rangers fans would want to steer clear of a repeat of the last four months.
But the right person for the job remains unclear to him.
"There are some similarities in that Martin and Rohl have both managed in the English Championship," Loy told the podcast.
"But Barry Bannan saying he's the best coach he's ever worked with, I just don't think Rangers fans want to hear that again.
"It's good for players to be saying that but that's one thing the board said about Russell Martin before appointing him and those words haunted him.
"Rohl and Martins' backgrounds are so similar so you don't need to have experience and understand the club to know that that profile of manager isn't going to work.
"You need a manager that's going to come in, win trophies, have this aura, have this presence first and foremost away from being a coach.
"But who is that? Where do you get him? Can you afford him? And does he want the job?"
Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell delivers during a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NLCS at American Family Field on Monday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Sixty years ago, the only pitcher with a statue at Dodger Stadium delivered the most dominant postseason performance in franchise history.
With apologies to Orel Hershiser and his classic run in 1988, the three postseason starts put up by Koufax in 1965 practically mirror the three postseason starts put up by Snell so far in 2025.
Koufax: 24 innings, 13 hits, two runs, five walks, 29 strikeouts.
Snell: 21 innings, six hits, two runs, five walks, 28 strikeouts.
For this year’s Dodgers, winning the World Series would require four postseason rounds, which could allow Snell to deliver the most sustained streak of October dominance in the history of a franchise built upon a foundation of pitching.
Snell shut out the Milwaukee Brewers for eight innings on Monday, the undisputed star as the Dodgers opened the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 victory. If the Dodgers win the World Series, Snell figures to have two or three more starts.
If you are a free agent that wants to play in the postseason and measure yourself against the best, as Snell did, you sign with the team that has made the playoffs 13 years running.
“I wanted to be a Dodger and play on that team,” Snell said. “To be here now, it’s a dream come true.
“I couldn’t wish for anything more. I’m just going to do the best I can to help us win a World Series.”
There was only one thing Snell failed to do Monday, and the failure was on the Dodgers, not on him. The failure very nearly cost the Dodgers the game.
Sandy Koufax pitches for the Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. (Associated Press)
In the 1965 postseason, Koufax pitched two complete games. In 1988, Hershiser pitched three.
Snell could have pitched one Monday. He could have pitched the ninth, he said, but he trusted his manager to make the call.
He is a victim of the modern game. The Dodgers had no complete games this season. In 222 regular season starts, Snell has one — and he had to throw a no-hitter to do it.
On Monday, he faced the minimum 24 batters over eight innings, giving up one hit and then picking off the runner. The last pitcher to face the minimum over eight innings of a postseason game: Don Larsen of the New York Yankees, in his 1956 perfect game.
Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager, called Snell’s outing “the most dominant performance against us” in the 10 years he has coached or managed here.
Milwaukee scored more runs than any NL team besides the Dodgers.
The Brewers are terrific at putting the ball in play — only two NL teams struck out fewer times than Milwaukee — and yet Snell struck out 10. His other 23 outs: 11 ground balls, a fly ball, a foul out, and that pickoff.
No other Dodgers pitcher — not Koufax, not Hershiser, not Clayton Kershaw — has pitched at least eight innings and given up one hit or fewer in a postseason game.
“We’ve all known this: Blake, when he’s right, is the best pitcher in the game,” Kershaw said. “It’s pretty fun to watch.”
Snell had made 103 pitches through eight innings. His season high was 112. The Dodgers led, 2-0, with the bottom of the Brewers order coming up.
Snell had not pitched into the ninth inning since that no-hitter 14 months ago. The Dodgers plan to use him on regular rest in Game 5 of this series. Roberts summoned the closer of the moment, Roki Sasaki.
“I thought it was 50-50,” Roberts said. “Roki has been throwing the ball really well.”
The rap that has dogged Snell throughout his career: peerless stuff with erratic control, leading to him too often making 90 to 100 pitches in five innings rather than seven or eight. In 2023, the season in which he won his second Cy Young award, he led the NL in walks.
In the nine regular-season starts since the Dodgers activated him from the injured list in August, Snell made two starts of five innings and 90 pitches. In the other seven starts, he posted a 1.28 earned-run average.
In his past six starts, postseason included, he has pitched at least six innings each time. His record: 5-0, with a 0.68 ERA.
“My last three years, I’ve been pretty consistent,” Snell said, “and I could throw the ball, do what I want with the ball.
“But the narrative has always been, ‘He’s a wild pitcher, he walks a lot of guys.’ I laugh at it because I know it’s not true. I know that because I’m the one throwing the ball.”
He is throwing the ball as well as he ever has, on the biggest stage, where Dodgers legends are made.
“Postseason, if you dominate and you do great,” Snell said, “no one can say anything.”
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including Penn State’s decision to fire football coach James Franklin after the Nittany Lions lost two games in which they were heavy favorites. Penn State will reportedly owe Franklin a buyout of roughly …
Brandin Podziemski is entering his third NBA season determined to make an even bigger impact for the Warriors.
In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk,” the 22-year-old guard reflected on his growth and how he is preparing to take another step forward — potentially into a full-time starting role.
“Yeah, I think so,” Podziemski said when asked if he’s making a case to start. “I think selfishly, everybody wants to be a starter, but it comes down to what’s best for the team at that moment and in that game, so I think I work and prepare and do those things in the summer to showcase that I am a starter and that I belong and that I can be a household name for the Warriors, and that’s always my goal and what I look forward to. But like I said, the team comes first. Whatever Steve [Kerr] and the team thinks is best is what we do and that’s what I’ve been ok with.”
Podziemski appeared in 64 regular-season games last season, starting 33 of them, and averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 37.2 percent from 3-point range. He also started 10 of 11 playoff games despite playing through an injury, showing poise well beyond his years.
The 2023 first-round draft pick knows earning that starting spot means complementing the Warriors’ biggest star: Steph Curry. Playing alongside the 16-year veteran requires constant motion and chemistry — two things Podziemski believes he steadily has mastered.
“I think a lot of people make it a lot more complicated than it is,” Podziemski said about learning to play with Curry. “It’s a unique thing, he is a unique player that kind of runs around the floor, so it’s a little bit unique, but once you get the hang of it, like anything, the more you do something the easier it becomes, so I think I’ve developed a great connection with him, with Jimmy [Butler], with Draymond [Green], so I think I fit perfectly for that spot next to him.”
Podziemski spent his first two seasons learning from Curry and Green, players whose leadership defines the franchise. He even hopes to one day help carry that torch when they retire — though for now, he’s content to learn from the ones still holding it.
“Obviously, like I said, it comes down to whatever they think too, so I’m just ready for whatever is presented and given my way,” Podziemski added.
That mindset — trusting the process and staying ready for whatever’s presented — has defined Podziemski’s rise so far, and it might just carry him into a permanent role.
Brandin Podziemski isn’t wasting his opportunity to pick the brains of a pair of the NBA’s best players of their generation.
With Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler serving as invaluable resources for the 22-year-old guard, Podziemski is seeking to take a leaf from the All-Star duo’s career longevity.
During an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk,” Podziemski explained how much he admires Curry and Butler’s ability to play a high number of games at an elite level despite being in their late 30s.
“I’ve looked at both Steph and Jimmy in particular, and how year after year, they’re able to play 65-plus games being at the age they are, and doing it at the usage and high level they’re doing it at. I’ve definitely asked my fair share of questions to both of things in the offseason, things in-season they do to help them stay healthy.
“I think another goal of mine is just, ‘How can I play 75-plus games?’ Obviously, the first year I think it was 74, this year I think it was in the 60s, so how can I try and get up to that 80-mark this year and be there present for all the games.”
Curry has played at least 70 games in each of the last two seasons, despite turning 35 and 36 in each respective campaign.
Butler appeared in 29 of a possible 30 regular-season games for Golden State after being acquired at the trade deadline, with his availability sparking an incredible run that launched the Warriors into the postseason where they were able to upset the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.
Podziemski recently stated his desire to earn the trust of becoming a franchise cornerstone once Golden State’s older core decides to hang it up, and learning how to make himself as available as possible for the marathon that is the NBA season could prove to be invaluable in the pursuit of his lofty goal.
