“Knicks in 5” hasn’t stopped the doubters in the NBA.
Only one of the league’s 30 general managers picked the Knicks to win the championship this season according to the annual GM survey published Thursday on NBA.com, which is the fewest for a defending champ since Toronto in 2019-20.
In the case of the Raptors, Kawhi Leonard — the Finals MVP — had just left in free agency for the Clippers.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks celebrate during the trophy ceremony after their NBA championship win over the Spurs last season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Spurs, whom the Knicks toppled in the 2026 Finals, received 50 percent of the GM votes for the next champion. The Thunder were second with 43 percent of the votes. The Knicks and Sixers each received 3 percent — or just one vote.
The GMs weren’t allowed to pick their own teams or players.
Despite the lack of faith in the Knicks to repeat, 60 percent of the GMs picked New York to emerge from the East — which was well above the No. 2 Sixers at 23 percent. It was the first time in the survey’s history — which dates to 2002 — that the Knicks were picked to win the conference.
But the league’s decision-makers clearly don’t believe New York can topple the West champs, specifically the Spurs or Thunder.
For the categories about individual players and coaches, Jalen Brunson and Mike Brown received plenty of love.
Most notably, Brunson was voted as the NBA’s best leader with 53 percent of the votes, well above the 20 percent for Stephen Curry. It provided Brown an opportunity to praise his team captain.
“He studies the game, and that helps a lot,” Brown said. “He walks the talk. He works extremely hard, and he strives for perfection from himself. And when you do that — and when your peers see you do that and you’re looked upon as the best player on the team — it gives credibility to tell somebody else when they’re not giving their all, when they need to be better. But just as importantly, he’s not afraid. Because as a leader, sometimes you have to be on an island.”
Brunson was also voted second for the top clutch player in the NBA, behind Curry. Brunson was also third for future best coach.
Brown took third for best current coach (behind Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and OKC’s Mark Daigneault) and fourth for top motivator (behind Spoelstra, Boston’s Joe Mazzulla and Golden State’s Steve Kerr).
Boston, MA - October 10: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla in the second quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason game at TD Garden on October 10, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Jumping the gun after three games can be a bit over the top, especially when those games are preseason exhibitions.
But the Boston Celtics are earning every bit of the hype and anticipation surrounding them after a near-flawless three-game stretch entering the regular season — and that’s no exaggeration.
Both behind the scenes and on the court during their preseason trail runs, the restructured Celtics are starting to click. It’s only been two weeks since training camp began, but head coach Joe Mazzulla’s crew is already taking shape. By now, the newcomers have a strong feel for Mazzulla’s world and what it takes to thrive in it.
“He gets on my ass a lot,” Mitchell Robinson told reporters after Wednesday night’s 114-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets, improving their perfect 3-0 preseason record.
“The way that he takes everything in and gives us all the information, literally down to a T, those are things that can help us be successful,” Robinson continued.
For the team’s preseason home finale, Mazzulla unexpectedly paired Robinson with Neemias Queta, introducing an intriguing double-big combination. Together, Robinson and Queta showed flashes of their potential as a co-existing option Mazzulla can lean on. They challenged Charlotte on both ends of the floor, particularly with their rotations, helping Boston’s offense operate more efficiently.
“Mitch is one of the smartest players I’ve been around,” Mazzulla told reporters.
Boston, MA – October 10: Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla talks to Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson in the second quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason game at TD Garden on October 10, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Robinson and Queta combined for 28 points, unlocking a new option for a team already built on flexibility.
The Celtics, much like last season, aren’t committed to a fixed rotation night in and night out. Rather, as they’ve shown throughout the preseason, they’ll attack in a variety of ways to maximize their roster’s strengths and wear down opponents.
Experimenting with the clipboard is a strong suit for Mazzulla that made last year’s counted-out Celtics into winners of 56 games, good for second-most in the Eastern Conference.
Getting Robinson and Queta accustomed to playing alongside each other wasn’t the end of Mazzulla’s trail runs with Boston’s big men. Queta, who attempted eight 3-pointers all of last season, totaled three attempts against the Hornets, each with plenty of room but off the mark.
Nevertheless, the 7-footer is confident he’ll turn those attempts into a reliable source of offense.
“I think it can help us,” Queta told reporters postgame. “It can be a weapon that we can use at certain points. Obviously, it’s not gonna derail my attention span off what I do best on the court, but it can still be used as a weapon and a strength.”
Needing to adjust and get a new group going comes with pressure, but Mazzulla doesn’t see it that way. Giving Queta and Robinson an audition in the preseason is just a snippet of Boston’s preparation and philosophy. There’s a buy-in that all Mazzulla-led teams, including the 2024 championship group, need to invest in. And so far, that’s exactly what last season’s Coach of the Year winner has received with less than a week until Opening Night.
Paul George, the organization’s return piece for Jaylen Brown, too, has bought in.
Poised for a role with greater responsibility than was demanded in Philadelphia, George has passed the eye test. Outside of shooting a combined 5-for-20 from the floor in two preseason appearances, George has played the part needed from him.
He’s allowed team leader Jayson Tatum to shine while complementing the rest of the group seamlessly. George’s shooting slump hasn’t deterred him from grabbing six rebounds against the Hornets or five steals Saturday night against the Sixers.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 14: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics high fives Paul George #13 during the first half of the preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets at the TD Garden on October 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
George and Tatum have challenged each other during training camp, avoiding playing together during scrimmages to make their preseason debuts their first official time sharing the court as teammates.
Tatum and Mazzulla have already expressed their excitement to acclimate George to the team, aware that a nine-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer still has plenty left to offer, even at 36 years old. In return, George has also expressed his excitement to be a Celtic.
“It definitely fuels you,” George told reporters after debuting on Saturday night. “It makes you play hard. It makes you want to win for everyone in that arena, and it is like a badge of honor to wear that green.”
Once the shots start to fall, George’s contribution will carry even more weight.
In the background, the reserve unit has made plenty of noise this preseason.
Devin Carter made an immediate impression, scoring 17 points in the team’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hugo González has attacked the basket with greater confidence. Baylor Scheierman has experimented with his range while slinging passes that channel his inner Jason Williams, and Luka Garza has remained a lead-by-example presence, always ready to step in and deliver.
Mazzulla also made note of Jordan Walsh’s defensive strides, which made him integral at points last season.
“Jordan continues to be really good at the start of games, guarding the team’s best player, getting off to a good start defensively, something he’s done well for us those last couple of games,” Mazzulla told reporters on Wednesday night. “It’s a huge role for him that we’re going to need from him.”
With one final preseason game left against the Sixers on Friday night, the Celtics have checked every box.
Turning their scrutinized offseason into a contender capable of a deep playoff push will require everything the Celtics have shown so far. Getting the fanbase on board after a heartbreaking front office decision is difficult — and a challenge much deserved — but Mazzulla’s group has proved it’s possible.
There’s a lot to unlock in the versatile Celtics.
Whether they can sustain that promise over 82 games is the bigger challenge ahead.
The Milwaukee Brewers prevented the Dodgers’ opportunity at a three-peat with a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers in Game 4. Ohtani hit a three-run home run in the game to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead, but it wasn’t enough as Milwaukee scored six straight runs to earn the win.
Ohtani told reporters after the game that it is “hard to tell” if he will need surgery during the offseason.
The four-time MVP had not been healthy for a good portion of the season.
Ohtani had been dealing with knee inflammation and biceps discomfort. The injuries limited his ability to pitch; leaving him unable to get on the mound for a start since July 3 due to his injuries.
The two-way star indicated to reporters that he did plan on pitching again in 2027.
LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights started fast Thursday night. Their captain made sure they finished with a flourish.
Mark Stone scored three times in the third period as the Golden Knights defeated the Calgary Flames 6-2 at T-Mobile Arena, improving their home record against the Pacific Division rival to 14-2-0.
Brett Howden opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the game, Jack Eichel added a shorthanded goal and Braeden Bowman contributed a power-play tally as Vegas improved to 7-2-0. The Golden Knights’ fifth win in six games gave them 14 points and put them atop the NHL standings.
“I like playing hockey. I like playing in this league. I like scoring goals. So sure, why not?” Stone said when asked about the satisfaction of another hat trick. “I like winning, and we won.”
Calgary, which arrived after snapping a season-opening five-game losing streak Tuesday at Anaheim, fell to 1-6-0.
The Golden Knights wasted little time disrupting whatever confidence the Flames brought from that breakthrough.
Mitch Marner set up Howden’s opening goal, extending his assist streak to five games and immediately putting Calgary in chase mode.
“I thought more than the goal, I thought we just played the right way,” Bowman said. “I thought we got after their D and hunted them a little bit, and that usually turns out successful for us.”
Eichel doubled the lead with an unassisted shorthanded goal later in the opening period, sending Vegas into the first intermission ahead 2-0.
Calgary briefly tightened the game in the second when defenseman Jacob Middleton scored shorthanded, cutting the Golden Knights’ lead to one.
Bowman answered on the power play, restoring the two-goal cushion with assists from Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson.
“They got one there in the PK and thought we did a good job getting back out and getting right back at it,” Bowman said.
Stone pointed to that response as one of the sequences that mattered more than the final margin suggested. Calgary had a chance to build momentum, but Vegas’ second power-play unit quickly erased it.
Then Stone took over.
The captain scored 1:06 into the final period to extend the lead to 4-1, then struck again at 12:10. He completed his hat trick at 16:13, with Eichel and Marner collecting the assists.
Matt Coronato scored for Calgary with 1:20 remaining, assisted by Morgan Frost and Matvei Gridin, to complete the scoring.
Barbashev credited his linemates’ intelligence and execution for making the game easier around them.
“Just the way they played today, five versus five, was outstanding,” Barbashev said.
Stone supplied all of Vegas’ offense over the final 20 minutes, turning a competitive game into a comfortable victory. The Golden Knights entered the night with a 9-4 scoring advantage in third periods and pushed that margin to 13-5.
Despite the result, Stone saw room for improvement, particularly with the power play’s entries.
“When we get possession in their end and move the puck around, we had some really, really good chances,” Stone said. “But for whatever reason, our entries need to be cleaned up a bit. So we’ll keep working on it.”
Vegas improved its all-time record against Calgary to 20-9-2 after winning three of four meetings last season, including both home games.
KEY MOMENT: Bowman's Response
Bowman’s power-play goal restored order after Calgary threatened to turn a strong Vegas start into a much tighter game. Middleton’s shorthanded tally had trimmed the lead to 2-1, but Bowman answered with help from Barbashev and Karlsson. The response sent the Golden Knights into the second intermission with a two-goal cushion, setting the stage for Stone’s three-goal third period.
Five consecutive games with an assist for Marner, whose setup on Howden’s goal gave Vegas an advantage just 25 seconds into the opening period. He added another assist on Stone’s hat-trick goal, giving him six during that five-game stretch. From helping establish the early lead to contributing to Vegas’ final tally, Marner continued to provide consistent production.
WHAT A KNIGHT: The Captain
Stone turned a two-goal lead into a runaway victory, scoring three in the third period. His first, just 1:06 after the intermission, immediately put Calgary further behind. His next two eliminated any remaining suspense, with Eichel and Marner combining to help him complete the hat trick. On a night when Vegas received contributions throughout its lineup, the captain delivered the defining performance.
Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas is unable to make a play on a ground ball during the second inning of Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The veteran infielder stood by his locker at Dodger Stadium, his eyes red and watery, his uniform covered in dirt, knowing that when he pulled them off, it would be for the last time.
“This is it, guys,” he said, announcing his retirement, after the Dodgers were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series on Thursday. “It’s been a lot, the last four years of my life here. And obviously making my debut here in 2014 changed my life, not just for me but for my whole family. They took care of my son, my daughter, my wife, and everybody in my family. It’s really amazing what I can think about, what happened to me and to my family the last few years.”
Rojas addressed the team after the 6-4 loss to the Brewers. He said he was going to stay loyal to the Dodgers organization but in a different role.
Rojas, 37, has a player development role lined up, the first step in a post-playing career that he hopes eventually will land him in a manager’s seat.
“I just wanted to say thank you to all the veteran guys for allowing me to be myself when I got here, even though I didn’t play one game for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last eight or nine years before I came here,” Rojas said. “They allowed me to be the leader that I wanted to be, the person that I wanted to change the culture and kind of give a little bit more of a culture, chemistry to the clubhouse. I feel like that is going to be a legacy that I wanted to leave here, other than my performance on the field. ... I want them to remember me as a guy who always did everything possible to help my teammates win and to help the team get better every single day.”
Rojas put together a 13-year career split between the Dodgers and Miami Marlins. He had a career .260 batting average, won two World Series rings and three straight Roy Campanella Awards for his leadership in the Dodgers’ clubhouse.
Miguel Rojas hits a single during Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“He built a legacy that we’ll be talking about Miguel Rojas for a long time,” veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “He impacted [so] many people in this organization. I wish we could have gotten him a third one.”
After Rojas made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2014, the team traded him to the Marlins. He played eight seasons there. Then in 2023, the Marlins traded him back to the Dodgers.
Rojas, a key contributor in the Dodgers’ back-to-back championship seasons, saved the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series with his Game 7 home run. He re-signed in December for what was expected to be his last season.
Right before the playoffs, Rojas, who is from Venezuela, took his U.S. citizenship test. He said the person administering his interview didn’t realize he was a baseball player until she asked who his employer was.
“I actually wanted it to be that way because I didn’t want to have any kind of preference or anything because this process has nothing to do with baseball,” he said last week. “I felt like, as a citizen, as a human being, I always wanted to be a good person off the field and not let my performance influence anything, because we all know how hard this game can be and how high you can be and how low you can be one day. I don’t want to be judged by my performance on the field. I want to be judged by the person I am and my preparation.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: Miguel Rojas #72 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during Game Three of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers clubhouse after they lost Game 4 of the National League Championship Series was closed for quite some time before opening to media. Once the clubhouse opened, some players were getting dressed or already dressed, winding down after the end of their season. Infielder Miguel Rojas was still at his locker in full uniform, as Thursday was his last game after 13 major league seasons.
“This is it. I’m going to move on and go to the next step of my life in the baseball world. Today was the last time I wore the uniform as a player and my cleats, it’s really hard to take them off right now,” Rojas said, still wearing the cleats. “It’s been a lot, the last four years of my life here, and obviously making my debut in 2014 changed my life, and not just for me, but for my whole family. They took care of my son, my daughter, my wife, and everybody in my family. It’s really amazing when I think about what happened to me and my family the last few years.”
Rojas reached base in each of his final two major league plate appearances, with a single and walk in Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday. This postseason all seven of his plate appearances came against left-handed pitching, and he had a double to go with that single and walk. Rojas this year hit .293/.340/.469 with a 121 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. He played two innings at second base in Game 4 but did not bat.
Rojas originally signed at age 16 as an international amateur free agent with the Cincinnati Reds in 2005, and played in the Reds system before signing with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent in November 2012. He debuted with the Dodgers in 2014, and made the key defensive play at third base to preserve Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter that year.
The Dodgers traded for Rojas in January 2023, and he thrived over his last four seasons in a variety of roles. He filled in at shortstop when needed, also played all over the infield, and did whatever was asked, including helping Miguel Vargas try to learn a new position at second base, then helped Mookie Betts transition from the outfield to shortstop as a veteran.
“They allowed me to be the leader I want to be, the person that I wanted to change the culture, give a little bit more of the culture, the feel in the clubhouse. I feel that is going to be a legacy,” Rojas said Thursday. “I want them to remember me as a guy who always did everything possible to help my teammates win, and help my team get better every single day.”
Rojas hit the game-tying home run in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, which is forever etched in Dodgers lore. But he also was voted by his teammates as the club’s Roy Campanella Award for his leadership and spirt in each of the last three seasons.
“Nobody when I came to this organization asked me, ‘Hey we want you to be a leader’ or ‘We want you to be a mentor.’ It’s just who I want to be and who I want to be for the future,” Rojas told True Blue LA in 2024. “After my career is over, I’m trying to stay on the field, to stay coaching, and I want to be a part of an organization that wants to win.”
“I talked to the guys, it was really emotional after the game. I told them that I’m going to be loyal, I want to stay here. I want to wear this uniform or this logo in a different capacity and continue to make the organization better,” Rojas said. “But this is it, this is it as a player.”
“I think what we created is something bigger than winning or losing the last game of the year,” the 37-year-old added. “It’s a culture, it’s a winning mentality, a team that the people of Los Angeles and every part of the world can be proud of.”
It's been 44 years since the Brewers went to their first − and until this year only − World Series. They played in a different league entirely back then, winning the American League championship in 1982.
So, it's been a long time. The last 10 years in particular have provided plenty of heartbreak, with the Brewers losing in the NLCS twice to the Dodgers − last year by sweep.
The Brew Crew arrived in 2026, though, and years of frustration melted away as the celebration commenced.
Here's a quick look at the scene as the Brewers celebrated winning the 2026 NL championship.
In the aftermath of the worst start of Dylan Garand’s NHL career, the Rangers didn’t blame the rookie goaltender who’s been thrust into the starting role after injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo.
It still added a disappointing twist to what otherwise had been a promising — and historic — start to his NHL career. Garand allowed four goals on 14 shots, including two in 31 seconds to end his night, before getting pulled in favor of Spencer Martin in the Blueshirts’ 7-1 loss to the Devils. Garand entered the night with a 1.15 goals against average and a .951 save percentage in 2026-27.
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“It’s not on Dylan,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think Dylan’s played pretty good for us. He’s played sound hockey. … I know Dylan will bounce back. He’s a high-character kid. He’s a competitive guy. He’s played really well for us to this point. I would expect him to respond the right way, just like our team.”
Garand’s season to this point has been a whirlwind, as he was cut in training camp, placed on waivers, sent to AHL Hartford after clearing and then brought back up before the Rangers’ second game of the season once Korpisalo sustained a lower-body injury. Then, when Shesterkin’s season ended last Friday with a right knee injury, Garand became the starter — and proceeded to win his first two starts to give the Blueshirts hope of surviving without their franchise goaltender.
But Garand, for all the potential he has flashed, only has seven starts and eight appearances on his ledger with massive skates to fill. He stopped Jack Hughes in the first period, but everything unraveled after Evan Rodrigues beat him off a J.T. Miller turnover near the end of the first period and Luke Hughes’ shot deflected off Adam Fox’s skate and in at the start of the second.
Nico Hischier (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Dylan Garand during the second period of the Rangers’ 7-1 blowout loss to the Devils on Oct. 15, 2026 at Prudential Center in Newark. Noah K. Murray for New York Post
“We’re gonna need him here for a lot of games,” Fox said, “and he’s been playing great. He’s mentally tough, and I know he can bounce back. … He knows how important he is to us as a team and what we’re trying to do. That game doesn’t fall on him by any means.”
The Rangers added some veteran goaltending depth to their organization in the wake of Shesterkin’s season-ending injury and Korpisalo’s presence on long-term injured reserve.
James Reimer, the 38-year-old who has played in 539 career NHL games, signed a professional tryout agreement with AHL Hartford, the Wolf Pack announced Thursday. Reimer can play in up to 25 games before they’d need to make a call on his future, and Hartford’s depth has been thinned with Garand and Martin — who began the season as the Blueshirts’ top two AHL options — now in the NHL. Callum Tung and Gabriel Carriere have been the Wolf Pack’s goaltenders so far. The Rangers said Oct. 10 that Korpisalo would miss another four weeks.
Reimer hasn’t started more than 25 games in a season at the NHL level since 2022-23, and last year, he appeared in 14 with the Senators — including 13 starts — while posting a 7-4-2 record, an .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals against average.
Alexis Lafrenière was given a game misconduct late in the third period over what he said to an official. … Matt Rempe and Scott Morrow were the Rangers’ scratches. … Justin Dowling centered the fourth line after his recall from Hartford on Wednesday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Dalton Knecht #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball against AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on March 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Folks, we’ve got a full plate of news in today’s edition of Heard ‘em Say, including fresh intel on how the Bucks are trying to whittle down their roster to 15, another draft-related horror story, and a Bucks fan favourite has started a podcast. Let’s rip into it!
Roster developments
On Wednesday, Jake Fischer reported on social media that Milwaukee is exploring trades to address its roster crunch, as I noted in The Feed. We now have more specifics on how the Bucks plan (or hope) to make those trades happen via another edition of The Stein Line.
Per Fischer, the Bucks and Lakers have held “exploratory trade discussions” about a deal that would send former first-round pick Dalton Knecht to the Cream City, along with second-round draft capital, in exchange for Jericho Sims. However, Fischer also points out that he’d heard some pessemism that such a trade will actually eventuate.
The Lakers have had interest in Sims for a while now, which I mentioned in my Bucks trade value rankings for 2026-27, where I ranked the bouncy big 11th and said he could fetch an early-to-mid second-round pick. Apparently, he’s worth more than that.
Granted, Sims’ value is somewhat inflated because, well, the Lakers need a viable backup big. Milwaukee’s own Kevon Looney currently occupies that spot, and he isn’t exactly playable anymore. In short, Horst would have the upper hand in negotiations, which I can only assume is why the reported deal is Knecht plus picks.
Fischer notes that if no deal materialises, LA might have to waive the former Tennessee wing before Monday’s deadline. Knecht is guaranteed $4.2m for the 2026-27 season after the Lakers picked up his third-year team option, so they would have to absorb that money if they waived him instead of trading him.
Interestingly, Fischer also reports that Sims is a name to monitor for the Philadelphia 76ers after their original backup centre, Ariel Hukporti, tore his Achilles in the opening minutes of the preseason.
Bucks weigh deals involving Kevin Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert
The other Bucks-related tidbit from Fischer is that Milwaukee has weighed potential deals involving Caris LeVert and Kevin Porter Jr.—along with possible Sims trades—to avoid waiving contracted players. Crucially, Fischer states that the Bucks want to keep fan-favourite Pete Nance and know they risk losing him to another team if they waive him in hopes of re-signing him to their final two-way contract.
(Another) draft-related Horst horror story
Folks, we have another “close, but no cigar” story relating to Jon Horst’s drafting. Last year, I wrote about Washington Wizards wing Kyshawn George’s appearance on the Old Man And The Three podcast, where he revealed he was shocked the Bucks didn’t pick him at 23 in the 2024 NBA Draft after strong workouts and feedback.
Well, it appears the same thing happened (in that same draft!) with OKC Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell. Even more ironically, Mitchell appeared on the same podcast this year to detail his draft story and Milwaukee’s interest in him during the pre-draft process.
“My agents were like, ‘There’s a chance you get picked late first.’ Milwaukee had the 23rd pick. I went in there, they really liked me. My sister lived in Wisconsin, so I could see that connection. My whole family was like, ‘You might be in Milwaukee, and that would be great.’”
Instead, Milwaukee selected AJ Johnson, not Ajay Mitchell. However, Horst still had a chance to save himself: Mitchell wasn’t taken until pick 38, and the Bucks also had pick 33, but as we all know, they used it on Tyler Smith.
But wait, there’s more! In the same article above where I detail the Kyshawn George story, I also share a tidbit from Zach Lowe: the Bucks were basically deciding between Andrew Nembhard and MarJon Beauchamp for pick 24 in the 2022 draft. In the end, they went with Beauchamp, who quickly flamed out. Sigh.
I want to curl up into a ball.
Kyle Kuzma starts a podcast (just like everyone was asking for)
To top it all off, Kyle Kuzma has announced he is starting his own podcast, Read the Room, where he will “sit down with founders, investors, athletes, and creators to talk about the boldest moves, the pivots, and what they learned along the way.”
"This is it as a player,” Rojas told reporters. “That was my last game played; that was the last time I put these cleats on and this uniform on as a player.”
The Venezuelan spent the past four seasons in Los Angeles, winning back-to-back World Series in 2024 and 2025. He was a big reason the Dodgers repeated.
Rojas' biggest career moment came in the top of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series when he hit a game-tying home run off Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman at the Rogers Centre.
He returned to the Dodgers in 2026 to help chase the three-peat.
"This is it as a player, that was my last game played, that was the last time I put these cleats on and this uniform on as a player..."
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Bogdan Bogdanovic #31 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I had thought that both the Rockets and Thunder might not play their starters at all tonight. Both teams had a hefty number of “Game Time Decisions” and “Day To Day” players. It seemed like it might be a slightly nonsensical clash of deep benches, and guys who are likely headed to the GLeague.
This was not to be. We certainly saw some deep roster players in action tonight, but the first quarter, and much of the second was more or less starters and rotational players, minus a couple of absences. We didn’t see Steven Adams for the Rockets, nor Chet Holmgren or Jaylin The Other Williams for the Thunder.
The first quarter went the Rockets way, as neither team could really hit jumpers, but Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun could dunk the ball at the rim pretty easily. The R0ckets ended up winning the quarter 33-15. The beginning of this game, the Rockets offense was basically just dunks by Amen on cuts, and clever passes from Sengun. Nice to see that again.
The Thunder came back in the second quarter, winning it 32 to 21, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen The Main Williams got going a bit.
The third quarter saw a switch from starting players (Durant came out at the half in street clothes.) to rotational players, and the Rockets Bogdan Bogdanovich, Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard all made shots, particularly BogBog, who was 5-8 from three, and looked to be moving very well.
We also saw minutes with Marcus Smart, but he wasn’t particularly effective tonight, going 0-3 and notching 2 assists to 2 turnovers. Fred VanVleet was the primary point, and in the distribution role he was again a sight for sore eyes, logging 8 assists and 0 turnovers. His shooting was not as good as the first game, as he went 3-13 overall. He needs to keep shooting, though, as he’s been away from basketball for a year, and we need to see if some consistency will return to his shooting.
We’re also going to have to see if the idea of Marcus Smart being the secondary point guard is a good one. There are other players who might do as well, and offer better shooting.
The fourth quarter was basically the deep benches, but the Rockets deep bench could hit 3pt shots, and the Thunder couldn’t. The Rockets put up 53 three pointers tonight, which is far beyond their average of 31.6 last season. We’ll see if that holds up in any way.
I’m not sure there are any particularly surprising takeaways from individual play, but there were some changes in approach from the Rockets we might hope to see continue.
The first is, not setting up in the same spot every time, and very few screens being called up anywhere, and certainly not as a reliable certainty. Last year screens mainly served to drag another defender into the area of the ballhandler, congesting their movement. Right now the Rockets are staying spread out. They don’t move, but they do actually space the court, forcing defenses from the paint.
The second is, the Rockets are attacking on offense early in the clock, with very little surveying and pounding the ball. Certainly some of this is attributable to Fred VanVleet, but the set up is simply different as well, from the past two seasons. I’m cautiously optimistic. Attacking a defense like the Thunder early is the way to go. The Thunder want to swarm and slap on defense, and the longer a team holds the ball, the worse it gets. They’re good at it. What they aren’t, in general, is big and powerful, or even especially quick. Decisive attacks that force reactions, and might lead to passes off cuts, like Sengun to Amen, are a way to break them down. Sure, it’s preseason, but that’s a good recipe no matter when.
Third, we’re seeing an actual fast break attack. Despite the Rockets size and athleticism, they were one of the lower ranked fast break teams in the league last season.
Finally, are they going to shoot more threes? They might well have better personnel to do it than anytime since The Harden Centuries.
Anyhow, preseason is now over, and the Rockets start the real season at home, against Dallas, on Wednesday the 21st. See you there.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the first quarter of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.
The All-Star center collected six assists and five points in the first 7 ½ minutes of Thursday’s 122-120 preseason finale victory over the Raptors, setting the tone for a stat-stuffing evening while using his height and vision to create from the top of the key.
It was a flashback to the dominant postseason run from Towns, who unlocked a dominant Knicks offense by transforming into a triple-double threat midway the first round.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) pulls down a rebound during the third quarter of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Coach Mike Brown said he would revisit Towns as the hub this season and Thursday’s evidence was on display early. Towns, whose stagnant extension negotiations have hovered ominously over preseason, finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 15 rebounds and 13 points in 28 minutes.
“Yeah, I feel good,” said Towns when asked about his rhythm. “I feel really, really good.”
It represented KAT’s best performance of preseason, and also New York’s as a team as it finished 1-3. But the lone win arrived with a caveat.
Towns was unstoppable unless guarded by Toronto’s top defender, Scottie Barnes, who drew the assignment in the third quarter and subsequently shut down KAT.
It was the type of adjustment that is sure to define the start of the Knicks season. Towns as the hub was a new wrinkle in the playoffs, and the opponents are equipped with enough film to discover ways to counter.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the first quarter of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post
The Knicks start the real games against the Sixers on Tuesday’s Banner Night, when Towns as the hub will resurface as a strategy that the opponent will have to deal with.
Thursday showed it can work again.
“I thought today was a good dress rehearsal,” Towns said. “It was cool, it was very nice to get back out there and get back into our flow and be really good. Obviously we have a lot of things to work on. But it was a good way to end the preseason.”
Josh Hart was the only starter who did not play in Thursday’s preseason finale. He had a sore right ankle but Brown said it shouldn’t impact Hart for the season opener Tuesday.
Amid the Dodgers’ pain, hurt and frustration of their National League Championship Series sweep at the hands of the Brewers on Thursday night, Miguel Rojas added even more emotions to one final postgame clubhouse meeting.
As he had planned –– but not fully committed to –– throughout this season, the 37-year-old veteran told his teammates he was indeed retiring from baseball, making Game 4 of the NLCS the final act in his accomplished 13-year MLB career.
“This is it,” Rojas told reporters afterward. “I’m moving on with the next chapter in my life.”
Miguel Rojas runs out a base hit during the third inning of the Dodgers’ Game 3 loss to the Brewers in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
“The last four years here changed my life,” he added.
Almost as much as Rojas changed the two-time defending champions themselves.
A Venezuelan native who broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 2014, before spending the next eight years of his career as a defensive stalwart with the Marlins, Rojas returned to Los Angeles in a trade ahead of the 2023 season, initially in what was viewed as a marginal addition for a star-studded Dodgers roster trying to climb back to the mountaintop after their 2020 World Series championship.
Right from the start, however, Rojas carved out an important role as a steady, experienced leader.
During his second Dodgers stint, he produced plenty on the field, hitting .260 with 22 home runs, 117 RBIs and versatile infield defense in 446 total games.
He was even more crucial in the postseason, contributing to their 2024 title before saving them in the 2025 Fall Classic with his game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 against the Blue Jays.
“I’m just proud of being part of this group,” he said. “That we were able to win back-to-back championships.”
Rojas will remain in the Dodgers’ organization moving forward, having agreed to transition into player development after 2026 when he re-signed as a free agent with the club this winter.
Second baseman Miguel Rojas throws to first base for an out during the Dodgers’ Game 3 NLDS win over the Braves on Oct. 6, 2026 at Truist Park in Cumberland, Ga. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I wanna stay here,” he said. “I wanna wear this uniform or this logo in a different capacity.”
Still, he didn’t want to take off his uniform –– or even his cleats –– on Thursday night, remaining dressed in his full game attire as he spoke to reporters after addressing his teammates.
“It’s really hard to take them off right now,” he said. “It was really emotional after the game.”
Freddie Freeman (left) and second baseman Miguel Rojas carry the back-to-back World Series trophies to the field before the Dodgers’ blowout win over the Diamondbacks in their season and home opener on March 26, 2026 in Los Angeles. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Rojas never went to an All-Star Game or hit more than 11 home runs in a season, and somehow was denied Gold Glove recognition.
But to this Dodgers dynasty, he will go down as a core piece and a beloved veteran leader.
“He built a legacy,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We’ll be talking about Miguel Rojas for a long time.”
Vegas struck early and capitalized on its special teams opportunities, while the Flames struggled to find consistency defensively. Calgary managed to cut into the deficit in the second period, but the Golden Knights responded almost immediately to take control of the game.
Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images
Brett Howden opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the contest, skating into the Flames zone before firing a shot over Dustin Wolf’s shoulder to give Vegas an early lead.
The Golden Knights doubled their advantage at 9:34 of the first period with a shorthanded goal. Jack Eichel intercepted the puck and broke in alone on Wolf, beating him on the glove side to make it 2-0.
Calgary found a response while shorthanded in the second period, as Jake Middleton scored his first goal as a Flame at 10:15. Joel Farabee set up Middleton in the slot, where the defenceman ripped a wrist shot past Carter Hart to cut the deficit to one.
Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images
However, the momentum didn’t last long. Vegas answered just 48 seconds later, with Braeden Bowman finishing a quick passing play on the power play to restore the Golden Knights’ two-goal lead.
Vegas added another early in the third period. At 1:06, Eichel sent a cross-seam pass to Mark Stone at the side of the net, where the Golden Knights captain redirected the puck past Wolf to make it 4-1.
Stone struck again at 12:10, beating Wolf with a backhand to complete the scoring and completed the natural hat-trick late in the game as Eichel set up the Vegas captain for this third goal of the period.
Matt Coronato scored a late powerplay goal, but it was too little too late as the Flames fell 6-2.
Three Takeaways
1. The Flames need timely saves
The Flames couldn’t afford to give up goals at critical moments, but that’s exactly what happened in Vegas.
Howden scored on the opening shift, putting Calgary behind immediately. Then, after Middleton cut the deficit to one in the second period, the Golden Knights responded less than a minute later.
Those goals made it difficult for the Flames to build any momentum. Wolf and the Calgary defence need to find a way to limit those momentum-killing moments, particularly when the team starts to generate some offence of its own.
2. Special teams made the difference
Both teams found the scoresheet on special teams, but Vegas made better use of its opportunities.
Calgary got a shorthanded goal from Middleton, and a powerplay goal late from Coronato, while the Golden Knights scored once shorthanded and added a power-play marker of their own.
The Flames showed they can create offence on special teams, but they couldn’t build on that success. Vegas, meanwhile, answered Calgary’s shorthanded goal with a power-play marker of its own, quickly restoring its two-goal advantage.
In a game where Calgary needed something to swing its way, the Golden Knights consistently had the answer.
3. Middleton gives the Flames another scoring option
Middleton’s second-period goal was a positive takeaway from another difficult night for Calgary.
The defenceman jumped into the rush, found space in the slot and finished Farabee’s pass with a quick wrist shot. It was his first goal since joining the Flames and his first career shorthanded marker.
The Flames need more contributions throughout the lineup. With the team searching for answers early in the season, goals from unexpected sources can help, but Calgary needs to turn those moments into more complete efforts.
Kiwis fullback sustained injury in second half in defeat to Kangaroos
Ponga was a standout in his first Test since a switch of allegiance
Kalyn Ponga will undergo surgery on his broken arm but will remain in camp with New Zealand not giving up on the superstar fullback playing again in the Rugby League World Cup.
Ponga failed to finish his long-awaited Test debut for the Kiwis, departing in the 70th minute of the 24-22 loss after suffering the injury earlier in the second half.
