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Egor Demin quickly turned his biggest weakness into a major Nets strength

Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) shooting a three-point basket.
Egor Dëmin attempts a 3-pointer during the Nets' Jan. 30 game against the Jazz.

What had been considered Egor Dëmin’s biggest weakness heading into the last NBA draft has turned around with the Nets.

It was showcased again when the rookie recorded a career-high 26 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the 3-point line, in the Nets’ 118-98 road loss to the Magic on Thursday night.

After posting the fifth-worst 3-point shooting percentage at BYU in 2024-25 — 27.3 percent off of 4.7 attempts per game — scouts and league analysts questioned how high Dëmin’s ceiling would be without an effective long-range shot.

The eighth overall pick has taken those concerns to heart this season, developing an outside shot that he now shoots at a 40.2 percent clip on an average of 6.4 attempts.

At the postgame press conference, Dëmin credited the help of his personal coach, Zach Gonzales.

“We’ve done an incredible amount of time working on that in the gym in Los Angeles in the predraft, and then during the preseason that I’ve been here,” he said after the loss. “He’s definitely one of the biggest reasons why my shooting is so much better right now. … I’ve just been shooting a lot. That’s kind of the key. To be able to run faster, you gotta run. To be able to shoot better, you just gotta shoot a lot at the game speed and learn those habits.”

Egor Dëmin attempts a 3-pointer during the Nets’ Jan. 30 game against the Jazz. Imagn Images

Though the Nets have dropped 10 of their last 11 games, Dëmin has seen an uptick, shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc on seven attempts per game across the last 10 contests.

It has consistently improved over time.

He held his highest 3-point shooting percentage in January (47.2) and shot as low as 32.9 percent in November.

The most 3-point attempts the Moscow native has taken this season is 14, including during a loss against the Warriors when he shot 7-for-14 on Dec. 29.

“Thanks to my teammates for finding me. I think most of them were catch and shoots, if not all of them,” Dëmin said of his performance. “So, for me, it’s a goal to find this window where I make my teammates’ lives easier for them to find me. Their unselfishness is obviously huge for me. They’re willing to share this ball and trust me with my shots.”

Egor Dёmin attempts a 3-pointer during the Nets’ loss to the Magic on Feb. 5. NBAE via Getty Images

Head coach Jordi Fernández even thought Dëmin should have made more Thursday.

“We all know he is a threat from the 3-point line. Every time he shoots, I think it’s going in,” Fernández said. “He was 6-for-10 but I felt like he could have been 10-for-10. Very good right there. We needed that from him because I think Nolan [Traore] shot it well too, but after those two, the rest of the team made three 3s. So, we gotta be shooting with confidence. … We gotta find that rhythm as a group. I think it will come sooner than later.”

His efforts Thursday also came along with other positive takeaways for him and his fellow rookies.

Dëmin’s career-high night, along with Traore’s career-high-tying 21 points, marked the first Nets rookie duo to each score 20-plus points in a game since Albert King and Buck Williams on April 17, 1982.

Additionally, the five Nets rookies took the court together for the first time, winning the six minutes in the fourth quarter, 19-13.

“Every minute matters and they won their minutes together,” Fernández said. “Their last seven minutes, they won those minutes, and I’m proud of them for doing that. That’s what I expect from them every time they play.”

While the Nets go through another rebuild, it’s vital for them to build on the early development of their rookies, especially Dëmin, who has been the most promising, before they hope to add a college star as they sit fourth in the lottery race.

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Luka Doncic ruled out for Lakers' game Saturday vs. Warriors

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) pushes off Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) to make an offensive move in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Luka Doncic played only one half Thursday against the 76ers before coming out because of a hamstring strain. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Luka Doncic was diagnosed with a strained left hamstring and listed as out for the Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers have not indicated a timetable for Doncic's return.

Doncic was injured late in the second quarter of the Lakers’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. He threw a pass to Maxi Kleber that was a turnover, turned to run back on defense and immediately grabbed his left hamstring.

Doncic went up and down the court a couple of times but was unable to play any longer. The Lakers called a timeout, and Doncic headed to the locker room and did not return.

After the game, Doncic was limping down the hallway. Coach JJ Redick said Doncic would undergo an MRI exam Friday.

Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (33.4) and is second in assists (8.7). He's missed eight of the Lakers' 42 games because of injuries and the birth of his daughter, and they're 4-4 without him.

“We need him,” guard Austin Reaves said after the game. “He’s our best player and the engine of a lot of the stuff that we do. Yeah, so, hopefully we get good news.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Steve Kerr after win vs. Suns: ‘Felt like we won the championship’

The Golden State Warriors’ furious rally against the Phoenix Suns last night ended in an improbably 101-97 win, in a game the Suns were favored by oddsmakers. Without Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors banked on defense to eke out the win.

Talking to reporters after the game, head coach Steve Kerr made sure to emphasize the morale-boosting nature of the win amidst a season wracked with controversy, tragedy, and mediocrity.

“Felt like we won the championship,” Kerr said. “Just the emotion of everything over the last two days. Losing three of our guys who were beloved in the locker room. Jimmy’s season-ending injury, Steph being out. Everything has just been tough this last week or ten days, whatever it is since Jimmy’s been out. It felt like a great team win where everybody just fought and competed and stayed with it. Beautiful thing to watch.”

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Jonathan Kuminga ‘shocked’ he was traded to Hawks

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 11: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors arrives to the arena before the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 11, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

With the Jonathan Kuminga saga finally over, the Golden State Warriors can finally move on.

Kuminga, the Warriors’ lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, struggled to find consistency and was given little leeway to work through his mistakes and shortcomings. In several ways, Kuminga was a victim of the misalignment between the front office/ownership, who wanted to develop while competing for titles, and the coaching staff, who was focused purely on doing whatever they could to give them the best chance at winning.

With Kuminga’s trade to the Atlanta Hawks that sent him and Buddy Hield eastward (in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis), a fresh start and opportunity for him to become the player he wants to be is at hand. However, per sources that told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson, Kuminga and his camp were reportedly “shocked” that he ultimately ended up in Atlanta.

But beggars can’t be choosers. Kuminga publicly requested a trade; the Warriors, pivoting from their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, chose to send him and Hield to Atlanta for Porzingis, who presents as a health/availability risk but would be a massive boon to their chances to make noise in the postseason.

By all reports, Kuminga left the Warriors on good terms with his now-former teammates. Draymond Green, after their win against the Phoenix Suns last night, made sure to speak highly of Kuminga and wish him luck in his new environment.

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Report: Paul Goldschmidt, New York Yankees working toward one-year contract

NEW YORK — Paul Goldschmidt and the Yankees are working toward a one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations, another move by New York that makes its 2026 roster resemble last year’s team.

The person spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. The deal likely would be for $5 million or less, the person said.

A seven-time All-Star and the 2022 NL MVP, the 38-year-old Goldschmidt hit .274 with 10 homers, 45 RBIs and a .731 OPS after signing a one-year, $12.5 million contract as a free agent.

He tailed off badly, hitting .287 with eight homers, 36 RBIs and a .776 OPS before the All-Star break and .245 with two homers, nine RBIs and a .631 OPS after. The right-handed-hitting Goldschmidt lost playing time at first to lefty-batting Ben Rice and started just two postseason games.

A seven-time Gold Glove winner, Goldschmidt provides defense and a veteran presence to a team seeking its first World Series title since 2009. He has a .288 average with 372 homers, 1,232 RBIs and an ,882 OPS in 15 major league seasons with Arizona (2011-18), St. Louis (2019) and the Yankees.

Coming off an AL Division Series loss to Toronto, New York has had a relatively quiet offseason. The Yankees’ major moves were re-signing outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract, acquiring left-hander Ryan Weathers from Miami in a trade and retaining center fielder Trent Grisham with a $22,025,000 qualifying offer.

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Reds’ Graham Ashcraft, Rays’ Edwin Uceta win arbitration cases as players improve to 5-0

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Edwin Uceta won their salary arbitration cases Friday, improving players to 5-0 this year.

Ashcraft was awarded $1.75 million rather than the Cincinnati Reds’ $1.25 million offer in a case heard Thursday by Keith Greenberg, Howard Edelman and Rob Herman.

Uceta will be paid $1,525,000 rather than the Tampa Bay Rays’ $1.2 million proposal. That case was heard on Jan. 29 by Janice Johnston, Alan Ponak and Melinda Gordon, and the decision was kept sealed until Friday so as not to impact Ashcraft’s hearing.

A right-hander who turns 28 next week, Ashcraft was 8-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 62 relief appearances last year, striking out 64 and walking 25 in 65 1/3 innings. He had a $780,000 salary and was eligible for arbitration for the first time.

Ashcraft is 25-25 with a 4.76 ERA in four major league seasons.

Uceta also was eligible for arbitration for the first time after going 10-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 70 relief appearances last year, when he had an $815,000 salary. He was a so-called Super Two, eligible because he has 2 years, 150 days of major league service — 10 days above the cutoff for this year’s arbitration class.

Baltimore left-hander Keegan Akin went to a hearing Friday, asking for $3,375,000 rather than the Orioles’ $2,975,000 offer. A decision by John Stout, Jeanne Charles and Samantha Tower is expected Saturday.

A 30-year-old left-hander, Akin was 5-4 with a 3.41 ERA and eight saves in 64 relief appearances last season, striking out 59 and walking 33 in 63 1/3 innings. He had a $1,475,000 salary.

Akin has a 16-22 record with a 4.48 ERA and 11 saves in six major league seasons, all with the Orioles. He can become a free agent after this year’s World Series.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal won his case Thursday when he was awarded an arbitration-record $32 million rather than the Detroit Tigers’ $19 million offer.

In other decisions, right-hander Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million instead of the Baltimore Orioles’ offer of $2,875,000, and catcher Yainer Diaz received $4.5 million instead of the Houston Astros’ $3 million proposal.

Two cases have been argued with decisions withheld until next week: Toronto left-hander Eric Lauer ($5.75 million vs. $4.4 million) and Atlanta left-hander Dylan Lee ($2.2 million vs. $2 million).

Five players remain scheduled for hearings next week: Kansas City left-hander Kris Bubic ($6.15 million vs. $5.15 million), Milwaukee catcher Willson Contreras ($9.9 million vs. $8.55 million), Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers ($2,925,000 vs. $2,625,000), Miami right-hander Calvin Faucher ($2.05 million vs. $1.8 million) and Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson ($6.8 million vs $6.55 million).

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Ex-MLB player Yasiel Puig found guilty of obstruction and lying to federal officials

LOS ANGELES — A jury has found former major league outfielder Yasiel Puig guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal officials investigating an illegal gambling operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday.

The verdict came after a multiweek trial that featured testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach that Puig placed bets through. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced May 26.

Puig’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Puig, 35, initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating an illegal gambling operation. He acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he wracked up more than $280,000 in losses over a few months in 2019 while wagering on tennis, football and basketball games through a third party who worked for an illegal gambling operation run by Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player.

Nix pled guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and subscribing to a false tax return. He is still awaiting sentencing.

Authorities said Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled betting websites and through a man who worked for Nix.

Prosecutors said that during a January 2022 interview with federal investigators, Puig denied knowing about the nature of his bets, who he was betting with, and the circumstances of paying his gambling debts.

But he changed his tune months later, announcing that he was switching his plea to not guilty because of “significant new evidence,” according to a statement from his attorneys in Los Angeles.

“I want to clear my name,” Puig said in the statement. “I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.”

The government argued that he intentionally misled the federal investigators. They played in court audio clips of Puig speaking English and brought expert witnesses to testify on Puig’s cognitive abilities, the New York Times reported.

His attorneys said that Puig, who has a third-grade education, had untreated mental-health issues and did not have his own interpreter or criminal legal counsel with him during the interview with federal investigators where he purportedly lied.

Puig’s former attorney Steven Gebelin testified that during the January 2022 interview, Puig tried to be helpful in answering the investigators’ questions and the interpreter struggled with Puig’s Spanish language dialect, according to the New York Times.

Puig batted .277 with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs while appearing in seven major league seasons, the first six with the Dodgers, where he earned an All-Star selection in 2014.

Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully called Puig the “wild horse” for his on-field antics and talent at a young age, joining MLB at 22, a year after escaping his home country of Cuba.

He played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians in 2019 before becoming a free agent. He then played in the Mexican League and last year he signed a one-year, $1 million contact with South Korea’s Kiwoom Heroes.

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Yankees re-sign first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to one-year contract

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees in action during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on September 27, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On January 28th, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman addressed the media after Cody Bellinger’s return to the Bronx became official. When inevitably asked about the Yankees deciding to essentially bring back the same roster that lost the AL East and the ALDS to the Blue Jays in 2025, he said that this wasn’t the case:

“It’s not the same roster. … I disagree it’s the same team running it back. … Not afraid to run with the quality and talented roster of players that we do have. I think we’ve been consistent with that throughout the entire winter”

Well here we are a week later and news just broke of the Yankees officially bringing another dude back from the 2025 team, and someone far less essential than Bellinger: first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. ESPN’s Jeff Passan had the report of the 2022 NL MVP accepting a one-year deal to play a second season in New York. A later report from Ronald Blum of the Associated Press had the financials at “$5 million or less.”

I know that it is not hip at all in the year 2026 to do reaction GIFs or clips, but I’m sorry. I can only be who I am.

Is there an argument that it makes sense to bring Goldschmidt back since up-and-coming first baseman Ben Rice didn’t hit that well against lefties in 2026? Sure. But here’s the dirty secret: Goldschmidt stopped hitting lefties after Memorial Day, too.

For the record, Ben Rice’s season OPS against lefties was .752. So that’s neat.

The 2025 World Series was a seven-game classic between two great teams: the Dodgers and Blue Jays. The Dodgers became MLB’s first back-to-back champion since the 1998-2000 dynasty Yankees. They still bolstered their roster this offseason by signing two All-Stars in closer Edwin Díaz and outfielder Kyle Tucker. If one bounce went another way in that Fall Classic or if Isiah Kiner-Falefa got a better lead at third base late in Game 7, the Blue Jays would’ve won it all. They didn’t; although they lost Bo Bichette to the Mets, they’ve still responded this offseason by signing Dylan Cease to boost their rotation and bringing aboard infielder Kazuma Okamoto from the NPB.

The Yankees are running it back. Cashman can try to get cute in his responses by acting like Trade Deadline moves for relievers and bench players make it so that’s not quite the case because well, well, uh, well, they weren’t there in the first half! And Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are gone, so that’s different! Ryan Weathers is here and will totally stay healthy and reach his highest potential! Getting Gerrit Cole back after Tommy John surgery will be like a Trade Deadline acquisition! No one’s ever had a tricky time finding their rhythm again after a year and a half away from the game. And we tied for the most wins in the American League so we’re great! It’s fine! Championship-caliber and all!

Look, the AL is not inspiring and the Yankees should remain good. That is a fact. Still, I come back to this other fact: The 1998 Yankees were probably the best team in baseball history. After winning it all, they shook it up a bit anyway because there was still room for improvement, trading fan favorite and playoff standout David Wells in exchange for Roger Clemens. They then won two more championships.

So whatever. Congrats to Goldy I guess. This is no dig at him personally as he seems like a very nice fellow. But this is all just so silly — and that’s using a kind word.

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Sam Girard Under Fire, But Jared Bednar Sees Improvement

DENVER — As criticism swirled around Sam Girard for his recent mistakes, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar stepped up Wednesday night to defend his defenseman.

Girard faced intense backlash on social media after an offensive blueline turnover led to a breakaway goal for San Jose Sharks forward Phillip Kurashev, who buried a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood. The Avalanche, however, managed to overcome the error to win 4-2 at Ball Arena.

Not only did Bednar draw a clear line, but he also pushed back on the narrative that Girard hasn’t been performing well, insisting that his play has actually been improving in recent games.

Credit: DNVR. Jared Bednar defends Sam Girard, but didn't let him off the hook entirely for making a costly turnover.

"I actually think his game has been turning around recently," the coach stated regarding his puck-moving defenseman. "He's been playing pretty good. That (play with Kurashev) was just a bad decision.

"There's no way you're going to get back on that. The puck comes, it's sort of a broken play, it's trickling out to the point, the pressure's coming. A good decision would have been just punch it back down behind the net. You don't have to try to make something out of nothing, especially at the time and what just happened."

Colorado outshot San Jose 31-13 through the first two periods and entered the third with a 2-0 lead, but that advantage evaporated early in the final frame. Timothy Liljegren scored 43 seconds into the third period, ripping a slap shot from the point that Blackwood misjudged to make it a one-goal game. Less than three minutes later, Girard made the turnover that allowed San Jose to tie the game.

"They just got a quick one; they're starting to want to pour it on, and then we make that mistake and next thing you know the game's tied," Bednar said as he continued to analyze Girard's play. "I don't know if Cale (Makar) would have gotten back on that one.

"Once you turn it over and the guy's got a step on ya for the length of the ice, he's going to get a scoring chance. That's more decision than not being able to catch the guy."

Avalanche Attempts to Replace Girard Have Fallen Short

Acquired from the New York Rangers last season prior to the trade deadline, Ryan Lindgren was intended to serve as Girard’s replacement—a defense-first option who might sacrifice some offensive output in exchange for reliability on the back end, and at a more cost-effective contract. In the days leading up to July 1, the start of free agency, the Avalanche attempted to re-sign Lindgren before he became an unrestricted free agent, but Lindgren ultimately signed with the Seattle Kraken on a four-year, $18 million deal.

In the 18 games Lindgren appeared in for Colorado, he became the team's second-most-utilized left-shot defenseman behind Devon Toews. After Lindgren’s departure, the Avalanche added Brent Burns on a one-year deal. Meanwhile, Sam Malinski received a contract extension, and Girard has seen less ice time this season than at any point in his nine years with the team.

Girard, viewed as the centerpiece of the Matt Duchene trade, was acquired from the Nashville Predators in November 2017, with Duchene moving to the Ottawa Senators as part of the three-team deal.

The 27-year-old, who hails from Roberval, Quebec, has 37 career goals and 198 assists for 235 points in 588 NHL games. He is signed with Colorado through the 2026-27 season, but it will be interesting to see if the Avalanche commit through the end of the contract despite Bednar's recent comments about his improving game.

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Celtics latest addition marks a reunion between two old friends

Oct 16, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard John Tonje (17) drives with the ball against Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images | Peter Creveling-Imagn Images

BOSTON — Amid all the chao of Thursday’s NBA midseason tradeline deadline, the Celtics traded for two-way player John Tonje.

Tonje, who was drafted by the Utah Jazz 53rd overall in June, was in the middle of standout season with the Salt Lake City stars when he learned he was traded. He ultimately landed in Boston as part of the trade that sent Chris Boucher to the Jazz.

For Tonje, the Celtics mark a new opportunity, but also a reunion of sorts.

The 24-year-old doesn’t know a ton of people in Boston, but he does know one: Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman.

Tonje and Scheierman were AAU teammates in high school, years ago at the Omaha Sports Academy. That club no longer exists, but its legacy lives on: for the first time, the Celtics have two players from Nebraska.

When Scheierman found out that Tonje was coming to Boston, he immediately texted him to congratulate. The two reunited on Friday morning at the Auerbach Center, as Tonje got his first time of the new organization.

“We kept in touch a little bit throughout college — not like a whole lot,” Scheierman said. “But, so it’s cool to have someone from Nebraska, for sure.”

Plenty of people from Omaha were excited to see Tonje and Scheierman reunite.

“I had a bunch of people from back home blowing up my phone,” Scheierman said. “All my old AAU teammates. It’s cool that he’s that he’s here with us. He’s a talented player.”

Tonje appeared in 32 games for the Salt Lake City Stars this season, averaging 18 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. That came on the heels of a big-time NCAA Tournament run with Wisconsin Badgers, in which he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Before Wisconsin, he spent four seasons at Colorado State, and one year in Missouri.

But, before all of that, Tonje was another very talented Nebraskan basketball player, just like Scheierman.

“He can score in a variety of ways,” he said. “He’s a good defender. I think those are the two biggest things that stood out to me back in those days. I was completely different player and build back in those days, but I think those are the two things that stuck out the most, was just his physical maturity, it was just the ability to score.”

Tonje’s locker room at TD Garden sits across the way from Scheierman’s, and two will undoubtedly have plenty of time to catch up in the coming months.

But, for now, Scheierman has gotten a kick out of a pretty unlikely reunion that emerged amid the chaos of a busy trade deadline.

“It’s a cool thing,” Scheierman said. “Just for Nebraska to have two Nebraskans on the same team.”

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Yankees bringing back Paul Goldschmidt on one-year contract

New York Yankees first base Paul Goldschmidt striking out swinging during a baseball game.
New York Yankees first base Paul Goldschmidt strikes out swinging during the third inning of the Rays vs Yankees game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, USA, Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

The Yankees really are running it back. 

Add Paul Goldschmidt to the list of returning players to The Bronx after the Yankees agreed to a one-year deal with the veteran first baseman, sources told The Post’s Joel Sherman. 

Goldschmidt gives the Yankees a right-handed bat who can fill in for lefty-swinging Ben Rice, who is expected to be the primary first baseman this season. 

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is coming back on a one-year deal. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

Goldschmidt, the 2022 National League MVP with the Cardinals, first signed with the Yankees last offseason and got off to a good start before he fell off in the second half. 

But he remains solid defensively and gives the Yankees some much-needed balance in an infield that skews lefty, with Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ryan McMahon all hitting from the left side, along with catcher Austin Wells and outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham. 

Goldschmidt also should be a valuable mentor to Rice, who is still learning how to play first base after coming up through the Yankees system primarily as a catcher — where he may still get time, along with Wells and possibly J.C. Escarra. 

Although the 38-year-old Goldschmidt’s performance fell off in the second half, he still ended the season with an OPS of .981 against left-handed pitching and he can also serve as a defensive replacement for Rice. 

Goldschmidt was also highly respected in the clubhouse and expressed a desire to return after the Yankees were knocked out of the playoffs. 

He’ll rejoin a team that will look very similar to last year, as the Yankees’ biggest moves of the offseason have been bringing back Grisham on a qualifying offer worth just north of $22 million and re-signing Bellinger on a five-year, $162 million deal. 

Paul Goldschmidt joined the Yankees last season. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

They’ll hope the continued development of young players like Rice and Wells, along with the return of Gerrit Cole from Tommy John surgery by midseason and a full season of their acquisitions at last year’s trade deadline will put them in position to at least get back to the postseason. 

The bench now consists of Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario and perhaps Escarra and Jasson Domínguez — unless the Yankees find a right-handed bat for the outfield, since the switch-hitting Domínguez struggles from the right side and in left field. 

And to start the season, José Caballero figures to fill in for Anthony Volpe at shortstop while Volpe recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. 

— Additional reporting by Jon Heyman 

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Giannis Joins Prediction Market Platform Kalshi as Shareholder

A professional athlete is now a partial owner of prediction market platform Kalshi, and it’s a big one. 

Key Takeaways

  • NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo said on X that “it was time to make some (opinions) of my own.”

  • Kalshi had a trade market up on Giannis earlier this week and was offering a spread on his team’s Friday night game. 

  • The NBA asked for the regulation of prediction markets that offer contracts on games in May 2025.

In an unprecedented move, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo announced Friday on the social media site X that he’s a shareholder of a trading exchange that offers sports event contracts. 

“The internet is full of opinions,” the Milwaukee Bucks star wrote. “I decided it was time to make some of my own. Today, I’m joining Kalshi as a shareholder.

“We all on Kalshi now.”

The nine-time All-Star and 2021 NBA champion will partner with Kalshi at live events and in marketing.

As an NBA player, he's forbidden from trading on NBA markets, Kalshi announced, citing its insider trading policy.

“Giannis is a legend,” said Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour said in a statement. “He’s exactly the type of long-term partner we want to align our growing brand with, and we couldn’t be happier he’s on board.”

Giannis’ team was listed as a 1.5-point underdog on Kalshi against Indiana in a game that had received more than $90,000 in trading volume on the same day of the announcement. Kalshi even has a page involving Giannis, with contracts on nine active markets.

Earlier this week, Kalshi had a market posted on whether The Greek Freak would be traded before the NBA’s deadline and to which team. He ultimately remained with the Bucks. 

Gray area

According to the NBA’s 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement, players can have passive investments under 1% in sports betting companies, but they are not allowed to own, operate, or manage sportsbooks. Kalshi falls into a unique category. 

Kalshi is federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), allowing it to offer outcome contracts on sports in all 50 states. However, the trading exchange has run into several legal roadblocks in states with legal, regulated sports betting. Massachusetts recently won a court decision to keep Kalshi from operating there, but a temporary restraining order has yet to be implemented. 

Nevada is also trying to keep prediction markets out of its jurisdiction and is in a lengthy court battle with Kalshi, which argues that it can’t be regulated by states and it offers contracts, not wagers. 

NBA request 

The league has not yet issued a statement on Giannis’ agreement with Kalshi. In May 2025, however, the NBA asked the CFTC to provide a regulatory framework for single-event games after Kalshi started offering moneylines and spreads on the league’s contests. 

“If the CFTC does ultimately decide to permit the continued offering of sports event contracts, we encourage it to close this gap and to adopt a comprehensive regulatory and oversight framework analogous to those governing state sports betting markets, and to impose meaningful limitations on the continued expansion, via self-certification, of these markets into ever more exotic and narrow event propositions,” the NBA wrote in a letter to the federal agency. 

The league has experienced multiple betting scandals over the last number of years. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is facing federal illegal gambling charges after he was arrested in October for allegedly taking part in a 2023 scheme. 

Ex-Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA after he manipulated playing time to help a group of bettors win player prop bets in 2024. Porter is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

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Yankees re-signing Paul Goldschmidt to one-year deal

The Yankees are, indeed, running it back as the team is reportedly re-signing first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

According to multiple reports, the deal is for one year.

There have been rumblings of a reunion between Goldschmidt and the Bronx for the past few weeks. Goldschmidt, who started the majority of the games at first base last season, will likely defer to youngster Ben Rice in 2026. However, the Yankees saw the value in bringing in Goldschmidt as a late-game defensive replacement and his penchant for hitting left-handed pitchers.

Goldschmidt's first year in the Bronx started off great. While his power numbers were down, the former NL MVP was hitting .356 entering May. He maintained his .300 average through most of June before his production began to taper off. Despite that, Goldschmidt still had a very good 2025, slashing .274/.328/.403 with an OPS of .731, 10 home runs, 45 RBI across 146 games. 

He also gave the Yankees a defensive stalwart at first.

While the money figures have not been disclosed, Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports that Goldschmidt had opportunities to make more money for another team, but wanted to return to the Yankees.

The Goldschmidt acquisition is just another in an offseason full of re-signings by GM Brian Cashman. In addition to Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham accepted his qualifying offer, while the Yankees picked up Tim Hill's option and re-signed Ryan Yarbrough, Paul Blackburn, Amed Rosario and Cody Bellinger, all of whom were on the team last season.

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Marcus Smart credited ‘ultimate professional’ Maxi Kleber after win vs. Sixers

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward Maxi Kleber (14) scores on a slam dunk over Philadelphia 76ers forward Trendon Watford (12) at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Maxi Kleber is far down the list of impactful players on the Lakers roster. He is often only playing during garbage time and doing little during those minutes to make a compelling case for extended play.

However, against the Sixers, Kleber had his best performance as a Laker.

With Jaxson Hayes suspended for one game, Kleber had to step up in his place and he delivered.

His 4 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists don’t tell the full story of how well he played in this game. From grabbing offensive rebounds to defending multiple positions, Kleber was doing everything that impacts winning. It’s why, during his 26 minutes of play, he had a plus-minus of +23, the best on the team.

After the win, Marcus Smart discussed why Kleber is a guy that everyone loves.

“The ultimate professional,” Smart said. “I mean, there’s a reason why Maxi is still in this league, still going, and it’s the reason why he’s on this team with us and it’s the reason why we celebrate him the way we do because he comes in every day, no matter what, and he gives that.

“Whether it’s in practice, whether it’s in the game, whether he plays two minutes, whether he plays 20. We enjoy watching him actually do that because we know how hard he works and we know what he’s going to give every night. That’s nothing of a surprise for us. We’re just excited to see him out there getting a chance to do it.”

As a defensive role player, Smart is well aware of what it takes to embrace a position on a team. For Kleber, his role is smaller than Smart’s, but just as important to the team’s fabric. He’s a leader and an example for the younger players to look up to on how to carry themselves in the NBA.

“Maxi, it doesn’t matter if he’s played and had a big impact and then is a DNP the next game…his spirit, his approach, his being a teammate and rooting for other people, it never changes,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “For all our guys, he’s an easy guy to root for.”

Against Philly, Kleber ended the game with one of his best moments of the night.

With the Lakers leading by eight points with under a minute to go, LA needed one more score to put the game to bed.

LeBron James put the exclamation point on the win with an emphatic dunk, but Kleber is the one who set it up. As James drove inside, Kleber set a Gortat screen on Joel Embiid, stopping the Sixers big man from contesting LeBron’s drive.

While James drove to the rim, Kleber put his hands up to indicate to the refs that he was not fouling Embiid. When LeBron completed the play, Kleber kept his arms up and pumped them in the air in celebration.

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Kleber won’t often play 20-plus minutes, but he stays ready to contribute. And thanks to Kleber’s level of preparedness, the Lakers turned a double-digit deficit into a feel-good win.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.