Belgian back in work after sacking by Rangers in February
‘Excited’ about taking over at Championship strugglers
Norwich have confirmed the appointment of Philippe Clement as the club’s head coach. The Belgian – sacked by Rangers in February – replaces Liam Manning, who left Carrow Road before the international break with Norwich second bottom of the Championship.
Manning lasted only 17 games, having been appointed in the summer. Under him, Norwich have lost all of their home matches so far this season.
Draymond Green received a slap on the wrist for his encounter with a fan in the Golden State Warriors’ 124-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at Smoothie King Center.
With 2:02 remaining in the second quarter, Green was seen interacting with a fan sitting courtside, who the Warriors forward later revealed was taunting him by repeatedly referring to him as Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese after he failed to tip in a missed layup several times, among other things.
Well, the NBA did not approve of Green’s heated interaction with the fan, and issued him a warning, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday, citing a source.
The NBA has issued a warning to Golden State's Draymond Green for his interaction with a vocal fan in New Orleans on Sunday night, source tells ESPN. No fine. The fan was chanting "Angel Reese" toward Green, who responded face-to-face as taunts continued.
The fan was not ejected from Sunday’s game, but similarly to Green, was issued a warning by arena security.
In the end, both sides were warned, and it’s safe to assume that when Golden State returns to New Orleans on Feb. 24, everyone will be on their best behavior.
Luka Dončić is the LA Lakers’ franchise player-in-waiting.Photograph: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
It’s been nine and a half months since the trade that rocked the sports world was broken via a Shams Charania tweet. It was such a shock that the majority of his followers assumed he’d been hacked. Fresh off of a trip to the NBA finals, the young Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić was shipped off in the middle of the night to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, and the NBA as we know it was changed for ever. The fallout from one of the most shocking trades in sports history is still evolving: disgraced Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who spearheaded the transaction, was let go by the team last week, in a move Mavericks fans have been loudly clamoring for since news broke that their homegrown franchise player was being abruptly cast out to sea. But on the other side of the coin was a mixed blessing and a new beginning: Dončić, who had imagined spending his entire career in Dallas like his mentor Dirk Nowitzki, suddenly found himself recast as the face of the NBA’s most famous franchise under the bright lights of Hollywood. And, as it turns out, the future is now.
While Dončić’s breakup with the Mavericks was both very public and very messy (the Mavs were not shy about vocalizing their reasoning for the move, and painting the 26-year-old in an unflattering light in the process), the silver linings showed themselves quickly. Dončić might not have considered himself suited for the Los Angeles spotlight, but with his flair for the dramatic and a feel for the sport’s theater, playing for such a high-profile franchise has proved an unexpectedly good fit. And it couldn’t have worked out better for the Lakers: the team had been staring at an uncertain future, with the retirement of 40-year-old LeBron James looming, and Davis’s injury history creating a cloud of doubt around his ability to be the No 1 option in the eventual aftermath. Enter Luka stage right: a ticket to franchise salvation, equipped with the newfound motivation that can only be borne from being publicly and mercilessly dragged through the mud.
Of course, James’s retirement has been far less imminent than anyone anticipated; his unprecedented longevity and level of play continue to shatter records and defy logic. So instead of a passing of the torch, the months after Dončić’s arrival looked more like a torch collaboration. But James’s bout with sciatica this summer, which has sidelined him for the first month of the season and caused him to miss the first opening night of his 23-year career, brought about a dress rehearsal for the post-LeBron Lakers era. The roster remains a bit clunky, but Dončić is beginning to lean into his newfound leadership role – and those around him are convinced he’s the man for the job. And not only because his 34.4 points per game lead the NBA by a wide margin. The Lakers are 10–4, fourth in the Western Conference behind only Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston, and the prospect of life after LeBron suddenly looks, well, not so scary after all.
Dončić has always been special, and the brightest minds in the NBA have recognized it from the start. When the Miami Heat visited Los Angeles in early November, I asked Erik Spoelstra what he believes sets Dončić apart. “Just an incredible competitive spirit,” he told me. “I remember the first time I saw him play – I’ll never forget it. I went to watch Goran Dragić at EuroBasket, so I stopped by their training camp. Luka was 18, and everyone in the gym was stunned by how cerebral his game already was. He could make all the rotations, all the reads, just pick you apart. His fundamentals, his footwork, his skill level – all elite. But more than anything, even then, he could rise to the level of competition. That’s what all the great ones do: competition brings out something most players can’t reach.”
“Quiet” was the word Lakers guard Marcus Smart used to describe Dončić’s leadership style in the early days of the season, shortly after the former Defensive Player of the Year had logged his first few games with his new team. “He leads by example,” Smart said. But something is starting to shift for Dončić, whose career-long approach to leadership has largely been, as Smart suggests, to be brilliant without saying much.
There’s a newfound maturity and commitment in Dončić’s approach this year, even if he still shows more youthful exuberance than almost anyone in the league. It became apparent as early as the summer, when rumblings spread that he’d undertaken a drastic overhaul of his diet – followed soon after by a striking Men’s Health feature revealing a noticeably leaner, more sculpted Dončić. The transformation (and the PR push around it) was almost certainly fueled by the Mavericks’ smear campaign in the wake of Dončić’s exit, which sought to question everything from his work ethic to his relationship with alcohol.
Off the court, Dončić is soft-spoken and even-keeled, happiest laying low with his wife, his baby daughter and his video games. On the court he’s a demon: one of the league’s fiercest competitors, a player who seems to take genuine delight in tormenting opponents. For all his gifts, that almost manic competitiveness may be his defining trait. And seeing it up close makes something obvious: there was never a version of reality in which being cast off the way he was in February led to anything other than this, the moment he turned into the Terminator.
Dončić acknowledges that his approach has shifted. He’s been noticeably more vocal this season, and when asked whether that’s intentional, he doesn’t hesitate. “Definitely [more vocal], just trying to help the guys,” he says. But he credits the change partly to improved chemistry, stressing that he still wants leadership to feel shared. “I think leadership shouldn’t be just one player – it should be more players, and I think we have that. Everyone talks a lot. It feels like everyone is on the same page.”
Those around him have noticed the growth. Lakers head coach JJ Redick says he’s seen a real shift from last season: “I think he’s letting his teammates in right now,” he says. Austin Reaves – the Lakers guard who has developed an easy, teasing rapport with Dončić in the months since his arrival – sees it too, and isn’t surprised it took some time. “It’s human nature when things like last year happen. Nobody ever thought that was gonna happen … I’m sure he was in a state of shock,” Reaves says. “Having to move, move his family – it was tough. But now I think he’s just getting comfortable, having a good time.”
When James returns to make his season debut, which could happen as soon as Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz, the soft opening of the Lakers’ Luka Era will come to a temporary close. But the forward momentum won’t halt: the progress Dončić has made with the keys to the franchise in hand are palpable, and likely here to stay. He knows the future is his, and he seems more comfortable with that fact than ever.
Draymond Green received a slap on the wrist for his encounter with a fan in the Golden State Warriors’ 124-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at Smoothie King Center.
With 2:02 remaining in the second quarter, Green was seen interacting with a fan sitting courtside, who the Warriors forward later revealed was taunting him by repeatedly referring to him as Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese after he failed to tip in a missed layup several times, among other things.
Well, the NBA did not approve of Green’s heated interaction with the fan, and issued him a warning, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday, citing a source.
The NBA has issued a warning to Golden State's Draymond Green for his interaction with a vocal fan in New Orleans on Sunday night, source tells ESPN. No fine. The fan was chanting "Angel Reese" toward Green, who responded face-to-face as taunts continued.
The fan was not ejected from Sunday’s game, but similarly to Green, was issued a warning by arena security.
In the end, both sides were warned, and it’s safe to assume that when Golden State returns to New Orleans on Feb. 24, everyone will be on their best behavior.
Just over a month ago, Dave Dombrowski sat in the media room at Citizens Bank Park across from reporters following the Phillies’ fourth straight postseason exit.
The president of baseball operations kept things honest — maybe a little too honest.
Arguably the biggest takeaway from his 54-minute end-of-season press conference was about Bryce Harper. Dombrowski was blunt about the two-time MVP’s 2025 campaign and his outlook moving forward.
“He’s still an All-Star-caliber player. He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good,” he said. “Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer. He’s the one that will dictate that more than anything else.”
Dombrowski continued: “I don’t think he’s content with the year that he had. And again, it wasn’t a bad year. But when you think of Bryce Harper, you think of elite, right? You think of one of the top 10 players in baseball, and I don’t think it fit into that category.”
In 2025, the 32-year-old Harper slashed .261/.357/.487 with 27 home runs and 75 RBIs. His .844 OPS was his lowest in a season since joining the Phillies and his lowest overall since his age-23 year in 2016. He also played through nagging injuries.
He spent just over three weeks on the injured list in June with right wrist inflammation — an issue he’d felt earlier in the season.
A week after the press conference, with Harper trade chatter swirling, Dombrowski went on Foul Territory and tried to pull things back.
"I've been reading that the Phillies may trade Bryce Harper. That couldn't be further from the truth."
Dave Dombrowski says Bryce Harper is an elite talent, and his comments weren't meant to be criticism. pic.twitter.com/HMJY6TjPsv
“First of all, to me, Bryce Harper is one of the best players in the game of baseball,” Dombrowski said. “Now I’ve been reading that, oh, the Phillies may trade Bryce Harper. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We love him.”
Still, Harper didn’t take Dombrowski’s initial comments lightly. In an interview with Matt Gelb of The Athletic, he said, “I have given my all to Philly from the start. Now there is trade talk? I made every effort to avoid this … It makes me feel uncomfortable.” He later added, “It’s disappointing to hear me being questioned about my contribution to the team. Just really hurt by that notion because I love Philly so much.”
Harper, who has no opt-out and a full no-trade clause, pointed out why the whole thing stung. “I wanted these fans to know Philly is my home, so from the start, I made the commitment to stay here for the rest of my career. No opt-out, even though I was advised otherwise,” he expressed. “From changing positions to coming back early from injury, I show total commitment for my team. And yet there is still trade talk.”
So now that his “elite” status is under the microscope, what can the Phillies expect from Harper in 2026?
Protect him.
Credit: Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
It all begins with lineup help.
Harper has lived in the 3-hole since arriving in 2019. In 2025, he rarely had consistent protection behind him. The cleanup spot produced a .720 OPS — 20th in MLB — a steep drop from his best years in Philadelphia.
Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto carried most of those at-bats this past season. Castellanos, 33, posted a .651 OPS in 214 plate appearances out of the four-spot; Realmuto, 34, had a .683 mark in 180 trips there.
Both of those names have offered real protection for Harper before.
His best two seasons as a Phillie came in 2021 and 2023.
In 2021, Harper put up a league-leading 1.044 OPS on his way to a second MVP. As a team, the Phillies had an .819 OPS — fifth-best in the National League. Realmuto did most of the cleanup work that year and hit .287 with an .832 OPS in that role.
In 2023, Harper slashed .293/.401/.499 (.900 OPS). The Phillies’ overall OPS jumped to .822, helped by Castellanos’ 15 homers and .300/.339/.514 line in the four-hole.
The pattern is obvious: when the cleanup spot is a threat, Harper’s numbers jump off the page.
In 2025, that wasn’t the case. The Phillies need a steady right-handed hitter behind him.
The Alonso question and a first-base pivot
Credit: Rick Osentoski – Imagn Images
One way to get there is the scenario that keeps coming up: Harper moving back to right field.
Dombrowski has publicly pushed back on that this offseason, saying the front office views Harper as its first baseman. But if Harper returned to the outfield, it would open the door to pursue a true middle-of-the-order bat at first — someone like Pete Alonso.
Alonso hit 38 homers and drove in 126 runs in 2025, while also leading the league in doubles. Even with some swing-and-miss, that kind of production behind Harper would change how pitchers game-plan entirely.
His market could be shaped by fellow free-agent first baseman Josh Naylor. On Monday, the 30-year-old signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal after a year in which he hit .295 with 20 homers, 92 RBIs and 30 steals. Naylor is two-and-a-half years younger than Alonso, and his $18.5 million AAV could keep Alonso’s asking price from getting out of control.
Josh Naylor’s contract with the Mariners is for five years, $92.5M, source tells @TheAthletic.
If the Phillies want to push Harper back toward “elite,” adding a legitimate right-handed bat behind him is the clearest path.
The analytics point up, a tad
For as much as Dombrowski’s comments have been dissected, Harper’s underlying metrics in 2025 actually trended the right way compared with his 30-homer, .898 OPS season in 2024.
His barrel rate, hard-hit percentage and bat speed all ticked up. His walk rate improved. His strikeout rate went down. The line on the back of the baseball card may have dipped, but the advanced numbers did not scream decline.
The lack of pitches to hit was real, too. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com noted that among hitters who saw at least 200 pitches, Harper saw strikes only 43 percent of the time — the lowest rate of any of the 532 qualified players. That’s what happens when there is a lack of protection.
It’s fair for the Phillies’ front office to ask whether he’ll be “elite” again at 33 and beyond. It’s also fair to point out that a .844 OPS during an injury-riddled season is still star-level production.
What to expect in 2026
Regardless of how you interpret the comments, there’s no question about Harper’s dedication — or his importance to the Phillies. He has a no-trade clause, chose no opt-out when he signed and has been vocal about wanting to finish his career in Philadelphia.
The front office’s responsibility now is straightforward: build a lineup that gives Harper a chance to produce at a higher level. That starts with real protection behind him.
If Harper is healthy, it’s not hard to envision a return closer to his 2021 and 2023 production than what he posted in 2025.
The word “elite” is going to hover around Harper all season. Dombrowski and the Phils will expect star-level production from the eight-time All-Star — and Harper has made it clear he’ll do everything he can to make that happen.
After a weekend in which they defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 in overtime, the Buffalo Sabres squared off against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. And the Sabres took it to the high-octane Edmonton Oilers, beating them 5-1. The Sabres are still one of the worst teams in the NHL, so Buffalo fans shouldn’t get overly excited.
To wit: the Sabres got a dynamic performance Monday from young goaltender Colten Ellis, who stopped 32 Oilers shots to post a .970 save percentage in the game and improve his SP to .913 on the season. And rookie center Noah Ostlund scored twice against Edmonton.
These are the type of young player performances teams need if they’re going to contend for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres can’t put all their playoff aspirations on the shoulders of one player – let’s say that player is Tage Thompson or Rasmus Dahlin - and expect that player to singlehandedly carry the team across the finish line.
You really do need your whole team to contribute, or you’ll be lacking the depth required for a deep Stanley Cup playoff run. So the Sabres have to be in all-hands-on-deck, night-in and night-out mode, to even have a hope of leapfrogging other Atlantic Division teams and improving their 7-8-4 record.
The Sabres now have games against the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks, games they absolutely should win. Because after that, Buffalo’s schedule gets significantly more difficult: the Sabres will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild as well as the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets. No team is going to lay down and give two standings points to the Sabres. They're going to have to show terrific resilience throughout the season, and defy expectations that now hover over the team like a black cloud.
Buffalo has cratered out of the gate, but there’s still time for them to rebound and get back in the playoff picture. But time is of the essence here, meaning that Sabres GM Kevyn Adams needs to be active on the trade market. And Adams should be on the hunt to add experience and proven leadership to steer this Buffalo team into the post-season.
The Sabres are aiming to end a 14-year playoff drought, but their poor start this year has hampered their post-season aspirations. Buffalo doesn’t have time to waste – they need to string together five-game and six-game win streaks of their own. They can’t be bailing out opponents by faltering in areas within their control.
When it comes to delivering wins, the Sabres have to be far better. And if they can’t, there will be catastrophic consequences.
After a weekend in which they defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 in overtime, the Buffalo Sabres squared off against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. And the Sabres took it to the high-octane Edmonton Oilers, beating them 5-1. The Sabres are still one of the worst teams in the NHL, so Buffalo fans shouldn’t get overly excited.
Now, we’re not here to tell you the Sabres have turned the corner this season and that they’re on the verge of dominating the way the Colorado Avalanche have dominated this year. Buffalo has the most modest win streak of two games. And now they’re at the point where they’re desperate for wins, no matter who leads them there,
To wit: the Sabres got a dynamic performance Monday from young goaltender Colten Ellis, who stopped 32 Oilers shots to post a .970 save percentage in the game and improve his SP to .913 on the season. And rookie center Noah Ostlund scored twice against Edmonton.
These are the type of young player performances teams need if they’re going to contend for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres can’t put all their playoff aspirations on the shoulders of one player – let’s say that player is Tage Thompson or Rasmus Dahlin - and expect that player to singlehandedly carry the team across the finish line.
You really do need your whole team to contribute, or you’ll be lacking the depth required for a deep Stanley Cup playoff run. So the Sabres have to be in all-hands-on-deck, night-in and night-out mode, to even have a hope of leapfrogging other Atlantic Division teams and improving their 7-8-4 record.
The Sabres now have games against the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks, games they absolutely should win. Because after that, Buffalo’s schedule gets significantly more difficult: the Sabres will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild as well as the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets. No team is going to lay down and give two standings points to the Sabres. They're going to have to show terrific resilience throughout the season, and defy expectations that now hover over the team like a black cloud.
Buffalo has cratered out of the gate, but there’s still time for them to rebound and get back in the playoff picture. But time is of the essence here, meaning that Sabres GM Kevyn Adams needs to be active on the trade market. And Adams should be on the hunt to add experience and proven leadership to steer this Buffalo team into the post-season.
The Sabres are aiming to end a 14-year playoff drought, but their poor start this year has hampered their post-season aspirations. Buffalo doesn’t have time to waste – they need to string together five-game and six-game win streaks of their own. They can’t be bailing out opponents by faltering in areas within their control.
When it comes to delivering wins, the Sabres have to be far better. And if they can’t, there will be catastrophic consequences.
It has been nearly 15 years since Kentucky, Michigan State, Duke and Kansas first played in the Champions Classic. What if one of college basketball's marquee programs suddenly began to struggle? It will be No. 17 Michigan State against No. 12 Kentucky in the opener and No. 5 Duke against No. 24 Kansas in the nightcap in New York.
IOWA STATE 96, STONEHILL 57 AMES, Iowa (AP) — Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey scored 23 points apiece and Iowa State pulled away late in the first half of a win over Stonehill. Jefferson added nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals in a terrific all-around performance that helped the Cyclones (4-0) to another lopsided victory. Their average winning margin is 33.3 points per game.
Parker Wotherspoon and Erik Karlsson have been on the top defensive pairing for the Pittsburgh Penguins since the 2025-26 NHL season started in October.
They started getting reps together during training camp in September, and it was evident pretty quickly that the two had serious chemistry. They feed off one another super well, and so far this season, they have been one of the best defensive pairs in terms of lowest goals against per 60.
According to MoneyPuck, among defensive pairs that have played at least 150 minutes together, the Wotherspoon-Karlsson pairing ranks fifth in the NHL in goals against per 60 with 1.4. The duo is shutting things down in their own zone and not giving the opposition much of anything on offense.
Wotherspoon was signed to a two-year contract by Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas in July and the early returns have been fantastic. Not only has he brought a little offense, but he's done a great job preventing scoring chances.
Karlsson looks rejuvenated under new head coach Dan Muse and is playing his best hockey as a Penguin, which is saying something after he ranked tied for fifth in 5v5 points among all NHL defensemen last year with 33. He has already compiled one goal and 13 points in 19 games.
Both Karlsson and Wotherspoon are a big part of the Penguins' 10-5-4 start, and if they keep it up, the team will have a decent shot at returning to the playoffs this year.
