To better highlight the whole field among Europe’s elite, we chose an XI that couldn’t feature more than one player from any one team
This year we are picking a team of the season with a difference: I am allowed only one player per team. Of course, as finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have players with claims to all of these positions, so apologies to Willian Pacho and Declan Rice, among others. But what this format does allow for is an overall view of the Champions League season that was.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Mitchell Robinson #26 of the New York Knicks during the preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on October 3, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can Wednesday come soon enough?
No, it seems it cannot.
Here’s the latest from Sunday’s practice at Tarrytown and elsewhere.
On Mitchell Robinson’s status during Sunday’s practice:
“I know there’s something there (on his hand), but I can’t… I can’t tell you what. I don’t know (if he’d be cleared for Game 1). I do know that the medical group has to tell me he can go out there for sure, okay.”
On having Knicks legends around the current team:
“It’s fantastic. It’s great to see. It’s great that Leon [Rose] and Mr. Dolan have these guys around. Obviously Pat [Ewing], he’s iconic, and then you have John Starks and Marbury and there’s just a plethora of other guys that you see come to our games, and we encourage that. I love it. And they always have a nugget or two that they can pass on to the guys that are actually playing now, and when you can hear it from different voices or different people, especially guys that played — cause I didn’t play, I was terrible — but from guys that played, it means a ton. So to see them be able to celebrate with us and the joy on their face, it’s priceless for sure.”
On wanting to beat the Spurs despite his San Antonio ties:
“They definitely want to beat me and I want to kick their ass. You love ’em and you can always love ’em before and after … I got ties to San Antonio and you appreciate the people, you appreciate the journey and all that other stuff. But at the end of the day, just like they want to beat you, you definitely want to beat them.”
On Gregg Popovich’s lasting impact:
“The job that he’s done, not only on the court with that team and the organization, but off the court too, is gonna be imprinted as long as the game of basketball exists. He still has a huge presence. He’ll always have a presence. His presence is very much felt all the time. I’ve got a lot of respect for the organization for a lot of different reasons. I worked there, having an opportunity to work there and being part of a championship there and my family being down there too reminds me of good times.”
On expecting Josh Hart to be guarded by bigger defenders and how he deals with it:
“Any time a team does that, like Cleveland — Cleveland put their big on Josh and Josh won us a game doing it. I’ll tell you Josh works very, very hard on his shooting and playmaking because he knows that he gets guarded by centers, and my message to Josh is, ‘Let it fly, let it fly, let it fly,’ because we believe in it. So we know that they’re probably going to come in and put their center on Josh, and if Wemby’s down the floor and that ball gets swung to Josh, first of all, he’s a great decision-maker. But secondly, if he’s open, his feet are set, we want him to let that thing fly.”
On the Spurs’ overall makeup entering the Finals:
“It’s going to be tough. They’re well-coached. They have an, obviously, tremendous player in Wemby. They’re quote-unquote young, to a certain degree, but they have some really good veterans on the team that kind of uplift the young guys and give the young guys a lot of guidance. So, they’ve got a nice mix of players on their team and they’re a team that comes out really aggressive and hits first, their crowd is into it and we’ve just have to go make sure we try to match or exceed their physicality to start the ballgame while leaning on our standards. The group has been resilient the whole year and we’ve got to keep sacrificing, we’ve got to keep playing with a competitive edge, we’ve got to stay connected, got to keep believing in each other and what we’re trying to do out on the floor and if somebody’s slipping in this area, that area, we’ve got to make sure that we help get them back on track by holding them accountable. So, all those things are going to come into play, playing a talented, well-coached team like the Spurs.”
On San Antonio’s blend of veterans and youth around Wembanyama:
“Having the mix that they have with Wemby is a nice recipe. If Fox is in, their backcourt — Fox is a veteran, seasoned player that has been in the playoffs before, been in a Game 7 now a couple of times, and been an All-Star, Clutch Player of the Year, a talented guy. … [Barnes] has been around a long time too, and he’s been on the big stage a few times. So they have a nice mix of veteran players and guys that are starting to get in their prime around Wemby. And I think when you have that, you have different messages that you can get from different guys all the time.”
On OG Anunoby’s defensive versatility helping with guarding Wembanyama:
“OG is extremely versatile, and the luxury of having a guy like that is, he’s long enough, athletic enough, strong enough to guard quick smaller guys. He’s obviously got the size and athleticism to guard big wings and then he’s got the strength and the length and the intelligence to guard bigger guys. So having a guy like that gives us a ton of versatility to be able to move him around, knowing that he can adapt-slash-adjust on the fly.”
On OG Anunoby still deserving First Team All-Defense:
“[The voters] were wrong. He should have been First Team All-Defense because of his versatility. And it’s shown throughout the course of the most important time during the year, which is the playoffs, and it will continue to show going into the Finals.”
On the presence of Knicks legends during the current playoff run:
“It truly means a lot, when they’re on the sidelines or baselines, they made their presence known. They’re full of energy. That’s just who they are. They want the best for us, it’s a really cool sight to see. It’s an honor to play for this organization, the history that it has, to see the former players around all the time that makes it even more special.”
"Technically, that game didn't happen, so I don't think there's anything that we can learn from" 😂
Josh Hart was asked how much the Knicks can take from their NBA Cup experience against the Spurs this season: pic.twitter.com/GV4rFHpoZK
On the Spurs’ supporting cast beyond Victor Wembanyama:
“They’re young, athletic, physical – they can do a little bit of everything, can shoot the ball, finish at the rim, defend at a high level. So, obviously, Wemby’s going to get a lot of attention in terms of game plan and media and that, but you can’t sleep on guys like De’Aaron (Fox) or (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper, (Julian) Champagnie because if you do that, it’s going to be a long series. So, we’ve got to give those guys the respect that they deserve and come out focused.”
On his approach to playing against Wembanyama:
“I go into the game and I play the game the way the game needs me to play. If that’s shooting and scoring, cool. If that’s rebounding and defending, cool. I don’t value what I do based on other people’s game plan or what the boxscore says. For me, it’s shoot the ball with confidence. Or be quick to make other plays — dribble handoff, stuff like that. If [Wembanyama] is down the floor, that’s my ability to get JB open looks, ‘Kal open looks, KAT open looks. It’s not different in terms of anything I’ve seen before. I’m comfortable making those plays.”
On being guarded by Wemby:
“That’s the only unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, so that’s a pretty good sign for me, right? That means I’m a pretty good basketball player.”
“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen, and he works on it all the time, but he gets tired. It’s natural, being that tall, he gets tired. With the team we have, I think it’s important to give him different looks and, not beat him up, but be very physical with him and make him run. And he’s gonna get tired and he’s gonna have to take some plays off, in my opinion.”
On helping the Knicks beat the Spurs by sharing intel from his stint in San Antonio:
“Whether I’m playing or not, it’s important to feed all the information I have, and I think I know quite a lot. I’m watching their games now, I’m seeing the old plays we [ran], when they go up to certain people and at what times, it’s pretty obvious to see. It’s gonna be interesting.”
On the Spurs’ quick evolution into title contenders:
“I think this year, when I was there in the summer, I think everyone kind of agreed on locking in and playing for each other and playing with energy and just learning and growing. Since I left, you can see they’ve just built on that momentum. You see where they’re at now.”
On his relationship with Wembanyama:
“That’s my brother. Me and him, I came into the league and then he got drafted, we just had a connection from the start, a natural one. On the court, off the court. He’s a guy that loves to do a lot of different things. He’s curious, he wants to grow, wants to learn and is pretty competitive with everything. It’s fun to be around him. We’d always do game night with his people and my people and just compete in different sorts of games. He’s a real one. Let’s be honest, I think he is the face of the league.”
Rasheed Wallace gave his take on the Knicks hiring Leon Rose via the @ZachGelb Show on 6/26/20
“I was with him (Dolan) for a while, this is just a brain fart right here”
On honoring Knicks legends who never stopped supporting the team:
“They’ve been with us my whole five years here. It’s not just showing up when we’re winning — they’ve been with us through a lot. So shout out to them and obviously everything they did. So we just want to get the job done for them.”
On Victor Wembanyama posing a matchup challenge:
“He’s a special player. So, we just have to contain him as a team.”
On the Spurs’ identity entering the Finals:
“They’re a special team. Obviously, they have a Defensive Player of the Year – obviously, a great organization – and they’ve got a lot of great young guys. So, we’re just excited for this matchup.”
On Dylan Harper’s competitive makeup:
“I feel like he’s just a gamer. He’s one of those kids that just probably in the backyard [growing up playing all the time]. I know his family pretty well. So, just in the backyard, playing against his older brother. I have an older brother, so I feel like you just figure out how to score over bigger guys, older guys [that way], and you live for these moments.”
On how the Spurs pressure ballhandlers into Wembanyama:
“What I think they do a great job of is their guards putting a lot of pressure on the ballhandler, which is forcing them into Wemby. If you’re playing off the ball and not setting screens and allowing him to roam freely without being touched, it’s different if somebody’s screening you, and then you’re getting everything.”
On what it would mean to win with the Knicks and their legends watching:
“It’s special, and you see obviously what it means to them. And even only wearing a Knicks jersey for two years, I understand, too. There’s a real pride, you know? So I can’t imagine at that point. But we don’t take it lightly, and it adds to our collective fuel and camaraderie and how we feel. So it’s good to obviously celebrate this with them, but they know as well as we do that there’s more to do.”
On the plan to neutralize Wembanyama:
“Obviously, you’ve got to figure out how to get him out of the paint, how to run him, those little things I feel like OKC did a decent job at. But he’s a special player, so we just have to contain him as a team.”
The most 1999 thing about the previous NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs might be that the Spurs were playing StarCraft against each other in between gameshttps://t.co/YkHrwoEzrX
On seeing similarities between the 1973 team and this Knicks squad:
“I’m living vicariously, man, from especially the ’73 team. In ’73, we were injured most of the season, but towards the playoffs we started to get healthy. And like the Knicks now, we had that momentum. We actually kept getting better and better going into the playoffs. So they remind me of that right now.”
On Jalen Brunson’s impact entering the Finals:
“Well, he’s Mr. Clutch, you know? He makes all the big baskets. He’s dishing and swishing. He’s gotta improve his defense. That’s gonna be amplified the next round. They got some very good guards in San Antonio and in OKC. But other than that, man, he’s been magnificent.”
On Mike Brown’s work with the bench and overall roster:
“He’s gotta start getting kudos. He’s developed our bench, which Thibs was crucified for. So Brown has 10 guys that are thriving. No matter who he’s seemed to put in there, they’re producing. And that’s what you want in the playoffs. So we’re not relying on Towns and Brunson to do everything. Look at [Mikal] Bridges, they elevated his game. OG [Anunoby], too. And so it’s been incredible to watch.”
On believing the Knicks should have reached this stage last year:
“It’s not surprising me that they are at this point. I thought they should have been there last year. That was my feeling. They should have been there last year. So this is a new year, and now it’s time for it to happen.”
On returning to the Finals atmosphere since 1999:
“It feels good. It’s been a long time, man, since 1999, since we played for a championship. And to be able to get here and see this and be down here in a closeout game, it’s just a special moment. And I’m happy for those guys because they did it together.”
On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:
“Jalen’s been Jalen since he’s been here. He’s just been a true leader, a consummate pro. He guides the team in the direction that we needed to be guided in. So he understands he’s a winner. He’s a champion. So Jalen’s gonna do what Jalen does: He goes out there and wins us ball games, and he’s a very special player.”
On the physical toll of the Western Conference Finals:
“That might go seven, and even when they win — they lose, you know? They’re gonna be beat up, whoever survives that series. But in order to be the champion, you got to overcome adversity, you know? That’s what it’s about. So they can’t be saying they’re tired. That’s not going to be a factor. They’ll be ready if they get there.”
Draymond calls out the Knicks
“Just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong…You’re supposed to get out of the East. It’s the f*cking East!”
On downplaying the Knicks’ trip to the Finals and siding with Becky Hammon:
“I double down on this, just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong, prove me wrong, double down. Absolutely double down, getting out of the East has never been a sure fire to win a championship, what y’all talking about? You get out of the East, you’re supposed to get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Of course you’re supposed to get out of the East. That don’t just mean you win a championship because you get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Great, it’s the East, would have beat up Boston. You should get out the East. Happy for Mike Brown, by the way, but you should get out of the East.”
"When I got there they were getting back on track, redoing everything…What Leon & those guys did, to now be in the Finals, pretty cool, even just for the City
Just rooting for them now…Lot of guys I'm pretty close with. Just happy for them"
On rooting for the Knicks after their Finals berth:
“I’m happy for them. I’d rather be playing against them, but I’m just rooting for them right now. There are a lot of guys I know (there). There are a lot of guys I’m pretty close with. So, I’m just happy for them.”
Kimmel: I like your football jersey. Supporting Ukrainian team?
Chef José Andrés: My beloved Spanish team, of course. But Ukraine is my team today. They didn’t make it to World Cup, but today they're fighting the biggest match — for freedom and democracy.
Plenty of former Pittsburgh Penguins' players have made their mark lately, whether in the Stanley Cup Playoffs or during the IIHF World Championship, which ended Sunday.
And an ex-Penguin was an integral part of Finland's gold medal-winning team.
Forward Jesse Puljujarvi - who played in 48 games for the Penguins in parts of the 2023-24 season and 2024-25 season - was Finland's second-leading scorer in the tournament (four goals, nine points in 10 games) behind only Florida Panthers superstar Aleksander Barkov. Puljujarvi last played in the NHL as Barkov's teammate with the Florida Panthers in 2024-25, when he had one point in five regular season games.
The former first-round pick - selected fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016 - joined the Penguins on an amateur tryout agreement after undergoing double hip surgery during the 2023-24 season. He was signed as a free agent on Feb. 4, 2024, and re-signed with the team the following summer.
However, healthy scratches and AHL demotions eventually wore on both Puljujarvi and the organization, so the two parties agreed to a mutual contract termination that allowed him to sign as a free agent with Florida on Mar. 5, 2025. He spent this past season with Geneve-Servette HC of the NL, registering 19 goals and 52 points in 52 games.
During his Penguins' tenure, he notched six goals and 13 points in those 48 games. Over the course of his NHL career, Puljujarvi has 58 goals and 128 points in 387 games.
Thirst for renewal is strong and new players could help bridge the gap to PSG but there are no guarantees
The greatest lie ever told about penalty shootouts is that they are a lottery. This is a recognisable and trainable footballing skill, a test not just of ball-striking and placement but research, psychology, mettle under pressure. Eberechi Eze puts the ball wide, Gabriel Magalhães sends it in the direction of the Danube: this is failure on the most brutal and unforgiving terms. But it is failure nonetheless.
The second greatest lie ever told about penalties is that fortune plays no part. Any encounter decided by 10 kicks of a football will evidently be at the disproportionate mercy of random factors: the divot, the bad contact, the goalkeeper’s guesswork (and to all the preparation that goes into the process, it remains partly guesswork). That this sport – already a sport of low scores, narrow differentials and infinite variables – chooses to decide its biggest prizes on these smallest of morsels is one of its cruellest traits.
Giro d’Italia triumph completes grand slam of Grand Tours although the Dane may still require a dip in from from his great rival to prevail in July
Jonas Vingegaard’s achievement in completing a grand slam of Grand Tours lifts him into a select club of champions that have recorded victories in the tours of Italy, France and Spain. The 29-year-old Dane joins Belgium’s Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil of France, Spain’s Alberto Contador, Italians Felice Gimondi and Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome, of Great Britain, as winners of all three Grand Tours.
It’s an accomplishment that has, to date, proven beyond his great rival, Tadej Pogacar, who, despite his multiple successes in other races, has yet to add the Vuelta a España to his wins in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. “It is a special day for me,” Vingegaard said, showing rare emotion as he paid tribute to the support of his family. “It’s way more than I could ever dream of when I was a kid.”
Fewer than 60,000 saw Wigan beat Hull KR in the Challenge Cup final and the sport needs to address its attendance problem
There was more Challenge Cup history under the Wembley arch on Saturday afternoon as Wigan Warriors secured a record-extending victory in rugby league’s most prestigious competition. But there was a slice of more sobering history too.
The Warriors’ demolition of Hull KR was watched by just 56,383 spectators; excluding the two Covid-affected finals of 2020 and 2021, that is the lowest figure for a Wembley Challenge Cup final since 1946. Granted, few sports obsess over attendance figures quite like rugby league but the reality is a statistic that stark is enough to merit a debate about where the sport goes next.
The Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes by the numbers:
87%
Of the 76 playoff games so far were decided by one goal or by two with the second being an empty-netter. That's the second-highest rate in a playoffs in NHL history.
68
Different unique matchups in the final now with Vegas against Carolina, after Florida and Edmonton faced each other back to back in 2024 and '25.
22
Years since John Tortorella coached the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup title. There was no champion the following season because it was wiped out by a lockout.
20
Years since now-Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour captained the team to the Stanley Cup. That was Carolina's last trip to the final.
16
Previous sets of brothers have won the Stanley Cup with the same franchise. Carolina's Jordan Staal is looking to join Eric from 2006 to make it 17.
13
Players in the series who participated in the Milan Cortina Olympics, the first involving NHL participation since 2014.
12
Players on the rosters who have won the Stanley Cup before. Eleven were on Vegas during its 2023 title run, including Carolina's William Carrier. Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal won it in 2009 with Pittsburgh.
11
Days the Hurricanes had off between the second round and the Eastern Conference Final, the longest gap between rounds since at least 1920. They lost Game 1 to Montreal 6-2 before winning four in a row to advance.
10
Goals apiece for Vegas' Brett Howden and Pavel Dorofeyev, who are tied for the most in the playoffs. Carolina's Logan Stankoven is next with nine.
9
Seasons of existence for the Golden Knights. They are in the final for a third time and are going for their second championship.
5
Combined losses between the teams in the playoffs, the fewest by the finalists since the NHL went to four rounds of best-of-seven series in 1987.
4
Players who have the chance to get retribution after losing in the Olympic gold-medal game. Vegas’ Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore and Carolina’s Seth Jarvis played for Canada, which outshot the U.S. 42-28.
3
Players who have the chance to pull off the Olympic gold medal-Stanley Cup double. Vegas' Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin and Carolina's Jaccob Slavin were all part of the U.S. team that beat Canada in overtime in the final in Milan.
1.62
Goals-against average for Carolina, the best in the playoffs. It's the lowest since the 2012 Los Angeles Kings, who won the Cup.
1
Loss by Carolina through the first three rounds, following sweeps of Ottawa and Philadelphia and a five-game series victory against Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes are the first team to do that since the change to four rounds of best of seven in '87.
0
Coaches before Tortorella who swept the Presidents’ Trophy winner in two different playoff series. Tortorella’s Golden Knights did so to NHL-best Colorado in the West final, seven years after his Columbus Blue Jackets swept Tampa Bay in the first round in 2019.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer warms up during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you were drafting a player solely on winning, Cam Boozer might be that player. In every competitive league that Boozer has been a part of, he’s been a winner. And not just a winner, but dominant. Don’t believe me, here’s a list of his accomplishments:
High School (Christopher Columbus High School, FL): Won four consecutive Florida state championships and a national title.
International (USA Basketball): Went an undefeated 13-0, securing gold medals at the 2023 FIBA U16 AmeriCup and 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. He was named MVP for both tournaments.
Nike EYBL: Won three Nike Peach Jam titles during his AAU circuit career.
College (Duke): Captured the ACC regular-season title, the ACC Tournament MVP, and led the Duke Blue Devils to the Elite Eight. He led the country in double-doubles (22) while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. All that while shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from three.
If there’s one thing that Cam Boozer has done, it’s win basketball games, and if you are drafting Boozer, that’s exactly what you can expect him to do.
The only reason Boozer isn’t the clear-cut #1 pick in this draft is that it’s one of the top-heavy drafts in a long time. Boozer is going up against two of the most impressive on-ball prospects we’ve seen in some time in AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. That said, there’s no reason that Boozer shouldn’t get considered by the Washington Wizards or the Utah Jazz at the #1 or #2 pick.
If you wanted a description of Cam Boozer’s game, it would be that he’s quite literally good at everything a big will be asked to do. Boozer can score from everywhere on the floor as a true three-level scorer. He’s an elite three-point shooter whether it’s off the bounce or the catch. That elite shooting forces defenders to run out to contest his shot, which leads to him driving and scoring. If the big is there on the drive, he can drop a floater with fantastic touch. His bread and butter typically comes in isolation with his back to the basket. He has an array of moves, whether it’s pure brute force backing down a mismatch, he’ll face up and knock down a pull-up jumper, or he’ll go with a wide array of spin moves leading to a variety of baby hooks.
He’s also a deft passer, whether passing within the offense, kicking out to shooters in the short roll, or passing to an open shooter out of the post. The thing his passing shows is an elite-level IQ, and it’s that IQ that gives you confidence that his game can translate to the NBA.
The only question marks about Boozer concern his defense and potential position. Boozer was not a good rim protector in college, and that weakness will only get worse in the league. That means that Boozer will be playing exclusively at the power forward. That’s not a big issue, but it does make roster construction around him vital to maximize everything he does. For example, Boozer’s back-to-the-basket game gets neutralized a bit if he’s on the floor with a non-stretch center. In college, where Boozer got blocked a surprising amount on post-ups, that will only get worse in the NBA, where he’ll face bigger, more athletic opposition. Now, that doesn’t mean he can’t figure things out, it’s just something to consider, and it means a good chunk of his game might be taken away. That said, Boozer can still do a lot with the ball, and a smart coach will find a lot of ways to use him. If he’s not backing people down in the post, he can just replace those post plays by getting the ball at the top of the key. He can hit cutters, pull up from three, or make his patented punishing drives to the basket.
As I mentioned before, the other element that raises some questions is his defense. Boozer can’t protect the rim, and he might also struggle on the perimeter in the NBA. Very rarely do you see multiple bigs on the floor that can’t handle and shoot. There will also be coaches that will challenge Boozer by forcing him to defend more agile 3s and 4s. It will be fascinating to see how Boozer handles those matchups. If he does well, then he’s the type of player that can contribute to championship-level basketball, maybe even be the leader of a championship team. If he can’t, then he becomes a liability come playoff time. A team deciding to make Boozer their franchise player is betting that Boozer can figure that element of his game out. And if there’s one thing we know about Boozer, he figures out how to win wherever he plays, there’s no reason to think he can’t do that in the NBA.
At FanDuel, Boozer is +1500 to go #1, but you never know if a GM makes a surprise decision and changes the entire layout of the draft. Could Utah make an unexpected move for Cam Boozer at #2? We’ll find out on June 23rd.
Brusdar Graterol’s year-and-a-half-long injury saga took another disappointing turn Sunday.
The Dodgers reliever underwent surgery for a recent back injury he suffered while on a minor-league rehab assignment earlier this month, multiple sources confirmed to The California Post after Graterol posted about the operation on Instagram.
Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol’s status for the rest of the season is uncertain after he recently underwent back surgery. AP
It leaves Graterol facing another long-term recovery process, putting his chances of returning this season in jeopardy, sources said.
“I fell again, but I won’t stay down here,” Graterol wrote on Instagram. “I will rise. My goal isn’t over — it’s just beginning.”
Looks like Brusdar Graterol ended up getting surgery. He posted this to his IG pic.twitter.com/jXHBQbBPQ8
At the start of May, Graterol went out on a rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City, trying to return from a shoulder surgery that sidelined him for all of last year and the start of this one.
After his fourth outing on May 12, however, he was pulled off the assignment as his back “flared up” on him, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced at the time.
Graterol was transferred to the 60-day injured list a week later.
General manager Brandon Gomes said then that surgery was an option for the 27-year-old right-hander, but that the club wanted “to exhaust all options” first.
“He’s worked really hard [to try and come back],” Gomes said.
Now, he’ll have to start all over again.
While Graterol’s exact timeline wasn’t immediately clear, sources indicated it’s likely he will require a months-long recovery process.
Graterol has a 2.78 career ERA over six MLB seasons and last pitched in the majors during the 2024 postseason. Getty Images
Roberts had hinted at a prolonged absence for the flamethrower earlier this month, saying that “it’s gonna be a slow program for a while for him, unfortunately.”
Graterol, who has a 2.78 career ERA over six MLB seasons, last pitched in the majors during the 2024 postseason, as part of a bullpen that carried the Dodgers to the first of their current back-to-back World Series championships.
After that, he underwent surgery on his labrum in November, initially ruling him out for the first half of the 2025 season. When his shoulder didn’t recover as quickly as hoped, he ended up missing all of the Dodgers’ title-defense campaign on the injured list.
Graterol was slow-played again this spring, after struggling to regain his upper-90s mph velocity in a throwing program during camp. He opened the season back on the IL but said at the end of spring training that he was confident in making his return this year.
He seemed on track for that up until his May 12 outing, when his fastball velocity dipped back under 95 mph amid his back issue.
Now, suddenly he’s essentially back to square one all over again. Facing another surgical recovery. Another elongated rehab. And, quite possibly, another season spent entirely on the shelf.
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on May 12, 2026 in El Segundo, 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now, when the system is as absurd as the one implemented by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, there’s going to be lots and lots of those types of ripple effects.
Last week, the league adopted a new draft lottery system that flattened odds overall and will punish teams for both being really bad and for being bad for a consecutive number of years. In doing that, it also brings play-in teams into the equation, increasing their odds of earning a top pick in the draft now.
For example, last year, the Hornets lost the second play-in game, landing in the 14th spot in the lottery. Subsequently, they had a 2.4% chance of moving into the top four and a 0.5% chance at the No. 1 pick. Under the new rules, which go into effect next season, the team in the 14th spot in the lottery now has a 2.7% chance at the first pick.
However, importantly, all 16 picks will be drawn now instead of just the top four with the remainder of the lottery sorted by record. So, a team could make the play-in, lose, and end up with a top pick in the draft all in the span of a couple of months.
By nature, those unintended consequences won’t be known until teams start operating under the new rules and find the loopholes. We’ve already started to see them as teams read the rules, most notably in that teams can not have top-five picks even if they own another team’s pick.
To provide another example, the Nets own the Nuggets’ 2032 first round pick. If Brooklyn picked in the top five in the 2030 and 2031 drafts but has things figured out while Denver stinks and would provide them another top-five pick, the Nets will not be allowed to pick in the top five even though it’s not their own pick.
Great work, Adam Silver.
More of these types of details will be found out moving forward, but an unintended result of all this could be the freedom with which picks are traded. If a team can so easily move into a top pick despite being a middling team, the calculation for making a deal changes.
No longer is a team that is going to be battling for the play-in trading a straightforward late-lottery pick. The odds and format will change things. Unless you’re a team with a clear direction, then second-guessing is going to come into play now.
And that could help the Lakers.
LA is not second-guessing about their future. They have a north star in Luka Dončić and a clear path to contention every year. They also have draft picks to trade and a roster that needs reshaping. There should be no hesitation on their end to go and find upgrades.
Teams might see the new lottery odds, realize how injuries could derail a season and decide to take the risk on a future Lakers pick. At the same time, if the other teams aren’t as willing to make those deals, then the picks could
If they enter the offseason with aggression and other teams enter with doubts of risking a potential top pick in the draft, could LA actually take advantage of those unintended consequences of the new lottery rules?
The inverse could also be true. Will Oklahoma City see the same value in having a host of draft picks if they can’t routinely make them top-five picks? The same goes for San Antonio.
And if the trade market is barren for draft picks, will those teams feel more eager to pull the trigger?
The Lakers find themselves at an interesting crossroads. The league just changed how the draft works, ahead of an offseason in which the Lakers have made it clear for years that they’ll have multiple draft picks to trade.
Is it a change that improves their ability to build a contender this summer? Or could there be other unintended consequences that shake things up?
Will Warren, a New York Yankees pitcher, throws a baseball.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Having 43 minutes to sit in the dugout between pitches is not ideal, but Will Warren surely did not mind, given the reason for the long wait.
The fact that it came at Sutter Health Park, where there is no access to the clubhouse or any facilities underneath from the dugouts, made it all the more unique.
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But the Yankees right-hander just had to get creative as he watched his offense explode for a 13-run top of the third inning Sunday afternoon, then got back to business on the way to a 13-8 win.
Warren, who made his way out to the bullpen during the offensive onslaught to throw some pitches and stay loose after the A’s second pitching change, put up an important zero in the bottom of the third to keep a 13-3 lead intact.
He then went on to toss six strong innings in which he only gave up three runs, all of them unearned and all of them coming in the bottom of the first.
“We had the big lead, and I don’t know if I was exactly myself,” Warren said of a bottom of the third in which he gave up a pair of singles but stranded both runners. “I think I could have stepped on their throat when we wanted to. Coming back in the dugout [after the bottom of the third], [manager Aaron Boone] and I had that talk. I went back out there and finished the game strong, so that was nice to see.”
Yankees pitcher Will Warren throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 31, 2026. AP Photo/Scott Marshall
Warren had been throwing weighted balls in the small dugout early on during the Yankees’ wild inning, in which they sent 18 batters to the plate.
But as each passing teammate got on base, Warren began to realize he may need to do more to keep moving.
“I heard him kind of asking and maybe freaking out about how he was going to stay warm,” Anthony Volpe said with a smile.
So during the A’s second pitching change, Warren jogged out to the bullpen and threw about seven pitches, then ran to the mound from there to start the bottom of the third in a bizarre scene.
Yankees starting pitcher Will Warren (29) looks skyward as he walks off the field May 31. D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
“Will did a good job of settling in, dealing with that long third inning,” Boone said. “When do you see a starting pitcher go down to the bullpen? I mean, it got that long. Good job by him of locking in and giving us six strong innings there.”
The only runs that Warren gave up came after Trent Grisham dropped a fly ball to shallow center field that initially got lost in the sun with two outs.
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But he ultimately did not let that, or the long third inning, affect him as he lowered his ERA to 3.22 through 12 starts.
“A lot of time sitting there, and I just wanted to make sure I was sharp to go back out there after the boys put up 13,” Warren said. “Holding them to three with this offense is always going to be a good day.”
Max Schuemann doubles for the Yankees during their May 31 win against the A's.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With a lefty on the mound and his former team across the way, Max Schuemann got a rare start Sunday afternoon and made the most of it again.
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The former A’s utilityman started at second base for Jazz Chisholm Jr. and went 1-for-3 with a walk, two-run double and two runs in the Yankees’ 13-8 win.
“He provided a good spark,” Boone said. “I knew he’d give us good at-bats, and he did. So good to get him in there and have him play a meaningful role.”
Schuemann has drawn seven walks in 24 plate appearances this season, batting .294 with a .971 OPS in limited action since being called up last month.
Taking advantage of Amed Rosario being on the paternity list, Schuemann was right in the thick of the Yankees’ 13-run third inning, drawing a seven-pitch walk against lefty Jacob Lopez after Anthony Volpe led off with a single.
Max Schuemann doubles for the Yankees during their May 31 win against the A’s. AP Photo/Scott Marshall
In his second at-bat of the inning — still with no outs, this time against righty Michael Kelly — Schuemann drilled a two-strike double over the third baseman’s head to put the Yankees up 10-3.
“[Schuemann] has done a good job, he really has,” Boone said. “His versatility, obviously it’s been a lot of defensive replacements or pinch-running situations. The at-bats he’s given has been excellent. … That’s something we noticed in spring. We feel like he can put together a good at-bat.”
Jen Pawol, the New Jersey native, former Hofstra softball player and first female umpire in Major League Baseball, was behind the plate calling balls and strikes Sunday.
“I think she did great, especially when we win,” Aaron Judge said with a grin. “I think she did great. I had her in spring training, I think once or twice, I don’t know if it was last year or this year. She’s on top of it. She’s locked in back there. A couple times, I asked her about a couple pitches, if they were down or if that’s the bottom, and she was right there locked in.”
The Yankees thought they should have been out of the first inning Sunday when Tyler Soderstrom grounded a potential double play ball to second base with one out.
But the 6-foot-5 Nick Kurtz, running to second, trailed off toward the third base side and got in Anthony Volpe’s way of throwing to first to finish it off.
Boone argued on the field that Kurtz should have been called for interference, but the umpires disagreed.
“The rule is that it has to be intentional,” Volpe said. “I didn’t really understand it. They understood it was just a weird play, but I think by the letter of the law, they couldn’t really do anything.”
Ryan Weathers and the Yankees were gifted a free strike in the fourth inning Saturday on a pitch that was out of the zone.
Soderstrom challenged it, but there was a glitch in the automated ball-strike system, as it froze on the scoreboard and never showed whether the pitch was a ball or a strike.
Home plate umpire Adam Beck eventually announced that his initial call of a strike was upheld despite the zone on MLB.com appearing to show it as a ball.
“My understanding was that we got one,” Boone said Sunday morning with a chuckle.
During the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins saw a changing of the guard at the goaltending position after Tristan Jarry had held that starting post for the better part of six-plus seasons.
In shipping Jarry off to the Edmonton Oilers in mid-December, they received veteran Stuart Skinner in return. They also had rookie goaltender Artūrs Šilovs via a trade from the Vancouver Canucks during the summer of 2025, staying afloat and playing well enough to keep making appearances throughout the season.
And, for the rest of the regular season, Skinner and Šilovs experienced some peaks and valleys, both posting .888 save percentages. Of course, Šilovs lived up to his big-game reputation in three games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, giving the Penguins a chance to come back from down 3-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round with a .939 save percentage and 1.52 goals-against average.
As promising as Šilovs's playoff performance was, there is even more promise in the Penguins' system, so much so that it's becoming more apparent that they may have multiple options at the NHL level.
Well, at least, that's the hope — and, really, the Penguins' hopes kind of depend on it.
Of course, it starts with 22-year-old Sergei Murashov, the most NHL-ready goaltending prospect in their system and, by a wide margin, their most promising up to this point. And Murashov is certainly proving himself in the Calder Cup Playoffs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), putting up a .938 save percentage with a 1.84 goals-against average in 11 postseason games.
There is a ton of pressure on Murashov to live up to lofty expectations, especially as he's already been annointed as the next "great" Penguins' goaltender by many fans despite playing in just five NHL games so far. And, not only that, he has an internal target on his back, too.
Joel Blomqvist, 24, fell into a bit of a backup role behind Murashov by the time playoff time came around, but he still posted a respectable .913 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average in 26 regular season games this season. Taylor Gauthier put together another outstanding season in the ECHL for the Wheeling Nailers with a .929 save percentage in 36 regular season games and a .922 save percentage in 17 Kelly Cup Playoff games, also breaking the franchise's regular season shutout record.
Then, there is Gabriel D'Aigle — unrefined yet as quick and athletic as Murashov in addition to being 6-foot-5 in the goal crease. The 19-year-old got peppered on a nightly basis with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL and still had a .908 save percentage in 39 appearances, and he joined Wheeling at the end of his junior season and appeared in three games, facing 106 shots on goal and recording a .925 save percentage in the process. He turns 20 this year, so there's a good chance he will play in Wheeling next season.
With all this goaltending depth in their system, it seems like the Penguins are pretty set. If things don't work out with Šilovs or Murashov, they have Blomqvist, Gauthier, and D'Aigle behind them. Right now, they have depth at the position to spare.
And that's a good thing because the future success of the franchise depends on at least one of these guys panning out.
Yes, goaltending isn't the end-all, be-all, but it's typically the x-factor in what separates a mere playoff contender from a true Stanley Cup contender. The Penguins don't win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 without the lights-out play of rookie Matt Murray. The Tampa Bay Lightning don't back-to-back in 2020 and 2021 without Andrei Vasilevskiy in his prime as the best goaltender in the league. The Vegas Golden Knights don't win in 2023 without Adin Hill and his .932 save percentage.
The teams with the best goaltending are the teams that are not only able to perenially contend, but also get over the hump and hoist the Stanley Cup. That places an immense amount of expectation and pressure upon the young Penguins' goaltenders, fair or not.
At the end of the day, the biggest factor in whether or not the Penguins and Kyle Dubas will rebuild successfully and contend sustainably lies between the pipes. And teams with a solid tandem have an even better chance at success.
No matter what it entails, the Penguins need to be fully invested in the proper development of their netminders. There is a whole lot of potential, but potential is all it is at this point — and it is up to the organization to give these guys the best chance to succeed and march Pittsburgh back to sustained contention.
Alvarez has resumed baseball activities and Carlos Mendoza said following Sunday’s 10-1 win over Miami at Citi Field that the catcher is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
The Mets have survived without Alvarez thanks to the presence of Luis Torrens, who had another solid game Sunday — helping get Nolan McLean through five solid innings despite a career-high five walks, and David Peterson through four scoreless frames — as well as providing a key two-run single.
But Torrens also had an injury scare, as the catcher was hit by a pitch on his left hand during a sixth-inning at-bat.
Francisco Alvarez is pictured during the Mets’ May 25. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Torrens stayed in the game — and scored later in the inning on Juan Soto’s grand slam.
Still, the Mets are clearly better off with Alvarez as an option in the lineup — whether behind the plate or at DH.
Torrens, though, has again proven his value as more than just a capable backup.
Jorge Polanco could have his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday as the infielder recovers from the wrist contusion and Achilles bursitis that have sidelined him since April 15.
But even when the veteran infielder returns to the Mets — potentially on the upcoming road trip in San Diego — he won’t see much time at first base, according to Mendoza.
The manager said he didn’t expect Polanco to need his glove initially when he gets back.
“I’m not anticipating a guy who’s gonna play a lot in the field,” Mendoza said.
He also used words like “manage” and “monitor” when it came to Polanco’s usage, which will include off days, time at DH and off the bench.
“Let’s get to that point,” Mendoza noted.
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Polanco has played just 14 games for the Mets since signing a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason.
Peterson has pitched better out of the bullpen than as a starter all season and that trend continued Sunday, as the lefty didn’t allow a run in his four innings in relief of McLean.
As a reliever this year, Peterson has allowed just five earned runs in 24 innings (1.88 ERA) compared to a 7.56 ERA over 33 ¹/₃ innings in his seven starts.
“I was given the ball and I try to do my role and help the team win,’’ said Peterson, who was yanked from the rotation again and replaced by fellow lefty Sean Manaea, who has pitched better recently and seen an uptick in velocity.
Marcus Semien reached base four times for a second time this year.
The 2026 NHL Draft is quickly approaching, and that means it's time for another Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect profile.
It's also great timing, since the NHL Combine is set to be held in Buffalo starting this Monday and running through Saturday. It will be a great chance for teams to meet with some of the top prospects in the draft and get to know them. Teams will also be able to review players' medical reports.
It's also a chance for teams to kickstart trade conversations since the full offseason is set to get underway in a couple of weeks, but the main order of business is getting to meet with the top prospects.
I kicked things off with defenseman Ryan Lin last week, who would be a really solid pick if he were to fall to No. 22 overall, and we're now shifting to forward Nikita Klepov.
Klepov spent the 2025-26 season with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit and had a tremendous campaign, finishing with 37 goals and 97 points in 67 games. It was his first season with the Spirit after spending the 2024-25 season with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers.
Klepov plays on the right wing and the first thing that stands out is his skating. It's extremely powerful and he absolutely flies up the ice once he gets going. He'll also showcase some dangles that players won't see coming and his shiftiness is one of my favorite attributes of his game.
His playmaking skills are through the roof, and he has excellent vision, especially on the power play. His office on the man-advantage is the right circle and made some outstanding passes that led to goals from there this season.
Don't sleep on his one-timer, either. He can really rifle the puck and scored some sick goals from the right circle this season as well, including one against the Flint Firebirds. The Spirit were trailing 3-0 at the time when Klepov passed the puck to the left point before drifting over to his office. He got the puck back a few seconds later and uncorked a one-timer to make it 3-1. The Firebirds' goaltender had no chance on it.
Another example of his nasty one-timer came from the Spirit's game against the Brampton Steelheads. It was a 1-1 game in the second period when Klepov changed that with an unbelievable shot from his office on the power play. The puck went in and out of the net in what felt like a millisecond.
Klepov also isn't afraid to drive to the net and get to the dirty areas. Yes, he does a lot of his best work a bit further out, but he's more than willing to get his hands messy and score/set up some greasy goals.
Outside of his play on the power play and at 5v5, Klepov also showed the ability to play on the penalty kill at times, making some nice shorthanded plays that showcased his speed and deception.
Klepov does a lot right offensively, but I wasn't overly impressed by his two-way game on tape. It definitely needs some improvement, and he'll have the chance to work on that when he plays for Michigan State during the 2026-27 season.
MSU is one of the top college hockey programs in the country, and for good reason. It knows how to churn out some really good NHL players.
Heck, Flyers forward Porter Martone played for MSU during the 2025-26 season, and look how that turned out for them. Martone was fantastic for the Spartans before making his NHL debut at the end of the year, and he helped the Flyers make the playoffs, compiling 10 points in nine games.
Overall, I'd be thrilled if the Penguins had the chance to select Klepov in the first round. He's a hard-working, electric winger with a ton of offensive upside and is still developing. He wouldn't be ready right away like Ben Kindel was this year, but he'd have the chance to crack the NHL roster in a couple of years if everything went right.
