The Warriors are one of 10 teams Paul listed on a whiteboard while talking to host Max Kellerman on their “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast, which was published Friday.
While Paul told Kellerman he has heard from every NBA team, except for two, in addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, James’ longtime confidant alluded to the 10 teams on the whiteboard being the ones in the mix for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Those teams are, from left to right on Paul’s board: The Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Denver Nuggets, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.
Rich Paul made a whiteboard laying out LeBron’s “realistic” destinations
As for the Warriors, Kellerman pressed Paul on “Steph + Dray” being placed on the outer edge of the whiteboard.
Paul: “You see Steph and Dray up there. Don’t forget about Steph and Dray.”
Kellerman: “Here’s what’s crazy. This tells me a lot.”
RP: “This doesn’t tell you anything.”
MK: “Either you’re playing four-dimensional chess right now or you just tipped your hand.”
RP: “No.”
MK: “I will say why.”
RP: “All I’m doing is showing you the board.”
MK: “Silence everyone. I will tell you why. Ready?
RP: “Go ahead.”
MK: “Everyone’s reporting, and I know you say ‘What do they know?’ It’s Cleveland or Golden State. Golden State was the big one. But you, of all these things, just have Golden State up in the corner. So either you’re doing that purposely to throw us off the scent or Golden State really is not as much of a front-runner as people think, or not as much in the lead as people think.”
RP: “You can think whatever you think. This is just my board. You decide what you want to think. But we know Steph and Dray are the Hall of Famers, so that’s clear.”
Kellerman then pivoted to the basketball fit with James on the Warriors, and whether the former Lakers star ever wondered what it would be like to play with Curry.
MK: “How much would he want to play with those guys before he retires? Because one of things I never understood about the criticism in Miami, I said this on CNN the day it broke and there was an old crusty writer, I’m forgetting who it was, who was so upset about it. I was like, ‘Timeout, the dude wants to go to South Beach and play basketball with some of his best friends. You got a problem with that?’ That experience must have been incredible. Him and Steph. Like, if there’s a face of the league that’s not LeBron, it has been Steph. For him to play with those guys, how important would that be to him? Like, for him, is that something for him, something that’s he’s really thought about through the years?”
RP: “I mean, the golf would be tremendous with those guys.”
MK: “What about playing basketball?”
RP: “I mean, come on, Max. What are you talking about? It’s Steph and Dray.”
MK: “Was he jealous at all when [Kevin Durant] went to Golden State and he got to play with Steph? I think about sometimes Michael Jordan said he watches LeBron and thinks about how he would have guarded him. Did LeBron ever watch them play and think ‘This is how I would play with Steph?’ “
RP: “I don’t know the answer to that but what I will say to you is, Steph and Dray, obviously you get four-time champions, like you are. You get some of the highest IQ basketball, you get a guy in Joe Lacob who, I told you this the whole time, wants to win. He wants to win, and [he’s] a great business mind at that. And so you can buy into whatever you want to buy into, but Steph and Dray … “
Rich Paul on the potential of LeBron Joining the Warriors with listed reasons:
-Golf with Steph -Chance to play with Steph and Dray -Winning ownership under Joe Lacob -High IQ basketball
Paul didn’t indicate if any team is in the lead for James’ services, though he did say that if the Knicks hadn’t won the NBA championship this past season, the free-agent competition likely would be over already.
The Warriors’ entire offseason appears to be hinging on signing James. Golden State was brought back Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford, but lost Pat Spencer. Yaxel Lendeborg and Lajae Jones were added to the roster during last week’s NBA draft.
Draymond Green, James’ close friend and also Paul’s client, declined his $27.7 million player option on June 29 in an attempt to give the Warriors the financial flexibility to sign James.
No matter what James decides, Green is expected to return to the Warriors, but his contract will be determined by whether LeBron is on the payroll or not.
Based on Paul’s whiteboard, James has lots of appealing opportunities. While playing with Green and Steph Curry could be a dream ending for LeBron, there appear to be other opportunities that present a better chance to win a fifth NBA title.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 29: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by manager Dave Roberts #30 after Muncy hit a solo home run against the against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park on June 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the end of the month upon us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.
In the spirit of competition, it was a disappointing month of June for the National League West. As has been customary for much of the last decade or so, the Dodgers are beginning to run away with the division, and the last month has been the same old story.
While the defending champs went an impressive 19-9 in June, no other team in the division went above .500. It was a sub-par month for many of our friends out west in the Senior Circuit, and while there is plenty of baseball left to be played, Los Angeles has a comfortable lead up in the top spot.
Top Position Player: Max Muncy (3.2 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani (2.8 fWAR)
As mentioned, the Dodgers really only solidified their dominance during the month of June. Not much has changed over the last 30 or so days in Los Angeles, as Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman continue to hit like the stars they are, and 35-year-old Max Muncy seems to have regained his status from a couple years ago, as the veteran has 17 homers and a 141 wRC+ as their most valuable position player.
On the pitching side, Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Justin Wrobleski are leading the charge in impressive fashion, all continuing to boast ERA marks below 3. Meanwhile, they plan to get the often-dominant Tyler Glasnow back sometime soon, as he began a throwing program at the end of the month. His return would only help what is already baseball’s best team.
Top Position Player: Fernando Tatis Jr. (1.7 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Mason Miller (2.2 fWAR)
Despite a largely disappointing June, the Padres are still well within the hunt in the Wild Card, though they are already 12.5 games back in the division. They are still clawing their way just above .500 as of the end of the month, thanks in part to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s awakening (142 wRC+ in June) and some excellent work out of the bullpen from Adrian Morejon and primarily the otherworldly Mason Miller.
Even with those positive developments, the Padres have fallen from the top NL Wild Card spot to begin the month, to 2.5 games out of the chase to end it. With a rough month in the books, FanGraphs now has their playoff odds down to around 15 percent, with plenty of other teams in the same tier as we head past the mid-point of the season. The Padres are certainly alive, but there is plenty of work to do.
Top Position Player: Corbin Carroll (3.5 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Michael Soroka (2.1 fWAR)
In a dead heat with the Padres, the Diamondbacks find themselves in a similar situation in the west. Fortunately for them, their stars are still playing as such, with Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte leading the charge as two of the better all-around players in the sport. Geraldo Perdomo has also turned his season around with a very good month, in which he got on base at a .414 clip, while Nolan Arenado’s renaissance has taken a turn for the worse.
The starting staff has been a real problem for the Snakes, as Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly have been downright bad in 2026, and June did not bring any improvement. Their postseason odds are a bit more favorable than that of the Padres, but there is certainly a long road ahead of them if they have October ambitions. They’ll have to get more from the top of the rotation, but they certainly are not out of the race if a few things fall in the right place.
Top Position Player: Luis Arraez (3.5 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Logan Webb (2.2 fWAR)
Along with most of their NL West compatriots, it was a forgettable June for the Giants as well. A 13-14 month was actually an improvement on their season up to the beginning of the month, but was not nearly enough to get them back in the action in the Senior Circuit. On the bright side, Logan Webb has regained his form as one of the game’s best, as he enjoyed five excellent starts in June, three of which saw him complete eight innings. Luis Arraez has also been genuinely great in 2026, while the bats of Jung Hoo Lee and Casey Schmitt have been major boosts to the lineup. Despite those positives, they are just about out of things in the NL.
Top Position Player: Hunter Goodman (1.6 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Antonio Senzatela (1.0 fWAR)
As has sadly become customary, not much has changed for the ol’ Rockies. Stalwarts at the bottom of an often competitive division, not much has changed in Colorado with the passing of June. On a fun note, Hunter Goodman swatted 13 homers in June to bring his total to 26 through 80 games, as he looks more and more like the real deal as an offensive catcher. One of these days, I hope the Rockies don’t have to be the last team talked about in one of these.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers laughs while sitting on the bench before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
July 3, 3:15 pm EST Update: According to New York Post reporter Stefan Bondy’s league sources, LeBron James won’t sign with the Knicks this summer.
“Don’t count on LeBron James coming to the Knicks, per multiple sources. There was a ‘check in’ but no serious discussions and a union is very unlikely. ‘Not gonna happen,’ was how one source put it.”
July 3, 9 am EST Update: LeBron James agent Rich Paul has confirmed (you be the judge) the Knicks “have checked in” on James’ interest in joining New York this summer. Paul also said that, had the Knicks not won the title, LeBron would already be setting camp in Manhattan. Rich also brought with him a board including the top landing spots for LBJ, including the Knicks in it.
“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks…. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say ‘hey man, there’s no issue with me.’ They (Knicks) have checked in.”
Rich Paul on LeBron James to the Knicks 😳
“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks…. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say ‘hey man, there’s no issue with me.’ They (Knicks) have checked in.”
As we enter the fourth day of free agency, the best player available remains on the board and is mulling over his options before ultimately announcing his latest decision to the world.
Amid a LeBron James sweepstakes that points mainly toward one of three potential destinations — Golden State, Miami, and Cleveland — a couple of conflicting reports emerged on Thursday involving the New York Knicks and their level of interest in 41-year-old James.
For context, the 41-year-old announced on the verge of free agency that he would leave the Los Angeles Lakers while announcing he’d be back for a 24th season in the NBA.
James informed the Lakers he would keep playing but continue his career elsewhere, ending an eight-year run that included a 2020 championship. According to LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, James’ decision was driven by a desire to compete for a title and finding “happiness” rather than financial considerations. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Paul has received pitches from “a dozen” teams so far.
Before both Jake Fischer and SNY’s Ian Begley chimed in with the latest on the Knicks’ interest or lack of it in LeBron, it was reported that the Philadelphia 76ers have also emerged as a potential option, while teams such as the Denver Nuggets reached out to James, and the Minnesota Timberwolves also expressed interest.
Against that backdrop, Fischer reported that New York could be involved in the sweepstakes.
“The Knicks have shown some interest in LeBron James. That is the word we just got back right now.”
Fischer’s comments suggest the defending champions have at least explored the possibility of adding James, although he didn’t confirm if New York had reached out to the player or Rich Paul at the time.
Shortly after, Begley presented a different view of the Knicks’ stance, first with a post on X and then with a full story on SNY’s website.
“Every time LeBron James hits free agency, the big question around here seems to be: ‘Are the Knicks getting LeBron?’ Begley wrote. ”It happened in 2010, 2014, 2018 and again in 2026. When the most recent report (from Fischer) surfaced, I reached out to people on all sides of the situation.
“I gathered that the Knicks should not be seen as a potential destination for James. The Knicks are very happy with the core of their roster coming off the 2026 NBA title.”
The differing reports leave uncertainty around New York’s level of involvement in the James sweepstakes, which seemed to take a step forward late Thursday when ESPN’s Anthony Slater hinted at the Warriors losing ground on the race for the four-time NBA champion.
“The Warriors, meanwhile, have been given indications from James that they remain on his short list, but team sources have expressed a recent belief that they aren’t necessarily at the top of that short list, as James continues to survey the landscape.”
For now, all we know is that “there is no timetable” for James’ decision, although Charania “has a hunch” that James and Paul will give away “hints along the way here the next few days” regarding his destination of preference.
James averaged 20.9 points per game last season while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. He also contributed 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game and dragged the Lakers all by himself into the second round of the playoffs.
The New Zealander was the right man to take on the job of persuading a group of jaded senior players to play brilliant cricket, but may not suit a rebuild
Wait, what? Four days on, and nothing about the weekend that’s just gone seems to make much sense. It was England’s seventh defeat in nine Tests, and somehow, at the end of it, they’ve lost the last man anyone really wanted to go. Ben Stokes, his own man all the way to the end, has apparently decided he would rather spend his remaining days in the game playing championship cricket for Durham. A man whose career has been marked by copper-bottomed self-conviction has left English cricket facing a whole lot of questions.
The first of them is whether Brendon McCullum is really the right man to try to rebuild this England team in the years ahead.
On “One Piece” night at Dodger Stadium, Roki Sasaki got shattered into a million.
Somehow, the Dodgers found a way to put the game back together nonetheless.
Six outs into a nightmarish start on Thursday, Sasaki put the Dodgers into a stunning six-run hole.
Three innings later, however, the Dodgers had dug their way out of it, en route to scoring 12 unanswered runs in an eventual 12-7 win.
Dalton Rushing hits a two-run homer in the second inning of the Dodgers’ 12-7 win over the rival Padres on July 2, 2026 in Los Angeles. William Navarro-Imagn Images
Such was the sudden whiplash experienced by a season-high crowd of 54,081 –– many of them in attendance for the team’s hat and trading card giveaway for the Japanese anime show “One Piece.”
For as cataclysmic as Sasaki’s 88-pitch, three-inning clunker was, the Dodgers’ hellacious comeback was just as breath-taking.
First, for the ugly opening chapter. Sasaki gave up a double on his first pitch of the game, threw a wild pitch with the next, then ultimately served up a two-run homer to Manny Machado on a fastball in the heart of the zone.
The disaster was just getting started.
In the second, Sasaki gave up another home run to leadoff hitter Jackson Merrill on an elevated slider. He watched Xander Bogaerts rip a double on another center-cut heater. Then, after a four-pitch walk to Fernando Tatis Jr., he hung a two-out, two-strike slider to Jake Cronenworth that also left the yard for a three-run blast.
“I’m sure there are many reasons,” Sasaki said in Japanese about his latest struggles. “I have to figure out what they were and address them heading into the next start.”
Sasaki would get through the third inning without any further damage. But by the time his outing was over, he had yielded seven hits (all of them either doubles or homers), issued two walks (continuing his recent command problems) and raised his season ERA to 5.40 (including a woeful 10.06 mark over his last four starts).
“We’re going to do a little dive,” manager Dave Roberts said, while raising one potential explanation. “I don’t know if he was tipping his pitches, but they were on everything. So we’re going to look at that.”
The only silver lining: Sasaki got a no-decision.
Just as soon as his implosion was done, the Padres’ pitching staff suffered one of their own.
Dalton Rushing took San Diego starter Randy Vázquez deep for a two-run homer in the second. Max Muncy, with a double, and Kyle Tucker, with a single, drove in a couple more in the third.
Roki Sasaki, who allowed six runs in three innings, looks to the ground in frustration after giving up a three-run homer to Jake Cronenworth during the second inning of the Dodgers’ win over the Padres. Wally Skalij for California Post
At that point, the Padres also turned to their typically stout bullpen (Vázquez left the game with an ankle injury, and later fainted and was taken to an emergency room but was in stable condition).
But unlike the Dodgers’ relief corps, which combined for six innings of one-run ball following Sasaki’s early exit, San Diego was unable to find answers there either.
The Dodgers went in front with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game on a two-run double from Andy Pages before going in front on another RBI double from Mookie Betts (who looked just fine in his return to the lineup following a one-day absence with wrist soreness).
They then stretched the lead with two more runs in the fifth, when back-to-back doubles from Rushing and Tommy Edman were followed by a stolen base from Edman and a run-scoring wild pitch.
In the end, the Dodgers finished with a season-high 17 hits, including four each from Rushing and Tucker, and two apiece from Betts, Muncy and Edman. Meanwhile, they gave up just three to the Padres (who didn’t score again until the ninth) after Sasaki’s outing finished.
Rare is it that a six-run deficit is so easily overcome.
Rarer yet does a start like Sasaki’s prove not to be fatal.
What it means
If you want to know how the Dodgers have pulled so far away from the Padres in the National League West standings –– they now lead the division by 13 games –– Thursday was a prime example.
Manny Machado celebrates with Fernando Tatis Jr. and teammates after belting a two-run homer in the first inning of the Dodgers’ win over the Padres. Wally Skalij for California Post
While the Dodgers (57-31) have been rolling for almost two months now, with 33 wins since May 13, the Padres (43-43) have been going in the exact opposite direction, with their league-worst offense no longer their only issue.
During what is now a six-game losing streak, Padres pitchers have allowed a whopping 66 runs, the most over such a stretch in franchise history. The rut started with the Dodgers’ 15-run outburst at Petco Park last Saturday. Somehow, Thursday’s defeat felt even more embarrassing.
Who’s hot
A week ago, Rushing was at the lowest point of his young MLB career, mired in a 0-for-12 slump as a hitter and openly feuding with Ohtani while behind the plate for his most recent start.
Since then, however, the second-year catcher has started to turn a corner, marking the latest step in his recent turnaround with a four-hit, four-RBI performance on Thursday.
After sparking the Dodgers’ comeback with his second-inning homer, Rushing also singled in the fourth, hit his leadoff double in the fifth, lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth, then added an RBI single in the eighth. All five balls were hit at least 99 mph. In his last five games, he is now 8-for-18.
“It was kind of started by Doc,” Rushing said, giving credit to Roberts for suggesting a recent tweak to his batting stance. “Doc kind of saw something from his perspective, from the side. Mentioned it, tinkered with it a little bit. I don’t think it changed the swing too much. I think it just created a little more comfort, laid off some pitches, not swinging at things that bounce anymore. But yeah, kudos to Doc for picking it out.”
Tanner Scott celebrates with Dalton Rushing, who had a four-RBI night, after the Dodgers’ win over the rival Padres. AP
Rushing’s next test will come on Friday, when he will be back behind the plate for Ohtani’s next start on the mound.
Roberts said he expects Rushing –– who took ownership of last week’s miscommunication with the two-way star –– to be more on the same page with the pitcher this time around.
“I think Dalton understands that is what he signed up for. The job of a catcher is to be a servant to the pitcher,” Roberts said. “So I expect that all to be resolved.”
Who’s not
As for Sasaki…
A month ago, he seemed to have found something with his stuff, combining better command with routine 100 mph fastballs.
Now, however, the 24-year-old right-hander looks even more broken than before. His fastball velocity is declining once again, averaging under 98 mph for a second-straight start (something that hadn’t previously happened since May). His command is regressing, as well, dogged on Thursday by bad misses out of the zone and a flurry of mistakes right down the middle.
Roberts confirmed that Sasaki will make his next start, framing this current moment as “a good lesson for him to keep going and try to fight through this.”
But with injured rotation stars Blake Snell (who threw another bullpen session on Thursday afternoon) and Tyler Glasnow (who continues to ramp up his pitching progression) on the road to recovery, the clock is ticking for him to figure things out once again.
“I thought it was a conviction thing with Roki,” Rushing said. “I don’t think his stuff was too far off. You just, you got to attack the strike zone. With stuff like that, you throw 100, you have three pitches, two plus, and yeah, we need him to be in the zone a little more early.”
Up next
Ohtani (8-2, 1.58 ERA) will square off against San Diego ace Michael King (5-7, 3.55 ERA) on Friday, when the Dodgers will be looking to put more distance in the standings between themselves and the slumping Padres.
If you would’ve told me the Rays would convincingly sweep a team on the road two weeks ago after what I saw in person at Dodger Stadium, I’d hedge your bet.
The Rays, on their first west coast swing of the season, went 1-5 and lost three straight games in one-run fashion. and in the last game of the series in Chavez Ravine in the ninth inning, I watched Cedric Mullins strike out swinging with the bases loaded.
That was my boiling point with Mullins, as I grew frustrated with his swing results, or lack thereof, because I know what he is capable of.
Welp. time to eat crow.
In the 15 games since, he is slashing .321/.362/.547 with four homers, and, boy, did he show up to play tonight.
Mullins led the charge tonight, going 2-4 with a home run and a run scored to lead the Rays to their eighth straight win, and take a four game lead in the American League East over the Yankees.
Tonight was also his third straight game with a round tripper.
Ian Seymour had a stellar night as well, going six innings, with the Royals whiffing at 15 swinging strikes and striking out a career-high eight batters.
On a night where Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay’s big three, combined to go just 1/11, Chandler Simpson went 3/4 with a stolen base and two runs.
Taylor Walls, slashing .318/.423/.409 over his last seven games, stroked a double, and Hunter Feduccia went 3/4 with an RBI.
Just as the Rays get ready for the All-Star break, it feels like the local stingrays are in a great mood.
Andy Pages rounds first base after hitting a tying two-run double in the Dodgers' four-run fourth inning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Roki Sasaki’s abysmal appearance faded away in the Dodgers’ 12-7 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night, but only after the National League West leaders rose from a catatonic first inning.
The Dodgers roared back from a 6-0 deficit as Andy Pages skirted a tying double down the left-field line, and Mookie Betts and Max Muncy each drove in runs to give them the lead for good in a four-run fourth inning. All of which sent the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd into jubilant celebrations, some jumping, others breaking out World Cup chants.
“Thankfully, it played out the way I didn’t expect,” manager Dave Roberts said of the team’s ability to turn the game around, “or the way it started.”
By the time the game ended, Sasaki’s three-inning start seemed like a murky nightmare the Dodgers awoke from in a sweat. Except the Dodgers weren’t dreaming, and the team hadn’t done much to assuage the concerns with Sasaki.
The problem with Sasaki isn’t his stuff. On his best nights, when the velocity and command combine, Sasaki blows past batters with a triple-digit fastball and cutting off-speed pitches. The problem has been how to tick the radar without making the strike zone look like a Jackson Pollock painting — and recently, it has.
Sasaki’s June swoon, impervious to the calendar change, continued into Thursday’s series opener against the Padres, in which the right-hander gave up three home runs among seven hits before Roberts called it quits going into the fourth inning.
“They were on everything,” Roberts said. “You could see it.”
One possible concern? Tipping pitches. While Roberts and catcher Dalton Rushing said the team would need to do more research into Sasaki’s start, both left the door open to this answer.
“That would be a big explanation as to how they felt like they were on every pitch,” Rushing said.
As San Diego chugged through its lineup, Sasaki struggled to keep up. With his first pitch, he gave up a double to Fernando Tatis Jr., who scored on Manny Machado’s home run that left center fielder Pages staring at the ball’s path as it plopped down on the other side of the blue outfield fence.
The inning was only a preview of the Padres’ power. Each of the nine San Diego batters got his chance against Sasaki in the second, and the team quickly dug the Dodgers into a six-run hole. He surrendered two home runs in the second inning. Jackson Merrill blasted a ball to left-center field leading off, and, two outs later, Jake Cronenworth drove in two runs with a shot to right-center.
Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo that he needed to work on his command, but he felt like his fastball was good.
Roki Sasaki has his head down after giving up a solo homer to Jackson Merrill in the second inning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t think my stuff was bad today,” Sasaki said. “Overall, it wasn’t great but a lot of things evolved.”
Part of Sasaki’s issue lies with his approach. Roberts said he wants the second-year pitcher to be aggressive, to play the cat-and-mouse game required to beat batters in the box. But when given the opportunity, Sasaki has shrunken in recent outings, struggling with his command and his ability to pitch deep into games.
“We had a great May, so let’s just get back to competing and making pitches,” Roberts said.
When reliever Will Klein walked out to the mound in the fourth to the aggressive, rambunctious clamor of the Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” and collected two scoreless, one-hit innings, the relief was immediate: The Dodgers took the lead.
The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two. The Dodgers broke through against the Padres’ bullpen to score six runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
“The bullpen was fantastic tonight, and then the offense came up big,” Roberts said.
A late catch by Pages helped close out the game after he gloved a ball despite ramming into the padding of the center field wall. A combined effort by Paul Gervase and Tanner Scott shut down San Diego’s ninth-inning momentum after it pushed across a run.
“Turned back around, was able to find the ball and make a really good catch right there,” Tucker said of Pages. “That was a huge out.”
The Dodgers (57-31) beat their division rivals for the fifth time in seven games to open a 13-game lead over both San Diego and Arizona. The Padres, meanwhile, have lost six straight and given up 66 runs over the last six days, the most in such a span in franchise history.
But San Diego’s flaws don’t negate the Dodgers’ as they burned through six relievers in their win. So, while the Dodgers crawled out of the hole with a season-high 17 hits, the steep cost heightens the pressure on the rest of the rotation the rest of the series.
Brown, who was drafted out of California in 2016, was coming off one of his best individual seasons and finished sixth in the regular season MVP voting.
He had fallen out of favor with the organization in recent weeks and had been the subject of trade rumors.
Brown was reportedly offered to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Celtics' bid to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. Instead, Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat, leaving Brown and the Celtics in an awkward spot.
Brown didn’t believe the initial reports that he was being traded to Philadelphia and stated that he took a trip to the Celtics’ facility Wednesday evening.
“I went up to the facility, my key card got rejected," Brown said during the stream. "I just wanted to see if it was real. Packed me up, bro.”
Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games played this past season.
"The journey starts now," Brown said on the stream. "I've already been hitting the guys about how to get in the gym; I know what it takes to build that camaraderie and chemistry.
"... There's going to be ups and downs. … It be like that. It takes uncomfortable conversations, it takes chemistry, it takes brotherhood. It takes all of that."
He's also started building that level of community with new teammates VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
Brown told Edgecombe that he was "a fan of his game" before calling Maxey and telling him "we got work to do."
Jaylen Brown calls VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey back on stream. Both sound excited to be working with JB.
Brown told VJ Edgecombe he's "a fan of his game" and told Maxey "we got work to do". pic.twitter.com/rUPaFc6nFV
One of the uncomfortable conversations that Brown was talking about may include one with Joel Embiid.
In May, Brown went on his stream to vent following the Boston Celtics’ 109-100 loss to the 76ers.
Brown said Embiid was one of the best big men in the league before saying Embiid was also a flopper.
He also explained that he had to wear a back brace because he was dealing with back pain after having to guard Embiid and the size difference between the two players. Brown is listed at 223 pounds. Embiid is listed at 270 pounds.
Brown had been critical of the officiating during the regular season and believes it played a role in how things were called during the postseason.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 02: Manager Dan Wilson of the Seattle Mariners (R) checks on Julio Rodriguez #44 during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on July 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Angels made three bad throws that injured two-and-a-half Mariners batters.
That’s unfortunately the top headline in a 1-0 Mariners win to sweep of the Angels on Thursday. If you want the details on those injuries first, Kate Preusser has the latest. For a while it looked like we might instead have a headline about a perfect game, then a no hitter, then a complete game shutout from Bryce Miller. But his day ended after seven innings, with two hits, eight strikeouts, no walks, one error behind him, and zero runs allowed. The injuries sapped some of the joy from his night, as did a competing no-hit bid from Walbert Ureña. The Mariners were fortunate his horrible command eventually gifted them a run. They looked unlikely to create one for themselves.
“To say runs were at a premium tonight would be an understatement,” Dan Wilson said after the game.
The Mariners had finally reassembled their ‘A’ lineup on Thursday, with the nine best batters they have to offer. Perhaps the injury burn of the last month was finally fizzling out. Unfortunately, Mariners trainer Kyle Torgerson got the bulk of the screen time in the bottom of the first inning.
Julio Rodríguez worked a one-out walk. Dominic Canzone ripped a hard grounder to first. Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel scooped, spun, and fired the ball right into the back of Julio’s head while trying to get the out of at second. It ricocheted into right-center field, and Julio broke for third, reaching with a roar, a fist pump, and a good bit of celebrating. The smile slowly faded as the adrenaline wore off; he stood, helmet in hand, scratching the back of his head. Torgerson and Wilson went out and spoke with him for a while. He’d finish the half inning and take the field in the top of the second. But he went to the locker room when the Mariners returned to the dugout, giving his spot to Victor Robles.
A few pitches later, Randy Arozarena took a heater from Ureña square in the left elbow, loading the bases. It hit him hard. The elbow pad might have saved him, as he stayed in the game, but required a long, grimaced chat with Torgerson and Wilson. Adding to the pain, Josh Naylor followed with a grounder right to the bag at second base to begin an easy double play. The Mariners did not score in the first inning.
Nor did they score in the second when they struck out in order. And after two quick outs in the third, more pain: Ureña hit Robles (replacing the injured Julio) in the inner forearm. This one also hit him hard. Robles went to first and fell to both knees while backup trainer Taylor Bennet massaged his hand and Wilson watched; Torgerson was with Julio in concussion protocol. No, the Mariners did not score in this inning, either.
In the top of the fourth with two outs, J.P. Crawford broke up Miller’s perfect game. Miller had been exceptional to that point, getting through what should have been four perfect innings in 41 pitches. Crawford instead got a routine grounder and sailed the ball well over Naylor’s head. Miller got Jorge Soler to strikeout to end the inning, keeping a no hitter and shutout on the table.
It really did feel like Miller might make some type of history Thursday. He struck out five consecutive batters, from the last batter of the first, to the first batter of the third. His command was phenomenal, riding the top rail with his fastball and getting chase below the zone with his split — he got seven whiffs on each. He finished the day with eight strikeouts and no walks, lowering his FIP to 2.77 and improving his K-BB to second best in the majors at 30.5%.
“I feel like I’m finally pitching like how I felt like I should have been pitching coming off the ’24 season. It just feel like this is what I’m supposed to do. This is how I’m supposed to pitch. So it’s been a lot of fun seeing success, having consistent success, but helping the team win – a lot of times last year, I go out and throw and before I come out of the game it’s five-zero and I’m like, this is not fun at all, I’m not helping anybody here. So being able to get back to who I am, pitching how I have been, is a lot of fun, and I’m super grateful to finally be healthy, see the success, and continue to stack outings and weeks together.”
The no-hitter was still intact entering the fifth. Naylor saved a hit on the leadoff batter, leaping way up on a liner from Wade Meckler, bopping the ball into the air with his mitt, and catching it on the second try. Miller would get two quick fly outs to finish five innings at 55 pitches.
That sent Ureña back to the mound for the bottom half to work on his own no hitter. He got through the fifth quickly, having breezed since the shaky (but hitless) first. The other thing I wrote in the pregame was that Ureña can be a bit of a tough day for a lineup — he has a heavy sinker, a filthy changeup, and poor aim. The Mariners proved not up to task. They chased a bunch and either whiffed or beat the ball into the ground (when they weren’t getting plunked). It’s a lineup heavily reliant on the long ball, and Ureña kept them on the ground for five innings and 74 pitches.
On pitch 75, Crawford smacked a double into the right-center gap to lead off the bottom of the sixth. It was the game’s first hit. Weston Wilson, now in the game for the injured Robles, who was in for the injured Julio, struck out. But Canzone walked behind him. And Arozarena walked behind him (on a pitch that nearly hit his head) to load the bases with one out. Up stepped Naylor; he’d grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the first inning, but did less damage this time, striking out on three pitches.
That put the game in the hands of Cal Raleigh, who fell behind 0-2. Still, he battled and battled and worked the count full. He watched pitch number nine, a fastball way up and away, for ball four. Crawford trotted home for the game’s first run. Ureña’s day was done after 5 2/3 innings, with one hit and one run allowed. Luke Raley faced a lefty out of the bullpen and struck out to the leave the bases loaded.
Miller’s no hitter didn’t last much longer. Leading off the top of the seventh, Schanuel hit a little flare that fell in soft space between second, center and right. It was a 67 mph blooper that broke up the no-hit bid. Denzer Guzman followed with another soft liner, just out of the reach of a diving Weston Wilson.
“I would have preferred about a 120-foot line drive,” Miller said. “Felt like they didn’t really earn those two hits, but they fall sometimes.”
The pressure of relative history was gone, replaced by the pressure of holding a 1-0 lead. Miller stepped up. Strikeout. Flyout. Groundout. His day was done after seven at 90 pitches, one hit, and a 1-0 lead.
The Mariners went down in order in the bottom seventh. Then the Angels went down in order against Eduard Bazardo in the top of the eighth. The Mariners went down in order in the bottom half.
That brought Andrés Muñoz to the mound to close out the game. He walked Zach Neto on four pitches to lead off. He fell behind 2-0 on Schanuel before landing his first strike. On the next pitch, Neto broke for second. Muñoz picked toward first right at that moment; Naylor took the throw and fired to second to nab Neto for the first out. Wilson after the game noted Manny Acta had figured out Neto’s tendencies and called for the pick.
It wasn’t quite over, though. Schanuel smacked a single to replace Neto at first. And after a fly out, Soler picked up another single to put two on with two outs. Muñoz took a quick breather, then toed the rubber. He went right after Meckler with a first-pitch fastball down and away. Meckler dribbled it to short. Colt Emerson charged, scooped, and fired — not into anybody’s head — a perfect strike to first. The Mariners won 1-0 and swept the Angels.
Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors smiles before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 26, 2021 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Kyle Lowry is reportedly set to retire next week at a special event in Toronto, the city most closely associated with his 20-year career in the NBA.
But Lowry didn’t appear to be happy that the news leaked ahead of time.
Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported on Thursday that Lowry was going to sign a one day contract with the Raptors in order to retire as a member of the organization during a press conference on July 7.
Kyle Lowry smiles before the Raptors’ win over the Cavaliers on April 26, 2021 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. NBAE via Getty Images
The Raptors have billed the event as a “monumental moment” for the franchise, according to the report.
Grange’s report didn’t sit well with Lowry, who took to social media to criticize his announcement being usurped by the Sportsnet report.
“Wait for the word to come from me, not someone else!!! Smh,” he wrote in an Instagram Story post on Thursday.
The star point guard did not make any other comments besides that.
Lowry didn’t deny that he was retiring in his social media post on Thursday, which seemed to be a response to the Sportsnet report.
The report also indicated that Lowry would be given additional honors during the 2026-27 season, with the expectation being that he will have his No. 7 jersey retired into the rafters of Scotiabank Arena.
Kyle Lowry looks on during the Raptors’ win over the Lakers on May 2, 2021 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Lowry’s number would join the only other Raptor to be bestowed the honor, Vince Carter.
Lowry suited up for the Raptors from 2012-13 through 2020-21, averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting 42.5 percent from the field during his tenure north of the border.
His time in Toronto included helping the franchise win its first NBA championship in 2019 and he was part of the gold medal-winning Team USA squad at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Lowry will retire as the franchise’s career leader in assists, steals, three-pointers made and playoff games won.
In addition to playing for the Raptors, Lowry played for the Rockets, Grizzlies Heat and 76ers.
Jul 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) pitches to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 17: Goga Bitadze #35 of the Orlando Magic goes up for the rebound during the game against the Charlotte Hornets during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz came out of the Walker Kessler trade with a fresh new collection of trade assets and a nice TPE (traded player exception) that could be in the $15-$16M range. That means they can use the TPE to make a trade for a player that makes that amount of money, or less, and not have to send any players. It may be that other teams would want to get players instead of just picks, but this TPE, along with the Jazz’s group of young player contracts, gives the Jazz a lot of options. For this article, here are some players that Utah could target with their TPE and use picks to bring onto the team.
Khaman Maluach
I loved Khaman Maluach in the draft with his combination of size, athleticism, and upside. In college, he showed the impressive size, mobility, and athleticism that made him a top-ten pick. In the NBA, the Suns have not trusted putting him on the floor, and he’s spent a lot of time in the G-League developing. In the G-League, Maluach has averaged 15.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game.
Because of Utah’s TPE, they could trade one of their picks to the Suns, with whom they already have a relationship, without having to move any players. The Suns might want one of Utah’s young assets like Brice Sensabaugh or Kyle Filipowski, but Khaman Maluach would be a great gamble.
Now, the Suns might not want to get rid of the massive Sudanese center, but if they have any sort of willingness to move on from him, Utah should jump on that right away.
Kel’el Ware
Ware was a core part of the Giannis trade to the Miami Heat. He’s a young prospect but will be up for a new contract next season. Utah would find itself in the same boat as it was this season with Walker Kessler, but might be more willing to pay Ware, given his potential. Ware is the stretch center teams look for when building the coveted 5-out offense. Ware is not the consistent, high-level defender the likes of Chet Holmgren or a healthy Kristaps Porzingis are, but he has shown signs. Would the Bucks like to improve the return on Giannis by trading Ware for a Jazz pick? It’s not clear if the Bucks are done or what exactly their plan is now that Giannis has moved on.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 14: Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ware could be the stretch center that could unlock everything the Jazz are doing. The only issue is the contract. As I said, Ware may garner a lot of interest in the upcoming restricted free agency. Utah could be in the same boat they were just in with Kessler. But if Utah can turn Ware into something special, a player that is the keystone of a 5-out offense that decimates opposing defenses, he would be worth the money that Kessler wasn’t.
Goga Bitadze
Bitadze’s raw stats may not blow you away (career: 5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists at around 15 minutes per game). He’s also a player who comes off the bench. But if you look at the advanced stats with Bitadze, they jump off the page. At Dunksandthrees.com, Bitadze is elite at two things: scoring efficiently and blocking shots.
Bitadze is a veteran center who has proven effective off the bench. Would he sustain his play in a starting role, playing 28 minutes a night? He could be a wildly effective player for Utah and one that could do everything Kessler did, but at a much more reasonable cost.
All of these options would take a trade from Utah, and the cost might be more than Utah is willing to pay. The reality is that if the Lakers could have made these trades, they likely would have already done them. But if the Lakers were dead set on Kessler, a player they’ve been linked to for years, maybe the Jazz can make one of these moves happen?
It’s worth diving into, and the Jazz likely already have an idea of these players’ availability. But if I were the Jazz, I would be watching these players closely as the season goes along. You never know when one of these teams will make a move to fill a need the Jazz might be able to meet.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 12: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on October 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen Brown didn’t wait very long before speaking up.
Within 24 hours of being traded by the Boston Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers, Brown returned to his FCHWPO Twitch stream and opened up on Thursday night. From the trade itself to Celtics teammates to his experience in Boston over the last 10 years, Brown offered his transparency once again on his livestream.
Following a decade-long run that included a championship, two trips to the NBA Finals, and six trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, Brown’s time in Boston is officially over. The Celtics acquired Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round selections from Philadelphia in exchange for Brown, intensifying the anticipation for his next stream.
Here’s everything he touched on:
The trade
Brown didn’t get into the details behind the trade, but did offer a brief assessment of how the entire process went down from his perspective. Reports, both from Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix and The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, claimed Brown never approached the Celtics and requested a trade this offseason — leaving plenty of room for speculation.
Tapped into the online space, Brown also acknowledged the pushback that Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has faced, and will likely continue to face, in the aftermath of the trade.
“I wasn’t thrilled with the amount of respect I was shown during this process,” Brown said. “I think there was a bit of a lack of respect. I think it was fine at one point, and then out of nowhere, things just kind of went left. I think Brad is probably getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn’t thrilled the way he facilitated some of the conversations.”
Brown, however, noted his belief that there are surrounding details behind the trade he’s still unaware of, claiming “there’s more to it,” several times on stream.
“I just wish that the more to it could’ve been explained to me. Because if the more to it was explained to me, I think I would’ve understood. I thought I earned respect enough to get that explanation, but obviously I was wrong. Hey, but that’s life. We move on.”
Stevens helped introduce Brown to the NBA as then-head coach of the Celtics back in 2016, when Boston selected him third overall in the draft. Stevens coached Brown through the first five seasons of his career.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 10: Jaylen Brown #7 and Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics talk before Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Wizards during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Communication with now-former Celtics teammates following the trade
Several members of last season’s Celtics reached out to Brown after hearing about the trade.
Brown was contacted by various youngsters, labeled “unproven” by Stevens during last year’s media day and ahead of the regular season. Brown expressed his gratitude for their words.
“I’ve already talked to some of the guys,” Brown revealed. “Some of the guys have already reached out from the Celtics and stuff like that. Some of the young guys, so I appreciate them. Because it was an honor this year. It still was my favorite season so far.”
For the first time in his career, Brown got a look at the driver’s seat as the undisputed No. 1. It was additionally challenging after Celtics ownership and the front office tore apart its previously-star-studded roster by moving on from pieces such as Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. But Brown never wavered.
Instead, he took the challenge head-on and elevated himself, the team, and a handful of guys in Boston’s locker room — several of whom made sure to let Brown know what his efforts meant to them.
“The guys that I was able to build with, those guys that reached out to me, just told me — Neemy (Queta), Luka (Garza), all those guys told me ‘It was a pleasure to play with you, and I appreciate everything that you helped with.’ So that’s the stuff that gives you more motivation to keep going. So I’m grateful, and it was a pleasure. If this was my last year as a Celtic, this was an awesome year.”
FS1’s Colin Cowherd’s “smartest guy in the room” comment
FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd said league sources relayed intel to him regarding Brown, suggesting the 29-year-old has a “smartest guy in every room he’s in” complex comparable to a “disease.”
“One executive told me this was always a little bit of Jaylen Brown’s personality,” Cowherd reported. “Kind of the smartest guy in the room, and livestreaming and throwing it out there — that’s just not a good space. It used to be nothing good happens at three in the morning. Nothing good happens when pro athletes stream.”
In response, Brown cleared the air on that very perception.
“Personally, I think intelligence is relative,” Brown clarified. “There’s different forms of what intelligence looks like — creative, divergence, there’s being able to adapt. There’s so many different forms of intelligence. Whatever you value is whatever you value. I never told nobody, ‘Look, I’m the smartest person in the room.’ That may be how they took it.”
While attending the University of California, Berkeley, during his lone collegiate season, Brown took graduate-level courses before receiving an internship opportunity at NASA. Even as a professional athlete, Brown remained invested in education. He became the youngest person ever to give a lecture at Harvard University, then served as a Director’s Fellow at the MIT Media Lab during his time in Boston.
In the most humble way possible, Brown felt the need to “keep it buck” when it came to this topic Cowherd brought to light.
“In sports, no offense to everybody in sports, but the bar is f*cking low. The bar isn’t that high, so I think that’s what people need to take into consideration.”
Boston, MA – June 17: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown hoists the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy at the end of Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Community initiatives in Boston
One of the most difficult parts of bidding Brown farewell from Boston is what he meant off the court.
Brown made himself accessible to the city. He turned himself into a Bostonian, and it wasn’t just because of his talent as a basketball player. He visited schools, offered a voice to the disadvantaged communities, and backed up his social advocacy after signing a $304 million supermax contract, investing in Boston’s entrepreneurship and education — aimed at tackling the racial wealth disparity gap.
He launched his nonprofit, Boston XChange, shortly after signing the deal and ensured those efforts won’t be leaving the city, even as he moves on to Philadelphia.
“I appreciate all the fans. I appreciate all the supporters. The family that I’ve met in the city of Boston. I still got obligations here. I got Bridge coming up. I’ll be here. This week, I’ll be doing some community stuff that I still am committed to, and I look forward to doing more stuff with Boston XChange, with the 7uice Foundation, empowering the entrepreneurs in the city, which I already have started. We’re gonna continue to do that.”
Brown credited his grandmother, Dianne Varnado, for his deep involvement as a community leader.
“I’m a community guy. I got that from my grandmother. My grandmother taught me how to just dive into the community — she was a social worker, so it’s just in me.”
Brown added: “To the community of Boston, I will never forget the years. I grew up here. I’m 29 years old. I’ll be 30. I spent a third of my life here. So, I’m looking forward to what’s next, but I’m also appreciative of the past, and the people that I’ve met, and the community. I love you.”
Message to Philadelphia
Brown made sure to reserve time for those in Philadelphia.
Suiting up for a different team for the first time in his career, Brown says he’s ready to embrace Sixers culture next.
“I’m excited for what’s to come next,” Brown said. “It’s bittersweet. I think Philadelphia has a history of being a strong city, being a tough-nosed city. So I’m looking forward to that because I don’t want no special treatment. I don’t want no handouts. I don’t need no extra privilege. Not to say y’all were gonna give me that anyway, but I plan on earning my respect one day at a time by putting in the work.”
Brown has faced the Sixers in 57 total games throughout his Celtics tenure, which included four postseason run-ins. He was a vital part of the Boston-Philadelphia rivalry, frequently going at it with Sixers star center Joel Embiid on the court. So the change of scenery will take a little getting used to, Brown admitted.
“For the last 10 years, I’ve been programmed to hate Philadelphia. From the history to the history of the rivalry to the playoff battles, all of the above, the process. I’ve been programmed to be like, ‘Man, f*ck the process,’ so it’s funny now I gotta reverse engineer. That’s the part that’s gonna take some time, but I’ll be ready to go.”
It's been a little over a year since the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Jordan Charron in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Everyone knows how much Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas loves the Soo Greyhounds, and when he saw an opportunity to take a member from that team, he didn't hesitate.
Charron compiled 10 goals and 21 points in 48 games with the Greyhounds before he was drafted. He showcased a wicked release and some solid skating during his draft year, leading the Penguins to select him with the 154th overall pick.
He came to development camp last year, and while you can't take too much away from it, you could tell that he was above some of the other prospects that were there.
His development continued at the Soo for the 2025-26 season, and he broke out in a big way, finishing the season with 25 goals and 47 points in 66 games. There were times during the season when nobody could slow him down.
He spoke about his growth during the year at Penguins' development camp this week.
"Coming back to my second year, just being stronger and faster, I think just coming back for that second year gave me more confidence and kinda gave me some idea what the league was about," Charron said. "I kinda grew into my lower body and tried owning the puck in the corners more, tried to be a bigger guy on the forecheck, disrupt pucks, and I think I did that really well."
Charron is also super excited to be back at Penguins' development camp and is having a blast.
"Yeah, it's my second year back, and it just feels good," Charron said. "Good to see the guys again, my other draft pick guys too, and meet some new guys in the organization, and it's been really fun."
Charron is set to attend the University of Massachusetts at the end of his junior career after flipping his commitment to that school earlier this year.
"I think meeting them and going to the campus, I kinda fell in love," Charron said. "The food there is really good, they're one of the best in the country, so I kinda fell in love with that, and I love to eat. Even with the staff, they really made me feel comfortable, and I love how they play the style of hockey they have there, and I think I'm going to do really well there and try to make the NHL."
Charron will look to finish development camp in style on Friday when he plays in the development camp tournament. It's set to start at noon ET and will take place at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
