LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense during the game against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There is no question that LeBron James isn’t the same level of player heading into this season as he was for most of his career. In fact, it would be absurd to think he would be. But with that being said, he’s still a high-end player who can do things on the court that few others in the history of the game ever could.
Last week LeBron James announced he would be signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, immediately making them possibly the most interesting team in the NBA. But what does that mean on the court? In addition to James, the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown over the offseason, adding both All-Star players to a roster that already includes Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey. There is no reason this team can’t compete with anyone in the league. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best team in the league, or even the Eastern Conference for that matter.
With the defending world champion New York Knicks right down the road, a still intriguing Boston Celtics, a revamped Miami Heat, and a challenging Cleveland Cavaliers, the East is anything but a cake walk. So for this week’s NBA Reacts survey, we want to know who you think is the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Get your votes in now and be on the lookout for results later this week!
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: Jayson Tatum #0, Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Celtics fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Despite all the player movement this summer — including Jaylen Brown and now LeBron James landing in Philadelphia — the Celtics are still squarely in the Eastern Conference mix.
Think of it this way: Boston finished unexpectedly with 56 wins last seasons. Since then, they’ve effectively traded Jaylen Brown for a healthy Jayson Tatum, now more than a year removed from his Achilles injury, and added veterans Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr. to shore up some holes in their lineup. With another year of development for their wing depth, they should fare better next year.
Sure, James and Kawhi Leonard are back in the East. Giannis Antetokounmpo is now in Miami. The Pacers are getting back Tyrese Haliburton and added Ivica Zubac. The Hawks and Hornets retooled their rosters, too. And the defending champs will have Madison Square Garden rocking again.
But if you’re a betting man or woman, our friends at FanDuel still have the Celtics just behind the Knicks and 76ers and ahead of the Raptors in the East for the Eastern Conference title. Analytics-based prediction models like Sporting News’ Stephen Noh’s WinProjectionModel.com has Boston in a three-way tie with Toronto and New York with 54 wins; Cleveland and Philly trail behind at 51 and 47 respectively.
Jul 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley (20) attempts to catch a batted ball by the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Jul 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (21) reacts as he circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers scored seven runs while the Seattle Mariners scored three runs.
For as much as yesterday’s game felt like a bummer of a wasted opportunity, today’s game felt twice as nice.
It was the best of all worlds, really.
If you’d like, you can mentally pretend the Rangers won yesterday and took the series and just didn’t finish off the sweep today against George Kirby. Oh well, of course they wouldn’t beat Kirby, but at least they’d already won the series!
Or you can bask in the fact that they did bounce back from that tough loss and actually did beat Kirby and the Mariners and did win this series after all. It’s a choose your own mental wellbeing adventure and everyone’s a winner! Well, except for Seattle. And especially not George Kirby.
Coming into this four-game series, a series win felt like the primary goal with a series split an acceptable outcome that would have left neither team worse for wear. After taking the first two games, and coming within eight outs of nearly vying for a sweep today, the Rangers were tasked with beating the king of all Rangers killers Kirby in the finale with Seattle also trying to leave Arlington feeling better about themselves than should have been allowed.
Kirby, as I’m sure you’ve heard, has just flat out dominated the Rangers to an incredible degree with one of the greatest extended stretches for one pitcher against one team in recent memory. In 12 career starts spanning a little under 75 innings, Kirby had allowed 11 earned runs to Texas total. He was 9-1 against the Rangers with a microscopic 1.33 career ERA.
So that’s what the Rangers were up against with a chance to exit this series two games better in the standings than when they entered it while trying to avoid sliding back on neutral terms with just a half game lead over Seattle.
Turn out, Texas’ secret weapon against Kirby was Joc Pederson. The jovial DH appeared dead set on avoiding failure and ending Kirby’s rule over the Rangers. Leading off, Pederson hit a home run to put the Rangers up 1-0. After the M’s tied the game in the top of the second, Kirby ran into some trouble in the bottom of the inning when he hit No. 9 hitter Elias Diaz to bring up Pederson with two out and two on.
That was a big mistake. Pederson promptly parked a first pitch sinker that didn’t sink, a ball that seemed to drift forever until Mariners right fielder Dominic Canzone — ironically the man who hit the momentum-shifting dong for Seattle yesterday — ran out of real estate.
Suddenly the Rangers were up 4-1 on George Kirby. He is mortal after all. He can bleed. If he can bleed, the Rangers could kill him.
After the Mariners got another run on the board in the top of the third, the Rangers did indeed deliver the killing blow the next half inning as Ezequiel Duran took Kirby deep and then, following a Evan Carter double, Jake Burger blasted off on Kirby for a two-run shot that put Texas up 7-2.
By that point, Kirby had collected seven outs and had allowed seven runs. He had previously allowed 11 earned runs total in 223 career outs against the Rangers.
With Seattle’s trump card crumpled, and with Texas keeping Seattle off the board again until a run with two outs in the ninth, the Rangers did indeed earn that series win. As a bonus, they also claimed the season series with this being their seventh win over Seattle in the 13 games that they will play this season.
After defeating Kirby and the Mariners, any tiebreaker between these teams will go to Texas.
Player of the Game: Perhaps any other day Kumar Rocker would occupy this space after throwing 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball on just four hits, two walks, and with seven strikeouts. He was excellent and deserves praise.
Today is not that day, however, because Pederson bullied Kirby out of the building with two home runs in the first two innings, including the two-out, three-run back-breaker that was gracefully lofted over the right field fence. Those were the only two hits of the afternoon for Pederson but they were the tone setter for the Rangers in the win.
Up Next: The Rangers can’t rest on their successes in this series as they immediately travel to St. Pete to take on the American League-leading Tampa Bay Rays beginning tomorrow evening. Neither team has listed a starting pitcher as of yet.
The first pitch in Tuesday’s opener from the new and improved (?) Tropicana Field is scheduled for 5:40 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards shoots against Nique Clifford #00 of the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter of a Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Washington Wizards fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, we revisit a topic that Kevin Broom wrote over the weekend: the fact that AJ Dybantsa played just two games during the 2026 NBA Summer League.
With that in mind, should the Wizards have played Dybantsa more? Let us now in the survey below. We will share results this weekend!
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Kyrie Irving #11 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks pose for a picture during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
I suppose your answer to this question will largely depend on if you think the front office is done. But even if nothing else happens and the guys roll into the regular season with this group, there’s a lot to be happy about.
When the Sharks drafted Filip Bystedt with the 27th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, he was a key building piece for a rebuilding team without much prospect quality. Of course, the additions of Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini in 2023 and 2024 respectively, it didn’t take long for Bystedt to fall down the depth chart.
The odds of Bystedt playing a top-six role even in his prime were slim at that stage regardless, but with just Smith and Celebrini ahead of him on the depth chart, he still had a chance to find a spot in the bottom-six. Drafting Michael Misa in 2025, adding Zack Ostapchuk via trade, then signing veteran Alex Wennberg to an extension made center depth a major strength for the Sharks’ young core and left almost no room for Bystedt, or any other prospect, to make a jump to the NHL in the near future.
Now, more than four years after being drafted, Bystedt has yet to make an appearance at the NHL level and he’s stuck behind a major logjam of bottom-six forwards. As a result, it seems fair at this stage to question how realistic it would be for him to make the Sharks at any point in the near future.
Last season, Bystedt had his best professional season by far. He scored 20 goals, surpassing the 20 goal threshold for the first time in his career, and 60 points in 65 games for the San Jose Barracuda. Yet, even when the Sharks' roster was dealing with injuries, he never got an opportunity in the bottom-six. Instead, those opportunities were given to players like Ethan Cardwell, Patrick Giles, Pavol Regenda, and Igor Chernyshov.
With the Sharks now looking to move out of their rebuild, there will likely be even fewer chances for younger players in the near future. Players like Adam Gaudette, Ty Dellandrea, Barclay Goodrow, and possibly even Tyler Toffoli are going to be taking up space in the Sharks' bottom-six this coming season and it seems unlikely that there's any space for Bystedt to get a chance, even if there are a multitude of injuries.
While it seems likely that Sharks General Manager Mike Grier would've loved to see Bystedt succeed since he was the first draft pick of his tenure, that window has seemingly rapidly closed. If Bystedt doesn't get an opportunity this coming season, which is hard to see happening, it seems likely that it'll never come in San Jose.
May 15, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) during the second half in game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
With the addition of LeBron James to Philadelphia, the Eastern Conference looks to be as competitive as it ever has been in recent memory. Assuming the Kawhi Leonard trade will send him to Toronto and Jalen Duren re-signs with Detroit, it’s time to see where the Pistons could fall by the end of the upcoming NBA season.
15. Milwaukee Bucks
Record last year: 32-50 (11th)
Key departures: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis
Analysis: The post-Giannis era has begun in Milwaukee. Tyler Herro might average 30 PPG, but this team is terrible. Ryan Rollins is fun, and I’ll continue to dream about Myles Turner if Detroit actually moves on from Duren, but any team with Kyle Kuzma in the lineup is going to lose games. Remember, Kuzma: “don’t be that team!”
14. Brooklyn Nets
Record last year: 20-62 (13th)
Key departures: Nic Claxton
Key additions: Julius Randle, Keon Ellis, Mo Wagner, Mikel Brown Jr.
Analysis: I like Brooklyn’s draft by selecting Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson. Egor Demin is an exciting prospect, but who are the Nets building around? Are Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle the kind of vets you’d want leading your locker room? They need one of their young guys to step up as a centerpiece, otheriwse, they’re waiting on the next draft lottery.
13. Chicago Bulls
Record last year: 31-51 (12th)
Key departures: n/a
Key additions: Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, Caleb Wilson
Analysis: The team of consistent mediocrity! Chicago moved on from two of their best players, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, to build around Josh Giddey. Matas Buzelis is fun and should make an intruiging pair with Caleb Wilson. Yet, I can’t help but feel this team is destined to miss the play-in once again.
12. Washington Wizards
Record last year: 17-65 (15th)
Key departures: D’Angelo Russell
Key additions: Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Deandre Ayton, AJ Dybantsa
Analysis: If there’s a compliment I can give the Wizards, it’s that their front office is at least trying to be exciting. They gave Trae Young one of the worst contracts in the NBA and have to pay Anthony “Street Clothes” Davis $120 million over the next two seasons. I’m excited about AJ Dybantsa, but it’s hard to have faith in a team highlighted by Trae, AD, and Ayton.
11. Orlando Magic
Record last year: 45-37 (8th)
Key departures: Mo Wagner
Key additions: Nikola Vucevic
Analysis: Orlando is basically running back the same team as last year in an Eastern Conference that is way more competitive now. Detroit and Orlando had similar team builds, but Orlando didn’t acquire any real shooting on a team that has one real threat from beyond the arc in their starting lineup. Put the DBB staff in a 2-3 zone against the Magic and we might stand a chance.
Key additions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis
Analysis: I’m not sure I can put much faith into Miami yet. The Giannis and Bam pairing is exciting on paper, but Bam’s no Brook Lopez from deep. I think you clog the paint against the Heat and force Davion Mitchell or Tim Hardaway Jr to beat you. They feel a year away and another move (or two) from competing deep into the postseason.
9. Charlotte Hornets
Record last year: 44-38 (9th)
Key departures: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green
Analysis: I’m a believer that the Hornets will be a better team without LaMelo Ball. Where Orlando doesn’t have any shooting, Charlotte has a ton of it. I love the additions of Reid and Allen. I’d put the Hornets at the top of exciting teams to watch on NBA League Pass.
8. Indiana Pacers
Record last year: 19-63 (14th)
Key departures: n/a
Key additions: Kelly Oubre Jr, Larry Nance Jr
Analysis: Indiana punted last season away after Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2024-2025 NBA Finals against the Thunder. This is a well-built team with depth at all positions, but I’ll have to see them produce on the court before I can feel comfortable moving them up the list.
7. Atlanta Hawks
Record last year: 46-36 (6th)
Key departures: Zaccharie Risacher
Key additions: Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, Devin Carter, Kingston Flemings
Analysis: If Charlotte weren’t at the top of my “most exciting offseason” teams, Atlanta would be it. Just getting Trae Young off the roster is a plus in itself, but they’ve improved their depth across the board. Jalen Johnson is their most expensive player at only $30 million, and they’re primed to take a big swing at the deadline. Rudy Gobert, anyone?
Key additions: Kawhi Leonard*, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves
Analysis: Their whole offseason hinges on the league finishing its investigation on Kawhi Leonard. Scottie Barnes is amazing, but the Jakob Poeltl contract is up there with the worst in the league. What happens when this trade gets reversed? Does anyone have any Aspiration inspiration to move them higher?
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record last year: 52-30 (4th)
Key departures: Keon Ellis, Dean Wade
Key additions: Mario Hezonja, Meleek Thomas
Analysis: I mean, what are we doing, Cleveland? You whiffed on a homecoming with LeBron and lost your two best defenders. Your two stars in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can’t defend a traffic cone, and you play in a division with Cade Cunningham. Don’t forget, you have to pay Mitchell $75 million in 2030-2031!
4. Boston Celtics
Record last year: 56-26 (2nd)
Key departures: Jaylen Brown
Key additions: Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley
Analysis: A healthy Jayson Tatum is back and has a new friend riding shotgun. Paul George isn’t better than Jaylen Brown, but maybe he’s a better fit for this roster. They’ve had a Mitchell Robinson-sized hole at center for the past few seasons that is now filled. Boston is always good and I don’t see that changing. Put me down for Payton Pritchard as Most Improved Player of the Year.
3. Detroit Pistons
Record last year: 60-22 (1st)
Key departures: Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Marcus Sasser
Key additions: John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Ebuka Okorie
Analysis: Detroit should most certainly be a better team offensively. Collins, Joe, and Prince are all 40%+ three-pointer shooters, and they hung onto Robinson and Huerter. While Beef Stew’s rim protection will be missed, I’m excited about having a more fluid offensive backup center in Paul Reed. The Cade/Ausar/Duren trio will be surrounded by the most shooting it has ever had. I’m happy to see what Ausar and Duren can do sharing the secondary playmaker role until Trajan makes the big trade at February’s trade deadline.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Record last year: 45-37 (7th)
Key departures: Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond
Analysis: Look, this is the best starting five in the NBA. I mean, their fourth-best player is LeBron James, maybe? This was a great offseason for Philly and there’s no doubt they’re gunning for the Larry O’Brien trophy. I worry about their depth in the playoffs if this team has injury issues, and it feels like someone in their top four will be upset about their lower usage. We’ll see if they can make it work.
1. New York Knicks
Record last year: 53-29 (3rd)
Key departures: Mitchell Robinson
Key additions: Andre Drummond
Analysis: Running it back with the same team after winning the NBA championship? Sounds good to me.
NBA fans are going to be seeing a lot more of the 76ers whether they like it or not.
Philadelphia is expected to get the maximum amount of national television games allowed after the team signed LeBron James to a two-year, $8 million deal, sources have told Front Office Sports.
The 76ers played in 14 national TV games last season — a total they’ll more than double in 2026-27 at 34 games.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles with the ball around Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Following along the NBA’s current 11-year, $76 billion media right deal, each of the league’s 30 teams is given at least two national game broadcasts per season.
Each year those with the biggest stars see more come their way, including hitting the 34-game maximum.
In 2025, one of those teams proved to be the eventual NBA champion Knicks, who play in the country’s biggest TV market. Behind them were James’ former team, the Lakers, Steph Curry and the Warriors and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s defending champion Thunder.
At the bottom of the barrel with the minimum two-game requirement sat the Nets, Raptors, Wizards, Jazz and Pelicans.
Additionally, the 76ers should be at the forefront of big events throughout the season including opening week and in the NBA’s five-game slate on Christmas Day.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers smile before the game on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe #77, Tyrese Maxey #0, Justin Edwards #11, and Adem Bona #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the Orlando Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 27, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
At a CNBC press conference, league commissioner Adam Silver stated the NBA couldn’t nail down the upcoming schedule without knowing where James would land.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Nate Bittle #12 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on July 16, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What’s up y’all? Last weekend, the NBA Summer League concluded, so I thought I’d take a look at how some former Ducks ended up playing.
Player
Games played
Minutes per game
Points per game
Shooting % (FG/3/FT)
Assists per game
Rebounds per game
Steals per game
Blocks per game
TJ Bamba
3
12.8
4
21.1%/18.2%/50%
1
1.3
0.3
0
Brandon Angel
4
12
4.5
53%/66.7%/0%
0
3
0.2
0.5
Nate Bittle
4
20.6
9.8
50%/43.8%/100%
2.2
6.8
0.8
2.8
Now, I know these results aren’t very surprising. But I was legitimately impressed watching Bittle go out and do work. He looked healthy, and played the same style of ball we got to watch him play the last few seasons. Honestly, with how well he performed in Summer League, I have even more confidence he’ll be able to carve out a legitimate career as an NBA role player. Especially considering that you NEED to be able to shoot to survive more than 2-3 years these days. I don’t know if he’ll stay on the Raptors, but I think someone will give him a shot. And when they do, I’m confident he’ll make the most of it.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: The sneakers worn by Kobe Sanders #4 of the LA Clippers during the game against the Utah Jazz during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NBA teams want their top two players to pair well together and have a ton of chemistry.
Ideally, the two working as a unit makes them far greater than they are individually, and that bond results in a ton of winning.
Sure, we’ve seen duos who don’t always get along win. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal are probably the most famous example of this. However, it’s always better if everyone is happy with each other.
The Lakers have experienced good vibes with duos turning into titles. Kobe and Pau Gasol won back-to-back championships this way, and LeBron James and Antony Davis are the most recent example of this, winning it all during the 2019-20 season.
Whether Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves can be the next title-winning duo is still to be determined, but their friendship is clearly strong.
There are myriad examples of Luka and Austin getting along. On social media, Reaves and Dončić have both joked with each other in ways only friends can. During media availability, that playful banter, with smiles ear to ear, has also been as clear as day.
Their friendship isn’t just one of convenience. Their bond and conversations don’t come to a halt once the NBA season is over.
“Luka,” Reaves said, “I mean, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. Talk to him almost every single day. He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better, and I tell him I’m not a coach.”
It’s amazing that Dončić and Reaves have quickly become so close. There are few people any of us talk to on a near-daily basis, and the fact that LA’s guards do should warm even the coldest hearts.
Seasons are long, and adversity presents itself in different ways. Having a friend by your side to take on those challenges makes that path just a bit easier and hopefully flips things from bad to good faster.
So, expect the Luka and Austin chemistry to only get better from here. With Reaves re-signing and Luka also locked up long-term with the Lakers, they are the present and future of this franchise.
This is their era, and they’ll succeed or fail together as friends.
It’s no secret that the Florida Panthers have evolved into one of the more disliked teams in the NHL.
The combination of playing an aggressive, physical style and doing a lot of winning while playing that style will have that effect.
Those who have been watching Florida during their ascension know that they have an impressive collection of players who can combine skill and grit, and each has played their own crucial role in Florida’s success.
One of those players has been singled out as a villain.
So basically, whichever player they believed to have tormented a team and its fans the most would be that team’s villain.
Interestingly, one Panthers player was singled out as the biggest bad guy for not one, but two different teams.
And perhaps even more interestingly, it’s not someone with the last name Marchand or Tkachuk.
No, that honor went to the man who took home the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy while helping Florida to their second straight Stanley Cup championship: Sam Bennett.
According to The Athletic, no player has tormented either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Toronto Maple Leafs more than Bennett.
It’s a solid choice.
Bennett has shown a propensity for taking his game to another level during the playoffs, where he’s helped the Panthers win four of the six combined series against the Lightning and Leafs that he’s been a part of.
That includes four straight series wins, two against each team, in which Bennett racked up eight goals and 14 points in 19 games.
On the flip side, the player deemed most villainous to the Panthers franchise was Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov.
I mean, yeah, I guess.
He’s put up big numbers against Florida – more than a point per game in both the regular season and playoffs – but doesn’t he do that against everybody?
When thinking of a Lightning player as a villain for the Panthers, the first player that comes to mind lately is Brandon Hagel.
Now to be fair, it’s mostly for the physical elements of the game and less for his scoring contributions. While 16 points in 22 regular games against Florida is nothing to sneeze at, he’s only put up five points and a minus-8 on-ice rating in 12 postseason meetings with the Panthers.
So what do you think of these villainous choices?
Let us know in the comments if you agree, and if not, who you think should be on the list instead.
Photo caption: Nov 28, 2023;Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers centerSamBennett(9) fights withTorontoMaple Leafs center Max Domi (11) during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports)
BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1991: Reggie Lewis #35 of the Boston Celtics dribbling the ball during an NBA basketball game circa 1991 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Lewis played for the Celtics from 1987-93. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics have had their share of heartache over the years. At draft time, our thoughts always go back to drafting Len Bias and the sadness not even 48 hours later when the news came that he had died from a cocaine overdose. He never got to suit up for the Celtics, so there is always that big “what if” to consider, but no memories of him as a Celtic.
An even bigger heartache for Celtics fans was the loss of Reggie Lewis — we watched him play and Celtics fans loved him. He was the quiet Celtic with an infectious smile. He was reserved and somewhat shy, but his actions, both on and off the basketball court, spoke much louder than any words could ever do. He was the captain of the Boston Celtics and their leading scorer. He was a devoted husband, father and a friend to all who knew him well. He was the hope of a new Celtics generation. Reggie Lewis was only 27 years old when he died of a heart attack thirty-three years ago on Tuesday, July 27, 1993. Perhaps it was because of the death of Reggie that Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox were diagnosed with a heart problem and were able to deal with it and return to the league. And since I have been diagnosed with heart failure and have been going through a lot of questions and dealing with affairs of the heart, this tragedy hits home a lot more now than it ever has. Having a heart condition is a constant reminder of one’s mortality.
Reggie was drafted by the Celtics with the next to the last pick in the first round of the 1987 NBA Draft. Like most Celtics rookies back then, his first year was a learning one and Reggie mostly watched and learned from the future Hall of Fame players ahead of him. He observed and learned and pushed himself in Year One and then, in Year Two, he appeared in 81 of the 82 regular season games and finished his sophomore season averaging 18.5 points per game. More importantly, he stepped in and comforted Celtics fans’ fears and worries, after Larry Bird missed almost the entire season due to surgery.
Celtics fans witnessed true flashes of brilliance in Reggie’s game during the 1991-92 season, as he averaged a career-best 20.8 points per game while playing in all 82 games. He averaged over 20 points again the following season. He posted a spectacular career-high 28.0 points per game in the 1992 playoffs and was the lone Celtic to be named the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star Team. After Larry Bird retired in 1992, Reggie was named the team’s captain.
On April 29, 1993, the Celtics began a first-round playoff series with the Charlotte Hornets. The setting for that series was the old Boston Garden. The Boston Garden at the time was the only arena in professional sports that did not have air conditioning. Opposing teams would suggest that the Celtics intentionally turned up the temperature as a way to create an edge over the unsuspecting and unconditioned players who might be visiting.
Several opponents throughout the years had fallen victim to dehydration and related nausea. The most notable example was Game 4 of the 1984 playoffs when Kareem Abdul Jabbar was seen wearing an oxygen mask to help with the extreme heat. The Garden created perhaps the greatest home court advantage in all of sports. This night, the Garden was hot and humid as usual. The Celtics were on their way to a blowout victory and it was still early in the first quarter. Their captain could not miss a shot and had already scored ten points within the first three minutes.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 14: Boston Celtics Reggie Lewis, right, and Charlotte Hornets Muggsy Bogues, left, scramble for the ball during a game at the Boston Garden, March 14, 1993. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
After going hard to the basket and grabbing a rebound through several defenders, Lewis began to head back down the court. Suddenly, his body slumped forward towards the court. Although the fall was sudden, it did not initially appear to be concerning because Lewis returned to his feet within a few seconds and checked himself out of the game. For many spectators, the heat in the building was probably blamed as the reason for the fall.
Complaining of dizziness and a black out, Lewis sat out the remainder of the first half while team doctor, Dr. Arnold Scheller, attempted to diagnose the cause of the black out. At halftime, Lewis mentioned that he had some grapefruit juice just before the game that tasted too bitter. With the high degree of humidity in the Garden coupled with the possibility of bad juice, Scheller, an orthopedic specialist, recommended that Lewis be allowed to continue to play in the second half. In that half, teammates mentioned that Lewis’ legs were wobbly and he came back out of the game almost immediately.
After the game, Lewis was sent to New England Baptist Hospital where he underwent a battery of tests that were supervised by a “dream team” of 12 of the most respected cardiologists in the Boston area. After thorough testing, the team of doctors diagnosed Lewis to be suffering from ventricular tachycardia, the most dangerous form of arrhythmia. They concluded that Lewis was lucky that his first symptom was not sudden cardiac death but merely a fainting episode.
Reggie was frustrated because the diagnosis meant an end to his basketball career, but he also became angry with the doctors because they kept pursuing possible cocaine use as an explanation. Perhaps the death of Len Bias, which was caused by cocaine use, influenced their thoughts. Lewis checked himself out of the care at New England Baptist Hospital in the middle of the night and sought out Brigham and Women’s Hospital chief of cardiology, Dr. Gilbert Mudge.
Dr. Mudge had been following the story and even prior to Reggie’s contacting him, Dr. Mudge claimed to have been suspicious of the diagnosis due to what he believed to be inconsistencies and discrepancies in Lewis’ test results. After performing his own battery of tests, Mudge called a press conference in early May of 1993 and stated that Lewis was not suffering from cardiomyopathy but merely from a curable neurocardiogenic fainting disorder. Mudge prescribed beta blockers as treatment and pronounced Reggie physically fit to return to playing professional basketball the following fall.
On July 27, 1993, Lewis entered the Brandeis arena with a friend to prepare for a full court pickup game that night. After about an hour on the court without even working up a sweat, Lewis crumpled near the 3-point line. Nearly two hours after he collapsed at 5:07 p.m. the hospital announced that Reggie Lewis was dead at the age of 27. In the wake of his death, the heart wrenching news came out that earlier in the day, Reggie’s wife Donna had just found out that she was pregnant with their second child. She never got to give Reggie the news.
Then, over subsequent months and years, it became very ugly. There were unconfirmed reports that cocaine had been at least partly responsible for the tragedy, and a debate arose among doctors whether the death could have been prevented. The reports of cocaine were totally unfounded and left a negative mark on a man who by all accounts was above reproach. “The real tragedy is that right now we should be saying, ‘Reggie has a pacemaker and can’t play basketball anymore,’ ” Kevin McHale said after Lewis’ death. “Instead, we have to mourn him.”
That quote from Kevin McHale has always stuck in my mind and no more so than when I had to have a pacemaker implanted. I’m happy to say that I am still here to watch and write about the team that I have loved for over 50 years. But it makes me even sadder that Reggie Lewis isn’t here to love his wife and children and be a part of that team. I believe that Reggie would have been a lifelong Celtic and that he would have loved working with the new players coming in after his career ended. He was just that kind of person.
After his death, still reeling from the personal loss of their captain as well as the loss of Len Bias just years before, the Celtics tried to pick up the pieces and go on. They petitioned the league for relief from his salary but were denied. The Celtics retired #35 in Reggie’s honor on March 22, 1995. He became only the second player for the Celtics to have his jersey retired without having won an NBA title in Boston. Ed Macauley was the other.
Reggie’s accomplishments on the court are well documented. At the time of his death, he was the only player in the history of the Celtics to have registered 100 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocked shots in a single season which he did in the 1991/92 season with 394 rebounds, 185 assists, 125 steals and 105 blocks. Reggie once blocked four shots from Michael Jordan in one game.
BOSTON – 1991: Reggie Lewis #35 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during a game played in 1991 at the Boston 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 1991 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Reggie Lewis left fans around the nation with memories of his basketball accomplishments, but also memorable was what he did off the court. His contributions to the community were just as consistent as his mid-range jump shots. Reggie began an annual giveaway where he purchased hundreds of turkeys and gave them to underprivileged families in the area, without any media or fanfare surrounding it. He was always seen with a smile and was a genuine caring person. Reggie’s widow, Donna Harris-Lewis, continued her husband’s legacy of kindness through the Reggie Lewis Foundation, which continued to sponsor the turkey giveaway that Reggie began.
Reggie’s greatest influence on people occurred off of the basketball court. Reggie had strong morals, humility and compassion. After his death, The Reggie Lewis Track and Field Center was opened in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The center was funded partially by Lewis and routinely hosts major track and field competitions as well as home basketball games for Roxbury Community College.
I highly recommend the book Reggie Lewis: Quiet Grace by Craig Windham. This book has a positive, inspiring message, especially for young people (and not just basketball fans). Reggie was not overly-talented, but he made the most of the gifts he had. It’s a wonderful account of his life, from his boyhood in Baltimore to his stardom with the Boston Celtics. It also includes an interesting photo album section. “Quiet Grace” lays to rest the rumors surrounding Reggie’s tragic death.
It was 33 years ago that Reggie died. Today, we remember Reggie and can only think of what might have been. As with Len Bias, there will never be a clear method of telling just how good Reggie Lewis would have been or where the Celtics might have gone with their leadership. We were blessed with an all too brief time with him and are left with our memories.
Rest in peace, Reggie. We love you and miss you still.
In addition to Reggie Lewis and the aforementioned Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox, former Celtic Pete Maravich died of a heart attack while playing a pickup basketball game after his playing career was over. I would like to encourage each one of my fellow Celtics fans to take heart health seriously and have regular checkups. Also, follow a heart healthy diet that includes limiting sodium intake.
The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Ronan Seeley to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
The deal will pay Seeley $850,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level, with a guarantee of $160,000.
Seeley, 23, has spent the past four seasons primarily in the AHL, where he's collected 20 goals and 72 points in 266 games, all while being a reliable defender.
The 2020 seventh-round pick made his NHL debut at the end of the regular season, suiting up for one game for the Hurricanes.
The blueliner had previously filed for salary arbitration, but the deal comes before the set date for arbitration, so no harm, no foul.
That leaves Alexander Nikishin, Justin Robidas and Cayden Primeau as the final remaining RFAs left for the Hurricanes to deal with this summer.
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
