Posts

Posted on

Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly meeting with Bucks front office about future with club

On Tuesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo scrubbed virtually all mentions of the Milwaukee Bucks from his social media — a troubling sign for a 9-13 team built around the two-time MVP.

Now comes a report that Antetokounmpo and his agent are meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks to discuss "whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere," Shams Charania reports at ESPN. The report states that the sides are expected to reach a resolution "in the coming weeks," which will impact whether Antetokounmpo is available around February's NBA trade deadline.

This is far from the first time Antetokounmpo trade rumors have surfaced. He reportedly pushed the Bucks to discuss a trade with the New York Knicks over the offseason, but those talks went nowhere. That led to these comments from Antetokounmpo at the team's media day.

"I've said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I'm here," Antetokounmpo said. "I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it's definitely going to be hard... Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that's human too, you're allowed to make any decision you want, but I'm locked in. I'm locked into this team. I'm locked in to these guys, to this group and to this coaching staff and to myself."

"Six or seven months" implied Antetokounmpo would revisit the issue next offseason, a re-evaluation he says he makes every summer. However, the Bucks' rough start may have changed his thinking and his timeline.

Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level this season, averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists a game. Milwaukee recently went 0-4 when Antetokounmpo was out with a groin strain. The team is now 1-5 on the season when he does not play and just 8-8 when he does, including an ugly loss to the Wizards on Monday night. Milwaukee is not a contender as constructed, even in a wide-open East. Beyond that, the Bucks don't have the draft picks or young players it would likely take to make a trade that would dramatically upgrade the team this season.

The Bucks are not going to trade Antetokounmpo unless he directly requests it. Even if he does, trading Antetokounmpo and his $54.1 million salary during the season is incredibly challenging. Especially considering the teams he would want to be traded to — the Knicks, maybe the Warriors, others — are also hard-capped or up against the luxury tax aprons themselves.

If Milwaukee is forced to trade him, it will ask for a massive haul of quality young players, high draft picks, and veteran contracts it can flip in a trade, all to jump-start the inevitable rebuild. To use the Knicks as an example, they are thin on quality young players and have only one first-round pick, plus a couple of swaps, to offer. The math works on a trade of Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride plus the pick, but is that nearly enough for Milwaukee? Especially considering there would be a long line of teams at least checking in — Houston, San Antonio, Golden State, the LA Clippers, and the list will go on and on — and some (many?) of those would put together offers more enticing to the Bucks.

All of that is getting ahead of things. For now, the Buck and Antetokounmpo (as well as his agent Alex Saratsis) are sitting down and figuring out what is next. Even if that is a decision to part ways, an offseason trade is far more likely than one at the deadline.

Posted on

Four Best Long Shots To Win The NHL's Eastern And Western Conference

By Gary Pearson, BetMGM

If you're looking to back a long shot to advance to the 2026 Stanley Cup final, the following four teams represent my best predictions of the bunch.

Eastern Conference 

Pittsburgh Penguins (+10000)

Backing the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Eastern Conference is my best long-shot play, thanks to various factors.

First, no team is less likely to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final. That’s right, even the East's 15th-place Buffalo Sabres have shorter NHL odds (+8000) to win the conference. 

You might have to re-read that sentence a few times to let it sink in. 

Sidney Crosby is on a pace for a career-best 59 goals. Only once before in his illustrious career did he break the 50-goal threshold, when he netted 51 in 2009-10. 

And while most of the Pens' stats have regressed, they are still getting solid goaltending from the resurgent Tristan Jarry and have the best power play (33.3 percent) and fourth-best penalty kill (84.9 percent). 

If you ask me, those factors alone merit a better chance of making the Stanley Cup than the 0.99 percent oddsmakers have them pegged at.

Ottawa Senators (+1800)

Picking the Ottawa Senators to make it to their first Stanley Cup final since 2007 is more a reflection of how wide open the Eastern Conference is. 

The Sens are second in the Atlantic Division despite playing without captain Brady Tkachuk for most of the campaign, while receiving consistently subpar play from Linus Ullmark. 

Ullmark's numbers don’t instill much confidence, but he's 4-1-0 in his last five starts, and Tkachuk has returned to the lineup. 

Let’s see how the team’s trajectory changes once the captain recaptures peak game sharpness. Their +1800 NHL odds represent a 5.26 percent chance.

Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke controls the puck as Minnesota Wild forward Danila Yurov gives chase at Grand Casino Arena on Nov. 15. (Nick Wosika-Imagn Images)

Western Conference 

Anaheim Ducks (+2200)

What neutral hockey fan doesn’t want to see the youthful Anaheim Ducks go on a fairy-tale run? 

I would have laughed hysterically had you told me before the season that Anaheim would be atop the Pacific Division after 26 games. The only ones laughing now are Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and the Ducks' band of effervescent upstarts, who, scoring 3.62 goals per game, boast the second-most prolific offense. 

They have the sixth-best points percentage (.635), tied with the New Jersey Devils, and Carlsson is tied with Connor McDavid for fourth in scoring. 

Lukas Dostal, meanwhile, has the 12th-best goals saved above expected (10.1).

The Ducks' +2200 odds of making it to their first final since winning it all in 2007 carry an implied probability of 4.35 percent.

Odds For The Five Most Likely Stanley Cup FinalistsOdds For The Five Most Likely Stanley Cup FinalistsWill the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet yet again in the Stanley Cup final? Will the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes break their conference final curses?

Minnesota Wild (+2500)

The Minnesota Wild have gotten their act together since a stretch of eight losses in nine games. Since Nov. 1, they have the second-best points percentage (.867), behind only the high-flying Colorado Avalanche (.929). 

Minnesota's recent seven-game win streak was thanks primarily to Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt's dominance. The tandem has secured five shutouts in their past 11 games, four of which were by Wallstedt. 

The 23-year-old netminder, who is 8-0-2, has five shutouts in his first 15 games in the NHL, quickly becoming one of the stories of the season.

If he and Gustavsson maintain their otherworldly form, I believe the Wild pose a threat even to the most formidable Western Conference opponents. 

Posted on

Scouts and execs on whether Mets would be better off trading Kodai Senga

It’s understandable if the Mets were frustrated with Kodai Senga by the end of last season, with his slow recovery from injuries, with his need for extra rest even when healthy, with his seeming obsession over his mechanics, and with his honest-yet-eyebrow-raising admission in late September that he wasn’t in a position to help the Mets nab a Wild Card spot.

In short, to say he’s high maintenance would seem to be an understatement.

As such, the Mets have made it no secret this offseason they’re open to trading Senga, to the point where, according to The Athletic, the Japanese right-hander reached out recently to let David Stearns know he’d prefer to stay in Queens -- though a 10-team no-trade list in his contract is the only control he has over the situation.

So would the Mets benefit by moving on from Senga? I asked that question of several MLB scouts and executives this week and the consensus answer was no -- that his proven upside and relatively affordable contract make keeping him the more reasonable decision.

“He’s pitched at a high level in two different seasons,” said one scout, referring to 2023 and Senga’s pre-injury 2025. “You’d be selling low on him. You almost certainly wouldn’t get comparable value in return. He’s got the stuff to help you win a championship, so I think you have to roll the dice and hope he’s healthy when it counts most.”

That was the theme of most other responses, though a couple of people did make the case that the Mets theoretically could better spend the $30 million that Senga is owed on the remaining two years of his contract. 

But even those suggestions came with disclaimers. 

“If dumping his money helps them justify overpaying to keep (Edwin) Diaz or signing a top free-agent pitcher, then maybe it makes some sense,” one team exec said. “But does Steve Cohen really need to do that? If you have his financial power and you’re trying to compete with the Dodgers, you need high-end assets, and even with Senga’s injuries, I’d put him in that category.

“Now if there’s more going on behind the scenes that makes the ballclub feel he just can’t be relied on, that adds a different layer to the situation. But on the surface I can’t see how you’re a better team by trading him.”

As an aside of sorts, there was less of a consensus from the same evaluators as to how far the Mets should go to re-sign Diaz, especially after signing Devin Williams. All agreed that a Williams/Diaz combo would be a championship-worthy weapon, but there was a split on where to draw a line in negotiations for their closer, with only a couple of people willing to give him more than a four-year deal in the $20 million per year range. 

“I wouldn’t go to five for $100 (million),” one exec said. “If you believe in Williams, you got a closer on a reasonable deal and you can build depth around him without that type of risky overpay (for Diaz).”

“I’d go to five (for $100 million) to build a super pen,” countered another. “I’d want the protection for Williams too. What Stearns does will probably tell you a little more about him, about how committed he is to making value judgments.”

Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field.
Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

In that sense, the decision to trade or keep Senga may be revealing as well. Remember, the Japanese star was a Billy Eppler signing, a year ahead of Stearns’ arrival, and at the time there were concerns about his elbow.

To this point there is no indication the elbow has been an issue, but Senga has been sidelined by a shoulder capsule injury, as well as in-season injuries to his calf in 2024 and hamstring in 2025 that both kept him out for extended periods, and seemed to affect him when he returned to pitching -- in the ’24 postseason and the second half last season.

Still, he was in good form last season before the hamstring injury on June 12th, pitching to a 1.39 ERA over 14 starts, averaging between five and six innings per start. Senga returned a month later and showed flashes of dominance but struggled badly at times while putting up a 6.56 ERA over eight starts, and indicating at one point that he was lacking his usual leg drive.

To his credit, Senga accepted a demotion to the minors. But with the Mets desperate for pitching in late September, he essentially opted not to try to make a start.

“You always want guys to want to take the ball,” said one exec. “But you also want guys to be honest what’s going on with them, so that’s a tough situation. If I was evaluating him for my team going forward, it would be more about the injury history and the certainty. Obviously when he’s healthy he’s a guy you want on the mound.”

With that in mind, another exec pointed out that the way the Dodgers used their pitching depth to win the championship in 2025 could serve as reason enough to keep Senga.

“They had a ton of injuries to their starting rotation,” the exec said. “Look at their innings totals during the season and you’d never believe they were the champs. But they got their top guys healthy for October and that’s how they won.”

It’s true, the Dodgers had only one starter throw more than 112 innings last season, and that was Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who totaled 173.2 innings. Tyler Glasnow threw only 90 innings, while Blake Snell threw 61, Shohei Ohtani 47 and Roki Sasaki 36.

Yet all of them played important roles in the postseason.

“You can’t plan on that,” said the exec, “but when you have the Dodgers’ depth you can manage injuries with an eye on the big picture and still have the talent to reach the post-season. I don’t know if the Mets are quite there yet but with the young pitching they used late in the season, they seem to be developing the kind of depth where it would make sense to keep Senga.”

To that point, one scout noted that for all the injuries and missed time, Senga has shown he can be tough-minded when he does pitch.

“I’ve seen him make pitches to get out of trouble a bunch of times,” the scout said. “He seems to be able to set up the forkball and command it when he really needs to. So he looks like a guy you’d want pitching big games.”

The numbers bear out that observation. For his career Senga has allowed a .170 batting average against with runners in scoring position, and in 2025 that average was just .155 -- even including his poor second half performance.

All in all, then, there is plenty of reason to believe Senga could still be a difference-maker. If the Mets don’t believe he’ll stay healthy, you can understand wanting to trade him, but with a 2026 championship as the goal, they may be better off taking another shot with him.

Posted on

NHL Power Rankings: Avalanche Lead An Unpredictable Season, Canucks Fall To Last

The one constant in a pretty unpredictable season is the Avalanche sitting at the top of the NHL standings and power rankings. 

With only one regulation loss and a league-best plus-50 goal differential, they're burying everyone.

The separation between the Avs and the rest of the league is huge, and it's not an exaggeration to say they might be the best team in the Salary Cap Era. The 2022-23 Bruins that finished with 135 points had a plus-128 goal differential, and the Avs might blow right past that mark. Imagine what the Avs can do if they improve their 25th-ranked power play.

The Wild are the newest entry into the top five of the NHL power rankings this week, largely due to the play of the 'Wall of St. Paul,' Jesper Wallstedt. Their big Swedish tandem of Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson have been brick walls akin to the ones in Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, and in six starts Wallstedt has vaulted to the top of the league with four shutouts. 

We're starting to see more separation in the West with the Preds, Flames, Blues and Canucks very unlikely to make the playoffs. Mathematically, they're certainly still in contention, but you look at their play so far, and the outlook is bleak. A string of losing streaks from teams such as the Kraken, Mammoth, Jets and Oilers has kept the door wide open – it just doesn't seem like anyone's been able to take advantage.

In the East, even the last-place Sabres are just five points out of a playoff spot, and they've picked it up with six wins in their past nine games.

1. Colorado Avalanche (19-1-6, +50. PR: 1)

Parity feels like it's at an all-time high, and the Avs are just speedrunning through the regular season. I have no other notes. Moving on…

2. Minnesota Wild (15-7-5, +6. PR: 7)

Unbelievable run by Jesper Wallstedt, who needed just six starts to take over as the league leader in shutouts. Filip Gustavsson has been good, too, and the Wild have not lost in regulation since Nov. 6.

3. Dallas Stars (17-5-5, +21. PR: 2)

The Stars aren't getting enough credit for how well they're playing despite missing several key players, and they lost Tyler Seguin for an extended period of time after he left the game against the Rangers with an ACL injury.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (16-8-2, +18. PR: 5)

Is this the year Jon Cooper finally wins the Jack Adams?! I bet you can't name four players on the Lightning blue line right now, and despite numerous injuries to numerous key players, the Lightning are somehow in the top five.

5. Anaheim Ducks (16-9-1, +12. PR: 3)

The Ducks are so good they helped Ville Husso win a game. They've cooled off a little bit following their seven-game winning streak, but with a third-string goalie in net, they're still finding ways to win. That's a sign they're legit.

NHL Jack Adams Award Rankings: Ducks' Quenneville, Penguins' Muse LeadNHL Jack Adams Award Rankings: Ducks' Quenneville, Penguins' Muse LeadDo the Boston Bruins or Pittsburgh Penguins have a rookie NHL coach who could win the Jack Adams Award? Will Jon Cooper finally earn the honor? Here's this month's top five.

6. Carolina Hurricanes (16-7-2, +16. PR: 4)

So… is Brandon Bussi their new No. 1? The Canes will return to action on Thursday after a three-day break, and it'll be interesting to see who starts in net going forward. The knock against Frederik Andersen is that he's really good but never healthy, but this season, he just hasn't been very good at all, losing five straight with a .878 SP on the season.

7. Washington Capitals (16-9-2, +21. PR: 19)

Pretty amazing what an 8-1-1 run will do in a league that has been so tight. The Caps were 8-8-2 just two weeks ago, 15th in points percentage this time last week and now enter Wednesday's games ranked sixth. Logan Thompson and Tom Wilson are making impeccable cases to be included on the Canadian Olympic team.

8. New Jersey Devils (16-9-1, +4. PR: 9)

After a hot start, the Devils just can’t seem to get into a rhythm, winning three games but then subsequently losing to the Flyers and Jackets on home ice with 10 goals allowed. 

9. Los Angeles Kings (12-7-7, -4. PR: 6)

All of a sudden, winning games seems to have become very difficult. Both of their recent regulation wins came against the Sens in one-goal games, and they've lost three of their past four games in extra time. They've failed to score more than two goals in six of their past eight games.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (12-6-8, +1. PR: 14)

If Carter Hart can at least solve some of their goaltending woes, the Knights might go on a run. Last season, they went 19-5-4 following two separate four-game losing streaks. They went 0-2-2 to cap off a six-game homestand and 0-2-2 to finish November before winning against the Sharks and Hawks. The wins showed the Knights aren't going anywhere despite a clear changing of the guard with the West's upstart teams.

11. Detroit Red Wings (14-11-2, -11. PR: 10)

A win against the Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak, but it was a close call with the Wings allowing two goals late in the third period. It doesn't seem like either John Gibson or Cam Talbot really wants the starting job. By the way, Sebastian Cossa just won goalie of the month honors in the AHL, so… 

12. Ottawa Senators (13-9-4, -2. PR: 11)

Getting Brady Tkachuk back is huge, and the Sens are somehow grinding their way up the standings without a top scorer and really mediocre goaltending. Coming out of a seven-game road trip with a 4-3-0 record, where they had to play the Pacific's best and then stop in Dallas and Montreal, was pretty impressive.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-5, +8. PR: 17)

I'm convinced that as long as Sidney Crosby is wearing the black and gold, the Pens will never be a bad team. Buoyed by the league's best power play – who saw that coming?! – the Pens are in a good position to make the playoffs. Aside from a lousy stretch from late October to mid-November, when there was a ton of travel, the Pens have been much better than expected on defense and in net, the two areas considered their weaknesses coming into the season.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (14-8-3, +2. PR: 20)

The Flyers are 6-3-0 with some impressive wins, and like the in-state rival, they've been much better than expected thanks to some above-average goaltending. The best part is that their rivalry with the Pens is so much more interesting when both teams are competitive, especially when you have Trevor Zegras – of all people – trying to goad the Pens into doing something stupid. 

15. San Jose Sharks (13-11-3, -7. PR: 13)

The wins following a 6-0 loss to the Avs and 4-3 to the Knights showed the Sharks can be a really resilient bunch. With the Macklin Celebrini-Will Smith combo thriving and Yaroslav Askarov playing up to his potential, the only thing missing now is a marquee defenseman. 

16. Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-6, +6. PR: 12)

Connor Bedard is truly a human highlight reel and worth watching even though the Hawks are mired in a 1-4-2 slump. Other than a 9-3 drubbing by the Sabres, the silver lining is all of those losses were by just one goal. 

17. New York Islanders (14-10-3, even. PR: 15)

It's been a tough homestand so far, with only one regulation win. The Isles suddenly look like the Isles of old, once again having a lot of trouble scoring goals. 

18. Seattle Kraken (11-7-6, -7. PR: 16)

The Kraken may have 11 wins, but they rank third-last in regulation wins with seven. It's been difficult for them to get on a sustained run of any kind, and injuries certainly are not helping. Once they got Jared McCann back, Jaden Schwartz went out.

19. Winnipeg Jets (13-12-0, +2. PR: 8)

Did anyone think the Jets would be good without Connor Hellebuyck? Their scoring has certainly dried up, which doesn't help at all, and they've now lost five of their past six, sitting two points out of a playoff spot. 

20. Montreal Canadiens (13-9-3, -8. PR: 21)

Much better than previous weeks when they lost seven of eight, but a three-game winning streak was brought to an ugly halt with two straight losses and 12 goals allowed. There's a big gap between Nick Suzuki and whoever they deem to be their No. 2 center, and along with subpar goaltending, it's been killing them.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Canadiens' Defensemen, Senators Still Shopping AroundNHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Canadiens' Defensemen, Senators Still Shopping AroundIt's speculated that the Montreal Canadiens could once again draw on their blueline depth to acquire a forward, while the Ottawa Senators continue to explore the trade market for roster depth.

21. New York Rangers (14-12-2, +2. PR: 26)

The Rangers played a good game at home… and won?! Things will be really tough without Adam Fox, but this may be the sort of thing that galvanizes an underperforming unit. Tough matchups loom against the Avs and Knights, and it'll be important to keep their momentum going, having won four of their past five.

22. Boston Bruins (15-13-0, -4. PR: 22)

It's a good thing they banked 14 points during their winning streak, because since then, they're 4-6-0 with only two regulation wins.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs (12-11-3, -1. PR: 28)

Just… maybe? Leafs Land feels hopeful again after a 7-2 win against the Pens and a 4-1 win against the Panthers, both on the road. 

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (12-9-5, -7. PR: 24)

All these games going into extra time just feels like a coin flip. The Jackets are 1-1-3 in their past five but could easily be 3-1-1 if the bounces went their way. The margins are tiny and the Jackets are still only two points out of a playoff spot. 

25. Florida Panthers (12-12-1, -5. PR: 18)

Last week, I mused whether the Oilers would miss the playoffs after making the Stanley Cup final again, becoming the only team to do so twice following 2006. The East is tighter, so it's harder to say, but could the Panthers join this ignominious club? It truly feels like 2006 again.

26. Buffalo Sabres (11-11-4, -6. PR: 25)

Slow and steady, right? Getting Josh Norris back was huge, and the Sabres have now won six of their past nine as they try and move out of the league basement. 

27. Edmonton Oilers (11-11-5, -15. PR: 27)

Sometimes they can't defend, sometimes they can't score. Sometimes they can't buy a save, and sometimes they shut out their opponents. The only thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the Oilers look spent, often making simple errors with the puck. An upcoming stretch where they face the Kraken, Jets, Sabres, Wings and Leafs is crucial because the West's general mediocrity is still leaving the door wide open.

28. St. Louis Blues (9-11-7, -26. PR: 30)

Are we sure Jordan Binnington should be starting for Team Canada? At what point does goodwill run out? After getting pulled against the Ducks, Binnington appeared to have strong words for Jim Montgomery, but it wasn't just that game. Binnington ranks 64th out of 79 goalies in total goals saved above average at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com.

29. Utah Mammoth (12-12-3, -3. PR: 23)

They have so much talent on paper, yet they have the league's worst-ranked power play. They started off hot, but they've struggled mightily since, losing four straight and 11 of their past 14. 

30. Nashville Predators (9-13-4, -24. PR: 32)

Barry Trotz's criticism might've sparked something because they've won three of their past four. I wouldn't be surprised if reports of 'toxic' environment help galvanize a veteran team that doesn't need reminding of how poorly they've been playing. There are captains, former captains and Stanley Cup champions in that dressing room.

31. Calgary Flames (9-15-4, -21. PR: 29)

The Flames were perking up, but then lost three of their next four, including an ugly 5-1 loss to the Preds, where they trailed 4-0 going into the third period. You can't embarrass yourself like that in a matchup to see who the league's worst team might be. Fortunately for them, neither of them is the worst team this week.

32. Vancouver Canucks (10-14-3, -18. PR: 31)

Quinn Hughes is playing so much, and the Canucks are leaning on him so heavily, you wonder if he has enough in the tank to last all season. The Canucks have lost nine of their past 11 and simply do not defend well enough to really give themselves – or their goalies – a real chance to win. 

Image

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.

Posted on

Clemson legend, NBA champion and 15-year player Elden Campbell dies at 57

Elden Campbell, the all-time leading scorer in Clemson basketball history, who went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA and won a ring as part of the 2004 Detroit Pistons, has died at the age of 57.

Clemson and the NBA confirmed his death. No cause of death has been given.

Campbell was a 6'11" big man known for his easy-going style off the court — his nickname was "Easy."

On the court, he scored 1,880 points for the Clemson Tigers, a university scoring record that still stands today. He came to Clemson as Horace Grant's backup, but by his senior season, he and Dale Davis formed a formidable frontline that led the Tigers to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of Elden Campbell's passing," Cliff Ellis, Campbell's head coach at Clemson, said in a statement released by the university. Elden was a great player for four years, especially in 1989-90, when he was a major reason we won Clemson's only ACC regular season championship. He went on to a 15-year career in the NBA and won a World Championship. But most of all, Elden was an outstanding, giving person. This is a sad day for the Clemson family."

The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Campbell with the No. 27 pick in the 1990 NBA Draft.

That coming season was Magic Johnson's last in the NBA — Campbell was on the Lakers' team that lost to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals — and from there Campbell was a key part of the Lakers teams between the Showtime era and when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal came to town. He is still third on the Lakers' all-time blocked shots list.

After that, Campbell played for the Hornets, Sonics, and then was part of the 2004 Detroit Pistons championship team, a season where he played in 65 games, primarily off the bench.

For his career, Campbell averaged 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks across the 1,044 games he played.

Posted on

Celtic confirm Wilfried Nancy’s arrival as Martin O’Neill signs off with victory

  • O’Neill has been in interim charge since Rodgers’ exit

  • Celtic move level on points with Hearts after Dundee win

Celtic have appointed Wilfried Nancy, coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, as their new permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers, who was dismissed in October. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract.

Martin O’Neill signed off his spell as interim manager with a 1-0 home win against Dundee on Wednesday night. The result moved Celtic level on points with Hearts, who remain top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Kilmarnock. Celtic also have a game in hand on their title rivals.

Continue reading...
Posted on

"I'm Happy For Him": Todd McLellan Talks Up John Gibson After Win Vs. Bruins

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The Detroit Red Wings made sure they enjoyed a better result in their second consecutive meeting against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday evening.

Detroit managed to build a 5-2 lead by the midway point of the third period, and despite a late comeback attempt by the Bruins, they held on for a victory to snap what was a four-game winless skid. 

For Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, it was his first victory since Nov. 13 and he did so while making a season-high 34 saves.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The scoreboard will show that Gibson did allow four goals for the fifth time in his last six outings, but he was completely dialed in for most of the game with several critical saves. 

Image

Head coach Todd McLellan would say afterward that while it was more of a "roller coaster" style victory for the entire club, a win is still a win for Gibson and that he earned it. 

"There were some really tough saves and there were periods of nothing, and the game was under control, and then it wasn’t,” McLellan said. “So, it was a very much a roller coaster-type game for a goaltender to play in. At the end of the night, he got the win, so it can’t do anything but help his confidence, the team’s confidence. I'm happy for him."

"It's been a while since he got one (a win), and I'm happy for him." 

Red Wings Snap Winless Skid By Holding On For 5-4 Win Over Bruins Red Wings Snap Winless Skid By Holding On For 5-4 Win Over Bruins The Detroit Red Wings built up a 5-2 lead over the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday evening and hung on for a 5-4 victory, ending their four-game losing streak.

Gibson's numbers since being acquired by the Red Wings during the offseason from the Anaheim Ducks aren't what he'd like them to be, as he currently sports a goals-against average of 3.62 along with an .868 save percentage. 

But with a critical six-game road swing ahead of them, during which Gibson will get playing time, the victory on Tuesday evening should go a good way toward building his confidence. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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.

Posted on

Vocal Chris Paul reportedly was not speaking with coach Tyronn Lue, leadership styles clashed

The LA Clippers knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Chris Paul last offseason: A very vocal leader in the locker room who will hold everyone accountable and call anyone out. It's why San Antonio wanted him around Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle a season ago, to teach them, but get in their face at points. The Clippers also knew Paul's leadership style could annoy coaches and teammates. The Clippers organization had been down this road before, during the Lob City era, when Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan grew weary of CP3's constant criticism, and it created some friction.

This time, on a struggling 5-16 team with a lot of issues, Paul's vocal criticism of everyone — including coach Tyronn Lue and management — just wore too thin, which is why the Clippers have parted ways with the future Hall of Fame point guard in an awkward late-night breakup on the road. Paul and Lue were not speaking to one another, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.

ESPN's Shams Charania added these details.

There are a lot of things to criticize with the Clippers. This was a team fueled to 50 wins a season ago based on a top-three defense in the league, but this season it's 26th, with the second-worst transition defense in the league (which pairs very poorly with the third-highest turnover percentage in the league). The Clippers run the highest percentage of isolation plays in the NBA, and with that and the picks for Harden, their offense is very predictable. Injuries have been an issue, but the bet by the front office on the combo of Bradley Beal and John Collins to replace Norman Powell was a huge miss (to be fair, keeping Powell on a new contract would have messed with their plans to keep their books clean in the summer of 2027). Put simply, the Clippers are old and slow, and that's a bad combo in an increasingly up-tempo NBA.

Paul was likely talking about all of it, but this is a veteran roster that was not going to be receptive. In a locker room with concerning vibes and guys openly discussing the team's lack of energy, CP3's leadership style likely didn't play well.

That said, the Clippers can't just waive him — they have 14 guys on the roster, to waive him would mean replacing him, and they are so close to their first apron hard cap they can't sign even a veteran minimum player until January. The Clippers are going to keep Paul on the roster and look for a trade (something Paul's agents will be involved with) to a place where he can have the farewell tour the future Hall of Famer deserves. For now, he's home with the family and waiting on next steps.

Posted on

Kings star Russell Westbrook passes Tim Duncan on NBA's all-time scoring list

Kings star Russell Westbrook passes Tim Duncan on NBA's all-time scoring list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Russell Westbrook has reached yet another incredible NBA milestone.

With his eighth point in the second quarter of the Kings’ game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, the star point guard reached a total of 26,498 career points, passing Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Tim Duncan (26,496 points) for 17th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Westbrook entered Wednesday’s contest with 26,490 points, needing six points to tie Duncan and seven to pass him.

Just two weeks ago, Westbrook passed another NBA great on the prestigious list.

Westbrook leapfrogged Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce for 18th on the all-time scoring list in Sacramento’s 123-110 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 16 at Frost Bank Center.

He finished that game with 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 34 minutes.

Sacramento signed the former NBA MVP to a one-year deal before the start of the 2025-26 season.

In 21 games (15 starts) with the Kings entering Wednesday, Westbrook is averaging 13.6 points on 42.7-percent shooting from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range, with 7.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 28.2 minutes per game.

Next above Westbrook on the all-time scoring list is Dominique Wilkins’ 26,668 points, which as of Wednesday’s game, Westbrook would need 170 points to pass.

Why not?

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

Canucks Assign Tolopilo & Pettersson To The AHL

The Vancouver Canucks have made two roster moves. Vancouver has assigned goaltender Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman Elias Pettersson to the Abbotsford Canucks. As per NHL rules, both will need to play at least one AHL game before being called back up. 

Tolopilo has played five games for Abbotsford this season. The 25-year-old has a 1-3-1 record while recording a save percentage of .901. Tolopilo started two games for the Canucks on their recent road trip, but flew back to Vancouver early after his wife went into labour. 

As for Pettersson, he has spent the entire season up to this point in the NHL. The 21-year-old has two points in 24 games, but was a healthy scratch in each of the Canucks last two outings. In 46 career AHL games, Pettersson has 15 points and 44 penalty minutes. 

Nov 20, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) skates during warm up prior to a game against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Abbotsford's next game is scheduled for Wednesday when they take on the Calgary Wranglers. The season has not gone as the AHL Canucks planned, as they sit 31st in the league with a 4-14-1-2 record. Game time for Wednesday is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from the newly named Rogers Forum. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Evander Kane Injured In Canucks Loss To The Avalanche

New Interview Gives Reminder That Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes Could Have Played For Team Canada

Keeping Up With The Abbotsford Canucks: November 2025

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.

The Hockey News
Posted on

Seth Curry shares heartfelt post after strong Warriors debut in loss to Thunder

Seth Curry shares heartfelt post after strong Warriors debut in loss to Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry has called the Bay Area home since 2009. 

Now, his younger brother, Seth, is doing the same. 

“Felt Like Home!” Seth Curry wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday. “Thankful to be back out there on the big stage.” 

Curry, 35, re-signed with the Warriors on Monday and made his season debut in Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was his first NBA action since April when he was with the Charlotte Hornets. 

“I’ve been waiting to get on this floor for a while now,” Curry told reporters postgame. “The fans showed me a lot of love when I stepped on the floor and it felt good to go out there and make my first shot, kind of eased the pressure a bit. And then just from there, I’m playing basketball.” 

It was a seemingly seamless fit for Curry, as he scored 14 points in just 18 minutes played. He was extremely efficient as well, shooting 6 of 7 from the field and 2 of 3 from 3-point range. 

“The energy in the building was good. It’s tough coming into your first game playing against the defending champs…” Curry said, “…we’re figuring stuff out, it’s my first game with this team, but like I said, in that second half we played good basketball.” 

Curry will have to wait another three games until his next chance to play in front of the San Francisco crowd, when the Warriors host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 12, which also is the target date for his brother Steph to return from a quad injury. 

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Maro Itoje eyes World Cup glory after England dodge big guns in 2027 draw

  • England ‘welcome whatever comes’ says bullish captain

  • Wales’ Tandy ‘unbelievably excited’ by England clash

Maro Itoje has set his sights on Rugby World Cup glory in Australia in 2027 after England were handed a favourable potential path through the tournament when the draw was made in Sydney on Wednesday.

Steve Borthwick’s side, who have risen to third in the world rankings after an 11-match winning streak, emerged on the other side of the draw from the reigning world champions South Africa, three-times winners New Zealand and France.

Continue reading...