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Minor League roundup, June 9: Pitching rules the day!

Side view of Cesar Perdomo throwing a pitch.
RICHMOND, VA - APRIL 26: Cesar Perdomo #57 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels pitches during the game between the Somerset Patriots and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at CarMax Park on Sunday, April 26, 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Apologies for going a few days without roundups for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates. Thankfully, Tuesday was a full day, with all seven teams in action, so there’s still lots to talk about!

Link to the 2026 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.

News

High-A Eugene LHP Luis De La Torre (No. 14 CPL) was named Pitcher of the Week in the Northwest League after a 12-strikeout performance last week. Congrats!

AAA Sacramento (38-24)

Sacramento River Cats beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros) 5-4
Box score

What’s the pitching equivalent of “one to measure, two to rake?” Whatever it is, it’s a philosophy that LHP Matt Wilkinson apparently abides by. Wilkinson, acquired earlier this year in the Patrick Bailey trade, was promoted to AAA after just 9 games in AA. And in his AAA debut, he was unable to make it out of the 2nd inning.

But things went much, much better with his second take. The burly southpaw was sensational on Tuesday, striking out 9 Space Cowboys in 5 innings, while throwing 53 of 81 pitches for strikes. Tugboat gave up just 4 baserunners on the day: a pair of singles, a walk, and a hit batter.

Unfortunately — but kind of humorously — all 4 of those allowed baserunners were in succession. After Wilkinson retired the first 2 batters he faced, he gave up back-to-back singles, hit a batter, and then issued a 4-pitch, run-scoring walk. But after that? He retired 13 consecutive batters to finish his day, which included striking out the side in both the 2nd and 4th innings. And with that, Tugboat is off and motoring in AAA!

Things went less well for the pair of pitchers on the 40-man roster who threw. Recently-optioned RHP Wilkin Ramos threw just 12 of 26 pitches for strikes while failing to get through an inning, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs, while recording 2 outs. RHP Ryan Walker got the save, but gave up 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run, with no strikeouts. Walker has been pitching quite well with Sacramento, where he has a 1.93 ERA, a 3.80 FIP, and just 3 walks in 9.1 innings … given how awful San Francisco’s bullpen is, I’m in favor of bringing him back … just not for the 9th inning.

A very boring day on offense. Designated hitter Will Brennan had the only multi-hit game, as he went 2-4 with a strikeout, but I think most Giants fans have seen enough to want Brennan to stay put as depth in AAA. He could be a roster casualty given that center fielder Jared Oliva (who went 1-5 with 2 strikeouts) will be coming off the 60-Day IL soon, and the Giants won’t need as much as outfield depth when Heliot Ramos and Harrison Bader get healthy. And as I write this, the news comes in that Brennan has been designated for assignment.

Catcher Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL) continues to look oh so comfortable at the level, and went 1-2 with a walk and a hit by pitch. In their recent ranking of the top prospects in the organization last week, Fangraphs noted that “there are people within the organization who think he’s the player most likely to emerge from the pile of upper-level catchers as the club’s starter.” The lefty is up to a 1.166 OPS and a 196 wRC+ through 21 games with the River Cats, and has done a tremendous job limiting strikeouts this year (he had a 27.4% strikeout rate across 4 levels last year, and just a 19.8% rate in AAA this season). I think we’ll see him make an MLB debut at some point this year, especially since Daniel Susac (No. 20 CPL) has been struggling on offense lately, Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) got optioned/demoted, and Eric Haase could be dealt at the deadline.

AA Richmond (37-20)

Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) 1-0
Box score

The Squirrels may have lost, but it was still perhaps the best game on the farm this year from a pitching standpoint. Richmond was truly and utterly sensational from the start of the game to the finish.

It began with the starter, LHP Cesar Perdomo. A week after having one of the best pitching performances of the year on the farm, Perdomo one-upped himself with what I feel quite confident calling the best pitching performance of the year for a Giants prospect. The 24-year old from Venezuela took down 7 shutout innings while throwing just 85 pitches, 65 of which went for strikes. In those 7 innings, Perdomo allowed just 1 batter to reach base, when he gave up a 3rd-inning single.

And the cherry on top? Of the 22 batters he faced, Perdomo struck out 13 of them!

June has been sheer dominance for Perdomo, who in his last start pitched 6 shutout innings with 4 baserunners and 9 strikeouts. Perdomo’s numbers this year are phenomenal: he has a 3.35 ERA, a 2.45 FIP, and 68 strikeouts against just 18 walks in 53.2 innings. He’s also made huge strides: after striking out 8.3 batters per 9 innings in High-A a year ago, he’s all the way up to 11.4 in AA this season. Of the 39 Eastern League pitchers with at least 40 innings thrown this year, Perdomo is 3rd in strikeouts per 9, and 2nd in FIP (behind former teammate Joe Whitman in both cases). Just an incredible year.

The bullpen was awesome, too, if a little chaotic. LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) had the lone hiccup, but even it was kind of funny and impressive: he gave up the winning run in the 8th inning, despite not allowing a hit or a walk, and striking out 2 … but he hit a pair of batters and committed an error. RHP Ben Peterson, recently promoted to AA, struck out a pair in the 9th inning, while allowing a hit. He has a stunning 23 strikeouts in just 13 innings since getting promoted.

In all, Richmond pitchers had 17 strikeouts on the day, while allowing just 2 hits and 0 walks. They deserved better than to lose the game!

Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t help them. The Squirrels had just 6 hits, and 0 extra-base hits. Center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) led the way by going 2-4, as he continues to round into form. Davidson hit quite a rough patch there for a while, but has opened up June with a 7-game hitting streak, during which time he’s gone 12-30 with 5 home runs, 1 double, and just 4 strikeouts. That’s brought his OPS back to .814 and his wRC+ to 110.

High-A Eugene (40-18)

Eugene Emeralds beat Spokane (Rockies) 6-5
Box score

Eugene was the lone member of the Giants Class-A teams that didn’t shine on the pitching front, but they still won, which made them first-half champions in the Northwest League. Still, there were some exciting things there. LHP Jacob Bresnahan (No. 11 CPL) is still trying to find a groove this year, after missing the start of the season with an injury. He wasn’t great in this game, as he allowed 4 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs in just 4.2 innings, but he did strike out 6 batters. With a 4.80 ERA and a 5.05 FIP, it’s looking very unlikely that Bresnahan makes it 3 straight seasons with Pitcher of the Year honors in his league, but the 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings are a reminder as to why the Giants are so high on the southpaw, who turns 21 later this month. There’s a lot to like there, even if right now he’s issuing too many walks and giving up too many dingers.

RHP Ubert Mejias pitched quite well in relief, striking out 4 batters in 3 innings, while throwing 31 of 42 pitches for strikes. Impressive! Mejias did allow 4 hits though (all singles), which tagged him for a run. It was nice to see Mejias settle in, as he got absolutely rocked in his High-A season debut (this was his 2nd appearance at the level this year, after 1 appearance in 2025). As a result of that, his numbers look hilarious with Eugene this year: in 5 innings, he’s allowed 10 hits, 3 homers, and 6 earned runs … but has 8 strikeouts and 0 walks.

The offense was more solid than exceptional, but Eugene’s quartet of highly-ranked prospects, who fittingly fill the top spots in the order, all had good days. Right fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) went 1-4 with a strikeout, but drew a walk and bopped his 20th double of the season. Last year’s 3rd-round pick has an .808 OPS and a 124 wRC+ in his debut full season. Shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) also went 1-4 with a double, while also getting hit by a pitch and not striking out. Level has adjusted well to High-A so far, as he’s hit safely in all 7 games with the Emeralds, going 11-31 with 4 doubles and just 5 strikeouts (he hasn’t drawn a walk yet, but he’s been hit 3 times). Notably, Level played shortstop with High-A for the first time on Tuesday, as he had only played second base in his opening series with the team. It seems as though the Giants will switch he and Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) on a series by series basis, rather than a game-by-game one.

Speaking of which, Kilen played second for the first time this year, and went 1-3 with a double and a walk. The reigning 1st-round pick is now up to a .774 OPS and a 111 wRC+, with just a 13.3% strikeout rate. Rounding things out was center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL), who had a mixed bag of a day … the powerful righty hit 1-4 and struck out 3 times, but also blasted a 2-run home run, showing off his sensational power. The 2024 4th-rounder has a .790 OPS and a 113 wRC+ on the year, but also has a 30.6% strikeout rate.

Low-A San Jose (33-25)

San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports (A’s) 7-1
Box score

And now we return to our regularly scheduled pitching dominance. And this one began with someone who I would argue is the top pitching prospect in the organization: RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL).

It’s been an up-and-down season for Martinez, following his breakout in 2025. But Tuesday was firmly in the “up” category, as the 21-year old Venezuelan breezed through 5 innings, giving up just 2 singles, a walk, and an unearned run, while striking out 8 batters. After a tough May, Martinez has started June on a dominant foot, as his 1st start of the month featured 9 strikeouts in just 4 innings, with an unearned run.

There’s no denying the magic in Martinez’s arm. He’s now up to 67 strikeouts in 41.1 innings, resulting in a 14.6 K/9 mark that ranks 3rd out of the 419 Minor League pitchers with at least 40 innings thrown this year.

It hasn’t been a flawless year for Martinez, who is allowing 5.0 walks per 9 innings, has seen his ground ball rate drop by more than 10 percentage points (to 38.6%), and has both an ERA and an FIP that begin with a 4 (4.57 and 4.05, respectively). But my goodness is he exciting.

The bullpen was great, too. More than great, actually; perfect! RHP Mauricio Estrella tossed 3 perfect innings while striking out 4 batters, while RHP Trey Seeley K’d all 3 batters that he faced. Estrella’s overall numbers have been more good than great, as he has a 3.74 ERA and a 3.62 FIP, but the recently-turned 22 year old has phenomenal walk and strikeout numbers: 42 and 7, respectively, in 33.2 innings.

As for Seeley, it was his debut at Low-A, and what a debut it was! The 23-year old was a 14th-round pick in last year’s draft, and pitched 7 times in the Complex League with middling results this year, before moving to San Jose. Perhaps he just needed to face better competition!

The pitching stole the show, but the hitting was good, too. Catcher Junior Barajas had a really nice game, hitting 2-5 with a solo home run and a strikeout.

A left-handed hitter taken in the 11th round last year, Barajas earned high praises entering the year, and started the season red hot, but he’d really cooled off lately, posting just a .573 OPS in May after a .940 OPS in April. Most notably, he bashed 4 home runs in his first 8 professional games … then went 31 straight games without a dinger. Until Tuesday! The cold stretch tanked his numbers to a .741 OPS and an 83 wRC+, but there’s still so much potential in his bat, to go along with some awesome defense and leadership behind the dish.

Two other hitters had great games: third baseman Dario Reynoso continued his stellar season by hitting 2-3 with 2 stolen bases, while also striking out once, while designated hitter Jeremiah Jenkins went 1-2 with a double, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Reynoso, a right-handed hitter from the Dominican Republic who recently turned 21, has a sensational 1.003 OPS and a 148 wRC+, with 9 stolen bases in 11 attempts, though he’s still striking out at a 30.5% clip. Jenkins, a lefty from Maine who was taken in the 14th-round of the 2024 draft and just turned 23, has an .828 OPS and a 113 wRC+, but is striking out 33.1% of the time.

Arizona Complex League (12-15)

ACL Giants lost to the ACL Athletics 12-2 (7 innings)
Box score

Well, this was just a bad game, and there’s no reason to dwell on it. The ACL Giants sent 5 pitchers to the mound, and all 5 struggled, en route to 15 hits and 12 runs in just 6 innings of action. RHPs Brayan Narvaez and Matt Dunaway, the latter of which is on a rehab assignment from High-A, struggled the most, as each gave up 3 runs in just an inning of work, without a strikeout.

The offense wasn’t all that much better. Designated hitter Yulian Barreto had a funny game in which he didn’t register an official at-bat, as he had a sacrifice fly and was hit by a pitch twice. Second baseman Jose Ramos had the best day, as he went 2-4, while shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) went 1-3, but was caught stealing and committed an error.

Moving on…

Dominican Summer League Black (4-3)

DSL Giants beat the DSL Red Sox Blue 15-5 (7 innings)
Box score

Well, this is a much better game. The pitching wasn’t great, with the best performance coming from RHP Frank Quiroz. A 19-year old from the Dominican Republic who was a late addition to this year’s international signing class, Quiroz got rocked in his first 2 games of the season. But this one went much better, as he tossed a no-hit inning with 2 strikeouts, though he also walked 2.

The offense, on the other hand, was awesome, with 14 hits in 7 innings, half of which went for extra bases. Left fielder Franco Willias went 2-4 with a 3-run home run, a walk, a stolen base and a strikeout, while third baseman Boris Sarduy hit 1-3 with a 2-run blast and a walk. Both players are having exceptional seasons: Willias, a 21-year old, has a 1.029 OPS and a 119 wRC+, though it’s his third pass through the DSL (he performed well in the first two attempts); Sarduy, a 19-year old, has a 1.111 OPS and a 176 wRC+. It’s very early, but after really struggling with strikeouts in his first two years, Sarduy is K’ing much less frequently this season.

Designated hitter Keiberg Camacaro hit 2-4 with a double, a walk, and 2 stolen bases, while catcher Diego Alambarrio went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and a walk. Camacaro, who is only 19 but is in his fourth season in the DSL, is easily having his best year, with an .899 OPS, a 125 wRC+, 6 stolen bases in 8 attempts, and, like Sarduy, a dramatically reduced strikeout rate. Alambarrio, who just turned 18, has a .950 OPS and a 127 wRC+; he was great in his debut last year, but only played 9 games.

Dominican Summer League Orange (5-2)

DSL Giants Orange beat the DSL Mariners 8-7
Box score

Another rough pitching performance, though RHP Gerson Rivero stood out in earning the save, as he struck out 2 batters in a scoreless inning, with a hit allowed. Rivero, who recently turned 18, was part of last year’s signing class but this was his professional debut. Quite an introduction!

The stars were on offense, though, and there were a trio of them. Third baseman Albert Jimenez had the biggest day, as he went 2-4 with a 3-run home run, a sacrifice fly, and 5 runs batter in. Jimenez, a 19-year old righty, entered the season with 7 career home runs in 81 DSL games over two seasons. This year? He already has 5 home runs in just 7 games, giving him a 1.580 OPS and a 218 wRC+.

Shortstop Yeison Oviedo hit 3-5 with 2 doubles and 2 strikeouts, while right fielder Yoxander Benitez went 3-4 with a walk. Oviedo, an 18-year old in his second season, has a 1.071 OPS and a 163 wRC+ after struggling in his debut last year; Benitez, a 19-year old in his third season, has a 1.029 OPS and a 160 wRC+ as he looks to prove himself following two below-average years.

Home run tracker

8 — Dakota Jordan — [High-A]
5 — Junior Barajas — [Low-A]
5 — Albert Jimenez — [DSL]
1 — Franco Willias — [DSL]
1 — Boris Sarduy — [DSL]

Wednesday schedule

Sacramento: 5:05 p.m. PT at Sugar Lang (SP: John Michael Bertrand)
Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Harrisburg (SP: Greg Farone)
Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Niko Mazza)
San Jose: 7:05 p.m. PT at Stockton (SP: Jordan Gottesman)

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Rebels in the Pros: Jacob Gonzalez makes MLB Debut

Feb 17, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox infielder Jacob Gonzalez poses for a portrait during photo day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The WNBA and Major League Baseball are in full swing as summer nears and both have a hint of Ole Miss flavor to them.

The Chicago White Sox called up Jacob Gonzalez on May 31st, not to play short stop or even second base, but to be their starting first baseman after the injury to star rookie Munetaka Murakami. That call would have likely gone to Tim Elko, who made his debut last season, but he is currently injured and Gonzo has been on a tear in the minors, forcing his way to the bigs.

Gonzalez was batting .317 with 19 home runs in the minors and since his debut, he’s hitting .333 with a home run. He got his first career hit in his first career game and hit his first home run on June 6th.

(Side note for those interested, Madison Central product Braden Montgomery made his MLB Debut on June 9th. He had two hits, the second being a walk off home run in the tenth inning against the MLB-best Atlanta Braves).

Nick Fortes is with the Tampa Bay Rays this season and is currently batting .260 with a home run and 14 RBI. His average is an improvement from his time in Miami last season.

I was pumped this off-season when I saw the Braves had claimed Ryan Rolison from the Rockies. Then they let him go. Now, he is dealing for the Chicago Cubs with a 2.35 ERA across 23 innings pitched and a 5-1 record.

Over in the WNBA, Cotie McMahon is playing roughly 17 minutes a night for the Washington Mystics, contributing six points and two rebounds per game.

Also for the Mystics, Shakira Austin is doing her thing averaging just over 15 points and eight rebounds per game.

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How to watch UFC Freedom 250 and what to watch for during the card on the White House South Lawn

UFC is set to hold its first event on the White House South Lawn with a mixed martial arts show timed for President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

UFC Freedom 250 is set for Sunday night.

UFC CEO Dana White is friends with the president and the two have discussed for more than a year the idea of bringing mixed martial arts to the White House.

Their relationship dates to UFC’s infancy as White reorganized the company and led its rise into national prominence.

The cage and stage will themselves be surrounded by thousands of temporary seats, including ringside space for a full marching band that can set the entire scene to blaring music. The Zac Brown Band will perform the National Anthem.

The fight card is part of a series of events celebrating the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence’s signing on July 4, 1776. Other planned events include an IndyCar race that will pass by the White House.

How to watch UFC Freedom 250

The main card airs live only on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday.

There was some initial discussion that the show would be simulcast on television via CBS. The show instead will only air domestically on the subscription service. Paramount, which is controlled by the Ellison family, also close allies of Trump, this year became the new home to UFC events across the United States

It was a shift away from UFC’s long-time pay-per-view model. Paramount and UFC parent company TKO said the change will allow the mixed martial arts programming to reach more consumers nationwide.

Paramount+ plans start at $8.99 a month.

Who is on the card?

The card has been panned by fans online as underwhelming and features just two championship fights.

Brazil’s Alex Pereira will meet France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria then takes on interim champ Justin Gaethje, one of just two Americans who currently hold even a share of the UFC’s 11 championship belts.

There are five other fights on the main card that include former title-fight participants Michael Chandler and Derrick Lewis and former 135-pound champion Sean O'Malley.

What about the weather?

White says the outdoor show will go on rain or shine.

The mid-week forecast on Weather.com called for rain showers early with overcast skies late Sunday and temperatures around 70 degrees around the time of the first fight.

The main venue has 4,500 seats but thousands more are expected to watch in the open air at the Ellipse, a prominent public park south of the White House.

___

AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts

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LeBron James on GOAT debate: 'It's gonna be hard not to take me'

Whenever LeBron James is asked on the record about his legacy — and, more specifically, the GOAT debate between him and Michael Jordan — he tends to kind of brush it aside, while still sounding confident. He understands, ultimately it's an eye of the beholder discussion.

That's exactly how it played out when he sat down with Sean Gregory of TIME magazine for a cover story on the inaugural TIME 100 Sports, a list of who the magazine sees as the 100 most influential figures shaping the sports landscape around the globe. Of course, one of the conversations was about the GOAT debate.

"I'm not taking nobody over me… There's no question. But I think Mike will say the same thing. Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt. Kareem. I don't think none of us are going to take somebody else.

"If there's a general manager and he's eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it's gonna be hard not to take me, champ."

The challenge with the GOAT debate — aside from the issue that Jordan's career has become mythologized by things like "The Last Dance" documentary, and some fans treat him like a basketball deity — is that it's not just about statistics or skill sets or even championships. Influence on the perception of the game and on the global basketball market — shoe and apparel sales — all factor in.

LeBron gets that and understands Jordan's influence.

"You ask somebody that grew up in the Jordan era, they're gonna say Jordan… You ask somebody who grew up in the LeBron era… they're still gonna say Jordan… Listen, to each his own…

"I can tell you this. I never step my feet in another man's shoes, saying, 'OK, well, s***, I got to do better than him.' My journey is my journey. I do what I do. I know what I've brought to the table. From a basketball standpoint, an inspiring standpoint, an influential standpoint, I know I can walk in any room."

How much longer will LeBron play?

LeBron isn't hanging on NBA rosters to set records by playing in a 24th NBA season, during which he will turn 42 — he is still impacting winning. He was a deserving All-Star last season who averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds a game. In the playoffs, with the Lakers' Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out injured, LeBron took on the lead playmaker role again, averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 assists a game to lead the Lakers past the Rockets in the first round.

The expectation in league circles is that LeBron will return for at least one more season, but when TIME asked about it, you can hear a LeBron pulled in two different directions at this point in his career.

"I love being out there and competing at the highest level, which the postseason is… Playing the game that I love and having fun, enjoying the competition, was something that you always live for, no matter where you are in your career…

"I've spent a lot of time sacrificing… I spent a lot of time putting in the work of my own individual craft, and I've had to give up a lot of family time. So a big part of the next 10 years won't be me getting it back, because you can't get time back. But my daughter is 11 years old. I'm going to pour into her. I'm going to pour into my wife. Because I wanted to be the greatest that ever played this game, I've had to not be the complete husband and complete dad that I want to be."

Most likely LeBron remains with the Lakers "because he is so entrenched" with the organization (he's been there eight years) and with his family in Los Angeles, report Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Adding to his incentives to stay is the fact that his son, Bronny James, remains on the Lakers roster. However, the Warriors are "legitimately interested" in pairing LeBron with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and (once he's healed from his torn ACL) Jimmy Butler in the Bay Area, according to the report.

As it seemingly always does, it will come down to money — and specifically how big a haircut LeBron is willing to take from the $52 million he made last season. With some roster manipulation, the Warriors could offer LeBron the $15.1 million mid-level exception (but that would hard-cap the Warriors at the first tax apron, forcing them to round out the roster with minimum-salary contracts).

The Lakers have LeBron's Bird rights and can offer however much they want. However, the organization is prioritizing re-signing Austin Reaves (also a free agent) and retooling the roster with players who better fit around Luka Doncic and his skill set. That's all easier said than done — two-way wings like the Lakers seek are in high demand across the league. Lakers fans may want to prepare themselves for a more status quo offseason than they hope, league sources told NBC Sports.

Either way, it's easier to envision LeBron returning to the Lakers on something like a two-year, $50 million contract with a player option on the second year and a no-trade clause than it is picturing him going to Golden State (or returning home to Cleveland). Still, everything is on the table.

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Jeremy Lin reveals truth behind Kim Kardashian rumors: ‘That request did come in’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin during an appearance on the
Jeremy Lin addresses past Kim Kardashian dating rumors.

Former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin said the team declined a request from Kim Kardashian for him to appear on reality television after “Linsanity” took over New York in 2012.

During a Tuesday appearance on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, Lin recalled Kardashian’s request when Torre asked him about rumors that they were dating during the “Linsanity” craze — when Lin led the Knicks to 10 wins in 13 games and averaged over 22 points and nine assists after he was called up during the 2011-12 season.

“I think basically, she at that time, was filming her show … I don’t know if it was ‘Keeping up With the Kardashians’ or whatever show was happening back then,” Lin said. “But I know that she was kind of looking for a New York athlete to kind of be on this show essentially.

“So this is what I’ve heard and I don’t know if it’s true or not … that request did come in to the Knicks and that is a real request.

“Again, I don’t know if this is true or not. This is what was told to me afterwards because the request came in to the Knicks and they immediately declined it without asking [me] because they were like, ‘We’re not allowing our young second-year player to go down this route right now.'”

Former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin during an appearance on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast on June 9, 2026. YouTube

Torre aired a 2012 news headline by Syracuse.com that said: “Is Jeremy Lin Dating Kim Kardashian? ‘Linsanity’ Romance Rumors Fly.”

Lin — who is a guest analyst with ESPN for the 2026 NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs — did not directly address the dating buzz.

Torre also showed a 2012 interview with former ESPN host Rachel Nichols, who asked Lin what the weirdest paparazzi moment he had during “Linsanity.”

The cast of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” in February 2012. E! Entertainment

“The stuff about me dating Kim Kardashian, I have no idea where that came from,” Lin said at the time, adding that he didn’t think he was her type.

Lin also turned down the cover of GQ magazine at the time.

“I just want to make sure that I’m not doing a disservice to my team by milking all of the attention because at the end of the day that’s not what I love. I love playing basketball,” Lin told Nichols.

Kim Kardashian during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on June 7, 2026 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. WireImage

Kardashian began dating her ex-husband, rapper Kanye West, in the spring of 2012. She married then Nets player Kris Humphries in 2011 for 72 days.

The Skims founder and West settled their divorce in 2022, and she is currently dating Formula One star, Lewis Hamilton.

Lin, who announced his retirement from professional basketball in an Instagram post last August, revealed in 2023 that he and his partner married “a couple years ago.”

They welcomed a son in 2024.

Knicks guard Jeremy Lin drives down court during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden on on March 20, 2012. Anthony J. Causi

Lin had stints with the Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks and Raptors after going undrafted out of Harvard.

He was part of the 2019 Raptors team that won the franchise’s first championship. 

Lin later went on to play for the Beijing Ducks.

He most recently played for the New Taipei Kings of the P. League+ in Taiwan, alongside his brother Joseph Lin.

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Royals Reacts Survey: Should the Royals trade Kris Bubic?

Kris Bubic stares at a ball in the air in front of him
Apr 10, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic (50) on the mound during the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Kris Bubic has been a hot topic of conversation lately. Bob Nightengale reported that the Athletics were interested in the Royals’ pitcher. It’s difficult to know what a reasonable asking price for Bubic might be, but one marker might be the Guardians trade of an injured Shane Bieber last year. They managed to get back Khal Stephen, who was the Blue Jays’ fifth-best prospect at the time of the trade. Stephen is now considered the Guardian’s sixth-best prospect and has a 3.44 ERA, though only an 11.1% K-BB% in AA as a 23-year-old.

That would probably be the best possible outcome for the Royals, though Bubic figures to need to be healthy if KC makes a trade; he doesn’t have the history of excellence that Bieber has.

The Royals, of course, might not ultimately even be sellers. They’ve won 5 of their last 6 and 6 of their last 8 to put themselves only 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in a messy, messy American League. But if they are sellers, Bubic doesn’t figure to be the only starting pitcher on the staff to get some attention. Per an article on Bleacher Report, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are likely getting some attention, too.

The Trade: Kansas City Royals send RHP Seth Lugo and RHP Michael Wacha to the Chicago Cubs for IF Jefferson Rojas, OF Kevin Alcántara and RHP Jaxon Wiggins

If the Royals could get better prospects for Lugo and Wacha, perhaps they’d be better off extending Bubic. His injury history should drive the price down some. Perhaps even to the point where if he continues to be unable to hold up in the rotation, the team would be able to move him to the bullpen without feeling like they were overpaying. They’d certainly have the money on hand to keep Bubic if they dumped Lugo’s and Wacha’s salaries.

But what would you do?

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Braves turn to Chris Sale to even things up in Chicago

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 04: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves stands on the mound during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park on June 4, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Sale’s former team road tour continues and concludes this series as he’s set to take the mound at Rate Field against the Chicago White Sox. It goes without saying, and he probably already thinks this way as an ace, but going six innings / giving some length tonight would be ideal after last night’s extra-innings heartbreaker. We’ve been so wowed by the aggressive bullpen management to date, but the downsides of it appeared yesterday after the team was hamstrung by Grant Holmes’ early exit and the desire for more rest for the high-leverage relievers. In theory, the arms Walt Weiss wanted to stay away from yesterday are rested, so all should be in play tonight except for Dylan Dodd and Raisel Iglesias. ICYMI, Carlos Carrasco (DFA) and Tyler Kinley (IL , right elbow inflammation) are out, JR Ritchie and James Karinchak are in.

Sale (8-4, 2.23 ERA) was the losing pitcher last week on Thursday, where the Braves failed to complete a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays in their single loss of the homestand. But the 7-2 score is deceptive – Sale was charged with three earned runs in his 5.2 innings of work. Sale exited, the bullpen threw up zeroes in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, and the bats got us within one before Things Happened. It was a weird one. Sale was throwing as hard as ever, extra-rested as he was, but he gave up ten hits for the first time since 2021. There’s nothing more frustrating than death by a thousand soft singles. Something to keep an eye on: this is Sale’s first outing pitching on regular rest since the Braves have started building in those extra days starting in April. His record against his original team is 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA.

Only two White Sox have faced Chris Sale before: Randal Grichuk is 6-for-27 in his career against Sale with two homers and a .781 OPS. Drew Romo has 3 at-bats with a strikeout. But as we saw last night, this White Sox lineup is unfortunately very fun and very legit. 

As of this posting (~2:30 pm ET), the White Sox have yet to confirm their starting pitcher. Likely taking the ball for Chicago will be the righty Davis Martin (8-2, 2.61 ERA), who’s outperforming an xERA of 3.65. He throws a six-pitch mix, relying on a four-seamer 26.4% of the time, followed by the sinker and changeup in almost equal measure with a slider, cutter, and curveball in there as well. Only three Braves have seen Martin with very limited data. Mike Yastrzemski is 2-for-4 with a double and a walk, Jorge Mateo 1-for-1 with a homer, and Ha-Seong Kim is 0-for-2. We will likely see a lineup shakeup anyway to accommodate for the day-to-day status of Ronald Acuña Jr. (left hamstring tightness). But in whatever configuration, let’s hope this is the version of the Braves that gives Chris Sale run support. The Braves were meant to feast off of Fedde last night, which didn’t come to pass – I’m inviting anyone else not named Matt Olson to launch multiple homers out of Rate Field, please and thank you.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, June 10, 7:40 p.m. ET

Location: Rate Field, Chicago, IL

TV: BravesVision

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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Dodgers aim to strengthen their record in Shohei Ohtani starts

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 09: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rayni Shiring/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

What to make of a starting pitcher with more wins than earned runs allowed in June? A day following seeing Eric Lauer masterfully navigate a lineup incredibly susceptible to left-handed pitching, Shohei Ohtani makes his 11th start of what’s currently a season defined by his otherworldly pitching accomplishments, with six wins and five earned runs allowed in 61 innings.

While the Pirates lineup carries stark splits, featuring a 112 wRC+ against right-handers that goes down to 88 against southpaws, Ohtani’s dominance knows no limits, going through opposing lineups like a hot knife through butter. After shockingly—in large part thanks to the offense’s shortcomings—losing back-to-back games between the end of April and the beginning of May, Ohtani puts to the test a streak of four wins, allowing all of one run in this period.

Despite this winning streak, one could argue for the similarities between Ohtani and Paul Skenes as starters let down by their offenses when you consider the respective qualities of these teams. Following last night’s Dodgers win, the Pirates are now 6-8 when Skenes takes the mound, absurd numbers for a team that has improved to hover around .500 in what’s an insanely competitive NL Central. For Ohtani, those four straight wins have carried the Dodgers into a solid but unspectacular 6-4 record in Ohtani starts. There is nothing wrong with a .600 record, far from it, but to contemplate that the reigning champs have had this many losses in Ohtani starts when he’s been untouchable is still a bit of a surprise.

Tuesday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Pirates
  • Ballpark: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
  • Start time: 6:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Olympic chief ‘confident’ LA Games will not repeat World Cup referee fiasco

  • Kirsty Coventry: IOC will have taskforce for any issues

  • Referee Omar Artan refused entry by US officials

The International Olympic Committee insists it is “confident” that the LA Games in 2028 will not face the same immigration issues that have marred the buildup to the World Cup – including Africa’s top referee, Omar Artan, from Somalia being refused entry by US officials.

Despite Fifa’s close relationship with the Trump administration, it was also unable to stop Iran being moved from a training camp in Arizona to Mexico and some of its officials being denied entry visas.

Continue reading...
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'Strong Chance' Blues Sign Dillon Dube To An NHL Contract

The St. Louis Blues tried several players in their bottom six last season, especially on their fourth line, but the feeling was that no one truly locked down a role. 

Heading into the 2026 off-season, finding players who can solidify that fourth line is a must, and a new report from The Athletic indicates that the player could come from within the organization.

According to The Athletic’s Jim Rutherford, he was told there is a “strong chance” the Blues will sign Dillon Dube to an NHL deal this off-season to play down the middle of the ice. The 27-year-old was signed to a professional tryout in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he excelled. 

Dube played as the first-line center for the Thunderbirds this season, posting 20 goals and 37 points in 46 games. He then added five goals and eight points in 12 post-season games.

The fourth line was a glaring weakness for the Blues this season, as Oskar Sundqvist, Alexey Toropchenko, Nathan Walker, and Jack Finley never truly emerged as must-play players.

If Dube can join the lineup and bring speed, physicality and chip in offensively when needed, there is a role for him to earn and lock down. 

REPORT: Blues AHL Affiliate Signs Dillon DubeREPORT: Blues AHL Affiliate Signs Dillon DubeAccording to Frank Seravalli, the St. Louis Blues AHL affiliate are planning to sign winger Dillon Dube.

Although Dube hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2023-24 season, he was a second-round pick (56th overall) of the Calgary Flames in 2016. In his NHL career, Dube has posted 57 goals and 127 points in 325 games across six seasons. 

While no contract has been finalized, and this is the first we are hearing of news involving Dube, this is a move that works for both sides. The Blues shore up their fourth-line center role with a player who plays a responsible game, and Dube receives the opportunity to play in the NHL again for the first time since the Team Canada world juniors sexual assault case.  

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Is Deandre Ayton the Lakers’ long-term starting center?

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Deandre Ayton.

Deandre Ayton was easily considered the Lakers’ most intriguing signing last offseason. It was a bold move by Rob Pelinka to gamble on the center who had developed a notorious reputation for himself over the last few years. Pelinka and Luka Dončić — who recruited Ayton as well over the summer — felt that the big man was the missing piece in the Lakers’ rotation.

Coming into this season, there was a lot of pressure on Ayton to do well. That’s because his previous stints with the Suns and Blazers didn’t end in the best way possible and he hadn’t played more than 67 games since the 2022-2023 season. There was also a clear decrease in his production over the last two years, so the concerns as to why the Lakers signed him were valid.

But in fairness to the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, his first season with the Lakers turned out better than expected. Ayton played 72 games in the regular season, which was a career-high for him. He averaged 12.5 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block per game on 67.1% shooting and had his fair share of memorable games. He was reliable for most of the season but there were also times when he underperformed and was benched for it.

Ultimately, the 27-year-old veteran lived up to the expectations set for him, but there’s no certainty as to whether or not that’s enough to make him the Lakers’ starting center for years to come.

How did he play?

Ayton’s performance in the playoffs this season pretty much sums up his time as a Laker: Outstanding in the first round versus the Rockets and then disappointing en route to getting swept by the Thunder. Against Houston, he averaged 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and even outplayed Alperen Şengün, but then he tallied just 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game against OKC.

While DA’s performance in the second round could’ve been better, what he proved in the regular season was that he definitely still has a place in this league. Although there were times when he made it known that he wasn’t thrilled with his role, the big man was still key in the team’s success this year. He found a way to fit alongside Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves by being a serviceable big man for most of those games.

Ayton’s role was simple: Be the team’s fourth scoring option while being a high-impact big in the paint. He isn’t a high-flying center like Hayes nor a bruiser. He had his own game, which was more post- and mid-range-oriented.

There were nights when Ayton just didn’t have the motor, which was why JJ Redick opted to play Jaxson Hayes over him. But that didn’t affect the relationship between the player and coach as the former was always vocal about how much of an honor it was to be coached by Redick and his staff. Redick also commended Ayton’s ability to adjust to his system so it seemed like they were often on the same page.

What is the contract situation moving forward?

Last summer, Ayton signed a two-year contract worth $16 million with a player option for the second season. So technically, he’s still under contract with the Lakers and the decision to stay will ultimately be his.

Should he be back?

If Ayton is still willing to buy into Redick’s system and the role that they want for him, then there’s certainly a place for him. His underwhelming performance in the second round series against the Thunder shouldn’t define who he is as a player. The Lakers, by now, know his strengths and weaknesses, which is why there’s no definite plan as to whether or not he’s going to remain as the team’s starting center next season.

But if DA feels that he deserves more than his current salary and wants the All-Star treatment in terms of priority on the rotation and touches, then perhaps he’d be better off on another team.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

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Trae Young’s player option deadline is looming. Here’s what an extension could look like

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young has a decision to make.

The 27-year-old has a June 23 deadline to exercise his $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season, which is considered by many as an unlikely move.

Here are the options Young and the Wizards have if he declines his option:

What an extension looks like

If Young opts out, which multiple reports expect, he has until June 30 to sign an extension with Washington that holds a maximum value of three years and $156 million.

While a three-year extension makes sense, it will likely be for less money, with multiple reports projecting a $120 million deal that takes him through the 2028-29 campaign.

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins has extended two players during his tenure, both of which were rookie-scale extensions. He gave Deni Avdija $55 million and Corey Kispert $54 million over four years.

Both extensions were descending value, which means the cap hit started higher and ended lower than the contract’s average annual value (AAV). Considering Dawkins’ history, a potential Young extension would likely follow a similar structure.

Here’s what that cap hit would look like if Young signs a three-year, $120 million extension at descending value, as noted in an episode of the Third Apron podcast with Yossi Gozlan.

2026-27: $43,478,261

2027-28: $40,000,000

2028-29: $36,521,739

For reference, the Toronto Raptors gave Brandon Ingram a three-year, $120 million extension almost immediately after they acquired him via trade last season. After sitting the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, Ingram averaged 21.5 points as he led Toronto to the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference this season.

Young wants to be a Wizard

The Wizards acquired Young in a January trade that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks.

On a recent podcast appearance on “The Pivot,” Young made clear his desire to get dealt to Washington — a place he believes is on the verge of something special.

“I wanted to go [to Washington]. It’s not like [Atlanta] just shipped me there. That wasn’t the case,” Young said. “… I know our team is gonna be ready. We have young guys that have been through the rebuilding stage. They went through a lot of losing the last few years and they’re tired of losing. I want to be there with them when we’re winning.”

Young said he plans to bring several Wizards teammates to train with him this summer, which serves as another indicator of his offseason plans to remain in Washington.

A chip on his shoulder

It’s no secret many sold their Young stock after he played just 15 games last year amid a slew of injuries, which included a quad contusion, MCL sprain and back irritation.

But that’s only fueled Young’s motivation to prove those doubters wrong.

“This is the most slept on I’ve been in my whole life … Imagine the Wizards as the No. 1 team in the East next year. What [are] people gonna be saying?” Young said. “I haven’t played much in a year and a half, but trust me, I’m just entering my prime.”

An in-depth breakdown of Young’s pending decision on “The Wizards Podcast”

Our Greg Finberg broke down what a potential extension could look like and what the former All-Star could bring to next year’s Wizards squad.

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Draymond Green slams Knicks for not standing up for Jalen Brunson after Wemby push

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows The Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) shoves Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the back of the head during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026, Image 2 shows Draymond Green was critical of the Knicks reaction to Jalen Brunson getting shoved
Jalen Brunson getting shoved by Victor Wembanyama; Draymond Green

The Knicks didn’t do enough to protect Jalen Brunson in Draymond Green’s eyes.

Brunson was shoved in the neck by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in the first quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.

According to Green, the reaction by the rest of the Knicks was less than ideal.

“He pushed him down, and none of the guys on the Knicks team did anything,” Green said on “The Kevin O’Connell Show.”

The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) shoves Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the back of the head during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026. ABC

“Don’t not for one second think that didn’t matter. Oh, that mattered.”

O’Connell then asked what Green would have done in that situation. 

“I’m probably gonna get thrown out right there, and it may cost us Game 3,” Green said.  

Draymond Green was critical of the Knicks reaction to Jalen Brunson getting shoved. Getty Images

Green is known for his controversial style that has made one of the NBA’s biggest villains with the Warriors. But the edge he brings to the team has played a significant role in the team’s recent dynasty led by Steph Curry.

Jay Williams on ESPN also agrees that the Knicks’ response was not strong enough and expects that to change during Game 4 on Wednesday night. 

“There is a certain aspect of your team when our star player gets mushed like that and gets sonned like that. You have to respond, and you are going to respond with physicality,” Williams said. “It can’t just come from [Jose] Alvarado; it has to come from Karl-Anthony Towns, OG [Anunoby], it has to come from everybody. Look for multiple shots to be delivered to Wemby (Wednesday night) in Game 4.”

Alvarado warned Wembanyama when speaking with the media on Tuesday.

“I think that’s not basketball,” the backup guard said. “That’s something that they gotta look at. But he got away with one. That’ll be the last one.”

NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA reviewed Wembanyama’s push on Tuesday night. If it were deemed a Flagrant 2 foul, he would have been suspended for one game due to accumulating four flagrant points. 

However, the NBA decided not to do so after missing the call altogether during the game.

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Why Carmelo Anthony is trending — and why it’s not the former NBA star

Former NBA star Carmelo Anthony is mistakenly trending.

There seems to be confusion between the 42-year-old Anthony and the young Texas native Karmelo Anthony, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison by a Texas jury on Tuesday, June 9, following a 2025 fatal stabbing of a fellow student.

This isn't a case of that Spider-Man meme. The two are not related and have zero connection to each other.

Anthony spent 19 seasons in the NBA, playing with the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers.

The one we call "Melo" is a 10-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA team member, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the NBA's 75 greatest players of all time. Now, he serves as a lead studio analyst for NBC Sports and Peacock during their national NBA broadcasts alongside Maria Taylor, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter.

May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; NBA Showtime broadcasters Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady before game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Karmelo Anthony was convicted of killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf over a disagreement about Anthony's presence under a team tent at a track meet at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas. The trial drew national attention that raised questions of race and school safety in Frisco.

But there could be a few baseless conclusions as to why people connected the young man to a future Basketball Hall of Famer. The obvious is the name. Not just the last name, but the first name is phonetically the same.

The former NCAA champion also has a son that plays at Syracuse whose name is Kiyan Anthony. But make no mistake, Karmelo and Kiyan aren't siblings. Carmelo only has two children: Kiyan and a daughter named Genesis.

Jan 13, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Kiyan Anthony (left) works with his father hall of fame member Carmelo Anthony (right) prior to the game against the Florida State Seminolesat the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Is Carmelo Anthony related to Karmelo Anthony?

There's no relation whatsoever between Carmelo Anthony and Karmelo Anthony.

Carmelo Anthony career highlights

In case you're unfamiliar with his game, check out these career highlights from Carmelo Anthony's career.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carmelo Anthony trending after mistaken identity with Texas case

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Jameer Nelson will bring a local voice to the Sixers’ front office

BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Jameer Nelson looks on before the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

As the Sixers’ search for a new president of basketball operations zeroed in on Mike Gansey, a corresponding promotion for Jameer Nelson became increasingly likely. Nelson slowly rose through the organization, starting with the G League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. Nelson became a lot more involved with the big club last season. He was on the road a lot, interacting with players and coaches, according to Bob Myers.

It’s likely the path the organization originally had in mind for Elton Brand before a collars related incident accelerated that timeline. When Gansey was hired, he said that a promotion for Nelson was a “sticking point” for him.

“It’s actually a surreal moment,” Nelson told reporters. “When I started this journey six years ago, I had no idea where it would take me.”

Nelson admitted that when he started he thought he would become a coach, not an executive, but discovered that working in the front office is a type of coaching in its own way. As he’s risen up the ranks from scout to executive VP, Nelson has had plenty of offers from plenty of places along the way.

Having the opportunity to do the job in the place he is from for the team he grew up rooting for was an opportunity Nelson was willing to wait for. He admitted that the fact that he’s able to do so now gives him goosebumps.

“Things that matter here most to me is I’m home, right? My family’s here,” he said. “I’m a Sixers fan. My favorite basketball player of all time is Charles Barkley, and [Allen] Iverson and Kobe [Bryant]. So people from this area or played in this area, I feel like some responsibility to help this organization move forward.”

Nelson’s ties to the region came up quite a bit in his introductory press conference. His most From Here trait was the reminder he gave that he didn’t grow up within the city limits.

“Growing up in Chester — everybody keeps saying Philly, I’m Chester native,” Nelson said, “but Philadelphia has adopted me.”

Getting a higher up in the organization that is from the area was a clear priority in this hiring process.

“I think it’s important that somebody from this community is in a leadership role with this team,” Myers said later that day. “Not being from here, you recognize the importance of connecting to the community and the fanbase and Jameer has that.”

A follow-up was thrown at Myers as to whether the organization felt there was a disconnect with the community that the Sixers organization felt the need to correct. While Myers didn’t say that was the case, it’s definitely criticism that has been leveled at an ownership group that owns two teams in rival cities. Much like Josh Harris’ answer to a luxury tax question a month ago, it’s something the new leadership group wanted to address.

“This is a uniquely spirited community and the history of the organization, ” Myers said. “ I think having someone, just that knows that and grew up here and feels that and the responsibility that comes with that. I just love that Jameer is in the place that he’s in and he deserves it, he’s earned it, and bottom line, I think he’s going to help us win.” 

Between the local roots they’re trying to cultivate with Nelson and the fact that he, Gansey and Myers all played the game at at least the collegiate level, the Sixers have made sure that their new front office has a different presentation than the previous regime. Gansey and Nelson literally go back to their days playing against each other in the Atlantic-10.

“I was 0-2 against him when I was at St. Bonaventure’s and he was at St. Joe’s,” Gansey said at his introduction, “but I think I got the win now because I got him on my side.”

So with less than a month left before their big first test in the draft, the Sixers have their new front office in place. Now it’s time to see just how much they’ll be able to reconnect this team to the community.