GIRONA, Spain (AP) — Lamine Yamal missed a penalty as Barcelona lost at Girona 2-1 on Monday and passed up a chance to overtake Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
The defeat was the second in less than a week for Barca and left it second in the table, two points behind Madrid.
A win would have taken it above its archrival but, instead, a crisis brewed for coach Hansi Flick, whose side lost to Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Copa del Rey last week.
The second loss came even though Barcelona took the lead early in the second half.
Yamal hit the post with his spot kick on the stroke of halftime but 14 minutes into the second period Pau Cubarsí met Jules Kounde’s cross from the right and placed his header perfectly into the top corner.
The goal was Barcelona’s 100th in all competitions this season and made it the second club in Europe's big five domestic leagues to hit the century after Bayern Munich.
However, Girona roared back into the game just three minutes later.
Barcelona’s Joan Garcia was already the busier of the two goalkeepers but he could not stop Thomas Lemar side-footing home from close range after nice work from Vladyslav Vanat on the left wing.
Both sides pushed for a decisive second and it was Girona who executed with three minutes remaining, substitute Fran Beltrán scoring with a low shot from just inside the box.
Girona’s Joel Roca was sent off in the dying seconds but there were no more goals.
The victory ended a three-game winless streak for Girona and lifted it three places into 12th, equal on points with Getafe.
Only seven points separate the 11 clubs from eighth to 18th in La Liga.
"I think they ain't really going to take in what I'm saying, but I like this format," All-Star MVP Anthony Edwards said. "I think it makes us compete because it's only 12 minutes, and the three different teams separate the guys. I think it was really good … I feel like the old heads played hard, too. They were playing real good defense."
Edwards was not the only player thinking that way.
"I think it was definitely a step up in the competitive department compared to last season," Kevin Durant said.
"I know the world guys wanted to win. I know Victor [Wembanyama] wanted to win bad," Devin Booker said. "You could see it. And I know our team did.
"Shout-out Kawhi. We were watching that game in the back. That's probably one of the most special quarters of basketball we've witnessed."
Booker also threw the NBA league office some love for changing around the players' schedules during All-Star Weekend.
"The NBA did a good job of us doing all our media and pictures yesterday. So today, we could just come in and properly get our bodies activated. I think that was a big part of it," Devin Booker said. "I think every team honestly wanted to win."
"We wanted to play hard. It doesn't matter what the format was, I came in, I'm going to play some defense," Maxey said. "I'll score when I can, but I want to play hard, bring energy, get some steals, and have fun."
Karl-Anthony Towns said this was his favorite All-Star Game he's played in, partly because he got to represent the Dominican Republic on the World Team, and partly because of the level of competition.
"Fans have been asking for it. Media have been asking for it," Towns said. "I feel that after today, I think you all can see the competition is there, and I think that we all brought it today and a sense of effort. I hope that the fans and all of you appreciate it."
A number of the World players were excited to represent the growth of the game.
"I think it brought some competitiveness with it, and it's a fun format," first-time All-Star Deni Avdija said. "So it shows how the game went global, which is amazing to see."
Victor Wembanyama was the guy credited with sparking the hard play — Edwards the MVP said Wemby set the tone at the start of the first game, when he scored the World's first seven points.
Wembanyama liked the USA vs. World format, but is open to a return to tradition.
"I liked it," Wembanyama said of the format. "I wouldn't be against this format in the future, and I wouldn't be against the regular East versus West either."
Wemby isn't the only player who still likes the East vs. West
"I thought it was good," Kawhi Leonard said. "But I still think going back to East-West will be great. I think guys will compete still."
Whatever the format is next year in Phoenix, hopefully we see the same level of player buy-in, defense, and competitiveness. It's what we've all been hoping for.
PHOENIX –– The big position battle taking shape early in Dodgers camp this spring?
It’s over a part-time platoon role … at the bottom of the lineup … and for likely only the first few weeks of the regular season.
Such is the reality for this year’s Dodgers squad, which boasts All-Star talent around the diamond and little legitimate competition for regular playing time.
Tommy Edman of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs the bases after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees in the second inning during Game Two of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Getty Images
When everybody is healthy, their starting nine is set. Only with news like Monday’s –– when manager Dave Roberts ruled out second baseman Tommy Edman for opening day as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery –– is there any true intrigue about how at-bats will be divided.
Edman’s absence to start the season is hardly surprising. The utilityman spent most of this winter rehabbing, after undergoing surgery in November to address an ankle problem that nagged him much of last season. And though he is back to baseball activities now, taking swings, doing light jogging and making daily progress, Roberts said the team will also be “methodical” with how it brings him back to full health.
“(We’re) trying to play the long view,” Roberts said. “You don’t want any regression or setbacks.”
Thus, the Dodgers will have to find alternative options at second base for at least the start of the year. Miguel Rojas will almost certainly factor into that equation, providing a veteran presence from the right side of the plate. But there could now be an opening for a left-handed-hitting platoon partner, too.
Feb 13, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) gets ready to hit during spring training camp. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
In their rookie campaigns last year, both players had flashes of production, but their overall performance was marred by inconsistency. Entering this spring, both have been trying to display further growth in their still-developing offensive games.
Kim, an offseason signing from South Korea last winter, was called up to the majors in early May and hit .383 over his first 36 games, providing surprise pop to go along with his game-changing speed and smooth-fielding glove.
After that, however, he had a .175 average the rest of the year, struggling to adapt his swing to major-league pitching while also missing a month with a shoulder injury.
Alex Freeland of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a fielding drill during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images).
Getty Images
“The swing changes we made last year, I would say I felt about 70% comfortable,” Kim, who could also see some playing time as a backup center field option, and will play in this spring’s WBC for South Korea, said Monday through an interpreter. “This offseason and spring training, we were able to recognize some of the other stuff that we needed to work on, so I’m working very hard to make those changes again this year.”
But, the 26-year-old added, “I was not satisfied last year. I found out some of the things that I needed to work on. So I just want to work hard and make sure that I make the roster right off the bat after spring training.”
Freeland, a former third-round draft pick and top prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system, had a similar debut experience.
He had a couple stand-out moments in his 29 big-league games, including home runs on back-to-back days during a key series against the San Diego Padres in late August. But on the whole, the switch-hitter batted just .190 while striking out 35 times in 97 plate appearances –– a sign, Roberts said, that the game “sped up” on the 24-year-old.
“Last year obviously didn’t go the way that I wanted, but I think everything that happened was something I can learn from,” Freeland said. “Not seeing success, I kind of got out of myself, instead of just taking it at-bat by at-bat. Got ahead of myself, let the failure get to me a little bit.”
Now, both players will have the chance to earn immediate redemption.
Though the Dodgers have several minor-league veterans who could factor into the second base picture, including Ryan Fitzgerald, Keston Hiura, Nick Senzel and former All-Star Santiago Espinal (whom Roberts revealed Monday had signed with the club as a non-roster invite), Kim and Freeland should have the inside track on the opportunity Edman’s injury has created.
Damian Lillard might have just sparked anticipation for possibly the greatest NBA 3-Point Contest of all-time.
After Lillard won his third State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest in a stunning, edge-of-the-seat fashion during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, he caught the attention of another great NBA shooter, arguably the greatest of all-time, who seemingly wants in on next year's competition.
Stephen Curry, the NBA's all-time leader in three-point shots made, confirmed in an Instagram direct message to Lillard that he would compete in the 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend's 3-Point Contest in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lillard reached out to Curry first to assemble the troops.
He lobbied for himself, Curry, Klay Thompson and Devin Booker to be frontrunners in next year's competition, adding they would need to find four more participants.
"Next year ... me, you, Klay, Book, and 4 more real shooters," Lillard said.
Curry responded with excitement and interest in the ultimate competition between the league's best shooters.
"Yessir I'm in. Know Klay will do it if I ask and Book will be at home. Perfect setup," Curry wrote, according to Lillard's Instagram story.
Lillard posted the interaction to his social channel, seemingly confirming the arrangement.
"It's lit," Lillard captioned his Instagram story.
Next year’s 3-point contest is going to be special 🍿
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Fans look on in game three during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
After years of being the butt of jokes, NBA commissioner Adam Silver finally produced a winning product for the NBA All-Star game.
The league scrapped the boring East vs. West and captains’ pick models and introduced a USA vs. World format — a three-team (two USA, one world) four-game round-robin tournament.
No 200-195 scores. No coasting. No cherry-picking. No boredom.
Instead, fans were treated to four 12-minute games. Pride. Patriotism. Competition.
Kevin Durant #7 of the USA Stripes Team drives to the basket during the game against World Team during the 75th NBA All-Star Game. NBAE via Getty Images
The top two teams advanced to a championship game, and suddenly, pride wasn’t just a marketing slogan. It was bragging rights.
Kudos to you, Mr. Commissioner.
Too bad no one was in attendance to watch. This is the next problem Silver needs to fix for the NBA All-Star weekend.
Accessibility.
A chance to watch Steph Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant share the court one more time? To watch Damian Lillard win the 3-point contest? To watch the next generation of stars — led by Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama — take the reins?
The demand is there… but the price is not.
The All-Star game had tickets priced between $1,000-$1,700 for Sunday and $500-$900 for All-Star Saturday night. That’s ridiculous, tragic and pathetic.
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Fans look on in game three during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. William Liang-Imagn Images
Which family, with say one or two kids, could spend upwards of $4,000 to for a few hours of fun? The lack of attendance by fans is proof that making memories comes at a cost, and many aren’t willing to pay it.
The league said the NBA All-Star Weekend’s two marquee days, All-Star Saturday and the All-Star game on Sunday, were sold out. But to those with eyes who were forced to watch at home, “sold out” might have a different definition.
It was apparent that the stadium wasn’t even close to capacity. In fact, the arena itself barely looked half full. Reporters in attendance noticed the many available seats. Fans were shocked at the emptiness. Intuit Dome holds a capacity of 18,000, but due to everything going on Saturday night, that number was reduced to just over 15,000 — and it would be a shock if 10,000 people were watching from the seats.
Fans stood outside the Intuit Dome on Sunday, doing what they could to scrounge up tickets from the resale market. Still, those prices were outrageous.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the USA Stripes Team drives to the basket during the game against the USA Stars Team during the 75th NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday. NBAE via Getty Images
According to a story by The Athletic, “most owners only receive about four official tickets to purchase through the league, according to sources from multiple teams familiar with the process. In order to bring along friends, family and corporate partners, they have to buy tickets with everyone else, which helps drive the demand for obscenely priced resale tickets in the thousands.”
If the NBA All-Star game isn’t about competition — and one year of doing so isn’t enough to wash away the decade of incompetence — then the least Silver and the league could do is find a way to make it more accessible for fans.
Until then, arenas will continue to be empty for what’s supposed to be one of the NBA’s marquee events of the season. And regardless of the competition factor, that’s a loss for everyone.
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CAGLIARI, Italy (AP) — Lecce beat Cagliari 2-0 and gained a vital three points in its struggle to avoid relegation from Serie A on Monday.
The southern club remained in 17th place but the win took it three points clear of the relegation zone. It was tied on points with the two clubs above it, Cremonese and Genoa.
After a goalless first half, the visitor was more clinical in a decisive second period.
Omri Gandelman put Lecce ahead with a header after 65 minutes, and Ylber Ramadani doubled the lead 11 minutes later with a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
It was the second win in a row for Lecce after a run of eight games without a victory and only the second time in 12 games it has scored twice in one match.
It was the second loss in succession for Cagliari, which remained in 13th place, a point behind Parma and one clear of Torino.
The San Diego Padres will go into the 2026 season with a better roster than in 2025. It is already a better roster and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller isn’t done yet. He said so in his morning media scrum on Sunday.
It is not a World Series winning team as it currently stands. But it is good enough to compete for the first half of the season and Preller could still make improvements over the next few weeks and at the trade deadline this summer.
By July, we will have a better idea of which players in the minor leagues he can use as trade bait to complete the team. For those who don’t like the way Preller operates, you should probably get used to it. It was made public on Monday that he has been extended for multiple years.
Prospects are capital to Preller. If he falls in love with one, like he did Jackson Merrill, then we could see that player with the Padres. But otherwise, they are used to get players he feels the major league team needs.
The 2025 Padres won 90 games and started the season with Yuli Gurriel as DH, Jason Heyward in left field and Elias Diaz/Martin Maldonado behind the plate. Heyward and Gurriel were gone by May, but it was painful to watch until then. Diaz and Maldonado lasted until Freddy Fermin was acquired at the trade deadline when Diaz became the backup and Maldonado was released.
Here is a look at how the current roster compares to the one we saw in spring of 2025. Anyone would be hard-pressed to argue we aren’t in a better place.
Starting pitchers
This is the one area where the Padres, on paper, appear to be behind last season. With a starting group of Dylan Cease, Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, an injured Yu Darvish and Kyle Hart the Padres were taking a big swing with hoping that Cease, King, Darvish, Pivetta and Vasquez would carry them through, and Hart could be a depth piece. On paper that looked serviceable.
We didn’t know that Darvish had a torn UCL and Cease would be ineffective through parts of the year. We didn’t know that King would get hurt after being dominant for a couple months and Hart would flame out as a starter and be shuttled between the bullpen and Triple-A.
Pivetta stepped forward and carried the load for this team, allowing Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert to get starts and shine. Vasquez, who struggled early on and wasn’t sharp, came on late in the season and helped prop up the rotation.
It was a patchwork group who looked good to start the year but were injury-riddled and still managed to pitch the Padres to 90 wins (with a bullpen assist).
For 2026, Cease is gone and King is healthy. Joe Musgrove is back from Tommy John surgery and Vasquez looks to build on the step forward he took late last season. Pivetta has earned the front-of-the-rotation status that should come his way on Opening Day.
The rotation needs a fifth starter and depth. With the acquisition of Germán Márquez and Griffin Canning (not on roster yet), the Padres now have JP Sears, Márquez, Matt Waldron, Hart, Marco Gonzales, Triston McKenzie and Canning in competition for the fifth spot and depth for the rotation. This should make for an interesting spring to see who fills out the roster.
If last season’s pieced together rotation, with the help of their shut-down bullpen, was able to have a good season then this group should have an equal chance.
Bullpen
The Padres had Tom Cosgrove, Sean Reynolds, Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio, Omar Cruz and Juan Nuñez competing for bullpen jobs last season. The back of the bullpen had Robert Suarez, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada. Middle relief was Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta. Bryan Hoeing got hurt early and wasn’t a factor.
Suarez is now the set-up man for the Atlanta Braves. Of the other prior bullpen options, only Jacob and Marinaccio are still with the team.
For 2026, the Padres have Mason Miller to close. Adam, Morejon and Estrada are late-inning options, and a host of other contenders fill out and add depth to the bullpen.
Peralta and Matsui are likely locks with the team. David Morgan made a great first impression last season and earned a 2.66 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched. Bradgley Rodriguez was only in seven games but showed wipeout stuff with a 1.17 ERA.
Hoeing could be competing for the long-man role with Hart or Marinaccio. There are many other options with Preller adding Ty Adcock and Daison Acosta to the roster for the bullpen. Then there are the Padres minor league options with Garrett Hawkins and Francis Peña (not on the roster).
Non-roster invites in camp include Ethan Routzhan, Manuel Castro, Sean Boyle, Logan Gillaspie, Justin Yeager, Ryan Och and Evan Fitterer.
An area of deep depth for the Padres, the bullpen competition will mean someone who should be a big-league pitcher will either leave the team or be in the minor leagues.
With the news from Preller that Jhonny Brito will not be ready until May or June, that takes him out of the running but adds another arm for later in the season. He was recently moved to the 60-day IL.
Outfielders
The Padres did serious dumpster-diving last offseason to acquire over-the-hill major league players to fill out their roster. Gurriel, Heyward, and Maldonado all signed and made the opening roster for the team. Aging and largely ineffective Jose Iglesias still played good defense but added little with his bat. Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano didn’t come along until after the trades made at the deadline.
Connor Joe was signed to platoon at first base and the outfield but had nothing left and was traded to the Reds in May. The Padres used Brandon Lockridge, Tyler Wade, Gavin Sheets and Oscar Gonzalez to piece together left field and relief for Jackson Merrill when he was injured and Fernando Tatis Jr. when he needed a day off.
After acquiring Laureano, the Padres had a much improved outfield and he is retained for one more season. To add depth, the Padres have Bryce Johnson, Sheets (in a pinch), newly acquired Miguel Andujar and new signee Nick Castellanos as well as Tirso Ornelas.
Adujar and Castellanos are probably guaranteed to make the team as depth and DH options as well as platoon options for first base.
Jase Bowen, Carlos Rodriguez, Nick Schnell and Pablo Reyes were all minor league signs with invites to spring camp.
Infielders
The Padres have Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth to provide good defense and reliable offense on the left side. Luis Arraez was the regular first baseman in 2025. Although an excellent contact hitter, he provides little else. His below-average defense and lack of power hampered the lineup during 2025.
Sheets is a power-hitting lefty first baseman who plays league average defense but has significant splits versus left-handed pitchers. A platoonmate for first base is an area of emphasis for Preller this offseason. Andujar plays first, Castellanos has started working out at first during the offseason and Preller added first baseman Ty France to the mix on Monday morning. Signed to a minor league deal, France has the best glove of the group with 10 OAA (outs above average) ranking for his range as an infielder. His overall fWAR for 2025 was 1.0.
There are multiple options now for the starting group in the infield and a stiff competition should take place for the right-handed platoon piece for Sheets at first base. Minor league sign Jose Miranda is a bounce-back candidate for the infield. Minor league depth includes Marcos Castanõn, Franciso Acuna, Nick Solak, Samad Taylor and Romeo Sanabria. All were non-roster invites to spring camp.
Catchers
Things get really interesting behind the plate in 2026. Freddy Fermin is the frontline catcher but has never been the top guy before and will need to ease into increased playing time to avoid what we saw last year after his trade to San Diego. With the wear and tear of playing almost every game, Fermin’s offense deteriorated significantly.
His pre-All-Star game average was .274 with a .354 on base. He was traded to San Diego and played more games those last two months than he had previously for any two months of his career. His post-All-Star average was .226 with a .259 on base.
All those numbers were a big improvement over the Diaz/Maldonado tandem the team started with, but it seems clear that to get the best out of Fermin he needs a solid backup catcher to give him time off.
The Padres are going all in on Luis Campusano this spring. Both Preller and manager Craig Stammen have stated that fact repeatedly. He is the No. 2 and will get a lot of playing time this spring to show what he can do on both sides of the ball. Campusano is out of options. This is his last chance to prove he can be a major league player with San Diego.
Behind Campusano are Blake Hunt and Rodolfo Duran. Both were mentioned by Stammen as compliments to the backup job. If Campusano washes out, those two will be the first options for the Padres.
Top prospect Ethan Salas will get lots of work this spring in a run up to his minor league season where he hopes to re-establish himself as a top prospect in baseball.
Bench
The Padres bench in 2025 consisted of Gurriel as the DH and fill-in for first base (he hit .111 before his release). Iglesias and Sheets provided infield depth with Sheets also filling in for Heyward in left field. Lockridge was the fourth outfielder. Maldonado was the backup catcher.
For 2026, the bench options are Castellanos, Andujar, Johnson, Ornelas, Campusano, Mason McCoy, France, Will Wagner and the newly acquired infielder Sung-Mun Song from Korea. Song was primarily a third baseman in Korea but has voiced a willingness to work all around the field for the Padres. He will get work at first base and the outfield, as well as at second and third base.
The only position Song hasn’t been mentioned for is shortstop. It isn’t clear who the primary backup at shortstop will be. Cronenworth is the most experienced player on the team at that position to back up Bogaerts.
As Bogaerts will be gone to the WBC for a lot of spring camp, we will see who gets the bulk of playing time for the Padres. McCoy and Wagner are both shortstops by trade and Wagner is left-handed. This could be the best opportunity for one of them to make the roster.
So there you have it. The floor of talent for this team far exceeds the one put on the field for the start of the 2025 season. The ceiling for this team is yet to be determined. Much will be discovered as the spring goes on and Preller continues to make adjustments to the roster.
The competition should be fierce and entertaining to see who rises to the challenge and pushes their way onto the 26-man roster for the 2026 Padres.
MACCLESFIELD, England (AP) — Brentford will face West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup after dispatching Macclesfield 1-0 on Monday, an own goal ending the fairy tale run of the sixth-tier giantkiller.
The Macclesfield part-timers knocked out cup holder Crystal Palace in the last round and were hailed for pulling off one of the greatest shocks in the competition’s long history.
But they could not match Brentford, which progressed thanks to a 70th minute own goal from Sam Heathcote.
The big defender dived to cut out a cross from Aaron Hickey but instead diverted the ball past his own keeper.
It was a cruel denouement for Macclesfield, which held the Premier League club throughout an even first half before tiring in the second 45 minutes.
“I couldn’t be any prouder," Macclesfield coach John Rooney told TNT Sports. “The lads were outstanding and the shape was really good. We train two times a week and we’ve put that performance on against a Premier League side."
The fifth-round tie will take place at West Ham’s Olympic Stadium on the weekend of March 7-8.
Brentford has never passed the quarterfinals of the competition.
“Credit to Macclesfield," Brentford captain Nathan Collins said. “They made it extremely hard for us. They put up a great fight.”
Former Florida Panthers goaltender Brandon Bussi has signed a three-year contract extension with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 27-year-old will earn $1.9 million annually starting in the 2026-27 season. Bussi has been one of the best stories of the season so far and has earned the job as the No.1 goaltender in Raleigh.
Bussi started the season with the Panthers, signing a one-year deal with the Panthers in the off-season. The goal was for Bussi to serve as the third-string goaltender and spend most of the season with the Charlotte Checkers.
This season, Bussi had posted a .908 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average in 27 games. Additionally, he’s posted a 23-3-1 record with two shutouts.
Although the Panthers would have loved to see him remain with the organization, there wasn’t going to be much of an opportunity for Bussi to make such a lasting mark. With Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov remaining relatively healthy through the season, the Panthers would have seen no purpose in recalling Bussi to the NHL.
In all, it’s a happy moment for Bussi, who is a perfect example of never giving up on your dreams and of hard work helping you accomplish what you desire.
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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 19: The sneakers worn by Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 19, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team World center Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs reacts in game three during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The All-Star Game isn’t what it used to be. It used to be a star-studded, spectacular event that put the biggest basketball talents in the world on their own stage. The talent level on one court challenged even the NBA and Olympic Finals, and the players played like they had something to prove. However, in recent years, the performance level has dropped, and it has become more of a formality to simply show up and get the All-Star nod on the resume since it can lead to extra pay, be it bonuses built into contracts or a checkmark towards a supermax contract extension.
The play has been uninspiring with zero defensive effort — whether it’s out of exhaustion, laziness, fear of injury, or some of each — and the other events of the weekend have become repetitive, mundane, and not as interesting thanks in no small part to fewer stars participating. To make matters even worse for this year, All-Star Weekend was sparsely attended for multiple possible reasons: high prices, afternoon times (thanks to the Winter Olympics), the novelty of the event having worn off, etc.
With Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge typically the least popular event regardless, and the Saturday events losing luster (especially the Slam Dunk Contest), it was up to what had become the least reliable event in recent years to save the day: the All-Star Game itself. With multiple years of tinkering with the teams and format to find something that appealed — from captains drafting teams, to a round robin tournament, and finally a USA vs. The World format — the NBA needed SOMEONE to step up and save the day. Someone did, and he is none than Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Already known for being fiercely competitive, he wasn’t about take any opportunity lying down. After talking the talk before the game, saying he would play hard and hoped others would follow suit, he walked the walk, and sure enough everyone else followed. He flew out of the gates, opening round 1 with a dunk, three and two blocks, and as eventual ASG MVP Anthony Edwards put it, he set the tone by playing hard, and they had no choice but to respond.
All-Star Game MVP Anthony Edwards repeats his earlier praise of Victor Wembanyama.
"I ain't gonna lie, Wemby set the tone. He came out playing hard, and we had to follow that." pic.twitter.com/yvDelkWCqL
Wemby’s Team World may have gone 0-2 and missed the finale, giving him no shot at the MVP award, but if there was an MVP of the entire weekend to be handed out, he would win it.
As a result, plenty of praise is being heaped his way, essentially calling him the savior of the All-Star Game and weekend as a whole.
If Wemby truly has set a new tone that will followed going forward, the next step will be saving the entire weekend, and making The Dunk Contest the top Saturday event again will play a big role. That’s something he and Edwards could help do, and even though they may be rivals on the court, they’re two of the most competitive players in the league and the faces of this new generation of players. Hopefully together, they can set a new tone going forward.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge spoke following Monday’s first full squad workout…
On this offseason…
Judge admitted it was brutal watching this offseason play out early on with the team not very active in free agency, and the uncertainty around Cody Bellinger’s future stretching in to the New Year.
“I see a lot of free agent’s out there, I see a lot of guys like the Bellinger’s, the [Trent] Grisham’s, the [Paul] Goldschmidt’s -- it was like let’s sign these guys right now and then start adding some more pieces because I’m seeing other teams around the league get better with trades and signings.
“It was tough there in the beginning, but I think once we solidified Bellinger back, we solidified Trent back as our centerfielder, then you add a guy like Goldy and some of the backend bullpen pieces like we’ve been doing, I think we’re in a good spot,” he said.
“But early on, it was definitely tough to watch, it’s like we’re the New York Yankees, let’s go out there and get the right people, get the right pieces and go out there and finish this things off -- it was frustrating, but I think we’re right where we need to be.”
Judge admitted that he did voice some frustration to the front office, particularly on retaining Bellinger, but is glad they were able to take care of business.
On the Yanks “running it back…”
While much has been made with this squad essentially running it back with the same roster that fell short last season, he loves the team as currently constructed.
“People might have their opinions on it, because we didn’t win it all last year and we fell short in the division series, but we get a chance to bring a lot of those guys back -- they’re impact players for us.
“You bring a guy back like Bellinger who can play all over the diamond, come up a big hit when you need him. Goldschmidt who is an MVP, has played all over, just what he brings not only on the field but in the clubhouse, he elevates with the young group we have,” Judge said.
“I’m excited. You get another year for the young guys to develop, bring back some big pieces, especially Grisham our center fielder who had a breakout year, so I’m looking forward to it. Then you add G Cole down the line with some other guys, I like our chances.”
On his elbow…
Judge was slowed down by a flexor strain in his right elbow towards the end of last season, but he’s back to 100 percent at the beginning of camp.
Oct 2, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) heads for the dugout between innings during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
“It’s feeling great,” he said. “I haven’t had any issues so far, I think we’re ready to go. I’m out there throwing confidently, I’ve thrown to the bases a couple of times already, so no worries -- excited to get out there and have that confidence.
“That was the toughest thing for me last year, the pitcher working his butt off and the guys working their butts off, and a ball gets hit to me and it’s kind of like I had no shot -- so excited to get back out there and do my thing for the team.”
Judge is scheduled to play in “four or five” of the Yanks’ first nine spring games.
On leading USA in the WBC…
Judge is excited for the opportunity to captain USA in his first World Baseball Classic.
“The time is right,” he said. “In 2023 being a free agent I didn’t know where I was going to go, then coming back to the Yankees and being named the captain, I didn’t want to miss out on that first spring training being the captain, I wanted to be around the guys.
“The time is now to do it. USA came up a little short year, but it’s an exciting group of guys. [Mark DeRosa’s] got quite a squad he’s put together so far, so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s happened -- it’s pretty cool.”
He’s looking forward to a rematch with the defending champion, Team Japan.
“Definitely hoping to see them in the Finals,” Judge said. “They’re the reigning champs and they have a great squad coming back, so I think that’s why Team USA really bulked it up this year to go out there and take care of business.
“If they’re bringing back the same crew, it’s gonna be a heavyweight fight, that’s for sure.”
Judge began throwing a little earlier than usual, but he didn’t have to change his offseason routine too much to ensure he’s ready for USA’s opening matchup.
On what he’s working on…
Judge doesn’t have too much to improve after taking home his second straight MVP, but he’s been working on taking a step forward in one area of his game in particular.
“Baserunning’s on my mind this year a lot,” he said. “I saw a lot of guys around the league with 40, 30 stolen bases that you don’t normally expect to be running that much -- especially with how the game’s changed with the pickoffs and pitch clock.
“I think that’s one way we can utilize some of my skills a little bit more.
“With the lineup we have, this was probably the best offense in all of baseball last year -- if I can find a way to get myself in scoring position, if they're going to walk me or do something, then some good things are going to happen.”
Judge swiped 12 bases last season, just four shy of his career-high.
On the energy so far in camp...
Judge feels a different energy after the Yanks were knocked out by the division-rival Blue Jays in the ALDS last year.
"Any time you don't take it all the way and win the championship you get a bad taste in your mouth," he said. "I think guys are definitely motivated and ready to go, there's a different energy coming in, especially when you lose to a division rival like that where you're tied with the same record, they have the tiebreaker.
"The boys came ready to work, so I'm looking forward to changing that script and going all the way."
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 28: Haywood Highsmith #24 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against Cleveland Cavaliers during round 1 game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Haywood Highsmith
Small and Power Forward, 6’5”, 220 pounds, 29 years old, 5 years of NBA experience
The Phoenix Suns got off to the right start of the year before the All-Star Break transpired. Even if they went 1-2 in their final three games, this team has proved every doubter wrong with their success. This team currently sits 32-23, over its win total from the beginning of the year.
The Suns (32-22) hit the over on their preseason win total before the All-Star break 😳 pic.twitter.com/czwVQgwD0i
With them exceeding expectations and setting themselves up for a postseason run, the team decided to add some more reinforcements, and a big one on the buyout market with Haywood Highsmith.
Free agent forward Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UbkwghKYRL
From watching Highsmith in the past and seeing where this team is going, this is a great move from the front office. They take a low-value swing, and if it pays off, they will make this roster even richer than before.
2024-25 Recap
Highsmith has had a bit of a wild career, but fortunately, last season dealt with a tamer one than the previous. This was due to his success with the Heat during their 2023 Finals run. He was then able to secure a 2-year deal worth a little more than $10 million.
In the 2024 season, he had a healthy year, playing in 74 of the Heat’s 82 games and starting 42. For the Heat, he played a consistent role as a solid wing defender who can take big assignments, is scrappy, plays for loose balls, and is a strong defender. Not only will he do that defensively, but he could also stretch and shoot the three-ball at a decent clip. In a year when he had his most minutes (24.6), Highsmith averaged career highs in almost every category. He had a stat line of 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks while shooting 46/38/72 from the field.
Unfortunately, Highsmith suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during training camp in the offseason. He then underwent surgery and was said to miss 8-10 weeks. With this happening in August, pretty late in the offseason, the Heat knew he would not be back and needed some additions. That is when, a week later, after getting this injury, Highsmith was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for essentially a $5.6 trade exception, giving the Heat flexibility to add to their team, knowing Highsmith would not be available to them.
The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ilO1dBStWw
The Brooklyn Nets then waived him on February 5th, as the Nets could not trade him and did not want him. With him prepping a comeback, many playoff teams would be interested in the dynamic wing.
Contract Details
With Highsmith being waived by the Nets, he became a free agent and could have signed any deal with the Suns. He ended up signing a minimum two-year contract with the team, with the second year non-guaranteed.
This is a huge win for both Highsmith and the Suns. For Highsmith, he gets to go to a team that is in the mix of things and could actually carve out a role in this rotation. If he does and succeeds, well, the Suns are going to keep him, and he will have a home for two seasons after fighting to get to the league since 2018. For the Suns, they take a flyer on a wing who can help them now, and if he does carve out a role in the rotation, well, they got a scam contract for next year. One that is needed, given how financially stuck this team already is, and with some paydays coming in for some of their own free agents.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Highsmith’s versatility is his greatest strength, as he can help on both sides of the court and fits the scheme that coach Ott has laid out perfectly. Since he is another 3&D wing, he will fit in like a glove, just like the others on this roster. He can play solid perimeter defense, something this team has lacked a bit as some of its role players have gotten older. He brings high effort and energy, just like many others on this roster, which has been another staple. Then on the offensive end, he can strike down from three-point range, which has been a staple of the success this year on that side of the ball. With him shooting 38% and close to 40% the year previous, you can see exactly why he can fit into this offense.
My only weakness for Highsmith is that he cannot really create his own shot. The only benefit of the second one is that it is not going to be his role. I’d expect Highsmith to serve as a buffer when Grayson Allen is out and they need more size on the wing. He can slot in and be that catch-and-shoot three-point scorer, while playing some hard-nosed defense on the other end.
One Key Factor
Even if Highsmith has had a solid couple of years recently, we cannot expect this signing to put the Suns over the moon. In NBA history, it is notoriously known that buyout guys do not make much of a difference unless you are Kevin Love joining the Heat. Now, Highsmith was only in this predicament because he tore his meniscus, but that makes you wonder: Will he be back to that form? As we all know, with injuries, especially serious ones like Highsmith’s, sometimes a player is never the same. If that were to be the case for Highsmith, it would not only be upsetting for him but also for the Suns fans.
I know personally, when I saw this notification, I was shocked. I did not expect Highsmith to come to Phoenix, and he is the best player this team could have added. So, for his sake, I want to see him healthy and able to contribute.
Prediction Time
I am excited to see Highsmith suit up for Phoenix, even if he does not have a solid field role in this rotation. For someone who can give some good energy on the defensive end, he should see some playing time just for his effort. Once he can get comfortable offensively and find his spots, that is when the threes will start falling as well. Even if he is at the end of the rotation and only used in situational situations, he will be needed for the size on the wing in the playoffs to help match up against other stars.
Stat Prediction: 20 Games Played, 5.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, on 45/40/75
Final Thoughts
I am excited to see what Haywood Highsmith can do for this team. After watching him take on the Boston Celtics in the 2023 playoffs, he gave me nightmares, and I hope he can recreate those same memories for other fanbases around the league now that he is in the Valley.
It’s time to dive into the potential for the new season.
Spring training is here, and exhibition games will be on the schedule as early as the end of this week. With that in mind, it’s time to kick the mailbag back into high gear, and get back to answering your questions on a weekly basis. The Yankees are gearing up in camp, and have gotten some promising news so far with both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón aiming to get into Grapefruit League games by the end of spring. There are a couple of minor bumps to address, namely Ben Rice sitting out a couple of days with a sore neck, but they avoided dropping any major bombs on us in the first presser of the year so all things considered that’s a great start.
The floor is wide open for questions about this team. They’ve infamously decided to run it back with the roster that took them to the ALDS last year, plus or minus some bullpen tweaking, and they’ve got a bigger role in store for both Rice and Trent Grisham compared to the start of last year. Will their gamble to bet on themselves work out? Will they get reinforcements for the rotation earlier than expected, or is that a pipedream? Can Aaron Judge really be a superhuman for another consecutive year? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of February 19th will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
MESA, Arizona — By the time I got to the Cubs Sloan Park complex this morning, much of the activity had slowed down for the day. However, I do have some photos and video to show you. First, though, since this was the first full squad workout day for the team, Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts had a few comments after meeting with players:
Tom Ricketts: "It's about winning. All of this other stuff, it all leads to one thing and that's winning. We just have to put the kind of teams on the field that can be in the playoffs every year and get back on top." 🔥 pic.twitter.com/R6BTMOt2hP
It’s the usual thing he says every spring. This year, though, I think the team is in very good position to win.
After the catchers workout was done, Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya stopped and signed autographs — for everyone waiting. There were a couple dozen kids waiting and the catchers obliged everyone.
So that’s a good thing.
Then, I went over to Field 1, where I had heard Ian Happ, Michael Busch and Alex Bregman were supposed to be hitting. But, I found out those three had been there earlier and were done for the day.
Instead, I saw some brief hitting sessions from Dansby Swanson and Kevin Alcántara, so I can share some videos of that with you.
That’s a very brief visit to Cubs camp today. There was actually a game going on at Sloan Park today. The Cubs (along with several other Spring Training parks) are hosting the Desert Invitational involving college baseball teams. Today’s Sloan Park game was Air Force vs. Kansas State — I saw quite a few fans dressed in KSU purple.
Tuesday is supposed to be a bit rainy and cool in the Valley so practices will likely be indoors. The Cubs’ first spring game will be Friday against the White Sox at Sloan Park at 2:05 p.m. CT. That game will be televised on Marquee Sports Network, with a radio broadcast on The Score.
