CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 01: Kyle Manzardo #9 of the Cleveland Guardians bats during the first inning in Game Two of the American League Wildcard Series against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on October 01, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Projections are out, and the Guardians’ hitters all have home run numbers to beat. Can they do it?
Look at this list of projected home runs for Guardians hitters and tell us which player you believe will hit the over (from ZiPS, which includes projected playing time, to be clear):
Jose Ramirez – 26
Kyle Manzardo – 22
Johnathan Rodriguez – 17
Bo Naylor – 16
CJ Kayfus – 13
Gabriel Arias – 13
Juan Brito – 12
Nolan Jones – 11
Daniel Schneemann – 11
Angel Martinez – 11
George Valera – 11
Steven Kwan – 10
Travis Bazzana – 10
Brayan Rocchio – 10
David Fry – 10
Chase DeLauter – 6
Stuart Fairchild – 6
Let us know which players you believe in for some extra pop in the comments below?
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Masataka Yoshida #7 of the Boston Red Sox arrives ahead of a team workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 10, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Masataka Yoshida is unquestionably a productive major league hitter, having posted a career OPS+ of 109. But with $36.5 million still owed to him over the next two years and no place on the Red Sox except as a low-power DH/pinch-hitter, he arguably hurts the roster more than he helps it.
The Red Sox cannot option Yoshida to the minor leagues without his consent. As for a trade, we have recently seen reports that “there has been tangible trade interest in Yoshida throughout the winter, with teams recognizing his offensive upside,” but the Red Sox obviously have not pulled the trigger. That potentially leaves designating him for assignment as the only option for getting him off the roster. But he is unlikely to be claimed on waivers given his contract, and such a move would potentially be disastrous for the team’s future efforts to sign overseas stars.
What do yo think the Sox should do with Yoshida? Is it time to view him as a sunk cost and move on, or is there still a place for him on this team?
Feb 11, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) warms-up during spring practice. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
This post is part of a series of daily questions that we’ll ask the community here at Amazin’ Avenue throughout the month of February. We hope you find the questions engaging and that our prompts can spark some fun conversations in the comments. We’ll see you there and plan to have staff chiming in, too.
Should the Mets extend Freddy Peralta ahead of Opening Day?
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 15: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image was captured using a static remote camera behind the goal.) Players of Team Canada and Team France shake hands after the Men's Preliminary Group A match between Canada and France on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s do-or-die time in Milan as the Olympic Men’s ice hockey tournament enters the knockout stages of competition, beginning today with four games that will set the Quarterfinal round set to take place on Wednesday. Thus far, Canada, The United States, Slovakia, and Finland have booked places in the quarters based on their performances in the group play. That leaves the remaining eight sides to battle it out in a playoff round to sort out the other four quarterfinalists.
Play begins on Tuesday at 6:10 AM EST with Germany v. France and Switzerland v. Italy. Then it’s Czechia v. Denmark at 10:40 AM EST before Sweden v. Latvia wraps up the day at 3:40 PM EST.
Pens Points…
Three of the Penguins Olympic representatives will be in action on Tuesday, all looking to keep their medal hopes alive and advance to the quarterfinals. Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell hope to keep Sweden in contention and set up a showdown with the United States while going up against Arturs Silovs and Latvia. [Pensburgh]
The last time we saw the Pittsburgh Penguins in action, Avery Hayes was making his NHL debut and scoring two big goals in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. Hayes was sent back to the AHL for the Olympic break, but his stay back in the minors may only be temporary. [Pensburgh]
Ville Koivunen has spent time between the AHL and NHL this season as his development continues to progress. Right now he’s in Wilkes-Barre and tearing up the league with 13 points in his last nine games as he helps the Baby Penguins battle for a playoff bye in the standings. [The Hockey News]
In a classic Kyle Dubas move, the Penguins bought (relatively) low on former first round draft pick Egor Chinakhov who was looking for a change of scenery away from Columbus. Since coming to PIttsburgh, Chinakhov has looked every bit of a former first round selection. [The Hockey News]
Another potential Dubas reclamation project came in the form of defenseman Ilya Solovyov, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in January. After being scratched his first three games after the trade, Solovyov has worked his way into the lineup and is hoping his spot becomes permanent. [Trib Live]
If the Penguins are going to be making move at the trade deadline, it seems the most likely assests they are willing to part with are draft picks, just not their 2026 first round pick unless they are blown away. Given their position in the standings, it seems unlikely any players are on the block. [The Athletic $$]
NHL News and Notes…
Brandon Bussi has been a breakout star for the Carolina Hurricanes this season and they aren’t letting him get away. On Monday, the Hurricanes and Bussi agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep the former waiver wire pickup in Raleigh long term. [Sportsnet]
Jeff Skinner will be looking for a new home once the NHL resumes play next week. Skinner and the San Jose Sharks have agreed to part ways as the forward was placed on waivers for the purpose of having his contract terminated, making him a free agent. [The Hockey News]
Not that there was much doubt coming into the Olympics, but the United States and Canada will face-off for gold in the women’s tournament after both sides won their respective semifinal contests on Monday. The gold medal game is scheduled for Thursday at 1:10 PM EST. [Yahoo!]
AMES, Iowa – Sixth-ranked Iowa State made plays big and small, though always critical, to turn a 10-point second-half deficit into a 70-67 victory — a beautiful, wonderful and incredible victory — over No. 2 Houston on Feb. 17.
“Stepping up and having the courage to make the plays that need to be made,” future Hall of Famer and Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said, “they did tonight, and we didn’t.”
The moment that will always lead any discussion about this instant classic will, undoubtedly, be Nate Heise’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 77 ticks of the clock remaining.
Earlier in the half, Heise briefly lost vision in his right eye after being poked, but, luckily enough, Heise has a third eye.
“It was funny — with about a minute and a half left, I went up to (teammate Jamarion Batemon),” Heise said, “and I told him either him or I are going to have a 3 in the corner, and it’s going to win us the game.”
Which is exactly what happened.
Trailing by two, Iowa State saw its possession break down, looking destined to fail as Joshua Jefferson had the ball at the top of the key without much chance of making a play himself with the shot clock barreling toward zero. The virtuoso passing big man, though, made the perfect skip pass to the corner, where Heise caught it and seemingly released it in the same motion.
Splash.
“(The Cougars) take away a lot of things, but sometimes that backside skip is open,” Heise said of how he came to the prediction he shared with Batemon.
Still, he had to make the dang thing.
“It was one of the easier mindset things because you really have no other choice,” Heise said. “You’re not going to be able to pass the ball — there's not enough time. When you’ve got no other choice, it’s muscle memory.”
Heise’s triple will be the moment that lasts from this game, but it arrived only because of so many that led up to it.
Like Batemon's own 3 in the corner on the previous possession, one that sort of arrived by chance. Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger was trying to get Batemon out of the game for Milan Momcilovic, but the 51% 3-point shooter didn’t get to the scorer’s table early. Then Houston’s Milos Uzan missed the front-end of a one-and-one, so in Batemon stayed.
Then he buried a triple, and Momcilovic headed back to the bench to watch his teammate and fellow Milwaukee metro native finish the game.
“(Momcilovic looked at me and he said, ‘You want me to go back to the bench?’” Otzelberger said. “Almost like he was halfway up already saying, let him go, he’s looking good.’
“That speaks to what a great leader and teammate Milan is.”
If we’re talking about great leaders and teammates, though, Tamin Lipsey gets top billing.
The Ames native and Iowa State senior made the type of plays only he can time and again for the Cyclones, giving the type of boost you wouldn't have even thought possible.
“There’s no script when Tamin’s out there,” Otzelberger said. “He just finds a way to make plays nobody else has seen a guy make.”
The most important of which came with four seconds remaining.
Blake Buchanan, a 44% free-throw shooter, stepped to the line to try to improve upon Iowa State’ two-point lead. But, as 44% free-throw shooters often do, Buchanan missed the front-end.
Cue the "Mighty Mouse" music, though, because here Lipsey comes to save the day, swooping in to steal the rebound and the win.
Which, crazily enough, was the third time Iowa State got an offensive rebound on a free throw.
And if that’s not zany enough for you, how about the Cyclones playing the last 18 minutes of the game without a turnover against a Houston team that ranks among the nation’s best at creating turnovers.
The Cyclones needed it all against a truly terrific Houston team that matched the Cyclones punch for punch for almost the entire evening. Both teams are no-doubt Final Four contenders.
But when Heise's 3 found the net, and Hilton Coliseum got as loud as I’ve heard it since the 21-point second-half comeback against Oklahoma in 2015, the Cyclones proved themselves just a little bit better on their homecourt.
“That’s how you win,” Sampson said.
Play after play after play.
Then, when that final one comes, you make that one, too, and collect all the glory, memories and possibilities that come along with it.
A host of cricketing greats have delivered a statement to the Pakistan Government, pleading with them to improve Imran Khan’s conditions in prison as reports of his deteriorating health have emerged.
The Philadelphia Flyers may not have the center prospect they thought they did in Jett Luchanko, but that isn't a bad thing.
Since Day 1, Luchanko's skillset and developmental trajectory have been superimposed with those of Zeev Buium, the uber-talented but slight defenseman who was dealt by Minnesota to Vancouver in the Quinn Hughes trade.
The Flyers, of course, could have had Buium, but opted to trade down one spot, acquire a third-round pick, and select Luchanko instead.
Just under two years later, though, the 19-year-old Luchanko has not quite yet made the strides indicative of a future top-six center at the NHL level. There is, however, hope that he could contribute to the top of the lineup in other ways.
After joining the Brantford Bulldogs via trade, Luchanko wasn't exactly blowing the doors off and was quickly buried on the depth chart behind Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O'Brien, the 2025 No. 9 overall pick, and Caleb Malhotra, a top 2026 draft prospect.
But, in the last four games, Luchanko had moved from third line center to first line right wing, flanking O'Brien and 2024 draft classmate Marek Vanacker.
The 5-foot-11 speedster has recorded two goals, six assists, and eight points, racked up a +6 rating, and added 14 shots on goal.
On the season, Luchanko now has 38 points in 33 games, and that eight-point outburst at right wing accounts for 21% of his offensive production this year.
Instead of burying a talented player and pigeonholing him into a bottom-six role, Bulldogs head coach Jay McKee, a former teammate of Flyers GM Danny Briere's and a finalist for the head coaching position that went to Rick Tocchet, took a risk and got rewarded.
McKee, Luchanko, and the Bulldogs snapped a two-game losing streak following the position change, and are now winners of four straight on the strength of 17 goals scored across that span.
As it relates to the Flyers, does moving Luchanko to right wing help the rebuild along? No, not really, but it has its merits.
The hallmarks of the 2024 No. 13 overall pick's game are his speed, playmaking, and attention to detail.
It's undoubtedly an asset, too, that Luchanko can play center and win faceoffs doing it; he's 28/58 in his fledgling NHL career (48.3%) and was 11/21 in four games under Tocchet and the Flyers this season (52.4%).
If Luchanko's best offensive hockey comes from playing on the wing, the Flyers ought to roll with it.
We know now that Christian Dvorak has played that hybrid center/wing role paired with Trevor Zegras, but in the future, a hypothetical version of Luchanko could add tons of surplus value in Dvorak's place with his vision and passing and legs in transition.
Dvorak is a solid player, to be clear, and the Flyers need centers, but this is a "puzzle," as Tocchet would call it, and Dvorak lacks the plus traits Luchanko possesses.
Unless Zegras ends up staying at center and sticks, the Flyers cannot say they have any of their center positions sorted for the future, as it's all in flux.
Another way to put it: Zegras plus Luchanko equals one whole center, and maybe a first-line caliber one at that. The talent is there, but the end product is king in the NHL.
The Flyers have three first-round picks in the next two drafts to find at least one more center to complement Luchanko, Zegras, and perhaps Jack Nesbitt and Jack Berglund, as well as a No. 1 defenseman.
Briere and Co. have their work cut out for them still, especially after this latest development with Luchanko, but it's best to make lemonade with the lemons they've been given.
Four years ago, Juraj Slafkovsky established himself as a dominant force on the international stage, earning the MVP title of the Beijing Olympics hockey tournament. The teenager scored seven goals in as many games as he led Slovakia to a first medal in men’s hockey, the Bronze one. That performance caught the Montreal Canadiens’ eye, and they decided to use the first-overall pick of the 2022 draft on the youngster.
In the run-up to this year’s Olympics, we heard it would be different because the competition would be much better with NHLers being able to take part this time around, but Slafkovsky has been just as dominant, if not more. On the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman summarized it nicely in this way:
If you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan, your nipples have to be erect, seeing how well Juraj Slafkovsky is doing (at the Olympics).
We’ve said time and time again that the future was bright in Montreal, but we’re slowly starting to see that future come into place, and Slafkovsky’s awakening this season has been one of the best stories in town. Not everyone noticed, though, but now that he’s taking center stage at the Olympics, more people are taking notice.
Former NHLer and Slovak player Marian Gaborik was the highest selected Slovak at the NHL draft until Slafkovsky was claimed first overall by the Canadiens, and he’s one of those who’s been paying attention. The Minnesota Wild draft pick at the 2000 draft played 1035 games in the NHL and gathered 815 points, and he’s spending the Olympics commentating on Slovakia’s games on TV.
Juraj is more mature as a player. We see him accomplishing big things on the Olympic ice. He didn’t have that confidence last year or during his other seasons in Montreal. Four years ago in Beijing, he was dominant for Slovakia with seven goals, but he didn’t play such a complete game. Now, he works as part of a team, he controls the puck, he plays well defensively, and he’s skating with intensity to get back to the bench. He keeps his cool when he’s hit, he doesn’t retaliate, I love the way he handles himself.
- Gaborik on Slafkovsky
A Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, Gaborik even added that the sky’s the limit for Slavkosky. While he’s progressed by leaps and bounds this season, it still feels like he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet, and one has to wonder what that will look like.
It feels like the youngster becomes more confident with each new Olympic game, and in the NHL, he’s on pace for a career year with 45 points in 57 games, on pace for a 64-point season, and his first 30-goal season. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes must be incredibly glad not only that they selected him in 2022 but also that they were able to ink him to a very reasonable eight-year contract with a $7.6 M cap hit. As the years go on and the cap goes up, that contract could become an absolute steal.
Before the game, Marleau was sporting a shiner he presumably received in a recent game with the Dukes. The 6-foot-1 center was invited to the San Jose Sharks' development camp last summer, where his father served as a coach. The jump to major junior should no doubt help the player carve out his own career.
Given that Patrick is just 46 and suited up with the Leafs as recently as seven years ago, seeing Landon suit up has made many Leafs fans feel the passage of time. Speaking of Landon, the player has 21 goals and 18 assists in 36 games with the Dukes, certainly earning the call-up. Given his massive improvement over last year with the Powell River Kings of the BCHL, there's new debate as to whether or not Landon can forge a path to the NHL and establish a legacy outside of his father's accomplishments.
After the game, Landon spoke to Fronts' team website about the experience, playing his first game against the of the best teams in the OHL in the Bulldogs.
"I thought we played decently. I think there were some time periods where we were struggling, but I think that we came out with a bit of a push decently," Marleay said. "So it wasn't totally bad, but it's definitely a different game compared to the OJ (OJHL), like just all around."
I thought we played decently. I think there were some time periods where we were struggling, but I think that we came out with a bit of a push decently. So it wasn't totally bad, but it's definitely a different game compared to the OJ, like just all around.
Every path to the NHL is unique, and perhaps Landon will find his way. However, it could be a while yet. If he does make it, imagine how old you will feel then.
The elder Marleau originally signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract with the Leafs as a 38-year-old back in 2017. He was later traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in the summer of 2019 as a salary dump. The Leafs traded a first-round pick to the Hurricanes along with Marleau, who was subsequently bought out of the final year of his deal. The Hurricanes eventually selected forward Seth Jarvis with the pick acquired from Toronto.
SACRAMENTO, CA - 1992: Kevin Johnson #7 of the Phoenix Suns looks on against the Sacramento Kings circa 1992 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1992 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The journey keeps rolling as we build out the Phoenix Suns All-time Pyramid, a thought exercise that tries to give shape to a long, complicated, and deeply personal history. So many players. So few spots.
We have three tiers left to navigate on this Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid and only six players left to place, which is where the air starts to thin and every decision feels heavier. Tier 3 is where things really crystallize. This is the Franchise Pillars tier. Three players whose effort, style, and basketball identity did not merely contribute to Suns history, but actively shaped it.
I genuinely feel good about this group, and that is not something I have said lightly throughout this process. I like where I landed.
One of them owns one of the purest jump shots you will ever see. Another embodies the grit and edge of the Valley itself, a player who maximized every inch of his frame and turned effort into identity. The third was the Swiss Army knife, the guy who did everything, filled every gap, and quietly held things together in ways that did not always show up in headlines, but absolutely showed up in wins. Take any one of them away, and the franchise looks materially different.
Tier 3? Revealed.
Now, if you saw all three of these guys play, your voice carries real weight here. That perspective matters. For me, I only had the privilege of watching two of them live, but those two live near the very top of my personal favorite Suns list, and that says something. That is memory. That is emotional gravity. That is bias, sure, but it is also built on longevity, production, consistency, and moments that stuck.
These are not fleeting stars. These are pillars. Players who helped define what this franchise was, and in many ways, still is.
Tier 3: The Franchise Pillars
When I sat down to construct Tier 3, there was one decision staring back at me that I knew would come down to bias, preference, and how you personally experienced that era. The Amar’e Stoudemire versus Shawn Marion conversation.
Everyone loved Steve Nash. That part was universal. Where things splintered was who you believed the second most important Sun on those teams actually was. That answer said more about you than it did about them. Did you value raw power at the rim, the force and violence Amar’e brought to the basket? Or did you value the guy who did the junkyard work, the one who filled every gap, guarded everyone, ran the floor, rebounded in traffic, and never stopped moving?
If you read the Tier 4 chapter, you already know where I landed. Amar’e Stoudemire sits in Tier 4, not because he lacked greatness, but because this came down to preference. For me, Shawn Marion did more. And the season that cemented that belief was 2005-06, the year Amar’e missed almost entirely. That was the year the question got answered on the court.
Marion stepped up in a way that felt expansive. He did not fill in. He took over. He averaged 21.8 points and 11.8 rebounds, carried the load nightly, and posted the most defensive rebounds ever recorded by a Phoenix Sun in a single season. That was dominance.
The numbers only deepen the case. Marion is number one all-time in franchise history in value over replacement, win shares, and defensive rebounds. He is second in total minutes played and the only player to appear in the top ten for minutes per game more than once. He did it three times, including an absurd 41.6 minutes per game in the 2002-03 season. He ranks second in total steals, second in total rebounds, third in blocks, fifth in total points, and seventh in games played.
I will always believe that Shawn Marion never got, and still does not get, his proper flowers for what he did on a basketball court. He played during a brutal stretch for forwards, right as the league was shifting away from being center driven or guard driven and settling into an era ruled by wings and combo forwards. This was the time of Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony. It was a murderers’ row of stars who soaked up attention, accolades, and oxygen.
What Marion did lived on the margins, and that is part of why it was so easy to miss if you were not paying close attention. He was electric in ways that did not always headline highlights. He guarded everyone. He rebounded out of his area. He ran the floor relentlessly. He filled gaps before you even realized there was a hole. And in several of those peak years, he was the third best player on his own team, which meant the spotlight rarely found him the way it should have.
As a result, the recognition never quite matched the impact.
He finished his career with only two All-NBA selections, and that number still feels wrong every time I say it out loud. He easily could have had two more, maybe even more than that, if the league had been better at valuing what he actually brought to winning. Shawn Marion did not fit neatly into a box, and because of that, history has been a little slow to fully appreciate just how important he really was.
Eight and a half seasons. A walking double-double. And when you read through that résumé, it becomes clear that Shawn Marion did not do one thing well. He did everything well.
Yes, Amar’e was the exclamation point on the Nash pick-and-roll, the punctuation that rattled the rim and shook the building. But Shawn Marion was everything in between. That is why he was The Matrix, because he was doing things that made you blink twice. The second pogo step. The quick bounce back up before defenders even realized the play was still alive. The shot looked strange, sure, but it went in, and it kept going in. He flew around the floor, covered ground nobody else could, and as a fan, I fell hard for his game during his rookie season.
And that is where the preference and bias live. Because I loved Amar’e too. Let’s be clear about what we are actually debating here. Two players who both sit near the very top of the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid. There is no disrespect in this conversation, none at all. It simply comes down to taste. Which flavor speaks to you?
For me, it has always been the guys who defend, who work the margins, who make a team better in ways that do not always scream at you from the box score. The players you truly appreciate when you watch night after night, possession after possession, and slowly realize how much harder everything would be without them.
That was Shawn Marion.
Kevin Johnson was my first love as a Suns fan. He arrived in Phoenix right as I started watching basketball, around six years old, and from that moment on he had my attention.
KJ was electric in a way that felt impossible, the smallest guy on the floor doing things that made no sense to a kid trying to understand gravity, speed, and fearlessness all at once. If you were a young fan in the late 80s or early 90s, you gravitated toward Kevin Johnson naturally. Because he looked like someone who should not be able to do what he was doing, and then he did it anyway.
As time went on, we learned the cost of that style. You cannot play that fast, that violently, and that relentlessly without paying for it. Injuries became part of the story, especially as the team transitioned into the Barkley era.
Still, when you step back and look at what he did over 12 seasons and 683 games in Phoenix, the résumé is staggering. He averaged 18.7 points and 9.5 assists per game, numbers that hold up in any era. His 1988–89 season remains a landmark, when he dished out 12.2 assists per game and set the franchise record with 991 total assists in a single season. That same year, he also set the single-season turnover record with 322, which honestly tracks when you understand how much of the offense lived in his hands.
Reading through his career numbers, you start to appreciate how much he packed into that frame. He is second all-time in franchise win shares, second in assists per game, second in total assists, and second in triple-doubles. He ranks fourth in total points, fourth in total steals, fifth in total minutes played, and sixth in games played.
What stands out most to me is that he is first all-time in free throw attempts in Suns history. Longevity plays a role there, sure, but the number itself tells you exactly who Kevin Johnson was. He was an attacker. A guard who lived at the rim, who sought contact, who created chaos by forcing defenses to react to him over and over again.
It is hard not to imagine what he would look like in today’s NBA. He was Russell Westbrook before Russell Westbrook existed, minus the rebounding totals, but with that same sense of urgency and that same refusal to slow down. Watching him was an experience, not an exercise in efficiency, but a constant surge of pressure.
He also sits firmly in the category of great Suns’ “what ifs”. If he could have stayed healthy through the heart of the Barkley years, things might look very different in the history books.
Everyone remembers the 1992–93 season as a turning point for the franchise, and it was. For KJ, it was also a year defined by frustration. He played only 49 games that season, constantly in and out of the lineup, never quite able to find rhythm.
He had moments, like that unforgettable triple overtime win in Chicago in the NBA Finals, where he scored 25, but his lone Finals appearance ended up feeling underwhelming relative to what we knew he could be. He averaged 17.2 points and 6.5 assists during that run, solid numbers, though not the peak version of KJ.
Even so, he remains third all-time in Suns postseason history in assists per game at 8.9. No has logged more postseason games (105, number two is Thunder Dam at 83), postseason minutes (3,879), or assists (935) in a Suns uniform than KJ.
For me, though, the numbers only tell part of it. Kevin Johnson is the foundation of my Suns fandom. He is the player who made me care, who made me believe basketball could feel like that, and whose imprint on this franchise goes far beyond any single season or playoff run.
If there were a pyramid for best nicknames in Phoenix Suns history, Walter Davis would be sitting comfortably near the top, and honestly I think I may have talked myself into another entire series while writing this. Damn it.
The Greyhound. Sweet D. The Candyman. The Man with the Velvet Touch. You do not collect nicknames like that by accident. You earn them by playing the game in a way that feels smooth, controlled, and almost effortless.
Walter Davis had one of the most fundamentally sound and beautiful jump shots this franchise has ever seen. When you are talking about someone who Michael Jordan called his favorite player growing up, you are operating in rare air.
Davis was selected fifth overall in the 1977 NBA Draft out of North Carolina and made an immediate impact in Phoenix. His rookie season remains his offensive peak, and it was loud. He averaged 24.2 points per game, won Rookie of the Year, earned All-NBA Second Team honors, finished fifth in MVP voting, and made his first All Star appearance. That was the first of six, which is tied for the most All Star selections by any player in Suns history.
Statistically, his imprint is everywhere. He is first all time in field goals made, second all time in games played, and second all time in total points. He held the franchise scoring record for 28 years, finally being passed in 2025 by Devin Booker. He ranks third in total steals, fifth in total assists, and sixth in win shares. That kind of consistency over that kind of span is not accidental.
Davis spent 11 seasons in Phoenix, and while those years were not defined by deep playoff runs or sustained team success, that does not diminish what he was as an individual player. From 1977 to 1988, the team record sat at 517-467, solid but unspectacular. He excelled regardless. Night after night, season after season, he delivered.
If you are building a Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid, Walter Davis has to be on it. Where, however, is highly subjective.
He might be the most complicated placement in Tier 3, not because of on court production, which clearly belongs here, but because history asks you to acknowledge the full picture. The 1987 Suns cocaine scandal remains one of the darkest chapters in franchise history, and it will always be tied to his name. That cannot be ignored.
And that opens up a bigger question. How much do the things that happen off the court bleed into how we remember what happened on it? At what point does context reshape legacy?
Walter Davis sits right in the middle of that tension. His on court résumé is undeniable, but the full story is heavier, more complicated, and harder to compartmentalize. That is what makes him such a difficult evaluation, and why this tier, and his place in it, carries more weight than most.
Still, when you isolate the basketball, the production, the longevity, and the impact, it becomes very difficult to find many players who performed at his level for as long as he did in Phoenix. Walter Davis was a pillar of this franchise, and his place on this pyramid is earned.
What re your thoughts on Tier 3? Are these the right guys? Who should be higher? Lower? Let us know in the comments below.
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles triples in the eight innings during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 25, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
As we start to tick through the key dates leading up to the start of the 2026 baseball season, the Orioles arrived at one such benchmark yesterday by holding their first full-squad workout. The whole team has now reported to Sarasota for spring training, greeting old friends and meeting new ones. In just three days, there will be baseball, with the O’s hosting the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday afternoon for the Grapefruit League opener.
Seeing the whole gang back together again, ready to work and full of positive vibes about the season ahead, is enough to bring a smile to the face of even the most hardened cynic. Baseball is on its way, and these are your 2026 Orioles, for whatever comes next. The guys now gathered in Sarasota are the ones we’ll be spending every evening with for the next 7-8 months, more or less. Of course, there will be roster changes along the way — maybe a boatload of them, if last year’s 70-player threshold is any indication — but the core group seems set. Now it’s a matter of whittling this massive camp roster down to the 26 who will represent the Birds on Opening Day on March 26.
Priority number one: stay healthy. The O’s have already gotten some bad news injury-wise on Jackson Holliday, who will miss the first few weeks due to hamate surgery, and Jordan Westburg, who has been limited by an oblique flare-up. The Orioles no doubt will continue to suffer some aches and pains throughout their four-week exhibition season. It’s a hazard of the job. But if they can avoid major injuries and keep their projected lineup and pitching staff largely intact for the entirety of the spring, hopefully they can carry more momentum into their 2026 season than they did into their doomed 2025.
Orioles season is upon us. Let’s go have some fun.
Holliday expects he’ll have a quick recovery from his surgery and will be able to rejoin the O’s early in the season. My bigger concern is whether the hamate injury is going to sap his power long after he returns to the lineup.
Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers both have ace ceilings, too, but one is coming off of Tommy John surgery and the other has less than a full season of top-notch pitching. Again, the O’s are banking a lot on less-than-sure things.
A great read from Andy Kostka about everything Rutschman and the Orioles coaches have been doing this offseason to try to reverse his year-and-a-half slide. Adley’s got a great head on his shoulders, for sure. But whether he can translate that into production at the plate remains to be seen.
FanGraphs is the latest to drop a top-100 prospects list, and four Orioles make the cut. I won’t stand for this Nate George erasure.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with four ex-Orioles: right-hander Scott Williamson (50), outfielders Mike Hart (68) and Willie Kirkland (92), and the late infielder Alan Wiggins (b. 1958, d. 1991).
On this date in 2003, tragedy struck the Orioles when 23-year-old rookie righty Steve Bechler collapsed at spring training and died of multi-organ failure. The autopsy determined that a weight-loss supplement containing ephedra likely contributed to Bechler’s death, and a year later, the FDA banned the sale of ephedra-based dietary supplements in the United States.
And on this date in 2014, according to Baseball Reference, “The Orioles significantly improve their pitching staff as they sign free agent Ubaldo Jimenez … as well as South Korean Suk-min Yoon.” Yeah, uh, I’m gonna have to take issue with that “significantly improve” description. Yoon never pitched for the Orioles, posting a 5.74 ERA in 23 games at Triple-A before returning to Korea. As for Ubaldo, well, you know. He went 32-42 with a 5.22 ERA during his four years with the Orioles, ending his MLB career, and for all of our sakes I won’t mention his most infamous game.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game three of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Oct 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) is introduced for game three of the NLCS during the 2025 MLB playoffs against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
We’re back with another daily question, and today’s question is: Which Brewer do you defend no matter what the numbers say?
For me, it’s Rickie Weeks. The No. 2 overall pick in 2003, Weeks never quite lived up to the hype, at least from a numbers perspective. Across 11 seasons in Milwaukee, he accumulated just 12.5 bWAR (roughly 1.1 per season) and picked up one All-Star selection, but he’s one of those guys where I don’t really care what the numbers look like — he’ll always be one of my favorite Brewers.
A player on the current roster? Christian Yelich. Yes, I agree he’s overpaid for what he provides on the field, but I think his veteran presence on a team filled with 20-somethings is underrated. Between him and Brandon Woodruff (another guy I’ll defend to anyone), the Brewers have had a consistent veteran presence over the last few years as they make playoff run after playoff run.
Who do you defend no matter what?
Weigh in in the comments, and join us throughout the month as we keep these conversations rolling into spring training. Have a question you’d like to ask in a future BCB Daily Question? Drop one in the comments and we may use it later this month.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 06: Tampa Bay Rays Infielder Xavier Isaac (91) at bat during the spring training game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 06, 2025 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section!
Spring Training is always an exciting opportunity to see players you might never otherwise see during a season, and this is an interesting time in the Rays system after a dramatic overhaul of the team’s prospects — which might be obvious if you’ve been following our annual Community Prospect voting.
The playing I’m personally most looking forward to seeing on the field is 1B Xavier Isaac, a former first round pick who had his 2025 season cut short by brain surgery. Cleared for a return to baseball, the Rays have invited the 22-year old to his first major league camp this year.
