Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (4th)
Victory Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (2nd)
The All-Star starters are determined based on a combination of voting by fans (50% of the vote), current NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%). The seven reserves for each conference will be selected by NBA head coaches, with that group to be unveiled at a later date.
This year’s All-Star Game will look a little different than past years, with a revamped U.S. vs. World format. There will be two U.S. teams and one World team competing in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is set for Sunday, Feb. 15, airing on NBC and Peacock. All events from All-Star Weekend, including the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest, will be on NBC for the first time since 2002.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (4th)
Victory Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (2nd)
The All-Star starters are determined based on a combination of voting by fans (50% of the vote), current NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%). The seven reserves for each conference will be selected by NBA head coaches, with that group to be unveiled at a later date.
Jokić and Antetokounmpo were the top scorers in the combined vote for each conference. The players who just missed the cut included Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. Here’s a look at the full results:
A look at the 2026 NBA All-Star starters voting results. (NBA)
This year’s All-Star Game will look a little different than past years, with a revamped U.S. vs. World format. There will be two U.S. teams and one World team competing in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is set for Sunday, Feb. 15, airing on NBC and Peacock. All events from All-Star Weekend, including the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest, will be on NBC for the first time since 2002.
The Winnipeg Jets head to the Windy City this evening for a matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.
Kyle Connor continues to play like the superstar that he is, and my Jets vs. Blackhawks predictions and NHL picks expect him to get in on the action tonight.
Jets vs Blackhawks prediction
Jets vs Blackhawks best bet: Kyle Connor Over 0.5 assists (-120)
Kyle Connor signed a mammoth $96 million contract extension before the 2025-26 campaign began, and he’s been worth every penny.
The 29-year-old has 23 goals and 33 helpers this season. While the Winnipeg Jets have been struggling, Connor is certainly doing his part.
Connor has compiled six helpers in January, and he’s logged an assist in four of his last six games. While he didn’t have a helper on Saturday against the Maple Leafs, Connor did register back-to-back assists before that contest.
The winger has dished out 15 helpers in 23 road games this season, and he dominated the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season with a goal and two assists. He’ll keep it rolling tonight.
Jets vs Blackhawks same-game parlay
Josh Morrissey is averaging 1.76 SOG per game this season, and he’s also collected 39 points. The Calgary native has managed to go Over 1.5 shots on net in four of his last six appearances.
Alex Iaffalo has nine goals and 10 helpers for Winnipeg, and he’s done a lot of his damage in January, posting six points. He's logged a point in four straight.
The Jets have cashed the Over in 15 of their last 20 games for +9.65 units and a 44% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Blackhawks.
How to watch Jets vs Blackhawks
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Puck drop
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, CHSN
Jets vs Blackhawks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Detroit Pistons have won two of three head-to-head matchups with the Boston Celtics this season, and they’ll look to add another win when the Top 2 seeds in the Eastern Conference face off at Little Caesars Arena tonight.
Both teams are playing excellent defense, and my Celtics vs Pistons predictions call for a low-scoring game in Detroit.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this heavyweight bout on Monday, January 19.
Celtics vs Pistons prediction
Celtics vs Pistons best bet: Under 224 (-110)
Over the last 10 games, the Detroit Pistons have surrendered the fewest points in the Association at 104.1, and the Boston Celtics have surrendered the fifth-fewest points at 109.
Detroit also has the best home defense, allowing just 106.7 ppg — fewer than the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. That number has lowered to 97 points across its last six at Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons rank 14th in pace, and the Celtics are dead last, making this matchup a methodical grind rather than a track meet.
Celtics vs Pistons same-game parlay
Defense has led the Pistons to a 13-3 record as home favorites. I'm more comfortable taking Detroit straight up than betting the spread.
Jalen Duren has averaged 12.2 rebounds per game at home compared to just 9.5 on the road. He's pulled down at least 11 boards in 17 of 33 contests, including 10 of 16 at home.
Celtics vs Pistons SGP
Under 224
Pistons moneyline
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Brown gets clamped
Jaylen Brown is averaging nearly 30 points per game this season, but he's recorded 31+ in just 16 of 38 games — including seven of 19 on the road.
Celtics vs Pistons SGP
Under 224
Pistons moneyline
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Jaylen Brown Under 30.5 points
Celtics vs Pistons odds
Spread: Celtics +3.5 | Pistons -3.5
Moneyline: Celtics +130 | Pistons -155
Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224
Celtics vs Pistons betting trend to know
Boston has hit the Under in seven of its last 10, and Detroit has gone Under in nine straight. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Pistons.
How to watch Celtics vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Celtics vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Former San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt was quoted at length in a story by Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post. Shildt tries to articulate why he walked away from his managerial job in San Diego and why it seemed that he so quickly transitioned into his new role in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Bob Melvin, who held the manager position with the Padres prior to Shildt, talked about how he looked across the field and longed to be in the dugout with the San Francisco Giants and it seems that Shildt was also looking for more as early as the middle of the 2025 season.
Padres News:
Randy Vasquez has increased his numbers in each of his first two seasons with the San Diego Padres. He has been used more as a sixth man in the rotation during that time, but free agency and injuries have resulted in Vasquez getting a chance to play a significant role in the Padres’ rotation in 2026. He needs to show manager Craig Stammen and pitching coach Ruben Niebla that he is ready to take earn the spot and handle the challenge that comes from the pressure of being a starter in MLB.
The Boston Red Sox missed on free agent catchers J.T. Realmuto and Victor Caratini, but are reportedly still looking for ways to improve the catching position in Boston.
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan have each been rumored in various trades throughout the offseason. The Kansas City Royals are apparently no longer pursuing either player and a move for either one is considered “increasingly unlikely.”
The Cardinals have spent much of the offseason trading away pieces of their team but according to president of baseball operation Chaim Bloom, the team could add a right-handed outfielder. Seems odd considering St. Louis traded away Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado who were both right-handed hitters.
A lot of emotions came down the pike when it was reported that Kyle Tucker agreed to what is being touted as a four year, 240 million dollars contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Much of the emotional response could be explained through sticker shock. I don’t think anyone dreamed that Tucker was a 60 million AAV player. I’m sure the Toronto Blue Jays felt they were well within range when they reportedly offered him ten years and 350 million dollars.
So, that is certainly part of our collective emotional response. The second part of that response comes from the fact that it is the Dodgers. I have tried really hard in my life not to hate anyone and for the most part I have succeeded, but sports hate is definitely a thing and the Dodgers are high on that list. It’s not only about success. It is about the whining. However, that’s a different topic for a different day. We could get into the whys and what fors at that time, but I think most of Astros nation is on the same page.
In my childhood, it was the New York Yankees existing as the evil empire. The irony is that they weren’t successful until I was in my twenties. Still, there is the appearance of inevitably. That is what stings days after the news. I can accept a man getting his pay day. Tucker and his agent structured this deal as brilliantly as possible with much of it coming upfront in the form of a signing bonus. So, when labor strife hits following the season, he will have pocketed a good portion of that contract. So, the anger doesn’t sit on Tucker. It sits on the Dodgers and what the league is allowing them to do.
Spotrac.com projects that the Dodgers 2026 payroll will equal 429.9 million dollars in average annual value. The New York Mets are second with 305 million. The Astros are still existing under the competitive balance tax. Six teams are currently above it. It should be noted that three of those six teams are in the AL East. Seven teams are currently below 100 million dollars at the moment. We have not seen this kind of financial disparity for some time.
It would be wrong to say we have never seen it. The Yankees dominated the sport between 1920 and 1964. People often forget the other half of that equation. The Philadelphia Phillies averaged 100 losses a season between 1920 and 1940. Imagine losing 100 games every year for 20 years. What happens to those fanbases? We aren’t quite there, but we are getting closer. The Colorado Rockies have lost 100 or more games three seasons in a row and have averaged 100 losses over the last five. They are the most extreme examples, but everyone can point to teams like the Pirates, Athletics, Nationals, Marlins, and Royals as cities that go long periods of time between competitive teams.
The core of the problem
This is usually where fans start chanting for a salary cap. The problem isn’t that simple. When you look at the salary structures in the NBA and NFL you see that a core part of the process is that both the union and owners know what is in the pot. Negotiating is easier from that point. Owners and players haggle over what percentage the players will get from the pie. In both leagues that tends to cover between 50 and 55 percent of revenues. Most of the negotiations come down to exactly how those percentages will be dolled out.
The core of the problem in MLB is that the owners have never opened their books. We don’t know exactly what the revenues are. We are forced to guess based on fragments of information we get from different sources. If we don’t know then the players also don’t know. That lack of trust clouds any and all negotiations. It prevents the players from agreeing to anything that will potentially restrain spending.
The sum total of salaries according to Spotrac is around 5.3 billion dollars. One can easily guess it will push to around 5.5 billion once Spring Training begins. So, the core of the issue is how players and owners can equitably split that pie. If you limit the upper end then you must do something about the lower end. That’s easier said than done.
Raise the floor
Unfortunately, without knowing total revenues we are left guessing. Even if we agreed that the players deserve 50 percent of revenues we would be left wondering 50 percent of what exactly. However, it seems reasonable to ask the players to keep their overall salary level or slightly increase it in lieu of rolling it back. The problem isn’t the level of player salaries, but how they are being distributed. It is unsustainable for one team to spend 400 million while other teams are spending under 100.
So, the goal is not to limit overall salaries, but to bring the bottom and the top closer together. That would require a salary floor. The question is how to get there. It is not a simple magic wand of saying you have to spend 150 million or 200 million dollars. There is a question of how to get teams the revenue to spend that kind of money. There is also the question of other expenditures teams make. The Rockies famously do not spend money on technology for scouting purposes. Some teams invest more money in international scouting than others. A true cap and floor would have to include total baseball related expenditures.
We are probably looking at a sliding structure similar to what we currently see with the competitive balance tax. Penalties escalate with each season teams exceed the tax. The same could be applied at the bottom. For instance, the St. Louis Cardinals have fallen below the 100 million mark because they have shed a ton of payroll this offseason. That’s different than teams like the Pirates who seemingly live there. Those penalties should reflect that.
Tying up loose ends
That battle will be the headliner for the coming negotiation, but there are other issues as well. The NBA restricts individual salaries. The NFL doesn’t. Is 60 million AAV too much for a player? Heck, Shohei Ohtani is getting 70 million. Naturally, some of their salaries are deferred which is another major concern. We cannot continue where the Dodgers get to skate by some of their tax liabilities by kicking the can down the road. If they want to defer payment to players that is between them and the player, but they should be on the hook for the whole value of the contract.
The other issue will likely involve service time. This is an area where the owners can offer significant change to get concessions from the players. In the NFL and NBA, players get to free agency faster. It is four or five years in the NFL. It is four in the NBA. Moving the service time clock up in baseball would definitely suit the players. A part of the issue is that baseball players have a minor league portion of their careers. Service time could be altered to include that time. That would keep teams from stashing players in the minors to delay their service clock. Instead of making it a hard and fast four seasons you could make it seven total from the date of the draft or signing. Therefore, teams might be more incentivized to promote players when they are ready.
These are all just ideas that are banging around our heads. I am open to any suggestions as to how this situation can change. What isn’t negotiable is business as usual. Whether a Dodgers World Series is actually inevitable is certainly debatable. It feels inevitable and that is all we need to know. If it feels inevitable then fan interest dwindles. If fan interest dwindles then revenues dwindle. That’s obviously bad for everyone involved.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day, everybody. On a day when we remember a great man—and wonder if we’ll ever see another—a Knicks (25*-17) team that’s been less than great of late will try to leverage home-court advantage and snap a three-game losing streak.
Their opponent, the Dallas Mavericks (17-26), are flopping around near the bottom of the Western Conference barrel. After flipping Luka Dončić to the Lakers last February, Dallas defied the odds and won the draft lottery. Their number one pick, the phenom Cooper Flagg, is their new centerpiece. Pairing him with veterans Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and D’Angelo Russell has brought uneven results, however. Injuries, road struggles, and front-office turnover have undercut consistency. Even with Flagg making a strong case for Rookie of the Year, Dallas remains well outside the playoff picture.
When they met on November 19, the Knicks slipped by the Mavs 113-111 in Dallas. Jalen Brunson scored 28 points in his return from an ankle injury. Despite poor free-throw shooting (19-of-35) and early three-point struggles, New York sealed the win when Landry Shamet hit two late triples and drew a crucial charging foul in the final seconds. The Mavericks, missing Flagg due to illness, got 23 points each from bench players D’Angelo Russell and Naji Marshall, but couldn’t overcome their starters’ limited output in a game.
Coach Jason Kidd has the Mavs playing solid defense, but their offense ranks among the worst in the league. They are one of the NBA’s worst shooting teams from downtown, which means that they’ll sizzle beyond the arc against the Knicks. Dallas will be shorthanded, with multiple rotation players sidelined. Daniel Gafford (ankle), D’Angelo Russell (illness), and P.J. Washington (personal) are all out, while Anthony Davis remains out indefinitely with a finger thing. Flagg is listed as a game-time decision with a bum ankle.
Prediction
ESPN.com favors the Knicks by 76%. Yeah, we hope. They have stumbled through a rough January, culminating in Saturday’s morale-busting loss to Phoenix. Jalen Brunson’s ankle issue and Josh Hart’s nagging injuries (both are GTD’s with sore ankles) have compounded the team’s inconsistency, as have up-and-down performances by Karl-Anthony Towns and the other starters. A win today would bail a few buckets of water out of what has felt like a sinking ship. Let’s make it so. Knicks by eight.
Game Details
Date: Monday, January 19, 2026 Time: 5:00 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC TV: NBC Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
The New York Knicks (25*-17) are gearing up for a pivotal stretch of games this week, facing the Mavs in a MLK Day matchup at home, followed by a crosstown clash on Wednesday night, and finishing with a Saturday afternoon showdown. After dropping three straight, New York needs to regain some positive upward motion against a mix of rebuilding squads and Eastern Conference contenders. Let’s take a look at the schedule.
Mon, Jan. 19 vs. Mavericks (5:00 PM, NBC/Peacock)
On MLK Day, the Knicks return home looking to halt a three-game slide against a Dallas team deep into a post–Luka Dončić rebuild. The Mavericks sit at 17–26 near the bottom of the West after lucking into the Number One pick and anointing Cooper Flagg as their future.
The Knicks edged Dallas 113–111 when the teams last met on Nov. 19, surviving poor free-throw shooting and a cold start from three behind Jalen Brunson’s 28 points and late heroics from Landry Shamet. Jason Kidd’s group still defends, but the offense ranks among the league’s worst. Dallas will again be shorthanded: Daniel Gafford, D’Angelo Russell, and P.J. Washington are out, Anthony Davis remains sidelined, and Flagg is a game-time decision.
The Knicks must win to avoid mental meltdowns across the tri-state area. Watch it on NBC.
Wed, Jan. 21 vs. Nets (7:30 PM, MSG)
The crosstown rivalry is always hyped and often falls short of expectations.
The Brooklyn Nets have had a tough 2025-26 season so far, sitting near the bottom of the East. The rebuilding team clearly relies heavily on young talent and veterans like Michael Porter Jr. (leading scorer at almost 26 PPG), Nic Claxton, and Cam Thomas. Their January has been a mixed bag, with a comeback win and some close losses. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 (as of this writing), making them seem like an easy target for a Knicks win.
Watch it on MSG.
Sat, Jan. 24 at 76ers (3:00 PM, ABC)
The prospect of a matinee in Philadelphia has me reaching for Tums. The Sixers’ size and starry offense, led by Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid, demand respect. The Liberty Bells have compiled a solid record through mid-January, positioning them around the middle of the Eastern Conference pack. After a mixed start, the team has surged in January, fueled by Maxey’s MVP-caliber play (averaging around 28 PPG this month) and Embiid regaining form and confidence. With Edgecombe impressing in his debut season, plus contributions from Paul George and others, the Sixers boast a top-5 offense and defense in January. Despite recent narrow losses, they’re trending upward. You know they’ll be extra eager to defeat New York for the third time this season.
Watch it on ABC.
Go Knicks
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
Tyrese Maxey has risen to All-Star starter status.
The Sixers’ lead guard was named Monday as one of five starters from the Eastern Conference for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the other four East selections. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama made the cut in the Western Conference.
Starters were decided by a combination of fan voting (weighted at 50 percent), player voting (25 percent) and media panel voting (25 percent).
Maxey made his first All-Star Game in the 2023-24 season as a reserve. Though he averaged 26.3 points per game last year, his efficiency dipped and the Sixers slogged through a nightmare of a 24-58 season.
“I must say I definitely missed him,” backcourt mate VJ Edgecombe said after Maxey missed two mid-December games with an illness. “He helps take some of the load off of everyone on the court. … I feel like we can be really scary, especially at the level Tyrese is playing at this year.
“He’s now at superstar level in my eyes. Some people might have different opinions, but in my eyes he’s at that superstar level. Of course the game’s going to be different without him on the floor. He just requires so much gravity.”
The 2026 All-Star Game will be on Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome and played with a new USA vs. World format. Reserves will be chosen by the league’s head coaches and announced at a later date.
The Milwaukee Bucks will try to forget one of the worst two-game stretches (based on point differential) and end a three-game losing streak against the Atlanta Hawks on the road for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is the first time these two Eastern Conference foes have met this season, though the Hawks took the season series 3-2 last year. The last time they played was on March 30, 2025, when the Hawks blew out the Bucks 145-124 in Milwaukee.
Where We’re At
It’s been a rough go for the Bucks over the last several games, after they won four of their previous five games before last Sunday against the Nuggets. That hasn’t happened, as after losing to Denver by four without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, they lost by 33 at home to the Timberwolves without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. Then they lost to the Spurs on Thursday by 18, but the final score doesn’t reflect how bad the game was for the Bucks, who trailed by 39 at one point and were blown out 40-16 in the third quarter. This game is crucial to re-enter the play-in race, as the Hawks are currently 10th with a 1.5-game lead over the 11th-seeded Bucks.
The Hawks are in a similar boat to the Bucks, post-Trae Young trade. They have a record of 2-3 in five games since the trade, but have lost their last three in blowout fashion. First losing by 25 to the Lakers on Tuesday, then to the Trail Blazers by 16 on Thursday, and in their return to Atlanta on Saturday, by 26 to the Celtics. C.J. McCollum has played four of five since Atlanta acquired him, averaging 17 points per game and shooting 39.4% from the floor and 13% from three-point range, for an effective field goal percentage of 41.7%.
Injury Report
There is only one Bucks player on the injury report, with Taurean Prince (neck) still out indefinitely.
The Hawks will be without Kristaps Porzingis again, as he deals with some left Achilles tendinitis, plus N’Faly Dante (torn ACL). The reigning Most Improved Player of the Year, Dyson Daniels, is questionable with a right ankle sprain. Zaccharie Risacher was a later addition to the injury report, and he’ll miss out on this one with a bone contusion in his left knee.
Player To Watch
This will be the fourth time this season the Bucks have played against McCollum. With the Wizards before the aforementioned Young deal, he hasn’t been that good during his time in the ATL, but he’s been a bit of a thorn in the Bucks’ side. In their last meeting, McCollum scored four points in the final 30 seconds to give the Wizards a one-point win at Fiserv Forum on New Year’s Eve. Maybe against a team he’s had success against, McCollum will come out of his funk and give the Bucks some trouble again.
You can never deny Adam Silver’s ambition to try new things, even when his effort proves futile.
This year, he’s outdone himself by introducing yet another wrinkle to the All-Star game, as the 24 players will now be split into three teams: two filled with Americans and the other comprised of international names. Befuddlingly, the teams are now positionless, and yet, the players selected must still include 12 from each conference, even though the competition is based on nationalities.
With the West having a significant talent advantage as usual, there are many more snubs here when compared to the East. Ultimately, I went with six international players from the West and two from the East, given that there’s no requirement to have an equal number of non-Americans selected from each.
Sorry, you’re still confused? So is everyone else, but we persevere due to the love of the game.
Here are my Western Conference All-Star selections, with the East coming tomorrow.
Starters
Shai Gilgeous-Alexandar: The reigning MVP, Shai has somehow levelled up again this year. He’s averaging 31.6 points on the highest true shooting percentage of his career (66.5) and could lead OKC to a 70-win season. Even with arguably the deepest supporting cast in the league, Shai is the main reason why the Thunder are title favorites: OKC’s offense drops from a 123.5 rating (94th percentile) to a measly 111.7 (22nd) when he sits. Shai is the rightful MVP front-runner and will go down as an all-time great.
Luka Doncic: Luka is putting up video game numbers as usual, averaging 33.6/7.7/8.7 and leading the Lakers to a surprising 24-15 record. Even so, something seems off with him and the team: maybe it’s LA’s negative net rating, or the fact that Luka’s whining more than ever and is leading the league in free throws per game (11.7) by a wide margin (Deni is second at “just” 9.9). Still, the Slovenian Wunderkind remains one of the league’s four best players and should be in line for another First Team All-NBA appearance.
Stephen Curry: Even at 37, Steph remains arguably the game’s greatest spectacle. His 28.1 points per game is the fourth highest of his career, and the Warriors still need his brilliance more than ever. Golden State goes from having an elite 120.5 offensive rating (85th percentile) to just 111.1 (20th) when he sits, and Wardell is once again on track to lead the league in both threes made (4.6) and attempts (11.8).
Victor Wembanyama: The numbers might not seem too different compared to last year, but make no mistake: Wemby has levelled up and is now firmly entrenched as the fifth-best player in the league. Prioritizing inside scoring with his added physicality has made the Alien unstoppable, even though there are still times when he should impose more of his will. Only health can prevent Wemby from winning DPOY and being named to First Team All-NBA, and he’s already good enough to be the best player on a championship team.
Nikola Jokic: Jokic is unquestionably the best player on the planet, and in my eyes, he’s in a tier of his own. Before his injury, the three-time MVP was having his best season ever, and maybe the best of all time — something we seem to repeat every year. Don’t believe me? Jokic was scoring 29.6 points per game while leading the league in rebounds (12.2), assists (11.0), AND true shooting percentage (71.3%). It honestly does not make sense how someone can be this good at basketball, and I’ve got no doubt that we’re watching a top 10 player ever at the peak of his powers.
Reserves
Anthony Edwards: For the first time in his career, Ant is having an efficient season from every area on the court. The 24-year-old is shooting 56.3% from two while maintaining elite volume from deep as well (40.9% on 8.2 attempts a game). The addition of a post-game has turned Ant into a high-level scorer from all three levels, and his 72% finishing around the rim is also among the league’s best (89th percentile). The Wolves are flying under the radar once again, and another run to the Conference Finals isn’t out of the question.
Jamal Murray: Contrary to popular discourse, Murray has never actually deserved an All-Star appearance — until now. The Blue Arrow is having his best regular season by far: his 25.8 scoring average is four points more than his previous career high, and he’s doing it on a career-best 61.6% true shooting too. More importantly, he’s led the Nuggets to a 7-3 record without Jokic, which is somehow a higher win percentage than the one they have with the Joker playing. What in MJ’s name is going on??
Kevin Durant: It’s 2026, and KD is still putting up 26.3 a night on 51.6/40.4/88.7 shooting. The promise of a lighter load in Houston hasn’t materialized, as the Slim Reaper’s minutes (36.5) and field goal attempts (18.0) are still in line with his career norms. Simply put, KD remains one of the league’s most efficient bucket-getters while being the go-to option on a good team, and he’s unquestionably still one of the best players on the planet.
Chet Holmgren: The second-best player on a historically dominant team, Chet is averaging 17.9 points on a ridiculous 66.6% true shooting. His self-creation is still lacking, but there’s no question that Chet has become one of the most efficient play finishers in the league, and that doesn’t even account for his DPOY-level defense. OKC also has a +7.1 net rating with Chet playing without Shai, so he’s not just riding the coattails of the MVP frontrunner, either.
Deni Avdija: Even after last year’s jump, no one expected Deni to average 26.1/7.1/6.9 this season. He’s become a legitimate top 25 player in the league and is the only reason why Portland is in the play-in race. The Blazers are a net-neutral team with a good offense (118.1 rating, 71st percentile) when Deni plays, and they become a bottom-feeder when he sits (-11.1 net rating, 102.6 offensive rating).
Kawhi Leonard: Tree Board Man is quietly having one of the best seasons in the league: Kawhi is averaging 28.2/6.3/3.5 on 49.7/39.9/94.1 shooting. Yes, you read that right. He’s scoring almost 30 points a game while shooting basically 50/40/90, and the Clippers are 12-2 in their last 14 games after a disastrous start. Kawhi is playing at a borderline top-5 level again, and this basketball robot is showing no signs of rust at age 34.
Final spot & honorable mentions
Final spot: Devin Booker
Honorable mentions: Alperen Sengun, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert
I went back and forth between Booker, Sengun, Randle, and Gobert for the last spot, but ultimately went with the former. And yes, you read that right: I name-dropped the Stifle Tower in an All-Star column in the big 2026. As ridiculous as that sounds, Gobert should be the frontrunner for DPOY if Wemby doesn’t hit the 65-game requirement. He’s been the second most important Timberwolf this year, as Minnesota is somehow a +7.2 in the minutes Gobert plays without both Ant and Randle, sheerly due to an absurd 94.2 DRTG. More importantly, the Wolves are barely positive in the minutes when Ant and/or Randle play without Gobert, as their defense drops to near league-worst levels. Minnesota only becomes elite on both ends whenever the Frenchman shares the court with one or both of those two scorers.
Randle, meanwhile, is having his most efficient scoring season (60.6% TS) since becoming a go-to option, and the Wolves are sporting an all-time 125.3 offensive rating when he plays without Ant. It’s a similar story with Sengun, whose numbers are up from his All-Star campaign a year ago and have helped the Rockets thrive even in the non-KD minutes: Houston still has a +5.3 net rating while being good on both sides of the ball in the Sengun-only lineups.
However, I ultimately decided to go with Booker because he’s the #1 option on a surprising 24-17 Phoenix team with no other stars (sorry, Dillon Brooks). Yes, Booker’s shooting splits are some of the worst of his career (45.2% field goal, 30.1% from 3), but he’s still hovering around league average in efficiency, and the Suns are a +5.4 with him and -1.5 without him.
All three of the other names have compelling arguments for this last spot, but I’m going with the lone star who’s leading the team that’s overachieved the most this season.
There are many reasons for the Orioles failure in 2025. Injuries piled up. The rotation was too thin. And a little bad luck certainly contributed. But perhaps the most disappointing part of the entire squad was the offense, a largely homegrown unit that was supposed to be the backbone of the team’s championship window. Instead, it collapsed.
Orioles President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias did quite a bit of work to improve the lineup this offseason. Most notably, he signed first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract with the expectation that he will hit 35+home runs in the middle of the order for years to come. Prior to that, he traded for Taylor Ward, a pending free agent that has hit 61 home runs over the last two seasons.
In short order, Elias injected power back into an Orioles lineup that sorely needed it. They had dropped from third in MLB in slugging (.435) in 2024 down to 19th (.394) in 2025. Some of that was due to the loss of Anthony Santander to free agency, and the rest was caused by underperformance from just about everyone else that stuck around. Bringing in external talent will help to a point, but the ceiling of this team will depend on what the players that were already in-house can do to bounce back. Two players, in particular, stand out.
Hip hip Holliday
The rare Oriole that actually improved in 2025 was Jackson Holliday. The former top prospect had a rough go in his rookie season of 2024, getting an early-season call-up, only to struggle mightily, go back to Triple-A Norfolk, and then return with some inconsistent performances through season’s end. He ended that year with a paltry .189/.255/.311 slash line.
In 2025, the Orioles cleared the deck for Holliday so that he could be their clear everyday second baseman. The results were…better. Over 149 games, he hit .242/.314/.375 with 17 home runs and a 95 OPS+. All in, that is a slightly below league-average hitter, but that OPS+ was a 32-point improvement from his rookie campaign. There was plenty to be encouraged by. He showed solid control of the strike zone, never looked out of his depth the way he often did in ‘24, and stayed at the big league level all season long.
There is no indication that the Orioles are wavering on Holliday’s potential. With spring training around the corner, he remains the only everyday option at second base on the roster. And while the team has continued to pursue high-end pitching through the winter, Holliday’s name has not been mentioned in any public trade rumors. He is poised to play a ton of baseball in Baltimore once again in 2026.
It has become commonplace for this era of Orioles prospects to scuffle right at the start of their big league careers, only to figure things out a bit more in years two and three. Holliday is in a good position to have the same experience.
Westburg, straight ahead
Elsewhere on the infield is a player that has had no such issue with big league pitching. In fact, he’s already made an all-star team and owns a career 116 OPS+. He’s not bad with the leather either. A Gold Glove isn’t out of the question before his career ends. That is, if he could only stay healthy.
Jordan Westburg missed time on three different occasions in 2025. He was out from late April through early June with a hamstring strain, lost a few games in June and July with a finger injury, and then sprained his ankle in mid-August, keeping him on the shelf until mid-September. All of those injuries limited him to just 85 total games.
Despite that, Westburg tied for the team lead in home runs (17) hit last year, alongside Holliday and Gunnar Henderson, who each played in 149 or more games. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence that the team’s worst month of the year (May), was the one that Westburg missed completely.
It’s unlikely that Westburg was ever truly healthy in 2025. Even still, he was productive, posting a solid .265/.313/.457 slash line with a 114 OPS+, and the aforementioned 17 home runs. Defensively, he graded out well, accumulating 3 outs above average, according to Baseball Savant.
On top of that, he maintained his 29 feet per second sprint speed (89th percentile in MLB), which is well above the league average (27 ft/sec), and among the very best at third base. In fact, no other third baseman had a faster time from home plate to first base (4.23 seconds) than Westburg, which is extremely impressive for a right-handed hitter.
All of the tools are there for Westburg to be the type of player that makes all-star teams on a yearly basis and might even get down-ballot MVP consideration some seasons. But he has to stay on the field for any of that to happen.
Table setters
Holliday and Westburg are not the only two hitters on the Orioles roster that need to improve going into 2026 if the team’s hopes of returning to the postseason are going to come true. But they are the two on the roster for which that jump in performance feels the most attainable.
Holliday has already shown he can develop at the major league level. Year two was a humble one in terms of production, but the growth was clear. Now he has a base from which he can build. FanGraphs calculated that he was worth 1.2 WAR in 2024. Many of their projection systems believe he could double that value in 2026, ranging from 2.3 to 3.1 WAR. A performance like that would have him in the all-star conversation, and maybe even some position-specific awards come October. An even bigger jump than that is also possible. After all, he was the absolute top prospect in baseball not so long ago. But let’s see pump the brakes a bit.
Westburg should have no doubt about his ability to be one of the best third basemen in the game. He has already done it, albeit for brief moments. Now it’s about staying off the IL, which can be a skill of sorts that players develop as they get more experience in the game. You can’t eliminate injury risk, but you may be able to mitigate it with adjustments to playing style. Whatever can be done, should be done. The Orioles are a much better team with Westburg in the lineup. If he plays in 130+ games, he is nearly a lock to be a 3.5+ WAR player, and maybe even better.
Lineups obviously aren’t set in stone, but right now the Roster Resource tool at FanGraphs projects the Orioles everyday offense to include Holliday as the leadoff man, a role he handled many times in 2025, and Westburg in the second spot. Right behind them is Henderson at three, with Alonso in the clean-up role. Maybe you like Westburg better in the leadoff spot with Holliday farther down the order, but at the very least that projection illustrates the pair’s expected importance to the team.
In theory, that sounds like a fearsome quartet to face right out of the gate. But it gets far less scary if Holliday can’t continue to grow and Westburg is on the IL more than the infield. The outcome of the 2026 Orioles is not entirely on the duo’s shoulders, but they will need to bare quite a bit of weight.
[MLB] From World Series winner to sausage meister: A visit to Byung-hyun Kim’s German restaurant – “When I was playing in the States, any time families and friends would come, I would take them out to a restaurant that I recommended. I saw the joy that people felt from having good food,” Kim said. “That’s where it all started.” He began with three sushi restaurants in San Diego – today there is only one, Umi Sushi – before he followed his teenage dream and opened a handful of burger and hot dog joints, with two of the locations inside KBO stadiums at the Gocheok Sky Dome and Changwon NC Park. “The inspiration was Gonzo’s Grill in Arizona at Chase Field,” Kim said. “I saw that and I really wanted to replicate it and have a burger joint at a baseball stadium.”
[AZ Big Media] Merrill Kelly returns to the Diamondbacks for his family – His family’s thrilled to be back in the Valley. Korean cuisine has become an occasional stop, indulged in “probably a little more than we should,” Kelly joked. “We don’t venture out much unless we have to,” he said at first. “I’m a big golfer. If I do go somewhere, at least on my own, it’s usually the golf course. “We found a couple spots that we really like. There’s a place in Mesa, Jin BBQ, [near Mekong Plaza] that we like. There’s an H Mart, which is a big Korean grocery store. It’s good to be back.”
[Dbacks.com] Marte plan unchanged in face of Bregman, Suárez signings – If you’re holding your breath on them bringing in a bona fide closer at this point, well … don’t. “Would I like to have somebody that has a clear pedigree of pitching in the eighth and ninth inning?” Hazen said. “That’s an easier answer. I’m not sure what we’ll have access to in that way. I think if we continue to build out talent in the bullpen, this bullpen is going to be good in time as we move through the season. We’re going to obviously be getting guys back as we move through the season, so I think the talent is naturally going to improve as we move through the year.”
[New Baseball Media] 2025 MLB Farm Review: Arizona Diamondbacks – There is a new #1 atop the Diamondbacks’ farm system. It’s close between Waldschmidt and Caldwell, two different outfielders. Both are fantastic at getting on base and swiping bases, Caldwell more than the former. However, Waldschmidt is a formidable power hitter, moreso than Caldwell. After that, we’ll go with Cunningham at #3. Kohl Drake, acquired last summer as part of the Merrill Kelly, was a strong swing-and-miss pitcher in the Rangers’ organization. has a diverse & modern pitch arsenal, regularly using both a four-seamer and two-seamer.
And, elsewhere…
[Just Baseball] Top 20 MLB Free Agents With Contract and Team Predictions – Zac Gallen – Two-year, $54 million deal, opt-out after 2026, Orioles, we now have Gallen signing with a team that has been very aggressive this offseason. My initial contract prediction has aged well, as the market has stalled on Gallen and he could be forced to take a two-year deal with an opt-out. Paul Goldschmidt – One-year, $5 million, D-backs. Goldschmidt is looking like a great fit in Arizona. With the left-handed hitting Pavin Smith set to start at first base, Goldy could form a platoon there, or could even push Smith to DH some if they wanted him to play every day. If this is the last season of Goldschmidt’s career, there would not be a better place for him.
[MLB Trade Rumors] Elly De La Cruz Declined Franchise-Record Offer From Reds – While details were sparse at the time, president of baseball operations Nick Krall revealed today the team made an official offer that would have topped their 10-year, $225MM franchise-record deal with Joey Votto. “We made Elly an offer that would’ve made him the highest-paid Red ever,” Krall said (link via C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic). “That’s not where he is and you respect that. It’s their career. You keep going and you keep working on what you can do today.” De La Cruz opted not to go into specifics, telling fans at Redsfest only that he leaves contractual matters to his agent, Scott Boras.
[NY Post] Jazz Chisholm Jr. joining Great Britain for 2026 World Baseball Classic – Jazz Chisholm Jr. has committed to suit up for Great Britain, as WBC reporter Shawn Spradling reported Friday, giving the Yankees [and former D-back!] second baseman a chance to play on the big stage this spring. Great Britain delegation head Gary Anderson and manager Brady Marcelino said last month at the Winter Meetings that there was strong interest in having Chisholm — who is entering his walk year — on the team; it was just a matter of working through eligibility and insurance, which has evidently been approved. The Bahamas native played for Great Britain in the WBC qualifiers as an 18-year-old in 2016.
The Rip (2026)
Dir: Joe Carnahan Star: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stephen Yuen, Scott Adkins
a.k.a. Cops Yelling: The Movie. Or perhaps it just seems that way, because nobody here seems to use their inside voice. However, it’s still decently entertaining, in a “Saturday night and I just want something mindless” way… It’s nice to see Damon and Affleck working together again: they’re the Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee of contemporary urban thrillers. Carnahan, too, has certainly come a long way since Blood Guts Bullets & Octane. Probably inevitably, the Netflix sausage machine has knocked off the rough edges of personality, in favor of smooth, slick and ultimately forgettable product. Though, as ever, the “based on real events” tag is more marketing than reality.
To state the obvious: the mood in the Phillies fandom has not been overly sanguine in the past few days. The Phillies missed a chance to get better with Bo Bichette, while their rivals in Queens did not. There are still plenty of reasons to believe in the Phillies as a major contender for next year, despite that. The power is still there in the lineup. The rotation has healthy stars in Christopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola as major weapons should they recover and return to form, respectively. The bullpen may be better than last year.
But the division won’t be easy. The Mets have major questions, especially in the rotation, but Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Bo Bichette make for a powerful combo. The Braves haven’t quite looked like themselves for the past season or two, but they’re still a major threat. The Nationals and Marlins still seem to be a few seasons away, but they have good young talent. Does all this leave the Phillies as the favorites to win the division? Or does a disappointing offseason and an extra year of age on the lineup move someone else into the drivers seat?
Today’s question is: Do you think the Phillies are still favorites to win the National League East?
