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Where Jimmy Butler ranks on Stephen A. Smith's five players to watch in 2025-26

Where Jimmy Butler ranks on Stephen A. Smith's five players to watch in 2025-26 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are approaching their first full NBA season with Jimmy Butler in the mix after a successful half-season sample size.

Everyone, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, will be keeping an eye on how Butler helps Steph Curry and Co. as they make a run at the 2025-26 NBA title.

Smith recently revealed his list of the top five players to watch during the upcoming NBA season, and the pundit has Butler ranked at No. 4, ahead of Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving and behind new Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić and Mavericks center Anthony Davis.

“Here’s why [Butler] is so important,” Smith said on “First Take” on Friday morning. “Because his teammate [Curry] is the greatest shooter God has ever created, who, by the way, hospitalizes opponents who chase him around stupidly, trying to find out how you can do what you can with him and then they got to go to the hospital for oxygen, for air, because Steph Curry can do that to you, OK?

“You can’t ask him at age 37 to continue to do that without stepping up and showing Jimmy Buckets who the hell Jimmy Buckets is, reminding the world of Jimmy Buckets and what he brings to the table. Didn’t see much of that against Minnesota after Steph Curry went down. Got to make up for that this upcoming season, a full season under your belt in Golden State, because if Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry are on their game, noise can be made in the Western Conference.”

Butler, last season, joined the Warriors’ lineup on Feb. 8. Entering that game against the Chicago Bulls, Golden State had a 25-26 record, but went 23-8 to close out the regular season with a 48-34 record, good enough to secure the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed and the top spot in the NBA play-in tournament, which they advanced out of.

In the Warriors’ first-round NBA playoff series against the Rockets, Butler averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in six contests. He did sustain a pelvic contusion in Game 2 of the series that caused him to miss Game 3. He played in the final four games against Houston and scored at least 20 points three times, including 27 points twice.

Against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, Butler was forced to carry the load for much of the series after Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1, which the Warriors ultimately won. While Butler averaged 20.3 points in the four games without Curry, Golden State lost all four contests.

Curry gives any Warriors team a chance to win, but the franchise knows it needs him and Butler at the top of their game if they want to compete in a stacked Western Conference.

Dub Nation, the NBA world and Stephen A. all will be keeping a close watch on how Butler helps the Warriors this season.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Nolan McLean dazzles, bats pound Braves

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Friday, in case you missed it...

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Nico Hischier Represents Devils at NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour

The NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour is underway this week in Milan, Italy, bringing together 26 NHL stars for an international showcase. Representing the New Jersey Devils and his home country of Switzerland was none other than Devils captain Nico Hischier.

The tour highlights some of the NHL’s top European players as they work with hockey legends and preview their upcoming appearance at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. Hischier joined names like Miro Heiskanen, William Nylander, Sebastian Aho, and several other European standouts.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly praised the event in an interview with NHL.com:

“The NHL is honored to visit Milan alongside our partners at Serie A, continuing to build on the momentum of our strategic collaboration. This week’s events give our players and leadership the chance to immerse themselves in one of the world’s great sporting cultures while showcasing hockey and NHL players to new global audiences. By engaging directly with Serie A’s passionate fans and iconic clubs, we’re strengthening our global footprint and creating connections that will resonate well beyond the Winter Games.”

At just 26 years old, Hischier continues to be an ideal ambassador for both the Devils and Switzerland. His leadership and two-way play have made him one of the NHL’s most respected centers. Recently ranked among the league’s Top 20 Centers by NHL Network, Hischier has steadily elevated his game since being drafted first overall in 2017.

Last season, he appeared in 75 games, posting 69 points and a career-high 35 goals. While his scoring has improved, it’s his defensive reliability, hockey IQ, and ability to drive play at both ends of the ice that make him invaluable to New Jersey’s lineup.

On the international stage, Hischier was named one of the first six players selected for Switzerland’s 2026 Olympic roster. He was also named to the 2022 Beijing Olympic team but could not participate due to NHL restrictions during the pandemic.

Speaking to NHL.com, Hischier expressed his excitement for the opportunity:

“I was excited back then, but obviously even more excited now because it is one thing I haven’t done yet, haven’t been a part of and I think it’s something that I’m really going to enjoy.”

Hischier also reflected on the pride of seeing more Swiss players thriving in the NHL:

“I try to be thankful, because I don't think it's very common, especially for Swiss guys, to have three Swiss guys in the same NHL team and we're all doing well with each other. I’m just very thankful and it’s going to be a very, very fun time, and I’ll try to enjoy it as much as possible.”

As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 continues, Hischier’s presence in Milan this week reinforces both his importance to the Devils and his growing role as a leader for Swiss hockey on the global stage.

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48 Days Until Puck Drop: Spotlight on Brian Halonen

There are 48 days until the New Jersey Devils drop the puck on a new season. In honor of the countdown, it’s fitting to highlight No. 48 himself—left winger Brian Halonen.

Halonen’s journey hasn’t been the traditional NHL path. Undrafted out of college, the 26-year-old forward signed with New Jersey as a free agent on March 28, 2022, after four standout seasons at Michigan Tech. He began his pro career in Utica with the Devils’ AHL affiliate, where he’s developed into one of the Comets’ most reliable offensive weapons.

At 6 feet tall and on a two-year, $1.55 million contract, Halonen has split time between the NHL and AHL. Over the past two seasons, he’s appeared in four games for New Jersey, logging 11:06 of total ice time. The bulk of his work, though, has come in the AHL—where last year he put together his best professional season yet: 62 games, 27 goals, 13 assists, and 40 points. That performance earned him the Comets’ Team MVP Award for 2024–25.

Despite his success in Utica, Halonen has yet to earn a meaningful NHL opportunity. Injuries to Jack Hughes, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Bastian last season forced the Devils to dip into their depth, calling up players like Nolan Foote and Justin Dowling—but Halonen never got the call.

That decision is puzzling, given the Devils’ need for secondary scoring and the winger’s proven ability to produce. For a team that has repeatedly relied on its AHL depth to weather mid-season injuries, Halonen remains an underutilized option.

With just 48 days left until puck drop, perhaps this is the year New Jersey finally leans on Halonen. His scoring touch and steady play could make him exactly the type of depth piece the Devils need.

So why not Halonen?

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Letters to Sports: Dodgers' problems are more than Teoscar Hernández's defense

ANAHEIM, CA -AUGUST 12, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who has been solid at the plate again this season, has been criticized for his play in right field, leading some fans to wonder why he isn't playing left field. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

When will the Dodgers' hierarchy finally come to the same conclusion as everyone else in Dodger nation? Teoscar Hernández is a hack in right field, Michael Conforto needs a one-way ticket to the waiver wire and the Dodgers are a better team with Mookie Betts in right field.

Ron Yukelson
San Luis Obispo

Everyone is blaming Teoscar Hernández for the Monday night loss to the Rockies. It’s not Teoscar’s fault. A manager’s job is to put his players in the best position to perform at their best, Teoscar is not a right fielder, he’s better in left field. Everyone thinks that these are professional players and they should be able to play any position. Yeah, they can play any position, but it may not be their best performance. Quit juggling the players around and put them where they will perform at their best.

Paul Kawaguchi
Rosemead

Teoscar Hernández was singled out for criticism over his poor defense in a game the Dodgers lost to the Rockies. Yes, he didn't do well in that game, but he has been very productive with his bat, with 74 RBIs and 20 home runs. Instead of making him the scapegoat for losing a game, why not point out the often awful bullpen performances. We are ahead in a game, then the relievers come in and blow the lead. They do this far more than Teoscar commits errors.

Deborah R. Ishida
Beverly Hills

If the Dodgers crashed the Little League World Series, no one would blink. Like the kids, their leather is leaky, their arms are toast, their best hitter is their best pitcher, their silly celebrations are pure playground — shimmy shakes and sunflower seed showers. What's missing? A team mom and the minivan for postgame DQ runs.

Steve Ross
Carmel

I think the heat is getting to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Not only was Michael Conforto in the lineup on Thursday with his .190 batting average but he was batting cleanup with his nine home runs and 27 RBIs while Andy Pages was further down the batting order. Since Shohei Ohtani was not in the lineup, I was shocked that the Dodgers scored nine runs.

Jeff Hershow
Woodland Hills

Fallen Angels

Once again, here we are — August, staring down the end of another miserable season with the Angels circling the drain. Same story, different year. We fans sit around pretending it’ll turn out differently, and yet, by the time the standings settle, the Angels are once again headed for the basement of the division.

The talent’s been wasted, the momentum squandered, and hope has been crushed before Labor Day. The truth is, it isn’t just bad luck or a rough patch. The rot starts at the top. Owner Arte Moreno has turned what should be one of baseball’s marquee franchises into a punchline. His record speaks for itself: no postseason wins in more than a decade, a revolving door of managers and GMs, and enough ill-conceived signings to keep sports talk radio in business for years.

The saddest part? Fans keep showing up, hoping for change, while Moreno cashes the checks and delivers mediocrity. Anaheim deserves better. The players deserve better. Baseball deserves better.

Until ownership changes — or at least changes its attitude — don’t expect the Angels to fly. They’re grounded, and it looks like they’re comfortable staying that way.

Brian Hews
Orange

Trip to nowhere

It's so ironic that Frank McCourt's Gondola to Dodger Stadium project is hopelessly mired in red-tape.
After all, under his brilliant leadership as owner, all he did was drive the franchise into the red!

Jack Wolf
Los Angeles

Does anyone think that anything Frank McCourt would do for Los Angeles is for anyone else but himself? It’s just another expensive project with funds L.A. could use for any number of other essential projects. Put this proposal in the parking lot where he and it belong.

Bob Goldstone
Corona Del Mar

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Email: sports@latimes.com

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Shaikin: The Padres aren't dead, and the Dodgers have plenty to lose in baseball's best rivalry

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 22: Luis Arraez #4 of the San Diego Padres.
San Diego's Luis Arráez celebrates in front of Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts after hitting a double in the eighth inning of the Padres' 2-1 win Friday at Petco Park. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

The home team was one strike from victory Friday night, when the Petco Park video board suddenly erupted in hues of pink and mint, flashing the preferred accompaniment to any game against the Dodgers: BEAT LA.

Then came the 102-mph fastball, then a swing and a miss, and the San Diego Padres had indeed beaten the Dodgers.

For Dodgers fans who thought the National League West had been won last weekend at Dodger Stadium, this just in from San Diego: The NL West is tied.

These were words in this publication just five days ago: “The Dodgers now lead the National League West by two games, but it feels like 20.”

The Dodgers had just swept the Padres, their only competition for the division title. The Dodgers were 8-2 against the Padres this season. There was a blue wave of emotion. The thing that happened last is the thing you remember best.

Read more:Dodgers held to three hits in loss to Padres, falling back into tie for first place

“It’s natural,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s the great thing about fandom. People get excited. That’s a great thing about sports.”

The feeling in the clubhouse last weekend?

“In here? We played a great series, but there’s still a lot of baseball left to play,” Roberts said. “It wasn’t going to be won or lost then, and it’s not going to be won or lost this weekend.”

The trouble is not with the emotion. The trouble is with the schedule.

The number of games left after this weekend: 31. The number of Dodgers-Padres games left after this weekend: 0.

This is baseball’s best rivalry, with a division title and potential first-round playoff bye on the line. The Dodgers and Padres should be facing each other to wrap up the season, with all that emotion bursting forth.

Instead, the Dodgers finish the regular season against another traditional rival, the (checks notes) Seattle Mariners.

There has been plenty of emotion among the Dodgers and Padres fan bases already this year, mostly in the form of angst.

The Dodgers won the winter, and Padres fans wondered why their team was not keeping up with the competition.

The Padres won the trade deadline, and Dodgers fans wondered why their team was not keeping up with the competition.

For the Dodgers, the cliche is about to be put to a real-life test: Getting a player off the injured list is just like getting a player in a trade.

Reliever Tanner Scott was activated Friday. Reliever Kirby Yates could be activated as soon as Saturday.

Infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández could be activated next week, followed in some order by relievers Michael Kopech and Brock Stewart, infielder/outfielder Hyeseong Kim, infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman and third baseman Max Muncy.

On Friday, infielder Alex Freeland hit his first major league home run, but infielder Buddy Kennedy (.287 OPS) went hitless, and the Dodgers burned their backup catcher to bat for him. They trusted outfielder Justin Dean to pinch-run and play center field, but not to bat.

Alex Freeland celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of a 2-1 loss to the Padres on Friday.
Alex Freeland celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of a 2-1 loss to the Padres on Friday. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

“This is our club right now,” Roberts said. “We have guys coming back.”

On a hot August night, Petco Park was its usual lively self, with its usual sellout crowd, with Dodgers fans drowning out chants of “Let’s Go Padres” and Padres fans returning the favor at the sound of “Let’s Go Dodgers.”

Amid intensity fit for October, the Dodgers and Padres each let a strong starting pitcher — Blake Snell for L.A., Yu Darvish for San Diego — continue rather than reflexively remove him for the third time through the lineup.

How do you win in October, with pitchers like Snell and Darvish lined up?

Is it with the home run?

Only one major league team has more home runs than the Dodgers. The Dodgers scored their only run Friday on a home run.

Is it with small ball?

Only one major league team has fewer home runs than the Padres. The Padres scored both their runs in one inning Friday, with a rally that included three singles, a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.

The Padres dropped three sacrifice bunts Friday. They have 40 this season, the most in the majors. The Dodgers have eight, the fewest of any NL team.

Before the game, I spoke with Mason Miller, the former Athletics All-Star closer turned Padres eighth-inning setup man. To this point in his career, Miller said, the biggest game of his career has been closing the A’s final game in Oakland last September.

“I think I said it after that game: until I play in the playoffs, that will probably be my all-time baseball memory,” Miller said. “Now it doesn’t seem like I’ll have to wait that much longer to get that playoff taste.”

Not much longer at all. As of Friday morning, Baseball Prospectus put the Dodgers’ chance of making the playoffs at 99.8% and the Padres’ chance at 99.6%.

Maybe this weekend won’t mark the last Dodgers-Padres game this season. What we really want is the first NL Championship Series between the Dodgers and the Padres, with the winner advancing to the World Series: SoCal vs. the World.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.