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TORONTO — This malaise of the Toronto Maple Leafs feels different than any lull Craig Berube endured in his first season as head coach.

The NHL is a hard league, and its schedule can be relentless. Injuries hurt, and new acquisitions need time to find their footing.

Thereâ€s no shame in losing to a decent team, like Toronto did to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

But itâ€s the quest for a full 60-minute effort and the frequency of self-inflicted errors that leave Berube puzzled over the pieces.

“Some of our new guys coming in, finding some chemistry, where they fit, and trying to prove themselves almost a little bit, you know?†Berube said Wednesday, after a tema meeting and a highly optional practice in which the leadership group remained off the ice.

“And then, our whole team in general, in my opinion, is shooting themselves in the foot at different times in the game where thereâ€s no need to do that. Like, we didnâ€t do that stuff last year.â€

The 2024-25 Leafs were superb at holding leads. They thrived in one-goal nail-biters. They locked it down.

The 2025-26 Leafs have more giveaways (130) than any team in the Eastern Conference and the 29th-best power-play in the league (12.5 per cent).

“Itâ€s all mental for me, more than anything,†Berube said. “We got to play to our identity for 60 minutes and understand what we need to do to be successful. Itâ€s just got to keep banging away at it and keep working at it. But sometimes early adversity is OK. I mean, itâ€s all part of it. You go through it throughout the year at times, and weâ€re going through it right now.â€

William Nylander has received nearly 21 minutes†worth of bump-up shifts to Matthews†unit over these first seven games, usually when pressing for a tying goal or in an O-zone faceoff near the end of a period.

The top line has been out-chanced 17-15 and outscored 2-1 when Knies-Matthews-Nylander has hit the ice. Not great. But there have been dangerous moments, and those have been few and far between with lesser right wings in that spot.

Prolonged zone time and second chances are an issue for Torontoâ€s top unit since that groupâ€s puck-carrier and distributor chose Vegas.

“When you want to create offensive zone time, you got to put pucks in with a purpose. You got to then you got to go and get it, and you got to be physical, and you got to be heavy on your sticks,” Berube said of Matthews and Knies. “You got to win those battles to get those pucks back. And they just got to do better job with it. Thatâ€s really the bottom line.â€

To think: The Leafs used to toy with spreading their offensive threats over three lines. Now, theyâ€re considering stacking them onto one.

“I mean, I always want a little balance,†Berube said. “But itâ€s definitely something that Iâ€m thinking about.â€

In the meanwhile, rookie Easton Cowan (scratched Tuesday) should get another top-line trial against the Sabres in a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday. If the team is hesitant to dress the kid against Buffalo, it might as well send him to the AHL so he can touch the puck.

Chris Tanev, who suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday, did not hit the ice Wednesday and is questionable to participate in this weekendâ€s set against Buffalo.

“When he stays down, itâ€s definitely scary, because Iâ€ve never played with a guy as tough as Chris Tanev,†Max Domi said. “Itâ€s not a good feeling as a group when you see a guy like that go down, but he seems to be doing well. And tough as nails. Huge part of our team.â€

Tanev was just one of Torontoâ€s “banged up†players that prevent Berube from delaying a full practice until Thursday.

Next-man-up Philippe Myers conducted partner work with lefty Oliver Ekman-Larsson, suggesting Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe could reunite as a pairing.

Scott Laughton (foot; week to week) has ditched his walking boot and may return to the ice for solo work as early as Thursday.

“Heâ€s trending really well,†Berube said. “Hopefully heâ€s back on the ice with us shortly.â€

As for Joseph Woll, the coach says he hasnâ€t spoken with the goaltender (leave of absence for a personal matter) but assures heâ€s doing fine. Cayden Primeau (1-0-0, .867) is the backup until further notice.

No update on Joseph Woll from Craig Berube ahead of another Maple Leafs back-to-back.

“When he’s back, he’s back.”

Is he skating?

“When he’s back, he’s back.”

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) October 22, 2025

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Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is open to playing into his 40s.

“All I’ll say is that I just want the option and if I’m at a legitimate ability to be able to play,” Curry told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports. “I don’t know if it’ll make sense or if I would want to, whatever the case is. But if I can make the decision and the decision is not made for me, that’s a big, big point.”

The 11-time All-Star and four-time champion will be turning 38 years old during the 2025-26 season.

He’ll be 40 years old in the middle of Golden State’s 2027-28 campaign, although he’s only signed through the 2026-27 season after agreeing to a one-year extension worth $62.6 million with the team in Aug. 2024.

Curry, who has spent his entire 16-year career on the Warriors, has repeatedly expressed his desire to finish his NBA journey as a member of the organization.

He hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down recently, as his legendary shooting prowess has allowed him to remain one of the league’s top point guards throughout the back half of his career.

Curry is coming off a 2024-25 season in which he averaged 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on 44.8/39.7/93.3 shooting splits while helping the Warriors finish with a 50-32 record.

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If you’re in the market for a new set of clubs, there are a lot of decisions you need to make. First off: What kind of player are you? Are you a higher-handicap player looking for clubs with maximum forgiveness, or a single-digit seeking superior feel and feedback? Are you a brand loyalist, or are you open to testing a number of models to find the right one for you?

And even once you know exactly which brand you plan to put in the bag, there are other important customization decisions to make. Graphite or steel shafts? How much flex? The list goes on!

As you browse through available options, you may find other descriptors that you aren’t sure about: namely, irons that aee cast versus forged. What do these terms mean, and how can you decide which is best for your game? I asked True Spec’s Marc Roybal to weigh in.

Are blended iron sets right for you? An expert explains

By:

Jessica Marksbury

“The difference between cast and forged irons is the manufacturing process,” he said. “Forged golf clubs are made from a single billet of metal and hammered or stamped into shape. Cast clubs are made from liquid metal poured into a mold.”

And what does this mean from a performance perspective?

“There isn’t a specific player that benefits from either,” Roybal said. “Historically, forged golf clubs were mainly for the elite players. With manufacturing processes improving, there are now plenty of forged golf clubs that fit the higher-handicap player.”

So when it comes to selecting clubs for your own game, what’s the best way to decide between cast and forged options?

“There is no right or wrong to this question,” Roybal said. “There are plenty of cast and forged irons and wedges that work for every level of player. Generally, a forged golf club will provide a softer feel, while and the cast may feel more firm.”

With that in mind, the best way to decide is to test a few different models to see which you prefer. Check out some popular cast and forged iron options below. And when you’re ready to dial in on the best equipment for your game, click here to find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

Forged irons

Titleist 2025 T100 Custom Irons

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Anyone can list the best players in the NBA, but basketball is as much about chemistry as it is talent. Within each of the league’s 30 teams is a hierarchy, and how well each of the five players on the court understands and performs his role within that hierarchy is every bit as important as his individual skill.

While depth was vital to the success of the Thunder and Pacers last season, and we understand coaches often say, “It’s about who closes the game; not who starts it,” the pursuit of a roster’s most cohesive five-man unit is still paramount. Three oflast year’s top four starting lineups on our list — the Thunder, Knicks and Timberwolves — reached the conference finals.

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In this series, we rank each team’s starters for a broader look across the league. Ideally, a lineup has its superstar, a deferential co-star, a third star who owns his role, a fourth option and a fifth starter to tie it all together — clear Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. How close does your team come to an ideal lineup?

(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

No. 2 options: The Deferential Co-Stars

What is a No. 2? Here is how we described him last year:

He is, generally, the team’s second option on offense. He can be an All-Star. In fact, he better be one if you want to compete for a title. Maybe his skill level is a hair below his top teammate. Maybe his skill set is more complementary. Or maybe his personality is more obsequious.

Whatever the case, he understands he is not the No. 1, and that is what is most important. Teams do not reach their potential when the No. 2 believes he is the No. 1. All the greats had a Hall of Fame No. 2, and all of them knew where they stood. Bill Russell had Bob Cousy. Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen. Larry Bird had Kevin McHale. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had Oscar Robertson, then Magic Johnson, and then Magic flipped it. Shaquille O’Neal had Kobe Bryant, who then had Pau Gasol. It has a way of sorting itself out.

We should add: Defense is a complementary skill! And maybe the most important one among No. 2 options. If a team’s No. 1 is ball-dominant, and he almost always is, then his offensive responsibilities often leave slack to be picked up on the defense end. How a co-star supports his leading man is every bit as important as his athleticism or skill. There is a little more dirty work to be done when you are a second option.

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What we have to decide here, then, is how to rank these players, by skill or by how well they complement a team’s top dog. Let’s call it a combination of the two, inviting even more subjectivity into this exercise. We ranked every co-star. You can debate us on their merits. And we’ll have fun doing it. How about that?

Lastly, we sourced these lineups and each player’s status within them with beat reporters around the league. We appreciate everyone who casted a roster; there are too many people to thank in this space. And we recognize that not every player listed here will be in an opening-night starting lineup. Injuries occur. Coaches change their minds. But just know that this is our best guess at the rotations we will likely see most often from each team.

On Monday, we ranked the No. 1 options. Without further ado, your five best No. 2s …

1. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Welcome to our most controversial decision of 2025.

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Is Williams a better player than LeBron James right now? There is some question about that. James had the superior traditional statistics last season. He averaged a 24-8-8 to Williams’ 22-5-5, scoring more efficiently, too. This is probably why James appeared on the All-NBA second team, while Williams cracked the third team.

However, Williams surpassed James in several advanced metrics last season, including Daily Plus-Minus:

And Estimated Plus-Minus:

(via Dunks and Threes)

(Dunks and Threes)

This is probably because Williams also made the All-Defensive Second Team as someone who can and did defend all five positions. His impact on both ends of the floor was arguably broader. It easily was in the playoffs, where James’ Lakers were ousted as third-seeded favorites in five games of a first-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams, playing on an injured wrist that required offseason surgery, helped the top-seeded Thunder to the title, even scoring 40 points in a pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

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What cannot be argued, really: Williams is the better complementary co-star to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City than James is to Luka DonÄić in Los Angeles. There is overlap in the ball-dominant skill sets of James and DonÄić, and neither helps the other on the defensive end. Meanwhile, Williams is exactly who OKC needs him to be. Sometimes more, rarely less. He can and does do a bit of everything.

If you need everything from James, he might be able to give it to you on any given night. But if you are asking me: Who is the best No. 2 in basketball right now for the entirety of a season, including playoffs? I think you would be better suited to pick a 24-year-old rising co-star of a championship team over a 40-year-old who will miss the start of the season to sciatica, even if that 40-year-old is LeBron Effing James.

2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

What else is left to say about James? He is unquestionably on the Mount Rushmore of NBA legends, along with Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar and Russell. How you want to order them is your business, but nobody has sustained his greatness for as long as James has. Did we mention he is 40?

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Do you know how good you have to be in order to be among the league’s best second options at the age of 40? Your days as an All-NBA performer cannot be behind you. And James has proven, when healthy, he is still one of the league’s 15 best players. Remarkably, he has not missed an All-NBA team since 2004.

This season? It isn’t starting out great. Sciatica will, at the very least, cost James the first week of his 23rd campaign. Any time anyone mentions the phrases “40 years old” and “sciatica” in the same breath, I can feel the pain in my own backside, but this is LeBron James we’re talking about. He’s been a superhuman force for more than two decades, and we’ll not believe Father Time has him beat until the game is called.

That said: There is some question about his fit with DonÄić, especially on the defensive end. The Lakers allowed 117 points per 100 possessions whenever James and DonÄić were in tandem last season, which would have ranked 26th in the league if averaged over a full season. That weakness was their fatal flaw, and the Lakers did little to address it over the summer, choosing Deandre Ayton as their rim protector.

There is also some question about whether James understands he is the Lakers’ second option. He has never been that in his career — until now — and while he has said all the right things since Los Angeles’ acquisition of DonÄić, there is a difference between saying what is necessary to win games and doing it.

3. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Besides Williams, Mobley was the only other player to crack both the All-NBA and All-Defensive rosters, making the second and first teams, respectively. He was also the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

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The 24-year-old’s traditional statistics — 19-9-3 on 56/37/73 shooting splits — may not jump off the page, but he is capable of everything on a basketball court at nearly 7 feet tall, drawing favorable comparisons to a young Kevin Garnett. Offensively, he is a threat from the perimeter, the post or anywhere between, generating open looks as a scorer, a passer and a screen-setter. On the other end, he can defend all five positions in space or at the rim. He is long and athletic and skilled, all the physical attributes you’d want.

Is he as manically driven toward superstardom as KG was? That is the question, for Cleveland’s prospects as a title team — and not the second-round fodder it has been for the past two seasons — hinge on the development of Mobley. Here is a vote of confidence in his pursuit of an even higher spot on this list.

4. Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

Butler was a No. 1 option for the Miami Heat when last we visited this exercise a year ago and a damn good one at that. He led the Heat to NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023 and demanded a trade last season once it became clear he could no longer reach those heights with their deteriorating roster.

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He landed in Golden State, where the Warriors were phenomenal in his brief time on the team. They finished 23-7 down the stretch with him in the lineup, outscoring opponents by double digits per 100 possessions whenever he was on the floor. They ousted the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs and only lost in the Western Conference semifinals once Stephen Curry was hurt.

While Butler can still be a bona fide No. 1 if need be, his skill set is perfectly suited to complement any superstar, including Curry. He creates turnovers on defense and does not commit them on offense. Likewise, Butler gets to the free-throw line on offense and does not foul often on defense. He wins possessions, and over the course of a 14-year career that relentlessness has won more games than not.

5. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

If only Butler knew how close Towns has drawn to him on this list. Towns was once considered a losing player, perpetually missing the playoffs on the Minnesota Timberwolves. They broke through to the 2024 Western Conference finals with him as their second-best player, supporting Anthony Edwards, only to trade him to New York, where he helped Jalen Brunson’s Knicks to the 2025 Eastern Conference finals.

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That’s right: Karl-Anthony Towns, my friends, is a winning basketball player. The Knicks were seven points per 100 meaningful possessions better when he was on the court during the regular season, according to Cleaning the Glass, and even better (+8.7) in the playoffs, ousting the defending champion Boston Celtics.

There is still some concern about whether Towns’ defensive issues — along with those of Brunson — will ultimately set New York’s ceiling below championship level, but the East is as open as it has been in some time. If they are to win it, it will be on the defensive improvement of Towns, but as is he is an All-NBA third-team member who averaged a 24-13-3 last season on 53/42/83 shooting splits. Pretty freaking good.

The honorable mentions

6. De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

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7. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

8. Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

9. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

10. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

11. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

12. James Harden, LA Clippers

13. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

The rest

14. Derrick White, Boston Celtics; 15. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; 16. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks; 17. Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors; 18. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings; 19. Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans; 20. Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns; 21. Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks; 22. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets; 23. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets; 24. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons; 25. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers; 26. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers; 27. Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks; 28. Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards; 29. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls; 30. Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz

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WPL Auction in November. (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: The Womenâ€s Premier League (WPL) has announced key guidelines for the upcoming mega auction, allowing teams to retain up to five players ahead of the high-profile event. The retention deadline is set for November 5, while the auction window will be between November 25 to 29, as communicated to franchises on Thursday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Each team can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indian players. If a franchise chooses to retain all five players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian. This rule ensures a balance between experienced stars and emerging talent in the squads.For the first time in WPL history, franchises can use the Right-to-Match (RTM) option, allowing them to buy back players from their 2025 squads. Each team is entitled to five RTMs, though the number varies depending on retention. Teams retaining all five players lose the RTM option, while those retaining fewer players get more RTMs — four for one retention, three for two, two for three, and one for four.

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How many players do you think most teams will opt to retain?

The league has set an auction purse of Rs 15 crore per team. Standard retention prices have been outlined across five slabs: Rs 3.5 crore for Player 1, Rs 2.5 crore for Player 2, Rs 1.75 crore for Player 3, Rs 1 crore for Player 4, and Rs 50 lakh for Player 5. Deductions from the auction purse are proportional to the number of retained players, with Rs 9.25 crore deducted for five retentions. Negotiations between franchises and players can alter these amounts, with uncapped Indians carrying a minimum retention value of Rs 50 lakh.The WPL has also set a clear timeline leading up to the auction: player retention lists are due by November 5, auction entry lists by November 7, the final player registration by November 18, and the official auction list will be released on November 20. These measures aim to ensure transparency and maintain competitive balance as the WPL gears up for another thrilling season.

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  Alden GonzalezOct 7, 2025, 11:14 PM ET

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  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.

LOS ANGELES — Roki Sasaki hasn’t been officially declared the closer, but he might as well be. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Sasaki is “definitely the primary option now” in the ninth inning, but that is also contingent on his workload.

“We have to win X amount of games [to secure a championship], and he’s not going to close every game,” Roberts said before Tuesday’s workout from Dodger Stadium. “It’s just not feasible, so, you’ve got to use other guys.”

Roberts attempted to do that in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Monday night, deploying Blake Treinen with a three-run lead in the ninth inning. But Treinen allowed the first three batters to reach, cutting the Philadelphia Phillies’ deficit to a single run. Alex Vesia followed by facing three batters, retiring two. Sasaki then entered the game and recorded the final out in what amounted to his fifth major league relief appearance since transitioning to the bullpen in mid-September.

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The Dodgers entered the postseason with a leaky bullpen they hoped to shore up with starting pitchers, most notably Sasaki but also Emmet Sheehan, Clayton Kershaw and, at times, Tyler Glasnow. The likes of Treinen, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech — the latter two currently recovering from injuries but expected to be available for a potential National League Championship Series — were expected to anchor a dominant bullpen. All of them, to varying degrees, have fallen out of favor, but Roberts will inevitably have to trust them again at some point.

“If there’s a world where you can use five pitchers and finish a postseason and win the postseason, I think a lot of people would sign up for that,” Roberts said. “But that’s impossible. So you’ve got to use your roster at certain times and kind of pick spots where you feel best and live with whatever outcome. But that’s just the way it goes to win, for us, 13 games in October.”

In hopes of winning at least one, the Phillies, coming off back-to-back losses in Philadelphia, will turn to veteran right-hander Aaron Nola with their season on the line in Game 3 on Wednesday. Nola, 32, navigated a career-worst year in 2025, going 5-10 with a 6.01 ERA. But Phillies manager Rob Thomson will deploy lefty starter Ranger Suarez behind Nola, with Cristopher Sanchez fully rested for a potential Game 4.

Thomson said he went with Nola because of Nola’s strong finish to the regular season — eight innings of one-run ball against the Minnesota Twins — and because Nola is more comfortable starting than coming out of the bullpen. A lefty is typically a better option against the top of the Dodgers’ lineup, but the left-handed-hitting Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman have combined for a 1.056 OPS against Suarez.

“I have trust in both of them, don’t get me wrong,” Thomson said. “But Nola has pitched in some really big games for us in the last couple of years.”

Thomson said center fielder Harrison Bader, who suffered a hamstring strain in Game 1, will be a “game-time decision” on Wednesday. Bader pinch hit in the ninth inning of Game 2 and was replaced by a pinch runner after his single. Starting him as the designated hitter and putting Kyle Schwarber in the outfield is not an option.

“He’s still got to run,” Thomson said of Bader. “If he can run, he’s going to play center field.”

Dodgers catcher Will Smith, nursing a hairline fracture in his right hand, has not started any of the team’s four playoff games but has caught the final innings in each of the first two games of this series. Doing so again in Game 3 makes sense, given that the Dodgers would have the platoon advantage by starting the left-handed-hitting Ben Rortvedt against Nola and later turning to the right-handed-hitting Smith against Suarez. But Roberts said “there is hope” of Smith catching the whole game.

“I’ll make the decision tomorrow,” Roberts said. “Each day, it’s gotten better, so I feel more confident that he’ll be able to start.”

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SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley dissects the latestKnicksnews ahead of their 2025-26 season opener and answers a reader’s question on the team…

Deuces Wild

Miles McBride looks like he’s ready for the regular season. He scored a team-high 12 points on seven shots in 21 minutes during the Knicks’ preseason win over the Sixers in Abu Dhabi. He was active on both ends of the floor, finishing with three steals and five rebounds (two offensive).

McBride hit two of his four three-point attempts and looked comfortable and confident with the ball in his hands. Obviously, you shouldn’t make too much of what you see in preseason. But his play is worth watching because of the roster decisions ahead for the Knicks.
If the Knicks want to keep both Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon on the roster, they would have to trade a player. The trade is necessary because they need to create enough room under the second apron to keep both players.

Trades involving McBride, Pacome Dadiet or Tyler Kolek are the most direct paths to shedding that salary (though if the Knicks traded Kolek, kept both veterans and made no other trades, they would not be able to sign another veteran during the season).

I’d still expect the Knicks to let things play out during camp/preseason before they make a move to keep both Brogdon and Shamet. But if I’m placing a bet at the start of the preseason, I’m still betting that both Brodgon and Shamet – if healthy- are on the regular season roster. This Knicks team has a great opportunity to be playing into June. That’s why I think they’ll ultimately go with veteran depth, in Brogdon and Shamet.

So, who would they trade to make room for the vets? Moving McBride would get the job done, but I’d be surprised if New York chose to move him amid the roster crunch. The Knicks really value McBride and key stakeholders believe that they need the fifth-year guard on the roster in order to reach their goals.

Opposing teams are actually hoping that the Knicks make McBride available. The 25-year-old is in the second year of a three-year, $13 million extension. He’s valued highly by multiple teams around the league. His production, age and contract situation are all attractive. The Knicks also value him highly and have not been entertaining offers to trade at this point, per people familiar with the matter.

Starting Mitch

Knicks head coach Mike Brown started Robinson at center in the preseason opener and he looked good. He disrupted things on defense and finished with five offensive rebounds in 18 minutes. He had 16 rebounds overall (though it should be noted that the Sixers shot below 34 percent from the field in the first half).

Still, it had to be encouraging for the Knicks to see Robinson on the floor and productive in the preseason. He missed most of the regular season last year while recovering from offseason surgery. When healthy, Robinson has a clear impact on the game. If the Knicks start Robinson alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the regular season, it will be a significant change from last season.

Last year, the Knicks stuck with a starting five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Towns for most of the season. They inserted Robinson into the starting lineup midway through their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Pacers.

Robinson is also in the final year of his current contract. If healthy, he will get significant offers in free agency next summer. The Knicks can sign him to an extension during the season. The last time he was extension eligible, Robinson entered free agency and was ultimately re-signed by the Knicks.

I don’t think the lack of an extension indicates that the Knicks don’t value Robinson. The club sent at least one member of their coaching staff to work with Robinson on-site in the offseason.

Do u have concerns Brown may be trying to a put a square peg in a round hole. They may not be athletic enough to succeed w/that tempo. Don Nelson tried something similar in 97 & it ended quickly & badly. Remember? Got to have the right personnel for that style? – @JeffGlotzer

This is an interesting point and it’s something that an opposing front office brought up recently. They wondered if the Knicks had the personnel to play fast. Obviously, Brown wants to push the pace. It will be interesting to see if this team is actually equipped to play fast or if Brown needs to adjust his expectations on pace of play.

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Sep 19, 2025, 05:40 AM ETWarriors forward Jonathan Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, told ESPN that Kuminga is prepared to take…

Shortly after the Boston Celtics†season ended with a disappointing second-round exit at the hands of the New York Knicks, Jaylen Brown sat at a podium inside Madison Square Garden trying to process what went wrong and what comes next.

But even in the face of a very murky future for his Celtics squad, Brown projected optimism.

“I know Boston looks gloomy right now,†Brown said while pointing to Jayson Tatumâ€s Achilles injury and the disappointing finish to a championship-or-bust campaign. “But thereâ€s a lot to look forward to. I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end, and Iâ€m looking forward to whatâ€s next.â€

So, what isnext for Brown and the Celtics?

For Week 3 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to pick one thing they want to see from key members of the 2025-26 Celtics squad. And, for Day 11, that spotlight lands on Brown.

Our question was intentionally vague. Panelists could pick any sort of benchmark for what would constitute progress from Brown during the new campaign.

For us, itâ€s simple: Consistency as the undisputed top option while Tatum is rehabbing. The Celtics need Brown to bring high-level, two-way impact on a night-to-night basis if they want to truly compete with a roster that has felt the talent squeeze of the second apron.

Brown produced two of his best playoff games on nights when the Celtics were without Tatum. Game 2 against Orlando (36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) and Game 5 against New York (26 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists) against New York were proof that Brown can shoulder the 1A load when asked.

But now heâ€s going to be tasked with that indefinitely. He has to bring it every single night without having the safety net of an All-Star sidekick. But Brown sounds invigorated by the challenge.

Can he summon the energy to be as impactful defensively, all while shouldering the brunt of the scoring burden on the opposite end? Can he tighten up his ball-handling as his usage rate rises and the Celtics run even more offense through him? Can Brown make his 3-point shot a more consistent weapon for a team that relies so heavily on that part of their offense?

Ultimately, the stat line doesnâ€t matter much to us. We feel pretty confident suggesting Brown will be somewhere in that 24-point, seven-rebound, five-assist output on a nightly basis. A return to the All-NBA squad is waiting if he does that over 65-plus games, and a lofty slot on that 15-man team is there if Brown’s rebound and assist numbers tick even higher while filling all the voids of the departed.

There simply can’t be pronounced dips in his production. Brown would be the first to note that his seven turnovers as Game 6 slipped away early against New York was far too many. Brown pulled his turnover rate down during the title season and must maximize possessions this season without Tatum on the court.

The opportunity for Brown to assert himself as one of the NBAâ€s elite is here for him. Itâ€s a daunting challenge given the changes but one that he seemed ready to embrace from the very moment last season ended.

If Brown plays with consistent energy and impact, the Celtics are going to exceed most expectations for the 2025-26 season.

Letâ€s see what our panel came up with:

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor

Improved playmaking. Brown averaged a career-high 4.5 assists per game last season, up nearly a full assist from 3.6 per game in 2023-24. But he’ll likely get the Tatum treatment this season with double-teams galore as Boston’s clear top offensive option.

How well Brown handles those double-teams — can he find the open man while limiting turnovers? — will go a long way toward the Celtics’ success this season.

Michael Hurley, Web Producer

I think he has to make an All-NBA Team. I’m sure people would love to see him make First Team, but considering he made the Second Team a couple of years ago, just being considered among the top 15 players in the league is a fair bar to a player of Brown’s stature to clear in a season when he’s going to have to be the man for his team.

Sean McGuire, Web Producer

I want to see Brown emerge as a 1A. We’re talking All-NBA, not just NBA All-Star. Should that occur, it will be a result of improved playmaking for teammates, high-level scoring, lock-down defense and consistently showing up night after night.

Given the injury to Tatum and the offseason exodus, the Celtics need Brown to improve everywhere and lead the way.

Josh Canu, Media Editor

Consistent playmaking. We have seen some big games from Brown as a playmaker in flashes, but without Tatum, there is a lot of opportunity for him to create for his teammates this season.

He will likely see more double teams and different coverages and will need to be able to make the correct reads and rely on open teammates. I think he is up to the task.

Max Lederman, Content Producer

I want to see Brown continue to grow as a playmaker and floor raiser.

JB is coming off a season where he set new career highs in usage rate and assists per game, but the challenge will be much greater without Tatum sharing the load.

Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy

I’d love for Brown’s desire to play aggressive offense — attacking the hoop and getting to the line consistently — to be infectious for this Celtics team.

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