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This prominent WWE RAW star took a subtle jab at John Cena and AJ Styles, who are about to hang up their boots.

Cena is embarking on his retirement tour this year and had just come off a victory against Styles at Crown Jewel in Perth, Western Australia. Following the recently concluded premium live event, the Last Real Champion only has four remaining appearances left. His last match will take place on December 13th at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and his final opponent has yet to be revealed by the sports entertainment powerhouse. Meanwhile, Styles announced that next year (2026) will be his last as an in-ring competitor. Just recently, the Phenomenal One made his final stop in Japan, where he had so many memorable moments. In addition, WWE was also planning on giving him a memorable sendoff to honor his decorated and legendary career.

Two of the all-time greats in the business are about to ride off into the sunset, but apparently, someone isn’t high on retirement tours. On X/Twitter, Sheamus also unveiled a tour of his own, which centered around his desire to continue wrestling, and that his banger matches will continue to live on.

Sheamus “Never F***ing Retiring Tour†started Monday 20th October 2025. Bangers never quit,” the former WWE Champion said.

You may check out his tweet here.

Main event match time
Sheamus🤩🤩#WWERAWpic.twitter.com/pGrsjySkgB

— Eslam (@EslamRollins) October 21, 2025

The Celtic Warrior made his return this week on RAW in the battle royal to determine CM Punk’s dance partner for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event on November 1 in Salt Lake City, Utah. It seems Sheamus’ message was a slight jibe at both Styles and Cena as The Celtic Warrior potentailly views them as “quitters” for retiring.

Sheamus Made His Presence Felt on WWE Raw But Came Up Short

During the number one contender’s battle royal in the main event of RAW, Sheamus didn’t waste time making an impact. He even eliminated the one-half of the War Raiders, Ivar, with his White Noise signature maneuver.

FINN BALOR
JD MCDONAGH
SHEAMUS
ARE ALL ELIMINATED! âŒ

Who will face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event? pic.twitter.com/dq5jSZroUP

— WWE (@WWE) October 21, 2025

However, the Celtic Warrior’s efforts were not enough despite hitting the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán on Finn Balor and JD McDonagh. The Judgment Day duo and Kofi Kingston all conspired to eliminate the former WWE Champion.

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Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File) Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has removed Lahore Qalandars from his social media bio, following his countryâ€s decision to withdraw from the upcoming tri-nation T20I series in Pakistan. The withdrawal comes in protest against recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, which reportedly killed eight civilians, including three young cricketers.

Rashid Khan X handle

Rashid, widely regarded as one of Afghanistanâ€s most influential cricketers, had previously listed all his major teams on X (formerly Twitter), including the national side, Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, and Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. The latest update now shows the Qalandars removed, leaving only his IPL and BBL affiliations alongside the Afghanistan national team.

Pak-Afghan Border Clash: Airstrike Kills 3 Afghan Cricketers, ACB and Rashid Khan Blast Islamabad

The change followed a strongly worded statement from Rashid condemning the airstrikes and expressing support for the Afghanistan Cricket Boardâ€s (ACB) decision to pull out of the series scheduled in Lahore from November 17 to 29. The tri-series was to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

Rashid Khan post on X

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes — a tragedy that claimed women, children, and young cricketers aspiring to represent Afghanistan on the global stage,†Rashid wrote on X. “These unlawful actions are a grave violation of human rights. I fully support the ACBâ€s decision to withdraw. Our national dignity must come first.â€The ACB confirmed that the three cricketers killed in the attacks — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — were from Paktikaâ€s Urgun district, while seven others were injured.Afghan players have expressed strong reactions to the incident. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib posted: “This brutal act by the Pakistani army is an assault on our people, pride, and independence, but it will never break the Afghan spirit.â€The move by Rashid Khan, both in public statements and his bio update, underscores the growing tension and the emotional toll of the attacks on Afghan cricket, as the team takes a firm stand on national dignity and respect for the lives lost.

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WWE star Blake Monroe, previously Mariah May, subtly took a shot at AEW.

Mariah May was among the AEW stars who recently jumped ship to WWE, joining the likes of Ricky Saints, Ethan Page, Lexis King, and Shawn Spears. After parting ways with All Elite Wrestling in May this year, she debuted as a superstar in May as a member of the NXT roster, now going by Blake Monroe.

The former All Elite star made her in-ring WWE debut in July and has since feuded with former tag team partner Jordynne Grace and currently with the Women’s North American and Speed Champion Sol Ruca.

Safe to say, the former Mariah May has been doing well as a WWE Superstar, and her recent comments have clearly reflected these sentiments.

What Comment Did WWE Star Mariah May Say That May Have Been A Dig At AEW?

The former Mariah May appeared on The Ringer Wrestling Show’s The Masked Man Show and discussed her early beginnings as part of the NXT roster, stating that she was learning a lot from the coaches and fellow superstars themselves.

Later in the conversation, Blake Monroe was asked if she always planned to wrestle in the developmental brand or if it was more of a “make the best of the situation” type of deal. The superstar answered that she has no problems starting in NXT, which she noted was the highest-viewed show she has ever been featured on.

I mean, NXT’s got the highest viewership of any show I’ve been on.”

The former Mariah May further explained that being in NXT gives her more exposure to fans who are unfamiliar with her, giving her a better chance of success once she goes to the main roster with top superstars and former champions like Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair.

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A day after India won the Asia Cup, beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy celebrated the win with a “coffee cup” as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who walked away with the Asia Cup title after Indian cricket refused to receive it from him.The Suryakumar Yadav-led side beat Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling final in Dubai.In the third episode of Breakfast With Champion, Varun Chakravarthy spilled the beans on his ‘Cup†celebration after beating Pakistan.

‘Spartan mentality!’: Varun Chakaravarthy reveals Gautam Gambhir’s ruthless mindset with Team India

“So, I knew that we were going to win because by the time we won the second match against them, I knew that if we were going to meet them in the finals, we were going to win,” said Varun Chakravarthy.The spinner also shared that he had originally planned to sleep with the trophy and take a photo with it beside him. But since the team didnâ€t win the final, he ended up sleeping with a coffee mug instead.

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What was your reaction to India’s victory in the Asia Cup against Pakistan?

“So, I had planned everything. I was going to take a photo like I am sleeping with a cup and all those things. But after the match, there was nothing next to me. Just a coffee cup. So, I went ahead with it,” he said.After the win, Varun posted on X, “Akkha duniya ek taraf, aur mere India ek taraf. Jai Hind!”Varun Chakravarthy added that not lifting the trophy didnâ€t matter, as it didnâ€t change the fact that they had triumphed in the tournament.”I knew that we would win all games. We are the number one team in the world. (Cup cheen sakte hai) The Cup can be taken away, but we are champions,†he said.

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At 5:37 p.m. Wednesday, Michael Bubleâ€s “Feeling Good” blared from the Dodger Stadium speakers.

Shohei Ohtani came strolling to the plate with a bat in his hands.

There was no one in the stands, of course. Nor an opposing pitcher on the mound. The Dodgers, on this workout day after returning from Milwaukee, were still some 22 hours away from resuming their National League Championship Series against the Brewers. For any other player, it would have been a routine affair.

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Ohtani, however, is not just any player.

And among the many things that make him unique, his habit of almost never taking batting practice on the field is one of the small but notable ones.

Which made his decision to do so Wednesday a telling development.

Over the last two weeks, Ohtani has been in a slump. Since the start of the NL Division Series, he is just two-for-25 with a whopping 12 strikeouts. He has been smothered by left-handed pitching. He has made poor swing decisions and failed to slug the ball.

Last week, manager Dave Roberts went so far as to say the Dodgers were “not gonna win the World Series with that sort of performance†from their $700-million slugger.

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Thus, out Ohtani came for batting practice on Wednesday in the most visible sign yet of his urgency for a turnaround.

“The other way to say it is that, if I hit, we will win,†Ohtani said in Japanese when asked about Roberts†World Series quote earlier Wednesday afternoon. “I think he thinks that if I hit, we will win. Iâ€d like to do my best to do that.â€

In Roberts†view, Ohtani has already started improving from his woeful NLDS, when he struck out nine times in 18 trips to the plate against a left-handed-heavy Philadelphia Phillies staff that, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman emphatically put it, had “the most impressive execution against a hitter I’ve ever seen.â€

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In Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers, Ohtani was 0-for-two but walked three times; twice intentionally but another on a more disciplined five-pitch at-bat to lead off the game against left-handed opener Aaron Ashby.

The following night, he went only one-for-five with three more strikeouts, giving him 15 this postseason, second-most in the playoffs. But he did have an RBI single, marking his first run driven in since Game 2 of the NLDS. He followed that with a steal, swiping his first bag of the playoffs. And earlier in the game, he scorched a lineout to right at 115.2 mph, the hardest heâ€d hit a ball since taking Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene deep in the teamâ€s postseason opener.

“The first two games in Milwaukee, his at-bats have been fantastic,†Roberts said Wednesday, before heading out to the field and watching Ohtaniâ€s impromptu BP session.

“That’s what I’ve been looking for. That’s what I’m counting on,†he added, while noting the careful approach the Brewers have also taken with the soon-to-be four-time MVP. “You can only take what they give you. So for me, I think he’s in a good spot right now.â€

Shohei Ohtani puts the ball in play in the third inning during Game 4 of the NLDS. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Ohtaniâ€s overall numbers, of course, continue to suggest otherwise. His .147 postseason batting average is second-worst on the team, ahead of only Andy Pages. His seven-game drought without an extra-base hit is longer than any he endured in the regular season.

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“The first thing I have to do is increase the level of my at-bats,†Ohtani said in Japanese. “Swing at strikes and not swing at balls.â€

On Wednesday, Ohtaniâ€s slump also led to questions about his role as a two-way player, and whether his return to pitching this season (and, this October, doing it for the first time in the playoffs) has contributed to his sudden struggles at the plate.

After all, on days Ohtani pitched this season, he hit .222 with four home runs but 21 strikeouts. On the days immediately following an outing, he batted .147 with two home runs and 10 strikeouts.

His current slump began with a hitless, four-strikeout dud in Game 1 of the NLDS, when he also made a six-inning, three-run start on the mound.

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And in days since, Roberts has acknowledged some likely correlation between Ohtaniâ€s two roles.

“[His offense] hasnâ€t been good when heâ€s pitched,†Roberts said following the NLDS. “Weâ€ve got to think through this and come up with a better game plan.â€

Ohtani, on the other hand, pushed back somewhat on that narrative during Wednesdayâ€s workout, in which he also threw a bullpen session in preparation for his next start in Game 4 of the NLCS on Friday.

While it is “more physically strenuous†to handle both roles, he conceded, he countered that “I donâ€t know if thereâ€s a direct correlation.â€

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“Physically,†he added, “I donâ€t feel like thereâ€s a connection.â€

Instead, Ohtani on Wednesday went about fixing his swing the way any other normal hitter would. He went out on the field for his rare session of batting practice. Of his 32 swings, he sent 14 over the fence, including one that clanked off the roof of the right-field pavilion.

“Certainly, there’s frustration,†Roberts said of how heâ€s seen Ohtani handle his uncharacteristic lack of performance.

But, he added, “that’s expected. I don’t mind it. I like the edge.â€

“He’s obviously a very, very talented player, and we’re counting on him,†Roberts continued. “Heâ€s just a great competitor. He’s very prepared. And thereâ€s still a lot of baseball left.â€

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Following a televised episode of Monday Night RAW in Australia, WWE held a non-televised live event for the fans in Melbourne. The show featured an Intercontinental Championship match where the titleholder, Dominik Mysterio of The Judgment Day, defended his gold against CM Punk. The contest was part of WWE’s tour that also included SmackDown and the Crown Jewel Premium Live Event.

The championship match ended in a disqualification when Dominik Mysterioâ€s stablemates, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez, interfered to save his title. The odds were soon evened as Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky made their way to the ring to support CM Punk. The two babyfaces quickly neutralized Rodriguez and Perez, leaving “Dirty” Dom alone to face the consequences.

The post-match action saw Ripley shove Mysterio, causing him to stumble and trip over Iyo Sky. This allowed CM Punk to recover and hit Mysterio with his signature GTS (Go to Sleep) finishing maneuver. However, the humiliation for the Intercontinental Champion was not over, as Punk had more planned for the Melbourne audience.

CM Punk lifted Mysterio and executed Rhea Ripleyâ€s own finishing move, the Riptide. To add to the embarrassment, Punk then pinned Mysterio using Ripley’s signature “pretzel pin.” Punk then motioned for Ripley to make the count, and she obliged, counting to three as the fans cheered for the babyfaces celebrating in the ring.

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In just his second marathon, Jacob Kiplimo (drinking) ran with defending champ John Korir and others early, then broke the race open with 8M to run. (KEVIN MORRIS)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, October 12 — It took only 2:02:23 for Jacob Kiplimo to demonstrate that he is making great progress in his transition up to 42K as he cruised to a comfortable win in the Windy City.

As if his 2:03:37 debut and 2nd-place finish last April in London left much doubt, the 24-year-old Ugandan secured his first win and became the 7th-fastest all-time, running the 11th-fastest time. More impressive was the ease with which Kiplimo moved down the road in a stride smoother than his more experienced rivals.

“Iâ€m so happy for the results I have today,†he beamed. “I came here to win the race and it is a big achievement for me.â€

Kenyans Amos Kipruto (2:03:54) and Alex Masai (2:04:37) finished 2nd and 3rd. American Conner Mantz crossed 6 seconds later, just missing the podium, but nailing the American Record with an even-paced 2:04:43.

For the 28-year-old BYU grad, “It was a great day! I have been eyeing this record for a very long time, maybe even when it was not a realistic goal. To actually hit the goal, it feels real good.â€

Itâ€s hard to believe that Kiplimo will celebrate just his 25th birthday in November as he has been world-class since competing in the 5000 at the â€16 Olympics.

Very accomplished on the track with 7:26.64/12:40.96/26:33.93 PRs, the â€21 Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000 has taken a back seat to fellow Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei. He has fared better on the grass taking home three World Cross titles, and even better in the half-marathon where he has a stellar competitive record and ran a staggering 56:42 WR this past February in Barcelona.

Kiplimo embarked on his marathon career with a very strong showing in London where he chose not to play with fire as Sabastian Sawe surged away midrace.

In marathon No. 2, Kiplimo was more than ready to play with any fire including the scorching 8:17 opening 3K and 13:58 5K — sub-1:58 pace. Kiplimo ran next to defending champ John Korir, with Korirâ€s fellow Kenyans Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat and Philemon Kiplimo ready to ramble.

Mantz also started fast, running in a large chase pack that split 14:23 — a ripe 2:01:23 tempo for starters.

Riding a light tailwind, the high pace continued over the northward opening 15K leg with the lead quintet splitting 42:41 — 2:00:04 pace. Mantz and the second group followed in 44:04 — 2:03:58 rhythm.

Tacking back into the wind, the pace slowed a tad and after the leaders crossed the halfway mat in 60:16, the final pacers stepped aside and the race was on — almost immediately.

Korir hit the front, throwing a serious pace punch in defense of his title with only Kiplimo and Kipruto able to give chase. Surging off WR pace, Korir looked to better last yearâ€s 2:02:44 winning clocking.

“I was in good shape, my body was feeling good, and I was ready to go,†he said.

Korir stretched his lead to 20m in the 23rd K before Kiplimo closed the gap and the two passed 25K together in 1:11:12. That 14:05 5K segment had dropped the cadence to 2:00:10.

Taking on fluids, Kiplimo took stock of his more experienced competitor. “To me, I knew that the guy was a little bit pushing too fast, so I decided to wait until 30km,†he said.

Korir made the next move, edging ahead in the 28th K only to give out as his stomach reacted badly to the surge. “My legs were good,†Korir lamented. “The only thing that let me down was my stomach and I had to slow†and eventually drop out.

Kiplimo sensed his competitorâ€s duress and moved quickly to open a 12-second lead at 30K.

“I knew that Chicago was going to be a strong field and coming here I was just preparing to run a good race. I knew that in the last 10K I can push the pace.â€

Running solo, the smooth-striding Ugandan strung together sub-2:54 Ks, but began to struggle with a 2:59 kilometer 35 after turning into the southernmost leg of the course and a freshening headwind.

Kiplimo hit 35K still at 2:00:25 pace, but the tempo slowed to over 3:00 Ks, now on schedule for a 2:01:02 finish at 38K. Content with just finishing off his first win Kiplimo sat up in his saddle and ran cautiously to the finish.

“I was not thinking about the World Record,†he admitted. “I was a little bit tired, so I was just keeping up, doing my best to finish the race well.â€

“This is my second marathon, and I think today I learned a lot about myself. In marathon you just need to be patient and itâ€s about how you prepare yourself, how you prepare your mind and your body. This is the second one and I know the third one will be different again. I will do more, better than this one.â€

Mantz fared better over his second half after crossing the midpoint in 62:19 still ensconced in a 13-man chase pack. After Geoffrey Kamworor pulled 10 seconds clear of the group at 35K, Mantz and Hofstra alum Masai teamed up for the stretch run.

The duo caught Kamworor and the fast-fading Philemon Kiplimo, then took off in a sprint for the final podium spot. Mantz conceded, “My final gear was a lot slower than his final gear.â€

Wesley Kiptoo celebrated his recent U.S. citizenship as the Iowa State grad finished 14th in 2:09:02, followed by Ryan Ford 15th at 2:09:37, Galen Rupp 16th in 2:09:41 and Andrew Colley 17th in 2:09:43.

The 39-year-old Rupp was “happy just to be out racing again.†The â€17 Chicago champ added, “I still have something in me.â€

CHICAGO MENâ€S RESULTS

1. Jacob Kiplimo (Uga) 2:02:23 (7, 11 W) (13:58, 14:27 [28:25], 14:16 [42:41], 14:25 [57:06], 14:06 [1:11:12], 14:19 [1:25:31], 14:22 [1:39:53], 15:17 [1:55:10], 7:13) (1:00:16/1:02:07);

2. Amos Kipruto (Ken) 2:03:54; 3. Alex Masai (Ken) 2:04:37;

4. Conner Mantz (US) 2:04:43 AR (old AR—2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi [NBal] â€02) (14:23, 14:57 [29:20], 14:44 [44:04], 14:56 [59:00], 14:40 [1:13:40], 14:44 [1:28:24], 14:51 [1:43:15], 14:57 [1:58:12], 6:31) (1:02:19/1:02:24);

5. Mohamed Esa (Eth) 2:04:49; 6. Seifu Tura (Eth) 2:05:17; 7. Geoffrey Kamworor (Ken) 2:05:31; 8. Philemon Kiplimo (Ken) 2:06:14; 9. Rory Linkletter (Can) 2:06:49; 10. Bashir Abdi (Bel) 2:07:08; 11. Zouhair Talbi (Mor) 2:07:27; 12. Timothy Kiplagat (Ken) 2:07:42; 13. Daniel Ebenyo (Ken) 2:07:52; 14. Wesley Kiptoo (US) 2:09:02;

15. Ryan Ford (US) 2:09:37; 16. Galen Rupp (US) 2:09:41; 17. Andrew Colley (US) 2:09:43; 18. Aidan Troutner (US) 2:10:23; 19. CJ Albertson (US) 2:10:38; 20. Colin Mickow (US) 2:11:24; 21. Haftu Knight (US) 2:11:39; 22. Hiroto Inoue (Jpn) 2:12:26; 23. Afewerki Zeru (US) 2:13:23; 24. Cody Sedbrook (US) 2:15:53; 25. Casey Clinger (US) 2:16:05;… dnf—John Korir (Ken).

Sieg Lindstrom is Track & Field News‘s Editor. He fell in love with the sport as a high school distance runner, and has covered 9 editions of the Olympics and 16 outdoor World Championships. In a feverish effort to brush up his résumé before he was hired, he also attended the â€84 Olympics and â€87 Worlds as a fan.

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Manchester United have not ruled out keeping Casemiro beyond the end of the season, but the midfielder would likely have to accept a pay cut if he wants to stay, sources have told ESPN.

The Brazil midfielder is under contract until June 2026 and as things stand will leave Old Trafford as a free agent in the summer.

United are keen to keep reducing their wage bill following the departures of high earners David De Gea, Raphaël Varane and Marcus Rashford.

Casemiro is one of the best-paid players at Old Trafford thanks to the lucrative deal he signed when he arrived from Real Madrid in 2022.

If he wants to stay at United, sources have told ESPN that he would have to agree to a sizable cut in salary.

Casemiro has made six Premier League appearances for Man United this season. Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images

The club have an option to extend his contract by an additional 12 months until June 2027. However, triggering the clause would mean having to continue to pay the 33-year-old at his current level.

Casemiro has become a key player for Ruben Amorim.

United are planning a revamp of their midfield next summer with at least one major signing expected.

But with doubts over Kobbie Mainoo‘s future and Manuel Ugarte struggling to get into the team, Amorim could make a case for Casemiro to stay.

Sources have told ESPN that he’s settled in Manchester with his family. There’s interest from clubs in Brazil and the Saudi Pro League and he can start talking to clubs outside England from January.

– Premier League big issues: Will Amorim, Ange last?
– AI agent? Ex-Utd prospect used ChatGPT for move
– Sources: Utd set for Mainoo, Zirkzee transfer talks

United also have decisions to make with Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia.

Both are in the final year of their contracts, although United hold an option to extend Malacia’s deal by an extra year.

The Dutchman is yet to feature this season since being brought back into the first-team squad after being told to train alone over the summer.

Maguire had a one-year extension triggered earlier this year. If no fresh agreement is reached, the England defender can negotiate with clubs outside England from January.

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CALGARY — His opening night ovation was loud, and greatly appreciated.Â

The welcome wagon has been circling Zayne Parekh from the day he was drafted, leading up to his Dome debut Saturday.

Whether they gathered for the red carpet players†arrivals, or simply tuned in on TV, Flames fans had been clamouring for a glimpse of the organizationâ€s most exciting prospect since Matthew Tkachuk.

Those who clearly hadnâ€t seen him struggle in the late stages of the pre-season had spent the first two games lighting up social media and the local sports radio station with angry rants about how misguided Ryan Huska was to sit Parekh in Edmonton and Vancouver.

But after he finished his first game of the season Saturday, Parekh himself weighed in on the debate, insisting he wasnâ€t bothered in the least by starting the year in the press box.

“I thought I kind of deserved to be up there, if I’m being honest,†he said, flashing his megawatt grin.

“I mean, I understand it. I didn’t have enough of a good end to pre-season. It was really good to watch that Vancouver game, just to kind of see what (Quinn) Hughes does and how it looks from up top.â€

Sure, itâ€s the savvy thing to say, but it also seemed genuine from a refreshingly candid 19-year-old who has been the first to admit from the day he went ninth overall that his defensive game needed work.

Still does, which is why the coach refused to feed him to the sharks in Edmonton or Vancouver, where a kid playing the toughest skating position in the game could be exposed.

At least at home, with the last change, Huska felt he could shelter Parekh somewhat while he paired up with Brayden Pachal, who was moved to his off side.

If not for a familiar inability to bury Grade-A chances, the Flames might have fared better Saturday against an opportunistic Blues team that turned Joel Hoferâ€s stellar performance into a 4-2 win.

It says plenty about how comfortable Huska was with Parekhâ€s game that he and fellow teen Matvei Gridin were out on the ice in the final minute, trying to close the gap.

When the dust cleared on an outing in which he played four-and-a-half of his 17:21 on the power play, Parekh had two giveaways and two shots on goal, which didnâ€t include a point shot tipped slightly by Morgan Frost off the post.

Many of his breakout passes were crisp, his gap control was noticeably better, and there were no egregious pinches or missed assignments.

“I thought it was a step in the right direction,†said Parekh, who admitted he was more nervous for the home opener than his NHL debut in the final game last season.

“I didn’t really have my game, like, all pre-season, and to go in there tonight, I thought I played a pretty good game.

“It kind of brings my confidence back, a lot. It’s a good feeling. I mean, obviously we didn’t win, but I thought it was a good start for me, at least.â€

Working hard to try taking pressure off himself, he tried to put things in perspective.

“There’s bigger things than hockey, so just try to have fun with it,†said Parekh, who will have to navigate this whole season with the Flames as heâ€s too young for the AHL and too talented to go back to junior.

“I just tried to have fun with it, like, the worst thing that could happen is maybe I end up not playing the next game.â€

It certainly felt and looked like he was good enough to earn another start Tuesday when Vegas comes calling.

“I thought Zayne was good, I thought he was fine,†said Huska, whose offensively-challenged club couldâ€ve really used some help with the man advantage Saturday, going one for six.

“You know, there were a few plays in his own zone where I think the more that he gets in, you’ll see a little bit more composure there with the puck. But I thought he had a fine game.â€Â

Buoyed by the fans, supportive teammates who keep things positive, and a coaching staff working hard to help him in his own zone, Parekh is going to get better all season long.

With hands, a stride, and a mind like his, NHL stardom awaits.

But only once he demonstrates a defensive proficiency that the coach can trust will he be an everyday NHLer.

“We’re trying to help him focus on a couple of things that will help more on the defending side than the offensive side,†said Huska.

“Nobody’s talking about the offensive side — (there) he can do his thing.â€

While Huska admits heâ€s willing to have patience with young players like Parekh, Sam Honzek and Matvei Gridin, it comes with a limit. Â

“There’s a fine line, because it’s not a league that you want guys to develop in because it’s gonna cost you points from time to time,†said Huska.

“They’re good players, and we want them to be really great players for us as we move forward. So, I think that’s our job as coaches is to make sure we put these young guys in good positions to succeed, and they each bring something that I feel can help our team win games. So we’ll continue to do that.â€

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  Dave McMenaminOct 11, 2025, 05:33 PM ET

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  • Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
  • Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — While LeBron James is expected to be sidelined to begin the season as he recovers from sciatica on the right side of his body, the Los Angeles Lakers’ other superstar, Luka Doncic, said he doesn’t feel compelled to do more in James’ absence.

“I don’t view it that way,” Doncic said after practice Saturday. “I just want to play basketball. If I do less, if I do more, whatever it takes for me to get a win.”

So far without James and Doncic, the Lakers are winless in the preseason, going 0-2 against Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.

L.A. hosts Golden State in a preseason rematch Sunday, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said it is still being determined if Doncic will play.

Sunday starts a stretch of three preseason games in four days for the Lakers, continuing with a road game against Phoenix on Tuesday and the second night of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Redick said Doncic would play in two of L.A.’s remaining four preseason games.

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Doncic was a full participant on Saturday after having his workload modified all week to save the 26-year-old guard some wear and tear after he played for Slovenia in EuroBasket this summer.

“I had [the] national team,” Doncic explained. “Playing one month or something of basketball [for Slovenia]. Obviously it’s a long season ahead, so just because of that.”

Now Redick has his work cut out for him trying to fill in for James while he is sidelined for the next three to four weeks before his sciatica is scheduled to be reevaluated.

“You hope that he’s back soon,” Redick said. “Those things can be tricky. … It is unclear what the starting lineup is going to be, that’s the reality, until he is back. We’ll have to figure that out.”

Doncic, guard Austin Reaves and center Deandre Ayton will occupy three of the five spots.

It’s the other two starting spots that Redick will examine, with Rui Hachimura starting 57 of the 59 games he played for L.A. last season under obvious consideration. Jarred Vanderbilt, who has started both preseason games so far and is the healthiest he has been since the Lakers’ 2023 trip to the Western Conference finals and free agent signees Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart give the team different options offensively and defensively.

Smart, who has also been sidelined to start the preseason because of Achilles tendinopathy, will play against the Warriors, according to Redick.

Redick said he has thought about having one lineup and rotation that fits best together when James plays and a separate one for when he doesn’t.

Doncic said he and James have “talked a lot” while observing the Lakers practice from the sidelines during training camp, which has helped with chemistry.

For the time being, all Doncic and the Lakers will be getting out of James during games is what the 40-year-old can provide with his voice from the bench.

“It’s a big change,” Doncic said of having to play without James. “He’s a great player. He can help us a lot. But at the end of the day, our mentality needs to be ‘next man up.’ We got a group of guys that have been practicing and hopefully LeBron can join us as soon as possible. We are going to obviously need him. But our mentality has got to be ‘next man up.’ That’s it.”

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