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24 min: … but so much for xG, because Manchester United then launch their first serious attack for a while, Bruno Fernandes chasing a long bouncer down the right and hooking infield, forcing Todibo to clank out for a corner. The set piece is played back up the right wing, where Mbeumo aims a glorious curler towards the top left from the right-hand edge of the box. Areola is forced to arch his back and fingertip over the bar. Wonderful effort, wonderful save.

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23 min: Manchester Unitedâ€s xG is currently a Tottenham Hotspurian 0.06.

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21 min: … but otherwise the Old Trafford faithful have fallen a little quiet right now. This game is currently being played mainly in Manchester Unitedâ€s half.

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20 min: Soucekâ€s cross from the right is deflected out for a corner, West Hamâ€s third of the evening already. Bowen swings it in. Bruno Fernandes heads it upfield, but not very far. Diouf meets the ball just inside the area, and has time to get a shot away, but scuff-slices it horribly, the ball squirting miles wide left. The home supporters have their fun with him.

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18 min: Wan-Bissaka gets the better of his old team-mate Dalot down the right, and pings a cross in for Bowen, who has time to turn on the right-hand edge of the Manchester United box, but not enough to get a shot away. West Ham’s confidence is growing.

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16 min: Wilson is sprung into space down the left, and wins another West Ham corner. Earlier in the move, Bruno Fernandes had been caught by Potts, but didnâ€t get the free kick. Heâ€s not happy, so wags his finger furiously at the referee while saying his piece. Nothing comes of the corner, which is probably just as well all round.

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14 min: West Ham have worked their way into this game after a slow start. Wilson has the opportunity to release Soucek down the middle of the park, albeit a difficult one that involves him spinning and pinging a pass from the halfway line. He overcooks it, the ball bouncing through to Lammens.

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12 min: Heaven, perhaps a little bit shaken after that early booking, plays a poor backpass down the United right, forcing Lammens to race out of his box and slice into the crowd. Not the ideal start for the young man, a surprise selection by Ruben Amorim this evening.

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10 min: Bruno Fernandes shapes to shoot from just inside the West Ham area. He doesnâ€t really connect properly. The ball, and then Fernandes†foot, connects with the sliding Soucek, coming across to block. Another penalty claim. Another one correctly waved away.

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9 min: Bowen is found in some space down the right so Heaven races over to scythe him down from behind. Mistimed and clumsy, and worst of all, needless. Bowen was facing the touchline and going nowhere. The 19-year-old goes into the book.

Ayden Heaven goes in the book early doors. Photograph: Nick Potts/PAShare

Updated at 15.15 EST

7 min: The first major set piece of the evening is a non-event.

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6 min: … so having said that, Soucek plays Wan-Bissaka into acres of space down the right. He cuts back for Mateus Fernandes, who carefully aims a sidefooter towards the bottom right. Casemiro slides in to deflect over the bar for the first major set piece of the evening.

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5 min: Apart from one split second when Wilson threatened to turn Heaven on the halfway line – Mbeumo was on hand to support and snuff out any counter-attacking danger pretty quickly – itâ€s been all Manchester United in these opening moments.

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3 min: Diallo jinks into the West Ham box again from the right. He goes over, feeling the faint impression of Mateus Fernandes†palm on the back of his shirt. He claims a penalty, but come off it. The referee waves play on.

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2 min: Diallo dribbles his way down the right and reaches the box, then crosses low. The ball pings off Zirkzee and back out to the right for a throw. Soon after, Dalot probes down the left. Manchester United starting quickly, looking lively on both flanks.

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West Ham, resplendent in a blend of grey, beige and cream with a dash of yellow, get the ball rolling. Theyâ€re kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.

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The teams are out! Manchester United in their red, white and black, West Ham United in second-choice ecru. According to House & Garden magazine, ecru is “a notoriously finicky colour to define†but they give it a go anyway: itâ€s “a blend of grey, beige, cream, and a dash of yellow, less creamy than cream, and not eggshell.†So there you have it. Weâ€ll be off in a minute.

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West Ham are still in mourning after last weekendâ€s passing of their beloved Billy Bonds, once voted by fans as their greatest-ever player. Thatâ€s no small statement at a club where Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking and Geoff Hurst once strutted their stuff. Two FA Cup lifts, a club-record 799 appearances, plus runners-up medals in the European Cup Winners†Cup and League Cup … itâ€s the stuff of legend all right. Rest well, Billy.

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Nuno Espírito Santo speaks to Sky Sports. “We have to improve … always looking for a better performance … we are trying to improve game by game … we expect a competitive game … we will try to silence [the Manchester United fans] with our game … we have to think about the game, not the outcome … action by action.â€

As for Lucas Paquetáâ€s replacement Tomáš SouÄek: “He is a fantastic player … works very hard … he has the ability to score.â€

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… meanwhile on the subject of Leny Yoro, who was clearly unhappy after being hooked against Palace on Sunday, Amorim says: “I know on the TV he appeared really disappointed with his performance … I need to be normal all the time … I spoke [to him] about the message … all the trouble that is to see a Manchester United player so disappointed on the bench … it was just a tactical issue … a tactical option, just that.â€

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Ruben Amorim talks to Sky Sports. “We showed last game that we can play the same way but with a different intensity … last game at home we played a low pace … today we should be better … we need to be careful with set pieces … and transitions … we want to be the dominant team … need to be focused in every detail.â€

He also reports that the injury to Matthijs de Ligt is a “small thing†and he expects him back for Manchester Unitedâ€s next game at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night. Ayden Heaven will play in De Ligtâ€s usual central position tonight: “I think he has big character and is ready to play in that position, he will suit it really well.â€

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The three points on offer tonight are precious for both teams. Should Manchester United claim them, theyâ€ll go level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. (If they want actual fourth place, theyâ€ll need to win by nine goals this evening.) As for West Ham, they were bumped into the relegation places last night due to Leeds Unitedâ€s victory over Chelsea. They need to win by a two-goal margin tonight if theyâ€re to leapfrog Leeds back out of the dropzone.

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Manchester United make three changes to the starting XI named for the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace. Matheus Cunha returns from injury, stepping up along with Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven. Leny Yoro and Mason Mount drop to the bench, while Matthijs de Ligt misses out altogether.

West Ham United make just one change from the team sent out for the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool, and itâ€s enforced. Lucas Paquetá having talked himself into a suspension, Tomáš SouÄek comes in to take his place in midfield.

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The teams

Manchester United:Lammens, Dalot, Heaven, Shaw, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mazraoui, Mbeumo, Cunha, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Martinez, Mount, Malacia, Dorgu, Yoro, Ugarte, Mainoo, Lacey.

West Ham United:Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Wilson.
Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Rodriguez, Irving, Earthy, Marshall, Mayers, Kante.

Referee:Andrew Kitchen
VAR: Peter Bankes

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Updated at 13.57 EST

Preamble

West Ham United have beaten Manchester United in four of their last five Premier League meetings. Now then, three of those victories were at the London Stadium. But the most recent one was at Old Trafford in May, when the Hammers completed the double over the Red Devils for the first time since 2007, and there is no way the hosts will be going into this fixture counting their chickens. However while West Ham arrive in the north after a supine surrender to Liverpool at the weekend, Manchester United are coming off the back of a turnaround boost at Crystal Palace. So while the recent record between the two teams favours Nuno Espírito Santoâ€s men, the immediate form is with Ruben Amorimâ€s side. Balanced rather deliciously, then. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. Itâ€s on!

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Watch Man Utd vs West Ham in the Premier League this evening with FourFourTwo providing all the broadcast information in our handy TV guide.

Manchester United returned to winning ways with a comeback victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

To watch the game, you will need a cord-cutting service, such as YouTube TV.

FourFourTwo’s colleagues TechRadar have tested hundreds of VPNs, and they say NordVPN is the best VPN you can get.

You can indeed – as detailed here by FourFourTwo’s very own Rich Owen – via our partners in hospitality tickets, Seat Unique.

See also► Premier League TV guide

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Group play for the 2025 NBA Cup ended Friday, with the knockout round matchups set to begin next week.

As we wait to crown a champion for the third annual in-season tournament, the regular season pushes on with teams surging and falling as we enter the holiday season.

In the East, three teams have been battling it out toward the top of the standings — the New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors — all under 3.5 games back from the Detroit Pistons, who have continued their dominating start to the season.

The Western Conference has also been a gauntlet so far for everyone but the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder. Since LeBron James’ return, the Los Angeles Lakers have surged back to No. 2 in the West with a 5-1 record. However, their crosstown rivals, the LA Clippers, have slipped significantly, riding a five-game losing streak and winning only two games in November.

Will the start of the holiday festivities lift some of these lowly teams? Our NBA insiders check in for the first Power Rankings of December.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Kevin Pelton, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12 | Nov. 19 | Nov. 26

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

Jalen Williams averaged nearly five attempted 3s per game last season. In his first three games back after a right wrist injury, he has shot a total of five 3s. The Thunder were patient with the late stages of Williams’ rehab and he has overall performed positively, including this do-everything stat line in a win over the Blazers: 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks. But his volume and accuracy from long range using his healed right wrist will be worth monitoring in the weeks and months ahead. — Anthony Slater

Recognition is coming for the conference-leading Pistons, with Cade Cunningham named East Player of the Month and J.B. Bickerstaff named East Coach of the Month. Here’s one more possible individual acknowledgment in Detroit: Isaiah Stewart’s candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year. Stewart is sixth in blocks despite playing 22.5 minutes per game and is first in defending shots at the rim. (Opposing players shoot just 44% on nearly five attempts per night against him.) — Vincent Goodwill

The Jazz snapped Houston’s five-game road win streak Monday, but in defeat, Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun became the third duo this season to score 30 points apiece in the same game, according to ESPN Research. The performance marked Durant’s sixth 30-point showing of this season and Sengun tied a career high in assists with 14. Winners of eight of their past 10 outings, the Rockets will host Sacramento and Phoenix before hitting the road for Dallas on the second night of a back-to-back. — Michael C. Wright

Injuries, especially to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, have taken a devastating toll on Denver’s defense. The Nuggets rank last in defensive efficiency in the five games since Gordon suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain, allowing 127.3 points per 100 possessions in that span. Denver’s defensive rating is 105.0 with Gordon on the floor and 119.4 without him, and he’s going to miss at least four to six weeks. — Tim MacMahon

• 2025-26 record: 13-7

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: vs. CHA (Dec. 3), vs. UTAH (Dec. 5), vs. ORL (Dec. 7), @ TOR (Dec. 9)

When things are quiet, the Knicks can do their best work — or at least look like last year’s team on offense after a choppy start. More pick-and-rolls for Jalen Brunson and more opportunities for Karl-Anthony Towns in space have won New York five of the past seven games. Brunson’s past five games: 29.3 points, 5.7 assists on 50/37/86 splits. OG Anunoby is back to on-court work after missing seven straight games, but no return is imminent. Even without him, the Knicks are back to third in the league in offensive rating — a half-step above last year’s torrid numbers. — Goodwill

Monday’s dispiriting 125-108 loss to the Suns dropped L.A.’s record to 4-4 against teams that are currently .500 or better, as the Lakers’ 15-5 overall record has largely been built against the league’s lower-tier teams. That will make their next four games — Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia and San Antonio are a combined 52-31 — all the more revelatory as to just how good the Lakers really are. — Dave McMenamin

Luka Doncic recorded his sixth straight 30-point double-double in the Lakers’ loss against the Suns on Monday, the longest 30-point double-double streak by a Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000-01. ESPN

• 2025-26 record: 14-7

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: @ DAL (Dec. 3), @ ORL (Dec. 5), vs. SAC (Dec. 6), @ ORL (Dec. 9)

Miami has won seven of its past eight games as Tyler Herro works his way into the new Heat offense, averaging 24.7 points in four games since returning on Nov. 24. He has also hit 13 3-pointers combined in his past three games. Friday will provide a good test for Herro and the Heat as they face Orlando for the first of two games in five days, with the latter being the NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup next Tuesday. — Ohm Youngmisuk

Young stars Victor Wembanyama (calf strain) and Stephon Castle (hip flexor strain) remain out, but both are back on the practice court. The organization hasn’t provided any official updates, but there’s optimism for Wembanyama and Castle to start ramping up soon to rejoin their teammates, who have gone 6-2 without the Frenchman thanks to De’Aaron Fox’s recent burst. The guard has scored at least 25 points in seven of the past eight games. San Antonio faces Los Angeles on Dec. 10 in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup to close a four-game road trip. — Wright

• 2025-26 record: 13-8

• Previous ranking: 14

• Next games: vs. SA (Dec. 3), vs. MIA (Dec. 5), @ NYK (Dec. 7), vs. MIA (Dec. 9)

Sparked by Desmond Bane’s buzzer-beater on Nov. 10, the Magic and their prized offseason addition have found their rhythm. Bane has been on fire, scoring 37 points in consecutive wins over Detroit and Chicago. The Magic, who are 7-2 without Paolo Banchero (left groin strain), have won nine of their past 11. But the schedule gets tougher for Orlando, with matchups against San Antonio and at New York before two with Miami — including next week’s NBA Cup quarterfinal. — Youngmisuk

• 2025-26 record: 15-7

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: vs. LAL (Dec. 4), vs. CHA (Dec. 5), vs. BOS (Dec. 7), vs. NYK (Dec. 9)

The Raptors have hit a rough patch following a nine-game winning streak. They needed a last-second jumper from Brandon Ingram to beat Indiana, then dropped both ends of a back-to-back in Charlotte and New York. Toronto is feeling the loss of RJ Barrett, who injured his right knee before Thanksgiving. Barrett doesn’t lead the Raptors in any major statistical categories, but his all-around production has been crucial. — Zach Kram

After losing its first seven games against teams with winning records, Minnesota finally won its first two games against above-.500 opponents, defeating the Celtics and Spurs over the weekend. Despite a bumpy first six weeks, the Timberwolves find themselves in the thick of the West playoff picture, and after Tuesday’s OT win over New Orleans they are on pace for 50 wins for the second time in three years and just the sixth time in franchise history. — Tim Bontemps

The Hawks continue to compete and surprise despite their injuries. Already without Trae Young, they were without Kristaps Porzingis (illness) for three straight games but managed to beat the Cavs and win a double-overtime game at Philadelphia before losing by one point the next night in Detroit. The Hawks are looking forward to playing at home this week against the Clippers and Nuggets — their first consecutive home games since Nov. 8. — Youngmisuk

The Cavs snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Pacers this week, but Donovan Mitchell kept it straightforward after the game: “This is what we should be doing, I don’t think there’s anything to celebrate,” he said. Cleveland is still searching for the gear it found last season when it won the most games in the East. Mitchell & Co. can get back on track with home games against the Blazers and Spurs this week before hosting the Warriors on Saturday. — Jamal Collier

It might be time to start considering Collin Gillespie’s case for Most Improved Player this season. The third-year point guard’s scoring has increased from 5.9 points to 13.4 points per game; his assists have more than doubled from 2.4 to 5.0 per game; and his rebounds (2.4 to 3.8) and steals (0.6 to 1.2) are also on the rise. He’s also shooting a career-best 44.2% on 3-pointers, which he showcased Monday with an 8-for-14 performance from 3 en route to a career-high 28 points in a rout of the Lakers.– McMenamin

Before the season began, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was adamant his team wasn’t going to be looking at this season as a “gap year” despite losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles and veterans Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet to trades or free agency. So far, Boston has followed through on Mazzulla’s pledge, including picking up wins over the Pistons, Cavaliers, Magic and Knicks over the past 10 days despite dealing with injuries. — Bontemps

In Stephen Curry’s 496 minutes this season, the Warriors have a 118.2 offensive rating, essentially equivalent to the sixth-best offense in the NBA. But when he has been off the floor, that craters to 105.6, ranking below all 30 teams. There’s been some internal discussion about altering the approach without Curry, perhaps leaning into a more isolation-heavy approach around Jimmy Butler III, who called Curry the “ultimate cheat code” when it comes to the Warriors’ motion attack. “Nobody’s overreacting to anybody [when he’s off the floor],” Butler said. Curry is currently out with a quad injury, giving coach Steve Kerr a handful of games to find better success when their leader is on the bench. — Slater

Joel Embiid took the court Sunday for the first time in three weeks, playing a season-high 30 minutes in Philadelphia’s wild double-overtime loss to Atlanta. But Embiid was ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Wizards, continuing his uncertain day-to-day status due to ongoing issues with both knees. It’s a safe bet that Embiid’s status will continue to vacillate, something the star center has acknowledged to in the preseason. — Bontemps

After racing out to a 6-1 record, the Bulls have dropped 10 of their past 13 games and are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, including three losses to teams destined for the top of the draft lottery (New Orleans, Charlotte, Indiana). Both ends of the floor are to blame. The Bulls rank 22nd in offensive efficiency and 23rd on defense since that promising start. — Collier

The Bucks got close to full strength with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter Jr. returning to the lineup last week. Still, they dropped a disappointing game against the Wizards on Monday, Milwaukee’s eighth loss in the past nine games. The Bucks are currently on the outside of the East’s playoff picture, with a tough week coming up featuring a pair of games against first-place Detroit and a matchup with the Sixers. — Collier

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Memphis steered itself out of a five-game skid into winning five of its past seven games. The Grizzlies are showing more comfort with coach Tuomas Iisalo’s principles, which include substitution patterns involving short stints aimed to keep players fresh. Memphis’ reserves lead the NBA in bench scoring (48.4 points per game), and with Sunday’s win over the Kings, the Grizzlies captured four straight road wins for the first time since 2022-23. Ja Morant (calf) remains out, but young big man Zach Edey is coming off a career-high 32 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks against Sacramento. — Wright

Star Deni Avdija lamented the missed opportunity after the Blazers lost to the Spurs at home last Wednesday with a chance to advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Avdija has been key to keeping Portland afloat offensively with point guards Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson sidelined. On Sunday, Avdija recorded 31 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists — his fourth triple-double during his two campaigns with the Blazers — but it wasn’t enough to beat the rolling Thunder, something Portland remains the only team to pull off in their game on Nov. 5. — Kevin Pelton

Freshly crowned Rookie of the Month Cooper Flagg has a classmate who is also making a major impact for the Mavs. Ryan Nembhard, who went undrafted and is on a two-way deal, seems to be earning an extended run as Dallas’ starting point guard; he has averaged 17.7 points and 5.7 assists in three games since coach Jason Kidd plugged him in. Nembhard has shot 66.7% from the floor, including 9-of-15 from 3-point range, to help Dallas go 2-1 in his starts. He was dominant in a win in Denver, scoring 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting with 10 assists and no turnovers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last rookie to record at least 25 points and 10 assists in a game without committing a turnover was Stephon Marbury in 1996. — MacMahon

Third-year guard Keyonte George is an early candidate for the Most Improved Player award. He’s averaging 22.8 points and 6.9 assists per game while shooting 44.6% from the floor, significant bumps from last season’s numbers (16.8 points, 5.7 assists, 39.1% shooting). George has solidified himself as the Jazz’s starting point guard, a role he lost last season, and given reason to believe he can be a long-term part of the team’s core. — MacMahon

The Hornets snapped a seven-game losing streak with impressive back-to-back wins over Chicago and Toronto over the weekend. Charlotte got balanced contributions in both games, including a combined 57 points from Miles Bridges, 39 points off the bench from Collin Sexton and a huge shot from rookie Kon Knueppel to force OT against the Raptors. Not as key to those wins: LaMelo Ball, who shot a combined 12-of-35 and was not on the court for overtime. Ball bounced back with 14 assists Monday, but the Hornets took a step back in a loss to the struggling Nets. — Pelton

The Clippers have lost 14 of their past 16 games, their most recent coming against a player they traded away in the offseason, Norman Powell, who scored 30 points on them in a game the Heat broke wide open with a 30-2 run. And the Clippers might not have reached rock bottom yet: Their next four games are on the road in Atlanta, Memphis, Minnesota and Houston. — McMenamin

In a strange scheduling quirk, both Denver and Minnesota were added to Sacramento’s plate as part of the NBA Cup makeup week, meaning the Kings will have faced the Nuggets and Timberwolves eight combined times in their first 26 games. That’s a large chunk of what has been a challenging start for the Kings. They’ve already lost three times to the Thunder and twice to the surging Suns, sending them spiraling to the bottom tier of the conference. Sacramento’s minus-11.1 point differential is second worst in the NBA, ahead of only Washington. — Slater

Indiana has doubled its win total over the past week and has generally enjoyed more competitive play as of late. The Pacers started 1-13 with a minus-14.6 net rating but are 3-4 with a plus-2.4 net rating since. One key reason has been the play of center Jay Huff, who has scored in double figures in six of those seven games, making 41.5% of his 3-point attempts in that span. — Kram

The Nets have done just enough to not look completely miserable. A win in Boston right after being trounced at home. Then, following four straight losses and getting the “there, there” pat on the head from Knicks coach Mike Brown, Brooklyn snapped the skid with a big win over the Hornets. Noah Clowney (18 points against Charlotte) appears to be on the rise, improving his finishes around the rim and fitting in as a secondary scorer next to Michael Porter Jr. If Clowney adds some offensive efficiency, he’ll be a legit bright spot for the lowly Nets. — Goodwill

After the Wizards’ win Monday against the Bucks, the Pelicans suddenly find themselves with the NBA’s worst record. New Orleans has been far more competitive than the Wizards in terms of point differential, but that’s little consolation with the team’s first-round pick headed to Atlanta. And the news got worse for the Pelicans on Tuesday, when Zion Williamson was diagnosed with a Grade 2 adductor strain that figures to keep him out multiple weeks — just as Williamson was starting to find his footing coming back from a hamstring injury. — Pelton

Khris Middleton turned back the clock against Milwaukee on Monday to help beat his former team, but his first 15 games haven’t provided Washington much hope of extracting value in a potential midseason trade. The 34-year-old three-time All-Star is averaging just 10.1 points on middling efficiency, and his $33 million salary would limit the number of teams with the flexibility to add him. A buyout seems more likely than a trade at this point. — Kram

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  Zach KramDec 2, 2025, 05:30 AM ET

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  Zach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.

Even as the format for the NBA All-Star Game continues to change, being named an All-Star is a point of pride for players, a validation for their fans and a historical marker of legacy.

The initial selection process for the new USA vs. the World format this season will work almost the same as it has in the past, just with the tweak of being positionless. Then, if the class of 24 All-Stars doesn’t split perfectly into 16 American and eight international players — from a combination of fans, media and players voting for the starters and coaches picking the reserves — commissioner Adam Silver will add extra players to the roster to meet those minimums. For instance, if the All-Star rosters include 15 Americans and nine international players, Silver would add one more American to the group.

Now that the season is about halfway to the selection of those All-Stars — the game is Sunday, Feb. 15 — it’s time to take a survey of the field of candidates. As some stars have started to separate themselves from the pack, let’s examine who’s almost definitely in, who’s on the bubble and who’s in danger of missing out on an All-Star appearance — unless they turn their season around quickly.

Jump to a topic:
Eastern Conference | Western Conference
Nationality breakdown | Slow starts

Eastern Conference

Near-locks

Seven of these 12 All-Star spots are near-locks, meaning only a lengthy injury absence or severe slump could knock these players off the roster.

Antetokounmpo, Brunson and Mitchell are easy choices, as All-Star mainstays turning in typically stellar seasons. Maxey leads the conference in scoring (32.3 points per game) after another individual leap. And Brown, who’s made three consecutive All-Star teams, has boosted his scoring to a career-high 28.4 points per game with Boston teammate Jayson Tatum out. Despite taking on a much higher offensive volume this season — Brown’s 36% usage rate ranks third in the NBA, behind Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic — his efficiency has actually increased.

The final two near-locks are the leaders of the team with the conference’s best record. Cunningham has essentially identical numbers to his All-Star campaign last season. And while the rosters are now positionless, it’s worth noting that Duren, who ranks sixth in the NBA in player efficiency rating, has been the best center in the East this season. Duren’s two-way play is a big reason for the Pistons’ presence atop the Eastern Conference standings, so he’s a worthy second All-Star for Detroit.

The Detroit Pistons, led by Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, are atop the Eastern standings. AP Photo/Ryan Sun

On the bubble

The cases for the best All-Star candidates in this group can be summarized in a single sentence. For instance, Barnes has been the best all-around player on the conference’s third-best team, and Ingram is their leading scorer. Giddey’s nearly averaging a triple-double, with 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game. Johnson has exploded in both the box score (22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.6 steals) and advanced stats (63% true shooting, up from 57% last year).

But the players in this tier aren’t locks yet, either because they haven’t sustained this level of production before or because they must answer one key question between now and February.

Consider both Heat players who appear in this group. Powell was a fringe All-Star candidate last season, as he surged with the Clippers, and he’s been even better in Miami, averaging a career-high 24.7 PPG and making 44.4% of his 3-pointers. As long as Powell can remain this productive now with Tyler Herro’s return to the Heat lineup, he’ll be a deserving first-time All-Star in his age-32 season.

Adebayo defines the All-Star bubble, having made three teams and missed three teams over the last six seasons despite having similar statistics every year. His 2025-26 performance is more of the same: His statistics are a bit shy of typical All-Stars, but his elite defense can make up for any offensive weakness.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Mobley occupies a similar space to Adebayo this season, as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is putting up decent counting stats but has seen his efficiency plummet. Finally, Wagner has been steady and productive for the Magic; he would likely have been an All-Star if he hadn’t suffered an injury last December, and he’s right back on that pace in 2025-26.

Other players like the Knicks’ Mikal Bridges, the Indiana Pacers’ Pascal Siakam and the Charlotte Hornets’ rookie Kon Knueppel could make a run as the first half continues, but this bullet-pointed list represents the top options for now. Knueppel is a fun sleeper All-Star candidate, due to his 18.4 PPG and 41.3% 3-point shooting on high volume, but he would be just the third rookie in the 21st century to make an All-Star team. (The other two were No. 1 picks Yao Ming and Blake Griffin, the latter of whom had a “redshirt” year in the NBA before playing his rookie season.)

If I had to pick the 12 East All-Stars today, the group would include the seven near-locks plus Adebayo, Barnes, Giddey, Johnson and Powell, with Adebayo as the last man in and Wagner as the hardest cut.

Western Conference

Near-locks

Durant (15 All-Star nods in a row when healthy), Curry (11), Jokic (seven), Gilgeous-Alexander (three) and Edwards (three) are perennial All-Stars enjoying excellent individual seasons, so they can already be inked onto the 2026 All-Star list.

Doncic missed out last season, but he was an All-Star five years in a row before that. Given that the popular Lakers point guard leads the NBA in scoring this season, he’s lock number six.

Next up is Wembanyama, a 2025 All-Star who should gain easy entry again, as long as he returns from his calf injury in enough time to reach a minimal games threshold. (Hopefully, he won’t be disqualified from the skills competition again this season.) And Sengun has been the best player on the Rockets, who have the league’s second-best net rating. His averages of 22.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists more than warrant inclusion on his second All-Star roster.

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On the bubble

The next tier of West All-Star candidates splits into two groups with one thing in common: They’re all posting ludicrous numbers. How do you say no to any of these players?

The first group is single stars on teams that are unlikely to contend for a Finals berth. Avdija leads the league in drives — Gilgeous-Alexander led the league for the last five seasons but ranks second to Avdija right now — and is averaging 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists on strong efficiency. Booker is in a recent slump and left Monday’s game early with a groin injury, but is still posting 25.7 points and 6.9 assists for the most surprising winner in the West. Harden is scoring at his best rate since he was a Rocket (27.7 PPG) and ranks fifth in the league in assists (8.4 per game). And among Western Conference players, Markkanen ranks sixth at 28 PPG.

The second group is secondary stars on winning teams. Murray, long heralded as the best active player never to make an All-Star team, has finally started a season hot, averaging career highs in both points (24.0) and assists (6.6). Holmgren is the betting favorite for Defensive Player of the Year because of Wembanyama’s injury, and he’s made a quiet offensive leap, boosting his true shooting to an elite 65%. Randle is scoring 23.0 PPG and operating with career-best efficiency. And Reaves’ 28.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game signify his immense breakout in Los Angeles.

It’s unfortunately probable that injuries will cull this list between now and February. The first draft of this section included Aaron Gordon, but his All-Star chances evaporated with a hamstring injury that will keep him out at least a month.

For now, however, the lesson of this exercise is that the West has too many qualified players for too few All-Star spots. There’s a decent possibility, for example, that Murray still won’t make an All-Star team, despite his impressive start, because the competition around him has also gone up a level.

If I had to pick the 12 West All-Stars today, they would be the eight near-locks plus Avdija, Booker, Holmgren and Reaves, with Holmgren getting the last spot over Harden. While I don’t typically weigh team performance heavily when thinking about All-Star votes, the Thunder’s historically great 20-1 start suggests they’re much more deserving of a second All-Star than the 5-16 Clippers are of a single representative, even though Harden has superior individual stats and they’re hosting this year’s festivities.

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Reaves, Doncic combine for 73 as Lakers top Mavs

Austin Reaves unleashes 38 points while Luka Doncic adds 35 in the Lakers’ 129-119 win over the Mavericks.

Nationality breakdown

Looking at the list of candidates, it shouldn’t be difficult to select eight international players to team up to take on the Americans. Six of the near-locks would play for the international team: Antetokounmpo (Greece), Doncic (Slovenia), Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Jokic (Serbia), Sengun (Turkey) and Wembanyama (France). And between Giddey (Australia), Wagner (Germany), Avdija (Israel), Markkanen (Finland) and Murray (Canada), odds are that at least two more international representatives will grab a spot.

If anything, it seems more likely that more than eight international players will be named All-Stars this year, which would require Silver to add extra Americans to ensure at least 16 players are available for the two United States teams at the All-Star festivities.

Examining the list of international players, moreover, underscores that the international team should be heavy favorites to win at the Intuit Dome in February. The no-doubt top four players in the NBA, who are all off to historically great starts this season, are foreign-born, and Wembanyama might be the fifth-best player in the league. If those players take the All-Star event seriously, they should easily handle a pair of American squads whose strength is diluted by splitting the best domestic players across two teams.

Slow starters

A number of NBA stars haven’t appeared in this piece yet, because their level of play in the first six weeks of the 2025-26 season doesn’t warrant serious All-Star consideration. They’ll need both health and a sustained hot streak to re-enter the conversation before the actual selection process in a couple of months.

One such player is Karl-Anthony Towns, who has struggled to find his footing in new Knicks coach Mike Brown’s offense. Towns is a five-time All-Star, but he’s shown considerable game-to-game inconsistency this season, and his 33% mark from 3-point range is the worst of his career.

Far more candidates don’t profile as either near-locks or on the current bubble because of a combination of injury and underperformance. In no particular order, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, Kawhi Leonard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young, Ja Morant, Darius Garland and Tyler Herro are all recent All-Stars who aren’t really in contention now.

The most interesting All-Star case might belong to James, who entered this season with 21 consecutive All-Star selections. James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games with sciatica, however, and he’s a distant third on his own team in points since he returned. He has his work cut out for him to qualify for his 22nd All-Star team on the merits. But the last time James wasn’t an All-Star was his rookie season, 2003-04; for reference, the East’s leading scorers in that year’s All-Star Game were Jamaal Magloire, Kenyon Martin and Jermaine O’Neal.

Finally, now that future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul has officially announced his retirement, one wonders if the new format will leave room for Paul to receive an honorary All-Star designation in his final season, as happened for Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade in 2018-19. Paul is a 12-time All-Star, and according to Basketball Reference, he has the career record with 128 assists in All-Star games, one ahead of Magic Johnson’s 127.

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Weâ€ve reached the NBA seasonâ€s one-quarter mark, where every team will have played 20 games by weekâ€s end. What conclusions can we make about the East and West standings at this point? Who are the top title contenders? And can the Thunder really break the NBA record for most wins in a season? Letâ€s break it all down.

What’s one big takeaway from the East standings?

Ben Rohrbach: The Pistons are legit. The Knicks have a middling defense, though they have been better, and the Cavaliers own a middling record, sitting in seventh place, which opens the door to Detroit. The Pistons are the class of the conference, both by record and eye test, and while we now accept them as possible NBA finalists, they also may be one piece (Lauri Markkanen?) away from more serious title contention against the West winner. The iron is hot. Time to strike.

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Kelly Iko: The fifth-place Hawks survived November without Trae Young. Atlanta won 10 of its 15 games with a top-10 defense — and fifth-year forward Jalen Johnson has been flat-out awesome as a playmaker and distributor. Combine that with his elite rebounding, floor spacing (45.9% from 3 on over four attempts) and aggressive three-level scoring and you could make the argument that Johnson should be the focal point in Atlanta moving forward, even when Young returns.

Nekias Duncan: Iâ€ll put on my Propaganda Pants: the Southeast Division is the most fascinating group in the East. The Heatâ€s new-but-not-really-new-but-certainly-different offense has made headlines and theyâ€re now looking to fully implement Tyler Herro into the fold. The Magic are rounding into form defensively and scoring all of the buckets since Paolo Banchero has been out. The Hawks have ramped up their activity defensively, and their everyone-eats offensive style without Young has kept them afloat. Only a game sets them apart, and theyâ€re allplayoff teams right now. Itâ€s been a blast.

Steve Jones: Itâ€s a land of opportunity in the East this year, so the overall competition stands out. As I write this, nine teams have records of .500 or above and seven have won 7 of their last 10 games. Detroit has earned its way to the top, but the Knicks are knocking on the door. If you look at the standings, every single one of these teams believes they can beat each other. Makes for some fun basketball every night.

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Dan Devine: The East feels like itâ€s going to be a game of rock-paper-scissors. How the teams up top navigate their respective top-line injury absences and reintegrations — Jaden Ivey in Detroit, OG Anunoby in New York, Tyler Herro in Miami, Trae Young in Atlanta, Paolo Banchero in Orlando, et al. — figures to go a long way toward determining seeding, which in turn will determine matchups, which in turn will determine which styles wind up making which kind of fights. Damn near everybody has at least some reason to believe they can win a playoff series, given health and the right opponent. But that also means everybody can get got.

What’s one big takeaway from the West standings?

Iko: The Lakers, Nuggets and Rockets are staying within closing distance of the Thunder. All three are in the top 10 in net rating against the leagueâ€s elite, all three possess top-five offenses and all three have the depth that necessitates a seven-game slugfest with the reigning champs. Iâ€m not exactly betting against a team that has won 20 of its 21 games, but donâ€t be so quick to crown Oklahoma City.

Rohrbach: The Clippers stink. The last-place Pelicans, who owe their first-round draft pick to the Hawks, are about as bad as anyone could have anticipated, but the Clips, whose first-rounder belongs to the West-leading Thunder, are almost as bad. There was a time not long ago, at the start of last yearâ€s playoffs, when we figured them for the conferenceâ€s second-best team. That now feels quaint. How does their deep-pocketed owner, Steve Ballmer, respond? As a buyer?

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Devine: Zach Edey: small sample size MVP?

The sophomore center is averaging 13.6 points on 67.2% shooting to go with 11.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in just 25.4 minutes per game since returning from offseason surgery on his troublesome left ankle. Memphis has gone 5-2 in the seven games Edey has finished thus far and has walloped opponents by 103 points in his 203 minutes. As loudly bad as the vibes in Memphis were amid a 4-9, Ja Morant saga-inflected start, theyâ€ve quietly and dramatically improved as the Grizz have climbed back into the play-in mix and within hailing distance of .500, thanks in large part to the return of one very, very large man.

Jones: The Thunder have not stopped rolling, but the current battle between the Lakers, Rockets and Nuggets has been fun to watch. Itâ€s not just that all three are stacking up early wins, itâ€s that theyâ€re getting it done on the road (a combined 8-2 on the road as of this writing). The Western Conference is a gauntlet, and a tough week can send you sliding down the standings, but establishing yourself early can open up a pathway for a run.

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Duncan: [Looks around] Well, Iâ€ll talk about the Thunder! With all due respect to the fun jockeying below them, and the sadness I will personally ignore as it pertains to the Clippers, itâ€s hard to overstate how ridiculous the Thunder have been. Theyâ€re a top-five offense despite an early shooting slump. Theyâ€ve flat-out been the best defense of the modern era. Theyâ€re on pace for an easy70-win season. Itâ€s hard to have a bigger takeaway than that.

Power rank your top-5 title contenders.

Devine: 1. Thunder; 2. Rockets; 3. Nuggets; 4. Lakers; 5. Knicks

Oklahoma City, a runaway war rig thatâ€s only now getting whole, remains the rabbit everyoneâ€s chasing. Houston — the only other team besides OKC to rank in the top five in offensive and defensive efficiency — has looked since opening night like the leagueâ€s best rabbit hunter. What Nikola Jokić (and Jamal Murray) and Luka DonÄić (and Austin Reaves, and now LeBron James) are capable of doing offensively at the controls of top-four seeds merits respect. And amid a mish-mash of imperfect options atop the East, I still think I buy New York — now 5-2 since losing Anunoby, their best defender and a viable All-Star candidate before his injury — more than Detroit, Toronto, Miami or Orlando.

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Rohrbach:1. Thunder; 2. Nuggets; 3. Rockets; 4. Pistons; 5. Knicks

I donâ€t think anyone could argue against the Thunder (20-1) as clear-cut favorites to repeat as champions. The Nuggets and Rockets, probably in that order, have been the leagueâ€s next two best teams. The Pistons, firmly in first place in the East, belong in any conversation of serious title contenders, as do the Knicks, who have as good a chance as anyone to emerge from the weaker conference, as their record is now commensurate with their potential.

Jones: 1. Thunder; 2. Nuggets; 3. Rockets; 4. Lakers; 5. Pistons

OKC has lost one game since winning a championship. The Nuggets have shown a high ceiling on both ends when at full strength. The Rockets, whose defense is their identity, now have offensive punch with the two-man game of Kevin Durant and Alperen Åžengün and the growth of Amen Thompson/Reed Sheppard/Jabari Smith Jr. In L.A., Luka DonÄić is playing at an unreal level, Austin Reaves has grown and LeBron James has returned to elevate this team on both ends. And the Pistons have showcased a belief in who they are: a physical defense that gets after you and a two-man game between Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren that keeps pressure on you.

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Duncan: 1. Thunder; 2. Nuggets; 3. Rockets; 4. Knicks; 5. Wolves

The real answer here is probably the full-strength Thunder, then four different variations of the Thunder missing a role player. Theyâ€ve been that good. The Jokić-Murray-Gordon trio with more defensive answers is a formula that speaks to me. Houstonâ€s collective size paired with the Åžengün-Durant duo has been a force to be reckoned with. The Knicks are finding the right balance between general flow, off-ball movement, and KAT-centric possessions offensively; I also trust that their defense will return to a more passable form once OG Anunoby returns. I lean Wolves here, very slightly ahead of the Pistons and Lakers. Anthony Edwards has gotten better, Julius Randle is having one heck of a year. The defense, while shakier than weâ€re accustomed to, has worked its way back to top-10 levels. The Edwards-Randle-McDaniels-Gobert quartet is blowing teams out of the building, and this is a group thatâ€s fresh off back-to-back conference finals appearances.

Iko: 1. Thunder; 2. (fully healthy) Nuggets; 3. Lakers; 4. Rockets; 5. Knicks

Denverâ€s defense was allowing a stingy 109.4 points per 100 possessions with both Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun on the floor. The reshuffling of the Lakers†hierarchy — moving Austin Reaves ahead of LeBron — was necessary and gives them an edge no other team has (James as the third option). The Durant/Åžengün two-man game has given Houston a deeper Xâ€s and Oâ€s look. Once Anunuoby returns, New Yorkâ€s eight-man playoff rotation looks exquisite — and Iâ€m taking the All-NBA-esque defender shooting 40% from 3, with that depth, over Detroitâ€s fantastic story.

Name a contender that concerns you.

Duncan: Well, I thought the [redacted non-Lakers team in Los Angeles] would be a contender, but that seems firmly out. Iâ€ll roll with the Cavs, who are firmly goodbut havenâ€t hit the high notes on either end of the floor that Iâ€ve expected them to. Injuries have derailed the chemistry-building process; Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are seeing multiple bodies virtually every time they try to attack, which has put a damper on some of the Beautiful Game flow we saw last year. Thereâ€s still plenty of time for them to round into elite form, but Iâ€d like to see that soon.

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Rohrbach: Cavaliers. Darius Garland cannot stay healthy. Mobley has not taken the leap necessary to vault Cleveland into another stratosphere. Mitchell has to do too much. The problems that have plagued them in the playoffs are starting to impact their success in the regular season, and we have to wonder whether the awkward fits between Garland and Mitchell in the backcourt and Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt are their Achilles heels.

Jones: Nuggets. Yes, I have them at No. 2, but they need to navigate this stretch without Aaron Gordon and keep their defense at a high level. The concern is less with the whole and more if a losing streak could bump them down the standings. The Spurs have not gone away without Wemby and the Wolves always make a run.

Devine: Cavaliers. They entered the season with the best championship odds of any team in the East. Theyâ€re now 4-9 against teams over .500, and their offense has generally been a disaster whenever Mitchellâ€s been off the floor. Meanwhile, their core four has played a grand total of 57 minutes together due to injuries. Viewed through one lens, thatâ€s cause for optimism: Get the main guys healthy, and maybe Cleveland starts looking more like last yearâ€s No. 1 seed. The longer the Cavs go without clicking into gear, though, the further away last year looks … and the further away they seem from being the contender they were purported to be.

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Iko:76ers. I was alive when they were propped up by some to be the most dangerous team in the East in a year where the Celtics, Bucks and Pacers were decimated by injuries or lack of depth. Philadelphia today is 10-9, sitting in ninth place and struggling against good teams. Paul Georgeâ€s reincorporation has been rough. You could debate some of Nick Nurseâ€s rotations — Jared McCain is averaging just 17 minutes per night a season — but the vibes just donâ€t look great, Joel Embiid looks different and something is off in the city of brotherly love.

Fill in the blank: The Thunder will win _____ games.

Jones: 69. The Thunder have been outstanding on both ends, and Jalen Williams†return only makes them tougher, but they are going to keep getting everyoneâ€s best shot.

Rohrbach: 70. At the quarter mark, the Thunder are operating at a 78-win pace, largely without Williams, who only recently returned from wrist surgery. Another injury, especially one to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, could send them “spiraling†toward 60-something wins, as could the relentlessness of another 82-game campaign in the wake of a championship run, but at worst they have a shot to be the third team ever to eclipse 70 wins.

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Iko: 72. I canâ€t really see this team losing more than nine more times the rest of the season, barring any major injuries. SGA looks better than last season, Williams is back and theyâ€re  brilliantly coached on both sides of the ball. After winning a title and starting this year at this blistering rate, why not go for 70+?

Duncan: 71. Iâ€m already on record with that prediction so I donâ€t think I can change it in good faith. Just know that I am very, very prepared to be wrong. It feels closer to 74 or 75 at this rate.

Devine: 75. Unlikely? Of course. But if these Thunder are historically good — and considering theyâ€re the fourth team ever to win 20 of their first 21 games, that they currently boast the best defense since the ABA-NBA merger, and that theyâ€re on pace for the largest average margin of victory ever — then why not have a little fun and project a little bit of history?

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Moore had been captain when West Ham won the FA Cup in 1964 then the European Cup Winners’ Cup a year later. Bonds almost emulated the achievement when he was captain as West Ham reached the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final in 1976, losing 4-2 to Anderlecht.

As well as those FA Cup wins, he led West Ham back into the former First Division at the end of the 1980/81 season, a campaign during which they also lost to Liverpool in the League Cup Final after a replay.

It was not just team honours he collected during that time. Bonds, who won the coveted “Hammer Of The Year” four times, was handed the Professional Footballers’ Association Merit award in 1988, and also received the MBE for services to football in the same year.

Bonds was named as the club’s greatest-ever player by West Ham fans in 2018.

The fact that Bonds never won a full England cap has been a source of contention for decades, particularly among West Ham supporters, his name also placed alongside the likes of Manchester United’s Steve Bruce and Everton midfield man Howard Kendall among those who never gained the accolade.

Bonds was an unused substitute when England, with his former West Ham manager Ron Greenwood in charge, beat Italy 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley in November 1977.

He missed out narrowly again in May 1981 when he was in line for selection for England’s friendly against Brazil at Wembley, only to sustain broken ribs in a clash with his own goalkeeper Phil Parkes at the end of the season, ruling him out.

The opportunity never came again.

He was appointed West Ham manager in February 1990, succeeding Lou Macari, subsequently taking the club back into the top-flight.

Bonds was also in charge when West Ham reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1991, but West Ham never recovered from Tony Gale’s controversial first-half sending off, losing 4-0 to Nottingham Forest.

West Ham were relegated in 1992, but the club kept faith with Bonds and he brought them back into the new Premier League a year later.

Bonds’ 27-year career at West Ham ended in 1994, when he was succeeded at West Ham by Harry Redknapp.

He returned to management with West Ham’s fierce rivals Millwall in May 1997, but it was a short-lived, unsuccessful spell and he left the following year.

It will always be West Ham’s name that is inexorably attached to Bonds. He was presented with the club’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the first time it was presented, in 2013 and was visibly emotional when the club re-named the East Stand at the London Stadium in his honour in February 2019.

In contrast to the combative captain on the field, Bonds was a private family man away from it. They were at his side, along with many former colleagues, as he was moved to tears when he addressed West Ham’s fans after the re-naming of the stand.

Bonds was an all-action, versatile player who mixed remarkable fitness, a fiercely competitive nature and skill into a potent combination that was at the heart of everything he and West Ham did.

Football fans of a certain age, especially at West Ham, will conjure up instant images of the bearded Bonds, caked in mud from the 70s and 80s pitches, socks rolled down and his head occasionally bandaged up – but always ready to carry the fight to the opposition.

Billy Bonds was a captain, player and manager who will always be remembered when the history of West Ham is written.

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West Bromwich Albion have serious football pedigree. They were founder members of the Football League and, more recently, have played 13 seasons in the Premier League.

They’ve been champions of England and have won both domestic cup competitions but Albion haven’t had much to shout about lately.

The West Midlands clubs in general haven’t made much of a racket this side of the millennium but just as their neighbours have clawed their way back into the headlines for reasons both good and bad, West Brom seem to be getting lost in the noise.

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There have been signs that league football in the region is creaking back to life. At one end of the professional game, Aston Villa have qualified for Europe in each of the last three seasons. At the other, Walsall are pushing for promotion to the third tier again after their startling collapse in 2024-25.

One point in their last two matches leaves the Baggies in 17th place with 22 points from 17 matches but closer to the play-off places than the relegation zone.

The 2025-26 season is yet to be written at the Hawthorns. West Brom can still say anything they want.

Losing twice from winning positions against West Midlands opponents whose stories are more easily amplified is a setback but there’s a lot of football ahead of Mason in his first full season in charge.

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