Kevin O’Connor gives his seven biggest takeaways from a star-studded NBA All-Star Weekend. Was the new format a success? Is expansion back on the board? Kevin gives his thoughts.
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Next, Ben Golliver joins the show to break down the tanking crisis and which teams are most guilty of tanking the most.
Plus, Cedric Coward joins to share his lessons from his rookie season, his progression as a player and the toughest players to defend.
0:28 Seven biggest takeaways from All-Star Weekend 15:41 Ben Golliver joins the show 45:23 Cedric Coward joins the show
Inglewood, CA – February 15: Anthony Edwards,left, along with teammate Scottie Barnes, right, of Team USA Stars hoists the championship trophy after defeateing Team USA Stripes 47-21 to win the 75th NBA All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
Real Madrid are staring down a potentially humiliating Champions League exit — can they steady the ship against Benfica in the Round of 32? The boys break down what’s gone wrong, whether Madrid’s aura still carries weight in Europe, and give their official predictions for all Round of 32 matchups.
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Then we’re joined by the legendary Glenn Crooks, who gives incredible insight into how Emma Hayes developed into the elite manager she is today. Crooks also reflects on his own journey in soccer, shares thoughts on NYCFC’s upcoming season, discusses Pascal Jansen’s evolution as a coach, and weighs in on what the club’s new stadium means for the future of football in New York City.
To close it out, we react to Carlo Ancelotti being spotted at Carnival — is that a bad look for Brazil’s head coach given the national team’s current form? Plus, we discuss Tottenham’s new manager, Raheem Sterling’s move to Feyenoord, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s first La Liga loss, and Antoine Semenyo’s absolutely unhinged pizza opinion. Another packed episode full of insight, debate, and chaos.
Nate Tice & Matt Harmon deep dive on the 8 most QB-needy teams in the NFL to determine who will be starting for them Week 1. The duo start with their reactions to the latest coordinator hires around the NFL, including the Seattle Seahawks finding their Klint Kubiak replacement in new OC Brian Fleury.
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Next, Nate & Matt play quarterback matchmaker for the 8 most QB-needy teams in the NFL. The two hosts start with deep dives on the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins (would Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill be interesting names in the free agent market?), Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
Later, Nate & Matt find quarterback matches for the Indianapolis Colts (franchise tag Daniel Jones?), Minnesota Vikings (will JJ McCarthy get another shot?), Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.
(4:50) – Latest coordinator hire reactions
(16:40) – QB matchmaker: Jets
(29:20) – QB matchmaker: Dolphins
(40:10) – QB matchmaker: Steelers
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(46:20) – QB matchmaker: Browns
(57:30) – QB matchmaker: Colts
(1:05:40) – QB matchmaker: Vikings
(1:17:40) – QB matchmaker: Cardinals
(1:22:50) – QB matchmaker: Falcons
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 21: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) leaves the field following pregame warmups before the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen joins Kevin O’Connor to break down the season’s hottest topics, from star player development to the reality of tanking in the league. Drew shares inside stories about working with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jayson Tatum and others and explains why self-belief can be both a gift and a curse for rising talent.
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(0:48) When will Tatum return for Celtics?
(12:13) Player development & Deni Avdija
(21:43) Can Hornets maintain their winning ways?
(26:25) How can NBA stop tanking?
(31:09) Joel Embiid’s recovery and development
(43:02) How teams use data & analytics to improve
(49:03) Chris Paul retires from NBA
(56:43) How will defensive coaching evolve?
(01:00:11) Future of the All-Star game
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on February 2, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
Andrew Siciliano deep dives on the 2026 NFL Draft with Nate Tice & ESPN’s Matt Miller. Andrew kicks things off with Nate Tice as they parse through Nate & Charles McDonald’s latest mock draft and cover a few of the more interesting selections, including EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. going second overall to the New York Jets, RB Jeremiyah Love in the top ten, EDGE David Bailey to the Washington Commanders and more. Next, Andrew & Nate set their sites on Indianapolis for the NFL Combine as Nate gives his top prospects he’s most excited to watch test next week.
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Later, Andrew is joined by ESPN’s Matt Miller to get his thoughts on the draft (including Ty Simpson, Caleb Downs and more) before talking through his latest NFL mock draft.
(6:55) – Nate Tice breaks down latest NFL mock draft
(21:55) – Nate’s top prospects to watch at the NFL Combine
(44:00) – Matt Miller talks latest NFL mock draft
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers takes the field during pregame warmups before the 2026 CFP National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
(Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
Inside Coverage would be nothing without the impact of our beloved Terez Paylor, who was a pillar of Yahoo Sports’ NFL editorial and podcast coverage. We will continue to produce this NFL podcast in his honor, and hope that you can support Terez Paylor’s legacy in one of three ways:
• Buy an “All-Juice Team” hoodie or tee from BreakingT.com/Terez. All profits directly fund the Terez A. Paylor scholarship at Howard University.
• Donate directly at giving.howard.edu/givenow. Under “Tribute,” please note that your gift is made in memory of Terez A. Paylor. Under “Designation,” click on “Other” and write in “Terez A. Paylor Scholarship.”
Today on the Kevin O’Connor show, KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh to ask some big questions in the NBA world: Are the Houston Rockets done? What teams have the most to prove in the 2nd half of the season? Which young players might break out and which coaches are on the hot seat?
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Then, the pair look at two of the hottest names in college basketball: Darius Acuff and Darryn Peterson. How does Acuff’s 49-point explosion affect his draft stock? Is Peterson’s self-check-out gambit for Kansas threatening his no. 1 draft pick potential?
Later, KOC is joined by Daman Rangoola, Sam Esfandiari & Claire De Lune from All-Star Weekend to talk the latest with the Lakers and Warriors. That and more on today’s show!
(1:11) Contenders with the most to prove (13:38) Young players to watch (20:26) NBA coaches on the hot seat (33:46) Kings decimated by injuries (37:12) Darius Acuff drops 49 points vs. Alabama (41:44) What’s going on with Darryn Peterson? (56:32) Daman Rangoola & Sam Esfandiari join from All-Star (1:43:10) Claire De Lune joins from All-Star
HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 11: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center on February 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
Nate Tice & Charles McDonald join forces to answer the NFL offseason’s biggest looming questions submitted by the audience. The duo start off by diving into the New York Giants’ potential NFL Draft plans with the 5th overall pick, how the Chicago Bears can fix their defensive line and whether or not Brian Daboll is a good fit with QB Cam Ward as the new Tennessee Titans OC.
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Next, Nate & Charles discuss whether or not the Los Angeles Chargers can fix their offensive line in one offseason, if the Jacksonville Jaguars defense can take a leap next season, who the Denver Broncos should be targeting in free agency (Tyler Allgeier?) and what our expectations for the 2026 Washington Commanders should look like.
Later, the two hosts wrap up with thoughts on the New England Patriots’ upcoming offseason decisions, why Sean McVay changed to a duo run game style with the Los Angeles Rams, whether Sean McDermott was really the problem with the Buffalo Bills and more.
(44:15) – Biggest offseason questions: Patriots, Rams, Bills & more
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The Cooligans welcome former MLS head coach and analyst Giovanni Savarese for a deep dive into the 2026 MLS season. Gio shares his predictions, breakout teams to watch, and how the league continues to evolve ahead of a massive 2026 on home soil. The conversation also turns to the USMNT, as the guys assess expectations, pressure, and what success should realistically look like at the 2026 World Cup.
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Christian and Alexis then tackle the troubling racist incident involving Vinícius Júnior during Real Madrid’s clash with Benfica. They unpack how these situations are currently handled, question whether the responsibility to stop a match unfairly falls on the player experiencing abuse, and debate what meaningful structural changes could better protect players moving forward.
Finally, it’s a jam-packed Champions League recap. Folarin Balogun shines in a statement performance against Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus suffer a shocking defeat to Galatasaray, and Bodø/Glimt pull off a stunning win over Inter Milan. The boys react to all the drama, surprises, and what these results mean going forward.
Timestamps:
(6:30) – 2026 MLS preview and predictions
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(30:00) – Gio Savarese’s USMNT World Cup outlook
(39:00) – Vinicius Junior deals with racism again: time for a rule change?
(59:00) – Folarin Balogun shines in Champions League loss to PSG
(1:04:30) – Serie A teams suffer shocking Champions League losses
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended by UEFA ahead of Wednesday’s game against Real Madrid following accusations of Prestianni directing a slur at forward Vinícius Júnior.
UEFA initially opened an investigation into the situation after Prestianni was accused of directing racist language toward Vinícius Jr. during a match Tuesday. The contest — which Real Madrid won 1-0 — was delayed for 10 minutes following that allegation, as officials instituted UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
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The incident occurred following Real Madrid’s goal. Words were exchanged, causing Vinícius Jr. to report the incident to officials on the field. Vinícius Jr.’s teammate Kylian Mbappé claimed he heard Prestianni refer to Vinícius Jr. as a “monkey” five times.
Following the incident, Vinícius Jr. released a statement in which he referred to racists as “cowards” who “need to cover their mouths with a shirt to show how weak they are.” Prestiannia also released a statement, denying he used racist language during the match.
The provisional suspension does not mean UEFA found Prestianni guilty. The organization instead decided it was for the best that Prestianni not play against Real Madrid with UEFA’s investigation ongoing. In a statement, UEFA added that it could issue additional punishments once its investigation into the situation is completed, per ESPN.
“This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies. Further information about this matter will be made available in due course.”
If Prestianni is found to have used racist language in a game, he would be subject to a 10-game suspension.
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In a statement, Benfica said it regretted that a player was suspended while still under investigation. Benfica noted that Prestianni will appeal the provisional suspension, but the team does not expect a decision to be made on that appeal prior to Wednesday’s game. The club added that it condemns “all forms of racism or discrimination.”
Real Madrid and Benfica will play the second leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff in Madrid on Wednesday.
Welcome back! It’s been a while since we last wrote on the top performers in High Score fantasy basketball. That’s because of the extended Week 17 spanning before and after the All-Star break. That gave some players the opportunity to play 5-6 games to try and reach an optimal score for your lineups.
Now, we head into the stretch run with only a few more matchups before the fantasy basketball playoffs begin (most commonly in Week 21 for Yahoo default leagues).
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Without further ado, let’s go over the perfect lineup for Week 17.
Week 17 High Score Perfect Lineup.
(Taylor Wilhelm)
More on the top performers
Cade Cunningham, guard: It still feels very odd that Cade isn’t getting more MVP hype this season. Sure, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the Thunder atop the NBA standings again as we head into the final few months of the regular season. But Cunningham has the Pistons well ahead of the rest of the East, 5.5 games clear of the Boston Celtics in second place in the conference. It took a 42-point performance versus the Knicks at The Garden to get Cade the recognition he deserves when it comes to MVP talk.
Luka Dončić, guard: Luka has lost his MVP steam but still has a very good chance of winning the 2025-26 NBA scoring title, entering Week 18 averaging 32.8 points per game. Dončić scored 38 points with 6 rebounds and 11 assists in a three-point win over the Clippers this past weekend. He’s been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury that held him out of three games prior to the break. Luckily, Dončić was able to get in a solid outing before the end of the elongated week.
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Nikola Jokić, frontcourt: The Joker is back after looking not quite himself since returning from a knee injury at the end of January. The Nuggets’ big man gave us a stat line we grew accustomed to seeing earlier in the season, when he was by far the best fantasy asset. He scored 35 points with 20 boards, 12 assists and 5 stocks in a losing effort to a depleted Warriors team missing Stephen Curry. Joker hadn’t reached 90+ fantasy points in High Score since Christmas.
Victor Wembanyama, frontcourt: The Spurs have ripped off eight wins in a row as they close in on OKC at the top of the Western Conference. Wemby has been elevating his ceiling when he’s aggressive on offense. But we also see what the floor looks like; he’s had a few games under 40 fantasy points over the past month or so. Wemby put on a show during All-Star Weekend, and after, scored 28 points with 15 boards, 6 dimes and 5 stocks this past weekend in a win over the Kings.
Kawhi Leonard, frontcourt: It almost feels bad that this Kawhi season is going to be wasted on this Clippers team. Los Angeles has no choice but to make the Play-In Tournament since OKC owns the team’s first-round pick, but it would be a long shot for the Clips to make any noise in the postseason. So instead, we’ll just enjoy this renaissance season for Leonard, who is averaging just shy of 30 points per game in February. He’s slowly climbing the rankings in High Score and could be a league-winner down the stretch.
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Paolo Banchero, utility: Banchero snuck his way onto this list with 26-14-8 with 4 blocks in a loss to the Suns. He’s been one of the more erratic assets in fantasy basketball this season given his struggles scoring the rock. Some nights, you get Banchero who lands in the perfect lineup, though it took two overtimes for the forward to get in past Tyrese Maxey’s score. The Magic have a brutal schedule this week with matchups versus the Lakers, Rockets and Pistons.
