Nothing has changed at the top of the national rankings yet again, but Nebraska’s rise has taken a big hit.
Here’s everything you missed in the 13th week of the regular season, and the latest Associated Press poll.
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What happens now for Nebraska?
Well, the dream run for the Cornhuskers is over.
Nebraska entered last week as one of just three undefeated teams left in the country after a program-best 20 straight wins to open the season. That all came crashing down.
Michigan snuck past Nebraska 75-72 on Tuesday, thanks to a huge layup from Trey McKenney down the stretch that finally allowed the Wolverines to pull away for good. Illinois then pulled away in the second half to grab a 78-69 win in Lincoln on Sunday, avenging an earlier loss at home. That marked Nebraska’s second straight loss.
As a result, the Huskers dropped four spots down to No. 9 in this week’s poll.
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The top four spots in the poll this week were largely unchanged. Arizona held onto No. 1 after reaching 22-0, which made it one of just two undefeated teams left. No. 22 Miami (Ohio) is the other. Michigan jumped UConn into No. 2 after its win over Nebraska, and then Duke held on at No. 4.
Illinois moved up four to No. 5 after its win at Nebraska, which marked its highest ranking since 2020.
While it’d be easy to just write Nebraska off based on the program’s history, we’ll learn a lot about the team over the next two weeks. The Huskers will travel to Rutgers later this week before hosting No. 12 Purdue next week — which marks their last ranked matchup of the season. A win over the Boilermakers is critical to proving they belong in the conversation at the top of the Big Ten race. Fair or not, another quick loss opens the door there immediately with the tournament right around the corner.
Is Kansas back on track?
It might be time to start taking Kansas seriously as a threat to win the Big 12 again.
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The Jayhawks, after a few rough losses earlier this season, rolled past A.J. Dybantsa and BYU on Saturday in what was their fifth straight win. A blowout win over then-No. 2 Iowa State started that win streak, too.
The Jayhawks now sit at 16-5 on the season and moved up three spots to No. 11 in this week’s poll ahead of Monday night’s matchup with No. 13 Texas Tech.
But a lot of Kansas’ success hinges on star Darryn Peterson, who dropped 18 points in 20 minutes against the Cougars before leaving early in the second half due to apparent cramps. That game was just his 11th of the season due to injury.
This final stretch isn’t going to be easy, either. Kansas will have to take on Arizona twice, No. 7 Iowa State again in Ames and No. 8 Houston all before the end of the season next month. If Peterson isn’t available, or simply not at full strength, it may be hard for the Jayhawks to actually ride this momentum they’ve built over the last two weeks.
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But Kansas is back in position. After the start it had, that’s all it could ask for at this point in the season.
When the New England Patriots beat the Denver Broncos 10-7 to win their 11th AFC championship, it guaranteed that Super Bowl LX would feature a previous matchup.
Both NFC finalists, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, have already lost Super Bowls to the Patriots, with the Rams having lost twice. The Seahawks claimed their fourth NFC title with a 31-27 win over the Rams, setting up the 10th instance of a Super Bowl redux.
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Many of those games are widely considered classics that produced some of the most memorable moments in the game’s history. Let’s take a look at how they unfolded.
Matchups are listed in chronological order of the second meeting.
Steelers vs. Cowboys
First meeting: Super Bowl X, Steelers 21, Cowboys 17
The Cowboys were in their 11th season but had already tasted success with a win in Super Bowl VI and plenty of heartbreak, notably losing the Ice Bowl and Super Bowl V. The Steelers began play in 1933 but had made only three playoff appearances in that span.
The Steelers prevailed, punctuated by a pair of circus catches from Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann — including the iconic “Levitating Leap.” Swann also had an acrobatic toe-tapping sideline grab to set up a Pittsburgh field goal. The Steelers put the game away on a 64-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw, launching a dynasty that would culminate in Pittsburgh becoming the “Team of the ‘70s.”
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Second meeting: Super Bowl XIII, Steelers 35, Cowboys 31
Fittingly, two of the winningest teams of the 1970s met for a second time in four years with a championship on the line. This matchup featured more points, but more of the same with the Steelers climbing out from an early deficit and controlling the second half. Perhaps most memorable was a dropped touchdown in the third quarter by Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith, prompting the legendary Verne Lundquist to exclaim on the Dallas radio broadcast: “Bless his heart, he’s got to be the sickest man in America!”
Third meeting: Super Bowl XXX, Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
It took 17 years, but the Cowboys finally got revenge and capped their own dynasty in the Arizona desert. Dallas got out to an 13-0 lead but by the third quarter, the Cowboys saw that advantage whittled down to 20-17 thanks to some daring play-calling from Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher. But when Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell inexplicably threw right into the waiting arms of Cowboys defensive back Larry Brown while driving for the lead, Pittsburgh’s fate was sealed. Dallas turned Brown’s pair of picks into 14 points and he won the game’s MVP award.
There have been plenty of rematches in the Super Bowl, which have led to some of the best games and plays in the history of the league. (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)
Miami vs. Washington
First meeting: Super Bowl VII, Miami 14, Washington 7
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The Dolphins completed the first 17-0 campaign in NFL history, still the only undefeated single season of the Super Bowl era in a dominant performance. In fact, Miami came within one rather infamous special teams gaffe of producing the only shutout in Super Bowl history.
But it wasn’t to be as a late field-goal attempt from Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian sparked one of the more bizarre sequences you’ll ever see. The kick was blocked and picked up by Yepremian, who then tried to throw a pass but the ball slipped out of his hand before he could propel it forward. Then, further compounding the situation, Yepremian hit the ball vertically similar to a volleyball pass, but that was plucked from the air by Mike Bass and returned 49 yards for Washington’s lone score.
Second meeting: Super Bowl XVII, Washington 27, Miami 17
The Dolphins led 17-10 at halftime and 17-13 with 10:01 remaining in the fourth quarter when veteran fullback John Riggins took a handoff from fellow future Hall of Famer Joe Theismann on a fourth-and-1 from the 43-yard line, immediately shed a tackle and rumbled down the left sideline for what would be the game’s decisive score. Washington shut out Miami in the second half and Riggins earned the game’s MVP award.
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It was also Miami’s final game without a certain cannon-armed, Canton-bound quarterback named Dan Marino on the roster, as it selected the University of Pittsburgh signal-caller later that spring.
49ers vs. Bengals
First meeting: Super Bowl XVI, 49ers 26, Bengals 21
The 49ers and their coach arrived in Detroit (er, Pontiac) Michigan, with a lot to prove. The franchise had gone just 3-5 in the postseason in 34 years in operation and Bill Walsh was looking to vindicate himself after being passed over for the Bengals’ head coaching job several years earlier. Both succeeded and launched a dynasty in the process.
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The most memorable sequence came in the third quarter with the Bengals on the 1-yard line looking to cut the deficit to 20-14. The 49ers’ defense held, punctuated by linebacker Dan Bunz’s outstanding open-field tackle that is part of so many Super Bowl highlight reels.
Dan Bunz, making the tackle, and the 49ers held on a memorable goal-line stand in Super Bowl XVI. (Photo by Tony Triolo /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Tony Triolo via Getty Images)
Second meeting: Super Bowl XXIII, 49ers 20, Bengals 16
A three-quarter slog turned into a fourth-quarter classic. Cincinnati’s Stanford Jennings ran back a kickoff 93 yards to break a 6-6 stalemate with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The 49ers quickly answered with a Joe Montana-to-Jerry Rice 14-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes later. After Jim Breech added a field goal with 3:20 remaining in the game to put the Bengals up 16-13, the 49ers were set up on their own 8-yard line. Montana engineered a 92-yard drive in under three minutes and hit John Taylor in the back of the end zone with 34 seconds remaining — with game MVP Rice serving as a decoy on the play — for the winning score.
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The game marked the end of Bill Walsh’s Hall of Fame coaching career as he retired days later.
Cowboys vs. Bills
First meeting: Super Bowl XXVII, Cowboys 52, Bills 17
It’s easy to forget that the Bills actually held a 7-0 lead in this game late in the first quarter. Then, right after Jay Novacek tied the game on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Troy Aikman, the floodgates broke. On the first play of the ensuing possession, Charles Haley sacked Jim Kelly, who lost the ball. Jimmie Jones scooped up the fumble and returned it 2 yards for the go-ahead score. By halftime it was 28-10 following a pair of Michael Irvin touchdown catches and the rout was on.
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Despite the resounding victory, the searing memory of many (non-Cowboys) fans was Bills wide receiver Don Beebe chasing down Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett, who was on the verge of scoring a 49-yard fumble return touchdown. But on the doorstep of the end zone, Lett inexplicably held the ball out allowing Beebe to bat it out of his hand for a touchback. The score would have set a Super Bowl record for points that would still stand today if completed.
Troy Aikman (8) and the Cowboys beat the Bills two straight years in the Super Bowl, the only consecutive rematches in the game’s history. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
Second meeting: Super Bowl XXVIII, Cowboys 30, Bills 13
The only consecutive Super Bowl rematch saw the Bills — playing in their fourth straight Super Bowl — take a 13-6 lead into halftime. But defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt’s elite defense littered with talent like Charles Haley and Ken Norton Jr. shut out the Bills in the second half to send Buffalo home empty-handed yet again.
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Patriots vs. Giants
First meeting: Super Bowl XLII, Giants 17, Patriots 14
Randy Moss’s arrival in New England in 2007 resulted in Tom Brady’s first MVP award, a perfect regular season and the first 18-0 record in league history. But the NFL’s second undefeated season of the Super Bowl era was not to be.
You know where we’re going with this.
Down 14-10 with 1:15 remaining and facing third-and 5 from his own 44-yard line, Eli Manning dropped back and quickly found himself in the grasp of both Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green. Referee Mike Carey crucially let it play out as Manning escaped and heaved the ball downfield in the direction of wide receiver David Tyree, who was well-covered by Rodney Harrison. Tyree — who had caught a 5-yard touchdown earlier in the quarter — leapt and pinned the ball to his helmet with one hand and came down with the catch.
Somehow, some way, David Tyree caught it. (Photo by Karl Mondon/MCT/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
(MCT via Getty Images)
Moments later Plaxico Burress caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Manning for the go-ahead score that denied the Patriots immortality.
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Second meeting: Super Bowl XLVI, Giants 21, Patriots 17
A game that unfolded like a three-act play saw the Giants get out to a 9-0 lead only for the Patriots to score 17 unanswered points for an eight-point lead midway through the third quarter. But coordinator Perry Fewell’s defense held the rest of the way. Lawrence Tynes hit a pair of midrange field goals late in the third quarter to keep the Giants within striking distance.
Down 17-15 with 3:46 remaining, Manning guided an 88-yard drive capped by a 6-yard Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown run with just under a minute remaining to claim a second Super Bowl victory against the dynastic Pats.
Patriots vs. Eagles
First meeting: Super Bowl XXXIX, Patriots 24, Eagles 21
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After three straight NFC championship defeats, Philly finally made it back to the Super Bowl. But the Eagles ran into the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick buzzsaw.
The Eagles, like many, didn’t see Deion Branch coming. The Patriots’ third receiving option caught 11 passes for 133 yards in crucial drives during a back-and-forth affair in Jacksonville. Whether Donovan McNabb, um, regurgitated in a late-game huddle, as is lore, is irrelevant. The Eagles’ comeback fizzled, despite a late Greg Lewis touchdown reception, and the Patriots claimed their third Lombardi Trophy.
Second meeting: Super Bowl LII, Eagles 41, Patriots 33
“You want Philly, Philly?”
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Just before halftime, Nick Foles asked that question of head coach Doug Pederson and added to Super Bowl lore. On the ensuing play, Foles caught the trick-play pass from tight end Trey Burton — one he’d actually caught in high school in Texas.
Nick Foles’ trick-play receiving touchdown was a defining play of one of the NFL’s greatest games. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Gregory Shamus via Getty Images)
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham’s strip-sack of Tom Brady with 2:16 to go just may have saved the day for the Eagles, who almost literally could not stop Brady and the Patriots’ offense.
In one of the most explosive offensive performances in Super Bowl and league history overall, Foles won the MVP despite Tom Brady passing for 505 yards in defeat. The game featured the most combined yards of any game NFL game ever with 1,151 as well as the fewest combined punts (just one, from Philadelphia’s Donnie Jones). The Patriots’ 33 points were the most by a Super Bowl-losing team.
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Patriots vs. Rams
First meeting: Super Bowl XXXVI, Patriots 20, Rams 17
The most improbable Super Bowl result ever — the Rams entered as 14-point favorites — launched yet another dynasty. We don’t have to tell you, but this Tom Brady guy was kinda good. So was Adam Vinatieri. The all-conquering, nearly unstoppable Rams “Greatest Show on Turf” offense ran smack into Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel.
The Rams were grounded by the likes of Ty Law, Tedy Bruschi and current Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. And, as is lionized by NFL Films, Vinatieri kicked a walk-off 48-yard field goal — two weeks after his winning kick vs. the Raiders in the divisional-round “Tuck Rule Game” — to win it all.
Adam Vinatieri’s walk-off field goal to end Super Bowl XXXVI kicked the Patriots into a dynasty. (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(John Biever via Getty Images)
Second meeting: Super Bowl LIII, Patriots 13, Rams 3
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One of the less-eventful Super Bowls (note the score) was punctuated by a Sony Michel touchdown run with seven minutes to go.
Most notably, it was the last Super Bowl victory for the Belichick-Brady union, which had enjoyed, mostly, a two-decade dynasty.
Chiefs vs. 49ers
First meeting: Super Bowl LIV, Chiefs 31, 49ers 20
The 49ers really thought they had their league-tying sixth title. And they should have. But then, as he would continue to for years to come, Patrick Mahomes happened.
The Niners led 20-10 late in the third quarter. In football that’s an eternity, and the Chiefs proved it en route to their first title in 50 years (another comparative eternity) by scoring 21 unanswered points to shock San Francisco.
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Second meeting: Super Bowl LVIII, Chiefs 25, 49ers 22
This Mahomes guy is pretty good. Jake Moody booted a 53-yard field goal to put the 49ers up 19-16 with just 1:53 to play. But Mahomes, as he so many times in the postseason, guided a drive to set up a Harrison Butker tying field goal as regulation time expired. Then, after Moody hit a go-ahead field goal with 7:22 to go in overtime, the Chiefs reached the 49ers’ 3-yard line with time dwindling down. Mahomes hit Mecole Hardman for a touchdown pass, Hardman’s lone score of the season, with three seconds remaining to again dash San Francisco’s hopes of a sixth Lombardi trophy.
Chiefs vs. Eagles
First meeting: Super Bowl LVII, Chiefs 38, Eagles 35
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After the Eagles tied the game at 35-35 on a Jalen Hurts sneak and a 2-point conversion with 5:15 to play, Mahomes engineered another masterpiece. The Chiefs mounted an 11-play drive that took all but 11 seconds off the clock, with the key play coming on a Mahomes 26-yard scramble that set them up on the Eagles’ 15-yard line. Many in Philadelphia will remember a defensive hold on James Bradberry a few plays later, but Kansas City was already on the doorstep.
Second meeting: Super Bowl LIX, Eagles 40, Chiefs 22
Perhaps still smarting from their defeat two years prior, the Eagles left no doubt this time around and denied the Chiefs what would have been a historic Super Bowl three-peat. Philadelphia held Mahomes and Co. scoreless for nearly three quarters. It wasn’t until Xavier Worthy’s 24-yard touchdown catch with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter that the Chiefs got on the board. By then it was 34-7, with MVP Hurts having accounted for all three of the Eagles’ offensive touchdowns (one rushing, two passing) and birthday boy Cooper DeJean returning a wayward Mahomes pass 38 yards for a pick 6.
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Patriots vs. Seahawks
First meeting: Super Bowl XLIX, Patriots 28, Seahawks 24
In perhaps the most-scrutinized Super Bowl coaching decision of all time, Pete Carroll and Darrell Bevel threw a slant from the 1-yard line rather than hand the ball off to Marshawn Lynch again.
After the Patriots took a 28-24 lead just before the two-minute warning, Russell Wilson drove the Seahawks 79 yards thanks in large part to a 31-yard pass to Lynch and a 33-yard circus grab by Jermaine Kearse that set them up at the Patriots’ 5-yard line. Following a 4-yard Lynch rumble, Malcolm Butler made an incredible break on a Wilson pass intended for Ricardo Lockette and made the game-saving interception with 20 seconds left.
Legendary commentator Derek Rae joins Christian and Alexis for a wide-ranging conversation on soccer, culture, and storytelling. From his upbringing in Scotland to his deep connection with German football, Derek explains how his love for languages and history shaped his broadcasting career—and why getting players’ names right is about far more than phonetics. He shares a powerful story about the real impact correct pronunciation can have on players and their families.
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Derek also takes listeners behind the scenes of how he became the voice of EA FC, revealing what the audition process was like, how the opportunity came together, and what it means to be recognized worldwide through a video game. Along the way, he reflects on the evolution of soccer media, iconic broadcasting moments, and the responsibility that comes with being a trusted voice of the sport.
Finally, the conversation dives into the global game itself. Derek breaks down the cultural differences between MLS and European leagues, explains why Germany has become such fertile ground for American players, and offers thoughtful insight into the unique identity of soccer fandom in the United States. It’s a smart, funny, and deeply human conversation with one of the most respected voices in the game.
Timestamps:
(2:00) – Why pronouncing player names correctly is important to Derek Rae
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(10:45) – Derek Rae’s soccer origin story
(15:00) – How Europeans currently perceive MLS
(23:45) – Is Germany the best place for Americans to develop?
(35:00) – Is 2026 the year where the US becomes a real soccer country?
The NBA fined Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd $35,000 for publicly criticizing officiating after Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets.
Kidd’s frustration stemmed from a possession late in the game, where Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg drove against Rockets guard Amen Thompson and fell to the floor after missing a contested layup.
“I saw a foul,” Kidd said after the game. “[Officials] Sean [Wright], Simone [Jelks] and Jason [Goldenberg] were awful tonight. The referees were unacceptable. It’s a foul, and he needs to be at the free-throw line. Now, does he make both? That’s up to the player, but the referees did not do their job. They were terrible.”
Despite Flagg’s 83 combined points against the Hornets and Rockets, which are the most by a rookie in a two-game span during the play-by-play era, it was not enough to help the Mavericks end their losing streak, which is now at four games.
Kidd also used profanities to address criticism aimed at him for playing Flagg at point guard earlier in the season.
“I don’t give a f***about the criticism. Criticism? That’s your opinion. You guys write that bulls***,” Kidd said. “That’s not … I’ve done this. I’ve played this game. I’ve played it at a very high level. I know what the f*** I’m doing.
With point guard Kyrie Irving out, Kidd experimented with playing Flagg in an ultra-big lineup just as he did with Giannis Antetokounmpo when he was the Milwaukee Bucks head coach. Flagg struggled at the start of the season.
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Despite Flagg averaging 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists, and scoring a career-high 49 points on Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets, it has not translated to wins this season.
The Mavericks are 19-30 and 11th in the Western Conference. Some of that has to do with injuries to Irving and Anthony Davis, whom they acquired a year ago in the trade for Luka Dončić. If the playoffs started today, the Mavericks would miss the postseason for the second straight year after making the NBA Finals in 2024.
Tom Haberstroh: This would be the most “Light Years” move by Dubs owner Joe Lacob. He’s reportedly a huge believer in Jonathan Kuminga and I’m starting to think that the plan all along was to pair him with Wisconsin-native Brandin Podziemski and eventually move them to Milwaukee in a Giannis trade. Stephen Curry has shown no signs of slowing down and the team has to do right by “30.”
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Giannis could extend Steph’s window, in which case they’d fill the Chase Center for the next half-decade. He’s worth going all in. Going to Milwaukee would be Jimmy Butler, Kuminga and Podziemski with four first-round picks — 2026, 2028 (top-20 protected), 2030 and 2032 — and three pick swaps. Winning a title with four different Curry iterations would be iconic. Who else are you going to get with these first-round picks?
On the Milwaukee side, if they can’t pry away the Super First from Atlanta (most favorable of NOP and MIL) or get back the Portland picks from the ill-fated Damian Lillard deal, the Warriors’ draft package may be the most attractive on the market. Butler’s expiring 2026-27 contract could be then flipped this summer for more long-term assets if need be.
Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Pistons
Kelly Iko: If you would have told me on opening night that the Pistons would hold a 5.5-game lead over the Eastern Conference by February with two All-Stars in Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, I’d have asked what trade they made along the way. Detroit’s rapid rise has been such an awesome storyline this season, but why stop there? If there was ever a time to be an aggressive front office and bolster a team’s chances of playing deep into May and June, now is that time.
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Let’s make a phone call to Atlanta, which has been wading in water since Trae Young was dealt to Washington (the Hawks are just 5-6 since Jan. 10.) On paper, this is an awkward, ill-fitting assemblage of talent. Having made the play-in tournament two years in a row (congrats?), the appeal of a meaningless game should be lower down the priority list for Atlanta than, say, for the red-hot Hornets.
Johnson is the clear standout, a dynamic All-Star forward who fits Detroit’s timeline, capable of operating as an offensive hub or as the league’s best No. 2 option. The tandem with Cunningham would be menacing. The addition of Alexander-Walker, a bona fide floor spacer and versatile defender — and improving shot creator — is just the icing on the cake and would punch Detroit’s Finals ticket.
Under the current CBA, packaging Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson, along with three first-round picks and two swaps, works. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks asked for more draft compensation given Johnson’s age, trajectory and current talent level. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Atlanta just hung up the phone. But a Cunningham/Duncan Robinson/Alexander-Walker/Johnson/Duren core has championship written all over it.
Lauri Markkanen to the Pistons
Nekias Duncan: You know how a niche segment of NBA Twitter (tugs collar nervously) tried to practically will an Anfernee Simons-to-Orlando trade into existence? What if we do that on a larger scale and (finally) get Markkanen to Detroit?
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Detroit has an All-Star duo, plenty of defense around it and a quality head coach in J.B. Bickerstaff pressing most of the right buttons. (Seriously, him implementing as many middle flashes into the second half of possessions, going back to last year, was the precursor to Jalen Duren making his offensive leap this year. And that’s just one example.)
What this team needs is high-volume shooting, and Markkanen (career 37% on 6.9 attempts from 3) fits the bill, giving Detroit yet another movement element into their half-court attack while maintaining size up front. (In this deal, the Pistons would send Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland II and Bobi Klintman to Utah; the Jazz would also include Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk).
There’s room to argue, in light of Keyonte George’s breakout, that Ivey may be better served heading to a third team instead of Utah — but I’d at least pick up the phone if I was Brooklyn (could one of these teams snag Cam Thomas?), Chicago (Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu), or Sacramento (grab a vet or some pick equity) for example. Utah would likely want at least a first and a swap on top of the player package since they’ve largely signaled they don’t want to move off Markkanen. I’d be willing to oblige if I’m Detroit — this is an All-Star who enhances your other All-Stars while being on their timeline.
Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Trail Blazers
Steve Jones: Part of the thinking here is: Should the Bucks make the trade now or in the offseason? I’m of the ilk that there is no better time than now. The offseason may have improved offers, but that could come with a quick auto-reply of a “list of preferred trade destinations” — and who loves that?
So, how many teams are saying, “Yes, we should do this right now”? The Spurs are near the top of the West, the Knicks are near the top of the East, the Celtics are contending without Jayson Tatum. Cleveland and Philly are in some form of, “I’m not sure how, but I think we’re OK.” Orlando already did the “hey, here are our picks” move. The Suns just got out of the star business. The Wolves are in “we would love to chat” territory. Now you’re staring at Miami and Golden State, which continue to press the “you know you want to do it” button. And I doubt Atlanta has a desire to give Jalen Johnson in return.
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Which leads me to: What if Milwaukee just called Portland, asked for as many young pieces as it could and its picks back (and more picks) and called it a day? Be honest, how would you process the (unlikely) scenario of Portland ending up with Giannis, Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday?
Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Knicks
Ben Rohrbach: Listen, Giannis wants a trade. He reportedly prefers the Knicks. A happy Giannis is the best Giannis. So, why not make this happen (if not for the fact that the Knicks have no draft assets to trade)? How much fun would it be to see Giannis in Madison Square Garden? They respect the grind in New York, and nobody grinds harder than Giannis. Pair him with Jalen Brunson, and I think it works out better than his partnership with Damian Lillard, if only because Brunson is squarely in the prime of his career.
The Knicks would have to give up a) Karl-Anthony Towns, b) one or both of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby and/or c) enough matching salary to make a deal work, or to get enough picks from a third team to make a deal work. With Giannis, Brunson, Josh Hart and whoever else is left over, I think that’s enough to contend. Even if it isn’t, enough people would eventually want to join them in New York to bolster their chances.
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I honestly believe Antetokounmpo could take the Knicks over the top, ending a half-century title drought, just as he did in Milwaukee. And there’s nothing in the NBA like when New York is rolling. Imagine if they actually win. MSG will be a madhouse in the best possible way, and Giannis could rightfully stamp himself as a pantheon player, someone who carried two separate franchises on his back and took them to the promised land. That’s LeBron-like stuff.
Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz is looking to exorcise some demons at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The closer announced he will pitch for Puerto Rico once again in the event, three years after he sustained a season-ending knee injury during a celebration on the mound of a WBC game.
Díaz, 31, is making his third appearance in the World Baseball Classic. While he made it through the 2017 WBC unscathed, Díaz sustained a shocking injury at the event in 2023, wrecking his MLB season.
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The injury occurred during a team celebration after Díaz picked up a save against the Dominican Republic in the pool stage of the tournament. The win sent Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals, leading to Díaz’s teammates rushing the field and jumping up and down.
While cameras didn’t capture the exact moment of the injury, Díaz was then spotted on the ground holding his right knee. Players from Team Puerto Rico gathered around the closer. He eventually needed a wheelchair to exit the field. Díaz’s brother, fellow MLB closer Alexis Díaz, was spotted crying on the field following his brother’s injury.
It was eventually determined that Díaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee, and he missed the entire 2023 MLB season while recovering from the injury. The New York Mets struggled without their closer, going 75-87 in 2023.
The injury caused a firestorm among fans, who questioned why it was worth it for Díaz — who had just signed a five-year, $102 million extension with the Mets — to risk an injury playing for another team. And Díaz wasn’t the only MLB superstar to sustain an injury during the 2023 WBC. Houston Astros and Team Venezuela second baseman Jose Altuve played in just 90 games during the MLB regular season after fracturing his thumb on a hit-by-pitch during a game against Team USA.
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After missing the entire 2023 season, Díaz returned in 2024 and put up a 3.52 ERA over 53 2/3 innings. He was even better in 2025, posting a 1.63 ERA over 66 1/3 innings and making the All-Star team for the third time in his career. Díaz hit the free-agent market following that performance and was rewarded with a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers.
The previous injury, combined with his expensive new contract, wasn’t enough to deter Díaz from participating in the event in 2026. He hinted as much ahead of the 2025 season, telling Newsday that he wanted to take part in the event in 2026 because, “We don’t have the chance to play for our country [often].”
The Baltimore Ravens have hired Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for the same role, the team announced. Doyle is making the lateral move because he’ll call plays in Baltimore, a role he didn’t have in Chicago.
The Bears’ surprise turnaround this season was sparked by the development of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams under first-year head coach Ben Johnson and Doyle. Williams set the Bears’ single-season passing record and threw for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
With new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter focused on the defensive side of the ball, Doyle will be expected to call plays for the first time. Johnson called the Bears’ offensive plays as head coach. Doyle will also be expected to work his magic with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Doyle was the youngest offensive coordinator in the league last season and is the same age as his new starting quarterback.
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Jackson is coming off a disappointing year in which he played through injuries for most of the season. Last season, Jackson threw for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, plus 349 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Jackson’s passing numbers were his lowest since 2021, and his rushing numbers were career lows.
The Ravens’ offense ranked 16th in total yards per game and 27th in passing yards last season, while the Bears ranked in the top 10 in both categories. After the Ravens’ loss to the Steelers in the regular season finale, they failed to make the playoffs despite entering the season with high expectations.
Doyle becomes the latest coach from the Sean Payton tree to be highly coveted. Before joining the Ravens, he was the tight ends coach of the Denver Broncos and an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints, both under Payton. Doyle started out as a student assistant at the University of Iowa after playing quarterback there and at Iowa Western Community College.
Terry Rozier is going to get paid this season after all.
The Miami Heat guard won his salary dispute with the league on Monday, according to ESPN’s David Purdum. An arbitrator determined that players can’t be put on leave other than in cases of domestic abuse or child abuse, so Rozier’s salary will now be released.
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The Heat and the NBA both agreed to put Rozier’s salary for this season in escrow after he was arrested and indicted in a federal gambling investigation. Rozier has not played in a single game for the Heat this season, which marks the final year of a four-year, $96.2 million deal. He is set to make more than $26.6 million this season, and will hit free agency this summer.
“We are pleased with the arbitrator’s ruling and remain committed to ensuring Terry’s due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process,” the National Basketball Players Association said in a statement.
Rozier pleaded not guilty after officials said he shared inside information with an individual who then shared that information with bettors. Rozier allegedly left a contest during the 2022-23 season when he was still with the Charlotte Hornets after just nine minutes due to a foot injury. Rozier allegedly told an associate that he was going to leave early, and the associate then sold that information to gamblers who bet thousands on Rozier unders for that contest.
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Rozier was arrested in October as part of a larger gambling operation that also led to Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones being arrested. Billups and Jones were arrested in separate cases. Both Billups and Rozier were placed on leave by the NBA.
Rozier has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges of wire fraud and money laundering, and his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case in December.
Rozier averaged 10.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game with the Heat last season, his 10th in the league. The team acquired him ahead of the deadline during the 2023-24 campaign in a deal that sent Kyle Lowry to Charlotte.
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While Rozier has not been available to play this season, and the Heat now have to pay him, the organization is still operating under the belief that it can trade him ahead of Thursday’s deadline, according to the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. Whether another team will opt to pick him up amid his legal battle, however, remains to be seen.
In a jam-packed Kevin O’Connor show, KOC analyzes the first trade of the deadline week and what it means for Keon Ellis, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Sacramento Kings. Then, he discusses updates in the Ja Morant trade market: is there a new interest in him coming out of Chicago?
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Next, Kyle Neubeck joins to talk Sixers: what’s up with the Paul George suspension? Is Joel Embiid back? Is a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo without giving up VJ Edgecombe a possibility?
Later, KOC chats All-Star reserves before being joined by Kirk Henderson. They look back at the Luka Doncic to Los Angeles trade one year later, marvel at Cooper Flagg’s 2-game tear and ask the question: will Anthony Davis be traded this season?
Corey Tulaba then joins the pod for this week’s Draft Class to chat AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, the future of Richie Saunders and the biggest college games to watch for this weekend.
(0:25) Cavs trade for Ellis & Schroder (6:31) Bulls interested in Ja Morant? (8:22) Kyle Neubeck talks 76ers (27:27) All-Star reserves announced (30:48) Kirk Henderson talks Mavericks (46:01) Hornets win 6 straight games (1:00:00) Draft Class with Corey Tulaba
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JANUARY 02: Keon Ellis #23 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 02, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Kings 129-102. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos have officially promoted passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb to their offensive coordinator position on Monday, according to the team’s social media page.
The Broncos also promoted Logan Kilgore to Webb’s old spot as quarterbacks coach. Kilgore was previously the Broncos’ offensive quality control coach.
Webb was a popular name this coaching cycle, having interviewed for head coaching positions with the Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills, but ultimately, he’ll remain in Denver to continue building what Sean Payton and company have started with second-year quarterback Bo Nix.
The news comes as the team fired former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi just two days after the team’s appearance in the AFC championship. Lombardi had spent the last three seasons as Denver’s offensive coordinator; now, Webb takes over.
Webb, 31, has quickly risen through the coaching ranks since his playing days ended in 2022. A 2017 third-round pick by the New York Giants, Webb spent his NFL career with the G-Men, Jets and Bills in a backup role. Webb made just one start at quarterback in his career for the Giants back in 2022.
Webb has since spent the last three seasons under head coach Sean Payton with the Broncos. He was initially hired in 2023 as the quarterbacks coach before adding the passing game coordinator role to his responsibilities last season, following the departure of John Morton.
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Nix has thrown for 7,706 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in two seasons as a starter. Denver ranked 14th in total scoring and 10th in yards this season despite the year coming to a devastating end, as Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury, forcing backup Jarrett Stidham into action against the Super Bowl-bound New England Patriots. The Patriots won, 10-7.
