標籤: rookie

After the Arizona Cardinals made Jeremiah Love the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, many feel like he is the early favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. After all, running backs typically don’t have as steep a learning curve as some of their peers.

While Love isn’t your average running back prospect, he’s also entering a pretty stacked backfield that also includes two-time Pro Bowler James Connor and Tyler Allger, who recorded over 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie in 2022 and signed a $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals this offseason.

Love is expected to claim the Cardinals’ starting running back job, but Connor and Allger will certainly still be in the mix. His presence may diminish Love’s impact in his rookie season.

Sports IllustratedAlbert Breer believes Love’s low workload makes him an outside bet to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. This was his response when asked which rookie would make the biggest impact as a rookie.

While Love will likely return, he will have to share some of the workload, unless the Cardinals plan to trade or cut Connor and/or Alger. Nevertheless, a partnership with Alger is unlikely, given that he only signed his contract in March. With less stuff to go around, it may take a year or two for Love to become the superstar that many envision.

RELATED: Ranking the 2026 NFL rookie offensive candidates

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The entire hockey world expected Matthew Schaefer to become the Calder Trophy winner for 2026 NHL Rookie of the Year.

But how Schaefer learned of his honor came as a surprise.

The New York Islanders rookie defenseman was named the unanimous winner of the 2026 Calder Trophy and was walked out of the honor when his brother and father surprised him on the set of “GMA3” on Wednesday.

On September 5, despite only turning 18, Schaefer tied the NHL record for single-season goals by a rookie defenseman (23). Schafer led the team, finished second on the team in goals and points (59), and was fifth in the NHL in average time on ice per game (24:41).

Schaefer became the fifth Islanders player to win the Calder Trophy and the third Islanders defenseman to earn Rookie of the Year honors, joining Brian Berard (1996) and Denis Potvin (1974). He is the first Islanders player to earn Calder Trophy honors since teammate Mathew Barzal in 2018.

Matthew Schaefer wins Calder Trophy

Not only was Schaefer selected first overall at the age of 17, but he made the team right out of training camp, adding immense pressure to the native of Hamilton, Ontario, just 50 miles southwest of Toronto.

But after a long season, Schaefer earned all 198 first-place votes among members of the Pro Hockey Writers Association. His 1,980 points surpassed Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens, Bennett Seneca of the Anaheim Ducks and Canadiens goaltender Jacob Dobbs.

“It’s definitely an honor to see so many great names on that trophy,” Schaefer told NHL.com. “It’s definitely a dream come true. Obviously, Demidov and Seneca, they’re great players and they could have won it. I think any of us could have won it, because we all had great years, especially him. They’ve done great things for the league.

“It’s definitely an honor and a privilege to receive this trophy.”

It was ‘amazing’ for Matthew Schaeffer to have his family with him

Schaefer is extremely close to her family, especially after her mother Jennifer died of breast cancer in February 2024 at the age of 56.

So having his father, brother and girlfriend there, as well as Matt Martin and his wife Sydney and their daughters, with whom Schaefer lived during his rookie season, was a huge feeling for Schaefer.

“My two ‘sisters,'” Schaefer said fighting back tears on “GMA3,” referring to Martin’s daughters Sydney and Winnie. “Obviously, this year has been very important to me. I wanted to do it for my mom and my family. It’s definitely an honor.”

His father Todd and brother Johnathan also flew in from outside Toronto to be there for Schaefer.

“It was amazing,” Schaefer said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting it. It was great to have my dad and brother and all of them come down [from Canada]”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The 2026 Minnesota Vikings will have a different experience when they take the field for the first time. Although they were not one of the many teams that made head coaching or coordinator changes, the team’s roster would be very different.

Last year, they were starting second-year quarterback with zero NFL playing experience in JJ McCarthy. This year, that job is expected to go to former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray.

But more than the offense, the defense will be very different. It begins in the trenches, where Jonathan Allen and Jevon Hargrave have gone. Now, the Vikings will break out a pair of rookie defensive tackles in Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange along with Jalen Redmond.

Still, the biggest change overall may be in the secondary following the release of 14-year pro Harrison Smith from the roster. The one-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl safety has been said to be considering retirement for several seasons now, and at age 37, it may be time to walk away.

However, recent comments from Vikings rookie third-round safety Jacoby Thomas suggest that Smith has been around the facility recently. Thomas may also be hinting that Smith will return to the playing field for the Vikings in 2026.

“We’ve had a little contact recently,” Thomas said. “We chatted a little bit…(I’m) ready to meet him in person again and connect with him, and learn as much as I can from him.”

Earlier, Coach O’Connell said, “It’s good for Jacoby to be breaking news on his first day here.”

So, what was KOC pointing towards? Is Smith getting ready to play a 15th season in the NFL now that the Vikings have a former Pro Bowl QB again? Or was the breaking news simply that Smith is already guiding the Vikings’ rookie defense, and he might consider a coaching role in Minnesota?

RELATED: Minnesota Vikings ‘Believe They Got a Steal’ with NFL Free Agency Signings

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

A new report has revealed that some people inside the Pittsburgh Steelers organization think rookie quarterback Drew Elar is very similar to a certain Super Bowl-winning QB. And this is a good and bad thing.

While all signs point to the Steelers finally coming to terms on a new contract with future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers as their starting signal caller in 2026, the franchise did invest a draft pick at the position last month. With their selection in the third round (76th overall), Pittsburgh took Penn State QB Drew Elar.

Going in Round 3 shows how much talent the Steelers’ talent evaluators see in him, considering he only played six games last season after suffering an ankle injury. Well, on Saturday morning edition sports centerESPN’s Jeremy Fowler raised expectations high by making an intriguing revelation.

An NFL insider claimed that Allard “reminds one team executive of a young Joe Flacco.” Steelers decision-makers are very impressed with his size, smarts and his NFL-ready arm. The big strengths of his game are his in-the-moment decision-making and his footwork.

However, Fowler says many inside the organization believe new head coach Mike McCarthy is great at QB development and can get Elar to where he needs to be to become a starter one day.

Drew Elar’s comparison to Joe Flacco is both good and bad.

There are far worse players than Flacco. The quarterback has roamed the league for 18 seasons. Playing for six different teams. He has been on several playoff teams, and played a notable role in the Baltimore Ravens’ last Super Bowl victory in 2012. He also has a great arm, and that’s why he continues to get jobs in the NFL even at the age of 41.

But plenty of fans also know the less attractive parts of Flacco’s game. During his peak, he would almost certainly post double-digit interceptions every year and only twice threw 25 or more touchdowns in a season. Since 2018, he has become one of the league’s premier backups for good reason because even though he is a good starter in the short term, the warts in his game always show up eventually.

Comparing Drew Elar to Joe Flacco isn’t terrible. But for Steelers fans hoping that maybe he could be developed into a franchise QB, it might not be the best thing they’ve heard so far from the rookie QB.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

After leading them to the playoffs in consecutive seasons, the Denver Broncos have placed their full trust in franchise quarterback Bo Nix. While Nicks has quickly demonstrated that he was worth the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Broncos general manager George Payton and head coach Sean Payton also understand the importance of the QB position.

While Nix is ​​an above-average starter, it never hurts to continue evaluating the position, in hopes of acquiring a quality backup and even a developmental prospect who could turn into something more.

On Tuesday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that EJ Warner, son of Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner, has accepted an invitation to the Broncos’ rookie minicamp. This doesn’t mean he has signed a contract with the Broncos, but it does mean Warner will get a chance to compete for a roster spot.

Warner, who went undrafted out of Fresno State, spent the past week at the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie minicamp. The 5-foot-11, 213-pound QB began his college career at Temple before transferring to Rice in 2024 and finishing at Fresno State last season.

He led Fresno State to a 7–3 record while completing 69.3% of his passes for 2,030 yards, 13 TDs and 11 INTs. Warner is just 22 years old, but before embarking on a highly successful NFL career that included winning Super Bowl XXXIV, he faced an uphill climb to make the roster, just like his father.

Now his son would also like to follow his father’s footsteps unopposed. But EJ is at a severe height disadvantage, which means he’ll have to work even harder to make a lasting impression.

RELATED: 10 Pittsburgh Steelers QB options as Aaron Rodgers’ patience is wearing thin

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The good news keeps coming for the Montreal Canadiens. Habs rookie Ivan Demidov has been named a finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the best first-year player in the league, after winning a tightly contested series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

The 29-year-old Demidov finished the year as the highest-scoring rookie in the NHL with 19 goals and 43 assists in 82 games. He will be matched up against Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders) and Beckett Seneca (Anaheim Ducks), two very solid rookies in their own right.

This is the second consecutive season a Canadian player has been a finalist for the coveted trophy, with phenom Lane Hutson taking it home after a tremendous campaign in 2024-25 in which he scored 66 points on Montreal’s blue line.

This is the second consecutive season in which Demidov will be in contention for the Rookie of the Year award in any professional hockey league. He was awarded the KHL Alexei Cherepanov Trophy, the Russian equivalent of the Calder Trophy, in the KHL last year.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Schaefer is considered the favorite to take home the trophy because he is an 18-year-old defenseman who somehow scored 23 goals, which is a ridiculous feat. He played a big role for the Islanders and was even considered for a role with Team Canada at the Olympics.

As for Seneca, he also enjoyed a 23-goal campaign while playing a second-line role for the rising Anaheim Ducks. The 20-year-old winger finished fourth in Ducks scoring with 60 points.

Demidov was the most productive player of the first year, but according to many analysts this would not be enough to capture the trophy. Regardless, the fact that he was one of four rookies in the Canadiens’ lineup this season shows the team’s dedication to a rebuilding mantra, favoring youth enthusiasm over experience.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Here’s a version of the Raiders’ rookie minicamp recap that focuses on snap counts, drill reps and what it looks like to see the No. 1 overall pick throw a five-yarder out. That story is two days old and not particularly interesting.

It’s better here.

Friday night, after the end of the first day at the Intermountain Health Performance Center, Fernando Mendoza pulled the rookie offensive lineman into a hotel room and asked him to turn in photos. Not for show. Not for the camera. Mendoza played nearly every snap of his college career out of the shotgun at Indiana and getting comfortable under center is the most obvious technical hurdle standing between him and the Week 1 start. So he went and worked on it. on Friday night. After his first NFL practice.

This is the lead. Really, that’s the whole story.

also worth your attention: : The Heisman winner, who was about to sign a million-dollar contract, went to rookie camp and decided that he was, in his own words, “at the bottom of the totem pole.”

“In the rookie camp, everyone is trying to do well. It’s essentially a tryout for all the rookies, including me,” Mendoza said after the second day.

You don’t have to say that. You’re the No. 1 overall pick. The work is yours. But that’s what Clint Kubiak and Jon Spytek thought they were drafting, and over the course of one weekend, they got it right.

The Raiders locker room has already been purchased

You can tell what a rookie class thinks about a quarterback by listening to what other people say. This weekend three different teammates used similar language to describe Mendoza without prompting.

Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M’s third-round guard and quietly one of the draft’s steals, called him “a man’s man.”

“He gets along with everybody. He’s very friendly, he’s easy to talk to,” Zuhn said. “He is a great leader and I am happy to work with him.”

Treydan Stookes, a sophomore guard whose locker is next to Mendoza’s, called him a “super funny guy” and said he likes the way Mendoza attacks his work.

And then there’s Kieron Crawford, the Day 2 defensive end pick. Crawford told a story this weekend that you can’t script. After the Raiders called his name, his agent immediately called Mendoza. Not the head coach. Not GM. Quarterback. Just to check in.

“Once my name was called, I said, ‘You know what, I plan on being with a lot of good people,'” Crawford said with a smile.

That tells you something about Mendoza’s reputation around the league before he took an NFL snap. And that tells you something about what kind of person the Raiders have hired to be the face of the franchise.

harmony beyond the building for mendoza

Newbies aren’t just turning out at 5pm and going their separate ways. Mendoza and Zuhn both mentioned that offensive players are continuing playbook walkthroughs in the team hotel after practice. The Friday night under-centre session was clearly the beginning.

“There are times when we’re just sitting in the hot tub, in the cold tub just messing around,” Zuhn said. “But when it’s work time, it’s work time and everyone knows it.”

It’s the right balance for a beginner. Free enough to like each other. Serious enough to study together in the hotel.

Now comes the hard part for Mendoza and the Raiders

This was always going to be the easy part. Two days, no experience, no real installation. Vol Mendoza talked about being “positively stressed” when OTAs open up later this month and he’s suddenly lumped in with Kirk Cousins, Tyler Linderbaum, Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. Max Crosby and Quaye Walker will line up in front of him. The Day 2 standouts will have to do so against true NFL veterans.

But first impressions matter. And first impressions of this rookie class, especially the kid at the top, were as good as Spytek and Kubiak could have hoped for.

The franchise spent the No. 1 overall pick on a quarterback, two nights into his NFL career, running his own walkthrough in a hotel room to fix his weakness.

This is the guy you wanted. Over the course of a weekend, it sure seems like this is the guy you’ve got.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

Immediately following the 2026 NFL Draft, one of the focuses turns to how the rookie class will perform in the upcoming season. There are some compelling NFL Rookie of the Year candidates this year, with some similarities to last year’s class that make for a meaningful comparison.

At this time a year ago, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was the heavy favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year, with Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward behind him. who won? Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetaroa McMillan, neither Jeanty nor Ward finished in the top five in voting.

We’re keeping that in mind as we dive into ranking the 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates ahead of the summer.

1. Jeremiah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals

We’ve seen discussion about the Arizona Cardinals’ depth with Tyler Allger, Trey Benson and James Conner. The latter two are irrelevant when you use the third overall pick on a running back, and Alger is clearly going to be a situational back for Arizona. Jeremiah Love’s skill set is similar to Bijan Robinson’s, with both having the ability to make explosive runs and impact the passing game like a receiver.

Arizona has also upgraded its interior offensive line this season with Isaac Seumalo and Chase Bissontis, so there should be some running lanes for Love. We’ve seen Robinson (1,463) and Jeanty (1,321) eclipse 1,300 scrimmage yards in their rookie seasons, and that seems like a reasonable goal for Love. Plus, considering this isn’t the strongest group of Rookie of the Year candidates, this could be enough for him to win.

RELATED: 2026 Dynasty Positional Rankings

2. Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

The best bet to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2026, at least for now, is Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate. Although he’s a bit overshadowed by the presence of Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed a $70 million contract this offseason and is a favorite of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, we still like the situation with the Tennessee Titans.

Tate is a great route-runner who has a nice set of skills that translate immediately to the NFL and could make him a favorite target for Cam Ward. Tate McMillan needed only 1,014 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns last time out to win Rookie of the Year, and if Ward completes 550-plus pass attempts with a 62-plus percent completion rate, a 1,000-yard season is more than possible for Tate. He may also be the only rookie receiver to surpass that mark.

3. Casey Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns

We liked what the Cleveland Browns did in the 2026 NFL Draft, and we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Casey Concepcion wins Rookie of the Year honors after the upcoming season. While Jerry Jeudy will still have a role in Todd Monken’s offense, he doesn’t provide the playmaking ability with the football in his hands that Concepcion brings to the table. Monken can also open up Concepcion quickly on down routes, and we’re confident these are the types of throws Shadeur Sanders can hit consistently with good timing and touch.

We believe it is possible for Concepcion to have over 800 receiving yards with 5 touchdowns in his rookie season. What elevates him even higher in our ranking of Rookie of the Year candidates is his explosive ability as a returner. If he can take one back to the house and be one of the NFL’s best returners, it’s possible for Roy to win.

RELATED: Best 2026 NFL Draft Classes

4. Jordan Tyson, WR, New Orleans Saints

Durability is our primary issue when including Jordan Tyson among the NFL Rookie of the Year candidates in 2026. The New Orleans Saints made him the 8th overall pick, and he will complement Chris Olave well in this offense. However, his pre-draft process was also a bit shaky due to a hamstring injury, which confirmed long-standing concerns about his injury history.

If Tyson plays all 17 games, he could be the perfect choice to win the ODI. Although he won’t see as many targets as Olave, playing the No. 2 role also means drawing less defensive attention and getting more favorable cornerback matchups. Tyson has a very good chance to lead all rookies in receiving touchdowns, and could have over 900 receiving yards to go with it.

5. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

It already seems clear that Kirk Cousins ​​will be the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback in Week 1. This is a reasonable approach, as the franchise wants to make sure that Fernando Mendoza is ready to run Andrew Janko’s offense and be under center when he makes his first start. However, this does hurt his Rookie of the Year chances slightly.

We’re also taking into account the recent history of Offensive Rookie of the Year winners. Jaden Daniels and CJ Stroud both made the playoffs and posted QB ratings over 100 in 15 games when they earned the honor in their respective years. We don’t necessarily believe Mendoza will be that successful in his first year, nor are the Raiders in a good position to make such a big jump.

6. Jadarion Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks

One thing working against the Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarion Price is that taking him in Round 1 is already viewed negatively by voters. It was a reach, and the Seahawks front office raised expectations for him by getting to that spot. Recognizing this, the opportunity in Seattle is attractive.

The Seahawks offensive line ranked eighth in ESPN run-block win rate (73 percent) in 2025, so there should be some running lanes for Price. He’s a very good starting back, and with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL in the playoffs, the path is clear for Price to become the primary ball-carrier early in the season. We’re not sure if he’ll put up the numbers this season to overtake any of the big names who will play more prominent roles.

RELATED: NFL Power Rankings, evaluating teams after the 2026 NFL Draft

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A little number 86 flying around the ice playing with the puck on his stick? That must be Jack Hughes, right? Actually, it’s Buffalo Sabers rookie, Noah Ostlund.

When the Sabers learned they were losing Josh Norris to injury in Game 3, it caused a bit of panic.

Buffalo is well ahead of Ostlund, whom they selected 16th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. However, a rookie making his playoff debut in place of a proven impact NHL forward is a big question.

Despite his initial nervousness, Ostlund didn’t let the horror of the moment overwhelm him.

“Maybe a little nervousness the first two innings,” Ostlund said with a smile. “But it also goes away very quickly.”

After a scoreless first period on Thursday night, the Boston Bruins took a 1-0 lead on the stick of Tanner Jeannott just over three minutes into the middle frame.

However, the Sabers did not bow. And finally answered.

About seven minutes after the opening goal, Ostlund advanced the puck through the neutral zone and over the Boston blueline to enter the clean zone. He slipped through the Bruins defense and down the goal line with the puck, and fed Bowen Byram at the top of the right circle for a one-time chance that beat goaltender Jeremy Swayman to tie the game at one.

Ostlund’s elusive playmaking certainly took the volatile Swayman by surprise. Nevertheless, he surprised even Byram from close.

“To be honest, he surprised me a little bit there,” Byram said. “I wasn’t sure he would make it to me. It was surreal to have him go through it.”

While the Sabers rookie turned some heads with his vision and playmaking, Ostlund shrugged it off as just another game.

“I looked at him all the way, and then [Josh Doan] Did a good job running the net,” he said. “So that lane opened up.”

The Sabers rookie put the nail in the coffin on Thursday to solidify their 3-1 win and take a 2-1 series lead. After Alex Tuch scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, Lindy Ruff iced Ostlund late in the third period when the Bruins pulled Swayman for an extra attacker.

“For his first playoff game with us, he gets an A-plus,” Ruff said.

Ostlund netted an empty-net goal as time expired to take Game 3 at TD Garden – his first goal in the playoffs.

Ostlund had a promising rookie season. He scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games. While he went scoreless in his first eight games since his 2024-25 debut, it’s clear that the Sabres’ rise to the plate has benefited Ostlund’s development.

However, his best game to date was probably Thursday night.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Ostlund-led line with Zach Benson and Jack Quinn led the Sabers in expected goal share with an 89.98 xGF% all night.

In fact, during 5-on-5 play, they didn’t allow a single scoring chance against Ostlund and company on the ice.

Before last night, Ostlund had not played in nearly a month after suffering an upper body injury – ironically on March 25 against the Sabres.

Still, his immediate impact upon returning to the lineup stunned his teammates, singing his praises in the locker room Thursday night.

“I mean, jumping right in, he hasn’t played a game in a few weeks, it’s his first playoff hockey game in his rookie year, and the guy gets (a goal) and (an assist). It’s special,” Tuch said. “I mean, the hockey IQ is off the charts. But honestly, competing, he went in every single inning, made a difference every single inning, and he was phenomenal.”

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas has a bright future. Aliaksi’s younger brother was named AHL Rookie of the Year for his performance with the Hershey Bears.

On Thursday, Protas won the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding rookie for 2025-26. The 19-year-old now becomes the second Hershey player to win the award, joining Ron Hextall.

Protas led all AHL rookies in scoring with 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 69 games, the fourth-most points by a teenager. He also led the Bears in goals, power-play goals, shots on goal (147), and plus-minus (17) this season.

The 19-year-old was eventually called up to the Capitals to help them make a late playoff run. Protas recorded one goal and three assists for four points in four games, which the Capitals ultimately won.

Protas is likely to return to the NHL full-time next season. For now, he’s back with Hershey for the Calder Cup playoffs, focused on the first line. He scored a goal to help the Bears defeat the Bridgeport Islanders in Game 1.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

Joshua Norris can’t seem to catch a break. The Buffalo Sabers will be without their starting center for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Norris is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after not feeling well after Game 2. The 26-year-old veteran did not suffer any major injuries in the last competition, but illness has ruled him out for at least one game.

This is certainly a significant short-term setback for Buffalo – especially after losing to the Bruins in Game 2 which allowed Boston to tie the series 1-1.

Norris, in his first playoff action, was a reliable contributor in the opening two games. He averaged over 16 minutes on the ice, recorded six hits, won 53.1% of faceoffs, and helped the Sabers control 61.1% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 with him on the ice.

During the regular season, he scored 34 points in 44 games despite missing time due to upper body problems, providing valuable secondary scoring and depth from a third-line role.

Fortunately, the return of rookie Noah Ostlund is giving the Sabers a timely boost. The morning line rush showed the 2022 first-round pick slotting directly into Norris’ place as the third-line center, with presumably familiar wingers next to him.

Ostlund, set to make his Stanley Cup playoff debut, had been sidelined since March 25 with an upper-body injury against Boston – nearly a month on the shelf – but seemed ready to contribute after a solid rookie campaign in which he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games.

While Ostlund brings skill, hockey sense and two-way ability, there are some concerns. Deployed primarily on the wing during the season, he has struggled on faceoffs (31.5% win rate) and is a smaller, less physical player (5’11”, 180 pounds), which has been a tough series. Buffalo has already thrown 83 hits through two games, highlighting the physical disadvantage.

The Sabers would ideally like to see both players healthy, but Ostlund’s entry provides depth and youth as they try to storm back into the series. Game 3 in Boston could depend on how effectively the third line performs without Norris’ experience and how Ostlund handles the increased responsibility in a high-risk environment.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The Montreal Canadiens host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night in a game with significant playoff implications.

It was a tough match, but in the end the Canadiens emerged with a 2–1 victory.

With the win, first-year netminder Jacob Dobbs recorded his 24th win of the season, officially surpassing Patrick Roy’s win total in his rookie season, doing so in 11 fewer games.

An impressive feat, all things considered.

Let’s look at the highlights!

first and best

Jayden Struble made his mark by scoring his first goal of the year, not to mention his first goal since November 26, 2024. Suffice it to say, it’s a stretch.

It must be said that both Lane Hutson and Zachary Bolduc did a great job helping him, with the former keeping the game alive in the offensive zone on two occasions and eventually finding an open teammate.

Jayden Struble scores his first goal of the season #GoHabsGo 1-0 lead!

Assists Bolduc and Hutson. pic.twitter.com/oQzcdWnKjH

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 26 March 2026

Dobbs holds the fort

It was a relatively slow-paced game, although it should be noted that the Blue Jackets held a 9–2 edge in high-danger scoring opportunities during 40 minutes of play.

Dobbs did a great job of shutting down the Jackets when they were carrying the bulk of the momentum, including a pair of breakaways in the second period.

He’s not always technically the best goaltender in the league, but he has an uncanny way of scoring important wins for the Habs, and that’s all that matters at this point in the season.

A big save from Jacob Dobbs keeps the game tied at 1-1. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/VGPgnLjecg

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 March 2026

welcome back, zach

With the game tied 1–1, the Canadiens got some much-needed offensive support from the bottom six when Zachary Bolduc scored his first goal since December 23 and his 11th of the season.

It has been difficult to create secondary and tertiary offense in Montreal, making this another important target for a player who has struggled to find the back of the net in 2026.

It was easily one of Bolduc’s best performances of the season, as he would foul Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson midway through the third period.

Zachary Bolduc scores his first goal since December 23rd!

Great work by Mike Matheson and Jake Evans to set up the play. #GoHabsGo Are ahead 2-1. pic.twitter.com/vVJMEnunn3

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 March 2026

last section

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Saturday facing the Predators in Nashville, with puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

With Kansas being eliminated in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament over the weekend, the focus has now turned to the NBA Draft for star freshman Darrin Peterson. Peterson is not expected to be a top-two pick in the upcoming draft, but former NBA player Jeff Teague believes Peterson’s hype is not what it seems.

During a recent episode of the ‘Club 52 Podcast,’ Jeff Teague voiced his opinion that Darrin Peterson is no better than Portland Trail Blazers rookie Caleb Love, an opinion that will definitely turn many heads.

“It’s no disrespect, and I think Darrin Peterson is a great player. I think he’s cool. But I think I could get another two-guard, it’s no disrespect, but Caleb Love can give me the same as Darrin Peterson,” Teague said. “That’s not the point, Darrin Peterson can get you 25 per game, but Caleb Love can give me 15-16.”

Teague further stated that he was not convinced there was a better NBA draft prospect than someone like Darrin Peterson, Benedict Mathurin. And before that, Teague also suggested he would draft Duke’s Cameron Boozer in place of Peterson.

Teague is right to say that Caleb Love has had an incredible rookie season with the Blazers after going undrafted and signing a two-way contract. Love has appeared in 45 games as a rookie, including one start, averaging a little over 22 minutes per game. He averaged 11.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists with splits of 39 percent shooting from the field, 32.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 73.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Love projects to reach his NBA ceiling as a strong scoring guard off a team’s bench, while draft experts view Peterson as a franchise cornerstone type of player. Only time will tell how Peterson performs in the NBA, though.

The Brooklyn Nets rookie is getting extended minutes during the final stretch of the season after the team was eliminated from postseason contention. Ben Saraf has seen the biggest increase in workload during recent games.

Saraf has struggled for most of the season. However, he has started to show his skills which led the Nets to select him with the No. 26 pick in the June draft. The 6-foot-6 point guard continued his encouraging performance during Sunday’s 126-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings, scoring a season-high 22 points on 10-of-20 shooting with five assists and two turnovers.

“I think I played pretty well. I got to the rim and made two [feet] “I felt like I was able to finish at the rim, just like the coaches wanted,” Saraf said. I mean, they didn’t have any crazy shot-blockers, so I was able to go all the way. [to the basket]”

Saraf was the only Nets player to score 20 points during the defeat. The 19-year-old has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.

Ben Saraf continues his encouraging performance with a career best performance

Saraf has averaged 12.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game during that span. Jordi Fernandez praised the rookie’s finishing and ability to limit turnovers as Brooklyn’s leading ball-handler in Sacramento.

Fernandez said of Saraf’s performance, “It was great.” Possibly one of his best games finishing at the rim. You can see it right there, I love how aggressive he was. Five assists to two turnovers. Our 30 assists resulted in only seven turnovers [as a team] Very impressive. So this is definitely a step forward for us.”

While Saraf was effective as a driver and facilitator on Sunday, he missed all five of his three-point attempts. The Israeli floor general is shooting 36 percent on just 3.6 three-point attempts per 20 minutes this season.

Sunday’s loss moved Brooklyn into a tie with Sacramento for third place in the draft lottery standings. The Nets now have two fewer wins than the Kings with 11 games remaining. They have one more win than the Washington Wizards in second and two more than the Indiana Pacers in first.

Brooklyn has matchups with Sacramento, Washington and Indiana on its remaining schedule.

The Los Angeles Clippers received an important update regarding rookie center Yannick Konan Niederhauser’s injury after the team confirmed that the 22-year-old has undergone surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the process was successful but the organization has not set a timeline for the rookie’s return.

“The Clippers say Yannick Konan Niederhauser had successful surgery Tuesday to repair a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.

There is no timetable yet for his return.”

Konan Niederhauser suffered the injury during the Clippers’ 130-107 win over the Indiana Pacers last Wednesday. He logged just eight minutes before exiting the game, but made an immediate impact, finishing with six points, four rebounds and two blocks while shooting 2-for-2 from the field.

Before the injury, the rookie was beginning to play a larger role in the Clippers’ rotation. Over his last seven games, Konan Niederhauser averaged 7.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 55.2% from the field. He displayed efficiency from beyond the arc and the free-throw line during that stretch, shooting 50% from three-point range and 94.7% at the line in 16.7 minutes per contest.

His recent emergence marks a promising development for a Clippers team that has relied on depth and frontcourt versatility throughout the season.

Clippers await Yannick Konan Niederhauser’s recovery timeline

Overall, Konan Niederhauser appeared in 41 games during his rookie campaign, averaging 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting an efficient 64% from the field and 75.8% from the free-throw line. He has played 10.3 minutes per game and gradually earned more opportunities as the season progressed.

Lisfranc injuries, which affect the midfoot area, can often require an extended recovery period depending on the severity. With no official timeline announced, the Clippers will likely monitor Konan Niederhauser’s rehabilitation closely before determining when he can return to basketball activities.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles will look to maintain momentum after its recent turnaround. The Clippers extended their winning streak to two games by defeating the New York Knicks 126-118 on Monday night.

The win improved Los Angeles to 32–32 on the season, leaving the team in eighth place in the Western Conference standings after recovering from a difficult 6–21 start.

The Clippers continue their four-game homestand on Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm PT as Los Angeles attempts to continue its lead in the Western Conference standings while awaiting further updates on the rookie’s recovery.

The Brooklyn Nets will have a good chance of getting a valuable selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, but before adding to their roster this summer, it would clearly be beneficial to take a closer look at the young talent already on the roster. Unfortunately, the evaluation period has ended for one player this season. Rookie point guard Egor Demin will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, he developed plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

PHOENIX – Rasheer Fleming and Devin Booker continue to see growth after each a career-high 16 points in the Phoenix Suns’ 111-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

A week ago, Fleming was enjoying being the Suns’ primary defender over guys like Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Now, the defense is picking up the aggression.

His improvement was no surprise to Booker, who has watched Suns rookies develop before. They saw it out in the 2024-25 season with Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro.

After one season, he has a new group of rookies just scratching the surface. Since training camp, Booker knew it was only a matter of time before he reached the big leagues.

“They’re in the stay-ready group. I think they’ve graduated from the stay-ready group now,” Booker said with a laugh after the game.

“We’ve watched them from the beginning. You see the potential. You saw what they can do in training camp, and I’ve seen that many times over the years. You just wait for the real game and see if it translates. They’re both doing it well.”

I asked Devin Booker how much Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Malouch have impressed him throughout the year.

“They’re in the stay-ready group. I think they’ve graduated from the stay-ready group now (laughs)… We’ve seen them from the beginning. You see the potential. You see what… pic.twitter.com/GIVyN5spZv

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 9 March 2026

Suns’ Rasheer Fleming has Devin Booker’s seal of approval

This is another impressive game for Fleming. He’s learning to play off Booker, while also creating offensive opportunities for himself by rebounding or finding enough space on the floor.

As he finished his post-game press conference, Fleming came in and the media heard Booker calling their rookie a “good rookie boy.”

The St. Joe’s alumnus took his seat immediately afterward and began. When he was asked about being in that ready group during the season, it wasn’t an insult. It was exactly what he needed.

“At the end of the day it’s basketball,” Fleming explained. “When Khaman (Maluch) and I are able to play there or in the G-League, we take full advantage of that opportunity because it’s basketball and it’s another way to get better.”

I asked Rasheer Fleming how being in the Suns “Stay-Ready” group has helped him gain confidence on the floor.

“At the end of the day it’s basketball. When Khaman and I are able to play there or in the G-League, we take full advantage of that opportunity because… pic.twitter.com/h5JLFhKqgj

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 9 March 2026

The rookie will embark on a six-game road trip with his team. They will face the Milwaukee Bucks where Fleming may face a tough matchup in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Even before the start of the 2025–26 season, Cooper was the favorite to win the Flagg Rookie of the Year award. A good opportunity awaits him with the Dallas Mavericks, as after the Luka Doncic trade, he has a chance to step up immediately and become the superstar talent the team needs to develop. And for its price, the Flag is as good as advertised, if not better.

While Flagg’s averages of 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season are certainly good enough for him to win the prestigious award, Kon Nueppel’s consistency for a much-improved Charlotte Hornets team could take the award away from the Mavericks star.

NBA insider Mark Stein, who has many ties to the Mavericks, also believes that the conflict between what is best for Dallas at the end of the year and what is best for Flagg from a personal standpoint could hinder Flagg’s ROTY candidacy.

“The Mavs have 18 games left, and the truth is, if they can go 0-18 it would be the best thing for them. That’s the way the system is,” Steen said on the All NBA Podcast. “The way the system is structured, the best thing for the Mavs is to lose, and lose royally, and that’s obviously not going to be very good if you’re chasing Rookie of the Year.”

Mavs face crucial year in Cooper Flagg-focused rebuild

As Steen said, 2026 is the last time the Mavericks control their first-round pick until 2031. It simply means Dallas has all the incentive in the world to try to lose as many games as possible to put itself in a better position to add a blue-chip prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft.

This will be the priority of the team. It is imperative for Flagg to acquire a potential long-term co-star if he is to bounce back from the Luka Doncic tragedy.

As the Charlotte Hornets continue to rise in the Eastern Conference standings amid their six-game winning streak, Kon Knuppel has emerged as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. With five weeks left in the regular season, Knueppel solidified his case for making NBA history by setting the record for most threes made in a rookie campaign, as he continues to lead the league in threes made (216).

As discussed by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel per Clutch Scoops, Knueppel could make a significant difference in his race with Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, as his speed has overtaken Flagg for the top spot.

Siegel said, “Kon Knueppel, the Rookie of the Year, has a lot of legs, and he’s probably the favorite. Also, having had the most efficient season as a rookie, I think, he’s at 20 points per game now.” “Absurd, I think he’s shooting 50,40,90 in his rookie season.

“This is absolutely ridiculous for a guy who went to Charlotte, and a place that we all thought was like a basketball haven for young people and rookies. So shout out to Con Knueppel, who I think will win his Rookie of the Year.”

Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points on 48.8% shooting, including 43.6% from deep, 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season.

The Hornets extended their winning streak against the Boston Celtics with an emphatic 118-89 win. Knueppel’s 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including four threes, led four Hornets players to reach double figures.

Kon Nueppel strengthens case for Roy amid Hornets’ losing streak

In the first week of March, Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has already broken the record for most threes made by an NBA rookie. Knueppel surpassed Kings rookie Keegan Murray (206) in the 2022–23 regular season.

Knueppel’s case was also strengthened by the fact that the Hornets were playing at a high level while he was leading the ship, while his former Duke teammate, Cooper Flagg, is dealing with a left foot sprain that he has not played since Feb. 10.

For a rookie point guard, the pace of the NBA game is often the biggest shock to the system. For the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans and phenomenal first-round pick Jeremiah Fears, the revelation has been learning when to hit the breaks. As the regular season ends, the 19-year-old says the most important knowledge he has gained in his first 60 games has been mastering the art of deception through speed.

That’s why Fears has spent the past several weeks exploiting his elite athleticism rather than highlighting it at every turn. At least that was the first thing to be said when asked why things were going well lately.

“Through my speed, playing with speed. I think two months ago, I was just trying to use my speed. Now it’s learning when to use my speed, when to attack and get downhill, attacking angles, attack spots, and knowing where you’re trying to get on the floor. I’m manipulating the defense,” Fears began. “I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job of it since the All-Star break. So, just continuing to learn, continuing to slow the game down and make the game a lot easier for myself.”

At the beginning of the season, Fiers often tried to dominate defenders with pure acceleration. While that approach sometimes produced highlight plays in transition, it also led to tough shots and hasty decisions in the half-court.

Veteran NBA defenses adjusted quickly, forcing rookie guards into competitive situations by sitting in driving lanes. The experience forced Fear to think about how he used his physical equipment. Instead of attacking at maximum speed on every possession, he has started to vary the pace and wait for defenders to shift before increasing the pace. The adjustments have helped them create a better look for everyone.

“That’s huge. Being able to pick and choose when you should use your speed is definitely huge because it will definitely trick the defense,” Fears said. “I’m fast, so most of the time they’ll be thinking, “Okay, he’s going to try to get down there.” So, they’ll be intimidated by my speed.”

Fear is forcing defenders into uncomfortable positions before they can properly set themselves up, creating more advantageous angles and open driving lanes than could be generated from raw speed alone. As the Pelicans play the final weeks of a challenging season, the speedster is focused on refining that balance. While his playmaking has evolved, the former Oklahoma player remains conscious of areas that need improvement.

“I’m just continuing to play with that speed and choose when I need to use my speed. Maybe on breaks or in plays where the defense turns heads, use my speed,” Fears explained. “The last few games, I’ve been turning over a little too much, so I definitely need to cut down on the turnovers. Watch a little extra film and make sure I continue to take care of the ball. Try not to have too many turnovers. At the end of the day, those turnovers can lead to some easy baskets that you can take and potentially open up games.”

The Pelicans can deal with rookie turnovers, as long as Fiers does not play a timid role, everything should fall into place moving forward. He is averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 36.1% from three-point range over the last eight games. This is one way to break the rookie wall while shuffling between the starting lineup and a bench role. But statistics don’t tell the whole story. What really matters is that his All-Rookie contributions to this point have displayed many franchise cornerstone characteristics.

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks used every possible first-round pick to build their team, putting pressure on Walt Perine and his scouting department to make the most of any remaining opportunities in the draft. On Sunday, Mohamed Diarra, the 51st overall pick in 2025 and the only Knicks rookie, scored 14 points in 14:55 of the game to help defeat the San Antonio Spurs on prime-time television.

New York’s scoring efforts were led by Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson, who have generally played well against the Spurs throughout their Knicks tenures. Karl-Anthony Towns had a huge breakout season with his 14 points, leading New York to 54 points. That was 13 more than San Antonio.

No bench player on either team took more than eight shots or scored more than eight points. Except for Diawara, who attempted 14 shots in roughly the same number of minutes played. 13 of those came from behind the 3-point arc, leading head coach Mike Brown to praise the rookie’s apparently unmatched confidence.

Brown told media members after the Knicks’ win, “The first thing I would say is Mo is not afraid. I’ve told you guys this before, for a young guy, I’ve thrown him in games, in starts, on national TV.” “He doesn’t even take a look. He can start three games in a row, then he can’t start the fourth game. He doesn’t take a look. He’s the most confident young guy I’ve been around. And he’s got a chance to become — not good, really good.”

It looks like Diarra has the edge over Jeremy Sochan for a playoff spot

Former Spur Jeremy Sochan played just two minutes against his old team. Brown told reporters when he signed that efforts to integrate and evaluate the 22-year-old could impact Diarra’s playing time. The coach was staying true to his methodical approach and trying to understand his options ahead of the most lucrative games of the year.

In recent games, including the Knicks’ last three games, Diawara has come off the bench earlier than expected and played more of a role. Asked by ClutchPoints about trends, Brown said players need to prepare for whatever opportunities they get amid the adjustment.

“What you said is true,” Brown told ClutchPoints. “He and Jeremy are 9th and 10th, 10th and 9th right now. They both just have to prepare themselves because their number could be called at any time.”

The Browns are in no rush to finalize their playoff rotation. He will explore as many options as possible before the probability of error decreases. But if Diarra continues to play with the same aggression and composure on both ends of the ball, Brown’s decision may already have been made for him.

The Brooklyn Nets sent rookie forward Drake Powell to the G League in the first round on Friday amid a prolonged shooting decline. Powell, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 draft, was a bright spot for Brooklyn for a long time early this season.

The North Carolina product has continued to make a defensive impact at the NBA level using his seven-foot wingspan and elite athleticism. He has also been shown to encourage increasingly aggressive aggressive flashes. Powell averaged 6.4 points on 46.0 percent shooting from the field and 32.4 percent from three in 16.9 minutes per game in his first 30 appearances.

However, lately he has been struggling to find his rhythm offensively.

Nets send Drake Powell to G League, call up Ben Saraf amid extended slump

Powell is averaging 5.2 points on 35.4 percent shooting from the field and 20.9 percent from three in 19.1 minutes per game over his last 17 appearances. The Nets have used the G League to get extended reps from their NBA-record five rookie first-round picks throughout this season.

After struggling during the preseason and his first regular season NBA performance, the Nets sent Nolan Traoré to Long Island for a long time. After impressive performances in the G League, the French floor general re-joined Brooklyn and has since become the team’s full-time starting point guard.

With Powell in Long Island, rookie Ben Saraf could see extended minutes in the Nets’ rotation. Brooklyn called up Saraf on Friday after spending an extended period in the G League. Although he has struggled during his NBA appearances, the Israeli point guard has averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists on .423/.373/.759 shooting splits in 15 outings with Long Island.

PHOENIX – Before Rasheer Fleming’s NBA campaign began, there was one player he wanted to protect.

“LeBron James,” Fleming said emphatically during a Phoenix Suns fan event before the season started.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix have met three times, Fleming has never had a chance to guard James or Doncic. He has spent those games either with the Valley Suns (Phoenix’s G-League affiliate) or playing trash.

Due to frequent injuries, he has seen his workload increase. Being mostly a defender, his offensive game has increased rapidly.

He may not surprise anyone yet, but confidence is building. Fleming’s athleticism, wingspan and defense make him a worthy addition to the rotation.

The emerging offensive game—and the 3-point shot in particular—has intrigued fans as well as the Suns’ coaching staff.

Head coach Jordan Ott matched Fleming up against Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard on Tuesday, where the latter shot 1 of 11 from the field.

Two days later, the coach spoke about the rookie’s responsibility to guard “some of the best players in the world”, in reference to James and Luka Doncic. The starry nature was not disturbing him at all.

“I think later,” Fleming said when asked about matching up with James and Doncic. “Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I’m too competitive to focus on it.”

I asked Rasheer Fleming if he gets starstruck in the middle of a game or does it happen after.

He’s been guarding Luka Doncic regularly and had his eye on LeBron James tonight.

“I think later. Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I also… pic.twitter.com/KVcKFD89Wx

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 27 February 2026

Suns teammates see Rasheer Fleming’s emerging potential

Fleming has all the tools to become an elite NBA defender. But an elite offensive player? Apart from his colleagues, this thing has not come to the mind of many people.

He has been hired for Valley Sons, and is reaping the rewards of his labor. There can be slight fluctuations between G-League and NBA games, sometimes on the same day.

But it’s all part of the process and Fleming took it seriously. Since the start of the new year, his work ethic and commitment to being prepared has paid off.

In the second half, Ott replaced the starters with the second unit, of which Fleming was part. He hit two 3-point shots and fired up the Phoenix crowd.

His aggressive play further increased his influence.

While he sat on the bench cheering, it was another game for Fleming in the eyes of Colin Gillespie, who raved about his rookie’s potential for about 30 seconds after the game.

“We always tell him he doesn’t know how good he can be,” Gillespie told reporters.

“He can be so, so good. I don’t even think he’s (close to) his ceiling. He probably doesn’t even know what the ceiling is. I don’t even know what his ceiling is. He still has a lot to discover offensively, but defensively, just on the ball, his length, deflections. He does everything.”

With injuries plaguing the team, this could be a legitimate opportunity for Fleming to fully integrate himself onto the Phoenix Suns roster.

The Charlotte Hornets have made great strides towards becoming a playoff team, and a big reason for that is Hornets rookie Kon Nueppel. Under the leadership of their Rookie of the Year candidate, the Hornets have climbed up the Eastern Conference standings.

Knuppel was one of the league’s best rookies this season, and came into Thursday night’s game with a chance to make NBA history. Knueppel entered the game against the Indiana Pacers with 201 three-pointers in his rookie season, just five three-pointers away from tying Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray for most three-pointers in a rookie season.

In the 2022–23 regular season, Murray recorded 206 three-pointers in 80 games as a rookie for the Kings. This season, Kon Knueppel made a total of 201 three-pointers in only 58 regular season games with the Hornets.

With his fifth three-pointer of the game, all of which came in the first half, Knueppel tied Keegan Murray’s rookie record for three-pointers in a season.

Con Knueppel made his sixth three-pointer of the night with 1:05 remaining in the third quarter, giving him 207 three-pointers on the season.

Charlotte led Indiana 107–82 after three quarters of play. Knuppel had 20 points and three rebounds in three quarters of play. Brandon Miller led all scorers with 33 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Most 3-pointers made by a rookie in a single season in NBA history:

🔹207 — Kon Knueppel (59 GP)
🔸206 – Keegan Murray (80 GP)

Congratulations to the Hornets newbie 👏pic.twitter.com/7DaOXTapaP

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

Hornets guard Kon Knueppel has passed Keegan Murray for most 3-pointers in a rookie season.

1. Kon Knuppel – 207 (59 games)
2. Keegan Murray – 206 (80 games)
3. Donovan Mitchell 187 (79 games) pic.twitter.com/lg7AeKs66A

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 27 February 2026

In his first season in the NBA, Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, while shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three and 89.3 percent from the free throw line. This is the most efficient season by any player scoring more than 15 points per night in NBA history.

The Hornets were 12 games under .500 at 11–23 on January 2, 2026. Since that loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte has gone 17-8, one of the better records in the league. Now sitting at 28-31 after winning seven of their last 10 games, the Hornets have a very good chance to be one of the four play-in teams and an outside chance to climb into the top six in the Eastern Conference.

The Hornets are currently just one game ahead of the 10th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the West and just 4.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

The Washington Wizards have been in full tank mode lately, with several players, including trade acquisitions Trae Young and Anthony Davis, sidelined with reported injuries. The Wizards are pushing all of their chips into the center of the table to try to secure the top draft pick, and as a result, some lesser-known players are getting a chance to showcase their skills for the remainder of the season.

One of those players is rookie Jamir Watkins, and on Thursday, it was revealed that the Wizards will be committed to the young guard long-term.

“The Washington Wizards are signing two-way guard Jameer Watkins to a new two-year contract. Watkins has averaged 13.2 points and one steal over his last six games,” CAA Sports agents Drew Morrison and Sam Rose told ESPN.

Watkins was drafted by the Wizards in the second round in 2025 after finishing his college career at Florida State. While Watkins is big by rookie standards at 24, he has still displayed an interesting skill set during his play with the Wizards so far, as well as the ability to defend on the perimeter, which will be an area of ​​significant need for the team heading into next year.

Washington is hoping to re-enter the playoff mix next season, as they will look to add a blue-chip prospect from the 2026 draft to pair with Young, Davis, center Alex Sarr (who is currently out of the lineup) and some of their other interesting young players.

In a weak Eastern Conference, that core could be enough to turn the Wizards into a formidable team for the first time in nearly a decade.

In any case, the Wizards will next take the field on Thursday against Young’s former team, the Atlanta Hawks.

The San Antonio Spurs were well represented at All-Star Weekend. Victor Wembanyama was voted as the starter for the All-Star Game. Stephen Castle and Dylan Harper competed in the Rising Stars competition, with Harper also being a part of the returning Shooting Stars event. And rookie Carter Bryant, who has recently started playing regularly with the Spurs, was one of the headliners of the slam dunk contest.

Bryant was selected late as a replacement for the Rising Stars Tournament due to an injury to Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward. He was impressive during his first All-Star Weekend appearance, showing some of the defensive ability that the Spurs knew they were getting when they drafted him.

In the first Rising Stars game as part of Team Vince, Bryant finished with four points, one rebound and one blocked shot in a little over five minutes. In the second game, as Team Vince won the Rising Stars championship, Bryant finished with five points, one rebound and one steal, while shooting a perfect 2-of-2, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range.

For Bryant, being able to participate in All-Star Weekend as a rookie was a testament to the hard work he has put in since being drafted.

“On my side, I feel like the work I’ve put in is being seen and my teammates have held me to a standard that’s allowed me to perform a certain way,” Bryant told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. “Obviously with injuries, it took something for that to happen, but I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I’ve performed well enough this season, whether it’s the last few games, to get a chance to play in the Rising Stars game. It’s an honor.”

Not only was Carter Bryant given the opportunity to participate in the NBA’s premier weekend, but it was a homecoming for the Spurs rookie. His father D’Sean has been a longtime prominent figure in the Southern California basketball scene, having played in college at Long Beach State before moving into coaching high school basketball.

Bryant grew up in Southern California and played his senior year of high school at local powerhouse Corona Centennial. He also played for his father at Fountain Valley and Sage Hill, two other local high schools. One of the greatest things for him about attending All-Star Weekend was the presence of his family.

Bryant said, “Growing up, All-Star Weekend is everything to a kid, especially when you love the game. The best players in basketball get together and make things happen.” “But for it to be in my hometown, and to be a part of something I’ve always dreamed of, I’m so happy. Just being able to be with my family, being able to have my loved ones supporting me, it means everything.”

And as a local kid, it was former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, the late Kobe Bryant, who provided him with his favorite All-Star memory.

Bryant said, “I would say the one that really stood out was Kobe’s last All-Star Game. Being a Southern California kid, being a kid growing up with Kobe, when he got to the All-Star Game in Toronto last year.” “That whole weekend in general, from the dunk contest to the All-Star Game, having the iconic moments in that whole thing, it was dope.”

Carter Bryant’s having a party with the Spurs

The Rising Stars Game was not the only event Carter Bryant attended during All-Star Weekend. He was also selected for the Slam Dunk Contest. He made it to the final round of the competition where he ultimately lost to Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat.

Although Bryant did not win the dunk contest, he had a good performance overall. He explained how the event has served as a rising party for young players in the past. As he begins his rookie year with the Spurs, he feels like his All-Star Weekend participation could be a springboard for his own career.

“I think the one thing that’s been missing over the years is the swagger and confidence that a lot of the great guys had that originally did it. … It was kind of a coming out party for a lot of guys. A lot of young guys came in, they were really young players, but they wanted to do the dunk contest,” Bryant said, “kind of bringing that energy back to the dunk contest, having confidence in myself that I’m confident in the work that I do. I have a God-given ability because of my athletic talent and being able to display it.”

It was just before the All-Star break when Bryant got his first real opportunity in the Spurs rotation. Selected 14th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, he played consistently during the first few months of the regular season, but did not receive consistent playing time until February.

In the six games played just before the break, he scored in double figures three times, including a career-high 16 points in a blowout win against the Los Angeles Lakers. During that time, Bryant showed signs of being a reliable 3-point shooter. He shot a combined 44 percent from distance, a huge increase from his season average of 32.9 percent.

As far as what it takes to succeed in the NBA, one thing he has learned is patience.

Bryant said, “Patience is everything. I would say that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned. Understanding that not everything is going to be on your terms, what a great lesson that’s been.” “Having good vets and a great coaching staff, being able to sit down with a lot of the guys on the coaching staff… even in the video room, talking to the training staff about how to properly take care of my body. They’ve seen guys who have done this for a long time and had a chance to play 20 years.”

Bryant added, “That’s the ultimate goal, to play a long time and be a great player.” “Being able to pick those brains and not dwell in those moments when you feel like you can’t do anything right.”

But in addition to his offensive abilities, the defensive end of the court has been an area where Bryant has shined in his rookie season. When it comes to the Spurs’ regular rotation players, Bryant is top-10 on the team in defensive rating, according to Statmuse.

Offense in the NBA sometimes comes and goes, and the number of shots and opportunities players get often varies from game to game. But the defensive end of the court, is something that cannot be compromised. Defensively the effort and energy must always be there, no matter how many shots the player attempts.

This is a part of Bryant’s game that he is 100 percent confident he can make an immediate impact on.

Bryant said, “I don’t think you can put anybody in front of me that I can’t compete with. I embrace the competition. That’s what I grew up on. I grew up watching Kobe. I grew up watching those guys attack each other every night.” “When I grew up watching NBA basketball there were no buddy-buddy guys. It’s just the mentality, I’m trying to bring the understanding that every night is an opportunity to show what you’re made of.”

At the time of the All-Star break, the Spurs were in second place in the Western Conference standings, and were being mentioned among potential title contenders. As it stands, they are 40-16 in the West, have won eight straight games and are only two and a half games behind the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Players always have goals they want to achieve during the season, especially young players who are experiencing the NBA for the first time. But not Bryant. For him, all personal things will come in time. Right now, it is about maximizing his potential to help the team win.

Bryant said, “Making the playoffs, and with the talent that we have and the team that we have, we’re capable of making the finals. I think we’re there. I think we have a lot of guys that really work to their potential, and I think we have a good balance of vets and young guys.” “We all go to work understanding what the chances are for us as a team. I think that’s the thing for me, I’m not worried about any individual things.”

Bryant added, “Things like this come with time and come with winning.” “Winning is the first priority.”

MIAMI – As Miami Heat star Tyler Herro returned from his rib injury with a dominant 128-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, there’s no denying the guard has given the team a big boost. The Heat are looking to maximize their lineup now that Herro is in the mix, as chemistry appears to be building between the star and rookie Kasparus Jaksionis.

There are a couple of guys on the team who still haven’t figured out how much time Herro has missed, as he’s been absent not only 15 games prior to Friday’s win, but 45 games total with a myriad of issues. The saving grace is that the rookie Jacusionis is getting extended minutes at some point, either off the bench or in the starting lineup.

Since January 15 against the Boston Celtics, Jaksionis has recorded double-digit minutes in every game, showing the trust he has built with head coach Erik Spoelstra. On Friday, with both Herro and Jacusionis on the floor, there was a strong one-two punch in the backcourt as the rookie put the star in spots to score, also drawing the attention of Spoelstra, who saw a “rapport” blossoming.

“Obviously, we haven’t seen a lot of them, just because of availability, but the skill level, the talent, the offensive talent, just without spending a ton of time with them, you can see how the synergy could be,” Spoelstra said before the team took on the Grizzlies on Saturday night. “Kaas [Jakucionis] Is a playwright. He plays with speed, he wants to kick the ball forward, he wants to get the ball to people almost to a fault, and you could see that last night, he was looking for Tyler like every time.

Erik Spoelstra last night when Tyler Herro and Kaspars Jaksionis were on the court together: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/j6YsK8eKpl

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 21 February 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra talks Kasparus Jaksionis’ improvement

While Jaksionis has some unique attributes for the Heat, as he was drafted with the 20th overall pick in the last NBA Draft, he gives the team a true point guard with potentially elite play-making abilities, an ideal the roster is looking for.

At just 19 years old, there’s no denying the raw talent, however, as Jacusionis is recording consistent minutes, averaging 22.7 minutes so far in February. His improvement from his first season has been noticeable, with even Spoelstra talking about the Illinois product’s “work ethic.”

“So I’m excited about the prospects, but Kass continues to get better,” Spoelstra said. “If you look at where he was in summer league compared to where he is now, it’s really a credit to his work ethic. He spent a lot of time with Coach Quinn and all the pre-practice and post-practice sessions. You know, he’s improved a lot. He’s earned it.”

It remains to be seen what Jakusionis’ role looks like with the team getting healthy, though with Davion Mitchell missing Saturday’s game due to a head ailment, the rookie will also get a start over Herro as the team manages minutes following the star’s injury. Nevertheless, Herro led the Heat throughout the game with 24 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field and two of four from deep.

At any rate, the team is looking for continuity, as prior to Saturday’s tilt hosting Memphis, the team was 30-27, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Next, the Heat move on to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

A new ranking of rookies poised for a big season in 2026 announced that New York Mets prospect Nolan MacLean is the best in baseball, and he could be the club’s top player by the playoffs.

McLean only made eight starts in 2025, but he took New York and the baseball world as a whole by storm. The third-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft went 5-1, posted a 2.06 ERA, and struck out 57 batters in just 48 innings. He was impressive and his stuff was electric.

The 24-year-old gave NY Mets fans hope that they may have another homegrown ace on their hands. However, it would not be surprising if McLean regressed during his first full season in the big leagues, as opposing teams get more tape on him and can develop better game plans to expose and attack any of his weaknesses.

Still, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden doesn’t see that happening, and he’s a big believer in the NY Mets rookie’s talent.

Will Nolan McLean be the NY Mets Game 1 starter in the playoffs?

“His breaking pitches are devastating offerings, and his aggressiveness in early counts reflects his competitiveness, confidence and poise. He’s a good athlete who was a two-way player in college and early in his professional career. His potential and potential are very high,” Bowden wrote after ranking McLean No. 1 on his list of rookies poised for a big season in 2026.

The former MLB general manager greatly praised Nolan MacLean’s skill set. However, he offered a bold piece of praise that will surely surprise many NY Mets and baseball fans.

Bowden declared, “I wouldn’t be surprised if, after the season, he’s the Mets’ Game 1 starter, with Freddy Peralta behind him. That’s how much I love his potential.”

If Freddy Peralta is as good as he was in 2025, and Nolan McLean proves he deserves to be their Game 1 starter to begin the postseason, New York will be a serious threat to reach the World Series this fall.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos