The New York Knicks have decided they’re simply not that into Tom Thibodeau anymore and have parted ways with their coach of five years after getting bounced by the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference finals.
Thibodeau, known for his defensive approach and willingness to sell his soul for a random March win against the Charlotte Hornets, has long been criticized by fans and media for overplaying his starters, often resulting in fatigue, and a narrow bench, which never quite finds its feet during a long regular season.
Take this season as an example. Playing any starter over 35 minutes per game in today’s NBA is considered somewhat aggressive. Thibodeau? He decided all five of his starters should crack that number.
Of course, while Thibodeau overplayed his key guys, there’s another layer to all of this. The Knicks weren’t exactly deep, nor did the front office provide Thibodeau with a bench that was particularly trustworthy in terms of executing his system.
As such, criticism has to spill over to management as well, even if its initial investment in OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns — all acquired within a seven-month period — was the first step of a larger plan.
Now, the Knicks will look for a new head coach who can help them reach the mountaintop and try to secure New York its first championship since the Nixon administration.
(Don’t worry, Generation Alpha, you’ll learn about the ’70s in high school.)
It will be the responsibility of the new hire to install creative systems that optimize the bench and get the most out of the Cameron Paynes of the world and players of that ilk.
More than that, however, a new coach should try to squeeze more out of Towns offensively. We’re all aware of his defensive shortcomings, so a full lean-in on Towns as an offensive player wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, especially to make life easier on Jalen Brunson, who has otherwise been the heart of the team and its offensive pillar.
Five times this postseason KAT scored less than 20 points — and twice he scored just 10. Putting an emphasis on what he does best is the surest way to increase the team’s upside, and perhaps a better offensive coach can unlock that potential.
As the offseason progresses, the Knicks have plenty to figure out, roster-wise. But first up is finding their next head coach.
Hart and Brunson weren’t alone in their praise for Thibodeau, either. Actor and noted Knicks superfan Ben Stiller, who was frequently spotted sitting courtside throughout the team’s most recent playoff run, thanked Thibodeau for making the Knicks “relevant again” on social media, too.
I am a Tom Thibodeau fan. He brought this team back. I felt he gave every bit of himself and was always looking to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he brought the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are championship contenders again. The Knicks became winners…
Noted Knicks fan John McEnroe happened to be calling the Carlos Alcaraz-Tommy Paul match in the French Open when the news broke, and he reacted to the news live, saying “that’s pretty harsh. That is a bummer.”
Coincidentally, former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, who played for Thibodeau with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks, was at Roland Garros watching the match. He had joined the TNT broadcast earlier.
Noted New York Knicks fan John McEnroe gives some instant reaction to the Tom Thibodeau firing during the French Open 🎾🏀🎙️ pic.twitter.com/CxrZcjKDMi
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2025
Plenty in the Knicks world and New York media universe weren’t quite on board with the move to fire Thibodeau.
It’s also a *massive* gamble that whatever you may gain in optimization outweighs what you may lose in the culture Thibodeau created, and that you don’t lose the buy-in — specifically from Jalen Brunson, who was very vocal in his support for Thibs — that helped get you this far.
At least one person didn’t waste any time vying for the now open job in Manhattan, too.
Metta is the perfect choice for head coach of the @nyknicks . Since 1999 this was suppose to happen. I’ve never ran from the city. When all the top players left NYC because it was hard , I went to @StJohnsBBall . I wanted to be drafted by the Knicks, I seemed to be the only one…
I want every bit of the smoke in NYC. I’m 100% in and ready to HEAD COACH the great @nyknicks .
Queens bred. Dominated my Highschool era. Three championship at the Rucker and never lost one at Rucker. 3 Championships at the real Gershwin when there was no security. Lots more…
The Knicks won 51 games this season and reached the conference finals for the first time since 2000. Thibodeau got the Knicks to the playoffs in four of his five seasons at the helm, and he racked up back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since the early 1990s. Before Thibodeau was hired, the Knicks hadn’t made the playoffs in seven seasons.
By all accounts, Thibodeau’s time with the Knicks was a success. As has been the case at his previous stops in Chicago and Minnesota, it just wasn’t successful enough.
If you have your PayPal account linked to your Google Wallet for purchases, you need to update your payment method ASAP. Google is ending its support for PayPal integration, and users in the U.S. will see their PayPal accounts and transaction histories deleted from their digital wallets on June 13.
That means that Google Wallet users will need to replace PayPal with an alternative payment method. If you have recurring payments, such as subscriptions, set up with a linked PayPal account, you’ll also need to go to the individual merchant site to manually update your payment information.
Connecting PayPal to Google Wallet allowed users to maintain and manage their cards and bank accounts centrally in PayPal rather than separately in their digital wallets. Google had already stopped new PayPal links as of April 11, though users were still able to pay via previously connected PayPal accounts from their Google Wallet.
Note that Google Wallet will support PayPal-branded debit cards, and full PayPal integration will still be available for Google Wallet users in Germany.
How to update your payment method in Google Wallet
To continue using Google Wallet after the PayPal integration ends, you need to have at least one credit or debit card added to your Google account.
To add a card, open the Google Wallet app and tap Add to Wallet at the bottom of the screen. Tap Payment card > New credit or debit card and either add the card information manually or use your camera to do so automatically. Tap Save and continue > Accept after reading the issuer terms and conditions. You may need to verify the payment method—via email, text, bank app, or temporary deposit, for example—to complete the link.
Alternatively, you can add cards from your bank’s app or website if “Add to GPay” is supported.
This year, Global Running Day is on June 4. Like most unofficial holidays, it is a day not only about celebrating our shared love of running—it’s also an excuse for brands to roll out deals and promotions on everything from shoes, to gear, to race registrations.
Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first real pair of running shoes or a veteran runner planning your next big race, it’s worth checking out the sales and discounts on offer before you stock up on gear or register for that half-marathon. I’ve scoured the web for this year’s best deals, found below, so you can celebrate Global Running Day with a fatter wallet (just don’t let it weigh you down during your next run).
Race registration deals for Global Running Day 2025
You might think you’ll never get into running organized races. I was like you, once: a casual runner who scoffed at the idea of paying money to run. Then I was coerced into running a 5k for charity. Then I experienced the high of crossing the finish line. Now, six marathons later, I understand why people budget races into their life. Because once you enter the world of racing, costs can quickly add up.
If you want to save on signup fees, Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is hosting a 24-hour sale on race registrations, and offering some of the best prices of the year. These aren’t just any races—Rock ‘n’ Roll events are known for their incredible atmosphere, live music on the course, and post-race celebrations that make crossing the finish line even sweeter.
The timing couldn’t be better if you’re looking to sign up for a fall marathon or half-marathon. These races typically sell out, and with savings that can reach up to $130 off regular pricing, it’s worth checking out their destination events if you’re planning a run-cation. Think locales like Las Vegas, San Diego, Nashville, and Washington D.C. The sale starts June 4 at 12 a.m. PT.
The best Global Running Day sales on running shoes and gear
As someone who goes through two to three pairs of running shoes per year, I’ve learned to time my purchases well. I’ve done some digging, and can report there are significant discounts taking place in the running world right now, even if the shoe sales aren’t always explicitly tied to Global Running Day.
Running shoe sales
I’m a huge advocate for Saucony in general, and specifically the Ride 18 model, so I always speak up when they’re on sale. Light, soft, and responsive, these were my shoes of choice when I ran the NYC Marathon in 2023, and you can find them for a good discount at the moment.
Alternately, the HOKA Clifton 10 is perfect for runners seeking a comfortable running shoe that seamlessly transitions to casual wear. Right now, they are available for as low as $147.86 (women’s) and $149.18 (men’s).
Sales on running gear and Garmin fitness watches
Speaking of Hoka, their site has a “Global Running Day “tag filled with offers on shoes, shirts, and caps. Amazon similarly has a Global Running Day sale, and although it’s skimpy, it does feature a selection of lightweight shoes available for under $100.
There are also solid deals on running watches right now—specifically the Garmin Forerunners, aka the best dedicated running watches on the market. Here are the strongest deals I’ve seen as of this writing:
I do this one every year: Visit globalrunningday.org to sign up for the official NYRR Virtual Global Running Day 5K so you can “run with the world.” There’s something incredibly motivating about knowing runners across the globe are lacing up their shoes for the same celebration. Plus, it feels good to be part of all those names on the Strava leaderboard.
You can run the virtual 5K anywhere, anytime between May 31 and June 8. Race results will be available on the NYRR Results site and in your NYRR dashboard by Thursday, June 12.
My shopping strategy for maximizing my savings on running gear
Having navigated countless running sales over the years, I want to share my approach for scoring a deal: prioritize shoes first (they’re your most important and expensive piece of gear), then look for discounts on upcoming races you want to register for, and finally browse deals for gear and other items you’ve been putting off purchasing. In general, keep an eye out for curated packages from specialty running stores—they often provide great value and introduce you to products you might not have discovered otherwise.
Don’t get caught up in buying something just because it’s on sale. Stick to brands and models you’ve researched or used and loved before. The key is knowing what you need and acting quickly—the best deals tend to sell out fast, especially in popular sizes and colors. Set those alarms for early morning shopping, just like you would for a long training run.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some online shopping to do before I head out to log my Global Running Day miles.
After leading the New York Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years, Tom Thibodeau is out. The Knicks fired Thibodeau on Tuesday, less than a week after the team’s Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers, the team announced.
In a statement, the team thanked Thibodeau for his contributions, but said the move was “best for our organization moving forward.”
“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction,” said Knicks President Leon Rose. “We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories. Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
The move comes as a massive surprise considering the Knicks are coming off a 51-win regular season, the team’s highest win total in over a decade, and a deep playoff run. Following a strong regular season, New York defeated the Detroit Pistons and the higher-seeded Boston Celtics to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
After falling behind 2-0 in the series, the Knicks couldn’t battle all the way back. Despite winning Game 3 and Game 5, the Knicks were defeated by the Pacers in six games, falling just two wins short of an appearance in the Finals. Less than a week after Game 6, Thibodeau is out.
Tom Thibodeau was fired after leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Gregory Shamus via Getty Images
Thibodeau signed an extension with New York as recently as 2024. The team still owes him at least $30 million as part of that deal, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
Knicks guard Josh Hart was one of the first NBA players to respond to Tuesday’s news. He said he was “forever grateful” to Thibodeau in a post on X.
Thibodeau was hired by the franchise ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season. The team showed massive improvement under Thibodeau in his first season. After finishing with a .318 winning percentage the previous season, the Knicks posted a .569 winning percentage in 2020-21. The Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season, though they fell to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
The team experienced some regression the following season, posting a 37-45 record. It was the only time in Thibodeau’s tenure with the franchise that the team failed to make the playoffs. The Knicks made the playoffs the next three years, falling twice in the Eastern Conference semifinals before reaching the Eastern Conference finals this season.
In five seasons with the Knicks, Thibodeau posted a 226-174 record (.565). Only three coaches in the history of the franchise that dates back to 1946 have won more games.
Prior to joining the Knicks, Thibodeau spent time with both the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. He had an extremely successful run in Chicago, leading the team to playoff appearances in each of his five seasons. The team made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals in Thibodeau’s first season, where it fell to the Miami Heat. Despite a 50-32 record during the 2014-15 NBA season, the Bulls fired Thibodeau. He posted a .647 winning percentage with the franchise.
He was quickly hired by the Timberwolves. After a rocky first season, Thibodeau led Minnesota to its first playoff appearance in 14 years during the 2017-18 NBA season. The team regressed the following year, leading to Thibodeau’s exit.
Given Thibodeau’s success — he has a 578-420 record and has won the NBA’s Coach of the Year award twice — he should be a highly-coveted option on the free-agent market. While Thibodeau has seemingly worn out his welcome with three separate franchises, his teams get results quickly.
Despite his regular-season excellence, Thibodeau is still searching for his first NBA championship as a head coach. He should get another opportunity to achieve that goal following Tuesday’s shocking firing.
Welcome to June. We are officially in the middle-third of the marathon that is the MLB regular season. This week’s power rankings aim to answer a basic question: How am I feeling about these teams now compared to how I felt on Opening Day with the whole season still in front of us?
Past experience and projection systems may have informed the level of optimism or pessimism for clubs before the season, but now we have a healthy sample of data to help indicate the direction each team is heading. Using an ultra-scientific spectrum ranging from Much Better to Much Worse, here’s how I’m feeling about all 30 teams entering Tuesday relative to the start of the season:
(Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports)
1. Detroit Tigers (40-21) 📈
Much better. It’s not just that the Tigers have amassed the best record in baseball, though that obviously helps their case as the first team to dethrone the Dodgers in our power rankings this season. It’s that Detroit’s success has been thoroughly comprehensive. This team excels in nearly all phases of the game, and has compiled a gaudy record as a result. OK, fine, the Tigers rank 30th in stolen bases with just 21 swipes in 60 games. But beyond the running game, the Tigers are above average or better across the board: fifth in runs per game, eighth in wRC+, fourth in rotation ERA, third in bullpen ERA, and ninth in Statcast’s Fielding Run Value. Last year’s surprise run to the ALDS was merely an appetizer. This year’s Tigers look like a legit threat to win it all.
2. New York Mets (38-22) 📈
Better. With Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas yet to throw a pitch this season, New York has compiled the league’s lowest team ERA (2.86), a stunningly impressive display of run prevention considering the relatively unproven personnel involved. But even if the pitching regresses some, it would seem the offense still has another gear to reach to help mitigate any slippage on the mound. It took until the 59th game of the season for Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso to homer in the same contest, a reminder that we still haven’t seen this tremendous trio come close to its potential as a collective offensive juggernaut. Vibes are good in Queens.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers 📉
Slightly worse. Just because we just watched the Dodgers overcome an unprecedented amount of pitching injuries to win the World Series last season doesn’t mean they are a lock to repeat the same feat, especially when the arm ailments have arrived even earlier this season compared to last. The juggernaut lineup remains staggeringly strong, though, and ensures the Dodgers will remain formidable regardless of their mystery box of availability on the mound. That said, it seems awfully unlikely this group will be challenging the 2001 Mariners’ record for most wins in a season (116) as some speculated they could before the year.
4. New York Yankees (36-22) 📈
Better. No Juan Soto, no Gerrit Cole, no Luis Gil, no Giancarlo Stanton, no problem. The Yankees have carried on brilliantly amid a slew of injuries and with a new-look roster, and deserve significant credit for doing so. Yes, it most certainly helps to have baseball’s third-highest payroll and the best hitter in the sport in Aaron Judge, but the Yankees have also benefitted greatly from unexpected breakouts like Trent Grisham, a homegrown hidden gem in Ben Rice, and late-career renaissances like Luke Weaver or Ryan Yarbrough. The high-salary headliners (Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt) are excelling too, of course, but the Yankees do a lot more well than just pay for good players, and this season exemplifies that.
5. Chicago Cubs (37-22) 📈
Better. The Cubs absolutely rake, ensuring a core competency to lean on in their quest to re-establish themselves as one of the premier franchises in the sport. But even more encouraging recently has been the vastly improved effectiveness of a bullpen that was flat-out terrible early on. This has been a massive development, especially in relation to some of the injuries sustained to key members of the rotation, including season-ending surgery for Justin Steele. All signs point to Chicago claiming its first NL Central crown in a full-season since 2017, but there’s a lot of baseball left to be played.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (36-23)
About the same. The rotation has once again been excellent, and the main characters in the lineup have largely delivered, with Kyle Schwarber somehow leveling up even further in his age-32 season. José Alvarado’s suspension has left the bullpen in a state of unease, but I’m not convinced that specific weakness is enough to derail this team’s status as World Series contenders. Plus, I fully expect president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to add relief help via trade before the deadline.
7. San Diego Padres (33-24)
About the same. Valid concerns remain about this roster being too top-heavy to sustain over the course of a long season, and that the Padres’ lack of depth will eventually come back to bite them. But with one of baseball’s best bullpens and an enviable amount of elite talent in the lineup, San Diego still projects to have one of the highest ceilings of any ballclub in the sport. And let’s be real: it’s not like president of baseball operations AJ Preller is going to pass on exploring every possible avenue to improve the team before the trade deadline.
8. San Francisco Giants (33-27) 📈
Slightly better. The Giants have performed like the NL’s version of the Royals, albeit with a significantly larger payroll. Like Kansas City, San Francisco has constructed an excellent pitching staff — its 3.09 team ERA ranks second-best in MLB behind only the Mets — but its offense is stuck in the mud far too often, raising questions about the club’s viability as a serious contender. On the whole, the Giants’ undeniable success on the mound has raised the floor for this team and has thus far proven to be a more reliable path to success than one of their divisional counterparts in the D-backs, whose offense is elite but who can’t find nearly enough outs on the mound.
9. Seattle Mariners (32-26)
About the same. After leaning heavily on its pitching staff in recent years to fuel its success and compensate for a lack of offensive firepower, Seattle has had a more balanced attack plan in 2025 — for better or worse. A rotation that had been impossibly healthy over the past two seasons has endured some significant absences in the early going, but a much-improved offense headlined by MVP candidate Cal Raleigh has kept Seattle competitive, even amid unfamiliar instability on the mound. It’s not quite the Mariners we’ve grown accustomed to watching, but this version may be good enough to claim the franchise’s first division title since 2001.
10. Milwaukee Brewers (33-28)
About the same. Milwaukee has taken something of a circuitous route back into the NL playoff picture after an inconsistent first month. Its recent hot stretch has served as a reminder of what the Brew Crew is capable of when things are clicking. A resurgent Rhys Hoskins has paced an offense that isn’t getting quite as much out of William Contreras and Jackson Chourio as hoped, but the recipe for success here is still broadly similar to last year’s NL Central champs: speed, defense and an amalgamation of effective arms. There’s still a chance this team falls out of the mix and becomes an intriguing seller at the deadline, but I think they stay relevant in the NL wild-card conversation.
11. Cleveland Guardians (32-26) 📉
Slightly worse. Cleveland is tied for the ninth-best record in baseball, but its -16 run differential ranks 22nd, suggesting its success has been a bit more smoke-and-mirrors than most of the other teams ranked in the top half of these rankings. Defending their AL Central crown will be a tall task with how well the Tigers are playing, but the Guardians still have the talent and winning infrastructure in place to compete for a playoff spot.
12. Houston Astros (32-27) 📉
Slightly worse. Catch the Astros on the right day, and they still look like a serious threat to claim another AL pennant. But the depth of impact players here is not what it used to be, making them far more vulnerable to fall short of their lofty annual goals. It’s a credit to Houston it remains squarely in the AL West race with its best hitter Yordan Alvarez being a virtual non-factor so far. His health and availability remains paramount as a fully operational Alvarez is a huge part of what makes this team so scary, and it’s unclear when we are going to see that version of him again so
13. Toronto Blue Jays (31-28) 📈
Slightly better. Getting an extension done with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was a huge organizational victory, but three of Toronto’s four biggest offseason additions (Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez, Max Scherzer) have brought very little to the table this season, while the fourth (Jeff Hoffman) has also started to look more mortal lately after a nearly invincible first month. And yet, here the Jays are in second place, suggesting there could still be untapped potential with this roster around Guerrero and Bo Bichette that could propel a return to the postseason. Keep an eye on these guys.
14. St. Louis Cardinals (33-26) 📈
Slightly better … unless the plan is to be sellers at the trade deadline. With a deep lineup and better-than-expected rotation, St. Louis has played its way into some potentially difficult decisions next month. It still seems likely that the Cardinals will act more as sellers than buyers at the deadline, but it’s also too soon to completely discount an unexpected run at a wild-card spot in John Mozeliak’s final year atop the franchise’s baseball operations department before handing the keys to Chaim Bloom.
15. Minnesota Twins (32-27) 📉
Slightly worse. Minnesota rebounded in impressive fashion from its troubling 7-15 start, but it’s still unclear how seriously we should be taking the Twins as viable playoff contenders. While the pitching staff has rounded into a legitimate strength — the Twins rank sixth in team ERA and first in pitching fWAR — the lineup has merely treaded water, with Byron Buxton the only headlining hitter performing well while Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis have floundered badly. The Twins are generally solid, but solid doesn’t get you where it used to in the AL Central nowadays.
16. Tampa Bay Rays (30-29)
About the same. Since Shane McClanahan went down just before Opening Day, a Rays rotation that still seemed rickety on paper has been stunningly durable and quite effective. That unit, plus a vintage Tampa Bay bullpen consisting of anonymous yet dynamic hurlers, has formed a stellar pitching staff that has kept the Rays in the mix despite an inconsistent offense that is relying heavily on 21-year-old Junior Caminero to become a superstar sooner rather than later. In an AL East that is far weaker than expected, the Rays look to have enough to hang around.
17. Kansas City Royals (31-29)
About the same. We knew this team would be pitching-centric and offensively limited, and that has been exactly the case. Kansas City ranks second in team ERA and fourth in pitching fWAR, but 30th in home runs and 27th in wRC+. These extreme strengths and weaknesses have amounted to a decent record, albeit one that still lags behind in the newly ultra-competitive AL Central. The arrival of top prospect Jac Caglianone should provide a sorely needed boost to the lineup, but expecting him to single-handedly transform the Royals’ offense feels like a stretch.
18. Boston Red Sox (29-33) 📉
Worse. The fact that offseason additions Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet have both been exactly what Boston could have hoped for and the team is still below .500 is a damning indictment of how the rest of the roster has performed. Now with Bregman injured for a lengthy stretch, an already-complicated position player group will require even more mixing and matching from manager Alex Cora. There’s still enough talent present for the Sox to make a run, but they have to find their stride soon.
19. Texas Rangers (29-31) 📉
Slightly worse. A lineup that seemingly shines on paper has disappointed for the second straight year, but the rotation (this Jacob deGrom fella seems pretty solid!) has been so good that Texas remains in striking distance of a playoff spot. There are still a good amount of red flags on this roster worth being worried about, but the AL West is fairly forgiving. The Rangers are far from toast — they just have some work to do.
20. Atlanta Braves (27-31) 📉
Much worse. The Braves appeared to have more than enough talent to hold down the fort until Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider returned from injury, but their superstars instead rejoined a club well-behind the pace in the NL East and still searching for its identity. Acuña and Strider can still play a big role in propelling Atlanta back into the playoff race, but it projects to be a much more daunting mountain to climb than many would’ve expected at the start of the season. And those two can’t do it on their own.
21. Arizona Diamondbacks (28-31) 📉
Much worse. It’s scary hours for the Snakes after Corbin Burnes left Sunday’s start due to an elbow injury. Burnes, who signed a $210 million deal with Arizona this past offseason, has been a rare bright spot on an otherwise lackluster pitching staff, and a lengthy absence for him could doom this team’s chances of staying relevant in the NL playoff race. Like last year, the D-backs’ offense might be powerful enough to compensate for the club’s issues on the mound, but it’s getting late early in the desert.
22. Cincinnati Reds (29-32) 📉
Worse. As one of just three teams this season that have not been swept in a series of three games or more, along with the Mets and Yankees, the Reds have generally avoided any lengthy skids that would completely torpedo their season. They have also failed to capture any semblance of momentum to enable a compelling climb up the standings. The rotation has generally been quite good, but without the step forward many were expecting from star shortstop Elly De La Cruz. With too many other key bats underperforming, this offense is not good enough right now to warrant serious consideration as a playoff threat.
23. Washington Nationals (28-31) 📈
Slightly better. A brutally bad bullpen and disappointing rookie campaign for Dylan Crews stand out as low points, but the Juan Soto trade continues to look better and better, providing Washington with multiple franchise cornerstones in place. Shortstop CJ Abrams was an All-Star last year and has continued to play like one; James Wood is already one of the National League’s most fearsome sluggers; and lefty MacKenzie Gore leads all MLB pitchers in strikeouts. The depth is still sorely lacking on this roster, but the star power is undeniable.
24. Los Angeles Angels (27-32)
About the same. Shortstop Zach Neto, catcher Logan O’Hoppe and first baseman Nolan Schanuel have continued to trend favorably as position players worth building around. That core trio alone is not nearly good enough to overcome one of baseball’s worst bullpens and a rotation that has stayed remarkably healthy but has been largely ineffective as well. As was the case before the season, the Angels will be counted out until they prove otherwise — that is the reputation they have earned over the past decade.
25. Baltimore Orioles (22-36) 📉
Much worse. The O’s were supposed to be squarely in the AL East race, not sinking to the bottom of the standings due to a woefully ill-equipped pitching staff and firing their manager in early May. With several intriguing trade candidates on the roster (Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Zach Eflin), Baltimore could cash in considerably as sellers at next month’s deadline. That was not the plan for this season in March.
26. Pittsburgh Pirates (22-37) 📉
Worse. While Oneil Cruz taking a meaningful step toward full-blown stardom has been a nice silver living, this offense remains maddeningly unqualified to support a solid pitching staff headlined by a generational mound talent in Paul Skenes. Add in season-ending elbow surgery for Jared Jones, and it’s difficult to identify many things that have gone right for Pittsburgh in 2025 beyond Cruz and Skenes’ continued brilliance. The NL’s longest playoff drought appears likely to extend another year.
27. Athletics (23-38) 📉
Worse. The A’s have lost 21 of their past 24 games since their 20-16 start prompted some to speculate if they could remain relevant in the AL wild-card race in the franchise’s first year playing in Sacramento. Those dreams have been emphatically dashed in recent weeks as the pitching has completely capitulated, and now it’s just a bad team playing in a minor league ballpark. Yikes.
28. Miami Marlins (23-35)
About the same.Sandy Alcantara’s severe struggles (8.47 ERA!) have been tough to watch and could cost Miami the chance to trade him for a massive prospect haul. It’s not like Alcantara being bad has altered how this squad is viewed in the grand scheme of things. Some budding talent (Max Meyer, Kyle Stowers, Agustín Ramírez) has shown promising flashes of competence, but there’s also been a whole bunch of non-competitive contests along the way. In other words, it’s a young rebuilding team playing like a young rebuilding team.
29. Chicago White Sox (18-42) 📈😮
Ever so slightly better. A 5-21 record in April elicited some terrifying fears that the Sox could be heading for a historically bad campaign for a second straight season, but a much more respectable showing in May combined with the infallible fact that Chicago is no longer the worst team in baseball has eased those concerns somewhat. This team is still very bad, but there are enough good things happening (Miguel Vargas, Shane Smith) and hopefully more young talent on the way (Hagen Smith, Kyle Teel) that should ensure this season is more run-of-the-mill bad compared to being a league-wide laughingstock like last year.
30. Colorado Rockies (10-50) 📉 🔥
So much worse. The Rockies have lost all 19 series they have played this season and have been swept 10 times. They are scoring the fewest runs per game of any team and allowing the most runs per game of any team. Colorado is plummeting to rock(ie) bottom as a franchise, and are comfortably on pace to make everyone forget about how bad the 2024 White Sox were. Buckle up, it’s not going to get much better from here.
In February, T-Mobile seemed like it might offer beta access to Starlink for anyone in the United States. As it turns out, the company was serious: If you want Starlink access, you now have it for 90 days, even if you don’t pay for T-Mobile.
Here’s the scoop: Back in December, T-Mobile announced a partnership between itself and SpaceX to bring Starlink service to customers. Then, in January, the company started accepting users into the beta, but only those with specific, recent Samsung devices.
Finally, in a Super Bowl Sunday advertisement, T-Mobile announced it was opening its Starlink beta to the whole U.S.—including users on both Verizon and AT&T. While there were restrictions, if you were interested in trying out T-Mobile’s satellite service, you could throw your name in the ring.
Now, as of June, that beta access is now open to everyone, no matter who your carrier is. In addition, T-Mobile is offering some serious perks for free: You’ll have access to T-Mobile’s 5G network, including 50GB of data and unlimited texts, as well as a series of benefits, like $5 movie tickets, 25% off concert tickets, travel discounts, and “T-Mobile Tuesdays” discounts.
How to join the T-Mobile Starlink beta
If you’re interested in getting into T-Mobile’s Starlink beta, you first need a compatible unlocked device that uses eSIM. T-Mobile has a list of compatible devices on its official Starlink site, and includes the following:
Apple
Apple iPhone 13
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 14
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Google
Google Pixel 9
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Motorola
moto razr 2024
moto razr+ 2024
moto razr 2025
moto razr+ 2025
moto razr ultra 2025
Motorola Edge 2024 (coming soon)
moto G 2024 (coming soon)
moto G Stylus 2024 (coming soon)
moto G 5G 2024 (coming soon)
moto G Stylus 5G 2024 (coming soon)
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A36
Samsung Galaxy A36 SE
Samsung Galaxy A54*
Samsung Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Samsung Galaxy S22
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S22 FE
Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25+
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
Samsung Galaxy A14 (coming soon)
Samsung Galaxy A15 (coming soon)
Samsung Galaxy A16 (coming soon)
Samsung Galaxy A35 (coming soon)
Samsung Galaxy A53 (coming soon)
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro (coming soon)
Note that some non-T-Mobile Galaxy A15 and A53 devices cannot connect to satellite.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile REVVL 7 (coming soon)
T-Mobile REVVL 7 Pro (coming soon)
From here, you’ll need to head to T-Mobile’s official Starlink page, and choose “Register for the beta now” or scroll down to the registration section. You’ll need to enter your first and last name, email address, and phone number. Again, anyone on any carrier can request to join the beta—you don’t need T-Mobile.
Once you’re approved, T-Mobile will send you an invite via email. You’ll verify your number, and T-Mobile will check your eligibility. Then, you’ll need to provide some additional information, such as your billing address and credit card information. (Once the trial expires after 90-days, T-Mobile will charge you $10 per month for satellite connectivity, which it says is a $5 savings.)
T-Mobile encourages you to download the T-Life app if you sign up, but be warned: The app records your screen by default when actively using T-Life. You need to manually disable that feature if you want to retain some privacy.
What’s the big deal with satellite connectivity?
Being able to connect your smartphone to satellites is, quite literally, a game changer. It means you no longer need to worry about losing cell service or being away from a wifi connection. As long as you have a somewhat clear view to the sky and you’re within the coverage map, you’re able to connect to the outside world.
To be clear, this feature only works when you do not have available cellular service. When this happens, your phone will then automatically connect to the nearest satellites. You will not have the option to manually connect to satellites when you have a network connection.
Right now, T-Mobile’s Starlink beta only works for texting and location sharing. T-Mobile says it’s working on bringing support for voice and data coverage next, and, according to Elon Musk, the current Starlink technology should support medium resolution images, and music and podcast streaming. But even if T-Mobile only supports texting and location sharing at this time, you can imagine what a lifeline that is. If you have no cell service, and would otherwise not be able to reach out to emergency services or essential contacts, you can connect to a Starlink satellite and send text messages to either (or both).
That said, this is not the first time iPhones have been able to connect to satellites. Apple has offered satellite connectivity since 2022, when it debuted “Emergency SOS via satellite” with the iPhone 14. The company expanded upon the feature with iOS 18: Before, you could only contact emergency services or roadside assistance via satellite, but since last year’s big update, you’ve been able to send messages to anyone.
For the past two and a half years, Apple has worked exclusively with Globalstar Inc. for satellite connectivity. Going forward, however, if you have an iPhone, and are enrolled in this T-Mobile beta, your phone will default to connecting to SpaceX’s satellites. From here, you’ll be able to manually connect to Apple’s exclusive satellite services if you wish. Interestingly, while Apple’s satellite feature makes you point your phone towards the sky to search for the closest satellite, Starlink’s service should connect automatically.
This article was updated on Tuesday, June 3 to reflect T-Mobile’s plan to offer the Starlink beta to everyone.
The deeper we go into the NBA playoffs, the more one truth gets hammered home: If you’ve got a guy on the floor who can’t shoot or defend, he’s getting exposed and you’re probably getting sent home. But the 3-and-D archetype with the guy who just stands in the corner isn’t quite enough anymore. All players on the floor must ideally be able to dribble and make quick decisions.
That’s why the Boston Celtics won the title last year. Sure, they had stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But they also surrounded them with well-rounded pieces. When Tatum and Brown were sharing the floor with Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, everyone could shoot and make a read, and nobody was a defensive liability. Even with bench units, there was no obvious weak link.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and at least one of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso or Cason Wallace have shared the floor for 88% of Oklahoma City’s playoff minutes. In 176 of those minutes, at least four of them have played together and, during that time, the Thunder have outscored opponents by a staggering 18.1 points per 100 possessions. Every single one of those guys can defend, process the game quickly and create offense either for themselves or someone else.
SGA is the hub, but OKC’s success hinges on the fact that nobody else gums up the system. Dort cuts. Wallace connects. Caruso makes instant reads. There’s no ball-stopper, no spacer who can’t dribble, no defender the Thunder can’t trust to ferociously execute a game plan. Even OKC’s bigs fit the mold: Chet Holmgren can shoot, pass and handle. And while Isaiah Hartenstein doesn’t shoot 3s, he plays with elite feel as a finisher and facilitator.
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Indiana functions similarly. Tyrese Haliburton is their engine, but the pieces around him — Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner — are all skilled enough to play with tempo, precision and relentless energy. And they all shoot the hell out of the ball: Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, and Turner are all shooting over 40% from 3 on over three attempts per game in the playoffs. Everyone can eat in this system. Nesmith, of course, had his all-time hot streak to fuel a historic Pacers comeback in Game 1. Siakam went off for 39 in Game 2 and 31 in Game 6 against the Knicks, winning himself East Finals MVP. Nembhard has had separate games with over 20 points and over 10 assists while playing lockdown defense. Even with bench units featuring T.J. McConnell and Thomas Bryant, the Pacers can go on a scoring flurry like they did to close out New York.
Their historic comebacks break the mold, too. The Pacers don’t turn to clear-out, hero-ball isolations. They stick with their flow: pace, movement and speed. In the moments that most teams tighten up, Indiana just keeps running its offense.
The throughline with both teams is clear: there are no dead zones, everyone is a threat. It’s a roster with continuity and a system built on interchangeable skill sets, rapid processing and nonstop effort. And two excellent coaching staffs led by Mark Daigneault and Rick Carlisle who constructed these systems and devised game plans to unleash their players’ strengths.
We’ve seen prototypes before, like the Beautiful Game Spurs, and the Warriors dynasty. But today’s shift is a product of how the game has evolved.
Pace is at an all-time high. So is spacing. A record-high 42.1% of shots were taken from 3 this season, and they were launched from farther than ever before: 26.2 feet on average above the break.
Screens are also being set farther from the hoop: the average on-ball screen came 25.7 feet from the rim, another all-time high. Defenses are switching more than ever: 24.6% of the time this year, up from just 7.7% a decade ago and 15.8% a half-decade ago.
All of that means defenders have to cover more ground and do it faster than ever. Every offensive possession stretches the floor horizontally and vertically.
On top of that, playoff officiating has made the game more physical than it’s been in decades. Players have to be tough enough to absorb contact and relentless enough to fight through every screen, closeout and rotation. That’s part of why the Thunder and Pacers have made it this far. Both teams are deep with guys who meet those demands. Teams with shorter benches run out of answers fast. They either put a target on the floor or ask key players to dial it back to avoid fouling out.
As always, when a blueprint starts working, everyone else tries to replicate it. But copying the trend and executing it are two very different things. And this year’s playoff exits made that brutally clear.
OKC is the model franchise. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Knicks and Timberwolves both made the conference finals, but neither felt like they belonged by the end of it. New York has a ton of guys who can generate shots and offer lengthy defense. But it’s hard to win when your two best players are the weakest links on defense. Karl-Anthony Towns is an aloof liability at every spot on the floor. And Jalen Brunson is both tiny and unaware with poor technique fighting through screens. Until one of them is replaced, it’s hard to take the Knicks seriously as a team that’ll still be playing in June.
Minnesota looked like a team from another era against OKC. Julius Randle is a ball-stopper, and Anthony Edwards dazzled on-ball but disappeared off it. At just 6-foot-4, Edwards has to evolve through movement: cuts, catch-and-shoot 3s, relocations, connective passing. And Minnesota’s offense must change to best promote the development of its 23-year-old star.
Coaches can only do with what they have though. The Pacers and Thunder were built from the top down by their front offices to play this way with rosters that can go deep into the bench. But the lead tacticians do have a choice in the matter. Daigneault spent all season experimenting with lineup combinations, playing everyone on his roster, creating a culture where everyone contributes to the greater good. The system Carlisle installed naturally promotes these habits on top of continuing to go deeper into his rotation as the playoffs advanced.
One of the challenges for teams looking to take the next step will be navigating the new collective bargaining agreement with rules that make it nearly impossible to have three stars on max contracts and survive with one-dimensional role players on minimum deals. The Heatles approach is no longer a realistic option. We’ve exited the superteam era. And given the way the best teams are playing and the way they’re constructed, and given the restrictions of the new CBA, this likely isn’t a temporary trend. It’s more of a structural shift where the teams that last are built around four pillars: shooting ability, quick decision-making, offensive adaptability and defensive versatility. That foundation is necessary to support at least one superstar, who also must embrace those qualities.
Some teams, like the Cavaliers, need to add more toughness. Others need shooting, like the Magic and Pistons. And some teams, like the Rockets, also need a star.
Even veteran teams will start to feel the pressure. If OKC levels up again next year, Denver will have to ask hard questions. Nikola Jokić checks every box the Nuggets could possibly want in a star. But do they have enough shooting around him? And can Michael Porter Jr. thrive in this era with his limited creation and defensive shortcomings?
Golden State went out and got Jimmy Butler to support Steph Curry, but that isn’t enough when the roster is littered with players who can’t shoot or play-make. Has the contention window already shut on the Warriors and they just don’t know it?
And in Los Angeles, Luka Dončić’s slow-it-down style may not get him quite as far as it did in Dallas given the way the NBA is evolving. The Lakers may need to rethink what it looks like to build around Luka. And Luka needs to rethink how much of the ball he really needs to dominate. Maybe being a top-five player isn’t enough in this era. Maybe you can’t be the system, but you have to thrive within one.
So here we are: Thunder vs. Pacers for all the marbles. Two small-market franchises, built from the ground up, now defining what winning looks like in the modern NBA. They didn’t do it with an aging max-contract trio. They did it with deep and versatile rosters that can throw out lineup after lineup of five guys who can all shoot, dribble, guard and make decisions in half a second.
And none of this works without stars who buy in. SGA did. Haliburton did. When your best players excel within the system, the ceiling gets higher.
The Thunder and Pacers are not just the Finals teams; they’re the blueprint.
There’s no such thing as a can’t-miss baseball prospect — but, if there was, their numbers would look almost exactly like Roman Anthony’s.
Over the past two seasons, Anthony has slashed an outrageous .319/.443/.503 at Triple-A Worcester with eight steals, 76 walks, 35 extra-base hits and 11 home runs. He only recently turned 21, yet he’s been one of the toughest outs at the highest minor league level dating back to last year.
“I don’t say this lightly — I think he’s the best minor league hitter I’ve ever seen. I think he can be an absolute star in MLB.”
It’s honestly somewhat shocking Anthony has not yet been called up by Boston (although his situation is obviously affected by Rafael Devers’ positional inflexibility). Whenever he arrives, he’s likely to deliver useful across-the-board contributions. Anthony may not be dominant in any single standard fantasy category, but he should be helpful everywhere.
This swing is art:
Another day, another Roman Anthony home run with outrageous exit velo.
Here’s hoping we see Anthony in Fenway very soon. He’s obviously worth stashing ahead of the eventual promotion.
Chase Burns is gonna need a new challenge
Ideally, that new challenge would await him in Cincinnati, but Triple-A Louisville might be more likely. In any case, Burns has been unreasonably good in the Southern League.
— Chattanooga Lookouts (@ChattLookouts) June 1, 2025
The right-hander has struck out 49 batters and walked only four (!) over 35 innings at Chattanooga, producing a 1.54 ERA and 0.77 WHIP. It’s difficult to argue he has anything left to prove at Double-A.
Burns is certainly capable of making a late-season fantasy splash, so he’s a priority player to slide into a vacant NA roster spot.
Long is crushing at Triple-A Iowa, hitting .344/.419/.561 with nine homers among his 21 XBHs. He’s primarily playing first base, but he’s also seen time at third and in left field, so he offers some defensive flexibility.
The Cubs don’t have a glaring lineup need at the moment, and Long is much too good to waste away as a bench bat, but he’s an injury away from fantasy relevance. He’s batting .342 in the high minors over the past two seasons.
Ryan Ritter, also raking
Colorado is a dreadful team off to a historically poor start, and it is clearly willing to shuffle pieces in and out of the major league roster. Perhaps they could soon find a use for a 24-year-old middle-infield prospect who’s produced a 1.059 OPS at Triple-A Albuquerque. Ritter is scorching hot in recent weeks, with six multi-hit games and seven home runs in his last eight. He’s up to 16 bombs for the season and he’s getting himself on-base at a .416 clip. Ritter has a 20/20 season to his credit in the minors, so he has all-category appeal in fantasy.
Bubba Chandler remains obscene, needs to be rostered
Chandler’s 101-mph heat has proven to be too much for the hitters of the International League. After 11 starts at Indianapolis this season, Chandler’s ERA is 2.03 and his K/9 is a ridiculous 12.8. Every time he takes the mound, it’s another five innings and 7-9 strikeouts. He’s allowed only two homers all year. Pittsburgh has just about run out of baseball reasons to keep him stashed in Triple-A.
Ronny Mauricio gets the call
Mark Vientos is dealing with a hamstring issue, so the Mets are calling up one of Earth’s hottest hitters. Mauricio has gone 17-for-33 over his nine games at Triple-A, launching 3 homers, scoring 10 runs and swiping 4 bags. His recovery from knee surgery has clearly gone about as well as it could possibly go.
Defensively, the 24-year-old Mauricio has been seeing time at second base and third, which of course makes sense in consideration of New York’s most pressing needs. As great as the Mets have been so far this season, the bottom-half of the batting order isn’t so intimidating. Mauricio is worth an add if you have middle-infield needs.
Justin Crawford, running wild
Honestly, the entire roster at Lehigh Valley has been pretty great — the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate is currently 41-16 and we’ve already written up various other members in previous Farm Reports. Let the record show that Crawford is also cooking. He’s delivered back-to-back three-hit games, raising his season average to .338. He’s stolen 20 bags over 49 games and he’s boosted his walk-rate to 10.5%, nudging his OBP above .400. Crawford is a .320 career hitter in the minors with a pair of 40-steal seasons to his credit, so nothing about the year he’s having seems fluky. There isn’t much power in the 21-year-old’s game, but he has a clear chance to be a category leader in speed and average.
