ESPN.com • 27th January 2026

Aaron Judge named cover athlete for MLB The Show 26

Aaron Judge is the cover athlete of MLB The Show 26, the game announced Tuesday.Judge becomes just the second player to appear on the game's cover twice. Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer is the only other player to be featured twice (2010 and 2011). The game launches on March 17 with early access beginning on March 13.Unlike his first appearance, this year's artwork reflects multiple chapters of Judge's baseball career. Like the 2018 edition, Judge is shown in the New York Yankees' iconic pinstr...

ESPN.com • 24th January 2026

Jalen Brunson and the toddler obsessed with his 3-point celebration

The Knicks snap a four game losing streak and defeat the Nets by 54 points for their largest win in franchise history. (1:09)With 4:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, Jalen Brunson splashed a 3-pointer in the corner to give him 42 points against the Miami Heat on Dec. 21. He looked at his right hand, his ring and pinkie fingers folded down, leaving three fingers remaining, and he brought it under his nose quickly as he ran down the court displaying his trademark 3-point celebration.Somewhere in...

ESPN.com • 27th November 2025

How Tyrese Maxey went from the hardwood to the 2025 National Dog Show

Dressed in all gray with a beanie and glasses, Tyrese Maxey explained that he was out of breath, feeling as if he had just played a full quarter of NBA basketball.Except, Maxey hadn't bounced any basketballs or attacked the rim. The Philadelphia 76ers star guard instead was directing multiple dogs through the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Agility Show, a part of the 2025 National Dog Show.Maxey participated in the agility course in a Nov. 16 show taping in front of roughly 15,000 spec...

ESPN.com • 26th November 2025

How a South Korean fan caught the attention of the Pistons -- and its stars

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson inbounded the ball to Karl-Anthony Towns before receiving it back and firing a 3-pointer that clanked the bottom right side of the backboard.The miss secured the Detroit Pistons' Game 2 win in their 2025 Eastern Conference first-round playoff series -- their first postseason victory since 2008.Nearly 7,000 miles away, Tom Hur sat in Seoul, South Korea, placed his phone in front of him and began recording as the game wound down. Wearing a custom Pistons jersey,...

ESPN.com • 14th November 2025

From Fenway to Banana Ball: Jackie Bradley Jr., 2018 World Series champ, joins Indianapolis Clowns

The Indianapolis Clowns selected former 11-year major leaguer and 2018 World Series champion Jackie Bradley Jr. with the first pick in the inaugural Banana Ball player draft Thursday night, making him the first former MLB player to commit to participate full time in Banana Ball.The former Boston Red Sox outfielder, an All-Star in 2016 and Golden Glove winner in 2018, told ESPN that his decision to play Banana Ball came together "days ago."With his oldest daughter being a big fan of Banana Ball,...

ESPN.com • 20th October 2025

NBA award winners to don honorary jersey patches in 2025-26 season debut

The uniforms of award winners from the 2024-25 NBA season will look a little different for opening week.Players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (MVP), Evan Mobley (Defensive Player of the Year) and Stephon Castle (Rookie of the Year) will have their respective trophy icons sewn above the Nike swoosh on the front of their uniforms.Members of the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams will also don a specific patch. However, individual awards have precedence over that one. For example, Gilgeo...

ESPN.com • 10th October 2025

75 stadiums, 45 states, one vision: Why the Savannah Bananas' next step is their biggest yet

Jesse Cole vividly remembers the early days of owning the Savannah Bananas.They sold only a handful of tickets in the inaugural season in 2016 as a member of the Coastal Plain League playing as a collegiate summer team. He and his wife sold their house, emptied their savings accounts and slept on an air bed to start the team. When they left traditional baseball in 2022 and started "Banana Ball," Cole expressed that they had a "big vision to create something special."The doubters expressed an opp...

ESPN.com • 3rd October 2025

How The Rock transformed his body -- and mind -- into Mark Kerr

SITTING IN A Beverly Hills hotel room during one of multiple media junkets, Dwayne Johnson spent nearly three minutes explaining how he morphed his mind and body into Mark Kerr for "The Smashing Machine" when he turned to the MMA pioneer and asked: "How did I do, by the way?"Kerr opted for an anecdote. His son, Bryce, saw the film in New York a couple of months ago. He immediately called Kerr afterward and began whispering his thoughts, almost afraid to admit what he had seen."'Dad, he walks lik...

ESPN.com • 14th August 2025

Hawks' State Farm Arena, streamer Davis Dodds host 24-hour livestream for NBA schedule release

Chiney Ogwumike says the Hawks could lose star playmaker Trae Young as he enters the final year of his contract. (1:32)Born and raised in Atlanta, Internet personality Davis Dodds grew up attending Atlanta Hawks games at State Farm Arena. Now, he'll be part of a first-of-its-kind NBA schedule release.Dodds is hosting a 24-hour Twitch livestream at the arena that began at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday to announce Atlanta's 2025-26 schedule. NBA teams can announce their upcoming season's schedule at 3:15...

ESPN.com • 25th July 2025

Return to your happy place: How Happy Gilmore's long-awaited sequel came to be

Adam Sandler gives a nod to his famous "Happy Gilmore" character to announce the Bruins picking Boston College's James Hagens with the seventh pick. (1:48)Since Happy Gilmore hit the big screen in 1996 with his wild swing and short temper, a sequel seemed to be buried in the rough.Editor's PicksChiefs' Travis Kelce shows out in training camp ahead of 'Happy Gilmore 2' cameo3dNate Taylor'Happy Gilmore 2' cameo guide: PGA stars, NFL champ, WWE icons and more2dESPN StaffThe waterboy can ball: Stori...

ESPN.com • 8th June 2025

'That's the Thundor dream': How one superfan contributes to OKC's 'free throw defense'

Brian Windhorst joins Scott Van Pelt to break down the Pacers' comeback win vs. the Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. (1:48)Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey went to the free throw line against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs at Paycom Center.The Grizzlies already faced a 12-point deficit with one minute left in the first quarter. Edey shot an admirable 70.9% from the charity stripe during the regular season.Against the Thunder's st...

ESPN.com • 19th April 2025

Every Lakers game, illustrated: The artist capturing the season in real time

Luka Doncic reveals that he threw his phone the night he was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers. (4:33)Los Angeles-based artist Jack Perkins started a new tradition this season. After each Los Angeles Lakers game, Perkins -- known on social media by his @purehoop handle -- recapped the result with comic-strip-style illustrations. Each of them focused on a theme of the specific game.Throughout the highs and lows of Los Angeles' 82-game regular season, the detail of Perkins' work evolved. The...

ESPN.com • 15th April 2025

Thousands of games, one-of-a-kind scores: Inside NBA 'scorigami'

March 2, 1963, lives in NBA history as the day Wilt Chamberlain dropped 100 points. On March 2, 2025, another statistical nugget joined the Big Dipper's.The matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs ended 146-132, the 3,159th unique final score in NBA history and 14th this season. Or, in other words, a "scorigami."The NBA's recent increase in scoring has opened the door for point totals never seen in the league's near-80-year history. Hakob Chalikyan wanted to make sure tho...

ESPN.com • 13th April 2025

'I've never seen him': Organist Dieter Ruehle is the Dodgers' and Kings' mystery music man

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes isn't sure the team's organist exists."I feel like ever since I've been here, you always hear 'Dieter Ruehle,' and it's almost like, I don't know if it's a real person," Barnes told ESPN. "I feel it's just like a mythical thing or I don't know. It sounds crazy to say but no, they do a great job, he does a great job."His teammate, Mookie Betts, is on the same page."Yeah exactly," Betts told ESPN. "I've never seen him."Editor's Picks'A small difference, bu...

ESPN.com • 25th February 2025

Spray cans & sunset hues: L.A. artist honors Luka Doncic, Kobe Bryant in Lakers mural

With each stroke of a spray can, Arutyun Gozukuchikyan refined the details of a Luka Doncic mural -- brought to life in colors he never imagined."I never thought he was gonna come to [the] Lakers," Gozukuchikyan told ESPN, referencing the blockbuster trade that sent Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers this month.As purple slowly covered Doncic's undershirt, someone behind Gozukuchikyan photographed the moment. Overhead, cotton candy clouds painted the Los Angeles sky.In a...

ESPN.com • 1st February 2025

'Don't steal from us': The tackle that earned Cal's equipment manager a Senior Bowl invite

Trevor Skogerboe, equipment manager at Cal, shares what it was like tackling a fan to prevent a helmet from getting stolen during a field storming. (2:45)Field storms can be dangerous. Goal posts are toppled. Players are run over. Injuries are common.But what's often forgotten in these moments is what California Golden Bears equipment manager Trevor Skogerboe couldn't get out of his mind: he needed to make sure equipment didn't go missing.Moments after Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza led a 17-p...

ESPN.com • 28th January 2025

Trio of young stars grace MLB The Show 25 cover

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser explain why they would keep the rare Paul Skenes baseball card and not trade it for the Pirates experience offered. (2:27)MLB The Show 25 will feature three athletes for the first time, with Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes gracing the cover as the video game embraces a "dynamic era" of young MLB talent.The decision to go with younger stars coincides with the video...

ESPN.com • 17th January 2025

'You want to hear the song?': How a 1980s Orlando Magic song became a victory lap

Mikal Bridges finishes with a monster slam to extend the Knicks overtime lead vs. the Sixers. (0:17)After logging 42 minutes in a commanding 98-74 victory over the Orlando Magic last March, New York Knicks guard Josh Hart sat at his Madison Square Garden locker, catching his breath and reflecting on the night.The victory snapped Orlando's five-game win streak. But, equally important -- if not more so -- to Hart, it denied the Magic's attempt at fulfilling a ritual.Since November 2023, Orlando ha...

ESPN.com • 5th December 2024

Ribbit and roll: A viral mascot fuels the Cleveland Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell takes over down the stretch to help the Cavaliers stave off the Bulls and advance to 14-0. (1:57)The Cleveland Cavaliers had just won their 14th straight game of the NBA season.The victory against the Chicago Bulls marked the longest win streak in franchise history. The Cavaliers became the sixth team ever to start a season 14-0. That swift start followed a busy offseason, which included moves that have ushered in a team that has exuded fun on and off the court.Perhaps there is...

ESPN.com • 5th November 2024

The waterboy can ball: Stories from Adam Sandler's pickup games

THE MOMENT IS still fresh in his mind.It's March 2023 and a Los Angeles-based photographer who goes by the moniker Xavier Luggage is in the middle of his first pickup basketball game at Poinsettia Recreation Center.The park typically fills around 6 p.m. with people arriving to get games in. But it's an hour or so earlier when the attention of the players snaps toward the side of the court.They all see him warming up, seemingly out of nowhere."I was like damn, that looks like Adam Sandler," Lugga...

ESPN.com • 29th July 2024

'We finally made it': Inside Chase Budinger's journey from the NBA to Olympic beach volleyball

Chase Budinger still remembers the feeling.Growing up in Encinitas, California, he would sit on the living room floor with his family in the evening and be glued to watching the Olympics.As athletes would win events, grab their respective country's flag and wear it with pride as they celebrated, those emotions impacted Budinger, even though he sat thousands of miles away.They also inspired him."It kind of just became a dream of mine of wanting to do that someday," Budinger told ESPN. "To kind of...

ESPN.com • 9th July 2024

Hoops and horoscopes: Zodiac GM explores astrology's impact on NBA

Jrue Holiday shuts down Andrew Nembhard with a steal in the final seconds of Game 3. (0:44)LATE IN GAME 3 of the 2024 Eastern Conference finals, the Boston Celtics were fighting.The Indiana Pacers held a 2-point lead with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. A win would cut the Celtics' advantage to 2-1, ensuring the series would return to Boston.After the Pacers missed an opportunity to extend their lead, Jrue Holiday converted an and-one, snatching the Celtics' first lead since the opening qu...

ESPN • 10th June 2024

Twins unveil City Connect uniforms, a celebration of Minnesota's lakes

The Minnesota Twins looked to capture a specific feeling in their City Connect uniforms, which were unveiled on Monday.

It's a feeling one experiences while sitting by the shore of a lake -- the water hitting against the rocks on the shore while hearing the waves ripple in and out as the sun sets.

With the state being covered with lakes, it's a familiar moment for Minnesotans. Prince said it best in the 1984 film "Purple Rain": "You have to purify yourself in Lake Minnetonka."

The Twins' City

ESPN • 24th May 2024

Anthony Edwards' memorable slogan takes over Minnesota

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004, and a new slogan is taking over the state.

The Timberwolves advanced to the round after defeating the Denver Nuggets in seven games. The series began with Minnesota fans tattooing Naz Reid's name on themselves after Game 2 and ended with Anthony Edwards creating another memorable trend after Game 7.

During a postgame interview on Sunday, TNT's Charles Barkley told Edwards he hadn't been to Minnesota