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Good morning! I too am playing only home games from here on out.
While You Were Sleeping: A 50-burger and a streak
We start with another busy night in the NBA. Quickly:
- Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio’s resident extraterrestrial, put up 50 points on 62 percent shooting against Washington, another incredible milestone for the center who can’t legally drink yet. At 20 years, 314 days old, Wembanyama is the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to score 50. Not bad. Hey, the Spurs are .500. (Giannis Antetokounmpo had to outscore him last night, though.)
- The Cavaliers are 13-0 after beating the Joel Embiid-less 76ers. It counts for the sixth-best start in NBA history, and the best since the Warriors started 24-0 in 2015. Cleveland gets the Bulls and Hornets next before facing the Celtics next week.
Wemby’s great game came on the same day when the Spurs confirmed that coach Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke earlier this month. The 75-year-old is expected to make a full recovery. More details on that here.
Let’s move on:
Hi, My Name Is: Roki Sasaki, MLB’s next big thing
The legend of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is one that inspires hushed whispers. Is he coming over this winter? Does his fastball really sit at 100 mph? No way he gets posted, right? Yes, Sasaki is coming — a shocking move, in reality — and he has the chance to be spectacular:Â
- Normally, a Japanese free agent would come to Major League Baseball after turning 25, when their NPB team can receive a release fee from an MLB club through the posting system. Sasaki is just 23, meaning he will take the Shohei Ohtani route: signing for a meager bonus as an international free agent, all to get started playing MLB competition earlier. Like any new player, he will be under club control for the next six seasons.
- Sasaki’s stuff is tantalizing, as Eno Sarris detailed in a scouting report. We caught a brief glimpse of Sasaki during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he blew away MLB competition while his fastball averaged triple digits. In reality, his numbers are a little down from that in the NPB (between 97 and 98 mph over the last two seasons), but his arsenal is nonetheless electric. Read that full scouting report for more.Â
- His value is already high. The Athletic ranks him No. 3 on our free agent big board before he’s ever thrown an MLB pitch. No one has an inkling yet of where he will end up, but due to the low price tag, count on, well, everyone being interested.Â
In a statement following his posting announcement, Sasaki said he wants to “climb up from a minor-league contract and become the best player in the world.” I can’t wait to watch him pitch.Â
Read Stephen J. Nesbitt’s explainer on Sasaki for more, including when he could sign.
News to Know
Deion stokes Shedeur flames
Colorado coach Deion Sanders once again said he will be heavily involved in the draft process for both his son, QB Shedeur Sanders, and WR/CB Travis Hunter, the current Heisman Trophy favorite, even to the point of intervening against the “wrong” team. “I’ll do it privately,” Deion said yesterday in an extremely public forum on FS1. There is precedent — see Manning, Eli — but only for players picked in the top few selections. Hunter will go very early (mock draft here), while Shedeur is harder to predict. See Deion’s full comments.
Richardson to start again
Anthony Richardson is again the Colts’ starting quarterback, coach Shane Steichen said yesterday, two weeks after Joe Flacco became QB1. The 22-year-old is both the most talented and most frustrating quarterback in football, producing highlight-reel throws contrasted against a 44.4 completion percentage. Yet this is probably a good move after Flacco’s 1-3 tenure as starter. James Boyd broke it down here.
Bronny staying home
Bronny James will only play in home games for the G League’s South Bay Lakers, a source confirmed to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, which seems like an odd decision on its face. Bronny is a member of the Lakers’ 15-man roster, but has played just 16 minutes this year. Cutting out road G League games will significantly lessen overall playing time this year for LeBron James’ 20-year-old son, already considered a raw prospect. Read our full analysis here.
More news
Things You Need to See: Yes, that’s Caitlin Clark golfing
The beauty of golf is its ability as an equalizer. It’s a hard game for both me (an unathletic writer) and Caitlin Clark (one of the most recognizable athletes in the world). And we both love it, apparently.
The difference? I don’t get invited to pro-ams (understandably), while Clark gets mobbed while playing with Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam. Sigh.Â
I thought Hugh Kellenberger’s piece from Clark’s round yesterday was great because it makes Clark seem so … normal. She chunked some shots. She took a mulligan. She even bailed on a hole. She really is me on the golf course.
Feedback Loop: Farcical, indeed
The results are in from yesterday’s poll, and I completely agree with the majority: The “fight” between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson this weekend feels like pro wrestling in the saddest way.Â
That’s no diss to pro wrestling, a sport that makes no bones about what it really is. The Tyson fight is a sanctioned, professional bout which will likely end with little entertainment.Â
Maybe I’m wrong. We’ll see Saturday. Thank you, as always, for voting.
Watch and Listen
đź“ş NFL: Commanders (7-3) at Eagles (7-2)
8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video
One of the most important games of the NFL season thus far. These two are the class of the NFC East, and this game could end up deciding the division winner — or at least seeding in the NFC playoff picture.
đź“ş CFB: UCLA (4-5) at Washington (5-5)
9 p.m. ET on FOX
A classic Pac-12 Big Ten matchup here between two confusing teams. The Bruins are hot, winners of three straight, including victories over Nebraska and Iowa. Some bowl eligibility could be decided here.Â
Get tickets to games like these here.
🎧 “The Athletic NBA Daily” talks about that absurd Wembanyama game and the Cavs’ flawless start. Listen here.
Pulse Picks
Why do the Chiefs love defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo? His wacky blitzes, his parental instincts and … banana pudding. Read this story today.Â
Göran Stubb is known as hockey’s forgotten pioneer, a builder who shaped the sport in Finland. Support is growing to put him in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Cool read.Â
Marcus Thompson II has an interesting look at how the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo is the first test for how the NBA’s new rules impact superstars. Catch up here.Â
Earlier in the week, our UK staff produced an eyebrow-raising report about the ongoing cold war between Premier League teams and their scouting staffs. Testy.Â
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story on Klay Thompson’s welcome back to the Bay.Â
Most-read on the website yesterday: Steve Buckley’s column on the Michael Strahan national anthem “controversy,” which shouldn’t make you mad unless you just want to be mad.
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(Top photo: Eric Espada / Getty Images)
