Inquirer.com – Zurich DR

Author: Gabriela Carroll

  • Bryson Stott is having a hot August but got a day off: ‘I’ve just got to keep everybody in the mix a little bit’

    Bryson Stott is having a hot August but got a day off: ‘I’ve just got to keep everybody in the mix a little bit’

    The Phillies haven’t faced a true left-handed starting pitcher since Aug. 15, a full week ago. After facing Quinn Mathews on Saturday, they’re not set to face another anytime soon.

    That’s why Bryson Stott, who’s hitting .317 with a .905 OPS in August, wasn’t in the starting lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Neither were Brandon Marsh or Justin Crawford. Derek Hill, Bryan De La Cruz, and Edmundo Sosa got the start in their place.

    “I’ve just got to keep everybody in the mix a little bit,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “We hardly see any lefties right now, and these guys got to be ready to play. If I don’t ever put them in there, it’s tough. He doesn’t need a rest. He’s fine. It’s just trying to keep everyone in the mix.”

    Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly says he wants to keep other players fresh, especially against a run of right-handed starting pitchers.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Stott, despite being a lefty hitter, actually has hit lefties better than righties this year, hitting .301 with an .839 OPS against lefties vs. .251 and .727 against righties. Saturday was the first game he hasn’t started since the All-Star break.

    The Mariners are set to throw three righties when the Phillies roll into town. The Cardinals haven’t released their starting pitcher for Sunday, but Matthew Liberatore, the rotation’s only lefty, pitched on Aug. 19, so he almost certainly won’t take the mound for the series finale.

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    Tanner Banks injury update

    Reliever Tanner Banks has been on the injured list since July 9 with a left forearm strain, but he threw about 30 pitches in a live bullpen session before Saturday’s game.

    Mattingly said if Banks continues to feel good, he could go on a minor-league rehab assignment during the Phillies’ road trip.

    Before the injury, Banks was in the middle of by far the worst season of his major league career, with a 7.14 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP in 28 appearances, compared to a career 4.01 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Per Statcast, his expected ERA is only 4.41, which would be his second-worst ERA, but it indicates he could be due for some positive regression.

    Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks has been on the injured list since July 9 but threw a live bullpen session on Saturday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    When he returns, Mattingly said the Phillies are still considering all options for how to use him, including in a bulk role.

    “The last time he went down, we did think about bulk a little bit, obviously he’s throwing 30 pitches [Saturday],” Mattingly said. “I don’t think it would be all one-inning stints in the minor leagues. They’re going to try and get him one-plus, build him up, as long as he’s ready for that.”

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    Kyle Schwarber, first baseman?

    Kyle Schwarber took a few grounders pregame at first base, but Mattingly said there haven’t been any recent conversations about giving Schwarber another game at first. Schwarber has appeared in four games at first, most recently on Aug. 10.

    “He may be thinking that because he came out here today,” Mattingly said. “Usually when he comes out, he might be thinking that, but we haven’t really talked about it.”

    Pregame, Schwarber met with Brandon Graham and Joe Eitl, a heart and liver transplant recipient, who threw out the first pitch pregame with the Gift of Life Donor Program.

  • A former Grand Slam champ, the potential for bigger events, and more storylines for the inaugural Ennoble Care Philly Open

    A former Grand Slam champ, the potential for bigger events, and more storylines for the inaugural Ennoble Care Philly Open

    For the first time in two decades, the WTA is coming to Philadelphia with the Ennoble Care Philly Open. The 125-level tournament will bring 14 of the WTA’s top 100 players, a former Grand Slam champion, and a few local risers to the Hamlin Tennis Center at the University of Pennsylvania, just one week before the U.S. Open kicks off in New York.

    Here are a few storylines to watch heading into the tournament …

    What does hosting this tournament mean for Penn?

    Penn has been trying to host a professional tennis tournament for a while now, coach Sanela Kunovac told The Inquirer. Since Penn’s tennis center opened in 2011, Kunovac has been hoping to host a professional tournament at the facility, but each year, struggled to get even a smaller level tournament off the ground.

    Hosting the tournament this year is a “wonderful surprise.”

    “Our facility is one of the nicest facilities in the Northeast, 12 beautiful courts with the view of the city,” Kunovac said. “I know I’m biased, but I would say one of the most beautiful views of the city is from the tennis facility. I also think Penn loves sports. … It was only natural for us to try to bring an amazing tennis tournament to the facility that I think is just world class.”

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    Top Penn singles player Esha Velaga will receive a qualifying wild card for the event, with the chance to win a match to earn entry into the main draw. Velaga qualified for the NCAA singles championship this year, but this is her first opportunity to compete in a professional tournament of this caliber. In addition, the Penn tennis freshmen, who moved in a week prior, will be available as hitting and practice partners for the pros.

    “There’s 14 players who are top 100 in the world who are going to be playing this tournament,” Kunovac said. “To be able to be a sparring partner of somebody who is at that level because our players are going to be on campus, it’s really hard to imagine what other opportunity you can have, other than at your school, to be rubbing shoulders with players at that level.”

    The Cincinnati Open is one of the largest tennis tournaments in the U.S.Kareem Elgazzar / AP

    Could Philadelphia one day host a bigger event?

    Three of Hamlin’s 12 outdoor courts are being used to build a center court with a 1,200-person capacity for the Philly Open. For a larger event, seating capacity can vary significantly. At the Memphis Classic, which is a WTA 250 event, one step up from the WTA 125 event Philly is hosting, center court capacity was 2,000. For an even larger event, like the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, which is a combined ATP/WTA 500, center court holds 7,000 spectators.

    The Philadelphia Sisters, organizers of the Philly Open, told The Inquirer that they would be interested in bringing a larger tennis event to Philly. A larger 250- or 500-level event could bring bigger-name players to Philly. With the establishment of the Saudi Masters in 2028, the ATP is buying back lower-level tournaments, as opposed to adding more, so it’s unlikely in the short-term that a major men’s event could come to the area, but a larger WTA event could be more realistic.

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    How sustainable is this event?

    In 2022, the WTA brought a 125-level tournament to Paris the week before Roland-Garros. Since then, the tournament has begun to attract high-level players looking for a tuneup, with the 2026 lineup including multiple top-25 players at the time in Madison Keys and Leylah Fernandez.

    The timing of the Philly Open, one week before the U.S. Open, combined with Philadelphia’s proximity to New York, places it in a similar position on the calendar. The only other WTA tournament occurring concurrently is the Monterrey Open, a WTA 500-level tournament with an entry list that includes Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková and Roland-Garros finalist Maja Chwalinská.

    But the Philly Open also has 14 top-100 players and a former Grand Slam champion in the draw, far more than the average 125, which shows that the location and timing already are attractive for players. The Philadelphia Sisters have a three-year deal to host the tournament, with the potential for extension, so it will return in 2027.

    Robin Montgomery of the United States reacts as she plays Jasmine Paolini at Wimbledon. Montgomery is in the field for the Philly Open.Brian Inganga / AP

    The actual tennis

    Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, is probably the most famous name in the draw. After suffering a stress fracture in her right foot last year, Stephens is mounting a return to tennis while also working as a commentator. In Cincinnati, Stephens reached the third round before falling, 7-5, 7-5, to world No. 11 Marta Kostyuk, and she’s looking to continue that run of good form in preparation for the U.S. Open.

    Another name to watch is 21-year-old American Robin Montgomery, who won her first tour-level title earlier this year at the Libéma Open, earning her way into the top 200. Injury issues have held her back at the senior level, but she has big potential to work her way into the top 100.

    Velaga and 18-year-old Wilmington native Capucine Jauffret, who will be a freshman at Florida this year, earned qualifying wild cards and will play on Sunday.

  • Did the Flyers improve? Here’s how the national media feels about the offseason moves they made (and didn’t)

    Did the Flyers improve? Here’s how the national media feels about the offseason moves they made (and didn’t)

    The Flyers made the biggest splash of the NHL offseason by offer-sheeting Leo Carlsson with a then-record average annual value.

    The league is already feeling the ripple effects of that tactic, as young stars like the Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini and Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard have new contract structures that reflect how the Flyers reset the market for top centers.

    But ultimately, Carlsson is still an Anaheim Duck. The Flyers are insulated from the impact of their own move, because they still don’t have a young center on the roster.

    So, how to assess the Flyers’ actual offseason moves? Here’s a roundup of what national media thought about the changes to the Flyers’ roster this summer:

    The Carlsson deal that wasn’t helped the Flyers lock up Trevor Zegras. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Sportsnet: B-

    “Brière did some tidy business to keep franchise pillars like Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras, Tyson Foerster, and Dan Vladař on fair extensions, and was smart to shore up the crease with the acquisition of Joseph Woll to back up Vladař. And while we should not overlook the acquisition of Noel Acciari to solidify the middle-six, the lack of new faces to fortify this burgeoning roster makes this summer feel a little lacklustre relative to expectations.”

    Elliotte Friedman recorded his offseason recap episode of 32 Thoughts before Anaheim decided to match the offer sheet. He questioned which moves the Flyers might make if it ultimately didn’t work out, but ultimately, the biggest piece the Flyers are missing is a true star.

    “They’ve been building, they’ve been adding some good players, but they were like, we need a star. We need a difference maker. … They aren’t drafting high enough to get that player.”

    Bleacher Report: B-

    “They definitely get an A for effort as it relates to the Leo Carlsson offer sheet… In the end, however, it just did not work out as Anaheim matched it. Beyond that, it’s just been a lot of new contracts and re-signings for players already on the roster.”

    National media liked the Joseph Woll upgrade. Connor Hamilton

    The Athletic: 8th most improved

    Despite the Flyers making mostly minor additions in free agency, The Athletic’s data model rated it as the eighth-best NHL offseason, adding value in the bottom-six and in net.

    “On the one hand, the Flyers’ goaltending situation received a major boost going from Samuel Ersson, one of the league’s worst goalies, to Joseph Woll, who has shown flashes of excellence when available. On the other hand, anything gained by that move was immediately lost going from [Emil] Andrae to Simon Benoit, one of the league’s worst defensemen.

    “The Flyers’ biggest net gain comes from the improvement in their fourth line going from Garnet Hathaway to Noel Acciari. The latter showed some serious defensive chops, even while accounting for his lesser role. He helps give Philadelphia one of the league’s deepest bottom sixes.”

    The Athletic’s NHL insider, Chris Johnston, said on his podcast that he sees the Flyers in a similar space to where the Montreal Canadiens have found themselves in the past. The Flyers have plenty of cap space, but the type of players they need to make a big leap aren’t easily acquired, and it might take another season or more to land the player they’re looking for.

    “The Flyers are going to have to stay in the same marketplace and keep biding their time,” Johnston said. “Maybe there’s another offer-sheet situation, maybe there’ll be a trade possibility, but it’s going to be a challenge.”

  • Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    Jaylen Brown was officially introduced as a member of the 76ers on Thursday during a news conference at Francis Myers Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia.

    Brown discussed his reaction to the trade, his thoughts on some his teammates, and more. Here are some quick highlights …

    Trade reaction and Sixers group chats

    The Sixers trading for Brown was one of the biggest shocks of a shocking NBA offseason, and one of the most unexpected trades in recent NBA history. It wasn’t just shocking for the fans. Even Brown was taken aback by the move.

    “When I first got traded, I just threw my phone across the room,” Brown said when asked which new teammate reached out first. “But who was first? It might’ve been Max, I think [Tyrese] Maxey reached out to me first. He reached out and was like, ‘I know it’s a lot of stuff going on right now, but we’re excited to have you.’ Maxey and VJ [Edgecombe] were probably around the same time.”

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    Since those first texts, Brown has been in regular contact with his Sixers teammates, including LeBron James.

    “We talk damn near every day. We’ve got group chats — multiple now — and we’re all trying to figure this thing out. LeBron, he’s active in the group chats. We’re trying to all get on the same page. I think everybody knows how incredible of an opportunity that we have, but we also have to put in the work.”

    New Sixer Jaylen Brown speaks during his introductory press conference on Thursday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Silent respect for Tatum

    On the Celtics side, Brown said he has “not really” spoken to longtime former teammate Jayson Tatum since the trade.

    “We won a championship together,” Brown said. “Anybody that you win a championship [with], you would think that’s what a brotherhood or a lifelong legacy would entail. Obviously, there’s ups and downs in any type of relationship, for sure, but on my end, it’s nothing but respect. Besides when he plays the Sixers, I hope he does well, but other than that everything for me is just based in respect.”

    Despite saying on his Twitch stream that he’d been “packed up” by Boston, Brown said he was ready to move forward after the trade.

    “I look back at Boston and I’m grateful,” Brown said. “A lot of my most developmental years were in Boston. The relationships are still there, so are the connections. I’m very grateful for my 10 years in Boston. I have nothing but respect for Boston, but it’s time to move forward.”

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    Great Expectations

    The Sixers had a massive offseason under new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and are suddenly among the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but Brown isn’t looking that far down the road.

    “On paper, we’re excellent … On paper, it doesn’t really mean nothing … We look great, but let’s all slow down,” Brown said. “It takes real work every single day in order to make something like this happen. We do that, we’ll be where we want to be.”

    He also isn’t concerned about what role he needs to play to get there.

    “My focus is winning, whatever it takes,” Brown added. “At this point in my career, nothing else matters. I don’t care about the awards, the only thing that moves me is a championship.”

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe defends Brown during Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Celtics back in April.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Already ‘a fan’ of VJ Edgecombe

    As for his off-court role, Brown said he didn’t necessarily see himself as a mentor, but shared that he picked up a lot from the veterans in his early years in Boston and hopes he can provide the same for Edgecombe.

    “I think VJ’s in a similar situation that I was a few years ago, when we had some of those rosters that were stacked with a decent amount of talent. I looked at it as a learning opportunity,” he said. “Some of those moments that I learned from back then, with the players I played with, some of that stuff I benefited from later in my career, because I took the time to learn, and talk to, and watch their workouts and see their mentality and their approach, take things they do well and add it to my game.

    “I’ll be in VJ’s ear to help him learn and grow. He’s 21, just turned 21, he’s got a bright future, and this will be great opportunity for him to learn from a bunch of guys. His talent level, he’s going to carve out space for himself because of his talent level alone, so I’m excited for VJ. I’m a fan. He killed us in that series. The other guys, we knew about, but he was a difference-maker in that series. I’m a fan from afar for sure.”

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    The location matters

    There was a reason Brown hosted his introductory news conference at the Francis Myers Rec Center instead of the Sixers’ practice facility in Camden. Local kids were on-site wearing new Sixers shirseys with Brown’s No. 7 on them.

    Brown explained why he wanted his first appearance as a Sixers to be out in the community.

    “My family and I, we are rooted in the community. That’s where we hang our hat, is being able to affect other people’s lives. We’re very blessed, we’ve been able to help our own family and been able to change the course of what our generation and our family name can possibly do, but we look forward to being able to impact others and being able to touch families and households that we may never get to see.

    “As I’m still getting to learn this community, I just wanted to make it clear that this was an important pillar in my life, community and the foundation. As I’m getting started on the journey here in Philadelphia, the introduction, the first impression is everything. I just wanted to let people know in Philadelphia that this is something that’s important to me.”

  • When will the restricted free agents get signed? Who’s the 1C? These are the 5 biggest questions facing the Flyers right now.

    When will the restricted free agents get signed? Who’s the 1C? These are the 5 biggest questions facing the Flyers right now.

    With the draft over and the major free agents off the board, the Flyers are winding down into quiet season until training camp. But there are still plenty of unanswered questions heading into next year as the Flyers aim to return to the playoffs.

    Here are five of the most urgent questions facing the team this summer:

    What’s happening with restricted free agents Nikita Grebenkin and Hunter McDonald?

    Perhaps the most immediate business for the Flyers is re-signing their final restricted free agents. With the big names like Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale sorted, they can turn their attention to Grebenkin and McDonald.

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    Grebenkin, who missed the stretch run last year with an upper-body injury, has been on the ice and is progressing to be available for camp. After a successful year on the fourth line last year, Garnet Hathaway and Luke Glendening are both gone, carving out a space for Grebenkin after he returns from injury. He is a restricted free agent, and so is the defenseman McDonald, who played one NHL game last year, the only game of his career.

    Both are likely to receive near-minimum contracts, with McDonald potentially on a two-way, and with nearly $15 million in cap space, the Flyers have plenty of room to maneuver, but it could carry into August when camp is closer.

    Pressure will be on Christian Dvorak to perform after the team missed out in its pursuit of star center Leo Carlsson. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Who’s going to play 1C?

    Probably the same people as last year: Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak. General manager Danny Brière made a big swing to try and acquire Leo Carlsson via offer sheet, but after Anaheim matched, the Flyers are right back where they started. Finding a top-line center outside of the draft is a challenging task. Stars are more available via trade than ever, but the type of player the Flyers want is still frustratingly out of reach.

    The only true star center to be traded this decade is Jack Eichel, whose trade market was clouded by a medical dispute. There are a few names out there on the trade market, like Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, but barring another huge, unexpected move, the top line is likely to look similar to last year down the middle. That doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement.

    Matvei Michkov showed encouraging signs during the season but faltered in the playoffs. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Will Matvei Michkov finish the summer strong?

    Matvei Michkov was the Flyers’ best skater down the stretch as they made their improbable run to the postseason, but managed just one point in the playoffs in what was ultimately an up-and-down sophomore campaign. He came into last year’s camp out of shape, but now, Michkov should know how coach Rick Tocchet and the Flyers want him to prepare for the year. Michkov was noncommittal during postseason availability about how much of the offseason he would spend back in Philadelphia, but no matter where it happens, his offseason training is critical to the Flyers’ success.

    Will ex-Leafs goalie Joseph Woll (60) provide solid relief for Dan Vladař?Connor Hamilton

    How much will the goalie tandem improve in 2026?

    The 2025-26 season was by far the best of Dan Vladař’s career. He initially signed to be a tandem goaltender with Sam Ersson, and ended the year as the Flyers’ MVP, carrying the group into the second round of the playoffs. In the offseason, the Flyers swapped Ersson for Joseph Woll. Woll had the worst season of his career last year, with a .899 save percentage and a 3.34 goals-against average for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a lottery team. But behind better squads the year prior, Woll had a .909 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average, both clear upgrades from Ersson. If he can find that level of performance, and Vladař can maintain his own level, the goalies should be a team strength.

    It’s been four years since Travis Konecny (71) had 61 points in 60 games. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Will a Flyer have a point-per-game season in 2026-27?

    The Flyers snuck into the playoffs and won a series last year on the strength of their depth. Their leading playoff scorer was Zegras, with six points in 10 games. It was good enough for a Round 1 win, but in order to make the jump from a fringe playoff team to a Stanley Cup contender, the Flyers’ need one of their prospects to turn into a real star. No Flyer has put up a point-per-game season since Travis Konecny scored 61 points in 60 games in 2022-23. No Flyer has scored more than 82 points since Claude Giroux put up 85 in 2018-19.

    In his nine regular season games last year, Porter Martone managed 10 points (four goals, six assists). That scoring trailed off a bit in the playoffs, but Martone flashed skill as both a playmaker and a goal scorer, with his toughness around the net and quick release. Martone and Michkov are the two highest-ceiling players on the current squad. If both can make big leaps this year, the Flyers’ ceiling — next year and for years to come — raises significantly. Having two stars on the wing can also mask the need for a superstar center.

  • Four more years? Agent Rich Paul thinks Sixers will ‘energize’ LeBron and could extend his career

    Four more years? Agent Rich Paul thinks Sixers will ‘energize’ LeBron and could extend his career

    LeBron James signed a two-year contract to end his career with the Sixers, but his agent and longtime friend, Rich Paul, recently suggested that it’s possible James plays for even longer.

    “I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” Paul told ESPN. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”

    James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, is currently 41, and will turn 42 on Dec. 30. He will be the oldest active player in the NBA next season, but he’s far from the oldest ever.

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    Where does LeBron rank among oldest all-time NBA players?

    James will begin the season as the ninth-oldest player in NBA history. If he completes his two season contract with the Sixers, he would retire as the fourth-oldest player in NBA history.

    The oldest player to ever play an NBA game was Nat Hickey, who played his final game on Jan. 28, 1948 at 45 years, 363 days old.

    Even if James were to play four more seasons — and retire after the 2029-30 season — he still would not claim the top spot, because of his late December birthday. But he could finish second, and would be the oldest of any modern-era NBA player.

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    Have any grandfathers played in the NBA before?

    OK, as far as we know, Bronny James does not have a child, nor is he close to having one any time soon. But, he is 21, so it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that, if James were to play as many as four more NBA seasons, he could become a father at some point during that span — and make LeBron a grandfather.

    So for the purposes of speculation, there has only been one previous player to play in an NBA game while also having a grandchild: Robert Parish, who became a grandfather at age 42 and went on to play another NBA season.

  • Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    The Sixers’ leaders found out that they landed LeBron James in a group text.

    The team’s ownership, front office, and Klutch Sports client Tyrese Maxey received a four-word message from Rich Paul, Klutch CEO and James’ agent.

    “Congrats,” the text said. “Sixers it is.”

    “I didn’t have time to text everybody,” Paul said on the Game Over podcast. “I had to put them all in a group chat.”

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    Maxey, who occasionally works out with James during the summer and is one of Klutch Sports’ key clients, played a big role in the decision. During an earlier podcast episode, in which Paul broke down potential destinations for James, he put a star next to Maxey’s name.

    “Maxey led the charge on the Sixers,” Paul said. “He was starred on there because, number one, the Sixers went through a change. It became Tyrese Maxey’s team. It’s still Tyrese Maxey’s team.

    “Additionally, there was a star beside Tyrese’s name because, the fact that I represent Tyrese, I’ve been around him for seven years now, we talk all the time. LeBron has spent time with him. I know that that’s a positive, based on the type of person.”

    When assessing potential landing spots, James and Paul broke down numerous teams and tried to identify the potential issues with each spot. Maxey’s demeanor ultimately helped the Sixers earn much more consideration.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey (right) played a key role in luring James to Philly.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Paul said that Anthony Davis, who played with James on the Lakers, was an example of the type of personality that meshes well with James. Davis was unconcerned about taking the spotlight and stayed focused on his family and on basketball.

    “Same thing with Tyrese, I know that it’s a positive because he’s been around; they work out together,” Paul said. “He’s embracing the fact that, ‘Hey, if we can land this guy, I understand what comes with it, and I’m comfortable in my own skin and by the way, I want to win. I want the best chance of winning.’”

    James met with Cleveland brass in Akron, Ohio, over the summer before signing, ESPN insider Shams Charania said. While many perceived Cleveland to be the favorite going in — so much so that Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey told ESPN that his neighbors got mad at him for “taking” James — Paul said far more teams were under consideration than he discussed publicly.

    “We never really heard from the Sixers, because the Sixers never really thought there was even a chance,” Paul said. Once Jaylen Brown was traded to Philadelphia, his conversations with James about the Sixers took a total 180.

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    Paul also told ESPN that he thinks the move could end with James playing for longer than just his two-year contract.

    “I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” Paul told ESPN. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”

    But despite all the hype around James’ signing, Paul still doesn’t believe this makes the Sixers frontrunners for an NBA title.

    “The Sixers aren’t favorites to win it all,” Paul said. “I don’t think they are the best team in the league.”

  • Flyers roundup: Nikita Grebenkin’s health, World Juniors Summer Showcase, NCAA hockey commitments, and more

    Flyers roundup: Nikita Grebenkin’s health, World Juniors Summer Showcase, NCAA hockey commitments, and more

    Nikita Grebenkin, who missed the final 13 games of the regular season and the postseason with an upper-body injury, is tracking well and the hope is that he will be ready for training camp, a team source told The Inquirer.

    During general manager Danny Brière’s end-of-season press conference in May, he said Grebenkin was the one injured player the team had concerns would not be available at the start of camp.

    “Initially we thought it was going to be something short and it just never got better,” Brière said. “Now we’re looking at different options for him. He’s the only one that I would say that maybe, if it doesn’t improve.”

    But since then, the prognosis has improved. Grebenkin, who is a restricted free agent, was seen on the ice rehabbing during development camp in late June.

    Grebenkin was a key piece of the Flyers’ bottom six for most of the regular season, with four goals and 10 assists in 55 games in his first full NHL season. The 23-year-old came to Philadelphia in the Scott Laughton trade at the deadline in 2024, and quickly made an impression with his physicality and energy.

    With Garnet Hathaway traded to Florida and Luke Glendening as yet unsigned, only Sean Couturier remains from the Flyers’ playoff fourth line. Grebenkin could slot right back in upon return.

    Michkov shines

    Matvei Michkov returned to Russia over the weekend to compete at a charity event called Match of the Year. He scored three goals, including a Michigan, in the game.

    World Junior Summer Showcase

    First-round 2025 draft pick Jack Nesbitt and 2026 second-round choice Brek Liske are among 32 players competing for Team Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ontario, which runs through Aug. 1.

    Nesbitt and Liske join Flyers prospects Jack Murtagh and Carter Amico, who are competing for Team USA at the Showcase. Getting selected for the showcase is a precursor to potentially competing at the IIHF World Juniors in late December. The Canadian and U.S. teams will face each other Saturday.

    Official World Junior rosters will be finalized later in the fall.

    KJ Sauer will spend his next couple of years in Edmonton, Alberta and Duluth, Minn. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    NCAA commitments

    KJ Sauer, the Flyers’ 2026 fifth-round pick, committed to Minnesota-Duluth to start in 2027. He will play next season with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, his first year in junior hockey after playing four years at Andover High School in Minnesota.

    Deslauriers touts his hardware

    Former Flyer Nic Deslauriers, who was traded to Carolina at the deadline after nearly four seasons in Philadelphia, spent his day with the Stanley Cup in Wildwood.

    Deslauriers played just one playoff game en route to the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup win, but got his name on the Cup for the first time in his career.

    Community Caravan

    The Flyers will host the 10th annual Community Caravan, starting on July 29, with exclusive merchandise giveaways and guest appearances from Gritty and the Flyers Ice Team.

    Here’s the schedule:

    • Wednesday, July 29: Flyers Training Center, Voorhees, NJ, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Tuesday, Aug. 4: Congress Hall Great Lawn Cape May, NJ , 2-4 p.m.
    • Wednesday, Aug. 5: Mays Landing Ball Hockey, Mays Landing, NJ, 6-8 p.m.
    • Thursday, Aug. 6: Sport and Civic Center, Ocean City, NJ, noon-2 p.m.
    • Wednesday, Aug. 19: Miller Park, Exton, PA, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 
  • A Philly street artist installed a LeBron James mirror mosaic on an old Burger King wall. Why? ‘It explains itself.’

    A Philly street artist installed a LeBron James mirror mosaic on an old Burger King wall. Why? ‘It explains itself.’

    Street artist irregular. rarely cries. But when LeBron James announced he was going to end his NBA career with the Sixers, he shed a single tear — and then got to work.

    Within 48 hours, after a sleepless Friday night, his mirrored tribute to James was up on the side of a Center City building.

    “Someone said, ‘Oh, that was so fast!’” irregular., whose full name is Sean Hassett, said Tuesday. “I don’t think it was fast enough. Actually, I think it could have been a little quicker.”

    LeBron James and nine other stars who stunned Philly simply by coming here

    As soon as rumors began to swirl that James could potentially join the Sixers, the 37-year-old artist began to pull reference images, knowing that if it happened, he’d want to make art of it. He had a gut feeling it was going to happen.

    “Philly just felt like — why would they even say it if it wasn’t going to be true?” Hassett said. “I was a firm believer three weeks ago.”

    As the weeks wore on, his hope started to dim, but that changed late last week. Within two hours of James announcing his decision, Hassett had already drawn out what he wanted the piece to look like, and then spent the night cutting out each piece of mirror.

    Hassett usually sells art at Rittenhouse Square on Saturdays, but instead spent most of this past Saturday afternoon walking around Center City to scout potential locations for the piece. He ultimately settled on a building at Eighth and Market, the site of a former Burger King.

    “King James, Burger King, I don’t know,” he said. “It’s a weird tie. I love the slogans that Burger King uses, which is what I used as my captions on my Instagram. One of them is ‘There’s a new king and it’s you.’ That makes perfect sense for exactly what I did. I mirrored LeBron James. Their classic slogan is ‘Have it your way,’ and I felt like that’s what the Sixers chose this year, is to have it our way, and we’re going to just put all the chips in and go for it all.”

    Adam Hock, of Center City, saw on Facebook about the LeBron James mosaic on Eighth and Market Streets on Tuesday.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Hassett has been creating mirror art for 11 years. He started as a painter, but as he developed his skills, he yearned to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Working with mirrors became his medium.

    “The viewer can see themselves in the art,” he said. “It explains itself. It speaks for itself, truly, I would say.”

    Unauthorized LeBron James merch up for grabs outside Philly’s stadiums and down the Shore

    Hassett estimated that, at this point, an average project takes him six hours to finish, but the James project ended up taking closer to 10.

    It’s not his first tribute to a Philly athlete either.

    Hassett created a mirrored Saquon Barkley and put it up a week before Super Bowl LIX, since he was that confident the Birds would win. His Allen Iverson mirror art, created after the Sixers unveiled their small practice facility statue, is still up on Third and South Streets.

    LeBron James could live in NYC while playing for Philly. He wouldn’t be the first Sixer to do it.

    “I see [sports] as the true glue of the city,” he said. “I remember the Eagles parade, and I have a bit of social anxiety. I don’t like large groups, but [at] that parade I was literally shoulder-to-shoulder, toe-to-toe with people, and there was nothing better than the energy there.

    “I think we’re going to get that back. We think this year was great, but I think there’s just more great years to come here in Philly.”

  • LeBron James reportedly plans to film a ‘Last Dance’-style documentary about his final season

    LeBron James reportedly plans to film a ‘Last Dance’-style documentary about his final season

    LeBron James is set to film a documentary tracking his final seasons in the NBA, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

    James has already been shooting with a camera crew for multiple seasons, so a potential documentary could contain much more than just his time with the Sixers.

    “Andy Thompson, acclaimed executive producer and principal videographer from The Last Dance docuseries that so unforgettably told the story of Michael Jordan’s final season in Chicago — and so much more leading up to it — has been a notable presence at James’ games since the 2022-23 season at least,” Stein wrote.

    LeBron James will wear No. 23 with the Sixers: ‘No words to measure the impact he’ll have’

    The documentary could also include livestreaming components, Stein said. James said his decision to join the Sixers on a two-year contract will be his “final decision,” and expects to end his NBA career in Philadelphia. Stein said the windfall from the documentary could help compensate for the veteran minimum salary that James was prepared to accept from any team that signed him.

    James has not announced any official plans to produce a documentary, so there’s no information about length or where it could potentially be distributed. James is signed through 2027-28, so this might not even be his final NBA season.

    Philly sports stars have been the subject of numerous recent documentary projects, including the Eagles’ turn on the in-season edition of Hard Knocks, Saquon Barkley’s documentary on Prime Video in 2025, and Jason Kelce’s Prime Video series Kelce, and the recent 30 for 30 chronicling the “Philly Special” 2018 Super Bowl run.