(Reuters) – Los Angeles Dodgers batter Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home-run ball has fetched the highest for price for any ball from any sport in an auction after selling for $4.39 million, New Jersey-based auction house Goldin said early on Wednesday.

The ball, which marked the moment Ohtani became the first Major League Baseball player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, broke the record for most expensive baseball previously held by Mark McGwire’s 70th home-run ball from the 1998 season, which sold for $3 million in 1999.

The 50-50 ball is currently subject to a legal battle, with an 18-year-old fan suing to stop the auction last month claiming to be its rightful owner.

The auction went ahead after an agreement was reached earlier this month between Goldin and all parties in the Florida lawsuit, according to U.S. media reports.

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This New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Series has generated a significant amount of excitement. The two iconic franchises have not met in the Fall Classic since 1981, and plenty of big-name stars like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts add sizzle to the proceedings.

Yet for fans of middle-class Major League Baseball clubs, who don’t enjoy the large payrolls of these coastal elites, the World Series might prove a dispiriting point: That championships can be bought, that their efforts to compete are futile when faced with the big boys’ big bucks.

With that, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at the dollars and sense of this 120th World Series

Do the Yankees and Dodgers have the two highest payrolls?

Not exactly. There are various methods to calculate payroll, and myriad sources to cite, but the undisputed No. 1 by any methodology are the New York Mets.

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Steve Cohen’s team was a significant disappointment for much of the season, until catching fire in mid-summer and making it all the way to Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. You might say he finally got what he paid for: The Mets ranked No. 1 in preseason payroll ($305.6 million, per USA TODAY Sports), end-of-season allocations ($317.7 million, per Spotrac) and projected competitive balance tax payroll ($356.2 million, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts).

A large chunk of the Mets’ expenditures is dead money, with the club covering more than $50 million of salary for pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, both traded in 2023.

Yet the Yankees and Dodgers are right behind: The Yankees were No. 2 preseason ($303.3 million) and the Dodgers No. 3 ($249.8 million), while they flipped spots for the luxury tax – or CBT – payroll, the Dodgers at $351.7 million, the Yankees at $314.8 million, per Cots.

Is Shohei Ohtani the highest-paid player in the game?

Yes – kind of. His 10-year, $700 million contract easily sets records for both total value and average annual value. Yet the contract is so heavily deferred – Ohtani receives $2 million per season and will be paid $68 million annually from 2034 to 2043 – that the present-day value is far less. It’s calculated at $28 million for current payroll purposes and $46 million for CBT payroll.

But Ohtani will certainly enjoy a comfortable retirement – and as an international superstar, earns well north of $50 million annually in endorsement income.

Does that make Aaron Judge the highest-paid player in 2024?

Just about. His nine-year, $360 million contract pays him an even $40 million per year. In 2024, that was a tad less than Verlander and Scherzer, who made $43.3 million. And next year, it will be just shy of Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler’s $42 million as he begins a three-year, $126 million extension.

Judge’s salary was also matched by Texas right-hander Jacob deGrom, who made $40 million this year and also in 2025, before dropping down to $38 million in ’26. While ace pitchers are in such rare supply that Judge’s single-year salary might get superseded, his average annual value stays right at the top.

For now.

Will Juan Soto make more than Aaron Judge?

Almost certainly, which seems mildly blasphemous given Judge’s two MVPs to Soto’s none. Yet Judge was 30 when he re-signed with the Yankees coming off an MVP season in 2022.

Soto is just 25 – he turns 26 on Friday, Game 1 of the World Series – and has maintained a largely MVP-caliber level of production since he was 20 and leading the Washington Nationals to the 2019 World Series title.

Soto made $31 million this season in his final year of arbitration eligibility. Once he hits the open market – with the Yankees still a decent bet to re-sign him – he will likely land a guarantee north of $500 million.

In other words, somewhere between Judge and Ohtani.

How many $100 million men do the Dodgers and Yankees have?

If there’s one thing that separates high-revenue teams from others, it’s the willingness to throw around a nine-figure contract and believe it won’t sink you should it go awry.

The best teams are both aggressive and wise in such expenditures, and the Yankees and Dodgers, with four and six nine-figure stars, respectively, are no different.

As such, the Yankees and Dodgers’ massive investments greatly impacted their seasons and into the playoffs:

Judge (nine years, $360 million): 58 regular season home runs with a 1.159 OPS.
Giancarlo Stanton (13 years, $325 million, with Marlins paying $30 million): Four homers, 1.222 OPS this postseason.
Gerrit Cole (nine years, $324 million): Yankees are 3-0 in his postseason starts after reigning Cy Young winner’s season delayed by elbow injury.
Carlos Rodón (six years, $162 million): Started and won Game 1 of ALCS and also started clinching Game 5.
Ohtani (10 years, $700 million): The first 50-50 season in major league history, and a .934 OPS and 11 RBIs in 11 playoff games.
Betts (12 years, $365 million): .863 OPS in season shortened by hand injury, but a .296/.404/.659 line with four homers this postseason.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12 years, $325 million): 3.00 ERA in 18 starts, five shutout innings in NLCS Game 5.
Freddie Freeman (six years, $162 million): 22 homers, .854 OPS, but slowed by ankle injury in playoffs.
Will Smith (10 years, $140 million): 20 homers, 116 adjusted OPS, key homer in NLCS Game 6.
Tyler Glasnow (five years, $136 million): 3.49 ERA in 22 starts before elbow sprain shut him down.

So, do the Yankees and Dodgers buy all their players?

Eh, not really. Of the 26 players on the Dodgers’ NLCS roster, seven were fully homegrown – drafted or signed and developed. Seven more were acquired in trade, largely using homegrown minor league assets. And four others – three members of their stout bullpen and slugger Max Muncy – were waiver claims.

Four of their eight free agent acquisitions – old friend Kiké Hernández and relievers Ryan Brasier, Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson – were hardly of the big-bucks variety.

The Yankees? Six homegrown players including three big ones: Judge, shortstop Anthony Volpe and starter Clarke Schmidt. Four were acquired through waivers and six via free agency but the bulk of the roster – 11 in all – came via trade.

Many of those deals did involve flexing financial might, such as acquiring Stanton and the $265 million obligation that came from Miami with the slugger. A strong package of major league-ready players landed Soto and his $30.1 million due via arbitration. Yet there’s plenty of savvy in there, too – most notably rookie starter, Luis Gil, acquired from Minnesota for Jake Cave.

In short, there’s plenty of ways to dial up a championship roster. But a loose checkbook doesn’t hurt.

With money so key, do the same teams always win the World Series?

Not at all. In the 23 seasons since the Yankees were the last team to repeat as World Series winners – claiming three consecutive championships and four in five years from 1996-2000 – 16 franchises have won the Fall Classic.

The Boston Red Sox won four titles (2004, 2007, 2013, 2018) in that span, the San Francisco Giants three (2010, 2012, 2014) and the Houston Astros (2017, 2022) and St. Louis Cardinals (2006, 2011) two each. The rest? A true mélange, from mid-market Kansas City to big bad Philly and quite stunningly, two teams from Chicago – the famously cursed Cubs and the White Sox, who broke up decades of ineptitude with a 2005 championship.

Do fans prefer watching World Series involving lower-payroll teams?

Not really. The 2023 World Series, pitting the Arizona Diamondbacks (21st in payroll) against the Texas Rangers, who had a top 10 payroll but had never won a championship in franchise history, was the lowest-rated Fall Classic in history.

So why all the griping?

Good question. And there’s a pretty good chance those swearing off this big-bucks battle will find themselves sneaking a peek at it all. Those TV ratings aren’t gonna show up by magic.

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Eight NBA teams start the 2024-25 season with a different coach than they had to start last season.

Doc Rivers took over the Milwaukee Bucks halfway through the season in late January. Brian Keefe finished the season as interim coach of the Washington Wizards, replacing Wes Unseld Jr. in January, and then got the top job permanently in May. Six other teams made coaching changes headed into this season.

Of those eight coaches, four are first-time NBA head coaches: JJ Redick (Los Angeles Lakers), Jordi Fernandez (Brooklyn Nets), Charles Lee (Charlotte Hornets) and Keefe. The other four previously have been head coaches: Rivers, Mike Budenholzer (Phoenix Suns), J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons) and Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers).

The new coaches facing the most pressure this season:

5. J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons

For a team that won 14 games last season – and 17 the season before that, 23 the season before that and 20 the season before that one – there is pressure on J.B. Bickerstaff to win. The Pistons have a roster with four lottery picks, including 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham who in July signed a five-year, $224.2 million extension. On top of that, the Pistons fired Monty Williams, who coached Detroit just one season and had $65 million remaining on his contract. The Pistons need to show improvement and win more. They tabbed Bickerstaff to lead the way.

4. Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Kenny Atkinson waited until the right situation to take his second head coaching job – accepting the Cleveland Cavaliers gig after the team went 48-34, lost in the second round of the playoffs and parted ways with J.B. Bickerstaff. Atkinson, who coached the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020, has talent with which to work: Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. But can he get them out of the second round and into the conference finals in an East that is improving?

3. Mike Budenholzer, Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have their third coach in as many seasons. They dismissed Monty Williams in 2023, Frank Vogel in May and turned to Budenholzer, the Arizona native who coached the Milwaukee Bucks to a title in 2021 over the Suns. Budenholzer is a solid coach, no question there, who made the Bucks a top defensive team and maximized Giannis Antetokounmpo. He gets results. With a roster featuring Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal (a massive $150.5 million in salary just this season for those three), Budenholzer, a two-time coach of the year, is tasked with getting the Suns not only out of the first round but deep into May and possibly June. That’s a tough ask in a deep West.

2. Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks

Even though Doc Rivers got the job last season, he’s entering his first full season with Milwaukee, and he belongs on this list – especially after the Bucks acquired Damian Lillard to assist Giannis Antetokounmpo and lost in the first round in 2024. The Bucks want another championship with Antetokounmpo still playing at a top-five level – plus, they made a significant financial commitment to Rivers.

1. JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the season on dual tracks – trying to win now with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and trying to develop younger players and prepare for a future without James. And it’s on a first-time coach to lead the way. Not an easy first job for JJ Redick who the Lakers hired in June. He comes into the job with open eyes, understanding he’s not coaching the Albany Patroons. Still, it’s the Lakers in one of the league’s most high-profile jobs where expectations go beyond just making the playoffs. There is pressure to get deeper in the playoffs while James is still producing at an All-NBA level at 39 (soon to be 40) years old.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

Fernando Valenzuela, a Los Angeles icon that became a sensation for the Dodgers and the city’s Hispanic population through ‘Fernandomania,’ has died, the Dodgers announced Tuesday. He was 63.

A cause of death has not yet been announced.

Valenzuela was a Spanish-language radio broadcaster for the Dodgers, but stepped away from his role prior to the start of the 2024 postseason to ‘focus on his health’ and the team said in a statement he aimed to return for the 2025 season.

A left-hander from Navojoa, Mexico, Valenzuela’s career started completely by chance. In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito went to the city of Silao in Guanajuato, Mexico, to see a shortstop named Ali Uscanga. During a game, the unheard of Valenzuela came in for relief after falling behind in a 3-0 count, throwing three straight strikes vs. Uscanga to strike him out. Brito recalled at that moment, he ‘forgot all about the shortstop.’

The Dodgers quickly signed Valenzuela in 1979, and after a short time in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut the following season. But it was at the start of the 1981 season when the left-hander was launched into stardom.

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Valenzuela was named the Opening Day starter for Los Angeles after Jerry Reuss was scratched due to an injury. Facing the Houston Astros, Valenzuela pitched a complete game shutout − allowing five hits while striking out five batters − en route to a 2-0 victory.

‘It seems like yesterday when this little pudgy kid who was 20 years old started opening day for us and lights the whole world on fire,’ catcher Mike Scioscia said about that day. ‘What you couldn’t see was the ice water in his veins. He proved how spectacular and magical everything was.’

The game was the start of a sensational season for Valenzuela. He started the season 8-0 in his first eight appearances, all of them complete games − five of which were shutouts. Valenzuela became an overnight star because of the dominance. Playing in a city with a heavy Hispanic population that has long resided in the area, the community rallied and cheered for Valenzuela and flocked to Dodger Stadium to see him pitch, igniting the craze that was ‘Fernandomania.’

He finished the season 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and won both the NL Cy Young and NL Rookie of the Year awards − the first player to do so − as the Dodgers won the 1981 World Series, which included a complete game victory in Game 3 in the Fall Classic against the New York Yankees.

Nicknamed ‘El Toro,’ Valenzuela went on to be a household name in Los Angeles while he pitched 10 more seasons for the Dodgers. Beloved by Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda, Valenzuela was an All-Star every year from 1981-86. He wasn’t able to replicate his All-Star numbers toward the latter half of his time in Dodger blue, but he added one more signature moment in his final year with the team.

On June 29, 1990, Scioscia and many Dodger players watched Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart throw a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. Valenzuela was scheduled to pitch that night against the St. Louis Cardinals, and after Stewart completed his performance, Scioscia said Valenzuela gave his teammates a bold prediction.

‘You just saw a no-hitter on TV. Now you will see one in person,’ Valenzuela said.

The prediction turned out to be a spoiler. Valenzuela struck out seven batters en route to his first career no-hitter. After Valenzuela got Pedro Guerrero to ground into a game-ending double play to complete the feat, fellow Dodgers legend Vin Scully made one of his signature calls from his 67-year broadcasting career.

‘If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!’ Scully proclaimed.

Valenzuela had stints with various teams over the next seven years before finishing his MLB career in 1997. In 17 seasons, he had a 173-153 record with a 3.54 ERA, but in his time with the Dodgers, he had a 141-116 record and a 3.31 ERA, ranking ninth in franchise history in wins.

Despite all his accomplishments and the fans he was responsible for bringing to Dodger Stadium, Valenzuela did not receive the highest achievement the team awards its former players for quite some time.

The franchise’s criteria to get a jersey number retired is the player has to spend the majority of their career with the team and has to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame – with the exception of former player and coach Jim Gilliam in 1978. Valenzuela never made it to the Hall of Fame after spending two years on the ballot in 2003-04. Even though he never made it to Cooperstown, no Dodgers player ever wore Valenzuela’s No. 34 after he finished his playing days for Los Angeles.

Still, Dodgers fans spent decades advocating for Valenzuela to be included in the team’s ring of honor, citing his significance to the city and fanbase, as well as paving the way for Mexican baseball players to reach the majors. Then, more than 30 years after he threw his last pitch for the Dodgers, the team retired his number in August 2023.

Even though current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the honor was ‘long overdue,’ Valenzuela didn’t believe the day would come. When he was told it was going to happen, the first thing he remembered he could say was “really?”

“It really got me by surprise. I never expected it,” Valenzuela said.

But it’s hard to argue against what Valenzuela did for baseball and what he means for many Dodgers fans. For a franchise that has names like ‘Jackie’ and ‘Vin’ synonymous with the team, ‘Fernando’ is also attached to the team. It’s hard to not see a No. 34 jersey being worn in a Dodger Stadium crowd. As Dodgers radio announcer Charley Steiner put it, Valenzuela ‘transcends what he did for the Dodgers.’

Welcome, Victor Wembanyama, to USA TODAY Sports’ list of the top 30 NBA players. Tough to see you drop off the list Trae Young.

Hello Tyrese Maxey and Zion Williamson. Goodbye James Harden and DeMar DeRozan.

Yes, there are changes to this year’s edition of the top 30 players. But some things are the same, such as the dominance of international players at the top.

The first five in USA TODAY Sports’ top 30 NBA players were born outside the U.S. Last season, the top three were international players, and the season before that, four of the top six, including the top two, were not born in the U.S.

That trend doesn’t appear to be a blip. Wembanyama has made a rapid ascent and three of the top six picks in the 2024 draft, including Nos. 1-2, were born in France. The number of NBA international players continues to increase.

Our list of the top 30 players continues Wednesday Nos. 15-1. You can see who is ranked Nos. 30-16 here. USA TODAY Sports and USA TODAY Network reporters voted:

15. Boston Celtics guard-forward Jaylen Brown

2023-24 stats: 23.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 49.9% FG, 35.4% 3PT, 70.3% FT (70 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Jaylen Brown was an All-Star for the third time and just missed out on a second All-NBA selection last season. Brown, who shot a career-high from the field, starred for the Celtics in the playoffs, winning the Eastern Conference finals MVP and Finals MVP awards and helping them win their first championship since 2008.

Last season’s ranking: No. 16

14. Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard

2023-24 stats: 23.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.6 spg, 52.5% FG, 41.7% 3PT, 88.5% FT (68 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Kawhi Leonard made All-NBA and was named an All-Star in a season in which he played 68 games – the most he has played in a season since appearing in 74 games in 2016-17. He posted great offensive stats with career highs in shooting percentage and true shooting percentage (.626) – a combination of field goal, 3-point and free throw shooting percentage – and while not the defender he once was (a two-time Defensive Player of the Year), he still is among the league’s top defenders.

Last season’s ranking: No. 14

13. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker

2023-24 stats: 27.1 ppg, 6.9 apg, 4.5 rpg, 49.2% FG, 36.4% 3PT, 88.6% FT (68 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Devin Booker assembled one of his best all-around seasons and returned to All-Star and All-NBA status after missing out on both the previous season. He had a career-high 6.9 assists and his true shooting percentage was the second-best of his career.

Last season’s ranking: No. 9

12. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson

2023-24 stats: 28.7 ppg, 6.7 apg, 3.6 rpg, 47.9% FG, 40.1% 3PT, 84.7% FT (77 games)

Why he’s ranked here: In the past four seasons, Jalen Brunson has elevated from sixth man with Dallas to starter for the Mavericks to MVP candidate with New York. Brunson made his first All-Star and All-NBA teams in 2023-24.

Last season’s ranking: No. 25

11. Los Angeles Lakers forward-center Anthony Davis

2023-24 stats: 24.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 1.2 spg, 55.6% FG, 27.1% 3PT, 81.6% FT (76 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Another one of the NBA’s great two-way players and most versatile bigs, Anthony Davis, who played in a career-high 76 games, returned to All-NBA, All-Defense and All-Star for the first time since 2019-20. He had the second-best shooting percentage of his career and a career-high 12.6 rebounds last season.

Last season’s ranking: No. 13

10. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards

2023-24 stats: 25.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 46.1% FG, 35.7% 3PT, 83.6% FT (79 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Anthony Edwards finished seventh in MVP voting, earned his second consecutive All-Star appearance and his first All-NBA selection after posting career bests in points and assists per game and in field-goal percentage and free throw percentage. He is the Timberwolves’ franchise player and one of the young faces of the league.

Last season’s ranking: No. 20

9. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant

2023-24 stats: 27.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.2 bpg, 52.3% FG, 41.3% 3PT, 85.6% FT (75 games)

Why he’s ranked here: After missing out on All-NBA in 2022-23 because he played in just 47 games, Kevin Durant returned to All-NBA in 2023-24. Durant is one of the game’s all-time great scorers and showed that again, finishing fifth in scoring at 35 years old. As long as he’s healthy this season, he will become just the eighth player to reach 30,000 points.

Last season’s ranking: No. 8

8. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James

2023-24 stats: 25.7 ppg, 8.3 apg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 spg, 54% FG, 41% 3PT, 75% FT (71 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Playing remarkable basketball at 39 going on 40, LeBron James continues to defy what was thought possible for an NBA player his age. He had one of the best shooting seasons of his career and was All-NBA for the 20th consecutive time, extending his league record.

Last season’s ranking: No. 7

7. Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry                  

2023-24 stats: 26.4 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.5 rpg, 45% FG, 40.8% 3PT, 92.2% FT (74 games)

Why he’s ranked here: One of the best ever, Steph Curry is the rare player who transformed the game and he did it with his remarkable 3-point shooting. He made 4.8 3s per game and shot better than 40% from 3 for the 13th time of his career, earning his 10th All-NBA and 10th All-Star selection. He also won Clutch Player of the Year. His performances in the semifinals and gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics were the exclamation point on a great year.

Last season’s ranking: No. 5

6. Boston Celtics forward-guard Jayson Tatum

2023-24 stats: 26.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.1% FG, 37.6% 3PT, 83.3% FT (74 games)

Why he’s ranked here: An All-NBA selection in four of his past five seasons, including first team the past three seasons, Jayson Tatum is just 26 and should get better. His offensive efficiency is elite, and he has a great feel for the game – and is committed to both ends of the court.

Last season’s ranking: No. 4

5. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid

2023-24 stats: 34.7 ppg, 11 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.7 bpg, 1.2 spg, 52.9% FG, 38.8% 3PT, 88.3% FT (39 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Before another injury shortened Joel Embiid’s 2023-24 season, he was in the running for his second MVP. When healthy, there’s not a two-way big man who dominates the way Embiid does.

Last season’s ranking: No. 3

4. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

2023-24 stats: 30.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 spg, 53.5% FG, 35.3% 3PT, 87.4% FT (75 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander followed his breakout 2022-23 season with an MVP-caliber 2023-24. He finished second in MVP and third in Clutch Player of the Year voting and was named first-team All-NBA and an All-Star for the second consecutive season. It was his second consecutive season averaging at least 30 points and he shot a career-high 53.5% from the field.

Last season’s ranking: No. 10

3. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic

2023-24 stats: 33.9 ppg, 9.8 apg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 48.7% FG, 38.2% 3PT, 78.6% FT (70 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Luka Doncic led the Mavericks to the Western Conference title and generated career highs in points, assists and made 3s per game. He also registered a career-best 3-point shooting percentage. The All-NBA star is moving closer to winning his first MVP.

Last season’s ranking: No. 6

2. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo

2023-24 stats: 30.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 61.1% FG, 27.4% 3PT, 65.7% FT (73 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, had another MVP-like performance, making All-NBA for the eighth consecutive season. He shot better than 60% from the field for the first time in his career and posted a career-high in assists.

Last season’s ranking: No. 2

1. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic

2023-24 stats: 26.4 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 9.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 58.3% FG, 35.9% 3PT, 81.6% FT (79 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Nikola Jokic collected his third MVP in four seasons, joining a short list of players with three or more MVPs. His offensive skillset and basketball IQ are among the best who have played. He was named an All-Star and All-NBA for the sixth consecutive season.

Last season’s ranking: No. 1

Editor’s note: USA TODAY reporters Jeff Zillgitt, Scooby Axson and Lorenzo Reyes, and USA TODAY Network reporters Jim Owczarski and Dustin Dopirak voted for this year’s top 30. They ranked players from first to 30th, with 30 points for first, 29 for second through to one for 30th.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

LOS ANGELES — In the annals of father-and-son experiences, a now-historic one must be added to the list.

LeBron James and son Bronny became the first father-and-son duo to play in the same NBA game Tuesday on opening night. Bronny made his debut with four minutes remaining in the second quarter of the Lakers’ 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves after checking into the game with his father.

The crowd at Crypto.com Arena began cheering as soon as LeBron and Bronny walked toward the scorer’s table — and then the crowd got louder.

‘I totally did feel the energy,” Bronny said after the game, ‘and, yeah, I appreciate the Laker Nation for showing the support for me.”

It marked the first time a father and son have played in the same NBA game, much less as teammates. LeBron, 39, and Bronny, 20, wore Lakers purple and gold – their version of matching outfits on family picture day. LeBron said he’ll never forget the moment.

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‘No matter how old I get, how my memory may fade…’ LeBron said. ‘I would never forget that moment.’

To the delight of the crowd, LeBron and Bronny checked into the game together with the Lakers leading 51-35. All eyes were on father and son.

The crowd let out a sound of disappointment when Bronny passed rather than take his first open shot. Later came a collective, ”ohhhhhhhhhh.”

That was the sound after Bronny missed an open 3-pointer. He was credited with another shot, a tip that was blocked by Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert. He also was credited with an offensive rebound but the box score will show no evidence of another notable moment.

At one point, Bronny found himself guarding Minnesota star Anthony Edwards and Edwards missed a shot.

With 1:19 left in the half, Bronny checked out of the game, with the Lakers leading 53-42. He did not re-enter the game.

‘I felt pretty good,” Bronny said about his time on the court. ”I was a little anxious going into it.”

Bronny spoke while sitting next to LeBron, who had recalled anxiety from his own first NBA game in 2003.

‘Like you said,” Bronny remarked, referring to his father, ‘that first game, stepping on the court, it was a little nerve-wracking. But once I stepped on the court, got up and down a couple times, it all went away. So yeah, I felt pretty good.”

But LeBron said their focus was not on history when they took the court together.

‘We wasn’t trying to make it a circus,” he said. ‘We wasn’t trying to make it about us. We wanted to make it about the team. For us to go out there and continue to play the brand of basketball the coaching staff and our teammates wanted us to play.”

Among the throng of fans in attendance was another father-son duo — former MLB stars Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who played their first game together with the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 31, 1990.

When told the Griffeys planned to be in attendance for the historic moment, Bronny was thrilled.

‘It’s going to be insane,’ he said. ‘Only two families to do it, so it’s going to be a crazy experience, especially with what they’ve done.’

In recent years, LeBron, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, talked about his desire to play with his oldest son.

For a while, it seemed that may not happen. Almost 15 months ago, Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest that left his health and basketball career in question. At the time he was preparing for his freshman season at Southern California.

He made his season debut nine games into a trying season.

After averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists at Southern California, Bronny declared for the NBA draft despite questions about his readiness for professional basketball.

The Lakers picked him in the second round with the 55th overall selection.

LeBron and Bronny took the court together during the first game of what turned out to be a challenging preseason for Bronny. In six games, he was 9-of-37 from the field, including 1-for-12 from 3-point range. But he demonstrated athleticism and intelligence on defense before the 2024-25 regular season commenced.

‘… It’s been a treat, and just in preseason, the practices, just every day … just bringing him up to speed of what this professional life is all about and how to prepare every day as a professional,’ LeBron said after Lakers shootaround Tuesday morning, according to ESPN.

Follow reporter Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11

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The Boston Celtics have opened their NBA title defense with an epic beating.

Boston throttled the New York Knicks on Tuesday night in the NBA’s Tip-Off game, 132-109, on a night when they tied the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a single game (29).

Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 37 points and also chipped in 10 assists, while Derrick White poured in 24 and Jaylen Brown added 23. All five Celtics starters hit double figures in scoring, as Boston shot 50.5% from the field.

The Celtics tried to set the mark for most 3-pointers down the stretch, but they missed their last 13 attempts.

New York played fairly well on offense, and actually finished with a shooting percentage almost five points higher (55.1%) than Boston’s.

Miles McBride and Jalen Brunson led the way with 22 points apiece, while new acquisition Karl-Anthony Towns scored just 12 points on five-of-nine shooting.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights and analysis throughout the NBA’s season-opening game.

Celtics vs. Knicks highlights

Celtics continue to dominate in the third quarter

This one’s all but over.

The Celtics continued their blazing hot shooting from beyond the arc and went 8-of-11 on 3s in the third quarter alone. Now, Boston is threatening to break the NBA record for 3-pointers in a single game.

The Celtics have flushed 26 made 3s through three quarters — on an absurd 57.8% shooting — which is just three off from tying the 29 the Milwaukee Bucks made in a December 2020 game against the Miami Heat.

More importantly, Boston is nursing a 113-87 lead headed into the fourth.

The Celtics have been a model of efficiency, assisting on 27-of-41 made baskets, while committing only two turnovers.

Jayson Tatum has led the way, draining eight from beyond the arc, for 37 points.

The Knicks have actually played fairly well on offense, shooting 57.6% from the floor (which is just 0.1% off from Boston’s rate), but New York has had no answer for Boston’s offensive prowess.

The Celtics figure to sit their stars for most — if not all — of the remainder of the game.

Halftime: Celtics own commanding lead on Knicks, 74-55

The New York Knicks are shooting 57.9% from the floor. The Boston Celtics are shooting 55.1%. The Knicks, at halftime, are in a 19-point hole.

One significant reason why: Boston took 11 more shots in the first half, fueled in large part, on six offensive rebounds. That led to Celtics scored 11 second-chance points; the Knicks have only three.

Yet, there’s no question Boston’s huge lead opened on the barrage of 3s it rained down on the Knicks. The Celtics made 17-of-32 (53.1%) attempts, tying the franchise record for most made 3-pointers in a single half.

Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 25 points, although Boston has four of its starters already in double figures: Jaylen Brown (12), Derrick White (11) and Jrue Holiday (10).

In the second quarter, the Knicks got nine points from Jalen Brunson, who finished the half with 15. Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 12, though backup guard Miles McBride kept New York on life support, with 14 points off the bench.

Celtics up 19 after one quarter of play

The Celtics are picking up right where they left off.

After leading the NBA last season in attempted 3-pointers, Boston ignited out of the gate, going four-of-eight from beyond the arc not even five full minutes into the game. It didn’t stop there. The Celtics finished the first frame 10-of-17 from 3 to open a 19-point lead on New York.

In fact, that was one converted 3-point shot shy of tying the franchise record for most in a single quarter.

Perhaps looking to shake off a difficult summer in which he was benched for much of Team USA’s gold medal run in the Olympics, Jayson Tatum erupted in the first quarter, opening the game five-of-seven from the field, including four-of-six from 3. Tatum led all scorers with 15 points.

Defensively, Boston — as it did last season — relied on its defensive versatility to frustrate opposing players; in the early going, the Celtics had three different players match up with star Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown.

New York’s new additions had mixed starts: forward Mikal Bridges, who unveiled his revised shot form, missed all four of his attempts, while Karl-Anthony Towns went two-of-three for four points.

The Celtics lead 43-24.

Celtics unveil massive championship rings

The 2024-25 NBA season is set to tip off Tuesday night, but the Celtics have already won — at least with their new hardware.

The team unveiled massive rings after winning the record 18th championship in the June NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks. The rings feature 15 carats of white diamonds, representing the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. That’s just where the symbolism starts.

The ring also features a removable top that uncovers a tiny replica of the championship banner the Celtics raised Tuesday night before they host the Knicks in the season opener. The inside of the removable lid holds a small, circular piece of the actual parquet floor on which Boston clinched the title.

When is Celtics-Knicks game?

Opening tip will be Tuesday, Oct. 22 at about 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Where is Celtics-Knicks game?

The Celtics will host the Knicks from TD Garden in Boston. 

How to watch Celtics-Knicks game

The game will be broadcast on TNT, and can be streamed on Sling.

NBA games today

New York Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET on TNT

Celtics vs Knicks odds, line

The Boston Celtics are favorites to defeat the New York Knicks in Tuesday’s NBA regular-season opener, according to the BetMGM odds. 

Spread: Celtics (-5.5) 
Moneyline: Knicks (+185); Celtics (-225) 
Over/under: 222.5 

Celtics vs Knicks all-time record 

The Celtics and Knicks have played 494 times during the regular season in their histories, with Boston leading the series 304-190. They’ve also played an additional 67 games during the postseason, with the Celtics winning 36 games and the Knicks winning 31. 

Celtics starting five 

PG, Jrue Holiday 
SG, Derrick White 
SF, Jaylen Brown 
PF, Jayson Tatum 
C, Al Horford 

Knicks starting five 

PG, Jalen Brunson 
SG, Mikal Bridges 
SF, Josh Hart 
PF, OG Anunoby 
C, Karl-Anthony Towns 

NBA season predictions 

The experts at USA TODAY Network offer predictions for the season ahead, including which team will lift the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. 

Jeff Zillgitt: Celtics over Thunder 
Scooby Axson: Celtics over Timberwolves 
Lorenzo Reyes: Nuggets over Knicks 
Damichael Cole: Thunder over Celtics 
Dustin Dopirak: Celtics over Nuggets 
Jim Owczarski: Thunder over Celtics 
Duane Rankin: Celtics over Timberwolves 
Heather Tucker: Celtics over Suns 

Kristaps Porzingis injury update 

Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis will not play in the Celtics’ opener against the Knicks. Boston announced last June that Porzingis would miss the start of the 2024-25 NBA season after he underwent surgery to repair the unusual ankle injury – torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon – that he played through in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. — Mark Giannotto 

‘Inside the NBA’ enters final season

Tuesday is the last first game of the season for TNT’s popular and award-winning “Inside the NBA” program and crew. 

Ernie Johnson. Charles Barkley. Kenny Smith. Shaquille O’Neal. A collective national treasure, if sports shows can be considered national treasures. 

Read Jeff Zillgitt’s complete column on how they have woven their way into the vibrant fabric of the NBA through the television screen – a perfectly imperfect blend of basketball, serious debate, humor, entertainment and life. 

Joe Mazzulla says Celtics have ‘zero pressure’ 

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had an interesting – if borderline nihilistic – response when asked about the pressure his defending-championship team is facing. 

‘Zero,’ Mazzulla told reporters Monday. ‘No pressure. We’re all going to be dead soon and it really doesn’t matter anymore so, like, there’s zero pressure. You’re either going to win or you’re not. And when you win, you try to forget about it a week later, and when you lose, you try to forget about it a week later. So it’s not pressure, it’s an opportunity.” — Lorenzo Reyes

NBA MVP candidates 

Who is this year’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the next player to move deep into the NBA MVP conversation? Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the top candidates. 

NBA 2024-25 regular season: Biggest questions 

Can the Celtics repeat? That is among six key questions heading into the start of the new NBA regular season. Read the story by Lorenzo Reyes. 

NBA 2024-25 regular season: Biggest free agent acquisitions 

Teams who believe they are contenders can see that championship window open quickly – and shut quickly. Jeff Zillgitt provides the five most intriguing, title-altering free agent acquisitions to watch in the 2024-25 NBA season. 

NBA power rankings 

Here is every team in the NBA ranked based on their championship odds heading into the 2024-25 regular season. All odds via BetMGM. 

Boston Celtics (+325) 
Oklahoma City Thunder (+500) 
New York Knicks (+650) 
Philadelphia 76ers (+1000) 
Denver Nuggets (+1100) 
Dallas Mavericks (+1200) 
Minnesota Timberwolves (+1200) 
Milwaukee Bucks (+1400) 
Phoenix Suns (+2000) 
Cleveland Cavaliers (+3500) 
Memphis Grizzlies (+3500) 

Ken Griffey Jr and Ken Griffey Sr will be at Lakers game 

When LeBron James and Bronny James take the court for the first time as members of the Los Angeles Lakers, it will be a moment like no other in NBA history. 

That’s why former MLB stars Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Sr. will be on hand Tuesday night as the Lakers open the 2024-25 regular season at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

“First father and son to play baseball, now first father and son to play basketball, so it’s a big deal for my dad and I to be there,” Griffey Jr. said on SiriusXM radio earlier this week. 

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