Was Dikembe Mutombo on the flight?

Mike Riley wondered as he stood in the waiting area at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C. It was the late 1980s, when you could walk right up to the gate and meet your party.

Riley was there with Craig Esherick, a fellow assistant men’s basketball coach at Georgetown. They brought along NBA player Michael Jackson, who had played guard for the Hoyas before the Sacramento Kings, and a friend of his who spoke French.

“With all the languages that Dikembe could speak, he could not speak English,” Riley recalls.

The coaches were skeptical. They had learned about Mutombo, as Riley recalls, through a family connection. But they had gotten tips on African players before. The players weren’t as tall as advertised, and one of them simply couldn’t jump.

“We got the idea that people were just calling, trying to sell the kid, to get the kid to come to the United States,” Riley says.

This time, they weren’t even sure the player, from Congo, was on the plane.

As the stream of people deboarding dwindled to the crew, the coaches asked a flight attendant if anyone was left. She said there were a couple of stragglers.

“Is there a tall guy?” they asked.

“Oh God, he is really tall,” she replied.

When Mutombo finally appeared in the doorway, he had to bend his head down to walk through it.

“Uh oh, we may have something here,” Riley thought.

Every meeting with Mutombo, who died late last month at 58, just seemed unforgettable. The gentle giant of a man would go on to reach the Basketball Hall of Fame for his collegiate and professional success, but his large footprint leaves a legacy far beyond the court.

He was a global ambassador for the NBA and a leader in humanitarian efforts for his home continent. He was a loving father, a model teammate and an advocate for making kids’ lives better.

And as the NBA season dawns this week, he is someone who will be sorely missed across the basketball community.

“He always brought a smile,” says Jerome Williams, a Hoyas power forward from 1994 to 1996 who was mentored by Mutombo and later traveled with him on goodwill trips back to Africa when the both were pros.

USA TODAY Sports spoke with Williams ad Riley, who coached Mutombo for four years at Georgetown, to relive his memory. And there are lessons all of us – parents, coaches and athletes – can learn from the big guy with the husky voice and perpetually wide grin that seemed to warm everyone he met.

“His laugh sounded like the Cookie Monster,” Williams says. “He could speak several different languages, and sometimes you thought he was speaking a foreign language when he was speaking English, which would make you laugh.

“He always brought joy to any situation.”

Be eager to learn, to try new things and to better yourself

When Riley and the others got in the car at Dulles airport to drive to Georgetown’s campus, they learned Mutombo did speak English. Well, at least two names could be distinguished through his heavily accented words: Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning.

At that moment, there were no thoughts of Mutombo joining the two famous centers on the school’s Mt. Rushmore of big men. No one was even sure if he would play a game for the Hoyas.

In the grainy footage the coaches had seen of Mutombo, he had been playing on what looked like grass or dirt, and the baskets appeared about 8 feet high.

“Can you jump and touch the rim?” Georgetown coach John Thompson asked him when he got to the gym on campus.

Mutombo walked over to the regulation-sized 10-foot hoop, got on his tiptoes and hit the bottom of it with his finger.

“Come on, son,” Riley recalls Thompson saying. “Come on upstairs. We gotta talk.”

During the long conversation, the coaches saw a guy who “doesn’t come with any real baggage,” Riley said. He simply wanted to go to school and to learn.

“You root for people that are good people,” Riley says. “He used every bit of 7-2. Now there are people that are tall that don’t use their height, but he used every bit of the 7-2, because he wasn’t well-versed in basketball.”

Mutombo’s height was about all he had going for him. He couldn’t pass very well and didn’t understand where to stand on the court.

We can look at life’s challenges as either struggles or opportunities. It was apparent Mutombo viewed most everything he encountered as an opportunity.

“Dikembe took five regular courses at Georgetown, while also taking a course to learn English,” Riley says. “I think that’s just amazing to me, how well he did and how well he made the adjustment to being able to speak English.  

“I guess where he comes from, this is it, I’m here. You can walk up to the cafeteria and have free meals. There’s probably a commitment to making sure that you stay here and you do well here.”

Mutombo was half a world away from his native Zaire, but that distance was a matter of perspective. He was now at a prestigious university playing for one of basketball’s foremost coaches.

As it turns out, the coach was feeding off him, too.

Don’t rely on one skill. Instead, be a ‘filling station’

A new language was one hurdle. Mutombo also had to learn how to speak basketball: being at the elbow, sliding down to the wing, going to the weak side or even simply to “drive!” None of the slang meant anything to him.

Thompson had to physically move Mutombo to spots on the floor and then explain the terminology. Mutombo soaked up everything.

‘Dikembe is a refreshing person to work with,’ Thompson said in 1990, according to USA TODAY’s Steve Berkowitz, who then was at The Washington Post. ‘He’s like a filling station for a coach. I can go in and get new energy from him. I enjoy him.

“I think that’s a part kids don’t understand. They come to receive, but they don’t realize that they also give. Dikembe is that way. You can get angry at him and he understands that you’re not trying to personally attack him. He says a lot of things when I’m angry that will make me break into a smile. And at this age, you need that filling station.’

While Mutombo’s height brought him to the USA, his willingness to figure out the intricacies of basketball kept him here.

“He wasn’t ultra-talented but he took what he learned and he used that,” Riley says. “You don’t really develop because of the coach. I shouldn’t say you don’t, you do, but you really develop because you want to develop.”

Mutombo played intramural basketball and in the school’s summer Kenner League. Through repetition, he learned how you need timing to block shots.

During his first season playing at Georgetown (1988-1989), he set a Big East record with 12 blocks during a game against St. John’s.

“His teammates respected him an awful lot because they knew that if they weren’t playing great defense, that he was going to be the emergency at the glass,” Riley says. “They loved him, and they loved to talk about where he was from. They would tease him about being in America. And he would say, ‘You Americans, got it too soft.’

“There was no animosity. He was just as happy about somebody else doing something as he would have been for himself. And he had that big, deep voice that just boomed out.”

Ohhh, ohhhh, ohhh, Coach Riley!

Riley’s wife couldn’t stop laughing when they opened a restaurant door in Georgetown and Mutombo greeted them that way.

“That was the first time she had ever met him,” Riley says. “So he shook her hand and he starts telling a story. I said, ‘Come on, let’s go. (No) time to listen to Dikembe’s stories.’ ”

You can always find ways to make your team better

Mourning, who tutored Mutombo at hoops, once said it was impossible not to like Mutombo. That first season together, they reached the Elite Eight and the pair formed a formidable front line on two more NCAA tournament teams.

For the rest of his life, Mutombo returned the favor many times over.

“He was always helpful in a big brother way, just letting us know we could do it,” Williams says.

Williams arrived at Georgetown in 1994 as a transfer from a junior college in Maryland, He found himself matched up against a guy who would be crowned the NBA’s defensive player of the year the following season.

“Dikembe was like the ultimate role model,” says Williams, who went on to reach a Sweet 16 and Elite Eight with the Hoyas and play nine seasons in the NBA. Mutombo played 18.

“He wasn’t the scorer on the team,” Williams says. “He wasn’t the main guy. He was rebounding. He’d set screens. He’d block shots. He taught me that if I was a good rebounder, I could be a good role player as well.”

Develop a number a skills. Play a number of roles or positions. It’s a good lesson for any kid trying to make a team.

Mutombo had another.

 “He was gonna make sure he blocked as many of our shots as possible to let us know it wasn’t gonna be easy, and that pushed all of us,” Williams said.

As he became an established star, Mutombo punctuated those blocks by waving his finger to the crowd.

“The ‘no, no, no,’ finger wag became infamous, and that’s what he was known for and he branded it,” Williams says. “And that was like the best thing because where he said, ‘No, no, no,’ on the court, he always said, ‘Yes, yes, yes’ to people in the community.”

Coach Steve: Jerome Williams coaches kid athletes to market themselves at an early age

Don’t forget where you come from, and send the elevator back there

Williams says their friendship began when Mutombo invited him to his house for a barbecue during those collegiate summers. The relationship continued from there.

“I saw at a very young age his interactions with his kids,” Williams says. “Good fun-loving father, being there for his kids, jerking around with his kids, teaching his kids the proper way in life. Just like he would do for everybody else.”

It was the start – and a foreshadowing – of the work they would do in Africa for the NBA. Mutombo invited him to South Africa and Botswana to aid in building facilities for kids and, of course, play basketball with them.

“We would just encourage them never to give up, believe in themselves, and to always try to be the best. No excuses. That was his message,” Williams says. “A lot of NBA players come from Africa, and he was one of the trailblazers that really spearheaded Basketball Without Borders and gave it a lot of fuel.

“And from Africa, they were able to move into places like China and India and South America, and I went on a lot of those trips. The NBA now is such as global game, and basketball is such a global game, but it started with a lot of the outreach that he was doing.”

Mutombo used his financial resources and returned to provide aid to his native country, which has been known as the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1997.

He was instrumental in building the Biamba Mari Mutombo Hospital there, named in honor of his mother.

In recent years, Mutombo was a fixture at Hoyas games, watching his son Ryan play for his alma mater. (Mutombo and his wife, Rose, had seven children, including four nieces and nephews they adopted.)

Sometimes Williams, whose daughter Gabby was in the same graduating class as Ryan, would join him courtside.

“His famous quote ― I still use it to this day when I meet with kids and I tell ‘em that whenever you take the elevator up, meaning you make it to your dreams and get to see the top, make sure you go back down to bring somebody else up.”

Mutombo credited his grandmother with the quote. It also seems appropriate applied to him, a man who always found his way home.

“I always say that I’m glad that I had opportunity to cross paths with certain people, and Dikembe is definitely one of them,” Riley says. “He showed me something that I hadn’t seen before. He always made me feel happy when I was around him. And he always was happy to see me whenever we ran across paths to each other.

“So I just think that his passing is tough for a lot of people.”

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

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.

‘We made history, now we get to watch history.’

The Griffeys became the first father and son to play together in Major League Baseball when they were both on the Seattle Mariners during the 1990 and 1991 seasons.

All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Their first game on the same field came when Ken Sr. was 40 years old and Junior was just beginning his Hall of Fame career at age 20.

It forms a near-perfect parallel with LeBron James, 39, entering his 21st NBA season and Bronny making his NBA debut at 20.

Lakers coach JJ Redick hasn’t revealed his plans for when the historic father-son moment will occur, though he did say he would discuss things with both players in advance.

When told the Griffeys planned to be in attendance for the historic moment, Bronny James 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.’

Coming Wednesday: Players ranked Nos. 1-15

LeBron James is fast approaching 40. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are 36. Jimmy Butler is 35, Paul George will be 35 by season’s end and DamianLillard is less than a year from turning 35.

Among the interesting developments on the 2024-25 edition of USA TODAY Sports’ top 30 NBA players – who’s No. 1, who dropped off the list, who is new to the list – is that older players are redefining how long into their careers they can be stars.

The aforementioned players – all an integral part of the NBA for the better part of the past two decades – cracked our top 30, including top-10 spots for James, Curry and Durant. Depending on how long they want to play, they can remain on the list beyond this season. Simply remarkable, and a map for younger stars to follow.

With the 2024-25 season opening Tuesday night between New York-Boston and Minnesota-Los Angeles Lakers, here’s our list of the top 30 players in the league, starting with Nos. 30-16. And come back Wednesday to see who is ranked No. 1. USA TODAY Sports writers and USA TODAY Network writers voted for the players on this list:

30. New York Knicks forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns

2023-24 stats: 21.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 50.4% FG, 41.6% 3PT, 87.3% FT (62 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Karl-Anthony Towns made the All-Star team for the fourth time and was instrumental in Minnesota’s run to the Western Conference finals last season. Solid across the board – inside and outside on both ends of the court as a scorer, shooter, passer, rebounder and defender.

Last season’s ranking: not ranked

29. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson

2023-24 stats: 22.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 57% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 70.2% FT (70 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Zion Williamson played in a career-high 70 games, posting All-Star and All-NBA caliber numbers though he made neither team. However, his production is a major reason the Pelicans won 49 games and made the playoffs. If there’s improvement and he stays on the court, Williamson is headed for his third All-Star nod and first All-NBA selection.

Last season: Not ranked

28. Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero

2023-24 stats: 22.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.4 apg, 45.5% FG, 33.9% 3PT, 72.5% FT (80 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Paolo Banchero proved why he is the centerpiece of the Magic’s rise in the East. He followed up his 2022-23 Rookie of the Year campaign with an All-Star season that included increases in scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and assists. Continued progress will solidify his spot among the league’s best players.

Last season’s ranking: Not ranked

27. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard

2023-24 stats: 24.3 ppg, 7.0 apg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 spg, 42.4% FG, 35.4% 3PT, 92% FT (73 games)

Why he’s ranked here: In his first season with Milwaukee in 2023-24, Damian Lillard had slight decreases in field goal and 3-point shooting percentages but still averaged at least 24 points, seven assists and four rebounds. He was an All-Star for the eighth time and remains capable of an All-NBA performance.

Last season’s ranking: No. 12

26. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant

2023-24 stats: 25.1 ppg, 8.1 apg, 5.6 rpg, 47.1% FG, 27.5% 3PT, 81.3% FT (nine games)

Why he’s ranked here: Ja Morant played in just nine games due to a suspension related to Morant shown holding a gun on social media posts and then a shoulder injury. In his brief time back, he showed the ability to be the player he was in 2021-22 and 2022-23 when he was an All-Star in both seasons and All-NBA and Most Improved Player in 2022.

Last season’s ranking: No. 19

25. Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler

2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 49.9% FG, 41.4% 3PT, 85.8% FT (60 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Jimmy Butler wasn’t an All-Star or All-NBA (he didn’t play in the minimum 65 required games) but still posted quality stats offensively and defensively, including a career-best 3-point shooting percentage, that make him one of the league’s top players.

Last season’s ranking: No. 11

24. Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving

2023-24 stats: 25.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 spg, 49.7% FG, 41.1% 3PT, 90.5% FT (58 games)

Why he’s ranked here: A rejuvenated Kyrie Irving found success with Dallas. Though he didn’t make the All-Star team or qualify for All-NBA eligibility, he was a tiny fraction from reaching celebrated 50-40-90 shooting percentages from the field, 3-point range and free throws and was just one of nine players with at least 55 games played to average at least 25 points, five assists and five rebounds. His playoff performance was instrumental to the Mavericks’ run to the Finals.

Last season’s ranking: No. 17

23. Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey

2023-24 stats: 25.9 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 45% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 86.8% FT (70 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Tyrese Maxey’s first All-Star season in 2023-24, along with winning Most Improved Player, strengthened his position as one of the league’s bright young stars. He delivered career bests in points, assists and rebounds per game while shouldering more responsibility and more minutes. Maxey is a vital part of the 76ers’ present and future.

Last season’s ranking: not ranked

22. Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George

2023-24 stats: 22.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 47.1% FG, 41.3% 3PT, 90.7% FT (74 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Paul George is part of a generation of players still performing at an All-Star level into their mid-30s, and he continues to be an effective two-way player. He shot career highs from the field, on 3-pointers, from the free throw line and in true shooting percentage in 2023-24 – his 14th NBA season and ninth in which he made the All-Star team.

Last season’s ranking: No. 18

21. Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo

2023-24 stats: 19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 52.1% FG, 35.7% 3PT, 75.5% FT (71 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Bam Adebayo is one of the league’s best defensive players, can guard multiple positions anywhere on the court and protect the rim. He has a solid offensive game as a scorer, passer and rebounder and has developed a 3-point shot, adding to his versatility. He is a five-time All-Defensive selection and made his second consecutive All-Star team (and third overall) in 2023-24.

Last season’s ranking: No. 22

20. Sacramento Kings forward-center Domantas Sabonis

2023-24 stats: 19.4 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 8.2 apg, 59.4% FG, 37.9% 3PT, 70.4% FT (82 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Domantas Sabonis is an efficient triple-double threat every game and led the league in triple-doubles (26) and double-doubles (77). He is another one of the league’s ultra-skilled big men with elite scoring, passing and offensive rebounding abilities, which led to his second All-NBA selection.

Last season’s ranking: No. 28

19. Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox

2023-24 stats: 26.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 spg, 46.5% FG, 36.9% 3PT, 73.8% FT (74 games)

Why he’s ranked here: De’Aaron Fox was not an All-Star or All-NBA – he was in 2022-23 – but he could’ve been both. His points, rebounds and league-best steals per game were career highs and he showed steady improvement with his 3-point shooting percentage.

Last season’s ranking: No. 21

18. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell

2023-24 stats: 26.6 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 spg, 46.2% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 86.5% FT (55 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Donovan Mitchell made the All-Star team but didn’t play in enough games to be considered for All-NBA. He had the second-best shooting season of his career and was one of six players to average at least 25 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Last season’s ranking: No. 15

17. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton

2023-24 stats: 20.1 ppg, 10.9 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 47.7% FG, 36.4% 3PT, 85.5% FT (69 games)

Why he’s ranked here: In addition to his second consecutive All-Star appearance, Tyrese Haliburton became an All-NBA selection for the first time, averaging at least 20 points and 10 assists for the second consecutive season. His 10.9 assists per game led the league and his reliability as a shooter makes Haliburton one of the game’s best point guards.

Last season’s ranking: No. 30

16. San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama   

2023-24 stats: 21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 3.6 bpg, 1.2 spg, 46.5% FG, 32.5% 3PT, 79.6% FT (71 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Victor Wembanyama skyrocketed onto this list after a Rookie of the Year season that left the imagination wide open about what’s possible for a 7-footer in the NBA. Gifted offensively with plenty of room to grow as a scorer and passer and already elite defensively, he is headed toward dominance on both ends of the court.

Last season’s ranking: not ranked

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

Kristaps Porzingis came back for one game. It’s the silver lining to the latest injury he must overcome entering the 2024-25 NBA season.

Porzingis missed most of the Boston Celtics’ 2024 playoff run and suffered another setback the team described as ‘rare’ during Game 2 of the NBA Finals. He then returned to play 16 minutes in the series-clinching Game 5 when this iteration of the Celtics cemented their spot in franchise history by winning a championship. With that, the bold move to acquire Porzingis and trade away Marcus Smart for the sake of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown could be deemed a success.

But that upside also came with the risk of what’s playing out now given Porzingis’ track record. He won’t be available to play when the Celtics begin their NBA title defense during the league’s opening night Tuesday against the New York Knicks, and might not be back in uniform for awhile.

Here’s the latest update on Porzingis’ injury, including what happened this offseason and when he might return for the Celtics this season.

Is Kristaps Porzingis playing opening night?

No. The Celtics 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. Porzingis is the only player listed on the Celtics’ injury report ahead of their opening night game against the Knicks.

When will Kristaps Porzingis return?

When the Celtics announced Porzingis had surgery on June 27, 2024, it said his recovery time would be five to six months. Based on that timeline, the end of November is the earliest point in the season to expect Porzingis back. A six-month recovery would push his return to the end of December.

But Porzingis told ESPN last month the expectation is to return some time in December. He told reporters at the Celtics media day last month, ‘my ankle’s feeling really, really good’ as he ramps up workouts during his rehabilitation.

‘I’d say we’re very, very pleased with where he is, and maybe a little surprised,’ Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said about Porzingis’ progress.

Kristaps Porzingis injury history

This ankle injury is not the first major ailment Porzingis, 28, has endured since entering the NBA in 2015 with the Knicks.

After emerging as a ‘unicorn’ and potential force with the Knicks, his career was temporarily derailed by a torn ACL in his left knee in February 2018 and it eventually led to him being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He missed the entire 2018-19 season recovering from the injury and has played more than 57 games in a season just once since then, in 2022-23 with the Washington Wizards.

Before the ankle injury during Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Porzingis missed most of the Celtics’ run through the 2024 playoffs after suffering a calf injury in Game 4 of Boston’s first-round series against the Miami Heat. He didn’t return until the start of the NBA Finals.

Porzingis also tore his lateral meniscus during the 2020 playoffs and missed the start of the 2020-21 season while playing for the Mavericks.

Kristaps Porzingis stats

2023-24 NBA season with Boston Celtics

57 games played
20.1 points/game
7.2 rebounds/game
2 assists/game
1.9 blocks/game
37.5% from 3-point range
51.6% from the field

Career (8 seasons)

19.7 points/game
7.9 rebounds/game
1.8 assists/game
1.8 blocks/game
36.1% from 3-point range
45.8% from the field

Coming Wednesday: Players ranked Nos. 1-15

LeBron James is fast approaching 40. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are 36. Jimmy Butler is 35, Paul George will be 35 by season’s end and DamianLillard is less than a year from turning 35.

Among the interesting developments on the 2024-25 edition of USA TODAY Sports’ top 30 NBA players – who’s No. 1, who dropped off the list, who is new to the list – is that older players are redefining how long into their careers they can be stars.

The aforementioned players – all an integral part of the NBA for the better part of the past two decades – cracked our top 30, including top-10 spots for James, Curry and Durant. Depending on how long they want to play, they can remain on the list beyond this season. Simply remarkable, and a map for younger stars to follow.

With the 2024-25 season opening Tuesday night between New York-Boston and Minnesota-Los Angeles Lakers, here’s our list of the top 30 players in the league, starting with Nos. 30-16. And come back Wednesday to see who is ranked No. 1. USA TODAY Sports writers and USA TODAY Network writers voted for the players on this list:

30. New York Knicks forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns

2023-24 stats: 21.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 50.4% FG, 41.6% 3PT, 87.3% FT (62 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Karl-Anthony Towns made the All-Star team for the fourth time and was instrumental in Minnesota’s run to the Western Conference finals last season. Solid across the board – inside and outside on both ends of the court as a scorer, shooter, passer, rebounder and defender.

Last season’s ranking: not ranked

29. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson

2023-24 stats: 22.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 57% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 70.2% FT (70 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Zion Williamson played in a career-high 70 games, posting All-Star and All-NBA caliber numbers though he made neither team. However, his production is a major reason the Pelicans won 49 games and made the playoffs. If there’s improvement and he stays on the court, Williamson is headed for his third All-Star nod and first All-NBA selection.

Last season: Not ranked

28. Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero

2023-24 stats: 22.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.4 apg, 45.5% FG, 33.9% 3PT, 72.5% FT (80 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Paolo Banchero proved why he is the centerpiece of the Magic’s rise in the East. He followed up his 2022-23 Rookie of the Year campaign with an All-Star season that included increases in scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and assists. Continued progress will solidify his spot among the league’s best players.

Last season’s ranking: Not ranked

27. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard

2023-24 stats: 24.3 ppg, 7.0 apg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 spg, 42.4% FG, 35.4% 3PT, 92% FT (73 games)

Why he’s ranked here: In his first season with Milwaukee in 2023-24, Damian Lillard had slight decreases in field goal and 3-point shooting percentages but still averaged at least 24 points, seven assists and four rebounds. He was an All-Star for the eighth time and remains capable of an All-NBA performance.

Last season’s ranking: No. 12

26. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant

2023-24 stats: 25.1 ppg, 8.1 apg, 5.6 rpg, 47.1% FG, 27.5% 3PT, 81.3% FT (nine games)

Why he’s ranked here: Ja Morant played in just nine games due to a suspension related to Morant shown holding a gun on social media posts and then a shoulder injury. In his brief time back, he showed the ability to be the player he was in 2021-22 and 2022-23 when he was an All-Star in both seasons and All-NBA and Most Improved Player in 2022.

Last season’s ranking: No. 19

25. Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler

2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 49.9% FG, 41.4% 3PT, 85.8% FT (60 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Jimmy Butler wasn’t an All-Star or All-NBA (he didn’t play in the minimum 65 required games) but still posted quality stats offensively and defensively, including a career-best 3-point shooting percentage, that make him one of the league’s top players.

Last season’s ranking: No. 11

24. Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving

2023-24 stats: 25.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 spg, 49.7% FG, 41.1% 3PT, 90.5% FT (58 games)

Why he’s ranked here: A rejuvenated Kyrie Irving found success with Dallas. Though he didn’t make the All-Star team or qualify for All-NBA eligibility, he was a tiny fraction from reaching celebrated 50-40-90 shooting percentages from the field, 3-point range and free throws and was just one of nine players with at least 55 games played to average at least 25 points, five assists and five rebounds. His playoff performance was instrumental to the Mavericks’ run to the Finals.

Last season’s ranking: No. 17

23. Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey

2023-24 stats: 25.9 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 45% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 86.8% FT (70 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Tyrese Maxey’s first All-Star season in 2023-24, along with winning Most Improved Player, strengthened his position as one of the league’s bright young stars. He delivered career bests in points, assists and rebounds per game while shouldering more responsibility and more minutes. Maxey is a vital part of the 76ers’ present and future.

Last season’s ranking: not ranked

22. Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George

2023-24 stats: 22.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 47.1% FG, 41.3% 3PT, 90.7% FT (74 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Paul George is part of a generation of players still performing at an All-Star level into their mid-30s, and he continues to be an effective two-way player. He shot career highs from the field, on 3-pointers, from the free throw line and in true shooting percentage in 2023-24 – his 14th NBA season and ninth in which he made the All-Star team.

Last season’s ranking: No. 18

21. Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo

2023-24 stats: 19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 52.1% FG, 35.7% 3PT, 75.5% FT (71 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Bam Adebayo is one of the league’s best defensive players, can guard multiple positions anywhere on the court and protect the rim. He has a solid offensive game as a scorer, passer and rebounder and has developed a 3-point shot, adding to his versatility. He is a five-time All-Defensive selection and made his second consecutive All-Star team (and third overall) in 2023-24.

Last season’s ranking: No. 22

20. Sacramento Kings forward-center Domantas Sabonis

2023-24 stats: 19.4 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 8.2 apg, 59.4% FG, 37.9% 3PT, 70.4% FT (82 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Domantas Sabonis is an efficient triple-double threat every game and led the league in triple-doubles (26) and double-doubles (77). He is another one of the league’s ultra-skilled big men with elite scoring, passing and offensive rebounding abilities, which led to his second All-NBA selection.

Last season’s ranking: No. 28

19. Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox

2023-24 stats: 26.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 spg, 46.5% FG, 36.9% 3PT, 73.8% FT (74 games)

Why he’s ranked here: De’Aaron Fox was not an All-Star or All-NBA – he was in 2022-23 – but he could’ve been both. His points, rebounds and league-best steals per game were career highs and he showed steady improvement with his 3-point shooting percentage.

Last season’s ranking: No. 21

18. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell

2023-24 stats: 26.6 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 spg, 46.2% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 86.5% FT (55 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Donovan Mitchell made the All-Star team but didn’t play in enough games to be considered for All-NBA. He had the second-best shooting season of his career and was one of six players to average at least 25 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Last season’s ranking: No. 15

17. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton

2023-24 stats: 20.1 ppg, 10.9 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 47.7% FG, 36.4% 3PT, 85.5% FT (69 games)

Why he’s ranked here: In addition to his second consecutive All-Star appearance, Tyrese Haliburton became an All-NBA selection for the first time, averaging at least 20 points and 10 assists for the second consecutive season. His 10.9 assists per game led the league and his reliability as a shooter makes Haliburton one of the game’s best point guards.

Last season’s ranking: No. 30

16. San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama   

2023-24 stats: 21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 3.6 bpg, 1.2 spg, 46.5% FG, 32.5% 3PT, 79.6% FT (71 games)

Why he’s ranked here: Victor Wembanyama skyrocketed onto this list after a Rookie of the Year season that left the imagination wide open about what’s possible for a 7-footer in the NBA. Gifted offensively with plenty of room to grow as a scorer and passer and already elite defensively, he is headed toward dominance on both ends of the court.

Last season’s ranking: not ranked

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

Lamar Jackson threw for five touchdowns, Derrick Henry racked up 169 yards on the ground as the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 41-31, on ‘Monday Night Football.’

The long-term injury impact of this game might be the biggest takeaway from the high-scoring affair.

The Buccaneers lost their top two receivers — Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — to injuries. Godwin’s injury, which occurred in the game’s final minute, will sideline the receiver indefinitely. Godwin’s absence will leave a big hole in the Buccaneers’ offense; the eighth-year player out of Penn State was among the league leaders with 50 receptions for 576 yards.

The Ravens’ three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey also left with a knee injury, which was suffered on his second interception of the game.

Tampa Bay had gotten out to a 10-0 lead and threatened to extend that lead, but Baker Mayfield threw an interception in the end zone. The momentum from that point on was in the Ravens’ favor. Baltimore scored 34 unanswered points. Tampa Bay didn’t score again until the fourth quarter.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

The Ravens improved to 5-2 and moved into a first-place tie atop the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, fell to 4-3 and are in a first-place tie in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons, who also lost in during Week 7.

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Ravens vs. Buccaneers highlights

Chris Godwin shaken up

With under one minute to go, Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin stayed down on the ground after taking a hit from linebacker Roquan Smith. ESPN did not show a replay of the hit on their broadcast, so the nature of the injury is unclear for now. Godwin required immediate assistance from medical personnel after the tackle.

Zay Flowers foils second onside attempt

The Buccaneers likely needed to recover a second straight onside kick to stay alive in the game, but Zay Flowers didn’t let that happen. Chase McLaughlin’s bouncing kick ended up in the hands of the Ravens’ receiver playing on the hands team, and Baltimore will try to run down the clock with under two minutes to go.

Ravens 41, Buccaneers 31: Rachaad White closes the gap

Tampa Bay running back Rachaad White found himself wide open on a crossing route to the left side and waltzed his way into the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown reception. It’s 41-31 Ravens at the two-minute warning.

Buccaneers recover onside kick

Tampa Bay has a lot of work to do to come back from a 17-point deficit with less than four minutes left, but they completed step one by recovering an onside kick. Tavierre Thomas leaped to snag the kick after Chase McLaughlin executed the onside attempt well to give his teammates a chance.

Tampa Bay gets the ball back on their own 48-yard line with just over three and a half minutes to go.

Ravens 41, Buccaneers 24: Bucky Irving helps cut into deficit

Rookie running back Bucky Irving drove forward on a one-yard halfback dive play to find the end zone and cut into the Ravens’ lead once more. The Bucs failed the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, so it’s 41-24 Baltimore with under four minutes to play.

Ravens 41, Buccaneers 18: Baltimore gets 40-burger on Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry connection

Derrick Henry finally hit pay dirt to add on to his already huge game. The running back made his first reception of the game in the fourth quarter and took the 13-yard pass in for the touchdown.

The score was also Lamar Jackson’s fifth passing touchdown of the game, giving him a third career outing with 50-plus rushing yards and five passing touchdowns. He is the only quarterback in NFL history with more than one such game.

It’s 41-18 Ravens with six and a half minutes left in this ‘Monday Night Football’ clash.

Derrick Henry breaks off another explosive run

For the second time in three possessions, Ravens running back Derrick Henry made an outside move to the left and found open space. Henry picked up 39 yards on Baltimore’s second play of the drive and put his team inside the Buccaneers’ 30-yard line.

Ravens 34, Buccaneers 28: Tampa Bay capitalizes on turnover

Buccaneers running back Rachaad White took a slip screen pass 11 yards to the house for his team’s first score since the first quarter. Head coach Todd Bowles decided to go for two points to cut the deficit to two scores, and Baker Mayfield hit receiver Sterling Shepard in the back left corner of the end zone to convert the attempt.

It’s 34-18 Ravens with 11 and a half minutes remaining in the game.

Zyon McCollum recovers fumble

Buccaneers CB Zyon McCollum was the benefactor of a backwards pass that Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers dropped. McCollum dragged a couple of Baltimore offensive players all of the way to the end zone with him, but the touchdown got called back. The corner had a knee down and was touched before his fumble return.

The play still gave Tampa Bay the ball on the Baltimore 30 one and a half minutes into the fourth quarter.

Ravens 34, Buccaneers 10: Lamar Jackson throws for fourth TD of game

Mark Andrews was the recipient of a touchdown pass for the second time on the night late on the third quarter.

The Ravens lead the Buccaneers 34-10 with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Derrick Henry breaks off 81-yard run

Derrick Henry, the Ravens’ lead back, slipped past a few defenders at the line of scrimmage and was off to the races on the first play of Baltimore’s next possession. A good pursuit angle by Tampa Bay cornerback Zyon McCollum was all that kept Henry from a 92-yard touchdown run. Instead, Baltimore got first-and-10 on the Bucs’ 11-yard line.

Ravens 27, Buccaneers 10: Lamar Jackson and Rashod Bateman connect for long TD

For the second time of the night, Lamar Jackson found his former first-round receiver, Rashod Bateman, on a deep throw. The first one went for 59 yards in the second quarter. The second was for 49 yards and six points.

It’s 27-10 Baltimore halfway through the third quarter. Bateman is up to 113 yards and a touchdown on just three catches.

Chase McLaughlin doinks 55-yard field goal attempt

The Buccaneers’ kicker had the distance on a long field goal try into the wind, but his kick was off of the mark. The 55-yard attempt bounced off of the right upright and back to the field, no good.

Marlon Humphrey declared out with knee injury

After recording two interceptions on the night, Marlon Humphrey suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup.

Ravens 20, Buccaneers 10: Justin Tucker connects on 52-yard field goal

With the Ravens backed up to their own 48-yard line after a broken play, running back Justice Hill was able to pick up 18 yards on third-and-25 to put Baltimore into field goal range. Justin Tucker drove his second field goal attempt 52 yards and extended the Ravens’ lead to 20-10.

The Buccaneers will take over with over 12 minutes left in the third quarter.

Ravens 17, Buccaneers 10: Baltimore recovers from penalties to extend lead

Near the end of the second quarter, Baltimore was penalized three times in four plays to back it up to second-and-goal from the Tampa Bay 38-yard line. A couple of big plays from Justice Hill and Nelson Agholor got the Ravens down to the 10, and Justin Tucker kicked a 28-yard field goal to put more points on the board.

It’s 17-10 Baltimore at halftime after the Buccaneers kneeled to end the first half. The Ravens will receive the kick to begin the second half.

Marlon Humphrey questionable to return with knee injury

Marlon Humphrey headed back to the locker room as the second quarter wound down. He was banged up on his second interception of the night and appeared to be walking normally from what was shown on the ESPN broadcast.

Marlon Humphrey banged up after his second interception

Marlon Humphrey, the 28-year-old cornerback, recorded a second interception just one drive after making his first of the night. This one will give the Ravens the ball back on their own 40-yard line after Humphrey was able to trap the ball against his helmet through a collision with a fellow defender and contact with the ground.

However, Humphrey remained on the ground shaken up after the play. The nature of his injury is unclear for now.

Mike Evans declared out for the game

Veteran receiver Mike Evans will not return to the game after re-aggravating his hamstring injury in the second quarter.

Evans had been trying to play through the already existing injury and already scored a touchdown on Monday night, but he appeared to tweak it once again on a deep pass that nearly resulted in his second touchdown.

Ravens 14, Buccaneers 10: Justice Hill scores as Baltimore capitalizes on INT

One play after an apparent rushing touchdown by Lamar Jackson was overturned by a holding call, Justice Hill took a short screen pass into the end zone from 18 yards out. It’s now 14-10 Ravens with just over four minutes left in the first half.

Lamar Jackson, Rashod Bateman connect for 59 yards

Lamar Jackson was able to avoid a safety blitz from Antoine Winfield Jr. on the second play of the Ravens’ possession. He scrambled out of the pocket to his right before making a throw across his body to hit a wide-open Rashod Bateman in the middle of the field after blown coverage in the secondary. The pass gave the Ravens first-and-goal from the Tampa Bay 8-yard line.

Marlon Humphrey picks off Baker Mayfield in end zone

Three plays after Mike Evans’ injury, Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers were looking to score from the Ravens’ 3-yard line.

The quarterback was well-protected in the pocket but couldn’t initially find an open receiver to his left. Eventually, Mayfield looked back to his right and fired a ball to the back right corner of the end zone. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey was right there waiting, and he jumped to make the easy interception.

Mike Evans suffers apparent leg injury in second quarter

Mike Evans, who was attempting to play through a hamstring injury, stayed down on the field after he nearly caught his second touchdown of the game. The veteran receiver was grabbing at the back of his right leg, seemingly indicating a re-aggravation of the hamstring injury.

Evans walked off of the field under his own power, but he was limping as he did so.

Earlier in the game, Evans collected his 100th career touchdown reception.

Buccaneers 10, Ravens 7: Mark Andrews puts the Ravens on the board

Baltimore put together chunk play after chunk play on their ensuing 70-yard drive. It culminated with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews over the middle to pull the Ravens back within one score.

It’s 10-7 Buccaneers with 12 and a half minutes to play in the second quarter.

Zay Flowers shaken up after reception

Second-year Ravens receiver Zay Flowers had to leave the game after a 19-yard reception early in the second quarter.

Flowers appeared to twist his right ankle as he was tackled by the Buccaneers’ Antoine Winfield Jr.

Buccaneers 10, Ravens 0: Chase McLaughlin extends Tampa Bay’s lead after overturned TD

Baker Mayfield’s apparent 8-yard pass to find receiver Chris Godwin in the back of the end zone was overturned for a holding call. One 13-yard screen pass to tight end Cade Otton later, kicker Chase McLaughlin was set up for a chip-shot, 23-yard field goal. He sent it through the uprights to push Tampa Bay’s lead to 10-0.

Baltimore takes over with just two seconds left in the first quarter.

Buccaneers pass-rush comes up big on Ravens’ first drive

Soon after the Ravens entered Tampa Bay territory, the Buccaneers sacked quarterback Lamar Jackson on consecutive plays to force a punt. Second-year edge rusher YaYa Diaby picked up his second sack of the season on second down before safety Antoine Winfield Jr. came through on third down to create a fourth-and-28 for Baltimore.

Jordan Stout’s punt ended up in the end zone for a touchback, so the Buccaneers took over at their own 20-yard line with six minutes left in the first quarter.

Buccaneers 7, Ravens 0: Mike Evans collects 100th career TD catch

On the Buccaneers’ first possession of the night, quarterback Baker Mayfield capped off a 70-yard scoring drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans. The play-action passing play left the veteran receiver with plenty of separation in the front left corner of the end zone, and he hauled in his 100th career touchdown reception as a result.

Evans became the 11th player in NFL history to catch 100 touchdown passes in his career. The other 10 players ahead of him are either in the Hall of Fame or will be.

The touchdown catch also put Evans over 12,000 career receiving yards, becoming the 30th player in NFL history to accomplish that feat.

He is just the sixth player in NFL history to have both 12,000 receiving yards and 100 receiving touchdowns all with the same team.

Buccaneers vs. Ravens start time

Date: Monday, Oct. 21
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The second, the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals, will start at 9 p.m. ET (on ESPN+).

Buccaneers vs. Ravens TV channel

TV channel: ESPN | ESPN2 (‘ManningCast’)

ESPN is the broadcast home of ‘Monday Night Football’. Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (color commentary), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporter) will be on the call.

ESPN’s popular alternate broadcast, the ‘ManningCast’ returns. The two former NFL quarterbacks will have double duty with both matchups on Monday.

Buccaneers vs. Ravens picks, predictions

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 7 ‘MNF’ matchup between the Ravens and Buccaneers will shape up:

Lorenzo Reyes: Ravens 29, Buccaneers 20
Tyler Dragon: Ravens 26, Buccaneers 20
Richard Morin: Ravens 33, Buccaneers 24
Jordan Mendoza: Buccaneers 24, Ravens 23

MOST VALUABLE BET: Who is the favorite to win NFL MVP in 2024? 

Buccaneers vs. Ravens features two of the biggest NFL players

When Tampa Bay’s defense is on the field it will face a tough test against the Ravens offense, which is averaging 471 yards per game over their current four-game winning streak. That matchup also will include battles between two of the biggest players in the NFL: Baltimore right guard Daniel Faalele and Tampa Bay defensive lineman Vita Vea. — Ayrton Ostly

Who are the highest paid NFL players at each position?

We have a complete list at every position:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive tackles
Offensive guards
Centers
Edge rushers
Interior defensive linemen
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties 
Kickers 
Punters 

4th & Monday: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz 

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Check out the latest edition …

Best (and worst) from NFL Week 7: Statement wins for Lions, Packers

Who is the highest-paid NFL player?

The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player in the preseason, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.

Complete list of the league’s highest-paid players

Buccaneers vs. Ravens odds, moneyline, over/under

The Ravens are favorites to defeat the Buccaneers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Spread: Ravens (-4)
Moneyline: Ravens (-225); Buccaneers (+180)
Over/under: 50.5 

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FEELING LUCKY? Here are the best parlay bets and odds for NFL games this week

Why did Lamar Jackson fall in the draft?

There was one notable stat that stood out as a potential problem for Jackson. He completed just 59.1 percent of his passes during his final college season and just 57 percent total for his college career. It’s rare for quarterbacks to significantly improve their accuracy and efficiency at the NFL level so Jackson’s ‘tendency to miss on simple throws,’ as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein put it, was a concern some talent evaluators had.

That’s also why a select few – like former Indianapolis Colts general manager and ESPN talent Bill Polian – argued that Jackson should move to receiver at the NFL level.

Few agreed with Polian’s take, though Jackson revealed on one of the Ravens’ podcasts that the Los Angeles Chargers asked him to work out as a receiver at the 2018 NFL Combine.

AFC North standings

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
Cleveland Browns (1-6)

NFC South standings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
New Orleans Saints (2-5)
Carolina Panthers (1-6)

Buccaneers vs. Ravens weather update

It’s going to be a clear night in Tampa with a high of 78 degrees at kickoff and a low of 73 degrees at midnight. According to the Weather Channel, winds will max out at five mph while chances of precipitation are 5% and under for the entire game.

Ravens inactives vs. Buccaneers

S Beau Brade
RB Rasheen Ali
LB Malik Harrison
EDGE Adisa Isaac
C Nick Samac
DT Broderick Washington

Buccaneers inactives vs. Ravens

DL C.J. Brewer
P Jake Camarda
TE Payne Durham
G Royce Newman
EDGE Jose Ramirez

Derrick Henry can threaten NFL rushing touchdown record

With eight touchdowns through six games, Derrick Henry has one more touchdown through as many games than LaDainian Tomlinson had in his record-breaking campaign in 2006.

Henry also has an extra game with which to chase the record.

The NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a single season is 28, set by Tomlinson.

Baker Mayfield contract details

Mayfield signed an extension with the Buccaneers this offseason to stay with Tampa Bay through the 2026 season.

Term: 3 years
Total value: $100 million
Average annual value (AAV): $33.33 million
Guaranteed money: $50 million

Full list of highest-paid NFL players

Across all metrics, the top-10 highest paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. Here’s how the breakdown looks by AAV, guarantees, and total contract value this season.

AAV

Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $60 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $55 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $55 million
Jordan Love, Packers: $55 million
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: $53.1 million
Jared Goff, Lions: $53 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $52.5 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $52 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $51 million
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $46.1 million

Guaranteed money

Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $231 million
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $219.01 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $218.74 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $200 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $185 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $179.4 million
Jared Goff: $170.61 million
Tua Tagovailoa: $167.17 million
Jordan Love: $160.3 million

Total contract value

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $450 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $275 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $275 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $262.5 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $260 million
Josh Allen, Bills: $258.04 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $255 million
Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $240 million
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $230.5 million
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback by AAV at $35 million per year and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback by total value at $170 million.

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