The Lead

Lamar Jackson took the field on Sunday for the first time since the Ravens' shocking playoff exit last season, and the unanimous league MVP showed signs that he might have gotten even better. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec joins us to discuss how Lamar has rebounded, physically and mentally, from that tough loss, and why he might be even more dangerous to opponents this fall. Jeff Zrebiec's analysis...

The Las Vegas Golden Knights have been cruising through the playoffs with a somewhat unexpected goaltender: Robin Lehner, who has taken over for franchise netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. Lehner's current playoff tear is the latest in a remarkable journey for the talented Swede, who opened up about his struggles with addiction and mental health issues in an article on The Athletic two years ago. Katie...

The 2020 NFL season gets underway Thursday night with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Houston Texans, and that means the much-anticipated debut of former LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Today, The Athletic’s Nate Taylor joins us to discuss what Andy Reid and the Chiefs see in the rookie, why Patrick Mahomes went out of his way to get him on the team, and whether th...

Two thirds of the way into baseball’s 60-game season, the New York Yankees have reached a critical juncture of their season, as they’re fighting to stay in the playoff chase, and facing off against one of the teams ahead of them in the standings: the Toronto Blue Jays. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Lindsey Adler to discuss everything that’s gone wrong for the Bronx Bombers in 2020, why we’...

After months of questions, skepticism, and the NFL insisting it will start its season on time, the league is set to...start its season on time. The Athletic’s Robert Mays joins us to talk about how the NFL has navigated the treacherous waters of the pandemic, what will be unusual about this year's season on the field, and why the NFL's future is in good hands, thanks to a crop of amazingly talente...

Legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson passed away this week, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. He built the Hoya program from the ground up by recruiting local talent, often from neighborhoods where many people would never have considered attending Georgetown. The Athletic's David Aldridge covered Thompson and the Hoyas when he first became a sports reporter, and he joins us to tal...

On Tuesday, Jamal Murray helped the Nuggets finish off a remarkable comeback against the Utah Jazz, climbing back from a 3-1 deficit in the series to move on to the Western Conference Semifinals. With Game 1 against Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the Clippers coming up tonight, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Kendra Andrews to discuss whether Murray — inconsistent throughout the early part of...

Last Week, Chicago White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito pulled off something no other pitcher has done in 2020 when he threw a no-hitter against the Pirates. Today, The Athletic’s James Fegan joins us to discuss Giolito’s early days as a baseball prodigy in Los Angeles, his rise and fall as a top prospect for the Washington Nationals, and how he went from one of the worst pitchers in baseball in 2...

The Tampa Bay Lightning have eliminated the regular season's best team, the Boston Bruins, from the NHL playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. And, despite having a hefty amount of star power, the Lightning have been getting a major boost from role players. The Athletic’s Joe Smith explains how some of the team's recent signings have helped transform the perennial underachievers i...

Tonight, the Miami Heat take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and Miami has gotten a big lift so far from two veteran stars: Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic. Today, The Athletic’s Manny Navarro joins us to discuss the friendship that has formed between Butler and Dragic — over soccer, beer and extreme competitiveness — and how it’s...

The Las Vegas Raiders raised some eyebrows with their first pick in this year's NFL draft, taking Henry Ruggs with the 12th pick, ahead of more high-profile wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb. The Athletic’s Tashan Reed spoke with Ruggs about his life and football career, and joins us to explain what drives him and how the electric playmaker overcame doubters and tragedy to make it to the...

The Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court on Wednesday for their playoff game against the Orlando Magic as an act of protest against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Two more games were later canceled, and the Clippers and Lakers have reportedly voted in favor of ending the season. The Athletic's Michael Lee joins us to explain how the historic day's events unfolded, what all...

The one award in all of sports that seemed like a lock this year was the WNBA's Rookie of the Year. But with rookie sensation Sabrina Ionescu out with an ankle injury, the door is now wide open. The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins us to talk about two first year players -- Crystal Dangerfield and Julie Allemand -- who have been stepping up in a big way and making a case for the honor. More from...

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic put in a performance for the ages on Sunday. After injuring his ankle two days earlier, the 21-year-old wrapped up the ankle and put his team on his back, and won the game on a series of clutch shots in overtime. The Athletic's Tim Cato, who has closely chronicled Doncic's career, joins us to explain why no one should have been surprised by the superlative perform...

The San Diego Padres hit a staggering total of five grand slams last week, and one of them — from Fernando Tatis Jr. — sparked a controversy. Today, we’re joined by Doug Glanville — former big league outfielder and co-host of the Starkville podcast — to discuss whether Tatis was in the wrong for breaking one of baseball’s unwritten rules, and whether those rules have finally reached a tipping poin...

Thomas Muller is one of the best soccer players in the world -- and also one of the strangest. The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein recently watched him play live in an empty stadium in London and noticed something that changed his understanding of the German star and his outsized influence on games. Raphael joins us to discuss Muller's unusual style and why he could be the key to a Bayern Munich Cha...

Tuesday night, Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers continued their remarkable run at Disney World, defeating LeBron James and the Lakers in their playoff opener. With Game 2 coming up tonight, The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson — who recently spoke to Lilllard — joins us to talk about the Portland point guard’s incredible performance, and how growing up in Oakland gave him the mindset to thrive insid...

Despite being a Hart Trophy finalist, a former first overall pick, and the best player on one of the top teams in the NHL, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has remained a relatively unknown superstar. The Athletic's Ryan Clark joins us to talk about why that's the case, how MacKinnon has overcome challenges on his path to greatness, and why, with so many stars bowing out of the 2020 play...

So far in the 2020 MLB season, very few players — if any — have been more electric than Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Today, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin joins us to explain why the 21-year-old is already drawing favorable comparisons to the best players in the game (including Mike Trout), and why he’s well-equipped to handle everything that comes with his ascent toward superstardom.&...

The NBA Playoffs get underway today at Disney World, and one of the favorites to win the whole thing — LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers — have not looked dominant in the bubble. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bill Oram to discuss the Lakers’ uneven play in Orlando, whether they’re ready to flip the switch and make a run, and why the supremely confident Kyle Kuzma could be their X...

Baltimore recently lost a sports icon. Mo Gaba first gained fame as a 9-year-old, when he began calling into a local sports talk radio show and entertaining listeners with his unique sense of humor and unforgettable voice. But then, as his lifelong battle with cancer became known to the public, his story took on a new meaning. The Athletic's Britt Ghiroli, who met Mo several times, joins us to ref...

Last week, college football seemed to be moving full speed ahead, albeit with a limited schedule. But on Tuesday, the Big Ten and PAC-12 announced that they would not be playing football this fall after all. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbauch joins us to explain how this apparently sudden shift came about, and whether or not the other Power Five conferences will follow suit. More from Nicole Auerbach...

After entering the NBA bubble as one of the most intriguing teams to watch, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans are getting ready to head home, as they’ve officially been eliminated from the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Today, The Athletic’s Will Guillory joins us to look back on Zion's turbulent rookie year — a year filled with peaks and setbacks — and ask if it’s time to adjust our expectations aro...

Orlando City SC faces the Portland Timbers in tonight's MLS Is Back Final. And Orlando has made it deep into the tournament largely thanks to former Manchester United star Nani, who signed with the Florida team last year. Today, the Athletic’s Sam Stejskal joins us to discuss the Portuguese winger's remarkable career, his recent MLS heroics, and what his time in the U.S. has revealed about the man...

Just over two weeks into the 2020 season, Major League Baseball has seen an alarming number of injuries to pitchers, including Justin Verlander, Mike Soroka and Shohei Ohtani, who was back on the mound for the first time in nearly two years after Tommy John surgery. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris to look more closely at the cases of Verlander, Ohtani and Eduardo Rodriguez, and di...