Inter Miami's first-leg match of the Concacaf Champions Cup against Sporting Kansas City will now be played on Feb. 19, after the sporting organization decided to postpone the event by 24 hours due to the adverse weather conditions in Kansas City.

According to multiple weather reports, a winter snowstorm is expected to bring between four to seven inches of snow across the city.

"The decision to reschedule the match has been made to prioritize player and fan safety, and in close coordination with the two participating clubs and the local authorities," Concacaf said in a statement.

New Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said in the pre-match news conference that the two teams remained in communication over the possibility to move the match to a different date, as both agreed on the difficulty of playing in harsh conditions.

"It's not just a matter of the game, if the snow falls like they say is going to fall, we believe that the city is going to completely collapse, so people won't be able to go to the field, the accesses may be closed. Many times you only think about the game itself and not everything that surrounds it," he said.

Before Concacaf confirmed the postponement of the match, Mascherano clarified that Lionel Messi would be participating in the confrontation against Sporting KC regardless of the conditions. Inter Miami's game plan will not vary depending on the weather.

"Messi's availability is 100% and I can guarantee that Leo will play," he said.

"The reality is that the lineup and the plan are not going to change much, that is, the reality is that we will try to be protagonists and try to follow the same line that we have shown throughout the preseason. Clearly the weather factor, especially if there is snow, can harm or condition the facts of our game, but obviously we are going with the hope of being able to achieve a good result that will put us on the path to the playoffs."

Inter Miami will now officially kick off the 2025 campaign on Wednesday night against Sporting Kansas City at 8 p.m. ET.

Major League Soccer on Monday clarified that Inter Miami's season opener against New York City FC, currently set for Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will go on as scheduled.

Auburn's win at Alabama confirmed the Tigers would keep the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll for a sixth consecutive week.

The Tigers (23-2) received 59 of 60 first-place votes in Monday's poll, reclaiming nearly all the support lost when they fell at home to Florida on Feb. 8. Auburn had been the unanimous No. 1 for three straight weeks before that loss but remained at the top this past week despite seeing nearly half of those first-place votes go primarily to Alabama, with a few to Florida and Tennessee.

But the Tigers won Saturday in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 road matchup against the rival Crimson Tide, hours after the committee that will choose the 68-team field for the NCAA tournament put Auburn as its No. 1 overall seed in its preliminary rankings.

The two teams to beat the Tigers sit right behind them. Florida and Duke were tied for third last week, and the Gators inched past the Blue Devils to break that tie and take the No. 2 spot while claiming the remaining first-place vote.

Alabama fell to No. 4, followed by Houston, Tennessee, Texas A&M -- with its highest ranking since December 2017 -- Iowa State, Texas Tech and St. John's to round out the top 10.

Of that group, the Red Raiders represented the only change from this past week's set of teams, climbing three spots to replace Purdue for their first top-10 appearance in three years. Grant McCasland's squad, which has lost just twice since the start of 2025, was unranked until cracking the poll at No. 22 on Jan. 27.

Rising

Michigan had the week's biggest jump among ranked teams, climbing eight spots to No. 12 after beating Purdue this past week and pushing its win streak to six games.

No. 15 Missouri jumped six spots, while No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 18 Clemson and No. 20 Maryland each rose five spots.

In all, 12 teams moved up from their position this past week.

Sliding

Memphis took the biggest tumble of the week, falling eight spots to No. 22 after its overtime loss at Wichita State ended an eight-game winning streak.

No. 13 Purdue, No. 19 Arizona and No. 23 Kansas -- the preseason No. 1-ranked team -- all fell six spots, while No. 24 Mississippi tumbled five.

Ten teams fell from this past week's poll.

Welcome back

No. 25 Louisville was the week's lone new addition, returning to the poll for the second time after a two-week stint in January. First-year coach Pat Kelsey has guided the program to its first 20-win season since 2019-20, with the Cardinals having lost just once since mid-December.

Farewell (for now)

Creighton (No. 24) fell out of the rankings for the second time this season. The Bluejays were ranked for the first four weeks, then returned this past week for what turned out to be a one-week stay.

Conference watch

The Southeastern Conference had a national-best nine teams, including three of the top four and five of the top 10. The Big 12 and Big Ten each had five teams, though the Big 12 had three in the top 10 while the highest-ranked Big Ten team checked in at 11th.

The Atlantic Coast Conference had three, followed by the Big East with two and the American Athletic Conference with one.

It's not possible to fully compensate Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark for what she has meant to the WNBA, her agent, Erin Kane, told ESPN.

"Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she's really worth to that league? I don't think that's possible," said Kane, who also represents WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, Arike Ogunbowale and a host of other prominent athletes for Excel Sports Management.

"She's part of a larger player body. They all need to be paid more. She should be recognized for what she has done and what she's brought to the league from an economic standpoint. It's as simple as that."

Clark enters her second season with the Fever after breaking the league's assists record as a rookie. She and the rest of a star-studded rookie class helped drive the WNBA's most-watched regular season in 24 years and its highest attendance in more than 20 years.

An economist at Indiana University Columbus interviewed by the Indianapolis Star recently calculated that Clark was responsible for $36 million in economic impact to the city of Indianapolis and almost 27% of the league's economic activity for the 2024 season, including attendance, merchandise sales and television.

Clark's salary is expected to be just over $78,000 for the 2025 season.

WNBA salaries are collectively bargained and range from roughly $64,154 to $241,984 for a player on a supermaximum contract. The Women's National Basketball Players Association opted out of its current CBA last October -- with the prospect of a work stoppage if a new deal isn't reached by the end of the 2025 season. The union said at the time that players are seeking a "business model that reflects their true value, encompassing higher salaries," among other benefits.

"The most important thing always has been getting WNBA players paid for what they do on the court," Kane said. "I'm very, very hopeful for this CBA negotiation that it will be progressive and move the line forward a lot."

Upstart women's league Unrivaled, which wraps up its first season in mid-March, currently pays its players an average salary of more than $220,000, in addition to an equity stake in the league. Kane says she thinks there will be more equity for women athletes in the future "in the leagues that they're continuing to participate in, and play in, and build."

The WNBA last year announced an 11-year media rights deal valued at about $2.2 billion -- or $200 million per year, which is significantly higher than the $60 million the league currently gets.

WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson said last July that the league is being undervalued in the deal, which was negotiated by the NBA, which owns about 60% of the WNBA.

"I think we're ready for a spin-off [from the NBA]," Kane told ESPN. "I just think that the NBA is incentivized to make decisions that are good for the NBA, and those are not always aligned with what's good for the WNBA. And so, for the sake of the league that I work in, I want women and women's basketball to be able to make clean, clear choices that are in their own best interest."

The two-week NFL franchise tag window opens Tuesday and runs until 4 p.m. ET on March 4. During that time frame, each team is allowed to tag one player who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Doing so would keep the player with the franchise for the 2025 season.

Franchise tag figures are based on the top five annual salaries at each position, and the price goes up each time a player gets tagged. Teams must determine whether it's in their best interest to pay the franchise tag price, extend the player or possibly tag him and continue negotiating a long-term deal.

Last year, nine players were tagged, including two who then were traded. The Carolina Panthers sent pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants just a week after tagging him, and the Kansas City Chiefs sent cornerback L'Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans before March was out.

Here is a look at each NFL team and which players are franchise tag candidates:

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Since the Bills have regularly signed players to extensions before they enter free agency, they haven't had to use the franchise tag. The Bills haven't used the franchise tag in the past seven offseasons under general manager Brandon Beane. While there are some big decisions for the Bills in the months ahead when it comes to navigating the cap and the draft, whether to use the tag isn't one of them. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Miami Dolphins

The only player who could be even remotely considered is safety Jevon Holland -- but paying nearly $20 million after he failed to record an interception in 2024 seems unreasonable. This isn't to say Holland isn't a good player; the Dolphins should either figure out a long-term agreement or allow him to test free agency. Miami didn't use the tag on any of its premier free agents last offseason, and it is unlikely it will break that pattern this offseason. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

New England Patriots

This isn't even a slight consideration for the Patriots, whose free agent class is among the lightest in the NFL -- headlined by cornerback Jonathan Jones, defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. and quarterback Jacoby Brissett. All have been productive in the NFL and could help the team win, but they aren't at the caliber in which a tag would be part of any negotiation to retain them. -- Mike Reiss

New York Jets

Seven starters are poised to become unrestricted free agents, none of whom is considered tag-worthy. The Jets have a new regime, and they're looking to make changes, not retain older players from the previous administration. Cornerback D.J. Reed, 28, figures to attract significant interest on the open market, as he ranked 14th out of 77 corners in EPA/target (minimum: 250 coverage snaps), per NFL Next Gen Stats. The tag amount for a corner is expected to exceed $20 million, too rich for the Jets. Reed is expected to test the market. -- Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have used the franchise tag for the past two seasons, placing it on quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2023 and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike last year. But Baltimore doesn't have a candidate for the tag this offseason, and it doesn't have the salary cap room even if there were one. The Ravens' top free agent is offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, and the tag for offensive linemen is over $25 million. Baltimore is projected to rank among the bottom 10 teams in terms of cap space. -- Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals

Could wide receiver Tee Higgins be tagged again? After playing on the tag in 2024, he is eyeing a long-term deal. Quarterback Joe Burrow has been adamant about not letting great players such as Higgins leave the building. Tagging Higgins for a second straight year would give the Bengals that opportunity, along with allowing extra time to negotiate a new deal. It could also be a chip to trade to another team. Higgins has battled injuries in recent years, but the offense has thrived when he has lined up alongside Ja'Marr Chase. -- Ben Baby

Cleveland Browns

The most notable of the Browns' pending free agents, who include running back Nick Chubb, wide receiver Elijah Moore and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., could be brought back on inexpensive deals. And with Cleveland already projected to be about $60 million over the 2025 cap, the team isn't positioned to take on a massive one-year cap hit via the franchise tag. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have a handful of significant free agents, but using the franchise tag on one would be cost prohibitive. The team declined Najee Harris' fifth-year option a year ago, so it's unlikely they'd be willing to spend big on him with a franchise tag. And neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields is worth the steep price that comes with using a franchise tag on a quarterback. The Steelers could, though, explore using a transition tag on Fields or Wilson that would give them the ability to match another team's offer. -- Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

The only Texans impact starter hitting free agency is wideout Stefon Diggs, but he's coming off a torn ACL and will be 32 in November. The franchise tag for wideouts will be almost $26 million, which is a higher yearly salary than what Texans No. 1 receiver Nico Collins makes at $24,250,000. The Texans also have limited cap space but don't want to dump that much into an aging player. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts did the heavy lifting on their in-house free agents last offseason, with Indianapolis re-signing wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., cornerback Kenny Moore II, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Zaire Franklin. This year's class won't require nearly the same kind of investment. Their most intriguing free agent is defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who led the team with 33 pressures and has a combined 16 sacks in the past three seasons. But it's highly unlikely a team that's already heavily invested in its defensive line would commit more than $20 million to Odeyingbo for 2025. -- Stephen Holder

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars took care of their big-money players last offseason when they signed quarterback Trevor Lawrence, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Tyson Campbell to contract extensions. There are only two starters -- right guard Brandon Scherff and safety Andre Cisco -- whose contracts expire in March, and neither is worthy of the franchise tag. Scherff is 33 and isn't the same level of player he was earlier in his career. Cisco had issues with blown coverages for a defense that gave up 23 pass plays of 30 or more yards -- just three shy of league leader New Orleans. -- Michael DiRocco

Tennessee Titans

The Titans don't have any franchise-altering players in this year's free agent class. Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will draw some interest after finishing with eight touchdown receptions last season. Tennessee would be wise to bring him back. Other free agents the Titans should consider bringing back on lower-cost deals include right guard Dillon Radunz and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day. But none of them is the caliber of player that would warrant franchise tag consideration. -- Turron Davenport

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

The list of starters from 2024 who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in March includes defensive tackle D.J. Jones, linebacker Cody Barton, running back Javonte Williams and both backup quarterbacks -- Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. But with All-Pro outside linebacker Nik Bonitto still a season away from potential free agency, none of this year's group will warrant the tag for the Broncos. A year from now, if Bonitto doesn't have a new deal in hand, it could be a different story. -- Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have a lengthy list of free agents they would prefer to retain, but a shortage of cap space makes it unlikely they would place the franchise tag on any of them. The Chiefs don't relish the idea of losing guard Trey Smith, but putting a franchise tag on him at a projected cost of $25 million would wipe out their plans to re-sign others. The Chiefs have much already invested in offensive linemen Creed Humphrey, Jawaan Taylor and Joe Thuney, another reason tagging Smith doesn't make a lot of sense. -- Adam Teicher

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders have used the franchise tag on only six players in club history, most recently Josh Jacobs in 2023. Safety Tre'von Moehrig is among the few free agents the Raiders could try to retain. Moehrig is expected to generate interest in free agency after posting career highs in tackles (104), passes defensed (10) and quarterback hits (three). However, the franchise tag for safeties is close to $20 million, more than Moehrig's projected market value. -- Ryan McFadden

Los Angeles Chargers

Outside linebacker Khalil Mack would be a candidate, but as part of his contract restructure last season, he cannot be franchise-tagged. Outside of Mack, no Charger free agents are worthy of the franchise tag cost. L.A. hasn't used the franchise tag since 2020, when it tagged tight end Hunter Henry. That streak probably will continue this offseason as the Chargers look to retain their top free agents with a projected $63 million in salary cap space. -- Kris Rhim

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa is the only candidate the Cowboys would consider, but at a projected cost of more than $23 million against the cap, that's just too pricey. That does not mean the Cowboys won't make a bid to re-sign him before free agency begins. With new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the under tackle, Odighizuwa's position, is vital. He posted career highs in sacks (4.5) and pressures (54) last season and is the type of player the Cowboys want to build with: a third-round draft pick who was an immediate starter, is an over-the-top worker and is excellent in the locker room. -- Todd Archer

New York Giants

The Giants' top free agent this offseason is Darius Slayton. The franchise tag for a wide receiver will be well over $20 million. Slayton doesn't fall into that category. He's much closer to the Darnell Mooney range ($13 million per season last year in free agency) than elite wide receiver money. Slayton is a good, solid player who could thrive in a more successful offense. But he's not a No. 1 receiver who would command the franchise tag. The Giants already let him test the market and brought him back on a two-year, $12 million deal after the 2022 season. -- Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

The last Eagles player to receive the franchise tag designation was wide receiver DeSean Jackson in 2012. It hasn't been part of their team-building model, and with six players set to count $12 million or more against the cap in 2025, it's likely not a practice they'll adopt now. Philadelphia does have several key defensive players set to become free agents, including linebacker Zack Baun and defensive linemen Josh Sweat and Milton Williams, all of whom are in line for big paydays this offseason. The Eagles won't be able to keep all of them. They'll try to offset any personnel losses by continuing their high hit rate in the draft and free agency. -- Tim McManus

Washington Commanders

None of their free agents will be that expensive to re-sign. They have some big-name free agents, notably linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Zach Ertz, who are coming off strong seasons. But Wagner made $6.5 million and Ertz $2.4 million in 2024, and given their ages -- both will turn 35 this year -- they won't be overly expensive to keep. -- John Keim

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

The Bears used the franchise tag in 2024 as a placeholder on cornerback Jaylon Johnson to execute a long-term deal just two days later. Chicago's top two pending free agents -- receiver Keenan Allen and guard Teven Jenkins -- wouldn't qualify for the tag for a number of reasons. Allen will be 33 this season, and Jenkins missed 23 games over four seasons because of injury. It's more likely the Bears let both players walk and find their replacements in free agency or the draft. -- Courtney Cronin

Detroit Lions

Detroit hasn't used the franchise tag since applying it to defensive end Ezekiel Ansah in 2018 after he registered 12 sacks during the 2017 season. Their priority free agents this offseason are veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, cornerback Carlton Davis III and defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike. But based on general manager Brad Holmes' track record, it doesn't seem like he would exercise that option on anyone from this year's group. He probably will allow them to test the waters before trying to reach a new deal, as he has prioritized developing young talent. -- Eric Woodyard

Green Bay Packers

The Packers have used the tag just once in the past 15 years. It was on receiver Davante Adams in 2022, and that resulted in Adams wanting out of Green Bay. The closest thing the Packers have to a must-sign free agent is kicker Brandon McManus. Next is Josh Myers, but tag numbers are the same for centers, guards and tackles, and a price of more than $20 million is unheard of for a center. -- Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings

Using the tag on quarterback Sam Darnold would be an expensive way of ensuring his return while avoiding a longer-term commitment that would hinder J.J. McCarthy's eventual ascension. It could also be a way to elicit additional value by way of a trade, but that would require a knowledge that multiple teams would be willing to bid. In the end, the Vikings seem more likely to let Darnold sign elsewhere and preserve their tag for a player such as cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who had a career-high six interceptions in 2024 and is hitting his prime at age 27. If nothing else, it would give the Vikings time to sign Murphy to a longer-term deal while keeping him off the market. -- Kevin Seifert

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons' highest-profile free agents are edge rusher Matthew Judon, safety Justin Simmons and center Drew Dalman. Judon and Simmons were late-summer acquisitions and former Pro Bowlers, but both are in their 30s and didn't produce the way they had previously. If the Falcons, who don't have much cap room, bring them back, they'll be looking for a discount. Dalman and his offensive linemates are close-knit, and they have a strong chemistry on the field. The Falcons won't want to upset the apple cart, though Dalman will have suitors as the best available center. But the franchise tag would be pricey. -- Marc Raimondi

Carolina Panthers

This is a young team in rebuild mode. None of its 21 free agents is so valuable to the rebuild that Carolina would want to go this far to keep him. -- David Newton

New Orleans Saints

With the Saints needing to shed salary cap space, using the franchise tag wouldn't make sense. They've used it sparingly in recent years, likely for this reason, with safety Marcus Williams getting tagged at the cost of $10 million in 2021. The only long-shot candidate would be cornerback Paulson Adebo, who is coming off a femur injury, and with several other young cornerbacks on the roster, that wouldn't be the best financial move for the organization. -- Katherine Terrell

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While sources told ESPN that the Bucs very much want receiver Chris Godwin back and will do what it takes to make this happen, it won't be by using the franchise tag. They used the tag as a placeholder the last time Godwin was a free agent (in 2022), and they used it on him in 2021, so this would be his third time being tagged -- therefore it would have to be a 144% raise, and I'm told there is "no chance" of that happening. They'll do what it takes to re-sign him as a free agent. -- Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals don't have any free agents this offseason whom they need to use the tag on. Arizona addressed its big free agents during the season, extending safety Budda Baker and running back James Conner. The next possible candidate for the tag could be tight end Trey McBride, who will be a free agent this coming season, but it's likely he'll get an extension before training camp starts in July. -- Josh Weinfuss

Los Angeles Rams

It's hard to see the Rams using the franchise tag in 2025. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is a free agent, but with a projected $25.1 million cost, seems like a very unlikely option for Los Angeles. The Rams have several questions to address on their offensive line, and offensive tackle is a spot they could consider in the draft. Los Angeles could also re-sign Jackson after he tests the free agency market. -- Sarah Barshop

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have plenty of free agents they want to keep but none that they can afford to value at what the cost of the tag would require. From a contract perspective, the Niners' focus has to be on extensions for players such as quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle rather than the exorbitant price and drawn out negotiations that go with the tag. That means cornerback Charvarius Ward, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga probably will test the market and/or work on deals to stay in San Francisco. -- Nick Wagoner

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks rarely use the tag to begin with, doing so only twice since general manager John Schneider arrived in 2010, and it isn't an option this year. Ernest Jones IV is their top free agent, but inside linebackers like Jones and pass-rushing outside linebackers are all viewed the same for tag purposes. With the latter driving up the price, Over The Cap projects the tag number for all linebackers to be north of $27 million, which is considerably more than what Jones is in line to make on a per-year average. Besides, Jones was confident at season's end that the two sides would reach a deal before free agency. -- Brady Henderson

SAN FRANCISCO -- After last year's NBA All-Star Game did a collective face-plant in Indianapolis, the NBA got together with its players -- including one of its standard-bearers in Stephen Curry -- to figure out what it could do to improve the league's signature midseason showcase.

The result was a reimagined format -- one Curry played a part in creating -- that turned one 48-minute game between two teams into three shorter games featuring four teams, culminating with All-Star MVP Curry and Team Shaq routing Team Chuck 41-25 in the championship.

So it was fitting that, on a weekend that wound up being as much about celebrating Curry's legendary career with the Golden State Warriors as it was anything else, it was Curry who was asked whether the format he helped create had worked -- and what, exactly, should this event look like?

"We needed to change," Curry said, referring to last year's game that featured nearly 400 combined points. "We needed some new life, new juice in the game -- something kind of unexpected. ... The way people consume basketball is different. It's not going to look like it used to. But it can still be fun for everybody. I had fun. Our team had fun. That's kind of all that matters."

Curry had plenty of fun when he buried a halfcourt shot during the final Sunday night, and then immediately beelined his way to the other end of the court to find rapper and fellow Bay Area icon Mistah F.A.B. to celebrate.

Overall, there were fewer moments of completely lethargic play on the court than previous editions and even multiple notable defensive plays, including blocks at the rim by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Victor Wembanyama.

But at the end of the night, in what has become a tradition for how NBA All-Star Weekend has gone in recent years, there was far from a consensus about how the night played out, and where things should go from here.

"I think maybe we should focus on some other things than All-Star," Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic said. "I think it's always going to be like this, so we should accept it."

THE ENTIRE DISCUSSION around the All-Star Game over the past several seasons could be distilled down into one brief interaction the league's reigning Most Valuable Player had with reporters Saturday during his media availability.

When Jokic was asked about Charles Barkley picking him first as part of TNT's "Inside The NBA" draft for the three eight-man All-Star rosters earlier this month, Jokic smiled and said, "I think I'm not built for this game, for this kind of game."

Minutes later, Jokic was asked what he actually meant.

"I think that's not a question for me, my friend," he said, another smile forming on his face as he spoke. "If you want my opinion, I cannot give you because I think it's not going to be nice."

If Jokic, a three-time MVP averaging a triple-double while shooting close to 60% from the field and 45% from 3-point range, isn't a fit for the All-Star Game, then who is?

That's precisely what the NBA set out to try to fix in shifting to this three-game mini-tournament, with each game being played to a target score of 40 points.

Sunday's games were relatively competitive -- more so than in recent seasons at least -- dating back to the last truly competitive one: the 2020 All-Star Game in Chicago, which came a few weeks after the death of Kobe Bryant and was played with an edge the Hall of Famer would have been proud of.

And while this night didn't have anything resembling that, the consensus was the event had been improved.

"I think it was a good step in the right direction to reinvigorate the game in some way," Curry said, "and then you tinker with it again next year."

"I think we're starting to see All-Star Weekend and the competitive nature in the game starting to creep back in," Kevin Durant said. "I think it was solid tonight ... I felt like guys were trying to play hard."

At the same time, not much basketball was played. Sunday night featured several extended breaks in the action. Among them, a shooting competition after the first game that involved Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard. And then there was the ceremony celebrating TNT's 40-year relationship with the NBA that is coming to an end after this season, a 20-minute pause in play that none of the players seemed to know was coming.

"I think the toughest part [was when] they stopped the game to do the presentation while we were kind of halfway through it," Celtics star Jayson Tatum said. "It was kind of tough to get back into the game after that."

The inclusion of the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge -- a tournament on Friday night featuring first- and second-year players -- as part of the All-Star Game on Sunday night drew its own round of criticism. Warriors player Draymond Green, taking part in TNT's broadcast of the event, declared that the new format was a "zero" on a 1-to-10 scale, and "it sucks."

For Team Chuck, which beat Team Kenny to open the night, there was over an hour between games.

"It was kind of tough," Donovan Mitchell said of the way the night played out. "I think at the beginning you have the energy, the adrenaline, you're going and then you sit for 30-45 minutes. That was tough, to be honest with you. It's a work in progress."

NOW THAT THIS All-Star Weekend is over, and the game will be held at the LA Clippers' new arena in Inglewood, California, next year, one question will be on everyone's mind: What will happen to the All-Star Game now?

As usual, there were many possible answers. Curry wasn't the only one who lauded the new format; Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, Curry's coach in the game, thought it worked, too.

"I liked it," Atkinson said. "It's much better. It wasn't a layup drill."

Atkinson's emerging star big man, Evan Mobley, liked it, too.

"Honestly, it was pretty fun out there," Mobley said. "I feel like it was a little more competitive. I feel like if the game was a little closer, it would probably be even more competitive, but it was a different game. But I feel like as it keeps going, I think it's going to be a good thing for the league."

Others disagreed.

Both Tyler Herro and Darius Garland -- first- and second-time All-Stars, respectively -- said they thought the game was over almost before it started and would prefer to go back to the traditional East-West format.

"But who am I to say?" Garland told ESPN with a laugh. "I'm a two-time All-Star, so I ain't got no say in that."

One thing virtually everyone agreed on, though, was that when NBC takes the baton next year as the game's new broadcast partner, there needs to be far fewer stoppages in the action.

"I feel like the fans want to see us playing more," Trae Young said, "rather than just some little shows in between breaks."

Another topic that came up repeatedly over the course of the weekend was the idea of having a "Team USA vs. The World" format. While sources said there was no straight directive from the NBA on how the teams would be drafted by Barkley and his fellow TNT analysts Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith, ideas were discussed on how to divvy up the stars. The fact that one of the teams -- Chuck's Global Stars -- included seven international players was emblematic of that.

A move to such a format could create more issues. The All-Star Game features just 24 players, creating plenty of arguments about what stars are being slighted and left out of the competition. Going to 12 international and 12 American players would only exacerbate those issues and leave out even more deserving candidates.

But that didn't stop some -- including both Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo -- from endorsing the idea.

"I would love that," Antetokounmpo said before the game, which he didn't play in because of a calf injury. "I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format. I would love that. For sure, I'd take pride in that."

"My opinion is that it's more purposeful," Wembanyama said Saturday. "There's more pride in it. More stakes."

Moving forward, the NBA's hopes for increased pride and stakes in this event will rest on Wembanyama and his 7-foot-4 frame. With LeBron James sitting out the game because of foot and ankle discomfort, ending his streak of 20 consecutive All-Star starts, Wembanyama's own All-Star streak began.

And after declaring he would play the game with a purpose, he went out and did just that -- including one sequence in the first game in which he had a post-up dunk, a block and then started a fast break ending in another dunk, this time by Alperen Sengun.

"He took it serious," Curry said. "He was playing hard. He was showing his unique skill set all across the board.

"You make the game what you want it, and everybody has a choice to do that."

New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton hasn't swung a bat in three or four weeks and isn't sure whether he will be ready for Opening Day because of painful tendinitis in both elbows.

Speaking Monday before the team's first full-squad workout, the five-time All-Star revealed he played in pain for much of last season as he helped the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.

"Tennis elbow or however they call it is tears in tendon, so it's not when did it feel good, when did it feel bad. There's always the pain level there, and you got to deal with that. So, yeah, it's just the wisest point to give time right now," Stanton said.

He wouldn't guess whether playing in the American League champions' March 27 opener against Milwaukee is realistic.

"Definitely behind, but I mean that's just a matter of being ready for a full go today as opposed to in a little bit. So we have five, six weeks here. It'll be a good ramp-up from there," he said. "We'll see how that goes."

Stanton, who turned 35 in November, said he felt the pain for most of last year.

"Definitely not just soreness. It's a manageable thing," he said.

Stanton hit .233 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs while playing 114 games last year, his season interrupted by a strained left hamstring that sidelined him between June 22 and July 29. Stanton batted .273 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in the postseason.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- While brushing off winter trade rumors and vowing to play "smarter" early in the season, Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. reported to spring training Monday as one of the few veterans left on a team that lost 121 games a season ago.

Robert, 27, understands his time with the White Sox could be short-lived but isn't pushing for a trade from the only organization he has known in his professional career.

"My agent was explaining to me how it works and where we were at in every situation [this offseason], and I think we did a good job with that," Robert said through the team interpreter. "I try not to pay attention to that. I know what my job is. My job is to come here and do my best every day, and [a trade is] something I can't control."

Considering his talent, Robert is on a team-friendly deal as he enters the last year of a six-year, $50 million contract, though the White Sox have an option on his deal for 2026 and for 2027. When healthy, he's a five-tool player who's just one season removed from hitting 38 home runs while stealing 20 bases. But the injury bug hit him yet again in 2024, when he missed three months to a hip flexor injury, the second of his career. Because of that, and several other ailments, Robert has played in over 100 games just once over his five-year career.

"That is difficult to deal with, especially when have the same injury twice," he said. "You try not to think about it, but of course it's in your mind. I think the best way that you can deal with it is just getting ready, put yourself in the best position physically and mentally and to overcome any challenges that might happen."

Robert revealed he might tweak his game early in the season especially during the colder moments in Chicago. Many of his injuries have occurred during April and May.

"I think one of the things that's probably going to adjust is for whatever reason those injuries had happened in the first month of the season, when it's cold," Robert explained. "I will probably have to adjust a little bit my game the first month because it's cold and you have to make some changes."

He was asked what those changes might look like.

"Be a smart player, run when I need to run, knowing the situation of the game, when is the best time for me to push it a little bit," Robert responded. "Just doing that, being smarter."

A healthy first half could land Robert with another team come July. There was offseason interest in him, according to league sources, but teams were offering the White Sox lesser valued prospects due to his injury-saddled season in 2024 when he hit just .224 with 14 home runs.

Meanwhile, Chicago GM Chris Getz was asking for 2023 value -- when Robert finished 12th in MVP voting. The situation sets up for a chance to recoup his value in the first four months of this season. It means that, barring a major injury in center field for a contender this spring, Robert is likely to open the season with the White Sox; he just might not finish it with them.

"It is difficult to think that way, especially when you've been with an organization throughout your whole career and knowing that might come to an end, but at the same time you have to understand that this is a business and there is not much that you can do about it," Robert said.