Thomas Tuchel has been announced as England's new head coach, the Football Association confirmed on Wednesday.

Tuchel, 51, will start work on Jan. 1, with interim boss Lee Carsley remaining in charge for next month's UEFA Nations League doubleheader against Greece and Republic of Ireland.

Tuchel's appointment concludes a search conducted by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham and technical director John McDermott which began in July following Gareth Southgate's decision to step down after England lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain.

In a statement, former Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Tuchel said: "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team.

"I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting."

Tuchel's new assistant will be Anthony Barry. The pair originally met at Chelsea before Tuchel convinced Barry to join Bayern in April 2023. Barry, 38, has previously worked with Belgium and Republic of Ireland before most recently forming part of Portugal's backroom team under Roberto Martinez.

Tuchel said: "Working closely with Anthony as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud. I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark and John, for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together."

The FA view Tuchel's arrival as a significant coup given they set themselves the target of securing a candidate with a "strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions."

Tuchel has won 11 major honours including the 2021 Champions League with a Chelsea side that featured several England internationals including Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount, who has since joined Manchester United. Tuchel also worked with England captain Harry Kane at Bayern before his departure at the end of last season.

Sources told ESPN that the FA spoke with several candidates including Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. In Wednesday's announcement, the organisation claimed Tuchel signed his contract on Oct. 8.

"We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world and Anthony Barry who is one of the best English coaches to support him," Bullingham said.

"Our recruitment process has been very thorough. Before the Euros we had a contingency plan and outlined exactly the qualities we would be looking for in a coach.

"Since Gareth resigned, we have worked through the candidate pool, meeting a number of coaches and evaluating them against that criteria.

"Thomas was very impressive and stood out with his vast expertise and his drive. Anthony is a top English talent and also has international experience with Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Portugal.

"Fundamentally we wanted to hire a coaching team to give us the best possible chance of winning a major tournament, and we believe they will do just that. Thomas and the team have a single-minded focus on giving us the best possible chance to win the World Cup in 2026.

"I would like to thank Lee for stepping up and doing everything we asked of him -- he is a very talented coach and a major part of our England pathway. He will now focus on retaining the U21 Euro title in the summer. These are exciting times for England fans at senior and U21 level, and we look forward to welcoming Thomas and Anthony when they begin work in January."

Prince William, the Prince of Wales, reacted to the news on social media, saying: "Exciting times for England, with a generation of talented players and a new manager taking the reins.

"Thomas, wishing you the best of luck, we're all behind you! W."

DETROIT -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill has agreed to a four-year contract extension, according to his agent, Mike McCartney at Vayner Sports.

McNeill's deal is worth $97 million, including $55 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

He is the third member of Detroit's 2021 draft class under general manager Brad Holmes to sign an extension, joining All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who both reached extensions in the offseason.

On Saturday, the Lions also inked star running back David Montgomery to a two-year, $18.25 million extension that ties him to the Lions through the 2027 season as they continue to reward their players after a strong start to the season. In addition, the Lions re-signed quarterback Jared Goff to a new four-year, $212 million contract in May.

Following training camp, Holmes said he believes in getting ahead of contract negotiations and rewarding top players for their efforts, which sends a message in the locker room.

"The market's going to change. You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. We've always felt the earlier the better for everybody," Holmes said in August. "First of all, I know that the player doesn't want to wait around and be strung along, and us as an organization, we do a lot of planning and preparation to reward these players as early as possible because you don't know what's going to happen the next week, the next month."

McNeill, 24, joined the Lions as a third-round pick (72nd overall) in the 2021 NFL draft out of NC State and has started in all five games with the Lions this season, logging eight tackles and 2.5 sacks with four quarterback hits. Last season, he became Detroit's first interior defensive lineman to register 5.0 sacks in a season since Ndamukong Suh in 2014.

McNeill's extension comes just two days after the Lions' 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys in which his teammate Aidan Hutchinson went down with a fractured tibia and fibula. Hutchinson is expected to miss at least four to six months, and the Lions will look for McNeill to help mitigate Hutchinson's absence on the pass rush.

"Listen, Mac showed up and Mac wasn't pleased with the way he played against Seattle, and so he was a man on a mission before the bye, coming out, and he was locked in this week," Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday. "His mind was right, and he was going to be a factor in this game and that's what we expect every week out of Mac, is just that.

"So yeah, how much? A lot. And he's one of those guys we're going to lean on. He doesn't have to be Superman, but we've got to get that out of him every week, and he's got that ability. Played a heck of a game yesterday."

NEW YORK -- Serena Williams said she had a benign branchial cyst "the size of a small grapefruit" removed from her neck and "all is OK."

The retired tennis star, 43, posted Wednesday on social media that she found a lump on her neck in May, had an MRI exam, and was told she didn't need to get it removed if she didn't want to. So she didn't then, "but it kept growing," Williams said.

After more tests, including a biopsy that was negative for cancer, Williams said, her doctors said she should have a procedure.

She showed video of herself in a hospital bed and wrote: "So this is me removing it. I am feeling so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I'm healthy."

In a separate social media post, she said she is "still recovering, but getting better. Health always comes first."

Williams announced her retirement -- famously eschewing that term and saying instead she was "evolving" away from professional tennis -- shortly before playing in the 2022 US Open, her last tournament.

She won 23 Grand Slam titles in singles, the most by a woman in the sport's professional era, and another 14 in doubles with her older sister Venus. Serena Williams spent more than 300 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings and collected four Olympic gold medals.

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have acquired running back Cam Akers for the second time in 12 months, this time from the Houston Texans in an exchange of 2026 conditional draft choices, the team confirmed Tuesday.

The Vikings will send a conditional 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Texans in exchange for a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick as part of the deal.

Akers started two games this season for the Texans in place of the injured Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce, including one against the Vikings in Week 3. He rushed nine times for 21 yards in that game and totaled 147 yards and one touchdown on 40 carries during his time in Houston.

Akers became expendable with Mixon and Pierce both returning for the Texans.

The short-term status of Vikings starter Aaron Jones is uncertain because of a right hip injury. Ty Chandler has been Jones' backup and would start Sunday against the Detroit Lions if Jones can't play, but Akers gives the Vikings better depth than current No. 3 running back Myles Gaskin.

Akers has a long history with Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, as the trio spent time together with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and 2021.

The Vikings first acquired Akers from the Rams two weeks into the 2023 season. He played in six games behind starter Alexander Mattison, rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries before tearing his left Achilles tendon in Week 9. He also tore his right Achilles tendon while with the Rams in 2021.

The Vikings tried to re-sign him prior to training camp this summer, but he chose to join the Texans instead.

"I love Cam Akers," O'Connell said last month. "Cam is a unique, special and talented person. To deal with the type of adversity he has in his young career and never once have you ever heard him feel sorry for himself. Incredibly tough player, both mentally and physically. ... I have a great relationship with him, and care about him tremendously."

The Memphis Grizzlies signed two-way guard Scotty Pippen Jr. to a standard NBA contract, the team announced on Tuesday.

Grizzlies officials reached an agreement Tuesday with Pippen's representatives, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and agent Shy Saee, on a multiyear deal, sources told ESPN.

Pippen, 23, had an impressive NBA summer league run for the Grizzlies after finishing last season with the franchise and has had a strong preseason this month, averaging 10.3 points and 4.5 assists in 20.5 minutes across four games.

With the new deal, Pippen effectively becomes the Grizzlies' backup point guard to Ja Morant.

Pippen, the son of Hall of Famer and Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, was undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2022 and spent his rookie season on a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in six games.

The Grizzlies picked the point guard up on a two-way deal in January, and he averaged nearly 13 points and 4.7 assists across 21 games with Memphis.

After signing Pippen, the Grizzlies have one open roster spot remaining.

NEW YORK -- "Betting on professional sports is currently illegal in most of the United States outside of Nevada. I believe we need a different approach."

The upcoming 10th anniversary of NBA commissioner Adam Silver typing those two sentences is significant because those words were part of a movement that changed the sports landscape and brought betting on games -- a controversial issue for decades -- mainstream.

Those two sentences were the start of an op-ed piece that carried Silver's byline in The New York Times, first appearing on the newspaper's website on Nov. 13, 2014, and in the print edition the following day. He wrote the piece himself, not even sure when he started where it was going.

The headline, "Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting," represented a seismic shift from the NBA's previous position on the matter. Silver said he was simply trying to start a conversation. A decade later, the NBA has more than two dozen business relationships with gaming companies.

The notion of sports betting isn't just a conversation anymore. It's a phenomenon.

"I'd say when it comes to sports betting, I certainly don't regret writing that op-ed piece and being in favor of legalized sports betting," Silver said. "I still think you can't turn the clock back. I think, as I said at the time, with the advent of the internet, widely available sports betting online ... that we had to deal directly with technology and recognize that if we don't legalize sports betting, people are going to find ways to do it illegally."

Silver's op-ed did not change the betting landscape on its own, but it helped get the ball rolling. The ball was not moving very quickly at first; nearly four years after writing the op-ed had passed before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that barred gambling on sports in most states and gave them the go-ahead to legalize betting.

That law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, had been in place since 1992 and barred state-authorized sports gambling with some exceptions. It made Nevada the only state where a person could wager on the results of a single game.

In the first four years after PASPA was struck down, Americans legally wagered $125 billion on games.

"I was in favor of a federal framework for sports betting. I still am," Silver said. "I still think that the hodgepodge of state by state, it makes it more difficult for the league to administer it. I think it creates competition, understandably, among states to get -- just think New York, New Jersey or a situation like that where you're both competing for the same customer so you can compete on tax rates and other things and a regulatory framework.

"I think that on the downsides of sports betting, they certainly exist, and I think we have to pay a lot of attention to that. I think where we're hearing it in multiple categories, certainly you see incidents of underaged people betting. We have to pay a lot of attention to that, what's potentially going on at college campuses, certainly people betting over their heads."

And, as the league got reminded last season, within the NBA as well.

In April, Silver banned Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter from the NBA after a league investigation found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose.

Silver called Porter's actions "blatant" and "a cardinal sin."

The inquiry into Porter's actions started once the league learned from "licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets" about unusual gambling patterns surrounding Porter's performance in a game on March 20 against the Sacramento Kings. The league found Porter gave a bettor information about his health status prior to that game and said that another individual, known to be an NBA bettor, placed an $80,000 bet that Porter would not hit the numbers set for him in parlays through an online sportsbook. That bet would have won $1.1 million.

Porter took himself out of that game after less than three minutes, claiming illness, with none of his stats meeting the totals set in the parlay. The $80,000 bet was frozen and not paid out, the league said, and the NBA started an investigation not long afterward.

"We take this very seriously," Silver said. "As I said sort of day one, it's not a huge business for us in terms of a revenue stream into the league, but it makes a big difference in engagement. It's something that people clearly enjoy doing. I'd put it in the category of other things in society that I wouldn't criminalize them, but on the other hand that you have to heavily regulate them because if there's not guardrails, people will run afoul and create issues, problems for themselves, potentially for their families or for operations like us."

ESPN's countdown of the NBA's best 100 players is nearly complete, with the top-10 list set to be released Thursday.

This season's edition of NBA Rank -- with Nos. 100-11 unveiled -- has had plenty of surprises, and the complete list will provide a lot for fans to discuss before the 2024-25 regular season tips off Tuesday. Before we see who makes the top 10, our expert panel is breaking down this year's ranking so far. Victor Wembanyama had a remarkable rookie season, but has the 7-foot-4 star big man reached truly elite status? Which players might have a tough task living up to their rating? What about those who might have been overlooked? And what about the Hall of Fame trio of LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant?

Ahead of Thursday's unveiling of the top-10 list, we're hitting on the biggest surprises, snubs and top questions so far from our NBA Rank 100.

Victor Wembanyama's No. 11 ranking was _____.

Michael C. Wright: Exactly where it needs to be for a 20-year-old fresh off a historic rookie campaign that compared favorably to the first seasons of Spurs Hall of Fame big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan. We can project all we want based on the eye-popping numbers Wembanyama dropped last season, as he'll now pair up with future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul. But we just don't know exactly how Wembanyama will perform in Year 2. But his remarkable potential is precisely why the whole world will be tuned in to watch him every night.

André Snellings: Conservative. Wembanyama might be the 11th-best player in the league this season, and that is a reasonable spot for him. But I think that's his healthy floor. For his ceiling, he also could be the best two-way player in the league already as a sophomore. A slight improvement on Wemby's numbers during the second half of the season would give him averages of 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists along with 4.5 blocks and 2 steals per game. A player would likely make All-NBA on that offensive production alone, but that could also put Wembanyama in the running for Defensive Player of the Year. He could reasonably achieve those numbers, which would make him underrated at No. 11.

Matt Williams: Justified after his incredible rookie year. Wembanyama recorded a 40-point, 20-rebound game, a 5x5 game and a 10-block game in one season -- something only Anthony Davis and Hakeem Olajuwon accomplished in a career since blocks and steals became official during the 1973-74 season. Even Wembanyama's presence caused problems as he led the league in deters at the rim, per SIS tracking data. He also became the first player with 250 blocks and 100 3-pointers in a season. His 3-point shooting will be an interesting piece of his game to watch as he shot 29% on catch-and-shoot 3s but an efficient 38% when off the dribble last season, per Second Spectrum.

Baxter Holmes: It's a number that looks fair and justified as the season is about to begin, but it could easily look too low if he resumes the tear that he showed after the All-Star break. And that's not taking into account that he'll have Paul making the game easier for him. There are so many striking stats from his rookie campaign -- he had two games with 30 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks -- but he clearly started to realize, as the season progressed, that there was little anyone could do to stop him. After his proclamation at the Olympics about worrying for his opponents as he improves, I expect him to take a huge leap forward as he becomes a dominant a two-way player.

Jorge Sedano: Too low. I think Wembanyama could average 24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, nearly 4 blocks and 1 steal per game. If he hits on those marks, he would have similar or better numbers to Olajuwon in his second season. Olajuwon was also nearly two years older at that stage of his career but finished fourth in MVP voting that year. Wembanyama will have a year of NBA offseason training under his belt with a great organization, natural growth to his game and a few veterans to help him in his journey in Paul and Harrison Barnes. Wembanyama is my preseason favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, and I believe he will finish in the top five in MVP voting.

Name a player who should have been ranked inside the top 50.

Snellings: Draymond Green, whose impact on winning still remains one of the biggest in the sport. Despite the incidents and suspensions that have piled up in recent years, the 34-year-old Green remains an elite defender and a primary playmaker for the Golden State Warriors. Last season, the Warriors outscored their opponents by 5.6 points per 100 possessions when Green was on the court -- the highest average of any of the team's starters. It was even more in the previous season (7.3 points per 100 possessions). Green remains one of the biggest impact players in the NBA and is certainly one of the top 50.

Sedano: Green. Professor Snellings laid out the analytical approach, and I will lay it out very simply: He impacts winning. The Warriors were 13-14 in games Green didn't play last season but 33-22 in games he did. If you extrapolate that over the season it would've made the Warriors the sixth seed in the West, avoiding the play-in. Opponents scored six more points per game and shot 3% better against the Warriors in the games he didn't play. That doesn't even account for his ball handling, playmaking and other intangibles. The four-time champion is still one of the more impactful players in the sport.

Holmes: Josh Hart. One of the most dynamic and remarkable things to watch in the postseason was how a 6-foot-4 guard managed to be such a rebounding force for the New York Knicks. He'd fly into the lane and somehow come away with rebounds in traffic -- especially on the offensive end, giving the Knicks extra possessions. He averaged 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the postseason, aiding a team that was beset by injuries. I'm curious to see how newly acquired Karl-Anthony Towns helps the Knicks' rebounding efforts, especially given the offseason departures of center Isaiah Hartenstein and forward Julius Randle, along with Mitchell Robinson not returning until January from his ankle procedures. But it's safe to say Hart will again be a consequential figure in the Knicks' efforts to reach their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000.

Wright: Herb Jones. It's understandable now why the New Orleans Pelicans feel the need to print up shirts to get the word out about their young, defensive stopper. Jones earned a spot on the NBA's All-Defensive first team last season alongside more notable names, such as Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert. Of those four players, only Gobert ranks outside the top 20 at No. 34. LaMelo Ball is at No. 50 pot despite playing in a total of 58 games these last two seasons. So, let's please put a little respect on Jones' name here.

Williams: Franz Wagner signed a max rookie extension with the Orlando Magic following a season in which he averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Wagner was also crucial in the Magic winning 47 games, their most in a season since the 2010-11 campaign. Wagner finding his jump shot again will be critical moving forward, however. He ranked last in 3-point field goal percentage among qualified players in 2023-24. According to Second Spectrum tracking, Wagner shot 29% on jumpers in the regular season and playoffs, the worst in a season by any player with at least 400 attempts in the past 10 years.

James, Curry and Durant are in the top 10. Do they still belong?

Sedano: Put aside that they have been the best players of this generation and look at the numbers they put up last season. What James is doing is simply unprecedented at this stage of his career. The fact that you can still pencil him in for an efficient 25 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists is incredible. Curry finished first in the league in 3-pointers made last season with a roster that was in flux. In Durant's case, he had a roster riddled with injuries and had to carry a far larger burden on defense with the Suns than he has had to recently. He took that on willingly and succeeded.

Williams: Definitely, all three players continue to be the model of consistency in the NBA. There were only two players to average 25 points while shooting 50% from the field and 40% on 3-pointers last season, and they were James and Durant. Curry made 357 3-pointers, the third most in a season in league history. Prior to 2023-24, there had never been an instance in which multiple players age 35 or older averaged 25 points in the same season. James, Durant and Curry all did that this past season.

Wright: Absolutely. All three made the All-NBA team and for good reason, given the critical roles each has for their teams. James enters Year 22 having logged the second-most career regular-season minutes (56,597). Is there any real decline in his game? Let's not forget that last season, at age 39, he played 71 games. Curry dropped 28 30-point performances during a 2023-24 campaign in which he turned 36 while leading the NBA in clutch points on the way to earning Clutch Player of the Year. Durant, meanwhile, shook durability concerns last season to play 75 games, averaging 27.1 points. None of these guys look anywhere close to done.

Snellings: All three have an argument to be top 10, and all three are OGs who deserve their flowers. I'm fine with them there for those reasons. But, if we step outside of name and career contribution to the sport, I think others might have better arguments than Durant. Based on last season, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson deserves to be in the top 10. And Durant's teammate Devin Booker, who also isn't in the top 10, is arguably the best player on the Phoenix Suns. Durant remains one of the most efficient volume scorers the game has seen, but strong arguments can be made that at least 10 others are currently doing more than he is.

Holmes: If you took their ages out of it and simply examined their statistics from last season, this wouldn't really be up for debate. Yes, they deserve their top-10 rankings. James remained one of the most dominant all-around players in the game last season, averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds. Curry averaged 26.4 points -- and if there was any doubt of his greatness, just rewatch his Olympics performance in Paris. And Durant played his most regular-season games (75) since rupturing an Achilles in Golden State and, along the way, averaged 27.1 points. These are truly dominant players, regardless of age, but their age makes their dominance all the more remarkable. They are reframing what is possible for NBA players at this stage of their career.

Which player will most outperform his ranking this season?

Holmes: Zion Williamson. He has the most potential to far outperform his ranking if he remains healthy for the Pelicans and if he's as consistently dominant as he has shown himself to be in stretches. The term "unstoppable" is often overused, but when he's at his best, there doesn't seem much anyone can do to slow someone with his size, strength and agility from doing what he wants around the rim, or elsewhere in the half court. At times in the paint, he has looked, yes, Shaq-like -- and he's still just 24. Williamson played 70 regular-season games last season -- his most yet -- and he seems poised for taking a leap and becoming the player who was so hyped coming out of Duke.

Snellings: LaMelo Ball. This is, essentially, just a bet that he stays reasonably healthy for the Charlotte Hornets this season. Ball was the Rookie of the Year in 2020-21, then made his first All-Star team as a second-year player. But in the two seasons since, injuries have limited him to only 56 of a possible 164 games. Ball's game has continued to improve -- he's a better, more efficient scorer with better creative floor vision and execution now than as a rookie. If he can play the majority of his games this season, Ball should comfortably be a top-25 player.

Wright: Fred VanVleet. His rank at No. 79 sure feels low for a guy tasked with taking the lead in helping the Houston Rockets establish an entirely new culture under coach Ime Udoka while playing an instrumental role in the growth of young guards Jalen Green and Reed Sheppard. In VanVleet's first season in Houston, the Rockets finished 41-41, a 19-win increase over the previous season, which ranked as the largest jump for any team in the NBA. Yet he somehow fell 23 spots after averaging a career high in assists (8.1)? As usual, VanVleet will bet on himself again in 2024-25 and win big.

Sedano: Keegan Murray at No. 94? Let's rewind for a moment here: The Sacramento Kings forward had a strong rookie season in 2022-23, shooting 41% from 3 and finishing in the top five in Rookie of the Year voting. Last season, he took on the role of guarding other teams' best players -- with a small tick down in his offensive efficiency. In Year 3, he's poised to be one of the better two-way players in the NBA. I was blown away by how easy the game came to him on both ends when I watched him in preseason action against Golden State. Defensively, he was impressive with five steals and impactful with his individual perimeter defense. The Kings have a star in the making.

Williams: Herb Jones. His defense alone is worth a better ranking than 97th. He is one of the best one-on-one defenders, ranking in the top 10 in points allowed per direct isolation among players to defend at least 125 isolations last season, per Second Spectrum. That will be key as the Pelicans switch more when a traditional center is not on the floor. And don't sleep on Jones' offense, as he led the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage from Jan. 1 to the end of the season among players with 100 attempts.

Which player is ranked too high on this list?

Wright: James Harden at No. 41. Admittedly, this could turn out to be premature (and perhaps just wrong), but he gets a shot again at being "a system" for the LA Clippers in the wake of Paul George's departure and Kawhi Leonard's expected load management. We're likely to find out the 2018 MVP is no longer capable of carrying a team on a consistent basis, especially in the rough-and-tumble Western Conference, where we've seen five different teams over the past five years advance to the NBA Finals.

Williams: We will need to see how the season shakes out for the 82nd-ranked Mitchell Robinson. With his season debut not expected until January, his role will change with Karl-Anthony Towns now on the Knicks. Robinson will continue to be a key depth contributor with the Knicks, though, especially on the offensive glass as well as on defense using drop coverage on pick-and-rolls.

Sedano: Robinson's ranking also was a surprise, mostly because he is currently unavailable as he works back from his injuries. You know the saying: "The best ability is availability."

Holmes: Brandin Podziemski was a great find for the Warriors at No. 19 in last year's draft, and he quickly established himself as an impact rookie on a veteran team. And I expect his role to expand even more this season. But I'm not sure that he's the 78th-best player in the NBA -- at least just yet. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season -- all impressive numbers for a player who came off the bench in many games. And the Warriors raved about him privately. He could, in time, establish himself as one of the top 75 players in the league, but I'm not sure he's there just yet. (I'd happily be proved wrong here.)

Snellings: Dereck Lively II at No. 56. Not because I don't think he can be that good, but because I'm not sure he's even the most valuable center on the Dallas Mavericks at this moment. Daniel Gafford, who is unranked, seems likely to still be the starting center for the Mavericks this season with Lively coming off the bench. While Lively was a better matchup against the Boston Celtics in the Finals, Gafford was the man in the middle for the Mavs in the previous two rounds. Lively should only get better as his role on the Mavericks increases, but his ranking might still be a bit high for him.

NBA Rank is back for its 14th season counting down the best players in the league. Who made this season's cut of the top 100?

Where do MVP contenders such as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic check in? Which young stars are making their debut? Did LeBron James rise or fall down our list as the NBA's all-time leading scorer embarks on his record-tying 22nd season?

To get the final NBA Rank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on player vs. player matchups from more than 15,000 possible pairings. Voters were asked, "Which player will be better in 2024-25?" and had to predict how each player will perform this season.

Our countdown kicked off with our ranking of players Nos. 100-51 and continues with Nos. 50-11, a list that includes a prior MVP, four reigning champions and a once-in-a-generation big man on the verge of superstardom. The rollout continues Thursday with ESPN's top 10 players of 2024-25.

Note: ESPN's NBA Rank panel, comprising more than 150 reporters, editors, producers and analysts, was asked to rank players based on their predicted contributions -- quality and quantity -- for the 2024-25 season only.

NBA Rank: Nos. 100-51 | Who's next in 2025?

50. LaMelo Ball, G, Charlotte Hornets

2023 NBA Rank: 48

After becoming an All-Star in his second season at 20 years old, Ball has logged a total of 58 games combined in the past two seasons because of ankle injuries. The rebuilding Hornets also lost a total of 116 games over those two seasons while Ball watched from the sideline. The former Rookie of the Year averaged 23.9 points, 8.0 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 22 games last season. Now the Hornets and Ball, entering his fourth season, are hoping for a fresh and healthy start. A new regime has taken over in Charlotte, starting with the hiring of coach Charles Lee, and it will want to see its franchise point guard healthy. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

49. Aaron Gordon, F, Denver Nuggets

2023 NBA Rank: 51

Aaron Gordon might be the most valuable role player in the league, but he may have to do even more this season with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's departure. Gordon will have to lead the team on defense, improve on last season's 29% 3-point shooting and still play with the incredible chemistry that he has with Nikola Jokic. Gordon, who is eligible to sign an extension, is entering this season off an emotional summer in which he lost his brother Drew in a car accident. Gordon has changed his jersey number from 50 to 32 to honor his brother. -- Youngmisuk

48. Julius Randle, F, Minnesota Timberwolves

2023 NBA Rank: 45

The 29-year-old had turbulent moments during his six-season run with the Knicks; particularly in the playoffs. But the team undoubtedly missed his playmaking and secondary scoring this past postseason while Randle nursed his dislocated shoulder. Randle, a two-time All-NBA selection who has generally been one of the healthiest players in the league in recent years, now heads to Minnesota, where he'll play alongside rising superstar Anthony Edwards. It will be worth seeing how Randle's presence impacts the Wolves' spacing, but his passing is underrated and he has the potential to help the team's offense a considerable amount. -- Chris Herring

47. Evan Mobley, F, Cleveland Cavaliers

2023 NBA Rank: 40

Mobley earned All-NBA Defensive first team honors in 2023 and has continued to play a big role in Cleveland's top-10 defense the past two seasons. The Cavaliers gave up 112.5 points per 100 possessions when Mobley was on the court this season and 110.5 when he played center. Mobley's jump shots improved from 32% his first two seasons to 36% this year and he shot 46% from 3 in the final 12 games of the regular season. "I would say the rebound and push is number one," new head coach Kenny Atkinson said when asked about what he wants to see Mobley add to his game first. -- Bobby Marks

46. Kristaps Porzingis, C, Boston Celtics

2023 NBA Rank: 62

After spending a year and a half in relative obscurity with the Wizards, Porzingis arrived in Boston last summer excited to be back on a championship-caliber team and with a point to prove that he could help push a franchise to those heights. Despite missing a large chunk of the playoffs with injuries, he managed to do just that, with his legendary return in Game 1 of the NBA Finals helping spur Boston to the title. One of the big questions across the league this season, though, is how he'll return from offseason leg surgery later this year. -- Tim Bontemps

45. DeMar DeRozan, F, Sacramento Kings

2023 NBA Rank: 39

With the Bulls last season, DeMar DeRozan had to shoulder all of the offensive weight -- he was the only player in Chicago to average over 20 points per game as the injury-riddled Bulls struggled all year. As he begins a new chapter in Sacramento, the Kings will look to maximize his offensive talents and draw double-teams to help take pressure off of De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. The team will also utilize DeRozan as a playmaker -- an area of his game Sacramento feels is underrated. -- Kendra Andrews

44. Jalen Williams, F, Oklahoma City Thunder

2023 NBA Rank: 95

Williams jumped 51 spots in the rankings by continuing his rapid ascension into becoming an elite two-way player. After a Rookie of the Year runner-up season, Williams finished fourth in Most Improved Player voting, making significant leaps in scoring (19.1 points per game), assists (4.5) and efficiency (62.1% true shooting) while typically taking the second-toughest perimeter defensive assignment. He also emerged as a cold-blooded closer, scoring 82 points on 68.3% shooting in clutch situations, the best field goal percentage among the league's top 65 clutch scorers. -- Tim MacMahon

43. Dejounte Murray, G, New Orleans Pelicans

2023 NBA Rank: 60

Murray averaged a career-high 22.5 points last season and cranked up his 3-point volume to 7.1 attempts per game while drilling his highest percentage (36.3%) from deep since the 2019-20 season. David Griffin, the Pelicans' executive vice president of basketball operations, calls Murray "an elite playmaker" and saw his playmaking skills as a major need, especially down the stretch of tight games, which is why New Orleans traded for him. Murray's leadership and two-way ability should improve the Pels on both ends of the floor, and he has no shortage of targets in Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum. -- Michael Wright

42. Pascal Siakam, F, Indiana Pacers

2023 NBA Rank: 25

Siakam was a driving force in the Pacers' run to the conference finals after joining the team via midseason trade from Toronto. Indiana re-signed Siakam to a maximum contract extension this summer, and the two-time All-NBA forward is expected to be a steadying presence for a young Pacers team trying to build off its surprise playoff success. -- Jamal Collier

41. James Harden, G, LA Clippers

2023 NBA Rank: 43

Harden found new life in his hometown after he was traded early last season to the Clippers. While his numbers dipped slightly from 21.0 points, a league-leading 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game with the Sixers in 2022-23 to 16.6 points, 8.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds last season, Harden's playmaking impact was undeniable when the Clippers were at their best. Once Harden got comfortable with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the point guard helped orchestrate a 26-5 run from late November to early February. While he looked uncomfortable at times on wide-open catch-and-shoot 3s, Harden now will get to play more like he did in Houston as a ball-dominant scorer, with George and Westbrook gone and Leonard being cautious with his knee inflammation. -- Youngmisuk

40. Brandon Ingram, F, New Orleans Pelicans

2023 NBA Rank: 27

Ingram fell 13 spots this season because of his decline in points (20.8), rebounds (5.1) and assists (5.7) from the previous season. The former No. 2 pick's 3-point field goal percentage (35.5%) dipped as well, despite the veteran knocking down a career-best 53.4% on 2-point field goals. Uncertainty abounds for Ingram because of the new CBA. He's eligible to sign a four-year extension worth $208 million, but there's a chance the club could let Ingram hit unrestricted free agency next offseason or move him under value at the deadline. The Dejounte Murray addition provides another attacking threat along with Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, which should only improve Ingram's prospects for increased production. -- Wright

39. Derrick White, G, Boston Celtics

2023 NBA Rank: NR

White being the highest ranked player who wasn't on this list a year ago is affirmation for those who questioned why the versatile guard wasn't on it to begin with. Any doubts about his value quickly dissipated thanks to White's contributions on offense last season, not to mention his selection to replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA, where he -- along with Holiday and Tatum -- claimed gold in Paris. -- Bontemps

38. Mikal Bridges, F, New York Knicks

2023 NBA Rank: 33

Bridges struggled at times as Brooklyn's primary playmaker, as evidenced by his career-low 52.1% effective field goal percentage and career high in turnovers. But Bridges' calling card -- aside from his status as the league's iron man -- has been defense. Playing alongside OG Anunoby on the wing for the Knicks, New York could have the best defensive wing combo in the league. It wouldn't be surprising to see Bridges' offensive efficiency increase this season, with the Knicks needing less creation and more of the elite 3-and-D play he showcased in Phoenix. -- Herring

37. Trae Young, G, Atlanta Hawks

2023 NBA Rank: 27

Young appearing in only 54 games last season was concerning enough, but Atlanta winning only 22 of those games was even more troubling. His averages of 25.7 points and 10.8 assists sparkle on the stat sheet -- marking the second straight season he averaged 25 and 10 -- but his relatively pedestrian shooting numbers (43% overall and 37.3% from 3) dulls that shine just a bit. With Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans, Young should get the ball in his hands more. How well Young vibes with No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher will impact his future ranking. -- Dave McMenamin

36. Jrue Holiday, G, Boston Celtics

2023 NBA Rank: 26

A year ago, Holiday was adjusting to the whirlwind sequence that saw him go from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Celtics -- by way of the Portland Trail Blazers -- in a matter of days. While handling a slightly smaller offensive role in Boston led to a slight dip in his rankings, Holiday's value was confirmed by the countless winning plays he made to help Boston claim its record-setting 18th NBA title. -- Bontemps

35. Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors

2023 NBA Rank: 63

In his third season, Barnes went from an intriguing young player to a deserving All-Star, averaging career highs in points (19.9), rebounds (8.2), assists (6.1), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.5) per game. The only other player to average at least 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per game last season? Giannis Antetokounmpo. Toronto has bet on Barnes being the face of its next contending team, giving him a max contract extension in July. And the franchise moved on from veterans OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in back-to-back moves before last season's trade deadline, bringing back Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and several draft picks to pair with Barnes over the next few years. Now, Toronto will be hoping Barnes can make another leap into All-NBA territory. -- Bontemps

34. Rudy Gobert, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

2023 NBA Rank: 64

After a difficult transition year with the Timberwolves, Gobert anchored the NBA's top-ranked defense en route to collecting his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award. He also averaged a double-double (14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds per game) for the eighth straight season. There's a narrative that Gobert gets played off the floor in the playoffs, but Minnesota outscored playoff foes by 95 points in his 512 minutes and were minus-28 in 256 minutes without him. -- MacMahon

33. Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz

2023 NBA Rank: 28

The five-year, $238 million contract Markkanen signed off a renegotiation and extension is strong proof that the Jazz believe that the 27-year-old forward can be a foundation player after the franchise's rebuild pays dividends. There aren't many 7-foot scorers as versatile as Markkanen, who has averaged 24.5 points per game on .490/.395/.885 shooting splits in his two seasons in Utah. -- MacMahon

32. Chet Holmgren, F, Oklahoma City Thunder

2023 NBA Rank: 73

The slender 7-footer's rookie season was well worth the wait after a foot injury forced Holmgren to sit out his first year as a pro. He played all 82 games and was a primary reason the Thunder made a 17-win improvement to become the youngest No. 1 seed ever. Holmgren is one of two players in NBA history to record at least 200 assists, 150 blocks and 100 made 3s in a season. The other: San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, who won Rookie of the Year over Holmgren.-- MacMahon

31. Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets

2023 NBA Rank: 17

Murray averaged career highs in points per game (21.2), and assists per game (6.5) and was one of three players to average at least 20 points, 6 assists and 40% 3-point shooting last season. But Murray didn't look like Playoff Murray in Denver's second-round loss to Minnesota, when he averaged 18.4 points and just 33% 3-point shooting, or during the Olympics when he averaged just 6.0 points for Team Canada this summer. Murray said he's healthy and he has implored his teammates at the start of camp to understand the urgency of taking advantage of the championship window the Nuggets currently have with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. -- Youngmisuk

30. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, New York Knicks

2023 NBA Rank: 20

After changing homes from Minneapolis to Madison Square Garden, Towns leaves a franchise coming off its most successful season in 20 years to join an ensemble of talent hoping to become the best Knicks team in a half century. The self-proclaimed best shooting big man of all time shot 41.6% from 3 last season and the former Kentucky Wildcat should fit right in with the Nova Wildcats, particularly with point guard Jalen Brunson. -- McMenamin

29. Domantas Sabonis, F, Sacramento Kings

2023 NBA Rank: 22

When you look at Sabonis' numbers from last season, it's not easy to comprehend why he dropped seven positions in the rankings. He led the league in triple-doubles (26) and double-doubles (77) and strung together 61 consecutive double-doubles -- the longest streak in modern NBA history. From January to the end of the season, he also led the league in assists. But he and the Kings enter this season under a microscope after not making the playoffs last season and have more pressure to prove they are still in the mix for the top of the West. -- Andrews

28. Jimmy Butler, F, Miami Heat

2023 NBA Rank: 12

Butler continues to play at an All-Star pace. Last season, he was one of eight players to average 20 points with 40% on 3-pointers and 85% on free throws. The 16-spot drop and concerns moving forward however are a result of Butler's age and, more importantly, his availability. Butler turned 35 years old in September and has failed to play more than 65 games in each of the past four seasons. Butler saw his field goal percentage drop from 54% to 50% this year largely because of his struggles at finishing near the rim. -- Marks

27. Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans

2023 NBA Rank: 57

Williamson rose 30 spots thanks to his availability this season. That allowed the former No. 1 pick the ability to consistently showcase his electric skill set. Williamson played a career-high 70 games, averaging 22.9 points and 5.8 rebounds as New Orleans advanced to its second postseason during his tenure. The club's brass indicated the 2024 offseason would be the most pivotal of Williamson's budding career, especially after he suffered an injury in the play-in tournament that left him unavailable for the postseason. Williamson responded with twice-daily workouts this summer and a healthier diet that has rounded him into the type of shape that has him poised for yet another jump in the rankings. -- Wright

26. De'Aaron Fox, G, Sacramento Kings

2023 NBA Rank: 23

Fox got off to a hot start last season, averaging 31.8 points through his first seven games -- including 43 points against the Spurs. He finished the season averaging 26.6 points per game and led the league with 2.0 steals per game. Despite the continued improvement of the Kings' lead guard, the team couldn't match the postseason success it had in 2023. -- Andrews

25. Kyrie Irving, G, Dallas Mavericks

2023 NBA Rank: 34

There has never been any doubt about Irving's extraordinary skill level, but last year he slid to 34th on this list because of questions about his availability and ability to impact winning. He responded by becoming a driving force in the Mavs' run to the Finals alongside Luka Doncic, as the pair proved to be a phenomenal fit together. They formed the league's highest-scoring duo, with Irving contributing 25.7 points per game on 60.8% true shooting while emerging as the Mavs' emotional leader. -- MacMahon

24. Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic

2023 NBA Rank: 30

Two years ago, Paolo Banchero won Rookie of the Year and became the youngest player in NBA history to lead his team in scoring, rebounds and assists. Last season, he made his first All-Star appearance and helped the Magic back into the postseason leading Orlando to Game 7 against the Cavaliers. This season, the East will be even more competitive, but Banchero and the Magic have a high ceiling. -- Andrews

23. Damian Lillard, G, Milwaukee Bucks

2023 NBA Rank: 14

Lillard has acknowledged his first season in Milwaukee was not an easy transition. After 11 seasons in Portland, he was traded on the eve of training camp and never found his footing. Lillard averaged 24.3 points and 7.0 assists, which earned him a starting spot in the 2024 All-Star Game. He had some bright moments in Milwaukee, but he was far from the dominant force he had been in years past as he struggled to find his on-court chemistry alongside co-star Giannis Antetokounmpo. -- Collier

22. Kawhi Leonard, F, LA Clippers

2023 NBA Rank: 24

When he was healthy last season, Leonard looked like the two-time Finals MVP as a dominant and relentless two-way forward. He averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals and shot 52.5% from the field and 41.7% from 3. He logged 68 games, his most since the 2016-17 season. But toward the end of the regular season, he experienced inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, costing him the final eight games. He returned for Games 2 and 3 of the first round against Dallas before being held out of the remainder of the six-game series. Leonard says he has a better handle on the inflammation and feels good, but the Clippers are taking no chances as they ease their franchise star through the preseason. It remains to be seen how healthy Leonard will be this season, but the 33-year-old is determined to be available late in the season after logging only two games in each of the past two postseasons because of right knee injuries. -- Youngmisuk

21. Paul George, F, Philadelphia 76ers

2023 NBA Rank: 18

Now in his age-34 season, George is on his fourth team after signing a four-year max deal with the 76ers. After a disappointing season for the Clippers saw him drop a couple spots on this list, he and the 76ers hope this new partnership can create the NBA Finals breakthrough both sides have spent years chasing. -- Bontemps

20. Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies

2023 NBA Rank: 35

How did Morant move up 15 spots after playing only nine games last season? Well, he doesn't have to sit out the first 25 games of the season with a suspension, as was the case a year ago. He has also fully recovered from the shoulder surgery that ended his 2023-24 campaign prematurely. Morant has the talent to barge back into the conversation about the league's elite guards and the best young American players. -- MacMahon

19. Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers

2023 NBA Rank: 42

Maxey took another leap last season, exploding into full-blown stardom by making his first All-Star team, and having some remarkable performances in Philadelphia's first-round loss to the New York Knicks with Joel Embiid limited by injury. As a result, Maxey was deservedly given a full max contract this summer, is part of arguably the best big three in the NBA alongside Embiid and Paul George and is now setting his sights on another leap into All-NBA contention. -- Bontemps

18. Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat

2023 NBA Rank: 16

Expect Adebayo to be a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year this season. Adebayo is one of seven players to defend at least 175 shots in half-court matchups against guards, forwards and centers. He held opponents to a 48% effective field goal percentage as the contesting defender, which ranked in the top 10 among players to contest at least 800 shots according to Second Spectrum. The Heat ranked second in defensive efficiency this season when Adebayo was on the court. -- Marks

17. Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

2023 NBA Rank: 15

Mitchell averaged the second-highest points in his career this past season (26.6) and 29.6 points in the playoffs -- both accomplishments should have him trending higher. However, durability concerns have him dropping two spots. Mitchell played in the second-fewest games in his career in the 2023-24 season (55) and dealt with a left knee injury after the All-Star break. He got a platelet-rich plasma injection on March 4 to treat a left knee bone bruise. Per Second Spectrum Sports, Mitchell averaged 3.2 fewer shots on layups and dunks after the All-Star break, shooting 44%. Before the break, Mitchell shot 64%. -- Marks

16. Tyrese Haliburton, G, Indiana Pacers

2023 NBA Rank: 21

Over the first half of last season, Haliburton was one of the absolute best players in the league. He led the Pacers to the championship game of the inaugural in-season tournament, was powering a dominant Indiana offensive attack and drawing deserved comparisons to the likes of Steve Nash. But then came a slip on the court in a game against the Celtics in early January, and Haliburton has spent the rest of the calendar year trying to get his body right. But after being selected for All-NBA, getting a supermax contract and then winning a gold medal this offseason, the question now is whether Haliburton can put those injury woes behind him and renew his push to jump into the top 10 on this list. -- Bontemps

15. Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns

2023 NBA Rank: 11

Booker has been a model of scoring consistency, averaging between 25.6 and 27.8 points in each of the past six seasons. And after being part of Team USA at the Paris Olympics, Booker was praised by coach Steve Kerr for all the parts of his game besides scoring -- playmaking, staunch defense, court awareness -- that helped the team win gold. His ranking has regressed ever so slightly because of team success as he went from putting up 40-point games in the 2021 Finals to getting swept out in the first round last year. But at 27 years old he is just scratching the surface of his prime. -- McMenamin

14. Jaylen Brown, G, Boston Celtics

2023 NBA Rank: 19

Coming into last season, there were loads of questions about Brown and the Celtics. Could he and Jayson Tatum break through and win a title? What would happen if they couldn't? Was Brown worth the massive extension he signed that summer that would make him the league's highest-paid player that season? In response, Brown made another All-Star team, claimed Eastern Conference finals and NBA Finals MVP honors and helped lead the Celtics to their record-setting 18th title. -- Bontemps

13. Anthony Davis, F, Los Angeles Lakers

2023 NBA Rank: 10

Davis is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, collecting a personal best 12.6 rebounds per game, along with 24.7 points, 3.5 assists and 2.3 blocks. All while playing 76 games -- a career high. After a rough stretch of injuries following the 2020 title, Davis reminded everyone of his place as one of the most dominant two-way talents in the game. And at 31 years old, Davis should have plenty of meaningful basketball left in him as the Lakers look to return to contention with new coach JJ Redick. -- McMenamin

12. Jalen Brunson, G, New York Knicks

2023 NBA Rank: 32

In his second season with the Knicks, Brunson became both a first-time All-Star and finished top five in MVP voting. The undersized guard is an offensive juggernaut who can manipulate tight spaces and create scoring angles with impeccable footwork and an array of high-level fakes. He put up historic showings and ascended to superstardom in the playoffs, becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to score 40 points in four straight playoff games. -- Herring

11. Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

2023 NBA Rank: 47

With a year of experience under his belt, the former No. 1 pick is coming for No. 1 on this list. The unanimous 2023-24 Rookie of the Year put together a historic first season in the NBA, producing numbers that compared favorably to Spurs Hall of Fame big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan. This season Wemby will see a lot of lob dunk opportunities now that he's paired with future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul. Wembanyama should make a run at surpassing the 254 blocks he notched last season on the way to earning his first NBA All-Star nod, while falling squarely into the MVP conversation. -- Wright

NEW YORK -- Despite far better numbers hitting with men on base this postseason, Shohei Ohtani won't be moved down in the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday.

Ohtani is 0-for-19 with the bases empty but 6-for-8 with men on while batting leadoff during the playoffs.

"It's just funny how things change, where there was a lot of concern about Shohei not being able to get hits with the runners in scoring position -- and now we're all trying to find ways ... to get guys on base so he can hit, right?" Roberts said. "I kind of find that comical, a little bit."

Neither Roberts nor Ohtani thinks there's much to the slugger's splits at the plate other than perhaps him chasing pitches a little more here or there, especially against good lefties like Sean Manaea of the Mets and Tanner Scott of the Padres. Roberts also acknowledged his leadoff man did take some bad swings against San Diego right-hander Yu Darvish in the NL Division Series.

"I was surprised with Darvish," Roberts said. "I was surprised that he expanded versus Darvish."

Added Ohtani through the team interpreter: "Regardless of however they are pitching to me, my plan is to stay with the same approach, as much as possible and not really be too focused on how they attack me. ... If I'm feeling good and the results aren't there, then I'm not too concerned because there's luck involved."

According to ESPN Research, Ohtani's chase rate is only slightly up from the regular season (26.6%) to the postseason (27.1%).

He was 2-for-4 in the Dodgers' 9-0 Game 1 win but 0-for-3 in the 7-3 Game 2 loss. Overall, he's 6-for-27 (.222) with five walks in the first postseason appearance of his career. During the regular season, Ohtani hit .308 with men on and .311 with the bases empty.

Ohtani said for the most part he's feeling good at the plate, but once in a while a "reset" is in order.

"If there's a situation where I don't feel good at the plate and I'm not doing well, or it's not leading to good results, then it's something that I look into to make sure physically, mechanically, making sure that that's all fine-tuned," he said. "I do feel OK at the plate. I do feel like I should recall back to the times when I feel good and perhaps incorporate that into it."

Roberts is confident Ohtani will find his groove again as soon as Game 3 on Wednesday at Citi Field.

"I think it's isolated," he said. "There have been times that he has to reset as all hitters do. Sometimes certain pitchers sort of kind of trigger bad habits. And you've got to identify that to then reset. ... But to think that I'm going to move Shohei to the 4 or the 3, that's just not going to happen."

Ohtani hit leadoff in 90 games this season and second in 69 -- the only two positions in the order where he has hit this year.

Roberts also indicated he expects first baseman Freddie Freeman to play Wednesday, as he has in the first two games, as he continues to nurse an ankle injury.

"It's a day-to-day conversation," Roberts said, while acknowledging the colder weather in New York doesn't help Freeman's ankle. "I just don't see any world that he doesn't start a playoff game in the NLCS. But, again, if he can't do it, that's very telling."