PGMOL, the refereeing body for English football, has confirmed that it is aware of a new video published by The Sun in which suspended Premier League referee David Coote is allegedly seen snorting a white powder.

Coote, 42, was stood down from duty pending the result of an investigation after a first video was posted to X on Monday which showed him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jürgen Klopp.

The Sun claims the new video, which has not been verified by ESPN, was filmed by Coote and shared to a friend on WhatsApp. It was taken at a UEFA-appointed hotel on July 6 when he was on duty at Euro 2024, the day after his final appointment as support VAR for the Portugal vs. France quarterfinal.

A PGMOL spokesperson said: "We aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation. David's welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period. We are not in a position to comment further at this stage."

Coote was due to act as a VAR for UEFA Nations League fixtures over the next week, but was immediately suspended by UEFA following the action taken by PGMOL. UEFA would not confirm which games Coote was due to work on.

In a statement issued after the latest video emerged on Wednesday evening, UEFA confirmed that Coote had been made ineligible for selection but made no comment about its contents or the allegation that it happened in a UEFA-appointed hotel.

A UEFA spokesperson told ESPN: "The UEFA Referees Committee immediately suspended David Coote until further notice on 11 November -- in advance of the upcoming round of UEFA matches -- when it became aware of his inappropriate behaviour."

Whether Jon Jones is using the leverage of retirement to up his price for future bouts, or has run out of opponents that excite him, or is seriously contemplating the end of his career, it's clear his heavyweight title fight against longtime former champion Stipe Miocic on Saturday is likely one of the final times we'll see Jones (27-1, 1 NC) in the Octagon.

From becoming the youngest champion in UFC history by stopping Mauricio Rua, to defeating Ciryl Gane to become a two-division champion, Jones has cemented himself as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time in the minds of fans, analysts and many of his peers.

The man at the center of that achievement remains largely a mystery, maybe even to himself. As erratic outside the cage as he is inevitable within it, Jones has amassed a track record of legal problems and troubling personal conduct. "There's many sides to Jon. And I feel, in a lot of ways, Jon is still figuring out the many sides of himself," says Rashad Evans, his former teammate, rival and friend.

Jones' brilliance is beyond dispute. He's been in every kind of fight there is. He's submitted opponents, knocked them out, or simply gritted his teeth and outlasted them. His is a career of startling range, defined by one thing, no one has ever beaten him. But if this is the end, what was the greatest of all time made of? There is no one better to answer this question than the men who had to stand and face him in the Octagon.

I asked three former opponents -- Anthony Smith, Rashad Evans, and Chael Sonnen -- to watch back through their fights against Jones, this time as analysts and storytellers, and tell us what they saw. Though no two fights are the same, all three men told similar stories: Jones executed a game plan that neutralized them and adjusted in ways that surprised them. They extoll his unique fighting mind and his rare gifts.

"As a complete system. His whole game, the way that it's put together, the way that it's structured, the way that it's organized, and the way that he implements it is the best in the world," Smith says.

"There's no one that's even close."

FACING JON JONES

Jones vs. Evans, 2012: Jones recently told ESPN that the Evans fight was one of the three most important bouts of his career. "Evans really elevated me, as an athlete. I know that I had to bring something new to beat him," Jones says.

For Evans, a friend and former teammate of Jones at Jackson Wink MMA Academy, the fight was personal. Evans had opposed Jones' joining the camp, saying it risked crowding the gym with too many egos and would lead to an unspoken agreement preventing its top fighters from competing against each other in the UFC. Eventually, Jones' rise caused Evans to leave. "They chose him over me," Evans says, describing his feelings before the fight. "It was hurt. It was betrayal, anger."

Evans says he was as anxious as he had ever been before a fight. But he thought he knew what to expect. "I knew how good Jon was, but then I also remember how it was in practice," Evans says. "I'll get him in the positions I normally get him in and just work."

Jones vs. Sonnen, 2013: The two men were meant to fight in the fall of 2012 after Jones' original opponent, Dan Henderson, withdrew with injuries. But with the change happening just eight days before the event, Jones turned it down. They finally met at UFC 159 the next spring, after coaching against each other in the 17th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Sonnen recalls Jones was distracted and not in the mood to train. "I trained there every day, twice a day, six days a week. I worked so hard just in the month that we were filming," Sonnen says. "Jon Jones never broke a sweat, didn't come to a number of practices."

Sonnen thought Jones was taking him lightly and wouldn't be prepared for a prolonged fight. Even when Jones went into fight camp ahead of the event, Sonnen heard rumors. "'This guy only comes in three days a week. And he shows up late. And he leaves early.' I heard that from a number of his teammates. But they also said, 'I've never seen him lose, even in practice.'"

Jones vs. Smith, 2019: This was Smith's very first title fight in the UFC, and despite the fact this was Jones' second title reign at light heavyweight, and his 13th straight title fight or defense, Smith says he was not intimidated. "I was never worried that Jon was going to hurt me," he says. "I would say Volkan Oezdemir will hurt you. If Dominick Reyes gets a clean shot on you, he's gonna hurt you. Guys like Glover Teixeira. Jiří Procházka is gonna hurt you. Aleksandar Rakić, anything he does is gonna hurt."

But by the time they arrived inside the cage together at UFC 235, the scale of the event and of Jones himself, became obvious. "I remember thinking, 'Is this for real? This is a small-town Nebraska dude. Here I am with Jon Jones locked in a cage on pay-per-view in front of everybody. Let's f---ing go!'"

"I'd never paid attention to the timing of title fights," he says. "I felt like I was in the Octagon forever, because I walked first... And then it just took so long. Like, the walkout was so long. It took him forever to get in the Octagon. And then his music played forever when he was inside of it. And then Buffer was doing his announcements. And that took forever. And then we finally came to the middle."

Jones' weight cut appeared difficult to Smith, but now face to face, Jones loomed over him. "I was just shocked at how big he was. He had put on so much weight," Smith recalls. "His shoulders and his back were so wide."

SIZE AND REACH

It's not incidental that Jones, when asked in 2021 about potentially taking on Francis Ngannu, talked about wanting "to look like a titan." Over a three-year layoff, Jones put on nearly 45 pounds before ascending to the heavyweight division. In the years prior, Jones dominated light heavyweights with his superior size and length (he has the second-longest measured reach in UFC history). It's a major factor in his style and fight plan.

Smith remembers observing him before they faced off: "I remember he did that cartwheel when he first came in that he always does when he enters the Octagon. And just seeing as his body was cartwheeling, in the moment, it feels like he's like peacocking on you, like, 'Look at how large I am.'"

Evans realized early that this was not the young fighter he had mentored in the gym. In Jones' first decision victory since becoming light heavyweight champion, he showed off a deeply sophisticated ability to dominate space against Evans. It's rather simple: Jones was long enough to reach Evans without being touched back. So he did, just left his lead hand out, and with minimal effort, he made Evans feel like he was under pressure. It was an illusion, caginess masquerading as activity. Evans spent the rest of the night trying to figure out what to do about it. And everything he did next was a mistake.

Hand fighting

Evans: You see how that left hand keeps going out and I keep on having to adjust and then touch it, right? That was his whole plan. He just wanted to keep me so he'd be able to touch me... And what made it so hard with Jon is the fact that he's so long but his length is not only with his offensive attack but it's with his defense as well because whenever he's able to keep his arms long, I'll throw punches and my punches will hit his long arms.

He never went straight back. He always went in a little crescent moon. And he always gave an illusion as if he was a lot closer than he was. So then I would go through some traffic to try to return, and then he was so far away I wasn't even close.

Sonnen: He measures guys. It's called measuring. But he'll put his hand out. He's got a really long reach. So he'll put his hand out as a way of just keeping you back and turn it into an elbow or punch you with the other hand.

Kicking

Smith and Evans describe a physical problem (the length of Jones' kicking) which Jones turns into a mental one. Note Smith's "invisible wall." Note Evans' description in granular detail, the slipping away of what he thought of as his only advantage; the ability to stay loose and explosive, to surprise Jones.

"I'm a rhythm fighter," says Evans. "That's why I dance like that when I'm in there. I'm dancing like that because I need to feel the rhythm. I need to hear that beat in my head. And I'm off my rhythm, and whenever I'm off my rhythm, I can't flow."

Smith: It's his range from the waist down... So, now I'm a little bit stuck on the outside, because he's managing the range. And I'm like right in that danger zone the whole time. Now, I'm trying to get out of it. See? 'Cause I know I'm in kick range. And I don't like it. It's uncomfortable. It was almost like there's an invisible wall between us and I can't get to him.

Evans: Now, you notice my back right leg is getting kind of stiff and it's not an athletic bend in my knees anymore? He's taken away my movement, but I felt back then like I needed to have it a little bit more stable because he kept on trying to take out that front leg, and I was worried that he was going to kick inside a leg and then start hitting me in the obliques.

Strength

Sonnen: He pushed me into this position (against the cage) like a Mack truck versus a Volvo. This is a handful. This position I'm in right there with Jon Jones, I've been in that position with 51 other men. And I could really dominate those positions. And I wasn't even close. I mean, when I was grabbing him, it was truly like being stuck in a cage with a bear. He was just better at this game. He was longer. His power was there.

Evans: So I'm like, "You know what? Maybe I'll try to take him down. Maybe I'll just try to see if I can get him down." But then when I went down, he felt strong as s---. And I'm like, "This dude feels really strong." Man, I can't even get his legs. He just feels ungodly strong."

FIGHT IQ

Jones' opponents all talk up his intelligence as his greatest skill. He has clear, detailed fight plans, he doesn't get emotional, and he solves problems at high speed. He takes your strengths away, then he takes you apart. "That's what makes Jon Jones, Jon Jones," says Smith. "If he knows you're good somewhere, he's gonna go there first. He just frustrates people.

"He just neutralizes you."

Smith, who admits he needs activity to be his best, found Jones' methodical approach stultifying. As we watch the fight together, Smith keeps marveling at how little Jones is actually doing.

Part of Jones' brilliance is the ability to keep himself wholly apart from what's happening. He gives his opponents no part of himself. Smith wanted a chance to retaliate, to exchange energy, instead, he spent much of the fight against the cage having to wear Jones' weight. "That's what's frustrating," Smith says of the night he calls the biggest fight of his life. "I didn't feel like I was in a fight."

Set-up

Evans: He's very systemic about his approach. He didn't rush it at all. He worked. He worked on a systemic basis, "OK. Here's a problem. Rashad is gonna be low. I'm gonna start off low, but I gotta bring Rashad up and start doin' some kicks to make him come up. When he comes up I'm gonna start touching his hands. I'm gonna start touching him, making him feel pressure."

Smith: He's not posturing up and punching. He's not attacking submissions. He's not even trying to pass. He's just grinding. He's cooking. He's never in an actual position. He never set the hooks, you know what I mean? He's just always in the gray area.

You're just being heavy. You're hanging on their head. They go to come up, you attack the neck. They go back down, you start punching. You're always giving them something to worry about. So mentally, it's exhausting, because you always have something to worry about. It's tough.

Payoff

Jones springs his traps, either rapidly, in the form of sharp elbows that stagger and then floor Evans in the second round, or slowly, excruciatingly, as he saps Smith of energy and ideas.

Jones realized he couldn't outbox Smith and instantly pivoted to a close-quarters, clinching, grinding affair, Smith says. Other fighters would have continued with what their plan was -- which is another way of saying what they think they are and what their opponent is supposed to be. Not Jones, he fights in the real, the actual. No fantasies, no irrevocable plans. Only the man in front of him, and that man's limits.

Evans: He got my hands engaged in the hand fight. And then now, at this point where I feel like I can't quite throw anything anymore to keep him off, I'm like, "You know what? I'm just going to physically push him off. If he pushes with his hands, I'm gonna push with my hands."

So, when he put his hands up, he's pushing, and then I start pushing back. But that's exactly what he wanted because when I started pushing back he would then retract his hands and then go over top with the elbow. So, he was using my own momentum to let me just fall in.

Smith: I just walked backward to the fence, really just looking to take a step out of it for a second and say, "What the f--- is happening here?" I'm rolling through the Rolodex here, bro. I just can't figure it out.

If we went back, I'd do another training camp right away. And it would be a much different fight. But I'd have to do another training camp for that. He made those adjustments in real-time.

PIVOTAL MOMENTS

Every fight has these, whether it's a lapse of judgment or faltering of will, the moment one person loses. For Sonnen, who was stopped in the first round, and who thought his superior training would carry him late into the fight, the moment happened when he broke a promise to himself.

For Evans, emotional, and perhaps still thinking of himself as the teacher in his dynamic with Jones, it was not seeing the subtle trap the younger man had laid for him. "I was ready for all his tricks," says Evans. "But it was the subtleties in his game... After a while, it adds up to a bigger picture."

The moment for Smith is less clear. Watching the last two rounds, he keeps commenting on his own body language: "My legs aren't even under me that well. It's just more of the same. Now, I'm tired."

I asked him if he thought of going for it late in the fight, trying to knock Jones out, or getting knocked out himself.

"It's just a thing people say," he answers. "It's not that easy. We've been doing this for over 20 minutes. The average bar fight lasts 30 seconds and you have five people that are exhausted. And he's been hanging on me for a lot of this. So I've been carrying him and me for 24 minutes at this point."

Sonnen: I just keep saying it, "I'm gonna move forward as a way of tiring him out and getting him. And I'm gonna stay off the bottom. Stay off the bottom." I'm telling myself that.

I had made a deal with myself that I'm gonna stay off the bottom. I don't know what will happen. And I can accept whatever happens, including loss. But I will not be underneath this man. He will not come out and control me.

And when he got this takedown, his third all within a few minutes, and I'd only been taken off my feet twice in my entire career, I remember thinking, "You know what? Let's change the plan. I'm gonna stay underneath him. I'm gonna let him take some shots and see if that wears him down." But he was just so composed. Everywhere I moved, his hips moved. Mine go fast, his go nice, and slow, and methodical.

Mentally, where I started to change was that third takedown. That's when I started to sell myself on a different deal, "I'm not gonna get off the bottom. I'll do that next round. Let's just ride this one out. We'll reactivate the deal in the next round."

And that's never good when you start doing what's called deal-making with yourself, "OK, I'm gonna eat this cheeseburger, but then I'll run an extra mile tomorrow." Deal-making is not good. So, that was the beginning of the end for me.

Evans: The moment when I lost that fight was when he was able to touch me consistently by reaching across with his hands. That was really the moment that I lost. When he desensitized that space it made it a lot easier for him to work. And I engaged with the hand fight. I was gonna have to fire back through those arms and then I run into that problem. So, what he was doing was desensitizing that area where I would normally be in punch mode.

Smith: I didn't know it at the moment, but watching it back, any chance of me winning was done. After the third, his size started to wear on me. It was a lot. And that's him being smart.

This work in the clinch, and the knees, and all this stuff, it's just him making an investment. He's investing in these last two rounds being easier. And they were.

MENTALITY

"There's something deeper in his mind that allows him to compete," says Evans of Jones.

I kept asking each of them: so what's he like in there? The Jones that emerges from their descriptions is a violent impersonal force. Humorless, in pursuit, breathing slow, not flinching when hit, impossible to penetrate.

They don't really know what Jones feels, which is so rare that it might be singular. Fighters achieve an incredible amount of emotional intimacy with each other during a fight. This is why there's all the hugging and forehead touching when it's over. They know things about each other, they know how to hurt each other and they've been thinking about each other for months, maybe longer.

Jones, though, emerges from these encounters about as opaque as he was before. Smith remembers talking to Jones throughout the fight, goading him with gibes like, "I thought you'd be better here. I thought you hit harder. I thought you'd be tougher here." Jones never said a word.

But then again he can be randomly whimsical, like the flying oblique kick he throws at Smith ("Crazy," Smith says.) Or the way he leaps up and pulls guard at the end of the fifth round against Evans.

Imagine yourself alone in an elevator and someone else walks in but they don't turn around to face the door and they don't say a word. They just look at you without blinking, or maybe they smile, while you hurtle towards the sky.

Evans and Sonnen both describe feeling trapped. "I just couldn't stop getting on his time," Evans says. "I couldn't break out of his time."

Smith: He feels nothing. So, when his coaches tell him something, he just does it. He doesn't question it. He doesn't have to think about it. He just does it. He's the best-coached fighter I've ever seen, because he's brainless in there.

I'm not saying he's not smart. I'm not saying he's brainless as a whole. I'm saying when he's in the fight, he's brainless. Everything he does is off of instinct. He's like a robot. Like, they've implemented these instincts in there almost like it's code that they've written into his hard drive. "You go here. He goes here." And he knows that every single time. He doesn't actually have to know it. It's just instinct. Boom. Boom. It happens that fast. He's just very well trained, so he doesn't have to do a bunch of thinking.

And then anything else that needs to be rewired, they do it in real time, and he just does it. He's very special. It's hard to do.

I explain fighting like a car. He's in a car driving down a road. He never takes a turn that the GPS isn't telling him to do. Every turn he takes is scripted -- every single time.

We're human and it's in our instinct to react emotionally to certain things. Someone hits you with a nasty right hand, what is your instinct as a fighter? I'm gonna get that back. That's not how Jon is. His code isn't written like that. He never deviates, ever.

VERSATILITY

Jones is a threat everywhere in the Octagon. Name the skill and Jones' opponents rank him with all-time greats. "It's the way he puts it together," says Smith. "He mixed martial arts better than anybody in the world."

Sonnen: His kickboxing is a trick boxing. He is fooling you nonstop. Anderson Silva was a master of that. He'll move this way and hit you that way, get you to look over here, and come over here. You're looking at his hands and he kicks you in the stomach with his toes. Jon was on that same level. I don't know that we've ever had a better striker than Jon. I can't think of one. Alex Pereira is certainly a more decorated striker. But I can't tell you that Alex Pereira has done more damage standing up to guys than Jon has done standing up with guys.

The best MMA wrestler ever is Georges St-Pierre. So Jon is not number one in that category. But he's top three. You know, he fought Daniel Cormier, who was on two Olympic teams. He out-wrestled Daniel both times.

Jon had so many tools. Maybe you'll fight a guy that's got good elbows and good knees, or maybe the guy's got good punches and good kicks. But that's what it is. It's never he's got good punches, good elbows, good knees, good kicks, and good grappling. There's no fighter created that can do all those things.

And this f---er has tools everywhere. Let's say I would have got up off the bottom. I'm not any safer on my feet. I might've wanted to be back on the bottom. There was nowhere to go with him that was safe.

There are fresh faces coming to EA Sports' NHL 25, as the video game will add Professional Women's Hockey League players and teams to its platforms in a significant move to highlight the women's sport.

The changeover takes places on Dec. 5 and will feature all six PWHL clubs -- the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres -- in Play Now, Online Versus, Shootout and Season Modes.

"We are thrilled to bring the PWHL into NHL 25 as part of a massive holiday update, giving players all-new ways to play, starting in a couple of days with the frenetic energy of NHL Arcade through to the launch of 4 Nations Face-Off in the New Year," Bill Dollar, EA Sports' NHL executive producer, stated in a news release Wednesday. "EA SPORTS continues to drive inclusivity and authenticity through its games, and in partnership with the PWHL, we will amplify the excitement of the women's game for all fans."

The announcement comes a week after the PWHL unveiled its full jersey designs ahead of the league's upcoming second season, launching at the end of November. The PWHL had opted to have just geographic names on their sweaters for its inaugural year rather than rush out a finished product. Team logos were previously revealed in September.

NHL 25 will soon showcase PWHL uniforms in World of Chel, with players, logos and uniforms available in Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). The update will also include the PWHL's Walter Cup and advanced body skeletons through SAPIEN technology integration.

"Our partnership with EA SPORTS opens new doors to elevate women's hockey across all levels," Amy Scheer, the PWHL's senior vice president of business operations said in the release. "Through this alliance, we'll develop in-game and out-of-game experiences that strengthen the bond between our teams, players, and fans, bringing the PWHL closer to the global hockey community."

Showcasing professional women's skaters within the EA realm comes after a version of NHL 22 had playable women's team via the IIHF and following Toronto's Sarah Nurse being featured on the cover of NHL 23 with Anaheim Ducks star Trevor Zegras.

AC Milan star Christian Pulisic praised a "reset" for the United States in a new era under recently hired manager Mauricio Pochettino.

"It's been a good kind of reset for everyone, and I think it's brought an environment where everyone is a bit on their toes and especially in training sessions," Pulisic, 26, said ahead of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series vs. Jamaica on Nov. 14 and 18.

"I think everyone is that much more focused. You obviously want to make a good first impression, you want to impress these coaches. They've obviously coached some of the best players in the world."

The hiring of Pochettino -- who has coached at top clubs like Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur -- marked an ambitious step forward for the USMNT after failing to impress last summer with a Copa América group-stage exit under former manager Gregg Berhalter.

Along with the backdrop of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, a new bar has been set for the USMNT's up-and-coming roster, although Pulisic noted on Wednesday that the team is currently focused on more immediate goals.

"It's easy to look ahead. I think the main objective right now is to beat Jamaica. That's truly the only thing on our minds. ... We have to take this step by step," Pulisic said when asked about pre-World Cup objectives for the USMNT, which has won once and lost once in two games under Pochettino.

"If we can do that, we can obviously build on that, and then it's just continuing to grow as a team."

November's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series will begin with an away trip to Kingston's Independence Park on Thursday before hosting the second leg at St. Louis' Energizer Park four days later. The winners will earn a spot to next year's semifinal and Concacaf's 2025 Gold Cup. An additional opportunity for Gold Cup qualification will be given to the loser of the quarterfinal through a preliminary competition.

"It's obviously going to be a tough place to go," said the winger about playing at Kingston. "They are obviously a team with a lot of good athletes, a very physical team, and one that I think has improved a lot as well in recent years."

Despite holding an all-time record of 23W-3L-10D against Jamaica, in Kingston, the series has been more even with a 3W-1L-6D tally for the USMNT.

Pulisic may also have to compensate in the attack due to the absence of injured forwards. AS Monaco's Folarin Balogun, Norwich City's Josh Sargent, and Coventry City's Haji Wright are all out. In their place, backup strikers like PSV Eindhoven's Ricardo Pepi and Monterrey's Brandon Vázquez are set to work alongside Pulisic, who has emerged as a game-changer in 2024-25 for AC Milan.

Pulisic has seven goals and four assists across all competitions this season for the Serie A side, including an assist in a 3-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid last week.

"Truly an amazing team effort from our whole team," said Pulisic on Wednesday. "Really special to go to a stadium like that and win."

Since the start of the Concacaf Nations League, the USMNT has won all three editions of the tournament. The 2024-25 semifinals and final will be played in March at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City-area homes of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce were burglarized last month, according to police reports.

The Cass County, Missouri, Sheriff's office said a break-in occurred at Mahomes' residence shortly after midnight on Oct. 6 but didn't provide further details because the investigation continues.

Kelce's home was burglarized the next day, on Oct. 7, according to the Leawood, Kansas, police department. Police said the loss at Kelce's home totaled $21,000, including $20,000 in cash.

Mahomes confirmed Wednesday his home was recently burglarized but otherwise wouldn't get into details.

"Obviously it's frustrating, it's disappointing, but I mean I can't get into too many of the details because the investigation's still ongoing, but obviously something that you don't want to happen to really anybody but obviously yourself,'' Mahomes said.

On whether he or his family were home during the break in, Mahomes said, ''I can't speak too much about the details of everything just with the investigation going on, but I'm sure at some point that will be talked about.''

The break-ins happened just before and the day of the Chiefs' 26-13 home victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, as Kelce's superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift watched from the stands. No injuries were reported in either case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he isn't concerned about a former player's comments about his team's mental toughness.

On an appearance on the "Punch Line Podcast," Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott said he was looking forward to playing the Baltimore Ravens this week because the team he played on last year -- the Dolphins -- was "soft as f---."

Elliott was part of a Miami team that went 11-6 last season, but the Dolphins lost 56-20 to the Ravens late in the season in a game that would have sealed an AFC East title if they'd won.

Speaking on the podcast, which is hosted by Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, Elliott called out the "majority" of last year's Dolphins team.

"There were some guys who were tough, but the majority of the [Dolphins] were not mentally tough individuals," Elliott said. "So to be on a [Steelers] team with a full team of mentally tough guys going against a mentally tough team ... this is going to be fun."

McDaniel was asked Wednesday about Elliott's comments and declined to directly address them, instead opting to focus on this year's team.

"I am supremely only concerned with the 2024 Dolphins, for sure," McDaniel said. "Our team played a tough-fought game the past three weeks and ended up finding a way to win this past week. That's not the easiest thing to do.

"I just worry about this year's team. He said it on a podcast? Cool podcast."

The Dolphins recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. Miami (3-6) is 2.5 games behind the Denver Broncos for the final AFC wild-card spot.

The Steelers are 7-2 and a half-game ahead of the Ravens for the AFC North lead.

Inspirational thought of the week:

"Honestly, when we lose, I don't even get in the shower until early this morning. I'll just be mad. I just brush my teeth. It's like, I don't deserve soap."
-- Syracuse head coach Fran Brown

Here at Bottom 10 Headquarters, located behind the "sorry, not sorry" bouquet of water hemlocks sent to the Big 12 officiating office from Utah athletic director Mark Harlan, we know all too well the sting of losing football games. We see it every week in every game we watch.

Yeah, yeah, we know what you're thinking. "Come on, dummy, someone loses every game that anyone watches." That's true. At least now it is. We are also old enough to remember when games ended in ties. That was way worse.

But here in the Bottom 10 Cinematic Universe, losses are worse because that's all you experience. You'd think we'd get used to it, numb from the pain like when you keep accidentally biting that same spot on your tongue to the point that it just becomes sensory free. But instead, it's like Bruce Banner explained about being the Hulk: "You see, I don't get a suit of armor. I'm exposed. Like a nerve. It's a nightmare."

However, as we learned in "Age of Ultron," even after one of his worst losses, Bruce Banner does take a shower. So, Coach Brown, take it from us, in a world where every team has a helluva lot more losses than Syracuse ... dude, wash up. Seriously. We can smell you from here. And we're in Kent, Ohio.

With apologies to Mr. Clean, former Miami (Ohio) quarterback Mike Bath, former Southern Illinois running back Wash Henry and Steve Harvey, here are the post-Week 11 Bottom 10 rankings.

1. State of Kent (0-9)

The Golden(plated) Flashes are still America's last winless FBS team, losing their 18th straight game when they were edged by Ohio 41-0. Now they travel to My Hammy of Ohio, where they are given a 2.8% chance to win by the ESPN Analytics Ouija board, er, I mean Matchup Predictor. But honestly, that game will only be the appetizer ahead of the, yes, Week 13 main course that is the Wagon Wheel showdown with Akronmonious. And by appetizer we mean way-past-the-expiration-date freezer-burned mini-pizza bagels.

2. Kennesaw Landis Mountain State (1-8)

The New Owls not only used their talons to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at UTEP, losing in double overtime, they earned Bottom 10 Bonus Points for firing their head coach -- and during their first year as an FBS team, no less. Though the AD issued a statement that Brian Bohannon had "stepped down," Bohannon himself responded on social media: "Contrary to what's been reported, I want to be clear that I did not step down." But there is no confusion as to whether the Owls have stepped up or down in these rankings, where every move up is also a move down.

3. Southern Missed (1-8)

Brett Favre Funding U. lost to We Are Marshall 37-3, meaning all eight of their defeats this season have been by double digits. In related news, I also received double digit political texts on Election Day -- and one of those was from Favre. No, for real. I wonder, did he cover the data charges himself or did he steal change from the donation jar at his grocery store checkout?

4. UMess (2-7)

Sometimes in this life we are asked to do things that go against the fiber of our being. Like taking your daughter to the concert of an artist you've never heard of. Or me having to use Earth's most annoying instrument, the leaf blower. This weekend this team of Minutemen will be asked to try to defeat Liberty.

5. The Sunshine State

The Coveted Fifth Spot has never been more crowded. The FBS, FCS and NFL teams of Florida posted a 1-11 record over the weekend, salvaged only by the Miami Dolphins' win over the Los Angeles Rams on "Monday Night Football." UC(not S)F, US(not C)F, FA(not I)U, Stetson, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman all lost, led in misery by the Wildcats' five-overtime loss to Southern. The Flori-duh Gate Doors celebrated the announced retaining of coach Billy Napier by losing to Texas in a squeaker 49-17. And My Hammy of Florida finally spotted an opponent a lead too large for a Cam Ward comeback and took its first loss of the season, falling to unranked Georgia Tech. If only someone else in the state could relate to that ...

6. Flori-duh State (1-9)

The Semi-No's are continuing to work around the Coveted Fifth Spot by earning their Bottom 10 keep the old-fashioned way, not only losing to semi/sorta/kinda ACC member Notre Dame by a scant 52-3, but also earning a pile of their own Bottom 10 Bonus Points not by firing head coach Mike Norvell, but because Norvell fired both his offensive and defensive coordinators and a wide receivers coach. In related news, over the weekend a friend of mine steered his bass boat into a giant pile of sharp rocks and reacted by throwing his shirt and hat overboard.

7. Pur-don't (1-8)

It was three weekends ago that the Buttermakers lost to then-second-ranked Oregon 35-0. On Saturday, they lost to then-second-ranked Ohio State 45-0. Now they play sixth-ranked Penn State, and in two weeks end their season playing currently eighth-ranked Indiana. We have to assume that a team of professors from Purdue's legendary mechanical engineering department is studying this experience as a way to assess the stress put on a school bus that is attempting to drive over a lava field covered in landmines.

8. UTEPid (2-7)

The Minors have a weekend off to continue their post-Kennesaw victory party. And what's the best way to snap yourself out of a two-week hangover? Hair of the dog? A cold bucket of water over the head? How about the hair of a coontick hound and a bucket of water from the river during a Week 13 trip to Neyland Stadium to play Tennessee?

9. Whew Mexico State (2-7)

Whatever is left of UTEP after Knoxville will then play whatever is left of the Other Aggies after their Week 12 trip to face the OG Aggies of Texas A&M. If there's any justice in this world, then the loser and/or winner of that Aggie Bowl would go on to play ...

10. Utaw State (2-7)

The Other Other Aggies lost to the one-loss team the nation forgot about, Warshington State. But if you consider the week before that, we find a Bottom 10 conundrum. Utah State beat WhyOMGing? but the week before that lost to Whew Mexico by five points. Meanwhile, Wyoming, who lost to Utah State two weeks ago, spent last weekend beating New Mexico by five points. Perhaps we will be given some clarity when Wyoming ends the year at Washington State. Or perhaps we will have already given up. As so many here in the Bottom 10 seem to do.

Waiting list: Miss Sus Hippie State, Georgia State Not Southern, FA(not I)U, Akronmonious, Meh-dle Tennessee, WhyOMGing?, Temple of Doom, Living on Tulsa Time, You A Bee?, Standfird, people who put all those election signs up but now won't take them down.

NEW YORK -- NBA referee Scott Wall was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia earlier this year and is in treatment, the National Basketball Referees Association announced Wednesday.

All referees will be using a whistle marked with the No. 31 -- Wall's referee jersey number -- for the remainder of the season. The union said that tribute was happening as a sign of "solidarity with our brother."

Wall, 58, has undergone chemotherapy treatment and had a 30-day hospital stay, the union said, adding that "doctors have successfully eliminated the leukemia cells from his body and have transitioned Scott into the next phase of treatment."

Wall has worked 1,530 games in 30 seasons as an NBA referee. The Florida resident was selected to work the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. He officiated 38 games during the 2023-24 season.

We're just a few weeks into the 2024-25 NBA season, and we've already seen some memorable homecomings as well as a barrage of superstar injuries.

The Cleveland Cavaliers remain at the top of the pack as the only undefeated team left in the league. While a few other surprise contenders have made waves, such as the Golden State Warriors, who continue to climb the West, and the Brooklyn Nets, who sit near the top of the Eastern standings.

And let's not forget our reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, who are off to a hot start behind a stacked starting five. Their 2024 NBA Finals rival, the Dallas Mavericks, however, are struggling to stay above .500 after a tough early-season schedule.

In addition to our rankings, our NBA insiders picked the most important role player on each team. Which sixth man is making the biggest impact? Who can step up in place of injured superstars? Let's break down where all 30 teams land in this week's Power Rankings.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

• 2024-25 record: 12-0

• Previous ranking: 3

• Next games: @ PHI (Nov. 13), vs. CHI (Nov. 15), vs. CHA (Nov. 17), @ BOS (Nov. 19)

This title could belong to a few different Cleveland substitutes, which only goes to illustrate how deep the 12-0 Cavs really are. But we'll go with Caris LeVert because of his microwave-like ability to get hot, as evidenced by his 12.0 points per game scoring average in 23.4 minutes (shooting 56.3% from the field and 47.2% from 3). New Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson relied on LeVert as a 20-point-per-game guy when they were together in Brooklyn, and that shared history should continue to give him the green light in Cleveland. -- Dave McMenamin

2. Boston Celtics

• 2024-25 record: 9-3

• Previous ranking: 1

• Next games: @ BKN (Nov. 13), vs. TOR (Nov. 16), vs. CLE (Nov. 19)

Payton Pritchard might not get as many headlines as his star-studded teammates do, but he has been an essential part of the Celtics' hot start. Averaging career highs in virtually every category, 16.5 points, 43% from 3 and 47.6% from the field. Pritchard's consistent energy off the bench has been the difference in multiple games -- including in both of Boston's wins over Milwaukee. In one of those, he had a season-high 28-point performance. -- Tim Bontemps

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

• 2024-25 record: 9-2

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: vs. NO (Nov. 13), vs. PHX (Nov. 15), vs. DAL (Nov. 17), @ SA (Nov. 19)

Aaron Wiggins is one of three players the Thunder used in the fifth starting spot before Chet Holmgren's injury. The 6-foot-6 forward becomes even more important now that the Thunder must survive with small ball until center Isaiah Hartenstein recovers from his broken hand. Wiggins, the 55th pick of the 2021 draft, is a developmental success story for Oklahoma City. He's a versatile 3-and-D player who is averaging career highs in scoring (10.2), rebounding (4.0), assists (2.2) and minutes (21.5). -- Tim MacMahon

4. Golden State Warriors

• 2024-25 record: 9-2

• Previous ranking: 5

• Next games: vs. MEM (Nov. 15), @ LAC (Nov. 18)

Jonathan Kuminga started in the first three games of the season before being moved to the bench, and Kuminga has used this opportunity to give the Warriors a massive punch in the second unit and a unique level of athleticism. The Warriors have also benefited from offseason acquisition Buddy Hield. Hield is shooting 48.8% from 3 and averaging four 3-pointers a game, giving them scoring power off the bench -- something they've been missing in recent seasons. -- Kendra Andrews

5. Denver Nuggets

• 2024-25 record: 7-3

• Previous ranking: 11

• Next games: @ NO (Nov. 15), @ MEM (Nov. 17), @ MEM (Nov. 19)

There is no denying that Russell Westbrook's impact when he is playing well, flying all over the court and defending, is crucial off the bench. And Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther have shown what they can do with bigger roles off the bench, but the Nuggets will need Christian Braun to thrive in his two-way role if they are going to be true contenders -- especially when Aaron Gordon returns. So far, Braun has shown he can shine in the same role Kentavious Caldwell-Pope filled and do it with more aggressive offense. Braun is averaging a career-high 16.3 points, shooting 55.2% from the field, including 50% from 3 and is averaging nearly a block and steal per game. If Braun keeps this up and the youngsters continue to progress, the Nuggets will have a younger and dynamic element to them that could help come playoff time. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

6. Phoenix Suns

• 2024-25 record: 9-2

• Previous ranking: 4

• Next games: @ SAC (Nov. 13), @ OKC (Nov. 15), @ MIN (Nov. 17), vs. ORL (Nov. 18)

Rookie Ryan Dunn got bumped up to the starting lineup after Kevin Durant went down last week with a left calf strain. While Phoenix lost to the Kings in overtime Sunday, Dunn was able to contribute with 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 1 steal and 1 block in 21 minutes. The Suns were tied for No. 1 in the West when Durant went out; Dunn's contributions will be crucial to staying near the top of a difficult conference while the organization waits for its superstar's calf to heal. -- McMenamin

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2024-25 record: 6-5

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: @ POR (Nov. 13), @ SAC (Nov. 15), vs. PHX (Nov. 17)

As reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Naz Reid is off to a great start. He's averaging 14.1 points and 5.5 rebounds on 54% shooting while knocking down 48% from 3 -- all increases from last season. With Julius Randle, a more traditional power forward, on the roster, Reid has played a lot more at center this season compared to last. Despite the Wolves' rocky start, Reid remains a constant off the bench. -- Jamal Collier

8. Memphis Grizzlies

• 2024-25 record: 7-4

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: @ LAL (Nov. 13), @ GS (Nov. 15), vs. DEN (Nov. 17), vs. DEN (Nov. 19)

Memphis' rash of injuries last season might have been a blessing in disguise, as it forced the Grizzlies to acquire and develop unheralded players into key contributors for what's become a deep rotation. Scotty Pippen Jr. signed a standard contract in October after averaging 13 points and 4.7 assists in 21 games last season. Ja Morant's latest injury pushes the 24-year-old into the starting lineup for what could be an extended period. Considering Morant's history with injuries, Pippen serves as an important insurance player that should pair well with Marcus Smart when he returns. -- Michael Wright

9. Dallas Mavericks

• 2024-25 record: 5-6

• Previous ranking: 6

• Next games: @ UTAH (Nov. 14), vs. SA (Nov. 16), @ OKC (Nov. 17), vs. NO (Nov. 19)

Sophomore center Dereck Lively II's value was evident during his four-game absence due to a sprained right shoulder. The Mavs went 1-3 during that stretch, and opposing big men Myles Turner, Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic presented major problems. Lively will get a shot in the starting lineup at some point this season, according to coach Jason Kidd, and an argument can be made that he's the Mavs' third-most-valuable player despite his current reserve role. -- MacMahon

10. Houston Rockets

• 2024-25 record: 7-4

• Previous ranking: 14

• Next games: vs. LAC (Nov. 13), vs. LAC (Nov. 15), @ CHI (Nov. 17), @ MIL (Nov. 18)

Fred VanVleet pointed out Amen Thompson as a summer standout at Rockets media day in September, saying "he actually looks bigger, faster, stronger, more confident, more under control" heading into Year 2. Now, Thompson will take a more prominent role with VanVleet nursing a sore hamstring. He was already Houston's first option off the bench, scoring in double figures in four of his previous six outings going into Monday's matchup. Thompson averages the most minutes (24.1) among Houston's reserves and is expected to receive even more time due to his blossoming play. -- Wright

11. Los Angeles Lakers

• 2024-25 record: 6-4

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: vs. MEM (Nov. 13), @ SA (Nov. 15), @ NO (Nov. 16), vs. UTAH (Nov. 19)

D'Angelo Russell's bench role came into focus last week, with coach JJ Redick shuffling his starters in response to L.A.'s 1-4 road trip. The immediate return was positive, with Russell averaging 16.5 points on 52% shooting (38.5% from 3) in two wins, after averaging 12 points on 37.5% shooting (29.2% from 3) with the first unit. Redick said he likes the scoring pop Russell brings to the reserves. And Russell has embraced the assignment. "I'm just committing to it, committing to what the coaches are trying to implement," he said. -- McMenamin

12. New York Knicks

• 2024-25 record: 5-5

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: vs. CHI (Nov. 13), vs. BKN (Nov. 15), vs. BKN (Nov. 17), vs. WAS (Nov. 18)

From New York's opening-night contest in Boston, when he notched 22 points on just 10 shots against the defending champs, Miles "Deuce" McBride has stood out as looking increasingly comfortable in his fourth year. His efficiency numbers aren't all that different from a season ago, but the 24-year-old's usage and role are a bit larger; especially with offseason pickup Cameron Payne dealing with an injury. McBride has scored double figures in six of nine games while continuing to play stout defense. -- Chris Herring

13. LA Clippers

• 2024-25 record: 6-5

• Previous ranking: 21

• Next games: @ HOU (Nov. 13), @ HOU (Nov. 15), vs. UTAH (Nov. 17), vs. GS (Nov. 18)

Norman Powell arguably has become much more than a role player for the Clippers. With Kawhi Leonard (knee) out and Paul George in Philadelphia, Powell has emerged from the Clippers' valued sixth man to the team's leading scorer. He's averaging 26 points while shooting 52.7% from the field, including a scorching 50.5% from 3-point range. Even when the Clippers have Leonard and Harden together, Powell will remain the most important role player the defensive-minded Clippers need to survive nightly. -- Youngmisuk

14. Indiana Pacers

• 2024-25 record: 5-5

• Previous ranking: 18

• Next games: @ ORL (Nov. 13), vs. MIA (Nov. 15), vs. MIA (Nov. 17), @ TOR (Nov. 18)

Injuries have started to decimate the rotation, leaving it without Andrew Nembhard for at least the next two weeks and Aaron Nesmith until December at the earliest. Sunday against New York, Indiana was limited to seven healthy players, and coach Rick Carlisle said some of the team's young role players were going to fill in roles. Jarace Walker, the No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft, did just that and recorded six points, four rebounds and two assists over a season-high 27 minutes in a win on Sunday. If he can continue to give Indiana good minutes, the Pacers are going to have an easier time navigating a roster thinned by injuries. -- Collier

15. Sacramento Kings

• 2024-25 record: 6-5

• Previous ranking: 15

• Next games: vs. PHX (Nov. 13), vs. MIN (Nov. 15), vs. UTAH (Nov. 16), vs. ATL (Nov. 18)

Malik Monk, who came in second in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, was a key contributor off the bench for the Kings until he was sidelined for at least two weeks with a right ankle sprain. The Kings will need the second unit to step up in Monk's absence . Sacramento is second-to-last in bench scoring, averaging just 22.9 points per game. However, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis have played the most minutes in the NBA so far, leaving little room for rotation. -- Andrews

16. Miami Heat

• 2024-25 record: 4-6

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: @ IND (Nov. 15), @ IND (Nov. 17), vs. PHI (Nov. 18)

Jaime Jaquez Jr. has started the season coming off the bench, providing solid production (9.0 points and 7.2 rebounds) and an ability to Swiss Army knife his way into a variety of different roles, depending on what coach Erik Spoelstra needs on a given night. There's certainly a reason to believe Jaquez could eventually displace Nikola Jovic in the starting lineup as he has carried forward his instant fit as an integral part of Miami's rotation from his rookie year last season. -- Bontemps

17. Orlando Magic

• 2024-25 record: 6-6

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: vs. IND (Nov. 13), vs. PHI (Nov. 15), @ PHX (Nov. 18)

With the Magic plagued with injuries -- most notably Paolo Banchero, who is out with a torn right oblique -- Orlando needs more role players to step up to the plate. Last season, Moe Wagner averaged 10.9 points per game on 60.1% shooting -- 33.0% from 3 and 67.3% from the field. He was key in taking their first-round playoff matchup against the Cavaliers to seven games and needs to tap into that fire once again this season to boost a struggling Magic bench. -- Andrews

18. San Antonio Spurs

• 2024-25 record: 5-6

• Previous ranking: 23

• Next games: vs. WAS (Nov. 13), vs. LAL (Nov. 15), @ DAL (Nov. 16), vs. OKC (Nov. 19)

Sixth man Keldon Johnson would've been the most important role player a season ago. He still provides a scoring spark off the bench, leadership off the floor and is a galvanizing force inside the Spurs locker room. But the current injury situation paired with his scheme versatility thrusts rookie Stephon Castle into the spotlight as San Antonio's most important role player. He's already started three games with Jeremy Sochan out, and he excels equally as an off guard or point guard. -- Wright

19. Brooklyn Nets

• 2024-25 record: 5-6

• Previous ranking: 25

• Next games: vs. BOS (Nov. 13), @ NYK (Nov. 15), @ NYK (Nov. 17), vs. CHA (Nov. 19)

Although he's back in the starting lineup, Nic Claxton began the season coming off the bench on reduced minutes as the club sought to gradually ramp up his activity following a hamstring injury. The sixth-year big man, who's been a starter the past four games, has been solid defensively, holding shooters nearly 11 percentage points beneath their average around the basket. -- Herring

20. Milwaukee Bucks

• 2024-25 record: 3-8

• Previous ranking: 22

• Next games: vs. DET (Nov. 13), @ CHA (Nov. 16), vs. HOU (Nov. 18)

A longtime fan favorite in Milwaukee, Bobby Portis has found himself at the center of the team's struggles. His 12.5 points, 45.4% field goal percentage and 26.7% 3-point percentage are all his lowest in five seasons with the Bucks, a microcosm of how Milwaukee's role players are struggling surrounding their two stars. Portis has been a spark in the past whenever he enters the game, but the Bucks are being outscored by 15.1 points per 100 possessions with Portis on the floor. -- Collier

21. Atlanta Hawks

• 2024-25 record: 5-7

• Previous ranking: 20

• Next games: vs. WAS (Nov. 15), @ POR (Nov. 17), @ SAC (Nov. 18)

Onyeka Okongwu has connected on just 20% (3-for-15) of his attempts from the 3-point line, but he is among some fantastic company when it comes to his production in the interior. According to Second Spectrum, only Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley and Karl-Anthony Towns average more points per paint touch than Okongwu's 1.22 this season. -- Herring

22. Philadelphia 76ers

• 2024-25 record: 2-8

• Previous ranking: 19

• Next games: vs. CLE (Nov. 13), @ ORL (Nov. 15), @ MIA (Nov. 18)

Anyone who saw Guerschon Yabusele play in his first seasons with the Celtics wouldn't expect him to return to the league as a productive player for the 76ers. However, after a stellar run with the French national team this summer, Yabusele has been an essential part of Nick Nurse's rotation -- and could even potentially slide into the starting lineup once the 76ers get whole at power forward. -- Bontemps

23. Charlotte Hornets

• 2024-25 record: 4-7

• Previous ranking: 24

• Next games: vs. MIL (Nov. 16), @ CLE (Nov. 17), @ BKN (Nov. 19)

Few reserves in the league have been more effective than Tre Mann thus far. Mann, a 23-year-old floor general who joined the Hornets as part of last season's deadline deal that sent Gordon Hayward to Oklahoma City, has grown increasingly confident with the ball. He's pushed his scoring average to almost 15 points -- on similar efficiency to last season -- up from just 11.9 points during his 2023-24 campaign. -- Herring

24. Chicago Bulls

• 2024-25 record: 4-7

• Previous ranking: 17

• Next games: @ NYK (Nov. 13), @ CLE (Nov. 15), vs. HOU (Nov. 17), @ DET (Nov. 18)

Patrick Williams has been a starter in Chicago for virtually his entire career since the Bulls selected him with the No. 4 pick in the 2020 draft. But as the team transitions to a younger core, they are hoping Williams -- in the first year of a new five-year, $90 million extension -- will take a leap this season. His overall numbers are down, but he has been better since the start of November, averaging 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals while recording his first double-double Monday. Chicago gave Williams a contract betting he will play a big role in the team's future; it will be up to him to inspire confidence in that decision. -- Collier

25. Detroit Pistons

• 2024-25 record: 5-7

• Previous ranking: 28

• Next games: @ MIL (Nov. 13), @ TOR (Nov. 15), @ WAS (Nov. 17), vs. CHI (Nov. 18)

Malik Beasley has served as Detroit's sixth starter, averaging more minutes than starting center Jalen Duren and ranking fifth on the team at 12.1 PPG. That only figures to improve if Beasley's 3-point shooting form returns . A 38% career shooter who hit 41% in 2023-24, Beasley has made just 34.5% on his 3s thus far. The bench will soon add second-year lottery pick Ausar Thompson, as ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday that Thompson has been cleared to play for the first time since March 9 after an issue with blood clots. -- Pelton

26. New Orleans Pelicans

• 2024-25 record: 3-8

• Previous ranking: 16

• Next games: @ OKC (Nov. 13), vs. DEN (Nov. 15), vs. LAL (Nov. 16), @ DAL (Nov. 19)

With injuries continuing to strike the Pelicans' backcourt -- now down starters CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray and reserves Jose Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins -- Brandon Boston Jr. has been forced into a starting role and thrived. Boston, a 2021 second-round pick by the Clippers who was claimed by New Orleans off waivers just before opening night, has scored 20-plus points twice after doing so just four times in his first three NBA seasons. That hasn't stopped the short-handed Pelicans from dropping their past five games, including a 107-105 heartbreaker Monday against Brooklyn. -- Pelton

27. Portland Trail Blazers

• 2024-25 record: 4-8

• Previous ranking: 29

• Next games: vs. MIN (Nov. 13), vs. ATL (Nov. 17)

More than a year after his last game action, Robert Williams III returned from a preseason hamstring strain to put up 13 points in 17 minutes on Friday in Minnesota. Given the Blazers' depth at center, where lottery pick Donovan Clingan has been productive in limited minutes behind starter Deandre Ayton, Williams' ultimate value to the franchise might be proving he's healthy enough to be traded to a contender before the deadline. But Portland's defensive struggles continue, as it has lost in its past two appearances by a combined 70 points. -- Pelton

28. Toronto Raptors

• 2024-25 record: 2-10

• Previous ranking: 26

• Next games: vs. DET (Nov. 15), @ BOS (Nov. 16), vs. IND (Nov. 18)

After seeing his playing time drop last season, Chris Boucher -- the last remaining player from the Raptors' 2019 championship team -- didn't figure to be in Toronto's long-term plans. He's responded this season by averaging a career-high 11.5 PPG, boosting his usage while continuing to score at high efficiency. Given the Raptors sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Boucher could be an interesting trade target on an expiring contract that pays him a reasonable $10.8 million this season. -- Pelton

29. Washington Wizards

• 2024-25 record: 2-7

• Previous ranking: 27

• Next games: @ SA (Nov. 13), @ ATL (Nov. 15), vs. DET (Nov. 17), @ NYK (Nov. 18)

Draymond Green noticed it from almost the very beginning of the Warriors-Wizards game last week: Carlton Carrington likes to talk trash and he, along with fellow talker Kyshawn George, brings energy and competitiveness that Green said he hasn't seen in Washington in a long time. This can't be overstated. For a franchise that has been down for so long, it is important for management to see the team at least be competitive while showing progress on a nightly basis. Yes, Bilal Coulibaly's continued progression is extremely important for the team's rebuild. But Carrington's play in his rookie season as a role player can bring a much-needed energy that a team expected to lose a lot of games desperately needs. -- Youngmisuk

30. Utah Jazz

• 2024-25 record: 2-8

• Previous ranking: 30

• Next games: vs. DAL (Nov. 14), @ SAC (Nov. 16), @ LAC (Nov. 17), @ LAL (Nov. 19)

Power forward/center John Collins ranks second on the Jazz in scoring (15.8 points per game) and rebounding (7.4) despite coming off the bench in every game. Collins' minutes have been trimmed as Utah leans into prioritizing the development of its recent draft picks. Could the 27-year-old Collins' production make him attractive in the trade market? His value there is diminished by a $26.6 million player option for next season. -- MacMahon