Cristiano Ronaldo again topped the list of the world's highest-paid athletes with total income of $260 million in 2024, according to sports industry news site Sportico, but there were no women in the top 100.

The leading 100, dominated by players from football, the NBA, NFL, golf and boxing, earned an estimated $6.2 billion in total income last year. The figure includes $4.8 billion in salary and prize money, plus $1.4 billion in endorsements.

Former U.S. Open tennis champion Coco Gauff was the top-earning female athlete last year at $30.4 million, well short of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones who squeezed in at number 100 with a total income of $37.5 million.

Ronaldo's lucrative contract with Al Nassr ensured he retained top spot for a second straight year after he moved to the Saudi Pro League in December 2022.

Sportico said the Portugal forward, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week, earned a hefty $215 million in wages, while he also made $45 million in endorsements.

Ronaldo is so far ahead of the other athletes in the world that Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who is second on the list, earned $153.8 million in comparison -- more than $100 million short of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

British boxer Tyson Fury, who lost to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight clash in December, is third on the list at $147 million.

The top five are rounded out by Inter Miami's Argentina captain Lionel Messi ($135 million) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James ($133.2 million) -- the only 40-year-old playing in the NBA.

The list is made up of athletes from eight sports and hailing from 27 countries.

While American Gauff, who is only 20, could climb up the list in the years to come, there have been other women athletes who would have cracked the list in the past.

Business magazine Forbes said Japan's four-times Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka was the world's highest-paid female athlete in 2022 after she pulled in $57.3 million in prize money and endorsements.

Retired tennis great Serena Williams, who won 23 singles majors, earned $41.8 million in 2021, according to Forbes. The American retired from the sport in 2022 at the U.S. Open.

Just two days before the Vancouver Whitecaps were set to host Inter Miami at BC Place, the Canadian side made an unprecedented announcement that infuriated fans, forced newsrooms into overdrive and left Miami scrambling for a response.

"While we haven't received an official update on the availability of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets for this weekend, we understand they will not make this trip," Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said in a statement last season. "Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent, and it was important for us to communicate to our fans as soon as possible."

Despite Messi's absence, the Whitecaps vowed to follow through with their scheduled pregame celebrations that included a block party, tailgates and several activations outside of the stadium. A team being first to reveal a roster update about an opponent was unusual; even more unprecedented was the Whitecaps' decision to offer a 50% discount in stadium food as a way of making up for the disappointment of an opposing player's absence.

Messi's power to disrupt teams' typical gameday protocol was seen again when the Chicago Fire last season offered an unprecedented compensation package to fans in case Messi failed to feature in an Aug. 31 match against Inter Miami. If Messi didn't play, the Fire offered to credit single-match buyers $250 off two or more new 2025 Chicago Fire season-ticket memberships or $100 off two or more single match tickets for the 2025 home match against Inter Miami.

Still, a Messi-less Inter Miami produced season-high crowds for the Whitecaps (51,035) and the Fire (55,385), which helps explain why teams are bending over backwards to fan the flames of "Messi mania."

Messi brings bigger stadiums, higher prices

When Messi joined MLS in the summer of 2023, teams swiftly adjusted to host one of the game's greatest. Now heading into Messi's third season in the league, MLS continues to navigate the revolutionary circumstances surrounding games that feature Messi's Inter Miami.

When teams prepare to host the Herons, it's not just a matter of stopping Messi on the field: they must also try to cash in by moving games to larger venues, preparing for massive crowds and campaigning around the arrival of a star-studded Inter Miami squad. New specialized marketing strategies and targeted efforts began running on team social channels and websites the day the 2025 schedule was announced.

The anticipation to face Messi drove every Inter Miami opponent to different decisions, but all made changes to account for a surge in attention, and 2025 is sure to bring more outside-the-box approaches. After all, Messi is in the last year of his Miami contract, and teams might not have another chance to capitalize on his presence.

Sporting Kansas City regularly plays at the soccer-specific Children's Mercy Park, which holds 18,467 spectators. But when facing Inter Miami last season, the Western Conference team moved to Arrowhead Stadium, the NFL venue boasting a capacity of 76,416. The price for tickets ranged from $100 to $290 in the upper bowl and $180 $600 in the lower bowl, depending on proximity to the pitch -- multiples more than typical tickets at Children's Mercy Park, depending on the section.

That match in Kansas City was a sellout, despite the larger venue. It drew 72,610 fans, the fourth-largest standalone crowd in MLS history and the most to attend a match during the 2024 regular season.

Charlotte FC, the New England Revolution, the Chicago Fire and Atlanta United already play in large NFL stadiums, but opted to expand the usual range of tickets so they could accommodate newfound local Miami supporters. These teams often close the upper bowls, leaving only the lower sections available for purchase, but changed their policies against Messi and the Herons.

In 2023, Atlanta boasted a crowd of 71,635 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face Miami -- the team's average attendance at the time was 47,526, the highest average of any MLS team in 2023. When Atlanta United stunned the Herons last season with a 2-1 victory in front of 68,455 spectators, it was the fifth-highest postseason attendance in MLS history, and the only first-round MLS playoff match to make the list.

In Charlotte, around 66,000 fans filled Bank of America Stadium for a regular-season game that many described as one of the most anticipated games in franchise history. The only time Charlotte FC has seen a larger audience was its inaugural match in front of 74,000 fans. Otherwise, the team averages around 36,000 supporters at a regular-season game.

The Revolution, a founding team of MLS that has been in the league since 1996, drew a club-record crowd of 65,612 fans at Gillette Stadium last season when they hosted Messi. That surpassed their 2002 MLS Cup final attendance record by 4,296, a record that stood for 22 years.

"To see the masses come alive whenever we show up is a cool thing," said Inter Miami player Julian Gressel. "It's incredible to see the support that follows us. There are some games where it's a bit strange, like in D.C. or New England, for example, the crowd is pretty much pro-Miami and pro-Messi."

When hosting Inter Miami at smaller, soccer-specific stadiums, tickets sell out quickly, which generates a competitive resale market. CF Montreal's Saputo Stadium can host 20,521 fans -- an average ticket in 2024 could cost as much as $69 with the lowest coming in at only $13, according to Seatgeek. But against Inter Miami, the average skyrocketed to $465.

The 2024 regular season game hosted by CF Montreal against Inter Miami now ranks within the top 10 most expensive MLS matches since 2009, according to VividSeats. The cheapest ticket available was priced at $325, while the most expensive reached $729 days before the match.

The high prices didn't stop fans, either. Saputo Stadium sold out, welcoming 19,619 fervent fans dressed in all kinds of costumes to show their support.

"The impact of Messi's arrival to Inter Miami CF continues to be momentous, with increased global demand on StubHub," said StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli in a release. "The surge in sales for Inter Miami, and the league as a whole, is a testament to his legacy as a soccer star. Messi's influence extends beyond the confines of his home stadium, driving demand on the road from buyers all over the world."

Inter Miami creating a never-before-seen buzz in MLS

Peter Vermes, the long-time head coach and sporting director of Sporting Kansas City, says MLS has made strides since he first became manager in 2009; he has been witness to most of MLS's biggest signings, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa and Thierry Henry. And yet he says the mania surrounding Messi remains unparalleled.

"In 2010, we played Man United at Arrowhead and had something like 56,000 or 58,000 fans, and that was a big milestone for us in that," Vermes said. "Now, you're not bringing one of the most famous teams in the world to play against us. You're talking about playing against another MLS team. And now you have that 72,000 crowd. That in itself is unreal. It's a phenomenal progression that has happened in the league from that point of view ... it's like when Michael Jordan used to come to different places, all of a sudden, they sold out because other people wanted to see Michael Jordan play as well."

When the Houston Dynamo faced Inter Miami last season in the U.S. Open Cup final, a competition that has struggled to maintain a foothold in American soccer, Messi added a boost, too. Messi's availability for the match was questionable in the hours leading up to kick off, but Dynamo defender Griffin Dorsey said the buzz created by the Herons remains unparalleled in MLS with or without their captain on the field.

"Messi being around added something to that game that would not have been there if it wasn't," Dorsey said. "That buzz was very big. That whole Inter Miami team, especially last year, but also you see it this year -- it brings a lot to the league. There's always a lot more excitement and hype when you're playing against some of the best players who have ever played the game, period."

Indeed, the mere thought of the forward's presence incites commotion, Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said.

"Messi does add sizzle to this game," Olsen told ESPN. "And he's managed to do that to the league and to any opponent that's preparing for that team right now. They have transformed themselves into the marquee team in this league."

MLS announced that the overall average attendance increased by 23,240 in 2024: 10 games featured at least 45,000 fans, five games featured more than 50,000 fans and three surpassed 60,000. Inter Miami played in six of those top 10 matches, and Miami set the season record when playing Sporting KC at Arrowhead Stadium.

"His impact has been unimaginable," said MLS commissioner Don Garber. "The metrics on and off the field have been spectacular. And it's great to see Leo Messi deliver for MLS in ways that we had hoped he would."

Undoubtedly, wherever Messi goes, crowds will follow and norms will be broken. Nothing less should be expected in 2025 as the possibility of Messi's final season in MLS lingers in the minds of fans -- and opposing teams.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Now it's official: The Aaron Rodgers era with the New York Jets is over.

Nearly two years after welcoming him with a large-scale news conference, the Jets said goodbye to Rodgers on Thursday with a news release that included statements of gratitude from team officials.

The Jets didn't give a reason for the decision, saying only they met last week with Rodgers and "shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback," coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey said in a joint statement.

"It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures," they said. "We want to thank him for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward."

There was no statement from Rodgers in the news release.

Rodgers, 41, flew from California to New Jersey last week for a face-to-face meeting with Glenn and Mougey, both of whom were introduced at a Jan. 27 news conference. Glenn was noncommittal on Rodgers' status in the news conference, reinforcing the belief that the new regime was going to part with Rodgers, who has one year left on his contract.

On Sunday, Fox Sports reported that Rodgers had been informed of his ouster. The Jets declined to comment at the time.

Owner Woody Johnson thanked Rodgers for his two seasons in New York, saying in a statement, "His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us to continue his Hall of Fame career.

"From day one, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet, embraced our fans, and immersed himself in our city. That is what I will remember most when I look back at his time here. He will always be welcome, and I wish him only the best in whatever he chooses to do next."

Rodgers' tenure produced little on-field success. He won only six of his 18 starts, and the Jets sputtered to a 5-12 record in 2024. Coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, who were instrumental in luring Rodgers to the Jets in 2023, were fired during the season.

The Jets are likely to release Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation. To do that, they must carry him on the roster until March 12, the start of the league year. At that point, they can release him, which will allow them to split the remaining cap charges ($49 million) over two years -- $14 million in 2025, $35 million in 2026.

In this scenario, his current cap number ($23.5 million) will be on their books until June 2 and then it drops to $14 million -- a net savings of $9.5 million. In the meantime, he will be free to sign elsewhere on March 13. He doesn't have to wait until then to speak with teams; he can do so immediately.

The other option would've been to release him immediately, but that would've meant absorbing the $49 million this year. The same accounting applies to a trade, which seems unlikely.

It's unclear if Rodgers will continue his legendary career. He said at the end of the season that he needed some time to decide on whether to play a 21st season.

His departure leaves a gaping hole at quarterback. Still under contract are veteran backup Tyrod Taylor, 35, and 2024 fifth-round draft pick Jordan Travis, who sat out last season as he recovered from a gruesome leg injury at Florida State.

The Jets are expected to pursue a veteran, either in trade or in free agency. Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields are possible options as the Jets look to rebuild the position.

The trade for Rodgers in April, 2023 will be remembered as one of the most disappointing moves in franchise history. His first season ended quickly, as he tore his left Achilles on the fourth snap of the first game. He started every game in 2024, but the Jets, who began the year with Super Bowl aspirations, were a nonfactor most of the season.

Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, both third on the Jets' single-season list, but it was an uneven performance. He finished 25th in Total QBR, 30th in completion percentage and 28th in yards per attempt among qualified passers. The Jets finished 3-7 in one-score games, with Rodgers failing in a few of them to pull out wins on his final possession.

The four-time MVP endeared himself to the organization in 2023, when he took a voluntary $35 million pay cut to help provide cap relief. His teammates voted him the most inspirational player in 2023, when he tried to return from Achilles surgery late in the season. Ultimately, his comeback bid came up short.

Rodgers sparked controversy off the field, most notably when he skipped a mandatory minicamp in June 2024 to vacation in Egypt. It was deemed an unexcused absence, and he was fined approximately $100,000 by the team.

ONE SATURDAY AFTERNOON last April, a group of UConn women's basketball players texted back and forth about that evening's party: what time they were leaving, what to wear, what the feel of the night would be. There was a spirited discussion about shoes. Few of them had ever been to a bat mitzvah before.

Dressed and ready, they caravaned out of campus with Paige Bueckers' car leading the way. When they arrived at the Jewish Community Center of West Hartford, Connecticut, about 40 minutes down the road, the festivities were in full swing. The Mexican food station was delectable. The centerpieces were brilliant. The line for the photo booth, where you could pose with assorted masks, feather boas and tiaras, was buzzing.

Even though UConn players are royalty in Connecticut -- Bueckers is arguably the most famous athlete in the state -- there was little fanfare. The bat mitzvah girl, Abby Zittoun, ran up to them with happiness and hugs, but also apologetically informed them she had to keep bouncing around so she could spend time with aunts and uncles and cousins and classmates and her other friends who had come that night, too.

The players nodded enthusiastically. They understood. This wasn't an appearance or community event. There were no coaches present, no administrators from the UConn athletic department. There was no PR person or team photographer telling them they should play with the kids now. They were, like everyone else, simply there to celebrate someone special. They were guests. (Really, really tall guests.)

So, they played cornhole. They ate tacos. They barraged the photo booth and filled their Instagram stories. They cheered during musical chairs and the scavenger hunt. Azzi Fudd sat at a table with the grandparents and heard old family stories. When the DJ played the "Cha Cha Slide," Bueckers hopped into the middle of a group stomping and kicking and laughing and shrieking. The "Cupid Shuffle" brought even bigger shouts. Abby's mom, Gwen, whirled and spun. Even Caroline Ducharme, famously averse to dancing, joined in. You could hear Abby's giggles in the parking lot.

No one talked about UConn's brutal loss in the Final Four a week earlier. No one talked about the upcoming season or injury rehabs or pains from the past or challenges that might still be in front of them. For the players, for the Zittouns, for everyone at the party, it was that rarest of gifts: a night of joy, of glee, of bliss. A night when the delight of the moment is so pure that, just for a split second, it covers over everything else that makes life hard.

"We were there," Bueckers says, "for Abby."

WHAT CAN YOU SAY about a little girl who died young? That she had a smile for all time. That she cherished her family. And her dog. And musicals. That she built Legos to the ceiling. That she loved her friends fiercely. That they somehow loved her back even more.

Abby first connected with UConn through Evina Westbrook, a guard from Oregon who came to Connecticut via Tennessee. They met in February 2022, five years after Abby's cancer diagnosis, during a post-practice event where the players spent time with patients from Connecticut Children's Medical Center. It was sweet and meaningful -- everyone took pictures and shot baskets, and a few of the kids perched on the players' shoulders to get a little closer to the rim. It could have ended there -- an inspiring afternoon and a great memory.

Except "Momma E," as the team called Westbrook, wanted to know more about this girl in her group who had a "spicy" attitude. This girl with the beanie who was impossible to miss. Most kids the players met were big basketball fans who revered the Huskies and were sometimes shy or intimidated. But while Abby liked basketball and UConn just fine, she wasn't the type to stand in awe.

"Let me teach you this dance," said Abby, who was 10 at the time, and suddenly she and Westbrook were going through steps on the gym floor. They bantered about a shared love for Iron Man. They cackled. Abby had an affection for dad jokes that occasionally bordered on pun-comfortable, and while Westbrook can't remember the exact joke Abby told her that day, one of her well-worn favorites -- What is the leading cause of dry skin? Towels! -- is "definitely possible."

At one point, as Abby dribbled with one of the other players, Westbrook went over to Abby's dad, Dan, who was standing on the side. Dan grew up in Connecticut, went to UConn in the 1990s and had a work-study job in UConn's athletic department. He still remembers the laundry routine -- take a jock strap, socks, shorts and a T-shirt, wrap it in a white towel, put it in a locker, then repeat for every single locker every single day -- so just getting to see his daughter running around Gampel Pavilion was plenty. But then Westbrook, who was a senior, told him her family couldn't come to many games because they were on the West Coast, so she'd be happy to give the Zittouns her allotted tickets some time. She said, "Abby is amazing."

And then she asked, a little bit slower and a little bit more hesitantly, "So ... what is she dealing with?"

DAN AND GWEN always wanted kids. They talked about it. They met in 2003, fell hard for each other, broke up because a long-distance relationship got tricky, then reconnected and fell all the way. One evening, when Gwen came into Dan's apartment just before a date, she found him standing in front of one of the bedroom's two closets. She looked closer and saw that the closet was cleaned out of his clothes, empty except for a single hanger with a new dress dangling from it. Gwen turned and Dan was on one knee.

Ella was born in 2009. Abby arrived 21 months later and Olivia came three years after that. Their life (and their minivan) was full. It is an undeniable truth that big families feel different: With all that chaos and noise, it's like the cabling and wires beneath the surface have to be even stronger. The Zittouns were a clan, a pack, a force -- dinners didn't often finish with all five still at the table, but only because at least one person usually left to avoid choking from laughing too hard.

The girls were best friends and Abby was the motor. Once, while eating at Burger King on a road trip, they admired the paper crowns on display behind the counter. Dan suggested that Ella, the eldest, go up and ask the man at the register for one. Ella didn't want to go -- she loved the crown but was fine with letting the opportunity pass.

Abby wasn't. She stood up, marched to the front, talked to the man at the register and returned moments later. She had three crowns. The girls wore them in the car.

"She's a little firecracker," Gwen says. "She had ringlet hair, really curly hair, and it just fit her personality: smiley, happy, the one to raise her hand. She wants to help, she wants to participate, she wants to be involved."

Then came Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. The family was supposed to fly to Florida that evening for a wedding. Gwen took Abby to the ophthalmologist because her right eye had started wobbling -- sometimes it looked as if she was going cross-eyed. Gwen and Dan were worried it was something with her retina and wanted to get it checked before they left.

After dilating Abby -- no easy task with a 6-year-old -- the ophthalmologist grew visibly concerned. She started talking about pressure. Something was pushing on Abby's eye. They needed to go to the emergency room, she told Gwen. Like, right now.

Dan met them at the hospital. Doctors and nurses came and went. Tests were done. Scans. Examinations. That night, and the next few weeks really, slipped into a frenzied blur for Dan and Gwen, a hazy tapestry of waiting rooms and hushed conversations and questions asked and answers not quite given that was spattered with a few searing moments of clarity -- details and fragments, of varying importance, that they'll never forget.

The mass in Abby's skull was the size of a plum. The show "PJ Masks" was on an endless loop as they waited that first night, and the theme song was catchy but annoying. They didn't know how to tell everyone in Florida that they weren't coming to the wedding. A kind doctor sat with them on the floor of the hospital and gave them the mantra they would cling to: "Just be in the place where you are. Other people in your life are going to be 500 steps down the road. Just be in the place you are."

At some point in those early stages, as they were still learning about neuroblastoma, Dan and Gwen made a pact: No matter how tough it got, they would never have a simultaneous breakdown. Tears, anger, rage, desperation -- it was all allowed, they said. Melting down was perfectly acceptable. Just not together. That way, there was always one person who could hug the other and say, with whatever assuredness was summonable, that they could and would get through this.

"We never fell apart at the same time," Dan says. "There were so many times we could have. ... But we would say, 'Hey: They need us.'"

DAN DIDN'T GIVE Westbrook all those details that day at Gampel, of course. He didn't go in-depth about the initial craniotomy and all the surgeries that followed. Or the endless chemotherapy and how Abby wanted to dye her hair before it fell out so Gwen dyed hers, too, and was, for a time, the mom with pink hair.

He didn't go line by line on all the places they went for treatments, all the doctors they talked to in Connecticut and Boston and New York and Philadelphia, or all the papers they read and trials they considered. He didn't list all the apartments and Ronald McDonald House rooms they slept in or all the times that he and Gwen drove home early (or late) to switch out so that someone was always there for Ella and Olivia. He didn't describe the brutal, gut-wrenching cancer yo-yo -- how Abby was "cancer-free" and then it was back and then it was somewhere else and then it was gone and then it was back, this thin, fluttering, tantalizing thread of normalcy that would sway right in front of them only to vanish again without mercy. There were four relapses in seven years.

No one can ever really understand it all because only those living it are there for everything. Every single ride to the hospital. Every injection. Every Friday when a test result doesn't come back and you have to wait until Monday. The port being put in and taken out and put in. The crushing guilt over enjoying something -- a beer, a book, anything -- when you know your daughter is in pain. The anguish of trying to sleep when your baby has something wrong with her and there is nothing you can do to fix it.

"Abby would tell me, 'Don't cry,'" Dan says. "She would say it all the time. Finally, I pushed back. I was like, 'I can cry sometimes.' And she got OK with it."

The Zittouns were open; they shared plenty with their community about what was happening because they knew how many people cared. But a single phone call or Facebook post or update is a little like trying to grasp a 20-volume encyclopedia by pulling out a single page. There may be no greater gap in the English language than the space between what it's like to simply read the words, "During MIBG therapy, Abby spent five days quarantined in a hospital room," and understanding what it actually means to be there, sitting in a lead-lined anteroom outside a locked door for 120 hours as your 8-year-old child's tiny body is pumped full of radiation, unable to hold her hand or hug her or whisper in her ear that she's safe.

How do you explain that to someone? How do you explain what the hair on the back of your neck does when you're the dad, the one who is supposed to have the answers to everything in the world, and you're walking in a parking lot one day and one of your children quietly asks you, "Is Abby going to live?"

You don't explain it. You can't. So that day at Gampel, Dan just gave Westbrook the broad strokes of all Abby had been through and talked more about how she'd faced it -- with the resilience and strength and commitment to the present that Westbrook had already seen.

He told her that their family looked at what was in front of them and, given a choice on how to proceed, chose joy. He told her that they were busy, were active, were always pushing and looking forward. That Gwen, the family's unbreakable rock, constantly went places with Abby and made plans with Abby, always finding something -- anything -- on weekends or vacations or on days Abby couldn't go to school because they learned, very quickly, that she was the best version of herself when she could do things and see things and try things and be things. They all were.

"It takes her mind off it," Gwen says. "That's really why she was happy, because she wasn't thinking about things all the time. ... We're going to do this thing today and that thing today, and we're going to be together today. And that's how we got through a lot of the days."

Walks in the woods. Treasure hunts. Disney. Broadway. So many parks and playgrounds. And a few weeks after meeting Westbrook, the UConn-Mercer first-round NCAA tournament game at Gampel.

After the game, which UConn won in a blowout, Westbrook looked at the crowd waiting to see the players and pointed at Abby, waving her over. "I wanted to talk to her again," Westbrook says, "because she was so fun." Abby sat with Westbrook and Nika Muhl, and they watched part of the second game of the doubleheader while chatting with a slew of others, including three younger players with whom Westbrook was especially close:

Bueckers, Fudd and Ducharme.

NO ONE IS exactly sure when Abby and Westbrook exchanged numbers and started texting. Or when, exactly, Westbrook's teammates asked for Abby's number so they could text with her, too.

It just happened the way any connection does. Solo texts became group texts and group texts became side texts, and suddenly there were moments when Abby would just casually mention an injury that Westbrook was dealing with in the WNBA or ask Gwen, offhandedly, "Do we have any plans on Monday? Because I invited Paige and Azzi over for dinner."

The games remained a tether, absolutely. Abby loved being there, particularly at the end when she would go on the court carrying a bag of mini-basketballs. She would hug the players and joke with them and hand out the mini-basketballs for them to toss to the fans in the stands. She held the bag with pride. It was a job she took seriously.

But these are members of Gen Z and so, naturally, the phone was where everything truly grew. There was nothing forced in it, no obligation on either side -- neither UConn coach Geno Auriemma nor Dan and Gwen were involved with any of the relationships being made. And that absence of parents or coaches or doctors, the ones usually exerting control over so much of their lives, only made Abby and the players feel freer. "I texted her like she was my little sister," Ducharme says.

Each thread built on its own. Bueckers became fascinated with doing Legos, so she and Abby would share photos of their projects. Fudd and Abby had an animated and long-running debate over whether the proper color for mint chocolate chip ice cream was white (Fudd) or green (Abby). Ducharme, who is from outside Boston, could talk with Abby about two New England classics: the Celtics and "Gilmore Girls."

Everyone checked in on each other, made fun of each other, raised each other up. Abby vented about friendship dynamics in middle school and how math class was excruciating (Bueckers, supportively: "Math is the worst."). The players complained about a hard practice or the challenge of a rehab visit, and Abby would send a funny meme or a heart or an image of the Zittouns' dog, Cooper, who is a very good boy. Pictures of candy, in all its formations and constructions, were always welcome with no segue needed.

There were, occasionally, moments when the conversation shifted to basketball or cancer, but like any real text thread, the swings were sudden and erratic: Making fun of Westbrook for not liking TikTok could be interrupted by a quick praise of Bueckers' shooting; on one day, Abby might write "PS now I have spine and brain cancer" (followed by the speechless emoji, the eyeroll emoji and the single tear emoji), while other days there might be a lengthy discourse between Westbrook, Ducharme and Abby that started with a discussion of blue cheese vs. ranch dressing but then somehow veered into a discourse on the best kind of bug (Abby, inquisitively: "Does a butterfly count?" Westbrook, authoritatively: "Yes. Great answer.").

Once, when the Zittouns were on vacation in Vermont, Gwen and Dan came back to their rental house after a quick walk and found Abby in the middle of an impromptu three-way FaceTime with Westbrook and Ducharme. ("We needed to catch up," Ducharme says.) Fudd came over to the Zittouns' house one day last year, rang the doorbell and surprised Abby, who nearly exploded with delight and wrapped Fudd in a bearhug before they spent the afternoon playing with Cooper and engaging in a heated battle of Cards Against Humanity.

When Bueckers and Fudd were part of a group that came for dinner another night, Abby shared some of her preferred jokes (another classic: What do you call a porcupine in summer? A porcupine!) and performed for them her famous card trick, where she lays out 21 cards on a table and -- with her magical powers -- correctly picks the one her subject selects. "She got me on that one," Bueckers says. "It's impressive." Afterward, Abby led the players upstairs so they could hang in her room, telling Gwen, politely, "You can stay down here."

"They just treated Abby like Abby," Gwen says. "It was just about letting her be her. And I think the beauty of the relationship was that she treated them that way, too -- that they were just friends who happened to be, like, superstar basketball players."

The connection between Abby and Ducharme might have run the deepest. A highly recruited shooting guard, Ducharme has played in just four games over the past two seasons because of a series of medical issues, including head and neck injuries and a concussion. She has spent long stretches of time away from the team for different treatments.

It was common ground. She and Abby were honest with each other, were open about what it's like to constantly miss out on things that, if not for your own body's refusal, you'd be doing too. Ducharme once visited Abby in the hospital on a treatment day when Abby was in pain and tired and frustrated. Ducharme expected they would play a game or chat like usual, but as soon as she walked through the door, Abby looked up, saw her friend and burst into tears. She buried her head in Ducharme's lap.

"She always put on this brave face," Ducharme says. "And this was the first time I really saw her struggle. ... I think I brought her hot chocolate, which was one of her favorites, and a little bracelet-making kit. And I was, like, 'Do you want to do anything? You want the hot chocolate?' And she was like, 'No, I just want to lay here.'"

There was a vulnerability between them, a tenderness. They made picture boxes for each other to keep in their rooms when they were away. They crafted. In the days before Ducharme headed to Florida for treatments last March, Abby texted Bueckers and other players asking what sweets Ducharme preferred (Bueckers, without hesitation: "Laffy Taffy, Twizzlers, Swedish fish, sparkling water ice drinks, York, Pringles, Mamba candies.").

Abby gathered all her intel. And even as she was prepping to travel to Pennsylvania for her own treatment, she put together a bag for Ducharme to take on the road. She packed it full of activities to do and photos to look at and snacks to eat. She put a handwritten letter inside.

"I really hope everything goes well," she wrote near the bottom, her playful signature always including two hearts beside her name. "I love you so much," she signed. "Love, Abby."

LIKE MANY UCONN fans, Dan booked the hotel at the start of last season: Cleveland, Final Four weekend. Just in case.

He knew, even back in the fall when he made the reservation, it was unlikely they'd be able to go. Treatments, travel -- everything had gotten a little tougher. Abby's situation wasn't improving the way anyone wanted. By January, when UConn literally struggled to field a team some nights because so many players were out injured, it looked like the Huskies had little chance to make it there anyway. Dan almost canceled the hotel a half-dozen times.

Except UConn did make it. And when Carley Mooney, a do-it-all staffer for UConn who helps the players with just about everything and has also become close with the Zittouns, called to let Gwen and Dan know that the team had two tickets for them if they could get to Cleveland, a decision had to be made.

They had been at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia all week as Abby had her T-cells harvested for a potential future treatment. They were exhausted. She was exhausted. Her bat mitzvah, already moved a few different times, was a week later. Was it too much? Was it worth it? Was it even safe for her to be around so many people?

"We asked, 'Is it OK for her to be in an arena with 20,000 people?'" Dan says. "And they were like, 'She should be fine ...' and I said, 'Great, stop [talking].' That's it.'"

On Thursday, Abby had surgery to put a catheter in her neck, then spent four hours having her T-cells removed and the catheter taken out. On Friday morning, Gwen flew home, and Dan and Abby got in the car. Tipoff was at 9 p.m. and they were 430 miles away. They passed Hershey and Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Gibsonia and Youngstown as the sun rose and peaked and fell.

Abby's playlist powered them. "Hamilton." "Wicked." Olivia Rodrigo. They talked about the team. About the summer. About Cooper, who really is a very good boy. They laughed. They were a father and a daughter on a road trip, racing the clock. After a hurried bathroom break at a rest stop, Dan handed something to Abby as they returned to the parking lot.

A Burger King crown. She wore it in the car.

They made it to Cleveland with just enough time for a short snooze and a slice of pizza. In the arena that night, Abby screamed and cheered and shouted as UConn and Iowa battled. She jumped up when Muhl hit a 3-pointer to pull the Huskies close near the end. She dropped when an official made a controversial call on Aaliyah Edwards and UConn lost by two. She stared as Caitlin Clark and her teammates celebrated. In the frenzy and disappointment after the game, Abby couldn't visit with the players, but there were many texts.

The next day, as Dan made the long, winding drive through rain and snow back to Connecticut, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw Abby smiling at him. The end of the game, the referee's call -- it stunk. But in a life full of regimented treatment plans and scheduled check-ins and restrictions on what to eat because there is this procedure or that infusion coming on precisely this day, they had thrown away the rules. They'd done something spontaneous, done something unexpected. Abby loved it.

"I would have driven to California," Dan says.

THROUGH THE SUMMER and into this past fall, Abby's treatments became less frequent. There wasn't as much they could do, the doctors said. There weren't as many things they could try.

Abby was tired more often but didn't buckle. When Muhl came to Connecticut with her WNBA team in September, the Zittouns went to the game. Even though it was a little too frenetic in the arena for Abby, they spent time afterward with the UConn players who came to see their former teammate. A fan even asked Ella for an autograph, assuming she was a player, too.

Still, the text threads never wavered. Abby shared early impressions of 8th grade and pictures of the 5,201-piece Lego Avengers Tower that was her favorite build yet. The players checked in with updates on their prep for the season that was fast approaching. On Sept. 27, Abby and Ducharme discussed making plans for dinner; on Sept. 29, Abby sent birthday wishes to Westbrook and they traded emojis.

On Sept. 30, Abby went to school and had a choir audition that she said went pretty well. It was Gwen's birthday, and Dan came home early from work so they could celebrate. But that night, Abby became nauseous and complained of a searing headache. They rushed to the hospital.

The next morning, after the UConn players finished a preseason workout, Mooney called them over. She told them she had heard from the Zittouns and it wasn't good: There had been a brain bleed. Abby wasn't conscious.

Ducharme sobbed. The players went into their locker room and held each other. They stayed there and wept together. "The silence in the room," Fudd says, "was very loud." Ducharme remembers locking eyes with Bueckers and sensing that both felt the same thing: "We have to go see her. We have to go see her."

They went the next morning. "It was definitely scary," Bueckers says. They didn't know what it would look like in that room or feel like in that room. They just knew they wanted to be there.

Bueckers, Fudd, Ducharme and Aubrey Griffin -- the seniors, along with Mooney -- drove into Hartford and took the hospital elevator to the eighth floor. Gwen and Dan met them near the nurse's station, then brought them into a room next door to Abby's. They hugged. They prayed. Gwen and Dan told the players that Abby could hear them even if she wasn't responsive. Then they opened the door to Abby's room so the players could be alone with her.

"It's what comes when you love someone -- you're going to be with them in that moment," Mooney says. "And that's what they did."

The players sat by Abby's bed. They held her hand. They rubbed her back. They talked about how practice was going. They read cards to her, messages written by every player on the team.

Fudd drew hearts of all different colors on the front of hers but inked the words on the inside in purple.

"I hope one day I can be as amazing as you are," she read to Abby.

"That said, Cooper is still my favorite," she continued.

"Your smile is one of my favorite things because it is so contagious but the way you carry yourself is something I look up to."

They went through each one. The car ride back to campus was quiet. "Just getting to share one more moment with her was special," Fudd says. "I'm super grateful they let us have that."

Over the next two weeks, Gwen and Dan barely left the hospital, never slept anywhere but the tiny couch wedged into the corner by the window. The players tried to go about their routines with school and practice, but Mooney says it was obvious how much they were struggling because "a huge piece of them was with Abby." They asked for updates constantly, even as it became clear there weren't many coming. Remembering what they'd been told about how Abby could hear them, they recorded videos of themselves talking to Abby and sent them to Gwen and Dan.

"Haven't had a practice like that since sophomore year," Bueckers told Abby in one video. "We have a lot to learn.

"I know you'd have a lot to say -- constructive criticism, which we need!" she said. "We love you."

On Oct. 15, Abby died. She was 13. Bueckers says the players stayed in the locker room for hours. Talking. Looking at the text threads. Weeping. "Paige and I called Evina," Ducharme says. "I was a mess telling her. I was bawling."

The memorial service -- the celebration of life -- was held at Beth El Temple, a synagogue in West Hartford. There was a murmur when the UConn team walked into the overflowing sanctuary, but the players settled quietly into their seats. This wasn't an appearance; they were, like everyone else, just there to grieve. They were mourners. (Really, really tall mourners.)

The rabbi quoted Abby, who months earlier had stood on the same pulpit at her bat mitzvah and taught a lesson from the Bible about "the importance of finding strength when we are challenged." Ella and Olivia, with incredible grace, spoke of Abby's humor and her love of breakfast, and shared a story from when they were little and Ella cut Abby's hair. (It wasn't great.) Gwen talked about Cooper, who always seemed to know when Abby was struggling and lay protectively at her feet until just days before she died. Dan referenced one of Abby's favorite songs from "Rent" -- the one that suggests that while most people think of lives in terms of days or months or years, the greater quantity -- the best quantity -- might be to measure the love.

When it was their turn, the UConn seniors stood together at the lectern. Ducharme spoke of Abby's beloved Jayson Tatum sneakers and the crafts they made and the kisses they'd blow each other before games. "I never thought this sweet little girl with such an infectious smile would change my life in the way that she did," she said.

Bueckers mentioned the Legos and the dinners and the card trick -- Abby never did share with anyone how she did it. "From the first day we met, we all knew the bond was going to be something special," Bueckers said.

She looked out at the audience.

"Abby lives within all of us."

IN MID-DECEMBER, during UConn's game against USC, there was a moment when a USC player ran down the court, in position to make a play, only to trip and fall out of nowhere. There was no one around her, no obvious reason for her slip, but down she went.

Watching, Fudd had an immediate sensation: Abby.

"Like -- thank you," she thought.

The memories, the twinges, the feelings come at different times and in different ways. The littlest things hit hardest. An opponent's unexpected stumble, sure. A ball hanging on the rim and falling off. But also, a segment about dad jokes on the radio. For Bueckers, it's when she works on her Lego project, a build of the house from the movie "Despicable Me." For Gwen, it's when she shops for groceries without Abby taking part of the list or when she calls a restaurant to make a reservation and the host says, "How many in your party?"

The Zittouns still go to the UConn games. How could they not? They feel comfortable there, feel warm there, feel happy there. At the start of the season, Dan made a hotel reservation for this year's Final Four in Tampa.

On Feb. 2, when the Huskies played Butler at the XL Center in Hartford, the players and coaches came out for warm-ups wearing black shooting shirts that had the signature from Ducharme's card -- "Love, Abby," with the two hearts -- across the chest. During a timeout, Dan, Gwen, Ella and Olivia went on the court and received an ovation from the crowd, a framed photo collage of Abby with the players and a $10,000 check from Auriemma for the Abigail Zittoun Family Foundation. The arena DJ played songs from Abby's Spotify playlist all afternoon.

They were grand gestures, lovely public tributes to a connection that endured. But for the Zittouns -- and for the players, too -- the quieter parts mattered just as much.

The video explaining to the crowd how much UConn cared for Abby was voiced by Ducharme. The quote inscribed beneath the photo montage -- "Because we knew you, we've been changed for good" -- was inspired by Abby's favorite song from "Wicked." And the bouquet of flowers the Zittouns received wasn't made of flowers at all. It was a bouquet of Legos; Bueckers and Fudd built it together.

"It was," Bueckers says, "an unconditional love."

Near the end of the game, Mooney had the plastic bag full of mini-basketballs ready -- the bag Abby used to hold. When the final buzzer sounded, Ella and Olivia took the bag and marched on to the court.

Standing at their seats, Dan and Gwen watched, just like before. They saw the players laughing with their children, high-fiving their children, hollering with their children. They saw delight. They saw joy.

Fudd hugged Olivia. Ducharme wrapped an arm around Ella's shoulder. Bueckers bounded over and Abby's sisters opened the bag. The brightest lights might burn out the fastest, but their glow is unforgettable. Bueckers took a handful of mini-basketballs, stepped toward the baseline and lofted them up into the crowd.

SAN FRANCISCO -- There will be no Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu rematch at All-Star Weekend.

The NBA announced Thursday that the 3-point shooting event -- one of the highlights of last year's All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis that brought together two of the biggest stars in the NBA and WNBA -- is not going to be part of the lineup in San Francisco.

Talks went on for weeks to try to make it happen, even stretching into All-Star week itself. It seemed more than logical that a rematch would occur: All-Star Weekend is on Curry's home floor, and Ionescu, who plays for the WNBA champion New York Liberty, is a Bay Area native who grew up watching Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

"We weren't able to land on a plan we thought would raise the bar off of last year's special moment," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. "We all agreed not to proceed and will instead keep the focus on All-Star Sunday's new format."

Curry said he wanted the rematch to occur, and there were talks of making it a 2-on-2 format this year potentially involving Klay Thompson, Curry's former Warriors teammate, and WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark.

The 2-on-2 talks seemed to fall apart in recent weeks, though the NBA had hope of bringing some form of Curry vs. Ionescu back -- potentially even including it in Sunday night's lineup between games of the new All-Star mini-tournament rather than having it be part of All-Star Saturday like it was a year ago.

"We've been talking about finding different ways to change this up next year," Ionescu said after last year's event. "I think he has a partner in mind that's going to join him. So I'm open to any partner that could help me win and take that belt that he has up front and center away from him."

Curry beat Ionescu 29-26 last season in the first such him-vs.-her event of its kind at the league's weekend showcase. The competition generated money for their foundations.

When the NBA's best players gather in the Bay Area this weekend for the All-Star Game, more than a third of the league's teams won't be represented on the rosters. That's the inevitable result of the NBA selecting fewer players (26, including two injury replacements) than there are teams (30), plus a handful hogging multiple selections.

The NBA's All-Star model is very different from MLB, which awards every team a spot. Some players had a legitimate shot this season at being All-Stars, including several on teams that will be represented this weekend. With that in mind, let's look at who would be chosen if every team had an All-Star -- plus one additional candidate for the teams that do have All-Stars.

In the spirit of looking at which players have performed the best this season, I've leaned a little more heavily on 2024-25 production than I typically would in picking All-Stars. That works in the favor of rising players like Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks and Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets at the expense of a couple of proven All-Stars.

In addition to making a pick for each team, I'll also consider their chances of actually joining the All-Star Game going forward, with some far more realistic than others.

Jump to a tier:
All-Snub? Had a legit claim for '24-25
Ex All-Stars who should bounce back
Time's up for these former All-Stars?
Should expect more chances for first nod
Wasn't in the cards in this season
If their team had to pick a player

Had a legit case this season

LaMelo Ball, G, Charlotte Hornets

All-Star case: Ball's situation is the first of its kind: a player to lead his position group (East backcourt) in All-Star voting yet not make the game. A seventh-place finish in media voting doomed Ball's hopes of starting. The coaches picking Ball as a reserve from a lottery team never seemed likely, particularly given he's missed a third of the Hornets' games. So his 27.3 PPG and 7.2 APG weren't enough to earn a second All-Star appearance.

Future chances: If Ball can stay healthy and translate his production into more team success like 2021-22 when he was chosen, there are surely All-Star trips ahead for him. Actually, it will be historic if not. Ball was 20 for his All-Star debut. Not counting active players, Alvan Adams is the only one-time All-Star to have his only appearance come before age 22. (Adams was chosen as a rookie in 1975-76, the year before the ABA-NBA merger.)

Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns

All-Star case: An All-Star for four of the past five seasons, Booker is averaging 26.2 PPG and 6.7 APG, albeit not with the same efficiency as years past. Booker shooting just 34% from 3-point range, along with the Suns' middling record, hurt his chances. Since Jan. 1, Booker has played like an All-Star. He's boosted his scoring to 28.0 PPG on 48% shooting in that span.

Future chances: The West backcourt competition doesn't figure to get any less fierce, but Booker should be a leading contender if he can avoid serious first-half slumps.

Domantas Sabonis, C, Sacramento Kings

All-Star case: Although Sabonis is averaging fewer assists with the arrival of DeMar DeRozan, his scoring and rebounding are up more than during his past two All-Star campaigns -- and shooting 45.8% from 3-point range. Remarkably, Sabonis is fourth in the league in estimated plus-minus wins. Other advanced metrics don't rate Sabonis as well, but he's probably got a stronger case than Alperen Sengun aside from Houston's superior record.

Future chances: Sabonis should remain part of the All-Star conversation on an annual basis.

Amen Thompson, F, Houston Rockets

All-Star case: My hottest take is that Thompson is not only the strongest Rockets candidate not to make the All-Star Game but the best one, period. Advanced stats suggest he's been more valuable this season than his Bay Area-bound teammate Sengun, who has gaudier per-game statistics but has scored with below-average efficiency. Thompson has averaged 17.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG and 4.5 APG as a starter and was the West Defensive Player of the Month for January.

Future chances: When, not if. Having just turned 22, Thompson is scratching the surface of his potential. I would give him better than even odds of playing in the game next season.

Former All-Stars who fell short, but should bounce back

Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors

All-Star case: Barnes is averaging nearly the same combination of stats (20.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 6.3 APG) that earned him an All-Star debut last season at age 22. However, Barnes hasn't been nearly as accurate a shooter, going from a promising 34% on 3s to a career-low 26.8%. Add in Barnes missing 13 games, and he hasn't been in the mix.

Future chances: Still just 23, Barnes is far from his peak as a player. If he can rediscover last season's shooting touch, Toronto (with midseason acquisition Brandon Ingram) should be competitive enough to put Barnes in All-Star consideration regularly.

Luka Doncic, G, Los Angeles Lakers

All-Star case: If we were simply picking the best 24 players in the league or the biggest stars, Doncic would be an easy choice. The calf injury that sidelined Doncic for more than a month prevented him from being chosen, the first time since his rookie season (2018-19). Before adding Doncic via trade, the Lakers had no serious candidates outside of All-Stars Davis (now with Dallas) and LeBron James.

Future chances: The question is how many for Doncic in a Lakers uniform.

Tyrese Haliburton, G, Indiana Pacers

All-Star case: Despite scoring and assisting less frequently than his past two All-Star campaigns, Haliburton still rates as an All-Star-caliber player by most value metrics. Avoiding turnovers is a key subtle part of Haliburton's value. He's averaging under two, the lowest since his rookie campaign as a reserve. Additionally, despite battling health concerns, Haliburton is in the NBA's top 20 in minutes played.

Future chances: At 24 with two All-Star Games under his belt, Haliburton should have more opportunities.

De'Aaron Fox, G, San Antonio Spurs

All-Star case: Before a three-game absence in early January, Fox was well on his way to a second All-Star appearance, averaging 26.7 PPG and 6.2 APG on solid efficiency as a shooter. He dropped to 19.1 PPG and 40% shooting after returning, falling out of serious All-Star consideration. Since being dealt to San Antonio, Fox appears back on track.

Future chances: If the Spurs develop into contenders led by first-time All-Star Victor Wembanyama, Fox should have a good chance for additional appearances as the team's clear No. 2 player. It's unsurprising that Fox's one All-Star nod came in 2023, when the Kings finished third in the West.

Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers

All-Star case: With veteran All-Stars Joel Embiid and Paul George missing extended stretches due to injury and not playing at that level when healthy, Maxey has kept the Sixers afloat in the play-in race. He's averaging a career-high 27.6 points and has nearly doubled his steal average to a career-high two.

Future chances: Had coaches voted after Philadelphia's four-game winning streak last month, during which he averaged 33 points, I wonder whether Maxey would have made it for a second consecutive year. We'll see how crowded the East backcourt race pans out, but Maxey should remain a strong contender.

Wasn't in the cards for these former All-Stars

Jarrett Allen, C, Cleveland Cavaliers

All-Star case: There was a reasonable argument for Allen to join his three Cleveland teammates (starters Donovan Mitchell and reserves Darius Garland and Evan Mobley) in the Bay. Although Allen is averaging just 13.6 points, down from 16.1 when he was chosen an All-Star alongside Garland in 2022, that's with incredible efficiency. Allen is shooting a career-high 69.8% from the field.

Future chances: As Mobley's star rises, Allen's will probably dim as far as individual awards are concerned. It might take an absence from a teammate for Allen to get enough shots to have a realistic chance.

Jimmy Butler, F, Golden State Warriors

All-Star case: Well, maybe if they held the vote before Butler lost his "joy" of basketball in Miami. With just 27 games played this season at less than his usual standard, Butler wasn't a serious contender. Then again, neither were any of the Warriors aside perhaps Andrew Wiggins, traded to the Heat for Butler.

Future chances: Would you believe Butler has only been an All-Star once in the past five seasons? That's a strong data point in the distinction between regular season and playoff value, but also reflects how Butler's brash nature may not play well with coaches. Keeping that in mind, Butler may need to help Golden State near the top of the standings to add a seventh All-Star appearance to his résumé.

Rudy Gobert, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

All-Star case: Eighth in offensive rating when they were 17-17 on Jan. 4, the Timberwolves have ranked in the league's top five since as they've moved comfortably above .500. Gobert remains their anchor at that end, ranking in the top five in opponent shooting within five feet, despite playing a smaller role offensively. His 10.8 PPG are Gobert's fewest since 2015-16.

Future chances: At 32, Gobert has probably played in his last All-Star Game, having made three with Utah.

Brook Lopez, C, Milwaukee Bucks

All-Star case: Lopez remains one of the NBA's top rim protectors. Opponents are shooting 55% inside five feet with Lopez as a primary defender, per Second Spectrum tracking on NBA Advanced Stats, putting him in the bottom 10 among players defending at least five such shots per game.

Future chances: Lopez sports a career-low 15% usage rate and will turn 37 in April. An All-Star in 2013 with Brooklyn, Lopez has no legitimate chance of reaching that level again during the twilight of a remarkable career.

Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz

All-Star case: Markkanen is clearly Utah's best player, but he hasn't performed at nearly the same level as when he made the All-Star team in 2023 or even last season. Markkanen's scoring has dipped to 19.2 PPG, his lowest with the Jazz, and he's shooting just 35% on 3s after being north of 39% the past two campaigns.

Future chances: It's starting to look like 2022-23 might be a high point in Markkanen's career. He'll turn 28 during the offseason, and while it's reasonable to expect Markkanen's shooting to bounce back, he may no longer be performing at an All-Star level by the time Utah is competitive enough to earn him consideration.

Andrew Wiggins, F, Miami Heat

All-Star case: An All-Star in 2022, Wiggins is putting up virtually identical numbers across the board in a bounce-back campaign after averaging a career-low 13.2 points in 2023-24. Wiggins was second on the Warriors in scoring before being traded to Miami and is one of just four players on the Heat's roster averaging more than 12 points this season.

Future chances: Now that Wiggins has joined the Heat, he'll be competing with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro for All-Star consideration, making it an uphill climb.

Nikola Vucevic, C, Chicago Bulls

All-Star case: Semi-serious question: Would the Bulls have traded Zach LaVine if the NBA gave every team an All-Star and he was their representative? After his trade to Sacramento, Vucevic is the only real option on Chicago's roster, and that would be a stretch. Vucevic isn't scoring as prolifically as when he made the All-Star team in 2019 and 2021 with the Orlando Magic, nor anchoring as strong a defense.

Future chances: At 34, Vucevic's All-Star days are surely behind him. The more interesting question is which member of the current Bulls is most likely to be an All-Star. The answer might be 20-year-old rookie Matas Buzelis, who will be in the Bay for the slam dunk contest.

Expect more chances for a first selection

Desmond Bane, G, Memphis Grizzlies

All-Star case: Bane has been the Grizzlies' most consistent No. 2 option after All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. and previous two-time participant Ja Morant. Bane slumped in November, averaging just 10.6 points while coming back from an oblique strain, but has posted 50/40/90 shooting splits over the past two months.

Future chances: Bane had more All-Star momentum in 2022-23, when he was Memphis' second-leading scorer at 21.5 points. Jackson's emergence as a primary offensive option might make it difficult for Bane to stand out as long as Morant is healthy and in the lineup.

Dyson Daniels, G, Atlanta Hawks

All-Star case: With Trae Young chosen as an injury replacement, Jalen Johnson sidelined by season-ending shoulder injury and De'Andre Hunter traded to the Cavaliers, Daniels is the best remaining choice for the Hawks. He's fourth on the team in scoring and leads the NBA with nearly three steals per game, making a compelling case for All-Defensive honors.

Future chances: As outstanding as Daniels' perimeter defense is, he'll probably need to contribute more than 13.7 PPG and 4.0 APG to become an All-Star candidate. Given Daniels is younger (22 next month) than nine first-round picks in the 2024 draft, that's certainly possible.

Luguentz Dort, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

All-Star case: Averaging 9.8 points, Dort would certainly be an unconventional All-Star pick. He's the most valuable perimeter defender on the NBA's No. 1 defense and has started nearly as many games as centers Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City's clear next-best player after All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams when healthy) and Isaiah Hartenstein combined. Add in career-high 41.2% 3-point shooting and I think Dort has been the Thunder's third-most valuable player this season.

Future chances: As long as Holmgren is healthy, Oklahoma City's three talented young stars figure to hog any Thunder All-Star appearances for the foreseeable future.

Trey Murphy III, F, New Orleans Pelicans

All-Star case: Besides a lottery pick, Murphy getting to spread his wings has been the silver lining to the Pelicans' ill-fated season. He's averaging a career-high 22.6 points without sacrificing any efficiency as a scorer. Murphy is still shooting nearly 39% beyond the arc.

Future chances: At 24, Murphy is entering his prime. The question is whether New Orleans can be good enough to have a player merit All-Star consideration without having a star -- Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray or someone else -- surpass Murphy in the team's pecking order.

Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets

All-Star case: Murray, who scored a career-high 55 points in Wednesday's win over Portland, has played like an All-Star. Since mid-December, he's averaging 22.9 points and 6.1 assists on 39.8% 3-point shooting and 93% from the foul line. Murray's track record gives him an edge over Michael Porter Jr., averaging a career-high 19.0 points while shooting 61.6% on 2s and 41.7% on 3s, as well as revitalized Russell Westbrook.

Future chances: Murray has a chance to go down as one of the NBA's best players never to make an All-Star Game. His career value ranks 12th in my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric among active players who have never been All-Stars, and he's the youngest player in the top 19. The next-best younger player: Porter, with teammate Aaron Gordon (ninth) also among the leaders. Denver hasn't had an All-Star besides Nikola Jokic since Carmelo Anthony.

Franz Wagner, F, Orlando Magic

All-Star case: If Wagner stays healthy during the second half, keeping him out of the All-Star Game because he missed 20 games will seem silly. Wagner has supplanted 2024 All-Star Paolo Banchero as Orlando's leading scorer this season, averaging a career-high 25.4 points on better efficiency, plus 5.0 assists. Add in Wagner's defensive contributions, and he's played at a clear All-Star level when healthy.

Future chances: Presumably, Banchero will rebound after struggling since returning from his more serious oblique tear. Banchero looks like an All-Star fixture but make room for Wagner in the Eastern Conference frontcourt alongside him if the Magic get back on track.

Wasn't a realistic shot this time around

Malik Beasley, G, Detroit Pistons

All-Star case: Of Detroit's veteran additions last offseason, Beasley has made the biggest impact as the Pistons have leaped into playoff contention. Despite coming off the bench most of the year, Beasley is in the running for second in the NBA in 3-pointers, making them at a 41.5% clip.

Future chances: Given how little Beasley does to fill out the box score, an All-Star appearance isn't realistic. Nonetheless, it's impressive how Beasley has rebuilt his value after playing last season in Milwaukee for the veteran's minimum.

Daniel Gafford, C, Dallas Mavericks

All-Star case: Gafford would have missed any All-Star activities after he sprained his right knee last week, adding to the Mavs' frontcourt injury woes. But he particularly excelled with fellow center Dereck Lively II sidelined, averaging 15 points, 9 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks in games Lively has missed. Gafford has created more of his offense while continuing to shoot 70% from the field.

Future chances: Once he returns to action, it's going to be difficult for Gafford to keep up this production. Not only will he be splitting time with another starting-caliber center in Lively, Gafford will compete for rim runs with newcomer Anthony Davis. Gafford had just five points in Davis' one game in Dallas before being sidelined by an adductor strain.

Josh Hart, F, New York Knicks

All-Star case: By virtue of their rock-solid starting five, the Knicks have multiple players on a long list for All-Star selections. Mikal Bridges, averaging 17.8 points, or OG Anunoby (16.4 points as the team's best defender) are more conventional choices, but I'm going with Hart's well-rounded game. At 14.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists, Hart is essentially delivering a prime Draymond Green season. And while Hart isn't a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, he's been a better scorer, shooting 61% on 2s.

Future chances: As long as New York's starting five is intact, Anunoby and Bridges probably have better chances of becoming All-Stars than Hart.

Cameron Johnson, F, Brooklyn Nets

All-Star case: One of the most interesting players not to change teams prior to last week's trade deadline, Johnson is averaging a career-high 19.2 points and shooting nearly 42% from 3-point range. Johnson is a more efficient scorer than teammate Cam Thomas, who's been limited to 19 games by injury, and contributes more on defense.

Future chances: Realistically, Johnson will probably never score this prolifically again. A trade this summer will likely send him to a supporting role on a contending team, similar to the one Johnson played with the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Brooklyn.

Derrick White, G, Boston Celtics

All-Star case: I picked White on my first All-Star projections of the year, back when he was averaging 18.3 points through November. White subsequently fell into a shooting slump, hitting just 34% of his 3s in December and January. However, White's advanced stats remain strong. He ranks 13th, for example, in single-season estimated plus-minus (EPM) wins produced while playing a larger role than hot-shooting teammate Payton Pritchard.

Future chances: At 30, White might be running out of time to make an All-Star Game. His best chance will come if injuries allow him to play a larger role in the Celtics' offense than his current below-average 19% usage rate.

Ivica Zubac, C, LA Clippers

All-Star case: Zubac isn't scoring or creating as prolifically as guards James Harden and Norman Powell, more conventional All-Star candidates. However, Zubac anchors the NBA's second-best defense that has helped the Clippers remain competitive this season. He's also averaging a career-high 15.4 points on 60-plus-percent shooting. As a result, Zubac is in the top 20 in estimated plus-minus wins (EPM) -- ahead of Harden, chosen as a reserve, and Powell.

Future chances: It will probably take winning Defensive Player of the Year for Zubac to become an All-Star in the West. That would give him a similar case to the one that has made Gobert a three-time All-Star.

MLB rules? These teams' lone rep would be...

Deni Avdija, F, Portland Trail Blazers

All-Star case: Despite coming off the bench as recently as late December, Avdija has been the Blazers' best player during his first season in Portland. Since starting the year in a deep slump (17% from 3 over the first 11 games), Avdija has averaged 16 points on 49% shooting, including 37% on 3s.

Future chances: If Avdija can maintain above-average 3-point shooting in the larger offensive role he's playing this season, that could translate into All-Star consideration if he remains the Blazers' best player as they improve. However, younger teammates Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe might usurp that role.

Jordan Poole, G, Washington Wizards

All-Star case: Teams like the Wizards that aggressively rebuild are a strong case against the NBA ever considering the MLB's All-Star model. Poole is the only Washington player ranked in the top 140 of either estimated plus-minus wins (EPM) or my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric. He deserves credit for bouncing back from a disappointing first season with the Wizards but not All-Star attention.

Future chances: It will take Poole and his team making a leap for an All-Star appearance to be possible.