The questions were getting louder.

LeBron James had played a half dozen games after missing the start of the season with sciatica. He was undoubtedly rusty as his offseason routine was disrupted by the nerve injury. He’d even logged a G League practice to try and accelerate a pathway back to basketball rhythm. But by the time the Los Angeles Lakers got to Philadelphia on Dec. 7, James was mostly moving with two left feet.

The last time he was on the court, in Toronto three days earlier, James’ streak of 1,297 straight games with at least 10 points had ended. And even though James had the game-winning assist, it looked like age — finally — had caught up to him.

Opposing players and coaches, rival scouts and executives all noticed. James wasn’t himself. Obviously 23 years in the NBA was going to take its toll, but James was moving more like a trolly and less like a freight train in the first two weeks of his return.

But in Philadelphia, James found his legs. He bounded comfortably in and out of jump shots. He barreled through the lane and flew above the rim. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves unable to score down the stretch, James scored 10 straight points in the fourth quarter, the final two — a dagger stepback, ended with James celebrating by crowning himself while the 76ers fans all stood and appreciated the show. He iced the game, embraced Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and headed for the locker room.

He was back — and Philadelphia was witness.

“One thing you know about Philly fans, they don’t care about anybody besides their home teams, and I respect (it). I love that,” James said that night after finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists. “I’ve played here, for obviously 23 years, a lot more when I was in (the) Eastern Conference. But to be able to have an appreciation for the City of Brotherly Love and for me to go out and still play the game that I love and them respect it, whatever the case may be — if they do — it’s pretty cool.”

LeBron James had a big game against Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers in December. Now, the two will be teammates in Philadelphia. (Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)

Months later when the season ended, the moment didn’t really register with me. When it became clear that James wouldn’t be back with the Lakers, that game didn’t cross my mind.

But now that we know where James will play his 24th season, this game feels more special. Over the last two seasons, I’ve been at every Lakers game that James has played — preseason included. I’ve listened to him talk, mostly in general terms, about what the end of his career could look like. I’ve gotten some kind of sense of what he’d want the end to look like.

I wasn’t surprised that the final chapter would occur outside of Los Angeles. The Lakers were the team he played for, but they were no longer his team. That changed the night they traded for Dončić (and didn’t tell James) and gave themselves a clear direction for the present and future.

Philadelphia, at least initially, felt like a surprise.

Like anyone talking to people close to James throughout this free agency, I knew very little. I knew the things that James and his team had previously talked about valuing. I knew which places could best offer it, and I knew that when James picked, I’d be able to pick through the pieces of evidence that revealed themselves in his final months with the Lakers.

Had the destination been Golden State — the predicted landing spot by plenty inside the Lakers’ locker room — the reasoning would’ve been easy to put together. James would be able to stay on the West Coast where he and his family had made their home the past eight years. He’d be able to play with people his age. It’s easy to imagine the amazing dinners and amazing bottles of wine, the conversations beginning with, “Remember when,” while the defining winners of a generation — James, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr — put the finishing touches on an era of NBA basketball.

Had it been Miami, the place that seemed to be gaining momentum ahead of James’ decision to sign with Philadelphia, you could easily see the sunshine and the off-day golf rounds in a place where he’d already been a champion. You could also see James reclaiming a piece of his game that the Lakers took from him when they dealt for Dončić and empowered Reaves. In Miami, with the Heat roster the way it is now, someone would need to make plays for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. And for as much as James bent his game around the Lakers guards, he knew it was a bit of acting. The ball, to James, is most comfortable in his hands.

If James had gone to Cleveland, it would be because he was grabbing full control of his story, putting the last chapter of his career in a familiar setting where he could ensure that, no matter the winning or the losing, the people there would celebrate everything he’s achieved in his profession.

Sources close to James told The Athletic on Friday, on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, that the reason he picked Philadelphia wasn’t a part of some complicated decision matrix. It was, simply, the place James thought he could go and have the best chance to win a championship.

Looking back at James’ time in Los Angeles, the winning always made things better. The worst times in Los Angeles always came with losing — the injuries, the trades that didn’t work out (or the ones that didn’t get made).

James missed three games early in March, the Lakers ripping off wins against Indiana, New York and Minnesota without him. He returned to the court as the Lakers unquestioned third option, the furthest down any offensive food chain he’d ever been. If it felt awkward, six straight wins smoothed everything out.

The Lakers finished that month 16-1. James was an efficiency monster, averaging 19.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists while making more than 55 percent of his shots from the field. He laughed at the idea that wouldn’t be able to handle the role.

“I know what I’m capable of still doing as an individual, but what’s important for this team, I’m able to adapt,” James said early in March. “And that’s the only thing that matters.”

In the end, it wasn’t the amount of shots or the amount of touches that would matter most for James. It wasn’t about being near the mansion he’s building in Los Angeles or the buddies who play for the Warriors.

It was about winning and the rush that competing at the highest levels in high-stakes environments could provide. After a very mutual breakup with the Lakers, James went looking for the place where he could feel that the most often, a place where all the physical and mental sacrifice required to still play in this league could be worth it.

James felt that rush in December in Philadelphia, the crowd on its feet watching him pick apart their 76ers one possession at a time down the stretch. James basked in the attention, the moment leading to a greatest hits of his celebrations — the crowning and the “silencer” merging after his final bucket.

For the first time last season, James felt something special. And as he gets ready to play his 24th NBA season later this year, we probably shouldn’t be surprised that he wants to get back to that place as much as possible.

The Edmonton Oilers have produced outstanding young talent in the first half of this decade, but very few strong rookie seasons by those freshmen. Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway and Ike Howard were slow-played as first-year NHL players. Only Ryan McLeod (2021-22, 9-12-21 in 71 games) and Matt Savoie (2025-26, 18-19-37 in 82 games) delivered the kind of season that gets fans excited.

Savoie’s 37 points were the highest total by an Oilers rookie winger since Jordan Eberle (18-25-43 in 69 games) and Taylor Hall (22-20-42 in 65 games) in 2010-11.

For the coming season, there are over a dozen players who could see action as rookies, but almost all opportunities will come due to injury or veterans hitting a wall. There are times when both become a factor, as in the case of Mattias Janmark last season.

Howard played 29 games in Edmonton last season, so he no longer qualifies as a rookie. Josh Samanski played 24 games and remains eligible for the Calder Trophy. Samanski’s impressive two-way ability and usefulness as a centre or winger make him an attractive option. For our purposes, we’ll treat Samanski as a known commodity and focus on less well-known prospects.

There are three players who have both the resume to ascend to the NHL and are looking at a welcoming depth chart in Edmonton as fall approaches.

Beau Akey

Akey had an injury-plagued pro debut with the AHL Bakersfield Condors last season, and didn’t spend much time in a feature role when healthy. He should be considered a possible recall this winter because of the position he plays: right defence.

Atop the Oilers’ right side depth chart is puck mover Evan Bouchard. According to Puck IQ, his 489 minutes versus elite competition one year ago represented 52 percent of all five-on-five minutes played by right-handed Oilers defenders. Connor Murphy played 40 percent against elites after coming over from the Chicago Blackhawks in a March deal, and Ty Emberson will play third pair. After that, the Oilers will be looking to left-handed defencemen like newcomer Shakir Mukhamadullin to play on his off-side. That’s less than ideal.

Akey is undersized, and new coach Mike Babcock may fade him because of it. However, Akey is an exceptional skater, reads plays well and can pass the puck with aplomb. He was easily the top right-handed option among Condors blueliners one year ago in on-ice goal share:

All numbers via theAHL.com 

Akey shines in this comparison, and it’s reasonable to suggest he has the most potential as an option. Akey was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft and has been slowed only by injury. While it’s true Condors coach Colin Chaulk didn’t play Akey in a substantial role, those injuries may have had an impact on deployment.

The AHL doesn’t have a large group of top talents to focus on, so Akey’s goal share gap appears to be the real thing. He doesn’t get mentioned much as a recall possibility because he has just 42 games of AHL experience and is just 21. Based on position (right-handed defenceman) and last year’s outscoring, Akey could see NHL time if he can stay healthy.

Owen Michaels

Michaels has yet to play a game for the Oilers or Condors, but he’s a player to watch this fall and winter. Like Akey, positional rarity is the key reason for interest in Michaels. He’s a right-handed, two-way centre with good speed and a range of skills. I ranked him No. 16 on the summer top 20 based on where he might land on an NHL roster, as No. 3 centre would seem to be the outer marker. That is a foundation position on an NHL team, so the opportunity to play an important role is there for Michaels.

The question marks surround ability (can he play at the highest level?) and readiness (Edmonton is auditioning others for the third- and fourth-line centre roles). Michaels, 24, has good size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) and posted 13-13-26 in 39 games for Western Michigan (NCHC) in 2025-26. The range of possibilities for his rookie pro season ranges from depth minutes in the AHL to a long look in the NHL with the Oilers if he can succeed with the Condors.

Viljami Marjala

Some players have a sixth sense for the moment offensively, and those players often outperform the eye test. Marjala doesn’t have Howard’s pure skills, but does possess a touch around the net and recognizes a passing seam quickly. Marjala is a centre/winger on the Condors, and his 2025-26 season with the team made an impression.

Marjala’s playmaking abilities showed up in his assist total (49 in 75 games, including a frantic playoff run), but he also showed some scoring ability. His 17 goals on 130 shots (13.1 percent) gave Marjala a little more torque in this area than his Liiga numbers (Finland) implied entering the season. In terms of team success, he started the year getting outscored heavily at even strength (41 percent in the first half) but improved to 50 percent after the midway point of the season.

Marjala qualifies as a possible recall over names like Quinn Hutson because he can play centre or wing. Also, his creativity in passing may be more useful in Edmonton. Marjala is a playmaker on a club that may be shy offensively on the depth lines. Veteran centre Jason Dickinson isn’t an offensive difference-maker, and he’s ticketed for the third line. Samanski, who at this point checks in as the No. 4 centre, is also offensively challenged.

Marjala is a long shot, but can play the middle and does create offence. Among his 43 regular-season helpers, 33 were first assists. That’s an indication Marjala’s work leads directly to goals. There are no guarantees he can convert at a high level in the NHL, but the Oilers have needs at centre, and Marjala is a solid available (if unproven) option.

Bottom line

When training camp begins, most of the talk around rookies will involve Samanski, Hutson and perhaps left defenceman Damien Carfagna. Akey, Michaels and Marjala are a little under the radar based on various factors, including injury history (Akey) and lack of pro experience (Michaels).

The opportunity for these three players comes via the Oilers depth chart. A righty defenceman, a righty centre and a centre who could help increase offence on a depth line could parlay into a recall.

Harry Wilson made his Leeds United debut in the club’s opening friendly of the summer. Wrexham, of the Championship, were the opponents in Tampa, Florida, where Leeds equalised twice, but lost 3-2 in the early hours of Sunday morning (Saturday 7.30pm local time).

Wilson, who signed as a free agent this month, played the second half in a predictably rotated line-up from Daniel Farke. Tarik Muharemovic, this summer’s other new arrival, was absent after a later start to his training programme following his World Cup campaign with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Joel Piroe and Sean Longstaff were the goalscorers for United, who struggled with Wrexham’s counter-attacks. All three concessions came after Leeds turned the ball over and failed to neutralise Wrexham’s swift attack.

The other key headline from the game was the absentee list for Farke’s side. Key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffered what the club called a ‘small setback’ in pre-season, which means he is still training individually for now. Meanwhile, centre-back Jaka Bijol was missing with a knock to his knee.

Beren Cross assesses the first impressions from this opening friendly of the summer.

Wilson and Longstaff catch the eye

After 17 goal involvements with Fulham last season, Wilson has arrived with a flurry of excitement. United beat competition for the 29-year-old’s signature and secured him for no transfer fee as a free agent.

The Wales international started on the bench, but came on at half-time, playing as the No 10 in a 4-2-3-1 shape. United failed to score with him on the pitch, but he made a swift impact across.

Inside 60 seconds of the restart, he drifted towards the right flank and went to complete a one-two with compatriot Daniel James with a backheel. It did not come off, but for a first touch in Leeds colours, it was dripping in flair.

One minute later, Wilson’s vision was on show. Sitting in the right channel, he looked across the pitch to see Wilfried Gnonto making a run in behind, from left to right, into the box.

Wilson arced a left-footed pass into the perfect space for the Italian, whose shot was hurried and saved by Arthur Okonkwo. Leeds have longed for a player looking to break defensive lines for years and in one half, Wilson showed his desire to do just that.

Longstaff, who became a peripheral figure during his first Leeds campaign, had a promising showing in the first half. He was central to both goals.

It was his run into space which unlocked Wrexham for Piroe’s goal. Ethan Ampadu went wide to James, then James went inside to Longstaff, who crossed low for the striker to backheel home.

Sean Longstaff pressed his claims for a midfield starting berth (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The former Newcastle United midfielder was a useful presence around the edge of the area as Leeds tried to thread quick passes and break Wrexham down. It was from this position he dug out the second goal with a fine finish.

Longstaff has a real fight on his hands to force his way into Farke’s strongest XI for next season. This was an encouraging opening 45 minutes for him.

An exposed defence

In his post-match interview with club media, it was no surprise to see Farke underline the importance of minutes in the legs for his players, while pointing out Wrexham are several weeks ahead in their pre-season preparations.

The manner of the goals Leeds conceded illustrated those facts. All three Wrexham goals were similar. United would have possession near halfway or in the opposition half, lose it and find themselves caught out by a counter-attack.

In the first half, as they mixed between 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1 shapes, United’s right flank was exposed. If James was downfield in attack and James Justin was tied up centrally, Wrexham had space to surge into.

Rodon would have been frustrated to see Cadamarteri and Smith each get away from him before scoring. With the former, he went to ground and did not get a decisive touch, and with the latter, he did have the recovery pace to chase him down, but was fooled by Smith’s turn inside.

Daniel Farke shows his frustrations on the touchline (Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)

Ao Tanaka was guilty of the loose touch in the centre circle, which gifted possession to Davis Keillor-Dunn for Wrexham’s counter and Smith’s winner. It was the first friendly of the summer, but those are the kinds of lapses Farke did not like in Tanaka’s game at points of last season.

Absentees and shifting shapes

Naturally for a pre-season game, when players are at varying stages of fitness, some of the biggest headlines were about who wasn’t involved. Calvert-Lewin, who is slowly turning public opinion on his injury record after an impressive 35 league appearances last season, was missing in Tampa.

Leeds say their No 9 had a ‘small setback’ in pre-season, which has kept him on an individual training programme for now. They say he is building back up to team training, before then playing in friendlies.

Centre-backs Sebastiaan Bornauw and Bijol were each carrying knocks the club did not want to risk, while Ilia Gruev continues to recover from the meniscus injury he suffered in April. Muharemovic, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor are all a few steps behind after their World Cup exploits.

It meant Farke used youngsters to make up the numbers and they only had what you would consider to be a recognised, senior XI for the first 30 minutes of the second period. There were hints of a three-centre-back system in the first half, but it was a defined 4-2-3-1 after half-time.

Rodon was the only player to complete the full 90 minutes, though Ampadu and Justin were not taken off until late on. The team now returns to their New Jersey base, before playing Sunderland at Sports Illustrated Stadium on July 31 at 12.30am (7.30pm, July 30 local time).