For 2025-26 Rockets, Shaq views Kevin Durant as a ‘more consistent Jalen Green'
Count TNT analyst and former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal as among those bullish on the Kevin Durant era of the Houston Rockets.
'Definitely got a closer,' O'Neal said of the Durant acquisition. He spoke in an exclusive interview with RG's DJ Siddiqi.
'Should get them higher, higher towards the top,' O'Neal continued. 'I know they let go of Jalen Green, and he carried them last year, but KD is a more consistent Jalen Green. Jalen Green was too up and down for them to get to the next level.'
'Listen, if KD is healthy and shooting the ball well, they can make some noise.'
Last season, in averaging more than 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game on elite efficiency, Durant earned the 15th All-Star selection of his distinguished career. The future Hall of Famer, former Most Valuable Player (MVP), and two-time NBA Finals MVP and champion turns 37 years old in September.
As for Green (traded to Phoenix in the Durant package), the 23-year-old's inconsistency was on full display during the recently completed 2025 NBA playoffs.
He had a team-high 38 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals in a Game 2 victory over the Golden State Warriors. In that first-round game, he made 13-of-25 shots (52.0%) and 8-of-18 from 3-point range (44.4%).
But in the other six games of the series, Green never exceeded 12 points or 40% shooting. Houston lost four of those six, including a season-ending loss in a winner-take-all Game 7 at home.
With Green as their top perimeter scorer, the Rockets were a good team, as evidenced by their 52-30 record in the regular season and a No. 2 placement in the Western Conference standings. But there were offensive limitations that ultimately got exposed in high-leverage, playoff situations.
The hope is that Durant brings many of the same highs, but without nearly the same lows.
More: Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to 'level up' the offense
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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Dwight Evans has another shot at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Here's what the data says about his candidacy.
The eight-man field will be assembled in the coming weeks. Any players selected would be enshrined in the Class of 2026. It could be the last chance for Evans, who has been in this position several times before, only to be disappointed. 'It's one of those things you try not to think too much about,' Evans said. 'But how can you not?' Former Red Sox right fielder Dwight Evans, now 73, is eligible for the Hall of Fame's Contemporary Baseball Era ballot that will be voted on in December by a 16-member committee. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff The former Red Sox right fielder spent three years on the ballot voted on by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Advertisement Evans received only 5.9 percent of the vote in 1997. He improved to 10.4 percent in 1998, then fell off the ballot in 1999 after receiving only 3.6 percent of the vote. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up There were 11 future Hall of Famers on the ballot in 1997, 10 in '98, and 12 in '99. In an era when most voters were loathe to vote for more than four or five players, Evans stood little chance. '[The writers] look at your overall numbers,' Evans said. 'What you did in your generation when you played against your peers, they don't look at that as much. I feel like that was why I fell off [the ballot] as quick as I did.' Advertisement Evans was considered by the Contemporary Baseball Era oversight committee in 1999, but fell four votes shy. Dave Parker, who was voted in by a different committee last winter, was a vote behind Evans. Evans was eligible again in 2022, but the Hall decided to deal with the controversial candidacies of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, and Curt Schilling that year, and Evans was excluded. Only Fred McGriff was elected. Now Evans has another chance. Statistics, both traditional and advanced, give him a strong case. How Dwight Evans's stats compare with Hall of Fame players Compare Evans's stats with the average Hall of Fame position player below, and use the pulldown menu to select a specific player — including players who were on this year's ballot, future Hall of Fame ballots, and notable others. Key: G = games played | R = runs | H = hits | SB = stolen bases | HR = home runs | OPS = On-base percentage plus slugging | ASG = All-Star selection Hall of Famer Jim Rice, who played with Evans from 1974-89, feels strongly that his former teammate should be with him in Cooperstown. 'Give me a reason why he shouldn't be in,' Rice said. 'Dewey had the longevity, and when you look at his career, he was a complete player. 'He wasn't what I would call a flashy player. But for a long time he was one of the best players in the game.' By almost any statistical measure, Dwight Evans was one of the best all-around players in the game during the time he played. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff The fairest way to evaluate a player is within the context of his time. Evans made his debut with the Red Sox as a 20-year-old in 1972, playing 18 games at the end of the season. He went on to hit .272 with a .370 on-base percentage and .470 slugging percentage over 20 seasons and 10,569 plate appearances. Advertisement Only 18 other players in history have reached those marks over at least 10,500 plate appearances. Of that group, 12 are in the Hall of Fame. Two others — Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols — are likely choices once they reach the BBWAA ballot. The other four — Bonds, Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, and Gary Sheffield — have so far been denied admission because of their ties to performance-enhancing drugs. From 1973-91, Evans had 66.8 bWAR, the all-encompassing statistic as calculated by Only six players had more in that time — Mike Schmidt (106.8), George Brett (88.3), Rickey Henderson (84.6), Robin Yount (73.6), Gary Carter (70.1), and Cal Ripken Jr. (69.3). All are in the Hall of Fame. Evans was third in runs (1,468), fourth in doubles (480), fifth in extra-base hits (936), and seventh in home runs (384) during that period. All that while winning eight Gold Gloves. By almost any statistical measure, Evans was one of the best all-around players in the game during the time he played. 'Had Dwight played today, there would be much greater appreciation for the type of elite player he was,' said Theo Epstein, who built two World Series-winning teams for the Red Sox, and another for the Cubs. 'In his era, there wasn't as much awareness of the importance of getting on base. We weren't yet capable of quantifying the impact of superior defense. A guy who hit .270/.370/.470 and played a great right field could fly under the radar a bit. 'Dwight put up those numbers over the course of a 20-year career. These days, that guy is recognized as a star — and paid like one in the market, too. To me, Dwight is well over the line as a Hall of Famer.' Advertisement Where his Hall of Fame credentials lag are in categories out of his control. Evans was only a three-time All-Star and received MVP votes in five of his 19 full seasons. His best finish was third in 1981. The snubs were to some degree a product of Evans playing nearly his entire Red Sox career surrounded by All-Stars. Carl Yastrzemski was a nine-time All-Star during the time Evans was with the team. Rice made it eight times. Carlton Fisk and Fred Lynn were selected six times each. 'How many of our guys were they going to take?' said Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, who played with Evans from 1978-84. 'Dewey was overshadowed. He had a breakout year in '81, and then we went on strike. He could have been MVP that year. 'I feel like he was totally overlooked until the analytics came in and people realized just how good he was. Personally, I loved him as a player.' Dwight Evans won eight Gold Gloves during his 20-year major league career. Dan Goshtigian, Globe Staff Then there's the 'fame' aspect of the Hall of Fame. Evans was 15 of 50 (.300) with a .977 OPS, seven extra-base hits, seven walks, and 14 RBIs over 14 career games in the World Series. In two of the greatest World Series in history — the Red Sox-Reds matchup in 1975, and the Red Sox-Mets clash in 1986 — Evans was one of the brightest stars. His catch in Game 6 of the 1975 Series off Joe Morgan is considered one of the greatest defensive plays in history. Evans is second in Red Sox history in games (2,505), fourth in hits (2,373), fourth in doubles (474), third in walks (1,337), and fourth in bWAR (66.5). Advertisement The names around him on those lists — Ted Williams, Yastrzemski, Wade Boggs, and David Ortiz — were all first-ballot Hall of Famers. 'He belongs in,' said Baseball Hall of Fame honoree Peter Gammons, who covered Evans on a daily basis when he worked for the Globe. 'In 1975, [Reds manager] Sparky Anderson said he was the best player on that team. He did so many things well.' Gammons also points out that Evans was knocked unconscious by a pitch from the Mariners' Mike Parrott late in the 1978 season. Evans struggled into the '79 season, before regaining his balance at the plate. 'He had to overcome a lot,' Gammons said. 'Then he was one of the best players in the 1980s.' Eckersley, Rice, and other former teammates believe Evans lacked a bigger profile because he shunned the spotlight. Unlike some players, Evans didn't banter with reporters after games or make many television appearances during his career. 'He was getting dressed and going home right after the game,' Rice said. 'People didn't understand it, but his teammates did.' Evans and his wife, Susan, had two sons, Timothy and Justin. Both were born with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue throughout the body. Timothy was born in 1973, and Justin in 1976. Both required constant medical care that included frequent surgical procedures. To assist his wife in caring for their sons, Evans usually returned to his home in Lynnfield as quickly as he could after games. 'My home life was very precious to me,' Evans said. 'If I did something in the game and I had to speak to the press, I made sure it was short and quick. I had to get home or sometimes get to the hospital. Advertisement 'I played with a lot of players who were in the limelight. I was quiet. I didn't need that.' Dwight and Susan Evans pose with children (left left) Kirstin, Timothy, and Justin in 1978. Jack O'Connell/Globe Staff/The Boston Globe Justin died in 2019 at the age of 42. Timothy died 10 months later in 2020, when he was 47. Evans has been to Cooperstown several times. He did a book signing last summer, and was there when Fisk (2000) and Rice (2009) were inducted. At this stage in his life, Evans hopes his day is coming. 'It bothers me when I see players whose stats were the same as mine or a little bit better and they're in,' Evans said. 'I shake my head a little, but what can I say? 'I played golf with [Hall of Famer] Jim Kaat recently. He had 283 wins and he had to wait to get in. That's sad. I feel sad for Dave Parker, who had to wait as long as he did. 'It would be tremendous to get it. Is it going to make me a better person? I don't think so. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. If it does, I would be excited.' Below are all Hall of Fame position players voted in by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Also included are players of note who are not in the Hall. Use the buttons to select a position and see how the players compare. You can also click on the colored squares at the top to hide and show categories. Peter Abraham can be reached at
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Astros start 4-game series with the Athletics
Athletics (42-62, fifth in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (60-42, first in the AL West) Houston; Thursday, 8:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Luis Severino (3-11, 5.10 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 84 strikeouts); Astros: Jason Alexander (1-0, 8.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 11 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -124, Athletics +104; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Athletics to start a four-game series. Houston has a 60-42 record overall and a 33-19 record in home games. The Astros have gone 33-7 in games when they scored five or more runs. The Athletics are 42-62 overall and 22-31 on the road. Athletics hitters have a collective .313 on-base percentage, the eighth-ranked percentage in the AL. The teams play Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Astros lead the season series 4-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Altuve has 17 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 53 RBIs for the Astros. Brice Matthews is 4 for 24 with three home runs and eight RBIs over the past 10 games. Brent Rooker has 23 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Athletics. Nick Kurtz is 17 for 36 with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .246 batting average, 3.71 ERA, outscored by one run Athletics: 4-6, .239 batting average, 4.45 ERA, outscored by eight runs INJURIES: Astros: Lance McCullers: 15-Day IL (finger), Brendan Rodgers: 60-Day IL (oblique), Isaac Paredes: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jake Meyers: 10-Day IL (calf), Zach Dezenzo: 60-Day IL (hand), Yordan Alvarez: 60-Day IL (hand), Luis Guillorme: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jeremy Pena: 10-Day IL (rib), Jacob Melton: 10-Day IL (ankle), Shawn Dubin: 15-Day IL (forearm), Pedro Leon: 60-Day IL (knee), Spencer Arrighetti: 60-Day IL (thumb), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (elbow), J.P. France: 60-Day IL (shoulder) Athletics: Denzel Clarke: 10-Day IL (abductor), Max Muncy: 10-Day IL (hand), Grant Holman: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Gunnar Hoglund: 60-Day IL (hip), Jose Leclerc: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brady Basso: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Medina: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Astros start 4-game series with the Athletics
Athletics (42-62, fifth in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (60-42, first in the AL West) Houston; Thursday, 8:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Luis Severino (3-11, 5.10 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 84 strikeouts); Astros: Jason Alexander (1-0, 8.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 11 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -124, Athletics +104; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Athletics to start a four-game series. Houston has a 60-42 record overall and a 33-19 record in home games. The Astros have gone 33-7 in games when they scored five or more runs. The Athletics are 42-62 overall and 22-31 on the road. Athletics hitters have a collective .313 on-base percentage, the eighth-ranked percentage in the AL. The teams play Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Astros lead the season series 4-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Altuve has 17 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 53 RBIs for the Astros. Brice Matthews is 4 for 24 with three home runs and eight RBIs over the past 10 games. Brent Rooker has 23 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Athletics. Nick Kurtz is 17 for 36 with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .246 batting average, 3.71 ERA, outscored by one run Athletics: 4-6, .239 batting average, 4.45 ERA, outscored by eight runs INJURIES: Astros: Lance McCullers: 15-Day IL (finger), Brendan Rodgers: 60-Day IL (oblique), Isaac Paredes: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jake Meyers: 10-Day IL (calf), Zach Dezenzo: 60-Day IL (hand), Yordan Alvarez: 60-Day IL (hand), Luis Guillorme: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jeremy Pena: 10-Day IL (rib), Jacob Melton: 10-Day IL (ankle), Shawn Dubin: 15-Day IL (forearm), Pedro Leon: 60-Day IL (knee), Spencer Arrighetti: 60-Day IL (thumb), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (elbow), J.P. France: 60-Day IL (shoulder) Athletics: Denzel Clarke: 10-Day IL (abductor), Max Muncy: 10-Day IL (hand), Grant Holman: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Gunnar Hoglund: 60-Day IL (hip), Jose Leclerc: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brady Basso: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Medina: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
