Hansi Flick is excited by Wednesday's Champions League reunion with former club Bayern Munich, though he already feels at home at Barcelona after a flying start.

Barcelona sit top of LaLiga with nine wins from 10 matches after crushing Sevilla 5-1 on Sunday, while they have three points from two Champions League fixtures, losing to Monaco but beating Young Boys 5-0.

On matchday three, the Blaugrana face Bayern – with whom Flick lifted UEFA's premier club trophy in 2019-20 – in a heavyweight contest in Catalonia.

Between Flick's appointment in November 2019 and his exit in June 2021, Bayern averaged the highest possession share in the Bundesliga (62.55%) and won the ball in the final third 489 times, 172 clear of Borussia Dortmund, who were second by that metric (317).

They also led the way for wins (45), total shots (1,023) and goals (174) in that span, averaging exactly three goals per Bundesliga outing.

While Flick has fond memories of his time in Bavaria, his main focus is on leading Barca to a morale-boosting win before they face Real Madrid in El Clasico on Saturday.

"Bayern is something special in my life, it's an excellent club and I have many acquaintances and relationships with players and managers," Flick said on Tuesday.

"It was a great time, that's my memory. But now there is a new chapter, I am delighted here and very happy.

"I have a very good feeling for being here. The fans support us with so much passion and it forces you to give your all.

"That's how we're going to continue, we want to be well prepared. I might know Bayern a little better but it will be a difficult game."

Flick, who was Bayern's coach when they humiliated Barcelona 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-finals four years ago, said that match will have no bearing on their next meeting.

"The past is in the past and what we should focus on is the here and now. What happened in the past we cannot change, but we can change what happens tomorrow. I want us to be well prepared and give our best. We want to beat Bayern," Flick said.

"It is important that we work hard and achieve what we are looking for. The fans can rely on us to give our all.

"We don't always perform at 100% and that's why we're trying to improve for the next game. It will be important to put pressure on our opponents. We will try to make as few mistakes as possible."

Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne will be eased back into action after being sidelined by a muscle injury, with Pep Guardiola describing him as a doubt for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Sparta Prague.

De Bruyne was injured in City's Champions League opener versus Inter last month and has missed the English champions' last six fixtures.

City are already without midfielders Rodri and Oscar Bobb due to long-term injuries, but Guardiola will resist the temptation to field De Bruyne until the Belgian is comfortable.

"Well, except for Rodri and Oscar, the other ones are in training and getting better, but guys like Kevin are not exactly fit," Guardiola said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference.

"It's not a new issue but he doesn't feel completely fine. Kevin is not 22 years old, he has to be fit for his football. 

"He doesn't feel comfortable that he can express his incredible potential at his best.

"He is training better but he doesn't feel good. He said he doesn't feel good. If you don't feel good, take your time."

Guardiola provided a more positive outlook on England midfielder Phil Foden, who last season scored 28 goals for club and country and was named PFA Player of the Year but has endured a stop-start 2024-25 campaign due to illness.

The 24-year-old was key in City's 2-1 Premier League victory at Wolves on Sunday, delivering the corner that led to John Stones' stoppage-time winner.

"He feels much better. The minutes he played last game, for example," Guardiola said.

"With Phil, you realise immediately when he is happy and fit and mentally in the right moment. You realise he's getting better and better."

On Wednesday, City face Czech champions Sparta, who are level with them on four points in the league-phase standings after beating Salzburg 3-0 and drawing 1-1 with Stuttgart.

"They created a lot of problems [for Stuttgart]. I didn't know Sparta until the last two days when I started to watch them and I have a good impression," Guardiola added. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has described Red Bull's contentious ride-height device as "outrageous" and demanded the FIA investigate it further.

The build-up to Sunday's United States Grand Prix in Austin – won by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc as Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished third – was dominated by speculation about a device found on the RB20 car.

Rival teams have suggested the device could be used to advantageously alter the car's ride height when teams are in restricted 'parc ferme' conditions.

Under the 'parc ferme' regulations, teams are prohibited from making adjustments to their setups between the end of qualifying and the start of a race. 

Constructors' championship contenders McLaren are among the teams to have questioned the device, though Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insisted it was not accessible to use when the car was fully assembled.

Mercedes chief Wolff – a long-time rival of Horner's – has now entered the debate, calling on the FIA to take action.

"My view is from a distance, what I've seen and what I've heard, it's outrageous," Wolff said. 

FIA officials were seen observing a demonstration of how the device operates in advance of Sunday's race, but Wolff is not sure those checks were adequate.  

"I really liked that, when they put this broom in the car to demonstrate the only way that the height could get changed," Wolff said.

"I wonder how long it took them to make this, and to stick it in there. I didn't know that in Formula One that we were using such devices!

"It's not good enough to say, 'that's it, we promise we're not going to do it again'.

"I cannot speak for the FIA at all. Obviously, that's something that's not been spotted for a long time. I think the leadership of the FIA is going to look at that and say, 'what are we doing with this?'"

Bangladesh face a huge task to fight back in the first Test against South Africa after Kyle Verreynne's century and two Kagiso Rabada wickets left them reeling in Mirpur.

Having collapsed to 106 all out on Monday, the hosts desperately needed an improvement after Verreynne's second red-ball ton helped South Africa to a 202-run first-innings lead shortly after lunch on day two.

However, Rabada posted fine figures of 10-2 through seven overs with the ball, dismissing Shadman Islam (1) and Mominul Haque (0) early to leave Bangladesh requiring a stirring fightback.

Taijul Islam's five-wicket haul had dropped South Africa to 140-6 when bad light stopped play on day one, but Verreynne led the resurgent Proteas to 308 all out when they resumed the following day.

He counted eight fours and two maximums among his 114 runs, facing 144 deliveries with support coming from Wiaan Mulder (54) and Dane Piedt (32).

Verreynne was, fittingly, the last batter to fall when he was stumped by Litton Das after attempting to sweep a full delivery from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and his knock could prove crucial after Bangladesh lost three wickets by stumps.

Rabada had Shadman and Mominul caught by Tony de Zorzi and Mulder, respectively, within four second-over balls, with Keshav Maharaj later trapping Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw for 23 as Bangladesh reached 101-3 by stumps.

Data Debrief: Rapid Rabada puts Proteas on brink

In Bangladesh's first innings, Rabada dismissed three to become the sixth bowler to take 300 wickets for South Africa in men's Tests, and the third-fastest to do so on his 65th red-ball appearance, after Dale Steyn (61 matches) and Allan Donald (63).

He then came up with what could be the telling contribution at the outset of Bangladesh's second stint with the bat, taking two wickets before he had even conceded three runs.

South Africa are now big favourites to win back-to-back away Tests for the first time since 2022. Having triumphed by 40 runs versus West Indies in August, the Proteas could seal another routine victory as early as day three. 

Rehan Ahmed has been recalled by England with the tourists opting to field three spinners for this week's deciding test against Pakistan.

England go to Rawalpindi for the third match of their tour, which begins on Thursday after Pakistan recorded a 152-run victory in the second Test to keep the series alive.

Ben Stokes' team have made two changes to their lineup from that match, with 20-year-old leg-spinner Ahmed joining Gus Atkinson in being introduced.

Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse, who managed eight wickets between them last time out, are the players to make way.

Speaking to BBC Sport to preview the third Test, England batter Harry Brook said: "We know it's probably not going to swing and seam and do all sorts in the first session, so we look at the pitch and work out what the best team is going to be.

Ahmed made his international debut in Pakistan two years ago and recorded figures of 5-48 in the third Test in Karachi, going on to win three further caps since then.

"He's an outstanding cricketer," Brook said of Ahmed. "It's not just his bowling, but his batting and fielding. He's a young lad so he has a lot of time to come.

"He got five-for in the last Test here, so hopefully he can do that again."

England team to face Pakistan: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.

The San Francisco 49ers have confirmed Brandon Aiyuk has torn the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Star wide receiver Aiyuk was injured near the end of the second quarter as the 49ers lost a Super Bowl LVIII rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-18, on Sunday.

That result dropped them to 3-4 after an injury-plagued start to 2024, with running back Christian McAffrey another big-name absentee. 

Head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested after the game that Aiyuk's injury looked serious, and the team's worst fears were confirmed when he undertook additional tests on Monday.

"I talked with him last night, just calling him at his house," Shanahan said of Aiyuk. "He was hurting, just bummed out, exactly how you'd expect. 

"But he's a strong dude and spiritual guy and believes everything happens for a reason, so he'll be all right. 

"He was definitely a little down last night, and I was just telling him how bad I felt for him and just let him know we're all here for him through this."

Fellow wideout Deebo Samuel, meanwhile, was limited to four snaps against the Chiefs after feeling unwell and was subsequently checked into hospital with a form of pneumonia.

"I think it started acting up in the middle of the night Saturday night or early Sunday morning and then it just evolved as the day went on," Shanahan said of Samuel.

"Once we found out he had the fluid in his lungs after the game, then I believe they sent him over there."

There is no timeline for Samuel's return to action, with the Niners' next outing pitting them against their long-time rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, on Sunday.

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla insists his team are under no pressure to win back-to-back NBA championships, as they prepare for Tuesday's season opener.

The Celtics will lift the curtain on the 2024-25 campaign when they face the New York Knicks at TD Garden, where they will raise a record-breaking 18th championship banner.

Boston went a league-best 64-18 through the regular season last term, then cruised through the playoffs with a combined 16-3 record against the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. 

They start the new campaign as favourites to claim a record-extending 19th crown, with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Jrue Holiday forming an impressive spine.

Mazzulla, however, will not pile any more pressure on his team, the first to deliver the NBA championship to Boston since 2007-08.

"We're all going to be dead soon, and it really doesn't matter any more. So there's zero pressure," he told reporters on Monday. 

"You have an opportunity to carry the organization forward, to double down on the tradition and history of what this organization has. What else would you expect than someone expecting you to win all the time?

"It's not pressure. There's nothing anyone in this circle can do to me that's going to impact my identity and who I am as a person or a coach. 

"We're either going to win or we're not, and 40 years from now, none of you are invited to my funeral and that's it."

While Mazzulla is urging calm, he also expects his players to be ready for a challenging opening fixture against the Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.

"I trust who they are. I think they have an understanding of both 'this is what we accomplished' and 'this is what we're trying to do'," he added.

"All the intangibles that go into winning should carry over from one season to another season.

"You have to appreciate it. But you've got to know what got you there and if you forget what got you there, you'll never get back."

While the San Antonio Spurs' 2023-24 season was all about experimentation, their upcoming campaign must be about getting results, says Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama was named Rookie of the Year last season after being selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Spurs.

He averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game last term, but the Spurs still missed the playoffs for a fifth straight year.

After finishing 22-60 last year, San Antonio's young team must take a step forward when they begin 2024-25 against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, believes Wembanyama.

"Last year was just a lot of experimenting," the 20-year-old said. "Here, we want to perform. First minute, first play of the game. It's very different.

"I'm learning, and I'm worried for the opponents in a couple of years." 

Head coach Gregg Popovich, who is entering his 28th season in the role, says players have been encouraged to take more responsibility this term. 

"I think, if anything, it's a little less tolerance," Popovich said. 

"Since the start of camp, we have been a little bit more disciplined in the sense of accountability, knowing that mistakes happen too often, we're telling players they need to understand that by now."

Lamar Jackson tied a career high with five touchdown passes as the rolling Baltimore Ravens earned a fifth consecutive win with Monday's 41-31 victory over the injury-riddled Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Baltimore (5-2) overcame a 10-0 deficit after one quarter to extend its streak behind big performances once again from Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards without an interception, while Henry had one of the Ravens' five touchdown grabs while adding 169 rushing yards on just 15 attempts.

Mark Andrews hauled in two of Jackson's touchdown throws and Rashod Bateman accounted for another receiving score while finishing with a career-high 121 yards on four catches.

The Ravens amassed 508 total yards against Tampa Bay (4-3), which lost its top two receivers in addition to its defensive woes with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin exiting with injuries.

Evans aggravated a previous hamstring injury while attempting to make a touchdown catch in the second quarter, while Godwin was carted off in the final minute after suffering a likely season-ending injury to his left leg.

Baker Mayfield threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns - two to running back Rachaad White - but was intercepted twice by Marlon Humphrey in the first half. The first of those picks occurred in the end zone with the Bucs looking to extend a 10-7 lead.

Evans had a 25-yard touchdown catch before exiting for the game's first points, while Cade Otton topped Tampa Bay with 100 receiving yards on eight catches.

Baltimore scored on all six of its possessions in the second and third quarters - four Jackson touchdown passes and two Justin Tucker field goals - to erase its early deficit and make head coach John Harbaugh a winner in the opener of a Monday night doubleheader that also featured the Los Angeles Chargers, coached by his brother Jim. 

Ryland's final-play field goal lifts Cardinals over Chargers

The Arizona Cardinals prevented a Harbaugh family sweep, however, as Chad Ryland's 32-yard field goal as time expired dealt the Chargers a 17-15 loss.

After Cameron Dicker's fifth field goal of the game gave the Chargers a 15-14 lead with 1:54 remaining, Kyler Murray quickly got the Cardinals in scoring range with a 33-yard completion to running back James Conner that put the ball on Los Angeles' 22-yard line.

Arizona (3-4) ultimately got to the Chargers' 14 while bleeding the clock to set up Ryland's kick that split the uprights as time ran out.

Murray ripped off a 44-yard touchdown run earlier in the fourth quarter to give the Cardinals a 14-9 advantage, and added a touchdown pass to Greg Dortch in the first half while finishing 14 of 26 for 145 yards with one interception.

Conner accounted for 101 rushing yards in addition to his key catch as Arizona piled up 181 yards on the ground.

Los Angeles (3-3) lost for the third time in four games following a 2-0 start after failing to score a touchdown and losing two fumbles, one of which landed out of Arizona's end zone for a touch-back after Jalen Reagor was stripped of the ball just short of the goal line on a 41-yard reception in the first quarter.

Justin Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards in the loss, while Will Dissly recorded 81 yards on eight catches for the Chargers.

Dicker converted two field goals of 50 or more yards in the second quarter, including a 59-yarder that matched the longest in franchise history.

The Denver Nuggets made another big move towards keeping its core together for the long term by agreeing to a new four-year contract with forward Aaron Gordon prior to Monday's extension deadline.

Gordon, a major contributor to Denver's NBA championship run in 2022-23, was the lone player on a veteran contract to be extended at the deadline. Eight members of the 2021 draft class received extensions on their rookie deals, most notably the Houston Rockets' duo of center Alperen Sengun and guard Jalen Green.

Sengun was awarded the largest contract of that group, a five-year, $185 million deal. Green, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft, agreed to a three-year, $106 million extension.

Gordon's new deal is essentially a three-year extension that includes a $37.1 player option for 2028-29, as the 10-year veteran exercised a $22.8 million player option for 2025-26 as part of the agreement.

The 29-year-old, who averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in 73 games last season and is one of the Nuggets' most important defenders, is the second starter Denver has locked up this off-season. The Nuggets handed high-scoring guard Jamal Murray a four-year, $208 million max extension in September.

Green and Sengun have emerged as essential parts of an up-and-coming Rockets team that finished 41-41 in 2023-24, a 19-game improvement over the previous season.

Sengun himself took a big step forward last season by averaging career bests of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and five assists per game and finishing third in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award. The Turkey native was one of six players to average 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, a list that also includes superstars Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid, Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Julius Randle.

Green has averaged 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game over his first three seasons, and his 4,450 career points are the most of any player of the 2021 class.

Three other teams reached notable extensions with young players. The Orlando Magic signed guard Jalen Suggs to a five-year, $150.5 million deal, Jalen Johnson got a five-year, $150 million contract from the Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Pelicans agreed to a four-year, $112 million extension with sharpshooter Trey Murphy.

Suggs, the fifth overall pick in 2021, is coming off his best season, as he averaged 12.6 points in 75 games and shot nearly 40 per cent from 3-point range to help the Magic end a three-year playoff drought.

Johnson is coming off a breakout campaign as well, as the Duke product averaged 16 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists while starting 52 of 56 games in his third NBA season.

Murphy is a career 39.2 per cent 3-point shooter and excelled as a sixth man for a New Orleans team that went 49-33 in 2023-24. The 2021 No. 17 overall pick has averaged 14.6 points per game over the last two seasons.

Others to agree to rookie-scale extensions were Washington Wizards shooting specialist Corey Kispert (4 years, $54 million), Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (3 years, $39 million) and Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (3 years, $18 million).

After an offseason of massive free agent signings, blockbuster trades and the captivating Olympic Games in Paris, the 2024-25 NBA season will tip off on Tuesday.

While player movement and new rosters have grabbed the majority of the headlines since June, the defending champion Boston Celtics remain mostly unchanged and poised to make a run at a repeat.

Jayson Tatum returns as one of the top scorers in the league, and Jaylen Brown is coming off a Finals MVP performance. Tatum, however, barely played for this year’s gold medal-winning Team USA squad – and Brown was left off the roster entirely – despite Boston teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday playing key roles in Paris.

These dynamics could cause a lesser team to engage in a power struggle, but the core of this Celtics team appears to be as cohesive as they come, with Brown and Tatum gladly passing the “primary scorer” baton back and forth in their seven seasons together.

The Celtics finished last season 64-18, then followed with a 16-3 post-season, making them one of the most dominant champions in recent memory. Sports books have forecasted Boston’s win total this season at 58.5, the highest in the league.

With Tatum and Brown still in the heart of their primes, the Celtics will be difficult to dethrone, but Al Horford, 38, and Holiday, 34, may begin to regress. Boston will also closely monitor the status of Kristaps Porziņģis, who underwent left leg surgery in June and may be out until the calendar turns to 2025.

Knicks, Sixers load up to compete in East

The Celtics’ most likely challengers in the Eastern Conference appear to be the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, both of whom made attention-grabbing acquisitions in the offseason.

The Knicks lost Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency but made a massive trade to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns. The multi-talented big man joins a stacked starting lineup that includes Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

New York won 50 games last season before injuries decimated their play-off hopes. This year’s squad is undoubtedly more talented than last year’s, but how quickly can this group gain cohesion after losing three of last season’s top five scorers?

The Knicks will play in the NBA’s tip-off game Tuesday in Boston, where the Celtics will raise another championship banner.

The 76ers were successful in their gambit to accrue salary cap space for last offseason and made a massive addition in signing Paul George to a four-year max contract that includes a player option.

George teams up with former MVP Joel Embiid and rising star Tyrese Maxey on a team with title aspirations. Philadelphia also added veteran role players this offseason in Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Caleb Martin and Reggie Jackson.

The 76ers are built to contend this season but face a number of durability questions. Embiid announced last week that he will not play on back-to-back nights after missing 45 games last season. George, 34, played 74 games last season but averaged 47 games played over the previous four seasons.

Philadelphia have said that their sole focus will be on having a healthy roster when the playoffs start in April, so Embiid and George could have plenty of rest days during the regular season. 

While Philly and New York appear to be Boston’s most formidable challengers in the East, others are lurking just a tier below.

The Milwaukee Bucks expect the second year of the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard pairing to yield better results under coach Doc Rivers, while Tyrese Haliburton and a young Indiana Pacers team will look to build on last season’s Eastern Conference finals appearance.

James family history

While the Western Conference is loaded with championship contenders, a team likely outside the title conversation has stolen most of the attention this offseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers used the 55th overall pick in June’s draft on Bronny James, making him teammates with his father, LeBron James. The pair will become the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game.

Bronny struggled in six preseason games, shooting under 30 percent from the field and racking up more turnovers than assists. Even if Bronny spends most of the season in the G League, the Lakers will almost certainly allow him to take the court with his legendary father at some point.

The elder James will celebrate his 40th birthday this season as the future Hall of Famer enters his 22nd NBA season.

While James seems to have defied the aging process over the last several years, Los Angeles will likely ease his workload and give more opportunities to Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and DeAngelo Russell.

James and Davis missed just 17 combined games last season, and the Lakers will need a similarly healthy season to compete in a loaded West.

MVP race: West is best

Luka Dončić won last season’s scoring title at 33.9 points per game and guided the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance.

The Mavs added veteran sharpshooter and long-time Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson in hopes of a title run and will be banking on big growth from second-year center Derek Lively II.

Dončić opens the season as the betting favourite to win MVP, but he will have plenty of competition both for personal accolades and team success.

Nikola Jokić was voted MVP for the third time last season and enters the 2024-25 season as one of the favourites, although he would need a truly spectacular season to overcome voter fatigue and win a fourth MVP in a five-year span.

After the free agent departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green the last two off-seasons, the Nuggets will need contributions from younger players and will hope Jamal Murray’s health improves as the season progresses.

For years, the Oklahoma City Thunder were considered a sleeping giant, and OKC has signalled over the past year that they are ready for contention.

The Thunder were the top seed in the West last season with a 57-25 record, then used the playoffs to identify weaknesses and gain experience. OKC acquired Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason, giving them a better-fitting and more flexible roster, and the Thunder enter this season as the favourites in the West.

Hartenstein will miss the first six-or-so weeks of the season after breaking his left (shooting) hand, but once healthy he should help negate a rebounding weakness that doomed the Thunder in the playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among the MVP favourites after averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season while shooting a career-high 53.5 percent from the field.

As deep and talented as the Thunder are as currently constructed, they own a staggering amount of future draft capital and could become a juggernaut if they decided to trade for another star player.

The Minnesota Timberwolves turned heads with their run to the West finals last season and stunned the basketball world when they traded Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

The decision to move on from Towns puts more of the offensive load on Anthony Edwards, whose scoring and efficiency have improved each year since being the No. 1 overall pick in 2020.

Minnesota made easy work of the Phoenix Suns last post-season, but the Suns will look to rejoin the contenders’ conversation as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal enter their second season as a teammate trio.

Wembanyama: A matter of time

One of the most prevalent storylines entering 2024-25 is the continued growth of Victor Wembanyama in his second NBA season.

Wembanyama had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, with the 7-foot-4 center leading the league in blocks and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Wembanyama followed with an impressive run in the Paris Olympics and has hit all the early checkpoints of a future MVP.

Most experts agree that the San Antonio Spurs aren’t ready to compete for a play-off spot this season, but Wembanyama seems destined to become a top-five player, and his ascendancy could happen sooner rather than later.

Flounder for Flagg?

This year’s rookie class is full of questions, but prognosticators are bullish on several top prospects in the 2025 class, setting the stage for a race for the bottom.

Duke forward Cooper Flagg is projected to be a two-way force and is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the class after playing with Team USA Select Team over the summer.

Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, along with Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper of Rutgers, have also got scouts excited in a draft class considered much deeper than 2024’s crop.

With one or more possible franchise-changers available in the 2025 draft, many of the NBA’s less talented teams will be content to sit at the bottom of the standings this season, especially in the Eastern Conference.

From the Washington Wizards to the Brooklyn Nets to the Portland Trail Blazers, there will be a handful of organisations focused more on the 2025 draft than their 2024-25 record.