In his record-setting 23rd NBA season, LeBron James faces a slow and unexpected start. Initially sitting out the preseason as a precaution, the timeline for his return has lasted longer than anyone anticipated, prompting the Los Angeles Lakers to explore new options.

Kyle Tucker learned in June that he had a fractured hand, yet he and the Chicago Cubs decided he would remain in the lineup. Although Tucker returned to the field, the Cubs dropped a hard-fought series finale to the Milwaukee Brewers, underscoring the continued intensity of their rivalry.