NBA Power Rankings: Who are the league’s best teams now?
How has the NBA’s landscape changed after the draft and free agency?
The biggest shocker came on draft night, when the Los Angeles Lakers sprung a deal with the Washington Wizards to land former MVP Russell Westbrook. The move created the league’s newest superstar Big Three of Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the Lakers would later add Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard to the mix.
Two of the biggest stars to change teams during free agency were Kyle Lowry, who joined the Miami Heat via sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors, and DeMar DeRozan, who went to the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs. (The Bulls also landed Lonzo Ball in a separate trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.)
The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks kept their roster mostly intact, albeit losing 3-and-D forward P.J. Tucker to Miami, while the New York Knicks signed Bronx-native Kemba Walker to a team-friendly deal after the former All-Star was bought out by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Where does that leave all 30 teams, and how much of a shakeup will we see following our post-NBA Finals power rankings?
Note: These rankings are based on where the members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Dave McMenamin, Kevin Pelton and Royce Young) think teams belong heading into next season. Title odds for 2022 by Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill.
MORE: These are the games we can’t wait to see next season
1. Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 record: 48-24
2022 title odds: +225
Post-Finals ranking: 2
If the Nets’ offseason priority was to simply get healthy, it might’ve been enough to be next season’s Eastern favorite. But with impact additions Patty Mills and James Johnson, Blake Griffin‘s re-signing, plus Kevin Durant‘s recommitment to their future, the Nets might have had the best offseason in the conference. — Young
2. Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 record: 46-26
2022 title odds: +800
Post-Finals ranking: 1
Fresh of winning their first championship in a half-century, the Bucks made some moves around the edges in free agency, watching P.J. Tucker go but bringing back George Hill and trading for Grayson Allen. The Nets might be the favorites to both win the East, and the title, but the Bucks are a comfortable second in both categories. Meanwhile, now that the pressure of breaking through and winning a title has been lifted, does Giannis Antetokounmpo have new levels to reach? — Bontemps
3. Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21 record: 42-30
2022 title odds: +400
Post-Finals ranking: 4
After trading for Russell Westbrook and acquiring Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony in the offseason, there have been two extreme schools of thought in evaluating next season’s Lakers: Some view them as an elite collection of talent with six potential Hall of Famers, while others point to their average age — 31.8 years old — as a team nearing its expiration date. — McMenamin
4. Phoenix Suns
2020-21 record: 51-21
2022 title odds: +1500
Post-Finals ranking: 3
The biggest move that the Phoenix Suns made this offseason was locking up Chris Paul to a four-year, $120 million deal that will expire when Paul is 40 years old. Paul was instrumental in helping Phoenix to the NBA Finals last season and now has a chance to get there again. Phoenix also re-signed Cameron Payne, Frank Kaminsky and Abdel Nader from last year’s Finals squad. They swapped guard Jevon Carter for Landry Shamet, and brought in center JaVale McGee and point guard Elfrid Payton, as well. — Lopez
5. Utah Jazz
2020-21 record: 52-20
2022 title odds: +1500
Post-Finals ranking: 6
In the wake of their disappointing second-round exit with the league’s best record in the regular season, the Jazz largely stayed the course. Utah re-signed All-Star point guard Mike Conley, a necessary move, while tinkering with the second unit. Out are frontcourt backups Derrick Favors and Georges Niang, replaced by combo forward Rudy Gay and center Hassan Whiteside. The Jazz hope a little more scoring punch in reserve and better health in the playoffs for Conley and Donovan Mitchell will produce better results than we saw this spring. — Pelton
6. Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 record: 49-23
2022 title odds: +1600
Post-Finals ranking: 5
There is only one thing anyone is talking about when it comes to the 76ers: What’s going to happen with Ben Simmons? Philly president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has shown throughout his career that he isn’t going to trade a player for less than what he thinks he is worth, and he isn’t going to make a trade for the sake of making one. So as long as a certain All-NBA point guard in Portland remains off the market, the expectation here is that Simmons will remain in Philadelphia — which could make for plenty of awkwardness when training camp opens next month. — Bontemps
7. Denver Nuggets
2020-21 record: 47-25
2022 title odds: +2500
Post-Finals ranking: 7
As soon as Austin Rivers officially re-signs, the Nuggets will bring back nine of the 10 players who saw at least 50 minutes of action in the 2021 playoffs, swapping out one veteran forward (Jeff Green) for another (Paul Millsap). Of course, Denver’s biggest possible addition will be the return of point guard Jamal Murray from the ACL tear he suffered last April just as the Nuggets were serving notice as contenders to win the Western Conference. If Murray is near 100% for the playoffs, a core led by him and MVP Nikola Jokic will be tough to beat. — Pelton
8. Miami Heat
2020-21 record: 40-32
2022 title odds: +2500
Post-Finals ranking: 11
Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris joined a roster that has always prided itself on being mentally tougher and physically stronger than everybody else. The trio should fit in nicely behind Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The Heat have the kind of roster that would be tough to deal with in a playoff series. The question is whether the veteran-laden team can get to that point with the health needed to make a deep run. — Friedell
9. Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 record: 41-31
2022 title odds: +4000
Post-Finals ranking: 8
The Hawks are mostly in run-it-back mode following their conference finals run last season, locking up John Collins with a five-year, $125 million extension. They brought in Delon Wright in a three-way trade with the Kings and Celtics, but their other main acquisitions — Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper — came in the draft. Johnson led the Hawks in scoring and rebounding in summer league, averaging 19 points and 9.5 boards per game. Cooper, who slid to 48th in the draft, averaged 14.8 points and a team-high 7.3 assists. — Lopez
10. LA Clippers
2020-21 record: 47-25
2022 title odds: +2000
Post-Finals ranking: 9
The Clippers were among free agency’s winners, managing to re-sign key playoff contributors Nicolas Batum and Reggie Jackson, despite being limited in what they could offer both players. The big change will be at point guard, where they parted with Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondo to bring back Eric Bledsoe to where he started his career. Still, the Clippers’ season will be defined by whether Kawhi Leonard can return from surgery on his partially torn ACL in time for the playoffs. Although the Clippers beat the Jazz without Leonard, his absence in the conference finals showed that group’s hard ceiling. — Pelton
11. Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 record: 42-30
2022 title odds: +3000
Post-Finals ranking: 10
Rewind to the end of last season, when the Mavs were seemingly spiraling toward turmoil, with the infrastructure of the franchise changing as head coach Rick Carlisle and GM Donnie Nelson left their jobs and the reported discontent from Luka Doncic about staffing. All of those things are generally unchanged, but the Mavs did lock up Doncic to a max extension, hired Jason Kidd as coach and Nico Harrison as GM, and made one roster move of note, signing sharpshooter Reggie Bullock. The Mavs are a team with a spotlight on them because of Doncic’s star power, and as they enter the season with a minimally upgraded roster and still a basket of questions, things could turn quickly if it starts poorly. — Young
12. Golden State Warriors
2020-21 record: 39-33
2022 title odds: +1000
Post-Finals ranking: 12
New lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, second-year center James Wiseman and third-year guard Jordan Poole make up the young core the Warriors have to hope continues to improve as they decide whether it can help Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green sooner than later. The Warriors added veterans Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica to try to stabilize a bench that lacked an older presence last season, but all eyes will be on Thompson’s attempt to return to form after missing two straight seasons because of ACL and Achilles injuries. — Friedell
13. Boston Celtics
2020-21 record: 36-36
2022 title odds: +5000
Post-Finals ranking: 13
The Celtics essentially swapped Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier for Al Horford, Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson, opting for financial flexibility and better roster balance over keeping their two top free agents. It presents an interesting puzzle for new coach Ime Udoka to solve, as the Celtics still believe they haven’t done enough to move up the standings much beyond the seventh-place finish they recorded last year. — Bontemps
14. New York Knicks
2020-21 record: 41-31
2022 title odds: +8000
Post-Finals ranking: No. 14
After struggling offensively in their first-round loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks signed both Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier in free agency in an effort to shore up that part of their team. New York also brought back Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Derrick Rose, and made a couple of intriguing draft picks in Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes. It has taken only a couple of decades, but the Knicks have managed to put together solid back-to-back offseasons, and they should be poised to be in the middle of the East playoff picture once again. — Bontemps
15. Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 record: 42-30
2022 title odds: +6000
Post-Finals ranking: 16
If the Blazers were feeling pressure to improve following the Damian Lillard situation, their offseason might not have relieved it all that much. Their additions were minimum-level signings (Cody Zeller, Ben McLemore, Tony Snell) with the major move being re-signing Norman Powell. The Blazers are banking on a coaching change, internal roster development and some better health to pay off for a leap back into the West’s top tier. — Young
16. Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 record: 38-34
2022 title odds: +10000
Post-Finals ranking: 15
As the Grizzlies organically grow around a core of Ja Morant, a now-healthy Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks, they made savvy offseason adjustments. It seems like Steven Adams has been a Grizzly all along, and taking a flyer on 22-year-old Jarrett Culver in exchange for Patrick Beverley is smart business to possibly find a hidden gem that breaks out with the right fit. They moved up in the draft to select Ziaire Williams at No. 10 overall, adding more explosiveness to their backcourt. The Grizzlies are trending in a positive direction and have something to build on after their run through the play-in to the 8-seed last season. — Young
17. Charlotte Hornets
2020-21 record: 33-39
2022 title odds: +15000
Post-Finals ranking: 18
Charlotte continued adding to its young core with the signing of free agent Kelly Oubre Jr. and the addition of draft picks James Bouknight and Kai Jones. The Hornets have plenty of young players in place to get over the hump and back into the postseason — a fact reinforced by the decision to extend Terry Rozier on a four year, $97 million extension. This roster sets up as one of the more intriguing groups in the league behind Rookie of the Year point guard LaMelo Ball. — Friedell
18. Indiana Pacers
2020-21 record: 34-38
2022 title odds: +10000
Post-Finals ranking: 17
As Rick Carlisle returns to Indiana, he’ll do so with a Pacers roster that didn’t experience much change from a season ago. Indiana signed Torrey Craig to a two-year deal in free agency but didn’t bring in any other veterans. They lost Doug McDermott (Spurs) and Aaron Holiday (Wizards) but brought back T.J. McConnell. They also added Chris Duarte with the 13th pick in the draft and brought in Kentucky’s Isaiah Jackson via trade. In four summer league games, Duarte averaged 18.3 points while shooting 48.3% from deep. In five summer league games, Jackson blocked 15 shots. — Lopez
19. Chicago Bulls
2020-21 record: 31-41
2022 title odds: +8000
Post-Finals ranking: 23
Chicago had one of the most interesting offseasons in the league — adding DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso — and picked up Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu in the second round. With Zach LaVine‘s pending free agency next summer, it will be fascinating to see how all the new players fit together alongside LaVine and All-Star center Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls made headlines over the summer, but it remains to be seen if the organization’s all-in bet will pay playoff dividends. — Friedell
20. Toronto Raptors
2020-21 record: 27-45
2022 title odds: +10000
Post-Finals ranking: 19
Kyle Lowry heading to the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade at the start of free agency officially brought the golden age of Raptors basketball to an end. But behind a young core of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, Toronto will expect to remain a factor in the Eastern Conference. The decision that will loom over Toronto for years to come, however, was the choice of Scottie Barnes over Jalen Suggs with the fourth overall pick. The futures of those two players will be tied moving forward as a result. — Bontemps
21. Washington Wizards
2020-21 record: 34-38
2022 title odds: +15000
Post-Finals ranking: 20
Sending Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for three useful contributors (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma) and expanding the trade to bring back Spencer Dinwiddie and Aaron Holiday as replacements at point guard transformed Washington’s depth. The Wizards still look likely to be fighting for a play-in spot in a deep Eastern Conference third tier, but adding Dinwiddie to Bradley Beal (both 28 years old) in the backcourt gives Washington a path forward — provided that Beal, who can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, signs an extension or returns in free agency. — Pelton
22. New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21 record: 31-41
2022 title odds: +10000
Post-Finals ranking: 21
The roster that new coach Willie Green will lead looks a little different than the one that Stan Van Gundy had last season. The Pelicans let Lonzo Ball go and brought back Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple in a sign-and-trade. They replaced Ball with Charlotte’s Devonte’ Graham in a separate sign-and-trade deal. The Pelicans will also have a new center in Jonas Valanciunas, while rookie forward Trey Murphy will press for time, as well. New Orleans has flexibility to make another move or two before the season begins if something presents itself in the fall. — Lopez
23. San Antonio Spurs
2020-21 record: 33-39
2022 title odds: +25000
Post-Finals ranking: 22
It was an offseason of change for San Antonio, which watched several veterans move on. DeMar DeRozan went to the Bulls in a deal that brought back Thaddeus Young and Al-Farouq Aminu. Rudy Gay (Utah), Patty Mills (Brooklyn), Trey Lyles (Detroit) and Gorgui Dieng (Atlanta) all signed elsewhere. The Spurs did add shooting with Doug McDermott in a sign-and-trade with the Pacers, and took a chance on big man Zach Collins in the hopes that he can get healthy at this point in his career. San Antonio’s youth movement looks to be underway. — Lopez
24. Sacramento Kings
2020-21 record: 31-41
2022 title odds: +25000
Post-Finals ranking: 24
Davion Mitchell went from winning the NCAA championship at Baylor to being named co-MVP of the Las Vegas Summer League. And in between, the Kings nabbed the defensive dynamo with the No. 9 pick. He’ll join an already talented group of guards in De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Sacramento’s main question mark comes down to its production in the frontcourt, where new big man Tristan Thompson will join the rotation with Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes. — McMenamin
25. Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 record: 23-49
2022 title odds: +30000
Post-Finals ranking: 25
The Wolves are hoping their late-season momentum will carry into the 2021-22 season. When the roster has been complete, the Wolves have been competitive, and they progressed on both ends of the floor under coach Chris Finch. Their only offseason move was to deal for Patrick Beverley, bailing on 22-year-old Jarrett Culver — a head-scratching deal on multiple fronts. But Beverley gives the Wolves more toughness and leadership, and if Anthony Edwards can elevate toward stardom, they might be the kind of team that surprises the league next season. — Young
26. Detroit Pistons
2020-21 record: 20-52
2022 title odds: +50000
Post-Finals ranking: 26
Detroit got its man in Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick, adding the 6-foot-7 point guard out of Oklahoma State to a group that already features an emerging wing in Jerami Grant. But after going 20-52 a season ago, the Pistons still have a long way to reach respectability. The speed in which the Pistons can move from the cellar to the ceiling will largely be determined by how fast their young core of Saddiq Bey, Hamidou Diallo, Sekou Doumbouya, Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart can find their footing in the league. — McMenamin
27. Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21 record: 22-50
2022 title odds: +50000
Post-Finals ranking: 27
Cleveland landed a talented 7-footer in Evan Mobley with the No. 3 pick, with Cavs brass insisting he can coexist with center Jarrett Allen. Cleveland’s chances of making it back to the postseason for the first time since LeBron James left town will hinge upon Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro‘s continued development and the team developing a defensive identity after ranking 25th in defensive efficiency a season ago. — McMenamin
28. Orlando Magic
2020-21 record: 21-51
2022 title odds: +50000
Post-Finals ranking: 28
Jalen Suggs falling to Orlando on draft night gave hope to an organization that is in desperate need of a new star around which to build. The Magic are hopeful that fellow rookie Franz Wagner can have a strong impact as Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac return from serious knee injuries. Suggs’ arrival has the chance to create some much-needed buzz around a team that has been dormant for almost a decade. Veteran center Robin Lopez should be a solid role model for the young group. — Friedell
29. Houston Rockets
2020-21 record: 17-55
2022 title odds: +50000
Post-Finals ranking: 30
Although it’s a long shot to be reflected in the standings this season, a strong NBA draft has given Rockets fans reason for hope. Houston needed some lottery luck to retain its own pick, which landed No. 2 and yielded Jalen Green — perhaps the most impressive rookie during the NBA summer league in Las Vegas. The Rockets also traded to take statistical standout Alperen Sengun at No. 16 and added two more first-round picks in Josh Christopher and Usman Garuba. A youthful core will take its lumps in 2021-22 while hopefully developing into the next great Houston group. — Pelton
30. Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-21 record: 22-50
2022 title odds: +50000
Post-Finals ranking: 29
The Thunder’s offseason didn’t go according to plan in many ways, with their draft slot coming in lower than they had hoped, and the opportunity to land two top-five picks disappearing when the Rockets’ pick stayed in Houston. Then Josh Giddey, whom they drafted with the No. 6 pick, tweaked an ankle five minutes into summer league. They locked in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — who had a better season than most people noticed — to a max extension and bought out Kemba Walker’s contract to clear a roster logjam. The Thunder are patient and process-driven, and committed to developing their young roster, acquiring assets and being ready to pounce when luck tilts their way. — Young
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Jesse Rogers
Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg died on Monday at age 65. Sandberg, known for his power, speed and defensive prowess during his 16-year major league career, was the face of the Cubs during his 15 seasons with the franchise and a fan favorite throughout the sport.
Originally diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January of 2024, Sandberg was still around the Cubs as recently as spring training — and just as he did in his playing days, he made his presence felt with his signature combination of power and grace.
As the baseball world mourns the loss of an icon, those who knew Sandberg best shared their favorite stories about the Hall of Famer.
‘Ryno would be out there at 9 a.m.’
Sandberg was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cubs in January 1982 after struggling during his first call-up in Philly. A legendarily hard worker, Sandberg was willing to do whatever it took to make sure his stay in Chicago would go differently.
Larry Bowa, who was dealt along with Sandberg in the trade for veteran infielder Ivan DeJesus, remembers the hours Sandberg put in as he transformed from a light-hitting rookie in Philadelphia to a budding superstar in Chicago.
“I think about how he handled himself when he first got called up. He struggled out of the gate. I watched this guy not let it affect him. It might have affected him on the inside, but the way he handled himself on the outside was great,” Bowa said.
“Ryno would be out there at 9 a.m. [Manager] Jim Frey would tell him [to] hit every ball over the tarp and into the seats down the left-field line in foul territory. Hit it with authority over that tarp. Ryno looked at him like he was crazy. ‘I want every ball with authority over that tarp,’ Frey kept telling him. He did it for a week straight. That’s how he learned how to pull the ball.”
‘Just ungodly consistent’
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How Ryne Sandberg will be remembered in Chicago
Jesse Rogers reflects on Ryne Sandberg’s career in Chicago after he died on Monday at the age of 65.
After his power stroke clicked, it didn’t take long for Sandberg to take his game to the highest level. He was named National League MVP in 1984 after hitting .314 with 19 home runs and 19 triples, stealing 32 bases and leading the Cubs to their first postseason appearance in 39 years.
Perhaps no one had a better view for Sandberg’s dominant campaign than his close friend, Cubs leadoff hitter Bobby Dernier. The two batted 1-2 in the Chicago lineup and earned the nickname “The Daily Double” as they combined to score 208 runs that season.
“Just ungodly consistent,” Dernier said of what made Sandberg so great. “And the style of game back then demanded a little bit of baserunning prowess and being capable of stealing bases and scoring a lot of runs. And so that was our style. He was tremendous.
“Pitchers were always paying a little more attention to me on the bases than him at the plate, and that was a big mistake and he’d take full advantage. He’d almost giggle about it, is what I remember in the dugout.”
Sandberg cemented his legacy during that season with a signature game against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 23, forever known in Chicago as “The Sandberg Game.” He hit two game-tying home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter in the ninth and 10th innings before the Cubs won the game in the 11th — in front of a national TV audience.
“After he tied it up, I ended up hitting the ball off the wall, but if mine goes out, it’s probably never called the Sandberg game,” outfielder Gary Matthews said with a laugh. “He was great at everything that he did. I hit behind him and he was always on base.”
‘He had a perfect swing for his home ballpark’
Sandberg hit 282 career home runs during an era of baseball where second baseman weren’t known for that kind of power, but he was more than just a long ball threat. Six of those home runs — the second most off an opposing pitcher — were hit off Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who recalled one memorable afternoon for Sandberg.
“I gave up two home runs to him in a game and I had a [autograph] card show after the game and everyone in the world knew I gave up two home runs to Ryne Sandberg,” Smoltz said. “One was an inside-the-park home run. Those fans at the card show reminded me of that.
“He had a perfect swing for his home ballpark. He had a flatter swing that worked great for the angles at Wrigley Field, especially when the wind was blowing in.”
Sandberg was more than just an offensive threat; he also won nine consecutive Gold Glove awards during his time with the Cubs and posted a 123-game errorless streak.
“I used to tell Joe Morgan, ‘This guy doesn’t have to take a second seat to anybody on defense,'” Matthews said. “Morgan would say Ryne’s uniform was always clean. I said, ‘Well, you have to dive because you can’t get in front of it! Don’t get on him for perfecting the backhand.’ In the end Joe said, ‘You’re right.'”
‘He’s in a class by himself’
For all of his accomplishments on the field, the way Sandberg handled himself as a competitor and away from the game is what many who knew him best will remember about him.
“He’s an outstanding human being,” Bowa said. “That’s what I think of. Such a good family guy. His mental toughness is off the charts. Don’t let people deceive you by that little laugh he has all the time. He wanted to win as much as anybody. I’ve been around Pete Rose, and Ryno is right there.”
Smoltz added: “He’s in a class by himself. You would never know he was one of the greatest players ever, just by the way he carried himself and the ‘aw, shucks’ type attitude.
“I love competing against greatness that has integrity and character like Ryne Sandberg had. The way he carried himself, the way he was as a person is what I think about. It sure was nice to see him represent the sport and the city he played for.”
“Joy,” Dernier said. “That’s the first thing, and way so many more happiness types of stories. And it’s a grin on my face to think about him. And yeah, right now it’s melancholy that we know he’s gotten called up to the real big leagues. But I’m glad I knew him and I loved him being underestimated.”
‘Oh, man, I loved Ryno, but he’s lucky he was that good at baseball’
Of course, there were a few moments in Sandberg’s career where he wasn’t as gracious. In the Cubs clubhouse, teammates saw a different side of the Hall of Famer — a playful troublemaker and prankster.
“We had those chairs directors they use making movies, held together by sticks,” Matthews said. “Ryno would always take the sticks out, put the seat back in, and daily I’d fall to the ground. He’d be over there snickering or walking away.
“Or he would load your cigarette up and make it explode in a non-harmful way. Then when you figured it out, he would put two of those in the pack. He thought that was the funniest thing.”
Despite that kind of back-and-forth, Matthews and Sandberg often golfed together.
“I would ask for a few strokes,” Matthews said. “He would politely say, ‘no strokes, play better.’ He would hit some balls you couldn’t believe. Ball after ball. He would hit one and know it’s a good one but he’d ask, ‘Do you think that was any good?’ And just smile at me.
“Oh, man, I loved Ryno, but he’s lucky he was that good at baseball,” Matthews said with a laugh.
“He’d stir the pot and then walk away and look over his shoulder,” Bowa added. “He’d be cracking up after getting us going. He was so quiet outwardly with you guys [media], but not with us.”
‘He made such an impact on me ‘
After his playing days, Sandberg served as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015 before returning to Chicago, often putting on a uniform as a spring instructor and imparting the lessons from his Hall of Fame career to a new generation of Cubs.
“I just think it’s cool that he’s somebody that has kind of done everything in our sport but still doesn’t approach the game with any kind of ego,” current Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “He doesn’t talk like he has the answers to everything or the conversation is never about him.
“He’s kind of softspoken, but then if you got him going on something he really cared about, it’s really cool to hear him open up, whether it’s routines he had or how he took care of his body or just fun memories with teammates or playing at Wrigley.”
Shortstop Dansby Swanson added: “Just such a top-shelf human being. He made such an impact on me even in my short time of being able to be around him. Just an unbelievable human being and someone that I’m very, very grateful to have met and spent time with, whether it’s talking about life or talking about ball.”
It’s those attributes, the ones the baseball world got to see on the field and the ones only his teammates were able to witness, that were missed in retirement. But his attitude about life stands out for everyone.
“We talked about a lot of things, about defense and offense, but we talked about life, too,” rookie third baseman Matt Shaw said. “When he first came up, he struggled a little bit early on and he was like, ‘No matter what happens, you just got to keep believing in yourself and keep going.’ And I definitely take that to heart, and that’s something that I definitely think about a lot — is that belief to just to keep going.”
CHICAGO — Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs died Monday at age 65.
Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home, according to the team.
Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.
But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”
“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.
The Cubs said they would wear a special jersey patch to commemorate Sandberg for the rest of the season.
Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft.
He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1-for-6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.
It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and collected nine Gold Gloves.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.”
Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made only two postseason appearances in his time there.
He was the National League MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7-for-19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the NL Championship Series at Wrigley Field.
The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.
The Cubs paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when they unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024.
“He was a superhero in this city,” Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations, said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game on July 20. “You think about [Michael] Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can’t imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.”
Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8-for-20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games.
Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.
“When you examine the offense and defense, you’ll find some years where he was the best player you’ve ever seen in your life,” former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said.
Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third year on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same season.
“Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook,” Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark said. “With it, he inspired all those who knew him.”
Sandberg also managed the Phillies from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
Sandberg is survived by his wife, Margaret; his children, Justin, Lindsey, Steven, BR and Adriane; and 11 grandchildren.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DETROIT — Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez hopes he avoided a major injury when he was hit on the right index finger by a pitch late in Monday night’s 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Suárez, who is a candidate to be traded to a contender, was struck by a 95.6 mph sinker from Will Vest in the ninth inning. Suárez immediately doubled over in pain and quickly left the field.
“The good news is that the X-rays were negative, but it still obviously hurt,” said Suárez, who was not bending the finger. “There are more tests scheduled for [Tuesday], and we will go from there. I’ll come back as quickly as I can.”
The 34-year-old infielder is hitting .248 with 36 homers and 87 RBIs in 104 games this season — the seventh time he has hit at least 30 homers across the past eight full campaigns.
“He’s very tough, and he never even winces,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “When he reacts like that, you know it isn’t good.”
Lovullo said he didn’t blame Vest.
“I don’t think there was any intent there,” Lovullo said. “He’s one of the most impressive hitters in MLB, and you don’t want to take those type of players off the field.”
The Diamondbacks are 51-56 and already have signaled they will be unloading players at the deadline. One of the teams believed to be interested in Suárez is the Tigers. The Venezuelan was signed by Detroit at age 17 and made his debut for the club in 2014, before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds after that season.
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