Welcome back to Keeping Score, our Friday column that highlights the personalities, teams and games that sports fans are talking about—by the numbers.
1 out of 30
Number of NBA general managers who think the Knicks will repeat as NBA champions this season.
The NBA season begins on Tuesday, when the defending champion New York Knicks will host LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in a long-anticipated matchup at 7 p.m. Eastern.
But according to the NBA’s annual GM survey, neither team is a favorite to win the NBA championship.
The execs picked the San Antonio Spurs (50%) or the Oklahoma City Thunder (43%) to win the title, with the Knicks and Sixers each getting just one vote. GMs aren't the only ones discounting the Knicks. DraftKings has both the Spurs and the Thunder at +270 to win the NBA title, while the Knicks and the Sixers are both +900.
The disrespect continues throughout the poll, with no Knick listed as a top 4 offensive or defensive player in any category. The results change, however, when intangibles come into play. GMs picked Jalen Brunson as the best leader, and he’s the second choice for player you want taking the last shot, behind only Steph Curry.
Tuesday’s NBA "Opening Night" viewing schedule:
Celtics at Pistons – 3 p.m. Eastern on NBC
76ers at Knicks – 7 p.m. Eastern on NBC
Thunder at Spurs – 9:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC
44
Years since a World Series game has been played in Milwaukee
Cue the Laverne & Shirley theme.
After sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee is returning to the World Series for the first time since 1982, when the Brewers lost a thrilling seven-game series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
That Brewers team featured stars like Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. This year’s team has pitching phenom Jacob Misiorowski, second baseman Brice Turang and first baseman Jake Bauers, but the 2026 Brewers are best known for going against the conventional wisdom.
In a home run-obsessed league, the Brewers have the second-fewest homers but still made the top three in runs scored. According to the Wall Street Journal, the last team to perform that feat were the 1960 Chicago White Sox. The Brewers also hit more ground balls than any other team, and they hit more balls to the opposite field than any other team.
This contrarian approach helped the Brewers play David to the Dodgers’ Goliath. However, the Tampa Bay Rays are another team that relies on analytics and technology and isn’t afraid to go against the prevailing trends. If Tampa Bay beats Cleveland, then we could have a David vs. David World Series. Don’t forget your slingshots, guys.
The Tampa Bay Rays play the Cleveland Guardians Friday night at 8 p.m. Eastern.
116
Points allowed by the Minnesota Vikings, 37 fewer than any other NFL team.
It’s the return of the Purple People Eaters.
The Minnesota Vikings have scored just nine touchdowns through five games this season, but they are undefeated during those games thanks to a spectacular defense led by coordinator Brian Flores.
NFL observers are impressed, especially Tom Brady. He and Flores were together at the Patriots for more than a decade.
“I’m talking the early makings of an all-time defense, and listen to these numbers. B-Flo's defense: they've allowed three points in the fourth quarter all year long and 12 total rushing yards,” Brady said during his weekly power rankings on Fox Sports. “That's ridiculous.”
30%
Increase in viewership of the Premier League in the US among adults 18–34 since the World Cup
After an incredibly dramatic and successful World Cup in the summer, the question was whether soccer could sustain the interest of its newfound fans. The answer so far is yes.
Since the World Cup, viewership for the 10 MLS matches broadcast on Fox Sports and FS1 has increased 29% for adults age 18–34 and 55% for men age 18–34. Apple TV, which broadcasts the majority of MLS games, does not release ratings.
The Premier League continues to expand its popularity in the US with a 30% increase in viewership among adults age 18–34 across English- and Spanish-language broadcasts, and Spain’s La Liga saw a 60% increase on ESPN platforms in the US among adults 18–34.
63-0
Halftime score of the Oregon high school football game between Marist Catholic and Cottage Grove. The Marist Catholic coach was fired after the game.
They got tired of winning.
Up 56-0 with two minutes left in the first half, Marist Catholic attempted an onside kick against a Cottage Grove team with only 16 players available, according to The Athletic. While the Spartans didn’t recover the kick, they scored before halftime on an interception to make it 63-0.
The athletic directors of both schools and the Lane County Football Association commissioner decided not to play the second half, and Marist Catholic coach Zach Loboy was fired a couple of days later, according to KVAL.
“Following Friday’s game against Cottage Grove, we determined that a change in leadership was necessary to reflect our school’s mission and values,” Marist Catholic principal Bob Fraley wrote in a letter to parents.
20
Professional athletes admitted each year into the Crossover Into Business program at Harvard Business School
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons decided to make the most of his recovery time from ACL surgery. He revealed on LinkedIn last week that he was accepted into Harvard Business School’s Crossover Into Business program.
Free to accepted professional athletes, Crossover Into Business helps athletes develop their business acumen by working with Harvard MBA candidates. Alums of the program include former NBA stars Chris Bosh and Caron Butler.
While the course is primarily online, Simons visited the Harvard campus and met with Professor Anita Elberse. (He also spent time with Celtic Jayson Tatum while in Boston.)
“Football is still my main focus, but I also want to keep learning and improving away from the pitch,” Simons said.
1 gram
Weight of microchip Bluetooth sensor that the NBA is considering inserting in a ‘smart basketball’ in 2027
This ball won’t lie, ever.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told CNBC that the league is working with equipment maker Wilson to develop a "smart ball" to help officials make difficult calls and also give more data for players and coaches to analyze.
Each ball would include a microchip Bluetooth sensor that can track movement and spin. Silver said that the NBA has already tested the ball in the G League and some preseason games.
“Nobody could tell the difference. So that’s a good sign,” Silver said.
9
NHL players who have had a hat trick with all three goals assisted by their brother
In music, blood harmony describes the unique vocal blend that siblings develop when they grow up singing together, like the Everly Brothers, the Beach Boys and the Carter Family. Something similar must happen in hockey.
Brady Tkachuk scored three goals for the Florida Panthers against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, all assisted by his brother Matthew.
But this incredible feat of excellence and sibling connection isn’t as rare as you might think. In NHL history, eight players (and their brothers) had done this before, according to The Athletic.
Daniel Sedin (2015), Peter Stastny (1987 and 1982), Anton Stastny (1982 and 1981), Marian Stastny (1982), Brent Sutter (1982), Frank Mahovlich (1972), Max Bentley (1943 and 1942), and Fred Cook (1930) all scored hat tricks with all their goals assisted by their brother.
4 billion
Social media views generated by the WNBA during the 2026 regular season, a 28% increase
In case you needed any more evidence that 2026 was a transformational season for the WNBA, the league shattered its regular season attendance and TV ratings records this year.
Overall, 3.8 million fans attended a record 330 regular season games. Average attendance was 11,474 fans per game, up 21% from the previous high in 2025. The WNBA also had 212 sellouts, the most ever, and four teams sold out every game.
The TV audience set another record, with more than 90 million unique viewers across all national networks during the 2026 season, and the first round of the playoffs averaged 1.3 million viewers per game.
Meanwhile, stars like A’Ja Wilson (5th MVP award), Caitlin Clark (fastest ever to 1,000 points) and Angel Reese (single-season rebounding record) all had tremendous seasons.
The WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries begins Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern.
29
Concerts that the Grateful Dead played at Hearst Greek Theatre on the University of California Berkeley campus.
Cal will honor the Grateful Dead’s Berkeley legacy at the team’s game against Wake Forest on Saturday. The special helmets look incredible, with a Cal-themed Steal Your Face logo on the side, a lightning bolt stripe down the center, and the dancing bears on the back bumper.
Were the Dead football fans? Kind of. Like any good San Franciscan, Jerry Garcia followed the 49ers and the Giants. And when the 49ers played at Kezar Stadium in the late 1960s, the band lived six blocks away at 710 Ashbury. The Dead’s own 1973 show at Kezar Stadium is considered one of their best ever in San Francisco.
What a long, strange trip it’s been. 🎸
