@davidaldridgedc.bsky.social
I write for @TheAthletic. I live in the District. I worry about our future. Co-Editor, The Basketball 100; 2016 Curt Gowdy Award, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; 2016 Sam Lacy Award, National Association of Black Journalists.
Pinned
This is now real.
A labor of NBA love with co-editor @johnhollinger.bsky.social, the great editor @shotdrjr.bsky.social, and our amazing NBA writers at @theathletic.bsky.social. You can pre-order now; dropping 11/26. Humbly, it’s a pretty cool book.
A labor of NBA love with co-editor @johnhollinger.bsky.social, the great editor @shotdrjr.bsky.social, and our amazing NBA writers at @theathletic.bsky.social. You can pre-order now; dropping 11/26. Humbly, it’s a pretty cool book.
The Commanders face huge decisions after moving on from both of their coordinators Tuesday. Jayden Daniels, Dan Quinn & Adam Peters are all going to have to get comfortable being more uncomfortable, and change how they’ve done things. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
Commanders' future depends on flexibility from Jayden Daniels, Dan Quinn and Adam Peters
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:03 PM
The Commanders face huge decisions after moving on from both of their coordinators Tuesday. Jayden Daniels, Dan Quinn & Adam Peters are all going to have to get comfortable being more uncomfortable, and change how they’ve done things. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
I know one thing is gonna happen when I walk into the house and see Montalban and Shatner in full uniform: some scenery is about to get chewed.
#KHAAAAAAAN
#KHAAAAAAAN
January 7, 2026 at 4:11 AM
I know one thing is gonna happen when I walk into the house and see Montalban and Shatner in full uniform: some scenery is about to get chewed.
#KHAAAAAAAN
#KHAAAAAAAN
Picketts, reconsidered:
5) George
T4) Bill
T4) Jada (I know it’s Pinkett, but that’s close)
3) Jalen
2) Fence
1) Wilson
5) George
T4) Bill
T4) Jada (I know it’s Pinkett, but that’s close)
3) Jalen
2) Fence
1) Wilson
January 6, 2026 at 4:23 AM
Picketts, reconsidered:
5) George
T4) Bill
T4) Jada (I know it’s Pinkett, but that’s close)
3) Jalen
2) Fence
1) Wilson
5) George
T4) Bill
T4) Jada (I know it’s Pinkett, but that’s close)
3) Jalen
2) Fence
1) Wilson
The Commanders’ awful 2025 ended with a win that did nothing to assuage the disappointment of a team-wide collapse this season, after the magical run of ‘24. But three veterans, who may or may not return in ‘26, got a moment to savor. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Commanders end brutal season with moment of joy for three veteran players
Bobby Wagner, Josh Johnson and Von Miller reached significant milestones to cap a tough season in Washington.
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:48 AM
The Commanders’ awful 2025 ended with a win that did nothing to assuage the disappointment of a team-wide collapse this season, after the magical run of ‘24. But three veterans, who may or may not return in ‘26, got a moment to savor. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
The shotmaking at Clippers-Celtics tonight…epic stuff.
January 4, 2026 at 5:14 AM
The shotmaking at Clippers-Celtics tonight…epic stuff.
I have rarely wanted a game to continue well into the next morning, to 15 or 16 overtimes or something, as I want Georgia-Ole Miss to go on, and on, and on…
January 2, 2026 at 4:31 AM
I have rarely wanted a game to continue well into the next morning, to 15 or 16 overtimes or something, as I want Georgia-Ole Miss to go on, and on, and on…
Is there a sports parallel to a team/program as forlorn as Indiana football was for generations just up and becoming one of the top 2-3 teams in the country in a year and a half? After hiring one guy?
January 1, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Is there a sports parallel to a team/program as forlorn as Indiana football was for generations just up and becoming one of the top 2-3 teams in the country in a year and a half? After hiring one guy?
The Wizards’ young core is showing legit improvement, with wins in four of the last eight games. (In WizWorld, that’s a hot streak.) But the wins are moving Washington closer to potentially losing its much-needed 2026 lottery pick. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Will too much ‘success’ spoil Wizards’ dreams of landing a franchise player?
Washington, sooner than it likely wants, is nearing a crossroads in its rebuild.
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The Wizards’ young core is showing legit improvement, with wins in four of the last eight games. (In WizWorld, that’s a hot streak.) But the wins are moving Washington closer to potentially losing its much-needed 2026 lottery pick. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
What a finish! Let’s see this again in a month!!
December 29, 2025 at 4:34 AM
What a finish! Let’s see this again in a month!!
The self-sacrifice of the toaster pastry families for our entertainment never fails to inspire…
December 28, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The self-sacrifice of the toaster pastry families for our entertainment never fails to inspire…
The NBA’s attempts to fix the lottery over the years, including their reported new ideas at reform, are worthy. But nothing’s going to stop bad teams from tanking to try and get great young talent. The lottery itself may be the problem. In
@theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
@theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
NBA's latest idea to fix the lottery continues to ignore the problem: the lottery
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The NBA’s attempts to fix the lottery over the years, including their reported new ideas at reform, are worthy. But nothing’s going to stop bad teams from tanking to try and get great young talent. The lottery itself may be the problem. In
@theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
@theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Josh Johnson has played for 14 NFL teams. At 39, he got the Christmas Day start for the Commanders against Dallas because of injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. And he showed why competing at the end of a lost season still matters. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
In a lost season, a veteran QB nearing the end showed what competing really means
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Josh Johnson has played for 14 NFL teams. At 39, he got the Christmas Day start for the Commanders against Dallas because of injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. And he showed why competing at the end of a lost season still matters. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
The NFL is more popular than the NBA. No sentient person would argue otherwise. But the NBA had the upper hand this Christmas, with the Joker’s ridiculous triple-double against the Wolves tonight (56 points, 16 rebounds, 15 dimes) finishing a terrific day in the Association.
December 26, 2025 at 6:44 AM
The NFL is more popular than the NBA. No sentient person would argue otherwise. But the NBA had the upper hand this Christmas, with the Joker’s ridiculous triple-double against the Wolves tonight (56 points, 16 rebounds, 15 dimes) finishing a terrific day in the Association.
Let’s just say it was pretty easily getting in today…
December 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Let’s just say it was pretty easily getting in today…
I know this has been obvious for years, but Jokić is such an amazing passer. Not “for a big man;” he’s great, period.
December 24, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I know this has been obvious for years, but Jokić is such an amazing passer. Not “for a big man;” he’s great, period.
The Eagles, again, celebrated Saturday, having again dominated the Commanders when it mattered en route to a 29-18 win that clinched a second straight NFC East title. Washington’s still got a long way to go to reduce the chasm between the teams. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...
Once again, Eagles take Commanders, NFC East with relative ease
www.nytimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The Eagles, again, celebrated Saturday, having again dominated the Commanders when it mattered en route to a 29-18 win that clinched a second straight NFC East title. Washington’s still got a long way to go to reduce the chasm between the teams. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...
Someone please tell me the last time the Commanders ran the ball six straight times in a game. Was George Rogers the lead back? Maybe Stephen Davis?
December 20, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Someone please tell me the last time the Commanders ran the ball six straight times in a game. Was George Rogers the lead back? Maybe Stephen Davis?
The unusual dusk kickoff today at Northwest Stadium…
December 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The unusual dusk kickoff today at Northwest Stadium…
Adam Silver said before Tuesday's NBA Cup final in Las Vegas that the league would, at long last, make a "determination" about expansion by the end of 2026. That decision must include a commitment to bringing a team back to Seattle. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
If the NBA chooses to expand, it must do what’s long overdue: go back to Seattle
The Emerald City, through no fault of its own, has been without an NBA team for 17 years. It's long past time to rectify that mistake.
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Adam Silver said before Tuesday's NBA Cup final in Las Vegas that the league would, at long last, make a "determination" about expansion by the end of 2026. That decision must include a commitment to bringing a team back to Seattle. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
What is telling about so many people’s reactions to Rob Reiner’s death is that so many have pictures with him, along with a story about how nice he was when they asked him for the photo. And so many stories, from the famous and not-at-all famous, about a moment when they were vulnerable
December 16, 2025 at 2:47 PM
What is telling about so many people’s reactions to Rob Reiner’s death is that so many have pictures with him, along with a story about how nice he was when they asked him for the photo. And so many stories, from the famous and not-at-all famous, about a moment when they were vulnerable
A 3-10 team played a 2-11 team Sunday, in the half-empty Meadowlands. But the Commanders will take the 29-21 win, their first in two months. In a terrible year, Washington got impactful performances from players it hopes to build around in ‘26. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
Two bad teams entered the Meadowlands on Sunday, but desperate Commanders will take the win
All Washington has left is the hope that finishing strong now will lead to a smoother runway next season.
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
A 3-10 team played a 2-11 team Sunday, in the half-empty Meadowlands. But the Commanders will take the 29-21 win, their first in two months. In a terrible year, Washington got impactful performances from players it hopes to build around in ‘26. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
This is insanely good basketball.
December 14, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This is insanely good basketball.
The Commanders are having an awful 2025. Almost all of it is their fault. But, there's a section of the fan base that's gone completely off the rails because of this year's regression. Y'all need to calm down and see if they can fix this. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
The Commanders' season has derailed. Calm down, and see what the offseason brings
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Commanders are having an awful 2025. Almost all of it is their fault. But, there's a section of the fan base that's gone completely off the rails because of this year's regression. Y'all need to calm down and see if they can fix this. In @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
Pretty good company:
Double-digit field goals made and double-digit free throws made in a triple-double by a rookie, NBA history
Elgin Baylor
Oscar Robertson (10x lol)
Michael Jordan (2x)
AND DERIK QUEEN
33 points (11/15 FGs, 11/13 FTs), 10 rebounds, 10 assists (4 blocks too)
Elgin Baylor
Oscar Robertson (10x lol)
Michael Jordan (2x)
AND DERIK QUEEN
33 points (11/15 FGs, 11/13 FTs), 10 rebounds, 10 assists (4 blocks too)
December 9, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Pretty good company:
As demoralizing an afternoon for the Commanders as you can have. There will have to be a lot of hard conversations about everything this offseason - personnel, scheme, coaching - because you’re getting worked by a 4-8 team, you’ve lost eight straight, and your franchise QB can’t stay healthy.
December 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
As demoralizing an afternoon for the Commanders as you can have. There will have to be a lot of hard conversations about everything this offseason - personnel, scheme, coaching - because you’re getting worked by a 4-8 team, you’ve lost eight straight, and your franchise QB can’t stay healthy.