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davidaldridgedc.bsky.social
@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.
The Commanders, along with the decisions they have to make amidst a lost season, have to pick a name for their new stadium. It should not be named after President Trump, as he reportedly wants, for obvious, financial & historical reasons. In
@theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
A new stadium named after President Trump? The Commanders have better options
Naming their next stadium after Trump, or any other modern pol, would be a cosmically bad decision for Josh Harris and his ownership group.
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Commanders ownership is expected to discuss the impending new RFK Stadium deal, and its potential name, with President Trump during Sunday’s game with the Lions. Our @nickijhabvala.bsky.social and I with details, in @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Commanders owners anticipate possible stadium name discussion Sunday with President Trump
No formal request has been made about naming the new development after him.
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
There was no reason for Jayden Daniels to still be on the field Sunday night, after the Seahawks had dominated the Commanders for three-plus quarters. It led to catastrophe. And Washington has to do better building around its franchise QB.
In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
Jayden Daniels’ gruesome elbow injury wasn’t bad luck — it was a preventable mistake
After Washington's franchise quarterback was injured in garbage time Sunday night, it's more than fair to ask why he was even in the game.
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Commanders in the ‘80s unis tonight. Very, very cool.
November 3, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I was pulling for Toronto because they haven’t won it all in so long, but am more glad I won’t be up until 3 am until the end - even with Falling Back tonight.
November 2, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Everyone hates tanking, and says it’s a scourge. Except …it still, often, works, as is the case with the 76ers, who went paws up to end last season and got gifted a huge talent in V.J. Edgecombe, who’s brought some hope back to the Illadelph. In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
Tanking is a blight upon the NBA, until you get VJ Edgecombe by … tanking
Teams tank because it still works. Or, at least, it works enough.
www.nytimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Wonderful work from @curlyfro.bsky.social and James Jackson on NBA pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, who broke the league's color barrier in the '50s, & are being honored during the NBA's 75th anniversary season. In
@theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
The NBA integrated 75 years ago with the debuts of three Black players
The stories and legacies of Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton have been woven into the fabric of the NBA.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Savages, reconsidered:

5) Augusta
4) Beast
3) Trey Ye
2) Fred
1) The One and Only:
October 30, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Annnd … they’re going to the 18th in Chavez Ravine:
a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face while sitting in front of a microphone .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face while sitting in front of a microphone .
media.tenor.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Wizards fans have heard this over & over the last 50 years: be patient. But, this time, it’s true: the Wiz have rising young players to build around. If Washington gets a top-3 pick next year in a loaded draft, it could be ready to move. In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
Wizards (really!) have some promising young talent, but they still need some lottery luck
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I still expect the Wiz to have a long season, but they may have two real pieces to build around going forward in Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson. George with a career-high 34 points, including seven 3s, with 11 boards; Johnson with 17 on 7 of 13 (three 3) in a rather convincing win at Dallas.
October 25, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Thursday's indictments announced by the FBI, involving alleged gambling schemes involving NBA players and Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, again exposed the imminent and future danger the league has by not dealing, finally, with tanking. In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
Outlaw tanking. Abolish the draft. Solve the NBA’s crisis
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The NBA is back, and that means it’s time to fearlessly forecast what will happen this season in my annual 24 Questions column. Which means next year, I’ll remind you of the three predictions I got right, and ignore the 21 I got wrong! In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Will OKC repeat? Is Luka an MVP candidate? 24 questions for the 2025-26 season
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
NBA champs? League MVP? Flagg and Wemby impact? The …NBA Cup winner? Cats and dogs, living together, mass hysteria: our NBA staff’s picks for everything under the sun this NBA season, in @theathletic.com :

www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
A Thunder repeat? Knicks in the Finals? NBA expert picks for the 2025-26 season
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Twenty-plus years after losing its broadcast rights to the NBA, NBC is back, with a new era of NBA coverage starting tonight. And that means John Tesh’s iconic theme, “Roundball Rock,” synonymous with NBC’s package in the ‘90s, is back as well. In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
'Roundball Rock' returns to its sports theme mountaintop with the NBA back on NBC
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The Commanders lost Jayden Daniels to a hamstring injury in the second half of a 44-22 drubbing in Dallas Sunday. With no receiving corps and a porous defense, Washington needs to sit its franchise QB for a while. Maybe a good long while. In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
With their season spiraling, the Commanders need to sit Jayden Daniels for a while
Their D is in tatters. Their best wide receivers are injured. The Commanders are flirting with disaster by playing Jayden Daniels on Monday.
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Second and 17 at their own 21, after a sack, and Dallas called time with 31 seconds left. Why? Because they know they can get whatever they want, whenever they want. Prescott burns Lattimore for 44 down the sideline to Pickens; Javonte Williams runs rampant for 33; 2-yard Prescott to Ferguson TD.
October 19, 2025 at 10:09 PM
That would qualify as another not-good start for the Commanders; Dallas wins the toss, and takes the ball first. When teams do that, they expect to run right down your throats downfield. Five plays, 66 yards, touchdown. Dallas, 7-0.
October 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM
No words. Ten Ks, three homers. Same dude.
a baseball player wearing a dodgers jersey is running towards the dugout
ALT: a baseball player wearing a dodgers jersey is running towards the dugout
media.tenor.com
October 18, 2025 at 2:47 AM
GIVE THAT MAN A TRIDENT
October 18, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Jayden Daniels took the blame for Washington’s last-second loss to the Bears Monday. In doing so, he showed the kind of responsibility and leadership the Commanders will need to get past this sputtering start to the season, and beyond. In @theathletic.com:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
Jayden Daniels wasn't his best Monday, but in taking the blame, he stood tall
www.nytimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:35 PM
October 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Nearly a year after the Commanders, somehow, pulled off a Hail Mary to beat the Bears at Northwest Stadium, Chicago returns to town Monday night. An oral history of that miracle finish, from (almost) everyone involved on both sides, in @TheAthletic:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Oral history of Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary TD to help Commanders shock Bears in 2024
The people involved in one of the most stunning final plays in recent NFL history look back at an unforgettable moment.
www.nytimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I’m too old to get the Blake Griffin Wayfair commercials, right?
October 12, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Loving this game. Lids getting heavy, though.
a woman is sitting at a desk with her hand on her face
ALT: a woman is sitting at a desk with her hand on her face
media.tenor.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM