Lev Akabas
@levakabas.bsky.social
NBA 🏀 & sports business 💵 data viz 📊 for Sportico
All opinions are my own
All opinions are my own
NBA landscape over the past month 👇
* Boston has been the No. 1 team behind the No. 1 offense
* OKC is still very good, but their offense has slipped
* Knicks, Lakers, and Nuggets can't guard anyone
* Boston has been the No. 1 team behind the No. 1 offense
* OKC is still very good, but their offense has slipped
* Knicks, Lakers, and Nuggets can't guard anyone
January 16, 2026 at 6:29 PM
NBA landscape over the past month 👇
* Boston has been the No. 1 team behind the No. 1 offense
* OKC is still very good, but their offense has slipped
* Knicks, Lakers, and Nuggets can't guard anyone
* Boston has been the No. 1 team behind the No. 1 offense
* OKC is still very good, but their offense has slipped
* Knicks, Lakers, and Nuggets can't guard anyone
The 100 highest-paid athletes in the world by age 👇
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham ⚽️ and tennis star Carlos Alcaraz 🎾 are the youngest at 22 years old
Tiger Woods is the oldest at age 50 ⛳️
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham ⚽️ and tennis star Carlos Alcaraz 🎾 are the youngest at 22 years old
Tiger Woods is the oldest at age 50 ⛳️
January 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
The 100 highest-paid athletes in the world by age 👇
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham ⚽️ and tennis star Carlos Alcaraz 🎾 are the youngest at 22 years old
Tiger Woods is the oldest at age 50 ⛳️
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham ⚽️ and tennis star Carlos Alcaraz 🎾 are the youngest at 22 years old
Tiger Woods is the oldest at age 50 ⛳️
The Los Angeles Dodgers have $2.14 BILLION in guaranteed salary, per @spotrac.com
That's more than the bottom 13 MLB teams combined!
That's more than the bottom 13 MLB teams combined!
January 16, 2026 at 2:16 PM
The Los Angeles Dodgers have $2.14 BILLION in guaranteed salary, per @spotrac.com
That's more than the bottom 13 MLB teams combined!
That's more than the bottom 13 MLB teams combined!
Reminder that the Los Angeles Dodgers had a higher luxury tax bill last year ($169 million) than the entire payrolls of 13 MLB teams
January 16, 2026 at 4:51 AM
Reminder that the Los Angeles Dodgers had a higher luxury tax bill last year ($169 million) than the entire payrolls of 13 MLB teams
Relevant given today's news...
Americans gambled more than $140 billion on sports in 2025 and are gambling more and more on sports each year
Americans gambled more than $140 billion on sports in 2025 and are gambling more and more on sports each year
January 15, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Relevant given today's news...
Americans gambled more than $140 billion on sports in 2025 and are gambling more and more on sports each year
Americans gambled more than $140 billion on sports in 2025 and are gambling more and more on sports each year
Who made the most money in each sport last year?
January 15, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Who made the most money in each sport last year?
Nebraska women's volleyball sold $3.2 million of tickets in the 2024-25 season
Iowa and UConn's women's basketball were the only women's teams in the country that made more in 2024!
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzr3k
Iowa and UConn's women's basketball were the only women's teams in the country that made more in 2024!
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzr3k
January 14, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Nebraska women's volleyball sold $3.2 million of tickets in the 2024-25 season
Iowa and UConn's women's basketball were the only women's teams in the country that made more in 2024!
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzr3k
Iowa and UConn's women's basketball were the only women's teams in the country that made more in 2024!
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzr3k
NBA players have missed 8% more games than at this point last season, per @instreetclothes.bsky.social
And last season already had more missed games than any non-COVID season in the past two decades
And last season already had more missed games than any non-COVID season in the past two decades
January 14, 2026 at 3:46 PM
NBA players have missed 8% more games than at this point last season, per @instreetclothes.bsky.social
And last season already had more missed games than any non-COVID season in the past two decades
And last season already had more missed games than any non-COVID season in the past two decades
62 of the 100 highest-paid athletes are American 🇺🇸
UK has the next-most with 5 🇬🇧
28 different countries represented on the list 🌎
UK has the next-most with 5 🇬🇧
28 different countries represented on the list 🌎
January 14, 2026 at 2:41 PM
62 of the 100 highest-paid athletes are American 🇺🇸
UK has the next-most with 5 🇬🇧
28 different countries represented on the list 🌎
UK has the next-most with 5 🇬🇧
28 different countries represented on the list 🌎
The top 100 highest-paid athletes in 2025 👇
• Cristiano Ronaldo ⚽️ No. 1 at $260 million
• 40 NBA players 🏀... most of any sport
• 8 of the top 100 made more 💰 from endorsements than salary/winnings
Full list: www.sportico.com/feature/high...
• Cristiano Ronaldo ⚽️ No. 1 at $260 million
• 40 NBA players 🏀... most of any sport
• 8 of the top 100 made more 💰 from endorsements than salary/winnings
Full list: www.sportico.com/feature/high...
January 14, 2026 at 1:05 PM
The top 100 highest-paid athletes in 2025 👇
• Cristiano Ronaldo ⚽️ No. 1 at $260 million
• 40 NBA players 🏀... most of any sport
• 8 of the top 100 made more 💰 from endorsements than salary/winnings
Full list: www.sportico.com/feature/high...
• Cristiano Ronaldo ⚽️ No. 1 at $260 million
• 40 NBA players 🏀... most of any sport
• 8 of the top 100 made more 💰 from endorsements than salary/winnings
Full list: www.sportico.com/feature/high...
The Pittsburgh Steelers have only had 3 head coaches since 1969
January 13, 2026 at 8:04 PM
The Pittsburgh Steelers have only had 3 head coaches since 1969
Mike Tomlin is stepping down as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach
Any Reid is now the longest-tenured NFL head coach
9 NFL teams are currently without a head coach
Any Reid is now the longest-tenured NFL head coach
9 NFL teams are currently without a head coach
January 13, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Mike Tomlin is stepping down as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach
Any Reid is now the longest-tenured NFL head coach
9 NFL teams are currently without a head coach
Any Reid is now the longest-tenured NFL head coach
9 NFL teams are currently without a head coach
The Kansas City Royals are moving the majority of their outfield fence in by 10 feet next season
Their old fence was the second farthest in MLB at an average of 384ft
Their old fence was the second farthest in MLB at an average of 384ft
January 13, 2026 at 6:08 PM
The Kansas City Royals are moving the majority of their outfield fence in by 10 feet next season
Their old fence was the second farthest in MLB at an average of 384ft
Their old fence was the second farthest in MLB at an average of 384ft
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season
Only 6 franchises have longer active droughts
Also... the Dolphins, Raiders, and Jets 😬
Only 6 franchises have longer active droughts
Also... the Dolphins, Raiders, and Jets 😬
January 13, 2026 at 4:07 PM
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season
Only 6 franchises have longer active droughts
Also... the Dolphins, Raiders, and Jets 😬
Only 6 franchises have longer active droughts
Also... the Dolphins, Raiders, and Jets 😬
NBA landscape over the past month:
• The Boston Celtics have been the top team
• The Pistons, Suns, and Spurs are all playing well
• OKC has fallen down a rung
• The Utah Jazz don't play defense
• The Boston Celtics have been the top team
• The Pistons, Suns, and Spurs are all playing well
• OKC has fallen down a rung
• The Utah Jazz don't play defense
January 12, 2026 at 6:26 PM
NBA landscape over the past month:
• The Boston Celtics have been the top team
• The Pistons, Suns, and Spurs are all playing well
• OKC has fallen down a rung
• The Utah Jazz don't play defense
• The Boston Celtics have been the top team
• The Pistons, Suns, and Spurs are all playing well
• OKC has fallen down a rung
• The Utah Jazz don't play defense
It's absurd how good Josh Allen has been in the playoffs
His 26-4 TD/INT ratio is the best in NFL history by far
His 26-4 TD/INT ratio is the best in NFL history by far
January 12, 2026 at 4:07 PM
It's absurd how good Josh Allen has been in the playoffs
His 26-4 TD/INT ratio is the best in NFL history by far
His 26-4 TD/INT ratio is the best in NFL history by far
The Boston Celtics have scored 127.2 points per 100 possessions since December 1
That's the best offense in the NBA by a lot
Joe Mazzulla, take a bow
That's the best offense in the NBA by a lot
Joe Mazzulla, take a bow
January 9, 2026 at 2:04 PM
The Boston Celtics have scored 127.2 points per 100 possessions since December 1
That's the best offense in the NBA by a lot
Joe Mazzulla, take a bow
That's the best offense in the NBA by a lot
Joe Mazzulla, take a bow
With the Miami Dolphins firing Mike McDaniel, there are now 8 NFL head coaching vacancies
14 of the NFL's 32 teams either don't have a head coach or hired their coach within the past year!
14 of the NFL's 32 teams either don't have a head coach or hired their coach within the past year!
January 8, 2026 at 6:15 PM
With the Miami Dolphins firing Mike McDaniel, there are now 8 NFL head coaching vacancies
14 of the NFL's 32 teams either don't have a head coach or hired their coach within the past year!
14 of the NFL's 32 teams either don't have a head coach or hired their coach within the past year!
January 8, 2026 at 4:33 PM
No NBA player has more assists than Trae Young in the 2020s so far
January 8, 2026 at 3:48 AM
No NBA player has more assists than Trae Young in the 2020s so far
Lamar Jackson is the all-time leader in QB rushing yards per game
Jalen Hurts is the all-time leader in QB rushing touchdowns per game
Jalen Hurts is the all-time leader in QB rushing touchdowns per game
January 7, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Lamar Jackson is the all-time leader in QB rushing yards per game
Jalen Hurts is the all-time leader in QB rushing touchdowns per game
Jalen Hurts is the all-time leader in QB rushing touchdowns per game
The top 100 most-watched US telecasts of 2019 vs. 2025:
• 77 football 🏈 games in 2019, 90 in 2025
• Much more variety in 2019: the Grammys 🎤, the Golden Globes 🍿, two NBA Finals 🏀 games, The Masters ⛳️, and episodes of Jeopardy! 🧠 and The Big Bang Theory 🌌
• 77 football 🏈 games in 2019, 90 in 2025
• Much more variety in 2019: the Grammys 🎤, the Golden Globes 🍿, two NBA Finals 🏀 games, The Masters ⛳️, and episodes of Jeopardy! 🧠 and The Big Bang Theory 🌌
January 7, 2026 at 4:48 PM
The top 100 most-watched US telecasts of 2019 vs. 2025:
• 77 football 🏈 games in 2019, 90 in 2025
• Much more variety in 2019: the Grammys 🎤, the Golden Globes 🍿, two NBA Finals 🏀 games, The Masters ⛳️, and episodes of Jeopardy! 🧠 and The Big Bang Theory 🌌
• 77 football 🏈 games in 2019, 90 in 2025
• Much more variety in 2019: the Grammys 🎤, the Golden Globes 🍿, two NBA Finals 🏀 games, The Masters ⛳️, and episodes of Jeopardy! 🧠 and The Big Bang Theory 🌌
LeBron James is averaging 21.7 points per game at age 41 !!!
Insane
Insane
January 7, 2026 at 2:36 PM
LeBron James is averaging 21.7 points per game at age 41 !!!
Insane
Insane
90 of the 100 most-watched US telecasts of 2025 were football games
The NFL 🏈 is still king 👑
The NFL 🏈 is still king 👑
January 6, 2026 at 6:33 PM
90 of the 100 most-watched US telecasts of 2025 were football games
The NFL 🏈 is still king 👑
The NFL 🏈 is still king 👑
NBA landscape over the past month:
• The Detroit Pistons have the best net rating
• The Boston Celtics have the No. 1 offense
• The Brooklyn Nets have the No. 2 defense (!!!)
• The Utah Jazz can't stop anybody
• The Detroit Pistons have the best net rating
• The Boston Celtics have the No. 1 offense
• The Brooklyn Nets have the No. 2 defense (!!!)
• The Utah Jazz can't stop anybody
January 6, 2026 at 3:49 PM
NBA landscape over the past month:
• The Detroit Pistons have the best net rating
• The Boston Celtics have the No. 1 offense
• The Brooklyn Nets have the No. 2 defense (!!!)
• The Utah Jazz can't stop anybody
• The Detroit Pistons have the best net rating
• The Boston Celtics have the No. 1 offense
• The Brooklyn Nets have the No. 2 defense (!!!)
• The Utah Jazz can't stop anybody