As the Brooklyn Nets prepare for the 2025-26 season opener against the Charlotte Hornets, the team is still determining its plan at point guard. Rookies Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traore, and Ben Saraf are all competing for the starting role. Head coach Jordi Fernández has not announced a clear lineup and said he will base his decision on how each player performs in games and practices.

After practice on Sunday, Fernández said all three young guards have shown potential but still need to improve. He explained that playing time will depend on who can stay consistent and follow what the coaching staff asks of them. Fernández said the competition between the rookies is positive for the team because it pushes each player to work harder and helps them gain more experience.

During the Nets’ four preseason games, Saraf and Traore each started twice as the team rotated lineups. Dëmin, who was the highest draft pick among them, only played in the final preseason game. He had missed earlier games because of a plantar fascia tear that kept him out since the spring.

Egor Dëmin’s Return Sparks Interest On and Off the Court

In his first game back, Dëmin quickly made an impression. Against the Toronto Raptors on October 17, 2025, the 6-foot-8 guard scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded two turnovers in 19 minutes off the bench. His performance drew praise from Fernández.

“He did a great job. He looked composed. He helped us,” the coach said. “It’s good that you see the ball go in, but basketball is not just about seeing the ball go in. He made the simple play. We didn’t turn it over as much [with him]. He got his teammates involved, and he had very good positional defensive possessions, where he was the low man; he went vertical, and he protected the rim. Those things are very good to see at this point, but we’re going to ask him to keep getting better because we believe the sky is the limit for him and for the other two point guards, as well.”

Dëmin’s strong debut slightly influenced early betting activity. Sportsbooks adjusted lines for the Nets’ upcoming matchup against the Hornets, with most outlets — including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, and Caesars — listing Charlotte -4.5 as the consensus spread. The total points line has held between 225.5 and 226.5, while moneyline odds range from Brooklyn +150 to +175 and Charlotte -175 to -185.

Lines briefly moved to Hornets -5.5 early in the week before returning to -4.5, reflecting modest betting confidence in Brooklyn after Dëmin’s performance and Fernández’s positive comments.

Futures markets remain conservative. Across major sportsbooks, the Nets’ regular-season win total is set between 19.5 and 20.5, with FanDuel pricing the Under 19.5 at -118. Sports Illustrated and BetMGM list Brooklyn’s championship odds at +100000, and BetMGM gives the team approximately a 2.8% implied chance to reach the playoffs.

Dëmin has entered Rookie of the Year discussions as a long shot, listed between +4000 and +10000 depending on the sportsbook. His limited preseason action and undefined role contribute to the wide range of prices.

In the same preseason stretch, Saraf averaged 6.3 points and 5.5 assists in 20.3 minutes per game, while Traore recorded 4.5 points and 1.8 assists in 14.7 minutes. Together, they averaged 5.5 turnovers per game, highlighting areas of inexperience that align with the Nets’ cautious outlook in betting markets.

Despite the internal competition, Dëmin described a collaborative environment among the rookies. “Everybody is trying to get better and everybody is trying to help everybody to get better,” he said. “I think that’s where we’re going to be successful this year. In every practice, there’s going to be competition. It’s not about just me, Nolan, and Ben. It’s about everything. As soon as we step off the court, we’re best friends.”

Haywood Highsmith’s Knee Injury Alters the Team Outlook

The Nets’ roster plans were further affected by an injury to Haywood Highsmith. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the 6-foot-5 forward “recently experienced right knee swelling during his rehab from an August meniscectomy procedure.” His recovery program has been modified, and he will be re-evaluated in eight weeks.

Highsmith’s injury status led sportsbooks to maintain conservative projections for Brooklyn. His absence removes a veteran presence from a lineup that already leans heavily on young players. Betting trends indicate a slight movement toward the Under on the team’s win total and steady pricing in the playoff market.

Despite the setback, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Nets waived Kobe Bufkin, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but retained Highsmith. Scotto said that the organization values his leadership and the guidance he provides to younger teammates.

Highsmith’s Leadership and Rookie Development Shape Betting Perspective

Highsmith joined the Nets after five seasons with the Miami Heat, where he gained experience within the organization’s structured culture. His presence has been considered important for guiding a roster that includes five first-round selections from the 2025 NBA Draft:

• Egor Dëmin (8th overall, BYU)
• Nolan Traore (19th overall, France)
• Drake Powell (22nd overall, North Carolina; acquired from Atlanta)
• Ben Saraf (26th overall, Israel)
• Danny Wolf (27th overall, Michigan)

Analytic models such as Dimers.com project Charlotte with a 65–68% win probability in the opener, consistent with the Hornets -4.5 spread. Expert predictions from multiple outlets, including FanDuel Research and Sportsbook Review, lean toward Brooklyn finishing below 20 wins, citing the team’s youth and roster changes as key factors.

The story of the 3-point shot began on November 13, 1967, when the American Basketball Association introduced the new rule. That night, the Indiana Pacers were down 118–116 against the Dallas Chaparrals with one second left. Jerry Harkness caught the inbound pass, 92 feet from the basket, and launched the ball toward the rim. It banked in, giving Indiana a 119–118 victory.

Many of the 2,500 fans in attendance thought the game was tied, unaware that the shot was worth three points. Harkness later recalled in Loose Balls, “We were running off the floor to huddle up for the overtime when the official, Joe Belmont, came up to me and said ‘Jerry, it’s over. That was a 3-pointer.’ I said, ‘I forgot all about that. A 3-pointer.’ Then we were celebrating again, because we found out that we won the game.”

The ABA’s Influence and the NBA’s Adoption

It made sense that the 3-pointer immediately captured attention; ABA commissioner George Mikan, a former NBA legend, said in Loose Balls, “We called it the home run, because the 3-pointer was exactly that. It brought fans out of their seats.”

Effectively, the ABA’s goal was to make basketball more exciting. The league also introduced the red, white, and blue ball and the slam dunk contest. After the ABA–NBA merger in 1976, four teams joined the NBA: the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and New Jersey Nets. However, the NBA did not adopt the 3-pointer until 1979, coinciding with the rookie season of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

By the early 1980s, some college conferences began experimenting with the rule, and the NCAA made it standard in 1986. High school basketball followed one year later.

How Coaches and Players Adjusted

When the 3-pointer arrived, coaches and players struggled to adapt. Former coach Hubie Brown explained in Loose Balls, “You have to tell your players to remember who the shooters are, and when those guys are 25 feet from the basket, get in their jocks and guard them. Don’t give them the 25-footer.”

Brown added that giving shooters permission to take long shots went against everything coaches had learned for decades. Former player Len Elmore, who competed in both the ABA and NBA, said, “It took a while for players to understand time and score situations, when to take it. You also recognize that players who hadn’t been accustomed to playing with a 3-point line really had to work to develop the range.”

Michael Jordan’s career demonstrates that adjustment. He played college basketball at North Carolina without a 3-point line and made only 9 of 52 attempts in his rookie NBA season. He did not shoot above 20 percent from three until his fifth year, but by the end of his career, he averaged more than 35 percent.

How 3-Point Shooting Took Over the League

The NBA’s reliance on the 3-pointer has grown continuously. The league-wide 3-point attempt rate rose from 22.2% in 2010–11 to 39.2% last season, ten straight years of increase. In 2015–16, only six teams took one-third or more of their shots from beyond the arc. By last season, 28 of 30 teams had done so. The Washington Wizards (31.9%) and San Antonio Spurs (31.4%) were the only teams below that threshold.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reflected on how much the game had changed. He recalled a February 5, 2016, win in Charlotte, where the Heat went 0-for-9 from three but still won. Assistant coach Chris Quinn reminded him that it was a rare feat. Spoelstra laughed, saying, “There’s no way you can do that now.” That game remains the last time any NBA team won without making a 3-pointer.

Teams That Changed the Game’s Math

Several teams set new standards for 3-point usage.

• 1987–88 Boston Celtics under K.C. Jones became the first team to attempt 10% of their shots from three.
• 1988–89 New York Knicks under Rick Pitino were the first to reach 15%.
• 1994–95 Houston Rockets under Rudy Tomjanovich crossed 25%.
• 2002–03 Boston Celtics under Jim O’Brien reached 30%.
• 2009–10 Orlando Magic under Stan Van Gundy reached 35%.
• 2016–17 Houston Rockets under Mike D’Antoni hit both 40% and 45%.
• 2017–18 Houston Rockets, again under D’Antoni, reached 50%.

The NBA’s brief experiment with a shorter 3-point line from 1994–95 to 1996–97 caused a temporary spike in attempts.

One of the most defining transformations came in Orlando during the 2007–08 season. When Tony Battie suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, coach Stan Van Gundy moved Rashard Lewis from small forward to power forward, creating a lineup with four shooters around Dwight Howard. Orlando’s 3-point rate jumped from 15.8% to 32.2%. Van Gundy explained, “For most teams, it was a lineup they went to. I think we were one of the first that just started games that way.”

That season, the Magic rose from 19th to 4th in offensive efficiency and reached the NBA Finals a year later.

The Rise of 3-Point Icons

Reggie Miller entered the NBA in 1987 and ranked in the top 10 in made 3-pointers for 15 straight seasons, leading the league twice. He made 2,560 career 3-pointers in 1,389 games, averaging 1.8 per game.

Ray Allen, drafted in 1996, surpassed Miller’s total after 1,074 games.

Stephen Curry redefined what was possible. By his 762nd game, just 55% of Miller’s career total, he had already passed both legends. In 2005–06, Allen set the single-season record with 269 3-pointers. By 2021, that mark had been broken 16 times, with Curry responsible for six of them. His record of 402 3-pointers in the 2015–16 season came during his second MVP campaign, when the Golden State Warriors won 73 games.

Curry also popularized off-the-dribble shooting. Over eight seasons tracked by Second Spectrum, 54% of his attempts were pull-ups. Across the league, off-the-dribble 3s rose from 23% in 2013–14 to 30% in 2019–20, then slightly declined to 28% the following season.

Channing Frye and Brook Lopez Join the Revolution

Brook Lopez attempted 387 3-pointers in his ninth season, compared to just 31 total in his first eight. Channing Frye followed a similar path, as during his first four seasons with New York and Portland, Frye attempted only 70 3-pointers, 3% of his total shots. He took 61% of his attempts from mid-range.

When he joined the Phoenix Suns in 2009–10, the coaching staff encouraged him to stop taking mid-range shots and shoot from behind the arc. Frye recalled, “If you’re not the fastest or jump the highest or you’re not the most skilled, you have to have something that makes you difficult to guard.”

The staff challenged him to make 1,000 3-pointers during practice. “It took me four days,” he said. That season, Frye started 41 games and played 2,190 minutes, including 1,469 alongside Amar’e Stoudemire. In 1,325 minutes with Steve Nash, Stoudemire, and Frye together, the Suns averaged 118.0 points per 100 possessions, the highest among 449 three-man lineups that played at least 500 minutes.

Frye’s effective field goal percentage jumped from 44.4% to 57.3%, ranking ninth out of 253 players with at least 300 attempts that season.

The Decline of the Mid-Range Shot

As 3-pointers increased, mid-range shots nearly disappeared. Over the past decade, attempts in the paint have remained stable, but mid-range shots have dropped from 31% to 13%, while 3-pointers climbed from 22% to 39%.

In 2010–11, teams attempted 0.72 threes for every mid-range shot. Last season, the ratio was 3.05. The math is simple: mid-range shots yield about 0.8 points per attempt, while 3-pointers yield about 1.1.

Only two players—Chris Paul at 51.7% and Kevin Durant at 51.2%—have made at least half of their mid-range attempts on 300 or more tries in the past five seasons.

Offenses That Break the Mold

Despite the emphasis on spacing and shooting, not every elite team depends on the 3-pointer. The Miami Heat ranked seventh in 3-point attempt rate last season (43.2%) but finished just 18th in offensive efficiency. Kyle Lowry shot 39.6% from three and Duncan Robinson 40.8%, while Jimmy Butler shot 24% over two seasons and Bam Adebayo made seven career 3-pointers.

Spoelstra explained, “Offense usually is about getting guys to play together, bring out the best in each other and, ultimately, finding efficiency. That’s not necessarily or exclusively about shooting more 3s.”

The Los Angeles Lakers faced similar challenges. Five of their players made the league average or better from deep on at least 100 attempts, but not their star players, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, or Russell Westbrook.

In New Orleans, the Pelicans’ 3-point rate dropped from 40.3% to 34.2% under Stan Van Gundy, yet they remained top-10 offensively by ranking first in offensive rebounding and second in free-throw rate. Van Gundy said, “There’s certainly more than one way to play and be good.”

Defense in the Era of the 3

As offenses evolved, defenses faced new challenges. League-wide scoring efficiency rose to 111.7 points per 100 possessions, up from 110.1 the year before. The Lakers led the league defensively, allowing 106.8 points per 100 possessions, the same rate that ranked 19th in 2015–16.

Three-point accuracy has stayed consistent, rising only slightly from 35.8% to 36.7% over the past five years.

In 2019–20, the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors led the league defensively despite allowing high 3-point volumes. Milwaukee allowed 14.0 made threes per game, then an NBA record, while Toronto’s opponents took 44% of their shots from beyond the arc. Both ranked top five in opponent field goal percentage at the rim.

When Van Gundy coached the Pelicans, he prioritized rim protection but initially used aggressive screen coverages. Opponents averaged 16.3 made threes per game through 29 games, and New Orleans ranked 29th defensively. After switching to drop coverage, the team improved. “It’s getting harder and harder to defend,” Van Gundy said.

The Raptors’ opponent 3-point percentage rose from 33.7% to 37.9%, the largest increase in eight years. The Miami Heat, once elite at limiting threes, allowed opponents to take 46% of their shots from long range last season—the highest rate in NBA history. Spoelstra said, “It’s like plugging holes in a dam.”

Toronto coach Nick Nurse remained confident, saying, “That has to be what your goal is if you believe in it. We wouldn’t be trying to concoct these systems and do all this work if we just thought it was all down to luck.”

The Future of the NBA 3 Point Line

Teams that shot at or above the league-average 3-point percentage won 67.4% of their games last season, up from 62.3% in 2015–16. Although the growth in attempts slowed slightly (+0.8%), the long-term trend continues upward.

Spoelstra reflected, “Like any trend, there becomes a tipping point at some point. When that’ll be, I have no idea. When everybody starts doing something, that’s when a tipping point happens.”

Nick Nurse added, “I would be open-minded enough to believe it could switch back the other way.”

Jason Kidd is staying in Dallas. The Mavericks’ head coach has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the franchise, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The full details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Kidd, a 10-time NBA All-Star, has served as the Mavericks’ head coach for four seasons, during which he has compiled a 179–149 record. Under his leadership, Dallas reached the 2024 NBA Finals and the 2022 Western Conference Finals.

In July, Stein reported that Kidd was “expected” to sign an extension before the 2025–26 NBA season. The new agreement fulfills that expectation, finalizing Kidd’s position with the team before the upcoming season begins.

Although the number of additional years in the extension has not been revealed, Kidd had two years remaining on his prior contract before this new deal was completed.

Knicks Showed Interest Before Dallas Finalized Deal

The extension follows months of speculation connecting Kidd to another potential head coaching opportunity. Over the summer, the New York Knicks and Kidd reportedly expressed mutual interest in working together.

A source confirmed to The New York Post in June that Kidd, despite being under contract with Dallas, was “intrigued” by the Knicks’ opening. The Knicks, who were searching for a new head coach, requested permission to interview him, but the Mavericks denied the request.

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison publicly dismissed the idea that Kidd would leave, signaling that the organization intended to keep its coach.

Kidd has a connection to the Knicks franchise as a player. He spent the 2012–13 NBA season with New York, the final year of his playing career, where he was teammates with Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler.

After the Mavericks refused the interview request, the Knicks turned their attention elsewhere and eventually hired Mike Brown as head coach following a prolonged search.

Stein announced the extension on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “BREAKING: The Mavericks have signed coach Jason Kidd to a multiyear contract extension, @TheSteinLine has learned. Kidd drew interest from the Lakers and Knicks over the past two summers and Dallas has now responded with a contract extension both times.”

BREAKING: The Mavericks have signed coach Jason Kidd to a multiyear contract extension, @TheSteinLine has learned.

Kidd drew interest from the Lakers and Knicks over the past two summers and Dallas has now responded with a contract extension both times.

More soon @DLLS_Mavs pic.twitter.com/6px80jnxbI

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 14, 2025

This marks the second time in as many years that Dallas has extended Kidd’s contract amid outside interest. Two summers ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly interested in hiring Kidd to coach LeBron James & Co., which prompted the Mavericks to issue him an extension at that time as well.

Kidd’s Coaching Career and Record

Kidd, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, began his head coaching career with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013–14 season. After one season, he took over as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, leading the team from 2014–15 through 2017–18.

He remained in Milwaukee until midway through the 2017–18 campaign. Following his departure from the Bucks, Kidd worked as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers for two seasons (2019–20 and 2020–21) before being hired by Dallas.

Kidd became the Mavericks’ head coach in 2021 and has remained in the role since. In his four seasons with the team, he has reached the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024.

Across nine seasons as a head coach, Kidd has a combined record of 362–339.

During his tenure in Dallas, Kidd also guided the team through significant roster changes. On February 2, 2025, the Mavericks traded franchise star Luka Doncic, yet Kidd still led the team to another deep playoff run that season.

Dallas Prepares for 2025–26 Season Under Kidd’s New Deal

The Mavericks’ new deal with Kidd comes as the team begins a transition into a new era. Following their postseason success in 2024, Dallas enters its first full season without Luka Doncic later this month.

After favorable lottery results, the Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Kidd will now coach the highly touted rookie forward as the team builds for the future.

Kidd is entering his fifth season as the Mavericks’ head coach. The team will open the 2025–26 regular season at home on October 22 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Recent Betting Outlook for the Mavericks and Kidd

Following news of Kidd’s extension, several sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, and Caesars, updated their betting lines for the Mavericks’ upcoming season.

According to the most recent lines, Dallas enters its October 22 home opener as a 2.5-point favorite against the San Antonio Spurs. The game total is set around 225.5 points. The spread originally opened at Dallas -1.5 before shifting to -2.5, a movement attributed in part to reports that Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan is expected to miss the game with a wrist sprain.

The Mavericks’ season win total sits at 41.5 games across multiple sportsbooks, reflecting expectations of a competitive but transitional season.

Dallas’ NBA Championship odds range between +3000 and +3500, placing them in the mid-tier of futures markets entering the 2025–26 campaign.

Rookie Cooper Flagg is listed as the heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year. FanDuel currently lists Flagg at -220, DraftKings between -170 and -175, and Caesars near -185. His odds have remained steady since draft night.

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown has chosen not to install any offensive plays during the 2025 preseason. Following Thursday’s victory, Brown stated that he wants his players to learn by playing rather than memorizing set schemes.

He said, “We want to play this way most of the time. We’ll have play calls because we want the ball in this person’s hands at this time and we want this guy here and that guy there. So we will do that. But right now, especially in the preseason, I just want them to be able to get used to playing this basketball and taking what the defense gives them.”

This philosophy stands in sharp contrast to the methods of former head coach Tom Thibodeau, who was famous for detailed preparation and thick playbooks. Guard Miles McBride once estimated that Thibodeau’s playbook was about five inches thick, a reflection of how structured the team’s previous approach had been.

The Learning Curve in Preseason Play

The Knicks’ offense has shown both promise and inconsistency during the adjustment period. In their overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, they scored only 38 points in the first half. Despite the low total, players said the team created open looks and simply missed shots.

Mikal Bridges explained, “He just wants to implement playing fast because, honestly, especially the first three quarters, until mid-fourth, you don’t really need plays. You kind of just have concepts and you read and react, and it makes it tougher for the defense. They don’t know what’s happening because we’re reacting to what they do.”

Bridges said that set plays become more necessary in the final minutes when possessions slow down.

Deuce McBride described the experience as an opportunity to develop decision-making skills. “A coach can drop a play anytime and you know exactly what to do,” McBride said. “But to be able to read and react to what’s out there, that’s what matters. He’s on the sideline, but we have to play. We have to move the ball, play the right way, and get guys involved.”

When asked if the system could work so close to the start of the regular season, McBride replied, “He’s the coach. If that’s his philosophy, that’s his philosophy. We’re going to follow it to the best of our ability.”

Knicks Betting Markets Show Steady Confidence

While the Knicks continue to adjust under Brown, major sportsbooks have shown consistent belief in the team’s potential.

As of October 15, 2025, FanDuel lists New York at +1100 to win the NBA championship and +380 to win the Eastern Conference. During the summer, those odds ranged between +900 and +1000 before leveling out near +1100 as the preseason progressed. BetMGM currently lists New York’s regular-season win total at 53.5, with both sides priced at -110. DraftKings shows the Knicks as strong playoff favorites with Yes at -5000 and No at +1600.

FanDuel’s preseason awards board includes Jalen Brunson at +8000 for MVP and Mike Brown at +1000 for Coach of the Year. Brown officially replaced Thibodeau on July 7, 2025, and betting confidence in New York increased following the coaching change and early training camp developments.

Accountability and On-Court Communication

Although Brown’s offense removes traditional structure, his approach demands precision and accountability. Mikal Bridges described Brown and his coaching staff as organized and direct. “Just being on guys, holding guys accountable, preaching everything every single day. Him and his coaches all run a tight ship. Whatever we’re doing, they’re all on the same page no matter what,” Bridges said.

He added, “He pushes us. If you’re not doing the right thing, he’ll let you know. He’s not Mr. Nice Guy. He has to hold people accountable. He doesn’t do it in a disrespectful way. He wants greatness out of everybody.”

Jalen Brunson, who previously led the team as a high-usage ball handler, is adapting to playing more off the ball. “What we’re working on is just the basics of our offense and everything,” Brunson said. “It’s going to take time. It’s not always going to be perfect, but we have to continue to trust it and learn it. When things aren’t going well, we can’t revert to who we were before. We have to keep improving.”

Brown pointed out a play from the Knicks’ two preseason games against the Philadelphia 76ers in Abu Dhabi to illustrate Brunson’s adjustment. During a fast break, Brunson sprinted to the corner, which opened space for OG Anunoby to drive and lob to Mitchell Robinson for an alley-oop.

Brown explained, “Because Jalen filled the corner, it flattened the defense. Whoever was guarding him was scared he was going to get a three-pointer, so they stayed out. That created space for OG to get downhill. Little things like that don’t show up in the stat sheet, but they make you a great offensive team.”

Tactical Tweaks and the Three-Guard Lineups

Along with eliminating playbooks, Brown has experimented with new lineup combinations. During preseason, the Knicks often used three-guard lineups featuring Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride, Malcolm Brogdon, and Landry Shamet.

Josh Hart’s absence due to back spasms contributed to the smaller rotations. He missed the October 13 loss to the Washington Wizards, which ended 120–103 after Brown rested several starters. These lineups align with Brown’s focus on pace and spacing.

In the previous season, New York used three-guard lineups in only 6.3 percent of total possessions, or 613 of 9,716, but those units outscored opponents by 6.9 points per 100 possessions. Brown’s preseason combinations suggest he intends to explore this option further.

The New York Giants are being investigated after head coach Brian Daboll was caught on camera leaning into the team’s medical tent during a concussion evaluation for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Dart had been taken to the sideline after being sacked by Eagles linebacker Patrick Johnson and colliding with Azeez Ojulari late in the third quarter.

The NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) confirmed that they launched a joint review to determine whether the team violated the league’s concussion protocol. Under those rules, only authorized medical personnel, including the team physician, an independent neurological consultant, and possibly a team athletic trainer, may be inside the tent during a concussion evaluation.

According to FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer, the Giants are “bracing for a hefty fine,” but, at this stage, no suspension or draft-pick penalty is expected.

Daboll’s Explanation and Apology

After the game, Brian Daboll told reporters he leaned into the tent briefly to check on Dart but insisted he did not interfere with the medical process.

“I went in—didn’t actually go in—just stuck my head in to see how our quarterback was doing,” Daboll said on Friday. “Just asked him, ‘How you doing?’”

He explained that his main concern was the timing of the evaluation, as the Giants were preparing for a possible fourth-down play.

“I was wondering if it took 10 minutes, if it takes an hour, or if it takes two minutes,” Daboll said. “That’s really where I was when I asked the question on the sideline about making a decision on the game. Health and safety are important to us; it’s important to me.”

Daboll also confirmed that he apologized directly to team physician Dr. Scott Rodeo, who was conducting the concussion check.

“We were getting ready to go for it on a potential fourth down,” he said. “I would have burned a timeout if he could have come out there. I was asking how long it was going to take. You want your guy out there, not at risk of anything else.”

He later emphasized that he respected the process and would continue to follow all concussion-related rules moving forward.

League and Player Reactions

The NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, reiterated that the concussion protocol allows only a small group of authorized individuals in the medical tent.

“There are specific rules about who can be in the tent during a concussion evaluation—namely, the player, a team physician, an independent specialist, and potentially a team athletic trainer,” Sills said. “Never more than those people. Never any coaches in here, never any other players in here, never anybody else in here.”

Rookie running back Cam Skattebo also poked his head into the tent during Dart’s evaluation, later explaining that he was simply checking on his teammate.

“I was making sure that Jaxson wasn’t hurting anybody in the injury tent,” Skattebo joked. “When I was in there, he was a little fired up, but we know we have to go through protocol and do all that stuff to make sure we can get back on the field. I went in there and kind of said, ‘We’re good, man, we’ve got you,’ and that’s it.”

For Jaxson Dart, the evaluation felt familiar. It was at least the third time, including the preseason, that he had undergone a concussion check during a game.“It felt so long,” Dart said. “A few guys popped in. I was just trying to get back there on the field. I understand they have protocol and whatnot. I was just trying to get out there fast.”

When Dart was removed for testing, former starter Russell Wilson entered and threw one incomplete pass before the Giants punted.

Giants’ Betting Outlook and Market Reaction

The investigation has coincided with measurable movement in betting markets for the Giants’ upcoming game against the Denver Broncos. Sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, and Caesars opened with Denver favored by 7.5 points, and the line later shifted to -7, reflecting minor betting support for New York after its recent 34–17 win over Philadelphia.

Totals across major books have remained steady between 40.0 and 41.0 points, with most betting activity leaning toward the under, a response to Dart’s uncertain status and the Giants’ offensive inconsistency.

In futures markets, New York’s odds to make the playoffs have slightly lengthened, while most sportsbooks have temporarily adjusted or removed Jaxson Dart’s individual props pending confirmation of his medical clearance. Analysts have linked these adjustments directly to the ongoing NFL investigation and the possibility that Dart could miss time if concussion symptoms persist.

Giants’ Leadership Response and Possible Penalties

Team owner and CEO John Mara issued a statement the following day confirming the club’s cooperation with the league’s investigation.

“While I firmly believe, as he has stated, that he was not trying to influence the process in any way, he understands the appearance of going to the tent is inappropriate,” Mara said. “We have protocols in place to ensure player safety, and we need to allow our medical staff to execute those protocols without interference.”

On Saturday, the NFL sent a memo to all teams reminding them that coaches and players are not permitted in the medical tent during concussion evaluations. The memo outlined possible disciplinary actions, including reprimands, remedial training, fines, and the loss of draft picks if the violation is determined to have been motivated by competitive considerations.

Because Daboll admitted he wanted to know whether Dart would be cleared before deciding whether to call a timeout, the review will determine whether that constitutes a competitive factor.

Ongoing Review and Expected Outcome

The NFL and NFLPA continue to gather statements and review footage. Witness interviews are in progress, and league officials are expected to issue a final decision within the week. If investigators determine that Daboll’s actions were an attempt to influence or expedite the process, the team could face harsher penalties beyond monetary fines.

As of now, reports indicate that the Giants expect to be fined but do not anticipate suspensions or loss of draft picks. The outcome will clarify whether the violation was procedural or competitive, and how the league intends to enforce the rules governing player health and medical independence.