Zion Williamson's stepfather, Lee Anderson, said he expects Williamson to return to play this season but understands that it's a decision that has to be made with the New Orleans Pelicans' medical staff with a look toward not only the present but also the future.

Anderson made the comments on Tuesday to "The Jordy Culotta Show," an online show based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

When asked directly whether he thought Williamson could return this season from a fractured right foot that has kept him out the entire season, Anderson said that it was a "tough" question to answer but that he did think so.

"I expect him to play. If you were to ask Zion, I'm sure he would probably say the same thing," Anderson said. "But with just a couple of games left, with the magnitude of what's going on in New Orleans and the opportunity to qualify for the play-in game and possibly get into a seven-game series, that would be off the charts in the city of New Orleans. That would be a plus in New Orleans. That would be a plus for Zion with the way things are right now."

"Do I expect him to play? Certainly I do. That's on me, though. That's purely me. I don't think there's anything else that would hinder him from doing that right now."

Williamson has been cleared by the Pelicans to do one-on-one work as he continues his rehab. He did travel with New Orleans on its current four-game road trip to continue doing work with the Pelicans' training staff. Anderson didn't say whether Williamson has done any more work but did mention that the Pelicans staff has talked about looking at the long-term picture.

"He's feeling great," Anderson said. "Speaking for the Pelicans staff, and not saying any names, they mentioned to me that they are just one player away from being where we need to be at. That was enough for me to know that they are putting some stock in Zion getting healthy and being ready for the long haul.

"But my thing with the long haul, you have to wait on it. The short haul, sometimes when you're faced with an opportunity right now, you never know when you're going to be presented with that opportunity again in the long haul or how long it'll be from that time. I'm a guy that believes in taking advantage of the moment at hand. Let's deal with it right now and let's go forward and see what happens."

There was initial optimism from Williamson and the Pelicans that he would be able to play on opening night, but instead various setbacks have occurred that have pushed back his timeline.

"I guess certain circumstances with the rehab didn't initially go the way we wanted it to go or the way the team wanted it to go," Anderson said. "He just wasn't able to make the opening day tipoff, which we thought was going to be a possibility. It just became out of our control how things worked."

Anderson said that right now he believes Williamson is healthy and is willing to do whatever he can to "help instill that winning fabric, that winning culture that New Orleans wants right now. I think it's burning him to the core for him to get back out there and help his team win basketball games."

On March 22, Williamson posted a video to his Instagram story that showed him doing a between-the-legs dunk after catching the ball off the backboard. At that point, he wasn't cleared by the team to be doing many weight-bearing exercises. The next day, he was cleared to do one-on-one.

"I think Zion for the most part, being the person he is and the competitor he is, he just kind of wants to do something different," Anderson said. "He was telling us the entire time that 'I am a lot better than I've been and you guys have to trust me.' Doctors were pretty much agreeing with what he was saying. We kind of rely on the medical staff and our medical people and the Pelicans' medical people to make sure the best judgment is being made for his success and his career."

Aside from the injury, Anderson also addressed the reported frustrations around the Williamson family about being in New Orleans.

Anderson admitted to there being frustrations that come with losing but said there has never been a fractured relationship with the Pelicans front office.

"I don't know where the comments or the rumblings or the misunderstandings came from. It's always someone referring to someone in Zion's camp. And 'sources say.' There are only four sources in Zion's camp. Zion's mom [Sharonda Anderson]. That's me. That's Noah [Williamson's little brother]. And that's Zion. If it didn't come from one of us, they are not sources," Anderson said.

"We have not sourced information to anybody on Zion's behalf at any time. If anybody can come back and say we said that, we'll discount that. We're enjoying New Orleans. We're enjoying the fabric. We love the pickups that the Pelicans have made the last month or so. We're excited about that. We think -- the acquisitions they have made and Zion being on the mend 110 percent -- we think the future is very bright in New Orleans right now."

Anderson praised the move for New Orleans to pick up Willie Green, Williamson's third coach in as many seasons as he's been with the organization.

"They smacked a walk-off home run," Anderson said. "They did an amazing job. Willie Green has come in and righted the ship. I'm not throwing shade at no coach, I'm not doing that; I'm just saying what's happening right now. He's come in, he's a young coach, and evidently he's a player's coach because the players have really bought into what he was doing."

Anderson said that while Williamson was doing his rehab work in Portland, Oregon, he was adamant that he wanted to come back as the Pelicans made a push for the play-in tournament because of the culture Green was fostering.

The Pelicans are currently the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and would have to win two games to make the playoffs. If they do, they'd be slotted at No. 8 and take on the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.

"The play-in game will give us additional experience," Anderson said. "If all the pieces are in place, even for the play-in, go ahead and lock that in and get that taken care of and win what we're supposed to win with everybody included, I'm just saying everybody because I think if everybody, everybody is included, we are a dangerous team.

"I was telling my wife yesterday, even in eighth place and we'd have to face Phoenix in the opening round, I would love that opportunity to go against Phoenix see what the full team, the complete team, reacts to being in the playoffs. I would love to see that. If I had any money, I'm putting it on the Pelicans."

Before the interview ended, Anderson reiterated that there was no "bad spirits" between the family and the organization and that they're happy where they are.

"But for them to put Zion's family name out there and say that we're not happy in New Orleans, that is false information," Anderson said. "And it's coming from the horse's mouth. You don't have to look anywhere else for any further information, I'm telling you right now that it's false."

PHOENIX -- The Los Angeles Lakers will head into a potential elimination game without their leader, LeBron James.

James was ruled out of Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns with left ankle soreness, the team announced. It will be James' third missed game out of the Lakers' past four.

The Lakers, who have lost six games in a row, are two games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament. The Lakers can be eliminated from the play-in tournament contention with a loss to the Suns, coupled with a Spurs road win against the Denver Nuggets.

San Antonio could be without Dejounte Murray (non-COVID illness) and Jakob Poeltl (back) for Tuesday's game.

Phoenix will have plenty of motivation against the Lakers. A victory would set the franchise record for wins in a season with 63, eclipsing the 1992-93 team led by Charles Barkley and the 2004-05 team led by Steve Nash, which both won 62 games. The Suns come into Tuesday's game on a two-game skid, having blown their past two chances to set the win mark in Memphis and Oklahoma City.

The Suns are also cognizant of Anthony Davis' comments made last month, asserting that Phoenix "got away with one" in the first round last season by beating the injury-riddled Lakers to advance.

Davis will be in the lineup Tuesday.

"I'm sure his comments will only add some fuel," a Suns source told ESPN.

Even if Los Angeles wins its final four games, the Spurs would have to finish 1-3 over their final four games for the Lakers to get the 10th seed.

James is averaging 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists this season.

James leads the NBA in scoring this season, fractions of a point ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.1) and the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (30.0). However, in order to qualify for the scoring title, a player must play in a minimum of 58 games; James has played in 56 this season.

He would have to play in two of the Lakers' final three games after Tuesday -- at Golden State on Thursday, home against Oklahoma City on Friday and at Denver on Sunday -- in order to qualify.

It would be the second scoring title of his career, coming 14 years after his first one in 2007-08.

Could the NBA regular season's final week decide the 2022 MVP?

While Denver Nuggets center and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has the inside track at the award, both he and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have plenty to play for down the stretch. (The Nuggets can still capture home-court advantage in the Western Conference's first round, while the 76ers are in a four-team battle for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed.)

Jokic and Embiid have been spectacular, but plenty of other stars have proven themselves worthy of entering the conversation throughout the 2021-22 season.

Milwaukee Bucks big man and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo navigated numerous injuries to key role players to keep the defending champs within striking distance of the East's best record. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has been the best player on the NBA's best team. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been the face of the league's most surprising contender. Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum have sparked massive second-half turnarounds for the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics, respectively.

Let's run through the players deserving of some MVP love, including the front-runners, the long shots and early-season -- but not forgotten -- favorites.

Note: MVP odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

THE ELITE BIG MEN TRIO

Nikola Jokic | C | Denver Nuggets

Stats: 26.8 PPG | 13.7 RPG | 8.0 APG | 58.3 FG%
MVP odds: -300
Team record: 47-32 (fifth in West)

Case for MVP

Nikola Jokic's MVP flex is more muscular than The Rock. The reigning award winner is averaging 26.8 points, 13.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field. No one in NBA history has ever averaged 25-13-7 in a season. Even without the injured Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., Jokic leads the league in triple-doubles (19), second most by a center in history behind only Wilt Chamberlain.

Jokic ranks top 10 in points, rebounds and assists per game and field goal percentage -- something no player has done in a season over the past 50 years. Jokic has recorded over 1,000 touches and over 600 passes more than any other player in the league, according to Second Spectrum tracking and NBA.com/stats. And for the analytics fans, Jokic is clearly ahead of Embiid and Antetokounmpo in four metrics, ranking first in Real-Plus Minus, RAPTOR (the highest since player tracking began in 2013-14), Box Plus-Minus and LEBRON.

And Jokic has a 32.9 Player Efficiency Rating (PER), the highest single-season mark in NBA history.

MVP moment

Yes, there is the game Jokic beat Embiid and the Sixers in Philadelphia on March 14. But one game above all delivered the full Joker experience.

On Jan. 19 in Denver, Jokic delivered a triple-double of 49 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to go with three steals in an overtime win over the Clippers. He made 16 of 25 shots, scored 11 points in overtime but won the game doing what he does best: finding open teammates with unparalleled touch and vision for a big man.

Double-teamed on the right wing, Jokic threw a pass over two defenders across the court to an open Aaron Gordon in the left corner for a winning 3.

-- Ohm Youngmisuk

Joel Embiid | C | Philadelphia 76ers

Stats: 30.2 PPG | 11.6 RPG | 4.2 APG | 1.5 BPG
MVP odds: +270
Team record: 48-30 (fourth in East)

Case for MVP

Embiid has been one of the premier big men in the NBA for years, but he has put it all together in 2021-22. The one lingering question about him was his durability, but other than a stretch he sat out due to COVID-19 in December, he has missed only four games.

Embiid held Philadelphia together throughout the drama of the Ben Simmons saga before Simmons was dealt for James Harden. Oh, and he's averaging more than 30 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while being the league's most unstoppable inside scoring threat.

MVP moment

Embiid has gotten better as the season has gone along, averaging over 30 points in January, February and March. His consistency in both availability and performance has been the metronome that has kept a tumultuous season on track in Philadelphia.

But if there was one game to point to from this season that has defined Embiid's dominance, it would be his 42 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in Philadelphia's final game before the All-Star break: a 123-120 road victory over Antetokounmpo and the Bucks while Philadelphia was still waiting for Harden to make his team debut.

-- Tim Bontemps

Giannis Antetokounmpo | PF | Milwaukee Bucks

Stats: 30.1 PPG | 11.6 RPG | 5.8 APG | 1.4 BPG
MVP odds: +600
Team record: 48-30 (third in East)

Case for MVP

A Defensive Player of the Year candidate and one of the three players in a virtual deadlock vying for the scoring title, Antetokounmpo's case to win his third MVP has only gotten stronger as the season has gone on.

When the Bucks were missing starting center Brook Lopez for almost the entire year, Antetokounmpo slid over and played the five more frequently. When Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday began the season slowed by injuries, Antetokounmpo became the team's primary playmaker. Despite a lineup in flux all season, Milwaukee finds itself competing for the East's No. 1 seed as the season winds down. Antetokounmpo is the driving force behind it all.

MVP moment

Consider how Antetokounmpo asserted his dominance in back-to-back road games against top East contenders last week. In Philadelphia on Tuesday, he put up 40 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, including the game-saving swat to deny Embiid a layup that would have tied the game in the final seconds.

Antetokounmpo followed that up in Brooklyn on Thursday with 44 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, a step-back 3-pointer to send the game into overtime and the winning free throws to seal the victory in the extra frame.

-- Jamal Collier

WORTHY CHALLENGERS

Devin Booker | SG | Phoenix Suns

Stats: 26.6 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 4.9 APG | 37.7 3P%
MVP odds: +6000
Team record: 62-16 (first in West)

Case for MVP

The Suns are far and away the NBA's best team, and Booker firmly established himself as their top player with his performance during the absence of backcourt-mate Chris Paul.

Booker averaged 28.2 PPG and 7.0 APG on near 50-40-90 shooting as Phoenix went 11-4 without Paul. Booker has also excelled at a position less conducive to putting up big stats than the point guards and centers elsewhere in the MVP race. Because I have Donovan Mitchell playing more minutes at point guard, Booker easily leads all shooting guards in my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric this season.

MVP moment

In Paul's return to the lineup, Booker made his MVP case against the reigning winner and presumptive favorite in Jokic. Booker went off for a season-high 49 points on March 24 in Denver, adding 10 assists for his fifth double-double of the season as the Suns came from behind to beat the Nuggets.

Booker had 19 points in the third quarter and made a season-high 15 free throws in addition to shooting 16-of-25 from the field. According to Basketball-Reference.com's game score, the performance was Booker's second best of his career, trailing only his 70-point outing in 2017.

-- Kevin Pelton

Luka Doncic | PG | Dallas Mavericks

Stats: 28.3 PPG | 9.1 RPG | 8.7 APG | 35.3 3P%
MVP odds: +10000
Team record: 49-30 (fourth in West)

Case for MVP

Can we ignore the 2021 portion of the season? Doncic put up impressive individual numbers in the first couple months of the season, but he was subpar by his standards while playing his way into shape and dealing with recurrent right ankle sprains. He has performed at an MVP level since sitting out the last three weeks of December, averaging 29.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.8 assists to lead the Mavs to the league's fourth-best record (32-12) since Jan. 1.

Doncic has had some of his most dominant performances in wins over other MVP candidates, including a 33-point, 13-rebound, 15-assist outing against Embiid's 76ers and a 32-point, 8-rebound, 15-assist game against Antetokounmpo's Bucks.

MVP moment

When the Mavs dealt Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards at the Feb. 10 trade deadline, making it clear they'd be a one-star team for at least the remainder of the season, Doncic responded with a career-high 51 points in a win over the Clippers that night.

Spencer Dinwiddie has established himself as a phenomenal clutch sidekick since arriving in that deal, and Doncic has been dominant, averaging 32.3 points with an effective field goal percentage of 52.7 as the Mavs have surged to fourth place in the West standings.

-- Tim MacMahon

Ja Morant | PG | Memphis Grizzlies

Stats: 27.6 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 6.7 APG | 34.0 3P%
MVP odds: +15000
Team record: 55-23 (second in West)

Case for MVP

Morant is the high-flying face of the franchise for a fun, young team that has the NBA's second-best record. He's an acrobat who attacks relentlessly, leading the league in points in the paint (16.8 per game) despite his size (6-foot-3, 174 pounds).

He's also a basketball savant who excels at setting up his teammates, averaging 6.7 assists per game. The Grizzlies' success without Morant is a testament to their talent and depth, as well as some fortunate scheduling, but it is difficult to make a case that a player is the most valuable in the league when his team is 20-2 without him.

MVP moment

Morant soared into the MVP conversation when he averaged 26.7 points on 50.5% shooting during the Grizzlies' 11-game winning streak in December and January. That run was highlighted by a road win in Phoenix, when Morant capped a 33-point performance by contorting his body in traffic to hit the winning shot in the final second.

But Morant's most impressive stretch of the season? That had to be when he broke the Grizzlies' regular-season scoring record in consecutive wins, following up a 46-point performance against the Bulls by scoring 52 on the Spurs.

-- MacMahon

Jayson Tatum | SF | Boston Celtics

Stats: 27.0 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 4.4 APG | 35.1 3P%
MVP odds: +25000
Team record: 49-30 (second in East)

Case for MVP

Tatum's season has mirrored his team's second-half rise. Early on, Tatum couldn't buy a bucket, shooting 41% from the field and 31% from 3-point range with some rotten shooting luck, as Boston scuffled to a .500 record through late January.

But since the Celtics took off at that point, Tatum has averaged almost 30 points while shooting over 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and just under 90% from the free throw line, making a credible case he has been the league's best player on what has been the league's best team for close to half the season.

MVP moment

Tatum's superlative performance against the Nets on March 6 was not only the standout game of his season, but it sits among the best games from any player in 2021-22. Tatum's 54 points in 41 minutes -- while often guarding Kevin Durant -- as he finished as a plus-12 in the Celtics' 126-120 victory in Boston was a reminder of Tatum's ceiling and how essential he has been to Boston's remarkable turnaround.

-- Bontemps

DeMar DeRozan | SG | Chicago Bulls

Stats: 28.0 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 5.0 APG | 50.3 FG%
MVP odds: +25000
Team record: 45-33 (fifth in East)

Case for MVP

The biggest reason the Bulls find themselves on the verge of their first playoff appearance since the 2016-17 season: the addition of DeRozan, an offseason signing that was maligned at the time but has turned into one of the most impactful.

At 32, DeRozan has put together a career year in his first season in Chicago, averaging 28.0 points per game (a career high and seventh in the NBA), 5.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds on 50.3% shooting. He had Chicago sitting near the top of the conference for most of the season's first five months because of dominance in the clutch and stretches of brilliance, such as an eight-game streak in February when he scored 35 points and shot better than 50% from the field each night, the first player with such a run since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963.

MVP moment

DeRozan became the first player in NBA history to hit a winning buzzer-beater on back-to-back days, knocking down go-ahead 3-pointers on the road against the Pacers on New Year's Eve and Wizards on New Year's Day.

Those performances were memorable, but they also underscored DeRozan's dominance in the clutch all season. No player in the NBA has scored more points (157) in clutch time -- the last five minutes of a fourth quarter or overtime with the score within five points -- and DeRozan's shooting splits (53.5 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 88.7 FT%) actually improve compared to his per-game averages (50.3, 35.5, 87.7).

-- Collier

EARLY SUPERSTAR CONTENDERS

Stephen Curry | PG | Golden State Warriors

Stats: 25.5 PPG | 5.2 RPG | 6.3 APG | 38.0 3P%
MVP odds: +25000
Team record: 50-29 (third in West)

Case for MVP

Stephen Curry has been the Warriors' most valuable player for, well, the past 10 years. And after finishing third in voting for the award in 2020-21, he has displayed yet again why he is so important to the team this season. Most recently, his value has become evident because of how the Warriors have played without him as he deals with a foot injury heading into the playoffs. The Warriors are 3-10 without him this season.

MVP moment

Curry started this season on a tear, propelling himself atop the early MVP conversation as he launched his way to the all-time record for career 3-pointers. Through the Warriors' first 15 games, Curry led the league in scoring, averaging 29.5 points per game with four 40-point performances, including a 50-point game against the Hawks on Nov. 8.

That night, Curry went 14-for-28 from the field and 9-of-19 from 3, hit all 13 of his free throws and dished out 10 assists. His strong start propelled the Warriors' to the top of the standings and inserted the former dynasty back into serious title contention.

-- Kendra Andrews

Kevin Durant | SF | Brooklyn Nets

Stats: 30.1 PPG | 7.3 RPG | 6.1 APG | 39.3 3P%
MVP odds: +25000
Team record: 40-38 (10th in East)

Case for MVP

Durant is the key to everything the Nets organization wants to accomplish. When it doesn't have him on the floor, Brooklyn looks lost -- as evidenced by Brooklyn's 5-17 record when Durant missed a month and a half because of a sprained MCL. Since returning March 3, Durant is averaging 30.2 points per game and has helped stabilize a soap-opera season that is headed for the play-in tournament.

MVP moment

Durant's brilliance has always been in his consistency, but if one moment shined through, it might be the 34-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist performance in 48 minutes as he carried his COVID-19-ravaged team during a 131-129 overtime win over the Raptors on Dec. 14. That came two nights after he dropped 51 in a win over the Pistons.

-- Nick Friedell

LeBron James | SF | Los Angeles Lakers

Stats: 30.3 PPG | 8.2 RPG | 6.2 APG | 52.4 FG%
MVP odds: +50000
Team record: 31-47 (11th in West)

Case for MVP

James has had the most dominant season for a 37-year-old in NBA history. He's on track to capture the scoring title by averaging 30.3 points per game -- the second scoring crown of his career a mere 14 years after his first one -- and has racked up six triple-doubles. He won't add a fifth MVP to his collection, as ESPN's recent poll of potential voters had him receiving only a smattering of votes. But his season was remarkable. "He is as deserving for MVP consideration as anybody in the league," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "You can't tell me that anybody has played a better season than LeBron James has this year."

MVP moment

James hit the 50-point plateau twice in a seven-day stretch in early March, dropping 56 points on 19-for-31 shooting in a win over the Warriors and hitting 50 on 18-for-25 shooting while beating the Wizards a week later. Those two wins were surrounded by nine Lakers losses before, in between and after. In other words, without James going into superhero mode, the Lakers didn't have a prayer. Preceding it was a 23-game run in which James scored 25 points or more, the longest such streak of his 19-year career.

-- Dave McMenamin

Bobby Witt Jr., regarded as one of the top prospects in the major leagues, will break camp with the Kansas City Royals as the team's starting third baseman.

Witt, who is ranked No. 2 in ESPN's top prospects for the 2022 season, was given the news Tuesday by Royals manager Mike Matheny and general manager J.J. Picollo as some of his teammates watched on.

"All the guys were congratulating me," Witt told reporters, according to MLB.com. "I can't really put words to the feeling how it was. My stomach sank. Tears came to my eyes. It's something I'll never forget."

The 21-year-old, whose regular position is at shortstop, fills a need at third base. Adalberto Mondesi, who had been penciled in at third, will instead play shortstop, and Nicky Lopez will be at second base.

Witt, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 MLB draft out of high school, has a .406 batting average during spring training, with three home runs, 11 runs, 8 RBIs and 2 stolen bases in 32 at-bats.

His father, Bobby Witt Sr., spent 16 seasons in the majors as a pitcher for Texas, Oakland, Florida/Miami, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Arizona.

Sale Sharks have confirmed World Cup-winning South Africa pair Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager will leave the club at the end of the season.

Both started the final against England and Sale team-mate Tom Curry.

Despite injury-disrupted spells for both since, they helped Sale finish third in the Premiership last season.

De Klerk has made 95 appearances for Sale so far, scoring 14 tries and 39 conversions in his 241 points for the club.

De Jager played 25 times for the club, scoring three tries.

Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf announced on Tuesday he will retire from the NHL following this season.

Getzlaf, 36, played his entire 17-year career with the Ducks and has captained the team for the past 11 seasons. He is currently injured but plans to play a few more games to close out the season. Getzlaf could be skating as soon as Thursday and his goal is to play in Anaheim's final home game, on April 24.

"It's been an honor to play in the NHL and spend my entire professional career with one organization," Getzlaf said in a statement. "None of this would have been possible without my family, who offered unwavering love and support each step of the way. Thank you to our owners, Henry and Susan Samueli, for leading an organization committed to success on the ice, but more importantly, to making a positive impact in our community and to those in need."

"A special thanks to the general managers, coaches, support staff, teammates, and of course, our fans. Playing for the Ducks and living in Orange County is a dream for an athlete, and much of that is because of you. Thank you all."

Getzlaf had been contemplating retirement ahead of this season, when he signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal to stay with the Ducks. According to sources, Getzlaf told teammates last week about his plans to officially retire. Getzlaf has had conversations with Ducks ownership about joining the front office postretirement sources say, although a role has not been formalized yet.

Getzlaf, a Saskatchewan native who was drafted at No. 19 in the first round by Anaheim in 2003, is one of only 13 players in NHL history to win two Olympic gold medals (with Canada, 2010 and 2014) and a Stanley Cup (2007). In 1,150 career NHL games, Getzlaf has scored 282 goals and 731 assists for 1,013 career points.

Getzlaf is Anaheim's all-time leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs.

"We are so proud of everything Ryan has accomplished in an amazing 17 years playing for the Ducks," Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said in a statement. "While we will all remember his leadership qualities on the ice, it is his community-first approach that has cemented his legacy in Orange County. In addition to spearheading the Ducks Learn to Play Program and numerous other organizational charitable initiatives, he launched his own such event with the Annual Getzlaf Shootout to benefit CureDuchenne, raising over $4.27 million to date."

There are only 11 other players in NHL history who have captained the same team for 10 years and scored 1,000 points. Of those other 11, nine are retired and have been eligible for the Hall of Fame, with eight inducted: Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic, Ray Bourque, Alex Delvecchio, Jean Beliveau, Jarome Iginla and Ron Francis. Two more of those 11 players are not yet eligible: current stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Hideki Matsuyama is the humblest of champions.

While he’s moved over to the champions’ locker room on the second floor of Augusta National’s clubhouse and into his shared space with Larry Mize, when it comes to parking spots, Matsuyama is keeping his old one alongside all the non-winners as to not draw more attention to himself.

But make no mistake, Matsuyama has enjoyed being the defending Masters champion.

“I feel very proud and honored to be here,” Matsuyama said during a sleepy Tuesday morning interview in the press center. “It's been a great year with wins at Zozo and Sony. Last couple of weeks, though, have been a struggle. Hopefully, I can find my game and be a worthy defending champion.”

At No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Matsuyama should be on the short list of potential winners this week. But he enters his Masters title defense fresh off two straight withdrawals and nursing a neck injury, which he suffered during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March.

The ailment knocked him out of the WGC-Dell Match Play two weeks ago, and then last week he felt pain-free on Monday and Tuesday of the Valero Texas Open before waking up Wednesday with more stiffness in his neck.

“But I've had, again, a lot of treatment the last couple of days,” Matsuyama said. “I just came from the practice range and really felt good. It's probably the best I felt in a long time. So, I'm looking forward to Thursday, and hopefully I'll be 100% by then. … As far as golf, besides the injury, I haven't really been able to hit a full shot, a 100% full shot in a long time, so that's still a question. But I feel like the treatment I've been receiving is helping. I'm on the road to full recovery.”

Matsuyama said Tuesday that he wished he had worn his green jacket more before he’s forced to keep it in his locker permanently beginning this week. He was so worried about something happening to his prized possession that he preferred to look at it more than wear it and didn’t dry clean it once even though it needed it.

He did enjoy hearing himself announced as the defending Masters champion on first tees this season, and before pulling out of Valero, he admitted he was “a little sad” because he would no longer be presented as such.

“It kind of made me feel,” Matsuyama said, “Hey, I need to go out and win it again so I can continue that highlight.”

The 86th Masters Tournament gets underway Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. Here's a look at first- and second-round tee times for the men's first major of the year (all times ET; all starting on hole No. 1; a = amateur):

Round 1

8:00 a.m. – Jose Maria Olazabal, J.J. Spaun
8:11 a.m. – Mike Weir, Padraig Harrington, Austin Greaser (a)
8:22 a.m. – Larry Mize, Sepp Straka, Francesco Molinari
8:33 a.m. – Fred Couples, Garrick Higgo, Guido Migliozzi
8:44 a.m. – Vijay Singh, Ryan Palmer, Kyoung-hoon Lee
8:55 a.m. – Min Woo Lee, Hudson Swafford, Cameron Young
9:06 a.m. – Stewart Cink, Brian Harman, Harry Higgs
9:17 a.m. – Zach Johnson, Si Woo Kim, Aaron Jarvis (a)
9:39 a.m. – Luke List, Matthew Wolff, Mackenzie Hughes
9:50 a.m. – Danny Willett, Jason Kokrak, Talor Gooch
10:01 a.m. – Max Homa, Kevin Na. Shane Lowry
10:12 a.m. – Kevin Kisner, Daniel Berger, Tommy Fleetwood
10:23 a.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Paul Casey
10:34 a.m. – Tiger Woods, Louis Oosthuizen, Joaquin Niemann
10:45 a.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, James Piot (a)
10:56 a.m. – Adam Scott, Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau
11:18 a.m. – Sandy Lyle, Stewart Hagestad (a)
11:29 a.m. – Lucas Glover, Erik van Rooyen, Cameron Champ
11:40 a.m. – Bernhard Langer, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Cameron Davis
11:51 a.m. – Charl Schwartzel, Robert MacIntyre, Laird Shepherd (a)
12:02 p.m. – Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, Takumi Kanaya
12:13 p.m. – Lee Westwood, Russell Henley, Corey Conners
12:24 p.m. – Patrick Reed, Seamus Power, Lucas Herbert
12:35 p.m. – Bubba Watson, Tom Hoge, Keita Nakajima (a)
12:57 p.m. – Marc Leishman, Webb Simpson, Sungjae Im
1:08 p.m. – Sergio Garcia, Thomas Pieters, Harold Varner III
1:19 p.m. – Abraham Ancer, Tyrrell Hatton, Sam Burns
1:30 p.m. – Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa
1:41 p.m. – Will Zalatoris, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm
1:52 p.m. – Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele
2:03 p.m. – Matthew Fitzpatrick, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy

Round 2

8:00 a.m. – Sandy Lyle, Stewart Hagestad (a)
8:11 a.m. – Lucas Glover, Erik van Rooyen, Cameron Champ
8:22 a.m. – Bernhard Langer, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Cameron Davis
8:33 a.m. – Charl Schwartzel, Robert MacIntyre, Laird Shepherd (a)
8:44 a.m. – Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, Takumi Kanaya
8:55 a.m. – Lee Westwood, Russell Henley, Corey Conners
9:06 a.m. – Patrick Reed, Seamus Power, Lucas Herbert
9:17 a.m. – Bubba Watson, Tom Hoge, Keita Nakajima (a)
9:39 a.m. – Marc Leishman, Webb Simpson, Sungjae Im
9:50 a.m. – Sergio Garcia, Thomas Pieters, Harold Varner III
10:01 a.m. – Abraham Ancer, Tyrrell Hatton, Sam Burns
10:12 a.m. – Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa
10:23 a.m. – Will Zalatoris, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm
10:34 a.m. – Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele
10:45 a.m. – Matthew Fitzpatrick, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy
10:56 a.m. – Jose Maria Olazabal, J.J. Spaun
11:18 a.m. – Mike Weir, Padraig Harrington, Austin Greaser (a)
11:29 a.m. – Larry Mize, Sepp Straka, Francesco Molinari
11:40 a.m. – Fred Couples, Garrick Higgo, Guido Migliozzi
11:51 a.m. – Vijay Singh, Ryan Palmer, Kyoung-hoon Lee
12:02 p.m. – Min Woo Lee, Hudson Swafford, Cameron Young
12:13 p.m. – Stewart Cink, Brian Harman, Harry Higgs
12:24 p.m. – Zach Johnson, Si Woo Kim, Aaron Jarvis (a)
12:35 p.m. – Luke List, Matthew Wolff, Mackenzie Hughes
12:57 p.m. – Danny Willett, Jason Kokrak, Talor Gooch
1:08 p.m. – Max Homa, Kevin Na. Shane Lowry
1:19 p.m. – Kevin Kisner, Daniel Berger, Tommy Fleetwood
1:30 p.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Paul Casey
1:41 p.m. – Tiger Woods, Louis Oosthuizen, Joaquin Niemann
1:52 p.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, James Piot (a)
2:03 p.m. – Adam Scott, Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau

AUGUSTA, Ga. – As Tiger Woods faces a challenging walk this week around Augusta National, he won’t be navigating the hills in Nike golf shoes.

Woods arrived Sunday for his Masters prep wearing black FootJoy Premier Series Packard shoes, and for the past two days he’s donned the white version.

Asked about the switch Tuesday morning, Woods explained that he needed a more stable shoe for his surgically repaired right leg, but he added that his footwear relationship with Nike isn’t over.

“I have very limited mobility now,” Woods said. “Just with the rods and plates and screws that are in my leg, I needed something different, something that allowed me to be more stable. That's what I've gone to. Nike's been fantastic over the years of providing me with equipment and work, and we have worked, we've been working on trying to find something to allow me to do this and swing again. We're still going to continue doing it, and hopefully we'll have something soon.”

While FootJoy chose not to comment, Nike released a statement earlier this week:

“Like golf fans around the world, we are delighted to see Tiger back on the course. He is an incredible athlete, and it is phenomenal to see him returning to the game at this level. His story continues to transcend sport and inspire us all. As he continues his return, we will work with him to meet his new needs.”

Woods also isn’t concerned about slipping in his new kicks.

“I've got metals in,” he said. “Even with the rain, it doesn't really concern me.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. – As armchair sleuths tracked Tiger Woods’ private plane on its way to Augusta National last week and speculated whether the five-time Masters champion would play the year’s first major, he was focused on more personal goals.

Woods played Augusta National last Tuesday with his son, Charlie, and Justin Thomas. It was an encouraging sign for a player who has been sidelined by injury for nearly a year and a half following a devastating car crash in February 2021. But for Woods, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“It meant a lot to both of us,” Woods said Tuesday. “[Charlie] had a chance to play right before the '20 Masters, and he's grown a lot since then, become a lot better player. It was fun to see the changes in him, and for us as a family to go out here and have Robbie out here and JT, who's like my younger brother and Charlie's older brother, for us to come out here and just play together, we just had a blast.”

Woods, who has limited his preparation to nine-hole practice rounds on Sunday and Monday and only went to the practice range on Tuesday, played 27 holes last Tuesday with Charlie.

“That's why I came up here and tested it out for 27 holes because we played the par-3 course. Charlie couldn't help himself,” Woods smiled.

Woods also said he enjoyed being able to experience the unique challenge of Augusta National with his son.

“Just trying to remind him, these putts break a little more than they do back home. Florida greens are not quite like Augusta,” Woods said. “It was pretty funny, he says, ‘Just outside left?’ I said, ‘No, it's more like 3 feet outside left.’”