Yardbarker

Kenneth Ray Jr.

Kenneth Ray, Jr., is a Kansas City native and a longtime fan of the Chiefs and Royals. A former college basketball player, he has a deep appreciation for the talent and athleticism of professional athletes and an enduring love for sports history. As a writer, he creates engaging narratives that are precise, informative, and insightful.

Knicks vs. Pistons looks like a heated rivalry in the making

On Monday night, Jan. 5, the top two teams in the NBA’s Eastern Conference will square off. 

Pistons' conquest of Lakers showcases team's strengths

With a 128-106 dismantling of the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night, the Detroit Pistons showed why they are top dogs in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

Pistons looking to halt two-game skid on Western road swing

After starting their 10-day, five-game Western road swing with victories over the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings, the Detroit Pistons find themselves mired in a two-game skid after dropping back-to-back games to the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. 

Can Pistons do the improbable on Western Conference road trip?

The Detroit Pistons are in the middle of a 10-day, five-game Western Conference road trip, and with hard-fought victories over the Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings, it is off to a great start.

Five things the Chiefs must do to return to Super Bowl contenders

Here are five things the Chiefs must do to return to greatness.

How did Pistons end up at top of Eastern Conference?

The Pistons have exceeded the expectations of just about everybody, and it appears that their remarkable 21-5 start is no fluke.

Three reasons fans should still be encouraged if Chiefs miss playoffs

Should the Chiefs falter down the stretch this season, there are three good reasons why their fans can be optimistic about the future.

Grading the Pistons a quarter of the way through the season

At the end of the first quarter of the 2025-26 season, the Detroit Pistons are sitting atop the NBA’s Eastern Conference standings with a record of 19-5.

Is it time for the Steelers to move on from Mike Tomlin?

Tomlin is one of the most successful coaches in NFL history.

What must Chiefs do to earn a playoff berth?

After a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Chiefs are 6-6 and seeded 10th in the AFC. 

After a shaky start, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has returned to form

Early in the 2025 NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker seemed to be having a rough time. The normally sure-footed Butker was not only missing makeable field goals, he was shanking extra points and sending kickoffs out of bounds at the most inopportune times.

How do current Pistons compare to previous editions that also won 13 straight games?

While comparing the current Pistons to the great teams of yesteryear might be a bit unfair, there are a couple of striking similarities between them and a few notable differences.

Is the Pistons' early-season success sustainable?

The Detroit Pistons’ hot start is the feel-good story of the 2025-26 NBA season. The Pistons are 13-2, and currently on an 11-game winning streak.

Four reasons why Chiefs find themselves outside NFL playoff picture

What’s gone wrong with the Chiefs? Here are four key reasons why the team is no longer the juggernaut it once was.

Just how important is Broncos game for Chiefs?

All eyes will be on the marquee matchup this Sunday between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs.

What’s fueling the red-hot Detroit Pistons, owners of best record in Eastern Conference

With their seventh consecutive win Monday — a 137-135 triumph over the struggling Washington Wizards — the 9-2 Detroit Pistons now own the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Three glaring weaknesses Chiefs must address during bye week

Amid their bye week and ahead of a tough second-half schedule, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has three glaring weaknesses he must address.

Is Pistons star Cade Cunningham getting even better?

Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham started the 2025-26 season with a new look. A closer look reveals that his game may have undergone a bit of a transformation, too.

Should we be talking more about the Chiefs defense?

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense garners most of the attention, but should the defense be getting more love?

Five things Pistons must do to continue ascent

The Detroit Pistons made a splash in the 2024-25. Here are five things they need to do to continue their rise. 

Five reasons why Colts are real deal in AFC

At 6-1, the Colts boast the AFC's best record, but there is a lot more to like about this team than wins and losses. Here are five compelling reasons why the Colts are the class of the conference.

Is it time for the Chiefs to part ways with Harrison Butker?

After a boneheaded out-of-bounds kickoff in Jacksonville that gifted the Jaguars a head start in their game-winning drive, social media was set ablaze by fans trolling Butker for his blunder, with many demanding his dismissal.