It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of another year as 2025 is drawing to a close today. It’s been a big year for me personally and a great year for this blog as we continue to add new members to the Breakdown family. We have all put a lot of work into this project and hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed doing it for you. We’ll have more retrospective thoughts at the end but now it’s time for me to hand out some end of year awards. We’ll be handing out some deserving as well as dubious honors for the teams, personnel, and games that helped make 2025 a memorable year in New York sports. We don’t have a host for this award show since Conan and Ricky Gervais turned us down, so you’re stuck with yours truly, so let’s get it rolling!

Best Game

Winner – Celtics @ Knicks Game 6: The first award of the night goes to what was undoubtedly the best game of the calendar year in this town. Game six of round against the Celtics was a night 20 year in the making for Knicks fans everywhere. All the frustration and pain of the 2000’s Dolan era washed away as this new era of Knicks basketball reached its zenith (so far). Celtics fans will say “but Tatum wasn’t there” while they conveniently ignore the fact they had lost three games with him in the lineup. The Knicks put on a show befitting of Broadway in front of one the best crowds in MSG history, which spilled out onto the street to celebrate advancing to their first conference final since 2000. It may sound hyperbolic for a round two blow out, but it’s a night we will all remember for a long time to come!

Best Performance

Winner – Cam Schlittler vs Boston: Could we go with anything else for the best single game performance award? “Killer” Cam Schlittler took the mound in a do or die game three against the Red Sox in the Bronx and turned in one of the most special performances in Yankee playoff history. The 24-year-old Massachusetts native fanned 12 Red Sox that night sending the crowd into a frenzy and fortunately for him, the Yankees decided to hit that night as they backed him up with four runs. David Bednar and Ryan McMahon put the finishes touches on the game and the Yanks were on their way to Toronto…and the less said about that the better. Hopefully we see more of this from Cam in 2026!

Worst Performance

Winner – Giants Defense: There is no unit of players who should be more ashamed of themselves in this town than the 2025 Giants defense. This defense came into the season with the expectation that it could actually win the team some games as the front office made some investments in it with Abdul Carter and key free agents joining the mix. But big blues stop troops did anything but win them games, as they wound costing them several contests instead. Blown leads became their trademark, and their attitude was even worse as they fought the media, ignored their coaches and literally slept through meetings. They can blame everyone outside locker room, but at the end of the day it falls on the players and this performance was utterly shameful.

Best Moment

Winner – Judge’s homer vs Toronto: Our moment of the year comes from big number 99 himself. Judge, who had rightfully worn the collar for some miserable postseason performances in years gone by, was finally having a solid playoff run in 2025. The bad news is that just as he got going the Yankees were facing elimination to the Jays in game three at home. Down 6-1 early he would start the comeback with a double and a run scored and then come back to the plate as the tying run down 6-3. The Stadium crowd was looking for some October magic and on an 0-2 pitch that is exactly what they got as Judge turned on an inside pitch, doinking it off the foul pole in left to tie the game at 6-6. The homer is the signature playoff moment of his career so far and after Jazz Chisholm homered later in the game to take the lead, the bombers would survive 7-6 to live to play another day. Sadly, the season ended a night later, but this was spine tingling moment for 99.

Worst Moment

Winner – Halliburton’s Shot: It doesn’t need any further description does it folks? If game six versus Boston will live on positively, game one versus Indiana will do so negatively. This game appeared to be ending as another great win as the Knicks had built a large lead in the fourth with Jalen Brunson on the bench in foul trouble. But some sloppy play, an unconscious Aaron NeSmith and some missed foul shots set the stage for a painful moment. Tyrese Halliburton did his best (and most annoying) Reggie Miller impression by hitting what looked to be a step back game winning three to steal game one. Upon further review it was ruled a two and the game went to OT, but the Knicks couldn’t recover in the game or the series. This loss set the tone for the whole conference final as the Knicks went down in six to the rival Pacers…a tough pill to swallow after having another magical run.

Rookie of the Year

Winner – Matthew Schaefer: There are breaths of fresh air and then there is the new kid on the Island. The Islanders got lucky last summer and hit the draft lottery, winning the first pick in 2025, and with it the rights to draft Matthew Schaefer. Schaefer immediately became an endearing figure with his upbeat personality and moving family story. He has only furthered that likability but acting like a leader on and off the ice for the orange and blue, while putting in solid performances with good numbers. He’s put up 24 points (nine goals and 15 assists) and is a +8 on the back end, all stats that are helping to guide the Islanders into a playoff spot in the East. Here’s to many more years like this one from number 48!

Breakout Star

Winner – Nolan McLean & Tyler Kolek Split It: It was so hard to pick just one breakout star in New York in 2025, so I’m going to pick two. The first is new Mets ace Nolan McLean, who came up in the second half of the season and dominated on the bump. Number 26 showed all of his immense talent in a brief appearance for the Mets, which made him a sensation across the five boroughs. His follow up in 2026 will be hotly anticipated as he is expected to help lead the Mets pitching staff.

Meanwhile on the hardwood there is the new fan favorite for the Knicks fan base, guard Tyler Kolek. Number 13 was last year’s first round pick, but he hardly featured for the 24-25 squad. But that is changing here in 25-26 as Kolek is coming in off the bench and contributing in a big way night after night for the Knicks. Mike Brown has placed his faith in the brash second year man and he is repaying that faith in spades. Bravo to Kolek for not quitting after hardly getting to play last year.

Worst Team

Winner – Jets & Giants Split It: Could this go to anyone else? The judges had such a hard time deciding this one, they figured they should both win. So here we are, at the end of another miserable New York football season, with six wins total between the two teams. They are both a joke, the Giants culture in the toilet and Brian Daboll fired mid-year, while Aaron Glenn is doing all he can to be one and done. The Giants at least have the illusion of hope waiting next year with their new core…the Jets…we’re way past hope. Start praying to your deity of choice for gang green.

Biggest Disappointment

Winner – Rangers & Mets Split It: There is disappointing and then there are these two. We’ll start with the Mets who entered 2025 with massive excitement around the team. Juan Soto delivered on the promise, while the rest of the team really didn’t at all. They started off okay but lost their way mid summer and never recovered. That letdown has led to an offseason of momentous change as GM David Stearns changes the mix in hopes of improving the squad.

Then there are the Rangers, who frankly deserve this away more because they have managed to carry their awfulness through the end of the year and into 2026. Last year’s squad quit on the coach, the GM, the fans and each other, and much like the Mets this led to a major overhaul in the summer. Unfortunately they didn’t do nearly enough to improve as 25-26 version of the team is even worse to watch. Their low’s are staggering and they have quite frankly become the most unlikeable team in town.

Pink Slip Recipient

Winner – Chris Drury: You probably thought I’d go with Joe Schoen here, but that’s beating a dead horse. I could even go with Aaron Glenn, who I was in favor of keeping until his recent handiwork on the field and in the press room. But instead I’ll go with MSG’s invisible exec, Chris Drury. The Rangers GM is seldom heard from, but I’d hide from the public too if I put this motley crew together. Drury has been in charge since 2021 and has failed to produce anything of substance besides helping to lead the Rangers culture to the bottom of the barrel. This organization actually ran well from 2006 up until now, but the negative ugly tone that surrounds and defines it stems from the top down. He is far from alone in terms of blame, I don’t even blame for making some of the moves he made in theory, but outside of coach Mike Sullivan and a few players, the Blueshirts need a fresh approach!

GM of the Year

Winner – Leon Rose: Forgiven the basketball pun, but Leon Rose was a slam dunk in this category. The architect of the Knicks rise to contender status has unlike Drury, pushed all the right buttons. He gambled on a coaching change and so far Mike Brown has repaid his faith in him. He brought in Jordan Clarkson, kept Landry Shamet, Tyler Kolek and Deuce McBride and in turn has a team that is extremely deep. At 23-9, the Knicks and their extremely deep lineup feel like the team to beat in a weak Eastern Conference. Now it’s up to Leon to add another piece or two at the deadline to fortify the roster, or maybe push his chips further into the middle, if the right player is available.

Coach of the Year

Winner – Tom Thibodeau & Mike Brown: I know splitting the win here may sound odd but hear me out on this. If we include everything that occurred in 2025 then how can we not go with both Knicks coaches. Let’s start with Thibs. Yes, he didn’t play his bench much and that short coming likely cost him his job, but as last spring’s playoffs progressed, he did do a lot right. He put his best guys in position to succeed and adjusted well against Boston the round two. We will forever be indebted to Thibs for the role he played in moving the Knicks forward, even if he didn’t get to finish the job.

As for Mike Brown, he deserves a ton of credit for this team’s great start. Brown’s infectious personality seems to have done this group plenty of good as the vibes are high on the bench. More importantly he has trusted his bench to help the team win, and that has led to significant contributions from players up and down the roster, making the Knicks even harder to beat. I compared these two to Joe Torre replacing Buck Showalter and so far, maybe I’ll get lucky and be right about that analogy…fingers crossed!

Top Performers

Before we wrap up, here’s some of the top performers in town in each sport…minus football…cause no one on the Jets or Giants have done enough to celebrate them.

What’s Ahead

As the calendar turns to 2026 there is plenty to look forward to, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now. We have the Knicks quest for their first title since 1973, the Isles (and maybe Rangers) push for the playoffs, and the NFL Draft where maybe the Jets and Giants can continue and or start the turn around…who knows anymore. If you really want to get excited, opening day and the change from our bitter winter is 85 days away, now we just need the Yankees and Mets to get their act together.

In a non-sports sense 2025 was a big year for yours truly. I bought my first home, traveled the world, and got engaged to my fiancée. This year reminded me how lucky I am to have a great support system of friends (shoutout the Bachelor Party crew), family who were there for me and Briana throughout a lot of big changes in our lives. It was a fine journey around the sun, and I can’t wait for 2026. In 45 days, I get to marry my best friend…see you at the altar Ms. Broadway Breakdown!

All of us here at Breakdown wish you a happy and healthy New Year, full of good things throughout. Thank you for your patronage of the last two plus years and we are excited to bring you even more great content in 2026, so stay tuned! On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.