Kevin Durant became the 8th player in NBA history to score 31,000 points or more on Friday, making history in doing so.
The 37-year-old Rockets superstar tied his close friend and close rival LeBron James for the 3rd-fastest ever in NBA history to achieve the feat with 1,141 games played. Only Wilt Chamberlain (1,015 games) and Michael Jordan (1,011 games) achieved it faster.
Durant made the historic accomplishment with a right-wing jumper in the first-quarter of their game vs the Phoenix Suns.
Durant currently sits at 8th in the NBA&rsquo;s all-time scoring list, with Wilt Chamberlain (31,419 points) and Dirk Nowitzki (31,560 points) next in line for Durant to surpass.

Kevin Durant became the 8th player in NBA history to score 31,000 points or more on Friday, making history in doing so.

Kevin Durant ties LeBron James for 3rd-fastest ever to score 31,000 points

LeBron James&rsquo; remarkable streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games scoring at least 10 points &ndash; the longest in NBA history &ndash; officially came to an end, marking the close of one of the most unbreakable statistical runs the league has ever seen.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar finished with just 8 points in a win over the Toronto Raptors, snapping a streak that had been active since January 2007 and spanned nearly two decades. Despite the milestone ending, LeBron delivered in other ways, tallying 11 assists and making the final pass that set up the game-winning three at the buzzer.
After the game, LeBron downplayed the significance of the streak ending, saying the only thing that mattered was the Lakers escaping with a victory.
LeBron&rsquo;s streak had long been considered one of the NBA&rsquo;s most unassailable feats. No other player in league history has come remotely close, as the previous record was 866 games. LeBron extended the mark by more than 400 games, and the streak survived injuries, team changes, off-court adversity, and era-to-era shifts in how NBA basketball is played.
Throughout that span, LeBron entered every game as one of the league&rsquo;s most durable and consistent performers &ndash; a superstar who could be counted on to produce night after night.
The final sequence that ended the streak almost served as its epilogue.
Rather than take a shot late to preserve a personal record, LeBron made the extra pass, finding Rui Hachimura in the corner for the go-ahead three. It was a fitting reflection of the way LeBron has always approached the game &ndash; with an emphasis on making the right basketball play, as he does over the course of his entire career.
It also highlighted his evolving role in his 23rd season, where scoring isn&rsquo;t his sole responsibility. With Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic stepping up offensively, LeBron has increasingly leaned into playmaking, leadership, and game management to guide the Lakers.

LeBron James’ remarkable streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games scoring at least 10 points officially comes to an end.

LeBron’s all-time double-digit scoring streak ends at 1,297 games

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly mulling his future with the franchise, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
The 31-year-old two-time NBA MVP and his representatives have begun a formal evaluation of his status with the franchise, with discussions ranging from potential roster improvements to the possibility of a future trade. These conversations come at a time when the Bucks have underperformed early in the season, adding heightened scrutiny to the organization&rsquo;s direction.&nbsp;
Giannis is currently averaging 30+ points on 60% FG or better in a third straight NBA season. No other NBA player has done it in history.
Antetokounmpo has maintained a consistent public message for years &ndash; he wants to be in an environment fully committed to competing for championships. While Milwaukee has remained a strong team on paper, recent struggles and an aging supporting cast have created renewed questions about whether the Bucks can meet that standard.
Giannis has reportedly not closed the door on either possibility: remaining in Milwaukee or seeking a new opportunity elsewhere.
The Bucks now face one of the most delicate situations in franchise history. With Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s contract status giving the organization limited time to act, Milwaukee must determine whether it can upgrade the roster sufficiently to match his title aspirations.
Should talks shift toward exploring a potential move, rival franchises across the league would immediately position themselves to pursue a generational star still in his prime. Internal confidence in keeping Giannis remains, but the urgency is unmistakable.
Milwaukee&rsquo;s front office is expected to continue discussions with Giannis and his camp in the coming weeks as both sides work toward clarity on the franchise&rsquo;s path forward.
The Bucks will likely face several critical checkpoints before the trade deadline, with their on-court performance and roster decisions playing significant roles in shaping Giannis&rsquo; outlook.
For now, the future of one of the league&rsquo;s top players remains fluid &mdash; and Milwaukee&rsquo;s next moves could determine whether the partnership continues or heads toward a dramatic turning point.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly mulling his future with the franchise, reports say.

Giannis Antetokounmpo mulling over future with Bucks

In one of the most bizarre moves in the league ever, the Los Angeles Clippers have announced they will be &lsquo;sending home&rsquo; former star guard and now veteran Chris Paul.
In a news first broken by NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Clippers are reportedly releasing the 38-year-old point guard, whose prime years were spent and played with in the city of angels.
The Clippers front office led by president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank issued a statement shortly after the surprising move, saying, the franchise is parting ways with Paul and is willing to &ldquo;work with him on the next step of his career.&rdquo; The statement praised Paul&rsquo;s impact, calling him &ldquo;a legendary Clipper,&rdquo; and emphasized that the decision was not a result of assigning blame for the team&rsquo;s poor start &ndash; rather, the front office accepted responsibility for the overall underperformance.
The Clippers entered this season with high hopes after re-signing Paul to a one-year, US$3.6 million deal, returning to the franchise where he starred from 2011&ndash;2017. Paul previously announced he&rsquo;s retiring at the end of the season, marking this season as his last in the league.
As of the release, LA sits at a 5&ndash;16 record, a disappointing record that ranks among the worst in the Western Conference &ndash; and far off the expectations set for a veteran-heavy club. Paul&rsquo;s own bench production this season was modest &ndash; but stats show him averaging career-low numbers in limited minutes backing up starting guard James Harden.
Sources say the decision came in the middle of a road trip, with Paul learning about his release late in the night before a scheduled game. In a now-viral social media post, Paul wrote simply, &ldquo;Just found out I&rsquo;m being sent home,&rdquo; accompanied by a peace emoji.&nbsp;
ANALYSIS: For Paul &ndash; a 12-time All-Star, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and a central figure in the Clippers&rsquo; &ldquo;Lob City&rdquo; era &ndash; the release ends a reunion that many hoped would serve as a farewell tour.&nbsp;
Despite sitting on the fringes of the rotation this season, Paul remains one of the NBA&rsquo;s all-time leaders in assists and steals, and his resume includes remarkable longevity and consistency.
From the Clippers&rsquo; perspective, the move appears driven by a desire to shake up a struggling roster and reset direction &ndash; a sign the front office believes the veteran-heavy mix no longer fits their timeline or strategy. Frank&rsquo;s statement explicitly noted the franchise&rsquo;s underperformance, not the player, as the impetus. This likely signals the Clippers signing a younger player to help the team, especially in the athleticism department. The Clippers might also shake it up and make some additional moves, including possibly trading away some players on the roster to try and get better.
Paul&rsquo;s next steps &ndash; whether another team picks him up, he searches for a trade, or he heads toward retirement &ndash; are uncertain. Given his age (40) and status, this could well mark the end of his storied NBA tenure.
The Clippers must now adjust their guard rotation and re-evaluate their direction, possibly leaning more on younger players or exploring trades as they navigate a disappointing start.
The optics and fan reaction are likely to be heated &ndash; releasing a beloved franchise icon mid-season is rare and has generated significant criticism among fans and analysts.
This turn of events might go down as one of the most bizarre and talked-about roster shifts of the season. What looked like a leadership move &ndash; a returned legend finishing his career in L.A. &ndash; ended instead with a stark severance.

In one of the most bizarre moves in the league ever, the Clippers have announced they will be ‘sending home’ team icon Chris Paul.

Clippers release franchise legend Chris Paul in shocking early-season move

The field is locked. After five weeks of competitive group play across both conferences, the NBA has finalized the 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal bracket, with eight teams advancing to the knockout stage beginning December 9 and 10.
<h3>Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, Suns advance out West</h3>
Defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder headline the Western Conference after sweeping Group A and opening Cup play with the same dominance they&rsquo;ve shown all season. They are joined by the Los Angeles Lakers, who also topped their group, and the San Antonio Spurs, who punched their ticket on the final night thanks to a dramatic comeback win over the Denver Nuggets.
The Phoenix Suns claimed the West&rsquo;s wild-card spot, edging out several contenders through point differential and closing the group phase with momentum.
<h3>Magic, Raptors, Knicks, Heart complete East bracket</h3>
In the East, the Orlando Magic clinched Group B behind strong two-way play, the Toronto Raptors taking Group A, while the New York Knicks took Group C after stringing together consistent defensive performances. The Miami Heat emerged as the wild-card qualifier, setting up the slate for the East that features familiar playoff-style matchups.
<h3>Quarterfinal Matchups (Dec. 9&ndash;10)</h3>
December 9 &ndash; Eastern Conference
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Miami Heat at Orlando Magic</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors</li>
</ul>
December 10 &ndash; Western Conference
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers</li>
</ul>
<h3>A pathway through Las Vegas</h3>
As with last season, the Emirates NBA Cup knockout games carry regular-season implications, with the exception of the championship game. Winners of next week&rsquo;s quarterfinals will advance to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 13, with the Cup final scheduled for December 16 at T-Mobile Arena.
<h3>Storylines to watch</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The champs look locked in: The Thunder continue to play like a team eyeing back-to-back banners, maintaining one of the best records in the league through Cup play.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Spurs&rsquo; late surge: San Antonio&rsquo;s dramatic final-night win over Denver showcased their improvement and composure &ndash; and set up a compelling showdown with the Lakers. It remains to be seen if star Victor Wembanyama will be available to suit up for this big matchup.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Wild-card intrigue: The Suns in particular pose a threat, especially after stabilizing their play late in the group stage.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The East is wide open: With Orlando emerging as one of the NBA&rsquo;s strongest defensive teams and the Knicks riding momentum, the Heat and Raptors will look to steal a path to Las Vegas.</li>
</ul>
The quarterfinals now bring single-elimination stakes, star-powered matchups, and an early-season playoff feel &ndash; with one team just three wins away from lifting this year&rsquo;s NBA Cup.

After five weeks of competitive group play across both conferences, the 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal bracket has been set.

2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals officially set

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to climb the NBA record books, extending his streak of consecutive 20-point games to 92, now the second-longest such run in league history.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached the milestone with a 37-point performance in the Thunder&rsquo;s win over the Phoenix Suns, pushing him past Oscar Robertson and tying Wilt Chamberlain&rsquo;s second-longest streak. The only player ahead of him is Chamberlain himself, who holds the all-time record with 126 straight 20-point outings.
The Thunder guard has been on this torrid scoring stretch since last season, carrying the momentum of an MVP-caliber run and the team&rsquo;s championship push. His consistency has powered Oklahoma City to another dominant start, and he remains the engine of one of the league&rsquo;s most efficient offenses.
Already one of the NBA&rsquo;s premier three-level scorers, Gilgeous-Alexander has elevated his game further this season, blending elite shot creation with improved playmaking and efficiency. His ability to deliver every night has given the Thunder a remarkably high offensive floor, while also solidifying his place among the league&rsquo;s true superstars.
Oklahoma City has surged to one of the league&rsquo;s best records again this year, and Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s nightly output is a major reason why. The Thunder are riding another extended winning streak, and the 27-year-old guard continues to show no signs of slowing down.
Now sitting alone in second place on the NBA&rsquo;s all-time consecutive 20-point games list, Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s next target is Chamberlain&rsquo;s towering mark. If he maintains this pace, he will have a realistic opportunity to challenge the record later in the season.
Regardless of where the streak ultimately ends, Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s historic consistency is further cementing his legacy &ndash; and reinforcing Oklahoma City&rsquo;s status as a title contender built around one of the league&rsquo;s most reliable and dominant scorers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues make history, extending his streak of consecutive 20-point games to 92, now the second-longest.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extends 20+ points streak to 92 games for 2nd all-time

After missing the start of the 2025-26 season due to offseason wrist surgery, star wing Jalen Williams is finally poised to return to action this week. The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that Williams has been removed from the injury report and will make his season debut Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Williams underwent surgery this summer to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist &ndash; an injury he played through during the Thunder&rsquo;s championship run. Just recently, he had a follow-up procedure to remove an irritation-causing screw, causing a brief delay. With that cleared, medical staff now believe he&rsquo;s ready to log minutes again.
ANALYSIS: What this means for OKC is that Williams was one of their most dependable players last season &ndash; he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game before the injury.
His comeback gives the Thunder renewed offensive firepower and defensive versatility, strengthening a roster already off to a dominant start. With Oklahoma City holding one of the best records early this season, the timing couldn&rsquo;t be better and they could unlock another gear with him on the board.
While his delayed return means he will likely miss the threshold for postseason-award eligibility this year, the long-term upside remains significant given his age and role in the franchise.
However, questions will be raised significantly on how quickly will Williams integrate back into the rotation &ndash; and will he be able to regain his pre-injury rhythm and effectiveness. Will the Thunder adjust his minutes initially to ease him back in, or ride his competitive drive from game one? With OKC already rolling, can Williams help sustain their momentum deeper into the season, especially come playoff time?
The return of Jalen Williams marks a major boost for the defending champs &ndash; and with his mix of scoring, playmaking and defense, Oklahoma City may be even more dangerous than they were last season.

After missing the start of the 2025-26 season due to offseason wrist surgery, star wing Jalen Williams is finally poised to return to action. The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that Williams has been removed from the injury report and will make his season debut Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Williams underwent surgery this summer to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist &ndash; an injury he played through during the Thunder&rsquo;s championship run. Just recently, he had a follow-up procedure to remove an irritation-causing screw, causing a brief delay. With that cleared, medical staff now believe he&rsquo;s ready to log minutes again.
ANALYSIS: What this means for OKC is that Williams was one of their most dependable players last season &ndash; he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game before the injury.
His comeback gives the Thunder renewed offensive firepower and defensive versatility, strengthening a roster already off to a dominant start. With Oklahoma City holding one of the best records early this season, the timing couldn&rsquo;t be better and they could unlock another gear with him on the board.
While his delayed return means he will likely miss the threshold for postseason-award eligibility this year, the long-term upside remains significant given his age and role in the franchise.
However, questions will be raised significantly on how quickly will Williams integrate back into the rotation &ndash; and will he be able to regain his pre-injury rhythm and effectiveness. Will the Thunder adjust his minutes initially to ease him back in, or ride his competitive drive from game one? With OKC already rolling, can Williams help sustain their momentum deeper into the season, especially come playoff time?
The return of Jalen Williams marks a major boost for the defending champs &ndash; and with his mix of scoring, playmaking and defense, Oklahoma City may be even more dangerous than they were last season.

After missing the start of the 2025-26 season due to offseason wrist surgery, star wing Jalen Williams is finally poised to return to action.

Jalen Williams set to make season debut for reigning champions Thunder

At a time when teams continue to stack star power on their rosters, the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat are reminding the league that cohesion, continuity and belief can be just as powerful as raw superstar talent. A month into the season, Toronto and Miami sit second and third in the Eastern Conference standings &ndash; one riding a nine-game winning streak, the other stringing together six straight of its own. Few saw it coming, and that&rsquo;s what makes these early season runs so compelling and interesting.
On paper, neither team features a consensus top-15 player in the league. Neither projects as a typical juggernaut in a conference dominated by headliners like Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid, and star-studded teams like the Knicks. Yet night after night, the Raptors and Heat are outplaying teams built around bigger names and heavier expectations. What they lack in marquee shine, they make up for in depth, grit and a brand of basketball that feels increasingly rare in a star-driven era.
And as their streaks stretch longer and their records grow stronger, the question shifts from how they&rsquo;re doing it to why it works &ndash; and what it says about the modern NBA.
<h2>Toronto&rsquo;s rise: A team built on trust, depth, and a new identity</h2>
Toronto&rsquo;s transformation didn&rsquo;t happen overnight, but it finally feels like they are taking a step in the right direction. A few years removed from rebuilding their roster and recalibrating their direction, the Raptors have found their identity &ndash; a team that scores by committee, defends with intent and plays like a group that genuinely trusts each other.
What once felt like a roster in transition has become a roster in sync, led by head coach Darko Rajakovic.
Six Raptors currently average double-digit scoring, but none dominate the box score on a nightly basis. Instead, Toronto thrives through balance. Brandon Ingram, acquired last season in what initially felt like a mid-focused get, has evolved into their stabilizer and clutch-time go-to scorer. His shot creation gives Toronto an anchor; his poise gives them belief. When the game slows, the ball finds Ingram, and the Raptors find comfort.
Alongside him, Scottie Barnes continues blossoming into the do-it-all franchise forward many projected he could become. His blend of size, playmaking and defensive versatility elevates Toronto&rsquo;s ceiling and gives them a nightly mismatch. When Barnes is at his best, the Raptors feel like they can beat anyone.
But the brilliance of Toronto&rsquo;s start goes beyond their leading duo. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, both essential pieces of a trade from the Knicks, have fully embraced their roles as the third and fourth scoring options. Quickley&rsquo;s pace and fearlessness provide an off-the-dribble spark, while Barrett&rsquo;s strength-based downhill game gives Toronto a reliable secondary scorer.
Around them is a roster filled with players who understand exactly what&rsquo;s being asked of them. Jakob Poeltl continues to be a stabilizing interior presence; Sandro Mamukelashvili adds shooting and creativity off the bench for the frontcourt; Gradey Dick&rsquo;s shooting gravity opens the floor; Jamal Shead&rsquo;s maturity as a backup point guard stands out; and Ja&rsquo;Kobe Walter brings energy and modern-wing tools.
Together, they have formed a machine early in the season &ndash; one humming louder with each passing game. The Raptors are top-10 in both offensive and defensive net rating, a mark reserved for true contenders, though it remains to be seen if they can keep it up for the rest of the season. They defend collectively, leveraging chemistry and communication more than sheer athleticism. They score through movement and trust, not isolation and hierarchy.
The result: one of the longest winning streaks in franchise history and a team that looks nothing like the rebuilding group many projected them to be. Instead, the Raptors have forged themselves into one of the East&rsquo;s best stories &ndash; a team proving that when everyone buys in, the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.
<h2>Miami&rsquo;s counterpunch: Spoelstra, grit and a rediscovered offensive identity</h2>
If Toronto is surprising because they&rsquo;ve reinvented themselves, Miami is surprising because they never really changed &ndash; except a few tweaks on their offense.
This is what the Heat do &ndash; they defy expectations, outperform projections and find ways to win with rosters that rarely look intimidating on paper. But this start feels different. It feels deeper, and it feels like the Heat have unlocked something new.
Eight Miami players are averaging double-digit scoring, among the widest scoring distribution in the league. Erik Spoelstra has once again reinvented his offense, this time leaning into a concept that has caught attention across the basketball landscape &ndash; including a detailed breakdown by Thinking Basketball: a no-screen, gap-attacking system tailored perfectly to this roster&rsquo;s strengths.
Instead of running their offense through sets or pre-determined actions, Spo has given his players the freedom to play read-and-react basketball. They attack one-on-one, collapse defenses, move without the ball and create a constant chain of advantages. The result is a fluid, spaced-out attack that produces open threes, cuts and layups. It&rsquo;s simple by design &ndash; deadly in execution.
And they&rsquo;re doing all this while boasting the second-best defense in the NBA.
The main guy now after Jimmy Butler&rsquo;s trade last season, is Bam Adebayo. Once again, he is playing at an All-Defensive level, anchoring Miami&rsquo;s interior and orchestrating their schemes with his elite mobility and anticipation. He covers for mistakes, erases drives, switches everything and remains arguably the most versatile defender in basketball today. Bam sets the tone, and the rest follow.
Around him, Miami has found balance in players who complement each other perfectly. Norman Powell, in a contract year, has rediscovered his scoring punch, giving the Heat a needed perimeter bucket-getter. Young big man Kel&rsquo;el Ware is emerging as a franchise cornerstone &ndash; an athletic, skilled center who fits seamlessly next to Bam. Tyler Herro&rsquo;s return from injury gives Miami another dynamic scoring threat after his All-Star breakout last season.
Defensively, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell provide the grit Miami teams are known for. Jaime Jaquez Jr. adds savvy scoring and toughness. Simone Fontecchio, Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson stretch the floor and supply high-IQ connecting play.
Nothing Miami does feels forced. Every player knows their job. Every player contributes something essential. Every possession feels intentional &ndash; this is Heat basketball at its finest.
<h2>Two Teams, One Message: Star Power Isn&rsquo;t the Only Path to Winning</h2>
The Raptors and Heat are not perfect, nor are they guaranteed to maintain this pace all season. There will be lulls, adjustments and challenges. But right now &ndash; today &ndash; they stand as two of the most compelling early-season stories, and for reasons that go deeper than the standings.
They&rsquo;re winning through trust, effort, and continuity. Through the belief that identity and cohesion matter just as much as superstar gravity.
In an NBA landscape obsessed with top-rated players and roster-building shortcuts by acquiring more and more talent, Toronto and Miami are a counterpoint &ndash; a reminder that stability, development and collective responsibility are still viable pathways to contention.
Their success is a good thing for the NBA because it resonates &ndash; it feels earned, not handed.
As long as the Raptors keep playing with balance and unity, and as long as the Heat keep leaning on their culture and Spoelstra&rsquo;s brilliance, these streaks can be used as foundations to keep improving over the course of the season and avoid some early-season flukes.
Two underdogs, two contenders &ndash; two teams proving that the soul of basketball still belongs to those who play together.

The Raptors and Heat are shocking the East with balance, depth, and elite team play. No superstars, no problem.

Raptors, Heat surging: Two unlikely contenders rise to the top of the East

Anthony Edwards has already climbed rungs most players spend a decade chasing. He&rsquo;s become an All-Star, a franchise centerpiece, a playoff force who can go toe-to-toe with the best players alive on the biggest stage. He has shown he can take over fourth quarters, silence arenas, and deliver the kind of moments that make you believe a superstar is being born right in front of you.
But for the Minnesota Timberwolves to go anywhere they haven&rsquo;t already been, he must become something more &ndash; something bigger, something definitive.
If the Wolves want to replicate or surpass the success of their previous two seasons of making the Western Conference Finals, Anthony Edwards has to rise into the undisputed top-five players in the world and deliver an MVP-level campaign. It&rsquo;s the simplest equation in Minnesota&rsquo;s season, and also the most demanding one. Wherever Edwards goes, the Wolves go.
This is not a criticism. It&rsquo;s a reflection of the standard he has already set.
Currently, Minnesota is running it back with the same core with Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Julius Randle, and Donte DiVincenzo. They&rsquo;re banking on continuity once more, trusting that their identity, defense, and experience will continue to position them among the league&rsquo;s elite. But continuity can only take you so far when the rest of the NBA keeps getting better at faster speeds than any era ever before.
The Wolves know it. Edwards knows it. The leap that pushes Minnesota from &ldquo;very good&rdquo; to &ldquo;undeniably great&rdquo; must come from the player most capable of delivering it.
The need for a new level
Over the past two years, we saw glimpses of the best version of Anthony Edwards &ndash; a relentless downhill attacker, a dynamic scorer in isolation, a growing two-way force capable of changing the tenor of an entire game, and most recently, a volume three-point shooter. Edwards already showed he can be the best player on a playoff team, the kind who produces big-time performances under the brightest lights.
But with superstardom comes a new challenge: consistency.
Not the normal kind &ndash; the elite kind. The level of consistency reached by players who live in the top tier of the league: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic. These are players who have almost eradicated the concept of a &ldquo;bad game.&rdquo; Even when they struggle, they dominate. Even when shots don&rsquo;t fall, they find ways to control possessions, bend defenses, and dictate outcomes.
That&rsquo;s the level the Wolves need Edwards to reach.
The Wolves have been one of the league&rsquo;s premier defenses, but offensively they can grind to a halt. That&rsquo;s where Edwards must elevate them. When his jumper isn&rsquo;t falling &ndash; &nbsp; and it hasn&rsquo;t been consistently falling at times &ndash; he has to find new ways to bend defenses. He needs to attack, get to the rim, settle into rhythm midrange shots, get to the line, generate momentum, and use his gravity to create looks for others.
Every elite scorer eventually learns that shotmaking alone can&rsquo;t dictate their impact. It has to go deeper than that. For Minnesota to keep climbing, Edwards must become the kind of superstar whose influence transcends his jump shot.
Why a &ldquo;go-to move&rdquo; matters
Every great scorer eventually discovers not just what they can do, but what they can do every single night &ndash; consistently. The move that is immune to fatigue, gameplan, matchups, or defensive schemes. A shot that becomes automatic because it&rsquo;s been mastered so thoroughly that even the defense knows it&rsquo;s coming &ndash; and still can&rsquo;t stop it.
For Edwards, the next evolution might be exactly that: developing a signature, go-to scoring move.
This could take the shape of more post-up fadeaway jumpers &ndash; something he already flashes but hasn&rsquo;t fully leaned into. With his strength, footwork, and explosiveness, a polished post midrange package could unlock a completely different version of his offensive dominance. Think Michael Jordan. Think Kobe Bryant. Shots that become &ldquo;butter,&rdquo; the kind where the crowd knows it&rsquo;s good the moment it leaves the hand.
A signature shot would not only give Edwards a consistent scoring anchor; it would change how defenses scheme. It would force double teams, open passing windows, and elevate his playmaking simply by existing.
It would give Minnesota the offensive stability they have lacked during the toughest stretches of games. It would let Edwards control tempo, dictate matchups, and slow games down when everything feels chaotic.
Most importantly, it would give him the kind of unstoppable tool that the very best players in the world rely on &ndash; the kind that makes defenses helpless. Something like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s midrange mastery and his two-foot plant; Nikola Jokic&rsquo;s touch in the paint for short and long floaters and hook shots; Giannis Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s relentless driving to the rim; Kevin Durant&rsquo;s pull-up jumper; Luka Doncic&rsquo;s step back and pivot steps; and Stephen Curry&rsquo;s off-ball movement and relocation shooting.
Minnesota&rsquo;s ceiling and the &lsquo;leap&rsquo; chase for Edwards
There&rsquo;s a fair argument that Minnesota may have reached its ceiling as a complete roster. Their defensive identity is elite. Their depth is strong. Their chemistry is real. Gobert and McDaniels anchor one of the toughest defensive backbones in basketball. Naz Reid remains a luxury most teams don&rsquo;t have. Mike Conley is a steadying presence who keeps everything organized. Julius Randle brings shot creation, rebounding, and physicality.
But when the postseason arrives, stars separate themselves &ndash; and separate teams.
That&rsquo;s why Minnesota&rsquo;s future rests on Edwards&rsquo; ability to make that leap. Not because he hasn&rsquo;t already been great, but because he must now become great every single night.
If Edwards averages 30 points per game or more, if he masters a go-to move, if he reaches that superstar comfort level where the game slows down and every shot feels like it&rsquo;s going in and becomes second nature &ndash; then Minnesota&rsquo;s ceiling rises with him. Suddenly, they&rsquo;re no longer a strong playoff contender. They become a legitimate championship threat.
Every champion in recent memory had an undisputed top-five guy in the league at the point of their title run:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Shai and the Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tatum and the Celtics</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jokic and the Nuggets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Steph and the Warriors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Giannis and the Bucks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LeBron and the Lakers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kawhi and the Raptors</li>
</ul>
The Wolves want to join that company &ndash; but that requires Edwards becoming that kind of a player.
What makes this moment for Edwards so compelling is that he has already shown he can reach these heights. The playoff runs, the highlight-reel moments, the takeover games, and the bursts of all-time-level shotmaking.
But now comes the harder part &ndash; turning flashes into a foundation.
This is where superstars become megastars &ndash; being a top-5 player in the NBA. This is where talent becomes legacy. This is where a young phenom becomes the defining force of a franchise.
And if Edwards embraces this next step &ndash; if he masters consistency, adds a signature move, deepens his offensive reads, and becomes the top-five player he can be &ndash; then the Wolves won&rsquo;t just remain one of the league&rsquo;s best stories: They&rsquo;ll become something much bigger and become a team with a real chance.
Minnesota can continue refining the pieces around him. They can continue to defend at an elite level. They can continue relying on their depth and structure.
But their future ultimately hinges on the evolution of their brightest star.
Anthony Edwards doesn&rsquo;t just hold the keys to Minnesota&rsquo;s success &ndash; he is the key. And if he rises to that top-five tier, the Wolves&rsquo; championship window will crack wide open and place them into the best of the best in the league for years to come.

As the Timberwolves chase another deep playoff run, Edwards must take the leap into the top-five players and take an MVP-level leap.

For Wolves to break through, Anthony Edwards must make an MVP-level leap

The Dallas Wings have secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, marking back-to-back No. 1 lottery wins for the franchise, the league confirmed on Nov. 23.
Last year, the Wings used their top pick to select Paige Bueckers, who went on to win Rookie of the Year in 2025. Now, with the first pick again, Dallas has a golden chance to build around her by adding another cornerstone player.
According to ESPN mock drafts, early prospects include Awa Fam (Spain), Lauren Betts (UCLA), and Azzi Fudd (UConn). The Wings&rsquo; front office now faces exciting decisions: Do they double down on Bueckers&rsquo;s backcourt by pairing her with a playmaking guard or sniper? Or do they use this pick to add size with a post player and balance their roster?
This rare feat of back-to-back No. 1 picks could turbocharge the Wings&rsquo; rebuild and put them in a strong position to contend around Bueckers in the near future, and this could be the turning point for their franchise starved for success.

WNBA: Dallas Wings win 2026 draft lottery

Defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are off to a scorching 15-1 start, marking the second-best opening by a reigning champion.
The 2016 Golden State Warriors began 16-0 and went on to finish the season with a 73-9 record, which is still the best in NBA history.
Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who dropped 33 points in their most recent win over the Kings, OKC has looked dominant on both ends of the floor. Their early season run has drawn strong comparisons to historically great teams &ndash; including the Warriors, 1996 Bulls and 2000 Lakers &ndash; thanks to their combination of defense, pace, and youth.
The Thunder&rsquo;s net rating through these games is surpassing even their own title-run levels, signaling that their back-to-back championship expectations is very much in play.
If OKC sustains this form, they&rsquo;re not just defending champions &ndash; they&rsquo;re positioning themselves to set a new standard for repeat contenders in the modern NBA &ndash; the first in eight years.

Defending NBA champion OKC Thunder are off to a scorching 15-1 start, marking the second-best opening by a reigning champion.

Thunder keep rolling, open up season 15-1 to match elite champs company

LeBron James continues to elevate his legacy: with the start of the 2025&ndash;26 season, he officially becomes the first NBA player in history to play in 23 seasons.
The 40-year-old All-Star opted into his $52.6 million contract with the Lakers over the summer, setting the stage for this historic 23rd year.
In his season debut against the Utah Jazz, LeBron recorded 11 points and 12 assists in 30 minutes, showing despite his age and injury-related absence, his playmaking remains elite.
Along the way during the game, James also surpassed Reggie Miller for 6th on all-time 3-pointers made list with a left wing three-pointer.
The milestone mirrors just how durable and impactful his career has been: no other player has come close to playing 23 seasons, a mark he now owns outright.

LeBron James continues to elevate his legacy: with the start of the 2025&ndash;26 season, he officially becomes the first NBA player in history to play in 23 seasons.
The 40-year-old All-Star opted into his $52.6 million contract with the Lakers over the summer, setting the stage for this historic 23rd year.
In his season debut against the Utah Jazz, LeBron recorded 11 points and 12 assists in 30 minutes, showing despite his age and injury-related absence, his playmaking remains elite.
Along the way during the game, James also surpassed Reggie Miller for 6th on all-time 3-pointers made list with a left wing three-pointer.
The milestone mirrors just how durable and impactful his career has been: no other player has come close to playing 23 seasons, a mark he now owns outright.

LeBron James officially becomes the first NBA player in history to play in 23 seasons.

LeBron James becomes first player in history to play 23 NBA seasons

Mon Anthony Valmoria is the lead NBA writer for BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;