Rattlers

<p>There are championship teams, and then there are dynasties. The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s were the latter, a franchise that didn&rsquo;t just win titles but fundamentally changed the way the world understood professional basketball. In a candid conversation with veteran sports journalist <a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/03/from-chicago-bulls-last-dance-dynasty-to-deans-list-the-resilience-of-jason-caffey/">Brandon &ldquo;Scoop B&rdquo; Robinson</a>, former Bulls forward Jason Caffey pulled back the curtain on what it was really like inside one of the greatest teams ever assembled, revealing the tensions, the relationships, and the moments that defined an era.</p>
<h2>The Jerry Krause Problem</h2>
<p>Every dynasty has its fault lines, and for the Bulls, much of the internal friction ran directly through general manager Jerry Krause. Caffey didn&rsquo;t mince words when Robinson asked about the tipping point between players and the front office.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;When I came into the situation, the guys NEVER got along with Jerry Krause. He was just a shrewd businessman. God rest his soul, but Michael would sit there on the bus and call him &lsquo;the sloop.&rsquo;&rdquo;</em></p>
<p>What followed those bus rides painted a vivid picture of a locker-room culture shaped from the top down or, in this case, from the back of the bus. When Michael Jordan set the tone on Krause, the rest of the roster followed suit. Scottie Pippen, still simmering over a contract that underpaid one of the best players in the world, added his own fuel to the fire. The result was a front office that existed in a kind of cold war with its own players, a dysfunction that somehow coexisted with six championship banners.</p>
<p>It speaks to the complicated legacy of that Bulls run. Chemistry doesn&rsquo;t always mean harmony. Sometimes it means a shared adversary.</p>
<h2>Learning From a Silent Beast</h2>
<p>If Krause represented the tension within the Bulls organization, Dennis Rodman represented something entirely different, a quiet, relentless standard of professional excellence that left a permanent mark on everyone around him.</p>
<p>Robinson asked Caffey about the mental preparation required to play alongside Rodman&rsquo;s unique and electrifying personality. The answer was both surprising and deeply instructive.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Dennis was a great guy to learn up under. He didn&rsquo;t say three words the whole year but, one of the first guys at practice, he&rsquo;s gonna ride the elliptical an hour before practice. He&rsquo;s gonna practice the ENTIRE practice.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p>Caffey, a young power forward trying to earn his place among legends, described practically having to beg Rodman to step off the floor so he could get reps with the first string. The image is remarkable, a future champion so consumed by preparation that his teammates had to negotiate for practice time. Rodman&rsquo;s silence wasn&rsquo;t disengagement. It was a focus.</p>
<p>Now 52, Caffey credits that experience directly for his continued commitment to physical fitness. The lessons absorbed from Rodman, Jordan, and Pippen didn&rsquo;t expire when the final buzzer sounded on the dynasty. They became a life philosophy.</p>
<h2>The Trade That Stung</h2>
<p>Perhaps no moment in Caffey&rsquo;s career carries more emotional weight than his 1998 trade to the Golden State Warriors, a move that arrived just before the Bulls pursued what would become their sixth and final championship of the decade.</p>
<p>What made the departure sting even more was what happened behind the scenes. Both Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman publicly advocated for Caffey to remain in Chicago, a gesture that clearly still resonates deeply with the veteran forward.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;It was awesome that my teammates trusted me at that time and they wanted me on the team. For him to step up and speak on my behalf in a good manner really made me feel proud of myself.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p>In a dynasty defined by Jordan&rsquo;s will and Krause&rsquo;s calculated maneuvering, having the greatest player in the world go to bat for you meant everything. For Jason Caffey, that loyalty is the championship he still carries with him.</p>

Jason Caffey reflects on his time with the Chicago Bulls, Jerry Krause, and the trade that prevented a third championship.

Jason Caffey on Bulls Dynasty & Costly Trade

<p>Defense is not a switch you flip. It is a discipline you practice, a mindset you carry from the film room to the floor, and a daily commitment that either holds or it does not. Rudy Gobert has understood this longer than most. Four Defensive Player of the Year awards tend to sharpen a man's philosophy on the subject, and right now, he is watching the Minnesota Timberwolves struggle with the very question his entire identity is built around.</p>
<p>Following a 153-128 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, a game in which Kawhi Leonard dropped 45 points, the Clippers connected on 19 of 37 three-point attempts, and Minnesota surrendered 58 points in the paint,&nbsp; Gobert was direct in his assessment when speaking to RG.org. The Wolves were not connected. They were not competing on every possession. And in his view, those problems do not originate at tip-off. They originate in the preparation that happens before the game is ever played.</p>
<p>"We need to be connected," <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/rudy-gobert-talks-dpoy-chances-wembanyama-anthony-edwards">Gobert told RG.org</a>. "We need to play with the level of urgency. All of us, all five guys on the floor, need to compete. Every possession, we have to sharpen up our awareness and focus."</p>
<p><strong>What a Fifth DPOY Would Actually Mean</strong></p>
<p>Rudy Gobert sits on the doorstep of something that has never been done. Four Defensive Player of the Year awards already place him in a conversation with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, two of the most impactful defenders in the history of the sport. A fifth would separate him from that company entirely and establish an individual defensive legacy that may stand for a generation.</p>
<p>The case is not built solely on narrative. Minnesota's defensive rating with Gobert on the floor sits at 113.7. Without him, that number deteriorates to 121.8, an eight-point swing that tells the full story without requiring any additional context. Coach Chris Finch has been unambiguous about what that data means for how the Wolves use their center: Gobert now plays through almost everything. The era of coaching him off the floor to avoid matchup problems is over. His ability to cover mistakes, protect weaker defenders, and anchor an entire defensive scheme regardless of personnel has made him too valuable to sit.</p>
<p><em>"He can anchor a defense regardless of whether there are good or bad defenders out there all by himself." &mdash; Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, via RG.org</em></p>
<p>The DPOY race this season is genuinely competitive, and Gobert is aware of who is pushing him. But his argument is rooted in the same place it has always been, not in individual plays or highlight blocks, but in the sustained, nightly transformation of a defense that becomes measurably worse the moment he is not present. That is the standard for the award, and he is meeting it.</p>
<h2><strong>Wembanyama: A Rival Built From a Friendship</strong></h2>
<p>The name that comes up most often in discussions of Gobert's DPOY competition is Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs center who arrived in the league as a generational defensive prospect and has delivered on nearly every expectation attached to that label. What makes this particular rivalry different from most award races is the relationship underneath it.</p>
<p>Gobert and Wembanyama are not strangers. They are teammates, or at least they have been, representing France at the international level, sharing a locker room and a national team identity that creates a specific kind of bond. Gobert has spoken about Wembanyama with genuine affection and respect, the kind that comes from watching someone develop up close and understanding the full scope of what they are capable of. None of that changes the fact that one of them will win the award and the other will not.</p>
<p>What Gobert brings to this race that Wembanyama cannot yet match is sustained excellence across a full body of work, not just this season, but across a career that has consistently demonstrated the same principles at the highest level, season after season, in the most demanding conference in the sport. Wembanyama's ceiling is a different and genuinely exciting conversation. But the DPOY award is about what you have done, not only what you will do. On that measure, Gobert's case remains the strongest in the room.</p>
<h2><strong>Anthony Edwards: The Ceiling Is Still Open</strong></h2>
<p>If you want to understand what Rudy Gobert values in a basketball player, listen to how he talks about Anthony Edwards. The Wolves' 24-year-old star has grown into one of the most electric offensive presences in the NBA across six seasons, and Gobert has had a front-row seat to every chapter of that development. His assessment of what Edwards can still become is the kind of observation that only comes from someone who has spent real time thinking about the difference between greatness and maximized greatness.</p>
<p>Edwards already has the gifts. The athleticism, the confidence, the shot-making ability, and the competitive edge are all there in abundance. What Gobert's broader comments throughout this difficult stretch of the season suggest is that the next level,&nbsp; for Edwards, for the Wolves, for anyone operating in this environment, is unlocked through the habits that exist between the big moments. The preparation before tip-off. The focus on every possession when the game is not going your way. The daily approach that makes the special moments possible.</p>
<p>For Minnesota, the path from a sixth seed with question marks to a legitimate championship contender runs directly through two conversations happening simultaneously: Gobert earning his fifth DPOY by anchoring the most reliable defense in a fractured roster, and Edwards becoming the kind of player who does not need the game to be going well in order to compete at an elite level. Those two evolutions are not separate stories. They are the same one, and how it ends will define this era of Timberwolves basketball.</p>

After back-to-back blowout losses, Rudy Gobert is not looking for excuses. He is looking for the Timberwolves version that shows up when it matters, and he has a clear idea of what it takes to get there.

Rudy Gobert Talks DPOY, Wembanyama & Timberwolves Growth

<p>Some stories from the golden era of the NBA exist in that fascinating space between confirmed history and beloved lore,&nbsp; too detailed to be invented, too strange to be mundane. The tale of what happened in an elevator at the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York City sits squarely in that territory. It involves a teenager named <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/phil-handy-jordan-kobe-lebron-goat-debate">Kobe Bryant</a>, a 270-pound veteran named Jayson Williams, a near-brawl in an enclosed space, and the intervention of a man who would eventually become the 45th and 47th President of the United States.</p>
<p>The confined space of an elevator is the last place you want to be when a 270-pound professional athlete decides he has been disrespected enough. According to Williams's account, one he has told many times over the years with the kind of vivid detail that only a born storyteller can summon, that is exactly where things stood between him and a young Kobe Bryant during All-Star Weekend at Madison Square Garden.</p>
<p><strong>A Future President Steps Between Two Giants</strong></p>
<p>Williams reportedly swung at Bryant, and what started as a locker room tension between a veteran who felt disrespected and a teenager who refused to back down threatened to become something far worse. This is where the story takes its most improbable turn. Donald Trump, then a New York fixture and real estate mogul who had turned celebrity into its own kind of currency, did not step back. He stepped in.</p>
<p>Trump later confirmed the incident during an interview with Jake Paul, offering a characteristically direct account of what happened. "That was a long time ago. Yeah, well I was breaking up a fight, which sometimes is more dangerous than being in a fight," Trump said. "But I like Kobe. Kobe was having a hard time with somebody, and it worked out fine. But yeah, I broke it up,&nbsp; probably not a smart thing to do. Historically, it's never good to break up fights."</p>
<p>According to the account that has circulated since, Trump physically grabbed Williams and told Bryant to get out. The elevator doors opened. Kobe walked. A potential disaster for the NBA's rising star, a teenager still finding his footing in the league, was averted in one of the most unlikely moments in sports history.</p>
<p><em>"I was breaking up a fight, which sometimes is more dangerous than being in a fight... I like Kobe. Kobe was having a hard time with somebody, and it worked out fine." <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/14/sports/donald-trump-confirms-breaking-up-fight-involving-kobe-bryant/">said Donald Trump</a></em></p>
<h2><strong>Charles Oakley, the Witness Who Doesn't Quite Remember</strong></h2>
<p>Every great piece of basketball lore needs a credible voice to place it in context, and Charles Oakley, one of the toughest and most respected players of that era, provides exactly that, even if his account comes with a caveat. Oakley, speaking with Yahoo Sports, was measured: he doesn't personally recall being in the elevator that day, but he has absolutely heard the story, told by Williams himself, on multiple occasions to multiple people.</p>
<p>"He had told it to some people that I was around," <a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/03/exclusive-the-night-trump-saved-kobe-inside-the-1998-elevator-brawl-with-untold-accounts-from-jayson-williams-and-charles-oakley/">Oakley said to Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson</a>&nbsp;"Jayson, he liked to be a story. He's a storyteller. I told him, 'Jayson, I mean, you 55, 57. You probably told that story 50 times.'" When I spoke with Oakley separately, he echoed that sentiment. While he couldn't personally account for the specifics of the elevator incident, he was quick to note that Williams tells it with extraordinary conviction and color. "Jayson is an awesome storyteller who brings these moments to life with incredible detail," Oakley said. That endorsement, from a man who has no incentive to embellish, carries its own weight.</p>
<h2><strong>Jayson Williams and the Locker Room That Made History</strong></h2>
<p>Williams's connection to the 1998 All-Star Game runs deeper than one elevator encounter. He has vivid memories of walking into the locker room at Madison Square Garden and locking eyes with Larry Bird, who was coaching the Eastern Conference that weekend. The history between them stretched back to Williams's second game in the league, when Bird, still active and relentless, had torched him for 45 points while repeatedly demanding that the coach put the rookie back in so he could keep going.</p>
<p>"He just looked at me and said 'Your minutes are on the board'... And I said 'Thanks Coach' and he goes 'You f---n' rookie!' This is Larry Bird and he remembered that for 25 years!" Williams said. "He's one of the biggest and best smack talkers but he can back it up. All the time though!"</p>
<p>And then there was Michael Jordan, the loudest presence in a room full of legends. Williams describes Jordan's energy that day as laser-focused and entirely intentional: MJ was announcing to anyone who would listen that he wanted the ball every single possession. "He was coming in there letting us all know that he wasn't going to take the ball out because you know in the All-Star Game when you take the ball out you don't get it back," Williams explained. "He's MJ baby! He's the best who ever did it."</p>
<h2><strong>Why This Story Still Matters</strong></h2>
<p>The 1998 NBA All-Star Game produced a box score and a winner. But the stories that live from that weekend, a future president breaking up a fight in an elevator, Larry Bird's long memory for a rookie he once torched, Michael Jordan manufacturing motivation in real time, are the ones that remind you why the human element of professional basketball is as compelling as anything that happens between the lines.</p>
<p>Jayson Williams may have told the elevator story fifty times. But fifty tellings of a story this strange, this specific, and this perfectly placed at the intersection of basketball and American history is not repetition. It is preservation. And now it belongs to the record.</p>

A veteran who felt disrespected. A teenager who refused to back down. A future president who stepped into the middle of it. The story of one of the NBA's most surreal untold moments — set against the electric backdrop of Madison Square Garden in 1998.

Donald Trump Stopped Kobe Bryant–Jayson Williams Elevator Fight (1998 NBA All-Star)

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA is not waiting for a transition. It is already happening.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, the league has been defined by icons like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Their era shaped modern basketball and carried the sport into a new global space. But as time moves forward, another truth becomes clearer each season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The next wave is not coming: It is already here. Some of the NBA&rsquo;s young stars and their ages are the following:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cooper Flagg is 19.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kon Knueppel is 20.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Victor Wembanyama is 22.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jalen Duren is 22.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alperen Sengun is 23.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paolo Banchero is 23.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cade Cunningham is 24.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Edwards is 24.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">LaMelo Ball is 24.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jalen Johnson is 24.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tyrese Maxey is 25.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deni Avdija is 25.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tyrese Haliburton is 25.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Luka Doncic is 26.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 27.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jayson Tatum is 27.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jaylen Brown is 29.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Donovan Mitchell is 29.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jalen Brunson is 29.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That list alone tells the story.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These are not prospects waiting for opportunity. They are All-Stars. Franchise cornerstones. Playoff performers. MVP candidates. Players that are already shaping postseason outcomes and redefining team ceilings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Victor Wembanyama is already altering defensive schemes league-wide at 22. Luka Doncic has been an MVP-level engine for years and is still just 26. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has elevated himself into best player in the world talks. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have already led championship-level teams and are still in their twenties.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Edwards has embraced the spotlight and looks ready to carry the league&rsquo;s next era of superstar charisma. Tyrese Haliburton and Tyrese Maxey are redefining guard play with pace and efficiency. Paolo Banchero and Alperen Sengun are anchoring offenses through skill and versatility rather than traditional post play. Cade Cunningham is proving that control and poise can still dominate in a league obsessed with speed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even younger talents like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel represent what is coming next. They are entering a league that already prioritizes skill, spacing, and positional fluidity. By the time they hit their primes, the foundation will already be set by the group just ahead of them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What makes this era unique is its balance. There is no single prototype dominating the landscape. Some of these stars are 7-foot playmakers. Some are downhill scorers. Some are defensive anchors. Some are creative offensive orchestrators. The diversity of skill sets means the league is not shifting toward one dominant style, it is expanding.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another important factor is global influence. Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander represent international excellence at the highest level. The league is no longer centered in one region or identity. The game has evolved into a global ecosystem where elite talent emerges from everywhere.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the previous generation begins to wind down, the league is searching for its next face. But then it has several candidates. It has multiple MVP-level players under 30. It has championship-proven stars still entering their prime years. It has young bigs redefining positional expectations. It has guards who control pace like veterans despite being in their mid-twenties.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA is in great hands because it does not rely on one successor. It has a wave.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A wave of players who grew up watching LeBron and Curry and Durant. A wave that understands branding, skill development, and modern spacing. A wave that is comfortable with pressure and unafraid of expectations.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The transition will not feel abrupt because it is already unfolding in real time. These players are not waiting to inherit the league. They are actively taking ownership of it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The next era is not years away, it is happening right now.</span></p>

From Wemby and Luka to Ant and Tatum, the NBA’s next generation of stars is already here and ready to lead the league forward.

Ushering the new era: The next wave of NBA stars are here

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA has officially unveiled the full participant lists for the 2026 All-Star Weekend, giving fans a complete look at the stars headed to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, from Feb. 13-15. This year&rsquo;s festivities &ndash; highlighted by a unique USA vs. World round-robin All-Star Game format &ndash; will feature perennial All-Stars, breakout performers and standout event competitors in a celebration of the league&rsquo;s top talent.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leading the headlines, Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram has been named as a replacement for Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry on the USA Stripes roster after Curry was ruled out due to a lingering right knee injury. The absence of the two-time All-Star Game MVP &ndash; who had been selected for his 12th All-Star appearance &ndash; opens the door for Ingram&rsquo;s second career selection, his first since 2020.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the international side, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun will take the place of Oklahoma City Thunder guard and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Team World after Gilgeous-Alexander was sidelined with an abdominal injury. Sengun&rsquo;s addition marks his second consecutive All-Star nod and adds another high-octane playmaker to the World lineup.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under this season&rsquo;s format, the All-Star Game breaks from the traditional East vs. West matchup and instead will feature three teams &ndash; two representing the United States and one made up of international talent &ndash; competing in a round-robin slate of four 12-minute games before the two best teams square off in a championship matchup.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The USA squads are anchored by the league&rsquo;s brightest names. Veterans such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown headline the USA rosters alongside rising stars including Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey. Meanwhile, the World team showcases global stars like Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama &ndash; with Sengun now joining that group.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All-Star Saturday will also feature the State Farm Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest and additional skills competitions &ndash; giving a diverse cast of sharpshooters, high-flyers and playmakers multiple stages to shine before the main event kicks off.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s roster announcements arrive at a pivotal point in the NBA season. With teams locked in tight playoff races and narratives building around emerging stars, All-Star Weekend doubles as both a celebration and a barometer. For Ingram, logging All-Star minutes after stepping in for Curry could be a springboard into wider MVP conversations. And for Sengun, joining the World team again &ndash; especially in place of an MVP calibre guard &ndash; reinforces his rising status on the global stage.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Injuries to marquee players rarely dampen excitement in All-Star festivities, but they add an undercurrent of unpredictability &ndash; a reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in a 2-plus-month sprint to the playoffs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As rosters are finalized and events approach, All-Star Weekend promises to flare into one of the most compelling showcases of the season &ndash; both in terms of star power and emerging momentum headed into the home stretch.</span></p>

This year’s festivities will feature perennial All-Stars, breakout performers and standout event competitors.

NBA sets complete 2026 All-Star Weekend roster; Ingram and Sengun named as replacements

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are great rookie seasons in the NBA that are etched into history. Every single one of the greats &ndash; LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, and many more &ndash; have had awesome rookie seasons that are likely indicators of how their careers would pan out in the league. And then there are seasons that bend the timeline that puts you in a spot among other greats in the league.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cooper Flagg&rsquo;s rookie year belongs in that category.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It isn&rsquo;t just hype, projection, or promise during this current season. This is real production that is historic and increasingly impossible to contextualize within normal rookie expectations. Flagg isn&rsquo;t just winning Rookie of the Year this season but he&rsquo;s separating himself from the field in a way that forces a different conversation altogether.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His recent stretch doesn&rsquo;t make any sense for a 19-year-old in the league, a teenager nonetheless. Over his last four games, Cooper Flagg has authored one of the most absurd scoring stretches the league has seen from a first-year player:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">36 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">34 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">49 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That&rsquo;s 37.8 points per game, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on an outrageous 64.1% true shooting &ndash; numbers that would be eye-popping for a superstar in his prime, let alone a 19-year-old navigating his first NBA season. His 151 points over that span are the most by a rookie in a four-game stretch since Allen Iverson in April of 1997. History doesn&rsquo;t offer many comparisons &ndash; and that&rsquo;s the point. Flagg is setting the bar for expectations higher than what he is projected to be coming into the season.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rewriting the Rookie Record Book</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With his most recent 32-point performance, Flagg added even more lines to a growing list of accomplishments that feel surreal for someone his age and he has rewrote some of the rookie record book&rsquo;s scoring performances:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">He is the youngest player in NBA history to record four straight 30-point games</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">He is the first rookie since Michael Jordan (1985) with four consecutive games of 30+ points and 5+ rebounds</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">He is the first rookie since Allen Iverson (1997) to score 150+ points over any four-game span</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those names aren&rsquo;t thrown around lightly &ndash; Jordan and Iverson &ndash; cornerstones of NBA mythology and greatness. Flagg isn&rsquo;t chasing their shadows &ndash; instead he&rsquo;s placing himself directly into their historical lanes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To be completely clear, this isn&rsquo;t a knock and an indictment of fellow rookie and former college teammate Kon Knueppel, who has been outstanding in his own right. Knueppel has exceeded expectations, played with poise beyond his years, and established himself as one of the best rookies in the class with his shooting ability and gravity that also has never been before seen as a rookie coming in.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But this conversation isn&rsquo;t about second place &ndash; it&rsquo;s about recognizing that what Flagg is doing exists on a different plane. He&rsquo;s not merely outperforming his peers, but he&rsquo;s doing things rookies are not supposed to be capable of doing, let alone poised enough to sustain.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He plays with an understanding of space, timing, and pressure that typically comes years later. His confidence comes from a standpoint of certainty instead of a bravado that he brings with his game.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Skill, the Poise, the Presence</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what separates Flagg isn&rsquo;t just the scoring alone, it&rsquo;s how it comes and how he does it. His skill, poise, and presence have all been outstanding right from the jump. Flagg scores at all three levels, punishes mismatches, makes advanced reads when help comes, and rebounds with purpose. He&rsquo;s decisive without being rushed, aggressive without being reckless, and dominant without hijacking the offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There&rsquo;s a calm to his game &ndash; a sense that he understands not just what&rsquo;s happening, but what&rsquo;s about to happen.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And that&rsquo;s the rare part. Rookies aren&rsquo;t supposed to react and adapt this fast into the league, and Flagg is already doing that.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The league has seen prodigies before. But even the best rookie scorers often come with inefficiencies, limitations, or narrow offensive roles. Flagg has avoided those pitfalls entirely, at least from what he is showing so far with almost two-thirds of the season done.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His efficiency remains elite, his workload is increasing, his confidence is compounding, and his impact stretches beyond the box score.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Opposing defenses are already loading up on him. Game plans are shifting, and the respect has arrived early. If anything, this will help him to become an even better basketball player.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At this point, the Rookie of the Year race feels like writing on the wall already. Barring something unforeseen, Cooper Flagg has separated himself decisively.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But awards are secondary to what&rsquo;s really happening. This is the emergence of a player who doesn&rsquo;t fit traditional developmental curves. A player whose ceiling conversations feel increasingly outdated because his present reality is already brushing against them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cooper Flagg is playing like the future of the league, among other bright stars ahead of him, and he will likely remain so for years to come.</span></p>

Cooper Flagg is redefining what’s possible for a rookie, delivering a historic four-game stretch that places him among the greats.

Cooper Flagg is not your ordinary rookie

<div>Cole Anthony&rsquo;s introduction to New York City basketball was anything but gradual.<a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/01/the-mecca-and-the-legacy-a-conversation-with-cole-anthony/"> In an interview with Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson,</a> he talked about the first time he felt the intensity and pressure that make the city&rsquo;s hoops scene unique.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>His friend Joe Toussaint, who played at Cardinal Hayes before going on to Iowa and West Virginia, took him to Dyckman Park when he was in seventh or eighth grade.</div>
<div>Playing against older and stronger players in a group where anyone could join, Anthony felt like he was not as good as the others.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He said he did not play well that day, but the experience mattered more than his numbers. It was the first time he really felt like he did not belong, stepping into the tough place that has shaped many New York guards. That moment was when he started to understand what NYC basketball is really about.</div>
<h2><strong>Why New York Point Guards Are Different</strong></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div>Anthony didn't hesitate when asked about point guards from the city. He made it clear that New York breeds a special type of floor general. According to him, NYC point guards have an advantage that sets them apart from everyone else.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Sebastian Telfair and Kemba Walker were the top picks when it came to naming his favorites. Anthony praised Walker, calling him a 'big Kemba believer' and expressing deep respect for what he accomplished.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He also expressed love for Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson, two legendary Archbishop Molloy alumni, noting that the list of elite New York guards could go on forever.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Anthony believes that the city's unforgiving basketball scene demands toughness, confidence, and the ability to command the game.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>Lessons From His Father and Finding His Own Path</h2>
<p>Cole Anthony is known for his association with New York basketball, but his father, Greg Anthony, provided a different perspective. Greg Anthony, a Las Vegas native and West Coast guard by nature, was not a typical 'New York PG' despite his time playing for the Knicks in the NBA.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Cole stated that his father didn't give him much advice about New York when he decided to go to North Carolina. Instead of telling him what to do, he gave him space to make his own decisions, form his own support network, and define himself as a player.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Anthony's development was heavily influenced by the freedom he had with his mother. Anthony continues to make an effort to reconnect with kids in the city, as he says. He acknowledges that New York may not be producing as many stars as in past eras, but he remains confident that the talent is still there. He still sees New York as the basketball Mecca, but it needs to invest more in and believe in its basketball players.</p>
<h2>Growing Up a Knicks Fan&mdash;Until Reality Hit</h2>
<div>
<div>Anthony was born in Portland, but he really got into basketball in New York. Like a lot of kids there, he became a big Knicks fan. That loyalty did not last long. When he was about seven or eight, Anthony watched the Knicks lose to the Pistons by almost 40 points.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>That tough loss stayed with him. He remembers feeling upset and 'tight,' as he put it, and that was the end of his time as a Knicks fan. It was an early lesson in how hard it can be to be a basketball fan, and a reminder that even future NBA players go through the same highs and lows as everyone else.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>A Reflection of New York&rsquo;s Basketball Spirit</h2>
<p>Cole Anthony's stories were a vivid depiction of New York basketball: intimidating, proud, demanding, and deeply personal.</p>
<p>Anthony's journey, which includes feeling overwhelmed at Dyckman and idolizing city legends, depicts the complex relationship many players have with the game in New York. The culture is challenging from the start, but if you manage to survive it, it will stay with you forever.</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>

Cole Anthony reflects on New York City basketball culture, Dyckman Park, and legendary NYC point guards in an interview with Scoop B Radio.

Cole Anthony on His First Taste of New York City Basketball

<p>Kobe Bryant built a career that turned routine nights into events. The lasting takeaway for some opponents and teammates is not a move or a moment. It is a warning about time.</p>
<p>Jason Terry says Bryant pushed him to treat life with the same intensity he treated preparation. Terry shared a lesson he says Bryant repeated as a reminder that the clock is not negotiable.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The most important thing I learned from Kobe is this: He once said that, as humans, we always think we have more time &mdash; that there will be a next play, another game, another day, or another opportunity to tell your daughters or your family members that you love them,&rdquo; <a href="https://r.org/2026/01/20/six-years-later-kobe-bryants-legacy-still-comes-back-to-time/">Terry shared with Ratings</a>.</p>
<p>&ldquo;But nothing is guaranteed. That&rsquo;s probably the biggest life lesson: live every moment to the fullest and strive to be the best.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Bryant&rsquo;s own words cut even tighter: &ldquo;The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.&rdquo;</p>
<h2><strong>A Day That Hit Close</strong></h2>
<p>For Terry, the message is tied to a memory that still feels too close to real time. <a href="https://www.kold.com/2021/01/27/kobe-bryant-was-supposed-take-jason-terry-again/">KOLD News 13 reported</a> Terry and Bryant were scheduled to coach against each other on Jan. 26, 2020, as their daughters played in a youth event.</p>
<p>Terry told the station he had seen Bryant and watched Gianna play in the days before the crash. The matchup never happened.</p>
<p>A plan on the calendar is not a guarantee.</p>
<h2><strong>A Rookie Who Stayed Late</strong></h2>
<p>Derek Harper remembers Bryant earlier, back when the story was still being written. Harper was with the Lakers during Bryant&rsquo;s rookie season in 1996, and he says the clearest sign of what was coming had nothing to do with a game.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Fun times, to be quite frank with you. The thing that stands out the most to me about Kobe Bryant is that, you know, you always, as players, get your ankles taped to go to work,&rdquo; <a href="https://r.org/2026/01/20/six-years-later-kobe-bryants-legacy-still-comes-back-to-time/">Harper said to Ratings</a>.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Well, Kobe was one of those guys. This is how I knew he would be great. He&rsquo;s one of those guys who, once everybody left after practice, yeah, he would re-tape his ankles to work on his individual game. And if someone is that dedicated to anything that they do, they&rsquo;re going to find success. And clearly, he goes down as one of the all-time greats.&rdquo;</p>
<p>That is not a highlight reel story. It is a habit story.</p>
<p>The gym was empty. He stayed anyway.</p>
<h2><strong>Confidence Without Needing Permission</strong></h2>
<p>Harper said Bryant did not need a veteran&rsquo;s approval to carry himself like a pro.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Is there anything that you know that you were able to teach him during that process? No, Kobe didn&rsquo;t need my teaching. I was open and willing to, but he just breathed confidence as a player, and not that he wouldn&rsquo;t have listened,&rdquo; Harper said. &ldquo;Kobe had his own demeanor. He had his own game, and he&rsquo;s one of the top 75 players in the history of the NBA.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The reputation for relentless work was not a late-career invention. Teammates saw it in the smallest routines.</p>
<h2><strong>How People Still Remember</strong></h2>
<p><a href="https://people.com/remembering-kobe-and-gianna-bryant-on-the-5th-anniversary-of-their-deaths-8779979">People noted that</a>, five years after the crash, memorials and tributes continued worldwide and Vanessa Bryant announced plans to publish &ldquo;Mamba &amp; Mambacita Forever,&rdquo; a catalogue of murals honoring Kobe and Gianna.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/news/russell-wilson-s-touching-kobe-bryant-gigi-tribute-on-five-year-death-anniversary">Sports Illustrated&rsquo;s Athlete Lifestyle highlighted</a> a tribute from Russell Wilson and Ciara, friends of the Bryant family, on that same anniversary.</p>
<h2><strong>What Stays With Players</strong></h2>
<p>Terry&rsquo;s lesson and Harper&rsquo;s memory come from different eras, but they point in the same direction. Time is shorter than you think. Work is louder than talk.</p>
<p>For players, that is the bridge between life and basketball. You prepare because the moment is coming, and you love people because you do not control how long you get.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kobe&rsquo;s legacy will always include championships and points.</p>
<p>But it also lives in the quiet hours after practice.</p>

Kobe Bryant’s lessons still travel the world, inspiring athletes and fans with relentless work ethic, resilience, and a fearless pursuit of greatness.

Kobe Bryant’s Lessons Still Travel Worldwide

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stephen Curry has once again demonstrated his massive global appeal, earning the top spot on the NBA&rsquo;s Top-Selling Jersey list for the first half of the 2025-26 regular season, the league announced.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Based on sales from NBAStore.com and Fanatics&rsquo; network, Curry&rsquo;s Warriors No. 30 jersey leads all players across the league on the retail front.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The announcement, made jointly by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, also revealed that the Los Angeles Lakers are the No. 1 team in merchandise sales, reflecting the enduring popularity of the Lakers brand and its star power among fans.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Golden State&rsquo;s sharpshooter holds the No. 1 position even amid fierce competition from other high-profile stars, including Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson, who also rank near the top of the league&rsquo;s best-selling jerseys.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curry&rsquo;s popularity has translated into a consistent commercial presence &ndash; and his No. 30 remains one of the most recognizable NBA jerseys worldwide. His placement atop the sales list underscores how his enduring excellence on the court continues to drive fan interest off it as well.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers lead all NBA teams in merchandise sales through the first half of the 2025-26 campaign. The Lakers&rsquo; strong retail performance reflects both the global brand cachet of the franchise and the combination of star attractions on and off the court.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From jerseys to hats and other apparel, Lakers gear continues to fly off shelves &ndash; driven by broad fan support and the team&rsquo;s cultural influence.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside Curry and the Lakers, several other top talents &ndash; including Doncic, Brunson, Victor Wembanyama, LeBron James and more &ndash; populate the league&rsquo;s best-selling jersey rankings, showcasing a mix of established icons and rising stars connecting with fans.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The data also highlights how jersey sales often mirror fan engagement and social media buzz: stars who dominate conversation and highlight reels tend to draw stronger retail demand, fueling overall league merchandise revenue.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stephen Curry&rsquo;s reign atop the NBA&rsquo;s jersey sales list &ndash; combined with the Lakers ranking as the top team in merchandise &ndash; reflects not just individual star power but the broader commercial dynamics of the league. With midseason momentum building, both Curry and the Lakers remain central to the NBA&rsquo;s cultural and retail footprint heading into 2026.</span></p>

Stephen Curry has once again demonstrated his massive global appeal, earning the top spot on the NBA’s Top-Selling Jersey list.

Steph Curry lead NBA in jersey sales; Lakers top team merchandise

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the first time in more than two decades, LeBron James will not be among the starters in the NBA All-Star Game, officially bringing an end to his unprecedented 21-year streak as an All-Star starter. The announcement came Monday when the league revealed the full list of starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and for the first time since 2005, James&rsquo; name was absent from the lineup.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">James, now 41 and in his 23rd NBA season, has been selected to start the All-Star Game every year from 2005 through 2025, the longest such streak in modern league history. His run began early in his career and spanned multiple teams, MVP seasons, Finals runs and scoring titles &ndash; but this year&rsquo;s fan and media vote fell short of keeping him in the top five for the Western Conference&rsquo;s starting five.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While his exclusion ends the 21-year starter streak, James may still play in the All-Star Game as a reserve. These spots, determined by coaches&rsquo; votes, will be announced on Feb. 1, and James is widely expected to remain in the All-Star fold at least as a reserve, keeping his overall streak of NBA All-Star selections alive.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The shift reflects both the natural arc of James&rsquo; career &ndash; including missed time early this season due to sciatica and a slower start statistically &ndash; and the rise of a new generation of All-Star talent like Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, who all earned their starters nods this cycle.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While he could still suit up as a reserve in 2026, the historic run of starter nods remains a defining testament to his longevity and impact on the game.</span></p>

For the first time in more than two decades, LeBron James will not be among the starters in the NBA All-Star Game.

LeBron James’ 21-year all-star starter streak comes to an end

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant added another historic milestone to his Hall of Fame resume on Sunday night, moving into sixth place on the NBA&rsquo;s all-time scoring list by passing Dirk Nowitzki during Houston&rsquo;s 119-110 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Durant&rsquo;s achievement marks the latest chapter in one of the most prolific scoring careers in league history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Durant needed 17 points to eclipse Nowitzki&rsquo;s total of 31,560 career points, and he finished the night with 18 points, securing the milestone with a free throw late in the fourth quarter. The 15-time All-Star now has 31,562 career points and trails only five legends on the all-time scoring list: LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earlier in the season, Durant also passed Wilt Chamberlain to claim seventh place on the scoring list &ndash; another testament to his sustained excellence and longevity in the league.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a postgame video tribute, Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki &ndash; whom Durant has long called one of his idols &ndash; congratulated KD and spoke about his remarkable scoring ability, describing him as &ldquo;one of the purest, smoothest scorers this game has ever seen.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At 37 years old and in his 18th NBA season, Durant continues to produce at an elite level, averaging over 26 points per game and showing he remains one of the league&rsquo;s most dangerous offensive weapons. With the next milestone up his sights &ndash; passing Michael Jordan for fifth all-time scoring &ndash; Durant&rsquo;s climb up the historic leaderboard isn&rsquo;t done yet.</span></p>

Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant moved into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list by passing Dirk Nowitzki.

Kevin Durant continues to make history, pass Dirk Nowitzki for 6th all-time scoring list

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a landmark moment for his Hall of Fame resume, James Harden climbed past Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal on the NBA&rsquo;s all-time scoring list, earning ninth place in league history with a vintage offensive performance for the Los Angeles Clippers.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The milestone came in Monday night&rsquo;s 117-109 win over the Charlotte Hornets, where Harden poured in 32 points and dished out 10 assists.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harden&rsquo;s 3-pointer early in the third quarter marked the official point that pushed his career total beyond Shaq&rsquo;s mark of 28,596 points &ndash; with Harden now sitting at 28,614 points and counting through 1,187 regular-season games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The achievement is another major milestone in a career defined by elite scoring and longevity. Harden first cracked the NBA&rsquo;s top 10 all-time scoring list last season, and now ranks ahead of one of the most dominant centers in league history. Still ahead of him on the all-time list are legends such as Wilt Chamberlain (8th), Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and the all-time leader LeBron James. Kevin Durant is currently at 7th.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harden reflected on the moment postgame, calling it a &ldquo;true honor&rdquo; to eclipse the Hall of Famer he grew up watching, underscoring the weight of joining the sport&rsquo;s elite scorers.</span></p>

James Harden climbed past Shaquille O’Neal on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, becoming the 9th placed player.

James Harden surpasses Shaquille O’Neal to move into No. 9 on all-time scoring list

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With his basket in the third quarter of their game against the Cavaliers, Anthony Edwards became the 3rd fastest player to score 10,000 points or more in NBA history.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anthony Edwards is the 3rd fastest player to 10,000 points <a href="https://t.co/PjAj458gFn">pic.twitter.com/PjAj458gFn</a></p>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/2009472490192736689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Minnesota Timberwolves young superstar joins an elite company with LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two prolific scorers that have made their mark in the game, and the only two scorers who did it faster.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Edwards achieved the feat in 24 years, 156 days, even surpassing the great Kobe Bryant in the all-time list. Edwards also became the 7th player in league history to score 10,000 points before turning 25 years old, joining LeBron, KD, Kobe, Luka, T-Mac, and Carmelo Anthony.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Edwards, who was the 1st pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, adds another milestone in his ever growing NBA career after two straight all-star seasons and back-to-back Western Conference Finals.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 24-year-old is poised to add another all-star appearance in his career this season with career-high averages of 29.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.</span></p>

Anthony Edwards became the 3rd fastest player to score 10,000 points or more in NBA history.

Anthony Edwards becomes 3rd fastest player in NBA history to reach 10k points

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is from a press release by the NBA</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA and the global basketball community are set to mark World Basketball Day on Dec. 21 with a wide-ranging celebration aimed at engaging hundreds of millions of fans and youth across the world, highlighting basketball&rsquo;s roots, reach and enduring social impact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now in its third year, World Basketball Day commemorates the date in 1891 when Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts. Established by the United Nations in 2023, the annual celebration recognizes basketball as a unifying force across cultures and continents&mdash;an idea the NBA is embracing through clinics, community programs, digital campaigns and in-arena activations worldwide.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s observance carries added significance as it coincides with the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, widely regarded as the birthplace of the sport. In recognition of that milestone, the NBA and YMCA announced a year-long collaboration focused on youth basketball and community development, extending a long-standing partnership that will support millions of young people and families across the United States.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The initiative will include youth-focused programming and renovations of select YMCA facilities nationwide, directly benefiting the more than six million youth the YMCA serves annually. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the historical importance of the moment, noting that World Basketball Day in 2025 serves as both a celebration of the game&rsquo;s origins and a reflection of its global influence more than a century later.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;World Basketball Day takes on a special meaning this year as we commemorate the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, where the sport was first invented 134 years ago,&rdquo; Silver said. &ldquo;We are thrilled to join our many friends in the basketball community to celebrate the game&rsquo;s impact and influence around the world.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA&rsquo;s digital footprint will play a central role in the celebration. Across its global and localized social platforms, the league will feature NBA players sharing what World Basketball Day means to them, alongside highlights from events taking place in different regions. Fans are encouraged to participate by tagging @nba, @nbacares and @jrnba on social media using the hashtag </span><strong>#WorldBasketballDay</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the grassroots level, the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA programs, along with NBA Basketball School initiatives that reach tens of millions of youth and coaches globally, will gain access to a special playbook containing exclusive training and educational content designed to promote skill development and values such as teamwork and leadership.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">World Basketball Day will also intersect with the NBA&rsquo;s competitive calendar. Dec. 21 will serve as a &ldquo;3-for-1 Day&rdquo; in NBA All-Star Voting, allowing fans with an NBA ID to submit one ballot per day via the NBA App or NBA.com, with each vote counting triple toward All-Star selections.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Across the United States, numerous NBA franchises&mdash;including the Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Bucks, Mavericks and Warriors&mdash;will celebrate through localized events and in-arena activities. Several player-led initiatives will headline the festivities, including youth clinics hosted by former and current NBA players such as Taj Gibson and Michael Carter-Williams. In St. Louis, the Gateway Region YMCA recently hosted a youth clinic attended by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who also announced upcoming YMCA renovations supported by NBA Cares and The Jayson Tatum Foundation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Internationally, the scope of World Basketball Day underscores the NBA&rsquo;s global reach. FIBA will announce the inductees for its 2026 Hall of Fame class, while NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League will deploy 19 coaches to conduct clinics across 13 African nations, reaching more than 600 coaches as part of a long-term effort to develop the sport on the continent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Philippines, one of the NBA&rsquo;s most passionate international markets, will play a visible role in the celebration. Local basketball players and content creators from the country will be featured across the NBA&rsquo;s localized channels, while NBA Stores in the Philippines will host World Basketball Day scavenger hunts offering fans the chance to win merchandise and exclusive discounts. Beginning on Dec. 21, fans who purchase official NBA merchandise at participating stores will also receive a complimentary World Basketball Day T-shirt while supplies last.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NBA champion Jayson Tatum highlighted the personal significance of the day, pointing to basketball&rsquo;s role in shaping lives beyond the court. &ldquo;World Basketball Day is a chance to celebrate the game and the impact it has on people everywhere,&rdquo; Tatum said. &ldquo;Basketball has had such a positive influence on my life, and I hope I can pass along the joy and skills I&rsquo;ve learned to the next generation.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the sport&rsquo;s ability to open doors for girls and women worldwide. Leaders from FIBA, USA Basketball, the NCAA, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBCA and the NFHS also underscored basketball&rsquo;s educational, cultural and community value, reinforcing the idea that the game&rsquo;s influence stretches far beyond professional leagues.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As basketball continues to grow as the world&rsquo;s fastest-rising sport and the second most popular globally, World Basketball Day stands as both a tribute to its humble beginnings and a celebration of its future. From neighborhood gyms to global arenas, Dec. 21 will once again spotlight how a simple game invented more than a century ago continues to connect communities, inspire youth and bring the world together through a shared love for basketball.</span></p>

The NBA and the global basketball community are set to mark World Basketball Day on Dec. 21 with a wide-ranging celebration.

NBA, Global Basketball Community Unite for World Basketball Day Celebration

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">James Harden adds another piece of history in his ever-growing list of accolades, surpassing Carmelo Anthony for the 10th spot in the NBA&rsquo;s all-time scoring list on Saturday night, December 7th.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The man they call &lsquo;the Beard&rsquo; achieved the feat with two made free throws in their game vs the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Los Angeles Clippers guard now has 28,290 points and counting.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 37-year-old Harden becomes only the third guard in the top-10 list, joining Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just recently, former teammate Kevin Durant became the 8th player in NBA history to score 31,000 points. If Harden continues his scoring chops this season, he can continue to climb up the scoring ranks in the NBA&rsquo;s all-time scoring history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next up for Harden to surpass is Shaquille O'Neal with 28,596 points at the 9th spot.</span></p>

James Harden surpasses Carmelo Anthony for the 10th spot in the NBA’s all-time scoring list on Saturday night, December 7th.

James Harden cracks top-10 all-time scorers, surpassing Carmelo Anthony

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is officially the newest NBA player to join Nike&rsquo;s signature roster, signing a multi-year endorsement deal that will include his first-ever signature sneaker, set to debut during the 2026&ndash;27 season, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cunningham, who previously worked with Nike on a standard endorsement, now joins an exclusive group of active players with their own shoe line under the brand &ndash; a list that includes LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Ja Morant, Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The agreement underscores Nike&rsquo;s confidence in the 24-year-old guard&rsquo;s rising star power, both as the face of Detroit&rsquo;s rebuild and as a marketable figure in the league&rsquo;s next generation of headliners.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The deal positions Cunningham as a central piece of Nike Basketball&rsquo;s future strategy. His signature model is expected to reflect his smooth, methodical style of play and his growing visibility as one of the Eastern Conference&rsquo;s premier young guards. With Detroit&rsquo;s youth movement gaining traction and Cunningham continuing to elevate his all-around game, the timing aligns with his ascent on and off the court.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Cunningham, the partnership is another milestone in a career steadily trending upward. For Nike, it&rsquo;s a bet on a player they believe will be one of the defining stars of the coming decade.</span></p>

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is officially the newest NBA player to join Nike’s signature roster.

Cade Cunningham resigns with Nike, to get his own signature shoe

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has officially unveiled its Class of 2025, and it&rsquo;s a star-studded group featuring NBA greats, WNBA legends, a championship-winning coach, a respected referee, and an iconic Olympic team.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From Carmelo Anthony&rsquo;s scoring brilliance to Sue Bird&rsquo;s unmatched leadership and the dominance of Dwight Howard in the paint, this year&rsquo;s class captures the diversity and global reach of basketball excellence.</span></p>
<p><strong>NBA and WNBA legends take center stage</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Headlining the inductees are Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, two of the defining players of their generation. Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and NCAA champion, retires as one of the most prolific scorers in league history and a member of the NBA&rsquo;s 75th Anniversary Team. Howard, meanwhile, dominated as a defensive anchor with three Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight All-Star nods, and an NBA championship to his name.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joining them is a historic trio from the women&rsquo;s game: Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles. Bird, widely considered one of the greatest point guards ever, built a legacy of championships at every level, from UConn to the WNBA to Team USA. Moore&rsquo;s four WNBA titles and two NCAA championships are matched only by her profound impact off the court as a social justice advocate. Fowles, a two-time WNBA champion and league MVP, cemented her status as one of the most dominant bigs in women&rsquo;s basketball.</span></p>
<p><strong>Coaching, Officiating, and Leadership honored</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The class also features Billy Donovan, who etched his name in college basketball history with back-to-back NCAA titles at Florida before transitioning to a successful NBA coaching career. On the officiating side, Danny Crawford earns enshrinement after three decades as one of the league&rsquo;s most respected referees, including 23 consecutive NBA Finals appearances.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recognizing the contributions of executives, Micky Arison, longtime owner of the Miami Heat, was also inducted for his role in building one of the NBA&rsquo;s most successful franchises.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Redeem Team joins the Hall</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adding to the star power, the 2008 U.S. Men&rsquo;s Olympic &ldquo;Redeem Team&rdquo; was enshrined as a unit. Led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and several of this year&rsquo;s inductees, the team restored American dominance on the international stage by capturing gold in Beijing, leaving a lasting impact on global basketball.</span></p>
<p><strong>Full List of 2025 Inductees</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carmelo Anthony (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dwight Howard (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sue Bird (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maya Moore (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sylvia Fowles (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Billy Donovan (Coach)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Danny Crawford (Referee)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2008 U.S. Men&rsquo;s Olympic Team (Team)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Micky Arison (Contributor/Executive)</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s enshrinement showcases the full spectrum of basketball greatness &ndash; scoring icons, defensive stalwarts, groundbreaking women&rsquo;s stars, and figures who shaped the game from the sidelines and beyond. </span></p>

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has officially unveiled its Class of 2025, and it features a star-studded group.

Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard headline 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame class

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The stage is set for one of international basketball&rsquo;s premier events. The 2025 FIBA EuroBasket tips off today, and a long list of NBA players will be trading their club jerseys for their national colors for this summer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s competition features a loaded field of European stars, including MVPs, All-Stars, and young prospects eager to prove themselves on the continental stage. From Nikola Jokic anchoring Serbia to Giannis Antetokounmpo powering Greece and Luka Doncic leading Slovenia, some of the NBA&rsquo;s brightest names will headline what promises to be a thrilling tournament.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here&rsquo;s a breakdown of the NBA talent set to suit up for EuroBasket 2025, followed by a guide on everything you need to know about the competition.</span></p>
<h2><strong>NBA players on EuroBasket rosters</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Czechia &ndash; Vit Krejci (Hawks)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Krejci gives Czechia size and versatility in the backcourt and frontcourt positions. While not a high-usage player in the NBA, he&rsquo;s expected to play a larger role as a two-way player for his national team.</span></p>
<p><strong>Latvia &ndash; Kristaps Porzingis (Hawks)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Porzingis remains the cornerstone for Latvia. His ability to stretch the floor as a big man will be critical in a team that thrives on perimeter shooting.</span></p>
<p><strong>Portugal &ndash; Neemias Queta (Celtics)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Queta will carry the banner for Portugal as their first true NBA-level player. His rim protection and rebounding presence as well as his inside scoring make him central to Portugal&rsquo;s chances of competing in a tough field.</span></p>
<p><strong>Serbia &ndash; Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Bogdan Bogdanovic (Clippers), Nikola Jovic (Heat), Tristan Vukcevic (Wizards)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serbia looks like a powerhouse. Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, is the ultimate centerpiece who can dominate games with scoring, passing, and rebounding. Bogdanovic adds elite shooting and experience, while Jovic and Vukcevic provide youth and depth to keep Serbia dangerous across all positions.</span></p>
<p><strong>Turkey &ndash; Alperen Sengun (Rockets), Adem Bona (76ers)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sengun, one of the NBA&rsquo;s brightest young centers, will be Turkey&rsquo;s go-to option on offense. Bona, fresh off his rookie NBA campaign, brings athleticism and defensive intensity in the paint.</span></p>
<p><strong>Finland &ndash; Lauri Markkanen (Jazz)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Markkanen is Finland&rsquo;s unquestioned leader and most reliable scorer. After an All-Star leap in the NBA, he&rsquo;ll be expected to carry the Finnish offense against the continent&rsquo;s top teams.</span></p>
<p><strong>Germany &ndash; Dennis Schroder (Kings), Franz Wagner (Magic), Tristan da Silva (Magic)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reigning World Cup champions return with Schroder orchestrating the offense and Wagner providing wing scoring and star power. Da Silva, fresh from his rookie year, adds another versatile forward to the mix for Germany.</span></p>
<p><strong>Lithuania &ndash; Jonas Valanciunas (Nuggets)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Valanciunas anchors Lithuania&rsquo;s traditional inside-out game. His physicality and rebounding remain vital, particularly against Europe&rsquo;s other elite big men.</span></p>
<p><strong>Montenegro &ndash; Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vucevic is Montenegro&rsquo;s main offensive hub. His inside-out skill set gives them a consistent scoring option in a balanced lineup.</span></p>
<p><strong>Sweden &ndash; Pelle Larsson (Heat)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Larsson, fresh off his rookie season in the NBA, offers Sweden perimeter shooting and length on the wing. He&rsquo;ll have to play above his experience level to make a real impact.</span></p>
<p><strong>Bosnia and Herzegovina &ndash; Jusuf Nurkic (Jazz)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nurkic provides size, toughness, and leadership. His interior presence will be Bosnia&rsquo;s best weapon against stronger rosters.</span></p>
<p><strong>Georgia &ndash; Goga Bitadze (Magic), Sandro Mamukelashvili (Raptors)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Georgia has two NBA frontcourt players in Bitadze and Mamukelashvili. Both bring size, energy, and interior defense, giving Georgia a physical edge.</span></p>
<p><strong>Greece &ndash; Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">The two-time NBA MVP returns as Greece&rsquo;s undisputed leader. Giannis&rsquo; all-around dominance makes Greece a perennial threat when he&rsquo;s on the floor.</span></p>
<p><strong>Italy &ndash; Simone Fontecchio (Heat)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fontecchio, a reliable floor spacer and shooter, will take on a heavy scoring load for Italy.</span></p>
<p><strong>Spain &ndash; Santi Aldama (Grizzlies)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aldama&rsquo;s versatility fits perfectly into Spain&rsquo;s balanced style of play. He can stretch defenses with his shooting while also rebounding effectively.</span></p>
<p><strong>France &ndash; Guerschon Yabusele (Knicks), Bilal Coulibaly (Wizards), Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks), Alex Sarr (Wizards)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">France boasts one of the deepest NBA contingents. Yabusele provides veteran stability, while Coulibaly, Risacher, and Sarr bring an injection of youth and athleticism. This blend of talent makes France a legitimate title contender.</span></p>
<p><strong>Israel &ndash; Deni Avdija (Blazers)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avdija has steadily improved as a two-way forward in the NBA, and he&rsquo;ll now be Israel&rsquo;s top playmaker and scorer.</span></p>
<p><strong>Slovenia &ndash; Luka Doncic (Lakers)</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doncic headlines Slovenia as one of the most electrifying players in the world. He&rsquo;s capable of single-handedly carrying his country deep into the tournament, just as he has in previous years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These eighteen NBA franchises will see their players in action. The Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizards lead the way with three representatives each. The Nuggets, Jazz, and the Wizards have multiple players in the field, while even smaller-market teams like the Raptors and Trail Blazers will be represented.</span></p>
<h2><strong>Everything you need to know about EuroBasket 2025</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><strong>2025 FIBA EuroBasket</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will feature 24 teams split into </span><strong>four groups of six</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Each group will play a </span><strong>single round-robin</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, with the </span><strong>top four teams</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> advancing to the knockout stages.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The knockout phase includes the </span><strong>Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, a Third-Place Game, and the Final</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, ensuring plenty of high-stakes basketball.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond continental bragging rights, EuroBasket also serves as a crucial stepping stone toward the 2027 FIBA World Cup, the 2028 Olympics and global rankings. The competition has long been a proving ground where NBA players elevate their national teams while rising European prospects showcase their skills on a world stage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With superstars like Jokic, Giannis, and Doncic leading the way, and promising youngsters like Risacher, Sarr, and Jovic making their mark, EuroBasket 2025 has the talent and storylines to deliver one of the most memorable editions in recent history.</span></p>

The stage is set for one of international basketball’s premier events. The 2025 FIBA EuroBasket tips off today

NBA players set for action at 2025 FIBA EuroBasket

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Boston Celtics have executed two pivotal roster moves aimed at managing payroll and adding depth ahead of the 2025-26 season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boston traded forward Georges Niang, who was acquired in an offseason trade for Kristaps Porzingis, alongside two future second-round picks, to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie RJ Luis Jr., the 2024&ndash;25 Big East Player of the Year, now on a two-way contract.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This move clears over $8 million in salary, helping the team drop nearly $34 million in luxury tax liabilities and placing them more than $7.8 million below the second tax apron.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Utah, re-acquiring Niang, linked with them from 2017 to 2021, adds veteran shooting and playoff seasoning to a youthful core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the salary room created, Boston has signed veteran big man Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million fully guaranteed contract.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boucher brings positional versatility &ndash; capable of playing the 3, 4, or 5 &ndash; and career shooting splits around 50% from the field and 36% from three-point range. He&rsquo;s expected to fill a key role in the frontcourt amid Jayson Tatum&rsquo;s absence due to injury.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: These moves reflect the Celtics' &ldquo;gap year&rdquo; strategy &ndash; prioritizing financial flexibility during Tatum&rsquo;s rehab period while relying on unproven players stepping up. With departures including Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, Boston is banking on internal development plus Boucher&rsquo;s depth support.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Celtics cleared financial hurdles with the Niang trade and smartly reinvested in Boucher &ndash; a seasoned, contract-friendly piece. Now positioned under the tax apron, Boston enters 2025&ndash;26 with a leaner payroll and optimism that its younger roster and depth can hold the fort while Tatum heals.</span></p>

The Boston Celtics have executed two pivotal roster moves aimed at managing payroll and adding depth ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Celtics reshape roster with Niang trade, Boucher signing

<div dir="ltr">An Open Letter To RG3</div>
<div dir="ltr">&nbsp;</div>
<div dir="ltr">Dear RG3,
<div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>My son Malcolm was one of the biggest RG3 fans growing up.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-1_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>
<div>In 2011, The Washington Commanders had an open scrimmage for fans and the community. I took my son there and we watched the entire practice from start to finish including stretching, warm ups, everything. So afterwards, we were standing on the side and you walked by Malcolm and said,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Hey you got braids like me&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And Malcolm replied,</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;No, I have dreadlocks&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And you laughed, and Malcolm asked if he could take a picture with you and from that day on, he was the biggest RG3 fan on earth. So that meant so was I.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>We went to the games, sat out in the stadium in the freezing cold, bought the RG3 jerseys, bought him an RG3 poster with you pointing up to the heavens and me and my wife used it to illustrate that athletes like you and Steph Curry in particular always give thanks and praise to Jesus Christ for everything they accomplish whether it was a touchdown (RG3) or 3 pointer (Steph Curry).</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Young Malcolm received the message and put the poster on his bedroom door. He would tap it every day as he walked by. We were full blown RG3 fans as a family. He even dragged his little sister Imani to the games.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>
<div>I remember that infamous game in the 2012-2013 NFL Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks where you re-aggravated your knee injury during the game and ultimately tore your ACL and LCL. I remember watching my son asking over and over the entire game from the first snap why you were even playing. He kept saying,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;If RG3 is hurt and playing, couldn&rsquo;t he get hurt more ?&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He was literally yelling,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>"Look at his face daddy, he is in pain why is he still playing if he is in that much pain?"</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>When you went down, the look on Malcolm&rsquo;s face is something I will never forget. It was sheer horror followed by anger. I remember he couldn&rsquo;t even sleep that night he was so upset.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/robert-griffin-iii-an-open-letter/2013/01/07/5e4da812-58fd-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_blog.html">The next day I wrote an article for The Washington Post mainly to convey Malcolm&rsquo;s frustration over the entire situation as we both felt that you should&rsquo;ve never been cleared to play and the medical staff, the coaches, and the entire organization failed you.&nbsp;</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Even now, whenever I am discussing the topic of a team neglecting a player&rsquo;s safety and well being by playing them injured and risking their health for &ldquo;The Big Game&rdquo; I use you as an example. It is a cautionary tale for athletes that should be repeated which I did recently in my article titled, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-indiana-pacers-rg3d-tyrese-haliburton?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLfDdtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmNyk6lZSSvwHjakPrXhs6dC9sgeHiJSuaRNTmALm5an_9ymtdg4Px4VUq94_aem_q_a1E4M2rtFYSDjf4ZGzWw">&ldquo;The Indiana Pacers RG3&rsquo;d Tyrese Haliburton&rdquo;&nbsp;</a></div>
<div>
<p>We as a family always supported you. I even did a few Fatherhood Panels with your father at different churches in the DMV including my church First Baptist Church Of Glenarden, Reid Temple, and we went to Wise High School. My daughter became friends with your niece. My wife hugs your mother every time she would see her in church. We loved your entire family.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So now, years later I have to ask you, what happened to you since retiring and going into the media ?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let me say this, you are incredibly talented behind the mic.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I don&rsquo;t have to agree with all of your perspectives and takes to be able to acknowledge that. You have the gift of gab, a big personality on screen, and I am happy you found something you are passionate about especially as I feel and will always stand on the fact that your career was unfairly taken from you by the Washington Commanders coach, medical staff and everyone else who still to this day failed to take responsibility for playing you and in essence ruining your entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But somewhere something changed. You morphed into someone I would have never expected.&nbsp;</p>
<p>By now everyone has seen what transpired with you and your comments regarding a racist disgusting tweet aimed at Angel Reese.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Quick recap, for those who are not aware, Angel Reese was named one of 3 athletes who will grace the NBA 2K26 cover and in response to that news, a now viral tweet replaced her face with that of an ape. So you responded with a tweet condemning the racist depiction and declared that racism has no place in society and can&rsquo;t we all just get along. The tweet was going just fine, but then it took a turn and you brought back up your notion that according to your anonymous sources Angel Reese does in fact hate Caitlin Clark so you was right along. And that&rsquo;s where you lost me.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>You couldn't just say it was racism, terrible and disgusting and leave it at that? Why would you feel the need to continue this narrative about Angel Reese hating Caitlin Clark ? Why even bring that up? Whether intentional or unintentional, you are fanning the flames for the Caitlin Clark white grievance mob.&nbsp;</p>
<div>You may not be aware of this but let me explain what you are doing again whether intentionally or not.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The Angel Reese is jealous of Caitlin Clark narrative you continue to parrot has been implemented for a reason. This entire situation has been manufactured ever since Angel Reese beat Caitlin Clark (The Great White Hope) in college. There is historical context to this.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Back in 1910, Boxer Jack Johnson beat James Jeffries (The Great White Hope of the time) this fight was marketed and widely viewed as a &ldquo;referendum on white superiority&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>The hate and anger was instant as his victory ignited&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://timeline.com/when-a-black-fighter-won-the-fight-of-the-century-race-riots-erupted-across-america-3730b8bf9c98" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://timeline.com/when-a-black-fighter-won-the-fight-of-the-century-race-riots-erupted-across-america-3730b8bf9c98&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2BLD6dkizo_qfoiccJB3jZ">bloody confrontations and violence</a>&nbsp; all throughout the country actually leaving two dozen people dead, almost all of them Black and hundreds injured and arrested. And that&rsquo;s when Jack Johnson became hated by the white masses.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://theconversation.com/when-a-black-boxing-champion-beat-the-great-white-hope-all-hell-broke-loose-163413" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theconversation.com/when-a-black-boxing-champion-beat-the-great-white-hope-all-hell-broke-loose-163413&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw39vP21OkVB_BH6KU_53lal">https://theconversation.com/<wbr />when-a-black-boxing-champion-<wbr />beat-the-great-white-hope-all-<wbr />hell-broke-loose-163413</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Fast forward to 2023, when a new Great White Hope arises (Caitlin Clark) and is defeated by Angel Reese but not only did she beat her, she told her about it along the way accompanied with the hand gesture in her face, and taunts (which Caitlin Clark did first accompanied with trash talking and taunts of her own that nobody had an issue with but I digress)&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Well, this isn&rsquo;t the 1910s so the Caitlin Clark mobs couldn&rsquo;t respond the way the James Jeffries mob did, but they could take their hate, anger, vitriol, racism, etc etc online, which they did all directed toward Angel Reese. She didn&rsquo;t just become a villain, as she told reporters she had been actually receiving death threats online for over a year.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-reese-death-threats-rcna146023" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-reese-death-threats-rcna146023&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3AAvUloVRuhTsBBuhBsniM">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/<wbr />nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-<wbr />reese-death-threats-rcna146023</a><wbr />&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So, now back to you pushing this&nbsp;</div>
<div>Angel Reese is jealous of Caitlin Clark narrative. Do you realize exactly whose narrative you are promoting ? I don&rsquo;t see how you couldn&rsquo;t. You see your comment sections every time &nbsp;you disparage, demonize, and discredit Angel Reese. You even mocked her with your wife sitting in the background drinking tea like the movie &ldquo;Get Out&rdquo; or something.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Maybe you&rsquo;re not aware of this but this entire situation is now being weaponized by a certain demographic of Caitlin Clark fans. She is now being used as a symbol of white grievance which directly correlates to the MAGA narrative that the whole country is out to get the &ldquo;good christian white folks&rdquo;.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Despite the fact that Caitlin Clark has repeatedly asked not to be weaponized as a symbol of racism and bigotry, this has become much bigger than Caitlin Clark so it really doesn&rsquo;t matter what she requests.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The narrative is to protect the white damsel in distress in correlation to historically how even the thought of a &ldquo;white delicate flower&rdquo; being harmed or in danger or disrespected or whistled at would result in a vicious white mob attacking, lynching, mutilating, and murdering the suspected perpetrator.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>That&rsquo;s why the narrative that the entire WNBA are intentionally fouling her or viewing her with Latonya Harding eyes skating past Nancy Kerrigan, is not only inaccurate but also promotes this same dangerous mentality.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/2024-09-23-jason-whitlock-says-dijonai-carrington-assaulted-caitlin-clark-in-attack/">Media members like Jason Whitlock purposely used the words &ldquo;assault&rdquo; and &ldquo;attack&rdquo; and &ldquo;stab in the eye&rdquo; when discussing a foul by Dijonai Carrington.</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/basketball/wnba/fever/2024/09/24/caitlin-clark-says-dijonai-carrington-eye-poke-wasnt-intentional-wnba-playoffs-indiana-fever-sun/75365622007/">All of the intentionally stoked outrage prompted Caitlin Clark to publicly denounce the narrative and state, &ldquo;the foul was unintentional."</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And then and only then did people like Jason Whitlock back away from the narrative. But that&rsquo;s exactly what you are doing. You are pushing a very dangerous narrative.&nbsp;</div>
<p><a href="https://x.com/torreysmithwr/status/1943333887163158840?s=46&amp;t=FiXBDRUe_KpN8Ix5Vb08vg">Former Baltimore Ravens Torrey Smith was 100% spot on when he tweeted:</a></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-5_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/realrclark25/status/1943702842818052426?s=46&amp;t=FiXBDRUe_KpN8Ix5Vb08vg">Ryan Clark was also spot on when he tweeted:</a></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-6_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Here is my sincere honest question to you. Are you attempting to follow the breadcrumbs left by people like Jason Whitlock ? Meaning someone who purposely takes on certain positions and perspectives that you know will be applauded amongst a certain demographic?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Coincidentally, this is a meme that I saw floating around social media of you. I put it next to a meme that has been floating around social media of Jason Whitlock for sometime now and you are better than this !!! I know you are, but this is exactly what you are morphing into, and it hurts my heart to see.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-7_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Comedian Goddfrey was spot on how he described your spat with Ryan Clark a few months ago when he said,&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Every time you publicly dog a Black Woman, you&rsquo;re dogging your mother, your grandmother, your aunties.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>I don&rsquo;t know if you heard his message to you but please listen to his entire video. He agreed with you that children and family should be left out of the conversation which Ryan Clark also acknowledged and apologized to you for. But that aside, their points still stand.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8EbTdJwlc/?igsh=N2g0eHBpcmJmczJp">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8EbTdJwlc/?igsh=N2g0eHBpcmJmczJp</a></p>
<p>Let me paint a another illustration.</p>
<p>Savion Glover&rsquo;s character Manray in the Spike Lee Classic Bamboozled.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Remember at the end when he was looking in the mirror as he was about to put on the Black Face and his conscious started to attack his soul and he just couldn&rsquo;t do it anymore. He couldn&rsquo;t participate in their minstrel show so he came on stage without the Black Face ? My hope and prayer for you is that you eventually get to the place where you simply can&rsquo;t do it anymore and you wipe the Black Face off, and come on to the stage as Robert Griffin III.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-9_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
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Dear RG3: Please Don’t Turn Into Jason Whitlock

Brian