Lions

Anthony Edwards had a front-row seat to greatness during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Being part of Team USA allowed him to spend extended time around legends LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, not just during games but in practices, shootarounds, and daily preparation. What he noticed most was not the highlights or the talent, but the discipline behind it.
They have been doing the same thing every single day, and according to Edwards, that is exactly why they have accomplished so much in their careers.
Spending that much time with them gave him perspective. Watching how they prepare, how they warm up, how they recover, and how they approach each day showed him that greatness is built on routine. It is not about constantly searching for something new. It is about mastering the same process repeatedly.
&ldquo;Playing with them on the USA team, it taught me about having a routine, especially when it comes to being on the court,&rdquo; Edwards said postgame at the 2026 All-Star Game in LA. &ldquo;Watching Steph, KD, and Bron every day do the same routine, it&rsquo;s like it&rsquo;s normal for a person to get bored with the same thing, waking up, doing this every single day. But I feel like that&rsquo;s what made them great and that&rsquo;s what they taught me for sure.&rdquo;
That level of consistency is what separates sustained greatness from short-term success. For most players, repetition can feel monotonous. For players like Curry, LeBron, and Durant, repetition creates comfort and confidence. Their routines have allowed them to remain elite deep into their careers, adjusting their games as needed but never abandoning the foundation that built them.
Edwards clearly understands that now, and he is beginning to apply those lessons to his own journey.
<h3>Letting the work speak for itself</h3>
At 24 years old, Edwards is already moving in the right direction. Being named All-Star Game MVP is another step forward in his growth as one of the faces of the league. However, for him, the recognition is not the final goal. It is simply progress.
Edwards has made it clear that he does not want to be just one of the best players in the league, but instead he wants to be THe best. That mindset aligns directly with the habits he observed during the Olympics.
When asked what the All-Star MVP win meant to him, he kept it simple.
&ldquo;It is a step in the right direction for sure. We chose to compete today, and we came out on top.&rdquo;
That statement carried weight because of the context surrounding the All-Star Game in recent years. The event has been criticized for lacking competitiveness and intensity, with many fans feeling that players were not taking it seriously. Edwards embraced the opportunity to compete and help change that narrative. He understood that effort matters, even in exhibition and pickup basketball settings, because habits carry over into bigger moments.
The performance was not just about scoring or highlights. Instead, it was about showing that the next generation values competition and takes pride in it. Victor Wembanyama, a fellow young superstar like Edwards, played hard from the get go and Edwards admitted it was him who got him going.
Confidence plays a major role in that. Edwards has never lacked self-belief, but when asked where that confidence comes from, he pointed directly back to the work.
When asked about where he thinks that confidence comes from, Edwards offered a simple yet strong statement.
&ldquo;I feel like it comes from the work, all the hours I put in the gym. I am always in the gym, so being in the gym and shooting all those shots all the time you build confidence within that.&rdquo;
That answer ties everything together. The same routine that he saw from Curry, LeBron, and Durant is the same routine he is building for himself. His confidence is not random. But rather it is developed through repetition, preparation, and countless unseen hours in the gym.
Edwards is still early in his career, and he has not yet accomplished what those three legends have achieved. However, the foundation is being built the right way. He recognizes that greatness is not accidental and that talent alone is not enough to sustain dominance over time.
If he continues to apply those lessons and maintain that daily discipline, his ceiling becomes even higher. He already has the athleticism, scoring ability, and charisma to lead the next era of stars. Pairing that with routine and relentless work gives him a real chance to reach the level he aspires to.

Anthony Edwards shares what he learned from the legends of the NBA from his Olympics stint, and how it has transformed his season.

Anthony Edwards praises LeBron, Steph, and KD’s work ethic: “That’s what made them great”

Maybe it was always meant to happen this way &ndash; through the grind, the noise, and the heartbreak. Over the past few years, Detroit basketball was defined by its pain. A record-breaking 28-game losing streak. Missed lottery picks. False starts. The Motor City, once the heart of NBA toughness, had become an afterthought.
But lately, that&rsquo;s changing &ndash; fast.
Led by Cade Cunningham, the Detroit Pistons have stormed out to a stunning 9-2 start, sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings. They&rsquo;ve done it not through star-chasing or blockbuster trades, but through patience, internal player development, and a belief that the foundation they&rsquo;ve built would eventually bear fruit.
And at the center of it all is the quiet leader who never ran from the challenge.
Cade&rsquo;s time has come
Cade Cunningham&rsquo;s leap into superstardom has felt less like a breakout and more like a long-overdue arrival. The 24-year-old guard has been on an absolute tear to open the season, stringing together the kind of performances that remind you why he was once the No. 1 pick in his draft.
He&rsquo;s orchestrated the offense with poise and precision &ndash; highlighted by an 18-assist night earlier this season &ndash; and imposed his will on both ends. Then came the moment that made the league stop and take notice: a 46-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist, 5-steal, 2-block masterpiece in an overtime comeback win against the Wizards.
It wasn&rsquo;t just another great game. It was a declaration.
Cunningham has arrived not only as a star but as a symbol of Detroit&rsquo;s revival &ndash; a player who stayed when things were at their worst, who never complained, never pointed fingers, and never asked out. Drafted by one of the worst teams in NBA history, he endured the losing, the questions, and the scrutiny &ndash; and he came out sharper, stronger, and hungrier.
The Cunningham-Duren connection
Every great franchise turnaround starts with a pairing that just works. For the Pistons, that&rsquo;s Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren &ndash; the new-age guard-big duo that&rsquo;s fast becoming one of the most dangerous in basketball.
Duren, still only 21, has blossomed into a nightly double-double machine. He&rsquo;s stronger, more agile, and far more decisive in pick-and-roll reads &ndash; a perfect complement to Cunningham&rsquo;s pace and vision. His recent 20-point, 20-rebound outing was a glimpse of what&rsquo;s to come.
Their chemistry has been undeniable. Cunningham manipulates defenses with patience; Duren punishes them with power, and both connect on lobs and passes off the pick and roll that made them the most lethal combo so far (scoring the most pass-to-score duos in the league). They&rsquo;ve developed a rhythm that evokes the great guard-big tandems of the past &ndash; the kind that can anchor a team for years to come.
When Cunningham and Duren share the floor, the Pistons&rsquo; offense now hums with a balance that few young teams can match.
The young core&rsquo;s internal progression
But this isn&rsquo;t just a two-man show. Detroit&rsquo;s rise has been fueled by the steady internal improvement of its entire young core.
Ausar Thompson has taken a noticeable leap, attacking off the dribble more aggressively and showing improved confidence as a slasher. His defense, as always, remains elite &mdash; the kind of game-changing activity that sparks fast breaks and deflates opposing stars.
Isaiah Stewart, once a raw energy guy, now stretches the floor with a much-improved jumper. His ability to switch across positions gives Detroit defensive versatility few teams can replicate, and his shotblocking has been one of the best in the league.
Meanwhile, Ron Holland, the youngster known for his relentless motor, has brought a surge of intensity off the bench &ndash; the type of energy that can tilt the flow of games.
And though Jaden Ivey has yet to make his season debut due to injury, his eventual return adds another dynamic playmaker who can ease Cunningham&rsquo;s load and bring even more firepower to the offense.
Detroit&rsquo;s front office also deserves credit for complementing its young core with smart veteran additions. Duncan Robinson brings much-needed spacing and shooting, while Caris LeVert provides shot creation and playmaking for the second unit. These aren&rsquo;t headline-grabbing moves &ndash; but they&rsquo;re the kind that win games in November and matter even more come April.
Built, not bought
The Pistons&rsquo; resurgence stands in stark contrast to today&rsquo;s NBA trend of instant gratification. They didn&rsquo;t rush the rebuild. They didn&rsquo;t mortgage their future for short-term gains. Instead, they trusted their process &ndash; and more importantly, their people.
Head coach JB Bickerstaff has emphasized accountability, effort, and trust, and the results are showing. Detroit defends with purpose, shares the ball, and plays with the kind of unity that only comes from shared struggle.
This team remembers what it felt like to be at the bottom &ndash; and they play like they never want to go back.
If there&rsquo;s a city that appreciates resilience, it&rsquo;s Detroit. The Pistons&rsquo; early success isn&rsquo;t just about basketball, but it&rsquo;s about identity. It&rsquo;s about a fan base that&rsquo;s waited years for something to believe in again.
Cade Cunningham embodies that spirit. He doesn&rsquo;t talk about saving the franchise. He just shows up, competes, and leads. He&rsquo;s the face of a movement &ndash; not by flash, but by example.
For the first time in a long time, Detroit basketball means something again.
The Pistons might not stay atop the East all season &ndash; they&rsquo;re still young, still learning, still growing. But what&rsquo;s undeniable is that the foundation is real, the culture is changing, and the superstar they&rsquo;ve been waiting for is already here.
Detroit&rsquo;s rebuild wasn&rsquo;t supposed to take off this fast. But Cade Cunningham had other plans.

Cade Cunningham’s superstar leap has the Detroit Pistons atop the East after years of struggle through patience, growth, and belief.

From rock bottom to the top: How Cade Cunningham led Detroit’s revival

USA Basketball is reportedly set to usher in a new era of leadership, with Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expected to take over as the new head coach of the U.S. men&rsquo;s national team, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania. Spoelstra is reportedly the frontrunner to replace Steve Kerr, whose tenure concluded after the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Team USA reclaimed the gold medal.
Spoelstra, a two-time NBA champion and one of the league&rsquo;s most respected tacticians, has long been viewed as a natural successor for the role. He previously served as an assistant coach under Kerr during the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, where he played a key role in implementing defensive schemes and player development strategies. His blend of adaptability, discipline, and international awareness has made him a prime candidate to lead the next phase of Team USA&rsquo;s basketball dominance.
The appointment would mark a full-circle moment for Spoelstra, who has Filipino heritage and has been deeply involved in global basketball outreach programs over the years. His connection to international basketball &ndash; both through his cultural roots and through the Heat&rsquo;s global brand &ndash; aligns with USA Basketball&rsquo;s continued focus on bridging the gap between the NBA and the rest of the basketball world.
ANALYSIS: Under Spoelstra, Team USA is expected to emphasize ball movement, positionless lineups, and defensive accountability &ndash; principles that have defined his Miami Heat teams for over a decade. With several emerging American stars like Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton poised to lead future rosters, Spoelstra&rsquo;s steady leadership could be pivotal in maintaining the program&rsquo;s standard of excellence ahead of the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
An official announcement is expected soon, but all signs point toward a new chapter for USA Basketball &ndash; one led by one of the NBA&rsquo;s most innovative and globally respected minds.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to take over as the new head coach of the U.S. men’s national basketball team.

Erik Spoelstra expected to be named new USA Basketball head coach

One year ago, under the lights of the Accor Arena in Paris, Team USA stood atop the basketball world once again. It wasn&rsquo;t just another medal ceremony; it was a statement. A reminder that, even in the ever-evolving global basketball landscape, the United States could still summon greatness when it mattered most.
The 2024 Olympic Games marked the fifth straight Summer Olympics where USA Basketball captured gold, a streak that stretches back to Beijing 2008. But unlike some previous runs, Paris demanded everything from this star-studded roster. This was a journey defined not just by talent but by resilience, pride, and the unshakable bond of a group of legends writing their final chapter together.
<h3>Early dominance, then a true test</h3>
From the opening tip of the tournament, Team USA was locked in. Group stage matchups and the quarterfinals were clinics in execution, suffocating defense, and offensive firepower. The roster&rsquo;s depth &ndash; from its seasoned veterans to prime stars &ndash; overwhelmed opponents before games even reached the fourth quarter.
Joel Embiid&rsquo;s size and skill gave Team USA a dominant paint presence, while Devin Booker&rsquo;s steady shooting and defensive grit rounded out a versatile rotation. Kevin Durant, chasing yet another Olympic gold to cement his legacy as arguably the greatest player in USA Basketball history, brought poise and scoring precision in every outing.
Even the bench guys, who are typically stars for their teams in the NBA, brought something to the table. Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, and Derrick White all had their moments in the Olympic run.&nbsp;
But gold never comes without a challenge, and in Paris, that challenge wore Serbia&rsquo;s colors.
The semifinal clash with Serbia was not the walkover many had predicted. Serbia, powered by relentless ball movement and elite shot-making, punched first and didn&rsquo;t let up. By halftime, Team USA found itself rattled, trailing by double digits.
The gap only grew in the third quarter. When the horn sounded to end the frame, the scoreboard told the story &ndash; USA down by 13, just 10 minutes from watching their gold medal dreams fade. The Paris crowd, sensing a monumental upset, buzzed with anticipation.
And then the OG trio happened.
<h3>LeBron, Steph, KD in the biggest stage</h3>
It&rsquo;s rare in sports to witness a moment where history, legacy, and performance converge so perfectly. The fourth quarter against Serbia was one of them. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant &ndash; three of the greatest players of their generation &ndash; seized control of the game in a way that only they could.
LeBron attacked the paint, absorbing contact and finishing through defenders, turning defensive rebounds into fast-break points. Durant&rsquo;s mid-range mastery became the dagger of the comeback, with his last jumper to put Team USA up by four a reminder of why he has been the ultimate international weapon for the U.S. for over a decade. And Curry&hellip; well, Curry turned the court into his personal stage, raining threes for the entire game that bent the momentum entirely.
By the time the buzzer sounded, Team USA had flipped the deficit into a gritty, come-from-behind win. The gold medal game awaited, and standing in the way was the host nation, France.
<h3>Paris showdown: Steph&rsquo;s Gold Medal masterpiece</h3>
France had waited for this moment &ndash; a shot at redemption after falling to the U.S. in the gold medal game at Tokyo 2020. Backed by a raucous home crowd and armed with a disciplined, physical defense, they pushed Team USA to the brink.
The final minutes of the gold medal game will forever be remembered as Steph Curry&rsquo;s night.
With the game hanging in the balance, Curry delivered a performance for the ages. In the last three minutes alone, he hit four three-pointers, each one more improbable than the last. The last one, a high-arcing rainbow over two closing defenders, was the &lsquo;golden dagger&rsquo; &ndash; as called by play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle on the broadcast. As it splashed through the net, Curry turned, eyes half-closed, hands tucked under his cheek: his iconic &ldquo;night night&rdquo; celebration has rocked the crowd in Paris and echoed throughout with the whole world watching.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read USA 98, France 87. The gold medal was theirs. The Paris crowd could only applaud the brilliance they had just witnessed.
<h3>A legacy sealed</h3>
For LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, Paris was more than another tournament &ndash; it was likely their last dance on the Olympic stage. All three had nothing left to prove individually, but together, they created a send-off worthy of their legendary careers.
Durant claimed his fourth Olympic gold medal, further separating himself as USA Basketball&rsquo;s all-time scoring leader. LeBron&rsquo;s leadership, versatility, and ability to elevate his teammates reminded fans why he&rsquo;s one of the most complete players the sport has ever seen. And Curry, finally competing in his first Olympics, delivered a gold medal moment that instantly became part of basketball lore.
Joel Embiid and Devin Booker may not have had their names in as many headlines, but their contributions were vital. Embiid&rsquo;s rim protection and all-world scoring gave the U.S. a safety net on both ends, while Booker&rsquo;s steady shooting and on-ball defense kept opposing wings in check. Together, this group of stars bridged generations &ndash; past, present, and future &ndash; to keep the gold medal tradition alive.
<h3>The weight of five straight</h3>
Winning one Olympic gold medal is difficult. Winning five in a row requires decades of commitment, a system that adapts to the international game, and players willing to set aside egos for the greater good. The Paris run was proof that USA Basketball could still blend superstar power with the unselfishness and precision needed to win in today&rsquo;s global game.
The rest of the world has never been stronger. International talent floods the NBA every year, with the past 7 NBA MVP winners all coming from outside the US. Teams like Serbia, France, Spain, and Australia have proven they can beat anyone on any given day. That reality made Paris 2024&rsquo;s gold all the more special &ndash; the U.S. didn&rsquo;t just show up and dominate; they faced adversity and rose above it.
Now, a year removed from that night in Paris, the images remain vivid. LeBron, Curry, and Durant embracing at midcourt. Curry&rsquo;s &ldquo;night night&rdquo; in front of a stunned French crowd. The gold medals draped around necks as the Star-Spangled Banner echoed through the arena.
It was a night that wasn&rsquo;t just about basketball. It was about pride, perseverance, and the rare joy of seeing legends rise to the occasion one last time. For the fifth straight Olympics, USA Basketball stood alone on the summit &ndash; and in doing so, reminded the world why they remain the standard.

One year ago, Team USA claimed its 5th straight Olympic gold in Paris behind Steph Curry’s clutch heroics, cementing a legacy.

This day a year ago: Team USA wins gold in the Paris Olympics

In recent years, Japan has started to solidify its place on the global basketball map. The steady ascent began with Rui Hachimura making waves as a lottery pick and has since been sustained by the lengthy presence of Yuta Watanabe in the NBA. But the next chapter in Japan's basketball story is being authored by two rising stars with very different paths in young stars Keisei Tominaga and Yuki Kawamura.
Each player represents a different style, personality, and journey, but their shared goal is clear: to make a name for themselves in the NBA while pushing Japanese basketball into its most promising era yet and a chance to dominate Asia for years to come. Together, they are leading the next wave of Japanese basketball, a movement that could define a golden era for the nation&rsquo;s hoops culture.
<h3>Keisei Tominaga: From Nebraska star to NBA dreamer</h3>
Nicknamed the &ldquo;Japanese Steph Curry,&rdquo; Keisei Tominaga became a sensation at the University of Nebraska with his deep range, fiery swagger, and clutch shooting. Whether it was a pull-up three in transition or a quick-trigger release from the corner, the crowd inside Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska always knew when the ball left his hands that it had a real chance of going in.
Though Tominaga went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, he quickly landed a spot on a G-League roster and continued to work toward his NBA dream. His shooting alone makes him a prospect worth watching, but his personality and work ethic make him even more compelling.
That electricity was on full display at the 2024 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore. It was last September that I had the opportunity to interview Tominaga, where he drew thunderous applause every time he launched a three. His team had just wrapped up a game, and even though he wasn&rsquo;t entirely pleased with his performance, he still flashed that signature optimism and drive. There, I caught up with him to talk about the experience and his aspirations.
Q: Every time you shoot a three, fans are anticipating the ball coming in. You made a three and the arena went crazy. How was it like playing here in Singapore and with your fans in Asia and the love that they showed you out here? Tominaga: &ldquo;You know, it means a lot to me. You see, you hear the crowd when I make the shot. I&rsquo;m super happy for it but I gotta be better for everything. But you know it was a great, great experience for me.&rdquo;
Q: Obviously you&rsquo;ve struggled shooting the ball, but how would you rate your performance personally in this tournament? Tominaga: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I did a good job, you know, the way enough the way I wanted it to be. But I think that&rsquo;s a great experience for me, I could get better from it. You know, I could learn from it a lot. So, I&rsquo;m excited to keep going.&rdquo;
Q: After this tournament, what&rsquo;s next for Keisei Tominaga? Where will we see you play, any future plans? Tominaga: &ldquo;You know, I&rsquo;m trying to get into the league (NBA) so, you know I&rsquo;ll keep showing what I can do out there on the court and hopefully I can make it to the NBA soon.&rdquo;
Even during a down shooting performance, Tominaga&rsquo;s energy was palpable. His confidence in the long-term goal didn&rsquo;t waver. And why should it? With every deep three, every off-ball relocation, every step-back jumper, he proves he's not just a novelty act&mdash;he&rsquo;s a legitimate offensive weapon.
<h3>Yuki Kawamura: The gritty playmaker with a huge heart and growing fanbase</h3>
While Tominaga&rsquo;s game is built around flash and finesse, Yuki Kawamura's path is defined by toughness, hustle, and high basketball IQ. At just 5-foot-9, Kawamura has never been the biggest player on the court, but that&rsquo;s never stopped him from standing out.
Currently suiting up for the Memphis Hustle, the G-League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kawamura has carved out a role as an impactful guard who plays with heart on both ends. As of this writing, Kawamura is averaging 12.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting an efficient 46.5% from the field and 38.2% from deep.
What makes Kawamura special isn&rsquo;t just the stats, it&rsquo;s about the impact. On multiple occasions, the Grizzlies have featured him in NBA games, and every time, the fan reaction has been electric. A behind-the-back dime in transition. A fearless drive into the paint against players a foot taller. A clutch corner three that sends social media into a frenzy. Kawamura is a fan favorite, not just in Japan, but globally.
The NBA itself has embraced Kawamura as part of its broader international movement. His highlights often get featured on NBA social media channels, and with every appearance, more fans begin to root for the undersized guard with a never-say-die mentality.
Now, Kawamura and the Grizzlies have qualified into the 2025 NBA Playoffs and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in round one, a feat that Kawamura is definitely proud to be a part of.
<h3>A shared dream and legacy in the making</h3>
Tominaga and Kawamura couldn&rsquo;t be more different on the court. One is a gunner who thrives on spacing and movement. The other is a floor general who thrives on angles and decision-making. But their journeys intertwine in a bigger narrative, one that could shape the next decade of Japanese basketball.
What Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe helped begin, Tominaga and Kawamura are set to continue. The duo&rsquo;s growth also coincides with the rise of Japan&rsquo;s national team, which made waves at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Having multiple Japanese players active in the G-League and flirting with NBA rosters is no longer an anomaly. It&rsquo;s becoming part of a trend, and that trend points to a possible golden era of hoops in Japan. The country is now poised to be one of the top contenders for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025, and Tominaga and Kawamura are leading the charge for the Akatsuki.
The significance of this moment can&rsquo;t be overstated. For decades, Japanese basketball lagged behind Asian neighbors like China and the Philippines in terms of global impact. Now, the script is changing, and these two young stars are helping flip the page.
<h3>&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</h3>
Keisei Tominaga continues to chase his dream with a shooter&rsquo;s tunnel vision - focused, steady, and fueled by every made shot and every miss. His love for the game and his country is clear every time he hits the floor.
Yuki Kawamura, meanwhile, has proven that height may be a limitation on paper, but not in heart. He&rsquo;s already winning over teammates, coaches, and fans alike with his skill and spark.
While the road to becoming a full-time NBA player is steep for both, what they represent is already larger than the game. They are not only athletes but symbols of Japan&rsquo;s potential on the world basketball stage.
In the end, whether or not they make a permanent home in the NBA isn&rsquo;t the only story. The real victory lies in how they inspire a nation, empower a new generation, and redefine what&rsquo;s possible for Japanese basketball.

From Tominaga's three-point flair to Kawamura's fearless playmaking, both are knocking on the NBA and inspiring Japan.

Keisei Tominaga, Yuki Kawamura lead golden era of Japanese Basketball

This article is a part of a two-part article about BBN's chance to interview with NBA Senior Vice President, Head of International Strategy Leah MacNab.
-- -- --
The NBA's global reach has never been stronger, and the annual NBA Paris Games are a crucial part of that expansion. As the league continues to engage fans worldwide, these international events serve as a catalyst for growing the game and strengthening its global presence.
According to NBA Senior Vice President and Head of International Strategy Leah MacNab, international games are a "key component&rdquo; of the NBA&rsquo;s year-round efforts to grow the game globally and engage fans around the world. With a passionate fanbase in France and across Europe, the NBA Paris Games provide an exclusive opportunity for fans to experience the league up close.&nbsp;
Beyond the games themselves, the NBA, participating teams, and marketing partners engage with tens of thousands of fans through activations, events, and youth programs designed to enhance the league's presence in international markets.
MacNab mentioned a &ldquo;a three-pronged&rdquo; approach to the league&rsquo;s global growth and its strategy for expanding its global footprint. This three key pillars are:
Youth Development: Programs like Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA creates opportunities for young athletes to learn and develop their skills, fostering a new generation of basketball talent.
Live Events: Showcasing the league through international games, such as those in Paris, provides fans with a direct, immersive NBA experience.
Content Accessibility: Expanding the availability of live games, programming, and localized content ensures that fans worldwide can stay connected to the league year-round.
<h3>The influence of international superstars</h3>
One of the most significant factors driving the NBA&rsquo;s global appeal is the rise of international superstars. Players like Nikola Jokić (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), and Victor Wembanyama (France) have become global icons, attracting massive followings in their home countries and beyond.
"The record-tying 125 international players on rosters at the start of this season, including the last six MVP Award winners, drive incredible interest in their home countries and serve as global ambassadors for our game," MacNab noted. In Wembanyama&rsquo;s case, his rookie season alone generated 1.3 billion views on NBA social media channels, making him the most-watched rookie of all time.
The NBA then carefully selects international destinations based on several factors, including arena availability, market interest, and growth potential, according to MacNab. The demand for NBA games abroad remains high, with cities around the world eager to host Global Games. However, the league&rsquo;s tight schedule limits the number of these international contests each season, MacNab stated.
<h3>Looking ahead</h3>
With record-breaking global viewership and increasing fan engagement, the NBA continues to explore ways to deepen its presence in international markets. Initiatives like the Basketball Africa League highlight the league&rsquo;s commitment to growing the sport beyond traditional boundaries.&nbsp;
"We're focused on regions of the world where we think there is tremendous growth potential," MacNab explained. "Africa, for instance, has one of the world&rsquo;s youngest and fastest-growing populations with a strong sporting culture and incredible basketball talent."
While full-scale international expansion remains a long-term discussion, the NBA Paris Games and similar global events play a vital role in shaping the future of the league. As basketball's global appeal continues to rise, so does the NBA&rsquo;s influence, ensuring that the game reaches new heights in markets around the world.

The NBA's global reach has never been stronger, and the annual NBA Paris Games are a crucial part of that expansion.

How the NBA Paris Games fuel the league’s global expansion

LeBron James capped an impressive run to the Men&rsquo;s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 title by taking home the Most Valuable Player award after leading the USA to their fifth straight gold medal.
James collected 14 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals in USA's 98-87 win over hosts France in the Gold Medal Game. The veteran averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in winning his third gold medal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
⭐️ THE MVP OF <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> ⭐️ LeBron James, United States of America 🇺🇸 👑 <a href="https://t.co/7S6UWxvNPq">pic.twitter.com/7S6UWxvNPq</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1822391504691675210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</blockquote>
The 39-year-old James was captivating the whole tournament. Perhaps his biggest highlight was registering his second triple-double in his Olympics career - and just the fourth of all-time - with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in USA's thrilling come-from-behind victory over Serbia in the Semi-Finals.
James was joined on the All-Star Five by USA teammate Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama of France, Nikola Jokic of Serbia, and Germany's Dennis Schroder.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ALL-STAR FIVE of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> 🔸Dennis Schroder, Germany 🇩🇪 🔸Stephen Curry, USA 🇺🇸 🔸LeBron James, USA 🇺🇸 🔸Victor Wembanyama, France 🇫🇷 🔸Nikola Jokic, Serbia 🇷🇸 <a href="https://t.co/4cxZwzISTF">pic.twitter.com/4cxZwzISTF</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1822392716518646077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a>
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Curry came to life in the Semi-Finals with 9 three-pointers for 36 points and followed that with 8 three-pointers and 24 points in the Gold Medal Game. Playing in his first Olympics, Curry finished with 14.8 points on 47.8 percent three-point shooting, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Despite playing in his first Olympics at just 20 years old, Wembanyama led the French team in scoring with 15.8 points, rebounds at 9.7, assists at 3.3, steals with 2.0, and blocks with 1.7 per game. However, his 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in the Gold Medal Game were not enough to beat USA.
Jokic highlighted his amazing run in France with a triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists with 0 turnovers in Serbia's <a href="https://fiba.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7033084a6897e1c399b667eb5&amp;id=d70acb2736&amp;e=2fb0566584">93-83</a> win over Germany in the Bronze Medal Game. For the tournament, the three-time NBA MVP averaged 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in helping Serbia take home their second Olympic medal.
Schroder averaged 17.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the world champions Germany, who lost to Serbia in the Bronze Medal Game to finish fourth in their first appearance in the Semi-Finals.
The All-Second Team is comprised of some big names as well.
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All-Second Team of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> 🔸 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada 🇨🇦 🔸 Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia 🇷🇸 🔸 Franz Wagner, Germany 🇩🇪 🔸 Guerschon Yabusele, France 🇫🇷 🔸 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece 🇬🇷 <a href="https://t.co/rMjOY1uonS">pic.twitter.com/rMjOY1uonS</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1822404235272540221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a>
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Shai Gilgeous Alexander helped Canada to a perfect 3-0 record in the Group Stage, but could not save the team against France in the Quarter-Finals. He averaged 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Bogdan Bogdanovic was the true captain Serbia needed to finish the tournament on the podium. Through six games, he had 18.3 points, and made 46.2 percent of his three-pointers, with 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists each night.
Franz Wagner represents Germany in the Second Team, being their top scorer with 18.5 points per game. He also had 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals at this event, proving he's already a game-changer, despite being just 22 years old.
The top scorer of the Olympics was Giannis Antetokounmpo. Greece's talisman leader got 25.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, bringing the nation all the way from the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to the Quarter-Finals in Paris.
The home crowd favorite made his way into the team, too. Guerschon Yabusele played an unforgettable elimination phase, getting 22 points against Canada in the Quarter-Finals, 17 against Germany in the Semis, and 20 against the USA in the Final.

LeBron James capped an impressive run to the Men’s Olympic Basketball title by taking home the MVP award.

Team USA’s LeBron James named FIBA Olympic MVP

The USA Women&rsquo;s National Basketball dominated for three quarters before holding off a furious 4th quarter run by Nigeria, 88-74, at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France and advancing to the Paris 2024 Olympics semifinals.
The Americans moved one step closer to attaining their coveted 8th straight gold medal in the games with a huge game played on both ends of the floor. Team USA displayed a masterclass on both offense and defense anchored by their best players as well as the supporting players chipping in with their parts as well.&nbsp;
A&rsquo;Ja Wilson was her usual dominant self for Team USA with a great performance of 20 points on 9/11 shooting with 11 rebounds. Tandem Breanna Stewart added 13 points while Wilson&rsquo;s teammate with the Las Vegas Aces Jackie Young had a great second straight game after starting yet again by scoring 15 points.
The USA remains undefeated in the quarter-finals at the Olympics, winning their eight game in this phase: however, this was their closest win at the quarter-finals of the Olympics, with their seven previous games being all won by 15 or more points.
Team USA will now face Australia in the semifinals after the Opals defeated Serbia in the other semis matchup. France and Belgium will also do their honors on the other side of the bracket for the right to fight for gold.

The USA Women’s National Basketball dominated for three quarters before holding off a furious 4th quarter run by Nigeria, 88-74.

Team USA Women’s take care of Nigeria, advance to Olympics semis

Team USA Women&rsquo;s survived a hard-fought match to earn the win against Belgium, 87-74, and go up 2-0 in pool play at the Paris 2024 Olympics in France.&nbsp;
After playing near-dominant and perfect basketball for over 20 years resulting in seven straight gold medals, Team USA got into a near scare against Belgium. This was also the same Belgian team that the Americans barely beat in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, if not for a Breanna Stewart putback that gave Team USA the victory.&nbsp;
According to ESPN&rsquo;s Brian Windhorst, this was Team USA Women&rsquo;s 57th straight Olympic win, which has assured them a quarterfinal spot next week.
Las Vegas superstar A&rsquo;Ja Wilson once again led the Americans with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals while partner-in-crime Breanna Stewart had 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The Americans will close out the group phase in a showdown vs Germany and stake their claim of the top 2 seeds heading into the knockout rounds.

Team USA Women’s survived a hard-fought match to earn the win against Belgium, 87-74, and go up 2-0 in pool play.

Team USA Women’s survive Belgium to go up 2-0 in pool play

The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament has been underway with national teams from all over the world vying for the last spot in each playing location to book a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics this July-August. The group stage play has ended and the competition will now move to the semis and the final phase. Only the champion from the 4 playing locations (Latvia, Greece, Puerto Rico, Spain) will qualify to the Olympics. See the results here:
The Philippines have booked a spot in the semifinals after upsetting hosts Latvia, 89-80, in a stunning finish after Latvia manhandled Georgia in their first game. Needing to not lose by more than 19 points against Georgia, the so-called Gilas Pilipinas stepped up against Georgia to come back and lose by just two, 96-94, to punch a surprise ticket to the semifinals.&nbsp;
On the other side of the bracket, Brazil, Montenegro, and Cameroon all won against the other (Brazil over Montenegro, Montenegro over Cameroon, and Cameroon over Brazil). However due to a superior quotient based on the points for and away rule, Brazil and Cameroon will advance to the semis.
That will set up the matchup between Brazil and the Philippines on one side and hosts Latvia and Cameroon on the other.
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🚨 Stage is set 🚨 Who will qualify for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>? 🤔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/H0p7Jdavy1">pic.twitter.com/H0p7Jdavy1</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1808925640445382936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a>
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Hosts Puerto Rico lit up the crowd on their home floor after finishing atop their group by winning against Italy and Bahrain. Lithuania on the other side of the bracket, took care of business against Mexico and Cote D Ivoire and finished on top of the group as well. They will enter the semis as the top seeds, facing Mexico and Italy, respectively.
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> Semi-Finals in San Juan are set! Find the schedule here: <a href="https://t.co/HfGjXQ3M7C">https://t.co/HfGjXQ3M7C</a> Who you got? 👀 <a href="https://t.co/a7ED3qkpfp">pic.twitter.com/a7ED3qkpfp</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1809062987166044510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Over in Spain, the Bahamas continue their stellar run behind NBA players DeAndre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Eric Gordon to zoom out to the top of their group, beating Poland and Finland. Hosts Spain made quick work of Lebanon and Angola, to finish first in their group as well. They will battle against Lebanon and Finland respectively in the crossover semis.
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And then there were four. Who's grabbing the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> ticket in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> Spain? 🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/pDgRkqnzWP">pic.twitter.com/pDgRkqnzWP</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1808968788618137870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Finally, NBA superstars Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have set up a duel against each other in the group of death of the 2024 FIBA OQT in Piraeus, Greece. Doncic and Slovenia split their matches against Croatia and New Zealand to finish second in their group while Giannis and Greece blew out both the Dominican Republic and Egypt to finish as the 1-seed. Only one of Luka and Giannis will go to the Olympics this year, setting the stage for an epic finish between the two heavyweights and their teams.
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Check out the schedule here ⬇️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/YbmHaIyYsj">https://t.co/YbmHaIyYsj</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1808956400720101799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament has been underway with teams from over the world vying for the last spot in #Paris2024.

2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Last chance to go to Paris

The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to sign Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and make him the franchise&rsquo;s head coach, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Atkinson has been an assistant for the Warriors for over three years, winning a title with the team in 2022. He notably agreed to coach the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 but ultimately chose to remain with Golden State. Now, Atkinson will take over a Cavaliers team fresh from an Eastern Conference semifinals appearance and again take on the head coaching challenge.&nbsp;
Atkinson was the head coach of the resurgent Brooklyn Nets team that made the playoffs in 2019, coaching D&rsquo;Angelo Russell into an all-star season with young studs Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. In Cleveland, he will be reunited again with Allen while bringing his touted player development prowess with the franchise to unlock the potential of young star big man Evan Mobley.
Atkinson was one of the final two head coaches that the Cavaliers screened. The other one was James Borrego of the New Orleans Hornets. The Cavaliers valued Atkinson&rsquo;s player development program and envisioned Mobley going through it, helping with the final hiring decision.
With the head coaching vacancy done and sealed, Cleveland will now turn their attention to closing a deal for star guard Donovan Mitchell, as the two sides negotiate a full max extension deal to keep the all-star in the city.

The Cavaliers are set to sign Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and make him the franchise’s head coach.

Cavaliers to sign Kenny Atkinson to be head coach

LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have become synonymous with the sport of basketball, serving as the gold standard for this generation of players and drawing in fans from all over the world.
Aside from 2021 and 2023, every NBA Finals series since 2011 has featured one of James, Curry or Durant. The trio have a combined 44 All-Star appearances, and at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, we got to watch them play together on the same team for the first time ever.
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Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant all on the same team for the first time ever tonight 🔥✊ <a href="https://t.co/uUaAKwxaVr">pic.twitter.com/uUaAKwxaVr</a>
&mdash; Guru (@DrGuru_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrGuru_/status/1759349903652995079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
Seeing the faces of the NBA share the court as teammates was a lot of fun and left fans wanting for more.
Enter Team USA.
The world might witness these three legends team up once again in the coming months &mdash; this time while donning the red, white and blue. in hopes of leading Team USA to a fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
While we got a taste of the trio during NBA All-Star Weekend, fans would love to see them in a competitive environment. Curry&rsquo;s otherworldly shooting, James' IQ and playmaking, plus Durant&rsquo;s deadly three-level scoring with extremely high stakes? That would be something to behold.
James, Curry and Durant are all highly intelligent basketball players who complement each other really well, so it would likely be a seamless transition on Team USA.
All three have expressed their interest in playing for the national team and were <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/usa-basketball-announces-player-pool-for-team-usas-2024-mens-national-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently included in the player pool that Team USA announced</a>.
Although the NBA season is still ongoing and a lot can still happen between now and July, but barring injuries or any unforeseen circumstances, the three global basketball icons will likely lead Team USA&rsquo;s pursuit for the gold medal in this year&rsquo;s Olympic Games. This hunt for the gold will coincide with the 50th anniversary of USA Basketball, making their run even more special.
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Beautiful, isn't it? Breaking down our 50th Anniversary logo 👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USAB50?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USAB50</a> 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/O4F7odCkWY">pic.twitter.com/O4F7odCkWY</a>
&mdash; USA Basketball (@usabasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/usabasketball/status/1749606150721388855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
The American trio will aim to replicate the success of their predecessors from the original &ldquo;Dream Team&rdquo; in 1992 when NBA superstars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird won the gold medal in Barcelona.
James, 39, has won three Olympic medals for Team USA (one bronze and two golds) with the last one coming 12 years ago when he won gold in London. The NBA&rsquo;s all-time leading scorer has expressed interest in suiting up for Team USA once again, and he has been in contact with several other NBA stars to join him including Curry and Durant. James&rsquo; impressive track record for his national team speaks for itself. After serving Team USA for eight years from 2004 to 2012, he is second all-time in games played (24) for Team USA.&nbsp;
The 35-year-old Curry has yet to play for Team USA in the Olympics. Curry already has two FIBA World Championships in his trophy case, which also includes four NBA championships and two NBA MVPs, but winning an Olympic gold medal might be the cherry on top of what has been an illustrious career. Curry has notably shown interest in playing for Team USA in the Olympic Games, and he is very likely to do so this year. With Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also calling the shots for Team USA, it makes a lot of sense for Curry to make his Olympic debut in Paris.
Finally, Durant is arguably the most accomplished Team USA player of all-time. Winning three Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016 and 2020-21) and a FIBA World Championship (2010), Team USA&rsquo;s &ldquo;Captain America&rdquo; is gunning for his record-setting fourth Olympic Gold medal. (He's currently tied with fellow USA great Carmelo Anthony, who also has three gold medals). Durant winning another gold medal would likely solidify him as the greatest Team USA player of all-time (if he isn't already). A two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, Durant is one of the most lethal scorers the game has ever seen.
Aside from James, Curry and Durant &ndash; the NBA&rsquo;s most recognizable faces &ndash; who else will don the red, white and blue? The other finalists for the 2024 USA Men&rsquo;s national team are Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, De&rsquo;Aaron Fox, Paul George, Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Jrue Holiday, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Trae Young.
With James, Curry and Durant leading the way, Team USA will the favorite in Paris. However, they'll face stiff competition from the rest of the world, particularly world-champion Germany and star-studded squads like Australia and Team Canada. Generational international talents like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama will look to dethrone Team USA.
This iteration of the Olympics is shaping up to be the hardest challenge the Americans will ever face, and hopefully James, Curry and Durant will be at the forefront of it all. In likely their last dance in international competition, James, Curry and Durant will surely want to ride off into the sunset wearing gold medals around their necks.

The next time LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry are playing together, it will be with Team USA during the Paris Olympics.

LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant set to team up again — this time for USA

Blake Stern previews the NBA's Central Division, breaking down each team's projected lineup and burning question entering the year.

NBA Central Division Preview: Burning questions, rotation projections

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is entering Year 21 in the NBA, becoming just the sixth player in league history to play 21 seasons &ndash; joining Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Willis and Robert Parish. Carter currently holds the record for most seasons played with 22. 
With James still performing at an unprecedented level for someone his age, coupled with recent reports of his desire to still play several more years and his public goal of playing with his McDonald's All-American son, Bronny James, he certainly seems like a lock to tie, if not break, Carter&rsquo;s record.&nbsp;
James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&rsquo;s all-time scoring record earlier this year in February, adding a major accolade to his G.O.A.T. argument. With the seasons-played record in sight, let&rsquo;s take a look at how &ldquo;The King&rdquo; has accumulated arguably the greatest legacy in NBA history over the last two decades.
The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted the kid from Akron with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. James was the talk of the country at the time, being dubbed "The Chosen One&rdquo; and dawning the cover of Sports Illustrated at just 18 years old. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, basketball fans waited in anticipation to see if James could possibly live up to the expectations.
The young phenom did not waste any time. Debuting against the Sacramento Kings, James would go on to score 25 points while adding 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. The King would not slow down, averaging 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds in his first NBA season.
LeBron would spend the next six seasons in Cleveland, winning back-to-back MVP awards in his last two seasons with the team, while reaching the playoffs five times and the NBA Finals once in 2007. With no championship after seven seasons with the Cavs, the two-time MVP became a free agent in the summer of 2010 and infamously decided to &ldquo;take his talents to South Beach,&rdquo; joining forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form the &ldquo;Big Three&rdquo; on the Miami Heat.&nbsp;
The decision by James, which happened to be made on live television on an ESPN special dubbed &ldquo;The Decision," sparked outrage amongst Cavaliers fans. Videos spread online of fans burning the once-hometown-hero&rsquo;s jersey, rooting for his failure in Miami. While James was used to feeling pressure, this was different; James was receiving backlash from a fanbase that once loved him, and a growing population of people were actively rooting against him. This brewing tension had fans waiting in anticipation, this time to see if LeBron could overcome the weight of the world once again.&nbsp;
In LeBron&rsquo;s quest to do the impossible again, a trip to Cleveland brought The King back to the scene of his crime in a game against the Cavaliers in December of 2010. The fans in then-named Quicken Loans Arena brought their all that night, booing LeBron from the moment he was introduced and whenever he touched the ball on offense. However, this just seemed to add more fuel to the fire for James, as he went on to score 38 points en route to a 118-90 blowout of his former team.&nbsp;
This marked a new era for James, and he would embrace his role as the &ldquo;villain&rdquo; of the NBA. Fan perception was one thing, but with James&rsquo; new team came a new energy. Now, he was a proven veteran and he was coming into his own as a player, adapting this almost meticulous style and pace of play alongside his new All-Star-caliber teammates in Wade and Bosh. James would go on to win back-to-back MVP awards again in 2012 and 2013, and the trio would prove to be a problem for the league, with the Heat even going on a 27-game win streak in 2013. During his time in Miami, James would evolve as a player, bulking up and playing more minutes down low at power forward and even center.
The bonafide &ldquo;super-team&rdquo; would spend four seasons together, reaching the NBA Finals in all four. Winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, with LeBron winning Finals MVP of both, the stars' decision to team-up was a success and ushered in a new era of player movement and empowerment.
The kid from Akron would then shock the world in the summer of 2014, with James departing the Heat and returning home to rejoin the Cavaliers. The two-time champion had some unfinished business and was determined to bring a championship to his city.&nbsp;
LeBron brought his adapted and seasoned style to his former team. His impact extended into the front office, as he now had significantly more say in roster decisions. He wasted little time and used his newfound influence to encourage the Cavs to trade their No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins, for a proven star: Kevin Love. Suddenly, James was part of another Big Three, this time with rising star Kyrie Irving and Love.
In Year 1 of LeBron&rsquo;s return home, he led the Cavs back to the NBA Finals, where they faced off against the Golden State Warriors, led by league MVP Stephen Curry. While LeBron led Cleveland to a 2-1 series lead over Golden State, Irving and Love both went down with injuries. This proved to be too much for LeBron to handle, and the Warriors would defeat the Cavaliers in six games. James failed in his mission, but the wait would prove to be worthwhile the following season.
The 2016 season would see a rematch of the Cavaliers and Warriors in the NBA Finals. Curry was coming off of his second-straight MVP award &ndash; becoming the first unanimous MVP in history &ndash; and the Warriors achieved an NBA-record 73 wins that season. The odds were stacked against LeBron and the Cavs, and it only got worse when the Warriors took a 3-1 series lead. Teams in the NBA Finals were 0-32 when facing a 3-1 series deficit. Once again, LeBron was trying to do the impossible.&nbsp;
Once again, The King responded.&nbsp;
Dropping 41 points in both Game 5 and Game 6, James led the way in tying the series at 3-3. In Game 7, the Cavaliers would go on the road and defeat the Warriors, becoming the first team in NBA history to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy after falling behind 3-1. This was a storybook ending, and James became emotional during his postgame interview, shouting, &ldquo;Cleveland! This is for you!&rdquo;&nbsp;
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"CLEVELAND, THIS IS FOR YOU!" That line still sends chills down our spine as LeBron James and the Cavs overcame a 3-1 deficit to claim their first ever NBA championship on this day in 2016 👑🏆<a href="https://t.co/WzMtg5kj5Z">pic.twitter.com/WzMtg5kj5Z</a>
&mdash; ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1670774843518664705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

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The three-time champion would spend two more seasons in Cleveland, reaching the NBA Finals both seasons, where the Cavs would ultimately lose to the Kevin-Durant-led Warriors. When James decided to leave Cleveland in 2018, his second departure was well-received, with fans thanking him for bringing a championship to their city. The next chapter of James' career would take place in Los Angeles with arguably the most storied franchise in the NBA, the Lakers.
James&rsquo; first year under the bright lights of Los Angeles was less than ideal, as injuries plagued the roster and the Lakers' young core didn't seem ready to compete at a high level. That would quickly be forgotten, as the Lakers would trade three of those core players (Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart) and the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for superstar Anthony Davis, whom LeBron asked the organization to acquire.&nbsp;
That trade would kick off the LeBron-AD era in Los Angeles. The duo would win a championship in their first year together in 2020, with James adding a fourth championship and Finals MVP to his resume. The team has had some misfortune since, as they haven't been back to the Finals and they even missed the play-in tournament in 2022. While injuries have bothered LeBron in recent years, the four-time MVP has yet to slow down, leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals last season. While the Lakers were ultimately swept by the eventual-champion Denver Nuggets, their postseason run was impressive.
Now, we arrive at the present day. As James enters his 21st NBA season, he has 19 All-NBA selections, 19 All-Star selections, 10 NBA Finals appearances, four championships, four Finals MVPs and four regular-season MVPs. After surpassing expectation after expectation throughout his career, LeBron will be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer when he walks away from the game. However, he's not done playing just yet, as he hopes to play with his son and win at least one more championship before he retires.
LeBron&rsquo;s current contract has a player option for next season, so this could potentially be his final year with the Lakers (if he decides to opt out next summer). With LeBron still performing at a superstar level and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/which-nba-teams-are-under-the-most-pressure-entering-202324-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facing pressure to lead his team to a title</a>, all eyes will be on The King yet again this season.

As LeBron James becomes just the sixth player in NBA history to play 21 seasons, Jack Maguire looks back on his legendary career.

Revisiting LeBron James' legendary NBA career as he enters Year 21

MIAMI (AP) &mdash; Miami&rsquo;s Erik Spoelstra and Denver&rsquo;s Michael Malone are two of the four NBA coaches to have spent at least eight years with their current team.
They know how rare that is &mdash; especially as the league&rsquo;s coaching changes mount.
Championship-winning or title-contending coaches aren&rsquo;t safe in the NBA these days. In recent days, 2019 NBA champion Nick Nurse, 2021 champion Mike Budenholzer, 2021 Western Conference champion and 2022 Coach of the Year Monty Williams and most recently 2008 NBA champion Doc Rivers were all fired.&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/raptors-nick-nurse-fired-c2b7dc404915ee3ae12fe1a52e589830">Nurse was fired by Toronto</a>,&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-budenholzer-fired-e9ab56f83d317afd621adb7d7c244006">Budenholzer by Milwaukee</a>,&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/suns-monty-williams-fired-53f33c2c3c8d69af7449cbfbf931bc0a">Williams by Phoenix</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/76ers-nba-doc-rivers-fired-09368e77a8f741576222c975c3affe55">Rivers by Philadelphia.</a>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disturbing,&rdquo; Spoelstra said. &ldquo;Doc&rsquo;s a Hall of Famer. ... There&rsquo;s only so many teams that can advance. It&rsquo;s just a really hard thing to do. Yeah, it&rsquo;s been a tough couple weeks, hearing the news of just some really surprising firings.&rdquo;
It doesn&rsquo;t make sense to Spoelstra, or likely to many other coaches. Spoelstra has the NBA&rsquo;s second-longest current tenure with one team. San Antonio&rsquo;s Gregg Popovich has coached the Spurs since 1996, Spoelstra took over the Heat in 2008, Steve Kerr became coach in Golden State in 2014 and Malone became coach in Denver in 2015.
&ldquo;I understand this business,&rdquo; said Malone, who&rsquo;ll lead Denver into the Western Conference finals starting Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. &ldquo;You look around the coaching landscape, if you want a secure profession, coaching is not the one to get into. I should have been a TV reporter.&rdquo;
Of the last nine coaches to take a team to the NBA Finals, only two &mdash; Kerr and Spoelstra &mdash; are still with the franchise that they went to the title round with.
Three of the last four championship-winning coaches &mdash; Budenholzer in 2021, the Los Angeles Lakers&rsquo; Frank Vogel in 2020 and Nurse in 2019 &ndash; have since been fired by those clubs. Also no longer with their teams for various reasons after recent runs to the finals: Ime Udoka in Boston, Cleveland&rsquo;s David Blatt and then Tyronn Lue as well, and now Williams by the Suns.
&ldquo;This is the nature of this league and I think sometimes it&rsquo;s the chemistry,&rdquo; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN in a televised interview before the draft lottery on Tuesday night. &rdquo;They don&rsquo;t go from being great coaches to bad coaches from one year to the next. It has to do with the chemistry of the team, the style, maybe somebody believes the players need to hear a new voice. But I&rsquo;m incredibly sympathetic. It&rsquo;s a rough side of this business and I think they understand it. They choose this profession. They&rsquo;re my friends and I hate to see it.&rdquo;
Budenholzer&rsquo;s dismissal left Kerr upset, as he revealed earlier this month &mdash; but noted that all coaches understand how vulnerable they are.
&ldquo;My first response is not necessarily shock, it&rsquo;s more disappointment because Bud is a fantastic coach,&rdquo; Kerr said. &ldquo;He just won a championship and has been wildly successful in his coaching career. But this is the business we&rsquo;re in. &hellip; Expectations every year for every team are so high, and only one team can win. It&rsquo;s sad news for the coaching profession.&rdquo;
At least six teams will have new coaches next season &mdash; Phoenix, Milwaukee, Toronto, Detroit and now Philadelphia are looking, and&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/rockets-udoka-celtics-b65d91fdfa3174b0c9fa36634cd20e42">Houston has hired Udoka</a>&nbsp;as the replacement for Stephen Silas. There were two in-season moves as well: Brooklyn&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-new-york-e72b511a6d8cdb4e4875dbc1b157557e">Jacque Vaughn was hired by the Nets</a>&nbsp;in November, and Atlanta&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-jazz-atlanta-hawks-nba-sports-playoffs-bce807f9f9f26951421f9ea2c2e5d52f">Quin Snyder was hired by the Hawks</a>&nbsp;in February. And two coaches in the conference finals are in Year 1 of their careers: the Lakers&rsquo; Darvin Ham, and the Celtics&rsquo; Joe Mazzulla, who had to take over unexpectedly in Boston last fall following&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-celtics-nba-sports-basketball-ime-udoka-0f04a614b82c497346a423d9da036521">Udoka&rsquo;s suspension</a>&nbsp;for an inappropriate relationship with a Celtics employee.
Mazzulla will meet Spoelstra and Miami in the Eastern Conference finals starting Wednesday. Spoelstra has faced Boston three times for the East title in four years, going up against three different coaches &mdash; Brad Stevens in the NBA bubble restart in 2020, Udoka last year and now Mazzulla &mdash; and says while the coaches change, organizational stability exists and is crucial.
&ldquo;Joe was in the bubble. ... He&rsquo;s been part of some really good teams,&rdquo; Spoelstra said. &ldquo;That does have an impact. Probably more than anything in this league right now, you&rsquo;re looking for some kind of organizational stability between the front office and coaching staff.&rdquo;
There aren&rsquo;t many examples of that in the league right now. At minimum, 13 of the NBA&rsquo;s 30 teams will open next season with a coach who has been in place for no more than one season.
Rivers said Sunday that he expected to stay with the 76ers. &ldquo;No one&rsquo;s safe in our business. I get that,&rdquo; Rivers said.
Further proof of that came two days later, when he was dismissed.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just the business of basketball,&rdquo; Miami guard Kyle Lowry said. &ldquo;And one thing about our business is sometimes it gets a little cut-throat.&rdquo;
Spoelstra has long said part of Miami&rsquo;s strength is consistency. Managing general partner Micky Arison, CEO Nick Arison, team president Pat Riley, general manager Andy Elisburg and others have been with the Heat for decades &mdash; and from the very beginning, in Elisburg&rsquo;s case, since he&rsquo;s been with the franchise for all 35 of its seasons.
Spoelstra has been with the organization for more than half his life as well; he was 24 when he started in the video room, and now he&rsquo;s 52.
&ldquo;It takes so much time and energy to restart something,&rdquo; Spoelstra said. &ldquo;And I think that&rsquo;s part of the reason why we&rsquo;ve been able to reboot so many times, over and over and over. We&rsquo;re not reinventing a new culture and then trying to teach everybody and then all of a sudden, two years later, it&rsquo;s going to be somebody else doing the exact same thing. But particularly to have proven veteran guys (fired), it&rsquo;s just been stunning. It really has been disturbing.&rdquo;

Erik Spoelstra, Mike Malone and Adam Silver discussed the firings of Monty Williams, Doc Rivers, Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse.

As NBA coaching changes mount, some lament the lack of job security

CHICAGO (AP) &mdash; Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night.
The Spurs were one of three teams with the best odds &mdash; 14% &mdash; to land the No. 1 pick, which they&rsquo;ll almost certainly use on Wembanyama. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.
And he had a message for San Antonio.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m trying to win a ring ASAP,&rdquo; Wembanyama told ESPN after the lottery results. &ldquo;So be ready.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s the third time the Spurs have won the lottery, and on both previous occasions they made picks that paid off for decades. They chose David Robinson in 1987, Tim Duncan in 1997, and those selections were a major part of how the Spurs became a team that won five NBA titles under coach Gregg Popovich.
&ldquo;Our future was already bright,&rdquo; Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said. &ldquo;Now, it&rsquo;s going to be through the moon.&rdquo;
General manager Brian Wright called it &ldquo;an incredible day&rdquo; for the franchise and the fans.
Charlotte will pick second, Portland moved up to third, and Houston fell to fourth.
&ldquo;This draft is a deep, talented one,&rdquo; Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said. &ldquo;We know picks one through six there&rsquo;s always gems to be found, but to move up into the top three is really exciting.&rdquo;
As for getting the No. 1 pick in a year like this?
&ldquo;People talk about generational talents and you only think on-court skill, but it&rsquo;s bigger than that,&rdquo; Wright said. &ldquo;Peter talked about his ability to be a great teammate, his ability to think the game, unique challenges. You see him doing things that you wouldn&rsquo;t have even guessed someone could do &mdash; his approach, his professionalism. I think when you use the word generational talent, it extends beyond just your ability to put the ball in the basket. And he&rsquo;s unique in so many ways.&rdquo;
The Spurs were 22-60 this season, tied for the second-worst record in the NBA. Popovich and the Spurs have had incredible success with international players in the past &mdash; most notably, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, who owns the French team that Wembanyama played for last season.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s an incredible young man,&rdquo; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN as part of its draft lottery broadcast. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s 19 years old and I didn&rsquo;t take out a yardstick or meter stick or whatever they use in France, but he seemed all of 7-4 to me. &hellip; He clearly appears to be a generational talent.&rdquo;
Wembanyama finished his regular season with Boulogne-Levallois of France&rsquo;s top pro league earlier Tuesday, his 22-point effort good enough for him to clinch the league&rsquo;s scoring title. It was shortly past 2 a.m. Wednesday in Paris when the lottery results were revealed, and Wembanyama was gathered with family and friends for a celebration.
&ldquo;Can&rsquo;t really describe it,&rdquo; Wembanyama said in his interview with ESPN, adding &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a really special moment.&rdquo;
Finally, he knows where his NBA journey will begin. His agents did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Associated Press.
&ldquo;I think the team that has the first choice isn&rsquo;t going to get it wrong,&rdquo; said Vincent Collet, Wembanyama&rsquo;s coach in France and also the coach of the French national team &mdash; which Wembanyama is expected to play for this summer at the World Cup and next summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Detroit had the worst record in the NBA and was one of the three teams with the best odds of winning. The Pistons wound up falling all the way to fifth, the worst of their possible outcomes.
The rest of the lottery order: Orlando will pick sixth, Indiana seventh, Washington eighth, Utah ninth, Dallas 10th, Orlando (from Chicago as part of an earlier trade) in 11th, Oklahoma City 12th, Toronto 13th, and New Orleans 14th.
Wembanyama is wrapping up his third professional season in France and has been the consensus top pick for months. He has the height of a center, the shooting touch of a wing and the passing ability of a point guard.
He wasn&rsquo;t at the lottery because of his game schedule in France. But many of the other top prospects &mdash; Scoot Henderson of the G League Ignite, Brandon Miller of Alabama, twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson of the Overtime Elite program &mdash; were in the room to watch the lottery results get unveiled and get a little better idea of where they may be heading to start their NBA careers.

Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday.

Spurs win NBA Draft Lottery and right to draft Victor Wembanyama

CLEVELAND (AP) &mdash; Jalen Brunson scored 23 points, RJ Barrett added 21 and the New York Knicks downed the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95 in Game 5 on Wednesday night to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2013.
The Knicks easily controlled a series that was more one-sided than expected, even after Julius Randle aggravated his left ankle injury and missed the second half.
New York won the opener at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, overpowered the Cavs twice at noisy Madison Square Garden and then returned to Cleveland to finish the job. The fifth-seeded Knicks will meet the Miami-Milwaukee winner next.
Brunson was the consistent ingredient throughout the series for the Knicks, who signed the stocky guard as a free agent last summer before their attempt to acquire Donovan Mitchell in a trade from Utah fell apart and he landed in Cleveland.
Brunson averaged 24 points in the series and led New York in scoring all four wins while outplaying Mitchell for the second straight postseason. Last year, Brunson was with Dallas when he got the best of Mitchell.
Mitchell scored 28 and Darius Garland 21 for the Cavs, who won 51 games during the regular season but whose inexperience showed throughout their first playoff series in five years. The Cavs weren&rsquo;t ready.
A bigger issue, though, seemed to be Cleveland&rsquo;s toughness. The Cavs got pushed around and outrebounded in all four losses, including 48-30 in the clincher.
New York center Mitchell Robinson finished with`18 rebounds &mdash; 11 offensive &mdash; in Game 5 and the 7-footer didn&rsquo;t shy away from calling out the Cavs for being soft after Game 3, saying they appeared to be shaken.
Cleveland hoped to recapture some of its 2016 magic and overcome a 3-1 deficit like LeBron James and the Cavs did in the NBA Finals to shock Golden State. But Brunson, Barrett and the rest of the Knicks had other plans.
They closed out the Cavs in the second half without Randle.
The All-Star forward left late in the second quarter after aggravating a sprained left ankle and didn&rsquo;t return. Obi Toppin started in his place and scored 12 points in the third quarter as the Knicks opened an 18-point lead.
New York never let Cleveland get closer than six in the fourth, much to the delight of several hundred Knicks fans who celebrated behind their bench.
Randle was moving as well as he had in the series before going down.
After trying to block Caris LeVert&rsquo;s jumper, he landed awkwardly and stayed on the floor for a few minutes while being checked. Randle was helped to his feet but defiantly walked off the floor and to the locker room for treatment.
Turns out, the Knicks didn&rsquo;t need him.
New York&rsquo;s depth was also a huge factor in the series. Every time coach Tom Thibodeau turned to a reserve, they responded.
That wasn&rsquo;t the case for the Cavs and coach J.B. Bickerstaff, whose bench was a problem all season and was further exposed when the games were more meaningful.
One sequence in the first half underscored Cleveland&rsquo;s frustration.
Isolated on the wing against Brunson, Isaac Okoro refused to bite on a move and kept New York&rsquo;s guard in front of him and nearly came up with a steal before fumbling it out of bounds with two seconds left on the 24-second shot clock.
New York inbounded and Immanuel Quickley hit a 3-pointer to put the Knicks ahead by 12.
TIP-INS
Knicks: G Quentin Grimes missed his second straight game with a bruised right shoulder. He&rsquo;s been out since absorbing a hit in the first half of Game 3. ... New York improved to 13-2 in the postseason against Cleveland, winning all four series (1978, 1995, 1996 and 2023).
Cavaliers: With 23 points adn 10 assists in Game 4 , Garland became the second Cleveland player to 23 or younger to post those totals in a playoff game. James did it eight times with the Cavs. ... Cleveland is 46-15 at home in the playoffs since 2008, losing elimination games in the arena in 2015, 2018 and 2023.

The Cavaliers beat the Knicks 106-95 in Game 5 on Wednesday night to advance to the second round for the first time since 2013.

Knicks advance to second round, down Cavs 106-95 in Game 5

The NBA announced that 242 players have filed as early-entry candidates for the 2023 NBA Draft. Here is the complete list.

NBA announces 242 early-entry candidates for 2023 NBA Draft

Here&rsquo;s a rarity: All five teams from one division are going to the NBA playoffs.
And they pulled that off in a year where a division champion almost didn&rsquo;t get there.
All five teams from the Pacific Division &mdash; Sacramento, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers &mdash; have made the playoffs, which start Saturday.
But Miami, the champion of the Southeast Division, almost missed out. The Heat got there Friday night by closing on a 15-1 run to beat Chicago 102-91 in the final Eastern Conference play-in game.
Had the Heat lost, it would have been the first time in NBA history that a division winner wasn&rsquo;t going to the playoffs.
On the other end of the spectrum, the whole-division-goes feat had happened only two other times since the NBA went to the six-division, five-teams-in-each format starting with the 2004-05 season.
The Central Division did it in 2006, and the Southwest Division pulled it off in 2015. It almost happened in the Northwest Division in 2018 when Denver missed the playoffs by a game. And the Atlantic Division had a chance to send all its teams this year if Toronto gotten out of the play-in tournament.
PLAY IN TO PLAY ON
The play-in tournament provided a path for Miami, Minnesota, the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta to make the playoffs.
And now, they&rsquo;ll try to go from playing in to playing on.
No team has managed that yet.
Granted, there&rsquo;s only been three previous versions of a play-in tournament, but no team has gone from the extra round in between the regular season and playoffs and gotten an actual postseason series win.
In 2020, Portland (which beat Memphis in a one-game play-in round inside the restart bubble) lost 4-1 to the top-seeded Lakers.
In 2021, the Lakers (4-2 to Phoenix), Memphis (4-1 to Utah), Boston (4-1 to Brooklyn) and Washington (4-1 to Philadelphia) were all ousted in Round 1.
And last year, Minnesota (4-2 to Memphis), New Orleans (4-2 to Phoenix), Atlanta (4-1 to Miami) and Brooklyn (4-0 to Boston) also lost their opening series after qualifying through the play-in.
2 TO 1
Golden State did something unusual last season. It finished second in the Pacific Division &mdash; and first in the NBA.
That&rsquo;s a serious break from the norm.
From 2012 through 2021, every team to make the NBA Finals did so after winning a division championship. The 2011 Dallas Mavericks had been the most recent team not to win its division but make the finals; they won the title that season.
The Warriors did it last season, also winning the title.
This season&rsquo;s division champions: Boston, Milwaukee, Miami, Denver, Sacramento and Memphis. History suggests that two of those six teams would be the wise picks for those forecasting who&rsquo;ll make the finals.
SEASON OF COMEBACKS
Playoffs might not have looked likely for a bunch of teams in the early going of the season.
Philadelphia started 0-3, Sacramento started 0-4, Brooklyn was 1-5, Golden State was 3-7, the Los Angeles Clippers opened 2-4, Minnesota was 5-8, Miami was 7-11 &mdash; and the Los Angeles Lakers were 2-10, a level of bad start that few teams have been able to overcome.
The Lakers are just the 15th team in NBA history to start 0-5 and make the postseason. And only four teams were worse than 2-10 after 12 games and still made the playoffs. Last season&rsquo;s New Orleans Pelicans started 1-11 and got there, as did the 1967-68 Chicago Bulls and 1984-85 Cleveland Cavaliers.
But the undisputed bad-start-and-made-playoffs-anyway kings are the 1996-97 Phoenix Suns. They started 0-13, wound up finishing 40-42, held a 2-1 series lead over top-seeded Seattle in the best-of-five opening round, then fell in five games.
WINS MILESTONE
Golden State teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have both appeared in 102 playoff victories.
That&rsquo;s tied for 25th-best all-time, and they could keep climbing the charts this spring.
They&rsquo;re currently two wins behind Danny Green; three behind Dwyane Wade and Dennis Johnson; five behind Bill Russell, Robert Parish and Warriors teammate Andre Iguodala; and six behind No. 18 John Havlicek.
If the Warriors win another title and Thompson and Green appear in all 16 victories, they&rsquo;d then have 118 apiece &mdash; one fewer than Michael Jordan.
The Los Angeles Lakers&rsquo; LeBron James enters these playoffs as the career leader in postseason wins, with 174. Phoenix&rsquo;s Kevin Durant needs five to get to 100, and Warriors guard Stephen Curry has 93.
ON THE ROAD
Going &ldquo;on the road&rdquo; in these playoffs will be a relative term in some cases.
By driving distance, some of them are pretty close. Only 85 miles or so separates the arenas used by Golden State and Sacramento, and it&rsquo;s about 100 miles between the arenas in Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers play 375 miles apart, while New York and Cleveland are separated by 450 miles, which is still no more than about an hour by air. The rest of the matchups are a bit longer &mdash; it&rsquo;s 850 miles or so between Minnesota and Denver, 1,100 between Boston and Atlanta, almost 1,500 between Miami and Milwaukee and just over 1,800 between Memphis and the Los Angeles Lakers&rsquo; home floor.
THE WAIT IS OVER
Sacramento&rsquo;s last playoff game was May 5, 2006. That was 12 Kings coaches ago.
A look at some of the other numbers:
&mdash; The Kings played 1,358 games in that span.
&mdash; They used 184 different players.
&mdash; They scored 142,294 points, with DeMarcus Cousins having the most in that span with 9,894.
&mdash; They went 515-843.
&mdash; There will have been 1,384 playoff games in the league between Sacramento&rsquo;s last playoff game and by the time the Kings and Golden State tip off in Game 1 on Saturday. All 29 other teams played at least 11 playoff games in that span; Boston has the most with 201, and the Celtics and Miami have a league-high 108 playoff wins apiece over that stretch.
INSIDE THE STANDINGS
If the 16 playoff teams had their own league this season, with only the games against one another counting, then the Boston Celtics would be feeling pretty confident right about now.
The Celtics had the best record against fellow playoff qualifiers this season, going 27-15. That just edged out Denver, which went 26-15 against playoff-bound teams during the regular season.
Boston&rsquo;s average point differential against playoff-bound teams per game is also better than any other postseason club. The Celtics outscored playoff teams, on average, by 5.6 points per game.
The rest of the records by playoff qualifiers against one another during the regular season: Milwaukee 26-16, Philadelphia 26-16, Minnesota 22-20, Memphis 21-20, New York 22-21, Miami 21-21, Phoenix 21-23, Sacramento 19-24, Golden State 19-24, Cleveland 18-23, the Los Angeles Clippers 18-24, Brooklyn 18-24, the Los Angeles Lakers 17-25, and Atlanta 16-26.
WARRIORS&rsquo; ROAD WOES
Golden State has won a road game in 27 consecutive playoff series, an NBA record and obviously a major reason why the Warriors have four of the last eight championships.
They&rsquo;ll need to rekindle that road magic.
The Warriors &mdash; who don&rsquo;t have home-court advantage in Round 1 against Sacramento, so they&rsquo;ll need at least one road win to have a chance in the series &mdash; went 3-19 against playoff teams away from home this season.
The last time any playoff team was that bad on the road during the regular season against other eventual playoff qualifiers was 2004. Denver was 2-20 entering those playoffs in road games against fellow postseason clubs that season, and Miami was 3-19.
PLAYOFF POOL
The NBA&rsquo;s postseason playoff pool is up nearly $10 million from last year. This year, the 16 playoff teams will divide up $26,969,000.
Every team is assured of at least $402,493 for making the playoffs. The payouts increase considerably as teams advance, and the teams with the best six records in each conference get more money as well.
Milwaukee has already clinched $1,860,950 from the pool &mdash; $777,777 for having the best record in the NBA and another $680,680 for having the best record in the Eastern Conference. If the Bucks win the title, their share of the pool would soar to $7,907,335.
Last year&rsquo;s pool was $17,317,334.

The NBA Playoffs tip off on Saturday, so here's everything you need to know.

What to know entering the NBA playoffs, which start Saturday

The top overall seed, Alabama, has been on a roll despite being entangled in a&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-darius-miles-fatal-shooting-indictment-jamea-harris-887b6419c4b576da778b710a58b8acf7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">murder case</a>. Another No. 1 seed, defending national champion Kansas, is coming off a blowout loss and has a coach coming out of the hospital. Yet another, Houston, just watched its&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/memphis-houston-march-madness-ncaa-hardaway-329475213b5f98fb6a436cfefdc51390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best player go down in a heap</a>&nbsp;with a scary injury.
This year&rsquo;s&nbsp;March Madness&nbsp;frontrunners are anything but perfect, but the presence of these teams and all their questions at the top of the bracket could make for precisely what the NCAA wants its tournament to be &ndash; a perfectly unpredictable mess.
Most of the drama in picking this year&rsquo;s bracket was resolved far before Selection Sunday.
Arizona State and Nevada made it off the bubble and into the 68-team field. Rutgers and Oklahoma State did not.&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/purdue-big-ten-tournament-penn-state-zach-edey-3b17ff7c31380552d3707784339fed7e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Purdue, with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey leading the way,</a>&nbsp;edged out UCLA for the fourth and final No. 1 seed.
And in a decision most everyone saw coming, the selection committee&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-north-carolina-left-out-16e5709c3c1f97a1d52f485d292715e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">left North Carolina, last year&rsquo;s national runner-up, out of the tournament.</a> It made the Tar Heels the first team since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to start the season ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll and finish it by not making the Big Dance.
The team they lost to, Kansas, is trying to become the first back-to-back NCAA champion since Florida in 2007.
The Jayhawks earned the top seed in the West Region, but only the third overall, behind the Crimson Tide and the Cougars. The Jayhawks are awaiting the return of coach Bill Self, who went to the hospital last week complaining of chest tightness and concerns with his balance.&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-bill-self-hospital-ncaa-coach-jayhawks-2053ffeb102c7dfb418109215dab554b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He has been discharged</a>&nbsp;and is expected back this week.
The head of the selection committee, Chris Reynolds, said it took every injury, and every absence, into account.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s certainly something the committee talked about during the course of the year, and certainly played a factor in seeding and selection,&rdquo; said Reynolds, the athletic director at Bradley.
He said the committee also did not ignore lopsided losses: Two of Kansas&rsquo; seven Ls came in March to Texas, a No. 2 seed, by 16 and 20 points.
&ldquo;They mark it how they feel and we&rsquo;re just going to do what we need to do to get where we need to be,&rdquo; Kansas forward KJ Adams said.
The tournament begins Tuesday with two First Four games. The full madness starts Thursday with 16 first-round games, then 16 more the next day.
Kansas&rsquo; loss to Texas in the Big 12 semifinal Saturday likely played into&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaab?tab=national-champion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FanDuel Sportsbook</a>&nbsp;setting the Jayhawks at 10-1 to win the title, behind both Alabama of the South Region (8-1 odds) and the overall favorite, Houston (5-1 odds), which would be playing the Final Four in its hometown if it wins the Midwest Region. The semifinals and finals are set for NRG Stadium on April 1 and 3.
The Cougars lost their conference title game Sunday, <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-midwest-ba5f567eee97af8eb848e229694b8b9b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in large part because they were without Marcus Sasser,</a>&nbsp;the leading scorer who left the previous day&rsquo;s game early after sliding awkwardly and hurting his groin.
Purdue likely found its way onto the &ldquo;1&rdquo; line when it won the program&rsquo;s second Big Ten tournament title Sunday, less than 24 hours after UCLA, also dinged-up this season, fell by two to Arizona in the Pac-12 title game.
For Alabama, the SEC tournament was a relative breeze &ndash; nobody stayed within double digits of the Tide -- unlike the past two months,&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-south-bracket-alabama-005db4413ccdad1b00bcd38f879ac5df" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which have been met with a near constant flow of headlines</a>&nbsp;about a former player, Darius Miles, who is accused of capital murder In the Jan. 15 killing of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure we would have predicted this,&rdquo; said coach Nate Oats of the Tide, which is a No. 1 seed for the first time. &ldquo;Being the No. 1 overall seed is great. It says what an unbelievable regular season we&rsquo;ve had. You&rsquo;ve still got to go win the games.&rdquo;
The SEC and Big Ten led the way by placing eight teams each in the 68-team field. Duke won the ACC for the 22nd time and was one of five teams from that conference in a relatively weak year.
But this tournament is always about more than big schools with big pedigrees.
Some teams to watch for include&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/marist-iona-maac-64c60cf20f61ade2159022b1c113e77c">13th-seeded Iona</a>, coached by the legend, Rick Pitino, who has the Gaels in the show for the second time in three years &ndash; with some people wondering if he&rsquo;ll be heading over to a vacant job at St. John&rsquo;s soon. Iona got a brutal draw &ndash; a first-round meeting against fourth-seeded UConn.
There is Southern Conference champion Furman, back in the tournament for the first time since 1980, and MEAC champ Howard, back in the tourney for the first time since 1992.
There is Kennesaw State,&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/kennesaw-state-ncaa-tournament-2f0a9c43ce247215832b429a520f580e">the program that went 1-28 in 2019-20 and now finds itself in the bracket.</a>&nbsp;For the rest of the dreamers, there is Texas Southern &ndash; the team that won its conference tournament as a No. 8 seed and comes to March Madness at 14-20 for a play-in game against Fairleigh Dickinson.

March Madness is underway! Here's a look at the No. 1 seeds in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Chase