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Suns

Anthony Edwards' meteoric rise in the NBA continues relentlessly. The 23-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves superstar has added another chapter to his burgeoning playoff legacy, leading his team to a 4-1 series victory over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals. This triumph not only propels the Timberwolves to their second consecutive Western Conference Finals but also reinforces Edwards' growing reputation as the league's premier "legend killer."
The term "legend killer" may have been used in jest by fans and analysts, but it's becoming more apt with each passing series. Edwards is carving out one of the most impressive early playoff resumes in recent memory, routinely stepping up against the game's brightest stars and emerging victorious.
Slaying giants and legends is becoming a playoff tradition for Edwards
Edwards' postseason journey reads like a who's who of NBA royalty. Last year, he spearheaded the Timberwolves' stunning run through the Western Conference, eliminating a Phoenix Suns team led by future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. In the following round, they went toe-to-toe with reigning MVP Nikola Jokić and the defending champion Denver Nuggets &ndash; and prevailed.
This season has followed a similar narrative. In the first round, Edwards and the Wolves dispatched the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Edwards outdueled both LeBron James and Luka Doncic on both ends of the floor and delivering clutch baskets in high-pressure moments.
Now, in the semifinals, he's taken down a Warriors team that boasted championship pedigree and playoff-tested veterans in Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green &ndash; and would have had Stephen Curry, were it not for injury.
It's no wonder the nickname "legend killer" has started to stick. Edwards is not just winning playoff series; he's ending runs and ushering in a new era of stardom. Few players his age have compiled such an impressive list of postseason victims &ndash; and he's doing it as the unquestioned leader of a franchise that hadn&rsquo;t been to the Conference Finals in 20 years before his arrival.
Golden State&rsquo;s fortunes took a major hit just minutes into Game 1 when Stephen Curry pulled up lame, clutching his left hamstring. The team initially called it &ldquo;tightness,&rdquo; but subsequent scans revealed a strain that would sideline the two-time MVP for the remainder of the series.
Curry&rsquo;s absence was devastating. In Game 1, the Warriors managed to win despite him being out for the majority of the game, and Golden State was within striking distance. But without him, the Warriors lacked spacing, cohesion, and a consistent scoring threat. Butler, whom the Warriors acquired midseason for a late title push, averaged a decent amount of points in the series but struggled to find rhythm without Curry drawing double teams. Draymond Green&rsquo;s defensive prowess and playmaking were neutralized by Minnesota&rsquo;s size and physicality.
Minnesota, meanwhile, smothered Golden State with a vaunted defense led by Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, and Edwards. The Wolves&rsquo; game plan was simple yet effective: deny Butler clean looks, collapse on drives, and force role players to beat them. Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield were rather inconsistent, while Jonathan Kuminga, though promising, lacked the polish to carry the scoring load for the entire series. The Warriors ultimately lost four straight games after taking the opener.
Timberwolves' strategic mastery&nbsp;
Minnesota&rsquo;s resurgence is as much about front-office vision as it is about Edwards&rsquo; emergence. The franchise made a controversial decision last summer, trading long-time star Karl-Anthony Towns &ndash; the face of the franchise for nearly a decade &ndash; to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Initially panned as an overreaction to last year&rsquo;s Conference Finals loss, the move has aged like fine wine. Randle brought a rugged interior presence and a scorer's mindset that perfectly complements Rudy Gobert&rsquo;s defense-first approach. In these playoffs, Randle has arguably been playing the best basketball of his life, often bullying smaller defenders in the post while spacing the floor just enough to allow Edwards room to operate.
DiVincenzo, a tenacious defender and underrated shooter, has been an x-factor despite struggling a bit in the playoffs. He has consistently hit timely threes while guarding opposing guards with a relentless motor. His chemistry with Edwards has flourished, allowing the Wolves to maintain intensity on both ends without sacrificing floor spacing.
Add in the steady leadership of Mike Conley and the rim protection of Gobert and Naz Reid off the bench and the perimeter defense by McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and you&rsquo;ve got one of the most well-balanced teams left in the playoffs.
With this series win, the Timberwolves have secured their second straight appearance in the Western Conference Finals &ndash; a feat that once seemed unimaginable for a franchise long plagued by mediocrity. They fell to Dallas in last year&rsquo;s WCF, but the lessons from that loss are clearly paying off.
This version of the Wolves is deeper, more experienced, and far more adaptable. They&rsquo;ve shown they can win gritty, defensive battles or shoot it out when the game opens up. Coach Chris Finch has masterfully balanced rotations and drawn up sets that accentuate Edwards&rsquo; strengths while keeping Randle, Gobert, and DiVincenzo involved.
The next step now is breaking through to the NBA Finals &ndash; something no Timberwolves team has ever accomplished.
Being the &lsquo;face of the league&rsquo;
As the NBA&rsquo;s long-standing icons gradually wind down their careers, the league is searching for its next torchbearer. While players like Jayson Tatum, Luka Dončić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are all in the mix, few have made as loud a postseason statement as Anthony Edwards.
His playoff numbers &mdash; 27.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists per game &mdash; don&rsquo;t just tell the story of a rising superstar, they scream franchise cornerstone and future MVP. More importantly, Edwards has embraced the spotlight, asking for it and owning the pressure of delivering wins against the best in the world.
He&rsquo;s charismatic, fiercely competitive, and fearless. His ability to elevate his game in the postseason, rise above elite opponents, and close out games has drawn comparisons to legends of the past. And with every &ldquo;legend&rdquo; he defeats, Edwards inches closer to becoming one himself.
Anthony Edwards isn&rsquo;t just adding to his playoff resume &mdash; he&rsquo;s building a legacy. One legendary opponent at a time.
And if the &ldquo;legend killer&rdquo; keeps this up, the next generation of NBA stars might be defined by who manages to take him down.

Anthony Edwards continues his rise as the NBA’s “Legend Killer,” leading the Timberwolves past the Warriors to reach the WCF again.

Anthony Edwards adds to ‘legend killer’ legacy as Wolves eliminate Warriors in 5

Minnesota ends LA&rsquo;s season in 5-game shocker despite being huge underdogs going into the series
The Minnesota Timberwolves weren&rsquo;t supposed to be here.
According to ESPN&rsquo;s panel of 10 analysts, not one picked them to win their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Most had the Lakers in five, six, or seven games. On paper, the Timberwolves were outmatched: LeBron James and Luka Doncic led a top-heavy but star-studded Lakers team expected to steamroll their way to the second round.
Instead, Minnesota didn&rsquo;t just win the series &ndash; they dominated it. Minnesota capitalized on team chemistry and strategic execution to control the series.
The Timberwolves' victories were marked by consistent performances:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Game 1: 117&ndash;95 win in Los Angeles</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Game 3: 116&ndash;104 win in Minnesota</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Game 4: 116&ndash;113 win in Minnesota</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Game 5: 103&ndash;96 win in Los Angeles</li>
</ul>
Their only loss came in Game 2, a 94&ndash;85 defeat.
The Timberwolves dismantled the Lakers in five games, closing them out with a tough Game 5 win on the road. Minnesota outplayed Los Angeles in every area of the game: they were quicker in transition, stronger on the glass, sharper in their sets, and more connected defensively. It was a comprehensive, no-doubt-about-it series win &mdash; the kind that turns skeptics into believers.
<h3>&ldquo;Nobody picked us. We saw everything.&rdquo;</h3>
That&rsquo;s what Anthony Edwards said after Game 5, and he wasn&rsquo;t exaggerating. The Timberwolves were largely disrespected in national discourse heading into the playoffs, viewed as a feel-good story after an up-and-down regular season rather than a real threat. But inside the locker room, that doubt was fuel. The Timberwolves took it personally, and they responded with purpose.
In five games, the Timberwolves held the Lakers to just 103.2 points per game, the second-lowest mark of any team in the first round. They crushed them on the boards (+8.4 per game), generated more fastbreak points (+6.6 per game), and executed cleaner offensive sets, often using misdirection to manipulate LA&rsquo;s defense and create clean looks.
Minnesota&rsquo;s identity &ndash; defensive toughness, ball movement, and unselfish play &ndash; never wavered. And it overwhelmed a Laker team that relied too heavily on isolation from LeBron and Luka.
Julius Randle flips the narrative
No Timberwolf had more to prove entering this postseason than Julius Randle.
Traded for Karl-Anthony Towns at the deadline, Randle arrived in Minnesota with a cloud of playoff failure hovering over him. His previous stints with the Knicks were marred by inefficient scoring and defensive lapses. But this time, the moment didn&rsquo;t swallow him.
Randle was tremendous throughout the series, averaging 22.6 points and 7.8 rebounds on 49% shooting. He scored 20+ points in four of the five games and was particularly vital when Edwards got blitzed in pick-and-rolls or trapped off the catch. He became Minnesota&rsquo;s release valve &mdash; someone who could isolate against mismatches, hit midrange shots, and punish switches.
In Game 5, Randle posted 23 points and 5 boards, matching the Lakers&rsquo; physicality and responding to every mini-run with a tough bucket. It was a performance that not only helped close the door on LA but also redefined how people talk about him as a playoff performer.
Jaden McDaniels: From role player to a solid 3rd option
Jaden McDaniels has always been known for his defense. But in this series, he showed off the other side of his game.
McDaniels averaged 17.4 points in the five games &ndash; a significant jump from his regular-season average of 10.1. His 30-point outburst in Game 3 was the breakout moment, but it was the consistency that stood out more. He hit spot-up threes, attacked closeouts, and even created off the dribble when needed.
Defensively, he was the primary Luka Doncic defender in most matchups and made life difficult for the 26-year-old superstar. McDaniels&rsquo; ability to be a two-way presence gives Minnesota a third dynamic option &ndash; something every championship team needs.
The bench unit made its mark and proved itself
Minnesota's bench unit, featuring Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker &ndash; arguably the best in the league &ndash; came through for Minnesota.
Reid, DiVincenzo, and Alexander-Walker formed the best second unit in the series &mdash; and perhaps in the league. Reid chipped in 11.6 points per game in all 5 games off the bench, providing floor spacing and physicality as the backup big. DiVincenzo, the 2022 NBA champion, brought his usual defensive energy, three-point shooting, and smart cuts, while Alexander-Walker hit timely shots and proved to be an elite on-ball defender.
All three could start for most NBA teams. Together, they gave Minnesota an edge that the Lakers simply couldn&rsquo;t match when their stars sat. Their collective impact underscored the Timberwolves' depth and resilience, and together with veteran starter Mike Conley (who also hit a big shot late in Game 5), the Timberwolves ended up winning the series.
Gobert finds his moment
Rudy Gobert was quiet in the first four games of the series, which was borderline ineffective at times.
But in Game 5, with Edwards struggling and LA blitzing every ball screen, Gobert reminded everyone why Minnesota traded for him. He finished with 27 points, 21 rebounds, and three blocks on 11-of-13 shooting. It was his best playoff performance in years, and it couldn&rsquo;t have come at a better time.
Gobert&rsquo;s physicality in the paint overwhelmed the Lakers&rsquo; smaller frontcourt, and his offensive rebounding (eight) created second-chance opportunities that swung the game. While he may not be the focal point every night, this was a reminder that when locked in and depending on matchups, he can still change games.
Anthony Edwards, the flamboyant superstar
Even with a 0-for-11 night from three in Game 5, Anthony Edwards was the best player in the series.
He averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists &ndash; but stats don&rsquo;t tell the whole story. He controlled the tempo, made the right reads when doubled, and never let the moment get too big. His Game 4 masterpiece &mdash; 43 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists on the road &ndash; was the most dominant single performance of the series.
This wasn&rsquo;t just a great young player having a good stretch. This was a future face-of-the-league moment. In a series featuring LeBron James and Luka Doncic, Edwards looked like the best player on the floor. The passing of the torch isn&rsquo;t always clean or scripted. But it felt like it happened here. Edwards, over his last 2 playoff runs, has knocked out Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic. Now that&rsquo;s an impressive playoff resume at just 23 years old, and he&rsquo;s likely going to add more in the years to come.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
Beating the Lakers wasn&rsquo;t just about advancing to the next round. It was about validation. It was about shedding the underdog label. It was about proving that this Timberwolves team isn&rsquo;t some overachieving feel-good story &ndash; they&rsquo;re a legitimate contender that can go deep into the playoffs this season.
Minnesota&rsquo;s identity is strong, their chemistry is undeniable, and their defense travels. With Edwards emerging, Randle stepping up, McDaniels evolving, and the bench thriving, the Timberwolves just sent a loud howl to the rest of the NBA.

The Timberwolves stunned the Lakers in a dominant 5-game series win, behind Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and a deep bench unit.

Underdog Timberwolves upset Lakers behind Edwards, Randle, and elite bench

The Phoenix Suns have officially parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer following a disappointing 36&ndash;46 season, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
This move comes after the Suns severely underperformed this season, causing them to miss the playoffs entirely. This marks the third consecutive year the franchise has dismissed its head coach, following the departures of Monty Williams in 2023 and Frank Vogel in 2024.&nbsp;
Budenholzer, an Arizona native and former NBA Coach of the Year, was hired in May 2024 on a five-year, $50 million contract with high expectations. Despite a roster featuring stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, the Suns failed to find cohesion, with the trio playing only 37 games together due to injuries and other issues.
The team's underperformance has led to speculation about potential roster changes, including trade discussions involving Durant. According to reports, the Suns are expected to work with Durant and his representatives to explore possible trade destinations.
As the Suns search for their fourth head coach in as many seasons, the organization faces critical decisions to reshape its future and return to playoff contention.​

The Phoenix Suns have officially parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer following a disappointing 36–46 season.

Suns part ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season

The 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament has culminated in a formidable Final Four lineup, featuring UCLA Bruins, South Carolina Gamecocks, Texas Longhorns, and UConn Huskies. These teams will compete for the national championship at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, with semifinal games scheduled for Friday, April 4, and the title game on Sunday, April 6. ​
UCLA Bruins
UCLA secured its inaugural Final Four appearance by defeating LSU Tigers 72-65 in the Elite Eight. The Bruins showcased resilience and strategic play to overcome a formidable LSU team bannered by Aneesah Morrow, Flau'Jae Johnson, and Mikaylah Williams.&nbsp;
South Carolina Gamecocks
Maintaining their dominance, South Carolina reached its fifth consecutive Final Four by edging out the Duke Blue Devils with a 54-50 victory. The Gamecocks' tenacious defense and experience were pivotal in this hard-fought win. ​
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns earned their first Final Four berth since 2003 by defeating TCU Horned Frogs 58-47. Madison Booker led Texas with 18 points, while Rori Harmon contributed 13 points. The team's robust defense forced 21 turnovers, nine steals, and six blocks, effectively neutralizing TCU's offensive threats, most particularly TCU star guard Hailey Van Lith.
UConn Huskies
UConn continued its storied tradition by advancing to its 24th Final Four, overcoming USC Trojans 78-64. Paige Bueckers delivered an outstanding performance with 31 points and six assists, marking her third consecutive 30+ point game and surpassing 100 points over three tournament games&mdash;a first in UConn's history. Bueckers also moved up the UConn scoring records after surpassing Napheesa Collier for third all-time, only trailing Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore. As for USC, the loss of star guard Juju Watkins due to injury in the Sweet Sixteen was too much to overcome the determined Bueckers and her Huskies.
Final Four Matchups
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Texas Longhorns vs. South Carolina Gamecocks: This semifinal pits Texas' robust defense against South Carolina's seasoned tournament experience.​</li>
<li>UConn Huskies vs. UCLA Bruins: UConn's offensive prowess, led by Bueckers, will be tested against UCLA's resilient defense led by Lauren Betts in a highly anticipated matchup.</li>
</ul>

The 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament has culminated in a formidable Final Four lineup.

March Madness 2025: Top seeds converge in women’s Final Four

In a historic moment for the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker has surpassed Walter Davis to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer. Booker achieved this milestone during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, where he scored 34 points, bringing his career total to 15,668 points.
Booker, a four-time All-Star, reached this achievement in his 10th season with the Suns, having played 642 games since being drafted in 2015. He surpassed Walter Davis, a six-time All-Star who held the previous record with 15,666 points over 766 games between 1977 and 1988.&nbsp;
Despite Booker's personal accomplishment, the Suns fell to the TrailBlazers in a 121-119 overtime loss. Former Suns center Deandre Ayton contributed significantly to Portland's victory with 25 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.&nbsp;
Booker's ascent to the top of the Suns' scoring list underscores his significant impact on the franchise and solidifies his place among the NBA's elite players.

Devin Booker has surpassed Walter Davis to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

Devin Booker becomes Phoenix Suns' all-time leading scorer

The Miami Heat found themselves at the center of NBA trade speculation when ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania reported that the team was exploring potential trade scenarios for star forward Jimmy Butler.&nbsp;
According to the report, Butler&rsquo;s two preferred destinations were the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. However, Heat President Pat Riley wasted no time in shutting down the chatter.
&ldquo;We usually don&rsquo;t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,&rdquo; Riley stated. &ldquo;Therefore, we will make it clear &ndash; We are not trading Jimmy Butler.&rdquo;
The timing of the rumors comes as the Heat are battling for playoff positioning in a competitive Eastern Conference. Butler, a six-time All-Star and the cornerstone of Miami&rsquo;s success since his arrival in 2019, has played a pivotal role in their recent achievements, including leading the team to two NBA Finals appearances (2020 and 2023).
Charania&rsquo;s report suggested Butler&rsquo;s desire to join the Warriors or Suns stemmed from opportunities to compete alongside elite rosters with championship potential. The Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, and the Suns, featuring Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, would provide Butler with immediate title contention.
However, Riley&rsquo;s emphatic statement underscores the Heat&rsquo;s commitment to Butler as their franchise player. At 15-13 on the season, Miami currently holds the sixth seed in the East, and Butler&rsquo;s leadership is seen as critical to their postseason aspirations.
The Heat&rsquo;s front office has long been known for its loyalty to star players, and Riley&rsquo;s declaration aims to put an end to distractions. For now, Jimmy Butler remains the face of the franchise, as Miami continues to chase its championship dreams.

The Miami Heat are apparently not trading star forward Jimmy Butler.

“Jimmy Butler is not getting traded”: Riley

Several NBA stars have returned Monday night as they look to help their teams improve their standings in the current NBA season.
Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Monk returned to the Kings&rsquo; lineup after missing the past 7 games due to injury. He scored 14 points on 4/12 shooting from the field, however the Kings lost to the Thunder in a 109-130 blowout.
Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics
Porzingis made his Celtics debut Monday night against the Clippers after being sidelined for five months. Porzingis has successfully returned after undergoing a foot surgery in the offseason, scoring 16 points with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. He helped the Celtics secure a blowout victory over the visiting LA Clippers team, 126-94. Porzingis looked healthy and was efficient scoring from the field, going 6/12 in his field goals.
The Celtics will now have their complete lineup that won them the 2023 NBA title, and adding Porzingis back into their lineup only solidifies their chances of going back to back.
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Morant made it back to the Grizzlies&rsquo; starting lineup successfully with a scintillating 22-point, 11-assist performance in just 23 minutes in Memphis&rsquo; win over Portland. Morant was explosive in his return, throwing down a thunderous slam and dishing an eye-popping behind the back pass for a Brandon Clarke easy bucket.
Morant now looks to lead the Grizzlies out of the middle pack in the Western Conference with a healthy showing moving forward.
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are targeting a return on Tuesday night in the Suns&rsquo; NBA Cup game against the Lakers, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
Durant and Beal have been out of Phoenix's lineup the last 5-6 games, as they went 1-5 in that stretch. When both were in the lineup, the Suns were a league-best 8-1.
Durant and Beal aim to provide the Suns the firepower that they lacked over the past games with defenses keying in on stopping Devin Booker only.
Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans
Murray is eyeing a return after a one-month absence on Wednesday night when the Pelicans face the Raptors. Murray intends to return and help the now West-bottom New Orleans team to compete once again atop the West. Murray fractured his hand on opening night against the Chicago Bulls.
Murray was acquired by the Pelicans in a trade for Dyson Daniels in the offseason to shore up their PG duties and have a closer as well as a playmaker around star Zion Williamson.

Several NBA stars have returned Monday night as they look to help their teams improve their standings in the current NBA season.

NBA roundup 11/26/24: NBA stars returning to help respective teams

With the 2024-25 NBA season just days away, the Western Conference is locked, loaded, and ready for battle. The offseason drama has settled, rosters are finalized, and every team is gearing up for what promises to be a fierce and competitive race. From reigning contenders to rising underdogs, the West is stacked with talent and ambition. Let&rsquo;s break down the top 15 teams in the West as we head into this thrilling new season&mdash;no frills, just what you need to know.
<ol>
<li> Minnesota Timberwolves The Timberwolves are turning a new page after trading away longtime cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo and are now fully embracing Anthony Edwards as the franchise cornerstone. The T-Wolves&rsquo; mix of young talent and veteran leadership gives them a balanced roster around Edwards. Rudy Gobert remains a defensive anchor as a 4-time DPOY, Edwards is primed for a superstar leap, and if the supporting cast, including Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid, steps up, the Wolves could be ready to take the top spot in the West.</li>
<li> Oklahoma City Thunder The Thunder&rsquo;s rebuild is no longer a long-term project; they&rsquo;re ready to compete now. However, due to Isaiah Hartenstein&rsquo;s injury to start the season, we&rsquo;re placing the Thunder at no.2 for now. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already an All-NBA guard and arguably a top 5 player in the league. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams figure out to be the dynamic inside-out duo around SGA. Add in Hartenstein and Alex Caruso, the two new acquisitions this offseason with their capable role players Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe, this young core is as versatile as it is exciting. OKC&rsquo;s depth and versatility on both ends of the floor could propel them into serious title contention.</li>
<li> Phoenix Suns The Suns have loaded up for a title run, and with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal leading the charge, Phoenix has one of the most dangerous offensive trios in the league. They have added their most significant hole which is the PG spot with a solid pick up in Tyus Jones, and they have one of the best offensive coaches in the league in Mike Budenholzer. The Suns&rsquo; questions lie in their depth and health, but if they can manage those concerns, they&rsquo;re built for a championship push. Their offensive firepower is unmatched, and if they click, the Suns will be a team no one wants to face.</li>
<li> Memphis Grizzlies Memphis has weathered their offseason storms and enters the season with a gritty identity intact. Ja Morant is back after his injury and suspension last year and he will now play with last season&rsquo;s addition Marcus Smart. Together with the continued growth of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies are primed to be competitive and come back from their prime two seasons ago where they won 50+ games. Memphis&rsquo; defensive dominance paired with offensive firepower ensures they can be one of the top teams in the West with a deep bench with solid role players.</li>
<li> Denver Nuggets After falling short to Minnesota in 7 games last playoffs, the Nuggets will enter the season with their core mostly intact. Nikola Jokić remains the most dominant center and the best player in the game. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. healthy, the Nuggets are poised for another deep run. But perhaps their biggest loss this season was losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to free agency and that might be a hit so they&rsquo;re currently ranked at no.5 to start the year. It could be a lot to ask for young players like Christian Braun or Julian Strawther to fill the void left by KCP, so it will be interesting to see how Denver handles his loss this season.</li>
<li> Dallas Mavericks Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving experiment is back after a successful season last year, where Dallas entered the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011 &ndash; when they won the title. The two stars can mesh to create one of the league&rsquo;s most potent offenses and with the continued internal development of young players like Dereck Lively, the Mavs can build on that Finals appearance. With newcomer Klay Thompson set to provide historic spacing for their dynamic duo, Dallas has the talent to climb the standings and challenge the top teams in the West.</li>
<li> New Orleans Pelicans The Pelicans&rsquo; fate will always hinge on Zion Williamson&rsquo;s health. When Zion plays, New Orleans is a force to be reckoned with. Now paired with newly-acquired point guard Dejounte Murray, they have a balanced attack capable of competing with any team in the conference with Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum still on the fold. If Zion stays on the floor, the Pelicans could find themselves rising up the ranks, but his availability remains the biggest X-factor.</li>
<li> Golden State Warriors The Warriors are clinging to their championship window with Stephen Curry still playing at an elite level. The addition of capable veterans in Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, and DeAnthony Melton gives them depth and personnel that can play in their offense to surround the core of Curry and Draymond Green for their foundation. Health and age are concerns, but if their veterans stay intact, Golden State can&rsquo;t be counted out.</li>
<li> Sacramento Kings The Kings struggled a bit last season after making their long-awaited playoff return two seasons ago, and they&rsquo;re looking to build on that momentum. They have signed DeMar DeRozan and he should bring a new wrinkle to their motion and three-hunting offense. DeRozan&rsquo;s mid range ability should be a welcome addition to Sacramento&rsquo;s offense. De&rsquo;Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis still lead an explosive offense, but defense remains a question mark. Sacramento&rsquo;s high-flying, fast-paced style makes them a regular-season juggernaut, but they&rsquo;ll need to tighten up defensively if they want to make a deep playoff run.</li>
<li> Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers are counting on LeBron James and Anthony Davis staying healthy for a full season. With the front office standing pat on making moves this offseason, the Lakers&rsquo; success will hinge on their superstar duo. If LeBron and AD can avoid injury, Los Angeles will be a formidable playoff team, but health is always a looming concern with this group.</li>
<li> Houston Rockets The Rockets added veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to guide their young core last season and this season could be the time for them to step up. They finished strong last year behind defensive minded coach Ime Udoka and the result could be a team that surprises many. Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun have star potential, and younger players Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson add even more excitement. The Rockets also drafted Reed Sheppard with the 3rd pick and Houston is hoping to lay the foundation for success and could push for a Play-In spot this season.</li>
<li> San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama enters his second season, and the Spurs are fully embracing their rebuild around the budding star. While Wembanyama showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, San Antonio is still in the development phase. But with the addition of Chris Paul, the Spurs now have a capable PG to feed Wemby and the other guys, possibly unlocking a new level to their games. With their young core, the Spurs may not be a playoff team yet, but their future looks incredibly bright with Wembanyama leading the way.</li>
<li> Los Angeles Clippers The Clippers&rsquo; fortunes rest on the health of Kawhi Leonard&mdash;again. After losing Paul George for nothing, Leonard is left to fend LA off by himself in their new arena at Intuit Dome. Gone are the days when LA has the talent to compete with anyone as they&rsquo;re just but a shell of themselves. Leading the way for the injured Leonard will be a 34-year-old James Harden and that might be too much to ask of the aging superstar. However, if Kawhi can return healthy and he can avoid the injury bug, the Clippers will be in the playoff mix, but that&rsquo;s a big &ldquo;if&rdquo; for this squad.</li>
<li> Portland Trail Blazers With Damian Lillard long gone, the Blazers will fully commit another season to their rebuild. Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe form a promising young core, but Portland will likely spend this season focusing on player development. While they won&rsquo;t be in playoff contention, the Blazers are positioning themselves well for the future, with an eye on growth and improvement.</li>
<li> Utah Jazz The Jazz are continuing their rebuild, with Lauri Markkanen emerging as a cornerstone player. While they have some intriguing young pieces like Taylor Hendricks and Keyonte George, Utah isn&rsquo;t ready to compete just yet. This season will be about development and finding which young players can be part of their long-term plans. The Jazz may not win many games this year, but they&rsquo;re building toward a brighter future.</li>
</ol>

Let’s break down the top 15 teams in the West as we head into this thrilling new season.

2024-2025 NBA Western Conference Power Rankings: A race at the top to start the year

The NBA is back.&nbsp;
With the league&rsquo;s annual &lsquo;Day&rsquo; 1 getting underway, all 30 teams have resumed their daily basketball activities. Starting from the Media Day to each of their training camps, players are slowly ramping up as they work to get back in game shape.
For some of these familiar faces, however, a new season awaits them as they&rsquo;re looking for a fresh start in new environments and places. Let&rsquo;s take a look at these players and their potential fits next to their new teams and teammates.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook rocks new threads with Denver&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook starts a new season with the 2023 champions after his stint with the Clippers. Westbrook aims to bring the energy to a Nuggets squad losing another championship piece in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He slots in immediately as Denver&rsquo;s backup PG with the loss of Reggie Jackson, and the team could also use him to play with the starters and let Jamal Murray slide into the 2 spot. Westbrook will also be teaming up with fellow triple-double savant Nikola Jokic and it will be interesting to see two high-IQ players together on the court.
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New beginnings for <a href="https://twitter.com/russwest44?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@russwest44</a> 😈<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> <a href="https://t.co/Wew6JRNNXm">pic.twitter.com/Wew6JRNNXm</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1839352986826387752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></blockquote>

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PG13 creates a big three with Embiid and Maxey
Perhaps the biggest signing in the offseason, George immediately slides in with the Sixers to form a big three with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. At 34 years old, PG probably has a good 3 years left in his prime, but he could be in a perfect situation with Embiid and Maxey at their absolute peaks. George is in a position where he&rsquo;s not asked to shoulder much of the offensive load like he did most of the time in his career, and he can play to his strengths &mdash; a two-play wing player with some playmaking chops and be a secondary creator and scorer to Maxey and Embiid. George is also a very good three-point shooter on spot-up and catch-and-shoot attempts and should bode well for both Sixers superstars by spacing the floor for them. Overall an A+ signing by Sixers GM Daryl Morey, and now it all hinges on health as Philly tries to pull it up all together to finally make a Conference Finals in the Embiid era.
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PG in Philly! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/jmSInGKf5L">pic.twitter.com/jmSInGKf5L</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840916610644582775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>

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A new Philadelphia trio... 🔥 Maxey. Embiid. George.<a href="https://twitter.com/sixers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sixers</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/wjlclZdnhx">pic.twitter.com/wjlclZdnhx</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840803293473230955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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CP3 in San Antonio as Wemby&rsquo;s PG; Harrison Barnes being a veteran piece in a young Spurs team
Victor Wembanyama finally gets his premier PG in Chris Paul. After playing most of last year not having a legitimate table setter, Wemby, and the Spurs add one of the greatest to ever do it at the position. Even approaching 40 years old, Paul should have a lot left in his tank to try and develop as much as possible the young yet hungry Spurs. On the other hand, Barnes adds another veteran piece as San Antonio looks to improve and at least make the play-in this season.
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WEMBY x CP3 🔥 BIG smiles in San Antonio at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> 😇 <a href="https://t.co/PbV71PCH0c">pic.twitter.com/PbV71PCH0c</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840815076485259469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Wemby &amp; CP3 enjoying <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/rSdwmMIx1m">pic.twitter.com/rSdwmMIx1m</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840801831577895224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Caruso, Hartenstein add more defensive toughness to an already elite OKC squad
Imagine having to add two role players that star in their role to a team that just finished atop the conference a season ago, all without losing someone significant from that core. That&rsquo;s exactly what the Oklahoma City Thunder did by adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein into their fold. The move stamped their status even further atop the West with rising stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren getting better over the year and still having MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just starting his prime. Caruso adds yet another defensive bull on the perimeter that already features fellow All-Defensive player Lu Dort, while Hartenstein brings versatility in the frontcourt to possibly play together with Holmgren. The Thunder are poised yet again to make a deep playoff run and it all starts with their offseason acquisitions and their fit into the team.&nbsp;
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Alex Caruso very complimentary of his new backcourt mate, SGA! 🤞<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rdxt7r5dQu">pic.twitter.com/Rdxt7r5dQu</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840867849797022103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Klay splashing and spacing the floor for Luka, Mavs
The other Splash brother brings his act to Dallas after spending his first 13 years with the franchise. Thompson immediately fills a need in Dallas to help space the floor and be a decoy for Luka Doncic as he makes plays on the court. At his age, Thompson won&rsquo;t be asked too much like he did in Golden State and this could be a rejuvenation for his career as he finds a new environment with the Mavericks.&nbsp;
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No. 31 from the Dallas Mavericks... Klay Thompson 🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/e4M8lNtvQL">pic.twitter.com/e4M8lNtvQL</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840858008794120481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Klay Thompson... NEW BEGINNINGS 🫵<a href="https://twitter.com/dallasmavs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallasmavs</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/YX9CX1preR">pic.twitter.com/YX9CX1preR</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840806814956265762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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DeMar DeRozan as the final piece to Sacramento&rsquo;s playoff success
DeRozan comes into the Kings&rsquo; lair as one of the most clutch players in the league, and he will play alongside a player of the same caliber in DeAaron Fox. It will be interesting to see how DeRozan&rsquo;s playstyle fits into the Kings&rsquo; offense with their motion offense built on three-point shooting with Domantas Sabonis as the hub, and it will be a good problem how coach Mike Brown integrates him to play a certain kind of way. The Kings are one of the up-and-coming teams in the West and adding a player like DeRozan gives them a different dimension to their offense.&nbsp;
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DeMar DeRozan looking good in his new threads 😎<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/uPYTeKvUBE">pic.twitter.com/uPYTeKvUBE</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1841107569399480506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>

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New trio in Sacramento 👑<a href="https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SacramentoKings</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/HfnZMmz317">pic.twitter.com/HfnZMmz317</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1841108008769630523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Dejounte Murray, Tyus Jones to solve PG issues in NOLA, PHX
Two teams that have had PG issues last season have finally addressed it by signing two of the quality PGs in the league today: Murray to the Pelicans and Jones to the Suns. Murray slots in as the Pelicans&rsquo; main shot creator, playmaker, and closer. This has been a significant hole for the Pelicans last season, especially in the playoffs when no one other than CJ McCollum (who&rsquo;s getting old) and Brandon Ingram create shots and make plays. Murray immediately comes in and fills this gap and with a returning Zion Williamson, the Pelicans are coming into the season very optimistic about their playoff chances.
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Fresh start heading into Year 8 🤲<a href="https://twitter.com/DejounteMurray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DejounteMurray</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/j3W5D0GFoM">pic.twitter.com/j3W5D0GFoM</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840852492168675766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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New threads for <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PelicansNBA</a> new PG 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/DejounteMurray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DejounteMurray</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/kgIxpGqxkG">pic.twitter.com/kgIxpGqxkG</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840807569150837091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Jones on the other hand also fills the immediate need of a PG, someone who can make plays for others without turning the ball over. Jones has been one of the best if not the best assist-to-turnover ratio guys in the league, and with how Phoenix&rsquo;s roster is constructed, this allows their super scoring big three Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant to do their thing and focus on what they do best. Jones comes in to settle these guys down and put them in the best positions to succeed.&nbsp;
Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson bring veteran savvy and immediate positional needs to Golden State
Some key veteran additions to the Warriors are Hield and Anderson as they continue to beef up their roster around superstar Stephen Curry. Hield will try to replace the production of Klay Thompson after his departure with his deadeye shooting and spacing the floor for Curry. Hield has also been a good off-ball mover and that should bode well for Golden State&rsquo;s offense. Anderson meanwhile, brings his big forward, almost a center playing style to the Warriors and should fit instantly like a Draymond Green clone. Anderson has the playmaking chops and the basketball IQ to seamlessly play in Kerr&rsquo;s system and is a player who seems to understand how to play with and off of the skillset of a player like Curry.&nbsp;
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Welcome to The Bay, Buddy! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAMediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAMediaDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/ruEDkg7ayU">pic.twitter.com/ruEDkg7ayU</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1840924339090100682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Prince-Trent-Wright trio come to Milwaukee to win
Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr., and Delon Wright have all signed up for a little under than what they were supposed to make and signed with the Bucks for a chance to contribute to a championship contender. All three are exactly what the Bucks need in their scheme of things as they&rsquo;re expected to bring shooting, spacing, and tough perimeter defenders. It&rsquo;s expected that Milwaukee&rsquo;s offense will revolve around superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard so there will be little expectations on these guys to do more and they can just focus on what they do best as role players in the league.

A new season awaits familiar faces in new places. Let’s take a look at them and their potential fits next to their new teams and teammates.

Familiar faces in new places: NBA players’ new home to start the season

Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry has long established himself as the greatest shooter in the history of the game. With his numerous three-point shooting records along with his three-point makes that still stretch to date, Curry is the undisputed GOAT shooter. 
However, Curry is more than just a shooter, as evidenced with the several accolades he has amassed over his colorful career. Curry has 4 NBA titles, 1 Finals MVP, 2 season MVPs, and countless all-NBA and all-star teams. This summer, Curry completed perhaps the last award he has yet to get in his illustrious career &ndash; an Olympic Gold Medal. Steph and Team USA made history when they went to Paris and captured the nation&rsquo;s 5th straight gold.
It did not come easy, though. Despite being favored in their games, the Americans were tested multiple times throughout the tournament. The toughest one came in the medal rounds when Team USA faced Serbia in the semifinals and hosted France in the gold medal game. For both of those games, it was Curry who came through the most, carrying the Americans behind his back. Against Serbia, Steph scored 36 points, making 9 threes in the game as Team USA eked out a tough 95-91 comeback win. In the gold medal game, Curry cemented his legacy and created a memorable moment that would be remembered for generations to come.
Steph hit 4 three-pointers to end the game in front of a stunned French crowd at the Bercy Arena in Paris, then proceeded to hit his signature &lsquo;night night&rsquo; celebration after hitting the last of the 4 threes over the outstretched arms of Nico Batum and Evan Fournier. This left the world in awe of Curry&rsquo;s brilliance and ability to come up big in clutch situations.&nbsp;
One of those people who marveled at Steph&rsquo;s greatness is former NBA player CJ Miles. In an interview with <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/nba-veteran-cj-miles-reacts-to-team-usa-olympics-gold">RG.org&rsquo;s Alex Kennedy</a>, Miles mentioned Curry&rsquo;s performance as wild and Stephortless. Miles even went further as to say Curry&rsquo;s place being one of the all-time greats and one of the greatest of all-time and not just being the greatest shooter of all time.
&ldquo;Steph just continues to solidify who is the greatest shooter of all time [and] what&rsquo;s crazy is as he continues to make that gap even bigger, he places himself in the realm of best players ever,&rdquo; Miles said. &ldquo;I think players see him that way, but the narrative is never that when we talk about him.&rdquo;
Miles also praised the longevity of LeBron James in his exclusive interview with Kennedy. He says James&rsquo; ability to stay in shape speaks to the power of his mind. James, who is approaching 40 years old this year later in December and going onto his 22nd season in the NBA, was named the FIBA Olympic MVP after providing the all-around brilliance game by game for Team USA. &ldquo;As far as LeBron goes, [his longevity] is incredible. I think it just really speaks to the power of his mind,&rdquo; Miles said. &ldquo;We as people have a fascination with youth and we get bored with greatness because there is nothing left to figure out. I know I am getting 25, 8, and 8 from him [every game], and that&rsquo;s not exciting from a fan standpoint; they want entertainment, which is full of unpredictability.&rdquo;
Finally, Miles shared his thoughts on Team USA&rsquo;s LA2028 Olympic team, which could be without the three greatest players of this generation &ndash; Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.
&ldquo;As far as the future, Team USA is in great hands. Ant [Edwards], [Tyrese] Haliburton, [Jayson] Tatum. And the guys on this team playing small roles like [Devin] Booker and Bam [Adebayo] are capable of doing incredible things also,&rdquo; Miles explained.
&ldquo;And there are guys who will rise up in the next couple of years who are more than capable of being handed the keys.&rdquo;

Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has long established himself as the game's GOAT shooter. However, he is more than that.

Steph not just the GOAT shooter but one of the greatest players ever, says CJ Miles

The USA Men&rsquo;s National Basketball Team did not break a sweat as it dominated Brazil by 35 points, 122-87, to book a semifinals ticket at the 2024 Paris Olympics.&nbsp;
Team USA led from start to finish as they played their first game in Paris at the Bercy Arena after playing their first 3 group stage games 150 miles north of the French capital in Lille at the Pierre de Mauroy stadium. The Americans were welcomed by a sold-out crowd in Paris this time and did not disappoint.&nbsp;
Team USA unleashed a barrage of threes led by Devin Booker, who had 18 points with 5 threes made. Team USA also went up and ran the floor, causing havoc on the open floor with their vaunted defense to get some easy buckets on the other end.&nbsp;
Joel Embiid, a crowd favorite in Paris, played perhaps the best game in a Team USA jersey with 14 points including 3/3 from downtown. He scored on an and-one in the 2nd quarter and had fun time hyping up fans that were booing him, celebrating on a dx chop gesture made famous in the WWE.
LeBron James was his usual captain self as he manned the team with 12 points and a team high 9 assists. James went to the locker room in the 3rd quarter after getting hit inadvertently at the side of the head, and according to head coach Steve Kerr, needed four stitches. James ended up back on the bench in the 4th quarter as he watched his fellow Americans cruise to the victory.&nbsp;
Kevin Durant, Team USA&rsquo;s Captain America, made history by becoming the federation&rsquo;s all-time leading scorer in history both in men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s by scoring 11 points. He also had his 26th straight game of scoring 10 or more which is 2 more games off the mark of Pau Gasol, who has the record at 28 games straight.&nbsp;
Birthday boy Anthony Edwards who just turned 23 had himself a fun game, scoring 17 points and getting up the shots he wanted to take off the bench.&nbsp;
Everybody else played their role and this Team USA still looks invincible 4 games in, with possibly 2 more games to go before winning that coveted 5th straight Olympic gold medal.
Bruno Caboclo showed up for Brazil with 30 points on 13/20 shooting, which marked his 2nd straight game scoring 30 or more. Caboclo scored 33 points in their win vs Japan.
Up next for Team USA is a rematch with Serbia in the semifinals. Team USA notably beat the Serbians by 26 in group stage play, and Serbia should have something on their shoulders ahead of that colossal semis matchup for a chance to play for gold.

The USA Men’s National Basketball Team did not break a sweat as it dominated Brazil by 35 points, 122-87, to book a semifinals ticket.

Team USA dominates Brazil to book Olympics semis ticket

The USA Men&rsquo;s National Basketball Team continued to rack up wins in their Olympic journey, this time beating South Sudan, to go up 2-0 in pool play and secure their quarterfinal spot at the Pierre de Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France.&nbsp;
After a near scare in their USA Basketball Showcase Game in London where they just won by just a point, Team USA did not let up against this South Sudan team armed with length and shooting. The Americans used every bit of advantage that they have, including all the talent in the world to create separation from the rising South Sudanese. The win essentially made Team USA the top seeded team in Group C with one game to go against Puerto Rico.&nbsp;
The big storyline of this game however went to the benching of superstar center Joel Embiid, who did not see any minutes at all. When asked post-game what went to the decision, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr iterated the need to match up to South Sudan&rsquo;s quickness and length on the wings. Kerr started Anthony Davis in this game in place of Embiid then he put Jayson Tatum in the starting lineup after not playing him at all against Serbia. Tatum started the game in place of Jrue Holiday to go along with Steph Curry, Devin Booker, and LeBron James.&nbsp;
The move went so well as Team USA started off strong with its transition offense as well as an all-switching lineup on defense prevented South Sudan from creating any noteworthy advantages all game long. Team USA also hounded South Sudan&rsquo;s lead guard Carlik Jones who had a triple-double in the exhibition game they played in London.
Bam Adebayo top scored for the Americans with 18 points off the bench while also grabbing 7 rebounds. Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and LeBron James backed him up with 14, 13, and 12 points respectively.&nbsp;
According to ESPN&rsquo;s Brian Windhorst, this will not be the last time Steve Kerr is going to change his starting lineup as Team USA will continue to experiment and treat it as matchup-basis in determining the starters. Moreover, Windhorst says Embiid should be back in the starting lineup in Team USA&rsquo;s last game vs Puerto Rico.

The USA Men’s National Basketball Team continued to rack up wins in their Olympic journey, this time beating South Sudan.

Team USA goes up 2-0 in Group C after defeating South Sudan

The USA Men&rsquo;s National Basketball Team passed its second test after beating Australia, 98-92, in the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;
In part of their preparation for the Paris Olympics, Team USA looked to be in cruise control after leading by 20 over the Boomers. However, Australia unleashed a huge run in the 4th quarter, even cutting the lead down to just 4, 94-90, with 15 seconds to go.
Phoenix Suns&rsquo; superstar guard Devin Booker took over from there as he hit 4 clutch free throws to keep the rushing Australians at bay and win the game.
Anthony Davis once again had a double-double to lead the US with 17 points and 14 rebounds while Booker added 16 points of his own. Both came off the bench for the Steve Kerr-manned squad.
Main takeaways:
STEVE KERR PLAYING 4 GUARD LINEUP AT THE END
With Australia playing fast and wreaking havoc on the wings, Kerr opted for an interesting lineup to close the game with Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker all on the floor &ndash; a 4-guard lineup &ndash; alongside Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo. It could be argued that the lineup almost cost Team USA the game with the Boomers attacking the paint relentlessly against a relatively smaller Team USA lineup. However, it could also be argued on the other way that Kerr utilized the lineup to have more decision-makers on the floor, making reads, and moving the ball. Nonetheless, it was an interesting decision considering the personnel Kerr has at his disposal.&nbsp;
JOEL EMBIID GETTING ESTABLISHED ON OFFENSE
For the second straight game, no one from the opposing team could guard the NBA&rsquo;s MVP straight up. Joel Embiid had a better game vs Australia after fouling out vs Team Canada, scoring 10 points with 5 rebounds. He established his presence on the post, drawing out double teams. At times, Embiid attacked the man in front of him and scored twice on an and-ones. He also dished out assists to the open man when Australia came to double. Overall a good game from Embiid as Kerr has mentioned about Team USA wanting to establish the big man early on offense.&nbsp;

The USA Men’s National Basketball Team passed its second test after beating Australia, 98-92, in the USAB Showcase in Abu Dhabi.

Team USA defeats Australia in USA Basketball Showcase 98-92

Most Valuable Player recipient Nikola Jokic and his runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been named to the NBA&rsquo;s All-NBA First Team, the league announced Wednesday night.
Along with the all-rookie and all-defensive teams, all-NBA teams are also now positionless.
Jokic and SGA were the only unanimous awardees to make the First Team, garnering all 99 1st-place votes.
Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic fell short of achieving the same feat after a voter voted him 2nd team to finish with just 98 1st place votes.
Joining the three in the All-NBA first team are the Milwaukee Bucks&rsquo; Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boston Celtics&rsquo; Jayson Tatum.
Making up the All-NBA Second Team were Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves).
The third team consisted of Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings), and Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers).
This author listed and predicted his All-NBA teams in an <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/opinion-picking-the-20232024-nba-awards-winners">article</a> before the awards were given out and luckily enough all 15 players were picked albeit some in jumbled positions.
Check out the full results here:
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The 2023-24 All-NBA First Team ⬇️ ▪️ Giannis Antetokounmpo ▪️ Luka Dončić ▪️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ▪️ Nikola Jokic ▪️ Jayson Tatum <a href="https://t.co/Z2EFywwI5d">pic.twitter.com/Z2EFywwI5d</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1793430559026520373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2024</a></blockquote>

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The 2023-24 All-NBA Second Team⬇️ ▪️ Jalen Brunson ▪️ Anthony Davis ▪️ Kevin Durant ▪️ Anthony Edwards ▪️ Kawhi Leonard <a href="https://t.co/ttNKK7Rb2U">pic.twitter.com/ttNKK7Rb2U</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1793431441545867484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2024</a></blockquote>

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The 2023-24 All-NBA Third Team⬇️ ▪️ Devin Booker ▪️ Stephen Curry ▪️ Tyrese Haliburton ▪️ LeBron James ▪️ Domantas Sabonis <a href="https://t.co/BiWAcw9G9D">pic.twitter.com/BiWAcw9G9D</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1793431739660218433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2024</a></blockquote>

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MVP Nikola Jokic and runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been named to the All-NBA First Team, the NBA announced Wednesday.

2024 NBA All-NBA Teams: First, Second, and Third All-NBA Teams revealed

Just days after announcing that they are parting ways with Frank Vogel, the Phoenix Suns have announced they will be signing Mike Budenholzer to be their new head coach.
The Suns and Budenholzer reportedly agreed to a 5-year, $50 million deal <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1789060298638307690">according to The Athletic&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</a>
After just one season with the team, Phoenix now dismisses Frank Vogel after a disappointing 2023-2024 season. The Suns finished 6th seed in the West with a 49-33 record but got swept in the first round, 4-0, by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now, Phoenix pivots into a tactician on the sidelines to call the shots for their superstar trio Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant.
Budenholzer, a two-time Coach of the Year winner with the Milwaukee Bucks, will take over the team immediately to try and reform its identity. Budenholzer has been known as a very solid offensive coach and it will be interesting to see how he tinkers with all the firepower at his disposal.&nbsp;

After announcing that they are parting ways with coach Frank Vogel, the Suns have announced they will be signing Mike Budenholzer.

After firing Frank Vogel, Phoenix Suns sign Mike Budenholzer as head coach

As the Phoenix Suns fell into a 0-2 hole against the Minnesota Timberwolves, star guard Devin Booker remains steadfast as their team faces an uphill climb from here on out.
Booker only scored 20 points on 6-13 shooting and ended up fouling out of the game as the Wolves put up the finishing touches of their 105-93 Game 2 win.
The 6-foot-6 guard has struggled over his last four meetings with the Wolves dating back to the regular season and these past two playoff games, scoring just 13, 23, 18, and 20. He never scored more than 23, and just shot only 35 percent from the floor and 20-57 overall.&nbsp;
"It's obviously something I need to be better with," Booker said as he finished Game 2 with six turnovers and fouled out with 20 points.&nbsp;
The Suns, despite some good stretches here and there, kind of have been caught up with the Timberwolves&rsquo; runs in the third quarter of both games, getting buried amidst the adversity of playing on the road.
&ldquo;(This) is when you have to be as close as ever,&rdquo; Booker said. &ldquo;In a hostile environment. On the road. Just talk your way through it. Hold each other accountable. Have honest conversations and understand it&rsquo;s for the best of the team.&rdquo;
Among the issues the Suns faced in both games, apart from the usual takes from naysayers about the need to have a real point guard around their big three &ndash; are them only taking 18 three-point shot attempts all game. In the year 2024, that just cannot happen.&nbsp;
Teams have to keep the defenses honest, and against this stifling Wolves defense which can adapt to any situation, being predictable with most of their shots taken in the midrange and inside the paint is giving Minnesota the unlikely advantage of knowing what&rsquo;s coming and being able to prepare for it defensively. The Suns have to incorporate additional offensive sets, particularly to take more threes, stretch out the defense, and in turn open up the paint more and give space for their three creators to make plays.
"My frustration is just within the team. We need to execute. We play well when we're playing and then we need to stick together once things turn bad. We've done that throughout the season. Something that has to be corrected."
It does not help with the NBA&rsquo;s best three-point shooter Grayson Allen being out with an ankle injury, but that does make the Suns all the more to have to shoot those threes to compensate for Allen&rsquo;s production. For a player of Booker&rsquo;s caliber &ndash; All-Star, All-NBA, a top 10 scorer in the league, having that kind of performance is just unacceptable. The Suns won&rsquo;t be able to win with that kind of production from him, and he needs to step up and provide more.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re all trying to fight out there, and so far in this series, once it&rsquo;s turned to s&mdash;, we&rsquo;ve kind of separated instead of being together,&rsquo;&rsquo; Booker said. &ldquo;And that&rsquo;s everybody, top to bottom. It&rsquo;s something we got to figure out.&rdquo;
A huge chunk of the credit should be given to the Timberwolves&rsquo; defense as well, which is as good as anybody has seen in 20 years. Tenacious, swarming &ndash; it just comes right at you all at once. Booker alongside his co-stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have struggled against it for two games but now they have to make the adjustments as the series shifts to Phoenix.
Minnesota took care of their home court. Now it&rsquo;s up to Booker and the Suns to do the same in theirs.
&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t count us out. It&rsquo;s a series for a reason.&rdquo;

As the Suns fell into a 0-2 hole against the Timberwolves, Devin Booker remains steadfast as they face an upcoming uphill climb.

2024 NBA Playoffs: Suns’ Devin Booker remains optimistic despite struggles vs Timberwolves

Day 4 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs saw the away teams finally win on the road. The Indiana Pacers and the Dallas Mavericks took care of business to steal one vs the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers to tie their respective series at 1-1. The Minnesota Timberwolves, on the other hand, were able to protect their home court going into Phoenix with a big game 2 win.&nbsp;
Check out the recap here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FINAL SCORE THREAD 🧵<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> - Game 2 🏀 PHX 93-105 MIN | Timberwolves lead series 2-0 Jaden McDaniels 📊 25 PTS | 10-17 FG | 50% 3P | 8 REB Rudy Gobert 📊 18 PTS | 6-8 FG | 9 REB | 3 STL Devin Booker 📊 20 PTS | 6-13 FG | 5 AST | 2 STL <a href="https://t.co/nLcHGP7DZ0">pic.twitter.com/nLcHGP7DZ0</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1782962951852560439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> - Game 2 🏀 IND 125 - 108 MIL | Series tied 1-1 Pascal Siakam 📊 37 PTS | 16-23 FG | 11 REB | 7 AST Damian Lillard 📊 34 PTS | 10-21 FG | 6-13 3P | 5 AST <a href="https://t.co/W0UvJVs9QY">pic.twitter.com/W0UvJVs9QY</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1782972290839539749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> - Game 2 🏀 LAC 93 - 96 DAL | Series tied 1-1 Luka Dončić 📊 32 PTS | 11-26 FG | 9 AST | 6 REB Kyrie Irving 📊 23 PTS | 4-8 3P | 6 REB | 3 STL James Harden 📊 22 PTS | 6-14 FG | 8 AST | 6 REB <a href="https://t.co/3FjwAz9ixB">pic.twitter.com/3FjwAz9ixB</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1782997352363823243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a>
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</blockquote>

Day 4 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs saw the away teams finally win on the road.

2024 NBA Playoffs Day 4 Recap: Indiana, Dallas inflict damage to Milwaukee, LA

This article is part of a two-part series preview for the upcoming 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs.
With the 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs starting, all eyes will be on all teams competing for the championship as fans and players look on for a taste of postseason action. As eight playoff teams in each conference gear up for what promises to be an intense battle for the title, each team faces its own set of unique challenges. In this article, we take a closer look at the biggest question facing each Western Conference team heading into the playoffs, from injuries and roster changes to key matchups and strategic decisions.
<h3>Oklahoma City Thunder - How far can their youth and inexperience take them in the playoffs?</h3>
The Thunder got away through the regular season with historic from MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous Alexander, an impressive rookie season by Chet Holmgren, a star sophomore leap by Jalen Williams, and a coaching masterclass in a genius coach Mark Daigneault.
However, the playoffs as we know it is a different beast &ndash; will Mark Daigneault be able to sustain the good coaching he has done with his team throughout this regular season?
How much of this youth and inexperience be a factor for them to advance deeper in the playoffs; will they be able to use it to their advantage? Or will it be a hindrance against other experienced teams when they face each other in these tight situations? Most of the time, these situations require patience and discipline &ndash; teams with playoff experience have shown over time and have done it time and time again on their way to a deep playoff run.
<h3>Denver Nuggets - Can they go back to back?</h3>
There&rsquo;s really no other question for a team like the Nuggets at the peak of their powers: Can they win back-to-back titles? There has not been a back-to-back champion in the NBA for the past 5 years, with the last one coming in 2017 and 2018 when the Warriors won it all.
Like Boston, it is a title or bust status with Denver as of now. They have been fairly healthy throughout the regular season, have a mostly intact roster that won it all last year, and have the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic in his absolute prime. Denver this year has again all the necessary pieces to win &ndash; the right amount of shooters, defensive guys, scoring in the paint &ndash; which are all the makings of a championship team.
A couple of questionable factors though would be how much of an impact the loss of Bruce Brown would have in these playoffs. Brown was arguably the 5th, or 4th best player in their championship run last year &ndash; maybe even the 3rd in some games. He was essential on offense and defense, guarding the opponent&rsquo;s best perimeter threats while providing off-ball scoring and cuts that fit perfectly with Jokic.
Second, they&rsquo;ll be facing championship-caliber teams with hunger and drive to defeat them, and all have been competitive with the Nuggets this season. The Lakers, although the Nuggets swept them last year in the Western Conference Finals, still have LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and they won&rsquo;t take that lightly &ndash; likely coming back with a vengeance.
The Suns have won the season series with the Nuggets 2-1 and they pose a threat to the Nuggets with their formula of having three elite shotmakers that can explode anytime &ndash; which the Nuggets may not cover all at the same time.&nbsp; The Wolves, who perhaps have the best lineup suited to defeat them, are lurking in the same bracket waiting to pounce on them at sight.&nbsp;
These are all challenges a defending champion must go through to achieve a rare feat because the playoffs are supposed to be hard.
<h3>Minnesota Timberwolves -&nbsp; Will they finally break through after years of heartbreak?</h3>
This has already been a win of a season for the Timberwolves, achieving their second most wins in franchise history (56) since 2004 when they won 58 wins and reached the conference finals.
However, this has not stopped them from wanting more, and the wolfpack is not satisfied nor contented with just this achievement &ndash; they want more.
Minnesota wanting to go win that first playoff series like a hungry pack of wolves has been evident since trading for 3-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Although they fell short last season due to untimely injuries to key players, the Wolves ran it back and have proven their little experiment with two bigs in star Karl Anthony Towns and Gobert would work.&nbsp;
Led by their resurgent young superstar Anthony Edwards equipped with the best defense in the league, Minnesota certainly hopes this team would be the one &ndash; the one to end the longest playoff series win droughts in the league for quite some time now.
<h3>Los Angeles Clippers - Will they be able to meet the expectations this time around?</h3>
The Clippers trading for James Harden signaled one thing for the franchise: They are going all in with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and surrounding them with all the help they can get. They are far from a perfect team, but the Clippers want to have the best possible results this season before transferring to their new arena next year.
The Clippers have only appeared in the conference finals once in the Leonard-George era after being plagued by several injuries during their different playoff runs. Due to that, people haven&rsquo;t been able to see what the team is capable of when their two stars are fully healthy in a playoff run.
However, this year might just be their year. Their core of Harden, George, and Leonard have been mostly healthy all season long. The front office has also surrounded them with complementary pieces to help them win. LA now has usable bigs in Zubac, Plumlee, and Theis; they have Terrance Mann as their designated stopper; Norman Powell being the sixth man off the bench microwave scorer; a 3-and-D wing in Amir Coffe; and Russell Westbrook as the spark plug that gives them the boost and the energy off the bench.
After being just the &lsquo;second team in LA&rsquo; and &lsquo;that other team in LA&rsquo; for years, the Clippers aim to prove the doubters wrong and change the perception that surrounds the team as they pivot into a new era of Clippers basketball.&nbsp;
<h3>Dallas Mavericks - Will Luka finally fulfill the promise he has been showing so far in his career?</h3>
Throughout his young NBA career, Luka Doncic has had one of the best starts since LeBron James statistically. He has been in constant range of breaking or matching LeBron&rsquo;s records in points scored, triple-doubles, assists, and rebounds. However, this has not always translated into wins with Doncic just appearing in just one conference finals in the first six years of his career. But that might change this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;
This year, the Mavericks have put up arguably the best roster on paper that Luka has had in his career &ndash; arguably even better than the 2022 team that made the conference finals.
Alongside Doncic&rsquo;s MVP act is a true partner in crime in Kyrie Irving; shot-blocking and rim-rolling vertical threats in Daniel Gafford and Lively; rugged forwards that can shoot in PJ Washington, Dante Exum, Josh Green, and Derrick Jones; a microwave off-the-bench scorer in Tim Hardaway Jr; and veteran bigs that have been in Dallas for quite some time now and you can count on in always with Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell.
Can Luka finally overcome the Clippers? This season was one for the books with an MVP caliber and worthy year by averaging close to 34 points a game with 9 rebounds and 9 assists per game. Doncic has taken his game to another level in the regular season &ndash; this time, can he take his playoff game to another level as well?
All great young players have to go through someone as the stepping stone to reach newer heights &ndash; and Luka has lost to this Kawhi Leonard and Paul George-led Clippers team twice already in his career in the playoffs.
LeBron had to go through the Celtics, Jordan had to go through the Pistons. Could it be Luka&rsquo;s turn to get through this Clippers team that has tormented him for two playoff series?
<h3>Phoenix Suns - Will this new formula take them over the top?</h3>
The Suns have experienced substantial playoff success over the past three years by having a Finals appearance and reaching the conference semifinals twice. However, those groups fell short, with the feeling of something lacking or something missing that could take them over the top.
So lo and behold, Phoenix scrapped it and took a different approach this season &ndash; ditching the point guard spot and getting a rugged and physical big that could set screens and not demand the ball much on offense.
In its place came through as the Suns traded for Bradley Beal &ndash; going with a new formula by having three shot creators and shotmakers on the floor at the same time &ndash; pairing him with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. They also traded away former no.1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton for Jusuf Nurkic, a wide-bodied center whose job is to set screens, rebound, and get their three creators open in the lane or for jump shots.
They added an elite shooter in Grayson Allen to space the floor alongside those three, or sometimes Royce O&rsquo;Neale comes in for more defense against the opposing perimeter threats.
The Suns&rsquo; new approach and formula to the game make it incredibly hard to defend because you have to have three elite defenders to contain those three shot-creators, who can explode and get buckets at any point in the game. Although their defense is still suspect at times, the main point of this lineup is not to outscore &ndash; but to out-create teams and have a variety of options to dissect and defeat defenses.
If this new strategy works and could take the Suns to the promised land in these playoffs remains to be seen.
<h3>Los Angeles Lakers - Will they have enough this time around?</h3>
Despite a strong run to the Western Conference Finals as a 7th seed, the Lakers fell short last year vs the Nuggets after being swept 4-0. Throughout the season, the Nuggets&rsquo; dominance of the purple and gold continued, and now they have lost eight straight games against this Denver team.&nbsp;
However, there is optimism that the Lakers will turn it around and have a different result vs the Nuggets. Superstar LeBron James, even at 39 years old, looks to prove that he still has something left in the tank. Although they got outplayed and outcoached last in that series by the Nuggets, James can make those adjustments being the cerebral and high IQ player that he is.
James is perhaps one of the best if not the best tactically sound players of all time, so it would make sense &ndash; if they were to defeat Denver, he needs to be able to outsmart Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets this time around. Superstar tandem Anthony Davis will also be vital to the series having to defend the &lsquo;Joker&rsquo; and producing buckets himself.
The Lakers will also feature some new bench pieces this year that could be difference makers in the series Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Gabe Vincent, all of whom could defend and hit those spot-up threes if needed.
Then there&rsquo;s a hungry D&rsquo;Angelo Russell who had a bad series vs Denver last year raring to bounce back along with an always-solid Austin Reaves to be the stabilizer.
<h3>Pelicans - How will they fare without Zion Williamson?</h3>
The New Orleans Pelicans start and end with their young star Zion Williamson. After going out with what is to be believed a left hamstring strain, everything now hinges on his health.&nbsp;
The Pelicans obviously need him no matter what and whether or not he&rsquo;s healthy for their first-round series vs the Thunder will likely be the answer if they win it or not.
We&rsquo;ve seen what Williamson is capable of doing, scoring 40 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in his first taste of postseason action in their play-in game vs the Lakers. The burly forward bullied the Lakers&rsquo; defense and he showed his once generational type of body and scoring prowess come together after finally being healthy for a full season in his five years in the NBA.
New Orleans has fallen short a lot of times in the playoffs, either failing to make it or to win a series, and it is clear that Zion is the difference that separates them from winning or losing a playoff series.

s eight playoff teams in each conference gear up for what promises to be an intense battle for the title, each team faces its own set of unique challenges.

2024 Western Conference Playoffs: Each team’s biggest question heading into the playoffs

Views are the author&rsquo;s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the website.
The 2023-2024 NBA season has wrapped up and the race for the league&rsquo;s annual awards has officially ended. Here&rsquo;s a look at my picks of the NBA's award winners.
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
(Runner-ups: Coby White, Jalen Johnson)
Notes: In the end, Tyrese Maxey takes the award with the amount of burden and responsibility in a Philadelphia team reeling from the loss of James Harden to become a true No. 2 option behind reigning MVP Joel Embiid. White improved a lot this year, increasing his averages both numbers and his shooting percentages. Johnson, like White, has also increased his usage and averages by a lot, featuring as the third option behind DeJounte Murray and Trae Young, or even as the second option without one of those two. A jumbo playmaking forward, Johnson showed improvements in his playmaking as well as his ability to score and had increased numbers in shooting as well. Ultimately, Maxey wins this award out because he was a guy who increased his usage and his role while playing most of the season without Embiid.
Sixth Man of the Year: Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
(Runner-ups: Malik Monk, Bobby Portis)
Notes: Naz Reid has been the best player off the bench this season with the way he has been an offensive spark plug for the Timberwolves this season. He&rsquo;s had a phenomenal season, and he had to start and fill in for Karl-Anthony Towns when he went down while still being an efficient scorer as he is. If you factor in all the stuff for these awards, you could actually make a case for Monk, for Portis, maybe even guys like Norman Powell for the Clippers and Bogdan Bogdanovic for the Hawks. But with Minnesota going 56-26 and having the second most wins in franchise history &ndash; ultimately ending up atop the three best teams in the West, this gives a little bit of boost to Naz Reid due to his importance to the team.
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
(Runner-ups: Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis; Honorable mention: Bam Adebayo)
Notes: One of the hardest awards to figure out. Minnesota had the best defense in the league for a reason, and based on that Rudy Gobert would be a deserving winner of the award. When he&rsquo;s off the floor, the team does not perform defensively the way it does when Gobert is on the floor. This was hard because Wembanyama had a legitimate case, being the generational defender that he was. Davis also had a strong case with how he carried single-handedly the Lakers&rsquo; defense, while Adebayo had the immense burden of playing all the defensive schemes in Miami. Ultimately, it ended up with Gobert with the way he lifted a good defensive team to the best in the league, manning that paint and being that anchor that holds all of the pieces together.
All-Defensive Team:
1st Team - Rudy Gobert, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Herb Jones
2nd Team - Derrick White, Jalen Suggs, Jaden McDaniels, Alex Caruso, Jonathan Isaac
Notes: Starting this year, the NBA&rsquo;s All-NBA teams and defensive teams were positionless so I had to cheat a little bit here, putting 4 bigs in the 1st team. Gobert, Wembanyama, Davis, and Adebayo are no-brainers considering their defensive impact for each of their teams, while Jones takes the last spot in the 1st team for his ability to disrupt offenses as well as guarding each team&rsquo;s best player night in and night out for the Pelicans.&nbsp;
The second team features White (most blocks for a guard), Suggs and Isaac (best defensive players for the 4th best defense in the league, helping to lead the Magic back to the playoffs), McDaniels (best wing defender for the best defense in the league), and the perennial all-defense player Caruso who brings it in defensively every game.
Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
(Runner-up: Chet Holmgren)
Notes: Despite Holmgren having far and away the better team success, there&rsquo;s no denying Wembanyama&rsquo;s greatness in his rookie year. The French phenom has transcended the game both figuratively and on the eye test &ndash; he is simply a generational talent who is going to take over the league soon. Holmgren got off to a hot start in the first two months of the season but since January, Wembanyama has locked up the award for himself with out-of-the-world numbers for a rookie. He was dubbed as the best prospect since LeBron James and now he is well on his way to being one of the greatest of all time if he remains healthy after a historic rookie season.
All-Rookie Team:
1st Team - Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Miller, Jaime Jaquez Jr., GG Jackson
2nd Team - Ausar Thompson, Amen Thompson, Keyonte George, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis
Notes: There were several names to choose from here, and it felt hard to cut some of them here. Jordan Hawkins of the Pelicans has had a good start to the year when the team had all those injuries paving the way for him to play early into the season but has seen the bench since as NOLA got healthier and players came back; Cason Wallace had such a good shooting year off the bench for the No.1 seeded Thunder despite shooting being labeled by scouts as his biggest weakness coming into the NBA; Dereck Lively II being center that Luka Doncic needed and fit well with by catching all those lobs and helping the Mavs&rsquo; defense this season big time; No.2 overall pick Scoot Henderson had a good close to his rookie year.
All in all, these 10 rookies have felt like the best rookies in terms of production, opportunity, and narratives surrounding them. Of course, Wembanyama and Holmgren are automatic locks; Miller has been the best player in Charlotte without LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams; Jaquez is a vital piece off the bench for Erik Spoelstra&rsquo;s playoff-bound Heat team; and GG Jackson becoming a legit NBA scorer despite being the youngest player in the league to round out the first team.
The Thompson twins have just been defensive monsters ever since stepping foot in the league; George playing point guard at Utah has turned some heads and he has stepped up with the opportunity given to him; while Podziemski and Jackson-Davis have arguably been rotational pieces to the Warriors despite being rookies and has contributed a lot to them finding a way to fit in a complex team.
Coach of the Year: Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Runner-ups: Chris Finch, Jamahl Mosley)
Notes: There have been so many good coaches this season that have elevated their teams to good records, say Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets and Tom Thibodeau from the New York Knicks. But my Coach of the Year pick goes to Mark Daigneault of the OKC Thunder because this award tends to favor the expectations set for a team before the start of the season. The Thunder weren&rsquo;t supposed to be this good this season, but Daigneault catapulted them into one of the best teams not just in the West but the entire NBA. The evidence is written on the wall: No.1 in the West despite being the second youngest team in the league; having a top 5 ranking on both offense and defense and no.2 overall net rating. Finch and Mosley take the runner-up spots with the work they had to lift both the Timberwolves and the Magic to being top 4 seeds in their conferences as well as having top-rated defenses in the league.
Clutch Player of the Year: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Runner-ups: DeMar DeRozan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)
Notes: Another tough and close race, but ultimately it goes to Curry. Despite the Warriors&rsquo; so-so record, Curry had the most clutch time points, shot 50% from the field, and 46% from three in clutch time. Curry had the most threes than anyone in crunch time &ndash; being just the incredible clutch-time performer that he is &ndash; and always been.
All-NBA Team:
1st Team - Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum
2nd Team - Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James
3rd Team - Stephen Curry, Domantas Sabonis, Kawhi Leonard, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton
Notes: With Jalen Brunson carrying the Knicks to a second seed in the East playing without Julius Randle since January, it was incredibly hard to leave him off the 1st team. However, by the slightest of margins, I gave the nod to Tatum for being the best player on the best team in the league by a wide margin.
All the other picks were pretty explanatory, with the top 4 in the MVP race in Jokic, Doncic, SGA, and Giannis all expected to be first-teamers. The second team kind of got tougher besides Brunson, with legends Durant and James making the list because of the seasons they had leading their team as well as playing their most regular season game in years. Rounding out the second team were Edwards and Davis, two stars with the biggest impacts on their teams in the tough Western Conference.
The third team is actually a toss-up with a lot of good cases from the league all around, but ultimately I went with Curry, Sabonis, Leonard, Booker, and Haliburton.
Most Valuable Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&nbsp;
(Runners-up: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic; Honorable mention: Giannis Antetokounmpo)
Perhaps the closest race out of all the awards, all three players here are each deserving with their narratives and the numbers that support each of their cases. You can never go wrong picking one over the other, so it came down to personal opinion on who I thought had the strongest case this season. His case?
-Leading the second youngest team in the league to No.1 in the West
-3-1 series vs Denver
-3-1 series vs Dallas
-First player since Steph and MJ to average 30/5/5 in a season with 2+ steals
-Second in defensive net rating for guards
One could make the argument for Nikola Jokic being the best player in the world having better numbers than his two MVP seasons while Luka Doncic had one of the best seasons statistically in all facets of the game, but there&rsquo;s no denying SGA&rsquo;s strong case as well given the expectations for this young Thunder team.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is my MVP.

The 2023-2024 NBA season has wrapped up and the race for the league’s annual awards has officially ended.

OPINION: Picking the 2023-2024 NBA Awards winners

Let the world be warned: &lsquo;The Avengers&rsquo; are coming.
USA Basketball has officially unveiled its roster featuring several NBA superstars and this generation&rsquo;s best basketball players in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 12 players to be part of the exclusive list include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LeBron James</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stephen Curry</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kevin Durant</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kawhi Leonard</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Joel Embiid</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jayson Tatum</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Devin Booker</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jrue Holiday</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anthony Davis</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bam Adebayo</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anthony Edwards&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tyrese Haliburton</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Stars Align in the City of Light. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USABMNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USABMNT</a> <a href="https://t.co/RV1tIGoxXa">pic.twitter.com/RV1tIGoxXa</a>
&mdash; USA Basketball (@usabasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/usabasketball/status/1780604665505149074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2024</a>
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</blockquote>
Barring any unforeseen circumstances or injuries, these 12 men will be flying to Paris in July. Team USA officials headed by managing director Grant Hill have reportedly notified those players who have been selected (and those who have not) from the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/usa-basketball-announces-player-pool-for-team-usas-2024-mens-national-team">original 41-man pool</a> revealed earlier this year. Those selected have been visited by USAB officials to be presented with &lsquo;special Team USA Olympic jerseys.&rsquo;
Team USA is set to defend again its Olympic gold medal in men&rsquo;s basketball after winning it for the past 4 iterations of the quadrennial event.&nbsp;
Leading the team are James, Curry, and Durant, who are arguably the game&rsquo;s biggest stars over the past decade or so.
James will play in his 4th Olympics after winning bronze in Athens 2004 and gold in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Curry, a winner of two FIBA World Cup medals in the past, will be playing in his 1st Olympics. Durant, the Americans&rsquo; all-time leading scorer, is looking for his 4th Olympic gold medal (won in 2012, 2016, and 2020) to break a tie with Carmelo Anthony (won in 2008, 2012, and 2016) for the most ever.
Supplementing its three-headed monster are Tatum, Booker, and Holiday &ndash; members of the gold medal-winning squad in Tokyo 2021. Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who have never played in any international competition in their careers, will each be making their debuts in Paris.
Previous Olympic gold medal winners Davis and Adebayo add additional size to the roster while Edwards and Haliburton, who emerged as USA&rsquo;s best players in the World Cup last year, round out the team.
Coaching this vaunted USA roster is Curry&rsquo;s NBA coach Steve Kerr, who also coached Team USA in the World Cup.&nbsp;

USA Basketball announces its official roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics featuring the best the NBA has to offer.