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Scarlet Knights

The Boston Celtics were not supposed to be here.
Not after the night everything changed. Not after Jayson Tatum went down with a devastating Achilles tear in the second round against the New York Knicks. Not after watching their season unravel in real time, their title aspirations slipping away with each step he could no longer take.
They lost that series. More than that, they lost their centerpiece, their identity, and what many believed was their window.
For a franchise that has built itself on championship expectations, anything short of contention feels like failure. In that moment, the Celtics were staring at a future filled with uncertainty, questions that stretched far beyond a single postseason exit. How do you recover from losing a player who defines everything you do? How do you rebuild belief when the foundation itself has been shaken?
And yet, months later, Boston finds itself back in the conversation.
Not as the overwhelming favorite. Not as the juggernaut they once looked like. But as something perhaps more dangerous. A team that has endured, adapted, and discovered layers of itself that may not have surfaced otherwise.
Now, with Tatum on the verge of returning, the question shifts from survival to possibility.
Can the Celtics conquer the East once more?
<h3>A season that could have collapsed but did not</h3>
The expectation after Tatum&rsquo;s injury was simple. Boston would fall back.
It made sense. Tatum is not just an All-NBA talent. He is the system&rsquo;s gravitational force, the player who bends defenses, dictates matchups, and gives structure to everything the Celtics do on both ends. His presence alone simplifies decisions for everyone else on the floor. His absence complicates everything.
Remove that, and most teams crumble.
Boston did not.
Instead, Joe Mazzulla and his group leaned into what they had built over the years. The principles stayed intact. The spacing remained deliberate. The ball continued to move. The identity did not disappear, it evolved into something more collective and less predictable.
&ldquo;Mazzulla Ball&rdquo; lived on, not as a dependency on one star, but as a philosophy rooted in pace, decision-making, and trust. The Celtics doubled down on their spacing, leaned into quick reads, and emphasized shot quality over individual creation. In doing so, they forced opponents to guard actions rather than just players.
The Celtics became less predictable, more collective. They shifted from a top-heavy contender to a deep, resilient group that could win in different ways on different nights. Some nights it was their shooting. Other nights it was their defense. At times, it was simply their ability to execute late.
That shift did not just keep them afloat. It made them relevant again.
<h3>Jaylen Brown&rsquo;s ascent into superstardom</h3>
At the center of that transformation was Jaylen Brown.
There are moments in every franchise&rsquo;s timeline when a player is asked to step into something bigger than themselves. Brown did not just answer that call, he redefined his ceiling.
This was not simply a case of increased usage. This was evolution. Brown operated with control, patience, and purpose. His scoring expanded across all three levels. He attacked the rim with force, punished mismatches in the midrange, and improved his decision-making when defenses collapsed.
Just as important, his playmaking took a noticeable leap. Brown became more comfortable reading help defenders, making the extra pass, and keeping the offense flowing. That growth allowed Boston to maintain its structure even without its primary initiator.
Night after night, he carried the offensive burden. He embraced the defensive responsibility. He became the tone-setter for a team that needed stability.
What stood out most was not the numbers, although they were impressive enough to warrant MVP and All-NBA conversations. It was the consistency. The Celtics did not have the luxury of off nights from their primary option, and Brown rarely gave them one.
He also embraced the leadership aspect of the role. In huddles, in late-game situations, and in moments of adversity, Brown&rsquo;s voice carried weight. That intangible shift matters just as much as any statistical leap.
In many ways, this season forced Boston to answer a long-standing question. Could Brown be the guy?
For stretches, he already has been.
<h3>The system holds, the depth emerges</h3>
Beyond Brown, Boston&rsquo;s ability to stay competitive came from its depth and continuity.
Derrick White became the connective tissue. His versatility allowed the Celtics to maintain structure on both ends. He defended across positions, facilitated the offense, and provided timely scoring without disrupting flow. White&rsquo;s ability to make the right play, regardless of role, made him indispensable.
Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser remained steady. Their shooting and floor spacing ensured that Boston&rsquo;s offensive identity did not collapse without Tatum. They played within their roles, understood their value, and delivered consistently.
Then came the emergence of youth.
Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonz&aacute;lez brought energy, length, and a willingness to contribute. They were not expected to be difference-makers this early, yet they carved out meaningful roles through effort and adaptability. Their development added another layer to Boston&rsquo;s identity, one built on internal growth rather than external dependence.
In the frontcourt, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza stepped into a difficult situation. Replacing the production and presence of departed veterans is never simple, but they provided size, rebounding, and interior presence when needed. They played with physicality and energy, which often set the tone early in games.
Boston also made a calculated move by bringing in Nikola Vučević. His skillset fit seamlessly into the system. A big who can space the floor, facilitate from the high post, and provide scoring in structured sets, Vučević gave the Celtics a different dimension offensively. His presence allowed Boston to maintain spacing while still having a reliable option inside.
All of it added up to something greater than expected.
A team that, on paper, lost too much. A team that, in reality, found enough.
<h3>The cost of change and the value of continuity</h3>
It is important to acknowledge what Boston no longer has.
Veteran anchors like Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porziņģis are no longer part of the equation. Their absence removed a layer of experience, defense, and versatility that once defined Boston&rsquo;s championship aspirations.
Holiday&rsquo;s point-of-attack defense, Horford&rsquo;s leadership and positional intelligence, and Porziņģis&rsquo; unique blend of size and shooting once gave Boston one of the most complete starting groups in the league.
In a different context, those losses would have been crippling.
But this season reframed the Celtics&rsquo; identity. It forced them to rely less on established names and more on internal growth. It tested their system, their culture, and their ability to adapt.
What remains is a group that understands how to play together, regardless of who is on the floor. There is a level of cohesion that comes from shared adversity, from navigating uncertainty together.
That may not show up in headlines, but it matters in the postseason, where execution and trust often decide outcomes.
<h3>The looming question at center</h3>
For all the positives, there are still questions. The most pressing one lies in the frontcourt.
Is Boston&rsquo;s center rotation enough to compete with the best in the East?
The conference still runs through teams with size, physicality, and interior dominance. Whether it is rebounding battles, rim protection, or half-court execution, the Celtics will be tested in ways they have not consistently faced during the regular season.
Queta and Garza have provided effort and production, while Vučević adds skill and spacing. But playoff basketball is about matchups and margins.
Against elite frontcourts, every possession matters. Defensive breakdowns are magnified. Second-chance opportunities become backbreaking. The ability to protect the rim without overhelping on the perimeter becomes critical.
Can they hold their ground against elite bigs? Can they protect the paint without compromising their perimeter defense? Can they rebound at a level that prevents second-chance opportunities?
These are not small questions. They are defining ones.
<h3>The return of Jayson Tatum</h3>
And then there is Tatum.
Everything Boston has done this season has been without him. Everything they hope to accomplish moving forward depends on him.
Returning from an Achilles injury is not just about availability. It is about trust. Trust in the body. Trust in movement. Trust in the ability to be the same player, or close enough to it, when it matters most.
There will be moments of adjustment. Timing will need to be rediscovered. Rhythm will need to be rebuilt. That is the natural process of returning from such an injury.
The Celtics do not need Tatum to be perfect immediately. They need him to be impactful. They need his presence, his scoring gravity, his defensive versatility, and his ability to elevate those around him.
His return changes the geometry of the floor. It shifts defensive priorities. It creates space for Brown, for White, for everyone else who has carried the load in his absence.
But it also introduces a new dynamic.
This is no longer solely Tatum&rsquo;s team in the way it once was. Brown has grown. The system has evolved. Roles have been established. Confidence has been built across the roster.
The challenge is not just reintegration. It is balance.
Can Tatum step back in without disrupting what has been built? Can the Celtics blend their pre-injury identity with the version that emerged in his absence? Can they find a rhythm where both Tatum and Brown operate at their best without sacrificing the collective flow?
If they can, Boston becomes something more than what it was before.
<h3>The psychological edge of survival</h3>
One aspect that cannot be ignored is the psychological impact of what Boston has endured.
This is a team that has already faced its breaking point. It has already experienced the loss of its best player and found a way to respond. That kind of experience builds a different level of confidence, one rooted in proof rather than belief.
When adversity hits in the playoffs, and it always does, the Celtics will not be navigating unfamiliar territory. They have already lived through it.
That matters in close games. It matters in hostile environments. It matters when momentum swings and pressure builds.
Teams that have been tested often respond differently than those that have not. Boston falls firmly into the former category.
<h3>A different kind of contender</h3>
The Celtics that could enter the playoffs are not the same team that started the season.
They are deeper in experience, even if younger in personnel. They are more adaptable, more resilient, and more aware of what it takes to win without relying on one player.
They have seen multiple versions of themselves. A team led by Brown. A team defined by its depth. A team built on system execution.
Now, they have the opportunity to add another version. One that includes Tatum.
That matters.
Playoff runs are rarely linear. They demand adjustments, resilience, and the ability to respond to adversity. Boston has already faced its adversity. It has already been forced to adjust.
Now, it has the chance to combine that experience with elite talent.
That combination is dangerous.
<h3>Can they conquer the East?</h3>
The Eastern Conference remains competitive. There are teams with continuity, teams with star power, and teams with fewer question marks.
Boston is not the cleanest contender. There are uncertainties around Tatum&rsquo;s form, the center rotation, and how everything fits together at the highest level.
But there is also upside.
If Tatum returns close to his peak, if Brown sustains his level, and if the supporting cast continues to play within the system, the Celtics have a pathway.
Not an easy one. Not a guaranteed one. But a real one.
What makes this version of Boston intriguing is not just its talent. It is its story.
This is a team that was supposed to fade. A team that lost its best player and kept going. A team that discovered its depth, redefined its identity, and stayed relevant when it had every reason not to.
Now, it stands at a different kind of crossroads.
The foundation is there. The momentum is real. The belief has been rebuilt.
All that remains is the final piece.
Jayson Tatum is coming back.
And with him, so are the Celtics&rsquo; biggest ambitions.

With Jayson Tatum coming back, can the Celtics win the East once more?

With Tatum back, can Celtics conquer the East once more?

The term &ldquo;3-and-D&rdquo; has long been one of the most valuable archetypes in modern basketball. It refers to players who can knock down the three-pointer consistently while also defending at a high level on the perimeter. The idea was never just about specialists who could only do one thing. True 3-and-D players were those who could space the floor offensively while also holding their ground defensively against elite scorers.
That role defined Danny Green&rsquo;s career.
Green built a reputation as one of the most reliable players in that mold. A three-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Lakers, he became known for his ability to stretch defenses with timely three-point shooting while also guarding the opposing team&rsquo;s best perimeter player.
During championship runs, Green&rsquo;s value often came from the balance he provided. Offensively, his shooting forced defenses to stay honest and opened space for star teammates to attack. Defensively, his discipline and positioning allowed him to take on difficult assignments without sacrificing team structure.
According to Green, players who truly excel in both areas have become less common.
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t see it as often as we used to,&rdquo; he said, reflecting on the classic definition of the 3-and-D role.
Green recently visited the Philippines as part of an initiative to support local partnerships and fan engagement in collaboration with NBA Store PH. During the visit, he interacted with fans and discussed various aspects of the modern game, including how the role he once thrived in has evolved.
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3x NBA champion (Spurs, Raptors, Lakers) Danny Green is in the Philippines to support local partner engagements and interact with fans <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@basketbllnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Kjp7XnMDv">pic.twitter.com/4Kjp7XnMDv</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/2032392344079876556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote>

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In today&rsquo;s NBA, the game has shifted toward more ball-dominant creators and versatile offensive engines. Many players are asked to do more than simply space the floor and defend. They initiate offense, handle the ball in pick-and-roll situations, and create their own scoring opportunities. While that versatility is valuable, it has also blurred the lines of what a traditional 3-and-D player looks like.
Despite that shift, Green pointed out that there are still players in the league who embody the spirit of the role, even if their responsibilities extend beyond it.
Among the names he mentioned were Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, and Victor Wembanyama, and each of those players fits the description in different ways.
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3-time NBA champion Danny Green on who he thinks are the top 3-and-D players in the NBA today: &ldquo;Jaylen Brown, SGA, Cade Cunningham, all these guys that we watch that are MVP candidates, Victor Wembanyama.&rdquo; <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@basketbllnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/wbECdJ8E8K">pic.twitter.com/wbECdJ8E8K</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/2032407708004139228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote>

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Brown has built his reputation as one of the league&rsquo;s premier two-way wings. He can score at all three levels while also defending multiple positions with physicality and athleticism. His ability to knock down perimeter shots while guarding top wings reflects the modern evolution of the 3-and-D role.
Gilgeous-Alexander, while primarily known for his offensive brilliance, has also developed into a disruptive defender with strong instincts and length. Cunningham&rsquo;s size and versatility at the guard position allow him to contribute defensively while spacing the floor when needed. Wembanyama represents perhaps the most unique version of the concept, combining elite rim protection with the ability to stretch the floor from beyond the arc.
What these players represent is the modern version of the archetype. They are not limited to standing in the corner waiting for a kick-out pass or focusing solely on defensive assignments. Instead, they incorporate shooting and defense into a broader skill set that includes playmaking and scoring creation.
Green&rsquo;s perspective carries weight because he spent more than a decade mastering the role at the highest level. His shooting helped swing playoff games, and his defense allowed championship teams to maintain balance on both ends of the floor.
The league may be evolving, but the core value of the 3-and-D concept remains the same. Players who can space the floor while defending at a high level will always be essential pieces for winning teams.
Even if the role looks different today, its importance has not disappeared. According to Green, the players who can truly do both at an elite level are still among the most valuable in the game.

Danny Green discusses the evolution of the 3-and-D role, saying the archetype is less common today.

“We don’t see it as often than we used to”: Danny Green cites elite 3-and-D guys

The Los Angeles Lakers paid tribute to one of the most influential figures in NBA history on Feb. 22, 2026, unveiling a bronze statue of Hall of Famer Pat Riley outside Crypto.com Arena in Star Plaza.
The nearly eight-foot statue &ndash; capturing Riley in one of his signature Armani suits with his right fist raised &ndash; cements his legacy alongside Lakers immortals like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.&nbsp;
Riley, 80, was present for the ceremony as dozens of Lakers legends, family, friends and NBA icons looked on. The statue depicts the coach in mid-leadership pose, a nod to the famed &ldquo;Showtime&rdquo; Lakers&rsquo; signal for Magic Johnson to fire the ball toward Kareem&rsquo;s skyhook &ndash; a symbol of his era-defining offense.&nbsp;
Riley&rsquo;s statue stands between those of Lakers greats Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Star Plaza, making him the eighth individual in franchise history to be so honored. During his time in Los Angeles, Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990, leading them to four NBA championships and seven Finals appearances while crafting one of the most iconic styles of play in league history.&nbsp;
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, whose father Jerry Buss promoted Riley to head coach in 1981, called him &ldquo;a guardian angel for this franchise,&rdquo; emphasizing his unwavering commitment to excellence and his role in shaping Lakers culture. Longtime teammates and former players &ndash; including James Worthy, Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Bob McAdoo, A.C. Green and Byron Scott &ndash; joined the celebration, sharing memories and honoring Riley&rsquo;s impact on and off the court.&nbsp;
Also in attendance were figures from Riley&rsquo;s post-Lakers career, including Dwyane Wade, who won three championships under Riley&rsquo;s leadership as Miami Heat head coach, and acclaimed actor Michael Douglas &ndash; a longtime friend who spoke about Riley&rsquo;s influence on his own career and style.&nbsp;
While Riley&rsquo;s coaching career spanned multiple teams &ndash; including deep playoff runs with the New York Knicks and an NBA championship with the Miami Heat &ndash; it was his role in the Lakers&rsquo; 1980s dynasty that forged his lasting imprint on NBA history. The &ldquo;Showtime&rdquo; era revolutionized the league with its pace, flair and strategic innovation, and Riley&rsquo;s leadership was at the heart of it.&nbsp;
Now immortalized in bronze, Riley&rsquo;s likeness will stand as a reminder of a transformative chapter in Lakers history &ndash; inspiring future generations and preserving the legacy of one of the game&rsquo;s great architects.

The Los Angeles Lakers honor legendary coach Pat Riley with a bronze statue outside Crypto.com Arena.

Lakers honor franchise legend Pat Riley

<div>Every February, LeBron James has been wondering why he didn't participate in the Slam Dunk Contest for more than two decades, one of the NBA's great what-ifs. Fans have debated the topic in barbershops, on sports radio, and across social media.</div>
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<div>Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson's recent interview with former <a href="https://bookmaker-ratings.ru/tip/sport-types/tip-nba-tips/">NBA </a>forward and 1992 dunk champion Cedric Ceballos has given new life to the conversation, even though some parts of the past need to be addressed.</div>
<div>Ceballos didn't just suggest that LeBron skipped the contest because he wasn't interested.</div>
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<div>He defined it as something deeper: the preservation of the brand.</div>
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<div>&ldquo;He had a chance his rookie year and he didn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; <a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/02/cedric-ceballos-talks-vince-carters-springs-anthony-edwards-rise-and-why-lebron-james-skipped-the-dunk-contest/">Ceballos told Robinson</a>. &ldquo;After that rookie year, anything after that would damage his credibility and his career. It&rsquo;s not really if he wins it &mdash; because he&rsquo;s supposed to win it &mdash; it&rsquo;s that if he loses it.&rdquo;</div>
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<div>According to Ceballos, the risk outweighed the reward. LeBron had already become too big, too famous, and too accustomed to dominating. Winning would be the standard operating procedure.</div>
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<div>Losing would be a headline that would follow him forever.</div>
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<div>To reinforce his point, Ceballos referenced LeBron's high school years.</div>
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&ldquo;He lost in the McDonald&rsquo;s All-American Game,&rdquo; Ceballos said, claiming that a then lesser-known Shannon Brown outshined LeBron in the dunk contest. &ldquo;Shannon Brown beat him, but he was a little bit not as famous as LeBron and they gave it to LeBron.&rdquo;
The story fits neatly into Ceballos&rsquo; narrative: LeBron experiencing early proof that even one loss could dent his aura.
The problem? It didn&rsquo;t quite happen that way.
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<h2 data-start="1601" data-end="1646">What Ceballos Was Really Arguing</h2>
Ceballos' fundamental basketball critique was evident, even though his memory was spotty. According to him, LeBron is a powerful power dunker - one of the best in live action - but not a specialist in dunk contests.
&ldquo;LeBron dunks on a lot of people,&rdquo; Ceballos implied, &ldquo;but trickery, suaveness &mdash; no.&rdquo;
<div>LeBron's remarkable abilities are attributed to his speed, strength, timing, and rim violence, not to his choreographed creativity. In the past, the Dunk Contest has awarded both flair and force equally.</div>
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<div>The basketball argument is fair. Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter, and Zach LaVine were legends of the contest, blending athleticism and innovation.</div>
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<div>Windmills, free-throw line glides, props, timing, and theatrical moments all play significant roles.LeBron's game has always been about efficiency and dominance, not pre-planned artistry.</div>
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<h2>The McDonald&rsquo;s Contest Reality</h2>
Officially, LeBron James won the 2003 McDonald&rsquo;s All-American Slam Dunk Contest in Cleveland. The other finalists were Shannon Brown and J.R. Giddens.
However, the nuance matters.
Many recaps from that night noted that LeBron&rsquo;s dunks were solid but relatively basic &mdash; powerful, clean, but not jaw-dropping. Brown, on the other hand, pulled off one of the most impressive single dunks of the event but missed multiple attempts afterward, hurting his overall score.
LeBron benefitted from consistency, hometown energy, and others&rsquo; miscues.
So while Ceballos is wrong that LeBron &ldquo;lost,&rdquo; he&rsquo;s not wrong that the perception afterward was more complicated than a dominant victory.
Even as a teenager, LeBron was learning something crucial: when you&rsquo;re the most famous player in the building, expectations distort everything.
<h2 data-start="3213" data-end="3356">The Real Risk for Superstars</h2>
This is where Ceballos&rsquo; brand argument actually lines up with reality.
For a player like LeBron James, the Dunk Contest was always a high-risk, low-reward proposition.
If he won? Fans would shrug and say he was supposed to.
If he lost &mdash; especially to a smaller, less famous, more creative dunker like Nate Robinson, Gerald Green, or Zach LaVine &mdash; it would instantly become a meme, a punchline, a permanent footnote.
History backs this up. Dwight Howard&rsquo;s loss to Nate Robinson still gets referenced. Aaron Gordon losing twice despite incredible dunks became a running joke about being &ldquo;robbed.&rdquo; The contest doesn&rsquo;t forget.
And LeBron has essentially acknowledged this dynamic himself over the years.
He&rsquo;s said repeatedly that if he ever did the Dunk Contest, he&rsquo;d &ldquo;have to win&rdquo; &mdash; otherwise it wouldn&rsquo;t be worth it. That mindset alone shows how much pressure and perception factored into the decision.
<h2 data-start="4098" data-end="4298">LeBron&rsquo;s Own Explanation</h2>
Publicly, LeBron has always framed his absence in basketball terms rather than branding ones.
He&rsquo;s emphasized that his goals <a href="https://x.com/ScoopB/status/1668247108309118977">were championships</a>, MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year awards &mdash; not dunk trophies.
He&rsquo;s also consistently called himself an &ldquo;in-game dunker,&rdquo; explaining that he doesn&rsquo;t enjoy planning or practicing set-piece dunks. For him, dunking is about reacting in real time, attacking defenders, and finishing with force &mdash; not choreography.
That explanation fits his personality and play style perfectly.
But it doesn&rsquo;t exclude the brand reality either.
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<h2 data-start="5066" data-end="5370">So Was Ceballos Right?</h2>
Factually, no &mdash; LeBron didn&rsquo;t lose that high-school contest to Shannon Brown.
Conceptually? He was tapping into something very real.
From the moment LeBron entered the league as &ldquo;<a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/phil-handy-jordan-kobe-lebron-goat-debate">The Chosen One</a>,&rdquo; every appearance became a referendum on greatness. The Dunk Contest, meant to be fun and experimental, would&rsquo;ve placed him in a situation where creativity mattered more than dominance &mdash; and where a single off night could live forever online.
For a generational superstar with nothing to gain and everything to lose, skipping it made strategic sense.
In that light, LeBron&rsquo;s absence doesn&rsquo;t look like fear or lack of interest alone. It looks like a calculated understanding of modern sports culture, expectations, and reputation.
<h2 data-start="5481" data-end="5659">The Middle Ground</h2>
<div>LeBron James' Dunk Contest absence was not only framed as a branding decision by Cedric Ceballos, but also by an associate of James' <a href="https://landonbuford-com-488060.hostingersite.com/lakers-lebron-james-associate-reveals-real-reason-he-skipped-dunk-contest/">Rob MC in the Walklikeus room</a> a few years back.</div>
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<div>They said it did not fit LeBron's image at the time and pointed out that the contest was less exciting after the best players stopped participating in the early 2000s.</div>
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<div>He answered those who questioned LeBron's drive by citing his famous 3-1 Finals comeback, and also reminded everyone that many great players skipped the contest.</div>
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<div>LeBron stayed out of the Dunk Contest, not because he was scared, but because he thought it could hurt his reputation more than it could help, choosing his long-term legacy over a show, according to their comments.</div>
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Cedric Ceballos explains how branding, risk, and legacy factored into LeBron James's decision not to enter the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Ex-Laker Cedric Ceballos Weighs-In on Why LeBron Skipped the Dunk Contest

The trust of legends has been earned by a few NBA coaches like Phil Handy. Handy's r&eacute;sum&eacute; is a testament to his reputation as one of the most respected minds in skill development in the league, and he is in the company of generational icons like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
His experience in championship locker rooms gave him a glimpse of greatness in action.
<h2>Learning the Mamba Mentality</h2>
<div>Handy coached in the NBA with the <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/phil-handy-jordan-kobe-lebron-goat-debate">Los Angeles Lakers from 2011 to 2013</a>, working closely with Kobe Bryant in his later years. During that time, it was not just about natural talent; it was about being fully committed. Kobe's workouts were known for being hard, focused on small things, and always intense. Handy saw for himself that Bryant treated improving at basketball as something he worked on every day, not just during the season.</div>
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<div>What really stood out was how skilled Kobe was. He had a way to handle every move. He turned every weakness into something to work on. Handy has often called Bryant one of the most skilled basketball players ever, not because he was showy, but because he really understood how the game works and how players think.</div>
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<h2>Championships, Growth, and LeBron James</h2>
<div>In 2013, Handy joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining a team led by LeBron James. He learned a lot with the Cavs, who reached the NBA Finals four years in a row and won the unforgettable 2016 championship. LeBron took over games completely, while Kobe always worked to get better.</div>
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<div>In 2019, Handy helped the Toronto Raptors win the title under coach Nick Nurse before returning to the Lakers. When he teamed up with LeBron James again, Handy won another championship in 2020, which made him even more sure that LeBron is the most complete basketball player ever: a top scorer, top passer, top leader, and tougher than anyone before.</div>
<h2>A Lineage of Legends</h2>
<div>Handy sees the Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant-LeBron James debate not as a contest, but as a line of progress. He thinks Jordan set the bar, Kobe improved his game, and LeBron made greatness mean even more. By coaching both Kobe and LeBron closely, Handy gained a unique perspective on how greatness has changed over time and why it continues to evolve.</div>
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Phil Handy shares rare insight from coaching Kobe Bryant and LeBron James during multiple NBA championship runs.

Phil Handy on  Coaching Kobe Bryant and LeBron James Up Close

The NBA has officially unveiled the full rosters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, marking another milestone in this season&rsquo;s midseason showcase.&nbsp;
With the league&rsquo;s annual celebration of its stars set for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, fans now know exactly who will take part in the new USA vs. World round-robin format &ndash; featuring two U.S. teams and one international squad competing in 12-minute games before a championship finale.
The roster are set as follows:
<h4>Team USA Stripes</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stephen Curry &ndash; Golden State Warriors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LeBron James &ndash; Los Angeles Lakers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kevin Durant &ndash; Houston Rockets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kawhi Leonard &ndash; Los Angeles Clippers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jaylen Brown &ndash; Boston Celtics</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Brunson &ndash; New York Knicks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Donovan Mitchell &ndash; Cleveland Cavaliers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Norman Powell &ndash; Miami Heat&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h4>Team USA Stars</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anthony Edwards &ndash; Minnesota Timberwolves</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Devin Booker &ndash; Phoenix Suns</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cade Cunningham &ndash; Detroit Pistons</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tyrese Maxey &ndash; Philadelphia 76ers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scottie Barnes &ndash; Toronto Raptors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Duren &ndash; Detroit Pistons</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chet Holmgren &ndash; Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Johnson &ndash; Atlanta Hawks&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h4>Team World</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Luka Doncic &ndash; Los Angeles Lakers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Giannis Antetokounmpo &ndash; Milwaukee Bucks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander &ndash; Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Nikola Jokic &ndash; Denver Nuggets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Victor Wembanyama &ndash; San Antonio Spurs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pascal Siakam &ndash; Indiana Pacers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jamal Murray &ndash; Denver Nuggets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deni Avdija &ndash; Portland Trail Blazers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Karl-Anthony Towns &ndash; New York Knicks&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The starters were voted in by a combination of fans (50 %), NBA players (25 %), and media (25 %) while the reserves were selected by NBA head coaches.
Commissioner Adam Silver and the league office added Kawhi Leonard to the U.S. roster pool after strong midseason play and fan-driven support.&nbsp;
This year&rsquo;s format diverges significantly from traditional East vs. West competition by introducing three distinct All-Star teams &ndash; highlighting both U.S. talent and the international flavor of today&rsquo;s NBA.
With rosters now set, All-Star Weekend will also feature the Castrol Rising Stars Game, Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and a slate of skills competitions and performances leading up to the main event. The round-robin USA vs. World tournament is designed to add competitive intrigue and showcase global NBA stars on the league&rsquo;s biggest midseason stage.

The NBA has officially unveiled the full rosters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

2026 NBA All-Star Game rosters revealed ahead of USA vs World showcase

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

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

Kobe Bryant’s Lessons Still Travel Worldwide

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

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

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

The NBA has officially revealed the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, with the league&rsquo;s brightest stars earning recognition ahead of the midseason showcase scheduled for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The starters were announced during MLK Day&rsquo;s national NBA broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
This year&rsquo;s All-Star Game debuts a new U.S. vs. World format, featuring a three-team round-robin tournament with two U.S. teams and one international team, each playing four 12-minute games before a championship finale.
The Eastern Conference starters are as follows:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks &ndash; 10th All-Star start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics &ndash; 5th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks &ndash; 3rd start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons &ndash; 2nd start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers &ndash; 2nd start</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Western Conference starters comprise of:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors &ndash; 12th All-Star appearance</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers &ndash; 6th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder &ndash; 4th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets &ndash; 8th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs &ndash; 2nd start</li>
</ul>
Among the notable storylines for this year&rsquo;s all-star game include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LeBron James&rsquo; Starter Streak Ends: For the first time since 2004, LeBron James will not be named an All-Star starter, ending a historic 21-year streak due in part to injury and missed time this season. He missed the first 14 games of this year due to a sciatica injury.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Voting Structure: Starters were selected based on a combined vote &ndash; 50% fans, 25% media, 25% NBA players &ndash; with reserves to be named by head coaches later.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">USA vs. World Format: With starters now set, the league will assign players to the USA and World teams in the coming weeks as part of the revamped All-Star competition designed to spotlight global talent alongside American stars.</li>
</ul>

The NBA has officially revealed the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

NBA officially announces 2026 All-Star Game starters

LeBron James has long been revered as the symbol of longevity in the NBA. Playing the most seasons of all time at 23 years, James is still going strong even at 41 years old. After missing the first 14 games of the year, he is now averaging 22.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. 
Now LeBron is slowly rounding to shape, and at the top of this peak gameplay is James&rsquo; ever-talked about investments on his body. It has long been a story for years on how he spends millions of dollars every year to take care of his body, and this year is no different. Or perhaps, this has even more intensified each year as he grows older, adding more intensive routines to keep his body conditioned and in top tier shape to play against the best of the best.
James offered a glimpse into the meticulous routine behind his longevity, walking through his game-day checklist as he prepared to play his first back-to-back of the season on Tuesday.
In a postgame interview with ESPN&rsquo;s Dave McMenamin, that preparation included just about everything modern recovery has to offer, detailing his routine every game:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cold tub</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hyperbaric chamber</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Nap</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Normatec</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Activation</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stretching</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Rehabbing</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lifting</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pregame meal</li>
</ul>
The results spoke for themselves. Despite it being his first back-to-back of the season, James delivered a near triple-double performance, finishing with 31 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists to lead his team to a win over the Atlanta Hawks.
At an age where most players have long since stepped away from the game, LeBron&rsquo;s attention to recovery, conditioning, and preparation continues to serve as the foundation for his sustained excellence &ndash; and nights like this remain the clearest proof of why he&rsquo;s still performing at an elite level.
It remains to be seen if LeBron maintains this level of play until the end of the season, but the Lakers would certainly hope so as they fight for positioning in the tough Western Conference. And at the forefront of it all is James alongside Luka Doncic, who will try to contend for a title for the prestigious purple and gold brand.

LeBron James revealed his detailed game-day routine after his first back-to-back game this year - the secret to his incredible longevity.

LeBron reveals his stunning routine, secret for his incredible longevity

As the race for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters heats up, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain the fan favorites in the second round of All-Star voting returns, the league announced Tuesday.&nbsp;
The Lakers&rsquo; Doncic holds the top spot overall in fan votes, while the Bucks&rsquo; Giannis remains the leader in the Eastern Conference heading into the next phase of voting.
Doncic&rsquo;s lead in the West continues to grow as fans rally behind the Lakers star, with more than 2.2 million votes. He remains ahead of other top Western Conference contenders like Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, all of whom hold strong early support as well.
In the East, Giannis sits atop the leaderboard with just over 2.09 million votes, keeping his nod as the conference&rsquo;s most popular All-Star candidate among fan voters. Behind him, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey have moved into the next spots, while Cade Cunningham and Donovan Mitchell round out the top five in the East.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
Fan voting accounts for 50 % of the total vote used to determine All-Star starters, with current NBA players and a media panel each contributing 25 %. Voting continues through Jan. 14, with the second batch of results providing a key snapshot of who&rsquo;s trending early in the 2026 All-Star campaign.
With the All-Star Game set for Feb. 15, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif., and a new USA vs. World format on the horizon, every vote &ndash; and every fan push &ndash; could make the difference in who steps on the court when the league&rsquo;s brightest assemble later this season.

Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain the fan favorites in the second round of All-Star voting returns.

Luka, Giannis continue to lead 2026 NBA All-Star Game voting in second returns

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

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

NBA, Global Basketball Community Unite for World Basketball Day Celebration

Dallas Mavericks phenom Cooper Flagg made history on Monday night, December 15, after becoming the youngest player in league history to score 40 or more points in a game.&nbsp;
In a thrilling overtime battle against the Utah Jazz, the 18-year-old rookie poured in a career-high 42 points, outpacing every player his age ever to take the court, including legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady.
Flagg&rsquo;s 42-point outburst &ndash; which also included six assists and seven rebounds &ndash; came despite the Mavericks falling 140-133 in extra time. With the performance, he supplanted all previous 18-year-old single-game scoring efforts in NBA annals, topping longtime milestone marks once held by LeBron James.
The historic night saw Flagg become the first player 18 years old to hit the 40-point mark, a feat that had never been done before in NBA history. His explosion came just days after breaking records as the youngest player to score 35 points and join elite scoring company among teenage standouts.
Flagg&rsquo;s scoring milestone also tied him with franchise lore: his 42 points matched the second-highest single-game scoring performance ever by a Mavericks rookie (joining Mark Aguirre). While Dallas couldn&rsquo;t secure the win, Flagg&rsquo;s night was the highlight of a contest.
At just 18, the No. 1 overall pick continues to rewrite the record books and cement his status as a generational talent for the Mavericks &ndash; already offering hope and excitement for the franchise&rsquo;s future after that shocking trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg made history on Monday by becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 40+ points.

Cooper Flagg makes NBA history as youngest player ever to score 40+ Points

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

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

2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals officially set

The 2025-26 NBA season marks the end of Chris Paul's career. Paul's influence went beyond the court, not only as one of the league's most skilled point guards but also as a communicator for nearly two decades. Statistics or accolades were not the only focus of the response to his announcement.
Mark Cuban was among the first to speak, and his reaction was like that of someone who had known Paul for more than just handshakes before the game. Paul and Cuban have gotten to know each other through charity events, conversations, and podcast appearances. In his reflection, he displayed that familiarity.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been a big fan forever,&rdquo; <a href="https://r.org/2025/11/25/mark-cuban-reacts-to-chris-pauls-retirement-announcement/">Cuban told R.org</a>. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been an amazing career&hellip; the 2005 class, right? That leaves LeBron as the last. But yeah, I mean, obviously he&rsquo;s a Hall of Famer and deserves all the accolades he gets.&rdquo;
His mid-range jumper or surgical pick-and-roll reads had a significant impact on his legacy, as well as his relationships. LeBron James' response was deeper and showed professionalism, while Cuban's response reflected professionalism. Highlight montages are not the only way to understand the significance of James and Paul in basketball history. Both physically and metaphorically, their experience of the sport was shared by them.
Their connection has spanned more than 20 years, from early AAU battles to Olympic runs, to summers spent pushing each other in empty gyms.
Paul's memory tends to be associated with rivalries and playoff failures, but Cuban's remarks suggest something more important. Paul established relationships with people who are involved in the NBA ecosystem, such as top players, owners, and media outlets, who all praised his meticulous attention and consistent professionalism.
James shared a picture of Paul holding an Olympic gold medal, with a <a href="https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/basketball/articles/los-angeles-lakers-lebron-james-reacts-to-chris-paul-s-retirement-2025-11-25">simple caption</a>:
&ldquo;POINT GOD!!! Been a helluva ride.&rdquo;
James sees Paul's departure as more than just another retirement. It serves as a reminder of time itself. LeBron is the only active player in the 2000s era, which was one of the most influential groups of modern basketball. Paul's departure reduces the number of peers who understand what it was like to enter the league before social media, pace-and-space, and the modern era fully restructured the game.
Paul's retirement brings to mind a moment of reflection about the early-to-mid 2000s generation, which was known for its fierce competitiveness but also for its deep and genuine friendships. Since Paul first donned a Hornets uniform, the league has undergone a significant change, and many of the players who played a role in that era have already transitioned to new lives, new careers, or quieter roles. His departure marks the end of a phase that encompasses both his fans and those who journeyed with him. Cuban saluted the professional. James honored the friend. Chris Paul's reactions show that he wasn't only a great player &mdash; he was also a force, a presence, and a connection point for a basketball era that is now fading into history.

Chris Paul’s retirement after the 2025–26 season sparks heartfelt reactions from Mark Cuban and LeBron James, highlighting his impact on a generation of NBA stars.

Mark Cuban, LeBron React to Chris Paul’s Retirement Announcement

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

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

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

Two of the league&rsquo;s biggest names returned to action this week, each under very different circumstances but with high expectations. Paul George made his season debut with the Philadelphia 76ers after a lengthy rehabilitation, while LeBron James returned for the Los Angeles Lakers in his historic 23rd season.
Paul George back on the floor for the Sixers
George made his long-awaited return on November 17 in Philadelphia&rsquo;s 110-108 win over his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. He logged 21 minutes, scoring nine points on 2-of-9 shooting, while adding seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
The 35-year-old wing had been sidelined since early March with a left knee injury that required surgery &ndash; a disruption that curtailed what was meant to be a pivotal season in Philadelphia.&nbsp;
However, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse confirmed George will still be on a minutes restriction as Philadelphia carefully eases him back into full form.
LeBron James begins 23rd NBA Season in style
James returned to the court November 19 in Los Angeles, leading the Lakers to a 140-126 victory over the Utah Jazz. He played 30 minutes and posted 11 points and 12 assists.
The appearance also marked a historic milestone: James became the first player in NBA history to participate in a 23rd season.
Despite missing the first 14 games due to sciatica, James didn&rsquo;t appear visibly rusty and helped energize the Lakers&rsquo; offense and veteran presence immediately.&nbsp;
In the postseason outlook, his return is seen as a major boost for LA&rsquo;s aspirations &ndash; especially alongside the contributions of Luka Doncic and other rising teammates who have stepped up in his absence.
ANALYSIS: What this means for George is him returning gives the Sixers the veteran wing and two-way defender they signed for. This is a hint at a player ready to contribute again and help them reach even greater heights. For LeBron, his debut sets the tone for another chapter in his legendary career. Less about big scoring and more about orchestration and leadership &ndash; at age 40 he remains impactful.&nbsp;
These returns come at key moments. Philadelphia needs George&rsquo;s presence to stabilize their rotation and absorb pressure as their injury list grows. The Lakers get a foundational piece back to complement their younger core for what they aim to be a deep run.

Paul George made his season debut with the Philadelphia 76ers  while LeBron James returned for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul George, LeBron James mark season debuts coming back from injuries

The Dallas Mavericks and owner Patrick Dumont are firing general manager Nico Harrison, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
This move comes after the stunning trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers 9 months ago by Nico Harrison.
This report would be updated with more details.

The Dallas Mavericks and owner Patrick Dumont are firing general manager Nico Harrison, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Mavericks to fire general manager Nico Harrison

There was a time when every Nikola Jokic triple-double was a headline. Now, it&rsquo;s just another night in the NBA.
Through the first seven games of the season, Jokic has recorded a triple-double in five of them &ndash; a feat that, for almost any other player, would be hailed as an early-season masterpiece. For Jokic nowadays though, it barely makes noise &ndash; or so we thought.&nbsp;
His latest line &ndash; 33 points, 15 rebounds, and 16 assists in a win over the Miami Heat &ndash; came and went without much fanfare. No major debates, no viral clips, just another Nikola Jokic game.
It raises a sobering question: Have we started taking Nikola Jokic for granted?
When greatness becomes routine
In a league dominated by storylines, Jokic has somehow become background noise. There&rsquo;s the buzz surrounding Oklahoma City&rsquo;s rise to their dynasty aspirations, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s another MVP-level play. There&rsquo;s Victor Wembanyama&rsquo;s historic two-way surge, Luka Doncic torching defenses nightly, and Giannis Antetokounmpo reclaiming his MVP momentum as the Bucks return back into contention. Amid all this, Jokic continues to produce at a level that would define other players&rsquo; careers &ndash; and yet, it&rsquo;s treated as business as usual.
Maybe that&rsquo;s the curse of consistency. Jokic has been performing at an MVP standard for six straight years, making extraordinary basketball look almost effortless. His greatness has lost its novelty, not its effectiveness. The NBA world seems to have reached the point where a 25-12-12 stat line is expected out of him night in and night out, and anything less is considered an off night.
That kind of expectation can only mean one thing: we might have grown numb to the brilliance of the Joker.
Jokic&rsquo;s game defies conventional flash. He doesn&rsquo;t soar above defenders, doesn&rsquo;t scream after dunks, and rarely demands attention. Instead, he dissects opponents with surgical precision &ndash; manipulating angles, finding shooters, and bending defenses until they break.&nbsp;
He makes the hardest parts of basketball look like second nature. And perhaps because of that, his dominance no longer shocks us.
Watch him closely, though, and it&rsquo;s clear this is not normal. No one in NBA history has combined this kind of scoring efficiency, playmaking creativity, and rebounding control in one body. Jokic&rsquo;s blend of power and patience, vision and touch, feels like something out of a different era &ndash; or maybe a different dimension.
Yet, somehow, it doesn&rsquo;t dominate the discourse anymore the way it once did.
The cost of familiarity
It&rsquo;s possible that &lsquo;voter fatigue&rsquo; has caught up with Jokic &ndash; not just in award voting, but in the public consciousness. When a player sustains greatness for this long, the conversation naturally shifts elsewhere. The media and fans often chase new narratives, new stars, new sensations. Jokic, who&rsquo;s been doing this for years, no longer fits the mold of &ldquo;breaking news.&rdquo;
But it&rsquo;s worth remembering: he&rsquo;s still the best player in basketball.
Since 2019, Jokic has averaged roughly 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists per game while leading the Denver Nuggets to sustained success, including the 2023 NBA Championship &ndash; a run that stamped his legacy as one of the all-time greats. And yet, even as he keeps doing it, his name often fades into the background of louder storylines.
The truth is, we&rsquo;ve normalized his greatness to the point where we no longer fully appreciate it. It&rsquo;s not that Jokic has gotten worse &ndash; it&rsquo;s that everyone else has gotten louder.
Led by Jokic, Nuggets quietly creep up atop the West
Part of the reason Jokic&rsquo;s brilliance flies under the radar is the Nuggets&rsquo; quiet offseason. While other teams made splashy moves &ndash; like Kevin Durant&rsquo;s shocking arrival in Houston &ndash; Denver operated with surgical precision rather than spectacle.
They brought back a familiar face in Bruce Brown, a key piece of their 2023 title run. Brown&rsquo;s return instantly reestablishes the defensive edge and chemistry that made Denver so complete during their championship push. His connection with Jokic is instinctive; he knows exactly when and where to cut, and Jokic always finds him.
The Nuggets also made a subtle but meaningful trade &ndash; flipping Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson. At first glance, it might seem like a downgrade in talent, but in practice, it could be an upgrade in fit. Johnson&rsquo;s spacing, unselfishness, and commitment to role-playing perfectly complement Jokic&rsquo;s system. He won&rsquo;t hijack possessions or hunt shots; he&rsquo;ll move, shoot, and defend &ndash; the exact formula that maximizes Jokic&rsquo;s playmaking brilliance.
Denver also finally addressed one of their lingering issues: the lack of a dependable backup center. The addition of Jonas Valanciunas gives them that stability. A bruising interior presence and elite screener, Valanciunas allows Denver to stay afloat when Jokic sits &ndash; a problem that&rsquo;s haunted them for years. He&rsquo;s also a sneaky-good passer, keeping Denver&rsquo;s dribble-handoff flow alive in bench units.
And perhaps the most underrated move of all is not a move at all: the return of a healthy Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Both have battled injuries during previous playoff runs, but when on the floor, they complete Denver&rsquo;s identity. Murray&rsquo;s two-man game with Jokic remains one of the most unstoppable actions in basketball, while Gordon&rsquo;s cutting, defense, and athleticism balance the Nuggets on both ends.
Another quiet storyline is their head coach David Adelman. After taking over midseason last year, Adelman has done an exceptional job keeping the Nuggets grounded and disciplined. His defensive tweaks and trust in player development have kept Denver sharp despite roster transitions. He doesn&rsquo;t seek the spotlight &ndash; much like Jokic &ndash; but his influence is felt in the team&rsquo;s structure, chemistry, and accountability.
Adelman has embraced what makes Jokic special: freedom within a framework. Denver plays through Jokic at all times, but it never feels forced. The rhythm of the offense &ndash; cuts, screens, spacing &ndash; is organic, built on years of familiarity and trust.
While the Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Rockets dominate headlines, the Nuggets are quietly creeping back into the Western Conference&rsquo;s top tier. It&rsquo;s easy to forget that Denver was one win away from eliminating the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder last postseason.
Now, with a more balanced roster, better depth, and a refreshed core, they&rsquo;re poised to make another deep run. And at the center of it all &ndash; both literally and figuratively &ndash; is Nikola Jokic, still orchestrating everything with unmatched control.
He&rsquo;s still the engine, still the mind, still the heartbeat of Denver basketball. And yet, somehow, we&rsquo;ve stopped talking about him.
The normalization of the extraordinary
Maybe that&rsquo;s the price of sustained brilliance &ndash; to be so consistently excellent that the world stops noticing.&nbsp;
But history will remember what the present often overlooks. Jokic isn&rsquo;t just putting up big numbers; he&rsquo;s reshaping what we thought possible for a big man.
One day, when we look back, we&rsquo;ll realize these seasons weren&rsquo;t normal. They were masterpieces hiding in plain sight.
Nikola Jokic hasn&rsquo;t fallen off &ndash; if anything, he&rsquo;s still climbing. It&rsquo;s the rest of us who&rsquo;ve forgotten to look up.

Nikola Jokic’s brilliance has become so routine that fans may be taking it for granted. Read why, here:

Has Nikola Jokic become underrated?

Germany has claimed the EuroBasket 2025 crown, defeating Turkey 88-83 in a pulsating final to win the championship for the first time since 1993. Germany&rsquo;s victory caps off a perfect 9-0 run through the tournament, showcasing their dominance and chemistry.&nbsp;
The final was tightly contested from tip-off to the closing seconds. Turkey came out strong and led by six at halftime, riding the performances of Alperen Sengun and Cedi Osman.
Germany responded in the third quarter, stringing together runs and tightening up defensively. Isaac Bonga made several key plays in the fourth quarter, including a huge offensive rebound when Turkey seemed ready to pull away.&nbsp;
With under 20 seconds left, point guard Dennis Schroder drained a pull-up jumper, giving Germany a narrow lead. Schroder nailed two baskets in the clutch, highlighting his leadership and importance to the team. Turkey had a chance to reply, but Sengun&rsquo;s three-pointer in the final possession rimmed out. Germany then sealed the win with Schroder yet again, sinking two clutch free throws.
Schroder was named tournament MVP and was named to the all-star five &ndash; and with good reason &ndash; as he stepped up when it mattered most, especially in those final moments.&nbsp;
Sengun once again proved why he is among the best international bigs right now, filling the stat sheet and keeping Turkey in the game until the last few possessions.&nbsp;
Isaac Bonga was a difference-maker down the stretch for Germany, including hustle plays and defense, especially during Turkey&rsquo;s runs, while Franz Wagner did his usual scoring routine for Germany as he did all tournament long to earn his spot in the all-star five.
For Germany, this win is monumental. It&rsquo;s their second EuroBasket title ever and their first in 32 years. They now hold both the FIBA World Cup (2023) and EuroBasket as champion.
Turkey gets the silver, their first finals appearance since 2001. Though they came up short, their run &ndash; powered by Şeng&uuml;n&rsquo;s excellence &ndash; it boosts their status in European basketball as one of the perennial contenders for years to come.

Germany has claimed the EuroBasket 2025 crown, defeating Turkey 88-83 in a pulsating final to win the championship.