Suns

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

Cole Anthony on His First Taste of New York City Basketball

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s been a long time since Chicago basketball felt this good.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The United Center hasn&rsquo;t buzzed like this in years, and it&rsquo;s not because of a flashy superstar, a high-profile signing, or a sudden scoring explosion. It&rsquo;s because the Bulls &ndash; yes, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">these</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Bulls &ndash; are finally playing like a team again.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through the first seven games of the 2025-26 NBA season, the severely underrated Chicago Bulls have stormed out to a 6&ndash;1 record, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. For a franchise that has spent much of the past decade searching for identity and direction, this early surge represents something far more meaningful than wins and losses.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s about rediscovering what Chicago basketball used to stand for: toughness, selflessness, and unity.</span></p>
<p><strong>A new identity, finally defined</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, the Bulls&rsquo; offense revolved around Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan &ndash; two elite scorers whose individual brilliance often overshadowed the collective. They were both incredible in isolation, capable of creating something out of nothing, but their styles never fully meshed with what head coach Billy Donovan envisioned.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season, the picture looks entirely different. Without LaVine and DeRozan, Donovan has reshaped the Bulls into a system-driven, motion-heavy team that thrives on movement, cutting, and passing. There&rsquo;s no ball-dominant alpha demanding touches. Instead, every possession feels deliberate, purposeful &ndash; a shared effort rather than a solo performance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bulls are just playing basketball the right way, they are screening, cutting, and trusting each other. Everyone touches the ball, and everyone matters.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bulls may not have a top-tier offensive engine or a dominant space creator, but they&rsquo;ve replaced that with balance, energy, and discipline. The result is a brand of basketball that is winning, and one that is repeatable, although it remains to be seen if it is sustainable to get them to the playoffs.</span></p>
<p><strong>The key players behind the surge: Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the heart of it all is Nikola Vucevic, the steadying veteran whose game has aged like fine wine.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At 35, Vucevic isn&rsquo;t just surviving in today&rsquo;s pace-and-space NBA, he&rsquo;s thriving. He&rsquo;s averaging near a double-double once again, but it&rsquo;s his leadership that&rsquo;s had the bigger impact. He anchors Chicago&rsquo;s offense with smart positioning and inside-out passing as well as his elite floor spacing, while providing an example for the team&rsquo;s younger players about consistency and professionalism.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Vucevic is the team&rsquo;s heart, Josh Giddey has become its brain.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a tense summer restricted free agency saga, Giddey returned to Chicago with something to prove &ndash; and it shows. Fresh off signing a long-term deal, he&rsquo;s playing with an assertiveness and confidence that eluded him in previous seasons. Giddey has found his groove and his playmaking has been elite, threading passes and elevating the play of everyone around him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More importantly, Giddey has found the balance between facilitating and attacking. His improved scoring aggression has kept defenses honest, opening up cutting lanes and rhythm shots for teammates. Early on, he&rsquo;s looking every bit like an All-Star &ndash; and the Bulls are reaping the benefits.</span></p>
<p><strong>The potential of Matas Buzelis and the rise of Ayo Dosunmu</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Vucevic and Giddey set the tone, the Bulls&rsquo; most exciting storyline might be the emergence of Matas Buzelis.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The hometown kid &ndash; born in Chicago and drafted by his city &ndash; is coming into his own. Buzelis has been given the green light to learn, make mistakes, and grow, a luxury few rookies receive in a major market. His length, shooting touch, and versatility have made him a seamless fit in Donovan&rsquo;s system, and his elite athleticism and rim pressure allows him to have a consistent scoring bag.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For a franchise that&rsquo;s long searched for its next cornerstone, Buzelis represents hope &ndash; the possibility of a homegrown star who could one day carry the torch for the next great Bulls era.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking of hometown pride, Ayo Dosunmu continues to be one of Chicago&rsquo;s unsung heroes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dosunmu, another Illinois native, has blossomed into one of the league&rsquo;s best 3-and-D guards. But this season, Donovan has asked for more &ndash; and Dosunmu has delivered. He&rsquo;s taking on bigger offensive responsibilities while still anchoring the perimeter defense. His energy, versatility, and unselfishness epitomize the Bulls&rsquo; identity: no ego, just effort.</span></p>
<p><strong>Depth, Balance, and Belief</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even with Coby White sidelined, the Bulls&rsquo; depth has been a revelation. Role players like Isaac Okoro, Tre Jones, Patrick Williams, Kevin Huerter, and Jalen Smith have each embraced their roles with clarity and confidence.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Okoro brings defensive tenacity. Jones provides steadiness at the point. Williams has settled into a reliable two-way rhythm. Huerter adds spacing and shooting, while Smith has given valuable minutes as a stretch big. None of them are stars &ndash; but together, they&rsquo;ve formed a cohesive, balanced rotation that works alongside their core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The city of Chicago has been waiting for a team to believe in again. Since the days of Derrick Rose&rsquo;s MVP run and Jimmy Butler&rsquo;s hope, the Bulls have cycled through rebuilds, retools, and false starts &ndash; flashes of potential that never quite materialized.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But this group is a fresh start. This team, defined by their collective purpose, embodies the city&rsquo;s blue-collar spirit. They may not have a global superstar yet, but they have something that&rsquo;s been missing for far too long: chemistry, identity, and belief.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chicago knows greatness when it sees it. After all, it&rsquo;s the home of Michael Jordan &ndash; the standard by which all Bulls teams are measured. But even if this group isn&rsquo;t chasing banners just yet, they&rsquo;re chasing something just as important: respect, relevance, and revival.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the first time in years, Bulls basketball matters again. And it&rsquo;s not because of who&rsquo;s scoring the most points &ndash; it&rsquo;s because they&rsquo;re doing it </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">together.</span></em></p>

The Chicago Bulls are off to their best start in years — not because of star power, but because of teamwork. Read more how, here:

Together again: How the Bulls’ collective identity sparked their strong start

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<div>Angel Reese: I post pictures of myself in a bathing suit but, multiple times people have made AI pictures of me naked. My family members are sending it to me, uncles are like, &lsquo;Are you naked on Instagram ? It sucks to see that and it&rsquo;s really hard that I have to go through that</div>
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<div>Interviewer: So when you were talking about being sexualized, a lot of people we like, &lsquo;Well, she asked for it.&nbsp;</div>
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<div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQHRqOnDVui/?igsh=ZHUzNHA1NzFxM3Mz">Angel Reese: I don&rsquo;t get what that means. I&rsquo;m a beautiful woman. I&rsquo;ve been posting pictures in my bikini. I have a wonderful body and I work hard for it. And if I want to post a picture in my bikini I should be able to without being sexualized.&nbsp;</a></div>
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<div>I reposted this video clip along with commentary from Adrian Ewing and was surprised to see some of the comments in my comment section&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Seeing grown men justify why Angel Reese somehow deserves to be sexualized is depressing to see. But it wasn&rsquo;t just these cats in my comment section, people in the media like Jason Whitlock (who never misses an opportunity to bash Black People for his MAGA audience) and David Portnoy, founder of barstool, doubled down on his hatred for Angel Reese.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>I showed these my daughters volleyball carpool and this is what they had to say,&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;Who said anything about Onlyfans ? Why would he jump to that ? She just did something that no other athlete has done before. Why do they care so much about her ? Why does it matter so much to them ? She is just living her life. So they don&rsquo;t want her (or any other WNBA player) so they chastise them for their Pay Us What You Owe us stance, but then they don&rsquo;t want them to earn money through any marketing opportunities or any other way either ? She comes out with her own shoes they mad. She breaks record on the court they mad. She says she doesn&rsquo;t want to talk to the media they mad. She criticizes her organization they mad. Why don&rsquo;t they both mind their business and let her live her life&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Baby Sierra&nbsp;</div>
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<div>So where are all the men standing up for her ? I saw Shaq said something one time awhile ago but that&rsquo;s it ? Just you and Shaq ? Nobody else says anything ? Well I&rsquo;m glad you said something. Thank you for standing up for us&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really weird that they are so focused on her. &nbsp;Don&rsquo;t they have any other topics to talk about ? Why are they so fixated and infatuated with her ? Do they focus this much on any other WNBA player not named Caitlin Clark ? It&rsquo;s just weird how much they are locked in on Angel Reese&nbsp;</div>
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<div>All valid points made by the Carpool&nbsp;</div>
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<div>To David Portnoy I ask:&nbsp;</div>
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<div>What could this 23 year old young woman possibly have done to make you this upset with her ? So much so that you say you &ldquo;hate&rdquo; her ? You can&rsquo;t be still bent out of shape because she beat yall great white hope Caitlin Clark back in college so what is it ? Is it just a natural jealous and hatred of Black Women not needing your approval or consent to live their lives ? Or the fact that she has brilliantly taken the Caitlin Clark Mob&rsquo;s hatred toward her and transformed it into 7 figure earnings for herself and her brand ?&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Angel Reese just made history as the first professional athlete ever to walk at the Victoria Secret&rsquo;s Fashion Show. That means no other athlete in the history of athletes has ever done this before and as Rep Jasmine Crockett said,&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;The only people that are crying are the mediocre white boys that have been beaten out by people that historically have had to work so much harder,&rdquo;</div>
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<div>Unfortunately, it&rsquo;s not just mediocre white boys who are doing the bashing. Almost all of the comments I showed earlier from my Instagram comments section were by Black Men. Not just people like Jason Whitlock whose schtick is bashing the Black Community so he can continue to get pats on the top of his head from a MAGA audience that can then point to him and say,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;See I&rsquo;m not racist, here&rsquo;s a Black Man saying this&rdquo; But regular everyday Black Men who actually justified Angel another Black Woman being sexualized.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">A few days ago, Angel Reese responded to a viral post that put her side-by-side with Sid. She called the comparison rude and completely out of line.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">People keep asking me why I post about Angel Reese so much ? Well, I&rsquo;ll tell you why. Ever since she beat Caitlin Clark in college, there has been an onslaught of criticism hurled her way. She became the villain. Public enemy number one (to a certain specific demographic) And as a Black Man, whenever I see what sometimes seems like the entire basketball world bashing a young Black Woman, I&rsquo;m suppose to come to her defense.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">People don&rsquo;t understand that young Black Girls see the criticism that Angel Reese receives and understand how it is a microcosm of life. This is how they are treated in their schools and how they will be treated as they grow up in this society. They will be judged more heavily, and criticized more heavily, and a higher expectation and standard will be placed on them than their white counterparts&nbsp;ie Stephen A. Smith ridiculing Rep Jasmine Crockett but having no issues with Trump&rsquo;s presentation.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">So when my daughters and her teammate in our carpool tell me, &ldquo;Thank you for standing up for us&rdquo; I know, I&rsquo;m doing what I&rsquo;m supposed to be doing.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;The most disrespected person in America is the Black Woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman."</div>
<div><span style="color: #020518; font-family: Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;~Malcolm X</span></div>
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Angel Reese Doesn’t “Deserve” To Be Sexualized. No Woman Does.

Angel Reese Doesn’t “Deserve” To Be Sexualized. No Woman Does

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA is back, and on ring night, as confetti is prepared and banners await their ascension, the visiting Houston Rockets are walking into Paycom Center not merely as&nbsp; spectators watching the Oklahoma City Thunder raise their championship banner &ndash; but as worthy challengers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is no longer a young team simply hoping to develop. The Rockets are here with purpose, power, and one of the greatest scorers of all time leading the charge: Kevin Durant.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Durant landed in Houston after that stunning trade this summer, it shifted the entire balance of the Western Conference. The message was clear: the Rockets are done waiting for their future. They want to win now, and their time is now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, the Rockets have been stockpiling talent, banking on potential, and emphasizing growth. But after back-to-back seasons of competitiveness under Ime Udoka, the organization decided to accelerate. Durant&rsquo;s arrival changes everything &ndash; from the way Houston runs its offense to the expectations that now hang over the franchise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even without Fred VanVleet, who is sidelined with an injury, Houston remains loaded. Instead of patching the gap with another veteran guard, Udoka is doubling down on his young core &ndash; placing immense responsibility on Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun leap</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thompson, now entering his second season, will assume full-time point guard duties. It&rsquo;s a massive leap, but one Udoka and the front office have prepared him for. His athleticism, defensive instincts, and improving court vision make him the natural conductor of this evolving Rockets offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Thompson is the engine, Alperen Sengun is the hub.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fresh off a spectacular EuroBasket run where he dominated as Turkey&rsquo;s focal point, Sengun looks ready to translate that same control to the NBA stage. His ability to read defenses, pass from both the low and high post, and score efficiently makes him the centerpiece of Udoka&rsquo;s halfcourt schemes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Much like Nikola Jokic in Denver, everything flows through him. The Rockets are embracing a more fluid, motion-based offense that allows Şeng&uuml;n to survey the floor, dictate movement, and create opportunities for Thompson, Durant, and Jabari Smith Jr.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In essence, Sengun has gone from being an intriguing young big to becoming Houston&rsquo;s offensive cornerstone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And when paired with Durant &ndash; arguably the most adaptable superstar in basketball &ndash; the synergy could be special. Durant can play off-ball, spot up from midrange, or stretch defenses beyond the arc, allowing Sengun to orchestrate from the elbow area. When defenses collapse on Sengun, Durant punishes them. And if they crowd Durant, Sengun goes to work inside. It&rsquo;s a simple offense but one that is highly efficient and sustainable</span></p>
<p><strong>Durant&rsquo;s impact: leadership and legacy</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Durant, Houston represents one more opportunity to define his legacy on his own terms.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He&rsquo;s joined superteams before, carried heavy expectations before, and heard the narratives that follow him. At 37, Durant is still elite, still driven, and now in a situation where his influence extends beyond scoring.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Houston&rsquo;s locker room, he&rsquo;s the standard. His work ethic and professionalism have already rubbed off on the young core. Players like Thompson and Smith Jr. speak openly about the lessons they&rsquo;re learning from him &ndash; how to prepare, how to maintain focus, how to pick your spots on the floor. This team is talented, but Durant&rsquo;s presence gives them identity.</span></p>
<p><strong>One of the biggest lineups ever assembled, and Reed Sheppard&rsquo;s moment</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What&rsquo;s also fascinating about this Rockets team is how physically imposing they&rsquo;ve become. Udoka hinted during media day that Houston might deploy &ldquo;one of the biggest lineups in league history.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He wasn&rsquo;t exaggerating.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Houston has eight players with wingspans over seven feet, including Durant, Smith Jr., Sengun, Thompson, Steven Adams, Tari Eason, Tari Eason, and Josh Okogie.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Against the Thunder, the Rockets are expected to start Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams &ndash; a massive group that blends size, versatility, and rim protection.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This lineup has the potential to suffocate teams defensively while overwhelming them on the boards. Amen can switch across multiple positions, Sengun and Adams anchor the paint, Smith Jr.&rsquo;s improved awareness allows Houston to maintain spacing even with a traditional center on the floor, and Durant is a sneaky good weakside rim protector.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With VanVleet out, rookie guard Reed Sheppard is set to play a more significant role than expected. Known for his high IQ and fearless shooting, Sheppard could provide the spacing and composure Houston needs from the second unit. In a team filled with stars and length, Sheppard&rsquo;s ability to shoot, defend, and make quick reads could make him the quiet X-factor early in the season.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All eyes will be on Oklahoma City on opening night. The Thunder will celebrate their first championship in franchise history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the squad will receive their championship rings, sending the crowd in euphoria.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But on the other side, the Rockets are coming to send a message.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They&rsquo;re not intimidated by the defending champions &ndash;&nbsp; they&rsquo;re motivated by them. Houston&rsquo;s front office watched OKC&rsquo;s rise closely: a young, homegrown team built around patience, culture, and development. Now, the Rockets believe they can write their own version of that story, except this time, with the added edge of experience and star power.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If there&rsquo;s ever a statement game to open a season, this is it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Durant, returning to Oklahoma City where his career began, faces his former team in the most poetic of circumstances &ndash; ring night for the franchise he once led, but with him now wearing Rockets red. It&rsquo;s drama, nostalgia, and rivalry all wrapped into one.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Houston, it&rsquo;s not just about spoiling a ceremony. It&rsquo;s about announcing themselves as legitimate title contenders. They&rsquo;ve gone all-in on the belief that their young core is ready and that Durant can still be the centerpiece of a championship run. For Ime Udoka, the challenge will be blending experience and youth, ego and development, discipline and creativity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If it all clicks, Houston could find itself right in the thick of the title race. For a franchise that has waited years for relevance, that has rebuilt patiently and endured countless growing pains, this season is the start of something new.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And it begins under the bright lights in Oklahoma City, where the Rockets will take the floor not as dreamers, but as believers.</span></p>

With Kevin Durant joining the Houston Rockets, their title expectations have never been higher: the Rockets are going all-in.

Rockets come in season with championship expectations with Kevin Durant

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, the New Orleans Pelicans have wondered, what if Zion Williamson stayed healthy? What if their young core developed on schedule? What if their potential turned into reality? Each season, the answers have been clouded by injuries, inconsistencies, and flashes of brilliance that never fully crystallized into sustained success.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, this year feels a little different. This time, the question isn&rsquo;t just what if &ndash; it&rsquo;s why not now?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the center of it all is Zion Williamson, the player who has embodied both the promise and frustration of the Pelicans&rsquo; franchise. Since entering the league in 2019, Zion has been a spectacle: a 6-foot-10 wingspan in a 6-foot-6 frame, capable of bulldozing defenders one moment and soaring above the rim the next. At his best, he is one of the league&rsquo;s most unstoppable offensive forces, averaging 26 points per game on historic efficiency during his healthiest stretch.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But availability has been his greatest obstacle. In five NBA seasons, Williamson has played more than 60 games only twice in his career. His injuries have been a constant cloud, creating skepticism about whether New Orleans could ever truly build around him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This summer, that narrative took a sharp turn. Zion arrived to training camp slimmer, noticeably more explosive, and carrying himself with a sense of focus that his teammates and coaches immediately noticed. The weight questions, once a persistent storyline, have been replaced by a new image: a player who has embraced the responsibility of leading a franchise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A fit, determined Williamson changes everything for New Orleans. His ability to collapse defenses forces constant rotations, opening lanes for shooters like Trey Murphy III and creating easier looks for teammates. His sheer presence shifts scouting reports and stretches defenses in ways few players in the league can replicate. If he stays healthy, he isn&rsquo;t just an All-Star &ndash; he&rsquo;s an MVP-caliber player.</span></p>
<p><strong>The defensive backbone</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yet, the Pelicans&rsquo; story isn&rsquo;t just Zion anymore. Over the last two seasons, New Orleans has quietly built one of the league&rsquo;s toughest defensive identities. Herb Jones has emerged as one of the NBA&rsquo;s premier perimeter defenders, capable of smothering opposing stars with his length, anticipation, and discipline. His ability to neutralize scorers gives the Pelicans a weapon they can lean on in high-stakes moments.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside Jones, Trey Murphy III has developed into more than just a shooter. His 3-and-D skill set, paired with growing confidence as a secondary scorer, gives New Orleans a wing duo that can both stretch the floor and guard multiple positions. Add in Jose Alvarado &ndash; the relentless spark plug who pressures the ball full-court and embodies the team&rsquo;s grit &ndash; and the Pelicans&rsquo; backcourt and wing defense becomes the backbone of their identity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Defense has often been overlooked when analyzing New Orleans, but it may be the key to unlocking consistency. In a Western Conference filled with offensive juggernauts, having versatile defenders who can match up across lineups is invaluable.</span></p>
<p><strong>The new faces</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Offseason moves also signal a commitment to balancing the roster. Jordan Poole, fresh off an uneven stint with Golden State and Washington, now has a chance to reinvent himself in New Orleans. Here, he doesn&rsquo;t need to be a franchise cornerstone. Instead, he slides into a pivotal third option role, providing instant offense and shot creation alongside Williamson and Murphy. Poole&rsquo;s streaky shooting can swing games, and in short bursts, he could be the X-factor that pushes the Pelicans over the top in tight contests.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then there&rsquo;s Kevon Looney, a player who embodies everything New Orleans has lacked: championship experience, toughness, and dependability. A three-time champion with the Warriors, Looney&rsquo;s contributions won&rsquo;t light up a box score, but his rebounding, screens, and defensive positioning will make the Pelicans harder to break down. For a team that has often folded late in games, Looney&rsquo;s calm presence offers a stabilizing influence.</span></p>
<p><strong>A familiar core, older and wiser</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The beauty of this Pelicans roster lies in its continuity. This is not a team starting from scratch. Just three years ago, New Orleans was a 49-win squad that briefly held the top seed in the Western Conference. They pushed the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs, even without a healthy Zion, showing glimpses of what their ceiling could be.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The core from that run &ndash; Alvarado, Murphy, Jones, and Williamson &ndash; is still intact. Now, they&rsquo;re older, more seasoned, and carrying the scars of past disappointments. Experience is often the unspoken separator between contenders and pretenders, and the Pelicans have quietly built that experience over time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For New Orleans, those lessons have accumulated. They&rsquo;ve seen how injuries derail momentum. They&rsquo;ve felt what it&rsquo;s like to lose a winnable series. And now, with a healthier roster and a leader in peak condition, they&rsquo;re ready to apply those lessons.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, make no mistake: the Western Conference is brutal. Oklahoma City, Denver, Houston, and Minnesota all remain strong. Golden State and both teams in LA are still lurking. But in a year where the balance of power feels more spread out than usual, there&rsquo;s room for a team like New Orleans to make a leap.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the Pelicans, the stakes are clear. If Zion stays healthy and this roster gels, they are capable of winning at least 45, maybe even 50 games and securing one of the 6 playoff spots in the West. They have the depth, the defense, and now, perhaps for the first time, the maturity to sustain success.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But if health issues resurface, or if Zion falters, the narrative could turn quickly. Questions about the franchise&rsquo;s direction would resurface, and the burden of wasted potential would hang heavier than ever. This season isn&rsquo;t just about competing &ndash; it&rsquo;s about proving that the Pelicans can finally move past the all the what ifs from previous seasons.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hope is a fragile thing in sports. For New Orleans, it has often felt like a tease. But this time, there&rsquo;s a different energy around the team. Zion&rsquo;s transformation has given the franchise and its fans something tangible to believe in. The roster, deeper and more balanced than ever, provides legitimate optimism. And the core, tested by setbacks, feels ready to take the next step.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pelicans have everything they need to succeed: a superstar ready to reclaim his place among the league&rsquo;s best, a defensive identity that can withstand the West&rsquo;s firepower, and the supporting cast to fill gaps when stars rest.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the first time in a long time, New Orleans doesn&rsquo;t have a question of what if. It feels like a statement: why not now?</span></p>

A fit Zion Williamson have the Pelicans hoping for a good year ahead. Here’s why 2025-26 could be their breakthrough season.

Pelicans, fit Zion Williamson aim a big year ahead for a breakthrough season

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Golden State Valkyries etched their names into WNBA history by becoming the first-ever expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in their debut season after their pivotal 84-80 victory over the Dallas Wings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This not only showcased their resilience but also secured their playoff berth, marking one of the most impressive inaugural campaigns the league has ever seen.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Wings jumped to a 13-point lead in the second half, but the Valkyries rallied back with resolve to eventually take the win at the end.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just as it has been all season long, the Valkyries did it with a team effort. Janelle Salaun poured in a team-high 19 points while Veronica Burton delivered the dagger three-point play with just 22.3 seconds left, followed by four clutch free throws to ice the win. Carla Leite added 15 points, while Monique Billings came up with a key block in the final minutes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The electrifying energy of a sold-out Chase Center &ndash; nicknamed &ldquo;Ballhalla&rdquo; by fans &ndash; fueled the Valkyries&rsquo; late-game heroics in front of a packed house and crowd.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the win, Golden State (now holding a 23&ndash;18 record) officially claimed the sixth seed in the eight-team playoff bracket and currently sits within striking distance of a higher seed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They will face the third seed in the first round, with their matchup still based on the final seeding which could still shift over the remaining regular-season games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: This is a first-year miracle for an expansion franchise, as no other expansion team in WNBA history has made the playoffs in their debut year. The Valkyries' run defied expectations &ndash; from roster construction in picking the right players from different teams to run their desired system to the translation of their on-court chemistry.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Valkyries have also set league expansion records, as they have sold out every home game (averaging over 18,000 fans at "Ballhalla") and energized the Bay Area sports scene.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their leadership has been nothing short of phenomenal, led by head coach Natalie Nakase, GM Ohemaa Nyanin, and team president Jess Smith by delivering an effective blueprint for elite performance under debut-season constraints.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Overcoming deficits, injuries, and lineup turnover, the Valkyries leaned on depth, cohesion, and incredible poise never before seen from a first-year squad &ndash; deemed worthy enough for their first-ever playoff appearance.</span></p>

The Golden State Valkyries etched their names into WNBA history by becoming the first-ever expansion team to qualify for the playoffs.

WNBA: Golden State Valkyries clinch playoff spot in inaugural season

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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Houston Rockets have landed 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant in a massive trade with the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In exchange, Phoenix will receive guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five future second-round pick from Houston.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Durant, 36, is entering his 18th season and remains a dominant force &ndash; he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists last year, shooting a career-best 43% from beyond the arc. Even only playing 62 games due to injury, he still led the Suns in scoring. His move to Houston comes just in time to bolster their offense, which struggled late in the year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The deal was officially finalized on June 22, though it won&rsquo;t be formally completed until July 6 due to the "poison pill" in Jalen Green&rsquo;s contract, according to Yahoo Sports. Durant learned about the move during an on‑stage appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York &ndash; prompting a stunned reaction captured on live video.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: The Rockets will gain a superstar scorer to complement their young core including Alperen Şeng&uuml;n, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, and Jabari Smith Jr.. Offensively, the firepower can fix late-season lapses. The Rockets just ranked 22nd in half-court scoring in the playoffs. Finally, this move reunites Durant with coach Ime Udoka, his former USA and Nets coach &ndash; relationships that helped seal the deal.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the Suns, they will acquire a future star in Jalen Green, three-and-D veteran Dillon Brooks, a top-10 draft pick, and multiple second-round selections for rebuilding flexibility. They will have also shed</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Durant&rsquo;s remaining $54.7 million salary obligation, freeing cap room to make some more moves and reinforce the squad around franchise player Devin Booker. Or, this move could end up being a pivotal step in pivoting from underperformance toward a long-term rebuild strategy in the future.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a high-risk, high-reward move for the Rockets: they gain a generational talent without sacrificing their core but trade proven contributors in Green and Brooks, and take on luxury tax concerns. Meanwhile, the Suns get foundational pieces and financial flexibility.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Durant&rsquo;s arrival instantly raises Houston&rsquo;s ceiling &ndash; expect them to contend if they gel quickly. Phoenix, meanwhile, can ramp up their rebuild with new assets in hand. This trade not only shifts power in the Western Conference but reshapes the trajectories of both franchises.</span></p>

The Houston Rockets have landed 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant in a massive trade with the Phoenix Suns, according to Shams Charania.

Kevin Durant traded to the Rockets: Blockbuster deal sends superstar to Houston

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the 2025 NBA Finals shifting back to Oklahoma City for a pivotal Game 5, the Thunder delivered their most complete performance of the series &ndash; blowing past the Indiana Pacers to take a 3-2 series lead. In a game full of defensive highlights, coaching decisions, and unexpected stars, it was Jalen Williams who stole the show and ignited Paycom Center with a breakout performance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are four major takeaways from a statement win by OKC:</span></p>
<p><strong>OKC&rsquo;s defense smothers Indiana&rsquo;s rhythm</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder&rsquo;s defensive identity was the foundation of their Game 5 victory. They swarmed the ball, clogged passing lanes, and applied relentless pressure on Indiana&rsquo;s guards. OKC forced 17 turnovers, including 10 steals and 6 blocks, dictating the pace from the opening tip and never letting the Pacers find any offensive flow.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso led the perimeter charge, while Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren walled off the paint. The Thunder&rsquo;s switch-heavy, help-first scheme disrupted Indiana&rsquo;s ball movement and turned defensive stops into transition opportunities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This wasn&rsquo;t just solid defense &ndash; it was a masterclass in suffocating execution that led to the victory.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Jalen Williams takeover game</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the Pacers loading up on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all night, Jalen Williams seized his moment &ndash; and then some.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The third-year forward exploded for 40 points on just 24 shots, carving up Indiana&rsquo;s defense with drives, midrange jumpers, and timely three-pointers. Williams didn&rsquo;t just score &ndash; he controlled the game. His poise, pace, and precision punished every defensive coverage the Pacers threw at him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was no fluke performance. Williams had been growing into his role all postseason, but this was the official coming-out party &ndash; proof that the Thunder have a legitimate second star capable of taking over an NBA Finals game.</span></p>
<p><strong>Indiana&rsquo;s puzzling decision to sit TJ McConnell</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the Pacers needed a spark, T.J. McConnell delivered &ndash; at least for a while.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Tyrese Haliburton clearly hampered by a strained right calf, McConnell took over in the third quarter. He scored 18 points, pushed the pace, and helped trim a 20+ point deficit down to single digits. But in a head-scratching move, head coach Rick Carlisle opted to sit McConnell for the entire fourth quarter in favor of a struggling Haliburton.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Haliburton finished 0-for-4 from the field in 34 minutes and didn&rsquo;t look like himself at any point. Meanwhile, McConnell &ndash; one of the few Pacers with any rhythm &ndash; only saw the floor again near the end of the game. It was a questionable coaching decision that halted Indiana&rsquo;s momentum and left fans wondering what could&rsquo;ve been.</span></p>
<p><strong>Haliburton&rsquo;s status looms large for Game 6</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indiana&rsquo;s hopes of extending the series hinge on the health of their All-Star guard. Haliburton was clearly limited in Game 5 due to the calf strain. While he tried to gut it out, his effectiveness was minimal, and his mobility looked compromised.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pacers will now face an elimination game at home, and Haliburton&rsquo;s availability &ndash; and effectiveness &ndash; could define the outcome. If he&rsquo;s unable to go or continues to play through pain, Carlisle may have to consider leaning more on McConnell or even Andrew Nembhard to stabilize the offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">OKC, meanwhile, is one win away from capturing the franchise&rsquo;s first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma. And with Jalen Williams joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a legitimate Finals force, the Thunder look like a team peaking at the perfect time.</span></p>

We break down OKC’s elite defense and Jalen Williams dropping 40 points on Game 5 takeaways.

Thunder-Pacers Game 5 Takeaways: Jalen Williams rises, OKC clamps down Indiana

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a series full of big moments and bigger performances, Jalen Williams finally had his. The 24-year-old wing exploded for a career-high 40 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, lifting the Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink of their first championship since the franchise moved from Seattle.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For one night, the man they call JDub stepped out of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s shadow. He wasn&rsquo;t just the Robin to SGA&rsquo;s Batman &ndash; he became the Batman and carried OKC to victory. He initiated the offense, hit timely threes, attacked the rim with force, and defended like his life depended on it. It was a masterclass from a player once doubted as the long-term second option for this team. But as the confetti fell after OKC's Game 5 win, there was no doubt anymore: Jalen Williams has arrived.</span></p>
<h3><strong>The emergence of a true No. 2</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oklahoma City&rsquo;s ascension to the NBA&rsquo;s elite has largely been credited to Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s leap into MVP territory and top 5 player in the league conversation. But no team contends for titles with just one star. Throughout the season, Williams quietly established himself as that second cornerstone &ndash; an All-Star, a three-level scorer, and a swiss-army knife on both ends of the floor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He averaged over 20 points per game in the regular season with 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game, and earned All-NBA Third Team honors. But those accolades were hard-earned, especially after the questions that clouded him following last season's playoff exit.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Against Dallas in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, Williams struggled to find rhythm. The Mavericks&rsquo; defense smothered him, taking away his drives and disrupting his midrange flow. He shot poorly, turned the ball over more than usual, and appeared unsure of when to assert himself. The Thunder were bounced in six games, and the spotlight turned on whether JDub could ever truly complement SGA as a playoff performer.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Williams&rsquo; redemption and resolve</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fast forward one year, and Williams is a different player. With Isaiah Hartenstein added to give OKC more interior toughness and Josh Giddey traded away for Alex Caruso, the Thunder leaned even harder into their identity: wings with size, skill, and smarts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Williams fit that mold perfectly, using the offseason to refine his handle, sharpen his jumper, and study film to improve his decision-making. The result? An All-Star nod, a 68-win season, and OKC securing the top seed in the entire league.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But the playoffs would again test him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Denver pushed the Thunder to the brink in the second round. Once again, Williams faced turbulence &ndash; his shot abandoned him at times, and the Nuggets&rsquo; physicality forced rushed decisions. But this time, he didn&rsquo;t unravel. He dug deeper. He impacted games with his defense and passing, then rediscovered his scoring touch just in time to help the Thunder close the series in Game 7.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota, he was magnificent. He shot the ball efficiently, helped neutralize Anthony Edwards at times, and showcased his elite cutting and off-ball IQ &ndash; areas often overshadowed by his flashy isolation moves. By the end of the series, Williams had reclaimed full confidence in his offensive role.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But even that couldn&rsquo;t prepare the world for what he unleashed in Game 5 of the Finals.</span></p>
<h3><strong>A Finals performance to remember</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Indiana doubling SGA on every touch and trying to bait OKC&rsquo;s supporting cast into beating them in Game 5, Williams took full advantage of the defensive attention. He sliced through the defense with decisive drives, nailed tough step-back jumpers, and even initiated offense when Gilgeous-Alexander rested. His 40-point night wasn&rsquo;t just about scoring &ndash; it was about control. He looked every bit like a franchise pillar that would be in the city for years to come.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Williams&rsquo; ability to score at all three levels, his commitment to defense, and his feel for the game now make him one of the most complete young wings in basketball. He's not just a complementary piece anymore &ndash; he's a cornerstone.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Cementing his legacy</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the Thunder now one win away from an NBA championship, Williams is on the verge of etching his name into Oklahoma City lore. Not just as the guy who played beside SGA, but as the co-author of this team&rsquo;s historic run.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s easy to forget this is his first NBA Finals. He plays with the poise of a seasoned vet, never rushing, always reading. His blend of patience and aggression makes him nearly impossible to scheme out of a game, and his confidence has caught up with his tools.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, there&rsquo;s still work to be done. Game 6 awaits back in Indiana, and the Pacers aren&rsquo;t going quietly. But for Williams, this postseason has already validated everything the Thunder hoped he could become.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The doubts that loomed after last year&rsquo;s postseason struggles are gone. The idea that he couldn&rsquo;t rise to the occasion? Erased. This run &ndash; this journey &ndash; is proof of how perseverance and belief can reshape a career.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether he&rsquo;s cutting behind a ball-watching defender, dishing a no-look dime on the break, or drilling a stepback jumper in the clutch, Jalen Williams is playing with the kind of purpose that changes narratives and wins titles.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder may soon hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. And when they do, know that it wasn&rsquo;t just SGA&rsquo;s brilliance that got them there. It was Jalen Williams, too &ndash; the sidekick-turned-superstar, who stepped up when it mattered most.</span></p>

Jalen Williams delivered a 40-point masterpiece in the NBA Finals, cementing his status as the OKC Thunder’s true second star.

Jalen Williams rises from sidekick to star in Thunder’s NBA title push

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the Phoenix Suns prepare to part ways with Kevin Durant, trade discussions have intensified, centering on three frontrunner destinations: the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These teams are reportedly Durant&rsquo;s preferred landing spots, with mutual interest and the potential for a lucrative extension in play. Sources close to the situation revealed to Charania that Heat, Spurs, and Rockets have all gained significant traction in negotiations and are considered finalists in the pursuit of the 15-time All-Star.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: Durant lists Miami as a desirable destination, citing the franchise's culture and strong front office support. The Heat reportedly attempted to acquire him at the trade deadline. While they may lack in draft assets, veteran players like Andrew Wiggins, Kel&rsquo;el Ware, and Duncan Robinson could be key parts of a package.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">San Antonio presents an alluring mix: pairing Durant with phenom Victor Wembanyama and rising star De&rsquo;Aaron Fox. With significant draft capital &ndash; including the Nos. 2 and 14 picks &ndash; the Spurs are well-positioned to make a big move. However, they face a dilemma: part with core young assets or risk falling short in rebuilding momentum.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Rockets are another strong candidate. Durant has personal connections in Houston through assistant coach Royal Ivey and head coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets&rsquo; young core &ndash; Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jalen Green &ndash; is a plus, though matching Phoenix&rsquo;s demands may necessitate including top talent like Green or Jabari Smith Jr.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite Durant's preferences, the Suns maintain they will seek the most valuable return, regardless of destination. With Durant entering the final year of a $54.7 million contract and eligible for a two-year, $122&ndash;124 million extension post-trade, leverage remains high. Six to eight teams are reportedly in serious discussions, including the Minnesota Timberwolves.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The window for a deal is narrowing, with reports suggesting a potential trade could emerge within days or centered around the upcoming NBA Draft. While Spurs appear to be premier contenders according to early betting odds, the situation remains highly fluid and driven by asset valuation.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kevin Durant&rsquo;s next chapter is poised to unfold soon. Miami offers playoff pedigree and culture; San Antonio brings youth and assets; Houston provides chemistry and continuity. Ultimately, the Suns&rsquo; focus on value, aligned with Durant&rsquo;s willingness to commit, sets up a dramatic trade saga that will soon come to a result over the next few days.</span></p>

The Spurs, Rockets, and Heat are the frontrunners to land Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant, according to Shams Charania.

Heat, Spurs & Rockets emerge as top contenders as Kevin Durant trade talks heat up

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dort and Toppin, once labeled &ldquo;cannot shoot&rdquo; coming into their NBA careers, both made big impacts in their first-ever Finals game, draining 5 threes each</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the NBA, the brightest lights often reveal the clearest truths.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Lu Dort and Obi Toppin, the opening game of the 2025 NBA Finals was more than just their debut on basketball&rsquo;s biggest stage &ndash; it was a triumphant vindication. Two players once written off as flawed prospects because of their shooting, each drained five three-pointers in Game 1, helping their teams swing momentum and silence long-standing doubts about their offensive ceilings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a performance steeped in symbolism. Dort, the undrafted defensive ace turned perimeter weapon, and Toppin, the high-flying former lottery pick once typecast as an energy dunker, had just reshaped the narrative &ndash; not just for the game, but for their careers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Five threes. That&rsquo;s what both Dort and Toppin registered by the final buzzer in their Finals debuts. For any role player, that&rsquo;s an outstanding night. But for these two in particular, it was poetic justice.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lu Dort wasn&rsquo;t supposed to be here. He wasn&rsquo;t drafted in 2019, and scouts questioned whether he had the offensive tools to stick in the league. He carved a role for himself with smothering defense, becoming one of the league&rsquo;s fiercest perimeter defenders. But that label &ndash; </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">defensive stopper who can&rsquo;t shoot</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &ndash; stuck.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, Dort was left open. Defenses dared him to shoot. And too often, they were right to. His mechanics were rigid and his decision-making was erratic. But he didn&rsquo;t let that define him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dort has been one of the hardest workers on this OKC Thunder squad, shooting hundreds of reps every day during the&nbsp; offseason and the regular season even during losing streaks or back-to-backs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That dedication culminated in Game 1, where Dort&rsquo;s five triples not only stretched the defense but gave Oklahoma City a vital offensive release valve in a high-stakes contest. Each make felt like the culmination of countless unseen hours.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Across the court, Obi Toppin was having a moment of his own.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drafted eighth overall in 2020 by the New York Knicks, Toppin entered the league with highlight-reel athleticism and a college resume built on jaw-dropping dunks and vertical explosion. But quickly, he was pigeonholed and relegated just to that specific role alone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The knock on Toppin was that he couldn&rsquo;t space the floor. That he was a dunker, not a basketball player. That once the athleticism declined, so would his value.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That narrative followed him out of New York and into Indiana, where a fresh start and head coach Rick Carlisle who believed in his development gave Toppin the runway to evolve. Over the past two seasons, Toppin&rsquo;s shooting steadily improved as his release quickened and his confidence grew. And in Game 1 of the Finals, it all came together.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Five made threes. All in rhythm and all fearless, with shots coming in from the crucial third and fourth quarters that helped Indiana to come back from a 15-point deficit.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Toppin didn&rsquo;t just space the floor &ndash; he bent it. He turned OKC&rsquo;s defense into a scramble, forcing rotations, opening lanes, and punishing closeouts. He played like someone who knew what this moment meant, not just for the game, but for the version of himself that people doubted for years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Superstars dominate headlines in the NBA Finals, and rightfully so. But Dort and Toppin reminded the world that role players can swing games &ndash; and championships too. Their impact wasn&rsquo;t just about the box score; it was about the confidence they gave their teammates and the pressure they took off their stars.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dort&rsquo;s three-point makes gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the spacing he needed to operate. Toppin&rsquo;s shooting allowed Tyrese Haliburton to orchestrate with a wider canvas. And in a game of inches, those extra feet of space mattered.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This wasn&rsquo;t some hot-shooting fluke. It was the product of years of sweat equity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dort entered the Finals shooting a career-high percentage from three this season. He rebuilt his jumper from the ground up and transformed his shot selection. Toppin, meanwhile, has quietly become a legitimate stretch four, hitting a good amount of his threes this season on increased volume.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What we saw in Game 1 wasn&rsquo;t a one-night miracle &ndash; it was a crescendo after years of being overlooked in that department.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s easy to forget that both players were, at one point, afterthoughts in their respective teams' long-term plans.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dort fought for a two-way contract, eventually earning his place in OKC&rsquo;s young core through defense, hustle, and improvement. Toppin was traded for spare parts. His exit from New York barely registered as a headline. But in Indiana, he found a system that let him grow.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals was their statement.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Dort, it was a validation of years spent being the first one in the gym and the last one out. For Toppin, it was confirmation that the dunk contest was just a footnote in his journey, not the highlight.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They didn&rsquo;t just hit five threes. They rewrote the scouting reports. They proved the doubters wrong in basketball&rsquo;s biggest stage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There&rsquo;s something beautiful about seeing players redefine themselves. Not through viral highlights or big contracts, but through unglamorous, tireless work.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dort and Toppin didn&rsquo;t become shooters overnight. They didn&rsquo;t stumble into Finals glory. They earned it through thousands of lonely reps, film sessions, tweaks, failures, and restarts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That&rsquo;s why their Game 1 explosion hit differently.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It wasn&rsquo;t just a surprise &ndash; it was a celebration. A reminder that even in a league dominated by superstars, there&rsquo;s still room for the grinders. For the ones who refuse to be boxed in by labels. For the players who keep showing up, keep improving, and &ndash; when the moment finally comes &ndash; rise to meet it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lu Dort and Obi Toppin weren&rsquo;t supposed to be this. But they believed they could be. And now, with the whole basketball world watching, they are.</span></p>

Lu Dort and Obi Toppin stunned in their 2025 NBA Finals debut, each making five three-pointers and defying critics.

Lu Dort, Obi Toppin rewrite their narratives in NBA Finals debut

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Indiana Pacers struck first in the 2025 NBA Finals, taking Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder after an improbable comeback in the 4th quarter clinched by a game-winning jumper from Tyrese Haliburton. While the series is far from over, Game 1 offered plenty of early lessons and adjustments to look out for in the coming games.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If there&rsquo;s one thing you can&rsquo;t do against the Thunder, it&rsquo;s turn the ball over. Oklahoma City isn&rsquo;t just elite in forcing turnovers &ndash; they&rsquo;re historically good. Game 1 was a harsh introduction for Indiana, who coughed up possession far too many times against a team designed to feast off mistakes &ndash; 24 of them to be exact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">OKC&rsquo;s perimeter defenders, from Alex Caruso to Jalen Williams to Lu Dort and Cason Wallace, excel at reading passing lanes and applying pressure without fouling. The Thunder swarmed Indiana&rsquo;s offense, collapsing on drives and disrupting flow. Their rotations were sharp, their closeouts disciplined, and their ability to generate live-ball turnovers turned defense into instant offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given that this was Indiana&rsquo;s first Finals appearance in decades, some early jitters were expected. The energy inside Paycom Center was relentless, and the Pacers' miscues snowballed under pressure. Although they won Game 1 by a hair, moving forward the Pacers need to prioritize clean possessions and limit turnovers if they want a real shot at winning the series. Because let&rsquo;s be real, the Thunder are still heavy favorites despite squandering Game 1. Improved composure and better decision-making, especially from their lead ball handlers, will be key.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Too much space for the MVP</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indiana&rsquo;s defensive game plan allowed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander far too much room to operate. The newly crowned MVP carved up the defense with his signature patience, gliding into open mid-range jumpers and attacking downhill with minimal resistance. Time and again, he found the pockets of space he thrives in. SGA scored an astounding 38 points in his Finals debut, and Indiana should do a better job in crowding him and showing him bodies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">SGA&rsquo;s ability to control tempo is what makes him so difficult to guard. He's never rushed. He plays at his own pace, decelerating into stepbacks or slithering into floaters. In Game 1, Indiana gave him too much cushion and failed to show enough help at the point of attack.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To slow him down, the Pacers must adjust their coverage. They need to crowd his space, get physical, and throw multiple bodies at him. Blitzing pick-and-rolls, shading help early, and forcing the ball out of his hands should be top priorities. OKC&rsquo;s supporting cast is capable, but Indiana has to be willing to gamble by making others beat them. As it stands, SGA is getting exactly what he wants.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Bench scoring advantage</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One area Indiana clearly won in Game 1 was bench production. Obi Toppin led the way with 17 points, including five made threes, providing crucial spacing and energy. His timely shooting helped the Pacers keep pace, particularly during stretches when their starters were stagnant.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TJ McConnell was equally impactful, igniting the Pacers&rsquo; second unit with relentless pace and dribble penetration. Whether pushing off makes or misses, McConnell kept OKC on their heels and helped Indiana stay within striking distance. His ability to find seams in the defense and collapse the Thunder&rsquo;s perimeter gave Indiana a much-needed offensive spark.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder, on the other hand, didn&rsquo;t get much juice from their reserves offensively aside from Isaiah Hartenstein. While their rotation depth helped defensively, the scoring disparity off the bench could be something to monitor as the series progresses. If Indiana&rsquo;s bench can continue to outperform OKC&rsquo;s, it could swing the momentum in tighter contests.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Rotation chess match</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault made some eyebrow-raising rotation decisions in Game 1. Most notably, he started Cason Wallace over Isaiah Hartenstein, opting for a smaller, switch-heavy group designed to disrupt Indiana&rsquo;s ball movement and prevent easy driving lanes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder rarely used their double-big lineups, instead rotating between Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren at center while leaning into versatility and perimeter defense. At times, Daigneault even deployed a one-forward, four-guard setup &ndash; and in a few stints, a full five-guard lineup. The strategy prioritized switchability and speed, key components in disrupting Indiana&rsquo;s flow.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daigneault went deep into his bench, using 11 players in total. The most surprising cameo came from rookie Ajay Mitchell, who logged a 4&ndash;5 minute stretch early in the second quarter. Mitchell went scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting and finished with a -3, which showed Daigneault&rsquo;s willingness to trust his young talent &ndash; even on the Finals stage. While it didn&rsquo;t pay dividends on the scoreboard, the experience could prove valuable if Mitchell&rsquo;s number is called again later in the series. However, with everything on the line and at stake, Daigneault must choose between developing and going all in and trust the veterans to win games for OKC.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other side, Rick Carlisle pushed all the right buttons. Thomas Bryant and Ben Sheppard delivered timely contributions, defending well and knocking down big shots. Carlisle staggered minutes well, ensuring McConnell and Toppin had favorable matchups. His ability to read the game and make real-time adjustments helped Indiana stay competitive despite the turnover woes.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Final thoughts</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 1 gave us a glimpse of how Oklahoma City&rsquo;s swarming defense and MVP-led offense can control the tempo of this series. Their blend of length, athleticism, and discipline on defense creates chaos, while SGA&rsquo;s poise and scoring gravity center everything on offense. But it also showed Indiana has the bench depth, coaching flexibility, and offensive firepower to respond.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Expect the Pacers to clean up their turnovers and tweak their coverage on Gilgeous-Alexander heading into Game 2. They'll need to impose more physicality on defense and continue winning the bench battle. If they can take better care of the ball and throw OKC off rhythm, this series has the potential to get very interesting.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The chess match has only just begun.</span></p>

Discover key takeaways from Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers, what we learned from each team.

Thunder-Pacers Game 1 Takeaways: What we learned from the NBA Finals opener

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><strong>Slaying giants and legends is becoming a playoff tradition for Edwards</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><strong>Timberwolves' strategic mastery</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The next step now is breaking through to the NBA Finals &ndash; something no Timberwolves team has ever accomplished.</span></p>
<p><strong>Being the &lsquo;face of the league&rsquo;</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Edwards isn&rsquo;t just adding to his playoff resume &mdash; he&rsquo;s building a legacy. One legendary opponent at a time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>

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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the New York Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, the move was met with shock, skepticism, and scrutiny. Five first-round picks. For a player whose offensive role had diminished, whose stats were down, and whose place in a new system seemed more complementary than central.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was one of the most bizarre returns for a player in recent NBA history, which is borderline unprecedented. Bridges was no superstar scorer, nor a perennial All-NBA selection. He had gone from being Brooklyn's first option to, arguably, New York's fourth. Questions swirled: Was this a reach and an overpay?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But New York seemingly knew what they were doing. They were reuniting Bridges with former college teammates at Villanova, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. All three won an NCAA national championship playing together, and the Knicks were hoping this could translate into a good winning culture in the NBA and eventually a title.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then, as the Knicks stunned the defending champion Boston Celtics in back-to-back games to start their 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinal series, those questions disappeared. Because Mikal Bridges answered every single one of them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People often forget that the Knicks didn&rsquo;t bring in Bridges to average 25 points a game. They brought him in to defend the NBA&rsquo;s biggest, strongest wings. They brought him in for this very moment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Celtics, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the charge on the way to their title last season, are the blueprint every other contender is trying to crack. Long, physical wings who can score from anywhere, who can switch everything, and who have been to the NBA Finals twice in the past three seasons. To compete with them, you don&rsquo;t just need offense. You need answers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">New York&rsquo;s answer? Stack the deck with perimeter stoppers. Bridges. OG Anunoby. Josh Hart. Two-way warriors with toughness and length. And in a matchup where margins are razor-thin, where late-game execution determines the outcome, the Knicks&rsquo; investment has already paid dividends.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the game tied in overtime and the final seconds ticking down, the Celtics had the ball in Jaylen Brown&rsquo;s hands. But as Brown caught the ball on the left wing, Bridges was there to read the play and anticipate the move.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He ripped the ball from Brown&rsquo;s hands in one swift motion, wrestled it away as Brown scrambled to recover, and held on as the buzzer sounded. Ball game in Game 1, Knicks steal Game 1 in the Boston Garden.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridges didn&rsquo;t just make a great play &ndash; he made the play. The one that changes the conversation, and the one that likely swings a series.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two nights later, the stakes rose again. Boston had a huge 20-point lead late in the third quarter, and New York was running on fumes. That&rsquo;s when Bridges flipped the switch, not just defensively, but offensively too.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He scored all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter alone, rallying the Knicks back into the game. It was the highest-scoring playoff quarter of his career. The energy inside the Boston Garden shifted, as if life were sucked out of the arena.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And with the Knicks clinging to a slim lead and seconds left, Jayson Tatum had the ball on the left wing. As he tried to make his move toward the baseline, he found himself trapped, smothered by both Bridges and Anunoby. There was nowhere to go.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tatum tried to make the right play and pass out of the double. But Bridges read it. He stuck out his arm, deflected the ball, and threw the ball to the backcourt to a streaking Jalen Brunson, and it sealed the victory. Game over, Knicks 2, Celtics 0. The seemingly invincible defending champion Celtics looked every bit of human that they could be, dropping two straight at home on both comeback occasions.</span></p>
<p><strong>Bridges&rsquo; role and the Knicks&rsquo; vision</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridges&rsquo; offensive dip since arriving in New York has been noticeable. He&rsquo;s no longer the guy who averaged 26.1 points per game in Brooklyn post-KD and Kyrie. With Jalen Brunson scoring and orchestrating, Karl-Anthony Towns spacing, and OG Anunoby slashing, Bridges has often been the third option, sometimes fourth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But that&rsquo;s not the full picture. Basketball is bigger than the box score. And Bridges, even in a quieter offensive role, is impacting winning at the highest level.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Knicks gambled on a vision: a roster designed to slow down elite wing scorers in high-stakes games. And with just two playoff games against Boston, that vision has materialized.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They didn&rsquo;t need Bridges to carry the offense. They needed him to carry the moment, to guard the other team&rsquo;s best guy, and to make the winning play. And he did.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridges didn&rsquo;t ask to be traded. He didn&rsquo;t lobby for five first-round picks to be attached to his name. But he embraced the responsibility. He leaned into the expectations. And now, he&rsquo;s delivering on the biggest stage against the defending champions. He&rsquo;s defending like a star and playing like a closer, all while doing it without the spotlight demanding he score 30.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There&rsquo;s something poetic about a player making his greatest impact on the defensive end in a league that so often celebrates offense. In a series where Boston's stars were expected to take over, Bridges is writing a different script &ndash; one that says defense still wins games, and that the &ldquo;other guy&rdquo; can become the hero.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The job isn&rsquo;t finished, and Boston definitely isn&rsquo;t going away. They&rsquo;re too good and battle-tested. But with the Knicks up 2-0, the tone has been set for the rest of the series.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And if this series is the war New York built their roster for, then Mikal Bridges is one of their weapons to go to war with. Game 3 awaits. But you better believe the Celtics will be seeing No. 25 in their nightmares.</span></p>

Mikal Bridges' two game-winning defensive plays vs. Boston proved his worth in the Knicks' stunning 2-0 series lead over the Celtics.

Mikal Bridges proves his worth with clutch defense late against Boston

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the 2025 NBA Playoffs begin, the Western Conference presents no shortage of compelling narratives and unanswered questions. Each team comes in with a storyline that could define their entire postseason. From young squads making their playoff debut to experienced rosters led by superstars, here's the biggest question facing each Western Conference playoff team.</span></p>
<p><strong>Oklahoma City Thunder &mdash; Can their historic defense carry over to the playoffs?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Oklahoma City Thunder have fielded the league&rsquo;s best defense this season, boasting a 106.6 defensive rating &mdash; the lowest mark in the NBA and one of the best over the past decade. Anchored by a core of versatile perimeter defenders like Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with interior enforcer Isaiah Hartenstein and shot blocker Chet Holmgren, the Thunder built a defensive identity predicated on length, switchability, and relentless pressure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But as history has shown, regular-season defense doesn&rsquo;t always translate to playoff dominance. Matchups become more intentional, rotations tighten, and elite scorers are given room to manipulate even the best schemes. For a team like OKC that leans heavily on team defense rather than individual stoppers, their system will be tested in a postseason series where adjustments are key. Moreover, the Thunder&rsquo;s youth &ndash; despite being a strength in the regular season &ndash; may also be a vulnerability when the game slows down and every possession is magnified.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Thunder squad has the makings of a historically great defense, but now comes the true test: whether that same system can hold up when a superstar like Luka Doncic or Steph Curry start hunting matchups in isolation. If OKC can sustain their defensive intensity in a seven-game series, their path to a deep run remains wide open.</span></p>
<p><strong>Houston Rockets &mdash; Will their inexperience hinder them from going too far?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After years of rebuilding, the Houston Rockets are finally back in the playoffs &mdash; and this time, with a young core brimming with talent. Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson are all making their playoff debuts, and they&rsquo;ve formed a competitive group that finished with the fifth-best defense in the league (110.3 DRtg) and earned the second seed. Their turnaround under head coach Ime Udoka has been remarkable, fueled by a defense-first identity and the emergence of Sengun as one of the best passing bigs in the league.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, playoff basketball is a different beast. It&rsquo;s about adjustments, discipline, and poise under pressure &ndash; things young teams usually need time to learn. In their first-round matchup, the Rockets face the battle-tested Golden State Warriors, a team that features championship experience across the board. Houston&rsquo;s youth could be exposed if the moment becomes too big, especially with Golden State&rsquo;s ability to dissect inexperience through smart off-ball actions and defensive schemes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Players like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, the Rockets&rsquo; veterans, will be counted on to provide leadership and stabilize the team when things go sideways. But this postseason will ultimately serve as a litmus test for how ready the Rockets&rsquo; young stars are to take the leap. Even if they fall short, the experience could be invaluable moving forward.</span></p>
<p><strong>Los Angeles Lakers &mdash; How viable is their roster construction?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Lakers shocked the league by acquiring Luka Doncic midseason, pairing him with LeBron James and Austin Reaves to form a high-powered offensive trio. Since then, they&rsquo;ve leaned heavily into small-ball, often starting lineups with Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith alongside the core trio, while Jaxson Hayes remains their only true center. First-year head coach JJ Redick has installed a modern, five-out system that prioritizes spacing and switchable defense &mdash; a style tailor-made for the postseason.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But viability is still a concern. While the offense has thrived, their defense has some slippages, particularly when LeBron and Luka are on the floor together. Their lack of rim protection and size could be exploited by teams that boast elite drivers to the rim. Additionally, the wear-and-tear of postseason play could take a toll on their aging core, especially LeBron, who is playing his 22nd season and logging heavy minutes in the postseason</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ultimately, the Lakers&rsquo; playoff ceiling hinges on whether their current roster configuration &ndash; heavy on wings, light on bigs &ndash; can hold up when the game slows down and physicality ramps up. If it works, Redick could be hailed as a tactical genius. If it doesn&rsquo;t, questions about roster balance and long-term direction will resurface.</span></p>
<p><strong>Denver Nuggets &mdash; Do they have enough help around Nikola Jokic?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nikola Jokic is once again doing everything for the Denver Nuggets &mdash; and doing it at an MVP level. He finished the regular season averaging a triple-double and top 3 in every major statistical category. His ability to control the game as both scorer and facilitator remains unmatched, and he remains the engine of everything Denver does offensively. But after a sluggish finish to the season, the biggest concern for the Nuggets is whether Jokic has enough help to mount another deep playoff run.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jamal Murray has battled through injuries and hasn&rsquo;t quite looked like the same dynamic scorer from their 2023 championship run. Michael Porter Jr. has been inconsistent, while Aaron Gordon&rsquo;s offensive impact has waned due to multiple injuries. Denver&rsquo;s bench has also taken a step back this year, with limited contributions outside of Russell Westbrook, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Murray can elevate his game and Porter Jr. can knock down shots consistently, Denver remains a title threat. But the margin for error is much slimmer than last year. Jokic can only carry so much weight &ndash; the Nuggets need their supporting cast to deliver, or another early exit could be looming.</span></p>
<p><strong>Los Angeles Clippers &mdash; Can we see James Harden and Kawhi Leonard lead this team to playoff glory?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After losing Paul George to free agency last summer, many assumed the Clippers&rsquo; title window had slammed shut. But the resurgence of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard has breathed life back into their playoff hopes. Harden has embraced the role of primary playmaker, averaging 22.8 points and 8.7 assists per game, while Leonard has quietly had one of the most efficient scoring seasons of his career in recent years, shooting 49.8% from the field and 41.1% from deep.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Clippers finished the season strong with their offense clicking and defense holding steady. Yet the question remains &ndash; can their two stars carry them through the gauntlet of the Western Conference? Leonard&rsquo;s health has always been a question mark, and Harden&rsquo;s playoff track record has been a mixed bag at best.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This postseason may be one of the last chances for this iteration of the Clippers to make a real push. If Harden and Kawhi can replicate their regular-season success and stay healthy, they could make noise. Along with steady role players like Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers are darkhorse contenders and will be dangerous out in the West.</span></p>
<p><strong>Minnesota Timberwolves &mdash; How will Julius Randle perform in the playoffs?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minnesota shocked many by acquiring Julius Randle at the trade deadline, moving on from Karl-Anthony Towns in the process. The Wolves hoped that Randle, a more physical and downhill-oriented forward, would provide a better playoff fit alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. However, Randle&rsquo;s postseason history raises concerns &mdash; in 15 career playoff games, he&rsquo;s averaged just 15.6 points on 34.4% shooting from the field.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minnesota will need more than that if they hope to build on last year&rsquo;s conference finals run. Randle must adapt his game to playoff basketball, where defenses are better prepared and isolation-heavy play often becomes less efficient. His ability to stretch the floor, make quick decisions, and play through contact will be tested, especially against elite defenses like OKC.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Randle rises to the occasion, Minnesota could have one of the most balanced starting fives in the conference. But if he reverts to his inefficient playoff habits, the Wolves could find themselves stalling in critical moments &ndash; a risk that looms large in what could be a defining postseason for the franchise.</span></p>
<p><strong>Golden State Warriors &mdash; How far can Jimmy Butler take them?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Warriors made arguably the boldest trade of the deadline by acquiring Jimmy Butler from Miami, forming a star duo with Stephen Curry. Since the move, Golden State has looked rejuvenated, going on a tear to close the regular season and boasting the third-best net rating in the league during that span (+7.2). Butler&rsquo;s leadership, defense, and shot creation have given the Warriors a legitimate second option and re-energized their playoff outlook.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Butler has a proven playoff track record &ndash; he led the Heat to two Finals appearances in four years &ndash; and is widely regarded as one of the most clutch postseason performers. His fit with Golden State has been seamless, and the team&rsquo;s defense has improved significantly, ranking 6th in opponent points per game since the trade. The question is how far Butler can carry this version of the Warriors, who still lean heavily on their aging core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Butler can replicate his past postseason heroics and stay healthy, the Warriors have a real shot to upset higher-seeded teams and return to the Finals.</span></p>
<p><strong>Memphis Grizzlies &mdash; Can they survive this tough season?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No team has faced more adversity this year than the Memphis Grizzlies. Between Ja Morant&rsquo;s on-court antics, injuries to key players, and coaching instability and firing, Memphis stumbled to a slump at the end of the regular season but managed to squeak into the playoffs as the 8-seed. Despite the chaos, the team has shown remarkable resilience, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Zach Edey emerging as bright spots with their improved play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now they face the top-seeded Thunder in a first-round matchup that few give them a chance to win. But if there&rsquo;s one thing the Grizzlies have shown, it&rsquo;s that they won&rsquo;t go down without a fight. Their defense could keep them competitive, and their physical style of play may pose problems for the Thunder.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ultimately, the playoffs may serve more as a building block than a real title push. But if Memphis can steal a game or two &mdash; or even push OKC to the brink &mdash; it would be a testament to the team&rsquo;s grit and foundation heading into next season.</span></p>

Breaking down the biggest question each Western Conference team faces heading into the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

2025 NBA Western Conference Playoffs: Each team’s biggest question in the playoffs

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every NBA season comes with its fair share of surprises, and the 2024-25 campaign has been no different. While championship contenders and superstars have dominated headlines, several teams have quietly &mdash; or loudly &mdash; rewritten their narratives in spectacular fashion. These aren&rsquo;t just flukes or hot streaks. These are teams that have made a leap, exceeded expectations, and found themselves in playoff positioning when few thought they&rsquo;d be here, or surpassing their previous season&rsquo;s accomplishments.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether it&rsquo;s through masterful coaching, player development, savvy roster moves, or simply finding the right chemistry at the right time, these are the teams that have all proven that projections and preseason power rankings don&rsquo;t always tell the full story. Here's a closer look at how these franchises flipped the script and are now among the best feel-good stories of the season.</span></p>
<p><strong>Detroit Pistons</strong><strong><br /></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Previous season&rsquo;s record: 17-65</span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season&rsquo;s record: 44-38, 6th in the East</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps no team has made a bigger leap &mdash; or captured the league&rsquo;s heart &mdash; more than the Detroit Pistons. Just a year removed from a miserable 17-win season, the Pistons have pulled off one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent NBA memory. They are now sixth in the Eastern Conference, and have set a playoff date against the third-seeded New York Knicks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Much of that credit goes to newly hired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who brought immediate structure, accountability, and belief into a young locker room. But the star of the show has been Cade Cunningham. After an injury-riddled season last year, Cunningham has blossomed into a true franchise player this year &mdash; a dual-threat scorer and facilitator who commands the game at his own pace. His decision-making has improved drastically, and he's showing why he was the No. 1 overall pick. Cunningham is here, and he&rsquo;s gunning for that star/superstar status.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Surrounding Cunningham, players like Jaden Ivey (even though he was injured) and Ausar Thompson have also taken noticeable steps forward, while big man Jalen Duren has anchored the middle with toughness and poise beyond his years. Detroit has also had key free agent signings that brought veteran presence in the locker room in Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Tobias Harris. They have also picked up vet PG Dennis Schroder in a trade to help Cunningham with the ball-handling duties. Everything that Detroit has done was in order to come back and see this moment &ndash; to be back in the playoffs. It&rsquo;s not just that Detroit is winning &mdash; it&rsquo;s how they&rsquo;re doing it: through defense, selflessness, and maturity. They&rsquo;ve gone from laughingstock to legitimate in over a season, and it has been incredibly fun to watch.</span></p>
<p><strong>Houston Rockets</strong><strong><br /></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Previous season&rsquo;s record: 22-60</span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season&rsquo;s record: 52-30, 2nd in the West</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After four long and grueling seasons of rebuilding, the Houston Rockets are back &mdash; and better than ever. They&rsquo;ve clinched 50 wins for the first time since the James Harden era and have soared into the second seed in the loaded Western Conference. This transformation didn&rsquo;t happen overnight, but every move the Rockets made over the last four years has culminated in a roster that&rsquo;s deep, versatile, and hungry.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It started with the front office, who made smart picks in the draft: Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green in 2021, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason in 2022, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore in 2023, and Reed Sheppard in 2024. The result? A blend of high-upside talent that&rsquo;s matured quickly under the right guidance. And that guidance came in the form of Ime Udoka &mdash; the tough, defense-first head coach who has instilled discipline and identity from day one.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Rockets also balanced their youth with veteran leadership. Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were crucial free-agent signings, and the trade for Steven Adams added much-needed size and experience in the paint. Sengun has quietly become one of the most skilled bigs in the league, averaging near triple-double numbers with his passing and post play. Meanwhile, Jalen Green&rsquo;s shot selection and efficiency have improved, making him a more consistent offensive threat.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everything is clicking in Houston, and the best part? They&rsquo;re still only scratching the surface. It&rsquo;s officially liftoff time in Houston, Texas.</span></p>
<p><strong>Cleveland Cavaliers</strong><strong><br /></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Previous season&rsquo;s record: 51-31</span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season&rsquo;s record: 64-18, 1st in the East</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It might sound strange to include a 50-win team in a list of surprises, but the Cleveland Cavaliers have surpassed what many expected from them &mdash; and in a completely new way. After losing to the Celtics in the second round last season, many believed Cleveland had plateaued, stuck in a tier below the East&rsquo;s elite. But the arrival of head coach Kenny Atkinson changed everything.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atkinson brought more than just X&rsquo;s and O&rsquo;s to Cleveland &mdash; he brought vision. His innovative offensive schemes breathed new life into the team, particularly Evan Mobley. The former third overall pick has emerged as a true two-way force this year, expanding his offensive bag while remaining a defensive anchor. Mobley has become more comfortable operating as a playmaker, setting high screens, making short-roll reads, and even spacing the floor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Donovan Mitchell remains the alpha, capable of carrying the offense during clutch moments. But with Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen playing supporting roles to perfection &mdash; and the perfect role players giving them a punch off the bench &mdash; the Cavaliers are deeper and more dangerous than ever. This is their best season since LeBron left, and it feels like they&rsquo;ve finally found a sustainable identity. They're not just winning games; they&rsquo;re playing like a team that believes it can win the East.</span></p>
<p><strong>Los Angeles Clippers</strong><strong><br /></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Previous season&rsquo;s record: 44-38</span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season&rsquo;s record: 50-32, 5th in the West</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No team entered the season with lower public expectations relative to their talent than the Los Angeles Clippers especially after Paul George left in free agency. The assumption was that LA&rsquo;s championship window had finally slammed shut. But instead of folding, the Clippers responded with a defiant, gritty, and unified season that caught the league off guard.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kawhi Leonard returned healthy and dominant, looking like the MVP-caliber player of old. His midrange game has been clinical, and he&rsquo;s elevated his play on both ends as the postseason approaches. But perhaps the most shocking resurgence came from James Harden, who has turned back the clock and delivered one of his most efficient seasons in years. Harden has assumed full command of the offense, orchestrating everything with poise and flair while re-establishing himself as a top-tier guard in the league that could possibly fetch an All-NBA plum.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The supporting cast has been outstanding. Ivica Zubac has taken a huge leap, anchoring the Clippers&rsquo; defense and finishing strong around the rim. He&rsquo;s firmly in the Most Improved Player conversation. Norman Powell has been a revelation in an expanded role, consistently providing scoring and hustle. The &ldquo;addition by subtraction&rdquo; idea has rung true &mdash; with more touches and opportunities, Powell has been better than ever.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And of course, credit must go to Tyronn Lue, who has maximized every piece of this roster and turned what many assumed would be a rebuilding year into a redemption tour. The Clippers became this gritty and rugged defensive team that no one wants to meet in the playoffs. They might be underdogs, but they&rsquo;ve built something real.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These four teams &mdash; Detroit, Houston, Cleveland, and Los Angeles &mdash; entered the season with vastly different narratives. But they all share a common thread: they weren&rsquo;t supposed to be this good. Whether through internal growth, roster management, or coaching brilliance, each franchise has exceeded expectations in its own way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The playoffs will be the true test, but what these teams have already accomplished is worth celebrating. In a league where dynasties often dominate headlines, it's stories like these that keep the NBA fresh, unpredictable, and thrilling year after year.</span></p>

Discover how the Pistons, Rockets, Cavaliers, and Clippers have surpassed this season's expectations and rewrote their narratives.

Teams that have exceeded expectations this season

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA has officially announced the reserves for the 2025 All-Star Game, set to take place on February 16 at the Chase Center in San Francisco. These selections, chosen by the league's head coaches, will join the previously announced starters in the newly formatted All-Star mini-tournament.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><strong>Eastern Conference Reserves:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Guards:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cade Cunningham</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Detroit Pistons</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Darius Garland</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cleveland Cavaliers</span></em></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Frontcourt:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers&nbsp;</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers</span></em></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Wildcards:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Damian Lillard</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Milwaukee Bucks</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tyler Herro, Miami Heat</span></em></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">THE 2025 EAST ALL-STAR RESERVES:<br /><br />⭐️ Cade Cunningham<br />⭐️ Damian Lillard<br />⭐️ Tyler Herro<br />⭐️ Darius Garland<br />⭐️ Evan Mobley<br />⭐️ Jaylen Brown<br />⭐️ Pascal Siakam <a href="https://t.co/KH8E1XAoh0">pic.twitter.com/KH8E1XAoh0</a></p>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1885117401114820767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Western Conference Reserves:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Guards:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">James Harden</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Los Angeles Clippers</span></em></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Frontcourt:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Davis</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Los Angeles Lakers</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Victor Wembanyama</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">San Antonio Spurs</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies</span></em></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Wildcards:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jalen Williams</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oklahoma City Thunder</span></em></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="fi">THE 2025 WEST ALL-STAR RESERVES:<br /><br />⭐️ Anthony Edwards<br />⭐️ Anthony Davis<br />⭐️ James Harden<br />⭐️ Jaren Jackson Jr.<br />⭐️ Alperen Şeng&uuml;n<br />⭐️ Jalen Williams<br />⭐️ Victor Wembanyama <a href="https://t.co/g1Sa3l4rcE">pic.twitter.com/g1Sa3l4rcE</a></p>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1885122220240101829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These reserves will complement the All-Star starters announced last week, which include prominent players such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year's All-Star Game introduces a new format featuring a mini-tournament with four teams competing in three games. The 24 All-Star selections will be divided into three teams, each drafted by TNT's Inside the NBA analysts&mdash;Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith. The fourth team will comprise the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge, led by honorary general manager Candace Parker. Each game will be played to a target score of 40 points, adding a fresh competitive element to the event.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend promises to deliver an exciting showcase of basketball talent, blending seasoned superstars with emerging players in an innovative and engaging format.</span></p>

The NBA has officially announced the reserves for the 2025 All-Star Game.

NBA announces 2025 All-Star Game reserves

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to trade guard D'Angelo Russell, rookie forward Maxwell Lewis, and three future second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This move aims to bolster the Lakers' wing depth and defensive capabilities. Finney-Smith, known for his perimeter defense and three-point shooting, is averaging 10.4 points per game while shooting 44% from beyond the arc this season. Milton adds versatility to the backcourt, contributing 7.4 points per game with a 39% three-point shooting percentage.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka finally pulled the plug on making a move, and at Russell&rsquo;s expense. The 6-foot-5 guard has been benched by Lakers head coach JJ Redick for better fit in the starting lineup, implying that the trade was inevitable at some point for the LA franchise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the Nets, this trade marks the return of D'Angelo Russell, who previously earned an All-Star selection during his tenure in Brooklyn. Russell, averaging 15.8 points and 5.2 assists this season, is expected to provide veteran leadership and scoring for the Nets. Maxwell Lewis, a promising young wing, offers potential for development within Brooklyn's system.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Financially, the Lakers benefit by moving approximately $3.5 million below the second tax apron, enhancing their flexibility for future roster moves.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Lakers, currently fifth in the Western Conference, aim to strengthen their position as playoff contenders with these strategic additions. As they continue to adjust their roster in pursuit of championship aspirations, this trade reflects a commitment to enhancing both defensive prowess and offensive versatility.</span></p>

The Lakers, currently fifth in the West, aim to strengthen their position as playoff contenders with these strategic additions.

Lakers trade D'Angelo Russell to Nets

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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 </span><strong>top 15 teams in the West</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as we head into this thrilling new season&mdash;no frills, just what you need to know.</span></p>
<ol>
<li><strong> Minnesota Timberwolves</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Oklahoma City Thunder</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Phoenix Suns</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Memphis Grizzlies</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Denver Nuggets</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Dallas Mavericks</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> New Orleans Pelicans</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Golden State Warriors</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Sacramento Kings</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Los Angeles Lakers</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Houston Rockets</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> San Antonio Spurs</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Los Angeles Clippers</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Portland Trail Blazers</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
<li><strong> Utah Jazz</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li>
</ol>

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

Jake