Bobcats

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

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

Jason Caffey on Bulls Dynasty & Costly Trade

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Edwards was part of Team USA&rsquo;s gold medal squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics, gaining valuable experience on the international stage while sharing the spotlight with some of the league&rsquo;s biggest names. But if Paris was about learning and contributing, Los Angeles in 2028 could be about leading.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the trajectory his career is on, Edwards is poised to be one of, if not the face of Team USA heading into the next Olympic cycle. And this time, it will be on home soil.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles already feel different. The stage will be bigger, the spotlight brighter, and the expectations even higher. Hosting the Games in the United States automatically adds another layer of energy and pride, especially with basketball likely being played at the Intuit Dome in front of a packed American crowd.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s NBA All-Star Game added even more intrigue to what LA 2028 could look like. With USA Stars facing off against the World&rsquo;s best, fans got a small but fascinating preview of what global basketball dominance looks like when the talent is split along national lines. The international game has never been stronger, and the gap between Team USA and the rest of the world continues to shrink. This is what makes the buildup toward 2028 even more compelling for Team USA and the rest of the world.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked about the possibility of Team USA facing this wave of international stars in Los Angeles two years from now, Edwards gave a short but telling response:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what it&rsquo;s gonna build up to but I know it&rsquo;s going to be packed, I know it&rsquo;s going to be a lot of people, and it&rsquo;s going to be fun.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That answer feels very on-brand for Edwards: confident, relaxed, and unfazed by the magnitude of the moment. But underneath that simplicity is a clear understanding: the atmosphere is going to be electric.</span></p>
<h3><strong>2026 NBA All-Star Team USA Stars squad could be a preview of Team USA&rsquo;s LA2028 Olympic team</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This current crop of young American stars that are in Team USA Stars could very well be a preview of Team USA&rsquo;s LA 2028 roster. Cade Cunningham. Anthony Edwards. Devin Booker. Chet Holmgren. Jalen Duren. Tyrese Maxey. Scottie Barnes. Jalen Johnson.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These are not just promising names, they&rsquo;re All-Stars who are continuously improving year by year. They are the next wave, and they represent the future of USA Basketball.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Edwards, in particular, feels like the natural centerpiece of that group. He has the charisma, the fearlessness, and the scoring ability to thrive in Olympic play. His game translates internationally: explosive drives, shot-making from deep, and the confidence to take and make big shots when it matters most.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cade Cunningham brings size and playmaking at the guard position. Devin Booker already has Olympic experience and understands the balance between scoring and sacrificing within a stacked roster. Chet Holmgren offers rim protection and floor spacing. Tyrese Maxey brings speed and energy. Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson add versatility and two-way impact. Jalen Duren gives Team USA interior strength and physicality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That&rsquo;s what makes the thought of LA 2028 so intriguing. These players are already elite at a young age. Two more years of development, playoff battles, and growth could elevate them to an entirely different level. International competition demands cohesion and adaptability, but it also rewards talent and depth: which are two things this group won&rsquo;t lack.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Add in a couple more names in there like Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Paolo Banchero, and Cooper Flagg, and it looks like Team USA will bring yet another star-studded lineup in the quadriennial global meet.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The global challenge will be real as the World team continues to produce MVPs and superstars. International programs are deeper, more disciplined, and more confident than ever before. The days of Team USA simply overwhelming opponents with athleticism alone are long gone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But if this young core continues on its current path, Team USA will be bannered by young and hungry stars ready to bring home yet another gold for the stars and stripes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LA 2028 will be a statement opportunity, a chance for the next generation to take ownership of the red, white, and blue. A chance for Anthony Edwards to go from rising star to unquestioned leader on the biggest international stage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And if Edwards said proves to be right, then Los Angeles might deliver one of the most memorable Olympic basketball tournaments we&rsquo;ve ever seen.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The preview is already here, and the buildup has already started. Now it&rsquo;s just a matter of time, two years from now.</span></p>

Anthony Edwards could lead Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for the new generation of American stars.

Anthony Edwards on Team USA and the LA 2028 Olympics: “It’s gonna be fun”

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

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

Kobe Bryant’s Lessons Still Travel Worldwide

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There was always going to be a reckoning for the Boston Celtics. When Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles during last year&rsquo;s playoffs, the immediate question wasn&rsquo;t just how long Boston would be without its franchise star &ndash; but what the Celtics would look like in his absence. Championship cores rarely survive injuries of that magnitude unscathed. More often than not those teams fracture so they try to reset, and they quietly accept a step back.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season was labeled a &ldquo;gap year&rdquo; almost by default, until Jaylen Brown refused to let it become one.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Boston stripped of its offensive centerpiece and much of the supporting cast that defined its title run &ndash; Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford all gone &ndash; the Celtics entered the season with lowered expectations and little external belief. What followed so far this season, however, has been one of the most defining stretches of Brown&rsquo;s career and one of the most impressive coaching jobs by Joe Mazzulla.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boston somehow remains afloat and relevant: as of this writing they are currently 2nd in the Eastern Conference and are competitive night in and night out, powered by a version of Jaylen Brown that looks increasingly like a top-10 player in the league.</span></p>
<h3><strong>First option Jaylen Brown hoops</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This has been the season where everything clicked for Brown. With Tatum sidelined, he didn&rsquo;t merely inherit the role of first option, he embraced it and expanded it. He mastered his game that was once questioned for its limitations and it has evolved into something that devastates opponents.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown&rsquo;s shotmaking this season is operating on a different plane. Pull-up jumpers off either foot, step-backs with confidence, strong decisive rim pressure that bends defenses, and creating advantages even when his shot doesn&rsquo;t fall. He&rsquo;s no longer just reacting to the defense, rather he&rsquo;s dictating it and playing at his own pace.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Being &ldquo;featured&rdquo; as the main guy can sometimes expose weaknesses for some players. Instead, it sharpened Brown&rsquo;s strengths. He&rsquo;s scoring more efficiently under greater defensive attention. He&rsquo;s commanding double teams without rushing decisions. And perhaps most importantly, he&rsquo;s showing a level of control and composure that suggests a player who finally understands the rhythm of the game at its highest level.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is what a $60 million-per-year player is supposed to look like. For years, Brown&rsquo;s contract was framed as a risk &ndash; an overpay tethered to potential rather than certainty. This season so far has flipped that narrative entirely. He is worth every penny, not because of raw numbers alone, but because of his impact on the floor. He has carried on the responsibility and leadership that shows up every night when there are no safety nets left.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown&rsquo;s evolution hasn&rsquo;t been all statistical: it has also been psychological.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Without Tatum, there is no fallback plan, late-clock bailout, and the luxury of deferring. Every offensive scheme is designed with Brown as the focal point, and yet Boston&rsquo;s offense hasn&rsquo;t collapsed under the weight.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If anything, it&rsquo;s become clearer. Brown has learned when to get his shot off and when to trust his teammates. His reads out of pressure have improved. His willingness to absorb contact, get to the line, and wear down defenders has become a tone-setter for a roster still finding its identity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a player proving he can be the guy &ndash; even if just for now. And that matters not only for the present, but for Boston&rsquo;s long-term reality when Tatum eventually returns. The Celtics are competitive because of him, and he has done a tremendous job in doing so.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Joe Mazzulla reinventing Celtics basketball</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Brown has been the engine, Joe Mazzulla has been the architect.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Boston lost in talent, it had to recover in structure &ndash; and Mazzulla deserves enormous credit for how quickly and decisively he pivoted. This is almost an entirely different team from the one that raised a banner not long ago. Only Brown and Derrick White remain as true pieces from that championship core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everything else had to be rebuilt. Mazzulla adjusted the offense to feature the current Celtics roster strengths other than the usual system he was accustomed to using in their title run. The Celtics play faster in spurts and simpler in execution by necessity. Roles are clearly defined, expectations are realistic and accountability within the team is firm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Payton Pritchard, elevated into the starting point guard role, has responded with poise and toughness. He&rsquo;s there to organize, compete, and space the floor, while Derrick White remains the stabilizer, the connective guard who keeps lineups functional. This has worked throughout the course of the year, with no signs of drop in production even without Jrue Holiday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Around them, Mazzulla has empowered a new wave of role players. Jordan Walsh is getting meaningful minutes, Neemias Queta has carved out a real role, and offseason acquisitions like Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, and Hugo Gonzales have been solid in&nbsp; their own right.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Jayson Tatum&rsquo;s return and what it means for Boston</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Gap&rdquo; years in the NBA are supposed to be quiet. They are to be about patience, development, and waiting for better days. Instead, Boston has turned this season into a proving ground &ndash; for Brown, for Mazzulla, and for a franchise that refuses to fade into irrelevance simply because circumstances demanded it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This doesn&rsquo;t necessarily mean that the Brown and the Celtics are true title contenders in their current form this season, but it does imply that they are still dangerous and rounding up in form while their best player comes back.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And when Tatum eventually returns, he won&rsquo;t be walking back into a team that treaded water. He&rsquo;ll return to one that learned how to survive without him, and one that discovered a version of Jaylen Brown that can take them to the next level.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This statement written by Jaylen Brown and reinforced by Joe Mazzulla has the Celtics looking ahead for a bright future when they are back in full strength.</span></p>

Jaylen Brown is playing at a top-10 level as the Celtics defy expectations in a gap year without Jayson Tatum.

Jaylen Brown, Joe Mazzulla keeping Celtics relevant sans Jayson Tatum

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

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

NBA, Global Basketball Community Unite for World Basketball Day Celebration

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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">Lenny Wilkens, a genuine pioneer whose impact extended beyond the court, was recently recognized and praised by the basketball world. Basketball Hall of Famer and current head of the Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd conveyed a profound respect and personal connection. Kidd recently spoke with<a href="https://r.org/2025/11/13/doc-rivers-jason-kidd-reflect-on-lenny-wilkens-impact-on-basketball-after-passing/"> R.Org</a>, and stressed the importance of Wilkens' achievements and the legacy he leaves behind.</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="presentation">
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">&ldquo;Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Wilkens family,&rdquo; Kidd began, acknowledging the loss felt throughout the basketball community. &ldquo;When you talk about a pioneer, a legend &mdash; someone who&rsquo;s in the Hall of Fame three times &mdash; that says everything.&rdquo;</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">Wilkens had an amazing career. Despite his success as an NBA player, he also built a remarkable coaching career that earned him recognition in both fields. Kidd cited Wilkens' unique time as a player-coach in Seattle as crucial in leading the <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/lenny-wilkens-leaves-basketball-better-than-than-the-way-he-found-it-in-hall-of-fame-life">Supersonics to their sole NBA title</a> and enduringly impacting Seattle's sports legacy.</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">&ldquo;He was a player-coach in Seattle and helped bring the city a championship,&rdquo; Kidd said, highlighting the rarity and significance of that accomplishment. But beyond the trophies and titles, Wilkens&rsquo; influence was deeply personal for Kidd and many others who came through Providence College. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been a role model for all of us coming out of Providence &mdash; just a true winner who&rsquo;ll be dearly missed,&rdquo; Kidd added.</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
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<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">Jason Kidd regards Wilkens' legacy as more than just accolades; it is an embodiment of leadership, perseverance, and humility. Wilkens was one of Providence's most recognizable basketball players, setting a precedent for his successors and inspiring generations with his dedication both on and off the court. Although Wilkens' passing is the end of an era, his story will still resonate, particularly for those who, like Kidd, share the Providence connection and pass on the lessons of a man who transformed what it means to be a champion.</div>
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Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, pays tribute to Lenny Wilkens, celebrating his Hall of Fame legacy and impact as a player-coach and role model.

Jason Kidd Honors Lenny Wilkens' Legacy

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In what looks like a revitalized stretch of form, Russell Westbrook has strung together consecutive standout performances &ndash; and in the process has officially become the all-time rebound leader among guards in NBA history. For a career that&rsquo;s often defined by triple-doubles and explosive scoring, this rebounding milestone arrives as yet another testament to his versatility.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Westbrook has pulled down more rebounds than any other guard in NBA history, putting him ahead of legendary guard Jason Kidd and others in the category.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over his last two appearances, Westbrook showed flashes of the dynamism that defined his prime. Westbrook had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Nuggets, then followed it up with a triple-double vs the Warriors (23 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Westbrook&rsquo;s improved efficiency, stronger rebounding presence and better decision-making has helped the Kings immensely this season.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This uptick is notable given the context. At age 37 (soon to turn 38), and after moving between several teams in recent years, many had projected Westbrook&rsquo;s output to decline. But these recent games suggest the veteran guard still has steps and instincts that can impact the game beyond scoring.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From a historical perspective, ranking as the top rebounder among all guards is significant. Guards are seldom celebrated for rebounding totals, so for Westbrook to carve that niche underscores his will, athleticism and longevity.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It adds an important dimension to his legacy. While his scoring, assists and triple-doubles have been forever etched, this rebounding title reinforces his all-around influence on the game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Becoming the all-time rebounding guard leader is a milestone befitting Westbrook&rsquo;s career arc. If this recent surge is more than a flash, it might signal a final chapter of meaningful production from one of the NBA&rsquo;s most dynamic guards.</span></p>

In what looks like a revitalized stretch of form, Russell Westbrook has strung together consecutive standout performances.

Russell Westbrook reignites play, becomes all-time rebounding guard leader

<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;">The New York Knicks are standing at a crossroads, but it feels like they are primed to cross it for the very first time in a long while. For two seasons, they&rsquo;ve climbed steadily up the Eastern Conference ladder &ndash; first breaking through as gritty playoff underdogs, then proving themselves as a legitimate contender. Now, with their roster fully fortified and a wide-open East beckoning, the Knicks are no longer chasing respect. They&rsquo;re chasing the only thing that matters in New York: a championship.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It might be a title or bust season for the Knickerbockers this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Knicks of the past were easy to caricature &ndash; a franchise trapped in mediocrity, waiting decades for a new star to deliver salvation. But the past two years have rewritten that narrative. Under the leadership of Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have reached the second round and the conference finals, proving their rise wasn&rsquo;t just a flash in the pan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those playoff runs forged their identity: a rugged, defense-first team with just enough offensive firepower to punch above their weight. Along the way, their core hardened. Brunson has blossomed into one of the NBA&rsquo;s elite guards. Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, longtime Villanova teammates, brought a rare chemistry and two-way grit. OG Anunoby, acquired in a trade, added length, defense, and a winning pedigree to the wings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And then came Karl-Anthony Towns &ndash; the big swing. The Knicks didn&rsquo;t just want to compete; they wanted to win it all. Towns&rsquo; arrival gives them a true second option, a versatile big man who can space the floor, play inside-out, and take scoring pressure off Brunson when defenses collapse.</span></p>
<p><strong>The stars align for the Knicks</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the center of it all is Brunson. Once dismissed as just a role player early in his career, Brunson has authored one of the league&rsquo;s great ascensions. Last season, he averaged career-high scoring and efficiency while becoming the face of New York basketball. He is the Knicks&rsquo; engine, their heartbeat, their unquestioned star.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But stars need support, and New York has surrounded him with just that. Towns&rsquo; ability to play inside-out unlocks spacing that Brunson hasn&rsquo;t enjoyed in years past. Bridges and Anunoby flank him with defense and shooting, ready to guard the East&rsquo;s elite wings. Hart remains the connective tissue, doing everything from crashing the boards to igniting transition.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The starting five alone looks built for May and June. But what makes this year&rsquo;s Knicks different is the depth behind them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Playoff basketball often hinges on moments when stars rest. Last season, that&rsquo;s where New York&rsquo;s flaws surfaced. This year, the front office addressed those gaps head-on, adding three key veterans who could shape the season.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jordan Clarkson: The ultimate microwave scorer. Clarkson gives the Knicks a proven bucket-getter who can take over second-unit stretches, easing the scoring burden on Brunson. His ability to create off the dribble gives the bench a different dimension.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Malcolm Brogdon: The stabilizer. The 2023 Sixth Man of the Year brings poise, playmaking, and the ability to run the offense when Brunson sits. Brogdon&rsquo;s versatility also allows him to close games if needed.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guerschon Yabusele: Perhaps the most under-the-radar pickup. The recent Sixers forward, now returning from overseas and having his spot in the league, offers toughness, shooting at the four, and defensive versatility. He fits perfectly into this Knicks system.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Add them to holdovers Deuce McBride &ndash; defensive spark plug who can hit threes &ndash; and Mitchell Robinson, who anchors the paint, and suddenly New York&rsquo;s bench feels like one of the best in the league, if not the best.</span></p>
<p><strong>The East is there for the taking this season</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Timing is everything in the NBA. The Knicks might be hitting their stride at the perfect moment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, the last two Eastern Conference champions, are dealing with a gap year with Achilles injuries to their superstars Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. Philadelphia continues to juggle health and chemistry concerns. Miami&rsquo;s grit will always be a factor, but their ceiling appears capped. For the first time in decades, the East feels like a genuine battlefield with no clear ruler.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This parity opens the door for the Knicks. They&rsquo;re not just contenders &ndash; they&rsquo;re one of the few teams with both the star power and the depth to survive a grueling postseason.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But with opportunity comes weight. New York doesn&rsquo;t just want a strong season; they demand a championship. Madison Square Garden has not witnessed a title since 1973. Every year since has been another layer of frustration, another reminder of unmet potential.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s roster is designed to end that drought. Anything less than a Finals appearance could feel like failure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pressure falls first on Brunson, who must sustain his leap and prove he can be the best player on a championship team. Towns, meanwhile, faces his own proving ground. Long criticized for struggles, he now has a chance to rewrite his legacy in New York. Bridges, Hart, and Anunoby must bring consistency every night. The veterans &mdash; Clarkson, Brogdon, Yabusele &mdash; will need to produce under the brightest lights.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And now being led by newly-hired head coach Mike Brown who has a great track record for managing players, the Knicks are going all in this year with one of the deepest rosters in the league.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Knicks enter 2025-26 with rare clarity. They&rsquo;ve climbed past moral victories and developmental milestones. They&rsquo;ve reached the stage where only banners matter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To win a championship is to etch your name in New York sports lore forever. To fall short &ndash; especially with this roster &ndash; could mean a wave of questions, from roster construction to coaching to whether the pieces truly fit. This is the razor&rsquo;s edge the Knicks now walk.</span></p>
<p><strong>The moment of truth</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, Knicks fans have begged for a team worthy of the Garden. They wanted stars. They wanted toughness. They wanted a roster that could finally deliver hope of a parade down the streets of Manhattan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, they have it. The Knicks enter the 2025-26 season with everything in place: an MVP-caliber guard, a co-star hungry for redemption, wings who defend and shoot, a fortified bench, and the chemistry of a battle-tested core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The time for waiting is over. The excuses are gone. The East is wide open, and the Knicks are built for this moment. In New York, where pressure and passion collide every night under the Garden lights, only one question remains. Is it a title or a bust for the New York Knicks?</span></p>

The Knicks are loaded with talent and depth in 2025-26. With Jalen Brunson leading the way, it’s championship or bust for New York.

Title or Bust: Knicks enter 2025-26 season with championship expectations

The Chicago Sky don’t deserve Angel Reese. Read more why:

The Chicago Sky as an organization do not deserve Angel Reese

<p>Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season. She has spent the majority of the season injured and going through a tumultuous rehab process coupled with failed attempts to return. She hasn't played since July 15 .&nbsp;</p>
<p>Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick, had been limited to 13 games this season when she suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever's win over the Connecticut Sun.</p>
<p>Caitlin Clark announced on social media&nbsp;Thursday night&hellip;</p>
<p>"I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season," Clark posted. "I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn't a big enough word to describe how I am feeling."</p>
<p>&ldquo;This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it&rsquo;s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the playoffs.&rdquo;</p>
<p>This brought a swift reaction from many of the Caitlin Clark mob.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-2_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-5_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-6_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-7_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Here are the facts that not surprisingly, only actual WNBA fans will acknowledge, it would&rsquo;ve been very foolish for Caitlin Clark to risk further injury. In fact, if the Indiana Fever elected to treat Caitlin Clark with the same level of medical malpractice that the Indiana Pacers did with Tyrese Haliburton, and she came back and played and injured herself worst like Tyrese Haliburton did, and would have to miss the entire season next year like Tyrese Haliburton will, that would&rsquo;ve been even more of a catastrophe&hellip;&hellip;as it is for Tyrese Haliburton.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-8_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Of course CC wants to play, just as Tyrese Haliburton wanted to play in the NBA finals but it&rsquo;s not up to them. Any player is going to want to play that&rsquo;s the way Athletes are wired no matter what age or level. If you ask a middle school basketball player if they wanted to try a play in a big game even though they&rsquo;re injured nine times out of 10 they&rsquo;re going to say yes. It&rsquo;s ingrained in athletes to throw caution to the side, and sacrifice your body and health for the good of the team.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On the walls of many high school weight rooms, coaches love to put quotes like,</p>
<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;Pain Is Weakness Leaving Your Body&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Pain You Feel Today Will Be The Strength You Feel Tomorrow&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;You Either Quit Or You Keep Going. They Both Hurt&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;That which does not kill us will only make us stronger&rdquo;</p>
<p>(Attributed to 2Pac or Nietzche whichever will drive home the gladiator, ignore your body and sacrifice for the team message)&nbsp;</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s such a ridiculous argument that people make when they say Tyrese Haliburton said he wanted to play or RG III said he wanted to play or Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant said he wanted to play. Of course they are going to want to play. That&rsquo;s what athletes have been programmed to do.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But in every case, the medical team should have never cleared any of them to play. They are the doctors, the trainers, the medical professionals and they didn&rsquo;t do their job and they should all be held accountable just as when any profession doesn&rsquo;t do their job and catastrophe happens because of their negligence.</p>
<p>If someone goes to a doctor, and tells the doctor that they don&rsquo;t like taking medicine, and the doctor signs off on them not taking the medicine, and the person dies as a result of it, would it be ok because the patient said they didn&rsquo;t like taking medicine ? No. It&rsquo;s the doctor&rsquo;s job to give their medical, professional, diagnosis and recommendation, what they went to years of medical school and are being paid to do. Only in sports do people say, &ldquo;The athlete wanted to play&rdquo; &nbsp;It&rsquo;s your job to say, &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter what you want, you are not cleared to play&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>When Caitlin Clark came back in July and played in that game against the Connitcuit Sun, and re injured herself, it appeared as though they were trying to get her back for the big game against the NY Liberty, and you had all star wknd coming up, and they had the TV ratings to be concerned about. But she didn&rsquo;t look right even before she re injured herself.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But real Caitlin Clark fans should be relieved that the Fever &nbsp;aren&rsquo;t risking her long term health for a short sighted goal of the current playoff position. Especially when even if they did somehow squeak into the playoffs would be facing one of the best if not the best teams in the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx and, let&rsquo;s be honest&hellip;&hellip;their chances of making it past them are slim to none. Maybe even less than that&nbsp;</p>
<p>Caitlin Clark fans should breathe a sigh of relief that the Indiana Fever aren&rsquo;t electing to treat their franchise player as dispensable. We have seen that script before with RG3 and it ruined his entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-9_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>However, the Caitlin Clark mob doesn&rsquo;t care about her actual health or about her as a person. If they did they would&rsquo;ve listened to her multiple pleas with them to not use her to promote racism, hate, or bigotry. But just like her health, her opinion doesn&rsquo;t matter to them. Their only concern and desire is to be able to weaponize her as the symbol of white grievance, white supremacy, the great white hope, as the white damsel in distress who needs protection from all of the Black WNBA players who want to harm her because they hate her so much and are jealous of her. Now, they can&rsquo;t run with any of those narratives anymore. At least not until next season.&nbsp;</p>
<div>And for media people like Dick Vitale, Christine Brennan, Frank Isola, and Jason Whitlock, there&nbsp;will be no fouls to inflate into morality plays or on-court moments to twist into evidence of persecution, so they will have to find new narratives to promote&hellip;..</div>
<div>Or they will completely ignore a sure to be exciting WNBA playoffs with multitudes of ultra talented players altogether. Pay close attention to which one they choose.</div>

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season.

The Caitlin Clark mob is upset they can no longer weaponize her this season

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Popular basketball video game NBA 2K has released its player ratings, with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlining the list.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, the last two NBA MVP winners, both earn a staggering 98 OVR, tying for the highest overall ratings in NBA 2K26 and reaffirming their league dominance heading into the new season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Giannis Antetokounmpo lands at 97 OVR, securing the third spot and maintaining elite-caliber status for the Bucks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards round out the top 5 &ndash; both rated 95 OVR &ndash; showcasing their impact with their teams as they look for playoff success next season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and Victor Wembanyama follow suit, all clocking in at 94 OVR, rounding out the league&rsquo;s highest-rated talent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kevin Durant comes in at 93 OVR to round out the top 10 and just leaves the 94 club by a hair.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Notable Patterns from the Ratings</span></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dual Kings: The only pair sharing the No. 1 spot &ndash; a rare distinction for Jokić and SGA&nbsp;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakers&rsquo; Unique Placement: The Lakers are the only team with two players in the top 10 &ndash; LeBron and Luka.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Youth Rising: Anthony Edwards and Wembanyama's elite ratings reflect their ascent into the game's elite tier/</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enduring Legends: LeBron (94), Curry (94), and Durant (93) demonstrate that age hasn't slowed down their virtual &ndash; and real-life &ndash; relevancy.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These ratings don&rsquo;t just reflect career narratives, but shape how fans play the game. With preorders live and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NBA 2K26 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">launching September 5, this list informs strategy for gamers &ndash; determining who you build around in MyTEAM, MyCAREER, or MyGM modes.</span></p>

NBA 2K has released its player ratings, with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlining the list.

Jokic, SGA stand atop NBA 2K26 player ratings

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One year ago, under the lights of the Accor Arena in Paris, Team USA stood atop the basketball world once again. It wasn&rsquo;t just another medal ceremony; it was a statement. A reminder that, even in the ever-evolving global basketball landscape, the United States could still summon greatness when it mattered most.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2024 Olympic Games marked the fifth straight Summer Olympics where USA Basketball captured gold, a streak that stretches back to Beijing 2008. But unlike some previous runs, Paris demanded everything from this star-studded roster. This was a journey defined not just by talent but by resilience, pride, and the unshakable bond of a group of legends writing their final chapter together.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Early dominance, then a true test</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From the opening tip of the tournament, Team USA was locked in. Group stage matchups and the quarterfinals were clinics in execution, suffocating defense, and offensive firepower. The roster&rsquo;s depth &ndash; from its seasoned veterans to prime stars &ndash; overwhelmed opponents before games even reached the fourth quarter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joel Embiid&rsquo;s size and skill gave Team USA a dominant paint presence, while Devin Booker&rsquo;s steady shooting and defensive grit rounded out a versatile rotation. Kevin Durant, chasing yet another Olympic gold to cement his legacy as arguably the greatest player in USA Basketball history, brought poise and scoring precision in every outing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even the bench guys, who are typically stars for their teams in the NBA, brought something to the table. Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, and Derrick White all had their moments in the Olympic run.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But gold never comes without a challenge, and in Paris, that challenge wore Serbia&rsquo;s colors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The semifinal clash with Serbia was not the walkover many had predicted. Serbia, powered by relentless ball movement and elite shot-making, punched first and didn&rsquo;t let up. By halftime, Team USA found itself rattled, trailing by double digits.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The gap only grew in the third quarter. When the horn sounded to end the frame, the scoreboard told the story &ndash; USA down by 13, just 10 minutes from watching their gold medal dreams fade. The Paris crowd, sensing a monumental upset, buzzed with anticipation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And then the OG trio happened.</span></p>
<h3><strong>LeBron, Steph, KD in the biggest stage</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s rare in sports to witness a moment where history, legacy, and performance converge so perfectly. The fourth quarter against Serbia was one of them. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant &ndash; three of the greatest players of their generation &ndash; seized control of the game in a way that only they could.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LeBron attacked the paint, absorbing contact and finishing through defenders, turning defensive rebounds into fast-break points. Durant&rsquo;s mid-range mastery became the dagger of the comeback, with his last jumper to put Team USA up by four a reminder of why he has been the ultimate international weapon for the U.S. for over a decade. And Curry&hellip; well, Curry turned the court into his personal stage, raining threes for the entire game that bent the momentum entirely.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By the time the buzzer sounded, Team USA had flipped the deficit into a gritty, come-from-behind win. The gold medal game awaited, and standing in the way was the host nation, France.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Paris showdown: Steph&rsquo;s Gold Medal masterpiece</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">France had waited for this moment &ndash; a shot at redemption after falling to the U.S. in the gold medal game at Tokyo 2020. Backed by a raucous home crowd and armed with a disciplined, physical defense, they pushed Team USA to the brink.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The final minutes of the gold medal game will forever be remembered as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steph Curry&rsquo;s night</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the game hanging in the balance, Curry delivered a performance for the ages. In the last three minutes alone, he hit four three-pointers, each one more improbable than the last. The last one, a high-arcing rainbow over two closing defenders, was the &lsquo;golden dagger&rsquo; &ndash; as called by play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle on the broadcast. As it splashed through the net, Curry turned, eyes half-closed, hands tucked under his cheek: his iconic &ldquo;night night&rdquo; celebration has rocked the crowd in Paris and echoed throughout with the whole world watching.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By the time the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read USA 98, France 87. The gold medal was theirs. The Paris crowd could only applaud the brilliance they had just witnessed.</span></p>
<h3><strong>A legacy sealed</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, Paris was more than another tournament &ndash; it was likely their last dance on the Olympic stage. All three had nothing left to prove individually, but together, they created a send-off worthy of their legendary careers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Durant claimed his fourth Olympic gold medal, further separating himself as USA Basketball&rsquo;s all-time scoring leader. LeBron&rsquo;s leadership, versatility, and ability to elevate his teammates reminded fans why he&rsquo;s one of the most complete players the sport has ever seen. And Curry, finally competing in his first Olympics, delivered a gold medal moment that instantly became part of basketball lore.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joel Embiid and Devin Booker may not have had their names in as many headlines, but their contributions were vital. Embiid&rsquo;s rim protection and all-world scoring gave the U.S. a safety net on both ends, while Booker&rsquo;s steady shooting and on-ball defense kept opposing wings in check. Together, this group of stars bridged generations &ndash; past, present, and future &ndash; to keep the gold medal tradition alive.</span></p>
<h3><strong>The weight of five straight</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Winning one Olympic gold medal is difficult. Winning five in a row requires decades of commitment, a system that adapts to the international game, and players willing to set aside egos for the greater good. The Paris run was proof that USA Basketball could still blend superstar power with the unselfishness and precision needed to win in today&rsquo;s global game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rest of the world has never been stronger. International talent floods the NBA every year, with the past 7 NBA MVP winners all coming from outside the US. Teams like Serbia, France, Spain, and Australia have proven they can beat anyone on any given day. That reality made Paris 2024&rsquo;s gold all the more special &ndash; the U.S. didn&rsquo;t just show up and dominate; they faced adversity and rose above it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, a year removed from that night in Paris, the images remain vivid. LeBron, Curry, and Durant embracing at midcourt. Curry&rsquo;s &ldquo;night night&rdquo; in front of a stunned French crowd. The gold medals draped around necks as the Star-Spangled Banner echoed through the arena.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a night that wasn&rsquo;t just about basketball. It was about pride, perseverance, and the rare joy of seeing legends rise to the occasion one last time. For the fifth straight Olympics, USA Basketball stood alone on the summit &ndash; and in doing so, reminded the world why they remain the standard.</span></p>

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

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

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

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

Celtics reshape roster with Niang trade, Boucher signing

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

Dear RG3: Please Don’t Turn Into Jason Whitlock

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to resign and lock in center Daniel Gafford with a three-year contract extension, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The deal reportedly is worth approximately $54-60 million, keeping him under team control through the 2028&ndash;29 season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last season, Gafford posted career highs &ndash; averaging 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game &ndash; until an MCL injury in February sidelined him for 21 games. ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania reports that Dallas was clear-eyed: they wanted to reward his impact and ensure continuity in their frontcourt without limiting future trade flexibility .</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gafford has stood out as one of the league's most efficient big men &ndash; boasting a career field goal percentage near 71%, the best since his 2019 debut. His consistent rim-finishing and altered shot-blocking presence provided stability when Dereck Lively II and mid-season acquisition Anthony Davis dealt with injuries.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: The extension aligns with Dallas's broader strategy of having a defensive team under Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd. Amid a deep frontcourt that now includes Davis, Lively, and presumed No. 1 overall pick in this year&rsquo;s draft Cooper Flagg, Gafford&rsquo;s deal preserves roster balance and cap flexibility. Mavericks insiders note this structured contract keeps him trade‑eligible, offering potential future maneuvering room.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Retaining Gafford solidifies the Mavericks&rsquo; interior rotation with a reliable defender and lob-threat, and it gives them one of the best frontcourt depths in the league. His presence ensures cohesion and allows smoother integration of incoming talent like Flagg, which is why roster continuation is key. Finally, Dallas secured a core component without hampering future options or trade value with this strategic flexibility move.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gafford&rsquo;s re-signing signals the Mavericks&rsquo; commitment to building around their existing nucleus while maintaining flexibility for growth in the coming years.</span></p>

The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to resign and lock in center Daniel Gafford with a three-year contract extension.

Daniel Gafford to resign with Mavericks on new 3-year deal

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 NBA Finals have been a back-and-forth chess match between two young, hungry teams. And with the series tied at 1-1 heading into Game 3, it was Indiana's turn to punch back &ndash; this time led by a new name under the spotlight.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In each Finals game so far, an unexpected hero has emerged. In Game 1, Lu Dort and Obi Toppin each hit five threes in a jaw-dropping display. In Game 2, it was Aaron Wiggins who erupted off the bench for Oklahoma City. Game 3, however, belonged to Bennedict Mathurin.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are our takeaways from Game 3&rsquo;s electric finish:</span></p>
<p><strong>The Bennedict Mathurin Game</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every Finals series features a breakout game &ndash; the kind of moment that lives forever in a player&rsquo;s career highlight reel. Game 3 was that for Bennedict Mathurin. The second-year guard played with fearless aggression, attacking mismatches and knocking down big shots in rhythm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mathurin poured in a playoff career-high 27 points on 9‑for‑12 shooting in just 22 minutes off the bench &ndash; the first 25+ point performance by a Finals reserve since Jason Terry in 2011, providing the kind of offensive spark that shifted the energy of the game. His slashing, transition pace, and ability to finish through contact gave Oklahoma City&rsquo;s defense fits.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What made it even more impressive was the stage. In a chance to go up at home, Mathurin didn&rsquo;t blink. He embraced the moment &ndash; and owned it.</span></p>
<p><strong>Turnovers tilt the game</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Turnovers have been a recurring theme throughout these Finals. Game 1 saw the Pacers lose control with sloppy passes. In Game 2, they cleaned that up &ndash; and it was OKC who capitalized. But in Game 3, the Thunder once again found themselves sabotaged by their own mistakes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oklahoma City committed 17 turnovers &ndash; matching their season high &ndash; leading to easy runouts and momentum-shifting plays for the Pacers. Indiana turned those giveaways into, which made a huge difference in a tightly contested game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For a young team built on pace and rhythm, turnovers are especially costly. They don't just stop your offense &ndash; they fuel the opponent&rsquo;s.</span></p>
<p><strong>Indiana&rsquo;s bench strikes again</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pacers' bench has been a massive factor in this series, and Game 3 only reinforced that. Led by Mathurin, T.J. McConnell, and Obi Toppin, Indiana&rsquo;s second unit outplayed OKC&rsquo;s reserves for the second time in three games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McConnell controlled tempo, picked his spots, and brought his usual scrappy defensive presence. Toppin continued to provide floor spacing and timely cuts. The Pacers&rsquo; bench finished with 49 points, outscoring the Thunder&rsquo;s second unit and shifting the game&rsquo;s momentum every time they checked in.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Indiana, this kind of depth has been a differentiator all postseason &ndash; and it&rsquo;s showing up again on the biggest stage.</span></p>
<p><strong>Pacers tweak defensive coverage on SGA</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most critical adjustments Indiana made in Game 3 was its defensive coverage on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder star had dominated the first two games by manipulating pick-and-roll coverages with surgical precision. But Indiana threw him a different look this time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;They were higher tonight in the pick and rolls. They were above the screens,&rdquo; SGA noted after the game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That higher positioning took away some of his downhill driving lanes and forced him into tougher midrange pull-ups. While Shai still found ways to impact the game, scoring 24 points, the defensive tweak clearly disrupted his rhythm early and helped Indiana build momentum.</span></p>
<p><strong>Final thoughts</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 3 proved once again that no moment is too big for these young Pacers. Between the bench depth, defensive adjustments, and Mathurin&rsquo;s coming-out party, Indiana has seized a 2-1 lead in the series, and the upper hand heading into Game 4, still in Indianapolis.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Oklahoma City, it&rsquo;s back to the drawing board. The Thunder will need to take better care of the ball and find new counters for Indiana&rsquo;s evolving game plan if they want to tie things up again.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With each game rewriting the narrative, this Finals continues to deliver &ndash; and Game 4 is already shaping up to be another classic.</span></p>

Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 off the bench and turnovers doomed OKC in a 116–107 Game 3 Pacers win. Indiana leads series 2–1.

Thunder-Pacers Game 3 takeaways: Bennedict Mathurin breaks out

<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.