Vikings

In a heartfelt ceremony at Barclays Center on January 25, 2025, the Brooklyn Nets honored Vince Carter by retiring his iconic No. 15 jersey. This tribute, held during halftime of the Nets' game against the Miami Heat, marks the seventh jersey retirement in the franchise's history.&nbsp;
Carter, visibly moved during the ceremony, reflected on his tenure with the Nets from 2004 to 2009. During this period, he earned three All-Star selections and became the third-leading scorer in the franchise's NBA history. He expressed deep gratitude, stating, "This is truly something my family and I will cherish forever."&nbsp;
The event was graced by Carter's family, former teammates, ex-coach Lawrence Frank, team president Rod Thorn, and fellow Nets legends Julius Erving, Bill Melchionni, and Buck Williams. A poignant video tribute narrated by Erving, along with messages from Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, added to the evening's significance.&nbsp;
Carter's No. 15 now joins the esteemed ranks of Nets' retired numbers, including Dražen Petrović (#3), Jason Kidd (#5), John Williamson (#23), Bill Melchionni (#25), Julius Erving (#32), and Buck Williams (#52).
This honor underscores Carter's lasting impact on the Nets and the broader basketball community, celebrating a career that inspired many and left an indelible mark on the sport.&nbsp;

On January 25 2025 at the Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets honored Vince Carter by retiring his iconic No. 15 jersey.

Brooklyn Nets retire Vince Carter’s no.15 jersey

BOSTON (AP) &mdash; After an opener that went from rout to flirting with catastrophe, the Boston Celtics got both a win and an early reminder of how lulls could spell doom in the playoffs.
Jaylen Brown&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1647336935290175488?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">had 29 points and 12 rebounds,</a>&nbsp;and the Celtics capitalized on a woeful shooting performance by the Atlanta Hawks to hold on for 112-99 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round matchup on Saturday.
Jayson Tatum scored 25 points, 21 in the first half. Derrick White finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which hosts Game 2 on Tuesday.
&ldquo;We expect to get their best shot,&rdquo; Brown said. &ldquo;We let them get a little more comfortable in the second half, so I expect the next game for them to be a little more prepared. So we&rsquo;ve got to be a little more prepared as well.&rdquo;
It was Brown&rsquo;s first game since missing the final two of the regular season with a cut on a finger on his shooting hand. He played with tape and wrap.
He played through pain, hitting on 12 of 23 field goal attempts, but had six turnovers. He said it as hard to grip the ball and his hand &ldquo;split open&rdquo; at one point. It will be examined Sunday.
The No. 2-seeded Celtics led by as many as 32 points, pouncing on an Atlanta team that missed its first 10 3-point attempts and shot 5 of 29 from beyond the arc for the game.
Atlanta used a 32-12 run to cut the deficit to 96-84 on a three-point play by Bogdan Bogdanovic early in the fourth.
The Celtics got the lead back up to 107-87. It was 110-97 with less than two minutes to play when Atlanta&rsquo;s De&rsquo;Andre Hunter got free on fast break. But his layup attempt was blocked by Marcus Smart.
&ldquo;Human nature plays a part. But we don&rsquo;t want things like that to haunt us,&rdquo; Tatum said.
Smart, last season&rsquo;s NBA Defensive Player of Year, finished with three steals and two blocks.
Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Trae Young added 16 points.
&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t be down that much and expect to come back and win,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;But we still fought. We were being aggressive in that second half.&rdquo;
Despite Atlanta&rsquo;s late push, the Celtics sizzled from all points on the floor, connecting on 13 3 pointers.
After dropping in his third 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half, Tatum&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1647343294702137344?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">spread his arms out wide</a>&nbsp;as he backed down the court to an ovation from the TD Garden crowd.
A big part of Boston&rsquo;s game plan coming in was neutralizing Young and Murray, Atlanta&rsquo;s top two scorers. The Celtics did that and a lot more in the first three quarters.
Young missed his first six shots beyond the arc and was 5 of 18 from the field. Murray was 10 of 25 from the floor.
In a move to match Atlanta&rsquo;s speed, Boston went small, starting White instead of big man Robert Williams in a lineup alongside Al Horford, Tatum, Brown and Smart.
It seemed to neutralize the Hawks&rsquo; attack.
Young had an especially rough start. He had a pass the first possession of the game stolen by Brown and had his first field goal attempt blocked by White on the way to missing his first six shots.
Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said before the game a point of emphasis would be not to turn down open 3s or be deterred by misses.
That wish was tested as Hawks shot 9 of 25 from the field in the opening period and 0 for 9 from beyond the arc as the Celtics took to a 29-19 lead.
Despite the late drop-off, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he&rsquo;s not worried about the late-game malaise carrying over.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not concerned at all,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This team has played great for the entire season. That&rsquo;s going to happen. It&rsquo;s actually good that we went through it. We had to feel that and it&rsquo;s important that we learn from it.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Hawks: Outscored the Celtics 31-20 in the third quarter. &hellip; Young&rsquo;s 28-footer early in the second quarter was Atlanta&rsquo;s first made 3 of the game. Atlanta shot 1 of 16 from 3 in the first half.
Celtics: Outscored Hawks 45-25 in second quarter. &hellip;Tatum had 13 first-quarter points. &hellip; The seats inside TD Garden were draped with T-shirts that read &ldquo;Unfinished Business,&rdquo; a reference to Boston&rsquo;s run last season that came up short in its NBA Finals&rsquo; loss to Golden State. The &ldquo;I&rdquo; and &ldquo;S&rdquo; in unfinished were both highlighted, with the &ldquo;S&rdquo; fashioned to look like an &ldquo;8,&rdquo; a nod to the 18th championship being sought by the franchise.

The Boston Celtics capitalized on a woeful shooting performance by the Atlanta Hawks to hold on for 112-99 victory in Game 1.

Brown scores 29, Celtics hold off late rally by Hawks 112-99

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) &mdash; Kim English is just 34 years old, but has already moved around a lot in his coaching career, serving as an assistant at three schools over six years before landing his first head coaching job at George Mason in 2021.
It was going to take a special opportunity for him to pack up and move again.
&ldquo;Every place I&rsquo;ve been, I&rsquo;ve wanted to stay there forever. I really want to stay at a place for a long time,&rdquo; English said Thursday. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sick of moving,&rdquo;
He believes he has found that place in Providence.
English was named the Friars&rsquo; new basketball coach on Thursday, ending a fast search by first-year Providence athletic director Steve Napolillo that was created after Ed Cooley left to take the job at Big East rival Georgetown.
English becomes the 16th coach in school history. Cooley resigned on Monday following 12 seasons. He complied a 242-153 record with the Friars that included seven appearances, but just three March Madness victories.
English was 34-29 in two seasons at George Mason, leading the Patriots to a 20-13 record this past season. It was the first time the school reached the 20-win milestone since 2016-17.
George Mason president Gregory Washington said it would begin a national search to replace English.
In English, the Friars get a hungry, young coach who has built his reputation on recruiting. He said his secret sauce finding players is simple.
&ldquo;You work at it. You do it every day. You&rsquo;re relentless,&rdquo; English said.
He played college basketball at Missouri and was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round in 2012. But his NBA tenure was short and he was waived in 2013. He had a brief stint with the Chicago Bulls in 2014 and also played two years professionally overseas.
English began his coaching career as an assistant under Frank Haith at Tulsa in 2015 and spent two seasons there before being hired by Tad Boyle in 2017 as an assistant coach at Colorado. In 2019, former Friars coach Rick Barnes brought English to Tennessee as an assistant coach and he stayed until being hired by George Mason
He feels as if he has found a kindred spirit in Napolillo, who sold him on the passion the administration and community have for the Friars&rsquo; basketball program.
The intel he got about Providence and Napolillo aligned with what he observed when he got the chance to meet him.
&ldquo;His passion, his fire, his love for Providence basketball really speaks to me. It really spoke to me what he was looking for,&rdquo; English said. &ldquo;As a first-year athletic director to be in this situation and to go at it and not just do what other people may have been comfortable with. ... That&rsquo;s what you want in a partnership.&rdquo;
English also said he&rsquo;s impressed by facilities at Providence that he said are among the best he&rsquo;s seen.
Napolillo said the reason he was able to move so quickly on the hire was because he heeded the advice of his mentors who told him to always be prepared to have to fill a coaching vacancy.
&ldquo;You always need to have names in a drawer for any coaching situation. You never know what&rsquo;s going to happen,&rdquo; he said. &rdquo;This year, as noise kept growing and growing, I had a list in my drawer.&rdquo;
That list also included a Sports Illustrated article he saved from last year that listed some rising coaches. He can&rsquo;t recall why, but for some reason he highlighted English&rsquo;s name in the story.
English has already started working and began recruiting not long after signing his contract on Wednesday night, he said.
He also confirmed that Dennis Felton, one of his assistants at George Mason, will join him at Providence. Felton served as a Friars assistant under Barnes from 1992 to 1994.
In a Big East that is stacked from top to bottom with coaching talent, English feels as if the pieces are in place to build something special.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had no reason to take a bad job,&rdquo; English said. &ldquo;I was a 20-something-year-old assistant in the SEC. I didn&rsquo;t have to rush. If I&rsquo;m going to have interest in it, it&rsquo;s going to be really good.&rdquo;
For him, that translated into being in a position to bring the Friars a national championship.
&ldquo;If you want to win the big trophy, you&rsquo;ve got to be in the big dance,&rdquo; English said. &ldquo;At the mid-major level it&rsquo;s getting increasing harder to get to the big dance. This gives us an opportunity. If we are competing for Big East championships, we&rsquo;re going to be in the show.&rdquo;&nbsp;

English was 34-29 in two seasons at George Mason, leading the Patriots to a 20-13 record this past season.

Providence hires Kim English as next men’s basketball coach

March Madness is quickly approaching! Here is everything you need to know, including some key games to watch and who&rsquo;s on the bubble ahead of Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament:
<h2 class="Component-root-0-2-68 h2 Component-p-0-2-59">CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS</h2>
All eyes will be on the conference tournaments this week:
&mdash;&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://theacc.com/sports/2018/1/12/2017-18-new-york-life-acc-tournament.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The ACC Tournament is March 7-11</a>&nbsp;in Greensboro, North Carolina.
&mdash;&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://admin.big12sports.com/tournaments/?id=1041" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Big 12 Tournament is March 8-11</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City, Missouri.
&mdash;&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://bigten.org/sports/2022/10/20/2023MBBT.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Big Ten Tournament is March 8-12</a>&nbsp;in Chicago.
&mdash;&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.bigeast.com/tournaments/?id=146" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Big East Tournament is March 8-11</a>&nbsp;in New York.
&mdash;&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://pac-12.com/mens-basketball-tournament-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Pac-12 Tournament is March 8-11</a>&nbsp;in Las Vegas.
&mdash;&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.bridgestonearena.com/events/detail/2023-sec-mens-basketball-tournament" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The SEC Tournament is March 8-12</a>&nbsp;in Nashville, Tennessee.
<h2 class="Component-root-0-2-68 h2 Component-p-0-2-59">MARCH MADNESS</h2>
Selection Sunday is March 12, when&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bracket matchups will be set</a>&nbsp;for the First Four and first- and second-round&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-02-21/2023-march-madness-mens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times" target="_blank" rel="noopener">games that stretch from Florida to California</a>.
Sweet 16 weekend will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas (West), Kansas City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky (South).
Where is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game on April 3.
Basketball aficionados, take note:&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-kansas-city-march-madness-264616d053a2dc26ccf1f59999c0ea5b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The women&rsquo;s NCAA Tournament</a>&nbsp;will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive from Houston.
<h2 class="Component-root-0-2-68 h2 Component-p-0-2-59">BETTING GUIDE</h2>
Who&rsquo;s going to win the national championship? With the regular season over, the betting favorites as of this week to reach the Final Four are Houston, Alabama, Kansas and Purdue, according to&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaab?tab=final-four" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FanDuel Sportsbook</a>. That matches the top teams in&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-02-18/division-i-mens-basketball-committee-reveals-top-16-seeds-three-weeks-selection" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the NCAA&rsquo;s initial seed watch</a>. UCLA is in the mix near the top in&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the AP Top 25</a>&nbsp;too.
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<h2 class="Component-root-0-2-68 h2 Component-p-0-2-59">WHO&rsquo;S IN</h2>
These teams are already going dancing after landing their league&rsquo;s automatic bid:&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/kennesaw-state-liberty-asun-atlantic-sun-conference-5b09f7866f7c962b6240905cfb971449" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kennesaw State</a>&nbsp;(26-8, Atlantic Sun),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/campbell-unc-asheville-big-south-conference-a41680d93065815045140d736d2929dc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNC Asheville</a>&nbsp;(27-7, Big South),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-ziggy-reid-javon-bennett-tanner-thomas-nico-galette-c22c114822b241c1990b7f789466574f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fairleigh Dickinson</a>&nbsp;(19-14, Northeast),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/mvc-championship-drake-bradley-0cafbe568b4c18386c99944f407b2f1d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drake</a>&nbsp;(27-7, Missouri Valley),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/chattanooga-furman-southern-conference-socon-f73c63056db9426a1cd7728db9cf86c7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Furman</a>&nbsp;(27-7, Southern),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/sun-belt-south-alabama-louisiana-tournament-ncaa-560ca5dfbffdf02126b1aa254f5e50d1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louisiana-Lafayette</a>&nbsp;(26-7, Sun Belt),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/southeast-missouri-state-tennessee-tech-ovc-a1c488e92b79f977e42cb9a431f90c30" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southeast Missouri State</a>&nbsp;(19-16, Ohio Valley),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/gonzaga-saint-marys-west-coast-conference-ncaa-tournament-8309d967f68424b76b6eb8d40e35babc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gonzaga</a>&nbsp;(28-5, West Coast),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/charleston-unc-wilmington-a5a96b049c0254c4e02e13b104f2583f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">College of Charleston</a>&nbsp;(31-3, Colonial Athletic Association),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-state-oral-roberts-d72cdca23a50685e2b63eca07e7f8ed9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oral Roberts</a>&nbsp;(30-4, Summit League),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/northwestern-state-texas-am-corpus-christi-b6bda8e49d4f699d690bbb8b318980dc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi</a>&nbsp;(23-10, Southland),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/northern-arizona-montana-state-big-sky-conference-c956fc0ad669863a5b90839c4b29f6d6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montana State</a>&nbsp;(25-9, Big Sky),&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/northern-kentucky-cleveland-state-75d8750c09d58ac260f2ab8469945170" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Northern Kentucky</a>&nbsp;(22-12, Horizon League) and&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/lafayette-colgate-a865298447d891db81c6243f7f85902b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colgate</a>&nbsp;(26-8, Patriot League).
<h2 class="Component-root-0-2-68 h2 Component-p-0-2-59">BUBBLE WATCH</h2>
Arizona State (22-12, 11-9 Pac-12):&nbsp;The Sun Devils could have strengthened their NCAA Tournament hopes by beating Arizona for a second time this season. Arizona State failed in that bid, losing to their rival 78-59 in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, but still should be in good shape after beating Southern California in the tournament quarterfinals.
Oklahoma State (18-15, 8-10 Big 12): The Cowboys&rsquo; NCAA Tournament chances looked good not that long ago. Closing the season with six losses in eight games, including to No. 7 Texas in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, may dash their hopes.
Clemson (23-10, 14-6 ACC): The Tigers tied for third in the ACC regular season but will be sweating out Selection Sunday during a down year in the ACC. Clemson missed out on a big resume-booster by losing by 20 to No. 13 Virginia in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Providence (21-11, 13-7 Big East):&nbsp;The Friars closed the season with three straight losses, which will lead to some tense moments on Selection Sunday. A close loss to No. 11 UConn after a huge rally in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, along with a solid resume, could nudge them into the bracket.
<h2 class="Component-root-0-2-68 h2 Component-p-0-2-59">GAMES TO WATCH</h2>
Florida Atlantic (30-3) vs. UAB (25-8), Conference USA championship, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern (CBSSN):&nbsp;Every team riding the NCAA Tournament bubble will be rooting for the Owls, who could slip into the dance as an at-large team if they lose to the Blazers in the finals. They would much rather FAU take the automatic berth and free up another spot for them.
Ohio State (16-18) vs. No. 5 Purdue (27-5), Saturday, 1 p.m. Eastern (CBS): The Buckeyes have been the biggest surprise of any conference tournament, but every team on the bubble will be pulling for the Boilermakers to knock them out. With two more wins, Ohio State would be swiping another bid from a potential at-large team.

Here's everything to know about March Madness, including games to watch, who’s on the bubble ahead of Selection Sunday and more.

March Madness 2023: Last chances arrive for bubble teams

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The 12 best modern-history players to never make an NBA All-Star team

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) &mdash; Victor Wembanyama didn&rsquo;t wait long to make an impression.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-basketball-las-vegas-6f4ac3d44f624ef36ddb00e314cf0401" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The 7-foot-4 French phenomenon</a> from the club Metropolitans 92 blocked shots at the rim and on the perimeter, got rebounds, ran the floor, set screens, scored on a nifty spin move, showed off his ability to dribble, dove for a loose ball and even played point guard on one possession.
Oh, and all that was in the first two minutes. Talk about setting the tone.
The 200 scouts and NBA executives who came to see a show didn&rsquo;t have to pay for their tickets Tuesday night, but if they had, they wouldn&rsquo;t have been short-changed at any price. Wembanyama showed off all the skills that have him widely presumed to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
His final numbers: 37 points, 11-for-20 shooting, 7 three-pointers, 5 blocked shots, 4 rebounds.
The final score, as if it mattered: G League Ignite 120, Metropolitans 115, with Scoot Henderson &mdash; the consensus No. 2 pick, as of now anyway &mdash; finishing with 28 points and 9 assists for the Ignite.
The teams will play again Thursday afternoon; after that, the next time Wembanyama plays a game of any significance on U.S. soil will likely be at NBA Summer League next July.
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WHAT A DUEL Scoot Henderson &amp; Victor Wembanyama PUT ON A SHOW TONIGHT! <a href="https://t.co/jOApxyIJoD">pic.twitter.com/jOApxyIJoD</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1577516849826242562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Much of the Wembanyama repertoire was on full display, and it was as good as advertised. He made three-pointers. Step-back jumpers. Did what seemed to be mildly reminiscent of the Michael Jordan shrug from the 1992 NBA Finals after one of those shots fell. Played through what appeared to be a bit of a twisted ankle, making a fadeaway three while doing so. He even argued foul calls like a seasoned NBA veteran and may have had a legitimate case on a couple occasions.
There are many ways for the 18-year-old to get better. But it&rsquo;s clear: He&rsquo;s ready for the NBA, ready for the scrutiny that will come going into the draft, the scrutiny that will come if he is indeed the No. 1 pick.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s really a talented player,&rdquo; Ignite coach Jason Hart said.
Even the stuff that didn&rsquo;t show up next to Wembanyama&rsquo;s name in the box score was eye-popping at times. Case in point: a play midway through the second quarter when he set a pick near midcourt, rolled, caught a pass a couple inches inside the three-point line, took one dribble and went airborne &mdash; because by then, he was already in the middle of the lane. He tried to elevate over multiple Ignite players, took a shot, got fouled, shrugged off the contact and dunked the rebound.
It didn&rsquo;t count, but still had some sitting courtside reacting in disbelief.
There are always shows in Vegas, but Cirque du Soleil wasn&rsquo;t the French brand capturing the basketball world&rsquo;s attention on Tuesday night.
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Back-to-back Splash 💦 Victor Wembanyama is up to 17 PTS 🔥 Watch Now on the NBA App and on ESPN 2 📲 <a href="https://t.co/WIy2EVFAUt">https://t.co/WIy2EVFAUt</a> <a href="https://t.co/V3d1hfHCeJ">pic.twitter.com/V3d1hfHCeJ</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1577502513657323520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>

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San Antonio executive R.C. Buford and Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti were chatting pregame. Chris Paul and Devin Booker, in town with the Phoenix Suns to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, showed up to watch with seats near the Metropolitans bench. DeMarcus Cousins grabbed a seat near the Ignite bench. Chelsea Gray and A&rsquo;ja Wilson of the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces &mdash; coming off a FIBA World Cup gold medal won a few days ago as well &mdash; watched from one of the baselines. The WNBA trophy even made an appearance.
And this wasn't just The Victor Show, either. Henderson believes he should be the No. 1 pick and had more than his share of moments. He got around Wembanyama's incredible 8-foot wingspan a couple times for layups, got him in the air to set up assists to Ignite teammates a couple more times, made a step-back three over him as well.
He also tried what would have been a dunk with 3:31 left. Wembanyama swatted it away with ease. Henderson also tried a 3 with 1:31 left; Wembanyama sent that into the seats.
But Henderson more than lived up to his end of the bargain in this made-for-TV showdown.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Scoot Henderson hit the brakes! Get to the NBA App Now: <a href="https://t.co/WIy2EVoxSt">https://t.co/WIy2EVoxSt</a> <a href="https://t.co/BvffwiVWSo">pic.twitter.com/BvffwiVWSo</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1577504502282059776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>

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&ldquo;This game meant a lot to Scoot,&rdquo; said Ignite forward Shareef O&rsquo;Neal, the son of Hall of Famer Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s my No. 1 pick.&rdquo;
Said Henderson: &ldquo;I feel like I impacted the game."
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Henderson showed some fire. He gave the Metropolitans&rsquo; bench a long look when time was called in the second quarter and the Ignite were starting to build their lead. Wembanyama had a little edge to him as well; he made a three-pointer from near the Ignite bench early in the second half, then turned and gave those seated there a look, then converted a four-point play on his next possession.
Nicolas Batum, who played for Metropolitans 92 coach Vincent Collet at the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021 and the 2019 Basketball World Cup in China, tweeted this during the second half: &ldquo;One thing for sure is that the first 2 picks are LOCKED for the next NBA draft.&rdquo;
Much can change between now and June. But Batum's prediction seems pretty safe.
A Victor vs. Scoot show was what the NBA wanted. It delivered.

A Victor Wembanyama vs. Scoot Henderson showdown was what the NBA wanted, and both stars delivered.

Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson showed repertoire as NBA watched

Is the NBA ready to add an expansion team? Evan Sidery explores what kind of team you could build in a present-day expansion draft.

NBA Expansion Mock Draft: What would a new expansion team look like?

In the Golden State Warriors&rsquo; 104-94 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals, a few themes prevailed, powering them one win shy of their fourth title in eight seasons. Broadly, the formula was an elite defense once again reminding everyone that Boston is not the lone menacing unit in the Finals, along with timely shot-making and star-powered contributions.&nbsp;
Rather than laser in on a singular storyline and highlight every play connected to it, let&rsquo;s touch on an assortment of different sequences that help summarize all of these prevailing themes.&nbsp;
1. Draymond Green&rsquo;s renewed offense
Draymond Green&rsquo;s offense has justifiably drawn prominent ire in this series. Prior to Game 5, he recorded 17 points on 26 shots and his lack of scoring prowess, particularly as a spot-up shooter, constantly bogged down the offense.&nbsp;
Yet on Monday, he scored 8 points on 6 shots, handed out 6 assists and committed only 2 turnovers. He&rsquo;d turned in some excellent defensive showings to this point, but Game 5 was easily his most well-rounded of the series.&nbsp;
His first assist of the night previewed the next couple hours. Sometimes, Green&rsquo;s dismal offensive performances are partially defined by erratic, undisciplined passing, but that wasn&rsquo;t the case in Game 5. To kick off the festivities, he lofted a perfect feed into Otto Porter Jr.&rsquo;s bread-basket for the bucket.
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Porter slipping the screen was emblematic of Golden State deciphering just enough openings in the crannies of Boston&rsquo;s fortress to complement its own imposing defense. A 107.5 offensive rating is quite poor, but this club&rsquo;s formula for a title has always been shepherded by the defense.
Al Horford hugging Stephen Curry along the baseline, removing him entirely from any chance of helping on the pass, laid the foundation for a game where the superstar&rsquo;s gravity regularly opened up chances for others. His own 7-of-22 line was unremarkable scoring-wise, though the manner in which the Celtics tethered themselves to him created space elsewhere instead.&nbsp;
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2. Andrew Wiggins, the All-Star starter
Three days after gobbling up a career-high 16 rebounds, Andrew Wiggins returned to score the second-most points of his playoff career with 26. With Curry marred in an uncharacteristic shooting slump and Boston still successfully limiting Klay Thompson&rsquo;s scoring volume, somebody had to prop up the Warriors&rsquo; attack.&nbsp;
That man was Andrew Wiggins, who repeatedly exposed the single coverage he faced, using his size and physicality to launch off the bounce.
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He particularly flourished in the final frame, when he scored 10 of his 26 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Wiggins&rsquo; handle can be robotic and leave him susceptible to stunts or digs. As the Celtics often face-guarded Curry and Thompson (look how they&rsquo;re defended in that clip), the Canadian wing enjoyed added space to operate and wield his self-creation chops. Nearly 70% of his baskets have been assisted during the playoffs, whereas that mark fell to 50% in Game 5.&nbsp;
All series, Boston's defense has appeared content funneling shots to Wiggins. He capitalized monumentally on Monday&rsquo;s pivotal stage.&nbsp;
3. Jaylen Brown and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad offensive experience
Overwhelmingly, Jaylen Brown&rsquo;s 2022 NBA Playoffs have been sensational. He&rsquo;s endured some hiccups, including Game 2 of the Finals, but they&rsquo;ve merely been hiccups and haven't become the norm. Monday was another hiccup.
He logged 18 points on 5-of-18 shooting and committed 4 turnovers. Golden State continually forced him left as a driver and pull-up scorer, which is assuredly not his preference. His handle and ball control are precarious as is, let alone when he&rsquo;s guided away from his dominant hand.
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To further eliminate the right side as a driving lane, both for Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Warriors loaded the gaps and invited middling shooters to bomb beyond the arc. Derrick White entered Game 5 drilling 50% of his triples in the Finals, yet Green helped one pass away and prevented Brown from frequenting the paint. The result is a midrange pull-up Golden State will likely accept, which occurred after Green initially walled off the middle for Brown around the screen.&nbsp;
4. Golden State making Boston get comfortable with the uncomfortable
At the point of attack, Golden State&rsquo;s most lucrative defensive approach in this series has been to apply pressure on the catch, and extend the Celtics&rsquo; offense well away from the hoop. Boston&rsquo;s scheme involves considerable side-to-side movement, with flare screens or other subtle actions designed to create small advantages that morph into sizable ones.&nbsp;
The Warriors refused to let that be commonplace in Game 5, swarming virtually everyone immediately on the catch. Hardly anything Boston achieved felt seamless. Arduous was the defining term of their experiences. On a giveaway midway through the second quarter, Golden State&rsquo;s pressure arrived at every turn.
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Gary Payton II bothered Tatum on the inbounds. White hardly has room to collect himself before Curry is fastened to his hip. Horford caught the ball with Porter draped on him. Tatum generated a bit of space, but even if Horford&rsquo;s delivery wasn't errant, Green rotated over to complicate matters.&nbsp;
The Celtics committed 18 turnovers in Game 5. Although some were unforced, many unfolded similarly to the one above, with Golden State&rsquo;s defense making every brief opening feel fleeting and spurring hurried decisions.&nbsp;
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5. Succumbing to the orbit of Stephen Curry&rsquo;s gravity
<a href="https://twitter.com/StephNoh/status/1536455023214960641?s=20&amp;t=wC1_R7ObuwiuIpGVx1veHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On the clinching possession of Game 4&rsquo;s defeat</a>, Boston twice brought two defenders to Curry. The second time, it led to a bucket that pushed the Warriors&rsquo; edge to five with roughly a minute remaining. In Game 5, the Celtics didn&rsquo;t necessarily blitz Curry each play, but their defense afforded him extra attention more often &mdash; on and off the ball.
Previously, they&rsquo;d predominantly stomached dropping and switching against him, but the coverage skewed more extreme Monday. This isn&rsquo;t to say Boston&rsquo;s defense was the culprit of its loss &mdash; the offense is the prevalent issue. Yet the game-plan clearly shifted and the burden of scoring responsibility didn&rsquo;t almost exclusively rest on Curry&rsquo;s shoulders anymore.&nbsp;
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As a response to that heightened concern, Curry countered with his finest playmaking production of the series, dishing out 8 assists to 1 turnover. Helping to ease the impact of Curry&rsquo;s cold shooting spell was Payton, who scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting to tie a playoff career-high.&nbsp;
Neither Green nor Kevon Looney can even approximate a similar finishing punch to Payton. He&rsquo;s not a roller the defense can entirely abandon and his screening induced favorable switches or opportunities for Golden State&rsquo;s offense.&nbsp;
Porter struggled defending in space, while Looney battled foul trouble all evening. So, Payton stepped up for a postseason-best 26 minutes and crafted necessary interior-scoring verve in addition to his steadfast defensive versatility.
6. Jayson Tatum and his fourth quarter struggles
Through three quarters, Tatum had 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-6 inside the arc. The last number was an absolutely welcomed sight for the 24-year-old superstar, who began Game 5 having converted a paltry 27.4% of his two-point attempts (14-of-51) in the Finals.
Twelve minutes later, he ended with 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-11 inside the arc &mdash; a good, not great overall outing. The leading candidate behind the demise of a five-point, 1-of-5 shooting fourth quarter was Wiggins, whose length, mobility and physicality perturbed Tatum into plays like this.
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Golden State is closing off many drives to Tatum&rsquo;s right all series, so he aimed to take advantage of an early offense opportunity. Instead, Wiggins slid alongside him and swiped down *just* as Tatum began to gather for a finish. That swipe extinguished Tatum&rsquo;s rhythm, provoked an extra, illegal slide of the back foot and he was called for traveling.&nbsp;
7. Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and a synergistic defense
Green&rsquo;s Game 5 defensive brilliance extended beyond help on the perimeter and guiding Brown away from right-hand drives; he was sensational as an interior helper. During his 35 minutes, the Celtics&rsquo; took just six shots at the rim. When he sat for 13 minutes, they took four. Their rim frequency was 10.9% with him on the floor and 20% without him, according to NBA.com.&nbsp;
Boston could hardly score in the paint when he was involved. Shooting and passing near the hoop were chores around him.
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Tatum wiggled into the key, with Green awaiting him. Green jutted out his right arm to deter a drop-off to Robert Williams III, swiveled his left arm up and contested a challenging fadeaway jumper.&nbsp;
Wiggins and Payton gave help on the drive, which muddied Tatum&rsquo;s passing vision as he simply worked to avoid being stripped. Once Green committed to Tatum, Wiggins peeled into Williams, stuck a body on the bouncy big man and ensured any sort of lob would be incredibly challenging to execute or corral.&nbsp;
All 10 of Williams&rsquo; points came in the first half, largely due to Golden State neutralizing him as a release valve after intermission. He&rsquo;s Boston&rsquo;s lone aerial threat and best means of generating shots around the rim.&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s simply scant space to function inside the arc against this harmonic Warriors defense. Those efforts grow increasingly laborious when Green and the entire unit are enforcing the rim like they did Monday.&nbsp;
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Following the Warriors' Game 5 win over the Celtics, Jackson Frank breaks down the film and examines what worked for Golden State.

Breaking down 7 plays that define the Warriors' Game 5 victory

Jackson Frank breaks down the film and collaborates with Nekias Duncan and Mark Schindler to pick the 2021-22 All-NBA teams.

2021-22 All-NBA Teams: Praising this season's 15 best players

Five years ago, around this time, Brooklyn Nets fans were arguing over Yogi Ferrell and Spencer Dinwiddie with hostility.
Seriously, go back and look. You would&rsquo;ve had no idea unless you were covering the Nets, but it was a divisive time in Brooklyn&rsquo;s era. (Even if it didn&rsquo;t rise to the publicity of, say, Kyrie Irving&rsquo;s vaccination status.)
Almost to this exact date in 2017, Ferrell memorably had what is still the best game of his NBA career, dropping 32 points in a nationally-televised game between his Dallas Mavericks and Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Portland Trail Blazers while on a 10-day contract. That same day, Dinwiddie netted 13 (which tied for his second-highest output of the season), and it would be the last time he broke double figures for 10 more days.
The debate grew hilariously one-sided the following season, and Dinwiddie became a fringe All-Star candidate in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. But the reason no one saw this coming initially is because Dinwiddie came up as a pass-first, low-turnover, traditional point guard &mdash; somebody who at one time went <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dinwisp01/gamelog/2017">five games (134 minutes)</a> without committing a turnover and took eight shot attempts per 36 minutes; that figure leapt to 13.1, 15.6, and 18.4 the next three seasons.
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Dinwiddie&rsquo;s game has seen multiple iterations.
The score-first, old-school point guard from 2016-17.
The inefficient, yet ultra-timely scorer who still rarely turned the ball over as a floor general in 2017-18.
The near All-Star who became a full-fledged, scoring point as a sixth man in 2018-19.
The even-nearer All-Star combo guard who averaged around 20.0 points and 7.0 assists and got to the free-throw line at will in 2019-20.
But last year, he tore his ACL for the second time in his basketball-playing life, and is still working his way back while in Washington.
The Wizards <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/wizards-focusing-chemistry-after-bradley-beal-speech-and-players-only-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had a players&rsquo; only meeting before the regular season began</a>. Since a 10-4 start, the team's gone 13-22. Even worse, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/washington-wizards-kentavious-caldwell-pope-montrezl-harrell-separated-after-fight-at-halftime-oklahoma-city-thunder-052704731.html#:~:text=At%20halftime%20of%20their%20122,to%20The%20Athletic's%20Shams%20Charania.&amp;text=Caldwell%2DPope%20banked%20in%20a,to%20its%20second%2Dstraight%20win">tried putting on a WBC Heavyweight Title bout in the Wizards locker room</a> a few weeks ago.
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Dinwiddie, who turns 29 in April, claims that the topic of leadership <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/dinwiddie-says-his-leadership-wasnt-necessarily-welcomed-by-wizards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wasn&rsquo;t welcomed when he brought it up earlier this season</a>. (<a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2017/3/21/15009886/the-dude-is-different-dinwiddie-on-sports-social-media-and-the-8-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He's never been shy.</a>) And now, <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/1/31/22910354/los-angeles-clippers-nba-trade-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin O&rsquo;Connor of The Ringer is reporting</a> that the Wizards don&rsquo;t even want Dinwiddie there:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;The Wizards want to move Dinwiddie because he looks like a shell of his former self and his teammates don&rsquo;t want him there. Schr&ouml;der is fine, but he leans too far toward scoring and would be an awkward fit next to Jackson.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
To be fair, this entire Wizards team looks like a shell of their 10-4 selves from this past November, but anyway...
Dinwiddie, who is averaging 13.0 points, 5.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds on .383/.314/.807 shooting splits is in the first season of a three-year, $54 million deal signed this past summer. After earning $17.1 million this campaign, he&rsquo;ll rake in $18 million in 2022-2023; he has $10 million of $18.9 million guaranteed for the season after. And since the Wizards evidently want to trade him, let&rsquo;s help &lsquo;em out.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavaliers receive: Spencer Dinwiddie, 2026 or 2028 first-round pick 
Wizards receive: Ricky Rubio 
This trade is quite simple on paper, and it starts with Ricky Rubio&rsquo;s $17.8 million expiring contract heading to Washington in exchange for Dinwiddie. Rubio has a torn ACL and is expected to return at some point, just not this season. It feels like someone should send the other a draft pick or two here, but you could make the case going either way.&nbsp;
For the Cavs, they&rsquo;d be sending over Rubio while inheriting Dinwiddie&rsquo;s sizable contract as a result, so they should probably ask for some draft compensation as a result &mdash; and would be right to do so. In the Wizards' case, they&rsquo;d be trading Dinwiddie for someone who may never suit up for them and may want compensation for that reality alone.
To me, Cleveland should get the draft compensation since this deal could impact how it maneuvers this summer &mdash; including Collin Sexton&rsquo;s future, which still needs addressing. The good thing is the pathway to doing that would remain, and Dinwiddie could play the Rubio role this season.
Rubio averaged 13.1 points and 6.6 assists in 28.5 minutes per contest in all but eight games off the bench, while posting .363/.339/.854 shooting splits. He was as impactful as he possibly could&rsquo;ve been given the poor shooting, if you simply watched. Dinwiddie&rsquo;s numbers, as outlined earlier, are strikingly similar, and coming off the bench for a good team might be more ideal for him than starting for an aimless one. And the reason the Wizards' pick is so far into the future is because <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-deadline-2022-how-complex-stepien-rule-decides-which-teams-can-and-cant-deal-first-round-picks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Stepien Rule prevents them from moving anything sooner</a>. (It makes this more difficult.)
Boston Celtics
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Celtics receive: Spencer Dinwiddie, 2026 or 2028 first-round pick&nbsp; 
Wizards receive: Dennis Schr&ouml;der, Josh Richardson 
As<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/reshaping-the-celtics-for-a-playoff-push-part-1-the-backcourt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Justin Lewis noted last week in our Celtics two-part retooling series</a>, these dudes need an actual point guard. The version Dinwiddie seems to play now is a less-effective version of the 2018-19 combo guard he became, but again, let&rsquo;s consider the environment. The Celtics are probably looking for a bigger trade deadline splash, but if pure-point Dinwiddie were to arrive in Boston, that&rsquo;s a better fit next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown than Dennis Schr&ouml;der is.
Because Dinwiddie's deal runs longer than Richardson's or Schr&ouml;der's, you're attaching a first here, Washington, at a minimum. Maybe add a second-rounder that would come sooner.&nbsp;
A big part of why Dinwiddie&rsquo;s been less effective isn&rsquo;t only his shooting splits, but his free-throw rate is the lowest of his career at .240, and he&rsquo;s only averaging 3.9 attempts from the line per 36 minutes, the lowest figure since his rookie season in 2014-15. That free-throw rate needs to elevate in Boston, and playing next to the Jays should provide those open lanes for spaced threes and clear drives to create more of that rim pressure we haven&rsquo;t seen much of in Washington.&nbsp;
Philadelphia 76ers
76ers receive: Bradley Beal, Spencer Dinwiddie, Davis Bertāns, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick 
Wizards receive: Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris 
This looks ugly as hell, and is probably not very likely, but it could actually work.&nbsp;
For Washington, you get rid of two unfavorable contracts; Bertāns especially. You also acquire Simmons, who is beginning his max extension (has he even gotten paid from it yet since he hasn't played?) that'll run through 2025. Beal, as we know, has a player option for next summer, but is more likely to sign an extension this summer that will take him well into his 30s. The Wizards <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/wizards-trade-deadline-notes-bradley-beal-domantas-sabonis-jerami-grant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly still don't want to trade Beal</a>, but what's honestly the upside in keeping him now? To be Portland East? Regarding Tobias Harris, the Wizards may (and probably should) try rerouting him under this scenario. Harris will see over $38 million next season, and over $40 million in 2023-24.&nbsp;
For Philly, it finally rids the organization of the Simmons experience, which it'll probably they need to do to have any chance of competing this year. It also gets rid of Harris, but at a price. At least, Dinwiddie gives the Sixers a real point guard option to mix in, who can even play with Tyrese Maxey and has one fully guaranteed year left. Bertāns is getting between $16 and $17 million each year through the 2024-25 season, though that's partially guaranteed. Functionally, he can be a 4 next to Embiid, which may even help given the way Embiid is passing this season. The first-round picks are the reward for taking back bad contracts, and, of course, getiting Beal.&nbsp;
I'm still not positive it's a deal either of these teams want, but sometimes, we don't know what's best for us anyhow.&nbsp;
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Bryan Fonseca takes a look at three logical landing spots for Wizards point guard Spencer Dinwiddie.

Examining potential trade destinations for Spencer Dinwiddie

DENVER (AP) &mdash; Jae Crowder received all sorts of quizzical text messages for his decision to sign with the Phoenix Suns in the offseason.
What was he thinking? The Suns hadn't been to the playoffs in a decade. The West was stacked.
&ldquo;I look like a genius, huh?&rdquo; cracked Crowder, who took his talents to the Suns after helping Miami reach the NBA Finals last season. &ldquo;I knew the type of group these guys were. I felt like they were hungry. They wanted to do some special things and I wanted to be a part of it.&rdquo;
Behind the brilliant backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker and steady contributions from the likes of Crowder, the Suns are roaring into the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2010, the last year they reached the postseason.
The Suns completed a four-game sweep of the short-handed Denver Nuggets with a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-lakers-denver-nuggets-phoenix-suns-nikola-jokic-nba-e666fed6b9cb3f5b93606aaf17a5eb71">125-118 win </a> Sunday night in a testy game in which MVP Nikola Jokic was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul on Cameron Payne.
It was the seventh-straight win for Phoenix &mdash; the longest playoff winning streak in team history.
After bouncing LeBron James and the defending champion Lakers in six games during the first round, the Suns made even quicker work of Jokic and the Nuggets.
Now, they get to rest up before playing either top-seeded Utah or the Los Angeles Clippers. The Jazz lead that series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Monday night in Los Angeles. Phoenix was 1-2 against the Clippers in the regular season and 3-0 against the Jazz.
&ldquo;Everybody at this point is banged up and can use that kind of recovery,&rdquo; Phoenix coach Monty William said. "We earned it and we want to take advantage of it.
&ldquo;But right now, I'm not even thinking about that. I&rsquo;m just happy about what these guys have accomplished."
Crowder has become quite a postseason catalyst, with his teams going 22-9 over his last 31 playoff games. Before the 2020 season, his teams were 20-31 in playoff games.
&ldquo;Very impressive how locked in we are as a unit,&rdquo; Crowder said. &ldquo;We have great leadership. We have great coaching putting us in a position to succeed right now.
"I definitely feel like we&rsquo;re connected as a group and it shows.&rdquo;
Right after the final horn, Paul and Booker &mdash; who combined for 71 points &mdash; made their way through the post-series handshakes and hugs near the Nuggets logo.
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Waiting on the side was Williams. He shared a heartfelt embrace with each one.
Williams is tight with Paul, from their coach/guard time together in New Orleans. They have a strong bond away from the court, too, and Paul was there for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/030c056106bc43f291bf5cea03328b96">Williams when Williams lost his wife from injuries in a car accident in 2016</a>.
&ldquo;Monty has been through things in his life that a lot of people don&rsquo;t necessarily come back from,&rdquo; said Paul, who scored 13 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter. "Basketball aside, he means so much to me and my family. So to be on this journey with him and to see it paying off is nice. We&rsquo;re a lot alike. We stay locked in. I don&rsquo;t feel good until the buzzer sounds. Monty&rsquo;s the same way. When the series is over, and the game is over, it&rsquo;s nice to share those moments.&rdquo;
The last time the Suns were this far was 2010 behind a cast that included the likes of Amar&rsquo;e Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Jason Richardson and Grant Hill. They fell to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2.
&ldquo;The emotions are happy, grateful, tired, relieved," Williams said of advancing to the conference finals. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of those moments for me that quite frankly I never thought I&rsquo;d have a chance to experience. For me, I have a level of gratitude I can&rsquo;t even explain.&rdquo;
To share it with Paul means that much more.
&ldquo;Chris has meant so much to my career, he's meant so much to my life,&rdquo; Williams said. &ldquo;The darkest moment of my life Chris was right there and one of the highlights of my career, he's right there.
"That&rsquo;s where it is right now. I&rsquo;m not really good at waxing eloquent about how I feel other than just telling you I just feel grateful for this opportunity and to be on this team and in this moment and have a chance to move forward.&rdquo;
___
AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More AP NBA</a>

The Suns have advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2010, the last year they reached the postseason.

Suns rising at the right time, roar into Western Conference Finals

Each day, BasketballNews.com scours #NBATwitter to bring you the best tweets from the previous day. Some are insightful, some are just hilarious (so we had to include them).
Without further ado, here are the tweets of the day for April 14, 2021.
It Won&rsquo;t Be For Clout, It Won&rsquo;t Be For Fame
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
look at Tatum man so classy <a href="https://t.co/FEhiBG05wg">pic.twitter.com/FEhiBG05wg</a>
&mdash; Henry 🦦 (@BucketsByTatum) <a href="https://twitter.com/BucketsByTatum/status/1382176713665351681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Jayson Tatum did this, but he didn&rsquo;t brag about it or post it for praise. He did it because he could, and because he is a good person.
Dream Big
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Inspiring. Don&rsquo;t let anyone tell you that you can&rsquo;t get in fights on here and still achieve at the highest level. <a href="https://t.co/HQ1AwxxqTv">https://t.co/HQ1AwxxqTv</a>
&mdash; Mina Kimes (@minakimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/minakimes/status/1382140352388231169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Kevin Durant finally said &ldquo;screw it&rdquo; and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/were-all-worse-off-for-the-kevin-durantshannon-sharpe-exchange" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaned into being extremely online</a>, and it is commendable. It has to be exhausting to read and hear things about yourself every minute of every day and feel like you can&rsquo;t respond. All players should have burner accounts, and when they are discovered, they should be left alone.
Honestly, Same
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Anthony Edwards on his feelings about Alex Rodriguez being the Timberwolves new owner: "I don't know who that is. I know he's going to be the owner. But I don't know anything about baseball."
&mdash; Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaneMooreNBA/status/1382103479452377092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Alex Rodriguez is that guy who is engaged to Jennifer Lopez.
Big Bank
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Barbie better make these quick 💨 <a href="https://t.co/j1mVfDLBxR">pic.twitter.com/j1mVfDLBxR</a>
&mdash; SB&reg; (@drakecereal) <a href="https://twitter.com/drakecereal/status/1381973803467599874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Again, just like WNBA-endorsed makeup products, please take all of my money. There is so much money to be made through sports-related avenues when companies realize that women exist.
They Grow Up So Fast
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Romeo Langford was 3 years old when Carmelo Anthony was drafted into the NBA. And now he's defending Melo in the NBA. <a href="https://t.co/Gx1vTmlYzG">pic.twitter.com/Gx1vTmlYzG</a>
&mdash; Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorcsnow/status/1382162371553193989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Carmelo Anthony redemption tour is over. He has proven that he can hang with the best of them, because he is the best of them, and that he still belongs in the league playing against and alongside people who are young enough to be his child. Stay Me7o.
Sparking Joy
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I hope Anthony Edwards knows how many people&rsquo;s days he brightens just by being himself. His effervescence, humor, ability to not take things too seriously, and genuine joy lift the spirits of so many on a daily basis. I hope that&rsquo;s a big part of his league-wide perception, too.
&mdash; Jack Borman (@jrborman13) <a href="https://twitter.com/jrborman13/status/1382146210308362244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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This rookie class, and Edwards in particular, is so refreshing. Not because of their on-court abilities, though those have exceeded expectations as well, but because of the fun we see them having. The canned answers and stifling of individual personalities appears to be a thing of the past, and it&rsquo;s so nice to catch a glimpse of exactly who these guys are.
See a tweet that should be featured in our next Tweets of the Day piece? Send it to <a href="https://twitter.com/kelsea_lately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kelsea_lately</a>.

Every day, our Kelsea O'Brien scours #NBATwitter to find the best posts. Here are the tweets of the day for April 14, 2021.