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Pelicans

It&rsquo;s 2024, and teams led by Stephen Curry and LeBron James are once again near the top of the Western Conference. The Warriors have surged to a 6-1 record, placing them tied for 2nd, while the Lakers aren&rsquo;t far behind, holding the 5th spot in a jam-packed situation with several other teams with a 4-3 start. These strong beginnings reflect the impact of both veteran leadership and tactical innovation from new coaching staff.&nbsp;
At the center of it all are James and Curry. The two will always be intertwined after all those years of squaring off in the Finals, even more so now after being the de facto faces of the league. Despite some rocky performances, both Steph and LeBron remain the league's gold standard for sustained excellence.
The Warriors have been on fire to start the season, and they&rsquo;re doing it through defense. They are first in the league in deflections through 7 games played, disrupting opposing teams&rsquo; schemes. More than their high-octane offense, it's their defense that&rsquo;s had a noticeable jump from last year and it&rsquo;s showing up early in the standings.&nbsp;
At the heart of the Warriors&rsquo; offense though is the generational talent in Steph. Curry's impact on the game remains unmatched &ndash; his consistent scoring and playmaking are invaluable and he commands the respect of defenses while creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Draymond Green&rsquo;s defensive influence has anchored Golden State&rsquo;s early success. Even without Curry for three games, the Warriors have continued their winning streak and Draymond was leading the pack with their leader sidelined. His energy and presence bring stability to the defensive end, setting the tone for the entire team. Green&rsquo;s communication and hustle provide a roadmap for the younger Warriors, exemplifying what&rsquo;s expected in terms of effort and awareness on defense.&nbsp;
Younger players like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody have brought depth and energy. Kuminga&rsquo;s athleticism and refined shot selection have given the Warriors a scoring boost, while Moody&rsquo;s steady hand and court vision have added depth.&nbsp;
Under head coach Steve Kerr and his new assistants Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse, the Warriors&rsquo; dynamic rotations leverage both the experience of seasoned stars and the energy of rising talent.&nbsp; With a more reliable bench this season, head coach Steve Kerr has even more flexibility in his rotations. The team signed free agents Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and DeAnthony Melton &ndash; all solid role players that have contributed to their cause.&nbsp;
Along with second year players Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, the Warriors&rsquo; depth is crucial as it allows the team to maintain intensity and momentum when the starters rest. Each player is clear on their role, which keeps the Warriors competitive in all game situations and allows Kerr to implement strategic adjustments without compromising the team&rsquo;s flow.
The Lakers are also enjoying a strong start to the season despite recent disappointing losses. With new head coach JJ Redick bringing a fresh perspective and strategic shift to the team, the Lakers look an entirely different team from a year ago. Redick&rsquo;s emphasis on ball movement and three-point efficiency has provided the Lakers with an offensive boost, allowing their shooters to maximize space and versatility. His experience as a former player gives him a strong rapport with the team, allowing him to instill a confident and cohesive approach.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain crucial, with LeBron&rsquo;s court vision and leadership guiding the Lakers&rsquo; offense while Davis continues to dominate defensively and in the paint. Their veteran presence is balanced by young players like Austin Reaves, who has stepped up as a consistent scoring and playmaking option, enhancing the Lakers' depth.
Why LeBron and Steph, Lakers and Warriors, being good is great for the NBA
With James and Curry&rsquo;s teams on top, the NBA benefits from a renewed excitement to their teams. Both the Lakers and Warriors lead in national TV appearances this year &ndash; with 39 and 36 respectively &ndash; underscoring the pull of their megastar leaders.&nbsp;
These two franchises add a level of intrigue that fans and the league can&rsquo;t get enough of. In a landscape with younger stars emerging, LeBron and Steph&rsquo;s presence at the top underscores their lasting impact and broad appeal&mdash;creating a formula for success and driving fan engagement everywhere.
The simultaneous resurgence of both the Warriors and Lakers is not only exciting for their fans but also beneficial for the NBA. These two franchises, with storied rivalries and legacies, bring added viewership and energy to the league.&nbsp;
Their renewed competitiveness boosts the Western Conference&rsquo;s intrigue and sets up the potential for classic matchups in the playoffs, reigniting a rivalry that has captivated fans for years.&nbsp;
As the season unfolds, the Warriors and Lakers are proving that their presence at the top is essential for keeping the NBA as thrilling as ever.

It’s 2024, and teams led by Stephen Curry and LeBron James are once again near the top of the West --- it’s great for the game.

The Warriors and Lakers could be back, and it’s great for the NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers withstood a late run by the Minnesota Timberwolves to win their season opener, 110-103, on a historic Tuesday night at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA.
Anthony Davis had a dominant MVP-type performance, putting up 36 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. He made key plays down the stretch on both ends of the floor, scoring on 4-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and swallowing up a strong take by Donte DiVincenzo.
The Lakers built a 20-point lead in the first half only to see it cut down to single digits in the 3rd quarter. The Timberwolves came to as close as 4, 81-85, but Davis and LA pulled off enough baskets and stops to come away with the victory.
Davis became the first Laker to achieve a 35+ point, 15+ rebound in an LA season opener win since Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.&nbsp;
Anthony Edwards scored 27 for the Timberwolves in their losing effort but shot just 10/24 from the field. Minnesota played their first regular season game with Julius Randle (16 points) and DiVincenzo (10 points) after that blockbuster trade a few weeks ago that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.
This was a night to remember in Los Angeles with lots of historic moments. Let&rsquo;s check out each of them here.
LeBron-Bronny the first-ever father-son duo in the NBA
The game featured a historic moment for LeBron James and his eldest son LeBron &ldquo;Bronny&rdquo; James Jr. as they became the first father-son pair in the history of the league to step on the court at the same time.
The wholesome moment happened with 4 minutes left in the second quarter as LeBron and Bronny checked in together in the game.
LeBron, who is in year 22 of his basketball career and will turn 40 years old this December, is the all-time leading scorer of the NBA with over 40,000 points. He always expressed his desire of playing together with his son in the NBA, and that dream became a reality today.
Bronny, the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is not expected to play heavy minutes for the Lakers and will likely spend most of the year in LA&rsquo;s G League team South Bay Lakers to continue his development.
Nonetheless, the precious moment was shared by the elder and younger James with their wife/mother Savannah, daughter/sister Zhuri, and several high-profile people in attendance to witness the history.
JJ Redick&rsquo;s first pro game (and win) as an NBA basketball coach
The Lakers&rsquo; win also allowed first-year head coach JJ Redick to win his coaching debut. Redick, a 15-year NBA veteran, did not have any basketball coaching experience at any level but was relatively active around the basketball scene. After a successful NBA career, the 6-foot-4 guard out of Duke was an analyst for ESPN and had his own production studio of podcasts to talk about the NBA before applying and getting accepted for the Lakers job.
Redick did a relatively good job in his first-ever regular season game, often coaching up the Lakers to emphasize their offensive rebounding and to limit their turnovers. Redick also expressed his desire for the Lakers to shoot a certain number of threes, and although LA just went 5-30 from deep, Redick liked what he saw as the Lakers played with pace and space.
Redick also coached with a veteran sense, drawing up unique and good set plays that drew national media attention on social media. Redick was often credited for the Lakers&rsquo; renewed sense of ball movement which could be a good sign for the team moving forward.
Lakers (finally) win a season opener with LeBron
Coming into the game, the Lakers were 0-6 over their last season-opening games in the LeBron James era. They weren&rsquo;t about to lose 7 straight times, as AD willed them victory.
Davis also mentioned this was the Lakers&rsquo; first win in any historic moment that involved LeBron, as he exchanged a laugh with reporters post-game.
&ldquo;We lose every time [LeBron] does something historic or cool, so we&rsquo;re just happy to win today and celebrate this moment,&rdquo; Davis said.
LeBron: longest tenured player of all time
After playing in this game, LeBron officially tied Vince Carter as the only players in NBA history to play 22 seasons. With the body of work he has and the ability to adapt to situations, LeBron could officially surpass Carter next season and claim another record by himself &ndash; alone &ndash; next season.&nbsp;

The Lakers withstood a late run by the Timberwolves to win their season opener on a historic Tuesday night at the Crypto.com Arena

Anthony Davis, Lakers withstand Timberwolves in historic night

Every NBA hooper&rsquo;s dream is to be able to meet and have a wholesome exchange with the players they have looked up to since they were kids. It is one of the most fulfilling things a player can achieve entering the NBA, and a moment like that could make that player&rsquo;s day.
For some however, that would be their lifelong wish granted and more.
Lakers guard Quincy Olivari just had that time of his life when he met Warriors superstar Stephen Curry after their preseason game on Friday night. The Lakers lost big against the Warriors 74-132 as they sat out their starters. In their place, Lakers head coach JJ Redick started Olivari and he delivered, scoring 22 points on 8-16 shooting including 5-9 from three with 7 rebounds. Olivari was all over the floor for the Lakers, providing energy and picking up full court against the Warriors&rsquo; ball handlers.
Although the Lakers&rsquo; lost, Curry took notice of the young guard&rsquo;s performance and chatted with him post-game. The two dapped up and had a brief moment, with Curry talking to Olivari about the game, giving him some advice.
When asked by the reporters in the post-game press conference, Olivari could not help but tear up at that wholesome instance.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s crazy &lsquo;cause I liked him since like I was in 6th grade,&rdquo; said a teary-eyed Olivari. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t even know what to say, man &ndash; that&rsquo;s like my favorite player ever. The first thing he told me was like &lsquo;I&rsquo;m a big fan of your game.&rsquo; And truth be told, I&rsquo;m a big fan of him &ndash; I had his jersey, he signed it twice and I used to sleep on that jersey. I just want to be like him so bad.&rdquo;
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"Just to be able to meet him, he be able to have some respect for me... it means a lot." &mdash; Quincy Olivari got emotional about meeting his idol Stephen Curry 🥹 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/SpectrumSN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpectrumSN</a>)<a href="https://t.co/4LmOP5tcJb">pic.twitter.com/4LmOP5tcJb</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1847521000378020200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Although Olivari is not guaranteed a roster spot with the Lakers having only an Exhibit 10 contract, his story is easily one of the best moments of the preseason. Having that moment with the player you idolized means the whole world for a young player like Olivari.
&ldquo;Just to be able to meet him and him being able to have some respect for me &ndash; and he gave me a pair of his shoes and signed them. Like, that meant the world to me &ndash; my dad knows, my mom knows. It just means a lot.&rdquo;

Lakers guard Quincy Olivari just had that time of his life when he met Warriors superstar Stephen Curry after their preseason game.

Undrafted Lakers’ guard Quincy Olivari gets emotional after exchange with Stephen Curry: “That’s my favorite player ever”

LeBron James and his son LeBron James Jr. made NBA history Sunday night when they shared the floor in the Lakers&rsquo; preseason game against the Phoenix Suns.&nbsp;
The duo made their much-anticipated debut together at the start of the second quarter of the game in Palm Springs, California.
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Bron x Bronny 👑 The father-son duo officially shares the court, becoming the first to do so in NBA history! 🙌🏽<a href="https://t.co/TjQwe3JAw7">pic.twitter.com/TjQwe3JAw7</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1843113805439709496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2024</a>
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Although they did not have many basketball moments in their time on the court together, it was such a cool moment for the Los Angeles superstar as his longtime dream of playing together with his eldest son came to fruition.
&lsquo;Bronny&rsquo; James, as he&rsquo;s fondly called, was picked by the Lakers at the 55th overall selection in this year&rsquo;s NBA Draft.&nbsp;
The elder James notably expressed his desire to play with his son a lot of times in the past. LeBron mentioned it again recently on their team&rsquo;s media day citing it has given him joy and a new lease in his illustrious 22-year NBA career.
&ldquo;It's a lot of excitement, a pure joy, to be able to come to work every day, put in hard work with your son every day, and be able to see him continue to grow," James said. "We push each other. He pushes me. I push him. We push our teammates, and vice versa. So it's just a very joyous moment not only for myself but for our family. So it's pretty awesome. Gives you a lot of life.&rdquo;
LeBron was his usual dominant self despite being the oldest player in the NBA with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks at the half for the Lakers while Bronny logged in 1 rebound and 3 turnovers, going 0/1 on his shot attempts.
The Suns eventually won the game in a tight affair, 118-114, as LeBron only played the first half with Anthony Davis who also had a good game with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Phoenix was led by their bench unit with 4 players scoring in double digits &ndash; rookie Oso Ighodaro, Damion Lee, Collin Gillespie, and Josh Okogie.&nbsp;
The Lakers had one last shot to win the game with new head coach JJ Redick drawing up a play for Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht. However, he missed on the potential game-winning three with fellow rookie Ryan Dunn of the Suns all over him, and Dunn leaked out for a transition dunk in the ending moments for the final score.
The younger James is expected to take his time in developing at the Lakers&rsquo; G League team South Bay as he continues to build his NBA career after suffering a career-altering condition last year. Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest while playing college ball for the USC Trojans and has been trying to get back on track since.
LeBron and the Lakers open the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves on opening night with championship aspirations still on the horizon for the 2nd winningest franchise in NBA history.

LeBron James and his son LeBron James Jr. made NBA history Sunday night when they shared the floor in the Lakers’ preseason game against the Phoenix Suns.

LeBron James, Bronny James become the first-ever father-son duo to play together in the NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers have selected LeBron &ldquo;Bronny&rdquo; James Jr. as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday afternoon.
The highly controversial son of the NBA&rsquo;s all-time leading scorer LeBron James, Bronny drew a lot of backlash from people surrounding his whole draft process. Some felt the elder James had been in the shadows pulling the strings to make this move, after citing since last year about his desire and dream to play with his son in the NBA.
However, a lot of people also justified the Lakers&rsquo; decision, with former and current NBA players alike congratulating James and their whole family.&nbsp;
The Lakers mentioned Bronny&rsquo;s work ethic in his workouts with the team and his character as something that the franchise valued. This helped with the decision to draft the younger James, led by general manager Rob Pelinka and newly-hired head coach JJ Redick.&nbsp;
The 6-foot-2, 210 lbs pound guard out of USC has had a rocky start to his basketball career, including suffering a cardiac arrest last year from a congenital heart disease. Since then, James Jr. has had to return to the court, training vigorously. He successfully played, was cleared by USC&rsquo;s medical team, and averaged modest stats in college.
Now, Bronny is set to play for LA alongside his father LeBron. The duo are set to become the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time, and this fulfills the elder James&rsquo; dream and legacy by playing together with his eldest son.

LeBron and Bronny James are set to become the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time.

Bronny James goes to the Lakers via the 55th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft

After missing out on their initial target, the Los Angeles Lakers finally land another whale they&rsquo;ve been eyeing for a while.
According to ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 17-time NBA World Champions will be hiring ESPN analyst and former NBA player JJ Redick as the franchise&rsquo;s next head coach.
Despite having no prior head coaching experience at any level in the NBA, Redick has obtained the green light from Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss to lead the franchise next season.
Redick has a podcast with a player he soon will be coaching LeBron James in &lsquo;Mind the Game&rsquo;, in which they talk about basketball concepts and strictly hoops and hoops alone. Redick and LeBron particularly dissect plays that teams run in the NBA and the ones they have encountered over the years they have played in the league. This distinct knowledge of the game and his relationship with James might have contributed to this hire.
To help Redick have a faster learning curve for his first-ever coaching job in the NBA, the Lakers are reportedly eyeing to surround him with an elite head coaching staff with a wealth of experience and veteran presence.
A 15-year NBA vet, Redick promises to be a strong developmental coach who can connect with younger players, and this figures out to be an enticing prospect for the Lakers as they plan to infuse their young talent in Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Max Christie, and Jalen Hood-Schfino into more opportunities.

After missing out on their initial target, the Los Angeles Lakers finally land another whale they’ve been eyeing for a while.

Lakers set to hire JJ Redick as head coach

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly targeting University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley for their vacant head coaching job, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to Woj, the back-to-back NCAA coach for the UConn Huskies has been the Lakers&rsquo; top-secret target after previous reports suggested that the franchise has been in contact with several other names in the NBA space. Former player and now-ESPN analyst JJ Redick and Charlotte Hornets&rsquo; top assistant James Borrego were among those mentioned in reports.
The Lakers have already been reported to have met with Hurley for initial meetings and their discussions are expected to ramp up in a few days, with the franchise preparing a massive, long-term contract offer to pry Hurley to the NBA.
ANALYSIS: With Hurley&rsquo;s name thrown to the Lakers&rsquo; head coaching job candidates, this could mean that Redick&rsquo;s opportunity with the Lakers could either turn out to be a smokescreen for the grander scheme of things of plans by the Lakers to hire the NCAA champion coach. Numerous reports have already been out there with Redick&rsquo;s name as the top candidate for the franchise&rsquo;s head coaching job and with this development, this shakes things up for a lot of reasons.
More notably, signing Hurley would mean the Lakers are going all-in with their pitch to make superstar LeBron James stay with the team, pending his decision in free agency. LeBron has expressly shown on social media platforms like X and Instagram his admiration for Hurley and his creative and innovative offensive schemes.
Furthermore, Hurley seems like the type of coach who LeBron might listen to and/or is good enough/brave enough to coach LeBron considering the type of player that he is on and off the floor.
Lastly, Hurley&rsquo;s possible hiring would likely affect the Lakers&rsquo; drafting process in which LeBron&rsquo;s son Bronny James could likely be drafted to the team using its 55th pick in the upcoming draft. Hurley has been known as a master in player development and could potentially help the younger James&rsquo; growth moving forward.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly targeting University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley for their vacant head coaching job.

Lakers targeting UConn’s Dan Hurley for head coaching job

As the Los Angeles Lakers gear up for a pivotal transition, the franchise sets its sights on a trio of distinguished coaching candidates&mdash;JJ Redick, Sam Cassell, and James Borrego. Tasked with steering not only the twilight of the LeBron James-Anthony Davis era but also shaping the future trajectory of one of the NBA&rsquo;s most storied franchises, the Lakers&rsquo; search is defined by a focus on strategic innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to player development.
JJ Redick
JJ Redick, renowned for his articulate analysis and deep understanding of basketball dynamics, brings a fresh, data-driven approach to coaching. Though he lacks formal coaching experience, his extensive work as a broadcaster and podcaster, especially on "Mind The Game" co-hosted with LeBron James, showcases his ability to dissect and communicate complex basketball strategies effectively. Redick's proficiency in analytics could revolutionize the Lakers' approach, emphasizing efficiency metrics like true shooting percentage and player efficiency rating to enhance player and team performance.
Redick's pre-existing relationship with LeBron James could prove pivotal in establishing immediate rapport and buy-in from the team. His ability to connect on a peer level with players would foster a collaborative and respectful environment, facilitating the smooth implementation of new strategies and fostering a culture of mutual respect and accountability.
Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell's illustrious NBA career as both a player and coach is marked by his strategic thinking and ability to perform under pressure. His track record includes significant contributions to player development, particularly with young guards, evidenced by improved performance metrics&nbsp;such as shooting percentages and assist-to-turnover ratios. Cassell's experience would bring a seasoned perspective to managing crucial game moments, enhancing the Lakers' performance in clutch scenarios through detailed situational analysis and tactical adjustments.
Cassell has demonstrated a strong capability in developing players' skills and understanding of the game, aligning with the Lakers' needs for nurturing talent and optimizing game strategies. His mentoring approach would be instrumental in maximizing the potential of players, particularly in high-pressure game situations, through focused training and strategic gameplay enhancements.
James Borrego
James Borrego's coaching tenure, highlighted by his role in significantly improving the offensive output of his teams, demonstrates his strategic acumen. His recent success with the New Orleans Pelicans, elevating them from 20th to 11th in offensive efficiency, showcases his ability to&nbsp;effectively implement offensive systems that maximize player strengths and team capabilities.
During his time with the Charlotte Hornets, Borrego displayed a knack for year-over-year team improvement, culminating in multiple play-in tournament appearances. His focus on developing a fast-paced, efficient offensive system could be particularly beneficial for the Lakers, aiming to revitalize their offensive playbook to align with contemporary NBA strategies.
Getting advice from the legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski
The advisory role of Mike Krzyzewski in the Lakers' coaching search suggests an emphasis on leadership, basketball IQ, and player development. The candidates' alignment with Coach K's philosophies indicates the Lakers' commitment to a coaching style that combines strategic game management with strong leadership and developmental skills.
Each candidate brings distinct strengths and a strategic approach that could guide the Lakers through a pivotal transition period in the franchise&rsquo;s history. The final decision will likely hinge on which candidate&rsquo;s vision and methodology best align with the Lakers' long-term objectives, including fostering player development and implementing a robust strategic framework suited to modern NBA challenges.

As the Lakers gear up for a pivotal transition, the franchise sets its sights on a trio of distinguished coaching candidates.

Analyzing the Lakers' Top Head Coaching Candidates

Today, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and former NBA player (and current ESPN analyst) JJ Redick launched a new podcast called "Mind the Game."
The series centers around James and Redick discussing basketball-centric concepts, including the Xs and Os and the game within the game.
"Mind the Game" will try to break through the traditional setting of sports talk shows that typically center around subjective views and opinions. The series plans to delve deeper into the actual game of basketball.&nbsp;
For example, in the first episode, James and Redick discuss what makes a great basketball player and then delve into some of their favorite plays.
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This new venture is a partnership between James&rsquo; and Redick&rsquo;s production companies, Uninterrupted and ThreeFourTwo Productions. This show will post a new episode each week that's roughly 45-60 minutes. It is available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.&nbsp;
On the first episode, Redick and James mentioned that they'll have guests join them on the podcast at some point going forward.

Today, LeBron James and JJ Redick launched a new podcast called "Mind the Game."

LeBron James, JJ Redick launch new podcast 'Mind The Game'

The Orlando Magic have had their fair share of ups and downs in their relatively short history. However, since the franchise was established in 1989, they have provided their fans with some unforgettable seasons. From the early success of Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway to the dominant play of Dwight Howard in the late 2000s, the Magic have had some remarkable teams.
The Magic have had quite a bit of lottery luck, landing the No. 1 pick in 1992 (which allowed them to select O'Neal), 1993 (which allowed them to pick Chris Webber and trade him to the Golden State Warriors for Penny Hardaway and three future first-round picks), 2004 (which allowed them to select Howard) and 2022 (which allowed them to draft Paolo Banchero).&nbsp;
The current Magic squad has fans in Orlando excited about the future, with a core of Banchero, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz among others. But today, let's look back at the past and examine the five best seasons in franchise history.
5. 2007-08 SEASON RECORD: 52-30 FINISH: LOST IN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
This season, the Magic won 52 games and finished as the third-best team in the Eastern Conference. The team was led by a 22-year-old Dwight Howard, who earned his second All-Star selection while emerging as a two-way force. During the regular season, Howard averaged 20.7 points, 14.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks, while shooting 59.9% from the field. He was even more dominant in the playoffs, averaging 18.9 points, 15.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. Orlando defeated the Toronto Raptors in five games in the first round, but they were ultimately eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in five games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This season laid the groundwork for Orlando's Finals run in 2008-09.
4. 2009-10 SEASON RECORD: 59-23 FINISH: LOST IN CONFERENCE FINALS
Despite coming off of an NBA Finals run, the Magic decided to make some big changes entering this 2009-19 season. Orlando acquired Vince Carter in a blockbuster trade with the New Jersey Nets and added some new role players in Matt Barnes, Jason Williams, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass. The Magic won 59 games, which was the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Orlando was once again led by Howard, who earned his second-straight Defensive Player of the Year award. The Magic were dominant through the first two rounds of the 2010 NBA Playoffs, sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks. But in the Eastern Conference Finals, they faced off against the Boston Celtics and lost in six games. Still, their regular-season success and deep postseason run cannot be overlooked.
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3. 1995-96 SEASON RECORD: 60-22 FINISH: LOST IN CONFERENCE FINALS
The 1995-96 season was another successful year for the Magic. The team finished with a record of 60-22, which was the second-best in the Eastern Conference and is still the franchise record for most wins in a single season. Led by one of the best one-two punches in the league in Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, Orlando went 7-1 through the first two rounds of the 1996 NBA Playoffs, eliminating the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks with ease. But in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic ran into Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, who got their revenge from the previous year by sweeping Orlando.
2. 2008-09 SEASON RECORD: 59-23 FINISH: LOST IN NBA FINALS
This team was ahead of its time, as Stan Van Gundy surrounded Dwight Howard with shooters and made teams pick their poison. The Magic had a terrific core of Howard, Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson, plus excellent role players such as Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, Mickael Pietrus, J.J. Redick and Marcin Gortat. Orlando's run in the 2009 NBA Playoffs was incredible, as they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics (led by the Big Three) and Cleveland Cavaliers (led by LeBron James). Until this year, the Magic were the only team to defeat James in a Conference Finals series. In the NBA Finals, the Magic matched up against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, ultimately losing in five games. What if Courtney Lee hits the game-winning layup at the end of Game 2 in the 2009 NBA Finals? That's one of the biggest "what ifs" among Magic fans to this day.
1. 1994-95 SEASON RECORD: 57-25 FINISH: LOST IN NBA FINALS
The 1994-95 season was the most successful season in the Magic's franchise history. Shaquille O'Neal was virtually unstoppable, averaging 29.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 blocks, while shooting 58.3% from the field. Penny Hardaway was excellent as well, averaging an efficient 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals on 51.2/34.9/76.9 shooting splits. The team won 57 games, which was the best record in the East. Prior to the 1995 NBA Finals, the Magic became the only team to eliminate Michael Jordan in the playoffs during the 1990s, beating Chicago in six games in the Conference Semifinals. Jordan came out of retirement midseason and the Magic spoiled his return. After defeating the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the Conference Finals, the Magic faced off against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals. Hakeem Olajuwon put up 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game and helped the Rockets sweep the Magic. Still, the Magic's run to the Finals was nothing short of spectacular.
While the Magic have not won an NBA championship, they have had some great seasons and provided their fans with plenty of memorable moments.&nbsp;

From Shaq and Penny to the Dwight Howard era, Basketball News looks back at the five best teams in Orlando Magic history.

Ranking the 5 best seasons in Orlando Magic history

Professional basketball players are in a constant state of data collection. Al Horford's been logging tricks of his trade for 16 years, and it's helped him reinvent his game to suit a team in the title hunt.
Horford, age 36, will be the fourth-oldest starter and fifth-oldest rotation player in the 2023 NBA playoffs, behind only LeBron James, Chris Paul, PJ Tucker and Kyle Lowry. He has dramatically transformed his game to suit the era and needs of today's league, and the Celtics have taken note.
After a March 1 win against the Cavaliers, coach Joe Mazzulla alluded to Horford's evolution, heightened by his experience and attention to detail.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s massive,&rdquo; Mazzulla said postgame. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s done a great job this year in recognizing coverage and screening. ...And he recognized the coverage [the Cavaliers] were in and popped and shot it. The second time they tried to switch him, he created an advantage. He&rsquo;s constantly trying to find small ways to reinvent his game.&rdquo;
Horford is averaging his highest minutes per game (30.6) of the last five seasons, but his on-ball role has diminished to career-lows according to practically every go-to metric (usage rate, touches, touch time, etc.). He's played five total seasons with the Celtics across two stints; comparing his usage across those years is fascinating. Here's some touch data from PBP Stats highlighting three such years: his All-Star season in 2017-18, his first season back in Boston in 2021-22, and this current one.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 110px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 44px;">
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 44px;">Year</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 44px;">Touches/game</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 44px;">Frontcourt touches/game</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 44px;">Elbow touches/game</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 44px;">Post touches/game</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 44px;">Seconds per touch</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">2017-18</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">63.5</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">40.0</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">3.1</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">5.2</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">2.20</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">2021-22</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">49.2</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">29.4</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">2.2</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">1.9</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">1.73</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">2022-23</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">45.7</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">25.4</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">1.1</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">0.9</td>
<td style="width: 14.84579%; height: 22px;">1.53</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
It makes sense that Horford would take a back seat in his return to the Celtics given that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had risen to stardom. But the elbow and post touch volume in particular is stunning &mdash; Horford is getting the ball in those spots not even half as much as last year, and fractionally compared to his last All-Star appearance. His days of facilitating and scoring out of the post are over.
We all know Horford has laid down a transcendant shooting year, but the scale of his shift to the arc cannot be overstated. Per Cleaning the Glass, a whopping 67% of Horford's total shot attempts have come from distance. That is a mind-boggling 23% increase from last year; to put that in context, Horford had never increased his three-point frequency by more than 12% year-over-year since he first started shooting them often in 2015-16.&nbsp;
To make this type of leap &mdash; and match it with a career-high 44.6% clip (an 11% jump from last year) &mdash; is one of the more astounding developments I've seen from a veteran in some time.&nbsp;
Boston needs Horford at this level for the playoffs. Last year, the Warriors gunked up the Celtics offense in the NBA Finals by shutting off driving lanes for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen. They were unafraid to let Horford and Grant Williams bomb away above the break, even as both shot the ball well, if it meant Tatum and Brown could not penetrate the defense.&nbsp;
But this year could be different. Horford can punish as a reliable outlet on his own or force opponents to stay home on him. He's also more than doubled his shot frequency in the corners and added an area defenses have to track.
Horford's evolving role means we see less of him as the facilitating big that has helped define his game in the past. But he's still a very good passer and the numbers (and tape) back this up.
The NBA Underground has a set of <a href="https://thenbaunderground.com/analytics/better-passing-stats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statistics that help us understand passing impact</a> beyond basic assists per game. One interesting number: passing turnover to potential assist ratio, which basically says that for every 100 potential assists (pass leading to a shot attempt), a player is logging X amount of passing turnovers.
Horford is averaging 3.9 passing turnovers per 100 potential assists, putting him seventh-best among 364 players. It's not a perfect assessment of passing, but it shows he's making quality decisions when he does have the ball. Just under 10% of his total passes this year turned into assists or free throws, a mark that ranks ninth among bigs this year, per Second Spectrum.&nbsp;
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Plays like this are meaningful because Boston should want to get Tatum cutting and running without the ball. It keeps him from being the sole defensive focus and allows him to get up to speed more easily. Horford and Robert Williams III are both capable high-low passers, and while this isn't a jaw-dropping dime, it shows how either big can be leveraged effectively.
Horford isn't put in this position as often anymore, but he still gets plenty of assists by swinging the ball around at the arc and dishing short passes to Celtics guards and wings who use screens off the ball. There's schematic creativity on display around Horford and he's tasked with making the advantage pay off.
We could say the same for his defense. Derrick White has been Boston's best defender this season. Robert Williams is the team's most dynamic shot-blocker and Marcus Smart is the intense tone-setter. But I truly don't think this is a top-5 unit without Horford holding down his role as an individual stopper.
The Celtics typically task Horford with handling the opponent's best scoring forwards or bigs. Among the 20 players he matched up against for 20 or more possessions per game this season (per NBA Stats): Bam Adebayo, Deandre Ayton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Paolo Banchero, Nikola Vucevic, Myles Turner.
Many of these players are also heavily involved in pick-and-rolls, where the Celtics usually ask Horford to play some form of shallow drop coverage while the guard goes over the screen. The shallow drop big man is one of the toughest responsibilities in today's NBA; they have to contain the drive from a guard while keeping the roll man in front to remove a lob threat.
And that's not all he's doing &mdash; Boston switches a lot away from the ball, so Horford then has to slide onto wings and occasionally guards. He actually spoke about this a couple weeks ago with JJ Redick on The Old Man and the Three (start at 31:30).&nbsp;
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Horford's impact shows up in several of the defensive stats I've come to trust. BBall Index has created estimates for defensive positional versatility and role versatility based on what positions and usage rates players are guarding. Horford ranks in the 92nd and 85th percentiles at his position, respectively.&nbsp;
Also from BBall Index: Horford is contesting 38.1% of opponents' shots at the rim while he is on the court (89th percentile) and holding opponents to an at-rim efficiency 6.2% lower than expected (91st percentile). Those are particularly impressive numbers considering Horford is 36 and not a volume shot-blocker.
It will certainly help to have Rob Williams by his side. The two bigs have only played 330 minutes together this season, but the Celtics are outscoring opponents by 15.1 points per 100 possessions when they share the floor.
Still, Horford is going to take the primary frontcourt assignments before Williams. And this postseason run could be a gauntlet. The Celtics start by facing the Hawks' trio of John Collins, Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu. Win that series, and there's a good chance they meet Embiid in the second round. An Eastern Conference Finals trip could see Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, or Mobley and Allen. Then, should Boston make a return Finals run, they might run into any of Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Deandre Ayton, or others at the big positions.&nbsp;
That's a monster workload for a 36-year-old trying to play into June for the second consecutive year.&nbsp;And&nbsp;he carries pivotal pressure as a spacer and ball-mover.&nbsp;
Horford's evolution has been commendable and his value to the Celtics far outweighs his spotlight. If Boston wants to win a championship, he can't let up on either end.

Horford will hold down key two-way roles for however far the Celtics advance in the postseason.

NBA Stats Notebook: Why Al Horford is the Celtics' playoff X Factor

PHILADELPHIA (AP) &mdash; Ben Simmons tilted his head in bemusement at the suggestion enough time had passed since his bitter split with the 76ers that his Philadelphia homecoming might be greeted with more affection than acrimony.
His look, which became an instant meme, had the appearance of a player who knew better.
The details of Simmons' long-building split with the Sixers are too fresh for that. Like the time former coach Brett Brown asked him to shoot just one 3-pointer per game, or coach Doc Rivers simply asked Simmons to report on time and participate in practice &mdash; Simmons did niehter.
Or when management and an entire fanbase that only wanted Simmons to embrace the city, play up to his contract and the talent that made him worthy of the No. 1 pick and chase championships with Joel Embiid could not get an honest answer on why he wanted out of Philadelphia.
Simmons knows that won't all be forgotten so fast.
&ldquo;You guys are going to make titles or headlines or whatever it is, but I&rsquo;m excited to go play,&rdquo; Simmons said.
Like it or not, Simmons is in for much worse than a scornful scowl from jilted Philly fans when he returns Tuesday night with the Brooklyn Nets to play the Sixers for the first time since a February trade.
The three-time All-Star <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-philadelphia-76ers-denver-nuggets-nba-sports-4b0e286599936f8029ce5ec2c2eb930a">watched from the bench</a> as he recovered from a back injury when the Nets played in Philly in March. Simmons drew derisive cheers from the moment he stepped on the court and was <a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/03/14/ben-simmons-dines-out-in-philly-after-getting-booed-at-sixers-game/?utm_source=P6Twitter&amp;utm_medium=SocialFlow&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow">heckled most of the game</a>.
&ldquo;I know what&rsquo;s coming,&rdquo; Simmons said to laughter following a win Sunday.
Just wait until he actually plays.
&ldquo;One thing about Philly fans, they&rsquo;re incredible,&rdquo; Simmons said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re diehard Philly. Everything Philly, whatever it is. I respect that about the city. It&rsquo;s a sports town.&rdquo;
When Simmons sat out last season&rsquo;s home opener, fans mocked the absentee guard. The most popular form was a Mister Softee T-shirt with an ice cream swirl on Simmons&rsquo; head.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s great for him,&rdquo; Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;ll have his teammates behind him, he&rsquo;ll have a coach that believes in him and overall, we&rsquo;re looking forward to go play.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s still at times almost implausible to fathom that the 76ers and Simmons couldn&rsquo;t <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/ben-simmons-jj-redick-podcast-shooting-layup-nets/veo3eypxhbort4svlulexqpn">patch up any differences</a> stemming from his refusal to take an open dunk in a Game 7 loss to Atlanta in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
Rivers and Embiid made passive criticisms of Simmons, and the relationship unraveled from there. Simmons had back issues and later said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-brooklyn-nets-nba-entertainment-sports-032b7b7f897fb8d6adceb9eab88a720d">mental health woes</a> played a role in his trade demand in the <a href="https://twitter.com/APgelston/status/1573351303064977408">summer of 2021</a> that led to a contentious few days in training camp. Simmons was sent home for good, filed a grievance after the Sixers said he breached his contract (it was later <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-philadelphia-76ers-nba-sports-james-harden-58a598cadaefe1e56aca63210dfbd3d5?utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=AP_Sports">settled in a confidential agreement</a> ) and then <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-brooklyn-nets-milwaukee-bucks-nba-sports-39696822486d3683a7d4d7a1fbf19e97">shipped to Brooklyn</a> in a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-james-harden-2fea364a5cc35aa3515508d518cc08bc?utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=AP_Sports&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow">trade for All-Star James Harden</a>.
Simmons couldn&rsquo;t shake the drama in Brooklyn, either &mdash; though thanks to Kevin Durant and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-race-and-ethnicity-700bac36ac5e889fdfec06894affff1e">Kyrie Irving</a>, there&rsquo;s plenty to go around in the borough &mdash; and has played only 12 games this season. He&rsquo;s rounding into form and coming off a season-high 22-point game against Memphis, his first 20-point game since for he played for the 76ers in the 2021 playoffs.
&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t had many opportunities to get the reps in, so I&rsquo;m getting my reps in now,&rdquo; Simmons said.
Simmons averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists over four seasons with Philadelphia, which drafted him out of LSU, where he played only one season. His omnipresent headaches, such as his refusal to shoot beyond 15 feet &mdash; he was a 5-of-34 career 3-point shooter with the 76ers &mdash; outweighed his otherwise gifted defensive and playmaking talents.
Simmons made a surprise return to the Sixers shortly before last season opened but was promptly kicked out of practice and suspended for one game. The punishment didn&rsquo;t matter; the No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft never had any intention of playing.
He'll face a scuffling 76ers team playing without an injured Harden and Tyrese Maxey and now Embiid &mdash; his former All-Star partner and franchise cornerstone whose friendship has since dissolved.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of history, but there&rsquo;s really no history. It&rsquo;s just a regular game,&rdquo; Embiid said.
It&rsquo;s going to be loud and wild inside the Wells Fargo Center. Simmons insisted he won&rsquo;t get &ldquo;psyched out&rdquo; and vowed he will come to Philly ready to play.
Even if he feigns interest in what all the fuss is about.
&ldquo;Something going on?" he said, laughing.
__
AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this story.

“You guys are going to make titles or headlines or whatever it is, but I’m excited to go play,” Ben Simmons said.

Ben Simmons preps for hostile return in first game in Philly

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) &mdash; Steve Kerr wanted Klay Thompson to relax a little, let the game come to him.
And Thompson is certainly showing signs of finding his shooting groove again.
&ldquo;I thought a lot about that,&rdquo; Thompson said about being patient.
He scored 20 points with four 3-pointers, Stephen Curry added 24 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 111-101 on Friday night.
Andrew Wiggins added 20 points with seven rebound and Draymond Green contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists with two blocked shots.
Thompson hit 4 of his first 6 shots with three 3s for 11 early points.
&ldquo;It seemed like every time Klay just made an extra pass, the ball started to move and then we got a wide open shot,&rdquo; Kerr said. &ldquo;We ended up with 32 assists. It started with early on Klay taking a more patient approach. And then the game rewarded him.&rdquo;
Jordan Poole scored 13 points off the bench and JaMychal Green 12. He credited a team meeting earlier Friday as the Warriors had a tough conversation about their struggles and &ldquo;addressed the elephants in the room.&rdquo;
Thompson called it &ldquo;a very constructive meeting ... an incredible time of growth.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I feel like tonight was the best game we've put together on the defensive end,&rdquo; he said.
Julius Randle had 20 points and seven rebounds and RJ Barrett scored 18 for the cold-shooting Knicks, who began 5 of 22, shot 34.5% and tried to play catch up all night.
Jalen Brunson struggled on his shot to go 2 for 13 &mdash; 1 for 5 from long range &mdash; and finish with 13 points for New York coming off a 106-103 win at Denver on Wednesday night. The Knicks had won two straight and three of four but missed matching their longest winning streak so far.
HOME AND ROAD
The Warriors are 7-1 at home and 0-8 on the road.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m actually much more interested in why we&rsquo;re not playing well on the road than why were are playing well at home,&rdquo; Kerr said. &ldquo;I expect to play well at home. We&rsquo;ve got a good record here over the years and good players, great fans. No reason we shouldn&rsquo;t control our home court. But we got to start putting it together on the road, too.&rdquo;
Golden State snapped a three-game home skid to the Knicks and has won its last eight in New York.
&ldquo;To me, the road record is directly connected to the defense,&rdquo; Kerr said.
TIP-INS
Knicks: C Mitchell Robinson sat out with a sprained right knee. ... New York lost on the Warriors' home floor for the first time in four games since a 122-95 defeat on Jan. 8, 2019. ... The Knicks missed their initial 10 3-pointers before RJ Barrett connected at the 9:15 mark of the second quarter. Derrick Rose, Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley began a combined 0 for 9 from deep.
Warriors: The Warriors shot just 11 of 20 at the free throw line, Curry missing two and Wiggins three. &ldquo;It happens, just one random game,&rdquo; Kerr said. ... Thompson passed J.J. Redick (1,950) &mdash; in the house working the broadcast &mdash; for 16th place on the 3-pointers list. ... C Kevon Looney has played in 127 consecutive regular-season games, the third-longest active streak. ... Golden State built an 18-point lead in the first quarter and kept pushing.
UP NEXT
Knicks: At Phoenix on Sunday in the fourth contest in a five-game, seven-day trip. The Knicks will play at Oklahoma City on Monday night to complete the back-to-back and finish the swing out West.
Warriors: At Houston on Sunday for the first in a road back-to-back that finishes at New Orleans on Monday night.

Stephen Curry had 24 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds as the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 111-101 on Friday.

Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins help Warriors beat Knicks 111-101

After becoming a popular guest on J.J. Redick&rsquo;s podcast &ldquo;The Old Man and the Three,&rdquo; Tyrese Haliburton was constantly getting asked the same question by fans.
"I get asked all the time: 'Yo, when are you starting your own podcast?'&rdquo; Haliburton <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-interview-tyrese-haliburton-indiana-pacers-chad-buchanan-bennedict-mathurin-myles-turner-sacramento-kings-domantas-sabonis-trade-drew-hanlen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told me over the offseason</a>. &ldquo;People walking around on the street [ask me that].&rdquo;
Now, Haliburton is giving the people what they want.&nbsp;
This week, the Indiana Pacers star launched his own video podcast with <a href="http://www.autograph.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autograph</a>, the web3 brand co-founded by Tom Brady. &ldquo;Autograph Presents: Get Minted with Tyrese Haliburton&rdquo; debuted on November 1.&nbsp;
Haliburton and Autograph created the show to contribute to the education around web3, break down barriers to entry and help more people holistically understand NFTs. Each episode will feature an influential guest from the world of sports, entertainment, music or tech.
The series will give web3 newcomers exclusive insights into the industry as Haliburton drives conversations on six different episodes weekly, including:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tony Hawk on Etching His Skating Legacy into Web3 (Nov. 1)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eva Longoria on Hollywood, Inclusivity and Creativity in Web3 (Nov. 8)&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Charli and Dixie D&rsquo;Amelio on NFT 101: Introduction to Web3 (Nov. 15)&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Justin Blau (3LAU) on The Future of Music in Web3 (Nov. 22)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Arianna Simpson on What&rsquo;s Next in Web3 (Nov. 29)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">TBC on Web3&rsquo;s Influence on Sports (Dec. 6)</li>
</ul>
&ldquo;I am so excited to make my podcast debut alongside Autograph with &lsquo;Get Minted.&rsquo; I know firsthand how intimidating it can be to enter web3, and this podcast will give web3 and NFT newcomers a place to get started,&rdquo; Haliburton said. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t wait for listeners to hear all of the amazing guests, and to share bits of my own web3 journey along the way.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Since Autograph&rsquo;s inception, our goal has been to bring NFTs to a mainstream audience and reduce barriers to entry for people new to web3,&rdquo; said Patrick Cassidy, CMO of Autograph. &ldquo;Autograph&rsquo;s new &lsquo;Autograph Presents: Get Minted&rsquo; podcast is one of the many ways we are working to create pathways for mainstream consumers to learn more about the value web3 provides across industries, from sports to music and entertainment. Tyrese Haliburton is a great advocate for the space, and we feel lucky to have him serve as our host.&rdquo;
Hawk and Longoria, who are both on Autograph&rsquo;s Board of Advisors, are the show's first two guests.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve focused on emerging technology throughout my life, from playing video games to buying gadgets, and now, my involvement in web3 and NFTs. I&rsquo;m excited to help people understand the industry,&rdquo; Hawk said of the series. &ldquo;&lsquo;Autograph Presents: Get Minted&rsquo; will be an iconic platform for others in the NFT space to help more people understand the value of the technology.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I always tell people who want to get into web3 that they need to do their homework, educate themselves, and figure out how they want to be involved, whether it&rsquo;s as an investor, a collector, or a creator,&rdquo; said Longoria. &ldquo;Autograph was my first exposure to this world, and it got me excited to learn more and find my own path in the industry. You have to want to learn and put in the effort, and a podcast like &lsquo;Autograph Presents: Get Minted&rsquo; is a great place to start.&rdquo;
Check out the first episode below:&nbsp;
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The Indiana Pacers star has launched his own video podcast with Autograph, the web3 brand co-founded by Tom Brady.

Tyrese Haliburton launches NFT-themed podcast 'Get Minted'

Over the offseason, Bradley Beal agreed to a five-year maximum extension with the Washington Wizards that will pay him $251 million over the course of the contract.
During <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYZBLnwTOMs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an appearance on J.J. Redick's podcast</a> ("The Old Man and The Three"), the three-time All-Star opened up about his decision to stay in Washington, what he was thinking during free agency and whether he has ever come close to requesting a trade.
When asked if there was ever any doubt that he'd re-sign with Washington, Beal gave an honest answer.
"I wouldn't say there was 'doubt,' but I was definitely being human and thinking about it; I was thinking about what it would be like on the other side, on different teams, and seeing what was available for me," Beal said. "I did do that. The market was what it was; it wasn't too promising. It wasn't neccessarily where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. But I ended up staying and I felt like that was the best decision for me. But I'd be lying if I sat here and said I wasn't human and I didn't think about [leaving]."
Has Beal ever come close to requesting a trade from the Wizards in order to team up with another star? When asked this, Beal nodded his head and said, "For sure."
"I think. I live in the present. I have a phone just like everybody else, so I see people like, 'Oh, you should play here! What would it be like if you played with Jayson [Tatum]?!' or, 'What would it be like if you went to Brooklyn or you went to L.A. or you went to Denver?!' And it's like: Yeah, I mean, sh*t, it would look good! I'm not gonna sit here and lie!" Beal said.
"But I also know that with those deals, it's gonna take a while for those things to get done and you're gonna offer up pretty much your whole team in order to get to where you want to get to, so it's kinda playing devil's advocate too in where you want to go and factoring all of that into it. It's a part of the game. It is a part of it. I definitely gave [a trade request] some thought; I'd be lying if I said I didn't."
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Redick jokingly asked Beal if he was lying when he said that he believed he could win in Washington, and if he only stayed with the Wizards because they could offer the most money. Beal laughed and then explained&nbsp;why he re-signed.
"I honestly feel like [we can win]," Beal said. "It's very tough to win; only one team gets to win, and it's not like I'm saying, 'Oh, we're going to hold up the Larry [O'Brien trophy] this year.' That's not what I'm sitting here saying. But I do believe in what we're building, and I do believe in what we have. I never had a chance to step on the floor with [Kristaps] Porzingis, and I think that could be an interesting duo. And Kuz (Kyle Kuzma) is constantly developing. And then to add the pieces we added &mdash; Will Barton, Monte [Morris] &mdash; we added some guys who could be difference-makers on our team and actually be legit guys who fit into our system and especially with the way that Wes [Unseld Jr.] wants to coach and play too.
"For me, it was just about figuring out where I fit best. You know, the market was a little scarce this year too, so that kinda played a little bit of a factor into it as well. Sure enough, I just felt like DC was it for me."
Last season, the 29-year-old averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 threes and .9 steals, while shooting 45.1% from the field, 30.0% from three-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
Over the course of his 10-year career, Beal has averaged 22.1 points, 4.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 threes and 1.1 steals on .456/.372/.821 shooting splits.

On "The Old Man and the Three," Beal discussed his extension with the Wizards and whether he ever considered leaving Washington.

Bradley Beal admits he has considered requesting a trade from Wizards

Giannis Antetokounmpo recently made headlines when he said that European basketball is "way harder" than the NBA.
Antetokounmpo made this claim unprompted during the Milwaukee Bucks' media day, after a reporter asked him about his experience playing in EuroBasket 2022 and how it made him better as a player.
"The game in Europe is way harder than the game in the NBA," Antetokounmpo said. "And I don't want to disrespect [NBA players]; the talent obviously in the NBA is way higher. But the space, it's just [different], like you have a lot of lanes to drive the ball and create. I think over there, it's more intense. People pick you up full-court, double-team you, they start from zone and then go man-to-man at the last second, they double-team you in the post, there's no lanes to drive, they're more physical... I don't know if it's because the talent is less so they need to be more physical to catch up, but it's harder.
"Playing over there, it prepares me for the [NBA] season. Playing with so much less space just helps me figure out things because now, when I go in an NBA game, I just feel like there's so much space for me to be able to operate in and create for my teammates and for myself. In the past, that's helped me a lot. In the first couple of games [after playing overseas], the court feels huge&nbsp;and I feel like I'm able to get to any spot I wanted."
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Giannis explains why "the game in Europe is harder than the NBA" even though "the talent in the NBA is way higher." <a href="https://t.co/curvd2FIuK">pic.twitter.com/curvd2FIuK</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1574398518327795718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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While these comments turned heads, Antetokounmpo isn't alone in this belief.
Nikola Jokic, who also competed in EuroBasket 2022 over the offseason, was asked about Giannis' quotes and agreed.
&ldquo;It's different. The floor is smaller, the bigs can be in the paint &mdash; there's no three in the key &mdash; the three-point line is shorter," Jokic explained.
"Is it harder? Yeah, just because [in Europe], you need to have really quick thinking. In the NBA, if you go by the guy, you can see the help coming. In Europe, if you go by the guy, the help is already there, so you need to kind of think a play ahead."
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Nikola Jokic on if European basketball is harder than the NBA: &ldquo;Is it harder? Yeah, just because [in Europe], you need to have really quick thinking. In the NBA, if you go by the guy you can see the help coming. In Europe, the help is already there.&rdquo; <a href="https://t.co/7XhcrCbksP">pic.twitter.com/7XhcrCbksP</a>
&mdash; Dionysis Aravantinos (@AravantinosDA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AravantinosDA/status/1574482455024779267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Luka Doncic has been saying something similar since his rookie season in the NBA. On multiple occassions, Doncic has insisted that it's harder to score in the EuroLeague than it is in the NBA.
During an appearance on J.J. Redick's podcast "<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/luka-doncic-opens-up-about-his-nba-adjustment-and-move-to-the-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Old Man and the Three</a>," Doncic revealed that he expected the NBA to be tougher and he was surprised by how quickly he was able to thrive, particularly as a scorer.
"Yeah, I was surprised,&rdquo; Doncic said. &ldquo;I didn't expect in my second year &mdash; when I started playing way better than my rookie year &mdash; to [play that well]. When I came to the NBA, I never expected to be this good of a scorer. I was never really a scorer. I was really surprised.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Doncic explained that even though NBA players are way more talented than EuroLeague players and "basically impossible to guard," he believes it is &ldquo;100% easier&rdquo; to score in the NBA because of the larger court, different rules and spacing.
Doncic brought up the lack of a three-second violation, just as Jokic did.
"In Europe, if you have a guy like Rudy Gobert, for example, he can stay in the paint for three seconds [or] however long he wants," Doncic said. "Just because of that rule, here in the NBA, you can have 10 more points easily...
"I would say that scoring is easier in the NBA just because of the different rules, the amount of space, the time... In EuroLeague, it's more team basketball, it's more tactics, and you have less time."

Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic explain why European basketball is tougher than the NBA, especially as a scorer.

Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Doncic explain why Europe is harder than NBA

Since announcing his retirement from the NBA last year, JJ Redick has emerged as one of the most insightful broadcasters and podcasters in the industry. His insight and breaksdowns are outstanding, and he's not afraid to ask tough questions or get refreshingly candid with guests.
Redick's podcast <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/850aec38-7571-4652-92ec-56eaff427759/the-old-man-and-the-three-with-jj-redick-and-tommy-alter?ref_=dmm_acq_mrn_ds_rh_sp&amp;ref_=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_616024154141_g_133483500380&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwm8WZBhBUEiwA178UnDOhXBvpjLHmOxgIudGpntDhEYRPWYR5fKnm0bqb0AdtdSNffabWpRoCS60QAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"The Old Man and the Three"</a> is super successful, constantly booking high-profile guests. He has also thrived as an analyst with ESPN, and the network has rewarded him with a multi-year contract extension and an extended role.
Going forward, Redick will appear across ESPN programs, have a regular NBA game assignment and contribute to ESPN's NBA Draft coverage.
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ESPN reaches a multi-year extension with <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNNBA</a> analyst <a href="https://twitter.com/jj_redick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jj_redick</a> Redick's expanded role includes a regular <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a> game assignment, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBADraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBADraft</a> coverage &amp; appearances across ESPN programs <a href="https://t.co/PnzehEv5EI">pic.twitter.com/PnzehEv5EI</a>
&mdash; ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPR/status/1574489439887163392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Prior to becoming an analyst, Redick was a 15-year NBA veteran who averaged 12.8 points, 2.1 threes, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over the course of his career, while shooting 44.7% from the field, 41.5% from three and 89.2% from the free-throw line.

JJ Redick has thrived as an analyst with ESPN, and the network is rewarding him with a multi-year extension and an extended role.

ESPN reaches multi-year extension with NBA analyst JJ Redick

When the New Orleans Pelicans swung a deal for CJ McCollum ahead of last February's trade deadline, they acquired a dynamic scorer with a gravitational on-court presence and eight seasons of playoff experience. They also added a rising star in sports media.&nbsp;
McCollum <a href="https://theathletic.com/1806073/2020/05/11/hes-a-really-good-storyteller-the-origins-of-cj-mccollum-journalist-at-lehigh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majored in journalism as a student at Lehigh</a> and has coupled his basketball ascension with a developing on-air platform, most recently joining ESPN as an analyst. He has spearheaded a rush of current and former NBA players taking their voices to the airwaves.
Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III is taking notes.&nbsp;
"We've definitely had a few conversations [about media]," Murphy told Basketball News in a phone interview. "That's what I want to do after I'm done playing basketball, you know, staying close to the game as well as showing my personality. I feel like I have a pretty good personality; I'm able to speak well, speak intelligently and add a little humor to it. So I'll be able to do that and still get a nice little paycheck and stay close to the game."
Murphy has envisioned a career in sports media since he was in high school. Back then, he was a two-star recruit with limited interest from colleges, so there was no guarantee that he'd be able to go pro. However, after excelling at Rice and Virginia, he parlayed that growth all the way to first-round-pick status.
The 22-year-old plans to have a long and successful NBA career, but he's also determined to sharpen his skills behind the microphone along the way.&nbsp;
During the 2022 NBA Draft, Murphy patrolled the red carpet, interviewed some of the incoming rookies and <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1540448684919459846?s=20&amp;t=Q3VaAsvWayXab90H61pJBQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">even cited some inside sources</a> while revealing the Pelicans' plan to select Dyson Daniels.&nbsp;
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Mbappe, NBA rookies, and <a href="https://twitter.com/TaylorRooks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TaylorRooks</a> choose between Drake, Kendrick, and J. Cole WARNING: If you're a Kendrick fan, this does not go well. 😅 <a href="https://t.co/8zQZkkI8i6">pic.twitter.com/8zQZkkI8i6</a>
&mdash; Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/ComplexSports/status/1541248474963902466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
He watches "almost every episode" of J.J. Redick's podcast, "The Old Man and the Three." He also has "The Draymond Green Show," "Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles," "The ETCs with Kevin Durant" and "The Longshot Podcast with Duncan Robinson" in his rotation.&nbsp;
For Murphy, listening to pros discuss the game isn't just about supporting players in the media &mdash; it's also on-demand access to details and insight from athletes who have made a career in the league.
"Watching [Redick's podcast], especially, coming into the league, is almost like free game, and you're just listening to everybody's different perspectives and things that they learned while they were in the league," Murphy said. "So, it makes it a little bit easier for me. It's like I can learn from them, and I don't have to take these lumps that they probably took before they actually learned their lessons."
Of course, Murphy will attest that he took his fair share of lumps as a rookie. The 6-foot-10 forward spent much of last winter on the fringes of the Pelicans' rotation, and it took a mental toll. After one contest against the Miami Heat, a trainer took Murphy aside and told him that he needed to get back to being himself and focus on consistency in his work.
"Those times when I was struggling [and] wasn't playing a lot &mdash; that's when I really learned a lot about myself and just staying the course, because the NBA is so much of a mental aspect and a mental game that you have to worry about," Murphy said. "You could be doing a lot of good stuff physically and on the court, but if your mentals aren't right, there's gonna be a lot of stuff that's happening that won't affect you in a positive way...
"At the end of the day, we're all human. And I'll say, those times at my lows, I definitely chose some negative emotions &mdash; nothing outward enough to hurt the team, but definitely enough to where you can see I wasn't happy. And I feel like if you want to be a great player in this league, you can't just be happy with sitting on the bench, and I wasn't. I felt I could contribute. I felt I could help my team win, and I wasn't able to do that, and, you know, it hurt me a little bit. But they were just saying, 'Just stay the course [and] keep working.'"
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Murphy leaned on the Pelicans' coaching staff, including head coach Willie Green and assistants Corey Brewer, Teresa Weatherspoon and Brandon Demas. He stayed consistent, and when his opportunity came in the spring, Murphy maximized it.
Between March and April, Murphy's playing time nearly doubled from the previous two months. He averaged 9.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game after March 9, while shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc. And this wasn't in the waning months of a losing season &mdash; New Orleans was in the thick of the Play-In-Tournament race. The team went 9-6 from March 9 onward, won both of their Play-In contests, and even pushed the top-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games in the first round of the playoffs.&nbsp;
Those two months gave Murphy a massive confidence boost.
"That was really special," he said. "It made those tough times in the beginning of the season and the middle of the season just so much sweeter."
One reason for the Pelicans' success &mdash; even through a 3-16 start, the loss of Zion Williamson, a midseason blockbuster and the trials of inexperience &mdash; was that they enjoyed each other's company. Murphy says the team struck a balance between serious and fun. When the group wasn't working hard and competing at a high level, they were teasing each other and having a good time together. Murphy credits Brandon Ingram, in particular, for setting the right tone as a leader.&nbsp;
"You could just see [Ingram] cares about a lot of people. He asks us for advice at times, he tells us things that we need to do. He shows caring ways as well by, you know, [giving] gifts or just being there for people. It's appreciated," Murphy said. "...There'd be times when he was coming back [from injuries] and he'd still be a little banged up, a little nicked up. But he's still out there grinding with us and just showing us he's not leaving us out there to dry."
Murphy has a particularly close bond with Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado. They play NBA 2K, Madden and Fortnite together. Murphy (who claims to have a designated meme folder in his photos app) and Larry Nance Jr. helped disseminate "Herb Jones propaganda" via memes, graphics and tweets during the second-round pick's breakout season.&nbsp;
However, Murphy and Jones rarely faced off in practice as rookies. But during their extended workouts in New Orleans this summer, Murphy has marveled at Jones' stellar defense after getting an up-close view.&nbsp;
"This time was the first time I really went against him, and I was like, 'I understand why people don't really be scoring like that on him!' It's tough," Murphy said. "He's strong, athletic, really smart [and] just has great instincts. So, I understand."
Murphy has been bulking up too, and he says he now weighs 215 pounds. Fans who watched his two NBA Summer League contests saw an aggressive forward who was unafraid of contact.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Trey Murphy dropped a 30-piece in the <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PelicansNBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> win!<a href="https://twitter.com/treymurphy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@treymurphy</a> 30 PTS (10-18 FGM) | 6 REB <a href="https://t.co/QesZWbUZM0">pic.twitter.com/QesZWbUZM0</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1546649262146129922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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"I'm just getting a lot smarter too," Murphy said. "Just knowing what's coming next, so you're able to brace for things; you're able to absorb force as well as distribute force when need be."
As a rookie, Murphy made just eight shots after taking two-or-more dribbles, and he shot just 20.5% on those attempts (per <a href="https://theathletic.com/3418422/2022/07/12/trey-murphy-summer-league-pelicans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">William Guillory of The Athletic</a>). He matched those eight makes in two Summer League games. This bucket &mdash; where Murphy crossed over his defender, spun back around and nailed a mid-range floater &mdash; was a thing of beauty:
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Murphy recognizes that his signature offensive role is as a shooter and spacer. He understands the value of knowing one's role in the league &mdash; a lesson that he says hit home specifically after listening to Draymond Green and Glen Davis on a podcast. At the same time, he's been working on tightening his handle this offseason, and he feels more confident that he can attack in an NBA game.
"I mean, I know when to do it [and] when not to do it," Murphy said. "Definitely, I'm gonna be aggressive, because I know that's what this team will need, especially coming from the second unit. And I'll just know when to pick my spots and pick my times to really attack and really go at it."
When Murphy does space the floor though, he thinks there's one player in particular who will help make his life easier: Zion Williamson.
Murphy vividly recalls a pregame film session before facing the Minnesota Timberwolves. While watching tape of the Pelicans' 2020-21 matchups against the Wolves, Murphy was awestruck by Williamson's floor gravity.
"He had the ball at the top of the key, and Minnesota is in a 1-2-2 zone, basically," Murphy explained. "They're all literally boxed in trying to guard him, and I was just like, 'If they have that much help [off of] me, it's gonna be a field day!' It's gonna be crazy because he just draws so much attention. Me being a smart player, I can cut that, I can stay on the three-point line &mdash; I can do a lot of different things."
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Unlike last year, the Pelicans now have serious outside expectations to build on their 2021-22 playoff run. Murphy has his own motivations to assert himself as a core player and contribute to winning. While those pressures can sometimes weigh more on a given day, Murphy wants to keep New Orleans, and basketball, fun.
"At the end of the day, the NBA is stressful," Murphy said. "You're playing against the best players in the world. You have a forum. There's money involved. There's a lot of different things involved, and you just gotta have fun with it.
"Understand [that] you gotta be the kid that was playing in the driveway when you were 5 years old, and still have fun with it. Because if you don't have fun with it, then you're just not gonna enjoy it. It's not gonna be the same for you."

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Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III opens up to Ethan Fuller about his sports-media aspirations, his development as a player and more.

Trey Murphy III ready to make his presence felt in Year 2 with Pelicans

Alex Kennedy goes 1-on-1 with Tyrese Haliburton, who opens up about getting traded, the Pacers' future, his offseason training, etc.

Tyrese Haliburton won’t let trade 'resentment' define new Pacers era

Welcome to Basketball News' 10-part mini-series, Blazing the Trail, where Mat Issa breaks down the most revolutionary players of the 1990s and 2000s. Throughout this series, we'll examine how these players changed basketball and pioneered their respective skills.
In this fourth installment, Mat goes in-depth on one of the greatest shooters of all-time: Reggie Miller. He explains what made him different from the marksmen who came before him, with insights from his former coaches in Indiana &mdash; Dan Burke and Bob Ociepka &mdash; his former teammate Rik Smits and basketball analyst Mike Prada.
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In his critically acclaimed, historical rendition of the NBA, "The Book of Basketball," The Ringer's Bill Simmons ranked NBA and Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller outside of the top 60 all-time:
&ldquo;Reggie Miller was the most overrated &lsquo;superstar&rsquo; of the past thirty years,&rdquo; Simmons opined.
To Simmons' credit, however, he later retracted this statement in the sequel podcast, "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-of-basketball-2-0/id1483525141?i=1000462435000">The Book of Basketball 2.0.</a>" Revising his previous comments, Simmons suggested that in today's game, Miller would indeed constitute superstar status.
But what if Miller would have been a superstar in any era? What if he was an elite scorer and playmaker in ways that we couldn&rsquo;t comprehend during his time? And what if he served as an inspiration to the most prolific dynasty of the NBA's pace-and-space era?
Let's find out.
WHAT MADE MILLER SPECIAL
As a child, Miller would regularly participate in 1-on-1 matchups against his older sister, Cheryl, who turned out to be one of the greatest women's basketball players of all-time prior to untimely injuries. (She's enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.)
Because of Cheryl's superior size and strength, Reggie going inside was a moot point.
&ldquo;One of the reasons I practiced shooting from the outside was that Cheryl used to block my shots when I drove to the hoop,&rdquo; Miller recalled in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Being-Enemy-Reggie-Miller/dp/0684870398" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his autobiography</a>. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a bad feeling when your sister is knocking your best stuff into the rosebushes.&rdquo;
To defeat his sibling, Miller needed to hone in on his perimeter game.&nbsp;
That's exactly what he did.
Miller endured his sister&rsquo;s challenges and triumphed to become one of the premier shooters the NBA had ever seen. According to Cerebro Sports' Three-Point Efficiency metric (a shooting metric that combines three-point volume and efficiency to show the most lethal shooters), Miller finished in the 97th percentile or higher in all but one year from 1988 to 2004.
(The 2002-03 campaign was the exception, where he finished in the 94th percentile).
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/2.png" alt="" width="550" height="550" />
Visual provided by Cerebro Sports
Even more impressive is how he earned his standing in this data set. Unlike many of the great shooters of his time &mdash; who made their mark primarily off standstill catch-and-shoot opportunities &mdash; a majority of Miller&rsquo;s triples came while he was circling the half-court at top speed.
And again, much like his pickup contests growing up, this strategy was rooted in necessity.
&ldquo;The chances for spot-up [threes] weren&rsquo;t really there,&rdquo; said Dan Burke, Miller&rsquo;s former coach in Indiana and now an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers. &ldquo;You have to have a real big, key player [you&rsquo;re playing off of] to get spot-ups.&rdquo;
To back Burke's words, think of one of the other notable three-point shooters of that time: Dan Majerle. Throughout his time in Phoenix and Miami, Majerle was gifted with potent penetrators like Kevin Johnson and Tim Hardaway, who could both consistently <a href="https://streamable.com/wd17v5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">break down a defense and get two feet in the paint</a>.
Meanwhile, Miller&rsquo;s most accomplished backcourt mate, Mark Jackson, was more of a post facilitator than a downhill threat.
Instead, Miller achieved sage status in the art of movement shooting. And for those following along at home, his technique can be divided into <a href="https://youtu.be/tv3EyzBuRb4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three keys</a>.
Key 1: Set up the Defender
Miller was an avid participant in basketball grappling &mdash; the practice of using physicality to manipulate and gain separation from your defender.
&ldquo;[Miller] embraced contact and sometimes got the feel of a guy so [he] could push off him and get open,&rdquo; Burke said.
The cunning sharpshooter also deployed harsh cuts and abrupt changes in speed to further decrease the likelihood that his opponent could shadow his movements.
&ldquo;When you watch him, it wasn&rsquo;t always the same speed,&rdquo; Burke continued. &ldquo;He changed speeds. He&rsquo;d stop and go.&rdquo;
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Key 2: Read the Screen
Once he gained a step, Miller could interpret his optimal route-running path based on the direction his defender was chasing him. If his defender trailed outside the screen, Miller would juke inwards. If his defender rushed from the inside, Miller would retreat outside.
Miller's astute ability in this regard was largely based upon the continuity he achieved with his screen-setting bigs &mdash; Antonio Davis, Dale Davis and Rik Smits.
&ldquo;We would run through our sets almost every practice,&rdquo; Smits recalled to Basketball News. &ldquo;[A lot] of dummy offenses. Just run, run, run. We really concentrated on getting good screens set just to take full advantage of everything [Miller brought to the table].&rdquo;
"Reggie would talk to those bigs too," Burke added. "'Just stand there, I&rsquo;ll use you.'&rdquo;
Key 3: Footwork
Miller boasted balletic footwork, akin to that of a peak-<a href="https://youtu.be/Ye7xMqYqAbA">Torture Chamber Kevin McHale</a>, able to stop and pop effortlessly regardless of his travel velocity and angle.
&ldquo;[Typically], if you are right-handed, you want to come off [a pindown screen] going to your left so that your shoulder is closer to the rim,&rdquo; Burke said. &ldquo;It didn&rsquo;t matter with Reggie. He could come with his right hand or with his left hand.&rdquo;
Miller's ambidexterity is a testament to his impeccable footwork. The direction didn't matter because his stride was sound both ways. And his ability to maintain balance during these sequences is even more impressive when you consider the defensive physicality that was accepted during his era.
&ldquo;Every time a guy like Reggie cut through the lane, the goal was to smack him. We used to say, &lsquo;Pinball him,&rsquo;" Burke recalled.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The league allows no &lsquo;impeding&rsquo; cutters now. There was much more holding then. But Reggie would stay locked and still get a rhythm jumper.&rdquo;
Here are all three of those keys in action:
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ON-COURT PRODUCTION
Miller&rsquo;s shooting served as a double-edged sword for his reputation. On one end, he was revered as one of the game&rsquo;s top snipers. On the other, he&rsquo;d been pigeonholed into a singular role on the floor.
However, Miller was more than a marksman. He was a three-level scorer who utilized the <a href="https://streamable.com/ykdkx5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">triple-threat</a> position to score from the mid-range and at the rim.
&ldquo;One thing Reggie worked on, we used to call it &lsquo;Pete Newell,&rsquo;" Burke explained. &ldquo;Pete Newell was an old coach who used to have a big-man camp. His whole thing was: Jab, catch, create space. If the guy doesn&rsquo;t honor your jab, you go by him. If he backs up, you raise up and shoot it.
&ldquo;It was a series. And [Reggie] really worked on it.&rdquo;
This combination of three-level scoring and high conversion rates from the most efficient spots on the floor made Miller arguably the best backcourt scorer of the 1990s not named Michael Jordan.
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To compare the two, from 1989 to 1999, Miller tallied nine seasons where he ranked in the 90th percentile in both scoring volume and efficiency, while Jordan only touted two such seasons.&nbsp;
Additionally, Miller&rsquo;s unpredictable tendencies coming off screens and counter-laden arsenal made him one of the few stars to rarely improve his volume and efficiency during postseason play.
For instance, in 1994-95, Miller averaged 23.9 points per 75 possessions on 62.0% True Shooting. In the playoffs, those averages ballooned to 28.0 points and 63.2% True Shooting, respectively.&nbsp;
To show how rare that is, there was an inverse trend of that with John Stockton and Mitch Richmond &mdash; two guards who were (<a href="https://twitter.com/matissa15/status/1556676428426612738?s=20&amp;t=haKXS_VAVIAeIw7hLdSqkQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrongfully?</a>) regularly awarded All-NBA selections over Miller.&nbsp;
WEAVING THE THREAD
The first guard to function as an off-ball superstar was John Havlicek. When "Hondo" wasn&rsquo;t ripping and running in transition, he was usually <a href="https://streamable.com/uzgwhw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">curling off screens</a> for leaning mid-range jumpers.
A post-three-point line precursor to Miller was Joe Dumars (who coincidentally probably also took some of his All-NBA accolades). Another one of Miller&rsquo;s coaches in Indiana, Dick Versace, spent time as an assistant on the Detroit Pistons before becoming the head coach of the Pacers in 1988.
&ldquo;Joe Dumars had that knack for getting free off screens,&rdquo; said Bob Ociepka, an assistant on Versace's staff in Indiana and a 23-year NBA coach. &ldquo;Coach Versace, coming from [Detroit], ran a lot of the things Chuck Daly did &mdash; [like Dumars] coming off those staggered screens from the baseline.&rdquo;
Miller expressed a great admiration toward Dumars, even going as far as to call him the "unsung MVP of Dream Team II" in his book.
Dale Ellis was another <a href="https://twitter.com/matissa15/status/1555600444763869186?s=20&amp;t=EBeojEhLms-WUc2csgmNdA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sniper</a> from that generation who cratered defenses using floppy action &mdash; a play in which a player, positioned under the basket, can choose whether to cut off a single screen to one side or a double screen to the other, per Basketball Dictionary.
However, because of the typical constraints placed on 2-guards at the time, neither Dumars nor Ellis could fully leverage their shooting prowess to their advantage.
&ldquo;[In that era], the shooting guard was supposed to be Jordan-esque,&rdquo; said Mike Prada, editor at The Athletic and "Spaced Out" <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spaced-Out-Three-Point-Revolution-Everything/dp/1629378860/ref=asc_df_1629378860/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=564700905732&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=6603785140486578978&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9016969&amp;hvtargid=pla-1645726366795&amp;psc=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">author</a>. &ldquo;You were an all-around player, you got a lot of rebounds and assists, you went 1-on-1 a lot, you were explosive, you could dunk on people &mdash; sort of that Platonic Ideal.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Miller was different from those guards; he didn&rsquo;t possess the same ball-handling or rebounding acumen. He was an outlier who weaponized his extraordinary gift to buoy an offense almost entirely through his off-ball presence.
Notably, the Pacer legend pioneered a term deeply entrenched in today&rsquo;s basketball jargon: gravity.
Dangerous from deep, Miller made <a href="https://en.mimi.hu/basketball/double_down.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubling down</a> on his big-men teammates in the post a conversation killer. Teams would rather face guard him at the three-point line than send reinforcements to the interior, which opened up room for his low-post executioners to make decisions.
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Smits expressed a great deal of gratitude for the space Miller provided him to operate.
&ldquo;I was glad he was on my team. I could tell you that,&rdquo; Smits laughed.&nbsp;
Miller&rsquo;s landscape-altering effect is felt when you look through the lens of historian Ben Taylor&rsquo;s passing and playmaking statistics.
For example, in 1993-94, Gary Payton finished in the 80th percentile in Taylor&rsquo;s Box Creation stat &mdash; a metric that estimates playmaking (per <a href="https://backpicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Backpicks.com</a>). Payton did this while simultaneously scoring in the 94th percentile in Passer Rating.
In the same season, despite only scoring in the 37th percentile in passing, Miller finished in the 77th percentile in playmaking.
Miller wasn&rsquo;t the on-ball initiator that Payton was, but this conveys that the former was still able to operate as a high-end creator thanks to the attention he garnered from his opponents.
&ldquo;The thing that Reggie Miller had that we didn&rsquo;t know how to identify back when he played &mdash; but now it&rsquo;s a no-brainer concept &mdash; is this idea of gravity,&rdquo; Prada said.
IMPACT ON TODAY'S GAME
In many circles, Ray Allen is often cited as the disciple who bears the most resemblance to Miller. Along with Allen, Richard Hamilton, JJ Redick and Kyle Korver have all played the part of "<a href="https://grantland.com/features/kyle-korver-nba-atlanta-hawks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offense unto themselves</a>" by utilizing their off-ball gravitational pull.
In the current NBA landscape, Miller&rsquo;s most obvious descendants share the same squad.
&ldquo;Two guys on the same team,&rdquo; Burke pointed out. "Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson."
The dynastic Golden State Warriors have become famous for pushing the boundaries of time and space by exploiting the shooting gravity their dynamic duo wields.&nbsp;
And, as fate would have it, Miller also once teamed up with a fellow gravity co-founder, Chris Mullin.&nbsp;
Mullin was arguably the closest comparison to Miller at the time, and together, the tandem caused wide-scale chaos and confusion &mdash; the likes of which the league would not see again until the Splash Brothers coalesced in the Bay Area nearly two decades later.
Tell me if these sequences look familiar:
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In both plays, the two pairs create a defensive breakdown simply by running past each other in the opposite direction.
Even more poetic, take a look at the Pacers&rsquo; opponent in the first clip. Who was a reserve on that team? None other than Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
&ldquo;All of the stuff that the Warriors did in the early days with the Steph/Klay combo &mdash; the crazy, figure-eight-type stuff &mdash; was very much ripped right from the Pacers,&rdquo; Prada explained.
Golden State expanded on Miller&rsquo;s semi-contained havoc, turning half-court offensive sets into absolute anarchy.
Miller&rsquo;s movement authored a great deal of mayhem, more than anyone of his time, but he was still forced to rein it in a bit to accommodate the structure of his offense. Nowadays, engines like Curry and Thompson have the discretion to graze the terrain as they see fit.
&ldquo;[For Miller], his was set plays, so it was easier for teams to really dial in,&rdquo; Burke explained. &ldquo;Curry is more of a constant, built into a random system.&rdquo;
But it was still the audacious Miller who paved the way. He crawled so that the Golden State empire could walk.
&ldquo;He was this type of player that, in an era that did not have a blueprint for this style of play, he provided it,&rdquo; Prada concluded.&nbsp;
He's the player responsible for the outline that triggered a dynasty.
Are we sure Reggie Miller was overrated?
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/img_5152.jpg" alt="" width="550" height="550" />
Tune in next week for Part V of Blazing the Trail, which focuses on Andrei Kirilenko &mdash; the five-tool defender.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-blazing-the-trail-shane-battier-the-databall-defender-memphis-grizzlies-houston-rockets-miami-heat-daryl-morey-david-fizdale-detroit-pistons-draymond-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to read Part III: "Shane Battier, the data-ball defender."</a>
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-blazing-the-trail-rashard-lewis-all-star-stretch-four-orlando-magic-stan-van-gundy-dwight-howard-hedo-turkoglu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to read Part II: "Rashard Lewis, the All-Star stretch 4."</a>
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-blazing-the-trail-steve-nash-phoenix-suns-mike-dantoni-raja-bell-steph-curry-all-time-great-point-guard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to read Part I: "Steve Nash, the magician who danced in the paint."</a>

In his "Blazing the Trail" series, Mat Issa analyzes all-time shooting great Reggie Miller and what separated him from the rest.