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Bucks

The 2023 NBA Draft could go down as a special class, with talented prospects such as Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller and the Thompson twins as well as some interesting depth pieces.
But will it ever be considered one of the best draft classes in NBA history? That remains to be seen.
Today, we're going to identify the cr&egrave;me de la cr&egrave;me of NBA draft classes.
The 2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft featured multiple generational talents that would come to define the NBA for the next two decades. Led by LeBron James, this class also included household names such as Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Not only did this draft have star power, it was also very deep. Twenty-seven players from the 2003 class played at least 10 seasons in the NBA: James, Wade, Anthony, Bosh, Kyle Korver, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Nick Collison, Boris Diaw, Kendrick Perkins, Leandro Barbosa, James Jones, Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, Dahntay Jones, Steve Blake, Mo Williams, Luke Ridnour, Willie Green, Matt Bonner, Travis Outlaw, Keith Bogans, Darko Milicic, Mickael Pietrus, Sasha Pavlovic, Josh Howard and Luke Walton. This class featured nine All-Stars and plenty of quality role players.
The 1984 NBA Draft
The 1984 NBA Draft stands as a legendary class, and some might argue that it's the greatest draft of all-time. Two of the top three picks &mdash; Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon &mdash; would ultimately etch their names in the annals of basketball history and redefine greatness. In addition to Jordan and Olajuwon, players like Charles Barkley, John Stockton and Alvin Robertson showcased their immense talent as well. This class produced five Hall-of-Famers and seven All-Stars.
The 1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft changed the landscape of the league, heralding the arrival of future Hall-of-Famers and icons. Led by the legendary Kobe Bryant and the enigmatic Allen Iverson, this class boasted an array of talent that reinvigorated the game. This class also featured Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Stephon Marbury, Peja Stojakovic, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antoine Walker, Marcus Camby, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Derek Fisher. The 1996 NBA Draft was deep, producing 10 All-Stars and five Hall-of-Famers. Jon Finkel recently revisited this star-studded class in his book "1996," and he <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/revisiting-the-starstudded-1996-nba-draft-kobe-bryant-ray-allen-steve-nash-allen-iverson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ran a terrific excerpt on Basketball News</a>.
The 1985 NBA Draft
The 1985 NBA Draft was certainly special. This class featured 10 All-Stars including Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Joe Dumars, Detlef Schrempf, Xavier McDaniel, Charles Oakley, &nbsp;AC Green, Terry Porter and Michael Adams. The class also featured Arvydas Sabonis, an overseas legend and terrific Portland Trail Blazer. Like the 1996 NBA Draft, this class has the star power and depth to be considered one of the best drafts in NBA history.
The 2009 NBA Draft
While not as immediately illustrious as some of the other classes on this list, the 2009 NBA Draft proved to be a treasure trove of talent. This class exemplified the importance of patience and player development, as Stephen Curry, James Harden, Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague would all go on to become All-Stars. Griffin missed his rookie year with an injury, but dominated as soon as he stepped on an NBA court. Curry battled injuries early in his career, but would become a four-time champion and two-time MVP. Harden went from being an elite sixth man to an MVP once he got the opportunity in Houston. This class also featured Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio, Tyreke Evans, Darren Collison, Ty Lawson, Patty Mills, Danny Green, Taj Gibson and Patrick Beverley among others.
Which class is the greatest in NBA history? <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tweet us your thoughts</a>!&nbsp;

Basketball News examines the crème de la crème of draft classes throughout NBA history.

Exploring the 5 best draft classes in NBA history

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; Quin Snyder was more than just the first coaching candidate contacted when Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields began looking to replace Nate McMillan.
Snyder was the only candidate interviewed by Fields.
&ldquo;Everything we were looking for, it was check, check, check,&rdquo; Fields said of his conversation with Snyder, the former Utah Jazz coach, who was introduced on Monday as the Hawks&rsquo; new coach. Fields said finding the right fit immediately with Snyder &ldquo;was a big moment.&rdquo;
Snyder will make his Atlanta debut on Tuesday night, when the Hawks play at home against Washington. Joe Prunty, who was 2-0 as the interim coach, will remain on the bench beside Snyder.
The Hawks announced Snyder&rsquo;s hiring on a five-year deal on Sunday night, only five days after McMillan was fired with the team mired in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
The announcement was not a surprise. Fields confirmed on Wednesday that Snyder was a candidate.
Fields hopes the Hawks, currently in position for a spot in the play-in tournament, can finish the regular season strong under Snyder and earn a playoff spot as one of the top six teams in the East.
The Hawks (31-30) have struggled to reclaim the success they enjoyed under McMillan in reaching the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. The expectation to find that winning formula is now transferred to Snyder in a potentially difficult transition so late in the season.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always a challenge, but those challenges are often most rewarding and the best opportunity,&rdquo; Snyder said.
He acknowledged that the decision to take over the job now, instead of waiting until after the season, wasn&rsquo;t easy.
&ldquo;As I thought about it, I think the opportunity to come in now, although maybe challenging, is also an opportunity to hopefully go on a run,&rdquo; Snyder said. &ldquo;Also, and I think these things are not mutually exclusive, to begin to build a foundation, a culture.&rdquo;
Snyder, 56, was an assistant on Mike Budenholzer&rsquo;s Hawks staff in the 2013-14 season.
He was 372-264 as Utah&rsquo;s coach from the 2014-15 to 2021-22 seasons, finishing with six consecutive playoff seasons. Even though the Jazz never advanced past the Western Conference semifinals, the winning record would have made Snyder an attractive candidate to other teams who may make coaching changes after the season.
The timing of the Hawks&rsquo; change created an opening for Fields to have exclusive conversations with Snyder.
Fields said that opportunity to be first in line with Snyder had no bearing on his decision to fire McMillan during the All-Star break. Fields said he was motivated to make a move because he believed the Hawks were not fulfilling their potential under McMillan.
&ldquo;We had two separate things going on &mdash; what is the state of our team right now and how we can best serve them and set us up for end of the season success following the All-Star break and then how are we going to position ourselves as an organization,&rdquo; Fields said, adding &ldquo;that doesn&rsquo;t necessitate that Quin was going to take over at midseason. It wasn&rsquo;t a huge factor for us. I knew that first and foremost we had to address our ballclub and that&rsquo;s what we did.&rdquo;
Snyder said the opportunity in Atlanta &ldquo;lined up just right&rdquo; with what he was looking for in his next coaching job after leaving Utah following last season.
New Hawks assistant general manager Kyle Korver played for Snyder in Atlanta and Utah. Korver gave Snyder positive reviews about Fields. Snyder said he believes the Hawks provide &ldquo;the character in the front office&rdquo; he sought.
&ldquo;I wanted to find that type of partnership and I know that&rsquo;s why this situation, I think, is such a good fit for me personally,&rdquo; Snyder said, adding that he and Korver &ldquo;have been friends for a long time. &hellip; His feelings about Landry, everything was affirmed that I had heard about Landry.&rdquo;
Snyder met with Atlanta players on Monday morning. Some players, including Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic, attended the afternoon news conference. The team&rsquo;s biggest star, point guard Trae Young, was not in attendance.

“It’s always a challenge, but those challenges are often most rewarding and the best opportunity,” Snyder said.

New Hawks coach Quin Snyder facing difficult midseason transition

<a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1613918572480266240" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports</a> that the Atlanta Hawks are finalizing a deal to make Kyle Korver their assistant general manger.
The 41-year-old was already working within the organization as director of player affairs/development.
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ESPN Sources: The Hawks are finalizing a deal to make Kyle Korver an assistant general manager. Korver moves up in the front office under GM Landry Fields after several months as the franchise&rsquo;s director of player affairs/development. Korver was a 2015 All-Star with Atlanta.
&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1613918572480266240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2023</a></blockquote>

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The Hawks' front office has changed quite a bit lately, as Travis Schlenk recently stepped down as the team's president of basketball operations and Landry Fields was promoted to general manager. Promoting Korver is one of Fields' first big moves since taking over the front office.
Korver played in the NBA for 17 seasons (including five years with the Hawks), with career averages of 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 threes per game. The former All-Star was known as one of the best shooters in the league, as he shot 42.9% from three-point range over the course of his NBA career.&nbsp;

The Atlanta Hawks are finalizing a deal to make Kyle Korver assistant general manager as part of their reshaped front office.

Atlanta Hawks promote Kyle Korver to assistant general manager

When the Oklahoma City Thunder begin their season against the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, it will officially mark the start of Year 10 for veteran big man Mike Muscala.
And for the 31-year-old Muscala, this season is about a lot of things &ndash; improving as a player, OKC growing as a team, mentoring the young core, and, most importantly, uniting people through basketball.
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Before the official start of his 2022-23 season, Basketball News had the chance to catch up with Muscala. We talked about his unique charity initiative with <a href="https://peaceplayers.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PeacePlayers</a> International, his role as a mentor on the youngest team in the league and the expectations he has for his teammates&rsquo; development this season.
While at the Orlando Bubble in 2020, you were involved with a non-profit organization called PeacePlayers International. Can you tell us a little bit about your involvement with them, particularly while you were there? 
Mike Muscala: &ldquo;In the Bubble, I donated $100 for each three we made. I first heard about them through a friend I went to college with at Bucknell. He told me about them probably eight [or] nine years ago.
&ldquo;I got to know one of their co-founders, Brendon [Tuohey]. I just feel like their mission was really cool &ndash; bringing people together through basketball all around the world. I felt like [the three-point pledge] was a cool way to be able to donate to them, [and] help fund some of their operations as they work in a lot of U.S. cities like Detroit, [Los Angeles], and Brooklyn.&rdquo;&nbsp;
(Note: Despite the Thunder only making 188 threes in 15 games during the Bubble (which would equate to $18,800 in donations), Muscala ended up contributing $23,000 to the PeacePlayers organization.) 
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Mike Muscala. CLUTCH. <a href="https://t.co/vrecHtEqK4">pic.twitter.com/vrecHtEqK4</a>
&mdash; Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1293736008077340674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote>

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There are thousands of charities out there, why choose <a href="https://peaceplayers.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PeacePlayers</a>?
Muscala: &ldquo;I think it was just how specific it was to basketball. I&rsquo;ve been really fortunate to have met a lot of people through basketball that I probably would not have met otherwise. The fact that they are focused on bringing people together &mdash; especially in areas with a longstanding history of divide and conflict amongst people &mdash; I thought it was so cool that youth basketball [was being used] as a vehicle to help resolve some of those conflicts.&rdquo;
From your experience working with this organization, have you seen some positive change come out of this?
Muscala: &ldquo;Yeah, just seeing some of the studies they have run on what they have done. Hearing interviews from girls being like, &lsquo;I would have never played or gotten to know this other girl had it not been for PeacePlayers, and now, we&rsquo;re friends.&rsquo; Just seeing stuff like that is so cool. Putting people together, to meet one another [and] to become friends is cool.&rdquo;
After all your success with the organization in the past, you are now trying to continue your work with PeacePlayers in 2022-23. What is your plan for donation this season?
Muscala: &ldquo;My plan is to donate $100 for every offensive rebound we get this year, which is kind of similar to the three-pointers made [pledge] that we did in the Bubble. Brendon said it was fun for them when we did that. And I just thought it&rsquo;s an area of focus for me, personally, and our team this year, so it was a good way to tie all that together.&rdquo;
Okay, why is offensive rebounding a focus for you and the Thunder?
Muscala: &ldquo;I think with an offensive rebound, [what it] signifies in terms of hard work and hustle, [is] starting anew, all that stuff. People love to see that in a game, and I just thought it could be something fun for us to do, something motivating throughout the season.&rdquo;
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Last season, OKC finished 12th in offensive rebounds per game. That's already a solid mark, but there is still always room for improvement. Does the team have any plans for increasing that rate and, ultimately, the total of the donation?
Muscala: &ldquo;Yeah, we&rsquo;ve talked about it as a team. We have some tactics that we focused on [and] practiced. Specific times to crash [and] get on the boards, especially [cutting] from the corners. With more threes being taken every game, [there&rsquo;s] more of those long rebounds.
"If you just cut with a purpose, [even] if you don&rsquo;t get the ball, [have] the awareness to go up and try to rebound. Like Nicolas Batum last year, I feel like he did a great job of cutting and keeping possessions alive. That&rsquo;s so deflating for a defense. Find creative ways, but also putting in that work. A lot of times, it's just [about] hustle and kind of a mindset; it&rsquo;s something I used to be pretty good at early in my career and something I want to get back to [now].&rdquo;
Last season, you finished 19th in the NBA in <a href="https://dunksandthrees.com/epm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dunks and Threes&rsquo; EPM metric</a>, and you were one of two players 6-foot-10 or taller to shoot over 40% from three (All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns was the other). You clearly can still contribute at a high level, so why re-sign with a rebuilding Thunder team instead of offering your services to a potential title contender?
Muscala: &ldquo;This will be my fourth year with [Oklahoma City]. I really do believe in this team and this organization. It&rsquo;s a young team, but I love all the players that I get to play with, the coaching staff, [and all] the people in the organization. What this team means to this city is special. Being around for this process has been fun for me. There are a lot of great teams in the NBA. I&rsquo;ve been fortunate to play for a few other ones, but I love what [Oklahoma City] stands for, and I&rsquo;m just happy to be here.&rdquo;
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2021 Thunder Player Rankings⚡️ #6. Mike Muscala Moose had to be shut down midseason because a 7 footer hitting 4 or 5 3s off the bench every game isn&rsquo;t a wise way to end up with a Top 5 draft pick. Mike&rsquo;s love of OKC and the fans here has endeared him to the Thunder faithful. <a href="https://t.co/F0N6WDotxi">pic.twitter.com/F0N6WDotxi</a>
&mdash; Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonRahbar/status/1401684498409050113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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You and Chet Holmgren are both from Minnesota, and part of your responsibility on this team is helping him (and the other youngsters) grow. How do you think your desire to mentor this new generation correlates with your desire to be so active in charity work?
Muscala: &ldquo;I think it's just [about] giving back to the game. You know, I want to coach when I&rsquo;m done playing. I think that&rsquo;s just the way to pay it forward. When I was a younger player, I had older players that led by example, like Al Horford, Paul Millsap [and] Kyle Korver. Guys like that, showed me... what focus and consistency were all about.
&ldquo;I think as I&rsquo;ve gotten older, I&rsquo;ve been more grateful for basketball. I think everyone can relate to that, you know? As [we] get older, [we] appreciate the things that have gotten [us] to this point. As an older player now, it&rsquo;s fun to still play the game, but also [important to be] around for the young guys because soon, it will be them in my position, giving back to even younger players. The cycle just goes on and on.&rdquo;
It's a new year with new excitement and new hope. How excited are you to see the growth of guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and the rest of the young core?
Muscala: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited. Tre Mann also had a great summer. It was a really good preseason. (Mann averaged 16.0 PPG on 66.3% True Shooting). I&rsquo;m happy for them and excited to watch them continue to grow because they put the work in, always focus, are humble &mdash; and [they] want to get better.&rdquo;

Mat Issa goes 1-on-1 with Thunder veteran Mike Muscala to discuss his PeacePlayers initiative and how it ties into a young OKC team.

Mike Muscala Q&A: OKC Thunder's growth, PeacePlayers, focus in Year 10

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?
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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.

Blazing the Trail: Reggie Miller, the moving target

The Atlanta Hawks are finalizing the hire of Kyle Korver to a front office role, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1549512337589141504" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic</a>.
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The Atlanta Hawks are finalizing the hire of Kyle Korver to a front office role, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAthletic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Stadium?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stadium</a>. Korver played in Atlanta from 2012-17, making the All-Star team in 2015. He was a Nets player development coach last season.
&mdash; Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1549512337589141504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Kyle Korver has been hired by the Hawks in a front office role.

Kyle Korver hired in front office role for Atlanta Hawks

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/jj-redick-says-allen-iverson-once-played-live-basketball-in-practice-wearing-socks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anyone born after 1995 probably knows less about Allen Iverson, but watching him play was truly magical for those who had a chance to follow the best days of his career. Iverson was the first small player since Isiah Thomas to dominate the league, and he took the NBA by storm with his famous crossover move on prime Michael Jordan.
In the years after, Iverson continued to use his otherworldly physical gifts to be a threat on both ends of the basketball court, turning the Philadelphia 76ers into a contender for the first time in over fifteen years.
Stories of Iverson&rsquo;s athletic gifts are well-documented. From his time playing football in high school to his successful careers in prep and college hoops, A.I. was quick with long arms and as agile of a human being as one has ever seen. JJ Redick had Kyle Korver on his podcast, and the two talked about their experiences playing with Iverson, to which Korver recalled how The Answer helped a young shooter find his way.
&ldquo;If you couldn&rsquo;t shoot it, Allen wasn&rsquo;t passing you the ball. So when I came in he always had his arm around me, telling me to shoot it," Korver <a href="https://youtu.be/uPG9D2vRqzM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on The Old Man and The Three</a>.
JJ Redick had another story to add of Iverson playing away from the cameras, which not many people were aware of.
&ldquo;We had training camp one day and Allen came in rather tardy&hellip; Then he played for the first how many minutes of live basketball, wearing just his socks," Redick <a href="https://youtu.be/uPG9D2vRqzM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said with a laugh</a>.&nbsp;
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Allen was an amazing athlete, but to play basketball against NBA players and dominate in just your socks is incredible. This is a testament to Allen&rsquo;s quickness and agility. He was so light on his feet that he could scrimmage in just his socks.
&ldquo;Allen would also beat everyone in the mile run, running the last lap backwards," Redick <a href="https://youtu.be/uPG9D2vRqzM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>. "It&rsquo;s just ridiculous.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The Answer may have retired with zero rings, but he was undoubtedly one of the biggest basketball icons of his generation. Kobe might have won more rings, but Iverson got kids to start wearing arm sleeves, ankle socks, and baggy shorts because of how his style of play captivated the hearts and minds of young basketball fans.
Iverson was one of the greatest of all time, as he had the mystique of these types of instances in the same way that Jordan, Bird, and Kobe did. If you still have doubts about Iverson&rsquo;s immense talents, try playing a game of basketball in just your socks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Kyle Korver and JJ Redick spoke about Allen Iverson's greatness on Redick's podcast.

Kyle Korver, JJ Redick reflect on Allen Iverson's greatness in practice

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/kyle-korver-details-which-are-the-greatest-attributes-lebron-possesses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Kyle Korver had a long and successful NBA career, playing with several legendary players. LeBron James was one of them during his short stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. During that time, Korver saw up close and personal what makes LeBron so great and different from any other player he ever encountered.
Korver shares LeBron&rsquo;s greatest attribute
Kyle Korver played for several great NBA teams competing for a championship, and shared a locker room with multiple NBA legends throughout his career. He had a lot of respect for Allen Iverson, who played an instrumental role in motivating him and encouraging him to become a better player. Still, he admits he never saw anybody like LeBron in terms of being consistently ready and in top physical shape to perform at a high level every single game.
"His greatest attribute is his ability to do it again tomorrow," Korver <a href="https://youtu.be/5cUjgTRBOUc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told JJ Redick on The Old Man and The Three podcast</a>. "His ability to recover in mind, body, and spirit on a day-to-day basis is out of this world, it&rsquo;s unbelievable."
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When LeBron was still in Cleveland, management decided to bring in Korver to spread the floor and give The King more room to maneuver. That gave Korver an opportunity to see firsthand what type of mindset LeBron has in getting ready for every game and always being one step ahead of the competition. Dealing with criticism is another thing LeBron does so well, and he rarely cares too much about it because he sees the bigger picture.
"I remember one game we were playing Utah &mdash; I think it was one or two overtimes &mdash; and the next morning, he was in the training room busting out for 30 minutes on the VersaClimber, saying I have to get ready for the playoffs," Korver <a href="https://youtu.be/5cUjgTRBOUc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. "His level of dedication to his body and his craft... I think people see how big and strong he is, and Michael Jordan had to take a break in the middle after winning the first three. It&rsquo;s a lot not just to put in the time but to take the scrutiny that he does, and he deflects it so easily."
LeBron&rsquo;s dedication is on another level
Being as consistent and successful throughout almost two decades doesn&rsquo;t happen by accident, and LeBron has been so great for so long because he puts in the necessary work. Even after accomplishing everything he has, he finds motivation to outwork everyone, and Korver believes that is his most outstanding achievement. Consistency is the key, and LeBron knows it better than anyone since that is the main recipe for success.
"When you are with him, and you see his dedication to the craft and see what he puts in it every single day, he is literally the first person there and the last person to leave every single day," Korver <a href="https://youtu.be/5cUjgTRBOUc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. "To me, that is his greatest achievement, just showing his ability to keep going, to stay focused mentally to do the work he has to do to be who he is."
LeBron is in his 19th NBA season and looking to add another championship under his resume, which would solidify his name as perhaps the greatest basketball player in the history of the game. The Los Angeles Lakers have a great team to help him achieve that goal; however, it will take them some time to find their identity, and LeBron&rsquo;s leadership and experience will be essential in making those things come to fruition.
There is no question when it&rsquo;s all said and done that LeBron will be viewed as one of the greatest, if not the greatest basketball player that ever lived. Whether you like him or not, you have to admire his consistency and dedication to the craft.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Kyle Korver discussed what his experiences with LeBron James were like on "The Old Man and The Three" podcast.

Kyle Korver details the greatest attribute that LeBron has

Quite indecisive, he&rsquo;d often commit a cardinal sin.&nbsp;
Ever the defensive unit, he&rsquo;d streak up the floor off of a turnover, ball in hand. Teammates flanking.
Quite indecisive, he was. He&rsquo;d take flight before figuring out what came next.
Feed Joakim Noah for the flush? Kick it out to Kyle Korver for the three? Finish it myself?
The court was Derrick Rose&rsquo;s oyster. Why think when you can fly?
Zion Williamson gives us those same feels.
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Even as Rose has enjoyed quite the renaissance, we can only look back at who he was and wonder what may have been. The youngest MVP in league history, after suffering a fair share of early-career injuries, Rose has valiantly scratched and clawed his way back toward the top of the NBA&rsquo;s relevancy mountain.&nbsp;
Still, he remains this generation&rsquo;s finest example of <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/is-derrick-rose-a-future-halloffamer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what could&rsquo;ve been</a>.
All the talent in the world can&rsquo;t save you if your body isn&rsquo;t on your side. Health is the universal equalizer; it makes superheroes mere mortals, and grounds the ability to defy gravity.
Indeed, NBA history is littered with examples of players whose promise was undercut by their mortality. Aside from Rose and the obvious additions of Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway, we can cite Greg Oden and Brandon Roy. Yao Ming.
As a basketball-viewing public, our hope is that those with the promise to become all-time greats have that opportunity. And within the class of those we call greats, there are plenty of others who have shaken off their early bouts with injuries and put them so far behind that you can&rsquo;t even see them in a rearview mirror.
Nobody remembers that Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid each missed what should&rsquo;ve been their rookie seasons. Ditto for Blake Griffin. Many others were able to overcome early trips to the infirmary and become all-world performers. The hope for the New Orleans Pelicans is that this will eventually be true for Zion.
So yeah, while he can fly, as Williamson enters his third year, we are still yet to find out whether he can do something much more important &mdash; stay healthy.
Missing all but 24 games in his rookie year, Zion put up jaw-dropping numbers in his sophomore season.&nbsp;
He played in 61 of the Pelicans&rsquo; 72 games and became the first player in NBA history to score as many as 27 points per contest while shooting at least 60% from the field (he made 61.1% of his shots). Additional on-ball repetitions helped him dish out 3.7 assists per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds, and all things considered, for a 20-year-old, those numbers are downright terrifying. It&rsquo;s scary to ponder about just how dominant Zion could be.
As a pro player, Zion is able to bend opposing defenses to his will, but it&rsquo;s his blinding combination of size, athleticism and agility that allow him to be who he is.
It&rsquo;s no secret that, on the developmental curve, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/why-big-men-take-more-time-to-develop-in-the-nba-than-guards-and-wings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">big men tend to take a little longer to reach their peaks</a>. Teenagers often find themselves going from playing against other teens in college to being pounded on by grown men 10 years their senior in the league. The neophyte&rsquo;s challenge is to take his body&rsquo;s development seriously and chisel himself. He needs to harden his body and become conditioned to the rigors of an 82-game season, plus the playoffs on top of that.
To this point, New York&rsquo;s Mitchell Robinson <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/its-been-three-years-and-mitchell-robinson-still-has-a-lot-to-prove" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has had similar issues with nagging injuries and missing games</a>. Robinson has responded by putting on 60 pounds of muscle since being drafted in 2018.
Now, it&rsquo;s Zion&rsquo;s turn to rid himself of the injury bug.
In many instances, as players' bodies adapt, they break. Just &mdash; as was the case in Zion&rsquo;s situation &mdash; not literally.
On Sept. 27, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin revealed that Williamson had undergone surgery to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
The recent news comes two years after Zion previously underwent surgery to repair a torn right meniscus just prior to New Orleans beginning regular-season competition in Oct. 2019.
And that surgical procedure came less than 10 months after Williamson famously suffered a Grade 1 right knee sprain after&nbsp;breaking his shoe in the opening minute of Duke&rsquo;s Feb. 2019 contest against North Carolina.
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Two years ago today, Zion broke his shoe 🤯 📽️: <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPN</a> <a href="https://t.co/FnnmGXKB0b">pic.twitter.com/FnnmGXKB0b</a>
&mdash; FanDuel (@FanDuel) <a href="https://twitter.com/FanDuel/status/1363133809693102080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2021</a></blockquote>

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And before then? Zion had some injury issues, as well.
While not uncommon for a growing player with his size and weight, one of the benefits of landing in a professional setting is access to world-class trainers and facilities. No matter how much promise a player has, they&rsquo;ll only go as far as their body allows them. That&rsquo;s why the Pelicans have done all they can to protect a player with such potential.
So, despite those facts, Griffin&rsquo;s revelation on Sept. 27 was quite noteworthy. Still, the Pels' EVP was optimistic that Williamson would be ready for the team&rsquo;s season opener, so it was easy enough to consider Zion&rsquo;s latest procedure as just another blip on the radar.
Until today.
On Thursday, Griffin provided an update on Williamson. According to NOLA's executive vice president, doctors have reviewed scans on Williamson&rsquo;s foot and have cleared him for the &ldquo;next step&rdquo; in his rehabilitation. Still, there is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/zion-williamson-to-be-reevaluated-in-two-weeks-due-to-foot-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no &ldquo;fixed timeline&rdquo; for his return</a>, with Williamson scheduled to be reevaluated in approximately two weeks.
Said differently, Zion will now certainly begin yet another season on the shelf. He will miss at least the first five games of the 2021-22 season, and considering how cautious the Pelicans have been with him, the team will likely want him to get at least a few practices under his belt before returning to game action.&nbsp;
Those practice sessions will help with his timing and conditioning, both of which will need some work.
As we collectively sit back and wonder whether the likes of Trae Young, Ja Morant and RJ Barrett will take the next step in their respective careers, we have the same question about Zion.
Unfortunately for him, though, the hurdle he hasn&rsquo;t yet cleared is far more important than his ability to defy gravity or break defenses. Right now, the more pertinent question is whether he can stay healthy long enough for him to have the opportunity to fulfill his mighty potential.
For most of the NBA&rsquo;s superstars, the leap forward into superstardom happens during their third season. Zion, perhaps appropriately, cleared that hurdle earlier than most.&nbsp;
Clearly, though, there&rsquo;s still some work to be done.&nbsp;
And as he enters his third season in New Orleans with yet another ailment keeping him on the shelf, it&rsquo;s time we, at the very least, begin to get a tad bit concerned.

As Zion Williamson begins yet another season on the shelf, it's fair to wonder whether he'll be able to become an ironman in the NBA.

We should be worried about Zion Williamson’s ability to stay healthy

After 17 NBA seasons, one-time All-Star Kyle Korver is joining the Brooklyn Nets as a player development assistant coach on Steve Nash's staff, sources tell The Athletic.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1425923165331410945" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Korver did not play in 2020-21 and last suited up as a player for the Milwaukee Bucks. The 40-year-old transitions to coaching after a long career as a sharpshooter. The Nets will look to contend for an NBA title after falling in the second round of the postseason.

Korver did not play in 2020-21 and last suited up as a player for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kyle Korver to join Brooklyn Nets coaching staff as assistant

Some bask in the spotlight, while others prefer to hide in the shadows.
Attention is the friend of many; solitude the companion of choice for a few.
In today&rsquo;s day and age &ndash; particularly with the advent of social media and the 24/7 news cycle &ndash; it&rsquo;s difficult for a neophyte to maintain his anonymity. But, it&rsquo;s possible that, for a 20-year-old with promise, avoiding the radar may not be as difficult as we once thought.
All he has to do is play for the New York Knicks.
From Michael Sweetney to Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert to Jordan Hill, one of the few commonalities between the Knicks&rsquo; first-round draft picks over the past 20 years have been dashed hopes and disappointment.
The theme actually persists throughout every facet of the organization.
But alas, even the Hudson River&rsquo;s tide turns twice a day, so in this instance, the failures of regimes past don&rsquo;t necessarily provide evidence of future performance. New York isn&rsquo;t given the benefit of the doubt, because just as it did with Kristaps Porzingis and his predecessors, somehow, the Knicks will find a way to ruin it.
At least, that&rsquo;s the prevailing sentiment.
So here we are, the 2020-21 season. Believe it or not, the Knicks have surpassed last season&rsquo;s win total, enter play on April 2 at .500, and have managed to not resemble a dumpster fire behind the raspy bark and serious demeanor of Tom Thibodeau.
On the court, Julius Randle has rightfully received the credit and praise for the Knicks arriving to this point. A playoff shot is not a fate that many would have predicted, and although the national media has slowly bestowed some credit on Randle and Thibodeau, it&rsquo;s been much slower to recognize the obvious &mdash; RJ Barrett has given the franchise something to hold onto.
Almost 20 years later, one would be hard-pressed to argue that the 2003 NBA Draft class isn&rsquo;t one of the best in history. But sometimes, we got so fixated with the cream that rises to the top that we don&rsquo;t pay enough attention to what lies beneath.
When you think of 2003, you think of LeBron James and remember Dwyane Wade. Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh also certainly come to mind, while scores of others &mdash; including former All-Stars such as David West, Mo Williams and Kyle Korver &ndash; aren&rsquo;t even thought of.
Obviously, three of those are unlike the others. But it&rsquo;s quite possible to walk away from the craps table a winner even without bankrupting the casino.
In other words, Barrett may not have had anywhere near as immediate an impact as Zion Williamson or Ja Morant, but in the case of Anthony and the 2003 class, in this case, there&rsquo;s no shame in bronze.
As a sophomore, Barrett has shown appreciable growth. A throwback big guard, the defining characteristic of his game &mdash; so far &mdash; has been an understanding of how to use his body, strength and girth to get to precisely where he wants to on the floor. A soccer player before he decided to focus full-time on basketball, his light footedness and agility, at least for a second-year player whose body is still developing, is world class. If you tried hard enough, you could poke holes in Barrett&rsquo;s offensive repertoire; his handle isn&rsquo;t elite, and for a big guard whose size is among his best attributes, his back-to-basket game is fairly weak.
Yet still, the inroads he&rsquo;s made in terms of his sheer effectiveness on the floor are impressive. Be that as it may, what&rsquo;s been equally impressive for the young Canadian has been the strides he&rsquo;s made from Year 1 to Year 2 in an area critical to success in the modern NBA &mdash; spacing the floor.
Along with Randle, Barrett completes an effective duo. Unsurprisingly, the pair are together in four of the team&rsquo;s top-five offensive units in terms of points per possession, with Barrett dramatically (yet somehow, quietly) becoming a much more credible mid-range threat.
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As a rookie, Barrett connected on just 28% of his shots from 10-to-16 feet, and just 29% of his looks from further. This season, he&rsquo;s shown marked improvement, improving those same percentages to 36% and 38%, respectively. In terms of the percentage of shot attempts from those areas, they have also increased, though marginally. Nonetheless, combined with his overall improvements across the board &mdash; his scoring, rebounding and assists are significantly higher along with his shooting percentages &mdash; the simplest conclusion to draw is that he&rsquo;s improved. That&rsquo;s pretty obvious.
What&rsquo;s even more important than an increase in numbers, however &mdash; and something you could never understand without actually watching the game &mdash; is an understanding of how to be effective when advanced scouts and opposing assistant coaches begin planning for you.
It&rsquo;s typical for an NBA team to employ three or four assistant coaches, with other members of the organization invited to assist with reviewing tape and offering input into how to stop a team&rsquo;s featured players. It&rsquo;s commonplace for the support staff to spend days analyzing their opponents and building game plans to take away strengths. That&rsquo;s where the phrase &ldquo;appeared on the scouting report&rdquo; derives.
Due to relatively small sample sizes in some instances or just a lack of time, it&rsquo;s not always possible for a team to go into every contest with a complete understanding of what their opponent has been up to the past week, so there&rsquo;s a necessary prioritization; the higher a player&rsquo;s profile, the more resources dedicated to getting him on the scouting report.
Knicks fans probably remember all too well the rude awakening that Jeremy Lin encountered at the hands of the Miami Heat, but if you have a long enough memory, you&rsquo;d recall that this fate wasn&rsquo;t unique to him. There are a number of players who peak as rookies or sophomores, but it&rsquo;s not always due to any fault with the player.
As one&rsquo;s profile increases, so does the priority with which the opposition scouts him. Most often, it&rsquo;s a young player&rsquo;s ability to adapt his attack and improve his weaknesses that separate, say, Tyreke Evans and O.J. Mayo from Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell.
A relatively small sample size it may be, but at a minimum, Barrett has already proven a few things: first, he&rsquo;s someone who takes his craft and the obligation of diligently improving seriously, and second, he at least hasn&rsquo;t peaked as a rookie.
If you were curious as to why the Knicks didn&rsquo;t approach the trade deadline with the type of urgency that one would have thought a newly installed front office would, aside from the team&rsquo;s favorable cap situation, at least some within the organization believe that the duo of Barrett and Randle have earned the opportunity to continue to develop together.
Together, Zion and Ja have lived up to the expectations, and then some. But when a young player such as Barrett improves in the way he has &mdash; and when those improvements yield wins &mdash; that means something.
In the case of Barrett, at a minimum, it means that we should continue watching.
The young Canadian is onto something, and it&rsquo;s only a matter of time before everyone else figures it out.

RJ Barrett's impressive strides this season have helped put the Knicks in the playoff hunt. Moke Hamilton believes credit is due.

It's about time we talk about the improvement of RJ Barrett

Kyle Korver has spent the last 17 years playing in the NBA, but hasn't yet touched the court or signed with a team this season. While it's easy to think that may mean the veteran sharpshooter is hanging up the sneakers for good, that may not be the case, either.&nbsp;
Korver was on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-rematch-kyle-korver-on-nba-free-agency-player-activism-more-etan-thomas-shaq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"The Rematch" with Etan Thomas on Basketball News</a> recently and discussed his current status.&nbsp;
"It's a good question; I'm not sure. After the bubble, it was such a quick turnaround and I didn't feel like I had really prepared for another season. I believe in honoring the game," Korver told Thomas on the podcast. "I don't want to take a up a spot on a team [if I'm not ready to play]. I didn't feel like I had really put in that time and that work. I have not signed any [retirement] paperwork yet, so... But I don't know, it also feels good. It's a conversation that I have with my wife on most days, so we'll see... I don't know, I'm not sure."
Last season Korver was with the Milwaukee Bucks after spending the previous 16 seasons split between Philadelphia, Utah, Cleveland, Atlanta and Chicago.&nbsp;
The full episode of "The Rematch" can be found below.&nbsp;
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Korver isn't on an NBA roster for the first time in 17 seasons.

Former NBA All-Star Kyle Korver unsure about retirement

NBA sharpshooter Kyle Korver joins Etan Thomas to discuss his career, player activism, Shaq's recent comments and more.

The Rematch: Kyle Korver on NBA free agency, player activism, more

With training camps starting in a week, the NBA's 2020 free-agency period has moved very quickly. Nearly all of the marquee free agents are off the board, aside from Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram (RFA). However, both stars are expected to re-sign.
On Day 5, who are the top remaining free agents at each position?&nbsp;
GUARDS: Reggie Jackson, Shabazz Napier, Quinn Cook, Shaquille Harrison, Evan Turner, Dion Waiters, Marco Belinelli, Emmanuel Mudiay, Yogi Ferrell, Jamal Crawford, Isaiah Thomas, Jeremy Lin, Jordan McLaughlin (RFA), Chris Chiozza, Thabo Sefolosha, Jordan McRae (RFA), Courtney Lee, Troy Daniels, Brandon Knight, Andre Roberson, Allonzo Trier, Ky Bowman, Gary Payton II, Naz Mitrou-Long, Treveon Graham, Ian Clark, Marcus Georges-Hunt, Frank Mason, Ty Lawson, Shabazz Muhammad, J.R. Smith, Chasson Randle
FORWARDS: Anthony Davis, Nicolas Batum, Frank Kaminsky, Glenn Robinson III, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Wilson Chandler, Kyle Korver, DeMarre Carroll, John Henson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Taj Gibson, Jared Dudley, Ersan Ilyasova, Bruno Caboclo, Lance Stephenson, Kenneth Faried, Kenrich Williams, Anthony Tolliver, Cheick Diallo, Dante Cunningham, Donatas Motiejunas, Justin Anderson
CENTER: Hassan Whiteside, Kyle O'Quinn, Ian Mahinmi, Noah Vonleh, Skal Labissiere, Tyson Chandler, Thon Maker, Kosta Koufos, Andrew Bogut, Caleb Swanigan, Ekpe Udoh, Miles Plumlee
Who would you like your favorite team to add? Leave a comment below.

Here's a position-by-position look at the top players who remain unsigned on Day 6 of NBA free agency.

Which NBA free agents are still available?

<div>According to a statement released by the NBPA:</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>A delegation from the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) met with Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier today. The meeting, held at the papal library of the Apostolic Palace, provided an opportunity for the Players to discuss their individual and collective efforts addressing social and economic injustice and inequality occurring in their communities.&nbsp; &nbsp; The NBPA&rsquo;s group included five players, each of whom has been active in their own pursuits of various social justice initiatives. The players were:</div>
<ul>
<li>Marco Belinelli</li>
<li>Sterling Brown</li>
<li>Jonathan Isaac</li>
<li>Kyle Korver</li>
<li>Anthony Tolliver</li>
</ul>
<div>NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts also attended&nbsp;the meeting together with Sherrie Deans, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation and Matteo Zuretti, the NBPA&rsquo;s Chief of International Relations.</div>
<div>&nbsp; &ldquo;We are extremely honored to have had this opportunity to come to the Vatican and share our experiences with Pope Francis,&rdquo; said Kyle Korver. &ldquo;His openness and eagerness to discuss these issues was inspiring and a reminder that our work&nbsp;has had a global impact and must continue moving forward.&rdquo; &nbsp; &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s meeting was an incredible experience,&rdquo; said Anthony Tolliver. &ldquo;With the Pope&rsquo;s support and blessing, we are excited to head into this next season reinvigorated to keep pushing for change and bringing our communities together.&rdquo; &nbsp; &ldquo;This meeting validates the power of our Players&rsquo; voices,&rdquo; said Michele Roberts, Executive Director of the NBPA. &ldquo;That one of the most influential leaders in the world sought to have a conversation with them&nbsp;demonstrates the influence of their platforms. I remain inspired by our Players&rsquo; continued commitment to serve and support&nbsp;our community.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>

Marco Belinelli, Sterling Brown, Jonathan Isaac, Kyle Korver and Anthony Tolliver met with Pope Francis in the Vatican.

NBA players discuss social justice initiatives with Pope Francis

The Milwaukee Bucks are on the clock.
For the second straight season, they&rsquo;ve flamed out in the second round after a dominant regular season showing. In addition to that disappointment, they now enter arguably the most pivotal offseason in franchise history. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year is super-max extension-eligible. If he turns it down -- at this point, why would he commit now? -- they&rsquo;ll need to make a splash to strengthen their title odds. Anything short of a Finals appearance next season could spell bad news for their hopes of keeping their superstar.
The Bucks won&rsquo;t have cap space to work with, but that shouldn&rsquo;t be much of an issue because all of their important pieces are locked in for next season. They&rsquo;ll have the non-tax payers mid-level exception available to them, and have enough mid-sized contracts to make a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumors-possible-destinations-victor-oladipo-indiana-pacers">splash in the trade market</a> if they so choose. The always-informative Keith Smith has a more thorough breakdown of their cap situation, which you can find <a href="https://www.slamonline.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks-salary-cap-space-2020/">here</a>.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s take a look at some guys they&rsquo;ll look to bring back as well as some targets that could help them come back stronger than ever.
Key In-House Decisions
Wesley Matthews*: Bring Him Back
Matthews routinely took on the most demanding perimeter defensive assignments throughout the regular season, while knocking down over 36 percent of his threes on decent volume. He then upped the ante in the postseason, something that the Heat -- and Jimmy Butler specifically -- got a firsthand look at.
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Matthews fits into one of the NBA&rsquo;s most valuable role player archetypes: a true 3-and-D wing. For that reason, it&rsquo;s fair to expect him to opt-out of his $2.7 million and see if he can grab a portion of a contender&rsquo;s mid-level exception. The Bucks should have a leg up in that situation; not only can they toss out a little bit more money with his Early Bird Rights, Matthews is more than familiar with the area having played at Marquette and slots in nicely as a fit alongside the most dominant paint presence in the sport right now. At any rate, the Bucks should do what they can to bring him back.
Kyle Korver: Circle Back Later
Korver is a strong locker room presence and one heck of a shooter, having made nearly 42 percent of his triples last season. He has clear value as a spacer and off-ball mover, even if his role needs to be limited in the postseason because of his defensive limitations. There are more talented free-agent perimeter guys on the market -- heck, there are intriguing young guards like Sterling Brown and Pat Connaughton on the current roster that have a claim for more minutes next year if the Bucks bring them back. It shouldn&rsquo;t cost more than the veteran's minimum to bring Korver back in any case, so doing some shopping first makes sense. &nbsp; Robin Lopez*: He&rsquo;ll Be Back
Lopez was mostly fine as a backup, operating as an extension of Milwaukee&rsquo;s &ldquo;no paint shots no matter what&rdquo; ethos. He contested shots at the rim, boxed out for others and oscillated between flipping up those swooping hook shots and chucking threes above the break to middling results (33.3 percent). There are better backups out there, but it&rsquo;s hard to see him turning down a player option worth a hair over $5 million.
Free Agent Guards
Mid-Tier Options: Jordan Clarkson
It&rsquo;s fun to speculate about the Bucks trading for a shot creator. Chris Paul is a popular name; Victor Oladipo is starting to pick up some steam. You can talk yourself into a one-year Mike Conley gamble if you squint hard enough.
What if the need isn&rsquo;t that stark? If you&rsquo;re of the mindset that the Bucks need a boost, but not an All-Star-caliber boost, bringing Clarkson into the picture would fit that idea.
Clarkson is coming off of, by far, the most efficient season of his career. He gave the Jazz a much-needed scoring punch once he arrived, averaging 15.6 points with a 56.9 True Shooting percentage during the regular season. Both of those marks increased (16.7, 57.7) during Utah&rsquo;s first-round showdown with the Denver Nuggets.&nbsp;
Him trading out some of his frustrating long-twos for threes made him a more efficient option. He&rsquo;s an underwhelming defender to be kind about it, but the Bucks have the personnel to mask some of his limitations. Going after Clarkson with the mid-level exception would allow the Bucks to bolster their guard room, or at least provide some insurance if they do decide to enter the trade market.&nbsp;
Bargains: Tyler Johnson
Johnson had a pretty quiet regular season campaign, kicking things off in Phoenix before finding his way to the Brooklyn Nets mid-season. Johnson performed well in the postseason, averaging a shade under 14 points while unloading the clip from deep (39.3 percent on 7.0 attempts). He&rsquo;s a fearless driver and underrated rebounder; he isn&rsquo;t afraid of mixing it up with bigger players.&nbsp;
Free Agent Wings
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Mid-Tier Options: Justin Holiday
Holiday is more 3-and-Decent than 3-and-D, but he&rsquo;s coming off of the best shooting season of his career (40.5 percent from three-point range on 4.5 attempts) while being a credible option against 2s and 3s. He&rsquo;d boost Milwaukee&rsquo;s transition attack with his athleticism, and could add some much-needed randomness as an off-ball mover in half-court situations. He should be an option even if Matthews returns.
Bargains: Garrett Temple*
Temple would give the Bucks another plus, multi-positional defender with a solid three-point stroke (35.3 percent over the past five seasons). The asterisk is present on Temple's name because the Nets hold a $5 million team option on him, though it&rsquo;d come as no surprise if they let Temple walk to free up tax room to bring back Joe Harris.
Free Agent Forwards
Mid-Tier Options: Danilo Gallinari, Paul Millsap
If Gallinari is serious about going the &ldquo;winning &gt; pay day&rdquo; route, then it&rsquo;s hard to envision a better landing spot for him than Milwaukee. He would immediately boost Milwaukee&rsquo;s shooting and shot creation. His ability as a downhill creator would be a welcome addition to a team that doesn&rsquo;t have much outside of Giannis and Bledsoe (and even that&rsquo;s a bit of a wildcard).&nbsp;
Millsap slipped a bit last season, sometimes laboring while operating as Denver&rsquo;s back-line defender in their aggressive pick-and-roll scheme. Still, he&rsquo;s able to hold his own against power wings and fours and provides a little bit of everything on offense. He&rsquo;s coming off the best shooting season of his career (43.5 percent from three), though that came on limited volume. He can mash smaller players on the block and flow between rolling and popping in pick-and-roll.&nbsp;
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He could operate as a "super sub" in Milwaukee while providing plenty of late-game flexibility. Want to size up? Sit Bledsoe and run something like Middleton-Matthews*-Giannis-Millsap-Lopez to close out games. Sizing down and switching? Bledsoe-Matthews-Middleton-Millsap-Giannis could do the trick.
Bargains: Lance Thomas, Carmelo Anthony
Lance Thomas has flown under the radar for years as a sneaky-solid forward defender that can knock down open threes. He&rsquo;s converted 38.5 percent of his triples over the past five seasons, though that comes on limited volume. He&rsquo;d be a solid get as a 9th man to get you through the regular season.&nbsp; Anthony proved last season he had a little left in the tank as a shooter and mid-post creator. He&rsquo;s still a mess defensively, but that can be hidden with the perimeter quickness, length and size Milwaukee can play. For the minimum, why not juice the bench a bit?
Free Agent Bigs
Bargains: JaVale McGee
The Bucks likely won&rsquo;t be in the market for a big unless Robin Lopez declines his player option, which is hard to see happening. If Lopez does go, they could pry McGee out of Los Angeles.&nbsp;
He remains one of the NBA&rsquo;s top lob threats, equipped with solid leaping ability and a silly catch radius. He uses those limbs to putback misses and swat shots on the other end. Fouls and an inability to navigate space limit his ceiling, though he&rsquo;d only be needed for 12-15 minutes to spell Brook Lopez. You can make the argument that the Bucks are lacking a true vertical spacer outside of Giannis. "The Lopii" mostly operated as pick-and-pop threats last season. Adding that element to their half-court attack could make things easier for everyone involved, even if it&rsquo;s mostly a regular season thing.

Nekias Duncan breaks down the Bucks' own free-agent decisions and suggests some players that Denver should target at each position.

2020 Free Agency Preview: Milwaukee Bucks

NBA players have selected New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday as the recipient of the 2019-20 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, the NBA announced today.&nbsp;
The award, presented annually since the 2012-13 season, recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.
More than 250 NBA players submitted their votes for the 2019-20 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award through confidential balloting conducted by the league office.&nbsp; NBA players determined the winner from among the 12 nominees who were selected by a panel of league executives.
Holiday received 53 of 267 first-place votes and finished with 1,041 total points.&nbsp; Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (806 points; 48 first-place votes) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Korver (796 points; 26 first-place votes) finished in second and third place, respectively.&nbsp; Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five points for each third-place vote, three points for each fourth-place vote and one point for each fifth-place vote.
In addition to Holiday, Harris and Korver, the other finalists were Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea, Denver Nuggets forward Torrey Craig, Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley, Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem, Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward, Toronto Raptors forward-center Serge Ibaka, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills and Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner.
Holiday, 30, has spent the last seven seasons with New Orleans after playing his first four seasons with Philadelphia.&nbsp; The 6-3 guard was selected as an NBA All-Star in the 2012-13 season and named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 2017-18 and 2018-19.&nbsp; In the 2019-20 season, he averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.62 steals in 61 games across regular-season games and seeding games.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In July, Holiday announced that he would use the remainder of his 2019-20 season salary to start a social justice fund with his wife, Lauren, a former player for the U.S. Women&rsquo;s National Soccer Team.&nbsp; The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Impact Fund is designed to address socioeconomic inequalities across communities in New Orleans, the Los Angeles area and Indianapolis.&nbsp; Jrue and Lauren are Los Angeles and Indianapolis natives, respectively, and Jrue&rsquo;s two brothers, Aaron and Justin, both play for the Pacers.
The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award is named for Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, whose storied friendship transcended their Hall of Fame accomplishments.&nbsp; Twyman and Stokes were teammates on the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals from 1955-58.&nbsp; In the last game of the 1957-58 regular season, Stokes sustained an injury that led to his falling into a coma days later and becoming permanently paralyzed.&nbsp; He was diagnosed with post-traumatic encephalopathy, a brain injury that damaged his motor-control center.&nbsp; Stokes was supported for the rest of his life by Twyman, who became his legal guardian and advocate.
Twyman helped organize the NBA&rsquo;s Maurice Stokes Memorial Basketball Game, which raised funds for Stokes&rsquo; medical care and, after Stokes&rsquo; death in 1970 at age 36, for other players in need.&nbsp; In 2004, after years of lobbying by Twyman, Stokes was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.&nbsp; Twyman, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983, died in 2012.
Below are voting totals for the 2019-20 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award and the list of all-time winners:
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/tyw_lg.jpg" alt="" width="478" height="AUTO" />
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/wine_lg.jpg" alt="" width="759" height="AUTO" />

NBA players selected Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday as the recipient of the 2019-20 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.