Los Angeles Lakers

DENVER (AP) &mdash; Drew Timme extended his one-of-a-kind college career by at least one more game, finishing with 28 points and eight rebounds Sunday to help third-seeded Gonzaga make its eighth straight Sweet 16 with a come-from-behind 84-81 win over TCU.
Timme made his first 3-pointer since December &mdash; and only his third of the season &mdash; as part of a 13-1 run that helped the Zags (30-5) take a seven-point lead with just under nine minutes left after trailing most of the night.
After TCU pulled within three late, Timme made a twisting shot in the lane with a defender draped all over him to trigger a 4-0 mini-run that put the game out of reach.
Next stop for the 6-foot-10 senior and his social media-friendly mustache &mdash; Las Vegas for the West Region semifinals and a meeting with UCLA on Thursday. It will be a rematch of their Final Four game two years ago, when Jalen Suggs banked one in from the half-court logo at the buzzer for the win.
Mike Miles Jr. finished with 24 points and four assists in his second straight electric game for the sixth-seeded Horned Frogs (22-13), who were trying to win two games in the same tournament for the first time in program history.
Damion Baugh finished with 15 points for TCU, none more consequential than a not-so-meaningless 3 he hit at the buzzer to help the Horned Frogs cover the 4.5-point spread listed on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Small consolation for TCU, though for 30 minutes-plus, the Frogs looked like very much like one of the 16 best teams in the country. They came at the Bulldogs in waves, trying to stop Timme with every big man on the roster.
But while the Gonzaga big man worked for every one of his twisting, turning, head-faking 12 baskets, TCU&rsquo;s bigs were all in foul trouble as the game wound down and Timme took over.
SWEET 16 ANNIVERSARY
The meeting Thursday with UCLA in Vegas will fall on the 16th anniversary of their classic Sweet 16 game, won 73-71 by the Bruins. Over the final, frenetic 40 seconds, UCLA made two steals, scored the last five points and left Zags star Adam Morrison nearly crying on the court.
ONE FEWER BIG MAN
With TCU&rsquo;s big men in foul trouble, one difference might have been the absence of Eddie Lampkin. Lampkin, a key cog in the TCU frontcourt much of the year, entered the transfer portal just before the Big 12 tournament.

Drew Timme helped third-seeded Gonzaga make its eighth straight Sweet 16 with a come-from-behind 84-81 win.

Gonzaga, Timme move to Sweet 16 with 84-81 win over TCU

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/the-worst-draft-day-comparisons-in-nba-history/" 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>:
Nearly every rookie who enters the NBA draws comparisons to a current or former NBA player leading up to draft night. It helps the fans get more familiar with the players who are coming into the league, and gives a perspective of their capabilities and potential career. Many of these comps are correct and representative, but from time to time, we get horrendously wrong and funny comparisons that end up being way off in the long run. Here are some of the worst draft comparisons in NBA history:
Adam Morrison: Larry Bird
Coming into the 2006 NBA Draft, Adam Morrison was one of the most sought-after prospects, and for good reason. The Gonzaga star averaged 26 points and 8 rebounds in his final season, and got drafted third by the Charlotte Bobcats. Expectations were significant, especially after getting the Larry Bird comparison. At the time, it seemed relatively justified, as Morrison was a small forward with similar size to Bird, a sweet stroke and knack for scoring. After a solid rookie season in which he averaged 12 points per game, Morrison would tear his ACL and never be the same again. He was mostly known for warming the bench during the Los Angeles' Lakers championship runs before eventually going overseas and retiring. Had he not suffered the injury, Morrison could have had a better career, but likely nowhere near Bird's.
Eddy Curry: Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal
Shaq was the most dominant force the NBA has ever seen, so how do you even compare any incoming rookie to The Diesel? When Eddy Curry came into the 2001 NBA Draft right out of high school as a 7-foot, 300-pound center, he had a frame that was very similar Shaq's. And since he also had a finesse game and a jumpshot, NBA decision-makers fell in love with his potential. While Curry would have a few good seasons and even averaged 20 points per game one year for the New York Knicks, he was nothing close to what people predicted. The so-called &ldquo;Shaq with a jump shot&rdquo; battled major weight problems throughout his career and eventually retired from the NBA in 2013 at 30 years old.
Markelle Fultz: James Harden
Markelle Fultz's NBA career is one of the more confusing and unexplainable stories in recent history. The first pick of the 2017 NBA Draft came into the league with the reputation of an all-around scorer and NBA-ready player. But after a mysterious shoulder injury, Fultz&rsquo;s jumpshot simply disappeared and became too ugly to look at. It's something we have never seen before, especially with a No. 1 pick. The comparison he was constantly receiving before the draft was James Harden due to his scoring ability and strength. But as fate would have it, Fultz would be the polar opposite of Harden. Nowadays, Fultz managed to turn things around for the better in Orlando last season before tearing his ACL. Still, even if he continues to improve after getting healthy, Fultz could become a valuable NBA player &mdash; but nowhere near Harden or a No. 1 pick.
Darko Miličić: Dirk Nowitzki
Getting drafted ahead of Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh already made Darko Miličić one of the biggest busts in NBA history. Getting compared to one of the best power forwards ever also didn&rsquo;t help his case. There was plenty of mystery surrounding Darko leading up to the 2003 NBA Draft and, with his size and skill, he had a ton of potential. However, things would just never click for the Serbian big man. His poor work ethic, mixed with a limited skill set, had Darko riding the pine with the Detroit Pistons. Before the draft, Pistons executives fell in love with his mobility and soft touch for a player his size. Naturally, that led to comparisons with another European big man &mdash; Dirk Nowitzki. However, that comparison would turn out to be way off; it seemed to be based more on Darko's appearance and the fact that he was an international big than anything. Darko managed to stick around in the NBA for 10 seasons and even won a ring (with Detroit in 2004), but he still remains a huge draft miss for the Pistons.
Editor's Note: Let's not forget the infamous <a href="https://www.nbadraft.net/players/deshawn-stevenson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBADraft.net prospect profile of DeShawn Stevenson</a>, which compared the longtime NBA journeyman guard to... arguably the greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

From time to time, NBA Draft comparisons can be way off. Basketball Network looked at some of the worst comparisons in NBA history.

Looking back on the worst draft comparisons in NBA history

With the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Toronto selected a player who fits the Raptors&rsquo; signature archetype: a versatile-and-eager project with a good work ethic, defensive intangibles and length.&nbsp;
At 6-foot 9, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Barnes provides myriad possibilities that excite Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.
&ldquo;He's a multi-faceted, multi-positional, two-way player... It's a great pick for us,&rdquo; Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said.
Barnes is now slated to become the latest &lsquo;jack-of-all-trades&rsquo; wing in the team&rsquo;s recent history. Nurse also appreciates the 19-year-old&rsquo;s infectious charisma.&nbsp;
"He really has a magnetic personality,&rdquo; Nurse said. &ldquo;He has a high-energy type of personality... He is a great communicator and has a passion for winning."
Over the last few weeks, the rumor mill was churning and leaks indicated that the Raptors had been taking a closer look at Barnes.&nbsp;
Jalen Suggs was the assumed choice at No. 4 on countless mock drafts, presenting as the most linear positional fit. Since recent rumblings suggest that Kyle Lowry&rsquo;s departure is almost inevitable, Suggs seemed to be the natural replacement guard with his two-way talent and history of embracing the spotlight in the tensest moments.
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Jalen Suggs' all-time game-winner against UCLA called by Gonzaga's IMG radio team of Tom Hudson and Adam Morrison (yes, that Adam Morrison): <a href="https://t.co/DBtqdFjenL">pic.twitter.com/DBtqdFjenL</a>
&mdash; Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) <a href="https://twitter.com/briannnnf/status/1378553798411628545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2021</a></blockquote>

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It&rsquo;s tempting to criticize Toronto for choosing to bypass what was seen as the consensus choice, but the organization&rsquo;s confidence in Barnes, coupled with their record for drafting overlooked gems, suggests his game will translate well into the league. 
Coach Nurse also cited a "combination of size, length, two-way [ability], possible potential down the road" as qualities that stood out about Barnes in comparison to his peers that were considered.&nbsp;
Again, textbook Raptor stuff.&nbsp;
Toronto entered Thursday&rsquo;s draft with their first top-five pick since selecting Jonas Valančiūnas at No. 5 in 2011. How they fell into possession of the fourth overall pick was a little untraditional. Following a disappointing start to the 2020-21 regular season, Toronto couldn&rsquo;t find footing, continuously struggling with obstacles that disrupted their season. There was their relocation to Tampa Bay, the COVID-19 outbreak that affected the bulk of players and coaches, and a series of unfortunate injuries sidelining a host of contributors.
Eventually, the team realized their year was unsalvageable, and the final month or so of Raptors basketball consisted of Stanley-Johnson-and-Yuta-Watanabe-led starting lineups &mdash; a complete shell of the dominant rotation we witnessed just a season before.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Raptors were presented with a unique opportunity to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-to-tank-or-not-to-tank-analyzing-the-toronto-raptors-present-and-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener">go all-in with the tank</a>. It's safe to say the team&rsquo;s end-of-season performance didn't accurately depict their ceiling or talent-level. The opportunity to land a top-five pick and welcome a special young talent into the fold &mdash; hopefully in the comfort of Scotiabank Arena, before the team&rsquo;s ravenous fans &mdash; was too good to pass up. Consider it a reset of sorts, to reinvigorate an organization that was going through the motions after repeatedly drawing the shortest end of the stick.
In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/should-nba-teams-draft-for-fit-or-take-the-best-player-available" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a recent piece for BasketballNews.com</a>, we discussed the layers involved in drafting for the &ldquo;best fit&rdquo; vs. selecting the &ldquo;best player available&rdquo; and the approaches that teams use in what could be a franchise-altering night. A major component of each team&rsquo;s approach is intel, as our Matt Babcock noted. The word in scouting circles was that Barnes impressed at his workouts with the Raptors. And considering Toronto&rsquo;s thinness at the forward spot, it isn&rsquo;t shocking that they went with Barnes. The Florida State product is eager to improve under the supervision of Toronto&rsquo;s respected player-development staff.
&ldquo;If they feel like they need to fix something, I'm willing to work with them,&rdquo; Barnes told reporters shortly after being drafted. &ldquo;I'm willing to do whatever it takes to be the best player I can be."&nbsp;
With all of the boxes Barnes checks, a shot that needs work is probably a drop in the bucket to the Raptors, who have polished multiple players into serviceable (and even top-percentile) shooters over the last half-decade. Rookies are rarely ever finished products, and there seems to be enough upside in Barnes to make the risk worthwhile for the franchise.
Amidst the talk of whether the front office made the correct decision, Barnes doesn&rsquo;t hold a shred of doubt regarding his fate in the NBA.
&ldquo;I feel I can be the greatest player in the league," he said.
This jolt of confidence and joy might be exactly what Toronto needs after a season they&rsquo;re likely trying to forget.

Many mock drafts had the Raptors selecting Jalen Suggs at No. 4. Instead, Toronto chose Scottie Barnes. Was that the right call?

Was Scottie Barnes the right pick for the Toronto Raptors at No. 4?

If your game warrants the spotlight early in your career, chances are the lights will gleam brighter, and with that comes expectations. Some college players lived up to the hype that surrounded them at the next level, but there are quite a few whose success didn't translate to the NBA.
In our latest Roundtable, we asked our BasketballNews.com writers the following question:
Who is the best college player that never became a star in the NBA?
Alex Kennedy: Jimmer Fredette became a household name while at BYU, averaging 28.9 points and 4.3 assists. In 2011, he was the Consensus National College Player of the Year and led the nation in scoring. His games were must-watch TV due to his seemingly unlimited three-point range. He even transcended the sports world and briefly became part of the pop culture lexicon; for example, at the height of Jimmer Mania, Lil Wayne name-dropped him in a song (&ldquo;I got a chopper and a trimmer shootin&rsquo; like Jimmer&rdquo;). He was the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft (ahead of Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Jimmy Butler, etc.), but he never averaged more than 7.6 points in the NBA. Fortunately for Jimmer, he&rsquo;s thriving in China, where he&rsquo;s dropped 75 points, averaged 37.6 points and made three All-Star appearances.
Spencer Davies: In my lifetime, I&rsquo;m picking two: Michael Beasley and Emeka Okafor. People have to understand just how dominant Beasley was in his lone season at Kansas State, collecting accolade after accolade as a freshman for the Wildcats, as he averaged over 26 points and 12 rebounds per game on 53% from the field! He showed flashes of greatness in the NBA early in his career, but not the kind of superstardom that followed him in the NCAA. As for my other pick, it&rsquo;s crazy remembering how the big question in 2004 was who would be the No. 1 pick: Okafor or Dwight Howard? While the latter was a high-school phenom, the former outworked every big man on the national stage for Jim Calhoun&rsquo;s UConn Huskies en route to an NCAA championship in his junior year prior to entering the draft. Okafor had imposing size and was a walking double-double who blocked every freaking shot in sight. In the NBA, he had his moments; none like Howard, though, who now has an NBA championship on his laundry list of achievements and just passed Walt Bellamy to move up to No. 11 on the league's all-time rebounding list.
Chris Sheridan: The best college player who never became a star in the league was Hank Gathers, who died while playing for Loyola Marymount. He was the No. 1 draft prospect and one of just three players in NCAA history to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding in the same season (the others were Xavier McDaniel and Kurt Thomas). He averaged 32.7 points and 13.7 rebounds. He once had 48 points and 13 rebounds against LSU&rsquo;s Shaquille O'Neal and Stanley Roberts. He collapsed after dunking in a game and passed away due to a heart issue.&nbsp;
Jannelle Moore: The best college player who never became a star in the NBA is, tragically, Len Bias. He had the athleticism and skill. He gave Michael Jordan fits in college and would have been his biggest rival in the pros.
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_2079728_lg.jpg" alt="" />
Imman Adan: Compared to Larry Bird entering the league and described as a &ldquo;very good scorer with [a] complete offensive repertoire,&rdquo; Adam Morrison was none of that in the NBA. In college, the 6-foot-8 forward out of Gonzaga was a star, averaging 28 points on 43% from three in his final year, making him a finalist for the Naismith Trophy. The NBA did not come as easily to the slow-footed Morrison, who struggled to adapt to the speed of the league. The effortless shooting stroke he had in college seemed to dissipate as well, as he never averaged more than 11 points or shot better than 34% from deep. After tearing his ACL in his left knee and missing his entire sophomore year, what little burst of athleticism he did have vanished, making his NBA career a short (but eventful) one, winning two rings while riding the Lakers&rsquo; bench before retiring at 28.
Ethan Fuller: I'm going to play with a looser definition of "star" for this one and rule out guys like Christian Laettner and Marcus Camby, who did win NBA league awards. Instead, let's go with Joe Smith, who won Naismith Player of the Year at Maryland in 1995. The 6-foot-10 Smith obliterated teams, averaging 20.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game as a sophomore. He then went first overall to the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft. But Smith never found his footing and ended up playing for 11 NBA teams.
Jonathan Concool: Adam Morrison. Morrison averaged over 28 points per game as a junior at Gonzaga University, and led the Bulldogs to the Sweet 16 before suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Bruins in the final seconds. Morrison took home five awards that season with Gonzaga, including WCC Player of the Year, but that&rsquo;s just about where the positives stop for Morrison&rsquo;s basketball career. He went on to get drafted third overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 and was out of the league by 2010, with career averages of 7.5 points per game on 37.3% shooting from the field.
Nekias Duncan: I&rsquo;d go with Jimmer Fredette. He absolutely lit it up for BYU &mdash; Mormon Steph, if you will &mdash; and almost none of it translated to the NBA across multiple stints.
Kelsea O&rsquo;Brien: People forget just how small the NBA is, and how good the end-of-bench players were in college and high school. These guys were monsters. They still are! Their only downfall is that they are playing against and alongside even bigger monsters. I&rsquo;m going to go in a different direction here, though, and choose Cheryl Miller. One of the greatest women&rsquo;s basketball players of all-time, and because of ACL injuries, she never got the chance to go pro. Her professional career will always be one of the biggest &ldquo;what ifs&rdquo; in sports history.

Who is the best college player that never became a star in the NBA? We asked our BasketballNews.com staff to weigh in.

Roundtable: Who's the best college player that never became a star in the NBA?

Each day, BasketballNews.com scours #NBATwitter to bring you the best tweets from the previous day. Some are insightful, some are just hilarious (so we had to include them).
Without further ado, here are the tweets of the day for February 15, 2021.
Knickerbockers Knockin&rsquo; Boots
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Thibs is ready to go <a href="https://t.co/BaSZe35KKh">pic.twitter.com/BaSZe35KKh</a>
&mdash; Grant Goldberg (@GrantGoldberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantGoldberg/status/1361039443466072067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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It&rsquo;s not a visual that anyone needed, but it has the Knicks sitting in 7th place in the East, so&hellip;.maybe?
Air Melo
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CRAVADA DO CARMELO 💪💪<a href="https://t.co/OiZNCWTmjf">pic.twitter.com/OiZNCWTmjf</a>
&mdash; Blazers Brasil #RipCity 🇧🇷 (@BlazersBrasil) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlazersBrasil/status/1361122865949642752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Portland reviving Carmelo Anthony, and his hang time, at nearly 37 years old should really go down in the history books.
Is This Your King?
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Nothing makes a fanbase turn on their team like being down to the Wizards at halftime
&mdash; 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) <a href="https://twitter.com/Three_Cone/status/1361033221270601729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Boston Celtics lost by 13 to the Washington Wizards last night, and their fans have blamed everyone from Jayson Tatum and his 6 points, to Brad Stevens and his coaching abilities, to Danny Ainge for hoarding draft picks.
Why You So Obsessed With Me?
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Awww baby baby we belong together!!! <a href="https://t.co/crhurA1XE1">https://t.co/crhurA1XE1</a>
&mdash; Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) <a href="https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/1361029213877399552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Mariah Carey finding this without being tagged or having any ties to San Antonio makes me wonder how much time she spends on NBA Twitter, and if she would like to join the Basketball News fantasy league next year. Also, I hope Keldon Johnson saw this and it made his entire life, NBA career be damned.
We Are Going To Start A Dialogue
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
*cough* Breanna *cough* *cough* Stewart *cough* WNBA *cough* Finals *COUGH* *COUGH* MVP!!!! <a href="https://t.co/kGQWMKUhoY">https://t.co/kGQWMKUhoY</a>
&mdash; Diamond DeShields (@diamonddoesit1) <a href="https://twitter.com/diamonddoesit1/status/1361134977539309570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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No one is discrediting what Kevin Durant is doing after such a terrible injury, but Breanna Stewart suffered the same injury, returned to the WNBA, won the Finals AND won MVP -- less than a year-and-a-half after getting injured. If we are going to start showing respect and admiration for women in sports, we should probably start by not forgetting them completely.
Can I Get An Amen?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This is awesome stuff from Anthony Edwards <a href="https://t.co/l0EtBejT6k">pic.twitter.com/l0EtBejT6k</a>
&mdash; Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStinar/status/1361176662495420417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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In the words of RuPaul Andre Charles, "&lsquo;If you can&rsquo;t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?&rdquo; Edwards recently stated that the TImberwolves know how to compete, but haven&rsquo;t yet <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-naz-reid-showing-strides-flashes-learning-young-minnesota-timberwolves-karl-anthony-towns-ryan-saunders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">learned how to win</a>. His approach to making sure his teammates believe in themselves the way he believes in them could be the spark they need to take it to the next level.
An Elephant Never Forgets
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
how it started vs. how it ended, starring jonas valanciunas: <a href="https://t.co/2gIdEIjVwm">pic.twitter.com/2gIdEIjVwm</a>
&mdash; Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) <a href="https://twitter.com/mollyhannahm/status/1361186581189656576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Jonas Valanciunas waiting patiently in the shadows for a revenge dunk on Chimezie Metu and actually doing the deed at Cory Joseph's expense is the level of long-con petty that I aspire to, though I would never look nearly as cool or composed.
See a tweet that should be featured in tomorrow's Tweet of the Day piece? Send it to <a href="https://twitter.com/kelsea_lately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kelsea_lately</a>.

Every day, our Kelsea O'Brien scours #NBATwitter to find the best posts. Here are the tweets of the day for Feb. 15, 2021.

NBA Tweets of the Day: Whole Lotta Love (and Revenge)

Each day, BasketballNews.com scours #NBATwitter to bring you the best tweets from the previous day. Some are insightful, some are just hilarious (so we had to include them).
Without further ado, here are the tweets of the day for January 25, 2021.
Greek Freak Asleep 
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Did Giannis just get called for a 10-second free throw violation?? That's gotta be the first one in AGES!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FearTheDeer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FearTheDeer</a>
&mdash; Sully Akbari (@SullySays__) <a href="https://twitter.com/SullySays__/status/1353543550114398208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
Concentration is one thing, but there is a thing as too much focus on the goal at hand. Classic case of overthinking, which explains the ghastly 58.5 percent at the charity stripe.
In the words of the great Wes Mantooth... 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
me: lebron james and sue bird winning championships in year 17 is incredible. they're ageless. what an incredible accomplishment. longevity should be celebrated. also me: tom brady retire bitch
&mdash; Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/mellentuck/status/1353476781848862726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
Dear TB12: "Deep down in my stomach, with every inch of me, I pure, straight hate you! But God damn it, do I respect you!"
Halipuppy
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My son!💛 <a href="https://t.co/jn6iIdZMZO">https://t.co/jn6iIdZMZO</a>
&mdash; Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) <a href="https://twitter.com/TyHaliburton22/status/1353076687206932480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
That doggo is gonna learn how to anticipate where that tennis ball is going in less than a month.
Love and Basketball 
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Quarantine has allowed us to pursue side hustles we didn&rsquo;t know we had...me included. 🤓 That being said, check out these sneaker/ball inspired greeting cards. Perfect for those couples who find themselves in situationships and need some clarity for an upcoming holiday...🙄 <a href="https://t.co/pGaeMYB3zD">pic.twitter.com/pGaeMYB3zD</a>
&mdash; Zharita Sese (@zharitamay) <a href="https://twitter.com/zharitamay/status/1353199984791924737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
In the 28 years I've been on this planet, the only time I've celebrated Valentine's Day was in my elementary school classroom, and these would have been at the top of my list even as a kid.
Abort Mission 
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when you see your friend flirting with their ex at the party <a href="https://t.co/l9UHJC325M">https://t.co/l9UHJC325M</a>
&mdash; Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) <a href="https://twitter.com/mollyhannahm/status/1353189484515495940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
"Why don't we go see what's going on over here," you said, knowingly dragging your friend to the opposite side of the house.
Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea? 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
this week's mailbag is going to be special, let me tell ya <a href="https://t.co/wvQSo4TndE">pic.twitter.com/wvQSo4TndE</a>
&mdash; Orange is the New Openly Black (@NekiasNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1352986280230055937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
Send us your NBA comparison for the Eugene H. Krabs vs. Sheldon J. Plankton series. I want to know.
DeMar DeFROzan 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
open for a surprise <a href="https://t.co/9Czc5AFyew">pic.twitter.com/9Czc5AFyew</a>
&mdash; din (@klooowry) <a href="https://twitter.com/klooowry/status/1352740706759172096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
That's what you call a max vert.
I'm Here, Too 
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Kawhi Leonard had 34 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 0 turnovers today. It's only the 10th time in NBA history a player has recorded at least 34-9-8 with 0 turnovers, and the first since Nikola Jokic in October 2018. Clyde Drexler is the only player to ever do it twice.
&mdash; Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlyByKnite/status/1353487928048029696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
Paul George has been getting all the hype, but Kawhi is just quietly ho-humming along with his own 50-40-90 season.
Top of the Line 
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Current NBA league leaders w/ at least 10 GP. PPG &mdash; Beal (34.9) RPG &mdash; Drummond (15.1) APG &mdash; Harden (11.0) SPG &mdash; L. Nance (2.4) BPG &mdash; M. Turner (4.1) MPG &mdash; Harden &amp; Sabonis (38.2) PER &mdash; Jokic (31.3) FG% &mdash; R. Holmes (67.7%) 3P% &mdash; Caruso (56.7%) FT% &mdash; Redick (25-for-25, 100%)
&mdash; J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeskeets/status/1353334506745421825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
From a diehard Akron Zip, shout out to MAC alum and former Bowling Green State University Falcons standout Richaun Holmes. Though I still don't know what the Sacramento Kings are, I do know that dude brings energy and hustle on a nightly basis.
Crispy 
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Portland, Oregon. Tomorrow we feast on FREE <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/McNuggets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#McNuggets</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> gets us to 100 points and once again it&rsquo;s a GREAT day to be a blazer fan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/McNuggets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#McNuggets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RipCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RipCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/6aJiIARYkP">pic.twitter.com/6aJiIARYkP</a>
&mdash; Did Blazers Get McNuggets? (@BlazerMcNuggets) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlazerMcNuggets/status/1353567037918826496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
I'm sorry, I can't find the greatest caption for this one because I keep humming the "Bolt 24" commercial. I blame you, Dame.
And That's What's Up 
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&ldquo;Defence is cool. Defence is neat. Yo who clamped down Brogdon? His name is Fredderick Edmund VanVleet.&rdquo; <a href="https://t.co/RzosCXpe9c">pic.twitter.com/RzosCXpe9c</a>
&mdash; Mya (@matthomasburner) <a href="https://twitter.com/matthomasburner/status/1353562819224956928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
Look who's inching back up the standings...*eyes emoji*
See a tweet that should be featured in tomorrow's Tweet of the Day piece? Send it to <a href="https://twitter.com/kelsea_lately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kelsea_lately</a>.

Every day, our staff scours #NBATwitter to find the best posts. Here are the tweets of the day for Jan. 25, 2021.