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Scarlet Knights

Team Vince captured the 2026 NBA Rising Stars Challenge championship on Friday night, kicking off NBA All-Star Weekend with high energy and emerging star power at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.&nbsp;
Coached by NBA legend Vince Carter, Team Vince edged Team Melo 25-24, in a thrilling finale. This was highlighted by clutch play from Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe, who was named Rising Stars MVP after delivering decisive baskets in both games of the mini-tournament.&nbsp;
The format featured four teams &ndash; three made up of NBA rookies and second-year players and one G League squad &ndash; competing in three games to varying target scores. Team Vince&rsquo;s path to the championship included a 41-36 semifinal win over Team T-Mac, with Edgecombe pacing the squad with 17 points and crucial late scoring that swung momentum in their favor.&nbsp;
Edgecombe&rsquo;s impact was the defining storyline of the night. After dominating the semifinal with a mix of perimeter scoring and all-around play, he again rose to the occasion in the title game. In the closing seconds against Team Melo, he was fouled and calmly knocked down two free throws to push Team Vince past their rivals in a 25-24 nail-biter, earning MVP honors for his efforts.&nbsp;
Before the final, Team Melo earned its spot by defeating the G League team 40-34 in an early semifinal. San Antonio rookie Dylan Harper &ndash; younger sibling of Ron Harper Jr. &ndash; made key plays, finishing with a team-high eight points in the final and five rebounds, keeping Team Melo within striking distance throughout.&nbsp;
Team T-Mac, despite falling to Vince&rsquo;s squad, featured strong outings from players like Jaylon Tyson, who led the effort with 10 points and five rebounds, showcasing the depth and talent on display across the Rising Stars rosters.&nbsp;
The Rising Stars Challenge has become a highlight of All-Star Weekend, giving the NBA&rsquo;s hottest young talents a stage to display their skills, competitiveness and clutch instincts. With its mini-tournament format, the event has shifted from a pure exhibition into an entertaining, competitive showcase that often foreshadows future stars of the league.&nbsp;
With the Rising Stars event now in the books, All-Star Weekend continues with the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest and other marquee festivities building toward Sunday&rsquo;s All-Star Game &ndash; offering a full slate of hoops entertainment for fans in Los Angeles and around the world.

Team Vince wins the 2026 NBA Rising Stars Challenge 25-24 over Team Melo, with 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe earning MVP honors.

Team Vince wins 2026 NBA Rising Stars Challenge; VJ Edgecombe named MVP

Free-agent guard Cam Thomas has agreed to a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, setting up a fresh chapter for the 24-year-old scoring guard after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets shortly after the 2026 NBA trade deadline, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.&nbsp;
Thomas, who averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds this season over 24 games before dealing with hamstring issues, became an unrestricted free agent after Brooklyn cut him when no trade materialized before the deadline.&nbsp;
Milwaukee moved quickly to secure Thomas, seeing an opportunity to add an explosive scorer to its rotation for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. Over the past three seasons, Thomas has averaged 21.4 points per game, showcasing lethal scoring ability &ndash; particularly in his early years with the Nets &ndash; and the potential to provide instant offense for a Bucks team still trying to climb into play-in contention.&nbsp;
After agreeing to terms, Thomas explained why he chose Milwaukee: &ldquo;I picked Milwaukee because they wanted me and they told me they&rsquo;ve been interested for years now,&rdquo; he said in comments to Marc J. Spears. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just hoping to meet everybody, get to know everybody and contribute as soon as possible.&rdquo;
For the Bucks, adding Thomas even on a short-term deal gives coach Doc Rivers another scoring option alongside stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and key backcourt pieces such as Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. It&rsquo;s a low-risk move that could pay off offensively if the young guard adapts well to his new role and finds efficiency with Milwaukee&rsquo;s spacing and playmaking.&nbsp;
After a split with Brooklyn, Cam Thomas gets a fresh opportunity in Milwaukee &ndash; a chance to re-establish himself as a dynamic scorer in a contender&rsquo;s rotation and potentially revive his free-agency stock ahead of the summer.

Free-agent guard Cam Thomas has agreed to a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets.

Cam Thomas signs with Bucks after being waived by Nets

The Memphis Grizzlies have sent forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz along with several other players in this season&rsquo;s first blockbuster trade, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.&nbsp;
Jackson Jr., a former NBA all-star still at his prime, will start a new journey in Utah alongside John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. In return, Memphis will receive from Utah Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and 3 future first-round picks.&nbsp;
ANALYSIS: The Grizzlies commit to a full blown rebuild by trading away one of their franchise mainstays Jackson Jr., and netting more assets in the process. They will now have 13 future first rounders in their disposal, which is tied with Brooklyn and OKC for most in the league. It is widely believed that more moves will come next for Memphis, including moving franchise point guard Ja Morant to continue their rebuild.
Meanwhile for the Jazz, they move forward in their rebuilding process in acquiring a player like Jackson Jr. He can slot into the 4 position next to Walker Kessler, and star forward Lauri Markkanen can play the 3 and all three can play and fit next to each other.

The Memphis Grizzlies have sent forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz along with several other players.

Grizzlies send Jaren Jackson Jr. to Jazz in blockbuster trade

For much of the early season, the Los Angeles Clippers looked like a team trapped between timelines &ndash; too talented to bottom out, too battered and old to contend, and too uncertain to inspire real belief. Injuries piled up from their key players and the conversations around the franchise quickly turned from wins and losses to future implications, draft picks, and long-term consequences. Yet amid the noise, the Clippers have finally found a sliver of clarity.
Winners of four straight games, Los Angeles is beginning to resemble something far more recognizable: a veteran team rediscovering its rhythm, leaning on its stars, and reminding the Western Conference that it is not ready to fade quietly. The recent climb back into relevance has not been easy &ndash; and it has been fueled by elite play from Kawhi Leonard, steady control from James Harden, and a roster that is slowly, finally getting healthier.
After a bleak opening stretch that tested the organization&rsquo;s patience and identity, the Clippers are showing signs of life again.
Injuries clouded the Clippers&rsquo; beginning but it has not defined their season yet. Their early-season struggles were born out of circumstance, with all the situations they have been facing throughout the course of the season.
Bradley Beal&rsquo;s early injury disrupted what the team envisioned as another offensive option capable of easing pressure off Leonard and Harden. Then came another blow: Ivica Zubac, the team&rsquo;s interior anchor on both ends, was sidelined, stripping Los Angeles of its rim protection, screening presence, and interior scoring.
For a team already walking a narrow margin in the loaded West, the absences were significant. Lineups lacked continuity and their defensive coverage suffered.
Still, instead of folding, the Clippers adapted.
Brook Lopez stepped into the starting center role and immediately provided stability. A proven veteran with championship pedigree, Lopez brought his poise. His ability to space the floor, communicate defensively, and understand high-leverage moments has quietly helped Los Angeles stay afloat. While he may not replicate Zubac&rsquo;s physical dominance in the paint, Lopez&rsquo;s shooting gravity and experience have allowed the Clippers to maintain offensive structure even amid rotation changes.
Then, if Leonard has been the Clippers&rsquo; heartbeat during this stretch, James Harden has been the engine.
Harden continues to serve as the team&rsquo;s primary ball-handler, shot creator, and playmaker, dictating tempo and ensuring that Los Angeles plays with purpose rather than desperation. His command of the offense has been critical, especially during stretches when injuries forced Ty Lue to experiment with lineups and roles.
There is a strong case to be made that Harden is playing at an All-Star level once again. With the All-Star Game set to be held at the Intuit Dome, the Clippers&rsquo; home floor, Harden&rsquo;s performance has taken on added weight &ndash; not just statistically, but symbolically. His leadership has stabilized the group, and his ability to generate efficient offense has kept the Clippers competitive even when the margin for error felt thin.
More importantly, Harden has embraced the responsibility. He has leaned into being the organizer, the problem-solver, and the player who keeps the floor balanced. For a team desperate for continuity, that consistency has mattered.
Then there is Leonard, reminding everyone who he is.
During the Clippers&rsquo; four-game winning streak, Leonard has played like a man intent on rewriting the season&rsquo;s narrative. He is averaging 35.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists during that stretch, dominating games with a blend of mastering the game&rsquo;s fundamentals and surgical efficiency that few players in the league can match.
This version of Leonard looks fully engaged &ndash; attacking mismatches, punishing defenders in the midrange, and making the right reads when help arrives. More than the numbers, it is the authority with which he is playing that stands out. The game has slowed down for him again, and when that happens, the Clippers follow.
Leonard&rsquo;s resurgence has also coincided with the team gradually getting healthier. The return of Derrick Jones Jr. has restored defensive versatility and athleticism on the wing, allowing Los Angeles to apply more pressure at the point of attack. Alongside Kris Dunn, Jones gives the Clippers two perimeter defenders capable of disrupting ball-handlers and creating transition opportunities &ndash; something the team sorely lacked earlier in the season. When Leonard is this locked in, everything else starts to align.
Despite the early turbulence, the Clippers&rsquo; roster construction still reflects a team with real aspirations. This is a roster that is built to support winning &ndash; if it stays intact &ndash; with veteran pieces ready to contend in the playoffs.
Ty Lue remains one of the league&rsquo;s most respected coaches, trusted for his adaptability, playoff experience, and ability to manage veteran egos. Around him is a group that fits specific roles with intention: Dunn and Jones for defense, John Collins as an offensive spark, Nicolas Batum and Lopez as floor spacers who understand timing, and Zubac as the backbone of the interior once healthy.
This is not a roster designed to rebuild &ndash; instead it is a roster designed to win now.
That reality is impossible to separate from the urgency surrounding the Clippers&rsquo; season. Beyond pride and playoff positioning, there is another layer of pressure hovering over every result: the first-round pick owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. With OKC already positioned as a powerhouse, the idea of handing them a high lottery pick has become a looming nightmare scenario.
The Clippers know what is at stake. Every win matters, not just in the standings, but in shaping the future narrative of the franchise.
So far, the Clippers are not yet declaring victory. Four games do not erase weeks of disappointment and uncertainty. But they do restore belief.
What Los Angeles is finding now is rhythm &ndash; an understanding of who they are, how they want to play, and where their advantages lie. They are leaning into Leonard&rsquo;s brilliance, trusting Harden&rsquo;s orchestration, and benefiting from a supporting cast that knows its responsibilities.
In a Western Conference where the line between contention and collapse is razor-thin, the Clippers are choosing to push forward, and perhaps most importantly, they are choosing to compete.
If health holds and Leonard continues this level of play, the Clippers have the tools to make this season something more than a cautionary tale. The road ahead remains unforgiving, after a while, Los Angeles looks like a team moving with purpose once again.

After an uncertain start marked by injuries, the LA Clippers are finding their rhythm again behind Kawhi Leonard’s dominant play.

Finding their footing: Clippers begin season turnaround behind Kawhi Leonard

Dallas Mavericks phenom Cooper Flagg made history on Monday night, December 15, after becoming the youngest player in league history to score 40 or more points in a game.&nbsp;
In a thrilling overtime battle against the Utah Jazz, the 18-year-old rookie poured in a career-high 42 points, outpacing every player his age ever to take the court, including legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady.
Flagg&rsquo;s 42-point outburst &ndash; which also included six assists and seven rebounds &ndash; came despite the Mavericks falling 140-133 in extra time. With the performance, he supplanted all previous 18-year-old single-game scoring efforts in NBA annals, topping longtime milestone marks once held by LeBron James.
The historic night saw Flagg become the first player 18 years old to hit the 40-point mark, a feat that had never been done before in NBA history. His explosion came just days after breaking records as the youngest player to score 35 points and join elite scoring company among teenage standouts.
Flagg&rsquo;s scoring milestone also tied him with franchise lore: his 42 points matched the second-highest single-game scoring performance ever by a Mavericks rookie (joining Mark Aguirre). While Dallas couldn&rsquo;t secure the win, Flagg&rsquo;s night was the highlight of a contest.
At just 18, the No. 1 overall pick continues to rewrite the record books and cement his status as a generational talent for the Mavericks &ndash; already offering hope and excitement for the franchise&rsquo;s future after that shocking trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg made history on Monday by becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 40+ points.

Cooper Flagg makes NBA history as youngest player ever to score 40+ Points

After becoming a champion in Denver, Michael Porter Jr. moves on to Brooklyn for career growth &ndash; and the Nets are letting him become who he was projected to be coming out of high school: a full-fledged star in the NBA
Michael Porter Jr. has never lacked talent. That was never the question &ndash; not in high school, not in college, not at the NBA level. The questions, instead, hovered around everything else: the injuries, the fit, the role, the contract, the playstyle, and the frustrating nights where the ball barely moved. Fair or not, the narrative around Porter Jr. has followed him for years.
But in Brooklyn, something is changing.
Porter Jr. has erupted for three straight 30-point games, playing perhaps his best basketball over the past three games and becoming the first player in Nets franchise history to record 30+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ threes in three consecutive outings. In a season that has felt like another learning experience and a transitioning year for the franchise, he has emerged as one of the bright spots in a tough season record-wise: a reminder of the player many once believed he would become.
It&rsquo;s easy to forget now, but before back surgeries derailed his trajectory, Porter Jr. was the top prospect in the 2018 class &ndash; ranked above Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, and even Luka Doncic on several boards. He was the long, fluid, three-level scorer every team coveted. He was billed as a franchise centerpiece, not a complementary piece.
That version of MPJ rarely had space to breathe in Denver. Playing alongside Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon meant living as a third or fourth option, functioning more as a floor spacer than a fully realized scorer. His job was to hit shots, run the floor, defend, rebound &ndash; not to dominate possessions or shape the offense.
The Nuggets needed role players around Jokic. And true enough, Denver traded Porter Jr. to Brooklyn this offseason in exchange for Cam Johnson. The move was framed more as a financial relief and role concerns. Porter Jr.'s contract was massive, and his perceived fit issues &ndash; amplified by statements around the league and online about him being &ldquo;Michael never swinging the rock Porter Jr.&rdquo; &ndash; made it somewhat with sense and drawn from something.
This was a change of scenery for Porter Jr., and a chance to show that he is skillful enough to be a first option in this league. The Nets saw something different in him: a big wing scorer just entering his prime age years, fully capable of putting pressure on defenses in ways few players his size can.
Now that they&rsquo;ve given him the keys, Porter Jr. is showing why it was worth the bet.
His scoring bursts aren&rsquo;t coming from chaotic, ball-stopping sequences. Instead, they&rsquo;re flowing inside a structure tailored to his strengths &ndash; quick-hitting pindowns, ghost screens, high flares, and mid-post touches where his high release point becomes unguardable. He looks confident. He looks free. He looks like someone playing without the weight of expectation for the first time in years.
A major piece of this resurgence is Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, whose steady grip within the organization amid all the losing has turned into one of Brooklyn&rsquo;s most important stories.
Porter Jr. called Fernandez a &ldquo;genius,&rdquo; indicating the head coach for putting him in a position to succeed as a scorer, and not just a catch and shooter. The tape supports it: Fernandez has built an offensive ecosystem that bends toward Porter Jr.&rsquo;s natural tendencies instead of demanding he mold himself into something else.
Brooklyn is putting him in spots Denver seldom did: early-clock actions where he gets a head start, mismatches in the mid-post, and movement threes that let him catch without thinking. For the first time in a long time, Porter Jr. isn&rsquo;t being told to adapt &ndash; and he has Fernandez to thank for that.
Perhaps there is a deeper significance to all of this. Porter Jr. has spent years hearing the critiques: doesn&rsquo;t pass enough, doesn&rsquo;t defend consistently enough, benefits too much from Jokić&rsquo;s brilliance, can&rsquo;t lead a team in scoring, can&rsquo;t justify the huge contract given to him.
This current stretch won&rsquo;t silence every doubter &ndash; and it shouldn&rsquo;t be expected to. But it does something just as important: it proves that when the opportunity is there, he can be a first option. He can generate efficient offense, and he can carry the load. He&rsquo;s no longer just the guy who fits around stars. He&rsquo;s capable of being the star.
And with Brooklyn in search of identity, direction, and hope, Porter Jr. has unexpectedly become a key asset for the franchise &ndash; a player proving he can be the version of himself the basketball world once saw early in his career.

The Nets are letting Michael Porter Jr. become who he was projected to be coming out of high school: a full-fledged star in the NBA.

Michael Porter Jr. discovers star path with Nets in a career resurgence

MACAU, CHINA &ndash; The Brooklyn Nets are entering another transition year, but this time, there&rsquo;s no drama, no headlines, and no superstars looming over the locker room. Just a group of players trying to build something sustainable from the ground up.
Gone are the days of the star-powered experiment that once featured Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden from three years ago. What remains are a few steady hands, players like Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas, who have seen both sides of the franchise&rsquo;s rollercoaster journey. As Brooklyn prepares to play two games in the preseason slate in Macau against the Suns, the two longest-tenured Nets reflect on what it means to lead the team into this next era.
For Nic Claxton, who&rsquo;s grown from a wiry second-round project into one of the NBA&rsquo;s most mobile defensive big men, every year brings new lessons and responsibilities.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m adjusting &ndash; I mean, you know, every year is different,&rdquo; Claxton said. &ldquo;You have a different set of goals, but at the end of the day, you wanna go out there and impact winning. That&rsquo;s my job, and we got a lot of younger guys on the team now, so I have to use my experience to help them out and continue to grow my game as much as I can as well.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s a mature outlook from a player who&rsquo;s quietly become one of Brooklyn&rsquo;s pillars. Last season, Claxton averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks &ndash; anchoring a defense that was often tasked with holding the line amid offensive inconsistencies. Now, under second-year head coach Jordi Fernandez, Claxton is being asked to take another step &ndash; not just as a rim protector, but as a leader in both tone and preparation.
And by his own account, he&rsquo;s ready for that challenge. &ldquo;My conditioning has been A1,&rdquo; Claxton said with confidence. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been practicing really hard, so I feel like I&rsquo;m in the best spot that I&rsquo;ve been in in my career right now with conditioning, for sure.&rdquo;
That confidence is timely, as the Nets&rsquo; new identity will revolve around toughness, defense, and effort &mdash; areas where Claxton naturally thrives. With Fernandez emphasizing pace and player development, Claxton&rsquo;s voice will be critical in setting the team&rsquo;s standard.
While Claxton leads the frontcourt, Cam Thomas continues to evolve as Brooklyn&rsquo;s go-to scorer. After averaging a career-high 24.0 points per game last season, Thomas proved he can fill it up against anyone. But as the 23-year-old enters his fifth NBA season, the challenge isn&rsquo;t just scoring &ndash; it&rsquo;s expanding his influence across a young locker room.
&ldquo;Just keep improving,&rdquo; Thomas said when asked about his expectations this year. &ldquo;Playing hard and being competitive, that&rsquo;s really the main thing. You win, you lose &ndash; whatever our coach wants &ndash; he always preaches to us it&rsquo;s not about the wins and the losses but it&rsquo;s about how we compete as a team and how we fight&hellip; just competing and fighting and the wins will come. So, I just wanna keep following the system and following what we do, and everything will work it out.&rdquo;
That philosophy fits perfectly with Fernandez&rsquo;s developmental focus. The Nets are chasing habits this year to hopefully build into the right step in the future.
Thomas&rsquo; scoring ability is well-documented, but this offseason, the guard also worked on becoming more of a facilitator &ndash; a necessity on a roster that added three rookie point guards. Still, Thomas expects to maintain his aggressive offensive role while taking on more leadership duties.
&ldquo;I think my role will be the same, nothing has changed really,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We got more young guys now, I think I would have the same role that I had last year, and just keep improving. Obviously just helping them get up to speed and help them to understand NBA games as quickly as possible,&rdquo; Thomas shared. &ldquo;My job is to try to get them up to speed as much as I can, and offer up help in any way I can for them. Definitely gonna be that leader in that aspect and I can&rsquo;t wait to get going.&rdquo;
That sense of responsibility represents another important shift for Brooklyn. With several veterans already leaving the team in seasons past, Claxton and Thomas now bridge the gap between the team&rsquo;s past and its future. Both have experienced the turbulence of constant roster turnover and now find themselves in positions to stabilize the franchise from within.
The Nets&rsquo; trip to Macau, part of the NBA China Games, gave the group a valuable early test of that chemistry. For a young team still finding its identity, dealing with long travel, jet lag, and quick turnarounds mirrors the grind of an 82-game season.
&ldquo;Just our ability to adapt,&rdquo; Thomas said about how they can use this experience for the upcoming NBA season. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re coming on a 17-hour flight, the time difference is crazy. We&rsquo;re not here very long to get acclimated as much as we&rsquo;d like, so we got two games in three days, so definitely different. But I would say the biggest ability is to adapt to any situation you can and be ready for back-to-backs in the NBA.&rdquo;
Adaptability might just become Brooklyn&rsquo;s defining trait. The Nets aren&rsquo;t expected to compete for a playoff spot immediately, but they have the right mix of youth and hunger to make things interesting. Fernandez&rsquo;s system &ndash; which emphasizes spacing, movement, and defensive effort &ndash; is built for players like Claxton and Thomas to thrive and lead.
Claxton&rsquo;s voice on the floor and Thomas&rsquo; scoring punch give Brooklyn a foundation to build on, even as they continue to retool. And for both players, Macau served as more than just a preseason stop &ndash; it was a reminder of how far they&rsquo;ve come/
As the Nets prepare for the 2025-26 season, the tone is different. No more quick fixes or blockbuster expectations. Instead, there&rsquo;s patience, growth, and players like Claxton and Thomas ready to lead the climb.
&ldquo;At the end of the day, you wanna go out there and impact winning,&rdquo; Claxton said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s my job.&rdquo;&nbsp;
For a team trying to rediscover its identity, that simple message might be exactly what Brooklyn needs.

From Macau, Claxton and Thomas discuss adapting, guiding young teammates, and shaping the team’s identity for the next NBA season.

Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas prepare to traverse new Brooklyn Nets season

In today&rsquo;s NBA, transition seasons come in all forms. Some teams tear everything down to the studs. Others try to retool around what&rsquo;s left of a former contender. This year, the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets find themselves on opposite sides of that spectrum &ndash; two franchises moving in different directions, both still searching for clarity after years of turbulence.
Phoenix: From championship chase to crossroads
For the Phoenix Suns, the 2025-26 season feels like a reset &ndash; not a rebuild, but something in between. Just a year ago, the Suns were all in, banking on the star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal to deliver the franchise&rsquo;s first championship. Instead, that vision unraveled under the weight of injuries, fit issues, and the unforgiving depth of the Western Conference.
Now, Durant and Beal are gone. The Suns have retooled, bringing in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks from Houston in what looks like a soft pivot rather than a full teardown. On paper, this is still a competitive team. Booker remains one of the league&rsquo;s purest scorers &ndash; a consistent 27-30 point threat who can carry an offense for the entire season. His leadership, composure, and playoff pedigree make him the unquestioned face of the franchise.
But the question is, for how long?
Booker has already seen one Finals run and several deep playoff pushes, but his prime years are ticking by without a true contender around him. The Suns&rsquo; front office faces a delicate balance: surround Booker with enough talent to stay relevant, or commit fully to a long-term rebuild that starts with the young players they&rsquo;ve drafted.
Phoenix&rsquo;s 2025 draft class has generated buzz, headlined by 7&rsquo;1&rdquo; South Sudanese big man Khaman Maluach, whose athleticism and defensive instincts could eventually anchor the team&rsquo;s frontcourt. Add sharpshooter Koby Brea and promising forward Rasheer Fleming, and the Suns suddenly have youth and upside they haven&rsquo;t had in years. Still, those prospects are developmental projects, not immediate answers.
And that&rsquo;s where the uncertainty lies. The Suns&rsquo; current roster feels caught between timelines &ndash; one led by a proven All-Star in his prime, and another still finding its footing. Jalen Green&rsquo;s arrival adds intrigue: a high-ceiling scorer looking for a fresh start, eager to rebuild his reputation after inconsistency in Houston. Dillon Brooks, meanwhile, brings defensive edge and intensity &ndash; the kind of grit the team lacked during its superstar-heavy era.
Yet even with those additions, the Suns face a brutal Western Conference landscape. Oklahoma City, Denver, Minnesota, Houston, Los Angeles, and Golden State all remain loaded. The margin for error is razor-thin. For Phoenix, the season might not be about contention but about definition,&nbsp; figuring out what kind of team they want to be, and whether Booker still fits and wants to be a part of that long-term vision.&nbsp;
Because in today&rsquo;s NBA, all it takes is one tough year, one frustrated superstar, for everything to shift. And if the Suns can&rsquo;t provide a clear path forward soon, speculation around Booker&rsquo;s future will only grow louder.
Brooklyn: Building from the ground up
If the Suns are hovering between two worlds, the Brooklyn Nets are fully embracing the rebuild. Gone are the days of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Gone are the shortcuts, the splashy trades, and the instant gratification. In their place, a patient, deliberate plan &ndash; a commitment to youth, draft capital, and development.
The Nets&rsquo; 2025 NBA draft haul was one for the history books: five first-round selections &mdash; Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, and Drake Powell. Each brings something unique: Demin&rsquo;s size, playmaking, and creativity, Traore&rsquo;s speed and quickness, Saraf&rsquo;s veteran-savvy and composure, Wolf&rsquo;s touch and IQ, and Powell&rsquo;s explosiveness and defensive versatility. It&rsquo;s a talent-rich group that gives Brooklyn multiple chances to uncover a future star.
And that&rsquo;s exactly what the organization needs. The post-superteam era has left the Nets without a definitive franchise player. Cam Thomas, now extended after hitting restricted free agency, has proven he can fill it up &ndash; a microwave scorer who can drop 30 on any given night. But whether he can lead a winning team remains uncertain. Nic Claxton, steady and efficient, remains the defensive anchor and emotional backbone of the roster.
The biggest wildcard, though, might be Michael Porter Jr., acquired in a trade that sent Cam Johnson out. For the first time in his career, Porter enters a season as the likely No. 1 option. Long known as a complementary scorer in Denver&rsquo;s system, he&rsquo;ll have the freedom and the responsibility to expand his game in Brooklyn. This is his chance to prove that he&rsquo;s more than a luxury piece on a contender.
The Nets&rsquo; long-term plan is clear: build through the draft, develop their prospects, and keep the books clean for the future. With three projected franchise-level talents &ndash; Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa &ndash; expected to headline next year&rsquo;s draft, Brooklyn could be setting itself up for one of the league&rsquo;s most intriguing rebuilds.
In the meantime, expect the Nets to experiment. There will be growing pains, roster shuffling, and perhaps more trades to stockpile picks. But there will also be moments of discovery &ndash; glimpses of who might become the next face of the franchise.
Two paths, one lesson
In many ways, Phoenix and Brooklyn are mirror images in reverse. Both went all-in on superstar-driven eras. Both fell short. But while the Suns are clinging to contention through their remaining star, the Nets have chosen to start from scratch.
The Suns are trying to stay relevant while redefining themselves. The Nets are comfortable taking the long road back. Each path carries risk and each of them offer a different margin of error.
Phoenix may find itself in limbo if Booker tires of waiting. Brooklyn may struggle to turn its promising prospects into a real cornerstone. But both franchises, in their own way, are chasing something that every team eventually faces after their window closes: a new identity.
For the Suns, the question is whether they can build one fast enough to keep Booker from looking elsewhere. For the Nets, it&rsquo;s whether their patience will finally pay off.
Different timelines yet the same pursuit as the two teams on opposite ends of rebuilding transition trying to turn uncertainty into hope.

From reset to rebuild, the Suns and the Nets take different paths toward a new identity after their superteam eras ended.

Suns, Nets on opposite ends of rebuilding transition

The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension with forward P.J. Washington, locking in a key two-way starter through the 2029&ndash;30 season, his agency confirmed. The agreement was first reported by ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
Washington, 27, is entering the final season of his current deal ($14.1 million in 2025&ndash;26). Because he signed an extension, he cannot be traded for the remainder of this season under NBA rules.
Acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, Washington quickly became a fixture around Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving with switchable defense and catch-and-shoot spacing. Last season he averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 57 games for Dallas, helping stabilize the forward rotation after the Mavs&rsquo; 2024 run to the NBA Finals.
ANALYSIS: This move ensures continuity at the wing position for Dallas, as it retains a starter-level forward who defends up and down lineups and fits cleanly to their system.
The deal ($22.5M average annual value) keeps another core salary on the books through the decade, giving Dallas stability but tightening future flexibility.
Expect Jason Kidd to keep leveraging Washington in switch-heavy groups with Dereck Lively II and (when small) Anthony Davis alongside incoming no.1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, while Dallas continues to hunt margins around its star guard with shooting and size on the wing.

The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension with forward P.J. Washington.

Mavericks re-sign P.J. Washington to four-year, $90 million extension

The NBA has officially unveiled the groups for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup, its in-season tournament spanning all 30 teams. Group stage play will run from October 31 to November 28, with knockout rounds &ndash; including quarterfinals, semifinals (December 13), and the championship (December 16) &ndash; scheduled in Las Vegas.
<h3>Western Conference Groups</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group A: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group B: Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group C: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs</li>
</ul>
<h3>Eastern Conference Groups</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group A: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group B: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group C: New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets</li>
</ul>
Each team will play four group games &ndash; two home, two away &ndash; on &ldquo;Cup Nights.&rdquo; The six group winners plus one wild-card per conference (top second-place team) advance to the quarterfinals.&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Star-heavy Group C in the West promises high-stakes matchups and early tests for contenders like Houston, Denver, and Golden State.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eastern intrigue lies in Group A, where Cleveland and Indiana&rsquo;s clash may set an early tone for the East.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Prime Video broadcasting expands the Cup's reach, spotlighting the tournament&rsquo;s peak during December&rsquo;s Vegas knockout stages.</li>
</ul>
The Emirates NBA Cup offers midseason intensity, rewarding early cohesion and depth. With fierce competition and championship aspirations on the line, group dynamics will test contenders early and provide compelling basketball through the end of the year.
Full group breakdown sets the stage for a high-impact tournament &ndash; expect fierce battles starting October 31.

The NBA has officially unveiled the groups for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup, its in-season tournament spanning all 30 teams.

2025 Emirates NBA Cup: Group stage draw revealed

It is official: Cooper Flagg has been selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, June 25, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.&nbsp;
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 wing out of Duke University from the US State of Maine, has been the consensus top overall pick for over a year, and he finally gets to hear his name called officially at the draft.
Flagg had a one-of-a-kind college freshman season at Duke, leading the team in every category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks). He also won the National Player of the Year award and led Duke to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament.
ANALYSIS: The Mavericks have lucked out on the chance to select Flagg after they had only just the 11th-best odds in the draft lottery. This also seems to be a blessing in disguise for Dallas after the fans&rsquo; outrage in February after GM Nico Harrison traded away franchise player and superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Now, Flagg lands in Dallas, bringing his winning mentality and the factor that stood out to most coaches and scouts: defense. This has been Harrison&rsquo;s blueprint for building a team around Davis, and Flagg immediately blends in with the team, complementing his versatile skillset on offense.

It is official: Cooper Flagg has been selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.

Dallas Mavericks snag Cooper Flagg as first overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has been completed, and the second round will tip off on Thursday, June 26 (8 ET, ESPN) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This will be the second time in NBA history that the draft will be held over two days, following its introduction over a year ago.
Here are all the first-round selections courtesy of the NBA: (article to be updated with the second-round picks)
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cooper-flagg">Cooper Flagg</a> (Duke) to the Dallas Mavericks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/dylan-harper">Dylan Harper</a> (Rutgers) to the San Antonio Spurs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/vj-edgecombe">VJ Edgecombe</a> (Baylor) to the Philadelphia 76ers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kon-knueppel">Kon Knueppel</a> (Duke) to the Charlotte Hornets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ace-bailey">Ace Bailey</a> (Rutgers) to the Utah Jazz</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/tre-johnson">Tre Johnson</a> (Texas) to the Washington Wizards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jeremiah-fears">Jeremiah Fears</a> (Oklahoma) to the New Orleans Pelicans</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/egor-demin">Egor Demin</a> (BYU) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/collin-murray-boyles">Collin Murray-Boyles</a> (South Carolina) to the Toronto Raptors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/khaman-maluach">Khaman Maluach</a> (Duke) to the Houston Rockets &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/suns-rockets-trade-kevin-durant">Traded to Suns</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cedric-coward">Cedric Coward</a> (Washington State) to the Portland Trail Blazers &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/memgrizz/status/1938089198935834700">Traded to Grizzlies</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/noa-essengue">Noa Essengue</a> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Chicago Bulls</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/derik-queen">Derik Queen</a> (Maryland) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/derik-queen-nba-draft-trade-forward-center-maryland-new-orleans-pelicans-atlanta-hawks-first-round-draft-pick-13">Traded to Pelicans</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/carter-bryant">Carter Bryant</a> (Arizona) to the San Antonio Spurs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/thomas-sorber">Thomas Sorber</a> (Georgetown) to the Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hansen-yang">Yang Hansen</a> (Qingdao) to the Memphis Grizzlies &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail-blazers-acquire-draft-rights-to-yang-hansen">Traded to Trail Blazers</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/joan-beringer">Joan Beringer</a> (Cedevita Olimpija) to the Minnesota Timberwolves</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/walter-clayton-jr">Walter Clayton Jr.</a> (Florida) to the Washington Wizards &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/utahjazz/status/1938070621159616606">Traded to Jazz</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nolan-traore">Nolan Traor&eacute;</a> (Saint-Quentin BB) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kasparas-jakucionis">Kasparas Jakučionis</a> (Illinois) to the Miami Heat</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/will-riley">Will Riley</a> (Illinois) to the Utah Jazz &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/WashWizards/status/1938082193785397462">Traded to Wizards</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/drake-powell">Drake Powell</a> (North Carolina) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/BrooklynNets/status/1938071333008482655">Traded to Nets</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/asa-newell">Asa Newell</a> (Georgia) to the New Orleans Pelicans &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-acquire-the-draft-rights-of-asa-newell-the-no-23-pick-in-the-2025-nba-draft">Traded to Hawks</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nique-clifford">Nique Clifford</a> (Colorado State) to the Oklahoma City Thunder &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-acquire-draft-rights-to-nique-clifford">Traded to Kings</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jase-richardson">Jase Richardson</a> (Michigan State) to the Orlando Magic</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ben-saraf">Ben Saraf</a> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/danny-wolf">Danny Wolf</a> (Michigan) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hugo-gonzalez">Hugo Gonz&aacute;lez</a> (Real Madrid) to the Boston Celtics</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/liam-mcneeley">Liam McNeeley</a> (Connecticut) to the Phoenix Suns &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/charlotte-hornets-agree-in-principle-to-acquire-the-draft-rights-to-liam-mcneeley">Traded to Hornets</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/yanic-konan-niederhauser">Yanic Konan Niederhauser</a> (Penn State) to the Los Angeles Clippers</li>
</ol>

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has been completed, and the second round will tip off on Thursday, June 26, still in Brooklyn.

2025 NBA Draft: Full results

In a major three-team transaction, the Boston Celtics have sent 7-foot-2 former All‑Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
It is a three-team trade and the Brooklyn Nets are also involved. This move underscores Boston's aggressive salary-shedding strategy following key injuries and a recent Finals win in 2024.
Porzingis, 29, averaged 19.5 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.5 blk in just 42 games last season and holds the potential to stretch the floor and protect the rim. With him, the Hawks acquire size and shooting necessary for their roster to flourish. Atlanta also adds a second-rounder and addresses its need for a frontcourt upgrade alongside Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu.
In return, Boston receives Georges Niang and a second-round pick, as the Celtics reduce tax burden clearing approximately $180 million in luxury-tax liabilities and dropping below the second salary-cap apron &ndash; a rapid teardown post-Tatum injury, who suffered a tear to his right achilles in their second-round loss to New York.
Brooklyn lands guard/forward Terance Mann and the Hawks' No. 22 pick, boosting their 2025 draft assets to five first-round selections and utilizing cap space for maximum flexibility. The Nets cashed in draft capital with this trade as they now own 5 first round picks in this year&rsquo;s draft.
The deal is expected to become official on July 6 due to salary-cap timing rules.
ANALYSIS: For the Hawks, this is a high-risk, high-reward move as Porzingis brings elite shooting and defense, though his health remains a concern. For the Celtics, the franchise gains cap flexibility to rebuild or pursue new core pieces after losing both Holiday and Porzingis. For the Nets, they continue accumulating draft picks and cap space, emphasizing long-term strategic positioning.
Atlanta is betting big on Porzingis upside to elevate its playoff prospects; Boston is resetting financially; and Brooklyn is poised for a draft-fueled offseason build. This is a monumental three-team shift that's reshaping Eastern Conference power dynamics.

In a major three-team transaction, the Boston Celtics have sent 7-foot-2 former All‑Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks.

Kristaps Porzingis traded to Hawks in strategic three-team deal

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired veteran guard Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks, sources told ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
Holiday, a two-time NBA champion and six‑time All‑Defensive Team honoree, averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists last season with Boston, while shooting a career‑high 42.9% from deep. At 35, he returns to a Blazers team seeking veteran leadership and defensive stability on the guard and wing spots.
Portland had originally traded Holiday in the blockbuster Damian Lillard deal of 2023, sending him straight to Boston. Now he&rsquo;s back, part of a push to mentor the Blazers&rsquo; younger core, particularly young guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, to try and elevate their competitiveness in the Western Conference.
Simons, 26, brings offensive firepower to Boston, where he&rsquo;ll slot into a 3‑point‑heavy rotation. He averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists over 32 minutes per game last season. Boston also received two future second‑round picks as part of the deal.
According to ESPN&rsquo;s Bobby Marks, the move shaves approximately $40 million in luxury‑tax burden from Boston&rsquo;s books and moves them roughly $18 M below the second apron, enhancing their financial flexibility.
ANALYSIS: Portland expects Holiday to fortify its defense and locker‑room culture &ndash; as the team eyes a return to playoff contention, his r&eacute;sum&eacute; and veteran presence could prove instrumental. His presence could prove to be vital for Henderson and Sharpe&rsquo;s development as they work their way to be stars in the league. Holiday can teach both young guys the defensive acumen and the championship pedigree needed to succeed in the NBA.
For Boston, acquiring Simons means a little bit of cap relief as they float around the second apron of the luxury tax. The 6-foot-5 Simons is also perfect for their system with his three-point shooting and rim pressure both essential elements of their offensive attack.
This move marks a strategic shift for both franchises: Portland prioritizes veteran leadership and defensive toughness, while Boston levers flexibility and younger talent to navigate an evolving roster landscape. Overall, this looks like to be a win-win trade for both teams as they both got what they wanted and addressed a specific need.

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired veteran guard Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Anfernee Simons.

Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to the Blazers for Anfernee Simons

The Houston Rockets have landed 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant in a massive trade with the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
In exchange, Phoenix will receive guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five future second-round pick from Houston.
Durant, 36, is entering his 18th season and remains a dominant force &ndash; he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists last year, shooting a career-best 43% from beyond the arc. Even only playing 62 games due to injury, he still led the Suns in scoring. His move to Houston comes just in time to bolster their offense, which struggled late in the year.
The deal was officially finalized on June 22, though it won&rsquo;t be formally completed until July 6 due to the "poison pill" in Jalen Green&rsquo;s contract, according to Yahoo Sports. Durant learned about the move during an on‑stage appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York &ndash; prompting a stunned reaction captured on live video.
ANALYSIS: The Rockets will gain a superstar scorer to complement their young core including Alperen Şeng&uuml;n, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, and Jabari Smith Jr.. Offensively, the firepower can fix late-season lapses. The Rockets just ranked 22nd in half-court scoring in the playoffs. Finally, this move reunites Durant with coach Ime Udoka, his former USA and Nets coach &ndash; relationships that helped seal the deal.&nbsp;
For the Suns, they will acquire a future star in Jalen Green, three-and-D veteran Dillon Brooks, a top-10 draft pick, and multiple second-round selections for rebuilding flexibility. They will have also shed Durant&rsquo;s remaining $54.7 million salary obligation, freeing cap room to make some more moves and reinforce the squad around franchise player Devin Booker. Or, this move could end up being a pivotal step in pivoting from underperformance toward a long-term rebuild strategy in the future.
This is a high-risk, high-reward move for the Rockets: they gain a generational talent without sacrificing their core but trade proven contributors in Green and Brooks, and take on luxury tax concerns. Meanwhile, the Suns get foundational pieces and financial flexibility.
Durant&rsquo;s arrival instantly raises Houston&rsquo;s ceiling &ndash; expect them to contend if they gel quickly. Phoenix, meanwhile, can ramp up their rebuild with new assets in hand. This trade not only shifts power in the Western Conference but reshapes the trajectories of both franchises.

The Houston Rockets have landed 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant in a massive trade with the Phoenix Suns, according to Shams Charania.

Kevin Durant traded to the Rockets: Blockbuster deal sends superstar to Houston

In a postseason filled with emotion, grit, and resolve, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has stood at the center of it all &ndash; he&rsquo;s calm, composed, and unrelenting. Now, two games into his first NBA Finals appearance, the Oklahoma City Thunder&rsquo;s All-NBA superstar is putting the finishing touches on a masterpiece of a season, one that could go down as one of the greatest individual campaigns in league history.
With 34 points in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals, following up a 38-point performance in the series opener, Gilgeous-Alexander has the Thunder in a great position to win a title, and he has cemented his place in rarified air. His 72 combined points are the most ever in a player&rsquo;s first two NBA Finals games, eclipsing a mark previously associated with some of the game&rsquo;s all-time greats.
And he&rsquo;s not done just yet.
<h3>Elite company, historic pace</h3>
In the postseason, every possession carries weight, and every moment is magnified. But for Gilgeous-Alexander, these moments don&rsquo;t appear to faze him. He&rsquo;s not just rising to the occasion &ndash; he&rsquo;s controlling it.
Game 2's 34-point outing marked his ninth consecutive home playoff game with 30 points or more, joining only Wilt Chamberlain in NBA history to accomplish that feat. In doing so, he also notched his 11th playoff game with at least 30 points and five assists, a stat line that only LeBron James and Michael Jordan have reached in multiple postseason runs.
LeBron did it in three separate years. MJ did it in two. Shai&rsquo;s doing it this year.
His consistent brilliance has propelled him to the top of the 2025 playoff scoring leaderboard. With 516 total points, he recently passed Jalen Brunson (514) for the most points scored in this year&rsquo;s postseason. He&rsquo;s doing it efficiently, artistically &ndash; and with the kind of poise that makes it clear: this is his moment.
<h3>The MVP is carrying like an MVP</h3>
The Thunder have been one of the NBA&rsquo;s most compelling stories all year &ndash; a young, unselfish team loaded with talent, built through the draft, and molded into a contender. But in the crucible of the playoffs, every great team needs that singular force &ndash; that player who can tilt the court, break a defense, and change the game&rsquo;s emotional temperature.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is that force for Oklahoma City.
After leading the league in scoring during the regular season and earning All-NBA First Team honors, he was named the 2025 NBA MVP &mdash; a recognition of his two-way dominance and night-to-night consistency. And now, as the lights burn brighter, he&rsquo;s gone from award-winner to tone-setter.
He&rsquo;s playing with a purpose that goes beyond personal accolades. He&rsquo;s the heartbeat of a team chasing history, and he&rsquo;s doing it in the most demanding stage of all.
What&rsquo;s perhaps most impressive is how SGA has handled each phase of the journey with equal parts humility and hunger. His playoff run has been defined not just by numbers, but by moments &ndash; dagger shots, crafty finishes, fourth-quarter takeovers, and calm in chaos. He hasn't just been great &ndash; he's been inevitable.
<h3>A season for the ages</h3>
Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s latest performance gave him over 3,000 total points on the season &ndash; combining regular-season and playoff scoring &ndash; another milestone in a campaign already overflowing with them.
To put this into perspective: he could complete the kind of six-for-six checklist that only a handful of players in NBA history have even dreamed of &ndash; league scoring champion, regular-season MVP, All-NBA First Team, Western Conference Finals MVP, NBA champion, and Finals MVP &ndash; all in a single season.
Each of those achievements alone is significant. Together, they form a portrait of a transcendent season &ndash; the kind of year that defines legacies and reshapes the league&rsquo;s power structure.
The Thunder&rsquo;s rise from rebuilding team to Finals frontrunner has been sudden to some, but internally, it&rsquo;s been calculated and patient. Still, without Gilgeous-Alexander, their timeline likely looks different. He&rsquo;s the player who made their future arrive early &ndash; and now, he might be the one who delivers their first title since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.
<h3>Beyond the numbers</h3>
What sets Gilgeous-Alexander apart, especially in this Finals run, is not just what he&rsquo;s doing &ndash; it&rsquo;s how he&rsquo;s doing it.
His game is quiet but surgical. He doesn&rsquo;t overpower defenders with brute strength or dazzle with deep threes. Instead, he picks his spots, manipulates angles, and imposes his rhythm. There&rsquo;s a jazz-like quality to his game &ndash; unpredictable, fluid, yet meticulously controlled.
In clutch time, he&rsquo;s been near automatic. Whether it&rsquo;s using his footwork to dance into mid-range jumpers or drawing contact for crucial free throws, SGA has been the ultimate closer for a Thunder team that continues to rise to every challenge.
It&rsquo;s that unselfishness, combined with his relentless work ethic and stoic demeanor, that has endeared him to teammates and fans alike. There&rsquo;s an old soul quality to SGA&rsquo;s approach &ndash; a maturity that belies his age and a leadership style rooted in accountability, not noise.
<h3>The final step</h3>
Now just three wins away from basketball immortality, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder find themselves on the brink of a championship. But the job&rsquo;s not finished.
The NBA Finals will shift to the opposing city for Games 3 and 4, where the pressure will mount, the crowd will roar louder, and the resistance will tighten. The margins will be razor-thin. But if this postseason has shown anything, it&rsquo;s that Gilgeous-Alexander has the heart, the game, and the will to push through.
This run has already carved his name into the record books. What comes next could define the start of SGA and the Thunder&rsquo;s era.
And for a Thunder team guided by youth and galvanized by Shai&rsquo;s leadership, the future isn&rsquo;t just bright &mdash; it&rsquo;s arriving right now.

SGA is delivering one of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history, leading the Thunder while making MVP-level history along the way.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivers MVP-level heroics in first NBA Finals trip

In an NBA era defined by star-chasing, supermax contracts, and eye-watering luxury tax bills, the Indiana Pacers have defied every expectation &ndash; and the associated financial precedent. This isn't just a Cinderella story &ndash; it is a testament to the franchise&rsquo;s strategic planning, belief, and organizational cohesion. The Pacers didn&rsquo;t just sneak into the NBA Finals. They earned their way there, brick by brick, all while keeping their books clean and their identity intact.
When the final buzzer sounded in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it wasn&rsquo;t just a win for Indiana &ndash; it was a triumph for every small-market franchise searching for hope. In a league that often favors the big spenders, Indiana made it through without ever crossing into luxury tax territory. It&rsquo;s a feat that&rsquo;s not just impressive &ndash; it&rsquo;s unprecedented in today&rsquo;s NBA landscape.
This Finals appearance isn&rsquo;t an overnight success. What they lacked in payroll, they made up for in vision, development, coaching, and complete buy-in from the front office, to the coaching staff, and the players themselves &ndash; making this a culmination of the belief that you can build a winner through cohesion and culture &ndash; and not just cost.
<h4>A vision realized for Indiana</h4>
The foundation of Indiana&rsquo;s Finals run traces back to February 2022. The Pacers shipped All-Star Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento and received a then-rising guard in Tyrese Haliburton.&nbsp;
At the time, the move was seen as a gamble. Few teams part ways with a current All-Star for a young guard still developing. At the time, the move was seen as a gamble. Few teams part ways with a current All-Star for a young guard still developing. Many questioned the move and a few understood the vision.
However, Indiana did. They saw a lead playmaker who could evolve into the face of their franchise. Three years later, Haliburton has done exactly that &ndash; growing into an All-NBA-caliber PG, powering the league&rsquo;s fastest-paced offense and leading the Pacers with maturity beyond his years.
Haliburton was also someone who could not only run their offense but also carry the culture. The result was a floor general with a team-first mentality and elite passing instincts, now one of the NBA's most dynamic point guards, but at the same time has one of the energetic personalities and star vibe in the league. Haliburton&rsquo;s development into a full-fledged star wasn&rsquo;t accidental. It was intentional &ndash; nurtured by head coach Rick Carlisle, empowered by the front office, and amplified by the supporting cast that embraced his leadership.
The vision was clear from the start: make Haliburton the center of everything. Build around his IQ, his unselfishness, and his drive. That clarity allowed the front office to pursue players who complemented his skill set, not cluttered it.
One of those pieces came midseason in the form of Pascal Siakam, acquired from Toronto. Siakam brought championship pedigree, defensive versatility, and a scoring punch that balanced out Indiana&rsquo;s offense. While most teams searched for flash, Indiana sought fit. Siakam wasn&rsquo;t just a name &ndash; he was a need, and he filled it perfectly with all his traits that the team needed.
Pairing Haliburton&rsquo;s creativity with Siakam&rsquo;s downhill force turned Indiana into an offensive juggernaut. They didn&rsquo;t just outscore opponents, they overwhelmed them with pace, precision, and purpose.
<h4>Finding value in &ldquo;rejects and cast-offs&rdquo;</h4>
Indiana&rsquo;s roster isn&rsquo;t built on big names &ndash; it is built on belief.&nbsp;
Obi Toppin, once a lottery pick in New York, never got the role or runway he needed. In Indiana, he found freedom. In Carlisle&rsquo;s system, his athleticism became a weapon, not an afterthought.
Aaron Nesmith was viewed as a spare part in Boston, part of the return in the Malcolm Brogdon deal. Now? He&rsquo;s a defensive stopper, reliable shooter, and starter for a Finals-bound team.
Both were labeled as afterthoughts elsewhere but in Indiana, they were seen as untapped potential, and they have been vital pieces in this run to the Finals. These weren&rsquo;t lottery tickets. These were strategic buys; low-risk, high-reward acquisitions that paid off because the Pacers provided the right ecosystem for growth.
In a system that values spacing, ball movement, and grit, players like Toppin and Nesmith flourished. Their emergence wasn&rsquo;t just a bonus &ndash; it was necessary. The Pacers&rsquo; depth became one of their biggest advantages, and it was built on players most teams had given up on.
<h4>Myles Turner: The loyal soul that stayed after being through it all</h4>
If there&rsquo;s a symbol of Indiana&rsquo;s perseverance, it&rsquo;s Myles Turner. For years, he was in every trade rumor imaginable. Yet he never asked out, never wavered, and just kept working.
Now, the longest-tenured Pacer is finally on the biggest stage. Turner&rsquo;s elite shot-blocking, stretch/spacing ability, and leadership have anchored this team in every sense.&nbsp;
Turner is the defensive anchor and emotional pillar of Indiana&rsquo;s run, and on a team full of new faces, his presence provided continuity which he has embodied from day one.
His loyalty was rewarded and his patience paid off. And in a poetic twist, he&rsquo;ll play for a title in the only uniform he&rsquo;s ever known.
<h4>The right draft picks, the right roles, and the culture setters</h4>
The Pacers didn&rsquo;t just win the draft &ndash; they won the development battle. Andrew Nembhard, taken 31st overall in 2022, has become one of the best value picks in recent years. His poise, defensive tenacity, and timely playmaking have been invaluable throughout the playoffs next to Haliburton.
Then there&rsquo;s Bennedict Mathurin &ndash; flashy, fearless, and unafraid of the moment. He&rsquo;s not a volume scorer yet, but his playoff contributions &ndash; attacking off the bench, hitting momentum-swinging shots &ndash; have added another dimension to Indiana&rsquo;s attack.
Together, they reflect the front office&rsquo;s shrewdness. Indiana didn&rsquo;t just draft talent &ndash; they drafted competitors that can be brought to war.
On the other hand, people like TJ McConnell &ndash; veterans who show up, do the work, and demand accountability &ndash; have helped shape the culture in Indiana. McConnell may not stuff the stat sheet, but he sets the tone. Every loose ball, every second-unit possession, every moment of urgency, he&rsquo;s there &ndash; diving, scrapping, leading.
In the playoffs, when the margin of error shrinks, players like McConnell make the difference. His presence alone changes games &ndash; and reflects the kind of winning culture Indiana has quietly cultivated for years and it has absolutely paid off with this Finals run.
<h4>Brilliant coaching by veteran champion coach Rick Carlisle</h4>
However, none of this happens without Rick Carlisle. Over a decade removed from his legendary 2011 title run with Dallas, Carlisle has once again proven his genius. He reinvented Indiana&rsquo;s offense around Haliburton&rsquo;s strengths, managed egos without sacrificing cohesion, and made the right adjustments at every critical postseason juncture.
His calm demeanor, sharp tactical mind, and belief in player empowerment have given this group the freedom to grow &ndash; and the structure to succeed. He wanted to build something sustainable and something real. He didn&rsquo;t just install a playbook &ndash; he constructed a belief system. One that emphasized player development, ball movement, and defensive grit.
Carlisle has masterfully blended youth with experience, adapting his game plan series after series. He&rsquo;s out-coached more expensive benches and out-thought veteran counterparts. He&rsquo;s now one of the few head coaches to lead multiple franchises to the NBA Finals, and he did it again without a superteam &ndash; but by doing it with one of the most balanced rosters in the NBA.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
What makes Indiana&rsquo;s improbable NBA Finals run remarkable is the backdrop: a financial arms race across the league. Many are saddled with bloated payrolls and limited flexibility and have spent well into the luxury tax just to chase a title.
Through careful planning, smart contracts, and prudent investments, the Pacers have remained competitive without ever compromising their cap structure.
This is a reminder to the league that culture matters. That coaching still counts. That not every superstar needs to be acquired through chaos.
In many ways, Indiana has done the impossible: they&rsquo;ve built a Finals team without mortgaging their future or blowing up their balance sheet. They&rsquo;ve set a new standard &ndash;&nbsp; a proof that a franchise can win through culture, clarity, and consistency, not just cash.
The Pacers built something lasting. Something meaningful. And in doing so, they&rsquo;ve earned the respect of the basketball world. This is more than just a basketball success story. The Indiana Pacers didn&rsquo;t just get here. They earned it &ndash; methodically, intelligently, and without ever compromising who they are.
And now, the Pacers are four wins away from finishing the story on the sport&rsquo;s biggest stage.

The Pacers reached the NBA Finals without luxury tax, proving a sustainable, cap-smart approach can still build a title contender.

Sustainable Greatness: Indiana’s cap-savvy journey to the NBA Finals

Cooper Flagg is now set to take his talents to the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks after the franchise won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Monday night.
This is the first time the Mavericks have won the lottery in their 45-year history.
After losing franchise superstar Luka Doncic in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas will have an immediate replacement after lucking out with the 1st overall pick. The Mavericks entered the night with the 11th-best odds to land the No. 1 overall, at just 1.8 percent.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
COOPER FLAGG, YOU ARE A DALLAS MAVERICK. Dallas (1.8% chance) has won the 2025 NBA Draft lottery. 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/HzEIlg649i">pic.twitter.com/HzEIlg649i</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1922070620168233131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>

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The Mavericks are primed to almost certainly use the pick on Flagg, the Duke University freshman standout. The 6-foot-9 Flagg, who is regarded as one of the best prospects in recent NBA history, led the Blue Devils to a Final Four appearance in his lone college season and won the national player of the year award.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range, and 84% from the foul line. If the Mavericks end up drafting him, Flagg will join a core that includes Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and the injured Kyrie Irving.&nbsp;
San Antonio also moved up the draft boards to pick second, while Philadelphia and Charlotte rounded out the top 4.
Utah and Washington, which were tied with Charlotte with the best chances to land 1st overall with 14 percent, will pick fifth and sixth, respectively.
Full order of the draft lottery (according to the sequence announced by NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum)
14th pick - San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta Hawks)
13th pick - Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento Kings)
12th pick - Chicago Bulls
11th pick - Portland Trail Blazers
10th pick - Houston Rockets
9th pick - Toronto Raptors
8th pick - Brooklyn Nets
7th pick - New Orleans Pelicans
6th pick - Washington Wizards
5th pick - Utah Jazz
4th pick - Charlotte Hornets
3rd pick - Philadelphia 76ers
2nd pick - San Antonio Spurs
1st pick - Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg is now set to take his talents to the Mavericks after the franchise won the No. 1 overall pick on Monday night.

Mavericks earn 2025 NBA 1st overall pick, right to draft Cooper Flagg

When the New York Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, the move was met with shock, skepticism, and scrutiny. Five first-round picks. For a player whose offensive role had diminished, whose stats were down, and whose place in a new system seemed more complementary than central.
It was one of the most bizarre returns for a player in recent NBA history, which is borderline unprecedented. Bridges was no superstar scorer, nor a perennial All-NBA selection. He had gone from being Brooklyn's first option to, arguably, New York's fourth. Questions swirled: Was this a reach and an overpay?
But New York seemingly knew what they were doing. They were reuniting Bridges with former college teammates at Villanova, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. All three won an NCAA national championship playing together, and the Knicks were hoping this could translate into a good winning culture in the NBA and eventually a title.
Then, as the Knicks stunned the defending champion Boston Celtics in back-to-back games to start their 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinal series, those questions disappeared. Because Mikal Bridges answered every single one of them.
People often forget that the Knicks didn&rsquo;t bring in Bridges to average 25 points a game. They brought him in to defend the NBA&rsquo;s biggest, strongest wings. They brought him in for this very moment.
The Celtics, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the charge on the way to their title last season, are the blueprint every other contender is trying to crack. Long, physical wings who can score from anywhere, who can switch everything, and who have been to the NBA Finals twice in the past three seasons. To compete with them, you don&rsquo;t just need offense. You need answers.
New York&rsquo;s answer? Stack the deck with perimeter stoppers. Bridges. OG Anunoby. Josh Hart. Two-way warriors with toughness and length. And in a matchup where margins are razor-thin, where late-game execution determines the outcome, the Knicks&rsquo; investment has already paid dividends.
With the game tied in overtime and the final seconds ticking down, the Celtics had the ball in Jaylen Brown&rsquo;s hands. But as Brown caught the ball on the left wing, Bridges was there to read the play and anticipate the move.
He ripped the ball from Brown&rsquo;s hands in one swift motion, wrestled it away as Brown scrambled to recover, and held on as the buzzer sounded. Ball game in Game 1, Knicks steal Game 1 in the Boston Garden.
Bridges didn&rsquo;t just make a great play &ndash; he made the play. The one that changes the conversation, and the one that likely swings a series.
Two nights later, the stakes rose again. Boston had a huge 20-point lead late in the third quarter, and New York was running on fumes. That&rsquo;s when Bridges flipped the switch, not just defensively, but offensively too.
He scored all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter alone, rallying the Knicks back into the game. It was the highest-scoring playoff quarter of his career. The energy inside the Boston Garden shifted, as if life were sucked out of the arena.
And with the Knicks clinging to a slim lead and seconds left, Jayson Tatum had the ball on the left wing. As he tried to make his move toward the baseline, he found himself trapped, smothered by both Bridges and Anunoby. There was nowhere to go.
Tatum tried to make the right play and pass out of the double. But Bridges read it. He stuck out his arm, deflected the ball, and threw the ball to the backcourt to a streaking Jalen Brunson, and it sealed the victory. Game over, Knicks 2, Celtics 0. The seemingly invincible defending champion Celtics looked every bit of human that they could be, dropping two straight at home on both comeback occasions.
Bridges&rsquo; role and the Knicks&rsquo; vision
Bridges&rsquo; offensive dip since arriving in New York has been noticeable. He&rsquo;s no longer the guy who averaged 26.1 points per game in Brooklyn post-KD and Kyrie. With Jalen Brunson scoring and orchestrating, Karl-Anthony Towns spacing, and OG Anunoby slashing, Bridges has often been the third option, sometimes fourth.
But that&rsquo;s not the full picture. Basketball is bigger than the box score. And Bridges, even in a quieter offensive role, is impacting winning at the highest level.
The Knicks gambled on a vision: a roster designed to slow down elite wing scorers in high-stakes games. And with just two playoff games against Boston, that vision has materialized.
They didn&rsquo;t need Bridges to carry the offense. They needed him to carry the moment, to guard the other team&rsquo;s best guy, and to make the winning play. And he did.
Bridges didn&rsquo;t ask to be traded. He didn&rsquo;t lobby for five first-round picks to be attached to his name. But he embraced the responsibility. He leaned into the expectations. And now, he&rsquo;s delivering on the biggest stage against the defending champions. He&rsquo;s defending like a star and playing like a closer, all while doing it without the spotlight demanding he score 30.
There&rsquo;s something poetic about a player making his greatest impact on the defensive end in a league that so often celebrates offense. In a series where Boston's stars were expected to take over, Bridges is writing a different script &ndash; one that says defense still wins games, and that the &ldquo;other guy&rdquo; can become the hero.
The job isn&rsquo;t finished, and Boston definitely isn&rsquo;t going away. They&rsquo;re too good and battle-tested. But with the Knicks up 2-0, the tone has been set for the rest of the series.
And if this series is the war New York built their roster for, then Mikal Bridges is one of their weapons to go to war with. Game 3 awaits. But you better believe the Celtics will be seeing No. 25 in their nightmares.

Mikal Bridges' two game-winning defensive plays vs. Boston proved his worth in the Knicks' stunning 2-0 series lead over the Celtics.

Mikal Bridges proves his worth with clutch defense late against Boston

In a remarkable turnaround, Kenny Atkinson has been honored as the 2024&ndash;25 NBA Coach of the Year, recognizing his impactful first season at the helm of the Cleveland Cavaliers.&nbsp;
Atkinson guided the Cavaliers to a 64&ndash;18 record, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference and marking the second-highest win total in franchise history.
The Cavaliers' season was highlighted by a 15-game winning streak to start the year, tying the second-best start in NBA history. Later, the team achieved a franchise-record 16-game win streak between February and March.
Atkinson's coaching prowess was further acknowledged as he received 59 out of 100 first-place votes from a global media panel, surpassing Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka.
This accolade places Atkinson alongside Bill Fitch and Mike Brown as the only Cavaliers coaches to receive the Coach of the Year honor.
Atkinson's previous head coaching experience includes a tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, where he led the team to a playoff appearance in 2019. He also served as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, contributing to their 2022 NBA Championship run.
Under Atkinson's leadership, the Cavaliers not only achieved regular-season success but also advanced past the Miami Heat in the playoffs with a record-setting point differential, before facing the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals.
Atkinson's Coach of the Year award underscores his significant impact on the Cavaliers' resurgence and his esteemed position among NBA coaching ranks.

Kenny Atkinson has been honored as the 2024–25 NBA Coach of the Year, recognizing his impactful first season with the Cavaliers.

Nick