Lions

Tommy Beer is back with his latest version of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings. To read last week's version, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-power-rankings-bucks-back-into-top-tier-mavs-move-up-into-top10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
The Phoenix Suns continue to cruise, while the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics have been grinding their way into the NBA's upper-echelon as of late.
1. Phoenix Suns (46-10) &harr;️&nbsp; Last Week: 1
The Suns have been, by far, the best and most consistent team in the NBA this season. They proved it once again last week by beating up on three of the Eastern Conference's best teams (the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks) in succession.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (40-18) ⬆️ Last Week: 3
The Grizz are currently riding another five-game winning streak and have won 21 of their last 25 contests. Memphis will look to make it seven in a row heading into the All-Star break by beating the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers this week.&nbsp;
3. Golden State Warriors (42-16) ⬇️ Last Week: 2
The Warriors have dropped 3 of their last 4 games, including an embarrassing home loss to the New York Knicks last Thursday and a 15-point shellacking by the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Golden State is now five games behind the Suns for the top spot in the Western Conference. "Our defense has just been bad for six, seven games now. It's hard to win in this league when you're looking like we are defensively, with so many holes," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after Monday's loss.&nbsp;
4. Miami Heat (37-20) ⬆️ Last Week: 5
The Heat welcomed Kyle Lowry back earlier this month, and have won each of the five games they've played with their point guard in the lineup.&nbsp;
5. Chicago Bulls (37-21) ⬆️ Last Week: 6
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40 POINTS for <a href="https://twitter.com/DeMar_DeRozan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeMar_DeRozan</a>. 4 straight wins for <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chicagobulls</a>. <a href="https://t.co/zj9U5zwzYG">pic.twitter.com/zj9U5zwzYG</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1493464239973011459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Shockingly, DeMar DeRozan has pushed his name into the fringes of the MVP conversation of late due to his awe-inspiring play over the past few weeks. He has scored at least 30 points in seven consecutive contests, making him the first Bull with such a streak since Michael Jordan during the 1996-97 season. During this seven-game stretch, DeRozan is averaging 37.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists, while shooting 58% from the floor.&nbsp;
6. Utah Jazz (36-21) ⬆️ Last Week: 10
On Monday night, the Jazz wrapped up a perfect 6-0 homestand with an easy victory over the Houston Rockets. They also welcomed back Rudy Gobert in that contest, who had missed nine games due to a left calf strain. It was the first time Utah had its entire starting five on the floor together since Jan. 13.&nbsp;
7. Philadelphia 76ers (34-22) ⬆️ Last Week: 8
James Harden spoke with the media on Tuesday for the first time since his arrival in Philadelphia and said the Sixers were a "perfect fit" and his first choice. "Obviously, you got the best big man in the league in Joel [Embiid] and then obviously the coaching. Just from top to bottom, it made sense," Harden said. The Beard also seemed to take a swipe at a former teammate, stating, "I needed to be around guys that I know want to win and are willing to do whatever it takes to win."
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (35-22) ⬇️ Last Week: 7
The NBA announced Monday that <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jarrett-allen-named-nba-allstar-replacement-for-injured-james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jarrett Allen would replace James Harden</a> (hamstring) in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. Allen is averaging career highs in points (16.2), rebounds (11.1), assists (1.8), steals (0.76) and minutes (32.6) this season.
9. Milwaukee Bucks (35-23) ⬇️ Last Week: 4
The Bucks' loss to the Suns in Phoenix last Thursday was understandable, if not acceptable &mdash; but Monday's defeat to the Blazers was demoralizing. Milwaukee's defense has been horrendous as of late. The team ranks 27th in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency dating back to late January.
10. Boston Celtics (33-25) ⬆️ Last Week: 13
The Celtics are riding the league's longest winning streak, having notched eight straight victories. They have been the best defensive team in the NBA in 2022, and added Derrick White prior to the trade deadline, who should help them on both ends of the floor.&nbsp;
11. Dallas Mavericks (33-24) ⬇️ Last Week: 9
On Monday, Luka Doncic was named the Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging a whopping 43.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists over Dallas' past three games. In the two games he played against the Los Angeles Clippers late last week, Doncic tallied 96 points, 24 rebounds, 14 assists and 13 made three-pointers. According to Basketball-Reference, he is the first player in NBA history with at least 96/24/14 and 13 treys over a two-game span.
12. Denver Nuggets (32-25) ⬇️ Last Week: 11
The Nuggets didn't make a major move at the deadline, but Denver fans are hoping two key contributors return before the playoffs arrive. Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said last week that he believes Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will be physically cleared to return "hopefully in the not too distant future."
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-27) ⬆️ Last Week: 14
Anthony Edwards tallied 37 points with 7 threes, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in Sunday's victory over the Indiana Pacers. However, it was his very first bucket of the game that made history, as it was the 2,500th point of his career. At 20 years, 192 days old, Ant-Man is the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to reach that total. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are the only players to reach that milestone at a younger age.&nbsp;
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14. Toronto Raptors (31-25) ⬇️ Last Week: 12
The Raps had won eight straight games before losing to Denver over the weekend, and then shockingly, Toronto was pummeled by the Pelicans on Monday night, 120-90.&nbsp;
15. Brooklyn Nets (30-27) &harr;️ Last Week: 15
Although Ben Simmons has yet to suit up, the other players the Nets got in the Harden deal provided a much-needed spark Monday night, and helped snap Brooklyn's 11-game losing streak. Seth Curry racked up 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes in his Nets debut, while Andre Drummond chipped in 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block in 24 minutes.
16. Los Angeles Clippers (29-30)&nbsp;⬆️ Last Week: 20
The Clippers have registered two impressive victories in a row. They held off the Mavericks in Dallas on Saturday, despite a 45-point explosion from Luka Doncic. Then, on Monday, L.A. beat the Warriors, 119-104.&nbsp;
17. Charlotte Hornets (29-29) ⬇️ Last Week: 16
The Hornets have lost 7 of their last 8 games, and their only victory during this stretch has been over the hapless Detroit Pistons. Charlotte hasn't beaten a team with a winning record since defeating the Celtics back on Jan. 19.
18. Los Angeles Lakers (26-31) &harr;️ Last Week: 18
As BasketballNews.com <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/how-the-lakers-landed-here-a-stepbystep-look-at-how-la-managed-to-turn-a-championship-roster-into-a-sub500-mess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">detailed earlier this week</a>, the Lakers have somehow managed to turn a championship-level roster into a team that finds itself six games below .500 with an outside chance of finishing the season on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.&nbsp;
19. Atlanta Hawks (26-30) ⬇️ Last Week: 17
Not only have the Hawks lost 4 of their last 5 games, but the team also learned over the weekend that forward John Collins &mdash; who injured his foot in Friday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs &mdash; has been diagnosed with a right foot strain and will be sidelined through the All-Star break.
20. Washington Wizards (26-30) ⬆️ Last Week: 21
Washington head coach Wes Unseld Jr. told reporters Monday that there is a chance that the newly-acquired Kristaps Porzingis &mdash; who has been dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee &mdash; may be medically cleared to play this week. "He's doing a little bit more every day on the floor," Unseld said. "That's a positive sign, but we still have to be cautious with it. When the time's right, he's ready."
21. Portland Trail Blazers (24-34) ⬆️ Last Week: 25
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/AnferneeSimons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnferneeSimons</a> drops 31 PTS on the road to give the <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trailblazers</a> their 3rd straight W! 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA75?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA75</a> <a href="https://t.co/AlS3oTWN8Q">pic.twitter.com/AlS3oTWN8Q</a>
&mdash; NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_Philippines/status/1493473746228711424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Break up the Blazers! After Portland busted up its core at the deadline, most pundits assumed the team would sink to the bottom of the standings. However, the Blazers are 3-0 since trading away CJ McCollum and Co., with shocking wins over the Lakers, Knicks and Bucks. During this three-game stretch, Anfernee Simons is averaging 30.0 points, 6.3 assists and 6.0 made treys, while slashing .486/.462/.800.
22. New Orleans Pelicans (23-34) ⬇️ Last Week: 19
On Monday, the Pels ended a brief two-game losing streak with an impressive blowout victory over the Raptors. CJ McCollum &mdash; who tallied 36 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists on Saturday &mdash; scored 23 points on an efficient 9 of 13 shooting in Monday's 120-90 win over Toronto.&nbsp;
23. New York Knicks (25-33) ⬇️ Last Week: 22
The Knicks have lost 9 of their last 12 games, and things don't get any easier over the next few weeks. After hosting the Nets on Wednesday, New York will play Miami and Philadelphia right after the All-Star Break before embarking on a brutal seven-game road trip (its longest of the season).&nbsp;
24. Sacramento Kings (22-37) &harr;️ Last Week: 24
De'Aaron Fox has scored more than 25 points in each of the four games he's played since returning from an ankle injury after the trade deadline. Fox is averaging 27.0 points (on 49.4% shooting), 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 made three-pointers during this four-game stretch. &nbsp;
25. San Antonio Spurs (22-36) ⬇️ Last Week: 23
With their loss to the Bulls in Chicago on Monday, the Spurs are just 1-12 this season in the 13 games they've played against teams that are currently over .500.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-39) ⬆️ Last Week: 27
After tallying 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss to the Bulls on Saturday, Josh Giddey exploded for a career-high 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in OKC's victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Giddey is the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double in back-to-back games.
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27. Indiana Pacers (19-39)&nbsp;⬇️ Last Week: 26
The Pacers' moves before the deadline have given Oshae Brissett a chance to step in, and the 23-year-old out of Syracuse has stepped up. Over Indiana's past three games, Brissett is averaging 18.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 2.3 made triples (on 43.8% shooting from downtown) in 34.7 minutes per contest.
28. Houston Rockets (15-41) &harr;️ Last Week: 28
The Rockets have lost 9 of their last 10 games, and have to travel to Phoenix to take on the league-leading Suns on Wednesday night.
29. Orlando Magic (13-46) &harr;️ Last Week: 29
In a season with few other bright spots for Orlando, Franz Wagner continues to impress. The rookie sensation stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in Monday's loss to the Nuggets.
30. Detroit Pistons (12-45) &harr;️ Last Week: 30
Marvin Bagley III, who the Pistons acquired from the Kings at last week's deadline, finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds in 21 minutes in his Pistons debut on Monday. Bagley will compete for minutes with Isaiah Stewart and Kelly Olynyk over the second half of the season.
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Tommy Beer checks in with an installment of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings.

NBA Power Rankings: Celtics break into top-10, Jazz heating up

Overtime Elite has announced its opponents for the academy's opening weekend in Atlanta, starting on Oct. 29 at its brand new OTE Arena.
In back-to-back-to-back games that Friday and Saturday, three separate OTE teams will take on Calvary Christian, Dr. Phillips High and Vertical Academy, home of 2023 five-star prospect Mikey Williams.
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Mikey Williams vs OTE is HAPPENING 😱 Link in bio for tickets&hellip; 🍿 <a href="https://t.co/QXQdyzkJxo">pic.twitter.com/QXQdyzkJxo</a>
&mdash; Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) <a href="https://twitter.com/OvertimeElite/status/1445479677221502983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Six games are set to happen in total over those two days at the new state of the art facility in Atlantic Station. 
Fans can buy tickets at <a href="https://www.overtimeelite.com/openingweekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.overtimeelite.com/openingweekend</a> starting at $7, with a weekend pass available for $12.
&nbsp;

Overtime Elite has announced its opponents for the academy's opening weekend in Atlanta, starting on Oct. 29.

Overtime Elite announces opening schedule, will take on Mikey Williams

ATLANTA (September 4, 2021) - Overtime Elite (OTE), the transformative new basketball league starting&nbsp;this fall, announced the signings of three additional players. Jahzare Jackson, Jaylen Martin and TJ Clark finalized agreements with OTE, which brings the inaugural roster to 24 players.&nbsp;
(Editor's Note: Read our Spencer Davies' exclusive interview with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams, and an extensive profile on Overtime Elite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/high-school-basketball-former-nba-execs-aaron-ryan-brandon-williams-kevin-ollie-overtime-elite-seek-to-revolutionize-amateur-to-pro-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.)
Jahzare Jackson
Jahzare Jackson is a 7-0 center originally from San Diego. He&rsquo;s played at IMG academy the last two seasons and has played for the North Coast Blue Chips with Bronny James on the AAU circuit. Jackson is a load in the paint with the ability to overpower opposing big men and finish with both hands. He&rsquo;s a prolific rebounder and serves as a formidable defensive presence.
&ldquo;There is a reason that Jahzare Jackson has captured the imagination of fans all over the world. He packages a combination of elite size, soft hands, and unusually light feet and athleticism,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE Basketball Operations. &ldquo;Joining OTE is a major step for Jahzare&rsquo;s long term projection, as he maximizes the expertise of OTE&rsquo;s elite coaching and high performance staffs, who are committed to bringing out the best in his game.&rdquo;
Jaylen Martin
Jaylen Martin is a 6-6 small forward from Tallahassee, Florida. The swingman is a strongly-built perimeter player who rebounds well for his position and can guard multiple positions. This past summer, Martin teamed up with Jazian Gortman, another OTE signee, on the AAU circuit with the Nightrydas.
&ldquo;Jaylen is a dynamic wing that has a packaged creativity, athleticism and a crafty offensive feel ,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE Basketball Operations.&nbsp; &ldquo;He is embracing the challenge of competing with and against elite peers day in and day out and that&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re about at OTE.&ldquo;
TJ Clark
TJ Clark is a 6-4 shooting guard from Covington, Georgia. He is a catch and shoot specialist that played for Newton High School. He led the team last season averaging 14.2 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals and was named the Newton County Player of the Year.
&ldquo;Representing Covington, GA and Newton High School, TJ has quietly built an accomplished resume as a standout student-athlete, where his relentlessness and drive have put him in a position to enhance his game in the OTE environment,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE Basketball Operations. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s joining us with the right kind of chip on his shoulder, focused on continual development and proving he belongs amongst the elite."
These three are joining Jalen Lewis from California, Jazian Gortman from South Carolina, Bryson Warren from Arkansas, Amen and Ausar Thompson from Florida, Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley from Florida, Tyler Smith and Bryce Griggs from Texas, Dominick Barlow from New Jersey, Jai Smith from North Carolina, Malik Bowman from Maryland, Kok Yat from Alaska and De&rsquo;Vontes Cobbs from Wisconsin.
OTE has signed international prospects Jean Montero from the Dominican Republic, Izan Almansa from Spain, Alexandre Sarr from France, Nathan Missia-Dio from Belgium, Emmanuel Maldonado from Puerto Rico, Francis Lopez from the Philippines and Tudor Somacescu from Romania. The league expects to make additional player announcements in the coming weeks.&nbsp;
Every OTE player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs.&nbsp;
About OTE
OTE (Overtime Elite) is a transformative new sports league that offers the world&rsquo;s most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes, while engaging and inspiring a new community of digitally native fans.
OTE (pronounced Oh-Tee-E) provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey from proficiency to pro.

OTE announced the signings of three more players. Jahzare Jackson, Jaylen Martin and TJ Clark have finalized their agreements.

Overtime Elite signs three more, brings roster to 24 players

ATLANTA (August 23, 2021) &ndash; OTE (Overtime Elite) announced today that it has signed one of the country&rsquo;s top power forwards in Tyler Smith to be part of its inaugural season this September.
(Editor's Note: Read our Spencer Davies' exclusive interview with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams, and an extensive profile on Overtime Elite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/high-school-basketball-former-nba-execs-aaron-ryan-brandon-williams-kevin-ollie-overtime-elite-seek-to-revolutionize-amateur-to-pro-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.)
Smith is a 6-foot-9-inch, 195-pound power forward who completed his sophomore season at Bush High School in Houston, Texas. &nbsp;He is currently the #8 overall ranked player by ESPN, #19 by 247Sports and #18 by Rivals. The tall lefty can space the floor with his shooting ability, while also being effective in the pick-and-pop and the dribble-hand-off action on the offensive end.
&ldquo;OTE is thrilled to welcome Tyler to our family and are proud to now be a part of his journey,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, OTE EVP, Head of Basketball Operations. &ldquo;Tyler is a versatile talent that exhibits an on-court confidence that stems from a combination of skill, length, athleticism and competitive intangibles. But what impressed us most is his demonstrated work ethic, and commitment to offensive and defensive development and the desire to be great. He is going to be a great culture fit for what we&rsquo;re building.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Tyler Smith is the definition of a modern big; he&rsquo;s long, athletic, and has a smooth lefty shooting stroke,&rdquo; said OTE Head Coach and Head of Player Development, Kevin Ollie. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re ready to get in the gym and in the classroom with Tyler so that he develops into not only an NBA level basketball player, but more importantly into a level 5, world class person.
Smith is the 16th player to join OTE. He joins other top prospects in Jalen Lewis from California, Jazian Gortman from South Carolina, Amen and Ausar Thompson from Florida, Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley from Florida, Bryce Griggs from Houston and Jai Smith from North Carolina.
OTE has signed international prospects Jean Montero from the Dominican Republic, Izan Almansa from Spain, Alexandre Sarr from France, Nathan Missia-Dio from Belgium, Emmanuel Maldonado from Puerto Rico, Francis Lopez from the Philippines and Tudor Somacescu from Romania. The league expects to make additional player announcements in the coming weeks to round out the class of 2022.
Every OTE player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs.&nbsp;
About OTE
OTE (Overtime Elite) is a transformative new sports league that offers the world&rsquo;s most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes, while engaging and inspiring a new community of digitally native fans.
OTE (pronounced Oh-Tee-E) provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey from proficiency to pro.

Smith is a 6-foot-9-inch, 195-pound power forward who completed his sophomore season at Bush High School in Houston, Texas.

Overtime Elite signs five-star power forward prospect Tyler Smith

OTE (Overtime Elite) announced that Bryce Griggs has signed with the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this September.
(Editor's Note: Read our Spencer Davies' exclusive interview with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams, and an extensive profile on Overtime Elite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/high-school-basketball-former-nba-execs-aaron-ryan-brandon-williams-kevin-ollie-overtime-elite-seek-to-revolutionize-amateur-to-pro-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.)
A 6&rsquo;2&rdquo; point guard from Missouri City, Texas, he has averaged 22.9 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4 RPG and 1.7 SPG in his three seasons at Fort Bend High School. Griggs is a shifty lead guard that uses a combination of high level ball-handling, court vision, and strength to create shots for himself and his teammates.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Bryce Griggs is a player that has been recognized as one the nation&rsquo;s most promising playmaking guards and we are thrilled to welcome him to the OTE family,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, OTE&rsquo;s EVP and Head of Basketball Operations. &ldquo;Bryce has had one of the best coaches and mentors in John Lucas, and has been attracted to the combination of an NBA caliber coaching staff, sports science, performance and nutrition focuses that will play a crucial role in his development into an NBA player.&rdquo;
&ldquo;As a former point guard, I can&rsquo;t be more excited to start working with Bryce and pass on what I&rsquo;ve learned as a player and coach,&rdquo; said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Head of Player Development. &ldquo;Bryce has elite talent which you can see when he has the ball in hands, but we&rsquo;re also going to turn him into an elite leader on and off the floor. That&rsquo;s the promise I&rsquo;m making to him.&rdquo;
Griggs is the 15th player to sign with OTE for its inaugural season. He joins other top prospects in Jalen Lewis from California, Jazian Gortman from South Carolina, Amen and Ausar Thompson from Florida, Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley from Florida, and Jai Smith from North Carolina.
OTE has signed international prospects Jean Montero from the Dominican Republic, Izan Almansa from Spain, Alexandre Sarr from France, Nathan Missia-Dio from Belgium, Emmanuel Maldonado from Puerto Rico, Francis Lopez from the Philippines and Tudor Somacescu from Romania. The league expects to make additional player announcements in the coming weeks to round out the class of 2022.
Gortman's press release:
ATLANTA (August 11, 2021) - OTE (Overtime Elite) announced that five-star prospect Jazian (Jay-zee-en) Gortman has signed with the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this September.
The 6&rsquo;1&rdquo; point guard from Columbia, South Carolina is one of the top-ranked players in the class of 2022. The consensus five-star averaged 23.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game last season at W.J. Keenan High School. Gortman is a high-energy guard with an incredible motor who is highly scouted as one of the best two-way players in the 2022 class.
&ldquo;Today we landed a critical piece that hits at the core of what we&rsquo;re building. Jazian brings a relentlessness, tenacity and leadership capability to the OTE family,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, OTE&rsquo;s EVP and Head of Basketball Operations. &ldquo;Jazian is widely regarded as one of the top talents in his class, elevating himself this spring through a visible commitment to developing his craft.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Jazian takes our guard play to the next level with his explosiveness, ability to score, pass, and defend,&rdquo; said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Head of Player Development. &ldquo;I get excited about players who always bring level-5 energy - &nbsp;in games, practice, the weight room, the film room, and the classroom. Jazian always brings it and that&rsquo;s why so many have taken notice of him.&rdquo;
OTE provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league, a division of next-generation sports brand Overtime, offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey.&nbsp;
Every OTE player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs.&nbsp;
About OTE
OTE (Overtime Elite) is a transformative new sports league that offers the world&rsquo;s most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes, while engaging and inspiring a new community of digitally native fans.
OTE (pronounced Oh-Tee-E) provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey from proficiency to pro.

Overtime Elite announced the additions of Gortman and Griggs to its roster.

Overtime Elite adds point guards Jazian Gortman and Bryce Griggs

ATLANTA (August 5, 2021) - OTE (Overtime Elite) announced today the signing of Izan Almansa, making him the 13th player to join the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this September.
(Editor's Note: Read our Spencer Davies' exclusive interview with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams, and an extensive profile on Overtime Elite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/high-school-basketball-former-nba-execs-aaron-ryan-brandon-williams-kevin-ollie-overtime-elite-seek-to-revolutionize-amateur-to-pro-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.)
From Murcia, Spain, Almansa is a 6-foot-9 power forward who previously played for Real Madrid Cadete A. He is ranked #6 for 2005 born players on EuroHopes.com and is regarded as one of the top European prospects with NBA potential because of his length, motor and feel for the game.
&ldquo;This is a remarkable day for our program, attracting a player of Izan&rsquo;s talent, upside and character, as we continue to build an incomparable group of elite basketball players from across the world,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, OTE&rsquo;s EVP and Head of Basketball Operations. &ldquo;OTE was created for players like Izan, who craves the coaching, training, and education that will help maximize his gifts and best prepare him to reach his dreams as an NBA player.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Izan is the type of player that makes you excited to be a coach,&rdquo; said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Head of Player Development. &ldquo;This is a young man who&rsquo;s elite natural talent is actually outweighed by his drive and desire to get better. That makes his ceiling limitless and we&rsquo;re going to do our part to ensure he&rsquo;s given everything he needs to become a world class player and person.&rdquo;
Almansa is the thirteenth player to join OTE for its inaugural season. The league has signed top prospects Jalen Lewis from California, Amen and Ausar Thompson from Florida, Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley from Florida, and Jai Smith from North Carolina.
OTE has signed international prospects Jean Montero from the Dominican Republic, Alexandre Sarr from France, Nathan Missia-Dio from Belgium, Emmanuel Maldonado from Puerto Rico, Francis Lopez from the Philippines and Tudor Somacescu from Romania. The league expects to make additional player announcements in the coming weeks.
OTE provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league, a division of next-generation sports brand Overtime, offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey.&nbsp;
Every OTE player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs.&nbsp;

Regarded as one of the top European prospects, Izan Almansa is the 13th player to sign with Overtime Elite.

Overtime Elite signs highly-touted Spanish power forward Izan Almansa

ATLANTA (July 20, 2021) &ndash; OTE (Overtime Elite) announced today that Tudor Somacescu has signed with the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this September.
(Editor's Note: Read our Spencer Davies' exclusive interview with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams, and an extensive profile on Overtime Elite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/high-school-basketball-former-nba-execs-aaron-ryan-brandon-williams-kevin-ollie-overtime-elite-seek-to-revolutionize-amateur-to-pro-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.)
The 6-foot-2-inch point guard from Romania is one of the top European prospects, ranked the #3 overall international prospect for 2005 born players by Eurohopes.com. He spent last season in the United States at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, CA. Prior to coming to the US, he played for U-BT Cluj Napoca in Romania&rsquo;s top division. At just 14 years old, he participated with the Romanian National Team in the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship Division B, averaging 10 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2.7 steals per game.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re incredibly excited to have Tudor join OTE as we continue to assemble a group of talented and driven athletes committed to chasing excellence,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, OTE&rsquo;s EVP and Head of Basketball Operations. &ldquo;Tudor is a special basketball player who has demonstrated a boldness and courage to journey from Eastern Europe to explore other styles of basketball, compete against top talent, and further hone his skills. He demonstrates high level court vision, a joy for the game and passion for making others better. He will elevate his teammates and we&rsquo;re thrilled to work with him to continue to help him reach his dreams.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Tudor has an advanced basketball IQ, a terrific feel for the game and the ability to share the ball with his teammates, getting everyone involved. They will love playing with him,&rdquo; said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Head of Player Development. &ldquo;I look forward to sharing my knowledge as a former point guard to help him develop as a team leader on and off the court.&rdquo;
Somacescu is the twelfth player to join OTE. The league has signed top prospects Jalen Lewis from California, Amen and Ausar Thompson from Florida, Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley from Florida, and Jai Smith from North Carolina.
OTE has signed international prospects Jean Montero from the Dominican Republic, Alexandre Sarr from France, Nathan Missia-Dio from Belgium, Emmanuel Maldonado from Puerto Rico and Francis Lopez from the Philippines. The league expects to make additional player announcements in the coming weeks.
Lopez's press release:
ATLANTA (July 13, 2021) &ndash; OTE (Overtime Elite) announced today that wing Francis &ldquo;Lebron&rdquo; Lopez from the Philippines has signed with the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this September.&nbsp;
Lopez is a 6-foot-5 inch guard who most recently attended Ateneo de Manila High School, playing in the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) Season 82 after transferring from La Salle Greenhills. He averaged 16 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3 blocks per game.&nbsp;
Lopez was the youngest member of the Philippines National Team to participate in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. In his one appearance, Lopez had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block in 10 minutes of action in a win over Indonesia on June 18th. He was the final cut from the 12-man roster for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re delighted to have Lebron join the OTE family as we expand our international reach, bringing in top talent from across the globe,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, OTE EVP, Head of Basketball Operations. &ldquo;Francis is a young man who has impressed us with both the combination of pure passion for the game and self-improvement, physical athleticism, work ethic, as well as many leadership intangibles. He&rsquo;s the kind of player we want and expect to thrive at OTE.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Francis is a high flyer with his ability to play above the rim,&rdquo; said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Head of Player Development. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a young man with a ton of potential and we&rsquo;re building a program for him that will develop his game more completely, so that he can achieve his dream of a professional career and as a leader on the Philippines national team for years to come.&rdquo;
Lopez is the eleventh player to join OTE. Last week, OTE signed top prospect Jalen Lewis from California. In the past few weeks, the league announced the signings of top-rated guards Amen and Ausar Thompson and forwards Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley from Florida.&nbsp;
OTE provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league, a division of next-generation sports brand Overtime, offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey.&nbsp;
Every OTE player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs.&nbsp;
About OTE
OTE (Overtime Elite) is a transformative new sports league that offers the world&rsquo;s most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes, while engaging and inspiring a new community of digitally native fans.
OTE (pronounced Oh-Tee-E) provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey from proficiency to pro.

Romanian guard Tudor Somacescu and Filipino wing Francis "LeBron" Lopez are the 11th and 12 prospects to join OTE.

Overtime Elite signs Tudor Somacescu, Francis 'LeBron' Lopez

Hi, hello, and welcome to yet another edition of Roaming The Baseline! This will be a weekly endeavor where I point out some things that caught my eye: a hot or cold streak from a player, a developmental flash, a well-run play, a funny tweet, who knows? There will be film -- it&rsquo;s me, so of course there will be film -- but this will also be a bit looser. It&rsquo;s an extension of my Twitter feed, if you will.&nbsp;
With that said, let&rsquo;s roam the baseline.
BRING ME LIBERTY, OR BRING ME DEATH (BY PICK-AND-ROLL)
Well, well, well. If it isn't the New York Liberty, fresh off a 2-20 season, getting off to a 3-0 start. Quibble over the early strength of schedule if you will, but it's fair to say this team looks different.
That different look starts with Sabrina Ionescu, a dynamic lead initiator that combines high-level pull-up shooting with I-see-everything court vision. There isn't a surefire way to slow her down. You can attempt pressing her, but she's pretty darn good at navigating her defender into screens.
If you get caught on a screen against Sabrina, you're practically dead.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/z5scxp" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Just peep the patience from Ionescu on this possession. She's able to get a little separation from Danielle Robinson as she flies off the screen. From there, the hang dribble freezes Teaira McCowan (#15), and causes Victoria Vivians (#35) to rotate over. A timely cut from Sami Whitcomb (#32) puts Kelsey Mitchell (#0) in a tough spot, freeing the corner skip to Betnijah Laney (who's making an early case for MIP).
Ionescu leads the WNBA in pick-and-roll possessions (32) by a wide margin, per Synergy. She's generating north of 97 points per 100 pick-and-roll possessions (passes included), placing her in the 83rd percentile right now.
This is obviously early season stuff, but Ionescu is also the only player that ranks in the top-five in scoring (21.0) and assists (9.0), while also leading the WNBA in three-pointers made (10). It wouldn't be a total shock for any of those designations to hold throughout the season if she stays healthy.&nbsp;
She's that darn good.
TEAIRA MCCOWAN, DOING HER WORK EARLY
Send this clip to every big (wo)man camp in the country.
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There is no play-call here. No frills. This is Teaira McCowan busting it up the floor, knocking Kylee Shook back and setting up shop in a threatening post position.&nbsp;
She's able to put Shook on her right shoulder to create a wider window for the entry pass from Robinson. There is absolutely nothing Shook can do to prevent the pass, nor does she have the length to bother the shot.
It's textbook stuff, stuff that McCowan was doing at Mississippi State. It's what she did as a rookie; for the life of me, I still do not understand why she didn't get more playing time last season.&nbsp;
If you want a number, I'll present you with this one: per Synergy, McCowan leads the WNBA in points (15) off those deep middle seals. Liz Cambage is the only other player in double digits (10).&nbsp;
JAYSON TATUM HAS FULLY ARRIVED
23 points. 7-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from three. Three assists, one measly turnover.&nbsp;
That's a darn good game for a hired gun off the bench. A play-finishing wing that sprinkled in some transition dimes or something.&nbsp;
The fact that this is what Jayson Tatum did during the third quarter of Tuesday night's play-in game is absolutely absurd.
There's only so much you can do against Tatum now. As I <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1383148215181135879?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote last month</a>, he's rounding out the rough parts of his game. He's gotten more comfortable operating in the intermediate areas. He gets downhill more often, and with more purpose. You don't luck your way into 17 free throws.
The fun part of getting good at the average stuff is that it simply unlocks more of your great stuff. In a way, the hesi-and-drive to Tatum's left against Rui Hachimura ultimately helps him set up this stepback against Davis Bertans.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/f2rwga" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
50 points. Big win. Playoff spot secured. The Leap is happening right before our eyes, folks.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO "HMMMM"
<ul>
<li>We're working with a 30-minute sample right now, but the early returns for the A'ja Wilson-Liz Cambage combo have been positive (plus-6.4 net rating). A'ja took a three on Saturday and made it. Let's just say I'll be keeping tabs on that all season long.</li>
<li>I am just especially fascinated by how the Atlanta Dream plan to find minutes for Chennedy Carter, Courtney WIlliams, Aari McDonald, Odyssey Sims and&nbsp;Tiffany Hayes. They've shown some early willingness to go with three guards, but I am terrified of what the defense will look like.</li>
<li>Breanna Stewart (averaging 27 &amp; 12 through two) is the obvious draw for the Storm, but I'm intrigued by Ezi Magbegor. She got the start on Tuesday night against the Aces; her blend of size and skill provides a nice complement to Stewart's, well, everything.</li>
<li>A quick glance at the blocks per game leaderboard will highlight two members of the Phoenix Mercury: Brittney Griner (2.7, 2nd) and Brianna Turner (2.3). Unsurprisingly, among the teams that have played multiple games, none have allowed a lower field goal percentage than the Mercury.</li>
<li>The Sky outscored the Mystics by 19 points in the 25 minutes that Candace Parker was on the court. This might be as scary as we <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1356406720260677639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thought it would be</a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
PLAYS I LIKED
Pick Your Poison
The Indiana Pacers absolutely molly whopped the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. Among the many, many, many&nbsp;plays in which the Hornets looked unequipped to defend this team, this play caught my eye.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wr5vaf" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
I appreciate the misdirection to kick things off, with Justin Holiday kinda faking a connection with Doug McDermott before lifting above the break. McDermott does a great job of setting Terry Rozier up, and Domantas Sabonis finishes the job by sliding over a step to prevent Rozier from shooting the gap.
Watch Your Back(cut)
MOAR TATUM.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/766h1b" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's all about playing against tendency here. Boston loves to run pindowns for Tatum to get him attacking on the move. Bradley Beal has positioned himself -- back to Marcus Smart, practically hugging Tatum -- to prepare for this screening action.
Tatum uses that so-called knowledge (and that positioning) against Beal, juking before darting to the basket for an easy lob.&nbsp;
Slotting Up
I talked about Ionescu's pick-and-roll proficiency a little bit earlier, but I like this set-up from the Liberty.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/h7rzpi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
We get a Pistol/21 look as Ionescu trots up the left side of the floor. Laney "ghosts" the screen before running off a flare from Shook. That action between Laney and Shook not only occupies their defenders; it also puts strain on the weak side since Ionescu is able to gain inside leverage on the drive.
The drive forces a rotation, which leaves Crystal Dangerfield (#2) splitting the difference. Whitcomb recognizes that dilemma and cuts inside, receiving a pass and getting an uncontested lay-up as a result.
Good stuff all around.
THE READING LIST
There is plenty of high-level basketball content out here if you know where to look. I wouldn&rsquo;t be where I am as a writer without reading a ton of Zach Lowe or Chris Herring or Caitlin Cooper or Mirin Fader or... well, you get the point.&nbsp;
Anyway, here are some -- not all, but some! -- of the stories I&rsquo;ve read this week that I think you should check out. Their Twitter handles will be linked under their names, so click and follow if you don&rsquo;t already.
<a href="https://twitter.com/MirinFader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mirin Fader</a> knocks this <a href="https://twitter.com/MirinFader/status/1395020533872222223?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andre Drummond feature</a> out of the park.
<a href="https://twitter.com/Herring_NBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Herring</a> brought the goods on <a href="https://twitter.com/Herring_NBA/status/1395032294059085826" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Atlanta Hawks</a>, and what Trae Young means to them.
This was technically for last week, but I can't recommend <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVPina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Pina</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVPina/status/1392115303698534404?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feature on Dejounte Murray</a> enough.
ESPN's <a href="https://twitter.com/TimBontemps/status/1394299631736172544?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">massive playoff guide</a> is well worth your time.
<a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alexa Philippou</a> gave us the deets on <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1394408732725964800?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tiffany Hayes' return</a>.

In Nekias Duncan's weekly notebook, he shares things that have caught his eye. He breaks down players, teams, plays and stats.

Roaming the Baseline: Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Teaira McCowan

Spencer Davies chats with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams about the details of Overtime Elite, a new league that's changing the game.

Former NBA execs, Overtime Elite seek to revolutionize amateur-to-pro preparation

Ethan Fuller breaks down the NBA landscape with over half the league hovering close to a .500 record.

NBA Sour Rankings: How to understand the spectrum of mediocrity

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 14, 2021.
Ball Don&rsquo;t Lie
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
for those curious, KD, Kyrie, and Harden all rank inside the Top-20 ALL-TIME in career Usage Rate - among every player who has ever played in the league Per <a href="https://twitter.com/bball_ref?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bball_ref</a>: <a href="https://t.co/2FUDnob9zg">pic.twitter.com/2FUDnob9zg</a>
&mdash; Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1349476481429344256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1349466748240670727?s=19">
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</a></blockquote>
Career Usage Rate calculates the percentage of team plays a specific player was involved in. With Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden all nearing 30% -- nearly 10% higher than the average player -- it will be interesting to see how they work out together.
Too Many Cooks Spoil The Broth
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Brooklyn adding Harden to the Nets locker room <a href="https://t.co/NSCuUYWZvO">pic.twitter.com/NSCuUYWZvO</a>
&mdash; Mina Kimes (@minakimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/minakimes/status/1349468100601782281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

This is a very accurate description of what the Nets' front office could be feeling right now, especially with a team that is being coached by *vibes*.
Old Tweets, Same Sentiment
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Congrats to my new teammate James Harden
&mdash; Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/2336086647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2009</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

It seems like every situation has an old KD tweet to go with it. I&rsquo;m always curious about who finds them first, and how.&nbsp;
Earthworm Jim
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
We don&rsquo;t deserve Steven Adams <a href="https://t.co/x9UNMhJ6U7">pic.twitter.com/x9UNMhJ6U7</a>
&mdash; Simon Hampton (@SimonHampton9) <a href="https://twitter.com/SimonHampton9/status/1349176000282816512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
Steven Adams is the most interesting and least problematic basketball player -- no, person-- on earth. Everything he does off the court is as perfect as every time he catches an opposing player who is about to fall.&nbsp;
Economic Collapse
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Houston strip clubs about to fly James Harden's jersey at half-mast this week
&mdash; sreekar (@sreekyshooter) <a href="https://twitter.com/sreekyshooter/status/1349447312594989056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

We joke a lot about James Harden and dancers, but I&rsquo;m sure he got a fair number of them through a really difficult year in their industry. Some people start worm farms, some keep strip clubs afloat.&nbsp;
My Finger Slipped
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
The NBA is incredible lol <a href="https://t.co/ESTmTOLNAF">pic.twitter.com/ESTmTOLNAF</a>
&mdash; Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amit_Mann/status/1349542982068924417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

James Harden did say he loved the city of Houston, so there is reason to believe he will be back...for the scenery.
My My, How the Turntables
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Kyrie didn&rsquo;t want to be Robin for Lebron but now he is Alfred for KD and Harden Crazy how life works...
&mdash; Kendrick&rsquo;s Burner ➐ (@KendrickPBurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/KendrickPBurner/status/1349531197563662337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

In his defense, Alfred is the only truly likable character from Batman. The difference though, is that Alfred just keeps his head down and does his job.
I&rsquo;m 36!!!!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
How Lebron was when he found out James Harden went to the Nets 🏀🤣💀 <a href="https://t.co/BK9bb48nze">pic.twitter.com/BK9bb48nze</a>
&mdash; Mark Phillips (@SupremeDreams_1) <a href="https://twitter.com/SupremeDreams_1/status/1349573999429345280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

LeBron either had absolutely no reaction, or it was exactly like this one. There is no in between.
100% From the Field
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
NBA sea shanty twitter twitter 🤝 discussing nets haul
&mdash; Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich) <a href="https://twitter.com/SPianovich/status/1349468857413611520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

A good pun will always make the list (I&rsquo;ve been laughing for 12 hours).
The Red Wedding
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Pelicans sophomore Nickeil Alexander-Walker was outstanding against the Clippers. NAW finished with 37 points, 8 rebounds, 5 threes, 1 steal and 1 turnover while shooting 15-23 from the field, 5-8 from three and 2-2 from the free-throw line). <a href="https://t.co/wADaG622Lh">pic.twitter.com/wADaG622Lh</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1349587837604286465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Once upon a time, the Los Angeles Clippers traded away their entire future, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (from Hamilton, Ontario) for Paul George. Last night, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the cousin of the young star, avenged him. The Lannisters send their regards.
Willie Cooley-Stat
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
The Mavs are 4-0 since starting Willie Cauley-Stein. <a href="https://t.co/ICfAhS6cml">pic.twitter.com/ICfAhS6cml</a>
&mdash; StatMuse (@statmuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1349540783876055040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

In my professional opinion, Willie Cauley-Stein is one of the coolest players in the NBA, and it&rsquo;s great to finally see his impact on display.&nbsp;
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 Jan. 14, 2021.

NBA Tweets of the Day: January 14, 2021

Spencer Davies talks to Marvin Williams Sr. about his new book and Marvin Williams Jr.'s entire career (from a father's vantage point).