Commodores

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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. </span></p>

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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 NBA Christmas Day delivered high-level hoops and dramatic finishes across a full slate of five games, with several teams making the holiday spotlight on the national stage.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Knicks rally to edge Cavaliers in MSG thriller</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The day&rsquo;s action kicked off at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks completed a stunning comeback to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124. Trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter, New York rallied behind Jalen Brunson&rsquo;s 34 points and timely contributions from Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson &ndash; turning a huge deficit into a late lead and Christmas Day victory.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Spurs dominate Thunder again, go up 3-0 in season series</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In yet another heated Western Conference rivalry, the San Antonio Spurs took down the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 in a rematch from just two days ago. De&rsquo;Aaron Fox led San Antonio with 29 points, while Victor Wembanyama added a strong all-around showing off the bench. The win marked another impressive Christmas Day performance for the Spurs and another blemish on the Thunder&rsquo;s otherwise elite season, as they have completely outclassed the defending champs. The Spurs have now won all three games against the Thunder this season, with one more play date to happen in January.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Warriors outlast Mavericks in Cooper Flagg&rsquo;s Christmas debut</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Golden State Warriors continued their holiday bliss with a 126-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Stephen Curry led the way with 23 points, including a clutch fourth-quarter three that helped separate the Warriors from Dallas. Jimmy Butler added 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists for the Dubs, who are now on their first three-game win streak this season. Rookie Cooper Flagg starred for the Mavs with 27 points, but Golden State&rsquo;s depth ultimately made the difference. Nevertheless, Flagg showed out in his first-ever Christmas Day game and should be a fixture in the NBA&rsquo;s annual event for years to come if he keeps up his play.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Rockets roll past Lakers behind Amen, KD</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over in LA, the Houston Rockets pulled off a dominant 119-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Amen Thompson (26 points) and Kevin Durant (25 points) spearheaded Houston&rsquo;s balanced attack as the Rockets raced out to a big lead and never looked back. The defeat marked another frustrating Christmas Day outing for the Lakers despite Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James playing in the starting lineup.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Nuggets top Timberwolves in overtime shootout</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the nightcap, the Denver Nuggets survived a wild overtime battle against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning 142-138. Nikola Jokić was sensational, recording a historic triple-double with 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists &ndash; one of the greatest individual performances in Christmas Day history. Minnesota&rsquo;s Anthony Edwards dropped 44 points to pace his team in the defeat, after hitting a wild left fading corner triple to tie the game and force overtime.</span></p>
<h3><strong>THE HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">New York&rsquo;s comeback over Cleveland was one of the biggest fourth-quarter rallies of the season.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Spurs continued their strong trend vs. the Thunder with another decisive win, seemingly being their kryptonite. The Thunder are 26-2 against the entire league, but are 0-3 against the Spurs.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curry and the Warriors remained a tough holiday matchup, a team that&rsquo;s a fixture in the NBA&rsquo;s annual premier play date.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Houston&rsquo;s balanced scoring showcased the Rockets&rsquo; roster depth, while it showed the Lakers&rsquo; flaws as a team.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jokic&rsquo;s historic triple-double capped off a memorable Christmas slate with one of the best games of the season thus far, including one of the best for Jokic&rsquo;s entire career. It spoiled an otherwise great game for Anthony Edwards, who scored 40 points after his interview with ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania where he said he will be scoring 40 points in Christmas &ndash; and he did.</span></li>
</ul>

The 2025 NBA Christmas Day delivered high-level hoops and dramatic finishes across a full slate of five games.

2025 NBA Christmas Day: Knicks, Spurs, Warriors, Rockets, Nuggets all take wins

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maybe it was always meant to happen this way &ndash; through the grind, the noise, and the heartbreak. Over the past few years, Detroit basketball was defined by its pain. A record-breaking 28-game losing streak. Missed lottery picks. False starts. The Motor City, once the heart of NBA toughness, had become an afterthought.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But lately, that&rsquo;s changing &ndash; fast.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Led by Cade Cunningham, the Detroit Pistons have stormed out to a stunning 9-2 start, sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings. They&rsquo;ve done it not through star-chasing or blockbuster trades, but through patience, internal player development, and a belief that the foundation they&rsquo;ve built would eventually bear fruit.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And at the center of it all is the quiet leader who never ran from the challenge.</span></p>
<p><strong>Cade&rsquo;s time has come</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cade Cunningham&rsquo;s leap into superstardom has felt less like a breakout and more like a long-overdue arrival. The 24-year-old guard has been on an absolute tear to open the season, stringing together the kind of performances that remind you why he was once the No. 1 pick in his draft.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He&rsquo;s orchestrated the offense with poise and precision &ndash; highlighted by an 18-assist night earlier this season &ndash; and imposed his will on both ends. Then came the moment that made the league stop and take notice: a 46-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist, 5-steal, 2-block masterpiece in an overtime comeback win against the Wizards.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It wasn&rsquo;t just another great game. It was a declaration.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cunningham has arrived not only as a star but as a symbol of Detroit&rsquo;s revival &ndash; a player who stayed when things were at their worst, who never complained, never pointed fingers, and never asked out. Drafted by one of the worst teams in NBA history, he endured the losing, the questions, and the scrutiny &ndash; and he came out sharper, stronger, and hungrier.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Cunningham-Duren connection</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every great franchise turnaround starts with a pairing that just works. For the Pistons, that&rsquo;s Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren &ndash; the new-age guard-big duo that&rsquo;s fast becoming one of the most dangerous in basketball.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Duren, still only 21, has blossomed into a nightly double-double machine. He&rsquo;s stronger, more agile, and far more decisive in pick-and-roll reads &ndash; a perfect complement to Cunningham&rsquo;s pace and vision. His recent 20-point, 20-rebound outing was a glimpse of what&rsquo;s to come.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their chemistry has been undeniable. Cunningham manipulates defenses with patience; Duren punishes them with power, and both connect on lobs and passes off the pick and roll that made them the most lethal combo so far (scoring the most pass-to-score duos in the league). They&rsquo;ve developed a rhythm that evokes the great guard-big tandems of the past &ndash; the kind that can anchor a team for years to come.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Cunningham and Duren share the floor, the Pistons&rsquo; offense now hums with a balance that few young teams can match.</span></p>
<p><strong>The young core&rsquo;s internal progression</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But this isn&rsquo;t just a two-man show. Detroit&rsquo;s rise has been fueled by the steady internal improvement of its entire young core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ausar Thompson has taken a noticeable leap, attacking off the dribble more aggressively and showing improved confidence as a slasher. His defense, as always, remains elite &mdash; the kind of game-changing activity that sparks fast breaks and deflates opposing stars.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Isaiah Stewart, once a raw energy guy, now stretches the floor with a much-improved jumper. His ability to switch across positions gives Detroit defensive versatility few teams can replicate, and his shotblocking has been one of the best in the league.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, Ron Holland, the youngster known for his relentless motor, has brought a surge of intensity off the bench &ndash; the type of energy that can tilt the flow of games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And though Jaden Ivey has yet to make his season debut due to injury, his eventual return adds another dynamic playmaker who can ease Cunningham&rsquo;s load and bring even more firepower to the offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Detroit&rsquo;s front office also deserves credit for complementing its young core with smart veteran additions. Duncan Robinson brings much-needed spacing and shooting, while Caris LeVert provides shot creation and playmaking for the second unit. These aren&rsquo;t headline-grabbing moves &ndash; but they&rsquo;re the kind that win games in November and matter even more come April.</span></p>
<p><strong>Built, not bought</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pistons&rsquo; resurgence stands in stark contrast to today&rsquo;s NBA trend of instant gratification. They didn&rsquo;t rush the rebuild. They didn&rsquo;t mortgage their future for short-term gains. Instead, they trusted their process &ndash; and more importantly, their people.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Head coach JB Bickerstaff has emphasized accountability, effort, and trust, and the results are showing. Detroit defends with purpose, shares the ball, and plays with the kind of unity that only comes from shared struggle.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This team remembers what it felt like to be at the bottom &ndash; and they play like they never want to go back.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If there&rsquo;s a city that appreciates resilience, it&rsquo;s Detroit. The Pistons&rsquo; early success isn&rsquo;t just about basketball, but it&rsquo;s about identity. It&rsquo;s about a fan base that&rsquo;s waited years for something to believe in again.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cade Cunningham embodies that spirit. He doesn&rsquo;t talk about saving the franchise. He just shows up, competes, and leads. He&rsquo;s the face of a movement &ndash; not by flash, but by example.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the first time in a long time, Detroit basketball means something again.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Pistons might not stay atop the East all season &ndash; they&rsquo;re still young, still learning, still growing. But what&rsquo;s undeniable is that the foundation is real, the culture is changing, and the superstar they&rsquo;ve been waiting for is already here.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Detroit&rsquo;s rebuild wasn&rsquo;t supposed to take off this fast. But Cade Cunningham had other plans.</span></p>

Cade Cunningham’s superstar leap has the Detroit Pistons atop the East after years of struggle through patience, growth, and belief.

From rock bottom to the top: How Cade Cunningham led Detroit’s revival

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<div>Angel Reese: I post pictures of myself in a bathing suit but, multiple times people have made AI pictures of me naked. My family members are sending it to me, uncles are like, &lsquo;Are you naked on Instagram ? It sucks to see that and it&rsquo;s really hard that I have to go through that</div>
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<div>Interviewer: So when you were talking about being sexualized, a lot of people we like, &lsquo;Well, she asked for it.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>I reposted this video clip along with commentary from Adrian Ewing and was surprised to see some of the comments in my comment section&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Seeing grown men justify why Angel Reese somehow deserves to be sexualized is depressing to see. But it wasn&rsquo;t just these cats in my comment section, people in the media like Jason Whitlock (who never misses an opportunity to bash Black People for his MAGA audience) and David Portnoy, founder of barstool, doubled down on his hatred for Angel Reese.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>I showed these my daughters volleyball carpool and this is what they had to say,&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;Who said anything about Onlyfans ? Why would he jump to that ? She just did something that no other athlete has done before. Why do they care so much about her ? Why does it matter so much to them ? She is just living her life. So they don&rsquo;t want her (or any other WNBA player) so they chastise them for their Pay Us What You Owe us stance, but then they don&rsquo;t want them to earn money through any marketing opportunities or any other way either ? She comes out with her own shoes they mad. She breaks record on the court they mad. She says she doesn&rsquo;t want to talk to the media they mad. She criticizes her organization they mad. Why don&rsquo;t they both mind their business and let her live her life&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Baby Sierra&nbsp;</div>
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<div>So where are all the men standing up for her ? I saw Shaq said something one time awhile ago but that&rsquo;s it ? Just you and Shaq ? Nobody else says anything ? Well I&rsquo;m glad you said something. Thank you for standing up for us&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Addy</div>
<div>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really weird that they are so focused on her. &nbsp;Don&rsquo;t they have any other topics to talk about ? Why are they so fixated and infatuated with her ? Do they focus this much on any other WNBA player not named Caitlin Clark ? It&rsquo;s just weird how much they are locked in on Angel Reese&nbsp;</div>
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<div>All valid points made by the Carpool&nbsp;</div>
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<div>To David Portnoy I ask:&nbsp;</div>
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<div>What could this 23 year old young woman possibly have done to make you this upset with her ? So much so that you say you &ldquo;hate&rdquo; her ? You can&rsquo;t be still bent out of shape because she beat yall great white hope Caitlin Clark back in college so what is it ? Is it just a natural jealous and hatred of Black Women not needing your approval or consent to live their lives ? Or the fact that she has brilliantly taken the Caitlin Clark Mob&rsquo;s hatred toward her and transformed it into 7 figure earnings for herself and her brand ?&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Angel Reese just made history as the first professional athlete ever to walk at the Victoria Secret&rsquo;s Fashion Show. That means no other athlete in the history of athletes has ever done this before and as Rep Jasmine Crockett said,&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;The only people that are crying are the mediocre white boys that have been beaten out by people that historically have had to work so much harder,&rdquo;</div>
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<div>Unfortunately, it&rsquo;s not just mediocre white boys who are doing the bashing. Almost all of the comments I showed earlier from my Instagram comments section were by Black Men. Not just people like Jason Whitlock whose schtick is bashing the Black Community so he can continue to get pats on the top of his head from a MAGA audience that can then point to him and say,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;See I&rsquo;m not racist, here&rsquo;s a Black Man saying this&rdquo; But regular everyday Black Men who actually justified Angel another Black Woman being sexualized.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">A few days ago, Angel Reese responded to a viral post that put her side-by-side with Sid. She called the comparison rude and completely out of line.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">People keep asking me why I post about Angel Reese so much ? Well, I&rsquo;ll tell you why. Ever since she beat Caitlin Clark in college, there has been an onslaught of criticism hurled her way. She became the villain. Public enemy number one (to a certain specific demographic) And as a Black Man, whenever I see what sometimes seems like the entire basketball world bashing a young Black Woman, I&rsquo;m suppose to come to her defense.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">People don&rsquo;t understand that young Black Girls see the criticism that Angel Reese receives and understand how it is a microcosm of life. This is how they are treated in their schools and how they will be treated as they grow up in this society. They will be judged more heavily, and criticized more heavily, and a higher expectation and standard will be placed on them than their white counterparts&nbsp;ie Stephen A. Smith ridiculing Rep Jasmine Crockett but having no issues with Trump&rsquo;s presentation.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">So when my daughters and her teammate in our carpool tell me, &ldquo;Thank you for standing up for us&rdquo; I know, I&rsquo;m doing what I&rsquo;m supposed to be doing.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;The most disrespected person in America is the Black Woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman."</div>
<div><span style="color: #020518; font-family: Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;~Malcolm X</span></div>
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Angel Reese Doesn’t “Deserve” To Be Sexualized. No Woman Does.

Angel Reese Doesn’t “Deserve” To Be Sexualized. No Woman Does

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA is back, and on ring night, as confetti is prepared and banners await their ascension, the visiting Houston Rockets are walking into Paycom Center not merely as&nbsp; spectators watching the Oklahoma City Thunder raise their championship banner &ndash; but as worthy challengers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is no longer a young team simply hoping to develop. The Rockets are here with purpose, power, and one of the greatest scorers of all time leading the charge: Kevin Durant.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Durant landed in Houston after that stunning trade this summer, it shifted the entire balance of the Western Conference. The message was clear: the Rockets are done waiting for their future. They want to win now, and their time is now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, the Rockets have been stockpiling talent, banking on potential, and emphasizing growth. But after back-to-back seasons of competitiveness under Ime Udoka, the organization decided to accelerate. Durant&rsquo;s arrival changes everything &ndash; from the way Houston runs its offense to the expectations that now hang over the franchise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even without Fred VanVleet, who is sidelined with an injury, Houston remains loaded. Instead of patching the gap with another veteran guard, Udoka is doubling down on his young core &ndash; placing immense responsibility on Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun leap</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thompson, now entering his second season, will assume full-time point guard duties. It&rsquo;s a massive leap, but one Udoka and the front office have prepared him for. His athleticism, defensive instincts, and improving court vision make him the natural conductor of this evolving Rockets offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Thompson is the engine, Alperen Sengun is the hub.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fresh off a spectacular EuroBasket run where he dominated as Turkey&rsquo;s focal point, Sengun looks ready to translate that same control to the NBA stage. His ability to read defenses, pass from both the low and high post, and score efficiently makes him the centerpiece of Udoka&rsquo;s halfcourt schemes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Much like Nikola Jokic in Denver, everything flows through him. The Rockets are embracing a more fluid, motion-based offense that allows Şeng&uuml;n to survey the floor, dictate movement, and create opportunities for Thompson, Durant, and Jabari Smith Jr.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In essence, Sengun has gone from being an intriguing young big to becoming Houston&rsquo;s offensive cornerstone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And when paired with Durant &ndash; arguably the most adaptable superstar in basketball &ndash; the synergy could be special. Durant can play off-ball, spot up from midrange, or stretch defenses beyond the arc, allowing Sengun to orchestrate from the elbow area. When defenses collapse on Sengun, Durant punishes them. And if they crowd Durant, Sengun goes to work inside. It&rsquo;s a simple offense but one that is highly efficient and sustainable</span></p>
<p><strong>Durant&rsquo;s impact: leadership and legacy</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Durant, Houston represents one more opportunity to define his legacy on his own terms.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He&rsquo;s joined superteams before, carried heavy expectations before, and heard the narratives that follow him. At 37, Durant is still elite, still driven, and now in a situation where his influence extends beyond scoring.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Houston&rsquo;s locker room, he&rsquo;s the standard. His work ethic and professionalism have already rubbed off on the young core. Players like Thompson and Smith Jr. speak openly about the lessons they&rsquo;re learning from him &ndash; how to prepare, how to maintain focus, how to pick your spots on the floor. This team is talented, but Durant&rsquo;s presence gives them identity.</span></p>
<p><strong>One of the biggest lineups ever assembled, and Reed Sheppard&rsquo;s moment</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What&rsquo;s also fascinating about this Rockets team is how physically imposing they&rsquo;ve become. Udoka hinted during media day that Houston might deploy &ldquo;one of the biggest lineups in league history.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He wasn&rsquo;t exaggerating.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Houston has eight players with wingspans over seven feet, including Durant, Smith Jr., Sengun, Thompson, Steven Adams, Tari Eason, Tari Eason, and Josh Okogie.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Against the Thunder, the Rockets are expected to start Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams &ndash; a massive group that blends size, versatility, and rim protection.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This lineup has the potential to suffocate teams defensively while overwhelming them on the boards. Amen can switch across multiple positions, Sengun and Adams anchor the paint, Smith Jr.&rsquo;s improved awareness allows Houston to maintain spacing even with a traditional center on the floor, and Durant is a sneaky good weakside rim protector.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With VanVleet out, rookie guard Reed Sheppard is set to play a more significant role than expected. Known for his high IQ and fearless shooting, Sheppard could provide the spacing and composure Houston needs from the second unit. In a team filled with stars and length, Sheppard&rsquo;s ability to shoot, defend, and make quick reads could make him the quiet X-factor early in the season.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All eyes will be on Oklahoma City on opening night. The Thunder will celebrate their first championship in franchise history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the squad will receive their championship rings, sending the crowd in euphoria.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But on the other side, the Rockets are coming to send a message.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They&rsquo;re not intimidated by the defending champions &ndash;&nbsp; they&rsquo;re motivated by them. Houston&rsquo;s front office watched OKC&rsquo;s rise closely: a young, homegrown team built around patience, culture, and development. Now, the Rockets believe they can write their own version of that story, except this time, with the added edge of experience and star power.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If there&rsquo;s ever a statement game to open a season, this is it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Durant, returning to Oklahoma City where his career began, faces his former team in the most poetic of circumstances &ndash; ring night for the franchise he once led, but with him now wearing Rockets red. It&rsquo;s drama, nostalgia, and rivalry all wrapped into one.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Houston, it&rsquo;s not just about spoiling a ceremony. It&rsquo;s about announcing themselves as legitimate title contenders. They&rsquo;ve gone all-in on the belief that their young core is ready and that Durant can still be the centerpiece of a championship run. For Ime Udoka, the challenge will be blending experience and youth, ego and development, discipline and creativity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If it all clicks, Houston could find itself right in the thick of the title race. For a franchise that has waited years for relevance, that has rebuilt patiently and endured countless growing pains, this season is the start of something new.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And it begins under the bright lights in Oklahoma City, where the Rockets will take the floor not as dreamers, but as believers.</span></p>

With Kevin Durant joining the Houston Rockets, their title expectations have never been higher: the Rockets are going all-in.

Rockets come in season with championship expectations with Kevin Durant

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MACAU, CHINA &mdash; The NBA officially returned to China for the first time in six years, and the moment didn&rsquo;t disappoint. In a thrilling overtime showdown at the Venetian Arena, the Phoenix Suns outlasted the Brooklyn Nets 132-127 here in the first game of the 2025 NBA China Games, capping off a night filled with history</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The atmosphere inside the 14,000-seat arena was electric, with fans witnessing not just the return of NBA basketball to Chinese soil, but also a matchup that had all the flair of a midseason battle. After a six-year hiatus following strained relations between the league and the country, the NBA&rsquo;s return marked a new chapter &ndash; and Macau&rsquo;s vibrant crowd made sure it was one to remember.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several NBA legends also were in attendance, including Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal, Yao Ming, Vince Carter, Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, Jeremy Lin, Shawn Marion, Deron Williams, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Stephon Marbury with special appearances from David Beckham and Jackie Chan.</span></p>
<p><strong>Game report: Nets start hot before Suns find their rhythm, as Booker leads third-quarter surge and Goodwin seals it in overtime</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brooklyn came out blazing, storming to a 23-6 lead behind the hot hand of Cam Thomas, who poured in nine early points and looked unstoppable in isolation. The Nets were crisp and confident, converting tough looks while capitalizing on Phoenix&rsquo;s early turnovers and sluggish defense. The Suns struggled to find their footing initially, looking overwhelmed by Brooklyn&rsquo;s pace and pressure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the game wore on, though, the Suns began to settle in. They tightened their defense, slowed the tempo, and began finding their offensive groove. By halftime, Phoenix had clawed back into the game, their ball movement improving and their defensive rotations much sharper.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The third quarter belonged to Devin Booker, who caught fire after a quiet first half. The All-Star guard found his rhythm from midrange and from downtown and began orchestrating the Suns&rsquo; comeback. His leadership helped steady the team, and his ability to collapse the Nets&rsquo; defense opened the door for Phoenix&rsquo;s role players to step up.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In overtime, it was Jordan Goodwin who delivered the dagger &ndash; drilling a clutch three-pointer that sealed the Suns&rsquo; victory. Phoenix&rsquo;s bench outplayed Brooklyn&rsquo;s late, displaying poise and depth that underscored how balanced this Suns roster can be even in exhibition play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nets head coach Jordi Fern&aacute;ndez spoke about his young group after the loss, noting both positives and areas for growth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very happy with them overall,&rdquo; Fernandez said, speaking about rookie PGs Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf. Traore finished the game with 6 points in 7 minutes, starting the game, while Saraf had 9 markers off the bench. &ldquo;I thought Nolan and Ben as point guards felt the real NBA pressure &ndash; and that&rsquo;s a good thing. That&rsquo;s a learning opportunity when you feel that pressure from a good defensive team. But 34 turnovers for 42 points? You&rsquo;re not going to win many games that way.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fernandez also commended rookies Drake Powell and Danny Wolf for their energy and composure. &ldquo;Drake took advantage of his minutes &ndash; you can see his athleticism, how he pressures the ball, and plays on both ends. Danny had a good punch with that last group and made winning plays to help us take the lead.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Cam Thomas, who finished with an impressive scoring and playmaking display with 22 points and 6 assists, the balance between aggression and facilitating remains a focus.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Me and Jordi always talk about it,&rdquo; Thomas said about him being a scorer and a facilitator. &ldquo;He knows I&rsquo;m a scorer, but it&rsquo;s about that fine line &ndash; being aggressive while creating for others. We&rsquo;re finding that balance this year, and it&rsquo;s trending up.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the Suns&rsquo; side, head coach Jordan Ott highlighted the impact of rookie center Oso Ighodaro, who showcased his mobility and passing feel in the short roll.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;The speed and aggressiveness early from the Nets did affect him,&rdquo; Ott said. &ldquo;But you saw how important Oso is to us. His third quarter really helped stabilize that group, especially against a team that pressures as much as Brooklyn. He&rsquo;s a pressure release for us &ndash; that short-roll decision making is big.&rdquo;</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond the box score, the night carried symbolic weight. The NBA&rsquo;s return to China &ndash; facilitated with lots of partnership including with Alibaba and Tencent &ndash; marks a rekindling of one of the league&rsquo;s most lucrative international relationships. The Macau crowd&rsquo;s energy underscored how much Chinese fans have missed live NBA action.</span></p>

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Brooklyn Nets 132–127 in Macau as the NBA returned to China for the first time in six years.

Suns edge Nets in Macau as NBA returns to China after six years

<p><strong>MACAU, CHINA </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">&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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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/</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For a team trying to rediscover its identity, that simple message might be exactly what Brooklyn needs.</span></p>

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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><strong>Phoenix: From championship chase to crossroads</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But the question is, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">for how long?</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><strong>Brooklyn: Building from the ground up</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><strong>Two paths, one lesson</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Different timelines yet the same pursuit as the two teams on opposite ends of rebuilding transition trying to turn uncertainty into hope.</span></p>

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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 WNBA Finals is set: the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will battle in a best-of-seven championship, after Phoenix edged the top-seeded Lynx 3-1 and Las Vegas survived the Fever in an unforgettable Game 5 overtime duel.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It marks a new Finals matchup and caps two dramatically different semifinal runs, along with the league&rsquo;s first-ever best-of-seven title series.</span></p>
<p><strong>Phoenix rallies past top-seeded Minnesota, take series 3-1</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mercury entered the postseason as underdogs and proved doubters wrong by dispatching Minnesota Lynx, the No. 1 seed, in four games to reach the Finals. After falling in Game 1, Phoenix won three straight &ndash; including a gritty Game 4 where they erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to close it out 86-81.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper all played key roles in the comeback, while the Lynx &ndash; dealing with injuries to star Napheesa Collier and a suspension to head coach Cheryl Reeve &ndash; were unable to answer down the stretch. In Game 4, the Mercury&rsquo;s fourth-quarter surge was decisive and forced Minnesota into vulnerable holes.</span></p>
<p><strong>Las Vegas outlast Indiana in Game 5 overtime showdown</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Las Vegas&rsquo; path was every bit as dramatic. In the deciding Game 5, the Aces beat the Fever 107-98 in OT to clinch their Finals berth. A&rsquo;ja Wilson dropped 35 points, Jackie Young scored 32, and Chelsea Gray delivered clutch contributions en route to the win.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Fever, already battered by injuries (notably missing Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham as well as dealing with the loss of Kelsey Mitchell mid-game), pushed Vegas hard. Indiana rallied late in regulation to tie it, but Las Vegas took control early in overtime and held on.</span></p>
<p><strong>What&rsquo;s Next: Mercury-Aces Finals preview</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">See you Friday.<br /><br />WNBA Finals | <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTubeTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/BMWkd9TbuB">pic.twitter.com/BMWkd9TbuB</a></p>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1973281041323626588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 Finals will be played as a best-of-seven series, marking the first time in WNBA history the championship round is extended to seven games.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What happened was a contrast of journeys, as Phoenix&rsquo;s path was more controlled and decisive, while Las Vegas had to fight through adversity and depth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: The series will likely spotlight battles between A&rsquo;ja Wilson/Jackie Young and Phoenix&rsquo;s core of Thomas, Sabally, and Copper &ndash; two high-stakes groups fighting for the ultimate prize in the WNBA.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mercury will have a noticeable amount of rest, as the Aces pushed through a grueling Game 5 in OT, while Phoenix had a slightly easier close in their semifinal. Which team handles fatigue better could be a factor.</span></p>

The 2025 WNBA Finals is set: the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will battle in a best-of-seven championship.

WNBA: Mercury, Aces set up 2025 Finals after dispatching Lynx, Fever

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A&rsquo;ja Wilson has added another chapter to her legacy as the Las Vegas Aces forward was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for a record fourth time, becoming the first player in league history to reach that mark. She previously won the award in 2020, 2022, and 2024.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wilson&rsquo;s MVP isn&rsquo;t just about accumulating hardware &mdash; it&rsquo;s about doing it while lifting her team. After a shaky start (11-11 mid-season), she carried the Aces down the stretch. The Aces closed the regular season with an unprecedented 16-game winning streak, finishing with a 30-14 record and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Across the full campaign, Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. She again led the league in scoring and blocks, while ranking near the top in rebounds and steals. Her ability to influence games on both ends made much of the difference.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The MVP voting was never really close once the streak took hold. Wilson collected 51 of 72 first-place votes and a total of 657 points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finishing behind her were Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx) with 534 points and Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury) with 391. They, along with Allisha Gray and Kelsey Mitchell, were among the top finalists.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wilson is now the first WNBA player ever to win MVP four times, surpassing legends like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson, who each won three. She also co-wins the Defensive Player of the Year this season, further underscoring her all-around impact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wilson this season has broken the single-season record for most 30-point games (13), further adding to a stat line that includes one of the best seasonal efficiency ratings in recent WNBA history.</span></p>

A’ja Wilson has added another chapter to her legacy as the Las Vegas Aces forward was named the WNBA MVP for the 4th time.

WNBA: A’ja Wilson wins 2025 WNBA MVP to make history as first-ever 4x winner

The Chicago Sky don’t deserve Angel Reese. Read more why:

The Chicago Sky as an organization do not deserve Angel Reese

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The field for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is officially locked, with eight teams ready to compete for the championship under an updated postseason format.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The opening round tips off Sunday, September 14, and for the first time, the finals will expand to a best-of-seven series. Teams are seeded strictly by overall record, with no conference separation, and the first round will now follow a 1-1-1 format.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s postseason includes a mix of proven contenders and fresh faces &mdash; headlined by the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who capped their inaugural season with a historic playoff berth. The stage is set for an unpredictable run to the WNBA title.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Matchups</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(1) Minnesota Lynx vs (8) Golden State Valkyries</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Lynx finished with the league&rsquo;s best record at 34-10, dominating the regular season with balance on both ends. They&rsquo;ll face the expansion Valkyries, who clinched the final playoff spot at 23-21 and became the first new franchise in league history to reach the postseason in year one. Minnesota will be heavy favorites, but Golden State has already exceeded expectations and enters with nothing to lose.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(2) Las Vegas Aces vs (7) Seattle Storm</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The defending champion Aces surged late in the season, winning consistently behind A&rsquo;ja Wilson&rsquo;s MVP-level play. Seattle, led by Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, will try to slow down Las Vegas&rsquo; rhythm and pull off the upset. The Aces are seeking another title, while the Storm are looking to play spoiler as a lower seed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(3) Atlanta Dream vs (6) Indiana Fever</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atlanta and Indiana square off in a matchup of two resurgent franchises. The Dream finished 30-14, leaning on Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. The Fever, powered by Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, will try to upend the dream even without star guard Caitlin Clark.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(4) Phoenix Mercury vs (5) New York Liberty</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">On paper, this is the tightest series of the opening round. Both Phoenix and New York finished 27-17, with the Mercury edging the Liberty for home-court advantage. Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally anchor a Phoenix squad with playoff pedigree, while Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu lead New York&rsquo;s hopes of going back-to-back. This battle of heavyweights may come down to depth and execution in late-game situations, and this could be one of the most entertaining series of the first round.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first round will be a best-of-three series with a 1-1-1 format, meaning higher seeds host Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3. The semifinals will expand to best-of-five, while the finals move to best-of-seven for the first time in league history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With parity at the top and plenty of star power spread across the bracket, the 2025 postseason promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Will the top-seeded Lynx validate their dominance? Can the Aces work its way back to the top? Or will a newcomer like Golden State shock the league?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The answers begin Sunday when the chase for the WNBA championship tips off.</span></p>

The field for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is officially locked, with eight teams ready to compete for the championship.

2025 WNBA Playoffs bracket ready to go as eight teams begin title chase

<p>Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season. She has spent the majority of the season injured and going through a tumultuous rehab process coupled with failed attempts to return. She hasn't played since July 15 .&nbsp;</p>
<p>Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick, had been limited to 13 games this season when she suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever's win over the Connecticut Sun.</p>
<p>Caitlin Clark announced on social media&nbsp;Thursday night&hellip;</p>
<p>"I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season," Clark posted. "I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn't a big enough word to describe how I am feeling."</p>
<p>&ldquo;This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it&rsquo;s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the playoffs.&rdquo;</p>
<p>This brought a swift reaction from many of the Caitlin Clark mob.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-2_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
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<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-7_690w.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Here are the facts that not surprisingly, only actual WNBA fans will acknowledge, it would&rsquo;ve been very foolish for Caitlin Clark to risk further injury. In fact, if the Indiana Fever elected to treat Caitlin Clark with the same level of medical malpractice that the Indiana Pacers did with Tyrese Haliburton, and she came back and played and injured herself worst like Tyrese Haliburton did, and would have to miss the entire season next year like Tyrese Haliburton will, that would&rsquo;ve been even more of a catastrophe&hellip;&hellip;as it is for Tyrese Haliburton.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-8_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Of course CC wants to play, just as Tyrese Haliburton wanted to play in the NBA finals but it&rsquo;s not up to them. Any player is going to want to play that&rsquo;s the way Athletes are wired no matter what age or level. If you ask a middle school basketball player if they wanted to try a play in a big game even though they&rsquo;re injured nine times out of 10 they&rsquo;re going to say yes. It&rsquo;s ingrained in athletes to throw caution to the side, and sacrifice your body and health for the good of the team.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On the walls of many high school weight rooms, coaches love to put quotes like,</p>
<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;Pain Is Weakness Leaving Your Body&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Pain You Feel Today Will Be The Strength You Feel Tomorrow&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;You Either Quit Or You Keep Going. They Both Hurt&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;That which does not kill us will only make us stronger&rdquo;</p>
<p>(Attributed to 2Pac or Nietzche whichever will drive home the gladiator, ignore your body and sacrifice for the team message)&nbsp;</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s such a ridiculous argument that people make when they say Tyrese Haliburton said he wanted to play or RG III said he wanted to play or Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant said he wanted to play. Of course they are going to want to play. That&rsquo;s what athletes have been programmed to do.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But in every case, the medical team should have never cleared any of them to play. They are the doctors, the trainers, the medical professionals and they didn&rsquo;t do their job and they should all be held accountable just as when any profession doesn&rsquo;t do their job and catastrophe happens because of their negligence.</p>
<p>If someone goes to a doctor, and tells the doctor that they don&rsquo;t like taking medicine, and the doctor signs off on them not taking the medicine, and the person dies as a result of it, would it be ok because the patient said they didn&rsquo;t like taking medicine ? No. It&rsquo;s the doctor&rsquo;s job to give their medical, professional, diagnosis and recommendation, what they went to years of medical school and are being paid to do. Only in sports do people say, &ldquo;The athlete wanted to play&rdquo; &nbsp;It&rsquo;s your job to say, &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter what you want, you are not cleared to play&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>When Caitlin Clark came back in July and played in that game against the Connitcuit Sun, and re injured herself, it appeared as though they were trying to get her back for the big game against the NY Liberty, and you had all star wknd coming up, and they had the TV ratings to be concerned about. But she didn&rsquo;t look right even before she re injured herself.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But real Caitlin Clark fans should be relieved that the Fever &nbsp;aren&rsquo;t risking her long term health for a short sighted goal of the current playoff position. Especially when even if they did somehow squeak into the playoffs would be facing one of the best if not the best teams in the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx and, let&rsquo;s be honest&hellip;&hellip;their chances of making it past them are slim to none. Maybe even less than that&nbsp;</p>
<p>Caitlin Clark fans should breathe a sigh of relief that the Indiana Fever aren&rsquo;t electing to treat their franchise player as dispensable. We have seen that script before with RG3 and it ruined his entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/5-etan-thomas-9_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>However, the Caitlin Clark mob doesn&rsquo;t care about her actual health or about her as a person. If they did they would&rsquo;ve listened to her multiple pleas with them to not use her to promote racism, hate, or bigotry. But just like her health, her opinion doesn&rsquo;t matter to them. Their only concern and desire is to be able to weaponize her as the symbol of white grievance, white supremacy, the great white hope, as the white damsel in distress who needs protection from all of the Black WNBA players who want to harm her because they hate her so much and are jealous of her. Now, they can&rsquo;t run with any of those narratives anymore. At least not until next season.&nbsp;</p>
<div>And for media people like Dick Vitale, Christine Brennan, Frank Isola, and Jason Whitlock, there&nbsp;will be no fouls to inflate into morality plays or on-court moments to twist into evidence of persecution, so they will have to find new narratives to promote&hellip;..</div>
<div>Or they will completely ignore a sure to be exciting WNBA playoffs with multitudes of ultra talented players altogether. Pay close attention to which one they choose.</div>

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season.

The Caitlin Clark mob is upset they can no longer weaponize her this season

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury have been two of the WNBA's most dynamic risers this season, having used the offseason as a springboard to elevate themselves from fringe playoff teams to legitimate postseason threats. With aggressive and calculated roster moves, both franchises took advantage of a star-heavy free agency market and are now reaping the rewards with improved records, on-court cohesion, and a renewed sense of direction.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a league where parity is rising and every roster spot carries weight, the Dream and Mercury have shown that smart offseason hauls can redefine a franchise&rsquo;s ceiling.</span></p>
<p><strong>Atlanta Dream: Currently 2nd in the East and 5th in the league overall, 14-10 record</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At 14-10, the Atlanta Dream currently sit 4th in the WNBA standings and second in the Eastern Conference as of this writing. This is a significant improvement over their 2024 campaign, when they finished with a sub-.500 record of just 15-25, enough for an 8th seed, and bowed out early in the postseason. But what sets this team apart now isn&rsquo;t just their growth; it&rsquo;s the way behind their acceleration.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Allisha Gray has continued to be a steady force, earning a well-deserved spot as an All-Star starter this season. The veteran guard has grown into her role as both a scorer and leader, thriving in head coach Karl Smesko&rsquo;s aggressive system. However, the biggest shift came with the high-impact signing of Brittney Griner in the offseason.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a tumultuous past few seasons marked by injury setbacks, Griner&rsquo;s decision to join Atlanta surprised many. But the move has paid off handsomely for both sides. Griner has given the Dream an elite interior presence and a reliable starting center, anchoring a much-improved Atlanta defense after losing their starting frontcourt from last year in Tina Charles and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus. Her chemistry with Gray and point guard Jordin Canada has created a versatile inside-out attack that&rsquo;s difficult to contain.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Griner's arrival has also opened the floor for other contributors to shine. Rhyne Howard, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, has been able to play with more freedom as a perimeter scorer now with Griner providing her with screening capabilities to get more players open. The Dream currently rank among the top five in both defensive rating and second-chance points &ndash; a testament to Griner&rsquo;s influence on both ends of the court.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season, Atlanta isn't just looking to make the playoffs, but they're aiming to make a mark once they get there.</span></p>
<p><strong>Phoenix Mercury: Currently 2nd in the West and 3rd in the league overall, 15-8 record</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the Dream made one big splash, the Mercury made several &ndash; and they&rsquo;re paying off even quicker.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Phoenix sits second in the Western Conference with a 15-8 record, trailing only the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. It&rsquo;s a remarkable rise for a franchise that sub.500 last season and looked rudderless in the wake of roster instability after Diana Taurasi&rsquo;s retirement and the absence of Brittney Griner, who departed for Atlanta.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rather than rebuild, the Mercury doubled down on star power. Their front office landed two of the offseason&rsquo;s biggest names: former Connecticut Sun All-Star Alyssa Thomas and 2023 All-WNBA forward Satou Sabally. Both have been transformational.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thomas, known for her toughness, versatility, and near triple-double averages, has brought a level of all-around excellence that&rsquo;s elevated the Mercury&rsquo;s ceiling. Thomas has been serving as the team&rsquo;s offensive engine, acting at times as their point guard and main playmaker. Her physicality on defense and elite decision-making have stabilized Phoenix in close games, many of which they&rsquo;ve won due to her crunch-time brilliance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sabally, meanwhile, has returned healthy and dominant. She&rsquo;s providing much-needed wing scoring and rebounding while defending multiple positions. Her ability to stretch the floor has complemented Thomas perfectly, creating mismatches across the board.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Phoenix wasn&rsquo;t done after those marquee signings. In what might be one of the savviest moves of the season, the Mercury claimed and signed veteran forward DeWanna Bonner off waivers. The 36-year-old, a former WNBA champion and franchise icon in Phoenix, has provided instant leadership and shot-making, giving the team a battle-tested voice off the bench.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their offseason signings and together with their homegrown star Kahleah Copper, this revamped Mercury roster has thrived in head coach Nate Tibbetts&rsquo; system. They play with pace, move the ball, and now have the defensive personnel to match up with anyone. Even without Griner, who left a huge void in the frontcourt, Phoenix has compensated with a multi-pronged attack and a deep, star-laden rotation.</span></p>
<p><strong>Phoenix and Atlanta&rsquo;s smart and bold moves are leading to playoff impact and championship hopes</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What the Dream and Mercury have done this season isn&rsquo;t just about bringing in talent, but it&rsquo;s about bringing in the right talent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atlanta targeted Griner, knowing she could immediately solve their rim protection issues and elevate their pick-and-roll game. Phoenix bet on two of the best two-way forwards in the league and then added a proven winner in Bonner to glue it all together.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These moves weren&rsquo;t just splashy, they were also strategic. Each franchise assessed its weaknesses, acted decisively in free agency, and built complementary lineups around existing core players. The results have been dramatic and immediate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With over a month of regular-season basketball left, both the Dream and Mercury are not just aiming to secure playoff spots &ndash; both teams are looking to make deep runs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atlanta, with its improved defense and emerging stars, could become a dangerous matchup for any top seed. Phoenix, meanwhile, boasts the kind of star-studded, playoff-hardened roster that could upset the status quo and challenge the Lynx or Liberty for the title.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a WNBA season defined by aggressive movement and team-wide recalibrations, the Dream and Mercury stand out for how quickly and effectively they&rsquo;ve turned the page. With smart roster building and the boldness to act, both teams have enjoyed good regular seasons thus far and are looking to build on them to bring them to the playoffs.</span></p>

The Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury have been two of the WNBA's most dynamic risers this season.

WNBA: Dream, Mercury capitalize on offseason hauls to make run for the playoffs

<div dir="ltr">An Open Letter To RG3</div>
<div dir="ltr">&nbsp;</div>
<div dir="ltr">Dear RG3,
<div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>My son Malcolm was one of the biggest RG3 fans growing up.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-1_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>
<div>In 2011, The Washington Commanders had an open scrimmage for fans and the community. I took my son there and we watched the entire practice from start to finish including stretching, warm ups, everything. So afterwards, we were standing on the side and you walked by Malcolm and said,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Hey you got braids like me&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And Malcolm replied,</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;No, I have dreadlocks&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And you laughed, and Malcolm asked if he could take a picture with you and from that day on, he was the biggest RG3 fan on earth. So that meant so was I.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>We went to the games, sat out in the stadium in the freezing cold, bought the RG3 jerseys, bought him an RG3 poster with you pointing up to the heavens and me and my wife used it to illustrate that athletes like you and Steph Curry in particular always give thanks and praise to Jesus Christ for everything they accomplish whether it was a touchdown (RG3) or 3 pointer (Steph Curry).</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Young Malcolm received the message and put the poster on his bedroom door. He would tap it every day as he walked by. We were full blown RG3 fans as a family. He even dragged his little sister Imani to the games.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>
<div>I remember that infamous game in the 2012-2013 NFL Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks where you re-aggravated your knee injury during the game and ultimately tore your ACL and LCL. I remember watching my son asking over and over the entire game from the first snap why you were even playing. He kept saying,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;If RG3 is hurt and playing, couldn&rsquo;t he get hurt more ?&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He was literally yelling,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>"Look at his face daddy, he is in pain why is he still playing if he is in that much pain?"</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>When you went down, the look on Malcolm&rsquo;s face is something I will never forget. It was sheer horror followed by anger. I remember he couldn&rsquo;t even sleep that night he was so upset.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/robert-griffin-iii-an-open-letter/2013/01/07/5e4da812-58fd-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_blog.html">The next day I wrote an article for The Washington Post mainly to convey Malcolm&rsquo;s frustration over the entire situation as we both felt that you should&rsquo;ve never been cleared to play and the medical staff, the coaches, and the entire organization failed you.&nbsp;</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Even now, whenever I am discussing the topic of a team neglecting a player&rsquo;s safety and well being by playing them injured and risking their health for &ldquo;The Big Game&rdquo; I use you as an example. It is a cautionary tale for athletes that should be repeated which I did recently in my article titled, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-indiana-pacers-rg3d-tyrese-haliburton?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLfDdtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmNyk6lZSSvwHjakPrXhs6dC9sgeHiJSuaRNTmALm5an_9ymtdg4Px4VUq94_aem_q_a1E4M2rtFYSDjf4ZGzWw">&ldquo;The Indiana Pacers RG3&rsquo;d Tyrese Haliburton&rdquo;&nbsp;</a></div>
<div>
<p>We as a family always supported you. I even did a few Fatherhood Panels with your father at different churches in the DMV including my church First Baptist Church Of Glenarden, Reid Temple, and we went to Wise High School. My daughter became friends with your niece. My wife hugs your mother every time she would see her in church. We loved your entire family.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So now, years later I have to ask you, what happened to you since retiring and going into the media ?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let me say this, you are incredibly talented behind the mic.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I don&rsquo;t have to agree with all of your perspectives and takes to be able to acknowledge that. You have the gift of gab, a big personality on screen, and I am happy you found something you are passionate about especially as I feel and will always stand on the fact that your career was unfairly taken from you by the Washington Commanders coach, medical staff and everyone else who still to this day failed to take responsibility for playing you and in essence ruining your entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But somewhere something changed. You morphed into someone I would have never expected.&nbsp;</p>
<p>By now everyone has seen what transpired with you and your comments regarding a racist disgusting tweet aimed at Angel Reese.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Quick recap, for those who are not aware, Angel Reese was named one of 3 athletes who will grace the NBA 2K26 cover and in response to that news, a now viral tweet replaced her face with that of an ape. So you responded with a tweet condemning the racist depiction and declared that racism has no place in society and can&rsquo;t we all just get along. The tweet was going just fine, but then it took a turn and you brought back up your notion that according to your anonymous sources Angel Reese does in fact hate Caitlin Clark so you was right along. And that&rsquo;s where you lost me.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>You couldn't just say it was racism, terrible and disgusting and leave it at that? Why would you feel the need to continue this narrative about Angel Reese hating Caitlin Clark ? Why even bring that up? Whether intentional or unintentional, you are fanning the flames for the Caitlin Clark white grievance mob.&nbsp;</p>
<div>You may not be aware of this but let me explain what you are doing again whether intentionally or not.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The Angel Reese is jealous of Caitlin Clark narrative you continue to parrot has been implemented for a reason. This entire situation has been manufactured ever since Angel Reese beat Caitlin Clark (The Great White Hope) in college. There is historical context to this.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Back in 1910, Boxer Jack Johnson beat James Jeffries (The Great White Hope of the time) this fight was marketed and widely viewed as a &ldquo;referendum on white superiority&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>The hate and anger was instant as his victory ignited&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://timeline.com/when-a-black-fighter-won-the-fight-of-the-century-race-riots-erupted-across-america-3730b8bf9c98" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://timeline.com/when-a-black-fighter-won-the-fight-of-the-century-race-riots-erupted-across-america-3730b8bf9c98&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2BLD6dkizo_qfoiccJB3jZ">bloody confrontations and violence</a>&nbsp; all throughout the country actually leaving two dozen people dead, almost all of them Black and hundreds injured and arrested. And that&rsquo;s when Jack Johnson became hated by the white masses.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://theconversation.com/when-a-black-boxing-champion-beat-the-great-white-hope-all-hell-broke-loose-163413" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theconversation.com/when-a-black-boxing-champion-beat-the-great-white-hope-all-hell-broke-loose-163413&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw39vP21OkVB_BH6KU_53lal">https://theconversation.com/<wbr />when-a-black-boxing-champion-<wbr />beat-the-great-white-hope-all-<wbr />hell-broke-loose-163413</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Fast forward to 2023, when a new Great White Hope arises (Caitlin Clark) and is defeated by Angel Reese but not only did she beat her, she told her about it along the way accompanied with the hand gesture in her face, and taunts (which Caitlin Clark did first accompanied with trash talking and taunts of her own that nobody had an issue with but I digress)&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Well, this isn&rsquo;t the 1910s so the Caitlin Clark mobs couldn&rsquo;t respond the way the James Jeffries mob did, but they could take their hate, anger, vitriol, racism, etc etc online, which they did all directed toward Angel Reese. She didn&rsquo;t just become a villain, as she told reporters she had been actually receiving death threats online for over a year.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-reese-death-threats-rcna146023" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-reese-death-threats-rcna146023&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3AAvUloVRuhTsBBuhBsniM">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/<wbr />nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-<wbr />reese-death-threats-rcna146023</a><wbr />&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So, now back to you pushing this&nbsp;</div>
<div>Angel Reese is jealous of Caitlin Clark narrative. Do you realize exactly whose narrative you are promoting ? I don&rsquo;t see how you couldn&rsquo;t. You see your comment sections every time &nbsp;you disparage, demonize, and discredit Angel Reese. You even mocked her with your wife sitting in the background drinking tea like the movie &ldquo;Get Out&rdquo; or something.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Maybe you&rsquo;re not aware of this but this entire situation is now being weaponized by a certain demographic of Caitlin Clark fans. She is now being used as a symbol of white grievance which directly correlates to the MAGA narrative that the whole country is out to get the &ldquo;good christian white folks&rdquo;.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Despite the fact that Caitlin Clark has repeatedly asked not to be weaponized as a symbol of racism and bigotry, this has become much bigger than Caitlin Clark so it really doesn&rsquo;t matter what she requests.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The narrative is to protect the white damsel in distress in correlation to historically how even the thought of a &ldquo;white delicate flower&rdquo; being harmed or in danger or disrespected or whistled at would result in a vicious white mob attacking, lynching, mutilating, and murdering the suspected perpetrator.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>That&rsquo;s why the narrative that the entire WNBA are intentionally fouling her or viewing her with Latonya Harding eyes skating past Nancy Kerrigan, is not only inaccurate but also promotes this same dangerous mentality.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/2024-09-23-jason-whitlock-says-dijonai-carrington-assaulted-caitlin-clark-in-attack/">Media members like Jason Whitlock purposely used the words &ldquo;assault&rdquo; and &ldquo;attack&rdquo; and &ldquo;stab in the eye&rdquo; when discussing a foul by Dijonai Carrington.</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/basketball/wnba/fever/2024/09/24/caitlin-clark-says-dijonai-carrington-eye-poke-wasnt-intentional-wnba-playoffs-indiana-fever-sun/75365622007/">All of the intentionally stoked outrage prompted Caitlin Clark to publicly denounce the narrative and state, &ldquo;the foul was unintentional."</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And then and only then did people like Jason Whitlock back away from the narrative. But that&rsquo;s exactly what you are doing. You are pushing a very dangerous narrative.&nbsp;</div>
<p><a href="https://x.com/torreysmithwr/status/1943333887163158840?s=46&amp;t=FiXBDRUe_KpN8Ix5Vb08vg">Former Baltimore Ravens Torrey Smith was 100% spot on when he tweeted:</a></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-5_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/realrclark25/status/1943702842818052426?s=46&amp;t=FiXBDRUe_KpN8Ix5Vb08vg">Ryan Clark was also spot on when he tweeted:</a></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-6_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Here is my sincere honest question to you. Are you attempting to follow the breadcrumbs left by people like Jason Whitlock ? Meaning someone who purposely takes on certain positions and perspectives that you know will be applauded amongst a certain demographic?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Coincidentally, this is a meme that I saw floating around social media of you. I put it next to a meme that has been floating around social media of Jason Whitlock for sometime now and you are better than this !!! I know you are, but this is exactly what you are morphing into, and it hurts my heart to see.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-7_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Comedian Goddfrey was spot on how he described your spat with Ryan Clark a few months ago when he said,&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Every time you publicly dog a Black Woman, you&rsquo;re dogging your mother, your grandmother, your aunties.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>I don&rsquo;t know if you heard his message to you but please listen to his entire video. He agreed with you that children and family should be left out of the conversation which Ryan Clark also acknowledged and apologized to you for. But that aside, their points still stand.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8EbTdJwlc/?igsh=N2g0eHBpcmJmczJp">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8EbTdJwlc/?igsh=N2g0eHBpcmJmczJp</a></p>
<p>Let me paint a another illustration.</p>
<p>Savion Glover&rsquo;s character Manray in the Spike Lee Classic Bamboozled.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Remember at the end when he was looking in the mirror as he was about to put on the Black Face and his conscious started to attack his soul and he just couldn&rsquo;t do it anymore. He couldn&rsquo;t participate in their minstrel show so he came on stage without the Black Face ? My hope and prayer for you is that you eventually get to the place where you simply can&rsquo;t do it anymore and you wipe the Black Face off, and come on to the stage as Robert Griffin III.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-9_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Dear RG3: Please Don’t Turn Into Jason Whitlock

<div>The Indiana Pacers medical team decided to clear Tyrese Haliburton to play in Game 7 of the NBA Finals despite an existing calf strain and that blunder resulted in a torn Achilles tendon. While understandable given the gravity of the situation, that decision proved to be very costly for not only the organization as a whole but more importantly to Tyrese Haliburton as it was just announced that he would miss the entire 2025/2026 season due to a torn achilles.&nbsp;</div>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-1_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<div>In contrast, this past summer, my daughter Imani Thomas class of 2026 was faced with a very difficult decision to play through an injury at Nationals and risk further more severe injury.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Here&rsquo;s the story: &nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Imani had played through shin splints for the entire travel season with her team Maryland Juniors. These shin splints actually developed during her junior year high school season with Bishop McNamara, but she is a soldier and she pushed through like all athletes do.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>However, toward the end of her travel season, the shin splints continued to get worse. She did constant treatment and even started over compensating to protect her shin splints until one practice she could barely move. The assistant coach (Coach Ashley Williams) came up to me and said,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Imani is a beast, and she is not going to stop playing no matter what I tell her. But you need to get this checked out because it&rsquo;s visibly getting worse&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So me and my wife Nichole took her to get X Rays and a MRI and it was discovered that her shin splints had turned into a stress fracture.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>She was devastated. Nationals were coming up and like any athlete she contemplated just sucking it up and playing through the pain.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The doctor was honest with us. He explained to us that if Imani was playing soccer, he would definitely not clear her to play because the likelihood of her getting kicked in her stress fracture was relatively high. If she played football or rugby or any contact sport, he would also not clear her. But she plays volleyball, and the likelihood of her getting kicked in her stress fracture was very low.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-6_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>However, if she landed wrong, the impact could be just as severe as if she got kicked. Then he asked how her mechanics were and I told him that she had been over compensating for quite some time. She&rsquo;s been pushing through and getting a lot of treatment but she has been in pain for a long time. And the doctor said honestly, it&rsquo;s a decision you have to make for her. She is going to want to risk it all and play. That&rsquo;s how athletes are.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So we talked to Imani, explained the risks, and together we came to the decision that it would be best to sit out.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And it was a very difficult process for her as it would be for any athlete but long term over short term was what was important.&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Now, back to Tyrese Haliburton.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<div>NBA fans across the world witnessed what would have been a story of triumph. One for the archives of NBA history. The storyline would&rsquo;ve been.... Facing elimination in the NBA playoffs in a pivotal Game 7, Tyrese Haliburton battles through injury with superhuman perseverance and in heroic fashion to save the Pacers and propel them into victory solidifying this as one of the greatest finals performances in the history of the NBA. They probably would&rsquo;ve had a picture of Haliburton with a Superman emblem on his chest and a cape under his Warriors uniform. Would&rsquo;ve had his dad holding the same Pacers towel he waved in front of Giannis next to his son with the trophy. Would&rsquo;ve been a sportswriters dream as so many angles could&rsquo;ve been covered and explored.</div>
<div>
<p>People love stories of heroics. Isiah Thomas hobbling around on one foot in game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals against the Lakers and scoring 25 points in the 3rd quarter. Or Willis Reed walking out of the tunnel for the New York Knicks on his bum ankle in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals. Everything was set up for Haliburton to be added to that list.</p>
<p>High school, college and professional coaches across the country were just salivating to be able to use this as an example to their players to enforce the philosophy that &ldquo;pain is weakness leaving your body&rdquo;. They would&rsquo;ve used Haliburton as an example to young athletes that the game (not your health) is what matters most. And a real &ldquo;team player&rdquo; would sacrifice a &ldquo;little discomfort&rdquo; for their team.</p>
<p>I have seen this all before. During my tenure with the Washington Wizards, I witnessed team trainer Eric Waters misdiagnose player after player because what was best for the Wizards organization was for that player to play.</p>
<p>I saw Richard Hamilton go off on the entire training staff after he learned that&nbsp;he had been playing through a torn groin, only disclosed to him after the team was out of playoff contention. He had been complaining about his groin for weeks and the trainers were giving him treatment two and three times a day all the while knowing his groin was torn, but they wanted to push for the playoffs so they didn&rsquo;t tell him.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I saw them tell Jarvis Hayes that he simply had a case of &ldquo;tendinitis&rdquo; in his knee and had him playing through the pain. Turned out he had a broken knee cap and ruined his entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I saw them tell Kwame Brown that he was just experiencing a &ldquo;little discomfort&rdquo; in his leg and that he needed to play through the pain to show everyone that he was worthy of being the number 1 pick. Turned out later, he actually had a torn hamstring.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I saw Eric Waters tell Deshawn Stevenson there was nothing seriously wrong with his back and had him getting ice and stem and playing through the pain. After the season, upon further review by an outside doctor it was discovered that he actually had an Inflamed L5 Nerve that was stuck underneath a disc that required not one but two back surgeries to repair.&nbsp;</p>
<p>My point in saying all of this is not to simply blast Eric Waters, I am showing that this happens all the time in professional sports. With team doctors and trainers, there is a conflict of interest and the sworn medical oath becomes blurred and effects their diagnoses. They are hired by the teams and are in essence employees of the organization not employees of the players. So they don&rsquo;t have the players best interest in mind, typically, they only have the organization&rsquo;s.</p>
<p>The Indiana Pacers medical staff basically RG3&rsquo;d Haliburton. They &ldquo;Any Given Sunday&rsquo;d&rdquo; him. They Eric Waters&rsquo;d him.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-5_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>He shouldn&rsquo;t have been playing period.</p>
<p>The risks outweighed the rewards. Even from a team standpoint. This is your franchise player. This is a player who has the capability of single handedly turning an entire NBA championship finals series around. This is a player that you should&rsquo;ve done everything in your power to convey to him how important he is long term for them and how much they value his health and are looking out for his best interest etc etc. However, what they showed was the exact opposite.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It doesn&rsquo;t matter if Haliburton insisted on playing in Game 7, just like it didn&rsquo;t matter if Imani insisted on playing in Nationals.&nbsp;Sometimes, when it comes to their health, athletes need people to make the decision for them. That&rsquo;s our job as parents and we did that. That was also the job of the Pacers medical team, and they did not have the medical integrity to do that.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Imani had her boot off now and is starting rehab and will be back full strength in a few weeks. Haliburton&rsquo;s calf strain turned into a ruptured Achilles and he will have to sit out the entire 2025/2026 season.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In explaining the difference in how me and my wife Nichole handled her injury vs how the Pacers medical staff handled his, I started singing, &ldquo;They Not Like Us&rdquo; A Dad joke that fell flat with Imani but I don&rsquo;t care it was a good joke.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But in all seriousness, I hope all young players see this and learn that no matter what the circumstances or how big the game is, your health always comes first, and you ALWAYS get a 2nd opinion from your own doctors that have nothing to do with the organization like Kawhi Leonard did in San Antonio his last season there.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let me refresh everyone&rsquo;s memory.</p>
<p>Everyone with a microphone dogged Kawhi that season. Skip Bayless was still going on his hateful rants and baseless criticisms of Kawhi even after the Raptors beat the 76ers in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Skip Bayless tweeted out</p>
<p>&ldquo;Well, I guess it worked for No. 2 to quit on the Spurs last season complaining of what Spurs doctors decided was no more than a thigh bruise. He wound up in the East, playing against a hobbled, sick Embiid and an overrated Giannis. "Crime" pays.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Kawhi delt with Coach Popovich taking shots at him, his teammates taking shots at him, the team questioning his injury because their &ldquo;team doctors&rdquo; said he was fine. But he got a 2nd opinion and was told otherwise and did what was in his best interest. Danny Green was reportedly playing through a torn groin after being misdiagnosed by the same team doctors that misdiagnosed Kawhi.</p>
<p>And the Spurs are one of the most respected organizations in the NBA with one of the most respected coaches in the NBA. But, the bottom line is, any organization will throw you out there in a heartbeat injured if they feel it is best for the organization. They will publicly criticize you if you don&rsquo;t play and if you play and re-injure yourself worst or just don&rsquo;t play up to their expectations (as if they don&rsquo;t know your playing injured) they will get rid of you in a New York minute just like The Washington Commanders did RG3 and just like the Washington Wizards did with Jarvis Hayes.</p>
<p>I remember watching Grant Hill. He was about to literally take over the league.</p>
<p>People were calling him out for not playing hurt. Said he was soft, overrated etc etc just like they were saying about Haliburton before he shut them all up this playoff series.</p>
<p>The Orlando medical staff derailed Grant&rsquo;s entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Another example is the young Isiah Thomas. He shouldn&rsquo;t have been playing in Boston in the playoffs but he played, ended up hurting himself more, ended up needing surgery, cost himself 100 million dollars came back and played after losing his sister and they traded him that summer because they knew about his injury and knew that he needed surgery.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-8_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Kyrie Irving goes and gets a 2nd opinion and they say you need surgery, the Celtics doctors didn&rsquo;t tell him he needed surgery, so he had his surgery and came back the next year strong. There is a reoccurring theme here.</p>
<p>I immediately called my son Malcolm who is working hard at The University Of Dayton right now as I write this article I hope he learned the lesson in what just happened to Haliburton. Told my daughter Baby Sierra and Imani the entire way to school yesterday, like literally the whole entire way I was going on an endless rant.</p>
<p>Told them stories of Eric Waters and Ernie Grunfeld trying to get me to take a cortisone shot in my pubic bone and go out an play when I was suffering an abdominal strain that kept me sidelined for an extended period of time. But also how the 2nd opinion I received from my doctor was that if I did that, I would almost certainly hurt myself worse because the Cortisone show wouldn&rsquo;t exceed the healing process, it was just make it so I didn't feel the pain.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>But just think of it logically, your body sends pain signals to you when something is hurting to let you know to stop doing that. If you block that signal, you won&rsquo;t feel the warning you&rsquo;re supposed to feel. Made perfect sense to me so I told them no. And sure they tried to put pressure on me and have a beat writer pressure me through the power of the pin in a few articles (no I didn&rsquo;t have any actual proof of this but the timing and coincidence was way too convenient so I&rsquo;ll say &ldquo;allegedly&rdquo; had a beat writer pressure me through the media). But the end result was me standing firm and telling them no, I can&rsquo;t go.</p>
<p>However, the onus shouldn&rsquo;t be placed on the athlete&rsquo;s shoulders. Of course athletes are going to want to play but it shouldn&rsquo;t be up to them. A solution to this league wide issue was suggested to me by a lawyer by the name of Marlon Amprey. He explained that the Players Association should assemble a group of outside doctors/specialists (or specific doctors/specialists the player suggests) that have no connection to the team whatsoever.</p>
<p>That will provide 2nd &amp; 3rd opinions and give players detailed reports on their health and risk of injury. All doctors&rsquo; reports given by teams that drastically differ should go under review and there should be repercussions for team doctors and trainers who medically clear players who shouldn&rsquo;t be medically cleared to play.</p>
</div>
</div>

The Indiana Pacers medical team decided to clear Tyrese Haliburton to play in Game 7 of the NBA Finals despite an existing calf strain.

The Indiana Pacers RG3’d Tyrese Haliburton

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are all the first-round selections courtesy of the NBA: (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">article to be updated with the second-round picks)</span></em></p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cooper-flagg"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cooper Flagg</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Duke) to the Dallas Mavericks</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/dylan-harper"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dylan Harper</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Rutgers) to the San Antonio Spurs</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/vj-edgecombe"><span style="font-weight: 400;">VJ Edgecombe</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Baylor) to the Philadelphia 76ers</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kon-knueppel"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kon Knueppel</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Duke) to the Charlotte Hornets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ace-bailey"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ace Bailey</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Rutgers) to the Utah Jazz</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/tre-johnson"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tre Johnson</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">(Texas) to the Washington Wizards</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jeremiah-fears"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jeremiah Fears</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Oklahoma) to the New Orleans Pelicans</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/egor-demin"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Egor Demin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (BYU) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/collin-murray-boyles"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Collin Murray-Boyles</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (South Carolina) to the Toronto Raptors</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/khaman-maluach"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Khaman Maluach</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">(Duke) to the Houston Rockets &ndash; </span><a href="https://www.nba.com/news/suns-rockets-trade-kevin-durant"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Suns</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cedric-coward"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cedric Coward</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Washington State) to the Portland Trail Blazers &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/memgrizz/status/1938089198935834700"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Grizzlies</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/noa-essengue"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Noa Essengue</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Chicago Bulls</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/derik-queen"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Derik Queen</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Maryland) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; </span><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"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Pelicans</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/carter-bryant"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carter Bryant</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Arizona) to the San Antonio Spurs</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/thomas-sorber"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thomas Sorber</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Georgetown) to the Oklahoma City Thunder</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hansen-yang"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yang Hansen</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Qingdao) to the Memphis Grizzlies &ndash;</span><strong> </strong><a href="https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail-blazers-acquire-draft-rights-to-yang-hansen"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Trail Blazers</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/joan-beringer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joan Beringer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Cedevita Olimpija) to the Minnesota Timberwolves</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/walter-clayton-jr"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Walter Clayton Jr.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Florida) to the Washington Wizards &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/utahjazz/status/1938070621159616606"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Jazz</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nolan-traore"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nolan Traor&eacute;</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Saint-Quentin BB) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kasparas-jakucionis"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kasparas Jakučionis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Illinois) to the Miami Heat</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/will-riley"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Will Riley</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Illinois) to the Utah Jazz &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/WashWizards/status/1938082193785397462"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Wizards</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/drake-powell"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drake Powell</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (North Carolina) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/BrooklynNets/status/1938071333008482655"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Nets</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/asa-newell"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asa Newell</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Georgia) to the New Orleans Pelicans &ndash; </span><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"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Hawks</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nique-clifford"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nique Clifford</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Colorado State) to the Oklahoma City Thunder &ndash; </span><a href="https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-acquire-draft-rights-to-nique-clifford"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Kings</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jase-richardson"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jase Richardson</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Michigan State) to the Orlando Magic</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ben-saraf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ben Saraf</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/danny-wolf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Danny Wolf</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Michigan) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hugo-gonzalez"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hugo Gonz&aacute;lez</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Real Madrid) to the Boston Celtics</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/liam-mcneeley"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Liam McNeeley</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Connecticut) to the Phoenix Suns &ndash; </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><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></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/yanic-konan-niederhauser"><span>Yanic Konan Niederhauser</span></a><span> (Penn State) to the Los Angeles Clippers</span></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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>

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

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the Phoenix Suns prepare to part ways with Kevin Durant, trade discussions have intensified, centering on three frontrunner destinations: the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These teams are reportedly Durant&rsquo;s preferred landing spots, with mutual interest and the potential for a lucrative extension in play. Sources close to the situation revealed to Charania that Heat, Spurs, and Rockets have all gained significant traction in negotiations and are considered finalists in the pursuit of the 15-time All-Star.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: Durant lists Miami as a desirable destination, citing the franchise's culture and strong front office support. The Heat reportedly attempted to acquire him at the trade deadline. While they may lack in draft assets, veteran players like Andrew Wiggins, Kel&rsquo;el Ware, and Duncan Robinson could be key parts of a package.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">San Antonio presents an alluring mix: pairing Durant with phenom Victor Wembanyama and rising star De&rsquo;Aaron Fox. With significant draft capital &ndash; including the Nos. 2 and 14 picks &ndash; the Spurs are well-positioned to make a big move. However, they face a dilemma: part with core young assets or risk falling short in rebuilding momentum.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Rockets are another strong candidate. Durant has personal connections in Houston through assistant coach Royal Ivey and head coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets&rsquo; young core &ndash; Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jalen Green &ndash; is a plus, though matching Phoenix&rsquo;s demands may necessitate including top talent like Green or Jabari Smith Jr.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite Durant's preferences, the Suns maintain they will seek the most valuable return, regardless of destination. With Durant entering the final year of a $54.7 million contract and eligible for a two-year, $122&ndash;124 million extension post-trade, leverage remains high. Six to eight teams are reportedly in serious discussions, including the Minnesota Timberwolves.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The window for a deal is narrowing, with reports suggesting a potential trade could emerge within days or centered around the upcoming NBA Draft. While Spurs appear to be premier contenders according to early betting odds, the situation remains highly fluid and driven by asset valuation.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kevin Durant&rsquo;s next chapter is poised to unfold soon. Miami offers playoff pedigree and culture; San Antonio brings youth and assets; Houston provides chemistry and continuity. Ultimately, the Suns&rsquo; focus on value, aligned with Durant&rsquo;s willingness to commit, sets up a dramatic trade saga that will soon come to a result over the next few days.</span></p>

The Spurs, Rockets, and Heat are the frontrunners to land Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant, according to Shams Charania.

Heat, Spurs & Rockets emerge as top contenders as Kevin Durant trade talks heat up

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Indiana Pacers struck first in the 2025 NBA Finals, taking Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder after an improbable comeback in the 4th quarter clinched by a game-winning jumper from Tyrese Haliburton. While the series is far from over, Game 1 offered plenty of early lessons and adjustments to look out for in the coming games.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If there&rsquo;s one thing you can&rsquo;t do against the Thunder, it&rsquo;s turn the ball over. Oklahoma City isn&rsquo;t just elite in forcing turnovers &ndash; they&rsquo;re historically good. Game 1 was a harsh introduction for Indiana, who coughed up possession far too many times against a team designed to feast off mistakes &ndash; 24 of them to be exact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">OKC&rsquo;s perimeter defenders, from Alex Caruso to Jalen Williams to Lu Dort and Cason Wallace, excel at reading passing lanes and applying pressure without fouling. The Thunder swarmed Indiana&rsquo;s offense, collapsing on drives and disrupting flow. Their rotations were sharp, their closeouts disciplined, and their ability to generate live-ball turnovers turned defense into instant offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given that this was Indiana&rsquo;s first Finals appearance in decades, some early jitters were expected. The energy inside Paycom Center was relentless, and the Pacers' miscues snowballed under pressure. Although they won Game 1 by a hair, moving forward the Pacers need to prioritize clean possessions and limit turnovers if they want a real shot at winning the series. Because let&rsquo;s be real, the Thunder are still heavy favorites despite squandering Game 1. Improved composure and better decision-making, especially from their lead ball handlers, will be key.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Too much space for the MVP</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indiana&rsquo;s defensive game plan allowed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander far too much room to operate. The newly crowned MVP carved up the defense with his signature patience, gliding into open mid-range jumpers and attacking downhill with minimal resistance. Time and again, he found the pockets of space he thrives in. SGA scored an astounding 38 points in his Finals debut, and Indiana should do a better job in crowding him and showing him bodies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">SGA&rsquo;s ability to control tempo is what makes him so difficult to guard. He's never rushed. He plays at his own pace, decelerating into stepbacks or slithering into floaters. In Game 1, Indiana gave him too much cushion and failed to show enough help at the point of attack.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To slow him down, the Pacers must adjust their coverage. They need to crowd his space, get physical, and throw multiple bodies at him. Blitzing pick-and-rolls, shading help early, and forcing the ball out of his hands should be top priorities. OKC&rsquo;s supporting cast is capable, but Indiana has to be willing to gamble by making others beat them. As it stands, SGA is getting exactly what he wants.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Bench scoring advantage</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One area Indiana clearly won in Game 1 was bench production. Obi Toppin led the way with 17 points, including five made threes, providing crucial spacing and energy. His timely shooting helped the Pacers keep pace, particularly during stretches when their starters were stagnant.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TJ McConnell was equally impactful, igniting the Pacers&rsquo; second unit with relentless pace and dribble penetration. Whether pushing off makes or misses, McConnell kept OKC on their heels and helped Indiana stay within striking distance. His ability to find seams in the defense and collapse the Thunder&rsquo;s perimeter gave Indiana a much-needed offensive spark.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder, on the other hand, didn&rsquo;t get much juice from their reserves offensively aside from Isaiah Hartenstein. While their rotation depth helped defensively, the scoring disparity off the bench could be something to monitor as the series progresses. If Indiana&rsquo;s bench can continue to outperform OKC&rsquo;s, it could swing the momentum in tighter contests.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Rotation chess match</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault made some eyebrow-raising rotation decisions in Game 1. Most notably, he started Cason Wallace over Isaiah Hartenstein, opting for a smaller, switch-heavy group designed to disrupt Indiana&rsquo;s ball movement and prevent easy driving lanes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder rarely used their double-big lineups, instead rotating between Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren at center while leaning into versatility and perimeter defense. At times, Daigneault even deployed a one-forward, four-guard setup &ndash; and in a few stints, a full five-guard lineup. The strategy prioritized switchability and speed, key components in disrupting Indiana&rsquo;s flow.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daigneault went deep into his bench, using 11 players in total. The most surprising cameo came from rookie Ajay Mitchell, who logged a 4&ndash;5 minute stretch early in the second quarter. Mitchell went scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting and finished with a -3, which showed Daigneault&rsquo;s willingness to trust his young talent &ndash; even on the Finals stage. While it didn&rsquo;t pay dividends on the scoreboard, the experience could prove valuable if Mitchell&rsquo;s number is called again later in the series. However, with everything on the line and at stake, Daigneault must choose between developing and going all in and trust the veterans to win games for OKC.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other side, Rick Carlisle pushed all the right buttons. Thomas Bryant and Ben Sheppard delivered timely contributions, defending well and knocking down big shots. Carlisle staggered minutes well, ensuring McConnell and Toppin had favorable matchups. His ability to read the game and make real-time adjustments helped Indiana stay competitive despite the turnover woes.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Final thoughts</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 1 gave us a glimpse of how Oklahoma City&rsquo;s swarming defense and MVP-led offense can control the tempo of this series. Their blend of length, athleticism, and discipline on defense creates chaos, while SGA&rsquo;s poise and scoring gravity center everything on offense. But it also showed Indiana has the bench depth, coaching flexibility, and offensive firepower to respond.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Expect the Pacers to clean up their turnovers and tweak their coverage on Gilgeous-Alexander heading into Game 2. They'll need to impose more physicality on defense and continue winning the bench battle. If they can take better care of the ball and throw OKC off rhythm, this series has the potential to get very interesting.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The chess match has only just begun.</span></p>

Discover key takeaways from Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers, what we learned from each team.

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