Denver Nuggets

The trade rumors for Michael Porter Jr. have intensified by the day, and several accounts online have pointed out the Golden State Warriors as the favorites to land the Brooklyn Nets forward.
Porter Jr., who is having a career season this year after being traded from the Denver Nuggets, presents as a trade target for many contending teams in the league. A 6-foot-10 forward that can shoot over opponents and offers length on the defensive end at the forward spot, Porter Jr. is the kind of player that teams covet - and it&rsquo;s no surprise that the Warriors have inquired for his services.
In exchange for Porter Jr., the Warriors are reportedly offering young forward Jonathan Kuminga who has fallen out of the rotation for the squad. Kuminga presents a lot of potential as a scoring forward, and he would be likely on the Nets&rsquo; radar with their emphasis on getting younger and developing young talent for their future core.
If the Warriors end up completing this move, Porter Jr. will greatly help with spacing the floor alongside Stephen Curry. He will give Golden State shooting and length at the forward spot since their 2022 championship days, when they still had another Porter, Otto Porter Jr. in the lineup.
Porter Jr. and Curry alongside Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler will form one of the more potent lineups in the league with the fit and playstyles each of them will be providing, and that could push the Warriors to contender status.

The trade rumors for Michael Porter Jr. have intensified, with Golden State being viewed as a potential landing spot.

Trade rumors for Michael Porter Jr. intensify; Warriors viewed as landing spot

The Los Angeles Lakers have pulled the plug and are dismissing head coach Darvin Ham, the team announced Saturday morning.
Amid all the rumors and speculations surrounding the development, the Lakers have parted ways with the coach who has been with them for over two years.
There were early reports over the past week after the Lakers&rsquo; loss to the Denver Nuggets in Round 1 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The Athletic&rsquo;s Jovan Buha was quoted saying, "The latest I've heard is the plan is still to move on from Darvin [Ham] at some point, likely by the end of the week, potentially as early as tomorrow, then the head coaching search will start. I've already started to hear some names from different people."
And today, the team finally made it official in a team statement.
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Lakers Part Ways With Head Coach Darvin Ham <a href="https://t.co/or3Bx2mZ5w">pic.twitter.com/or3Bx2mZ5w</a>
&mdash; Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1786459157002121295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a>
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Ham and the Lakers have had a good run, going 90-74 over the past two seasons. Ham led LA to the Western Conference Finals in 2023 but got swept by the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers got back stronger this year, finishing with a 47-35 record, but got ousted again by the Nuggets in 5 games.
Along with Ham, the Lakers&rsquo; entire coaching staff including Phil Handy and the others was also dismissed by LA&rsquo;s front office.
An extensive coaching search is set to commence as the Lakers continue their pursuit of that elusive 18th championship banner. This development will add to an already busy offseason of roster moves and the impending decision of superstar LeBron James about his future with the team.

Amid all the rumors and speculations surrounding the development, the Lakers have parted ways with head coach Darvin Ham.

Lakers dismiss head coach Darvin Ham

What seemed to be a lost season for the Utah Jazz has suddenly turned around due to the team's recent success, winning 15 of their last 21 games.&nbsp;
After starting just 7-16, the Jazz have since gone 11-4 and are now in contention for one of the Western Conference's play-in spots. They&rsquo;ve had an incredible week thus far, with wins over the contending Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets.
The win over the defending-champion Nuggets proved that the Jazz can hang with any team on any given night. Denver was 18-0 against sub-.500 teams entering the game, but Utah stained their erstwhile unblemished slate.
How did the Jazz do it? Let's take a look at some of the things they did to upend the Nuggets.
The Jazz stretched the floor&nbsp;
With John Collins starting at center instead of Walker Kessler, Utah's game plan was to pull Nikola Jokic from the paint. Jokic, who&rsquo;s usually a drop-big on defense, almost always stays near the shaded area in pick-and-roll actions. Utah tried to take advantage of this early by hunting out threes and exploiting the point-of-attack defenses of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Four of their first five attempts were three-pointers and they connected on two to jump out to an early lead.
Denver tried to counter by running zone, leaving Collins open a couple of times in the first quarter. However, Collins made them pay by hitting two threes, as Jokic was more than content to leave him open for threes. This allowed the Jazz to get rolling even more and gave them the freedom to attack the basket and get downhill.
Another possession in the zone found Reggie Jackson and Jokic in a miscommunication, leading to Jordan Clarkson drilling an easy 10-foot jumper. When the Nuggets tried to switch up their defense back to a man-to-man, the Jazz found the answer with some off-ball movement and timely cuts to the rim. Overall, it was an offensive clinic that caught the defending champs off guard.
The Jazz mixed their coverages on Jokic and gave him different looks on defense
You can't entirely stop an all-world talent like Nikola Jokic, you could only hope to contain him, which is still really tough considering how talented he is and his ability to get his teammates involved.
Although he still put up a monstrous stat line of 27 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists on an absurd 8-of-9 shooting from the field, what the Jazz and Will Hardy did was mix-up coverages on him. They showed multiple defensive looks each time down, which partly confused Jokic as he committed 6 turnovers in the game.
Sometimes, it was single coverage; other times, they sent doubles at him. Three different players &mdash; Lauri Markannen, Collins and Kessler &mdash; each took turns guarding him and all three provided different looks on the Joker. Markannen used his strength, Collins had his quickness and quick hands, while Kessler provided verticality with his 7-foot-1 frame.
The Jazz also sent different doubles at Jokic, sometimes crowding him in the paint with early double-teams, breaking up his low-post attacks with guards doubling him, and sending late doubles with another big or using a help weakside defender to try to affect him as he attempted a shot.
All of these defensive coverages were designed to make Jokic feel uncomfortable with different styles thrown at him, and the Jazz were successful at that with this blowout win.&nbsp;
Will Hardy figured out the rotations and had the Jazz playing with confidence
Although their defense is still suspect, the Jazz&rsquo;s offense has been nothing but spectacular. This can be attributed to head coach Will Hardy figuring out his rotation and which players synergize well together. This impressive run over their last 20 games started when Hardy made Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Lauri Markannen and John Collins the starting five. Off the bench, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk provide stability as veterans while second-year guys Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji help out on defense with their length and tenacity.
Utah&rsquo;s offense was on full display against Denver, picking them apart with set plays and off of read-and-react actions. Although the Nuggets were coming off two days of rest and just an hour flight, the Jazz capitalized on their momentum and pounced right from the start.
Markannen has picked up right where he left off in last season&rsquo;s All-Star campaign, maintaining his shooting and scoring while improving his ball-handling this season. He&rsquo;s much better off the dribble now, which makes him one of the most coveted (if not most coveted) trade targets as the Feb. 8 deadline approaches.
Clarkson has also learned to move the ball more since being back to his regular sixth man role while continuing to score the ball effectively, and it has produced good results.
Dunn and Sexton allow the Jazz to play with pace and energy on both sides of the floor and their efforts are infectious.
Despite all of the trade rumors swirling around this team and rival teams trying to pry their players away, GM Danny Ainge and coach Will Hardy deserve credit for helping the Jazz build good habits and play the right way, which has resulted in beautiful basketball all around.&nbsp;

What seemed to be a lost season for the Utah Jazz has suddenly turned around, as they have won 15 of their last 21 games.

How the Utah Jazz earned their statement win over the Denver Nuggets

Former NBA GM Pete Babcock opens up to Etan Thomas about how the media's false narratives can greatly influence NBA front offices.

Former NBA GM on how media coverage, false narratives impact players

As an NBA fan, there's a special thrill in discovering diamonds in the rough who exceed all expectations relative to their draft slot.
The NBA Draft isn't an exact science, and there are many examples of prospects who slip through the cracks and become franchise-changing players.&nbsp;
Today, let's look back on some of the biggest draft steals in NBA history.
Nikola Jokic, No. 41 overall in 2014
Coming from Serbia, Nikola Jokic was relatively unknown entering the 2014 NBA Draft. When the Denver Nuggets snagged the versatile big man with the No. 41 overall pick, nobody could have expected him to become a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP and one of most skilled centers of all-time. Jokic is the lowest-drafted MVP in NBA history and it isn't close, since every other Most Valuable Player was a top-15 pick. Just to give you an idea of how overlooked Jokic was entering the NBA, Nuggets GM Tim Connelly wasn't asked a single question about Jokic during his post-draft press conference back in 2014. Every question from the assembled media was about Jusuf Nurkic or Gary Harris, causing Connelly to comment, "So, no one wants to ask about our second-round pick Nikola Jokic? We are really excited about him.&rdquo; Perhaps the lack of buzz was due to the fact that Jokic was selected during a Taco Bell commercial.
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As the broadcast mentioned, Nikola Jokic was the No. 41 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. But let&rsquo;s not forget that Jokic was selected during a Taco Bell commercial. 😅 <a href="https://t.co/m8zm1kxZDt">pic.twitter.com/m8zm1kxZDt</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1667343901374521347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Giannis Antetokounmpo, No. 15 overall in 2013
Entering the 2013 NBA Draft, there was a bit of buzz about Giannis Antetokounmpo given his length and athleticism, but he was incredibly raw. Some scouts and executives had seen him play overseas, but the competition was deemed to be weak. Nobody knew what to expect from the young, lanky project from Greece. The Milwaukee Bucks decided to draft him with the No. 15 overall pick, and their gamble paid off spectacularly. Antetokounmpo developed into a generational talent, winning multiple MVP awards and leading the Bucks to their first NBA championship in decades. What makes Giannis slipping to No. 15 look even worse is the fact that many players who went ahead of him ultimately struggled, including Anthony Bennett (No. 1), Cody Zeller (No. 4), Alex Len (No. 5), Nerlens Noel (No. 6), Ben McLemore (No. 7), Trey Burke (No. 9), Michael Carter-Williams (No. 10) and Shabazz Muhammad (No. 14).
Kobe Bryant, No. 13 overall in 1996
In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets selected a teenage Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick and immediately traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac. This move was undoubtedly one of the biggest draft blunders in NBA history, as Bryant became one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. His work ethic, talent and competitive spirit allowed him to become a five-time NBA champion, an NBA MVP and one of the game's all-time greats. While <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/revisiting-the-starstudded-1996-nba-draft-kobe-bryant-ray-allen-steve-nash-allen-iverson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the 1996 NBA Draft was loaded</a>, players like Todd Fuller, Samaki Walker and Vitaly Potapenko had no business being drafted before Kobe. It's worth noting that Bryant was the first guard to enter the NBA straight out of high school, which scared some teams off.
Draymond Green, No. 35 overall in 2012
Draymond Green slipped to the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft because he was viewed as a "tweener" without a clear-cut position. However, Green's success helped eradicate that term, as teams started seeing the value in versatile players who could fill multiple roles. Green's defensive prowess and basketball IQ have been instrumental during the Golden State Warriors' dynastic run. With his fiery leadership and two-way impact, Draymond is widely regarded as the Warriors' heart and soul. Also, his resume is incredible: four NBA championships, a Defensive Player of the Year award, four All-Star appearances, two All-NBA selections and eight All-Defensive Team nods.&nbsp;
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Kawhi Leonard, No. 15 overall in 2011
One of the most shocking storylines during the 2011 NBA Draft was Kawhi Leonard slipping outside of the lottery. Finally, the Indiana Pacers drafted Leonard with the 15th overall pick and quickly traded him to the San Antonio Spurs for George Hill. It didn't take long for Leonard to make the teams that passed on him look foolish. Right away, Leonard made an impact with his lockdown defense and improved jumpshot. He played a huge role in the Spurs' 2014 title, taking home the Finals MVP award. Leonard just kept getting better and better until it became clear that he was a superstar and one of the game's most dominant two-way threats. Now, he's a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-NBA selection, as well as a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.
Manu Ginobili, No. 57 overall in 1999
Manu Ginobili spent the first few years of his career playing overseas, where he was very successful. While he was drafted with the 57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Ginobili would ultimately remain abroad until the 2002-03 NBA season when he finally joined the Spurs as a 25-year-old. Ginobili's fearless style of play and exceptional basketball IQ turned him into a key cog in the Spurs' dynasty. Ginobili became a four-time NBA champion, an Olympic goal medalist, a Sixth Man of the Year and a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. Not bad for someone who was nearly Mr. Irrelevant!
Isaiah Thomas, No. 60 overall in 2011
Speaking of Mr. Irrelevant, Isaiah Thomas was the 60th and final pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Thomas thrived in Sacramento and had a brief stint in Phoenix, but he played his best basketball in Boston. At the height of his stint with the Celtics, Thomas averaged nearly 30 points per game &ndash; becoming a two-time All-Star and a fan favorite. Thomas is the ultimate underdog, from his draft-day story to his 5-foot-9 frame. Thomas proved his doubters wrong and became one of the league's most exciting scorers before injuries impacted his game.
Gilbert Arenas, No. 31 overall in 2001
Gilbert Arenas slipped to the 31st overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, where he was ultimately selected by the Golden State Warriors. Despite slipping into the second round, Arenas' terrific scoring ability allowed him to become one of the most exciting guards of his era. His time with the Wizards was particularly memorable, as "Agent Zero" was a three-time All-Star during his stint in Washington. It's worth noting that Arenas played so well as a second-rounder that the NBA added <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/03/hoops-rumors-glossary-gilbert-arenas-provision-4.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Gilbert Arenas Provision</a> in the CBA, which made it easier for teams to keep talented second-rounders or undrafted players who hit restricted free agency after breaking out.
Steve Nash, No. 15 overall in 1996
Selected with the 15th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash was not an immediate superstar. However, with his exceptional court vision and terrific work ethic, he transformed himself into one of the most skilled point guards of his generation. While leading the Suns' high-octane offense, Nash won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006. In addition to being a two-time NBA MVP, Nash would become an eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, five-time assist champion, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.

Alex Kennedy looks back on some of the biggest draft steals in NBA history, including Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and more.

Hidden gems: Examining the 9 biggest draft steals in NBA history

This year's NBA trade deadline challenged the glut of Western Conference contenders to test how far they would go to separate themselves from the pack.
Some teams, like the Phoenix Suns in their Kevin Durant blockbuster or the Dallas Mavericks in their Kyrie Irving acquisition, swung for the fences. Others &mdash; such as the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans &mdash; only nabbed a rotation player or two, opting to bet on their current core.
The Los Angeles Clippers appear to fall in the latter group, but we should not overlook their trade-deadline moves. With three separate trades, all in the final hours of dealmaking on Thursday, the Clippers added Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon and Mason Plumlee. They took calculated risks and changed three important spots in their rotation, hoping the current stalwart defense insulates a boost of offensive juice.
Hyland was one of the hottest names in the rumor mill last week after his <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2023/02/09/nuggets-trade-deadline-bones-hyland-thomas-bryant-analysis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">falling out with the Nuggets</a>. Los Angeles pounced and dealt two second-round picks for the former No. 26 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Hyland quickly becomes the most promising developmental talent on the roster at 22 years old. But more immediately, he brings a high-charged dose of long-range shotmaking to the Clippers' bottom-10 offense.
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Bones Hyland hit a career-high 7 three-pointers to lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> to the win! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MileHighBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MileHighBasketball</a><a href="https://twitter.com/BizzyBones11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BizzyBones11</a>: 26 PTS, 7 3PM <a href="https://t.co/IkJU5Ajf0U">pic.twitter.com/IkJU5Ajf0U</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1586207446678138883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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The combo guard profiles as one of the most extreme perimeter creators in the entire league. Some evidence: Hyland has attempted 118 self-created threes this season, according to PBP Stats, which would rank second on his new team behind Paul George (164) and far above the third-place guard he's replacing (Reggie Jackson, 66), in only 820 minutes this season. His 39.8% clip on those attempts ranks 13th among 81 players who have attempted at least 50 such shots.
To this point of his career, however, Hyland's primary impact has come from distance. He can attack the basket, but he's no more than a mediocre rim-pressure threat, and he's a very limited playmaker. Microwave shooting is an important skill that can swing a playoff series if active; it's unclear if Hyland can consistently impact the game this way.
That's why the Eric Gordon trade adds another level of intrigue. Gordon, a 34-year-old shooting guard, finally leaves a rebuilding Houston Rockets situation after years in and out of reported trade talks. He rejoins the franchise that drafted him seventh overall way back in 2008.&nbsp;
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Ty Lue on the <a href="https://twitter.com/LAClippers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAClippers</a> new editions of Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon &amp; Mason Plumlee. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAClippers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAClippers</a> <a href="https://t.co/yxsD8SyutK">pic.twitter.com/yxsD8SyutK</a>
&mdash; Hoops &amp; Brews (@HoopsNBrews) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoopsNBrews/status/1624289182775656448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Gordon has a 15-year history of solid, albeit streaky, pull-up shooting, and he can still slice his way to the rim with ease. Gordon has converted 67% or more of his shots within three feet of the hoop in each of the last three seasons, per Basketball Reference &mdash; and that's in a Houston offense that has looked pretty wonky at times.&nbsp;
The Clippers acquired Gordon in a three-team deal with the Rockets and Grizzlies that ultimately sent John Wall to Houston and Luke Kennard to Memphis. They now have a reshaped guard rotation that includes Hyland, Gordon, Terance Mann and Norman Powell &mdash; four complementary scoring threats next to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.&nbsp;
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Entering Saturday, L.A. took just 30.2% of its shots at the rim, a 23rd-ranked rate, per Cleaning the Glass. Gordon's talents should directly help, and Hyland's perimeter prowess ideally opens up lanes for others to attack.
The four-man crew allows for some interesting lineup flexibility. Does head coach Ty Lue opt to keep Mann in the starting lineup and let Hyland bombard off the bench, knowing Gordon can also keep teams honest? Or can Hyland eventually work his way up to start and provide a more powerful perimeter impact than Reggie Jackson ever could &mdash; also leaving Mann to keep the heat on with the second unit?
With just those two, we already see that the Clippers want to apply more pressure from more angles, versus the stagnation that can arise with just Kawhi plus PG plus floor-spacers. Mason Plumlee continues the theme in his own way as a passing hub.
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Pretty easy to see how Mason Plumlee's playmaking would fit seamlessly into Sacramento's offense. Lots of CHA's sets are similar to SAC's. Plumlee is averaging 4.6 assists per 36 mins and would probably be fairly cheap considering his expiring $9M deal. Davis + Len + two 2nds? <a href="https://t.co/U52qzH2vnd">pic.twitter.com/U52qzH2vnd</a>
&mdash; Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendenNunesNBA/status/1617660314237145088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Los Angeles added the veteran center in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets that sent Jackson and a 2028 second-rounder to Charlotte. During our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/watch-basketball-news-2023-nba-trade-deadline-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 NBA Trade Deadline Show</a>, Nekias Duncan and I both commented on the parallels between Plumlee and the team's 2021-22 backup center, Isaiah Hartenstein.&nbsp;
Last year, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-stats-notebook-isaiah-hartenstein-is-the-clippers-secret-weapon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartenstein showed off his facilitation chops</a> by hitting cutters from the arc and operating out of some roll actions. He's in the sub-Nikola-Jokic tier of best big man passers in the NBA, and so is Plumlee.
For several seasons, the 32-year-old has consistently posted some of the best passing numbers in the league; his 18.0% assist rate is in the 92nd percentile among bigs this season, per Cleaning the Glass. Plumlee is assisting on 12.6% of his total passes, per Second Spectrum, which is the third-highest rate among centers.
Add in his stellar presence around the rim (73% shooting in that zone) and solid track record on the glass, and Plumlee seems about as ideal a fit at backup center as feasible. The healthy Clippers are looking at a Hyland-Gordon-Powell-Robert Covington-Plumlee second unit, with Nic Batum and Amir Coffey as additonal options. That is deep.
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The overarching worry: L.A. is tweaking the components of its top-10 defense &mdash; the backbone of its current fifth-place standing in the Western Conference. Hyland has serious defensive question-marks, Gordon is strong but undersized and Plumlee, while fundamentally sound, is by no means a rim-protector. Can the system and the prowess of the remaining players provide a stable floor? And if not, do the new pieces just fall out of the rotation, or do they unearth a new problem?
We likely won't know the final answer until the postseason. But the Clippers pointedly targeted several needs on Thursday, and the moves have more reward and more risk than they appear to at first. Even without adding a star, the Clippers have become another must-track team in the reshuffled West playoff race.

Ethan Fuller breaks down the Los Angeles Clippers adding Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon and Mason Plumlee prior to the trade deadline.

Evaluating the Clippers' three NBA trade deadline moves

For basketball fans, the NBA trade deadline is one of the most exciting days of the year. It&rsquo;s fun to track the rumors, react to trades and root for your favorite team to make moves.
However, for the players involved in these trades, it can be very stressful and emotional.
Most players spend deadline day looking over their shoulder, and there&rsquo;s a lot of anxiety and nerves around this time of year. There aren&rsquo;t many professions where your employer can ship you across the country without any notice, but that comes with being a professional athlete.
To get a sense of what it&rsquo;s like to be traded, Basketball News spoke to several former NBA players who opened up about getting dealt and what the process entailed.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtyqvPS02_Y&amp;t=2886s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RAY ALLEN</a>: &ldquo;When I got to Seattle, [here&rsquo;s] the way the trade went down. I was in Milwaukee playing for the Bucks and we flew to Seattle, and we had a practice that day. It was coming up on the trade deadline, and everyone was talking about Tim Thomas being traded. So we were on the Key Arena floor in Seattle and the media came rushing in. I'm sitting on the floor stretching and I'm looking around and as I turn [toward the media], all of these lights come on. And I'm like, 'What's happening? We're about to have practice.' And then I turn around and I'm like, 'What's going on?' And they're all looking and pointing at me. I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Me?!&rsquo; [The media members] are like, 'Yeah! You!' So we're stretching on one end and the other team is stretching on the other end, and [Bucks head coach] George Karl is down there on the other end. I kind of look around and I&rsquo;m looking up [at Coach Karl], and he takes off. So, I walk over to the media and said, &lsquo;What&rsquo;s going on?&rsquo; They were like, &lsquo;There was a trade.&rsquo; I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Who got traded?&rsquo; They were like, &lsquo;You.&rsquo; I go into the locker room and check my phone and it's blowing up. I got traded for Gary Payton. It was crazy to be traded to Seattle in the middle of the season. I go back [to Milwaukee], get my stuff, take my physical and fly back in. And my first game [as a Sonic] is against the Detroit Pistons.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I remember going out to lunch with Brent Barry, who was so great the whole time. He was such a jokester on the sly; he always had his little sarcasm that he'd add to any situation. He goes, 'Ray, just so you know, people aren't coming to the game to see you. They're coming to see the Barry brothers match-up.' Because Jon [Barry] was on Detroit. That was always Brett, with his dry humor. (Laughs) So, I'm watching the [Sonics'] film and Gary was &lsquo;The Glove&rsquo; &mdash; everybody knew how ferocious he was on defense. In Milwaukee, we had schemes, and I was used to that. But watching [the Sonics&rsquo;] film, Gary would come from one side of the floor and just start guarding a guy. And I was like, &lsquo;What scheme is that?&rsquo; And they were like, &lsquo;No, that&rsquo;s Gary&rsquo;s scheme.&rsquo; I noticed how the team was built around him, because a lot of the young players, they had kinda just waited on Gary to do whatever Gary did. So when I got there, Rashard [Lewis] was young and impressionable. We had Ansu Sesay, Reggie Evans, Jerome James and all of these young guys, and they all kinda just went as Gary went. So when I got there, I was like, 'Yo, get your shots up! I need you!' I was passing them the ball; I was flirting with triple-doubles like every other game. But I was like, 'You guys gotta [do something]!' They would just sit around, and I could tell the hole that Gary left &mdash; these guys were used to playing a certain way and kinda expecting him to do everything.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Rashard emerged because he started watching me come to the gym early every day and he would always say, 'Man, I want to make the money that you make and have the success that you've had. I really gotta start focusing in and taking this seriously&hellip;&rsquo; So, Rashard started getting to the gym early. He saw the work that I put in, and he saw that it was something that he could do and something he wanted for himself. I like to think that some of that money that he got from Orlando, he could have passed some of it [to me] on the side, but that didn&rsquo;t happen. (Laughs) But he was a great partner to have because he did get significantly better &mdash; so much better &mdash; from the time I got there to when we parted ways with him going to Orlando and me going to Boston. [I never talked to Coach Karl about him running away] and since then, George has always taken shots at me through the media or in writing his books. It's just the strangest thing because I always thought that we had a strong relationship as a player-coach.&rdquo;
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<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-etan-thomas-wpfw-dc-roundtable-drew-gooden-tony-massenburg-dave-zirin-john-wall-russell-westbrook-trade-washington-wizards-houston-rockets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ETAN THOMAS</a>: &ldquo;I have a story from when I was with the Wizards. I was in [general manager] Ernie Grunfeld&rsquo;s office. We&rsquo;re talking about me going to big-man camp because they used to send a big man down to Florida to IMG Academy to work out with Robert Parish and Clifford Ray. So I&rsquo;m in there in the summer, and I&rsquo;m talking to him about big-man camp. And I&rsquo;ve heard a little bit of trade rumors, I&rsquo;ve heard whispers and stuff like that, but nothing major. So he&rsquo;s telling me, 'Yeah, you&rsquo;re coming back from your injury, we&rsquo;re looking forward to next year. We want to send you down to big-man camp and you&rsquo;re doing all this stuff, and Robert Parish is great to work with and Clifford Ray is this, and we&rsquo;re looking forward to everything with you and we&rsquo;ll see how you and Brendan [Haywood] can work together,' and all this different stuff. It was this whole long speech, right?
"Now I&rsquo;m driving from the Verizon Center home to PG County. I&rsquo;m not even off Route 50 yet, and I get a call from my agent who says, 'You just got traded.' I was like, 'Are you serious?' I was like, 'No, that has to be a mistake! I was just in Ernie Grunfeld&rsquo;s office like 10-15 minutes ago!' So, I had to do a U-turn, go back to the Verizon Center, clear out all my stuff, and then he shook my hand and said, 'Thank you for everything,' like the whole conversation 15 minutes ago never happened."
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/pos2.jpg" alt="" width="689" height="466" />
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/heres-the-story-on-the-time-the-nuggets-traded-me-and-didnt-tell-me" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAMES POSEY</a>: &ldquo;I was in my fourth season with the Denver Nuggets, and things hadn&rsquo;t really gotten off to the best start, to say the least. We were 6-18 and knew we were gonna have our hands full that night. Our opponent? The Dallas Mavericks. With Mike Finley, Steve Nash, Raef LaFrentz and Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas was no joke. They began the season 21-3, so in our morning shootaround, we were definitely engaged. Afterward, I showered and changed, went back home, took my pregame nap and was on my way back to the arena. I&rsquo;m driving and going over the gameplan in my head when I get a call from my agent. He said he was calling to 'check on me.' He asked me how I was doing and where I was. I thought the questions were a little strange, but didn&rsquo;t really think much of it. 'I&rsquo;m going to the arena, we got a game,' I said. 'You&rsquo;re going where?!' And that&rsquo;s how I found out I&rsquo;d been traded. We were both shocked, and for the same reason.
"Nobody communicated with me. I was literally a couple miles from the arena. Getting traded is a part of life as a professional athlete. And fortunately for me, I was young and, outside of the team, hadn&rsquo;t really had any family roots or ties to Denver. But that didn&rsquo;t completely remove the sting. I just considered myself lucky to not be in a situation where I also had to move a wife and three kids in the middle of the school year. Not every player is that fortunate. One minute, you&rsquo;re driving on the highway. The next minute, at a moment&rsquo;s notice, you have to start packing and prepare to make a new life in a new city. It&rsquo;s the hardest part of the job, and it&rsquo;s one that we all accept. But damn. When I got the news &mdash; again, I was literally five minutes from the arena and had done shootaround that morning with my teammates and coaches &mdash; I had mixed emotions. My initial reaction was just genuine shock, and even though resentment might be too strong of a word, I definitely felt some kind of way. 'They couldn't even tell me?'
"I can&rsquo;t speak for everybody, but I can definitely understand how being traded and not being told could make a player feel really disposable. Sometimes, people forget that players are people too. As far as I know, there&rsquo;s no specific rule about when you are no longer able to communicate with the coaching staff or the front office of a team that trades you, but in most instances, there would at least be a phone call or a text message from your old coach or GM or whoever. Just a, 'Thank you for your service, we wish you the best of luck,' something like that. From Denver, I got nothing. All those thoughts and feelings raced through my mind in the 30 seconds it took me to process everything and turn my car around. Then, naturally, I asked my agent the question everyone in my situation would ask. 'Where did I get traded to?' When he told me Houston, I perked up and immediately pressed the gas... I actually moved in with Nick Van Exel after the trade. He had a crib in Houston, so I stayed with him. When I found out about the trade, I just packed up as much of my clothes as I could and went to Nick&rsquo;s house. I stayed there until the end of the season, then I got my own spot. But yeah, if my agent hadn&rsquo;t called, I would've showed up at the arena and they probably wouldn't have even let me in.&rdquo;
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-etan-thomas-wpfw-dc-roundtable-drew-gooden-tony-massenburg-dave-zirin-john-wall-russell-westbrook-trade-washington-wizards-houston-rockets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DREW GOODEN</a>: &ldquo;I got drafted as the No. 4 pick in Memphis. Jerry West, it was his first year being the president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, and I was his pick at No. 4, and I would say three or four months into that season, we were stockpiled at my position. We had Stromile Swift (who was drafted as the No. 2 pick two years prior to me), Pau Gasol (who was the No. 3 pick the year before my draft) and Shane Battier (who was the No. 6 or No. 7 pick that same year) and then the following year, they picked me at No. 4. So we had a lot of young talent, but we just could not put the pieces together to make something right. I heard the trade rumors. Rumors are rumors until they actually happen. It&rsquo;s funny, this story, because when I was hearing the rumors about me being traded, me and my agent had the discussion with Jerry West.
"Jerry West said, 'Drew, this is ridiculous, we have no intentions of trading you. Don&rsquo;t read the papers, you&rsquo;re going to be here a long time. So plan on wearing a Memphis jersey for a long time.' So I was like, 'Alright, that&rsquo;s cool; Jerry West gave me a straight-up answer, man! We&rsquo;ve got nothing to worry about! Let&rsquo;s just see what happens, man, let&rsquo;s ride this season out.' A day later,&nbsp;less than 24 hours later, I get a call from Dick Versace, who was an assistant general manager at the time saying, 'Drew, we&rsquo;ve got some news.' He said, 'You&rsquo;re on your way to the Orlando Magic; we just traded you for Mike Miller, the reigning Rookie of the Year.' And I was like, 'Wowww.' I was happy, don&rsquo;t get it wrong, I was happy that I was traded, but I was like, 'Wowww, Jerry West just told me that I was not going to get traded less than 24 hours ago, and then he has somebody else call me to tell me I was traded?!'"
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-tj-ford-james-posey-interview-qa-milwaukee-bucks-toronto-raptors-indiana-pacers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T.J. FORD</a>: "The way I got traded, I felt it was just cold-blooded. Getting traded for the first time is just a unique experience. I got traded in the summer, I think after Hurricane Katrina and all that; it was when the Essence Festival was in Houston for the first time. Somebody bought my house and I was supposed to move out a week later, but they told me they wanted me out on Friday. Now, I've got an appearance in Milwaukee on Saturday that I'm supposed to fly to on Friday&hellip; So I get to Milwaukee and I speak at Michael Redd's camp, but he wasn't there. It was just a strange day. Who comes to somebody's campand then they ain't there? That just didn't make sense to me. [I&rsquo;m thinking], &lsquo;Gosh, something ain't right.&rsquo;
"I ended up having dinner plans with Skip [Robinson], the public relations guy. He helped me do a lot of great things in Milwaukee. We go to dinner and I didn't really have no power at my house, so at the restaurant I&rsquo;ve got my phone and my charger, but they&rsquo;re not next to me. Skip answered his phone and he's sitting directly across from me and I just hear him go, 'No! No! You've got to be kidding me.' Then, he's like, 'Here, the GM wants to talk to you.' So, I'm like, 'What's going on?' The GM's like, 'How do you feel about going to Toronto?' I'm like, 'What are you talking about? Stop playing with me. Stop fuckin' with me. Seriously, what's going on?' He's like, 'No, for real. We just traded you for Charlie Villanueva and it hasn't hit the news yet and it probably won't tonight.' I'm like, 'Yo, Skip, he just told me he f*ckin' traded me. He must be joking with me.' So, I handed him the phone. I get my phone and I've got a bunch of missed calls from my mom.
"So I called my mom and she's like, 'Your agent has been trying to call you! He's been saying something about a trade?' I was like, 'I know! The GM just told me that he traded me, so it must be a joke or something. I don't know. I'll call you right back.' I called my agent right away. But before I was able to do that, they got a TV at the bar in the restaurant. And, remember, the GM just told me that nobody knew about it. But it had just hit the news. Not ESPN, I'm talking about the local news at 10. I'm like, 'Ah man!' It was the worst day, man. Worst day. I was hurt. That was a tough one&hellip; I was fortunate to always get traded in the summertime. I probably would've been really shocked if I had to move midseason. I felt like I was pretty blessed to get traded in the summertime, when you can really process it."

Basketball News spoke to several former NBA players who opened up about getting dealt and what the trade process entailed.

NBA veterans open up about getting traded: 'It was the worst day'

"We're a championship team."
That's what Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said, as <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2023/02/03/nuggets-jamal-murray-championship-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">part of a larger answer</a> about the team's prospects after Thursday night's 134-117 win over the Golden State Warriors. Murray was a big part of the win, scoring 33 points (9-of-12 from two, 3-of-11 from three), dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds in a little over 30 minutes.
"All that stuff, not being happy, has gotta go out the window or else we&rsquo;re not going to win," Murray said. "It&rsquo;s nice to have a coach that knows that and knows what we&rsquo;re trying to accomplish.&rdquo;
There are a couple of ways to decipher the rest of Murray's words. You can take the "duh" approach and leave it there. Any team with title aspirations &mdash; and the Nuggets, headlined by MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic while boasting the West's best record, certainly fit the bill &mdash; needs buy-in. Beyond the Xs and Os and rotation decisions, a head coach's primary responsibility is to get buy-in from its players.&nbsp;
Michael Malone has appeared to get that for the most part. You can see that most blatantly with the Nuggets' defensive performance. Per Cleaning The Glass, they're up to 16th in defensive rating on the year, excluding garbage time. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-examining-the-denver-nuggets-poor-defense-nikola-jokic-michael-malone-bruce-brown-michael-porter-jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In early December</a>, I wrote about how pourous their then-ranked 27th defense was; Coach Malone seemingly lamented it every other game.
If you read a little deeper into Murray's reminder for connectivity, you could interpret it as a message to second-year guard Bones Hyland.
Hyland didn't appear in Thursday night's game. He only played four minutes in Tuesday's win over (what's left of) the New Orleans Pelicans. In fact, here is Hyland's minute count over the Nuggets' past 10 games: 8, 15, 18, 8, 11, 0 (inactive), 24, 21, 4, 0 (DNP).
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There have been reports of Hyland and Malone not seeing eye-to-eye. It would make sense; young players &mdash; especially young guards &mdash; have to do a lot to earn Malone's trust on both ends of the floor.
Hyland is a microwave scorer, unafraid to pull from 30 feet if he's feeling it. He's drained nearly 38% of his threes on high volume (5.7 attempts in 19.5 minutes) this season. He's also, at this stage of his career, a harmful defender due to his off-ball awareness and shaky screen navigation. Those are hard sells for Malone fundamentally, even while acknowledging how talented Hyland is.
But with the relationship appearing to deteriorate, trade rumors have <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-bones-hyland-is-one-of-the-most-likely-players-to-be-dealt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued to swirl</a>. Most recently, ESPN's Tim MacMahon essentially called a Hyland trade an inevitability. Brian Windhorst didn't go that far, but it seems the writing is on the wall in Denver.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&ldquo;Bones Hyland is getting traded. It&rsquo;s a matter of where and for what.&rdquo; (via <a href="https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn_macmahon</a>) <a href="https://t.co/JlUJQI7YnW">pic.twitter.com/JlUJQI7YnW</a>
&mdash; The Trade Deadline (@_TradeDeadline) <a href="https://twitter.com/_TradeDeadline/status/1621550941500473348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>

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

Beyond the intrigue of the Nuggets potentially moving Hyland this early, figuring out who they'd actually pursue is also challenging.
It's easy to look at the roster and pinpoint&nbsp;what&nbsp;they should pursue. Finding a bigger, more reliable two-way presence on the perimeter would be at the top of the list. As it stands, rookies Christian Braun and Peyton Watson are the only "3s" between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-8 on the roster. Braun has been in and out of the rotation this season despite his positive flashes, and we've seen virtually nothing from Watson.
If they land on another guard to directly replace Hyland, that player would need to hold their own defensively &mdash; and likely be capable of punching above their weight &mdash; while being able to toggle between on and off-ball duties. Murray has been commanding the second unit when staggered away from Jokic; ideally, you'd want to take some of that creation burden off of him.
The "who" of it is what makes this tough. Hyland isn't just a young trade chip &mdash; he might be the&nbsp;trade chip for the Nuggets considering their first-round pick situation. <a href="https://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Nuggets.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Due to prior trades</a>, the earliest available first-rounder they can move <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/2023/1/10/23547887/the-denver-nuggets-trade-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is their 2029 first</a>. Cashing in Hyland for a veteran could still be the move, but it'd be beneficial to add a vet who could move the needle this year and&nbsp;next year, at the very least.
No team wants to "lose" a deal obviously, but there's heightened importance in nailing a trade involving Hyland because of it.
For that reason, I'd imagine the first call would be to the Chicago Bulls. Alex Caruso doesn't fit the wing-with-size archetype, but he doubles as one of the NBA's stingiest and most versatile perimeter defenders. He is one of the best screen navigators in the sport, possesses quick hands that allow him to pester ball-handlers and restrict passing lanes and has the strength and guile to defend bigger wings or forwards when called upon.
A fun stat, per Second Spectrum: Over the past two seasons, possessions featuring a post-up defended by Caruso have garnered just 0.82 points per possession (PPP). Among the 114 players who have defended at least 75 post-ups in that time frame, that mark ranks 11th. Players ahead of him include Pascal Siakam (0.74 PPP), Draymond Green (0.75 PPP), PJ Tucker (0.76 PPP), Onyeka Okongwu (0.78 PPP) and Jayson Tatum (0.8 PPP).
Any questions concerning Caruso come on the offensive end of the floor. He's currently shooting 40.2% from deep, but is only attempting 4.3 threes per 100 possessions, the second-lowest clip of his career. Because of his infrequent trigger &mdash; with more infuriating catch-and-holds sprinkled in this season &mdash; defenses are okay defending him conservatively on the perimeter.&nbsp;
Caruso remains a smart cutter and a tough-as-nails screener, making him an ideal partner for Nikola Jokic whenever they play together. His cross screens consistently help Nikola Vucevic establish deep post position; it's easy to see him doing the same for Jokic. There's also room for him to act as a brush screener whenever the Nuggets want to utilize Jokic as the pick-and-roll ball handler.
Per <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-nba-trade-winds?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=99187151&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Stein of Substack ($)</a>, the Bulls reportedly want two first-round picks in a deal for Caruso. Would the Bulls consider Hyland as a first-rounder, and would the 2029 first the Nuggets could actually offer be enough to entice them? If so, Hyland, Jeff Green, Ish Smith and the 2029 first is a package that could get the ball rolling.
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(There would be haggling, of course. The Nuggets would rather add second-rounders &mdash; they have six, including two this year. If they do include the first-rounder, I'm sure they'd ask for protections &mdash; or explore what it would take to get the Bulls to include Andre Drummond in the deal as well. In short, there are conversations to be had here.)
If not the Bulls, the Nuggets should check in with the Washington Wizards again. They just did business over the summer with the wing room; why not see if they could pry Delon Wright out of there? It would take one of Green or Smith along with Hyland for salary-matching purposes. Because of the age gap and team control aspect, the Nuggets may be able to ask for minor draft compensation.
Among available forwards, I wonder if they'd call the Phoenix Suns and check in on Jae Crowder. Because of Crowder's contract status &mdash; he's set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer &mdash; the Nuggets likely wouldn't have to think about including a future first. The Hyland-Green-Smith triumvirate would work salary-wise for Crowder and a minimum piece (maybe Jock Landale or Josh Okogie).
STRAY THOUGHTS
<ul>
<li>If the San Antonio Spurs didn't already have multiple guards they're somewhat invested in, a Hyland-led package for Josh Richardson would be something worth exploring.</li>
<li>Same guard-heavy issue with the Utah Jazz, otherwise a Jarrod Vanderbilt deal would be at the top of the list for me.</li>
<li>The Sacramento Kings and Warriors have reportedly been linked to Matisse Thybulle. The Nuggets have the offensive infrastructure to slot Thybulle in as a cutter and occasional screener. How would we feel about a Hyland/Green for Thybulle/Shake Milton swap? Feels like a third team would be needed to balance things further for the Sixers, but I'd be intrigued.</li>
<li>Hyland for Cam Reddish is the "Man, everybody would hate this" trade that I can't push in good faith.</li>
</ul>

The Denver Nuggets may be on the verge of trading Bones Hyland. Nekias Duncan explores which landing spots make sense for Hyland.

Exploring possible trade destinations for Nuggets' Bones Hyland

It's seeming more and more likely that the Denver Nuggets will trade guard Bones Hyland prior to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9.&nbsp;
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/portland-aiming-to-extend-jerami-grant-but-open-to-moving-others-in-trade-market-212259438.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported</a> that the Nuggets were exploring trade options involving Hyland. Fischer explained that Hyland has occasionally clashed with head coach Michael Malone's old-school mentality and that Denver wants to get back a defensive-minded frontcourt player (plus a pick).
NBA insider Marc Stein is <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-deadline-latest-whispers-814?utm_source=profile&amp;utm_medium=reader2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing the same thing</a> regarding Hyland's availability, adding that Denver also has "concerns about his defensive shortcomings and some recent tensions over playing time."
Given that a Hyland trade is one of Denver's only options to improve its roster, Bones "is suddenly regarded as one of the league&rsquo;s most likely players to be dealt before the Feb. 9 buzzer," <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-deadline-latest-whispers-814?utm_source=profile&amp;utm_medium=reader2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Stein</a>.
Bruce Brown is expected to decline his $6.9 million player option next offseason, which is even more reason for Denver to find another defensive specialist prior to the deadline.
Hyland is in his second NBA season and the 22-year-old has averaged 12.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 2.2 threes and 0.7 steals, while shooting 40.0% from the field, 37.9% from three-point range and 86.3% from the free-throw line.
The Nuggets are currently 34-16, which is the best record in the Western Conference and the second-best record in the NBA. Denver currently has the NBA's top-ranked offense, scoring 115.5 points per 100 possessions.&nbsp;
The 2023 NBA trade deadline is Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. ET.

It's looking more and more likely that the Nuggets will trade Bones Hyland prior to the trade deadline, according to Marc Stein.

Report: Bones Hyland is one of the 'most likely players to be dealt'

Don't forget about the other summer blockbuster.
You can't go online without the Rudy Gobert trade being flamed. It's hard not to question that move considering how clunky things have looked for the Timberwolves on both ends, a recent winning streak when Gobert was out of the lineup, and a slide coinciding with Gobert's return &mdash; featuring closing minutes with Naz Reid instead of Gobert.
You know who else has looked clunky on both ends of the floor? The Atlanta Hawks, fresh off a loss to LeBirthday and the Los Angles Lakers on Friday night.
The Hawks are currently sitting two games under .500 (17-19), with a bottom-10 net rating (-1.7, 24th) and more rumors swirling than a high-school hallway. The latter portion &mdash; the outside noise &mdash; is really what sucks about this Hawks season.
It's understandable enough that there would be growing pains when implenting former Spurs All-Star Dejounte Murray into the mix. I was ultimately <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-offseason-trade-news-dejounte-murray-fit-atlanta-hawks-trae-young-bogdan-bogdanovic-deandre-hunter-san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high on the move</a>, but the Young-Murray fit hasn't been clean. The Hawks are <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612737&amp;Season=2022-23&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1629027,1627749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely winning the minutes</a> &mdash; plus-1.8 in 695 minutes &mdash; with them sharing the floor.&nbsp;
It's even tougher considering the injury woes the Hawks have dealt with. Clint Capela has missed nine games; John Collins and De'Andre Hunter have missed eight. Bogdan Bogdanovic, an important spacer and secondary creator, made his season debut on December 2.&nbsp;
In a perfect world, this is just a matter of on-court chemistry building. But alas, it doesn't appear to be just that. The cloud surrounding the relationship between Young and head coach Nate McMillan is hard to ignore at this point.
Before the season, Young and McMillan each referenced their need to improve communication with each other. McMillan took steps over the offseason <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34656193/atlanta-hawks-look-improve-communication-trae-young-coach-nate-mcmillan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with an in-house visit</a>, for a quick example. Naturally, Young missed a home game against the Denver Nuggets earlier this month due to [checks notes] <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/trae-young-reportedly-sat-out-fridays-game-vs-nuggets-after-feud-with-coach-nate-mc-millan-232604712.html#:~:text=The%20team%20said%20at%20the,to%20be%20any%20further%20discipline." target="_blank" rel="noopener">morning shootaround etiquette.</a>
(As the story goes, Young wanted to bypass morning shootaround to receive extra treatment for a troublesome shoulder. McMillan gave Young a choice: either come off the bench [for missing a normally-mandatory shootaround], or stay home. Young opted for the latter.)
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That's a petty story at best, another notch on the "what-the-heck's-going-on-with-those-two?" belt at worst. It didn't look good for Young, who simply could've played if he wanted to. It didn't look good for McMillan, who wouldn't have lost sleep over letting Young slide considering the circumstances &mdash; and his importance to the team, but you know.
Fast forward to Friday, before the Lakers loss, and we get a report from The Athletic's Shams Charania that McMillan has <a href="https://theathletic.com/4046211/2022/12/30/nate-mcmillan-hawks-considers-resigning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considered resigning from the job</a>. When asked about the report, McMillan didn't necessarily <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/hawks-coach-nate-mcmillan-responds-to-report-suggesting-he-may-resign-well-move-on-past-that/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shut things down</a>:
"I read that article briefly, I've never spoke to that reporter before,"&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Pat_Benson_Jr/status/1608958610905903105?s=20&amp;t=p8pumdwNvGb35E1h4W7reQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McMillan said</a>. "I think the last two weeks, he's written a couple articles with some sources in our organization that are making some comments about me, and some things that I'm saying and doing. Look, at the end of the year, I'll do as I've always done, at the end of the season I talk with my family and see if I still have that flame, that fire to continue next season. That's the end of the season. All of us think about retiring, but that's at the end of the season. So we'll move on past that."
What makes this dynamic &mdash; and the Hawks in general &mdash; so difficult to parse through is the chicken-or-egg nature of it.&nbsp;
For the "star &gt; coach" crowd, there are arguments to make.
There is a level of rigidity with McMillan from a scheme perspective. That isn't inherently bad; he provides structure, and that appeal is what helped land him the job after the Hawks fired Lloyd Pierce in the first place. But it's part of why teams have been willing to move on from McMillan after a spell, looking for a new voice or a boost in creativity. The Hawks very well could use that.&nbsp;
On the flip side, how much more can be done with this personnel? That's worth asking before factoring in the injury woes.&nbsp;
Daryl Morey would throw up at the Hawks' shot profile: 37.5% of their shots come from the mid-range area (1st), while they lag way behind in rim (32%, 20th) and three-point rate (30.5%, 29th). But when your shooting talent underperforms (Collins, Hunter, Justin Holiday), is mostly unavailable (Bogdanovic) or trying to learn the ropes in year one (AJ Griffin), what should the expectation be?
McMillan, like virtually every coach in existence, has had his rotations questioned during his tenure. But with the revolving door of talent he's had at his disposal this season, what should the expectation be?
And then there's Young himself.&nbsp;
He's underperformed by his lofty standards. Averages of 27.4 points and 9.9 assists are dope; averaging career-lows from just about everywhere &mdash; 31% on 7.2 threes, 47% on 13.8 two-pointers &mdash; is admittedly not dope.
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He hasn't been able to can the pull-up threes that make him such a lethal pick-and-roll threat. His floater, one of the NBA's best weapons, has largely failed him this season. (Ja Morant's dealing with a similar floater issue, hence his career-low in two-point percentage.)
Young missing shots wouldn't be as tough if his play-style didn't exacerbate things. He dictates a ton of the action &mdash; and rightfully so, with his blend of playmaking and scoring chops. After <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches?Season=2021-22&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=AVG_DRIB_PER_TOUCH" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading the NBA</a> in seconds per touch and dribbles per touch last season, Young ranks... second and first respectively <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches?CF=GP*GE*20&amp;Season=2022-23&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=AVG_DRIB_PER_TOUCH" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this season</a>.
After an encouraging start to the year, the off-ball juice just hasn't been there for Young. We're back to pass-and-stand with the ball out of his hands. He's taken just 23 relocation threes this season, per Second Spectrum; that's on pace to smash last season's number (26), but still well below the threshold you'd like to see from Young.&nbsp;
The primary reason that people questioned the Young-Murray fit was because of the off-ball woes. Murray was a fine-not-threatening catch-and-shoot threat, while Young just wasn't particularly engaged in that area. Sadly, it's been mostly a "my turn, your turn" ordeal between the two.
It's fair to question if McMillan can bring this team to the next level, and if he can connect with Young enough to make that possibility a reality. It's also fair to question how much of a limiter Young's style is to building the sort of multi-faceted attack that can take the Hawks to the next level.&nbsp;
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That question, in addition to the weird relationship with McMillan, is why <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10059477-sources-trae-young-could-be-next-nba-superstar-to-request-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executives have started chirping</a> about the possibility of Young eventually asking out.
This is where I pause and state the obvious: executives saying "hey, he might be the next star to ask out" is not a report. It's notable conversation, and fun to think about. It's not an actual trade request.
Even with that context, it's interesting to think about what a Young trade would even look like. The Hawks pushing that button would signify, "We can't do this," "We don't want to deal with this," or a combination of the two. How would that message be received league-wide?
Young is an offense unto himself; that's incredibly valuable and, oddly enough, part of the problem with building around him. Add in the defensive concerns &mdash; he's a small dude whose attention span wanes off the ball too often &mdash; and a Young trade sweepstakes won't be as simple as "this dude's good so we should sell the farm for him."
Go down the line of fake trade destinations, and you'll come across some roadblocks.
That Young-for-KAT swap seems plausible until you think about Young, Anthony Edwards and Gobert in the same locker room. Gobert was frustrated enough being blamed for Utah's defensive miscues; cleaning up for Young and&nbsp;Edwards' off-ball lapses feels like trouble waiting to happen.&nbsp;
The New York Knicks should be happy with the All-Star caliber play that Jalen Brunson has provided this season. Brunson isn't a Young-level talent, nor is he a Young-level star. I'd be shocked if they didn't at least consider constructing a package for Young.
In light of Chris Paul's decline, I'm sure the Phoenix Suns would sniff around. The prospect of pairing Young and Devin Booker together would be interesting, though building out an offer would induce headaches.&nbsp;
(I don't know if anyone wants to hear this, but there's probably a conversation to be had between Atlanta and Philadelphia depending on what James Harden wants to do with his player option.)
For a player as talented as Young, that's not a long list of suitors. And again, you could poke holes in all of those. Ideally, this doesn't become a real talking point to begin with. The Hawks want Young to be the face of the franchise, and he's already shown he's talented enough to lead them on a deep playoff run.
What needs to change for the Hawks to turn things around? The anwer is a little bit of everything.&nbsp;
More malleability from McMillan would be nice. A healthier roster &mdash; and better shooting talent &mdash; would give McMillan more room to experiment. Obviously there's no "shoot-the-ball-better" button to press, but Young can control his own engagement level off the ball &mdash; on both ends of the floor.&nbsp;

What's wrong with the Hawks? Nekias Duncan breaks down the team's issues and Atlanta's options moving forward.

What's wrong with the Atlanta Hawks?

Nekias Duncan previews the Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Spurs ahead of the 2022-23 NBA campaign.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Southwest Division

Nekias Duncan previews the Hawks, Hornets, Heat, Magic and Wizards ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Southeast Division

Nekias Duncan previews each of the Pacific division teams ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Pacific Division

NBA training camps and preseason games are underway, yet DeMarcus Cousins is still a free agent.
Last season, Cousins became a key contributor after joining the Denver Nuggets in February, averaging 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per contest. He played well during the playoffs too, particularly in Denver's Game 5 loss against the Golden State Warriors when he scored 19 points in 15 minutes (while shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range).
It certainly seems like the 32-year-old big man can still help a team, but he believes his negative reputation is why he remains unsigned.
&ldquo;I think the misperception of me is that I&rsquo;m this angry monster that just goes around bullying people, beating people up, uncoachable, and a cancer in the locker room,&rdquo; Cousins told <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/demarcus-cousins-admits-mistakes-as-he-pursues-nba-comeback-just-asking-for-a-chance-to-show-my-growth-161331965.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s all false. I played for coach [John] Calipari, a legendary coach. I was more than coachable. Steve Kerr would attest to that and coach [Mike] Malone. Obviously, you can always go back to my time in Sacramento. I was a young kid. I was still figuring this business out. I was ignorant to a lot of things. I handled a lot of things the incorrect way, but I&rsquo;ve also learned from those mistakes. And some things that happened were just out of my control. The stars just didn&rsquo;t align and things just didn&rsquo;t work out the way we had planned. But that was seven or eight years ago.
"I&rsquo;m a grown man with a family that I work to provide for and that&rsquo;s my goal every day when I wake up: 'How can I provide for my family?' So, to hold my time in Sac over my head, I think that&rsquo;s unfair. I believe we all should have a chance to grow and change and actually have that change be embraced. I just want a fair shot.&rdquo;
Cousins acknowledges that he has screwed up throughout his career, mainly when he was younger. Now, he just wants an opportunity to show how much he has grown.
&ldquo;Have I made mistakes? Absolutely,&rdquo; Cousins <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/demarcus-cousins-admits-mistakes-as-he-pursues-nba-comeback-just-asking-for-a-chance-to-show-my-growth-161331965.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;Have I done things the wrong way? Absolutely. For that, I&rsquo;m very apologetic. But I&rsquo;ve done even more things the correct way, and I&rsquo;ve done even more positive things compared to my negatives. I just don&rsquo;t want those positives to be overlooked. And obviously, whenever it gets to the point where the negatives outweigh the positives, you should probably move away from him. That&rsquo;s just how life goes. But I don&rsquo;t believe I&rsquo;m in that boat. I&rsquo;m just asking for a chance to show my growth as a man and a player...
&ldquo;It would mean everything in the world to me to be back in the NBA. I know I belong in this league. I feel like I&rsquo;ve paid my dues and earned my stripes. I&rsquo;ve hit some bumps in the road with injuries and I&rsquo;ve always worked my way back to be 100% healthy. I&rsquo;ve worked my tail off to get back to this point. I just want the opportunity to show the work I&rsquo;ve put in and continue to put in. I also just want an opportunity to also earn my keep and that&rsquo;s all I really want. I have a lot left in the tank. A whole lot. I feel like I&rsquo;ve actually become an even better player, just sharpening all my skills. I&rsquo;ve had nothing but time in the gym. I&rsquo;ve gotten better in all aspects of my game."
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Cousins has been working out every day and staying ready for when he gets that call from an NBA team.
&ldquo;I just want teams to get to really know me and not to believe the narrative," Cousins said. "I&rsquo;m a great teammate and great for the locker room. I have a lot of experience in this league. I have a lot of knowledge to give to these younger guys. I love spreading knowledge. I love being an OG to the younger guys. I&rsquo;ve always been a big-brother figure. I don&rsquo;t believe those areas of my game and of my personality are ever really highlighted. It&rsquo;s more so always the technicals and things of that nature. And like I said, I just don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s a fair assessment. I&rsquo;m ready to help a team however way I can.&rdquo;
In recent years, numerous teammates have raved about Cousins. After the Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs last season, Monte Morris and Will Barton discussed Cousins' impact &mdash; on and off the court.
&ldquo;Anytime you have a guy like that, you always want him back,&rdquo; Barton said. &ldquo;Like I say, he's still DeMarcus Cousins &mdash; a guy who, when he's healthy, is a very good player. Those are not my decisions; I'm not in management. Obviously, if I have a voice in the fight, I definitely would love to have him back. He was big for us on and off the court, [a] presence in the locker room. We'll see what happens.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Signing Boogie, man... I love him to death,&rdquo; Morris said. &ldquo;A guy that would pick up 19 points in a do-or-die elimination game just shows how much heart he has, how much love he has for the game. I'm definitely proud of him... He's a great guy. He has a great family, great kids, an amazing wife. I look at things bigger than just ball. He's a guy that's been through a lot, on and off the court, experience-wise. He can help anybody. It's a lot that he's seen. Having that around, I think, is big.&rdquo;
Over the course of Cousins' 12-year NBA career, the four-time All-Star has averaged 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks on .460/.331/.737 shooting splits. Cousins is currently the fourth-best player on our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-free-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA Free Agent Rankings</a>.

DeMarcus Cousins has yet to be signed. He opened up to Chris Haynes about his free agency, his negative reputation and more.

Free agent DeMarcus Cousins admits mistakes, hopes for NBA call

Nekias Duncan thoroughly breaks down all five teams in the Northwest Division ahead of the 2022-23 season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Northwest Division

Is the NBA ready to add an expansion team? Evan Sidery explores what kind of team you could build in a present-day expansion draft.

NBA Expansion Mock Draft: What would a new expansion team look like?

As we officially put the finishing touches on &ldquo;Bet Week&rdquo; here on BasketballNews.com, NBA over/under win total projections have been released for every team.
Which numbers stand out most to hammer one way or another from a betting perspective? In this piece, I unveil my over/under predictions for every team in the Western Conference. All odds are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Phoenix Suns: Over 52.5 (-110)
Even if the Suns don&rsquo;t acquire Kevin Durant, they remain in an advantageous position to finish near the top of the Western Conference standings. Phoenix still has a stacked rotation, with the biggest difference being Dario Saric&rsquo;s return to the backup big role in place of JaVale McGee. If Devin Booker and the Suns&rsquo; formidable young core continue taking steps forward, it&rsquo;s hard to envision much of a drop-off occurring in the win-loss column.
Phoenix&rsquo;s postseason exit was one of the ugliest we&rsquo;ve seen in recent memory, but a loss like that could rattle this group enough to come back similarly to the team's Finals experience in 2021. I&rsquo;m hammering the over here, as the Suns remain one of the most dangerous squads in the Association. If Durant comes, that&rsquo;ll be the ultimate cherry on top.
Los Angeles Clippers: Over 52.5 (-110)
A fully healthy Clippers squad with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will always stay in the conversation among the league's elite tier. Last season, we were all robbed of seeing this dynamic duo in action together, but all the time off leads me to believe we should see them play more than usual. If so, the over/under of 52.5 wins is one I&rsquo;m comfortable placing the over wager upon.
Los Angeles not only has a loaded rotation similar to Phoenix, but it has a historically potent wing tandem ready to go on a revenge tour. As one of my favorite bets in the West, lock in the Clippers&rsquo; over with the utmost confidence.
Golden State Warriors: Over 51.5 (-115)
The defending champions check in third in the West, which feels like an undersell of what they just accomplished. Stephen Curry is still playing at an all-time level, and Klay Thompson began to find his footing throughout the Warriors&rsquo; run to a championship.
Feeling confident in the over also has to do with the development of the team's younger, up-and-coming players. Though dependent upon how much more Golden State will go into the luxury tax long-term, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins look to be entrenched long-term pieces. Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman are the ultimate wildcards for Golden State. Even if only one takes off from a development perspective in 2022-23, 51.5 wins is a number to hit the over on.
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Denver Nuggets: Over 49.5 (-140)
Nikola Jokic enters this season as a trendy dark-horse selection for MVP as the back-to-back award winner, which is incredible to even think about. The Nuggets have stayed competitive amidst their countless injury issues because of Jokic&rsquo;s greatness.
Now, with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. eventually expected back at 100%, Denver is a team many bettors are hammering the over on with -140 moneyline odds on 49.5 wins. Frankly, I&rsquo;m in lockstep with the sportsbooks because Denver was a team that sneakily improved on the margins this offseason. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was an underrated acquisition from the Washington Wizards, and he&rsquo;s earned a new multi-year extension upon his arrival.
If Murray and Porter&rsquo;s health cooperate alongside the all-world talent that is Jokic, 50 wins for the Nuggets just feels right to say. Even above that mark is an appropriate projection, because Jokic elevates the floor that much on his own.
Memphis Grizzlies: Under 48.5 (+105)
Ja Morant qualified as our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/best-bets-for-202223-nba-most-valuable-player" target="_blank" rel="noopener">under-the-radar MVP selection</a> during &ldquo;Bet Week,&rdquo; but the loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. early on looms large for the Grizzlies. Although he flies under the radar a little bit too often, JJJ is an anchor to a defense that&rsquo;s done a complete 180 over the last year.
A lot will be on the plate of Morant, which he won&rsquo;t have a problem with, but what about the rest of the West? The Clippers and Nuggets are healthy now, plus the Suns and Warriors will remain in the title race as well. If Morant can carry the Grizzlies in similar territory without JJJ, his MVP argument could become very valid.
I&rsquo;m going to tread lightly on Memphis and select the under here with plus-money value. Morant will put up spectacular numbers once more, and Desmond Bane should continue to emerge in the backcourt. For my current projection, the Grizzlies will slot in as a No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Dallas Mavericks: Under 48.5 (-105)
The argument against the Mavericks is almost identical to the one I just presented for Memphis. Luka Doncic enters as the heavy betting favorite for MVP, but will he alone be enough to lift Dallas into truly elite territory? That&rsquo;s one of my biggest questions entering 2022-23, because players like Doncic and Morant fit the billing of talents who can lift teams all on their own.
Months away from it now, it&rsquo;s still stunning to think back to the Mavs&rsquo; Game 7 shellacking of the Suns in the West semifinals. Once Doncic figured out Phoenix&rsquo;s defense, it was game over. Could Doncic do this to the rest of the league? There&rsquo;s no doubt he will put up monster numbers, but the Mavericks fit into the same tier as the Grizzlies right now around 47-48 wins.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 47.5 (-140)
I&rsquo;ll continue to bang the Minnesota drum until proven otherwise because I&rsquo;m all-in on the Timberwolves taking a huge step forward. Anthony Edwards checks every box for a young superstar, and their new addition in Rudy Gobert will augment a talented rotation. Karl-Anthony Towns being flanked by Gobert makes up one of the most unique frontcourt combinations we&rsquo;ve ever seen in the modern NBA, but this type of move is a risk an organization like Minnesota must take. Towns and Edwards are ready to win big soon, so adding an elite rim-protector like Gobert allows those gifted scorers to focus on that end.
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Bookmark this if you want, but here&rsquo;s perhaps my biggest hot take: Minnesota will win the Northwest Division and become a top-four seed. With how everything stacks together for Minnesota, this is a team well-positioned to take a leap similar to the one we&rsquo;ve seen from Phoenix and Memphis in recent years.
Los Angeles Lakers: Under 45.5 (-105)
Unless Kyrie Irving is walking through the door anytime soon, I&rsquo;m taking the money and running as quickly as possible on the Lakers' under here. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will do their usual damage, but this roster is nowhere close to being finished. Also, there&rsquo;s no way anyone can truly believe the Lakers are a Finals contender with their ongoing saga surrounding Russell Westbrook. From the very beginning, Westbrook&rsquo;s fit was super clunky alongside LeBron and AD. Now, the triple-double king continues to be the main target of trade rumors, many of which are linking him to the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs as a pure salary-dump option.
Indiana is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lakers-would-be-foolish-not-to-accept-pacers-lifeline-to-extend-their-title-window" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offering the Lakers a lifeline to fix the Westbrook situation</a>. The Pacers are willing to take on the $47 million owed to Westbrook while also sending Los Angeles back two starters in Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. The current hold-up in trade negotiations reportedly is draft pick compensation. Los Angeles refuses to offer its 2029 first-round pick on top of the 2027 selection, which the Pacers believe is more than a fair price to pay.
In the meantime, I&rsquo;m going to take the Lakers under 45.5 wins while it remains at plus value. Until any resolution is reached on the roster, I&rsquo;m betting against L.A.
New Orleans Pelicans: Over 44.5 (-140)
Compared to almost any other team in the NBA, New Orleans projects supremely well long-term if Zion Williamson&rsquo;s health cooperates. Williamson and Brandon Ingram have each shown on separate occasions they can be the No. 1 option for New Orleans. CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are ideal veteran pieces in the starting unit as well. Well-balanced on both ends of the court, the Pelicans have completely bought into what head coach Willie Green brought over from Monty Williams in Phoenix.
With Williamson, Ingram and McCollum, the Pelicans should be a team projected closer to 50 wins. I absolutely love the over here on 44.5 wins, so don&rsquo;t be surprised if New Orleans finishes as a playoff lock instead of a Play-In Tournament competitor.
Portland Trail Blazers: Under 40.5 (-110)
Kudos to Damian Lillard because he will not leave the Blazers hanging anytime soon. He&rsquo;s all-in on winning in Portland, which reminds me so much of Reggie Miller with the Pacers a few decades back. Portland re-signed Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons, but two notable splashes occurred this offseason. Jerami Grant is the Blazers&rsquo; first true wing threat in years, and the ultimate wildcard from the 2022 NBA Draft fell into their laps at No. 7 overall. What if Shaedon Sharpe hits his ceiling? That&rsquo;s something Portland has in their back pocket, because Sharpe&rsquo;s scoring prowess forecasts very well alongside Lillard. They'll just have to hope he can get healthy and stay healthy.
The West remains a tough customer though. So, with that being said, the Blazers fall into the category of a feisty team that&rsquo;s competitive most nights on their way to a sub-40-win campaign. It's certainly not the outcome Blazers fans hope for, but there&rsquo;s a large number of teams ahead of them at the moment.
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Sacramento Kings: Over 32.5 (-120)
The Kings actually had a good offseason. Yes, you&rsquo;re reading that right. Keegan Murray at No. 4 overall looks to be a lights-out scorer with an extremely high floor. Ideally, Murray can become the third piece to a long-term trio in Sacramento alongside De&rsquo;Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Also, don&rsquo;t forget about the Kings adding much-needed help on the perimeter with Kevin Huerter via trade and Malik Monk via free agency.
I had to double-take upon finding this fact, but the Kings have only exceeded 33 wins once over the last 14 years (2018-19 was that season).
Luckily for Sacramento, I&rsquo;m projecting them to finish with at least 33 wins for 2022-23. If the Kings underachieve once more, I wonder what the future looks like for an organization that stays in topsy-turvy mode.
Utah Jazz: Under 31.5 (-110)
Assuming Donovan Mitchell is eventually traded, this number will crumble down into the 20s. Utah is in the midst of a full-scale rebuild attempt for the first time in over a decade, and all signs point to Mitchell&rsquo;s exit soon enough from Salt Lake City. Gobert being dealt within the division to Minnesota for a historic amount of draft capital shook up the trade market for good, as it&rsquo;s holding up potential blockbusters revolving around Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Mitchell.
Moving forward, there&rsquo;s no reason why you should feel confident about betting the Utah over unless Mitchell keeps them above water staying around until February. If not, you&rsquo;re putting an awful lot of faith into the hands of Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson to carry the roster. (If they're there.)
The smart route is to go with the under for the Jazz. Lock in with extreme confidence that Jazz executive Danny Ainge eventually tears it all down within a few months.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Under 26.5 (+100)
Until the Thunder stop their tanking ways, I can&rsquo;t willfully bet an over on them. Following their aggressive draft night &mdash; obtaining three lottery picks headlined by No. 2 overall selection Chet Holmgren, who many viewed as the best overall player &mdash; maybe that "tanking" buzzword is in their rearview mirror.
OKC&rsquo;s roster is young, but the talent screams out as a team that could propel itself forward in a huge manner. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey profile as a super fun long-term backcourt pairing. Luguentz Dort is a pitbull defender who continues to improve his outside shot, which earned him a lucrative five-year extension.
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The Thunder could easily make me look foolish selecting the under, but something along the lines of 25 or 26 wins feels spot on. Can Sam Presti resist the temptation of not tanking for Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson in 2023?
Houston Rockets: Over 23.5 (-125)
The Rockets have one of the most interesting young cores to monitor heading into next season. Jalen Green began to turn the corner over the last month of the season, averaging 22.3 points on a 59.9% True Shooting percentage. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston&rsquo;s No. 3 overall selection from the 2022 draft, projects as a score-first wing/big hybrid who should excel alongside Green and Kevin Porter Jr. Alperen Sengun, a throwback Turkish big man, is an underrated prospect with an unlimited ceiling once the small aspects of his game are figured out.
Houston is nowhere close to being competitive, but that&rsquo;s totally okay. The team controls the Brooklyn Nets&rsquo; draft for the next season years, so the Rockets are set up arguably as well as anyone right now with the chaos surrounding that whole situation. If the youth jells together and the organization obtains another top pick in next year&rsquo;s draft, be on the lookout for this core to ascend.
For the over/under, 23.5 wins feels a little low, in my opinion. I&rsquo;m projecting the Rockets with 25 victories, so give me the over at -125 odds on DraftKings.
San Antonio Spurs: Under 22.5 (-110)
Once Dejounte Murray was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, it sounded the alarm that the Spurs are finally waiving the white flag on competing for wins effective immediately. San Antonio obtained three future first-round picks for Murray, a haul for a team pressing the reset button at the perfect time.
Las Vegas projects the Spurs with the worst over/under for next season, and there&rsquo;s no real reason to go against them there. Keldon Johnson will put up numbers following his long-term extension, but inexperience is the main theme for San Antonio. The Spurs should be on their way to 20 wins or less, so hammer the under.

Evan Sidery goes over win totals for the Western Conference. Who stands out?

Best Bets: NBA Western Conference over/under projections

Anyone remember the Denver Nuggets? Just a few short seasons ago, they advanced to the Western Conference Finals. They boast the back-to-back MVP winner. They&rsquo;ve won at least 46 games in five consecutive seasons. Anyone?
In all seriousness, the Nuggets have become something of an afterthought &mdash; mainly because they haven't been at full strength in recent years. Lead guard Jamal Murray suffered a knee injury late in the 2020-21 season, which led to most people writing them off. For all remaining optimists out there, a back injury shut down Michael Porter Jr. nine games into last season. The short-handed Nuggets still managed to win 48 games, but they were no match for the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
But despite being overlooked, the future is bright in Denver. If Murray returns and looks like himself, the Nuggets should have more than enough to return to contention. A core of Nikola Jokic, Murray, Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon is impressive. But in a consistently competitive conference, nothing is guaranteed. So, Denver did what any smart organization would do in their position: round out their roster.
Denver added two key pieces in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown. Doing so cost them some notable players &mdash; namely, Will Barton and Monte Morris.
First, let's discuss the addition of Caldwell-Pope.&nbsp;
Caldwell-Pope is an accomplished scorer. Last year, in his ninth NBA season, he averaged 13.2 points per game for the Washington Wizards. While Barton was a mediocre three-point shooter, Caldwell-Pope knocked down 39.5% of his three-point attempts last season (and shot 41% from deep the year before). KCP is a significantly better defender too.
Caldwell-Pope looks like a really good fit for this team. He is a prototypical 3-and-D guy, and he's never been a high-usage player. In fact, despite posting the third-highest usage rate of his career in 2021-22, Caldwell-Pope ranked just 105th in the NBA. And still, his impact was felt.
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While Caldwell-Pope may score more points, Brown should make an even greater impact. Like Caldwell-Pope, Brown can be classified as a 3-and-D-type player as well. However, his style and physical attributes make him more difficult to define.
At 6-foot-4, Brown can play all five positions, literally. He creates and distributes, defends on and off the ball and scores in a variety of ways, including at the rim, in transition and on the move without the ball.
Playing with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving created some unique opportunities in Brooklyn, but Brown could be even better in Denver considering he&rsquo;ll be alongside more willing passers in Jokic and Murray.
Not only can Brown play and defend any position, he also demonstrated his chops as a shooter last season. He connected on 40.4% of his three-point attempts after making only 28% in 2020-21. Brown also shot 66% at the rim and 48% from the short midrange, which ranked in the 62nd and 79th percentile among forwards.
Brown also takes care of the basketball. Despite playing in 72 games last season, there were only five contests in which Brown committed two or more turnovers.
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Ultimately, Brown&rsquo;s versatility is his calling card. He can take on some of the scoring burden like Barton did. He can also help fill the void at back-up point guard created by trading Morris. But where Brown really improves Denver is on the defensive end of the floor, and that&rsquo;s something the Nuggets need. Denver ranked 15th in defensive rating in 2021-22 &ndash;&nbsp;the epitome of mediocre in the NBA.
Unlike Caldwell-Pope, who projects to be a starter, Brown will likely help out Denver&rsquo;s second unit. Similar to Gary Payton II, Brown can easily handle tough defensive assignments. And given his aforementioned versatility, he&rsquo;ll be able to sub in for any position.
Brown may end up being one of the biggest steals of this offseason considering the Nuggets got him on a two-year, $13.2 million deal. Sure, that&rsquo;s a relatively short-term contract (and he has a player option in year two), but adding a major rotation player for just $6.6 million per season is a huge win for any team.
An appropriate comparison for Brown is PJ Tucker, who can also play virtually every position and take on most defensive assignments. Adding a young Tucker-esque player at that cost is an absolute bargain. Oh, and Brown is still just 25 years old, meaning he'll probably get even better.
The Nuggets are finally healthy and they've added reinforcements, making them a contender to watch entering this season. And unlike past years, their success shouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise this season.

Denver was already a playoff team in a tough Western Conference. They'll be even better this year thanks to their offseason additions.

Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope raise the Nuggets' ceiling

Who is poised to become a free agent next offseason? Here’s a look at the top 40 NBA players who could be available next summer.

2023 NBA Free Agency: Looking ahead to next summer's free-agent class

It's always refreshing to see a good ol' fashioned players-for-players exchange.
The Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets didn't play games in their 2-for-2 trade on Wednesday. According to the reports, Washington sent Ish Smith and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Denver, and the Nuggets dealt Monte Morris and Will Barton to the Wizards.
That's it. No pick protections, no draft swaps, and not even a "cash considerations" cameo. Two proven NBA basketball players moved to a new team for two proven NBA basketball players of loosely the same position and stature, all ranging between 27 and 34 years old. Of course, we don't know the full intent of the deal from each side, and the Gordian Knot that is offseason transactions hasn't even come close to untying yet.
For now, though, Washington and Denver have signaled with this trade that they recognize a need for stylistic change in the rotation. These four players are not the biggest names we'll hear about over the next couple of days, but they've been acquired to impact winning on two squads that should feel pressure to win.
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Let's deconstruct the deal team-by-team and player-by-player.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Bradley Beal declined his $36.4 million player option on Wednesday, but as <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039985-espn-bradley-beal-very-likely-to-decline-option-sign-new-5-year-wizards-contract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday,</a> that was an expected move, as Beal can now sign a five-year supermax contract worth close to $248 million. So if his free agency plays out as expected, Beal is still entrenched as the steward of the Wizards, which means Washington is still trying to rebuild and contend on the fly.
The franchise has reenergized its pursuit of a stable backcourt surrounding Beal. The Wizards selected Johnny Davis with the No. 10 overall pick in last week's NBA Draft, and he projects as a seamless complement to Beal in time: a tough-as-nails defender at the point of attack and a scoring threat when attacking the basket.&nbsp;
Davis is not ready to be thrown into the fire as perhaps the second-leading touch-getter on the roster, though. Enter Monte Morris, who's quite a different player from Beal and Davis in all the right ways.&nbsp;
Morris is a career 39.4% three-point shooter from beyond the arc. Most of that clip comes from catch-and-shoot prowess, where Morris hit at 42.1% this season vs. just 32.4% on a much lower volume of pull-ups. There's been a fairly consistent gap in those categories for most of his career.
He also sported one of the better at-rim rates in the league last season, finishing 68% of his shots within 4 feet of the basket (90th percentile among point guards, per Cleaning the Glass). That percentage also comes with a caveat: Morris was assisted on a whopping 63% of his at-rim makes, which is by far the highest percentage among all point guards (and fifth among all guards who played at least 800 minutes this season).
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Having one of the world's best passers in Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets certainly changed Morris' role. He likely won't be in quite as many vertical cuts to the basket, waiting for a feed from a post-up big. The point is that Morris knows how to cut and space effectively, and next to a creator like Beal, should get his share of catch-and-convert looks.
He can still make some scoring plays happen on his own with his ability to change pace and direction quickly. Morris has also been lauded as an assist-to-turnover wizard, and it's true that his turnover rate is consistently among the best in the league. He doesn't exactly create assists, but Morris is at least a steady decision-maker you can trust as a secondary guard.&nbsp;
With that being said, Morris does not solve the creative playmaking gap that exists throughout this Wizards roster. Among the 10 players who logged at least 800 minutes in Washington, zero ranked in the top-25 percentile at their respective positions for assist-to-usage rate. Several were fairly close &mdash; Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija and Raul Neto were all above-average &mdash; but in the absence of a Tier 1 playmaker, it feels like this rotation could use one more person to open up the court.
Barton's assist rate (17.1%) and assist-to-usage rate (0.87) both slotted in the 87th percentile among wings last year, even as he played alongside Nikola Jokic and other great passers. I was personally suprised to find that Barton actually posted the highest adjusted assist-to-pass ratio on the Nuggets in 2021-22, even edging out Jokic. Amidst his streaky scoring and unfortunate injury history, Barton adds an underrated dimension as a passer.
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Barton adeptly keeps his eyes up when he drives and can hit popping players like Jokic, or finds the open man if his attack draws help. He's not a human highlight reel as a passer, but these are some quality finds for a player who makes his living as a scorer. Barton assisted on 12% of plays where he drove to the basket, per BBall Index, ranking in the 80th percentile at his position.
A trio of Beal, Kuzma and Barton threatening as drivers should open up options for Washington's array of complementary scorers.
Do Morris or Barton patch up the Wizards' 25th-ranked defense? Absolutely not. But as solid as Caldwell-Pope was, he was not holding together the defensive end, and parting with him makes sense for two well-fitting offensive pieces. Washington's guard rotation, long considered a weakness outside of Beal, now feels like an area of strength and relative upside.&nbsp;
DENVER NUGGETS
Let's get the financial incentive out of the way before looking on the court. According to the reports, this trade helps Denver sneak back under the luxury tax &mdash; not something to cheer about, but certainly beneficial for the future.&nbsp;
More importantly, the move showed Denver recognizes the limitations of its own roster, and has a plan to correct them.
Caldwell-Pope started all 77 games in his lone season with Washington, putting together a resurgent year by averaging 13.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game &mdash; all bests over the past four seasons.&nbsp;
Offensively, the fit is obvious: KCP should thrive as an outlet for Jokic. Caldwell-Pope canned 42.0% of his catch-and-shoot threes last season, and 14% of his halfcourt possessions involved cuts (97th percentile), per BBall Index. That was in Washington; imagine how he succeeds in some of those aforementioned scenarios in place of Morris.&nbsp;
The real kicker, though &mdash; Denver finally has a primary perimeter defender.&nbsp;
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Caldwell-Pope described <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/wizards-kentavious-caldwell-pope-explains-art-wing-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how he approaches defense</a> last fall, and you can see his work show up on film. He has to rotate over on this first play to cover Morris, and knowing that will open up a passing lane for a swing to Barton (how ironic is this first clip in hindsight), gets his arm in front of the ball for a steal.
Later in the reel: KCP knows Trae Young wants to get to his right hand to shoot or pass, and can poke away a steal before Young gets the ball there. He can make up for his smaller size by playing physically with larger wings like Jaylen Brown or Jonathan Kuminga. His foul rate of 2.5% is also surprisingly low for a player with such active hands.
Denver had the 15th-ranked defense in the regular season, but was 19th out of 20 Play-In and playoff teams in postseason Defensive Rating. KCP won't change that overnight, but he can be a spark where the Nuggets sorely need one.
At the same time, the Nuggets have Jamal Murray on his way back from a long ACL recovery, They also have Bones Hyland readying for a Year 2 leap after he averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 assists per game on a 63.8% True Shooting percentage post-All-Star break. Morris would have been crunched for minutes in the guard rotation, so it makes sense to replace him with a steady veteran in Ish Smith, who can hold down the remaining playing time.
And Smith is no throw-in, either. He's on his NBA-record 13th team and should provide a locker-room boost that cannot be quantified.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
When Ish Smith suits up for the Nuggets, he&rsquo;ll play for his 13th NBA team &mdash; the most ever by a single player 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/GcMA5yYhnY">pic.twitter.com/GcMA5yYhnY</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1542193390498054144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Smith doesn't project as quite the seamless fit as KCP should be. But this might actually force positive change from a player who has spent so much of his career trying to keep bench units afloat as an on-ball initiator.
Last season, 104 players played at least 50 games and averaged at least five drives per game, according to Second Spectrum. Smith passed the ball on 60.1% of his drives, more than any other player, and shot just 44.5% on his driving field goal attempts (ranked 84th).&nbsp;
Smith is a phenomenal passer and still one of the pure fastest players with the ball in his hands. But he also has had to rely so heavily on his own ability to create, and with Smith getting older (and the league getting longer and more switchable), the bar to clear goes up.
In this vein, I'd like to see if and how he is used off the ball in Denver. Smith is a capable shooter, and perhaps he can fit into some of the roles occupied by past Nuggets guards. At the minimum, he'll be a safer play at backup point guard than, say, Facundo Campazzo. But I think there's also some untapped room for growth.&nbsp;
The Nuggets have established themselves as contenders, but have gone backwards in the playoffs over the past three years. Caldwell-Pope and Smith won't drastically spring Denver's fortunes to crazy heights, but as we see every postseason, the complementary specialists can swing a game or series.
Sometimes, that's all a team needs to change.
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The Wizards and Nuggets helped each other by agreeing to a 2-for-2 trade on Wednesday.

NBA trade reaction: Breaking down the 4-player Nuggets-Wizards swap

The Denver Nuggets have spent most of the season chasing something that once felt routine. Not wins, not rhythm, not momentum. What they have been chasing is availability.
For months, Denver has navigated injuries, absences, and constant lineup changes that disrupted continuity and delayed any chance of building sustained chemistry. The last time the Nuggets were truly complete dates back to November 14, a moment that now feels distant considering everything that followed. Key pieces missed time, rotations shifted, and roles expanded and contracted out of necessity. There were nights when Denver simply had to find enough bodies to compete, let alone execute at a championship level.
And yet, through all of that instability, the Nuggets never lost sight of the bigger picture. Now, for the first time in months, they are whole again.
With Peyton Watson returning to action, Denver finally has its full complement of talent available. It is a development that arrives at the most critical point of the season. With the playoffs approaching, the Nuggets are no longer trying to survive. They are preparing to contend. There is a difference between those two mindsets, and for much of the season, Denver has been forced into the former.
This is a roster that has already proven it can reach the summit. The blueprint exists, and the belief never left: the only thing missing was health. Now that it is back, so are expectations.
<h3>Nikola Jokic remains the center of everything</h3>
At the heart of it all is Nikola Jokic, who continues to perform at a level that has almost become normalized despite its historic nature.
Jokic is once again playing at an MVP level, quietly putting together another season that demands attention. He is averaging a triple-double, leading the entire league in that category, and dictating every aspect of Denver&rsquo;s offense with precision and control. What once felt extraordinary now feels routine, which says more about the standard he has set than any statistic ever could.
There is a tendency to overlook sustained greatness when it becomes expected. Jokic has reached that point. His ability to control tempo, create advantages, and elevate everyone around him has become the foundation of the Nuggets&rsquo; identity. Every possession runs through his decision-making. Every read he makes has a ripple effect on the entire floor. Everything begins with him, and everything ends with him.
He is the system, the engine, and the safety net all in one. His presence ensures that Denver will always have a functional offense, regardless of circumstance. Even during the most injury-riddled stretches of the season, Jokic kept the Nuggets afloat when he was on the floor. He simplified the game for his teammates, created high-percentage opportunities, and absorbed defensive attention without forcing the issue.
When surrounded by a fully healthy roster, that functionality turns into something far more dangerous and the ultimate weapon in the league.
Opposing teams absolutely cannot load up on Jokic without consequences. The return of multiple scoring threats forces defenses into difficult decisions. Help too much, and shooters are open. Stay home, and Jokic will methodically dismantle single coverage. It is a dilemma that few teams have consistently solved, especially over the course of a seven-game series.
As long as Jokic maintains this level of dominance, the Nuggets remain firmly in the championship conversation. In a playoff environment where adjustments determine outcomes, his ability to adapt on the fly gives Denver a strategic advantage that cannot be overstated.
<h3>Jamal Murray&rsquo;s long-awaited leap</h3>
Alongside Jokic, Jamal Murray is putting together what can be described as the best season of his career.
For years, Murray&rsquo;s postseason performances have defined his reputation. He has built a reputation as a player who rises when the stakes are highest. This season, however, he has brought that same level of impact into the regular season. The result is his first All-Star selection, a recognition that reflects both his production and his consistency over a larger sample size.
Murray is scoring at a career-high level while posting some of the most efficient shooting numbers of his career. His shot selection has improved, his decision-making has sharpened, and his ability to control the pace of the game has taken another step forward. He is no longer just a secondary creator. He is a co-engine of Denver&rsquo;s offense.
More importantly, he has found a rhythm that complements Jokic without overlapping responsibilities. Their two-man game remains one of the most effective partnerships in the league, built on timing, trust, and an intuitive understanding of each other&rsquo;s tendencies. They do not just run plays, they read defenses together and they have been lethal in doing so.
When Murray is operating at this level, the Nuggets become significantly more difficult to defend. Jokic no longer has to shoulder every offensive burden, and defenses cannot key in on a single option. Instead, they are forced to navigate a dynamic that punishes overcommitment and hesitation alike.
This version of Murray elevates Denver from contender to legitimate threat. It also provides a level of offensive security that becomes critical in late-game situations, where execution often determines outcomes.
<h3>Role players finding their rhythm and rounding into form</h3>
Health has not only restored the Nuggets&rsquo; core, it has also allowed their supporting cast to rediscover form and purpose.
Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun have both worked their way back from injuries that interrupted their seasons. Their return stabilizes Denver&rsquo;s defense, bringing back two of the team&rsquo;s most versatile and physical contributors on that end of the floor. Both players are capable of guarding multiple positions, switching across matchups, and providing the kind of physical presence that becomes essential in playoff basketball.
Gordon continues to expand his offensive range, adding more confidence to his perimeter shooting while maintaining his effectiveness as a cutter and interior finisher. His chemistry with Jokic remains one of Denver&rsquo;s most reliable sources of easy offense. Braun, meanwhile, has embraced a more aggressive approach, actively seeking scoring opportunities and applying pressure in transition. His willingness to attack has added another layer to Denver&rsquo;s offensive versatility.
The addition of Cam Johnson has been a story of patience. There were stretches where his shot was not falling, raising questions about his purpose after trading away Michael Porter Jr. Recently, he has begun to find his rhythm, knocking down perimeter shots with greater consistency. If that trend continues, his floor spacing will become a crucial element in Denver&rsquo;s playoff offense. His ability to stretch defenses opens driving lanes and creates cleaner looks for others.
The return of Bruce Brown adds another layer of familiarity and versatility. Brown understands the system, the expectations, and the details that matter in high-stakes moments. He can screen, cut, handle the ball, defend multiple positions, and connect lineups that might otherwise struggle to function cohesively. Players like him often determine the margins in playoff games, where a single possession can shift momentum.
Off the bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. provides instant offense. His ability to heat up quickly from beyond the arc gives Denver a scoring option that can swing momentum in short bursts. In a playoff setting, that kind of scoring punch off the bench can be the difference between maintaining a lead and surrendering it.
Then there is Spencer Jones, whose emergence has been one of the quieter developments of the season. Stepping into a larger role during periods of injury, he has earned the trust of head coach David Adelman by replicating aspects of Gordon&rsquo;s role. His energy, defensive activity, and willingness to do the small things have secured him a place in the rotation. Those contributions often go unnoticed, but they are essential in a playoff environment where depth is tested.
Beyond the primary rotation, the Nuggets have depth they can rely on when needed. Veterans like Jonas Valanciunas and Tyus Jones offer stability and experience, while younger players such as Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, and DaRon Holmes provide energy and situational impact.
For the first time in months, all of these pieces are available at the same time. That alone changes the equation, and their continuity allows roles to settle. It allows chemistry to build and allows the Nuggets to play the way they were designed to play.
<h3>Peyton Watson&rsquo;s emergence adds a new dimension</h3>
While health has restored the Nuggets&rsquo; structure, the emergence of Peyton Watson has expanded it.
Watson&rsquo;s development has been one of the most compelling subplots of Denver&rsquo;s season. During stretches when the roster was depleted, he was forced into a larger role. Instead of merely filling minutes, he produced. Instead of deferring, he attacked. That stretch of responsibility accelerated his growth in ways that might not have been possible under normal circumstances.
There were moments when Watson operated as a primary option, and he delivered with confidence. That experience has translated into a more complete offensive game. He has shown the ability to score at all three levels, knocking down perimeter shots, attacking the rim off the dribble, and creating space for midrange attempts. His willingness to take those shots has changed how defenses approach him.
What makes his emergence particularly significant is how it fits within Denver&rsquo;s existing structure. The Nuggets have always relied on movement, cutting, and unselfish play. Watson enhances all of those elements. He remains an active cutter, a vertical threat, and a willing participant in the flow of the offense. He does not need to dominate the ball to be effective, which makes his integration seamless.
Defensively, his impact has not diminished. He continues to apply pressure on the ball, rotate effectively off it, and provide secondary rim protection. That combination of offense and defense gives Denver a player who can influence the game in multiple ways without disrupting its balance.
The Nuggets have not had a player with this exact profile in previous seasons. Watson introduces a new layer, one that raises the team&rsquo;s ceiling and gives them another option when primary actions are taken away.
His contractual situation, with restricted free agency on the horizon, will be a storyline for another time. For now, his focus is clear. He is part of a team with championship aspirations, and his role within that pursuit continues to grow.
<h3>The emotional weight of being whole again</h3>
There is also an emotional component to Denver&rsquo;s current position that cannot be ignored.
Championship teams are not just built on talent. They are built on continuity, trust, and shared experience, and injuries disrupt all of those elements. They force players into unfamiliar roles and prevent the team from establishing a consistent identity. For months, the Nuggets had to operate without that sense of stability.
Being healthy again restores confidence in rotations, and it will be crucial for the Nuggets moving forward. Players know where they belong. They understand their roles. They can anticipate each other&rsquo;s movements. That level of familiarity allows teams to execute at a higher level, especially in high-pressure situations where hesitation can be costly.
For a team that has already experienced the highest level of success, that familiarity carries even more weight. The Nuggets know what a championship run requires. They know the adjustments, the physicality, and the mental resilience needed to navigate four playoff rounds.
Now, they have the opportunity to tap into that experience once again.
<h3>Health remains the ultimate variable</h3>
For all the talent, depth, and momentum the Nuggets now possess, one question still defines their season.
Can they stay healthy?
It is a simple question with a complicated history. Injuries have already shaped their journey, forcing adjustments and testing their resilience. The front office has assembled a roster capable of competing with the best teams in the league. The coaching staff has managed rotations under less than ideal circumstances. The players have adapted to changing roles.
Now, the final requirement is continuity.
If the Nuggets can maintain their health, they have everything needed to make another deep playoff run. They have the best player in the world in Jokic. They have a proven second option playing at an All-Star level. They have defensive versatility, shooting, experience, and depth. More importantly, they have a shared understanding of what it takes to win at the highest level.
The memory of their 2023 championship run is a reference point. It is proof that this group, when whole, can navigate the demands of the postseason and emerge on top. The Nuggets are finally healthy again, and that is what makes this moment significant. In a league where margins are thin and timing is everything, that might be the most important development of all.

The Nuggets are finally healthy, with Nikola Jokic leading an intact roster into the playoffs as they aim for another deep title run.

Healthy at last, Nuggets ready to chase another NBA title run

The San Antonio Spurs have been playing one of their best basketball stretches this season, winning 18 of their last 20 games, and they are now back in familiar territory. The Spurs have won 50 games or more again for the first time since the 2016-17 season, and the conversation for the team has shifted into something far more serious.
The San Antonio Spurs are no longer a feel-good story. They are no longer just a young team figuring things out or a rebuilding group showing flashes. That last 50-win team was elite, built around Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge while still anchored by the championship DNA of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. That group knew how to win, knew how to execute, and most importantly, knew how to close games when everything slowed down.
This current Spurs team has been reincarnated from the same success. But this time, only younger, and still evolving. Yet somehow, the results are starting to look familiar.
The ball is moving and the defense is connected, just the way Spurs basketball is supposed to be played. The confidence is growing with every win. There is a rhythm to how they play, a sense of control that does not always show up in the standings but becomes obvious when you watch them over a stretch of games.
So the question now becomes unavoidable. Can the Spurs actually go out and win it all this season?
<h3>A foundation built on something rare</h3>
There are flashes of greatness with this team that go beyond typical rebuilding success. This is not just about stacking wins or overachieving expectations but rather about identity, and more importantly, sustainability.
San Antonio is playing a brand of basketball that feels both modern and timeless. They prioritize ball movement, spacing, and trust. They currently rank near the top of the league in assists per game, a clear reflection of their commitment to finding the best shot rather than forcing one.
Even with a generational talent leading the way, they are actively avoiding hero ball by design. Possessions rarely end with isolation-heavy sets unless absolutely necessary. Instead, the ball swings, players cut, and defenses are forced to rotate until something breaks.
That balance is what makes this team dangerous, and it is also what makes them historically unique.
The Spurs are on the verge of something rarely seen in NBA history. <a href="https://x.com/SpursReporter/status/2033475088729706608?s=20">They are close to becoming the only team to sustain eight players averaging double figures over a full season since the 1981-82 Denver Nuggets.</a> That Nuggets team became the gold standard for high-powered offense, averaging a league-record 126.5 points per game while embodying the idea that everybody eats.
San Antonio is knocking on that door. That kind of depth changes everything when the playoffs arrive. It gives them multiple counters, gives them flexibility, and it allows them to survive off nights from their stars because someone else can step up and carry the load. That is not common for a team this young, and what makes them a contender heading into the playoffs.
<h3>Victor Wembanyama is already that guy</h3>
At the center of it all is Victor Wembanyama.
There is no longer a need to temper expectations or speak in hypotheticals. He is a once-in-a-generation player, and more importantly, he is already playing like someone capable of leading a championship team.
At just 22 years old, Wembanyama is putting up numbers that place him firmly in the MVP conversation. He scores efficiently, protects the rim at an elite level, and continues to expand his offensive arsenal with every passing month.
His impact goes beyond scoring or defense. He alters games in ways that cannot always be captured in the box score. Opponents change their shot selection because he is on the floor. Guards hesitate on drives, and bigs are forced away from their comfort zones.
He is the type of player every contender wants. A player who can take over when necessary, but also elevate everyone around him.
That is the key difference, because Wembanyama does not just dominate. He fits within a system that empowers others, which makes the Spurs far less predictable and far more difficult to scheme against in a playoff setting.
And when the game slows down, when possessions tighten and defenses lock in, having a player who can create something out of nothing becomes invaluable. Wembanyama is already that kind of player.
<h3>A supporting cast that fits perfectly</h3>
Championship teams are never built on one player alone. What makes this Spurs team intriguing is how well the pieces around Wembanyama complement his strengths, both stylistically and mentally.
De&rsquo;Aaron Fox gives them a legitimate second star. His speed, shot creation, and ability to collapse defenses provide a different dimension to the offense. He can push the pace, create advantages early in possessions, and attack gaps before defenses are set.
More importantly, Fox knows how to handle pressure. He has been through playoff battles. He understands what it takes to execute late in games when every possession matters.
Devin Vassell continues to be one of the most reliable scorers on the roster. His midrange game is automatic, and his ability to space the floor as a catch-and-shoot threat makes him an ideal fit alongside both Fox and Wembanyama. He thrives in the gaps created by their gravity.
Stephon Castle has quickly established himself as a defensive anchor on the perimeter. He takes on the toughest assignments nightly and continues to grow offensively, showing more confidence as a slasher while steadily improving his jump shot.
Dylan Harper has been impactful from day one. As a rookie, his ability to attack the rim adds pressure to opposing defenses, and his development trajectory suggests he will be a key piece not just now, but for years to come.
Around them, the Spurs have built a roster filled with purpose.
Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes provide consistent shooting from the wings and corners, giving the offense the spacing it needs to operate at a high level. Their presence forces defenses to stay honest, opening driving lanes for Castle, Fox and Harper.
Keldon Johnson brings relentless energy off the bench. He plays with urgency, attacks the rim with force, and serves as the emotional heartbeat of the team. His willingness to embrace a bench role speaks volumes about the culture being built in San Antonio.
Luke Kornet offers stability as a backup big. He understands his role, plays within the system, and brings the experience of a champion, which can be valuable in moments when composure is needed.
Carter Bryant has quietly emerged as a hidden gem. He can defend multiple positions and knock down open shots, giving the Spurs another versatile piece in their rotation.
This is functional depth for the Spurs where every player has a role, and every role has value. More importantly, every player understands where they fit within the bigger picture, a usual recipe of success for a championship team.
<h3>The numbers are starting to align</h3>
For years, there has been a simple benchmark used to identify true contenders. The 40-20 rule.
Teams that reach 40 wins before 20 losses historically have a strong chance of competing for a championship. The Spurs have met that criteria, placing them firmly in the conversation with the league&rsquo;s elite.
As mentioned, they have also secured their first 50-win season since 2016-17, a reminder of the franchise&rsquo;s sustained excellence during its peak years. That stretch of 18 consecutive 50-win seasons remains one of the most remarkable runs in NBA history, and it set a standard that this new group is now trying to live up to.
After years of losing after their golden age, this season feels like the beginning of something new, yet strangely familiar. It speaks to the growth of their young core, and it reflects the internal development of players who have embraced their roles and elevated their games.
It also highlights the impact of head coach Mitch Johnson. Taking over in a post-Gregg Popovich era is no easy task. The expectations are different, the pressure is constant, and the comparisons are inevitable. Yet Johnson has managed to guide this group with clarity and confidence, maintaining the Spurs&rsquo; identity while adapting to the strengths of a new generation. He has done more than just keep the system intact &ndash; he has evolved it and fine tuned it for the foreseeable future.
<h3>The upcoming playoff reality check</h3>
However, even for all the reasons to believe, there are still questions that cannot be ignored.&nbsp;
The playoffs are a different environment. The pace slows down. Possessions become more valuable. Execution becomes everything.
And that is where experience often separates contenders from champions.
The Spurs are still young. Wembanyama may be playing at an MVP level, but this will be his first true playoff run with real expectations. The same goes for much of the roster. Fox and Kornet bring experience, but beyond them, this group has not been tested deep into the postseason.
That raises an important question. How will their inexperience show up when the stakes are at their highest?
Will their ball movement hold up against elite defenses that are specifically game-planning to take away their strengths? Playoff opponents will scout every action, every tendency, every preferred spot on the floor.
Will the Spurs be able to adjust on the fly when their first option is taken away? Or will they struggle when forced into late-clock situations where individual shot creation becomes necessary?
There is also the matter of their role players. During the regular season, depth wins games. Over an 82-game stretch, having multiple contributors averaging double figures is a luxury. But in the playoffs, rotations tighten, and the margin for error shrinks.
Will those same role players continue to produce when minutes become more defined and defensive intensity rises? Or will the Spurs find themselves needing more from their top-end talent than they have relied on so far? These are the questions that only the postseason can answer.
<h3>The narrative question that could define them</h3>
Beyond the X&rsquo;s and O&rsquo;s, there is another layer to this conversation. Every championship team has a defining narrative. Some teams are built through adversity. Others are driven by redemption. Some rise through experience after repeated failures.
The Spurs are still writing their story.&nbsp;
Are they a team that is arriving ahead of schedule, simply enjoying a breakthrough season before taking the next step in the coming years? Or are they a group that is ready right now, capable of skipping the usual timeline and capturing a title earlier than expected?
Then, there is also the pressure of expectation. At the start of the season, there was no burden. Every win felt like progress. Every loss was part of the process.
That has changed since then. Now, there is something at stake. Now, there is something to lose. How they handle that shift could define their postseason, because belief can shift a series. Confidence can change outcomes, and sometimes, a team that does not know it is supposed to wait ends up winning sooner than anyone predicted.
<h3>Can they actually do it and win it all?</h3>
On paper, the Spurs have the ingredients. They have a generational superstar playing at an MVP level. They have a second star who complements him. They have depth, shooting, defense, and a system that emphasizes trust and unselfishness.
They have momentum, they have belief, but championships are not won on paper. They are earned through experience, execution, and resilience under pressure.
The Spurs are close &ndash; closer than anyone expected this early in their timeline. Whether they are ready to take that final step this season remains the biggest question in the league. And that is what makes them one of the most fascinating teams to watch as the playoffs approach.
Because if everything clicks, if their identity holds, and if their young core rises to the moment, this may not just be the start of something special: it could be the moment it all comes through and arrives, and it is theirs for the taking.

The San Antonio Spurs are surging behind Victor Wembanyama and elite depth, but are they truly ready to win an NBA title this season?

Can the Spurs go out and win it all?

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic added another historic achievement to his resume this week, passing NBA legend Oscar Robertson for the second-most career triple-doubles in league history. The milestone came during Denver&rsquo;s 136-120 road win over the Chicago Bulls, where Jokic logged a 22-point, 17-assist, 14-rebound performance, which was his 182nd career triple-double.&nbsp;
The triple-double not only powered the Nuggets to a win but also officially moved Jokic ahead of Robertson (181) on the NBA&rsquo;s all-time list.&nbsp;
Just recently today, Jokic logged another triple-double, this time against the Memphis Grizzlies. He had 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists for his 183rd triple-double, and 4th straight over the past 4 games.
Now only Russell Westbrook (207) sits ahead of him, meaning the only thing standing between Jokic and the most triple-doubles in league history is the former MVP himself.&nbsp;
Jokic&rsquo;s historic run this season isn&rsquo;t an isolated burst but it&rsquo;s part of a larger career narrative of all-around excellence. The three-time MVP and eight-time All-Star has been a constant triple-double threat, regularly affecting games with elite scoring, rebounding and playmaking from the center position, an uncommon combination in NBA history.&nbsp;
With continued high-level production, Jokic appears on track to make a legitimate push at Russell Westbrook&rsquo;s record of 207 career triple-doubles. Westbrook&rsquo;s record has stood as one of the NBA&rsquo;s most iconic milestones since he first surpassed Robertson&rsquo;s mark years ago.&nbsp;
By passing Oscar Robertson for second all-time in triple-doubles, Nikola Jokic further cements his place among the most versatile players in NBA history &ndash; and with Westbrook&rsquo;s record now clearly in his sights, this season could be another defining chapter in his Hall of Fame career.

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic passed NBA legend Oscar Robertson for the second-most career triple-doubles in history.

Nikola Jokic passes Oscar Robertson for 2nd All-Time in triple doubles

The NBA has officially unveiled the full rosters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, marking another milestone in this season&rsquo;s midseason showcase.&nbsp;
With the league&rsquo;s annual celebration of its stars set for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, fans now know exactly who will take part in the new USA vs. World round-robin format &ndash; featuring two U.S. teams and one international squad competing in 12-minute games before a championship finale.
The roster are set as follows:
<h4>Team USA Stripes</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stephen Curry &ndash; Golden State Warriors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LeBron James &ndash; Los Angeles Lakers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kevin Durant &ndash; Houston Rockets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kawhi Leonard &ndash; Los Angeles Clippers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jaylen Brown &ndash; Boston Celtics</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Brunson &ndash; New York Knicks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Donovan Mitchell &ndash; Cleveland Cavaliers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Norman Powell &ndash; Miami Heat&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h4>Team USA Stars</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anthony Edwards &ndash; Minnesota Timberwolves</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Devin Booker &ndash; Phoenix Suns</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cade Cunningham &ndash; Detroit Pistons</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tyrese Maxey &ndash; Philadelphia 76ers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scottie Barnes &ndash; Toronto Raptors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Duren &ndash; Detroit Pistons</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chet Holmgren &ndash; Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Johnson &ndash; Atlanta Hawks&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h4>Team World</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Luka Doncic &ndash; Los Angeles Lakers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Giannis Antetokounmpo &ndash; Milwaukee Bucks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander &ndash; Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Nikola Jokic &ndash; Denver Nuggets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Victor Wembanyama &ndash; San Antonio Spurs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pascal Siakam &ndash; Indiana Pacers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jamal Murray &ndash; Denver Nuggets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deni Avdija &ndash; Portland Trail Blazers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Karl-Anthony Towns &ndash; New York Knicks&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The starters were voted in by a combination of fans (50 %), NBA players (25 %), and media (25 %) while the reserves were selected by NBA head coaches.
Commissioner Adam Silver and the league office added Kawhi Leonard to the U.S. roster pool after strong midseason play and fan-driven support.&nbsp;
This year&rsquo;s format diverges significantly from traditional East vs. West competition by introducing three distinct All-Star teams &ndash; highlighting both U.S. talent and the international flavor of today&rsquo;s NBA.
With rosters now set, All-Star Weekend will also feature the Castrol Rising Stars Game, Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and a slate of skills competitions and performances leading up to the main event. The round-robin USA vs. World tournament is designed to add competitive intrigue and showcase global NBA stars on the league&rsquo;s biggest midseason stage.

The NBA has officially unveiled the full rosters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

2026 NBA All-Star Game rosters revealed ahead of USA vs World showcase

The NBA has unveiled the full list of reserves for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, complementing the previously announced starters and completing the league&rsquo;s midseason showcase rosters. With the All-Star Game set for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., the 14 reserves were selected by votes from NBA head coaches and join the 10 fan and media-selected starters for this year&rsquo;s event.&nbsp;
Western Conference Reserves:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anthony Edwards &ndash; Minnesota Timberwolves</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kevin Durant &ndash; Houston Rockets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Devin Booker &ndash; Phoenix Suns</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deni Avdija &ndash; Portland Trail Blazers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chet Holmgren &ndash; Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LeBron James &ndash; Los Angeles Lakers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jamal Murray &ndash; Denver Nuggets</li>
</ul>
Eastern Conference Reserves:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Donovan Mitchell &ndash; Cleveland Cavaliers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Karl-Anthony Towns &ndash; New York Knicks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pascal Siakam &ndash; Indiana Pacers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scottie Barnes &ndash; Toronto Raptors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Duren &ndash; Detroit Pistons</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Johnson &ndash; Atlanta Hawks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Norman Powell &ndash; Miami Heat&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The reserves round out the 24-player All-Star pool, joining the 10 starters including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama from the West, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, and Jalen Brunson from the East.
<h3>Some notable storylines for this year include:</h3>
LeBron James Extends Historic Streak: Despite not being voted a starter this year, James was still selected as a reserve, giving him a record-extending 22nd All-Star Game appearance &ndash; a remarkable testament to his longevity and sustained performance deep into his 20th-plus NBA season.&nbsp;
Fresh Faces &amp; First-Time Selections: Six players &ndash; Avdija, Holmgren, Johnson, Murray, Powell and Duren &ndash; are earning their first career All-Star selections as reserves, highlighting a wave of ascending talent across the league.&nbsp;
<h3>&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</h3>
This season&rsquo;s All-Star Game will feature a new &ldquo;USA vs. World&rdquo; format &ndash; a three-team round-robin tournament with two U.S. rosters and one international squad &ndash; making this year&rsquo;s festivities one of the most innovative in All-Star history.&nbsp;
With starters and reserves now set, fans can look forward to the full slate of All-Star Weekend events, including the Rising Stars Game and the Draft, before the 2026 All-Star Game tips off on Feb. 15.

The NBA has unveiled the full list of reserves for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

2026 NBA All-Star Game reserves announced

The NBA has officially revealed the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, with the league&rsquo;s brightest stars earning recognition ahead of the midseason showcase scheduled for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The starters were announced during MLK Day&rsquo;s national NBA broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
This year&rsquo;s All-Star Game debuts a new U.S. vs. World format, featuring a three-team round-robin tournament with two U.S. teams and one international team, each playing four 12-minute games before a championship finale.
The Eastern Conference starters are as follows:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks &ndash; 10th All-Star start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics &ndash; 5th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks &ndash; 3rd start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons &ndash; 2nd start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers &ndash; 2nd start</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Western Conference starters comprise of:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors &ndash; 12th All-Star appearance</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers &ndash; 6th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder &ndash; 4th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets &ndash; 8th start</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs &ndash; 2nd start</li>
</ul>
Among the notable storylines for this year&rsquo;s all-star game include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LeBron James&rsquo; Starter Streak Ends: For the first time since 2004, LeBron James will not be named an All-Star starter, ending a historic 21-year streak due in part to injury and missed time this season. He missed the first 14 games of this year due to a sciatica injury.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Voting Structure: Starters were selected based on a combined vote &ndash; 50% fans, 25% media, 25% NBA players &ndash; with reserves to be named by head coaches later.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">USA vs. World Format: With starters now set, the league will assign players to the USA and World teams in the coming weeks as part of the revamped All-Star competition designed to spotlight global talent alongside American stars.</li>
</ul>

The NBA has officially revealed the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

NBA officially announces 2026 All-Star Game starters

Former NBA guard Jeff Teague believes the Denver Nuggets remain the team to beat in the Western Conference &ndash; and he didn&rsquo;t hesitate to put a prediction on it.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to be honest, if Jokic and them are fully healthy, they are going to 4-2 OKC,&rdquo; Teague said in a recent podcast. &ldquo;They already took them to seven games last year and they were not healthy with some injuries here and there. I really like this Denver team this year.&rdquo;
Teague&rsquo;s confidence isn&rsquo;t coming out of nowhere. There&rsquo;s real substance behind his take, especially considering how Denver has looked this season and how much continuity remains from its championship core.
Nikola Jokic is once again playing at an MVP level, averaging a near triple-double while putting up historically efficient numbers. His command of the offense continues to be the foundation of everything Denver does, and when he&rsquo;s healthy, the Nuggets&rsquo; ceiling rises to championship level.
Jamal Murray, meanwhile, may finally earn his long-awaited All-Star selection. He&rsquo;s averaging career highs across the board and remains the ideal No. 2 option next to Jokic, perfectly complementing Denver&rsquo;s read-and-react style with his shot-making and playmaking.
Around them, Denver&rsquo;s supporting cast has quietly taken meaningful steps forward. Aaron Gordon has improved as a three-point shooter while continuing to provide physicality, toughness, and elite off-ball movement. Christian Braun, fresh off a contract extension, has developed strong chemistry with Jokic. Cam Johnson, brought in to replace Michael Porter Jr., has seamlessly filled his role as a spacer and cutter, maximizing his impact without disrupting the offense.
Off the bench, free-agent additions Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas have given Denver reliable depth, shoring up areas that were tested during last year&rsquo;s postseason run.
Perhaps the biggest revelation this season has been Peyton Watson. His growth on both ends of the floor has been noticeable, and with Jokic missing time, Watson has stepped up offensively, giving Denver another viable option and further stabilizing the rotation.
When you combine roster depth, continuity, and elite chemistry, it&rsquo;s easy to see why Teague views the Nuggets as Oklahoma City&rsquo;s biggest obstacle. If Denver stays healthy, they may very well be the Thunder&rsquo;s toughest challenge in the race to return to the Western Conference Finals &ndash; and possibly punch another ticket to the NBA Finals.

Jeff Teague believes the Denver Nuggets are the best team in the West.

Jeff Teague thinks the Nuggets are the best in the West: “They going to 4-2 OKC”

The Dallas Mavericks&rsquo; 2025-26 season has slid into turbulence as injuries to key pieces Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis continue to cloud the team&rsquo;s outlook, forcing lineup adjustments and reshaping their competitive goals.
<ul>
<li> Cooper Flagg exits with an ankle sprain: Star rookie and franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg exited Wednesday&rsquo;s 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets early after rolling his ankle and was ruled out for the rest of the contest with a sprained left ankle. Flagg had been dealing with a lingering ankle issue and was slowed multiple times in recent games before Wednesday&rsquo;s setback. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the team&rsquo;s ongoing injury struggles, noting Flagg&rsquo;s resilience but also the toll constant bumps and rolls have taken.</li>
<li> Anthony Davis sidelined again: Veteran All-Star Anthony Davis will miss significant time after sustaining ligament damage in his left hand, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania. Initially there was talk of surgery, but the Mavericks announced he will not have surgery, and instead resting and rehabbing the injury &ndash; a process expected to keep him out around six weeks. Davis has already battled multiple injuries this season, including a calf strain and groin issues, and his availability has been limited.</li>
</ul>
The timing of these injuries has been especially difficult for Dallas. With key frontcourt rotation pieces sidelined --- including Flagg&rsquo;s ankle and Davis&rsquo;s ongoing absences &ndash; the Mavericks have struggled for continuity and consistent production.
Dallas has attempted to adapt in the short term, leaning on bench scoring and role players, but the loss of both Flagg and Davis simultaneously leaves a big hole on both ends of the floor. Flagg&rsquo;s scoring, playmaking and defensive versatility have been central to the team&rsquo;s identity, while Davis offers an elite rim presence and inside scoring when healthy.
As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Mavs face thorny decisions &ndash; whether to hold onto Davis and hope for a late-season push or explore potential trade scenarios that could reshape the roster around healthier, more consistent contributors.

The Dallas Mavericks’ 2025-26 season has slid into turbulence as injuries to key pieces Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis happened.

Mavericks hit hard by injuries to Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis

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.
<h3>Knicks rally to edge Cavaliers in MSG thriller</h3>
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.
<h3>Spurs dominate Thunder again, go up 3-0 in season series</h3>
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.
<h3>Warriors outlast Mavericks in Cooper Flagg&rsquo;s Christmas debut</h3>
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.
<h3>Rockets roll past Lakers behind Amen, KD</h3>
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.
<h3>Nuggets top Timberwolves in overtime shootout</h3>
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.
<h3>THE HIGHLIGHTS:</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">New York&rsquo;s comeback over Cleveland was one of the biggest fourth-quarter rallies of the season.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Houston&rsquo;s balanced scoring showcased the Rockets&rsquo; roster depth, while it showed the Lakers&rsquo; flaws as a team.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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.</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

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic made NBA history on Thursday night, becoming the all-time assists leader among centers in league history. Jokic eclipsed long-standing Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&rsquo;s mark during Denver&rsquo;s 126-115 win over the Orlando Magic at Ball Arena.
In a yet another triple-double performance, Jokic finished with 23 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, using a crafty feed to Jalen Pickett late in the first half to surpass Abdul-Jabbar&rsquo;s previous career total of 5,660. The milestone &ndash; now sitting at 5,667 career assists and counting &ndash; places Jokic atop the NBA assists leaderboard for centers, a feat many believed would stand for decades as Jokic continues to write his story.
Jokic passed Abdul-Jabbar&rsquo;s record &ndash; a mark set over a 20-year Hall of Fame career &ndash; in just his 11th season. According to career assists data, Jokic now stands far ahead of any other center in NBA history, leading by sheer efficiency with roughly 7.4 assists per game &ndash; a rate unmatched by predecessors at the position.&nbsp;
Jokic&rsquo;s achievement also ranks him among the top 50 all-time NBA assist leaders overall, underscoring his unique combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking at the five-man spot.

Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic made NBA history on Thursday night, becoming the all-time assists leader among centers in league history.

Nikola Jokic becomes all-time assists leader among centers in NBA history

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

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

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

The field is locked. After five weeks of competitive group play across both conferences, the NBA has finalized the 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal bracket, with eight teams advancing to the knockout stage beginning December 9 and 10.
<h3>Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, Suns advance out West</h3>
Defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder headline the Western Conference after sweeping Group A and opening Cup play with the same dominance they&rsquo;ve shown all season. They are joined by the Los Angeles Lakers, who also topped their group, and the San Antonio Spurs, who punched their ticket on the final night thanks to a dramatic comeback win over the Denver Nuggets.
The Phoenix Suns claimed the West&rsquo;s wild-card spot, edging out several contenders through point differential and closing the group phase with momentum.
<h3>Magic, Raptors, Knicks, Heart complete East bracket</h3>
In the East, the Orlando Magic clinched Group B behind strong two-way play, the Toronto Raptors taking Group A, while the New York Knicks took Group C after stringing together consistent defensive performances. The Miami Heat emerged as the wild-card qualifier, setting up the slate for the East that features familiar playoff-style matchups.
<h3>Quarterfinal Matchups (Dec. 9&ndash;10)</h3>
December 9 &ndash; Eastern Conference
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Miami Heat at Orlando Magic</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors</li>
</ul>
December 10 &ndash; Western Conference
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers</li>
</ul>
<h3>A pathway through Las Vegas</h3>
As with last season, the Emirates NBA Cup knockout games carry regular-season implications, with the exception of the championship game. Winners of next week&rsquo;s quarterfinals will advance to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 13, with the Cup final scheduled for December 16 at T-Mobile Arena.
<h3>Storylines to watch</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The champs look locked in: The Thunder continue to play like a team eyeing back-to-back banners, maintaining one of the best records in the league through Cup play.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Spurs&rsquo; late surge: San Antonio&rsquo;s dramatic final-night win over Denver showcased their improvement and composure &ndash; and set up a compelling showdown with the Lakers. It remains to be seen if star Victor Wembanyama will be available to suit up for this big matchup.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Wild-card intrigue: The Suns in particular pose a threat, especially after stabilizing their play late in the group stage.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The East is wide open: With Orlando emerging as one of the NBA&rsquo;s strongest defensive teams and the Knicks riding momentum, the Heat and Raptors will look to steal a path to Las Vegas.</li>
</ul>
The quarterfinals now bring single-elimination stakes, star-powered matchups, and an early-season playoff feel &ndash; with one team just three wins away from lifting this year&rsquo;s NBA Cup.

After five weeks of competitive group play across both conferences, the 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal bracket has been set.

2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals officially set

There was a time when every Nikola Jokic triple-double was a headline. Now, it&rsquo;s just another night in the NBA.
Through the first seven games of the season, Jokic has recorded a triple-double in five of them &ndash; a feat that, for almost any other player, would be hailed as an early-season masterpiece. For Jokic nowadays though, it barely makes noise &ndash; or so we thought.&nbsp;
His latest line &ndash; 33 points, 15 rebounds, and 16 assists in a win over the Miami Heat &ndash; came and went without much fanfare. No major debates, no viral clips, just another Nikola Jokic game.
It raises a sobering question: Have we started taking Nikola Jokic for granted?
When greatness becomes routine
In a league dominated by storylines, Jokic has somehow become background noise. There&rsquo;s the buzz surrounding Oklahoma City&rsquo;s rise to their dynasty aspirations, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s another MVP-level play. There&rsquo;s Victor Wembanyama&rsquo;s historic two-way surge, Luka Doncic torching defenses nightly, and Giannis Antetokounmpo reclaiming his MVP momentum as the Bucks return back into contention. Amid all this, Jokic continues to produce at a level that would define other players&rsquo; careers &ndash; and yet, it&rsquo;s treated as business as usual.
Maybe that&rsquo;s the curse of consistency. Jokic has been performing at an MVP standard for six straight years, making extraordinary basketball look almost effortless. His greatness has lost its novelty, not its effectiveness. The NBA world seems to have reached the point where a 25-12-12 stat line is expected out of him night in and night out, and anything less is considered an off night.
That kind of expectation can only mean one thing: we might have grown numb to the brilliance of the Joker.
Jokic&rsquo;s game defies conventional flash. He doesn&rsquo;t soar above defenders, doesn&rsquo;t scream after dunks, and rarely demands attention. Instead, he dissects opponents with surgical precision &ndash; manipulating angles, finding shooters, and bending defenses until they break.&nbsp;
He makes the hardest parts of basketball look like second nature. And perhaps because of that, his dominance no longer shocks us.
Watch him closely, though, and it&rsquo;s clear this is not normal. No one in NBA history has combined this kind of scoring efficiency, playmaking creativity, and rebounding control in one body. Jokic&rsquo;s blend of power and patience, vision and touch, feels like something out of a different era &ndash; or maybe a different dimension.
Yet, somehow, it doesn&rsquo;t dominate the discourse anymore the way it once did.
The cost of familiarity
It&rsquo;s possible that &lsquo;voter fatigue&rsquo; has caught up with Jokic &ndash; not just in award voting, but in the public consciousness. When a player sustains greatness for this long, the conversation naturally shifts elsewhere. The media and fans often chase new narratives, new stars, new sensations. Jokic, who&rsquo;s been doing this for years, no longer fits the mold of &ldquo;breaking news.&rdquo;
But it&rsquo;s worth remembering: he&rsquo;s still the best player in basketball.
Since 2019, Jokic has averaged roughly 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists per game while leading the Denver Nuggets to sustained success, including the 2023 NBA Championship &ndash; a run that stamped his legacy as one of the all-time greats. And yet, even as he keeps doing it, his name often fades into the background of louder storylines.
The truth is, we&rsquo;ve normalized his greatness to the point where we no longer fully appreciate it. It&rsquo;s not that Jokic has gotten worse &ndash; it&rsquo;s that everyone else has gotten louder.
Led by Jokic, Nuggets quietly creep up atop the West
Part of the reason Jokic&rsquo;s brilliance flies under the radar is the Nuggets&rsquo; quiet offseason. While other teams made splashy moves &ndash; like Kevin Durant&rsquo;s shocking arrival in Houston &ndash; Denver operated with surgical precision rather than spectacle.
They brought back a familiar face in Bruce Brown, a key piece of their 2023 title run. Brown&rsquo;s return instantly reestablishes the defensive edge and chemistry that made Denver so complete during their championship push. His connection with Jokic is instinctive; he knows exactly when and where to cut, and Jokic always finds him.
The Nuggets also made a subtle but meaningful trade &ndash; flipping Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson. At first glance, it might seem like a downgrade in talent, but in practice, it could be an upgrade in fit. Johnson&rsquo;s spacing, unselfishness, and commitment to role-playing perfectly complement Jokic&rsquo;s system. He won&rsquo;t hijack possessions or hunt shots; he&rsquo;ll move, shoot, and defend &ndash; the exact formula that maximizes Jokic&rsquo;s playmaking brilliance.
Denver also finally addressed one of their lingering issues: the lack of a dependable backup center. The addition of Jonas Valanciunas gives them that stability. A bruising interior presence and elite screener, Valanciunas allows Denver to stay afloat when Jokic sits &ndash; a problem that&rsquo;s haunted them for years. He&rsquo;s also a sneaky-good passer, keeping Denver&rsquo;s dribble-handoff flow alive in bench units.
And perhaps the most underrated move of all is not a move at all: the return of a healthy Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Both have battled injuries during previous playoff runs, but when on the floor, they complete Denver&rsquo;s identity. Murray&rsquo;s two-man game with Jokic remains one of the most unstoppable actions in basketball, while Gordon&rsquo;s cutting, defense, and athleticism balance the Nuggets on both ends.
Another quiet storyline is their head coach David Adelman. After taking over midseason last year, Adelman has done an exceptional job keeping the Nuggets grounded and disciplined. His defensive tweaks and trust in player development have kept Denver sharp despite roster transitions. He doesn&rsquo;t seek the spotlight &ndash; much like Jokic &ndash; but his influence is felt in the team&rsquo;s structure, chemistry, and accountability.
Adelman has embraced what makes Jokic special: freedom within a framework. Denver plays through Jokic at all times, but it never feels forced. The rhythm of the offense &ndash; cuts, screens, spacing &ndash; is organic, built on years of familiarity and trust.
While the Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Rockets dominate headlines, the Nuggets are quietly creeping back into the Western Conference&rsquo;s top tier. It&rsquo;s easy to forget that Denver was one win away from eliminating the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder last postseason.
Now, with a more balanced roster, better depth, and a refreshed core, they&rsquo;re poised to make another deep run. And at the center of it all &ndash; both literally and figuratively &ndash; is Nikola Jokic, still orchestrating everything with unmatched control.
He&rsquo;s still the engine, still the mind, still the heartbeat of Denver basketball. And yet, somehow, we&rsquo;ve stopped talking about him.
The normalization of the extraordinary
Maybe that&rsquo;s the price of sustained brilliance &ndash; to be so consistently excellent that the world stops noticing.&nbsp;
But history will remember what the present often overlooks. Jokic isn&rsquo;t just putting up big numbers; he&rsquo;s reshaping what we thought possible for a big man.
One day, when we look back, we&rsquo;ll realize these seasons weren&rsquo;t normal. They were masterpieces hiding in plain sight.
Nikola Jokic hasn&rsquo;t fallen off &ndash; if anything, he&rsquo;s still climbing. It&rsquo;s the rest of us who&rsquo;ve forgotten to look up.

Nikola Jokic’s brilliance has become so routine that fans may be taking it for granted. Read why, here:

Has Nikola Jokic become underrated?

As EuroBasket 2025 continues to unfold, the tournament is becoming a showcase of NBA pedigree in full force. Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are delivering superstar performances for Serbia, Slovenia, and Greece, while Alperen Sengun, Lauri Markkanen, and Germany&rsquo;s duo of Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner are emerging as breakout contributors in their own right.
Jokic &mdash; Serbia&rsquo;s All-Around Titan
On a mission to add EuroBasket gold to his illustrious resume, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has been nothing short of dominant. In Serbia&rsquo;s latest group-stage clash against Latvia, he poured in a career-best 39 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and tallied four assists &ndash; all while shooting a perfect free-throw performance and steering his country into the knockout phase with a 3&ndash;0 record.
With that feat, Jokic surpassed his previous personal best for Serbia at EuroBasket and now stands as the all-time Serbian scoring leader in tournament history. His consistent double-doubles &ndash; like 23 points and 19 rebounds against Portugal &ndash; underscore the blend of scoring, playmaking, and interior dominance that continue to separate him from the rest.
Doncic &mdash; Slovenia&rsquo;s High-Octane Maestro
Luka Doncic, known for theatrical individual brilliance, continues that trend in Poland. His historic 26-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist effort in a 17-point win over Belgium illustrated his ability to carry an entire country&rsquo;s offense despite roster limitations.
Earlier in the tournament, against Poland, Doncic posted a historic stat line of 34 points and 9 assists with 5 steals &ndash; a performance unmatched in EuroBasket history. Though Slovenia&rsquo;s group-stage position remains precarious, Doncic&rsquo;s heroics have not only kept them competitive but captivated fans worldwide.
Antetokounmpo &mdash; Greece&rsquo;s Freak of Nature
Giannis Antetokounmpo has conducted a masterclass in efficiency and power. In a crushing 94&ndash;53 victory over Georgia, he delivered 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in just 25 minutes &ndash; setting the tone early with relentless physicality and defensive pressure.
Already a tournament favorite, Giannis&rsquo;s presence makes Greece a legitimate medal threat, blending offensive ferocity with lockdown defense in ways only he can.
Emerging Stars &mdash; Markkanen, Sengun, Schroder &amp; Wagner
The NBA spotlight extends beyond to the younger stars, such as:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lauri Markkanen (Finland) continues to live up to &ndash; and perhaps exceed &ndash; his high expectations. He dropped 43 points in just 23 minutes against Great Britain, following up with averages of 32.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals, while posting a scorching 71% true shooting percentage through Finland's first three games.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Alperen Sengun (Turkey) has been like Jokic as an all-around wrecking ball for Turkey, and experts already regard Turkey as a dangerous group-stage rival largely thanks to his versatility and all-court prowess.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Germany enters the EuroBasket as one of the tournament favorites armed with veteran savvy and youthful skill. Led by Dennis Schroder alongside emerging talent Franz Wagner, Germany is aiming to win the regional meet especially after their World Cup triumph last 2023.</li>
</ul>
EuroBasket 2025 is affirming its role as not just a continental championship &ndash; but a global stage where basketball&rsquo;s biggest names meet national pride. Jokic is rewriting Serbian tournament lore with efficiency and versatility. Doncic remains an offensive force capable of nearly single-handedly carrying his team. Giannis, true to form, dominates physically and defensively. Meanwhile, Markkanen&rsquo;s scoring torridness, Sengun&rsquo;s rising versatility, and Germany&rsquo;s balanced duo present compelling storylines that could influence this tournament&rsquo;s elite trajectory.

As EuroBasket 2025 continues to unfold, the tournament is becoming a showcase of NBA pedigree in full force.

Jokic, Doncic, Antetokounmpo show out in EuroBasket

Popular basketball video game NBA 2K has released its player ratings, with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlining the list.
Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, the last two NBA MVP winners, both earn a staggering 98 OVR, tying for the highest overall ratings in NBA 2K26 and reaffirming their league dominance heading into the new season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo lands at 97 OVR, securing the third spot and maintaining elite-caliber status for the Bucks.
Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards round out the top 5 &ndash; both rated 95 OVR &ndash; showcasing their impact with their teams as they look for playoff success next season.
Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and Victor Wembanyama follow suit, all clocking in at 94 OVR, rounding out the league&rsquo;s highest-rated talent.
Kevin Durant comes in at 93 OVR to round out the top 10 and just leaves the 94 club by a hair.
<h3>Notable Patterns from the Ratings</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Dual Kings: The only pair sharing the No. 1 spot &ndash; a rare distinction for Jokić and SGA&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lakers&rsquo; Unique Placement: The Lakers are the only team with two players in the top 10 &ndash; LeBron and Luka.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Youth Rising: Anthony Edwards and Wembanyama's elite ratings reflect their ascent into the game's elite tier/</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Enduring Legends: LeBron (94), Curry (94), and Durant (93) demonstrate that age hasn't slowed down their virtual &ndash; and real-life &ndash; relevancy.</li>
</ul>
These ratings don&rsquo;t just reflect career narratives, but shape how fans play the game. With preorders live and NBA 2K26 launching September 5, this list informs strategy for gamers &ndash; determining who you build around in MyTEAM, MyCAREER, or MyGM modes.

NBA 2K has released its player ratings, with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlining the list.

Jokic, SGA stand atop NBA 2K26 player ratings

The NBA has released its most anticipated schedule matchups in a post by ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania, featuring the Opening Night and Christmas Day games for the 2025&ndash;26 season, delivering marquee showdowns and setting the tone for a star-studded campaign.
Opening Night (October 21)
Opening Night on October 21 will be broadcast nationally on NBC and Peacock, spotlighting two blockbuster matchups:
&minus; Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder: A thrilling homecoming for former Thunder star Kevin Durant as he returns with Houston to face the reigning champions. &minus; Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers: A high-voltage matchup featuring Stephen Curry and LeBron James, with LeBron entering his record-breaking 23rd NBA season.
Christmas Day (December 25)
The holiday slate promises five consecutive nationally televised games, packed with compelling narratives and rivalries, to air on ABC, ESPN, and streaming platforms. The schedule includes:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks &mdash; A high-stakes Eastern Conference preview at Madison Square Garden.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder &mdash; Featuring the defending NBA champions, the Thunder, against rising superstar Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers &mdash; A renewed Durant-versus-LeBron showdown packed with star power.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors &mdash; A fresh chapter as rookie Cooper Flagg faces off against Stephen Curry&rsquo;s Warriors.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets &mdash; Closes out the day with a Western Conference clash featuring Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic.</li>
</ol>
Opening Night passages build excitement around new dynamics and rivalry renewals &ndash; especially Durant&rsquo;s return to OKC and the enduring Lakers-Warriors, James-Curry rivalry. Christmas Day continues the NBA&rsquo;s tradition of elite storytelling, blending dynasties and rising stars on a festive stage, as NBC&rsquo;s expanded footprint &ndash; including its Opening Day coverage &ndash; marks a significant shift in broadcast strategy, signaling the league&rsquo;s evolving media landscape.
These scheduling highlights promise an electrifying launch and a festive climax to the NBA's regular season, setting up what could be a memorable year of hoops.

The NBA has released its most anticipated schedule matchups in a post by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

NBA unveils 2025-26 Opening Night & Christmas Day matchups

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

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

2025 Emirates NBA Cup: Group stage draw revealed

Three contending NBA teams for next season &ndash; the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Atlanta Hawks &ndash; have each made significant roster moves this offseason.
In separate deals reported by ESPN&rsquo;s NBA insider Shams Charania, all three teams are signaling aggressive shifts in direction ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Houston Rockets are going all‑in this summer. After acquiring Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Suns, Houston shored up its core by re-signing Fred VanVleet on a 2‑year, $50M deal (with a player option), extending Steven Adams, and re-upping coach Ime Udoka. Now in free agency, they have landed veteran 3‑and‑D forward Dorian Finney‑Smith (4 years, $53M) to improve perimeter defense along with his reliable floor-spacing skills. Then they signed Clint Capela for more depth at their center position, and with $14M in cap space remaining, Houston is finalizing its championship roster.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets addressed frontcourt depth by trading for center Jonas Valančiūnas from Sacramento in a straight-up swap for Dario Saric. Valančiūnas, averaging 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds last season, will provide Nikola Jokić steady backup minutes and additional interior toughness. Despite moving Saric&rsquo;s cap hit, Denver stays under the first tax apron, preserving financial flexibility.
However, the biggest story of Denver&rsquo;s offseason has been acquiring Cam Johnson, who was traded in for Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick. Moreover, the Nuggets have brought back former Nugget champion in 2023, Bruce Brown, on a minimum deal.
The Atlanta Hawks focused on spacing and backcourt versatility. They completed a sign‑and‑trade for wing Nickeil Alexander‑Walker (4 years, $62M, with player options and Trae Young playing a recruit role), and signed sharpshooter Luke Kennard to a 1‑year, $11M deal to boost 3‑point range off the bench. These moves aim to complement Trae Young while improving perimeter defense and shooting.
ANALYSIS: For the Rockets, they have dramatically elevated their ceiling, as Durant adds star power, VanVleet brings court leadership, and Finney-Smith and Capela shore up their defense. The franchise is firmly in win-now mode. The Nuggets have secured Valančiūnas to add size behind Jokić, and then Johnson and Brown are strengthening their bench rotation and sustaining their championship window. For the Hawks, these perimeter additions in Alexander-Walker and Kennard mean they prioritize spacing and two-way flexibility after also trading for Kristaps Porzingis days earlier. This is signaling readiness to support Young in a deeper push.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
These strategic moves reflect each team&rsquo;s goals: Houston&rsquo;s aggressive contender build, Denver&rsquo;s championship continuity, and Atlanta&rsquo;s roster refinement. The summer&rsquo;s first wave sets a sharp tone &ndash; expect these teams to command attention come next season.

Three contending NBA teams for next season – the Rockets, Nuggets, and Hawks – have each made significant roster moves.

Rockets, Nuggets, Hawks retool rosters with major offseason shakeups

In a series full of big moments and bigger performances, Jalen Williams finally had his. The 24-year-old wing exploded for a career-high 40 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, lifting the Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink of their first championship since the franchise moved from Seattle.
For one night, the man they call JDub stepped out of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s shadow. He wasn&rsquo;t just the Robin to SGA&rsquo;s Batman &ndash; he became the Batman and carried OKC to victory. He initiated the offense, hit timely threes, attacked the rim with force, and defended like his life depended on it. It was a masterclass from a player once doubted as the long-term second option for this team. But as the confetti fell after OKC's Game 5 win, there was no doubt anymore: Jalen Williams has arrived.
<h3>The emergence of a true No. 2</h3>
Oklahoma City&rsquo;s ascension to the NBA&rsquo;s elite has largely been credited to Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s leap into MVP territory and top 5 player in the league conversation. But no team contends for titles with just one star. Throughout the season, Williams quietly established himself as that second cornerstone &ndash; an All-Star, a three-level scorer, and a swiss-army knife on both ends of the floor.
He averaged over 20 points per game in the regular season with 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game, and earned All-NBA Third Team honors. But those accolades were hard-earned, especially after the questions that clouded him following last season's playoff exit.
Against Dallas in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, Williams struggled to find rhythm. The Mavericks&rsquo; defense smothered him, taking away his drives and disrupting his midrange flow. He shot poorly, turned the ball over more than usual, and appeared unsure of when to assert himself. The Thunder were bounced in six games, and the spotlight turned on whether JDub could ever truly complement SGA as a playoff performer.
<h3>Williams&rsquo; redemption and resolve</h3>
Fast forward one year, and Williams is a different player. With Isaiah Hartenstein added to give OKC more interior toughness and Josh Giddey traded away for Alex Caruso, the Thunder leaned even harder into their identity: wings with size, skill, and smarts.
Williams fit that mold perfectly, using the offseason to refine his handle, sharpen his jumper, and study film to improve his decision-making. The result? An All-Star nod, a 68-win season, and OKC securing the top seed in the entire league.
But the playoffs would again test him.
Denver pushed the Thunder to the brink in the second round. Once again, Williams faced turbulence &ndash; his shot abandoned him at times, and the Nuggets&rsquo; physicality forced rushed decisions. But this time, he didn&rsquo;t unravel. He dug deeper. He impacted games with his defense and passing, then rediscovered his scoring touch just in time to help the Thunder close the series in Game 7.
In the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota, he was magnificent. He shot the ball efficiently, helped neutralize Anthony Edwards at times, and showcased his elite cutting and off-ball IQ &ndash; areas often overshadowed by his flashy isolation moves. By the end of the series, Williams had reclaimed full confidence in his offensive role.
But even that couldn&rsquo;t prepare the world for what he unleashed in Game 5 of the Finals.
<h3>A Finals performance to remember</h3>
With Indiana doubling SGA on every touch and trying to bait OKC&rsquo;s supporting cast into beating them in Game 5, Williams took full advantage of the defensive attention. He sliced through the defense with decisive drives, nailed tough step-back jumpers, and even initiated offense when Gilgeous-Alexander rested. His 40-point night wasn&rsquo;t just about scoring &ndash; it was about control. He looked every bit like a franchise pillar that would be in the city for years to come.
Williams&rsquo; ability to score at all three levels, his commitment to defense, and his feel for the game now make him one of the most complete young wings in basketball. He's not just a complementary piece anymore &ndash; he's a cornerstone.
<h3>Cementing his legacy</h3>
With the Thunder now one win away from an NBA championship, Williams is on the verge of etching his name into Oklahoma City lore. Not just as the guy who played beside SGA, but as the co-author of this team&rsquo;s historic run.
It&rsquo;s easy to forget this is his first NBA Finals. He plays with the poise of a seasoned vet, never rushing, always reading. His blend of patience and aggression makes him nearly impossible to scheme out of a game, and his confidence has caught up with his tools.
Of course, there&rsquo;s still work to be done. Game 6 awaits back in Indiana, and the Pacers aren&rsquo;t going quietly. But for Williams, this postseason has already validated everything the Thunder hoped he could become.
The doubts that loomed after last year&rsquo;s postseason struggles are gone. The idea that he couldn&rsquo;t rise to the occasion? Erased. This run &ndash; this journey &ndash; is proof of how perseverance and belief can reshape a career.
Whether he&rsquo;s cutting behind a ball-watching defender, dishing a no-look dime on the break, or drilling a stepback jumper in the clutch, Jalen Williams is playing with the kind of purpose that changes narratives and wins titles.
The Thunder may soon hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. And when they do, know that it wasn&rsquo;t just SGA&rsquo;s brilliance that got them there. It was Jalen Williams, too &ndash; the sidekick-turned-superstar, who stepped up when it mattered most.

Jalen Williams delivered a 40-point masterpiece in the NBA Finals, cementing his status as the OKC Thunder’s true second star.