Dragons

Daskalakis Athletic Center

The East Asia Super League (EASL) is set to host its highly anticipated Final Four 2025 in Macau SAR for the very first time. From March 7-9, Melco Resorts &amp; Entertainment&rsquo;s Studio City Event Center will be the stage where Asia&rsquo;s basketball elite clash for glory.&nbsp;&nbsp;
This marks the EASL&rsquo;s second-ever Final Four, building on the success of its inaugural home-and-away season format introduced during the 2023-24 campaign, following a series of thrilling and competitive tournaments.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Asia&rsquo;s finest teams will battle it out in Macau for the EASL Final Four 2025,&rdquo; said CEO Henry Kerins. &ldquo;This event is the Champions League of Asian basketball, bringing top-tier talent, electrifying action, and an unmatched atmosphere. It&rsquo;s everything basketball fans could hope for.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Two teams have already punched their tickets to the Final Four, both representing Japan&rsquo;s B.LEAGUE. The Ryukyu Golden Kings secured the first spot on December 25 with a gritty 82-74 win over the New Taipei Kings. They were soon joined by the Hiroshima Dragonflies, who earned their berth with a dominant 94-63 victory against the San Miguel Beermen on January 8. The B.LEAGUE continues to showcase its dominance in EASL, highlighted by the Chiba Jets&rsquo; championship run last year with an unblemished 8-0 record.&nbsp;&nbsp;
With three game days left and two Final Four slots still available, the battle for postseason spots is intensifying.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The stakes couldn&rsquo;t be higher, as the EASL Champions will take home a grand prize of $1 million, while the runner-up will receive $500,000, and the third-place team will earn $250,000. The semi finals are set for March 7, with the winners advancing to the Championship Game on March 9. Meanwhile, the semi final losers will compete in a Third-Place Game also scheduled for March 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Fans eager to witness the action can grab their tickets starting February 7 at 12 p.m. CST through Studio City Macau&rsquo;s official website: [https://www.studiocity-macau.com/en](https://www.studiocity-macau.com/en).

The East Asia Super League (EASL) is set to host its highly anticipated Final Four 2025 in Macau SAR for the very first time.

EASL Final Four 2025 Heads to Macau

The East Asia Super League (EASL) will feature two B.LEAGUE teams in its 2025 Final Four, as both the Ryukyu Golden Kings and the Hiroshima Dragonflies have clinched their spots in the prestigious tournament.
The Ryukyu Golden Kings were the first to secure their place, achieving an 82-74 victory over the New Taipei Kings on December 25, 2024. This win propelled Ryukyu to a 4-0 record in Group B, ensuring their advancement with two regular-season games remaining. Keve Aluma has been instrumental for the team, leading with an average of 27.5 points per game. Ryuichi Kishimoto earned Player of the Game honors against New Taipei, contributing 20 points, including six three-pointers.&nbsp;
Following suit, the Hiroshima Dragonflies clinched their Final Four berth with a commanding 94-63 win over the San Miguel Beermen on January 8, 2025. This victory improved Hiroshima's record to 4-1 in Group A. Kerry Blackshear Jr. narrowly missed a triple-double in the game, recording 12 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. The Dragonflies' balanced offense saw five players scoring in double figures, with Nick Mayo and Keijiro Mitani combining for 36 points.&nbsp;
The EASL Final Four 2025 is scheduled for March 7-9 at the Studio City Event Center in Macau. The champion will receive a $1 million prize, with $500,000 awarded to the runner-up and $250,000 for third place. This marks the first time two B.LEAGUE teams have reached the EASL Final Four simultaneously, highlighting the league's growing prominence in Asian basketball.&nbsp;
Both Ryukyu and Hiroshima have demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the season, and their upcoming participation in the Final Four is highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike.&nbsp;

The East Asia Super League (EASL) will feature two B.LEAGUE teams in its 2025 Final Four: Ryukyu and Hiroshima.

Ryukyu Golden Kings and Hiroshima Dragonflies Secure Spots in EASL Final Four 2025

Ryukyu Golden Kings 96, Macau Black Bears 93
The Ryukyu Golden Kings extended their undefeated run in Group B of the East Asia Super League (EASL) with a thrilling 96-93 victory over the Macau Black Bears. Ryukyu showcased their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, surviving a late-game push from the Black Bears to secure the win.
Keve Aluma made a significant impact in his season debut, scoring 29 points and providing a crucial spark in the fourth quarter. Jack Cooley also played a pivotal role, contributing 24 points and grabbing 19 rebounds, demonstrating his dominance on both ends of the floor.
Macau fought valiantly, led by Damian Chong Qui, who scored 24 points, and William Artino, who secured 20 rebounds. Despite their efforts, they fell short as Ryukyu&rsquo;s defense held strong in the closing moments.
The game&rsquo;s turning point came when Ryukyu launched an 8-2 run late in the fourth quarter, ultimately keeping the Black Bears at bay. This victory keeps the Golden Kings at the top of Group B standings with a 2-0 record​
Hiroshima Dragonflies 88, Hong Kong Eastern 75
In the second matchup of the day, the Hiroshima Dragonflies cruised to a 88-75 victory over Hong Kong Eastern, earning their second consecutive win in the EASL. Hiroshima displayed a balanced offensive attack and tenacious defense, overwhelming Eastern from start to finish.
Kerry Blackshear Jr. led the Dragonflies with a stellar performance, scoring 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, solidifying his position as a standout player in the tournament.&nbsp;
Hiroshima's three-point shooting was particularly impressive, connecting on 9 shots from beyond the arc, while Hong Kong struggled significantly, managing only 4 successful three-pointers throughout the game.
Christopher McLaughlin was the bright spot for Eastern, scoring 24 points, but the team was unable to overcome the Dragonflies&rsquo; defensive pressure, which forced 14 turnovers​.
This commanding win keeps Hiroshima undefeated in the tournament, and they look poised to continue their success as the season progresses.
Both Ryukyu and Hiroshima have established themselves as frontrunners in the EASL, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the season. The Golden Kings will aim to maintain their momentum, while Eastern will seek to regroup and find their footing in the upcoming matches.

Both Ryukyu and Hiroshima have established themselves as frontrunners in the EASL for an exciting continuation of the season.

EASL Game Day #4 recap: Ryukyu Edges Macau; Hiroshima Soars Past Hong Kong

Japan&rsquo;s B.League teams Hiroshima Dragonflies and Ryukyu Golden Kings scored separate tournament-opening victories in the East Asia Super League (EASL) October 16 game day on their respective home floors in Fukuyama and Okinawa.&nbsp;
Hiroshima got their opening win via a 78-67 decision over Hong Kong Eastern at F-Pico Arena. The Dragonflies led for much of the game against Eastern, who are coming in as newcomers in this brand new EASL season.
Hiroshima got key contributions from everyone in the roster led by Kerry Blackshear Jr. who tallied 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Nick Mayo had 14, followed by Masato Ichikawa with 11 and Ryo Yamazaki with 10. The Dragonflies shot 46 percent from the field overall and made 12 threes in the game to fuel their first win.
Hong Kong&rsquo;s American imports Cameron Clark and Christopher McLaughlin led the way for their team with 24 and 20 points respectively but it was not enough as there were no other players who scored 10 points or more other than Glen Yang.&nbsp;
Over at Okinawa, the Ryukyu Golden Kings won a tight one over the Meralco Bolts, 77-74. This was the third meeting between the two teams in the EASL after having a 1-1 split last season.&nbsp;
The Golden Kings avenged their overtime loss last season with this close win after sustaining the Bolts&rsquo; furious 4th quarter run to end the game.
Ryukyu built their largest lead at 19 points, 56-37, midway through the 3rd quarter until Meralco, led by their American import DJ Kennedy, started chipping away in the final frame.
The Bolts eventually got to as close as three in the final possession of the game before their other American import Allen Durham missed the potential game-tying three at the buzzer for the game&rsquo;s final points.
Kennedy had a huge game with 30 points and 12 boards while Durham added 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists as Meralco dropped to a 1-1 record. The Bolts recorded their opening win against the Macau Black Bears at the EASL Tip Off event in Manila last October 2.
American imports Vic Law and Jack Cooley spearheaded the Golden Kings&rsquo; attack with 18 points apiece while Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki and Yoshiya Uematsu provided ample support with 9 points each as Ryukyu recorded their first win of the season.

Japan’s B.League teams Hiroshima Dragonflies and Ryukyu Golden Kings scored separate tournament-opening victories in the EASL.

EASL Game Day #2 recap: Japan teams Hiroshima, Ryukyu score tournament-opening wins

Amidst a multitude of former and current NBA stars, the basketball world celebrated and honored the career of Goran Dragic in a heartfelt farewell game in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Dubbed the &lsquo;Night of the Dragon&rsquo;, Dragic played a charity basketball game in his home country with fellow Slovenian and NBA player Luka Doncic. Dragic&rsquo;s former teammates and NBA legends Steve Nash (Phoenix) and Chris Bosh (Miami) were also in attendance while European stars Dirk Nowitzki and NBA MVP Nikola Jokic were on Doncic&rsquo;s team.&nbsp;
Proceeds from the charity game and adjacent events went toward the Botrstvo v sportu program of the Friends of Youth Foundation Ljubljana Moste-Polje and the Goran Dragic Foundation.
&ldquo;The Dragon&rdquo; also played a 1v1 against his brother Zoran Dragic in a wholesome moment with a mini-soccer game and on-court moments with his family also taking place, making the event memorable and meaningful for Dragic, who retired from the NBA a year ago.&nbsp;
Dragic had a lengthy career in the NBA, spending seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, and the Miami Heat. He was also a legend in the Slovenian basketball scene, having led Slovenia to a historic EuroBasket 2017. Dragic became an all-star in Miami and was a key cog in the team&rsquo;s historic run to the 2020 NBA Finals.&nbsp;
The former second-round pick averaged between 16 and 21 points per game in five different seasons while playing 946 total games. His 4,405 career assists rank 97th all-time. Dragic&rsquo;s No. 3 is retired by the Slovenian basketball team.

Amidst former and current NBA stars, the basketball world celebrated and honored the career of Goran Dragic.

Former and current NBA stars come out to support Goran Dragic’s farewell game

This article is from a press release from the East Asia Super League
East Asia Super League (EASL) unveiled its schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 Season, posting 34 matchups across the region to decide East Asia&rsquo;s club basketball champions. The EASL 2024-25 Season will tip off October 2, 2024 with an expanded Group Stage running until February 12, 2025; followed by the four-game EASL Final Four championship weekend of March 7-9, 2025.
The Group Stage will feature several marquee double-header events, including the EASL Tipoff&nbsp;opening games at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on October 2 pitting San Miguel Beerman vs. KT Sonicboom, followed by Meralco vs. Macau Black Bears; and EASL&rsquo;s Mid-Season Classic in Macau on December 11 matching up Taoyuan Pilots vs. KT Sonicboom and Macau Black Bears vs. New Taipei Kings.
EASL just last week announced its expansion from 8 to 10 teams with the addition of new entrants Hong Kong Eastern and the Macau Black Bears. The EASL, leagues, and teams all aligned that the round-robin home-and-away Group Stage would increase from 24 to 30 games.
The five Group A teams are B.LEAGUE champion Hiroshima Dragonflies, Korean Basketball League (KBL), runner-up Suwon KT Sonicboom, P. LEAGUE+ runner-up Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, Philippine Basketball&nbsp;Association (PBA) Commissioner&rsquo;s Cup champion San Miguel Beermen, and the HKSAR champion Hong Kong Eastern. The five Group B teams are B.LEAGUE runner-up Ryukyu Golden Kings, KBL champion Busan KCC Egis, P.LEAGUE+ champion New Taipei Kings, PBA Philippines Cup champion Meralco Bolts, and Macau SAR champion Black Bears.

EASL unveiled its schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 Season, posting 34 games to decide East Asia’s club basketball champions.

EASL releases schedule for 2024-2025 season

The East Asia Super League (EASL) has taken a step further to its growth by adding two teams from Hong Kong to increase its member teams to 10 for their upcoming 2024-2025 season.&nbsp;
Hong Kong Eastern and the Macau Black Bears will compete in the East Asia Super League 2024-25 Season, in a major expansion of East Asia&rsquo;s professional club basketball championship. Home games will be played in both Macau and Hong Kong for each respective club, bringing the top competition to the Greater Bay Area.
EASL had a great inaugural season with 8 pioneering teams, featuring squads from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Next season, the entry of the Hong Kong teams increases the pool of teams to 10, an all-time high for the young and upstart league.
Basketball fans in East Asia are set for a Champions League between the region&rsquo;s best teams on a scale never seen before. The addition of Hong Kong Eastern and the Macau Black Bears increases the number of competing teams in the EASL 2024-25 Season from eight to ten teams and ramps up representation from Greater China.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Hong Kong and Macau sides will face off against the best teams from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, to decide East Asia&rsquo;s champion.
Eastern is one of Hong Kong&rsquo;s most storied teams and is the reigning domestic champions. The team won their third domestic A1 Division title in 2023. They are also a two-time winner of the Asean Basketball League (2016-17 and 2023).
Eastern have been placed into Group A for the 2024-25 Season Group Stage, in which they will play against B.LEAGUE champions the Hiroshima Dragonflies, Korean Basketball League (KBL) runners-up the Suwon KT Sonicboom, P. LEAGUE+ runners-up the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, and PBA Governor's Cup Champion San Miguel Beermen.
Macau Black Bears were formed in 2018 as Macau&rsquo;s first-ever professional team. The team is the reigning Macau basketball league champions and has also represented the region in the ASEAN Basketball League and The Asia Tournament.&nbsp;
The Black Bears have been placed into Group B for the 2024-25 Season Group Stage, in which they will play against B.LEAGUE runners-up the Ryukyu Golden Kings, KBL champions the Busan KCC Egis, P.LEAGUE+ champions the New Taipei Kings, and PBA Philippine Cup champions the Meralco Bolts.

The East Asia Super League (EASL) has taken a step further to its growth by adding two teams from Hong Kong.

EASL expands to 10 teams after adding teams from Hong Kong

Japan&rsquo;s best professional teams Hiroshima Dragonflies and Ryukyu Golden Kings have qualified and will represent the country in the upcoming East Asia Super League 2024-2025 season, announced the league in a press release.
Champions Dragonflies and runners-up Golden Kings of Japan&rsquo;s top-flight league &ldquo;B.League&rdquo; will compete with other champions and runners-up from different East Asian leagues to be called champions of East Asia.
Among the teams they will be facing are Taiwan&rsquo;s P.League+, Korea&rsquo;s Korean Basketball League (KBL), and the Philippines&rsquo; Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Already qualified are Korea&rsquo;s champions and runners-up Busan KCC Egis and Suwon KT Sonicboom. Teams from the P.League and PBA are yet to be determined.
EASL CEO Henry Kerins said, &ldquo;EASL is delighted to have the B.LEAGUE champions and runners-up competing once again to be the champions of East Asia. We&rsquo;re looking forward to returning to Okinawa with the Ryukyu Golden Kings, after a tremendous series of games there last season. And we can&rsquo;t wait to see what the Hiroshima Dragonflies will bring to the 2024-25 Season.&rdquo;
B.LEAGUE Chairman Shinji Shimada said, &ldquo;The 2023-24 season champions Hiroshima Dragonflies and runners-up Ryukyu Golden Kings will represent the B.LEAGUE in the EASL next season.&nbsp;
&ldquo;After a year of battling it out in the B.LEAGUE, which is improving year by year, and achieving impressive results as champions and runners-up, they have proved that they are Japan&rsquo;s two best teams.
&ldquo;Last season, the Chiba Jets were crowned EASL champions. We hope that one of these two teams will bring the EASL championship to Japan again.&rdquo;
The draw for the EASL 2024-25 Season Group Stage was made earlier this year in agreement with the participating leagues. The eight participating teams will be divided into two groups, containing four teams each.
As B.LEAGUE champions, the Dragonflies have been placed into Group A. The Golden Kings have been placed into Group B.&nbsp;
Hiroshima will match up in Group A against Korean Basketball League (KBL) runners-up Suwon KT Sonicboom, the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up, and one of the best-performing teams from the Philippine Basketball Association&rsquo;s (PBA) 2023-24 conferences.
In Group B, Ryukyu will face KBL champions the Busan KCC Egis, the P. LEAGUE+ champions, and a second top-performing PBA team.
&mdash;
About East Asia Super League
East Asia Super League (EASL) is the Champions League of East Asian basketball. Combining the best clubs, from the best leagues, with best-in-class production values, EASL&rsquo;s vision is to become one of the world&rsquo;s top professional basketball leagues. At the same time, the league aims to elevate the sport of basketball across the East Asia region.
EASL operates with a 10-year agreement with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, granting FIBA Asia&rsquo;s recognition. It also operates under agreements with the East Asia region&rsquo;s leading basketball leagues, securing the participation of their teams. Those leagues are the Japan B.LEAGUE, the Korean Basketball League (KBL), the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and Chinese Taipei&rsquo;s P. LEAGUE+.&nbsp;
For more information about the East Asia Super League, please visit <a href="http://www.easl.basketball/">www.EASL.basketball</a>.

Japan’s best professional teams Hiroshima Dragonflies and Ryukyu Golden Kings have qualified for the EASL 2024-2025 season.

Japan B.League top two teams to compete in EASL 2024-2025 season

BOSTON (AP) &mdash; Paolo Banchero scored 31 points and Admiral Schofield had 11 of his 13 in the fourth quarter to help the Orlando Magic complete a sweep of consecutive games in Boston with a 95-92 victory on Sunday.
Franz Wagner added 12 points and Bol Bol had 11 with eight rebounds for Orlando, which was 1-11 on the road before its two straight wins over the Celtics at TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points, Marcus Smart had 15 and Grant Williams 14.
Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum missed the game due to personal reasons. The 24-year-old star is the team&rsquo;s leading scorer (30.2 points) and rebounder (8.2), and fifth in the league in scoring.
Boston center Robert Williams III played his second straight game after missing the first 29 following left knee surgery in September. He had six points and five rebounds in 17 minutes.
With Boston trailing 93-92, Smart stole the inbounds pass and went to the floor, calling timeout with 9.8 seconds to play before the Celtics turned it over on the other end.
Moritz Wagner sank two free throws with 5.3 seconds left before Grant Williams front-rimmed a 3-point attempt from the left corner.
Grant Williams had a put-back and was fouled, hitting the free throw that gave Boston a one-point edge with just under four minutes left, but Banchero nailed a 3 on the Magic&rsquo;s next possession and they never trailed again.
Boston had sliced it to 93-92 on Malcom Brogdon&rsquo;s 3 but Markelle Fultz snatched the rebound on Banchero&rsquo;s miss and Orlando called timeout.
Boston lost Friday&rsquo;s game 117-109.
LUKEWARM WELCOME
Stuff the Magic Dragon, Orlando&rsquo;s mascot, was part of a group from around sports that was on hand for Kids&rsquo; Day. It received a spattering of boos when shown on the Jumbotron.
TIP-INS
Magic: It was Banchero&rsquo;s seventh straight game with 20 points or more and his 19th this season. &hellip; Recalled R.J. Hampton from their NBA G League affiliate. &hellip; In a somewhat slow-paced, lackluster opening half, the Magic held a 50-41 lead at intermission.
Celtics: Center Al Horford was fined $25,000 by the league for making what it called &ldquo;unnecessary and excessive contact&rdquo; to the lower body of Magic center Moritz Wagner during Friday&rsquo;s loss. &hellip; Missed 18 of their initial 21 on 3-point attempts and went just 5-of-24 in the opening half. &hellip; Brown picked up his second foul without time going off the clock, when he was whistled before the ball was inbounded after being called for his first.
&nbsp;

Paolo Banchero scored 31 points to help the Magic complete a sweep of consecutive games in Boston with a 95-92 victory.

Banchero scores 31 as Magic win second straight in Boston

The Bay Area Dragons have added three stars from the Chinese Basketball Association to complete a roster that already contains former NBA players Andrew Nicholson and Myles Powell and the aptly named Big Liu for the inaugural season of the revamped East Asia Super League.
The Dragons on Wednesday confirmed Zhu Songwei, Ju Mingxin and Liu Xiaoyu have signed from the CBA, joining the new club which will be based in Manila for Season 1 of the EASL.
The eight-team league will launch in October and feature the winners and runners-up from the Japanese, South Korean and Philippines leagues as well as the Taiwanese champions and the Bay Area Dragons, who will also be playing in the Philippines league.
Zhu, a forward who played with Sichuan in the CBA and was the fourth overall pick in the 2020 CBA draft, said he&rsquo;s looking forward to the challenge with the Dragons and &ldquo;being part of the new face of Chinese basketball.&rdquo;
Ju, a 10-year CBA veteran who has spent the last three seasons with the Shanghai Sharks, said the lure was being part of &ldquo;the first fully professional Chinese club to play internationally.&rdquo;
The Bay Area Dragons have recruited players from across greater China.&nbsp;
&ldquo;When we started building this team, we wanted to aim for a mixture of youth and experienced guys. Ju Mingxin is the perfect balance in this mix,&rdquo; Dragons head coach Brian Goorjian said. &ldquo;His years of experience in the CBA will be a huge asset for our team, and he is also only 29 . . . He&rsquo;s stepping into his prime years as a player.&rdquo;
Goorjian, who coached Australia&rsquo;s national team to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and has been a multiple coach of the year winner in Australia&rsquo;s National Basketball League, will also be reuniting with Liu Xiaoyu.
Liu won CBA championships with the Guangdong Southern Tigers and also played for the Shanghai Sharks and Beijing Ducks and represented China&rsquo;s national team.
&ldquo;The Dragons are a one-of-a-kind team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I previously played under Coach Goorjian with Shanghai and I&rsquo;m very excited to be back with him.&rdquo;
Liu Chuanxing, a 22-year-old, 2.25-meter (7-foot-5) center for China&rsquo;s national team, was among the first 10 players who signed for the Dragons after a brief stint in Australia, where he was widely known as Big Liu.
The Bay Area Dragons will play exhibitions later this month before joining the Philippine Basketball Association&rsquo;s Commissioner&rsquo;s Cup as a guest team.
Their first game in the EASL home-and-away season is scheduled for Oct. 12 against the PBA runners-up.
The pan-regional basketball league has started production on a reality series covering the inaugural season of the EASL.
South Korean film director John H. Lee will lead the project and work with executive producers Ezra Holland, director of CTRL Media owned by former NBA star Steve Nash.

The Dragons on Wednesday confirmed Zhu Songwei, Ju Mingxin and Liu Xiaoyu have signed from the CBA, joining the new club.

Dragons complete roster with 3 players from Chinese league

The Bay Area Dragons announced the signing of two former NBA players who will look to help the team win championships in the upcoming East Asia Super League (EASL) inaugural season and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner&rsquo;s Cup.
Andrew Nicholson and Myles Powell will be the first import players to don Bay Area Dragons uniforms in EASL competition come October.
Nicholson, a Canadian forward, spent five seasons in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. Nicholson is also no stranger to international basketball, as he&rsquo;s played for Team Canada in multiple international tournaments. Most recently, he played for Daegu KOGAS Pegasus of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).
Powell is a 25-year-old guard who signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021, appearing in 14 games. Like Nicholson, Powell also has international competition experience with Team USA at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where the team took home bronze.
The opening of the next PBA Commissioner&rsquo;s Cup is tentatively scheduled to begin on September 21. EASL&rsquo;s inaugural home-and-away season pan-regional format begins October 12, with eight teams.
The champions and runners-up from the previous Japan B.LEAGUE, Korea KBL and Philippines PBA seasons will qualify to compete in EASL. The Bay Area Dragons and the championship team from Chinese Taipei&rsquo;s P. LEAGUE+, will be the Greater China representatives. The first Dragons game is on October 12 and will be against the runner-up of the on-going PBA Philippine Cup.
For more information on the East Asia Super League, check out this <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/east-asia-super-league-inside-a-basketball-startup-with-a-unique-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-depth interview</a> with commissioner Matt Beyer.

Andrew Nicholson and Myles Powell will be the first import players to join the Bay Area Dragons of the East Asia Super League (EASL).

EASL's Bay Area Dragons sign Andrew Nicholson, Myles Powell

Steve Nash will get a behind-the-scenes look at the talent in Season 1 of the East Asia Super League long before the competition starts or a spin-off reality TV series hits the screens.
The pan-regional basketball league has started production on a reality series covering the inaugural season.
Korean film director John H. Lee will lead the project and work with executive producers Ezra Holland, director of CTRL Media owned by NBA great Nash, and Jonah Greenberg of China-based Salty Pictures.
The eight-team league will launch in October and feature the winners and runners-up from the Japanese, South Korean and Philippines leagues as well as the Taiwanese champions and the Bay Area Dragons, a roster of players from across greater China initially based in Manila.
(Editor's Note: To learn more about the East Asia Super League's origin, vision and more, read <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/east-asia-super-league-inside-a-basketball-startup-with-a-unique-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alex Kennedy's in-depth feature from June</a>.)
Filming started last month in the Philippines at a ceremony to determine groupings for Season 1.
Nash, who played 18 seasons in the NBA and is head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, said the idea for the reality project on the new league &ldquo;immediately resonated.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Fans can zero in on players&rsquo; achievements and shortcomings on the court without understanding the complete picture.&rdquo; Nash said in a statement. &ldquo;This series is the perfect opportunity to show our fans more of what happens behind closed doors.
&ldquo;Everybody will be able to appreciate the mental and physical challenges professional athletes face and overcome to stay on top of their game.&rdquo;
Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Willie Marcial said there&rsquo;d be no shortage of stories to tell.
&ldquo;The Philippines is a very basketball-passionate country, and the PBA is a league full of dynamic players and vibrant fans,&rdquo; Marcial said. &ldquo;We fully welcome and support this production.&rdquo;
The Bay Area Dragons have assembled a squad of players from across greater China to be guided Australian Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian, with the series potentially offering an inside look at how the club is growing from the ground up.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve put together the best roster that we can for our first season in EASL and the PBA,&rdquo; Bay Area Dragons General Manager Liu Quansheng said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to see what these players will be up to when they&rsquo;re not on the court.&rdquo;

The East Asia Super League has started production on a reality series covering the inaugural season.

Reality check: Filming starts ahead of East Asia Super League's launch

The Bay Area Dragons have announced a roster of 10 players from mainland China and Hong Kong SAR for the inaugural season of the East Asia Super League.
The team's coach will be Brian Goorjian, the six-time NBL champion who led the Australian national team to their first-ever Olympic medal (Tokyo Olympics, bronze medal).
The roster boasts some of the best talent from Hong Kong SAR, such as five-time champion Duncan Reid. He is widely regarded as the best player in Hong Kong SAR. The club has also signed Chinese national team star big man Liu Chuanxing. He&rsquo;ll play alongside former CBA captain and CUBA champion Song Jianhua among others.
<table style="width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Name
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
Position
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
Birth Year
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
Former Team
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
Accolades
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Liu Chuanxing
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
C
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1997
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
NBL (Australia) Brisbane Bullets
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
Chinese national team player
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Scotty Ewing
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
G
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1991
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
Wolf Warriors (ABL &ndash; Macau)&nbsp;
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
Former Hong Kong scoring champion
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Kobey Lam
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
G
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
2000
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
University of Charleston (NCAA)
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
NCAA D-1 player
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Qiao Wenhan
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
F
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1991
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
Shandong (CBA &ndash; China)
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
Former NBL (China) MVP and Scoring King
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Duncan Reid
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
F/C
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1989
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
South China (Hong Kong)
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
5-time Hong Kong A1 Division Champion
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Si Kun
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
F
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1995
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
Shandong (CBA &ndash; China)
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
Former NBL (China) champion, All-Star, dunk contest winner
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Song Jianhua
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
F
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1991
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
Shanxi Xinda (NBL - China)
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
Former captain for Nanjing Tongxi (CBA)&nbsp;
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Glen Yang
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
G
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1996
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
South China (Hong Kong)
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
3-time Hong Kong A1 Division Champion
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Zhang Zhiyuan
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
C
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1999
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
Wuhan Sports University
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
China National 3x3 Selected Team and China National Youth Team Member
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 13.1125%; text-align: center;">
Zheng Qilong
</td>
<td style="width: 8.42623%; text-align: center;">
F
</td>
<td style="width: 7.51669%; text-align: center;">
1996
</td>
<td style="width: 20.4732%; text-align: center;">
Jiangsu (CBA &ndash; China)&nbsp;
</td>
<td style="width: 41.1523%; text-align: center;">
CUBA (China) Champion
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Scroll to the right for the full chart
Created to represent Greater China in the East Asia Super League as well as travel to play top teams across the region and world, the newly formed Bay Area Dragons franchise is dedicated to be the top professional basketball team in the Greater China region with a combination of top free agents from Greater China, plus one Asian import and two foreign import players. The Dragons will make Manila its temporary home for the EASL home-and-away games across the region.&nbsp;
The East Asia Super League used to be a tournament featuring the top teams from China&rsquo;s CBA, Japan's B.League, South Korea's KBL and the Philippines' PBA. Now, for the first time, these eight premier teams will face off in an inaugural home-and-away season that begins in October 2022.
The champions and runners-up from Japan's B.LEAGUE, South Korea's KBL and the Philippines' PBA seasons will compete in EASL. The Bay Area Dragons and the championship team from Chinese Taipei&rsquo;s P. LEAGUE+ will be the Greater China representatives.
The eight teams will compete over the course of six months, culminating in a Final Four tournament with a $1 million prize for the winning team. It&rsquo;s essentially the Asian-basketball version of soccer&rsquo;s UEFA Champions League. The league is also planning an upcoming reality show.
&ldquo;We want to be the premier basketball league in Asia,&rdquo; EASL Commissioner Matt Beyer <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/east-asia-super-league-inside-a-basketball-startup-with-a-unique-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told BasketballNews</a>. &ldquo;But we also want to be a top-three league in the world in terms of fan-base size and commercial revenue by 2025... I think the league is really going to be the first Asia-originated sports property that&rsquo;s going to be capturing the hearts and minds of fans globally."
For more info about the East Asia Super League, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/east-asia-super-league-inside-a-basketball-startup-with-a-unique-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out this behind-the-scenes look at the startup</a>, which has added Jalen Green, Baron Davis, Shane Battier and Metta Sandiford-Artest as investors.

The Bay Area Dragons have announced their 10-player roster for the inaugural season of the East Asia Super League.

Bay Area Dragons announce 10-player roster for East Asia Super League

Despite their recent playoffs ousting <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/chris-pauls-masterclass-game-6-performance-the-latest-moment-of-greatness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the hands of Chris Paul</a>, the future for the New Orleans Pelicans feels much brighter than most projected at the turn of the year. Three rookies combined to play 32% of Willie Green's rotational minutes, including lineups that contained all three. It's not often that a singular rookie plays positive minutes in a competitive playoff series, and it's near unheard of to have a trio doing the same.
Trey Murphy III, the 17th overall pick in last year's draft, and Jose Alvarado, the undrafted free agent signing who steadily garnered a cult following this year, had huge moments in this series.&nbsp;
Herbert Jones stood above the rest.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Still thinking about this from Herb <a href="https://t.co/4SVi3fLkM0">pic.twitter.com/4SVi3fLkM0</a>
&mdash; Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1520109239884292096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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

If you follow me and my work, your timeline has been absolutely littered with clips and musings about the southpaw forward dating back to Summer League.
His defensive play has stood out since he was at Alabama, where he was the 2020-21 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and 2x SEC All-Defense, and that's what allowed him to make his mark for the Pelicans this season. How good was his defense? We had him on our Second Team All-Defense during our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/defensive-awards-and-a-celebration-of-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defensive awards roundtable</a> with myself, Jackson Frank, and Nekias Duncan.
Jones is not just awesome for a rookie; he's awesome period and has legitimately staked his claim as one of the best defenders in basketball.
His help instincts are fantastic. He makes rotations and defensive slides with a consistent intensity that few can match. Jones is a stonewall at the point of attack and already might be the best screen navigator in the league. He's adept at utilizing his hands and feet simultaneously to keep the ball in front. What makes him special to me as a defender is his body control. Considering how much time he spends defending primary options, it's remarkable that he didn't have a higher foul rate: 4.1% was in the 25th percentile this year per Cleaning the Glass, but that doesn't take into account defensive responsibility.
Jones finished 6th in BBall Index's matchup difficulty ranking, which gauges the players guarded and adjusts their defensive metrics accordingly. Jones had the fourth-lowest foul rate out of the top six defenders in matchup difficulty. He ended behind Dorian Finney-Smith, De'Andre Hunter, and Luguentz Dort but just ahead of Dillon Brooks and Matisse Thybulle.
Defense is the foundation of Jones' game, but we've seen numerous defense-first prospects come into the league and struggle to establish a larger role on their respective roster. Jones became a full-time starter at the end of November, averaging 31.3 minutes per game from November 24th to the end of the regular season. He closed games for the Pelicans. He took on more ball-handling duties both in bringing the ball up the court and some secondary offensive actions.
How did we get here? How did Herb Jones go from, "He could be a useful rotation player," to viable NBA starter?
Oddly enough, Jones has shown a greater level of touch in the NBA than he ever did in four years at Alabama, which is a wild thing to ponder.
Let's pull back the covers here.
According to Instat Scouting, Jones shot 35.6% on drives as a senior at Alabama (104 attempts) and 34.5% for his career. As a rookie in the NBA, Jones shot 46% on drives according to Second Spectrum tracking data (137 attempts). That is an astounding growth!&nbsp;
For reference, if Herb had shot 35.6% in the league, that would've made him the fourth least efficient finisher of drives in the league (1.5 FGA on drives per game, at least 40 games played). While 46% is still a bit below average, it can't be undersold what an upgrade that is.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/vvvx59" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
As a driver at Alabama, Jones really struggled with decceleration. He was fantastic at getting to the rim, but he was equally adept at smothering himself once he got there. There was fairly minimal pacing to his delivery. There were a ton of awkward footing jumps. So many of his attempts at the rim just felt off before they even left his hand. The handle is quite solid for his size, but the exchange from the floor to the rim felt clunky.
In the NBA, Jones gets to attack off the catch more and benefit from stepping into downhill attacks, yet he's better even with the ball in his hands.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/db2w4j" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
He's thrown in more hesitation and stutters. He's using the rim more to protect some of his drives and attempts rather than trying to force up a tough touch shot after barreling into the paint. The footwork is a good deal more crisp than last season, and he seems better at getting skinny through tight spaces in traffic.
He still has some really rough misses. Late help or an eager low man can clean up his shots. He doesn't have a ton of counters right now. He was 3-for-21 on floaters this year on drives according to InStat, which is about where he was at Alabama. He still has some "Woah, what was that?" type misses, but it's hard to deny both in watching and via data that he has better touch. It's been one of the weirdest things to follow this year, and finally pulling the numbers was startling.
Let's peel back another layer.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 154px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 44px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">Season</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">3 Point Percentage</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">3 Point Attempts</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">Free Throw Percentage</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">Free Throw Attempts</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2017-18 (Freshman)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">26.9%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">7/26</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">50%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">24/48</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2018-19 (Sophomore)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">28.6%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">6/21</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">49.5%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">52/105</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2019-20 (Junior)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">7.1%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">1/14</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">62.5%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">65/104</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2020-21 (Senior)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">35.1%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">20/57</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">71.3%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">92/129</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2021-22 (NBA)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">33.7%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">57/169</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">84%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">137/163</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Data courtesy of Basketball Reference and College Reference
Again, astounding development.&nbsp;
I'm not comfortable in saying what level of shooter he could be in time, but to go from where he was two years ago to now is an insane growth curve.
He was ignored as a shooter at Alabama last year, and while he eventually was in the playoffs most of the time this year, the growth in confidence was immense. His shot was a bit up and down, but Pels shooting coach Fred Vinson, along with Jones' work ethic, has seemingly been a Dragon Ball-Z esque fusion dance combination.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/rmny9s" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
At Alabama, he brings the ball across his face from right to left on the release, and while he's squared up, his feet are pretty close together with a notable valgus collapse (reverse "V" shape with knees).
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3jpih2" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the NBA, the ball isn't coming all the way across his body anymore. There's still the valgus collapse, but it's not as pronounced, giving him a much cleaner shot overall that's easier to replicate.
He has a very good feel for the game and excellent court vision, which he put on display throughout much of his amateur career, but his improved efficacy as a driver allows him to showcase more live dribble playmaking rather than strictly connecting plays. Drawing closeouts as a shooter and having the ability to run actions or spark plays as a secondary initiator allows him to flex those playmaking chops.
The gains he's made this season have arguably made him the most viable he's ever been as an offensive creator. He already has the basis to be a starter on a playoff team, because he was one this year. While every player has some sort of ceiling due to physical limitations or other limitations in their game, it's hard to put a cap on what his ceiling might be.
If you'd asked me last year whether or not I thought Herb Jones could be a starter in the NBA, I probably would've said it was unlikely barring some sizable growth. Well, that sizable growth has happened.
The level of defender that Jones is, along with an already solid baseline of offensive plays, will allow him something that many prospects struggle to get: playing time. Because he can already do impactful things on the court, he'll continue to get incredibly valuable in-game reps. The G-League is great, but getting to craft your game at the highest level is an entirely different developmental scenario.
Could Jones be an All-Star someday? I can't rule it out. He's already blown me away with his growth. I wouldn't bet on it happening, but I certainly wouldn't bet against it either.
Can he take more steps as a ball-handler or find some extra bend as a driver? I wouldn't call him a stiff driver, but he doesn't generate crazy power with his first step. If there's some added flexibility in his legs, maybe he gets an extra oomph of burst.
Can he find more with his touch outside of just his jump-shot from three? Herb took 53 jumpers inside the arc and hit 35.8% of them according to InStat. Is there some pull-up viability in time? Can he factor in more pacing and craft out of ball-screens? Can all these things compound into him becoming capable of carrying a larger creation burden?
Again, I'm not sure, but the point remains that higher pathways are within reach as he continues to develop. Herb Jones is already a star in his role, and there might be more there than meets the eye or that can be ascertained on paper when taking his full developmental journey into context.

After a remarkable rookie season from Herbert Jones, what can we take away from his play and project about his future?

Reassessing Herb Jones' upside

The understated highlight to Trae Young&rsquo;s Game 1 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers was a simple turnaround floater on the left baseline in the fourth quarter. Philly&rsquo;s defenders were frozen in place, and one of the many pushes the Sixers made in the final minutes was snuffed out again. Young made the shot and promptly skipped away, seemingly pleased with his performance and the arena&rsquo;s relative silence -- the equivalent to kicking sand in the eyes of the Sixers&rsquo; animated, blue-collar crowd.
The Atlanta Hawks&rsquo; first-round matchup against a darling New York Knicks team introduced everyone to a necessary character in the league&rsquo;s postseason soap opera: the villain. In order to fill this role, a player must be skilled enough to frustrate opposing fans and confident enough to relish the role by absorbing blows from detrimentally competitive players and fans alike. Young was bodychecked by Nerlens Noel on his way to the locker room, which led to cleared benches and a scuffle behind him as he continued his stroll and straightened his posture, looking a little impressed at his ability to provoke. He was spat on by a fan before an inbound pass, declining to press charges and opting to continue the series without distraction.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s at this point that Knicks fans came to a terrifying realization: with every shaken fist and raised middle finger, Young consumes their energy like a Dragon-Ball-Z alien antagonist, ready to return the enthusiasm on the court in the form of deep threes and woven pick-and-rolls.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
This dynamic that audiences enjoyed so much in Atlanta&rsquo;s first-round matchup will likely carry over into round two. And in Joel Embiid, we may get twice the chosen violence. Both stars love talking to hostile crowds as monolithic viewers, mouthing taunts and smirking, skipping, shuffling, and thrusting their hips after especially impressive baskets. It&rsquo;s great.
These two franchise cornerstones have an alternative understanding of their positions as NBA superstars, an understanding more camp and audacious. Young and Embiid see cameras, a tipsy audience and adjust accordingly &mdash; as evidenced by Young&rsquo;s literal bow after a 30-foot exclamation point against the Knicks in Game 5.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-mgiRngirdE?start=26" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
As self-appointed performers, the overzealous joy and villainy they bring is in refreshing contrast to the players too cool for such antics. Yeah, you may get a smirk out of Kevin Durant, a blank expression out of Kawhi Leonard, and maybe a gesture to Dame Lillard&rsquo;s imagined watch when he&rsquo;s feeling particularly sassy, but these measured responses don&rsquo;t compare. 
When players behave as theatrically as Embiid and Young, they do so completely prepared for the inevitable response and potential embarrassment they&rsquo;ll undoubtedly receive for those inefficient, off nights. Young will bow after eliminating your team, but he&rsquo;ll take a loss on the chin too. Embiid will taunt opponents after an and-1, but he'll cry when he loses on a Game 7 buzzer-beater. They have an ability to remind us of the fun in the game -- a reminder that enjoying these moments rather than focusing on long-term narratives is where this excitement exists. Also, both sides of the spectrum show how much they care about this game.
To be treated to not one, but two agents of chaotic confidence has already proven special after Game 1.
Being listed as a game-time decision wasn&rsquo;t enough suspense for Embiid; he had to up the ante. WWE star Triple H was the franchise&rsquo;s bell-ringer for this matchup. As a reference to what has become a viral on-court celebration for the big man, Embiid walked onto the court alongside Triple H donning a DX &lsquo;Thrust The Process&rsquo; shirt. This latest addition to his &lsquo;Process&rsquo; lore (following the &lsquo;Phantom of the Process') set the stage for the antics we can expect to see all series long.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
this is the absolute peak for any Attitude Era/NBA fans out there. haven't been this hype since Rodman walked out with the NWO. <a href="https://t.co/2O2iVF9tWW">pic.twitter.com/2O2iVF9tWW</a>
&mdash; Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1401590327098683398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

 But &lsquo;Ice Trae&rsquo; is an equally pompous competitor who loves the spotlight. Young utilized his every acquired skill in a single Sunday afternoon, slicing up the Sixers&rsquo; defensive gameplan by forcing a multitude of adjustments in the form of traps and full-court presses, all while contributing 10 assists to get his teammates involved.&nbsp;
The Sixers were initially taken aback by the way the star guard immediately dictated the rules of engagement, though it didn&rsquo;t take long for Embiid to join in on the fun, repeatedly calling for the ball in the post during the final minutes of the game and contorting his body into layups to induce contact (punctuated with an accomplished yell each time).&nbsp;
Atlanta ultimately came away with the win, but it's already safe to say that this series is primed to be a bright spot of the postseason, and these stars are ready for the challenge&hellip; to say the least.
&nbsp;"All the individual stuff is for the birds...&rdquo; Young said following the Game 1 win. &ldquo;All we care about is wins."

Trae Young and Joel Embiid know how to put on a show. They love hostile crowds and big stages, which is why this series should be fun.

Joel Embiid has met his theatrical match in Trae Young

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving generated controversy when he deliberately stomped on the Boston Celtics' half-court logo after the Nets' win on Sunday night.&nbsp;
Current and former players are voicing their thoughts on Irving's act. Kendrick Perkins thinks the conversation is merely a talking point, to distract from the fan who threw a water bottle at Irving postgame.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Are we really discussing this right now? That damn fan shouldn&rsquo;t have never threw a water bottle at Kyrie I don&rsquo;t give damn if he poured Gatorade on the Logo. Real Talk! <a href="https://t.co/cawu0Bq1kt">pic.twitter.com/cawu0Bq1kt</a>
&mdash; Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins/status/1399439595108982791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
Kevin Garnett had a different view:

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

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Kevin Garnett on Kyrie stepping on the Celtics logo after the game last night. <a href="https://t.co/WtKJSyrB38">pic.twitter.com/WtKJSyrB38</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1399439068577083392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
Kevin Durant and former Celtic Glen Davis exchanged words on Instagram:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
KD stopped giving a fuck and immediately became the GOAT at this social media shit 😭 <a href="https://t.co/0zIxzjWkTE">pic.twitter.com/0zIxzjWkTE</a>
&mdash; America is musty (@DragonflyJonez) <a href="https://twitter.com/DragonflyJonez/status/1399447036144111622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

Below are more thoughts:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
That&rsquo;s on the PLAYERS to handle.
&mdash; Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1399186526181806080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

&nbsp;

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

Irving made a point to stomp on the Celtics' logo after last night's game.

NBA players react to Kyrie Irving stepping on Celtics' logo

With all due respect to Reggie Perry, replacing Jarrett Allen in Brooklyn is a difficult ask. As we have seen since the Nets parted with Allen as part of the James Harden trade, they have a bit of a donut problem &ndash; a hole in the middle.
DeAndre Jordan is an accomplished NBA veteran who has been starting since Harden was traded, but he is now in his 14th NBA season, and has a lot of mileage on his wheels with 892 career games logged for the Clippers, Mavericks, Knicks and Nets.&nbsp;
Perry is a 20-year-old rookie who is 6-foot-8 and played power forward at Mississippi State, and asking him to be the backup center through the NBA playoffs is asking a bit too much.
In their five games since trading for Harden, the Nets have been outrebounded only twice &ndash; although one of those was a 50-29 discrepancy in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Two nights ago against the Miami Heat, Brooklyn avoided getting outrebounded by having everyone attack the boards. Bruce Brown joined Jordan with eight rebounds apiece, Harden had seven and Kyrie Irving had six.&nbsp;
Perry and Jeff Green each had six boards in that game, which was more than Heat center Bam Adebayo&nbsp; had (five) in his career-high 42-point effort.
&ldquo;If roster composition changes for the better defensively, that&rsquo;s great,&rdquo; Nets head coach Steve Nash had said last Friday. &ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t think we can rely on that because that may not be possible. You know, it&rsquo;s not like they&rsquo;re just falling off trees for us to pick up guys that are going to change our defense.&rdquo;
There were reports Monday that Brooklyn would be interested in Cleveland&rsquo;s JaVale McGee, and they could acquire him without sending back any salary by absorbing him into the Disabled Player Exception that they were granted following the season-ending injury to Spencer Dinwiddie.&nbsp;
But could the Cavs get more for McGee elsewhere? &nbsp;That depends on whether Nets general manager Sean Marks would want to surrender a player or a second-round draft pick in a trade. The Nets&rsquo; own second-rounder is owed to Charlotte, but they have the rights to second-rounders from Indiana, Atlanta, Phoenix and Golden State between 2021 and 2025.
A league source said Brooklyn is looking at a variety of options and staying flexible, not feeling a need to commit to any specific player at the current time.&nbsp;
In a usual season, the Nets could look to the G League for help. But as we all know, this is an abnormal one because of the pandemic, and the G League will not begin its bubble season until Feb. 8. G League players begin <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-g-league-2021-season-orlando-bubble-teams-format-rules-two-way-players-jeremy-lin-rule-health-safety-covid-protocols-draft-ignite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reporting to the bubble at Walt Disney World</a> on Tuesday.
Overseas, there will be options for Marks once the Chinese Basketball Association playoffs have ended, and maybe even sooner. In the Chinese Basketball Association, Donatas Motiejunas is leading the league with 15.6 boards per game with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, but that team is currently in third place in the standings and could make a deep playoff run.&nbsp;
Considering Chinese teams that will not make the playoffs (and thus their players will become available in March), among the centers will be Arnett Moultrie of the Nanjing Monkey Kings, Marco Todorovic of the Tianjin Pioneers, Devin Williams of the Jiangsu Dragons, Isaac Haas of the Guangzhou Long Lions and Justin Hamilton of the Beijing Ducks.
But again, those players will not get letters of clearance to play in the NBA until their Chinese seasons are completed, and that is still several weeks away.
In the NBA, one name that could make sense is Hassan Whiteside of the Sacramento Kings. Whiteside was starting and putting up huge numbers for the Portland Trail Blazers last season before Jusuf Nurkic returned in the NBA bubble, and he has been used sparingly this season by Luke Walton backing up Richaun Holmes.&nbsp;
Whiteside is making a salary of $2.32 million that Brooklyn would have to match in any trade.

Chris Sheridan ponders what direction Brooklyn can look to find a suitable backup for DeAndre Jordan.

Where will Sean Marks find the Nets' next big man?

The NBA G League held its annual draft ahead of a condensed <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-g-league-2021-season-orlando-bubble-teams-format-rules-two-way-players-jeremy-lin-rule-health-safety-covid-protocols-draft-ignite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 bubble season</a> that's scheduled to tip-off in early February. The first selection by the Greensboro Swarm -- the Charlotte Hornets' affiliiate -- was Admiral Schofield, who was the No. 42 pick of the 2019 NBA Draft. 
Each round consisted of 19 available draft picks. However, because a G League roster can only have 10 designated G League players, only 22 players were selected.&nbsp;
Round One:
1. Greensboro Swarm: Admiral Schofield
A 6-foot-5 shooting guard/small forward from the University of Tennessee, Schofield last played for the Washington Wizards and their affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and waived immediately.
2. Memphis Hustle (from Erie BayHawks): Freddie Gillespie
A 6-foot-9 power forward from Baylor University who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
3. Canton Charge (from Rio Grande Valley Vipers): Antonio Blakeney
A 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Louisiana State University who signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls after going undrafted in 2017. He is the 2018 NBA G League Rookie of the Year, and last played for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/usatsi_13658981-1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="860" height="AUTO" />
4. Iowa Wolves (from Windy City Bulls via Lakeland Magic): Allonzo Trier
A 6-foot-4 shooting guard from the University of Arizona, who spent two years with the New York and Westchester Knicks after going undrafted in 2018. Trier was waived by the Knicks on June 26, 2020.
5. Lakeland Magic (from Westchester Knicks): Tahjere McCall
A 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Tennessee State University. Undrafted in 2017, McCall has spent the last three seasons in the G League with the Long Island Nets and the College Park Skyhawks.
6. Canton Charge (from South Bay Lakers): Anthony Lamb
A 6-foot-6 small forward from the University of Vermont who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
7. Oklahoma City Blue (from Iowa Wolves): No selection.
8. Lakeland Magic (from Long Island Nets): DJ Hogg
A 6-foot-9 small forward from Texas A&amp;M University, who spent the last two seasons in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats and Wisconsin Herd after going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft.
9. Westchester Knicks (from Oklahoma City Blue via Canton Charge): Justin Patton
A 6-foot-11 center from Creighton University, Patton was taken No. 16 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. Since then, he has spent time with Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma CIty Thunder and all of their G League affiliates. He spent the 2019-20 season with the Wisconsin Herd before signing a training camp deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
10. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (from Agua Caliente Clippers via Oklahoma City Blue, Canton Charge, Santa Cruz Warriors): Armoni Brooks
A 6-foot-3 shooting guard from the University of Houston who spent his rookie season with the College Park Skyhawks after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.
11. Raptors 905: Kevon Harris
A 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Stephen F. Austin University who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
12. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (from Delaware Blue Coats): Jarron Cumberland
A 6-foot-5 shooting guard from the University of Cincinnati who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
13. Oklahoma City Blue (from Stockton Kings via Greensboro Swarm): Vincent Edwards
A 6-foot-8 small forward out of Purdue University who last played for the Oklahoma City Blue. Drafted by the Utah Jazz with the No. 52 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Edwards was immediately traded to the Houston Rockets and assigned to their G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers; he averaged nearly 10 points per game to bring the Vipers a G League championship in the 2018-19 season.
14. Austin Spurs: Jonathan Kasibabu
A 6-foot-8 small forward from Fairfield University who last played for the Long Island Nets.
15. Raptors 905 (from Lakeland Magic): Gary Payton II
A 6-foot-3 point guard from Oregon State University who has spent the last four seasons on two-way contracts throughout the NBA while trying to find stability with one team. He last played for the Washington Wizards.
16. Memphis Hustle: Anthony Cowan Jr.&nbsp;
A 6-foot point guard from the University of Maryland who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
17. Iowa Wolves (from Canton Charge via Oklahoma City Blue): Dakarai Tucker&nbsp;
A 6-foot-5 shooting guard/small forward from the University of Utah. Tucker spent the 2018-19 season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before heading overseas.
18. Salt Lake City Stars (could not make pick)
19. N/A
Round Two:
1. Delaware Blue Coats (from Rio Grande Valley Vipers): Jemmerio Jones
A 6-foot-5 small forward from New Mexico State University. Jones went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft before spending time with both the Los Angeles and South Bay Lakers. Jones was traded from the Lakers to the Washington Wizards in 2019 before spending the 2019-20 season with the Wisconsin Herd.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/usatsi_13859052-1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="860" height="AUTO" />
2. Fort Wayne Mad Ants (from Windy City Bulls): Oshae Brissett
A 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward from Syracuse University. Brissett signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Raptors waived Brissett ahead of the 2020-21 season after signing a partially guaranteed contract.
3. Westchester Knicks (could not make pick)
4. Iowa Wolves (could not make pick)
5. Long Island Nets (could not make pick)
6. Agua Caliente Clippers (from Oklahoma City Blue; could not make pick)
7. Fort Wayne Mad Ants: Quincy McKnight
A 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Seton Hall University who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
8. Agua Caliente Clippers (could not make pick)
9. Santa Cruz Warriors: Selom Mawugbe
A 6-foot-10 power forward from Azusa Pacific University who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
10. Raptors 905 (could not make pick)
11. Memphis Hustle (from Capital City Go-Go via Agua Caliente Clippers; could not make pick)
12. Austin Spurs (from Delaware Blue Coats): No selection.
13. Erie BayHawks (via Sioux Falls Skyforce; could not make pick)
14. Greensboro Swarm (from Texas Legends; could not make pick)
15. Austin Spurs (from Stockton Kings): Kaleb Johnson
A 6-foot-6 shooting guard/small forward from Georgetown University whose most recent season was marred due to injuries. He is the younger brother of San Antonio Spurs shooting guard/small forward Keldon Johnson.
16. Santa Cruz Warriors (from Austin Spurs; could not make pick)
17. Memphis Hustle (could not make pick)
18. Oklahoma City Blue (from Canton Charge): Rob Edwards
A 6-foot-4 shooting guard from the University of Arizona who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.
19. Salt Lake City Stars (could not make pick)
Round Three:
1. Greensboro Swarm (could not make pick)&nbsp;
2. Erie BayHawks (could not make pick)&nbsp;
3. Westchester Knicks (could not make pick)
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/usatsi_14119898-1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="860" height="AUTO" />
4. Delaware Blue Coats (from South Bay Lakers via Agua Caliente Clippers): Braxton Key
A 6-foot-8 forward from the University of Virginia who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft. Key was the final pick of the G League Draft.
5. Iowa Wolves (could not make pick)
6. Long Island Nets (could not make pick)
7. Oklahoma City Blue (could not make pick)
8. Fort Wayne Mad Ants (could not make pick)
9. Canton Charge (from Santa Cruz Warriors; could not make pick)
10. Raptors 905 (could not make pick)
11. Delaware Blue Coats (could not make pick)
12. Lakeland Magic (could not make pick)
13. Memphis Hustle (could not make pick)
14. Canton Charge (could not make pick)
15. Raptors 905 (from Salt Lake City Stars; could not make pick)
16. N/A
17. N/A
18. N/A
19. N/A
TRANSACTIONS
G League Transactions are a lot harder to follow and to find, particularly when the season was abruptly cut short with no decided future. Below are the most notable transactions in the days leading up to the draft.
South Bay Lakers&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Acquire 2021-22 first-round pick from Santa Cruz Warriors in exchange for the returning rights to Dusty Hannahs.</li>
</ul>
Raptors 905
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Acquired the returning rights to Ben Moore from Fort Wayne Mad Ants in exchange for the returning rights to Devin Robinson.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Traded the returning rights to Ben Moore to the Memphis Hustle in exchange for the returning rights to Matt Mooney.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Traded future second-round pick to the Lakeland Magic in exchange for the No. 15 pick in the 2021 G League Draft (Gary Payton II).</li>
</ul>
ROSTER CONSTRUCTION
In prior seasons, G League teams held open tryouts and training camps before trimming their rosters. Because of COVID regulations and the uncertainty surrounding the season, this was not possible this year.&nbsp;
Each participating G League team is allowed a roster of 10 G League-specific players. These players will earn a base salary of $35,000. Players traded in the G League will earn the same salary, as will returning players, G League draft picks and designated veteran players. Any player in the G League is eligible to be called up by any team at any point during the season.
AFFILIATE PLAYERS
NBA teams are allowed to sign no more than four &ldquo;affiliate players&rdquo; who were with the team during training camp. These include training camp contracts and Exhibit-10 contracts, and can include a $50,000 signing bonus.&nbsp;
RETURNING PLAYERS
In the G League, rights are held to players no matter the situation for two years. This means that players who have decided to return to the G League after spending time overseas will return to their previous team, barring trades.&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/usatsi_13338791-1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="860" height="AUTO" />
DESIGNATED VETERAN PLAYERS (THE JEREMY LIN RULE)
New this season, G League teams are allowed to circumvent the draft and sign players with more than five years of NBA experience. Rights to these players will not be held upon completion of the season.
TWO-WAY PLAYERS
Two-way players are eligible to spend 50 games with their NBA parent team and unlimited time with their G League team. Teams who have two-way players but are not participating in the bubble are allowed to assign their players to teams that are participating in the bubble. Two-way players do not count against the total roster and are not included on the 10-man G League roster.
ASSIGNMENT PLAYERS
Teams are still allowed to send players down to the G League, as long as those players have not played more than three NBA seasons. There are exceptions, including injury rehabilitation and exceeding the maximum number of dressed players on a bench. It&rsquo;s likely that assignment players will be sent down for significant amounts of time if they are sent down at all, due to COVID regulations and quarantine protocol.
With the final rosters in the process of being constructed, the NBA G League is set to tip-off in early-mid February at ESPN&rsquo;s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

Kelsea O'Brien rounds up the 2021 G League Draft and the most notable details ahead of the G League season.

Breaking down the 2021 NBA G League Draft

There are few prevailing beliefs among Toronto Raptors followers in regards to the ethos of the team, the most stable and consistent of which is that Fred VanVleet is easily the most aesthetically pleasing player on the team to watch. He&rsquo;s small in stature, standing at an alleged 6-foot-1 and somehow even smaller in appearance on the court in comparison to his backcourt partner, Kyle Lowry. His handle is crisp, his moves are deliberate and his confidence is that of a perennial All-Star guard.
Steady Freddy, as fans deservedly call him, has a well-known story that's repeated ad nauseum on ESPN broadcasts, entering the league as a 22-year-old undrafted rookie from Wichita State. Despite the uniqueness of his story and subsequent ascension, he has continuously demonstrated a year-to-year ascension that has been both sustainable and unrelentless, which makes the task of dissecting his strengths and weaknesses a glimpse into the skills he&rsquo;ll undoubtedly be looking to refine through the offseason. &nbsp; &nbsp; There&rsquo;s an evolution of sorts for small, ground-bound guards as they enter their late 20s. Learning to utilize tricks in order to create advantageous finishing opportunities seems to require years of in-game repetitions for those inherently disadvantaged in a game dominated by physically gifted wings. What&rsquo;s interesting to note is, for Vanvleet, getting to the rim doesn&rsquo;t seem to be the problem as all. He has a surprisingly quick step paired with a nifty handle that allows him to navigate traffic or create space with ease, and the Raptors' five-out offensive system puts forth a clear avenue for him to reach the basket.
&nbsp;<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/videoplayback-2.gif" alt="" width="622" height="AUTO" />
What needs to be the next step for the Raptors guard is improving his skill as a finisher. VanVleet ended the 2019-20 regular season shooting exactly 28.6 percent on two-point field goals where a defender is both 0-2 feet away from him and 2-4 feet away. When being trailed by a defender, VanVleet has a tendency to either get blocked or miss the rim entirely in anticipation of the block, a common occurrence from as recently as the second round Celtics series.
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/heat_gif3.gif" alt="" width="634" height="AUTO" />
Rarely does he utilize his body in order to force defenders into contact, or for them to make trickier decisions, something Kyle Lowry has patented. Like Fred, the Raptors&rsquo; veteran lead guard was not always a powerful finisher; the then-Rockets player shot a few percentage points worse than VanVleet in 2009-10 (51.6 percent at the rim), before bursting onto the scene the very next season at 66.5 percent, seemingly putting the pieces of his knowledge and experience together over the course of a single offseason. Considering VanVleet&rsquo;s on-court two-way intellect, his proven capacity for gradual growth and his ability to arrive to the rim with relative ease, the chances of the combo guard becoming a more accomplished finisher should be high.&nbsp;
&nbsp;<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/heat_gif2.gif" alt="" width="634" height="AUTO" />
There's another facet of Fred&rsquo;s game that is noticeably absent and that would potentially transform how he is guarded by opposing teams, increasing his offensive options on the court tenfold: his in-between game &mdash; specifically outside of the restricted area and within the arc. The easiest examples of the quintessential pick-and-roll guard utilizing the midrange and floaters in order to pressurize defenders with length placed on them would be Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry, but a veteran comp with a skillset more immediately tangible for VanVleet is Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic. &nbsp; &nbsp; The Dragon quietly ended his 2019-20 regular season as among the most efficient and impactful guards in the Eastern Conference, helping lead the Heat&rsquo;s offense become top-eight in the league &mdash; an impressive feat in an era of heliocentric systems thriving. Dragic shot 66.9 percent at the rim, but most impressive to me was his 48.7 percent shooting on 16-22-foot midrange shots, ranking him as among the most efficient with the elusive look, repeatedly punishing Brook Lopez&rsquo;s defense in the playoffs.
What&rsquo;s particularly special about Dragic is that he can punish the drop coverages utilized as a reliable staple by centers. At the moment, VanVleet has given centers the upper hand off screens where defenders trail him tight. For a player as frequently run off the line as he is, his options as a scorer dwindle immediately within the arc, turning the possession into a win for defenses. Once inside the three-point line, the guard is usually met by sagging defenses who are clued into the fact that he&rsquo;s only attempted 33 midrange looks and 61 long-twos all season long, converting on a combined 30.9 percent. It&rsquo;s certainly not the most advisable shot in basketball, but the threat of a floater or capable and willing midrange shot changes the dimensions of the court and the ease of a game for shorter, less athletic guards trying to salvage whatever advantages they can.
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/videoplayback-3.gif" alt="" width="622" height="AUTO" />
What has been most exciting about Fred&rsquo;s development is that the 26-year-old adds a skill to his arsenal every offseason and seems to use it the entirety of the season until it becomes second nature to him. We saw him perfect the deep three-pointer, turning himself into one of the deadliest catch-and-shooters from anywhere beyond the line, effectively making his height a nonfactor on offense. We&rsquo;ve seen him ride the defensive high of his NBA Finals run last season, turning himself into one of the best positional defenders in basketball.
It&rsquo;s truly only a matter of time before we see him face yet another challenge and, usually against odds and physics, come out of it victorious. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Fred VanVleet has been terrific for the Toronto Raptors, but he can elevate his game by improving in a few areas, writes Yasmin Duale.

Drexel Dragons