The last 39 seconds of Game 2 in the 2026 NBA Finals wasn’t Victor Wembanyama’s finest moment.

The San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-5 all-world center came up small in the most crucial time. He missed two shots that could have given the Spurs the lead. He committed a crucial turnover that led to a Jalen Brunson free throw, giving the New York Knicks a 105-104 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

“I threw that one away. I messed up,” Wembanyama told reporters after the game. “We didn’t play great as a team. We needed to win that game. That game was ours. But at this point, it’s done.”

The late-game gaffe was so unexpected given how Wembanyama had been playing throughout his first playoff run.

With the game tied at 104, the Spurs called on Wemby’s number to break the tie. He took a tough, contested 18-foot pullup jumper from the left wing against Mitchell Robinson and missed. OG Anunoby grabbed the rebound and the Knicks called timeout.

Jalen Brunson, who was spectacular in closing the show in Game 1, missed a 16-footer with 13.5 seconds left. The Spurs regained possession after Wembanyama grabbed the rebound. For a brief moment, the Spurs had a great opportunity to take the lead and tie the series at 1-1. It was three seconds Wembanyama would love to have back. All the work the Spurs put forth in erasing a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter came crashing down in three forgettable seconds.

The play started with a Wemby rebound after he forced Brunson into a tough shot. As Wemby turned up the court, he took one dribble and inexplicably tossed the ball off Stephon Castle’s back, who clearly wasn’t expecting a pass as he ran up the court. Castle said once he saw Wembanyama secure the rebound he wanted to give Wemby “some space” to dribble up the court, so he was anticipating Wemby would bring the ball up himself, especially with time winding down.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson could have called timeout to set up a play, but it’s difficult to blame the coach for not calling timeout because his best player already had the ball in his hands with a full head of steam. It was Wembanyama’s game to win or lose.

“I need to have more poise, more control over the game,” Wembanyama said. “That’s the most frustrating thing, to throw it away after putting in all this work.”

Brunson grabbed the loose ball and a frustrated Wembanyama compounded the mistake by fouling Brunson near the sideline. Brunson made one of two free throws to give the Knicks a one-point lead with 9.5 seconds left.

Wembanyama had one last opportunity to redeem himself. On the final possession, a two-man action between Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox freed up Wembanyama for a clean look from about 20 feet on the right wing with 2.0 seconds left. The shot clanked off the rim and the Knicks were able to hang on for the win.

Wembanyama was asked after the game if he liked the look he got on the final shot.

“I like the shot. But I feel like at this moment you need to shoot to score,” said Wembanyama, who finished with a game-high 29 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had four blocked shots. None of those statistics matter to him because he didn’t get the job done when his team needed it most.

“In moments like this, results matter more than process,” he said. “We just need to score. I need to score.”

As the leader of the youngest team to reach the NBA Finals in 49 years, the 22-year-old Wembanyama is doing the right thing by owning his mistakes and not pointing fingers. And the Spurs wouldn’t be in this position without Wembanyama. He is the biggest reason why the Spurs are ahead of schedule. He will learn from this “blurry” moment as he called it. The game got blurry down the stretch because the action was moving too fast for the young Frenchman.

“Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me? Yes, absolutely,” said a humbled Wembanyama.

There is no manual for winning championships. You have to experience it for yourself to gain championship knowledge. And sometimes you have to be humbled in order to be great.

Michael Jordan got humbled by the Detroit Pistons before he won six championships. Before he became the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant shot three air balls in a humbling playoff loss to the Utah Jazz. LeBron James got swept by Tim Duncan’s Spurs the first time he reached the NBA Finals.

Every great player goes through growing pains. Wembanyama is going through it as well.

The Knicks are now just the third team to win the first two games of a finals on the road, joining Jordan and the 1993 Chicago Bulls, and Hakeem Olajuwon and the 1995 Houston Rockets. Both of those teams won championships. The Bulls needed six games to oust the Phoenix Suns, the Rockets going home after winning those first two games in Orlando and sweeping Shaquille O’Neal and the Magic.

Tanking is a dirty word around the NBA. But can you really blame NBA executives for punting on a season if the result would net them a generational talent? Sometimes you need to take a step back to move forward.

We haven’t seen a draft this rich in talent since 2003, a draft that produced LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. Darko Milicic was the No. 2 overall pick. Sorry, Detroit Pistons fans. Darko pick still stings.

Three of the top five players selected in the 2003 class became Hall of Famers (Anthony, Bosh, Wade), and LeBron should be the fourth once he decides to hang up his sneakers.

There is no shortage of game changers in the 2026 NBA draft, especially at the top of the draft lottery. Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr., and Darryn Peterson are the five names consistently popping up in several mock drafts. Each player brings something special to the table, and you can make a case that any of them could be the No. 1 overall pick.

Need a point guard? Acuff Jr. has all the tools to be an outstanding playmaker. Need a shooting guard? Darryn Peterson is a professional scorer. Need an athletic small forward? Dybantsa is the perfect choice. Need a versatile power forward? Caleb Wilson fits the profile. Need a big man who can be an offensive hub? Boozer is your man.

OneManFastBreak.net put together a comprehensive scouting report on the top 12 prospects with their NBA comparisons.

1-AJ Dybantsa, forward, Brigham Young
NBA comparison: Tracy McGrady
Scouting report: Dybantsa is a gifted athlete who plays with a sharp edge. Dybantsa grew up in Brockton, Mass., the hometown of boxing legends Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Rocky Marciano. He is Brockton tough. Dybantsa is as tough as they come. He is a fierce competitor who embraces challenges. He was the MVP of the 2025 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup after leading Team USA to a gold medal. He could have gone to any of the blue bloods, but decided to play college ball at Brigham Young. Dybantsa is an athletic, two-way wing with a relentless motor. His physical features are similar to Andrew Wiggins but his offensive game resembles Tracy McGrady’s, especially the one-two pull-up jumper. He has ideal positional size and length (6-9 with a 7-foot wingspan). His 42-inch vertical allows him to elevate over defenders and attack the rim with bad intentions. Dybantsa put together a spectacular freshman season at BYU, including a 43-point performance against Utah that broke Danny Ainge’s school record for most points in a game by a BYU freshman. The Big 12 freshman of the year shouldered much of the BYU scoring burden after teammate Richie Saunders went down with a season-ending ACL injury. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game while shooting 51% from the field. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He’s the first player to have a season with all those averages and be named a consensus All-American since Larry Bird did it in 1978-79.

2-Cameron Boozer, forward-center, Duke
NBA comparison: Chris Webber
Scouting report: The best part of Cameron Boozer’s game is his consistency. The son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer has been consistently dominant at every level, from high school to AAU to college. “He’s all about winning,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said about the 2026 AP and Naismith college basketball player of the year. Cameron shares similarities with his father’s game, as both are extremely strong in the block and have Vise-grips for hands. His strong hands allow him to rebound the ball in traffic, and he catches almost everything thrown at him. He isn’t blessed with great explosiveness or a long wingspan. He measured at 6-8 1/2 without shoes at the NBA combine in Chicago, but he has a 7-1 wingspan, which more than makes up for the lack of ideal height. He knows how to use his body well. He relies a lot on physicality to carve out space. “Whatever you need, he can provide,” college basketball analyst Bill Raftery said about the Duke freshman, who averaged a double-double (22 points and 10 rebounds) and shot 56% from the field. His shooting technique from beyond the 3-point arc isn’t textbook, but it goes in 40% of the time. His ability to put the ball on the deck at his size to create offense for himself or his teammates is what separates him from other big men. He has unbelievable instincts, and he can surgically dissect a double team. He always seems to make the right read. He also possesses one of the best two-handed outlet passes you’ll ever see, similar to Wes Unseld and Kevin Love.

3-Caleb Wilson, forward, North Carolina
NBA comparison: Shawn Kemp
Scouting report: Caleb Wilson has the highest ceiling among the Tier 1 prospects. He’s barely scratching the surface of his true potential. He is a springy, athletic 6-9 forward. He is a throwback power forward with a modern twist. If you squint, you might see shades of Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal, Antonio McDyess, or Shawn Kemp. He competes on both ends of the court and wears No. 8 in honor of the late great Kobe Bryant. Like Kobe, Caleb plays through exhaustion and doesn’t lack confidence. He attacks the rim like the Reign Man and plays defense like the Big Ticket. Wilson put the basketball world on notice in his second college game, dropping 24 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and adding four steals to lead the Tar Heels over Darryn Peterson’s Kansas Jayhawks. Wilson showed off the entire repertoire, dunking over defenders, swishing fadeaway jumpers in the post, tossing lobs on big-to-big action, and picking up full court on defense. His ability to handle the ball in the perimeter makes him an ideal fit in today’s NBA. He is comfortable bringing the ball up as the initiator on offense, and he can also play some small-ball 5. A broken thumb forced Wilson to miss March Madness, and North Carolina struggled mightily without him. The Tar Heels lost to VCU in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

4-Darius Acuff Jr., guard, Arkansas
NBA comparison: Allen Iverson
Scouting report: Hall of Fame coach John Calipari calls Darius Acuff Jr. a “beast.” Calipari knows a beast when he sees one. Coach Cal coached Derrick Rose, John Wall, Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, De’Aaron Fox, and Tyrese Maxey. Acuff (6-2, 185) may not possess the size of SGA or the speed of Fox, but his drive and determination, combined with incredible instincts as a point guard, more than make up for his shortcomings. Armed with brick-like shoulders and natural Detroit toughness, Acuff doesn’t shy away from contact. He has a strong core and outstanding balance, allowing him to absorb hits. He has superb footwork. He plants his last step and uses a change-of-pace approach to create angles. Acuff’s body type closely mirrors Stephon Marbury, but his game resembles Allen Iverson. Acuff’s signature game came against Alabama on the road, where he dropped 49 points on 16-of-27 shooting from the field. It was the most points scored by a college freshman since 1990. But the most impressive part about his historic game was that he committed only one turnover in 50 minutes. Texas coach Sean Miller, a former point guard, summed it best while discussing Acuff’s overall impact. “In my time [it goes 34 years], I’ve never seen a point guard better,” Miller said of Acuff, who was the first freshman since Pete Maravich to lead the SEC in points and assists. “Guys like him don’t just come into college basketball very often. He’s a generational player.”

5-Darryn Peterson, guard, Kansas
NBA comparison: Devin Booker
Scouting report: Peterson might be the most polished scorer in the draft. The Naismith prep player of the year in 2025 and consensus five-star recruit possesses a combination of size (listed at 6-4 with a 6-9 wingspan), length, explosiveness, and shot creation. He is a dynamic, three-level scorer who can play either guard spot, but he’s a natural 2 in the NBA. He has a lot of Devin Booker in his game. Peterson has a deep connection with CJ McCollum. Both are from Canton, Ohio, and Peterson has been working out with CJ and his brother, Errick, since he was 12. “After the first workout, my brother called me and said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this, CJ. He’s just like you but bigger, stronger, and more athletic,” CJ McCollum told ESPN’s Marc J. Spears. The knock on Peterson is his inability to stay on the court. A series of hamstring and cramping issues knocked him out of several Kansas games, including the big showdown against then top-ranked Arizona. The Jayhawks pulled off the major upset against the Wildcats without Peterson. He earned the dubious “DNP” moniker for checking himself out of several games, including a high-profile game at Allen Fieldhouse against AJ Dybantsa’s BYU squad. Peterson scored 18 points in the first half but missed the entire second half. These red flags shouldn’t be brushed aside, and could give some teams enough of a reason to pass on him.

6-Aday Mara, center, Michigan
NBA comparison: Zach Edey
Scouting report: Aday Mara posted ridiculous measurements at the NBA combine. He was listed at 7-3 without shoes with a 7-6 wingspan and 9-9 standing reach. His standing reach was the second-best in combine history behind only Tacko Fall. Mara was a huge reason why the Michigan Wolverines captured their first NCAA men’s tournament title since 1989. The 21-year-old from Zaragoza, Spain, significantly raised his draft stock after impressive performances in March Madness, including a 26-point output on 11-of-16 shooting from the field in the Final Four. Mara made his presence felt on the defensive end as opponents attempted 20.9% of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten defensive player of the year was on the court, per CBB Analytics. He has excellent hands with a soft touch around the basket. The NBA comparison for Mara is Zach Edey based on size and mobility. It’s very difficult to discover skilled 7-3 centers, and when you do find them, you stash them and you develop them.

Mara is far more advanced than other center prospects, having played in Europe and at two major college programs (UCLA and Michigan). It might take him a few years to reach his full potential, but teams willing to wait could reap the benefits. “He probably won’t go in the first 10 [NBA draft picks], but in five years [NBA teams] will be like, ‘I probably wish I had taken Mara,'” former Michigan coach John Beilein told the New York Times. The NBA is constantly evolving. Because of the presence of young unicorns such as Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, there is a bigger need for skilled big men than ever before.

7-Keaton Wagler, guard, Illinois
NBA comparison: Tyrese Haliburton
Scouting report: Wagler has been overlooked throughout his basketball career. He keeps proving people wrong at each stop. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school. When he arrived in Illinois, he played a role and mostly played off the ball. Illini coach Brad Underwood saw something in his wispy 6-5 guard and made him the primary ball handler. Wagler took full advantage of the opportunity and became the catalyst on an Illinois squad that reached the Final Four. His breakout performance came against Purdue when he dropped 46 points — the most points by a Big Ten freshman in 30 years. He finished the season averaging nearly 18 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He is an elite shooter (40% from 3-point range) who operates at his own pace. Despite not possessing elite quickness, he finds ways to score by utilizing sharp footwork and changing direction to freeze defenders. He shot 246 jumpers in total, 40% of which were catch-and-shoot and 60% were off-the-dribble. Those advanced statistics show he can be both an effective on-ball guard or off-ball guard. He’s crafty when he drives to the basket, making it tough on defenders to cut him off. His herky-jerky style enables him to draw fouls. Wagler gives off Tyrese Haliburton vibes.

8-Mikel Brown Jr., guard, Louisville
NBA comparison: Damian Lillard
Scouting report: Brown might be the best pure shooter in the draft, which says a lot because there are plenty of snipers in the 2026 draft. After a slow start to his freshman season at Louisville, the dynamic combo guard exploded for an ACC record 45 points against North Carolina State, including 10 3-pointers. Brown’s hot streak continued the following game as he dropped 29 points against Baylor in a highly competitive matchup against Tounde Yessoufou. He tormented Yessoufou and wasn’t affected by his physicality. Brown is a bigger version of Damian Lillard. Brown isn’t bashful about launching 3-pointers from the logo. He has unlimited range as a shooter (34.4% from 3-point range). He also has outstanding positional size (listed at 6-4). His lethal jumper keeps defenders off balance, and he is shifty enough to get past his man off the dribble if he’s blitzed. At times, he falls in love with his jumper too much, which leads to prolonged cold spells. He can get bullied on defense because of his slight build. But the biggest concern most NBA teams have about Brown is his availability. A back injury sidelined Brown during the ACC tournament and NCAA tournament, and he played in only 21 games in his one season at Louisville. Back injuries are tricky, so Brown must prove it won’t hinder him moving forward.

9-Kingston Flemings, guard, Houston
NBA comparison: Kevin Johnson
Scouting report: Flemings didn’t have the best measurements at the NBA combine (6-2, 183, 6-3 wingspan), but he made up for it with strong performances in the athletic drills. Flemings improved his draft stock by testing well, posting outstanding numbers in the vertical (41 inches), shuttle run (2.69 seconds, second), and three-fourths court sprint (3.07 seconds, second). The combine stats solidified his position as a top-10 prospect. Flemings took over the starting point guard spot after the departure of Jamal Shead, and the Houston Cougars didn’t miss a beat. Flemings possesses elite quickness, and he effectively uses it to beat traps and blitzes. The Cougars were one of the best defensive teams in college basketball because of Flemings’ on-ball defense. He shot a surprisingly high percentage from 3-point range despite poor mechanics. It’s a fixable problem, and it shouldn’t devalue his draft stock. Because of his lack of size, Flemings doesn’t finish well at the rim. He tends to lean on his mid-range shot too much. Flemings’ NBA comp is former Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson. KJ was a blur and made a living shooting mid-range jumpers.

10-Yaxel Lendeborg, forward, Michigan
NBA comparison: Terry Cummings
Scouting report: Lendeborg was the driving force behind Michigan’s run to the Final Four in March Madness. The “Dominican LeBron” came back for another year in college after dipping his toes in the NBA draft process following two seasons at Alabama Birmingham (UAB). Returning to college turned out to be the best decision as Lendeborg put together an outstanding season at Michigan, leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten conference title and NCAA tournament title. At 23, Yaxel is one of the older players in the draft, but that shouldn’t be seen as a negative. Lendeborg has a blend of power and finesse, much like former Milwaukee Bucks standout Terry Cummings. Lendeborg proved his toughness by playing through an ankle injury in the NCAA national championship game against UConn. He is a versatile power forward who moves well at his size (6-9, 240). He possesses an above-average handle for a big man, and he is comfortable initiating offense. He’s a terrific rebounder and outstanding defensive player who can switch 1 through 5. Even though Lendeborg may have already hit his ceiling, it shouldn’t stop lottery teams from picking him. The first-team All-American is a plug-and-play talent with strong character traits.

11-Nate Ament, forward, Tennessee
NBA comparison: Jabari Smith Jr.
Scouting report: Ament came to Knoxville with a lot of fanfare as a five-star recruit. He’s arguably Rick Barnes’ best high school recruit since Kevin Durant (KD played for Barnes at Texas). Ament showed flashes of what he could be at the next level. He’s more like Jabari Smith Jr. than KD. Ament is a fluid scorer with outstanding positional size (6-10 with a 7-1 wingspan). He shot close to 80% from the free-throw line, which suggests he has the proper shooting mechanics to be a solid two-level scorer. In terms of weaknesses, he struggled against physicality and quicker defenders and seemed overwhelmed at times. He’ll need to bulk up and get stronger to avoid getting pushed around. He averaged 15 points per game in his first 18 games and shot just 28% from 3-point range. He boosted his averages as the season progressed, but his overall 39.9% field goal percentage is a bit alarming given his physical tools. Adding muscle to his 6-10 frame might correct his subpar shooting. He came on strong in the latter stages of SEC competition, stringing together 20-point games, including a 29-point outing against Kentucky.

12-Karim Lopez, forward, New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
NBA comparison: Deni Avdija
Scouting report: Lopez is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. The Mexican-born forward began playing professionally in Spain for Joventut Badalona at the age of 14. In 2024, he left Spain and joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). The NBL has become a solid pipeline for NBA prospects, producing standouts like LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, and Alex Sarr. Lopez, who turns 19 this year, could be the next big thing to come out of the NBL. Lopez uses his 6-8, 220-pound frame to get to his spots, and he can go downhill with either hand. He plays with a ton of energy and isn’t bothered by physicality. His big breakout game in the NBL came in January when he dropped 32 points against Melbourne United. He capped off his season with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals in helping the Breakers capture the NBL Ignite Cup. Many scouts view Lopez as a high-risk prospect because he doesn’t have a unique skill that he can hang his hat on. But on the other hand, Lopez checks a lot of major boxes scouts love: good positional size, a lengthy wingspan, and physical toughness.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

The first round of the 2026 NBA postseason wasn’t very kind to two recent champions and a future Hall of Famer.

The Denver Nuggets entered the Western Conference playoffs as the No. 3 seed and armed with arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic. Denver lasted just six games and were eliminated by undermanned Minnesota for the second time in three years.

Since winning the NBA title in 2023, Jokic and the Nuggets are just 15-15 over the last three postseasons.

The Boston Celtics, boosted by the return of All-Star Jayson Tatum, entered the Eastern Conference playoffs with the fourth-best odds to win a championship. Boston took a 3-1 series lead against division rival Philadelphia, only to watch it evaporate and ended up being on the wrong side of history. The 76ers completed the dramatic playoff comeback, winning Game 7 in Boston.

When asked during his post-game press conference what was the turning point in the series, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to the return of Joel Embiid.

“What changed in the series was Joel Embiid came back, and they’re a completely different team,” Mazzulla said of the Sixers center, who came back in Game 4 after missing almost a month after undergoing emergency appendectomy.

Philly was the 14th team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the playoffs. Less than 24 hours after the Sixers’ win, the Detroit Pistons became the 15th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit. Thanks to the heroics of Cade Cunningham, top-seeded Detroit avoided losing to eighth-seeded Orlando with a convincing win at home in Game 7.

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets weren’t considered championship contenders heading into the postseason, but they had a favorable matchup in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, who was missing Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (rib).

But the Rockets found a way to turn an advantage into a disadvantage as the 2014 NBA MVP missed Game 1 with a knee injury he suffered in practice. Durant returned in Game 2 but suffered a sprained right ankle in the second half that ultimately forced him to miss the remainder of the series.

The Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead. After a couple of hiccups in Game 4 and Game 5, L.A. closed out the series with a blowout win in Game 6.

Detroit rides MotorCade to reach conference semifinals

After Orlando took a 3-1 series lead, Cade Cunningham put his hard on and went to work.

The Pistons’ All-Star guard dropped 45 points (5-for-8 on 3-pointers) in Game 5 and followed it up with 32 points and 10 rebounds in the next game, forcing a Game 7.

In Game 7 in front of a fired up Detroit crowd that included Pistons legends like Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace, Cunningham calmly led the Pistons to a 116-94 win. His 32 points and 12 assists helped secure Detroit’s first playoff series victory in 18 years.

Cunningham became the second Piston to score 20-plus points and dish out 10-plus assists in a Game 7. The other Piston to pull it off was Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who was in the building to witness Cade’s brilliant performance under pressure.

“It’s an honor to be in the same sentence as a legend like IT,” Cunningham said. “I’m glad he was here. I’m glad he was able to watch … just being able to talk to him, pick his brain, and have his support. It’s amazing. I feel extremely lucky to have that.”

No joke: Jokic gets ‘punked’ in playoff loss to Timberwolves

When you’re a three-time NBA MVP, expectations are high and losing in the first round is not an acceptable result.

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, were eliminated in six games by the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team missing their best player (Anthony Edwards), starting guard (Donte DiVincenzo), and one of its top reserves (Ayo Dosunmu).

The Timberwolves had just eight players available for Game 6, but still managed to pull out a victory.

Denver’s early exit prompted some pundits like ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, to call out Jokic for his poor postseason performance following another triple-double regular season in which he became the first player to lead the league in rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.7).

Perkins on ESPN’s “First Take” said the Joker got “punked” in the Minnesota series as Rudy Gobert made him look human. Jokic shot 44.6% from the field and 19.4% from 3-point range, both well below his season averages. Perkins added that Jokic’s recent play suggests he may be stuck with just one championship for his career.

“We were so ready to put this man above all-time greats because of certain numbers he was putting up in the regular season. He has one NBA championship. Matter of fact, I don’t think Jokic is going to win another NBA championship. He got exposed,” Perkins added. “So when we talk about top-five this and top-five that. We need to sit back and keep cool.”

Denver heads into the offseason with a lot of question marks, including the future of their all-world center. But according to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Nuggets plan to secure a long-term contract extension for Jokic, who is eligible for a $290 million max deal.

“The expectation on both sides is Nikola Jokic will be signing that when he’s eligible in July, and they’re gonna move forward,” Charania said on “Inside the NBA.”

He added: “But beyond that, there’s going to be real roster changes coming to Denver to identify how they can surround Nikola Jokic with the right pieces to get this team over the top.”

Houston, we have a KD problem

A fluke knee injury kept Kevin Durant out of Game 1 against the Lakers. He reportedly bumped knees with one of the team’s two-way players in practice as they both went for a loose ball. Durant returned in Game 2 but suffered a sprained right ankle in the second half that ultimately forced him to miss the remainder of the series.

The Rockets’ implosion started back in February. The infamous “KD files” — Durant’s alleged social media burner account slamming Rockets teammates — created a major, unresolved distraction.

During a stretch in which the Rockets lost seven of nine games entering the All-Star break, allegations surfaced that Durant criticized teammates — including sharp jabs at Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. — while using a burner account on X.

Durant is one of the best to ever pick up a basketball. Once he’s done with his career, he’ll be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. But his off-the-court drama isn’t helping clean up his image.

Durant never discussed the matter in any detail publicly, calling it “Twitter nonsense.” But it’s hard to imagine his most recent social media tiff didn’t impact the Rockets. Houston appeared disjointed, and the team actually played better when KD was in street clothes sitting on the bench.

Since his split with the Golden State Warriors, Durant has had some conspicuous stops in Brooklyn and Phoenix. Houston gave up a ton of assets to bring him in, but now they may be regretting the move.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

The race for NBA Rookie of the Year was practically settled in late January and early February. Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ all-world teenager, put together four consecutive eye-opening games from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5.

He scored a then season-high 49 points against the Charlotte Hornets, followed by 34 points against the Houston Rockets, 36 against the Boston Celtics, and 32 against the San Antonio Spurs. Four impressive performances against four playoff teams. Flagg showed up and showed out and proved to the basketball world that he’s more than capable of carrying a franchise. After all, he is the Maine Event.

Flagg’s 49-point outing on Jan. 29 came against his chief rival in the rookie race, Kon Knueppel. Knueppel spoiled his former Duke Blue Devils teammate’s night with 34 points, including the clinching free throws with 4.1 seconds left to give the Hornets a 123-121 victory.

Even though Knueppel got the win, the game felt more like a coming-out-party for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Flagg did more than enough to win the Rookie of the Year award. Years from now, we’ll look back and have a good laugh at how this was even a discussion.

Flagg is a generational talent. Guys like him don’t come along every year. Knueppel is a specialist. It’s easier to find a player with his skill set.

Flagg was the front runner to start the season, made a big move since the All-Star break, and he put an exclamation point to his rookie campaign with a 51-point burst against the Orlando Magic on April 3. The 19-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points.

The Dallas Mavericks forward followed up his historic game with a 45-point effort against LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers on April 5. Flagg is the first rookie to score at least 40 points in back-to-back games since Allen Iverson in the 1996-97 season.

Flagg ranks in the top five in all the meaningful statistical categories. He is first in points (21.2), fourth in rebounds (6.7), second in assists (4.6), third in steals (1.2), and fifth in blocks (0.9).

About the only stat that Flagg doesn’t dominate is wins and losses. His Mavericks are in the bottom tier of the Western Conference and bound for the lottery again. The Mavs have been decimated with injuries and haven’t been whole all season.

All-Star guard Kyrie Irving missed the entire season while recovering from an ACL injury and center Dereck Lively was also sidelined for the season due to a foot injury that required surgery. All-Star center Anthony Davis, the main piece the Mavs received in the Luka Doncic trade, was traded to the Washington Wizards just ahead of the February trade deadline. The move was largely seen as a reset for the the Mavs to build around Flagg.

Despite all of Flagg’s spectacular performances and impressive statistics, many basketball pundits — including highly respected experts such as Bill Simmons and Steve Aschburner — are not convinced that Flagg is the top rookie in the 2025-26 season.

Simmons and Aschburner are on the Knueppel side of the rookie debate. They both believe Knueppel deserves to win ROY because he’s had the better season based on his impact for the playoff-bound Hornets.

Charlotte had more than doubled its victory total from last year and put together a top-five offensive rating thanks to the threat of Knueppel’s outside shooting.

Aschburner wrote on NBA.com:

Aschburner’s argument about winning being a major factor in postseason awards isn’t wrong but it is flawed. If we’re putting all our eggs on team standings then VJ Edgecombe deserves to be in the ROY conversation because the Philadelphia 76ers wouldn’t be in the playoffs without Edgecombe’s contributions. As a matter of fact, an strong case could be made that Edgecombe has had a larger impact on his team because he’s had to fill in as the No. 2 option behind Tyrese Maxey due to all the injuries the Sixers have dealt with all season.

It is true that the addition of Knueppel has made the Hornets better. He has quickly established himself as one of the elite shooters in the NBA, breaking Keegan Murray’s mark for most 3-pointers made by a rookie. He leads the league in total 3-pointers made, averaging 3.4 per game, and he ranks in the top 10 in 3-point percentage (42.7%).

There’s no question Knueppel has had a significant impact on the improved Hornets. But Kon is a role player. He’s the third or fourth option on the Hornets. He has far less responsibilities on offense and defense. By contrast, there is a ton of responsibilities on Flagg’s plate.

Flagg is not only the primary playmaker but he’s also asked to make plays on defense. Flagg is asked to do more with less talent around him. Knueppel is mainly a 3-point specialist who has to rely on his teammates like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges to get him shots.

Over 80% of Knueppel’s 3-pointers made have been assisted, primarily by Ball. Flagg, on the other hand, creates 51% of his shots on his own through post-ups and dribble drives. He is the focal point of the Mavericks offense while Knueppel is the floor spacer on the Hornets.

Here’s a question for all basketball media types: Would you pay money to see Kon Knueppel? Or would you rather pay money to see Cooper Flagg? Would you pay money to watch Knueppel shoot 3s or would you pay money to watch Flagg pull off a highlight-reel play?

We know what most of them would say.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

If there were two players who raised their NBA draft stock, it had to be Michigan’s Aday Mara and Connecticut’s Tarris Reed Jr.

Mara, a 7-foot-3 center from Saragoza, Spain, was a huge reason why the Wolverines captured their first men’s NCAA tournament title since 1989. His presence in the paint, particularly on defense, allowed Michigan defenders to stay home on shooters and his guard-like skills afforded Michigan head coach Dusty May another playmaker on the court to go with point guard Elliott Cadeau and Yaxel Lendeborg.

The 21-year-old Mara was projected to be a late first- or early second-round pick, but after his impressive performances in the NCAA tournament, some mock drafts elevated him in the top 20 of the first round.

The other center who elevated his draft stock was UConn’s Reed Jr. The 6-11, 265-pound burly big man — who spent his first two college seasons at Ann Arbor, Mich. — was the driving force behind the Huskies’ run to the national championship game where they lost to Mara’s Wolverines.

Projected to be late second-round pick in the draft, Reed, who turns 23 in August, has completely flipped his draft status and could hear his name called in the first round.

A closer look at Reed and Mara.

Tarris Reed Jr., 22, senior, center, UConn
Reed averaged a double-double during March Madness, posting averages of 19.5 points and 13.1 rebounds while shooting 54.4% from the field. During the regular season, Reed posted 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

His tournament run was highlighted by a historic 31-poing, 27-rebound effort in the first round against Furman. Reed became the first men’s college player in 58 years to achieve a 30-25 stat line in the NCAA tournament. Elvin Hayes was the last player to pull off the 30-25 feat, doing in twice in 1968. Reed was also the first player since Bill Walton in 1972 to record a 30-point, 20-rebound game while shooting over 80% from the field.

In a highly anticipated matchup against AP and Naismith player of the year Cameron Boozer of Duke in the Elite Eight, Reed more than held his own, scoring 26 points and grabbing nine rebounds with four blocks and two steals.

PFSN’s Alex Kennedy wrote: “Tarris Reed Jr.’s NCAA Tournament run has been nothing short of spectacular. The UConn Huskies star has turned March Madness into his coming-out party.”

Kennedy added: “After transferring from the Michigan Wolverines, Reed has maximized his potential under UConn head coach Dan Hurley while taking on more responsibility.

And yet, Reed’s NBA draft projection is a bit complicated. He’ll be 23 years old in August, and his game does not stretch beyond the arc in a league where that’s now extremely important. He’s currently the No. 55-ranked prospect in PFSN’s NBA Mock Draft Simulator, and ESPN ranks him as the 63rd-best prospect on their 2026 NBA Draft big board, meaning there’s a chance he doesn’t even get drafted.”

Reed struggled a bit against Mara and Michigan in the national championship game, but still put up a decent stat line. He finished with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.

Aday Mara, 21, junior, center, Michigan
In the national championship game against UConn, Mara contributed eight points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes. More importantly, he provided an inside presence that made life difficult for UConn’s Reed.

“He probably won’t go in the first 10 [NBA draft picks], but in five years [NBA teams] will be like, ‘I probably wish I had taken Mara,’” former Michigan coach John Beilein told the New York Times.

Through five games in the 2026 NCAA tournament, Michigan center Aday Mara is averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game.

The 7-3 junior center has been a focal point of Michigan’s run to the national championship game in Indianapolis. He saved his best in the Final Four as he pumped in a career-high 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field in a 91-73 blowout win over Arizona. Mara was on the receiving end of several nifty lob dunks, which he triggered with some old fashioned screen-and-rolls.

Mara’s outstanding performance on both ends overcame the partial absence of All-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who injured his knee and ankle in the first half and was never himself the rest of the game. With Lendeborg hobbled, Mara stepped up and became the focal point of Michigan’s inside attack. His length bothered Arizona’s frontcourt players, including freshman star Koa Peat, who had to earn all 16 of his points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field.

Mara left UCLA for Michigan in April 2025 primarily due to a desire for more playing time and frustration over not achieving his personal, high expectations during his two seasons in Westwood under UCLA head coach Mick Cronin. Despite enjoying his time at UCLA, Mara felt his development was stalled and sought a better fit for his skill set under Coach Dusty May.

“I had expectations when I came here that I didn’t achieve… so I took the decision to go to Michigan to try to meet all the expectations,” Mara said.

He felt Michigan offered a better system for his, specifically looking at how Coach Dusty May uses big men. May had success with Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf (both seven footers), and Mara joked that he saw both up close and personal as a sophomore — from the UCLA bench.

USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky thinks Mara jumped into the middle of the first round with his March Madness performance.

Kalbosky said: “After leading his team to the collegiate national championship game, Michigan center Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.9 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim. Especially in short spurts, Mara would make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama.”

Kevin Durant’s Instagram handle is @EasyMoneySniper. It’s an appropriate nickname for one of the greatest scorers in basketball.

Durant is one of the smoothest operators when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. He’s got every shot in the book. He makes things look easy money. His career 27.2 points-per-game average puts him in the top 10. He makes 39% of his 3-point shots and 50% of his shots from the field; mostly from his favorite spot on the court — the midrange. And he is a career 88% shooter from the free throw line.

Durant — who was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of a historic seven-team deal — moved into fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, jumping ahead of Michael Jordan. Only Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James are ahead of Durant.

OMFB pulled together a list of the most efficient scorers in modern NBA history, with the following stipulations: 1) a player must have a career points-per-game average of at least 20 (PPG); 2) minimum 400 games played; 3) above the line in field goal percentage (47%), 3-point shooting (35%), and free throws (80%). Note: Because the 3-point line wasn’t introduced in the league until 1979, players such as Jerry West and Oscar Robertson were not included on the list.

Kevin Durant
PPG: 27.2 FG pct: 50.3 3PT pct: 39.1 FT pct: 88.2
KD is listed at 6-10 but with a 7-5 wingspan. Because of his remarkable length and above-average ball-handling skills, he is able to shoot over any defender.

Stephen Curry
PPG: 24.8 FG pct: 47.1 3PT pct: 42.2 FT pct: 91.2
The four-time NBA champion and 3-point king is regarded by many as the greatest shooter in basketball. Steph is the all-time leader in 3-point makes, with an accuracy of 42%.

Larry Bird
PPG: 24.3 FG pct: 49.6 3PT pct: 37.6 FT pct: 88.6
Larry Legend won three consecutive MVPs from 1984-86 and arguably one of the 10 most influential players. The three-time NBA champ would be the ideal stretch-4 in the modern NBA.

Dirk Nowitzki
PPG: 20.7 FG pct: 47.1 3PT pct: 38.0 FT pct: 87.9
Dirk helped revolutionize the game by moving the traditional low-post game to the high post. The elbow was his operating room, and he carved up defenders with his signature one-legged fadeaway.

Kyrie Irving
PPG: 23.7 FG pct: 47.4 3PT pct: 39.4 FT pct: 88.8
Kyrie is one of most gifted scorers the game has ever seen. Armed with an insanely tight handle and creative mind, Kyrie is a spectacular bucket-getter who plays his best in the clutch.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
PPG: 25.0 FG pct: 50.8 3PT pct: 36.0 FT pct: 86.5
SGA won an MVP, NBA championship and NBA scoring title before the age of 27. As a 6-6 point guard, he is a physical mismatch against the vast majority of guards. He plays with remarkable consistency.

Karl-Anthony Towns
PPG: 23.0 FG pct: 52.1 3PT pct: 39.7 FT pct: 83.9
Big KAT proclaimed himself “the greatest big man shooter of all time.” Based on statistical evidence, Towns might be right. His career combination of volume and efficiency is unmatched.

Nikola Jokic
PPG: 22.2 FG pct: 56.1 3PT pct: 36.3 FT pct: 82.4
Former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said the secret to Joker’s efficient is that he doesn’t fight it. The big man from Serbian makes the game look easy because he doesn’t force things.

Zach LaVine
PPG: 20.8 FG pct: 47.0 3PT pct: 39.1 FT pct: 83.5
LaVine entered the league mainly known as a spectacular dunker, winning the NBA Slam Dunk contest twice. He became a prolific scorer after he was traded from Minnesota to Chicago.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

Luka Doncic and LeBron James can’t find the right chemistry. You don’t need to be a seasoned NBA writer to make that determination. The Los Angeles Lakers are disjointed whenever Luka Doncic and LeBron James are on the court together.

When the Lakers made the blockbuster trade to acquire Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, one of the points of apprehension was how LeBron would adjust to having another alpha dog on the team.

So far, the results have been disappointing to say the least.

The Lakers are stuck in some kind of quantum realm where they can’t seem to escape at the moment. As much as they’d love to move forward with their Luka Doncic succession plan, they have a dinosaur in the room that needs to be addressed.

LeBron is now in his 22nd season in the NBA. He is 41 years old. He’s in the final year of his Lakers contract, and unless there’s a dramatic turn of events, it appears it’ll be his last run in purple and gold. Even though the numbers are still solid (21-5-7 and shooting 49% from the field), he is no longer elite. He finished eighth in the All-Star voting, which suggests many basketball fans are ready to move on from him.

The best analogy for the current relationship status between the Lakers and Luka and LeBron is like having your ex stay in the guest house while you live in the main house with your new bride.

At some point, the Lakers must make a clean break from LeBron. Nothing personal. It’s just business. In order for Doncic to get a full grip on the Laker kingdom and be the ultimate decision maker, he can’t be looking over his shoulder and tiptoeing around the former king.

You can clearly see that Doncic is doing his best not to step on LeBron’s toes, which is admirable, but it is also making it an awkward transition. And that awkward relationship is spilling onto the court.

As much as pundits and Lakers fans would love to blame the flawed roster for all the team’s woes, the biggest issue facing the team is the LeBron-Luka dynamic. The Lakers are a bottom-five offensive team when Luka and LeBron are on the court together.

Doncic’s game doesn’t mesh well with LeBron’s game. They have similar skill sets, and both need the ball in their hands to be effective. It was the same conundrum in Miami when LeBron and his good friend Dwyane Wade had to figure things out on the fly. Wade took a step back and allowed LeBron to take the lead. But that was LeBron in his prime. That was 15 years ago. The shoe is on the other foot now. Luka is now the main driver, and LeBron has to sit in the passenger seat, and he’s having a tough time with that reality.

To his credit, LeBron is making an effort in playing more off the ball. As much as he’d love to have the ball in his hands all the time, he understands there can be only one quarterback. Luka is the starting quarterback now.

But James is most effective when he’s the primary signal caller. He has been the offensive hub for the majority of his 22-year career, so it’s tough to teach an old dog new tricks. So, the Lakers essentially are playing with two quarterbacks, making it extremely difficult to find consistency and cohesion.

For the Luka-LeBron partnership to work, one of them must be a high-level role player and do the dirty work, such as defending at a high level, rebounding the ball, and bringing energy on both ends. It has to be LeBron to take on this role, and he can no longer do these things at this stage of his career.

The Lakers had at least an identity when Doncic and Austin Reaves were playing Batman and Robin. They were beating teams by outscoring them. With King James in the mix, the Lakers have lost their superpower. They’re not connected on defense, and they’re not connected on offense.

The quickest fix, as well as the most logical approach to restore order, is to let LeBron walk away and retool the roster in the offseason.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said at the start of the season that he would love to have LeBron retire in L.A. James has not indicated that 2026 would be his final year, and the Lakers do not seem to be in a rush to bring him back.

LeBron’s departure will open up $53 million in cap room. Pelinka can either use that cap flexibility to sign free agents or facilitate a blockbuster trade. Keep that phone line open in case Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic calls.

Bringing back LeBron for a farewell tour wouldn’t be the worst decision in the world, but it would delay the reset another year. The Lakers are better off reshaping the roster with Doncic and Reaves as the main building blocks and surrounding them with a center who can protect the rim and athletic wing defenders to cover up their defensive deficiencies.

L.A. had high expectations entering the 2025-26 season. Doncic came into camp in phenomenal shape and agreed to a $165 million contract extension that would keep him in a Laker uniform through the 2029 season.

For about the first two months of the season, the Luka Laker plan was cruising down the 110 freeway without much traffic. Doncic and Reaves were both cooking defenses like top chefs. The Lakers were averaging a blistering 119.6 points per game and sprinted to a 15-4 record. Doncic averaged 33.6 points per game while Reaves averaged 24.5 points, including a 51-point outing against Sacramento.

The high watermark of the Lakers’ blistering start came during a late stretch in November when L.A. pieced together a seven-game winning streak. The Lakers were able to mask their shortcomings defensively with a high-octane offense that was blitzing teams from all angles.

During this blistering start, LeBron — who missed the first 14 games due to a right-side sciatica nerve injury — was still working his way back to his normal basketball routine. He took a backseat to Luka and Reaves.

Just when things appeared to be on easy street, the Lakers hit heavy traffic in mid-December when Reaves’ body started to break down. Reaves suffered a calf strain, which limited his time on the court. He briefly returned to action but reaggravated the calf injury on Christmas Day against Houston, forcing him to miss 19 games.

Since starting the season 15-4, the Lakers have a 20-20 record in their last 40 games, and their scoring average dipped to 108.3 points since the NBA All-Star break, which is seven points below their season average. Defense remains poor, but the team’s greatest strength, which is their ability to put the ball in the basket, has hit a snag.

The Lakers are what they are at this point in the season. It’s too late for trades or major pick-ups. JJ Redick and the coaching staff must play the cards they are handed.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., will feature a new wrinkle. Instead of the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format or the silly All-Star captains choosing teams, the NBA’s annual midseason showcase event will feature two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players, also known as the World team.

The three squads will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games. Each team will have a minimum of eight players, selected by a combination of fan votes (50%), current NBA players (25%), and a media panel (25%).

If NBA All-Star voting does not result in the selection of 16 U.S. players and eight international players (which can include American players with ties to other countries if necessary), then NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select additional All-Stars to join either group to reach that minimum.

There was zero chance the international team wouldn’t be able to field an eight-man squad. In fact, the international talent pool is so deep that there will be snubs. When the 10 starters were announced on Jan. 19, five of them were foreign-born players. When the reserves were announced on Feb. 1, there were at least three qualified to be on Team World. Karl-Anthony Towns was born in the U.S., but represents the Dominican Republic in FIBA competitions. Towns said if selected to the All-Star game, he prefers Team World over the U.S. squad.

Assuming guys are healthy enough to play, the World team is stacked with an All-NBA starting five and plenty of firepower off the bench.

Starters
Nikola Jokic, center, Denver Nuggets
Giannis Antetokounmpo, forward, Milwaukee Bucks
Victor Wembanyama, forward-center, San Antonio Spurs
Luka Doncic, guard-forward, L.A. Lakers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder

Bench
Jamal Murray, guard, Denver Nuggets
Karl-Anthony Towns, forward-center, New York Knicks
Deni Avdija, guard-forward, Portland Trail Blazers
Pascal Siakam, forward, Indiana Pacers
Potential injury replacements:
* Alperen Sengun, center, Houston Rockets
* Lauri Markkanen, forward, Utah Jazz

Jokic, Wemby, Giannis, Luka, and SGA have combined for six MVPs, two scoring titles, and three NBA championships. If the season ended today, there could be a strong case to be made that these five superstars deserve to be on the All-NBA first team.

Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic was well on his way to potentially a fourth MVP award until a hyper-extended knee derailed his season and forced him out of the Denver Nuggets lineup for a month.

Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, the leading vote-getter in the West, is having his best season in two years, leading the league in scoring and free throw attempts. He’s averaging 33.4 points per game, which would be his best mark since the 2023-24 season, and he gets to the line 11 times per game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — born in Canada but played college basketball at Kentucky — is backing up his 2024-25 MVP season with another outstanding campaign. He’s second in the league in scoring and leads all players with 11.0 field goal makes per game. Behind Shai, the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder owns the best record in the NBA.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, also known as The Greek Freak, garnered the most votes of any Eastern Conference player. He isn’t having his typical MVP-type season, but he remains among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.

Victor Wembanyama, now in his third year in the league, is the biggest reason why the San Antonio Spurs are poised to have their best season since the Tim Duncan era. The 22-year-old Frenchman played a vital role in helping the Spurs reach the championship game of the NBA Cup, and he was the force behind San Antonio’s three convincing wins over the OKC Thunder.

That’s quite a formidable starting unit. The bench for the World team isn’t too shabby.

Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most versatile big men in the Association. He could easily start for the World team if Jokic, Wemby, or Giannis decide to skip the All-Star game. Towns, one of the best shooting big men in the NBA, was a force on both ends of the court during the New York Knicks’ championship run in the NBA Cup tournament.

Jamal Murray finally made an NBA All-Star team after nine seasons, as he was voted on by coaches as a reserve. The Denver Nuggets guard — the pride of Kitchener, Ontario — is averaging 26 points per game, five points higher than last season, and he is shooting a career-best 44% from 3-point range. Because of Murray, the Nuggets were able to stay in the top four in the West standings despite Jokic missing a month due to a hyperextended knee.

Israel’s Deni Avdija might be the biggest reason why the Portland Trail Blazers are still in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. The first-time All-Star should be a cinch to win Most Improved Player as he’s putting together a career year. The first Israeli-born player selected to the NBA All-Star Game is averaging 25.5 points per game, easily the best of his career and a significant jump from his first season with the Blazers (16.9).

Forward Pascal Siakam from Cameroon was named to his fourth All-Star game as a reserve despite the Indiana Pacers’ abysmal record. Siakam has led the Pacers in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 23.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.

Two potential injury replacements on the World team are Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen and Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun.

Finland’s Markkanen ranks ninth in the league in scoring (27.9). He would be the ideal small ball 4 or stretch 4, allowing the guards on the World team space to operate. Sengun, who powered Turkey to a silver medal at EuroBasket 2025, is enjoying the best season of his young NBA career, posting career highs in points, assists, steals, blocks, field goal attempts, and free throw percentage.

About the only question marks for the World team are health and availability. Jokic is nursing a knee injury, Doncic has had an assortment of ailments, and Antetokounmpo will likely miss the All-Star game because of a calf injury. If fully healthy and able to participate in the showcase event in L.A., the World team is a scary squad on paper.

Team World’s starting backcourt of Luka and Shai are the top two scorers in the NBA, and its massive starting frontcourt could block the sun.

In a perfect situation, one of the U.S. teams will play Team World in the finals. And don’t bet against the World team.

The recent gambling-related incidents in the NBA reopened an old wound the league had thought it had already cured. Reports of current and former NBA players being accused of committing nefarious actions, including allegedly faking injuries and trading inside information with gamblers, have many fans concerned about the integrity of the sport.

As much as fans would like to think every game is good, clean competition, there are pockets of these nefarious activities, such as the Tim Donaghy betting scandal, former Toronto Raptors guard Jontay Porter being permanently banned for violating gambling rules, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier being arrested in connection with an FBI probe into an alleged sports gambling scheme. These disturbing incidents are ruining the purity of the game and forcing the NBA to make some changes.

The NBA is enacting several sports betting policies for its 30 teams, including changing injury reporting rules, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. Teams will be required to resubmit injury listings on game day between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time and update public reports every 15 minutes.

Sports is the best reality show. We watch because it takes us through a journey of emotions and we don’t know how it’ll end. With the explosion of sports betting, professional leagues are now in bed with betting sites like FanDuel and DraftKings. It’s getting more difficult not to think that some of these games are scripted. A bad play here or a bad call here, now makes you wonder if the fix is in.

Writer David Hill had this fantastic metaphor about the optics of gambling in sports: “The problem is that among the general public, the optics are unsettling. One day, we regulate betting on sports, and the next, we have a rash of cheating scandals. The common assumption is one of causality, when the truth is that it’s more likely a correlation. When you turn on the light, the cockroaches will scatter. If you turn it off again, they don’t disappear. They’re still there. The question isn’t whether legal betting is corrupting sports — it’s just how corrupt were they all along? And what more can we do — now that the light is on — to clean up the mess?”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver made a guest appearance on “Good Morning America” and addressed the betting scandal. His message to fans worrying about the game’s integrity? “The integrity is absolutely solid,” Silver said. The NBA commissioner said the investigation involving Rozier, who is accused of faking an injury to manipulate a prop bet, was an isolated incident and the league is working on guardrails to prevent another Rozier scandal.

Silver said he was deeply disturbed following the multiple arrests in a sprawling gambling probe, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Damon Jones.

Silver said there’s nothing more important to the league — and its fans — than the integrity of the game.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the NBA is embroiled in a gambling mess. Gambling scandals are nothing new in the sport of basketball. As a matter of fact, it’s a big part of its history.

Here are the biggest basketball-related gambling scandals:

New York City area colleges involved in point shaving scandal (1950s). In 1951, allegations of point-shaving and match fixing in college basketball revealed widespread bribery and corruption involving major colleges and universities in and around New York City. The scandal has been mostly associated with City College of New York (CCNY) in which several players were implicated in point shaving and match fixing.

Boston College point shaving scandal (1978). The scandal involved a scheme in which members of the mafia recruited and bribed multiple Boston College players to manipulate the spread.

Tim Donaghy scandal (2007). Donaghy officiated NBA games for 13 seasons from 1994 to 2007, until he was caught in a gambling scandal. The FBI found Donaghy bet on games he officiated during his last two seasons and made calls that impacted the point spread. He was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a sports betting scheme.

Michael Jordan gambling escapades (1990s). Jordan paid off a convicted cocaine dealer for gambling debts. In 1993, a book by Richard Esquinas claimed Jordan owed him $1.25 million in golf gambling debts. The NBA investigated Jordan’s gambling habits but ultimately found he did not violate league rules regarding betting on NBA games. The 1993 investigation and Jordan’s subsequent retirement fueled a conspiracy theory that his retirement was a secret suspension.

Gilbert Arenas accused of hosting high-stakes poker games. Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas was arrested in July 2025 on federal charges related to an illegal, high-stakes poker ring he allegedly hosted at his Encino, Calif., mansion from 2021 to 2022. He was charged with operating an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators.

Jontay Porter was banned for violating gambling rules. Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, the brother of NBA champion Michael Porter Jr., was permanently banned from the NBA in April 2024 for violating the league’s gambling rules. He admitted to investigators that he schemed to take himself out of games for gambling’s sake, pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy crime in the scandal that already got him banned from the league. After tipping off some of the men, the player claimed injury or illness and withdrew from the Jan. 26 and March 20 games after only minutes on the court, the complaint said. Porter played only briefly on those dates before complaining he was hurt or sick and exiting the games. His points, rebounds, and assists in both games fell below sportsbooks’ expectations.

University of New Orleans point shaving incident. Former University of New Orleans guard Dae Dae Hunter said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he participated in point-shaving. Hunter and two New Orleans teammates are among six players who had their eligibility revoked by the NCAA after an investigation. The Committee on Infractions found that Hunter, Dyquavian Short and Jamond Vincent, Arizona State’s Chatton “BJ” Freeman and Mississippi Valley State’s Donovan Sanders and Alvin Stredic either manipulated their performances to lose games, not cover bet lines or ensure certain prop bets were reached, or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season.

Gambling is deeply embedded in the sports landscape. With technological advancements and the ubiquity of mobile apps, placing bets has become easy.

Americans are more skeptical of legal sports betting than they were a few years ago, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted over the summer. The survey found that about 4 in 10 U.S. adults say the fact that sports betting is now legal in much of the country is “a bad thing” for society and sports, up from about one-third in July 2022.

Younger adults are more likely than older adults to have bet money on sports in the past year, according to a Pew poll, with about 3 in 10 adults under the age of 30 saying this, compared with only 12% of adults age 65 or older.

Is there a fix for the problem? Unfortunately, the fix is in, and there is no turning back.

Love it or hate, the NBA Cup is here to stay. And years from now, we’re going to look at it differently.

The New York Knicks became the latest team win the NBA Cup, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s the first time in 52 years that the Knicks have ever won anything in the NBA. The last time New Yorkers celebrated a professional basketball title, Knicks superfan Spike Lee was only 16 years old.

Lee, now 68, witnessed his beloved Knicks beat Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs in Las Vegas. Wembanyama, 21, wasn’t even born yet the last time the Knicks reached a championship game. It was 1999 and the grit-and-grind Knicks were coached by Jeff Van Gundy and spearheaded by Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, and Anthony Mason.

Now, the Knicks can finally hang a banner at Madison Square Garden next to NBA titles won in 1970 and 1973 thanks to a new group of gritty guys, headed by Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“This is on the road to an NBA championship,” Lee said on “NBA Nightcap” on Amazon Prime. It’s a great day. It’s not done yet. It’s a tough league. It’s gonna be a fight.”

Brunson put on an MVP performance in Vegas, scoring 40 points in the semifinal win over the Orlando Magic and 25 points in the championship game against the Spurs.

The former Villanova standout is playing at an elite level. New York Knicks coach Mike Brown hammered home a specific point he’s been making in recent weeks — that Brunson, even this early in the season, belongs in the regular-season MVP conversation.

“He makes the game easier for everybody,” Brown said. “That’s what MVPs are supposed to do, and he definitely did that tonight. … At the end of the day, he carries you home. It’s beautiful to be able to see him do what he’s more than capable of doing on a national stage like this, in an environment like this. Hopefully you guys as media and the fans out there can continue talking about him as an MVP of this league because that’s exactly what he is.”

If Brunson keeps playing this way, the MVP case is going to get even more compelling.

He was the NBA’s clutch player of the year last season, so it’s not like he’s been ignored by voters. Brown just wants him to be in the hunt for a bigger trophy.

“You see a lot of other great candidates that are well-deserving but I don’t ever hear Jalen’s name,” Brown said. “When you’re first or second in either conference, and you’re putting up the numbers that he’s putting up, his name’s got to be one of the first names coming out of somebody’s mouth.”

For the past three years since its inception, the NBA Cup has seen its share of detractors. One of the loudest critics is The Athletic’s John Hollinger, who suggested that the in-season tournament forced players to play more games leading to potential injuries.

Critics also say the whole thing is a gimmick, from the outrageously loud and colorful courts to the somewhat confusing group tiebreakers.

Say what you want about the NBA Cup, at least the NBA is making an effort to make waves in the fall season and put a small dent on the NFL’s stranglehold on viewership.

It appears to be working. The NBA has seen a surge in fan interest in the early portion of the 2025-26 season, with a 92% bump in viewership for nationally televised games. Thanks to new broadcast partners NBC and Amazon Prime, joining ABC/ESPN, the league is enjoying its best viewership numbers in 15 years.

But the biggest win so far is the fact that the players are embracing the NBA Cup. They competed hard each and every night the Cup games were held, injecting a playoff-type atmosphere that has resulted in some fantastic games.

“This is not a typical regular-season game,” Wembanyama said after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals. “We knew if that if we lose, we’re out. And you know, some people are built for these moments. Some aren’t. But we definitely are.”

The NBA Cup games in Las Vegas have replaced the league’s Christmas Day lineup as the Association’s marquee event of the fall. It hasn’t overtaken the NFL yet, but in three short years it has generated a lot of buzz and made the early portion of the season far more interesting.

The NBA Cup final didn’t count in the standings, and the stats won’t be added to any official totals. A trophy was at stake and $533,000 cash bonus for the winning team.

It was the third different finals matchup in the NBA Cup — which was initially referred to as the In-Season Tournament. During its inception, the L.A. Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers. In the second year, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a convincing victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Add the New York Knicks to the champions list.

“The Cup is special. I think you saw tonight, here in Vegas the semifinals and finals, it brought out the best in all the teams,” Knicks center Towns said while proudly wearing a championship T-shirt.

“For us to be in a position to say that we won and we’re the champions, and to have this dope-ass shirt on with the Knicks saying as champions is humbling and an honor.”