Here’s what happened across the L over the weekend. Let’s get it.

James Harden is Reportedly “Seriously Considering” Returning to Houston:

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski at ESPN, Harden is reportedly considering a reunion with the Rockets if he doesn’t re-sign with Philadelphia as a free agent in July.

However, after the Sixers’ win over the Knicks on Christmas Day, Harden addressed the media and let them know how he really feels about being in Philly.

“I’m here, we’re playing very well, and I don’t know where that report came from,” Harden said, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. “But I’m excited to be here, and we’re playing well. We’re continuing to get better.”

Meanwhile, Harden caught everyone’s attention with this colorful holiday fit. Hide y’all presents.

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Joel Embiid and Harden Combine to Score 64 Points against the Knicks:

The Beard (29 points and 13 dimes) and Joel Embiid (35 points) put up a combined 64 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists to help the 76ers extend their win streak to eight games with a 119-112 dub over the Knicks on Sunday.

The Sixers outscored the Knicks 24-9 to open the fourth and turned a one-point deficit into a 116-102 lead late in the fourth quarter.

“It was one of those games where you’ve just got to stick around,” Harden said per ESPN. “Like, stick around, stick around, and then fourth quarter, you give yourself a chance.

64 PTS | 12 REB | 14 AST @JHarden13 & @JoelEmbiid‘s combined Christmas Day stat line. vote both for NBA All-Star: https://t.co/kNf5hhEIQx.

presented by @palottery pic.twitter.com/Lu2cQROE6c

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 25, 2022

Jayson Tatum Torches the Bucks For 41 Points while Jaylen Brown Takes Over:

Jayson Tatum posted 41 points, including a ferocious first-half yam over Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jaylen Brown scored 29 points to help Boston (24-10) reclaim the top record in the League with a 139-118 win over the Bucks (22-11).

Boston grabbed a 100-86 lead after Tatum scored 20 points in the third quarter, and Brown brought the Celtics home with 13 points in the final frame; he also refused to back down after posting a screen that sent the Greek Freak to the ground. Brown and Antetokounmpo had a back-and-forth, but y’all know it’s only basketball. The players don’t take it seriously, and neither should basketball fans.

Boston gave Milwaukee their first three-game losing streak, while the Celtics have now won back-to-back contests after losing five out of six recent games.

HE CAUGHT ONE @jaytatum0 hammered it home in tonight’s @JetBlue Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/ZU6oCbvRB0

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 26, 2022

Jordan Poole Put Up a Dominate 32 Points to Lead Golden State Past Memphis:

Jordan Poole did what he had to do to play Grinch and ruin the Grizzlies’ Christmas after he dropped a team-high 32 points to lead the Warriors past Memphis on Sunday. Draymond Green (13 rebounds, 13 assists, two blocks) and Klay Thompson (24 points on 8-25 shooting) also put up some solid performances. They played up the burgeoning rivalry they have with Memphis with some sublime shi*t talking toward Dillon Brooks as well.

“He knows that he can’t get a second one. He’s still a young player,” head coach Steve Kerr said per ESPN. “Jordan was fantastic tonight, and we needed his offensive firepower.”

Dray Jordan

» https://t.co/ocDF2EGGU9 pic.twitter.com/HL0YggMOBa

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 26, 2022

Nikola Jokic Drops a Christmas Day Triple-Double Against the Suns:

Nikola Jokic (41 points, 15 boards, and 15 dimes) dropped his 83rd career triple-double and led the Nuggets to a 128-125 win over the Phoenix Suns. The two-time MVP recorded a 40-point, 27-rebound, 10-assist performance a week ago. It was the fourth 40-point, 15-rebound, 15-assist game in League history. Oscar Robertson (1961, 1962) accomplished it twice, and James Harden did it in 2016.

“Sick,” Aaron Gordon said of Jokic’s outing, per ESPN. “Those are video game numbers.”

Another MVP performance

41/15/15. Triple-Double 8⃣3⃣ pic.twitter.com/W5PNYlDFar

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 26, 2022

Jamal Murray (26 points, five rebounds, and five assists) forced overtime with a game-tying dunk, and Aaron Gordon put the exclamation point on the win with a poster over Landry Shamet.

“Yeah,” Gordon said. “Because of the time and score.”

Nuggets Nation BROUGHT THE ENERGY tonight. For that, we leave you with this

Goodnight, Wuggets Wation pic.twitter.com/WOYUm1twk7

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 26, 2022

The post NBA Weekend Recap: Elite Christmas Day Matchups and James Harden Addresses Reports of His Return to Houston appeared first on SLAM.

Stephen Curry delivered another brilliant Finals performance, this time against the Boston Celtics, with his typical distance shooting and desire to get his teammates involved in the flow of the offense. Although Curry had solidified his legacy, it couldn’t have been done without the contribution of Andrew Wiggins.

In that series against the Celtics, Wiggins made his case for Finals MVP by shutting down the opposing superstar in Jayson Tatum and being the team’s second-best scorer at 18.3 points a game. He even led the team in rebounding with an 8.8 average and blocks with 1.5, ahead of Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.

The 2014 first overall pick had himself a series that cemented his name into NBA history, but in their title defense season, a rematch with the Celtics at Chase Center will feature Wiggins on the bench due to a right adductor strain, according to head coach Steve Kerr.

It's a bird.
It's a plane.
It's Andrew Wiggins! pic.twitter.com/DCpMYWfLBT

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 28, 2022

Wiggins had missed the last two games resulting in losses for the Warriors, but before his absence, in a win against the Houston Rockets, the forward dropped 36 points in the 34 minutes played. He went 14-19 from the field while shooting 80 percent from three (8-10), showcasing his improvement as an offensive threat once more.

Klay Thompson, the usual Robin to Curry as Batman, has struggled to get to form this season, averaging 18.9 points on the lowest field goal percentage shooting of his career at 39.6 percent. However, Thompson has found his rhythm lately, scoring 20+ points in five of his last seven games. With Wiggins sitting out this primetime matchup, Thompson will have to carry just a little more weight to make up for that missing production.

In Tatum and Jaylen Brown‘s revenge tour, the duo is currently averaging over 25 points each and have led the Celtics’ best record in the NBA at 21-5. The Finals rematch is shaping up to be completely different than last season after the Celtics added another scoring talent in Malcolm Brogdon, and interim coach Joe Mazzulla has created a League-leading 119.9 offensive rating.

The Warriors will have to find some defensive answers to figure out against the Celtics, but Kerr is “hopeful” that two of his four-time champions will be able to suit up, in Green and Curry. Dub Nation will undoubtedly miss what Wiggins can bring to the table, being one of the best two-way players in the game, but there should be no doubt in an NBA fan’s mind that the dynamic Warriors can find a way to steal a victory.

The post Andrew Wiggins to Miss Finals Rematch Between Warriors and Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

ICYMI: 

Most of the fireworks on Friday night happened in Houston in an absolute shoot-out between the Rockets and Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray combined for 83 points, but it wasn’t enough. After leading by as much as 16 points in the third quarter, Atlanta squandered the lead, and the Rockets surged late to capture their fourth win of the season, 128-122.

Despite Murray scoring a career-high 39 points and making a career-high eight threes, the Hawks couldn’t get the job done. A big reason for this was their performance on the boards in the absence of Clint Capela, who was out due to dental pain. Houston outrebounded Atlanta 59-28. This included a 22-6 drubbing on the offensive boards and a 37-22 advantage on the defensive boards.

Most of the headlines after the game were about the aftermath of a third-quarter scrum between each team’s respective backcourt. Young and Murray did plenty of showboating on the way to scoring a combined 83 points, and you get the sense that Green and Kevin Porter Jr. didn’t like it one bit. Green and Porter took to Instagram to mock Young following the game. Green waved goodbye to the Hawks after their 18-point fourth quarter. 

Ja Morant messed around and dropped a triple-double in Madison Square Garden, dropping 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 dimes. He’s been highly productive during Desmond Bane, who suffered a sprained big toe injury on Nov. 15 and won’t be back for at least another week.

Postgame, Morant credited New York Knicks point guard and Chicago/Memphis legend Derrick Rose for paving the way for hyper-athletic guards by saying; 

“He really made it to where people believe in guys like me,” Morant told the Commercial Appeal. “Coming in, athletic guards, I felt like he was pretty much the one who kind of made it more famous. With how acrobatic his finish is, his touch around the rim, and how explosive he was. Coming in, he was my comparison. It’s crazy to be out there on the floor sharing a court with him.”

Klay Thompson was off to a rough start on the offensive side of the ball to begin the season, but he’s beginning to get on track. He shot 61.5 percent from the field in Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Golden State scored 47 points in the first quarter and never really looked back. They had crisp offensive execution the entire game. 

The Boston Celtics continued their winning ways. They have won 12 of their last 13 games. They are a League-best 16-4 on the season. Jaylen Brown had 36 points in their most recent win sans Jayson Tatum against the Washington Wizards. The Celtics are poised for a return to the NBA Finals if they keep playing the way they’re playing. 

Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and the Brooklyn Nets are now only a single game under .500 following their 111-97 win against the Trail Blazers on Sunday night. Seth Curry was a big factor in the win against his former squad, with 29 points on 11-15 shooting. 

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been playing out of his mind and is turning some heads. Fox has been shooting a career-high 53 percent from the field, helping him average 25.1 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.

Fox has the Kings sitting in sixth place in a jammed Western Conference with a record of 10-8. Fox’s play has been so good that this past weekend, he inked a deal with one of the biggest and most well-known sports agencies in basketball Klutch Sports. For Sacramento, Fox’s recent play and lead role in the Kings’ resurgence could be just what the team needs to end their 16-year playoff drought.

The Kings have the talent and youth to be very disruptive if given a postseason opportunity. The team’s additions of Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk (in addition to Fox’s play) have been a great fit. Hopefully, Fox and the team can continue this momentum.

Over the weekend, the Lakers played the San Antonio Spurs for the third time in their last four games. During the third quarter of Saturday’s game, Russell Westbrook was going up for a layup after previously grabbing a rebound and was fouled on the way up by Spurs center Zach Collins. When Westbrook rose up from the ground heated from the foul, you could see that he had a cut and was visibly bleeding from his forehead.

The two teams got together for what seemed like a couple of seconds after the foul, but everyone was calmly escorted to their respective benches. Westbrook, who was fuming for a good reason, was taken away by LeBron James, who quickly compressed Westbrook’s head wound with a towel and walked him over to the bench to be further examined by the Lakers team doctors.

Once the situation calmed down, a Flagrant 2 foul was given the Collins, and a tech was given to Westbrook. Postgame, James commented on the altercation, saying;

“I saw where the cut was immediately. It was just common sense to put pressure on the cut right away. Don’t let it continue to go. Before we became teammates, we’ve always been like brothers and cool and things of that nature. His health is more important than the game of basketball. We were just trying to stop that and let the training staff do their job after we got him over to the bench.”

Miami center Bam Adebayo has had a quiet yet phenomenal stretch over the Heat’s last six games averaging 25.5 points per game and 10.2 rebounds on 52 percent shooting from the field. However, in Adebayo’s last two games, he has scored over 30 points and has been a key contributor toward the end of games on both the defensive and offensive sides.

The Heat are currently on a three-game win streak led by Adebayo’s diverse and consistent play, and the team looks to carry that momentum into their Wednesday matchup with the 2022 Eastern Conference Champion Celtics. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND:

Ja Morant’s father asked for his son’s jersey for the first time in Morant’s career. Morant stated that it was “special” for him to get a triple-double in the Garden and that it was a place that he always had a special feeling for.

Morant admitted after Sunday’s game that MSG was special for him to have a triple-double since it was a place he watched in so many games on television as a kid — which was why his father made the unusual request for his jersey.

“It’s just the bright lights, man,” Morant told ESPN post-game. “Having a triple-double in the Garden is crazy. Growing up actually watching teams come here and play, watching the Knicks play — everybody loves the Garden. We really called it the bright lights. Everybody is watching. So for me to be able to go out and play like I played tonight was big-time for me.”

The post ICYMI: We Got You Covered With Thanksgiving Weekend News appeared first on SLAM.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but for now, here are seven takeaways from last night’s action.

Revenge SZN: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are looking even better

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been a nightmare for teams on both sides of the ball for a few years now. They have three ECF trips under their belt and a recent appearance in the NBA Finals — they’re not supposed to still be getting better. After showing up to opening night rockin’ some pretty eye-catching fits, Brown and Tatum dropped a combined 70 points (dropping 35 points apiece) and solidified the dub over Philly.

Both were attacking from every part of the floor. Having two dynamic players like Brown and Tatum gives the Celtics a good chance to get back to the Finals and maybe even win it this time. 

Ring Night: The Warriors may be poised to make another championship run

On ring night, the Warriors look good. Damn good. Stephen Curry is still just as good as he’s always been, and the Warriors’ weapons all kept them afloat and out of reach. The Dubs had their trademark explosive third quarter, and signature contributions from Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Curry, and Andrew Wiggins on offense guided them to a win. Draymond Green and Kevon Looney anchored a strong defensive performance. Their young core (Moses Moody, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga) came in off the bench and provided valuable minutes. Sheesh, the Warriors are deep. 

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The Beard drops a 30-piece on Opening Night

James Harden has been a picture of perfect health for the majority of his NBA career, but during his tenure with the Nets, and leading into his tenure with the Sixers, Harden was dealing with a nagging hamstring injury that sapped away a lot of his explosiveness and his ability to change speeds that made him so difficult to contain during his days in Houston. Houston Harden showed up in Boston last night for Philadelphia.

He finished the game with 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists on 64.2 percent shooting from the field and 12/12 shooting from the line. Some may say vintage Harden; we say he’s back. 

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LeBron James speaks on Lakers’ Shooting Troubles:

The Los Angeles Lakers Big 3 finished with 77 of 109 points as the remainder of the team struggled to score all game with their limited spacing. Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis also shot a combined 4-16 from three, while the Lakers as a whole shot 10-40. After the game, The King was quick to recognize this deficiency in the Lakers’ offense, citing a lack of “lasers.”

Moving forward, the Lakers need better shooting performances if they do not want to repeat their fate from last season. 

Honoring No. 7: Jaylen Brown Speaks on Bill Russell’s Legacy

The legendary Bill Russell, and 11-time NBA Champion (twice as a head coach of the Celtics), passed away this past summer. The Boston Celtics legend had his No. 6 retired around the League, and every team is wearing a “6” patch on their jersey to honor him. The Celtics took each step, however, intent on honoring their greatest player. Jaylen Brown took a few moments to commemorate Bill Russell before the game, honoring him as a player, a father, a leader, and a man. 

Coaching Debuts of Mazzulla and Ham:

Darvin Ham and Joe Mazzulla both made their head coaching debuts on opening night. Mazzulla won his first game, and Ham lost his. Mazzulla is an interim head coach, for now, following Ime Udoka’s season-long suspension by the Boston Celtics.

Near the end of their contest against the Celtics, Stan Van Gundy joked that Mazzulla now has the best winning percentage in NBA history. This is true and looks to remain true, at least through his next game. Ham, on the other hand, has the tall task of coaching a veteran Lakers team back to promise. There are some positive takeaways to be had from the team’s performance but look for tweaks in the next few games as they look to find their footing. 

FREE BG 

October 18th marked the beginning of the NBA season, but it was also Britney Griner’s 32nd birthday. Stephen Curry took some time to bring awareness to her wrongful incarceration in Russia during his direct address to the fans in attendance as well as the fans watching on TV at home. The fight for Griner’s freedom continues to be a major point of emphasis as the season begins. 

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Sources: NBA’s 2022-23 Opening Night, Oct. 18 on TNT:

– 76ers at Celtics
– And as previously reported: Lakers at Warriors

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 16, 2022

Shams Charania of The Athletic leaked the opening day and Christmas Day contests over the weekend. Some other key dates include the All-Star weekend that’ll be contested from February 17-19. The regular season will end on April 9, the Play-In tournament will take place from April 11-14, and the playoffs will start a day later on April 15.

The most noteworthy game will most likely be between the Grizzlies and the Warriors. The Warriors beat the Grizzlies on their way to winning their fourth championship since 2015. The two Western Conference foes have formed a fierce rivalry over the last two years after a pair of intense and physical playoff games and their recent second-round playoff series.

Sources: NBA’s 2022 Christmas Day schedule:

Bucks at Celtics
76ers at Knicks
Suns at Nuggets
Lakers at Mavericks
Grizzlies at Warriors

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2022

The 2022-23 season will see the Warriors attempt to defend an NBA title for the first time in eight years. With their foundational core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green returning and their future stars like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole all returning, the Dubs will be loaded.

The Boston Celtics will look to run it back and return to the NBA Finals after losing to the Warriors in six games. There will be some exciting storylines coming out of Beantown as Boston looks to integrate Malcolm Brogdon into the lineup. It’ll also be interesting if the front office continues to pursue a Kevin Durant trade. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will also return as perhaps the top wing-duo in the League.

Don’t count out the Bucks, Heat, and 76ers either. The Heat are always a threat, the Bucks lost after suffering injuries at the most inopportune time, and the 76ers will have an entire season of James Harden x Joel Embiid to work with.

Another question that needs answers will be can the Phoenix Suns continue their dominant stretch and improve upon their 64-18 record from last year. Getting better after being the top seed in the playoffs is difficult, but Phoenix brings back their entire team and is still headlined by Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

It’ll be fun to see how Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz will fare after Jalen Brunson and Rudy Gobert left for New York and Utah, respectively. The Minnesota Timberwolves are throwing it back to yesteryear with a twin tower lineup featuring Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Not to mention how much better the Grizzlies will be after earning the second-best record in the NBA last season.

Last but not least, how will the LA teams play? The Lakers are coming off a tumultuous season but added a new head coach in Darvin Ham, who’s been trusted to improve a roster that still boasts LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis. The Clippers are perhaps a more significant title threat with the return of Kawhi Leonard and the addition of former All-Star point guard John Wall to the lineup.

Below are the team schedules for each team by division and conference. The Eastern Conference is first followed by the West.

Team Schedules

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Boston Celtics

Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers

Toronto Raptors

Central

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit Pistons

Indiana Pacers

Milwaukee Bucks

Southeast

Atlanta Hawks

Charlotte Hornets

Miami Heat

Orlando Magic

Washington Wizards

Western Conference

Southwest

Dallas Mavericks

Houston Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies

New Orleans Pelicans

San Antonio Spurs

Northwest

Denver Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

Portland Trail Blazers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Utah Jazz

Pacific

Golden State Warriors

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

Phoenix Suns

Sacramento Kings

The post NBA Releases 2022-23 Regular-Season Schedule appeared first on SLAM.

Wiggins has since brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Canada as he hosted youth camps in Vaughan and Mississauga. The 2022 All-Star returning to his hometown allowed him to prove to the kids attending his camp that when you believe in yourself and shut out the outside news, you can reap a lot of awards.

“I feel great,” Wiggins said per the Toronto Star. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of people had counted me out, but to be back and … winning a championship? All the sacrifices, all the ups, and downs, all the stuff was worth it. It makes the story that much better.”

HOW'S THE AIR UP THERE WIGGS? (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/dR3ehMFnft

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

It was a challenging and humbling lesson Wiggins learned as he went from being a volume scorer in Minnesota known for putting up empty calorie stats on losing teams. When he arrived in Golden State, Wiggins was able to thrive as the third star on a group headlined by Stephen Curry and Klay Thomspon.

Under the watchful eye of GM Bob Myers, Coach Steve Kerr, Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green, Maple Jordan embraced being a two-way wing that could be relied on to get a bucket late in the shot clock while guarding the toughest perimeter threat.

“When I step on the court, I’ve always been confident in what I can do,” he said. “When I was in Minnesota, I put up numbers. But people said, ‘He put up numbers on a bad team.’ So, I go to Golden State, and I’m not scoring as much, but I’m doing a lot at a more efficient rate, so the whole world gets to see.”

Wiggs is so damn smooth.
(via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/T9unmLqnet

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

He played a pivotal role in guarding offensive threats like Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, and Jayson Tatum. He took on each assignment and won more than his fair share of battles, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 46.9 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.

“It’s been a different type of summer, but the best summer of my life,” he said. “It’s been amazing coming down here and feeling all this love and positivity. It’s been great. Just being able to bring the trophy back home to where it all started for me —— where all my friends and family are, that helped me get to the place where I’m at now.”

Wiggins hopes to come into the 2022-23 season with a freshly minted extension after carrying a significant two-way load last season. The Warriors will likely have to lean on Wiggins as they implement Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman into the lineup after they let several veterans walk away in free agency.

The post Andrew Wiggins Feeling ‘Great’ During ‘Best Summer’ of His Life appeared first on SLAM.

Not only have the Warriors won their fourth title since 2015, but Curry won the 2022 NBA Finals MVP for the first time in his storied career. Curry finished Game 6 with 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, along with two steals and one block on 12-21 shooting from the field, knocking down 6-11 three-pointers to break his uncharacteristic streak of 10 straight missed triples.

4x Champ
2x MVP
8x All-Star
8x All-NBA
2x Scoring Champ
No. 1 All-Time 3’s Made
2022 NBA Finals MVP

The Chef’s resume is ridiculously extensive.

: @sammironko pic.twitter.com/QkjX7BGNl9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 17, 2022

Curry entered Thursday night with the second-most career playoff points before winning his first Finals MVP, trailing only Bryant (4,381) and Chamberlain (3,430).

“It means we won; it means we took advantage of the opportunity to get back here,” Curry said during a postgame interview with Lisa Salters of ESPN. “We hear all the chatter; at the end it’s about what we do on the floor. Ain’t gotta talk about just gotta go do it, and that’s what this is about.”

It’s about damn time. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/LAiEBVoowa

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 17, 2022

The Warriors’ run to the ’22 title led by Curry highlights a record-breaking season for the two-time MVP. Curry started the season grabbing the all-time record for made threes; he created the 3k club for made three, won an All-Star MVP, and got to play with Splash Brother Klay Thompson for the first time in over 900 days. Curry also became the first Warrior to pass 3000 playoff points.

When you look back, the Warriors’ season was a roller coaster as they finished the season ranked third in the Western Conference season despite a foot injury that knocked Curry out for the final weeks of the regular season.

Back on top. Your 2022 NBA World Champions.

: @MarcusA11en pic.twitter.com/HJ04P2P3X3

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 17, 2022

Now with the season mercifully over, Curry can sit back on his reclaimed throne.

“I’m so proud of our group,” Curry said. “I thank God every day that I get to play this game at the highest level with some amazing people.”

“You know this is what it’s all about — playing for a championship and what we’ve been through the last three years, beginning of the season, no one thought we’d be here except everybody on this court right now. It’s amazing. It’s very surreal, though, very surreal.”

Blood, sweat and tears.

: @sammironko pic.twitter.com/rv4PhdFfxe

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 17, 2022

Game 6 was a game of runs; Boston raced out to a 12-2 run after making four of their first six shots, including two three-pointers from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But the Warriors went on a game-altering 21-0 run in the first half to bust the game wide and give themselves a 21-point cushion after a Thompson three-pointer.

Tatum stopped the bleeding and stopped the bleeding with a layup, but the Warriors had already thrown the first haymaker of the night. Oh yeah, and Chef Curry finally hit a three after missing his first attempt from the field.

Damn Stephen… (via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/jGdIka9ZMk

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 17, 2022

Boston was able to pick up some major runs in the second half, cutting the deficit to within nine points after unleashing a 12-2 run, highlighted by a nasty and-1 over Thompson and Jordan Poole. However, Boston was never able to get any closer than that.

No moment was more significant than the 29-footer Curry buried to give Golden State a 22-point lead with 6:15 left in the third quarter. To top it off, Curry pointed right to his right ring finger like Aaron Donald did throughout the Los Angeles Rams run to the Super Bowl in February.

The Chef wants #4. pic.twitter.com/tO7H1adzcB

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 17, 2022

Curry couldn’t have gone the night without hitting his clutch silencer, putting the Celtics to sleep and sending his teammates, particularly Poole, into a frenzy as the Warriors grabbed a 96-81 lead with a little over three minutes to go in the game.

GOODNIGHT. (via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/dkNo4Pv8lf

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 17, 2022

“We were so far away from it,” Curry said when asked why this title means so much. “We were here for five straight years and got three of them; then we hit rock bottom with injuries, then the long road of work ahead and just trying to fill in the right pieces and right guys. You could never take this for granted cause you never know when you’ll be back here. To get back here and get it done means the world.”

In six games against the Celtics, Curry averaged 31.2 points, six rebounds, and five assists. He shot 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc. Curry’s Final MVP performance has put him in some exclusive company. Curry joins Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players to win an MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and a scoring title per ESPN.

The post Stephen Curry Claims First-Ever NBA Finals MVP appeared first on SLAM.

After 13 seasons in the League, Curry has started to earn acclaim for his impact on the defensive side of the ball. Long are the days when Coach Steve Kerr would hide him on defense. Curry has had key moments engaging high-scoring wings and guards in the most significant moments of the game.

Steph was so happy when he got called a two-way player pic.twitter.com/uQ4L3QWCbS

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 16, 2022

At this stage, winning the 2022 title takes figuring out how best to take advantage of your opponents’ weaknesses. The Warriors made switch-happy defenses famous in the League eight years ago, and now offenses have countered the switch by running actions to get their best offensive threat against the weakest defender on the floor.

Curry is no longer a go-to target when opponents run pick-and-rolls to create those mismatches. At 34-years-old, he’s acquired the basketball IQ, quick hands, and added bulk that has made him one of the Warriors’ most important defenders and presents Boston with the problem of figuring out who they can exploit when they run pick-and-rolls.

“Teams used to try to call Steph into every action and just try to pick on him, but that doesn’t work anymore,” Draymond Green said per The San Francisco Chronicle. “He’s able to hold his ground, so you’re not able to bump him off his spot, and that’s been huge for us. I’m not shocked he’s playing that type of defense.”

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With Curry evolving into a stronger perimeter and team defender, the Boston Celtics are prone to offensive droughts. The Celtics have had to deal with a fearsome seven-man rotation of stars in their two-way role in former Defensive Player of the Year Green, effective positional defender Kevon Looney, former All-Defensive teamer Klay Thompson as starters can deploy ball-hawk Gary Payton II, and the savvy Otto Porter Jr. off the bench.

After Jayson Tatum knocked down a three-pointer to cut Golden State’s lead to six late in the third quarter, the Celtics were subsequently overwhelmed and allowed the Warriors to unleash a 19-2 run, being outscored 35-14 on the way to a 107-88 Game 2 loss on Sunday.

Curry played his part during that dominant defensive stretch by disrupting passing lanes, communicating effectively, and smothering Tatum and Jaylen Brown on pick-and-rolls. Curry’s effort was highlighted by two plays. One where Curry muscled through a Derrick White pick-and-roll and was able to stick to White’s hip long enough that Curry forced a contested three-pointer from Marcus Smart at the end of the shot clock.

The second came when Curry walled up on Al Horford in the paint, forcing the former Florida Gator to swing the ball out to Grant Williams. Curry followed up that stop by picking Williams’ pocket. The sequence showed that Curry can’t be bullied in the low post or get exposed for making bad reads. Curry is now one of the smartest and most physically strong players on the Warriors’ roster.

Steph Curry might be best known for his offense but he’s been spectacular on defense, playing passing lanes and picking off steals in bunches!

Check out Steph’s best defensive work from this season pic.twitter.com/VwosW6PAGh

— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2022

Curry finished the regular-season ranked second in defensive win shares. He also averaged 2.0 fouls per game in 35.4 minutes per game. Curry has a better understanding of angles and spacing now, helping him become a better rotational defender, keeping him patient while looking to force turnovers, or making it difficult for his matchup to catch the ball.

“It’s always been a point of emphasis in terms of trying to win basketball games and do your job,” Curry said of his defense. “Over the course of my career, it’s been a physical development that’s happened over time that obviously helps, a lot of work that’s gone into that.

“But at the end of the day, from my rookie year to now, it’s always been about effort and just a care factor, overcoming physical limitations with matchups or whatever it is. If you try hard, good things will happen.”

Curry being able to become a plus defender was never the expectation. The only unanimous MVP can do more on the defensive side than just guarding spot-up shooters in the corner. However, Curry remains to get attacked on pick-and-rolls. In the Western Conference Finals, part of the Dallas Mavericks’ game plan was to wear down Curry as the game went on.

The eight-time All-Star was involved in 42.4 pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions. That figure is 6.1 more than any other player in the conference finals. Although his teammates and Kerr have complimented Curry’s defense, many teams, like Dallas, still see Curry as a mismatch. Curry has changed that narrative on the most prominent basketball stage, playing defense at a high level in the Finals.

“He can guard 50 screen-and-rolls a game and run 50 screen-and-rolls a game,” Kerr said. “Not many people can do that.”

The post Stephen Curry Giving Boston Problems On Both Ends of the Floor appeared first on SLAM.

Boston enters the Finals after beating the Nets, Bucks, and Heat, who each beat the Celtics during the last three postseasons. The Celtics were able to make this run despite a slow start to the season. Boston went .500 over the first 50 games of the season but won after 26 of their last 32 games, finishing the season with the best defensive rating in the League.

The Warriors beat the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Mavericks during their run to the Finals. They finished the regular-season with a 53-29 record, good for third in the West. They’ve had a season of triumph with Stephen Curry breaking the all-time record for made three-pointers and creating the 3k club and the happy return of Klay Thompson following 942 days away from the hardwood.

They also had to deal with injuries to Curry and Green that almost knocked them off the top of the West, but the emergence of Jordan Poole and some timely big games from Thompson helped them stave off any trouble.

The regular-season series between the Warriors and Celtics ended in a 1-1 tie, with both teams winning their home games; Boston won the last matchup 110-88, but the Warriors were missing Andrew Wiggins, and Curry suffered a foot sprain that night that sidelined him until Game 1 of the first-round after colliding with Marcus Smart as the two fought for a loose ball.

Here, we take a look at these two powerhouse squads:

Can Golden State Solve Boston’s Defense?

Boston has the top-ranked defense remaining in the Finals and is designed to stop the chaotic motion offense of the Warriors. The Celtics’ ability to wear teams out physically and their switching makes them the best defense in the League.

On the other side, the Dubs are the top-ranked offense in the playoffs, scoring 116.1 points per game—up to four points from what they scored during the regular season. Will Golden State rely on their typical offensive actions against a defense that’s been excellent at stopping superstar scorers like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Giannis Antetokounmpo? We’ll have to find out and see.

Tatum Exploiting Mismatches

While Boston is equipped with a squad full of bucket-getters, one standout has been Jayson Tatum, who has hunted mismatches against the Warriors—whether it’s shooting over defenders or whipping the ball around so that Boston can attack Golden State when have a 4-on-3 advantage. As JT continues to step up as a playmaker, Boston has continued to thrive.

Coach Steve Kerr’s solution may be to mix different coverages against him, likely doubling, switching, and mixing in some zone looks like the Warriors used against Luka Doncic. Another question is if Derrick White, Smart, and Brown can continue to show out and knock down shots, including the ones Tatum helps create for them.

X-FACTOR

An x-factor for Golden State has been two-way play of Andrew Wiggins. As a member of the Warriors, Wiggins has emerged as an All-Star after thriving as a third option scorer. His shot creation, defensive versatility, and offensive rebound makes him indispensable players. Will Wiggins make the most of his opportunities against a physical defense that thrives at reducing ball movement and forcing some iso play?

Robert Williams is another x-factor for the C’s. The Time Lord’s shot-blocking at the rim and perimeter has been invaluable when he was healthy. On the offensive end, Williams is a primetime lob threat.

The post 2022 NBA Finals Preview appeared first on SLAM.

With countless tunnel fits to choose from, the All-LeagueFits Teams were carefully selected by a voting system that include one-third of fan votes, one-third of votes from LF’s Survival of the Fitted Podcast, and the remaining votes from an exclusive panel that includes designer Mamadou, former WNBA star Ty Young, fashion publicist John Guidry, NBA champ Axel Toupane, NFL star and designer Rodney McLeod, designer Caroline Bentley Noble, Los Angeles Sparks’ star Liz Cambage, fashion Tik Tok influencer Ayeeron, former NBA standout and designer/ ‘Bucks in 6’ legend Brandon Jennings, Richard aka @thehapablonde and stylist Devon Byrd.

Here are the official results of the First, Second and Third Teams, as well as the All-Rookie and Honorable Mentions. Stay tuned for the individual award selections.

Jordan Clarkson is truly in a class of his own. This is his third consecutive first team selection, and he was one of only two unanimous picks between the panel, fans and pod. Kelly Oubre Jr. was the first-ever LeagueFits MVP, and he makes an epic return to the first team after showing out in a major way with charlotte this past season.

As for SGA, no debates to be had this time around. He showed off his versatility this season and rightfully secured his spot on the top team. Then there’s Devin Booker, who has the most defined aesthetic in basketball. he was one of two players to be unanimously voted to the first team.

Meanwhile, D-Lo elevated his looks to another level this season, and he did it in the classiest way possible.

These five did it their way and one time for some of the tunnel’s tuffest. Russ came back to Hollywood this year, and he owned the tunnel at STAPLES for the full 82, while CP3 has yet to miss out on the LeagueFits teams since we started doing this in 2018. Jerry Lorenzo’s favorite hooper, Frank Jackson is making his return to the LF teams, and so is Kuz, who was the first-ever LF Rookie of the Year and has turned up the heat more and more. He’s never afraid to push the boundaries of self-expression and is a permanent LF mainstay.

While these awards are based on the regular season, we’ll admit that JT is the last guy we want to see on the court, or in the tunnel, during this postseason.

Jalen Green claims his spot on the third team after a heavy dosage of love from the fan vote and bringing in some unique looks his rookie season. Caris LeVert is maybe the most underrated tunnel star in the League. No more sleeping on Levert, he’s like that on the court and in the closet.

One time for Myles Turner, who’s gotta be the tallest dude to ever make a LeagueFits team standing at 6’11. We’re also not going to let y’all snub Jared Vanderbilt this year because he deserves this one, and Pj Tucker is gonna have a permanent spot on the LeagueFits teams as long as he plays in this League. True legend and true drip OG.

Nobody in the freshman class went harder post All-Star Game than Scottie Barnes. He’s surely cemented as a future LeagueFits and NBA star. Jonathan Kuminga’s been doing it his own way his entire life. No surprises he’s the same way in the tunnel.

Josh Christopher was the first (and we think the only) high school player to ever be posted on LeagueFits. This has been in the works for years. And, if you watched even five seconds of the 2021 NBA draft, you knew Jalen Green was going to be a superstar.

David Duke Jr held nothing back with his bold play on the court and in the tunnel his rookie campaign. The undrafted rook surpassed every expectation that was set, and it’s just the beginning.

Consistency matters in a season that’s 82-plus games long and Nickeil Alexander-Walker routinely delivered. Then we’ve got the LF fan favorite, Tyler Herro, who burst onto the scene as our rookie of the year a few years back and has kept the bar high since.

Jordan Poole might be from the midwest, but he embraced the laid-back California style to the fullest this year, while Thanasis Antetokounmpo used the Milwaukee winters as the perfect reason to consistently layer up, earning his first-ever LeagueFits award.

James Harden might be an OG in the tunnel, but he’s been dressing since before LF was even an idea. Tristan Thompson played in a few cities this year, and he dressed up in all of them. He earns LeagueFits awards honors for the second straight season.

And last but definitely not least, we confirmed on the Survival of the Fitted Pod that Gary Trent Jr. had the fit of the year. It’s only right he gets an LF awards nod.

The post The 2021-22 All-LeagueFits Teams Awards Results appeared first on SLAM.

As the League celebrates it’s 75th anniversary, there’s quite a few Top 75 lists out there already. In fact, we’ve got quite a few of our own, from SLAM’s Top 75 Players of All Time Special Issue to most recently our Top 75 NBA Teams of All Time (shop here). We could’ve easily left it at that, but after checking out Tracy McGrady’s new Ones Basketball 1-on-1 League, we started thinking about the best 1-on-1 NBA players of all time.

So, we decided to have some fun with it and put together a bold list, categorized based on height, of all of the names that should be included in that conversation.

6-3 AND BELOW

1. Allen Iverson
A one-man revolution where the cross was just the beginning. He’s the master mixer on
our list for a reason.

2. Kyrie Irving
Hang it in the Louvre. KAI’s game is entirely its own art form.

3. Stephen Curry
The greatest shooter of all time needs just a sliver of space to make you pay, all while
staring down the crowd as the ball drops through the net. Uncanny.

4. Derrick Rose
Athleticism that was unparalleled and the nonexistence of fear had D. Rose bullying the
League as the youngest MVP ever.

5. Chris Paul
A mid range savant. A floor general. A Point God.

6. Gilbert Arenas
Agent Zero was lethal, tactical and surgical in leaving defenders guessing what portion
of the bag was about to be unleashed.

7. Damian Lillard
You can pick him up, but what comes next is entirely on you.

8. Russell Westbrook
Shot out of a cannon, if No. 0 is barrelling down the court, you best clear the runway.

9. Isiah Thomas
Lower to the ground just meant more ways to attack as the handle powered the
creativity that No. 11 enacted on his way to snagging two.

10. Jerry West
The Logo was constantly carving up defenses to drop buckets and dimes left and right.

11. Ja Morant
The ascension has been recognized. Call 12, and he’s always gonna answer.

12.Baron Davis
A blend of everything. Baron gave birth to the uber athletic displays of guard play that
we’ve become enthralled with over the years.

13. Trae Young
There’s a new villain in town and he’ll take your heart and your team’s straight to the
offseason.

14. Tiny Archibald
Ain’t nothing tiny about this man’s game. Nothing.

15. Stephon Marbury
The inspiration behind one of the greatest hoops flicks of all time attacked the game entirely on his own terms.

16. Tim Hardaway Sr
Having a killer crossover named after you is a mic drop moment.

17. CJ McCollum
The slipperiest shooting guard in the L. Shaking and baking is his M.O

18. Deron Williams
D Will mastered his own pace to the game. Separation was key and once he created it, you might as well just head back down for O.

19. Donovan Mitchell
Picking up this man is like taking a trip throughout the Spida-Verse, sprawling, spinning and overstimulated with flashes of colorful creativity and blinding moves.

20. Jrue Holiday
Always reliable, always locked in, always ready to pull it in your eye. Second-guessing is the greatest compliment a hooper can recognize and Jrue sees it often.

21. Steve Francis
Constantly sending defenders stumbling, Steve Francis doesn’t often get his due as one of the shiftiest guards to ever step on the hardwood.

22. Tony Parker
Some speed is built, some is gifted. TP’s froze defenders in a picture frame as he weaved around the paint for dimes and buckets.

23. Kemba Walker
We know y’all remember THE step back. Nuff said.

24. Chauncey Billups
Decidedly different. Big guard, big body, big buckets.

25. John Wall
Revolutionary athleticism instilled John Wall as the next box-office point guard. Go do your Google searches and watch his mixtapes to see what we’re seeing.

26. Lou Williams
Lou Williams is too smooth with it: a certified bucket, 3x NBA Sixth Man Player of the Year and a derserver of the utmost respect. 

27. Monta Ellis
Those 360 layups were just a regular thing for Monta Ellis. That’s what type of time he was on. 

28. Nick Van Exel
Nick Van Exel was waaaaaay too quick with it, from the crossovers to the high-flying drives to the lane to those insane dishes and dimes.

29. Jamal Murray
We’ve already told you this before: there’s music in Jamal Murray’s game. Try not to get lost in the melody, though, because he will drop 50 on you. Again and again.

30. Brandon Jennings
Dropping 55 points as a rookie is quite the statement, but then again, Brandon Jennings was never one to shy away from any moment. His game was too electric.

6-4 TO 6-8 

1. Michael Jordan
   The greatest. Put MJ in any situation, matchup or moment and you already know the outcome. Nothing more needs to be said.

2. Kobe Bryant
   He was constantly ascending past the depths of what competing truly meant. He knew your next move before you’d even had a chance to formulate the thought.

3. Tracy McGrady
   Scoring 13 points in 33 seconds is wild, but that’s just what T-Mac was about. One of the most complete scorers in the history of the Association.

4. Carmelo Anthony
   The fadeaway. The jab step. The spot-up jump shot, and his signature “washing machine” spin move. Carmelo Anthony remains one of the game’s most unstoppable scorers of all time. 

5. Kawhi Leonard
   Best believe, any matchup against the Klaw will result in him getting the last laugh. Trying to defend him in a 1v1? Now that’s pure comedy. 

6. Dwyane Wade
   The nickname was fitting: the Flash was one of most elite and efficient shooting guards who attacked the basket with an explosiveness that couldn’t possibly be contained. 

7. James Harden
   Equipped with a signature-move so iconic, a few names on this list have tried it out, the Beard is truly lethal with the rock in his hands.

8. Julius Erving
   A wizard who truly transcended the game. Every move was a symphony of basketball played at its finest. 

9. Charles Barkley
   A relentlessly physical rebounder with an attitude to match, Sir Charles was a force to be reckoned with.

10. Devin Booker
    With the words “Be Legendary” tattooed on his forearm, D-Book has continued to transcend his game towards just that no matter if he’s pullin’ up from midrange or hitting clutch shots from deep. 

11. Scottie Pippen
    One of the game’s greats could really do it all, from dishing out dimes and orchestrating an offense to snagging boards and holding it down on the defensive end. Versatility at it’s finest.  

12. Paul George
    PG’s all-around game is just one of the many things that define his greatness. His explosiveness and ability to create his own shot is another.

13. Paul Pierce
    The Truth can be hard for many to accept, but his dominance was nothing but pure facts. Shaquille O’Neal had a thing for nicknames, and when Paul Pierce dropped 42 on the Lakers in ’01, Shaq went over to the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett and told him to write this down: “My name is Shaquille O’Neal and Paul Pierce is the truth. Quote me on that and don’t take nothing out.” Enough said.

14. DeMar DeRozan
    The King of the Fourth is a true revolutionary when it comes to the art of the midrange.

15. Jimmy Butler
    They call him Jimmy Buckets for a reason. That’s exactly what you’re gonna get.

16. Jayson Tatum
    JT moves different out there on the parquet floor, from the lethal step back and sidestep threes to the sheer dominance every time the rock touches his hands. That’s what happens when you’re mentored by none other than the Mamba.

17. Vince Carter
    Once Vince Carter got within eyesight of that line, it was over before it had even begun.

18. Zion Williamson
    You can’t be contained when the limits never existed. The same goes in the paint, or anywhere on the floor, when it comes to Zion Williamson. 

19. Penny Hardaway
    One of the greatest guards ever. That spin fake into a stepback, move? Pure magic.

20. Luka Doncic
    Luka plays at his own pace while completely dominating in the process. Different.

21. Dominique Wilkins
    With legs like propellers and arms that could absorb contact, Nique had underrated shot-making ability that went along with his otherworldly athleticism. 

22. Grant Hill 
    Versatility in a human being. Grant Hill was a threat to score from all three levels.

23. Elgin Baylor
    Surrender the skies to Elgin Baylor. Aerially gifted with merciless finishes at the rim.

24. George Gervin
    Smooth, refined, patient, disciplined and measured. Ice’s game was where fundamental met flash.

25. Alex English
    Nobody scored more points in the 1980s than Alex English. Nobody.

26. Joe Johnson
    His nickname is Iso Joe. Nothing more needs to be said.

27. Bradley Beal
    Bradley Beal technically has a perfect jumpshot. Pair that exquisite form with his handles and the result is a scoring machine.

28. Klay Thompson
    One of the best shooters ever is also a big body that precisely clamps players of all heights and weights.

29. Gary Payton
    Possibly the best perimeter defender to ever play, Gary Payton could also get to the tin whenever he wanted.

30. Jamal Crawford
    Jamal Crawford is creativity unleashed through instinct and intellect.

6-9 AND UP

1. Shaquille O’Neal
   The most physically dominant player ever. Realistically, there’s nobody stopping the Diesel.

2. Kevin Durant
   Size, skills, smarts. There have been very few other players that are more offensively complete than Kevin Durant.

3. LeBron James
   The case can be made that LeBron James is the best player ever. Full stop.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
   Try guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo without any help defense. Get the picture?

5. Kevin Garnett
   The only part of Kevin Garnett’s game that outshined his skills on both sides of the ball was his competitiveness, a trait that’s gone nearly unmatched throughout history.

6. Hakeem Olajuwon
   Possibly the best two-way center ever, who dominated with equal doses of agility and nimbleness, power and force.

7. David Robinson
   Dunks and jumpers with the left, blocks and steals with both of his hands and a compressed trampoline in his right leg, David Robinson’s basketball IQ was just as ridiculous as his athletic capabilities.

8. Karl Malone
   Brute strength. Left side of the post to the right side of the hoop every single time. Never could be stopped.

9. Wilt Chamberlain
   Scored 100 points in a game, averaged 50 points for a season and if blocks and steals were tallied when he played, Wilt Chamberlain’s mythic status would be even greater than it already is.

10. Joel Embiid
    Joel Embiid is a guard stuck inside a 7-2, 280-pound body.

11. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    The author of the game’s most unstoppable shot, its leading scorer and a shot-blocking terror.

12. Larry Bird
    Larry Bird was so good at scoring that he would tell bigger, stronger and more athletic defenders exactly what he planned to do with the ball and they still couldn’t contain him.

13. Anthony Davis
    Middies, catch-and-shoot threes, barrels to the rim, pick-and-roll ball containment, weakside shot-blocking and passing lane invader properly describes Anthony Davis.  

14. Moses Malone
    Quite possibly the most underrated great in NBA history, Moses Malone was unstoppable from the block and even if he did miss, he’d consume offensive rebounds with such ferocity that the ensuing putbacks would be uncontested.

15. Dirk Nowitzki
    It’s real when a singular shot is credited to a player. Basketball now has the one-legged fadeaway thanks to Dirk Nowitzki.

Subscribe to the official podcast of the basketball bible, SLAM’s “No Pump Fakes.”

Follow host Theus McBee on Instagram @theuselijah and Ahmad Smith, @akisnba.

The post SLAM’s Official Top 75 Greatest 1-on-1 NBA Players of All Time List appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA regular season returns tomorrow, and with that, we decided to hit you with a few bold season predictions to get you hyped for the upcoming season.

While we know that there’s been a lot of takes floating around on Twitter and NBA season previews out there already, we’re entering the chat and dropping a few predictions of our own—from thoughts on who will snag Defensive Player of the Year to which teams will make major waves in the League this year.

The Boston Celtics will have a major comeback season and prevail all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Deyscha “Sway” Smith, Associate Editor

This offseason has been filled with uncertainty all across the L, but one thing’s for sure: the Celtics will make a major comeback this season. Al Horford is back in the Bean, All-Star Jayson Tatum is ready to step up and be the leader that he is, and the vibes inside The Auerbach Center were apparently hella competitive during training camp. If they bring that same energy this season and actually show up and show out, the Celtics will make major waves all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. We’re going to manifest this one.

Jalen Green will take home Rookie of the Year.

Elijah Hamilton, Editorial Intern 

SLAM 231 cover star Jalen Green will take home the ROY award this season. He generated a massive buzz with his strong performances in the NBA G League Ignite along with the Vegas Summer League and preseason. You can tell he is going to be given the green light to just shoot—which will definitely lead to some big scoring nights for the 6′ 6″ guard throughout the season.  

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The Warriors will become serious contenders for the Western Conference crown and face off against the Lakers in the WCF before taking it all the way. 

DaQuan McFarland, SLAM Intern

Despite the last couple of seasons, one which they fell short by a thread in making it to the playoffs, we can’t forget that the Golden State Warriors are back to make a statement to the NBA. Andre Iguodala is back after two seasons with Miami, Draymond Green says he’s ready to shoot when the opportunity is there, and even Klay Thompson is reportedly on his way to getting cleared for a full return to practice. It seems like the Bay is back in business, and of course, with one of greatest shooters of all-time, Stephen Curry, the team will get back to their championship-winning ways. Also, I’m calling it now: Jordan Poole will have a breakout season this year.

Trae Young will win MVP and the Hawks will dominate the Eastern Conference. 

Christian Quezada, Senior Video Producer.

Ice Trae will win his first MVP and the Hawks will win 60 games. Atlanta is loaded with athleticism, defense, and shooting and in the playoffs, Trae Young proved to be one of the most unstoppable basketball players of all time. The Hawks have already shown us that they can compete at an elite level and they weren’t even healthy then. This year, at full strength, good luck to them in the Eastern Conference. 

The New York Knicks will run it back and solidify themselves as a major contender all season long.

Andres Puerta, SLAMFTW

There’s been a few ECF predictions already, but I’m bringing the New York Knicks into the conversation. With new additions of Kemba Walker at point guard and Evan Fournier at shooting guard, the Knicks will improve their offense greatly. A healthy Mitchell Robinson will also help the Knicks defensively and offensively as a true center. There were great flashes of Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin last season, and with those two now entering their second year in the L, they’ll definitely have a better feel of the NBA.

If the Knicks receive the same contribution or more from Derrick Rose coming off the bench as the Knicks’ sixth man, that will be a major contribution as well. There’s nothing better than playing at Madison Square Garden with a winning team. 

Mitchell Robinson will have a breakout season and win DPOY.

Jared Ebanks, Editorial Intern

The Knicks’ resurgence last season came without the play of center Mitchell Robinson, who was limited to just 31 games. Over the offseason, the 7-footer has said that he’s added 20 pounds to his lean frame, now weighing in at 280 lbs. If that’s the case, the added bulk and already 7’4 foot long wingspan will have The Mecca calling for DPOY honors for their center.  

The Los Angeles Lakers will secure a spot in the NBA Finals. 

Saheem Anthony, SLAM Intern

With LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Anthony Davis, plus a few other important pieces, the Lakers will definitely show the world that age is simply just a number. Preseason records are one thing, but once this stacked roster finds their rhythm, they are going to make a historic run. If you know, you know.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post SLAM’s 2021-2022 NBA Preview: Bold Takes For the Upcoming Season appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Adrian’s Wojnarowski, the Celtics have agreed to trade Kemba Walker, the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and a 2025 second-round draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Al Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick.

Walker, a four-time All-Star who’ll be heading into his 11th season in the NBA in 2021-22, has had a trying time in Boston.

Despite both he and the Celtics’ obvious desires to succeed together, Walker’s on the court production has been substandard when compared to the eye-opening performances he put up with the Charlotte Hornets in recent seasons.

Add on top of that an uncharacteristic stroke of misfortune in regards to injuries (Walker’s missed 56 games since joining the Celtics), and one can say that moving on from the promising partnership is best for both parties.

That said, the Thunder in rebuild mode, as they continue to stockpile picks. Interestingly enough, many of the prospects projected to go in the range of the 16th overall pick play in the backcourt.

The 31-year-old veteran may desire to explore his options—whether it be a trade, an eventual buyout, or playing out the remainder of the season before making a decision on his 2022-23 player option—with Oklahoma City, as Wojnarowski notes Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Al Horford had.

While uncharacteristically streaky, Walker still averaged 18.6 points and 4.9 assists per game while playing next to a pair of volume-scoring wings in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. He could turn a season with nice numbers on an intriguing team into a longer-term deal, should he stay with the Thunder.

Meanwhile, Boston’s decision to trade Walker signals a strong inclination to bring back guard Evan Fournier, who they acquired at the trade deadline from the Orlando Magic. After reclaiming his starting role, Fournier played quite well for the Celtics, including a postseason performance that saw him averaging 15.4 points and 1.2 steals per game while shooting .433 percent form 3-point range.

Their acquisitions of Horford and Brown also have significant implications, as Tristan Thompson (who they signed in the 2020 offseason) could lose his starting role to either of the two.

Horford, who played for Boston from the 2016-17 to 2018-19 season, became a fan and organizational favorite in his time there. On the court, his versatile skillset—primarily his combination of floor-spacing and playmaking—could open up an offense that struggled with ball-movement last season.

The 7’2″ Brown could provide the second unit with a strong interior presence on the interior for the Celtics after averaging 8.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 21.4 points per game for the Thunder last season (with 32 starts), opening the door for a potential Thompson trade.

The post Celtics Trade Kemba Walker, 16th Pick to Thunder for Al Horford, Moses Brown appeared first on SLAM.

A participant in the 2021 MTN DEW 3-Point Contest — an All-Star Weekend event since the 1985-86 season — Curry defeated Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, Utah Jazz guards Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell, along with Boston Celtics wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to emerge as the victor.

While Brown, LaVine and Mitchell would be eliminated in the first round (with LaVine and Mitchell attempting to become the first former Slam Dunk champions to win a 3-point contest), Curry looked hot from the start as he scored a record 31 points.

Despite Conley (a late addition for injured Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker) giving Curry a run for his money in the final round, the Warriors icon is now a two-time 3-Point champion and the first since Jason Kapono (2007, 2008).

He would dedicate the victory to teammate Klay Thompson, who will miss the entire 2020-21 season with an Achilles tear.

During the contest, MTN DEW would award $100,000 in scholarships to two students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The post Stephen Curry Wins 2021 NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest appeared first on SLAM.

Although they haven’t had the best start to the season, the Celtics should be near the top of the Eastern Conference standings when the regular season comes to a close. The evolution of Tristan Thompson and his ability to bolster Boston’s center depth will be something to keep an eye on.

For more information about the numbers behind our Heat Check series, hop over to our main Heat Check 2020-21 post.

Jaylen Brown	28.0p, 4.4r, 3.4a
Robert Williams III	7.5p, 5.8r, 0.8a
Tacko Fall	2.0p, 1.0r, 0.0a
Carsen Edwards	4.5p, 1.5r, 1.0a
Semi Ojeleye	4.5p, 2.3r, 0.8a	–
Marcus Smart	11.6p, 2.0r, 5.6a	–
Javonte Green	4.5p, 2.5r, 0.5a	–
Jayson Tatum	23.6p, 8.2r, 3.2a	–
Grant Williams	3.6p, 2.6r, 1.0a	–
Tremont Waters	2.0p, 0.0r, 1.5a	–
Jeff Teague	7.6p, 2.8r, 2.8a
Daniel Theis	6.4p, 4.2r, 1.8a
Tristan Thompson	10.3p, 8.5r, 0.5a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Boston Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down the Celtics’ depth chart for the 2020-21 season below. We’ve also previously published a summary of the Celtics’ offseason.

Biggest Questions

• Can Kemba Walker stay healthy? When he plays, the Celtics are electric on offense. One of the best scoring point guards in the league, Walker can still light it up.
• Is Tristan Thompson the answer at center? With a weak center rotation last season, it was one of their biggest downfalls. A veteran, championship-proven center like Thompson seems like a solid acquisition.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Boston Celtics: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

Now, Hayward has left, Walker is nursing an injury and East has only gotten tougher. Boston’s new additions will have to have a major impact in their first season with the team.

Celtics Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Tristan Thompson: Tristan Thompson has developed into a strong two-way player, capable of generating his own offense and being a dynamic defender. Unlike Enes Kanter, he won’t be getting himself played out of games because he’s not mobile enough.

• Aaron Nesmith: An elite shooter with All-Star potential, Aaron Nesmith suddenly finds himself needing to replace Gordon Hayward, another smart player and skilled shooter with positional versality. It would be unfair to expect him to do it alone but the weight falls on his shoulders, primarily.

Celtics Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Gordon Hayward: Gordon Hayward’s time in Boston definitely didn’t go as planned but he had the resilience to battle back from a major injury and be an upper echelon glue player for the Celtics. His playmaking is going to be more difficult to replace than his shooting.

• Brad Wanamaker: One of the most steady backup point guards in the league since coming to the NBA in 2018-19, Wanamaker quietly proved himself to be the type of competitor and savvy veteran that any contending team could use.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Boston Celtics: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

Each member of the SLAM Fam was assigned a team to pick for. Below are the results + explanations.

Special Offer: Click Here To Get 15% Off NBA Store With Code NBASLAM15

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1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Anthony Edwards (6-5 Guard, Georgia)

CLASS: Freshman (18 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 40% shooting from the field

First things first: The Golden State Warriors are not about to draft a third Splash Brother. Anthony Edwards may not be a great three-point shooter, but that’s arguably the only thing he doesn’t already do at an elite level. As he showed pretty much every night during an SEC Freshman of the Year campaign at Georgia—and as comparisons to Donovan Mitchell, Victor Oladipo, and even Dwyane Wade make clear—the 6-5, 225-pound combo guard has all the tools necessary to be a difference maker in the NBA. With Steph and Klay both in their 30s and coming off major injuries, the Dubs need to be thinking about the backcourt of the future. Edwards could be their next All-Star SG. — Ryan Jones

2. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: LaMelo Ball (6-8 Guard, Illawarra Hawks of the NBL)

AGE: 19 years old

2019-20 STATS: 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.6 steals, shooting 38% from the field

I’m gonna ignore that this pick adds a third point guard to a young team and just roll with the kid that I think is an incredible talent that any team would be lucky to have. Last we saw of LaMelo, he was a 6-7 point guard who can shoot from deep, put the ball on the floor and make the smart pass. Now I hear he’s sprouted to 6-8, grown into his lanky frame and become a more confident playmaker. That’s tough to pass on, regardless when the pick is being made. I realize this would create a logjam at the PG spot—LaMelo, Collin Sexton and Darius Garland seem unlikely to successfully share the ball—but it gives Cleveland a hell of a group of young players to develop and/or trade for other guys as the next season nears (or in the distant future). — Adam Figman

3. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: James Wiseman (7-1 Center, Memphis)

CLASS: Freshman (18 years old)

2019-20 STATS (three games): 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, shooting 77% from the field

Karl-Anthony Towns’ capacity to match imposing physical size with guard-like quickness has proven to be the quality that separates him from many of the League’s bigs. James Wiseman has a skill-set, frame and athletic ability that almost mirrors that of Towns. Wiseman, who left Memphis after just three games, has consistent 20-point, 10-rebound potential written all over him. Pairing a forceful yet talented big man duo with D’Angelo Russell could be the right way to finally bring the Wolves back to the hunt. — Max Resetar

4. ATLANTA HAWKS: Obi Toppin (6-9 Forward, Dayton)

CLASS: Sophomore (22 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, shooting 63% from the field and 39% from three

The 6-9 redshirt sophomore became a SportsCenter regular thanks to his high-flying finishes, but overall was a super-efficient scorer despite a high usage. Prior to the NCAA suspending all remaining games, the Brooklyn native had positioned Dayton as a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Flyers held a 29-2 record—easily the best season in school history.  He was already named National POY by USA Today, CBS Sports, NBC Sports and The Athletic, and is widely considered the front-runner for the prestigious Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year award. Additionally, Toppin was the only unanimous selection for the AP All-America teams. While the Hawks already have John Collins and Clint Capella in the paint, Toppin’s resume is worthy of serious consideration. — Franklyn Calle

5. DETROIT PISTONS: Deni Avdija (6-9 Forward, Maccabi Tel Aviv)

AGE: 19 years old

2019-20 STATS: 7.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, shooting 51% from the field (19.8 mpg)

Four of the highest ceiling prospects have already come off the board, but the Detroit Pistons can still pocket a valuable building block with this No. 5 pick as they turn to the future. Despite the fact that they already have ambiguously tantalizing combo forward Sekou Doumbouya and breakout stretch Christian Wood, the Pistons should take a long look at 19-year-old utility forward Deni Avdija. Avdija has impressed as a transition quarterback in the Israeli Premier League and looks comfortable enough handling the ball and pulling up from beyond the arc to project as an intriguing offensive option at the next level. Defensively, his length and discipline should help him at least make an impact, but if he’s going to see time at the three, or even at the four, in today’s small ball era, he’ll need to show that he can match NBA speed and athleticism.  — Austin Kent

6. NEW YORK KNICKS: Cole Anthony (6-3 Guard, North Carolina)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, shooting 38% from the field and 35% from three

This just makes sense for so many reasons. 1) The Knicks continue to search for a consistent playmaker at the point guard position. Cole uses his explosive athleticism to get to the paint and put constant pressure on the defense. Which brings us to 2) The Knicks offense currently ranks 29th in the NBA and they desperately covet scoring. Cole averaged just under 20 points per game for the Tar Heels and, while a solid facilitator, is more aggressive than passive. Right now, the Garden needs that. And, of course, there’s 3) Cole grew up in New York City and his father, Greg Anthony, was a PG for the Knicks from 1991-95, when the team was making deep playoff runs. As long as Cole takes care of the ball and RJ Barrett improves his perimeter shooting, the two could form the backcourt that turns things around for a franchise that hasn’t finished over .500 since 2012-13. — Alex Squadron

7. CHICAGO BULLS: Tyrese Haliburton (6-5 Guard, Iowa State)

CLASS: Sophomore (20 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.5 steals, shooting 50% from the field and 42% from three

The underachieving Bulls showed that they need help in several areas—shooting and defense in particular. Iowa State sophomore point guard Tyrese Haliburton excels in those domains, and then some. Haliburton, who just turned 20, averaged 15.2 points (on 50/42/82 shooting splits), 6.5 dimes, 5.9 boards and 2.5 steals this season. A pass-first playmaker, he would fit perfectly alongside scorers Coby White and Zach LaVine. Standing 6-5 with a crazy wingspan, Haliburton could easily guard positions 1-3, giving Chicago more switch-ability on the perimeter. And not to be overlooked, Haliburton brings great character to a team—lauded by Iowa State coach Steve Prohm for his “winning demeanor.” — Ryne Nelson

8. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: RJ Hampton (6-5 Guard, New Zealand Breakers of the NBL)

AGE: 19 years old

2019-20 STATS: 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, shooting 40% from the field

RJ Hampton, a 6-5, 185-pound point guard would be a nice, perhaps long-term fit for the Charlotte Hornets. The 19-year-old, who skipped college and took his talents to Australia, would have an uphill battle for minutes in a backcourt featuring Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier. Hampton is an elite ball-handler—able to break down defenses with dribble penetration—and has plenty of athletic ability. Unlike most of his peers in the 2020 NBA Draft, RJ had a taste of the fierce competition that awaits him in the League. His New Zealand Breakers faced both the OKC Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies in a pair of exhibition games last October, and though his jumper struggled, Hampton knows he’s well on his way: “I’m having a lot of fun.” — Marcel Mutoni

9. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Onyeka Okongwu (6-9 Forward, USC)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 1.2 steals, shooting 62% from the field

If you’d heard of Onyeka Okongwu before 2018, it was probably as a footnote in a story about his world-famous high school teammates. Okongwu played at Chino Hills with the Ball brothers, where he spent his early years in anonymity before LaMelo left California for Lithuania. Thrust into a leading role, Big O led Chino to a state title, and added a 35-point, 14-rebound, five-block performance against Zion Williamson at the 2018 Hoophall Classic along the way. In one season at USC, the crazy athletic 6-9 big showed enough potential to warrant top-5 pick consideration. Okongwu’s NBA comparisons range everywhere from Montrezl Harrell to Bam Adebayo—at minimum, he’s a versatile defender who can step in right away and protect the rim for a Washington team sorely lacking in that area. Projecting him alongside a healthy Wall, Beal, Hachimura and (maybe) Bertans in 2020-21 would certainly have Wizards fans eyeing a return to the postseason. — Abe Schwadron

10. PHOENIX SUNS: Nico Mannion (6-3 Guard, Arizona)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 14.0 points, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, shooting 39% from the field

Nico Mannion is one of the smoothest and most skilled point guards in this year’s draft. His father, Pace Mannion, played in the NBA and finished his career in Italy, where Nico was born. Once they moved back to the states, Nico played in Phoenix at Pinnacle High School and then for the Arizona Wildcats. At 6-3, he has great pace and court vision. He’s smooth off the bounce and can create for himself and his teammates. He’s a shot maker and has all the tools to be an elite guard at the pro level. Phoenix is a good fit for Mannion, as he can learn alongside Rubio in the city where he’s been playing for years. — Bryan LaRussa

11. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Jaden McDaniels (6-9 Forward, Washington)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 13.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, shooting 41% from the field and 34% from three

I’m well aware of what happened in his lone season at Washington and what scouts and analysts have said regarding a player that they feel teams should take caution with. I know about the benchings at UW, critiques of his decision-making on the court and the other asterisks that might have been attached to his name. But the Spurs’ culture—and everything they stand for—couldn’t be a better place for McDaniels to start his NBA career. There are valuable OGs on that roster—Patty Mills, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge—and another Washington guy in Dejounte Murray that could take the incoming rook under their wings. And did I mention being in the same vicinity and learning from a HOFer in Tim Duncan? The Spurs have a “we-over-me” ethos and a track record that speaks for itself. San Antonio is a perfect destination for someone with Jaden’s stature and skill set. — Drew Ruiz

12. SACRAMENTO KINGS: Isaac Okoro (6-6 Forward, Auburn)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, shooting 51% from the field

A year ago, you might not have known the name Isaac Okoro. Coming out of McEachern High School in Atlanta, GA, Okoro was a four-star recruit who didn’t have the hype he likely warranted. That changed quickly, though. The 6-6 freshman was surrounded by seniors in the starting lineup at Auburn and still separated himself. With his versatility and explosiveness, Okoro climbed the ranks and shouldn’t fall past this spot in the 2020 Draft. Isaac is a lockdown defender who can score in a variety of ways but doesn’t demand the ball offensively. He’ll have no problem letting guards De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovich (should they all return) run the show, sliding in seamlessly right away and hopefully helping the Kings level up after a disappointing 2019-20 season. — Alex Squadron

13. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: Precious Achiuwa (6-9 Forward, Memphis)

CLASS: Freshman (20 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, shooting 49% from the field

First off, this pick is for Queens, NY, being that I can’t remember the last time the borough had an NBA lottery pick. Coming off an eventful freshman season, Precious Achiuwa averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game before the sports world was put on freeze. Achiuwa should be a major addition to the young highlight reel Pelicans. The 6-9, 225-pound forward has all the tools to make an impact right away. With Lonzo Ball coming off his best NBA season and Zion’s short, but dominant, run, the Pelicans should look to add another forward with their star Brandon Ingram possibly testing the FA market this summer. Regardless, Precious will bring more athleticism and explosiveness to a budding roster. — Nick Torres

14. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: Devin Vassell (6-6 Guard, Florida State)

CLASS: Sophomore (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, shooting 49% from the field and 41% from three

With the Blazers set to enter the 2020-21 season at nearly full strength after an injury-filled 2019-20 campaign, the team needs reinforcements to shore up its roster and make a run at the Western Conference’s best. A rookie that could step in and provide shooting and defense on the wing would help strengthen the team’s supporting cast around the Lillard-McCollum-Nurkic core. Enter Devin Vassell. The 6-6 guard from Florida State evolved into the team’s leading scorer (12.7 PPG) after averaging under five points in his freshman season. He showed off his range with the Seminoles, shooting at or above 41.5% from deep in each of his two seasons. Vassell also brings value on the defensive end, with averages of 1 block and 1.4 steals per game. The forward is the essential 3-and-D complement that Portland has lacked in recent years. He projects as an instant contributor with the potential to take over the wing from the Blazers’ older forwards. — Isaiah De Los Santos

15. ORLANDO MAGIC: Theo Maledon (6-4 Guard, ASVEL of the EuroLeague)

AGE: 18 years old

2019-20 STATS: 7.4 points, 3.1 assists, shooting 46% from the field and 37% from three

There are a lot of good guards on the the board that are excellent talents, but from the standpoint of trying to find a solid backcourt mate for Markelle Fultz, the Magic should consider Theo Maledon. Highlights are obviously skewed, but his decision making as a playmaker seems to be there, both in transition and half-court play. He plays with a patience that is rare to see in an 18-year-old in the EuroLeague. This past season for ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, he shot 37% from beyond the arc. If he wants to maintain a spot in the NBA, he’ll need to maintain that shooting percentage as his three point attempts go up. — Arvind Pitchai

16. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (VIA BROOKLYN): Tyrese Maxey (6-3 Guard, Kentucky)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, shooting 43% from the field

Earlier in this mock, the Wolves snagged James Wiseman with the No. 3 pick, pairing him with star Karl-Anthony Towns to give them a massively talented frontcourt for the foreseeable future. With the recently acquired D’Angelo Russell reliably running point, the Wolves still need a wing who can get buckets. Maxey is super shifty and already sports an impressive floater package. He has a strong handle and can effectively slash into the teeth of the defense. He’s also a fantastic on-ball defender. And while his three-point percentages are subpar, his feathery floater touch and excellent free throw percentage (83% on the season) suggest he will be just fine. His 6-3 frame may be on the small side for a SG, but his tremendous strength compensates for the slight height disadvantage. Maxey is young and has tons of room to grow. The Wolves should take a shot on a kid with huge upside who could transform into a perennial 20-point per game scorer. — Isaiah Freedman

17. BOSTON CELTICS (VIA MEMPHIS): Josh Green (6-6 Guard, Arizona)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals, shooting 42% from the field and 36% from three

The Celtics are locked in for the future. They have an All-NBA point guard in Kemba Walker, budding superstars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, a lockdown perimeter defender in Marcus Smart, and the perfect complementary pieces to round out the roster. This gives them the flexibility to take the best, most talented player available—Arizona freshman Josh Green. One of the top defenders in the draft, the shooting guard can cover 1-4 with his 6-6, 210-pound frame and 6-10 wingspan. Offensively, he is an elite athlete who can handle the ball and hit open shots, as he knocked down 39.5% of his three-point attempts in the second half of the season. He fits with what the Celtics continue to stockpile—competitive, versatile wings who can cover and play multiple positions. Green is just 19 years old, but can contribute right away as a role player for a Celtics team that has current championship aspirations. — Ben Simon

18. DALLAS MAVERICKS: Isaiah Stewart (6-9 Forward, Washington)

CLASS: Freshman (18 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, shooting 57% from the field

Sitting right on the verge of serious contention, the Mavericks will be looking for a player who provides reliable depth and immediate contribution. Washington big man Isaiah Stewart fits that mold. As a freshman, Stewart was a model of consistency for the Huskies. A 250-pound forward with a 7-4 wingspan, Stewart combines impressive athleticism and mobility with a polished finishing ability, making him a perfect fit in a pick-and-roll with Luka Doncic. He shot 77% from the FT line and showed a solid midrange touch. Stewart’s biggest strength, however, is that few, if any players in the draft play with a higher motor. While his back-to-the-basket offensive game may not translate to the next level, his energy and physicality will certainly make him effective as a rim protector and a rebounder on both ends. With Dwight Powell recovering from a ruptured achilles, Stewart can provide immediate depth at the 4 or 5 for a Mavericks team looking to win now. — Sam Squadron

19. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (VIA INDIANA): Vernon Carey Jr. (6-10 Center, Duke)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, shooting 58% from the field

There’s a reason why Vernon Carey Jr. was voted ACC Freshman of the Year in his lone season at Duke. The 6-10 lefty has an efficient offensive game and can score in a multitude of ways. Vernon has a quick first step and is extremely tough to guard within five feet of the basket. He’ll be joining a team already poised to make a deep playoff run, so there will be little to no pressure for the rook to carry a large load. However, if there’s anything we learned from Vernon Carey Jr in college, it’s that he shows up when it matters most. — Theus McBee

20. BROOKLYN NETS (VIA PHILADELPHIA): Saddiq Bey (6-8 Forward, Villanova)

CLASS: Sophomore (21 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, shooting 48% from the field and 45% from three

Bey is an athletic forward standing at 6-8, 216 pounds that has levels to his game, but the biggest draw is that he’s a knockdown shooter. He shot 45% from beyond the arc in his sophomore year at Villanova, up from 37% in his first year. The Julius Erving award winner could be a perfect fit for the Nets, who are currently the fifth worst three-point shooting squad in the League based on percentage. Brooklyn will be getting back major offensive pieces next year in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but with the contract of Joe Harris in question, Bey could be a strong addition should the Nets need to fill that role. — Camille Buxeda

21. DENVER NUGGETS (VIA HOUSTON): Jalen Smith (6-10 Forward, Maryland)

CLASS: Sophomore (20 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, shooting 54% from the field and 37% from three

Jalen Smith is a rim-running, athletic big with great hands. He’s also a willing and gifted post player who can step out and shoot the three. The 6-10 power forward has a high motor—Smith can bring chasedown blocks, offensive rebounds, and defensive toughness to the Pepsi Center. For good measure, he’s got the lateral speed and shiftiness necessary to defend at the next level. The Baltimore native is fresh off a stellar sophomore season, in which he led Maryland to a 24-7 record and a Big Ten title. Stix was the best player on a Terps team on pace for a 3-seed and poised for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, and Smith would pair well with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic in Mike Malone’s system. Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee and Jerami Grant are all free agents this summer. Smith fits Denver’s position need, and he projects to be the kind of player most GMs are looking for in 2020: a stretch-four who defends. — Eli Schwadron

22. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (VIA OKLAHOMA CITY): Aaron Nesmith (6-6 Forward, Vanderbilt)

CLASS: Sophomore (20 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 23.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, shooting 51% from the field and 52% from three

When JJ Redick fled from the City of Brotherly Love on the first day of free agency last summer, the Sixers’ long-range marksmanship took an immediate hit. Through 65 games, Philadelphia ranked 14th in three-point field goal accuracy (32.6%), down from eighth the season before. The solution? Enter Aaron Nesmith, the best pure shooter in this year’s draft. Vandy’s 6-6 sophomore slinger averaged 23 points and 4.9 rebounds over 14 games while shooting 52% from deep, before a season-ending stress fracture in his right foot. Nesmith was the fifth-leading scorer in the nation and was on pace to have one of the best three-point shooting seasons in college basketball history. Possessing a combination of size, strength, and deadeye shot-making ability, Nesmith’s game is tailor-made for the modern NBA and fills a much-needed void in Philly. — Peter Robert Casey

23. MIAMI HEAT: Killian Hayes (6-5 Guard, ratiopharm Ulm of Basketball Bundesliga)

AGE: 18 years old

2019-20 STATS: 12.8 points, 6.2 assists, 1.5 steals, shooting 46% from the field and 39% from three

Already an Eastern Conference playoff contender, Pat Riley will search for the final pieces of the puzzle starting in the 2020 Draft. As Goran Dragic enters unrestricted free agency, the Heat will likely target youth to take over the reigns. Although he’s only 18, Killian Hayes boasts the experience and toughness it takes to make an impact in the NBA immediately. Originally born in Lakeland, FL, before moving to France due to his father’s pro career, Hayes has used basketball to bridge the gap between both countries. After playing against older opponents his entire childhood in Europe, Hayes turned professional in France at the age of only 16. During his career with Cholet, Killian also represented the French National team. Now a 6-5 PG with a tight handle, sharp vision and the ability to finish at the rim, he holds all the intangibles NBA scouts seek. The Lakeland native took the opposite journey to the League, and the risk may be worth the reward. Once idolizing Dwyane Wade, Hayes now has the chance to honor Flash as he returns to his home state and aims to ignite South Beach once again. — Daren Scarberry

24. UTAH JAZZ: Aleksej Pokusevski (7-0 Forward, Olympiacos B of the Greek A2 Basket League)

AGE: 18 years old

2019-20 STATS: 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 blocks, shooting 49% from the field and 32% from three

It’s time to meet your future favorite player, and he goes by the name of Poku. Joining the storied lineage of Serbians (Vlade, Peja, Nikola) in the NBA, Aleksej Pokusevski is the youngest prospect in this year’s draft, not turning 19 until the day after Christmas. And while his 7-0 frame has caused folks that have never heard of him or seen him play to make assumptions, don’t get it twisted—Poku is a point guard trapped in a center’s body. Just like KD (6-10), Giannis (6-11), Jokić (7-0), and Porzingis (7-3), he’s a vertically inclined man with playmaking ability and perimeter skills. Unfortunately, he’s barely seen any EuroLeague action for Olympiacos since joining the club at the age of 13, but he’s had the privilege of learning from legendary Greek teammates Vassilis Spanoulis and Georgios Printezis, along with former head coach David Blatt. While this season he was assigned to play with the development team, Olympiacos B, his time spent with the Serbian national squad has been fruitful and excited NBA scouts. Last July, he opened the FIBA U18 European Championship with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 7 blocks, 5 assists, and 3 steals in a win against Germany. If Poku somehow slips this far to Utah, a team who flew to Athens to see him play in November, they’re in for a treat. — Aron Phillips

25. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (VIA DENVER): Jahmi’us Ramsey (6-4 Guard, Texas Tech)

CLASS: Freshman (18 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, shooting 44% from the field and 43% from three

Jahmi’us Ramsey, the highest ranked recruit to ever attend Texas Tech, finished off the 2019-20 regular season as Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He’s an explosive combo guard with a great jump shot who can create space, elevate and finish with authority at the rim. Put simply, Ramsey gets buckets. Ramsey would slot right into an Oklahoma City Thunder backcourt that has thrived under the guidance of head coach Billy Donovan and veteran point god Chris Paul. Integrated into a system with a strong track record of player development, Ramsey could carve out a role as a long-term rotation piece in OKC. — Dave Schnur

26. BOSTON CELTICS: Zeke Nnaji (6-11 Forward, Arizona)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 16.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, shooting 57% from the field

Two Celtics picks and two Arizona Wildcats. After choosing Josh Green at 17, the Celtics can afford to take a shot on a sleeper. That comes in the form of Zeke Nnaji. I say sleeper, but he was actually much more productive than Green in their one season of college. The Minnesota native averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds (including 3.1 offensive boards, giving him the highest total in the Pac 12), while shooting 57% from the field, second best in the conference. The Celtics’ roster is filled out, but they do have one glaring need: a big man who can run the floor and play above the rim. Nnaji can do just that… and then some. He’s an elite finisher who even showed an ability to knock down jump shots. The building blocks are there for him to be an efficient three-point shooter. Nnaji still has glaring struggles on the defensive end, but with Daniel Theis, Vincent Poirier, and Robert Williams under contract next season (Enes Kanter is under a player option), there’s time for him to develop. It’s a low risk, high reward pick that could hopefully fill one of the Celtics’ few holes. Oh, and if you’re short on a pregame National Anthem performer, Zeke Nnaji can do that too.  — Ben Simon

27. NEW YORK KNICKS (VIA CLIPPERS): Jordan Nwora (6-7 Forward, Louisville)

CLASS: Junior (21 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, shooting 44% from the field and 40% from three

During the past two seasons, Jordan Nwora established himself as the go-to guy for the Louisville Cardinals and deserves to be taken in the first round of the upcoming NBA draft. At 6-7, he’s extremely versatile and has a well-rounded offensive game. Nwora led the Cards in scoring for the second straight year, averaging 18 points on 44% shooting from the field and 40% from deep. He can spread the floor and create spacing for a Knicks team that ranked dead last in total threes in 2019-20. If the Knicks take Cole Anthony at the No. 6 spot to pair with RJ Barrett, they’re going to be searching for reliable prospects like Nwora—athletic forwards who can run in transition, knock down jumpers consistently and don’t clog the paint. — Alex Squadron

28. TORONTO RAPTORS: Yves Pons (6-6 Guard, Tennessee)

CLASS: Junior (21 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 10.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, shooting 49% from the field and 35% from three

While the SEC’s DPOY doesn’t boast the numbers of other first round picks, he has elite athleticism that allows him to guard positions 1-4. Pons is another skilled defensive player, similar to OG Anunoby, who will help the Raptors in an Eastern Conference that is deep at the G/F position. At 6-6, Pons averaged 2.4 blocks per game last season. He will fit right in to Toronto’s talented bench squad. Although his defensive prowess is what will get him drafted, Pons shot 35% from the three-point line in his last season as a Volunteer. This makes him an intriguing possible deep threat, and given the Raptors’ track record of developing talent (Siakam, VanVleet, Powell), he will have a great opportunity to develop his offensive game further. — Greg Cohen

29. LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Tyrell Terry (6-1 Guard, Stanford)

CLASS: Freshman (19 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals, shooting 44% from the field and 41% from three

LeBron loves a point guard that can shoot, and Terry does just that. He’s a score-first PG who also possesses impressive passing ability. Terry is a three-level scorer and a particularly elite three-point shooter. This past season, he shot 48% on catch and shoot threes and is also capable of knocking down jumpers off the dribble. He has a very good feel for the game, knowing when to pass and when to look for his own offense. Tyrell can operate out of the pick-and-roll and moves very well off the ball, similar to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Overall, he’s a playmaker that will develop into a premier guard in the League. — Christian Quezada

30. BOSTON CELTICS (VIA MILWAUKEE): Tre Jones (6-3 Guard, Duke)

CLASS: Sophomore (20 years old)

2019-20 STATS: 16.2 points, 6.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, shooting 42% from the field and 36% from three

The oldest position on the Celtics? Point guard. Although Kemba Walker is still earning All-Star appearances, he is less than a month away from being 30. Brad Wanamaker, despite just two years in the NBA, is already 30. Carsen Edwards provides some youth, but might be better served as an off-ball gunner. The Celtics are young and talented at pretty much every other position (center was solved with our last pick). Increased PG depth could provide a nice cushion. Tre Jones brings just that. But the 6-3, 185-pound guard is more than the prototypical backup point guard. Sure, he has a high floor. That happens when you receive ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Not only can he contribute right away, but he has the chance to grow into a legitimate NBA starter. After shooting just 26% from three during his freshman season, he bumped his average up to 36% this year. He’s a mature, smart guard who can complement the Celtics’ stars by playing defense, facilitating, hitting open threes, and scoring when needed. With Jones and Marcus Smart, they could have one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA. He’s already a great backup option right now, but as Walker climbs into his 30s, Jones has a chance to be the Celtics’ point guard of the future. — Ben Simon

The post SLAM’s 2020 NBA Mock Draft appeared first on SLAM.

Last Week’s Notebooks: East || West

• Atlanta Hawks – With Dewayne Dedmon out and Clint Capela yet to make his Hawks’ debut, Atlanta has gone to some minutes with their “core five” as a lineup. In 181 minutes over 20 games, the Hawks are +25 with Trae Young, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish on the floor together. That might not sound like a lot, but considering Atlanta is -8.1 points per game on the season it’s meaningful. Those five are the Hawks building blocks, so it’s good to see them able to share the floor together.
• Boston Celtics – Boston was expected to struggle with interior defense after losing Al Horford in the offseason. Instead, the Celtics rank fifth in the NBA in blocks per 100 possessions. Some of that is long wings like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown blocking jumpers, but most of it comes at the rim. Boston actually ranks ahead of much bigger Philadelphia in blocks/100, which is one of the surprises of the season.

• Brooklyn Nets – Kyrie Irving underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder impingement. As expected, Irving will join Kevin Durant on the sidelines for the rest of this season. The Nets are hanging in there without Irving though, as Caris LeVert exploded for 51 points in an upset win over the Celtics in Boston. LeVert scored 37 of his 51 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. He went for 26 in the fourth and then scored all 11 of the Nets points in overtime.

• Charlotte Hornets – With the focus on youth, the Hornets are giving almost all their minutes to players who are 26 years old and under. That’s given increased opportunities to rookies Cody and Caleb Martin and Jalen McDaniels. Those three combined with PJ. Washington and Mile Bridges give Charlotte a really interesting group of forwards. None of the five can really play up and defend the five, and only Cody Martin has shown the ability to play down and defend the two. That makes it a challenge for James Borrego and Mitch Kupchak to figure out how they call fit, but that’s what rebuilding seasons are for.
• Chicago Bulls – Last week we wrote about how banged up the Bulls were. Well, they’re finally getting healthy! Zach LaVine went down with a quad injury, but it’s not expected to be a long-term thing. Otto Porter Jr. returned to the lineup for the first time since early-November. Lauri Markkanen got back after missing over a month. And Wendell Carter Jr. is back as well. That’s important as Chicago can use the last month of the season to see exactly who fits together and how. Look for Coby White to possibly take over as the starting point guard, as it’s getting harder for Jim Boylen to keep White on the bench. White has averaged 28 points per game on 51/49/95 shooting splits over his last six games.
• Cleveland Cavaliers – Cleveland is a mess with injuries. Andre Drummond (calf), Darius Garland (groin), Tristan Thompson (knee) and Dante Exum (ankle) are all out. Drummond, Garland and Thompson aren’t expected to be down long-term, but the Cavs also lost Kevin Porter Jr. to a head injury against Boston on Wednesday night. This point in the year should be about evaluation and development and injuries are robbing Cleveland of that.
• Detroit Pistons – How much are the Pistons hurting for guard depth? Jordan McRae was claimed off waivers on Wednesday afternoon and then played 25 minutes on Wednesday night. McRae did what he does and scored 15 points, but that says a lot about where things are at for the Pistons. Also, keep an eye on Christian Wood. He scored 29 points on Wednesday, bringing his average to 20.1 points per game since the start of February.

• Indiana Pacers – The Pacers lost Jeremy Lamb last week and now Victor Oladipo is back on the shelf with right knee soreness. Indiana knew that they’d have to deal with that as Oladipo works his way back from last season’s knee injury. What the Pacers weren’t expecting is for Malcolm Brogdon to continue to get nicked up. Brogdon left Wednesday’s loss against his former team in Milwaukee with a sore left hip. Injuries to their top three guards have Indiana relying heavily on Aaron and Justin Holiday and T.J. McConnell in the backcourt.
• Miami Heat – The Heat got back home after a tough road trip and ripped off a four-game win streak. That improved their record to 27-4 in Miami. More importantly, the Heat now have a three-game lead over both the Pacers and 76ers in the race for homecourt advantage. And Miami is quietly only 2.5 games behind Boston for the third seed.
• Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks actually lost a game in the last week! They were handled fairly easily by the Heat in Miami. But it doesn’t really matter. Milwaukee is 12-2 in their last 14 games. And if you’re looking for a weakness on the road, it doesn’t really exist. The Bucks and Lakers are tied at an NBA-best 25-6 away from home. By any measure, Milwaukee is dominant.
• New York Knicks – RJ Barrett played one of the best games of his career this week as the Knicks upset the Rockets in New York. Barrett scored 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting to go along with five rebounds and five assists. Overall, Barrett has scored 14 or more points in seven of his last eight games and is averaging 16.8 points per game during that stretch. It’s incremental, but signs of improvement are there for the Knicks young wing.

• Orlando Magic – Just when things were looking up for Orlando, they dropped three straight games to fall back behind Brooklyn in the standings. The Magic still have a healthy 4.5 game lead over the Wizards for the eighth spot in the East, but could be on a collision course with the Bucks in the first round. That’d be bad news for Orlando, as they are 0-3 against Milwaukee and have lost by an average of 19.6 points per game in those three losses.
• Philadelphia 76ers – Shake Milton stepped up on Sunday with a career game. He scored 39 points, which topped his previous career-high of 27. And Milton sent an NBA record with 14 consecutive made three-pointers over a two-game stretch. Philadelphia’s roster is expensive and will only get more expensive down the line. Milton on a minimum contract through 2022-23 is huge for helping to keep a mounting tax bill down.
• Toronto Raptors – One man in, one man out for the Raptors. Toronto got Norman Powell back, but lost Serge Ibaka. Without Ibaka and Marc Gasol, the Raps have gone small with Pascal Siakam and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson starting at the five. They’ve also given increased minutes to Chris Boucher. He responded with 19 points and 15 rebounds in Tuesday’s win at Phoenix. That play has helped keep Toronto just ahead of Boston in the race for the second seed in the East. And despite it all, Toronto can clinch a playoff spot with a win on Thursday at the Golden State Warriors.
• Washington Wizards – The Wizards are clinging to life in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They’ve dropped 4.5 games behind Orlando and a full five games behind Brooklyn. Injuries continue to be a challenge for Washington, as Thomas Bryant can’t play back-to-backs due to foot soreness and Ish Smith went down with hamstring soreness. Once Washington falls out of the race fully, look for the team to actively sit some of their veterans and focus on the younger players the rest of the way.

The post Newswire Notebook: Caris LeVert Goes Off and More appeared first on SLAM.

Only 12 players will be selected to participate in the actual games, so we’ll see a number of these players withdraw from consideration and then a select 12 hand-picked from those that remain.

A total of nine players represented the country at the Olympics four years ago in Rio de Janeiro and the only three from that squad not on this list are Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan.

All of the 12 players who represented America during last summer’s FIBA World Cup have been selected to participate in the preliminary stages of the Olympic roster selection process.

A total of five players have been selected from both the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Team USA Men’s Basketball Roster For Tokyo Olympics appeared first on SLAM.

Sometimes, the Cavaliers can be very competent. John Henson (remember him?) swatted 7 shots, Jordan Clarkson exploded for 33 points on 12-17 shooting, and Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love both recorded double doubles in a solid victory.

Meanwhile, even though they lost, Ja Morant was this close to smashing home the dunk of the century.

Pacers 119 (20-9), Kings 105 (12-16)

What the Pacers are doing is so admirable. They play team ball, no one is selfish and you don’t hear a peep from them about how much they miss star Victor Oladipo, who is still recovering from a quad injury. By dismantling the Kings, Indiana just won their fifth game in a row, with all starters and two bench players hitting double digit points. Just imagine this team when Oladipo is back out there wrecking poor fools.

The Kings are slowly getting back their injured young guns De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley, and they’ll have to sort out a crowded front court when everyone is back to full strength.

Celtics 114 (19-7), Pistons 93 (11-18)

The Celtics keep on rolling, this time with a dub over the middling Pistons sans Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each had 26 points, while Enes Kanter gobbled up 18 rebounds and rookie Grant Williams had a career-high 18 points off the pine.

Thon Maker was the Pistons’ highest scorer with only 15 points. Yup, it was that kind of night for Detroit.

We were also treated to some Tacko Time, and the fans in TD Garden gave his a standing ovation as he entered the game.

Raptors 122 (20-8), Wizards 118 (8-19)

You simply have to tip your cap to the Raptors. In the past few days, they’ve lost Marc Gasol, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell to injuries, and they’ve already withstood injuries to Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka. But nonetheless, the wins keep coming. Lowry had 26 points and 9 assists, VanVleet had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, and Ibaka added 23 points, 10 caroms and 3 blocks.

Meanwhile, Bradley Beal continued his phenomenal season with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Also, shoutout Ish Smith for dropping 26 on 9-9 shooting. That type of efficiency deserves to be appreciated.

Heat 129 (21-8), Knicks 114 (7-22)

The Heat are now 12-1 at home after easily dispatching the Knicks. It goes to show how deep they are when seven players hit double digits and Jimmy Butler wasn’t even one of them. We were treated to a fantastic Derrick Jones Jr dunk and a smooth Goran Dragic between the legs dime.

Mavericks 117 (19-9), 76ers 98 (20-10)

Kristaps Porzingis is starting to shake off his post-ACL rust and the result is terrifying. The Unicorn recorded 22 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks to crush the 76ers at home. Tim Hardaway Jr also lit it up from deep, with 27 points and seven 3-pointers.

Other than a touching Boban reunion with their former beloved role player, the 76ers did not bring it. Joel Embiid was the only player to show up, with 33 points and 17 rebounds, but when the rest of the starting lineup manages only a combined 38 points, that is…not good, chief.

Thunder 126 (14-14), Suns 108 (11-17)

The Thunder have won 9 of their past 13 games, and it’s pretty great to see a team so at peace with themselves. For a franchise that has been worrying about superstar departures for the past few years, it must be refreshing to be thriving amid small expectations while potentially cultivating their next star…Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:

Nuggets 109 (19-8), Timberwolves 100 (10-17)

Someone help the Wolves. Losers of nine in a row, they have to pick up the intensity to prevent a lost season.

At least Nikola Jokic has broken out of his slightly underwhelming start to the season. He dropped a 22-10-10 triple double with 2 blocks and has looked much more engaged recently. The league is better off when the Serbian Star is pleased and balling out.

Blazers 118 (13-16), Magic 103 (12-17)

It was a vintage Blazers backcourt game. Dame Lillard did his thing, with 36 points and 6 assists with 7 treys, while CJ McCollum dropped 31 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to handle the Magic. Hassan Whiteside also chipped in 17 boards and 5 blocks.

The Magic were outmatched, but Nikola Vucevic had a vintage game with 23 points, 12 rebounds and an impressive 6 steals.

Markelle Fultz also unleashed this vicious dunk:

Warriors 106 (6-24), Pelicans 102 (7-23)

Behind 25 points and 7 assists from D’Angelo Russell and 20 points from Damion Lee, the Dubs squeezed out the win against the pesky Pelicans.

Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday each had 25 points, while Lonzo Ball swiped 6 steals off the bench.

The post Post Up: Kristaps Porzingis Dominates 76ers in Convincing Victory appeared first on SLAM.

After succumbing to a pre-Thanksgiving loss to the Celtics, the Nets roared back in their second consecutive game against Boston. Guard Spencer Dinwiddie was fantastic in Kyrie Irving’s absence, scoring 32 points, dishing out 11 assists and swiping 2 steals. Third year center Jarrett Allen continued his solid play of late, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 boards on 7-12 shooting.

The Celtics have played excellent ball recently, despite losing Gordon Hayward to a hand injury. Jayson Tatum has bounced back from his sophomore slump to take over the scoring reigns this year, and he scored 26 points, corralled 9 rebounds and collected 4 steals in the first game of Black Friday.

Raptors 90 (14-4), Magic 80 (7-11)

The Raptors just keep on winning. Amid a slew of free agent departures and injuries to Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, Toronto has kept on chugging. They can even sustain an off-night from Pascal Siakam thanks to Norm Powell exploding for 33 points and Fred VanVleet putting up 22 and 7 steals.

The Magic shot 34% from the field, and that’s really the only stat you need to know to get an idea of how their night went.

Hornets 110 (8-12), Pistons 107 (6-13)

PJ Washington has continued his impressive rookie campaign, scoring 26 points and grabbing 4 steals on an efficient 9-12 shooting performance.

It’s been an uninspiring start to the season for Detroit, but at least Derrick Rose has proven to be a spark plug off the bench. He dropped 23 points on 8-12 shooting, and also provided us this adorable moment with his son, PJ, before the game.

Bucks 119 (16-3), Cavaliers 110 (5-14)

Giannis set the tone instantly with a dunk on the first play of the game, as the Bucks won their 10th straight game to finish off the Cavaliers. The Greek Freak remains a beast, and it’s incredible that he makes 33 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks seem ordinary.

Even in defeat, the Cavs have been competent. Rookie Darius Garland showed out with 21 points, 6 assists and 5 three-pointers. Keep an eye on the rook, because he’s going to be a stud in this league for a long time.

76ers 101 (13-6), Knicks 95 (4-15)

The 76ers had a sluggish start, as they were outscored 18-31 in the first quarter, but they eventually got their act together to take care of business. Joel Embiid was fantastic, scoring 27 points (albeit on a subpar 7-19 shooting), corralling 17 boards and swatting 3 shots, while Ben Simmons brought the 76ers home with a late-game inbounds steal and score.

He also converted this acrobatic layup on the move.

Jazz 103 (12-7), Grizzlies 94 (5-13)

In perhaps the most visually appealing game this season (seriously, each team absolutely nailed their throwback jerseys), the Jazz were too much to handle for the young Grizz. Bojan Bogdanovic put up 33 points, Rudy Gobert chipped in a solid double-double and Donovan Mitchell added 20 points of his own.

Thunder 109 (7-11), Pelicans 104 (6-13)

The Thunder came back by outscoring the Pelicans 30-20 in the 4th quarter. Dennis Schroder led the way off the bench with 25 points and 7 assists, while Steven Adams finished them off with a thunderous (pun intended) slam dunk down the stretch.

The Pelicans are swill biding time before the Zion Williamson’s highly anticipated debut, but in the meantime, Brandon Ingram seems content to keep on cooking. He had the smoothest transition from spin move to dunk:

Heat 122 (13-5), Warriors 105 (4-16)

It’s so weird to see the record 4-16 next to the Warriors, but that’s what happens when Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston are absent.

The Heat have been one of the best stories of the young season, riding a new wave of their young talent (Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, Bam Adebayo and Justise Winslow) to supplement their veteran core of Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic and Kelly Olynyk. the team shot a blistering 52% from deep. Also, they never miss on the gorgeous Miami Vice city edition jerseys.

Spurs 107 (7-13), Clippers 97 (14-6)

The Spurs broke out of their surprising downward spiral by giving the Clippers their first loss when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both shared the court together.

For the Spurs, LaMarcus Aldridge had one of his most complete games of the season, going for 17 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks.

Pacers 105 (12-6), Hawks 104 (4-15)

Despite a monstrous Trae Young performance (49 points on 16-28 shooting with 8 three-pointers and 9-9 from the line), the relentless Pacers pulled away in overtime. No other starter on the Hawks scored more than 7 points.

With Malcolm Brogdon back in the fold, Indiana has been rock solid this season. Every starter scored between 16 and 20 points; the epitome of a group effort.

Mavericks 120 (12-6), Suns 113 (8-10)

Luka Doncic went scorched earth all over the poor Suns. The Slovenian sensation dropped 42 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists in a convincing victory against the Suns. Tim Hardaway Jr also chipped in 26 points.

The Suns have slowed down a tad after an impressive start to the season, but a core four of Devin Booker, Aron Baynes, Kelly Oubre and Ricky Rubio has outscored opponents by 8 points per 100 possessions all season, and center DeAndre Ayton is set to return soon. The future is bright in Phoenix.

Blazers 107 (8-12), Bulls 103 (6-14)

Melo is looking like his old self, and every moment is beautiful to watch. He scored 23 points and grabbed 11 boards, while teammate Hassan Whiteside swallowed a Blazers franchise record 10 blocks to go along with 15 rebounds. Maybe he grew dissatisfied with his NBA 2K rating again.

For the Bulls, Zach LaVine led the way with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and so far, zero public disputes with Jim Boylen today.

Lakers 125 (17-2), Wizards 103 (6-11)

Well, that was certainly a blowout. The Lakers have been on fire this season and they showed no signs of letting up Friday at Staples. LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the way per usual, with commendable contributions from Rajon Rondo (who threw two beautiful alley-oops), JaVale McGee and Danny Green.

The post Post Up: Trae Young Drops 49 Points, But Hawks Succumb to Pacers in OT appeared first on SLAM.

Orlando was powered to the win thanks to performances from Nikola Vucevic (21 points, 13 rebounds) and Aaron Gordon (15 points, 11 rebounds). Julis Randle led the Knicks in scoring with 16 points.

Bulls 111 (1-4), Cavaliers 117 (2-2)

Chicago led coming into the fourth quarter, but Cleveland outscored them 37-29 in the final frame to steal the home win. Kevin Love put up 17 points and 20 rebounds. Collin Sexton (18 points) sealed the game with an exclamation point.

Timberwolves 95 (3-1), 76ers 117 (4-0)

This game was interrupted in the third quarter as Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns were both ejected for fighting. Both teams had to step in and break it up.

Philly cruised to the win behind six double-digit scorers, led by Embiid’s 19 points in 20 minutes.

Bucks 105 (2-2), Celtics 116 (3-1)

The Celtics erupted with 38 points in the third quarter to get back in the game before closing it out in the fourth. Kemba Walker (32 points) and Jayson Tatum (25 points) fueled Boston’s offensive attack.

Pacers 118 (1-3), Nets 108 (1-3)

Indiana lost big man Myles Turner to a right ankle sprain early, but gutted out the win in his absence. Domantas Sabonis dominated with 29 points. Kyrie Irving finished with 28 points for Brooklyn.

Pistons 113 (2-3), Raptors 125 (4-1)

Toronto rode hot shooting from the field (59%) and from deep (48%) to earn their fourth win in five games to start the season. Pascal Siakam continues to shine; he put in 30 points in 30 minutes to lead the Raptors in scoring.

Rockets 159 (3-1), Wizards 159 (1-3)

James Harden and the Rockets took home the win in this high-scoring affair thanks to a last-second free throw made by Harden. The former MVP finished with 59 points. Bradley Beal notched 46 points in the heartbreaking loss.

Blazers 102 (3-2), Thunder 99 (1-4)

Damian Lillard (23 points, 13 rebounds, seven rebounds) helped rally his team in the fourth quarter to finish their road trip with a win. Chris Paul registered 21 points in the loss.

Clippers 96 (3-2), Jazz 110 (4-1)

Utah took control in the second half against the Kawhi-less Clippers. Mike Conley set the scoring tempo for the Jazz with 29 points, leading all scorers. Lou Williams popped off for 24 points as a starter.

Hornets 118 (2-3), Kings 111 (0-5)

Hornets rookie PJ Washington impressed with a team-high 23 points on 10-13 shooting from the field. Buddy Hield scored 23 points for Sacramento.

Suns 121 (3-2), Warriors 110 (1-3)

An already rough game for Golden State got infinitely worse when Stephen Curry left the game with what’s now been as a broken left hand. The injury is just another blow to the defending champs, who are also without Klay Thompson.

The post Post Up: James Harden Drops 59 Points in High-Scoring Win appeared first on SLAM.

A couple of Nike Hyperdunk X PEs were also in play with Eric Bledsoe rocking a yellow based number and teammate Khris Middleton rocking a lowtop PE version in a more subdued black and green color scheme. Draymond Green broke a Warriors PE which featured a funky blue and yellow outsole.

Check out aforementioned Kyries and Hyperdunks along with P.J. Tucker’s “Carpe Diem” Nike Zoom Kobe IV Protros and more in our latest NBA Playoff kicks recap.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Playoff Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

On the topic of the KT4, Klay Thompson dropped 32 points in a team colorway of his signature model and Kevin Durant led the Warriors in scoring with 33 in the “University Red” version of his Nike KD12 as Golden State dispatched L.A. 113-105. Also sporting the 12 was Andre Iguodala, who came out in the model’s “Black/Pure Platinum” iteration.

For the Clippers, Montrezl Harrell continued the KD vibes with a pair of grail-status “Weatherman” Nike Zoom KD4s and the Nike Zoom Kobe IV “Prelude.”

Closing out, despite their loss, the Thunder’s all-star tandem of Russell Westbrook and Paul George impressed once again with their PEs as Brodie’s latest Jordan Why Not Zer0.2 paid homage to the Seattle Supersonics and PG3’s navy/gold Nike PG 3 was a certified banger. Dennis Schroder also went with the gold theme as he donned custom pair of Nike Zoom KD 6 “All-Stars.”

Get caught up on the rest of Easter Sunday’s best NBA playoff kicks below.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Playoff Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Seven Celtics players finished in double digits in the first round sweep. Gordon Hayward led all scorers with 20 points off the bench. Marcus Morris and Jayson Tatum scored 18 points apiece; Al Horford and Kyrie Irving had 14 points each. This was Boston’s first 4-0 series win in eight years.

Warriors 113, Clippers 105 (Golden State leads series 3-1)

The Clippers couldn’t come out with the much-needed win at home, as Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combined for 65 points. The Clippers outscored Golden State in the third quarter, 30-25, and cut it to one early in the fourth, but Steph Curry scored seven of the Dubs’ final 10 points.

Raptors 107, Magic 85 (Toronto leads the series 3-1)

Kawhi Leonard put up 34 points in 35 minutes to put the Raptors one win closer to the second round. Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell had 16 points each, and Serge Ibaka had 13 points and eight rebounds.

Blazers 111, Thunder 98 (Portland leads series 3-1)

CJ McCollum (27 points) and Damian Lillard (24 points) snapped an eight-game road playoff losing streak, and return back to Portland with a chance to end the series on Tuesday. Lillard caught the hot hand in the third quarter, knocking down three-straight triples, finishing with 15 points.

The post Post Up: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum Lead Trailblazers Over Thunder to 3-1 Series appeared first on SLAM.

Boston was without Kyrie Irving but Gordon Hayward made up for his absence by dropping a season-high 35 points on 14-18 shooting from the field. Terry Rozier also stepped up with 16 points of his own. Andrew Wiggins scored 31 points for the Wolves.

No flow is safe when you drop a season-high 3⃣5⃣ https://t.co/HHAnyksMP9

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 3, 2019

Mavericks 122 (18-19), Hornets 84 (18-19)

Dallas put up 42 points in the first quarter and never looked back in the blowout win. At one point, the Mavericks held a 47-point lead. They were led by their backcourt of Dennis Smith Jr. (18 points, seven assists) and Luka Doncic (18 points, 10 rebounds).

Luka's on time and on target for the DJ SLAM! #MFFL#NBA League Pass: https://t.co/L3VurkatG8 pic.twitter.com/moP5rQpCew

— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2019

Heat 117 (18-18), Cavaliers 92 (8-30)

Miami welcomed back guard Dion Waiters (seven points) after he missed more than a year due to injury. It was an easy affair for the Heat, who were led by Josh Richardson’s 24 points. Tristan Thompson put in 14 points for the Cavs.

Welcome back, Dion Waiters! (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/BASWS78ces

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 3, 2019

Hawks 98 (11-26), Wizards 114 (15-23)

Washington made light work of Atlanta despite missing the injured John Wall. Bradley Beal led the Wizards in scoring with 24 points while Jeff Green added 22 points. Alex Len paced the Hawks with 24 points in 27 minutes.

@RealDealBeal23 #WizHawks | #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/FTtufBLbI5

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 3, 2019

Pelicans 121 (17-22), Nets 126 (18-21)

Anthony Davis put up an incredible statline of 34 points and 26 rebounds, but New Orleans came up short in Brooklyn. D’Angelo Russell recorded 22 points and 13 assists in the win. Joe Harris added 21 points.

THE FRO The Brow pic.twitter.com/KN4EZS0bLZ

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 3, 2019

Magic 112 (17-20), Bulls 84 (10-28)

Orlando led this one from start to finish to capture the road win in Chicago. The Magic shot an incredible 57.9 percent from the field. Nikola Vucevic put in 22 points and 12 rebounds.

BALLIN' LIKE @TheRealMoBamba pic.twitter.com/YugiJRWUMk

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) January 3, 2019

Pistons 101 (17-19), Grizzlies 94 (18-19)

A 12-point third quarter by Memphis helped Detroit close the gap and take home the win. Blake Griffin paced the Pistons with 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. put up 26 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Blake's got skills. #PistonsNow

(via @FOXSportsDet Plus) pic.twitter.com/r2eoR5jk2Y

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 3, 2019

76ers 132 (25-14), Suns 127 (9-30)

Joel Embiid continued his monster season with a 42-point, 18-rebound effort in Philadelphia’s road win. Embiid, in fact, had 30 points and 14 rebounds at halftime alone before the Suns came storming back. Devin Booker contributed 37 points and eight assists for the Suns.

Embiid got that 1-2 step (via @sixers) pic.twitter.com/ihDu9lEyhh

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 3, 2019

Thunder 107 (24-13), Lakers 100 (21-17)

Paul George shook off boos from the L.A. crowd to drop 37 points and take home a road win. George stepped up despite hostility from the city that he passed on in free agency last summer. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 25 points for the Lakers.

Find someone who hypes you up like Russ (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/hr5zyYCZBF

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 3, 2019

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The post Post Up: Gordon Hayward Drops Season-High 35 Points in Win 🎯 appeared first on SLAM.

Milwaukee led by as much as 26 in the third quarter, but the Nets were able to cut the lead to single digits with 8 minutes left in the game.

When it came to winning time, however, Giannis Antetokounmpo put the game out of reach. He finished with 31 points (on 17 shots), 10 boards and 10 dimes.

Milwaukee has now won seven of their last eight games.

Rockets 108 (20-15), Pelicans 104 (16-21)

James Harden surpassed the 40-point mark for the third straight game as Houston continues to win despite having a banged up roster.

Harden finished with 41 points (on 25 shots) with 9 boards and 6 dimes in what has been one of his most impressive months of his Hall of Fame career.

Houston has now won four straight and nine of their last 10.

James Harden makes this pass look so easy (via @HoustonRockets) https://t.co/PplBjKjfT3

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 30, 2018

Hornets 126 (17-18), Wizards 130 (14-23)

Despite losing John Wall (heel) for the season and not having Otto Porter for the 10th straight game, Washington was able to gut out another win on their home floor.

Kemba Walker almost won the game for the Hornets by himself—including 24 of his game-high 47 points in the fourth—but the Wizards held on.

Trevor Ariza had 24 points, 7 boards and 9 assists.

Cavaliers 108 (8-29), Hawks 111 (11-24)

Atlanta completely blew an 11-point lead in the fourth, but managed to hold on and hand Cleveland their sixth straight L.

Both Trae Young and Vince Carter had 21 points to lead the Hawks. John Collins had 14 and 12 and a monster putback dunk at the end of the first quarter.

John Collins, folks (via @ATLHawks) pic.twitter.com/YpQ1mtbPI2

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 30, 2018

Celtics 112 (21-14), Grizzlies 103 (18-17)

Memphis built a 19-point lead in the third quarter, and completely blew it all as Boston would go on to dominate the second half.

Kyrie Irving was masterful, finishing with 26 points (on 16 shots) and 13 assists, and Jayson Tatum filled the stat sheet with 7 points, 8 boards, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Jayson Tatum FLYING for the putback dunk (via @celtics) https://t.co/SKECqZkEM6

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 30, 2018

Knicks 97 (9-28), Jazz 129 (18-19)

Utah came out aggressive, and New York played lifeless in the first half as the Jazz took a 37-point lead in to halftime.

Even with garbage time in full effect, the Jazz’ lead would balloon to 46 points in the fourth quarter.

Rudy Gobert had 25 points and 16 boards in just 25 minutes. The loss was the seventh straight for the Knicks.

Nuggets 122 (23-11), Suns 118 (9-28)

Denver outscored the Suns by 20 points in the first quarter and never looked back.

Jamal Murray was on fire from outside, hitting a career-high 9 treys on just 11 three-point attempts. The 21-year-old would finish with 46 points and 8 assists.

Suns rookie DeAndre Ayton scored 24 of his 33 points in the second quarter.

Jamal Murray SMOOTH to the basket (via @nuggets) https://t.co/LfYBQ6p5KH

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 30, 2018

Warriors 115 (24-13), Blazers 105 (20-16)

Golden State cracked open an 18-point lead in the second quarter and didn’t look back.

Strangely enough, Andre Iguodala was ejected when he threw a ball into the stands in frustration after the halftime buzzer.

Klay Thompson broke out of a shooting slump, scoring a team-high 32 points on 4-5 shooting from three. And yes, he was very pleased with his shooting hand tonight.

Wow. The refs EJECTED Andre Iguodala for throwing the ball into the stands (via @NBCSNorthwest) pic.twitter.com/tGpEvs6uhG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 30, 2018

Spurs 122 (19-17), Clippers 111 (21-14)

The Spurs did something they don’t normally do: They won on the road, and they won on the second half of a back-to-back.

DeMar DeRozan led the way with 25 points, 13 boards, 6 assists and 4 steals.

DeMar went STRONG at the rim (via @spurs) https://t.co/vfq4GbXSIR

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 30, 2018

The post Post Up: James Harden Surpasses 40 for Third Straight Game 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Boston was able to claim its eighth straigt win in a row. Kyrie Irving (24 points), Jayson Tatum (22 points) and Marcus Morris (20 points) all contributed much-needed scoring. Kevin Huerter had 19 points for Atlanta.

Kyrie is so smooth (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/tDRFi3jjYV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 15, 2018

Knicks 129 (9-21), Hornets 124 (14-14) 

Charlotte unfortunately couldn’t hold on to a lead, letting the Knicks rally from a 16-point deficit in the fourth to force overtime and ultimately win. Emmanuel Mudiay dropped 34 points and added eight assists in the win.

.@emmanuelmudiay has no fear pic.twitter.com/0umkO8NaoB

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 15, 2018

Wizards 118 (11-18), Nets 125 (12-18)

Fresh off a three-year contract extension, Spencer Dinwiddie showed up. The guard scored 27 points in 31 minutes off of the bench, adding six assists and four rebounds. Bradley Beal scored 31 points in the loss.

@SDinwiddie_25 on the key to this team bouncing back: “Players only baby! Players only film session!” https://t.co/CYgdjrSdlj

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 15, 2018

Bucks 114 (19-9), Cavaliers 102 (7-22)

Giannis Antetokounmpo tied his career high for points with 44 in Cleveland. The MVP favorite added 14 rebounds and seven assists in the win. Milwaukee led for the entire game from start to finish.

Too easy for Giannis! (via @Bucks) pic.twitter.com/QcRfrag5Vr

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 15, 2018

Pacers 113 (19-10), 76ers 101 (19-11)

Turnovers ended up costing the 76ers big time, committing 16 of them compared to the Pacers’ seven. Indiana was led by Thad Young’s 26 points. Joel Embiid had 40 points and 21 rebounds in the loss.

Big play in a BIG moment from @yungsmoove21 https://t.co/zfkXTAiK4V

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 15, 2018

Heat 100 (12-16), Grizzlies 97 (16-12)

Miami enjoyed a balanced attack, having five double-digit scorers including three of them from the bench. Josh Richardson and Kelly Olynyk led the way with 18 points. Mike Conley scored 22 points in the loss.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1073775701751255041

Thunder 98 (17-9), Nuggets 109 (18-9)

Denver came out on top in this battle of top Western Conference teams. Nikola Jokic paced his team with yet another near triple-double, registering 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Paul George contributed 32 points for OKC.

The beauty. https://t.co/wJSPoyUSaP

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 15, 2018

Raptors 122 (23-8), Blazers 128 (16-13)

Toronto fell just short on the road without their main facilitator in Kyle Lowry out due to a thigh bruise. Portland had been just 5-10 in their last 15 games but turned it up at home with an astounding eight players scoring in double digits. Kawhi Leonard led Toronto with 28 points.

MEYERS REVERSE ALLEY OOP pic.twitter.com/0G5ZdkJrVT

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 15, 2018

Warriors 130 (19-10), Kings 125 (15-12)

Golden State outscored Sacramento 17-2 in the last 3:03 of the game to pull out the comeback win. Their three top scorers did what they do best, with Steph Curry (35 points), Kevin Durant (33 points) and Klay Thompson (27 points) helping the Warriors pull a win out in the high-scoring affair. Buddy Hield put in 27 points for the Kings.

Clutch. Klay. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/H2k2fL6RuJ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 15, 2018

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The post Post Up: Giannis Antetokounmpo Ties Career High With 44 Points 💪 appeared first on SLAM.

In Saturday’s Game 6 tilt between Houston and Golden State, the Warriors forced a Game 7 as they blew away the Rockets 115-86 fueled by Klay Thompson’s 35 points, which included nine triples. Thompson once again had on his white/gold Anta KT3 while fellow “Splash Brother” Stephen Curry donned a grey colorway of his Under Armour Curry 5 as he went for 29 points. The game also saw PJ Tucker and Nick Young stunt heavy with Tucker rocking another “Oregon Duck” Nike LeBron 15 PE while Swaggy P debuted Pharrell’s latest adidas release, the “Gratitude and Empathy” BYW X.

Despite missing the game with an injury, Chris Paul still managed to turn heads with a pair of his own Air Jordan X Retro PEs while Patrick McCaw donned the “Ginger” Air Jordan XX Retro as made his return to action from a scary fall he suffered back on March 31.

Peep the rest of the weekend’s best NBA playoff kicks in our gallery below.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Playoff Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Sluggish starts plagued the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals; however, a change of scenery was all that was needed to reverse Cleveland’s fortunes in game three. The Cavs ran out to a 20-4 lead and never looked back with the Q packed 20,562 fans deep.

LeBron James led the way with 27 points and 12 assists on 8-for-12 shooting and his supporting cast rose to the occasion, too: Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, George Hill, JR Smith and Kyle Korver each scored in double-digits. That group caught fire from behind the arc, shooting 14-for-24 from 3 collectively as the Cavaliers knocked down 17 3-pointers as a unit.

The Celtics struggled to get anything going on offense, shooting just 39.2 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from behind the arc. Rookie phenom Jayson Tatum was a lone bright spot, scoring 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting.

JR SHRUG GAME (via @espnnba) pic.twitter.com/vIGYglmUSz

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 20, 2018

Unbelievable. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/FbawrzC9mv

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 20, 2018

LeBron gotta be a magician tbh (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/o584h309BA

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 20, 2018

The post Post Up: LeBron James’ Double-Double Leads Cavs To Blowout Win In Game 3 appeared first on SLAM.

Al Horford, Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier combined to score 62 points. It was Horford early on, Tatum in the third and then Rozier in the fourth as the Cs knocked out the Bucks without Jaylen Brown, who suffered a right hamstring injury in the first half.

Khris Middleton scored 32 points in the loss and Giannis Antetkounmpo provided 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists as well.

TERRY (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/WQ5XTBVgFM

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 29, 2018

Warriors 123, Pelicans 101 (Warriors lead series 1-0)

The Warriors pounced in the second quarter, piling on 41 points in those 12 minutes. They never looked back, getting 27 points from Klay Thompson, 26 points from Kevin Durant and 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists from Draymond Green.

Klay's feetwork in the post. #BarbecueChicken (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/cQ7lJliGdJ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 29, 2018

The post Post Up: Terry Rozier, Celtics Dominate Game 7 Against the Bucks appeared first on SLAM.

This wasn’t the cleanest game of the playoffs, which usually works in Boston’s favor, but it managed to stay a close one to the end of regulation. The Celtics were the aggressors early on, holding Milwaukee to 15 first quarter points and leading by 11 at the half. However, with Jayson Tatum (8 points on 2-7 shooting) and Jaylen Brown (14 points on 5-13 shooting) struggling to make shots, Boston couldn’t put Milwaukee away.

The Bucks shot just 37 percent from the field as a team, but Khris Middleton (23 points) kept them in the game with contested makes whenever they needed one. Giannis (16 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists) had a solid all-around night yet only took 10 shots and wasn’t able to get as much space as he likes offensively. Credit the return of Marcus Smart for that, at least partially.

Smart lobs it up, Horford throws it down! pic.twitter.com/tyPPXXAHd8

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 25, 2018

Jabari Parker and Eric Bledsoe (33 points combined) helped out, and Milwaukee somehow wound down 81-77 with 3:24 to play after a Bledsoe triple. But the Bucks just couldn’t get that next bucket, with missed free throws and open jumpers dooming them.

Al Horford (22 points, 14 rebounds) was probably the best player for either team. He committed six turnovers but spread the floor well, as he usually does, and bolstered Boston’s interior defense which limited what Giannis could do. The Celtics can clinch on Thursday night in Milwaukee.

76ers 104, Heat 91 (76ers win 4-1)

With Meek Mill sitting courtside as his hometown 76ers had the chance to clinch their first playoff series win since 2012, Wells Fargo Center sounded like its roof was going to burst all night long. All Brett Brown’s team needed to do was hold up its end of the bargain, which was in doubt after an even first half. The Heat even took a four-point lead a few minutes before the break.

Then, in the third quarter, Philly started to flex its muscles a bit. A 11-0 run put the 76ers in control and they went up by as much as 18 in the frame. Miami kept it a game, hanging around down 10-12 points the rest of the way, but Philly wasn’t blowing that lead. The final minutes felt like a real culmination of the Process, with fans ready to party and 76ers — namely Joel Embiid (19 points, 12 rebounds) — pumping them up even more.

Joel Embiid posts 19 PTS, 12 REB as the @sixers advance to the 2nd round!#PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/plOaPYxIve

— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2018

But it was one of Philly’s veterans — J.J. Redick (27 points) — that pushed the 76ers over the hump in a tough, physical game. It felt like he was constantly open and his off-ball movement wore Miami down as the Heat chased him through screen after screen. He made 5 of Philly’s 7 threes on a night when the 76ers shot just 25 percent from behind the arc.

It’s a frustrating end to a good season for the Heat, who withstood a lot of injuries and a letdown campaign from Hassan Whiteside to get back to the playoffs. Kelly Olynyk (18 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) did it all for Miami off the bench, while Goran Dragic (15 points) and Tyler Johnson (16 points in just 19 minutes due to foul trouble) anchored a starting lineup that got crushed by Philly’s starters. Josh Richardson was dealing with a shoulder injury that limited him to seven minutes while Whiteside and James Johnson scored a combined total of six points.

Warriors 99, Spurs 91 (Warriors win 4-1)

Without their coach and best player, there was every reason to think the Spurs were going to fold in a decisive Game 5 in Golden State. And, for awhile, it seemed as if they might. The Warriors built a double-digit lead behind big nights from Kevin Durant (25 points, 6 rebounds) and Klay Thompson (24 points) and were ahead 82-67 with 10 minutes left in the game.

Slowly but surely, as the Spurs have done forever under Gregg Popovich, San Antonio crawled back into this one. All of a sudden, a Davis Bertans triple cut the deficit to five. A minute later, the Dubs were up just 93-91 after LaMarcus Aldridge (30 points, 12 rebounds) knocked down a pair of free throws. However, it wasn’t meant to be, as KD drilled a 20-footer on the next possession. When Manu Ginobili threw a pass out of bounds right after, the comeback attempt was foiled.

LA with the bucket and the foul! pic.twitter.com/RVBLlIsjjw

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 25, 2018

Aldridge absolutely took over down the stretch and nearly led the Spurs to one of the most improbable playoff comebacks in recent memory. Patty Mills (18 points) hit some huge threes for San Antonio, which might have a very different roster come October. Draymond Green (17 points, 19 rebounds, 7 assists) did it all for Golden State on both ends of the floor. He even assisted KD on the dagger jumper.

With their series win, the Warriors will take on the Pelicans in the second round. KD and Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Steph Curry (should he come back), doesn’t get much better than that.

The post Post Up: 76ers And Warriors Advance, Celtics Sneak Past Bucks appeared first on SLAM.

As a player, the dominant power forward spent his entire career (13 seasons) with the Boston Celtics, winning three titles and making seven All-Star teams.

Since retiring in 1993, McHale has worked in the Timberwolves’ front office and as a head coach for both Minnesota (2005, 2008-09) and the Rockets (2011-15). He’s currently an analyst for TNT and NBA TV, and has been on the call for the first round playoff series between the Bucks and the Celtics.

We caught up with the basketball legend earlier this week to discuss the postseason, James Harden‘s MVP campaign, Kevin Garnett stories, and more:

SLAM: What have been your biggest takeaways from Bucks-Celtics so far?

KM: The ability of the Celtics to throw different lineups, different people, and have a lot of guys contribute. Jaylen Brown has been tremendous both games. [Terry] Rozier has been tremendous both games. [Jayson] Tatum had a huge first game, didn’t play that well in Game 2. Marcus Morris coming off the bench. Al [Horford’s] been great. There’s an art to this, and I give Brad Stevens a ton of credit. There’s an art to having four or five of these guys all playing well at one time. With some teams: if one guy plays well, the other guys suck. Like your goodness adds to my badness. And those are bad teams. Just the strength in the numbers of what the Celtics are able to do, the pace of play that they play at, their actions. They’re getting the ball from side to side. I thought they forced a lot of shots in Game 1, not as many in Game 2. But normally their offense just kind of flows.

[Giannis] Antetokounmpo is the best player on the floor, and normally when you have the best player on the floor, you have a heck of a chance to win the series. That’s always been the case. From the Bucks side, who else is going to step up? Who’s going to play well for them? [Kris] Middleton found a way to score both games, especially in the first game. He was phenomenal. I thought [Malcolm] Brogdon played really well. I thought [Eric] Bledsoe didn’t play very well and probably should know Terry Rozier’s name. The Bucks have got to find someone else. [Tony] Snell’s got to make some shots. They got to find some other players to step up and play well. Jabari Parker has to bring something.

SLAM: You mentioned Giannis – he’s had two great games so far. Watching him up close in the postseason, what are your thoughts? 

KM: Any kind of open court, any kind of free flowing [situation] when the defense can’t get set, he’s almost un-guardable. The amount of ground with every stride that he covers is amazing. His ability to take it in and make a lot of and-ones going to the hole. He’s just impressive. He gets it up on the glass. He’s got a nice little touch. Jump shot is not where it needs to be, but he’ll improve some. I think other people running with him, getting out in front, would allow him to maybe play-make more in the open court. Because in the open court, it just doesn’t seem like he has guys up there running with him, where he can pass as an option. He’s kind of taking it 1-on-2, 1-on-3. His ability in the open court is really truly phenomenal. Harden, who I coached, was amazing. Any time he got in an open court situation you felt very comfortable that he would get fouled or score. LeBron James with his ability to bully you. Russell Westbrook with his explosiveness. Giannis is right there with those guys in the open court.

SLAM: Games 1 and 2 were at TD Garden. What is it like for you to be back there, especially during the playoffs?

KM: Honestly, for me, the most enjoyment I had is the day between the games I went over to the Celtics’ practice facility and sat down with [Director of Player Personnel] Austin Ainge – not Danny [Ainge], not his old man. But his kid is a hell of a lot more fun than Danny [laughs]. And just talked basketball while guys come in and out. Guys I know and guys I’ve known for a long time. It’s just kind of a revolving door in Danny’s office for the next four or five hours in the afternoon. Brad [Stevens] comes in for awhile, and we tell stories. I think Brad is mortified at how renegade-ish our teams were back in the 1980s [laughs].

It’s just a flood of people coming in. Austin’s in there and then Danny. It’s like a five-hour BS fest. That to me is by far my most enjoyable time of being out there. Just hanging out with friends…and just talking ball. Brad’s such a good coach and does such a great job for them. Getting Brad’s thoughts on the game and stuff – it’s all very interesting to me. Danny is a phenomenal talent evaluator, a phenomenal GM. I don’t think there’s anybody better in the game than Danny. It was fun just to sit there and reminisce about stuff.

SLAM: You spent time with the Wolves’ organization. I’m curious what advice you would give to big man Karl-Anthony Towns right now, given how much he has struggled through his first two playoff games.

KM: Attack. Just attack. Put your head down and attack. Drive, attack. Get the ball, attack. Attack the offensive glass. Sprint the floor. Nothing makes you feel better as a big guy than a couple tip-ins on the offensive glass, a run out ahead, a dunk or two just because you’re sprinting on the play and [Andrew] Wiggins drives left and they cut him off with [Clint] Capela and he drops it off for a slam dunk. Any of that stuff…

He’s got to be aggressive. You don’t want to go down shooting one-legged fade-aways. He’s going to have to be way, way, way, way more aggressive in everything he does. But not only him – everybody on the team. Everything they do has got to be faster and harder.

SLAM: Have you noticed any changes to Harden’s game from when you coached him that have sparked his incredible success this season?

KM: I think he’s gotten better at a lot of different things. His shooting has improved every year. He has a shooting routine where he takes a ton of shots every single day. And that little step back three is almost un-guardable. If he’s making that, you’re just in a world of hurt. And you know, [the Rockets] play a game [that helps]. James is one of those guys: the more he dribbles, the more comfortable he gets. In Game 1 – I was talking to one of my buddies who’s with the Timberwolves – [Harden] had 44 points and I think he had seven or eight possessions where he dribbled it over 25 times himself. Klay Thompson doesn’t dribble it 25 times in a month [laughs]. James gets into his thing and his one-on-one game. He draws fouls. He does stuff. Teams that have done the best against James have made him make quick decisions. They push up on him.

SLAM: Is Harden your pick for MVP?

KM: Yeah, I think Harden is definitely the MVP. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. You could make a case for LeBron, there’s no question. But I think Harden is the MVP this year.

SLAM: Do you believe the Rockets are the favorite to win a title?

KM: Yeah I do. I’ve said it about Golden State doing their games – The pace at which they run their offense, and Steph [Curry’s] been out I know that, hasn’t been at the pace that it’s been at the last couple years. Their offense is a bit slower to me. The cuts aren’t as quick and decisive. The passing has not been boom, boom, boom – where you’re chasing them at all times. And their defense hasn’t been as good. [Andre] Iguodala is a year older. [Shaun] Livingston, all those guys. Livingston and Iguodala used to come in and change games left and right. They would put lineups out there where they would just switch and get up into you and get deflections…I haven’t seen their defense at that level.

And the one thing that you can’t do – you can’t will yourself to be healthy. If Steph’s healthy, he’ll be healthy. But you really can’t go out there and will yourself to it. If you haven’t been healthy all year, which they haven’t been as a team, what’s to say you’re going to get healthy now? Just because you need it? You can’t will that. So there’s a lot of question marks.

SLAM: You’re really close with Kevin Garnett from your time in Minnesota. Do you have a favorite KG story? 

KM: Oh god [laughs]. I remember this one time I’m 37, 38-years-old. Kevin’s a rookie. He comes in my office and says, I’m gonna come back tonight at midnight. Come on we’ll work out. I looked at him like, I am not working out at midnight [laughs]. I’m here from like 9 in the morning to like 4 in the afternoon, any time in there I’m good. But I am not coming at midnight. And I was just laughing because he was such a hard worker.

The first practice we had [when KG was a rookie]. He got done. He was laying on the ground. He had given everything. And he was laying there and I’m like, oh my gosh, we have practice tonight [also]. He’s laying down, he’s just breathing heavy. I go, you know we go again at five. He says, I know, I know, I know. I’m thinking, OK, there’s no way this kid is going to be able to put that much energy into tonight’s practice. I go to the trainer: you got to get fluids in him. We may have to hold him out tonight.

He did the same exact thing that night – Laying on the ground after that practice. He did the same thing the next morning, and the next night while we had two-a-days. He leaves it on the floor like that as a rookie in training camp – That impressed me. He literally had nothing left at the end of practice every single day. The energy that that guy had to put into basketball – I’ve seen guys work really hard, I’ve never seen anybody work harder [than KG].

SLAM: To pivot to your playing days, do you have a favorite postseason memory?

KM: I think, honestly, just the vibe of the playoffs, and the excitement of playing in it. The arduous part of the season is over, you’re not having back-to-backs, the travel schedule eases up, and every game really means something. And it’s really, really fun. I don’t know if I have one memory that stands out, but just the feel of going into the playoffs. The feel of going into every big game. The butterflies driving to the game when you just can’t wait to get there. You got all that nervous energy flowing through your body. And the funny thing is, you have all these [emotions]. You worry about all this stuff. You got the anxiety, the butterflies. And the ball goes up and it all goes away. You just focus and play. All that crap goes away, and you’re just at a heightened sense of awareness so you play so well. Because you’re there. All the anticipation was a sign to me that I was ready to go. I miss that.

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The post Kevin McHale Talks NBA Playoffs, James Harden, And Favorite KG Story appeared first on SLAM.

John Wall returned for his first game in two months and made an impact right away with 15 points and 14 assists to lead the Wizards to a win and, officially, a spot in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Otto Porter Jr. had 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Bradley Beal scored 22 more. The Hornets were led by Dwight Howard, who scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds, while newly crowned franchise scoring leader Kemba Walker struggled with just seven points, two assists, and four turnovers.

Marcin with the (via @WashWizards) pic.twitter.com/ErsRAYJoXd

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) March 31, 2018

Pistons 115 (36-40), Knicks 109 (27-50)

The Pistons are almost certainly not headed toward the playoffs, but they stayed alive mathematically with their fourth straight win on Saturday, this one coming in New York. Andre Drummond had 22 points and 17 rebounds to lead the way as all five Pistons starters scored in double figures and all 10 who played scored. Michael Beasley had 32 for a Knicks team that has now lost three in a row and five out of six. Blake Griffin once again sat out with a bone bruise that figures to keep him sidelined for at least a week.

BEASLEY WITH THE POSTER! (via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/KFDdMqR7wT

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) March 31, 2018

Celtics 110 (53-23), Raptors 99 (55-21)

The Celtics pulled to within two games of the Raptors for the top seed in the East with six games remaining thanks to 25 points from Marcus Morris and 24 from Jayson Tatum. The two teams will play again Wednesday, this time in Toronto. The Celtics trailed by two going into the fourth quarter and the game was tied with 5:26 to play before Boston went on a 10-0 run to put the game away. DeMar DeRozan had 32 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in the loss.

Baynes Jaylen pic.twitter.com/otVXTGJ9LB

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 1, 2018

Nets 110 (25-51), Heat 109 (OT) (41-36)

Dwyane Wade missed what would have been the game-winner — a layup that seemingly hung on the rim for minutes — as the Nets escaped with a road win in overtime. Wade thought he got fouled on the play and Hassan Whiteside complained after the game about how little he played down the stretch. All in all, it was an ugly evening for a Heat team that missed an opportunity to wrap up a playoff spot. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 20 to lead seven Nets players in double figures.

WOW @CARISLEVERT pic.twitter.com/xpn6QoM5KX

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 1, 2018

Warriors 112 (55-21), Kings 96 (24-53)

Kevin Durant had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Klay Thompson scored 25 in his return to the lineup to lead the Warriors over the Kings. But while Golden State got Thompson back, it lost Patrick McCaw in a scary moment late in the third quarter. After converting on a layup, McCaw appeared to be undercut by Vince Carter. McCaw stayed on the ground for several minutes and needed to leave on a stretcher. He is headed to the hospital for further evaluation, according to the team. Buddy Hield led the Kings with 19 points.

JaVale! (@NBCSAuthentic) pic.twitter.com/pYtnPQn1dJ

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 1, 2018

The post Post Up: John Wall Returns As Wizards Clinch Playoff Berth appeared first on SLAM.

The Celtics spoiled Isaiah Thomas’s return to Boston thanks to 20 points from Terry Rozier and 15 each from Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart. Thomas played his first game of the season for Cleveland on Tuesday night and rested on Wednesday as he watched his current team battle his former team. LeBron James had 19 to lead Cleveland, but the Cavs shot just 35 percent for the game.

Easy to forget he’s a rookie. (via @celtics) pic.twitter.com/dRpgyT5FsN

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) January 4, 2018

Wizards 121 (22-16), Knicks 103 (18-20)

Bradley Beal scored 27 points and John Wall had 25 as the Wizards handed the Knicks their sixth loss in seven games. The Wizards led by one at halftime before a 26-14 third quarter opened things up. Michael Beasley scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, but the Knicks never drew closer than 15 points in the final quarter. Marcin Gortat also had 21 for Washington on 9-10 shooting.

HELLO. @JohnWall #NBAVote #WizKnicks pic.twitter.com/2We2HThIDK

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 4, 2018

Rockets 116 (27-9), Magic 98 (12-27)

Gerald Green scored 27 points to help the James Harden-less Rockets to their second straight win. Green hit his first five three-point attempts and finished the game 7-10 from deep in a game that was never really close. The Magic scored just 12 points in the first quarter and were led by Aaron Gordon, who had 16.

7-0 run for the squad #Rockets lead 80-52. #RunAsOne pic.twitter.com/5nPfAUabRf

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 4, 2018

76ers 112 (18-19), Spurs 106 (26-13)

The 76ers initially ruled Joel Embiid out of this one, but Embiid played through it and Philly was glad he did. He scored 21 to go with 11 rebounds while Ben Simmons had 26 more in the win. Patty Mills led the Spurs with 26 points.

LOOK OUT BELOW#NBAVOTE @JOELEMBIID pic.twitter.com/TyLqnTcap0

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 4, 2018

Nets 98 (15-23), Timberwolves 97 (24-15)

Spencer Dinwiddie‘s basket with 10 seconds to go gave the Nets a thrilling win in Brooklyn. Dinwiddie finished with 26 points to go with nine assists as the Nets won their second straight. Joe Harris also had 17 off the bench. Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 30 points.

OK JARRETT pic.twitter.com/G7XNMH1pLm

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 4, 2018

Heat 111 (20-17), Pistons 104 (20-16)

The Heat didn’t trail in the fourth quarter, despite going into the final frame tied, thanks to a few key buckets from Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk finished with game highs in points (25) and rebounds (13) to help get the Heat to three games over .500 for the first time since April 2016. Tobias Harris had 19 to lead the Pistons.

Did the net even move? pic.twitter.com/MFqntRJU0M

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 4, 2018

Raptors 124 (26-10), Bulls 115 (13-25)

Two days after his career-high 52-point performance, DeMar DeRozan scored 35 more to lead the Raptors over the Bulls. Toronto trailed by 10 after the first quarter as DeRozan got off to a slow start, but his 18-point third-quarter proved to be the difference. Justin Holiday shot 7-10 and scored 26 points for the Bulls.

Double team? No problem. #RTZ pic.twitter.com/0wr2lnbAuU

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 4, 2018

Bucks 122 (20-16), Pacers 101 (19-19)

Giannis Antetokounmpo set the tone early, scoring 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first half to help Milwaukee build a 10-point lead at the break. The Bucks shot 59 percent for the game en route to their third win in four tries. Domantas Sabonis led the Pacers with 24 on 10-13 shooting. Indiana was playing without Victor Oladipo, who missed his fourth-straight game with a knee injury.

Giannis first half summary: (via @bucks) pic.twitter.com/fm18ABdX3Q

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) January 4, 2018

Warriors 125 (30-8), Mavericks 122 (13-26)

Steph Curry‘s three with three seconds to go lifted the Warriors to a thrilling win on the road. It came seconds after a Harrison Barnes layup tied it, completing a late comeback for Dallas. Curry finished with 32 points, while Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson had 25 each. Wesley Matthews had 22 and Dwight Powell had 21 for Dallas.

Steph. Curry. Was there any doubt???? (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/sxyWi6tL4U

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) January 4, 2018

Nuggets 134 (20-17), Suns 111 (15-25)

Gary Harris‘s 36 points on 14-17 shooting was more than enough for a Nuggets team that shot 62 percent and held Phoenix to just 42 percent. In total, seven Denver players scored in double figures, including Trey Lyles, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Devin Booker had 17 to lead the Suns.

Tell your friends:

We’re a fun basketball team. pic.twitter.com/m68NwoSshT

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 4, 2018

Pelicans 108 (19-18), Jazz 98 (16-22)

Jrue Holiday scored 18 points in the first half and Anthony Davis finished with 29-and-15 to lead the Pelicans over Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz. Mitchell had 24 points but it was not enough to overcome 14 made threes from New Orleans. DeMarcus Cousins chipped in a double-double for the Pelicans (19 points, 11 rebounds) while Joe Johnson had 20 for Utah.

Closing it out. @boogiecousins | #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/FunjDRB7xx

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 4, 2018

Thunder 133 (20-17), Lakers 96 (11-25)

A 37-18 second quarter was all Oklahoma City needed to get going and run away with the win in the evening’s final contest. Four Thunder players scored 20-or-more points, led by Paul George and Terrance Ferguson, who had 24 each. As a team, OKC shot 60 percent from the field and went 14-30 from three. Kyle Kuzma had 18 to lead the Lakers, who also committed 17 turnovers.

PG hits the jumper, gives dad a hug (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/Yx0QQJGngM

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) January 4, 2018

The post Post Up: All Green appeared first on SLAM.

In a matchup of the NBA’s two young unicorns, Joel Embiid stole the show with a 25-point, 16-rebound performance to lead Philly to a W at MSG. The win snapped the 76ers’ five-game losing streak. Embiid and Kristaps Porzingis (22 points, 7 rebounds) both played well but Embiid’s late corner three put the Knicks away.

KP wasn’t even the best Knick on the floor, as Enes Kanter (31 points, 22 rebounds) dominated the paint and the glass in his most impressive game in a Knicks uniform. The Knicks shot just 40 percent from the field and everyone other than Courtney Lee (20 points) really struggled from three.

JJ Redick, who has been limited by injury for the last couple of weeks, made a bunch of big shots down the stretch en route to an efficient 24 points on 10 shots. Rookie of the Year candidate Ben Simmons wasn’t able to get going on offense but his steal and fast break jam in the fourth quarter swung momentum back in Philly’s favor.

And he just did it again! Just might be the dagger (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/8z1qAlMwGy

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 25, 2017

Warriors 99 (27-7), Cavaliers 92 (24-10)

The annual Finals rematch was without a few key stars — mainly Steph Curry and Isaiah Thomas — but it was still a close one right to the end. Kevin Love (31 points, 18 rebounds) led the way for the Cavs as LeBron was uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball, committing seven turnovers. He was also blocked on a few late-game drives by Kevin Durant that featured a lot of hard contact, yet no foul calls.

Mark Jackson: “That’s a foul. Can I get a amen?”

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 25, 2017

KD was incredible, dropping 25 to go with seven boards and five blocks. He and Klay Thompson (24 points, 7 rebounds) were the Warriors’ big scorers in a game mostly decided by big defensive stands as opposed to sparkling offensive plays. Cleveland shot just 32 percent from the field but made 15 threes to stick around.

Wizards 111 (19-15), Celtics 103 (27-10)

Another back-and-forth affair on a Christmas filled with close games. Washington led for much of the first three quarters behind its dominant backcourt of John Wall (21 points, 14 assists) and Bradley Beal (25 points, 8 rebounds) before the Celtics took a five-point lead midway through the final frame on a Kyrie triple.

Highlights time! Bradley Beal led the way in our #NBAXmas win with 25 points. Here are his buckets.

RT to #NBAVote! #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/LTzhHZYez3

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 26, 2017

Then Wall, Beal and Kelly Oubre Jr combined for a 12-0 run that regained the lead for the Wizards and put this one out of reach. Oubre added 16 points off the bench. Kyrie and Jayson Tatum (20 points each) got their scoring done and the Celtics shot over 48 percent as a team, but they committed 16 turnovers which allowed the Wiz to take 12 more field goals attempts and 11 more free throws. That would be the difference.

Thunder 112 (19-15), Rockets 107 (25-7)

It seems like the Thunder is finally getting into a groove. After 30 or so games of up-and-down play filled with confusing losses and big wins, OKC is beginning to look like the star-powered team Sam Presti put together on paper this summer. Russ (31 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists), Paul George (24 points) and Melo (20 points) were on the same page offensively and Steven Adams (15 points, 10 rebounds) did his thing down low.

On the other side, James Harden (29 points on 7-of-18 shooting, 8 rebounds, 14 assists) got his points but did so in a much less efficient way than Mike D’Antoni would like. With the Thunder shooting over 54 percent from the field, just Harden to that output was a win. Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon (20 points each) helped bear the scoring burden but it wasn’t enough and the Rockets had no answer for the Thunder’s Big Three.

“Unbelievable day” @russwest44 after the night win over . Thunder’s 5th straight. Longest current streak of W’s in Western Conf. #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/HDoENRn28B

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 26, 2017

Timberwolves 121 (21-13), Lakers 104 (11-21)

L.A. didn’t have both Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram due to injury, forcing Kyle Kuzma (31 points in 41 minutes) into the starting lineup and the unquestioned No. 1 role on offense. He did about as good as possible considering that Minnesota threw Taj Gibson on him most of the day. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Lakers kept having to come back from deficits and, eventually, ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. Julius Randle was effective off the bench, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 19 minutes.

11-0 run, that’s quite a chunk!
Courtesy of this KAT thunderous dunk! pic.twitter.com/ihqGiJLVTs

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 26, 2017

As for Thibs’ squad, the concern about the elevated minutes of guys like Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns is still there but the on-court issues from the start of the season have worked themselves out on both ends of the floor. Five Timberwolves scored 16+ points, with Butler (23 points, 8 assists) and Towns (21 points, 10 rebounds) serving as the focal points. Each played 40 or minutes too though, which is a worry for Minnesota as the postseason draws closer. For now, things are pretty good for the Northwest Division’s leading team.

The post Post Up: Christmas Feastin’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Cavs trailed by nine at the half and by five going into the fourth quarter, but LeBron James hit a critical three with 16 seconds to go to keep Cleveland’s winning streak alive. LeBron was, simply, LeBron on Wednesday, nearly pouring on a triple-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Zach Randolph had 18 points and 10 boards for the Kings. The Cavs have now matched a franchise record with 13 consecutive wins.

LeClutch. (via @cavs) pic.twitter.com/FM09pkgAxj

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 7, 2017

Pacers 98 (14-11), Bulls 96 (3-20)

Victor Oladipo‘s three with 31 seconds left gave Indiana a one-point lead as the Pacers overcame a 14-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter to win. Indiana used a 13-2 run midway through the final quarter to draw close, but did not go ahead for the first time until Oladipo’s late heroics. He finished with a game-high 27 points, but did miss a free throw in the final seconds. While that didn’t make a difference on the scoreboard, it meant Oladipo had to put in some extra work postgame. Kris Dunn had 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists to lead the Bulls.

This @VicOladipo sequence gave us the lead for good.#PacersWin pic.twitter.com/xVDl9q9Awn

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 7, 2017

Magic 110 (11-15), Hawks 106 (5-19) (OT)

Not to be out-done by the Pacers and Cavs, the Magic used a three from D.J. Augustin with six seconds left in regulation to force overtime, where they eventually handed the Hawks their 19th loss. The two teams went back-and-forth in the extra session until Elfrid Payton put Orlando ahead for good on a dunk with 1:36 to go. The Magic eventually went up by five and held on, answering every Atlanta basket. Evan Fournier had 27 and was one of three Orlando players with 20-or-more points. Dennis Schroder had 26 for the Hawks.

From a spot on the floor far, far away, D.J. Augustin sends us to OVERTIME!

: @FOXSportsFL pic.twitter.com/6SW6No6R8T

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 7, 2017

Knicks 99 (12-12), Grizzlies 88 (8-16)

Kristaps Porzingis returned and scored 18 points, while Courtney Lee had a game-high 24 to make up for the still-absent Tim Hardaway Jr. Lee’s performance provided a nice lift for a team that came into the night having lost five of its last six. Marc Gasol had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Memphis.

Steal + Slam pic.twitter.com/WS9C0KK4p6

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 7, 2017

Celtics 97 (22-4), Mavericks 90 (7-18)

The Celtics opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to take a lead they never relinquished and earn their fourth win in a row. Kyrie Irving led the way with 23 points on 10-18 shooting, while Al Horford and Jayson Tatum each had 17. Harrison Barnes had 19 to lead the Mavericks.

Irving with the english! pic.twitter.com/0cWILi6FM2

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 7, 2017

Warriors 101 (20-6), Hornets 87 (9-14)

Kevin Durant‘s triple-double (35 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) was more than enough as the short-handed Warriors won their fifth in a row and improved to 12-3 on the road. With Stephen Curry and Draymond Green both nursing injuries, Durant got the Warriors going early with a little help from Klay Thompson, who pitched in with 22 points. Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 24.

Bucks 104 (13-10), Pistons 100 (14-10)

The Bucks started the fourth quarter on a 14-1 run to break a tie and take control on Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s 23rd birthday. The Greek Freak celebrated in style with 25 points and 10 rebounds, leading six Bucks players in double figures. For the Pistons, Andre Drummond had another 20-20 game, this time with 27 points (12-16 shooting) and 20 boards.

Just call it a pass to Giannis (via @bucks) pic.twitter.com/oSHgvCixFP

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 7, 2017

Pelicans 123 (13-12), Nuggets 114 (13-11)

There have been two 40-point, 20-rebound performances this season in the NBA. DeMarcus Cousins has both of them. Boogie went for 40 and 22 on Wednesday to lead a Pelicans team still playing without Anthony Davis. As for the Nuggets, Gary Harris led the way with 24 points.

Boogie’s doing work in New Orleans!

He tallies a double-double (19 PTS, 10 REBS) in the first half!

Halftime: #DoItBig 67 / #MileHighBasketball 66 pic.twitter.com/3GLsxNS8W2

— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2017

Spurs 117 (17-8), Heat 105 (11-13)

The Spurs shot 53 percent and seven players scored in double figures as they used a balanced attack to beat the Heat. LaMarcus Aldridge led the way with 18 points while Bryn Forbes (17) and Rudy Gay (16) were close behind. Tyler Johnson had 25 and Dion Waiters had 22 for the Heat. It was San Antonio’s eight-straight win over Miami.

That Manu step-back is art (via @spurs) pic.twitter.com/MhBxE7KyLw

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 7, 2017

Timberwolves 113 (15-11), Clippers 107 (8-15)

Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 12 rebounds to notch his league-high 20th double-double on the season. He and Taj Gibson (16 points, 14 rebounds) led all five Timberwolves starters in double figures as Minnesota handed the Clippers their fourth loss in a row. Austin Rivers and Lou Williams each had 23 points for the Clippers, while DeAndre Jordan had 18 points and 21 rebounds.

I’m all the way up pic.twitter.com/Sg8biJgfDU

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 7, 2017

The post Post Up: In The Clutch appeared first on SLAM.

That 0-2 start for the Celtics seems so long ago. Boston won its 10th straight game despite playing shorthanded — Al Horford missed the game and is in concussion protocol, and Jayson Tatum left in the first half with an apparent ankle injury. In their absence, Aron Baynes stepped up, leading the Celtics with 21 points, while Kyrie Irving had 19. The Celtics shot just 39 percent for the game and 24 percent from three, but forced 21 Laker turnovers. Brandon Ingram had 18 points and seven rebounds for LA, but Lonzo Ball struggled again, scoring nine points on just 4-15 shooting.

The Celtics welcomed Paul Pierce back to Boston with a video tribute in the first quarter. The team will retire his jersey in February.

When Kyrie does this, what more can defenses do? pic.twitter.com/zws7xfSGts

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 9, 2017

Magic 112 (7-4), Knicks 99 (6-5)

The Knicks, playing the second day of a back-to-back, were without Kristaps Porzingis, as the Magic pulled away in the fourth quarter to snap a two-game skid. Elfrid Payton returned to the lineup for Orlando after sitting out the last eight games, and made his presence felt to the tune of 11 points and 11 assists. Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, and Nikola Vucevic all had 20-plus-point games, while Tim Hardaway Jr led all scorers with 26. The Knicks, however, committed 23 turnovers.

We missed this. pic.twitter.com/fcisichpFd

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 9, 2017

Pistons 114 (8-3), Pacers 97 (5-7)

Andre Drummond did what he does best, scoring 14 points and grabbing 21 rebounds to lead the Pistons to their sixth win in seven games. Detroit outscored the Pacers by 15 in the second quarter to lead by seven at the half. The Pistons took control of the game in the third quarter with a 13-0 run which sent the Pacers spiraling to their fourth straight loss. Victor Oladipo had 21 to lead the Pacers, while Tobias Harris had 23 points to lead all scorers and shot 5-9 from three.

The pass
The finish
(via @DetroitPistons) pic.twitter.com/U1JrbKw5RV

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) November 9, 2017

Heat 126 (5-6), Suns 115 (4-8)

Goran Dragic had 29 points and the Heat never trailed, pulling out an 11-point road win. But that’s not to say that Miami coasted. The Heat led by just eight heading into the fourth quarter and gained some breathing room by opening the final period with seven unanswered points. Miami shot 53 percent for the game and scored a season-high 69 points in the first half. Devin Booker had 30 points in the loss to lead all scorers.

Warriors 125 (9-3), Timberwolves 101 (7-4)

The Warriors, playing without Kevin Durant, outscored the Timberwolves by 18 in the third quarter to turn a tight game into a comfortable victory. This was Golden State’s fifth consecutive win and its second in a four-game home-stand. The Warriors shot 57 percent for the game and made 15 threes with Klay Thompson leading the way (28 points, 6-12 3PT). Andrew Wiggins had 17 for the Timberwolves, who shot just 5-24 from three.

Fly like a bird pic.twitter.com/DrJfNVi7DY

— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) November 9, 2017

The post Post Up: 10 in a Row appeared first on SLAM.

Abdel’s journey to the NBA included many stops along the way. He was born in Egypt, and moved to the United States as a young kid. After two seasons at Northern Illinois, he transferred to Iowa State, where he helped the Cyclones secure a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament his senior season. Still, Nader was not on the radar of most NBA scouts. Boston chose him with the 58th overall pick in 2016, and he hasn’t looked back since.

We caught up with Nader to talk about his journey to securing a deal with the Celtics and being the second Egyptian-born player in the NBA.

SLAM: How great did it feel to sign your first NBA contract?

Abdel Nader: It’s am amazing feeling. When you work for something your whole entire life and you’re able to achieve that goal, it’s really satisfying, and I was really excited to get that done. But now, there’s more doors I have to open and goals I have to achieve.

SLAM: Have you had a chance to get in the gym with any of your new teammates this summer?

AN: Yeah, I’ve been in the gym with a couple of the rookies, just getting some early training in. And some of the older guys have trickled in here and there. We played some open gyms. I’m getting used to it.

SLAM: What was your experience like last season playing with the Maine Red Claws?

AN: It was great. I took it as a challenge going in to be like, you’re in the G League and hopefully going to sign with the Celtics the following year, which ended up happening. I just took it as a challenge, put my heart in it, and was willing to learn and get better. And I think I did a great job of that, just getting better overall. The mental aspect, the physical things, the skill set…I sharpened up a lot of things. I had to.

SLAM: A lot of people didn’t expect someone picked 58th overall to make such a big impact. Did you think you were going to win Rookie of the Year?

AN: To be honest, I wanted to be the MVP. You can ask my agent, I went into the G League season telling him, I’m winning this MVP. I think I was the runner-up, so I’m still kind of disappointed about that.

SLAM: How do you imagine your game translating to the NBA level? 

AN: I’m versatile. I can play on the ball or off. I can play the four. I can do a lot of things. On the other end, I can guard one through four. I’ve made some strides, and I’m going to keep making them.

SLAM: What position do you expect to get the most time at?

AN: Probably one of the wings. That’s naturally what I am. But I have had a lot of reps, especially in Maine, playing the 1. I played the 1 down there almost the whole season, so hopefully I’ll get some opportunity to be on the ball too.

SLAM: Who’s your NBA player comparison?

AN: That’s tough. I haven’t thought about it much. Some of the guys I like watching the past couple years have been LeBron James, Klay Thompson, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant. Bigger wing players especially.

SLAM: You and Jayson Tatum were getting buckets together in the Summer League. What do you think about his skillset and potential?

AN: Jayson is an amazing talent overall. Very versatile, like a lot of the guys we have, can play multiple positions, can shoot it, can put it on the floor, he’s really good at getting to the rim. I think he’s going to be a special guy in the NBA.

SLAM: Who was the hardest player you had to defend in the Summer League?

AN: Probably Dante Exum. He’s very good at coming off ball screens downhill, always knowing what shots are available and making the right read. He’s really good at doing all that.

SLAM: Isaiah Thomas was picked at the end of the second round like you. Isaiah loves to remind people about that. He uses it as motivation and a chip on his shoulder. Do you look at it like that as well, or is being the 58^th pick way behind you?

AN: Absolutely. I wasn’t a highly talked about kid coming out of college either. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for getting drafted by the Boston Celtics. They gave me one of the best opportunities of my life. At the same time, a lot of guys think because they got drafted above you or they were a lottery pick, they’re better than you automatically, which is not the case. At the end of the day we all play in the same league, so that’s how I look at it.

SLAM: You’re the second Egyptian-born player to ever play in the NBA. What does that mean to you?

AN: To be honest, I never knew that until a couple weeks ago someone told me. I represent Egypt, and I want to represent Egypt in a positive way to benefit people as much as possible. But I’m a basketball player. I don’t like to put a label on myself and say I’m the second Egyptian player ever in the League. I’m just a basketball player.

Photos via Getty Images

The post Abdel Nader on G League ROY, Summer League, and Signing With Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

Frank Jackson, Lone Peak (UT), 6-3, PG, 2016, Duke: 49 points, (16-40 FG), 9 rebounds, 3 steals vs St. Francis (GA)

Jayson Tatum, Chaminade (MO), 6-8, SF, 2016, Duke: 40 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks vs DeMatha (MD)

Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (CA), 6-6, PG, 2016, UCLA: 15 points, 10 rebounds , 22 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks vs High Point (NC)

Mustapha Hero, Sacred Heart (CT), 6-5, SG, 2016, Auburn: 31 points, 10 rebounds vs Foothills Christian (CA)

TJ Leaf, Foothills Christian (CA), 6-10, PF, 2016, UCLA: 30 points (13-18 FG), 10 rebounds, 7 assists vs Sacred Heart (CA)

Markus Howard, Findlay Prep (NV), 5-11, PG, 2017, Undecided: 25 points (10-20 FG, 5-12 3pt) vs Athlete Institute (CAN)

VJ King, Paul VI (VA), 6-6, SF, 2016, Louisville: 23 points (7-14 FG, 8-10 FT), 6 rebounds vs St. Joseph (NJ)

Kobi Simmons, St. Francis (GA), 6-5, PG, 2016, Arizona: 34 points (9-19 FG, 4-10 3pt), 11 rebounds, 9 assists vs Lone Peak (UT)

Bruce Brown, Vermont Academy (VT), 6-4, SG, 2016, Miami: 37 points (15-24 FG, 3-7 3pt), 8 rebounds vs Brewster Academy (NH)

Brian Bowen, LaLumiere (IN), 6-7, SF, 2017, Undecided: 29 points (10-18 FG), 5 rebounds vs The Patrick School (NJ)

Hamidou Diallo, Putnam Science (CT), 6-4, PG, 2017, Undecided: 30 points (10-17 FG), 11 rebounds vs Commonwealth Academy (MA)

Simi Shittu, Montverde Academy (FL), C, 2018, Undecided: 24 points, 10 rebounds vs Sierra Canyon (CA)

Nick Rakocevic, St. Joseph (IL), 6-10, PF, 2016, Undecided: 23 points, 18 rebounds, 5 blocks vs Catholic Memorial (MA)

Cody Riley, Sierra Canyon (CA), 6-8, PF, 2017, Undecided: 25 points, 17 rebounds vs Montverde Academy (FL)

Taurean Thompson, Brewster Academy (NH), 6-10, PF, 2016, Undecided: 23 points (7-13 FG), 16 rebounds vs Vermont Academy

Markelle Fultz, DeMatha Catholic (MD), 6-3, PG, 2016, Washington: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals vs Chaminade (MO)

The post 2016 Spalding Hoophall Classic Top Performers (PHOTOS) appeared first on SLAM.

For certain active players yet to play in an All-Star Game, there is always a chance they’ll be selected in upcoming seasons (players like David Lee, Josh Smith, Chris Kaman, Andre Iguodala, Monta Ellis, Al Jefferson…). This is a story, however, about players who were unjustly left out for the duration of their career, and will never have the opportunity to play because they have long since retired.

We cannot rewrite history, but we can retroactively honor those players who deserved to be part of the spectacle that is the All-Star Game. Here’s my all-time list of the best retired players who never made an All-Star game appearance: Drazen Petrovic, Eddie Johnson (not to be confused with a player of the same name who was a two time All-Star for the Atlanta Hawks in the beginning of ’80s), Derek Harper, Byron Scott, Rod Strickland, Ron Harper, Cedric Maxwell, Purvis Short, Phil Ford, Orlando Woolridge, Sam Perkins, Toni Kukoc. Regarding active players most egregiously snubbed by All-Star selection throughout their professional careers, four names stand out to me: Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Mike Bibby and Lamar Odom.

In considering all the aforementioned players, I have to mention first my countryman, the late Drazen Petrovic, who left us too soon at the age of 28. Drazen was particularly deserving of playing in the 1993 All-Star game, hosted in Salt Lake City. He was at the peak of his powers that season, averaging 23.4 ppg while also shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 49.6 percent from the three-point line (best in the League) at the time the All-Star reserves were announced. Petrovic was the only player not to be selected to the All-Star game amongst the NBA’s top 15 scorers in 1993. Why? Some strange circumstances conspired together. Firstly, though there are usually at least five guards on each team, in 1993, besides the two guards elected by the fans — Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas – the NBA coaches picked only two backups, namely Detroit’s Joe Dumars and Cleveland’s Mark Price. If the normal five guards had been picked, Petrovic likely would have made the team.

“I really thought I deserved to be on, the same way Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson had a good shot. I think a team like Cleveland, they have three guys on the team and New Jersey doesn’t have any, that is not correct,” said Petrovic to the New York Times. Later in the interview, when asked if New Jersey’s history of futility worked against the team’s candidates for the All-Star game, Petrovic said, “I think so. We’ve been losing for six years and people say, ‘Aww, who is that? The New Jersey Nets?’ Politics was a big key because Cleveland, we beat them twice this year. But that’s life.”

I continue to be perplexed that Cleveland — a team they had twice beaten at that point — ended up with three players on the All-Star team that year. At the moment when All-Star reserves were announced, Cleveland had 25 wins and 18 losses while the Nets’ record stood at 25 wins and 19 losses. Almost identical records, yet the Cavs had three players in the All-Star Game (Mark Price, Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance) and the Nets zero. That makes absolutely no sense. Sadly, 1993 would be Drazen’s last year in the NBA, just as he was maturing into a dynamic scorer. Indeed, at season’s end, Petrovic was recognized with 3rd Team All-NBA honors. Sadly, however, on June 7 1993 he was tragically killed in a car accident. He had just completed his fourth season in the NBA.

“I never in my life saw anyone who wanted to succeed in the NBA more than Drazen,” said current Celtics GM Danny Ainge, who was a teammate of Petrovic’s with the Portland Trail Blazers. That’s why Drazen’s omission from the 1993 All-Star was truly so difficult to take, because of all the hard work he had put in.

Beyond Nowitzki’s consistent position amongst the Western Conference’s All-Stars, it has remained difficult for Europeans striving for All-Star recognition. Vlade Divac played only one All-Star Game, fortunately chosen as a late sub by commissioner David Stern when Shaquille O’Neal backed out due to injury in 2001. Other European greats weren’t so lucky, particularly Arvydas Sabonis and Toni Kukoc, two of the best players in European basketball history. Unfortunately, age and injuries limited Lithuanian basketball icon Arvydas Sabonis once he joined the Portland Trail Blazers in ’95-96. If the NBA had been privileged enough to see the real Sabonis before the injuries, he would have made several All-Star appearances. Even with the knee injuries that sapped Sabonis of his bounce and mobility, he still had a solid NBA career. We can only imagine how his career would have diverged had Soviet authorities allowed him to play in the NBA before 1989 (and had he not opted to play in Spain for six seasons prior to joining the Blazers). Nevertheless, his legacy is on strong footing at home, where any Lithuanian basketball fan will say Sabonis is the best in their nation’s history despite Zydrunas Ilgauskas having two All-Star game appearances.

Toni Kukoc is another European very deserving of making at least one All-Star Game. Despite the Bulls incredible success in 1996, only Jordan and Pippen represented the team in the All-Star game. In comparison, the 2010 Celtics will have three players in Dallas this week, including Kevin Garnett, whose play this season clearly does not merit his place on the team. In fact, there have even been times when certain teams even had four All-Stars in the same year, including ’52-53 Boston Celtics (Don Barksdale, Ed Macauley, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman), ’61-62 L.A. Lakers (Elgin Baylor, Frank Selvy, Jerry West, Rudy LaRusso), ’61-62 Boston Celtics (Tom Heinsohn, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones), ’74-75 Boston Celtics (John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, Paul Silas), ’82-83 Philadelphia 76ers (Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney), ’97-98 L.A. Lakers (Kobe Bryant, Eddie Jones, Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Van Exel), and ’05-06 Detroit Pistons (Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace).

Hell, even the Bulls had three All-Stars in 1994, while Jordan was off chasing fly balls (Pippen, Horace Grant, BJ Armstrong). But when 1996 came around, despite the Bulls becoming the only team in NBA history to win over 70 games (72-10), only Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen played in the All-Star Game. Where’s Dennis Rodman and possibly Toni Kukoc? Though perhaps Kukoc was not quite up to All-Star standards in ’96, he definitely was during Pippen’s injury plagued ’98 season.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have to say Boston Celtics point guard KC Jones, who never made the All-Star team, certainly didn’t deserve his Hall of Fame selection. Jones won eight championships with the Celtics and he was a fantastic defender and leader. That said, if he never made an All-Star team, he didn’t deserve to be elected in the Hall of Fame. Furthermore, why should he be an All-Star if his career average is meager 7.4 points per game and 4.3 assists? His best season was ’65-66 when he averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 assists, and that was while playing in an era when the Celtics were averaging over 110 points a game, often even 120 points. Sorry, KC: no All-Star Game, no Hall of Fame.

Every year it seems the same old story repeats itself. There is always a worthy player who deserves to play but is not voted in by the fans or selected by the coaches. This year that is the case with Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks, David Lee of the New York Knicks and Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers. In today’s NBA, with 30 teams playing, there is simply more players deserving of an All-Star selection then there are places on the team. There will always be players with All-Star stats who don’t make the cut. Unfortunately, that’s become the norm in the NBA and no one pays attention to it.

COMPLETE ALL-STAR PLAYERS’ LIST BY TEAMS

Annotation: All-Star appearances from 1951 until 2010.
Bold: Still playing for team
CAPITALIZED: Active player

1. BOSTON CELTICS 131 (125)
24 All-Stars in 64 years of the club’s existence
13 Bob Cousy (1951-1963)
John Havlicek (1966-1978)
12 Bill Russell (1958-1969)
(10) Larry Bird (1980-1988, 1990, 1991, 1992; DNP 1991, 1992)
9 Robert Parish (1981-1987, 1990, 1991)
8 Bill Sharman (1953-1960)
PAUL PIERCE (2002-2006, 2008, 2009, 2010)
7 Jo Jo White (1971-1977)
(6) Dave Cowens (1972-1978; DNP 1977)
Kevin McHale (1984, 1986-1991)
6 Ed Macauley (1951-1956)
(5) Tom Heinsohn (1957, 1961-1965; DNP 1965)
5 Sam Jones (1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968)
3 Nate Archibald (1980, 1981, 1982)
Antoine Walker (1998, 2002, 2003)
(2) KEVIN GARNETT (2008, 2009, 2010; DNP 2008)
RAY ALLEN (2008, 2009)
1 Don Barksdale (1953)
Bailey Howell (1967)
Paul Silas (1975)
Dennis Johnson (1985)
Danny Ainge (1988)
Reggie Lewis (1992)
RAJON RONDO (2010)

2. LOS ANGELES LAKERS 127 (119)
28 All-Stars in 62 years of the club’s existence
14 (12) Jerry West (1961-1974; DNP 1969, 1974)
13 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1976, 1977, 1979-1989)
12 (11) Magic Johnson (1980, 1982-1992; DNP 1989)
KOBE BRYANT (1998, 2000-2010)
11 Elgin Baylor (1959-1965, 1967-1970)
7 James Worthy (1986-1992)
(4) SHAQUILLE O’NEAL (1997, 1998, 2000-2004; DNP 1997, 2001, 2002)
6 Vern Mikkelsen (1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957)
4 George Mikan (1951-1954)
Jim Pollard (1951, 1952, 1954, 1955)
Slater Martin (1953-1956)
Dick Garmaker (1957-1960)
Wilt Chamberlain (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973)
Gail Goodrich (1972-1975)
3 (2) Rudy LaRusso (1962, 1963, 1966; DNP 1962)
2 Larry Foust (1958, 1959)
Rod Hundley (1960, 1961)
Jamaal Wilkes (1981, 1983)
Eddie Jones (1997, 1998)
PAU GASOL (2009, 2010)
1 Clyde Lovellette (1956)
Frank Selvy (1962)
Darrall Imhoff (1967)
Archie Clark (1968)
Norm Nixon (1982)
A.C. Green (1990)
(0) Cedric Ceballos (1995 – DNP)
Nick Van Exel (1998)

3. DETROIT PISTONS 101 (99)
31 All-Stars in 62 years of the club’s existence
12 (11) Isiah Thomas (1982-1993; DNP 1991)
7 Bob Lanier (1972-1975, 1977, 1978, 1979)
6 (5) Larry Foust (1951-1956; DNP 1952)
Dave Bing (1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975)
Joe Dumars (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997)
5 George Yardley (1955.-1959.)
Gene Shue (1958.-1962.)
GRANT HILL (1995.-1998., 2000.)
4 Bailey Howell (1961.-1964.)
Bill Laimbeer (1983., 1984., 1985., 1987.)
BEN WALLACE (2003.-2006.)
3 Andy Phillip (1953., 1954., 1955.)
Dave DeBusschere (1966., 1967., 1968.)
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (2006., 2007., 2008.)
RICHARD HAMILTON (2006., 2007., 2008.)
2 Mel Hutchins (1956., 1957.)
Dick McGuire (1958., 1959.)
Walter Dukes (1960., 1961.)
Don Ohl (1963., 1964.)
Jimmy Walker (1970., 1972.)
Kelly Tripucka (1982., 1984.)
Dennis Rodman (1990., 1992.)
JERRY STACKHOUSE (2000., 2001.)
RASHEED WALLACE (2006., 2008.)
1 Fred Schaus (1951.)
Frank Brian (1952.)
Chuck Noble (1960.)
Terry Dischinger (1965.)
Eddie Miles (1966.)
Curtis Rowe (1976.)
ALLEN IVERSON (2009.)

4. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 98 (93)
28 All-Stars in 61 years of the club’s existence
12 (11) Dolph Schayes (1951.-1962.; DNP 1952.)
11 Julius Erving (1977.-1987.)
10 Hal Greer (1961.-1970.)
8 ALLEN IVERSON (2000.-2006., 2010.)
6 (5) Larry Costello (1958.-1962., 1965.; DNP 1962.)
Charles Barkley (1987.-1992.)
4 Billy Cunningham (1969., 1970., 1971., 1972.)
(3) Doug Collins (1976., 1977., 1978., 1979.; DNP 1979.)
Maurice Cheeks (1983., 1986., 1987., 1988.)
(3) Moses Malone (1983., 1984., 1985., 1986.; DNP 1984.)
3 Paul Seymour (1953., 1954., 1955.)
Red Kerr (1956., 1959., 1963.)
Chet Walker (1964., 1966., 1967.)
Wilt Chamberlain (1966., 1967., 1968.)
2 George McGinnis (1976., 1977.)
Bobby Jones (1981., 1982.)
Andrew Toney (1983., 1984.)
1 Red Rocha (1952.)
Billy Gabor (1953.)
George Yardley (1960.)
Lee Shaffer (1963.)
Luke Jackson (1965.)
John Block (1973.)
Steve Mix (1975.)
Hersey Hawkins (1991.)
Dana Barros (1995.)
(0) THEO RATLIFF (2001. – DNP)
Dikembe Mutombo (2002.)

5. NEW YORK KNICKS 86 (83)
28 All-Stars in 64 years of the club’s existence
11 (9) Patrick Ewing (1986., 1988.-1997.; DNP 1986., 1997.)
7 Harry Gallatin (1951.-1957.)
Willis Reed (1965.-1971.)
Walt Frazier (1970.-1976.)
6 Richie Guerin (1958.-1963.)
5 Dick McGuire (1951., 1952., 1954., 1955., 1956.)
(4) Carl Braun (1953.-1957.; DNP 1956.)
Dave DeBusschere (1970.-1974.)
4 Willie Naulls (1958., 1960., 1961., 1962.)
3 Johnny Green (1962., 1963., 1965.)
Michael Ray Richardson (1980., 1981., 1982.)
2 Ken Sears (1958., 1959.)
Tom Gola (1963., 1964.)
Earl Monroe (1975., 1977.)
Bob McAdoo (1977., 1978.)
Bernard King (1984., 1985.)
Allan Houston (2000., 2001.)
1 Vince Boryla (1951.)
Max Zaslofsky (1952.)
Nat Clifton (1957.)
Len Chappell (1964.)
Dick Barnett (1968.)
Bill Bradley (1973.)
Bill Cartwright (1980.)
Mark Jackson (1989.)
Charles Oakley (1994.)
John Starks (1994.)
Latrell Sprewell (2001.)

6. ATLANTA HAWKS 82 (78)
31 All-Stars in 61 years of the club’s existence
11 Bob Pettit (1955.-1965.)
9 (8) Dominique Wilkins (1986.-1994.; DNP 1992.)
6 Lou Hudson (1969.-1974.)
5 (4) Cliff Hagan (1958.-1962.; DNP 1958.)
Lenny Wilkens (1963., 1964., 1965., 1967., 1968.)
4 Dikembe Mutombo (1997., 1998., 2000., 2001.)
JOE JOHNSON (2007., 2008., 2009., 2010.)
3 Slater Martin (1957., 1958., 1959.)
Bill Bridges (1967., 1968., 1970.)
(1) Dan Roundfield (1980., 1981., 1982.; DNP 1981., 1982.)
2 Dike Eddleman (1951., 1952.)
Mel Hutchins (1953., 1954.)
Clyde Lovellette (1960., 1961.)
Zelmo Beaty (1966., 1968.)
Joe Caldwell (1969., 1970.)
John Drew (1976., 1980.)
Pete Maravich (1973., 1974.)
Eddie Johnson (1980., 1981.)
1 Frank Brian (1951.)
Don Sunderlage (1954.)
Frank Selvy (1955.)
Bob Harrison (1956.)
Ed Macauley (1957.)
Doc Rivers (1988.)
Moses Malone (1989.)
Kevin Willis (1992.)
Mookie Blaylock (1994.)
Christian Laettner (1997.)
Steve Smith (1998.)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (2002.)
AL HORFORD (2010.)

7. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 77 (71)
26 All-Stars in 64 years of the club’s existence
10 (9) Paul Arizin (1951., 1952., 1955.-1962.; DNP 1960.)
8 (7) Rick Barry (1966., 1967., 1973.-1978.; DNP 1973.)
7 (5) Nate Thurmond (1965.-1968., 1970., 1973., 1974.; DNP 1968., 1970.)
6 Neil Johnston (1953.-1958.)
Wilt Chamberlain (1960.-1965.)
5 (4) Chris Mullin (1989.-1993.; DNP 1993.)
3 Guy Rodgers (1963., 1964., 1966.)
(2) Tom Gola (1960., 1961., 1962.; DNP 1962.)
Jeff Mullins (1969., 1970., 1971.)
Tim Hardaway (1991., 1992., 1993.)
Latrell Sprewell (1994., 1995., 1997.)
2 Joe Fulks (1951., 1952.)
Andy Phillip (1951., 1952.)
Jack George (1956., 1957.)
Rudy LaRusso (1968., 1969.)
Phil Smith (1976., 1977.)
1 Woody Sauldsberry (1959.)
Tom Meschery (1963.)
Jim King (1968.)
Clyde Lee (1968.)
Jerry Lucas (1971.)
Cazzie Russell (1972.)
Jamaal Wilkes (1976.)
Bernard King (1982.)
Joe Barry Carroll (1987.)
Sleepy Floyd (1987.)

8. SACRAMENTO KINGS 73 (69)
22 All-Stars in 62 years of the club’s existence
10 Oscar Robertson (1961.-1970.)
6 Jack Twyman (1957.-1960., 1962., 1963.)
Jerry Lucas (1964.-1969.)
(5) Mitch Richmond (1993.-1998.; DNP 1993.)
5 Bobby Wanzer (1952.-1956.)
(4) Wayne Embry (1961.-1965.; DNP 1963.)
4 Bob Davies (1951.-1954.)
(3) Arnie Risen (1952.-1955.; DNP 1955.)
(3) Chris Webber (2000.-2003.; DNP 2003.)
3 Maurice Stokes (1956., 1957., 1958.)
Tom Van Arsdale (1970., 1971., 1972.)
Nate Archibald (1973., 1975., 1976.)
Otis Birdsong (1979., 1980., 1981.)
PEJA STOJAKOVIC (2002., 2003., 2004.)
1 Jack Coleman (1955.)
Richie Regan (1957.)
Adrian Smith (1966.)
Johnny Green (1971.)
Sam Lacey (1975.)
Scott Wedman (1976.)
Vlade Divac (2001.)
BRAD MILLER (2004.)

9. PHOENIX SUNS 61 (59)
23 All-Stars in 42 years of the club’s existence
6 Walter Davis (1978., 1979., 1980., 1981., 1984., 1987.)
5 (4) STEVE NASH (2005.-2008., 2010.; DNP 2007.)
AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE (2005., 2007., 2008., 2009., 2010.)
4 Connie Hawkins (1970.-1973.)
Paul Westphal (1977.-1980.)
(3) Charles Barkley (1993., 1994., 1995., 1996.; DNP 1994.)
SHAWN MARION (2003., 2005., 2006., 2007.)
3 Dick Van Arsdale (1969., 1970., 1971.)
Charlie Scott (1973., 1974., 1975.)
Tom Chambers (1989., 1990., 1991.)
Kevin Johnson (1990., 1991., 1994.)
Dan Majerle (1992., 1993., 1995.)
JASON KIDD (1998., 2000., 2001.)
2 Dennis Johnson (1981., 1982.)
1 Gail Goodrich (1969.)
Paul Silas (1972.)
Alvan Adams (1976.)
Truck Robinson (1981.)
Maurice Lucas (1983.)
Larry Nance (1985.)
Jeff Hornacek (1992.)
Stephon Marbury (2003.)
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL (2009.)

10. WASHINGTON WIZARDS 55 (54)
24 All-Stars in 49 years of the club’s existence
8 Elvin Hayes (1973.-1980.)
5 Gus Johnson (1965., 1968., 1969., 1970., 1971.)
Wes Unseld (1969., 1971., 1972., 1973., 1975.)
4 Walt Bellamy (1962., 1963., 1964., 1965.)
3 Don Ohl (1965., 1966., 1967.)
Phil Chenier (1974., 1975., 1977.)
GILBERT ARENAS (2005., 2006., 2007.)
2 Terry Dischinger (1963., 1964.)
Earl Monroe (1969., 1971.)
Jeff Malone (1986., 1987.)
Moses Malone (1987., 1988.)
Michael Jordan (2002., 2003.)
ANTAWN JAMISON (2005., 2008.)
(1) CARON BUTLER (2007., 2008.; DNP 2008.)
1 Bailey Howell (1966.)
Archie Clark (1972.)
Jack Marin (1972.)
Dave Bing (1976.)
Bob Dandridge (1979.)
Jeff Ruland (1984.)
Bernard King (1991.)
Michael Adams (1992.)
JUWAN HOWARD (1996.)
Chris Webber (1997.)

11. HOUSTON ROCKETS 51 (47)
14 All-Stars in 43 years of the club’s existence
12 Hakeem Olajuwon (1985.-1990., 1992.-1997.)
7 (6) YAO MING (2003.-2009.; DNP 2007.)
5 Rudy Tomjanovich (1974.-1977., 1979.)
Moses Malone (1978.-1982.)
4 Elvin Hayes (1969.-1972.)
(3) Ralph Sampson (1984.-1987.; DNP 1987.)
3 Steve Francis (2002., 2003., 2004.)
TRACY McGRADY (2005., 2006., 2007.)
2 Don Kojis (1968., 1969.)
(1) Clyde Drexler (1996., 1997.; DNP 1997.)
1 Jack Marin (1973.)
Calvin Murphy (1979.)
Otis Thorpe (1992.)
(0) Charles Barkley (1997. – DNP)

12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 50
21 All-Stars in 43 years of the club’s existence
9 Gary Payton (1994.-1998., 2000.-2003.)
7 Jack Sikma (1979.-1985.)
5 Shawn Kemp (1993.-1997.)
4 Spencer Haywood (1972.-1975.)
RAY ALLEN (2004.-2007.)
3 Lenny Wilkens (1969., 1970., 1971.)
2 Dennis Johnson (1979., 1980.)
Gus Williams (1982., 1983.)
Detlef Schrempf (1995., 1997.)
1 Walt Hazzard (1968.)
Bob Rule (1970.)
Fred Brown (1976.)
Paul Westphal (1981.)
Lonnie Shelton (1982.)
David Thompson (1983.)
Tom Chambers (1987.)
Xavier McDaniel (1988.)
Dale Ellis (1989.)
Vin Baker (1998.)
RASHARD LEWIS (2005.)
KEVIN DURANT (2010.)

13. SAN ANTONIO SPURS 44
9 All-Stars in 34 years of the club’s existence
12 TIM DUNCAN (1998., 2000.-2010.)
10 David Robinson (1990.-1996., 1998., 2000., 2001.)
9 George Gervin (1977.-1985.)
3 Alvin Robertson (1986., 1987., 1988.)
TONY PARKER (2006., 2007., 2009.)
2 Larry Kenon (1978., 1979.)
Artis Gilmore (1983., 1986.)
Sean Elliott (1993., 1996.)
1 MANU GINOBILI (2005.)

14. CHICAGO BULLS 42 (41)
13 All-Stars in 44 years of the club’s existence
12 (11) Michael Jordan (1985.-1993., 1996., 1997., 1998.; DNP 1986.)
7 Scottie Pippen (1990., 1992.-1997.)
4 Chet Walker (1970., 1971., 1973., 1974.)
Artis Gilmore (1978., 1979., 1981., 1982.)
3 Bob Love (1971., 1972., 1973.)
Norm Van Lier (1974., 1976., 1977.)
2 Jerry Sloan (1967., 1969.)
Reggie Theus (1981., 1983.)
1 Guy Rodgers (1967.)
Bob Boozer (1968.)
B.J. Armstrong (1994.)
Horace Grant (1994.)
DERRICK ROSE (2010.)

15. UTAH JAZZ 41 (37)
11 All-Stars in 36 years of the club’s existence
14 (12) Karl Malone (1988.-1998., 2000., 2001., 2002.; DNP 1990., 2002.)
10 John Stockton (1989.-1997., 2000.)
6 Adrian Dantley (1980., 1981., 1982., 1984., 1985., 1986.)
3 (2) Pete Maravich (1977., 1978., 1979.; DNP 1978.)
2 (1) CARLOS BOOZER (2007., 2008.; DNP 2007.)
1 Truck Robinson (1978.)
Rickey Green (1984.)
Mark Eaton (1989.)
ANDREI KIRILENKO (2004.)
MEHMET OKUR (2007.)
DERON WILLIAMS (2010.)

16. MILWAUKEE BUCKS 39 (38)
17 All-Stars in 42 years of the club’s existence
6 (5) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970.-1975.; DNP 1973.)
5 Sidney Moncrief (1982.-1986.)
4 Marques Johnson (1979., 1980., 1981., 1983.)
3 Bob Dandridge (1973., 1975., 1976.)
Vin Baker (1995., 1996., 1997.)
RAY ALLEN (2000., 2001., 2002.)
2 Oscar Robertson (1971., 1972.)
Brian Winters (1976., 1978.)
Terry Cummings (1985., 1989.)
Glenn Robinson (2000., 2001.)
1 Jon McGlocklin (1969.)
Flynn Robinson (1970.)
Jim Price (1975.)
Bob Lanier (1982.)
Ricky Pierce (1991.)
Alvin Robertson (1991.)
MICHAEL REDD (2004.)

17.PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 34 (32)
14 All-Stars in 40 years of the club’s existence
8 Clyde Drexler (1986., 1988.-1994.)
4 Sidney Wicks (1972., 1973., 1974., 1975.)
3 Maurice Lucas (1977., 1978., 1979.)
BRANDON ROY (2008., 2009., DNP 2010.)
2 Geoff Petrie (1971., 1974.)
(1) Bill Walton (1977., 1978.; DNP 1977.)
Jim Paxson (1983., 1984.)
Kevin Duckworth (1989., 1991.)
Terry Porter (1991., 1993.)
RASHEED WALLACE (2000., 2001.)
1 Lionel Hollins (1978.)
Kermit Washington (1980.)
(0) Steve Johnson (1988. – DNP)
Clifford Robinson (1994.)

18. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 31
15 All-Stars in 40 years of the club’s existence
6 LeBRON JAMES (2005.-2010.)
5 Brad Daugherty (1988., 1989., 1991., 1992., 1993.)
4 Mark Price (1989., 1992., 1993., 1994.)
2 John Johnson (1971., 1972.)
Larry Nance (1989., 1993.)
Terrell Brandon (1996., 1997.)
ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS (2003, 2005)
1 Butch Beard (1972)
Lenny Wilkens (1973)
Austin Carr (1974)
Campy Russell (1979)
Mike Mitchell (1981)
Tyrone Hill (1995)
Shawn Kemp (1998)
MO WILLIAMS (2009)

19. DENVER NUGGETS 31 (30)
13 All-Stars in 34 years of the club’s existence
8 Alex English (1982-1989)
3 David Thompson (1977, 1978, 1979)
Dikembe Mutombo (1992, 1995, 1996)
CARMELO ANTHONY (2007, 2008, 2010)
2 Bobby Jones (1977, 1978)
Kiki Vandeweghe (1983, 1984)
Fat Lever (1988, 1990)
(1) ALLEN IVERSON (2007, 2008; DNP 2007)
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (2009, 2010)
1 Dan Issel (1977)
George McGinnis (1979)
Calvin Natt (1985)
ANTONIO McDYESS (2001)

20. DALLAS MAVERICKS 24
9 All-Stars in 30 years of the club’s existence
9 DIRK NOWITZKI (2002-2010)
4 Rolando Blackman (1985, 1986, 1987, 1990)
3 Mark Aguirre (1984, 1987, 1988)
2 MICHAEL FINLEY (2000, 2001)
STEVE NASH (2002, 2003)
1 James Donaldson (1988)
JASON KIDD (1996)
Chris Gatling (1997)
JOSH HOWARD (2007)

21. ORLANDO MAGIC 20 (19)
7 All-Stars in 21 years of the club’s existence
4 SHAQUILLE O’NEAL (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
Penny Hardaway (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
TRACY McGRADY (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
DWIGHT HOWARD (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
2 (1) GRANT HILL (2001, 2005; DNP 2001)
1 RASHARD LEWIS (2009)
(0) JAMEER NELSON (2009 – DNP)

22. NEW JERSEY NETS 19 (18)
11 All-Stars in 34 years of the club’s existence
5 (4) JASON KIDD (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008; DNP 2007)
3 Buck Williams (1982, 1983, 1986)
VINCE CARTER (2005, 2006, 2007)
1 Otis Birdsong (1984)
Michael Ray Richardson (1985)
Kenny Anderson (1994)
Derrick Coleman (1994)
Jayson Williams (1998)
Stephon Marbury (2001)
KENYON MARTIN (2004)
DEVIN HARRIS (2009)

23. INDIANA PACERS 19 (18)
10 All-Stars in 34 years of the club’s existence
6 (5) JERMAINE O’NEAL (2002-2007; DNP 2006)
5 Reggie Miller (1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000)
1 Billy Knight (1977)
Don Buse (1977)
Detlef Schrempf (1993)
Rik Smits (1998)
Dale Davis (2000)
BRAD MILLER (2003)
RON ARTEST (2004)
DANNY GRANGER (2009)

24. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS 17 (15)
9 All-Stars in 22 years of the club’s existence
3 Glen Rice (1996, 1997, 1998)
(2) CHRIS PAUL (2008, 2009, 2010; DNP 2010)
2 Larry Johnson (1993, 1995)
(1) Alonzo Mourning (1994, 1995; DNP 1994)
BARON DAVIS (2002, 2004)
DAVID WEST (2008, 2009)
1 Eddie Jones (2000)
Jamal Mashburn (2003)
JAMAAL MAGLOIRE (2004)

25. MIAMI HEAT 17 (15)
5 All-Stars in 22 years of the club’s existence
6 DWYANE WADE (2005-2010)
5 (3) Alonzo Mourning (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002; DNP 1997, 2001)
3 SHAQUILLE O’NEAL (2005, 2006, 2007)
2 Tim Hardaway (1997, 1998)
1 Anthony Mason (2001)

26. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 16
9 All-Stars in 40 years of the club’s existence
3 Bob Kauffman (1971, 1972, 1973)
Bob McAdoo (1974, 1975, 1976)
2 Randy Smith (1976, 1978)
Danny Manning (1993, 1994)
ELTON BRAND (2002, 2006)
1 World B. Free (1980)
Norm Nixon (1985)
Marques Johnson (1986)
CHRIS KAMAN (2010)

27. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 13
4 All-Stars in 21 years of the club’s existence
10 KEVIN GARNETT (1997, 1998, 2000-2007)
1 Tom Gugliotta (1997)
Wally Szczerbiak (2002)
Sam Cassell (2004)

28. TORONTO RAPTORS 11 (9)
3 All-Stars in 15 years of the club’s existence
5 (4) VINCE CARTER (2000-2004; DNP 2002)
(4) CHRIS BOSH (2006-2010; DNP 2009)
1 Antonio Davis (2001)

29. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 2
2 All-Stars in 15 years of the club’s existence
1 PAU GASOL (2006)
ZACH RANDOLPH (2010)

30. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS 1
1 All-Star in 6 years of the club’s existence
1 GERALD WALLACE (2010)

31. INDIANAPOLIS OLYMPIANS* 5
4 All-Stars in 4 years of the club’s existence
2 Leo Barnhorst (1952, 1953)
1 Ralph Beard (1951)
Alex Groza (1951)
Paul Walther (1952)
* TEAM FOLDED IN 1953 (AFTER FOURTH SEASON)

32. BALTIMORE BULLETS* 4 (3)
3 All-Stars in nearly 8 years of the club’s existence
2 (1) Fred Scolari (1952, 1953; DNP 1953)
1 Red Rocha (1951)
Ray Felix (1954)
* TEAM DISBANDED NOVEMBER 27 1954 (AFTER 14 GAMES IN EIGHTH SEASON)

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While Caputo was in Oregon for the Swoosh, I was in Dallas for the Three Stripes’ contemporary event, the adidas Basketball Experience, which I covered last year.
Held at the beautiful IAD (Integrated Athletic Development) Center in nearby Carrollton, Tex., this year’s version of the event had a few changes from last year. First of all, there were eight teams in the event: two USA squads (one with rising seniors, another with rising juniors and a couple sophomores)w and teams from Asia (two of them), Europe, Latin America, Africa and Canada. Also, the respective teams had the opportunity to meet up over the last several months, whether in their homeland or abroad, something just about all of the players reflected upon positively throughout the camp. In addition, almost every team was assigned an “NBA mentor” and head coach–a current player (repped by adidas, of course) in the League who served as an assistant on the sidelines (Antawn Jamison, Antonio Daniels, Josh Smith, Raymond Felton, TJ Ford, Desmond Mason and Kyle Lowry were all present) and a coach with pro ties who helmed the squad (Frank Johnson, Lionel Hollins, Dwane Casey, Detlef Schrempf, Terry Stotts, Larry Krystowiak and Ed Schilling all roamed the sidelines), with the aid of a translator and/or coach from the region of the players. But more on that later, let me catch you up on who balled.

Winning is priority numero uno for me when evaluating players, but in a camp format, where players are largely unfamiliar with each other’s games–at least initially–effort and ability mean a lot more than whether a team develops cohesion over the course of days. That said, the teamwork (I heard “we is me” quite a bit) displayed in Dallas was refreshing to see. As for the “tournament,” it ended up being an all-USA final, with the younger team (who I’ll call “USA Juniors” instead of USA 2010, since two of their better players are actually in the 2011 class) prevailing to win the chip in a tight one, 95-92. Unlike most events on the grassroots level I attend, the setup of the tournament and the gym itself (eight teams, a large catwalk on the second floor where spectators can look down on the courts) allowed me to see every team play at least once and in most cases, multiple times. As a result, I’ve compiled an all-adidas Nations team. Remember these names–especially the international kids–because like Serge Ibaka last summer (a native of the Congo who played for the African team at adidas Nations in New Orleans, he was drafted in the first round by the Oklahoma City No-Names, but is currently playing pro in Spain), you could see them in the League very soon.

MVP:
Lance Stephenson, 6-6 wing, USA Seniors: “Born Ready” isn’t my MVP because of his outrageous point totals (the event didn’t keep individual stats–I presume to preserve its “team-oriented” nature, but don’t think he didn’t get buckets in Dallas), but rather his adaptation to team play. While he did start out the tournament in outstanding fashion, his team didn’t have much chemistry and he went one-on-one far too often. Then, in his team’s nip-and-tuck semifinal win over Latin America, he went down in the first half with an injury and wasn’t allowed to return, despite his protests. Sidelined, he turned into his squad’s biggest playmaker and in the next day’s championship, he realized he was forcing the action early and deferred much more to his newly-confident teammates, despite taking the L in a thriller. On top of that, his frequently-referenced “bad attitude” was nowhere to be found, especially off the court, when interacting with kids from all cultures and at the camp’s community service event. Say what you want about Lance’s game, but he’s not a bad kid.
First Team:
Nihad Dedovic, 6-6 wing, Europe: The versatile Bosnian was probably the most consistently excellent player for the Euros, excelling in several different aspects of the game: shooting from mid-range and deep, posting up, handling the rock, passing and even helping out on the boards.
Jayson Granger, 6-4 point guard, Latin America: Hailing from Uruguay and playing for pro team MMT Estudiantes in Spain, Granger would probably be my MVP if his team had made it past the semis, as the rock-strong floor general’s (Ray Felton compared him to Chauncey Billups) toughness, playmaking, unbelievable court vision, savvy, defensive ability, finishing skills, clutch shooting and overall leadership set the tone for his team’s unselfish play.
Brandon Knight, 6-3 combo guard, USA Juniors: I’m still not sure if this half of the stone-faced killer duo (his partner-in-crime and AAU teammate, rising senior Kenny Boynton, wasn’t at this event; Knight plays with no emotion on the court, but off it he’s a nice kid and an excellent student) is better as a scorer or a distributor–he’s unselfish, sets up his teammates well and plays excellent on-ball defense, but he also has a potent mid-range game, knocks down shots from deep and uses his tight handle to get to the basket and finish (his one-handed dunk on an opponent from outside the lane was the early favorite for highlight of the camp)–but I’m convinced that he is a winner, due to his teams’ success at just about every event I saw him play at this summer.
LaQuinton Ross, 6-8 wing, USA Juniors: One of a pair of rising sophomores to play for the USA Juniors, the lanky Mississippi native (who told me he’s transferring to Word of God in North Carolina, where he’ll team up with top senior John Wall) got buckets in every fashion imaginable: tough finishes on the inside, offensive boards for putbacks, deep treys, tricky drives, pull-up jumpers–and he hit big free throws with multiple games on the line.
Tristan Thompson, 6-9 combo forward, Canada: Because I was one of the first people nationally to recognize the his potential (I’m pretty sure; check out the name below his and you tell me if anybody outside of their region thought those two would blow up back then), it feels pretty good to see him dominate elite talent with his combination of length (despite his slender frame, the class of 2010 prospect hits the boards hard, battles on the inside, finishes with power and blocks shots), quickness (the Texas commit runs the floor like guard and can guard all five positions on the court) and skill (a role player for St. Benedict’s in Jersey last season and the go-to guy on his Grassroots Canada AAU squad, he can handle the rock in perimeter and in transition, see the floor, hit the mid-range J and has a wide array of post moves).
Second Team:
Vitor Benite, 6-4 combo guard, Latin America: The Brazil sniper is a knockdown shooter, but also has the ball skills to handle the rock and make plays with his passing, as well pick off lazy passes for steals, convert clever finishes at the rack and create for himself and others off the dribble.
Deniz Kilicli, 6-9 post, Europe: A Turkish (I heard rumors that Texas is recruiting him) big man with a mean streak, the Scola type also possesses some finesse with his mid-range J and posty move, but his rebounding, physical mentality and deceptive athleticism (he caught a couple players sleeping with his hard finishes above the rim and shotblocking on D) are his bread and butter.
Nicolo Melli, 6-8 combo forward, Europe: The Italian’s versatile skillset impressed onlookers, as he showed he’s a true perimeter player who can also go inside–not the opposite–with his deep range, ballhandling ability, fluid moves, smart decisions and passing skills, which were complemented by his rebounding, toughness and finishing.
Tomas Satoranski:, 6-8 combo forward, Europe: If the versatile Czech hadn’t gotten sick before Europe’s semifinal win, he might be on the first team and I might be writing about the champs (of course, if Latin America’s reportedly top prospect, Argentine point guard Diego Gerbaudo didn’t sit out the tourney because of injury, this whole write-up might be completely different; same goes for the USA Seniors if Derrick Favors and Noel Johnson didn’t have to leave to start school, and recent Texas commit Shawn Williams didn’t sit out the entire tourney, but that’s neither here nor there), but when he was on the court, his shooting from deep, finishing at the rim, rebounding and ballhandling ability made him stand out from the crowd.
Dexter Strickland, 6-3 combo guard, USA Seniors: The future Carolina guard, who preps at vaunted St. Pat’s in Jersey, has been victim of a whisper campaign that has questioned his toughness and ability as of late and while he didn’t do much to answer the critics early in the camp, his determined play in the last two games–which included great effort on D, excellent playmaking ability, using his smooth moves and athleticism to will his way to the rack, a willingness to take clutch shots (such as his huge and-one dunk to bring his team within one point near the end of his team’s championship loss; it was THE highlight of the camp)–showed why people were so high on him early in his career.
Honorable Mention:
Junior Cadougan, 6-0 point guard, Canada: A teammate of the aforementioned Thompson on their Grassroots Canada AAU team, the stocky point guard (and a great kid off the court), a Marquette commit, has really grown on me due to his leadership and winning mentality, but physically, his will to play through injury and bully his way to the hole, set up teammates, play tough D and keep the opposition honest from the outside also won him admiration.
Josep Franch de Pablo, 6-2 point guard, Europe: The sometimes-flashy Spaniard (he plays on the same team as THE Ricky Rubio) started out looking like he might be the best guard in the camp and while he faded late, it was hard not to appreciate his court vision, playmaking expertise, shooting range, tight handle, basketball IQ and overall skill level.
Samer Jassar, 6-9 post, Asia Red: Not only was Samer one of the nicest kids at the camp (the Palestinian is also an alum of PeacePlayers International, who ran the community-service event and happens to be my employer), the Lee Academy (a prep school in Maine, where he’s a top student) also showed a soft touch, good footwork, a knack for grabbing boards, solid finishing ability, nice post moves and a willingness to bang in the post.
Rafael Maia, 6-8 combo forward, Latin America: The sweet-shooting Brazilian lit it up from deep, but also showed excellent toughness, basketball IQ, rebounding and while he can’t described as a stalwart defender, he had that Manu-like knack for getting under his opponents’ skin.
Ray McCallum, 6-1 point guard, USA Juniors: The son of the University of Detroit head coach by the same name will be attending Detroit Country Day (Webber, Battier, etc.) this year and Motown fans can look forward to seeing his heady play, toughness, playmaking and winning mentality over the next two years.
Peyton Siva, 5-11 combo guard, USA Seniors: I’m not convinced that the ultra-athletic Seattle native (one of three at the event; not including the Mavericks’ Jason Terry, who showed up to watch on the final day) will ever be able to play the point, but I have to apologize for an audible comment I made when watching him play earlier this spring (which I think he heard), as his fearlessness, determination, tough D and scoring arsenal made me eat my words.
Josh Smith, 6-9 post, USA Juniors: I knew Josh Smith (not to be confused with the Hawk, who was also present, as a coach for the USA Seniors) was big when Jared Sullinger (below) looked small to me, but the big fella from Washington State isn’t just a space-eater, as his athleticism, passing ability, shot-blocking, rebounding and overall presence in the paint show he’s more skilled than one would assume.
Jared Sullinger, 6-7 post, USA Juniors: The early Ohio State commit didn’t exactly have his way with the comp the way he did when I saw him play last month, but his soft touch, finishing ability, boardwork, wide frame and great hands make one of the most consistent things since long lines at check-cashing joints on the first and 15th.
Raymond Tapusoa, 6-0 point guard, Asia Red: Tapusoa attends high school in Utah, but you would think the legit Division I prospect was born and bred on the playgrounds of an major East Coast city, as his flair, dimes, savvy and toughness caught many a top prospect unaware.
Tony Wroten, 6-5 combo guard, USA Juniors: Another member of the class of 2011, the athletic lefty from Seattle, has the vision of a point guard, but the size and strength of a big wing, to go along with a nonstop motor and dogged defense.

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