An oatmeal, dairy-free Greek yogurt with frozen fruit, unsweetened almond milk and agave nectar smoothie has already been consumed. Numerous t-shirt and short combinations, along with shower shoes, socks and enormous size 15 low top LeBron’s have been neatly stuffed into his official 2024 Final Four backpack. Ambling, but not with a residual slumber as Lil Wayne’s high pitched helium balloon voice swims through his headphones, he folds his immense 6-foot-10 frame into the passenger seat of the waiting gray Toyota Highlander with red leather interior. 

The day’s work beckons. 

At 7 AM, he begins the first of his scheduled workouts, this one at the OverDrive Elite facility in New Canaan, pushing himself through strength and conditioning drills that stress speed, lateral movement and the loosening of the hips along with lateral, forward and vertical explosion. 

Within minutes he’s drenched in sweat. Throughout the day he consumes copious amounts of water.

Two hours later he’s devouring a savory egg white breakfast bowl with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and rye toast, between gulps of coconut water as the Highlander eats up the road and the scenery transitions from the bucolic pleasantry of Connecticut to the suffocating congestion of lower Manhattan.

Burns was the third ranked prep prospect coming out of his home state of South Carolina, behind Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, the top two picks in the 2019 NBA Draft. 

A bright student, he earned enough credits to graduate after his junior year at York Preparatory Academy and accepted a scholarship offer from Tennessee, where he redshirted.  

After transferring to Winthrop, he tore through the Big South and was named the conference Player of the Year as a junior in ‘21-’22.

“We were looking to get older and I knew he would be a great addition to our program,” says Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts. “I like underdogs, kids that have innate leadership skills and unique personalities.”

“DJ comes from a great family,” Keatts continued. “He wasn’t as valued as much as he should have been. What he does can’t be replicated. And his vision is extraordinary. I really liked the kid and his game was completely different from anyone I’ve ever coached.”

That March Madness success had long been marinating, going back to when his parents watched in wonder as their two-year old son danced and glided around a roller skating rink with his much older cousins. 

“DJ was a very active child who was always physically advanced for his age,” says his mother Takela Burns, a longtime educator and assistant middle school Principal in South Carolina. “He was this hyper ball of energy and inquisitive. If he wasn’t running around these country acres somewhere, he was talking me and my husband’s ear off.”

One of the things he internalized was the family tradition of sharing and giving. His grandmother was a foster parent that also adopted kids from challenging circumstances and with various disabilities. His parents took in a number of children from unstable homes, some of whom lived in the Burns household for years. 

Takela, who played ball in high school, was DJ’s first basketball tutor at the age of six. His father took over the coaching responsibilities when his son began playing rec ball at eight.

That unselfishness, vision and passing acumen on the court that had television announcers like Bill Raftery, Jay Bilas, Ian Eagle and Grant Hill gushing during the NCAA Tournament—pronounced spontaneous combustions of “His footwork’s incredible!”and “Is there anything he can’t do out there?”—were present from Day One.

“Little DJ was such a happy kid who’d give you the shirt off his back,” says his father, Dwight Sr., a South Carolina probation and parole agent who can be seen on fall Saturday afternoons sprinting beside Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney during halftime and post-game jogs to and from the locker room. 

“DJ loved being in the gym. He played guard, center, forward and was very skilled at a young age,” Dwight Sr. continued. “He had a soft lefty shooting touch and a sweet handle. The thing he loved most was passing. He’d celebrate more when his teammates scored than when he did. The only thing he cared about was winning.”

When the coaches would assemble to pick their squads, 8-year-old DJ served as his father’s de facto scout and general manager. “He’d be like, ‘Daddy, pick him!’ and he’d be pointing to a kid that wasn’t very good but was hungry, willing to hustle, unselfish and a good person,” he adds. “I’d ask him about a kid that was scoring a lot during tryouts and he’d be like, ‘Nah, we don’t want him. He’s selfish, doesn’t pass and travels all the time.’ I always listened to him and our teams always won.”

—

At 10:45am, Burns saunters onto the basketball court inside the high-end waterfront condominium One Manhattan Square building located on 225 Cherry Street. The wide grin splashed across his robust face immediately brightens the sleepy atmosphere. 

He stretches while listening to the playlist he’s cultivated that now fills the gym, with his favorite artists Lil Wayne, G Herbo and Lil Tony in heavy rotation.

“Lil Wayne is obviously the GOAT!” he playfully shouts to no one in particular before starting his workout under the direction and watchful eye of his trainer Nate Brown, who has previously worked with Malik Monk, Derrick White, Brandon Ingram, Tobias Harris and Jamal Murray, among others, during their pre-draft preparations. 

For the next 90 minutes, he pushes through a high-tempo, dizzying array of full court dribbling drills while handling two balls simultaneously. He then transitions to shooting every conceivable shot off pick and rolls, pick and pops and screen and catches. 

The angles while smooching the rock all over the backboard are reminiscent of a pool shark’s english. 

“This summer, our objectives were to sharpen up an overall skill set that he could showcase in an NBA setting,” says Brown. “We elaborated more on stretching the floor because in the pro game, you have to be able to knock down that deep ball.”

Back in the Highlander, he relaxes while heading towards Greenwich Village for a well-deserved lunch break. Stalled in traffic near Union Square as food options are being discussed, the conversation shifts to what his favorite movie is. 

Burns excitedly scoots forward in his seat and straightens up. Through a thin smile, the words burst gently out of his mouth.

“Yo, fo’real, I love Paid in Full with Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris and Cam’ron,” says Burns. “The dialogue, the cinematography, the music, the Harlem scene in the ‘80s, the wardrobe, the acting, the slang, the story arc, the message and the fact that it’s based on a true story? Maaaaan, I love how all of that comes together. That’s my favorite movie of all-time!”

The driver, stuck at a red light, turns with a mischievous smile to meet Burns’ steady gaze. “Oh, word?” he says to his oversized passenger. “Cool. Change of plans, we’re going to Harlem right now then.”

As the vehicle idles in midtown traffic on the sun-splashed, pleasant spring afternoon, Burns glances out the window at the teeming sidewalk while his ears are assaulted by honking horns. 

“Why is there so much traffic at lunchtime? Why is everyone honking their horns? Why is everyone so angry looking and walking so fast? Man, all of these folks just need a massage,” he says while shaking his head.

As the street arteries become uncongested and the glass skyscrapers of multinational corporations give way to the opulent billion dollar apartment buildings inhabited by wealthy celebrities and business tycoons, Burns notes to himself, “Oh, this is where the rich folks live. I need to come back here sometime and do some shopping.”

When they pass 96th street and creep a little further uptown, as the previous decadence gives way to the Spanish Harlem version of Park Avenue, with its sagging, depressing, brown brick housing project facades, Burns is amazed at the dichotomy. 

He’s told that this neighborhood forged Alpo, the real-life teenage drug lord that inspired Cam’Ron’s character, Rico, in his favorite movie. “This is amazing,” he says softly. “To experience this neighborhood and these streets, to see these people and the real culture behind Paid in Full. Maaaaaan, this is awesome.”

While exiting the Slutty Vegan takeout restaurant on West 135th Street with his order of a plant-based burger and fries topped with vegan beef and cheese, jalapenos, onions, lettuce and diced tomatoes, along with a large raspberry lemonade, he looks up and down the wide bustling thoroughfare and says, again to no one in particular, “Maaaaaan, I love Harlem! There’s so much Black history here.”

His meal is consumed while double-parked with the windows down. As the laughter and rhythms of the street pour in, the crew heads back toward the FDR Drive en route to lower Manhattan.

 As the banter turns toward his musical tastes, he casually mentions that he plays the piano, standup bass, tuba and the saxophone.

—

Burns sneaks in a quick cat nap before arriving at the Basketball City complex at Pier 36, 299 South Street. 

He walks gingerly into the mammoth complex, where all seven regulation courts are empty. The silence is soon replaced by his curated playlist once again when he pairs his iPhone with a nearby speaker device. Armed with the knowledge of his proficiency as an instrumentalist, as he works out with another of his trainers, Mike Collins, it’s now evident that he moves and plays to an inner biological symphony. 

There are elements of Jazz, Hip Hop, Trap, New Jack Swing, smooth R&B, Rock and Roll, buck nasty Funk and a taste of heavy metal in his gait and body language during the hour-and-a half workout that stresses the long ball off the dribble and the catch-and-shoot from the corners, wings and straight away.

“We started working together after the Final Four run, and I was pleasantly surprised by his humility, hunger, and ability to work at a high level with an attention to detail,” said Collins. “DJ enjoys the hard work. I know he’s tired and sore by the time he gets to me, but he has never complained. Not once.”

“People see how big he is, but they don’t understand how quick he is in tight spaces. He has a nice, smooth release and he’s banging in 200 to 300 long-range jumpers a day during our sessions alone, making over a thousand a week. He’s going to show folks some things they never saw from him in college.”

At 5:00 PM, Burns is back in Stamford at the Haute Healing Oasis Whole Body Wellness Center for an hour and a half of massages and non-steam infrared sauna treatments that soothe his joints, ligaments and muscles. 

After a short rest, he’s back at the Overdrive Elite facility from 8 to 9 o’clock for rigorous stretching exercises and medicine ball work to reduce his upper body excess and strengthen his core. 

From there, he’s off to grab a small dinner portion of baked fish and vegetables before being dropped back off at the Marriott, where a comfortable bed and a good night’s sleep await.

The next morning, around 5:15 AM, he’s up and eager to do it all over again. It’s a routine that he’s been following for six days a week over the last month.

—

Burns, who received his Bachelor’s Degree from Winthrop in Sociology and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Psychology at N.C. State, has yet to fully reflect on his spectacular nine-game postseason run. 

His mind will invariably wander toward the 24-point, 11-rebound, four-assist gem against Oakland in the NCAA Tournament, where he converted an absurd 75 percent of his shot attempts. 

And then there’s the monstrous performance against Duke in the Elite Eight, scoring 29 points, snagging four rebounds and dishing out three assists in the 76-64 victory that propelled the Wolfpack into the Final Four. 

He quickly turned the page to address the next challenge, proving those who relegated him to an afterthought as the NBA Draft approaches wrong.

At the pro day organized by 4Life Sports Management, the agency that reps him, at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo on May 21st, NBA reps in attendance were shocked at his body transformation. The buzz at the combine centered on his surprisingly accurate three-point shot and the fact that he’d shed approximately 50 pounds after his Final Four appearance. He has since been invited in for private workouts with the Cavaliers, Nets, Bucks and Rockets, with others calling to express interest. 

When Burns recently returned home for a brief visit, he even kept it real while trying on an expensive Gucci shirt that he purchased during the NCAA Tournament.

“When it first arrived, I couldn’t fit into it. Maaaan, those buttons were screaming at me” says Burns. “When I got back from New York, that beautiful butter soft thing fit me perfectly.”

In essence, that’s all he’s searching for moving forward, the perfect fit. “I just need one general manager, one organization, one coaching staff to believe in me and take a chance on me,” says Burns. “It won’t bother me if I don’t get drafted. When I get to Vegas for summer league, they’re gonna see what I can do. And the one team that gives me a shot will not regret it. I’ve been a winner every step of the way. I see no reason for that to change now.”

Photos via Getty Images. Exclusive photos by Kim Toledo and Brandon Christopher Hyman.

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From legends like Christian Laettner and Grant Hill to the rim-piercing Zion Williamson, there was always a star to carry on the legacy of the Blue Devils. Now, it’s Cooper Flagg’s time. Get ready, Cameron Crazies, because Flagg’s about to ignite a frenzy unlike anything seen before. 

The light is always green for Isaiah Evans. No matter the defender, no matter the team, the lethal scorer will never settle for anything less than a bucket. Despite being largely overlooked in his early playing career, bucket by bucket, Evans has climbed up the rankings. The forward—nicknamed “Baby Brandon Ingram”—will suit up for one of the nation’s most prestigious collegiate programs, where he will continue to prove the doubters wrong. 

The son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan Harper has all of his father’s best attributes and more. The shifty floor general wears mismatched shoes and talks his talk any chance he gets, but with the ball in his hands, he is also deadly composed. If his high school performances attest to anything, it’s that Harper is bound to be a star. 

V.J. Edgecombe is a blazing bolt of thunder in transition. The uber-athletic guard led the NIBC in scoring as a junior and stuffed the stat sheet en route to a 21-5 record in his senior season. Make no mistake—as soon as he touches down in Bears territory, the high-soaring scorer will be cleared for takeoff.

Go ahead and throw any defensive scheme at Tre Johnson, it won’t matter: the sharpshooter will always find a way to put the ball in the basket. Any spot on the floor is fair game for the guard who has made a living putting defenders on skates. The addition of Johnson alone is enough to make Texas hoops must-watch television.

The post  The 2024 SLAM HS Boys All-Americans appeared first on SLAM.

We compiled a group of individuals (programming note: 30 entries, not 30 people total) who mean something special to SLAM and to our audience. Read the full list here and order your copy of SLAM 248, where this list was originally published, here.

The process for “discovering” a high school basketball player changed a lot in the social media era.

To set some context: it used to be way different. In the ’80s, ’90s, even early ’00s, you’d read about an up-and-coming player in a newspaper or a magazine, then catch glimpses of them on television if somehow possible (though likely not until they hit the college ranks). You mostly saw very little—a small article here or there with a short text description and a photo; in some extreme examples, some decent footage on a sports highlight television show; and in some super-extreme examples, a magazine cover, the ultimate stamp.

Then came the internet, then Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all that. Pretty soon everyone had a camera in their hands 24/7, which meant that when a high school basketball player did something amazing, it immediately hit the internet, and if it was really amazing, it immediately went viral.

In 2017, Zion Williamson went viral damn near every other day. He was a junior forward out of South Carolina with a combo of flight—he could soar up to eye-level with the rim and just sort of hang out there for a few seconds—and power—he was built like a linebacker and dunked with such ferocity it shook the gym and caused a frenzy amongst the kids in the stands—that made every one of his dunk clips, which flew around social media at light speed, a must-watch.

At the time, the world had started to move with such tempo that on Zion’s game nights, those highlights were viral by the time he woke up the next morning. So where did that put SLAM, a publication with a history of “introducing” players like Zion to the world?

It was a question I thought about a lot at the time. I had become Editor-in-Chief the year before, a role I earned in part because of my ability to help SLAM compete in the hyperspeed media universe. And though the answer would continue to change (and still changes often to this day), at the time it was simple: we’re going to put him on the cover and we’re going to tell his story properly, show people the real Zion. 

SLAM 210 was Zion’s first magazine cover shoot. By the time the cover dropped, everyone knew his name (from Instagram), but this was the first time the audience actually heard from him directly. We had an interview with a “longform” video (like, three minutes) and a slew of beautiful, crispy photographs, which I half-joked at the time were the first look anyone got of Zion’s face outside of blurry camera phone footage.

That content was the result of a day spent with Zion and his family in Spartanburg, SC, where they’re from. There’s a mural in the middle of the city that says “THERE’S ONLY ONE SPARTANBURG,” and Zion’s stepfather bolted a basketball hoop to the middle of the mural for our photos. The images of Zion would become iconic in a different way than, say, a 2001 magazine cover would’ve, but in their own new-age way. Months later, when every college fan base was photoshopping Zion in their favorite team’s jersey, they meme’d our cover photo almost exclusively. Two years later, when Zion was drafted and signed with Jordan Brand, the company bought the rights and used that same photo—funny because of the many adidas logos they had to scrub and replace to make that work. The photo looked great, though, and was still the best visual representation of Z more than two years after the initial shoot.

We continued to cover Zion extensively following that shoot. His season at Duke was a blast, and we shot a great cover with him for SLAM 222—The Future Issue—right before he was drafted in 2019 to the New Orleans Pelicans. He teamed up with SLAM favorite Lonzo Ball, so we shot another cover, a group shot that also included Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday. Fast forward to summer 2020, post-Covid explosion but pre-Bubble, we rented an Airbnb-turned studio, masked up and shot a cool cover with Z to hype up the forthcoming return of the NBA. A few years later, in early 2023, we celebrated the then-surging Pelicans with a Pen & Pixel-style cover featuring Zion, Ingram and CJ McCollum. And then last summer he got another front page, posing on KICKS 26 alongside fellow Jordan Brand endorsees Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic.

As I’m typing this, Zion Williamson is just 23 years old, and though it seems like he’s been around the scene forever, his career is really still in its early chapters. He didn’t rocket to immediate NBA dominance, but some of the chatter about him not performing is just nonsense; he’s a two-time All-Star who’s averaged over 25 points and 6 boards per game while maintaining a 60 percent (!) field goal percentage. It’s already been incredibly impressive, and again—he’s 23! 

There’s an anecdote in my cover story from 2017 that explains what it was like to watch Zion work out in an empty gym, how it felt like each dunk literally shook the room, the sound of the ball smashing through the hoop reverberating off the walls. That intense, seemingly out-of-nowhere, shake-the-room energy—if a sound could be a mission statement, in that moment, Zion produced SLAM’s. Bold, powerful, striking…for us, it was a North Star in the form of a sound wave. We chase that feeling with our content—our covers, our videos, our photos, our stories—every day, and that shoot crystallized it for me. Plus, it helped me figure out what SLAM’s place in the lightning-fast media landscape should be. It looks different than it used to, but we still stand head and shoulders above the competition because of our elite storytelling and the credibility that a SLAM co-sign provides. 

So yeah—we’re Team Zion. Forever. 

Portrait by Zach Wolfe. Photo via Getty Images.

The post THE 30 PLAYERS WHO DEFINED SLAM’S 30 YEARS: Zion Williamson appeared first on SLAM.

While on set for their SLAM 242 cover shoot, we had Zion, CJ and BI play Point ‘Em Out—and let’s just say, they did not disappoint. The New Orleans Pelicans trio had us cracking up.

Check it out below.

Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram, who just appeared on the cover of SLAM 242, recently opened up about the team’s pursuit this season and how they plan on taking the franchise to new heights. Read here.

SLAM 242 is available now, as well as Gold Metal Editions and Cover Tees. Shop now.

The post WATCH: Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram Play SLAM Point Em Out appeared first on SLAM.

The team’s practice facility, located in Metairie, LA, just under 20 minutes from the Smoothie King Center, has two full-size courts, with one of the sidelines leading to an open-concept weight-room area. The three players are walking through the workout area and onto the court when we spot them from afar. But they stop halfway through the weight room and decide to turn to their right, where a wall mirror stands. 

Haircut check. 

Uniform check. 

Kicks check. 

Zion Williamson is busy making sure the blinged out jewelry around his neck is properly positioned for the looming photo shoot. 

All looks set now. 

SLAM 242 featuring Zion, CJ and BI are available now. Shop here.

The guys keep walking through the weight room and onto the court, where some team staffers await. Except, there’s only two of them now. 

Zion’s here. CJ McCollum is next to him. But Brandon Ingram, who was literally just with them a few seconds earlier, isn’t. 

Zion and CJ look around for BI and eventually realize that he stayed behind in the weight room area. There he is, still in front of the mirror, doing some standing bicep curls with dumbbells in each hand, going as fast as he can.  

Laughter ensues throughout the gym, from staffers to Ingram’s teammates. Zion and CJ shake their heads. They point out that he’s just trying to get a quick pump in so that his arms look swole for the photo shoot. 

Ingram is trying not to laugh. He can hear them teasing him from about 50 feet away—especially Zion. But he just stays focused on each rep, looking straight ahead at the mirror. Eventually, though, Ingram can’t keep a straight face anymore and begins to grin from ear to ear. He puts the dumbbells down and joins in on the laughter. 

The laughs set up the perfect mood for the 60 minutes that follow. It also serves as the perfect example of how this trio, and the Pelicans team as a whole, move in general, on and off the court, and how it’s ultimately contributed to the very joyful run they’ve embarked on over the past 11 months. 

See, we weren’t even sure if this shoot would happen just hours earlier. A couple of days before we were to be on set, it was announced that Zion Williamson would miss at least three weeks with a hamstring strain, which he suffered against the 76ers at the top of the week. If the shoot were canceled as a result, it would have been understandable. After all, two of our three cover stars were currently injured—BI had been out since late November after suffering a toe injury. But despite the bad news just 48 hours before the shoot, we were told everything was still a go. Even then, we were concerned about what mood the guys would be in, considering the sudden loss of a second All-Star right when the team was playing some of its best basketball.

Again, any kind of somber or toned-down enthusiasm from the guys on set would have been very reasonable, given the circumstances. Except, there was none of that. Jokes, laughs and even an early arrival is what we got. 

The symbolism in all of this? It appears that a major reason why this team was one of the biggest surprises to the start of the 2022-23 campaign—the Pels were tied for the most wins (24-14) in the Western Conference on the day of our early-January shoot and had a home record of 17-4, despite its elite trio of Zion-BI-CJ only playing 10 games together all season up ’til then—seems to stem from an overall culture of trust and true buy-in. Trust that the plan put together by the front office has worked to a T because the roster combo works to a T. There is nothing but smiles on set because deep down they feel like the best is yet to come. 

It’s easy to see that this group genuinely clicks by the way they speak of each other. 

“CJ is like the dude that knows everything, but in a good way,” says Zion of McCollum. “Like, if you need to get plugged in with somebody or you have questions about anything, CJ, really, I don’t really know how, but he knows everybody. He has a friend or cousin for everything. I’m like, Yo, CJ, I like these bags. [He’d say,] Yo, I know this dude out in so and so, met him three years ago. I got you. And you know what? He always comes through with it. And I respect that.”

Adds Ingram of Zion: “Z, [he] wake[s] up—basketball. He ain’t gotta come to practice, he gonna have 40. Can’t nobody stop him. He in his own lane, though. He his own person. He ain’t worried about nobody else and he just stay true to his self.”

CJ finishes it off by speaking on Ingram: “BI…works hard, cares about the game a lot, loves his teammates, wants to win [by] any means necessary. Basketball junkie. Wants to be great. He’s funny. He acts like he’s quiet and shy but he not, he not at all.”

Just 11 months earlier, it was looking really bleak in The Big Easy. Their franchise player, Zion Williamson, was out for the season, and the team had a 22-32 record (they started the season 3-16) as the trade deadline approached. And then came February 8, 2022. The Pels acquired CJ McCollum from the Trail Blazers in a trade that sent Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada and some draft picks to Portland, while New Orleans also welcomed Larry Nance Jr (and Tony Snell, who’s no longer in N.O.).

New Orleans went 1-4 right after the trade, sinking their record to 23-36. According to ESPN’s BPI projections, they had only a 10 percent chance of making the playoffs at that point. But it was here when things began to take a turn. The team went 13-10 to finish out the regular season, earning a spot in the play-in tournament as the 9th seed, and then beat the Spurs and the Clippers (coming back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit) to earn the final spot in the playoffs. 

Their performance in the first round against the No. 1 seed Phoenix Suns really sent fans of the League (and in New Orleans, of course) into a frenzy. The series went six games (at one point it was tied 2-2, and kinda looking scary for CP3, Book and company), as the Pelicans made the Suns work for every last one of their buckets. And that was all without Zion, of course.

“Two things. I think when you get a taste of something, you want more of it, and being in the playoffs last year, seeing our fans come out and how important the games were, it made it better to play,” Ingram recalls. “It got me up more going into the playoff games, just going out there. And two, you just look around the room, and the players that you’re playing with—like, we know we got something special, we know we’re talented, but we know we have to come in here and work every single day and continue to learn the game, so that’s where our confidence comes from. Just being around each other every single day.”

With the Zion-BI-CJ pairing making its debut this past fall, expectations and excitement around what could be, might be, should be, all ran rampant. In his media day presser, Ingram said that a “championship” was the ultimate goal.

CJ has clarified in previous interviews that when the trade happened last year, he and his wife signed off on it because they saw the potential that New Orleans offered. Nonetheless, even he’s been taken aback by how good and how quickly the results have been. 

“I knew we were gonna be special, I just didn’t know how quickly we would get there. That’s always the hard part about figuring out roles, figuring out how to coexist, figuring out how to maneuver in game situations,” say McCollum. “You can’t script it. Like, you could practice and play together but you gotta be in the fold to really figure it out. And I think that’s what normally takes longer than what’s taken [us]. But I would say that I knew it was gonna be a great experience, I knew it was gonna be a great situation. [It’s been] probably better than I thought, honestly, in terms of how well we’re playing, how deep we are. I knew we were a good team, I didn’t know we were this deep, you know what I mean?

“Having conversations with the front office, with Willie [Green, head coach], understanding what they want to accomplish, short-term and long-term. I would say both parties, you know, for me and my family, and then from the organization, I would say that they’d probably say the same thing—it’s probably going better than we all expected because of how well I was able to assimilate into this culture, but also how well the younger guys were able to develop, and how I was able to just kind of figure out where I fit in.”

After finishing 21st in scoring last season, the team found itself at No. 3 in the League when we shot these photos 38 games into the season. And following a 6-6 start to the ’22-23 campaign, the team went on to win 12 of its next 14 games (including 7 in a row) to stamp its name among the top teams in the West early on.   

“A lot of buckets out there, a lot of buckets,” says Ingram of this year’s high scoring offense. “You know, the funny thing is we haven’t had a chance to play together, but for like maybe 10 games, at that. We got guys that just step up in roles that can really legit be starters on other teams. So, I think it’s just the culture, you know, we set an example of how to work around here and how we treat each other. So, from that, guys just come in here and work and we see the results on the floor. Everybody’s confident, 1 through 13, how[ever] many players that’s playing a night, everybody [is] confident to do what they do. So, coaches make it easy for us and the people that we’re around every day make it easy for us.”

The team eventually hit a slump with the absence of both Zion and BI in mid-January, eventually hitting a 10-game losing streak. They’re currently on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Hawks last night.

There’s still lots to smile about, though. And we’ll probably see a lot more of those come spring when the trio is healthy and ready to outdo last year’s playoff run. 

“I think it’s frustrating for Brandon, frustrating for Zion, that they don’t get to play more,” Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon tells us over the phone a couple of weeks after the shoot. “For us, taking a holistic view, it’s, you know, somewhat of a silver lining because you do get to see these [other] guys develop more, have them play a bigger role. There’s times when all three have been out of the lineup and other guys have to step up and play a huge role. Play 32 minutes, play 28 minutes, when [they’re] used to only playing 18. Guys that you didn’t think might be in the rotation at the start of the year now get to play 10, 15 straight games. So, I think that is going to bode well toward the end of the year when we get everybody healthy, that these guys have had bigger roles in big moments and games. And so that’s not gonna be an issue if they have to play in the fourth quarter at a crucial moment—they would have already done it. And if these injuries didn’t happen, that opportunity might not have happened for that player or players during the year. So, we’re looking at this as a silver lining and when we get these guys back, like you said, we’re deep. But it’s gonna make us even stronger in our depth, hopefully in a late March, early April playoff push.”

CJ adds: “I think for us playing in the playoffs [last year] against the high seed, having to fight in, gives you an idea of, like, OK, what can happen now if we get a higher seed? What can happen if we get home court advantage? What can happen if we win 50 games? You start to imagine what that’s like and then you go chase it. And I think that’s the stage that we’re in now—How do we win 50 games? How do we get a high seed? How do we get home court? What does that look like? What’s that experience gonna be like? And I think when you go through those moments and those experiences, it creates a growth mindset.” 

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Portraits by Atiba Jefferson

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Despite having versatile weapons like Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, the Pelicans’ defense has been responsible for the team’s early success. In particular, it has been the highly criticized Zion Williamson at the forefront of it.

Williamson has averaged a career-high 1.3 steals a game to go with 0.6 blocks. According to ESPN, the acrobatic sensation has held opponents to 37.4 percent shooting as the contesting defender, which ranks fifth amongst players contesting 10 shots per game this season.

Looking back at New Orleans’ defense last year, they were 18th in the League in defensive rating without Williamson, who was out with a broken bone in his right foot. This season, the Pelicans are No. 3 in the League defensively, thanks to their 107.6 defensive rating.

Although Williamson’s impact and improvements defensively have surprised many this year, Ingram noticed the change before the campaign started and highlighted this aspect of his teammate’s game during the preseason.  

“You know what I’ve seen differently, especially on ball, is his defensive awareness,” Ingram told ESPN before the Pelicans’ preseason game versus the Miami Heat. “It looks like he has it in the back of his mind to have the effort on that end. That’s going to be something big for our team – We know we can score the basketball. But if everybody is defending and setting examples for everybody to go out there and defend, then that’s going to be much more difficult to beat us.”

As the 22-year-old’s defense continues to thrive, don’t let this distract you from what he is capable of offensively. This season, Williamson has still managed to put up 23.9 points and 7.2 rebounds on his regular impressive, efficient shooting from the field at 59 percent. The Pelicans forward will look to continue his all-around form with New Orleans again on Friday when they takes on the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

The post Zion Williamson’s Improved Defensive Play Raises the Pelicans’ Ceiling appeared first on SLAM.

“I told him tonight in the locker room that he was a monster. He carried us. He continued to make the right plays over and over again,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said, via The Athletic. “He was flying around on both ends of the floor … It’s just impressive. Impressive to see.”

The Pelicans were without Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, the second and third leading scorer on the team. Williamson was expected to perform and he did just that, showing not only a return to form but a new peak of sustained excellence since he’s returned from his nagging knee injuries. 

“When you have players like BI and CJ out, you’ve got to pick up where they affect the game,” Williamson said. “I just want to thank Coach [Green] for trusting me to be myself, and the rest of the coaching staff and my teammates. If they don’t trust me, it may look a little different for me.”

His teammates showed that same level of trust in Williamson’s game. 

“He was a monster today. It was probably one of his best all-around games that I’ve seen,” said Pelicans forward Trey Murphy. “I’m super proud of him and the work that he’s put in. I know you guys criticize him a lot on his defense. Hopefully, he got more than a B+ today.”

Williamson’s defensive effort and conditioning have been called into question throughout his career but he exhibited the full repertoire on both ends last night, he was everywhere. He even had a key steal and bucket after a Toronto run that cut their lead from 31 to 11, to officially put the game away. 

Zion Williamson is a player always on the verge of improvement, it would be no surprise at all if he tops this showing the next time out. 

The post Zion Williamson’s ‘Monster’ Performance Lifts Pelicans to a Win Over Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

After going undrafted in 2021, the 6-0 guard out of Georgia Tech, who was splitting time between the Pels and their G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, kept telling himself that if he wasn’t going to play, just make sure that it felt like he was out there playing.

Do something that makes you impact the day, he’d say. Not just the game but the day. 

That meant learning how to be impactful in other ways, even if he wasn’t on the court. Not only would he watch the game, but he’d study it, thinking critically about ways he would attack the defense if he was out there. Teammates like Brandon Ingram took notice and would ask him for his perspective. 

“Brandon Ingram used to come to the side and be like, Yo, what you see out there? What do you think we should do with it?” Alvarado recalls over the phone, later adding: “I think little by little I grew more disciplined and it made me lock in more.”

Despite what many had said about him coming into the League—that he was too short, or not equipped to hold his own in the NBA—Alvarado’s emergence last season has made him beloved in NOLA and respected all across the League. He went from being an undrafted player making a little over $400K to securing a four-year, $6.5 million contract and solidifying his spot in the Pelicans’ rotation, all in a matter of just four months. 

The word “UNDERDAWG” isn’t just something Alvarado has written in his Instagram bio, it’s a reflection of who he is and what he’s about. Don’t sleep though, the bag has always been well-equipped with his elite style of play: that baseline sneak-attack move, the same one that earned him the GTA nickname in the first place? He’s been doing that since AAU. His lockdown defense? We’re talking about an ACC Defensive Player of the Year here. And yes, he can shoot, too.  

“Going through the whole pre-draft, even college and high school, they said I wasn’t ready for the ACC. I had a rough two years [in college], my junior and senior year I had a breakout. I won Defensive Player of the Year, we won an ACC championship. Then I come in and they say, The League is pushing it. I’m undrafted, come in on two-way, and six months later I’m playing in a playoff game and my guys want me out there to help win the game. That’s truly what I mean when I say I’m an underdog.”

It’s one thing, though, to surpass other people’s expectations, but as Drizzy once said: You know it’s real when you are who you think you are.

“I always have believed in myself, obviously, but for me to do what I did made me feel so much excitement and belief. It was like, Alright Jose, this ain’t no more if or what. This is you now. This is what it is now. It taught me that if I be me, everything else will take [care] of itself.”

All that waiting and studying and preparing paid off when he saw action on the court in January. The New York-native dropped 13 points against the Knicks during his Madison Square Garden debut (and homecoming) and didn’t back down when he went at it against Joel Embiid a few nights later, earning the respect of the five-time All-Star. By March, Alvarado was putting up 16 points, 10 assists and 6 steals in a win against Houston, followed by a career-high 23 points against the Spurs. 

Then came the playoffs.

During the biggest moment of his career, Alvarado held his own in the first-round series against the Suns. The team’s defensive ace averaged 1.2 steals in 19.5 minutes and understood the assignment when it came to competing against the point god himself, Chris Paul. This postseason performance prompted praise from none other than CJ McCollum: “He was agressive, fearless, showed that New York mentality.” 

Looking back, Alvarado says that there was one moment during the playoffs that might top, or at least match, the MSG performance as his best memory from his rookie season. He still remembers that night vividly, how all of Smoothie King Center—over 17,000 people—chanted his name while his family, including his mom, dad and brother, sat on the sidelines and smiled at him as he dribbled the ball up the court. 

“It was like a movie. I remember it like it was yesterday. I started tearing up, like, wow, and everyone was screaming, ‘Jose!’ It was one of those moments I’ll never forget, it’s one of the best memories I got in the NBA.” 

Alvarado even sat down with his friends and family to process the  journey, how everything he’d worked for was coming true, right before their eyes.

“I was like, I can’t believe everything worked out how we always said it would. How many times have people said, Yeah, we’re going to make it to the NBA or we’re gonna do this? A whole bunch of people and it never really happens for whatever reason. I definitely sat down and went, Wow, you’re living the dream and being more than you thought you could be. 

“I’ve been around a lot of people and this doesn’t come around often. Being able to put an NBA jersey on, being in a rotation, being someone in the lineup. I think I’m always going to embrace that,” he says. “No matter what happens to me later in life, I could always tell my kids or anybody like, Jose, you did something special in that one year. But I’m also looking forward to doing more special things.”

That includes representing Puerto Rico on the national team over the summer at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Alvarado says he hadn’t been to PR since he was around 12 years old, but it nonetheless felt like home as soon as he touched ground. 

“I told my parents that as soon as I got off the plane, it felt like home. I had people [on] the plane waiting for me and they recognized me right away. It was crazy, [I] was like a superstar. I called myself ‘Spanish LeBron.’ I’m glad I did it. Everybody was telling me about how Puerto Ricans are so proud about just being, you know, the love of the game of basketball. Going out there and experiencing that love and everyone showing me so much love just because I’m representing them at the highest level. I’ve been doing a lot but seeing them and putting a jersey on definitely is a memory I’ll never forget.”

The decision to step away from the national team wasn’t an easy one, but ultimately Alvarado felt that he wanted to make the Pelicans his priority this summer. 

“That was a tough decision. I am focusing on being Jose, at a higher level. Just learning. I want to polish my game and obviously make shots. I want to be a high-level shooter. I want to work on my confidence. Most importantly, I want to have guys—like, they respect me already and they love me but I also want to be able to hold the superstars accountable. Just more of being a leader. Just going out there and having fun. I think we’re really good [and] once we click, I think all the guys know that we could be something special.”

Back in May, Alvarado tweeted that he was going to win Defensive Player of the Year one day, and when asked about it, he makes it clear that he wasn’t just talking. To him, it’s not a matter of if, but when.

“When I tweeted it, I meant it,” he says. “Not necessarily to say [that] I will win it next year, but I will win it one year because of just how much I love defense and how much I wanna pride myself on it. This NBA thing is not gonna be an easy route for me, no matter what happens here. I had a really good year, but I’m always gonna have to fight and prove every year that I belong, no matter how long I’ve been in the NBA. So that’s my mindset on everything. And especially, this is where [I’m at]: I do the sneaky thing, which is unique, and I love it—everyone loves it—but I want to show that if you’re in front of me dribbling the ball, it will be a difficult time, too.”

He’s also ready to showcase that his talents aren’t just limited to one end of the floor. 

“I talk to [my agent] Ron [Shade] about this all the time, I don’t think everyone knows how good I am offensively, that’s why people get so shocked. I am good, I’ve shown it. It’s just about showing it on the highest level. But my focus is on being the best defender on the court. I’m not the tallest, I’m not the strongest, I’m not the most athletic, but I want it to be like, Where’s Jose at? or Lock in on him. 

“I want to affect the game, and I’m not gonna affect the game by scoring. I am going to affect the game with my energy and defense. The offense is a plus, I know I can make shots, I know I can get to my spots. So, if I do my thing on defense, the offense will become a little more easy for me.”

With the long-awaited return of Zion Williamson this season, Alvarado believes that the Pelicans are only going to add to what they did last season and could make an even deeper run in the playoffs. 

“We have an important piece coming back with Zion. We did pretty good without him, and adding him will be amazing,” Alvarado says. “The rest is about locking in on us. Not letting the outside distract us, the little noise that would make us not [be] together. I think everyone is so locked in on how good we could be. If we lock in how we are supposed to, and if we get along how we are supposed to, then we will have a memorable season that we could talk about for a very long time. I think the team is really locked in. 

“My mindset is obviously getting past the first round but also winning a ring eventually. This is a building process. If we don’t get a ring this year, we know we could definitely get one in the coming years.” 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post After a Breakout Rookie Season, Jose Alvarado Says He’s Ready to Take Everything Up to Another Level appeared first on SLAM.

After missing last season with a broken foot, Williamson joined a revamped Pelicans core to wipe out the Brooklyn Nets in a 130-108 blowout. Williamson scored 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 30 minutes of action. The all-around performance gives fans a real sense of how dominant he was in his return. However, Williamson says he had just “a decent starter performance.”  

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After the game, Williamson said, “It’s a lot of room for improvement. I’m still learning my teammates. Now we get real in-game reps. I’m just excited to grow.”

Looking at Williamson’s stats from the last time he played, Williamson has reason to believe his outstanding performance was not on par with his standard performances. He went an efficient 11-22 from the floor, slightly down from his career 60.4 percent field goal shooting. His teammates and Coach Willie Green weren’t so rigid with their praise. 

Coach Willie Green said it was like Williamson “didn’t miss a beat.” Fellow All-Star teammate Brandon Ingram said he “picked up where he left off.”

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Even his opponents were impressed with his seamless return to play.

“He looked healthy to me,” Kevin Durant said. “He looked good. Got up 22 shots, nine rebounds, 25 points. At this point, it’s just typical for him.”

Williamson has been dominant since the moment he stepped on an NBA floor. Everyone and we mean everyone, will be watching and waiting for his dominance to continue. 

The post Zion Williamson Calls First Game Back ‘a Decent Starter Performance’ appeared first on SLAM.

“Twitter already did its thing,” Williamson said jokingly, per ESPN. “They are the doctors, apparently.”

Williamson avoided serious injury and is expected to be day-to-day moving forward, according to him and Coach Willie Green. Green added that Williamson isn’t expected to miss an extended period of time and clarified that he removed Williamson from Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat for precautionary reasons after he rolled his ankle early in the second quarter while he drive to the rim.

Williamson tweaked his ankle after he planted his left foot trying to get into the lane around Heat center Dewayne Dedmon. He played another three minutes before checking out for good with 11 points, two rebounds, and four assists on 3-7 shooting from the field and 5-6 from the free-throw line.

“It was one of those things where it happened, and I popped back up, like, ‘Yeah, I’m straight,'” Williamson said. “Played a few minutes after that, it felt fine. Then they sent me to the back just to double-check. We wanted to look at it, had a doc look at it, and he just said a little day-to-day soreness. And, but outside of that, I personally feel fine. Wasn’t bad news from the docs.”

Going into Friday’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Hawks, the Pelicans hope they can play their projected starting lineup. The group hasn’t played together yet while Brandon Ingram recovers from left fifth toe soreness. CJ McCollum has only played in two preseason games after Wednesday. Ingram told ESPN that he “felt good” and that his rehab has put him in a position to play on Friday.

New Orleans starts the season with an Oct 19. matchup against the Brooklyn Nets.

The post Zion Williamson Listed as Day-to-Day After Tweaking Left Ankle appeared first on SLAM.

The loss in the opening round turned out to provide optimism to Pelicans fans on their future as they won two games without their star player Zion Williamson.

Would not be denied pic.twitter.com/OR7fvLcBFx

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 8, 2022

Williamson hasn’t stepped on the court since May 4, 2021, due to a broken right foot suffered while working out in the off-season. Missing all of last season due to the injury, Williamson will now return on Oct. 19 against the Brooklyn Nets, aiming to make a statement for all the chatters that labeled him a ‘bust.’

“I was in dark places at times,” said Williamson on his recovery. ” — just seeing how the world reacted? — It did a lot on my spirit.”

Zion Williamson plays another game of basketball tonight #Pelicans | @zionwilliamson pic.twitter.com/3diD8J7ntB

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 9, 2022

The 2019 first-overall pick showcased all of his raw athleticism at Duke University. However, a slew of injuries has grounded his ascent to superstardom in the League. Since 2019, Williamson has played 85 games with the Pelicans. For a four-year player, his unavailability has been a source of frustration, but when he’s been on the court, Williamsons’ greatness can’t be denied.

Williamson’s averaged 27.0 points while shooting 61.1 percent from the field with an impressive 125.3 offensive rating.

“They’re gonna see that my game has evolved,” said Williamson. “I’m gonna show the world things that I’ve had in my arsenal that I didn’t show before.”

Zion for 3⃣ pic.twitter.com/M3hAKkUMw7

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 10, 2022

The Pelicans have high hopes for the dynamic duo of all-star Brandon Ingram and Williamson. Though he hasn’t played a game in over a year, Williamson is hopeful that his weight loss and a new bag of tricks will bring the Pelicans its first championship in franchise history.

“One of the main goals was to get Zion back to the same athletic ability he had before the injury,” said Williamson’s strengths and conditioning coach Jasper Bibbs. “In the process, he’s improved athletically. I truly think he’s a better athlete now than he was before. Once you guys see him on the court, I think you’ll agree.”

The post Zion Williamson Ready to Show NBA World How Much ‘My Game Has Evolved’ appeared first on SLAM.

“I feel like I’m at my best right now — Moving faster, jumping higher. I feel great.”

The first overall pick of the 2019 Draft appeared at Media Day to remind everyone just how special basketball is to him; and the matter of transforming his body. Williamson broke down how he has been able to keep his body at a satisfactory level for him on Monday.

“I’ve learned a lot from a nutrition standpoint… how long I need to be in the gym and the most efficient way to work out.

Williamson has only played in 85 games for the Pelicans in his four-year career, but his dominance from his days at Duke University still transferred to the pros.

Williamson averaged 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in the 22 games he played during his rookie season. The following year showed many why he went number one in the 2019 Draft, increasing his points per game average to 27 while also adding 7.2 boards and 3.7 assists. In both seasons, he was taking smart and efficient shots jumping from 58.3 percent shooting in 2019 to 61.1 percent shooting from the field in 2020.

“I found true resolve within the game of basketball. Something mentally in me shifted; the game of basketball is it for me. It’s my love. It’s what I want to do.”

Hearing words like the ones Williamson used at Media Day is certainly encouraging for the city of New Orleans. However, with that comes high expectations, and Williamson should be expected to prioritize being that potent, freakish athletic scorer the Pelicans took their chances on. With Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and several key players at their position, the team adding back their superstar player with a killer mindset can reach high destinations.

The post Zion Williamson at His “Best Right Now’ After Rigorous Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

Although the Nets have yet to gain traction on a trade, new suitors have emerged in the KD sweepstakes. The Celtics, Raptors, and Heat are the biggest threat to land the 12-time All-Star, but Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Nets, and those three front-runners, haven’t been having any conversations lately.

Charania reported that the 76ers expressed their interest in acquiring Durant while the Bucks and Nuggets reached out in June and inquired again in July to determine Brooklyn’s asking price. That asking price is still an All-Star, other high-level players, and draft picks to this day. When the Pelicans inquired with the Nets in June, they reportedly told Brooklyn that Brandon Ingram was untouchable, per Charania. Atlanta reportedly offered John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, and a draft pick.

Because of that high price tag, suitors like Toronto possibly pulled out after refusing to make Scottie Barnes available. Boston made Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a first-round pick available, but Brooklyn didn’t bite. According to Charania, Miami hasn’t offered a package built around Bam Adebayo.

The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly become the newest trade suitor. Memphis could put together an attractive package surrounding their five first-round draft picks, four unprotected and one protected 2024 pick via Golden State, and young players like Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Zaire Williams, Brandon Clarke, Kennedy Chandler, and David Roddy.

Despite all the new traction in trade partners, Boston is still the premier front runner to acquire Durant. When Boston offered Brown, White, and a draft pick, Brooklyn countered by requesting Smart, more draft picks, and one more rotation player per Charania. While Boston has the assets to make something happen, there appears to be a reported gap in what the Celtics are willing to let go.

Brooklyn believes they have improved their roster after trading for Royce O’Neal, signing T.J. Warren, and re-signing Patty Mills and Nic Claxton while expecting the healthy returns of Ben Simmons and Joe Harris. Kyrie Irving is set to return as well after signing his player option. According to Charania, Irving has been working out with teammates and held a constructive dialogue with the Nets this offseason.

With four years remaining on Durant’s current deal, Brooklyn has no incentive to move the four-time scoring champ. Entering his age 34 season, Durant is less likely to sit out a season and has already dismissed rumors that he would rather retire than play for Brooklyn again.

The post REPORT: New Suitors Emerge in the Kevin Durant Sweepstakes appeared first on SLAM.

Take Flight @ZionWilliamson | #Pelicans pic.twitter.com/SSPhYaj9AG

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) June 13, 2022

Talking to New Orleans media on Saturday, Williamson spoke with reporters about his current situation.

“I do want to be here. That’s no secret. I feel like I’ve stood on that when I spoke,” Williamson said via ESPN. “Currently, this does not really have anything to do with that. This is just me wanting to be a pillar in my community.”

Williamson is eligible to sign a five-year, $186 million rookie extension with the Pelicans this coming offseason. He said he would sign the extension as quickly as possible to remain with the team.

Zion on the Pelicans playoff run pic.twitter.com/90EtyX0vJV

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) June 11, 2022

Given the current state of the roster, New Orleans is on an upward trajectory following the success of the last playoffs. They pushed the top-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games under first-year Coach Willie Green. With a core of CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and Brandon Ingram, New Orleans has a roster that can go to the next level if Williamson re-signs.

“It sucked watching from the sideline, but I got to see our potential,” he said via CBS. “We’ve got a lot of great pieces, and I’m excited to get on the court with those guys — You saw it on the court. We have a special group. I truly believe that — I’m one of those people that believes the more your team wins, the more individual awards will come. So, with a special group, a coach like Willie [Green], I think a lot of great things will happen.”

The post Zion Williamson on Signing Extension: ‘I Want to Be Here’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ingram told reporters that everything was flowing, and the whole team felt connected on the floor.

“Everything was flowing,” Ingram said per ESPN. “Everybody was effective on the floor, all five. All five made something happen, whether it was offensively or defensively. We were really connected today.”

Ingram finished 13-21 shooting from the field and 3-3 from three-point range. In the third quarter, Ingram tweaked his ankle and continued to play. At some points of the game, you can see him grimacing while continuing to lead the Pelicans in scoring.

Pelicans Coach Willie Green praised the Ingram, calling his performance one of his best and how proud he was of Ingram.

“This is one of his best and it was on a big stage. I’m proud of that young man. He works his tail off, he’s a great teammate, high character, high IQ, and he put it on display tonight.”

The Pelicans team shot 57 percent from the three-point range. CJ McCollum shot 6-10 from three and assisted Ingram with 23 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.

The Pelicans look to take a 2-1 series lead against the No. 1 Suns in Game 3 on Friday.

The post Brandon Ingram Leads Pelicans Past Suns With 37 points in Game 2 appeared first on SLAM.

After a stellar 31-point first half, Booker exited the game with right hamstring tightness in the third quarter while Phoenix trailed 77-74.

During a press conference, Suns Coach Monty Williams told reporters that the injury happened as he was tracking Jaxson Hayes down on defense.

“It happened on a play during transition, and that’s where I think it happened,” Williams said. “Other than that, we don’t have much say about it, but it is a hamstring injury.

Booker missed multiple games early in the season with a hamstring injury. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, he returned to the sidelines in his warmup suit and did not re-enter the game.

Without its leading scorer, the Suns took an early lead in the fourth quarter; however, big shots from Pelicans stars CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram caused Phoenix to struggle defensively without Booker on the floor.

Williams told the press that the transition defense was the most significant difference once Booker was ruled out in the fourth quarter.

“Transition defense, it was probably for us the worst we ever looked in transition defense since I been here. For that to happen in a playoff was a bit unsettling for everyone. Our guys have to understand this team is going to play hard, as we seen in the third quarter. We missed a shot, and they were taking off, so that was a bit deflating, and they got hot from three. The transition defensive balance was not there at any level for us tonight.”

Game 3 will be played Friday, April 22, in New Orleans.

The post Monty Williams On Transition Defense Without Devin Booker: ‘Worst We Ever Looked in Transition Defense’ appeared first on SLAM.

After CJ McCollum stole the headlines in the first play-in games scoring 32 points in their win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, it was Brandon Ingram who started the game on fire, scoring 16 of New Orleans’ 30 first-quarter points.

Brandon Ingram wasted no time getting it going in the #MetaQuestPlayIn, dropping 16 of the @PelicansNBA 30 points in Q1! #WBD

16 PTS (8/9 FGM) pic.twitter.com/JAHszGGw6L

— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2022

After slowing down slightly in the second quarter, BI was huge in the third quarter when the Clippers took their biggest lead of the game at 75-62. Ingram then dropped in five of the Pelicans’ final 12 points to make the lead manageable going into the final frame at 84-74.

When Coach Willie Green gave his team his marching orders, Ingram responded and went outplayed great defense that helped spark an 11-0 run to even the game at 88 apiece.

“You’ve got to fight!”

Head Coach Willie Green’s message to the Pelicans heading into the 4th QTR pic.twitter.com/vSFjwXbJni

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 16, 2022

The Duke product finished with 30 points (14-21 shooting), six rebounds, and six assists. His final assist sealed the game faced with a frantic Clippers double team to Jonas Valanciunas under the basket as time was running out to send New Orleans to the playoffs.

THE PELS ARE HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFS.

BI: 30 PTS | 6 AST | 67% FGM
Larry Nance: 14 PTS | 16 REB
CJ: 19 PTS | 3 AST
Trey Murphy: 14 PTS | 67% 3PM

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/J0m1aA7Fin

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 16, 2022

After the game, Willie Green had a lot to say about the star of the game, calling him “The Truth.”

“Brandon Ingram is The Truth…He has been waiting for this moment…He’s all you want and more in a player and a person”@PelicansNBA Head Coach Willie Green had high praise for @B_Ingram13 after their #MetaQuestPlayIn win. #WBD pic.twitter.com/5Jf26UECqn

— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2022

The Pelicans face the top-seeded Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

The post Pelicans Are In the Playoffs Thanks To A Big Night From Brandon Ingram appeared first on SLAM.

With the win, the Pelicans get the right to face the Los Angeles Clippers in Crypto.com Arena on Friday night. The winner qualifies as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and will play the No. 1 seed, Phoenix Suns, in the first round.

Before the game, all of the attention was on Zion Williamson and his pregame workouts that featured this acrobatic 360 masterpiece.

Zion casually ripping down a 360 pic.twitter.com/JnhoU0bdjZ

— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2022

But when the game started, the sellout crowd in the Smoothie King Center focused their attention on their newest franchise player CJ McCollum, who was the difference in keeping a very balanced Spurs team at bay.

“He was great,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of McCollum’s importance, per ESPN. “He set the tone early. He understood the moment, and it sort of calmed the rest of the guys down. We just got the ball to him, and he made play after play, score after score, and then the rest of the guys that just started to feed off CJ.”

Nothing illustrated that point more than when Brandon Ingram went to the bench with three fouls in the first half. McCollum spearheaded a 14-4 run over the final 3:36 of the half with two three-pointers and two layups to put the Pelicans up 61-50.

McCollum made 10 of his first 12 shots, including 2-3 from long range, to drop 27 first-half points and finished the night with a game-high 32 points.

@CJMcCollum was RED HOT in the first half scoring 27 points on 10/12 FGM! #WBD

The @PelicansNBA will now advance in the #MetaQuestPlayIn to face the LA Clippers with the 8th seed in the West on the line!

PELICANS vs. CLIPPERS
Friday, April 15th at 10pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/cllyfGpdFH

— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2022

New Orleans counts on the Lehigh product for his veteran leadership, which he acknowledged after the game in his press conference.

“I was just trying to be locked in and aggressive early,” McCollum said. “The playoffs is a lot of antics, a lot of momentum plays, a lot of back and forth. You’ve got to be stable and mentally locked in to withstand a certain level of (chaos). … There’s going to be a lot of winning in our future.”

McCollum had plenty of help as well. When San Antonio made their late run, Ingram shook off his early foul trouble to finish with 27 points, including two huge jumpers. He started the Pelicans’ in-game dunk contest with this monster dunk over Zach Collins.

THE CROWD WENT ABSOLUTELY WILD FOR THIS B.I. POSTER

: @ESPNNBA
: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/oco71BIHWd

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 14, 2022

Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

By the end of the game, the only dunk that the crowd was going crazy over was Herb Jones’ baseline slam matching Ingram’s to put the game away.

.@_hoopinglife got UP!

: @ESPNNBA
: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/WiZ7H4RozG

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 14, 2022

This victory ends New Orleans’ postseason drought that started back in 2018.

The post CJ McCollum Shines As the New Orleans Pelicans Eliminate San Antonio appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA has implemented a play-in tournament to decide the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference. This gives the top ten teams in the East and West a chance to make it into the postseason. 

Each conference will have a short tournament that showcases the eighth through tenth seeds. In a single-game two round event, the seventh and eighth seeds can make the playoffs with one win. The ninth and tenth seeds need to win twice in order to advance to the playoffs. 

In the Western Conference, a matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans (No. 9) and San Antonio Spurs (No. 10) will take place on April 13 at 9:30 PM ET. 

The winner of this game will advance to the final round of the play-in tournament against the loser of the matchup between the seventh and eighth seed for one final shot to make it into the postseason. The loser will be eliminated and officially begin their offseason. 

New Orleans finished the season with a 36-46 record, good for the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. Over their last ten games, the Pelicans have been .500 which is good relative to the rest of the season.

Getting to the rim often, New Orleans draws a ton of fouls and are top-five in the NBA at getting to the line. The Pelicans should hope this game doesn’t turn into a shootout, as they don’t take or make many shots from beyond the arc. 

Since trading for CJ McCollum back in early February, the Pelicans have looked like a different team. Despite being without Zion Williamson, New Orleans has gone 15-14 since that trade occurred. 

The Spurs finished the season as the No. 10 seed in the West with a record of 34-47. Winning huge games down the stretch to make the play-in tournament, San Antonio won seven of its final 11 contests. 

One of the most well coached teams in the league, the Spurs play very disciplined. This will be important in this game against the Pelicans. On the flip side, they struggle from the free throw line which could be important late in the game if it’s a close contest. 

Since the All-Star break, the Spurs have been much improved, being roughly a .500 team since that milestone. 

These teams played four times this season, with the Spurs winning the season series 3-1. The Pelicans and Spurs matched up twice in March, splitting those two contests. Outside of the most recent game between these two teams, every outcome was very lopsided. 

The duo of McCollum and Brandon Ingram will be fascinating in this matchup. They’ll need to be effective offensively to combat the versatility that Dejounte Murray brings to the Spurs’ offense.

The post 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament: New Orleans Pelicans Match Up With San Antonio Spurs appeared first on SLAM.

Those absences have opened the door for one of the G League’s top scorers to get an opportunity in the NBA.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Pelicans had signed Tyrone Wallace to a 10-day contract with the team.

Wallace has been applying his trade in the G League with the Long Island Nets, where over 16 games, he’s averaged 21.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. As Wojnarowski notes, over his last 11 games, he’s averaged 27 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.

This won’t be Wallace’s first shot in the League, as he has played three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers since being drafted out of Cal in 2016. Wallace has played in 106 career games over three seasons, two with the Clippers and one with the Atlanta Hawks, and has averaged 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

Wallace hasn’t played in the NBA since 2019, though, last suiting up for the Hawks on Dec. 4, 2019. Since then, Wallace has been applying his trade exclusively in the G League for the Nets, Agua Caliente Clippers, and the College Park Skyhawks.

The Pelicans (27-39) are a team on the fringes of the playoffs at the moment, holding on to the 10th seed and the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games ahead of the 11th place Portland Trail Blazers.

Wallace will get his first chance to help his new team on Friday night when the Pelicans take on the Charlotte Hornets (32-35) at home.

The post REPORT: Pelicans Sign Tyrone Wallace to 10-Day Contract appeared first on SLAM.

Superstar Ja Morant tweeted that a few weeks ago. “ZW8” refers to rookie Ziaire Williams, who wears No. 8 for the Grizzlies. The tweet alludes to the fact that Williams was not selected to participate in the Rising Stars Game at All-Star Weekend in Cleveland—a clear snub, in Morant’s opinion. ZW8 has been a starter for Memphis—one of the best teams in the League at 43-21—since the beginning of January. 

As part of the three-team trade involving Steven Adams, the Grizzlies also acquired the rights to the No. 10 pick in the 2021 Draft, where they landed Williams. The 20-year-old didn’t have an exceptional freshman year at Stanford, but with his size (6-9) and athleticism, it was easy to see his potential. He developed a reputation as a solid shooter in high school, when he was a teammate of Bronny James at Sierra Canyon and the No. 8 overall prospect in his class (the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to Stanford). That didn’t carry over to college—Williams shot just 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from three for the Cardinals. Still, he displayed an impressive ability to score at all three levels. And he occasionally did stuff like this:  

ICYMI, check out the flight of @StanfordMBB‘s Ziaire Williams on this throwdown dunk, the Play of the Week! #Pac12Hoops | @PacPremierBank pic.twitter.com/33wiQVMszB

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 13, 2021

Williams was in the Grizzlies’ rotation from day one. His shooting has been erratic, as it was at Stanford, but it’s clear that the rookie is getting more and more comfortable with the flow of the NBA. His confidence is rising. He is finding rhythms. He is figuring out how to impact winning.

Head coach Taylor Jenkins likes Ziaire’s versatility on both ends. Offensively, he spreads the floor for Morant and runs with him in transition (the two have quickly built strong chemistry). Defensively, he can guard multiple positions, using his 6-10 wingspan to be disruptive (he has already matched up with Stephen Curry, Khris Middleton, Brandon Ingram, Luka Doncic and more elite scorers). Coaches and teammates have praised his work ethic and willingness to learn.

The result? Williams has steadily improved and his role has steadily increased. He has been in the starting lineup for 23 games, 16 of which the Grizzlies have won. In the month of February, he averaged 9.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, shooting 58 percent from the field and 46 percent from three. He put up a career-high 21 points (on 9/11 shooting), 4 rebounds and 3 assists in a 120-108 victory over the Knicks on Feb. 2.   

“He just has continued to work, continued to believe in himself, started playing with confidence,” Morant said about Williams. “He knows the work he puts in. He knows the shots he can make. He knows what he’s capable of. And now everybody’s getting to see it and I’m proud of it. I’m a proud big brother!”

Three weeks later, on the road against Minnesota, Williams went off for 21 points again (on 7/11 shooting)—this time in a 119-114 loss. 

“I think the number one thing is we want him to play to his strengths,” Jenkins told reporters afterwards. “The way he can run the floor, he’s got a great connection with the guards, especially Ja—all those transition lobs and easy looks in transition. He started off shooting it well [from the] corner. Not so great from the wings. So we told him, just keep putting in the work, man. Keep putting in the work. He’s getting a lot more comfortable with the NBA line all around. Then his ability to shoot off the bounce is at a really high level—we knew that coming out of college. Getting in there, midrange pull-ups, but then getting to the free throw line, knocking down big free throws on small volume, but those are big shots for him. So he’s expanding his game, not just being a guy who just stands in the corner. I’ll also say defensively expanding his game. Tonight’s a great learning lesson where he can be better, we can be better. But he always responds and brings a better effort the next time.” 

Jenkins opted to go with John Konchar over Williams in the fourth quarter of that game for defensive purposes. Williams had, according to his coach, just made “too many mistakes” in coverages.

The rook understood. He likes to be coached that way—to be held accountable, so that he can continue to grow.

“I’ll never forget my first press conference with the Grizzlies, I promised [Jenkins] that I was going to give him everything that I had, and I told him that I want him to coach me as hard as possible,” Williams said. “Constructive criticism—that’s the only way I can get better, that’s the only way the team can get better.

“I definitely [welcome it] from all of the coaches, not even just Coach Taylor,” he added, “to push me to my limits and beyond.”

The post SLAM x Panini Rookie Spotlight: Ziaire Williams appeared first on SLAM.

“At first, he didn’t even want to play sports,” his mother, Kathy Drysdale, says. A 1,000-point scorer in her college days at Penn State who briefly played professionally in Europe, Drysdale was coaching AAU ball in the Philadelphia area when Dereck was young. When she moved back to Central Pennsylvania when he was 7, Drysdale told her son she wanted him to be more active. “I’m like, Why don’t you go play basketball with your friends? He said, I don’t want to play basketball, Mom. That’s your sport.”

But Drysdale kept nudging, and eventually, Lively figured it out. “He was like, Oh, OK, I’m taller than everybody,” she says. “He was having fun.”

Now 17 and, at 7-2, still taller than just about everybody, Lively seems to be having a blast. Balancing hard work with a growing skill set and love for the game, he’s developed into many scouts’ pick for the No. 1 player in the 2022 class. He solidified his position atop the senior class rankings last summer when he had a chance to show off all the work he’d put in over the previous year. “I really tried to embrace the challenge of getting better during the pandemic—developing my range, being more versatile in my post moves, being able to guard anybody 1 through 5,” he says. “I’m really focused on making sure my game is as well-rounded as it can be.”

Even as the game has evolved in recent years to favor big men who can play anywhere on the floor, there still aren’t a lot of 7-2 dudes with the athleticism and skill set to do it at an elite level. Lively already looks like one of the exceptions, displaying an ever-expanding game at both ends for his Westtown (PA) School and Team Final AAU squads. Mom remains an inspiration and guiding force. “He still asks me to this day, I need to go into the gym and shoot, Mom, will you look at my shot?” she says. Lively can look to recent Westtown alums like Mo Bamba and Cam Reddish who have blazed the trail from the small eastern PA prep school to the NBA.

He’ll have even more examples to follow in the fall when he suits up at Duke, where he’s the gem of what looks like the best recruiting class in the country. “It was really about building relationships and seeing what was the best fit, and definitely part of the thought process was schools that can prep players for the NBA,” Lively says. “Watching Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram, Zion [Williamson], RJ Barrett, Cam, all their games developed further when they were at Duke. It seems like when you’re around the best players, you’re going to end up being the best player you can be.”

Beyond those Blue Devils, Lively cites NBA standouts like Anthony Davis and DeAndre Ayton as the sort of versatile bigs whose games he admires and borrows from. The next challenge is joining them. Even as he focuses on closing his high school career with championships and McDonald’s and Jordan game invites, he can’t help but imagine his own professional future. His mom, who spent more than a decade working for the Philadelphia 76ers, references a well-known slogan to describe how the family is keeping its priorities in order.

“He has trusted the process the whole time, and it’s brought him a lot of success,” Drysdale says. “You have to continue to develop and work. He has to finish his senior year, then he’s got his year at Duke, and then we’ll see what happens after that. He’s pretty level-headed and pretty humble, and one of the big things he understands is, don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself, continue to trust the process, and things will continue to fall into place.” 

Portraits by Jonathan Lewis

The post No. 1 Ranked Senior Dereck Lively is Ready to Reach For New Heights at Duke appeared first on SLAM.

Full trade, per sources:
Blazers: Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Walker-Alexander, Didi Louzada, 2022 protected first-round pick, two second-round picks.
Pelicans: CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, Tony Snell.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2022

According to multiple reports, the Blazers add Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada, and a protected 2022 first round draft pick. The Pelicans receive McCollum, Larry Nance, and Tony Snell.

The Blazers were active in the trade market recently after moving Norman Powell and Robert Covington but remain in the mix to improve their team. The McCollum deal comes hot off the heels of reports coming out that the Trail Blazers were considering options from the Knicks as well as the Pelicans.

Acquiring McCollum can be a positive addition to their offense thanks to his sublime shooting and underrated playmaking abilities as a passer and shot creator. It’ll help alleviate the pressure of scoring and playmaking on not only Brandon Ingram but Zion Williamson once he completes his rehab from a foot injury he suffered in the offseason.

Removing McCollum would also open the door for Anfernee Simons, who has broken out in his fourth year with Portland. The 22-year-old guard averages 15.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Moving Powell helped open up more minutes for Simons, and doing so with McCollum would help create a spot in the starting lineup that Simons could fill.

A Lillard-Simons backcourt could help inject the energy that Blazers need to make a run for a play-in spot similar to what they did in the 2020 Orlando Bubble.

The next time Portland plays is Tuesday against the Orlando Magic at home.

The post Update: Pelicans and Trail Blazers Agree to Blockbuster CJ McCollum Deal appeared first on SLAM.

“I saw the movie Love and Basketball, and [in it] Monica went to play overseas in Spain,” Green says with a big smile on her face. “That was one of my favorite movies growing up, and when I was in college, I knew I wanted to go overseas. I wanted to travel and experience basketball somewhere else, so the WNBA was never my main focus.”

And indeed, just like Monica in the classic film, Green also ended up having a stint as a professional hooper in Spain before ultimately accepting a coaching job at IMG Academy in 2016. Still working towards getting her confidence back after the knee injuries, Green refound her identity there while coaching girls basketball. She soon began expressing her passion for the game on social media.

“I had another knee surgery and hadn’t been cleared by the doctor yet, so I was bored with it,” Green says. “I recorded myself dribbling, and it went viral on Facebook. Everybody, for whatever reason, said I should try out for the Globetrotters, but I was like, Eh, I’m too competitive, but whatever.”

Her friends indeed saw it coming before she did—one day a Harlem Globetrotter recruiter saw the video online and tracked down Green immediately after. She managed to fight through the lingering pain from the knee injury and impressed the staff enough to earn a spot on the Globetrotters roster. After posting a few more viral videos—one of which consisted of her dribbling a ball on a treadmill, Green knew she had to go all in, documenting her journey as a Globetrotter in unique fashion.

“I knew it would be a good time to grow my brand,” Green says. “I wanted to make sure I separated ‘Hoops,’ which is my Globetrotter nickname, from Bree…from Brianna. I made sure the whole time that I would focus on my personal brand and try to grow it as that.”

And that she did. Green left the Globetrotters after realizing she could make a lot more money as a content creator instead. Fast-forward to 2021 and Green now has 357,000 followers on Instagram, 375,000 more on TikTok, and 191,000 subscribers on YouTube. She’s leveraged the impact of her social channels to partner with entities like Nike, Adidas, Gatorade, AT&T, ESPN +, and Space Jam.

“It’s amazing just ‘cause I took that risk,” Green says when asked about all of the brands she’s gotten to work with since deciding to go full-time on social media. “To have it all pan out is pretty dope, and I try to be different. I try to separate myself. I try to be innovative, coming up with new ways, and on top of that, being a female doing it. I just try to make myself unique.”

The state of North Carolina has consistently produced top-tier hoops talent for decades. From Steph Curry and CP3 to John Wall and Brandon Ingram, The Old North State has rightfully earned the reputation of being a hotbed for high-level hoops. But now, off the court, two Raleigh influencers are changing the way basketball players are engaging with social media to create business opportunities.

Marcus Hodges played at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne University and pursued the hoop dream of playing overseas in the United Kingdom, but quickly realized that dream wasn’t his to chase anymore.

“I went to the British Basketball League out in London, and the team I actually got picked up [by] ended up folding,” Hodges says in a Zoom interview from his shoe closet—a closet that boasts  just about every basketball shoe one could imagine, regardless of sneaker company. “They didn’t have enough money to become a team, and I took it as a learning experience off the court. I ended up coming back home and played some semi-pro for a little bit, and that’s when I started getting in the training field.”

The fact that many soccer players in England were making his salary in a month motivated Hodges to think of other ways he could earn a living while being around the game that he loves. It propelled him to start his Separation Team skill development and training business nine years ago.

Availability was truly his best ability when he started to work players out. Hodges currently lives in Raleigh and noted how multiple DI players at the time would reach out for workouts when they were back in town, such as Devonte Graham of the New Orleans Pelicans and Lexie Brown of the Chicago Sky.

“We were all new to [social media] at the time, but really how I got into it is, let’s say no kids show up for my workouts, meaning I now have an hour by myself,” Hodges says. “My girlfriend at the time was there, and Instagram just came out with 15-second videos. I would ask her to record me doing a crazy layup…hitting ten threes in a row or doing a crossover into a jump shot. I didn’t realize at the time that I was marketing myself.”

Hodges laughs about the early days of putting videos out on Instagram, saying he used to get excited when he’d get 11 likes. Now, his TikTok videos alone have amassed over 3 million likes and has a combined following of 312,000 users. Although being a popular trainer for young talent can pay the bills, Hodges has earned a lot of additional income from brand partnerships.

“Legends, Manscape, DratKings, Footlocker, Eastbay—they’re a lot of the companies I’ve partnered and am partnering with,” Hodges says. “Some companies just reach out, give me gear, and ask me if I’m able to put together certain types of videos. Other companies just want me to wear what I like from their brand, so it gets promoted.”

Another North Carolina influencer is catching the eyes of basketball fans on the internet as well. Milton Chavis’ journey included a stop at Word of God Christian Academy, where he played alongside four-time NBA All-Star John Wall. Like his Raleigh brethren Marcus Hodges, Chavis had a respectable collegiate career with stops at Kilgore Community College before finishing out at Morehead State University.

A short stint overseas led Chavis to pursue the route of coaching and training, which sparked his desire to explore content creation.

Chavis’ popular “Travel or Not” video series shows him going through a set of unique moves, most of which you’ll never see in an actual basketball game. The creativity and athleticism displayed in his videos are among the reasons why Chavis has gone from 18,000 to 75,000 followers on Instagram in a span of six months. Basketball stars like Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Garnett, and DeMar DeRozan have even reached out to pay homage and discuss his content.

“It’s been crazy, man,” Chavis says when describing the growth of his followers and the opportunities that have come with it. “I started in March, researching the gather step rule, just the one rule in the NBA. I was just being creative and was able to show the skill that I still have, the athleticism that I still have. My posts took on a life of their own. I’ve been on nearly every basketball platform aside from ESPN and SportsCenter.”

Chavis’ content has led him to team up with rising streetwear brands, which send him merchandise and pay for promotion. New Balance and Addikt also have formed relationships with Chavis, while aspiring artists pay to have their music played in Chavis’ videos.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Milton Chavis (@mdwbasketball)

The road to social media stardom has been met with obstacles for all three of these influencers. Three ACL surgeries for Bree Green and empty gyms for Chavis and Hodges ultimately motivated them to persist, even in the middle of discouragement.

“I remember this one particular time I posted that I was having workouts at 9:00 a.m. at Word of God,” Chavis says. “That was like 2017. I get to the gym and nobody shows. I was like, Dang! I’ve already been training for like a year and a half and doing decently well. I was also working with kids with special needs and at Fitness Connection,” Chavis continues. “I knew that this was just for a season, and to see how everything has come since that point is insane to me.”

Brands will continue to seek out content creators who engage with their audiences authentically. Green, Hodges, and Chavis have all used their social media platforms to create other business opportunities for themselves and the circles around them, with a centralized goal to impact the communities around them through basketball.

“I betted on myself, and it’s working out,” Green says. “There’s a lot more I want to do, and I just want to keep striving and growing.”  

Luke Akinsola is a freelance writer that covers sports, music and pop-culture. A full-time marketing and communications professional that also worked as a TV producer at Fox Sports. Prior to his current work, Akinsola covered the women’s and men’s national basketball teams during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. He’s also a proud R&B Connoisseur and Tar Heel alum.

Photo credit Donnie Bui, Milton Chavis and Clayton Boyd.

The post Meet the Hoopers Who are Using Social Media to Build Their Own Personal Brands appeared first on SLAM.

On Thursday, The Atheltic’s Shams Charania reported that Pelicans point guard Kira Lewis Jr. will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL and a grade 2 MCL sprain.

Lewis suffered the injury on Wednesday night during the second quarter of the Pelicans 120-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

The injury to Lewis is a tough blow for a Pelicans team that needs all the help they can get, sitting last in the Western Conference with a record of 7-20.

The Pelicans have been struggling with injuries all season. All-Star Zion Williamson still has yet to play a game this season, and starters Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart have missed significant time.

Lewis is in his second season in the NBA after New Orleans drafted him 14th overall out of the University of Alabama. Lewis has had minimal playing time over his 78 career games, averaging 16 minutes and 6.2 points per game.

However, Lewis is still one of the youngest players in the NBA at just 20-years-old, so there will still be plenty of time for the youngster to get his career trajectory on track.

The post Kira Lewis Jr. Out For the Season With Torn ACL appeared first on SLAM.

And this is why:

And this is why:

And this is why: 

There are more, too. A lot more. The Pelicans have a saying to explain clips like those: “Not on Herb.” As in, “You can try that, [insert name of elite offensive player here], but it’s not going to work. Not on Herb.”

You’ve probably seen that as a hashtag (#NotOnHerb) on Twitter recently. Word is finally starting to spread about what the 23-year-old rookie has been doing down in New Orleans. First, a little background: Jones, a 6-8 point-forward out of Alabama, was the 35^th overall pick in the 2021 Draft. He had a breakout year as a senior with the Crimson Tide, averaging 11.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks, and winning Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC. His size, length and quickness allowed him to guard every position on the floor; and under head coach Nate Oats, he often orchestrated Alabama’s offense, pushing the ball in transition, making unselfish plays for others and improving drastically as a shooter. Given his versatility, Jones projected as someone who could come in and potentially contribute right away. But very few envisioned him having this type of impact—the type where #NotOnHerb has become a thing—this early on.

Jones is logging 26.2 minutes per game and has earned a spot in the Pelicans starting lineup, mainly because of his prowess on defense. He embraces his role as “Straitjacket” and welcomes the opportunity to guard the opposing team’s best player. 

“To be great on defense, you have to really want it,” Jones told Will Guillory of The Athletic. “You have to play with a different kind of aggression, a different kind of desire. I take pride in always being the guy who’s ready to lay it all out there for my teammates. That’s what I care about the most.” Not scoring (he’s only averaging 5.7 shot attempts per game). Not highlights. Not getting his. Just laying it all out there for his teammates, especially on the defensive end. That’s what Herb cares about. That’s his mindset. 

“He’s my favorite player on the team by far,” Devonte’ Graham said about Jones last week. “He’s one of those guys that just does everything he’s asked. He doesn’t complain. If he’s [not] shooting the ball, he doesn’t care. He just makes winning plays. Guards the best [opponent] every night.”

Of course, it’s not easy to take on that responsibility every night, and Jones has struggled at times (Luka Doncic dominated their head-to-head battle on Wednesday). But he welcomes the challenge and approaches it without fear or hesitation. He held former No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards to 14.3 percent shooting from the field (2/14) in three games against Minnesota, and All-Star Donovan Mitchell to 21 percent (3/14) in their two meetings with Utah, according to data from the NBA. He has spent significant time defending both guards (62 percent of the time, per the NBA, including matchups with Trae Young, Zach LaVine, Ja Morant and Bradley Beal) and bigs (38 percent). His awareness and instincts—partially influenced by his experience as a free safety in childhood, as Guillory notes in his piece—have led to a lot of steals (14 over his last five outings). When he’s on the floor, Jones just disrupts the flow of the other team’s offense. It’s that simple. 

The numbers clearly back that up. Opponents have scored an estimate of 118.8 points per 100 possessions with Herb on the bench, but that mark drops to 108.8 with him on the court. He has the best plus-minus of anyone in New Orleans’ regular rotation and leads all rookies in steals per game (1.5) and deflections per game (3.0). A lot of what he does—bringing constant energy, picking up 90 feet from the basket, knowing when and where to be in help, taking on those tough defensive assignments so that guys like Brandon Ingram can focus on offense—doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, either. That, coupled with the Pelicans’ overall struggles, has led Jones to fly a bit under the radar through the first quarter of the season.

But the hype is building. The word is spreading. #NotOnHerb is catching on. People are finding out about the rookie in NOLA, and why they call him “Straitjacket.”

The post SLAM x Panini Rookie Spotlight: Herbert Jones appeared first on SLAM.

Pelicans general manager David Griffin said to ESPN’s Andrew Lopez on Thursday that All-Star forward Zion Williamson would miss the first few weeks of the NBA season.

Griffin also said that there is currently no timetable for a potential Williamson return but will be re-evaluated in two to two and a half weeks.

Williamson’s foot injury was one acquired during the offseason, Griffin said on media day.

Williamson’s absence will be a big blow to the Pelicans, as his production will be difficult to replace. Last season, in just his second season in the NBA, Williamson averaged a monstrous 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game on his way to being named an All-Star.

The Pelicans will need veterans like Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas to fill in the gaps and will need a younger player like Kira Lewis Jr. or Nickeil Alexander-Walker to take a step up.

New Orleans will officially begin its season on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at home against the Philadelphia 76ers. Using Griffin’s window of two to two and a half weeks, the earliest Williamson could return is sometime in the next five to seven games, assuming his re-evaluation goes well and he’s cleared to play, but he’s likely to miss more time than that.

The post Zion Williamson to Miss Start of Season Due to Foot Injury appeared first on SLAM.

In fact, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Lowry had an offer on the table worth $5 million more from the New Orleans Pelicans to sign for three years.

Lowry obviously opted to sign the three-year, $85 million contract with the Heat instead, highlighting hopes of competing for a title and playing alongside one of his close friends in star forward Jimmy Butler.

Interestingly enough, the Pelicans’ offer didn’t finish second in Lowry’s priority list, as Jackson reports that an offer he received from the Dallas Mavericks was actually Lowry’s second choice.

It’s easy to see why Lowry’s interest may not have been in New Orleans, as the Pelicans finished 11th in the Western Conference last season, traded away starting point guard Lonzo Ball last week and hired a first-time head coach in Willie Green. While both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have shown themselves to be a dominant offensive forces, other variables (likely including Lowry’s age at 35) likely made the Pennsylvania native’s decision easier.

Lowry had a difficult season with the Toronto Raptors last year, as the team finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 27-45, and rumors swirled all season about a potential trade. However, Lowry had a solid individual season, averaging 17.2 points and 7.3 assists per game (46 games) on a true shooting percentage of 59.3.

The post REPORT: Kyle Lowry Turned Down Larger Offer from Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

For the past two seasons, Green has been an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns (who are currently battling for the NBA Championship), and before that, was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors for three seasons.

Willie Green was one of the most respected hard working players I ever played with… Like T.Lue with the clippers with Doc, players know when your ready to become a Head Coach.. Willie Green is ready! https://t.co/g3JqmOEwo1

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) July 12, 2021

While Green would be one of the younger head coaches in the League at 39—trailing only the Thunder’s Mark Daigneault (35) and the Grizzlies Taylor Jenkins (36)—he brings invaluable experience as a veteran assistant coach, and also a familiarity with the Pelicans organizations, as he was a player in New Orleans for one season in 2010-11 when they were still named the Hornets.

The Pelicans are in a polarizing position; the team is chock-full of ultra-talented young players, such as Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, and a bevy of draft picks from the Anthony Davis trade. However, under previous head coach Stan Van Gundy, the team was not able to put it all together and reach the playoffs, instead of finishing a disappointing 31-41.

Before Green, the head coach position for the Pelican has been a carousel—Green will be the third head coach for the franchise in the past 12 months. Van Gundy’s departure after one season was a bit controversial; reports had circulated around the League that he was forced out due to Williamson’s family being vexed at him and his coaching style. However, Van Gundy has since dispelled these rumors and asserted his exit was a mutual departure between him and the team.

Now, the job is likely Green’s, and he will be tasked with making sure this young and talented team can put it all together.

The post Willie Green Expected to be Hired as New Head Coach of New Orleans Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

The Zion subject came up when he was questioned about reports that Williamson’s family was unhappy with his coaching and if it played a factor in his exit. The former coach answered the question from his view.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Van Gundy said. “In my mind, I liked coaching Zion. I had a good relationship with him. I had no problem. I think we elevated his platform that we gave him. We put him in different situations, had him handling the ball a lot, playing a lot of point guard. I think we did some good things with him.

“If they were unhappy, I didn’t hear about it. Zion was unhappy with us not winning more games, but Zion never expressed to me any of that. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t unhappy, it’s possible that they were unhappy with me and that’s what led to the change.”

Instead Van Gundy focused on the philosophical differences between him and David Griffin as the issue, even down to the “mutual split” announced to the media.

Pelicans Executive Vice President of basketball operations David Griffin shared with reporters the “philosophical differences” between the team and their coach. Van Gundy on the other hand, said that offseason meetings between himself and Griffin made it clear that the two were not on the same page.

“We just looked at coaching totally different,” Van Gundy said, via ESPN. “That became probably a little bit during the season but certainly after the season. We were on two totally different pages. Who’s right and who’s wrong is up to anybody’s individual perspective, but we certainly did not see things the same way.”

Despite the team’s improvement on defense after the All-Star break, injuries to Zion and others affected the offense and doomed the Pelicans play-in tournament chances finishing with a 31-41 record.

The post Stan Van Gundy Doesn’t Blame Zion Williamson For Firing appeared first on SLAM.

However, despite weeks of speculation and posturing, Ball remained a New Orleans following the trade deadline. Now, perhaps as a result of rumors that Ball is looking to leave New Orleans, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin spoken out against the whirlwind of rumors.

Per Nola.com’s Christian Clark, Griffin says that Ball has “made it very clear personally, one to one, that he wants to be here.”

“He’s made it very clear personally, one to one, that he wants to be here,” Griffin said. “Yet what you will read is, ‘This is a player who doesn’t want to be here. He’s not in our plans. So you should trade him for a ham sandwich.’ That doesn’t make any sense when we know the actual, real story behind Lonzo Ball.”

While there may be mutual interest in Ball returning to the Pelicans, it’s not a given he will be back next year.

The fourth-year pro will be a restricted free agent this offseason and the Pelicans may be hesitant to offer Ball the type of lucrative contract that young and successful players are consistently able to negotiate. In 38 games this season, Ball is averaging a career-best 14.2 points per game with a .562 true shooting percentage, while also averaging 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

The complications with Ball’s impending free agency also arise from the Pelicans signing star forward Brandon Ingram to a five-year, $158 million contract in the offseason, as they owe Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe more than $17 million apiece over the next two seasons as well.

Second-year sensation Zion Williamson, who will be eligible for a supermax extension following his first rookie contract extension, is also likely on the minds of their cap specialists.

The post David Griffin: Lonzo Ball ‘Made it Very Clear’ He Wants to Remain with Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

Of course, having Brandon Ingram (2019-20’s Most Improved Player award winner) and Lonzo Ball (the 2017 NBA Draft’s second overall pick) does plenty to aid the Pelicans in their pursuit of being a perennial playoff contender.

However, sitting at 15-19, New Orleans is just 11th in the Western Conference standings and running out of time to work out their kinks with the second half of this season’ schedule just around the corner. Consequently, nobody can blame the Pels for getting antsy as they search for ways to capitalize on their current crop of talent.

The Pelicans are trying to determine the heights the franchise can reach with Zion leading the way to the mountaintop, and rightfully so.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Pelicans veteran guard J.J. Redick and Eric Bledsoe “appear very much available, league sources said.”

Redick, though valued for his playoff experience, is no longer a player that New Orleans can trust defensively. In fact, Fisher reports that the Pelicans — namely former head coach Alvin Gentry — wanted to move on from the combo guard last season.

Now, New Orleans is “just trying to do right by [Redick],” hoping to trade him to a team that’s closer to his family in Brooklyn.

Bledsoe’s play has declined steadily over the past four seasons, with the 31-year-old’s looking a long way from the two-time All-Defensive selection that he is. Trading him — like Redick — would increase the opportunities for guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis Jr., two players who can make a significant impact defensively and who fit the franchise’s youth movement.

The post Pelicans Looking to Move J.J. Redick, Eric Bledsoe Ahead of Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

His co-star teammate, Brandon Ingram, has taken notice of just how special he is. After Williamson became the fourth-youngest NBA All-Star in history, at just 20 years old, Ingram spoke to Eliot Clough of Pelicans Plus and the rest of Pelicans media to discuss this accomplishment. 

“I’ve never played with a player as talented as me. He’s a generational talent.”

This is high praise from Ingram, who has played with some of the world’s best talent at all levels throughout the course of his basketball career. 

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Williamson is just the 5th player in the shot-clock era to average 25 points per game while shooting .600 from the floor through his first 30 games of a season. He is the first since Charles Barkley in 1987-88.

In his second NBA season, Williamson is averaging an efficient 25.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. While this was never in question, the New Orleans Pelicans made the right choice taking him first overall. 

The post Brandon Ingram On Zion Williamson: ‘I’ve Never Played With A Player As Talented As Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

Last season, Brandon Ingram won the NBA Most Improved Player Award with his breakout year. Now, a new set of players will have the opportinty to win the award with the improvements they’ve shown from last season.

At the quarter mark of the 2020-21 season, we broke down our top five Most Improved Player candidates.

Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors)

2019-20 Stats: 6.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG, .322 3P%

2020-21 Stats: 13.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.0 BPG, .432 3P%

Boucher will be in consideration for both NBA Sixth Man of the Year as well as Most Improved Player. Although he was solid over the first few years of his career, he’s made an enormous jump off the bench this season. 

Boucher has done it all for the Raptors this season, giving them a scoring punch off the bench, while also being the team’s second-best rebounder. Even at the forward position, his three-point shooting has been excellent during his early 2020-21 campaign. 

Jeremi Grant (Detroit Pistons)

2019-20 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, .750 FT%

2020-21 Stats: 23.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, .866 FT%

Grant’s evolution has been so fun to watch over the last few years, but especially so this season. Stepping into the role of being the best player on an NBA roster, he’s proven worthy. 

After earning a huge payday this summer, Grant has doubled his production in quite a few categories. In just one offseason, he’s completely changed the trajectory of his career. 

Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

2019-20 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, .277 3P%

2020-21 Stats: 22.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 6.0 APG, .375 3P%

The Knicks have been a pleasant surprise this season, showing how competitive they can be and proving they could make a run at the playoffs. Their best player thus far has been Randle, who has made a huge jump in both rebounding and assists this season. 

To make things even better, he’s looked like a different player when it comes to three-point shooting. This has completely opened up the rest of his game, as well as New York’s offense. 

Collin Sexton (Cleveland Cavaliers)

2019-20 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 3.0 APG, .472 FG%, .380 3P%

2020-21 Stats: 24.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, .504 FG%, 431 3P%

Sexton’s improvement this season has shown both on the stat sheet as well as the eye test. He’s had some incredible performances this season, including a 42-point performance where he scored 20 straight for the Cavs to beat the Nets. 

Additionally, he’s looked like a leader that Cleveland can lean on going forward. Sexton has emerged as an absolute star this season. 

Christian Wood (Houston Rockets)

2019-20 Stats: 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.9 BPG, 0.9 3PM

2020-21 Stats: 23.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.8 3PM

The Rockets took somewhat of a gamble on Wood this summer, signing him to a large contract even with a limited sample size of high-level play in his career. It’s paid off tremendously, as he’s looked like one of the best bigs in the league this season. 

In nearly every statistical category, Wood has blown away his numbers from last season. When it comes to stacking up against his teammates, he leads everyone in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. 

The post NBA Award Watch: 2021 Most Improved Player appeared first on SLAM.

“Just bust everybody’s ass. Kill everybody in front of me,” Ingram said in regards to how he wants to improve his game. “Make sure that I don’t let anybody off the hook.”

Ingram has a well-rounded offensive game but it’s clear that he’s looking to get even better on that side of the floor. He’s currently tied for 18th in the league in scoring this season and has a chance to climb that ladder.

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans from the Los Angeles Lakers in the massive trade for Anthony Davis. The Pelicans officially have their star-duo-of-the-future with both Ingram and Zion Williamson. 

The post Brandon Ingram On How He Can Improve: ‘Kill Everyone In Front Of Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Spoelstra has noticed that Herro, who finished with nine rebounds, has been making improvements on defense, as well.

“He’s made significant jumps in his defense, when we had him guard Brandon Ingram one game, had him guard Jayson Tatum another game. It shows you how far he’s come defensively. He’s had 15 rebounds in a game. He’s making much better reads on different coverages, where it’s not always just the shot, but it’s making plays for others. I think his game is growing.”

Herro put the league on notice during Miami’s 2020 playoff run, showcasing just how great of a scorer he can be. Whether it’s hitting threes or creating his own shot from other spots on the floor, he was able to produce from nearly anywhere on the floor. 

If he’s able to continue to develop as a defender, Herro’s ceiling as an NBA player will only continue to rise. Getting defensive assignments like Jayson Tatum and Brandon Ingram shows just how much the Heat coaching staff trusts Herro’s ability on that end of the floor as those two guys are top scorers in the league. 

After being selected with the No. 13 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Tyler Herro is already making the case that he should have been taken much sooner than that. 

The post Tyler Herro’s Ceiling Continues To Rise With His Defensive Performances appeared first on SLAM.

Expect more out of J.J. Redick and Eric Bledsoe as the year progresses, two scoring options that the Pels will rely on if they hope to sneak into the Western Conference playoff picture.

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

Brandon Ingram	23.3p, 7.0r, 6.5a
Zion Williamson	21.3p, 9.3r, 1.0a
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	7.0p, 0.5r, 2.0a	–
Steven Adams	8.3p, 8.5r, 2.0a
Josh Hart	8.3p, 7.5r, 0.3a
Willy Hernangomez	1.0p, 4.0r, 1.0a
Nicolo Melli	2.0p, 3.3r, 1.0a
Jaxson Hayes	1.5p, 2.8r, 0.8a
Lonzo Ball	11.3p, 3.8r, 3.5a
Sindarius Thornwell	2.0p, 0.0r, 0.0a
JJ Redick	9.0p, 1.8r, 0.5a
Eric Bledsoe	9.3p, 1.5r, 3.5a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: New Orleans Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

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

Biggest Questions

• What are the Pelicans looking to accomplish this season? While they’ve got a ton of young talent and a bright future, the Western Conference is stacked. Does it make sense to make a playoff push or settle for another season with a lottery pick before pushing to become a contender down the road?
• Will Zion Williamson be restricted this season? As great as he was as a rookie, his minutes were restricted and he was very limited. If Williamson is going to be the generational talent many think he can be, it may be time to let him loose on the floor.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post New Orleans Pelicans: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

While they did trade Jrue Holiday this offseason, they did receive an incredible amount of future draft capital in return. Along with several other key additions over the past few weeks, the build around Zion and Ingram is off to a good start.

Pelicans Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Steven Adams: While he doesn’t have a flashy game by any means, Adams flat out gets the job done. One of the most powerful screen setters and best offensive rebounders in the game, he will be a great compliment next to Williamson in the frontcourt. New Orleans was able to extend Adams on a two-year deal shortly after trading for him.
• Kira Lewis Jr.: Don’t let the fact that Lewis was taken with the very last pick in the lottery make you think he is any less talented than the guys taken in front of him. During his time at Alabama, he was one of the most explosive, speedy guards in the entire country. He’s got a real chance to be a starting guard for this team for a long time.

Pelicans Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Jrue Holiday: After spending the past seven years with the Pelicans, Jrue Holiday will officially be gone in the upcoming season. One of the best two-way guards in the entire NBA, there will be a huge void to fill.
• Derrick Favors: He didn’t have the best year of his career in New Orleans last season, but Favors was still an important piece of the roster. With him departing in free agency, acquiring Adams to fill his spot was an important move.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post New Orleans Pelicans: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

According to Andrew Lopez of ESPN, this won’t be a problem him season, as Williamson recently told the media ‘there are no restrictions’ on his minutes for the 2020-21 season. 

“I think it definitely will be different because, well, it was tough, man,” Williamson said. “When you’re going through rehab and when you’re finally able to step on the court, three minutes goes by, four minutes by and … you gotta get subbed out. It was a lot.”

“I tried to make the most of the situation and I think I did the best that I possibly could. But it’s going to be a lot different.”

Although he only played 27.8 minutes per game, Williamson was second on the Pelicans when it came to scoring—as a rookie. He averaged 22.5 points per contest while shooting .429 from beyond the arc.

Playing in just 24 games last season due to injury concerns, it seems we should (finally) get to see a full season of Williamson without any restrictions. He’s ready to show just what kind of player he is.

“I want to show that I’m a basketball player,” he said. “I’ll do whatever the team needs me to do on offense or defense no matter what it is to win. I’m just a competitor.”

“When I’m healthy and competing, I’m just a different kind of player. I think that’s the player everyone fell in love with.”

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft will look to lead the Pelicans to a playoff appearance alongside teammate Brandon Ingram.

The post Zion Williamson On Upcoming Season: ‘There Are No Restrictions’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ingram was eligible to sign for 25% of the 2019-20 cap figure because his deal will begin immediately, which explains why the $158 max is less than the $163 figure that’s been floated for the recent contract extensions that players like Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo have agreed to.

Ingram’s deal, thus, will start at $27.3 million and increased by 8% each year.

Ingram didn’t get a contract extension last offseason, prior to his fourth year, in part due to concerns about the blood clotting issue that ended his 2018-19 campaign prematurely.

Ingram rallied back from that incident and put forth a career year in his first season with the Pelicans. He averaged 23.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game for the Pels, shooting .391 from beyond the arc.

The post Brandon Ingram, Pelicans Agree to Five-Year Max Deal appeared first on SLAM.

While no moves can be made official until Nov. 22, it’s rare that deals that have been agreed to fall apart, so that means this list of the best players still available should be mandatory reading for anybody looking to make sense of the rest of the offseason.

For a recap of all the signings that have already gone down, hit our archive. Note that I’ve also been updating our original feature breaking down the free agent class with signings and agreements as they’re reported.

Top 2020 NBA Free Agents Remaining

The post Top 2020 NBA Free Agents Remaining appeared first on SLAM.

While we’ve known this was Davis’ plan since October, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reports that the decision is now official.

Davis can earn more money in 2020-21 by signing a new max contract, even with the less than expected $109M salary cap. Electing not to pick up the player option from the rookie scale is simply basic NBA economics.

Davis’ player option was worth $28.8 million. He’ll now be eligible to sign for $32.7 million in 2020-21, with baked in 8% raises over the course of a five-year contract.

With Davis’ decision to not exercise his option now all but locked in, Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans becomes the hottest commodity on the free agent market.

See our list of the top NBA free agents broken into tiers.

The post Anthony Davis to Decline Player Option appeared first on SLAM.

Heading into the 2020-21 season, the Pelicans need to continue to build around Ingram and Williamson. Depending on how a potential trade involving veteran Jrue Holiday shakes up the roster, any prospect they pick in the 2020 NBA Draft could wind up being a luxury addition. As for now though, the lottery pick needs to be used on a specific type of prospect.

Related: Full New Orleans Pelicans Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Pelicans Draft Needs

A commonality found among most teams that miss the playoffs is a certain level of defensive ineptitude and, for the Pelicans, this particular trend holds true.

New Orleans, ranked 27th in opponent’s points per game last season (117.1), actually has the personnel to perform much better on that end and bringing Stan Van Gundy on as head coach could be just what the doctor ordered. Nonetheless, bringing in more players with high basketball IQs, great intangibles and commendable defense will still make his job a lot easier next season.

David Griffin, the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, is definitely smart enough to recognize that.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The post New Orleans Pelicans: 2020 NBA Draft Preview appeared first on SLAM.

There’s no question that every team around the league would love to have a guy like Holiday on their team, whether they are rebuilding or looking to contend. His excellent season was noted by opposing front offices around the league, as it looks like he will be among the most popular trade targets this offseason. 

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Pelicans are engaged in trade talks for Holiday and several top teams in the league are among those interested.

While Jrue might be on the market, he’s never requested a trade, according to William Guillory of The Athletic. Holiday is still open to the idea of making it work with this young roster, recognizing the unique opportunity to play alongside Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, who are two of the league’s rising stars.

While there will likely be much more news on the Jrue Holiday front in the coming weeks, we shouldn’t assume he doesn’t still fit on the Pelicans and what they want to do this upcoming season.

The post Jrue Holiday Staying In New Orleans Could Make Sense appeared first on SLAM.

It’s just that, if we’re being honest, most of those stories aren’t even close to reality. The ball never bounced as high as most places throughout this country claim it did at one point. It’s rare to find a spot in the States where the legends are actually true. 

But Marcus Mizelle, director of the documentary short Something in the Water: A Kinston Basketball Story, is from a place where it’s all true, where the tall tales aren’t just tall tales. 

One in 52.7 basketball players that hooped at Kinston High School, a small public school, have played in the NBA. The average in the world is one out of every 10,000 people will make the League, according to Mizelle’s new film. 

“When you start filming—something’s in the water? Ok, what’s in the water? What’s in the water? That’s just a slogan,” Mizelle explains to SLAM. “What’s in the water is this organism, this living, breathing thing where all these people are just participating and helping one another. Kinston is just a support system that keeps going and going and going. It’s this organism that all these people have put so much and energy and time in to and it just keeps cycling.”

Cedric Maxwell, Charles Shackleford, Jerry Stackhouse, Reggie Bullock and Brandon Ingram are among the NBA players from the small town in North Carolina. 

Mizelle went back home, to the town where he lived for the first 23 years of his life, to look at how Kinston became one of those rare places where the romanticized past is the truth. But that’s not the story that ended up driving his film. 

“2016, I reached out to Donald Ingram, Brandon’s dad,” he says. “I was not able to connect with him. We didn’t really know each other yet. I hit him up on Facebook message. That was the only line I had at the time. And then 2017, ESPN dropped a big article on Kinston and the basketball there. I think the title was something like ‘Brandon Ingram’s Hometown Has the Highest NBA Draft Picks Per Capita in the World.’ Something like that. That’s when I was like, ‘Alright, well, I’m going to go ahead and go to town, see what we can get.’  

“I reached out to everybody I ever knew in Kinston,” he continues. “Got in touch with Donald Ingram, kept hearing about a kid named Dontrez Styles. His name kept popping up. He may or may not be the next big thing. He was in ninth grade at the time. And then Curtis Hines, a personal trainer. All these names kept popping up, as far as what’s going on in Kinston right now. I was like, ‘Of course it’s about the past greats. That’s important.’ But I was more interested in what’s going on right now.”

History becomes present and future in Something in the Water. Styles is headed to North Carolina, following Jerry Stackhouse’s path. Hines is a huge part of the doc. And Mizelle even dives into how Kinston’s economy has changed over the years, including the impact of its high crime rate. 

For as much it’s about the game, Something in the Water is about the people that have dedicated so much to Kinston, the people whose stories ring out. Mizelle talks about how Donald Ingram hosts games every Tuesday and Thursday for players of all ages. He details Hines’ commitment to helping the next generation. He gives a special shout out to Jeremy Ingram, the guard who should’ve torn up Wake Forest, if not for injuries (“I know he was going to make the League,” Mizelle says). He mentions the unfortunate passing of Charles Shackleford, a rebounding machine that played throughout the 80s and 90s. 

“I learned I’m lucky as hell to be from Kinston, is what I learned,” Mizelle says about the doc’s creation process. “I’m lucky. There’s a lot of small towns I could’ve been from and there’s a lot of towns that had a high crime rate but at least Kinston also has basketball. It’s a cool thing to be known for. It’s the best thing to be known for. That’s been such a reminder for me. Just being proud, straight up proud for being from a cool spot with good people.”

Mizelle, at the end of his film, asked all of his interviewees to describe Kinston with one word. He’s the director so he decided that he gets two words. He goes with “special” and “hungry.”

Hungry for more special stories to be told. He has plans to extend Something in the Water with more interviews and footage, proving that Kinston isn’t just another one of those places that dreams about how good their ballplayers actually are. 

—

Watch Something in the Water now on Amazon Prime.

The post Filmmaker Marcus Mizelle On Why Kinston, NC is a Basketball Heaven appeared first on SLAM.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill, there are “around 10 teams” who have reached out to the New Orleans Pelicans to inquire about his services.

That’s nearly a third of NBA and, considering the price on Holiday won’t be cheap, indicative of the level of play that’s come to be expected of him after 11 years in the league.

Goodwill mentions the Nuggets specifically as a team interested in Holiday but other teams like the Brooklyn Nets have been linked to the guard over the course of the past year.

Aside from his status as a two-way playmaker, the reason that Holiday is a natural trade target is because the presence of franchise cornerstone Zion Williamson lessens his offensive impact. Although on paper the Pelicans have enough talent to reach the playoffs with Holiday, Zion and Brandon Ingram leading the way, there are players who may be a better fit beside Zion and Ingram, their upper echelon scorers.

Unlike Zion or Ingram though, New Orleans may actually be willing to trade the 2013 All-Star selection for the right price.

Holiday, one of the most likable players in the NBA, could very well find himself suiting up for his third NBA team in 2020-21.

The post Multiple Teams Tab Jrue Holiday as Potential Trade Target appeared first on SLAM.

In addition to a summary for each of the 30 teams (accessible in the link grid below), we’ve also tiered the top NBA free agents league-wide and published a general comparison of all teams’ cap space. Follow @SLAMnewswire on Twitter for constant offseason updates as we head into free agency.

Projected Roster Players

Projected Free Agents

Projected Waived Players

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Exceptions Available

• Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception – $9,258,000
• Bi-Annual Exception – $3,623,000

Key Offseason Decisions

• The only real decision the Pelicans need to make this summer is if they should waive Darius Miller or not. Miller has a fully non-guaranteed contract for $7M. If he’s guaranteed, that’s a nice piece for salary matching in a trade. But coming off a major injury, it’s more likely Miller will be waived.
• Next up is: Can New Orleans get Brandon Ingram signed to a full max deal before being forced to match an offer sheet. It’s likely Ingram and New Orleans will come to agreement on a four or five-year max contract right as free agency opens.

Projected Team Salary

$149,010,708

Cut and dry offseason for New Orleans. No options to worry about. No real decisions to be made on qualifying offers. Brandon Ingram will initially be made a restricted free agent, but should quickly sign a max contract. After that, it’s about retaining Derrick Favors or not and then filling out the rest of the roster to make a playoff push. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$39,870,708 (13^th out of 30). $42,928,840 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

The post New Orleans Pelicans: Salary Cap Space 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

The team was very young, with guys like Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart shouldering a heavy load. James was a clear leader and was a huge influence on the young players on the team, whether good or bad.

Rajon Rondo spoke to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan about his challenge to LeBron this season to focus on his body language. Rondo reflected on how James’ teammates looked up to him last season:

“When guys are making the same mistakes over and over and over, it’s hard to bite your tongue but I tried to get [James] to focus on his body language…Those young guys were looking at everything he did. If they missed four shots in a row and LeBron was making a face, it was crushing to them. He was their Michael Jordan. They didn’t want to let him down. But if LeBron said one thing positive to Brandon Ingram or Kyle Kuzma, they immediately were back to their old selves.”

Whether James knew it or not, everything he did had an impact on the other members of the team. As a leader and mentor, his body language sometimes made a negative impact on his teammates.

Although many of those teammates were traded away in the Anthony Davis deal, Rondo wanted James to focus on this in the 2019-20 season.

Not only has Rondo had some exceptional games on the Lakers’ current playoff run, but it goes to show all of the little things he has done for the team off the floor this season. As a veteran, and someone James trusts, Rondo found ways to challenge his teammates to make them better in the long run.

The post Rajon Rondo Challenged LeBron James To Focus on His Body Language appeared first on SLAM.

Even though he’s one of the older players in the NBA, he recently told Mark Medina of USA Today that he wants to play for four more years. 

“I realized this year I want to keep playing as long as possible. My goal is to play four more years. Year 18. That’s my goal. I’ll play to 39. Then my offseason, I’ll turn 40 and then I can walk away at that point. That’s my goal. We’ll see. The body has to hold up. But we’ll see.”

It’s pretty rare for NBA players to play until they’re 40. Most guys aren’t able to play at a high level that late into their career and ultimately retire long before then. With Redick’s shooting ability and little reliance on athleticism, he certainly has what it takes to be an asset on teams through age 40. 

Next season will be the last year of his current contract, at which point he will hit free agency ahead of the final chapter of his NBA career. The question is where he’ll end up settling given that his skill set is so transferable.

The post JJ Redick: ‘My Goal Is To Play Four More Years’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ball says he is focused on getting the New Orleans Pelicans to the playoffs next season and has a goal of becoming the next NBA Most Improved Player after seeing his teammate Brandon Ingram accomplish this in the 2019-20 season.

“For myself, I think Most Improved Player is definitely something I can get next year.”

Last season with the Pelicans, Ball had a solid season averaging 11.8 points, 7.0 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. What was most impressive was his ability to shoot the ball from deep at an efficient .375 on 6.3 attempts per contest. This was by far a career-high in three-point shooting and a step in the right direction towards becoming one of the more improved players in the league.

Being a starter his entire career, Ball will need to continue to have seasons trending towards becoming an NBA All-Star. Although he signed a four-year deal worth just over $33 million a few years ago, his next contract should be his largest yet. Rich Paul and Klutch Sports will be instrumental in making that happen as long as Ball continues to progress as a player.

“I wanted to lead my career. Picking my own representation — just solely as my decision — was step one in that process. For me, it was an easy call, and it was the right time to make that call.”

Klutch Sports has worked it’s way up to become one of the most prolific agencies in the entire NBA, representing players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Ben Simmons, John Wall and many others around the league.

The post Lonzo Ball Has Eyes Set on Most Improved appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve listed the entire roster with comparisons to last year’s launch rating below. We’ve also identified some general NBA 2K21 ratings trends for the league as a whole.

Pelicans NBA 2K21 Ratings

View the NBA 2K21 player ratings for other teams below.

The post New Orleans Pelicans: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

This year’s version of the game faced unusual circumstances as the 2020-21 version of the game is technically dropping before the conclusion of the previous campaign. Such is life in the year 2020.

Without so much as a 2020 offseason, let alone a rookie draft, the rosters themselves in the launch version of NBA 2K21 are in line with where they were in the most recently updated patch of NBA 2K20 but discrepancies among the ratings still exist. The game is geared toward next season, after all.

We’ve rounded up and sifted through the team-by-team overall rating data below. It’s on you to hit us here or on Twitter with the decisions you think the 2K developers nailed – and where they struck out.

Below the team-by-team grid, we’ve broken down additional trends, so scroll liberally.

The average player ratings were down across the board compared to last year which could indicate a slight game-wide recalibration but the numbers are indicative of how the teams stack up from top to bottom. Any generic average that weighs every single player on a team equally will be flawed, so don’t read more into this than you should, but it’s interesting to note the relative differences between the teams. It’s also a good reminder of just how scary the Warriors and Nets can be when fully healthy.

Average Overall Rating By Team

Biggest NBA 2K21 Ratings Increases

Biggest NBA 2K21 Ratings Decreases

The post NBA 2K21 Ratings: Team-by-Team Lists appeared first on SLAM.

Nov. 20 Update: The Top 2020 NBA Free Agents Available, 24 Hours In

Rather than focus on specific rankings for players, a process limited by the fact that a given individual’s value fluctuates based on the needs of each team, I’ve broken down the league’s available free agents into general tiers.

Not all of the players that you see listed here will end up hitting the open market. Any team with (player) or (team) next to them has an option built into their contract. If that option is picked up, they’re immediately under contract for a pre-negotiated amount in 2020-21.

Players with (restricted) next to their names are restricted free agents, meaning the teams that they currently play for hold the right to match any contract that they’re able to draw from outside organizations.

The actual date for the start of NBA free agency is unknown but it stands to reason that the official negotiation period will fall after the now locked in Nov. 18, 2020 NBA Draft. Earlier this summer, the league had floated a potential Oct. 15 draft with free agency set three days later. The October dates are moot now but the three-day buffer could still apply.

While I stayed away from floating any potential contract figures for these pending free agents, the tiers were constructed under the assumption that the 2020-21 NBA salary cap would fall in line with what it was in 2019-20 ($109 million). Originally it was set to increase but the league’s economic forecast is less optimistic than it was pre-pandemic.

The exact cap number will impact how teams approach free agency but the value of the players available remains relative. Scroll through the complete list below but remember that different teams will prioritize different tiers depending on where they are as an organization.

The Pre-Packaged Superstar Tier

• Anthony Davis (declined PO)
• Brandon Ingram (restricted)

There are two players in this year’s free agent class that you could envision as the No. 1 option on an NBA playoff team. Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram are, all things being equal, players that a front office could legitimately plan their offseason strategy around. In reality, it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Anthony Davis leaves the Los Angeles Lakers given the trouble he went through to get there, even if that means he turns down his player option and signs a new deal. Ingram bet on himself in 2019-20 and fortified his case for max money. If such a deal doesn’t come from the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of free agency, it’ll certainly come via restricted free agent offer sheet, even if the 2020-21 salary cap remains right where it was this season.

The Established Star Tier

• DeMar DeRozan (exercised PO)
• Andre Drummond (exercised PO)
• Gordon Hayward (declined PO) -> Agreement with Charlotte
• Danilo Gallinari -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Mike Conley (declined ETO)

There won’t be too many teams lining up to poach an established star in or at the end of their prime this offseason, even if they come with the All-Star resumes and accolades that this lot comes with. Without question, these are the types of players that could make good teams great but that’s not much help if the price point isn’t feasible for the teams that need them. With a shortage of cap room around the league this year, expect most of the players in this group to exercise their player options. If they do end up on the market, as both DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond have at different times implied, their best bet may be to trade a pay cut in the short-term for a longer duration deal like Al Horford and Jonas Valanciunas did last season.

The Emerging Star Tier

• Fred VanVleet – > Back with TO
• Montrezl Harrell – Agreement with Lakers

Both Fred VanVleet and Montrezl Harrell have made their names providing immense value in supporting roles for teams with first-class championship aspirations. As a result, fans and opposing teams alike have no shortage of chances to see what they’re capable of. What nobody truly knows, however, is how either of these teams would fare as a primary or secondary option on another squad, the type of role that comes with max or near-max money. Both Toronto and Los Angeles are well positioned to give their guys a substantial pay raise and keep them in town but things could get complicated in a hurry if outside teams hungry for assets they can grow with start to court them. 

The Brimming with Potential Tier

• Davis Bertans -> Back to DC
• Christian Wood -> Agreement with Houston
• Malik Beasley (restricted) – > Back in Minny

In certain offseasons, teams flush with cap space would be happy to throw money at players who’ve shown the glimpses of high ceiling potential that this group has. This year though, with a shortage of spenders and much of the league’s financial outlook still uncertain, things are different. While all of these particular individuals had shown promising signs with other teams, it wasn’t until they landed on their current squads that they started to truly gain momentum as potential long-term building blocks. For that reason, any outside team eager to pluck one would likely need to spend more on a relatively unproven commodity than they’re comfortable with. That’s a risk that may seem especially hard to justify in 2020, leaving incumbent teams in prime position to bring them back.

The Proven Impact Player Tier

• Serge Ibaka
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (restricted) -> Offer from ATL expected
• Jordan Clarkson -> Back in Utah
• Goran Dragic -> Back in Miami
• Otto Porter Jr. (exercised PO)
• Carmelo Anthony – > Back with Portland
• Evan Fournier (exercised PO)
• Aron Baynes
• Derrick Favors -> Agreement with Utah
• Marc Gasol -> An “option” for Lakers
• Jerami Grant (declined PO) -> Agreement with Detroit

This group of starting caliber impact players can be one of the most interesting to monitor every offseason. None of the players will command max money or even a featured role in any new team’s offense but they can immediately tilt the scales for whichever franchise they land with. These players are safe, often nomadic, with a track record of performing consistently. If the fit and the price are right, it’s a perfect marriage with postseason implications.

The Elite Role Player Tier

• Tim Hardaway Jr. (exercised PO)
• Joe Harris –> Back with Nets
• Marcus Morris -> Back with Clippers
• Paul Millsap -> Back with Denver
• Kelly Olynyk (exercised PO)
• Dario Saric (restricted)
• Dwight Howard -> Agreement with Philly

While these players may not have the luxury of demanding heavy usage wherever they go, they’re capable of specifically thriving in certain ideal situations. Fit is key with these players and that can completely shift the narratives that follow them around for the rest of their career. There’s a thin line between heroic supporting veteran and onerous contract and it usually depends on how competitive the team ends up being after they’ve signed them.

The Re-Purposed Veteran Tier

• Tristan Thompson
• DeMarcus Cousins
• Isaiah Thomas
• Austin Rivers (declined PO)
• Enes Kanter (exercised PO)
• Jeff Teague
• Hassan Whiteside
• Bobby Portis (declined TO) – >Agreement with Milwaukee

This group of players with histories of featuring heavily into team rotations will always garner interest because of their track records but they may be forced to accept reduced roles if they’d like to play meaningful basketball come playoff time. Alternatively, they could opt instead for larger, albeit temporary, roles with developing programs in need of starters.

The High Ceiling Rotation Piece Tier

• De’Anthony Melton (restricted) -> Back with Memphis
• Harry Giles
• Jakob Poeltl (restricted) -> Back with Spurs
• Svi Mykhailiuk (exercised TO)

Teams looking to stockpile assets that they can grow and work with will always have an interest in this mid-level group. Inevitably, these players appeal more to teams with room and patience to focus on player development since there’s no guarantee that they’d be able to consistently excel on a team contending for a title. Not all will blossom into major rotation pieces down the road but they’re simultaneously capable contributors in the short-term and low-risk investment opportunities in the long term.

The Veteran Support Tier

• Jae Crowder -> Agreement with Phoenix
• Nerlens Noel -> Agreement with New York
• D.J. Augustin -> Agreement with Milwaukee
• Mason Plumlee – > Agreement with Detroit
• Nicolas Batum (exercised PO)
• Reggie Jackson
• Kyle Korver
• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
• Avery Bradley (declined PO) -> Agreement with Miami

Teams less inclined to take on development projects may prefer mid-rotation pieces that they can plug into their lineup without stress. None of these players are going to move the needle for a team on a season-to-season basis but they can still make a difference from game to game. Given that they wouldn’t likely yield big contracts, they’re the perfect building blocks to slide into contending rosters to fortify already impressive lineups.

The Mystery Value Tier

• Rodney Hood (declined PO) -> Back in Portland
• Kenrich Williams (restricted)
• Josh Jackson -> Agreement with Detroit
• Jevon Carter (restricted)
• Juan Hernangomez (restricted)
• Mario Hezonja (exercised PO)
• Chris Boucher (restricted)
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• Allonzo Trier
• Chandler Parsons

Whether a team is ready to compete now or still in the rebuilding phase, they’ll need to fill out the middle portion of their rotation with reliable players. This particular group would appeal more to teams still developing their core as the players within it have room to grow on a personal level. The fact that a young team could commit now and groom a potential long-term supporting cast member carries a lot of weight. The fact that they could settle on a contender and then blossom into something more is scary.

The Veteran Reinforcement Tier

• Andre Roberson
• Alec Burks -> Agreement with NY
• Langston Galloway
• JaVale McGee (exercised PO)
• Michael Carter-Williams ->. Agreement with ORlando
• Kent Bazemore
• Markieff Morris
• Matthew Dellavedova
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
• Maurice Harkless -> Agreement with Miami
• Pat Connaughton -> Back with Milwaukee
• Marco Belinelli
• Frank Kaminsky (declined TO)
• Meyers Leonard -> Back in Miami
• Justin Holiday -> Back with Indy

While unlikely to grab many headlines, these veterans are necessary components of the NBA workforce. Equally equipped to slot in as prominent bench players for contending teams or help guide a developing team through a rebuild in more of a leadership role, there’s an impressive amount of flexibility here. They’ll get minutes wherever they end up and can be some of the most affordable sources of value in the league.

The Low-Risk Gamble Tier

• Kris Dunn -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Rajon Rondo (declined PO) -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Evan Turner
• Torrey Craig
• Thon Maker
• Stanley Johnson (exercised PO)
• Bryn Forbes
• Jonah Bolden
• Dragan Bender

Teams don’t necessarily go looking for prominent contributors at the bottom of their rotation but these are players that could start there and work their way up. These players aren’t so much budding prospects as they’re veteran players capable of more if things break right. So long as the price is right, these are low-risk gambles with intriguing rewards.

The Dormant Game Changer Tier

• Shabazz Napier
• Cameron Payne (declined TO)
• JaKarr Sampson
• Anthony Tolliver
• Marvin Williams -> Retired
• Raul Neto -> Agreement with Washington
• Mike Muscala (exercised PO)
• Garrett Temple (declined TO) -> Agreement with Chicago
• Wesley Matthews (declined PO) -> Agreement with Lakers
• Bismack Biyombo
• Brandon Knight
• Robin Lopez (declined PO) -> Agreement with Washington
• J.J. Barea
• Iman Shumpert

It’s unrealistic to expect a deep rotation piece to be able to produce above their weight class consistently but any time a utility player can step up as an injury replacement or even just flex a unique skill set, it provides additional value for the team. These players may slide by undetected in the box score on most nights but are capable of much more.

The Depth on Depth Tier

• Gary Payton II
• Emmanuel Mudiay
• JaMychal Green (declined PO) -> Agreement with Denver
• DeMarre Carroll
• Jeff Green -> Agreement with Brooklyn
• Dwayne Bacon -> Agreement with Orlando
• Wilson Chandler
• Chris Chiozza
• Glenn Robinson III
• Derrick Jones Jr. -> Agreement with Portland
• Wes Iwundu -> Agreement with Dallas
• Treveon Graham
• David Nwaba (exercised TO)
• Wenyen Gabriel (restricted)
• C.J. Miles
• Dion Waiters
• James Johnson (exercised PO)
• E’Twaun Moore
• Solomon Hill
• Isaiah Hartenstein
• Tim Frazier

What can make or break a season is the depth at the bottom of the roster. There are no shortage of quality hoopers in this world who can fill in at the end of the bench for an NBA squad but if those players have the skills, experience and gravitas to make the most of the fleeting action they do get, the sky is the limit. These players won’t demand consistent court time but they’re a luxury to have at the bottom of a rotation.

The Scrapping for Opportunities Tier

• Damyean Dotson (restricted)
• Skal Labissiere (restricted)
• DeAndre’ Bembry (restricted)
• Ian Mahinmi
• Corey Brewer
• Yogi Ferrell
• Caleb Swanigan
• Kyle O’Quinn
• Hamidou Diallo (exercised TO)
• Patrick Patterson -> Back with Clippers
• Willy Hernangomez
• Denzel Valentine (restricted)
• Shaquille Harrison
• Bruno Caboclo
• Alize Johnson (restricted)
• Noah Vonleh
• John Henson
• Frank Mason (restricted)
• Jahlil Okafor -> Agreement with Detroit
• Frank Jackson (restricted)
• Sterling Brown (restricted)
• Tyler Johnson
• Kadeem Allen

Securing a consistent job in the NBA is incredibly difficult, leaving this group the most susceptible to churn as 60 new rookies enter the league every offseason. These players will have their work cut out for them landing new roles and some could even spend time on the outside of the league looking in if they don’t find a good fit. We’ve seen time and time again examples of players that left the league only to return after a brief hiatus in the G League or overseas.

Update #1, Sep. 17, 2020: Post updated with new NBA Draft date, additional free agents added to existing tiers.

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The post Top 2020 NBA Free Agents List appeared first on SLAM.

The decision to forego the award show was an obvious one given the global pandemic underway and it allows the league to go back to the way they used to present award winners; before the tip-off of various NBA postseason games.

The exact release dates for each award have not been made public prior to the actual reveal, leaving some room for interpretation as to when the next announcement might come.

We wrote about the three finalists for each 2019-20 NBA award last month and have been breaking down the actual results as they’ve been named over the past two weeks.

We’ll continue to do that and update this tracker, which will consolidate all of the information, including any published release dates if we get them.

Coach of the Year: Nick Nurse

Aug. 22: Nurse edged out Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks and Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Full Story.

Top Five: Nurse, Donovan, Budenholzer, Spoelstra (Heat), Vogel (Lakers)

Other 1st Place Votes: McMillan (Pacers)

Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Aug. 25: Antetokounmpo won the award over Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers. Full Story.

Top Five: Antetokounmpo, Davis, Gobert, Simmons (Sixers), Adebayo (Heat)

Other 1st Place Votes: Beverley (Clippers), Drummond (Cavaliers)

Most Improved Player: Brandon Ingram

Aug. 31: Ingram was named the winner over Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic. Full Story.

Top Five: Ingram, Adebayo, Doncic, Tatum (Celtics), Graham (Hornets)

Other 1st Place Votes: Siakam (Raptors), Wood (Pistons), VanVleet (Raptors)

Sixth Man of the Year: Montrezl Harrell

Sep. 4: Harrell has received the 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year award, ahead of Dennis Schroder of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers. Full Story.

Top Five: Harrell, Schroder, Williams, Wood (Pistons), Hill (Bucks)

Rookie of the Year: Ja Morant

Sep. 3: Morant has been named the Rookie of the Year for 2019-20. He was a nearly unanimous winner, beating out Kendrick Nunn of the Miami Heat and Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans. Full Story.

Top Five: Morant, Nunn, Williamson, Clarke (Grizzlies), White (Bulls)

Most Valuable Player: TBD

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, James Harden of the Houston Rockets and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers are the finalists for this award.

All-Defensive Teams

Sep. 8: The NBA’s All-Defensive Teams have been named. Full Story.

First Team: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, Rudy Gobert, Marcus Smart

Second Team: Kawhi Leonard, Brook Lopez, Bam Adebadyo, Patrick Beverley, Eric Bledsoe

All-Rookie Teams: TBD

All-NBA Teams: TBD

The post 2019-20 NBA Award Results Tracker appeared first on SLAM.

Ingram was a sensation for the Pelicans in his first year with the club, scoring 23.8 points per game, dominating particularly in the first half of the season when much of New Orleans offense flowed through him.

While Ingram has always been considered a valuable young talent with a high ceiling, his development was stalled when the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted him No. 2 overall in 2016, ended up signing LeBron James in the summer of 2018 and going all in on a championship run.

Ingram was a complementary scoring option last season and thus blossomed with the increased opportunities in New Orleans. In addition to his increased point totals, Ingram averaged 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while hitting threes at a .391 clip.

Luka Doncic, the last of the pre-named nominees, was a distant third. The full voting breakdown is below.

The post Brandon Ingram Named 2019-20 Most Improved Player appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve listed the three nominations for each award below.

Most Valuable Player

It’s become commonplace for Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and James Harden to find themselves duking it out for the Most Valuable Player trophy this time of year, this time of season, you know what I mean. Don’t take greatness for granted. A win would be LeBron’s fifth (and first since 2013) while Giannis and the Beard won the previous two titles.

Rookie of the Year

Kendrick Nunn has been a steal for the Miami Heat but this two-horse race largely comes down to philosophy. Did Zion Williamson play enough games to be a genuine candidate for the title? Zion played less games (proportionate to a full season) than Joel Embiid did when he was looked over for Malcolm Brogdon back in 2017. Perhaps the games played argument is moot, given how sensational Ja Morant was.

Defensive Player of the Year

Defense is obviously two-time award winner Rudy Gobert’s calling card but Giannis Antetokounmpo’s length and athleticism has fueled a historically dominant Milwaukee Bucks defense. Don’t sleep on Anthony Davis either, as his goal to win DPOY is well documented.

Most Improved Player

While the Most Improved award often falls into the hands of a solid rotation piece that stumbled into a new role or opportunity, that’s not exactly the case in 2020. Bam Adebayo has emerged as a franchise cornerstone for a playoff contender, Brandon Ingram started flexing the Kevin Durant-esque scoring ability fans have been salivating over since he was at Duke and Luka Doncic transitioned from incomprehensibly dominant teenager to incomprehensibly dominant human being over night.

Sixth Man of the Year

A fourth Sixth Man of the Year award would push Lou Williams’ legacy to new heights but he’s not necessarily the most effective reserve on his own squad. Montrezl Harrell didn’t let the arrival of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George disrupt his status as a hyper productive presence any time he set foot on the court. Dennis Schroder, on the other hand, made up a third of Oklahoma City’s peculiarly effective three-headed guard rotation.

Coach of the Year

Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse spent their 2019-20 campaign polishing and perfecting two Eastern Conference powerhouses that were already at the top of the mountain last season. Billy Donovan, in contrast, built a winner out of a roster that so many were quick to write off following Paul George’s departure.

The post NBA Reveals 2019-20 Awards Nominees appeared first on SLAM.

Which players were the hottest and coldest when the league shut down on March 11? I did the math – lots of it – and laid out the impact that the suspension could have on each of the league’s 22 bubble squads.

I’ve already written extensively about how the hiatus impacted player health around the NBA so my focus with this one was to boil down data provided by Sport Radar and compiled by Sports.ws to display, at an elementary level, just who was performing the best in March relative to how they were doing previously.

For those keeping track at home, I’ve included the math at the bottom of this post.

My main motivation for crunching the numbers was to get insight into what we might be able to expect from teams in the bubble. For some squads and players, the Disney World restart represents a complete shakeup but for others, those otherwise forgettable late-season March matchups could provide glimpses into where teams are going with their rotations.

Is Shake Milton for real in Philadelphia? Is Kristaps Porzingis finally, truly, back to New York form in Dallas? What does a Caris LeVert-led Brooklyn team look like and will that even matter when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are healthy? Do we need to worry about New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram?

Only 16 teams will make it out of the seeding round into the postseason. The rest of us – in the bubble and at home – can at least take the opportunity to start mapping out what the future might hold.

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The fire and snowflake icons in the team-by-team player lists correspond to that player’s net output in March vs. their output in October – February. Output was determined by a weighted scoring algorithm compiled by Sports.ws.

Output = PTS + def_reb + (off_reb x 1.5) + (AST x 2) + (STL x 2.5) + (BLK x 2) – (TO x 1.5) – (FG miss x 0.5) – (FT miss x 0.5)

The post Heat Check (Hiatus Edition) Introduction appeared first on SLAM.

When the league shut down in March, Ball was playing some of his best basketball, averaging 20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. He even knocked down seven triples in back-to-back games on March 3 and March 4.

If the 22-year-old can tap into that same momentum in Orlando, it will make a potentially scary Pels team even scarier. Ball isn’t the only player that was thriving in March, however, team leader Jrue Holiday had raised his across the board production.

In contrast, forward Brandon Ingram’s star turn had slowed down a bit in March. Ingram put up just 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the games before the break, a slight regression from the 24.8, 6.3, 4.3 line he had averaged previously.

SLAM’s Heat Check series compares each individual player’s personal production in the month of March with their production prior. The goal is to get a sense of the direction in which players were trending when the league stood still. For a more in-depth description, check out our Heat Check (Hiatus Edition) introduction.

Heat Check New Orleans Pelicans

Lonzo Ball
Jrue Holiday
Nicolo Melli
Zion Williamson	–
Frank Jackson	–
Derrick Favors
Josh Hart
E’Twaun Moore
Brandon Ingram
Jaxson Hayes

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check (Hiatus): New Orleans Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

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

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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.

Also included in the team-by-team breakdowns are all partial/non-guaranteed players for the 2020-21 season, essentially expanding the list to include any individual that could plausibly hit free agency this summer.

Related: CBA Explained – Different types of NBA free agency

Dallas Mavericks

Houston Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies

New Orleans Pelicans

San Antonio Spurs

The post 2020 NBA Free Agents – Southwest Division appeared first on SLAM.

If this game was any indication, the future of basketball is in very good hands. Luka Doncic (30 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists) came up big for the winners in overtime, but he wasn’t the only young stud to turn in a solid night.

Brandon Ingram had 27 points, Zion Williamson scored 21 and Lonzo Ball hit seven 3’s en route to 25 points for New Orleans.

Kristaps Porzingis led the way on both ends for the Mavs with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Celtics 112 (42-19), Cavaliers 106 (17-45)

Jayson Tatum’s hot streak continued as he chipped in 32 points, 9 rebounds and 6 dimes for the Celtics. The wing shot 5-for-10 from deep, keeping his 3-point percentage at .500 since the All-Star break (38.2% before).

Thunder 114 (38-24), Pistons 107 (20-43)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a team-best plus-12 in his 35 minutes of game time as he scored 27 points on 12-for-15 shooting. Dennis Schroder added 23 on 7-for-14 shooting off the pine.

Magic 113 (27-35), Heat 116 (40-22)

Duncan Robinson shot 9-for-12 from deep en route to a team-high 27 points for the Heat as they picked up a win over their in-state foe.

Wizards 104 (22-39), Trail Blazers 125 (28-35)

Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points in the first half en route to a 25-point night on an efficient 8-for-13 shooting.

Despite the loss, Bradley Beal turned in his 20th straight game with at least 25 points as he finished with 29.

Bulls 108 (21-41), Timberwolves 115 (19-42)

Six Timberwolves scored double-digit points to overcome a 26-point night from Coby White.

Grizzlies 118 (31-31), Nets 79 (27-34)

Twelve Grizzlies got on the scoring sheet as they held the Nets to just 30-for-90 shooting from the field and a staggering 7-for-42 performance from deep. Josh Jackson scored a team-high 19 in 17 minutes off the bench.

Jazz 112 (39-22), Knicks 104 (19-43)

Julius Randle scored 32, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Jazz as Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic each scored 23.

Pacers 100 (37-25), Bucks 119 (53-9)

The Bucks started off hot with 36 points in the first quarter and never looked back as Giannis racked up 29 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Donte DiVincenzo scored 19 in 23 minutes off the bench to aid the effort, too.

The post Post Up: Luka, KP Lead Mavericks Past Pelicans in OT Thriller appeared first on SLAM.

In Tim Duncan’s head coaching debut, the Spurs picked up a win in a tight game on the road in Charlotte. San Antonio was led by Dejounte Murray, who finished with 21 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. For the Hornets, Terry Rozier dropped 20 points to go along with 5 assists and 6 rebounds, and PJ Washington added 19 in the loss.

Nets 129 (27-33), Celtics 120 (41-19)

It was an absolutely wild one in TD Garden.

The Nets trailed by as many as 21-points in the second half, and were down 17 heading into the fourth. Then Caris LeVert put on a show. The Nets outscored Boston 51-34 in the fourth to force OT behind an insane 26-POINT quarter from LeVert. He stayed hot in OT, scoring all 11 points for Brooklyn and lifting them to the win. Despite having just 14 points at the start of the fourth quarter, LeVert finished with a career-high 51 on 17-26 shooting and 5-10 from downtown. The Boston defense just had no answer for the Michigan product, who put on one of, if not the best performance of the 2019-2020 season thus far.

The Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown, who dropped 22, and Kemba Walker, in his return from injury, who added 21. Marcus Smart stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in the loss.

Timberwolves 139 (18-42), Pelicans 134 (26-35)

In a high-scoring affair, the Timberwolves outscored the Pelicans 30-23 in the final frame to pick up the win on the road. Malik Beasley led the way, finishing with 28 points on 11-13 shooting and 4-5 from three. DeAngelo Russell added 23 points and 8 assists in the win, and James Johnson dropped 19 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Zion Williamson extended his streak of 20-point games to 12, finishing with 25 points and 8 rebounds on 10-19 shooting. Zion was one of five Pelicans to finished with 24 or more points. Jrue Holiday was awesome, completing a triple-double with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Lonzo Ball added 26 points (including 7 threes), 8 assists and 5 rebounds, and Brandon Ingram dropped 24.

Clippers 109 (42-19), Thunder 94 (37-24)

In a battle between two Western Conference playoff teams, the Clippers picked up the impressive win on the road, their 5th straight victory. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 to go along with 8 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 to lead the way. For OKC, Dennis Schroder dropped a team-high 24 in the loss. Chris Paul added 14 points and 7 assists.

Warriors 116 (14-48), Nuggets 100 (41-20)

The Warriors picked up one of their most impressive wins of the season, beating the Nuggets by double digits in Denver. Andrew Wiggins showed out, finishing with 22 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds to lead Golden State. Eric Paschall added 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench. Paul Millsap and Will Barton each dropped 18 in the loss for Denver. Nikola Jokic added 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Raptors 123 (43-18), Suns 114 (24-38)

Trailing by 7 at the break, the Raptors rallied in the second half to beat the Suns in Phoenix. Pascal Siakam was dominant, dropping 33 points on 12-20 shooting and 5-9 from deep. Kyle Lowry added a very solid stat line of 28 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, and Norman Powell dropped 26 in the Raptors win. Devin Booker scored a team-high 22 and added 10 dimes, and Cam Johnson finished with 21 points on 5 made threes in the loss.

Lakers 120 (47-13), 76ers 107 (37-25)

The Lakers blew the game open in the second quarter, outscoring Philly 37-19, and maintained the lead in the second half to secure the home win. Anthony Davis went off, scoring 18 of his game-high 37 in the second quarter. AD also finished with 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. LeBron added a light 22 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds on 9-16 shooting in the win. Without Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, Philadelphia was led by Glen Robinson III, who dropped 25 points on 10-15 shooting off the bench.

Kings 133 (27-34), Wizards 126 (22-38)

The Wizards stormed back after being down by 28, outscoring Sacramento 46-19 in the third quarter to tie the game heading into the fourth. But Washington responded, winning the final frame 38-31 to secure the win on the road. The Kings were led by De’Aaron Fox, who dropped 31 points on 12-19 shooting in the win. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 21, and Buddy Hield scored 17 off the bench. For the Wizards, Bradley Beal finished with a game-high 35 points in the loss.

The post Post Up: LeVert Erupts for 51 in Win Over Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

The Magic played incredible, with Terrence Ross recording a season-high 33 points, Nikola Vucevic having 27 points and 10 boards and Aaron Gordon enjoying his first triple-double of his career with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

D’Angelo Russell was solid for the Wolves, scoring 28 points and dishing 7 assists with a respectable +8 plus/minus on the night.

Hawks 141 (18-43), Nets 118 (32-36)

This wasn’t just a promising game for the Hawks because they won, but also due to the fact that their young core of players were the biggest contributors to their success. Trae Young dropped 22 and 14 assists. John Collins popped off for 33 and 12 boards. Kevin Huerter scored 15 on an efficient 60% from the field. The rook DeAndre Hunter had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Cam Reddish had perhaps his best game of the season with 26 points on 6-9 from deep.

As for the disappointing Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie did his best with 24 points and 13 assists, but it simply wasn’t enough.

Hornets 99 (21-38), Raptors 96 (42-17)

Well, this was a surprise.

The Raptors usually steamroll objectively inferior opponents, but not tonight, apparently. No Hornets starter even scored 20 points, but they all reached double figures. Solid performances from Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell and Kyle Lowry weren’t enough to offset a bench that only mustered nine points.

Despite all that, there was still a chance to win, with the game tied at 96 with about two seconds left, Hornets ball. But Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was called for an off-ball foul. Tough way to lose.

Heat 126 (37-22), Mavericks 118 (36-24)

This was a very quality win for the Heat, beating a bona-fide playoff team in the West and one of the best offenses in league history. Jimmy Butler predictable led the way in scoring with 26, but Duncan Robinson (24 points, 6-9 from deep, +24 plus/minus) and Kelly Olynyk (13 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists in only 19 minutes) were the unsung heroes.

For Dallas, despite a Seth Curry explosion of 37 points and stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis both scoring in the 20’s, Miami was too tough.

Kings 104 (25-34), Grizzlies 101 (28-31)

The Kings are closer to the 8th seed than you think. After beating the Grizzlies, a team currently above them in the chase, Sacramento is only three games out of a playoff berth. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 25 points in what was a very solid all-around team win.

The Grizzlies are crumbling right now, through no fault of their own. Young bigs Jaren Jackson Jr and Brandon Clarke are out with injuries, and they traded two reliable wings in Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill for a Justise Winslow, who is still recuperating from injury. Dillon Brooks led all scorers with 32.

Bucks 133 (51-8), Thunder 86 (37-23)

This was simply an annihilation. The scary part is OKC is a tough, gritty and respectable team with the second best record in the entire damn league since Thanksgiving. But they were no match for Milwaukee and their unskilled star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who dropped an easy 32 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists in 27 measly minutes.

Pelicans 116 (26-33), Cavaliers 104 (17-42)

The Pelicans have now won six of their last 8 games thanks to a mixture of superhuman Zion Williamson efforts and excellent supporting cast members in Brandon Ingram (an All-Star!), Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball, plus a deep cadre of role players.

Ingram led the Pels with 29 points, Zion followed with 24 and Holiday had 22.

Pistons 113 (20-41), Suns 111 (24-36)

We were just treated to a throwback Derrick Rose game.

Rose dropped 31 points and the game-sealing bucket, a beautiful driving, off-balance floater. Also, shoutout to Brandon Knight, who has endured many tough injuries, for scoring 19 points in the win.

Jazz 129 (37-22), Wizards 119 (21-37)

Between a losing streak, uncharacteristic drop in efficiency and some epic role confusion over who is starting and sitting between Mike Conley, Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale, Utah needed this. Donovan Mitchell once again put the team on his back, going for 30 points and this monster dunk on poor Rui Hachimura.

Bradley Beal can’t be happy after dropping 42 points, 5 boards, 10 assists and 2 steals and still coming away with a loss.

Clippers 132 (40-19), Nuggets 103 (40-19)

Big win for the Clips, who inch closer to the Nuggets for 2nd place in the Western Conference standings.

It was quite the balanced victory, with all ten rotation players notching between 19 and 25 minutes.

Paul George had 24 on an efficient 9-15 shooting, and Kawhi had 19 points on 50% shooting.

The post Post Up: Giannis Antetokounmpo Goes Off Against Thunder appeared first on SLAM.

Leon Rose will start his new job as President of the New York Knicks on March 1, Marc Stein of the New York Times reports. Rose was first rumored to be the Knicks choice to run their basketball operations just ahead of the NBA trade deadline in early-February.

Rose will be making the transition from the agent side of the basketball world to the front office side. As an agent, Rose has represented superstar players like Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Now, as he leads the Knicks’ roster building efforts, Rose will be across the table in negotiations with superstar players.

When reports broke that Rose was going to takeover leading New York’s front office, he was rumored to have William Wesley joining him in the endeavor. Better known as “Worldwide Wes”, Wesley has been connected to Rose going back over 30 years. Rose acknowledged in 2005 that he had been Wesley’s attorney for over 20 years to that point.

As talks for Rose to take over the Knicks continued, it was determined that Wesley would not be joining him in the front office. Wesley will reportedly remain a consultant to Rose, but will not join New York in any sort of formal capacity.

Rose will be the latest in a line of agents that have made the jump to lead NBA front offices. In recent years, Neil Olshey, Bob Myers and Rob Pelinka have all switched sides. Olshey has built consistent playoff teams in Portland and with the Los Angeles Clippers. Myers built a dynasty with the Golden State Warriors and Pelinka has the Los Angeles Lakers currently on top of the Western Conference.

Rose has the backing of the NBA’s biggest market, but he’ll have to reverse a long trend of losing. The 2019-20 season will mark the seventh-straight season the Knicks will miss out on the NBA playoffs. Overall, New York has made the postseason just four times over the last 19 seasons.

Among Rose’s first decisions will be to figure out which of his players are long-term fits around RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox. The previous front office tandem of Steve Mills and Scott Perry signed several veterans to short-term contracts that only run through the 2020-21 season. Several of those players have only small guarantees for next season, including Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson and Elfrid Payton.

Rose will also have to decide if Dennis Smith Jr. or Frank Ntilikina is the Knicks point guard of the future. Both are under contract for next season, before restricted free agency looms in the summer of 2021. While both Smith and Ntilikina have had flashes of brilliance in their first three years, neither has established himself as a sure thing in the lead ballhandler role.

New York could have up to $44.6M in cap space this summer, pending decisions on picking up the guarantees for Bullock, Ellington, Gibson and Payton and the team option for Bobby Portis. It’s a weak free class, but the Knicks could have the spending power to chase one or two of the handful of impact free agents available. For example, Rose will be in position to extend a big offer sheet to restricted free agent Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans, should Ingram and the Pels not be able to come to an agreement on a new contract.

In addition, after years of minimal draft capital due to failed trades, New York owns all their own first-rounds picks moving forward. The Knicks also have an extra 2020 first-round pick from the Clippers (from the Marcus Morris trade at this year’s deadline) and two future first-round picks coming from the Dallas Mavericks from the Kristaps Porzingis trade. While the 2020 draft projects as weaker than recent years, New York is well-positioned to take advantage in future years.

Leon Rose will start his new job with his hands full. If he can re-energize Knicks fans and return the winnings ways to New York, Rose will get Madison Square Garden rocking again. It’s been far too long since the Knicks were a real destination. Maybe Rose, and his deep connections across the NBA, is the guy to finally change that.

The post Leon Rose To Start As Knicks President On March 1st appeared first on SLAM.

Domantas Sabonis led the way with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists on 8-10 shooting as Indiana cruised to a win at home. Five other Pacers scored in double figures, including T.J. Warren (19) and Malcolm Brogdon (15). Myles Turner was dominant on the defensive end, finishing with a career-high 8 blocks. The Hornets were led by Miles Bridges who dropped 17 in the loss.

Bucks 108 (50-8), Raptors 97 (42-16)

In a much-anticipated battle between the top two teams in the East, the Bucks pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Raptors 34-19 en route to their 50th win of the season. Khris Middleton dropped a team-high 22, while Giannis stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 19 rebounds, and 8 assists. Eric Bledsoe added 17 and 7 rebounds, and Brook Lopez finished with 15 points and 5 blocks in the win. Pascal Siakam finished with 22 points and 5 3PM in the loss.

Thunder 124 (36-22), Bulls 122 (20-39)

It was a wild one in the Windy City. The Bulls erased a 24-point second half deficit to tie the game late. The comeback was led by Coby White (35 points, 6 3PM, 7 rebounds) and Zach LaVine (41 points). But big-time buckets from Chris Paul and clutch free throws from the entire Thunder team held off the Chicago surge and secured the road win. Danilo Gallinari finished with a team-high 24 points, and Dennis Schroeder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each dropped 21 in the win. CP3 added 19 points and 9 assists for OKC.

Nuggets 115 (40-18), Pistons 98 (19-41)

The Nuggets picked up their 40th win of the season, led by 29 points off the bench from Jerami Grant. Jamal Murray added 16 points and 8 assists in the win. For Detroit, Derrick Rose and Christian Wood each dropped 20 in the loss.

Celtics 118 (40-17), Trail Blazers 106 (26-33)

Boston also secured win number 40 on the road in Portland. Jayson Tatum was unstoppable, dropping 36 points, including a career-high 8 3PM to lead the Celtics. Jaylen Brown added 24 points, and all five Boston starters finished in double figures. Without Damian Lillard, the Blazers were led by CJ McCollum, who dropped 28, and Hassan Whiteside, who finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds in the loss.

Lakers 118 (44-12), Pelicans 109 (25-33)

It was the game every NBA fan had been waiting for: the first installment of LeBron vs. Zion. And it did not disappoint.

The Pelicans battled tough with the West’s top team, but the Lakers pulled away in the fourth, outscoring New Orleans 30-23 in the final frame. LeBron showed out, dropping a season-high 40 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the win. Anthony Davis finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks, and Danny Green added 17 points on 5 3PM. Brandon Ingram led the way for New Orleans, dropping 34 points on his former team. In Zion’s first matchup with the King, he finished with 29 points, including 13-19 from the free throw line.

Kings 112 (24-33), Warriors 94 (12-46)

Harris Barnes and De’Aaron Fox each finished with 21 points to lead the Kings to the win on the road. Bogdan Bogdanovich dropped 17, and Buddy Hield added 19 off the bench in the win. The Warriors had all five starters finish in double figures, led by Marquese Chriss with 21, and Andrew Wiggins with 16.

The post Post Up: LeBron Drops Season-High 40 in Win Over Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

The award, largely believed to be headed Ja Morant‘s way this season, would be “nice, but if not, it’s fine,” says Williamson.

Zion and the New Orleans Pelicans are solely focused on sneaking into the playoffs.

Per The Times-Picayune:

“I’m excited for it,” [Brandon] Ingram said. “I think all our guys are healthy right now. We have a pretty good rhythm and pretty good group right now. I think it’s going to be some fun basketball. I think while I was out the last three games, they found a rhythm pushing the break. On the defensive end, they’ve been really good. Hopefully, we can continue to find our identity.”

Ingram missed the final three games before the All-Star break with a sprained right ankle. He played sparingly in Sunday’s main event but said he expects to have no restrictions when New Orleans faces Portland on Friday.

“I think I”ll be a full go, just having so much time off,” Ingram said. “I think I have three or four more days before I get back. I think it’s going to be almost 100%.”

They are in a four-team race with the Spurs, Trail Blazers and Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They trail Memphis, which is eighth, by 5½ games. They are half a game behind San Antonio and 1½ games behind Portland.

“We’ve just got to take care of the business on our side,” [Alvin] Gentry said. “We have 27 games left. What we have to do is try to look at each and every one of those games and play at a real, real high level. We still control our own destiny until somebody tells me otherwise.”

Related Zion Williamson: ‘I Didn’t Expect to Do Nothing Like This’

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The Battle of L.A. will be determined by the superstars on both sides, says Johnson.

The Purple and Gold “need that third scorer” to compliment LeBron James and fellow All-Star teammate Anthony Davis, adds Magic.

Per USA Today:

“If you look at man-for-man, (the Clippers are) probably better than (the Lakers) in terms of the bench,” Johnson said in Chicago at McDonald’s Black and Positivity Golden “Beyond the Court” panel.”

“But to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, to me they are going to be the key and they are going to have to dominate in that series. Then we’re going to need that third scorer.”

Still, Johnson contended the Lakers “are playing the best out of anybody.”

A season after James missed 27 games, mostly due to a groin injury, Johnson argued he is “having an MVP-type season” – partly by emulating the former Lakers guard with more increased point guard duties. That became possible because of Davis, whom the Lakers acquired last summer from New Orleans for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and three first-round picks.

“We have similar ways in terms of coming down and making our teammates together. We’ve won championships the same way,” said Johnson, who won five rings with the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. “Our games are much alike, especially now that the ball is in his hands most of the time now as a real, true point guard. I’m just happy for him.”

Related Magic Johnson: ‘This Team Would Not Be in the Position It’s in Without Me’

The post Magic Johnson: Clippers Have ‘Better’ Depth Than Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

The fourth-year forward has blossomed into a star in his first year with the Pels despite the fact that his third-year in the league came to a premature end when it was revealed that he struggled with a blood clotting issue.

“They wanted to know if I was going to be extremely healthy, if something was going to come back,” Ingram told Dan Feldman of NBC Sports. “Once I figured out the reason why they didn’t want to do the extension, we didn’t go any further with it. I knew it was not going to be the number we wanted.”

At no point did Ingram consider putting pen to paper for anything less than a max salary and now, just months later, he’ll be glad he didn’t.

It’s almost a foregone conclusion that Ingram will ink a max contract when he hits restricted free agency this offseason, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports. Feldman, too, notes that he’ll almost certainly get top dollar.

In 47 games for New Orleans this season, Ingram has averaged 24.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. That’s by far the highest point total for an RFA-bound player in the past two decades, Feldman notes.

How Ingram’s restricted status impacts his free agency is all but moot given that the Pels will have the right to match any offer sheets extended Ingram’s way by opponents. So long as the Pelicans aren’t afraid to make the max investment, that is.

A five-year max contract for Ingram would start at approximately $28.8M and be worth over $165 through its entirety. The exact figures for a max deal depend on where the 2020-21 salary cap officially falls next July.

The post Brandon Ingram Eyes Max Deal After Refusing To Settle 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.

Below are the rosters in the order that they were drafted, pick-up style, by team captains, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The results are coming in in real-time on TNT and this post will be updated accordingly.

Team Giannis

Starters

F – Giannis Antetokounmpo (C)

C – Joel Embiid (2nd)

F – Pascal Siakam (4th)

G – Kemba Walker (6th)

G – Trae Young (8th)

Bench

G – Khris Middleton (9th)

C – Bam Adebayo (11th)

C – Rudy Gobert (13th)

F – Jimmy Butler (15th)

G – Kyle Lowry (17th)

F – Brandon Ingram (19th)

G – Donovan Mitchell (21st)

Team LeBron

Starters

F – LeBron James (C)

C – Anthony Davis (1st)

F – Kawhi Leonard (3rd)

G – Luka Doncic (5th)

G – James Harden (7th)

Bench

G – Damian Lillard (10th)

G – Ben Simmons (12th)

C – Nikola Jokic (14th)

G – Jayson Tatum (16th)

G – Chris Paul (18th)

G – Russell Westbrook (20th)

C – Domantas Sabonis (22nd)

Notable

• The two starting lineups are split exactly down East/West conference lines.
• For the second time in a row, LeBron James drafted Anthony Davis with his top pick.
• Only two sets of teammates in real-life will play for different All-Star teams. Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum have been split up, as have Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
• Teammates paired together on All-Star teams: Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Chris Paul, Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
• Team Giannis is composed of 9 East players and 9 West players. Team LeBron is composed of 9 West players and 3 East players.

The post 2020 NBA All-Star Game Draft Rosters appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers dealt away nearly all of their young prospects in the Davis trade, sending former top-2 picks Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram along with Josh Hart to the Pelicans.

Isaac Bonga and Moritz Wagner received a trip to Washington in order to facilitate the deal but through it all Kuzma remained in purple and gold.

While it doesn’t seem like a third star is in the cards for Los Angeles before Thursday, the Kuzma trade chatter hasn’t ceased since the Lakers’ big offseason. 

Sacramento reportedly had interest in Kuzma, though it’s unclear where those talks currently stand. The Kings proposed an offer of Nemanja Bjelica and an additional asset while the Lakers were set on obtaining Bodgan Bogdanovic. 

The Knicks had exploratory talks recently with the Lakers over bringing Kuzma to New York. Perhaps Marcus Morris would intrigue the Lakers, though the two players’ salaries do not align and other pieces would need be involved.

The situation is worth monitoring given that Kuzma is represented by CAA and the Knicks have a long history of catering to the agency’s clients.

The Wolves have interest in the former No. 27 overall, though the team views pursuing D’Angelo Russell as a higher priority. Minnesota just agreed to a four-team trade that brought them an additional asset: a first-round pick, that the franchise would like to use in a deal for Russell.

While Kuzma’s 2019-20 numbers are down from last year when he was a more prominent part of the offense, the 24-year-old has had a consistent role off the bench for Los Angeles this season. He’s averaging 25.0 minutes per game off the bench for the ultra-competitive Lakers.

The post Kyle Kuzma Awaits Fate Ahead Of Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

In the first installment of Giannis vs. Zion, the Bucks took over in the third quarter, outscoring the Pelicans 42-24 en route to their 43rd win of the season. The Greek Freak went off for 34 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists on 12-17 shooting. Khris Middleton added 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in the win. New Orleans was led by Brandon Ingram, who dropped 32 points in the loss. After a slow start and a big fourth quarter, Zion finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Lonzo Ball added 11 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.

Rockets 125 (32-18), Hornets 110 (16-35)

James Harden went off for 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists as the Rockets cruised to the home win over the Hornets. Danuel House finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds, and Eric Gordon added 16 for Houston. Charlotte was led by Miles Bridges, who finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds in the loss. Terry Rozier added 20 points, and Malik Monk dropped 19 off the bench.

Nuggets 127 (35-16), Trail Blazers 99 (23-28)

The Nuggets outscored the Blazers 27-10 in the second quarter and built on their lead in the second half to pick up the easy win at home. Nikola Jokic dominated, finishing with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists in 31 minutes. In his first game back after missing the last 10 with an ankle injury, Jamal Murray dropped 20 points on 6-9 shooting. Denver was able to slow down the red hot Damian Lillard, holding him to 21 points and 9 assists.

Lakers 129 (38-11), Spurs 102 (22-28)

The Lakers went crazy for 42 points in the fourth thanks to LeBron James, who splashed 5 straight threes in the first 4 minutes of the quarter to blow open the Los Angeles lead. The King finished with a monster stat line of 36 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 3PM. Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma each added 18 points for the Lakers. San Antonio was led by DeMar DeRozan, who stuffed the stat sheet himself with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in the loss.

The post Post Up: LeBron, Harden, Giannis Each Have Big Nights in 3 Wins appeared first on SLAM.

The 14 reserves will join then 10 All-Star Game starters already selected in a pool of players that will then be drafted, pickup-game style by the two captains.

This year’s captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will divvy up the teams on national television on Feb. 6.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Notable

• A total of six All-Star Game reserves will be making their debut in the game this year (Adebayo, Gobert, Ingram, Mitchell, Sabonis, Tatum)
• The reserve with the most experience at All-Star Weekend is Chris Paul. Paul will be making his 10th All-Star Game appearance, with a total of three different franchises. Paul is the 44th player in NBA history to make double-digit All-Star Games.
• Domantas Sabonis has now made more All-Star Games than his Hall of Fame father, Arvydas Sabonis
• Among those notably absent from the list are Bradley Beal (who finished second in player voting) and Kyrie Irving (who finished third in overall starter voting).

Related: The NBA has elected to fully revamp how the All-Star Game works

The post 2020 NBA All-Star Game Reserves appeared first on SLAM.

Terry Rozier led a second half comeback for the Hornets, finishing with a game-high 30 points to go along with 10 rebounds. For the Knicks, Julius Randle dropped 24 points and Marcus Morris Sr. added 23 points in the loss. In honor of Kobe, the Hornets wore special arm sleeves that had 8 and 24 written in purple and gold.

Bucks 151 (41-6), Wizards 131 (15-31)

Without Giannis, the Bucks still took care of business easily at home. Khris Middleton went crazy for 51 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists on 16-26 shooting. Eric Bledsoe added 34 points and 10 assists in the blowout win. Despite the loss, Bradley Beal showed out, leading Washington with 47 points and 6 assists in the loss.

76ers 115 (31-17), Warriors 104 (10-38)

It was an emotional night in Kobe’s hometown of Philadelphia, where the Sixers took the floor in number 8 and number 24 jerseys for pregame warmups. Still wearing number 24 in honor of Mamba, Joel Embiid finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the 76ers to the win at home. Embiid even scored his 24th point on a textbook, Kobe-like fadeaway from the corner. For the Warriors, DeAngelo Russell dropped 28 points and 7 assists in the loss.

Pelicans 125 (19-29), Cavaliers 111 (13-35)

The Pelicans built off a 40-point first quarter to pick up the win on the road in Cleveland. New Orleans was led by Jrue Holiday, who finished with 28 points and 8 assists, and Brandon Ingram, who scored 24 in the win. Zion Williamson added 14 points and 9 rebounds on 7-13 shooting. Collin Sexton finished with a team-high 24 points for the Cavs, and Kevin Porter Jr. added 21 off the bench.

Raptors 130 (33-14), Hawks 114 (12-36)

Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka led the way for Toronto, both finishing with 24 points. This win marked the Raptors 8th in a row, and they are now in sole possession of second place in the East. For Atlanta, John Collins had a big night, finishing with 28 points and 12 rebounds on 11-14 shooting.

Grizzlies 104 (23-24), Nuggets 96 (32-15)

The Grizzlies continued their impressive play, picking up a win over one of the top teams in the West. Dillon Brooks dropped 24 points to lead the way for Memphis, and Jonas Valanciunas added 23 points and 12 rebounds. The Grizzlies improved to 8-2 in their last 10. The Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokic, who finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists in the loss.

Celtics 109 (31-15), Heat 101 (32-15)

The Celtics picked up an impressive win on the road against the Heat, who had won 14 straight home games against Eastern Conference opponents. Gordan Hayward dropped a team-high 29 points to go along with 9 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown added 25 points on 10-16 shooting. The Heat were led by Goran Dragic, who dropped 23 off the bench in the loss.

Suns 133 (20-27), Mavericks 104 (29-18)

Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton proved to be a dominant duo, leading the Suns to an impressive road victory over Dallas. Booker finished with 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists, and Ayton dropped 31 points on 13-15 shooting. Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 21 points .

The post Post Up: Middleton Drops 51 in Bucks Win Over Wizards appeared first on SLAM.

Bradley Beal (29 points) and Ian Mahinmi (21 points) helped Washington fend off the Pistons at home. Derrick Rose put up 21 points for Detroit.

Raptors 122 (29-14), Hawks 117 (10-34)

Despite 42 points and 15 assists from Trae Young, the Hawks fell short against the defending champions. Norman Powell led the Raptors with 27 points.

76ers 117 (29-16), Nets 111 (18-24)

Fresh off his Player of the Week win, Ben Simmons dropped a triple-double with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to beat the Nets. Spencer Dinwiddie registered 22 points and 7 assists in the loss.

Magic 106 (21-23), Hornets 83 (15-30)

Orlando’s scoring duo of Evan Fournier (26 points) and Nikola Vucevic (24 points) lifted the Magic over Charlotte. Malik Monk paced the Hornets with 20 points off the bench.

Knicks 106 (12-32), Cavaliers 86 (12-32)

Julius Randle and Marcus Morris each scored 19 points apiece as the Knicks came out with the road win. New York took over in the second, stretching their lead to as large as 21 points.

Kings 113 (15-28), Heat 118 (30-13)

Two crazy buckets sent this game to overtime, but the Heat prevailed in the extra period. Rookie Kendrick Nunn continues to shine, leading Miami with 25 points in 43 minutes.

Thunder 112 (25-19), Rockets 107 (26-16)

Oklahoma City came back from 17 down to steal a win in Houston. Dennis Schroder hit a step-back dagger to put the Thunder ahead for good; he scored 23 points, while Chris Paul led the team with 28 points.

Pelicans 126 (17-27), Grizzlies 116 (20-23)

Jrue Holiday tied his season high with 36 points in the road win. Brandon Ingram added 25 points and 6 assists. Dillon Brooks scored 31 points for the Grizzlies.

Bulls 98 (16-29), Bucks 111 (39-6)

Giannis Antetokounmpo notched his 10,000th point as the Bucks easily handled Chicago. The MVP registered a triple-double of 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

Lakers 107 (34-9), Celtics 139 (28-14)

Boston enjoyed 20+ points from Jayson Tatum (27 points), Kemba Walker (20 points) and Jaylen Brown (20 points) as they quieted the Lakers. JaVale McGee scored 18 points in 18 minutes for L.A.

Nuggets 107 (30-13), Timberwolves 100 (15-28)

Michael Porter Jr. came off the bench to provide a spark for Denver, contributing 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the road win. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 28 points.

Spurs 120 (19-23), Suns 118 (18-25)

Phoenix took the lead late, but San Antonio rallied to secure the victory. Derrick White (25 points) and Bryn Forbes (24 points) led the scoring charge for the Spurs. Devin Booker scorched San Antonio for 37 points but came up short of the win.

Pacers 88 (28-16), Jazz 118 (30-13)

Utah led from start to finish, growing their lead to as large as 30 in this smooth-sailing contest. Donovan Mitchell put up 25 points, while Rudy Gobert added 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Warriors 124 (10-35), Blazers 129 (19-26)

Damian Lillard had a career night for the second time this season. Lillard scored 61 points in a clutch and dominant performance to beat the Warriors in overtime. Alec Burks paced Golden State with 33 points.

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Granted, it was against the Knicks, but Phoenix has to be happy with the performance they just turned in. Center Deandre Ayton, who has spent a majority of his sophomore season either suspended or chasing smaller players around the perimeter, finally had a monster game again with stalwart center Aron Baynes out. Ayton had 26 points, 21 rebounds and 2 blocks, a true throwback center game.

Elsewhere, Devin Booker had an efficient 29 and Ricky Rubio was just having fun out there with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists and 4 swipes.

Bucks 128 (37-6), Celtics 123 (27-13)

Despite a furious Celtics 4th quarter comeback, the Bucks got the dub, and further displayed that they may have the Celtics’ number this season. Giannis had 32 points, 17 rebounds and 7 assists (the fact that this stat line has become normal is simply unbelievable), Khris Middleton chipped in 23 and Donte DiVencenzo had 19 off the pine.

For the Celtics, Kemba Walker exploded for 40 and Jaylen Brown scored 24, but the Bucks were simply too much to handle.

Pelicans 138 (16-26), Jazz 132 (28-13)

What a game.

Both Brandon Ingram (49 points) and Donovan Mitchell (46 points) had career-highs in this unexpectedly epic showdown. And even though the Jazz sent the game into overtime thanks to a Rudy Gobert free throw, Ingram sealed the deal in extra minutes. Also, shout out Derrick Favors (21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks) for showing his old team he’s still a menace.

Nuggets 134 (29-12), Warriors 131 (9-34)

Well that was a surprise banger of a game.

Trailing for most of the game, the Nuggets rallied all the way back to force OT and secure the victory thanks to some clutch plays by Malik Beasley, Michael Porter Jr and Nikola Jokic.

With Jamal Murray nursing an injury, everyone stepped up. Beasley had 23 points to bring them back and Porter Jr had 18 (and some fantastic plays down the stretch). Then there was Jokic, who had 23 points, 12 boards and 8 assists, and Will Barton, who led the team with 31 points.

Clippers 122 (29-13), Magic 95 (20-22)

Add another win to the Clippers’ books. Despite having virtually one of their stars sit out ever game, LA still has a great record. Kawhi Leonard was his usual surgical self, scoring 32 points, grabbing 5 boards and dishing 5 assists.

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The Wiz have played admirably without star guard Bradley Beal. Jordan McRae scored 29 points, Troy Brown Jr chipped in 18 and 10 boards off the bench and Davis Bertans treated us to a surprising flush.

Pelicans 123 (14-25), Knicks 111 (10-29)

Watch out for the Birds. After a pitiful start to the season, they’re finding their stride, with an easy schedule and Zion Williamson on the horizon. In the present, Brandon Ingram went off for 28 points, Lonzo Ball had 11 assists and rookie Jaxson Hayes had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.

No matter how many starting lineups they try, the Knicks still find a way to lose. At least all five starters scored, and we glimpsed signs of life from the mysterious Frank Ntlikina.

Nets 117 (17-20), Heat 113 (27-11)

Spencer Dinwiddie is so under-appreciated. He’s kept the entire Nets boat afloat while Kyrie nurses a shoulder injury, and tonight was no different. Dinwiddie dropped 26 points and 14 assists to take down the Heat.

Pacers 116 (24-15), Bulls 105 (13-26)

Without arguably their best player Malcolm Brogdon (plus Victor Oladipo having missed the whole season thus far), the Pacers still took care of business against an inferior Bulls team. Center Myles Turner produced one of his best games yet, with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Bulls wasted a fantastic Zach LaVine 43-point scoring outburst (he scored 20 in a row at one point), and look poised for another year in the lottery.

Grizzlies 134 (17-22), Spurs 121 (16-21)

The new guard beating the old guard. There’s something symbolic about that, and Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson are the future, but the present is pretty damn good too. Jaren had 24 points on an efficient 8-11 shooting. Ja also had a complete game with 22 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds.

The Spurs had beaten the Bucks and Celtics in recent games, yet they succumbed to the pesky Grizzlies. DeMar DeRozan had a 36-9-9 stat line, but it was not enough.

Suns 98 (15-23), Magic 94 (18-21)

The Magic were leading the Suns 94-90 with less than a minute to go.

Then, Devin Booker happened. The star shooting guard drained a 3-pointer, then caught a steal on defense and came back down to splash another 3. Game, set, match.

Jazz 109 (26-12), Hornets 92 (15-26)

The Jazz are rolling. Trading for Jordan Clarkson has been a godsend, as the seemingly minor trade simultaneously excised poor, yet consistently injured Dante Exum and brought in a much needed bucket-getter. Clarkson scored 20 points on 8-15 shooting, while Rudy Gobert provided his usual dose of stingy defense with 5 blocks and a modest double-double. The Jazz have won 13 of their last 14 games.

Lakers 129 (31-7), Mavericks 114 (23-15)

LeBron James did LeBron James things with his superstar sidekick Anthony Davis sidelined. Bron dropped 35 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists to dismantle the Mavs, making him the first Laker to put up such stats since Shaq in 2003. Kyle Kuzma stepped into the starting lineup admirably with 26 points of his own.

Bucks 127 (34-6), Kings 106 (15-24)

Another day, another Bucks win while Giannis doesn’t even play 30 minutes. Khris Middleton (27 points, 11 rebounds) and Eric Bledsoe (24 points, 5 assists) led the way to crush the Kings, who actually stayed competitive through halftime.

De’Aaron Fox was phenomenal stuffing the stat sheet, with 19 points, 9 boards, 10 assists, 4 steals and even 2 blocks in the loss.

Clippers 109 (27-12), Warriors 100 (9-31)

The Dubs played them close, but the Clippers still took care of business even without star Paul George. Kawhi had a monster slam dunk, and 36 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Pat Beverley was one assist shy of a triple-double.

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Undrafted rookie Terrence Davis admitted he was “surprised” when he was told he was going to start, but he rose to the occasion with 23 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and a team-best plus-minus of +20 in an OT win.