LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Snowboarder Scotty James of Australia is nearing his chance to fill in the only missing piece over a spectacular career of halfpipe riding — the Olympic gold medal.
He'll have more than enough competition.
James, defending champion Ayumu Hirano and his Japanese teammates, including Yuto Totsuka, will be on the Olympic halfpipe Friday for what is widely hailed as the premier event in snowboarding.
Hirano won four years ago in Shaun White's going-away party in China (White finished fourth). But the Japanese champion is coming off a broken nose and other injuries after a scary fall in Switzerland last month. He says he's only at about 50%.
That could open a path for James, who finished second to Hirano at the 2022 Beijing Games and third to White and Hirano in their tense showdown four years before that at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
The two keys to this contest:
— Triple corks. This was the trick that put Hirano over the top at Secret Garden four years ago. But in a sign of how quickly things progress in this sport, it is now viewed as the price of admission for the podium.
Anyone who lands more than one — New Zealand's Cam Melville Ives and 17-year-old American Alessandro Barbieri have done that — will be at the top of the conversation.
Also, can anyone add another half rotation and throw a triple-cork 1620? The snowboard world went crazy when South Korea's Chaeun Lee did that at a training session in 2024, but can someone bring it to a contest?
— Style. This is what James is known for and, potentially, what's been holding him back. He can execute insanely difficult jumps involving riding backward, spinning a bunch, and often starting the spin looking up the halfpipe, which takes his landing spot out of his vision.
It's as hard as it sounds, and his throwing of back-to-back backside 1440s at the X Games last month was a first-of-its-kind combination. But if he doesn't have triples to go with it, the judges might give him another consolation prize.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game Weekend is upon us starting today as fans around the country will converge on Los Angeles for the festivities and conclude at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
This year’s format for the NBA All-Star Game is new, with three separate teams broken up into USA Stars, USA Stripes and Team World, all facing off in a round-robin tournament as each one will comprise of a minimum of eight players on every squad. In all, 24 players were selected to the game, with Los Angeles Clippers’ forward Kawhi Leonard added by NBA commissioner Adam Silver to balance out the rosters.
Before these players take the court, where did each of them play hoops at in their prep/high school days in the United States and from around the world?
Rivals went through the rosters for all three teams, giving to you where each of the players starred on the prep hardwood before Sunday night’s 2026 NBA All-Star Game tips off in Inglewood.
How to Follow National High School Boys Basketball
For high school boys basketball fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the high school hops action throughout the season. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the boys basketball excitement across the country.
Miami (Ohio) vs. Ohio men’s basketball will face off in a nationally televised matchup on ESPN.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, which requires a valid cable login to access, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. —Thirteen months ago, the eyes of the nation and the world were on Southern California as devastating wildfires swept through the region. In the end, at least 27 people died and more than 15,000 structures were destroyed — many of those homes that have left people and families scrambling.
Susan Blumenthal and her family are among those people. She had just retired and figured out how to make it work financially with an ADU rental unit on her property, her savings and Social Security. Then the fires burned those plans to the ground.
What Blumenthal and thousands and thousands of other families have found out the hard way is that rebuilding those lives is hard — insurance does not cover all the costs of rebuilding a home (once they eventually get some money from the companies), and the maze of dealing with contractors and city permits can be overwhelming.
When the eyes of the basketball world return to the Los Angeles area this weekend for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, they will see how NBA Cares has partnered with the LA Clippers and Habitat for Humanity to help people like Blumenthal get back on her feet by helping her and others rebuild.
On Friday, downtown Los Angeles, is one of those work days, with NBA legends — Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy and many more — on hand to help families in need, both with building and with supplies for students in schools.
"We have more than 1,500 families that were working through rebuild navigation," said Erin Rank, the President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA). "So whether they pick their own contractor or work with Habitat, we want to help be there for them to review bids, and to select contractors, and give them advice, because building is what Habitat does every day, especially in Los Angeles County — and it's intimidating."
Helping Altadena Families
The Clippers have worked particularly closely with families devastated by the Eaton Fire, which started in Eaton Canyon but the strong Santa Ana winds blew it into the working-class town of Altadena, killing at least 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 buildings.
"We have over 550 people that we're working with currently, and it's ranging from low to moderate income families..." said Bryan Wong, CEO of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity . "I can tell you about the first almost 30 families that we were looking to help: The average age is about 71 years old. They had lived in their homes for about 30 years or longer. About half of them were multi-generational, meaning that they had one or more families either living on that property or in surrounding homes. Altadena is a fairly unique community, and so as we're trying to rebuild, we're trying to make sure we maintain that uniqueness that made Altadena so special."
Going back to before the season even tipped-off, the Clippers hosted Habitat for Humanity work days in the parking lot of the Kia Forum (former home of the Lakers, just down the street from the Clippers' Intuit Dome) where Clippers players and hundreds of volunteers gathered to build wood wall frames and more that could be transported to the homes and put up quickly.
Clipper players were hands-on in wanting to help and be part of this. So were volunteers from NBC Universal companies in the Los Angeles area.
"So NBC Universal and Comcast was the first corporation to donate to our Rebuild LA campaign, not even a week after the fires hit," Rank said. "They knew early on that the real cost was going to be in the cost to rebuild all of these homes that were lost, over 12,000 homes lost overnight, and so they partnered with Habitat LA and Habitat San Gabriel Valley, because this is what we do, day in and day out. And so they gave us a huge $2.5 million, three-year commitment to help serve families and help rebuild their lives."
Designing Homes
What Habitat For Humanity did in Altadena was work with architects to develop nine home designs, which it then got pre-approved by city and county agencies, taking a lot of the legwork out of the process.
"We're hearing a lot of people that are either frozen by decisions or crazy prices to recover," Rank said. "And so Habitat is working with contractors to ensure that they lock their prices in at reasonable rates.
"And we also created the home design so that people have something affordable to choose if they wish…. It's hard to think about,' How am I going to design my own homes for every square inch?' Or you can look at some options and say, I like that one."
"The way we designed these houses was we went through a lot of the old Google Maps to see what the prevalent styles of the homes were before the fires," Wong added. "So the first styles were the ones with their most common, and these are what the community wanted to see."
Designing the homes is only the start of the process, navigating the bureaucracy to get the permits to build in Southern California is famously challenging.
"If someone selects one of these home designs, they've been pre-permitted, and we're pre-approved by the city and the county, and so they will start about a third of the way through their rebuilding process if they pick one of these designs…" Rank said. "The house itself is already run through the city and the county for approval. Now, all they have to do is figure out how it fits on their home site."
That's a big leg-up in the rebuilding process, but the hard part and manual labor are still ahead for many families. That's what NBA Cares and the Clippers are there to help with — not just this weekend during the All-Star Game, but for the long haul.
NBA All-Star Weekend, during the past several years, has faced sharp criticism, even from the highest levels of NBA management.
"I thought this was a little better, but it was a miss," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in March 2025 of last year’s event. "We’re not there in terms of creating an All-Star experience that we can be proud of and that our players can be proud of."
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game leaned far too much toward spectacle, creating a disjointed viewing experience. Last year marked the final time TNT would broadcast the event, ending a streak of 23 consecutive seasons. To commemorate that, the NBA halted play during the middle of the All-Star Game for a series of skits with comedian Kevin Hart and the "Inside the NBA" crew.
This year, the NBA is turning to a "U.S. vs. World" format, but it's a structure one four-time All-Star thinks might be a case of too little, too late.
Fan patience may also be wearing thin, as the All-Star Game and its satellite events have lacked organic competitive spirit, coming at a time when overt attempts to tank are marring the regular season.
Here’s a preview of the three marquee events of the 2026 NBA All-Star break, with a glimpse of what fans can expect.
Slam Dunk Contest
This, arguably, is the event most under pressure, and that’s saying something.
The days of having stars compete in the Slam Dunk Contest are gone. The last player to participate in a Dunk Contest the same year he was an All-Star was Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, in 2024. Brown is an exceptionally gifted player, though he’s not a high-flying dunker.
Before Brown, the last All-Star to compete in the Dunk Contest was Victor Oladipo in 2018.
Instead of stars, the NBA has deployed uber-athletic, young players, often G Leaguers, who aren’t household names or rotational players. And while that has led to flashes of brilliance – Mac McClung dazzled during his three-year stretch of dominance in the event – increased incentives to lure stars would go a long way.
Out of this year’s participants, two average fewer than 10 minutes per game and three of four are below 13 minutes per game.
The field is set for AT&T Slam Dunk ⬇️
A new champion will be crowned, with all four players making their event debuts.
In theory, Magic rookie guard Jase Richardson is a nod to nostalgia; his father, Jason Richardson, is a two-time champion (2002, 2003) of the contest and was one of the premier dunkers of his generation.
Yet, the younger Richardson’s highlights from this season show a player whose dunks lack the sizzle fans want to see.
In a social media message responding to Orlando’s congratulatory message that encouraged Richardson to "get it," his reply was regrettably symbolic of where the Dunk Contest is.
"i guess," he wrote, followed by an emoji of a face crying with laughter and another of a man shrugging.
Predicted winner: Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat
3-Point Contest
Of the three events, the 3-Point Contest is the most secure. For one, the game’s best shooters tend to compete. For another, it’s a low-level lift for players – young stars and vets alike – which encourages their full engagement.
This year should be no different, though the absence of Warriors icon Stephen Curry, largely considered the greatest shooter of all-time, is a blow. Still, the field has plenty of talent across the board to make this event compelling.
The 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest field ⬇️
Saturday, Feb. 14 | 5 p.m. ET | NBC & Peacock
Former champ Devin Booker among five 2026 All-Stars.
Two-time winner Damian Lillard can match the record with a third title.
The trickiest element for the future of the 3-Point Contest is what happens when the generation of shooters that have dominated (think Curry, Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson) retire.
This year, the 3-Point Contest has some juice with the return of Lillard, the two-time champion (2023, 2024) who is competing despite his missing the entire regular season with a torn Achilles tendon. If Lillard wins, he’ll tie the record for most titles all-time.
Predicted winner: Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
NBA All-Star Game
Perhaps looking to seize on momentum the NHL and pro hockey has generated with its 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA is turning to a "U.S. vs. World" format. It will pit two eight-man teams of domestic players – one of younger stars and the other of established veterans – against a third eight-man team of international players in a round-robin tournament.
It’s an idea that has some promise, but only if players fully buy in. During the past decade, players have loafed through the game, treating defense as a suggestion, not a mandate. That needs to change.
"I want to push the great players of this sport to also play hard like I will," Victor Wembanyama said recently in French of effort in All-Star games. "We’ll see how it goes. But if they don’t want to go hard, we’ll have to do it without them."
This is a positive sentiment, and one that should see a small spike in competitiveness, but it’s insufficient.
The NBA needs to incentivize participants further so that they can organically intensify their levels of competition. And while league executives might find these optics unsavory, there’s a very simple solution here: They can increase the purse for the winning team and sweeten the kicker further for the player who wins MVP.
This would create added expenses for the NBA, but if increased payouts reinvigorate the event, it’s an investment that will pay off over the long run.
Last year, the payout structure for the All-Star Game stipulated that each player on the third- and fourth-place teams netted $25,000. Players on the runner-up squad earned $50,000. For winning players, it was not much better, as they pocketed $125,000.
If there’s one thing that’s incongruous with this highly-commodified stage of capitalism we find ourselves in, one thing that squashes motivation, it’s unpaid labor.
Being an All-Star is an honor, yes, but these players are giving their time to the event, and that may be the most precious commodity of all.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 11, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s never a good time to get blown out two games in a row.
The Sixers are heading into the 2026 All-Star break coming off two of their worst losses of the season. They lost by 17 to the Portland Trail Blazers and followed it up with a 49-point embarrassment against the New York Knicks at home.
Those losses may highlight some pretty serious depth issues that suspensions, injuries and trade deadline transactions have exacerbated, and if that’s the case there’s nothing that will help this team more than a week off. Players that have had to carry an extra load in those shorthanded games are especially ready for a chance to recharge.
“I think the break will be good for this team,” Tyrese Maxey said after the Knicks’ loss. “Guys got to reset, guys are tired, you know? And the guys have played a lot of minutes. We fought a lot in these 54 games.”
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Fittingly, Maxey is the Sixer with the least amount of free time over the break. When reporters brought this up to him, he reassured them that he would still be able to relax.
“I don’t have do much ‘till Saturday,” said Maxey, a participant in this year’s three-point contest. “I just want to get out there and just chill. You know, sit in the hotel and relax, get some good weather in.”
His starting backcourt mate is only playing 35 minutes a game, but the team is still aware that VJ Edgecombe’s workload has brought him close to the dreaded rookie wall.
“He’s never played these type of minutes in his life, like even playing a 40-minute basketball game in college is way different than this,” Maxey said. “We’ve played 54 games, I don’t know how many he’s actually played but he’s played in at least played 50 of them. That’s a whole season, and we’re asking him to do a lot.”
Head coach Nick Nurse was asked if he’s noticed any signs of fatigue showing given Edgecombe’s driving numbers declining as of late.
“I wouldn’t say [it’s] super noticeable, but I think there’s probably some there,” Nurse said. “I think you’re gonna see that in a rookie, almost all the time.”
The break is well-timed for Sixers who haven’t been as available as well. After going over a month only missing planned back-to-back legs, Joel Embiid missed those last two games against the Blazers and Knicks. Nurse did say there wasn’t a ton of concern level that this latest issue is anything more than knee soreness, but also said this extended time off could be a good thing.
“I think that anybody that’s sore and dinged up has a chance here to get some treatment for a week and off their feet for a week,” Nurse said of Embiid, “and he wouldn’t certainly be included in that.”
If there’s one Sixer the break may be poorly timed for, it’s Dominick Barlow, who’s still playing great ball off the heels of being converted to a standard NBA contract. He’s reached double-digit scoring figures in four of his last five games. For as much as he’s had to prove himself this season though, Barlow won’t be using this week to rest on any individual laurels.
“One less thing I got to worry about,” he said, when asked about getting a standard deal. “I just got to worry about how we’re going to keep trying to win games and make a push in the playoffs.”
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jase Richardson may play in the NBA, but he is like every other 20-year-old in America in one crucial way: His eyes roll back into his head whenever his father is giving him advice.
It doesn't matter that Jase's dad is Jason Richardson, 13-year NBA veteran.
"He's listening to me. It's like the first time in 20 years he's actually listening to what I had to say when it comes to basketball," Jason told NBC Sports with a laugh. "So it's actually pretty cool that he is asking me questions, coming up with a game plan."
"I think this advice, I have to be all ears and listen to anything I possibly can," Jase added. "Especially when you have somebody in your house who's won something you're about to do two times in a row. So definitely, all ears."
Fatherly Advice
What is that advice?
"Most of his advice has been more about the thought process," Jase said. "It's been a lot of dunks that have been made since he's done the dunk contest, so there's not a lot of new stuff that you could come up with. So it's just basically my approach, and just enjoying it. I think those are the two things that he was really just telling me to focus on."
When Jason gives his son advice, he has real-world examples — such as being ready for the surge of adrenaline, which is what made his signature dunk in 2003 in Atlanta possible.
Throw back to Jason Richardson's iconic dunk contest performance.
"The dunk I made in Atlanta, the reverse between the legs on the baseline — I couldn't do it in practice," Jason said. "I practiced a couple of days before the dunk contest. I just couldn't get it down. I tried it three or four times.
"But I knew, once I'm in that dunk contest, my adrenaline will be so high, and I'm gonna be jumping so crazy that that's going to be an easy dunk. And when it came time to do that dunk, I made it. And honestly, I never done that dunk again in my life."
The generational connection between Jason and Jase caught the attention of AT&T and its connection program, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first phone call. AT&T is now sponsoring Jase — and Jason — for this event.
Jase is all in — including using a special blue AT&T ball for his dunks.
"I'm actually using the ball for all four dunks — very blue, I would say," Jase said with a smile. "But, you know, it's a super cool ball, something I can have later down the line in my life, and look back and remember the Dunk Contest."
Surprise Invite
Father and son were surprised Jase got the call and was invited to do the Dunk Contest — he only has four in-game dunks this season, and the 6'1" guard was not known as a high-flying dunker at Michigan State.
"Oh, 100%. I never thought me specifically would be a Dunk Contest participant," Jase said. "When I got asked, I was definitely shocked to hear and surprised by it. But, I mean, it's also a good opportunity to go out during the All-Star Weekend and just have fun."
Of course, Dad had advice on how to overcome that.
"You got to catch the element of surprise, and you got to make it on the first attempt. That's never going to change…" Jason said. "I think that was always the key to my recipe going into the dunk contest was to make every dunk on the first try and get people on my side."
Jase may not have been a high-flying dunker, but he was always a fan of the Dunk Contest.
"I think for me, [I watched] a lot of Zach LaVine. I remember watching the 2016 dunk contest, and I was just in awe," Jase said, remembering when LaVine and Aaron Gordon went back-and-forth. "And I think somebody else who really stood out to me was Vince Carter. I feel like his dunk contest really, really made the contest what it is now, and I feel like his dunk contest will always be special."
Jase has been getting advice from everyone, not just his father — teammates, former Dunk Contest participants, coaches, old teachers — and he said he took it all in, trying to find the right spark of creativity.
Neither Jase nor Jason would say if father would be part of one of Jase's dunks on Saturday night. One thing is certain, though:
Jason will make sure Jase is ready for the moment.
Oct 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) dribbles past Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The NBA All Star break is a great time to take stock, look at the standings, and think ahead to the playoffs. A lot of things could still change between now and the first round, but let’s take a quick look around.
The Celtics are currently in 2nd place, half a game ahead of the New York Knicks and 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Cavs. The Detroit Pistons have a healthy 5.5 game lead for 1st place, so the Celtics are probably looking at a seed in the 2-4 range.
On the opposite end of the potential playoff bracket are the usual suspects vying for a play-in berth. The Bulls, Hawks, and Heat are all looking at the Charlotte Hornets like “hey, who’s the new kid?”
The candidates for a tough 1st round matchup would likely come from the middle group of teams.
Toronto Raptors – The Raps have the look of a typical “tough-out” team. They have length at a number of positions, versatile defenders, and players that could get hot in a hurry (Ingram, Barrett). They don’t seem to have the pieces necessary for a long run, but they could make things interesting in a 1st round series.
Philadelphia 76ers – The future is now in Philly with Tyreese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe creating the “VJ Maxx” backcourt. Joel Embiid is starting to look like his old self, and while I have jokes for days about his playoff performances against the Celtics, we don’t have Al Horford around anymore. They should also have a very well rested Paul George for the playoffs (in theory).
Orlando Magic – On paper the Magic should be a better team than they’ve been on the court. Banchero, Wagner, and Bane is a pretty nice top 3. Suggs, Black, and Wendell Carter Jr. seems like a solid rotation as well. However, injuries and fit have limited the success of this team thus far. Still, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t find the right buttons to push in any given 1st round series. They’d be out for revenge after last year’s 1st round loss as well.
Personally, I don’t fear the play-in teams all that much, but it is worth noting that the Hornets have been one of the hottest teams in the league for a couple of months now. If they keep this up they’ll play themselves into a top-6 finish.
So what do you think? I’m sure most of us are pretty confident in the Celtics ability to win the first round, especially with a reasonably healthy Jayson Tatum. But which team would make you the most concerned if they land in our bracket?
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 12: Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 12, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks took down the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder 110-93 in what might have been their best team performance of the year. Granted, this was nowhere near OKC’s best team, missing a bunch of guys, including their two initiators in SGA and Jalen Williams, but the Thunder are tough to beat with whoever they’ve got. Having seven Bucks reach double-digit scoring just shows how well the team moved the ball and played off each other. Brilliant stuff. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
If you watch closely, you can see how much AJ’s game has evolved this season—last night was a prime example. At Green’s size, getting his shot off is half the battle, and his trigger has gotten so much quicker, whether that be off the dribble or off the catch, but he keeps getting more and more off. His passing game—and particularly his ability to manipulate in the pick-and-roll—has also improved leaps and bounds. He had a play last night where he came hard off the pick, probed the drop big to the point where they slightly committed to him, which forced the corner defender to tag the roller, opening up the wing shooter, whom AJ promptly hit with his left hand. Scrumdiddlyumptious!
After a few down games, Bobby played much better in this one. He took advantage of his size against the smaller OKC lineup, making the right play more often than not. Love the rebounding as well.
Dieng continues to impress. He’s obviously shot the ball really well thus far, which is notable because he’s a career 30% three-point shooter. However, the part of his offensive game that impressed me the most last night was his ability to mix it up and take what the defence gave him. He drove with purpose off hand-offs, scoring once for himself and lobbing to the roller on the other. He curled hard off an off-ball screen and nailed a movement three. There was even a play where he got the rebound and immediately pushed it coast-to-coast before finishing at the rim with a nice Euro-step. I wrote in the preview that I wanted to see if he could “get places” against an elite defence, and he did exactly that. Oh, and then there’s the five stocks on defense. Whew!
Grade: A+
Kyle Kuzma
28 minutes, 14 points, 5/15 FG, 2/6 3P, +8
Not the greatest offensive showing from Kuz, but he did hit some big shots at crucial moments. I also liked his defence; thought his physicality was great.
This is the difference between what happens when Cam tries to score (in the iso-heavy way that he does) against a good defence vs. a mediocre one. Somewhat like KPJ, I suspect it’ll be a roller coaster ride this year watching Thomas. There will be high highs and low lows.
Grade: C-
Jericho Sims
20 minutes, 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4/5 FG, +6
As Zac wrote in the player grades for the last game, Sims just looks so much more confident out there. Dare I say, it even looks like he’s having fun! Sure, the box score isn’t as spectacular as last game, but the way he’s attacking the glass and playing with physicality has been awesome to watch.
Just another awesome game from Nance. I guess he’s just a capital-S shooter now!? He’s letting that thing go with confidence, man. I also love the way he’s playing with quick instincts. There was a play last night where he flashed high to receive the cross-court pass, flipped it to AJ Green (who was moving at speed before Nance even caught it), and screened for him. Green then threw it back on the short roll, and Nance had the wherewithal to quickly toss it to the corner before the help arrived.
Grade: A-
Darvin Ham
Hey man, credit where it’s due. Ham (and Doc in previous games) managed the lineups really well. I’ve noticed, in general, they seem to be moving away from specialists like Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and (to an extent) Gary Harris in favour of “basketball players.” Meaning guys who can pass, dribble, shoot, and defend at a decent level, even if they aren’t elite at one of those skills. Ousmane Dieng is a good example of this sort of player. He’s probably not the standstill shooter that Trent is, but he’s a lot more playable in different contexts. And to be clear, Dieng still has to prove himself over the season, but speaking just as a conceptual matter. This is where basketball is heading; specialists will go by the wayside soon enough, if they haven’t already. Off the top of my head, think about Corey Kispert and Luke Kennard; these dudes just aren’t coveted the way they used to be.
Grade: A-
Garbage time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr., Gary Trent Jr.
DNP-CD: Gary Harris
Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince, Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins
Bonus Bucks Bits
Mark Daigneault on Ousmane Dieng: “He was great. He was great last night too. We want guys to leave here and do well. We’re rooting for him. And he deserves that. He’s got a lot of good basketball ahead.” (Credit to Brandon Rahbar on Twitter for the quote).
An underrated element of being tall and able to handle the ball is that you don’t have to be super explosive to get places on the court. Dieng can make simple reads well because he can pass over people. That said, I still think he needs to work on that part of his game to reach another level.
If the Bucks keep winning, there’s going to come a point where I’m off “team tank.” I’m not there yet, but legit wins against quality teams will get me there. It’ll be hard to do “better” than 10th anyway; Chicago is playing like 13 guards and two centres right now. I’m joking, but seriously, that might actually be true!
I found some of the OKC bench’s reactions to Dieng’s shotmaking throughout the game quite amusing.
The Bucks were going at Jared McCain a lot, both as an on-ball and off-ball defender. They tried to hide him on AJ Green, which did not work.
Nikola Topic. Welcome back, young fella.
Up Next
Now all the teams get a long break with All-Star weekend coming up. The Bucks are back on February 20 against the New Orleans Pelicans; it’s a road game. Catch the action on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. Central.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 24: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots over Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To no one’s surprise, Cooper Flagg was officially named a “Rising Star” by the NBA and was tapped to compete in the “Rising Stars Challenge” during the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles before suffering a foot injury in Tuesday’s 120-111 loss at the Phoenix Suns. It got us thinking: What other Mavericks have been named a rising star? How did those selections pan out? Let’s take a look back at the history of the Dallas Mavericks and who turned heads when they entered the NBA.
Dereck Lively II (2024, 2025)
The Mavericks were ecstatic to draft Dereck Lively II out of Duke. So much so, they were willing to “tank” to get him. To improve its odds of keeping a top 10 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Dallas rested stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving during the final stretch of games. The league fined the Mavs $750,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league.” Dallas ultimately was able to keep the 10th pick, which was sent to Oklahoma City. The Thunder drafted Cason Wallace, and the Mavs took Lively II. Despite the fine, the risk was worth the reward. He was an integral piece in the Mavericks’ 2024 NBA Finals run.
For his career, Lively II has averaged 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. His recent stretch of injuries has become concerning for the Mavs, but he turned 22 on February 12, so there’s still a long runway for his development. Lively was selected as a Rookie and Sophomore for the Rising Stars Challenge.
Luka Doncic (2019, 2020)
*Bangs head against wall*
Surprise, surprise – Luka Doncic made the Rising Stars Challenge in his rookie and sophomore seasons. After the blockbuster draft night swap that sent Doncic to the Mavs and Trae Young to the Hawks, Dallas quickly found its new star from Slovenia.
Following 21 years of a European superstar in Dirk Nowitzki being the face of the franchise, the reins were quickly handed off to Doncic at just 19 years old. As a rookie, he averaged 21.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists – the best stats of any Mavericks rookie and also won Rookie of the Year. Who is the next closest, you ask? Cooper Flagg – 20.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists. There’s a reason Doncic and Flagg have comparisons outside of “the trade” that inevitably helped Dallas land the number one overall pick. Both are widely regarded as the most skilled rookies ever to put on a Mavericks uniform.
For his career, Doncic is averaging 29.0 points per game, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. He’s a six-time all-star. In his seven years as a Maverick, he brought the team five winning seasons, two Conference Finals appearances, and one NBA Finals appearance. And then, he got traded.
Dennis Smith Jr. (2018)
Dennis Smith Jr. was first regarded as a potential player to build the franchise around. The star guard out of North Carolina State was an athletic phenom. His rookie season didn’t disappoint, averaging 15.2 points per game, 5.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. Smith Jr. was selected as a rookie to the Rising Stars Challenge.
However, a year later and heading into the 2018 draft, Dallas was confident it could find another star, having a top five pick. Ultimately, they selected Luka Doncic, and it wasn’t long until Smith Jr. was viewed as the high-flying, athletic running-mate for Doncic.
The chemistry never had a chance to grow between the two potential stars. Smith Jr. only played 32 games his sophomore season before being traded to the New York Knicks for a package that included Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. After a promising first year with the Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr. hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He’s been a journeyman in his eight-year career, with two stops in Dallas, and one each in New York, Detroit, Portland, Charlotte, and Brooklyn. For his career, Smith Jr. has averaged 9.7 points per game, 4.2 assists, and 3.0 rebounds. He’s only averaged playing 41 games per season over his eight seasons in the NBA.
Dwight Powell (2016)
The current longest-tenured Maverick made his appearance in the 2016 Rising Stars Challenge. With Toronto hosting all-star weekend, Canada’s own Dwight Powell was selected to represent Team World.
Powell was drafted 45th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2014. Before his rookie season, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the Boston Celtics. Ultimately, he landed in the Lone Star State as part of the Rajon Rondo deal during the 2014-2015 season.
Powell has become a staple for the Mavs both on the court and as a veteran off the bench. He was the starting center during the Mavs 2022 Western Conference Finals run and provided meaningful minutes in the 2024 NBA Finals run. Powell is entering his 12th season and has averaged 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game for his career.
There are three things that are inevitable in life: death, taxes, and Dwight Powell on the Mavericks.
Devin Harris (2005, 2006)
Devin Harris has been more than just a Mavericks commentator. He was selected to play in the Rising Stars challenge during his rookie and sophomore seasons. Harris was selected fifth overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, who traded him to Dallas in a package for Antawn Jamison.
The Mavs were high on the Wisconsin guard for his quickness and ability to get to the rim. The Mavericks had a gaping hole at the point guard position after letting Steve Nash walk in the offseason. Ultimately, Dallas tried to fill the Nash void with a combination of Jason Terry and Devin Harris.
His rookie campaign was a bit underwhelming, but it became clear the Mavs could use a spark plug like Harris. In his rookie season, he averaged 5.7 points per game, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals. He was an integral part of the Mavericks playoff pushes in the 2000’s.
Harris was traded to the New Jersey Nets in 2009 in a package for future hall of fame point guard Jason Kidd. For his career, Harris averaged 10.8 points per game, 3.9 assists, and 2.2 rebounds. He was selected as an all-star in 2009.
Josh Howard (2004, 2005)
Josh Howard was selected 29th overall by the Mavericks in the 2003 NBA Draft. This draft is notorious for being loaded with talent, producing guys like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony. Dallas found their two-way talent in selecting Howard out of Wake Forest. He appeared in the Rising Stars Challenge in his rookie and sophomore seasons.
After the departures of Steve Nash and Michael Finley, Howard was catapulted to the second scorer responsibility beside Dirk Nowitzki. He spent 10 years in the NBA, including seven with the Mavericks. He achieved all-rookie honors in 2004 and was selected as an all-star in 2007. At his peak, Howard was a certified bucket and also served as Dallas’s point-of-attack defender.
Howard was a crucial piece in the playoff runs during the prime Nowitzki era. For his career, he averaged 14.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
Dirk Nowitzki (1999)
When most people think about the Dallas Mavericks’ history, the first person that comes to mind is often the seven-foot, awkward, lanky kid from Wurzburg, Germany. Dirk Nowitzki was selected 9th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft and then traded to Dallas for Robert “Tractor” Traylor.
Nowitzki was unlike anything the NBA had seen before. He was a mobile big man who could play on the perimeter and shoot the lights out. His patented one-legged fade away jumper has influenced the game of many greats today, including Lebron James and Kevin Durant.
Nowitzki’s silhouette on the floor in the American Airlines Center is a constant reminder of how great he truly was. Not to mention, his statue outside of the arena that reads “Loyalty Never Fades Away” as Nowitzki played all 21 seasons in a Mavericks uniform.
Nowitzki was selected to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge in 1999 and quickly positioned himself as one of the game’s greats. Nowitzki is a 14-time all-star, 2007 league MVP, 2011 NBA Champion, and seventh on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 31,560 points. For his career, he averaged 20.7 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Nowitzki is etched into Mavericks history (as of now) as the greatest to put on the uniform.
Samaki Walker (1997)
Samaki Walker was selected 9th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Mavs. The two-way power forward out of Louisville had an incredibly high upside, being a versatile big man who could score inside and defend the rim.
He never panned out in the NBA. His claim to fame is being punched by Kobe Bryant during his time as a Los Angeles Laker. Walker was selected to the Rising Stars Challenge, averaging 5.0 points per game and 3.4 rebounds.
He played 10 seasons in the NBA with stops in Dallas, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Miami, Washington, and Indiana. For his career, Walker averaged 5.3 points per game and 4.7 rebounds.
Jason Kidd (1995)
Jason Kidd was the definition of a true point guard. Dallas needed a true floor general to facilitate the offense coming into the 1994 off-season. The Mavs took Kidd second overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. The California guard had an immediate impact. After a dreadful 13-69 season in 1994, the Mavericks improved to 36-46 in 1995. During his rookie season, he averaged 11.7 points per game, 7.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 steals.
Kidd was selected as a rookie to the Rising Stars Challenge for his injection of winning play on his new team. But it didn’t last long. The 1996 season had Dallas slip back to 26 wins. The Mavericks traded Kidd the day after Christmas during the 1996 season to the Phoenix Suns.
Jason Kidd spent five years in Phoenix, seven in New Jersey, one in New York, and eight in Dallas. Kidd’s return to Dallas in 2008 led to him co-starring with Dirk Nowitzki en route to the 2011 championship.
Kidd spent 19 seasons in the NBA. He’s third all-time in assists with 12,091 and third all-time in steals with 2,684. He’s a 10-time all-star and NBA champion. For his career, Kidd averaged 12.6 points per game, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals.
Jamal Mashburn (1994)
Jamal Mashburn was heavily touted coming out of Kentucky. He was one of the most complete offensive players in recent history, while still playing both sides of the floor. The Mavericks drafted the 6’8 small forward with the fourth overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. The Mavericks were looking for an offensive powerhouse to share the reins with Derek Harper and Jim Jackson, and they found one in Mashburn. This earned him a selection to the Rising Stars Team in 1993.
His other team was a different story. Team success with the Mavericks just wasn’t there. The 1990’s were abysmal Dallas and Mashburn was right in the middle.
For his career, Mashburn averaged 19.2 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He played 12 seasons, four each with Dallas and Miami, and two each with Charlotte and New Orleans. Mashburn was selected as an all-star once in 2003. Although his tenure in Dallas is forgettable, he’s still considered one of the better scorers of the early 1990’s.
Popeye Jones (1993)
Popeye Jones was drafted 41st overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1992 NBA draft and later traded to the Mavericks on draft night. The Murray State power forward was a tenacious rebounder and provided strength and athleticism on the interior. Jones was selected in his sophomore season for the Rising Stars Challenge. By his second season in the NBA, he was averaging a double-double of 10.3 points per game and 10.6 rebounds.
Jones averaged 7.0 points per game and 7.4 rebounds over an 11-year career. He spent four years with the Mavericks, two each with Toronto and Washington, and one each with Boston, Denver, and Golden State.
Jones has also had a successful 15+ year coaching career with stops in Dallas, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Indiana, and Denver. He won a championship as an assistant coach with the Nuggets in 2023.
Rising Stars Challenge Starts Friday
Through 46 years, rising stars haven’t come all that often with the Mavericks. But those who get selected by the NBA often go on to have impactful careers. Cooper Flagg is the newest Maverick to make this list. So, let’s just enjoy the ride.
The Rising Stars Challenge begins Friday, February 13, at 8 PM Central time on NBC and Peacock.
MILAN (AP) — Casey Dawson withdrew from the men's 10,000 meters in speedskating at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday, hours before the race, leaving the event without its only American entrant.
U.S. Speedskating said Dawson wanted to focus instead on the team pursuit, which holds quarterfinals on Sunday, and the individual 1,500 meters next Thursday. Dawson finished eighth in the 5,000 meters last weekend.
U.S. coach Gabe Girard said the decision “does not come as a surprise and always was a part of the options coming” for the Winter Games.
The United States hasn't won an Olympic gold in the 10,000 since Eric Heiden did so as part of his five victories at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. The country's last medal at speedskating's longest distance was Chad Hedrick's silver at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Among the contenders Friday were Sander Eitrem, the Norwegian who won the 5,000 in an Olympic-record time in Milan, and Davide Giotto, the Italian who set the 10,000 world record of 12 minutes, 25.69 seconds in January 2025 and claimed a bronze in the event at the 2022 Beijing Games.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 25: Shams Charania looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft - Round One on June 25, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Celebrity Game has become a staple of All-Star Weekend to kick off the festivities on Friday night. This year’s 22-person roster includes an NBA owner, one famous reporter, several NFL stars, and then a bunch of people I need to Google as a childless 38-year-old man who is mostly out of touch with popular culture.
The 2026 NBA Celebrity Game features an obvious hook: Shams Charania will be playing for a team coached by Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Alex and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Charania has been pushing Giannis trade rumors hard since the summer, and especially so at the trade deadline, but Antetokounmpo remains with the Bucks. Will Giannis give Shams a hard time for his reporting? Tune in to find out.
The NBA Celebrity Game will go down on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Here’s a look at the full roster, with introductions to every celebrity below.
Team Antetokounmpo
Giannis, Alex, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo will coach this team along with Dodgers star Mookie Betts.
Keegan-Michael Key: Hey, I know this guy! A 54-year-old actor and comedian, he’s probably best known for Key & Peele. This gives me another excuse to link one of the best sports skits ever.
Rome Flynn: The 34-year-old actor is best known for his work in How To Get Away With Murder and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Dylan Wang: A 27-year-old Chinese actor and singer best known for his role in Meteor Garden. He has 6.2 million Instagram followers, and his Wikipedia page says he’s a huge fan of LeBron James!
Shams Charania: If you follow the NBA, you know Shams. He has replaced Woj as the guy who gets all the scoops. Charania is 31 years old, and a native of suburban Chicago.
Jenna Bandy: Bandy is a popular sports content creator. Look at this throw!
Rick Schnall: Schnall is the 57-year-old minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks
Tacko Fall: Wow, Tacko Fall! I used to write about him often. Fall is a 7’6 big man who went undrafted in 2019 but played for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers before going on to have a career playing in China.
Jeremy Lin: Linsanity is back! Jeremy Lin is a former NBA player who rose to stardom with the Knicks. He’s 37 years old, and most recently played in Taiwan.
GloRilla: A 26-year-old rap star from Memphis. You may have heard “TGIF.”
Cafu: A former Brazilian soccer star, and one of the greatest fullbacks of all-time. He’s 55 years old.
Amon-Ra St. Brown: Detroit Lions superstar wide receiver.
Team Anderson
Actor Anthony Anderson, social media influencer Lethal Shooter, and NBA trainer Chris Brickley will coach this team.
Simu Liu: A 36-year-old Canadian actor and stuntman. He’s best known for the Marvel movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Jan 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, left, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are seen during the first half of the game between the Chicago Bulls and the LA Clippers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
State Farm is hosting a celebrity 3-point contest on Friday night during NBA All-Star weekend. The contest will take place at the NBA Crossover in Los Angeles.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is set to take part in the contest, joined by internet personality Druski and streamer PlaqueBoy Max. The event will feature a mix of professional athletes—such as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain—alongside various online personalities and entertainers, with Williams headlining the group.
I think it should be noted to make things clear, this is a State Farm event and not NBA. Lol https://t.co/0o1fFAjXEP
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell shoots the ball during the Starry 3 point contest as a part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will have two representatives at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles with Donovan Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson. Mitchell will be participating in the 3-Point Contest and All-Star Game, while Tyson will be in the Rising Stars game.
The format of these events changes seemingly every season. Let’s get into what we can expect this go around.
Rising Stars
When: Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 PM
TV: Peacock
The Rising Stars game will feature first and second-year NBA players and a handful of G League participants. The 21 NBA players have been broken up into three teams. The G League players are on a team of their own.
The four teams will participate in a mini-tournament of three overall games. There will be two semi-final games. The first team to 40 points in the semi-final games will advance, and the loser will be eliminated. The two winning teams will face off in the finals. The final game will be won by the first team to reach 25 points.
Tyson is on a team drafted by Tracy McGrady. His team is as follows:
Tre Johnson
Kon Knueppel
Ajay Johnson
Alex Sarr
Cam Spencer
Jaylon Tyson
Kel’el Ware
3-Point Contest
When: Saturday, Feb. 14 at 5 PM
TV: NBC and Peacock
The 3-Point Contest will be the first event of All-Star Saturday. This is a change from their normal order of activities. Considering this is the best event of All-Star Weekend, and it features Mitchell, it’s worth watching.
This will be the second time Mitchell has been in the 3-Point Contest as a Cavalier and the third time overall. In his most recent showing, he wore a number 5 Cavs’ jersey with “Money Merrill” on the back in honor of Sam Merrill. He said on Wednesday that he plans on doing that again this time around.
Here are the participants for the 3-Point Contest:
Devin Booker
Kon Knueppel
Damian Lillard
Tyrese Maxey
Donovan Mitchell
Jamal Murray
Bobby Portis Jr.
Norman Powell
NBA G League Next Up Game
When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2:30 PM
TV: NBA TV
The Charge will have two representatives at this year’s version of what is the G League All-Star Game with Killian Hayes and Norchad Omier
Hayes has had an incredible season so far. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 8.3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on .467/.323/.795 shooting splits in 26 outings with the Charge.
Omier is a candidate to get the two-way spot that Nae’Qwan Tomlin recently vacated by signing a standard deal. Omier is averaging 18.5 points and 11.1 rebounds on .601/.270/.790 shooting splits.
The Next Up Game is consistently a pretty solid event. There’s generally a real competitive level to this game that isn’t there in most of the other All-Star Weekend activities. Like the other events, this will also follow the same mini-tournament format.
NBA All-Star Game
When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 9 PM
TV: NBC and Peacock
The All-Star game is once again trying a new format. This year, the All-Stars were broken up into three teams. Two teams are made of U.S. players, while the third is the international team.
The three teams will play in a round-robin tournament, with each team playing each other. The mini games will be just 12 minutes long.
The teams with the top two records after the three games will face off in the final game.
Mitchell’s team will consist of the veteran U.S. players, as seen below.
Jaylen Brown
Jalen Brunson
Stephen Curry (not participating due to injury)
Kevin Durant
Brandon Ingram
LeBron James
Kawhi Leonard
Donovan Mitchell
Norman Powell
We’ll see if the new format changes make the game more competitive.
Let us know in the comments what event you’re most excited to see and whether you think the new format will change anything.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
This week, I hope everyone will join me in welcoming Diamondhacks as the newest member of the Fantable!
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: With two-thirds of the season behind us, the Suns are a borderline playoff/Play-In team. Which side of that line do you think they will ultimately fall on at the end of the regular season?
Diamondhacks: It could easily go either way, with the Wolves, us, and the Lakes all facing tougher-than-average remaining strength of schedule. But since Rod threatened to revoke my BSOTS cafeteria privileges if I didn’t answer the question, I’ll guess Play-In. Some of our key guys may be wearing down, and we’re not surprising opponents much anymore. Coaches like Lue, Kerr, and Nurse are more aggressively targeting emergent difference makers (ie, Collin, Oso, and Goody). Everybody, even Anthony Edwards, knows who “they” are now.
Jalen Green is still the wild card, but unless he can reliably turbocharge this offense, my worry is that most of our structural and surprise upside this season has already been realized. If Ott can get Jalen to do that, reasonably efficiently, on top of everything else the Suns have accomplished, then I think we have the Coach of the Year.
Ashton: It really does depend on injury reports. Yeah, hot take.
Tankathon ranks the Suns’ remaining strength of schedule as the fifth-hardest in the nation. The good news is that Denver, Thunder, and Wolves rank above them. Dallas and Clippers are in the tank, right? And LeBron is fighting arthritis in his left foot.
Six seed seems to be correct to me.
Rod: I think they have a really good chance of ending the regular season as the 6th or maybe the 5th seed and avoiding the play-in games…IF they stay relatively healthy between now and then. And by that I mean no serious injuries that keep key players out for more than a game or two at a time. If everything falls just right, I could even see them finishing the RS as 4th seed, but that’s a ‘best case scenario’ that I consider unlikely.
At worst, I really can’t see them falling below the 8th seed in the play-ins unless something bizarre happens to completely derail the rest of the regular season. I really doubt that happening, but I also can’t just write off that possibility.
I’m not much of a betting man, but I’d go with the over on the playoff/play-in line for the Suns right now. I think the AS break will be good for them, and they return rested and re-energized to make a strong run to the regular season finish line.
Q2: Jamaree Bouyea’s stats have taken a big hit lately. In November, his averages were 5.8 ppg (per 36 = 19.3) while shooting 55% from the field and 54.5% from three in 10.8 minutes per game. In February, his stats dropped to 4.5 ppg (per 36 = 9.9) with shooting percentages of 40% from the field and 9.1% from three in 16.4 minutes per game.
Why do you think his performance has dropped off lately?
Diamondhacks: JB’s month-by-month decline could be for tangible competitive reasons, like teams are defending him better. A more abstract (and hopeful) take is that his seasonal rate stats still align very closely with (admittedly limited) career numbers. So maybe the fast start and subsequent decline are more of a passive or random statistical variation; thus, he’ll bounce back from the latter a little. It’s hard to say, because his sample sizes are still so small. We don’t really know what his established level is yet, but it seems increasingly unlikely to me that he’ll reprise his captivating November.
Ashton: He didn’t even play in the game against the Mavs. So, let’s go with the obvious clue here: playing time. And in order to get that playing time, he needs to pack his bags for Tempe and let Amir Coffey cook a little with the NBA minutes.
Bouyea stats in G League are actually pretty good. I can’t link G League stats in my write-ups, but the guy is averaging 20.2 points per game over five games played! So, do I think his performance has dropped off? It depends on the context.
Rod: Probably the biggest reason is simply that he’s no longer a surprise to other teams, and they have added him to their list of players to game plan for. The Suns have also played some tough teams since he returned after missing 10 games with a concussion. The ‘rust’ from his downtime while recovering combined with the tougher competition was likely a double whammy that hurt his stats. Hopefully, he’ll be back closer to his normal self following the AS break.
Q3: What are your thoughts on Amir Coffey and his possible role with the Suns?
Diamondhacks: He’s Royce’s backup and Ryan Dunn’s three-point insurance. Like O’Neale, Coffey pours in 40+% on corner threes. Coffey’s gritty and earned 1700 minutes under Ty Lue. The caveat is that this year’s stint with the Bucks has been more of a grind.
Ashton: This may be the shortest Fantable write-up I have done yet, based on word counts. We do not all know, and this question is way too early to ask. I waited for the Mavs game to try to answer this question, and I still have nothing. He was +1 in that game, and maybe he does something more against the Thunder (yikes!) tonight, but that is not a good introduction for him jelling with the team.
What can I say? He was solid with the Clippers, but the Bucks treated him like a red-headed stepchild (with respect to red-headed stepchildren), and I find that a little bit worrisome. Of course, it is the Bucks, and I have not watched one of their games since 2021.
Rod: I have a feeling that Coffey may have just been a bad fit in Milwaukee and will do better in the Valley. In most of his seasons with LAC, he was a three-point shooter, nailing 38.4% there, and close to 50% of his FGAs were from three. With the Bucks, his playing time was way below his career average, as was his FGAs. I wish I’d seen more of Milwaukee this season so I’d have a better idea of why he was pretty much buried at the end of their bench, but I think he may get more of a chance to play here, especially if his three-point shooting returns to form.
With the Suns so reliant on the three, he could carve himself out some rotation minutes, especially if GA remains sidelined for a while. But more than that, he’s going to have to fit in defensively to stay on the court. I don’t think he’s going to completely move anyone else out of Ott’s player rotation but he should be at least a solid insurance player at both SG and SF. He looked pretty good in limited minutes against Dallas and OKC without much practice time with the team so I’m currently happy with him.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“I think this (All-Star break) is a time where we can evaluate exactly who we are, how we’ve been. I think even in this last stretch without Book (Devin Booker), I just don’t think we’ve been as good defensively, honestly. That’s where we got to get back to.” – Jordan Ott
“Our focus has to be really high. Especially in this West, a differential of two to three games where you can get in that playoff hunt and you can be a four or five, even three (seed). You have to be real focused in the gym when we come back, and move these last 25 games with some purpose.” – Dillon Brooks
“I think it (the OKC loss) is motivation to be better the next 25 games. The last game we had no Book (Devin Booker), no Jalen (Green), no Grayson (Allen). We get healthy and put it together and we will go at these 25 games like we are trying to prove something like we did in the beginning of the year.” – Dillon Brooks
“I got a lot of stuff to learn, a lot of stuff to go over but at the end of the day, you still got to do your job. So, that stuff will come. But still got to go out and compete.” – Amir Coffey
Suns Trivia/History
On February 16, 2009, the Suns fired head coach Terry Porter after 51 games and replaced him with assistant Alvin Gentry. The Suns had a 28–23 record, ninth in the Western Conference, with Porter. Under Gentry the Suns would go 18-13 to finish the season with a 46-36 record and miss the payoffs for the first time after four straight appearances and two trips to the Western Conference Finals under former head coach Mike D’Antoni.
On February 18, 1990, Tom Chambers had the first 50+ point game in Phoenix Suns history, scoring 56 points in a 131-113 win at Golden State. The previous record of 49 points belonged to then assistant coach Paul Westphal scored 10 years earlier on Feb. 21, 1980 in a 125-116 victory against the Detroit Pistons. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons left Chambers in the game until there was only 3 minutes left hoping he would reach 60 points.
On February 19, 2015, after Goran Dragic publicly announced that he no longer trusted the Suns front office and wanted to be traded, the Suns made a flurry of in-season moves at the trade deadline including:
A 3-team trade in which Phoenix traded Goran Dragić and Zoran Dragić to the Miami Heat for Danny Granger, a 2017 1st round draft pick and a 2021 1st round draft pick plus John Salmons from New Orleans.
A second 3-team trade in which the Suns traded a 2018 1st round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers and Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee to the Milwaukee Bucks for Brandon Knight and Kendall Marshall.
And a third 3-team trade in which the Suns traded Isaiah Thomas to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Marcus Thornton and a 2016 1st round draft pick. The third partner in the trade, the Detroit Pistons, acted as a facilitator in the trade and had no direct dealings with the Suns.
The trades did not work out for the Suns who were 29-25 before they happened and went 10-18 the rest of the season to finish 39-43, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season in what would continue to grow into a 10 year playoff drought.
This Week’s Game Schedule
Thursday, Feb 19 – Suns @ San Antonio Spurs (6:30 pm)
This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule
None.
Important Future Dates
March 1 – Playoff eligibility waiver deadline March 4 – Final day to sign players to two-way contracts March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play) April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET) April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin
