RENNES, France (AP) — Coachless Rennes stunned Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 at home and snapped a five-game winless run on Friday.
The home side fired coach Habib Beye on Monday after its early season gains looked to be slipping away, and it was a firm underdog against PSG, which came to Brittany after winning all seven of its last league fixtures.
But Rennes hit the post early on and it got a reward for its confident start after 33 minutes. Jordanian midfielder Mousa Al-Tamari charged forward on the counterattack and found enough space between two defenders on the edge of the penalty area to curl in a superb opener.
PSG came into the game but was hesitant in front of goal and Esteban Lepaul doubled Rennes' lead midway through the second half. The prolific center forward rose highest to bullet a header past Matvey Safonov for his 11th goal of the season.
Former Rennes player Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back for PSG two minutes later but Breel Embolo restored Rennes' two-goal cushion in the 81st when he finished off another counterattack.
PSG remained atop the table but second-placed Lens can take over if it beats Paris FC on Saturday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After 21 seasons — which included 11 All-NBA nods, nine All-Defensive Teams and being a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team — Chris Paul announced he is retiring from the NBA.
Paul started the season with the Clippers, but things did not go according to plan. He was traded to Toronto at the deadline, and with the Raptors releasing him on Friday, Paul confirmed he was retiring in an Instagram post.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball...
"While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life. I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It's crazy even saying that! Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility. I embraced it all. The good and the bad."
Paul will go down as one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game and his next stop will be the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
"Chris is a legend, man," said his former teammate and current NBC broadcaster Austin Rivers. "I think people get so caught up in the little things with Chris – and I call them little because they are, they're not in any way even of value compared to what he's done in basketball...
"Chris has cemented his legacy so long ago, he's one of the greatest point guards to ever play. Some of the most meaningful years of my career were playing with Chris. I got to back up Chris. Chris taught me how to be a pro, taught me how to approach the game with such a seriousness. He's one of the most competitive people I've ever seen in my life.
"I'm really happy for him that he's able to be at peace with basketball. He should. He's a top-five point guard to ever touch the ball, and only four other guys can say that."
Paul was a legend for his ability to squeeze out every little advantage he could find. He was the master of two-for-ones at the end of quarters, or calling out opponents whose jerseys were not tucked in, or any other little edge he thought he could gain. While Paul's intensity wore on some teammates, it also made the teams he was on winners. CP3 talked about this in his retirement announcement.
"As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won't. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!). It feels really good knowing that I played and treated this game with the utmost respect since the day my dad introduced me to it."
Paul retires averaging 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 37% from 3-point range. He was a 12-time All-Star, a six-time league leader in steals, a five-time leader in assists, and the 2006 Rookie of the Year.
Paul is an unquestioned first-ballot Hall of Famer. That is the only thing left in his NBA career.
Chris Paul played for seven different teams in a 21-year period in the NBA [Getty Images]
NBA legend Chris Paul has announced his retirement after being released by the Toronto Raptors.
The 40-year-old, widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest point guards, was a 12-time NBA All-Star and 2006 Rookie of the Year.
One of only seven players to enjoy an NBA career spanning 21 seasons, Paul also helped the United States claim Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and then four years later in London.
"This is it! After 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball," he posted on Instagram.
"Mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude! While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life.
"I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It's crazy even saying that."
Paul, who was nicknamed the 'Point of God', averaged 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and two steals a game during a 1,370-game career that started at the New Orleans Hornets in 2005 and effectively ended after a second spell at the Los Angeles Clippers.
He also featured for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors, but never played on an NBA championship-winning team.
He came closest to a gold ring in 2021, when Phoenix reached the NBA finals, only to lose to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Paul, who retires second in NBA history for both assists (12,552) and steals (2,728),
had not played since 1 December, with the Clippers trading him to Toronto earlier this month.
Chris Paul, for years a star with the Clippers, announced his retirement after 21 years in the NBA on Friday after being waived by the Toronto Raptors. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
Chris Paul is stepping away from the NBA for good after more than two decades in the league.
The 12-time All Star who played a key role in the Clippers' "Lob City" era made the announcement Friday soon after being waived by the Toronto Raptors.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball," Paul wrote in a lengthy statement posted to his Instagram account.
"As I write this, it's hard to really know what to feel, but for once — most people would be surprised — I don't have the answer lol! But, mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude! While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life."
Paul was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 draft and was named the NBA's rookie of the year the following season. Playing for the Clippers from 2011 to 2017, Paul and Blake Griffin led the team to six winning seasons, its first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series victories.
He went on to play for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs before signing a $3.6-million deal to return to the Clippers last summer for what was largely expected to be his final season.
The reunion did not work out so well. Paul was abruptly dismissed by the Clippers in early December, traded to the Raptors on Feb. 4 and then not required to report to his new team.
Paul ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals. He was the first player to notch at least 20,000 points and more than 10,000 assists.
While he didn't fully reveal what his "next chapter" will be, Paul indicated that it will involve spending more time with wife Jada, son Chris and daughter Camryn.
"Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility," Paul wrote. "I embraced it all. The good and the bad. As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won't. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!!)"
He added as part of the lengthy note: "The game always gave me a reason to SHOW up!!! And the true leaders and fighters know that that right there — showing up — is half of the battle. So now with all the gratitude that I could possibly have... it's time for me to show up for others and in other ways. ... And I now know wholeheartedly the best teammate I can be is to Jada, Chris II and Cam!!"
The Detroit Pistons have raced out to a 40-13 record, so it is no surprise to see JB Bickerstaff at the top of NBA Coach of the Year odds boards. More NBA odds for COY show the Suns' Jordan Ott (+400) and the Celtics' Joe Mazzulla (+650) among the favorites.
NBA Coach of the Year odds
Here is a look at updated NBA Coach of the Year odds. JB Bickerstaff is the betting favorite to win the award at -140.
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's Coach of the Year race as an example:
As the season progressed, with Mike Brown having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number:
Mike Brown -500
This means that a bettor needs to wager $500 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such:
Nick Nurse +650
Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
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NBA Coach of the Year trends
Mike Brown's 2023 victory was the first time in 10 years (excluding COVID-altered schedules — 2019-20, 2020-21) that the Coach of the Year's team hadn't won 55+ games.
Four coaches (Mike Budenholzer, Gregg Popovich, Tom Thibodeau, Mike Brown) have won COY multiple times since 2009.
No rookie head coach has won Coach of the Year since Doc Rivers (2000).
Dating back to the award's inception in 1963, no coach has ever won COY in back-to-back seasons.
NBA Coach of the Year history
Year
NBA Coach of the Year Winner
Team
2024-25
Kenny Atkinson
Cleveland Cavaliers
2023-24
Mark Daigneault
Oklahoma City Thunder
2022-23
Mike Brown
Sacramento Kings
2021-22
Monty Williams
Phoenix Suns
2020-21
Tom Thibodeau
New York Knicks
2019-20
Nick Nurse
Toronto Raptors
2018-19
Mike Budenholzer
Milwaukee Bucks
2017-18
Dwane Casey
Toronto Raptors
2016-17
Mike D'Antoni
Houston Rockets
2015-16
Steve Kerr
Golden State Warriors
2014-15
Mike Budenholzer
Atlanta Hawks
2013-14
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs
2012-13
George Karl
Denver Nuggets
2011-12
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs
2010-11
Tom Thibodeau
Chicago Bulls
2009-10
Scott Brooks
Oklahoma City Thunder
2008-09
Mike Brown
Cleveland Cavaliers
2007-08
Byron Scott
New Orleans Hornets
2006-07
Sam Mitchell
Toronto Raptors
2005-06
Avery Johnson
Dallas Mavericks
2004-05
Mike D'Antoni
Phoenix Suns
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
All young players in the NBA have room for improvement. So, who will make the proverbial "leap" in the 2025 - 2026 season? NBA Most Improved Player odds have the Blazers' Deni Avdija and the Hawks' Jalen Johnson as the betting favorites.
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
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Understanding NBA Most Improved Player odds
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's MIP race as an example:
As the season progressed, with Lauri Markkanen having been a big favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number:
Lauri Markkanen -200
This means that a bettor needs to wager $200 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +650
Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
Here are some trends you'll want to consider when betting on NBA Most Improved Player futures:
Forwards have won 13 of the past 20 MIP awards.
No true center has won since Jermaine O'Neal in 2002.
MIP has tended to favor players making "the leap" to stardom recently. Nine of the past 10 winners have averaged 20.0 ppg or more.
In a very weird coincidence, an Orlando Magic player has won MIP four times since 1999, and each time, an Indiana Pacer has won the award the following year.
How is NBA Most Improved Player decided?
The NBA Most Improved Player Award is bestowed upon the player who has demonstrated a significant improvement in performance from the previous season. This improvement is evaluated based on the following key criteria:
Statistical improvement
Consideration is given to notable increases in key statistical categories, including traditional box score stats, shooting efficiency, and the various advanced metrics.
Role expansion or redefinition
Consideration will be given to players who have taken on new roles, and significantly expanded their responsibilities, thereby positively impacting their team.
Consistency and sustainability
The improvement should be consistent and sustained throughout the season, rather than a short-term surge in performance. Candidates should demonstrate their enhanced production over a substantial portion of the regular season.
Impact on team success
The player's improvement should directly contribute to the overall success and performance of their team. Factors such as wins, team rankings, and positive influence on team chemistry can be taken into account.
Paul announced on Friday, Feb. 13, "he's stepping away from basketball," in the wake of reports that the Toronto Raptors had waived him. The 40-year-old point guard was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Raptors as part of a multi-team deal ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline earlier this month.
"It's time for me to show up for others and in other ways," the State Farm pitchman wrote in an Instagram post announcing his retirement decision. "This last season, I knew I couldn't do it unless I was at home with my family."
If Paul does not play in the league again, his last NBA game will have been on Dec. 1, 2025. But this was not his original plan for the season and the way it played out will go down as an unceremonious ending for a future Hall of Famer with his credentials.
Paul signed a one-year, $3.6-million contract to return to the Clippers this past offseason, and be closer to his family in Los Angeles after six seasons playing elsewhere. He later announced this would be his final NBA season.
But the Clippers then shocked the NBA in December when they sent Paul home in the wee hours of the night in the middle of a road trip as the team struggled early on this season. General Manager Lawrence Frank and coach Tyronn Lue made clear the organization intended to part ways with one of the greatest players in franchise history as reports emerged about friction involving Paul's leadership style inside the team's locker room.
Paul averaged a career-low 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14 minutes per game with the Clippers this season.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty after he wins the Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge shoots a three point basket during the Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA and WNBA All-Star events have been going through a bit of a revamp in recent years. With increasing sponsorships, NBA salaries, and a decline in fan attention span, the NBA All-Star Game in particular has flopped in viewership and overall cultural resonance. It’s hard to get players to compete at 100% when they are afraid of being injured, and when there is little incentive to do so. Especially when it comes to events like the 3-point shooting contest, skills contest, or whatever other event the NBA tries to think up to change things up. WNBA players can be motivated by $25,000 prizes, of course, given their salaries are lower than those of NBA players, but NBA players are too well-compensated to really care about that kind of stuff anymore.
A few years ago, the NBA made a huge step in re-engaging fans in All-Star events by holding a shooting contest between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu in 2024. While some “battle of the sexes” type events can quickly devolve into questionable territory, ripe for sexist online takes and poor analysis, this event was actually quite well done. Ionescu and Curry are two of the best shooters in the sport’s history, and also great friends, so there was a mutual respect that ran through the lead-up to the event and the event itself.
Since it was a standard 3-point shooting contest, it wasn’t like Ionescu was at a huge disadvantage for being a woman. She was able to shoot from the WNBA three-point line (22 feet, 1.75 inches from the basket) if she wanted, but opted to use the standard NBA three-point line (23 feet, 9 inches from the basket) instead — a distance she is more than comfortable making shots from.
All of the prize money from this contest was being donated to charity, with Ionescu and Curry each pledging donations to their own personal foundations. The event was also in reaction to Sabrina Ionescu breaking the all-time 3-point contest record, NBA or WNBA, at the previous year’s WNBA All-Star Game. At the time, fans wondered how Ionescu would fare against the NBA’s best shooters — this event gave those fans what they wanted.
The event was a massive success, achieving the highest NBA All-Star Saturday viewership numbers in over five years, with over 5 million viewers. It outperformed the main event of the weekend, the actual All-Star Game, and viewership peaked during that event in particular. While Ionescu lost to Curry 29-26, her 26 points matched the actual winner of that year’s NBA 3-point shooting contest, and while she definitely didn’t need to gain any respect from the NBA contingent, she did.
Afterward, many people expressed genuine interest and excitement in repeating the event. At the time, Caitlin Clark was still in college, but fans were frothing at the mouth at the idea of seeing her compete in a 3-point contest. There were ideas of Steph and Sabrina going up against Clark and another NBA shooting star like Damian Lillard. Yet, years later, none of that has come to fruition.
Plus, two seasons into her career, Caitlin Clark has yet to compete in a 3-point contest.
In the summer of 2024, Ionescu bowed out of the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest to focus more on the upcoming Paris Olympics the week after — super fair. That same year, Clark declined an invitation to the contest as well, saying she wanted to rest after playing for over a year of consecutive basketball.
When it came to the following NBA All-Star game, in 2025, Clark declined an invitation from the NBA to participate. According to reporting from The Athletic, Clark wanted her first WNBA All-Star 3-point shooting contest to be in the WNBA.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star game was held in Clark’s WNBA home of Indianapolis, Indiana, where she plays with the Indiana Fever. A perfect spot to make her first appearance in the event, but those hopes were dashed as Clark suffered numerous injuries in the summer of 2025, leading to her missing most of the season and the All-Star game.
Now, as we head into the 2026 NBA All-Star game, the hype of Steph vs Sabrina is two years old, and with nothing to replace it. Fans would surely show up in the same fashion for a Caitlin Clark-led 3-point contest, which would definitely help the NBA’s floundering All-Star Weekend viewership numbers. Yet, nothing of the sort has materialized in the nearly two years since Clark came onto the scene, and this year was likely impossible as the NBA battles with WNBA players over their next CBA.
Still, it’s pretty wild that the NBA found a solid way to drive engagement, bring in the WNBA fanbase, and provide some tangible excitement for the All-Star events… and just hasn’t repeated it since. Add it to the list of self-inflicted L’s in the Adam Silver era.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Alexandre Sarr #20, Kyshawn George #18 and Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards pose for a portrait during the NBAE Media Day Circuit Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Hilton Santa Monica in Los Angeles, California. 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 Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA’s All-Star Weekend is here! Tonight, we will see various games like the annual celebrity game. But the headline event is the Rising Stars challenge. Here is what’s in store.
Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Time and how to watch: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
What it is: A roster of entertainers and some former basketball players play in an exhibition game. One notable exception this year: there are no WNBA players in the game. This is likely not an accident because of the WNBA’s unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations with the WNBPA players union.
Rising Stars Challenge
Time and how to watch: 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
What it is: This is the tournament-style showcase featuring rookies and second-year players.
Wizards in the Rising Stars Challenge: Washington has two players on Team T-Mac: Tre Johnson, and Bub Carrington. Carrington replaced Alex Sarr. And the Wizards will also have Kyshawn George on Team Vince.
When will the Wizards play in the game? Team Vince will play Team T-Mac in the semifinals at approximately 9:55 p.m. ET. The final will be at about 10:35 p.m. ET for the winner between Team Austin vs. Team Melo and the winner of Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac.
Oct 6, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right) look on during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks, now post trade deadline and resting over the all-star break, are fully in a new era. Yes, parts of the Luka Doncic core remain. But the Anthony Davis deadline deal that sent the big man and the end of the bench to the Washington Wizards made clear that the front office is turning the page and building for Cooper Flagg’s future.
That means a focus on Flagg’s development in game, but it also means a lot of losing the rest of this season to position themselves for the NBA draft lottery. That shift in strategy does mean we’ll be hanging our Power Rankings Watch jersey for the rest of this season, as the Mavericks float around the bottom of these standings the rest of the way. We’ll keep check on some other standings from here on out, and get excited for this summer’s draft.
Marvin Bagley III, who was selected right before Luka Doncic with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, is on his fifth team after arriving in Dallas as part of the Anthony Davis trade. He will have a chance to get minutes the rest of the season in Dallas, and in his debut with the Mavericks, Bagley had 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. — MacMahon
I thought I was done cracking on these dudes for trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers. But no, let me revisit that thing one more time. Luka Dončić played 900 minutes in the 2024 postseason, a run that went through the NBA Finals. They then traded Dončić for Anthony Davis, who wound up playing a total of 892 minutes in the regular season for the Mavericks. Then, to make things funnier, the best players Dallas got back when it traded Davis away are former Jason Kidd disciple Middleton and Marvin Bagley III. That’s the same Bagley who was drafted one spot over Dončić in 2018. At least Dallas got a couple of first-round picks this time. Cooper Flagg has been killing it, but the Mavericks haven’t won a game in more than two weeks.
The Anthony Davis Era in Dallas is over, with the big man having played just 31 (36%) of a possible 86 games with the Mavs. Dallas went 17-14 in those 31 games and took a huge step backward when you combine the two Davis trades (the one that brought him in and the one that sent him out).
Three takeaways
In between the two Davis trades, the Mavs did get Cooper Flagg, who had four straight games of more than 30 points before having a relatively quiet night in San Antonio on Saturday. Now averaging over 20 per game, he’d be just the second rookie in the last 46 years (since Larry Bird in 1979-80) to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. The other, of course, was Luka Dončić.
Despite Flagg’s scoring streak, the Mavs have scored just 109.6 points per 100 possessions over their seven-game losing streak. Their shooters – Max Christie and Klay Thompson – have combined to shoot just 38% (including 32% from 3-point range) over the seven games.
The Mavs got a pair of first-round picks in the Davis trade, but they’ll both be in the 20s. As is usually the case after a team trades a star, its best asset is its own pick. The Mavs are now seventh in the upside-down standings and their 2026 pick is the only one in the next five years that they control.
Coming up: The Mavs’ loss in San Antonio on Saturday was the start of a stretch (spanning the break) of six straight road games. They’re now 5-14 (with five straight losses) against the top eight teams in the West, set to visit the Suns and Lakers this week.
The numbers still favor Kon Knueppel in the Rookie of the Year race, but Cooper Flagg is charging.
And with the Anthony Davis conundrum finally and fully resolved by trading him to the Washington Wizards, Flagg can have a closing kick that makes the award his.
For the entire season, when AD is off the floor, Flagg has put up 23.2 points and 4.0 assists per 75 possessions.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drive to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. He left the game late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Despite entering the All-Star break injured, Luka Dončić seems to be heading towards a good place regarding his hamstring. The Laker superstar has missed the last four games due to the injury, and currently, his availability for the All-Star game is up in the air.
Well, the days have been stacking up, but the internal concern has not. Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave another update prior to the team’s last game before the All-Star break and seems confident that he’ll be back once the Lakers return to the court on Feb. 20 against the Clippers.
“He’s progressed really good,” Redick said. “I think part of him wanted to push to get back prior to the break. But we got to be cautious with the soft tissue injuries. Obviously, we were very cautious with Austin and you just saw what happened with Jalen Williams coming back. We all feel comfortable with the decision to hold him out and should be good to go post All-Star.”
Anytime a team’s superstar misses extended time, it can cause worry, but JJ Redick calmed down most concerns with this update on Luka.
It might be overanalysis, but Redick saying “they feel comfortable with the decision to hold him out” makes it seem like they could’ve pushed him to play now. Which means that if he gets an additional week of rest when he can already play, he should be ready to go when the Clippers come to Crypto.com Arena.
Obviously, given Luka’s importance to the Lakers, the last thing he needs to do is rush back from a hamstring injury. So, if this move is LA being overly cautious, so when Luka comes back, he has no setbacks, then it’s the right decision.
Regarding his status for the All-Star Game, Redick kept things short. “It’s above my pay grade,” Redick said.
With the Lakers about to enter the most important stretch of the year, hopefully, Luka returns and never misses another game this season. LA will be fighting for playoff positioning and will need him healthy to reach their full potential.
Before wagering on the Slam Dunk Contest, be sure to familiarize yourself with the latest rules for the 2026 edition:
Four players will compete in a two-round competition.
Five judges will score each dunk based on a score ranging from 40 to 50.
The two dunkers with the highest combined scores from their first two dunks advance to the finals.
The final round will consist of two dunks by each dunker, with the highest composite score being crowned the champion.
In the event of a tie, there will be one additional round of dunks. If the event is still tied, then the judges will be empowered to declare a winner by majority vote.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Carter Bryant (+180)
For what it’s worth, Carter Bryant is the favorite in this field of relative unknowns. The 6-foot-6 rookie wing was taken 14th overall by the San Antonio Spurs largely because of his explosive athleticism.
Bryant boasts a 39.5-inch vertical, but he hasn’t seen much playing time in San Antonio, and there isn’t much game footage of him dunking. As a result, it’s hard to see much value at his current price.
Jaxson Hayes (+250)
Jaxson Hayes is an intriguing entrant, but there are reasons for skepticism. Historically, taller players have struggled in this competition (Dwight Howard being a notable exception), and Hayes isn’t exactly positioned as a fan favorite.
The 7-footer plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and was recently suspended one game for pushing a mascot. He also dealt with a domestic violence case earlier in his career. All things considered, this is a pass for me.
Jase Richardson is the best storyline in the field. He carries the longest odds in this competition, even if there’s no true long shot. The 6-foot-1 rookie guard has seen limited minutes with the Orlando Magic this season.
The intrigue? He’s the son of two-time Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson.
Richardson appears to have inherited his dad’s leaping ability, and don’t be surprised if he pays homage to some of his father’s iconic dunks. At this price, there’s legitimate value.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest pick
It was a close call between Richardson and Johnson for me, but there’s more evidence of Johnson throwing down explosive dunks in actual NBA games.
I’ve always believed that great in-game dunkers tend to translate well to this competition — think Vince Carter or, more recently, Derrick Jones Jr.
Boasting an insane vertical, I’m expecting some jaw-dropping slams from Johnson on Saturday night.
Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson, Zach LaVine, and Mac McClung are the only players in history to win the Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back years.
At age 18, Kobe Bryant is the youngest player to win the Slam Dunk Contest (1997).
John Wall is the last player to make an All-Star team and win the Slam Dunk Contest in the same year (2014).
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
PHOENIX - OCTOBER 2: Amare Stoudemire #32, Stephon Marbury #3, and Shawn Marion #31 of the Phoenix Suns pose for a portrait during NBA Media Day at the America West Arena on October 2, 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2003 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s January 2, and I’m sitting in front of my computer with a Salad And Go coffee in hand. Yeah, I like their cold brew. I’m a price-for-value paid guy, and they win that race every time.
An idea has hit me that is ambitious. It is messy. It is absolutely going to take time. Probably the type of thing that belongs in the Suns’ offseason or tucked neatly into the All-Star break when the calendar finally exhales. So that’s the plan. Start it now. Let it breathe. Revisit it through the first few weeks of 2026. Poke at it. Argue with myself. Change my mind. Repeat.
The subject is the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid.
So what is the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid? Think Bill Simmons and the Book of Basketball. Think his Hall of Fame logic. Now drop that framework into the 58-year history of the Phoenix Suns. This is about identifying the 21 best players to ever wear a Phoenix uniform out of the 453 who have donned the purple and orange and arranging them into a six-level pyramid.
Why a pyramid? Because it forces clarity and allows movement. Players are not locked into a rigid ranking. They live in tiers. And if you know anything about SunsRank, you already know how I feel about tiers. And it makes for a nice-looking graphic.
Let’s start with the levels.
The Face of the Franchise
MVP Royalty
Franchise Pillars
Era-Defining Stars
All-Star Impact
Core Contributors
I think these work. As I’ve gone through my list over the past month and a half, building tiers and defining what it takes to be in each one, this is where I’ve landed. You might have a different version with different differentiators and different criteria. I look forward to hearing how you would have navigated this process. This is how I’ve navigated mine.
As I started digging into who the 21 best players actually were, I already knew I was going to run headfirst into some baseline rules. Think of them less as hard laws and more as gatekeepers. Each tier has its own bouncer. Some rules help you qualify. Others quietly escort you out the door.
It is not mandatory to have a clean statistical cutoff for every tier, but thresholds matter. Sometimes, they are the difference between getting in and being left out. Take Tier 3 of the Suns Pyramid, the ‘Franchise Pillars’. Every player in that tier lives in the Ring of Honor. More importantly, every one of them spent over a decade in Phoenix. 10+ years is the line if you want to make it into tier three. If you do not cross it, you do not get through.
But it’s not necessarily exclusive, because a player in my top two tiers (I bet you can guess who that is) wasn’t in Phoenix for 10+ years. So the tiers themselves might be gatekeepers, but it isn’t that clean. There can be exceptions to the rule if the braintrust determines it to be so. And since I am the braintrust, I’m granting a special exemption.
Another rule has to be crystal clear from the jump. This is not a lifetime achievement award for famous names passing through town. This is about impact in a Suns uniform. It’s about what you did here and how much you moved the needle while wearing purple and orange.
Gale Goodrich is a quality example. He was a five-time All-Star, NBA champion, and Hall of Famer. Quite the impressive resume for Mr. Goodrich. He also played just two seasons in Phoenix from 1968 to 1970. He made an All-Star team here, but his real imprint on the league was stamped in Los Angeles. Same conversation with Shaq. Fifteen-time All-Star. Four championships. Two scoring titles. Fourteen-time All-NBA. A walking monument to dominance. He also spent two seasons in Phoenix. One All-Star appearance. A memorable stretch, sure, but not a defining one.
And that is the point. This pyramid is not grading careers. It is grading Suns chapters. Time spent matters. Impact matters. The totality of what you did elsewhere does not.
So no, Gale Goodrich is not making the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid. Neither is Shaq. Not because they were not great. Because this is about Phoenix. And only Phoenix.
To be in Tier 5 or above, you need to be an All-Star, and a multi-time All-Star at that. There have been some fun role players in Phoenix, and there’s plenty of room for them in Tier 6, but to be considered one of the greatest ever, you need to have represented Phoenix in an All-Star Game, thus serving as an ambassador of the city abroad.
You want another rule? Fine. Let’s make it a petty one. Kevin Durant played 145 games in a Suns uniform. So here it is, officially, unscientifically, and with a straight face. The KD Rule. To be eligible for the Suns Pyramid, you must have appeared in 146 or more games with the franchise. Why 146? Because that is one more than Kevin Durant. That is the line. That is the bar. Cross it and we can talk. Fall one game short and you are a footnote. Shaq played in 103 games, so he fell victim to the KD Rule as well.
Is it petty? Absolutely. Is it arbitrary? Without question. Is it also perfectly on brand for a project like this? 100%.
It’s harder than it sounds. I am not even sure why I landed on 21 players instead of 15, which would be clean and orderly and way easier to explain. But once you factor in that there are already 12 players sitting in the Ring of Honor, 15 does not leave much oxygen in the room. And honestly, I want oxygen. I want friction.
That is the point of this whole thing. I want debate. I want the back and forth. I want this to be a community exercise where people can argue tiers, move guys up or down, and make the case for who belongs or who got snubbed entirely. I know my biases are going to show. I’m not a big Deandre Ayton guy. I love Stephon Marbury. Will they make the pyramid? You’ll have to read to find out.
This is subjective by design. It is also fluid, for these things evolve. Maybe one day a player like Collin Gillespie works his way up the list. That sounds wild now, and maybe it stays that way. Time is the real author here. All I am doing is putting the framework on the page.
So that is the plan. That is the goal. With the All-Star break as the runway, we have the time to let this breathe. To roll it out slowly, one layer at a time. No need to rush it, no dumping it all in one day.
I will start by laying out the six levels of the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid. From there, you can probably guess where I am headed with certain players. That part is unavoidable. But there is real debate to be had, especially in the bottom three levels.
Starting tomorrow, we will begin unveiling each level. Let this journey begin.
San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic
Mac McClung
Mac McClung
Obi Toppin
Anfernee Simons
Derrick Jones Jr.
Hamidou Diallo
Donovan Mitchell
Glen Robinson III
Zach LaVine
Jason Richardson
Dominique Wilkins
Michael Jordan
