LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua is in rehab and was there before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder on New Year's Eve, according to his attorney.
“He was in (rehab) a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke ... and he’s scheduled to be there for a while longer,” Levi McCathern told The California Post.
McCathern told the newspaper Nacua's decision to enter rehab was not a direct response to the lawsuit his accuser filed against him late last month, but an attempt “to improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life.”
Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream.
Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his first three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fifth round out of BYU in 2023. He led the league with 129 catches last season and had 1,715 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.
Nacua is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Rams this offseason.
Apr 1, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket as Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) defends in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards got demolished by the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in a 153-131 contest at Capital One Arena.
The Wizards had some scoring fun in a defense-optional first half. Tristan Vukcevic got hot with 10 early points to pace Washington, but Paul George turned back the clock with 14 of his own as the Sixers took a 35-29 after one.
The Wiz bench mob came out swinging in the second quarter. Jamir Watkins and Jaden Hardy helped key a 16-7 run to open the period, while Anthony Gill caught fire with 11 points with 3 triples. Washington even held a 58-48 lead before Philly answered back to retake the lead, 73-71, at the break.
Will Riley started the second half with a poster jam on Adem Bona.
Riley’s dunk marked the beginning of the end, as the Sixers ran away with this thing the rest of the way. Philadelphia took a 120-103 lead into the fourth quarter, where nothing even remotely resembling a comeback attempt materialized for Washington in the 22-point defeat.
Gill, fresh off hitting the 1,000-point career mark, had his best scoring game ever. He finished with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting with six rebounds and six assists. Riley tallied 18 of his own on an 8-of-12 clip, while Vukcevic and Justin Champagnie each added 17.
Tre Johnson struggled in this one, scoring eight points on 3-of-11 shooting. He also got targeted several times on defense as George and Tyrese Maxey dribbled circles around him.
Johnson and the rest of the crew get a chance to rebound on Saturday in a road game against the Miami Heat.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 11: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 11, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
Well, the Spurs have been on a tear lately, and they seem to be locked into second place in the west, unless somehow the Lakers can take their two remaining games with OKC. While I’d like that to happen, cheering for LA makes me feel dirty, so maybe it’ll happen while I’m looking the other way. The Spurs would like to win the remainder of their games, but more important now is getting the team to play with precision and consistent effort. The Silver and Black has been winning a lot of games lately, but it’s scary for the rest of the league that they can play a lot better than they are now, and Mitch is committed to making that happen in time for the playoffs.
The Warriors are without a ton of players tonight, with 9 players on the injury list. The Spurs are relatively healthy, with only Luke Kornet out for tonight as he hopefully rests up for the second half of the back-to-back tomorrow night against the clippers. This could be a big night for Victor Wembanyama’s campaign for the MVP award, but I would prefer he puts in his 24 minutes or so and rests the whole fourth as the Spurs cruise to an easy blowout win. Golden State always plays tough against the Spurs, so it would be good if San Antonio could dominate early and put the home crowd to sleep in this late night west coast game. Castle must dominate Podziemski and GO SPURS GO!!!
Game Prediction:
Draymond Green will deposit a dollar in the curse jar by the Warriors bench every time he utters a profanity. After the game, the towel kid will retire on the proceeds.
San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors April 1, 2026 | 9:00 PM CT Streaming: ESPN App TV: ESPN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 31: Drake Powell #4 of the Brooklyn Nets grabs a rebound during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center on March 31, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Drake Powell scored 10 points Tuesday night vs. the Hornets, going 3-of-9 overall and 2-of-6 from deep. Not a particularly good shooting night but he did add six boards, and it was notable for one thing: it was the first time all season that the 6’6” guard had put together back-to-back double-digit scoring nights after his season-high 16 points on Sunday vs. the Kings. If you look at the two games, 56 minutes, the numbers aren’t bad: 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting overall, 6-of-12 from deep. And it was his third double-digit scoring game in four games!
But still… as Brian Lewis wrote in between those games, his development can best be described as “tricky.’
“Up-and-down rookie season” is an apt description of Drake Powell’s first year with the Nets.
Of the Nets’ record haul of five first-round picks last June, Powell was the most athletic, but also the most raw on offense. His growing pains on that end of the floor have been protracted and pronounced.
Powell was the biggest reach of the 2025 NBA Draft for the Nets. The final ESPN mock draft had him at No. 32, at the top of the second round. Using a Hawks pick acquired the night before, the Nets took him at No. 22. Of their four other picks, Ben Saraf was taken six spots earlier than the ESPN projection; Egor Demin, five spots and Nolan Traore three. Danny Wolf was taken 12 spots after where the worldwide leader than projected him.
The rationale for mocking him so low was simple: After a spectacular high school career in North Carolina, he was limited by Tar Heels head coach (and his cousin) Hubie Davis who saw him as a defense-first player which as Lewis noted, led to “a glaringly low usage rate” which in turn has led to reps on the ball “a work in progress” in Brooklyn.
Jordi Fernandez has been encouraging both in giving him minutes — he averaged 25.6 in March, by far his most this season — and in talking about his improvement.
“I think he’s done a good job,” Fernández said his effort following the Kings game. “He always tries to do everything we ask him to do. Obviously, there’s struggles, there’s positives. [Sunday], it was a little bit of up and down, the game, but ended up being very positive.
“The shot went in, which is fine. And then at one point he was more physical and aggressive defensively. And I want that physicality to be sustained for whatever minutes he plays. [Sunday], he played 28. So that’s how I want him to play, because he missed some long rebounds, some communication, and then he cleaned it up. So, normal. But overall his willingness to do it, I’m very happy with him.”
On the other end of the court, Powell, a naturally gifted athlete, has shown possibilities. Indeed, Lewis has unearthed an interesting fact about his defense:
The Nets don’t have a single good point-of-attack defender on the roster, somebody who can harass and harangue opposing ballhandlers.
The Nets drafted Powell in hopes he could grow into that role. And it’s no coincidence that when he posted a league-best 91.9 defensive rating in December, the Nets surged to go 7-4 that month.
There is general optimism about the 20-year-old as his teammate Noah Clowney noted
.“[T]But to see him shooting the ball was always good. Ochai [Agbaji], we know what he’s capable of from 3. I think Drake sometimes gets in — not gets in his head about the 3, but he hesitates a bit. So I’m glad when [the Kings] gave him space, he didn’t hesitate to shoot his s–t at all.”
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 1: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on April 1, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fresh legs PG, everyone.
The Sixers took care of business in the second half, blowing out the Washington Wizards 153-131 Wednesday night.
They are now 42-34, an important win with the Hawks, Magic, Heat and Raptors all in action tonight as well.
Paul George with a new personal Sixers high, led all scorers with 39 points, shooting 15-of-22 from the field along with six assists and three steals. Tyrese Maxey had 28 of his own on 12-of-20 shooting with nine assists.
VJ Edgecombe filled in the gaps quite well, finishing with 23 points, going 10-of-15 from the floor along with 10 assists. Anthony Gil led Washington with 21.
Despite his objections on Twitter, Joel Embiid was out with an illness, along with Johni Broome (meniscus tear). The Wizards were without six players, most importantly Alex Sarr (toe) and Kyshawn George (elbow).
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
PG was in control as soon as the game tipped off, immediately knocking down a pair of midrange jumpers. He drove to the basket a couple times, one got him a layup and the other a trip to the line. He dished to Maxey, who drew a foul making a long two, giving the Sixers an early chance to gain separation.
It was a good start team-wide as they opened up the game 9-of-13 from the field, but the Wizards started well too at 7-of-12. George got his hands on the ball a couple of times but sloppy passes were the only thing stopping offensive production early.
Unlike the Bulls game last week, the Sixers didn’t stagger as much. George and Maxey both played most of the quarter and checked out at the same time. The second unit did a pretty good job finding Quentin Grimes. Justin Edwards kicked it out to him in the corner for a three and Andre Drummond threw a nice bounce pass for a cutting dunk, giving the Sixers a six-point lead after a high scoring first.
Second Quarter
The defensive effort didn’t exactly improve as Washington took their first lead early in the quarter. Whether it was a give-and-go, a pick-and-roll, a backdoor cut, or just slashing right down the lane, the Sixers let it happen with hardly any resistance.
Maxey came out gunning when he checked back in, moving quickly for a reverse layup then storming his way down the lane for a dunk, but stops continued to be a rarity. Not only had the Wizards made 1o of their first 12 goal attempts in the second, one of those misses turned into an offensive rebound and second chance points.
With just a few minutes left in the half, the Sixers finally turned some focus to that end and lo and behold, the Wizards finally started missing shots. The Sixers also did a good job running off those Wizard misses — the fast break layups by Maxey and Edgecombe to tie and momentarily go back in front, especially. Anthony Gil was the latest Wizard who shot himself to a hot start as he made two threes in response. PG buried one off the dribble before the buzzer to put the Sixers back up by two at the break.
Third Quarter
George picked up right where he left off, knocking down a couple more threes at the start of the half. In between those, he found Adem Bona for two dunks. He opened the half on such a heater the Sixers were able to expand their lead a bit despite the Wizards making their first four shots of the third.
It was understandably being overshadowed but Maxey was having a strong shooting night himself. Edgecombe’s night was more understated, with almost all of his baskets coming in transition. The Sixers finally turned this game on its head as they got more stops, with three Wizards turnovers in four possessions helping quite a bit.
Tre Johnson finally getting on the board gave Washington just a small shot in the arm. Cam Payne checked in for the first time and immediately got on the board with a floater. Everything was falling for the Sixers — Drummond had sunk both of his corner three attempts. After shooting 76% from the field in the third, the Sixers led by 17.
Fourth Quarter
The Sixers were able to do a lot of their damage by just breaking guys down off the dribble. It didn’t take a ton of precision, so it was a nice to see Edgecombe throw a slick pass off a cut to Oubre for a corner three. He rattled off five quick points of his own then found Oubre for another three to cap off a fine night for himself as well.
Not only did George return for a shot at breaking 40 points, but Maxey checked back into the game as well. Both missed their first three-point attempts upon returning to the game. After a couple Wizards baskets cut the lead to 14, the Sixers called a timeout and put their full starting five back on the floor.
George missed his last shot, a midrange attempt. It was his first miss from inside the arc all night. He got stuck on 39 but four unanswered baskets from the Sixers caused a Wizards timeout and the benches to be emptied.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke faces multiple charges after being arrested in Arkansas on Wednesday, April 1.
The Cross County Sheriff's Department booked Clarke at 1:03 p.m. local time on charges that include fleeing/exceeding the speed limit, trafficking a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance, according to Sheriff's Office records.
He was also charged with improper passing.
Clarke has spent all seven seasons of his career with Memphis, but hasn't been a factor for the team this season. The forward has played just two games, averaging 4 points and 3 rebounds.
He's already been ruled out for the season due to a right calf strain. Clarke's current contract with the Grizzlies goes to 2026-27.
The former first-round pick was named to the All-Rookie team in 2020. He started his college career at San Jose State before transferring to Gonzaga.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 06: Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket around Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on December 06, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 99-94. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will have a chance to end their brief three-game Western Conference road trip with a win as they take on a hobbled Golden State Warriors team that will be on the second leg of a back-to-back.
As we know from their first meeting, just because the Warriors are down several key players — including Steph Curry — that doesn’t mean that this is a guaranteed win. The Cavs found that out the hard way in December when they lost to a Pat Spencer-led team. We’ll see if they learned their lesson from that loss.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Not yet set
Cavs injury report: Jaylon Tyson – OUT (toe), Dean Wade – OUT (ankle), Riley Minix – OUT (G League), Olivier Sarr – OUT (G League), Tristan Enaruna – OUT (G League)
Warriors injury report for Wednesday’s game vs. Spurs: Steph Curry – OUT (knee), Jimmy Butler III – OUT (ACL), Al Horford – OUT (calf), De’Anthony Melton – OUT (thumb), Moses Moody – OUT (knee), Gary Payton II – OUT (knee), Kristaps Porzingis – OUT (illness management), Quinten Post – OUT (foot), Gui Santos – OUT (pelvic contusion)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined the Portland Trail Blazers $100,000 for scouting Chinese center Yang Hansen in 2023, breaking a league rule regarding players ineligible for the draft.
The league also announced Wednesday that Trail Blazers assistant general managers Sergi Oliva and Mike Schmitz are suspended for two weeks without pay for violating the rule.
“When this was brought to our attention the Portland Trail Blazers self reported to the NBA," the team said. "The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accept the league’s determination.”
Portland drafted the 7-foot-1 Hansen with the No. 16 overall pick last year and he has averaged 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 41 games this season.
The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the controlling interest in the Trail Blazers from Paul Allen’s estate to a group led by investor Tom Dundon on Monday.
No one believes the Lakers are going to win the championship.
And no one believes Luka Doncic is the MVP.
The Lakers’ nine-game winning streak? All that proved is the Lakers will likely get past the first round of the playoffs.
Doncic’s unreal March in which he scored the second-most points in NBA history behind Michael Jordan? As he recently pointed out with disgust, he actually fell in the MVP race during that stretch.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 8, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images
But both the Lakers and Doncic have a chance to change people’s minds. It’s coming over the next seven days in the form of two games against the Thunder.
The Lakers are coming off a commanding win over the Cavaliers on Tuesday in which they led by as much as 27 points. They’ve won 16 of their last 18 games, including beating multiple contenders in the Rockets (twice), Nuggets, Knicks and Timberwolves.
But they haven’t convinced anyone they’re the real deal.
Yeah, they’re good. But not good enough to get past the Thunder and Spurs.
It’s a fair assumption considering the last time they played the Thunder and their swarming defense in January, they looked like they had barely survived a war.
Seriously, Austin Reaves was slumped in his chair, too exhausted to sit upright. And LeBron James’ voice was hoarse. (Doncic missed that game, to be fair, but it was still brutal.)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Paycom Center on April 8, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Getty Images
But the thing is the Lakers are a completely different team now.
Doncic, Reaves and James went from being a liability on the court into one of the best trios in the league. The role players are starring in their duties. Things turned around for the Lakers beginning in late February.
What changed?
“I think it was a confluence of things starting with health,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, pointing to the fact that the Big 3 had only played 11 games together before the All-Star break. “I think it’s much easier when you have a consistent stretch of health to — not even buy in — but settle into roles and minutes and rotations. We never found that throughout the season. Another big part of that was…guys really just embracing things.”
After James missed a three-game stretch at the top of March against the Pacers, Knicks and Timberwolves in which the Lakers were thriving behind Doncic and Reaves, he agreed to be the team’s third option. Reaves has learned to be aggressive while sharing the court with James and Doncic. And Doncic has been playing out of his mind.
But still, no one really believes in the Lakers.
Not yet.
Same with Doncic.
Both Doncic and his fans have been outraged that the bar for the MVP Award seems to change whenever his name is involved. So what he’s an offensive savant who’s leading the league in scoring (33.8 points) is third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.7)? He’s mediocre on the defensive end.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a slam dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Sure, that didn’t seem to matter when guys like James Harden or Steph Curry won the award. But in this MVP race, with two-way stars Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, the goalpost has shifted.
That’s being held against Doncic, who scored 40-plus points for the third straight game on Tuesday and has had a month in which he had 60-point and 51-point performances while helping his team climb to third in the Western Conference standings.
Wembanyama recently stated his case for why he should win the award. Gilgeous-Alexander declined to do so, saying, “I let my game do the talking,”
When Doncic was asked Tuesday if he wanted to advocate for himself, he seemed resigned to the fact that it would be an act of futility. He literally scoffed when the reporter mentioned he was “getting a lot of MVP momentum.”
“I mean, I never did that,” Doncic said. “I’m not the one voting, so, you know, but I think I’ve been playing pretty good. We’ve been winning. So that’s it. That’s all I gotta say.”
Well, Doncic, here’s your chance to change voters’ minds.
He’s going head to head with the favorite for the award twice over the next week. If he outplays him, that would speak louder than any argument he could’ve made.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoot as Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II defends during the second half at Paycom Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Lakers have arrived. Doncic has arrived.
And even though they’re in one of the top-two most visible markets in the league and are constantly on national TV screens, no one seems to see them.
But that could change.
And it all comes down to how they perform against the Thunder.
Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke is in legal trouble after he was arrested on drug charges in Arkansas on Wednesday.
Clarke, 29, was booked by the Cross County Sheriff’s Office and is facing charges of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit and improper passing, according to online records.
It is unclear what led him to be detained.
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke shoots a free throw during the Grizzlies’ 122-110 loss to the Nuggets in an NBA Cup against the Nuggets on Nov. 19, 2024. AP
Clarke’s booking profile lists him as being held on a “CID hold.”
A CID hold can carry different meanings depending on the law enforcement agency and the Cross County Sheriff’s Office does have a Criminal Investigation Division that uses the acronym “C.I.D.”
The Grizzlies are scheduled to face the Knicks on Wednesday evening.
Brandon Clarke’s mugshot. Cross County Sheriff’s Office
“I’m aware of the report but don’t have any comments,” Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Lisalo told reporters ahead of the game, according to the Commercial Appeal.
The forward is tied with Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant as the longest-tenured member of the team’s current roster, having spent seven seasons in Memphis.
Clarke’s season has been marred by injuries, first with a knee injury that dated back to the 2024-25 season and then dealing with a calf strain in December that ended his season early after appearing in just two games.
The Grizzlies selected Clarke with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and he’s appeared in 309 games, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.
Clarke played his college ball at San Jose State and Gonzaga.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts after he thought he was fouled in the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2025 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks (48*-28) visit the Memphis Grizzlies (25-50) tonight at FedExForum. New York hopes to end a three-game road slide and protect their third seed in the East. Meanwhile, the Grizz struggle to field a team with all the injuries they have suffered this season. As lopsided battles go, this one couldn’t be more so.
Tip off is 8 p.m. EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Beale Street Bears. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be a shining example of humanity, what dontcha? And go Knicks!
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke was arrested Wednesday in Arkansas on charges including speeding and possession of a controlled substance.
Injuries have limited Clarke to only two games this season, and Memphis has ruled him out for the rest of this season.
"I’m aware of the report, but don’t have any comments,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said before Memphis' game Wednesday night against New York.
The Cross County Sheriff's Department logged Clarke as booked into jail Wednesday afternoon for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. The department's website also included a booking photo for Clarke.
The 6-foot-7 forward is in his seventh season out of Gonzaga. Clarke has missed 73 games after originally sitting out 26 games due to recovery from surgery on his right knee with the last 46 with a right calf strain.
The Grizzlies announced March 24 that Clarke was continuing his rehabilitation but recent tests showed he needed more healing before being cleared for “high-intensity court work.” The team said Clarke is out for the remainder of this season and expected back for next season.
Mar 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) and center Mark Williams (15) watch as their team plays the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns have been without Mark Williams since March 3rd due to a stress reaction in his left foot. They have gone 6-8 since his extended absence began. He had set a career-high in games played this season with 56 total.
Williams was upgraded on the injury report to “questionable” ahead of their contest against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday evening.
Suns injury report at Hornets:
QUESTIONABLE: Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress reaction).
Williams is averaging 11.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.9 SPG on 63.3% shooting from the floor in his first season in Phoenix.
Dillon Brooks just returned to the lineup against Orlando on Tuesday, so the reinforcements are coming as the season winds down to a close. Just in time for the final playoff/play-in push — this will be a great way for them to get reps ahead of the games that actually matter most.
This pushes Khaman Maluach back to the third-string center spot and Oso Ighodaro to backup center. He and Oso more than did their part in Mark’s absence. If they get this trio of centers healthy entering the postseason, they are in good hands down low with plenty of weapons and size at their disposal.
As Voita stated, now with the postseason approaching and a Play-In game looming at home, the timing matters. The enforcer is back (Brooks). The starting center is back. Are we back? We shall see.
One of the most famous and accomplished coaches in men’s college basketball will not be leaving the sideline — at least not quite yet.
After weeks of speculation about a potential retirement, Kansas coach Bill Self announced on Wednesday, April 1 that he will be remaining with the Jayhawks.
“With renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration, I remain focused and committed to Kansas basketball competing for a national championship,” Self said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing and hearing the best fans in college basketball next season at Allen Fieldhouse.”
Self recently completed his 23rd season at the school, where he has gone 648-167, made four Final Fours and won two national championships. He's the winningest coach in Kansas history, with more wins at the university than Phog Allen and Roy Williams, among others.
This past season, a Jayhawks team led by potential No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Darryn Peterson went 24-11 and earned a No. 4 seed to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where they lost on a buzzer-beater against St. John’s in the second round.
It marked the fourth-consecutive season that Kansas failed to make it to at least the Sweet 16, the longest such skid in Self's time in Lawrence.
At 63 years old, Self is relatively young for someone with his lengthy resume, but he has dealt with several health-related issues in recent years that have raised questions about his future in an increasingly demanding and draining profession. Last July, Self had two stents inserted after experiencing what the school described as "some concerning symptoms." In January, he was hospitalized and did not travel with the team for its 75-69 win at Colorado, a move the university said was “out of an abundance of caution” after the coach was "feeling under the weather."
After the loss to St. John's on March 22, Self said he hadn't yet made a decision on his future.
"I'll get back and visit with family," he said. "I've had obviously some issues off the court health-wise. And that will be discussed. But I love what I do. I want to feel good while I'm doing it, though. We'll get back and we'll discuss that when we get back.”
Prior to arriving at Kansas in 2003, Self was previously the head coach at Illinois, Tulsa and Oral Roberts. He has a career record of 855-272, ranking him fourth among active coaches in career wins.
Though he's losing Peterson, Self has the No. 5 2026 recruiting class nationally for next season, according to 247Sports. That haul includes five-star point guard Taylen Kinney and two other players — center Davion Adkins and small forward Trent Perry — ranked in the top 100 in their class. An even bigger prize may soon be on the way, as Kansas is widely viewed as the favorite to land small forward Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the class.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: Rui Hachimura #28 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 24, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Luka Dončić is playing his best basketball as a Laker.
His play has placed the Lakers as the No. 3 seed in the West, and with him scoring 600 points in the month of March, second in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan, there’s an argument to be made that he’s never been this good, period.
Dončić raising his level of play has brought him into the MVP conversation. This has also prompted people to critique his game and compare him to other NBA stars, such as Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder.
As the debate rages on regarding Luka’s impact and his potential defensive shortcomings compared to SGA and Wemby, Rui Hachimura went to bat for his superstar after he put up another 40-plus point performance in a victory over the Cavs.
“I mean, you can see he’s the MVP, Hachimura said postgame. ”I don’t really know everything about it, but I can only see he’s the MVP in this league. What he does, what he brings to the game, every game literally. He’s so talented offensively and people talk about his defense, but he’s been getting good stops, steals and boxing out. The little stuff he’s been doing on the court, everything. It’s been amazing.”
On offense, Luka’s dominance is without question. He’s the NBA’s leading scorer and has had clutch moments like his game-winner over the Nuggets, which won them the tiebreaker over Denver, and his 60-point game against the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back.
On defense, his quality is tougher to see, but just as evident. Luka is averaging 7.1 defensive rebounds per game, the highest on the Lakers.
He has 194 deflections, which is the second-highest on the team, and averages 1.7 steals per game. Dončić has the 11th most steals in the league.
And when teams try to pick on Luka as a defender, they haven’t been able to capitalize. According to the NBA, in isolation defense scenarios, Dončić is allowing 0.95 points per possession on 104 isolation plays. This places him in the 45.9th percentile.
As a Laker, Hachimura himself has witnessed firsthand what greatness looks like. He played with Anthony Davis when the Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals, has been in countless games with LeBron James, and now with Luka.
If Hachimura is this emphatic that Luka is the MVP, then he has a leg to stand on in this conversation.
Hopefully, the NBA media that votes for the award also sees what Rui does, and Luka gets the recognition his play warrants.
