GAINESVILLE, Florida – The question of whether Florida basketball should have let Denzel Aberdeen leave in the offseason seems to have been answered.
Aberdeen likely would have been a starter for the Gators, who were fresh off a national title. However, failed ‘negotiations’ led to Aberdeen transferring to Kentucky and joining the Wildcats’ reported $22 million roster.
Regardless of the rationale on either side as to whether Aberdeen should have been rewarded a lucrative deal or if the Gators were smart to move on and invest elsewhere, it’s safe to say the latter was the better deal for Florida (19-6, 10-2 SEC).
In Aberdeen’s return to the O’Dome, Xaivian Lee outdueled him and scored a game-high 22 points that fueled Florida’s 92-83 win against Kentucky on Saturday, Feb. 14.
“I mean, he's playing great, right?” said Florida coach Todd Golden of Lee. “I mean, he was fantastic at Georgia, he was great at Vanderbilt. He’s stacked some really good games over the last couple of weeks, and I thought he was fantastic today.”
Aberdeen, who has had a respectable year at Kentucky, went 8-of-21 from the floor, but led Kentucky with 19 points and four assists.
“I think it was a good matchup,” said Florida’s Alex Condon, who scored 14 points. “I knew ‘Zel was going to be aggressive tonight and try to fuel off the crowd a little bit. Credit to him. He played a solid game, was aggressive. I think our guys did a great job making him take tough 2s, running him off the 3-point line. Yeah, as a whole, I was really proud of the team.”
The Gators’ defense also held UK’s leading scorer and the SEC’s Preseason Player of the Year, Otega Oweh, to 13 points as he went 4-of-14 from the floor.
“I thought we did a great job on (Aberdeen),” Golden said. “I thought he’d get some tough shows.
“But if we could cut their water off then we would give ourselves a good chance to win. They’re both really good players, and you’re not going to make them miss every time. But you know to go combined 12-of-35, that’s winning basketball for sure.”
Not to mention, Urban Klavzar, who opted to stay with UF after barely seeing the floor last season, delivered 19 points off the bench. Klavzar and Lee combined for nine 3-pointers, as UF has become slightly more effective beyond the arc in its recent five-game win streak.
“I think the message before was also how good, you know, what our ceiling can be as shots start to fall,” Lee said. “I think we're seeing that a little bit now, for sure. But, honestly, I don't think that's really what we're focusing on, to be honest. I think it's more just controllables, and then when that happens, it makes us that much harder to beat.”
Yes, Aberdeen and Kentucky will get another shot at Florida in the regular-season finale in Rupp Arena, but for now, the answer to move on seems straightforward as the Gators have gotten better.
“I think when we hit 10 3s, I think it was in back-to-back games, I don't think anyone in the country can play with us,” Condon said. “We’re a dangerous team. Inside, especially rebounding is a big emphasis. That's our DNA. Every game we try to win the rebound count by at least 12, and it sucks the guys inside, and then you throw it out, and these guys hit 3s. It's really unbeatable basketball I think.”
AMES, Iowa – In the attention economy, “What have you done lately?” has been largely replaced by, “What have you done right this second?” There’s no patience nor hardly any memory, but there certainly is an urgency bordering on frantic.
That makes for a tough environment to appreciate what Iowa State basketball has done. The Cyclones (22-3, 9-3 Big 12) are ranked fourth nationally, so it’s not as though they’re being overlooked or undervalued, but they’ve mostly only been in the national college basketball consciousness for their failures since the calendar flipped to 2026.
Getting stomped at Kansas and then no-showing at Cincinnati that same week. Taking an upset just days ago at TCU.
That 3-0 run through the Players Era Festival or that dismantling of Purdue on the road got their due at the time, but, heck, that was all the way back in 2025. That might as well be 1985 for the way we chew up and spit out takes on TikTok these days.
Mowing down five-straight Big 12 teams after those back-to-back losses was nice, sure, but, like, whatever? You can only get so excited about blowouts against the unimpressive middle and bottom of the Big 12.
Not only has it been two months since Iowa State beat the Boilermakers (and Iowa days after that), but it’s been two months since we’ve even seen the Cyclones play well against a high-level team.
You can reset that clock to zero on that front, and put the Cyclones right at the front of the national college basketball conversation.
That happens after outplaying and overwhelming the country’s hottest team, No. 9 Kansas, 74-56, to snap the Jayhawks’ eight-game winning streak, get a measure of revenge for last month’s 21-point loss and reassert themselves as a Final Four contender.
“I’d definitely say we made a statement,” Iowa State freshman Jamarion Batemon said. “This is a huge opportunity to bounce back and show that we’re one of the best teams, if not the best team, in the country.
“It was a great opportunity, and I feel like we definitely made that impact.”
How far the reverberations from that impact travel will no doubt be influenced by what the Cyclones do 48 hours later when No. 3 Houston comes to Hilton Coliseum for Big Monday. But for this weekend, at least, the Cyclones offered up a compelling case for just how damn good they are.
Five days after Kansas became the first team to beat Arizona, the Jayhawks got bullied, beaten and, at times, embarrassed by the Cyclones.
Iowa State’s ball pressure would have had Isaac Hayes singing falsetto.
The Jayhawks were consistently on their heels, playing backward and even had a pair of backcourt violations as the Cyclones allowed them no quarter. Much of Iowa State’s issues in its trio of losses came from an inability to disrupt opponents, but their dialed-up intensity against the Jayhawks kept their visitors uncomfortable and unsuccessful all afternoon.
“Our whole mindset was just to not let them be comfortable,” Tamin Lipsey said after a three-steal day. “We wanted to push them up the floor as much as we could.”
Just as important as the harassment Iowa State doled out defensively was a whole-of-rotation effort that saw all eight Cyclones who played make real contributions to winning.
Batemon, who by any measure is the last man in the rotation, set a tone with a level of aggression we haven’t seen from the freshman. His two 3-pointers and forceful drive and layup in the first half helped lift an offense that was struggling. Reserve center Dom Pleta’s offensive rebounding did much the same. Nate Heise had five boards and a steal in 26 minutes that also saw him provide a defensive presence on the perimeter.
And those are just the reserves.
It’s almost an afterthought that Joshua Jefferson had 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal, or that Lipsey had 11 points, three boards and four assists. Blake Buchanan? A cool 11 and six while going 5 of 6 from the floor.
There was, though, no missing Milan Momcilovic.
The country’s best 3-point shooter had 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-9 from deep. His fading-to-his-left, falling-to-the-floor, over-the-arm-of-6-10-Flory-Bidunga triple might be the best of his career and one of the more incredible makes Hilton Coliseum has seen in its half-century.
“That was probably the craziest shot I’ve seen in person,” Lipsey said.
It, simply, was a great game from a team whose greatness seemed to have been forgotten.
“I’m proud of our guys for how they worked this week,” said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, “and for the effort that they sustained for 40 minutes.
“That’s not easy to do, and I felt like that was as complete of a 40 minutes as we’ve had this season.”
If there was concern about the victory poisoning the Cyclones ahead of Monday’s huge matchup with Houston, well, they didn’t sound too impressed with themselves Saturday evening.
“I feel like we could have beat (Kansas) by more,” Momcilovic said after the Cyclones toppled KU by the largest margin of victory ever at Hilton Coliseum in the series. “Our offense got a little stagnant in that little five-minute stretch in the second half.
“I think it shows we’re still really good, and we can beat anyone night in, night out.”
If nothing else, the Cyclones have everyone’s attention.
INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Keshad Johnson #16 of the Miami Heat raises the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest trophy after the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Arizona men’s basketball alum and current Miami Heat Keshad Johnson outlasted fellow former Wildcat and current San Antonio Spur Carter Bryant to win the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Johnson marks the first NBA Wildcat to win the contest after four players before him did not win. On their first dunk attempt, Johnson received a 47.4 and Bryant received a 45.6.
Bryant earned a spot in the championship first after scoring a 49.2, and Johnson followed with a 45.4 on his dunk.
In the championship round, Johnson was the first to go and received a 49.6. He was upstaged by Bryant who received a perfect 50 score on his first dunk.
CARTER BRYANT WITH A 50 🔥
He needs a 47.5 on his final attempt to win @ATT Slam Dunk!
After another impressive and athletic dunk, Johnson got a 47.8 on his second dunk which put all the pressure on Bryant to win. Unable to complete his complicated final dunk, Bryant had to settle for a regular dunk and did not earn enough points to beat Johnson.
Finishing with a final score of 97.4 in the championship round, Johnson won the competition over Bryant, as well as Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson and Los Angeles Lakers forward Jaxson Hayes.
"Everybody's journey is different… to all the kids out there, keep dreaming!"@kj_showtime0 with a message to the next generation of hoopers after being crowned the 2026 @ATT Slam Dunk Champ 🏆💥 pic.twitter.com/UrNe1OVST8
Even though it was a second place finish for Bryant in the dunk contest, he did not leave the NBA all-star weekend empty handed.
Bryant was a part of the Rising Stars championship team. Playing for Team Vince, who was coached by NBA hall of famer Vince Carter, he scored nine points between the two games he played.
Johnson and Bryant added to the list of former Wildcats to participate in the dunk contest, putting the overall total at six players and an overall total of appearances at eight.
Aaron Gordon was the last Wildcat to participate in 2020. He has also previously participated in the 2016 and 2017 competitions.
The first former Arizona player to participate was Richard Jefferson in 2003. In between Gordon and Jefferson were Andre Iguodala in 2006 and Chase Budinger in 2012.
Gordon, Iguodala, and Budinger all had second place finishes, with Gordon being the only former Arizona player to have two second place finishes.
Given the performance both Johnson and Bryant put on this year, perhaps both will be called back for next year’s competition.
The NBA is on the brink of something seismic. So when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stepped to the podium Saturday for his annual state of the league address, he wasn’t just talking about the midseason showcase. He was outlining a continental land grab.
The NBA’s proposed “NBA Europe” league, tentatively targeting an October 2027 launch, is no longer a whisper campaign. It’s now a blueprint.
Anadolu Efes’ Shane Larkin in action against Real Madrid’s Guerschon Yabusele in Belgrade, Serbia in May 21, 2022. AP
Silver made it clear the league office has moved into what he called a “new phase,” working alongside financial heavyweights JPMorgan Chase and the Raine Group, with dozens of prospective ownership groups already signed to nondisclosure agreements and reviewing projections. The message was unmistakable: This is real money, real infrastructure, real ambition.
The structure being discussed reads like a hybrid between American franchise stability and European meritocracy. A 12- to 16-team model is under serious consideration, with 10 to 12 permanent “A-license” spots reserved for elite clubs, and four to six places earned through qualification from existing European competitions.
“We want to be respectful of the existing teams,” Silver said. “We want to be respectful of a passionate fan base and move as quickly as possible.”
That respect, however, does not mean retreat.
The NBA is targeting some of the most powerful brands in global sport: Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü and Anadolu Efes. These are institutions with soccer empires and basketball pedigrees, clubs that command hundreds of millions of global followers. Silver understands the leverage that comes with attaching NBA intellectual property to those crests.
“If someone is a Real Madrid football fan,” Silver said, “and they also have a great basketball organization, a relaunch league may bring a lot of those historic fans with them.”
The financial threshold will not be for the faint of heart. Expansion fees are projected to range from $500 million to $1 billion. Silver did not sugarcoat the timeline for profitability. “People who are looking for a short return should probably look elsewhere,” he said. This is generational thinking — a decades-long build designed to reshape the basketball map.
Fenerbahçe players celebrate winning the Euroleague final between Monaco and Turkey in Abu Dhabi, May 2025. AP
The league is also exploring modern arena infrastructure across Europe, acknowledging that world-class competition requires world-class buildings. It’s part sport, part urban development strategy.
“One of the things we’re focused on is building a new arena infrastructure in Europe,” said Silver regarding the need to invest in new structures in which teams can play. “It’s badly needed.”
And then there’s ownership.
Silver confirmed the NBA is in discussions with the Players Association about allowing current NBA players to invest in NBA Europe franchises. Lakers superstar Luka Dončić is already in talks with former Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson to purchase Italian basketball team Vanoli Basket Cremona, with plans to relocate it to Rome.
Roughly 15% of the NBA is European-born. Some of its brightest stars — from Serbia, Greece, France and Slovenia — already define the league’s MVP conversation. The idea of global superstars becoming transcontinental stakeholders is not a side plot. It’s the future.
Of course, the elephant in the room is the EuroLeague, the continent’s current top-tier competition. Silver struck a diplomatic tone, citing “constructive discussions” with new EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno. Still, make no mistake: Coexistence will require compromise. The NBA’s semi-closed model, salary cap principles and revenue-sharing philosophy are foreign concepts in much of European sport. Translating that system overseas will test lawyers and economists as much as coaches.
Silver admitted as much. “Nothing is easy here,” he said. “There are reasons why this hasn’t been done before. But I think we’re up to it.”
Behind the scenes, the league is already contemplating cross-continental competitions — perhaps a basketball version of a Club World Cup — pitting NBA teams against their European counterparts.
As Silver fielded questions about NBA expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle, he joked about the bags under his eyes. But when he spoke about Europe, the fatigue vanished. This is the heavy lift. This is the swing-for-the-fences opportunity to take the game to even higher heights than ever before.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at the Emirates NBA Cup trophy presentation in Las Vegas, Dec. 2025. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
If October 2027 becomes reality, it won’t simply mark the birth of a new league. It will signal the NBA’s transformation from a North American powerhouse with global reach into a truly bicontinental empire.
The commissioner knows the clock is ticking. Europe’s basketball culture is rich, proud and fiercely independent. Silver isn’t asking it to freeze in time. He’s asking it to evolve.
And in typical NBA fashion, he’s betting big that the world will follow.
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All season, it seemed as if the narrative around the Texas Tech basketball team has been they're just sort of there.
In a long season such as this, when the college basketball is as good as ever, there are more great teams than ever and so much attention is given to the star-studded freshman class, players like JT Toppin and teams like the Red Raiders can go under the radar.
That shouldn't be the case after the team's latest triumph over one of the presumed No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. Beating Arizona 78-75 in overtime on the Wildcats' home floor may be a shock to some, but it's merely more of what can be expected of Grant McCasland's team.
You just have to be paying attention long enough to understand that.
Granted, the Red Raiders have taken their lumps this season. There's no erasing that 30-point drubbing at the hands of Purdue in November. Losing to UCF in Orlando also wasn't great — Kansas did it too, but they didn't have Darryn Peterson, so it can be forgiven, to some extent.
Winning against Duke in Madison Square Garden got some deserved attention, though that didn't last long. Having that win come just before Christmas made some forget about Tech being the only team (until last week) to hand the Blue Devils an L.
Even when Texas Tech's gotten the better of Houston (nobody beats Houston in Big 12 play) and BYU, the focus coming out of those games was that the Red Raiders are really tough at home and most of the attention went to Kingston Flemings doing well and AJ Dybantsa not doing so well.
Some of that will follow Texas Tech again after this victory. Arizona's own star freshman Koa Peat left the game with an injury and did not return. That certainly changed how the Wildcats were able to operate. That, too, will be a big talking point that will detract from what was achieved by the Red Raiders.
Shame, since the Red Raiders didn't get that same benefit of the doubt when Christian Anderson missed the Kansas game. Sure, that was mentioned (briefly) before it became the, 'Did you see what Darryn Peterson did?' news cycle.
All of these freshmen are terrific. No doubt about it. Surefire lottery picks in the 2026 NBA draft. The issue at hand, though, is college is not the pros, and what those freshmen are doing isn't anywhere near what Toppin has done this season, and he showed once again why any conversation around the Big 12 player of the year and first team All-America honors can't continue without Toppin being at or near the top.
Toppin went for 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds, seven coming on the offensive glass against a much lengthier and physical Arizona frontline, with or without Peat. These are run-of-the-mill numbers for Toppin at this point, so commonplace they can be taken for granted.
It wasn't just another manimal-like performance from Toppin, it was historic. He's just the second player in the past 30 years to total 30 points and 10 rebounds in a road win against the No. 1 team in the country. It was just fourth similar stat line against nationally ranked teams this season, which is the most for any player of the past 20 years.
The two biggest plays of the night by Toppin didn't involve him looking for a bucket. The first came with 2:05 left in overtime, when Toppin kicked it out to Donovan Atwell for what was a crucial 3-pointer.
And in the final seconds of the game, he collected an offensive rebound and got it to LeJuan Watts, who hit the free throw to make it a three-point game with four seconds left.
This Texas Tech team isn't perfect, not by any stretch. But knocking off the Arizonas and Dukes and Houstons of the world is what this team is capable of on any given night. They probably won't win every game the rest of the way (road trips to Iowa State and BYU await), but don't forget the Red Raiders when filling out your March Madness bracket.
And in the meantime, remember the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year is also the player most deserving of the award again this season.
Steph Curry believes the NBA is in a great spot competition-wise, despite ongoing league-wide frustration over teams tanking.
The Warriors superstar was asked Saturday at NBA All-Star Media Day what he believes the league should do to combat tanking and offered a positive retort to the question.
Steph Curry was asked what he thinks the NBA should do to reduce tanking:
“Is it really that big of a problem? I’m asking. We feel like there’s obviously a lot of competition. It’s something I’m sure every year the NBA wants to address, why the Play-in Tournament exists. Things… pic.twitter.com/tMVMb1VaNK
“Is it really that big of a problem? I’m asking,” Curry said. “We feel like there’s obviously a lot of competition. It’s something I’m sure every year the NBA wants to address: why the Play-in Tournament exists. Things evolve, problems arise, and everybody wants to shine a spotlight on all the negatives of the league. But let’s focus on the positives of how great the competition is at the top. There still is relevancy regular season-wise of the seeding and playoff chase.
“I know there’s a conversation around how many games we’re playing. That’s probably where I would focus more the attention. Let’s not forget the league is in great place overall in terms of the attention, the skill level, the global reach, all of that stuff. Every year you’ll address the issues. I don’t have those answers though.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, whose league office just fined two teams, the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers, $500,000 and $100,000, respectively, for “overt” tanking behaivor, also spoke to reporters on Saturday and discussed the ongoing tanking efforts and what he believes is part of the problem.
“We got to look at some fresh thinking here,” Silver said. “We’re doing, what we’re seeing right now, is not working. There’s no question about it.”
“I think part of the problem is that if you step back, the fundamental theory behind the draft is to help your worst-performing teams restock and be able to compete. The issue is if teams are manipulating their performance in order to get higher draft picks, even in a lottery, then the question becomes, even if teams were rewarded for draft picks purely according to predicted odds of the lottery, are they really the worst performing teams?”
Neither players, like Curry, nor leaders in the league office, like Silver, seem to have a clear solution to how the NBA can combat tanking, and it does not appear a resoultion is imminent.
For now, the majority of teams, like Curry and the Warriors, will do everything in their power to win as many games as they can down the stretch in order to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Rick Brunson, Jalen Brunson #11, Allan Houston, and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Team Knicks pose for a photo after winning the Kia Shooting Stars as a part of State Farm All-Star Saturday on Saturday, February 14, 2026 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 Kyusung Gong/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks captured the revived Shooting Stars title Saturday night at NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, defeating three wannabe squads to claim the event’s first championship since its return to the ASW after an 11-year absence.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and former Knicks All-Star Allan Houston, with the assistance of smooth passer Rick Brunson, combined for 47 points in the final round at Intuit Dome, beating Team Cameron’s 38.
Team Knicks advanced to the final after posting 31 points in the opening round, the highest of the four teams. They then outscored Team Cameron (Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Corey Maggette) in the championship round, albeit not with a little bit of drama, with Brunson (how surprising!) and the legendary Houston converting late long-range four-pointers to secure the win.
The other teams included Team All-Star, led by Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren and Richard RIP Hamilton, and Team Harper, featuring Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr. and Ron Harper.
Saturday’s program also included the 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest, as has been the case for years on end.
To the surprise of everybody, Damian Lillard won the 3-Point Contest for a third time while still rehabbing from am Achilles injury, joining Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time champions. Lillard scored 29 points in the final round to edge Devin Booker.
Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the Slam Dunk Contest, defeating Carter Bryant in the final round. Adam Silver, please, kill this thing or entirely rebuild it.
🌟 USA vs. WORLD in the City of Angels 🌟
Watch the NBA's brightest stars take center stage at Intuit Dome for the 75th NBA All-Star Game, Sunday at 5:00pm/et on NBC & Peacock! pic.twitter.com/tHArXNLHt9
Coming up next, the All-Star Game on Sunday, which will feature a new format with players divided into three teams: two American squads (youngins and oldies) and one World team.
About your Knicks: Brunson is a member of the younger cohort of Americans while Towns will represent the World side due to his Dominican Republic raíces.
All-Star Game Details
Date: Sunday, February 15, 2026
Time:Starting at 5:00 PM ET. Championship game at around 7:10 PM ET
Curry, who is far closer to the end of his storied career than its beginning, paid homage to the face of the league’s next generation during NBA All-Star media day Saturday, rocking Edwards’ shoes for the festivities — and the 24-year-old was honored.
“Hey, Curry the GOAT,” Edwards said when he saw the 12-time All-Star in his sneakers. “That’s really my dog.”
Then, Edwards, who is known for his elite-level trash talk and alpha attitude, made a pretty funny comparison between himself and the more laid-back Curry.
“Like, he don’t know it but he’s really me,” Edwards continued. “His alter ego is me.”
Curry, like Edwards, certainly is known to bring out his petty side when the moment is right, hitting the “night night” in opponents’ faces, shimmying down the court after big shots and dropping slyly sarcastic responses in his postgame press conferences.
But the “Petty King” is a title that belongs all to Curry himself, no matter how badly Edwards — jokingly or not — wants to take the credit.
As for the GOAT label, Dub Nation certainly would agree Edwards has that one right.
And while he might not be participating in the 75th edition — hosted at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles — on Sunday due to a right knee injury, Warriors superstar Steph Curry shared his thoughts on how the event can improve in future years.
“Unfortunately, I can’t help this year because I’m not playing,” Curry told reporters during NBA All-Star media day Saturday. “But I think the only thing I would think about is shortening the game. That might be the only real suggestion I would have, just because it’s hard to replicate the intensity of a regular-season game. Nobody’s asking anybody to act like it’s a playoff game with those types of stakes. But a shorter game, maybe.”
“I know they’re doing a great job of trying to shorten the day for us as All-Stars because we’re sort of used to a certain game day prep that gets your body ready to go. The timeouts aren’t as long, and the breaks in between games aren’t as long. The league is doing a great job in trying to address that. That’s the only suggestion I would have. The 40-minute game, maybe? If you’re going back to the 2 teams format. But in this situation, short and sweet is better. I think that would help the competition.”
Most fans and players would agree with Curry’s sentiment that a competitive, “short and sweet” star-studded contest would be ideal.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game, however, will consist of a mini round-robin tournament with four 12-minute games featuring two teams of American players and one team of international players — and all three squads probably won’t be breaking much of a sweat.
But when Curry speaks, people listen.
Time will tell if NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league incorporate the 12-time All-Star’s ideas when potentially adjusting the game’s format for increased competition.
The 29‑year‑old anchored Sunday’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay in the men’s competition for his fourth gold at the 2026 Games.
He had shared the record with three retired Norwegian athletes, Marit Bjoergen and Bjoern Daehlie in cross-country skiing and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen in the biathlon.
Tonight marks the 75th NBA All-Star Game. Victor Wembanyama, rapidly taking his position as the “face of the modern day NBA,” is the first French player to be a starter in the NBA All-Star Game.
Going back to the 1976 NBA/ABA merger, the Spurs have a long history of players participating in the All-Star Game.
George Gervin
Going back to the ABA, The Iceman participated in eleven straight All-Star Games. From the 1974-75 season until the 1984-85 season. Gervin was the Spurs superstar. In 1977, the first All-Star after the merger, Gervin was the lone representative of the Silver & Black. But in 1978 and again in 21979, he was joined by Larry Kenon.
In 1983, Gervin was accompanied by Artis Gilmore. Gilmore played for the Spurs from 1982-1987. He made the All-Star Game again in 1986, this time paired with Alvin Robertson.
Alvin Robertson
CHARLOTTE, NC – FEBRUARY 10: Alvin Robertson #20 of the Eastern Conference All Stars shoots a foul shot during the NBA All Star Game on February 10, 1991 at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1991 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For three straight seasons, Alvin Robertson appeared in the All-Star competition. His first, with Gilmore in 1986, and then the following two years as the lone Spurs member. His last was 1988, and the Spurs went without an All-Star for the first time in 1989.
David Robinson
For nearly a decade, The Admiral made an annual trek to the All-Star Game. He missed in 1997 after only playing in six games due to injury, and of course there was no All-Star Game in 1999 due to the shortened lockout season. He was joined in 1993 by Sean Elliot and again in 1996 when the festivities were held in San Antonio.
The season Robinson spent injured opened the door for the Spurs to draft Tim Duncan, who would carry the Spurs into the next generation of All-Star competition.
Tim Duncan
Duncan made his first All-Star appearance in 1998 with David Robinson. The two participated again in 2000 and 2001. The Big Fundamental made a franchise 15 All-Stars over his nineteen years in the NBA. Over the years he was joined by Manu Ginobili in 2005 and 2011 and Tony Parker on four different occasions.
Parker also made two trips to the All-Star Game in 2012 and 2014 as the lone attendee.
Interesting fact: The Spurs Big 3 made twenty-three combined All-Star Games but never one featured all three of them together.
Passing the baton
TORONTO, CANADA – FEBRUARY 14 : LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Western Conference All-Stars team pose for a portrait before the NBA All-Star Game on February 14, 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In 2016, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard represented the Spurs in the All-Star Game. Leonard returned the following season. Aldridge flew solo at the All-Star Games in 2018 and 2019.
After two decades of All-Star representation, the Spurs did not have a player invited in 2020 or 2021.
In 2022, Dejounte Murray was selected to replace Draymond Green.
The Spurs went dry in 2023, and 2024.
Last year Victor Wembanyama made his All-Star debut. Tonight, he is starting for Team World.
De’Aaron Fox was added to this year’s competition as a replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Fox will play for USA Stripes.
Gregg Popovich
In addition to player representation, Spurs legendary head coach Gregg Popovich was at the helm on four occasions. In 2005, 2011, 2013 and a final time in 2016 through the “Riley Rule.”*
*The head coach of the team with the best record is chosen to lead their respective conference with a prohibition against consecutive appearances
This year, Mitch Johnson will serve as head coach, also a result of the “Riley Rule.” He will coach USA Stripes which features his All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox..
Round Robin competition begins at 4PM CST tomorrow and continues over a three-hour period featuring four games.
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SACRAMENTO, CA - 1991: Tom Chambers #24 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles against the Sacramento Kings circa 1991 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, 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 1991 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The journey keeps rolling, and if I am being honest, this pyramid has taken over more mental space than I ever expected. I keep circling back to names, revisiting tiers, and replaying arguments in my head. Every conversation I have with Suns fans adds another wrinkle that makes me second-guess a decision I felt good about an hour earlier. There is a real fear of getting it wrong, of missing something obvious, of overlooking a moment that mattered to someone else.
At the same time, I know what this is. It is fluid. It is subjective. It has to be viewed through my lens, guided by my standards, my memory, and my sense of what impact actually means. That is the only honest way to do it.
My memory. God help us.
I think one of the biggest challenges with this whole exercise is the scope of it. I am staring down 58 years of Phoenix Suns basketball, and I have only lived through about 38 of them with my own eyes. That leaves a full two decades of history that I did not experience in real time, years I have to reconstruct through box scores, old clips, yellowed stories, and whatever context I can mine after the fact.
There is a difference between knowing something happened and feeling it happen. There are players whose impact lives in numbers and paragraphs for me, not memories. I can build a case. I can understand the logic. But I did not live the nights. I did not feel the temperature of the building or the way a guy changed the mood of a season.
And that is also what makes this fun.
This community is layered. There are fans here who have been around since 1968. They saw it all unfold in real time. They know where the stories exaggerate and where the stats undersell the truth. They can tell me where I am right. They can tell me where I am dead wrong. And they should.
This pyramid is not meant to be the final word. It is a conversation starter. A framework. A way to connect eras, memories, and arguments across generations of Suns basketball. And the best part is letting those generations talk to each other.
So without further ado, let’s reveal the Tier 5 of the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid.
Now this is one area where there actually is a clear line of demarcation, because everyone on this list is a multi-time All-Star as a member of the Phoenix Suns. These are players who earned the right to represent the franchise on a national stage more than once. These are not one off seasons or brief flashes. These are guys who showed up, produced, and carried the identity of the team with them when the lights were brightest, and they earned that recognition through sustained impact and credibility in a Suns uniform.
Let’s get into it.
Tier 5: All-Star Impact
He is one of those true legends of the sport, a point guard who feels like part of a fading species. I’m writing this now, with his retirement fresh and real, which adds weight to where he sits in the long annals of basketball history.
Chris Paul spent 21 years in the league, and three of those seasons came in Phoenix, totaling 194 regular-season games, and those games carried enormous significance for the franchise. He left Phoenix ranked third all-time in assists per game at 9.5, led the league in assists during the 2020-021 season at 10.8 per night, and served as the engine of a team that reached the NBA Finals.
His time in Phoenix included two All-Star selections and two All-NBA honors. He also ranks second all-time in Suns history in assist percentage at 41.4% and fifth in free throw percentage at 86.7%.
Remembering Chris Paul also means acknowledging how his body broke down in the postseason, something that followed him late into his career as he played through ages 34 to 37. That reality does not erase the impact. He arrived at an organization that had gone a decade without touching the postseason, and everything shifted. The Suns mattered again. They competed again.
His influence on Devin Booker, a player who will sit much higher on this pyramid, defies clean measurement. The Point God did not fix everything, but he pulled the franchise out of stagnation, and that alone secures his place in Suns history.
There is only one ‘Original Sun’, and that designation belongs to Dick Van Arsdale. The Flying Dutchman.
As a 6’5” shooting guard out of Indiana, Van Arsdale arrived in Phoenix through the 1968 expansion draft after coming over from the New York Knicks. He stayed until he retired in 1977, logging nine full seasons with the organization and anchoring its earliest identity.
The resume holds up. He ranks fifth all-time in games played, sixth all-time in points, and third all-time in offensive win shares, which still jumps off the page when you put it in historical context. He was a core member of the team that reached the first NBA Finals in franchise history in 1976, and he earned three consecutive All-Star selections, starting with the very first season of Suns basketball in 1968-69.
Statistically, his best year came in the 1970-71 season, when he averaged 20.2 points per game and carried a heavy load for a young franchise finding its footing.
So why Tier 5 instead of Tier 6? Because every organization has a starting point, and for the Phoenix Suns, Dick Van Arsdale was that point. The 1968-69 team that finished 16-66 also featured another All-Star in Gail Goodrich, but Goodrich was traded in 1970. Van Arsdale stayed. He became the constant through the early years, the player who embodied what the Suns were before there was any real definition of success.
Being the foundation is relevant. Dick Van Arsdale was not only productive, he was present, steady, and representative of the franchise from its first breath.
Some of my earliest Suns memories live in an offense that ran straight through Tom Chambers. Yes, Kevin Johnson was running the show, setting the table, and pushing the pace, but when it came time to finish the play, it was Chambers rising up and cashing it in, over and over again, with a consistency that defined that era of basketball in Phoenix.
Chambers spent five seasons with the Suns, arriving in 1988 as the first unrestricted free agent in NBA history, a decision that mattered then and still matters now. He chose Phoenix, and in doing so, he became the centerpiece of some of the best Suns teams that rarely get talked about anymore.
Everyone remembers 1992 -93 when Charles Barkley showed up and changed the national conversation, but the groundwork was already there long before that. Those teams were good. In some seasons, they were great.
In Chambers’ first year, the Suns went 55-27 and reached the Western Conference Finals. The next season, 54-28, same result. In 1990-91, they finished 55-27 again and bowed out in the first round. Then came 1991-92, a 53-29 season that ended in the conference semifinals. Over that four-year stretch, the Suns went 217-111.
It was a sustained run of winning basketball that positioned the franchise to take the final swing that eventually brought Barkley to town. The team could not quite get over the hump, but Tom Chambers was a massive reason they were knocking on the door year after year.
Individually, his production still towers over franchise history. His 27.2 points per game in the 1989-90 season remains the gold standard for scoring in Phoenix. He holds the top two single-season scoring totals in Suns history, with 2,201 points in 1989-90 and 2,085 points the year before. He made three All-Star teams as a Sun, earned two All-NBA selections, and his 20.6 points per game average in Phoenix ranks eighth all-time.
Tom Chambers feels like one of the forgotten greats of the NBA. No player has scored more career points without reaching the Hall of Fame, and it is still baffling. That 27.2 point season was fourth in the league in scoring that year, trailing only Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing, while finishing ahead of Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullin, Reggie Miller, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson. Every one of those names is enshrined. Chambers is not.
He should be.
And within the context of Phoenix Suns history, his place is clear. Tom Chambers belongs in Tier 5 of the Suns All Time Pyramid, without hesitation, without apology, and without revision.
Connie Hawkins arrived in Phoenix and immediately gave the Suns a sense of legitimacy, a player who lived above the rim and played the game with a style and confidence that felt ahead of its time. He was electric, graceful, and undeniably great, the kind of presence that changed how a young franchise was perceived the moment he stepped on the floor.
For those unfamiliar with his backstory, Hawkins carried a complicated history into the league. Early in his career, he was swept up in a point-shaving scandal and banned from the NBA, a decision that later came to be viewed as deeply unfair and damaging. By the time he reached Phoenix, he was playing with both talent and something to prove, and the Suns benefited from all of it, a gifted player reclaiming his place and leaving a meaningful imprint on the franchise in the process.
I know you didn’t watch The Hawk when he played for the Suns back in the late 60s. He joined the expansion Phoenix Suns in 1968 when he was 25 years old after stints with the ABL, Globetrotters and ABA. He won MVP awards in both leagues, and was Dr. J before Dr. J.
Unfortunately, Hawkins had eight of his best years ripped from him for being wrongly implicated in a point shaving scandal in 1961. Despite obvious evidence to the contrary, his name wasn’t cleared by the athletic world until 1969, during which time he was blackballed by colleges and the NBA.
As it turned out, Hawkins never even knew about the point-shaving. He just had the misfortune of knowing some of those who did, and borrowing a couple hundred bucks at one point from the attorney at the center of the scandal so he could pay some school expenses. That $200 was even repaid back to the attorney before the scandal even broke. Hawkins, a freshman in college who wasn’t even ALLOWED to play for the varsity team when the point shaving was supposed to have occurred, still got blackballed by both the NCAA and the NBA even though he was never arrested or indicted.
The Suns were assigned the 25-year old Hawkins after he was finally cleared to play, and after winning a $1.3 million judgment in a lawsuit he filed years before against the NBA for wrongful banning. During his 8-year exile from traditional basketball settings, Hawkins spent a few years traveling with the Harlem Globetrotters and winning MVP awards with both the ABL and ABA.
He spent four and a half seasons in Phoenix, and that first year alone announced exactly who he was. In 81 games, Connie Hawkins averaged 24.6 points, made the All-Star team, earned All-NBA First Team honors, and finished fifth in MVP voting, which tells you how loud his arrival was and how quickly the league took notice. He would go on to make three more All-Star teams as a Sun, four total, and his 20.5 points per game still rank tenth in franchise history.
The way he played jumps off the page even now. He averaged the third-most free throw attempts per game in Suns history at 7.4 and logged the fourth-most minutes per game at 37.8. In the 1969-70 season alone he attempted 741 free throws, the second-most ever in a single Suns’ season. Hawkins played through contact, invited it, and lived at the line because defenders had no clean answers for him.
This is one of those players I never got to see with my own eyes, and that part stings a little. Sitting on my desk is a 1971 Topps Connie Hawkins card, and every time I look at it, I feel like he would have been my guy if I had been around then.
He was built different. He played with force, attitude, and a physical edge that felt personal. The numbers tell the story, but the feeling of his game is what really lingers. At least so I’m told.
Alright, Suns fans, this is where it really starts to get fun, because Jason Kidd was an absolute stud during his time in Phoenix, and I remember that arrival vividly.
He came over in December of 1996 in a trade that sent Sam Cassell, Michael Finley, and A C Green out the door, and that move landed right after one of the most directionless seasons I can remember. The 1995-96 Sans Barkley Suns finished 41-41, their worst record since the late eighties, and the whole thing felt stale, like a team stuck pacing in place. Trading Michael Finley hurt, because he was one of my guys, but what Phoenix got back was a young All-Star point guard who had already shared Rookie of the Year honors with Grant Hill, and that felt like a real reset.
Kidd’s arrival was significant because it signaled that the Suns were ready to compete again, and they did compete, even if the results never quite broke through the ceiling. Over four and a half seasons, Phoenix never made it past the second round, but the nightly product felt serious again, organized, and intentional in a way it had not before.
Statistically, Kidd’s Suns run was loaded. He sits first all-time in franchise history in assists per game at 9.7, sixth in total assists with 3,011, eighth in steals with 655, third in minutes per game at 38.9, and second in steals per game at 2.1, trailing only Ron Lee. He also owns the top spot in triple-doubles in Suns history with 25, nearly double Kevin Johnson’s total of 13.
There is a very real case for him landing in Tier 4. He was a three-time All-Star in Phoenix, a three-time All-NBA selection, and a three-time All-Defensive player while wearing a Suns uniform, and there are not many players in franchise history who stacked that much hardware during their time here. That alone carries weight.
Where this lands for me is more personal and more subjective, and that is unavoidable in a project like this. The teams during his tenure never reached the heights you hope for when a player of that caliber is running the show, and those years between Barkley and Nash often feel defined by Kidd and Marbury filling space rather than delivering sustained success.
On a stylistic level, his limitations always stood out to me. He shot 33.1% from three in Phoenix, averaged 14.4 points per game, and while he elevated everyone around him and rebounded at an impressive 6.4 per night, it often felt like something was missing offensively. And then there is the way it ended, the allegations, the off-court issues that became an ugly and unavoidable chapter in his story, something that will always color how that era is remembered.
For all of that, Jason Kidd still belongs firmly on this pyramid, and for me, tier five is where he lands. Not as a dismissal of his greatness, but as an acknowledgment of the total picture, the brilliance, the gaps, and the complicated legacy he left behind in Phoenix.
The pyramid is starting to take shape. What do you agree with? Where did I get it wrong?
Feb 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) stands on the court in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
With the trade deadline well behind us, a recent poll conducted by SB Nation for its NBA readers asked two simple questions: Which team made the biggest improvement at the deadline? Which player moved before the deadline will have the biggest impact.
Per the poll that aimed to answer the first question above, SB Nation readers seem to think that the Cleveland Cavaliers made the biggest improvement of the deadline.
In turn, the answer to the second question — that is, which player moved before the deadline readers think will make the biggest impact — was none other than the Cavaliers’ signature deadline acquisition: James Harden.
To refresh everyone’s memory, Harden was acquired by the Cavaliers in exchange for sending Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Cavaliers — who sport a 34-21 record heading into the All-Star Break — are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference. Do you think they have what it takes to surprise people with a deep playoff run? Head on over to https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba to test your confidence.
The Bullock family and Boston Celtics play-by-play commentator Brian Scalabrine.
Michael Bullock has admired the Boston Celtics for as long as he can remember. His father, James Bullock, introduced him to the team at birth (literally), and rather than revere their 18 championships, Michael has learned far more from his favorite team.
“My dad has a strong attachment to the Celtics,” Michael told CelticsBlog. “He played most of his adult life and loved watching the Celtics on TV. He has followed them most of his life. The first Celtics game we watched together was at the hospital when I was born. He even attended a pregame demonstration of basketball skills in 1969 at the old Boston Garden, where Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, and Sam Jones demonstrated skills.”
Growing up in East Providence, Rhode Island, sports were a constant in the Bullock household and it wasn’t just basketball. The Bullock family’s passion for New England sports ran deep, but for Michael, it was never about the flashy highlights that would end up on ESPN the next morning. Instead, it was about the core principles that sports teach about life — lessons that often get lost amongst fans, athletes, and coaches — that inspired him more than anything else.
In 1996, before graduating from high school, Michael dedicated himself to participating in the Special Olympics.
“I first got involved with Special Olympics Rhode Island after watching my twin sister (Jessica) compete,” he said. “I like seeing all the athletes with special needs competing and having a lot of fun, so I thought I would join. I always liked basketball and track, and track and field was another sport that I played, so I could be part of the team.”
It’s a journey that has spanned 30 years for Michael, during which he has been involved in nearly everything imaginable. From basketball to bowling to track and field, he’s always remained committed to his belief in promoting inclusion. He has run the 100-meter, the 200-meter, and the 4×100 relay. However, it is on the basketball court above all else that Michael finds the greatest joy, relishing something he holds especially near: the importance of teamwork.
The Bullock family and 2008 Boston Celtics champion Brian Scalabrine.
While most fans with a devotion as strong as Michael and his family’s to the Celtics dream of setting foot on the iconic parquet under the bright lights, Michael set his sights on something different. He wanted to light the way for inclusion and awareness, so that those like him, his sister, and the thousands he has met over decades through Special Olympics Rhode Island could follow his example and reach the same heights his lifelong mantra has taken him.
“You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Michael said. “I do it by attending Athlete Leadership University as a facilitator and working on the podcast called ‘Beyond The Medal.’”
In recognition of Michael’s dedication to spreading his message, Amica and the Celtics honored him through their collaborative Beyond the Patch initiative. He and his family were invited to Boston for the Feb. 1 home game against the Milwaukee Bucks, enjoying a VIP experience that included behind-the-scenes access, exclusive meet-and-greets, and courtside seats to the team’s 107-79 victory at TD Garden.
The invitation initially left Michael in disbelief, James recalled.
“Michael was thrilled when he found out that we would be getting courtside seats and access at the Celtics game,” James told CelticsBlog. “He is a big fan of all Boston sports and could not believe that he would get a chance to see his favorite Celtics players up close.”
The game was especially memorable as it coincided with Pioneer’s Day at the Garden, marking the first time the Celtics and Bucks honored the 75th anniversary of the NBA’s first Black players — Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. Both teams wore commemorative jerseys featuring 1950, the year Cooper, Lloyd, and Clifton broke the league’s color barrier, along with an NBA Pioneer’s Classic patch. On the court, Jaylen Brown delivered the pregame address and led all scorers with 30 points, while Anfernee Simons, in his final game in a Celtics uniform, added 27 off the bench.
Midway through the game, Michael and his family were featured on the Garden’s jumbotron, introduced to the crowd, and greeted with a round of applause from the more than 19,000 fans in attendance.
As a father, the experience was truly unforgettable for James. It was surreal watching his son honored for his 30 years of participation in the Special Olympics, all in one night filled with moments and memories that the entire family could share and carry with them forever.
“There were so many wonderful moments, it’s hard to know where to start,” James said. “Getting to meet Derek White and have him sign our jerseys. Being on the floor to see the players warm up, getting to have lunch at the Legends room with Leon Powe, and the great courtside seats we had. But I would have to say that the two best moments were when Mike and his twin sister Jessica got to bring the game ball to center court, and when they showed the AMICA video on the big screen, and everyone cheered for Michael. That was one of the proudest and happiest moments of our lives.”
Founded in 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, the Special Olympics has grown into a global movement. Today, more than 5.5 million athletes with intellectual disabilities from over 172 countries participate worldwide, with numbers continuing to rise. The 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles drew an estimated 500,000 spectators and featured roughly 6,500 athletes and 3,000 coaches, making it the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world that year.
Those numbers don’t capture the profound impact the event has on millions worldwide — an effect no statistic could fully measure.
James has watched as SORI has helped foster Michael’s self-confidence and social growth, shaping him into someone who takes initiative and celebrates those around him. Through leadership roles and participation in competitions, Michael has developed skills that extend far beyond athletics. He’s seen firsthand how these experiences have transformed the Michael he knew growing up.
“When he was younger, Michael’s autism made it difficult for him to try or experience new things,” James said. “He was very shy and reluctant to engage. Being part of Special Olympics is a big part of his social development, both athletically and socially. Besides the athletic side of Special Olympics, he has taken part in a variety of Special Olympic programs that promote athlete leadership, public speaking, etc. He even became part of the local cable television show that the Special Olympics of Rhode Island produced.
“There’s a yearly fundraiser, ‘The Torch Run Plunge,’ where people jump into the freezing ocean to raise funds. There was a special law enforcement group that decided to do a super plunge, plunging every hour on the hour for 24 straight hours. When Michael saw this group, he turned to us and said, ‘These people are doing this for all of us Special Olympics athletes. I would like to do this as well, to show everyone that Special Olympics athletes are capable.’ Last year, that group raised over $1,000,000 in total fundraising. We were SO proud of him.”
The past three decades haven’t only shaped Michael — they’ve reshaped James as well. Watching his son grow through competition and the deeper lessons sports instill has steadily shifted James’ perspective for the better. The impact of the Special Olympics on Michael and his family cannot be overstated, nor can what the movement teaches those who witness it, even from the sidelines.
Last year alone, more than 1,000 athletes took part in the Special Olympics Rhode Island Summer Games.
“Watching Michael compete in Special Olympics has only enhanced my belief in how perseverance, sportsmanship, and teamwork can improve/shape the life of a special needs athlete,” James said. “Whenever Michael is on the podium to accept his medal, he always congratulates the other athletes on the podium. It has helped shape him into the caring adult he has become. My wife and I coached the East Providence team for Special Olympics of Rhode Island for 23 years. In every practice and game we saw, the Special Olympics had a positive effect on all the athletes in our group, in one way or another. The friendships and confidence that come from being on a team are immeasurable.”
