Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has been voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Rivers, who boasts one NBA championship and 1,162 wins (sixth-most all-time), will join legendary figures like Mark Few, Amar’e Stoudamire, and Candace Parker. The enshrinement ceremony will occur from August 14–15 in Springfield, MA.

Although Rivers can boast a successful career as an All-Star point guard, he earned his induction for his achievements as a coach. Named as one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history in 2021, Rivers is the winningest active NBA coach and sixth-winningest all-time. He’s best known for his nine-season stint with Boston, where he won the 2008 NBA championship, and his leadership of the Lob City Clippers with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. He’s adapted to the increasingly fluid NBA landscape by managing superstar egos and acting as a “player’s coach,” while developing young prospects into All-NBA guards through his offensive sets.

“It would mean the world to me,” Rivers told the media on Tuesday. “I’ve done a lot, the numbers are the numbers. But it’s not, I swear, it’s not why I got into this. It’s the relationships, it’s the people. From the day that I was nominated, the calls, I can’t tell you. It’s in the hundreds, the player calls. And some of the calls have been amazing because I thought they didn’t like me anymore… It’s been amazing that they have reached out, and it’s made me feel really good about just doing what I do. It’s been great.”

It remains to be seen if Rivers will accept the award in August as the Bucks’ head coach. Reports from ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel suggest he could be let go after the season ends, regardless of any offseason drama between Giannis and the Bucks front office. 

Once again, Bucks legend Marques Johnson was snubbed as a Hall of Famer. Johnson was the only nominee to be chosen as a finalist by the Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee, but failed to make the nine-member class. The Veterans Committee recognizes candidates who have retired from basketball for at least 35 years. Johnson beat out former stars like World B. Free and Paul Silas to reach the final stage.

Johnson, a five-time All-Star, averaged 20.1 points and seven rebounds across 691 NBA games, 524 of which were with Milwaukee. He led the Bruins to an NCAA title in 1975 under the legendary John Wooden, while collecting several All-American and Player of the Year Awards in Los Angeles. The Bucks legend saw his no. 8 jersey retired in 2019 by Milwaukee and pioneered the point forward role under coach Don Nelson. 

With the committee’s failure to induct Johnson for another year, he remains one of two eligible players who have scored at least 13,000 points, 4,500 rebounds, and 2,500 assists in the first eleven years in the NBA, along with Griffin. His contributions to basketball are certainly Hall-of-Fame-level, and it remains to be seen whether the Veterans Committee inducts Johnson again in 2027.

The Washington Wizards play the Miami Heat at 3 p.m. today. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.

DALLAS — Cooper Flagg didn’t get a call, and his coach and a teammate got kicked out of the game trying to stick up for the rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks.

Less than a quarter later, Flagg was the first teenager to score 51 points in an NBA game in Dallas’ 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Flagg scored 24 points in the fourth quarter after coach Jason Kidd and forward Naji Marshall were ejected complaining about what they thought was a no-call when Desmond Bane fouled Flagg.

Kidd was tossed even though he was assessed just one technical foul, while Marshall had gotten another tech at the end of the first half. His second came just moments after Kidd was thrown out.

“It’s great to see,” Flagg said after going 19 of 30 from the field and making all seven of his free throws and topping his previous career high of 49 in a 123-121 loss to Charlotte on Jan. 29.

“I already know that coach has my back and Naji … I know he has my back for sure out there,” Flagg said. “Just seeing their emotion, seeing them fight for me and fight for the calls. Definitely some emotion, and motivated me even further.”

Flagg exited the game with 45 points, but assistant coach Frank Vogel, filling in for Kidd, told the 19-year-old he was just resting him during a defensive possession.

Vogel called a timeout to get Flagg back in with 3:22 remaining, and Flagg made history a little more than a minute later. He missed a 3-pointer the first time down, then missed a follow attempt on Brandon Williams’ miss, got the rebound again and made a corner 3.

On the next Dallas possession, he hit an off-balance shot in the lane while getting fouled to clinch 50, made the free throw and left to a standing ovation.

The Mavericks were down 30 when Flagg started his fourth-quarter scoring barrage in what ended up being their 14th consecutive home loss. It’s the longest home losing streak since Dallas lost the first 19 games at since-demolished Reunion Arena in 1993-94.

“It’s always fun getting into that type of mode,” Flagg said. “The basket feels big. My teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I like to win. That was my main focus. It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game.”

Flagg said he thought it was obvious Bane had fouled him in the opening two minutes of the fourth.

“I think it was warranted,” Flagg said about Kidd’s reaction. “I’m not going to lie. I talked to Bane after the play, and he told me he was intentionally trying to foul me. I honestly don’t know how they didn’t see that. Obviously, they must not have had the right view, or they weren’t paying attention. But they missed it.”

Kidd said there was “a lot of excitement in the back” as he watched Flagg with a TV delay, hearing the crowd reaction before the buckets as the former Duke standout was 8 of 12 from the field and 4 of 6 from deep in the fourth.

Flagg’s previous career high came against former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, the fourth overall pick and fellow contender for rookie of the year.

Kidd continues to stump for Flagg to win the same award Kidd won with the Mavs 31 years ago, and dropped a Michael Jordan reference after Flagg’s latest milestone. Yes, Jordan was the 1985 Rookie of the Year.

“He should be rookie of the year,” Kidd said. “It’s unbelievable. The country’s not watching the same thing we get to watch on a daily basis. He’s in rare air. He’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year. And as a teenager, to see what Cooper’s doing, just the excitement, the joy, playing the game, win or lose, his spirit, is about winning. Right now we’re not.”

For at least one night, the rookie overshadowed the long home losing streak, even though he couldn’t end it.

The Phoenix Suns will have even more representation in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as head coach Mike D’Antoni has officially been selected for enshrinement. It’s a fitting honor for a coach who helped redefine how the game is played, especially during his time in Phoenix. Pace, space, and offensive freedom became more than philosophy during his time in Phoenix from 2004 to 2008, it became identity.

Former Suns Coach Mike D'Antoni will be inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) April 3, 2026

In a statement from the organization:

PHOENIX – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that former Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni is among the Class of 2026 to be enshrined this August.

“Mike’s forward thinking forever changed the game of basketball while leading some of the greatest teams in Suns history,” said Mat Ishbia, Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury owner. “This honor reflects the lasting mark he has made on the sport.”

D’Antoni compiled a 253-136 (.650) record across five seasons as head coach of the Suns from 2003-08, the second-best winning percentage in franchise history. He won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2004-05 after going 62-20, tying what was then the franchise best record in a season and the third-largest single-season turnaround in league history. D’Antoni created the ‘7 Seconds or Less’ offense during his time with the Suns, an innovative approach that revolutionized the game with its pace, spacing and three-point volume. The Suns won three Pacific Division titles and made two trips to the Conference Finals in four playoff appearances during D’Antoni’s tenure as the team’s head coach.

Across 16 total seasons as an NBA head coach with the Denver Nuggets, Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, D’Antoni amassed a record of 672-527 (.560) with 10 playoff berths. He won a second NBA Coach of the Year award with Houston in 2016-17 and totaled 10 Conference Coach of the Month honors throughout his career. D’Antoni, who is of Italian descent and played for the Italian national team, began his coaching career in the Lega Basket Serie A, Italy’s top-tier league. He also served as an assistant coach with USA Basketball at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012, helping the U.S. to two gold medals.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will host Enshrinement Weekend for its Class of 2026 from August 14-15 in Springfield, Mass.

He now joins a group of Suns legends already in the Hall, including Cotton Fitzsimmons, Paul Westphal, and Jerry Colangelo, further cementing the franchise’s imprint on the history of the game.

2x NBA Coach of the Year and the creator of the “7 Seconds or Less” offense ☄️

Congrats, Mike D’Antoni, on being named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026! pic.twitter.com/pBLzEr3ceM

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 4, 2026

Candace Parker, Amar’e Stoudemire and Doc Rivers headline a nine-member class that has been selected for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next August.

The threesome will be joined by Elena Delle Donne, Mark Few, Joey Crawford, Chamique Holdsclaw, Mike D’Antoni and the 1996 United States Women’s National Team in the Class of 2026, the Hall of Fame announced Saturday. Some were dominant forces on the court and pioneers of their sport, while the coaches maintained remarkable levels of success for over two decades each.

Read more about the full class of inductees below:

Candace Parker (player)

WNBA player (2008-2023), three-time WNBA champion, seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time WNBA MVP, two-time NCAA champion

The list of accolades only begins to scratch the surface of Parker’s basketball resume. She was the best player at every level at which she competed.

She was the top high school player in the country in Illinois, twice winning USA Today High School Player of the Year (2003 and 2004). Her high school years were also when she first drew acclaim for her athleticism. She is believed to be the first woman in Illinois to dunk in a basketball game, doing so at just 15 years old.

It was an omen of just how head and shoulders above the competition she would be for the rest of her career.

Parkler’s dominance continued in her three seasons under Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee (2005-08), where the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She won two national championships with the Vols (2007 and 2008) and was an All-American all three years in college. In both national title runs, Parker was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.

“Candace Parker is the best player in the women’s game,” Summitt said in 2008. “There has been a lot of questions or suggestions about who is the best player. My comment on that is, the big question should be, who is the best player in the world? Is it Candace Parker or is it Lauren Jackson?”

At the time, Jackson was a WNBA center who had already won two of her three MVP awards.

Parker’s brilliance continued in the WNBA. Drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008, Parker became the first WNBA player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. In 2016, she won the first of her three championships. She was still averaging close to a double-double (14.7 points and 9.7 rebounds) in her 12th WNBA season in 2020 for the Sparks. She won Defensive Player of the Year that season before leaving the team to join her hometown Chicago Sky in 2021, where she helped the franchise win titles in 2021 and 2023.

In 2016, when Parker was 30, the WNBA named her to its list of 20 greatest players. She remained on the list when it expanded to 25 players in 2021. Her jersey has been retired by Tennessee, the Sparks and the Sky.

“Candace Parker has left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles Sparks,” Magic Johnson wrote on Twitter after Parker’s jersey retirement. “Not only as one of the greatest players to ever grace the court, but as a true ambassador of our franchise and women’s basketball as a whole.” — Devon Henderson, staff writer

Mark Few (coach)

Gonzaga head coach (1999-present), 773 wins, 2017 AP Coach of the Year, two Final Fours, two championship game appearances

In his 27 seasons and counting at Gonzaga, Few has transformed the Bulldogs from an obscure mid-major men’s basketball program into a national power. His impact was immediate, leading the Bulldogs to the Sweet Sixteen in each of his first two seasons (2000 and 2001) as one of two head coaches to accomplish that feat since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Since then, Few’s Gonzaga teams have won the WCC Tournament championship 21 times and have made the NCAA Tournament in all 27 seasons, clinching an automatic bid in 2020 before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. The Bulldogs made the NCAA title game in 2017 and 2021, but lost both times.

His winning percentage (.832) is the highest in NCAA history for coaches with more than 600 games, and he currently ranks 19th in career wins. Few will be the fifth active Division I coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. — Henderson

Amar’e Stoudemire (player)

NBA (2002-2016), six-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA Selection, 2002-03 NBA Rookie of the Year

One of the game’s highest flyers will soon land in the Hall. It didn’t always appear that destiny was assured for the power forward. Stoudemire didn’t start playing organized basketball until he was 14, and through various moves and eligibility complications, he only ended up playing two seasons in high school. His senior year was enough, however, to be drafted directly into the NBA after he averaged 29.1 points, 15 rebounds, 6.1 blocked shots and 2.1 steals per game for Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Fla.

The Phoenix Suns drafted Stoudemire with the No. 9 pick in the 2002 draft, and he spent the first eight years of his career with the franchise. The 6-foot-10 forward made an immediate impact, averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds en route to becoming the first prep-to-pro player to win Rookie of the Year in 2003. He later became one half of a superstar duo with two-time MVP point guard and 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Steve Nash on the famed “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns. Two of Stoudemire’s three seasons averaging more than 25 points per game came in Phoenix. In the Suns’ 2005 run to the Western Conference Finals, he averaged just under 30 points and 11 rebounds through 15 playoff games.

Stoudemire became known as one of the hardest dunkers in the game, but was also a skilled midrange shooter with deft footwork.

“This guy made my life so fun,” Nash told PHNX Sports in 2024. “Every night, getting the chance to find him on the break, find him on the pick-and-roll, play in the half-court with him, just an incredible, incredible player. I think we’ve all seen him dunk on people, and we’ve all seen him tear the rim off, but I think what people don’t always understand is the dynamism of an athlete at 6-foot-10 that he possesses. Out of this world.”

In 2010, Stoudemire signed with the New York Knicks in free agency and was later joined by Carmelo Anthony in a midseason trade. In 2010-11, he poured in 25.3 points per game for New York. Stoudemire’s NBA career — he also played a few seasons overseas — ended in 2016 after 14 seasons. He finished with career averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. — Henderson

Doc Rivers (coach)

NBA coach (1999-present), 2008 NBA champion, 2000 NBA Coach of the Year, sixth in career wins by an NBA coach

In Rivers’ 13-season playing career with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs from 1983-96, he was a one-time NBA All-Star in 1988 with Atlanta.

It was as a head coach that he built his legacy. He has won 1,192 games and counting in 27 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Orlando Magic (1999-2003), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23) and Milwaukee Bucks (2023-present). He is currently sixth on the career wins list for NBA head coaches. He was the only coach in the top 10 not yet in the Hall of Fame.

Rivers won Coach of the Year in his first season with Orlando, and led the Magic to the playoffs in three of his four years with the team. By 2004, Rivers had made his way to Boston. In the 2007-08 season, he led the Celtics to a 36-win turnaround, tied for the largest ever season-to-season turnaround in NBA history, and led the Celtics to a title, winning the finals in six games over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rivers had a star-studded roster on the 2008 champion Celtics, including future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

“Doc is probably one of the more intelligent people I’ve ever met,” Garnett said on the Bucks’ YouTube channel in 2025. “Always coming up with quotes, always having things in the chamber that he hits you with. One of the — if not the best — inspirational coaches I’ve ever been around. He is a special type of coach.”

Rivers brought the Celtics back to the finals in 2010, again against the Lakers, but this time fell in seven games.

In 2013, he became the coach of the LA Clippers and helped turn the long-struggling franchise into a Western Conference power with stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The Clippers averaged 54 wins from 2013 to 2017 after recording just one 50-win season in the previous 43 years of the franchise’s existence, dating back to its days as the Buffalo Braves.

All told, Rivers has made the playoffs in 21 of his 27 seasons.

“It would mean the world to me,” Rivers told reporters Tuesday in Milwaukee when asked about potentially joining the Hall of Fame. “I’ve done a lot, the numbers are the numbers. But it’s not, I swear, it’s not why I got into this. It’s the relationships. It’s the people. From the day that I was nominated, the calls, I can’t tell you. It’s in the hundreds, the player calls. And some of the calls have been amazing because I thought they didn’t like me anymore. You have falling outs with players, and you don’t ever worry about it; it’s just part of it as a coach. It’s been amazing that they have reached out, and it’s made me feel really good about just doing what I do. It’s been great.” — Henderson

Elena Delle Donne (player)

NCAA leading scorer (2012), WNBA Rookie of the Year (2013), WNBA MVP (2015, 2019), WNBA champion (2019)

Before becoming a prominent WNBA fixture, Delle Donne walked on to the volleyball team at the University of Delaware and led the team to the conference title before joining the basketball team, where she led the nation in scoring as a junior and took her team to the Sweet 16 as a senior. The Chicago Sky selected Delle Donne with the second pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, and in 2014 she led the team to its first finals appearance. Her 2013 draft class, including Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins along with Delle Donne, is regarded as one of the most influential in league history.

After being traded to the Washington Mystics in 2017, the 6-5 forward won a WNBA championship and her second league MVP in 2019, making her the first player to earn the honor with two different franchises. An elite shooter, Delle Donne has the league’s all-time leading free-throw percentage (93.7) and was the first WNBA player to achieve the 50-40-90 mark (50 percent from the field, 40 percent for 3, 90 percent from the free-throw line) over the course of a season. Her versatility attracted attention from opponents, as Delle Donne’s nimble ballhandling, paired with her height and lethal shooting, made her a threat in every aspect of the game. In addition to her 2016 Rio Olympic gold, she also won gold medals at the 2018 FIBA World Cup and 2011 World University Games.

Off the court, Delle Donne has been an outspoken advocate for those with Lyme disease and has talked openly about her struggles with the illness. She is also a champion of disability awareness, inspired by her older sister Lizzie. — Emily Ohman, staff writer

Joey Crawford (referee)

NBA referee (1977–2016), 2,561 regular-season games, 374 playoff games, 50 NBA Finals games

By the end of the 2014-15 season, Crawford had refereed more playoff and NBA Finals games than any active referee. He is among the two longest-tenured NBA referees in history, having been active for 39 seasons. In November 2005, he became the sixth referee to officiate 2,000 games and was a staple officiating the game’s biggest moments for decades.

Crawford is the 19th referee to be inducted into the Hall and the ninth NBA referee.

Crawford became infamous for his quick technical fouls, most notably in a tiff with Tim Duncan in 2007 when Crawford ejected the San Antonio Spurs star for laughing while on the bench. Crawford said Duncan had been laughing at him and used an expletive, while Duncan later said that Crawford had asked him if he wanted to fight. Crawford was later suspended by the league and said the incident changed his life and the way he approached the job.

He retired in 2016 due to nagging knee injuries, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most experienced referees in NBA history who called a record number of playoff games. — Henderson

1996 United States Women’s National Team (team)

1996 Olympic gold medal, 10 future Hall of Fame members

The WNBA owes a debt of gratitude to this group.

The team, coached by legendary Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer and headlined by stars such as Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo and Dawn Staley, ran roughshod over its competition in Atlanta. They went 8-0 with an average margin of victory of more than 30 points.

Their dominant performance raised the global profile of the women’s game and contributed to the launch of the WNBA in late 1996. The Olympic team went on a months-long global tour in preparation for the 1996 Games, showcasing the interest in women’s basketball while playing against college and professional teams from all over the world.

The players on the team went on to become some of the earliest superstars of the WNBA, which held its inaugural season in 1997. “Now, when I look in hindsight,” Lobo told ESPN in 2022, “… holy cow, what the Olympic team did, the launch of the WNBA that’s here 26 years later, would there even be a WNBA without that team? Certainly not in that immediate time frame.”

The Americans averaged 102 points per game at the Atlanta Games. Leslie and Katrina McClain led the team in scoring, averaging 19.5 and 14.1 points, respectively. Leslie also added 7.3 rebounds per game and took home tournament MVP.

She later became a three-time WNBA MVP and two-time champion. All told, 10 players on the 1996 Olympic team have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including Staley in 2013.

“We didn’t really have those profound conversations,” Staley told ESPN. “It was OK then to not feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. We were task-oriented.

“But when you grow and remove yourself from that time, you do have those conversations now. It is cool to have been part of the evolution of a sport, to have seen it, felt it, lived it, and take the time to really, really try to appreciate it and think how to keep it going.” — Henderson

Chamique Holdsclaw (player)

WNBA player (1999-2013), six-time WNBA All-Star, three-time NCAA champion

The star of powerhouse Tennessee teams in the mid-1990s, Holdsclaw led the Volunteers to three straight national championships and won back-to-back NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player awards before being drafted with the No. 1 pick in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. She left college as the SEC’s all-time leading scorer, totaling 3,025 points.

She was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 after averaging 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game that season, in which she also started in the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game. Despite struggling with injuries in subsequent years with the Mystics, she averaged a double-double in back-to-back seasons in 2002 and 2003, leading the WNBA in rebounds per game each year.

She finished her WNBA career after stints with the Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream and San Antonio Silver Stars. Holdsclaw was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. — Mark Puleo, senior editor

Mike D’Antoni (coach)

NBA coach (1998-2020), two-time NBA Coach of the Year

Considered one of the most innovative offensive minds in NBA history, D’Antoni jumped into the NBA coaching ranks after spending seven years coaching in Italy, where he previously played with Olimpia Milano from 1977 to 1990, retiring as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

In the NBA, D’Antoni revolutionized the pace of offensive play as head coach of the Phoenix Suns from 2003 to 2008. He led the Suns to 50-plus wins in four consecutive seasons. After coaching stints with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, D’Antoni again took the league by storm in the late 2010s with the Houston Rockets, leading the franchise to three straight seasons with more than 50 wins. He famously coached Steve Nash and James Harden to MVP campaigns, and he was instrumental in the career of fellow 2026 Naismith inductee Stoudemire. — Puleo

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

NBA, Men's College Basketball, WNBA, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

In a bit of a surprise, the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday announced that they had signed 10-day player Malachi Smith to a two year standard deal. Shams Charania of ESPN was first with the news; the Nets later confirmed…

The Brooklyn Nets are signing guard Malachi Smith to a two-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Smith averaged 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds across two 10-day contracts with the Nets after playing for the team’s Long Island G League affiliate, and now lands a full standard deal.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 4, 2026

Smith’s signing gives the Nets the league maxium of 15 standard deals and three two-ways with five games left in the 2025-26 season.

Neither Shams nor the Nets provided details on the contract, but in the past, Brooklyn has signed a number of players to multi-year, non-guaranteed deals late in the season, among them Kessler Edwards, David Duke Jr. and current Net Jalen Wilson. In those cases, the players contracts only became guaranteed for the second year if they made the final roster the following October.

On Friday night, Smith had expressed his gratitude for his opportunity with Brooklyn.

“It’s been like a blessing, for sure,” Smith said after Friday night’s loss to the Hawks. “But I think it’s just a testament to my work and my journey. If anyone knows my journey, it’s anything but easy.

“And, for me, I’m just trying to stay present and just be the same player; but just be grateful and just do what got me here. So, obviously there’s a transition: physically, athletically, thinking the game a lot faster. But at the end of the day, it’s still basketball. So just having that same mentality, just going out there having fun and controlling the things I could control.”

Smith, 26, becomes the eighth rookie on the Nets roster this season. In addition to the Flatbush Five and Smith, two other first year players with no NBA experience have donned the black-and-white: Grant Nelson who played four games on a 10-day in February and March before being sidelined with patellar tendinitis, and current two-way Chaney Johnson who’s played 14 games with Brooklyn, averaging 7.8 points per game. Both are 23.

Smith played 39 total games in Long Island this season before being called up on March 13. Undrafted out of Gonzaga in 2023, he previously played for the G League affiliates of the Trailblazers, Bucks and Grizzlies who traded him to Long Island last September.

His numbers jumped January 6 when Long Island coach Mfon Udofia inserted him at point guard after Nolan Traore was called up to Brooklyn. In 24 games after that, Smith averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 51.9% overall and 42.9% from deep. He’s upped his game again over the last 10 games, averaging 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 57.9% from the field and converting 50% of his opportunities from beyond the arc.

Zach Lowe even took note of the heater Smith has been on…

Well-earned. Has been legit good amid the tankery — a fun reason to watch the Nets. https://t.co/gfHJX3LnbD

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 4, 2026

Smith joined high school teammate, Nets two-way E.J. Liddell, on the Brooklyn roster. The pair played for Belleville West High School in Belleville, Illinois, and won a state championship in 2018. Liddell is a year younger.

Smith is the fourth call-up for Long Island, which finished its season two nights ago with a loss in the opening round of the G League playoffs. In addition to Smith, Nelson and Trevon Scott, who just signed to a 10-day with Brooklyn, Nate Williams was signed to a two-way by the Golden State Warriors.

Long Island now ranks fourth in the number of G League affiliate call-ups this season, tied with Oklahoma City and the Clippers, trailing only San Antonio and Cleveland with five and Washington with six.

• Nets reward Malachi Smith with two-year contract after ‘anything but easy’ journey to NBA – Brian Lewis – New York Post

April 3, 2026 isn’t likely to be a date well-remembered in NBA history, but it did produce an extraordinary (if unfortunate) statistic: In the 7,891 days in which regular season NBA games have been played since the 1976-1977 season began (i.e., since the NBA-ABA merger), yesterday is the only day in which five games were won by 32+ points. Unsurprisingly, all five games pitted playoff-bound teams who are fighting for seeding against lottery-bound teams who are desperate to lose. Here are a handful of other details:

• The total margin of victory recorded across all games was +220. This is the 13th highest daily total recorded since the NBA-ABA merger, but the highest for a day in which no more than nine games were played (all days ranked 1st through 12th included at least 11 games played).
• The average margin of victory across the nine games played was 24.4 points, the highest ever for a day in which at least nine games were played.
• Of the four other games played, three were double-digit victories. The only truly close contest was the King’s 117-113 victory over New Orleans. Since the NBA-ABA merger, this is just the 18th regular season day in which 9+ games were played with no more than one single-digit margin of victory. However, there have actually been four days in the same period where 9+ games were played with NO single-digit point differentials. Those days are February 3, 1995, November 7, 2025, March 8, 2026, and March 29, 2026. That’s right, three of these four cases happened this season.

In any case, to commemorate this event I’ve provided the graded box scores for all five blowouts. If nothing else, examining these tables provides some illuminating insights into the myriad ways in which a 30-plus point blowout can occur. Hope you enjoy.

What are Team Graded Box Scores?

Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).

Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.

Sacramento State forward Shaqir O'Neal – yes, the son of Shaq – won the College Slam Dunk Championship on Friday, April 3, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis before the Men's Final Four.

Shaqir O'Neal, wearing his dad's "Shaq" shoe brand, elbow-dunked over two fellow players and threw down a reverse on his final attempt to secure the win over Central Connecticut's Nico Ashley. He finished with two 50-point scores, the highest total possible on a single dunk.

REQUIRED READING: Shaqir O'Neal discusses NBA goals, HBCU hoops and choosing Sac State

"Dad, I know you're watching this," Shaqir O'Neal said after his win. "You said you have ($10,000) for me if I win this. So, hey, I'm expecting my money. Shoutout to my pops."

DePaul's CJ Gunn won the men's 3-point contest and Kansas' Elle Evans won the women's 3-point contest. Evans also took home two more awards, winning the team shooting competition alongside Purdue's Fletcher Loyer and Portland State's Jaylin Henderson before defeating Gunn in the 3-point shootout between champions.

Shaqir O'Neal averaged 5.3 points with 3.2 rebounds per game this season at Sacramento State. The 6-foot-8 forward started his career at Texas Southern, where he held a small role off the bench for two seasons before transferring to Florida A&M in 2024-25.

Shaqir O'Neal plays for his dad's former Sacramento Kings foe Mike Bibby, who served his first year as Sacramento State head coach this season.

"It's been an unreal experience," Shaqir O'Neal told USA TODAY Sports. "Coach Bibby and his staff, they really care about the players, just on and off the court. They made sure they built that relationship with us early in the summer. It's really been a movie with all the press and all this stuff. And haters and this and that. And the ups and downs. Us losing players to injuries, like it's been real, it's been crazy, but it's been a great learning experience."

Four of Shaquille O'Neal's children played Division I college basketball, including sons Shaqir O'Neal and Shareef O'Neal (UCLA, LSU), and daughters Amirah O'Neal, a former preferred walk-on at LSU and Me'Arah O'Neal, who averaged over 13 points per game at Florida this season.

None of Shaq's children turned out to be nearly as good as their Hall of Fame dad that won four NBA championships. But Shaqir O'Neal sure can dunk like his dad could, although no backboards were shattered.

Shaqir O'Neal college dunk contest highlights

Something sweet from @shaqironeall from @SacHornetsMBB🍯#CollegeSlam x @StateFarmpic.twitter.com/Y3ISiCIRmZ

— College Slam (@CollegeSLAM) April 4, 2026

.@shaqironeall has no problem making his daddy proud🤷‍♂️#CollegeSlam x @StateFarmpic.twitter.com/dn2n7IXYF8

— College Slam (@CollegeSLAM) April 4, 2026

With this dunk, @shaqironeall is your @StateFarm Slam Dunk Champion 🏆#CollegeSlampic.twitter.com/R7kH3aX0oA

— College Slam (@CollegeSLAM) April 4, 2026

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shaqir O'Neal, son of Shaquille, wins college slam dunk contest

The Nets are signing guard Malachi Smith to a two-year deal Saturday.

It’s the ultimate case of grit paying off, with Smith going undrafted in 2023 and laboring in the G League since.

After excelling in Long Island, he got a pair of 10-day contracts and parlayed them into a standard deal in a move first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.

“It’s been like a blessing, for sure,” Smith said after Friday night’s loss to the Hawks. “But I think it’s just a testament to my work and my journey. If anyone knows my journey, it’s anything but easy.

“And, for me, I’m just trying to stay present and just be the same player; but just be grateful and just do what got me here. So, obviously there’s a transition: physically, athletically, thinking the game a lot faster. But at the end of the day, it’s still basketball. So just having that same mentality, just going out there having fun and controlling the things I could control.”

Smith averaged 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds across two 10-day contracts with the Nets as they’ve gone into full tank mode and played the tail end of their bench.

The guard has given them a spark, never more than Friday against Atlanta.

In a five-minute burst spanning the first and second quarters, Smith shot 4-of-4 overall and 3-of-3 from behind the arc to lift the Nets to within four with 10:59 left in the half.

He even hit a wild heave from well past the halfcourt logo that nearly beat the buzzer.

Didn't count, but what a play. Josh Minott goes Odell. Malachi Smith puts it in. pic.twitter.com/hLlNpAdK72

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) April 4, 2026

“I think just the mentality is leave it all on the floor,” Smith said. “I’m someone that has been praying for this opportunity and working for this opportunity for years, so I’m not going to take any minute for granted.

“I always tell myself I don’t care if I get one minute or 10 minutes, I’m gonna be able to go to sleep at night knowing I play as hard as I can. And then whatever happens after that, I can live with the results.”

This signing comes as the Nets are now all but assured of landing a top-three slot in the draft lottery.

After the Kings’ come-from-behind win Friday night against the Pelicans, Brooklyn is now 2 ½ games clear of both Sacramento and Utah.

The Nets would have to go 3-2 down the stretch, while either the Kings or Jazz would have to lose out for Brooklyn to fall into a fourth-place tie. They’ve only won three games since Feb. 10.

Would you believe the Knicks beat the Bulls at MSG?

Easy peasy victory, as New York reached FIFTY wins for the third consecutive season.

S/o Thomas Joseph Thibodeau.

Brown on Alvarado playing only 4th: "Landry & Deuce as backup guards…wanted to take look…Jose's done fantastic job but…haven't had a lot of healthy guards, he stepped in…Deuce Landry getting healthy…trying to find minutes for them…priority for me…they've proven themselves" pic.twitter.com/FZcA8djEBp

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

Mike Brown

On a fast start against Chicago:

“Tonight we started the right way, and when we do, we might jump on somebody. It’s about making our opponents feel us executing our defense the right way every possession, not giving up any easy baskets in transition and finishing it with the defense rebound.”

On the first-quarter defense on Friday:

“A lot of it has been our defense. In the first quarter, we’re 19th [in the league] right now, and fourth quarter, we’re first by a mile. So for us to bring that same sense of urgency to start the games defensively, it’s going to be big for us.”

On using Jeremy Sochan at backup center with KAT out:

“It allowed us to do a lot of things like switch pick and rolls. It brought a different element to our game. Not just offensively with the speed, but defensively with switching a lot of things and just keeping the ball in front of us.”

On Jose Alvarado’s future role with Deuce and Shamet back:

“We think Jose has done a fantastic job for us. … Deuce is getting healthier and Landry’s getting healthy and trying to find minutes for those guys – both of those guys are capable of playing that (backup guard) spot – is going to be a priority because they’ve proven themselves this year for us.”

On OG Anunoby’s lone All-Defensive nod:

“It’s bulls–t, and I can say that with a straight face ‘cause he’s a great defender and he does a lot of different things that people don’t see on that end of the floor for us and for other teams he played for. But more importantly, his versatility is just off the charts and you can do a lot of things with your defense because of him. In my opinion, he deserves First Team All-Defense this year – and hopefully the powers that be will see it that way, too.”

On the Knicks’ form heading into the playoffs:

“You always want your team to be playing at the highest of high cylinders. Do I think we’re there right now? No. Do I have belief in this team? Yes, I do. I’ve seen us play really good basketball throughout the course of the year. Even in games where there’s quote-unquote manufactured pressure (such as the NBA Cup). We’ve played really good basketball. I like what we have in that locker room and I like the things that we’ve done this year, but I expect more from myself first and everybody else second.”

On performing in big environments:

“All games you want to win, but when you go into Boston, it’s different than maybe going into another arena. Or if you go into OKC, it’s different than going into another arena. Those types of games, there’s a lot of manufactured pressure just because they’re good teams and it’s on national TV and all that good stuff. So to get that (environment) and to be able to perform at a pretty good level – you embrace that opportunity. You want to win all games, but to win those games – our guys have done (well) in those situations over the course of the year. So my belief is, (with) this group going into the playoffs when it’s real, that our guys will rise to the occasion.”

On the need for winning games without regard for the opponent:

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, at the end of the day it’s about us. I thought the guys were really good with that. … I thought we played the right way, playing with a sense of urgency and then on top of that, sharing the basketball offensively and spacing the floor the right way. It was a lot of fun to watch.”

“My bad. You good? You OK?”

— Jalen Brunson checking on the kid he fell into

Bro got the dap, a photo, shoes

And a story to tell for a lifetime

(📸:ski28) pic.twitter.com/eHGuEQP21I

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On the need to start games strong:

“Being able to lock in and be ready to go from the jump is key. It starts with our preparation. I think there’s still things we can do better defensively. Obviously, getting out to a lead helped us play comfortably for the rest of the game.”

Josh Hart

On not having a clue about the Knicks’ slow-start issues:

“We’ve been getting off to slow starts for two years now. If I had the answers, we would be better.”

"That's bullshit…sorry kids"

–– Mike Brown on OG Anunoby having made only one NBA All-Defense Team in his career (2nd team 2023)

Brown: "He deserves 1st Team this year" pic.twitter.com/B3BlnONc85

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

OG Anunoby

On deserving more All-Defensive recognition:

“I think I should’ve gotten it more, for sure. I think I should’ve gotten it last year. I think I should get it this year. That’s definitely a goal of mine, coming into the season, especially defensively, being on the first team or second team – hopefully first.”

On the true value of defense:

“It’s half the game. Fifty percent offense. Fifty percent defense. I just take pride in it. It’s very important, especially for winning games and winning championships – it’s very important.”

Mike Breen: "There are many Knick fans, many in the media & in organization who feel season would be disappointing if Knicks don't make Finals…Blows me away
…
Championship is goal–but just remember where franchise was before Leon…Julius…Thibs…ofc Brunson…easy to forget" pic.twitter.com/bQ7QE37R5D

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

Miles McBride

On the increased energy against Chicago:

“Tonight, we just came out with a different energy. The first five really set a tone, and the bench follows.”

On his groin tweak against the OKC Thunder:

“It’s just kind of like a tweak; it’s a painful tweak. (It’s) like someone stabbing your groin, hip and ab at the same time. It’s not fun. I’ll get back right. All glory to God.”

On OG Anunoby’s defensive value:

“I think that speaks to his motor, his work ethic. He super important for us.”

"Giddey…he was a sex symbol in OKC"

–– Clyde pic.twitter.com/ENcfA9uRvg

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

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The Detroit Pistons have rolled without Cade Cunningham, and they’ll look to keep that momentum and complete the season sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers when they head to Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight.

Jalen Duren has feasted without Cunningham in the lineup; my Pistons vs. 76ers predictions call for another big game from the big man.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference matchup on Saturday, April 4.

Pistons vs 76ers prediction

Pistons vs 76ers best bet: Jalen Duren Over 34.5 points+rebounds (-120)

Jalen Duren earned his first All-Star appearance in 2025-26 behind averages of 19.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Across his last 15 games, he’s averaging 34 points+rebounds, and across his last 11, those averages climb to 36.

The big man has hit for at 35+ points+rebounds in seven of his last 11, and he’s averaged 34.3 across his last four road games. In two games against the Philadelphia 76ers, Duren finished with 24 points and rebounds in 15 minutes in a blowout and 37 points and rebounds in 37 minutes. 

He’ll be forced to handle more scoring and rebounding responsibilities tonight without Detroit Pistons superstar guard Cade Cunningham still on the shelf.

Cunningham’s absence bodes well for Duren’s statistical output. In 55 games played with Cunningham this season, Duren has averaged 29.2 points+rebounds in 27.7 minutes. 

In 11 games without him, Duren averaged 35.1 points+rebounds and 31.1 minutes. Duren has posted at least 35 points+rebounds in seven of 11 games played without Cunningham.

Philadelphia’s defense hasn’t been impressive this season. The Sixers have given up the 12th-most points, 11th-most rebounds, fourth-most offensive rebounds, and sixth-most second-chance points. Philly’s 114.8 defensive rating ranks 17th.

With Joel Embiid still banged up, Duren could feast against Andre Drummond and Adem Bona down low. I’ll bank on another big game from Detroit’s go-to option tonight.

Pistons vs 76ers same-game parlay

Duren is poised for a monster game, but the 76ers can keep this one close at home if Tyrese Maxey goes off. Detroit is just 12-16 ATS as the road favorite, and Philly is 6-7 as the home dog.

I like Detroit to win this one outright, but I’m not betting the spread with uncertainty surrounding the statuses of Paul George and Joel Embiid.

Season-long trends lean the Under tonight, but both offenses have played well as of late. Detroit has combined for 227+ points in three of its last six games, and Philadelphia has reached that total in four of its last five.

Even without Cunningham and potentially without Embiid, there is enough firepower for both teams to put up points.

Pistons vs 76ers SGP

• Jalen Duren Over 34.5 points+rebounds
• Pistons moneyline
• Over 226.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Guard-Play!

Tyrese Maxey has averaged 24.5 points and 8.5 assists in four games since returning from a lengthy absence. In that span, he hasn’t reached 29 points due to Paul George’s monster impact as a scorer.

With George potentially out tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back, Maxey could see far more work on offense. He’s also dished 7+ assists in four straight.

Daniss Jenkins has started nine straight games, averaging 19.3 points and seven dimes. In that span, he’s gone for 18+ points six times and 7+ assists five times. Expect another high-usage, highly-productive outing tonight with Cade Cunningham still sidelined.

Pistons vs 76ers SGP

• Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points
• Tyrese Maxey Over 28.5 points
• Daniss Jenkins Over 6.5 assists
• Tyrese Maxey Over 6.5 assists

Pistons vs 76ers odds

• Spread: Pistons -3.5 (-105) | 76ers +3.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Pistons -160 | 76ers +135
• Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5

Pistons vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Detroit Pistons have hit the Moneyline in 27 of their last 40 away games (+10.35 Units / 9% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. 76ers.

How to watch Pistons vs 76ers

Pistons vs 76ers latest injuries

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