Category: NBA

NBA News

Posted on

Obsevations after Maxey-McCain backcourt struggles in Sixers' loss to Nets

Obsevations after Maxey-McCain backcourt struggles in Sixers' loss to Nets  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey struggled all night long and the Sixers fell to a 114-106 defeat to the Nets on Tuesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Maxey had 13 points on 3-for-14 shooting, three rebounds, four steals, two assists and four turnovers as the Sixers dropped to 16-12 on the season. Brooklyn improved to 9-19.

Joel Embiid posted 27 points, six rebounds and four assists. Paul George recorded 19 points, four rebounds and four steals.

Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 28 points. 

The Sixers had three players sidelined by an illness in VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and Dominick Barlow. The team canceled its morning shootaround as a result.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) remained out. 

The Sixers will begin a five-game road trip Friday night in Chicago against the Bulls. Here are observations on their loss to the Nets:

Embiid good to go after injury scare

Embiid suited up for his first game since the Sixers’ loss last Sunday to the Hawks. He’d missed the past two games with a “right knee injury management” designation in addition to an illness. 

Jared McCain started for the first time in his second season. Maxey, George and Jabari Walker rounded out the Sixers’ first five. 

Embiid had a smooth start offensively. He knocked down contested jumpers, sought out contact and seemed to believe he could score against whatever Brooklyn threw his way. 

The seven-time All-Star also looked to be fine on the conditioning front. Embiid played until the 2:45 mark of the first quarter and posted 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting and three rebounds in the period. 

Embiid had an injury scare just 25 seconds into the third quarter when Terance Mann bumped him as he jogged into the paint.

He grabbed his knee in apparent pain and eventually pointed toward the bench to request a sub. Andre Drummond entered and Embiid walked gingerly to the locker room.

About five minutes later, Embiid returned to the Sixers’ sideline. He checked back in with 6:49 left in the third quarter.

Nothing falling for Maxey

The Sixers took an 8-1 lead on a McCain fast-break layup, but the Nets responded with a run almost entirely about Porter’s shotmaking. His third three-pointer in quick succession gave Brooklyn a 12-10 edge.

On the other end, the Sixers’ outside shooters struggled. George and Walker air balled first-quarter three-point tries. The Sixers wound up shooting 40.7 percent from the floor and 25.9 percent beyond the arc.

Maxey went scoreless in the first quarter and missed his first six field goals. He was frustrated at times by Mann’s tight, physical defense and couldn’t hit the few open shots he managed to find. 

Maxey was obviously not thrilled about the officiating. Both he and Sixers head coach Nick Nurse appeared to have heated words with crew chief Courtney Kirkland during a stoppage near the end of the second quarter. 

The shorthanded Sixers’ guard rotation included little-used veterans Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry. After Maxey was whistled for his second foul with 2:11 to go in the first quarter, Lowry checked in for the first home action of his 20th NBA season. Gordon (12 points on 4-for-8 shooting) made the Sixers’ first two long-distance jumpers. 

The vet-heavy Sixers played zone defense early in the second quarter against the youthful Nets and didn’t fare badly. However, Brooklyn hit the Sixers with another run in the second and Porter kept causing serious problems.

Porter began 7 for 9 from the floor and piled up 25 points in the first half. The Nets held a six-point edge at intermission. 

Last-gasp surge not enough

Maxey continued to come up empty.

He missed an open three early in the third quarter to fall to 1 for 10 from the field. Maxey then committed his fourth foul on a Egor Demin four-point play and the Nets’ advantage reached double digits. The Sixers had too many of those sort of sloppy mistakes on both sides of the ball.

Drummond (12 points, 13 rebounds) made three tip-ins early in the second half and stayed on the court once Embiid returned. Walker’s foul trouble presumably played a role in Nurse turning to a double-big frontcourt. Adem Bona shared the floor with Embiid, too.

The Sixers’ deficit swelled as high as 19 points. McCain shared Maxey’s offensive woes. He dipped to 1 for 9 from the floor early in the fourth quarter with a pair of missed lefty layup attempts. The starting backcourt of Maxey and McCain finished a ghastly 6 for 25, including several makes in quasi-garbage time. It’s very challenging to beat any team with that kind of backcourt shooting.

All of a sudden, the Sixers summoned a burst of late-game energy.

Maxey swiped a steal and coasted in for a layup. Bona slammed in an alley-oop assisted by Embiid. Two Embiid free throws cut the Sixers’ deficit to 99-90.

The Sixers couldn’t create any serious drama in the final minutes. They committed a slew of fouls, Maxey air balled a three and Brooklyn sealed the deal on a bad Sixers loss.

Posted on

Nick Young shares why latest Draymond-Kerr clash feels ‘different' than others

Nick Young shares why latest Draymond-Kerr clash feels ‘different' than others originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former NBA guard Nick Young only spent one season playing for the Warriors, but that 2017-18 campaign was long enough for him to witness a Draymond Green-Steve Kerr tussle or two.

Speaking on Gilbert Arenas’ “The Arena” podcast, Young lent his insight into Green and Kerr’s relationship, and why their clash Monday night isn’t the same as past quarrels.

“[Green and Kerr] always fight,” Young said. “They got into a big fight in [Oklahoma City] where we had to pull Draymond back, pull Steve Kerr back. But this time it’s different because they’re not the same championship team.”

On an otherwise feel-good night for the Warriors—they trounced the Orlando Magic to climb back to the .500 mark at 15-15—Green and Kerr became embroiled in a heated discussion during a timeout, prompting Green to leave the floor completely and take refuge in the Golden State locker room.

“Tempers spilled over,” Green said in his postgame press conference. “And I thought it was best that get out of there. I didn’t think it was a situation where it was going to get better. So, it was best to remove myself.”

Kerr essentially echoed Green’s telling of events in his own postgame presser.

“We got into it, obviously,” Kerr said. “And I took the timeout because I thought we lost our focus there a little bit. And we had it out a little bit. And he made his decision to go back to the locker room to cool off.”

A day later, Young expressed uncertainty over whether this current version of the Warriors is built to withstand a squabble between its head coach and most volatile player.

“Everything going on with Steve Kerr, [his situation with Jonathan] Kuminga…it’s a lot over there,” Young said. “I just don’t know where they’re at this year. They feel like they just need to blow everything up at this point. This ain’t the first [instance] of them fighting. OKC was probably the worst thing I’ve ever seen between a player [and] coach. They both [were] holding each other back and cussing…it was a lot. It was a lot.”

Despite the dramatics on Monday, Golden State pulled away in the second half for a 23-point win over Orlando, a positive sign that Kerr can still focus his squad even with distractions lingering on his own bench.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Trey Jemison III a prime example of Knicks player development program

Late last Thursday, Jalen Brunson added another clutch shot to his resume. 

Brunson hit a step-back 27-footer over Andrew Nembhard to give the short-handed Knicks a win at Indiana. 

Highlights of the shot quickly ricocheted all over social media. It elicited a rare ‘double Bang’ from Mike Breen. Another game-winning shot from the 2025 Clutch Player of the Year. 

“Our MVP – the league’s MVP – Jalen Brunson,” Mike Brownsaid after the game. 

Later in his press conference, Brown referenced another award. The coach named Trey Jemison III as his Defensive Player of the Game. 

Jemison III had five rebounds, a block, five points and played strong team defense in a key second-half stretch against Indy.

“Trey’s physicality and communication in the second half was off the charts,” Brown said.  

What you saw that night from Jemison III is the same intensity and effort he plays with in practices and workouts. 

“He brings energy (to every practice), makes you compete in practice,” is how one Knick staffer described Jemison. 

Jemison has split time this season between the Knicks and their G League club, the Westchester Knicks. He’s one of several young players immersed in New York’s player development program. 

All of the hours spent working with Knicks coaches have sharpened Jemison’s game (more on that below). But the foundation for his Jemison’s game – and the rest of his life – is his faith. 

Jemison hosts regular Bible study sessions on his Instagram page. 

He’s deeply spiritual and conducts study sessions to help his audience "understand the word of God." 

“A lot of times, people read the Bible, and it's like all these old words and they're like, ‘I'm not reading that.’ So I try to make it simple so people can stay (engaged),” Jemison says. 

He started doing study sessions on Instagram two years ago. At the time, Jemison says he had roughly 7,000 followers. Today, he has 70,000.

“When you go to God about something and you put him first, like, it's crazy the things you can really do,” Jemison says. 

From time to time, Jemison will hear from audience members impacted by his words.  

“It’s just priceless,” he says. “It's not an NBA game, not a dollar amount you can give (to match the value of) hearing somebody, say, ‘Hey you helped me get through a situation.’ That's just, yeah, that's a blessing for me.”

Jemison is one of the young Knicks heavily involved in the franchise’s player development program. New York has put resources into its program – hiring former St. Joseph’s coach Billy Lange to oversee things. 

Jemison says Lange and the whole player development group have helped him. 

Case in point: before the season, players had to make 10 free throws before they could leave the gym. Jemison was having a tough time until members of the coaching staff delivered a message: 

“You can make these free throws. You're a good shooter.”  

Jemison said the coach’s confidence helped him right away. From there, the Knicks worked a bit on Jemison’s form and his timing. After some fine-tuning, Jemison stopped getting stuck in the gym. 

“Their belief in me, and they're breaking down small small details... has switched it up completely,” Jemison says of his free throws. 

The former UAB star is grateful to be in New York, working with Lange and coaches like Mark Bryant and Carson Shanks and playing for Brown. Jemison and his agent, Derrick Powell of Dedicated Performance Sports, decided that the Knicks were a great option in part because of Brown. 

The Knick head coach likes what he’s seen from the 26-year-old. 

“He’s a physical presence. He’s a guy who communicates extremely well for a young guy,” Brown said earlier this season. “Guys like playing with him because they know he’s going to set screens and get them open. And he’s got good feet and a good motor.”

Jemison met with Lange and some Knicks coaches earlier this year to go through a development plan tailored for him.  The plan remains in place when Jemison is with the big club or the G League team. 

“They have a growth path for me,” Jemison says. “They don’t just ignore you because you’re on a two-way (contract). They want me to get better and grow my game so when my name is called, I can help the Knicks be the best team they can possibly be.” 

Jemison has worked with Shanks, Bryant and the group on passing this season. The coaches have Jemison III make live reads at a fast pace. 

“Now in games, it’s super slow for me. I see the cut before it happens,” Jemison says. “Now I understand, if I gotta screen this man, make this next pass, I know where to put it before he even cuts.”

That skill was on display in Indiana when Jemison made a well-timed pass to Brunson in the first half. 

With the Knicks’ plans to rest rotation players at times over the course of the season, Jemison should have more opportunities to show what he’s learned under Lange and his group. 

“My game is growing,” he says. “From my position coaches, to all my G League coaches, they are buying in and helping me set a higher standard for myself and it’s been great…. I love coming to work every day.”

Posted on

Wizards' Cam Whitmore out indefinitely with deep vein thrombosis in right shoulder

Getting traded from a deep Houston roster to Washington last summer was an opportunity for Cam Whitmore to have the space to grow and develop. That opportunity has come to an end after 21 games.

Whitmore will be out indefinitely due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, the team announced.

After missing a couple of games with a sore shoulder, the team's doctors took a closer look, ran tests, and found a blood clot that led to the diagnosis. While there is no timeline for his return, Victor Wembanyama missed the second half of last season with the same issue, and Whitmore could be out until next season.

Whitmore was averaging 9.2 points a game shooting 45.6% from the floor in nearly 17 minutes a night for the Wizards. While whispers of questionable practice habits have followed him, Whitmore had been working more closely lately with Wizards coach Brian Keefe on a development plan and finding a role in Washington, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. While Whitmore's athleticism and potential are without question, he is seen as a guy with tunnel vision who prioritizes his own scoring and is not a great passer. That has to change for him to find a consistent role in today's NBA.

Whitmore is making $3.5 million this season in the third year of his rookie contract. He is under contract for $5.5 million next season and is extension eligible next summer.

Posted on

NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: Lakers seek defense, Bucks eyeing adding Zach LaVine

With front office personnel leaving Orlando and the G League Showcase, trade talk is now in full swing around the league. Let's break down some of the latest talk around the league.

Bucks looking at adding Zach LaVine

While most fans (and plenty of content producers) are heading to trade machines looking for ways to get Giannis Antetokounmpo out of Milwaukee, the Bucks are in "desperate pursuit" of ways to bring in talent, re-energize the 11-18 team, and make Antetokounmpo happy (or, at least, less unhappy).

Enter Zach LaVine, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes, who reported this:

"The Milwaukee Bucks are in desperate pursuit, looking out on the trade market to see if they can bring in a difference-maker type of player. Sources have relayed they are canvassing the market, and one of the guys I identified is Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings."

While LaVine is available, there have been no serious talks between the sides, Hayes reports. It would be a difficult trade to construct because LaVine makes $47.5 million this season, it would likely require Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and more heading out of Milwaukee (and maybe a third team involved).

Whether or not this specific deal comes together, it shows the Milwaukee front office's mindset: they are not trading Antetokounmpo unless he demands it and forces them to, and instead they want to be buyers at the deadline.

Lakers eying defensive wings Jones, Ellis

"Being able to contain the basketball is probably the most difficult thing for our team right now," Lakers coach J.J. Redick said of his team's point of attack defense after the Spurs eliminated the Lakers from the NBA Cup, a game in which San Antonio's young guards blew by their defenders, touched the paint, and either made a shot or sprayed it out for an open 3-pointer.

It's why the Lakers are looking hard at defensive wings, specifically good 3&D wings, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports. The challenge is that there aren't many of those players, and all 29 other teams are interested in them as well.

The Pelicans' Herb Jones is at the top of the list, but all reports out of New Orleans are that the asking price for him (or Trey Murphy III) is exceedingly high (the Pelicans don't really want to trade either). As Woike put it, the Pelicans "have signaled to interested teams that they're not entertaining Herbert Jones trades — at least not at any cost the Lakers can meet."

Sacramento's Keon Ellis also is available, a disruptive perimeter defender but a limited ball handler and not strong enough to switch onto larger forwards defensively. While Ellis is drawing more interest from other teams than the Kings' big three stars, he is a divisive figure among scouts, and it might be telling that both of the Kings' last two coaches — Mike Brown and Doug Christie — have limited his minutes.

Other defensive wings might be available — Derrick Jones Jr. (Clippers), Terrance Mann (Nets), Andrew Wiggins (Heat) — but the Lakers can trade one first-round pick, one second and find a matching salary (likely starting with Gabe Vincent), and the question becomes, will that be enough?

Nets make Michael Porter Jr. available

Brooklyn was expected to be active at the trade deadline, in part because they have more cap space than any other team and are likely a third team in to help facilitate any big trades.

However, they are looking to make one on their own and are testing the market for Michael Porter Jr., reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. It's not just Porter, the Nets are "willing to listen to pitches on the bulk of their veteran players," which would include Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, Terance Mann, and more.

Porter Jr. is averaging 25.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 40% from 3-point range — he can help the offenses of a lot of teams. Porter Jr. is making $38.3 million this season and is guaranteed $40.8 million next season in the final year of his contract.

Consider Porter Jr. the name to watch for teams looking to make a big splash at the deadline and improve their playoff chances.

Warriors eying Gafford, Claxton

While the Warriors are reportedly patiently eyeing the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation (although constructing a trade that works with the Bucks is nearly impossible at the deadline), what they really want is a rim-protecting big man, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes on Amazon's NBA on Prime coverage.

Specifically, the Warriors are eying three players: Daniel Gafford (Mavericks), Nic Claxton (Nets), and Robert Williams (Trail Blazers).

"You look at the Warriors — rebounding and block shots, they're in the bottom half of the league," Haynes said on the broadcast. "And points in the paint, they are dead last. So they are looking for an athletic center…

"Those are three names who are on the Golden State Warriors' list of targets, to try to bring in a rim-running, block-shot defender. I was told they are really serious and they are trying to do everything they can to try to get the team back to being of the caliber of a championship-contending type."

Guerschon Yabusele

The Knicks signed Greece's Guerschon Yabusele last summer, with the big man coming off a solid season for the 76ers. That hasn't worked out as planned, so the Knicks are now open to trading him, reports James Edwards III at The Athletic.

Yabusele has not found a comfort zone with the Knicks this season, averaging 3 points a game on 39.4% shooting (30.6% from beyond the arc). That is not attracting many suitors, as Edwards notes.

Multiple league executives believe the Knicks would have to attach something to Yabusele in order to have a chance to move him before the deadline. Other than what New York does or doesn't do with Yabusele, the franchise has long put out feelers about adding another ballhandler and/or frontcourt player, per league sources.

Just something to watch as we approach the deadline.

Coby White

Among the names most mentioned as trade talk ramps up is Chicago point guard Coby White.

There are a number of teams looking for point guard help who are not interested in the big-name/big-expense players (Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball), and White might be the best of the next tier of players. White has been good for the Bulls this season, averaging 21.2 points and 5.2 assists a game, but he is shooting 29.8% from 3-point range (he's a career 36.7% from deep) and he is a minus defender. Still, he is in demand.

In his substack, Marc Stein reported that this "doesn't mean they'll actually move him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but the Bulls have left the impression with rival teams inquiring about White that they are more open to trading White than they've ever been."

Just something to watch going forward.

Malik Monk

Monk has not been a key part of Doug Christie's rotation in Sacramento of late, but some teams believe a change of scenery would do him good and he could work as a sixth man.

The Kings have made Monk available, reports Chris Haynes.

The Kings have made pretty much everyone except Keegan Murray available by trade, they are one of the big sellers at the deadline, but how much interest there is in Monk, an injured Domantas Sabonis and others remains to be seen (Keon Ellis is the one name drawing a lot of interest).

Posted on

Steve Kerr, Draymond Green have (another) argument, Green heads to locker room, does not play again

Instead of talking about how, on some nights — when everything clicks, like it did Monday against the Magic — the Warriors look like a team that can be a threat in the West, we are talking about this:

Steve Kerr and Draymond Green got into a heated argument on the bench early in the third quarter Monday night, with Green leaving and going straight to the locker room. Although he returned to the bench, he never got back into the game.

Everything started at the 8:47 mark of the third quarter when Green turned the ball over, which led Golden State's Quinten Post to commit a take foul. The Magic capitalized, with Desmond Bane knocking down the free throw and then Anthony Black hitting a turnaround jumper for a three-point possession. A frustrated Kerr called a timeout.

"We got into it, obviously," Kerr said after the game, via Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. "And I took the timeout because I thought we lost our focus there a little bit. And we had it out a little bit. And he made his decision to go back to the locker room to cool off."

Kerr said everything else was private and he would not give more details. It was much the same playbook from Green and Stephen Curry postgame.

"Tempers spilled over," Green said. "And I thought it was best that I get out of there. I didn't think it was a situation where it was going to get better. So, it was best to remove myself."

Why did Green think this latest in a long line of arguments with his coach would blow over? Because every other one has.

"We've been at this now for a long time," Green said. "So, sometimes when you're with people for a long time, there's a level of comfort, and s--t happens. We move forward."

Maybe it blows over, but it's worth noting that the Warriors outscored the Magic 54-26 after Green left the game. That comes on the heels of a game in Phoenix where Golden State flipped a 10-point deficit into a lead without Green on the court, and the Warriors went on to get the win.

The argument overshadowed one of those nights when the Warriors don't look like the 15-15 team they are, but show signs of being a threat in the West. Stephen Curry scored 26, Jimmy Butler 21, and the Warriors picked up a win over a quality Magic team.

Posted on

NBA reportedly brainstorming new ideas to discourage tanking

In the wake of the gambling scandal that rocked the league at the start of the season — where some gamblers allegedly used inside information about a team sitting key players late in the season to place bets — the NBA is again looking for ways to reduce tanking. The league wants to limit teams from "deliberately manipulating" their rosters or sitting players to improve their Draft Lottery odds.

That was a key topic at a Board of Governors meeting last Friday, with the league soliciting ideas from owners, general managers and others, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. He said the league presented several ideas seeking feedback, ones designed to keep non-playoff teams from tanking, including:

• Limiting pick protections to either top four or 14 and higher, which would eliminate the problematic mid-lottery protections.

• No longer allowing a team to draft in the top four two years in a row.

• Locking lottery positions after March 1.

No new regulations have yet been adopted, the league is still gathering information and floating ideas. Any changes would require approval from the Board of Governors (the owners).

Some of the teams tanking the hardest in recent seasons were when a team had a mid-lottery pick protection, and teams changed their rosters or sat players in order to retain those picks for a year. For example, Dallas had a top-10-protected pick in its 2023 and sat Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić in their final game; or, like the Jazz this season, who have a top-eight-protected pick, although they are not yet tanking hard (but other teams are watching their moves heading toward the trade deadline).

The third suggestion — locking lottery positions on March 1 (or another date) — would simply lead teams to tank earlier in the middle of the season.

The second proposal — not allowing a team to select in the top four in consecutive years — would have directly stopped two of the best young teams in the league from forming. San Antonio drafted Victor Wembanyama (2023), Stephon Castle (2024), and Dylan Harper (2025) with top-four picks in consecutive years and they form the core of the current No. 2 team in the West. Houston drafted Jalen Green (2021), Jabari Smith Jr. (2022), Amen Thompson (2023), and Reed Sheppard (2024) high in the lottery to form key parts of its young core as well.

The challenge for the NBA is that basketball is a sport where one player can literally change a franchise's prospects, and elite teams need a top-5-10 player and a couple more in the top-25-30 to contend. The best — and often only — way for most teams to get those players is through the draft. Teams have scouted the level of talent coming in for every class (and this coming June's draft is particularly deep at the top), which will always lead teams to look for ways to improve their chances of getting one of those picks.

The league last amended the draft rules to limit tanking in 2019, after "the process" 76ers became a story and the league was concerned about a race to the bottom by other teams. At that time, the league changed the odds so that the three worst regular-season teams each have a 14% chance of landing the No. 1 pick and a 52.1% chance of being in the top four. As a result, over the last three seasons, the team with the worst record in the NBA fell to fifth, while Atlanta (10th-worst record) and Dallas (11th) jumped up to land the No. 1 pick.

The NBA already introduced new injury reporting rules, which also were tied to the gambling scandal that hit the league. The league is forcing teams to update their injury reports on game days earlier and more often so that there is no inside information about a player or players sitting out (or coming back) that someone with inside information could profit from.

Posted on

Why Draymond Green reportedly is ‘frustrated' with his current Warriors role

Why Draymond Green reportedly is ‘frustrated' with his current Warriors role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s been an eventful week for Draymond Green.

On Saturday, the star forward was ejected in the second quarter of the Warriors’ win over the Phoenix Suns. Two nights later, Green didn’t play for the majority of the second half in Golden State’s victory against the Orlando Magic after getting into a heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr on the Warriors’ bench.

Now, ESPN NBA insider Marc J. Spears reported Tuesday that Green is “frustrated” with his role in Golden State, which perhaps could explain why he and Kerr butted heads.

“I’m hearing too that Draymond is a little frustrated with having to guard centers and having to guard guys that are 40-to-50 pounds heavier than him on a nightly basis,” Spears said on “NBA Today” (h/t @ohnohedidnt24 on X/Twitter).

The Warriors signed veteran big man Al Horford this past offseason, in large part to allow the 6-foot-6 Green to play more as a power forward than a center. However, Horford has battled injuries to start the 2025-26 NBA season, playing in just 13 of Golden State’s 30 games and starting only once.

While young center Quinten Post has impressed in his second season, he’s averaging less than 19 minutes per game. As a result, Green frequently has to play significant minutes at center, serving as the primary defender against post players that often are over six inches taller than him.

Kerr said before Monday’s game that Horford could return from a back injury for the Warriors’ Christmas Day matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. Maybe that will help ease Green’s frustration as Golden State looks to get back on track for the new year.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Russell Westbrook and Brook Lopez back into fantasy relevance

Happy Holidays! We’ve got another unusual week in the association, with zero-game slates and Christmas Day games on deck.

Let’s get into what we might expect moving forward.

→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock! The Nuggets take on the Mavericks at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the Rockets at the Clippers at 11 p.m. ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.

NBA: Miami Heat at New York Knicks
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Is the time ‘now’ for Kel’el Ware?
Ware had an outstanding Week 9, culminating with a 28-point, 19-rebound effort against the Knicks.

STOCK UP

Brook Lopez — C, Clippers

The Clippers ended their five-game losing streak with a win over the Lakers this past weekend, but lost arguably their most durable player, Ivica Zubac, in the process. With Zubac out for at least the next few weeks, that provides Lopez a massive opportunity to become a relevant fantasy basketball option. In his first year with the Clippers, Lopez has underwhelmed and been completely out of the rotation for stretches while the team struggled. Yet, he took advantage of his increased playing time against the Lakers and finished with 11 points, three three-pointers, and a pair of blocked shots — anything along those lines should be expected as he presumably steps into the starting lineup for the time being. The veteran center has the potential to log some even better performances if the three-point volume remains. Nonetheless, Lopez is in a good spot, and if he plays well over the next couple of games, he could be a worthwhile fantasy option.

Russell Westbrook — PG/SG, Kings

It’s not all bad for everyone on the Kings; just ask Westbrook, who remains a nightly triple-double threat in his 18th NBA season. The BIG numbers aren’t there as frequently as once before, but the former league MVP is still getting the job done in several categories — he’s averaging his most points and assists since the 2022-23 season, and his most rebounds since Year 1 with the Lakers. And on high volume, Westbrook is shooting the best three-point percentage of his career. He’s taking advantage of his starting role with Sacramento and has been one of the team’s most productive players. His stock should continue to rise as he gets more comfortable and grows in his role.

Kyshawn George — SG/SF/PF, Wizards

George has hardly slowed down after a very fast start to his sophomore season. The scoring has fluctuated over the past week, mostly due to inefficient three-point shooting, but he has made up for it by functioning as an impactful passer, productive rebounder, and a disruptive defender who consistently collects stocks. The bottom line is that George is proving he can remain an impactful fantasy basketball player on any night, given his ability to be involved in several areas of the game — this is his floor. His ceiling is the occasions when he’s got it all clicking. He’s averaging 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists over his last three.

nbc_roto_johnson_251219.jpg
Fantasy Basketball Week 10 Schedule Primer: Navigating the holiday chaos
Christmas Week is always somewhat awkward in fantasy basketball because of the unusual schedule.

STOCK DOWN

Malik Monk — SG, Kings

It’s been a down season for the Kings and several of their veteran players. Of the many established names on the roster, Monk is the latest to find himself in an unfavorable spot. Before logging five minutes of game action in Sacramento’s recent come-from-behind win in overtime over Houston, he had spent the previous two in uniform but unable to crack the rotation. The versatile combo guard has, admittedly, been confused by the sudden lack of playing time, as have many followers, such as myself. Monk had combined for 34 points, eight assists, and six three-pointers in the two games prior to being benched, and also had 25 points and five threes in a game against the Rockets earlier this month. It doesn’t appear as though a return to the rotation is imminent, leaving him firmly in this “Stock Down” category.

Mark Williams — C, Suns

Williams’s lack of involvement and production on the offensive end has been both surprising and concerning, following an eight-game streak of double-digit scoring performances, which included four with at least 15 points. He hasn’t played more than 19 minutes in three of the last four games, resulting in five or fewer shot attempts and less than 10 points in said games. Williams is also collecting just 5.1 rebounds per game in December, far below the 9.1 he tallied in November and the 9.4 in October. Perhaps a more favorable matchup with the Lakers, whom he logged 20 points against in between his three recent low-scoring games, could get him back on track.

Andrew Wiggins — SG/SF/PF, Heat

It’s difficult to say exactly what’s caused the Heat to sputter over the past few weeks and lose seven of their last nine games. However, receiving minimal scoring production on offense from one of the team’s more proven players could be part of the issue. Whether due to low volume or inefficient shooting, Wiggins has scored better than 13 points only twice so far in December — he’s been even less productive as a scorer recently, averaging 9.0 points on 9-of-31 shooting over the past three games. Contributions on the defensive end have helped keep the fantasy production from falling off. Still, fantasy managers would like to see the former NBA champion pick up his scoring production and put together more well-rounded performances.

Posted on

Mike Dunleavy, Warriors focused on improving with team's current roster

Mike Dunleavy, Warriors focused on improving with team's current roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors sit at an even 15-15 two nights before Christmas, a disappointing record for everyone from top to bottom.

Golden State’s general manager, Mike Dunleavy, joined Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on “Warriors Pregame Live” prior to the Warriors’ win over the Orlando Magic on Monday at Chase Center and discussed whether he envisions another blockbuster trade happening before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.

“We’ll look to do stuff that makes our team better, Dunleavy said. “But I wouldn’t bank on that type of move. To get a guy like Jimmy Butler, to have the improvement that we did … that’d be pretty unrealistic.”

The Warriors made a splash minutes before the trade deadline last year, landing Butler, which completely turned their season around.

After acquiring Butler, the Warriors ended the season 23-8 with momentum heading into the postseason. An injury to Steph Curry in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves halted the run, but there’s no excuse for why things haven’t clicked so far this season.

“I think the key, frankly, with this team right now is improving it from within, Dunleavy continued. “The biggest area we know is turnovers.”

The Warriors currently have the fifth-most turnovers per game at 16.2. Only the Trail Blazers, Rockets, Clippers, and Hornets average more.

“We’ve got to start taking care of the ball, Dunleavy stated. “We’re doing some really good stuff defensively. People talk a lot about our size, between Quinten and Draymond, when those two are in the game our rim protection is fantastic. When Steph’s off the court, and Jimmy’s on with the group. Our offense is pretty good.”

The Warriors still lack a consistent scoring big on their roster. Al Horford was signed during the offseason in an effort to fill the void, but the move hasn’t panned out so far.

“This has become a possession game in the NBA with the rebounding, the steals, taking care of the ball,” Dunleavy concluded. “I think we’re all frustrated, we know what the issue is, and we’ve just got to go solve it.”

The frustrations have been loud. From Steve Kerr and Draymond Green getting into it on the sidelines to Jonathan Kuminga receiving multiple DNPs. This team is searching for consistency and has found nothing but distractions.

Golden State currently sits at the eighth seed in the Western Conference as the group looks to build on a two-game win streak against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Warriors' Draymond Green must stay true to his word that problem won't linger

Warriors' Draymond Green must stay true to his word that problem won't linger originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Instead of focusing on the first-half performance of Jimmy Butler, the second-half showing of Steph Curry, the overall impact Brandin Podziemski and a long list of players had contributing to a 23-point Warriors win Monday night, all talk has been consumed by Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr’s public heated argument during a third-quarter timeout. 

The voice that stood out the most following the incident wasn’t Green or Kerr. A dejected Curry spoke to the bigger picture at hand, a problem that can grow if not taken care of immediately. 

“It’s unfortunate that we’re up here after considering where we’ve been, two-game win streak and protecting our home court, that the vibes of the questions are a little bit more negative than they should be,” Curry said. “I get why you’re asking them.”

Curry did not want to answer questions about the incident. He knew he’d have to. Curry was looking at the box score when first asked about it and requested the reporter to repeat the question. 

“Just having a good conversation,” he sarcastically answered. 

“That’s kind of for them to talk about, not me,” Curry continued. 

There lies the problem. Curry was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field and 3 of 3 from 3-point range in the third quarter after missing all six of his threes in the first half to help him get to 26 points while also leading the team with six assists. Butler was aggressively in control in the first half as Curry struggled and efficiently reached 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting with six free throws. Moses Moody gave the Warriors three 20-point scorers in a game where he was 8 of 11 from the field and went 3 of 6 on threes. 

Off the bench, Podziemski was one of the best players on the floor for either team as a plus-36 that met the eye test. Gary Payton II provided constant energy in 10 minutes, as did Gui Santos in his 10. 

And then for Green himself, he was mostly solid in his 18 minutes with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and one turnover. But he also was one of two Warriors (Will Richard) with a negative plus/minus. None of those numbers will be remembered. Him going back and forth at Kerr and eventually deciding on his own to leave the bench and go to the Warriors’ locker room is all that will be remembered. 

The decision to leave the bench solely was on Green. Once he decided to do so, Kerr wasn’t going to let him play again, beginning at the 8:31 mark of the third quarter. 

Both of Green and Kerr, as well others who spoke after the game, said the issue won’t linger. 

“We’re good. We’ll move forward. We’ll be all right,” Green said. 

History is why Green is confident this won’t spill over to a larger problem.

“Because none of the other ones ever have,” Green said. “We still keep winning, so we’ll be all right.” 

But is this just a blip in the road, or an insight into something bigger? 

Green was ejected the previous game, a 119-116 win against the Phoenix Suns, for giving a profanity-laced argument at a referee. Moody, 23, was the one trying to hold Green back during his ejection. Moody also was the one physically holding onto Green on the bench Monday night and got in between Green and Kerr before assistant coach Anthony Vereen escorted him down the tunnel. 

The decision to remove himself from the situation can be taken multiple ways. Some might feel like Green quit on his team out of selfish emotions in the middle of a game while trailing. There also can be some maturity seen in Green feeling like the smartest decision was to cool himself down away from Kerr. 

“I just felt like it was best for me, and everybody,” Green said. “You stay in a hot situation, there’s no way to stop it. So I just wanted to remove myself.”

The basketball of all this also has to be spoken about. The Warriors were a plus-16 after Green’s ejection Saturday night. They were even better without him Monday, outscoring the Magic 54-26 the rest of the game.

“It means we’ve got guys on the bench who are dying to play,” Kerr said. “This is the NBA, and all these guys have their careers at stake. They want to win, they want to play. So when their opportunity comes up, they’re ready to play.”

Green is turning the ball over more than ever before, and the Warriors still are at their best when he’s at his best – physically and emotionally. 

On a night where there was so much positive to focus on from a game where the Warriors earned their second straight win to get back to .500 (15-15), and the entire Chase Center crowd sang “Happy Birthday” for Draymond’s son DJ on his ninth birthday, the lasting image can’t be him losing his cool and having to take himself out. 

Even if this isn’t the last clash between Green and Kerr – and it likely won’t be – the problem can’t become public, and it can’t linger. Not now, not again. These Warriors can’t afford it, and neither can Green.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Knueppel the fastest player to 100 three-pointers

Kon Knueppel
Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.4 points per game this season [Getty Images]

Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel became the fastest player to score 100 three-pointers in the NBA during a 139-132 defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 20-year-old, the fourth pick at the 2025 draft, reached the landmark in only 29 games when he scored in the first quarter at Rocket Arena.

Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen held the previous record of 41 games, while playing for the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18.

Knueppel scored five of the nine three-pointers he attempted against the Cavaliers to finish with 20 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 23 and Brandon Miller 20 for the Hornets.

But Donovan Mitchell racked up 30 points, DeAndre Hunter 27 and Darius Garland 27 with 10 assists for the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are seventh in the Eastern Conference and the Hornets 12th.

Posted on

How the Mamba stole Christmas: The origins of Kobe's ‘Grinch' sneakers

How the Mamba stole Christmas: The origins of Kobe's ‘Grinch' sneakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Black Mamba went green for Christmas and changed the sneaker game forever.

Kobe Bryant’s Nike partnership produced some of the most iconic signature shoes of all time, but nothing compares to the heat he brought to Staples Center on Dec. 25, 2010. The Los Angeles Lakers legend stepped onto the floor and introduced bright green shoes that are seen to this day.

The Lakers will be back on the Christmas stage this year when they face the Houston Rockets, and Bryant’s kicks are sure to be seen across the five-game NBA slate on Thursday. What exactly are the green shoes, and how are they attainable?

Here’s a look back at the quintessential Christmas kicks:

Nike Kobe 6 Grinch origin

Originally dubbed “Green Mamba,” both the name and design played off Bryant’s nickname, as the shoe featured two-toned green scales.

The red logo on the tongue gave the shoe a Christmas look. That holiday combo, along with the particular shade of green, led people to nickname the shoe after the Grinch.

Bryant Wade
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers posts up against Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat at Staples Center on December 25, 2010, in Los Angeles. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

When did Kobe Bryant first wear Grinch sneakers?

Bryant sported the Grinch kicks for the first time on a fitting occasion.

The defending NBA champion Lakers welcomed the newly formed Miami Heat Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to Staples Center for a Christmas Day showdown in 2010. Between the Lakers wearing their white uniforms, the Heat going with road red and the green sneakers worn by Bryant and other Lakers, the colors on the court matched the holiday spirit.

While the game is remembered for the shoe’s debut, it was an underwhelming afternoon for Bryant and the Lakers. He was held to 17 points as the Heat picked up a 96-80 win.

The Heat weren’t the only ones to leave Staples Center happy. Fans who had courtside seats for the game received a gift bag that included the now-iconic shoes.

How much did Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers cost?

The kicks were sold for an initial price of $130 and hit retail the same day as the game.

When did Nike relaunch Kobe 6 Grinch?

Nike relaunched the Kobe 6 Protro Grinch on Dec. 24, 2020, at $180.

The Grinch wasn’t the only Kobe 6 colorway to get a re-release. The Kobe 6 All-Star got a Protro re-launch in March 2021 at $190, the Kobe 6 White Del Sol got a Protro re-launch in June 2021 at $180 and the Kobe 6 Protro Reverse — which inverted the color scheme of the original Grinch shoes — released in December 2023 at $190.

In 2024, Nike released Kobe Grinch football cleats and a mismatched set — one green and one red — at $230.

How much do Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers cost now?

The kicks have more than tripled in price over the last five years, with a pair fetching an asking price between $600-$1,500 on most retail sites. 

Does Nike still sell Kobe sneakers?

Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, announced a new partnership with Nike in March 2022 after she previously called out the company for a tribute shoe for Kobe and their daughter, Gigi, that went online without her permission. As part of the deal, all proceeds for Gigi’s shoes will be donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.

Posted on

NBA, FIBA to begin formally talking to teams about NBA Europe in January

Whatever is happening with domestic expansion, the NBA Europe league is moving full speed ahead.

The NBA and FIBA announced Monday that they "will in January move forward in their joint exploration of a new professional, pan-European men's basketball league by engaging prospective teams and ownership groups in the process to join the league." While for the last year there have been informal meetings with potential teams — and J.P. Morgan has looked into the financials of potential investors — things are now about to become much more formal.

The 12-16 team league is projected to have several "permanent" members — Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been mentioned as teams the league met with — but also will provide "a merit-based pathway" to qualify each year, either through FIBA's Basketball Champions League or another European league tournament. The new NBA league will need some big-name existing clubs to get the fan buy-in it seeks across Europe.

"[The NBA has met with] a combination of existing clubs, organizations that own clubs in other leagues, city officials, many of whom I've met with, as well, governmental leaders of states in terms of their interest," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in Las Vegas last week before the NBA Cup final. "I'd say we've heard a lot of very positive interest in our moving forward.

"I think we at the league office are still working on the economic model, want to make sure it makes sense. As I've said before, many of the cities we'd like to be in don't have a sufficient arena infrastructure, so that's something that we would need to work on in terms of private investment, maybe work with those municipalities, as well."

What the NBA will want is a formal salary structure (likely with a hard cap) to build out this league, and the NBA is banking on its business model — and ability to get some new arenas constructed — to turn this into a profitable venture for both the teams involved and the league.

With its announcement, the league also said both it and FIBA "plan to dedicate financial support and resources to the continued development of Europe's basketball ecosystem, including domestic leagues, club team academies, and the NBA and FIBA's existing programs to develop aspiring players, coaches and referees at all levels of the game."

The goal has been a fall 2027 launch for the new NBA Europe league.

Posted on

Nets recall rookie Ben Saraf from G League after 40-point performance

After dropping a career-high 40 points in the G League on Monday afternoon, the Nets are recalling rookie Ben Saraf.

Saraf, one of Brooklyn's five first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 26 overall), was dominant for the Long Island Nets in their 116-97 win over the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League Winter Showcase. 

The point guard shot 54 percent in the scoring outburst, going 14-for-26 from the field, including 6-for-10 from three. He also added in six rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Saraf does have a right ankle sprain, but is being listed as probable for Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The rookie has played in just 12 NBA games so far with five starts. In those limited minutes (16.9 per game), he's averaging 5.4 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game.

With Cam Thomas still sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Saraf will look to make the most of his opportunities and hope his scoring can translate to the association.