Category: NBA

There were signs this was coming for LeBron James. 

As he warmed up Thursday, he danced. He waved his arms as he moved up and down. He stuck out his tongue. He grinned widely. 

He tossed the ball so high into the air that Rui Hachimura could walk under it immediately after it bounced. Then he caught the ball before it hit the ground again, as the entire team bent its knees in unison with his. 

He was loose. He was joyful. He was him. 

James tapped back into his je ne sais quoi after it was drained from him in an exhausting loss to the league-best Thunder on Monday. 

A few days later, the 41-year-old had reset, transforming back into the version of himself that’s untouchable by Father Time. 

James scored or assisted on the first 23 points in the Lakers’ 124-104 win over the Mavericks, his longest such stretch to begin a game in his career, per ESPN Research. By halftime, he had 18 points and eight rebounds. He finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. 

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“He’s got a 23-year prime, basically,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

James received a standing ovation at Crypto.com Arena after setting the triple-double record by grabbing his 10th rebound with 2:05 left. He surpassed Karl Malone, who had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at 40 years and 127 days old in 2003. (James was 41 years and 44 days old when he set the record.)

“Any given night, if I need to turn it on, I can turn it on,” James said.

Boy, did the Lakers need this. They had lost two games in a row heading into Thursday’s contest. After Monday’s loss to the Thunder and their swarming defense, James looked as though he had survived a battle. “I’m just tired as f—,” he said. “Sorry if I sound irritated, but I’m 41.”

On Thursday, being 41 had a completely different meaning. It wasn’t old, it was remarkable. It wasn’t a disability, it was a revelation. 

As for where his joy came from, James said it never left.

“That’s always me,” he said. “I’m a goofy-ass 41-year-old kid. I think people should know that by now, right? That’s just me. I get to play basketball. They pay me to play basketball. Why wouldn’t I be happy? I get to be with my son and my teammates and all these unbelievable fans that watched me throughout my career, and they give me all the support and love. I enjoy what I do. Have fun. You see me on the court, see me in the back. I just love what I do. It’s pretty cool.”

James, who’s the first player in NBA history to reach his 23rd season, has long maintained that he’s going to play as long as he’s aligned physically, mentally and emotionally.

He acknowledged that after missing the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica, he questioned whether he could return to the superstar level he has maintained his entire career. He wasn’t able to participate in the preseason. He couldn’t do his typical training over the summer. 

“Doubt creeps into your mind to see if you can get back to form and get back to making an impact,” he said.

But James, who finished sixth in MVP voting last season, clearly is still capable of being the best player in the league on any given night.

James said last season that he could play at this level for another five seasons if he chooses. When asked if he still feels that way now, he didn’t hesitate. “Could I?” James asked. “Yeah, I could. … I just think it has to be here (points to his mind). How long can I stay in love with the process? Because that’s always been my thing. If I can’t continue to stay in love with the process, then if this goes, then my body’s gonna go. And once my body goes, then it’s a wrap. Then the love goes, and then the fun and all that stuff goes.”

“So, that’s what it is. It’s not my game is deteriorating. Obviously, there’s things I could have did when I was 25 compared to 35, and 35 to 41 or 21 to 31 or 41. But I have so much knowledge of the game that I know how to still continue to make an impact even if I’m not a 45, 43, 41 vertical. I can still do so many things on the floor.”

James is very much still James. On Thursday, he made 3s over defenders’ outstretched arms, he threw no-look passes, he overpowered everyone in his path down low. 

He had his fingerprints over every play for the first seven minutes of the game. He’s still incredibly dominant. The best when he wants to be. 

What has changed is he’s now questioning whether he wants to keep doing this. 

When he has to deal with drama surrounding his relationship with Jeanie Buss or the Lakers’ holes are exposed against a much younger and more athletic Thunder team, you have to wonder if he’s leaning toward retiring. 

But then there are nights when he oozes joy, when he has his first triple-double in over a year and he makes NBA history, and you have to wonder how he could ever walk away from this. 

For now, all we really know is what he’s doing is unprecedented. 

And we’d be remiss to take any of it for granted. 

Rome Flynn repeats as NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rome Flynn earned MVP honors for the second straight year in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night, scoring 17 points to lead a team coached by Giannis Antetokounmpo to a 65-58 victory.

Actor-comedian Anthony Anderson coached the losing team, led by former 7-foot-6 NBA player Tacko Fall with 20 points.

The game brought basketball back to the Forum, home of the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Showtime” era until 1999, when they moved 10 miles away to downtown Los Angeles. Now, it has a different sponsor name under Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and is mostly used as a concert and entertainment venue.

K-pop made its debut at the game with boy group CORTIS performing at halftime.

Victor Wembanyama tossed up the opening tip between Team Giannis’ Jenna Bandy and Team Anthony’s Adrien Nunez, who got control, was fouled and missed his first throw.

Bandy was the only woman in either team’s starting lineup.

Team Giannis had a huge advantage in the paint with Fall grabbing most of the rebounds. His dunk made it a one-point game in the third.

Chinese actor-singer Dylan Wang garnered the loudest screams of the night, especially after he scored back-to-back baskets in the first quarter for Team Giannis.

Two of the oldest guys on the court were Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia (age 46) and Rick Schnall (50-something), who’s part of the Charlotte Hornets ownership group. Schnall fouled Ishbia in the first quarter, and Ishbia hit the free throws in a throwback to his Michigan State playing days.

Los Angeles Chargers star Keenan Allen hit a long shot from the red, white and blue line that was worth 4 points for Team Anthony. It launched a flurry of points for the wide receiver in the second quarter and he finished with 18 points.

Mascots from the Hornets and Mavericks alternated as sixth men restricted to playing in the backcourt for a bit in the third quarter.

Sidelined since Jan. 23 with a calf strain, Antetokounmpo won’t be playing in the All-Star Game on Sunday.

But the two-time MVP was assisted by his brothers Thanasis and Alex on Friday. Another assistant was Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts.

Former NBA player Jeremy Lin credited Betts for an inspiring halftime speech. “He definitely knows a lot about basketball,” Lin said.

The game marked the start of All-Star weekend, followed by the Rising Stars game down the street at Intuit Dome.

Zaccharie Risacher plays for Team T-Mac in a spotlight for rookies and sophomores as part of a four-team round robin format competition.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen

Location: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, CA

Start Time: 9:00 PM EDT

Streaming: Peacock

Sometimes progress shows up quietly — it isn’t always flashy and it isn’t always immediate. But since assuming a bigger role, Egor Dëmin has given the Nets every reason to feel confident about their ‘bold’ investment in him.

You can make what you want out of the accolades — he’s 19 years old and pundits said he didn’t have a jump shot at the Draft. We believed them, he’s proving us wrong. He’s averaged 10.8 points on 39.6% shooting from deep — 16.7 points in games which he’s played 30+ minutes. Perhaps it’s more than an accolade. It’s a reflection of how far he’s come, and how quickly he’s adapted to the NBA game. As for Friday… he’s in good hands.

DID YOU SEE VC… WITH EGOR?

Egor will represent Team Vince.

ICYMI

We got — not one, not two, not three — but FOUR Nets players on one podcast.

The Teams

(Via NBA.com)

💬 DISCUSSION

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Sometimes progress shows up quietly — it isn’t always flashy and it isn’t always immediate. But since assuming a bigger role, Egor Dëmin has given the Nets every reason to feel confident about their ‘bold’ investment in him.

You can make what you want out of the accolades — he’s 19 years old and pundits said he didn’t have a jump shot at the Draft. We believed them, he’s proving us wrong. He’s averaged 10.8 points on 39.6% shooting from deep — 16.7 points in games which he’s played 30+ minutes. Perhaps it’s more than an accolade. It’s a reflection of how far he’s come, and how quickly he’s adapted to the NBA game. As for Friday… he’s in good hands.

DID YOU SEE VC… WITH EGOR?

Egor will represent Team Vince.

OH AND BY THE WAY…

We got — not one, not two, not three — but FOUR Nets players on one podcast.

The Teams

(Via NBA.com)

💬 DISCUSSION

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

All Star weekend is here. Tonight’s schedule:

• 6:00 PM CT—All Star celebrity game (ESPN)
• 8:00 PM CT—Rising Stars G1; Team Austin vs Team Melo (Peacock)
• 8:55 PM CT—Rising Stars G2; Team Vince vs Team T-Mac (Peacock)
• 9:35 PM CT—Rising Stars Championship; winner of G1 vs winner of G2 (Peacock)

Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are on Team Melo, and hopefully they’ll have a good game and win a trophy at the end. Carter Bryant was a last minute addition to Team Vince, and he’s also in the dunk contest tomorrow, so not all of the Spurs participants can be Rising Stars champions tonight. It’s going to be a fun night for the players and fans, but I don’t expect to see much quality basketball. Not tonight, not all weekend.

Game Prediction:

Stephon Castle finds is hard to not play defense, gets benched by Melo, who never played defense in his life.

All Star Friday Night
February 13, 2026
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

Edgecombe wins Rising Stars MVP, shows off clutch skills  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe’s clutch skills traveled to his first NBA All-Star weekend. 

The Sixers’ rookie guard earned the MVP award Friday night in the Rising Stars mini-tournament at Intuit Dome. Edgecombe calmly drained two free throws to give his team a 25-24 win in the final.

Edgecombe made crucial plays in both the semifinals and final for his team, which had Vince Carter as honorary coach. Spurs assistant coach Corliss Williamson (once a Sixers player) served as head coach. 

After drilling his free throws, Edgecombe walked over to All-Star teammate Tyrese Maxey on the sideline and celebrated. Maxey’s set to participate in both the three-point contest Saturday night and the All-Star Game itself on Sunday.

Edgecombe’s late-game heroics were the highlight of his squad’s semifinal win. 

With his team nearing the target score of 40, Edgecombe sunk two long-range shots. He then sealed the deal, nailing a step-back jumper from the right elbow over Cam Spencer to advance to the final. 

The 20-year-old wound up scoring his squad’s last 10 points. He finished with a game-high 17 on 6-for-8 shooting and five rebounds. 

Fifty games into his NBA career, the No. 3 overall pick has already established himself as a player who enjoys crunch time and often thrives at the tail end of tight games.

In clutch situations, Edgecombe has shot 55.8 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from three-point range. He also leads the Sixers in clutch rebounds (27 in 130 minutes) and clutch steals (seven). 

“Everything we have there is that he’s on pace to be someone who’s got a real chance to be a future All-Star,” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said last week. “He’s playing great basketball, especially at the ends of games.”

MADRID (AP) — Sergio Herrera produced a string of superb saves to win a point for Osasuna in a 0-0 draw at Elche in La Liga on Friday.

Home side Elche had the lion’s share of the chances but Herrera used his hands, body, and legs to thwart the forwards over and over, including twice in the final minutes.

“That’s football, these things happen,” Elche coach Eder Sarabia said. “We were vastly superior and produced a brilliant performance, but sometimes you still don’t win. It was a 4-0 or 4-1 kind of game.”

Elche looked a different side from the one that lost its previous three league games and was more incisive than the team six places above it.

However, Herrera’s heroics meant it ended with just one point that lifted it two places, into 13th. Its winless league runs extended to seven matches. It has the same points as the two teams below it, Sevilla and Alaves.

Osasuna remained in ninth place.

Only six points separate Athletic Bilbao in 10th from Rayo Vallecano in the relegation zone.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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2026 Sixth Man of the Year odds

Player		Movement
Naz Reid	+185	▲
Keldon Johnson	+320	▲
Jaime Jaquez Jr.	+475	▼
Ajay Mitchell	+1200	--
Reed Sheppard	+1400	▼
Ayo Dosunmu	+1500	▲
Anthony Black	+1800	▼
Anfernee Simons	+2000	▲
Tim Hardaway Jr.	+2000	▲
Grayson Allen	+2800	▲

Odds as of 2-13-2026.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year favorites

Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves has already been a past winner of the award, but bettors are seeing him recapture that scoring-and-efficiency combo that helped him earn the honor as his name remains among the more respected and realistic long-shots.

Close behind him in the latest Sixth Man of the Year race is Keldon Johnson, who has been providing the San Antonio Spurs with valuable scoring and athleticism off the bench for his team.

Meanwhile, Ajay Mitchell has drawn attention thanks to his consistent production and efficient play — his early-season form has many calling him a serious 6MOTY candidate.

Reed Sheppard gets in the mix with his breakout role off the bench and elevated minutes in Houston with the Rockets.

Covers NBA betting tools

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NBA Sixth Man of the Year opening odds

• Naz Reid +900
• Anfernee Simons +1100
• John Collins +1100
• Tari Eason +1100
• De'Andre Hunter +1200
• Onyeka Okongwu +1800
• Josh Hart +2000
• Bobby Portis +2200
• Jared McCain +2500
• Jordan Clarkson +2500
• Malik Monk +2500
• Donte DiVincenzo +3000
• Jonathan Kuminga +3000
• PJ Washington +3000
• Reed Sheppard +3000

Odds courtesy of Sports Odds History.

Understanding NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's 6MOY race as an example: 

As the season progressed, with Immanuel Quickley having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number: 

• Immanuel Quickley -300

This means that a bettor needs to wager $300 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such: 

• Russell Westbrook +650

Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.

Popular NBA futures markets

• NBA championship odds
• NBA MVP odds
• NBA Rookie of the Year odds
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds

NBA 6MOY betting trends

Here are some trends you'll want to keep in mind when betting on NBA Sixth Man of the Year: 

• Guards have absolutely owned this award recently, winning 6MOY in 10 of the past 12 seasons.
  
  
• Naz Reid's 2024 win marked only the fourth 6MOY win by a center in its 41-year history (Montrezl Harrell '20, Roy Tarpley '88, and Bill Walton '86).
  
  
• Both Jamal Crawford ('10, '14, '16) and Lou Williams ('15, '18, '19) are recent three-time winners, so voter fatigue may matter less in this market. 

How is NBA Sixth Man of the Year decided?

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year is awarded to the league's best bench player each season. A variety of factors go into evaluating who the top reserve is:

Consistent statistical impact

The 6MOY must consistently provide a significant impact on the game whenever entering from the bench. This impact should be palpable and discernible in terms of offensive, defensive, or playmaking contributions.

Scoring prowess

The candidate should display an ability to contribute significantly to the team's scoring efforts. This can be evidenced by an impressive points-per-game average, especially in crucial moments of the game. Scoring tends to be the single most important stat for Sixth Man voting.

Versatility

The awardee should demonstrate the capability to adapt to various game situations. This encompasses two-way play, as well as adaptability to different styles and opposing lineups.

Role-player mentality

The recipient must exhibit a selfless approach to the game, willingly accepting their role as a substitute player and deferring to stars, while able to fill a variety of needs for team success.

Impact on team success

The award recipient should have a discernible impact on the team's overall success during the regular season, especially in terms of on-off metrics that measure a player’s impact on their team’s bottom line, and value relative to potential replacements.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year history

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

HULL, England (AP) — Pedro Neto scored a hat trick, including directly from a corner kick, as Chelsea beat Hull City 4-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday.

Also, Wrexham reached the fifth round for the first time in 29 years after beating Ipswich 1-0 in an all-Championship matchup.

Hull and Chelsea had met eight times before in the FA Cup and Chelsea progressed every time. Host Hull never looked like halting that arresting run as the Premier League side took control from the off.

Pedro Neto’s drilled shot from just outside the box gave Chelsea the lead going into halftime, and his low corner squeaked through a throng of bodies straight into the goal six minutes into the second period.

Young Brazilian Estêvão made it 3-0 minutes later when he side-footed home from 12 meters out, and Pedro Neto finished a nicely worked fourth.

“Pedro Neto is an incredible player,” Liam Delap, who recorded three assists, told TNT Sports. “He is playing in a position he is not even used to but he showed his quality.

Wrexham roll on

Wrexham will discover in Monday's draw who it meets next for a place in the quarterfinals.

A first-half goal from Josh Windass separated Wrexham from Ipswich, which didn't get a shot on target.

Both teams are in contention for promotion to the Premier League; Ipswich was in third place and hoping for an immediate return to the league it left last summer. Wrexham was seven points behind in sixth and bidding for a fourth consecutive promotion that would take it into the top tier for the first time in its 158-year history.

“We started both halves well but we weren’t able to get the goal," Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Wales. “Second half we tried everything ... but we just couldn’t get back into the game.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Malik Beasley was a free agent looking to re-sign a three-year, $42 million contract with the Detroit Pistons before he was named in a federal investigation about an NBA gambling scandal.

Beasley's attorneys stated that he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the federal case in August. Beasley is still under investigation by the NBA related to suspicious prop bets placed during the 2023-24 season. Despite the issues, he has found a place to play basketball this season.

Beasley, 29, reportedly signed a deal to play in Puerto Rico for the Santurce Crabbers, a team owned by Grammy Award-winning and Super Bowl 60 performing artist Bad Bunny, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

PISA, Italy (AP) — Luka Modrić scored a late winner for AC Milan to beat Pisa 2-1 and close the gap on Serie A leader Inter Milan to five points on Friday.

Inter plays fourth-placed Juventus on Saturday.

Milan had drawn three of its last six games, including against struggling Fiorentina and Genoa, and made heavy work of a match against the second-from-bottom club that had won only one league game all season.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek got the opener just before halftime when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right, and Niclas Füllkrug missed a penalty as Milan took control after a slow start.

However, Pisa threatened to dent the visitor’s title hopes when Felipe Loyola equalized with 20 minutes left.

Former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Modrić came to Milan’s rescue six minutes from time when he stole into the box and poked home the winner.

There was still time for Milan’s Adrien Rabiot to be sent off but no more time for goals and Massimiliano Allegri’s men celebrated an important three points.

Pisa was equal on points with Verona. Fiorentina was three above both teams and Lecce another three points clear.

The Milan teams meet in the city derby at the San Siro on March 8.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund beat Mainz 4-0 to extend its unbeaten league run to 15 games and close the gap with Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to three points on Friday.

The result, anchored by three first-half headers, left Dortmund three points behind Bayern, which is at Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Although its European form has been poor, Dortmund has been the form team in the Bundesliga and came into the game having won its last five in a row; it showed precisely why by overwhelming Mainz from the kickoff.

Serhou Guirassy’s perfect header from a free kick on the right after nine minutes set Dortmund on the winning path and six minutes later it was 2-0.

Again, the damage came from a cross from the right and a header, Maximilian Beier meeting Ryerson’s delivery at the far post.

Guirassy rounded off a near perfect half of football when his header almost on the goalline made it 3-0 shortly before halftime.

Dortmund was able to take its foot off the gas in the second half but there was still time for a fourth when Ramy Bensebaini nudged a corner into the net nine minutes from time.

It was a rude awakening for a Mainz side that appeared to have put its early season struggles behind it over the last few weeks.

Last weekend’s win against Augsburg lifted it out the relegation zone for the first time since September. Friday’s defeat left it 14th, four points above the drop zone but only two clear of Wolfsburg and Werder, both of which have a game in hand.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and this year the league has bigger problems than superstars not trying in an exhibition game. The moral panic over tanking has reached a fever pitch ahead of a loaded 2026 NBA Draft, and it seems unlikely that the USA vs. The World format for Sunday’s showcase game will be much of a distraction from basketball’s bigger problems.

Before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game kicks off from the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Intuit Dome, on Sunday, the league is gathering for another rendition of All-Star Saturday featuring the Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Shootout.

The Dunk Contest has fallen on hard times as of late, and once again there’s a disappointing field of participants. Mac McClung isn’t around to save the dunk contest this year, but there is one NBA All-Star in the field. Meanwhile, the Three-Point Contest features two top rookies, plus an aging superstar who hasn’t played a game this season because of an injury. Let’s make predictions for the dunk and three-point contests ahead of All-Star Saturday.

NBA Dunk Contest 2026 field and prediction

Here’s the field at the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest:

• Jase Richardson, G, Orlando Magic: The son of two-time dunk contest champ Jason Richardson is a rookie guard for the Orlando Magic who was picked No. 25 overall out of Michigan State. He’s listed at 6’1, 180 pounds, and has never been known for his hops like his old man.
• Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons: Duren is a first-time All-Star for the Pistons and one of the best young bigs in the league. Listed at 6’10, 250 pounds, he’s about the same size as Dwight Howard when he won the the Dunk Contest in 2008.
• Carter Bryant, F, San Antonio Spurs: A strong and athletic 6’8 wing, Bryant was chosen by the Spurs with the No. 14 overall pick in hopes of being a 3-and-D wing around Victor Wembanyama long-term.
• Jaxson Hayes, C, Los Angeles Lakers: Athletic backup center for the Lakers.

Our pick: Jaxson Hayes. It’s hard for a big man to win the dunk contest, but I saw Hayes an under-the-leg in-game a couple weeks ago, so I figure he’s got a deep bag for a contest like this. He’s so long and bouncy that could produce some cool dunks.

NBA Dunk Contest 2026 field and prediction

Here’s the field for the 2026 NBA Three-Point Contest:

• Kon Knueppel, G, Charlotte Hornets: Kneuppel is the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year. The No. 4 overall pick looks like a potential franchise player for the upstart Charlotte Hornets.
• Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers: Lillard hasn’t played a game this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. It was shocking to see him on this list. He’s going for his third title in this contest after winning it in 2023 and 2024.
• Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns: An All-Star and one of the best shooting guards in the league, Booker is the leader of a surprisingly feisty Suns team.
• Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets: A first-time All-Star and NBA champion, Murray is a big shot taker and maker.
• Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers: An All-Star guard playing at an All-NBA level, Maxey’s combination of speed and touch is one of the best in the world.
• Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs superstar is arguably the best American-born player in the league right now.
• Norman Powell, G, Miami Heat: A first-time All-Star at age-32, Powell can fill it up as a microwave scorer.
• Bobby Portis, F, Milwaukee Bucks: A veteran forward and NBA champion, Portis is a cult hero up in Milwaukee who has always been a stretch forward.

Our pick: Jamal Murray. Murray always rises to the occasion. I think he’ll be looking to prove himself in his first ever All-Star Weekend, and that starts by ripping the nights on Saturday night.