Category: NBA

Jason Collins, NBA's first openly gay player, dies at 47 of brain tumor originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain tumor, his family announced Tuesday.

Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises. He revealed in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of his playing career.

Collins had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, which has an extremely low survival rate. He was 47.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said in a statement released through the NBA. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

Just last week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted for him.

“I told my brother this before I came here: He’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.

Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in his career. He helped the New Jersey Nets reach two NBA Finals and in his best season averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds for them in 2004-05.

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.

“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.”

Jason Collins revealed his sexuality in a first-person account for Sports Illustrated in April 2013. He was a free agent at the time, said he wanted to keep playing, and went on to play in 22 games with Brooklyn the following season.

“If I had my way, someone else would have already done this,” he wrote at that time. “Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.”

His decision was widely lauded, with star players such as Kobe Bryant quickly speaking out in support of Collins. There was even support from the White House and then-former President Bill Clinton — whose daughter, Chelsea, went to Stanford with Collins. At Stanford, Collins was roommates with someone who was part of another American political dynasty, that being Joe Kennedy III, who spent eight years in Congress representing Massachusetts.

Collins, in the piece for Sports Illustrated, wrote that he realized he needed to go public about his sexuality when Kennedy walked in Boston’s gay pride parade in 2012 — but Collins couldn’t do the same.

Until then, Collins kept his feelings about gay rights close to the vest. He wore jersey No. 98 for the majority of his final three playing stints with Boston, Washington and Brooklyn — a nod to the year that Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, was killed. He also wore 46 in one game for the Nets, since it was the only jersey the team had available when he signed.

Collins made nearly 61% of his shots in his career at Stanford, which remains a school record. He was an honorable mention selection for The Associated Press’ All-America team in 2001, a few months before the Houston Rockets took him with the 18th pick in that year’s NBA draft.

“It’s a sad day for all of us associated with Stanford basketball when we lose one of the program’s greats,” former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. “We all have great memories of Jason and the kind of person he was. It’s hard to separate Jarron and Jason because they thought so alike, but even though he was an identical twin, Jason was unique in his own way. The impact he had on Stanford was immense, as he could match up against anyone in the country because he was big, smart, strong and skilled, all while being a very bright and nice person.”

The NBA world got some unexpected, tragic news on Tuesday, as word of Memphis Grizzlies' power forward Brandon Clarke's death was revealed. He was 29 years old. The news was confirmed by Clarke's sports agency.

Though drafted with he 21st overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, the former Gonzaga Bulldog played all seven of his NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, earning All-Rookie team honors in 2020 and Sixth Man of the Year consideration in 2022. He played in just two games for the Grizzlies during the 2025-26 season due to a right calf strain among other various injuries.

Clarke's death comes little more than a month after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit, and trafficking a controlled substance.

Brandon Clarke, a former first-round draft pick who spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, has died. He was 29.

His agency, Priority Sports, confirmed the news Tuesday on social media. No cause of death has been disclosed.

"Everyone loved BC because he was always there as the most supportive friend you could ever imagine," the agency wrote. "He was so unique in the joy he brought to all of those in his life. It's just impossible to put into words how much he'll be missed. We love you, BC."

Born in Vancouver, Canada, Clarke played basketball at Desert Vista High in Phoenix, Ariz., before spending two years at San Jose State and one at Gonzaga. He was selected at No. 21 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2021 NBA draft but he was traded to the Grizzlies weeks later.

Read more:Kyle Loftis, street racing media pioneer who founded 1320Video, dies at 43

Clarke played in 309 games for Memphis but only two this past season because of injuries. Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds during his career.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said in a statement. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten. We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement.

"We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke," Silver said. "As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon's family, friends and the Grizzlies organization."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Perhaps the basketball gods are about to strike at the San Antonio Spurs. Two additions to the “questionable” line on their injury report before Game 5 could throw this series further into chaos, certainly after the Minnesota Timberwolves’ comeback win in Game 4.

My Timberwolves vs. Spurs props and NBA picks expect Minnesota to ask more from its best player while San Antonio may need to shift tactics in Game 5 on Tuesday, May 12.

For more intel, check out my complete Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions.

Best Timberwolves vs Spurs props for Game 5

Player	Pick
Anthony Edwards	Over 6.5 rebounds	+122
Keldon Johnson	Over 8.5 points	+102
Julius Randle	Under 3.5 assists	+105

Game 5 Prop #1: Anthony Edwards Over 6.5 rebounds

+122 at bet365

There are a few ways to assess the possibility the San Antonio Spurs could be without Dylan Harper and/or De’Aaron Fox tonight. It is quite likely at least one plays — if not both — but in the regular season, a gameday downgrade on the injury report is quite a telling move. That bodes poorly for Harper’s likelihood.

Harper, in particular, has been excellent this series, snagging at least four rebounds in each game, averaging 5.5, and seeing increased minutes in close games. Without the physical rookie on the court, Anthony Edwards’ life would get a bit easier.

The Minnesota Timberwolves superstar already emphasizes the glass in the postseason. After finding 14 rebounds in 41 minutes in Game 3, Edwards tracked down six in 40 minutes in Game 4.

The plus-money value here is a delight, the perk of this prop climbing from 5.5 rebounds. If either Harper or Fox is sidelined, Edwards should be pestered a bit less when handling the ball, should have a touch more energy, and should have a few more opportunities on the glass.

Game 5 Prop #2: Keldon Johnson Over 8.5 points

+102 at bet365

On the San Antonio side of things, losing Harper’s offense would create an opportunity for some other reserve. And it is worth focusing on Harper’s injury compared to Fox’s simply because a knee injury is more worrying than an ankle injury — along with the timing of the respective questionable designations.

Keldon Johnson could fill some of the Harper hole, though Johnson has already cleared this prop in three of the four games of this series, even with Harper excelling.

Johnson played cautiously in Game 4, but a role player should always be expected to play better at home than on the road. Again, the plus-money value here is a delight, quite frankly, a surprising one.

Game 5 Prop #3: Julius Randle Under 3.5 assists

+105 at bet365

Julius Randle has yet to dish out four assists in a game in this series. In fact, he is averaging just 1.75 assists per game. This prop should not be double that average.

At some point, the Timberwolves may need to go away from Randle. He is not shooting well, he's turning the ball over too often — at least five times in three of the four games against the Spurs — and he is only adequate defensively.

If Minnesota wants to throw a wrinkle at San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama, an athletic lineup featuring Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels as the two bigs would certainly dial up the offensive pace.

Chris Finch has that personnel, and when he considers it, Randle’s workload could shrink further.

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.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, the team, his agency and the NBA said Tuesday. He was 29.

Neither the Grizzlies nor Clarke's agency, Priority Sports, provided any details about when, where or how Clarke died.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten," the Grizzlies said in a statement. "We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

His agents wrote on social media that they were “beyond devastated” by Clarke’s death.

“He was so loved by all of us here and everyone whose life he touched,” Priority Sports said. “He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed sympathies to Clarke’s family and friends and the Grizzlies organization.

“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” Silver said. “As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit.”

The National Basketball Players Association said: “This is an incredible loss for the brotherhood. We will remember Brandon not only for the immense joy he brought to so many throughout his career, but for the genuine friendships he built far beyond basketball.”

Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance that was reportedly kratom, an herbal supplement promoted as an alternative pain remedy that becomes illegal in Tennessee as of July 1. He was released on bond a day later.

Clarke was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies, who already took guard Ja Morant second overall. Clarke joined Morant on the NBA's All-Rookie team in 2020, and the Grizzlies gave him a multiyear contract extension in October 2022.

He tore his left Achilles tendon March 3, 2023, in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in a showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference. Injuries limited him to 72 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons, including only two this season.

Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over his seven seasons with the Grizzlies.

He had one more season left on his contract with Memphis and was due to earn $12.5 million, according to Spotrac.com. But the Grizzlies are in the midst of another major roster rebuild after going 25-57 after trading away stars Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. within the past year.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

With the season on the brink of extinction, the Thunder put the Lakers out of their misery in Game 4 and advanced to the conference finals.

LA put up another valiant effort Monday, even nursing a one-point lead with 40 seconds remaining, but it wasn’t enough. OKC completed the sweep and bounced the purple and gold into the summer.

It’s one thing to lose all four matchups in the regular season, where game plans and lineups get adjusted by the hour. It’s another to stand side by side with the best team in the league and measure the difference.

Those measurements came up immensely short, even after accounting for superstar Luka Dončić missing the entire series. While the result revealed the Lakers have a multitude of issues to resolve, none is more pressing than finding their franchise center.

Backup center Jaxson Hayes’ strong performance in Game 4 lends a blueprint to what the focus should be.

As he’s done on numerous occasions this season, Hayes closed the game and played more minutes than starter Deandre Ayton. Hayes had his best game of the series with 18 points, five rebounds, and a block in 27 minutes.

It’s no coincidence the Lakers had their shot to win when their best athlete had his most productive game, especially coming from the center position. Hayes is one of the few — and maybe the only — Lakers players who can overpower his matchup with pure above-the-rim athleticism.

Watch below as he sets a wide pin down for Austin Reaves with LeBron James as the entry passer. It sets up the empty side action, with Reaves quickly throwing up the lob to where only Hayes can reach.

The runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, Chet Holmgren, comes to contest, but it has no impact as Hayes finishes the thunderous dunk over the top.

Late in the third quarter, the Lakers ran their Finland action. Watch as Luke Kennard comes off the final screen of the play and finds Hayes rolling with the pocket pass. Holmgren once again comes over to recover, but Hayes has already gathered onto his trampoline.

The monster finish at the basket put the Lakers up by one. Hayes used his pogo stick bounce to finish four dunks on Monday.

Vertical spacing and an almost infinite catch radius will be essential skill sets for pairing with heavy pick-and-roll guards this summer. Luka and Reaves led the league as a duo in pick and rolls ran per game this season.

In addition to the dunk fest, Hayes leveraged his athletic prowess to grab three offensive rebounds, including one massive tip-in putback to end the third quarter.

On the defensive end, his lateral quickness on the perimeter fit into head coach JJ Redick’s switch-heavy defensive style, while still being able to block shots at the rim, as seen in the play below.

Ajay Mitchell pushes it in transition and gets it swatted while the Lakers get a basket from LeBron on a leak-out pass.

While he contains many of the skills LA will need in its franchise center, Hayes was on a $3.5 million deal this season. He may return to the team in a backup role once again, but he can’t be relied on as a starting center going forward and he still carries a shaky playoff history.

The center opposite the Lakers in this series was Isaiah Hartenstein, who is making $29 million this season. Their other main big is Holmgren, who just signed a $250 million extension last summer.

Canvassing the other playoff teams remaining, they all have a center making close to max money, or soon to be, with players such as Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Jalen Duren of the Pistons.

Finding the permanent solution at center should be at the top of the to-do list this summer. If they don’t, they will find themselves right back in this position again next season.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, the team and his sports agency announced Tuesday. He was 29 years old.

Clarke, who was selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft after a decorated collegiate career at San Jose State and Gonzaga, played seven years for the Grizzlies. He earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2020 and averaged 20.8 minutes per game over 309 games in the NBA.

His last three seasons were largely impacted by injuries, but the Canadian-born forward was a crucial part of a Memphis roster that made multiple postseason appearances.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29, the team, the NBA and his agency say.

Lakers want LeBron James to return for another season with Luka Doncic, GM says originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

If LeBron James wants to keep playing professional basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers want it to be with them.

General manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick affirmed their desire to keep James in a Lakers uniform on Tuesday. James’ eighth season with the club ended Monday night with a heartbreaking 115-110 loss and a second-round sweep at the hands of the powerhouse champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 41-year-old James just completed his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, and he says he doesn’t know whether he’ll keep going.

“Any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster,” Pelinka said. “That’s a blessing in itself, just with what he does.”

The top scorer in league history is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so James can choose his destination if he postpones retirement for another year — although not every team has the payroll flexibility to pay him something near his worth. The Lakers have significant salary cap room and many decisions to make, but they’re hoping James will choose to remain a part of their attempt to build a championship-contending roster around Luka Doncic.

“He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization, and the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back,” Pelinka said.

Pelinka spoke repeatedly of his desire to “honor” James’ decision process. That means waiting until James tells them what’s happening, and the Lakers appear to be content to wait for weeks to come.

“The first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are,” Pelinka said. “Does he want to play another year in the NBA? That’ll be (determined through) family time, I think, time with his inner circle, and we just want to honor that for him.”

James is eight seasons into his longest continuous stint with one team, and his family is happily settled in Los Angeles, where he has won a championship and set multiple NBA career records. What’s more, his 21-year-old son, Bronny, is two seasons into a career as a backup guard with the Lakers, allowing LeBron to play alongside his son — most notably in several significant stretches together in these playoffs.

James missed 22 games this season because of injuries, and he scored a career-low 20.9 points per game while frequently serving as the Lakers’ third offensive option behind Doncic and Austin Reaves — filling that role for the first time in his basketball life, he said with a laugh. But James seemed to thrive in that secondary playmaking role, particularly when Los Angeles was playing its best basketball in March.

The Lakers won 53 games and the Pacific Division title despite losing Doncic for the season and Reaves for nearly a month to injuries in the same game April 2. While the season ended with a four-game sweep at the hands of the strong favorites to win the NBA title, the Lakers are headed into the offseason with optimism about their ability to get even better next season — particularly if James sticks around.

But Pelinka also made it clear that the Lakers are building around the 27-year-old Doncic, who won the NBA scoring title and appeared to be ramping up for a formidable playoff run before a hamstring strain sidelined him.

“The archetype of the roster that we want is going to be retrofitted around Luka and the things he needs,” Pelinka said. ”Clearly he’s that leader and player for the future that we want to build the right way around.”

The Lakers’ largest offseason transaction is likely to be a new contract for Reaves, the former undrafted free agent who has become one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers in five seasons with Los Angeles. Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season, and Pelinka confirmed that both sides expect the guard to sign a massive deal to stay with the Lakers.

“He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker, and we feel the same way,” Pelinka said. “We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the purple and gold. Both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out.”

The Lakers’ other unrestricted free agents including forward Rui Hachimura, who likely earned a big payday with his strong postseason play after long stretches of offensive passivity in the regular season; shooting guard Luke Kennard, a late-season trade pickup who made big contributions while Reaves was injured; and backup center Jaxson Hayes.

Starting center Deandre Ayton has an $8.1 million player option, and he said Monday that he hasn’t even begun to think about whether to pick it up. Marcus Smart, another big-time playoff contributor, has a $5.4 million player option that he seems likely to decline for a bigger deal.

“Being here in LA, the crowd and everybody has been amazing,” Ayton said. “I wouldn’t change it for nothing, to be honest.”

While we didn’t get to see it on the biggest stage in the postseason, one of the biggest positives to come out of the season for the Lakers was the Austin Reaves-Luka Dončić partnership.

On the court, the two blossomed into one of the league’s best backcourts with Austin ascending to All-Star level and Luka reclaiming his All-NBA form. Off the court, the pair became best friends.

The team rode that partnership to one of the best records in the Western Conference prior to their simultaneous untimely injuries late in the regular season. For Luka, though, it was enough of a proof of concept to want to see more.

On Tuesday morning, Dan Woike of The Athletic wrote of not just Luka’s desire to continue playing with Austin, but that he’s made sure the Lakers know about it as well.

Dončić has made it clear to the Lakers that he would like to continue playing with Reaves, according to league sources. Beyond their close friendship, Dončić believes in Reaves as a long-term piece next to him. Multiple league sources said that belief was best illustrated when Dončić told people within the organization that he wouldn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade packages for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dončić, those sources say, would strongly prefer a team construction that includes him and Reaves alongside whatever star the Lakers could acquire.

The easy reaction to this is that it’s a sign of how strong their friendship is. However, there’s also basketball reasons this makes sense, too.

The best versions of Luka teams in the past have featured a dynamic guard alongside him, whether that was Jalen Brunson or Kyrie Irving. Reaves absolutely fits that mold and the Lakers showed during the month of March how good they can be with that pair on the floor together.

The good news is that there doesn’t seem to be much resistance from the Lakers or Austin about him remaining in Los Angeles. Both sides have spoken about being open to a new deal this summer after Austin predictably turned down an extension last summer.

The Lakers have made a habit of including Luka in roster construction discussions and have followed his advice as well. Taking all that into account, it would be really shocking if Austin was not in purple and gold next season.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

We’re not going to dwell on Sunday! (much more) What’s done is done! (no, it isn’t, not really) Time to move on! (can I have a moment to cry again please before we do that??)

Yes, the Brooklyn Nets who had a 14.0% chance at the overall No. 1 and a 52.1% shot at a top four — aka “franchise changer” pick— wound up at No. 6. Truth be told, that shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise. The lottery slot with the highest odds Sunday was … No. 6 … with a 26.0%. Nets may have “dropped” three spots but such are the vagaries of the current draft rules. Ping pong balls are unforgiving as we’ve noted. Plus, we’re cursed, you know.

So now two days after the Lottery, the Nets are left with a diminished field to choose from on June 23 at Barclays Center. The top four are basically set, in some order: Cam Boozer, A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson. After that it’s a group of similar candidates between Nos. 5 and 8. Candidates there include Darius Acuff, Mikel Bridges Jr., Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler. Plus Nate Ament, a big man who once was seen as a possible No. 4 but had a disappointing season for the most part at Tennessee and will now try to recover lost reputation at the NBA Combine, a possible “agent day” after the combine and at workouts around the league.

That’s the basics, but of course a lot of things can and likely will change between now and the Draft. There was a report Monday by Brett Siegel of Clutch Points that the Nets and Jazz are “expected” to talk to the Wizards, holder of the top pick, about trades. That seems like a pipe dream, but the possibility of moving up (or adding a second first) cannot be dismissed easily. Did the Nets even prepare for this eventuality. One NBA decision-maker told ND before the Draft that teams don’t accumulate all those firsts unless you plan on being “opportunistic,” which was the same word Sean Marks used following the Lottery to describe how he sees the Nets situation.

They do have an excess of unprotected firsts between their own selections and picks they acquired from the Knicks and Nuggets, first round swaps from the Knicks and Suns (both in 2028), a protected first from the 76ers as well as two picks they may have to swap with the Rockets. Plus 22 seconds, including two in this draft at Nos. 33 and 43. You all know the numbers.

But for the moment, it’s about the sixth pick. So we went around the internet and gathered up all the latest mock drafts. Assuming they keep No. 6, the general consensus is that the Nets will wind up with Acuff, the 6’3” combo guard from Arkansas who is most explosive of the prospects and has the most star quality, both of which Brooklyn is in need of.

In fact, of the ten mocks we surveyed, Acuff was linked to the Nets in five of them, followed by Wagler in three. Mikel Brown Jr. and Kingston Flemings get the other votes. In the second round, no consensus (and only seven post second round projections) but Tounde Yessoufou, the 6’5” Baylor wing, gets two nods.

Also, a number of draftniks argue that despite the Nets taking three or four playmakers last year they should go “best player available” even if it’s lead guard … and in the process, diss last year’s selections.

Enjoy (as much as you can.)

ESPN

Jeremy Woo takes note of the Nets bad luck over the last two drafts and will have to make the best of a bad situation.

This was a second consecutive tough draw for Brooklyn, which fell from No. 3 in the default sequence to No. 6. The Nets have operated in anticipation of the 2025 and 2026 drafts ever since reacquiring control of their picks in a trade with Houston two years ago. After dropping all the way to No. 8 last year, they will again have to make the best of the situation. The Rockets still have swap rights to Brooklyn’s 2027 first-rounder, giving the Nets an incentive to be more competitive next season. 

He thinks Acuff would be a wise pick.

[T]here’s little doubt he has the chops to help run a team next season. There is an expectation that Acuff will need to be insulated defensively on a winning team, but he is highly skilled and the most polished point guard in this group.

Here’s his full take:

• #6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman
• #33 – Tounde Yessoufou, SF, 6’6” Baylor, freshman
• #43 – Malachi Moreno, C, 7’0” Kentucky, freshman

Tankathon

As we’ve noted before, Matt Hoover is long on video, short on individual analysis. Since he likes Keaton Wagler of Illinois to the Nets, here’s his Wagler highlights.

No, he is not the athlete the other guards are but he has the smarts and the shots. Plus, he’s the tallest at 6’6”.

• #6 – Keaton Wagler, PG/SG 6’6” – Illinois freshman
• #33 – Alex Karaban, SF 6’8” – UConn senior
• #43 – Jaden Bradley, PG 6’3” – Arizona senior

Bleacher Report

We always pay attention to Jonathan Wasserman who after all got three of the five firsts right last year, even if in a different order. He too likes Acuff and argues that despite a perceived overlap with last year’s picks of three playmakers, Nets need to go BPA.

The Brooklyn Nets should be focused on drafting the best player available over filling needs. That could lead to Darius Acuff Jr., who could play on and off the ball next to big playmaker in Egor Demin.

Perceptions of Acuff have shifted over the season’s final two months, when he averaged 27.8 points and 6.7 assists while consistently carrying Arkansas during important stretches. With diverse, accurate shotmaking, advantage-creating handles and quickness, finishing craft and convincing playmaking IQ, he’s poked enough holes in the belief that limited size, athleticism and defensive resistance cap his ceiling.

• #6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman
• #33 – Luigi Suig0, C/PF 7’2” Mega Basket, 19 years old
• #43 – Izaiyah Nelson, PF 6’9” South Florida, senior

NBADraft.net

Aran Smith’s venerable and data heavy site may be a bit quirky (less so this year in our opinion) and he thinks that Wagler has real potential, a “swing” candidate for sure who could be a “foundational young perimeter star.”

Brooklyn continues its long-term rebuild by adding one of the premier upside swings in the class in Wagler, a dynamic scoring guard with outstanding pace, shot-making ability, and offensive creativity. At No. 6, the Nets can afford to prioritize talent and star upside, and Wagler offers the type of offensive centerpiece potential the franchise has lacked in recent years. His ability to operate both on and off the ball gives Brooklyn lineup flexibility moving forward, while his advanced feel and shot-making instincts allow him to impact games.

• #6 – Keaton Wagler, PG/SG 6’6” – Illinois freshman
• #33 – Trevon Brazile, PF, 6’10”, Arkansas, freshman
• #43 – Jakobi Gillespie, PG, 6’1”, Tennessee senior

The Athletic

Sam Vecenie is like Smith, Wasserman and Jonathan Givony of Draft Express a veteran in this competition. His mocks are consistent and regular, a lynchpin. And he has long been enthusiastic about Acuff and to the Nets. (In his last mock, he projected the Nets at No. 6 based on a single spin of the Tankathon simulator, proving him smarter than us.) Still, he offers a balanced appraisal.

Acuff might be the most polished freshman guard prospect I’ve ever evaluated. His footwork and balance are pristine, and he tends to make efficient decisions. He plays off two feet and moves well without the ball to set up his on-ball moves. His passes are always crisp and on-target, even if his vision isn’t always elite.

But can he consistently get paint touches against NBA length, and can he guard anybody? In terms of the former, he’s done just about everything in his power to make me a believer that he can separate, thanks to the threat of his shot and elite pace. But the latter is another story. Even though Acuff is stocky and strong, he’s easily the worst defender among the top 10 prospects. He struggles to get through screens and shows a lack of off-ball engagement too regularly.

He, too, thinks Nets should go BPA and offers a not-so-positive comparison between and last year’s draft.

Brooklyn just took multiple guards in last year’s five-man, first-round draft class, but none of them is remotely at Acuff’s level. Their presence should not stop them from taking him if he’s the best player available on their board.

• #6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG, 6’3”, Arkansas freshman
• #33 –  Joshua Jefferson, SF, 6’9”, Iowa State senior
• #43 – Baba Miller, C, 6’11”, Cincinnati senior

SB Nation

The home team.

Ricky O’Donnell, as prolific as they come in SB Nation annals, was one of the first to file his post-Lottery mock draft. He’s one of several writers who doesn’t delve into second round prospects. He likes Kingston Flemings for Brooklyn, thinks while there may be concerns about his size, particularly after Monday’s combine measurements, he has “bankable” NBA skills.

Flemings stood out in a loaded freshman guard class for his quick-twitch athleticism and two-way aptitude. The 6’3 guard plays bigger than his size with a strong chest, impressive lateral quickness, and disruptive hands on the defensive end. The Cougars star is so hard to contain as a driver with the standstill burst to get by the first defender, and awesome change of direction ability when he’s attacking off the bounce. Flemings is at his best as a scorer elevating for mid-range shots, but his driving is most dangerous because of his live-dribble passing ability. NBA teams will want to see Flemings up his three-point volume, prove he can finish over NBA rim protectors, and get to the line more often. He still has enough bankable NBA skills that he should be a good lead guard for a long time.

• #3 – Kingston Flemings, PG/SG, 6’3”, Houston freshman

CBS Sports

CBS Sports has THREE writers who provide mock drafts: Adam Finkelstein, Carmen Salerno and Gary Parrish. No analysis or video, just a list and they only project the first round. Finkelstein and Parrish like Darius Acuff, Salerno likes Wagler. So chalk one up for Acuff. Majority rules.

• #3 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman

Yahoo! Sports

Kevin O’Connor, master of the exhaustive NBA Draft Guide, posted his latest mock draft Tuesday morning which gives him, alone among the draftniks, access to the first NBA Combine measurements and athletic testing. Put him down as a Kingston Flemings supporter. He’s got Houston lead guard between Keaton Wagler at No. 5 and Darius Acuff at No. 7.

Like the others, he has no concerns about the Nets drafting another playmaker, particularly since he thinks other than Egor Demin the Nets did themselves few favors in the 2025 Draft. Flemings, he acknowledges, has flaws that could hurt him.

What a bummer for Brooklyn to fall so far. The Nets took four guard-ish players in last year’s draft, but Egor Demin looks like the only real keeper and that decision shouldn’t necessarily stop them from taking an even better guard prospect here. Flemings plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step, and passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But he is also 190 pounds, midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season. The question is whether his scoring package translates to NBA length and spacing, or whether opposing scouts figure him out the same way late-season defenses did.

Thanks for the kind words, KO’C. They’re needed.

• #3 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman
• #33 – Sergio De Larrea, PG, 6’5” Valencia (Spain) 20 years old
• #43 – Zuby Ejiofor, PF, 6’9” St. John’s senior

Eijofor is the only local product mocked to the Nets. Here’s what O’Connor says about him:

Ejiofor found success with foundational skills: motor, length, and defensive versatility. The question with Ejiofor is the fact he’s undersized for a center and his jumper is still a work in progress. But he’s developed enough to deserve a chance to figure it out in the league.

Pooch would agree.

Clutch Points

Brett Siegel is new to the mock draft game. He covers the draft, free agency, etc. for Clutch Points and has broken some news over the past years so we’ve moved him into the queue. Credit to him, he did a two-round mock which we love, content whores that we are.

He likes Mikel Brown Jr. who had some (back) injury issues this year but seems recovered. A bigger lead guard, Siegel had these thoughts about Brown’s fit in Brooklyn.

All indications point to the Brooklyn Nets being opportunistic (that word again) this offseason and searching for ways to immediately turn around their recent misfortunes. While unfortunate that the Nets fell out of the top four of the draft and into the No. 6 spot, there is still plenty of opportunity for Brooklyn to add a long-term, high-level scoring option. That player would be either Brown, Flemings, or Acuff, depending on what type of player this organization truly wants.

Brown was limited at Louisville this past year because of a back injury, but his pure-scoring abilities and positional size make him intriguing for the Nets. Unlike Acuff, who is a pure scorer, and Flemings, who still needs to work on his overall shot selection and perimeter abilities, Brown would join Brooklyn immediately ready to take on the responsibilities of being a lead guard.

And he doesn’t believe Brown would take a back seat to Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf.

Although the Nets selected Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf last year, Brown brings a new dynamic to this team and would be the ideal type of scoring guard to play alongside Michael Porter Jr.

• #6 – Mikel Brown Jr., PG/SG 6’5” Louisville freshman
• #33 – Tounde Yessoufou, SF, 6’6” Baylor, freshman
• #43 – Rueben Chinyelu, C/PF, 6’10” Florida Junior

USA TODAY

Bryan Kalbrosky is another veteran NBA writer who annually comes up with mock drafts annually. He only goes 30 deep in his mock and he’s a Keaton Wagler supporter. Like others, he points to Wagler’s “athletic limitations” but loves his “cerebral game.”

During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.

• #3 – Keaton Wagler, PG/SG 6’6” – Illinois freshman

There are a few others out there but we have to limit things somewhere. Brian Lewis of the Post, goes only lottery-deep. He likes Keaton Wagler, stating “Shoots like a two-guard and maps the court like a lead playmaker. Yes, his modest athleticism and lack of downhill juice are a worry next to Egor Demin, but the Nets go with the best available player.”

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died on Tuesday afternoon. He was 29 years old. ESPN reporter Shams Charania broke the news.

Clarke spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies after being the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Clarke’s journey to being a first-round pick was an inspiring story: he spent two seasons at San Jose State where he had a broken three-point shot, transferred to Gonzaga and blossomed after sitting out a year.

Clarke’s NBA career was plagued by injuries. He only played two games this season. Clarke tore his left Achilles tendon in March 2023, suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee in 2025, and then was limited by a calf strain this season. He suffered from knee synovitis just before this season.

Clarke was arrested on drug and speeding charges last month. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit, and trafficking a controlled substance.

The Grizzlies confirmed Clarke’s passing:

Clarke was born in 1996 in Vancouver, Canada. This is a shocking loss for the Grizzlies, and the NBA community. Clark’s cause of death is not known at this time. This story will updated as it develops.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, his sports agency announced in a statement released on Tuesday, May 12. He was 29 years old.

Clarke's sudden death comes almost six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies.

"We are beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke," Priority Sports said. "He was so loved by all of us here, and everyone whose life he touched. He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family. Our hearts are so broken as we think about his mom, Whitney, his entire family and all of his friends. From high school to San Jose State to Gonzaga to the Grizzlies, Brandon impacted everyone who was part of his life."

The Spurs will have Victor Wembanyama back for a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he avoided suspension for a Game 4 flagrant foul, but the Spurs’ guard rotation could be shorthanded. De’Aaron Fox was already listed as questionable on yesterday’s injury report with a sore ankle after Ayo Dosunmo rolled up on his legs while diving for a loose ball in the second half of Game 4, which Fox briefly left before returning, and today, Dylan Harper has been listed as questionable with a sore knee.

The soreness is possibly a result of a play from late in the fourth quarter when — guess who? — Dosunmu grabbed him from behind on an offensive rebound. Harper then fell backwards, with his left leg folding underneath him. He remained down for a few seconds, rubbing his knee before getting back up. A foul was called on Dosunmu on the play. (None if this is to say Dosunmu is a dirty player. There’s a bit extra on tug backwards there, but he was not trying to bring Harper down, tried to catch him as he went down, and he checked on him after it happened.)

While both players were seen practicing today, Fox is still a game-time decision while Harper was downgraded to questionable. Beyond Wemby, guard play has been the Spurs’ biggest advantage in this round, and it will be a tall task if Stephon Castle has to carry the load by himself. If one but especially both miss the game, the Spurs may need to give former Timberwolf Jordan McLaughlin some minutes, who to his credit has always been ready when called upon and can give them some solid minutes in smaller doses.

The good news is players being listed as questionable on game day has not always meant they will not play, so at this point there is little reason to panic. Still, both players have been vital to the Spurs postseason success so far. Harper has averaged 15.3 points and almost 3 assists off the bench for the Spurs in this series, while Fox has struggled with his shooting at times but has still hit some big, timely shots when needed, averaging 16.8 points and 4 assists.

Tip-off is at 7:00 PM CT on NBC and Peacock. This series is tied at 2-2 and will return to Minnesota on Friday for Game 6.