The Warriors forward, who, along with a handful of future draft picks, reportedly was included in Golden State’s trade offer to the Milwaukee Bucks for superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, ultimately stayed put past the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline with the only team he has known throughout his 14-year career.
However, that did not always appear to be the most likely outcome for Green before the Bucks eventually decided not to trade Antetokounmpo this season.
“This is probably it,” Green told ESPN’s Anthony Slater about what he told himself in the days leading up to the deadline. “And I got to be OK with that. You see so many people leave places bad and I just didn’t want that.”
“I’m a human being. There was a second of me [at the deadline] that felt like, ‘Damn, they really going to do that to me?'”
While Green initially might have been hurt by the possibility of being traded, he certainly understood why Golden State was willing to part with him, even if it resulted in him playing for a team that he, admittedly, had no interest in playing for.
“I understand this business probably [as] good as any player,” Green shared with ESPN. “I understand like, ‘Yo, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo. They not just about to trade me for a bag of peanuts.’ It would’ve almost been a point of pride.
“I’ll be honest though. I didn’t want to play for Milwaukee.”
Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who has accomplished so much in his illustrious NBA career alongside — and in part, because of Green –also understands why the franchise would have to part with his longtime teammate.
“I didn’t spend time on the conversation,” Curry told ESPN about the possibility of Green being traded. “But I guess Giannis is the only one that would’ve made sense. And I think, to his point, any team would’ve looked at that. But we never got there. I guess I’m the only one that is off the board, out of the conversation, but you have to be naïve to not understand the business side of it.”
Green and Curry will close out their 14th season together before the Warriors embark on an offseason that, once again, could result in a major roster shake-up.
The same holds for the Michigan basketball star, is true for Arizona's Koa Peat, Illinois' Keaton Wagler and Connecticut's Terrian Reed. These four have been among the best players in March Madness, but have also proven themselves over the course of the season.
For either the Wolverines, Wildcats, Fighting Illini or the Huskies to win the 2026 national championship, they'll need their best players to shine in the biggest moments of the year when the quartet plays in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, from Indianapolis.
However, just because a star has a big game, it does not mean these teams can easily be knocked off. Just ask Alabama and Labaron Philon. The Crimson Tide star matched a career-high of 35 points, but got little help from his supporting cast, causing Alabama to lose to Michigan in the Sweet 16.
All four stars will need help from a potential unsung hero for their team to win a national title. Here's a look at some potential candidates who could step up in that role:
Trey McKenny, Michigan
Trey McKenny, the freshman from Flint, Michigan, is potentially finding his stroke at the right time. On the season, he is averaging 9.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game on 46.2% shooting from the field, incluidng 38% from 3-point range.
However, McKenny scored at least eight points in every NCAA Tournament game, including 17 points against Alabama and followed it up with a 12-point performance against Alabama. Against the Crimson Tide, he connected on three 3-pointers.
In addition to his hot outside shooting, McKenney has also gotten to the free throw line 11 times over the last two games, knocking down 10 of them. While Lendeborg is the present for the Wolverines, McKenney is likely the future, already declaring his intention to return next season.
Could he give a glimpse into why he was a top-20 recruit in the 2025 class to help Michigan win its first title since 1989?
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Could the first-year starter and junior for Arizona, Motiejus Krivas, be a key for the Wildcats to win their first national title since 1997?
On a team full of scorers, Bradley is fourth on the team with his career-best 10.4 points per game, while averaging a best 8.2 rebounds per game. He shoots 56.9% from the field. He has started all 38 games for Arizona this season after making just one start in his first two seasons.
He is capable of a big scoring performance, as he did when he scored 25 points against Kansas State on Jan. 27, on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and making 11 of 12 free throws.
Kylan Boswell, Illinois
With Wagler's emergence, it could be easy to forget his fellow backcourt mate, Kylan Bowell, at times. However, Boswell is the model of consistency for Brad Underwood's Illinois team.
The 6-foot-2 senior guard from Champaign, Illinois, is averaging a career-high 12.5 points per game on 45% shooting from the field, to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Boswell had a 25-point performance against UConn earlier this season, while he also had 22-point performances against Texas Tech and Alabama. He also scored 20 points against Nebraska, proving he's capable of big games when called upon.
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
UConn's strength is having many players whom it can turn to for a shot with the game on the line. Case in point, freshman Braylon Mullins hitting the game-winning buzzer-beater against No. 1 seed Duke in the Sweet 16.
For this exercise, Mullins is too well-known now. So another player to keep an eye on is junior Silas Demary Jr. The UConn junior is averaging 10.4 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game on 45.5% shooting and 40.5% 3-point shooting.
The transfer from Georgia had 23 points and 15 assists on Jan. 7 against Providence, proving he is capable of a major game when it is needed.
Will two Big Ten teams face off with a national championship on the line? No. 3 seed Illinois and No. 1 Michigan are on opposite sides of the Final Four in 2026, and could guarantee the Big Ten the NCAA Tournament championship with wins in the national semifinals.
The Fighting Illini take on No. 2 Connecticut, while the Wolverines face fellow No. 1 seed Arizona, each on Saturday, April 4. The winners will move onto the national championship game on Monday, April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The last Big Ten school to win a national championship was Michigan State in 2000, Tom Izzo's fifth season at the helm. The Huskies, meanwhile, are looking for their third national championship in four seasons under Dan Hurley, who's quickly rising the all-time coaching ranks.
The Wildcats have won one national championship in their history, which came in 1997. They last made the Final Four in 2001, and are looking to get back to college basketball's mountaintop.
What does Artificial Intelligence think about the Final Four in 2026? Here's how AI predicted the two matchups to go:
AI predicts Final Four games
No. 3 Illinois vs No. 2 UConn
Microsoft Copilot is impressed with Illinois' offense, but also thinks UConn's veteran presence and ability to win games late is important.
"Best offense left in the tournament," Copilot said of Illinois. "Illinois brings elite scoring versatility, with multiple shooters and one of the nation’s best offensive rebound rates."
The AI was also complementary of true freshman Keaton Wagler, one of the top remaining players in the NCAA Tournament.
"Since their November loss to UConn, Wagler has become a top‑10 NBA prospect and a dominant scorer — far more impactful than in the first meeting," Copilot said.
On the other hand, Copilot acknowledges Tarris Reed Jr. could be a matchup problem for Illinois, and that UConn wears teams down defensively.
"He’s averaging dominant numbers inside and could force Illinois into foul trouble or defensive adjustments," Copilot said of Reed. "They just survived Duke on a last‑second 3 and have shown resilience in multiple close games."
Copilot actually predicts an upset, taking Illinois in a close one.
"Illinois’ offensive versatility, improved defense, and Wagler’s rise give them the edge in a matchup where UConn’s inconsistent perimeter shooting could finally catch up to them," Copilot said.
Score prediction: Illinois 76, UConn 71
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan
Copilot noted both teams' dominance in the Men's NCAA Tournament as reasons to be excited for the Final Four matchup between Michigan and Arizona, noting Michigan outscored its opponents by 90 points in March Madness to Arizona's 82 points.
Copilot also noted Michigan's balance, acknowledging the Wolverines rank No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency and No. 5 in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. It also is impressed by Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American who scored 27 points against Tennessee in the Elite Eight.
But Copilot likes Arizona's balance and interior scoring a bit more than Michigan.
"Their starting lineup is the deepest and most balanced in the Final Four," the AI said. "Analysts consistently note Arizona’s edge on the glass and at the rim will be key in a game this evenly matched."
Ultimately, Copilot is going with Arizona to take down mighty Michigan for a spot in the national championship.
"This is the heavyweight fight everyone expected, but Arizona’s superior rim finishing, rebounding edge, and deeper scoring options give them a slight advantage," Copilot predicts.
Boston fans know the team is in another golden age of contention.
But how long can it last?
The Celtics secured their fifth consecutive 50+ win season since 2021-22 with a 114-99 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night — the franchise’s 38th season with 50+ wins and its fourth time hitting that mark at least five seasons in a row (the most of any team in the league.)
That alone puts this run amongst some of the greatest prolonged stretches of contention in NBA history.
I mean, sure, the team hasn’t won 11 championships in 13 years like the Bill Russell Celtics or racked up 18 consecutive 50+ win seasons while winning five rings like the San Antonio Spurs.
Nevertheless, it is a rare accomplishment for NBA teams to win 50+ games in at least five straight seasons. Out of 30 teams in the league today, 14 have never done it (15 if you don’t count the Seattle Super Sonics’ history for the Oklahoma City Thunder.) That includes the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks — originally the Tri-Cities Blackhawks — despite being two of the league’s 11 founding franchises alongside the Celtics.
That includes historically bad teams like the Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards, but it also features teams that have had dominant stretches over the years, like the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets.
Overall, at least five consecutive seasons of 50+ wins has only been accomplished 22 times throughout NBA history. Only 11 of those instances featured runs of more than five consecutive seasons and only four were runs of at least 10 straight seasons with 50+ wins.
The latter is topped by the Spurs’ aforementioned 18-season run from 1999-00 to 2016-17, the Los Angeles Lakers’ 12-year stretch from 1979-80 to 1990-91, and the Dallas Mavericks’ 11-season run from 2000-01 to 2010-11. Boston’s own 10-season run from 1958-59 to 1967-68 completes the list.
The Celtics also recorded nine consecutive seasons with 50+ wins under Larry Bird from 1979-80 to 1987-88, starting with 61 wins in Bird’s first season.
While it may be outlandish to say the team’s current five-season run could stretch on long enough to compete with the Spurs for the top spot, Boston’s own franchise record could very well be within reach of the current core.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been at the core of the team’s current five-season run of 50+ wins since it began in 2021-22, when the Jays led the Celtics to 51 wins and the Finals for the first time under Coach Ime Udoka.
Despite flaming out against the Warriors and losing Udoka to scandal, the run only ramped up the next year under the leadership of Coach Joe Mazzulla, who revamped the offense, unlocked Derrick White, and steered the team to 57 wins.
After falling one win short of another Finals trip, General Manager Brad Stevens used some of his managerial magic to acquire Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. The newly assembled team then rattled off 64 wins and won the 2024 NBA Finals.
Boston again broke the 60-win threshold in 2024-25 with 61 wins, even though the Celtics struggled with injuries and diminished play in key roles over the year. The team then lost Tatum to a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the Eastern Conference Finals and offloaded Holiday, Porziņģis and Al Horford in the offseason. Boston even lost backup center Luke Kornet to the Spurs in free agency.
That’s where this run of 50+ win seasons probably should have ended. But, as we’ve seen this season, this team is simply too good for that.
In lieu of Tatum for 62 games and four of the 2024-25 team’s other top-nine players, Brown, Mazzulla, Pritchard and White still led the team to a 50+ win season. At the same time, Stevens brought the team below the second apron and repositioned it for future financial flexibility, all while maintaining every piece of the core.
And now, Tatum’s back — and dropping 32 points against a red-hot Hornets team on 52.2% shooting from the field and 50% from three-point range.
So, if the team didn’t fall short of 50 wins this year, when will it?
Well, it could be a while. Maybe even long enough to meet or surpass the team’s 9- and 10-season runs.
The two biggest pieces of the core, Brown and Tatum, are still only 29 and 28 years old, respectively. They both have three guaranteed years remaining on their contracts after this season ends. Derrick White, who many may consider to be the third core piece, is 31. He’s locked up for another two years and has a $34,844,000 player option for a third, at which point he’ll be 34 and may no longer field offers of more than $30 million per year from other teams.
Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser are both 28 years old. Pritchard’s contract extends through 2027-28 and Hauser’s through 2028-29.
If Stevens can find a way to lock up Neemias Queta when his current deal ends in 2026-27, the 26-year-old could be the Celtics’ starting center for years to come. That may be difficult, given Queta’s breakout this season and Boston’s delicate financial situation, but it should be possible since the team will have the Bird rights to re-sign him.
The team also features a deep bench full of young players who could prove vital to Boston’s future success. Baylor Scheierman, 25, Hugo González, 20, and Jordan Walsh, 22, have all shown their worth this season and could grow to become important complementary pieces.
Even Boston’s leadership is relatively young. Mazzulla is 37 years old and the youngest coach in the NBA. Stevens is 49 years old, which isn’t exactly young for the role, but young enough to foresee years to come with him at the helm. As made apparent this season, both remain at the top of their games.
In order to meet or surpass the franchise record for consecutive 50+ win seasons, the team needs to string along another five seasons following this one.
Age shouldn’t be a problem. While White will be 36 in another five years, Brown and Tatum should be 34 and 33, respectively. The Jays will have the rest of their athletic primes to pursue the record over the five seasons before that, then a couple more years of elite play to potentially surpass it before aging out of stardom. Mazzulla will be just about as old as the average NBA head coach by then.
Reaching 50 wins with the Jays in their primes shouldn’t be too much to expect, either. Hell, the Celtics only had one of them for the majority of this season and the team may still finish it with almost 60 wins (58 if they win out.) If Stevens can retain them when their contracts expire and maintain a decent roster around them, 50 wins should be within reach every year they remain at an elite level.
However, despite the team’s seemingly sturdy footing halfway through the trek to 10 consecutive seasons of 50+ wins, any Celtics fan who watched the 2007-08 season knows that, as Kevin Garnett screamed after winning the Finals, anything is possible — and not always in a good way.
There is a reason five consecutive seasons of 50+ wins has only occurred 22 times in all of NBA history. Between injuries, free agency, financial complications and the natural decline of aging players, teams need to be both well-piloted and outright lucky to make such a streak happen. For this team to match the franchise record, it would need to accomplish that rare feat twice in a row.
The biggest questions for the Celtics moving forward will be: 1) can Stevens continue to maintain a competitive roster while walking the veritable financial tightrope that is the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement? and 2) how much will Tatum’s Achilles injury impact his availability and effectiveness in future seasons?
In answering the first question, I think this year works as a perfect demonstration that Stevens is up for the task. He piloted the Celtics out of the second apron while maintaining a roster that can compete for a chip. Assuming Boston remains under the luxury tax next season, the repeater tax will reset and Stevens will be free to once again spend on a contending team.
As for the second question, only time will tell. Despite struggling with efficiency, Tatum has looked impressive since his return. He’s racked up rebounds at an even higher rate than he did before his injury and stepped right back into his role as floor general, using his ever-present gravity to lure help defenders before stringing a pass to an open man. On top of that, Tatum has had multiple stretches where he has caught fire from the field, dropping midrange shots and step-back threes reminiscent of his best days before the injury.
Nevertheless, Achilles injuries have notably impacted other players’ longevity over the years. Even Kevin Durant, the model of how to return from an Achilles injury, has averaged almost 16 fewer games played per season than he did before his return (not counting this year.) On a positive note, Durant has played 71 games so far this season and 75 in 2023-24. But, if Tatum misses more time moving forward, it will at the very least reduce the team’s margin of error for reaching 50 wins per season. If Brown suffers a long-term injury and Tatum can’t be his usual workhorse self, Boston’s 50+ win season streak would be at high risk of snapping.
Whether this Celtics core reaches the franchise record or not, their run of five consecutive 50+ seasons is already cemented in history amongst only 21 others, and fans should be happy to know that they may be watching one of the greatest prolonged stretches of contention in NBA history.
Draymond Green has spent his entire 14-year NBA career with the Warriors, but could that change this summer?
The Warriors forward has a $27.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, giving him the option to explore other possibilities this offseason.
But Green opting out of his contract to test the free-agent market isn’t anticipated, team and league sources told ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“The expectation is that Green will either opt in — keeping him as a bulky $27.6 million expiring deal that the Warriors could either hold or move — or work out a multiyear extension starting at a lower number, signaling a greater likelihood he finishes his career with the Warriors,” Slater wrote in a column published Wednesday.
Green shared that he and his agent, Rich Paul, “had a very quick one-minute talk” about the possibilities they could explore this summer.
“Maybe you opt out and do a longer deal. Maybe you opt in and extend,” Green said. “I earned it, the right to be in this position. I won’t misuse it. I won’t abuse it. I never have. You don’t get 14 years out of place if you were abusing it. All of that s–t matters.”
Green was involved in trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this year for two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, per multiple reports. Additional reporting indicated that had a trade occurred, Green would have pushed to be rerouted elsewhere rather than stay in Milwaukee.
Slater reported, citing league sources, that a reroute to the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers was “on his radar” before the February trade deadline.
The last time Green was a free agent was during the summer of 2023, when he had a $27.6 million player option that he declined.
Barring any blockbuster trade in the coming years, it appears more and more likely that Green will remain a Warrior for his entire career.
Who is and isn't a blue blood in college basketball is often a heated debate. By definition a blue blood is a program with elite lineage.
UConn's blood line of elite success didn't get going until the 1990s. The Huskies reached six Sweet 16s in the decade before breaking through in 1999 with the program's first national title.
The Huskies arrive at this week's Final Four looking to win a seventh national title (and third in four years). It's a run unmatched in modern history and winning at a level we haven't seen since the Wizard of Westwood.
If UConn wins the 2026 national championship, they would move into sole possession of third place on the NCAA's all-time title list, trailing only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (8).
Is UConn a blue blood or a new blood? How about both.
Members of the USA TODAY Sports staff debated for an hour. "It's an inexact science," they said. Challenge accepted. Using that 1999 season as the marker, we looked at which programs have been the most successful by devising a super scientific formula:
20 points for national title
10 points for Final Four
6 points for regular-season conference title
5 points for Sweet 16
-5 points for losing season
Here's how the math shook out:
10. Arizona (156 points)
10 Pac-12 regular season championships, 1 Big 12 title
14 Sweet 16s
2 Final Fours
0 national titles
0 losing seasons
709-250 (.739)
This might just be Arizona's first Final Four trip since 2001, but the Wildcats have been a model of consistency as one of the West's powerhouses.
9. Villanova (158 points)
8 Big East regular season championships
8 Sweet 16s
4 Final Fours
2 national titles
2 losing seasons
659-291 (.694)
Life without Jay Wright hasn't been great, but his run of two titles in three years (2016, 2018) and two more Final Fours land the Wildcats on this list.
8. Kentucky (185 points)
10 SEC regular season championships
14 Sweet 16s
4 Final Fours
1 national title
1 losing season
724-255 (.740)
A blue blood that still cracks this list. Kentucky fans will tell you they belong higher up on this list, but the numbers don't lie. Kentucky's eight national titles in program history are second-most in NCAA history, but the Wildcats have just one since 1999. In fact, UK hasn't been to a Final Four since 2015.
7. Florida (192 points)
7 SEC regular season championships
10 Sweet 16s
5 Final Fours
3 national titles
2 losing seasons
686-284 (.707)
Surprised to see Florida this low on the list, but sandwiched in between Billy Donovan and Todd Golden, the Mike White years were truly forgettable.
6. Gonzaga (234 points)
24 WCC regular season championships
14 Sweet 16s
2 Final Fours
0 losing seasons
801-163 (.831)
OK, so the 24 West Coast Conference titles are doing some heavy lifting here. But don't scoff at the 14 Sweet 16s. That's a remarkable run of steadiness, first as a Cinderella, then as a favorite. They played for the national title twice, losing to North Carolina in 2017 and Baylor in 2021. No one was won more (801) than the Zags.
5. Kansas (236 points)
11 Big 12 regular season championships
14 Sweet 16s
6 Final Fours
2 national titles
0 losing seasons
788-206 (.793)
No Sweet 16 appearances since winning the 2022 national title kept the Jayhawks from appearing higher on this list, that was actually the only Sweet 16 in the past seven tournaments for KU.
4. Michigan State (245 poins)
10 Big Ten regular season championships
17 Sweet 16s
8 Final Fours
1 national title
0 losing seasons
709-269 (.725)
The last Big Ten team to win a national title, Tom Izzo's staggering 17 Sweet 16s and eight Final Fours are a model of consistent excellence.
3. North Carolina (251 points)
11 ACC regular season championships
13 Sweet 16s
7 Final Fours
3 national titles
2 losing seasons
709-284 (.714)
Hubert Davis got the Tar Heels to a national championship game in Year 1, and then a Sweet 16 in 2024, but back-to-back first round losses didn't cut it at a school with much higher aspirations, as their spot on this list illustrates.
2. UConn (270 points)
5 Big East regular season championships
11 Sweet 16s
8 Final Fours
6 national titles
3 losing seasons
682-279 (.710)
Not even its six national titles could push UConn to the top of this list. Those three straight losing seasons (2017-19) were the anchor weighing the Huskies down. But also, a lack of conference titles cost them the top spot. If UConn wins this year's title, they'll take the crown.
Hate them all you want, Duke has earned its place atop college basketball. Twenty Sweet 16s! Now, the Blue Devils haven't won a national title since 2015, but they've been ranked No. 1 in seven of the past 10 seasons. Perhaps there should have been more March success, but the sheer volume of wins (nearly 800) is second only to Gonzaga.
Is Indiana still a blue blood?
Nah, the Hoosiers have bled out. Indiana has five national titles and eight Final Fours. But the last title was in 1987 and the last Final Four was in 2002. The program has had more coaches (four) than NCAA Tournament appearances (three) over the past 10 years. But hey, at least the football team is good now.
New blood or blue blood: Ranking college basketball's best teams
Based on our formula, calculating team success since 1999 (explained above).
LONDON (AP) — Defending champion Arsenal has a two-goal advantage to defend when it visits Chelsea on Wednesday in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarterfinal.
Arsenal underlined its credentials for back-to-back titles by beating English rival Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg last week on Tuesday.
That London derby marked the first time in Women’s Champions League history that teams from the same city faced off.
Last year, Chelsea did manage to overcome a two-goal deficit in the second leg of its quarterfinal against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge to advance to the semifinals.
“It’s only halftime, so there’s a lot of work still to do for us, and that’s how we’re going to approach the game,” Arsenal coach Renée Slegers said.
The winner will meet Wolfsburg or Lyon in the semifinals.
Making its debut in the quarterfinals, Manchester United travels to Germany after losing to Bayern Munich 3-2 in the opening leg at Old Trafford.
Bayern is trying to reach its first semifinal since 2021. No English team has beaten Bayern away in the competition.
The winner of that quarterfinal will face Barcelona or Real Madrid.
You’re going to hear that idea this week, with the top two teams in college basketball, Arizona and Michigan, meeting in the semifinals instead of the national championship, while UConn faces Illinois in the other semifinal.
Like a lot of ideas, this one sounds good in the theory stage. Peel back the layers, though, and envision what reseeding the Final Four would mean in practice, and the idea loses footing.
Reseeding would require disrupting the original structure of the bracket.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, and I’ll keep saying it as long as the NCAA has this tournament format: Leave the tournament alone.
I’ll say it once more for effect: Leave. The. Bracket. Alone.
Do not tweak. Do not tinker. Do not implement any harebrained ideas or add more mediocre teams or shuffle the assignments once the Final Four arrives.
The tournament is one thing the NCAA gets right. Take a bow, and enjoy it.
It’s not broken. Don’t fix it.
Still, it seems like such a simple adjustment, right? Now that the Final Four teams are set, just flip Arizona and Illinois and have the two 1-seeds on opposite seeds of the bracket.
And that’s when it hits you: The bracket. That beautiful creation is the star of this show. That's why you cannot simply reseed the Final Four. You’d disrupt all of those brackets people filled out the day after Selection Sunday, when they were supposed to be working but instead were researching that, yes, High Point over Wisconsin is the best possibility for a 12 vs. 5 upset. And that, yes, Arizona and Michigan will win their regions and meet in the semifinals.
They'll meet in the semifinals. Not the finals. That's what you wrote down on your bracket.
Don't complicate this: March Madness bracket is simple and beautiful
At its core, March Madness is entertainment, and part of the entertainment is everyone from your 10-year-old daughter to your 95-year-old grandpa fills out a bracket, for a shot at prize money or at least some bragging rights.
As much as we love the Cinderellas and the buzzer-beaters and the comebacks and the 40-foot swishes from the logo, we love the bracket itself every bit as much or more. We like highlighting our correct picks and seeing our predictions come true.
Anyone can understand how the bracket works, even if you don’t watch a single minute of basketball before March, even if you wouldn’t watch a single second of this tournament, if not to see how you bracket fares against your mother-in-law’s bracket.
The bracket’s beauty is in its simplicity of design. Sixteen teams in each quadrant, funneling into a Final Four. A team loses, and it's out. Win and advance. And as you fill it out, you decide which two teams you think will meet next.
Smart prognosticators kept writing down Arizona and Michigan until they reached the Final Four.
If the bracket got reseeded, how does that work for your bracket pool?
Everyone re-picks their Final Four two weeks into the tournament?
Forget it.
1-seeds can fall in Final Four, when we least expect it
Anyway, the moment we think we’ve figured out March Madness, we’re reminded this tournament isn’t so easy to figure out, even within a year when two 1-seeds meet in the Final Four.
The old-timers can tell us stories of the 1983 Final Four. That year, No. 1 Houston and No. 1 Louisville met in one semifinal. Phi Slama Jama vs. Doctors of Dunk.
In the other semifinal: No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 6 North Carolina State.
The Houston-Louisville game on Saturday became the marquee attraction, and surely the winner would win it all, right?
Houston went for 94 points against Louisville. Two nights later came one of the biggest stunners in tournament history.
The Wolfpack, an O.G. Cinderella, stunned Houston in the finals, winning on a buzzer-beating dunk, and Jim Valvano went running onto the court looking for someone, anyone, to hug.
If you watched it, you’ll never forget it. If you didn’t, you’ve probably seen the highlight so many times you almost feel like you lived through it.
The idea of reseeding the Final Four goes back more than two decades. In 2004, Dick Vitale was hollering we needed to “Reseed the Final Four!” before Duke and UConn met in the semifinals, in a matchup of what appeared to be the two best teams remaining.
That year served two epic semifinals. Georgia Tech beat Oklahoma State to advance to the finals as a 3-seed. UConn rallied to beat Duke, because apparently no halftime lead is safe for the Blue Devils this deep into the tournament.
And, sure, two nights later, UConn had the championship in hand by halftime, but so what? Saturday’s games were great.
The reseeding topic resurfaced in earnest in 2018, when all-time underdog Loyola-Chicago reached the Final Four as an 11-seed and Sister Jean became the world’s most famous nun.
No. 3 Michigan faced Loyola in the semifinals, while No. 1 Villanova played fellow No. 1 Kansas. Villanova handled the Final Four just fine without reseeding, winning both games in blowouts.
As Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball for the NCAA, pointed out that year, reseeding the bracket along the way would create a minefield for underdogs. Upset a top team, and a Cinderella's reward becomes getting another top seed moved from across the bracket into its path.
“My concern is that the very thing that makes the tournament so popular would be diminished in some way,” Gavitt told the AP in 2018, on the subject of reseeding.
Another way to say that: Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
In its current form, the bracket isn't broken. It's beautiful the way it is.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 28: Baylor Scheierman #55, Anfernee Simons #4, Hugo Gonzalez #28 and Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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So many people deserve credit for the Celtics success in what was supposed to be a gap year in Boston. Despite the talent drain over the summer, Joe Mazzulla has again created a system custom fit for his roster and got his players to buy in. Jaylen Brown has had an MVP-level season as the team’s #1 option.
And not too much farther down the list is the development and performance of the Celtics bullpen of wings. Whether it’s starting or coming off the bench, impacting the game with their shooting or defending team’s best players, they’ve individually risen to the occasion and taken advantage of the opportunity and collectively, they’ve raised the ceiling of this Celtics team with Banner 19 in reach.
Hugo González – 28th pick Baylor Scheierman – 30th pick Jordan Walsh – 38th pick Sam Hauser – undrafted free agent
Sam Hauser has been the adult in the SF room. As a contributing member of the 2024 championship team, he’s started 43 of his 72 games. By his standards, he’s having a down year; it’s the first time since his junior year in college that he’s shot under 40% from behind the arc. However, he’s still a reliable floor spacer for the Jays and plus-defender.
When Jordan Walsh joined the starting lineup on November 12, that move launched a 16-5 run and really solidified Boston’s reputation as a true contender this season. His playing time started to dwindle at the start of the new year including a six-game stretch of DNP-CDs, but his effort never waned. Most recently when the Jays swapped off days during a back-to-back in Charlotte and Atlanta, Walsh filled in brilliantly and again flashed his defensive prowess against LaMelo Ball and Jalen Johnson.
Boston, MA – January 28 – Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) lets the ball get loose as Boston Celtics guards Jordan Walsh (27), Hugo Gonzalez (28) and Baylor Scheierman (55) surround during the second half of a NBA game at the Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images). | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Baylor Scheierman has had the inverse regular season as Walsh. After playing sporadically in the first half of the year, it was Scheierman’s turn in the starting five. His shooting and instincts were as advertised coming out of Creighton as a finished product, but his strong positional defense is what has kept him on the floor.
Finally, Hugo Gonzalez, the now 20-year-old rookie, has been a sensation since coming over from Madrid. On one hand, you can see how being part of a professional program abroad has really shaped his game and prepared him to jump right in with the Celtics. On the other, there’s the energy injection and momentum-shifting plays that make him a regular Tommy Award winner. This isn’t even a bold prediction: Gonzo will swing a playoff game or two this spring.
So, while it’s hard to pick your favorite child, what Celtic wing has impressed you the most?
Doncic is the NBA's leading points scorer this season [Getty Images]
Luka Doncic broke NBA great Kobe Bryant's 20-year record for the most points scored by a Los Angeles Lakers player in a calendar month as they overcame the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113.
Doncic, who returned after a one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul, scored 42 points to take his tally for March to 579 - beating Bryant's record of 578, which had stood since 2006.
"If you don't win, it doesn't really mean anything," said Doncic after the Lakers secured a 15th victory in 17 games.
"So the run that we've been on, it really means a lot. We've got to keep playing like that."
LeBron James scored 14 points for the Lakers against the Cavaliers as he also set an NBA record for the most combined regular season and play-off wins.
He achieved his 1,229th victory and surpassed the previous best set by centre Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
"He's great on both sides of the ball," said Lakers coach JJ Redick of James. "He's just doing a little bit of everything at a super-high level for us.
"Luka may get the headlines here and there, AR [Austin Reaves] may get a headline. But really it's been every single guy, and LeBron has led on that."
The Lakers, who are third in the Western Conference, had clinched a play-off spot and the Pacific Division title prior to their win as the Phoenix Suns were beaten 115-111 by the Orlando Magic.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for the rebound during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES – The Cavs coming to town as a top Eastern Conference team posed another tough challenge for the Lakers. As was true throughout March, however, the Lakers were up to the test.
They beat the Cavs 127-113 on Tuesday, and did so with great performances up and down the roster.
Luka Dončić, back from his suspension, was racking up points. Austin Reaves was attacking the paint and LeBron James gave everyone a glimpse of Showtime with highlight plays throughout the night.
While LA’s big three brought their best, so did their starting center, Deandre Ayton.
Ayton flirted with a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds and was a huge reason this game was put to bed early. He was aggressive offensively and a defensive force, neutralizing the Cavs’ frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
“He’s been playing great basketball for a long time now,” Luka said postgame. ”So we just need him to keep doing what he does and when he plays like that it helps us win.”
Ayton’s dominance really started during the second quarter.
With Cleveland trailing by two points entering the period, this contest seemed destined to be the tough game it was advertised to be on paper.Ayton stepped up to tip things in the Lakers’ favor.
His offensive onslaught began with a dunk off a LeBron pass. James then connected with Ayton again a few possessions later, this time with the center scoring from just inside the free throw line. Ayton followed that up with a tip dunk off a rare Luka miss, then scored on a floater that gave the Lakers a double-digit advantage.
No one in this contest was better on the glass than Ayton. He had a game-high nine rebounds,including a whopping six offensive boards. A statistic like offensive rebounding won’t typically be highlighted, but on this Lakers team, they understand how important it is to grab those boards and keep possession on misses.
“He’s a very unselfish player,” Rui Hachimura said. “We love him here. I think his presence, just being there, he’s 7’1”, long wingspan and all that, using his body to protect the rim, getting those offensive rebounds, whatever we missed. It’s been great.”
Scoring and rebounding are obvious ways to demonstrate Ayton’s impact, but his game was loud in small ways as well.
He was keeping his hands up on defense and deflecting passes in traffic. Arguably the best Lakers highlight of the night, a LeBron alley-oop, started with Ayton creating a turnover.
In the third, Ayton had a beautiful Gortat screen midway through the quarter, which opened up the driving lane for Luka to get an easy two points. Dončić acknowledged Ayton’s grunt work, pointing to him after the basket went in.
Thanks to Ayton’s focus on both ends of the court, the Cavs never threatened and the Lakers ended March with another win, firmly cementing themselves as the third seed in the West.
Ayton was brought to the Lakers to play in these high-leverage games and provide them with an elite offensive scorer with the size and strength to compete against the best big men in the NBA.
As one of the few Lakers with NBA Finals experience, Ayton knows what it takes to win. And if he keeps this level of play up, the biggest moments of this year for himself and the Lakers are yet to come.
“I miss this type of feeling, I’m not gonna lie,” Ayton said. “There’s a certain type of urgency out there where you and this guy been battling, the chemistry you guys made just being around each other on and off the court. It’s finally showing on the court and it’s contagious.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: LeBron James #23 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers smile during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Coming into March, the Lakers were floating adrift, fresh off three demoralizing losses to the Celtics, Magic and Suns and staring the toughest stretch of the season in the face.
The Lakers exit March having loudly declared they are a legitimate contender. According to Positive Residual, they had the second-most games and the 10th-hardest schedule in March.
They finished the month with a 15-2 record. The two losses coming to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the Nuggets in Denver. Those were offset by a revenge win over Denver and victories over the Knicks, Wolves, Rockets and Cavs, all teams in the playoffs.
It’s on a short list for the best months the team has had since the 2019-20 season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
It was a very loud 14 points for LeBron, who had one of the highlights of the month with his big alley-oop slam off Austin Reaves’ alley-oop. We’ve come a long way this season with Austin’s alley-oops, too.
LEBRON JUST TOOK FLIGHT ✈️
Reaves drops the over-the-head lob… James handles the rest.
One of Jake’s best games in months. It was great to see him knock down multiple threes. When he scores, it feels like such a huge boost because of everything else he does.
While his shooting left a lot to be desired and he had some perplexing turnovers — he really loved a wild behind-the-back pass tonight — it does feel like Austin is in a better rhtyhm and has a better feel for his role as the month comes to an end.
Luka caps off an incredible month of March with a fitting finale. Having him come in during a shaky fourth quarter and bludgeon a bunch of Cavs reserves to put the game to rest was a lot of fun, too.
Back-to-back solid games from Rui, who hopefully has found his shooting touch again. The lack of rebounding is a bit easier to swallow when Austin, Luka and Jake combine for 18. But you still want more.
Similarly, Hayes followed up his great game on Monday with a so-so one against the Cavs. The good news is the Lakers aren’t reliant on him to be good, a change from last year.
Bronny played more than the rest of the group, getting a rotation in the first half where he didn’t do much statistically but played really nice defense during that stretch.
JJ Redick
Another largely solid game from JJ. I specifically liked him throwing out a zone defense in the second half amidst their strong run in the third quarter. That being said, I thought he stuck with it a little too much once Cleveland figured it out.
But considering the Lakers won this game by 20, I think it was a small thing on a great night.
Grade: B+
Tuesday’s DNPs: Maxi Kleber, Jarred Vanderbilt
Tuesday’s inactives: Chris Mañon, Nick Smith Jr., Marcus Smart
Los Angeles Lakers (50-26, third in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (60-16, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles plays the Oklahoma City Thunder after Luka Doncic scored 42 points in the Lakers' 127-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Thunder have gone 37-9 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is fourth in the NBA with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.
The Lakers are 30-16 in conference matchups. Los Angeles is sixth in the Western Conference scoring 116.8 points per game and is shooting 50.2%.
The Thunder score 118.6 points per game, 3.9 more points than the 114.7 the Lakers give up. The Lakers average 11.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 fewer made shots on average than the 14.4 per game the Thunder give up.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 119-110 on Feb. 10, with Jalen Williams scoring 23 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.6 points and 6.5 assists for the Thunder. Holmgren is averaging 14.0 points over the last 10 games.
Doncic is averaging 33.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.6 steals for the Lakers. Austin Reaves is averaging 19.9 points and 5.5 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 117.4 points, 45.8 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.1 points per game.
Lakers: 9-1, averaging 120.0 points, 41.3 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 9.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Jalen Williams: day to day (injury management), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein: day to day (injury management).
Lakers: Marcus Smart: day to day (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs posts up against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on February 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everything has gone wrong for the Golden State Warriors this season. They resolved a bit of in-house drama with the Jonathon Kuminga trade, but they’ve been without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler since before the All Star break. Butler is out for the foreseeable future with a torn ACL, while Curry has been dealing with a knee ailment of his own and hasn’t played since the end of January. Without those two guys, Golden State’s already slim margin of competing with the league’s best becomes nonexistent. They’re going to play some extra basketball in the play-in thanks to an 11-game cushion between them and the 11th spot West team and Curry is expected to return soon, but no one is expecting them to make any serious noise as presently constructed.
The San Antonio Spurs meanwhile continue to roll along towards the end of the regular season. They’ve lost just 2 games since the beginning of February, solidifying themselves alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder as the two preeminent squads in the league as the playoffs approach. Tonight’s game is the first on their very last road trip of the regular season, a 3-game trek that starts in California and ends in Denver. They’re on the cusp of their first 60-win season since 2016-2017 and with the #1 seed very much still up for grabs, don’t expect them to ease up now.
San Antonio Spurs (54-18) at Golden State Warriors (36-39) April 1 2026 | 9:00 PM CT Watch: ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: David Jones-Garcia, OUT
Warriors Injuries: Stephen Curry, knee (OUT), Jimmy Butler, knee (OUT), Moses Moody, knee (OUT), Al Horford, calf (OUT), Will Richard, knee (day to day), Quinten Post, foot (day to day)
What to watch for
San Antonio has the talent advantage at center every game by default this season thanks to employing Victor Wembanyama, but it’s even more glaring against Golden State. The Warriors’ only 7 footer on the roster is Krystaps Porzingis, and he was only acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in the Kuminga trade. With Quinten Post and veteran AL Horford both out, Porzingis has been receiving the lion’s share of available center minutes. Meanwhile Draymond Green, arguably still arguably Golden State’s best defensive player, has had a few viral moments matching up with Wemby since the Frenchman came into the league and can guard him effectively here and there. The way Wembanyama has been playing though these last few weeks, even those few moments might not matter.
That talent disparity at center also impacts Golden State’s rebounding, where they rank in the bottom half overall. Their 11.4 offensive rebounds a game actually rank 13th, a credit to head coach Steve Kerr’s small ball philosophy and all-hands-on-deck approach to rebounding in spite of their lack of traditional big men. While that can help generate more looks for their 3-point happy offense against many teams, it’s tough to see them having much success against a Spurs team that is big seemingly everywhere up and down the roster. San Antonio is holding teams to 10.4 offensive rebounds a game, the 4th fewest in the Association.
This season Golden State takes the most 3s in the NBA and makes the 2nd most of them, but their 36% mark is good enough for just 17th. That number has plummeted to 33% with Chef Curry out of the line-up, which would be the worst in the league below even the 34% the Sacremento Kings make. The Spurs, who are among the best in the NBA at guarding the line, should be able to limit a lot of the Golden State offense sans Curry thanks to their work in limiting 2nd chance opportunities on the boards and a wing rotation that’s as good as anyone defensively.
Rookie Dylan Harper is coming off the best month of his young NBA career. He shooting line of 59/54/86 in the month of March was something of a revelation, taking a lot of the flourishes that have been on display throughout the season and developing amazing consistency. San Antonio has a chance to do something truly special this spring, and Harper is showing how big a part of that he can be.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
The shoes were designed with the Lakers team colors of purple and gold wrapped around a rainbow infinity symbol, a mark of pride and permanence for the autism community.
Per Lakers, head coach JJ Redick is wearing custom-made Nike sneakers tonight against the Washington Wizards that were designed by John Millar to raise awareness for the NBA and NBA coaches association autism acceptance campaign. pic.twitter.com/FMo8dTooB7
“It’s a great cause,” said Redick. “It’s bringing awareness and acceptance.”
But then Redick reflected for a moment and told the story of the teenage version of himself spending his free periods in high school helping a classmate with special needs.
Redick wore custom-made Nike sneakers designed by Salt Lake City artist John Millar for the NBA. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“My junior and senior year I had a free period and I spent those two years working with special needs kids,” recalled Redick. “There was one kid in particular that I worked with. I helped him with math. It was a really humbling experience.”
Redick also mentioned his friendship with Joe Ingles, an NBA player and father navigating life with an autistic son. Suddenly the cause stopped being abstract and it became personal.
“Anybody who knows me knows that I think all people are equal and loved,” Redick said.
The initiative also circles back to To The Max Foundation, founded by Utah Jazz assistant Scott Morrison and his wife after their son Max’s autism diagnosis in 2022.
Across the league, all 30 head coaches joined in the campaign to raise awareness for autism.
The game-worn sneakers laced up by all the NBA coaches will be signed and head to auction at Sotheby’s in May, with every dollar fueling access, opportunity, and dignity for families who often fight autism quietly and without help.
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