Category: NBA

If you have children and they watch WWE, you know who Danhausen is.

In case you don’t, he is a professional wrestler who has gained fame for “cursing” opponents. He records copious amounts of YouTube videos in character, which you can view here.

Danhausen debuted back at WWE’s Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event. Since then, he has quickly risen to be the number 2 merchandise seller in the company.

He then went on to ‘curse’ Stephen A. Smith, and the Knicks promptly went down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA playoffs. A Knicks fan bought a Cameo, which is a way for fans to pay for celebrities to create custom videos, to uncurse the Knicks and curse the Hawks.

He did it for the “human monies,” and now the Knicks haven’t lost, including in a game they were down 22 in the 4th quarter.

Anytime you can pair WWE with BBN, it probably means a successful business venture.

So, when Kentucky announced it would be pairing with Danhausen to create a new collaboration, the internet went into a frenzy.

Now, it may not mean a lot to some of you, and that’s okay. But if you are a wrestling fan, the shirt has already had a couple of restocks today, which means it is selling fast. See the design and get yours below. It comes as WWE SmackDown is live tomorrow night at Rupp Arena; you can get tickets for that here.

Maybe we can all get together and pay for a reversal of the Kentucky injury curse. It certainly can’t hurt.

The Eastern Conference Finals resume tonight at Madison Square Garden with the Knicks holding a 1-0 series lead after Tuesday’s astonishing comeback victory over Cleveland. Donovan “Spida” Mitchell remains fully capable of carrying Cleveland for stretches, but the Cavs were totally gassed late in Game 1, particularly James Harden, who shot terribly, committed a half-dozen turnovers, and was hunted by Jalen Brunson in crunch time. Tonight, Cleveland will either dig deep and come back with a big swing or roll over like dogs. (We predict some version of the former.)

Tip off is at 8 PM EST on ESPN. This is your game thread. This is Fear the Sword. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool and enjoy the ride. And go Knicks!

We’re deep into the NBA playoffs, and one former Husky hooper is still playing meaningful basketball.

Stephon Castle and the San Antonio Spurs are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017. Castle has been the number-two option behind the breakout megastar Victor Wembanyama. Castle is doing a little bit of everything this postseason, averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game while providing some highlight-reel dunks, including one over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in their Game 1 win that included a staredown.

As well as he has been playing overall, his turnover numbers in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals have been less than ideal, totaling 20, the most by a player over two postseason games in NBA history. After the Spurs mounted a late comeback in Game 2, Castle threw the ball directly out of bounds, which was the nail in the coffin for San Antonio.

Game 2 also saw one of the best dunks in recent memory. Midway through the second quarter, Wembyanyama fed the ball to Castle, who had an open lane to the rim. The 6 ‘6 guard drove the lane and levitated over the 7-foot Isaish Hartenstein, who had no chance at blocking the dunk. Even Wembyanyama couldn’t believe how thunderous the jam was.

Castle and the Spurs are even at 1 game apiece heading into a crucial game 3 back in San Antonio Friday night. Castle’s key for victory? Hold onto the ball and hit long-range shots. So far he’s 2-for-12 from the three-point range over the first two games. Castle hit his threes in the Minnesota series, going 5-for-7 in the closeout Game 6. Most importantly, the turnovers were the result in over half of the teams in the department. If they played the defending champs close in both games, the Spurs shouldn’t be alarmed. They have a great chance of finishing the series in six games.

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals are tonight. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at New York Knicks. Watch starting at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Enjoy the game!

After exiting Game 2 early in the second half following an awkward fall, Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper is listed as questionable for Game 3 in San Antonio with a sore adductor. The play occurred when he collided with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while going for a lay-up and came down awkwardly on his leg. While obviously not ideal, it’s a much better diagnosis than a hamstring pull, which was the fear after he appeared to grab it after the play.

The status of questionable suggests MRI’s were negative, and while it doesn’t confirm he will play tomorrow, it’s a brighter outlook than some may have feared. Adding to the awkwardness, he appeared ready to return as he jogged back from the locker room, only for someone to tell him to go back. That could also be a good sign.

As has been the case for both games so far in this series, De’Aaron Fox remains questionable with a high ankle sprain suffered in Game 5 against the Timberwolves when Ayo Dusunmo rolled into his legs while diving for a loose ball. Fox played in Game 6 but re-aggravated the injury and did not participate in Game 1 vs. the Thunder, which the Spurs won in double overtime. While Mitch Johnson has been adamant that he would play if he could, the win had many speculating that it bought him an extra game off. Related or not, he was ruled out of Game 2 about an hour before tip-off. Both Fox and Harper’s returns will likely depend on pain tolerance.

In other injury related news, Thunder star Jalen Williams has been ruled as day-to-day after he re-aggravated the same hamstring that had kept him out of the first two rounds of the playoffs. He only played seven minutes last night before exiting after playing 37 minutes in Game 1, which was his first game in a month.

While the Thunder have been used to not having Williams for much of this season, the same can’t be said for the Spurs. While Fox, Harper and Stephon Castle all missed time here and there, they’re used it having at least two of the three, and the Spurs need at least one of them to give Castle some relief from ball-handling duties. While his scoring has been on point in this series, he has struggled holding onto the ball with 20 turnovers so far. If both Fox and Harper can’t go, expect to see some relief minutes from Jordan McLaughlin.

This series had all the makings of an instant classic coming in and has lived up to the hype through the first two games, so it would be a shame if more injuries were to spoil it in any way. Despite last night’s loss, the Spurs still hold home court advantage heading into Game 3 in San Antonio after stealing Game 1.

Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said that with Mark Walter as the majority owner, the Lakers would spend everywhere possible to improve the franchise. So far, that’s been true.

The franchise has hired a new President of Business Operations in Lon Rosen, and will hire two assistant general managers to help Pelinka with his front-office duties.

To help with all of these hires, the Lakers brought on Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi from the Dodgers as advisors.

In fact, Friedman and Zaidi have reportedly been present during interviews for the assistant general manager positions.

However, don’t expect Zaidi and Friedman to remain as involved once all new hires are put in place. According to a piece by Yaron Weitzman of Yahoo Sports, both Zaidi and Friedman are only focused on getting things situated for the Lakers.

That said, neither Friedman nor Zaidi seems interested in making a cross-sport leap. Their interactions over the past few months with NBA player agents, including those representing Lakers’ stars, have been minimal, according to league sources. “This isn’t like when one of these owners comes in and acts like they know everything,” said an agent who’s spoken frequently with Zaidi about the Lakers. “His focus seems to be much more on the building out of the organization.”

Since Friedman and Zaidi don’t seem interested in planting their roots in basketball, they can focus on helping where they can with front office hires and then move on once the right people are in place.

While basketball and baseball are completely different sports, this is more about the organizational front-office infrastructure, which is essentially corporate work wrapped in an entertainment package. So, their success with the Dodgers should be replicable with the Lakers.

The fact that they’ll likely be done once their work is finished should be a good indicator to Lakers fans that Walter will rely on experts rather than hire people he already knows.

We’ll better understand how Walter will run the team once these big transitions are further along and more new hires are revealed.

Until then, expect a lot of change with the Lakers this season, not just with their roster, but with everything involving the franchise.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Ever lose a bet and come away even more convinced you were right? It’s a risky mindset—but sometimes it holds up.

That’s the case here. The New York Knicks played far from their best in Game 1 and still walked away with an overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Those busted Tuesday tickets might just be setting the stage for Thursday cashes.

These Cavaliers vs. Knicks props and NBA picks are doubling down on a pair of Game 1 angles, with confidence that New York’s shooting bounces back in Game 2 on Thursday, May 21.

Best Cavaliers vs Knicks props for Game 2

Player	Pick
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 1.5 3-pointers	+125
James Harden	Over 17.5 points	-120
Jalen Brunson	Over 6.5 assists	+110

Game 2 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 3-pointers

+125 at bet365

Karl-Anthony Towns hit just one 3-pointer in Game 1, yet this price has fallen to +125 now from +145 then. Why? Because he took five 3-pointers.

With the New York Knicks center, the question to consider in these moments is not how many 3-pointers he will make but how many 3-pointers he will take. He has made a career from beyond the arc, even if sometimes reluctant to chuck from deep.

Towns shot 36.8% from beyond the arc this season while taking 4.8 threes per 36 minutes. Through 11 postseason games, Towns has shot 44.1% from beyond the arc while taking just 3.8 threes per 36 minutes.

Simply enough, Towns hardly needed to play or play well in the seven games closing out the Hawks and the 76ers. He needs to play and play well against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

If Towns takes five 3-pointers again tonight, making at least two is far more likely than not.

Game 2 Prop #2: James Harden Over 17.5 points

-120 at bet365

The jokes the last two days have been fair. Is Donovan McNabb or Phillip Rivers the more apt NFL comparison to James Harden’s postseason career? Has a former MVP ever been described as a “journeyman” before?

Harden was Cleveland’s weak link in its fourth quarter collapse. He should be lampooned.

But he is also still James Harden. He cleared this prop in five of seven games against the Pistons, a better defense than the Knicks even if no one in New York would agree with that. For that matter, he cleared it in six of seven games against the Raptors.

Is James Harden a clutch player? No.

Has there been an overreaction to his Tuesday struggles? Very much so.

Much like Towns’ five 3-point attempts, the most notable Harden stat is that he took 16 shots in Game 1, going 1-for-8 from deep. No matter how poorly Harden plays, there is no reason to think he will shoot that poorly again, creating some value for us here.

Game 2 Prop #3: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists

+110 at bet365

The Knicks really escaped on Tuesday, huh? Through three quarters, they shot 4-of-22 from deep, 18.2%. Not to get too far into the math here, but that is bad.

From the field, they shot 26-for-60, 43.3%. Again, not so good.

Then New York went 6-for-9 from deep in the fourth quarter and in overtime, part of going 16-for-28 from the field.

Jalen Brunson ended with six assists. Imagine if the Knicks had not been absolute garbage for three quarters and he then had to go nuclear in the fourth quarter.

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.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to even their Eastern Conference finals series against the New York Knicks. The Knicks won the opener in overtime on Tuesday after rallying from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter — the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history. New York is 6.5-point favorites in Game 2.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

• Date: Thursday, May 21

• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

• TV Channels: ESPN

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Cleveland Cavaliers: 52-30 (#2 in Eastern Central)

• New York Knicks: 53-29 (#2 in Eastern Atlantic)

Odds

• Spread: New York Knicks -6.5

• Moneyline: New York Knicks -238 (67.6%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +196 (32.4%)

• Over/Under: 216.5

Series schedule, results

Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104 (OT)
Game 2: Cleveland at New York (Thursday May 21, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 3: New York at Cleveland (Saturday May 23, 8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: New York at Cleveland (Monday May 25, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 5: Cleveland at New York (Wednesday May 27, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)*
Game 6: New York at Cleveland (Friday May 29, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)*
Game 7: Cleveland at New York (Sunday May 31, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)*

*if necessary

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Whether you’re riding high off the New York Knicks’ crazy comeback or wallowing in disbelief at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ collapse, we now know that anything can happen in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

My Cavaliers vs. Knicks same-game parlay isn’t discounting Cleveland – even if everyone else is – and looks up to big man Jarrett Allen to anchor the Cavs' attack. I’m also going Under on a staple of New York’s postseason success, as adjustments may limit his minutes tonight.

Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for May 21.

Our best Cavaliers vs Knicks SGP for Game 2

SGP leg #1: Cavaliers +6.5

The Cleveland Cavaliers were playing fantastic basketball coming into the Eastern Conference finals, having won four of their last five while eliminating the top-seeded Pistons. And the Cavs kept that up for about 36 minutes in Game 1, before the wheels came off in the fourth quarter. Cleveland knows it can hang with the New York Knicks and is mentally tough after a loss, going 27-9 SU when coming off a defeat this season. The Cavs are also 5-2 ATS as an underdog coming off a loss.

SGP leg #2: Jarrett Allen Over 20.5 points + rebounds

Considering how much trouble New York had with Joel Embiid inside in Round 2, Cleveland should have leaned into big man Jarrett Allen more in Game 1. He didn’t have a bad game, but seemed forgotten at times. He’ll often get matched with smaller forwards, and projections for Game 2 call for 13+ points and as many as 10+ rebounds from the 7-footer. He grabbed seven boards in Game 1 – six on the offensive glass – and was in position for 17.0 rebounding chances.

SGP leg #3: Josh Hart Under 12.5 points

Josh Hart’s defense is a staple of this New York run, but his lack of offensive pop is being exposed. Cleveland is choosing to guard Hart with 7-footer Jarrett Allen and begging Hart to shoot from outside. His minutes took a hit in Game 1 with Landry Shamet offering a better two-way return, and his Game 2 forecasts all come in below his 12.5-point scoring total.

Covers NBA betting tools

• NBA odds
• NBA picks
• NBA player props
• Best NBA betting sites
• Today’s NBA matchups

See our full Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2 preview

Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictionsfor Game 2.

More Covers NBA Playoff content

NBA Championship odds

Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

NBA Finals MVP odds

See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

Live NBA Playoff bracket

Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

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.

So would it have been smart of me to set this up before the NBA Conference Finals started? Yes. Am I smart? No.

But that’s what happens when in addition to my two kids and one dog, my wife opted to have us foster two puppies. Everything is chaotic all the time now. Here’s the Semi Finals discussion thread.

Right now, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied up at 1-1 and both games have been fantastic and insane. I find myself rooting for the Spurs just because they can’t seem to defend without constant fouling. But maybe I’ll change my mind if they take control of the series.

The Cleveland Cavaliers blew their first game to the New York Knicks in absurd fashion. I don’t see how they recover from that loss, to be honest.

Have fun and someone reach out if it gets too crazy

Real or not, Charmin is jumping in to reward the player they have crowned the "MVPee" of the NBA playoffs. Hours after a viral video showed San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant using a public restroom at Paycom Center in full uniform, they offered him free toilet paper.  

The brand announced on Instagram that they would like to send Bryant enough of its Forever Roll to last him through the end of the season. Charmin called it “the best FAST BREAK of the night,” and an “MVPee performance.” 

But is the video real? 

Well, in this day and age of AI, we really don’t know yet. 

The video shows him in full uniform washing and drying his hands. The caption said “mid game btw.” It could be a fake, but it is also possible that Keith Hillary, whose TikTok bio identifies him as an artist at Almighty Ink in Oklahoma City, could have happened to have been standing in the restroom when the Spurs rookie walked in. 

Charmin doesn’t need to confirm the video to jump on a fun marketing campaign.  

GlobeIsaiah Thomas hopes ‘second act’ with Celtics will help him become a GM

‘Some days the 3-point shooting gets a little much’: Kevin McHale on watching the Celtics this season

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30, Thunder top Spurs in Game 2 of Western Conference finals

Maine’s Cooper Flagg among three unanimous first-team selections for the NBA’s All-Rookie team

CelticsBlog CelticsBlog exit interview: Derrick White’s shooting drop off sparks big questions

What I’ve learned so far from the 2026 NBA Playoffs

CLNS MediaShould the Celtics Sign LeBron James? | Garden Report

Should the Celtics Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo? | Garden Report

NBC Sports BostonHow a quieter summer could slingshot Celtics toward future big moves

NESNInsider Suggests Rising Squad As Potential Fit For Jaylen Brown In Three-Team Trade Involving Giannis Antetokounmpo

Celtics Get Love in Best Champions Ranking, But Lakers Still Too High

Mass LiveCeltics rookie gets votes for league award despite limited opportunity

Celtics WireShould we be worried about the Celtics?

Isaiah Thomas on scouting for the Celtics at the 2026 NBA Combine

Luka Garza to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in FIBA World Cup

Where do the Boston Celtics go from here?

Who should the Celtics sign with the midlevel exception?

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown has been disrespected to start the summer

Should the Celtics offer Jaylen Brown a contract extension?

Did Stephen A. Smith cross a line when talking about Jaylen Brown?

Exploring the Celtics’ salary cap situation

Celtics history: Ron Watts born; alum Don Nelson wins Coach of the Year

Celtics Hugo Gonzalez misses 2026 NBA All-Rookie teams by 3 spots

Will the Spurs, Thunder change how the Celtics teambuild?

The AthleticNBA player tiers 2026: LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant slide to Tier 2

Boston Sports Journal Celtics 2025 NBA Draft scouting primer

Hardwood Houdini Nick Wright issues harsh reality check for Stephen A. Smith after Jaylen Brown threat

Celtics could shop in the division for sleeper free agent big man target

Celtics reportedly worked out local proven winner ahead of NBA Draft

Thunder’s Game 2 win was a call-to-action for Brad Stevens and the Celtics

Ron Harper Jr.’s brother providing plenty of hope for Celtics’ future

Celtics should be eager to capitalize on Warriors’ possible dilemma this summer

Victor Wembanyama forcing Celtics to rethink their frontcourt rebuild

CLNS Media/YouTube Why Josue Pavon WOULD NOT Trade Jaylen Brown | Celtics Daily

Locked on Celtics Boston Celtics Crowd RANKS #1 in NBA Survey | Jaylen Brown & Derrick White OVERLOOKED

HeavyCeltics Linked to $60 Million Star Big Man to Pair With Jayson Tatum

Lakers Major Trade Pitch Lands Jaylen Brown Alongside Luka Doncic

Celtics Linked to $43 Million Breakout Playoff Star to Join Jayson Tatum

NBA Trade Rumors: Where Jaylen Brown Could Land in Giannis 3-Way Trade

The Celtics Chronicle Potential Free Agent Wing Targets

Larry Brown SportsJaylen Brown is being linked to 2 teams in trade rumors

LeBatardShow/YouTube How Stephen A Smith’s Distorted Worldview Explains His Beef with Jaylen Brown

Dunking with WolvesWild Timberwolves-Celtics mock trade solves a major need for both teams

Fadeaway World Celtics Free Agency: 5 Best Targets For The 2026 Offseason

Jaylen Brown Could Join Clippers Or Hawks In Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo-To-Celtics Deal

Celtics RoundtableHow Worried Should We Be About Boston Celtics Draft History?

One Seemingly Unrealistic Wish For Boston Celtics This Summer

Basketball Network “Neither one of these teams have the ingredients” — Paul Pierce dismisses the Knicks and Cavs as true title threats

SI .comWhat Boston Celtics Pre-draft Workouts Could Say About Upcoming Draft Strategy

Jason Kidd has broken his silence after his Mavericks exit. 

The now-fired head coach thanked the Dallas organization, players and fans after five seasons with the team in a lengthy post to social media on Thursday. 

“The last five years in Dallas have meant more to my family and me than I can fully put into words,” he wrote.

“… To the players, thank you for your trust, your commitment, and the battles we went through together. I am proud of what we built, the relationships formed, and the way you competed night in and night out.

“To the fans, thank you for embracing me and supporting this team with so much passion. Your energy, loyalty, and love for the Mavericks make Dallas one of the truly special places in sports. And to the city of Dallas, thank you for welcoming my family and me with open arms. The friendships and memories created here will stay with us forever.”

Kidd ended his statement by saying he leaves the Mavericks “with nothing but gratitude and respect for everyone who was part of this journey.”

Earlier this week, the Mavericks announced that they had “mutually agreed” to part ways with Kidd, who still had four years and more than $40 million left on his contract, after five seasons at the helm. 

New president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in a statement that he wanted to take the franchise in a different direction.

“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team,” Ujiri said. “We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention. We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve.”

Kidd led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024 and the Western Conference finals in 2022, but was so-so otherwise, going 205-205 over his five-year run. 

This season, with Luka Doncic on the Lakers after the Mavericks’ ill-fated 2025 trade and Cooper Flagg in his debut NBA season, Dallas went 26-56. 

Kidd, who spent time as the Nets and Bucks head coach before his time with the Mavericks, is already being floated for other jobs. 

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Magic, who are also looking for a new head coach, had interest in Kidd in 2021, and are looking for an experienced voice to take the job.

With the news of the week now officially days old, it’s time for us to examine what the Dallas Mavericks might actually do to fill their head coaching position. While no official interviews have taken place, consider this a hot board of sorts. Thanks to some offshore means, we have an idea of some of the names who will be considered here. Let’s dive into the names.

According to Bet Online, San Antonio Spurs Associate Head Coach Sean Sweeney (+125) is the favorite to be the next head coach of the Mavs. Sweeney is, of course, a known entity for the Mavs and its fans, as he was former coach Jason Kidd’s number one assistant, handling the defensive side of the ball. Considering how young this search is at this juncture, it’s a bit surprising to see this overwhelming of a favorite. For those who are unfamiliar with the betting odds, (+125) is implied odds of 44.4%.

Next in line are Nick Nurse (+300) and Frank Vogel (+400), respectively. Nurse is a well-known entity to Team President Masai Ujiri, as Nurse was the first coaching hire that Ujiri ever made in his career. It will be tough to pull this off, though, as Nurse is the coach of the Sixers. It would require them giving Dallas permission to interview him. Vogel, on the other hand, was Kidd’s lead assistant last season. It is unknown if Ujiri retained him, as we are still learning who was let go in the organization’s sweeping changes.

Amazon Prime’s Steve Nash (+650) checks in at fourth in the odds. Nash has head coaching experience from his time in Brooklyn, which came with Kyrie Irving, funny enough. I don’t think this is a viable option for various reasons, but it would be very ironic if they went from one iconic Maverick point guard to another.

Rounding out the top five is former Bulls coach Billy Donovan (+700). It sounds like he’s the favorite in Orlando, so I wouldn’t put too much into this.

Here are the rest of the odds:

• Tiago Splitter, former Blazers interim head coach (10/1)
• Tom Thibodeau, former Knicks, Wolves, Bulls head coach (12/1)
• Michael Malone, current head coach at North Carolina, former Nuggets, Kings head coach (16/1)
• Johnnie Bryant, current head coach at UCF, longtime Coach K assistant at Duke (20/1)
• Micah Nori, current lead assistant with Timberwolves, former assistant with Raptors (22/1)
• Darvin Ham, current assistant with Bucks, former head coach of Lakers (28/1)
• Jon Scheyer, current head coach at Duke (28/1)
• Chris Quinn, current lead assistant with the Heat (33/1)
• Phil Handy, current Mavs player development coach (33/)
• Terry Stotts, former assistant with Warriors, Mavs, former Blazers head coach (40/1)
• Todd Golden, NCAA Champion, current head coach at Florida (50/1)
• Dirk Nowitzki, GOAT, current Amazon Prime analyst (75/1)

Who would you like to see be the next head coach? Sounds off below.

Austin Reaves did “everything” he could to give himself a chance to return to the Lakers during the NBA playoffs after suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain one week before the regular season ended.

And his mission was successful: Reaves returned in Game 5 of their eventual first-round playoff series victory over the Rockets and played in six postseason games before the Lakers were swept in the second round by the Thunder. 

While Reaves didn’t share what “everything” entailed, he took advantage of the Lakers’ connection to another iconic sports franchise in the local market.

In addition to rehabbing at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo, Reaves also underwent treatment at the Dodgers’ facility. 

A story from Yahoo Sports, which cited two anonymous sources, stated that Reaves’ rehabbing at the Dodgers’ facility was a suggestion by the Lakers.

“There were days I left my house at 7:30 [a.m.] and I didn’t get back until 7:30 [p.m.] or later at night,” Reaves said of his rehab process. “Just going through every possible thing I could do to help myself get better. And we did it as a collective. We huddled up when it first happened and it was basically attacked every single day after.”

Reaves’ rehab process is another example of the connection between the Lakers and Dodgers since Mark Walter became the majority owner of the Lakers last October. Walter had already been the controlling owner of the Dodgers since 2012. 

Since Walter bought the franchise, the Lakers have made several changes to their business-side front office, including Lon Rosen as the president of business operations (replacing Tim Harris), Michael Spetner as the new chief strategy and growth officer (new position) and Ryan Kantor as the vice president of global partnerships (new role).

Dodgers executives Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman joined the Lakers in advisory roles in November. 

Lakers president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka mentioned after the season ended that the franchise will collaborate with the Dodgers to upgrade the medical/performance resources within the Lakers’ practice facility.

With the Lakers’ G League team relocating to Coachella Valley, the Lakers will have more space to utilize. 

“We’re bringing in a biomechanics lab, new movement labs, a recovery lab; those things are super expensive to do and super thoughtful, but we’re doing the planning with Lon and his team around that, and that construction is going to happen this offseason,” Pelinka said.

“They’re going to be redoing aspects of the court as well. It’s a full rebuild and retool, and it’s adding to the great things that are already here, which have led to success, but elevating it and bringing it to the next level. So an ongoing process that we’ll be doing throughout the offseason. Probably, hopefully, culminating in and around the summer league in Vegas.”

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters