On Sunday, April 5, it was reported that Luka Doncic was heading to Europe to seek specialized treatment for his grade 2 left hamstring strain in an effort to expedite his return. Now, more details have come to light regarding what that treatment actually looks like.
ESPN's Shams Charania gave the latest update on the status of the injured Los Angeles Lakers star with a bit of new information. In a segment on NBA Today, Charania reported that Doncic is currently in Spain to receive "an injection procedure" in his hamstring area to "promote healing" and streamline his recovery process.
"We know a grade 2 hamstring typically falls between 4-6 weeks," Charania said on-air. "He's doing everything he can to see if he can push that timeline up just a little bit. ... That's what he's doing. He's in Spain."
Details on Lakers injured stars Luka Doncic treatment in Spain and Austin Reaves timeline for NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/q0aG2WQrf0
Charania added that there's still a lot of unknowns, such as how the treatment itself actually works, the effectiveness of it, and how much it can possibly speed things up.
Doncic strained his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Thursday's blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and his status for the playoffs is currently uncertain, but a first-round appearance would be surprising given what we know about the usual timeline for grade 2 hamstring strains.
What is a Grade 2 hamstring strain?
A Grade 2 hamstring strain is a “moderate injury that is typically a partial tear in the muscle; patients are likely to limp when walking and will have occasional twinges of pain during activity,” according to Mercy Health.
The injury could take close to a month to heal, but “returning to sports before the injury is fully healed can cause more severe injuries.”
Austin Reaves injury update
Doncic wasn't the only Lakers guard that Charania gave an update on. Austin Reaves -- who has also been ruled out for the final five games of the season with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury -- is rehabbing in LA and is still expected to miss 4-6 weeks, which would sideline him for most of if not all of the first round.
"The goal is for both of these players to be back," Charania said.
With the Lakers down two of their best players and possible first-round matchups against the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets or Minnesota Timberwolves (or possibly the Phoenix Suns if the Lakers can lock up the No. 3 seed), they might need a vintage LeBron James run just to make it out to the second round.
The NBA's tanking issue has largely overshadowed the stretch run of the 2025-26 season and the race for seeding ahead of the postseason to this point. But the final week of the schedule has set the stage for some needed drama, with games every day that loom large as teams jockey for playoff position and try to avoid the play-in tournament.
Though the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have locked up the top two spots in the Western Conference, and the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics are comfortably positioned atop the Eastern Conference, there's plenty at stake for the rest of the postseason bracket and several key injuries that could impact the next few days and the start of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
Here's a breakdown at some key storylines as the NBA begins the final week of the 2025-26 regular season:
Perhaps the most compelling race entering the final week of the NBA regular season centers around the Western Conference teams that will hold home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Thunder and Spurs are locked into the top two seeds, but the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets are in a logjam beneath them. The Lakers have the same record as the Nuggets (50-28) entering Monday, with the Rockets just one game behind after reeling off a sixth-straight win Sunday, April 5 against the Golden State Warriors.
Two games separate the No. 6 seed from the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference entering Monday's NBA slate as the Philadelphia 76ers try to fend off the Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat in a race to avoid the play-in tournament. The Raptors and Heat notably play one another in back-to-back games in Toronto this week. There's also some intrigue playing out ahead of the Western Conference play-in tournament, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers tied in their pursuit of the No. 8 seed (and the luxury of only needing one win to make the playoffs).
The opponent awaiting the potential No. 6 seed in the East is also up in the air, with current No. 3 seed New York Knicks one game up on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Atlanta Hawks, currently occupying the No. 5 seed, moved two games ahead of the Sixers ahead of a matchup against the Knicks on Monday night. The Hawks play the Cavaliers twice and the Knicks in the coming days.
The Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, welcomed back Stephen Curry on Sunday after a 27-game absence due to a knee injury. The Minnesota Timberwolves are also managing injury concerns, with both Anthony Edwards (knee) and Jaden McDaniels (knee) each missing games of late. McDaniels is considered "week-to-week," according to the Timberwolves.
In the Eastern Conference, Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham remains sidelined due to a collapsed lung, and the team announced he will be re-evaluated later this week. Cunningham hasn't played in a game since suffering the injury on March 17.
Who's hot?
Atlanta Hawks: 18-2 record over their past 20 games
Denver Nuggets: Won eight games in a row entering Monday
Houston Rockets: Currently on season-best six-game winning streak
Oklahoma City Thunder: 20-2 record since Feb. 20
San Antonio Spurs: 27-3 record since Feb. 1
Who's not?
Golden State Warriors: 9-19 record since Feb. 1 (9-18 without Curry)
Miami Heat: 3-8 record since March 14
Minnesota Timberwolves: 6-9 record over past 15 games
Phoenix Suns: 4-8 record since March 13
Toronto Raptors: 9-12 record in March and April
Potential spoilers
The Charlotte Hornets have won at close to a 70% clip since Jan. 1, with recent victories over Eastern Conference contenders like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. The trio of Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are the most dangerous team in the play-in tournament, with the best chance to win a first-round playoff series. Potential playoff previews against the Celtics, Pistons and Knicks are on the schedule this week.
Though the Warriors have struggled after Jimmy Butler's season-ending injury and Curry's two-month injury setback, their longtime superstar provided hope in his return Sunday when he led a Golden State comeback that came up just short against the playoff-bound Rockets. The defending NBA champion Thunder will be favored in any first-round series they face, but going against Curry, Draymond Green and the Warriors is probably the least desirable outcome.
Games to watch
All times Eastern
Monday: New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. on Peacock
Tuesday: Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns, 11 p.m. on Peacock
Wednesday: Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Thursday: Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video
Friday: Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m.
Friday: Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video
Friday: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video
Sunday: Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m.
Sunday: Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m.
Leon Rose has once again orchestrated a 50-win Knicks season — but Mike Breen’s recent praise of the team president has been dubbed “blasphemous” by Stephen A. Smith.
With the Knicks blowing out the Bulls on Friday, Breen — a colleague of Smith’s at ESPN — suggested to viewers on the MSG broadcast that the expectations surrounding the Knicks had gotten out of hand.
“There are many Knick fans, and many in the media, and many within the organization, who feel that this season would be considered a disappointing one if the Knicks don’t make the NBA Finals,” Breen said during the fourth quarter of New York’s 136-96 demolition of Chicago.
Stephen A. Smith rips ESPN colleague Mike Breen for "blasphemous" comments about where the Knicks were before Leon Rose became president of the team pic.twitter.com/bWTiWnS0wa
“… Obviously a championship is what everyone wants and that’s the goal, but just remember where the franchise was before Leon Rose arrived.”
Even with the Knicks in third place of the Eastern Conference, Smith took issue with Breen’s defense of Rose.
Calling the play-by-play man a “Hall of Famer” and “one of the greatest voices in the history of sports,” he then proceed to gently rip into the legendary broadcaster.
“We know what he does for us, ESPN/ABC. But you can’t allow this to go unchallenged,” Smith said. “You’ve been there. We know that the New York Knicks have improved. … New York Knick fans have suffered, We haven’t won a championship since Richard Nixon left office. We haven’t won a championship since 1973.
ESPN/ABC basketball announcers Doris Burke and Mike Breen during the second quarter of the game between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets at TD Garden on March 2, 2025. Getty Images
“We appreciate Leon Rose and the job that he’s done. Does that mean that we’re supposed to be satisfied of every damn thing that falls short of a trip to the NBA Finals?”
Despite their 50-28 record, the Knicks’ Finals aspirations have become muddied in recent weeks and months, with Jayson Tatum returning for the Celtics and James Harden being traded to the Cavs in February, while the Pistons lead the conference at 57-21.
Still, to Breen’s point, the Knicks have failed to make the playoffs just once since the 2020-21 season — Rose’s first full season in charge of basketball operations. And that run was preceded by seven consecutive seasons without playoff basketball.
Smith also went on to criticize Rose’s blockbuster trade for Mikal Bridges — who has averaged just 11.6 points since the All-Star Break — before lovingly tearing into the 64-year-old Breen again.
“Damn it, Mike Breen, don’t do this. Don’t give passes,” Smith said. “We need a trip to the Finals. Because it’s not looking good in the future. Boston’s not going away, Detroit’s coming.’
“I want to be respectful to Mike Breen. But when I see you. And I will see you, we’re gonna talk about this Mike Breen. I love you.”
Knicks president Leon Rose watches the Knicks take on the Clippers on Jan. 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
With just four games left in the regular season, the Knicks are jostling for playoff positioning and hold a one-game lead over Cleveland for the No. 3 seed in the East.
They’ll face fellow postseason teams in the Hawks, Celtics, Raptors and Hornets to close out the regular season before embarking on another playoff gauntlet.
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season -— their first trip to that stage since 2000 – before falling to the Pacers in six games.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
North Carolina has plucked both its football and men's basketball coaches from the professional ranks in the last two years, hiring New England Patriots legend Bill Belichick prior to the 2025 season and former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on Monday, April 6, sources confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, one of the sport's legendary coaches who has been a part of numerous rivalry games against in-state enemy North Carolina, said it hasn't done the Tar Heels any good yet, though.
"Well, they had an NFL champion hired as the coach and Duke beat North Carolina in football this year," he said on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show" shortly after the Malone news dropped. "That doesn't mean Coach Belichick isn't a great coach, but there is time for adjustment."
Malone, whose daughter plays volleyball at North Carolina, was fired by the Denver Nuggets prior to the playoffs in 2025, although he won the NBA Finals with the organization in 2023. He has 510 career NBA wins in stints with the Nuggets and Sacramento Kings, and coached 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic with Denver.
While Krzyzewski said Malone is a great coach, he said there's a learning curve when moving from NBA to college, but also noted North Carolina could be shifting its philosophy to more of a professional model with coaching hires.
"It takes longer, if you ever get adjusted from the pros to college," he said. "(Malone) is a terrific coach and a terrific guy. There's a learning curve. ... Whatever the reasoning is, maybe they're changing. (North Carolina) now have two pro coaches coaching in college.
"The infrastructure their athletic department (has), is it now going to become more of a pro organization? Which. I think if that's true, everybody should be doing that. And the fact that he knows how to do that, and so does Coach Belichick, maybe that's a sign that they're moving in that direction."
"They had an NFL champion hired as the coach and Duke beat Carolina in football this year." 🤣
Malone has his work cut out for him, as North Carolina basketball has struggled in recent years to live up to its standard as one of the best programs in college basketball. The Tar Heels haven't won a first-round NCAA Tournament game since 2023-24.
The former Nuggets coach hasn't been in college sports since 2001, when he was an assistant at Manhattan. He'll look to revive the Duke-North Carolina against coach Jon Scheyer, Krzyzewski's former assistant and player.
And maybe Malone will even earn some brownie points with UNC fans if he claps back at Krzyzewski if North Carolina beats Duke in football this year.
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 1: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on April 1, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylen Brown has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season after leading the Celtics to a 3-1 week. The Celtics tallied wins over the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Toronto Raptors, while averaging 31 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.
The Celtics’ only loss came in Atlanta, when Brown posted 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, but shot just 9-29 from the field and turned the ball over 6 times.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Boston Celtics forward-guard Jaylen Brown have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 24 of the 2025-26 season (March 30 – April 5). pic.twitter.com/7vB4jsDjMw
In the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Player of the Week after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 3-0 week, and averaging 31.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.
The award is Brown’s 7th career selection, and third selection this season. Last week, Jayson Tatum was named Player of the Year after averaging 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game en route to a 3-0 week for the Celtics.
Brown’s best game came on Wednesday, when he exploded for 43 points on 17-29 shooting alongside 7 assists in a blowout win over the Miami Heat.
The Player of the Week award is the latest in a season of accolades for Jaylen Brown. He earned his first-ever Player of the Month selection for games played in January and was named an All-Star starter for the first time.
The Celtics are 53-25 on the season, owners of the East’s second-best record. Brown has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 28.7 points per game. He’s also tallying 7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1 steal.
Brown and the Celtics will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Hornets.
Orlando, FL - AUGUST 3: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets and Head Coach Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder kneel during the National Anthem prior to a game on August 3, 2020 at The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It looks as though the North Carolina Tar Heels have found their next head coach, and it’s a surprising name in former Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone.
According to ESPN college basketball reporter Pete Thamel, North Carolina is set to hire Malone, who won an NBA Championship with Denver in 2023 before being fired two seasons later.
This, despite strong interest in former Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan, who is now leading the Chicago Bulls. Donovan was tabbed as the favorite for the UNC opening almost immediately once Hubert Davis was let go. One oddsmaker even had Donovan at -250 to get the job early Monday morning.
And according to Jeff Goodman, there’s a very real chance Donovan would have taken the job if offered.
But just like Mitch Barnhart and Kentucky two years ago, it appears North Carolina wasn’t willing to wait just one more week to potentially hire the two-time NCAA champion.
Billy Donovan wanted to wait until end of season to make a decision on North Carolina and one source close to Donovan felt as though he might have taken it.
But source said that new North Carolina AD Steve Newmark panicked after Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May spurned the Tar Heels.
Sources: North Carolina intends to hire longtime NBA coach Michael Malone as the school’s next basketball coach. He’s an NBA Championship coach with the Denver Nuggets from the 2022-23 season and has won 510 games as an NBA head coach. pic.twitter.com/JwJmUNRLQT
It’s the final week of the NBA regular season, meaning it’s crunch time for teams battling for playoff positioning. And there are big battles across both conferences, with just a handful of games left before the postseason begins with the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14.
Only one thing is certain at this point: the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. But there are a few games on the Monday, April 6 slate that could play a key role in determining who lands where on the playoff bracket.
The night begins with a crucial matchup in Atlanta, pitting the New York Knicks, the current No. 3 seed in the East, against the red-hot Hawks, who currently hold the No. 5 seed. One hour later, the San Antonio Spurs, who still have a chance to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, host the Philadelphia 76ers, who are trying to hang on to the sixth seed in the East. The night concludes with a Northest division matchup between the Denver Nuggets, the current No. 4 seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who sit in the No. 9 seed.
Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Monday, April 6:
NBA schedule for Monday, April 6
All time Eastern
New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m.
Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m.
Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.
Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m.
NBA standings
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through games Sunday, April 5, and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division; y-clinched conference):
Eastern Conference
(1) y-Detroit Pistons: 57-21
(2) x-Boston Celtics: 53-25 (4 GB)
(3) x-New York Knicks: 50-28 (7 GB)
(4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 49-29 (8 GB)
(5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-33 (12 GB)
(6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-35 (14 GB)
(7) Toronto Raptors: 43-35 (14 GB)
(8) Charlotte Hornets: 43-36 (14.5 GB)
(9) Orlando Magic: 42-36 (15 GB)
(10) Miami Heat: 41-37 (16 GB)
Western Conference
(1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-16
(2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 59-19 (3 GB)
(3) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-28 (12 GB)
(4) x-Denver Nuggets: 50-28 (12 GB)
(5) x-Houston Rockets: 49-29 (13 GB)
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-32 (16 GB)
(7) Phoenix Suns: 43-35 (19 GB)
(8) Los Angeles Clippers: 40-38 (22 GB)
(9) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-38 (22 GB)
(10) Golden State Warriors: 36-42 (26 GB)
NBA playoffs bracket
(Through Sunday, April 5)
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Houston Rockets
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
NBA Play-In Tournament
(Through Sunday, April 5)
Eastern Conference
(7) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
(9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.
Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors smiles against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter at Chase Center on April 05, 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 Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors lost their 42nd game of the season Sunday night, ensuring they will finish under .500 for the first time since 2021.
And yet, none of that mattered because for the first time in nearly two months, Steph Curry was back on the floor.
In his return, Curry looked like himself with the same combination of flare and ultra-efficiency that has defined his game throughout his career. He finished with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc in 26 minutes of playing time.
More importantly, he told reporters afterward that he “felt good” — a sign the Warriors will gladly take after a 27-game stretch without their franchise cornerstone.
Despite not starting as the Warriors ease him back into action, Curry immediately shifted the energy of the team. The moment he checked in, the Chase Center crowd rose to its feet, delivering a reminder of just how much he means to the entire organization.
And with his return came a moment that felt bigger than the game itself.
For the first time since Seth Curry joined the Warriors, the Curry brothers shared the floor together. After the game, the two described the special moment as a dream come true.
"Oh man. That was special. We've both had a very difficult year… I was joking calling us the rehab brothers."
Steph Curry got emotional when asked about playing with his brother Seth for the first time in the NBA 💛🥲
The game itself nearly gave Curry a storybook ending.
Golden State held a late lead after Gary Payton II converted an open layup to put them ahead by one with 19.6 seconds remaining. But Houston answered, as Alperen Sengun delivered a clutch bucket on the other end, flipping the pressure back onto the Warriors and setting the stage for a familiar script.
One last shot, 11 seconds on the clock, and the ball in Curry’s hands.
He came off a Draymond Green screen and got a clean look from three to win it, but this time it didn’t fall in, and the Warriors lost, 117-116.
Despite the loss, Steph was electric in his return!
In the bigger picture, Sunday’s result won’t carry much weight anyway. With just four games remaining, the Warriors are essentially locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference, making these final games more about building momentum for the Play-In Tournament — and reintegrating Curry — than the result itself.
Still, Curry’s return drastically changed the belief of the entire team. In a nightmare season defined by injuries, simply getting back their best player felt like the biggest win of the year.
"We're back in the mix. We're back in the fight with Steph."
Curry admitted on Saturday that he has to face a “new normal” with his knee. He has done all the rehab work he can do, but there remains a chance the pain could return. As for his first test back, Curry passed with flying colors, according to Kerr. The Warriors enjoyed having their leader back on the floor, knowing he can lift them when they are down.
“I don’t think there’s a tougher defender in the league for him to have his first game against than Amen Thompson,” Kerr said. “So that’s quite a test. Steph looked amazing. He’s worked really hard for this. You can see it doesn’t take much for him to find his rhythm. And his rhythm is also our rhythm. All the off-ball stuff that we get as a result of his movement.”
“We had the game in control, and then they put No. 30 in the game, and he got them back into it so easily,” Durant told Grant Liffmann of NBA on NBC. “He makes shots so quickly, and he looked incredible after a couple of months off.”
Flagg followed up his teenage-record 51-point performance in Friday’s loss to the Orlando Magic with 45 points in a near triple-double in Sunday’s 134-128 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I think it’s definitely some sort of statement,” said Flagg, who also had nine assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in the victory. “But it just goes back to what I said: I’m confident in myself, and I know what I’m capable of. I’ll just let the rest of the stuff figure itself out.”
In 17 games (16 starts) with the Santa Cruz Warriors this season, Bassey averaged 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 29.1 minutes per game on 61.0%/40.5%/.65.9% shooting. In eight NBA games, he’s averaged 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds on 62.5% shooting from the field in 6.6 minutes per game (15.6 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes).
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at Chase Center on April 04, 2025 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 Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
North Carolina appears to have found its next head coach and, surprise, it is someone no one was really talking about. Despite connections to the university due to his daughter playing volleyball at Carolina, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was not a name you heard a lot of in relation to the Tar Heels’ head coaching job.
However, despite that, sources have told people at ESPN that he will be the next coach at UNC. There will be plenty of time to deep dive into this later, but just a quick history of a current NBA announcer who has not coached any basketball in over a year after he was surprisingly fired from the Nuggets three games before the NBA season ended. Malone does have college experience having served as a college assistant at Oakland, Providence, and Manhattan, though all of that was 25 years ago. Malone is most famous for being an NBA coach who led the Denver Nuggets to their first and only championship in 2023 and being the head coach of the emergence of Nikola Jokic as he became one of the best (if not best) players in the NBA.
Malone will be expected to quickly adjust to the ever-changing world of college sports while navigating NIL deals, the transfer portal that opens tomorrow, and recruiting for the first time. The task will be a tall one and one should have a multitude of questions of whether or not he can do this at a high level, especially after what fans just experienced with a football coach attempting the same thing this past season.
What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments below.
North Carolina has its next basketball coach, as it intends to hire former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone for its vacancy, three people close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday, April 6.
Malone was fired by the Nuggets before the playoffs in 2025, two years after winning the NBA Finals with the organization. The 54-year-old coach last coached in college in 2001 as an assistant at Manhattan, after stints at Oakland (1994-95) and Providence (1995-98).
Malone's daughter, Bridget Malone, plays volleyball at North Carolina. He replaces Hubert Davis, who was fired after the Tar Heels' first-round loss to No. 11 seed VCU in the NCAA Tournament.
It's an outside-the-box hire for North Carolina, opting for a coach who has never been a college head coach before. The timing of the hire also makes sense, with the transfer portal officially opening April 7.
In 10 seasons with the Nuggets, Malone went 471-327 (.590), reaching the playoffs six times. He has 510 career NBA wins, also spending two seasons as the Sacramento Kings' head coach before he was fired.
The Tar Heels were tied to multiple Final Four coaches like Arizona's Tommy Lloyd and Michigan's Dusty May, although both turned down the job publicly. Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan was also tied to the role, although the former two-time national champion with Florida was adamant about sticking with the Bulls through the remainder of the regular season, which would've likely posed a threat to North Carolina's recruiting timeline for next season, especially with the portal window only lasting 15 days this offseason.
Malone's hire also signals a change in North Carolina's hiring philosophy. He's the school's first hire since Frank McGuire in 1952 to not have had prior connections to the school as either a player or assistant coach, although his daughter is a student at the school. Davis was a longtime assistant and player, Roy Williams graduated from North Carolina, Matt Doherty played at North Carolina, Bill Guthridge was an assistant before he was hired and so was Dean Smith, one of the most legendary coaches in college basketball history.
Malone cut his teeth as an NBA assistant, working for the New York Knicks (2001-05), Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-10), New Orleans Hornets (2010-11) and Golden State Warriors (2011-13) before landing his first head-coaching gig with the Kings. He was also an NBA All-Star Game head coach in 2019 and 2023.
The Queens, New York native spent most of his career with Nikola Jokic, a 3-time MVP winner with the Nuggets and one of the best players in the world. Malone was most recently an NBA analyst with ESPN.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs embrace after the game on April 4, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 23: The Spurs swept an easy three-game road trip against the slumping Heat and tanking Grizzlies and Bucks, becoming the first team in NBA history to win four straight road games by 25 or more points (including their win in Sacramento the week before). They also secured their first Southwest Division title since 2017 (not that it has any meaning these days) and their third 8-game winning streak of the season.
In their only home game in two weeks, it wasn’t the Spurs’ best effort against a depleted Bulls team eliminated from the play-in, but after a back-and-forth first half, they rode a 41-point game from Victor Wembaynama and a strong third quarter to victory despite an admirable effort from former Spur Tre Jones in his return to the Frost Bank Center.
In a similar situation as the Bulls game, the Spurs returned to the the road to face a depleted Warriors team that featured Draymond Green — who battled foul trouble all night — plus a bunch of “who he play for” candidates (although, unlike the Bulls, they still had something to play for). The Spurs again were a bit complacent and didn’t have their finest outing, but they stayed ahead and never let the Warriors get within single-digits in the second half while riding Wemby’s second straight 41-point outing.
Who needs 41 points from Wemby? Despite him sitting on the second night of a back-to-back and old nemesis Kawhi Leonard being his usual, productive self for the Clippers, they were no match for the Spurs’ dynamic guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, who combined for 62 points and 15 assists. After owning the first half, the Spurs overcame a bit of a scare from the Clippers in the third quarter to once again dominate the fourth and sweep the season series against a potential first round opponent. It was also their first sweep of Kawhi since his ugly departure.
Well, maybe the Spurs could have used 41 from Wemby in this game. In what could be an amazing second round match-up, he continued his run of MVP-level play with 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Nikola Jokic’s 40-8-13-3 game. The Spurs led most of the way despite it not being their finest showing, but too many mistakes in the final minute finally caught up with them, and they couldn’t get the looks they wanted in OT to secure the victory.
From Feb. 1 to April 1, the Spurs went 26-1 with Victor Wembanyama in uniform, outscoring their opponents by an amazing 24.9 points per 100 possessions in his 800 minutes on the floor. But that wasn’t good enough to catch the Thunder, and the Spurs’ overtime loss to the Nuggets on Saturday afternoon has them three games back of Oklahoma City with four games to play.
One takeaway
The loss on Saturday was the first time this season (in three meetings) that Wembanyama had played against Denver, and it was the Spurs’ worst defensive game (136 points allowed on 107 possessions) since December. The Nuggets shot just 21-for-41 (51%) in the paint, but were 9-for-14 from mid-range and 9-for-19 on corner 3-pointers.
The Spurs lead the league in the percentage of their opponents’ shots (13%) that have come from mid-range and have the seventh highest opponent corner rate (percentage of their opponents’ 3-point attempts that come from the corners), and Denver is uniquely qualified to keep Wembanyama occupied and have five shooters on the floor. The Nuggets’ nine players who’ve shot 38% or better on at least 100 3-point attempts are three more than any other team has.
What to watch for this week
While the Spurs aren’t quite locked into the 2 seed in the West (and the second best record overall), they’re close. But to qualify for awards consideration, Wembanyama needs to play in three more games, logging at least 20 minutes in two of the three and at least 15 minutes in the third. The Spurs are the only team without any more road games and while their season finale against Denver might not mean anything to them, there’s a chance it will determine whether the Nuggets pass the shorthanded Lakers in the standings and become a potential opponent in the second round.
2026 playoff prediction from Week 1: 10th in West (earn eighth in Play-In Tournament), lose West quarterfinals vs. Thunder
I thought the Spurs would sneak into the playoffs; they’re close to being the top seed in the entire conference. And while alien overlord Victor Wembanyama has been a devastating force on both ends, the Spurs needed more players to emerge to be a great team this season. Mitch Johnson did a wonderful job of getting all of his guards (All-Star De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and reserve rookie Dylan Harper) to work in concert with one another as well. This season, San Antonio went 11-5 with Wembanyama out of the lineup and has only lost the lineups with Wembanyama off the floor by 17 points all season. Last year, the Spurs were 13-23 with Wembanyama out while getting outscored by 328 points with Wembanyama off the floor.
The San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama saw their 11-game win streak snapped in overtime against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, a game that essentially ends their pursuit of the 1-seed in the West. This loss also impacts Wembanyama’s valiant MVP chase against Gilgeous-Alexander, despite his 34-18-7-5 performance.
This has been an incredible year for the Spurs, and they will enter the playoffs with a lot of confidence as a young team. It will be interesting to see how they shift their focus and respond to the pressure that comes with the postseason, especially after losing this playoff-like game to Denver on Saturday.
One final regular-season battle with Nikola Jokic and his squad will come on the final day of the regular season in San Antonio, a game both teams will desperately want to win entering the postseason.
Coming up: Mon. 4/6 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (43-35); Wed. 4/8 vs. Portland Trail Blazers (4-38); Fri. 4/10 Dallas Mavericks (25-53); Sun. 4/12 vs. Denver Nuggets
Prediction: 3-1 — For a team that is one loss or Thunder win away from locked in place, there is still a surprising amount to play for, and all against teams with something to play for as well. Finishing the regular season entirely at home, they face 76ers, Blazers and Nuggets teams that are all battling for seeding in their conferences, and even though the Mavs are eliminated, Cooper Flagg has been on a historical tear over last week, possibly ripping the the Rookie of the Year award from his former college teammate Kon Knueppel’s hands, so they can’t be slept on.
On the Spurs side, it’s nearly impossible to predict what they’ll do. As Schuhmann points out, Wemby needs to play in at least three games while reaching 20 min in two of them and 15 in one to remain award eligible (and you can bet he will after missing the 65-game limit last year). But the Spurs can also play a but of a role in who they face in the playoffs, depending on how the week goes. Portland needs one more win than the Clippers to snag the 8th seed (assuming they stay in 2nd, the Spurs would face the winner of 7th vs. 8th), and of course, there’s the chaotic 3-5 race in the West that got even wilder thanks injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves. Depending on where things stand for their regular season finale against Denver, the Spurs might be strategic with how they approach that game since you can bet they’d rather see the Lakers or Rockets in the second round over the Nuggets.
This is all a long-winded way of me saying that if I had to guess, they’ll continue to strategically rest players while still putting out nearly a full compliment every night, especially considering they’ll get a whole week off before the playoffs, so they don’t want to create to wide of a gap between games played at full strength. Still, that uncertainty and the determination opponents will have is what has me predicting 3-1 (and 4-0 or 2-2 wouldn’t surprise me).
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs the rebound during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In their first game since the announcements, the purple and gold fell to the tanking Mavericks. LeBron James led with 30 points, nine rebounds and 15 assists and Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double, but it wasn’t enough to overcome rookie Cooper Flagg’s 45 points.
A bright spot was Rui Hachimura’s ever-consistent, yet never flashy, game. All season, he has adjusted his role based on who’s available each night. On Sunday, in 39 minutes, he finished with 21 points on 9-13 shooting overall and 3-5 from three-point range with seven rebounds while finishing with a plus-minus of +5.
It continues a year of highly efficient shooting that led to him being labeled a “laser” by head coach J.J. Redick. He now slots up as one of the most important offensive pieces this year with major questions looming on a summer contract.
LA will rely heavily on pace-and-space basketball without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. They will be forced to lean on transition offense, with LeBron in control to find shooters. It’s a style suited for Hachimura as he has developed into one of the best spot-up shooters in basketball, hitting 43% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.
Watch him sprint to the corner in the clip below for a semi transition three, after a swing pass by Kennard.
Where Hachimura brings his most versatility to the team is in the mid-range, where he’s been effectively the most efficient in the league. He hits a blistering 57% on the lost art long two, first among all players who’ve taken at least 100 attempts per the NBA’s tracking data.
It’s a necessary counter, especially in high leverage or postseason basketball, when teams scout and run the best shooters off the 3-point line. Watch below as he collects the swing pass and flows it into a automatic rhythm one-dribble pull-up jumper below.
“I would say the reason I’m here is the midrange,” Hachimura said in a recent postgame. “I’ve been doing it since high school. That was my thing. The first time I started playing basketball, those guys, the Carmelos, were my role models. I think I watched them a lot, that’s how I shaped my game.
“Those are never going to go away. I’ll always have that in my bag.”
LA will have to find creative ways to get Hachimura more shots, as he’s not one you can just hand the ball to at the top of the key. One option is to have him come off pin-down screens like below, flowing into his efficient mid-range shot.
The Lakers and Hachimura did not reach a deal on a contract extension last fall. How the sudden injuries to the backcourt impact all the pending free agents remains to be seen.
While not a perfect player by any means, Hachimura has made a case with his play that, at the right number, a return would make sense for both parties, no matter how this season ends…if it hasn’t already.
For most college basketball teams in the current landscape, future championships are won in April and May when rosters are being built.
Michigan and UConn feature numerous transfers on their respective national championship-contending teams. The Wolverines start five transfers, whereas the Huskies' best player this season, center Tarris Reed Jr., is also transfer.
The NCAA approved a shortened transfer portal window for the 2026 season, with players allowed to officially enter from April 7-21 on the men's side. The window starts a day after the national championship game on Monday, April 6.
The old transfer portal window lasted 30 days and started after the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, putting teams that advanced in March Madness at a disadvantage. As soon as the buzzer sounds at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the national championship, the race is on for the top available players.
Here's a look at USA TODAY's top players available in the 2026 transfer portal window:
Men's college basketball transfer portal players rankings
These rankings will be updated as players enter the transfer portal.
Here's a look at our top 25 available players of the college basketball transfer portal in 2026:
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Juke Harris, Wake Forest
John Blackwell, Wisconsin
Paulius Murauskas, St. Mary’s
Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech
Miles Byrd, San Diego State
Isaiah Johnson, Colorado
Aiden Sherrell, Alabama
Somto Cyril, Georgia
Acaden Lewis, Villanova
Stefan Vaaks, Providence
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence
Bryson Tiller, Kansas
Dedan Thomas Jr., LSU
Mouhamed Sylla, Georgia Tech
Kwame Evans Jr., Oregon
Markus Burton, Notre Dame
Alex Wilkins, Furman
Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
Jalen Haralson, Notre Dame
Terrence Brown, Utah
Najai Hines, Seton Hall
Jeremiah Wilkinson, Georgia
Finley Bizjack, Butler
Terrence Hill Jr., VCU
College basketball transfer portal news, live updates
Alabama sophomore forward Aiden Sherrell is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports. The 6-foot-11 big man averaged 11.1 points with 6.2 rebounds per game as a first-year starter at Alabama, along with 2.2 blocks per game.
A former five-star recruit, Sherrell was the No. 23 player and No. 5 center of the 2024 class, according to 247Sports' Composite. Sherrell can also shoot from outside, making 33.8% of his 2.4 3-point attempts per game.
Kansas redshirt freshman forward Bryson Tiller is entering the transfer portal, according to multiple reports April 6.
Tiller averaged 7.9 points with 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season, starting 31 of 35 games for the Jayhawks. The former blue-chip recruit has three seasons of eligibility remaining and will be highly sought-after, thanks to his starting experience and 6-foot-11, 240-pound frame.
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell, the No. 3-ranked player available by USA TODAY, announced April 6 that he's entering the transfer portal while going through the NBA draft process.
The All-Big Ten third-team selection this season averaged 19.1 points with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and is a two-year starter for the Badgers. He scored 22 points with 10 rebounds in Wisconsin's upset loss against High Point in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It's a brutal loss for Wisconsin, which is also losing leading scorer Nick Boyd. Blackwell will be among the most sought-after players available with two seasons of high-level scoring production in the Big Ten.
Time is linear: At least, in terms of human perception.
Little else is.
An NBA career is certainly not always linear. There’s a tendency to falsely assume it will be. A rookie is bad on league-wide standards, and we accept it. They improve incrementally until year three, when they’re officially good, and then continue to improve incrementally until they peak, and start to decline. That’s how an NBA career goes, right?
On rare occasion, sure. Usually, a player’s career is more chaotic. They decline significantly in their third year. Fans think they’re done – until year six, when they have a career-best season. That’s the new baseline, they incrementally improve for two more seasons, fall off – etc, etc.
As always, theory is clean, and reality is messy. Unfortunately, the 2025-26 season has been a bit of a mess for the Houston Rockets’ Tari Eason.
Rockets’ Tari Eason has had a strange year
Much of 2025-26 was looking like a coming-out party for Eason. Before the All-Star break, Eason was averaging 12.2 points per game while hitting 46.0% of his 4.8 threes per game.
Sure, he seemed to be regressing in other areas. Eason’s 7.1 Offensive Rebounding % during that stretch had ticked down from 2024-25’s 8.1 mark. His 25.5% steal percentage was a major drop off from his 39.1% in 2024-25. It seemed safe to assume that those numbers would normalize.
If only it were possible for assumptions to be safe.
Instead, it was his shooting that normalized. Perhaps fans should have seen that coming as well. Shooting variance disrupts linearity like a 7/8 time signature. Eason has struggled to get a rock into an ocean since the break.
Now, he’s shooting 36.9% from deep on the season. That’s barely a career high, while he’s still posting career lows in the two areas (offensive rebounding and steals) that once made him special. The fact that this all comes after Eason allegedly turned down a deal worth $100 million over four seasons this summer.
What should the team do with him now?
Rockets should still prioritize Eason
Having declined that extension, Eason will hit Restricted Free Agency this summer.
Every foray into RFA does not look the same. The league’s cap landscape has to be surveyed. Heading into this summer, the only space-heavy team that looks like a real threat to wrestle Eason from the Rockets would be the Los Angeles Lakers.
All the Rockets have to do is identify their breaking point and hold the line. The $25 million per season they once earmarked for Eason is likely off the table. Would they do $20 million? Surely, they’d do $15 million?
Here’s the thing: Eason is sure to make good on a $15 million per season contract. Fans have grown tired of his warts. Eason indeed plays basketball like a bull in a China shop. He’s reckless, and the only question is whether it benefits Houston or the opposing team more often.
For most of his NBA career, the answer has been Houston.
It may be callous to suggest, but his poor play ahead of RFA could be a blessing. Ultimately, we should only feel so bad for someone who missed out on $40 million if they’re still getting more money over four years than 99.999% of Americans will ever make in a lifetime. From the Rockets’ perspective, it’s well worth gambling $15 million a year – probably even 20 – that Eason will exceed that contract value.
