Jan 26, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) makes a slam dunk against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The Sixers are coming off a blowout WIN (haven’t been able to type that much this season), taking down the Chicago Bulls 157-137. Now they head to Charlotte to take on one of the hottest teams in the league in what could be a pivotal matchup with real long-term stakes.
Why does a regular-season game in March carry this much weight? The Sixers and Hornets have already met twice this year, splitting the series 1-1, making this the decider. Whoever wins clinches the tiebreaker between two teams hovering around the same spot in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte sits one game back right now, and with how close these records could finish, that tiebreaker is very much in play. A Sixers win adds cushion. A loss pulls the Hornets right into striking range.
Charlotte has quietly become one of the better stories in the league this season, and a lot of that starts with Kon Knueppel. The rookie has put together one of the strongest freshman campaigns we’ve seen in years, averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists on a near 50-40-90 clip. Tonight he’ll go head to head with VJ Edgecombe, another rookie who has looked just as far beyond his years on the other side. Two first-year players, taken back to back in the draft, squaring off in a game with actual playoff implications — that’s a pretty compelling subplot.
Since the new year the Hornets have been one of the better teams in basketball. Their offense has jumped to fifth in the league, with their defense sitting 12th. The rough record is mostly a hangover from a brutal first half, but they’ve clawed their way back to the point where they’re not just a play-in team anymore — a real playoff spot is on the table.
The usual names round out the roster: LaMelo Ball, still one of the most talented players in the league even if the consistency comes and goes, alongside Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner as strong rotation pieces. This will also be our first look at Coby White in a Hornets uniform since the trade deadline.
For the Sixers, things finally feel like they’re trending in the right direction. The Bulls aren’t exactly a measuring stick team this season, but putting up 157 points with Joel Embiid and Paul George combining for 60+ is still a statement. Both guys looked fresh, moved well and put on offensive clinics. George in particular was excellent on both ends. Four steals and a block to go with his scoring output, and having that kind of smooth, versatile wing back in the lineup has been a desperately needed addition.
Edgecombe has kept his strong play going too. It wasn’t his biggest statistical night, but he did a nice job navigating life with Embiid and George back in the rotation, letting them operate while still making his own impact. He shot 7-of-9 from the field, which tells you how clean his opportunities were playing off two stars drawing all the attention. That load-sharing role suits him well, but tonight is a different test. The Hornets have no shortage of guards, so Edgecombe will need to be sharp on both ends.
There are some notable injury statuses to keep an eye on heading into this one. For the first time since his injury, Tyrese Maxey isn’t listed as out — he’s questionable with a finger tendon strain, which is an encouraging sign. Kelly Oubre Jr. is also questionable but told beat reporters yesterday that he expects to suit up. That leaves Johni Broome as the only Sixer potentially sitting out. On the Charlotte side, former lottery pick Tidjane Salaun is the only player listed outside of G League assignments.
This is an important matchup for both squads and could end up being the deciding factor depending on how the playoff and play-in picture shapes out. Edgecombe now has the reinforcements he needs for the Sixers to come out on top. Let’s see if they can win the first of what could be several pivotal matchups in their playoff pursuit.
Game Details
When: Saturday, March 28 2026, 6 PM EST Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
The Michigan State coach was once again reflective on his 31-year coaching career and the topic of retirement following the 3-seeded Spartans' loss to 2-seeded UConn in the East Region on Friday, March 27, saying he has bigger goals yet to chase.
"Trying to win a national championship, plain and simple," Izzo said March 27 when asked by a reporter where he sees himself in five years. "That's it. Those things usually start after your last loss. Nowadays, it's a little more screwed up, but not at Michigan State."
Tom Izzo on retirement speculation. 👀
“I’m feeling good. We’ll talk about retirement—why? What the hell am I going to do? The minute I don’t feel good, the minute I don’t feel like I’m giving my AD, president, or school every ounce of energy I have every day… you won’t have to… pic.twitter.com/TEaKNlJFGc
Izzo coached in his 17th career Sweet 16 on Friday, where his record dropped to 11-6. The Spartans coach has led Michigan State to 28 consecutive March Madness trips, the NCAA Division I record for most consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. The Spartans, who were looking for their second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight, have not advanced to the Final Four appearance since 2019.
The Hall of Fame coach said he's still "feeling good" at 71 years old.
"We all talk about retirement. Why? What the h--- am I going to do? The minute I don't feel good, the minute I don't feel like I'm giving my (athletic director) or president or school every ounce of energy I have every day, or that energy drops, you don't have to worry about it. I don't steal money. I won't steal anybody's time. But it's sure as hell not going to be now," Izzo said.
"I've got some things to accomplish."
Michigan State ends the season 27-8, its fifth straight season of at least 20 wins under Izzo, and its 25th overall season reaching that win mark.
With no retirement plans on the horizon just yet for Izzo, Michigan State will head into the 2026-27 season once again looking to end the program's national championship drought, having last won it all in 2000.
"I said a couple years ago that I'll find a way to get back there. We've knocked on the door twice. We haven'tgotten back. We'll get back," Izzo said.
CHICAGO – They were coming at the Tennessee men's basketball team like no one else had this season, Rick Barnes said afterwards. Iowa State players were hounding anyone wearing orange all over the United Center court, and the Vols were heaving shots at the end of the shot clock as their NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Sweet 16 game began Friday, March 27.
But when freshman Nate Ament launched an errant 3-pointer, Felix Okpara grabbed the offensive rebound. Then J.P. Estrella grabbed another miss. Then Ament grabbed one more miss. A minute later, Okpara corralled an errant shot attempt. Then Estrella did, too. Another offensive rebound sent Estrella to the free throw line. Before the first media timeout, once Okpara snagged yet another offensive rebound, Tennessee had somehow grabbed seven of its first 10 missed shots of the game.
Never mind that this only led to one basket. The tone had been set, one that carried the sixth-seeded Volunteers back into the Elite Eight for the third year in a row after a 76-62 win over shorthanded No. 2 seed Iowa State that felt more like a bludgeoning because of the manner in which the beating was delivered.
Tennessee demoralized an Iowa State team already playing without All-American Joshua Jefferson because the biggest plays of the game revolved around offensive rebounds. Of course they did. It’s perhaps the best explanation why Tennessee, with just one player in the lineup Friday who played in last year’s Elite Eight game, gets another chance to earn its first Final Four appearance in Sunday’s Midwest Region final against No. 1 seed Michigan.
The Volunteers have the nation's best offensive rebounding percentage this season, according to KenPom, and there really isn’t anyone close to them left in the bracket. Tennessee grabs an offensive rebound on 45% of its missed shots. For comparison, none of the seven other teams left in the NCAA Tournament bracket grab more than 40% of their missed shots.
“It’s our identity. That’s our best offense. That’s what coach Barnes always says,” Okpara said.
Tennessee corralled 16 more offensive rebounds against Iowa State and turned those extra possessions into 14 second-chance points, part of a 43-22 rebounding advantage the Vols enjoyed on the glass to offset their 17 turnovers.
They advanced mostly through brute force, not finesse.
“We stayed in the same set pretty much the entire second half,” Barnes said.
But what had been accomplished was still sinking in as he answered questions about it late Friday. This was the deep frontcourt he envisioned deploying last offseason after Houston ended last year's NCAA Tournament run. He also thought this team should have won more games than it did during the regular season.
Then Ament, the Vols' freshman projected NBA draft lottery pick, hurt his ankle last month. Barnes hoped this would all come together in time for March Madness.
Suddenly this has, largely because these Volunteers can suck the life out of teams with each wayward shot attempt.
Mar 27, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Sorry for the miss on the Game Thread last night, y’all. We had a miscommunication on the game coverage sheet, and I was working one of my other jobs last night, so I couldn’t just jump in. Anyway, enough apologies, on to the game.
The Houston Rockets got a win last night, dowing the Memphis Grizzlies 119-109 in a solid performance. The team was led by Kevin Durant, who finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor and 3-for-7 from deep. He helped Houston on a 14-3 run in the fourth quarter that put the game away for the Rockets.
Houston also had a good night from Jabari Smith Jr., who bounced back from an ugly game with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was 7-for-16 from the field. In fact, all five Rockets starters finished in double figures, as the Rockets got 18 points and 8 boards from Amen Thompson, 14 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks from Alperen Sengun, as well as 15 points, 5 boards, 5 assists and 4 steals from Reed Sheppard, who continues to remain in the starting lineup. Seems like Ime may have finally gotten his head out of his ass on that one.
The Rockets got hit with the Rampaging Rando (trademark Xiane) last night, as Olivier-Maxence Prosper went off for 31 points on 12-for-15 from the floor depsite just averaging 9 points per game on the season, but the rest of the Grizzlies shot just 36 percent on the night. The Rockets also won the rebounding battle to help bring home the win.
Houston now moves to 44-29 on the season and sits in sixth place in the Western Conference. They are one game back of the Minnesota Timberwolves for fifth and are four games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for seventh place. They will return to action on Sunday versus the New Orleans Pelicans.
On March 8th, the Phoenix Suns played the Charlotte Hornets. The Suns won 111-99 behind a combined 78 points from the backcourt trio of Devin Booker, Collin Gillespie, and Jalen Green. For most of us, this was a game like any other. We watched, we enjoyed, we went to bed happy that our Suns got another win. It was the second win in a row, and it came against a Charlotte team that is surprisingly hot this season.
But in Phoenix at the Mortgage Matchup Center, in section 108, row 17, there was a special young man and his parents, for whom this game meant so much more.
22-year old Tate Haddock comes from a long line of Suns fans. His mother, Pam, reminisces about the stories her father would tell about the first seasons of Suns’ basketball. Tate himself started really paying attention to the Suns around a decade ago during Devin Booker’s sophomore season.
In August of 2024, the lives of the Haddock family would change forever. Tate was diagnosed with Leukemia. Doctors told him that if left untreated, he had six months left to live.
“It was very rattling, more than anything,” Tate said.
However, it was neither the diagnosis nor the chemo that Tate said was the worst part of his battle with cancer.
“People don’t talk about watching your loved ones struggle with it just as much, if not more than you do. It was a lot harder on the people that cared about me than it was myself.”
Ever since the diagnosis, Mike and Pam Haddock have been driving four and a half hours every week with their son to St. Louis for chemotherapy. Through it all, Tate and his parents remained strong and hopeful, with the help of their community.
“I had a great support system. My parents, my partner, grandparents. There are a lot of people taking good care of me. My partner stayed with me throughout my entire hospital stay. For better or worse, there were people that cared.”
It wasn’t just his family, either. His small town in Missouri held a golf benefit for him. Pam said, “You don’t realize until you’re in the middle of it and you find the kindness of strangers, how you really are supported and how much people are willing to care and support you if they know what you need and want.”
Even through the last year and a half of treatment, the Haddock family has kept up with their Suns. Ask them about their favorite Suns players of all time, and you will see a trend. Pam immediately chimes in, “I loved Charles Barkley’s bad attitude!” Tate will tell you, “Dillon Brooks, and we love Goodie!”
PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 01: Dionte Christmas #25 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Utah Jazz during the second half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on November 1, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 87-84. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The conversation about favorite players led us to his Instagram (@haddock_tate_haddock). “If I’m really locking in, I like Dionte Christmas because one time he reposted my story on Instagram.” Dionte Christmas played his sole 31 NBA games for the Suns in the 2013-2014 season.
That Suns fandom was why, just a few days before Tate’s birthday, the family piled into their car and roadtripped from Missouri to Phoenix to watch the Suns play the Hornets.
But Pam had more in mind than just a good time at the arena. “I tried everything to get him to be able to meet players. Emailing reporters, players. I’ve got to figure this out!”
Eventually, she was able to get a hold of the Sun’s Mercury Foundation. “They said they wanted to make it a night he wouldn’t forget.”
And so it was that before the game, Tate Haddock could be seen, freshly in remission, walking through the players’ tunnel to stand courtside for pregame shootaround.
“I didn’t know how special it was going to be. I was allowed to just walk up to Oso and talk to him.”
In addition to this incredible experience, the Suns gave him a bag full of merch. He even got his hat signed by Royce O’Neale, Amir Coffey, Haywood Highsmith, and Oso Ighodaro.
“It was amazing,” says Pam, “For them to recognize him and make him feel special and for them to treat our whole family like VIPs, it made me feel like I had accomplished something amazing.”
Overall, it was an incredible night for a young man with battles still ahead of him. Though in remission, Tate has to continue chemo until September 2027. He’s happy that during this, the team is moving in a positive direction.
“This is the best I’ve felt about being a Suns fan since 2021,” Tate said.
“We love the culture and scrappiness,” Pam continued.
When Tate was asked about who his favorite young player on the roster was, he said, “I love Rasheer Fleming.”
And why shouldn’t he? Rasheer Fleming is turning himself into a scrappy player, much like his other favorite players Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin. These players exemplify in their games what Tate has exemplified in his heart, a fighting spirit that doesn’t give up.
“When you are facing adversity, try to see the good in things. When it’s hard to find the good, you’ve got some options. You can create it for yourself or look harder. Eventually, you’ll find it, no matter how hard it can be.”
Tate’s story isn’t just about one man’s battle with cancer. It is a reminder of how much more we are capable of when we come together. It is a reminder of the power of a community working together toward a common goal, whether as a nation, a small town in Missouri, or the fans of a basketball team.
The most important thing we can do is take care of one another. So tell the people you love that you love them, go out and get involved in your community, and cheer as hard as ever for the teams you love.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 27: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at the TD Garden on March 27, 2026 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 – Early game trouble
As it was highlighted by Gray Washburn in the press conference after the game, it’s rare for Joe Mazzulla to call multiple timeouts so early in the game. However, pretty quickly, the Celtics were falling behind, especially because of their offense. As the Celtics head coach said, there were too many “empty possessions.”
Looking back at the film, most of the shots prior to that second timeout were contested pull-up shots or floaters, but rarely open opportunities or layups at the rim. The Hawks did a great job of contracting the space without leaving too much gap to the shooters.
Right after the timeout, it was yet another missed pull-up from the mid-range, but this time the Celtics crashed the glass and extended the possession for a Hugo Gonzalez three-pointer.
To get back in the game, the Celtics needed to find a way to the rim. For that, they used the Hawks’ coverage against them. As the Hawks were willing to switch over screens, the Celtics multiplied the cuts and increased the movement while obtaining the matchup they wanted.
On the play below, the screens on the strong side of the court create a switch that gives Luka Garza a big size advantage on Gabe Vincent. This makes it easier for Derrick White to find him on the cut and finally get a shot at the rim for the Celtics.
The Celtics used that momentum against the Hawks bench to get going and make the most of the mistakes. Here, Jonathan Kuminga jumps on the fake and White drives right away for another layup. The Celtics were finally able to get deep into the paint.
The lack of good execution on switches was perfect for the Celtics offense, and showed how deep the Celtics can be. While the starters struggled a little at first, the bench rolled over the Hawks. Here, the switch is completely broken and Garza gets a free roll to the rim.
But he was just getting started, as the guard ended up with 36 points last night. Often, Joe Mazzulla talks about creating good looks early in the possession. Well, look at PP here going full speed on that handoff with Garza. The defense isn’t even set and he scores right at the rim. The early bird gets the worm, right?
Then, a little give-and-go early in the possession. As he passes to Jayson Tatum, PP uses the flare screen from Neemias Queta to get enough space for another bomb.
Here, the action starts a bit slow as he runs a first ball screen with Tatum. He sees space to attack, so he swings it to the side, but immediately cuts and gets the ball back for another layup.
And he kept attacking the Hawks like this all night until the final buzzer. Great game from PP with Jaylen Brown sitting out. But while the scoring is what stands out, he impacted the game in other ways.
#4 – Pritchard beyond the scoring
Asked Joe Mazzulla about Payton Pritchard, who was a +26 in a game the Celtics won by seven:
“The points are one thing, but I thought the ball handling, handling the pressure, the offensive rebounding… It’s just those big time plays for us. He's not defined by scoring.” pic.twitter.com/jTlPSfP8Ip
Joe Mazzulla was right, the 36 points will make the headlines, but some plays had an even bigger impact on the game. In the second half alone, he created four extra possessions with offensive rebounds.
This extra effort from one of the smallest guys on the court speaks loudly to the commitment to winning and doing what it takes to put the team in the best position possible, with or without the ball.
#5 – Roaming off Dyson Daniels
The other big factor in the game was the Celtics’ defensive plan against the Hawks — and once again, it was about how they mixed matchups. As expected, they put Neemias Queta on the Atlanta Hawks’ worst shooter, Dyson Daniels. This lack of shooting from the former Pelicans guard created an overload of players in the paint for the Hawks on offense, as Queta was playing the safety.
Yet, what was surprising was Sam Hauser being matched up with Onyeka Okongwu, and the Hawks weren’t going after him to punish the Celtics’ bet. Of course, the Celtics center isn’t known for his post-up moves and isn’t even that tall, but the Hawks could have tried to put pressure on the Celtics’ defensive shell with that size advantage.
The Hawks tried various things to help Daniels. They attacked the Celtics big men with drives, or asked for more movement from their non-shooting wing, but the flow seemed off when the actions involved him, and the paint was full of bodies anyway.
Overall, the Celtics were able to turn him into a non-impact offensive player, forcing others to make the difference from the outside.
#6 – Dealing with Jalen Johnson
A big wing with driving and shooting abilities like Jalen Johnson is tough to handle for any team, but the Celtics had a plan in mind to make sure they gave away the right thing. Early in the game, they were comfortable living with his shooting variance, even as he was making pull-up threes from deep.
On the action above, it is clear that the threat the Celtics identified was his drive, not his shot. The following play speaks even louder. Like against the Thunder, the Celtics sent a lot of help from the nail, closed the drives, and took away the pass to the corner. And if you take away the drives and the corner three from a team… well, there isn’t much hope left.
Against a team with a lot of ball pressure, drawing offense around Neemias Queta was smart and worked pretty well. Here, he gets the ball at the nail, and Sam Hauser sets a back screen for Jayson Tatum. The action isn’t well read and that creates a gap for JT’s cut.
A little later, Tatum returns the favor to Sam Hauser with a screen on the zoom action, and Queta is again the man holding the ball while the play unfolds, like a QB waiting to deliver a touchdown pass.
With 5 minutes left in the second quarter, the Celtics were up 3 points and then went for a small-ball unit to close the first half. While the score at the break indicates it didn’t go as expected, there are some encouraging flashes and lessons from that stretch.
First, the Celtics — and Jayson Tatum in particular — will need to be more disciplined in these situations where he is the rim protector. Here, he gets caught by Daniels behind him and that’s an easy layup for the Hawks.
At the same time, Jayson Tatum at the five is great for spacing and mismatch hunting. He can be the screener and, depending on the defensive coverage, it creates gaps in the defense. Here, the double comes and he finds Jordan Walsh on the cut.
On offense, it was simple and energetic. He made the right reads and took the shots he was supposed to. Most importantly, he showed presence on the offensive glass to generate much-needed extra possessions.
On defense, he was very active but remained disciplined. He had the second-most contested shots for the Celtics and did a great job against the Hawks guards, especially on CJ McCollum. On the play below, he stays connected, navigates the screen the right way, and baits McCollum into a shot that he can block.
Jordan stayed ready and delivered a strong performance with a real impact.
#10 – Another trip, another blast because of you
This three-week trip to Boston to cover the Celtics was, like last year, an immense honor. Every game, I have to pinch myself to make sure it is still real.
However, this experience wouldn’t be possible if all of you weren’t here to read, comment, and react to these articles. So I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to go through these lines.
The kid I was back in my French Alps wouldn’t have dared to dream about an opportunity like this, and you made it possible by reading my work on CelticsBlog. I hope I didn’t disappoint.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Andre Iguodala poses for a photo during the NBA Legends Awards as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 15, 2026 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the NBA appears focused on major reforms to get teams to stop tanking, the NBA Player’s Association (NBAPA) has made a proposal of their own for the league to consider. While the commissioner’s office unveiled a trio of reforms focused on the lottery, the player’s proposal included something massive: huge financial incentives. According to a report by Jake Fischer of The Steinline, the NBAPA’s proposal would allow the standings to impact each team’s share of national TV revenue.
Currently, all NBA teams evenly split national TV revenue. However, per Fischer, the NBAPA’s pitch emulates soccer’s English Premiere League, which would reward teams with an additional $10 million of revenue for each higher seed. It’s unclear whether the proposal is specific to conferences or if team would be stacked up from 1-30. Either way, entering the season expecting to tank would put potentially $50-$100 million of revenue at risk under this proposal, something that would be an extremely strong deterrent aimed at tanking owners.
The NBAPA also proposed an adjusted lottery. The proposal is similar to one of the three unveiled by the league office, expanding the lottery to 18 teams, giving the bottom 10 teams a 7% chance to move up in the draft with the remaining eight squads getting a 3.75% chance of landing the number one pick. The union is also supporting Silver in giving the commissioner more explicit powers to punish tanking teams by diminishing their lottery odds, moving their pick to the end of the lottery or the first round, or stripping them of a first-round pick all together.
It’s hard to imagine league owners ever agreeing to such a clear change to their revenue sharing, but if the league wants to actually disincentivize tanking, making losing hurt a team’s bottom line would be the easiest way to get owners to stop empowering front offices that always want to kick the can down the road.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 20: NBA Legend, George Gervin of the NBA 75th Anniversary team takes a photo during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game as part of 2022 NBA All Star Weekend on February 20, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In strange-but-true news, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has filed to trademark the word “Iceman” for his merchandise line. If the name “Iceman” sounds familiar, it’s because San Antonio Spurs legend George Gervin has been using it for over half a century.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams recently filed four trademark applications to legally claim the "Iceman" nickname for his own clothing and merchandise line, but Spurs legend George "The Iceman" Gervin is officially fighting back. Just days after Williams submitted his… pic.twitter.com/gzacHRA3OJ
The Hall of Fame baller has taken action by filing trademark requests for “Iceman and ”Iceman 44.“ This came four days after Williams initially filed his clothing line trademark request.
There has been much discussion on social media. Young fans unaware of Gervin believe he should have trademarked the nickname by now. Meanwhile, fans of the ABA/NBA crossover star have pointed out his merits as reason enough for Williams to change his path.
In their professional careers:
Gervin — Williams — 4x Scoring Champ 12x All-Star 1x ASG MVP 9x All-NBA/ABA ABA All-Rookie
Skip Baylessn spoke out in defense of George Gervin….
I’m a Caleb Williams fan. But I was a much bigger Iceman Gervin fan, and I’m offended Caleb and Co. are trying to steal George’s all-time great nickname. I unleash on today’s Arena Gridiron 2:30 E.
Turns out both could be fighting for table scraps as former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell may have trademarked the term prior to either Williams or Gervin.
This story is ongoing and will be updated.
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Mar 27, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after a play during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
In his 10th game back with the Boston Celtics on Friday night, Jayson Tatum delivered his best performance of the season by dominating the second half against the Atlanta Hawks. It wasn’t particularly efficient, at least not by his standards, and afterward, he admitted the process of building himself back up has brought a mix of emotions.
Jayson Tatum’s return to basketball hasn’t been seamless, but he’s grateful for how far he’s come and for those who have been by his side.
“Playing through it,” Tatum told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I feel rusty, obviously. You can probably see in moments when it doesn’t look the same, or it looks rusty. But I think the mindset of onto the next play (helps). I’m thankful that I got teammates and the coaching staff that are patient with me in this moment as I’m trying to figure it out.”
Tatum missed five layups in Boston’s 109-102 win over Atlanta at TD Garden. He had just five points at the end of the first quarter and remained there by halftime after going scoreless in the second, missing all seven of his attempts. Five of those shots came within 13 feet of the basket, making it even tougher to watch as teammate Payton Pritchard kept the Celtics within striking distance while Tatum struggled to find his rhythm and contribute to the cause.
When dissecting the rust itself, Tatum couldn’t pinpoint anything specific.
“It’s all over the place sometimes,” Tatum explained. “I’ll be dribbling the f—ing ball, and I just mishandle it. Sometimes I still have the ball, but it’s just like, ‘Damn.’ It is frustrating. Obviously, some of the shots and layups at the rim — just kind of moving too fast a little bit. It’s frustrating to me.”
Since rejoining Boston after nearly 10 months away from basketball, Tatum has contributed. His 9.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals through 10 games lead all Celtics. The issue is that Tatum’s recovery didn’t end after he suited back up against the Dallas Mavericks three weeks ago. It’s ongoing, and each game is another step in the process of returning to his old form.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 27, 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
That requires a level of patience that Tatum hasn’t had to demonstrate before in his career. So every turnover, every missed layup, every jumper that doesn’t fall is difficult to take in stride at times, knowing it’s a reminder that there’s still work to do.
Tatum overcame his five-point first quarter and scoreless second against Atlanta by turning it up in the second half. He absorbed contact from C.J. McCollum after cutting to the basket and finishing the layup, converting the and-1. He then knocked down a 12-foot fadeaway jumper, helping spark a 21-point surge across the third and fourth quarters before finishing with a season-best 26 points in an impressive turnaround.
But Tatum’s scoring wasn’t what Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla felt helped Boston in the absence of Jaylen Brown.
“I saw his defensive rebounding; I thought that was the most important thing,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I thought offensively, he got into the paint and was able to get to the free-throw line — shot 10 free throws — just continuing to chip away and give the game what it needs. He was aggressive in his drives. He missed some easy layups there, but as long as he stays aggressive, makes the right reads, and continues to rebound, he’s continuing to get better and better.”
Even if his scoring isn’t flashy, it’s just one of several ways Tatum has pitched in. He has not only rebounded as well as he did before suffering his ruptured right Achilles last May, but he’s also been an elite playmaker, setting teammates up to keep the offense active and flowing.
There’s always the pressure to immediately return to the superstar version Tatum was in his first eight seasons with the Celtics, but that will take time. For now, it helps that Boston’s coaching staff remains by his side through the ups and downs.
Mazzulla played Tatum a team-high 36:36 on Friday night, including the entire fourth quarter. It’s unclear what that will mean going forward, as Mazzulla continues to manage Tatum’s minutes based on his on-court response rather than a fixed plan.
“There isn’t a specific number,” Mazzulla clarified. “It’s more about what looks best for us, where we’re at, what we need, and we continue to go from there. He played the whole (fourth) quarter a couple of games in a row, and he’s handling it well, and we continue to assess that and go from there.”
The Celtics worked their way into a strong position, holding the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference since Jan. 15 and sitting four games behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They earned that spot without Tatum, building an identity to withstand the production lost in his absence. Now, with him back, Boston’s chances of returning to the NBA Finals for a third time in five seasons are more legit than ever. Tatum and Brown’s 50-point combined effort against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday proved the Celtics aren’t just poised for a feel-good, Cinderella run — they’re back and ready to make a serious push for it all.
Tatum will be a key piece of that journey, as he was two years ago.
In the meantime, whenever Tatum needs a break from the basketball court, he looks to those closest to him as a father of two.
“I think right now, when I’m frustrated or really want to be better, just going home and my kids,” Tatum told reporters. “Now I’ve got two boys, and it just kind of puts things in perspective and helps me forget about what just happened or transpired in the game.
“I talk about it all the time: being a father is second to none. And now, having two boys and seeing their relationship develop, it was just one kid running to me when I walked in the house. Now it’s two, so that’s a cool feeling.”
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
Mar 27, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) reacts after making a basket during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
BOSTON — With Jaylen Brown out against the Atlanta Hawks, someone needed to step up to shoulder the offensive load for the Celtics and Payton Pritchard answered the call.
Pritchard finished with a team-high 36 points along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 13-23 from the field and 6-11 from three-point range. The biggest indicator of how much Pritchard dominated this game was that he ended as a +26 in a game the Celtics won by seven.
Pritchard was asked postgame about filling the Jaylen Brown role tonight and said nothing really changed on his end. “I don’t think my role changed,” he said. “Like any other night, just come out being aggressive, looking to make plays for my teammates or for myself, and just make the right reads.”
In 8 games without Jaylen Brown this season, Pritchard has stepped up with averages of 25.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists on 48% shooting from the field and 46% shooting from three.
Payton Pritchard vs the Hawks 36 Points 7 Rebounds 4 Assists 13-23 FG 6-11 3PM pic.twitter.com/XqUtJueGiE
The Celtics offense was slow to start in this game, going down 25-9 with 3:39 left in the first quarter. Joe Mazzulla called his second timeout in a row, seemingly looking for any kind of a spark from someone. That was when Pritchard started to turn it on, scoring 7 points and assisting on another to cut the deficit to 3 points at the end of the first.
In classic Payton Pritchard fashion, he ended the quarter with an incredible buzzer beater, crossing over Dyson Daniels and finishing with a layup that kissed the banners in the TD Garden rafters before falling in.
When asked about his buzzer beater heroics, he talked about the science behind them, saying, “It’s a momentum play and the crowd feels it. Our team feels it. So I feel like it’s crucial because ending a quarter or a half and then going into the next possession you get that energy and the momentum swing.”
When asked about his situational awareness when it comes to taking these shots, Pritchard credited his high school coach for instilling it in him, saying, “I really don’t know… My high school coach, we used to do situations all the time of like end the game, and we would run through like, 8 to 10 situations every day of practice. And I just got really good at learning how to get my shot off in different ways and make a play.”
Pritchard didn’t slow down after swinging the momentum for Boston in the first quarter, riding his hot streak into the second quarter where he had 12 points on 5-7 shooting. He did a great job when it came to getting his shot off quickly and find ways to get to the basket aggressively.
Pritchard carried his impressive play into the third quarter with 13 points on 4-7 shooting. The Hawks tested out a new defensive style of not guarding Payton when he was wide open for three. This, as you could imagine, did not work out well for Atlanta.
Boston dominated the rebounding battle in this game, destroying Atlanta 52-35. Out of those rebounds, the Celtics had 13 offensive rebounds where Pritchard had 3 of them that made a huge difference in the second half. His rebounding led three different scoring plays, one a follow up basket for his own and the other two resulting in Jayson Tatum drawing fouls to shoot free throws.
Joe Mazzulla praised Pritchard’s ability to box out the defenders, calling out specifically the first one he had in the fourth quarter on Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Mazzulla said, “…the offensive rebound that he got looked like a defensive box out, but he got an offensive rebound in the foul [Tatum] drew. They were going out in transition and that could have changed the game a little bit.”
Talking about his offensive rebounds specifically, Pritchard just credited it to hard work and the want to win to win saying, “I want to win. You want to make a play and you see somebody shoot the ball, and I see it coming off the rim, I’m just fighting to try to get in, get an extra possession. Those little things like that can change the game and win a game. So, yeah, it’s just about the want and competitive spirit.”
When asked about the Celtics improvement on the boards as a whole Pritchard said it was all about “hard work, being about your work every day coming in. And, you know, trying to get better at the things that we need to improve at. That’s just a testament to the culture we built here.”
If Pritchard didn’t start for most of the season, it feels like he would be the runaway favorite for Sixth Man of the Year. Since moving to the bench on February 3rd, he has played in 22 games and has averaged 17.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds on 47% shooting from the field and 41% shooting from three.
Pritchard’s ability to come in and just cause chaos coming off the bench is a skill that no one in the league is better than him in. We have seen him be able to take over games and be a complete three-level scorer on the offensive end while being a great on defense for his size. He is a one-of-one type of player and his ability to out-work everyone on the court is an example of how he embodies the culture of playing in Boston.
While the coaches pacing the sideline in tailored suits or quarter-zips often get the most attention in men’s college basketball, it’s the players on the court who determine who makes the Final Four and wins the national championship.
The 2025-26 season has been one of the most star-studded in recent memory in the sport, with future NBA Draft lottery picks and wildly productive college players dominating the landscape nationally.
During the 2026 NCAA Tournament, some of the sport’s brightest stars have continued to propel their teams on deep runs. Though standouts like AJ Dybantsa, Darius Acuff Jr. and Darryn Peterson are watching the tournament from home, a number of All-American and all-conference performers are still chasing their dreams of cutting down the nets in Indianapolis on the first Monday night of April.
Among that distinguished group, who are the best players competing in the Elite Eight?
Here are the top eight players in the Elite Eight, with one player from each of the remaining eight squads:
Best players to watch in the Elite Eight
Players listed in alphabetical order
Cameron Boozer, Duke
The likely national player of the year has been everything the Blue Devils could have hoped for this season, averaging 22.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game to make him one of just 14 Division I players averaging a double-double this season. The 6-foot-9 freshman, the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, has kept up his outrageous production in the tournament, with a double-double in each of Duke’s first three wins, including 22 points and 10 rebounds in a narrow Sweet 16 win over St. John’s. He’s a projected top-three pick in the NBA Draft for a reason.
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Burries is one of several top-10 recruits from the 2025 class who have enjoyed stellar freshman seasons. On what might be the most well-rounded team in the country, Burries is the leading scorer at 16.2 points per game and has been efficient getting there, shooting 50.2% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range. Though teammate Jaden Bradley earned Big 12 player of the year honors, Burries has been the Wildcats’ best player in the tournament thus far, averaging 19 points per game and shooting 64.3% (including 75% from 3).
Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
He's not the best NBA prospect on his team (that would be star freshman forward Nate Ament), but no player has been more indispensable to the Volunteers than Gillespie, who entered the Sweet 16 averaging a team-high 18.4 points, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game. The Maryland transfer has been a steady, consistent presence for a team that has struggled to score at various points during the season.
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
It wasn’t an accident that Kaufman-Renn was in position to score the winning basket in Purdue’s biggest win this season. The Sellersburg, Indiana native, the rare college player who’s in his fourth season with the program where he started his career, has come through in a big way during the Boilermakers’ run to the Elite Eight, averaging 21.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting 63.6% from the field. Teammate Braden Smith, the Division I career assists leader, has had the better career and better season, but Kaufman-Renn has been Purdue’s best player so far in the tournament.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lendeborg was one of the best players outside the five power conferences last season, averaging a double-double for a 24-win UAB team. This season, he’s proven to be just as effective in arguably the best conference in the sport while being the star for a team that spent several weeks this season ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The 6-foot-9 consensus first-team All-American is averaging 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and in the NCAA tournament, he’s been on fire, making 19 of his 30 shots (63.3%) and eight of his 13 3s (61.5%).
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
Dan Hurley's team is remarkably balanced, with five players averaging between 10.6 and 14.2 points per game for a squad that's aiming to win its third national championship in the past four years. At the top of that group is Reed, a 6-foot-11 senior center who entered the Huskies' Sweet 16 win against Michigan State leading the team in scoring (14.2 points per game), rebounding (8.9 per game) and blocks (two per game). The Michigan transfer has followed up a strong regular season with an even better NCAA tournament, averaging 20.3 points and 15 rebounds per game. That run included one of the most ridiculous performances of the tournament, with 31 points and 27 rebounds in a first-round win over Furman.
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
While Ben McCollum’s coaching acumen helped him rise from Division II head coach to Iowa’s first Elite Eight since 1987 in just two years, Stirtz’s on-court contributions didn’t hurt. The Hawkeyes guard has been with McCollum every step of the way the past four years, following the coach from Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa, where he’s averaging a team-high 19.7 points and 4.4 assists per game this season. He’s carried the Hawkeyes offensively, as he’s the only Iowa player averaging more than 10.4 points per game.
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
In a star-studded freshman class, Wagler has been perhaps the most unexpected star. He was the No. 261 recruit nationally in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, but has been one of the best guards in the sport this season, averaging 17.7 points per game and shooting 41.1% from 3. He’s been the centerpiece for a dynamic Illinois team that’s No. 2 in adjusted offensive efficiency this season, according to KenPom.
HOUSTON — Rebounding has always come naturally to David Mirkovic. Before he committed to play college basketball at Illinois, the 6-foot-9 forward from Montenegro played two seasons of professional basketball in the Adriatic Basketball Association League, where he averaged 6.4 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season.
When the ball bounced off the rim or backboard, Mirkovic corralled it, simple as that.
That changed when he got to Illinois last summer.
“It’s much different,” Mirkovic said. “(In Montenegro), I didn’t have coaches that tell me and remind me every day all day to crash the boards or get some of the defensive rebounds. But since I’m playing basketball, every time I was the best rebounder on my team. I would say just naturally, I had that feel for rebounds. So when that combines with the coach that’s put that much emphasis on rebounding, it’s just getting better.”
Mirkovic is now the top rebounder on an Illinois team that is riding a rebounding wave into Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game against Iowa.
This season, the Illini are ranked 10th in rebounds per game (41.1) and seventh in rebounding margin (10.1). It’s not a new strength; Illinois has been a top-10 rebounding team in the country in each of the last three seasons.
“I think the secret sauce is just, it’s something you emphasize every single day,” said Illinois assistant coach Tyler Underwood.
Underwood’s father, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, was Kansas State’s director of operations during the 2006-07 season under head coach Bob Huggins, who is famous for his aggressive rebounding schemes. That left an imprint on Underwood, and in nine seasons at Illinois he’s made rebounding a pillar of his program.
The Illini track individual players’ “go rates” – what percentage of the time they crash the offensive glass – in practices and games. At halftime, coaches check "go rates" and remind players who are falling short to fulfill their offensive rebounding obligations. The message is clear: If you don’t go, your playing time stops.
The Illini are receiving key contributions on the boards from a pair of freshmen, Mirkovic and guard Keaton Wagler.
Through three NCAA Tournament games, Mirkovic is averaging a team-high 10.7 rebounds to go with 13.7 points. Wagler, the team's top scorer averaging 17.7 points, is right behind him averaging 8.0 rebounds.
In the Illini’s Sweet 16 win over Houston, Mirkovic broke the Illinois freshman total rebounding record set by Kofi Cockburn six seasons ago, while Wagler pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds. They became the first pair of freshman teammates to each have a double-double in the same NCAA Tournament game since freshmen became fully eligible in 1972-73.
“His frame doesn’t scream 12 rebounds, but his toughness does,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said of Wagler.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Brad Underwood told Illini players that they would need a massive effort on the glass to win, especially from the guards. Wagler answered the call.
“He's a great listener,” Brad Underwood said. “We knew that (Chris) Cenac and (Joseph) Tugler, they back tap a lot of balls. They're elite at it. So our bigs were going to have to hit bodies, but our guards were going to have to come clean it up. So we needed a big, big rebounding game from our guards. I thought Keaton just takes everything to heart. He's had some big rebounding games this year, but to do this in this moment – you guys got to understand what a joy it is to coach him, and he doesn't worry about needing to score points.”
While Illinois’ bigs engage in physical battles under the basket to grab rebounds off the rim and box out their defenders, Wagler and the other guards stay alert and track down longer rebounds.
Tyler Underwood said that the Illini chart their misses and find that most occur on shots from the left corner of the court. When they miss from the left, the ball tends to carom to the right side of the basket, so Illinois tells players to flood “opposite and inside” to be in prime rebounding position.
Illinois typically has four players crash the boards after shots on offensive possessions, but last season the team slightly altered its rebounding philosophy. Instead of either the point guard or the shooting guard always being the player responsible for getting back on defense after a shot, the Illini decided that on 3-point shots, the shooter is the one who gets back – regardless of what position he plays.
That nuance has helped Illinois take advantage of their “twin towers,” brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, two 7-footers who each attempt more than half of their shots behind the 3-point line.
“With our pick-and-pop bigs, they end up shooting a lot of 3s, so that draws opponents’ bigs away from the rim, which puts them in uncomfortable sports, which allows guards to rebound,” Tyler Underwood said. “And our bigs end up being back in transition a lot, which is good because they’re our 7-footers.”
The strategy only works if players like Mirkovic and Wagler pick up the slack on the boards.
“I think rebounding, there’s an element of feel to it, an element of timing, an element of tracking the ball while it’s in the air,” Tyler Underwood said. “Both of those guys excel in that area because they have such a good feel for the game. And then they’re very disciplined and they put their teammates first. They’re willing to make winning plays.”
Both freshmen are do-it-all players who have developed a close relationship with each other on and off the court.
On the surface, the idea of a 6-foot-9 former professional player from Montenegro forming a bond with a skinny guard from Shawnee, Kansas, calls to mind videos of unlikely animal friendships. But the pair’s chemistry has blossomed through a mutual appreciation for hard work and competition, be it playing the “NBA 2K” video game or working out on the court.
“We have some similarities in our personality, like we are both Gen Z, I would say,” Mirkovic said. “The second thing, we had a lot of similarities, basketball-wise. Like we are pretty similar players despite different positions. … I would say our understanding and IQ of basketball and our unselfishness and skill level, that makes us unstoppable.”
Wagler said, “My first impression of him is that he’s a goofy guy who likes to mess around, but then in practices, he’s super competitive. He hates losing drills, no matter what it is. I knew we were gonna get along after that because I’m competitive. I don’t like to lose.”
They’ve both learned to embrace the Illini’s rebounding ethos, too. Wagler said he and Mirkovic have gained confidence from watching each other succeed.
“I think we both learned that you don’t have to be the most athletic or fastest person on the court,” Wagler said. “You can play at your own pace and still be as good as anyone. We both do the right things and we both want to win. Doesn’t matter if we score however many points, you know – if we got to go in and pass, get assists, get rebounds, we’ll do that.”
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors often talk about building good habits and generating momentum while approaching the NBA play-in tournament, but Friday night was the latest instance in which their bad habits have been too stubborn to leave.
Having frittered away a 12-point halftime lead during a brutal third quarter, the Warriors went into the fourth down by two to the Washington Wizards, who had lost 16 of their last 17 games and, thankfully for the Warriors, are cool to the notion of slowing their rocket to the NBA draft lottery.
There they were, two teams missing their top two players, traipsing through the final 12 minutes before the war of the woeful was won by the team sure to play beyond the regular season.
Down by five (111-106) with 6:18 remaining, the Warriors went on an 16-2 run that spurred a 131-126 victory, their third in a row, before a sellout crowd too polite to boo moments that invited it but summoned rousing cheers down the stretch.
“First half, I saw focus offensively, simple decisions,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And then I thought we let our guard down defensively in the second quarter. A couple back-cut layups, some poor transition, missed communication on switches.
“There was good and bad tonight, but I like the way we closed the game and had a lot of good individual performances.”
The cleanest and most efficient of those performances came from Gui Santos, who scored 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3 of 5 from deep while splashing 8 of 9 from the line. Kristaps Porziņģis continue to lurch toward impact status, producing a team-high 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 5 of 11 from distance, while grabbing eight rebounds. Brandin Podziemski delivered 22 points, a team-high 10 rebounds and seven assists.
The Warriors’ three-game win streak was built on wins over teams waving white flags big enough to cover Chase Center. This was the Warriors’ second consecutive “clutch” game against an opponent with no incentive to win. Two nights after the lottery-bound Brooklyn Nets sat three starters in the fourth the quarter to welcome defeat, Washington followed the same script.
Oh, but here comes the heat, three consecutive opponents bound for the NBA playoffs, all fighting to gain favorable position.
The Warriors fly to Denver on Saturday to face the Nuggets on Sunday, return home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday and then greet the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
The only way Nikola Jokić or Jamal Murray or Victor Wembanyama or Donovan Mitchell are sitting in the fourth quarter is if they’ve already blown the Warriors off the floor – which is a distinct possibility if they donate more quarters like the third against the Wizards, who, aided by six Golden State turnovers, posted a 34-20 advantage.
“We just got to slow down,” Santos said. “We need to play fast, move the ball fast, but at the same time stay under control. When we drive, when we get into the into the paint, we’ve got to just stop with two feet.”
The Warriors showed signs of improvement in the first quarter, leading by as much as 16 points. They accomplished this by shooting 50 percent from the field, including 46.7 percent beyond the arc – and not committing a single turnover.
That had to be encouraging for Golden State, which had committed 97 turnovers in its previous four games.
But the Wizards (17-56) understood the assignment, which allowed the Warriors opportunities to overcome the worst of themselves.
Those bad habits will be their undoing if they aren’t broken. Their desire to climb above 10th place in the Western Conference surely will be sabotaged if they help teams that don’t need it.
“We’re getting there,” Podziemski said. “We’re showing flashes of good and bad. Fortunately, we got to do it against Brooklyn and Washington in these last two games.
“But we’ll see what we’ve got come Sunday.”
Stephen Curry won’t make it to Denver. He’ll stay in the Bay Area, working with medical/performance chief Rick Celebrini in hopes of being ready by Wednesday or Thursday.
Curry’s arrival won’t matter much by then unless the Warriors catch some of the good habits that they insist they are chasing.
The Brooklyn Nets have not been a physically imposing team in a long time. That lack of phsyicality has been a common criticism of Sean Marks’ rosters in his decade-long tenure as GM, though there have been a couple notable exceptions. Andre Drummond and Day’Ron Sharpe aren’t just strong on paper; they’re two of the best offensive rebounders of the 21st century.
Those two are more exception than rule. Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton, and Noah Clowney all have their individual strengths, but they are also prone to getting pushed around in the paint. This has irritated Nets fans to no end because the cycle repeats every couple years, feeling more like a stain on the front office rather than the individual players.
It’s not just big men, and it’s not just physicality. David Nwaba tore his achilles during the 2019-20 season, and Brooklyn did not then roster a wing with nearly as much burst until Drake Powell, whose quick-twitch ability is exciting partly because we have not seen it in so long.
Some of this is inherent in watching a bad team lose a bad game. Where they are long, they are not strong; where they are strong, they lack burst. If the Nets were full of plus-athletes, they’d probably be better.
But for all the panic over the Flatbush Five’s relative lack of athleticism and size, the tide is shifting, ever so slightly. Clowney has continually scaled down positions, playing the 5 for much of his rookie year with the Long Island Nets but manning the wings of late, where his lack of strength and vertical explosion is a bit less of an issue. I think the a-ha moment was a couple of Long Island matchups against the Mexico City Capitanes in Clowney’s rookie year, when a 34-year-old Kenneth Faried put him in a hydraulic press.
Brooklyn’s signing of Chaney Johnson to a two-way contract drew some surprise, but he has had a fun stint with the big league club despite a lack of traditional offensive skills. Johnson is a thick 6’8”, and has put that frame to good use, grabbing offensive boards, blocking shots, and dunking the ball seven times already while getting fouled on a couple other attempts…
But that seems to be all a preface to Friday’s game (which didn’t finish till after midnight back on the East Coast) wherein Ziaire Williams and Josh Minott combined for 34 points. Those two have brought a new dynamic to Brooklyn’s wings. Their play and toughness over the last month has been a revelation.
Of the two, it’s tougher to make that argument for Williams, a skinny guy who doesn’t initiate a ton of contact on either end. Williams is listed at 6’9” and can jump, but has he dunked on anybody as a Net? These limitations will sometimes flare up when the 24-year-old puts the ball on the floor, which he’s done frequently in March.
That said, Williams has been a menace on the perimeter this season, particularly over the past month. Among the 313 NBA players who have appeared in 40+ games this season, he ranks 10th in deflections per minute. Opponents turn the ball over on 4.4% more of their possessions when Williams is on the court, a 98th percentile swing, per Cleaning the Glass. Certainly, the Nets have encouraged him to be aggressive in the passing lanes, particularly in the middle of the floor…
from a while ago, but a good example of Ziaire's freedom to play attacking defense: pic.twitter.com/tRL0smHVsR
“Sometimes we gotta let Ziaire be Ziaire, right?” explains Jordi Fernández. “His energy is contagious, and a lot of times it’s not going to be perfect, but he just makes up with — you know, sometimes they’ll make mistakes, but he makes up with that extreme energy. But the guys know it; like, if you gamble, you better get it. That’s what I always tell them.”
Williams’ offense is uneasy, but it’s trending in the right direction — threes comprise over 60% of his shot diet, and he’s shooting 34.3% on 9.9 attempts per 100 possessions this season, all career-highs. He’s also cut most of the fat out of his two-point diet (notwithstanding this stretch of late-season experimentation) as a strong cutter with just a couple finishing tricks in the bag.
A couple years ago, the Nets and other teams might have imagined Williams as a stretch-4 of sorts. Not anymore. Williams played many minutes next to a Clowney/MPJ/center trio this season, both guarding the opponent’s lead ball-handler and being an attack dog in the passing lanes. For an off-guard, his length and energy is a plus, hardly a questionable athlete in this role.
This was a good find from NetsFilm on Twitter…
Ziaire is currently the second youngest player in the NBA with a STL% >2.5, BLK% >1.5 and TS% >56, only behind teammate Josh Minott pic.twitter.com/9aS7OJtuFG
Williams has been a chaotic defender who makes enough of his shots to be a net positive and in March, he’s put up big numbers averaging 13.3 points on 52/51/90 shooting splits. That’s 13 games of very hot shooting, and Williams has been known to be inconsistent over his Nets tenure, but he is putting together a strong season by any definition.
So is Josh Minott. Minott is a sturdy 6’8” with a plus-wingspan, throwing down some big dunks since getting traded to the Nets midseason, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of self-creation.
Despite a couple nice drives here and there, he’s recorded nearly twice as many turnovers as assists in Brooklyn. You see in the first clip below that he misses a open corner pass on a drive. However, in that second clip, you see yet another impressive 3-pointer from the former Celtic…
Across the season, with both Brooklyn and Boston, Minott is shooting an absurd 44.1% from deep on nearly nine attempts per 100 possessions. Across four NBA andG League seasons, Minott is shooting 38.2% from deep on just under 400 total attempts as a pro. The shot looks a little funky, and he hasn’t really let it fly until this season, but that ball is going in.
If it continues, Minott is a bonafide NBA player who will bring more force to Brooklyn’s wings. This season, he ranks 17th in the league in deflections per minute, averaging nearly four stocks (steals + blocks) per 36. Jordi Fernández has openly challenged his mediocre rebounding numbers, but Minott plays with a clear blend of athleticism and calculated risk-tasking on D. This steal (initially called a foul but overturned via challenge) against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday really showed off his hands…
You figure Fernández is going to love playing Williams and Minott next season (assuming Brooklyn picks up the team option they have on each guy — $6.3 million on Williams, $2.3 million on Minott). Brooklyn has forced turnovers at just above a league-average rate over Fernández’s stint as head coach, but it’s taken a concerted effort from the staff to get them there. The Nets trapped ball-screens relentlessly in ‘25, and though they’ve toned that down a bit in ‘26, they play aggressively in the gaps, demonstrated above by Williams.
Next season, can Brooklyn force even more turnovers and will that factor into their offseason decision-making? Furthermore, can they both force turnovers and shut off the rim ever so slightly? After all, Brooklyn’s opponents have taken 36.1% of their attempts directly at the rim, the highest mark in the league, per Cleaning the Glass.
Sean Marks and the Nets might be turning over a new leaf. Egor Dëmin isn’t going to win a dunk contest anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t getting more athletic, particularly when Ziaire Williams or Josh Minott is playing the 2.
Neither Williams nor Minott is a perfect player. On a competitive team, neither can handle the ball much, and for 3-and-D players, both have questions about their outside shot. But for a Nets team that has too often been bullied by their opponents, it’s been fun to watch Williams and Minott fly around on the wing.
