Category: NBA

The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to name Tiago Splitter as their new head coach. Front office executives chose Splitter to replace Billy Donovan following an intensive search, leaning into Splitter’s proven ability to manage player development and align with a long-term organizational vision.

According to Shams Charania at ESPN:

The Bulls conducted a search that spanned a double-digit number of candidates before narrowing the process. They landed on Splitter due to his ability to lead the team’s player development, organizational alignment with the franchise’s direction and vision, and his leadership and knowledge base as a coach who has risen through the ranks since 2018 and played in the NBA for seven years, winning one championship with the San Antonio Spurs.

Splitter, 41, is a former NBA center who spent seven seasons in the league and won a championship with the Spurs in 2014. After transitioning to coaching via player development roles and an assistant gig with the Brooklyn Nets, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers’ staff in June 2025.

Splitter rose to the lead chair in Portland due to a sudden legal scandal involving head coach Chauncey Billups. At the start of the season, Billups was arrested as part of a federal takedown of a sprawling, illegal high-stakes poker operation. Facing federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for allegedly serving as a ‘Face Card’ to lure victims into rigged games, Billups was placed on leave by the franchise.

Thrown into the fire, Splitter excelled as Portland’s interim head coach. He rallied the roster to a 42-40 record, securing the number seven seed and guiding the Blazers to their first postseason berth in five years. He received praise from his players during exit interviews (but maybe not Shaedon Sharpe, who Splitter had a quick hook for in the playoffs).

With Splitter heading to Chicago, the Blazers are deep into their own coaching search. Two primary candidates remain on their short list: Tyler Lashbrook (assistant coach for the Boston Celtics) and Micah Nori (highly regarded lead assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves).

Chicago is coming off a chaotic, transitional season in which it finished 31-51, placing 12th in the Eastern Conference and missing the postseason entirely. The injury bug sidelined core pieces like Josh Giddey and Zach Collins for chunks of the year. Throwing in the towel, the front office completely dismantled its veteran core at the February trade deadline, executing a league-high seven trades. The Bulls shipped out stars like Coby White (to Charlotte) and Nikola Vučević (to Boston), leaving a young, messy roster behind. Josh Giddey served as a bright spot, averaging 17 PPG, 9.1 APG, and 8.3 RPG, but he suited up for only 54 games.

Splitter’s hiring seems like a hard pivot to a ground-up rebuild. Having played under Gregg Popovich and coached in the Nets and Blazers systems, he brings a heavy emphasis on ball movement, European-style spacing, and frontcourt accountability. Given that Chicago’s roster is made up mostly by young talent—including Rob Dillingham, Matas Buzelis, and Anfernee Simons—Splitter’s player development background might be exactly what this raw team needs to establish a functional culture.

How might the hire affect New York? Very little. The World Champion Knicks went 3-1 against Chicago and should sweep the next season series. Unless they get tired out from carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy around.

Go Knicks!

A new era in Chicago has begun.

The Bulls have hired former Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter as their next head coach.

Splitter stepped into the head coaching role with Portland after Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of a federal gambling bust and led the team to a 42-40 record and a spot in the NBA playoffs as the No. 7 seed.

Billy Donovan stepped down as Bulls coach in April after six seasons with the team. Chicago went 31-51 last season and has not made the playoffs since 2022.

The Trail Blazers excelled defensively under Splitter, ranking in the top 10, as he became the first Portland head coach to post a winning record in his first season with the team since Maurice Cheeks in 2001-02.

Splitter was also the first to win a playoff game in his first season in Portland since Mike Dunleavy in 1997-98.

The Brazilian-born head coach earned his players’ approval in Portland, where the Trail Blazers were also conducting a coaching search.

“He got thrown into a difficult situation. But he’s done a phenomenal job,” Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija said. “He’s getting the best out of all of us, and we love playing for him.”

The other finalists for the Bulls job were Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt and current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. They all met with Bulls officials this week, ESPN reported.

Chicago originally considered at least 10 candidates but landed on Splitter due to alignment with the franchise’s direction, among other factors.

Splitter played seven years in the NBA, including time with the Spurs, the Hawks and the 76ers.

He won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2014.

After retiring, he started his coaching career as a scout and player development staff member for the Nets, before becoming an assistant under Ime Udoka with the Rockets in 2023.

Splitter’s first head-coaching role was with Paris Basketball during the 2024-25 EuroLeague campaign.

The Chicago Bulls are in a new era, and Tiago Splitter will be leading it as the franchise’s next head coach. The Bulls hired Splitter on Monday after an impressive stint as the Portland Trail Blazers’ interim head coach this past season, where he led the team to its first playoff berth in five years after taking over for Chauncey Billups following his arrest as part of a sprawling FBI probe into illegal gambling. Splitter did well under tough circumstances, and now he’s earned a new job.

Splitter is 41 years old. As a player, he was a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2014 championship team, and he moved directly into coaching after retiring in 2018. Splitter was an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets from 2019-2023, then spent a season with the Houston Rockets, then became head coach at Paris Basketball, where he led his team to a French Cup championship and qualified for the EuroLeague playoffs. Splitter left Paris Basketball after one season to take a job on Billups’ staff in Portland, and he was unexpectedly thrust into the head coaching seat in the second game of the season after Billups’ arrest. He’s the second tallest head coach in NBA history at 6’11.

Why didn’t the Blazers retain Splitter as head coach? New owner Tom Dundon reportedly wanted to cut costs on his next head coach well below league standards. Dundon’s cheapness turned into an opportunity for the Bulls.

The Blazers had not make the playoffs since 2021, but Splitter helped get them back there despite not having his starting point guard Scoot Henderson for much of the season due to injury. Deni Avdija made an All-Star leap under Splitter as he took on a more heliocentric role as an offensive creator by spamming pick-and-rolls as the handler. The Blazers closed the regular season with a 32-20 record over their final 51 games, and posted a top-10 defense over that time. Portland earned its way into the playoffs through the play-in tournament, and they were knocked out by the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the first-round of the playoffs.

Splitter is taking over a Bulls organization in flux. Chicago fired Arturas Karnisovas and replaced him with former Atlanta Hawks exec Bryson Graham earlier this offseason. Hiring Splitter is Graham’s first big decision, and there are more to come. The Bulls pick at No. 4, No. 15, No. 38, and No. 56 in next week’s 2026 NBA Draft, and the Bulls are projected to have the most cap space in the NBA with just shy of $60 million available.

It will be fascinating to see how Graham puts his stamp on the roster. Chicago is projected to take Caleb Wilson at No. 4 in our latest 2026 NBA mock draft. Wilson would be a best player available selection, but he does have some overlap with the existing roster. Chicago’s lottery picks the last two years, Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue, both have similar size and skill sets to Wilson. The team enters the offseason needing a rim protecting center, and a lot of shooting. There’s two solid point guards already on the roster in Josh Giddey and Tre Jones, which will be a welcomed sight for Splitter after he had terrible ball handling in Portland.

It feels safe to project Buzelis at the three, and very likely Wilson at the four in next year’s lineup. Jalen Smith had a terrific year as a hybrid big man, and could be the team’s starting stretch five in 2026-27. Will Graham trade Giddey or Jones? What will he do with his cap space? Graham and Splitter will now work to create a shared vision to shape the next iteration of the Bulls.

Chicago hired Splitter over Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, and incumbant Wes Unseld Jr. as the other finalists for the job. Under Splitter, the Blazers finished No. 20 in offensive efficiency and No. 14 in defensive efficiency. Portland chucked threes without good shooters, finishing third in three-point rate despite being No. 28 in three-point percentage. The Blazers turned the ball over more than any team in the league, but that was due to talent more than scheme. Portland was an elite offensive rebounding team (No. 2 in o-board percentage), and it finished No. 7 in turnover percentage defensively.

I thought Portland needed to crank up the pace and aggression defensively given their lifeless halfcourt offense. The Blazers ended 21st in seconds per possession after a defensive rebound, and 23rd after a turnover. Granted, Portland’s ball handling was so bad that it’s possible Splitter just didn’t trust his team to push it on the break.

The Blazers ranked No. 29 in the halfcourt offense points per play. Is that because of talent or scheme? Splitter put the ball in Avdija’s hands and let him be a battering ram going to the rim. The offense was bland, but they didn’t really have the creators to do much more. Splitter also ranked dead last in ATOs — after timeout plays — according to Steph Noh.

Will Splitter try to make Giddey or Buzelis his new Avdija? Will Giddey be traded? How will he use Wilson, assuming he’s the pick at No. 4, early in his career? There are so many questions for the Bulls going forward that it’s hard to make any big takeaways from this hire yet. Chicago would be wise to prioritize the future over the present, and put a heavy emphasis on development of its young pieces, rather than relying on veterans who can immediately help them win games. Graham talked about taking the long-view in his opening press conference, but the NBA’s new lottery changes take tanking off the table for all teams.

I thought Portland’s offense was dull under Splitter, but not having your point guard will do that to a team. He’s a young head coach, and coaches can improve over time like players. Splitter definitely did a nice job in guiding the team to the playoffs under tough circumstances. Given the other finalists, this seems like a totally acceptable hire. The Bulls just have a lot more work to do.

Bulls grade for Tiago Splitter hire: B

After making $116 million during his NBA career, former Knicks small forward Trevor Ariza made just $2,316 last month as a trainer for the disabled, according to an income and expense declaration filed in court.

Ariza, 40, was forced to detail his financial position due to a custody battle with his ex-wife.

An NBA champion with the Lakers in 2009, Ariza also declared $50,000 in cash and bank accounts, and $2.5 million in real estate, which he bought while he was playing.

His expenses for the month included $2,000 on healthcare, groceries, utilities, education and auto expenses and insurance, and another $1,000 on clothes and cleaning.

The $11,500 declared expenses are glaringly higher than the ex-NBA players’ average monthly salary of $6,000.

Ariza spoke out about his financial situation earlier this year, stating that he has a negative $230,000 in his bank account.

He also claimed his ex-wife, Bree Anderson Ariza, “refuses to work or contribute financially, despite being able to do so.” 

The former small forward has been attempting to lower his child support payments in court over the past year.

“I’ve been exploring deals, trying everything to create income. Nothing stable has come through. Things changed since we finalized this [divorce],” he said.

Ariza was drafted by the Knicks with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and went on to play for 10 different teams throughout his 18-year NBA career.

At his peak, Ariza signed deals worth $34 million, $32 million, $25 million, and $15 million, bringing his career earnings to $116 million.

Draymond Green scolds Spurs for ‘disheartening' actions after NBA Finals loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The San Antonio Spurs learned a few hard lessons during their 2026 NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks, and to hear Draymond Green tell it, they have another still to go.

The Warriors forward took to his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” to admonish the young Spurs for what he called a “disheartening” lack of leadership as the team left the floor following Saturday’s series-ending defeat without offering any formal congratulations to the victorious Knicks.

“Oh, by the way, y’all ain’t going to come shake [Jalen Brunson’s] hand?” Green said. “No problem. What’s the first thing Jalen Brunson did? Beeline to [Spurs coach] Mitch Johnson. Respect. Much respect. I would have loved for the Spurs players to be there for them to shake [the Knicks’] hands. They walked off. That was disappointing, a bit disappointing.”

New York secured its first NBA championship since 1973 by beating San Antonio in five games, with the title-decider coming on the Spurs’ home floor. When the final buzzer sounded on a 94-90 Knicks win, nearly every Spurs player—including star center Victor Wembanyama—left the floor immediately.

Per reports, only the San Antonio coaching staff and backup center Luke Kornet remained to offer their respects to New York players.

“The reason it was disappointing is because when you go ‘mano y mano,’ toe to toe, blow for blow with a team and they get the better of you, those that become champions look them in their eyes and say ‘respect.’” Green said of the Spurs’ postgame exit. “And then you go to the locker room. That’s what those that become champions do…Look your killer in the face.”

Green did give San Antonio some grace, conceding that the team is generally very young and lacks the veteran presence that might have helped avoid what he saw as a lapse in sportsmanship.

“To see [the Spurs] walk off the court, it was disheartening. I’ll blame it on youth,” Green said. “I’ll blame it on lacking the leader to show them that ‘hey, this is what you do. Not walk off.’ I blame it on that.

“There’s a way to win and there’s a way to lose. And walking off the court, not looking your killer in his eyes, ain’t the way to lose…I hate it. I hate when people do it. And I hated to see those young Spurs do it because I actually think they’re capable of doing something special…and I would urge those young Spurs [to] reach out to Jalen Brunson however you can. Reach out to Karl-Anthony Towns however you can. Reach out to Josh Hart, however you can. You tell [those] dudes ‘congratulations.’”

The Knicks, for their part, didn’t appear all that concerned.

The celebration was ON in the @nyknicks locker room last night after winning their first NBA Championship in 53 years 🏆🍾 pic.twitter.com/3aprwZbaiT

— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2026

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Comedian Kevin Hart and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith are among those who think celebrity Knicks superfan Spike Lee should get a championship ring after the franchise won its first title in 53 years.

Hart shouted out Lee in an Instagram video posted on Sunday.

“Give Spike a ring,” Hart said of Lee, who has likely paid many millions for tickets over the last 40 years. “Spike deserves a f–kin championship ring, and I’m saying it here. Give Spike a New York Knicks championship ring.”

Responding to a tweet advocating for the 69-year-old director to get a ring, Smith wrote Sunday, “I completely support this for Spike Lee. No Knicks’ fan deserves this more than him.”

Fans were divided in their responses to Smith.

“I’m sorry but this man ain’t shoot one shot or grabbed a rebound,” one X user wrote. “Let him enjoy the parade just like the rest of us. He’s good.”

“No. Players, coaches, executives and other members of the organization get rings, not fans, even if they’re superfans,” another wrote.

One supportive fan wrote, “Give the man his flowers! And the ring.”

“Agree. Fans are part of the team and he’s been there for the good, the bad and the ugly when a lot of us (like me) wouldn’t even watch on TV,” another wrote. “I saw the 70 and 73 teams as a teen and waited in hope for this day but Spike was the ultimate fan!!”

Unlike those who frequent Celebrity Row, Lee pays for his seats. As of March 2020, Lee was spending $300,000 a year for his pair of courtside season tickets.

Lee has had tickets since 1985 after the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing. It’s unclear how much he’s paid in sum over about 40 years, and his seats weren’t always courtside, but it’s safe to say he’s spent several million.

He also travels for the playoffs and was in attendance in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio throughout the Knicks’ championship run, including Saturday’s clincher.

Lee was already thinking about what’s next for the Knicks after they won, telling ABC, “back to back!”

Austin Reaves is about to become one of the most sought-after free agents in basketball, but all signs continue to point toward him staying exactly where he wants to be: Los Angeles.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons have both emerged as potential suitors for the Lakers guard as free agency approaches. Yet despite the outside interest, league executives remain skeptical that anyone will actually pry Reaves away from the Lakers.

“The Lakers are widely expected to re-sign Reaves,” Stein reported, citing both Reaves’ affection for Los Angeles and his growing chemistry with Luka Dončić as major factors working in the team’s favor.

That mutual interest has become one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets.

Reaves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency in search of a massive payday.

After averaging a career-best 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season, the 28-year-old has positioned himself for the biggest contract of his career.

The Nets have long been viewed as the biggest external threat. Previous reports suggested Brooklyn could have interest in offering Reaves a four-year deal worth as much as $178.5 million.

However, Stein noted there have been recent indications the Nets may prefer shorter-term contracts rather than aggressively pursuing marquee free agents this summer.

Detroit’s interest appears less concrete as well.

While Reaves would fit seamlessly alongside All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, Stein reported the Pistons are expected to focus more heavily on trade acquisitions than major free-agent spending.

Detroit also faces looming extension decisions involving young cornerstones Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, making a massive offer sheet for Reaves more complicated.

That leaves the Lakers in a familiar position.

Reaves has evolved from an undrafted role player into one of the franchise’s most important building blocks. His ability to score, create offense and thrive alongside stars has made him a natural fit next to Dončić, who has publicly expressed his desire to continue playing with his close friend.

The Lakers know replacing that production would be nearly impossible.

As one NBA executive recently told The Athletic, “You can’t let a talent like that walk.”

Outside teams may continue doing their homework on Reaves over the coming weeks. But unless something changes dramatically, the expectation around the league remains the same: Austin Reaves will get paid, and he’ll probably be getting paid by the Lakers.

In order to understand the street-shaking eruption and unified joy that enveloped New York when the Knicks won the NBA title on Saturday night, you have to consider everything that came before it. 

Even though it became clear over the last several seasons that the Knicks winning it all for the first time since 1973 was at least a possibility, it actually happening has altered the brain chemistry of the city. 

Despite the belief that it could happen, there were still looks of disbelief on many people's faces when it actually did.

Now let's rewind for a bit to remember how the Knicks got here...

There was triumph (twice) in the 1970s, some modest playoff success in the early 1980s, the arrival of Patrick Ewing that eventually made the Knicks a title contender again in the 1990s, and then two decades of near-irrelevance, with the only positive blip during that time being the Carmelo Anthony years that maxed out in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2013.

As someone who grew up on the 90s Knicks, my early fandom was pockmarked by the near misses of a tough, resilient team, and the fact that Michael Jordan and the Bulls were almost always standing in the way.

There was 1993-94, when the Knicks took a 3-2 NBA Finals lead to Houston but couldn't stop Hakeem Olajuwon (who got his hand on John Starks' potential title-winning shot at the end of Game 6).

There were Reggie Miller's eight points at the end of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pacers, and New York's loss in Game 7 of that series when Ewing's finger roll just wouldn't go down.

I thought the 1996-97 Knicks would've had a real chance to take down Jordan's Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they didn't get there because their roster was decimated by suspensions after a fight P.J. Brown of the Heat started at the end of Game 5 in the semifinals. 

The 1998-99 run to the Finals was incredible, but the Knicks never really stood a chance going up against the Spurs' Tim Duncan and David Robinson without the injured Ewing.

From the point the Knicks lost the title in 1999 until their recent run of serious contention in 2022-23, New York bringing a title back to the Garden felt like a pipe dream.

Then Jalen Brunson arrived and changed everything.

And when it started to feel possible that the Knicks had something special brewing, Brunson sacrificed $113 million dollars in order to help Leon Rose keep building around him.

As the Brunson Knicks started to ascend, in came Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. By the end of this regular season, with their core surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast and led by head coach Mike Brown, it felt like it could finally be the Knicks' time.

But at the start of the playoffs, even after the Knicks proved over the last several seasons that they had what it took to be a serious contender, they were still doubted.

The Celtics and Cavaliers had better NBA title odds than New York when the playoffs began, with it feeling especially absurd that Cleveland's odds were better.

After the Knicks dispatched the Hawks in the first round, it was "the 76ers aren't Atlanta, how will the Knicks stop Tyrese Maxey?"

After the Knicks swept the Sixers, it was "the Cavaliers are a different animal."

After the Knicks steamrolled the Cavs, it was "the Eastern Conference was weak -- the Western Conference Finals are the real NBA Finals."

But this Knicks team was deep, united, and super talented. Most of all, they were selfless and impossible to keep down. They had proven by the point they reached the Finals against the Spurs (and months before, really, as I wrote after covering their close loss to the Thunder on March 5) that they could beat anyone. 

And they did.

During the Finals against the Spurs, anywhere you went in the city became a watch party. 

It wasn't just the overflowing bars. It was the gas station/burger joint showing the game as hundreds of people gathered in the street. It was the game being projected onto the side of a building in the West Village as throngs filled the streets below.

The partying, jubilation, and incredible scenes we've witnessed in every neighborhood in the city have been a sight to behold. But it's the togetherness and unity of the people celebrating that has been the most special aspect of all of this.

It's the strangers hugging one another. Ecstatic fans helping the sanitation workers do their job after the clincher. People from all walks of life dancing with each other in an incredible spectacle of spontaneous community in the streets.

In a way, it's like the city is holding up a mirror to this Knicks team and vice versa. There is a certain attitude and swagger about New York City, it's true. But there's also togetherness. And it's been on display these last few weeks as millions have rallied around a team like never before.

That's because the Knicks are the only team that can truly unite the whole city.

The Mets and Yankees can't, because the fan allegiances are split. The same goes for the Jets and Giants. As far as the Rangers, their fans greatly outnumber Islanders supporters, but hockey is the clear fourth sport in the city.

The Knicks? They are New York City.

This moment? Once in a lifetime.

The Canyon of Heroes awaits.

Kings reportedly host NBA draft prospect Darius Acuff Jr. for private workout originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Darius Acuff Jr. is one of the biggest names that closely has been tied to the Kings ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Last week, the Arkansas guard reportedly worked out with Sacramento, KCRA’s Sean Cunningham reported Monday, citing sources.

According to sources, former Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. worked out for the Kings in Sacramento last week. It was not publicized and there was no media availability following his workout.

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) June 15, 2026

The Kings publicly have hosted pre-draft workouts for several players, such as Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Connecticut forward Alex Karaban, Kansas guard Tre White, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell and Louisville guard Ryan Conwell.

Acuff’s reported workout in Sacramento, however, was not made public.

It is no secret that the Kings have had their eye on the 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect, especially with the team’s desperate need for a starting point guard. Acuff easily could fill that void in Sacramento’s roster, considering his scoring abilities on all three levels and playmaking skills.

In only one season at Arkansas, Acuff averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game and shot 48.4 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in 36 starts.

Acuff’s impressive freshman season earned the Detroit native several awards, including first-team All-America, All-SEC honors and SEC Player of the Year.

With such a strong résumé under his belt, Acuff highly is regarded as one of the top prospects in this year’s draft, making it difficult to imagine that he will remain on the board for Sacramento with the No. 7 overall pick.

Other players who have been associated with the Kings’ No. 7 pick include Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and Houston guard Kingston Flemings.

However, if Acuff remains available at No. 7, it would be harder to imagine the Kings passing on a player with his caliber and star potential.

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A routine traffic stop led to James Harden’s arrest on Saturday, according to local authorities.

A representative for the Houston Police Department told The California Post on Monday that the NBA superstar was pulled over for some kind of traffic violation at 3 a.m. on a downtown Houston roadway.

“The driver of the vehicle identified himself as James Harden” during the stop, the HPD rep said, “and he was taken into custody for unlawful carrying of a weapon.”

According to court documents, Harden had a handgun in his vehicle that “was not carried in a holster” while “in plain view.” He was formally taken into custody at 3:41 a.m. and booked on one misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying weapons.

In Harden’s mugshot, which was provided to The Post by the HPD on Monday, he could be seen wearing a black T-shirt and a stern look on his face.

Harris County records show Harden was released from jail on bond later Saturday morning and given an arraignment date of June 22.

However, the records also show that hearing date was rescheduled on Monday to Aug. 3.

Harden, according to the records, has hired high-powered Texas attorney Rusty Hardin to represent him in the case. Hardin has previously repped several famous professional athletes, including Deshaun Watson when the NFL quarterback was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple massage therapists.

Messages to Hardin and his office for comment on Harden’s case were not immediately returned.

Harden, a former Los Angeles Clipper who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has deep ties to Houston — he played nine seasons with the Rockets earlier in his NBA career.

Sources told The Post he had been out at a local hookah lounge with a large group of his friends before his arrest occurred.

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The best 22nd picks ever in NBA draft  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Is there any chance the Sixers will find a core piece with the 22nd pick in Round 1 of the NBA draft on June 23?

The team sure seems to have snagged one of the top 21st selections ever in All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey. As for No. 22, below is a chronological (and unscientific) rundown of the best players drafted at that slot: 

George McGinnis (1973)

After a series of contract disputes, McGinnis debuted with the Sixers in 1975. Fresh off an ABA MVP season, the do-it-all Hall of Fame forward earned All-Star nods in his first two years as a Sixer and won the Eastern Conference title in 1977. Other notable Sixers picks from the 1973 draft class include Doug Collins (No. 1) and Caldwell Jones (No. 32). McGinnis died in 2023 at 73 years old.

Leonard “Truck” Robinson (1974) 

As his nickname suggests, Robinson was a physical force and a world-class rebounder. The Tennessee State product made his first of two All-Star Games in the 1977-78 season with New Orleans Jazz teammate Pete Maravich. Robinson averaged 22.7 points and an NBA-best 15.7 rebounds that year.

Johnny Davis (1976)

Davis helped the Trail Blazers win it all his rookie season. The speedy guard out of Dayton had his most productive NBA years with the Pacers, averaging 16.4 points and 5.4 assists from the 1978-79 through ’81-82 seasons. Davis went on to coach in the NBA and served as the Sixers’ head coach for Allen Iverson’s rookie year in 1996-97.

Norm Nixon (1977)

Nixon was the starting point guard for two championship-winning Showtime Lakers teams. A two-time All-Star and Duquesne great, Nixon was a serious steal late in the first round. 

Scott Skiles (1986)

Skiles still holds the NBA’s single-game assists record. He racked up 30 on Dec. 30, 1990 in the Magic’s win over the Nuggets.

Reggie Lewis (1987)

Lewis tragically died from a heart condition at 27. He’d grown into a Celtics star with highlights like a 42-point playoff performance vs. the Cavs and a four-block night against Michael Jordan.

Bobby Portis (2015) 

Portis had a rather rocky start to his NBA career with the Bulls, but he ultimately settled into his niche as the Bucks’ beloved sixth man and played a key part in Milwaukee’s 2020-21 title. 

Jarrett Allen (2017) 

Allen was a playoff starting center by his second season in Brooklyn. He made his one career All-Star Game to date with the Cavs in 2021-22. 

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we continue our series with a look at Austin Reaves.

Certain players are always connected to Los Angeles. There are the obvious ones, like Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson. But you don’t have to be a legend for your entire Lakers tenure to be remembered for your time inpurple and gold.

Anytime one of the young Lakers from the post-Bryant era finds success, they get love from fans. Josh Hart remains loved by Lakers fans. And even people like Nick Young are remembered, even if they spent more time elsewhere and won a title elsewhere.

So much of Austin Reaves’ story is still left to be written, but one thing is clear: he will always be a Laker. The question is whether his journey will continue in LA.

Reaves is expected to turn down his player option and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Throughout his career, he has far exceeded even the rosiest of projections people have had of him. He has improved every year, and with him reportedly wanting upwards of $40 million, it seems either the Lakers or another team will oblige.

In an ideal world, the Lakers can pay Reaves whatever number he wants, and that’d be that.

However, nothing is ever ideal, and the NBA operates under a restrictive new salary cap. Paying Reaves will not dramatically impact what they do this year, but in the years ahead, it could prevent LA from adding impactful new pieces.

Although letting such an uber talent like Reaves walk away could also be dire and set the franchise back for years to come.

LA has a lot of decisions to make this summer to turn this team from a fun 50-win roster to a title contender. And the first, and perhaps biggest, decision they have is what to do with Reaves.

How did he play?

It was a tale of two seasons for Reaves.

He was an offensive juggernaut this year, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists. His scoring and rebounding numbers were career highs and his point total has increased every single season.

Not only were his numbers fantastic, but his play in key moments during the regular season also stood out. He posted his career high 51 points in a win over the Kings and he helped atone for his playoff struggles against the Wolves by hitting a game-winner against Minnesota.

AUSTIN REAVES WINS IT FOR THE LAKERS IN MINNESOTA 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/qftaDRTenE

— ESPN (@espn) October 30, 2025

As the season progressed, it became clear the Lakers were a better team with Luka Dončić’s running mate being Reaves rather than LeBron. So, as the season progressed, Reaves’ usage continued to increase. By March, Reaves became a higher-usage player for the Lakers than James.

This meant the ball was in Reaves’ hands more often, and there were a ton of pick-and-roll actions with him and Luka. The result? The Lakers went 15-2 in March, their best month as a franchise since the 1999-00 season.

At that point, the Lakers were the hottest team in the NBA, and Reaves’ stock was at an all-time high. However, that’s not where the story ended.

Unfortunately, Reaves suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain in early April, ending his regular season and putting his playoff availability in question.

Thanks to Reaves, working his tail off in his recovery, he was able to return in the first round against the Rockets. While his return was commendable, his play once he touched the floor left a lot to be desired.

Reaves went 4-16 in LA’s Game 5 loss against Houston. They advanced and beat the Rockets in six games, but then against the Thunder, Reaves struggled massively.

He couldn’t handle the physicality of OKC’s defenders. His field goal percentage dropped from 49% during the regular season to 42% against the Thunder. From deep, he was even worse, going from knocking down 36% of his 3-pointers to just 30%.

As an on-ball creator, he was awful. Reaves had 27 turnovers compared to just 35 assists. He also had the second-worst plus-minus on the team at -59.

As a defender, Reaves didn’t silence his critics with his second-round play. He was relentlessly attacked and demonstrated the resistance of a turnstile.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell scored in bunches on Reaves, which is why he was often the defender they were looking for.

In Reaves’ defense, he was fresh coming off his injury, and the playoffs are a tough place to try to get back to 100% health.

Also, he improved as the series against the Thunder progressed. In Game 2, he scored a game-high 31 points on 10-16 shooting, and in Game 4, he had 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

What is his contract situation moving forward?

If Reaves declines his player option like everyone expects him to, he will be an unrestricted free agent. Given how good he’s been, to retain Reaves, the Lakers are likely looking at paying him $40 million or more. Although Reaves has stated he isn’t just looking to make as much money as possible. Winning matters to him as well.

The good news is that his cap hold this year will be approximately $20.9 million, which helps the Lakers this offseason. It means they’ll be able to pay him without feeling the impact of every dollar he makes right away in their books.

Should he be back?

He has his flaws like any other player, but ideally, Reaves will be back next year. He has room to grow, but has proven he’ll do the work to get there time and time again.

However, the Lakers have to be smart with what those numbers look like. Los Angeles, as currently constructed, is not good enough to win a title. Reaves is fantastic, but he’s not Luka. He doesn’t get a blank check, no questions asked. The deal has to make sense because the Lakers need flexibility to acquire players who can elevate the team to the next level even past this offseason.

The Lakers might think their backcourt’s defensive woes are exaggerated, but they aren’t lockdown defenders either. LA needs better defenders around their duo and likely a dominant frontcourt player to add to this roster.

In the end, it’s in LA’s best interest to continue this partnership with Reaves. They just need to do so while making Austin happy and still allowing them to add to their roster so they can be contenders once again.

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

With the New York Knicks taking down the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals, the 2025-26 season has officially come to an end.

Teams are now allowed to speak to their own free agents and start mapping out their offseason. For the Sixers, that means Kelly Oubre, Jr., Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond. The likelihood of all three coming back feels very low. Drummond has likely played his last game in Philadelphia. Oubre and Grimes are talented but flawed rotation players who could conceivably be back.

Also, the 2026 NBA Draft is a little over a week away now. Mock drafts have the Sixers taking players like Chris Cenac, Dailyn Swain, Allen Graves and Jayden Quaintance. The options at 22 are very uncertain, but this is a good and deep draft class.

Hit me with you questions below!

The New York Knicks aren’t just NBA champions, they’re a lesson in perseverance. Proof positive why you should never quit on your team, no matter how dark it gets, no matter how bleak the future seems, no matter how much an owner tries to push you away. James Dolan’s name might be on the papers, but Saturday night proved that the Knicks don’t belong to him — they belong to New York.

It’s impossible not to love the scenes from New York following the Knicks’ breaking their 53-year championship drought. Did the celebration go too far? Sure. Did it turn the streets into anarchy? Absolutely. Did it closely resemble the Joker’s clown parade in Batman Returns? It sure did. It was also magical, inspiring, and reminded us how powerful sports can be, even as we become jaded in the face of ticket scalpers, political movements, and greedy owners who put their own motivations ahead of a city. When the dust settles, it’s about simply this: A small group of individuals who came together as a team, to bring joy to millions who have invested their heart and souls into loving a team their entire lives. People who said “this could be our year” more times than they could count, and when it comes to the NBA there is not a single more passionate, longer-suffering fanbase than the New York Knicks.

No doubt there would have been joy in San Antonio too, but it would have hit different. All due respect to Spurs fans, but even y’all have to admit that your franchise has had a horseshoe lodged up your derriere for the better part of 30 years. From drafting Tim Duncan during David Robinson’s ONE injury year to winning the Wemby sweepstakes, it just wouldn’t have been satisfying to see another Spurs win. Moreover, San Antonio is a competent, sensible organization run like a successful business — it’s not the Knicks, where fans have had to endure James Dolan’s whims at every turn, doing his level best to destroy the organization from within while playing a piano solo in his nepo band.

Dolan and the Knicks have given fans HUNDREDS of reasons to pack it in over the years. I don’t know how Spike Lee managed to endure the pain for as long as he did — but not just the pain, the promise. The possibility that Patrick Ewing, and John Starks would win a title, then if Stephon Marbury and Allan Houston could get the job done, then Carmelo, Amare, and J.R. Smith. Fans continually experience the yo-yo whiplash of made that make them believe, before seeing opportunity get yanked away, like a cat toy from a desperate tabby. They’ve seen brilliant teams under the guidance of Jeff Van Gundy, Mike D’Antoni, and Tom Thibodeau all establish specific eras of Knicks disappointment, which makes it all the more magical right now.

This Knicks team was so decidedly un-Knicks. Jalen Brunson is obviously a superstar, but this team was defined by doubt, not promise. Nobody believed Karl-Anthony Towns was good enough to be a focal point, Mickal Bridges was an overpaid addition; heck, Mike Brown was almost universally reviled when he was hired to lead this iteration of the Knicks, because his career before New York was defined by everything the organization was trying to avoid. Brown routinely led promising teams, only to fall short — and the assumption was that he would do the same with the Knicks. He didn’t. Instead, he prevailed.

The conclusion of the NBA season isn’t just for fans of the Knicks, but for every long-suffering fan in sports. A reminder that success can happen when you least expect it. If you pack it up and ignore a team, finally beaten down by the frustration — sure, nobody will know you took a break, but deep down you will. The pain is what makes moments like this legendary. The inescapably sour that finally gives way to the sweet. A chance to take to the streets, party like it’s the end of the world, and know that all the emotional effort wasn’t in vain.

James Dolan doesn’t own the Knicks, he’s merely a caretaker. This isn’t his championship, it’s New York’s. The 2025-26 season will have a legacy that exists when Dolan is gone and forgotten, which means he never really won. One billionaire can try to kill a team, but the city never let it happen. Let them be a reminder for all of us.