NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-06-24 15:56:04
NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-06-24 15:56:04
WNBA Preview: Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers set to square off for the first time in the pros
Last week’s "WNBA Preview" column highlighted some essential games to either watch or track the outcomes of, as it pertains to the final standings of the Commissioner’s Cup games. There were some surprising finishes (Atlanta failing to clinch a spot in the finals by squandering a 17-point second-half lead to New York), and some not-so surprising ones (Indiana dominating Connecticut in a chippy contest to secure a spot in the Cup’s championship game). The Fever’s appearance in the championship match will mark the organization’s first in the Cup’s brief five-year existence. They’ve lost back-to-back games since clinching, but will have three games this week to get back on track before their July 1 final against Minnesota.
The Lynx used a second-half surge last week against an A’ja Wilson-less Aces squad to earn their second straight Commissioner’s Cup championship game appearance. They won last year’s main event over the Liberty in what ended up being an appetizer to the main course, the 2024 WNBA Finals. Minnesota’s start to this season has been nothing short of superb, and if Napheesa Collier is healthy enough to play in that game, they’d have a good chance at becoming the first back-to-back winner in tournament history.
Minnesota’s dominance, combined with the Fever’s peaks they’ve displayed at times this season, should make for a fantastic winner-take-all game.
WNBA Rookie Praise
Moving on. I’ve decided to devote a large chunk of this week’s column to praising the 2025 WNBA rookies (both the drafted and undrafted), as this was an eye-catching past seven days of basketball for that specific group of players.
At the top of the draft, the lottery picks continued to meet the expectations placed on them. Paige Bueckers has remained healthy since returning from a four-game absence. She helped lead the Wings to a 2-1 record this week that included back-to-back wins for the first time all season, tallying 20-point games in each of the three while nearing securing a triple-double in the overtime loss to the Mystics. Speaking of the Mystics, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have continued to produce at high levels as Day 1 starters. Iriafen’s performances were a bit quieter over the past seven days, as starting frontcourt mate Shakira Austin had a couple of massive games. Still, Iriafen closed the week with a 19-point, seven-rebound, six-assist, five-steal outing against the Wings, while Citron logged a career-high 27 points in that same game to bring her streak of double-digit scoring performances to 13.
The non-lottery picks also had themselves a week. Aneesah Morrow posted averages of 13.3 points and 6.7 rebounds across Connecticut’s three games and was eventually moved into the starting unit over the weekend.
The final pick of the first round, Aziaha James, was promoted to the Wings’ starting five last week and responded by logging a career-best 17 points in her second start. Two days later, she followed that strong outing with another double-digit scoring performance and a career-high in rebounds.
One pick later at 13th overall, Aaliyah Nye has been one of the Aces’ best players off the bench this season, and arguably the organization’s first impactful rookie since their run of Kelsey Plum-A’ja Wilson-Jackie Young from 2017 to 2019. She scored in double figures in the Aces’ final two games of the week and buried three three-pointers in each contest. Nye has consistently been playing 20-plus minutes per game since the beginning of the month and appears to have gained the trust of head coach Becky Hammon already.
And not to be forgotten is the Dream’s Te-Hina Paopao, who is starting to break out. Although she’s no longer starting games, the rookie has provided Atlanta with a great deal of impact recently as she led the Dream in scoring in their five-point loss to the Liberty, hit a career-high five threes against the Sky on Sunday, and has finished with 16 points in three of her last four games.
A rookie that can shoot LIGHTS OUT
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 22, 2025
Te-Hina Paopao put on quite the shooting display in today's win over the Sky!
Paopao had 16 PTS and went 5-6 from beyond the arc and finished the game shooting 83.3% from DEEP#WelcometotheWpic.twitter.com/O8X7WvOWVv
The undrafted rookies are making noise, as well; big noise. Honestly, just take a peek at the Mercury’s roster; you’ll find some established vets at the top of the food chain, and then several undrafted rookies occupying key rotation spots for a very good Phoenix team. Monique Akoa Makani set a new career-high in points this past week, while Lexi Held (injured) and Kathryn Westbeld were rock-solid during Phoenix’s undefeated week.
I could go on for a while, but the bottom line is this: the 2025 rookies have been impressive regardless of where they came from.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Now that we recapped what already happened, let’s look forward to this week’s action.
Minnesota Lynx @ Washington Mystics
(Tuesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET)
This matchup doesn’t necessarily have the makings of a must-watch game on paper. Napheesa Collier is battling injury at the time of this writing, and four of the Mystics’ six victories are against Connecticut (2), Dallas (1), and Chicago (1), teams that own the three worst records in the WNBA. Yet, I’m still concluding that this matchup is one worth tuning in for — even without its star player, Minnesota is a phenomenal team, and although Washington has a 6-8 record, three of those losses have come by one possession. Anything could happen on Tuesday night in the nation’s capital, and I’m excited to see how the game unfolds.
Minnesota Lynx @ Atlanta Dream
(Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION)
The Lynx have multiple intriguing matchups this week — first on Tuesday against the Mystics and then another against the Dream on Friday. Friday’s bout features two of the league’s top offenses and two teams that like to rely on the three-point shot. The worthwhile thing to watch here is how well each team’s defense can defend the long ball. Atlanta allows the fewest three-point attempts and makes per game thus far by a pretty substantial margin, focusing on running teams off the line and forcing them to score inside the paint over Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones. Minnesota gets a third of its points from beyond the arc and ranks near the league's top in efficiency and makes per game. The Dream’s offense lacks the three-point shooting accuracy but will want to volume their way on Friday against a Lynx defense that invites opponents’ three-point attempts but limits the effectiveness.
I’ll repeat it, pay attention to the impact of the three-point shot in this game! Whichever team is successful could find itself in a good position to win.
Indiana Fever @ Dallas Wings
(Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION)
Yes, basketball is a team game, and Friday’s matchup will be between the Fever and the Wings. Be that as it may, people are tuning in to see the matchup between the 2024 first overall pick, Caitlin Clark, and the 2025 top selection, Paige Bueckers. Friday will mark the first time the two share the court as professionals, with their lone couple of duels coming in the collegiate ranks — both in the NCAA Tournament, where Bueckers’ Huskies topped Clark’s Hawkeyes in the 2021 Sweet 16 before Iowa got revenge in the 2024 Final Four. The Fever have been up-and-down throughout this season and are currently riding a two-game skid, while the Wings have finally found some success recently. No matter which team secures the win, the game should be entertaining.
New York Liberty @ Phoenix Mercury
(Friday, June 27 at 10 p.m. ET on ION)
As I assume you all reading this are followers of the W, I also assume you consumed last week’s Mercury-Liberty matchup. That particular game had a bit of everything, from star players performing at elite levels to injuries, lead changes, and momentum shifts. Ultimately, Phoenix ran away with the game toward the end to hand New York its only home loss thus far. The injury referenced here was Jonquel Jones’ reaggravation of an ankle injury suffered earlier in the season — she’ll miss this upcoming matchup and the Liberty’s following ones for the next four to six weeks. Jones’s absence throws a huge curveball into how New York wants to operate on both ends of the floor, but with her having missed essentially the final three quarters of the first matchup, Friday’s game could look pretty similar.
Seattle Storm @ Golden State Valkyries
(Sunday, June 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET)
It’s hard to pinpoint what level of contender this Storm team is. They’ve got some very strong wins on their resume this season behind a veteran nucleus of Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Gabby Williams that is proven and capable of beating any team. Yet, that resume also includes a loss to the Valkyries in the two teams’ only matchup. Much to my surprise, these Valkyries have been entertaining and a quality basketball team in their inaugural season. They’ve won five of their last six games, with two blowout ones (Las Vegas and Connecticut) standing out as much as the victories over strong opponents like Seattle and Indiana. We won’t know what type of performances the teams will put forth in the games leading up to this Sunday showdown, but what they’ve shown up to now excites me for what’s to come this weekend.
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Fall is associated with plenty of fan favorites: Thanksgiving, Halloween, pumpkin-spice flavored goodies, colder weather, you name it.
But 2025 will see something different. Something that hasn’t been seen since the early 2000s.
NBA on NBC is coming back to television screens and introducing itself to streaming platforms beginning in the 2025-26 league campaign.
A popular theme song is also returning, amidst a new broadcasting team comprised of veteran commentators and former NBA stars.
Ever feel like EVERYONE has that one song stuck in their head? 🏀
The NBA on NBC and Peacock – coming this fall! pic.twitter.com/gpKMXlklFg
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 3, 2025
Here’s everything to know about NBA on NBC in the upcoming season:
When does NBA on NBC start?
NBA on NBC will be back beginning in the 2025-26 NBA season. An exact date for the first broadcast is TBD.
When does the 2025-26 NBA season start?
The 2025-26 season, the 80th in league history, has a regular-season start date of Tuesday, Oct. 21.
What is NBC’s history with the NBA?
The NBA and NBC had their first partnership from 1954 to 1962, before returning in 1990 to 2002 amid Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty. NBC is part of the new media rights deal with the NBA that will last for 11 years, including games being streamed on Peacock.
What is the NBA on NBC theme song?
Fans can rejoice knowing “Roundball Rock,” the hit theme song for NBA on NBC produced by John Tesh, is returning.
Who is on the NBA on NBC broadcasting team?
Here’s a list of the commentators and former NBA stars who have joined NBC Sports’ broadcasting team thus far:
Play-by-play: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle
Color analysts: Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller
Studio host: Maria Taylor
Studio analysts: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter
Special contributor: Michael Jordan
Who will broadcast NBA games in 2025-26?
Along with NBA on NBC and Peacock in the new media rights deal, ESPN and ABC will continue its coverage of the league while Amazon Prime Video will be starting its new streaming partnership.
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Fall is associated with plenty of fan favorites: Thanksgiving, Halloween, pumpkin-spice flavored goodies, colder weather, you name it.
But 2025 will see something different. Something that hasn’t been seen since the early 2000s.
NBA on NBC is coming back to television screens and introducing itself to streaming platforms beginning in the 2025-26 league campaign.
A popular theme song is also returning, amidst a new broadcasting team comprised of veteran commentators and former NBA stars.
Ever feel like EVERYONE has that one song stuck in their head? 🏀
The NBA on NBC and Peacock – coming this fall! pic.twitter.com/gpKMXlklFg
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 3, 2025
Here’s everything to know about NBA on NBC in the upcoming season:
When does NBA on NBC start?
NBA on NBC will be back beginning in the 2025-26 NBA season. An exact date for the first broadcast is TBD.
When does the 2025-26 NBA season start?
The 2025-26 season, the 80th in league history, has a regular-season start date of Tuesday, Oct. 21.
What is NBC’s history with the NBA?
The NBA and NBC had their first partnership from 1954 to 1962, before returning in 1990 to 2002 amid Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty. NBC is part of the new media rights deal with the NBA that will last for 11 years, including games being streamed on Peacock.
What is the NBA on NBC theme song?
Fans can rejoice knowing “Roundball Rock,” the hit theme song for NBA on NBC produced by John Tesh, is returning.
Who is on the NBA on NBC broadcasting team?
Here’s a list of the commentators and former NBA stars who have joined NBC Sports’ broadcasting team thus far:
Play-by-play: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle
Color analysts: Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller
Studio host: Maria Taylor
Studio analysts: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter
Special contributor: Michael Jordan
Who will broadcast NBA games in 2025-26?
Along with NBA on NBC and Peacock in the new media rights deal, ESPN and ABC will continue its coverage of the league while Amazon Prime Video will be starting its new streaming partnership.
Ex-Laker Alex Caruso jokes after winning NBA title with Thunder: 'Now I got a real one'
Alex Caruso is an NBA champion!
Of course, Caruso already had a ring before he and the Oklahoma City Thunder closed out the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. His first one came with the Lakers after the slightly shortened 2020 season and a postseason played entirely in the NBA bubble in Orlando during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Now I got a real one," Caruso told reporters following the Thunder's 103-91 victory over the Pacers. "Now nobody can say anything."
Read more:Oklahoma City defeats Indiana in Game 7 to secure franchise's second NBA title
He was joking, of course, making reference to the trolls who try to diminish the Lakers' title from five years ago because of the unique circumstances under which it was won.
That Lakers team had an average age of nearly 29 and was led by LeBron James, who was 35 years old upon winning his fourth NBA championship.
This Thunder team is led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is 26 and — like the rest of his Oklahoma City teammates, except for Caruso — hadn't won an NBA title until now. Their average age is 25.68 years, making them the youngest NBA champion team since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers.
Read more:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC to NBA title, and the Clippers must be cringing
"I think just because of the way the team is constructed now versus the team I had in 2020, it was much harder with this team just because of the experience [level]," Caruso, 31, said. "... I think through the playoffs, this team grew up and learned on the fly. Most teams have to learn through losses and learn though defeat, and I think this team learned through success. And it’s a unique capability to be able to do that for 21- to 27-year-old kids.
"For me, I’ve seen greats do it, so I knew the way, I knew the mindset. But to see these guys do it, man, it’s really cool to see it in person, and I’m so happy for the guys just to be able to figure it out and be able to get this done.”
Caruso was a valuable player off the bench en route to both of his NBA championships, averaging 6.5 points per game in 2020 and 9.2 this season. He scored 20 points in three different games during the 2025 season, including twice during the Finals; his high score during the 2020 campaign was 16 points.
He signed with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent during the 2021 offseason and was traded to Oklahoma City for guard Josh Giddey last summer. Caruso's previous championship experience was also valuable after Sunday's game, when Caruso had to give his teammates a crash course on popping champagne to celebrate the victory.
Caruso (the only previous champ) had to teach the team how to pop champagne 😂🍾 pic.twitter.com/5rhf6RvT4S
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
“We didn’t do it all at the same time until like the third try," Caruso said of popping the corks. "I tried my best when we got in there, I was like, 'All right, let’s get a head count, let’s make sure everyone’s here before we do the first one.’ And through the learning experience of taking the foil off, undoing the metal and having the cork ready, there was like three or four guys that popped their corks. And then it happened again. …
"We went through the process a couple times and eventually we got everybody on the same page. But, yeah, it was a good first try. We’ll get some rest, reset, try to go again next year and see if we can do it again, and we’ll be better.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Goodman: Why Brad Stevens has ‘major advantage' over other GMs
Goodman: Why Brad Stevens has ‘major advantage' over other GMs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Brad Stevens has done a phenomenal job through his first four seasons as the Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations. This offseason, however, will be his most challenging yet.
Stevens’ primary goal this summer will be getting under the second apron of the luxury tax while maintaining a roster that can compete for a title. The Celtics must shed roughly $20 million in salary to accomplish that task, which means they’ll have to part ways with at least one rotation player from their 2024 championship core.
Moves might be made before or during the upcoming NBA Draft, during which the Celtics own the 28th and 32nd overall picks. Stevens could use both selections, or he could package them in a deal to move up the draft board.
Either way, the former Butler head coach knows what to look for in college prospects, and NCAA basketball analyst Jeff Goodman believes he has a significant edge on his counterparts.
“Brad Stevens has a major advantage over just about every GM in the NBA,” Goodman said on the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season. “His college connections are so tight that he’s not gonna be — a lot of guys when they call up and they don’t know these college coaches, let’s face it, they’re gonna be played. They are. They just don’t have those relationships.
“No college coach is gonna lie to Brad Stevens because of what he did in college.”
Stevens’ draft selections since taking over for Danny Ainge include JD Davison, Anton Watson, and Baylor Scheierman. He acquired Jordan Walsh during the 2023 draft in a deal with the Sacramento Kings, who selected him at No. 38 overall.
Where Stevens has excelled in his role as Boston’s front-office leader is in the trade market. Al Horford, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis each were acquired in deals that turned out to be lopsided wins for the Celtics. That group made up four of the C’s top six during their 2024 title run.
Will Stevens make another stunning move this summer? Goodman wouldn’t rule it out.
“The beauty of Brad is nothing’s off the table,” he said. “I mean, he’s shown that to be the case, right? He’s so smart and fearless in this job that if he feels like, ‘Hey, you know what? I can get an unbelievable trade for Jaylen Brown,’ I think he would do it.
“I don’t think it’s gonna be there for him, but I don’t think he’s scared to make a big trade. He’s shown that and it’s worked out for him. … I think it gives everybody more optimism that whatever Brad does, it’s probably gonna work out.”
According to reports, Stevens and the Celtics are hearing trade offers on everyone except Jayson Tatum. That means Brown and White are technically on the table, though it would take a massive haul to acquire either star.
Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Sam Hauser are the more realistic trade chips for Boston this offseason. For Goodman, there’s an obvious choice between Holiday and Porzingis.
“I wouldn’t trade Porzingis right now. I just wouldn’t,” Goodman said. “I think his value is at its absolute lowest. I don’t think this is the time. I think you gotta get him healthy again, get him out there, and then maybe deal him.
“If you can trade Jrue Holiday, that’s the one I think you’d love to be able to get off your books. I just don’t know how you’re gonna be able to do it.”
The 2025 NBA Draft is set to begin Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
Watch the full episode of The Off C’season with Goodman, Chris Forsberg, Kevin O’Connor, and Tom Giles below:
Thunder, Pacers Roar to 6-Year NBA Finals High With 16.4M Viewers
As expected, ABC enjoyed a big boost in its deliveries for the seventh game of the NBA Finals, as Sunday night’s broadcast of the Thunder’s 103-91 win over the Pacers averaged 16.4 million viewers—the biggest turnout for a title tilt since 2019.
While the Nielsen data is preliminary—a final readout on the audience numbers will be available Tuesday—the official TV turnout isn’t likely to be significantly larger than the figures released Monday afternoon.
ABC’s deliveries peaked with 19.3 million viewers in the 9:45 p.m. ET quarter-hour. All told, the Oklahoma City-Indiana series averaged 10.3 million viewers over the course of the seven nights, which marked a 9% decline compared to the year-ago Celtics-Mavericks set. That five-game series averaged 11.3 million viewers.
The Thunder-Pacers showdown now stands as the fifth least-watched Finals in the modern Nielsen era (1988-present). Excluding the pandemic-disrupted 2020 “bubble” series (7.45 million viewers per game) and the delayed 2021 follow-up (9.91 million), which closed out on July 20 of that same year, the only two Finals that this year’s event managed to top were the 2003 and 2007 editions. San Antonio’s sweep of the latter series kept the average down to just 9.29 million viewers per game, while their 4-2 victory over the Nets in 2003 managed 9.86 million.
Game 7 was the first of this year’s Finals to serve up more than 10 million viewers, as ABC throughout the series was hampered by the small-town matchups. Together, the Indianapolis and OKC markets are home to a combined 1.99 million TV households, accounting for just 1.6% of the national base.
Sunday night’s game was marred by an injury sustained by the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, who early in the first quarter went down with what would prove to be a torn Achilles tendon. In what amounts to a truly miserable coincidence, Haliburton was the third NBA player in the postseason to succumb to a wrecked Achilles while wearing the number 0. Bucks guard Damian Lillard sustained his injury in a first-round loss to Indiana, while Boston’s Jayson Tatum ruptured the same tendon in a second-round defeat at Madison Square Garden.
All three stars are expected to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA campaign as they recover from their injuries.
If this year’s results are a far cry from previous Game 7s—nine years ago, Cleveland’s 93-89 victory over Golden State averaged a staggering 31 million viewers, giving the NBA its biggest national TV audience since Michael Jordan’s last hurrah in 1998—Disney still managed to secure the bag over the course of these Finals. Before any necessary make-good considerations were factored into the calculus, ABC’s in-game advertising revenue is believed to have added up to some $300 million.
Thanks to the Game 7 boost, the NBA will enjoy bragging rights to a spot among the year’s top TV broadcasts for the first time since 2019. The closest the league has come to cracking the century club in recent years was in 2022, when Game 6 of the Warriors-Celtics tilt averaged 14 million viewers, or just eight spots shy of the cutoff.
Over the course of the 34 NBA postseason games that aired across ESPN and ABC between April 19 and June 22, the Disney networks averaged 6.12 million viewers per outing, good for a 10% improvement compared to 2024.
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Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to Trail Blazers, acquire Anfernee Simons: Report
Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to Trail Blazers, acquire Anfernee Simons: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The NBA offseason is already in full swing.
Just a day after the NBA Finals ended, the Boston Celtics traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday night.
BREAKING: The Boston Celtics have traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/2ycXQicGkT
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
Boston remain engaged in trade talks for multiple key players on its roster, Charania added.
Holiday was a key contributor to Boston’s 2024 NBA title, playing lockdown defense and being a playmaking hub on offense. The 35-year-old agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension in April of 2024.
Simons, 26, is on an expiring contract worth north of $27 million. The 2018 No. 24 overall pick has developed into a solid multi-level scorer, but Portland has struggled to build a playoff team in the post-Damian Lillard era.
Portland initially received Holiday in its 2023 trade that sent Lillard to Milwaukee before rerouting him to Boston.
This past season, Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists on a 44/35/91 shooting split. Simons with Portland averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds on a 43/36/90 shooting split.
Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton, Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija were the other key scorers for Portland this past season, though the team doesn’t have a clear direction yet in terms of contending vs. building.
Boston seems to be retooling, letting go of a championship-caliber squad piece for a potential lead scoring guard as Jayson Tatum rehabs from a torn Achilles. With Boston seemingly eyeing more moves, how Simons fits into the wider scheme will be more clear.
This is a developing story and will be updated…
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton latest to succumb to torn Achilles during NBA playoffs
Could Achilles injuries be the Achilles heel of the NBA?
Regardless of allegiance, anyone watching Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday had to be struck by the calamitous impact of the injury to superstar Tyrese Haliburton on the Indiana Pacers.
Haliburton had the ball in the first quarter, took a step backward and began to go left. Pushing off with his right foot, the right tendon tore, and the Pacers chances of defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder were shredded.
“In that moment, my heart dropped for him,” OKC guard and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. “I couldn’t imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening. It’s not fair.”
It's also not uncommon. Haliburton was the third superstar lost during the playoffs to an Achilles tear, following Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Read more:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC to NBA title, and the Clippers must be cringing
Players who sustained the injury during the regular season include Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans, Dru Smith of the Miami Heat and two of Haliburton's Indiana teammates — Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman.
Regenerative medicine doctor Jesse Morse pointed out in X posts that the high-grade calf strain Haliburton suffered in Game 5 was a precursor to the Achilles injury.
"Hailburton was playing with fire by playing in Games 6 and 7 after being diagnosed with a high-grade calf strain, an injury that is notoriously slow to heal," Morse wrote. "There was a significantly increased risk of a possible Achilles tear due to him already having the high-grade calf strain, regardless of what the ‘data shows.’
"We saw it with Kobe Bryant. We saw it with Aaron Rodgers. Likely more. A calf strain lead to an Achilles tear."
Bryant ruptured his left Achilles on April 12, 2013, after playing every minute of eight consecutive quarters as the Lakers pursued a playoff spot with two games remaining in the regular season. Bryant had suffered injuries to his knees earlier in the game. He returned to action eight months later.
Rodgers tore his left Achilles in his first game as quarterback of the New York Jets on Sept. 11, 2023, shortly after he'd experienced tightness in his calf. He missed the entire season but returned in 2024 at age 41.
The Achilles tendon is a fibrous cord that directs movement from the leg to the foot, connecting muscles from the calf to the heel bone. A sudden explosive movement like running or jumping can cause the tendon to tear or rupture.
The origin of term Achilles stems from the hero of that name in Greek mythology. His mother sought to make him immortal by dipping him into a river that held magical powers. She held him by the heel, however, leaving it vulnerable.
Read more:Why Shaquille O'Neal decided to join the Reebok executive team
Sure enough, the seemingly eternally brave Achilles was killed by an arrow to his heel during the Trojan War. The Achilles' heel has been known ever since as a metaphor for a person's vulnerable spot.
Haliburton certainly displayed a knack for heroics all season, culminating in the jump shot he made with 0.3 seconds to play in Game 1 of the Finals that gave the Pacers a victory over the heavily favored Thunder.
He helped them to reach Game 7 and hit a trio of three-point shots early in the contest only to — alas — crumple to the floor when his Achilles tendon popped. The Thunder prevailed, 103-91.
“We needed Ty out there,” Pacers forward Obi Toppin told reporters. “For him to go down in a game like that, that sucked the soul out of us."
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Goodman: C's should consider trading up for this draft prospect
Goodman: C's should consider trading up for this draft prospect originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics currently own the 28th and 32nd overall picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. But what if they’re enticed by a prospect who may not fall to the end of the first round?
If the C’s have their sights set on a specific player, they could package those two picks in a deal to move up the draft board. This is the route college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman would take if he were Stevens, and he has a certain prospect in mind.
“I think you keep it, you see if you’re Brad in the early 20s, can you package both of those — 28 and 32 — and move up if there’s a guy that’s sliding that you really like. To me, a guy like that is Cedric Coward,” Goodman said on NBC Sports Boston’s latest episode of The Off C’season.
“He’s the guy that, to me, is the most intriguing. Played two years at Eastern Washington in the Big Sky, transferred to Washington State this year. Followed his coach David Riley, only played six games, got hurt. Was set to go to Duke this season to be one of the best transfers in the country, but he’s gonna be a first-round pick, so he stayed in the draft.
“But he’s a 6-foot-6 3-and-D guy who, to me, he’s athletic, he can shoot it, he can guard, he’s mature. He’s a guy that I think I would roll the dice on if he’s there at 28 or in the early 20s and you can trade both picks and move up and get him.”
As Goodman notes, Coward is expected to land anywhere from the late lottery to the mid-20s in the first round. There is some uncertainty surrounding the 21-year-old guard as teams haven’t seen much of him over the last year.
So, why is Goodman so high on Coward heading into the draft?
“To me, that mystery. That intrigue. And that’s what Cedric Coward has,” Goodman added. “In addition to what I said before, which is the versatility, the ability to guard, the ability to shoot the ball, the maturity. In the interview process, I talked to NBA guys, they were absolutely blown away by Cedric Coward and how he can probably go into any locker room and fit in any sort of position of need for these teams. His versatility is probably what’s gonna get him somewhere I think in the 20 range at the end of the day.
“But again, for Cedric Coward, he could go late lottery. It wouldn’t shock me. He could also slide to 25, and that’s where if he does slide, Brad Stevens, you’ve got two picks here that you can move up.”
Coward averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 59.5 percent from the floor (38.8 percent from 3) over 72 games across three collegiate seasons. In his last full season with Eastern Washington in 2023-24, he averaged 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 56.5 percent from the field to finish with Big Sky First Team All-Conference honors.
Six games into his 2024-25 campaign with Washington State, Coward suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. He was the Cougars’ leading scorer with 17.7 points per game at the time.
Coward is undoubtedly a compelling trade-up target for the Celtics, but there should also be some solid options if they stand pat at Nos. 28 and 32. Creighton big man Ryan Kalkbrenner and Stanford 7-footer Maxime Raynaud have been linked to Boston in multiple mock drafts, and there are plenty more potential fits where that came from.
The 2025 NBA Draft is set to begin Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
Watch the full episode of The Off C’season with Goodman, Chris Forsberg, Kevin O’Connor, and Tom Giles below:
Is Thunder's title start of an NBA dynasty? It's hard to win a few, but Thunder set up better than most
OKLAHOMA CITY — We said it about the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. We said it about the Denver Nuggets two years ago. We said it about the Boston Celtics last year.
We're saying it about the Oklahoma City Thunder now — this looks like the start of a dynasty.
They also realize what a mountain that is to climb.
"You're not guaranteed anything in the league," Alex Caruso said, soaked in champagne after the Thunder win. "I think that's the biggest thing that happens year to year that people forget about. Any moment your team can change with a trade, with an injury, with something that's out of your control. To be able to get to the pinnacle of this sport and win it is nothing short of extraordinary. To think that you can just walk in and do it every single year is a little bit naïve.
"Rest assured, we'll show up day one next year ready to get better and ready to chase this again."
What makes Oklahoma City different from the other "failed" dynasties is the team's youth — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just entering his prime at age 26, and he's one of their older rotation players. The only key rotation player 30 or older is Alex Caruso (and they tease him about his age). Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are still on their rookie contracts (both can and will be offered massive extensions this summer, but those would not kick in until the summer of 2026).
"We definitely still have room to grow," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "That's the fun part of this. So many of us can still get better. There's not very many of us on the team that are 'in our prime' or even close to it. We have a lot to grow, individually and as a group. I'm excited for the future of this team. This is a great start, for sure."
The NBA tax aprons come for everyone and the Thunder will be no exception. While they can largely run back this core roster next season, the year after that, it will be challenging to retain free agents such as Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, who will have plenty of suitors on the open market.
That's where the fact that Thunder president Sam Presti has hoarded draft picks in trades — 11 first-round picks between now and 2030 — is so critical, the Thunder can use them to replenish the roster or trade for other players.
The other secret sauce to this potential dynasty? These players genuinely like each other and want to succeed together.
"I think the most impressive part is the group that did it. Our togetherness on and off the court, like how much fun we have, it made it so much easier," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It made it feel like we were just kids playing basketball. It was so fun."
What would be fun is another ring, but the past seven years have shown how hard that will be to get.
Maria Taylor named NBC Sports' lead NBA and WNBA Studio Host
Maria Taylor has officially been named NBC Sports' lead studio host for the NBA and WNBA. Coverage of the NBA tips off this October on NBC and Peacock. Taylor will host NBC Sports’ NBA studio programs on Sunday and Tuesday nights alongside analysts Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter.
Additionally, when NBC Sports’ coverage of the women’s league begins in the spring of 2026, Taylor will host select WNBA games on NBC and Peacock.
“I’m deeply honored to be part of NBC Sports’ incredible legacy covering the NBA and to return to the game that first captured my heart, women’s basketball,” said Taylor.
“To know that I’ll spend the next five years with my NBC family telling the stories of the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the NBA Playoffs, and the WNBA Finals is more than a dream come true -- it’s a full-circle moment.”
Taylor has already anchored many of NBC Sports’ biggest events. Since 2022, she has been the lead host -- and first full-time female host -- of Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.
Taylor also served as a host for the Tokyo, Beijing, and Paris Olympics — earning a Sports Emmy as part of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her hosting credits also include Big Ten College Countdown, NBC Sports’ primetime college football studio program; Roland-Garros semifinals and finals; and more.
Taylor has prior experience working on the NBA having hosted ESPN NBA Countdown playoffs and Finals coverage in recent years. A former Division I volleyball and basketball player at the University of Georgia, she also hosted College Gameday as well as the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament selection show and Final Four coverage during her time at ESPN.
In July 2024, NBCUniversal and the NBA announced an 11-year agreement to present NBA and WNBA regular-season and playoff basketball games across numerous platforms beginning with the 2025-26 season. Peacock will livestream exclusive national Monday night games, while NBC/Peacock will present national coverage of regional doubleheaders on Tuesday nights.
NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball in 2026 across NBC and Peacock, providing NBA fans with three consecutive nights of national coverage across NBCUniversal platforms during the second half of the regular season. For more information on the agreement, click here.
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Fall is associated with plenty of fan favorites: Thanksgiving, Halloween, pumpkin-spice flavored goodies, colder weather, you name it.
But 2025 will see something different. Something that hasn’t been seen since the early 2000s.
NBA on NBC is coming back to television screens and introducing itself to streaming platforms beginning in the 2025-26 league campaign.
A popular theme song is also returning, amidst a new broadcasting team comprised of veteran commentators and former NBA stars.
Ever feel like EVERYONE has that one song stuck in their head? 🏀
The NBA on NBC and Peacock – coming this fall! pic.twitter.com/gpKMXlklFg
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 3, 2025
Here’s everything to know about NBA on NBC in the upcoming season:
When does NBA on NBC start?
NBA on NBC will be back beginning in the 2025-26 NBA season. An exact date for the first broadcast is TBD.
When does the 2025-26 NBA season start?
The 2025-26 season, the 80th in league history, has a regular-season start date of Tuesday, Oct. 21.
What is NBC’s history with the NBA?
The NBA and NBC had their first partnership from 1954 to 1962, before returning in 1990 to 2002 amid Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty. NBC is part of the new media rights deal with the NBA that will last for 11 years, including games being streamed on Peacock.
What is the NBA on NBC theme song?
Fans can rejoice knowing “Roundball Rock,” the hit theme song for NBA on NBC produced by John Tesh, is returning.
Who is on the NBA on NBC broadcasting team?
Here’s a list of the commentators and former NBA stars who have joined NBC Sports’ broadcasting team thus far:
Play-by-play: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle
Color analysts: Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller
Studio host: Maria Taylor
Studio analysts: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter
Special contributor: Michael Jordan
Who will broadcast NBA games in 2025-26?
Along with NBA on NBC and Peacock in the new media rights deal, ESPN and ABC will continue its coverage of the league while Amazon Prime Video will be starting its new streaming partnership.