One of the Knicks’ impending unrestricted free agents is Landry Shamet, the seven-year veteran guard originally signed during training camp.
After spending six years on five different teams and contributing to lots of playoff runs, Shamet was brought in to fill New York’s depth and provide some postseason experience to the locker room.
Unfortunately, his Knicks season was stopped in its tracks before it could start, as he sustained a shoulder dislocation to close out the preseason and was waived days before the regular season began.
But Shamet and New York remained close as he rehabbed that shoulder, with him eventually appearing for the Westchester Knicks in the G-League and re-signing two months after his initial injury.
Shamet was known throughout his career for his knockdown shooting, with a career 38.4 percent clip from three -- though a bit undersized at the shooting guard position, he defended hard at every stop and always left a good impression despite the constant movement.
It took him some time to get back into a groove from the shoulder injury once he returned to the Knicks. His minutes were inconsistent and he missed four of his first 20 three-pointers, making it hard to justify his playing time with the shots not falling.
However, as the season continued Shamet saw his shot recover -- and his role increased. From late January on, he appeared in 38 games, shooting 42.6 percent from three on 3.6 attempts per game over 16 minutes a night.
New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) shoots a layup over Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the second quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse / Trevor Ruszkowski - Imagn Images
He didn’t have many explosive showings, but proved himself to be a reliable bench piece with solid on/off splits and the ability to play multiple positions -- but for some reason, this wasn’t enough to earn him burn in the postseason until it was too late.
Shamet played 10 minutes in New York's series-opener against the Detroit Pistons, then only scant minutes until New York was down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was at that point that former head coach Tom Thibodeau experimented with a new bench rotation that included more Shamet, and it paid some dividends.
Shamet played 13 minutes a night in New York’s final four games, shooting 53.8 percent from three with a +21 in total -- he did a terrific job defensively rotating to and chasing Indiana’s shifty guards, which was a much-needed boost.
It wasn’t anything game-breaking, but he once again showed he could be a contributor in doses, only this time at the highest level of play. After that performance, it’s hard to see the Knicks not wanting him back, but the question is at what price and if he’s interested in staying.
Moving on from Thibodeau opens the door for a more consistent role for Shamet, which the new coaching staff should welcome openly given his production and the thin array of alternative options. Shamet is likely looking for some kind of consistency after bouncing around so many teams, but it’s unclear what his market will look like.
A smart, up-and-coming team would offer a low-level multi-year deal Shamet’s way, which may be difficult for the Knicks to compete with. They likely have their sights set higher using their mid-level exception, so another veteran’s minimum deal may be the biggest weapon in their arsenal.
Bringing Shamet back would be instrumental in trying to make another deep playoff push, and be a good reflection of the culture they’ve built. We’ll see if the Knicks and Shamet can reconnect.
New York's search for a coach to replace Tom Thibodeau continues without a clear frontrunner.
The Knicks and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd had some level of flirtation, but when New York reached out on Wednesday and asked Dallas for permission to speak with Kidd, they were rejected, according to multiple reports (Shams Charania of ESPN was first).
New York also reached out to Houston about speaking with coach Ime Udoka and Minnesota about coach Chris Finch, but was rejected by both teams, Charania reports.
That sets the Knicks back to square one. They fired Thibodeau — the coach who took the team to its first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years — without a replacement lined up or even a clear plan of succession. While New York can argue that Thibodeau took this team as far as he could, that only holds up if the next coach is an upgrade.
The field for that next coach has narrowed. Kidd is out, as are the current head coaches of other teams. Former Villanova Coach Jay Wright took himself out of the running (as did UConn coach Dan Hurley, although there was no interest from the Knicks in his case anyway). The Knicks are seeking someone with NBA head coaching experience, which eliminates former Thibs assistant and current Cavaliers assistant coach Johnnie Bryant from consideration.
Taylor Jenkins, the coach fired by the Memphis Grizzlies late in the season, is a name some sources have told NBC Sports to keep an eye on. Another name being floated is James Borrego, who did a good job improving a limited roster in Charlotte when he coached there, but not enough to keep his job. Michael Malone, the fired Denver coach, is the biggest name and he has won a ring, but he is very Thibodeau in style — his clashes with also-fired GM Calvin Booth were over Malone not playing and trusting his bench, wearing his starters down, and not developing young players enough (although he could point to Christian Braun).
While New York does not want to be rushed into a decision, it would be good to have a coach in place to add input before the NBA draft and especially before NBA Summer League in a month.
Some might call it luck, others might call it fate. Basketball’s greatest love story happened nearly 11 years ago in the most unexpected way.
The beauty of a cheesy quesadilla met the warmth of a beefy burrito, to of course, create Taco Bell’s perfect quesarito marriage, as aired on ESPN’s coverage of the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft.
And in that moment, without even knowing it, Denver Nuggets fans quietly were introduced to Nikola Jokić. Not through highlight packages and analysts breaking down how he’ll forever change the franchise. But at the bottom of the scroll, listed as a power from Serbia who was taken with the No. 41 overall pick.
The Warriors have a history of their own with the pick, and now own it themselves again in this year’s draft, which begins with the first round on June 25. They’d need Chris Paul to play Cliff Paul in a new State Farm commercial, Taco Bell to get a new way to “Live Más” and a Toyota commercial highlighted by an inflatable giant pink Pegasus to follow for everything to align right and pull off the miracle of finding the next Jokić at 41.
It isn’t happening. The Warriors have their own future Hall of Fame second-round pick in Draymond Green. Jokic is the ultimate outlier.
There have been two players to go from being a second-round pick to winning MVP. Willis Reed did it first in 1970, and Jokic won the award three times. He already has six top-five finishes in his first 10 years in the league.
When Reed was a second-round pick in 1964, there were a total of nine teams. Reed was the 10th overall pick.
As the scroll showed during his draft announcement, Jokic averaged 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over 25 games in 2013-14 while playing in the Adriatic League. His scouting report was full of negatives centered on his body and lack of athleticism. Jokic was a draft-and-stash prospect who again spent the 2014-15 season in Serbia, where his stats increased to 16.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a 32.6-percent 3-point shooter.
Mike Dunleavy only has selected college players since becoming the Warriors’ general manager ahead of the 2023 draft. He did make an interesting addition when the Warriors signed Taran Armstrong out of Australia’s NBL to a two-way contract in late February. Armstrong showed promise and is part of the Warriors’ summer league plans. The Warriors could look internationally in the draft, including grabbing more talent from Australia.
Alex Toohey has played two professional seasons in the NBL, would bring size on the wing the Warriors desire at 6-foot-8 and is 21 years old. If the Warriors really want to get big like the fan base always begs for, they could entertain the idea of 7-foot-3 center Rocco Zikarsky of the Brisbane Bullets. China’s Hansen Yang, 7-foot-2, might be intriguing too.
Yang turns 20 on the day of the second round, and Zikarsky will be 19 in July.
But even if (when) the Warriors don’t draft the next Jokić this year, there’s still talent and value if they keep their pick where it’s at.
The second-best player taken with the 41st pick by win shares is Cuttino Mobley, a certified bucket in the league for a decade before his career ended to a heart condition. As real bucket-getters do, Mobley still is getting it done in the Big3. Mobley made All-Rookie Second Team as a second-round pick, finished second in Sixth Man of the Year his second season and averaged 16 points per game in an 11-year career.
Those are numbers and accolades the Warriors sure would take from their draft pick this year. There are more recent examples that also can excite them.
Are players like Willie Green (2003), Jodie Meeks (2009), Pat Connaughton (2015), Jarred Vanderbilt (2018) and Tre Jones (2020) perfect? Of course not. But they all have carved out productive careers. If the Warriors come out of the draft with a Green, Meeks, Connaughton, Vanderbilt or Jones at No. 41, their scouting department and front office should be applauded.
Dunleavy, in the last two drafts, brought in second-round picks that were both taken much later than No. 41, and outperformed expectations. The quesarito has been discontinued, sadly, meaning there will never be another draft story quite like Jokić’s. Another Dunleavy success story, though, shouldn’t be out of the question.
Some might call it luck, others might call it fate. Basketball’s greatest love story happened nearly 11 years ago in the most unexpected way.
The beauty of a cheesy quesadilla met the warmth of a beefy burrito, to of course, create Taco Bell’s perfect quesarito marriage, as aired on ESPN’s coverage of the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft.
And in that moment, without even knowing it, Denver Nuggets fans quietly were introduced to Nikola Jokić. Not through highlight packages and analysts breaking down how he’ll forever change the franchise. But at the bottom of the scroll, listed as a power from Serbia who was taken with the No. 41 overall pick.
The Warriors have a history of their own with the pick, and now own it themselves again in this year’s draft, which begins with the first round on June 25. They’d need Chris Paul to play Cliff Paul in a new State Farm commercial, Taco Bell to get a new way to “Live Más” and a Toyota commercial highlighted by an inflatable giant pink Pegasus to follow for everything to align right and pull off the miracle of finding the next Jokić at 41.
It isn’t happening. The Warriors have their own future Hall of Fame second-round pick in Draymond Green. Jokic is the ultimate outlier.
There have been two players to go from being a second-round pick to winning MVP. Willis Reed did it first in 1970, and Jokic won the award three times. He already has six top-five finishes in his first 10 years in the league.
When Reed was a second-round pick in 1964, there were a total of nine teams. Reed was the 10th overall pick.
As the scroll showed during his draft announcement, Jokic averaged 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over 25 games in 2013-14 while playing in the Adriatic League. His scouting report was full of negatives centered on his body and lack of athleticism. Jokic was a draft-and-stash prospect who again spent the 2014-15 season in Serbia, where his stats increased to 16.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a 32.6-percent 3-point shooter.
Mike Dunleavy only has selected college players since becoming the Warriors’ general manager ahead of the 2023 draft. He did make an interesting addition when the Warriors signed Taran Armstrong out of Australia’s NBL to a two-way contract in late February. Armstrong showed promise and is part of the Warriors’ summer league plans. The Warriors could look internationally in the draft, including grabbing more talent from Australia.
Alex Toohey has played two professional seasons in the NBL, would bring size on the wing the Warriors desire at 6-foot-8 and is 21 years old. If the Warriors really want to get big like the fan base always begs for, they could entertain the idea of 7-foot-3 center Rocco Zikarsky of the Brisbane Bullets. China’s Hansen Yang, 7-foot-2, might be intriguing too.
Yang turns 20 on the day of the second round, and Zikarsky will be 19 in July.
But even if (when) the Warriors don’t draft the next Jokić this year, there’s still talent and value if they keep their pick where it’s at.
The second-best player taken with the 41st pick by win shares is Cuttino Mobley, a certified bucket in the league for a decade before his career ended to a heart condition. As real bucket-getters do, Mobley still is getting it done in the Big3. Mobley made All-Rookie Second Team as a second-round pick, finished second in Sixth Man of the Year his second season and averaged 16 points per game in an 11-year career.
Those are numbers and accolades the Warriors sure would take from their draft pick this year. There are more recent examples that also can excite them.
Are players like Willie Green (2003), Jodie Meeks (2009), Pat Connaughton (2015), Jarred Vanderbilt (2018) and Tre Jones (2020) perfect? Of course not. But they all have carved out productive careers. If the Warriors come out of the draft with a Green, Meeks, Connaughton, Vanderbilt or Jones at No. 41, their scouting department and front office should be applauded.
Dunleavy, in the last two drafts, brought in second-round picks that were both taken much later than No. 41, and outperformed expectations. The quesarito has been discontinued, sadly, meaning there will never be another draft story quite like Jokić’s. Another Dunleavy success story, though, shouldn’t be out of the question.
Some might call it luck, others might call it fate. Basketball’s greatest love story happened nearly 11 years ago in the most unexpected way.
The beauty of a cheesy quesadilla met the warmth of a beefy burrito to, of course, create Taco Bell’s perfect quesarito marriage, as aired on ESPN’s coverage of the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft.
And in that moment, without even knowing it, Denver Nuggets fans were quietly introduced to Nikola Jokić. Not through highlight packages and analysts breaking down how he’ll forever change the franchise. But at the bottom of the scroll, listed as a power from Serbia who was taken with the No. 41 overall pick.
The Warriors have a history of their own with the pick, and now own it themselves again in this year’s draft, which begins with the first round on June 25. They’d need Chris Paul to play Cliff Paul in a new State Farm commercial, Taco Bell to get a new way to “Live Más” and a Toyota commercial highlighted by an inflatable giant pink Pegasus to follow for everything to align right and pull off the miracle of finding the next Jokić at 41.
It isn’t happening. The Warriors have their own future Hall of Fame second-round pick in Draymond Green. Jokic is the ultimate outlier.
There have been two players to go from being a second-round pick to winning MVP. Willis Reed did it first in 1970, and Jokic won the award three times. He already has six top-five finishes in his first 10 years in the league.
When Reed was a second-round pick in 1964, there were a total of nine teams. Reed was the 10th overall pick.
As the scroll showed during his draft announcement, Jokic averaged 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over 25 games in 2013-14 while playing in the Adriatic League. His scouting report was full of negatives centered on his body and lack of athleticism. Jokic was a draft-and-stash prospect who again spent the 2014-15 season in Serbia, where his stats increased to 16.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a 32.6-percent 3-point shooter.
Mike Dunleavy only has selected college players since becoming the Warriors’ general manager ahead of the 2023 draft. He did make an interesting addition when the Warriors signed Taran Armstrong out of Australia’s NBL to a two-way contract in late February. Armstrong showed promise and is part of the Warriors’ summer league plans. The Warriors could look internationally in the draft, including grabbing more talent from Australia.
Alex Toohey has played two professional seasons in the NBL, would bring size on the wing the Warriors desire at 6-foot-8 and is 21 years old. If the Warriors really want to get big like the outside always begs for, they could entertain the idea of 7-foot-3 center Rocco Zikarsky of the Brisbane Bullets. China’s Hansen Yang, 7-foot-2, might be intriguing too.
Yang turns 20 the day of the second round, and Zikarsky will be 19 in July.
But even if (when) the Warriors don’t draft the next Jokić this year, there’s still talent and value if they keep their pick where it’s at.
The second-best player taken with the 41st pick by win shares is Cuttino Mobley, a certified bucket in the league for a decade before his career ended to a heart condition. As real bucket-getters do, Mobley still is getting it done in the Big3. Mobley made All-Rookie Second Team as a second-round pick, finished second in Sixth Man of the Year his second season and averaged 16 points per game in an 11-year career.
Those are numbers and accolades the Warriors sure would take from their draft pick this year. There are more recent examples that also can excite them.
Are players like Willie Green (2003), Jodie Meeks (2009), Pat Connaughton (2015), Jarred Vanderbilt (2018) and Tre Jones (2020) perfect? Of course not. But they all have carved out productive careers. If the Warriors come out of the draft with a Green, Meeks, Connaughton, Vanderbilt or Jones at No. 41, their scouting department and front office should be applauded.
Dunleavy in the last two drafts brought in second-round picks that were both taken much later than No. 41, and outperformed expectations. The quesarito has been discontinued, sadly meaning there will never be another draft story quite like Jokić’s. Another Dunleavy success story, though, shouldn’t be out of the question.
One of the many lingering health questions surrounding the future of the Boston Celtics got answered Wednesday.
The Celtics announced that Jaylen Brown, after undergoing a right knee arthroscopic debridement procedure, is expected to participate in training camp without limitations. Right knee issues, including a partial meniscus tear, limited Brown over the final months of the 2024-25 season, and there were concerns that offseason surgery might compromise his availability for the start the new season.
Now, assuming Brown is still on Boston’s roster after the team’s upcoming offseason maneuvering, the Celtics would have one of their two superstar forwards available to start the 2025-26 campaign. Jayson Tatum is sidelined indefinitely after rupturing his Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Celtics have tough financial decisions to ponder this offseason, needing to shed $20-plus million to get off the punitive second apron, plus an additional $20 million if they yearn to dip below the luxury tax line with a long-term goal of resetting cumbersome repeater penalties. That’s before addressing the future of free agents Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
Brown being ready for training camp won’t stop trade speculation. In fact, knowing Brown will be available to start the season might make rivals more likely to inquire about his availability.
But if the Celtics elect to proceed with Brown and Tatum as the core of their team, then next season allows a healthier Brown to slide into the 1A role. Even after he won NBA Finals MVP and helped the Celtics secure Banner 18 in 2024, there were some who wondered if Brown eventually would want to be the clear-cut focal point of a team rather than share that spotlight.
Now, Brown might get the opportunity to do that in Boston.
The idea of Brown as the focal point could be an intriguing storyline if the Celtics are navigating an uncertain season while Tatum rehabs. Brown, snubbed from All-NBA status during the 2023-24 season and ineligible for that honor after playing just 63 games last season, would have every opportunity to showcase his ability to lead whatever version of the Celtics emerges this summer.
The 28-year-old Brown is entering year two of the five-year, $285 million extension he signed in July 2023 and will earn $53.1 million next season.
Brown averaged 22.2 points, a career-best 4.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game last season. His shooting efficiency dipped from his stellar 2023-24 season, down to 46.3 percent overall and 32.4 percent beyond the 3-point arc. Brown was voted to his fourth All-Star squad as a reserve, but knee woes contributed to him falling short of the 65-game threshold necessary for end-of-the-season award consideration.
The need for a surgical cleanup only hammers home how Brown played through pain at the end of the season, with Boston hoping to become the first Celtics squad to repeat as champions in over a half century. Brown clearly was hindered from night to night in the postseason but still produced some of his finest play, particularly in the immediate aftermath of Tatum’s season-ending injury.
Brown fretted that all of Boston’s injury woes seemed to nip the team at the worst part of the season.
“We just had some unfortunate events, some injuries,” said Brown. “Personally, I had some stuff that I was persevering through and it caught up to us in the end.”
Later, Brown added: “I’m looking forward to coming back stronger. Just take this [early playoff exit] with your chin up. I know Boston, it looks gloomy right now. Obviously with JT being out and us ending the year. But it’s a lot to look forward to. A lot to look forward to and I want the city to feel excited about that.
“This is not the end. I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana secured the split it needed on the road in Oklahoma City, and now it comes home… but will that be enough? Game 2 was the kind of commanding performance we have seen from the Thunder all season long, and it's the kind of game that should put doubts in the minds of Pacers faithful.
Game 3 will be crucial, and here are four key factors to watch.
Indiana can’t dig another hole
It's the most telling statistic of these NBA Finals so far: Through two games, the Thunder have led for 91:22 minutes and the Pacers 1:53. As impressive as the Pacers ability to come from behind and win close games all postseason has been, if they are going to have a chance this series they can't keep falling behind by double-digits early then having to dig themselves out of a hole against the Thunder.
In Game 1, a 15-5 first-quarter Thunder run put them up by double digits and the Pacers spent the rest of the game playing catch-up, but because the lead never got beyond 15, they were able to, leading to Haliburton's dramatic game-winner.
In Game 2, a more focused Thunder team took charge with a 19-2 second quarter run that stretched the lead out to 23, and the Pacers never recovered.
Indiana knows it can't keep doing this. The change has to start with a more aggressive Tyrese Haliburton early, he has to be more willing to hunt his own shot.
"I think playing two games against these guys is really good. It gives me more film to watch, see where I can be better," Haliburton said. "I feel like I haven't been great by any means the first two games. I'm just trying to take what I can to prepare me for Game 3, just trying to be the best version of myself. Keep watching film, see where I can get better."
Haliburton has seen defensive pressure before; the difference with the Thunder is that they have a wealth of high-quality point-of-attack defenders.
"There are similarities," to how the Knicks tried to pressure Haliburton, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "The difference is Oklahoma has more people to throw at a great player, really at both of our All-Stars. They can throw bigger, smaller, medium guys at Tyrese, and at Pascal. It's one of their strengths."
It's one thing the Pacers have to navigate, and do so early in the game, so they aren't trying to climb out of a hole.
Pacers defense
While much of the focus out of Game 2 has been on the Pacers' offense and the need to get Haliburton going against the high-pressure Thunder defense, that wasn't Indiana's biggest problem in Game 2.
Oklahoma City put up a 126 offensive rating in Game 2 — six points better than their regular season average and 19 points better than in Game 1. The Thunder shredded the Pacers' defense on Sunday night. That started with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who actually scored four fewer points in Game 2 compared to the series opener, but was more efficient (52.4% shooting).
32.7 PPG in the regular season. 30.4 PPG in the postseason. 36.0 PPG in the Finals thus far.
Oklahoma City began setting its picks out much higher on the floor, which gave SGA room to get going downhill and deal with the Pacers' more unconventional pick-and-roll coverages. Gilgeous-Alexander then put on a masterclass of getting his teammates involved with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams having strong first halves, while Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins scored 38 of the Pacers' 46 bench points in the game.
The Pacers need to clean up their defensive end fast, because if Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder keep scoring at the rate they did in Game 2, all the other adjustments will be moot.
Time for Carlisle to shrink the rotation
Through two games, Indiana is +7 when Haliburton is on the court and -22 in the 23 minutes he has sat.
It's not just him: Indiana is +4 this series with Myles Turner on the court, and +5 with Aaron Nesmith on the court.
Depth and a Warriors-esque "strength in numbers" is part of the Pacers' identity, but to win this series, Carlisle is going to have to stick with what is working, and what's working is his core starters. Play Haliburton for more than 40 minutes and increase the minutes for Turner, Nesmith, and others. Carlisle has to lean into what is working.
Keep an eye on Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton had a slight but noticeable limp after Game 2. By the time he was out on the Pacers' home court practicing on the eve of Game 3 there was no sign of that limp, and he played it down.
"I'm fine. Really just a lower leg thing. I'll leave it at that," Haliburton said. "I don't think there's anything more to elaborate. I feel fine and I'll be ready to go for Game 3."
It's probably nothing, but it's something to keep an eye on.
Someone who can score and has plenty of experience at the college level would be a good fit for the Celtics with the No. 28 pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
One player who checks off those boxes is Walter Clayton Jr. The Florida guard led the Gators to a national title this past season. He averaged 18.3 points per game and shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range. He was a four-year college player — two years at Iona and two at Florida — so he’s a little more polished than some of the one-and-done prospects.
Clayton’s ability to create his own shot from anywhere on the floor would be valuable in Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla’s system. He doesn’t have a ton of size and isn’t an elite defensive player, but he plays physical and doesn’t back down from a challenge.
Which other players should the Celtics target at the end of the first round?
Here’s a roundup of expert predictions from recent NBA mock drafts.
“The Celtics have some big needs to address in the wake of Jayson Tatum‘s season-ending Achilles injury, but they can’t have any real expectation to address them in the draft, certainly not this late in the first round.
“Finding a combo forward such as Penda, who’s capable of soaking up minutes, hopefully gaining some experience and perhaps emerging as capable of adding value in a year from now, would be a major win. Penda’s versatility and strong feel for the game played an important role in carving out a strong role in the French first division. He is an intelligent passer who slides all over the court on defense and plays a mature style of basketball for a 20-year-old.”
“The Celtics hit a home run selecting Payton Pritchard at No. 26 in the first round in 2020, and could see value in developing another scoring-oriented reserve guard in Clayton.
“With Boston likely to roster its draft picks as it considers changes to the team moving forward, Clayton might be useful right away as a bench option who can pinch hit for its other guards or step in if the Celtics make trades. His shooting, explosiveness and toughness give him a chance to succeed in a role long term.”
“The combine proved that Fleming is a little taller than 6-8 (barefoot) with a wingspan a little better than 7-5. Those measurements are great for somebody who also shot 39% from 3 on 4.5 attempts per game as a 20 year-old, and that’s among the reasons Fleming should go in the lottery despite mostly operating off of the national radar in three seasons at Saint Joseph’s.”
“Confidence in Walter Clayton Jr. surged after his 34-point performance against Auburn. His fearlessness and clutch shotmaking have scouts beginning to look past concerns about his size and buy into his potential as a scoring guard.
“Clayton shot extremely well during drills at the NBA combine, reinforcing the belief that, despite standing just 6’3″, his shooting ability and toughness could make him a valuable bench spark at the next level.”
“The Celtics have recently had some success developing frontcourt players—Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta—and Raynaud could be the next one. If he were a big who needed to learn to play through defenders’ chests and assert himself in the fray, I’d worry about him finding his way in the more physical NBA. But Raynaud was highly active both inside and outside the arc for Stanford this past season. If Boston found a way to sculpt a shot chart that smartly balances his ability to body a defender near the rim and pop out for a 3, Raynaud could become a contributor.”
With the series tied 1-1, the NBA Finals will shift to Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday, June 11, at 8:30 PM ET.
After the Pacers had another magical comeback in Game 1 of the Finals, the Thunder took control in Game 2. OKC took the lead late in the first quarter and never gave it back for the remainder of the game to tie the series up 1-1.
The Pacers dominated the rebounding battle in Game 1, but the Thunder were able to out-rebound Indiana 43-35 in Game 2. OKC also got a much better performance from Chet Holmgren, who scored 15 points after being held to just six points in Game 1.
Still, the focus remains on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He has scored 72 points through the first two games, which is more than anyone else has scored in the first two NBA Finals games of their career. It has been an amazing start to the series for the MVP, and if he keeps it up, he’ll certainly be named Finals MVP if OKC wins the series.
As for Indiana, they did a great job cleaning up the turnovers in Game 2, but it still wasn’t pretty. They had 15 team turnovers after turning it over 25 times in Game 1. They averaged 12.2 turnovers per game during the regular season and have averaged 12.8 turnovers per game during the postseason so far.
Of course, OKC’s suffocating defense makes it difficult for every team to avoid turning the ball over.
Indiana has utilized a balanced attack on offense so far. Seven different players scored in double figures in Game 2, and six players had at least 10 points in Game 1. However, they haven’t had a 20-point scorer in either game. That could certainly change as the series heads to Indianapolis for Game 3.
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers Game 3:
Date: Wednesday, June 11
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana
TV Channel: ABC
When is Game 3 of the NBA Finals?
Wednesday, June 11, at 8:30 PM ET.
What channel is the Thunder vs Pacers game on?
The Thunder vs. Pacers series will take place on ABC.
Thunder vs. Pacers Series Scores and Schedule:
*All times listed are ET (* = if necessary)
Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
Game 2:Thunder 123, Pacers 107
Game 3: Thunder at Pacers - Wed. June 11, 8:30 PM on ABC
Game 4: Thunder at Pacers - Fri. June 13, 8:30 PM on ABC
Game 5: Pacers at Thunder - Mon. June 16, 8:30 PM on ABC
Game 6: Thunder at Pacers - Thu. June 19, 8:30 PM on ABC*
Game 7: Pacers at Thunder - Sun, June 22, 8 PM on ABC*
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Path to the NBA Finals:
After dominating the regular season and finishing with a league-best 68-14 record, Oklahoma City has continued to be fantastic in the postseason. They were the best defensive team in the league during the regular season, and that has held true in the playoffs, which helped them reach the Finals for the first time since 2012.
The Thunder swept the Grizzlies in the first round before being pushed to the bring in their seven-game series against the Nuggets. However, things went much smoother in the Western Conference Finals, and OKC beat the Timberwolves in a gentleman's sweep.
Indiana Pacers’ Path to the NBA Finals:
On New Year’s Day, the Pacers held a 16-18 record. It seemed like their run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 had been a fluke. However, they finished the regular season with a 34-14 record and had the sixth-best net rating in the league after January 1, which helped them earn the No. 4 seed in the East.
From there, the Pacers beat the Bucks and Cavaliers in five games before going on to beat the Knicks in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Indiana had to complete multiple miraculous comebacks to make it to the Finals, and they had another in Game 1, which ended with a Tyrese Haliburton game-winner.
The Boston Celtics’ two best players have both undergone surgeries over the past month.
Jaylen Brown underwent a successful surgery on his right knee Wednesday and is expected to participate in 2025 training camp “without limitation,” the team announced. The Celtics described Brown’s surgery as a “right knee arthroscopic debridement procedure.”
Brown had been dealing with nagging right knee pain since March and missed six regular-season games in a 13-game span down the stretch. After an April 3 loss to the Miami Heat, Brown admitted he had consistent knee pain but planned to play through it.
“I’ve had to come to grips that every night I’m not gonna feel my normal self,” Brown said at the time, “but that doesn’t mean I still can’t make plays and things like that. So, it’s just something that we are working through.”
The 28-year-old didn’t miss a game in the postseason, and while his typical explosiveness was limited, he still averaged 22.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. After Boston’s second-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, it was revealed that Brown had a partially torn right meniscus.
Brown’s surgery comes just over a month after Celtics co-star Jayson Tatum had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. Tatum is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season, giving Brown a golden opportunity to step up as Boston’s leader if he’s fully healthy by the fall.
The Boston Celtics’ two best players have both undergone surgeries over the past month.
Jaylen Brown underwent a successful surgery on his right knee Wednesday and is expected to participate in 2025 training camp “without limitation,” the team announced. The Celtics described Brown’s surgery as a “right knee arthroscopic debridement procedure.”
Brown had been dealing with nagging right knee pain since March and missed six regular-season games in a 13-game span down the stretch. After an April 3 loss to the Miami Heat, Brown admitted he had consistent knee pain but planned to play through it.
“I’ve had to come to grips that every night I’m not gonna feel my normal self,” Brown said at the time, “but that doesn’t mean I still can’t make plays and things like that. So, it’s just something that we are working through.”
The 28-year-old didn’t miss a game in the postseason, and while his typical explosiveness was limited, he still averaged 22.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. After Boston’s second-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, it was revealed that Brown had a partially torn right meniscus.
Brown’s surgery comes just over a month after Celtics co-star Jayson Tatum had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. Tatum is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season, giving Brown a golden opportunity to step up as Boston’s leader if he’s fully healthy by the fall.
A scouting report on NBA draft prospect VJ Edgecombe:
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-4 (without shoes)
Weight: 193 pounds
College: Baylor
Strengths
Edgecombe has the sort of athleticism that makes you stop whatever you were doing and watch replays in amazement.
While he’s still learning how to harness it all, he’s currently got a nice feel for how to both shine in obvious ways (rapid bursts to the rim, highlight slams) and subtle ways (snagging rebounds in a pack, recovering after falling a step behind defensively). The 19-year-old had a productive all-around freshman season at Baylor, posting 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
Edgecombe enjoys and takes pride in his defense. He doesn’t have the size of a guard-everyone stopper or the wingspan (6-foot-7.5) of a player destined to rack up steals and blocks, but his effort and explosiveness are great foundational traits.
“I feel like I’m an elite defender, but I also have a ways to go,” Edgecombe told reporters at the NBA draft combine. “I’m just willing to play defense with all my heart. I know if there’s anything I can do on the floor to impact the game, it’s guarding. That’s something I’m ready to do for sure.”
Edgecombe was a good college rebounder, ranking in the Big 12’s top 20 in rebounds per game. Rebounding is not one of his core tools, but it might lead Edgecombe’s NBA team to be a bit more comfortable using guard-heavy lineups.
Last summer, Edgecombe played with the Bahamas in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament and showed his game already could be quite impactful against grown men. With NBA veteran teammates Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon, he was one of his country’s key players. Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points on 57.1/38.5/81.3 shooting splits, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Weaknesses
Edgecombe’s far from a polished ball handler and isolation scorer. He doesn’t have the tight, advanced handle to suggest he’s on the verge of consistently, efficiently creating his own shots in the NBA.
He also won’t enter the league as a crafty, comfortable finisher in traffic. When faced with resistance inside, he sometimes seemed to lack a real counter, flinging the ball toward the rim or trying to power through bigger bodies.
Edgecombe’s shot is not a strength at the moment. The numbers weren’t bad in college; 34 percent from three-point range on 4.6 attempts per game, 78.2 percent at the foul line. That said, Edgecombe has a rather narrow base on his jumper, isn’t smooth off the dribble and generally doesn’t look the part of a pure shooter.
No apparent need for deep concern there, especially given Edgecombe’s willingness to let it fly, but shooting improvement would certainly enhance his odds of becoming an NBA star.
Fit
Notably, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s general philosophy is to take the best player available.
If the Sixers drafted Edgecombe with the third overall pick, he’d add to the team’s list of guards 6-foot-4 and under, which includes Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. Morey has said he intends to bring back restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, too.
The idea of Edgecombe as a Sixer would sound better if he proves capable of defending wings well at times and grows as a shooter. His size alone doesn’t appear like it should be a disqualifying factor.
UCLA's David Greenwood dunks the ball during a game against Stanford in 1978. (Associated Press)
David Greenwood adored basketball so much in middle school that he would play for three different teams in three different parks on the same day, multiple times a week.
His brother, Al, would be in the car driving around with him between games while David traded in his sweaty uniform for a fresh one, repeating the process over and over.
“He was relentless,” Al said, “because he loved the game.”
At home, David would get tossed around in driveway games by the cement contractor father who was twice his size, only to keep getting back up for more contact. In practices, he shot blindfolded to perfect his form, his brother having to let him know when he was close to going out of bounds so that he could get his bearings.
UCLA's David Greenwood (34) shoots a basketball during a game against San Francisco at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on March 15, 1979 (Peter Read Miller / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Greenwood, the determined Compton kid who went from a star high school player at Verbum Dei to one of the top scorers in UCLA history to an NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons, died Sunday night at a Riverside hospital from cancer. He was 68.
True to the nature of someone who played through debilitating foot injuries throughout his career, Greenwood did not inform family of his illness until the end of his life.
“Everything happened so quickly,” said Bronson Greenwood, David’s nephew. “It was kind of a shock.”
One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.
But they decided to stick with their commitments, lured in part by the pitch of a coach they would never play for in college.
“He told me if I went to USC or UNLV or Notre Dame, I’d be an All-American,” Greenwood once told The Times of Wooden’s proposal. “But if I went to UCLA, I’d be able to test myself against 12 other high school All-Americans every single day. ... It was kind of like, ‘Come here and test your mettle.’ ”
Greenwood’s work ethic continued to push him as a Bruin. His practices with the team were followed by an hour in another gym, his brother feeding him passes. Along the way, he never shortchanged himself or teammates.
College athletes selected in the NBA draft pose with NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, center, at New York's Plaza Hotel on June 25, 1979. The players are, from left: Calvin Natt, Northeast Louisiana, drafted by New Jersey; Sidney Moncrief, Arkansas, drafted by Milwaukee; Bill Garthright, San Francisco, drafted by New York; O'Brien; Earvin Johnson, Michigan State, drafted by Los Angeles; Greg Kelser, Michigan State, drafted by Detroit; and David Greenwood, UCLA, drafted by Chicago. (Associated Press)
“If he said he was going to shoot 100 free throws,” Al said, “it wasn’t 50, it wasn’t 65, it was 100 — and he didn’t stop until he got to 100.”
Having been dubbed “Batman and Robin” in high school, Greenwood and Hamilton remained close at UCLA, rooming together and biking to campus from where they lived in the Fairfax District. Hamilton remembered Greenwood as a remarkable rebounder who whipped outlet passes to him to get fast breaks started.
“We would always know how to motivate each other,” Hamilton said, “and connect with each other on the floor.”
Becoming a star by his sophomore season, Greenwood averaged a double-double in points and rebounds as a junior and a senior, finishing each season as an All-American. The 6-foot-9 forward’s go-to move was starting with his back about 10 to 12 feet from the basket before faking one way and unleashing a spin-around jumper.
One of his favorite memories as a Bruin, according to his brother, was a comeback against Washington State toward the end of his career in which the Bruins wiped out a late double-digit deficit, winning on Greenwood’s putback dunk only seconds before the buzzer.
The Bulls' David Greenwood shoots over the Bullets' Elvin Hayes during a game in 1981 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Greenwood played for the Bulls from 1979-85. (Focus On Sport / Getty Images)
UCLA never recaptured the Wooden glory during Greenwood’s four seasons, reaching the Final Four his freshman year and a regional final his senior year. But Greenwood remains No. 15 on the school’s all-time scoring list, having tallied 1,721 points.
After the Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first pick of the 1979 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls took Greenwood second as part of their massive rebuilding efforts. (Hamilton was also a lottery pick, going 10th to the Pistons.)
“He wasn’t exciting, he was steady,” Al Greenwood said of his brother. “You knew you were going to get a double-double every night out of him regardless of what the score was.”
Greenwood started every game in his first NBA season, averaging 16.3 points and 9.4 rebounds while making the all-rookie team. The Bulls went 30-52, their loss total more than triple the 17 losses that Greenwood’s teams had absorbed in four seasons as a Bruin.
But he persevered through the losing and a series of foot injuries caused by a running style in which his heels would hit the ground before his toes. Al remembered his brother coming back to Los Angeles to play the Lakers and taking his shoes off at home, saying it felt as if they were full of broken glass.
“That was how his feet felt a lot of the time, but he just played even when he shouldn’t have,” Al said. “I always called him The Thoroughbred.”
Former UCLA standout David Greenwood talks about his career during a National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame induction event on Nov. 21, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (Colin E. Braley / Associated Press)
Greenwood would undergo one Achilles’ surgery on one foot and two on the other, never missing a full season in the process.
In October 1985, before the widespread use of cell phones, Greenwood learned he had been traded to San Antonio for future Hall of Famer George Gervin while listening to the radio. Late in his 12-year NBA career, he was a surprise playoff contributor for the Detroit Pistons when they won the 1990 NBA championship. Hamilton worked for CBS Sports as part of the production team broadcasting the Finals that year.
“Having my best friend in the world on the team and winning a title,” Hamilton said, “that was a joy for me.”
Greenwood went on to own several Blockbuster video stores and coached at his alma mater, guiding Verbum Dei to state championships in 1998 and 1999. His nephew recalled a soft side, his uncle picking him up and giving him a good tickle.
Greenwood is survived by his brother, Al; sister, Laverne; son, Jemil; and daughter, Tiffany, along with his former wife, Joyce. Services are pending.
The Knicks continue to search for their next head coach, but the candidates they were initially interested in are becoming unavailable one by one.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reports that the Knicks formally reached out to the Houston Rockets for permission to talk to head coach Ime Udoka. However, the Rockets denied the Knicks, per people familiar with the Rockets' stance.
It seems Houston is not ready to part with the coach who has turned the franchise around. In just his second year with the Rockets, the 47-year-old Udoka led the team to a first place finish in the Southwest Division and the organization's first playoff appearance since 2020. This year, Houston was eliminated by the Warriors in seven games of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. After finishing 41-41 in his first season, the Rockets improved to 52-30 and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference under Udoka.
Udoka was one of three coaches currently under contract the Knicks were interested in. In addition to Udoka, Minnesota's Chris Finch and Dallas' Jason Kidd were the names the Knicks had interest in, per Begley.
While it seems the Mavericks are confident Kidd won't leave Dallas, the Knicks were denied permission by the Timberwolves to speak with Finch, according to multiple reports.
Like Houston, the Timberwolves are not interested in allowing their coach to potentially go elsewhere after so much recent success. Minnesota had made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons, including back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances.
Finch has amassed a 209-160 record in the regular season since being hired midseason to replace Ryan Saunders in 2021. He also has a 21-21 mark in the postseason.
With Udoka and Finch formally off the table, and Kidd hypothetically unavailable, it's unclear where the Knicks go for a head coach.
Victor Wembanyama is in China, and it's not all about vacation.
The San Antonio Spurs star is in the midst of what's expected to be a 10-day stay at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. The temple is a place that welcomes visitors who wish to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine and more.
The NBA China office confirmed that Wembanyama is at the temple, and some Chinese media also confirmed his presence there with the temple itself. “Concentrate on training!” read part of a social media post on the NBA's Weibo account, which also revealed the plans for a 10-day stay.
Then again, the secret was getting out through other social media means anyway.
Some photos of Wembanyama with a shaved head - it wasn't shaved when he arrived in China - and wearing a robe similar to the other monks began widely circulating this week. One of the photos showed the 7-foot-4 center sitting on a Chinese style chair in front of multiple Buddha sculptures.
Perhaps the 'tallest monk' in history, both ancient and modern. During a private visit to China, San Antonio Spurs basketball player Victor Wembanyama had his head shaved at the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, donned monastic robes, and shared a vegetarian meal, preparing for… pic.twitter.com/AFn6BYm3dG
“Victor Wembanyama, live from China, on the Great Wall itself, having an amazing time. It's crazy," he said on a video posted to Instagram by the Spurs' account and others.
Wembanyama is expected back in the U.S. in the coming weeks and likely will be with the Spurs' delegation that goes to the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas next month. The Spurs, like many teams, often have many players on their NBA roster with the summer league team for various events.
The 21-year-old Frenchman led the NBA in blocked shots during the regular season, despite his season ending in February - just after his first All-Star Game appearance - because of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The Spurs are hopeful that he will be able to play when next season begins, and the French national team also has expressed hope that Wembanyama will be able to play for his country at this summer's European championships.
Wembanyama was the league’s rookie of the year last season and was widely expected to be a front-runner in this season's defensive player of the year race. He attempted 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 shots this season - no player in NBA history has ever finished a season with those numbers - and he was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists when the DVT was detected.
The only other player in NBA history to finish a season averaging all those numbers was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76.
