Houston’s relentless defense confused and harassed Tennessee and carried the Cougars into their first national semifinal since 2021.
Podz who showed up vs. Spurs gives Warriors chance to thrive
Podz who showed up vs. Spurs gives Warriors chance to thrive originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Brandin Podziemski, often a popular target for Dub Nation’s displeased keyboard gangsters, replied Sunday with the kind of game he’ll need to bottle for the Warriors to make a deep run in the NBA playoffs.
The second-year guard took the right shots, at the right time, and finished with a game-high 27 points. When passing was the obvious option, he chose it rather than holding or pounding his dribble. He did his usual GI Joe stuff, drawing charges from bigger players and grabbing more rebounds than befits his physique.
Moreover, Podziemski played determined defense.
Golden State becomes a real threat if those habits continue in the coming weeks, with the stakes getting considerably higher and the competition getting appreciably tougher than the deficient Spurs, unwitting victims of a 148-106 Golden State runaway in San Antonio.
“You get a night when nobody plays more than 25 or 26 minutes, that’s very helpful,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters at Frost Bank Center. “Big game coming against Memphis [Tuesday night], so we’ll be well rested and in rhythm for that.
“Big stretch coming.”
The Warriors (43-31) go into Memphis in sixth place in the Western Conference, one-half game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves, one game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers – and one game behind the Grizzlies. A win at Memphis would give the Warriors the head-to-head tiebreaker, effectively moving them into fifth place.
Sunday was, then, a TCB (Take Care of Business) game for the Warriors. They beat a team they were projected to beat and did it convincingly. Stephen Curry played 26 minutes, Jimmy Butler III 24 and Draymond Green 21. None of the accomplished veterans played in the fourth quarter because, for the first time since Feb. 25 against the Charlott Hornets, there was no need.
The Warriors know what those three can do, but there remains uncertainty about how the rest of the roster, with the lone exception being Kevon Looney, will respond to the rugged obstacles ahead.
Perhaps none of the complementary players is more pivotal that Podziemski, who starts alongside Moses Moody, Butler, Curry and Green. Podziemski is a primary ballhandler on offense and is first in the team’s rotation of point-of-attack defenders.
He was terrific against the Spurs, playing at a fast tempo from the start and finishing with a game-high 27 points on efficient 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, including a career-high seven 3-pointers in nine attempts. He added six rebounds, five assists and was plus-22 over 27 minutes.
“To start the game, we did a good job of keeping our man in front,” Podziemski said. “That led to runouts, a couple easy ones for Jimmy early. We put both together.
“Coach put an emphasis on starting strong [Saturday] at practice. But he also told us we’re 10-0 [now 11-0] with this group that we’re starting right now. He challenged us to be better; it puts less pressure on that next wave of guys we bring in to have to fight back for us.”
With the Spurs building fortress around Curry and Butler, Podziemski took charge of the offense. Podziemski was plus-14 in nine first-quarter minutes, making both field-goal attempts. He added three rebounds and three assists, with one sloppy pass turning into a turnover.
“We’ve been talking about getting off to better starts, and we got off to a great start,” Kerr said. “The offense was crisp, and the guys did a good job defensively.”
The Warriors needed less than four minutes to build a double-digit lead (15-5, with 8:09 left in the first quarter) before pushing the advantage to 17 entering the second quarter. They led by as much as 29 points before halftime and coasted from there.
“We put it in our own hands,” Moody said. “We didn’t wait on the rhythm to come to us. We went and found it ourselves. We played faster. We started faster. Defense was the key to it.”
Podziemski was relatively ordinary over the first three games of the road trip, two of which ended in defeat. He was stellar in the fourth and afterward displayed his ability to listen to the pleas of the coaching staff.
“Just being really, really good in the first four [minutes] and the last four of each quarter,” Podziemski said of Kerr’s message. “Not letting team teams feel good going into the next quarter. That’s the biggest thing. Those eight minutes every quarter, that’s a big 32 minutes out of the 48.
“If we can control those minutes – obviously teams are going to go on runs; they’re great players for a reason – but if we can win the first and last four of each quarter, we’ll be alright.”
If Podziemski can elevate his game to his level against better competition, the Warriors at least have a chance to be all right.
Houston stays hot in March Madness by dominating Tennessee to reach men’s Final Four
Houston jumped to a big lead by limiting Tennessee, and the Cougars cruised past the Volunteers to advance to their Final Four since 2021.
Kuminga offers hopeful ankle injury update after Warriors' win
Kuminga offers hopeful ankle injury update after Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It appears Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is in good spirits despite his early exit from Golden State’s 148-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Frost Bank Center.
Kuminga was ruled out with right ankle soreness at halftime after a hard fall, aggravating the same ankle he injured earlier in the 2024-25 NBA season that caused him to miss 31 games.
The 22-year-old told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sam Gordon he’s “straight” after the win and is hopeful he won’t miss time after hurting the ankle again Sunday.
Kuminga said he’s “straight.” Asked him if he thinks he’ll miss time. “I hope not,” he said.
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) March 31, 2025
The injury came as Kuminga drove to the rim in the second quarter. As he jumped up with both feet, the two Spurs defenders on either side of him knocked him to the ground where he bounced off the hardwood. Kuminga initially mouthed he was “OK,” but ultimately hobbled to the Warriors’ locker room — and no foul was called on the play.
Jonathan Kuminga went to the locker room after taking a hard fall in today's game pic.twitter.com/2wiVMSuqLY
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 30, 2025
After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Kuminga will be evaluated Monday.
“Such a bummer,” Kerr told reporters. “[He was] just coming back, finding his rhythm, playing well. So, hopefully, it’s nothing too serious.”
Kuminga on Sunday was playing in his ninth contest back after his 31-game absence. The 22-year-old is averaging 16.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists during the 2024-25 NBA season, and 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in eight games since his March 13 return against the Sacramento Kings.
Before his early exit Sunday, Kuminga was a plus-9 in seven minutes with four points and one rebound.
As the Warriors cling to a one-game lead for the Western Conference’s No. 6 playoff seed, they’ll need all the on-court firepower they can get. And considering the athletic edge Kuminga brings every time he’s on the floor, Golden State certainly hopes his injury isn’t serious.
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March Madness 2025: No. 1 Houston heads to the Final Four after holding No. 2 Tennessee to just 15 first-half points
The Cougars led by 19 at halftime on the way to a 69-50 win.
What we learned as Podz, Moody torch Spurs in Warriors' blowout win
What we learned as Podz, Moody torch Spurs in Warriors' blowout win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Can a statement win come against a team that’s the No. 13 seed in the Western Conference? It can when a gauntlet is on deck and dominance is displayed for all four quarters.
The Warriors on Sunday dismantled the San Antonio Spurs, 148-106, at Frost Bank Center, putting together the kind of team-wide performance they’ve been searching for recently. The Warriors had two 40-point quarters, and their 148 points were a new season high.
Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all enjoyed the show from the bench during the fourth quarter. All three had strong performances, but it was those around them who really stood out.
Brandin Podziemski fell two points shy of his career high, scoring 27 points to go with six rebounds and five assists. That gave Podziemski his first 20-point game since Feb. 21.
Podz buries the triple 🎯 pic.twitter.com/7Uah8moy2K
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 30, 2025
Moses Moody gave Golden State two 20-point scorers, tallying 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, plus he also had three rebounds, three assists, three steals and one blocked shot.
Moody said ‘I’ll take that'
📺 @NBCSAuthenticpic.twitter.com/pu651n6VOI
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 30, 2025
The Warriors as a team shot 57.7 percent overall, had 44 rebounds and 42 assists, as well as 17 steals and 64 points in the paint.
Their win also had implications in the standings. The Warriors now have a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers and a half-game lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 6 seed in the West. They’re one game back of the No. 5 seed, and two games behind the No. 4 seed.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ second consecutive win.
Strong Start
Starting games slow has been a frustrating staple for the Warriors all season long. They came into Sunday ranked 28th in the NBA in first-quarter points (26.7), and trailed through the first 12 minutes in each of their first three games of their current six-game road trip. Not in San Antonio, though.
A new level of focus from the jump was on display. The Warriors played intense defense, hit outside shots and attacked the rim in the first quarter. The results were seen through the scoreboard. Their 44 points were the most the Warriors scored in the first quarter this season.
And they did so with Curry taking one shot and scoring two points.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr used nine players in the first quarter, and all nine scored. Butler scored 10 points, followed by nine from Green, five from Podziemski and Quinten Post, four from Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, three from Buddy Hield and two from Curry and Gui Santos.
This wasn’t because of a 3-point barrage, too. The Warriors overall shot 70.8 percent from the field (17 of 24) in the first quarter, going 4 of 9 on threes (44.4 percent) and 13 of 15 on twos (86.7 percent). They scored 22 points in the paint, assisted on 12 of their 17 made shots and defensively swiped seven steals.
Down Goes Kuminga
The good vibes of the first quarter took a tough break with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter when Kuminga bounced off the hardwood.
Driving to the basket with two defenders guarding him, Kuminga jumped off two feet but crashed to the floor on his way down. Luckily for him, his heels hit the ground first, somewhat bracing Kuminga on the way down. But he still bounced and immediately appeared to be in pain.
Jonathan Kuminga went to the locker room after taking a hard fall in today's game pic.twitter.com/2wiVMSuqLY
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 30, 2025
Kuminga seemed to mouth “I’m OK,” though he still walked gingerly down the tunnel and back to the locker room with Warriors director of medical services Drew Yoder. During halftime, Kuminga was ruled out for the rest of the game because of right ankle soreness.
That has to be concerning for the Warriors with only two weeks remaining in the regular season. Kuminga from Jan. 5 through March 10 missed 31 games with a badly sprained right ankle. He had played in eight games since returning from injury, averaging 14.3 points per game. Kuminga was a plus-9 in seven minutes Sunday before his fall, scoring four points and grabbing one rebound.
3-Point Party
Golden State’s success always will come down to the new Big Three of Curry, Butler and Green. How those around them play can be what lifts the Warriors or brings them down. Role players like Podziemski, Kuminga, Moody and more are huge to the Warriors’ overall success. In a game where Kuminga went down to injury, two other youngsters stepped up.
Moody in the Warriors’ first 12 games out of the NBA All-Star break was a sharpshooter opposing defenses had to fear, shooting 45.8 percent from deep. But as his defensive responsibilities have ramped up, Moody had gone a lowly 6 of 32 (18.8 percent) on threes in the Warriors’ past six games. On Sunday night, Moody found his shot behind the 3-point line, going 3 of 6 while still being a menace defensively.
Corner bucket from 4️⃣
📺 @NBCSAuthenticpic.twitter.com/vYWkhrF5vs
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 31, 2025
Podziemski didn’t just have a strong game beyond the arc, but the best of his career. The second-year pro made a career-high seven threes after combining to go 3 of 13 in the Warriors’ previous two games. His seven threes set a new career-high.
Every single starter made at least one 3-pointer. The Warriors shot 23.6 percent from three Friday night in New Orleans, only to then have a 15-point advantage from three two nights later, going 21 of 44 for a 47.7-percent clip. The cherry on top was Kevon Looney making a corner three in the fourth quarter, his first triple since March 19, 2021.
KEVON LOONEY 3 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/6J58C5USUg
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 31, 2025
Kuminga exits Warriors-Spurs with ankle soreness after hard fall
Kuminga exits Warriors-Spurs with ankle soreness after hard fall originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors experienced a bit of déjà vu in the second quarter of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Frost Bank Center.
Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga went to the locker room after a hard fall near the basket — an injury that at first appeared very similar to the one star point guard Steph Curry sustained almost two weeks ago against the Toronto Raptors.
During halftime, the Warriors officially ruled Kuminga out with right ankle soreness.
While it wasn’t a pelvic contusion like the one Curry sustained, just like Steph, no foul was called on the Spurs after Kuminga was knocked down while driving to the rim. Kuminga appeared to mouth, “I’m OK” after the fall, but he walked gingerly to the locker room with Warriors director of medical services Drew Yoder.
Kuminga on Sunday was playing in his ninth game back after missing 31 games with a sprain on the same ankle. The 22-year-old is averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the 2024-25 NBA season, and 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in eight games since his March 13 return against the Sacramento Kings.
It’s unclear how badly Kuminga aggravated his previous ankle injury, but Dub Nation certainly hopes the young star is all right.
Kuminga exits Warriors-Spurs with ankle soreness after hard fall
Kuminga exits Warriors-Spurs with ankle soreness after hard fall originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors experienced a bit of déjà vu in the second quarter of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Frost Bank Center.
Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga went to the locker room after a hard fall near the basket — an injury that at first appeared very similar to the one star point guard Steph Curry sustained almost two weeks ago against the Toronto Raptors.
During halftime, the Warriors officially ruled Kuminga out with right ankle soreness.
While it wasn’t a pelvic contusion like the one Curry sustained, just like Steph, no foul was called on the Spurs after Kuminga was knocked down while driving to the rim. Kuminga appeared to mouth, “I’m OK” after the fall, but he walked gingerly to the locker room with Warriors director of medical services Drew Yoder.
Kuminga on Sunday was playing in his ninth game back after missing 31 games with a sprain on the same ankle. The 22-year-old is averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the 2024-25 NBA season, and 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in eight games since his March 13 return against the Sacramento Kings.
It’s unclear how badly Kuminga aggravated his previous ankle injury, but Dub Nation certainly hopes the young star is all right.
Ja Morant, other Grizzlies react to unexpected firing of coach Taylor Jenkins
It caught the Grizzlies players off guard, too.
Nobody expected Memphis to fire coach Taylor Jenkins with just a few weeks left in the regular season — the team had slipped in recent months but was still 15 games over .500 and tied for fourth in the West at the time. It put interim coach Tuomas Iisalo in a difficult position, with little time to make real changes and three tough games coming up against the Lakers (a Grizzlies loss), Celtics and Warriors. After the Lakers loss, Ja Morant was asked about the coaching change (quote via William Guillory of The Athletic).
“It’s tough for me. I’ve had Coach Taylor since I got here. Everything I’ve done in a Grizzlies jersey has pretty much been under him,” Morant said after the loss. “It’s my first time really experiencing a coach leaving since I’ve been hooping. It was a lot to process. With the timing, it’s just tough. We had to quickly turn the page.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. was also asked about it, quote via Wendell Shepherd Jr. of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“That’s my dog. That will forever be my dog,” Jackson Jr. said. “It was surprising. It would have been surprising at any point. He had a great impact while he was here. He’s gonna be one of the more sought-after coaches in his journey elsewhere and deservedly so.”
Desmond Bane said the players held a meeting after the firing to help clear the air and process what happened, with quotes via The Athletic.
“I just wanted them to get out all their raw emotions. Don’t hold nothing back. Let it all out, and that way we can truly move forward,” Desmond Bane said. “I told them we have a really talented group and we can still do some special things. (Interim head coach) Tuomas (Iisalo) is a really smart guy, and we should buy into what he’s trying to do, and then see what we can do these last few games and beyond.”
If the Grizzlies are going to do special things, they need to get their defense right, something Iisalo owned after the Lakers loss. He added that he wants the team to play faster, and he wanted more Morant pick-and-rolls in the half court. Memphis needs all of that to come together fast and lead to wins, or the current No. 5 seed could slide back into the play-in.
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Watch Lakers trio of LeBron, Doncic, Reaves combine for 85 points, Lakers get key win over Grizzlies
Mar 29, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
New coach in place, Ja Morant back from injury… same result for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Behind their offensive trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — who combined for 85 points and 25 assists — the Lakers dominated the final six minutes of Saturday's game and with that took control of the No. 4 seed in the West with a 134-127 win.
✨ Reaves, Luka, LeBron shine for LA ✨
— NBA (@NBA) March 30, 2025
Reaves: 31 PTS | 7 REB | 8 AST | 5 3PM
Luka: 29 PTS | 8 REB | 9 AST | 2 STL
LeBron: 25 PTS | 6 REB | 8 AST | 3 STL
The Lakers' star trio led them to a huge victory in the Western Conference standings pic.twitter.com/wm8YTRt4mC
That victory puts the Lakers alone as the No. 4 seed in the West, 1.5 games behind the Nuggets for the No. 3 seed. The Grizzlies are the No. 5 seed but just 1.5 games up on the Warriors and Clippers, who are tied for 6/7, and the No. 8 Timberwolves are just two games back of Memphis. Just 4.5 games separate third and eighth in a very tight West.
Which is why this Lakers win mattered so much. Knowing it was a critical game, Lakers coach J.J. Redick said he gathered LeBron, Doncic and Reaves together earlier in the day.
"We challenged all three of them, when we get to their three-man actions, to play with a little more force and a little more thrust and a little more creativity. We were able to get some great stuff in the fourth quarter off that…" Redick said.
"We played as well as we've played so far, offensively."
Memphis has lost 5-of-6 and things don't get easier with the Celtics and Warriors as the next two teams coming to town. It was unfair timing for interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, who was thrust into the head coaching job on Friday after the surprise firing of Taylor Jenkins. Fair or not, he and a healthy lineup need to get some wins soon or they risk falling back into the play-in.
2024-25 Fantasy Basketball Week 25 Schedule Breakdown
Week 22 is Championship Week in Yahoo! public leagues and Yahoo! leagues that use the default settings. By now, fantasy managers have dealt with many availability issues due to actual injuries or players receiving a night off for rest reasons. Sometimes, it has been easy to figure out when players will sit, but there have been some surprises. Week 22 is busy, as 22 teams will play four games, and a few have multiple back-to-backs to navigate. Let's look at the Week 22 schedule breakdown.
Week 22 Games Played
4 Games: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, DAL, DEN, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, NYK, OKC, POR, SAC, SAS, TOR, UTA, WAS
3 Games: BKN, CLE, DET, MIN, NOR, ORL, PHI, PHO
Week 22 Storylines
- San Antonio, Toronto, Utah and Washington are among the teams that will play four games during Week 22.
The Spurs, Raptors, Jazz and Wizards are all headed to the draft lottery, and each has a full schedule for the week. That's good news for fantasy managers who need to prioritize availability with league championships on the line. The Spurs have continued to play their veterans, but there has also been room for Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan to flourish in their respective roles. The Raptors, Jazz and Wizards have gone the route of resting veteran players, which means names like Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski (Utah), Bub Carrington and AJ Johnson (Washington), and Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead (Toronto) have been worth a look to varying degrees. San Antonio and Toronto will have a back-to-back to navigate during their respective Week 22 scheduled, but that is not the case for Utah or Washington.
- Will the Mavericks' frontcourt return to full strength during Week 22?
Anthony Davis returned from a groin injury last week, but Dallas remained without centers Daniel Gafford (knee) and Dereck Lively II (foot). However, they were considered doubtful for Saturday's game against the Bulls before being ruled out, and there's hope that Gafford and Lively will be able to play at some point in the next week. In the hotly-contested race for a play-in spot in the West, the Mavericks play four games during Week 22, ending with a Friday/Saturday road back-to-back against the Clippers. The availability of Gafford and Lively also impacts Kai Jones, who has been worth rostering in deep leagues as the Mavericks' starting center. Managers who have Jones should hold onto him, as we don't know when (or if) Gafford and Lively will return, nor do we know what their workloads will look like.
- The Hawks, Clippers and Knicks will have two back-to-backs to navigate.
Beginning with the final day of Week 21, these three teams will have two back-to-backs to deal with over the next week. While Atlanta and New York have Tuesday/Wednesday and Saturday/Sunday back-to-backs, the Clippers have Sunday/Monday and Friday/Saturday. The Knicks are interesting on two fronts. First, Mitchell Robinson will likely be limited to two games during Week 22, as the ultimate goal is for him to be 100 percent for the playoffs. Second, the current state of the team's point guard rotation.
Jalen Brunson (ankle) remains out, while Miles McBride (groin) and Cameron Payne (ankle) have also missed time recently. Delon Wright has assumed the starting point guard duties, much to the chagrin of those who wanted to see rookie Tyler Kolek promoted into the role. Playing starters' minutes gives Wright a shot at fantasy relevance, while Kolek has been elite in the assist-to-turnover department (29 assists and one turnover over his last four games). Regarding the Clippers, managers who have Kawhi Leonard rostered will want to plan for a two-game week from him, which is unfortunate since he's been on a roll recently.
- The Cavaliers, Pistons and Pelicans won't play their first game of Week 22 until Wednesday.
Cleveland, Detroit and New Orleans won't need to be on any fantasy managers' radars to begin Week 22, as they won't be active on Monday or Tuesday. The Cavaliers and Pelicans will play their three games on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while the Pistons end their Week 22 with a Friday/Saturday back-to-back. Managers with Zion Williamson or CJ McCollum rostered have likely already adjusted their rosters, as those two don't appear likely to see much action down the stretch. Bruce Brown should be back on your radar, as extended minutes and an opportunity to start have raised his fantasy ceiling.
Detroit has been without Cade Cunningham recently, opening a place in the starting lineup for Dennis Schroder, while Marcus Sasser has entered the rotation off the bench. While he did struggle in Detroit's March 28 win over the Cavaliers, Sasser totaled 47 points in wins over the Pelicans and Spurs. If Cunningham remains out, Detroit's April 4 game against Toronto (the Pistons host Memphis the following night) could appeal to those willing to consider streaming Sasser.
- Orlando is the only team not playing a game after Thursday.
While Cleveland, Detroit and New Orleans won't be active to begin Week 22, the opposite is true for the Magic. Orlando will play its three games during the first four days of the Week, starting with the Clippers on Monday. That's followed by a game in San Antonio the next night, and the Magic end Week 22 in the nation's capital on Thursday. Orlando's point guard situation hasn't been the best, with Jalen Suggs (knee) out for the season and Cole Anthony (toe) out of the lineup. Cory Joseph has been the replacement in the starting lineup, but Anthony Black offers a higher ceiling. However, the second-year point guard also boasts a lower floor, making it difficult for fantasy managers to commit to Black or Joseph with Anthony out of the lineup.
Light Game Days
Saturday: 5 Games
NYK vs. ATL
MEM vs. DET
MIN vs. PHI
MIL vs. MIA
DAL vs. LAC
Week 22 Back-to-backs
Sunday (Week 21)-Monday: CHA, HOU, LAC
Monday-Tuesday: CHI, MEM, ORL
Tuesday-Wednesday: ATL, DEN, NYK, SAS
Wednesday-Thursday: MIA, WAS
Thursday-Friday: GSW, LAL, POR, TOR
Friday-Saturday: DAL, DET, LAC
Saturday-Sunday: ATL, MIL, NYK
Sunday-Monday (Week 23): SAC
‘He has two major flaws’: Luka Dončić’s biographer on the Lakers star
Seventy-three points. That was Luka Dončić’s total when he led the Dallas Mavericks to a victory over the Atlanta Hawks last season. He wasn’t the only NBA player to have an explosion on offense that season – think Joel Embiid or Karl-Anthony Towns. And the league subsequently decided to change officiating to favor more physical play that would presumably cut down on high offensive output.
That’s how Tim MacMahon sees it. The veteran ESPN writer has covered Dončić since the Slovenian’s arrival in Dallas as one of the most heralded European talents in NBA history. He saw Dončić live up to his billing, leading the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and the NBA finals last year. And he knew that even a change in rules wouldn’t stop Dončić’s stepback three.
“I mean, there’s just not a lot of ways you can guard him,” MacMahon says. “If he’s not the best passer in the league, he’s top two or three … He sees the floor as well as maybe anybody who played the game.”
MacMahon is the author of a new book on Dončić – The Wonder Boy: Luka Dončić and the Curse of Greatness. It came out on Tuesday, and in case you were wondering, yes, there is a Texas-sized postscript to the story.
Related: The Mavs are on fire after the Dončić trade. Don’t expect them to put it out
In February, the Mavs traded their star – who, according to the book, they had previously invested countless time and effort trying to get to stay in Dallas. Dončić was off to the Los Angeles Lakers, while Anthony Davis went to the Mavs.
“Obviously, it was a major plot twist,” MacMahon says.
He and his publisher had to scramble. (Insert your comparisons to an NBA team adjusting on the fly to the fast break.) There were 8,000 copies of the book already at the printer. MacMahon did his part, adding a final chapter.
Even before the trade, MacMahon says, “a lot of Mavericks fans are upset that the book is being written. It was not blessed by Luka … Certain parts of the book are critical of him.”
However, the author says, “One promise I made to Luka via his representatives was that I would not delve into his personal life.”
What’s present, by and large, is a portrayal that’s respectful, candid – and lyrical in describing Dončić’s many achievements on the court over five-plus seasons.
Dončić came to the Mavs having first drawn their attention while playing as a teenager for the elite Spanish team Real Madrid. He joined a Dallas organization that was as full of unhealthy machinations as Game of Thrones, to use MacMahon’s comparison. Rivalries simmered in the Texas heat between the then-owner, then-GM and then-coach – Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson and Rick Carlisle, respectively. When the dust settled, only Cuban was left standing in Dallas, with Jason Kidd taking over as coach and Nico Harrison as GM. Eventually, even Cuban’s power waned after selling the team to a group headlined by a Las Vegas casino owner, Patrick Dumont. (The former owner retained a minority ownership stake.) During Dončić’s years in Dallas, the Mavs tried multiple times to find a supporting player who could do the difficult, ego-less job of complementing their star. First it was Kristaps Porziņģis, then Jalen Brunson. After those partnerships failed (for various reasons, discussed in the book), the Mavs added Kyrie Irving, who helped Dallas reach the finals last year.
Through it all, Dončić lived up to his promise and then some. The book chronicles those breathtaking moments: an 11-0 individual run in one game against the Houston Rockets that put the league on notice; second-year praise, unprintable but memorable, from LeBron James, after a neat generational moment: James and Dončić became the oldest and youngest NBA players, respectively, to post a 30-10-15 triple-double. All while playing in the shadow of another legendary European star, Dirk Nowitzki.
MacMahon calls Dončić “the most talented player in franchise history,” and acknowledges the competition for this honor: “Dirk is the sixth-leading scorer all-time.”
The book chronicles how Dončić’s individual game point plateau increased over time: first 50-point nights, then 60, and ultimately 73. Then there’s all the triple-doubles. And don’t get MacMahon started on the intangibles.
“Luka is a master at creating space,” the author says. “He’s such a rare blend of power and finesse … He’s impossible to cover for one man. He’s double-teamed so much. If you put another guy [on him], he’ll make the right pass.”
Last season, MacMahon says, “he had more minutes than anybody in the league, combined regular season and playoffs, the highest usage rate in the league.” Don’t forget he played more than the NBA season – this loyal son of Slovenia played for his national team in the World Championships before coming to Mavs training camp. (For the book, MacMahon visited Dončić’s basketball-crazy homeland.) In the regular season, he had to compensate when Irving was absent due to a foot injury, while in the playoffs Dončić averaged 30-plus minutes per game despite a knee injury suffered in the first round.
“The minutes and miles that are on him, it’s pretty extraordinary,” MacMahon says. “Also, he’s going to see the best defender on the other team … He gets in the paint, takes a lot of shots, initiates a lot of shots, rebounds … It takes a physical toll on his body.”
It is a toll, some might say, that has been compounded by conditioning issues. The book addresses this claim, along with another knock – his frequent interactions with referees.
“He has two major flaws,” MacMahon says. “Conditioning concerns, and … the occasional lack of focus. He allows his emotions to get the best of him.” Or, as the author puts it, “there are times he’s more focused on the three guys with the whistles than the five guys on the floor trying to stop him.”
MacMahon cites diet and conditioning as among the reasons Mavs GM Harrison parted ways with Dončić. The author says he has discussed the trade with 50 executives and scouts.
“Many said you cannot trade a generational talent at 25 years old unless the guy puts a gun to your head and wants his way out,” MacMahon says. “Luka was about to buy his forever house in Dallas.”
Instead, it was off to Los Angeles, where he became teammates with his now 40-year-old admirer James. Dončić was also reunited with one of his favorite teammates on the Mavs, Dorian Finney-Smith. (Mavs coach JJ Redick was also an ex-teammate.) Old friend Nowitzki showed up to watch his first game.
Although Dončić’s star shone bright in the Lone Star State, maybe he’ll be better off in LA, playing on a team with a fellow brilliant star – James.
“I was just in LA to see him play,” MacMahon reports of Dončić. “He has the joy back, that smile, a bounce in his step. I don’t know if they’re going to be a championship team now. There’s a small chance.” But, he adds, “he’s got a pretty phenomenal chance to compete for championships long-term with the Lakers.”
As for the team that traded him?
“This is a really, really catastrophic experience for Mavericks fans,” MacMahon says. “The soul of this fanbase has been trampled on, to be blunt. There’s unbelievable, intense outrage.”
The author reflects on Dončić’s five and a half years in Dallas, from his interactions with then-coach Carlisle and then-teammate Porziņģis to Brunson leaving via free agency – and on how Dončić stayed through it all until management traded him.
“You go back through this,” MacMahon says. “It’s just amazing how much drama there was, how much dysfunction there was, how much, frankly, mismanagement there was – and how much success they had despite all of it. It goes back to the talent in this kid.”