Category: Basketball

Think you’ve seen all the postgame Knicks celebrations?

Think again.

A series of exclusive photos obtained by The Post highlight the Knicks celebrating their NBA championship — the franchise’s first in 53 years — at Flyfish Club, the exclusive private members’ club co-founded by Gary Vaynerchuk, David Rodolitz, Chef Josh Capon and Chef Conor Hanlon, located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

The team boarded flights back home right after their celebrations at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio rather than opting to spend the night on the road and flying Sunday morning.

By Sunday night, a championship party was set.

A majority of the team made an appearance at the club, including Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek, Mohamed Diawara, Kevin McCullar Jr., Trey Jemison III, Dillon Jones, Ariel Hukporti and Jordan Clarkson.

The homecoming party brought players together with their families, close friends and loved ones for a special night that featured a performance from A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and a champagne toast led by Brunson and his fellow teammates.

Other special guests included Yankees two-time All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Vaynerchuk, who is also a New York Times best-selling author.

Entrepreneur and Karl-Anthony Towns’ fiancée, Jordyn Woods, also made an appearance at the party.

Woods has been a big part of the Knicks’ incredible playoff run towards their title. The founder of the fashion line “Woods”, she was carrying around her own orange bag that proved to be a good luck charm for the team.

She brought the bag to each game throughout the Knicks’ 13-0 playoff run until the team lost Game 3 of the Finals to the Spurs, yet Woods was not allowed to bring it into the Garden for that game due to rules surrounding President Donald Trump’s attendance.

At the end of the run, Woods’ bag went undefeated.

Brunson’s wife, Ali, was also seen at the exclusive club to celebrate.

She was seen in the immediate aftermath of the championship win, joining in on a big group hug with her husband, Brunson’s parents, Rick and Sandra, and sister Erica.

Once he met his assistant coach and dad for a hug, the emotions started to pour out of Brunson.

“Honestly, it was like a lifetime, honestly, that’s what it felt like. I knew I had to because I knew that face would look crazy on TV,”  Brunson said on “Good Morning America” Monday. “I think the best part about it is that these guys have my back night in and night out. Made that moment 10 times more special.”

The partying won’t end on Sunday night.

The Knicks have their championship parade through the Canyon of Heroes set for Thursday, which begins at Battery Park and ends at City Hall.

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The New York Knicks winning their first NBA title since 1973 in five games was bad for sportsbooks. 

Key Takeaways

• The Knicks turned into a liability for BetMGM as the Finals went along.
  
  
• Bettors kept backing New York in both futures markets and live betting in games.
  
  
• Jalen Brunson took home Finals MVP, a small relief for operators.

The good news for operators was that they avoided bettors unloading on the Knicks in a Game 6 or 7. Still, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks captured a massive betting audience, picking up steam throughout their playoff run, attracting betting action in both futures markets and individual games.

The Knicks took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a dramatic Game 4 win and then closed out the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on the road in Game 5, rewarding bettors. 

“Before the NBA Finals began, the sportsbook was cheering for the Knicks because the Spurs were the biggest remaining liability on the futures market,” BetMGM trader Anthony Parenti said. “However, by the time New York took a 2-0 series lead, our liability had flipped. Knicks winning the title ended up making a lot of our customers very happy."  

From beginning to end

At the beginning of the playoffs, BetMGM had taken more money on the Spurs (+450) to win the NBA title than Oklahoma City, the favorite in 2025-2026.

New York was at +2,200 to win the NBA championship at BetMGM during the first round of the playoffs. 

The Knicks even began the best-of-seven series as +170 underdogs, with the Spurs at -210. After New York took a 2-0 lead, the odds shifted to Knicks -140, and by the time they were up 3-1, the Knickerbockers (-550) had 77% of the bets and 53% of the handle. 

Massive wagering

A Knicks team that struggled to compete at times over the last two decades became a major driver of betting activity. DraftKings reported last week that Game 4 was the most-bet NBA contest in the operator’s history. BetMGM experienced an average 28.6% year-over-year increase in money wagered on each Finals game.

Had the series lasted longer, it might’ve done more damage to sportsbooks, but it would’ve produced incredible handles, especially in a Game 7, because of the hysteria surrounding the Knicks.

“The Knicks and the public are locked in on each other,” DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello told Covers last week. 

New York also did a number on sportsbooks through live betting, as the darling trailed by double digits in every game, allowing bettors to pound even better underdog odds. The Knicks were down 29 before the incredible rally in Game 4, and they came back from 16 in the first half in Game 5. 

Other Finals betting notes

The Knicks won Game 5 as 5.5-point underdogs. They were getting 67% of the spread bets and 77% of the handle. More than 50% of the moneyline handle was also backing New York at +165 to win outright and close out the series. 

A BetMGM bettor cashed a $20,000 ticket at +2,200 on the Knicks, returning a $440,000 payout. 

Brunson took home an NBA title and series MVP on Saturday night. He was a -110 favorite by the end of New York’s run to win the individual award at BetMGM, getting 22% of the tickets and 60% of the market’s handle. 

However, teammate OG Anunoby was a bigger liability at BetMGM, with his odds getting as high as +50,000 to start the playoffs and shortening to +200 by Game 5.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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The New York Knicks’ 16-3 run to the NBA Championship was impressive.

Just not impressive enough to sway the NBA Championship odds at prediction markets like Kalshi to believe anyone other than the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder can win the 2027 title.

Those two Western Conference powers have a combined 55% shot to claim the NBA title next season (Thunder 28%, Spurs 27%), which means solid returns for the other 28 teams.

The entire NBA offseason is in front of us, with trades, free agency, and the NBA Draft on deck. Before the summer circus starts, here are my three favorite NBA picks to make right now.

🏆2026-27 NBA Championship predictions

Odds courtesy of Kalshi as of 3:15 p.m. ET on 6-15.

📈2026-27 NBA Championship odds

  Miami Heat (3¢ at Kalshi)

The Heat are at the center of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, with the Bucks star preferring to land in South Beach. An investment now gets you out ahead of the market moves.

Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jacquez Jr., and draft picks are the reported return for the Bucks, but recent rumblings say they’re asking for more. That could draw a third team into the mix to help satisfy Milwaukee’s needs.

Adding Giannis alongside Bam Adebayo gives Miami the most potent frontcourt tandem in the NBA. The Heat will likely retain Andrew Wiggins and have promising young guards in Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson, along with mastermind coach Erik Spoelstra.

A trade for Antetokounmpo could also entice free agents to sign with Miami — if the sun, fun, and no income tax weren’t enough.

As the Knicks showed, the path through the East is far easier, and the Miami Heat odds will spike if and when the Giannis deal gets done.

  Indiana Pacers (4¢ at Kalshi)

It would only be fitting that the Indiana Pacers take their place as the Knicks’ biggest rivals in the Eastern Conference.

Let’s not forget, Indiana was a Tyrese Halliburton Achilles tear away from knocking off OKC in the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers didn’t rush their star back in 2026, playing out what was a throw-away season.

Indiana swapped the would-be No. 5 pick for center Ivica Zubac, who gives the Pacers the interior toughness needed to compete against the likes of San Antonio and OKC. 

The rest of the roster is pretty much intact, returning the depth that was the Pacers’ calling card in 2025. A free agent signing at forward (like veteran Khris Middleton) would bolster the frontcourt and have the Pacers back in the title hunt in 2026.

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  Houston Rockets (3¢ at Kalshi)

The Houston Rockets’ early playoff exit and combined 4-10 record against the West’s Top 4 teams have soured most, plunging Houston to seventh in the projected conference pecking order.

This slide seems severe considering the Rockets finished sixth in net rating last year, behind five of the Top 6 favorites to win the 2027 NBA title.

This roster is sound and should return veteran pieces that were injured last year. Kevin Durant is still an All-NBA talent and has quality players around him, with Tari Eason (RFA), Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Reed Shepard all stepping up.

Houston also has a lot of future draft capital to flex, should it want to chase a big-name trade between now and the 2027 deadline. If the Rockets hold their own among the best in the West come February, GM Rafael Stone might make a move to bring in a second superstar.

I see a lot of wiggle room in the Western Conference, at least below the Spurs and Thunder. The Lakers may not have LeBron James back, Denver’s window is closing, the L.A. Clippers are caught in the Kawhi drama, and Minnesota could look very different — good or bad.

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Phoenix Suns all-time leading scorer Devin Booker is one of the greatest Suns players, if not the greatest player, in the history of the organization. That statement is factually true and cannot be argued against with any real weight. 

In his 11 seasons with the franchise, Booker has taken the Suns as close to the pinnacle of the sport as they have been after going up 2-0 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals. He is an Olympic gold medalist, a first-team All-NBA selection in 2021-22, has five All-Star appearances, and has a career average of 24.6 points per game.

All incredible accomplishments for someone who has given everything he has to the Valley. But looking forward to the future is not as bright as we hoped it would be after his historic playoff runs in 2021 and 2023.

The question that has been asked the last two seasons: Is Devin Booker washed? Declining? Whatever descriptive term you want, and how extreme you take it, there is no arguing that he has not had the same explosive scoring seasons over the last two seasons as he had in the 2021 to 2024 seasons. Over those three seasons, Booker averaged 27.2 points per game, and in the 2024 to 2026 seasons, he has averaged 25.9 points per game.

Now let’s pause for a second. Those are still remarkably great numbers, and Booker is absolutely one of the best players in the game today. But he has not played to the level of an All-NBA, top 10 player in basketball over the last two seasons, as we Suns fans (biased as we may be) thought he was at for the first half of this decade.

It’s not just his scoring that has gone down; his field goal percentage has declined from 49% in the 2023 and 2024 seasons to an average of 45.9% in the 2025 and 2026 seasons. His three-point shooting has dropped from well above 35% to 33% over the last two seasons. Even his percentage of points scored in the midrange has dropped to just 17%, which is his lowest season since 2019-20. 

Statistically, Booker has regressed, and unfortunately, the eye test over the last two seasons tells us the same thing. He looks a little slower and does not appear to have the same ability to separate from defenders as he did during his peak seasons with the Suns.

Booker’s role has also changed from those seasons, too. In the last three seasons, Booker has been the primary ball-handler and distributor on offense. Before that, he had Chris Paul to share the load with him, but in the last two or three seasons, it has been Booker in full control of the ship. 

So can Booker get back to his first-team All-NBA, fourth-place MVP-voting season self again?

The short answer is yes, and it comes down to two things: get Booker in position to be the savant scorer he is, not the full-time table setter, and Booker has to become a better three-point shooter.

The first thing the Suns have to do is find, or develop, another ball-dominant creator who can help Booker shoulder the offensive load so Booker does not have to run every ball screen and face double teams every possession. Booker is consistently seeing defenses designed to take him away, and let anyone else on the Suns go crazy.

Think back to last season. Booker faced double teams and heavy gap defenses designed to shut off his ability to score. Meanwhile, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green usually could isolate in their spots without facing the same tilted defense.

The one-on-one midpost isolations that Brooks got last season used to be Booker’s when the Suns had another threat like Chris Paul or Kevin Durant (before things went south). Maybe Jalen Green can eventually develop into that kind of player where Booker doesn’t need to orchestrate every possession, but that seems lofty. And if it does happen, it will take more than one season for Green to get there. As far as Dillon Brooks’ development goes, what we got last year is what we’re going to get going forward: a black hole that thinks score, score, score when he has the ball.

So if the Suns are willing to trade up in the draft or wheel and deal this offseason, finding a big wing that can rebound and shoot the ball is obviously a priority, but finding someone who can make Booker better has to be No. 2 on the list. Booker made everyone else around him better this season, the part we forget about when talking about his decreasing numbers and worse end-of-game execution. Hopefully, the Suns can find players this offseason who can help Booker be better and not just benefit from his greatness.

Organizationally, the Suns can try to surround Booker with players who can help him get free. But the other part of this conundrum is that Booker also needs to get better as well. The thing that Booker can directly control is how well he shoots from the three-point line. It is no coincidence that his best three-point shooting seasons were also his best scoring seasons as a professional. He shot a career high at over 38% from 3 the year he finished fourth in MVP voting. Is that a coincidence? I would argue it’s not.

The ability to shoot threes, especially off the dribble, creates a different dynamic that Booker has been unable to tap into the last two seasons, only shooting 33% from long range. Becoming an above-average three-point shooter will help Booker slow the ferocity of Father Time because it will make it harder for defenses to stop his ability to get to the basket and get to his patented midrange jumper if they are less willing to give up a three-point shot. Even if it’s less often than it was in the 2021-22 season, the Suns have to utilize Booker off the ball more and get him more open three-point shots to accentuate his shooting ability. Whether that is Oso Ighodaro, Collin Gillespie, or someone else in charge of running the offense, Booker has to get easier looks than he got this season, and getting him off the ball will do just that.

Combining a consistent three-point shot with Booker’s savant scoring package in the midrange, on top of his improved free-throw drawing tendencies this past season, Booker can get back to being in the conversation of a Top 10 player in basketball again. That is a conversation he hasn’t sniffed in two seasons, and it’s also not the only thing he can do to get back to it, but it looks like it could be his simplest way back unless he becomes far more explosive magically this offseason. Outside of a ginormous franchise-altering trade that brings in another superstar to Phoenix, the most crucial thing for the Suns to improve in the next couple of seasons to truly get back into deep playoff contention is for Booker to get back to his apex.

Building around the Devin Booker we’ve seen the last two seasons is futile if he is not actually good enough to take us back up the mountain anymore.

After the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win the 2026 NBA Finals, front offices are all turning their attention to the 2026 NBA Draft.

An exciting postseason gave us a better indication of which types of players thrive in the modern NBA when the games matter most. Additionally, pre-draft workouts as well as conversations with folks around the league have provided more intel on where each prospect might get selected during draft nights at Barclays Center on June 23 and June 24.

Our mock draft includes data from CBB Analytics. We also spoke with P3, a sports science and athletic training company that uses biomechanical data and movement profiling to evaluate players and project NBA outcomes, to better understand how certain prospects translate physically to the next level.

Following conversations with decision-makers around the league and other trusted reporting, here are our latest predictions.

Note: All heights and wingspans (as well as the distance between the two) are listed to the nearest inch and players were measured without shoes.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Expect the Wizards to decide between two players: AJ Dybansta and Darryn Peterson, both of whom have already reportedly conducted workouts for Washington. After they had the second-worst offense in the league, the franchise could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner.

The former five-star recruit emphasized his case for No. 1 overall during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. 

He would be a fascinating fit next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who could help him play alongside veteran talent early in his career.

2. Utah Jazz: Cameron Boozer

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 18

While nearly every mainstream mock draft has the Jazz selecting Darryn Peterson to join Keyonte George in the backcourt, this is far from a foregone conclusion. In fact, per ESPN, the guard hasn't worked out for Utah and he "informed the Jazz that he plans to take no further team visits" after only conducting meetings with Washington.

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer, meanwhile, was dominant during his sole NCAA season and earned national collegiate player of the year honors.

The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, though he performed better than expected during athletic testing at the combine in Chicago. He offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set, and he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and playing on an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16.

It is important to note that his father, former Jazz player Carlos Boozer, currently works as a scout for Utah. Even if this is an awkward positional fit with a crowded frontcourt, the Jazz are building a stronger core. As of right now, fans should operate under the assumption this pick is not yet decided and any one of these top prospects is in play.

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

Peterson will reportedly only conduct meetings with the Washington Wizards at No. 1 overall, per ESPN. But that won't prevent a team like the Utah Jazz or Memphis Grizzlies from calling his name when either are on the clock if Peterson is still available to them should the Wizards not select him.

If the Grizzlies do draft Peterson, it would give them a fresh start with a new floor general to run the offense and give them even more incentive to potentially trade longtime franchise star point guard Ja Morant.

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Bryson Graham, who was recently hired as the new executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, has a simple task: Select whichever of the four players is still available.

North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is not just a consolation prize. He is a perfect fit for what Graham wants to build in Chicago, as he values size, length, athleticism, and physicality. Wilson did more than enough to earn this placement before his injury.

According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded and was one of the best vertical athletes who tested at the combine in Chicago. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.

5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Clippers received this pick from the Indiana Pacers as part of a package involving Ivica Zubac, but Jake Fischer reported that he is "hearing considerable curiosity" about whether or not the Clippers will actually use this pick or potentially trade it for a win-now player. Whether it's their front office or another on the clock at No. 5 overall, look for them to potentially call on Illinois standout Keaton Wagler, an ideal fit next to Darius Garland.

“I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder,” Wagler told USA TODAY Sports. “Just trying to go out each game and prove myself and do whatever it takes to win.”

The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini reach the Final Four, finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals after scoring 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, hitting 39.7% from beyond the arc as a freshman and connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. Wagler is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.

6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr.

• DRAFT AGE: 20
• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+4)

During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like the talented Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., even though they drafted three point guards last season. He has already completed a second workout for Brooklyn; a person with knowledge of the situation who was unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and ranked among the freshman leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics.

Brown Jr. was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including a 45-point outing against NC State on Feb. 9 in which he hit 10 3-pointers, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness. “I got cleared by the medical staff from the league at the Combine, so we’re all green,” Brown Jr. told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel like myself again.”

7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr.

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-2
• WINGSPAN: 6-7 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need a potential star and according to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, folks around the league "widely believe" they are targeting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. in this class.

En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well.

P3’s evaluators highlighted his “really impressive start-stop tools” and ability to generate separation in multiple directions, key traits for a high-usage guard translating to the NBA.

He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory. It's also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college and it's hard to imagine a scenario where he falls below this pick.

8. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Brayden Burries

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+2)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

With the pick the Hawks received from New Orleans, Atlanta is expected to pick a guard, and one potential target is Arizona freshman Brayden Burries.

He was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock.

But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.

9. Dallas Mavericks: Kingston Flemings

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-4 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

After hiring Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations and Mike Schmitz as general manager, the Dallas Mavericks can add a lottery talent to grow alongside Cooper Flagg. One name to consider is Houston freshman Kingston Flemings.

The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night. 

Flemings' smaller wingspan did him no favors at the combine but he measured with a 40.5-inch max vertical and elite speed across all his agility testing, projecting as one of the fastest guards since De'Aaron Fox.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Aday Mara

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• WINGSPAN: 7-6 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 21

While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large defenders like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) as front offices value bigger bodies to throw at Victor Wembanyama.

11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López

• TEAM: New Zealand (International)
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Karim López had a low usage rate and played fewer minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros, but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. According to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, his "range" starts at this pick to Golden State.

The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30 earlier this year. According to someone with knowledge of the situation who did not have authority to speak publicly on the matter, Warriors executive Mike Dunleavy attended that game.

Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup. López measured well, weighing just shy of 222 pounds and with a 38-inch max vertical. He is also a consideration for the Bulls at No. 15 overall.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Nate Ament

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+2)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While the Thunder may not actually use this pick because they have such an abundance of talent on its roster already, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament, who has reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization.

The forward reportedly considered returning to college to aim for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. His decision to declare for this class, instead, suggests he is likely comfortable with the pre-draft feedback he received.

The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking this forward with a standing reach exceeding 9-foot-1 near the lottery.

13. Miami Heat: Hannes Steinbach

• DRAFT AGE: 20
• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+4)

German big man Hannes Steinbach, who will get looks starting as early as around No. 10 overall, should make some sense for the Miami Heat. The center reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten center is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, Steinbach was one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He impressed during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.  

14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson was a big winner during measurements at the combine, recording a 39-inch max vertical and testing with elite agility for his position.

15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Cameron Carr

• DRAFT AGE: 21
• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+8)

The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament and the player who improved his draft stock the most during the combine was Baylor junior Cameron Carr.

He scored 30 points in a five-on-five scrimmage, recorded a 42.5-inch max vertical and had great physical measurements. This should grab the attention of teams that tend to like athletic prospects, which new Bulls executive Bryson Graham indicated.

According to P3’s internal models, Carr grades as a 95th-percentile athlete with a rare “hyper flexor” force-production profile, a combination evaluators described as “double unique” for pairing elite explosiveness with unusually fluid movement mechanics.

The All-Big 12 wing brings shooting touch in addition to his shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns): Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-3 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 23

Yaxel Lendeborg showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, however, reported that "there is potential for him to slip out of the lottery" on draft night.

Despite his age, he will intrigue teams like the Grizzlies, who have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade. The Grizzlies have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past.

A few years ago, research indicated that the Memphis front office tends to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Big Ten Player of the Year was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Chris Cenac Jr. 

• DRAFT AGE: 19
• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+7)

If the Thunder do not trade this pick, one name to consider is Chris Cenac Jr., whose range begins around No. 14 overall.

Cenac played into his role and caught fire at the perfect time. In his first NCAA tournament game, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. He followed that up in the Round of 32 by showcasing more scoring touch, finishing cuts to the basket for 17 points against Texas A&M. Cenac was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still pulled down 10 rebounds.

“I got to earn my minutes. I got to do the little things… defending, rebounding, spacing the floor,” Cenac told USA TODAY Sports. "Whatever team takes me… they’re getting a winning player that loves winning and is going to buy into whatever to help that team win."

Cenac also impressed at the NBA Combine, posting a 37-inch max vertical and strong agility numbers for his size.

P3 places Cenac within its “bigs plus” model, a rare archetype combining traditional size with wing-like mobility. Evaluators pointed to his “unique tools” and described him as a potential “matchup nightmare” due to his movement profile and physical traits, which suggest his significant untapped upside.

18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic): Labaron Philon Jr.

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Hornets could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization, on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned him a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Ebuka Okorie

• TEAM: Stanford
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: New Hampshire
• HEIGHT: 6-1
• WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue the Spurs, who often fall in love with players who boast a high assist-to-turnover ratio like he did (2.3) last season.

Expect the Spurs to also consider Allen Graves, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization.

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Dailyn Swain

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and helping lead the Longhorns to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball.

The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed across the board on both ends, scoring efficiently in the paint and in transition. Another appealing element is his effectiveness in isolation, where he can create for himself against defenders. Swain is quick, bouncy and a solid rebounder, and his 81.5% free-throw percentage suggests promising shooting touch. While he has three years of college experience, he’s still just 20 years old, the same age as several NCAA freshmen.

P3 categorizes Swain as a “kinematic mover,” a fluid, efficiency-driven archetype that allows players to “get wherever they want on the court” and has produced the highest density of NBA All-Stars in its data.

Expect the Pistons to have serious interest in Swain, based on multiple people who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity, though Detroit will also strongly consider shooters like Christian Anderson and Isaiah Evans.

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Joshua Jefferson

• TEAM: Iowa State
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Philadelphia 76ers have a new front office led by president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson. One name they may have their eyes on with the first-round pick they acquired after trading Jared McCain is Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson. The All-Big 12 standout was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who got hurt during March Madness and otherwise could have come into the pre-draft process with even more hype and momentum due to his unique skill set.

23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+8)
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. Evaluators are "consistently expressing concern around his medicals" about the big man, per ESPN's Jeremy Woo.

The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, though, and he showed elite flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that may need frontcourt help, like the Hawks. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers, regularly swatting shots on the perimeter.

While his draft stock is not what it once was due to health concerns, his youth and frame give him an opportunity to become a special player in the NBA.

24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who came close to becoming a March Madness hero. The WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year turned heads after posting 30 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Feb. 7 against Washington State.

The Knicks have prioritized scrappy, high-motor players like Josh Hart, capable of winning the possession battle through rebounds and turnovers. That's an area where Graves stands out among the best in this class and is likely one of the reasons he chose to turn pro rather than return to college.

The only players under 21 with a higher box plus-minus, per Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. All teams that prioritize analytical modeling in the pre-draft process will have Graves ranked highly.

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Arizona forward Koa Peat is potentially an appealing option for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is naturally bouncy and athletic with good positional size, a strong frame and a near 7-foot wingspan. Peat is also a solid rebounder and passer for his position. The All-Big 12 forward will need to improve his jumper to carve out consistent, high-impact minutes at the next level, but he’s still worth first-round consideration based on his body of work so far. Peat arguably had the most interesting decisions to make when it was finally his turn to announce if he would stay in college or turn pro.

26. Denver Nuggets: Christian Anderson 

• DRAFT AGE: 20
• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-1
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+5)

The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson is a potentially perfect fit. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs. Even though he is a bit undersized, there are few better offensive creators in this class than Anderson.

27. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Evans

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: North Carolina
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• WINGSPAN: 6-9 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers. Evans scored 218 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked third-best among ACC players last season. He also matched 30 corner 3-pointers, according to CBB Analytics, which trailed the top-ranked high-major player (34) by just four field goals made. Expect the Celtics to potentially have Evans higher on their big board than other teams might. UConn's Alex Karaban, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization, also fits the bill.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Meleek Thomas 

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Pennsylvania
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-7 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent on 3-pointers during his 21 games as a starter last season. He was efficient using off-ball screens and handoffs and occasionally showed some on-ball flashes as a pick-and-roll ball handler as well. He led the SEC in corner 3-pointers made (32) last season, per CBB Analytics, and his plus-four wingspan gives him solid length as a young guard who is still improving on both sides of the court. Thomas answered one of the biggest questions in college basketball when he decided to turn pro rather than return to the NCAA.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Henri Veesaar

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Estonia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered "at least $6 million" in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr. 

• DRAFT AGE: 22
• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)

UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke.

There is plenty of interest in Reed from teams picking between No. 16 and No. 30 overall, based on our intel.

During the combine, he did the dirty work, recording 5 rebounds with 1 steal and 1 block in his first game and then scored 17 points (7-of-9 FG) with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the second. Reed also tested with elite agility for his position. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.

SECOND ROUND

31. New York Knicks (via WAS): Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's)

32. Memphis Grizzlies (via IND): Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia)

33. Brooklyn Nets: Ryan Conwell (Louisville)

34. Sacramento Kings: Trevon Brazile (Arkansas)

35. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA): Alex Karaban (UConn)

36. L.A. Clippers (via MEM): Sergio De Larrea (International)

37. Oklahoma City Thunder (via DAL): Richie Saunders (BYU)

38. Chicago Bulls (via NOP): Izaiyah Nelson (South Florida)

39. Houston Rockets (via CHI): Baba Miller (Cincinnati)

40. Boston Celtics (via MIL): Emanuel Sharp (Houston)

41. Miami Heat (via GSW): Nick Martinelli (Northwestern)

42. San Antonio Spurs (via POR): Felix Okpara (Tennessee)

43. Brooklyn Nets (via LAC): Jack Kayil (ALBA Berlin - International)

44. San Antonio Spurs (via MIA): Braden Smith (Purdue)

45. Sacramento Kings (via CHA): Maliq Brown (Duke)

46. Orlando Magic: Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA)

47. Phoenix Suns (via PHI): Jaden Bradley (Arizona)

48. Dallas Mavericks (via PHX): Milos Uzan (Houston)

49. Denver Nuggets (via ATL): Dillon Mitchell (St. John's)

50. Toronto Raptors: Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)

51. Washington Wizards (via MIN): Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee)

52. L.A. Clippers (via CLE): Nick Boyd (Wisconsin)

53. Houston Rockets: Keyshawn Hall (Auburn)

54. Golden State Warriors (via LAL): Tyler Nickel (Vanderbilt)

55. New York Knicks: Rafael Castro (George Washington)

56. Chicago Bulls (via DEN): Tobe Awaka (Arizona)

57. Atlanta Hawks (via BOS): Kylan Boswell (Illinois)

58. New Orleans Pelicans (via DET): Jaron Pierre Jr. (SMU)

59. Minnesota Timberwolves (via SAS): Aaron Nkrumah (Tennessee State)

60. Washington Wizards (via OKC): Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft: Projecting all 60 picks following the season

This has been a summer of change at Michigan State. First, the school's president Kevin Guskiewicz left. Now, its athletic director J Batt has bolted for Kentucky after just one year in East Lansing.

Tom Izzo has been one constant at MSU — 43 years to be exact — and he vented his frustrations Monday, June 15 about the instability above him.

“Well, I’ll be very honest with you, which I’ve always been. I can’t stand what’s going on, and I’m not going to over-talk about it now, but I am in the very near future. I’ve had it," Izzo told Detroit Free Press reporter Chris Solari. "This is self-inflicted. We just lost the best president to ever been here, maybe — one of the best. And there’s other dominoes that get affected when things go wrong like that. I’m very upset about it, and I’m sick of it. And I’ll go into why when I decide to say something in the near future. I’m not going to do it right now."

Guskiewicz cited an "unstable situation" in his decision to leave Michigan State to become president at Clemson, taking an $800,000 pay cut in the process to leave MSU's dysfunction.

"I think 600,000 living alums better start rally together. If there’s ever a time that we need to rally together it’s now. And that’s all 600,000. That ain’t Tom Izzo. I’m not an alum... I’m a very invested stakeholder. But the alums better stand up. I’m asking the alums to stand up because what happened with our president is ridiculous. And he said it. We know the reasons. And I’m ashamed. I’m disgusted, hurt… Spartan Nation better stand up, all 600,000 of them.”

Izzo is entering his 32nd year as Spartans head coach with a 764-310 record (.711), 11 regular-season Big Ten titles, eight Final Four trips and a national championship in 2000.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Izzo goes off on Michigan State as president, AD leave

Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr underwent surgery to repair a fractured right foot on Monday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr underwent surgery to repair a fractured right foot on Monday, sources tell ESPN. Sarr sustained the injury on a contact play during an offseason workout late last week. He is expected to be healthy for the start of the season. pic.twitter.com/fxXr7iHUUL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2026

Sarr, 21, suffered the injury during an offseason workout last week but is expected to return by the start of the 2026-27 season.

Depending on the severity, foot fractures typically require 6-to-8 weeks for the bone to knit together, according to Royal United Hospitals. That said, it could take anywhere from 3-to-6 months to regain full strength in the foot and return to high-impact physical activities.

The 7-foot big man averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in what was a breakout sophomore season. Sarr raised his field goal percentage to 48.2% and shot a respectable 33% from three.

Sarr missed 34 games last season due to toe, hamstring and groin injuries. He projects as Washington’s starting center alongside Anthony Davis, who prefers to play power forward.

Looks like Knicks star Mikal Bridges is really enjoying the team’s NBA championship win.

The former Villanova Wildcat went crazy on Instagram Live on Monday, doing everything from discussing Jalen Brunson getting a statue to singing to his dog Sonny.

“Build him a statue,” Bridges said. “Build that little big-headed ass n—a a statue bro.”

Bridges continued to support the NBA Finals MVP, sarcastically imitating people who questioned the decision to bring in Brunson from the Mavericks.

“Just take over the Knicks and get a chip,” Bridges said. “That’s some savage talk.”

The guard didn’t just talk about Brunson, though; he also showed off his jersey collection, which included signed jerseys from Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and Austin Reaves.

Knicks owner James Dolan also got a shoutout from Bridges for helping the team lock in over the past 10 weeks as they rolled through the playoffs.

He also referenced Dolan’s reported joke to the players about not having sex during the playoff run.

“Someone take Mikal’s phone away,” Brunson wrote on X.

STOPPPPPP I love Mikal. #official#mikalyearpic.twitter.com/zTB0w8hIat

— SG (@SG212MSG) June 15, 2026

“He could be a bigger savage if he built a practice facility in the city,” Bridges said. “But he still a savage.”

Bridges later showed off his dance moves while eating Chipotle, which he famously has eaten every day for the past 10 years.

His order is white rice, double chicken, medium and mild salsa, corn and lettuce, as seen in the video.

Warning: Graphic Language

What's that dance  bro doing when Beenie's song comes on? pic.twitter.com/fq7FXMU30x

— Lav Blackman (@lifegoeson_q) June 15, 2026

The guard continued his dance moves shortly after with his Labrador named Sonny.

Throughout the live, multiple other voices could be heard, though it’s unclear who he was with.

Bridges won the NBA Finals with the Knicks on Saturday.

He averaged 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 19 games during the playoff run.

Why Warriors could use a player like Morez Johnson Jr. on their roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – When the Warriors signed big man Charles Bassey for the final six games of the 2025-26 NBA season, it was to address multiple needs. He rebounded splendidly, blocked a few shots, set solid screens and, above all, was available. He aced the audition.

As the Warriors prepare for the 2026 NBA Draft next week, they must consider whether a rookie might be a better long-term investment than a 25-year-old who has worn five different jerseys since the Philadelphia 76ers selected him in the second round in 2021.

Which is why pre-draft auditions continue, with Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. among several others going through a workout Monday at Chase Center.

“The workout went great for me,” Johnson said. “(I’ve) got try to show them that I’m competitive and want to win, do anything takes to win.”

Johnson is one of three frontcourt players from the national champion Wolverines bound for the NBA this month. All three could enter the league as lottery picks, with Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 center, expected to go first, followed by 6-foot-9 forward Yaxel Lendeborg and Johnson, who projects to go in the middle of the first round.

Standing 6-foot-10 and weighing 250 pounds, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Johnson played primarily at power forward, putting up decent numbers. His interior defense is considered ahead of his offense, and that’s OK with Golden State, which is seeking help on that end.

It’s notable that Johnson expressed a belief that he’s capable of defending every position, from point guard to center.

Johnson leapt onto the radar of NBA teams after averaging 13.1 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds for the Wolverines. Among the NBA players draft services consider reasonable comparables are Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart, Dallas Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford and Houston Rockets veteran Clint Capela.

 “I think that I bring some physicality, versatility on the defensive end and a connector offensively,” Johnson said. “Just trying to help everybody get to their spots, not try to force anything, being a great teammate.

“I think the second effort, second, third, fourth effort, that’s a winner’s trait. Just showing you I’ll do anything to win, multiple efforts, not just trying it one time and giving in. Just keep showing effort and being resilient.”

Johnson leaves Michigan after his sophomore season, during which he started all 40 games. He began his collegiate career at Illinois, where he played 30 games (eight starts) as a freshman before transferring.

There seems to be a consensus among scouts that Johnson’s greatest strength is his desire. His toughness and “motor” seem unquestioned.

Golden State is interested in players with those attributes, which also apply to Bassey. The greatest difference is that Bassey turns 26 in October, and Johnson won’t turn 21 until next January.

The Warriors like Bassey. They can’t be blamed for taking a close look at someone like Johnson, whose upside is reason enough to place him high on their draft board.

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Before the 2022-23 season, I wrote a piece about the importance of the Spurs learning from losses. The title was “Watching for small victories in a season that won’t feature many Spurs wins”. I ended the piece with this:

In our lives, and watching this Spurs team struggle through this season, let’s all try to embrace the small victories, even if they don’t all translate into wins in the standings.

Of course, that season of abundant losses ended with a huge victory at the draft lottery when the Spurs got the top pick in the NBA draft. They then cleverly chose a tall French player instead of Scoot Henderson. Fast forwarding to before the start of the 2025-26 season, I ended a piece about the strength of the Western Conference with this:

While the 2025-26 Spurs cannot realistically expect to challenge the top five from last year, they can set their sights on the next three, along with Play-In losers Mavs and Kings.

Let’s aim for that 6-spot. And maybe face the Clippers in Round One. Does that sound about right?

That might have sounded right in September 2025, and it was not just me. The Vegas over/under for the Spurs was 43.5 wins, barely over a .500 record. The actual 2025-26 standings reveal that 43 or 44 wins would have gotten the Spurs the 7th spot in the West. That means if the theoretical 43-win Spurs won their Play-In game, they would have matched up with the 2nd seed in the West.

Looking again at the standings as the season actually played out, our 43-win Spurs team would have played the first round of the playoffs against … the San Antonio Spurs, who went 62-20, not the 43.5 wins predicted by Las Vegas. In that theoretical first round match-up, I would definitely have picked the Spurs to win. After all, they would have home-court advantage for all 7 games, if it went that long.

Of course, this Spurs team was the 62-win team juggernaut, not the barely over .500 team that would have had to win a Play-In game to even make it into the “real” playoffs. And the juggernaut team had to survive a Victor Wembanyama concussion against the Blazers in the first round, a Victor ejection against the Timberwolves in the second round, and a 3-2 deficit against the defending champs — including a “win or go home” Game Seven in OKC — to even reach the NBA Finals.

So why do I feel so terrible now? The answer is easy — the Spurs could have and should have won it all. They didn’t, and it hurts. Once they made the Finals, all the way too pessimistic preseason predictions, all the playoff hardship, all the “they are too young” pundits went out the window. The Spurs were in the NBA Finals, led every game by double digits, and the Finals could have easily been a 5-game Spurs coronation instead of what actually happened.

For me, the most pain was after Game Four. When Game Five and the Finals ended, I realized I had spent all my angst not sleeping Wednesday night. I simply could not summon up the same amount of angst so soon after the Game Four slowly unfolding nightmare. I slept OK after the Finals ended way too soon Saturday night, got up Sunday for my Sunday morning hoops, and lost myself on the court —passing, shooting, trying to defend, just hanging with my hoops buddies. My safe spot, my sanctuary. It felt good to be on the basketball court.

On the drive home after the Sunday morning game, my mother called from Oregon. We try to talk every Sunday morning. She said she read a bunch of stuff criticizing Mitch Johnson. I told her two things.

First, I told her I had not read anything — not even Pounding the Rock — after Wednesday. I had watched Game Four and didn’t need to (and didn’t want to) read about all the things that went wrong on Wednesday night that led to that result.

Second, I told her that I find it amusing/infuriating when arm-chair pundits criticize coaching decisions. I have been in locker rooms, coaches’ meetings, hundreds of practices, intense halftime strategy sessions, and on the bench during games. I don’t understand how people who have not had any of those experiences believe they know better than the people who have — with this Spurs team — and who do this as their full-time jobs.

Even ex-players, some who are Hall-of-Famers, have this disease of “knowing better”. At halftime of Game Five, one of those Hall-of-Famers said that the Spurs should not play De’Aaron Fox in the second half. What does that even mean? Were Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper supposed to each play 24 minutes in the second half? Of course not. In related news, one of the two guards Chuck apparently thought should play all 24 minutes in the second half had zero baskets in the first half of that very game and did not make a single basket in the first 47 minutes. Stick to being a commentator, Chuck. Coaching is hard.

One final thought: The Spurs’ most painful loss, even worse than Game Four in Madison Square Garden, was the Ray Allen game in 2013. Absent missed free throws by Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard in the last minute, some funky bounces on Heat bricks, and Allen’s back-pedaling three from the corner, the Spurs would have been champions in 2013. What did the team do to re-tool for the next season? They brought back the entire team.

This year’s team would have been champions in 2026 absent some missed free throws and lay-ups, numerous crazy threes from the Knicks, Victor’s “back-pass” to Castle, OG Anunoby’s block on Fox, KAT’s fingertip on Harper’s pass to a wide open Castle at the end of Game Four, and too many other weird things to list here. What should the team do to re-tool for next season?

Let’s run it back.

The closest comparison I can offer is that this feels like I got kissed. When I was a kid who wanted to kiss someone, the few occasions in which I actually got to kiss that person represented a conversion from dream to fact. To want overwhelms the senses. It’s busy, it’s feverish, it’s puzzling, it clouds the vision and rings in the ears. And then one gets what one wants and everything goes quiet. I don’t have to wonder anymore what it might feel like, because it feels like this. It’s a fact about me now, and no one can take it away from me: I’m the kid who kissed Jalen Brunson. I don’t think it’s appropriate to name an actual person I’ve kissed, so I picked the name “Jalen Brunson” at random. I guess I just made it up.

This is now a fact about me. It’s a fact about Jalen and Karl and Mike Brown, of course, but it’s also a fact about me, because the Knicks are a fact about me. I have nothing but love in my heart for adults who chose to pick up Knicks fandom recently, maybe even just for the playoff run, but right now I’m speaking to the sickos and the idiots, because I am one of you, and because the Knicks aren’t something we picked up.

The Knicks imprinted on us long enough ago that choice played no part and putting them down was never an option. If you’re reading this as a lifelong fan of a team other than the Knicks, and that team hasn’t won a title in your life, then this is for you, too. Eat shit, Knicks only, Knicks number one basketball team fuck you, etc., but this is for you.

One way you prove this fact about yourself is to name guys; to just rattle off the grimy, warty players who populated all those bad Knicks teams of yore. I could shout down at you from a tower of miserable lived experience, but I’m not here to do that. I’m not here to talk about Mirsad Turkcan or Erick Strickland to make some point about myself. I love naming guys, but I’m not gonna waste your time naming “Kelvin Cato” and “Demetris Nichols” and “Courtney Sims” and “Cheikh Samb.” Not even Xavier Rathan-Mayes. Okay? It wouldn’t be fair or productive to make you sit through such names as John Thomas and Kadeem Allen.

I trust that you’ll just take me at my word — without my having to mention Derrick Brown – that I’ve been alive for roughly 37 years and a Knicks fan for roughly 32 of them. Nearly as long as I remember being, I remember being a Knicks fan. The people who know and remember me know and remember this, too. I got a lot of texts over the weekend from people I haven’t seen in decades. I watched Game 5 with a friend I made in 1994, still one of my very best friends, one of the people who introduced me to Knicks fandom. We have this trait in common.

It’s a trait! That’s what it is. Everyone around me has always known that the Knicks run in our blood like a trait. We cannot change that. And now we don’t want to! I don’t think I’ll ever want to ever again! 

That whole time, I held out hope that the Knicks would one day win an NBA championship, and all the time I spent wondering and wanting and watching such players as Slavko Vranes and Randolph Morris and, for instance, Sergio Rodriguez would make the culmination that much better. Well guess what, you motherfuckers: It did! It feels so much better this way! That tower of grime now has a Larry O’Brien trophy sitting atop it! Any future grime will slide off the big ol’ shiny ball and fall to the sides! The trophy will always sit on top!

And it’s up so, so high! It’s a huge tower! But now it can’t get any taller! Only wider? The tower metaphor got away from me! The point is: this trophy represents an incontrovertible fact about Mikal Bridges AND me AND perhaps you. Nobody can take it back.

To an extent, that would have been the case no matter how the Knicks finished the series. I spent a good chunk of Wednesday night – approximately 10:41 to 11:35 PM – trying to convince myself of that, but I really do believe it. When the Knicks fell down 29 or whatever in the first half of Game 4, I went home. I live in the Hudson Valley, but I was watching the game in downtown Manhattan. I decided to bail on the bar and my friends and just catch an earlier train home.

Along the way, I thought about two things: One was that no matter what happened in the second half, I would not watch any more of the game live. It was a vow against temptation, and I kept it. I did not take out my phone on MetroNorth except to find louder and louder music to distract myself. Experiencing that comeback only through the screams of strangers and the shaking of a train car was fucking awesome, for real.

The second thing I told myself while staring down a certain 2-2 series score was this: When the Knicks blew their lead and lost the Finals, we would still have something to hold. We still love Patrick Ewing. He still gets to hand Jalen Brunson his ECF MVP trophy. I still watch Allan Houston’s game-winner against the Heat. It’s all fond, tinged though the nostalgia may be with impending doom. A 2026 Knicks Finals run would have settled into that nostalgia portfolio no matter how it ended. Jalen Brunson would be our guy anyway. Forever. I swear I believe that. 

But now . . . who gives a shit!? It’s not a Finals run, it’s a title run! No doom impends! They won. It’s a fact. It’s a fact engraved in gold, a fact to be encrusted in jewels and embroidered on . . . I dunno, what do they make those banners out of? Probably polyester. Do they wash those? It’s a fact, not a dream. It’s a kiss on the mouth. Facts don’t rattle around your head raising questions and stirring worries. Facts just sit there on a shelf, frozen. You can pick one up whenever you want. When times are tough, when you feel discouraged or lonely, or just when it’s quiet, when there’s snow on the ground, you have that fact to mind-fondle:

The Knicks are NBA champions. They’re our NBA champions. That runs in our blood now. Forever. We’ll bleed again, but we won’t bleed out.

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

According to Shams Charania at ESPN:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Go Knicks!

A new era in Chicago has begun.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2014.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bulls grade for Tiago Splitter hire: B

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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