May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dribbles against Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the third quarter in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images | Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs have been pushed by the defending champions to the edge of elimination, and will now return to Frost Bank Center, trying to hold it off on Thursday. They didn’t get enough from Victor Wembanyama who only scored 20 points on 26.7 percent shooting, with seven rebounds, and De’Aaron Fox had nine points on the same efficiency, plus the team eventually started gambling too much on defense.
They were working too hard while the Thunder played more forcefully, and their ball movement plus dribble penetration exposed more openings. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best player, and seized the day with a masterful performance while his team was without significant firepower.
Observations
The pressure in the first quarter was unforgiving, but they loosened up, and while it wasn’t terrible, it allowed enough breathing room for SGA and Jared McCain (in the third) to get hot. The team subsequently got back to its ways at times, when they weren’t fouling, but Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson picked up their fifth fouls early in the fourth, which gravely affected coverages. Notably, coach Mitch Johnson kept K. Johnson in after his.
The second quarter was rough since Alex Caruso got MVP chants, and they allowed too many free throw attempts, which cut the flow of their offense and they had to play too much in the half-court after scoring a good chunk in transition in the first. They had a brief spurt of success, going on a 9-0 run that included K. Johnson powering through Holmgren at the rim, yet couldn’t sustain it because of more fouls and went to halftime down 11 points.
Carter Bryant hustles like the rent is due at midnight, but he can be his own worst enemy by trying to do too much on defense. He committed a foolish foul on SGA, putting him on the line after giving up a 3-pointer. He wasn’t in control and that’s why he played fewer than three minutes before garbage time.
Julian Champagnie had the hot hand in the first quarter, scoring 13 of the team’s 27 points, and he helped the them get over multiple droughts. His most impressive move was driving against Holmgren and finishing against him on the baseline. On top of that, Champagnie and K. Johnson were the only Spurs to log at least three first-half field goals.
San Antonio’s bench didn’t do enough, aside from K. Johnson, since OKC’s outscored theirs by seven when McCain started and Ajay Mitchell didn’t play. Still, it was Johnson’s multiple treys and hustle that was critical in making the game competitive again in the second half.
The team initially struggled to pressure Holmgren with smaller players while Wemby played help defense. But Holmgren got weaker as the game went on.
The Thunder have not lost consecutive games in the playoffs. On top of that, teams that lead a best-of-seven series 3-2 advance 84 percent of the time, per the NBA’s Facts and Figures.
The Spurs’ rebounding had been a big factor in their wins, but they got beat on the boards by nine and they permitted 26 second-chance points in Game 5.
Turnovers were a problem early, and while it was just an OK night in ball security, timely misses emerged as the late problem, like when Devin Vassell, who was a non offensive factor, missed a layup, and McCain raced down the court fro a transition triple to put OKC ahead by 13 points with six minutes left.
But that doesn’t seem to be enough for Becky Hammon to change her stance on him. At least not yet.
The Las Vegas Aces head coach told reporters Tuesday that she is ready to be “proven wrong” about Brunson after previously saying he didn’t measure up to be a “1A dude.”
Jalen Brunson reacts after hitting a 3-point shot in the first quarter of the Knicks’ Game 4 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals on May 25, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I speak from experience,” Hammon said Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. “Allen Iverson got MVP, and he lost in the finals. I think the two best teams are probably in the West, but I’m up for being proven wrong. That’s the other thing, I think Jalen Brunson’s a hell of a player, a hell of a player. I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago.
“I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.”
In December 2023, during an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Hammon, the former WNBA star player who has won three of the past four titles as a coach, said the Knicks were stuck in the second tier of teams that didn’t have quite enough to win an NBA championship. Part of that, according to Hammon, was that Brunson — listed at 6-foot-2 — was not the caliber of star needed to reach the next level.
“They don’t have enough personnel, they don’t have the manpower that they need to hang with those guys,” Hammon said then. “I think you’re going to get a consistent team like they’ve been, they’re a pretty good team.
“They’re, they’re well-coached, they’re going to be on their defensive game, but at the end of the day, they don’t have a dude. You gotta have a dude, you gotta have a 1A dude and they’re missing that at the end of the day if we’re just getting down to brass tacks.”
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on during their loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on May 23, 2026 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. NBAE via Getty Images
Since then, the Brunson-led Knicks — with two different head coaches (Tom Thibodeau and Mike Brown) — have reached the playoffs three times, twice getting to the Eastern Conference finals and breaking through to get to the NBA Finals this year.
Brunson has averaged 26.9 points and 6.6 assists per game in this postseason and scored more than 30 points twice in the four-game sweep of the Cavaliers in the conference finals, including a 38-point effort in the Knicks’ historic Game 1 comeback. He took home MVP honors for the series.
Jalen Brunson and the Eastern Conference Finals trophy on the table during a post game press conference. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“The belief that the organization has in me has been amazing, and something I don’t take for granted, and something not a lot of people get the opportunity to do,” Brunson said after clinching the finals berth. “So I’m very thankful. It’s an honor to be here in this city for this organization with my teammates.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 05: Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith looks on during the second half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Delta Center on February 05, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The initial round of Ryan Smith’s Utah Jazz rebrand didn’t go according to plan. That is, unless the plan was to make Walker Kessler visible from space while simultaneously removing any concept of “design” from the team’s identity.
Highlighter yellow on a bed of black. The new threads in Utah were clearly hideous and universally panned as perhaps the worst primary uniforms in all of professional basketball. A harsh overcorrection from new ownership, which saw the Jazz’s seemingly endless color palette and determined that this basketball organization needed something that had been slowly fading away: identity.
They knew this, of course. In the immediate aftermath of Utah’s rebranding fiasco — a crime of fashion, if you will — the team quickly scraped together an even newer rebranding announcement: purple is back.
Thank the basketball gods for that.
Paired alongside an all-new colorway for the Jazz was an anchoring thread that desperately held the organization to its early roots. Fans hated the State of Deseret-themed yellow-and-black apparel, but couldn’t get enough of the purple alternates. The ugly rebrand was overtaken by the return of the purple mountains’ majesty, and a second round of rebranding gave way to perhaps the most beautiful set of uniforms in the entire NBA.
Purple and white, with a powder-blue accent, is a winning combination. The nerdy girl just took off her glasses, and now she’s turning heads in the hallway. Utah found its identity, and it is hot!
With this in mind, a recent quote from owner Ryan Smith caught my attention.
“Gail sat us down multiple times,” Smith remembered. “A little bit like ‘buyer beware, are you guys sure you know what you’re getting into? […] I know you’re going to do it differently than us, but you care about Utah, and you’re going to keep [the Jazz] here.”
“As we’ve thought about what our ‘why’ is, and Utah is a big piece of that, and probably the biggest piece and our community. When you see the Mammoth on the screen, it says ‘Utah’ as opposed to ‘Mammoth’. […] It’s not by accident that ‘Utah’ is on the jersey. This was all thought through to the ‘why’ for us.”
Buyer Beware: Gail Miller’s warning about buying the @utahjazz
This week on “Deseret Voices,” @RyanQualtrics and Ashley Smith sit down with @mckaycoppins and reveal the blessing — and warning — they got from legendary Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller before selling them the… pic.twitter.com/V7dr0Jo4us
There’s a reason why the Utah Mammoth hockey team displays the word “Utah” and not “Mammoth” on their uniforms — both home and away. A closer look at the Jazz’s newest round of redesigns shares that same pattern; the word “Jazz” is nowhere to be found. Ryan Smith has been effusive in his belief in the Beehive State as a national stage.
In his eyes, there is much more to Utah than the greatest snow on Earth; Utah isn’t the exclusive, impenetrable zone that larger markets like LA, New York, Miami, etc. often believe it to be.
The Jazz and Mammoth are ambassadors for a Utah community that Smith holds dear to his heart, and that community is the driving force in his teams’ identities.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
Boston, MA - April 19: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls out a play in the second quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla once called the NBA’s Coach of the Year award “stupid.” On Tuesday night, he became the organization’s first recipient in 46 years.
“Don’t need it,” Mazzulla told reporters in March. “I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. So, the players play. It’s about them. The staff works their ass off. I’m grateful to have them.”
Mazzulla beat out J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons and Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs, becoming Boston’s first COTY winner since Bill Fitch (1979-80), and just the fourth in Celtics history. At 37 years old, Mazzulla became the youngest coach to win since Phil Johnson 51 years ago, earning 62 first-place votes to Bickerstaff’s 29 votes.
Following a complete roster overhaul that saw the Celtics move on from core pieces Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford, plus the absence of Jayson Tatum for the first 62 games of the season, Mazzulla got to work. With a slew of unproven newcomers, the fourth-year head coach reshaped the team’s identity to better suit the pieces available and keep the Celtics competitive enough to earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Boston went 56-26 and established a two-way playstyle that gave some of the league’s best issues throughout the year.
INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 3: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on January 3, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On March 25, the Celtics defeated the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and finished with the second-best home record in the NBA.
Mazzulla, thrust into the head coaching seat just four years ago following the abrupt suspension and eventual firing of Ime Udoka, has improved gradually each season. He worked his way up from a G League assistant with the Maine Red Claws to a Division II head coach at Fairmount State to an NBA assistant for three years under Brad Stevens and Udoka before finally landing his dream job in 2022.
“Thank you to the Lord for the platform he has given me, and to my wife and family who support me on this journey,” Mazzulla said, per the Celtics. “Thank you to our players who compete and give it everything they have each night. I am grateful for every member of the Celtics organization whose dedication impacts winning every day. This award belongs to our staff, who are there for the guys every day. Their relentless work ethic improves our team daily. This award should be named Staff of the Year.”
Last August, the Celtics signed Mazzulla to a multi-year contract extension to remain in Boston.
In four years, Mazzulla has amassed a 238-90 record in the regular season while going 36-21 in the postseason. In 2024, he coached Boston to its 2024 NBA Finals win over the Dallas Mavericks to end the franchise’s 16-year title drought and secure Banner 18.
Fitch, Tommy Heinsohn (1972-73), and Red Auerbach (1964-65) are the only other Celtics coaches to ever win COTY.
Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points to lead the Spurs past Oklahoma City in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Sunday in San Antonio and tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
Victor Wembanyama is making news these days as a third-year player who has led the San Antonio Spurs to a 2-2 series tie with the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals.
A sports card from the 7-foot-4 French star’s rookie season has also made headlines. Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Panini Prizm one-of-one Black parallel card recently sold for $5.11 million in a private deal brokered by Fanatics Collect.
It’s the highest known price paid for a non-autographed NBA card and the fourth-highest for any NBA card, according to price guide website Card Ladder. The buyer told the Athletic that he believes it will remain the best card for a player whose superstar potential is practically unlimited.
“There’s a sort of obvious ceiling for him, just as an athlete, that I think is higher than most people that are like the ordained superstars, like the next guy that we anticipate them being pantheon people,” said the buyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “... If you take all these players and you say, ‘What’s their ceiling?’ I think Victor Wembanyama’s [ceiling] is substantially higher.”
Professional Sports Authenticator graded the card a Gem Mint 10, which the PSA site says is reserved for “virtually perfect” cards.
The previous record amount spent on a Wembanyama card was $860,100 paid for his rookie Panini Prism Nebula Choice one-of-one card in early 2025, according to Fanatics Collect. That card had a PSA 9 grade.
The grade for the recently purchased card came with controversy. Collector Cavelle McDonald pulled the card from a pack he purchased at NorCal Sports Cards in Roseville, Calif. A video posted to the store’s YouTube account in 2024 shows McDonald and NorCal Sports Cards owner Thomas Lindenthal getting the card graded.
After learning the card’s grade, Lindenthal gave “a huge shout-out” to Kurt’s Card Care. “Your product is phenomenal,” he said.
According to its website, Kurt’s Card Care makes “100% handmade Cleaning sprays and polishes free of artificial colors and scents. Perfect for cleaning and restoring your card collection.” PSA says on its website that it “will not grade cards that bear evidence of trimming, re-coloring, restoration, or any other forms of tampering” and lists “evidence of cleaning” as a factor in the company returning a card without a numeric grade.
Some people in the video’s comment section speculated that Lindenthal’s shout-out may have indicated that the Wemby card had been tampered with in a way that should have disqualified it from being graded. NorCal Sports Cards did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Times.
McDonald told the Athletic that “Kurt’s Card Care has nothing to do with me or the card.” The new buyer told the publication that he was unaware of the situation before purchasing the card, but said it wouldn’t have made any difference if he had known.
Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in the Spurs’ double-overtime victory against the Thunder in Game 1 of the conference finals and 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots in San Antonio’s Game 4 victory on Sunday. Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City, with the winner of the best-of-seven series advancing to play the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, Alex Caruso led another strong bench effort with 22 and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved one win away from a return trip to the NBA Finals by beating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 on Tuesday night.
Jared McCain — getting the call with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both sidelined — scored 20 in his first playoff start for the defending NBA champion Thunder, who lead the Western Conference finals 3-2.
Chet Holmgren had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder, while Isaiah Hartenstein had a 12-point, 15-rebound night in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder, who were held to 82 points in a Game 4 loss two days earlier, had 82 points on Tuesday before the third quarter was 3 1/2 minutes old.
“We obviously played a lot better, in terms of our process and then also the outcome,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “It’s a playoff series. If you look at any playoff series that goes to six games, at least, there’s going to be some tough games. We had a tough game the other night. This team does a great job of just coming back in the next day in a very neutral way, taking whatever the lessons are, applying them forward and getting into the next opportunity.”
Stephon Castle scored 24 points for San Antonio, which got 22 points from Julian Champagnie and 20 points from Victor Wembanyama — who was held to 4-of-15 shooting.
Keldon Johnson scored 15 off the bench for San Antonio, which missed 29 of its 41 3-point tries.
“It just felt like it was a little bit of everything in terms of we did not put ourselves in position enough to be successful on each possession,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “And so, to beat a team of this caliber, in their building, with the stakes, we’ll need to be a lot better to give yourself a chance.”
Game 6 is Thursday in San Antonio. If there’s a Game 7, it’ll be back in Oklahoma City on Saturday — and while this series winds down, the New York Knicks are waiting to see who emerges.
The Knicks will visit either the Thunder or Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3.
Oklahoma City scored 40 points in the second quarter to take control and kept the lead the rest of the way.
“We just played to who we were tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
It took nearly 10 minutes for the first free throws to be awarded. But when the parade to the foul line started, it didn’t stop.
The teams combined to make 29 free throws in the second quarter alone, the most in the second quarter of any NBA game since the bubble playoffs nearly six years ago. It wasn’t a one-sided thing — the Spurs were 15 for 17 in the quarter, the Thunder 14 for 14.
Oklahoma City went up by 20 in the third, before San Antonio closed within eight. The Spurs might have had some chances to cut even further into the deficit, but were fuming — and rightly so, it seemed — over some missed calls in the final minute of the quarter.
A tip-in try by San Antonio’s Luke Kornet with about 56 seconds left was knocked off the rim by Oklahoma City’s Cason Wallace and should have been goaltending. And on the next Spurs’ possession, an out-of-bounds call that should have gone their way — replays showed the ball went out off of Holmgren — did not. Johnson tried to challenge the call, got ignored, then got a technical foul for arguing.
“They just said they didn’t see me,” Johnson said.
After all that, Oklahoma City’s lead was 101-91 going into the fourth. The Thunder kept a double-digit lead for all but 25 seconds of the final quarter — a huge turnaround from a 21-point loss in San Antonio on Sunday.
“We definitely got better from the last game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
The entire trajectory of the 2026-27 men's college basketball season could change in the next few days.
Teams have mostly assembled their rosters for the upcoming season, but some decisions still linger with the players deciding whether to return or turn pro. Those contemplating their next move were able to get some intel on their NBA draft stock at the combine, and now have to make their choice by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 to retain their remaining eligibility.
With the early draft entry deadline imminent, these are the biggest names who still need to make a decision in terms of the college basketball impact, as their choice will greatly affect how the 2026-27 season unfolds.
Koa Peat (Arizona)
A decision not many expected but suddenly is in play. Peat was instrumental in Arizona reaching its first Final Four since 2001, bullying defenses into 14.1 points per game and turning it up in big matchups. However, Peat doesn't have much of an outside game, and it was very apparent at the combine, resulting in his draft stock falling. While he's still likely a first round pick, Peat can return to the Wildcats to expand his offensive arsenal.
If he does, Arizona is primed again to be one of the best teams in the country with Peat leading a relentless frontcourt, and a possible player of the year contender. The entire trajectory of the loaded Big 12 changes if Peat decides to return.
Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State; in portal)
Teams are ready to splash out big bucks for Momcilovic to return to the college ranks. He was the best shooter in the country with 136 made 3-point shots a whopping 48.8% field goal percentage from deep. With him not having a new college set after leaving Iowa State, the demand to get him on a roster likely gets him a bigger pay day than the NBA, making returning to college an easy choice.
Coaches around the country are waiting on the official word so they can go all-in on trying to get Momcilovic on their roster, as he will make any offense he is on lethal.
Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois)
The son of former NBA All-Star sharpshooter Peja, Stojakovic really made a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament. He came off the bench for Illinois and was the catalyst for the Fighting Illini making their first Final Four since 2005. He isn't as prolific of a shooter like his dad, but Stojakovic can spot up from mid-range and play through contact.
With Keaton Wagler for sure gone, Stojakovic is set up to be the top returning scorer, with Brad Underwood set to give him an elevated role. Illinois is already stocked up for another March run, and Stojakovic is the one critical piece to confirm it.
Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor; in portal)
A five-star recruit in the 2025 class could be coming back for another season. Yessoufou lived up to the billing by setting several Baylor freshman records, averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. However, some concerns developed with his ball-handling that dropped him from a projected lottery pick to a late first-rounder.
This may be the biggest toss up of the class as Yessoufou has the scoring ability to make the NBA, but also could polish his game on all sides of the ball. There are plenty of suitors waiting for him as one of the top available players still in the portal.
Allen Graves (Santa Clara; in portal)
This may be one of the biggest sleepers. Graves was the West Coast Conference freshman and sixth man of the year for a Santa Clara team that made March Madness for the first time since 1996. He averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, along with a 41.3% mark from 3-point range. Graves has the skills to have a long professional career, but he was one of the least athletic players at the combine and that could scare some teams away.
It's another tough decision to predict, given Graves can be a late first-rounder. He's currently the second-best transfer available after Momcilovic, and he will absolutely find himself playing for a Power conference team should he return.
Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt)
Unless you were playing Vanderbilt, you couldn't help but have fun watching Tanner play. He put up 19.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and he doesn't play like he's only 6-foot-tall with impressive athleticism. However, that's a concern in the professional ranks, and he had some shaky performances in the combine that may have hurt his stock.
Vanderbilt was a surprise last season largely because of Tanner, and any chance to keep the momentum going would fall apart if Tanner decides to enter the draft. Mark Byington said it best: "We’re not going to be able to replace him if he doesn't come back."
Meleek Thomas (Arkansas)
Darius Acuff Jr. wasn't the only playmaker for Arkansas; Thomas had his own bright spots, possessing the skills to play at the next level. He thrived in John Calipari's offensive-minded team with 15.6 points per game and a 41.6% 3-point percentage. The one thing that goes against him is this is a loaded class from the guard position, so he finds himself behind several others projected to be lottery picks.
A star role for the Razorbacks is awaiting Thomas should he return. He could end up being one of the top scorers in the country, and would help Arkansas retain the crown in the SEC.
Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State)
Fears continued to elevate his game in his junior season, becoming the best passer in the country with 9.4 assists per game, all while leading Michigan State in scoring with 15.2 points per game. While he certainly had a productive combine, he still isn't much of scoring threat, and would likely be fit into a pass-first guard. He would thrive in it, but it would keep him from being a productive player.
All signs point to Fears returning to college, and it will keep Michigan State among the Big Ten powerhouses will the departures the Spartans had. Tom Izzo does his best with continuity, and one can only imagine how dangerous Fears can be with another season.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jalen Williams was downgraded to out by Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night, after being listed as questionable throughout the day because of his ongoing issues with a strained left hamstring.
Ajay Mitchell, who typically starts in Williams' place, was ruled out earlier by the Thunder with a strained right soleus.
The Thunder opted to put Jared McCain in the starting lineup, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Lugentz Dort.
McCain was making the first playoff start of his career. He averaged 8.8 points in 12 playoff games off the bench for the Thunder entering Tuesday.
Williams returned for Game 1 of the Spurs’ series, scoring 26 points in 37 minutes a week ago Monday night in Oklahoma City’s 122-115 double-overtime loss. He had four points in seven first-quarter minutes in Game 2, including an alley-oop dunk with 2:12 left in the period, and hasn't played since.
Williams has now missed 58 of the Thunder’s 95 games this season, including playoffs. Of those absences, 19 were for a right wrist issue and the other 39 were related to his hamstrings — the right one costing him 30 games during the regular season, the left one now costing him nine during the playoffs.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on December 01, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
Dillon “The Villain” Brooks arrived in the Valley this year with a mix of emotions from fans. Some saw him as a solid role player who could help out; others thought he was just a bad throw-in from the Kevin Durant trade. One thing is for sure, though, is that no one saw him rising to the man he did just in his first year here in Phoenix. Brooks showed not only that he can be that defensive guy everyone buys into, but also a viable offensive option when injuries come into play.
This was seen from day one, even though no one knew what role he would truly hold; they saw he had gotten along well with the team in training camp. There was some hype around the team, even if they were not the best, that they would be a fun product to watch. Luckily for us, it was the best of both worlds, and Brooks was a huge part of that.
Brooks embodied the “Villain” persona he has stuck by in the league, really bringing out the best in these guys in the locker room and on the court. His aggressiveness and determination to leave it all on the court inspired teammates to give that same effort. This was the mold that a coach in Jordan Ott wants in his first year: guys who will buy in and leave it out there every single night.
This season, Brooks not only showed he could be better than anticipated, but even had fans clamoring for him to make the All-Star game.
He then suffered a broken wrist, which kept him out of 18 games for the Suns.
Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks has sustained a broken left hand and will be sidelined, sources tell ESPN. Doctors will meet to determine a timetable. Brooks is a key part to the playoff-contending Suns, averaging 21+ points and 3+ rebounds this season. Difficult injury blow. pic.twitter.com/x00of8NR7H
This definitely put a wrench in his great year, but when he returned, he bounced back to his average: 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks, while shooting 44/34/84 from the field in 30.2 minutes per game. This led him to a career-high in points and rebounds, which was another positive for Brooks.
In a season where he saw his role fluctuate a bunch with injuries to others and himself, he proved that he was one of the top options on both ends for Phoenix. In Houston, he had taken a bit of a backseat role, but when tasked with a larger workload, he rose to the occasion.
Brooks on the defensive end was also a positive, where he truly brought it together. His aggressiveness and mental toughness to always be hunting, not be the hunted, led him to make multiple big plays for Phoenix throughout the year. He did have a bit of a technical foul issue, but, as we saw, he was being targeted throughout the year, with many of those rescinded.
That is a good sign, as not only is Brooks getting older, but the Suns have over $20 million in dead cap each year for the foreseeable future. They cannot keep extending the team and tightening the window, so locking him up at a respectable number is a good deal. Since Brooks is everything the Suns wanted in a player who represents this hard work and hustle culture, they should bring him back on a 2-3-year deal worth at least $20-25 million per season. With him making $21 million this year, it would be either at his pay rate or a bit higher, which he has deserved.
Ultimately, they should not prolong this. Brooks has won the hearts of fans and many in the locker room with his great play and character. Even if he is “the villain” we all know off the court, he is a great guy, and Phoenix cannot lose this. Especially with how their identity has looked in the past, if you get someone who fits it to a tee, you cannot lose them.
What do you think, though? Is this the right move for the Suns to extend Dillon Brooks and keep him in the Valley, or should they wait and potentially move off him?
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 24: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder passes over Devin Vassell #24 and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of Game Four of the Western Conference Finals NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
This series has been an epic journey so far, as each team has made adjustments and the other team counters, changing the shape of the game every time these two teams meet. It has been a coaching master class, and the players have stepped up in every game to make things difficult on the opponent. Injuries have been a factor, with De’Aaron Fox missing the first two games with an ankle injury suffered against the Timberwolves, and re-injuring it in game three, but somehow playing through it in game four. Dylan Harper injured his adductor (groin) in the third quarter of game two and hasn’t been full speed since then. The Thunder have been dealing the absence of Jalen Williams (JDub) with a recurring hamstring issue, and Ajay Mitchell, who has a soleus (calf) injury suffered late in game three, when he landed awkwardly after shoving Castle in the back while committing a flagrant foul. Mitchell is out tonight, while JDub is listed as questionable.
The Thunder re-took home court advantage for the series by taking one of the two games in the Frost Bank Center, and the Spurs will need to win at least one more game in the Paycom Center if they are to win the series. Why not tonight? The team that wins tonight will have a chance to close out the series on Thursday night in San Antonio, which will be a loud and hostile arena for the defending champs. While it would be great to close out the series at home, it would also be acceptable for the Spurs to make it a seven game series and maximize the drama with a road game win to end the series. However this series plays out, it’s been a treat for the fans of both teams. LET’S GO SPURS!
Game Prediction:
Mark Daigneault blows a huge bubble gum bubble just before the an errant pass hits him in the face. The ball has to be replaced because of the gum stuck to the ball. After a conference from the officials, they decline to call a delay of game penalty on Daigneault, since it wasn’t an intentional act like Jason Kidd spilling a drink on the court.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Conference Championship Round, Game 5 May 26, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Streaming: Peacock TV: NBC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Even before the New York Knicks won the Eastern Conference title, some of their fans took to the streets of Manhattan with a message.
The chants: “We want Wemby! We want Wemby!”
The Knicks have done their part, getting to the NBA Finals. And now, they'll have to wait until at least Thursday to see which team comes out of the Western Conference — either Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, or the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Before Game 5 of the Spurs-Thunder series on Tuesday night, San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson was asked if he has heard about the chants from those Knicks fans.
He hasn't — but didn't seem surprised that they're happening.
“I know New York's on fire. They won so that city is obviously enjoying it and they've had a heck of a playoff run,” Johnson said. “But unfortunately, I've been pretty locked-into what we've got going right here in front of us.”
The Knicks have won 11 consecutive games, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to beat Atlanta in Round 1 and then sweeping Philadelphia and Cleveland in the next two rounds.
And in fairness, some Knicks fans were captured on videos that got posted to social media chanting “We want Wemby!” after Game 1 of the East finals against the Cavaliers.
“Tip your cap to New York, for sure,” Johnson said. "They're having a heck of a run."
If you somehow haven’t heard about how good this kid is, maybe this will catch you up to speed.
There is very little to dislike about the BYU product’s game: he’s strong, he’s physical, he has all of the measurables to do well at the NBA level, he can play multiple positions, he’s comfortable being a play initiator, he’s efficient, he LED THE NCAA IN SCORING AS A FRESHMAN WITH 25 POINTS A GAME, and the list could honestly go on forever. The argument could be made, and has been made by myself before, that this entire year for Dybantsa was just a cardio session as he prepared for the NBA. The one and only knock on his game is his defensive prowess, and while I think there is certainly room to improve, he carried so much of the BYU Cougar’s offense (especially after Richie Saunders went down with injury) that I think his effort could be excused to some extent, but more importantly he wasn’t a bad defender; by every metric he was slightly below league average.
If the Utah Jazz had the #1 pick in this year’s draft I believe that Dybantsa would be the clear target for us. That being said, by every indication, the #1 selection for the Washington Wizards has not been set in stone and there is an opportunity that we could get our guy at #2 after all. I like to think positively so let’s dive into the AJ Dybantsa the prospect, and how he could change this franchise for the better.
Team Fit
I’ve had Dybantsa as the #1 prospect in this draft for quite some time, but I would be lying if I said that I didn’t think that Darryn Peterson would be the more natural fit for this team. After a stellar (albeit brief) run of play by Keyonte George where be displayed his playmaking ability with a career high 6.1 assists per game, it seems like Will Hardy believes in him to be the starting point guard of the future for this team. I think that he’s more than proven that he’s ready for the responsibility, and while I do think that Isaiah Collier is the more natural facilitator of the two, George’s offensive upside and Collier’s offensive downside are too evident to be ignored.
With George set to have a healthy season running point, a natural need makes its presence known in the form of a starting shooting guard. Respectfully to John Konchar, I don’t think that he’s exactly what we’re looking for. I’m also not a believer that you should draft for fit in the early stages of the draft, but when we’re talking about as talented of a draft class as the 2026 class is, nearly any of the top 4-5 prospects could be a winner. Early in the draft you must draft the best talent, and figure out the rest later.
There are a few scenarios that I can see play out if we do decide to draft Dybantsa.
Option 1: We have a starting lineup of Keyonte George, AJ Dybantsa, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (assuming we’re able to bring him back which I hope and pray to the basketball gods that we do).
Option 2: We start George, Ace Bailey, Dybantsa, Jackson Jr., and Kessler – we reward Bailey for his stellar play over the last 25 games of the season and trade Lauri Markkanen to the highest bidder (Detroit, perhaps) for even more draft capital.
Option 3: We start George, Bailey, Dybantsa, Markkanen, and Jackson Jr. at the 5 if we’re unable to retain Kessler. I personally think that this would be the worst option of the three given Jackson Jr.‘s struggles to rebound the ball, but with all of the size that we do have with the rest of the lineup I think it could work.
As mentioned before, Dybantsa can play multiple positions so with whatever lineup we choose he could play anywhere from the lead ballhandler, to the slashing wing, to the traditional power forward, and I even think with time we could play him as a small-ball center given his strength as a player.
Options are always a good thing, and luckily Dybantsa fits into any plan that we may have.
Comparisons
Comparison is the thief of joy, but what is a draft prospect without a NBA comparison? I’ve always done a low, medium, and high end comparison for any player that I talk about and this won’t be any different here. With as talented of a player as Dybantsa is, even his low won’t even be that low, so by all measures this is a win-win scenario.
Low End: RJ Barrett
The similarities are certainly there, especially when you compare Dybantsa’s one year at BYU to Barrett’s one year at Duke. They were both great scorers (over 20 points per game), they were both less than league average three point shooters, but they were able able to make up for that fact with their ability to get to the rim, and their midrange games. We’re 7 years into Barrett’s career now and it doesn’t seem like he’ll ever be an above league average shooter from deep. This obviously wouldn’t be the most desired outcome, but Barrett has hovered around 20 points per game ever since the 2021-2022 season with decent efficiency.
If Dybantsa ended up like Barrett would that feel like a let down? Sure, but Barrett is still a very solid player and can fit into any system. It isn’t ideal, but having Dybantsa be the next RJ Barrett wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Medium End: DeMar DeRozan
If this were a Pokemon evolution, DeMar DeRozan would be the Charmeleon stage of player. We want Charizard, of course, but Charmeleon is still pretty good. In this scenario Dybantsa still doesn’t reach his “full potential” but he becomes a master at slashing to the rim and becomes lethal in the midrange. DeRozan has had an incredible career, and while I’m sure that he would have liked a championship to go with all his personal accolades and stats, what he’s been able to do over the last 17 years has been outstanding.
DeRozan is in a very elite club of basketball players with over 26,000 points (and counting) in the league. This past season was actually a down year for him as he “only” scored 18.4 points per game, which is the first time that he’s scored less than 20 points per game since President Obama was in his first term. He’s maintained this level of excellence for most of his career, and if Dybantsa can follow in his footsteps, I think that scoring over 25,000 points is pretty great.
High End: Paul George
In this (hopeful) scenario, Dybantsa figures the game out. He’s a great at rim finisher, he has a great post game, he has stretched his game out to the three point line and shoots a respectable clip (George has shot 38% for his career from deep), AND he becomes an elite defender. As a legitimate two-way threat he’s able to put himself into MVP contention and propel this team to heights that they haven’t seen in quite some time.
This is asking for a lot, at least for right now, but I believe that in time he’ll be able to make the necessary adjustments to thrive in this game. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a truly remarkable season from George, but the streets won’t forget his run in Indiana, or what he was able to do alongside Russell Westbrook in OKC. That is what we’re striving for, and I think that Dybantsa has the ability to make it happen.
Ceiling
There is a secret fourth senecio where Dybantsa is so good that he goes beyond every single comparison I just made and becomes truly one of the elite; not just for a particular season, but potentially of all-time. That is a ridiculous amount of pressure to put on a 20 year old kid, but when you’re a top prospect in the NBA, it comes with the territory.
This may be a controversial statement (for multiple reasons) but in a world where Dybantsa becomes an all-time great player, I think that he could be as good as Jayson Tatum was prior to his Achilles injury. Some of why I say that is the Boston connection – Dybantsa grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts and grew up as a Boston Celtics fan, but when you look at what Dybantsa was able to do for BYU after Richie Saunders went down with an injury, dare I say it was very Tatum-esque.
Most NBA fans could tell you that Jayson Tatum scores with the best of them, is very efficient given his offensive responsibilities, and that he’s been one of the best 15 players in the league for quite some time. What Boston Celtics fans will tell you is that not only is he a great scorer, but he’s also a great facilitator, defender, and rebounder.
Tatum has averaged more than 7 rebounds per game since the 2019-2020 season, he’s averaged more than 4 assists per game since the 2020-2021 season, and while he won’t show up in any All-Defensive teams, you could make the argument that if the Celtics didn’t have Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday at various points, that his defense would be more widely known across the league’s fans. Even when you look at his (limited) games this year after coming back from injury, they show how great of a player he still is: nearly 22 points per game, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and almost 1.5 steals. Not to mention the fact that Tatum, at only 27 years old mind you (although some people still say he’s 19) he has finished Top-6 in MVP voting 4 times, he’s a 6x All-Star, and a 5x All-NBA selection with four of them being 1st team.
I believe that Dybantsa has the ability to round out his game like Tatum has. Dybantsa has all the tools to be an All-World kind of player, and if he ends up like Tatum, we may be talking about multiple championships in Utah.
We here at SLC Dunk are AMPED for the draft and have a lot of great articles on the way, so be on the lookout for that! What do you think of Dybantsa as a prospect? Do you think we should draft someone else if we have the chance? Sound off in the comments!
May 24, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots while defended by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) in the fourth quarter during game four of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Today is Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. The San Antonio Spurs play the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET. Watch it on NBC (WRC-TV) in the DMV.
Enjoy hearing “Roundball Rock” non-stop and the basketball.
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 8: Karl Malone (L) and John Stockton of the Utah Jazz appear 08 June at a press conference at the United Center in Chicago, IL. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Jazz 96-54 in game three of the NBA Finals 07 June to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (Photo credit should read DAN LIPPITT/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
On May 10th, 2026, the Utah Jazz won the No. 2 pick at the NBA Draft Lottery. Marking the first time in Jazz history they’ve moved up in the lottery, it’s been a little over two weeks since the Jazz were able to move up. If I’m being honest, I don’t think Jazz fans are excited enough. This draft class, as you already should know, is truly special, and for the Jazz to land the No. 2 pick this year with everything else they’ve accumulated truly is a franchise-changing moment.
The final results from the NBA Draft Lottery 2026:
1. Washington Wizards 2. Utah Jazz 3. Memphis Grizzlies 4. Chicago Bulls 5. LA Clippers 6. Brooklyn Nets 7. Sacramento Kings 8. Atlanta Hawks 9. Dallas Mavericks 10. Milwaukee Bucks 11. Golden State Warriors 12. Oklahoma…
The Jazz have finished last place in the Western Conference two years in a row now. They haven’t made the playoffs since Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were still leading the team during the 2021-2022 season. The Jazz haven’t made the Western Conference Finals since the 2006-2007 season, falling to the Spurs 4-1. And of course we all know the story of how John Stockton and Karl Malone fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in ’97 and ’98. Losing two Finals back-to-back is brutal, and the truth is being a Jazz fan has really only ever brought pain and suffering, but I believe it’s all about to pay off.
While the Jazz did finish last in the Western Conference the past two seasons, you’d be blind to ignore the trajectory the team is currently riding. And let’s be completely honest, if the Jazz actually tried to win last season they probably could’ve slid in as an 8th seed via the play-in. Fortunately they did the right thing, choosing to play for the draft pick. The worst-case scenario for the Jazz in the lottery would’ve been picking 8th. Even in that hypothetical, the Jazz would’ve almost certainly been a top 6 seed next year in an already loaded Western Conference, with Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the way, Walker Kessler likely returning, and an emerging Ace Bailey by his side. That would’ve been more than enough to get the Jazz back into the fight in the West, but finally the lottery gods blessed the Jazz — not with the No. 4, not No. 3, but No. 2!!! In a draft class where it’s truly 1A, 1B, and 1B might just be the best player in the class! That’s not the point of this discussion though. It does not matter who the Jazz take. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is. The Jazz are getting a franchise-changing player no matter what.
The ultimate goal is always to win the NBA Finals. The Jazz have been in Utah for 47 years, and we are still waiting for the first parade through Salt Lake City. I believe the Jazz are on the path to us potentially having one of those parades in the coming years, but it won’t be easy. Watching the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs has been intimidating, to say the least… But I truly believe now after the lottery the Jazz are positioned to where they could realistically beat one of those teams in a playoff series.
We’re just about a month away from the 2026 NBA Draft! This could be the best time to be a Jazz fan in franchise history. Am I too bullish? Do you agree? When was the last time you were this excited about a Jazz team? The Jazz are going to be FUN next year, and I personally can’t wait to see just how high this team can fly.
Victor Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to a massive win on Sunday, and now they hit the road again to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Spurs Game 5 computer picks
Julian Champagnie Over 9.5 points (+100)
Projection: 11.06 points
There's no denying Julian Champagnie is running cold, but he's almost running too cold. The wing is getting a plethora of open looks throughout the game, and he's too good a shooter to keep missing them.
Our model calls for him to break the slump tonight.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet champagnie Now at bet365!/span
Dylan Harper Over 9.5 points (-105)
Projection: 10.16 points
Dylan Harper is blossoming into a young star before our very eyes. While he's taken a bit of a backseat scoring-wise in Games 2 and 3, he surpassed 10+ points in the five games prior.
Expect him to reach that milestone in Game 5.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet harper Now at bet365!/span
De-Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-112)
Projection: 15.87 points
De-Aaron Fox failed to score 15+ points for the first time all postseason in Game 4, but he's still getting the same amount of volume. It was an off night for anyone not named Wemby, and he'll find his touch at Paycom this evening.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet fox Now at bet365!/span
Thunder Game 5 computer picks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 7.5 assists (+115)
Projection: 6.79 assists
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will once again be called upon to score with the Oklahoma City Thunder seemingly shorthanded again. San Antonio opted to stray away from double-teaming the MVP last time out, which led to bad shooting nights from his teammates.
The San Antonio Spurs will take a similar approach and dare SGA to beat them.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet SGA Now at bet365!/span
Chet Holmgren Over 13.5 points (+105)
Projection: 14.77 points
There's no denying how bad Chet Holmgen played on the road, but he has a chance to shine in front of the home crowd tonight. Our model expects him to return to form, with his team in desperate need of his scoring.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet holmgren Now at bet365!/span
Isaiah Hartenstein Over 6.5 points (-130)
Projection: 7.75 points
Isaiah Hartenstein continues to make the most of his limited minutes, fresh off a 12-point performance. The Spurs are more than happy with Hartenstein shooting, because that means the ball isn't in SGA's hands. This is a very obtainable number for the big man.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet hartenstein Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 5
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBC
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Spurs
Thunder